#EVENT : HOMECOMING PT. II

[animasend-archive]

when it came down to it, there was little feelings involved in her choice. worlds bleeding into this strange city, threatening to take over, didn't seem like a problem that mattered to her in the long run. any attachments to that frozen planet had long been forgotten and left to the wind when she herself vanished from it. and as for the city, there was only a handful of things the god grew to care for. yes, in the end, the fate of spirale didn't concern her much. if she had to choose, the quiet of endless snow was preferrable to the rabble of humanity. perhaps a callous stance to take but in this scenario, one that benefitted the Stars, oddly enough. she wanted to protect what was important her. just like before.

what was white emptiness leading to one of the many rifts gave way to frozen silence upon passing through. darkened halls who have not known light for ages, floor scattered with chunks of ice and bloodstains forever frozen in time, metal walls ripped with the scars of a battle long since over. a place Olga Marie did not recognize and yet.....something pulled at her. ice and broken glass crunched beneath each step taken but they come to a pause as her gaze focuses on the logo of a wall next to her, uneven in display with large claw marks running through it.

a hand reaches out, fingertips brushing against the symbol, unflinching against the cold. ah....she remembers now. " This is where that priest wanted to take me back to. " her own voice felt far too loud. as if it would disturb the dead. "After the Crypter awoke that creature. He said I needed to return to CHALDEAS.....is this place it, then?"

@exousiate

[vodika-vibes]

This is the Masterlist for all of the Follower Event Requests

Vodika-vibes Follower Celebration Announcement - ENDED

Love and Loyalty - Commander Cody x F jedi!Reader Fairy Tales - Captain Rex x F!Reader Affection Returned - Alpha-17 x Reader I Promise - ARF Trooper Hound x F!Reader It Could Be Love - ARC Trooper Fives x F!Reader The Promise - Captain Rex x F!Reader Tiny Dancer - TBB Tech x F!Reader So This Is Love - ARC Trooper Echo x F!Reader You're Late - Clone Trooper Dogma x F!Reader A Promise Made - TBB Tech x F!Reader Accidental Injury - Commander Wolffe x F!Reader Accidents Happen - Commander Wolffe x F!Reader Lust For Life - TBB Echo x F!Reader Please Watch Me - ARC Trooper Jesse x F!Reader Fireworks - TBB Wrecker x F!Reader Did You Know - TBB Tech x F!Reader Welcome Home - ARC Trooper Fives x F!Reader Regrets - Commander Fox x F!Reader The Journal - Clone Commando Sev x F!Reader (Smut) Fathers and Daughters - TBB Hunter & TBB Omega It Wasn't Love At First Sight - TBB Crosshair x F!Reader (smut) I Don't Want To Forget - Clone Medic Kix x F!Reader It's A Secret - Captain Rex x F!Reader (Smut) For The Love Of A Sniper - TBB Crosshair x F!Reader On Your Order - Clone Commando Fixer x F!Reader For Eternity - Commander Cody x F!Reader Burning Hot - Demon!Alpha-17 x F!Reader (Smut) Homecoming - Clone Commando Boss x F!Reader (smut) A New Love - Commander Fox x F!Reader A Confession - Darman Skirata x F!Reader (spicy) The Journal pt II - Clone Commando Sev x F!Reader (smut)

[reliberated]

" I'm fine. I've been through worse than this, it's just a minor flesh wound." well, maybe not worlds bleeding into this city and unleashing a level of chaos that Salem could only dream of, but close enough. these wolf-like creatures reminded the faunus much of the Grimm, but easier to manage.

well, except for a few hiccups here and there. her bicep tingles with the familiarity of a fresh wound, but it wasn't enough to stop Blake.

" Sorry miss, no can do. I'm not in the habit of leaving people behind." not anymore.

"Are you alright? Did you sustain any injuries?"

With each inch outer worlds claimed, the city grew messier with chaos, and harder it became to navigate. Lily had made it her mission to help in any form — and right now, it was checking on someone who had been contending with wolfen monsters in the vicinity of one portal.

"it won't do you good to push — if you're hurt, it's better to go back. I can try to close the portal alone and attract any attention that might still be lurking around".

[underteika]

Event Information: Homecoming

For pt.1 of the event, as an act of mercy, Anda has been sent to Chaldea, at the canon point of Lord El Melloi II. As they haven't had the six years in the city to fall back on, Anda's fresh out of their horrible canon point, and looks... radically worse for wear.

(That's what happens when you're pulled from death!)

They'll eventually remember things about their island life, but thankfully, it'll be in the company of someone they trust. So while they're mostly here in the company of Em2, they're here nonetheless!

Others in Chaldea are free to interact with them, if you so choose, but they're trying to hide and keep to themselves.

[hopeled]

--homecoming information post

so yeah hi i know i've yet to do anything for part one but this post is sort of an information hub for both considering it deals with the f/go world!! this is not a starter call either, but just a post so everything fits in one place.

BLEACHED EARTH.

for those who don't know what's going on in ritsuka's world, the earth had been bleached in the year of 2017, on december 31st via the actions of those known as the crypters and the alien god. everything upon the planets surface was wiped away as the fantasy trees were planted and the seven lostbelts came to be formed as the earth was frozen over. the only thing left behind on the now white planet were weirdly shaped ruins as most, if not all of humanity aside from chaldea's survivors, were deemed to have been killed or erased in the bleaching. below you will find what remains on the now-white earth and what could leak into the city of spirale/what others will find if they pop into the fgo world

all of this will be placed under read more because it's. a lot! but there's nothing lethal/dangerous , so no worries.

STORM BORDER. captained by the servant known as captain nemo, it is effectively novum chaldea's base/ a large ship that currently flies around the earth, it is where chaldea conducts their operations on the bleached planet, something of a home base for them. it was constructed through an application of the hephaestus klironomia and the power of the divine spirit triton within captain nemo's saint graph, with the shadow border as its core and the nautilus as its keel. larger than a modern nuclear submarine, it is capable of operating both above land and below the sea. it is armed with torpedoes and at least six virtual triton engines which can draw power from imaginary number space to power certain armaments. despite its large size, it's capable of incredibly fast flight and necessary evasive manuevers, as well as being in possession of a holy construct as a canon, which once was the holy sword belonging to artoria castor

SHADOW BORDER: a twelve-wheeled mobile tank, capable of detaching and being driven upon land or as an emergency escape vehicle, though mainly used as a mobile base of operations. an 'artificial servant' or copy of da vinci pilots and navigates the shadow border as such, it has incedible defensive capabilities. along with being able to dive into the imaginary space numbers (don't worry about this). the vehicle's outer armor is fortified with modern technology and conceptual magecraft, such that normal weaponry shouldn't damage it. It also has both optical and conceptual camouflage to conceal itself and its inner shell consists of multiple barriers stacked one on top of the other. with da vinci having worked together with paracelsus and nitocris to strengthen the barriers, they are apparently equal even to barriers from the age of gods, nearing the capability of a fortress made from divine steel. the shadow border has no external weapons, but does have an electromagnetic catapult. fun! the inside is also larger than the outside thanks to spatial distortion. (here is a size comparison of the border to a servant)

