_the.outlaw.torn_

Hail reaper

[darrowsrising]

My Roman Empire is Darrow and his infinite, yet frustrating capacity for love and compassion. Even when it is hard, even towards the least deserving.

As much as people want to deny it, denigrate it and attribute it to their faves in a more positive light, it's Darrow's love and compassion that has changed people around him. Not all of them, but even one was enough for him to keep on going.

Truth is, no Gold is capable of what Darrow is capable of feeling and showing towards people around him. His own friends never give him what he has given them - compassion and understanding when things are most difficult. And that makes it so infinitely fascinating, beautiful and frustraing.

[darrowsrising]

wait what did i miss, virginia and darrow had sex during sevro and victra’s wedding? 🤯

I mean, it is very implied. Very suggested. Because the Del Rey editorial team has beef with success.

I don't have the quotes right now, but when Virginia says half-heartedly that they should go back to the party, Darrow says he has everything he needs right there. And they kiss. Next thing you know they are approaching the Rubicon Beacons.

There was supoosed to be a love scene in Morning Star too, so this is where I think it fitted. Mike Braff and his editorial failures aside, there is no way these two freaks didn't solve all that built up tension right then, when there was time, space and emotional vulnerability. At least in my black, little heart.

It was more of a naughty little inside joke, but it is also based on truth 🤭. The implications are there, for sure.

Howl on!

[tinasshelf]

I miss drawing red rising stuff whats like. a good scene or moment or character I should draw. pls I need inspo

[darrowsrising]

Darrow. Any Darrow is good Darrow. I miss Institute Darrow, tbh.

Darrow getting his butt smacked at the Institute by Virginia. Darrow with his white wolf pelt. Darrow's face before he kills Proctor Apollo. Darrow's face when Tactus calls him 'smitten as a lovebird'. Darrow and his knifeRing. Darrow kicking Fitchner.

Darrow. Just Darrow when he found friendship, love and a sweet bit of childhood in traumatizing and sick circumstances.

Thank you for your art though, whatever you decide. 💖🐺

[madeofplasma]

Did an animatic from the beginning of Red Rising chapter 20 for my portfolio. I had a lot of fun doing this and it reminded me how much I love storyboard!

[darrowsrising]

A few things people forget about Iron Gold (and even insisted in Dark Age) that are absolutely critical for Darrow:

1. Apollonius' home invasion is a huge deal, because before that Darrow didn't have such long campaigns and took his family of trips. He even took Pax to Earth, acvording to Dark Age and felt safe to do so. After the home invasion, everything changed.

Remember that in MS, Darrow was tortured psychologically with the notion that his family is in enemy custody. That very notion broke him beyond anything.

2. Darrow hesitates and feels very uncomfortable before narrow and dark spaces. AND NO ONE NOTICES. Not even Sevro. Darrow always HAD to be a leader, even amongst his friends, so they wouldn't desintegrate in high pressure situations.

That has made his friends get used to him not displaying emotions that would scare them - so when Screwface knows something's up, he insists on being there for Darrow. Because he knows Darrow just won't show it, but he needs someone nonetheless.

3. Sevro's shot ricocheted into Darrow's arm in the garden and it moved it into killing Wulfgar. However, Sevro wins the little sedative shooting contest in Deepgrave. This also plays into the birds in the garden mystery, obviously. But simply put, Darrow didn't kill Wulfgar, Sevro and Darrow killed him by mistake. And even so, nobody really cares. Not even Sefi.

4. If Darrow didn't go to Mercury - and immediately save Orion in Dark Age - the Republic would have been gone. His trusting Virginia with their son is completely pertinent, thinking otherwise or thinking Virginia would throw a tantrum because Darrow needs to be on Mercury more than Luna for the sake of HER SUBJECTS is ridiculous. Trusting Theodora and everyone else on Luna to do their job was not wrong in the least. They all get to stay home because he goes out there to liberate planets and fight off the enemies, you'd think they could manage the protection of his son.

5. Darrow promised Victra he would send Sevro back to her when the occasion arises. Darrow NEVER forced anyone to follow him. Taking what he says to Sevro as fact, as how he truly feels, is incorrect. He is simply giving Sevro what he needs to go back to Luna, guilt free. Its obviously not what he feels.

