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vampyrsm · 2 years

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'Primordial.' (5.2k) dragon king!bakugou katsuki x female reader

warnings: primal kink, heavy nordic themes/norse gods mentioned, norse words, barbarian/tribal practises, blood as body paint, violence, chasing, i give reader tattoos, arranged marriage, bakugou is mean at first, asphyxiation, blood pact, outdoor sex, biting, marking, pussy eating, rimming (f!receiving), vaginal sex, breeding kink, brief spanking, creampie.

author notes: just a tiny glossary: blót (blood sacrifice), Óðinn (Old Norse for Odin), Valkyrjur (Old Norse for Valkyries). I try to keep it to a minimum/one-time use since I know it can get a bit confusing infusing two different languages.

➼ 'kinktober 2022 masterlist'

Sparking embers.

Black ash dashed across the ground.

The beat of the heavy drums, accompanied by the tribesmen and women's voices. It was quite the ceremony, a show of wealth and power. It had to be spectacular for an event that happened when a new King was to be ushered in and they were demanded to try and bind the ties between the rival tribe. The ceremony was to last for 9 long days and nights, including a blót sacrificing goats and boars to offer the blood of the innocent up to the Gods of the Nine Worlds. If they were to look down upon such an occasion, they perhaps would bless the tribe with an unbreakable bond between two warring tribes.

Tonight marked the 5th night of the ceremony, this was the first time the King himself would emerge from his hut. It always drew in the biggest of crowds, to see the man who was promised to bring even the World Serpent down onto its belly before him. The King who was promised was a spectacular breed indeed, rumoured to be part dragon himself as well as the only man known to have a kinship with the great beasts. There had never been as much faith in bringing an end to the thousand-year war until Bakugou Katsuki was born.

The wooden door of his hut slammed open, the crowds silenced in mere seconds—awaiting his arrival. The low rumble of the drums in the background was second to the roaring in everyone's blood at the prospect of being in the same vicinity as a man who was rumoured to be part dragon. No one's eyes strayed from the door when they heard his heavy footsteps, his stature so large he had to duck down beneath the doorframe before standing to his full height.

Before them stood the King, his ashen blonde hair on his head which was decorated handsomely, the thick plaits of hair adorning bands of metal at the ends, the sides of his shaven with intricate details etched into his hair. The top of his hair was flattened by the heavy bone crown he was wearing. It made him look impossibly bigger, quite the fitting image for the man they named the Dragon King. It was tradition for both parties in this exchange to be stripped down to bare themselves to the eyes of the Gods with the exception of covering their genitals with a cloth.

His muscles bulged beneath the solid golden rings tightened around his biceps, shoulders rolling as he eyed the crowd. The red on his body could be mistaken as paint but anyone could see the way it dried and cracked—it was blood. It wrapped around his biceps and forearms in thick bands, a strip trailing down from his bottom lip along his throat until it reached his sternum. His thighs were covered in intricate designs, swirling paintings of dragons and fire. Around his neck were most definitely fangs from various animals he had hunted successfully, a trophy to display his sheer power.

Bakugou kept his shoulders squared, eyes focused on the crackling bonfire in the distance. Just beyond there was his future, his destiny, the true end to the war that claimed his parents. Whilst he was a man with the belief he should be with who he wanted, he couldn't deny the fact that joining with the Queen of another tribe wouldn't help his own tribe strive. The beat of the drums grew louder once he began his walk towards the bonfire, the songs getting louder once again and his blood stirred with anticipation. He had never seen this Queen before but had only heard of the stories of how she was formidable, quite the warrior who had been rumoured to rip a man's head off with her bare hands. It had made him hard hearing that particular story.

The fire was warm against his skin, the blood that was the freshest on his skin shimmering in the amber light. The music was the loudest here, the chanting in their old language fuelling the ancient blood coursing through his veins. He couldn't quite see the Queen yet, but he could see her tribe were just on the other side of the bonfire. They spanned out far and wide, Bakugou let his eyes drag over them slowly to see they too were jovial about the occasion but he didn't miss the weapons on their hilts. They were ready to kill if needed.

A hollering whoop followed by the billowing of a horn brought his attention back before him, his feet slow as he carried himself around the fire. Now he could see a figure just on the other side yet the fire kept their features obscured, they were moving in time with him. A game of cat and mouse, but who was the cat and who would be the dead mouse at the end of it? The idea had Bakugou's hackles rising, a tickle at the back of his neck telling him to take control of the situation before he lets this stranger think she was the more powerful of the pair.

Through the hissing flames, he caught sight of a pair of eyes, they looked just as ravenous as a wolf. He continued to circle around the bonfire, the sound of the crowds singing and chanting fading to nothing in comparison to the pounding of the blood in his head. The voice that told him to take what was his, to lay claim to this woman in front of everyone to show he is The Dragon King. It was as if he were stuck in a trance, blood-red eyes locked and muscles were drawn tight like a bow. The air was tense, the drums providing the rhythm to which his heart raced, it felt no different to when he went hunting.

There was something in the air.

Then it snapped.

With a twist of your ankle, you turned around back towards the forest of foreboding trees where shadows danced and lurked within. The chanting grew louder, with long high notes that some would mistake as screeches, it only signalled the beginning of the hunt.

Bakugou's body was ready, his eyes honed onto your back as you vanished into the tree line. He was much larger than you, he knew that much from just looking at you but he saw how quick you were on your feet. If he didn't start the chase now, he may end up losing you to the darkness of the night. So he ran. The sound of the chanting and drums quickly replaced with the rush of wind by his ears, the pounding of his bare feet on the ground.

This primitive feeling made Bakugou feel alive, it stripped away the armour many wore for protection, stripped them down to their barebones to be bared to the world. He knew he could very well die in this forest if he allows you to get the upper hand and the Dragon had no intention of bowing its head to someone who was just a measly wolf.

Bakugou had always had a keen sense of smell, granted these gifts from his ancestors who shared blood with dragons, and so he followed a sweet smell. A smell had come to realise was you, and oh how he longed to sink his teeth into the flesh that smelled so fresh, like a field of wildflowers.

Darting in and out of the trees, uncaring for the way twigs snapped and scratched his skin. It was second nature for the blonde to be running through the forest, having run through it a thousand times before as a child. He had grown up in the dirt, always returning home to his mother shivering and coated in streaks of mud from his tussles with who is now known as his chieftain; Kirishima Eijirou. Growing up with the boy who was rumoured to have skin that was harder than rocks granted Bakugou the opportunity to harness his strength. To really grow into his role as future King.

The smell of rain was fresh on the mossy undergrowth beneath Bakugou's feet, and the fog clung low to the floor swirling around his body with each step he took. Some would think these are conditions for failure, surely no one could track in horrid weather? Sure. That may be the case for the average man, but Bakugou Katsuki was no man. He was a monster, a beast with an appetite for the hunt. His eyes were sharp, snapping towards the sound of a branch snapping in the distance and finally, he could see it.

The fog was being disturbed to his left, a little further ahead but nonetheless, he had found his target. A vicious grin broke out on his face, sharpened canine teeth on show before he abruptly switched paths so he was directly behind you. He could see you much clearer now, you were nearly as naked as he was and yet you didn't care when your calf scratched against the low-hanging branches. He could practically taste your blood on his tongue, the end of a long war that was probably older than time itself, he was going to be the one to end it.

Bakugou's eyes strayed from you for a split second when he passed by something, a red strip of cloth that had been tied around a tree. His grin returned tenfold, that cloth was his own, and you were running unknowingly directly towards a dead-end. The forest itself actually climbed up part of the mountain his village was nestled against, it was the perfect spot. They could never be attacked from behind, and it always took a while for anyone to breach through the woods to find the village, by then Bakugou was already aware of their presence and was making quick work of slaughtering them.

And just as he suspected as he burst through the treeline, you snapped your head around to stare at him with wide eyes that made you look more like a fearful doe than a fearsome wolf. His grin was malicious, the dried blood on his skin cracking with the movement. Slowly your steps started to mirror his own, circling each other like wild animals. "Come, Fenrir," Bakugou snarks, watching the way your eyebrows furrow and you erupt in a snarl that most definitely is fitting of the name Fenrir.

"You dare invoke his name?" you speak for the first time and Bakugou has to keep the grin on his face malicious, you sound just as vicious as he but somehow more regal—a true Queen and he wants to make you his. "If I'm Fenrir, you must be Týr."

Bakugou can't help but puff his chest out at that, slapping a large hand against the meat of his pec with a grunt. It was an honour to be called Týr, the god of war and justice, he was considered the bravest of the Gods and Bakugou can agree that he is no different to the God. "Make your move, wolf."

And you do. Bakugou rears his head back when you launch yourself at him, feet bounding across the floor with one arm drawn back that allows him to see the way your muscles move. The tattoos displayed on your skin were a sign of your years in the war, a band for every leader you had killed—and you had eight. It stoked the fire beneath the dragon's belly in his blood and made him roar in excitement when your fist collided with his jaw.

Bakugou took a stumbling step back, foot swiping through the mossy undergrowth before his head snapped back towards you. The blood on his teeth spread as did his grin, a blossoming red mark on his jaw that would surely turn into a blackened bruise come sunrise. His eyes were wide, pupils eating the crimson red. His excitement was palpable, you were the perfect woman for him. How didn't he come across you sooner? He had killed thousands of your men and you did the same to his own, so just how didn't he find you earlier.

He's ready this time when you swing your fist again, batting away with his forearm. He has to give it to you, you're strong. He feels his muscles tense and ripples with the effort he has to use to make sure he isn't caught off-guard again. It continues like that for a few more seconds, you attempting to break through his defence and you seem to shift a little on your feet before Bakugou's grunting at the blossoming pain in his ribs. Your foot hooks against his side, and he's too quick for you to withdraw your leg.

His big meaty hand hooks around your knee, and suddenly you're falling back onto your back with a loud thud. Bakugou bears his weight down onto you, the crown shifting on his head slightly when he glares down his nose at you with gums and teeth on show. His spare hand comes down around your throat, thick fingers squishing into your skin and you realise you can't breathe. Your hands scratching at his forearm, your legs kicking fruitlessly on either side of his hips that he nestled neatly against your own.

"What's wrong, wolf? Did you think you were any match for a dragon?" he sneers, enjoying the way your eyes fill with desperate tears. He leans in closer, the pressure growing on your throat and he can see the way you're seconds away from eating in the Great Hall. "Say it. Yield to me."

He watches the way you battle in your own mind, how your eyes grow hazier the more you lose precious seconds of air and he wonders for a second if maybe the Seer was wrong in reading what was to become of this ceremony. Were you about to throw away your life because of your pride? Bakugou can't fault you for it.

