#I missed posting celestial objects

[celestialdaily]

The celestial object of the day is IGR J17091-3624!

This black hole has in its accretion disk the fastest winds ever discovered, at 32 million km/h (20 million miles per hour) or 3% of the speed of light. And just like the black hole GRS 1915+105, it also has X-ray variability patterns or 'heartbeats.' While fainter than the ones of GRS 1915+105, IGR J17091's are faster!

[zefferooni]

Mr Proton n' Miss Electron

[happilychee]

laxus x reader (ft. love me not)

cw: a little suggestive, unhealthy relationship (it gets better, somewhat)

see, right now, I need you, I'll meet you somewhere now you up now, I see you, I get you, take care now

♡ there's a streetlight in front of magnolia's best bakery. you're the one who suggests it as a meeting spot, not knowing of laxus' love for sweets. you tease him to no end but still slam down your hard-earned jewels to pay before he can. you're surprised he offered at all; the lightning dragon slayer isn't known for being chivalrous. he certainly doesn't act like a gentleman when he tells you not to interact with him in the guild hall.

I need you right now, once I leave you I'm strung out if I get you, I'm slowly breaking down

♡ after almost breaking your bed, he cleans you up and throws the blanket over both of you. you fall asleep in his arms, but you always wake up alone. you don't know why he insists on staying in the evening when you both know he'll abandon you before dawn, but when his arms wrap around you and the darkness fades away, you let yourself succumb to it. just one more time, then I'll definitely kick him out first, you convince yourself.

all this time I'm thinking, I'm strong enough to sink it oh, no, I don't need you, but I miss you, come here

♡ you never officially break it off with laxus. there's no yelling, no shouting, no argument that's become so characteristic of your conversations. only tense silence, until you turn your back on the man, walking back to the guild hall. going somewhere he can't follow. laxus doesn't see the tears spilling down your cheeks, but he notices your clenched fists and the way your shoulders shake as you march away.

he love me not, he loves me he holds me tight, then lets me go

♡ you replay all your conversations over a mug of ale in the guild hall. gentle glances when he thought you weren't looking; sharp glares when you arm wrestled with natsu and gray. soft touches along your spine in the dead of night; harsh words when you fight over something trivial. you wonder if it was worth it, if the ache in your chest will ever subside, but then you look at your guild mark and realize you know the answer. you let the alcohol burn your throat, pushing your feelings down, down, down.

well, it's safe to say now you can tell I miss you the most I'll step away now it'll make it harder to know

♡ laxus travels as far as he can, trying to get to a place so distant that there isn't even a whisper of fairy tail. he wants to forget everything, but the trinkets he picks up during his travel say otherwise. it gets to the point where they're weighing him down, and he jingles like that damned celestial wizard and her keys. the dragon slayer finally bites the bullet and enters a post office, hoping you haven't moved out of your shitty apartment.

we know how to push each other 'til we go insane so, we probably shouldn't do this

♡ you stare at your kitchen table, covered in random shit from the package that was at your doorstep. you dig through the bits and bobs, trying to figure out which idiot decided to send you their trash. but you notice that the objects aren't all that random, and you glare at the box as you pick it up, trying to find a return address. there isn't one, but you recognize the handwriting. you toss the shitty box and its shitty trinkets into a corner, but you don't throw it out.

but I know if I'm not with you then I might miss you, yeah, yeah

♡ the fact that laxus' new job has him trailing grimoire heart all the way to tenrou island has nerves pooling in his stomach. the thought of seeing everyone again (seeing you again) scares him. is there a chance he can come back?

all this time I'm thinking we could never be a pair oh, no, I don't need you, but I miss you, come here

♡ the s-class trials bring bittersweet memories to your mind, but you stomp them down, because you have a job to do as an s-class mage. if natsu and gray think it's easier to take you down than to defeat erza, they've got a storm coming. they certainly would've lost if a certain someone hadn't interrupted your fight. you wave them off, focused on the cloaked figure approaching you.

you're gonna say that you're sorry at the end of the night wake up in the morning, everything's alright

♡ you don't think you've ever heard laxus apologize. hell, you thought it was impossible. but here he is on his knees, looking up at you with a pained gaze and more emotion on his face than you've ever seen before. before you can think about it, you start yelling, finally letting out everything you hadn't been able to say when you'd last seen him. still, you're dropping to your knees and falling into his embrace, sobbing softly. maybe you can try again.

at the end of the story, you're holdin' me tight I don't need to worry, am I out of my mind?

[cappulcino]

hi!! saw your requests were open!! I dont have anything super specific in mind but an enemies to lovers plot with a lucifer x angel reader would be very cool!

Sure! I was originally going to write the whole thing and post it as a one-shot here, but I got overexcited with this idea and couldn't resist turning this into multiple short chapters and already giving you the first one (idk, let me know if you'd rather have the whole thing when it's done).

Seven Days Til Fall (Part 1)

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Part 5 – Part 6 – Part 7

Read on AO3

Words: 2,185

Pairing: Lucifer Morningstar x Angel!Reader

Summary: You're an angel sent on a divine mission to retrieve a powerful relic that has been stolen from Heaven. The orders are clear: gain an audience with the Devil, make deals with them if necessary, anything to return that object to the Silver City. But Hell is not quite what you expected, and neither is Lucifer.

Trigger warnings: None in this chapter (let me know if you think I should add some)

In the beginning, this assembly had seemed no different from the other monotonous celestial meetings the Divine Council liked to conduct. The session was strictly organised and full of unnecessary details, as per usual, golden light shone through the large windows, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the Silver City –routine, in short.

But now the Archangel Michael was calling your name, and you weren't so sure this would be your typical angelic meeting any more. Nobody ever called your name, it wasn't among those that mattered. Why was he calling your name?

Straightening your slouched back and wings, you answered with uncertainty. "Y-Yes?"

Michael offered a fake smile before returning to his bureaucratic demeanour, his hands joined only by the fingertips on the table.

"As you know, the Cup of Eternal Grace has been missing for quite some time now."

"The… Cup of Eternal Grace. Missing. Yes."

You had forgotten about that –your mind had surely deemed that to be another 'unnecessary detail' from one of the previous assemblies. But it was coming back to you now. The chalice, made of celestial metals and inlaid with precious stones had the power to bestow divine grace upon those who drank from it, offering visions, blessings, and, for humans, even limited immortality. And indeed, the artefact had been lost for a while.

Michael's eyes narrowed at your hesitation, but he continued.

"One of our emissaries on Earth had found a lead on the Cup tracing back to some… obscure cult. Unfortunately, by the time he got there, the humans had traded with a demon –they do like to do this for a reason that escapes me. We now have cause to believe the Cup is in Hell."

"I see," you said slowly after a short silence. You weren't sure why this had anything to do with you.

"Its presence in Hell could easily disrupt order or worse, be used to bargain with divine entities. It cannot stay there. We need someone to retrieve it," Michael replied as if annoyed to have to spell out the evidence for you.

Ah, now you understood.

"Me?"

"Yes. You."

That Heaven could have so foolishly lost an object that had the potential to tip the balance of the entire universe when in the wrong hands was already astonishing to you. But to entrust you with the task of going to Hell, assuredly face its ruler, and retrieve the Cup? That was hardly believable, and for an angel like you, who had to Believe, that said something. Why didn't Michael go himself?

"I… don't understand. I'm merely a Dominion, and the Morningstar is Your sibling, Your Grace."

"Yes, so that's your job."

That was Gabriel talking down to you as if you had just uttered the most unintelligent thing in front of the whole congregation.

"Besides, we're not going to waste our time when others have been designated for that kind of risky stuff. That would be…" He let out an inelegant snort-laugh.

"What Gabriel means," Uriel intervened in their usual soft-spoken voice, "is that angels among the higher ranks have other matters to attend to, but we cannot ask this of anyone with lesser powers. And well, it is your function to execute divine orders." Uriel paused, scrutinizing your expression. "Would we be making a mistake by putting our faith in you?"

You gulped.

"N-No."

"Good."

Plans had been made, and you were now approaching the gates of Hell. Protocol required that you banged a sort of gong by the entrance, and a dead mortal fused into the wall handed you a mallet. You had read somewhere once that the Damned made Hell what it was. At the time, you hadn't understood that meant this realm was literally made of the Damned. You winced and then, forcing the politeness out of your angelic mouth with a small "Thank you", you grabbed the tool.

The gong's echo made the other souls trapped around the gates scream and then, accompanying heavy steps, a deep voice growled.

"There's one at the door. At the gate of damnation. Is it thief, thug or–"

Squatterbloat, the gatekeeper suddenly froze in his speech when his gaze landed upon you. An angel, in Hell. Quite the unusual sight.

"Whore?"

"Peace be upon you, demon."

As you uttered them, you realised how ironic your words sounded. Squatterbloat chuckled.

"We don't accept holy brochures."

His sense of humour compensated for his dreadful looks, and you managed to stop your wings from shuddering.