CHALDEA SECURITY ORGANIZATION. a labratory organization that was located within the depths of antarctica. the day the earth was frozen over was the day the base was attacked by a large group. the halls itself show the results of this attack, with walls damaged and clawed, blood staining the floors, and ice freezing over everything. currently, it is surrounded by a barrier that denies entrance to those of novum chaldea, who have deviated too far from human history. but, for the sake of the event, the warp points created in pt. ii allow others to bypass the barrier and enter inside of the base.

as for NPC'S that people can interact with/meet

Leonardo Da Vinci (Rider). since da vinci helps pilot the storm border/shadow border, you can talk to her! don't mind her teasing though. and don't ask questions. yes it's that leonardo da vinci but don't worry about it

Goredolf Musik. current acting director of chaldea, he may seem like a pain and a bit difficult at times, and something of a scaredy cat but we all love gordy and he cares. deep down.

Captain Nemo. as the captain of the ship, of course nemo and his marines are gonna be involved

[carni-val]

Pomegranate Seeds [Jax Teller] - PREVIEW

Before: You were destined for greatness within The Underworld until it was stolen from you.

During: You played the part of The Goddess of Spring on The Surface.

After: Your return to The Underworld is stained in red.

author’s notes: Here it is! A preview of the four (EDIT: five) part Jax Teller x F!Reader fic I’ve been working on. I’m thinking of posting the first part on Monday so until then, I hope you enjoy this preview and the rest of the fic as it comes out!

Charlie Hunnam Masterlist | Jax Teller Masterlist

PART I: THE SURFACE | PART II: THE UNDERWORLD | PART III: THE IN-BETWEEN | PART IV: RETURN TO THE UNDERWORLD [Pt. I] | PART V: RETURN TO THE UNDERWORLD [Pt. II]

The roads were always clearer on Sunday nights, making Jax Teller’s trip to The Charming Florist much easier. There was only an hour left before Mother's Day and although Gemma would have to wait for her bouquet tomorrow morning, Jax could only find time in his schedule to pick it up now. With Deputy Hale and the ATF on the Sons’ backs, Jax decided it’d be best if the club laid low for now until Agent Stahl and the rest of her team got out of town. They were at Teller-Morrow almost everyday, always unannounced. They had to be keeping tabs on the Sons every minute, which meant Jax had to keep checking his rearview mirrors and his surroundings to make sure no one was following him on the way to the shop. He didn’t want them following him anywhere, not even to the shop and especially not to you. You had always been so accommodating in keeping the store open later when he wasn’t able to come by during business hours, so the least he could do was keep the feds from snooping around.

The street was dimly lit and deserted as the only store that was open right now was The Charming Florist. The lights from the shop shone through the windows and spilled out onto the street, illuminating Jax and his bike. He parked it at the curb before dismounting it and taking off his helmet. The front of the shop was bare as the buckets of flowers were now tucked into the store for the night and the open sign was now an outline, devoid of colourful, inviting lights to illuminate it. Jax scanned the street, confirming that he was really alone out here from what he could tell. It had become a habit.

Then there was you. Scissors in one hand, flowers in the other, and concentration furrowing your brow. The pastel apron you wore was still a sight Jax had to get used to. Although you had worked at the shop for about five years now, the image of you wearing the antithesis of the clothes you were wearing now was forever plastered in his mind; it was what he grew up seeing. If the past version of you saw what you were wearing now, she would refuse to believe that that was her future. But upon a multitude of circumstances, none that benefited you in the slightest, this had become your reality. It wasn’t a bad one though, however Jax couldn’t find it in him to honestly say that you were better off this way. He knew where you belonged and he knew that deep down, you did too.

Longing had plagued Jax for a substantial amount of time; so substantial that it became a part of who he was. He thought being with other women would help subside some of the pain but, he quickly learned the only person that could fix this feeling was you. He was tethered to you in ways that nobody else could understand, or would ever come to know of. It was the reason he came here for every occasion that warranted celebrating: birthdays, Christmases, homecomings, his son being able to finally come home, and any other event that called for flowers. However, the latter event was just a way to tell you about Abel’s recovery and about Abel himself.  Although the connection looked doomed from the outside, there was so much more beneath the surface. You and Jax were more alike than anyone could surmise on a first glance.

The bell above the door chimed once Jax entered the store. The breath he was holding slowly trickled out, a habit he had developed five years ago. The hardwood floor was littered with flowers in buckets and display signs usually standing outside of the shop. Your gaze glided over to him from the gardenias you were sticking into a vase. While you seemed to settle under his gaze, he felt himself tense up with nerves under yours. It was easy for him to spew out sweet talk to all the other girls he interacted with, but you stripped him of that facade. You knew him too well and he admired you too much to even play those games with you. He was defenceless under your gaze. Not only did you see right through his bravado, but you appreciated what was underneath it all.

“Hi,” he smiled at you as he navigated through the busy floor.

“Hey,” you mirrored his smile as he approached the cash register you were standing behind, your eyes flickering over Jax’s shoulder through the windows that led out to the street.

“How ya doin’?” he asked sincerely, letting his palms press against the top of the desk that stood between you two.

“I’m good,” you nodded convincingly. Jax studied you as you set the scissors in your hand down onto the counter and then your eyes when they returned to his, trying to see through you the way you did him. There was always something off about your response to that question, while he knew a large chunk of it, he couldn’t account for the boughs of sadness that stemmed from you, new and tender to the touch. Especially lately, the way your eyes kept flickering behind him when you thought he wasn’t looking also sparked his curiosity and he wanted to ask you outright what was wrong, but that’s not how this worked anymore.

“How are you?” you asked him, peering up at him with eager eyes. Your tone of voice was different now. You were beginning to develop a rough edge to it at the tail end of your close relationship, but nowadays it gave way to the exhaustion buried behind your eyes; behind smiles and pleasantries with the customers of the store. Every time he came in here and spoke to you, he wanted to ask why.

Tell me what’s been going on. You know that you can still tell me everything? he wanted to plead with you but he backed out every time. The two of you weren’t as close as you were before so maybe he would be stepping out of line, or maybe you just wouldn’t be honest with him.

“I’m good,” he replied hypocritically. Having ATF on the club’s back reminded Jax of the last time they were in town and because of it his mind was wandering back to the past. While the club stayed out of jail, other events had taken place that changed it forever. He longed to deepen the connection with you and get it back to how it used to be, but time and time again, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“How’s the club?” you asked, leaning on the desk and making yourself comfortable. Your folded hands were an even distance between both of his. His heart pounded at the idea of  inching his hand just a little closer to yours.