He allowed Holoday to stay where her loyalties lie. He accepted that Sefi did not want to follow him anymore and underatood perfectly why. Sevro needed to feel in the right about it, just like Holoday and Sefi did - Holi put her beliefs before Darrow's mission, Sefi put her people above Darrow's mission, Sevro put his family above Darrow, but only after Darrow made a separation between himself and Sevro's notion of family.

[darrowsrising]

Darrow holding Pax for the first time is so magical, because he couldn't believe he is deserving to even have his own child, hold his own child or even be worthy of being a father.

He could believe Virginia has a child, that she is a mother, loved that of her and loved her child. But it took time to realise that...she chose him as the child's father. Pax is their son, his son as well. He is good enough, he is loved, he is accepted.

Given all the odds against them, to see his biggest dream in the palms of his war-battered hands, to feel that every pain was worth this very moment, to be reassured over and over that it's real...magnificent!

The healing softness of this very moment through Virginia's eyes because Darrow is lost to words and thoughts and had given in to just feeling. Dark Age is just better, argue with your ma'.

[darrowsrising]

The Consequence for refusing the Passange is dying in that room from starvation. They locked two people there and they expect one to come forth. And they will go as far as using starvation survival as incentive. And they expect both to die if both refuse to fight till the end. No one can give up and leave and live their lives after this by choice.

So yeah, Bellona bitches are entitled when they demand of Darrow to sit down and die like a nice, lowborn boy who doesn't know the hardships of being weak in a strong House. Because that was what Julian meant when he begged Darrow to understand, maybe not as crassly, though - Julian needed Darrow to die to win his Passage, he needed Darrow to accept that he needs it more, that life means more to him.

Julian did try to get both himself and Darrow out of this situation before understanding there is no way, but...their way, so I am not villainizing him at all. I am saying the situation is fucked up from all angles. It's meant to be an impossible situation from all angles, including Julian's.

But it is entitlement to throw around the Bellona name so often and then try to use it to convince someone to accept their death. Because if it wasn't Darrow in there with him it would still be fucked up., because the Culling is directly imoral and horrific.

[vesperpharsalius]

To be clear, I agree with you, OP, that the Passage is a royally–fucked–up nightmare, a you’re–damned–regardless situation devoid of moral highground, and I’m not trying to vilify or absolve anyone here. You’re entitled to your opinion, of course, and your interpretation of the scene, and I hope I don’t come across as hostile. But I can’t help but feel like the canon isn’t quite as unflattering towards Julian—and more ambiguous about the nature of the Passage—than you’re making it out to be.

We simply don’t know what happens if students refuse to participate in the Passage. And I say that because there’s no examples of this happening in the canon. Also, we don’t know the extent to which the Passage is a mindgame, the extent to which there’s an illusion of choice involved, what would actually happen if someone protested, whether they would be, as you suggest, starved until they comply, automatically Shamed, or simply expelled from Institute.

Yes, we have this line from Fitchner—

—which Darrow understandably takes at face–value.

But this—

—raises questions. When Darrow leaves the room, the door is unlocked. Was it locked when they fought and unlocked after Darrow killed Julian? Or was it always unlocked? Both are possible. The narrative doesn’t say. Regardless, it implies an illusion of choice, one ostensibly designed to haunt the survivor. Was there another option? Was Fitchner lying? We don’t know.

There is also the fact that it’s perfectly possible—and, indeed, more likely than not—to fail the Institute. The majority of students that survive leave either as Graduates or Shamed; they do not receive Scars. The Passage is considered the first test of the Institute, discounting the admissions exams, and I wonder if it isn’t possible to fail—that is, to be incapable of ruthlessness—and what the punishment for that would be, if the doors are, indeed, unlocked.

It’s a hypothetical. IMO, I don’t believe there’s a choice here—it’s kill or be killed, as far as I’m concerned. But it is possible.

And one thing that’s crystal–clear in this scene is that Julian believes there’s a choice—that he and Darrow have the option of leaving, of withdrawing from the Institute without mortal consequences.

Now, this is arguably born of denial, as Fitchner clearly states they must fight (for a spot in the Institute, at least) and Julian seems to think that if Darrow bows out, he can proceed into the class, which is an obviously flawed assumption. After all, if they both refuse, they’ve both failed the test and, assuming they can refuse, they’re both out—expelled, if not outright Shamed.