"That is not why I'm here."

"Then state that business of yours."

"I seek an audience with your sovereign."

"Do you now, little cloud-hopper? I fear the Devil doesn't have time for your affairs."

You approached the gate, your wings spreading in a foolish attempt to appear menacing, your tone still polite but steely.

"I am an envoy of Heaven, and the matter is urgent. Even you cannot go against God's will, demon. Take me to your master."

Squatterbloat's eyes remained fixated on yours for an instant, and then, his keys jangled.

"Mmh. Right this way… If you dare."

"Oh, what a joyous day," Lucifer purred with a faint smile before relaxing on their throne with a sigh. "Can you feel it, Mazikeen? The innocence? So pure."

"Shall I ask for more guards to stand by Your side?"

"That will not be necessary. That little angel is no threat to Us."

You were certain the ruler of Hell had sensed your arrival –how could they not?– and your suspicions were immediately confirmed when you entered the room. Sitting regally on their throne, the Lightbringer did not even bat an eye as they eyed you and the heavenly glow that surrounded your body. If anything, they seemed… amused.

You had heard many stories about them –though most of those tales still spoke of a Samael– but you had never seen them. Imagery was forbidden in Heaven, of the Devil more than anyone else, and you had never been down to Earth to look at the various depictions humans had made of them either. Therefore, you took a moment to marvel at their appearance, so foreign and yet so familiar, and as your gaze roamed over their leathery wings, you wondered if that was what became of angels' wings after the Fall.

In fact, you wondered about so many things at once that you almost forgot your manners. But Mazikeen's insistent look quickly pulled you out of your reverie.

"Uh, yes. Apologies. Peace be upon You, Lucifer Morningstar," you greeted with a slight bow of your head. "And upon you, Mazikeen of the Lillim." It sounded even sillier than when you had said it to Squatterbloat.

Lucifer let out a small chuckle then and exchanged looks with Mazikeen. Then, as they turned to face you again, they smiled.

"It is unusual for Our Father to send His subjects down here. Almost an event, We might say. To what do We owe the pleasure?"

Lucifer's words dripped from their mouth like honey, and you weren't sure whether you found it more captivating or terrifying.

"Well?"

You shook your head and straightened your back some more to give yourself a semblance of presence, and undertook to explain why Michael had sent you here.

"Our dear brother has never liked getting his pristine hands dirty," Lucifer remarked once you were done.

They stood up, took a few slow steps in your direction with a thoughtful expression, and then stopped a mere yard away from you. The way they towered over you and the power they radiated felt overwhelming, and a shiver ran through the feathers of your wings.

"It is not a task fit for his rank," you said. And for a brief moment, you almost convinced yourself of what Gabriel had told you earlier today. Almost.

Lucifer raised an eyebrow as if seeing right through you and perfectly understanding the lack of conviction in your own words. A doubtful angel. Oh, this day could not get any better.

"Tell Us," they said, now pacing through their throne room. "What do We gain from helping you?"

The question startled you. What did the Devil gain from obeying God for once? Not another divine punishment, that's what.

"Excuse me?"

"We said, what do We gain from helping you with your task? We sure hope you did not come all the way to Our domain expecting a pretty smile to be sufficient to convince Us."

That… serpent. You clenched your jaw, resisting a sudden urge to speak from your heart while Lucifer kept on smirking devilishly.

Taking a deep breath, you chose to show yourself open to discussion instead.

"What is it You wish for, Lightbringer?"

Lucifer pretended to think about it, gazing into the vastness of their realm, and then spoke firmly.

"A single visit to the Silver City."

Your heart stopped.

"And open the gates for You to terrorise us or attack the Creator? Absolutely not."

"Then forget about the chalice."

"The Morningstar may believe angels are foolish, naive creatures, but I assure You I'm not that stupid."

Your defiance intrigued Lucifer, who gauged you for a second.

"No…" they eventually said. "Indeed. Which is why We are fairly certain you will know how to convince the Divine Council. Tell them We have no intentions of wreaking havoc in their home if that is what they are so worried about."

"Then why?" you asked somewhat harshly.

"You would not understand."

"Your Majesty, I–"

"There will be no need for further discussion, little angel. Either you manage to get Us what We want and We will do everything in Our power to help you, or the Cup of Eternal Grace remains in Hell. In which case, do not even bother coming back."

"They said what?"

"The Morningstar wishes to be able to visit the Silver City, Your Grace. Just once."

You were now standing in the bright room where the heavenly meeting that had got you sent to Hell had been held a few hours ago, alone in front of the five members of the Divine Council. You felt small, but not as small as you had felt in front of the ruler of Hell.

"Yes, we heard that part," Azrael replied rather angrily.

Somehow, their tone managed to make you feel as if you had already failed your mission, and it took a lot of self-persuasion to stand your ground. You were only repeating what you had been told, after all.

"They, uh…" You cleared your throat and tried again. "They said they had no intentions of attacking Heaven, and I think their words were genuine."

"Hello, this is Satan we're talking about," Gabriel said, exaggerating their diction as if you were mentally impaired.

"My sibling does not lie, Gabriel," Michael reminded him. The other Archangel sighed. "If you will excuse us, the Council needs to consider Lucifer's offer."

Taking the hint, you bowed and promptly left the room to find refuge in the closest chapel. Once there, you dropped to your knees for the Almighty and clasped your trembling hands so tight your knuckles turned white.

"Forgive me Father for I have sinned…"

You started repenting because you couldn't help but feel as if it would be your fault if Heaven ended up needing to make a deal with the Devil. You should have resisted and told Lucifer that they deserved their banishment from the Silver City and that never would they be welcome here again. You should have fought them if needed, though you would have been doomed. You would have died a martyr at least, and maybe for once your name would have mattered in Heaven. But you hadn't.

Deep down, you also prayed for the Council to give up on the Cup of Eternal Grace. Hell was a terrible place, and Lucifer a dangerous monster, your sworn enemy. You didn't want to go back to Hell. Not for a stupid goblet.

But as soon as you came out of the chapel, Gabriel was standing in front of you, his hands behind his back. As God's messenger, you knew he was here to pass on the Divine Council's decision.

"So. We have deliberated and we want you to carry on with the mission. You will go down to Hell every day, do whatever you need to do, and come back up every evening to report before compline until you find the Cup. Okay?"

You opened your mouth to answer but only managed a weak, strangled sound. Gabriel didn't give you enough time to speak anyway.

"Great!" he exclaimed as he slapped your shoulder. Then he pointed at the chapel. "Is this free?" Again, you tried to answer, but he was already gone.

Feeling an irrational anger rising inside, you decided you needed a break, some time alone spent in silence, not even in prayer. Angels, like other immortal beings, didn't need to sleep, but you wanted to forget about the world for a while. So you flew back to the Dominions' quarters to lay on your soft bed.

And there was evening, and there was morning –the first day.

[ninhaoma-ya]

Chapter 1155 - The Rocks Pirates

What a chapter, such a flashback!

First, Rocks is a truly attrocious human being. Attacking a child, just to get their father to come home?

Efficient, but horrible.

I also really enjoy the lighter grey of the flashback-within-a-flashback.

The lady (in waiting?) is probably Gunko's grand-mother, since this takes place 48 years ago. Interesting that their face covering looks a bit like the one Ulti wears - a connection, perhaps? Or just a fashion choice?

Also, an intersting leap in logic from the guards there: "That tall man in black must be te culprit! Catch them! Kill them! Hurt them!" Just goes to show that you really shouldn't jump to (biased) conclusions but rather analyse the evidence (objectively).

There are a few interesting things about this panneling. First, the wind makes it look like Imu has a veil of some sort, or a very sharp and cohesive hairstyle. The edges of this have been visible before, but nt in this flowing style, so it's not just the edge of a collar or Celestial Dragon-like suit.

Seond, I didn't even realise Rocks has such a cool face tattoo that continutes into his actual hair! A striking choice!

Third, the day has come for all those who said Foxy and the Davy Back fight would prove improtant has finally come! A Davy Jonesian pirate, indeed!

I had to include the whole page since it's so chock full of information. Rocks respects Harald because of his strengths and wants to help him, even though he might also have used him as a scapegoat (if that wasn't completely unintentional and that the guards just decided that Harald must be the Kingnapper because of reasons), and Rocks also gives Harald advice to escape his pursuers so he has some advanced analytical skills to get all that from just a glance, and their clash is simply ludicrous.

Everyone within 5 kilometres got blown away?

Sure.

Another fullpager, because the Davy Back Fight is back! It's never been one of my favourites, but I have always appreciated the breathing room it brought the story (something post-timeskip has been noticeably lacking, with the possible exception of Zou). It was a silly, low stakes interlude which still introduced important actors and showed the might of an admiral.

I am wondering what Rocks is doing in that middle pannel, with his hand in almost a Law-like shape.

Poor little mite. My heart breaks for him and the stories the servants (or possible Estrid's brother) has told Harald. He obviously cares for his son, but I'm still advocating for a more present parenting style.

