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shirefantasies · 2 months

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Can I request a How Many Kids They Want for the characters from The Hobbit? I’m curious to hear what you think!

Heck yeah! I already made a placeholder for it in my drafts cuz I had to let’s GOOOO! Last post pre-surgery, crazy that we’re only 3 days out 🥲

How Many Kids Do They Want? The Hobbit Edition

Balin

Certainly not a future he ever expected, but it’s not such a bad one, is it? How big his family is is a question Balin wouldn’t mind deferring to his partner, especially as he would never be the one bearing them! But probably not more than three if he was really pressed for an answer.

Dwalin

Girl dad. I said what I said. Secretly wants to settle down and adores the idea of domestic life, especially with a sweetheart of a partner who he can take care of. This transfers to his children, who Dwalin is the fiercest papa bear to! No one will touch a single hair upon his daughters’ heads. I can see him having two or three little girls, very unusual for a dwarf and a bit unexpected to him, who would have said he wanted sons. The moment he has to pull a knife out of his little girl’s hand, though, the very same one that held a doll on the other side, Dwalin realizes what he wants has nothing to do with boys. Raises the toughest girls this side of the mountains!

Thorin

Does not mind the idea of a small family, more time and love to give each member as king. Thorin is fiercely loyal and dedicated, so he wants to shower his partner and child(ren) with as much as he possibly can. Thus he would prefer only one or two children. While he hopes for a son to continue on the line of Durin, growing up with a sister gave him a soft spot and respect for femininity, too. A boy and a girl sounds perfect to him, Thorin’s little prince and princess. He would have such a hard time not softening his harsh ways and one hundred percent spoiling them, but the last thing he wants is to raise spoiled royalty with no humility!

Oin

Oin is so the type of father to have a big family and brag about them all the time! Five or six children. He’s the default carer when they get sick, being so good at treating any ailment or pain that they run to him upon feeling any sort of ill. Not picky about if he has boys or girls, ending up with two girls and three or four boys. All of them are welcome to become his apprentices and several even grew up playing ‘doctor’ for years beforehand! Literally Oin could be handling someone halfway to bleeding out and he’s still standing there staunching it saying how he has the best kids ever.

Gloin

The proudest father and family man in general! Cannot wait to have a family of his own and absolutely wants a son to be his mini-me. Has a special bond with his son as we all know. Gloin is happy to even have one child, but could be persuaded to go up to two or three. Would raise the toughest, shrewdest daughter as he shows her the ropes of getting out of uncomfortable situations and having the confidence to stand up for whatever she wants!

Bifur

A family is a future he never grew up expecting being a manual laborer and warrior. Parts of him weren’t even sure how long he’d live unless he got tough, which of course he did! One son sounds good to him, someone to pass on stories of battle and his ancestors to and shape as a fighter, though he also hopes if he has a family they would not be so forced to see war.

Bofur

Envies his brother’s family a bit, not that he wants quite so many! Bofur would be happy with two or three or four. He loves the idea of having a little girl, especially if she’s a tiny version of his partner, he would just melt at the sight of her. Total, though, he’s down for three or four, multiple but still small enough to feel cozy! Absolutely the type of father who lets his daughter dance with her feet on his and teases the kids whenever he can! Makes little hats for his sons so they can match.

Bombur

Going by the fanon/actor canon here as always, a lot. He’s so good with wee ones and just adores them, so he is down for as many as he’ll be allowed, even up to thirteen or fourteen! Because of this, he naturally wants several of both boys and girls, especially because girls are rarer among his people. So playful with them and a master of getting down to their level as a naturally lighthearted and whimsical person. He loves when the little ones help him cook or bake even if it gets messy!

Dori

The most caring father ever, forever doting on his children and making them feel loved, even if it’s a little much! His perfect number is two, one of each if he’s lucky but he’d be happy with two of the same, too. Dori grew up caring for both of his brothers for enough years, after all, but he also has the sneaking suspicion that with dwarven culture, his love for the finer things would be more likely passed on to daughters! Likes the idea of teaching skills like sewing or jewelry-making to whoever his offspring are.

Nori

Kind of suspects if he had a child, it might not be legitimate, but in the end he takes the plunge of settling down, feeling the urge as he ages to keep his bloodline on. One or two is enough for him, though, sons if he can help it, which being a dwarf he practically can! Realizes carrying a wee bairn around has a charm that lets him get away with even more than usual, and as they age teaches his little boys how to play games and even to cheat a little.