Your lips curl into a vicious snarl, he wonders if maybe you will curse him with your final breath; send him to Hel where he may never rest with his family in Valhalla. Your tongue brushes against your teeth, all stained in a pretty pink shade of blood. "I—" it's a gasp, barely a whisper and Bakugou does you the courtesy of leaning down, turning his head so his ear was next to your lips. He can hear the way your throat contracts, "I yield." you manage, and his hand releases you immediately.

Bakugou pulls his head up enough to allow you to breathe again, hands clutching at your throat whilst you suck in greedy gulps of breath only to cough them back up. All the whilst he finally gets a good look at you, you were unbelievably beautiful. Nothing quite like the women of his own village, you had a different air to you. You were a warrior just like him, but you were so much more. You had the most gentle of features when you weren't scowling, the face of a mother to his kids he realises.

That single thought has his hips rutting involuntarily, nostrils flaring at the smell of your own arousal from where you're wedged beneath him. Your warm breath clouds in the cold of the night when you pant in response, Bakugou's eyes snapping up from the sprawling of tattoos on your thighs to meet your own eyes. It was a tense moment, the air easily capable of being sliced with a sword. It reminded Bakugou of what it was like when he saw wild animals before they attacked—waiting for the other to attack first, to slip up and make a mistake.

The Dragon rumbles with a growl, content with the thought that he had won over the wolf and Bakugou makes the grave mistake of directing his eyes downwards. It all happens far too quickly for Bakugou to react, his back presses harshly into the soggy floor filled with mud and dirt. His eyes are wide, teeth bared when he realises he's looking up at the silhouette of your face as you perch above. The sharp edge of the rock is pressed to his throat, each time he swallows he can feel it scratch against the skin there.

"The dragon may befriend the wolf, even break the wolf." You snarl down at him, billowing clouds of warmed breath beating down on Bakugou's face. "But you will never truly tame the wolf. I will never be just your wife, if you're to be my King then I demand your every second. You will not sneak off with others."

Bakugou keeps his eyes trained on your own, the sharp edge of the rock pressing a little harder when his hand shifts upwards. Your eyes are wide with a warning, one he knows you're not bluffing on. He raises his hands slowly until they're on either side of his head, palm upwards towards you. "I would never dream of putting you second to anyone." He speaks honestly, shocking even himself at how easily it comes off of his tongue.

"Swear it," you hiss, shifting your weight on his hips has the man inwardly groaning at the lack of clothing between the two of you. He can feel just how warm you are. The rock is gone from his throat before a copper smell hits his nose, he looks from your face to your palm to see a jagged yet deep cut into the palm of your hand. "Swear it with your blood, in front of Óðinn."

You let him take the rock from your hands, uncaring for the way the blood curled around your wrist and dripped all the way down to your elbow. Bakugou slowly sat up, your hips moving to rest on his thighs whilst he stared down at you. This was a serious thing, to declare it in front of the All-Father would lock him into this pact for life. The slice along his palm stings, before he's raising his own hand up in a similar fashion to you.

"I, Bakugou Katsuki, swear it." His palm slides into your own, the wet mixture of both his blood and your own making it slippery before he links his fingers with your own. The throbbing in his hand is painful, the more he squeezes the more blood drips down his arm. Yet he can't take his eyes away from you, the way the moon peaks through the treetops and paints you in a white light that dapples across your skin.

Much to his surprise, you're the first to lean towards him. His eyes close when your lips press to his, you taste of blood and salt, he can taste the wine on your tongue that you must've drunk before the ceremony started. Your hands slip apart, your blood-drenched hand imprinting itself against the side of his neck whilst both of his hands cup your face. Bakugou can't get enough of you, he was no virgin and he had his fair share of women but there was something more here. It felt like he was bathing in divine light, the hand you dragged along his neck to smear him in your own blood felt like it was on fire.

You don't fight him when he lowers you onto your back this time, his hands cradle your head however this time. Something has shifted between the two of you as you continue to share your soul with him through the way your tongue rolls over his own. Now situated on the ground does his hands start to wander, trailing one hand of blood and the other of calloused warmth down along your body. You do not fight him when he pulls away the cloth on your breasts, revealing them to the cold air whilst his thumbs roll over your nipples to feel the way they harden.

But his hands don't stop there, they continue their conquest downwards until he feels the cloth at your waist. It's a thin thing, not really meant to protect or hide anything. So when Bakugou's non-bloodied hand reaches between your thighs, he's greeted with his prize for sealing the pact with you. You're unbelievably warm between here, and wet, it has him groaning against your lips as his fingers delicately delve between your lips to spread your slick back and forth in tantalizingly slow strokes.

He swallows your warm panting breaths, his lips parted in a similar fashion when he just allows himself to admire you. You're splayed out on the floor before him, chest gently heaving with each intake of breath you take and your thighs are already clutching against his sides in an attempt to pull him in closer. But Bakugou has other plans in mind, he slowly descends down along your body with searing kisses against your flushed hot skin in the cold of the night.

Now finally with his stomach on the ground, he hoists your legs once again, but this time over his shoulders. Neither of you feels embarrassed with how he buries his face between your legs, taking a deep breath in of your natural essence before his tongue lays flat from the bottom of your dripping wet heat all the way to your clit that he gives a cheeky flick of his tongue.

Your entire body jolts, the whole chase and run-up to what was to be yours had your body as tight as a bowstring. Your toes curl fruitlessly against the flat of his back, his shoulders rolling when he wraps both his arms around your thighs to lock you into place. The sight between your thighs is sinful, his red eyes are staring up at you through locks of loosened blonde hair and his crown is lopsided on his head. He looks much more like a beast of a man now that he has you in his grasp.

It's far too late once you realise the hold he has you in, his mouth descends upon you and your entire stomach tenses, your thighs attempting to crush either side of his head whilst the blunt of his nails curl into the flesh of your thighs. He's sucking on your clit, and hard, and just when it gets too much he lowers his tongue down to press between your lips and suckle on the sweet nectar you're providing him with. All the whilst his eyes are locked onto yours, it feels like you're being drawn into his very soul the longer you're held there.

He groans when you finally let a moan slip past your lips, the deep rumble of his throat has it vibrating against your pussy and you writhe in his grasp once again. He can't get enough of you, you tasted better than any sweet fruit he had tried, and you sounded what he imagined the valkyrjur to sound like. You were his own small Valhalla, laid out on the wet ground of sticks and moss, uncaring for the way you moaned into the night sky.

Bakugou couldn't stop the rut of his hips into the ground when he ducked his head lower, venturing with his tongue further and the noise he was rewarded with was enough to continue. His tongue pressed against your puckered hole, letting his saliva drip from the tip of it until it drenched you entirely before he pressed further. Your hand came to his hair immediately, knocking the crown free from his head but he couldn't care for it, not when your fingers sink down to his scalp and you pull.

"K.. Katsuki." The way his name rolls off of your tongue has him groaning against you again, his hips pressing harder into the ground in an attempt to stave off the sudden urge to cum. "Stop wasting time, and fuck me already." He can hear the growl in your words but it's overshadowed by the way you whine, you sound too breathless to be the scary wolf you wish to portray yourself as.

But still, he chuckles against you before pulling his head back. "You have no patience," he chides gently, grinning wider at the glare you shoot his way but he's moving back up your body despite this. He lowers himself down so his forearms are caging your head with his own, his thighs spread your legs wide across his hips. He finds himself admiring you once again, the wet sheen to your lips from his previous ministrations, the way your eyes are essentially fully blown as you stare up at him.

You flinch when he shifts his hips closer, the tip of his cock delicately rubbing against your clit in an up-and-down motion with each slow roll of his hips. "It'll hurt," he says, watching the way you're furrowing your eyebrows up at him, almost offended that something like a dick would be enough to hurt you. He can't help but smile, you have the true soul of a warrior, someone he definitely sees fit to call herself his Queen.

However, he doesn't offer you the chance to rebuke his words. With an angled roll of his hips, he's sinking into you and fuck, you're crushing him with how tight you're squeezing him. He groans the further he pushes into you and your moans sound beautiful mingled with his own. Bakugou leans back some, one large palm splayed out next to your head whilst the other soothes itself down along your heaving chest as you try to adjust to the thickness of his cock buried deep inside of you.

"Relax..." he soothes, large thumb pressing against your nipple as he passed by before he ventures further with his hand once again. He feels the small pudge of your stomach, unable to stop himself when he squeezes a little with the thought of fucking you full of his cum; of his offspring. You'd make him a father of many children, he can tell. His fingers once again find home between your thighs, he strokes his way down to feel the stretch of your pussy around his cock and it has him almost whining.

Slowly, his fingers place themselves against your clit as he rubs soothing circles whilst fucking himself shallowly further into you until he's seated all the way to the hilt. His stomach is tense, every muscle in his body flexing when he finally draws himself up to his full height on his knees. His large hands drag along your thighs, feeling the dips and raised skin along the way of many scars. He wonders what scars your skin will blossom with when you bear his children, it has his hips rutting harshly into you.

A snarl sits on his lips when he hears your guttural moan, your thighs clenching around him the best they could and the look in your eye holds the match that sets off the fire in his stomach. He growls, deep and rumbled in his chest when he starts to fuck into you with new vigour. His hands clasped tight around your thighs, scratching against the skin that he's sure would be enough to draw blood. Bakugou pulls you into each and every one of his thrusts, forcing his cock the deepest it can reach in you to have you screaming his name.

Your hand splays itself against his pelvis, fingers pressed into the tensed muscle of his abdominal muscles. He looks terrifying above you like this, every muscle in his body is poised as if he were ready to fight someone. The veins bulge on his neck, and he's growling and snarling like a feral beast but it has you clenching around him, walls spasming at just how handsome he looked. He showed great promise of being able to provide for you, he would protect you endlessly and you no doubt would produce some of the strongest children.

"W-Wait," you pant, blinking at the haze that settles on your eyes, you can feel your stomach tensing up more. Everything feels so sensitive and he's bullying his way through your walls when they squeeze, and he somehow knows how to read your body perfectly. He shifts his knees a little closer, hauling you up with his body when he really kneels on his knees. Your back is arched almost uncomfortably but the new depth has your eyes rolling into the back of your head. "Oh, fuck!" you scream into the darkness of the night as the knot finally tightens until it inevitably snaps.

Bakugou practically roars at the feeling of your orgasm, fucking you more harshly through it until he briefly pulls out of your spasming hole to manhandle your body around onto your hands and knees. A large palm presses against your back, arching you just right before he's thrusting himself forward. He buries himself to the hilt and this time he doesn't wait to let you adjust, he fucks you with a new goal in mind; to make sure you get pregnant with his seed.