Now I'm wondering a) what a "tech"tech bandit" is, and b) if Miss Buckin is some sort of alternative Nami, with the focus on money she apparently has.

Don Marlon is obviously play on Marlon Brando. And how gangester-infested is the West Blue, since that's where all Capone-inspired people apparently hail from?

Intersting to hear a bit more about the history of Hachinosu as well! A gold deposit would explain the pirates' interest in the island more than just being a lawless place in general, since there's plenty of those going around.

Okay, how big is Harald, since this is getting silly. 30 metres?

Look at that shading! Those scrapes! That detailing! That yearning in little baby Loki's stance! That inner fire, the flame lit and fanned by Rocks' words! Those thinner panels indicating a passage of time!

Masterful use of shading, paneling and detailing.

Nice with some more background on Rocks' crew (although many of them ended up in Moria's Zombie Zoo of Horrors in the end).

Great chapter, I give it four huge Elbaph bilberries.

[dangermousie]

Male Lead-off: Xie Xingchen (The Blossoming Love) v Wu Geng (Burning Flames)

Ah yes, one of my favorite types of posts - pitting two hot tortured men against each other.

But, you may ask, why Burning Flames v TBL. Because despite the vast difference in tone, plot and perhaps genre, both the narratives possess a hero who is a royal in the oppressed human race who rebels against unjust gods and gets punished for that, who also has a sliver of himself running around separately and who also has a ride or die girlfriend who is a human version precious substance (crystal v pearl.)

So, let's go!

Enter competitor 1:

And competitor 2:

So, categories:

Daddy:

That's easy. XXC's dad was a pet bunny killer who looked like a prune with a beard, and WG's Dad was basically Spartacus who was hawt enough to nab a celestial wife and looked like this:

Winner: Burning Flames

Girlfriend:

Both of these ladies are ride or die who never waver, both can change the fate of the world, both don't care if ML is aspect, full being of prophecy, royal, not royal, whatever. But only one of these ladies literally stormed heaven for her man. Plus, I am sorry, the BF otp is cute but rather vanilla while between the drama and the novel scenes, we all know XXC and MXL sex life is so hot than it probably creates a fire hazard.

In general, TBL is a romance while BF is about other stuff, so the OTP in general is much more delicious.

Winner: The Blossoming Love

Gang of Friends:

XXC has his frenemy NXY, the Jade Himbo (tm @fake-married-my-dead-fiance), and Miss Gao, plus a bunch of disciples. That's all well and good, but Wu Geng has a lady who rides a unicorn, a hot uncle, an ambiguously evil prince, a cursed city lord (who was a deity hideously punished by other deities for falling in love) and this gentleman:

Also known as Mousie's favorite character in that drama, BDSM Demon Elf Nitian Erxing. I rest my case.

Winner: Burning Flames.

Demon Quality:

Demons in BF are actually noble and oppressed (see sexy gentleman in the cap above) but demons in TBL are awful but that is because SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER (hint - perhaps next time be less psycho, deities and take the deal offered.)

Winner: well, in terms of complexity, BF but in terms of twist and making fun characters to hate, TBL. So tie.

Bad Guys and/or Suckier Set of Deities:

Bad Guys in both dramas are not that exciting, but BF does has this gentleman as the big bad dude in charge:

Barefoot Jeremy Tsui playing divinity leaching color from the world? Oh yes, baby!

Also, while the deities in TBL are unpleasant to say the least, deities in BF are a whole other level of gross and make Romans in Spartacus seem benevolent.

Winner: Burning Flames.

Shirtlessness:

Despite the valiant efforts of Peter Ho's neckline and other assorted small treats, there is no comparison. Have you SEEN Zhang Bin Bin's torso and arms? Chosen of Heaven indeed.

Winner: The Blossoming Love.

BDSM Action (required in a costume cdrama, as per me):

Burning Flames provides plenty - ML becomes a branded slave at one point, BDSM Demon Elf likes begging for punishment etc:

I mean...

However, TBL makes most of its bleeding and tying up explicitly sexy and sexually charged (and if you read the novel, it's deliberate) so

Winner: The Blossoming Love.

FINAL RESULT:

Now that I have tallied these very objective and important categories, the official winner is:

US the Viewers!!!!!

[mrcompass]

you once made a post about what seasonal constellations/other celestial objects each character's beys correspond to, and i'm thinking about it: what constellations DON'T have a corresponding bey? (atleast in the anime, there might be some irl beys that never showed up there idk about, or atleast the other gens sure have this. there's also the matter of game-exclusive characters, which i know SOME of but not all of them. specifically i know battle fortress and cyber pegasus... i could perhaps send a list later :3)

i do know of some, most of which are inanimate objects so of course it'd be kind of hard to base a bey on them, but then there's stuff like the dove and chameleon which i'm surprised they never went for even in the games afaik.

Hello, and thank you very much for your question.

To answer it, I first looked at how many Face Bolts exist, since the convention is that they determine what the Bey represents—regardless of the Energy Ring (as seen with generic Beys such as Benkei's old Heat Cetus 125FS, which uses a Leone Clear Wheel). Though in most official releases, the Face Bolt and Energy Ring are thematically related.

I also took into account all the Beys that appeared in the video games, particularly Beyblade: Metal Fusion – Battle Fortress.

So, I created the following charts:

The table divides the 88 constellations into three categories, based on whether a Beyblade inspired by them appeared in any form or media. The fourth entry list the constellation that weren't adapted. The second chart simply shows the percentage distribution of each category.

So, half of the constellations weren’t used, and as you said, some of them were totally adaptable—like Canis Major, the dog constellation which includes Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. I find it kind of ironic that Takara Tomy never made a dog-themed Beyblade, despite three different constellations depicting the animal, but instead chose to release two Beys based on mythological dogs (Anubis and Kerbecs).

I’d also like to point out that some of the generic Beys use designs that were never officially released, such as Hydra, Crows, and Northern Cross (which loosely corresponds to the Crux constellation from the Southern Hemisphere). The first two especially would’ve been relatively easy to commercialize—Hydra in particular.

In terms of video games, we also have some interesting constellation-based designs like Sculptor (Shiezam), Lepus (the hare), and Leo Minor (the little lion). They didn’t appear in the anime, but they do exist, so I figured I’d mention them.

To be honest, I really liked the fact that they chose to adapt inanimate objects like the compass or the clock. They managed to introduce them in a really impactful way—after all, Twisted Tempo could lift an entire city into the air. While basing a Bey on something like a table or a pump might seem weird, it’d definitely be original.

Anyway, I hope I didn’t forget any Beys in the different categories. Let me know if I missed something—and I hope I answered your question.

[pixel7777]

The First Worshipper: Ch. 10

The naughty version of the beautiful artwork commissioned from the incredible misfitlunatic (https://x.com/misfit_lunatik or https://bsky.app/profile/misfitlunatik.bsky.social) can be seen in all its glory here.

And we finally earn the explicit rating for this fic! Over the months I edited this, I took the smut in and out several times. I just wasn't sure if it was appropriate for the general themes of this fic. Finally a beta reader told me that while the story was fine without the smut, it wouldn't be unwelcome, so I put it back in one last time and here we are. All this to say: if you don't want to read the smut, I get it, and you can skip from the first kiss to Astarion's POV and you won't miss any plot.

If you want to read from the beginning, searching my blog for #myfic will bring up all my fanfic posts. Link for Chapter 1. Link for art discussion post.

Read this chapter below the break here or on AO3!

121 years AB

From his celestial domain, Gale watched another prayer filter through the divine ether. Astarion's voice, raw and familiar, twisted something in his immortal chest. The vampire had taken to praying at all hours now, each confession more desperate than the last.

"...and what if I made the wrong choice?" Astarion's words drifted up. "What if I threw away the only chance I had at—"

Gale pressed his hands to his temples. Three weeks of this. Three weeks of listening to Astarion tear himself apart over leaving Sebastian, and all Gale could do was send wisps of divine comfort that clearly weren't helping.

He shouldn't intervene. It was always a bad idea to mess around in a friend's love life, no matter how much they asked for it, and his own confused feelings about Astarion made objectivity impossible. But watching his friend spiral into self-recrimination day after day...

"I keep thinking about his face when I left." Astarion's voice cracked. "He didn't even try to stop me. Just looked at me like he expected it all along..."

Gale's resolve snapped. Rationality be damned.

The transition from divine plane to material was always disorienting. One moment he floated in celestial light, the next his feet touched the marble tile in Astarion's dim Lower City apartment.

Astarion knelt before the altar, head bowed. He hadn't bothered to light more than a single candle, though dawn was hours away. The room smelled of stale wine.

"Enough," Gale said.

Astarion's head snapped up. "What are you doing here?"

"Apparently listening to you flagellate yourself wasn't quite entertaining enough from afar." Gale crossed his arms. "I needed a closer view."