Ori

Softer, more caring than his middle brother, someone who fantasized about having a family if someone would have him. His vision is of four children, two of each. So patient with all the buzzing questions and curiosities of their young minds. All of them, boys or girls, will have the most enriching environments full of art and writing, being raised with culture over getting taught to fight. Since self-expression is encouraged, though, you can bet it’s a loud home!

Fili

Even beyond the weight of cultural expectations, Fili wants to experience being a father. Doesn’t have as strong a desire for a son as most kings and princes do, honoring his mother and what a great queen she would make. In fact, he loves the idea of raising a future queen more than king in some ways. She would be strong, resilient, free to be herself and not fall to the shadows beneath anyone if Fili has his way. He definitely wants more than one, though, and in fact ends up with twins, too! Identical twin sons he encourages both to train and explore as well as to mess with everyone by lying about which twin they are.

Kili

This dwarf loves his mother and is just dying to show his children the love he got and respect his partner especially if she’s the mother of his children! The idea of a family makes him happy like nothing else, for despite all his flirting and seeming like he wants to have fun he really wants to settle down with the love of his life. He wants at least one of each, loving different things about having a son and daughter. The kind of father who would play dress-up with his daughter and spar with her just as much as his son! All in all, he’s pretty open on numbers, but he wants at least two and the ideal range in his mind is around three to five.

Bilbo

Didn’t think he wanted children for a long time, but Bilbo is definitely the sort to change his mind if he meets the right person. Still would prefer a smaller family of one or two children, though, as more would be overwhelming to him and he wants to keep his home in order! Boy or girl, his kids would learn so many skills ranging from folding handkerchiefs to cartography. No strong preference from Bilbo on what he wants, per se, he more just hopes to have things in common with them and be able to bond.

Thranduil

Torn between his desire for an heir and not exactly paternal ways, Thranduil really only wants one child. All his attention can be focused that way, too, because at his heart he does know that duty makes it hard to be as involved as he could be with family and it would not be fair to have a massive family he can’t spend time with. Likes the idea of a son, again considering an heir, but a little girl would have the woodland king absolutely wrapped around her finger and get every pretty little thing she wants.

Bard

Pretty obvious on this one, but he would want three! Not so picky on having sons or daughters, especially when his legacy already has pressure upon it. In truth he’s the sort who wants ‘the full experience’ and says he’d want to try for one of each. Teaches all of his little family valuable skills, wishing them the best chance in life. They’ll learn to heal, defend themselves even if it’s not fighting, simply keeping safe.

Beorn

Intimidated as he is by the prospect of having children in a world that was so cruel to his people, his papa bear instincts run deep through his veins. I can see him having twins or even triplets, like a little litter all his own. I see triplets, two boys and a girl. Beorn cannot help the way his often harsh expression softens at his little ones, the hopeful smile that creeps onto his face at the thought of continuing the Skin Changers’ legacy through his sons and daughters, his name-bearers and the one who will choose her own.

Taglist: @kilibaggins @lokilover476 @fuckyoumakeart | Message/Reply to join 🥰

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luckycheesefoodie321 · 10 months

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Yknow what I appreciate about the big plot twist reveal scene in Fourth Wing?? (SPOILERS)

After the initial fallout where Violet is pissed off thinking they’d betrayed the country, and everyone is wary of THAT none of them jump to the usual dramatics of “please hear me out” and “she’s a threat now that she knows!”

The only times Violet really got aggressive was when Liam and Xaden tried to reach out and touch her. And they’re the only ones who really seemed concerned, but mostly on a personal level.

After that, everyone kept their distance and Violet was pissed but calm.

After they covered that venin exist, all the others were like “peace out this on Xaden to explain”

And like yeah at one point Xaden has to order them all away bc she had her zappy powers going and very little control over them given her emotional well-being. But they also didn’t say much to convince Xaden she was a lost cause.

Which shows a lot about how much faith they have in Violet. They could consider her a threat to their operation who needs to be eliminated because of how defensive she’s being.

But they know Violet.

She’s easily one of their smartest, shrewdest, and kindest in the quadrant. And of all people, Xaden Riorson fell for her.