"A strong wolf like you should provide me with strong pups, no?" he asks, it's more of a question to himself but you still find yourself nodding deliriously along with his words. You do want to provide him with strong children, strong enough to conquer the world. "Hah, fuck, you're so fuckin' wet. Like a real bitch in heat." He's babbling, that's your only tell that he's getting closer to his own orgasm. His mind is hazy, vision honed in on the place where the two of you are joined.

His cock has a delicate ring of cream at the base, and your pussy is positively gushing around him. A large hand slaps against your ass cheek, pushing you further into the ground when he adjusts his position. One leg propped up, the other still on his knee whilst he fucks into you at an angle that has you cursing up a storm. Bakugou grins at the filthy words falling from your lips, the Seer was definitely right in saying you were his twin flame.

Bakugou's upper lip twitches in a snarl, his dangerously long canines on show and the peek of his gum makes him feel like he really is part dragon like the stories say. His cock twitches harshly, his orgasm pulled from him when your walls flutter once your second orgasm hits you. He's pressing right against the squishy spot that has your vision blackening, stars dancing behind your closed eyes whilst your throat burns with the moaning scream that's forced from your lungs.

His cum is hot as it fills you, and there's an obscene amount of it. He keeps his body close, fucking you through both his and your own orgasm until finally, he stills. His body drapes itself over your own, sticky with sweat that quickly cools in the chill of the night air. He presses a delicate kiss directly to your spine, watching how you shiver at the action. "Are you hurt?" he asks finally, watching you shake your head before whining when he pulls himself out of your abused pussy.

Bakugou can't help but marvel at the amount of cum that gushes from inside of you, he would've pushed it back inside of you if he wasn't so confident in the fact his seed definitely caught on the first attempt. So instead he pulls you towards him when he settles on his side, you curl into him naturally to absorb his warmth. The beat of the drums is still faint in the distance, along with the croaking calls of a raven.

The sound of approval. The sound that you both had brought an end to a terrible war.

➼ 'kinktober 2022 masterlist'

#bakugou x reader #bakugo katuski x reader #bakugou katsuki x reader #bnha fanfiction #bnha x you #bakugo smut #bakugo katsuki x you #bakugou katsuki x you #katsuki bakugo oneshot #bakugo katsuki imagine #katsuki smut #bnha x fem!reader #mha smut #bakugo katsuki smut #bnha smut #vampyrsm kinktober 2022

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captaindanvers89 · 4 months

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After watching the deleted scene, here’s how I imagine Carol and Valkyrie talking about it after…

Carol: She’s 16!

Valkyrie: In my defense, I wasn’t expecting Kamala to pick up the call.

Carol: If she tells her mom about it, I’m dead. How could you make a strap on joke to a kid‽!

Valkyrie: Relax Marv, if she can handle a sword than she can definitely—

Carol: You gave her a sword‽!

Valkyrie: She went to space and fought Dar Benn, she’s perfectly capable of handling a sword

Carol sighs: At least tell me it’s short.

Valkyrie: The sword or the Strap—

Carol: Val!

Valkyrie: Hey I wanted to get a bigger one but you said—

Carol: Can we go back to you giving Kamala a sword?

Valkyrie: Oh yeah. She’s exceptional with it, might’ve made a fine Valkyrie if I say so myself.

Carol sighs again: Please tell me you only made that joke to her.

Valkyrie: Well, I may have assumed you and her were married which again, I should’ve been invited to the wedding.

Carol: You would’ve intervened and tried to make me your Queen. In fact, you’ve tried that many times on normal occasions. I was afraid that if you were invited than you’d challenge Yan to a duel for my hand.

Valkyrie: Very true. But you’re lucky there wasn’t a second wedding. Oh and Kamala did try to hit on me.

Carol: She what‽

Valkyrie: Yeah, she mentioned that she was single which is a bit weird. But given her crush i mean fangirl crush on you, that’s valid. That’s also partly why I gave her a sword. If I can’t be there then at least there’s another person with a sword.

Carol: Your fascination with swords amazes me.

Valkyrie: You’ve seen my sword collection but I don’t think you’ve seen my strap—

Carol: Alright fine, I’m heading over but please, no more jokes.

Valkyrie: No promises Captain

#carol danvers #carol x valkyrie #captain marvel #the marvels spoilers #the marvels #kamala khan #ms marvel

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courtofterrasen · 6 days

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I’m just about done with finals, so I decided to gather up a quick list of over 50+ different POC women characters with actual good stories and character development as well as what they’re in, since you guys seem to be complacent in accepting mediocrity🥰

I know there are A LOT more REALLY GOOD characters out there, like Firebird from Marvel for example, but these are all characters from media that I either have personally consumed or know a lot about that I can think about off the top of my head. So if anyone wants to keep the list going in the comments, please feel free to add on

Charlotte- Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

Shuri- Black Panther (MY LOVE😭❤️)

Okoye- Black Panther

Nakia- Black Panther

Queen Ramonda- Black Panther

Katara- ATLA

Korra- LoK

Toph- ATLA

Azula- ATLA

Beauregard- Critical Role: Campaign 2

Fy’ra Rai- Critical Role: Exandria Unlimited

Opal- Critical Role: Exandria Unlimited

Deni$e- Critical Role: Campaign 3

Deanna- Critical Role: Campaign 3

Lady Kima: Critical Role: Campaign 1/ Legends of Vox Machina

Laerryn: Critical Role: Exandria Unlimited: Calamity

Veth Brenatto- Critical Role: Campaign 2

Mirko- My Hero Academia

Ahsoka (people refer to her as a POC character even though she’s a Togruta)

Moana

Mulan

Tiana- Princess and the Frog

Esmeralda- The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Nani- Lilo and Stitch

Raya- Raya and the Last Dragon

Mel- Arcane

Ambessa Medara- Arcane

Sevika- Arcane

(Special shout out to Ekko from Arcane because he’s SUCH A GOOD CHARACTER)

Storm- Marvel comics

Wonder Woman- DC comics (she is Mediterranean, which is located in the North Africa/ Europe/ West Asia region, for the incels who are going to try to fight me on that. Just because your skin has less melanin than people “think you should have” does not invalidate you being a POC)

Nubia- DC comics

Special shoutout to General Nanisca in The Woman King. I have not watched it yet, but I’ve heard a lot of great things

Valkyrie- Thor Ragnarok

Gamora: Guardians of the Galaxy (though, she’s not human, she’s a Zen-Whoberis, but her actress is Dominican and Puerto Rican)

Ava Silva- Warrior Nun

Sister Beatrice- Warrior Nun

Sister Lilith- Warrior Nun

Deyha- Genshin Impact

Candace- Genshin Impact

Xinyan- Genshin Impact

Janai- The Dragon Prince

Ursula- Once Upon A Time

Mulan- Once Upon a Time

Lucyna “Lucy” Kushinada- Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Mermista- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Catra- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Lonnie- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Netossa- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Entrapta- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Perfuma- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Mara- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Frosta- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

(All of whom are Etherian’s, not Terran’s, which would equivalate people from earth)

Mazikeen- Lucifer

Wednesday Addams- The Addam’s Family/ Wednesday

Calliope “Cal” Burns- First Kill

Talia Burns- First Kill

Yennefer- The Witcher (actress is of Indian descent.)

Triss- The Witcher (some debate can be had about this due to her character in the games being white and her actress in the show having South African heritage. I enjoy them both equally)

I would add Pocahontas to this list, but the Disney recreation of her story is an extremely incorrect and awful retelling, so I implore you to go and look up the story of Amonute/ Matoaka, which is the true name of Pocahontas. It’s not an easy story to hear, but I feel as though people need to know her true story instead of Disney’s romanticized one.

Also, if you guys REALLY want a good female POC pirate story, check out the story of the most successful pirate in the world named Ching Shih, aka Cheng I Sao. She was a woman born in Guangdong, China in the late 18th century and worked as a prostitute until she caught the eye of Cheng I, the notorious Commander of the Red Flag Fleet. After buying and marrying her, he noticed her intelligence, leadership skills, and determination, so he began to teach her about life in the high seas. She quickly adapted and helped him lead his fleet, and when he died she assumed full control over his fleet and amassed 1,800 ships and 80,000 pirates under her control and became the most feared pirate leader of her time. It’s a VERY cool story

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samwisethewitch · 11 months

Text

15 Days of Freyja Devotion

Day 5: Names & Epithets Kennings

Freyja isn't actually a name. It means "Lady," and was used as a title just like lady is used today. It has the same root as the modern German Frau (roughly the equivalent to "Mrs."). We don't actually know Freyja's true name, which is just another layer to her mystery.

Some of the other names used for Freyja are:

Gef ("The Giver"). This is one of the titles I use most often when praying to Freyja, as I personally experience her as a very generous goddess who loves to shower her followers with abundance.

Mardöll (meaning unclear, possibly "Sea Brightener," definitely related to the sea). This name is so fascinating to me, because it seems to refer to some sort of oceanic aspect of Freyja that has not survived in mythology and folklore. As Njordr's daughter, it makes sense that she is associated with the sea.

Skjálf ("Shaker"). This one is intriguing, and I personally relate it to Freyja's role as an agitator and someone who "shakes things up." In several myths she incites armies to battle, and I'm reminded of those stories when I hear this name.

Sýr ("Sow") highlights Freyja's connection to pigs.

Thröng/Thrungva ("throng" -- referring to a throng of soldiers, maybe?)

Valfreyja (literally "Lady of the Slain"). Another of my favorite of her names. I use this title especially when working with Freyja in her aspect as Queen of the Valkyries.

Vanadís ("Dís [woman or female ancestor] of the Vanir"). I use this one pretty frequently. I see this title as highlighting Freyja's importance among the Vanir.

In the Poetic Edda, Freyja is also sometimes referred to by her relationship to other gods, such as "sister of Freyr" or "wife of Odr."

She is also referred to as the "Mother of Hnoss," but Hnoss is an obscure figure who is only mentioned in one or two places and may be a metaphor for wealth rather than an actual goddess. ("Hnoss" literally means "treasure.") I perfer to read "Mother of Hnoss" as "Mother of Riches" or "Mother of Treasures."

I also personally sometimes refer to Freyja as the "Golden One" or "Golden Lady," although this is not historical. As I've mentioned, gold is a kenning used for all the gods but especially for Freyja, and gold is called "Freyja's tears." To me, Freyja the Golden One is the source of material wealth and abundance, and I may use this title when asking her to help me with my finances.

#15 days of freyja devotion #15 days of deity devotion #freyja #freyja goddess #freyja deity #norse heathenry #inclusive heathenry #heathenry #heathen #norse paganism #norse pagan #pagan #paganism #deity work #mine

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deathmetalunicorn1 · 9 months

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HEY IM SO GLAD THAT YOURE BACK

My favorite person I missed you!