“They’re doing alright,” Jax shrugged. “ATF and the Sheriff’s department have become our biggest fans.”

“Yeah, I heard about that, I’m sorry.”

Jax waved it off, latching onto the genuine apologetic look in your eye. Anyone else would look at you incredulously to know you were sympathizing with hardened criminals, but Jax knew you still held a soft spot for the club despite your many years of being away from it. Maybe it was just a by-product of spending your formative years entrenched in the club; things fostered in that time are hard to let go of - at least that’s what one of the parenting books he had read late one night had said.

Jax leaned in closer, not missing the way your eyes fled to his lips then back up to meet his eyes again. The action, if performed by another girl, would usually send Jax’s ego skyrocketing, but with you, it only clouded his mind with more confusion. “How’re things around here?” he asked lowly.

“Things are good,” you promised him after a shaky exhale passed your lips. “Quiet.”

He nodded, glad to hear that. Eye contact between the two of you broke for a second as you both tried to change the topic.

You hadn’t changed a bit. You still looked at him with roaming eyes - not to examine his face to see if he was lying or hiding something, but to admire it. Nobody had really looked at him like that before. You knew every part of him and were still able to look at him the way you were now. That was one thing that never wavered: your unconditional appreciation of who he was; not just the VP of the MC, but as Jax. Just Jax. His appearance had changed in all those years and while you had seen him go through those transitions, he still worried that you didn’t like how he looked - the length of his hair, his facial hair that he was thinking of growing out.

He still loved everything about you: the ghost of a smile that you wore whenever he was around you, eyes that glimmered with adoration, and the way your entire being seemed to relax around him. You seemed so relaxed that he wondered if your stomach was tied in knots as much as his was but you were just better at hiding it.

Upon a door opening a few feet away, the two of you sprung back from each other and stood up straight.

“Right, so you’re here to pick up a bouquet for Gemma,” your eyes fell to the paper in your hand as your manager emerged from her office.

Jax gave her a stiff nod and your manager gave a smile back in return. Shelley was her name if Jax remembered correctly. He didn’t miss the way her eyes nervously ran over his kutte as she nervously gripped her hands.

“Hey Shelley,” Jax said to her with a smile. In some ways he wanted to harmlessly taunt the woman, but he also wanted to make sure she was comfortable around him because upon your employment, the amount of money he spent here skyrocketed.

“Hello Jax,” Shelley tried to say without a waver in her voice.

“I’ll be right back,” you told the both of them, trying to hide your amused smirk at the interaction before you as you made your way to the back room.

[acrispyapple]

MLQC: Homecoming

Memory Maze Event

Schedule: after the update on Nov.25 - Dec. 5, 23:59 PST

Part I: Get Karmas of Chapter 25-28 in Memory Slot

Access: “Memory Maze” on the home screen -> [Memory Slot].

Select one of the limited Karmas to make wish. Use [Crystal Bottle] to redeem [Square Token], and you have a chance to get extra Shards or [Square Token].

Use [Square Token] to redeem Karma Shards or other resources at Store.

Part II: Use Stamina to Explore Maze

Use Stamina to complete shooting missions in "Explore" to claim lots of gifts!

Get extra reward [Round Token] in mission drops. [Round Token] can be used to redeem Shards of Chapter 25-28 Karmas and other resources in the event shop.

Event-limited SSR can accelerate your exploring process. With event-limited SSR, you can get more [Round Token] and [Exploring Pts] from the mission drops.

Note:

You can use [Square Token] to redeem [Mystery Note] at Store, which can also be used to complete missions.

To get [Crystal Bottle], 1. You can use Gems to buy it at Evol Supply 2. Buy or renew VIP card to get extra [Crystal Bottle] 3. Purchase event-limited packs at [Evol Supply].

Special Stamina Packs will be available at Evol Supply from Nov.25 to Dec.17: 36 Gems for Stamina x60, 580 Gems for Stamina x1000.

Event Packs:

- $0.99 Value Deal for [Crystal Bottle x2, Stamina x60] (Purchase limit: 5)

- $9.99 Tangled Fate Pack for [Crystal Bottle x6, Emotion Flower x3, Gold x30k]

- $19.99 Heart Beating Pack for [Crystal Bottle x13, Emotion Flower x5, Gold x50k]

- $29.99 Guiding the Heart Pack [Crystal Bottle x16, Confess Wish x5, Emotion Flower x10]

- $54.99 Eternal Castle Pack for [Crystal Bottle x39, Emotion Flower x12, Gold x120k]

- $4.99 7-Day Encounter Gift: Instantly get [Gems x260] after your purchase during the event and you can claim [Gems x100] for 7 days. (Purchase limit: 3)

Across the bounds of time, to be back by your side~ ☆

[cherryusa]

THE CLUB FAIR - 

Welcome to the unofficial beginning of your semester! The Club Fair is a time-honored tradition at the CCU Orientation weekend, and this year is sure not to disappoint! Get to know your fellow classmates, learn a little more about the social schedule for the year, and enjoy food and drink from the local businesses - maybe even find a job! This year, we have booths from Student Council, The Yearbook Club, Lambda Rho, Sigma Pi, the Cherriot Football Team, the Cherries Cheerleading Club, The Actor’s Society, The Living Bard’s Organization, The Young Artist’s Union, and the Cherry Coast Cinema Club! In addition, there will be music DJed by the staff at Blossom Records, Non-Alcoholic refreshments provided by the Pit, and lunch from Cherry Proper! All refreshments provided by CCU with a CCU ID! 

LAMBDA RHO’S RELAX AND RUSH: 

If there’s one thing that Belle Goode and Pilar Hamilton are excellent at, it’s making Lambda Rho look good! They’re desperate for a hot batch of pledges this year, and they’re taking no chances; so, this year come enjoy a facial, a makeover, and a polaroid photoshoot, all provided by the girl’s at Lambda Rho! They might even let you keep the picture… Though, it might be a bad sign if they don’t keep it to tuck into their binder of potential pledges. Oh well. 

SIGMA PI’S SHOOT YOUR SHOT: 

If you want to be a part of the greatest brotherhood on campus, then you have to prove that you know how to party… and Sigma Pi’s Shoot Your Shot will help you do just that! Start the beginning of your obstacle course with a ( very covert ) triple shot of hennessy, Jack Daniel’s, and Don Julio, duck and dive your way through the paint-balloon ball pit, and finally get spun in a few circles before you throw a baseball toward the Grape Mascot target that the boys stole at last year’s homecoming game! If you make it through without puking, you might just be Sigma Pi material! If not… Well, you can always impress them later, right? 