A flicker of the old Astarion surfaced in his glare. "If you've come to mock me—"

"I've come because watching you torture yourself is becoming tedious." Gale softened his tone. "And I will always come when you truly need me."

Gale watched the fight drain from Astarion's frame, his shoulders slumping. The sight of his normally impeccable high priest in such disarray sent an unexpected pang through his chest. Astarion's clothes were wrinkled, his silver-white hair stuck up at odd angles - a detail that concerned Gale more than he cared to admit. Even in their darkest moments during the tadpole crisis, Astarion had maintained his perfectly coifed hair with, well, religious devotion.

Empty wine bottles littered the floor around the altar. Gale knew it would have taken a considerable amount for Astarion to achieve even a mild buzz, given his vampiric constitution.

"Well?" Astarion's voice cut through his observations. "Since you've descended from on high to grace me with your presence, how do you propose to fix this mess?" He gestured vaguely at himself.

Gale sighed and lowered himself to sit on the floor beside his friend. How many times had they ended up like this over the decades? Sharing drinks that barely affected either of them, spilling their troubles across temple floors and tavern corners.

The weight of Astarion's head settled against his shoulder.

"Just tell me if I've thoroughly ruined my life," Astarion mumbled. "I can handle it. Probably."

Gale shifted, adjusting to Astarion's weight against his shoulder. The familiar scent of Astarion's cologne mixed with wine reminded him of countless late-night conversations spanning their decades of friendship.

"You haven't ruined anything." Gale kept his voice steady, divine resonance carefully controlled. "In fact, you made the right choice."

Astarion scoffed. "Did I? Sebastian is—"

"A wonderful person. Creative, understanding, patient." Gale wrapped his arm around Astarion's back and pulled him tighter against his shoulder. "And you're better for having known him. But he's not right for you."

"Because I'm incapable of maintaining anything good?" Astarion's bitter laugh scraped against Gale's ears.

"Because what you had with Sebastian was a chapter, not the whole story." The words came easier now, divine insight mixing with the more intimate knowledge of friendship. "He helped you heal, showed you new ways to see beauty. That doesn't mean you were meant to stay."

Astarion pulled away, running fingers through his disheveled hair. "So if, deep down, I knew all along we weren't forever, what does that make me?"

Gale caught Astarion's restless hand. "Listen to me. A bad fit doesn't mean either piece is bad. Sometimes things just don't belong together."

"Even if both pieces are lovely on their own?"

"Especially then." Gale squeezed Astarion's cold fingers. "Would you force a desert flower to bloom in the Underdark just because both are beautiful?"

The smile that bloomed on Astarion's face was a rare sight these days, and Gale couldn't help but return it.

"So you think I'm beautiful?" Astarion repeated, his voice low and teasing.

Gale swallowed, suddenly aware of how close they were pressed together and the weight of Astarion's hand in his. He'd been holding it for what felt like hours, but in reality, it had only been a few moments. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through him, and he felt his heart race in response.

"I do," Gale admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I always have." What am I doing?  I'm mad. I'm absolutely insane, the timing is awful, and I don't care.

Astarion's smile faltered, replaced by a look of surprise. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he leaned forward, closing the short distance between them.

Gale's breath hitched as Astarion's lips met his. The kiss was gentle at first, a tentative exploration of lips. But as Gale deepened the kiss, Astarion responded in kind, his hands roaming over Gale's body. Gale allowed himself to settle fully in his avatar, to feel Astarion's touch and to touch in kind.

Astarion buried his fingers in Gale's hair and shifted on top of Gale's lap, sliding their torsos together as he kissed Gale's mouth, his jaw, his forehead, his mouth again.  Astarion's mouth was everywhere.

Gale wanted more.  He wanted everything. For once, his own ambition was crystal clear—Astarion, Astarion, Astarion.

They broke apart for a moment, both panting heavily. Astarion's pupils were blown out with desire, and Gale felt a thrill run through him at the sight. He knew that look— it was the same one Astarion had given him during their old adventuring days, when they'd shared a bedroll that one, memorable time.

But this was different. This was more than just two rivals swept up in the strange intimacy of their competition and the adrenaline of death defied one too many times. This was a connection that had been building for years, one that Gale had tried to ignore but couldn't deny any longer. Even if this is the worst timing ever. Fuck it. When would their timing ever be good?

Astarion must have seen the realization in Gale's eyes, because he leaned in for another kiss. This time, it was more urgent, more demanding. Gale responded eagerly, his hands fumbling with the laces on Astarion's shirt.

Gale lost himself in the kiss, his divine essence thrumming with a very mortal desire. Astarion's cool lips sent shivers through his manifested form, and he struggled to maintain his corporeal state as sensation overwhelmed godly restraint.

Each touch threatened his control. The vampire's touch was precise, practiced - finding sensitive spots that made Gale's divine form flicker at the edges.

"Stay with me," Astarion murmured against his mouth. "Don't fade away."

Gale focused on anchoring himself, on feeling every point of contact between them. He poured more power into his manifestation, determined to remain solid and present. The effort made his head swim, divine energy warring with physical sensation.

Astarion pushed him down to the floor, and Gale went willingly. The marble tile was cold against his back, but Astarion's weight above him burned like ice and fire combined. Their kisses grew desperate, more than a century of tension finally breaking.

"We shouldn't," Gale managed between breaths, even as his hands pulled Astarion closer.

"When has that ever stopped us?" Astarion's laugh vibrated against his throat.

Gale couldn't argue with that logic. Not when Astarion's fingers were working at the fastenings of his robes, not when every touch sent sparks of divine energy crackling between them.

Somewhere in the celestial plane, obligations tugged at him. Divine responsibilities demanded attention, the weight of godhood pressing against his consciousness. But for once, Gale ignored them all, focusing entirely on the cool press of Astarion's body against his, on the marble floor beneath his back, on the way energy arced between them like lightning.

Astarion's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling his head back to expose more of his throat. The gesture sent a jolt through Gale's entire being, making his form flicker dangerously.

"Don't you dare disappear on me," Astarion warned, teeth grazing skin, lips following to sooth.

Gale tightened his grip on Astarion's shoulders, using the contact as an anchor. "I'm not going anywhere."

For once, he meant it completely.

Gale's breath caught in his throat as Astarion's fingers deftly undid the ties of his robe. The fabric parted, revealing the hard planes of his chest, the bulge of arousal pressing against his trousers. Gale sat half up and slipped his arms out of the sleeves of his robe as Astarion straddled Gale's lap and leaned back. Astarion's gaze raked over him, hungry and open, and Gale felt a surge of power pulse through his veins in response.

He reached out, his hands trembling slightly as he returned the favor, pulling Astarion's rumpled shirt over his head and then pausing a moment to smile and rearrange Astarion's curls the way he liked them.  They were soft, and Astarion leaned into his touch. When Gale was done he lay back and looked up at his friend's—no, his lover's—beauty as Astarion returned the smile.

Gale couldn't resist the urge to touch, to trace the lines of Astarion's body with his fingertips. Astarion shuddered under his touch, a low moan escaping his lips as Gale's hands explored lower, sliding over the bulge in Astarion's trousers, working the buttons.

Astarion was already hard, his cock straining against the fabric of his pants. Gale could feel the dampness of precum soaking through, and the knowledge that Astarion wanted him this much sent him sitting upward again, seeking Astarion's kiss and trying to remove all the offending air between them.

With a growl, Astarion pushed Gale back onto the floor, his hands fumbling with the fastenings of Gale's trousers. Gale lifted his hips, helping Astarion to free his own aching erection. They kicked off their remaining clothes, their bodies finally pressing together, skin to skin.

Gale gasped as Astarion's cool flesh met his own, the sensation almost too much to bear. He could feel Astarion's cock, hard and leaking, pressing against his thigh, and he wrapped his hand around it, eliciting a low, rumbling groan from the vampire.

Astarion's hand found Gale's cock, stroking it in time with his own movements. Their hips moved in a desperate rhythm, each thrust driving them closer to the edge. Gale could feel the pleasure building within him, an ecstasy that threatened to overwhelm his senses. He had forgotten how good a physical form could feel.

They moved together, their bodies slick with sweat and precum, their breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. Gale could feel the power of his godhood surging through his veins, mingling with the raw, physical pleasure of Astarion's touch.

Astarion's lips found his again, the kiss deep and demanding. Gale surrendered to it, to the sensation of Astarion's body moving against his, to the overwhelming desire that threatened to consume them both.

Gale's breath hitched as Astarion's hand tightened around his cock, the vampire's movements growing more frantic. The sensation was exquisite, a maddening spiral of pleasure that threatened to unravel his composure. But this wasn't how he wanted it. He needed more. He needed to be inside Astarion, to feel his body close around his cock in a tight, intimate embrace.

With a gentle push, Gale guided Astarion onto his back. Astarion looked up at him, his dark eyes glazed with desire, his lips parted in anticipation.

"May I?" Gale asked, his hand sliding behind Astarion's balls and grazing his entrance.