Even if she feels personally betrayed by Xaden and Liam, they also must believe to some degree that she’ll believe in them. Understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. She’s someone who has gone out of her way to be understanding of the marked ones, even with her mother being who she is and her own personal trauma from the apostasy/secession.

So at the very least, they can trust in this person they’ve come to know to keep their secret and even go so far as to stand by their side in the war that is still being waged.

Maybe she won’t like Xaden or Liam for a while, which is why Imogen wishes Xaden luck with the explanation. Bc yikes that’s gonna take some work.

But they can trust their comrade. They can trust their fellow rider, Violet. Who has proved time and again what kind of person she is.

Someone they can trust to see their side.

So yeah I thought that was a nice touch.

#fourth wing #spoilers #booktok #violet sorrengail #xaden riorson #xadenviolet #liam mairi #rebecca yarros

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muzaktomyears · 14 days

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Paul came across in 1963 as a fun-loving, footloose bachelor who turned on his charm to devastating effect when he wanted to manipulate rivals, colleagues or women he fancied. (...) He had enormous powers of persuasion within The Beatles. He would get his own way by subtlety and suaveness where John resorted to shouting and bullying. John may have been the loudest Beatle but Paul was the shrewdest. I watched him twist the others round to his point of view in all sorts of contentious situations, some trivial, some more significant, some administrative, some creative. George told me that when he joined Paul and John in the line-up of The Quarry Men in 1958, Paul was already acting as though he was the decision-maker in the group. According to George: "I knew perfectly well that this was John's band and John was my hero, my idol, but from the way Paul talked he gave every indication that he was the real leader, the one who dictated what The Quarry Men would do and where they should be going as a group." This made sense to me because, from what I saw for myself in 1963 and later, Paul's opinions and ideas tended to prevail with The Beatles, particularly on matters of musical policy such as whether a new number was worth recording or whether the running order for the group's stage show needed altering slightly. I didn't see any of the others resist him. They seemed to welcome Paul getting his way by winning arguments with John. When Paul wanted something badly enough from Brian Epstein he would speak softly, wooing the man rather than intimidating him. Epstein's defences would melt away as Paul looked him straight in the eye. In terms of song lyrics, Paul's idea of romantic was 'Michelle', John's was 'Norwegian Wood'.

John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me: The Real Beatles Story, Tony Barrow (2005)

#eating it up with a spoon #particularly quarrymen paul #and the brian stuff #john&paul #paul mccartney #george harrison #brian epstein #john lennon #tony barrow #books

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nohoperadio · 1 month

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"Straight" (meaning hetero) was an absolute stroke of genius, genuinely one of the shrewdest coinings in the history of the English language. It's all things to all people. Gays who want to express antipathy toward the straight world can take advantage of the derisive connotations "pedestrian", "conformist", "unremarkable", "simple". But homophobic straights will happily apply it to themselves too, latching onto the side of the word that implies "lawful", "upstanding", "honest". (Naturally this is distasteful to us, but the ability to play both sides against the middle is a strength in a word that aims to become the consensus canonical term for this kind of thing). At the same time, it can sound neutral enough to be used with no particular agenda attached, so that even in communities where sexuality is becoming less of a sociological battlefield it shows no sign of becoming obsolete. And all this while being simply a normal-ass word that doesn't sound either too slangy or too technical. A tour de force, it's like straight was born to fill this semantic niche, ten out of ten, mwah.

"Cis"--look, I take no pleasure in this, but if you think people are going to be saying cis fifty years from now you're insane. As close to a zero out of ten as a word can get. Doesn't look like a word, doesn't feel like a word, feels like a fishbone in the mouth (don't lie to me, yes it does). Cold, thin, opaque. Feels like a word designed by committee, and the committee had only a passing familiarity with the English language (which someone hurriedly researched specifically for the project). Indelibly a piece of terminology, not a natural outgrowth of speech. People deliberately plan out their sentences in such a way as to avoid having to say this word, and do you honestly blame them?

I hope to god something better is on the horizon, this is such an important lexical role in the year 2024 and I cringe to see the position filled by this clueless fucking dilettante.