STUDENT COUNCIL SIGN UP’S:

The title of Student Council President belongs to Miss Bexeva Patel, but the rest of the positions are up for grabs by the rest of the CCU student body! Join Bex at the Student Council’s tent to submit your nomination, talk about the future of CCU, and have a cookie that she stayed up all night baking! The conversation might be stilted, and yeah, you’re going to feel like you’re at a job interview… But who wouldn’t love to have some power over the rest of the student body, right? *All nominations and club sign up’s will take place later in the event.*

THE CHERRIES CHEERLEADING CLUB CANDY BAR: 

Got a sweet tooth? Then come put together a custom bag of candy with the CCU cheerleaders! It’s the perfect way to mingle with the girls, and you’ll even have the opportunity to sign up for cheerleading tryouts! I hear that Colette Kenner is looking for a Co-Captain this year… Do you think you have what it takes? Then throw your hat into the ring! 

THE YEARBOOK CLUB: 

Do you have a passion for taking pictures? For interviewing your fellow students? What about for a school-funded end of the year party where you and your peers can all get wasted? Then join the Yearbook Club! Sign-Ups are taking place all day, and we even heard that the Staff Advisor is looking for a new club president since Lux ate it! 

THE CHERRIOT FOOTBALL TEAM: Are you a sports person? Then come join the only sport that’s funded at CCU! Football is a big deal in Cherry, and so are the football players. Who wouldn’t want to be at the top of the food chain, right? Come by the booth, barbecue with the team, and maybe sign up for tryouts! We hear the coach is looking for a new team captain… Especially now that Harvey Hargrove is back in town. 

admin note: more activities, as well as tasks, club sign ups, and elections coming throughout the event.

A NOTE FROM THE CANDY GIRL....

What’s more fun than a little drama? For this event, the Candy Girl will be assigning every member of the gang a plot partner! 

You will all be paired up, and assigned a plot by the Candy Girl. These plots will be mandatory to carry out through the course of the event, so definitely don’t be afraid to reach out to your partner. During pt. II of the event, you will be assigned a second plot partner to carry plots out with as well! Please wait to receive your plot assignment from the Candy Girl before you begin plotting with your partner, but otherwise, feel free to begin event threads! You can carry on with the threads you all began in the last week as well, but please prioritize wrapping them up in favor of event threads when you can. <3 

PLOT PARTNERS: 

- LILLI MONTGOMERY & VIRGINIA VIRGINIA.  - RORY COLLINS & NOAH RUSSELL.  - ALICE ALDER & CASEY RUSSELL.  - JAMIE DYER & MACKENZIE WALSH.  - SLOANE SALT & LIBBY LOGAN.  - ZAHRA JACKSON & ZEV KING. 

[frontproofmedia]

Showtime Sports & Premier Boxing Champions Return to the Ring Live Boxing Schedule