However. There can be no doubting that Julian believes otherwise—

—and there’s even a suggestion that Darrow isn’t sure himself—

—because he’s stating here that Tiberius would still love Julian if he bowed out. Implying it is, in fact, possible to bow out.

Is it? Who knows. We never will. But the fact remains that Julian believes it is. He is genuinely trying to convince Darrow to leave. And even after Darrow repeatedly refuses and attacks him—

—he’s still in denial.

I’m sorry, OP, but the person who believes that his prospects and aspirations mean more than the other person’s life, that he needs to win more than the other person deserves to live… isn’t Julian.

It’s Darrow. And he’s right. He’s objectively right. But that doesn’t make this—

—less cruel. Or less entitled, for that matter.

Again, I’m not criticizing Darrow here or excusing Julian’s selfishness—because if he believed it was possible to leave, after all, why didn’t he try himself, when it became clear he couldn’t convince Darrow to do so? Why did he try to manipulate Darrow into leaving in the first place?

But to say that Julian was politely asking Darrow to accept his death, to lay down and die for him—if you’d be so kind, my goodman; you’re naught but a lowBorn, after all; your hardships are nothing compared to mine; you should be honored to die for the Family Bellona, actually!—is… a take. That I don’t think the canon supports.

But that’s just my interpretation.

[darrowsrising]

So, Julian au Bellona, standing there and trying to convince Darrow to give him the win, is not entitled behaviour?

First of all, everyone at the Institute in Darrow's year have performed the Passage. Moreover, there are no records of the Passage not being performed - this is survival of the fittest, they Shame only people who betray the Houses.

Second of all, I did not make this post to justify Darrow's behaviour, because he hates himself at every point for killing Julian and in no one does Julian's flaws justify his death. I made it to underlime the fact that it's fucked up from ALL angles - including Julian's who makes it out to be something it isn't for the sake of House Bellona. It adds even more tragedy to the whole process. I also wanted to underline the fact that Julian is still very much flawed, his innocence is not cheap.

While there are illusions of choice, the Passage is undenyable, it's a culling, it exists and no one can skip it. That was actually the point of it, otherwise it wouldn't exist if it had such loose handlings:

That possibility of failing the Passage and still living you so insist on doesn't exist because it makes no sense for it to exist. Why would it be the purpose if only some die? Why insist on Julian being at the Institute? Why scam the Passage for him to have a highDraft instead of a midDraft like himself? If Darrow misinterpreted and had the possibility to just walk away or just not kill Julian, but still take the ring, why did everyone else kill their partners?

It's meant to be an impossible situation, it's meant to be a culling. If there was any actual way out, it would have been applied in 700 years. Not even Virginia could find a way out and killed someone. So did Pax.

The idea that it's actually a possibility is a...take!

I am sorry, but whether he accepts that The Culling is to the death or not, it does not take away the fact that his attitude - born out of healthy sense of self-preservation - is still very much entitled. He thinks he is right, but even by just his interpretation, thinking someone else, anyone else is less needing of success and should quit to a Bellona. It's valid for him to feel that way, given the circumstances, but it's not true.

He is denying the looming death, because he can afford to think like that, even in dire situations. His denial doesn't absolve his entitlement whatsoever, he feels he should have the win because his circumstances are much more important in his eyes. If Darrow wasn't his opponent, it still wouldn't have made it right.

He is deluding himself, because he doesn't want to kill, but he wants the win. He is still very privileged to think lile that. It adds to the tragedy, to the helplessness of both Darrow and Julian, but especially Julian.

Also, people are allowed to voice unfavourable opinions on tragic characters, regardless of how worthy of pity they are or not. To me, just because he felt death wasn't necessary, it doesn't make it better - he was still asking for Darrow to die.

Darrow was still cruel and brutal and terrible towards Julian. I never denied that for a second, that is what made it an impossible situation. If there was an escape route that bypassed killing, ot would have meant jack shit.

[insignificant457]

Red Rising characters as questionable lyrics from Taylor Swifts new album

(For legal purposes this is a joke)

Darrow:

Mustang:

Sevro:

Cassius:

Victra:

Lyria:

Lysander:

[dualquille]

Darrow: ugh I hate Cassius and his golden curls and his broad shoulders and his perfect smile and… what was I saying again

Mustang: … you hate Cassius

Darrow: UGH yeah I hate that guy

[thegorydamnreaper]

Dido au Raa

Kinda more than a sketch, but I kinda just rolled with it 😅 Hope you guys like it!