I sould like to ask for a little recanation reader with ror pls!

While bruhilda is summoning hero's to fight for humanity she wanted to see if she could speak to Nyx the goddess of night and the only god that zeus truely fears and even Odin has reasons to be wary of her.

But turns out that the queen of the night had fallen in battle and has gone through recanation and now lives as a human teacher living in texas (like me in the future!)

Bruhilda had no idea about this when she summon nyxs recantations and was surprised when she was greeted by the sight of a human woman who was trying to grade her 3 grade class test from last friday.

Hijinks and whimsy ensue as nyx reader has memories reawaken during her time in Valhalla( its magic anything can happen) and regains old and new friends during her time there (and maybe love?!)

Can i also ask for her taking place in adams when fighting Zeus to show the old man what happens when you fuck around and you'll most definitely find out?

-Brunnhilde was desperate, she needed a wild card fighter, a true wild card fighter, one that could shake the gods to their core with power.

-A lightbulb seemed to go off in her head as she made the realization that only a god could do that to another god, but she had pissed off about every single god in Valhalla when she proposed Ragnarok, so there weren’t any gods that she could easily approach to ask.

-A soft gasp escaped her lips as she remembered someone, someone who had been lost long ago, in a terrible battle, the goddess Nyx, who could make the earth tremble, the sky shake, and even bring Zeus to his knees.

-It took a bit of research, as time was running out to select fighters, but Brunnhilde finally found you, finding your soul and instantly she prepared the ceremony to summon you!

-You were sitting at your kitchen table, a cold cup of coffee sitting to the side of you as you yawned, trying to get through the rest of the tests you were grading for your third-grade class. It was late Friday night, and you were trying to wrap things up so you could enjoy your weekend.

-You felt your vision going hazy, just for a moment or two before you landed hard on your rear with a sharp cry, landing on a hard stone floor before you heard a woman’s voice, “Oh no!”

-You looked up, initially confused as to where you are and how you got there before your eyes went wide, “Brunnhilde? Wait- how- stars above! What happened?!”

-Brunnhilde was in about as much shock as you as she panicked, “Lady Nyx?!” you scrambled to your feet, memories of your previous life as the goddess of the night came rushing back to you, recalling everything, including how you died.

-The Valkyrie stammered, having not realized that you had been reincarnated as a human, she had only tracked your soul, not realizing that a whole body was going to come with it!!

-You went to speak when Jack and Nikola entered the room, looking for Brunnhilde as they both had a question to ask her and ran into each other on the way and they entered to find Brunnhilde with an unknown woman, both looking a bit frantic.

-You turned, seeing these two enter and your eyes instantly went wide before your pupils seemed to take over your eyes, shrouding them in darkness as you fell back, almost as if you were going to faint as Brunnhilde lunged to catch you, “Lady Nyx!!”

-Shadows and darkness shrouded your body, enveloping you and forcing Brunnhilde back into the arms of the men who were stunned and concerned, Nikola holding his wrist up to his nose to block the dust, “What’s happening?!”

-As quickly as it started you rose, still looking similar to the form Brunnhilde summoned you with, only with pure black eyes that seemed to sparkle with stars of the night sky, wearing a flowing black gown that seemed to have stars sewing into the fabric and a crown baring the crest of both a moon and a star appeared around your forehead.

-You exhaled deeply, as if you had experienced a rush of energy before you looked over at the three individuals, “Are you all unharmed?” you seemed to be exuding an aura of power, one that they could all easily sense that you were dangerous, but there was no hostility.

-The three of them explained to you, after you asked why you had been summoned back to Valhalla, and the two humans were stunned to learn that you were Goddess of the Night herself, Nyx, brought back after you had died so long ago.

-You learned of Zeus and the plans of the other gods, to wipe out humanity rather than taking care of their messes themselves and how Brunnhilde brought about Ragnarok to give humanity a chance.

-You were easily able to tell there was something else that Brunnhilde was planning, you weren’t completely sure what, but you knew, and she could tell that you knew.

-Jack introduced himself as Jack the Ripper and instead of looking frightened, you almost looked amused, giving him a small smile, “Creatures, monsters, and myths of the night are all my children, dear one, and you are no monster- at least the one you claim to be.” He was stunned, eyes wide that you were able to tell, but then again, you were a goddess.

-Nikola was… very enthusiastic, he reminded you of an excited puppy, as he had been wanting to talk to a god and began to rattle off questions, curious about you, and both Brunnhilde and Jack thought it was amusing to see Nikola so excited.

-You were very calm on the outside, not showing your emotions, but Jack could tell you were furious, the bright, angry red color of your soul, plus the heat you were radiating out, was a clear indication as you learned of the actions of the gods over the years, how cruel and evil they had been. Humans didn’t have clean hands either, but the gods had the power to correct not only the humans, but correct themselves as well, but did nothing, choosing to turn a blind eye just to destroy everything to get rid of the problem they created and ignored.

-You looked over at Brunnhilde with a knowing smile, “May I take it that the reason I was summoned was to fight for you, dear Brunnhilde?” she bowed her head, being respectful to you, “It is- or at least to ask for your insight on the champions for the matches, if you are willing?”

-Your eyes seemed to flash, something Nikola leaned in close to see, which you thought was rather cute before you smirked, “I will fight- but only on my terms.” Brunnhilde bowed her head again, thanking you but Jack could see that her colors of elation were dancing on the inside.

-You were impressed with Lu Bu’s raw strength, being able to go against Thor of all gods, and managed to injure him, just a little, and you could see the joy on both of their faces as they had fun together, never wanting their fight to end.

-When Zeus entered the arena as the next opponent, taking Shiva’s spot, your eyes seemed to dance as you approached Brunnhilde and Adam. You smiled gently at Adam, “Forgive me, but I wish to take your place. Zeus is going to learn an important lesson today.”

-Brunnhilde nodded, agreeing to the terms and sent the update so Heimdall could introduce you while Adam gave you a firm nod, “Save my children.” Your hand on the top of his head was comforting as you gave him your silent vow before you walked out.

-Heimdall was stunned when you walked out, before stunning everyone as he shouted, “It’s the return of the night! Fighting for humanity- resurrected and ready to rumble- Goddess of the Night- Nyx!!”

-Zeus was stammering, his knees knocking together as your dark gown swirled in the wind before you glared across the field and slowly, as if he was watching something terrible in slow motion, your hands came to your hips, “Zeus- would you like to explain yourself?”

-Many humans who didn’t know you were stunned, seeing that not only Zeus, but many of the gods looked downright terrified of you, many talking about how they needed to do something to appease you and quickly, telling everyone that you were easily one of the strongest, if not the strongest, gods in Valhalla.

-You did not kill Zeus, no- you wanted him to fix his mistakes, but that didn’t mean he walked away from the match uninjured. The first bitch slap you landed sent a shockwave throughout the stadium, sending Zeus flying into the sky above before you proceeded to wipe the floor with him.

-You called out all of his bullshit, wanting to destroy humanity after he let them get out of hands, treating humans like play things, not being able to keep it in his pants, and calling out the rest of the gods as well for not doing more, as it’s their job, as the creators of humanity, to manage them, and just because they got out of hand, it’s not okay to just brush them under the rug and destroy them.

-After you left Zeus in a steaming pile of lumps and bruises your hands rose to your hips again, “We the gods are going to have another meeting- now!” nobody opposed you, not even Odin, as the gods were quick to file out, moving to the meeting hall.

-You met up with Brunnhilde and Adam who both thanked you, happy to see that hopefully something was going to happen to prevent this tournament from going any further.

-You were known as a goddess of chaos, but at this point, all you wanted now was peace, and you were going to get it, Zeus was going to make sure of that, because a happy Nyx means a happy Zeus and the other gods.

#record of ragnarok #ror zeus #ror brunhilde #ror jack the ripper #ror nikola tesla

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thecalendarwomen · 1 year

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Viking historian Nancy Marie Brown’s new book, The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women, explores what life might have been like for the warrior woman of Bj 581. Using more evidence from the recent tests conducted on the remains, Brown traces her journey from Norway to the British Isles to Kiev then, finally, to Birka. Brown imagines the unnamed warrior meeting other prominent Viking women, such as Gunnhild, Mother of Kings, or Queen Olga, ruler of the Rus Vikings in Kiev. She also explores the Viking sagas and contemporary sources with a new lens.

Atlas Obscura spoke with Brown about her new book, valkyries, and the assumptions that underlie the history we think we know.

How did you initially get interested in Vikings—and female Vikings in particular?

When I went to college, I actually wanted to study fantasy writing and, you know, learn to write like Tolkien. I learned very quickly that that was not appropriate for an English major in the 1970s, so I decided to study what Tolkien studied, and he was a professor at Oxford University, teaching Old English and Old Norse. So I started reading all of the Icelandic sagas that I could find in translation. And when I ran out of the English versions, I learned Old Norse so that I could read the rest of them.

One of the things I liked about [the sagas] the most was that they had really interesting women characters. There’s a queen in Norway who appears in about 11 sagas, Queen Gunnhild, Mother of Kings. She led armies. She devised war strategy. And then I was looking at the valkyries and the shieldmaids and thinking, you know, these are really interesting people that have always been considered to be mythological.

So when I learned in 2017 that one of the most famous Viking warrior burials turned out to be the burial of a woman, that just absolutely dazzled my imagination.

Is this the first confirmed grave of a female warrior that we have?

This is the one that has the best proof. There are one or two others that have since been DNA tested and proven to be female. But in each of these cases, it’s hard to say if the person in the grave, whether male or female, actually was a warrior, or if the object that we are interpreting as a weapon was used for hunting or for some other purpose.

What do we know about the life of the Viking warrior woman in Bj 581?

In 2017, by testing her bones and her teeth, [scholars] could say she was between 30 and 40 years old when she died. They could also tell that she ate well all of her life. So she came from a rich family or maybe even a royal one. She was also quite tall, about 5’7”. By the minerals in her inner teeth, [scholars can determine] she may have come from southern Sweden or Norway, and also that she went west maybe as far as the British Isles before her molars finished forming. She didn’t arrive in Birka until she was 16.

We also have her weapons and a little bit of clothing that were found in the grave. And these link her to what is known as the Vikings’ East Way, which was the trade route from Sweden to the Silk Road.

We can link, through the artifacts and through the bones, that she could have traveled from as far west as Dublin to as far east as at least Kiev in the 30 to 40 years of her life.

How do we know that there were Viking warrior women?

They are mentioned many, many, many times in the literature. In most cases, they have been dismissed as mythological because, of course, we know warriors were men. But we don’t know that. That is an assumption that is based on traditional Victorian ideas that because women are mothers, they’re nurturing, they’re peacemakers, and they don’t fight.

