#and using owl imagery

[another-goblin]

After 2.2, many people noticed that the first part of Ratio's "Doctor's Advice" isn't just a vague encouragement (to think about it, that would have been a bit out of character for him); it actually foreshadows certain revelations about the Dreamworld we only discover in 2.2.

It can't be a coincedence that the words "Death" and "Dormancy", capitalized and placed in quotation marks, are the exact words used to refer to that "Death "meme when we discover the truth about it.

It's safe to assume that he knows more about the Dreamworld than he lets on, and that note is partly a hint to Aventurine about what's going on. And it probably helped, judging by the fact that Aventurine somehow ended up in Dreamflux Reef after that.

So first, that really reminded me of what he did on Herta station. He basically slips into his teacher mode: "I'll make sure nobody dies. I won't disrespect your cognitive abilities by just telling you what's going on. I'll just direct you towards the truth because I know you are smart enough to ultimately get there by yourself"

And secondly, if that's true, if he really knows a lot about the Dreamworld, that would finally explain why the IPC sent him as a technical consultant.

The question is, what's in it for him.

At first glance, he doesn't have a horse in that race. I don't think he gives a damn about the IPC's claim on Penacony. He doesn't strike me as a fan of the IPC in general (his philosophy is "people should have access to education," and money never factors into it).

And they can't directly order him to go; the IPC bosses are not his bosses. The Intelligentsia Guild is affiliated with the IPC and probably sponsored by it, but they are not the same. (I had a little theory about the IPC financing his educational projects. So theoretically, they could use it as leverage. But it's an unsopported speculation on my part)

One of his goals could have been to study the Dreamworld, but I don't think that's the case because he could have just visited it as a tourist for that purpose at any time.

So, why would he agree to go on that mission, taking his valuable time away from teaching and potentially risking his life and reputation (by getting involved with the IPC's shady affairs)?

He's only there to help Aventurine. Currently, that's the only explanation.

[beware-the-owlman]

Dark Nights: Death Metal: Multiverse’s End #1

[khaire-traveler]

💀 Subtle Haides Worship 🐕‍🦺

If you have a dog (or any pet), play with them

Volunteer at an animal shelter

Donate dog supplies to animal shelters and places who help families in need

Feed neighborhood dogs, cats, or birds

Start a coin collection with the intention of souls who need payment at the Underworld's gates can use those coins

Keep a picture of him in your wallet

Have a candle that reminds you of him (no altars needed)

Wear jewelry that reminds you of him

Have a stuffed animal owl, dog, or black ram

Have imagery of a bident, Cerberus, or ancient Greek helmets around

Drink coffee or a soothing tea to start your day

Honor your ancestors/souls that have passed; learn about your family history

Hold onto any family heirlooms; keep items from people who have passed in your life

Eat pomegranate seeds; drink pomegranate juice

Support suicide prevention or funeral funding organizations

Visit cemeteries; if allowed (get permission first please), leave flowers at graves; visit loved ones' or family members' graves

Collect animal bones (please thank the animal's spirit after doing so; I just think it's respectful to do so)

Learn about death; acquaint yourself with the idea of death; figure out what you believe happens after death

Take care of yourself physically and emotionally

Work on learning to let go of the past; forgive yourself for past mistakes, and release past regrets

Start a garden or tend to plants

Save your money, if able; work on spending it wisely

Practice patience, understanding, and gratitude

Be a good host to all who enter your space; Haides is the ultimate host, the Ruler of All

Take a walk during a new moon (if it is safe to do so in your area)

Bury a time capsule

Honor old family traditions; dig into your heritage and find pride in it

Learn to find simple joys in life; make a list of things that bring you joy in your day to day

Meditate in nature; ground yourself often; practice mindfulness

Visit/explore caves (please do so safely!!!)

Visit ancient ruins, ghost towns, and any place where people used to be but are no longer

-

Hope this helps someone! I may add more later on. For now, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Haides. Take care, everyone! 🩵

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

[optionalgs]

I love every single second of The Owl House so so so much but watching what Jentry Chau could get away with makes me wonder what could have been if Disney weren't such cowards.

Same with Amphibia. The same action that caused a whole debacle with an episode being delayed and released later with a content warning there was used in Jentry Chau in episode 1 to set the tone of the story.