@vesperpharsalius Thank you again for the request 🤗

[theoutlawtorn08]

Damn

[thegorydamnreaper]

Pax the Hunter

Sketch 1/?

Thank you for the prompt @darrowsrising ! More to come 😉 ♥️

[sharp-fanged13]

34. Mustang and Darrow. BUT Mustang is the one who wants to cuddle

“You come to my room and wake me up at 4 a.m. to cuddle?”

Fandom: Red Rising

Timelapse: between the Institute and The Academy 

Characters: Darrow au Andromedus, Virginia au Augustus

Disclaimer: The Red Rising Trilogy is the intellectual propertyof Pierce Brown. This drabble is pure fanfiction (and headcanon elements)and I have no profit off of it. it is worth mentioning that I do not have experience with this and that I am not a native english speaker, so I apologise in advance for mistakes.

Virginia au Augustus learnt from a very young age how damaging death can be to the life of the living ones. It takes. And it takes. And takes and doesn’t give a slagging fuck about what loss does to you. It does not descriminate between good or bad or Gold or Red or Blue or Violet or an ArchGovernor and a innocent child.

When mama…well, “fell”, she lost more than her mother. She lost her twin and her father to a darkness she never undestood. They did not greive, they did not cry (although she had saw a strange bit of moisture in his father eyes an hour or so after he’d announced he was getting married again), they were just stuck in this icy numbness and acted accordingly, without thinking about other people’s feelings or circumstances. They became power-hungry, like more power could ever bring mama back.

But it was after she lost Claudius too that she lost the hope of ever having a goodnight’s sleep. All she could see were his eyes before Karnus au Bellona took the light from them.

Sleeping became more of a wretched reflex, really. When you are too tired to dream then you know you won’t have nightmares and all will be good the next day. Carvers had magical remedies against dark circles as well. Just a bit of that weird jelly under the eyes everyday and no one could ever tell she had trouble sleeping.

After a year with the Telemanuses, her sleep schedue got better. Maybe because, unlike her father, they really noticed that for a 12 year old, she used a vast amount of Carving product for eyes. Not that they questioned her about it. They just gave her love and hoped for the best. And it proved efficient. She loved them too and she was content with life. Not happy, but who could be when one had the ambitions she had for changing The Society from its very roots (it is a must so no one will “fall” off clifs after losing their unborn babies or so no one would have to get killed for dancing or singing and many other injustices )and couldn’t do a gorydamn thing without having vasts amount of power. It looked like desire for power ran in the family after all. But for her, not out of misery or saddness, but out of love.

Sleep became more precious than helium-3 at the Institute after she killed that poor, scrawny boy in the Passage. It was the most horrible thing she ever did. She not only couldn’t find other gorydamn way to pass, but she actually killed an innocent. What kind of Society kills its own children out of a twisted sense of meritocracy?

In the name of all the people killed in The Passage and all of the people (no matter what Color or gender or any other cryteria there is) she might have to kill to get where she wanted, she will change these slagging laws even if she has to die for it.

Sleeping next to the Reaper of Mars is, contrary to the popular opinion, a very soothing experience. She would often find herself wanting to cuddle with him. The moment he would shift and their bodies wouldn’t touch at all she’d wake up immediately. She’d often wonder who had been that girl who had managed to capture his beautiful heart so badly that her death made him so driven towards power. But unlike her twin or father, he did everything out of love. He was too much, he felt too deeply not to do things out of love. He seemed like a stallion, fighting to get to his hoard even if deadly injured. And she fell for him hopelessly and against all odds. 

Although is was not really fair, no matter how much she tried to not burden him during sleep with her constant coughing, she always felt grateful that he would hold her willingly so she could sleep.

After their army started making progress and left for Apollo, her sleeping was getting a bit worse. Mainly because Reaper decided to stop sleeping next to her. But she watched him stealthy when he was bundled up in his wolf skin. He couldn’t sleep either. After pointing up to him that she did not tell him to leave they fell back into their night routine.

