I Resist the Muses

Teyla put it very well when she said "we are Lantean".

It's a simple phrase, but it's come to mean so much -- to all of us, whether we say it in the same words or not, whether we acknowledge it or not. I left a lot behind when I chose to walk through that gate the first time. Most of us did. What I found on the other side was more than just exciting technology and terrifying enemies.

I found a new family.

In the time since I first came to Atlantis, I have been a lot of things. I'm not proud of all of them, but what I have first and foremost been is the leader of the Atlantis expedition, and this role has given me more than I ever hoped for or dreamed of. I may not always be able to say how I feel, but I hope the way I choose to lead my people shows them that I do care about them, and I do believe in them, and I am grateful for the presence of each and every one of them.

Yes, Teyla. We are Lantean. And we are a family.

Everyone on Atlantis came here with a different definition of family. Many of the Lanteans who came in the first group - they either had no family to speak of, or had family that they were willing to leave behind. Their want and need to explore and provide for their people enough to allow them to give up the possibility of seeing them again.

Definition of family with the Athosians has always been fluid, as Kate, Elizabeth and John have all said - we are each others family now. It has taken time - and there have been insecurities on both sides at times - but family are the people who love you and will protect you, and allow you to protect them. My family has gained many people since the Lanteans came to Atlantis, there are some that come and go, but the ones who call Atlantis home - we have fit our definition of family to include each other.

( In this I have failed Anakin, I have no doubt. )

( Cut for language )
Words: 220
Comments, etc. welcome here.

I've lived in Neptune my whole life and if there's one thing I learned it's that the families here leave a lot to be desired. Until last year I actually thought I had one of the more normal families. Successful dad, a mom who lives in Europe and a little brother who was a big dork like little brothers are. Occasionally there was a stepmom thrown in there. Pretty normal, for Neptune. No big family scandals, no murderers and any affairs my dad had were covered up well. I was the screw up in the family and I don't think I was even that bad.

Turns out my family was just as screwed up as everyone else's in Neptune. It just took a while for me to realize it.

Families fight, fine, I get that. I never expected there to be a day where Cassidy and I didn't get in an argument. I wasn't shocked when my Dad came home announcing that he was getting another divorce. That whole Leave It To Beaver stereotype is bullshit. But who just leaves their family? Who cares so little about their kids that they just fucking leave? My parents, I guess. At least I got some warning when my mom left for Europe. I had to find out about my dad leaving on the news. And Cassidy...well the screaming from outside the hotel was enough to draw me away from the graduation party. Not that I blame him for leaving. I would have killed myself too. Bottom line is, he still left.

Family are the people who stay. It's as simple as that. I don't even want to think about what that says about my so-called family.

Comments and RP welcome here

Prompt 1 - Who Am I

( Dean Winchester at your service... )

[cross posted to bestbigbrother; open for comments or RP]

You can never escape your family. Believe me, I tried.

After my mother died, my father raised me and Dean to be hunters. We never stayed in one place very long and we didn't have many interpersonal ties. The only constants I had were my father and Dean.

The older I got, the more I realized I wanted to be normal. I wanted to go to the same school for an entire year. I wanted home-cooked meals on holidays. I wanted all the things that we would have had if Mom hadn't been killed. And I decided that if I wasn't going to get it from my blood family, I'd go out and make my own family.

I was so close to realizing that dream. But then my whole world turned upside down and I ended up on the road with Dean, trying to get justice for Mom and Jess.

Now? Well, now I embrace who I am and the fact that I'm carrying on the Winchester legacy.


Open for Comments or RP

( I don't exactly have a family... )

Comments Welcome

So how much about my family can I discuss? 


Crossposted to justine_m

I am a princess of the House of Black.

I am a beloved wife who treasures her husband as much as he treasures her.

I am a hunter who takes great joy and pleasure in finding new ways to tortue the prey.

But, most of all, I am a Death Eater, one of the servants of the Dark Lord Voldemort.

I am Bellatrix Lestrange. Some would say that I wasted the best years of my life under His service. I spent many of those years in Azkahban, but I never lost my faith in my Lord.

Some would say that I lost my mind in Azkahban. But I do not see myself as insane. My years in Azkahban gave me time to reflect on my Lord's battle. It gave me a new determination to escape and see my Lord risen and triumphant.

The dementors that so many fear became my allies, in a way. They feed off of me, removing the dross that cluttered my mind. In the resulting ecstacy, I was given visions of my Dark Lord and his glorious future. Some would say those visions were insanity. I say they were a blessing.

Some of my fellow Death Eaters say my "insanity" also makes me more vicious than before Azkahban. I say that I have survived Azkahban, and I deserve to enjoy myself to the utmost. It just happens that torture and other "improper" things are things I enjoy. I no longer hold myself back, and that is what they see as my new viciousness.

Now that I am reunited with my Dark Lord, I will do my best to ensure those visions become reality and that all muggles are destroyed.

My family is simple. I have my sister, Narcissa, and my husband, Rodolphus. I suppose that my sister's husband and child are included in that, but, personally, I don't consider them as such. I wouldn't die for them the way I would die for Cissy or Rodolphus. But don't tell Cissy that.

I suppose I would consider the Dark Lord my head of family. I'm sure he would laugh at me for that "fanciful notion". I am not naive enough to think that he considers me in the same light. But everything I do, I do for him.

My husband understands, being a Death Eater also. Some of the fellow Death Eaters whisper that I can't possibly love Rodolphus because I am so devoted to my Lord. But Rodolphus and I know the truth, and the nights we spend together prove that. I love my husband, and would die for him, as I would die for Cissy and my Lord.

The whisperings amuse me, though. They prove that my fellow Death Eaters know nothing about me. Not even duty to my family line would convince me to marry someone I wasn't at least fond of, for Merlin's sake. And the love I have for my Dark Lord is quite different than the love I have for my husband.

As far as the rest of the people in my life.. They are not family. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to sacrifice them if it would save one of the three people I love or myself. I'm sure they already know that, though. And if they don't, they'll find out at the most inopportune time.

( I am my own grandpa... )