Idk Jentry Chau is obviously meant to feel very teenager, so it makes sense it would need to be edgier, and that allows it to get away with more stuff, but imagine if the Owl House had been able to lean harder on the body horror, necromancy, and demonic imagery like in the concept art stages

[3r-tree]

LCB sinners as characters inside Honkai Star Rail universe because why not (1/3) Second batch (5-8) here

I might have failed it successfully due to HSR character design is hard (intricate motif, questionable cloth layering, belts, more belts) but I'm enjoying the whole process. I divided the series into three parts, and the second batch (5-8) is completed (but I just uploaded it to Tumblr later because I forgot I have Tumblr lol). People told me that I ended up made something more akin to Arknights character design which is a pleasant surprise. Yi Sang: His design is the easiest out of the sinners since his design consists of a monochrome palette (shades of black, white, and grey). The idea behind his design is that he's supposed to be inspired by traditional Korean clothes with a little touch of Greek design (the white outer are supposed to be inspired by chiton, the owl pin) from Ratio design. The white tail on his back is supposed to resemble a pair of wings with a broken glass pattern. I can imagine The Nine Litterateurs was supposed to be a small group of scientists at first only for IPC to mess them up. Imagine Dongrang ended up at the Technology Department in IPC and Yi Sang ended up stays at Candelagraphos even though he's not completely free since Intelligentsia Guild is getting sponsored by IPC.

Faust: I know we already have a witch-inspired genius on Genius Society (Herta) but I feel like it's a wasted opportunity to not make her a witch with her Walpurgisnacht theme (there's a subtle clock imagery on her hat where the clock hands almost strike to midnight, referencing "witch hour"). Some of the paths that I choose here are supposed to match their personality while the other is supposed to balance the sinners (because we will end up with almost all of them being a dps if I don't balance them). Since she also has a strong homunculus theme, I made her more akin to an alchemist which is where her abundance path came from. Iirc, the angels used roses to ward off Mephistopheles.

Don Quixote: First of all, shout out to @/cloudierrr on Twitter for helping me design her (because I'm bad with the yellow color palette)! I tried to draw "someone cosplaying as a knight" so I wanted to make her as flamboyant as possible. Her clothes are inspired by traje de luces because I love how intricate it is. I ended up making her as Galaxy Ranger since "justice vigilante" stuff sounds like something that Don would do (not that the leader of Galaxy Ranger is La Mancha LMAO). Another faction that I think will fit her is Knight of Beauty. Imagine her being chaotic with Rappa and Boothill tho-

Ryoshu: I know her choice of design is the most out-of-the-place of all of them and I must admit, she's one of the sinners that I don't have a strong grasp on her character (her canto and Edo Star are not yet released, sadly). Her choice as remembrance character is because I noticed that all of the remembrance characters in HSR so far are the one who can appreciate beauty. There's not really a reason for her to be in Elation faction except Aha just wants to troll her (I imagined her using art as a form of elation but eh-). My idea for her memosprite is a monkey spirit, referencing her literary source.

[sereg0re]

MY GO-TO'S FOR EDITING.

I’ve decided to put together a masterlist of the resources I use, since I get asked about them pretty often. If you're somebody who can’t commission resource makers or you’re just wanting to get into editing or creating commissions yourself, I hope this helps.

pinterest. IMPORTANT NOTICE IF YOU UTILIZE THIS: avoid usings people's art; if you can get permission from an artist to use a piece, that's another discussion. Be warned there may also be ai mixed in, which I've personally got a good eye for spotting; i prefer to go by images i've seen long before the ai craze, since i've been on there for a while. your best bet is looking through miscellenous character boards. From there, you can choose images to blend or even make pngs out of, to give unique flare to your edits.

remove.bg + photokit. if you're looking to save time or don't have a way to cutout images manually ( i sometimes like to use my art tablet if I want to be really precise ), these are good ways to make pngs out of images you find, as opposed to png sites. i prefer this because ive caught adware on png sites before, plus there's also a lot of ai on those as well.

for screencaps, i use google images or youtube, since the quality is higher than anything on pinterest...though, psds are what normally cover up quality issues, from what i've learned. then again, it might depend on the psd. IMPORTANT NOTE IF YOU UTILIZE THIS: If you’re using google Images, searching for actual screencaps might lead you to blogs or websites dedicated to capping—many of which ask for credit if you use their content. Also, avoid reposting people's edits or gifs, since those will inevitably show up when searching faceclaim names and similar tags. on the off chance you find free-to-use faceclaim content, be sure to credit if/when asked !

photopea. it's a great alternative for those of us who can't be assed to learn adope, nor can afford it .

I know it doesn't look like much, but this is genuinely my go-to formula. I don't think there's any need for anything over the top. That said, if you guys have better alternatives or anything to add, feel free—this is just based on my own experience.

ADDITIONAL EDITING TIPS: If you find yourself stumped creatively or unsure how to approach using these, I’d recommend breaking down the character or setting you’re working with in terms of aesthetic. What are some keywords or imagery you associate with that muse ? Take a character like h/arry p/otter, for example—focus on individual visuals, important symbols, and signature colors. For him, I’d think of round glasses, lightning bolts, owls, candles, spell books, brooms, etc. Then, take each of those elements and explore them individually. I’d maybe start by looking up “owls” on Pinterest; from there, I might find images that can be turned into pngs. Repeat that process with every vibe or detail that comes to mind. You don’t have to limit yourself to making pngs either—feel free to experiment by blending different images together and building a look from there.