#uninteresting

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circinuus · 1 year

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Hi, I saw that your requests for bsd is open so I wanted to ask you if you could do "Fyodor with a little sister (18-19) who's dating Dazai"?

fyodor with a little sister who's dating dazai

0.3k words. fem! reader

❥ heya anon! i hope you don't mind the bulleted headcanons format. thank you for the rq! and sorry this one came out pretty gloomy and short

Be ready because your relationship might not be a smooth sailing. Fyodor won't be happy, that much is likely. He won't let just any man woo his baby sister. At least the lucky chap has to be on par with him (and that is a lot because your brother is teetering on the brink of a god complex, or has he fallen off?)

He gets a taste of his own medicine because you chose a man so similar, yet a complete opposite to him, Dazai Osamu.

There's no point in hiding anything from your brother. The same way goes for Dazai. They'll know sooner or later that you're a Dostoevsky—on Dazai's part—and that you're romantically engaged with Dazai Osamu—on Fyodor's part. In case you tried making it a secret.

It's possible that Dazai approached you out of convenience and interest. At first. But even the best marksman may miss, and even the shrewdest mastermind may miscalculate; Dazai somehow fell for you and so did you for him. Impressive, considering you should be more than capable of seeing past his manipulation and sweet words. Especially because demon Fyodor is your brother. And that is all the more reason your relationship is not a miscalculation; it has never been a mistake and it will never be.

You may fall first, but Dazai will fall harder. Dazai calls your brother "demon." If he didn't fall hard, he won't keep on staying and going through thick and thin with you.

On Fyodor's part, at some point he thinks Dazai is just trying to attack his weakness—you. You are illusioned and simply charmed by that bandaged man, especially since you're younger. Regardless of what he thinks, only you know what's inside your heart and mind.

Fyodor won't stop you. he'll let you run into the arms of the man you love. But it will be a matter of time before he somehow pries you away from Dazai. Either through a situation that calls for it, some mind game that manages to influence your opinion on your beloved, or only God knows what your brother has in mind.

Not that Dazai will let that.

But the fact doesn't change. With Fyodor's big plan coming to motion, it's best to haste and make your choice. Your brother will only want the best for you. But in the end, love will prevail if you persevere enough.

tl;dr fyodor will be the man with the nastiest stink eye when you and dazai walk down the aisle💀

♡ @ashthemadwriter

#bungou stray dogs x reader #bsd x reader #dazai osamu x reader #dazai x reader #fyodor dostoyevsky bsd

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the-badger-mole · 8 months

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hey, since you answer on different scenarios, i was wondering, what about a scenario where Zuko realizes the fate of his nation and instead of joining the avatar, chooses to instead dispose of Ozai and lead his nation to peace himself? In this scenario, FN technically doesn't lose and hence the Gaang has to resort to politics and negotiations to save the world. How would that go, in your opinion?

Also, could zutara happen then?

Thanx

In this scenario, I don't think the Fire Nation would be a threat. Not in the same way it was in the show. I think Zuko would end the war in large part because of what it was doing to his country. Under Zuko's reign, I think the Fire Nation in that case would become very isolated for a few years. It would be Iroh's influence that would get Zuko to start accepting delegations from the other nations and start talks of official peace treaties, reparations and trade. His focus with the reparations would be on the parts of the Earth Kingdom that had been colonized, or otherwise damaged by the war, the remains of the Air Nomads, and the Southern Water Tribe.

Katara, Toph, and Aang arrive as part of their country's delegations. Aang's there because he's the Avatar, but he arrives with the Air Nomad representatives; Toph is there with her parents and a few other delegates from the Earth Kingdom, but she's clearly one of the shrewdest ones in that team; Katara is the representative for the SWT (Sokka makes an appearance, but he's been named Chief Hakoda's successor, and his wife, Suki just gave birth, so he's not there for long). There is some intrigue with some Fire Nation nobles feeling a way about Fire Lord Zuko's peace negotiations and reparations, and a few Earth Kingdom rogues who don't feel like Zuko is going far enough to recompensate the Earth Kingdom. There are assassination attempts, and balls, and possibly an appearance or two from our favorite masked alter egos. And yes, some romance does blossom along the way.

#atla #zutara #i'd call it 'phoenix rising'#maybe...#THE YEAR OF CONTENT!!!!