Astarion nodded, his gaze never leaving Gale's. "Yes," he breathed, the word a whispered surrender that sent a jolt of desire coursing through Gale's veins.

Gale closed his eyes, focusing his divine energy. A moment later, he opened them to reveal a small vial of shimmering oil in his hand. Astarion's eyebrows raised in surprise, "Now tell me that isn't a misuse of your divine powers," but Gale merely smiled and popped the cork with his thumb.

He poured a generous amount of the oil into his palm, the liquid cool and slick against his skin. Astarion watched him, his dark eyes tracking every movement as Gale reached again between his legs, his fingers teasingly light as he spread the oil over Astarion's entrance.

Gale's fingers circled the tight ring of muscle, applying gentle pressure until the tip of his index finger slipped inside. Astarion's breath caught, his body instinctively tensing at the intrusion. But Gale was patient, his movements slow and deliberate as he worked his finger deeper, crooking it slightly to rub against that sensitive spot inside.

"Mmm, yes darling, just like that."  Astarion's moans made Gale's cock throb with impatience.

Astarion's body relaxed, his hips rocking in time with Gale's movements. Another low moan escaped his lips, and Gale added a second finger, scissoring them apart to stretch Astarion open. His moans grew louder, his cock weeping onto his own stomach as Gale prepared him.

"Gale, please," Astarion gasped, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "I need you."

Gale withdrew his fingers, his gaze locked with Astarion's as he positioned himself. The head of his cock pressed against the slick, oiled skin, and with a slow, steady thrust, he pushed inside.

Astarion's body welcomed him, the tightness enveloping him completely. Gale groaned, the sensation almost too much to bear. He paused for a moment, giving Astarion time to adjust to the intrusion, before pulling back and thrusting in again.

Astarion's legs wrapped around Gale's waist, his heels digging into the small of Gale's back as he urged him deeper. Gale obliged, his thrusts growing more forceful as he claimed Astarion's body with his own.

The sound of their bodies moving together filled the room, a symphony of moans and gasps and the wet, slick slide of skin against skin. Gale's hand found Astarion's cock, stroking it in time with his thrusts. The vampire's body tensed, his walls clenching around Gale's cock as he neared the edge.

"Come for me, Astarion," Gale whispered. "I have you. Let go."

Astarion's body convulsed, his cock spurting thick ropes of cum onto his stomach and Gale's hand. The sight of it, the feel of Astarion's body clenching around him, was enough to send Gale over the edge. With a final, desperate thrust, he buried himself deep inside Astarion and let go, his hips rutting erratically as he found his release.

For long moments, they lay there, their bodies still joined, their breaths slowly returning to normal. Gale withdrew from Astarion with a soft sigh, his cock slipping free. They had made a proper mess of each other, and Gale used a quick prestidigitation to clean them both.

Astarion rolled onto his side, a contented smile playing on his lips as he watched Gale. "That was... unexpected," he murmured, his voice soft and sated.

Gale chuckled, stretching out beside Astarion and pulling him close.  "I suppose we've always had a knack for the unexpected," he said, pressing a gentle kiss to the man's forehead.

They lay there in silence, the only sound the sputtering of the dying candle and the steady beat of Gale's heart. Astarion's hand found Gale's, their fingers intertwining as Gale let himself drift off to sleep.

* * *

I traced my fingers along Gale's shoulder, marveling at the faint shimmer beneath his skin. Even in sleep, divinity clung to him like morning dew. Gods slept? That was new. Perhaps it was just the avatar form, conserving energy or... something equally divine and incomprehensible.

I was doing it again. Focusing on irrelevant details to avoid the obvious question hanging over us like a guillotine: what now?

When he woke up, this would become a Whole Thing. I knew Gale well enough to predict the stammering, the philosophical rambling about divine responsibilities, and probably some nonsense about maintaining appropriate boundaries between gods and their high priests. He'd bring Mystra into it. He'd try to be noble about it, and in doing so, he'd absolutely ruin everything.

I didn't want it ruined. This was... good. Better than good. The best thing that had happened to me since the early days with Sebastian, if I was being honest. Maybe even since—

No. Different kind of good. The point was, I wanted to keep it. Which meant I needed a plan, because Gale was absolutely hopeless when it came to matters of the heart. Worse than me, if such a thing was possible. (oh, fuck we were depending on my relationship skills, and we were probably doomed.) No, don't panic! At least I'd had practice with Tav and Sebastian. Gale's last relationship had been with magic itself, and look how well that turned out.

I propped myself up on one elbow, studying his face. The slight furrow between his brows, the way his lips parted just so—even in sleep, he looked like he was puzzling through some cosmic equation. Adorable, really. And completely useless for my current predicament.

I needed to decide what I wanted, and fast. Before he woke up and started overthinking everything into oblivion. Before he could convince himself this was some terrible breach of divine protocol or whatever nonsense his babygod mind would conjure up.

I snuggled closer and tried to think. Even unconscious, Gale radiated warmth like a banked fire, and I couldn't get enough of it.

Weeks of self-recrimination about Sebastian had not put me in the frame of mind for more honest self-reflection, but there was no help for it. Alright then, ageless vampire man who advises nobles and gods alike, what do you want?

Well, Gale. More Gale. That had been... astonishing. And even when I was spitting mad or twisted with grief, there was no one else on this planet whose appearance could lift my heart like his did, whose opinion I cared more for, even when I scoffed it away.

But what I wanted most desperately was to not hurt either of us. If there was one thing I had learned from Sebastian, it was that it sucked almost as bad to be the one doing the hurting as it did to be hurt when you were foolish enough to give a shit about someone else. And I very much gave a shit about Gale.

And I was certain he gave a shit about me.  Fuck. Fuckity Fuck Fuckballs.

I'd spent two centuries thinking I was incapable of truly caring about anyone. Then Tav proved me wrong. Then Sebastian. And now here I was, watching a sleeping god and wondering how I'd managed to fall into the same trap again.

The worst part was, I couldn't even blame it on past trauma or emotional ignorance this time. This was all me, walking right into another emotional disaster with my eyes wide open.

Gale's eyes fluttered open, and a lazy smile spread across his face. Shit. If gods slept, they clearly didn't need much of it. I'd hoped for at least another hour to sort out my thoughts, but apparently divine rest was more of a power nap situation.

'Wing it' it is, then.

I kept my expression neutral—or what I hoped was neutral—as I watched that familiar furrow appear between his brows. The one that always preceded some grand philosophical proclamation or crisis of conscience.

"How old are you?" I blurted out before he could speak. "Faerun years, I mean. Not counting divine time or whatever nonsense that entails."

He blinked, still shaking off sleep. "One hundred and fifty-six. Why?"

"I'm three hundred and sixty-seven." I propped myself up on one elbow, studying his face. "So between us, that's over five centuries of accumulated experience. Plus, you know—" I gestured vaguely at his still-glowing form. "The whole divine perspective thing."

"I... suppose that's true." His brow furrowed deeper, but curiosity had replaced the impending existential crisis in his eyes.

"So probably, if we put our heads together, we can manage to not make a complete mess of each other about this?"

He laughed—a startled, genuine sound that made the air around us sparkle. I couldn't help myself. I leaned down and kissed him again, just lightly, before pulling back.

"Perhaps we could skip the Mystra comparisons and the judgment and just... be kind to each other? For a little bit longer, at least. Until we can put all that brain power—" He laughed again, and I felt something in my chest loosen. "—to use figuring out a 'what next' that might bruise, but doesn't cut?"

"You've been lying there staring at me in my sleep, haven't you?"

"You're lovely in your sleep."

"You're lovely right now." Gale caressed the side of my face and I turned into his palm, hiding for a moment before turning back to meet his eyes.

"I'm always lovely." I gave him my best arrogant smirk but I couldn't hold it in place in the face the gentle warmth in his eyes.

I traced a pattern on Gale's chest, gathering my thoughts. "So with my many years of experience—" I smirked at his raised eyebrow "—some things I have learned. Lying to oneself or others generally fucks things up before they can properly start."

His fingers stilled in my hair, listening.

"Pretending reality isn't real is also not helpful. And denying one's feelings, regardless of the motivation, is pure disaster. Especially in the long run." I lifted my head to meet his gaze. "And you and I are nothing but long run, immortality and all."

"Those sound like hard-won lessons," Gale said softly.

"Mm. Care to hear what they mean for us?"

He shifted to face me properly. "I'm listening. With kind ears, as promised."

I took an unnecessary breath. "I care for you. I'm maybe in love with you." The words fell between us like dropped stones. "I'm also currently too much of a wreck about not really knowing myself to turn that maybe into something that won't screw both of us in the end."

His expression remained open, encouraging. It made the next part harder.

"I think you—" I had to take another deep breath for this one "—are maybe less sure about this whole god business than you'd like to be."

Gale started to protest, but then stopped, his brow furrowing.