That’s not historically true. Women have always fought. And they appear in most cultures until the 1800s, when Viking studies and archaeology pretty much started. So we sort of have this problem of bias in our earliest textbooks.

There’s this assumption that the warrior men of myth must have been based on real people, but it’s not the same for the mythical warrior women. Why is that?

It’s just an assumption based on what people think women are like. Most of the material we have from the Middle Ages was written by men, and most of the material we have until the 1950s was written by men, and women are slowly making their way into the field of Viking scholarship. But many of them are still working under the assumptions that they were taught.

I noticed when I went back and reread some of the sagas in Icelandic that there wasn’t this clear distinction between the warrior women being mythological and the warrior men being human. When you actually look at the old Norse text, there’s a lot of words that have been translated as “men” that actually mean “people,” but it’s always been translated as “men” because it’s a warrior situation.

Is it possible for historians to remove all of those biases?

No, I don’t think it is. I think we all are looking through our own lenses. But we have to revisit those sources every generation to see past biases. So when you have layer after layer after layer of removing biases, you may get closer to the truth.

What most surprised you in the course of researching your book?

One of the controversies right now in Viking studies is should we really be talking about men and women at all? Maybe there were all kinds of different genders. We don’t know if there were more than two genders in the Viking age. Maybe it was a spectrum.

If you look at this one group of sagas called the Sagas of Ancient Times that are often overlooked because they have all these fabulous creatures in them, like dragons and warrior women. It’s really interesting [because] these girls grow up wanting to be warriors. They’re constantly disobeying and trying to run off and join Viking bands. But when they do run off and join the Viking band, or, in another case, become the king of a town, they insist on being called by a male name and use male pronouns.

So it was very shocking to me to go back and read it in the original and say, “Wow, all this richness was lost in the translation.”

#Nancy Marie Brown #vikings #history #women in history #archaeology #women warriors #warfare #warrior women #norse history #atlas obscura

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dc-marvel-life · 1 year

Text

My Queen

Pairing: Valkyrie x reader

Request: I humbly request a fan fiction where female reader (if that's okay) is Valkyrie’s soulmate. The avengers saved you from hydra and Thor immediately recognized your soulmark. But hydra wants you back because you can talk to animals and turn into a small wolf but Val isn't going to lose her Queen. She had lived through reader dying and lived long enough for her return, she won’t fail us again. - By Anon

Word Count: 1276

The Avengers just finished taking down a Hydra base experimenting with people for their powers. Everyone thanked him once they were free and escorted by SHIELD agents to a plane. Thor is in one of the holding blocks releasing all the people into cells. Thor goes into the last cell in the block, and he freezes. He freezes because the prisoner has a mark of Asgard, more specifically, an Asgard soulmate mark that matches Valkyrie’s mark. Thor has heard many stories of Valkyrie's mate and how she was a kind and loving person who could light up a room, but that is sadly not true now. She is wearing torn-up clothing that looks like it has not been washed since she put it on, cuts and bruises are all over her body, and she is chained to the wall on a short chain. She is in the corner of the room in a ball, shaking. It is a hard sight to see for Thor because she is supposed to be a mighty and strong warrior. Who knows what she has been through for all these years locked up.

“Y/N…” Thor says softly, not to spook Y/N. Y/N turns around slowly to see Thor and sighs in relief.

“Y/N, it is time to come home; Valkyrie is waiting for you,” Thor says, and Y/N’s face lights up at hearing her soulmate’s name. She tries to stand up but falls right away. Thor is there to catch her. Thor breaks the chain and carries Y/N out of the building and into the Quinn Jet.

“Thor, why are you bringing one of the prisoners here and not with the SHIELD medics,” Tony asks Thor.

“We have to get back to base quickly,” Thor says, putting Y/N on the medic table and strapping her in.

“I will get you back to Valkyrie, Y/N. I promise you that,” Thor says quietly to Y/N.

“You never answer my question, Thor,” Tony says.

“She is Asgardain and needs to go home to her soulmate, Valkyrie,” Thor says to Tony.

“We should be heading out in just a second. Let me start up the jet. Also, please don’t tell Valkyrie that I was holding you back. I am kind of scared of her,” Tony says, looking back to ensure everyone is in the jet before taking off.

The team gets to the compound and rushes Y/N to the med bay with Dr. Cho. While they care for Y/N, Thor calls Valkryie to tell her the news.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Valkyrie is in her house in New Asgard, drinking in the middle of the day. This has been normal for Valkyrie since she lost Y/N all those years ago. Things have improved since she met Thor and returned to Asgard to be the new king, but the loss of her love never goes away.

Valkyrie had already been through one bottle and was about to start another, but her phone ringing distracted her. She looks at her phone and sees it is Thor and doesn’t answer at first. Valkyrie sighs and continues to open her bottle, and her phone rings again. She looks, and it is Thor again. Thor usually doesn’t call two times in a row because she doesn’t like using phones, so it must be important. Valkyrie picks up her phone.

“What do you want, Thor? You are interrupting someone very important right now and-”

“We found her, Val,” Thor says, interrupting Valkyrie.

“She is here at the compound in the med bay. He found her in a hydra base today” Thor continues talking, but she stops listening after we found her. Valkyrie knows what Thor means by her; it is the love of her life that she lost all those years ago.

Valkyrie hung up the phone and rushed to the Avenger’s compound to see Y/N. She gets to the compound, and it is silence in the air. Everyone is staring at her, not knowing what to say.

“Where is she?!” Valkyrie yells at everyone staring at her. Thor comes to her and leads her to Y/N. They walk to the med bay in silence. Once they reach the med bay, Thor lets her go in alone. Valkyrie walks in slowly, not knowing what to expect, and the sight in front of her is much worst than she thought. Y/N is lying on the bed and sleeping with machines all around her and multiple needles in her. Y/N has bruises and cuts all over her body from being a prisoner of Hydra.

“My queen, you have come back to me,” Valkyrie says, walking over to Y/N and sitting beside the bed. Valkyrie grabs Y/N’s hand and kisses it.

“You have no idea how much I miss you, my love. I thought about killing myself, but I knew you would bring me back to life and kill me yourself, so I never did it. I am so glad that I didn’t so we can be reunited,” Valkyrie says, holding back tears.

“You are right that I would have brought you back just to kill you,” Y/N says, then laughs, but her body hurts and winces.

“My love, you are awake” Valkyrie places one of her hands on Y/N’s cheek.

“Of course I am. Did you really think that you could get rid of me?” Y/N says, turning her head so she has a good view of Valkyrie.

“I mean, I thought I did for thousands of years,” Valkyrie says, and a tear runs down her face. Y/N wipes away the tears from her face.

“Well, I am back, and why do you look like shit, my beautiful angel, I can smell the alcohol on your breath too,” Y/N says with a raised eyebrow. Valkyrie tries to speak, but nothing comes out.

“Don’t worry darling, I am back and do not need to explain yourself. We both had rough thousands of years,” Y/N says with a smile. The smile that Valkyrie fell in love with. No matter what the situation, Y/N always had a smile on her face.

“What happened to you, my love?” Valkyrie asks.

“Well, the last thing I remember was fighting in a battle with you, and I got hit. I fell all the way down to Midgard somehow. I was injured and called out for help, but no one came. Just animals came to me, and I thought they would attack me since I was down and hurt, so I shifted to my wolf. The only problem is that I only changed half of my body since I was so injured. That scared off all the animals, and I was left to freeze near a lake. I fell into the lake a froze. I don’t know how long had passed before Hydra found my frozen body in the lake and saw I had power and wasn’t part of the Earth. They have experimented on me ever since,” Y/N says, crying while telling the story.

“Well, don’t worry, my love, anymore because you are safe with me, and I will never let anything happen to you ever again, okay,” Valkyrie says, and Y/N nods her head. Valkyrie leans in and gives Y/N a long-deserved kiss.

“Also, you are a queen,” Valkyrie says after breaking the kiss.

“I know, you called me that always,” Y/N laughs.

“No, I mean you are the queen of New Asgard,” Valkyrie says, leaving Y/N speechless.

“Well, I am happy to be your queen,” Y/N says, smiling at Valkyrie.

Masterlist

#marvel #marvel cinematic universe #valkyrie x reader #valkyrie #valkryie #marvel fluff

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whaleofatjme1920 · 1 year

Note

Back again on my bullshit :3

But Freya preening the wings of a winged reader? I would context if it's romantic or platonic is entirely up to you!!

Camaraderie Amongst Valkyries

[GN!Reader]

[Warnings: Like, none?]

[AN: you guys don't realize how much I love God of War!! Lil tidbit, I worship and work with Freyja. I have uh, admittedly been slacking on my deity work so this is just a love letter to her,,,,,,]

[Reblogs are appreciated!]

The Queen of the Valkyries is surprisingly less formal than you had expected her to be. When Odin had recruited you from your mortal life to be one of the newest Valkyries to grace the gleaming halls of Asgard, you'd been more than honored.

You grew up a young fledgling hearing stories of them just waiting to take flight alongside them. They were the mistresses of war themselves, choosing who would go to Folkvangr or Valhalla - what a privilege! And here you were, chosen by Odin himself, to serve under his queen Freya.

You expected a lady of regal standing who had little time to work alongside those who she ruled over, but instead, you were faced with a goddess of true beauty. She was kind, and caring, witty and oh so sharp, but understood her power above you. She protected her sisters, and now that you were one of them, she protected you.

"Hold still," she chuckles, her voice sweet like honey and smoother than silk. "I know that it's a new sensation but it has to be done! I will not let a Valkyrie show themself with unpreened wings." Her fingers grip the special fish-bone comb, beak shaped for optimal usage, with a certain ease as she glides them through your long feathers.

She's gifted you the wings of a Tawny Eagle, something gorgeous in their own right. You adore them. It was a gift better than your wildest dreams. She had given you something truly beautiful.

"I don't know how you deal with these things," you playfully complain.

Freya laughs softly and shakes her head. "I have had my wings for centuries! You have only had them for a few months. In time, you will grow into them." She gently pats your shoulder as she continues to move the fish-bone comb through the tangled feathers on your back as the scent of the naturally sweet smelling oils they produce spread further across them. "They suit you well."

You smile softly at her maternal love shining through and nod. "If you say so," you reply as you stretch and fan your wings out a bit further for her, making the process just that much easier.

The dark haired goddess chuckles and nods. "I know so."

With a silly grin on your lips, you lean your head back slightly and relax, enjoying how her warm, gentle hands gingerly handle each individual feather. Though it's soft and barely audible, you can hear her humming. It's something old and ancient, whispers like the wind as it twirls between the trees, soft like moss, and smells like the earth after it's rained. Vanir, no doubt, and a sign of her growing love for you.