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Published: July 22, 2020

NEW YORK - July 22, 2020 - SHOWTIME Sports and Premier Boxing Champions announced today a lineup of nine live boxing events featuring 18 undefeated fighters, nine world champions, and eight world championship fights including one world title unification bout. The schedule comprises 22 critical matchups from bantamweight to heavyweight and features some of the biggest stars in the sport today - Gervonta Davis, Leo Santa Cruz, Jermall Charlo, Jermell Charlo, David Benavidez and more. It is the largest collection of world championship boxing announced since the COVID-19 pandemic forced a stoppage of the sport.   The SHOWTIME boxing schedule begins on Saturday, August 1 and runs through the end of 2020. Initially, each live telecast will be presented without fans in attendance from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Included in the schedule are four world title eliminators, three interim title fights and 13 bouts in all pitting top-10 ranked fighters.   There are two SHOWTIME PPV® events in the lineup presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The first in late September is a pay-per-view doubleheader featuring four world title bouts in back-to-back three-fight events on the same night all for one price. Doubleheaders are common in the NFL, NBA and MLB. There hasn't ever been a boxing PPV doubleheader - until now. The second blockbuster PPV event in October is a unique clash with the winner earning world titles in two weight classes.    "We are proud to announce the strongest and most comprehensive schedule of fights in all of boxing," said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. "Each bout on this schedule, our largest schedule announcement since 2018, carries high stakes and significant implications. From highly regarded prospects to emerging stars to established champions - all in tough matchups - this lineup delivers on our promise to provide boxing fans with the best talent, the most exciting fights and the highest quality presentation in the sport. We are thrilled to return to live boxing with this star-studded schedule of exciting, meaningful fights."   Philadelphia's 122-pound rising star Stephen Fulton Jr. will headline SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on August 1 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) against talented, fellow undefeated contender Angelo Leo of the Mayweather stable in a marquee 12-round matchup for the vacant WBO junior featherweight world title. The Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions. This will mark the first live boxing event on SHOWTIME since ShoBox: The New Generation on March 13 when the network presented what was to be the last nationally televised professional sporting event in the U.S. for several weeks.   "We couldn't be more excited to be finally getting back to boxing," said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. "Everyone has been patiently waiting and the series of fights that we will collectively put on over the next few months will be great for boxing and the sports world in general. We're kicking things off August 1 with a world title opportunity for our rising contender Angelo Leo who has been consistently grinding and taking care of business. He's facing another young and focused undefeated fighter and only one of them can be crowned champion. Both guys are confident that the title belongs to them, which is going to make for a great fight from the first bell."   "I have been really impressed with both Fulton and Leo," said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. "Fulton's resume includes victories over eight undefeated fighters. Angelo Leo will be the third straight unbeaten fighter he's faced. Leo has passed every test he's had with victories against some of the toughest fighters in the division. The winner of this match will be soaring to new heights in the division."   "This is my time. I've prepared for this my whole life," said Fulton. "He will be a world champion one day, but not this time."   "I'm excited to get back in the ring and to continue where I left off," said Leo. "It's an honor to be the main event on SHOWTIME and to be fighting for the WBO belt."   The fight-by-fight schedule follows:   August 1 Main Event: Stephen Fulton Jr. (18-0, 8 KOs) vs. Angelo Leo (19-0, 9 KOs) - Vacant WBO Junior Featherweight World Championship Co-Feature: Tramaine Williams (19-0, 6 KOs) vs. Ra'eese Aleem (16-0, 10 KOs) - Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator Co-Feature: Joe George (10-0, 6 KOs) vs. Marcos Escudero (10-1, 9 KOs) II - Light Heavyweight Bout About: Fellow Americans and undefeated fighters Fulton and Leo are legitimate top-10 junior featherweight contenders who will meet for the vacant WBO 122-pound world title. A southpaw from New Haven, Conn., Williams will clash with Las Vegas-based Aleem in an intriguing, 50-50 matchup between talented, undefeated prospects. Managed by All-Pro lineman Trent Williams, Houston's George upset Escudero in an exciting ShoBox affair last November.   August 15 Main Event: David Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs) vs. Roamer Alexis Angulo (26-1, 22 KOs) - WBC Super Middleweight World Championship Co-Feature: Rolando Romero (11-0, 10 KOs) vs. Jackson Marinez (19-0, 7 KOs) - WBA Lightweight Interim Title Co-Feature: Otto Wallin (20-1, 13 KOs) vs. Travis Kauffman (32-3, 23 KOs) - Heavyweight Bout About: Undefeated Benavidez, 23, kicks off his second reign as WBC Super Middleweight Champion. In 2017, he became the youngest 168-pound champion in boxing history by defeating Ronald Gavril on SHOWTIME at just 20 years old. Angulo is coming off an upset win over heavily hyped and then unbeaten prospect Anthony Sims Jr. The power-punching "Rolly" Romero of the Mayweather stable, who has scored five first- or second-round stoppages in his last six fights, is an undefeated ShoBox alum ranked No. 10 by the WBA while Marinez is ranked No. 6. Wallin vs. Kauffman is an intriguing heavyweight matchup between the Swedish southpaw and the veteran Kauffman. Both fighters have survived bouts with the COVID-19 virus, made full recoveries and are anxious to get back in the ring. The winner will undoubtedly receive another big fight. The loser will go to the back of the line in the busy heavyweight division. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing. The Romero vs. Marinez bout is co-promoted by Mayweather Promotions.   September 19 Main Event: Erickson Lubin (22-1, 16 KOs) vs. Terrell Gausha (21-1-1, 10 KOs) - WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator Bout Co-Feature: Tugstsogt Nyambayar (11-1, 9 KOs) vs. Eduardo Ramirez (23-2-3, 10 KOs) - WBC Featherweight Title Eliminator Bout Co-Feature: Jaron Ennis (25-0, 23 KOs) vs. TBA - Welterweight Bout About: Lubin, already a veteran at just 24 years old, has excelled since his shocking first-round loss to Jermell Charlo three years ago. Gausha is a former U.S. Olympian with just one loss. Both men are poised and hungry for a signature win and the opportunity to fight for a unified 154-pound title, which will be on the line the following week. Nyambayar and Ramirez are legitimate top-10 contenders. Nyambayar faced Gary Russell Jr. in February on SHOWTIME in the last SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast before the COVID-19 shutdown. Ramirez, of Mexico, is coming off a stoppage of previously unbeaten Leduan Barthelemy. A graduate of the popular ShoBox: The New Generation series, Philadelphia native Ennis has fought twice on ShoBox and twice on SHOWTIME BOXING: Special Edition cards. Ennis is a former National Golden Gloves Champion ranked No. 12 by the WBO and No. 14 by the IBF. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions and the Ennis bout is in association with D & D Boxing.   September 26 - SHOWTIME/Premier Boxing Champions PPV Doubleheader In One of the Main Events: Jermall Charlo (30-0, 22 KOs) vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10 KOs) - WBC Middleweight World Championship Co-Feature: Brandon Figueroa (20-0-1, 15 KOs) vs. Damien Vasquez (15-1-1, 7 KOs) - WBA Super Bantamweight World Championship Co-Feature: Diego Magdaleno (32-3, 13 KOs) vs. Isaac Cruz (19-1-1, 14 KOs) - IBF Lightweight Title Eliminator Bout About: Houston's Charlo will defend his title against WBC No.-1 ranked Ukrainian Derevyanchenko in one of the main events of this pay-per-view twin bill that boasts four world title fights. Charlo has held the WBC middleweight title since 2019 and reigned as the IBF junior middleweight champion from 2015 to '17. Charlo holds wins at 154 pounds against championship-level fighters including Cornelius Bundrage, Austin Trout and Julian Williams. Derevyanchenko has twice challenged for the IBF middleweight title in 2018 and '19, losing only to top-level opponents Daniel Jacobs and Gennadiy Golovkin. The 23-year-old Figueroa claimed the interim WBA 122-pound title with an eighth-round stoppage of Yonfrez Parejo last April, before successfully defending the title with a homecoming KO of Javier Chacon in Edinburg, Texas. After being upgraded to the "regular" titlist, Figueroa retained his belt after a 12-round draw against Julio Ceja last November. The southpaw Vasquez is coming off a stoppage win over Alejandro Moreno in February of 2020. Magdaleno vs. Cruz is an IBF title eliminator matchup of ShoBox alums currently ranked 10th and sixth, respectively.   The Other Main Event: Jermell Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs) vs. Jeison Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) - WBC, WBA and IBF 154-Pound Unification Bout Co-Feature: Mario Barrios (25-0, 16 KOs) vs. Ryan Karl (18-2, 11 KOs) - WBA Super Lightweight World Championship Co-Feature: Daniel Roman (26-3-1, 10 KOs) vs. TBA - Super Bantamweight Bout About: In the other main event of this two-part, six-fight pay-per-view telecast, Jermell Charlo will take on Rosario in just the eighth world title unification fight in the 154-pound division's history. It is also just the second fight with three super welterweight world title belts up for grabs. In January, Rosario upset Julian Williams to win the WBA and IBF titles. Last December, Charlo regained the title by stopping Tony Harrison. At stake is supremacy in a talent-rich division. The 25-year-old Barrios from San Antonio has held the WBA (regular) super lightweight title since September of 2019. His opponent Karl hails from Houston and is ranked No. 9 by the WBA. A regular sparring partner of Erislandy Lara and Jermell Charlo, Karl is trained by Ronnie Shields. Roman is a former unified super bantamweight champion, having held the WBA (Super) and IBF titles from 2019 to January 2020. Roman's 19-bout winning streak was snapped in January in a split-decision loss to Murodjon Akhmadaliev. Ranked in the top five by all four sanctioning bodies, Roman previously held the WBA title from 2017 to 2019. This unique PPV doubleheader is presented by Premier Boxing Champions and promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Jermell Charlo-Jeison Rosario match is co-promoted with Sampson Boxing.   October 10 Main Event: Sergey Lipinets (16-1, 12 KOs) vs. Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (15-0, 8 KOs) - IBF Welterweight Interim Title Co-Feature: Xavier Martinez (15-0, 11 KOs) vs. Claudio Marrero (24-4, 17 KOs) - Super Featherweight Bout Co-Feature: Malik Hawkins (18-0, 11 KOs) vs. Subriel Matias (15-1, 15 KOs) - Super Lightweight Bout About: The 31-year-old Lipinets has won three significant fights in a row since his lone loss to Mikey Garcia, including a dominant stoppage that sent former word titlist Lamont Peterson into retirement. Uzbekistan's Abdukakhorov is coming off his biggest win to date over former world titlist Luis Collazo and is yet to taste defeat since turning professional in 2015. With Abdukakhorov ranked No. 1 by the IBF and Lipinets ranked No. 3, the winner will be in prime position to challenge the unified 147-pound world champion Errol Spence Jr. Sacramento's Martinez of the Mayweather stable is an exciting prospect who thrilled ShoBox viewers when he scored one of the quickest knockouts in the history of the series last November, while Marrero is a grizzled veteran who held the WBA interim featherweight title in 2017. Hawkins of the Mayweather stable is trained by Calvin Ford and a teammate of two-division world champion Gervonta Davis. Every one of Matias' 15 career victories as a pro has come by way of knockout, with his only setback a unanimous-decision loss to Petros Ananyan back in February. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions, Top Rank, Inc. and Mayweather Promotions.    October 24 - SHOWTIME/Premier Boxing Champions PPV Main Event: Gervonta Davis (23-0, 22 KOs) vs. Leo Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) - WBA Super Featherweight World Championship/WBA Lightweight World Championship About: This blockbuster main event will be contested at the super featherweight limit of 130 pounds. The winner of the match, however, will be in the unique position to earn world championships at 130 and 135 pounds on the same night. Two crowd favorites with massive followings will meet with Santa Cruz's newly won WBA (Super) 130-pound world title on the line. The unbeaten "Tank" Davis is a two-division world champion and reigning WBA lightweight titlist at the age of 25. He emerged as a bona fide star in 2019 with sold-out main event bouts in Baltimore and Atlanta. "El Terremoto" Santa Cruz is a four-division world champion who avenged his only professional loss to Carl Frampton. The stage is set for one of the best matchups that can be made in all of boxing. Both men are all-action fighters. Davis boasts a knockout percentage of .957 while Santa Cruz is one of the busiest punchers in the sport. The winner of this fight will rightfully earn a top-10 spot on the coveted pound-for-pound list. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, TGB Promotions, GTD Promotions and Santa Cruz Boxing Club.   November 28 Main Event: Chris Colbert (14-0, 5 KOs) vs. Jaime Arboleda (16-1, 13 KOs) - WBA Super Featherweight Interim Title Co-Feature: Richardson Hitchins (11-0, 5 KOs) vs. Argenis Mendez (25-5-3, 12 KOs) - Super Lightweight Bout Co-Feature: TBA About: The WBA interim super featherweight champion Colbert has fought five times in the past 20 months. Arboleda of Panama earned a split-decision win over veteran Jayson Velez in a WBA junior lightweight eliminator in February. New York City's Hitchins of the Mayweather stable represented his parents' home country of Haiti in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and Mendez is a former IBF Super Featherweight champion from the Dominican Republic. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing. The Hitchins vs. Mendez bout is co-promoted by Mayweather Promotions.   December 12 Main Event: Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12 KOs) vs. Nonito Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs) - WBC Bantamweight World Championship Co-Feature: TBA Co-Feature: TBA About: France's Oubaali will be defending the WBC bantamweight world title for the third time. Donaire is the No. 1-ranked contender and fighting for his eighth world championship. A four-division titlist and former pound-for-pound mainstay, Donaire fought brilliantly in what many picked as 2019's Fight of the Year, a decision loss to Naoya Inoue. At age 37, Donaire is attempting to defy the belief that the smaller the fighter, the earlier the prime. The Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions.