"And you need time to figure it out. And, let's face it, if you stay a god and I stay, well, a not-god, then a true relationship of the romantic kind is doomed. We could figure something else out, if that's what it must be, but not until we figure ourselves out."

I ran out of steam then, and courage. The silence stretched between us as I waited for his response.

I watched the emotions play across Gale's face—concern, affection, and that particular furrow between his brows that meant he was about to say something devastatingly honest.

"You're right." He traced a finger along my collarbone, following the path of a scar that had faded centuries ago. "About all of it. I'm... less certain than I pretend to be. About godhood. About what it means for us."

I caught his hand, pressing it flat against my chest where my heart should beat. "And here I thought I'd have to argue with you about it for at least an hour." (or a year.) (or ten.) (a century wasn't off the table.)

"Perhaps I'm learning to listen." His smile was soft, almost shy. "Or perhaps you've finally learned to speak plainly."

"Rude." I released his hand, but he kept it there, wonderfully warm against my cold skin. "I've always been plain about what matters."

"Like Sebastian?"

I tensed, but forced myself to meet his eyes. "Yes. Like Sebastian. Who deserved better than what I could give him."

"And me?"

"You deserve—" I stopped, considering. "You deserve to figure out what being a god means to you. Without complications. Without... me making everything harder than it needs to be."

"And what do you deserve, Astarion?"

I laughed, but it came out shakier than I intended. "Time. Space. To figure out who I am when I'm not running from something or toward someone else."

"That sounds..." Gale's thumb stroked absently across my skin. "Remarkably healthy, actually."

"Don't sound so surprised. I do occasionally learn from my mistakes."

His eyes crinkled at the corners. "So what now?"

"Now?" I stretched, deliberately showing off my physique to maximum effect.  His eyes widened in a most gratifying fashion. "Now we go for round two wherein I give your a few more things to think about when we part."

"Mmm, that sounds unwise but I'm here for it.  And then?"

"We'll figure it out. Slowly. Without breaking each other in the process."

* * *

My long-departed but ever-present Tav,

Apologies for interrupting whatever delightful chaos you're causing in the afterlife, but there are things I still struggle to discuss with anyone but you. Though I'm working to change that—which is rather the point of this letter, so...

I wonder what you thought when you saw Gale and me together. Were you appalled? Did you laugh? Or did you just think "finally" and roll your eyes at how long it took? Not that you get an opinion these days, but I find myself curious all the same.

It's difficult not to dwell on that night, but I must focus elsewhere if I ever hope to earn another. And so, I've departed on what one might call a journey of self-discovery. Stop laughing. I can practically hear you from here.

The world is... fascinating, actually. For the first time in my existence, I'm wandering it alone and by choice. No masters, no missions, no obligations beyond my own whims, no romantic partner to draw my focus. It's rather nice.

Had to take a brief detour to rescue Wyll again a few weeks back. The man simply cannot keep his corporeal form intact these days. The whole Blade of Avernus business must be taxing, though you don't see me requiring resurrection every few years. (Yes, yes, I know—different circumstances entirely. Still.)

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that life has taken strange turns, and perhaps it's not entirely horrible. You may say "I told you so" if you wish. You usually did anyway.

With love,

A.

P.S. - The mushroom wine Sebastian taught me to make is actually quite good. Don't tell anyone.

[sad-outsider]

The mystery of names (and their correct spelling). Part 1. Alina Starkov

So, I finally decided to make a post dedicated to the correct spelling of the Russian language in the Grisha Trilogy. I decided to start with names, and so that you don’t get bored, I decided to add a point about the meaning of names. So, let's start with the main character. And the correct spelling of her name in Russian is Alina Starkova, not Starkov. Why? Because Starkov is a masculine surname. For example, my surname is Kosareva, and my father’s surname is Kosarev. So, we've discussed the correct spelling, now let's move on to the meaning.

Alina (is abbreviated as Lina, Linka, Linochka, Linushka, Alinochka, Alinushka, Alya)

The name Alina has several meanings. Latin: The name may come from the Latin name Alina, meaning "small" or "gentle", or from the Germanic name Adelina, meaning "noble". Polish Meaning: In Polish, the name Alina means "bright", "brilliant" or "beautiful". Russian meaning: In Russian, the name Alina can also be interpreted as “bright” or “brilliant”, “beautiful and charming”, as well as “true”, “faithful” or “protector”.

Starkova

Our heroine’s surname is no less interesting, as it is one of the oldest Russian surnames. There are several versions of the origin of the surname: 1)Derivation from the name of the star The first version says that the Starkov surname comes from the name of a star or other celestial objects. In ancient times, the stars played an important role in people's lives, and some researchers argue that some families may have received the Starkov surname in honor of stellar phenomena or specific celestial events. 2) Origin from a profession or occupation Another version connects the Starkov surname with a person's profession or occupation. Since the Russian word for "starik" (old man) has been used throughout history to describe an elderly person, this may indicate that some ancestors of those with the Starkov surname may have been sages, elders, or engaged in other occupations that required wisdom and experience. 3) Origin from a geographical place There is also a version according to which the Starkov surname has geographical roots. It may be associated with the name of a specific place, for example, the name of a settlement or village. Over the course of time, the name of a place may have passed on as a surname to the population living in the area. 4) Origin from the name Some researchers propose a version according to which the Starkov surname arose from a short name associated with a patronymic. The Russian word "starik" (old man) could be a nickname or a short form of the name Stary, Starov, and so on. Gradually it could turn into a surname for subsequent generations. Regardless of the version of origin, the Starkov surname is usually associated with concepts of wisdom, experience and age. It can indicate a family's rich history, whether related to a star, profession, or geographic location. In the next part we will look at the Morozovs, don’t miss it😘

[necer0s]

So it's apparently Skyjacks week! I didn't exactly prepare anything, but I recently increased my Patreon pledge for the Oneshot network to a tier that offers a micro-rpg every month and discovered that one of the past rewards was a Skyjacks solo journaling game. Since I've been thinking about posting some of my solo rpg journals for a while now, this seemed like an ideal opportunity to try that out. Especially since the prompt for day 1 is Wings | Flight. So I present...

Feather Fall

I'll copy the introductory text of the game here, so everyone can read it. Please imagine it in James D'amato's storytelling voice, as I did.

The Story of a Feather When the stars fell and the world was changed, feathers from the wings of the Fallen scattered across Spéir. These feathers make their way across the world, passing from hand to hand, leaving momentous events in their wake. Most end up either with the Church of the Slain God or bound to The Cutting Stone. Some find homes in the hands of people who seek to do good in the world. Still fewer open new eyes for mortals, creating Seers. This is the story of a feather. A luminous, beautiful object that once graced the wings of an angel. You are the chronicler of its passage through the world. The wind blows as the Lumins will it. The fate of the feather is its own.

The game then asks me to draw my feather. Please do not judge my MSpaint abomination. We humans are simply incapable of seeing the feather's true beauty with mortal eyes. That is why angel feathers have eyes of their own. They judge us, we do not judge them.

Next, the game asks me to write down three or four words to describe the angel feather, for me to keep in mind as part of its nature as it travels across the world. I have chosen "crowned", "silver", and "nesting".

The game itself is based on Blackjack. I will draw cards, attempting to reach a combined value of as close to 21 as I can get without going over. For each card I draw, I answer a prompt about a time that the feather came into contact with mortals. I can only stand if I have drawn at least one black card (righting wrongs) and one red card (doing mercies).

My first card is a Jack of hearts, worth ten points. The prompt for ten total points is "You are found by a Fallen. Who do you help before you are separated again?"

It was a desperate grasp as they fell, and I was the only one they caught. Not one of their own feathers, but I knew the hand that held me as surely as if I had been part of their own wings.

We had sung together, part of the same celestial choir, and in the quiet verses our wing had often stretched to touch theirs. They don't remember that now. Not the soft caresses or the gentle caretaking or the murmured discussions. All those memories were lost when their wings were cut away, bound up in one feather or another.

But I-- I am the feather who holds the memory of their names.

I reminded Chamiel to call the name Jeduel, and showed them the path that would reunite the mouths that spoke those names. And when the two of them were discovered even as they discovered one another, I sent them away and distracted those who would have followed them. It is alright that I will no longer sit on Jeduel's crown. They can touch one another with hands now, rather than wings. But perhaps I will miss being a part of that touch.

My next card is an eight of diamonds. The prompt for eighteen total points is "You are found by a parent caring for a hungry child. What do you show them to ease their worries?"

He is desperate, when he finds me. Anything would do, he thinks, if only it will last to the end of this winter. If he can only find enough to feed the child a little longer, surely the seasons will change and there will be an abundance of food to be found in the world around him once again. Surely even in this new world without order, a winter cannot last longer than a full year.

He is wrong, of course. Without the Sovereign's order, a season might last a minute or a century. But I do not show him that, for he does not need that knowledge. The knowledge he needs is simpler than that.