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cross-my-heartt · 1 year

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I've been wondering: would the batch still have been betrayed by Cid if they had Crosshair with them? Crosshair seems like the most mistrustful of them and the one who's quickest to assume the worst of people (see the way he treats Rex in tcw).

He also seems like the type who doesn't like to take risks or leave loose ends, something that's served to highlight his more sinister side during his time with the Empire.

So I wonder if in a scenario where he was with them, he wouldn't have sniffed out how untrustworthy Cid was from the start or at least convinced them to cut ties with her sooner, and for good. Maybe even threatened her to keep her mouth shut for good measure.

I mean it's heartwarming how willing Omega was to help Cid out multiple times and there's something to be said about people's trust and kindness changing others for the better, something we all suspected would happen with Cid and may even happen still, even though I think it would take a lot of convincing for the fans to forgive her after what she's done.

But at the end of the day, what happened with Cid just goes to show that you can't trust some people or that you should at least be wary of their intentions and know how to read them. And something tells me that Crosshair was the man to go to in that regard.

Hunter is cautious but Crosshair takes it a step further. His ability to consider contingencies and take precautions makes him almost dangerous as we saw every time he was able to corner the batch in season 1.

So I'm willing to believe that not having that to their advantage left the batch on the back foot.

(I also love the fics that take this idea and run with it, making Crosshair able to read micro expressions and tell when someone is lying. Like yes please, top tier headcanon. The character with the keen eyesight being the shrewdest as well? I'm here for it.)

#tbb #the bad batch #tbb crosshair #tbb cid #tbb meta #my meta #tbb season 2 #the bad batch season 2 #tbb spoilers #the bad batch spoilers #this isn't the meta I meant to write #but it's the one we're getting #for now

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mysteryshoptls · 9 months

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SSR Azul Ashengrotto - Birthday Boy Vignette

"Happy Birthday"

[Octavinelle Dorm – Birthday Party Venue]

NRC School Newspaper Special Feature: Interview with the Birthday Boy ～Azul Version～

Happy Birthday

Azul: Oh, my. Thank you for taking the trouble.

How is the party?

Azul: I am rather enjoying it, thank you. This kind of liveliness reminds me of the birthday parties I'd have back home.

Did you always have a large celebration back home?

Azul: Indeed. My family owns a restaurant, you see.

Azul: When I was younger, every year on my birthday, we would close the restaurant and celebrate it together with the staff.

Azul: The decorations and music were top notch… But the best part of it all was the largest table in the restaurant completely packed with my favorite foods.

Azul: "Eat that, eat this…"

Azul: When I think back to it now, I wish I had put up even a bit of a protest to how much food it was…

Azul: However, when I was a child, I was so elated without a care in the world.

What is your family like? Please tell us all about each of them.

Azul: My mother manages the restaurant. I believe when she started it, it was a rather small place, but…

Azul: Before long, it was the top rated, most popular restaurant in the Coral Sea, boasting a rather large staff.

Azul: It must all be thanks to her immense talent in cooking, not to mention her brilliant managerial skills.

Azul: She is also quite invested in the Mostro Lounge. Don't you think it is spectacular to be able to work together as parent and child?

Azul: Next, we have my stepfather… As he is my mother's second husband, we are not related by blood.

Azul: He is a lawyer, and they met while my mother was going through her divorce proceedings.

Azul: No one can truly predict what may happen in life, can they?

Azul: He is a kind and sincere person, yes… But when it comes to his work, he is the shrewdest person I know!

Azul: He would often instruct me in contracts and laws. He gets along very well with my mother, and I find he is someone I can truly respect.

Azul: Lastly, my grandmother. Mine is a family of mages, but her magic is spectacular.

Azul: She would often use her magic to assist our neighbors with their woes.

Azul: That's right… She is a benevolent person, just like yours truly.

Azul: Everyone in my family may have their own strong personality, but they are each so incredibly talented. They truly are a family I can be proud of.

[Octavinelle Dorm – Birthday Party Venue]

Please tell me something you're particular about when it comes to the Mostro Lounge.

Azul: Hm, there is a lot I could choose from… But if I were to choose something, I suppose it would be the tableware.

Azul: Not only is the quality of the flavor important when it comes to a dish, but so is the presentation.

Azul: No matter how delicious the food, if the tableware you use to present it is subpar, it loses some of its charm.

Azul: That is the reason why most of the tableware that the Mostro Lounge uses comes from a high-end brand.