[larryland]

Performances Run August 10 – September 3

“Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises…” – Act 3, Scene 2

(Lenox, MA) – Shakespeare & Company presents William Shakespeare’s The Tempest in the Company’s new outdoor theatre. Likely the final piece that the Bard penned alone, The Tempest tells the story of Prospero, a betrayed duke and magician bent on justice and revenge until he sees, through his daughter, the power of love and forgiveness. The events of the story unfold amidst the elements of the island, a perfect fit for a Berkshire evening in the open air of the Roman Garden Theatre. The Tempest, Directed by Allyn Burrows, the Company’s newly appointed Artistic Director, will run in this newly constructed outdoor venue at dusk from August 10 through September 3.

“Envy, betrayal, and exile are transformed into self-exploration, forgiveness and wonder in this towering classic,” said Burrows. “When told simply and eloquently by nine actors in an intimate outdoor setting at sunset, this story can be strikingly powerful. ”

Burrows’ Tempest marks the inaugural production in the new Roman Garden Theatre and features long-time Shakespeare & Company actors Nigel Gore and Jason Asprey, alongside Thomas Brazzle, Deaon Griffin-Presley, Tamara Hickey, Ella Loudon, Josh Aaron McCabe, Bella Merlin, and Mark Zeisler. The creative team includes Jim Youngerman (set designer), Govane Lohbauer (costume designer), and Arshan Gailus (sound designer).

Burrows invites audiences “to enjoy a genuine Berkshire theatrical experience under the evening sky in our new Roman Garden Theatre, an intimate outdoor performance space with comfortable seating, located in the Shakespeare Garden, adjacent to the Tina Packer Playhouse.”

The Tempest will be performed in-the-round at dusk, tickets are available online at shakespeare.org, or by calling Shakespeare & Company’s box office at (413) 637-3353. The Roman Garden Theatre is a new outdoor venue and is wheelchair accessible. Shakespeare & Company is located at 70 Kemble Street in Lenox, Massachusetts. This production is generously sponsored by The Dr. Gerald and Roberta Friedman Foundation.

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AT A GLANCE PRODUCTION: The Tempest PLAYWRIGHT: William Shakespeare DIRECTOR: Allyn Burrows SET DESIGNER: Jim Youngerman COSTUME DESIGNER: Govane Lohbauer SOUND DESIGNER: Arshan Gailus STAGE MANAGER: Diane Healy VOCAL COACH: Ariel Bock ASSISTANT DIRECTORS: Annie Considine and Lydia Barnett-Mulligan

CAST MEMBERS CALIBAN: Jason Asprey SEBASTIAN: Thomas Brazzle PROSPERO: Nigel Gore FERDINAND: Deaon Griffin-Pressley ARIEL: Tamara Hickey MIRANDA: Ella Loudon STEPHANO/ALONSO: Josh Aaron McCabe TRINCULO: Bella Merlin ANTONIO: Mark Zeisler

About Allyn Burrows (Director) Nineteenth season (Artistic Director; Alan, God of Carnage; Actor, T.S. Eliot and his Love of Shakespeare). S&Co: Or, King John, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry IV Pt 1, Measure for Measure, Betrayal, The House of Mirth, Love’s Labours Lost, Macbeth, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). As Artistic Director of Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Allyn directed productions of Romeo & Juliet, Pericles, Jon Lipsky’s Living in Exile, Richard II, and The Tempest, and performances there included The Winter’s Tale, Henry VI Part 2, Henry VIII, Twelfth Night, King Lear, and Richard III. He recently performed in Can You Forgive Her (Huntington Theatre), Breaking the Code (Underground Railway Theatre), Shipwrecked (The Lyric Stage), Oceanside, The Seafarer, Pursuit of Happiness, and The Homecoming (Merrimack Repertory Theater), and Five by Tenn (Speakeasy Stage). The 2006 Elliot Norton Award recipient for The Homecoming, King Lear, and Five by Tenn, Allyn also received the 2011 IRNE Award for Breaking the Code. Off-Broadway credits include Bug, Killer Joe, Louis Slotin Sonata, Closetland, and The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd. He has worked regionally at The Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, The American Conservatory Theatre, The Long Wharf Theatre, The Denver Center, and The Walnut St. Theatre. Television credits include The Broad Squad, Law and Order, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Against the Law, and on film in The Company Men, Julie & Julia, and Manchester by the Sea.