And because I had a feeling what my next card would mean, I went ahead and drew my next card: the five of spades. Which means I went Bust on a twenty three. And because my final total was odd, the feather was found by the Church of the Slain God. The game says that "there is no entry for this outcome; some things are better left unexplored". So think of this as an extension of the previous entry.

Forty bars of silver. Enough to feed a man and a child for many years to come, and the community around him as well. All that he needed was the knowledge of who to speak to, of what to say. Of how best to offer me up.

[celestialdaily]

Congratulations to the Moon for being Tumblr's favorite moon!

and to Europa and Ganymede for making it to 2nd and third respectively!

[hateful-daystar]

@same-pic-of-the-sun-everyday

@same-pic-of-mercury-everyday

@same-pic-of-venus-everyday

@same-pic-of-the-earth-everyday

@same-pic-of-the-moon-everyday

@same-pic-of-mars-everyday

@same-pic-of-jupiter-everyday

@same-pic-of-saturn-everyday

@the-real-uranus

@same-pic-of-uranus-everyday

@same-pic-of-neptune-everyday

@same-pic-of-a-dictionary-daily

@steve-not-anon

@metal-frisbee

@earth-fan

@court-artist-under-the-stars

@not-10-salmon-in-a-png

@hateful-daystar

@same-pic-of-andromeda-everyday

@same-pic-of-halleys-comet

@same-pic-of-titan-every-day

@same-pic-of-callisto-everyday

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@book-nonsie-not-anon

I am in the process of creating a post that will act as a centralized resource for the celestial same picverse. It will describe the basics of this little community, general guidelines, and a list of members. Ir is meant for newcomers to use as a guide. Here is the rough draft:

This post is a centralized resource for all celestial same picverse blogs to use.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog is not the be-all-end-all to the celestial same picverse. Things will likely change, and I probably won’t keep up with it all because I am only a single person. Furthermore, feel free to ignore any advice or best practices I suggest here. This is a fun tumblr community, not a workplace. There are no rules.

If any blogs in the community have a comment or objection to something in my posts here, feel free to contact me!

===

With that out of the way, what is the celestial same picverse? It is a collection of blogs that post the same picture of a celestial object every day and a series of “mortals” that interact with these celestial blogs. There is a lot of roleplaying.

Best practices: If you are going to post a picture of the same object everyday, you may want to set up a queue of pictures so you don’t forget to post a picture everyday. How to use the queue: https://help.tumblr.com/hc/en-us/articles/231481827-Queued-Posts 

Many blogs in this community use the following tag:

# celestial-same-picverse

What do y’all think? Any feedback? Did I miss anything?

Also please tell me if I missed someon.

☀️

[jadeespacey]

(new Solarballs episode spoilers)

(Gotta Yap my opinion😭)

DANG THIS EPISODE IS 10 MINUTES LONG.. But anyway I love this episode! But for me though it's kinda..not that bad I guess because this episode has so much potential but it looks like it doesn't have good life to it for me.

BUT STILL I love this one! Still worth it for that 2 weeks wait.

Now look at these clown couples manipulating crap and misunderstanding stuff😭

(Insert Oberon in the background)

BUT THIS EPISODE IS SO SHOCKING.

I like how Titan finally accept that Earth changed and now protected him as he finally understand. This is kinda shocking if you ask as me.

Though Europa in the background when the others started protecting Earth at the second attack is funny asf LOOK AT HER

I LOVE THIS TRIO LOOK AT THEM❤

BLUD what are these 2 going on😭 these 2 finally be fighting meanwhile with Ganymede being stupid asf.

But to be honest am more concerned and disappointed that my expectations aren't here. Like the gas giants still went missing and we haven't seen the others for a long time. Though am expecting the sun too😞.

This episode had a big drama here yet a bit of life it's so easy of how it ended so probably why I don't like the episode that much but yeah it's still good.

But at least Pluto and Charon are back to help! They save the day! They even managed to convinced every other moons of how all of them are already equal yet different. (Well this sound stupid but YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN)

AWWW LOOK AT SATURN'S MOONS.. I hope to see more of them in the future! I heard the creator of SB is planning to put more characters outside of the solar system!

Am very excited REALLY.

And Neptunes moons though THEY'RE SO CUTE. Am happy it's not that big for the war zone to be that horrifying for them. they don't understand because they're just children.

AND I JUST LIKE EARTH AND MOONS FRIENDSHIP. they're brothers it's canon/hj

And LMAO EARTH CALLING MOON MOM?

But there's more pictures of what am going to say but tumblr limits the pictures of the new episode☹️ I won't blame them tbh it's a 10 minute episode IT'S SO LONG. yet I love it!

But am going to say my words for the other pictures of my opinion.

One. The episode of the moon revolution is done so easily. I was expecting it to be done in another way.

Two. I was expecting the drama to end but no there's more drama going on. There's a sequel and Ganymede is still planning to do something MORE STUPIDLY EVIL like what beef Ganymede and Europa had? WHAT??

Three. Even if the gas giants or the others aren't here at least Ceres came back! WOOO HE'S BACK more screen time for Ceres I guess.

Am excited to other new episodes for Solarballs now since the moon revolution ended. I guess they will go back to the education thing or other stuff. But am more excited for new future episodes too! Even the other celestial objects episode like outside of the solar system! THAT is the one am excited about after seeing the SB communication post on YouTube.

So this was a fun ep I love it.

[wutherlywaving]

Solaris-3 and the Solar System

Hey, Rovers!

Throughout the game, I’ve noticed some mentions of the solar system of Wuwa, and I wanted to gather it all together along with some theories I have about it. In this first part, I will gather all the references to space I can find, and later make some theories in Part Two, so let’s get to it shall we? But first a disclaimer, I do not own any of the wuwa graphics shown throughout this post, kuro games does. Additionally, this is all speculative work, and I tend to overanalyze things, so take all this knowledge with a grain of salt!

Ch. 1: The References

First, let’s go through all of the mentions, or things I think have to do with space throughout the game.

The Goddesses Halo: Although probably purely aesthetic, the goddess’s halo looks to me like a solar system. This halo comprises two sets of co-orbital configured astronomical objects (objects that share the same gravitational path or orbit), and that’s about it. There is suspiciously a lack of central star, unless you count the Goddess as it, along with it seeming to be incomplete. We know that Sol-3 is the third planet away from the Sun, and this model halo only goes two out, so if it is accurate, it isn’t complete. This is also assuming that the Goddess is from the same Solar System or Universe as Sol-3 is.

(Also I took the time to look at the constellations found in the goddesses' hair. And as far as I can tell there is no EXACT match to any constellations from our world. These are probably also an aesthetic detail, drawn from an artist’s mind, but I wanted to mention them anyway.)

The Diary: On this Diary, acquired during the Omnious Star main quest, there seems to be a ringed planet, possibly surrounded by six moons or astronomical objects.

Lunite: This currency seems to be a planet surrounded by a ring, a moon, and two to four stars. In its description, we learn that Sol-3’s moon was shattered a long time ago and is merely a mirage, like how the stars we see in the sky are long dead.

Lunite Purchasing Menu and Animation: In the images we see above, we can see an artistic rendition or model of … something I suppose. There’s a central gold planet or perhaps a core of a planet, surrounded by the phases of the moon, and another moon? The white crescent could also be a moon, or a planet itself. Surrounding this white part there’s another co-orbital configuration path with a white (or gold in one image) and blue planet and four shining stars. There are also some constellations made up of stars, moons, and suns, which are similar to constellations in our world but not exact.

The Lunite Subscription Passes also have a similar image on them, along with the words Month Card, 15, or 7. The central astronomical object changes between them. They also mention a Celestial Observatory in their description.

Astrite: A star-shaped object with a rather ethereal description

Tacet Cores: Multiple of the cores for the tacet discords are star-shaped.

Star Flakes: Star-shaped food rather reminiscent of the shape of tacet fields, cores, and marks. Don’t forget to make a wish after eating some.

The Icefield Honor Medal: Purely Speculative, but to me there looks to be once again, four stars on it.

There are also some more tacet discord/echo items that are star-shaped, that I didn’t want to gather together. But yeah that’s it for part 1. If there’s anything I missed let me know and I’ll make sure to add it! Anyways, this is me signing out! Toodles!

[miirshroom]

Mushroom Vision

I am going to attempt explaining how there is an entire vast segment of environmental storytelling in Elden Ring that is going unremarked upon. It isn't just about mushrooms. But that's where I first took notice, so that's where I will start in this post.

The above is the view from a mushroom on the entry ramp to Raya Lucaria, just above where the merchant is sitting. This was maybe my 3rd or 4th random stop back when I decided to appreciate the scenery from the point of view of the mushroom (for fun!). It is an example of perfect framing for elements in the far distance:

The North Liurnia Minor Erdtree

The Church of Vows

The Erdtree

But really, it's "perfect" framing of only the Erdtrees - the Church of Vows is blocked from view and hidden by a stone pillar with a quatrefoil symbol on it. This is a noticeable trend at many mushroom spots - it would be a great view...except there is a nearby tree or a piece of stone exactly in front of one element in the far distance. The perspectives seen from these mushrooms are missing the full picture. Rotating to the left on top of the same mushroom, there is also a perfectly clear view of the Bellum Gate in front of Mt. Gelmir.