Azul: ...Looking back on it, it was a difficult few days preparing for the grand opening of the Lounge.

Azul: I gathered data from popular restaurants and sent staff to visit various tableware manufacturers,

Azul: And looked at sample after sample…

Azul: Well, at least it is thanks to that continued hardship that I was able to collect such wonderful tableware.

I didn't realize that was a thing to even think about…

Azul: Fufu… That's absolutely fine. If you were to learn the price of our teacups, you wouldn't even be able to hold it so casually.

Azul: You do not need to worry yourself with the individual worth of our tableware.

Azul: That attention to detail that we provide adds to the luxurious setting of our Lounge.

Azul: However… Sometimes Floyd will carelessly break the tableware we so painstakingly collected.

Azul: I've cautioned him so many times, and yet… Really, what a troublesome guy.

Sounds like a handful.

Azul: Well, I do still try to take breaks occasionally.

What do you do during your breaks...?

Azul: I read in my room.

Azul: In order to relax, I turn down the lights and thread through the autobiographies of businessmen that I borrowed from the library.

Azul: Also, I've filled my room with my favorite kinds of decorations and collections…

Azul: So just being able to gaze at them sets my heart at ease and puts me in a good mood.

[Octavinelle Dorm – Birthday Party Venue]

Do you have a hobby?

Azul: That would be coin collecting. I've had that hobby for quite some time now.

When did you begin?

Azul: When…? Ah, I remember now. It began when I found a coin near a sunken ship as a child.

Azul: At first, I merely believed it to be an ordinary coin from the surface…

Azul: But once I studied up on it, I learned it was a commemorative coin from this one country in which only 100 of the were made.

Azul: The face value of the coin is 100 madol.

Azul: However, to a collector, this would be a premium item that could be worth up to 500,000 madol! (5,000 Thaumarks)

Azul: Once I learned of the existence of these kinds of coins, I began to collect them.

Azul: Based on the history and material it is cast out of, these coins can be worth more than what their face value is… Is that not absolutely fascinating?

That is pretty cool. About how many do you have now?

Azul: I believe somewhere around 200 now. Coins that I am especially taken with I have framed.

Azul: Incidentally, since the value of coins isn't as influenced by the market, this hobby is good for in terms of keeping assets, as well.

Do you have any other hobbies?

Azul: Let me think… I suppose I like board games.

Azul: Back when I first enrolled here and was looking for a club to join, I visited the Board Game club.

Azul: That's where I met Idia-san… Well, more Ortho-san standing beside him―

Azul: And they introduced me to a game which simulated commercial transactions.

Azul: I immediately thought, "This will cultivate my business acumen even further!" and joined the club right there and then.

Azul: I've played many games with this club now…

Azul: So I believe I've been able to build up a considerable amount of mettle when the time comes for me to step into the fray.

Azul: Although above anything else, I've found that it's quite enjoyable to send my opponent spiraling into defeat with my intellect. Fufufu...

You seem to have a ton of interests.

Azul: Well, who knows what may be beneficial to my businesses.

Azul: It is always best to try to experience everything I possibly can.

Thank you for sharing everything. Once more, Happy Birthday.

Requested by @pianostarinwonderland.

#twisted wonderland #twst #azul ashengrotto #twst azul #twst translation #twst birthday #mention: floyd #mention: idia #mention: ortho

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outofangband · 11 months

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(edit: I had to repost this because of a few stupid errors!)

the long awaited (not really) second publishing/draft of my infamous Fetch story :)

CW: dehumanization, public humiliation, mention of bones, minor gore/injuries

Angband world building and aftermath of captivity masterlist

“You heard me, elf!” Gothmog roared, flicking his whip so it landed inches away from Maitimo’s left wrist so a flurry of sparks landed upon his hand and arm, “Crawl to the other side of the hall and fetch.” The last word was accompanied by yet another strike with his whip. This one did not miss, intentionally or otherwise and Maitimo yelled in pain as a line of his flesh sizzled.

The elf panted. Every time he had attempted to struggle to his feet, the whips of the balrog general and a few of its cohorts had knocked him back down to his hands and knees. It had long since been made clear that he would not be allowed to leave, to rest, until he fulfilled the order. Glaring would do no good, not that this stopped him.