About William Shakespeare (Playwright, Cymbeline, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream). He was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. His works, including some collaborations, consist of about 37 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

The Tempest Plot Summary: The play opens in the midst of a storm, as a ship containing the king and his attendants struggles to stay afloat. On land Prospero, exiled Duke, who conjures the storm with his magic, while his daughter, Miranda, watches the storm overtake the ship. On the island we are introduced to a sprite, Ariel, who had been imprisoned by an evil witch, and the uncivilized Caliban who is enslaved by Prospero. Soon the royal party is washed ashore on the magical island, forced to conquer the darkness of the unknown and transcend their traditional roles as Prospero seeks his revenge. Meanwhile, Miranda meets Ferdinand, Prince of Naples, and the pair swiftly fall in love and plan to marry. Prospero plots to reinstate his Dukedom, Ariel and Caliban pursue freedom, and the shipwrecked crew fight for their survival on this island engulfed in magic and chaos.

About Shakespeare & Company Located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Shakespeare & Company is one of the largest Shakespeare Festivals in the country. Founded in 1978, the organization attracts over 30,000 patrons annually. The Company is also home to Shakespeare & Company’s internationally renowned Center for Actor Training and nationally renowned and award-winning Education Program. More information is available at www.shakespeare.org.

Shakespeare & Company Presents “The Tempest” Outdoors Performances Run August 10 – September 3 "Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises…" 

[animasend-archive]

nothing is spoken in response to the explanation and words, which may sound harsh, are nothing but the truth. for though much of her memory in regards to what she is now remains, some is still lost. what of Chaldea is known to her comes not from the past. it comes from the words of another's mouth, the actions of those who belong to it. whatever ties that once existed had long since burned to ash. he speaks of 'family' and the word rings hollow. nothing comes forth and nothing ever will.

stripped of humanity. a workshop devoid of kindness. fingers twitch and the reminder is a painful one. it's the one thing she wished she could have forgotten: that century of pain and loneliness inside that facility, so like a workshop of its own. that Servant had said she was nothing more than a pawn to this organization, a lamb to the slaughter. how could....anything like that be called a family? no. impossible. there is no warmth in that. there is no love. it is a farce.

the only family she needs is him, in their house where the outside world ceases to exist. whether or not she deserved it didn't matter, for it is hers. nothing comes close in importance to that. she can only look upon this with a coldness.

it doesn't concern her anymore. she won't try to feel for something that no longer holds any place in her heart. " Perhaps both. They will use any excuse to avoid complicity and pretend to see nothing. " what an odd sort of question. " Why wouldn't I be? You don't have to ask. " but it doesn't take much to know why he would. he will always be the one who remembers at the end of the day. forced to face goodbye time and time again. it's a heavy burden, one she wishes she could ease, but no longer wants to spare him from. as he said, it is part of who he is. it shaped him, giving teeth to the longing that nestles within. attention turns away from the torn symbol to focus on her other half. palm curving against his cheek, she can feel the slight chill seeping into his skin and her thumb soothes in an attempt to breathe warmth back into it.

"You can go. I'll be here when you return." he has more ties to this frozen ruin than her. it would be wrong to deny him any sort of privacy he may seek. her other hand finds his, lacing their fingers together as she brings it close to her cheek. no matter where they were, she couldn't resist touching him." But if you want me to come, I will."

he is not unacquainted with a never-ending white; he’d chosen to walk through it without repose, stopping occasionally to turn around and find a metaphorical path of blood, the price of being wrong, and betraying oneself for nothing. it never stops him, but he has found himself lingering at how much had to be given away, and how nothing remains in the end, and if he were far more sentimental, he could believe this is not what he wished for.

neither of them were a synonym of happiness, but he had found a lonely star in the middle of his wandering, abandoned from anyone that cared, and how could he not find some peace in her? happiness has always escaped him in its meaning, and maybe it is his own nature to believe the worst of every situation and never expect what is preached as righteous, he still finds so much in how her hand seems to have been perfectly made to fit within his.

“No. It is the workshop of an organization that believed meddling with the future was for its benefit.” his own voice is neutral, no traces of bitterness in it, as if he were reading from a script that never changes. “CHALDEAS is frozen. One single touch and it will fracture in pieces.”

and that was certainly putting in kinder terms than it deserved.

“I said organization but it was more of a family,” he tells her bluntly, but it is never unkind. his eyes refuse to turn away, he had attempted it once to spare them anything that would bring more misery. that time passed a long time ago, she can love him and his stained hands, but he loves her for her callousness. “I cannot tell if the people were willfully blind, or if they refused to see, this is a workshop. Sterile and stripped of anything that could be seen as remotely humane, is it a surprise that it was destroyed?”

he should feel vindicated. he could express any ugly sentiment that has plagued him from birth, and curse with abandon — but he does not find any pleasure in this, and he did not want her to see him bare his teeth when it would be a poor imitation of his temper.

“There is a place I want to see.” there is someone I want to see. it will always remain hidden between his taciturn silences and painfully aware flesh, his face can change in any manner, but this is a wish that stays the same. if he were still as he used to be, the admission would take longer than a few centuries, refusing to admit how much he needs closure. except closure will never be possible, will it? “Are you fine with that?”

[exousiate-archive]

he does not simply observe, but scrutinizes — his eyes narrow at the dried-up blood, at the glass shards in the corridors, and feels nothing that could bring up any sorrow, but his expectations were low from the beginning, and this is a self-made tragedy that he has been involved in from birth. or, maybe there were choices that led to this, and this would always happen, always occur, no matter how much anyone fought against fate.

“I want you to join me.” he is honest but it does not mean he is truthful, and she is still always the exception. leaning against her touch, his gaze becomes more human, filled with all the love that sweeps across him like a river. this is a graveyard and his sole attention is towards the person he loves, only feeling her touch against his skin. “That is what I am asking.”

it is not him who inherited the human years from their father, and he suspects that Mashu carries that weight with all the care in the world, and he would never wish her to see that gentle smile, deprived of freedom and choices that would have made him human. he does not trust anyone to bring it up, not even himself on his easier days, and the casual mention of Solomon can cause the already fragile balance to end in disaster.