Her kidnapping had been a golden hell. With Darrow in danger all she could think about was how to save him, how to escape, how many ways there are to punish that bastard who was not her twin anymore. Not after everything. Not after Pax. Her nightmares were now about Darrow being tortured, or killed. But her screams were so horrible at night and her bruises from her failed escapes so bad, they gave her sedatives. And it all became blurry.

After Darrow’s Institute winning party, at which he acted like he would rather go in an Iron Rain, she dragged him to the real the one with all his friends made at The Institute. And Cassius’ absence wasn’t really bad, but those from House Mars, except The Howlers, were a bit upset.

Late in the night, after everyone went home (or to their room in the building), she started to feel Darrow distancing himself from her just like he did after swearing that blasted oath to her father. She was so mad she left quickly to her room. 

Where she couldn’t sleep. At all. Gorydamn  routine they implemented! 

At  4 a.m. she couldn’t stand it anymore. She was tired, yes, but she had been so slagging close to losing Darrow to death. She. Will. Let. Her. Father.Take. Him.Too. No gorydamn way!

“Lo, Reaper!” she said barging in his room loudly. She turned on the soft lights using the pad embedded in the wall next to the door. She didn’t wait for him to say anything, she simply slipped into his bed (too bad he was wearing a pair of boxers! but bonus points for how hot they made him look) and burrowed into his naked chest, hugging him close to her and listening to the soothing, steady rhythm of his heart and releasing a sound of contentment emphasized by the closing of her eyes.

“Lo, Mustang!” he said in a tired, yet smiling voice. He did not cuddle her back. He seemed like he was waiting for something. She did not move to even open her eyes. Then his rough voice broke through the akwardness:

“So…you come into my room and wake me up at 4 a.m. to cuddle?” his insufferable, sweet smirk wrapped in his remark made her flush a bit and she couldn’t hide a smile on her own, but she did not open her eyes.

“You mean The Great and Almighty reaper of Mars actually sleeps? All the Pixies in the galaxy won’t believe me when i tell them”, her chukle was silenced by a soft kiss on the lips and his arms around her frame(she was glad she had nice knickers under the over-seized, white cotton sleeping shirt, because 2 could play the lingerie game). 

There was still time to sort things out. Darrow will not succumb to her father’s ways. She would not let him. There was still time…

Hate me if you must, but I just had so many ideas and I am deeply sorry if it isn’t to your liking, but I wanted to make it quickly so you won’t wait that much so I made it longer than a drabble due to these reasons…

[darrowsrising]

I wish Darrow knew just how territorial Virginia is about their marriage.

He gets a tad insecure about Virginia wasting precious holo time to pay attention to someone other than him - leader duties and all that - and back home, she goes into a monologue as to why Valdir sucks for claiming to love Darrow and betraying him out of resentment.

They are perfect, I love them.

[darrowsrising]

Alternative titles for Light Bringer:

Darrow O'Lykos and, yet again, the audacity of this Pixie Bitch.

The Misadventures of the Wayward Chin.

The Reaper of Mars and his himbo collection.

You can take the boy out of the pyramid, but you cannot stop him from becoming a fucking tyrant.

Martian Cookbook: The Reaper Reveals How To Best Kill Annoying Enemies (may contain honey, berserkers and new butchering techniques).

All Quiet on the Martian Front: Virginia Augustus has a Crown.

Hell hath no fury like Victra Julii-Barca.

The Odyssey where they gave Darrow a self-help book, because therapy would have made him overpowered.

Reading for filth: 10 ways you can send your annoying allies into a downward spiral by just telling them the truth in a mean way.

The Archimedes Beginer's Guide: the braincell supply is always scarce.

Don't Drink and Tell Secrets.

How much character growth can a 7 feet tall man even handle?

Lysander au Lune: from bitch to puppet to genocidal maniac.

How to deal with Depression and Hypocrisy by Sevro Barca, Goblin of Mars.

Diomedes au Raa and the Very Bad, Not Good, Fucking Stupid Days.

Atlas au Raa: Fall Skin Collection.

En Vogue: If he cannot be the narrative's favourite, he'll be the most hated.

Darrow O'Lykos: Augustan Traditions Must Live On.

The Spy That Booped My Nose.

Local Lesbian Saves Obsidian Princess.

Reaper Caused Blood on Dancefloor. Again.