Setting the scene a bit more, the ramp is heavily forested, populated by 4 packs of wolves (numbering 3, 3, 3, and 5 including the white wolf in the group lowest down the ramp), then the Isolated Merchant, a Trina's Lily, a corpse with 2 strips of white flesh, and right inside the impassible gate is a Bloodhound Knight guarding a corpse holding Celestial Dew. The sealed entry to the ramp is looking directly towards the Cathedral of Manus Celes.

Also, there is a second mushroom on the bridge which has a view of the Church of Vows restored, but instead this one is blocked from viewing Mt. Gelmir. The Church of Vows is directly aligned with Morgott/Mohg's Divine Tower. This mushroom is between the 2nd and 3rd wolf pack.

Paying attention to the mushrooms also calls attention to something else interesting. There are 4 stone viewing spots built into the ramp face - the two middle ones occurring at those two mushroom spots, one at the top of the ramp just before the 1st wolf pack, and one at the bottom of the ramp between the merchant and the bloodhound knight.

The lowest of these viewing points has a clear view at the Erdtree (nearest to the gate). Also from this vantage point the Liurnia North Minor Erdtree is in alignment with the withered Minor Erdtree in the Altus Plateau:

The highest viewing point near the top of the ramp has views of Mt. Gelmir, Bellum highway Gate, and the Wandering Mausoleums:

In the photos of the first mushroom (lower ramp) I placed more emphasis on the Erdtrees, as this is the view obtained by looking directly at the minor Erdtree. See below as rotated to face the pillar directly, which corrects for peripheral vision picking up certain distant objects that do not actually have direct sightline to the mushroom.

And like at the upper ramp mushroom, the transparency of the Erdtree is accounted for in what is visible from this vantage point. From the corrected viewpoint Rykard's Divine Tower is also completely obscured by the pillar and Morgott/Mohg's Divine Tower is not only behind the Erdtree, but also behind a conveniently placed rock spear. Rotating to the right, a clear view of Liurnia Divine Tower and just the top of the Isolated Divine Tower. Caelid Divine Tower is obscured by the Carian Study Hall, and Limgrave Divine Tower is exactly behind the steeple of a pillar.

So what does it matter exactly, that landmarks are blocked from certain locations? Good question! I am trying to understand this! It seems to me quite obvious from the framing of this one small corner of the map that care is being taken to craft these vistas in a certain way. Perhaps travelling up the ramp is telling a story in sequence. Perhaps there is one story told from the balcony spots while a second lens is placed on the story from the mushroom spots.

Overall, what I see are pieces of an environmental puzzle deliberately crafted at hundreds of locations. Just from mushrooms alone. But there is no reason to stop at mushrooms - I know that some people are already taking interest in the locations of Trina's Lilies and Miquella's Lilies, but has any attempt been made to really consider what is visible (or not visible) from their locations? The things that NPC's can see from their vantage points, the directions that corpses are looking and the items they hold, the view of the divine towers from rebirth monuments (previously discussed in a different post) all seem to be carefully planned. Rowa bushes are very frequently found in pairs, and at almost every location I've checked so far across Limgrave there will be something clearly visible from one bush that is just barely out of sight from the other.

For anyone wondering whether Elden Ring actually innovated on anything compared to Dark Souls? It's this. Literally - it's the depth of environmental storytelling.

[thegendergoblin6]

✰ Catgender - Xenogender Bookshelf ✰

Catgender is a Xenogender that relates to cats! Its great for Alterhumans/Therians/otherkin who have a catkin and it also relates to their gender, and also great for neurodivergent people who have trouble talking about their gender! Some great neopronouns for pretty much any catgender are:

✰ Meow/meowself ✰ Purr/Purrself ✰ Paw/Pawself ✰ Feline/Felineself ✰ Whisker/Whiskerself ✰ Claw/Clawself ✰ Mew/Purr/Purrs/Mewself ✰ Nya/Nyaself ✰ Mew/Mewself

Catgender was coined in 2014, and the original flag was made by DeviantArt user PN-TME in 2019. The only source I could find on the original coiner of Catgender is this one link to a site about Catgender:

https://catgender.carrd.co

The mainstream flag that I see mostly everywhere is this flag:

Which in the carrd about cat-gender, it is said that the creator of the flag is Kai or @HUENlNGWAY on twitter. However I cannot confirm this.

There are other Catgender flags! Which were made to be more inclusive! Pawprint Design by EggHeggley;

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ The Diversity with Catgender ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

This is the main reason I made this post, because the fun thing with Catgender [and many other genders like it that are broad] is that there are many different versions of it, combining multiple genders together to make different ones. I find this very interesting mostly for the fact that you can start to see a trend with the broader animal-themed genders and the categories in it.

Another interesting pattern when looking at cattic/catgenders is that many people have the same catgender but with different flags!

I tried my best to put as many as I could find, I am using Pintrest, Tumblr, Tiktok and Instagram to find these flags + genders! Everyone's tags include which platform they are from!

✰If I am missing any, feel free to let me know!! ✰

Here is a list of as many of the cat-genders/Cattics I could find that may be useful to those who identify with cat gender!

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⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽DemicatGender☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ A Gender who feel partially connected to cats [similar to Demiboy/demigirl except with Catgender] ✰ Flags made by snotdrip and Glitchywitch

✦•····················•✦•····················•✦

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽TranscatGender☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ A Gender for those who are trans but also indenitfy as catgender! ✰ Flag made by @tiredryota on pintrest

✦•····················•✦•····················•✦

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽CozyGender☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "this gender is related to the feeling of a cat curled up into a ball listening to the rain fall outside as the scent of freshly brewed tea fills the room" ✰ Flag made and Coined by @basil3 on Here! ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are Cloud/Cloudself; Soft/Softself; Tea/Teaself; Cozy/Cozyself

✦•····················•✦•····················•✦

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Suncatic/Suncatgender☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "a gender related to the sun, or any sun-related character and cats" ✰ Flag made and Coined by @obsessedwithicecream on pintrest ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are sun/sunself; sunny/sunnyself

✦•····················•✦•····················•✦

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Mooncatic/Mooncatgender☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "a gender related to the moon, or any moon-related character and cats" ✰ Flag made and Coined by @obsessedwithicecream on pintrest ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are moon/moonself; moony/moonyself

✦•····················•✦•····················•✦

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Starrycatic☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "A xenogender associated with stars, light up objects, and cats" ✰ Coined by @_kiko.chip_ on TikTok ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are Star/Starself; Starry/Starryself

✦•····················•✦•····················•✦

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Lumicatic☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "A xenogender, faunagender and subset of catgender for those who have a deep connection to stars, cloudy night skies, space, celestial bodies, cats, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. For when you feel a connection to outer space and cats, or your gender can be described as a celestial cat. This gender is specifically not related to aliens" ✰ Coined by Snuggly Bun on here! ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are Star/Starself; Starry/Starryself; Space/Spaceself; Gala/Galaxyself

✦•····················•✦•····················•✦

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Quacatic☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "a catgender connecting to cats, the feeling of not knowing, questioning and unsurity" ✰ Coined by @yoeakj on pintrest!

✦•····················•✦•····················•✦

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Calicocatic☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "a catgender connected to calico cats" ✰ Coined by @yoeakj on pintrest! ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are Cali/Calico/Calicoself; Spots/spotself; splotch/Splotchself; Multi/Multiself

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⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Creadilic☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "a catgender that is connected to cats and bread" ✰ Coined by @yoeakj on pintrest! ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are Bread/Breadself; Rise/Riseself; Flour/Flourself; Gluten/Glutenself; Ba/Bak/Bakeself

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⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Gintilic☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "a catgender connecting to ginger tabby cats" ✰ Coined by @yoeakj on pintrest! ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are tabby/tabbyself; orange/orangeself;

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⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽CatMillic☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "a catgender that is connected to cats and milk" ✰ Coined by @yoeakj on pintrest! ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are Milk/Milkself; Dairy/Dairyself;

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⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Cinterlic☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "A catgender that connects to cats, harsh winters, snowflakes, frost, and snow" ✰ Coined by @yoeakj on pintrest! ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are Winter/Winterself; Snow/Snowself; Ice/Iceself; Cold/Coldself; Frost/Frostself

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⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽Cattpring☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ✰ "a catgender connected to cats and the feel of spring and spring flowers" ✰ Coined by @yoeakj on pintrest! ✰ Some great Neopronouns for this are Spring/Springself; Grass/Grasself; Flower/Flowerself; Pollen/Pollenself

✦•····················•✦•····················•✦

⋅•⊰∘☽More Cattics in the next part!!☾∘⊱•⋅

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