Goetia is no stranger to loneliness but for Mashu, that will always be where their paths differ. he has come to terms with how disgusting and vile people can be and all she wants to do is save them, even at the cost of her own life. he does not find that much kindness in himself, despite how she disagrees, but what he saw is something he would rather spare her from. she is probably the only person he wants to move on from what they were left behind but he will not take away her choice.

“Pretend to see nothing… Perhaps, it is human nature to be contradictory. This place has no sunlight or warmth, and the only times the skies are blue are far less, but mages care none for that.” he reflects aloud, eyes moving for a few seconds to the never-ending storm. it is bleak and fitting, not that anyone will agree. “No, if you were an ordinary person, still inexperienced from how much the world can be, coming here could be nothing but everything at the same time. Ten years in this place… I wonder how anyone could live in this place and not lose their mind.”

then again, ten years is never enough. he has come to understand that in his limited years, wisdom from a being that was meant to witness to every tragedy is not the same from people living their days, trying to pass something before they are gone. and he understands why sometimes the every day can cause any change.

“This is where I first saw you.” his voice is soft, impossibly tender. it’s not a confession, but something that belongs to her and her only. the heaviness of the atmosphere is not lost to him, he still does not care, he could care less if there were bodies around them, when a part of himself is simply choosing to get himself lost in her snow-white curls.

his hand holds her cheek to bring her closer. he can imagine her stained in red, whether it is his blood or not, and his eyes momentarily glance at her lips, one finger slowly parting them to see her teeth. in his dreams, it comes to her — the fleeting dread which runs through stages of uncertainty, and then the horror. her eyes wide in revulsion and his only coherent thought being that he would take a life to see her cry. when his mouth reaches for hers, the sound from his mouth is loud, pressing deliciously until his tongue seeks for more, abandoning any pretense of decorum from taking what is his.

nothing is spoken in response to the explanation and words, which may sound harsh, are nothing but the truth. for though much of her memory in regards to what she is now remains, some is still lost. what of Chaldea is known to her comes not from the past. it comes from the words of another's mouth, the actions of those who belong to it. whatever ties that once existed had long since burned to ash. he speaks of 'family' and the word rings hollow. nothing comes forth and nothing ever will.

stripped of humanity. a workshop devoid of kindness. fingers twitch and the reminder is a painful one. it's the one thing she wished she could have forgotten: that century of pain and loneliness inside that facility, so like a workshop of its own. that Servant had said she was nothing more than a pawn to this organization, a lamb to the slaughter. how could....anything like that be called a family? no. impossible. there is no warmth in that. there is no love. it is a farce.

the only family she needs is him, in their house where the outside world ceases to exist. whether or not she deserved it didn't matter, for it is hers. nothing comes close in importance to that. she can only look upon this with a coldness.

it doesn't concern her anymore. she won't try to feel for something that no longer holds any place in her heart. " Perhaps both. They will use any excuse to avoid complicity and pretend to see nothing. " what an odd sort of question. " Why wouldn't I be? You don't have to ask. " but it doesn't take much to know why he would. he will always be the one who remembers at the end of the day. forced to face goodbye time and time again. it's a heavy burden, one she wishes she could ease, but no longer wants to spare him from. as he said, it is part of who he is. it shaped him, giving teeth to the longing that nestles within. attention turns away from the torn symbol to focus on her other half. palm curving against his cheek, she can feel the slight chill seeping into his skin and her thumb soothes in an attempt to breathe warmth back into it.

"You can go. I'll be here when you return." he has more ties to this frozen ruin than her. it would be wrong to deny him any sort of privacy he may seek. her other hand finds his, lacing their fingers together as she brings it close to her cheek. no matter where they were, she couldn't resist touching him." But if you want me to come, I will."

[exousiate-archive]

he is not unacquainted with a never-ending white; he’d chosen to walk through it without repose, stopping occasionally to turn around and find a metaphorical path of blood, the price of being wrong, and betraying oneself for nothing. it never stops him, but he has found himself lingering at how much had to be given away, and how nothing remains in the end, and if he were far more sentimental, he could believe this is not what he wished for.

neither of them were a synonym of happiness, but he had found a lonely star in the middle of his wandering, abandoned from anyone that cared, and how could he not find some peace in her? happiness has always escaped him in its meaning, and maybe it is his own nature to believe the worst of every situation and never expect what is preached as righteous, he still finds so much in how her hand seems to have been perfectly made to fit within his.

“No. It is the workshop of an organization that believed meddling with the future was for its benefit.” his own voice is neutral, no traces of bitterness in it, as if he were reading from a script that never changes. “CHALDEAS is frozen. One single touch and it will fracture in pieces.”

and that was certainly putting in kinder terms than it deserved.

“I said organization but it was more of a family,” he tells her bluntly, but it is never unkind. his eyes refuse to turn away, he had attempted it once to spare them anything that would bring more misery. that time passed a long time ago, she can love him and his stained hands, but he loves her for her callousness. “I cannot tell if the people were willfully blind, or if they refused to see, this is a workshop. Sterile and stripped of anything that could be seen as remotely humane, is it a surprise that it was destroyed?”

he should feel vindicated. he could express any ugly sentiment that has plagued him from birth, and curse with abandon — but he does not find any pleasure in this, and he did not want her to see him bare his teeth when it would be a poor imitation of his temper.

“There is a place I want to see.” there is someone I want to see. it will always remain hidden between his taciturn silences and painfully aware flesh, his face can change in any manner, but this is a wish that stays the same. if he were still as he used to be, the admission would take longer than a few centuries, refusing to admit how much he needs closure. except closure will never be possible, will it? “Are you fine with that?”

when it came down to it, there was little feelings involved in her choice. worlds bleeding into this strange city, threatening to take over, didn't seem like a problem that mattered to her in the long run. any attachments to that frozen planet had long been forgotten and left to the wind when she herself vanished from it. and as for the city, there was only a handful of things the god grew to care for. yes, in the end, the fate of spirale didn't concern her much. if she had to choose, the quiet of endless snow was preferrable to the rabble of humanity. perhaps a callous stance to take but in this scenario, one that benefitted the Stars, oddly enough. she wanted to protect what was important her. just like before.

what was white emptiness leading to one of the many rifts gave way to frozen silence upon passing through. darkened halls who have not known light for ages, floor scattered with chunks of ice and bloodstains forever frozen in time, metal walls ripped with the scars of a battle long since over. a place Olga Marie did not recognize and yet.....something pulled at her. ice and broken glass crunched beneath each step taken but they come to a pause as her gaze focuses on the logo of a wall next to her, uneven in display with large claw marks running through it.

a hand reaches out, fingertips brushing against the symbol, unflinching against the cold. ah....she remembers now. " This is where that priest wanted to take me back to. " her own voice felt far too loud. as if it would disturb the dead. "After the Crypter awoke that creature. He said I needed to return to CHALDEAS.....is this place it, then?"

@exousiate