ADDITIONAL UPDATES/RECOMMENDATIONS:

Screencapped ( * will need an account )

VLC Media Player ( * good for screencaps / things you've downloaded from youtube )

[realityrain]

┆ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָʚ 𓊆 forms / types of witchcraft ?𓊇 ˖ ⸝⸝𓋼𓍊₊˚┊

︵︵︵︵︵︵︵︵ ﹒୨𓉸୧﹒︵︵︵︵︵︵︵︵﹒

I just want to start this post off by saying I am in no way , shape or form knowledgeable on these subjects and this is just a fun post!! if you are thinking of incorporating any of these aspects into your desired or current reality , I urge you to do your own research considerably ୧ ︶⏝︶

────── ‧ ₊˚ 𓍢ִ໋ 𓋹 ⁺ ׂ ⸝⸝ ‧₊ ──────

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ C O S M I C ☾ also known as space magick or cosmic witchery, a branch of witchcraft that focuses on the universe, cosmos, and celestial bodies. It involves studying the cosmos, creating celebrations around celestial events and incorporating cosmic themes into your practice. At its core, a cosmic witch is someone who draws their power and inspiration from the cosmos—the stars, planets, moons, and all the celestial phenomena that reside in the vast expanse of space. | astrology , zodiac signs , horoscopes, celestial energies / events , stargazing , star maps, moonstone / amethyst

︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶୨ ꒰ 𓋜 ۪꒱ ୧︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶ ﹒

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ S E A ☾ known as ocean magick or water witchcraft, it’s a form of witchcraft that focuses on the energy and power of the sea and its elements. Sea witches connect with the ocean's rhythms, tides, and the moon, and may incorporate marine elements and creatures into their magical practices. typically a sea witch will use objects for their magickal workings such as shells, plants, salt water ect. | oceans , lakes and seas , weather magic , saltwater , shells , driftwood , chalice, mirrors , crystals , saltwater , sand symbols , seaweed

ིྀ𓎟ᛝ𓎟𓎟𓎟⌓ ˖°- ꕤ𓍢ִִ໋⋆⌓𓎟𓎟𓎟ᛝ𓎟 ྀི

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ G R E E N ☾ green witchcraft is a branch of magic that revolves around nature. To a green witch, the natural world is alive and beaming with magical energies to be harnessed. While each might have their own specialization or unique practice; with ancient roots in paganism, celtic mysticism and druidry , green witches frequently work with plants, animals, crystals or stones, the elements, and the seasons to craft their spells. | grounding , herbs, plants , earth based elements , essential oils , friends with animals , respect for living things, minimalist and personal practices

︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶୨ ꒰ 𓋜 ۪꒱ ୧︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶ ﹒

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ L U N A R ☾ the aliningwitchcraft practices with the moon's phases, harnessing its energy for various purposes : They align their spells, rituals, and intentions with the lunar cycle, using the moon's energy for various purposes, including manifestation, intuition, and emotional healing. It's a form of sympathetic magic where the changing lunar phases are used to enhance the potency of spells and rituals. | altars to and honoring the moon , most comfortable at night , study / observe lunar phases , moon - gazing / meditation, moon water , most moon related imagery , owl animal guides , pearls / moonstone

ིྀ𓎟ᛝ𓎟𓎟𓎟⌓ ˖°- ꕤ𓍢ִִ໋⋆⌓𓎟𓎟𓎟ᛝ𓎟 ྀི

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ D I V I N A T I O N ☾ is the art and science of obtaining information by occult means ; it has been practiced in every culture in the world throughout history. Divination contains a wide range of practices aimed at uncovering hidden knowledge, predicting the future, or gaining insight into the supernatural. Some common methods include scrying, bibliomancy, astragalomancy, pendulum divination, cartomancy, numerology, dowsing, tasseography, and automatic writing. | some tools : crystals , ouiji board , pendulum, oracle cards , scyring, runes , astrology, herbs and many other things!!

︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶୨ ꒰ 𓋜 ۪꒱ ୧︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶ ﹒

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ M U S I C ☾ musical witchcraft explores the intersection of music and magic, viewing music as a tool for both personal expression and spiritual practice. It encompasses using music to enhance spells, rituals, and personal well-being, as well as drawing inspiration from musical themes and aesthetics. Music can be used to raise and direct energy, set the mood for rituals, and enhance spellwork by influencing emotions and intentions.