#freya x reader #god of war x reader #god of war headcanons #freya headcanons

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cerastes · 1 year

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Istesa, Lady of the Lake, and self-proclaimed “Interesting Times”.

“Istesa” is, in fact, a fusion of two beings: The Bloodless Queen, one of the former five Fairy Queens before the reforms that consolidated duties and power into one seat, and the blind Istesa, her royal smith and jeweler.

Less a person and more a phenomenon, Istesa is an ageless being that only resurfaces during times of turmoil and upheaval... Or rather, it’s more correct to say that she appears right before these chaotic times of great change, being the one to trigger them. By handing a legendary sword to this guy or that girl, Istesa makes sure that those with strong enough feelings and temperaments are properly equipped to carry out their “destiny”. While initially seen as benevolent figure of legend, scholars have since changed their opinion on her, as most every event she has influenced, regardless of the outcome, has tended to be immensely chaotic and gruesome. Pick any Ivarean history book, and most chapters have some relation to her... Among scholars, she’s also known as the Tideturner, as her powerful creations have shifted the tides of conflict and birthed many a victorious underdog, with no regard to the consequences afterwards...

A master smith, alchemist, and sorcerer. She’s worshipped as a goddess of change, progress, and blacksmithing in some parts in Ivarea, and she’s depicted with a large hammer in idols and effigies. However, those who are more familiar with her will also consider her a representation of calamity and crisis, and the Two Stars of Calamity are named after her (the Istesa Stars, or Twin Istesas). Thus, she is also sometimes represented with the visage of a collapsing tower as reference to the many dynasties and eras she’s suspected to have directly ended.

But, she’s simply a fictitious character in the folklore of the land, right...?

“Year 687: The legendary swordsman receives his sacred sword, and defeats the dark tyrant, becoming Hero King. In the following years, he, too, becomes a tyrant. Year 801: The Valkyrie of Esperkard pierces the Grand Chancellor of Atorrhia’s heart with the legendary spear she received from the Lady of the Lake. With the Chancellor’s death, Atorrhia is finally free, but all of its trade treaties collapse in the following months, and the people, now divided, massacre each other. Year 1301: The Bow That Never Misses is bestowed upon the the lad that would eventually become the Peerless Liberator. However, with the power to land a shot on absolutely anyone, no matter what, the Peerless Liberator became the Despot Ranger, who still holds the Great Glades of Insya as his own private land. No one dares venture into the glades, even today... A great swatch of no man’s land. Year 1498: An explosion so great that Ivarea shook completely took out the kingdom of [REDACTED]. No trace remains. In his dying words, the bomber said “Thank you so much, my Lady... My revenge... Is complete”, and the world lost its sole source of [REDACTED] that day. Year 1719: The sniper rifle that shot a bullet across the ocean, from one castle to another, and killed the king of Slionia, is said to have been given to the Empress of Grioccuvar by someone that perfectly fits the description of the Lady of the Lake. But the rifle had a single round, and upon the ascension of the king’s bloodthirsty daughter, the war only intensified, its repercussion still felt today.

This is all just a bit from the most comprehensive text we’ve found, from one of her worshippers, the Record of Calamity. Any questions?”

“Sir, is this all... True? This reads more like the ramblings of a madman, the sort that believes all those conspiracies.”

“Normally, I would agree with you, but... The truth is, I come from Grioccuvar, and... Look at this photo.”

“...That’s... Someone that fits the description of the Lady of the Lake, handing the rifle to the king?”

“Aye. My ancestor worked a post of honor at the castle, and he managed to snag this photo. It tormented for the rest of his life. She’s real, and if we don’t do something about her, she’ll keep shaping our history to her whims, writ in the blood of the masses, all while she simply laughs.”

-- Mission briefing at [-----]

Istesa, a native of Drathodia, was a blind artisan who made a living crafting jewelry and other such knickknacks. Drathodia is known for its boisterous adventurers and mercenaries, a hearty, strong people who love their fights as much as they love their celebrations. However, due to its main export being adventurers and mercenaries, it’s well known that those who cannot perform said roles, or assist in those roles tend to be discriminated in Drathodian society. One needn’t be a brawler, necessarily: Good cooks, explorers, blacksmiths, teachers and many more are appreciated fairly, but if you truly are alien to the culture, if you are an iconoclast to Drathodia born in the nation, then you’re likely not particularly happy within its borders. This was the case for Istesa, who was born with blindness and a feeble body, in contrast to her strong, charming older sister.

The sisters shared a deep bond, with the older caring for the younger in any way she could. A strong fighter with a seemingly bright future in front of her, the older sister was a shining star and even took apprenticeship with a famous martial master in Drathodia. Unfortunately, she met an early demise, and Istesa was left not only without the only person that truly supported her, but also without her beloved sister. Sinking into depression, Istesa gave her all into the creation of jewelry and trinkets, a discipline she was shockingly good at despite her blindness, as her sister taught her hands the basics, and from there, Istesa never stopped.

One day, late at night, Istesa got lost on her way home due to a temporary road closure changing her route, and ended up lost in the woods, where a tricky fairy spirited her away to the Realm of the Fairies. Scared for her life and confused, Istesa pleaded for mercy, but the Fairies, all of whom are capricious and some of whom are sadists, were not about to give her any quarter. That is, until the booming voice of one of the Five Queens ordered them all to stand aside. It was the Bloodless Queen, who happened to witness this on a stroll.

“What can you do?”

“I-I can make jewelry...”

“Then you will make for me a gorgeous necklace of silver, topaz as the main piece, and amethyst as adornments. Do you accept this commission?”

“Y-yes... Let me take your measurements...”

Istesa got to work in a secluded room in the Bloodless Queen’s castle, and in just one night and one day, produced the necklace: Brilliant silver with snowflake motifs of the adornments, wintry tones accompanying the purple hues of the amethyst, its main piece instead a plaque of hand-chiseled flame, where the brilliant topaz shone brightly. The Queen, whose breath had been taken away from the craftsmanship, immediately ordered any and all Fae that had their eyes on Istesa to back off, lest they wish to compete with her: The artisan was hers.

After becoming the Bloodless Queen’s personal artisan, the two grew close. Very close. They would talk at length about something the two of them were passionate about: Stories. Stories as a medium, stories as entertainment, stories as lessons... The Bloodless Queen always lamented that the Fae had very boring stories, always having predictably happy endings, clean endings, simple endings. Istesa simply wished she could see so she could read the books the Queen enjoyed so, that she could make a better conversation partner for her.

To celebrate Istesa’s first full year under her employment, the Queen told her to hold her hand and squeeze tightly. When Istesa inquired why, the Queen simply replied:

“It’ll hurt a bit less.”

The Queen then plucked Istesa’s blind eyes right out of their sockets, causing the artisan to faint.

When she woke up, however, Istesa found herself in a comfy, soft bed, a tall ceiling, look directly at the face of her Queen who sat next to her... Looking. Seeing. Watching. The shock almost made Istesa faint again. She could see. Hanging from the Queen’s neck was her necklace, which she immediately recognized, she had ‘seen’ it thoroughly with her hands. The Queen’s face was more beautiful than she imagined as well. Even though she ‘saw’ her through her fingers so many times, the real deal was definitely beyond what her mind could conjure. And right above the Queen’s head, she saw some words. They read “Istesa’s joy”.

“W-what’s going on, why can I see...?”

“It’s my gift to you, Istesa: The eyes of a djinn. I grant you sight, and the ability to discern the desires of those you see. This way, you’ll always know what I want.”

Though a seemingly selfish gift, it was anything but. This way, Istesa would not be taken advantage of, or at least, she would be able to know more about the true nature of any Fae that wasn’t the Queen that interacted with her. Fae are capricious, and some can be very cruel, but with these eyes, she could immediately tell if they had ill intent towards her. Moreover, Istesa could now read all the books the Queen herself loved. This couldn’t be better.

All was fine in the Citadel of the Bloodless Queen... Until the Civil War of the Fae erupted.

See, the Five Queens of eld had very specific, very strict roles: With a love for theatrics, the Five Original Fae, the Queens, established a system of governance for the ever-growing Fae population that would ensure peace: Each Queen had a role to fulfill in order to maintain the status quo: One of would be the Righteous Queen, who could do no wrong, and another would be the Bloodless Queen, who was behind everything wrong, no matter what. This would give the Fae an easy hero to follow, and an easy villain to blame, and all matters could be resolved simply. If the Righteous Queen made a mistake, then it was not, in fact, her mistake, it was a ploy of the Bloodless Queen, in an attempt to humiliate the Righteous Queen. Then, the Bloodless Queen would receive a token sanction, and everyone would move on. This worked wonders when the Fae were few and many of them knew this was merely a system of theatrics to put the water under the bridge as smoothly as possible while the true culprit reflected on their mistake and improved themselves. But as the Fae increased in number, the theatrics came to be understood as a reality. It wasn’t just a few dozen of Fae needing guidance and to focus on the right tasks for survival, now, the Fae were prosperous, numerous, and yet, the old ways never changed. Instead of being seen as a selfless martyr who took the blame, no matter what, in order for the many to focus on the right task, the Bloodless Queen came to be seen as a true villain. Every story needed a good ending, a clean ending, an easy to understand ending, and when there’s a designated villain, then it’s to find the culprit for everything.

Eventually, the Civil War of the Fae erupted, starting with conflict between the Righteous Queen and the Harvest Queen. Each urged the other Queens to join their side: The Studious Queen joined the former, while the Festival Queen joined the latter. Who would the Bloodless Queen join, then?

None. They all deserved the highest penalty for letting their egos get to this point in the first place. The Bloodless Queen took to the battlefield on her own. With remorse filling every inch of her heart, she addressed her smith and jeweler:

“Istesa... Can you make... Weapons for my soldiers?”

Istesa didn’t answer, and for the first time in her life, her hammer created a sword. Ornate, light, and deadly. The Queen herself wielded it. The blade only dulled after the thousandth kill.

At the end of the war, the Festival Queen finally seized her final victory via pure subterfuge after having believed to have been killed, the seeming sole survivor of the conflict. The Bloodless Queen lie on her deathbed, clutching Istesa’s worn fingers tightly.

“At least this is a better ending than all those flimsy acts we put on in the past, Istesa... I don’t hate happy endings, you know...? But... Where’s the sense of urgency when the bad guy is always so apparent... Where’s the sense of danger when you know every single time the good guys will win...? Fae stories are horribly bad... Haha... Look at me! The Bloodless Queen betrays expectation and bleeds out... Isn’t that simply funny, my Istesa...? Ah... Istesa... Please make sure that this world has more exciting stories... Make a world that would entertain me, would you...?”