[visit-ba-sing-se]

Some humble additions:

I can't belive it is not genocide! - How to commit war crimes while keeping the moral high ground with Lysander au Lune.

Confession Time! Volsung Fa tells all!

How to get him to notice you (when he is busy becoming a tyrant)! - with Cicero au Votum

[darrowsrising]

Shoot Your Shot: Flirt Your Way Into Brotherhood with Cassius Bellona.

Darrow O'Lykos: Can enemies forgive? More likely than you think when you are universe's favourite.

Marriage & Career: Insight into the Royal Couple's angstiest scenes

Child makes good point, but he's still a child, so he's not right.

Fashion Statement: Boots and Wigs by Atalantia and Atlas.

No one puts Truffle Pig in a corner.

Darrow & Diomedes: how to lose everything and get a new lease on life.

Cassius & Sevro: how to lose everything and NOT gwt a new lease on life until your best friend garantees for you.

Lysander's string of failed mentors.

Lyria O'Lagalos and the adoption papers everyone keeps signing.

[darrowsrising]

The Minotaur's Labrinth: Rescue Mission.

Delusion is a dish best served from Demeter's Garter.

Local capitalist pig tries to play god, again.

Meanwhile, several people are deluding themselves just as hard.

The Rim goes hard for Reaper, visiting bitch throws a tantrum.

Never let himbos do a malewife's job.

How to save a princess from a cult: a Lyria O'Lagalos infiltration mission.

Cassius Bellona and yet again the nasty consequences of some meh actions.

Atalantia au Grimmus: Her boots were made...for walking all over you.

If I had a nickel everytime a book did not have sufficient Virginia Augustus content, I would have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but I HATE THAT IT HAPPENED TWICE.

[h-brook-writes]

Top 5 Light Bringer moments?

There are so many to choose from, but these are the five that just happen to spring to mind right now!

5. That fucking shrine scene!!! PB really had me thinking maybe Lysander would smarten up, chill the fuck out and see the tactical (and maybe even the moral) advantage of joining up with Darrow and co against Atalantia. Then nope! All my naive hopes shattered once again!

4. Sevro learning about Ulysses. I'd been waiting to see that penny drop for him since Dark Age, and it was such a strong character moment for everybody involved. It's just like Lyria to put her foot in her mouth by trying to be kind, and just like Sevro to push into his feelings precisely by trying to dodge them.

3. The Cassius-Darrow bonding. We all knew where it was probably headed, but I'm so glad we got that bit of closure and catharsis. The tragedy for me was always how good they could be as friends, but got pulled apart by schemes outside their control and ultimately ended up wounding each other. It was so nice to see them have an honest conversation about it and bury the remnants of their animosity.

2. The bit when it looked like Volga would kill Lyria. My heart was hammering, especially after I glimpsed something that half-resembled a spoiler on the subreddit and was genuinely convinced she might die. And what's more tragic and horrible than to die because a friend was under peer pressure from a pack of crazy assholes? The RELIEF I felt when Darrow burst outta the leviathan... I had to catch my breath.

CLANG. CLANG. CLANG. CONFESS.

I've always loved and admired Darrow as a character, but I never kicked my feet and twirled my hair like a teenage girl until this sequence.

He can hunt down, humiliate and execute a puppet warlord for me any day. I love and respect Virginia and would never get between them but like. do you think she'd mind if I held hands with him for two minutes? I promise I'm doing it respectfully. In fact, do they need another spouse? Is there somewhere I can submit a resume--

[darrowsrising]

Darrow should get Virginia a stable of pegasi for their 10th wedding anniversary. After all the pegasus is their symbol.

[darrowsrising]

Virginia would probably gift him razors. She could probably get him Lightbringer itself.

[thehaemanthus]

"You all right?" I ask. "I was used as a bus driver for a spy I'm in love with who I thought rescued me because she thought I was a hero, whose protégé chose to become a tyrant and shoot my best friend's protégé in the head-- whom I find out was the paragon of honor." He smiles. "I'm over the moon, goodman." I squeeze his shoulder. "If it counts, I think you're a hero." He snorts a laugh but doesn't throw my hand off. I pat his shoulder. "So I'm your best friend." He glares at me. "Don't rub it in."

-- Light Bringer, chapter 11. Darrow and Cassius, bffs after more than a decade and a lot of baggage.