Maitimo crawled forward a few inches, stomach turning as he eyed the pile of singed clothes and bones that had been left by another captain. One of the bones was out of place, this the one Gothmog had thrown in frustration before the idea for this little game had come to him when Maitimo had refused to beg.

There were only so many taunting remarks about the High King of the Noldor on his hands and knees like a hound before they...mostly...lost effect.

He had grown to despise and fear the balrog general almost as much as his master and the lieutenant. The demon seemed to be the only one of his kin with the knowledge or ability to speak any elven tongues and he too was by far the shrewdest, the most cruel. Maitimo had felt a hatred for him from the moment of his capture when he had arrived with his own party and heard the taunts of his own father’s death.

He supposed he was only to be glad that the Dark Lord himself was not here to witness this particular game of debasement.

There was a tension in the air that crackled like the balrogs’ own flaming whips. Maitimo grimaced, looked down at his hands and arms, both covered in welts and burns from the whips. He bent his head, his hair falling over his eyes and closed his teeth around the bone. This was not the first time they had played this little game. Nor would it be the last.

When the bone was lifted from the ground, the hall exploded into the rumbling laughter of the balrogs, so intense that Maitimo nearly dropped it. Gothmog had risen from the curved iron he had been seated upon, watching the prisoner intently.

“Good little elf, now bring it to me,” the high captain rumbled, “Drop it at my feet like a good dog and I will give our master a good word, tell Him his prize has seen the futility of its earlier disobedience.”

The pain of the whips, his exhaustion and all the indignities they had yet to inflict on him seemed to no longer matter. All he felt was his sudden anger. The bone fell with a clatter from his mouth between his arms. For a moment he thought of grasping it and flinging it across the room at the high captain. But this was difficult with the chain connecting his hands, giving him enough space between them that he could crawl but certainly not enough to throw something.

Naked with his hands shackled as they were there was no position he could manage that would afford him any dignity. Nevertheless he turned back to Gothmog, raising himself onto his knees with his palms on his thighs, the submission in his posture sarcastic enough to annoy his tormentor.

“Wrong choice, little kinslayer,” the balrog general hissed and the whips came down on him again. The agony and heat was, Maitimo knew, a mercy compared to what he would endure later.

When Gothmog grabbed the long chain, Maitimo felt the iron collar about his neck burn from the proximate heat. He yelled once more.

Bits of his skin speckled the floor around him as he was dragged forwards towards the throne room. At one point his body seizes, his limbs twitching as they flail. The balrog actually stops at this, gripping Maitimo by a fistful of his hair. Vaguely the elf registers that he has not been burnt to nothing, a previous suspicion, that the demon could control his fire, confirmed.

When he is next aware of himself Maitimo finds himself back upon the smooth floor of the Nethermost Hall, at the foot of that terrible throne and the steps ascending to it. What sits upon the obsidian thing is more awful still. Weakened, diminished it was claimed Moringotto was but even such the aura of ancient, dreadful power is palpable in the air, choking Maitimo.

Gothmog holds his leash, a demon stark and bright in the gloom of its master.

“I killed its sire, My Lord,” the balrog says, “I will gladly snuff it out too. Or do you want it back in its cell?”

The Vala stands, shadows shifting around Him as He does.

“What condition is our guest in?”

“Poor, Master,” Gothmog replies, “A shame. It was doing so well in learning obedience before it decided to be stubborn. It will be of no use as a thrall in the mines with its leg in tatters and it will not yet obey well enough for more delicate work but I am certain we, or you, My Lord, could find some use for it still.”

“No matter,” the Vala says softly, “My messenger was slain by the Fëanorian host. When we, in a show of such generosity...” the almost lilt of this word in the strange voice that spoke it was followed by a whisper of laughter from the watching denizens, “Send a second, no reply would they send. Our little king is going nowhere. There is time to teach obedience yet.”

(author’s note: I tend to use more common grammar for the servants of Angband and older English for Melkor to indicate that he’s speaking in a higher and older form of Quenya when he’s speaking to Maedhros or that he’s occasionally speaking in Valarin)

second author’s note: yes the bone is elven, yes it’s probably from someone Maedhros knows

#the silmarillion #maedhros #gothmog #morgoth #melkor #in the iron hell #short writings #cw abuse #cw violence

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