Unable to handle the grief of losing her, Istesa broke in tears as life left the Queen’s body, but the Queen’s essence, too immense after so many lifetimes, was thick and palpable. As it glowed xanthous and violet in front of her, Istesa, without thinking, absorbed all of it. Absorbing the essence of a Fae is said to be a death sentence, that’s simply too much raw, undiluted magical power for any physiology of Ivarea to handle. Istesa intended to die with her lover that day... But the essence would not harm her. It would not hurt her. It would not pose any danger to Istesa. Istesa and the Bloodless Queen, at the very height of their emotions, fused.

And the world would become a more interesting place forever after that day. Whether it wanted to or not.

All that is done, is done for that. That. That perfect, entertaining ending, that heart-gripping development, that crescendo...

“Istesa” would give Ivarea the most interesting stories, forged in fire, printed in upheaval, writ in blood.

“Istesa” is not evil. She is not good, either.

All she wants is a good story.

And she’ll do anything for it.

#Ivarea #Istesa

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eichisnewgroove · 1 year

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Eichi's "Left Hand": An Archetypal Analysis of Wataru Hibiki's Role

Well, specifically of Wataru as Eichi's left hand, anyway. There's way too much ground to cover for Wataru's archetype to do it in one post.

The ruler's "right hand" is a pretty common archetype and trope that you're all probably familiar with. The "left hand," less common, shows up in different places as well.

The "right hand man" is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a very important assistant who helps someone do a job." The term comes from archetypal understandings of the function of the "right hand" which have evolved over the last centuries. In general, because most people are right-handed, the right hand has been favoured across many cultures, associated with luck and goodness.

The right hand is traditionally the hand which holds the sword, and so it is associated with action; the "right-hand man" enacts the will of the king. In his description of "the king/queen" archetype, J. E. Sandoval writes:

The sword represents power over life and death, as well as defense against those that threaten the greater order.

This is the exact role that Keito takes in Enstars. When Eichi is ill at the beginning of the year in ES!, Keito takes it upon himself to ensure that the school does not fall into disorder, tightening his hold on students and making the regulations very strict. He does this for the purpose of securing Eichi's place on Yumenosaki's "throne" while Eichi is away, and once Eichi returns, this is still frequently the role that Keito plays.

The right hand represents Deity. The aggressive hand, hand of growth and strength. Right hand laid on a person conveys authority, blessings, power, strength. Right hand lifted to heaven, and oath, swearing.

(Gertrude Jobes, Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore, and Symbols, quoted here)

The king depends on the right hand for recognition of his power and authority; the right hand is his strength and the one who exercises his will.

On the other hand (lol), the left has often historically been treated to unfavourable interpretations. Left-handed people have historically been discriminated against in many cultures and even forced to learn to use their right hands rather than their lefts.

In symbolism the body is divided vertically into halves, the right half being considered as light and the left half as darkness. [...] the light half was denominated spiritual and the left half material. Light is the symbol of objectivity; darkness of subjectivity. [...] darkness is considered as the veil which must eternally conceal the true nature of abstract and undifferentiated Being. ... several early nations used the right hand for all constructive labors and the left hand for only those purposes termed unclean and unfit for the sight of the gods. For the same reason black magic was often referred to as the left-hand path, and heaven was said to be upon the right and hell upon the left.

(Manly P Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages)

We see this reflected in the "narrative" created by Eichi and Keito. Keito is a member of the student council, the force of justice and order at Yumenosaki Academy, and the vice-president, cementing his role as Eichi's second in command. Wataru, by contrast, is one of the "Oddballs," who were castigated by the student council and made enemies of the public at Yumenosaki. Wataru plays the role of a "jester," associated with trickery and mischief, and Keito constantly fears that Wataru will corrupt Eichi.

The right hand bravely holds the sword, whereas the left hand does the ruler's "dirty work" in the darkness. Wataru is a member of fine, and is frequently treated to being part of Eichi's unsavoury business - trying to buy up Hokuto from Trickstar, threatening Ra*bits, and facing off against Wataru's own friends in UNDEAD and Valkyrie. The student council enacts "order" in the school through rules and regulations, and creates the guidelines by which students are subject to judgment (DreamFes participation is reflected in grades, for example). fine, on the other hand, is how Eichi threatens others using their status as a peer unit rather than by invoking the student council's authority. He challenges and uses underhanded methods to get others to compete against him, and really gets into the thick of the "battles" on the stage.

In the ES! Main Story, Eichi compares Wataru to Mephistopheles, a charming demon who (seemingly) reluctantly lured Doctor Faustus down a path of corruption and to hell, after Wataru threatens his plans for Trickstar. Eichi's plans were cruel, but they were done in the name of the student council, and so Wataru was like Mephistopheles in that he was pulling Eichi away from his own "just" decree and imperial edict.

Wataru is often the one who commentates on Eichi's tyranny - he refers to him as a tyrant, to start with, but also lauds praise upon him for his majesty and ruthlessness.

You are definitely not "evil"! You are "justice", and yet you commit atrocities and greedily devour the tears and dreams of others! Love and hatred! Hope and despair! Dreams and nightmares! You have achieved a way of life that is contradictory and conflicting!

(Ensemble Stars! Novel Adaptation, translation by maluridae)

The left hand has also been associated historically with the feminine, because it was often the hand that held the shield while the right held the sword. In China, the right hand is associated with the masculine yang, strength, and war; and the left hand is associated with the feminine yin, and honour (Carla Huffman).

... as the source of Being is in the primal darkness which preceded light, so the spiritual nature of man is in the dark part of his being, for the heart is on the left side.

(Manly P Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages)

Part of what makes the left hand so fearsome and threatening is that it's connected to the "heart." The honourable right hand which lives in the light does not know the truths concealed in the king's darkness. Femininity has historically been associated with chaos, emotion, and "touch," whereas masculinity is associated with rationality, order, and and "vision" (I don't have a source on hand for this one but I got my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in gender studies so just take my word for it; I'm sure it's easy to look up). The right hand is the sword and the "all-seeing eye" which dispassionately and honourably enacts justice; and the left hand guards the heart and represents desire, intimacy, and unpredictability.

The left hand has the potential to unravel the power of the king because it appeals to his heart.

Wataru plays this role so, so many times throughout Enstars. In one of their first conversations (which Eichi may have imagined, but it doesn't make a difference symbolically, because it still represents what Wataru is to Eichi), Wataru asks Eichi if he's meant to be the villain who dies or the princess who embraces him with a kiss. Eichi tells Wataru that he struggles to imagine him losing, and confesses that it pains him to see Wataru in this position even though Eichi is the one who put him in it (Element).

When Eichi tries to tear Trickstar apart, invoking his position as the Student Council President to pull Hokuto into fine, Wataru gives Hokuto a letter from his grandmother encouraging him to hold fast to his dreams. Eichi is famously angry about this, and his expression of it is incredibly intimate:

He lightly runs his fingertips through Wataru's long silver hair and, like a child throwing a temper tantrum, suddenly grabs it. With a grip so tight that Wataru's hair could possibly tear, Eichi brings his face so close that they look like they are about to kiss. He's like a woman who has gone mad with jealousy.

(Ensemble Stars! Novel Adaptation, translation by maluridae)

After some back and forth between the two, Wataru says to him:

"That is how you wished for this to unfold, yes?" Whispered to him like a fallen angel, Eichi does not react to his words; he reluctantly stays silent. He always speaks so fluently, so it's rare to see him have such trouble coming up with a reply.

(Ensemble Stars! Novel Adaptation, translation by maluridae)

This quote shows that Wataru knows what's truly in Eichi's heart and that his actions are motivated by this. Subaru asks Eichi later in Main Story why he created an opportunity to be defeated in the first place, and Eichi admits to him:

Hehe, I sure wonder why... I might have wanted to see it happen. A miracle. To see your shine that enables you to overcome any fate, no matter how hopeless it may seem. To see your limitless potential. I was born with a weak body. I've cursed the gods countless times. However, if somehow a miracle can happen in this world... if there's hope, if there's love... Then I'd also be able to love this world. That might have been what I was thinking. You can't be an idol with only love. However, if you don't have love, you aren't qualified to be an idol. I just, simply... wanted to become an idol.

(Ensemble Stars! Main Story, translation by Freddie24f)

Wataru knows what Eichi wants before Eichi knows what he wants, and he ensures that Eichi will get it even if it means doing things that Eichi doesn't like in the moment. This is the defining pattern of their entire relationship. It is the exact reason why, in the hospital before their DreamFes, Wataru says to Eichi:

I am not quite sure if it is because the script is just simply awful or not, but it is difficult to see what part I have in this! [...] I do not know whether I should be stabbed by a knife and die while letting out a scream of death and agony, or give an embrace and a kiss!

(Element, translation by Shoe/maluridae)

That what Eichi really wants is intimacy and love is obvious to Wataru, despite all of Eichi's posturing as though he wants Wataru to be the villain. Wataru lets him keep his narrative, but joins fine shortly afterward. In Diner Live, Wataru baits and then switches Eichi by challenging Knight Killers to a "showdown" against Träumerei, only to surprise him by turning the performance into a joint live and switching out all the penlights which the audience was supposed to use to vote into ones that emit rainbow light, representing togetherness. When the live is over, he tells Eichi that his real motive was to express his desire for the two of them to keep performing together as equals and stay together in the future. Eichi agrees and tells Wataru that this is his true dream too.

Wataru grants the wishes Eichi can only make in his heart, the ones that are too unconscious and in the dark to articulate - and it is the role of the "left" to know the unconscious desires that the heart conceals.

Because of this, the left hand has influence over the king that the right hand does not. The right hand is blunt, offensive, the upright "hand of justice." When the right hand and the king are not on the same page, when they disagree, it undermines the king's power and causes tension and friction, but the right hand does not have much ability to influence the king to change. The right hand is unsubtle and doesn't speak directly to the king's heart. The right hand and the king must be in sync to secure the king's authority.

This is why, in the ES! Main Story, when Keito disagrees with Eichi's methods in breaking Trickstar up, he basically can't change Eichi's mind. He ends up undermining Eichi's intent instead by permitting and even encouraging Mao to leave Akatsuki and rejoin Trickstar. When the right hand is out of sync with the ruler, he takes on a quality that is hypocritical or mutinous, either resentfully enacting the ruler's will despite his own wishes, or betraying and actively acting against the ruler's will with the blunt force of the sword. These tensions culminate in Quarrel Festival, when Eichi challenges Keito to a straight up fight and threatens to disband Akatsuki, forcing Keito to acknowledge his own will and push back against Eichi. Ultimately, Keito explains that he does not feel bound by Eichi to any further extent than what he would want, but expresses that it was a relief to vent his frustration with the decisions Eichi sometimes makes.

