#continued post

Unfortunately most other people did not find these jokes as amusing as she did. As the respect for Elagabalus decreased across the Roman Empire she was forced to adopt her cousin named Serverus Alexander. Alexander was her only 'son' and successor. The Romans took great care in ensuring that Alexander didn't turn out like his cousin. He was taught more in Roman culture and values. Elagabalus understood that Alexander was a threat and tried to remove him. This ploy failed and Elagabalus as well as her mother were murdered at a camp of Praetorian guards. Their mutilated bodies were carried through the streets of Rome before they were tossed into the river Tiber. After her reign women were never allowed to step foot in the building where the senate resided. The Romans tried as hard as they could to erase the legacy of Elagabalus from history.

Transgender behavior was practiced both before and after Elagabalus. It was tolerated and sometimes respected when one would come out as transgender. It was really only respected when a male born priestess of Cybele would come out. These people were known as the Gallae/Galli. These women would celebrate a taurobolium. This was originally the castration of a bull but it was celebrated when a formally male priestess would cut off their genitalia, bleed (simulating menstruation), wear women's clothing, and go by female names. This was viewed as a very mystical understanding of gender. The Roman Empire was very diverse in many ways including gender and religion. It was normal for a transgender female to seek out the Gallae/Galli and go through this ritual. This ritual would both please her goddess and sooth the dysphoria that person may be feeling.

Even though Elagabalus was not the best ruler she was still important. I'm every group there are bad people and the lgbtq+ community is no exception. Elagabalus probably was not bad she just wasn't ready to be a ruler. She was important to history and she did many things. It isn't fair to cover her up just because she's trans. We don't cover up people like Nero or Caligula even though they did worse things than Elagabalus did. She might have altered Roman culture and rules but she also contributed many things.

@alphatimeline-orchid

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"No offense taken," Sirius reassured her unbothered and merely shrugged his shoulders. He's the one who worded it like that; from experience nonetheless.

A sound left him when Orchid mentioned her encounter with camping illagers. It could've been anything from an amused exhale to a scoff.

"No wonder. Most groups are based on- mh, let’s say respect. You gotta butt your heads with them, show 'em what you got, grow some horns. Otherwise none is going to accept you being around," he chimed in to lecture her. It was such a small natural rule he was familiar with from a young age, but Orchid simply didn't experience such.

"Being all…" He pauses again, looking Orchid over. "Soft and passive and all talk doesn't really speak to most." He wouldn't consider her particularly dangerous or physically strong by the looks; and the rowdy and the rough love to pick on those who feign innocence.

[...]

The Allay disrupting Orchid mid speech, the Vex jumping into position, but mostly the sudden wave of dread emitting from them had Sirius alarmed in an instant. Instinctively reaching for the crossbow at his side, stopping only pixels away from it, he registered this wasn't an attempt for a strike but a slip up in Orchid' muttered words.

He froze in place, peering at her. There was a heavy pause as he questioned himself if he even heard right. This couldn't be true, he must've misheard. Such apples can't be crafted if that's what she meant to say out loud.

Still, there is no doubt. Keeping his eyes on her, Orchids expression alongside her little guardians whizzing about like bees protecting their nest spoke for itself. A secret he wasn't meant to overhear.

He slowly dropped his guard again, straightening up ever so slowly. This wasn't the time to interrogate her. Not out here. They've lingered too long in one place for his liking anyway.

"... Speaking of healers. You might wanna see one," he changed the subject almost nonchalantly. Even if he assumed a neutral pose, leaving his hands in the open, away from the weapons at his side, the air felt heavy; too heavy to take a breath or relax just yet.

Without another word he turned and walked up to his ravager, leaving Orchid to herself for a moment. He'd nudge Silas in the sides with his knee to prompt her to pay attention, who in turn decided to ignore him. Chewing on the rest of the hay bale now enclosed in the beast's jaws, she only answered with varied growls and drawn out rumbles, complaining furiously.

Catching his foot in the stirrup, Sirius mounted the ravager in one smooth movement. An easy move while Silas was laying.

Even if he wasn't looking at her, his attention was on Orchid at all times, he listened for movement, her shuffling, the chimes of her companions, any step she'd take, until he turned to adress her.

“Come on. I know someone who can fix you up. I think you'll like them,” he spoke almost too calmly for comfort. Giving her an encouraging nod towards the free space behind him, he outstretched his hand just in case she'd need it. 

Sirius has been considerably nicer than others and had made an effort to help out a stranger, but there's no chance to read his intentions now. Orchid's slip up in words might have tipped the scales to warrant his suspicion, or he truly didn't hear or believe her.

“Oh no, no honey. You’re not the stupid one here, not even close.” Lena reached out, then pulled back immediately still uncertain whether or not Kara wanted to be touched yet. Even by her.

Lucky enough that Lena had had enough panic attacks not to take offense to that, in the least.

“Hey, honey, can you breathe for me? Just breathe for a minute. Then I’m gonna pull you in for a hug, is that okay?” Lena soothed. Silently seething that Kara had been reduced to such a wreck all because of fucking James Olsen.

He started to come towards them. She could hear the sound of his STUPID footsteps.

“Jess,” Lena called. “I need security called for Mr. Olsen, and two bottles of water for Miss Danvers.”

“Yes of course, Ms Luthor. Kara, just relax. Me and Lena are going to take care of you now, okay?” Jess appeared in an instant, gripping James arm in a firm stance of fiery displeasure.

“Oh, this is rich. Kara, are you serious right now?” James shouted as he was dragged away. Quite literally.

 i think he called me sparkly or something?? what the fuck Runaan