The left hand, by contrast, is subtle, and can speak to the king's heart. This is why Wataru can influence Eichi while remaining at his side; in Jingle Bells, Wataru expresses disappointment with how Eichi handles Tori, and Eichi, although defensive, immediately reflects on how he should change his approach. Wataru's involvement in the ES! Main Story is another example of this. Eichi may become angry with him, but Wataru speaks directly to his deep desires, leaving Eichi speechless and subject to his influence.

The right hand depends on the ruler for its position and purpose, and the ruler depends on the right hand for its authority and power. The left hand, however, speaks to the heart and flows from the heart, and so it can act independently and exert influence.

A conflict with Keito is between Eichi's ideals and Keito's; a conflict between Eichi and Wataru is between Eichi's own actions and his own principles. When Keito betrays Eichi, it's because they don't agree. When Wataru betrays Eichi, it's because Eichi has betrayed himself.

Sandoval, continuing his description of the king/queen archetype, writes:

The king/queen archetype is, on the whole, not pacifist. It is always prepared to establish "justice", or order, by whatever means necessary. But because of this, it also requires a counterbalance from its opposite side - the idealistic heart [...] The king/queen archetype, if left to itself, can fall into a state of tyranny where the same power originally used to safeguard the city from harm eventually becomes the greatest harm to the city. Due to the natural passage of time, the king's commands eventually become outdated and dysfunctional as the world around him changes. If they are not revisited, via a return to the pure ideal that they were aiming to uphold, the king's reign will collapse. The role of the [...] compass, is to check the king/queen's values and character to ensure fitness to rule and to redirect them to their northern star.

As Eichi's right hand, Keito is the one who enacts Eichi's vision of justice/order. But as his left hand, Wataru keeps Eichi in touch with his true desires and ideals and subtly redirects him back onto his path while staying at his side and helping him do his "dirty work." Where Keito carries the sword, Wataru is a rogue at Eichi's side, understanding more than he lets on and performing sleights of hand and illusions that charm him and guide him.

As the carrier of the sword, Keito's role is comparable to the archetype of a knight. Wataru's role is closer to that of confidante - connoting "confidence"/someone you "confide in." The right hand doesn't necessarily have to be one person; it could be an army. The left hand is always one person; it connotes specialness and secrecy.

This is the archetypal pair that is regarded from the outside with suspicion. The ruler and right hand are "easy to understand." The ruler and the left hand have a special closeness that causes rumours to fly about temptation, corruption, and secret love affairs.

When Keito pleads with Eichi to get rid of Wataru, Eichi tells him:

If you're my right hand, then Wataru's my left. It'd be a shame if I got rid of either just yet... ♪

(Circus, translation by Enstars Translates)

In this quote, Eichi suggests to Keito that if Wataru is expendable, Keito is too. However, it's important to note that Eichi is actually left-handed, a point that Wataru actually comments on:

He calls himself "Eichi's right hand"! Even though Eichi is left-handed - how interesting! Ahh, interpreting those sentiments surrounding this matter gives me such a fuzzy feeling... ☆

(The Flag's Honor ＊ Flower Festival, translation by Shoe/maluridae)

Flower Fes was written by Akira, and so the symbolism behind Eichi's left-handedness with Wataru as his left and Keito as his right is definitely intentional. When Eichi suggests to Keito that he's subject to being gotten rid of as much as Wataru is, he is not suggesting that Keito and Wataru are equal. The loss of Eichi's left hand would be more detrimental to Eichi than the loss of his right. As much as Eichi loves and appreciates Keito, and has no desire to get rid of him, he needs Wataru in a different way than he needs Keito, and if he were to get rid of either of them, he would probably get rid of Keito first. (And indeed, he does try to push Keito away in Quarrel Festival, whereas he and Wataru are in the same unit and declare their intentions to keep performing together into the future).

Theories about the left and right brain also further illustrate their specific positions. The right hand is controlled by the left brain, which is associated with logic, math, and structure. The left hand is controlled by the right brain, which is associated with creativity and art. Keito represents "discipline" in Eichi's life, structure, order, safety, security, and the masculine values mentioned above. Wataru represents Eichi's creativity and imagination with his magic, and the two perform together as artists. Being left-handed, Eichi is more firmly planted in the creative side, despite his role of representing order in Yumenosaki Academy as part of the student council with Keito.

As Eichi's "left hand," Wataru fulfills a major role in Eichi's life; namely, that of representing his heart. Despite being associated with the darkness and looked on with suspicion, Wataru knows Eichi's heart and his unconscious desires. Independent from Eichi's will, Wataru is able to remind and guide Eichi on the basis of his principles, and subtly influence Eichi in ways that push him to grow and be his best self. He is Eichi's confidante, and, owing to Eichi's left-handedness, the person that Eichi would be most reluctant to get rid of. He is the unpredictable chaos that Eichi craves, capable of unraveling Eichi's best laid plans, and, because he knows Eichi's heart, Eichi knows that when he does unravel them, it's because that's what's best for Eichi.

Of course. I trust you more than anyone in this world, including myself. Also, I wouldn't mind a betrayal - if it's from you. I wouldn't care even if you did anything awful to me. Is this feeling love, as the others call it?

(Eichi in Tempest, official English Ensemble! Stars translation)

#analysis #wataru #wataru hibiki #wataei #eiwata #eichi tenshouin #eichi #keito #no full name tag for him bc i feel like i was a little bit rude to him in this #ink spills #anyway why am i posting this at 10 pm

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huntquinlan · 1 month

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thinking about the next acotar books (hopefully we’ll get an announcement this year and a publication next year!), but also about the (most obvious) threads that still need to be resolved. i’m going to break it down as best I can without owning copies of the books (spoilers for all ACOTAR books, minor spoilers for HOFAS):

- The Illyrians (this spans multiple points)

1 - attempts at training the Illyrian women and ending wing clipping. Given that Emerie became a Carynthian even with clipped wings, and is a full fledged valkyrie now I think we will see more of this plot point, hopefully with Emerie having more success in getting Illyrian women to train!

2 - Growing Illyrian dissent. This is connected to the first point, but also with the significant losses they suffered during ACOWAR, along with Rhys’s arguably ineffective governing strategies. Theoretically Cassian will be dealing mostly with this, but the Valkyries may end up in the middle as well (Gwyn being the first non-Illyrian carynthian)

3 - Mount Ramiel. it’s been hinted at something being under the mountain, possibly another dread trove? or something worse? whatever it is, it will likely also involve our resident Illyrians and Valkyries. Nesta is connected to the Trove/Cauldron/The Mother, while Gwyn, Emerie, Cassian, and Azriel are all technically connected to Ramiel as Carynthians. With (HOFAS spoilers) Gwydion returned to Prythian as well, and having been given to Nesta, along with her major supporting role in HOFAS sets us up for more of her adventures (regardless of whether she’s a POV or not - I think she’s going to be very present in future books)

the other major points seemingly takes us out of the night court:

- Koschei (what is he? death god? and what does he want?)

1 - Queen Vassa’s curse. Considering she was one of the last people to spend extensive time with Papa Archeron (who somehow bargained to free her from Koschei), it seems likely that SJM will resolve her storyline somehow. Her connection to Lucien through that trip (and continued partnership after), and her alliance with Jurian seems to be priming Vassa to assume power over the human kingdom(s) while also pursuing cooperation with the different fae realms. She will need to be freed from her curse, if Lucien has cursebreaking powers from Helion (his biological father?)

2 - Koschei’s interest in the trove - we saw this through his manipulations of Briallyn but I doubt it will stop there. He may seek to manipulate other forces to further his agenda. The other mortal queens? Other fae leaders (cough Tamlin cough Beron cough)? What about our cauldron-bonded seer Elain?

- Autumn Court Drama

1 - Eris wants to overthrow his daddy. This has been building for a while, a coup (whether just an attempt or a success) is probably in the future.

2 - Lucien’s true parentage. With Feyre figuring out that the Lady of Autumn had an affair with Helion (HL of Day), resulting in Lucien, it seems like it is only a matter of time before all of this information comes out in the wash

3 - The Eris and Mor mess. there’s a lot of speculation here, and obviously horribly traumatic history. I can’t help but wonder if Eris will have something to say about what happened to/with Mor in the future. Or maybe we’ll get more information from Mor herself (Mor novella? one can only hope!!)

- Other threads:

-just how much power did Nesta relinquish in the end of ACOSF. in HOFAS we see her using her silver flames and fighting with the mask - what did she actually give up / how much did she actually give up?

- the “High King” plot-line. Why does Amren want Rhys to claim the title?

- baby Nyx was saved by The Mother? (acting through Nesta)…are there any ramifications for that or are we just going to leave it be lol

- Azriel’s mom. We know that she’s still alive (HOFAS) / at least it’s heavily implied. It’s been mentioned she lives somewhere called “Rosehall.” Cassian thinks the library would be a good/healing place for her. if/when we get Azriel’s POV we’ll likely get more information about her, hopefully get to meet her character

-Merrill’s research. this was technically resolved with the HOFAS crossover proving it true but would love to hear characters thoughts on this! does Nesta tell Gwyn about their strange visitor, and then Gwyn tells Merrill, or would Rhys go to Merrill directly? Could Rhys have Merrill start looking for a way to protect Prythian from future unwanted visitors (world-walkers)

- HOFAS Spoilers. When Bryce more or less revives/heals Avallen she wonders if this could have had an effect across worlds (the island of Avallen seems to be connected to the Prison island due to the barriers between worlds being thinner in certain places?). Did the prison island “wake up” as well/was it revitalized? Are there pegasi there too (i hope so! this could totally be a mini Valkyrie plot!!! i want it so bad!)

- objectively elain has been very absent from the narrative, and there seem to be hints that she may be up to more than just gardening. i personally want to really see what she is like (from her own POV!), see her friendship with Nuala and Cerridwen, and also her thoughts on everything that has happened!

- the spring court mess with Tamlin. this could also involve Lucien, but if the court is being mismanaged and the magic is unrestrained/ unstable (because Tamlin is) what does this mean for neighboring courts? the human lands? the overall health of prythian?

- the burning elephant in the room: elain and lucien’s mating bond. this isn’t a shipping post but this point will need to be resolved sooner or later

that’s a lot! i’d love to hear others thoughts, like did I miss anything important? any more nuanced elements i may have glossed over? this isn’t a shipping post at all, i’m just trying to organize plot threads! also please share/link/send me theories in regards to any of these points!!!!

#acotar #acotar theory #acotar 5 #maasverse #sjm #idek what to tag all of this

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