ིྀ𓎟ᛝ𓎟𓎟𓎟⌓ ˖°- ꕤ𓍢ִִ໋⋆⌓𓎟𓎟𓎟ᛝ𓎟 ྀི

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ F I R E  ☾ the most volatile of the four elements. It creates, but also destroys. In witchcraft and related traditions, Fire energy represents light, brightness, passion, power, transformation, and purification. This powerful energy can fuel, motivate, and inspire us but must be given the utmost respect and care ; it can be used in rituals for cleansing, burning intentions into the universe, and even for divination through fire scrying | often associated with the south, noon, and tools like wands or swords, symbolizing action, passion, and creation.  

︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶୨ ꒰ 𓋜 ۪꒱ ୧︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶ ﹒

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ C R Y S T A L S ☾ also known as crystal magick or stone magic, is the practice of using crystals and gemstones for spells, rituals, and healing within witchcraft. Crystals are believed to hold inherent energetic properties that can be harnessed to influence a person's life or a specific situation. Witches use crystals for various purposes, including protection, healing, divination, and enhancing spellwork. Crystals have been used for healing and spiritual practices for centuries in various cultures and religions. In Western Christianity, crystals were associated with transcendence and divinity, often decorating religious objects ; In Hinduism and Indian culture, crystal healing practices are deeply ingrained.

ིྀ𓎟ᛝ𓎟𓎟𓎟⌓ ˖°- ꕤ𓍢ִִ໋⋆⌓𓎟𓎟𓎟ᛝ𓎟 ྀི

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ N O C T U R N A L  ☾ nocturnal witchcraft emphasizes working with the energies present during nightfall, particularly with a focus on nighttime energies and lunar cycles ; This can involve rituals, spells, and other magical practices that are performed after dark, often drawing on the spiritual entities and powers associated with the night. 

︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶୨ ꒰ 𓋜 ۪꒱ ୧︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ C E L T I C ☾ also known as Celtic Wicca or Druidic Witchcraft, is a contemporary pagan religious system based on the historical beliefs and rituals of the Celtic people. It incorporates aspects of Celtic mythology and focuses on honoring the natural world and its cycles | a blend of traditions, syncretic , guided by nature .

ིྀ𓎟ᛝ𓎟𓎟𓎟⌓ ˖°- ꕤ𓍢ִִ໋⋆⌓𓎟𓎟𓎟ᛝ𓎟 ྀི

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ T R A D I T I O N A L ☾ Traditional or "Trad" witchcraft refers to various pagan traditions that draw on historical sources and folklore, particularly those pre-dating the 20th century. It's often seen as a counterpoint to wicca , which is a modern, structured religious movement. Trad Witchcraft emphasizes individual autonomy, intuition, and a deeper connection to the historical roots of the art, while Wicca often has a more codified and organized approach. Traditional Witchcraft often encourages practitioners to create their own practices and beliefs, rather than adhering to a rigid structure.

︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶୨ ꒰ 𓋜 ۪꒱ ୧︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶ ﹒

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ K I T C H E N ☾ also known as Kitchen Witchery, it’s a branch of witchcraft that focuses on incorporating magic into everyday domestic tasks, especially cooking and cleaning . kitchen witches pay close attention to the intentions behind their cooking and cleaning, infusing their actions with love because simple tasks like cooking, cleaning, and gardening can be elevated into rituals with a sense of intention and purpose.

ིྀ𓎟ᛝ𓎟𓎟𓎟⌓ ˖°- ꕤ𓍢ִִ໋⋆⌓𓎟𓎟𓎟ᛝ𓎟 ྀི

⋆˚ ༘ ｡ ₊࣪ ☽ E C L E C T I C ☾ a personalized approach to witchcraft that allows practitioners to select and integrate various magical practices from different traditions, creating a unique and individualistic path. This approach emphasizes intuition, personal gnosis (knowledge gained through experience), and the freedom to tailor practices to one's own needs and desires. | studies various forms of crafts , folk magick , rituals, spellwork, deities ect.

︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶୨ ꒰ 𓋜 ۪꒱ ୧︶︶︶︶︶︶︶︶ ﹒

( ˶°ㅁ°) ˖⋆࿐໋┊꒰ა ˚₊・┈┈┈┈・₊˚໒꒱ ┊´༄ ̼̫ . ૮ ˙Ⱉ˙ ა

⟡————・ ₊˚ ♱ ‧ ₊ ˚ ┊———— ┊ ₊˚ ♱ ‧ ₊ ˚. ————⟡

[felixbit]

my sun

pairing: felix x gn!reader w. 1.6k genre: fluff summary: it's felix's birthday, and you decide to spend the day reminding him all of the brightness he brings to your life. from sunrise to sunset, you show him how much he means to you. a/n: happiest birthday to my boy :DDD

Getting up early is hard.

Waking up your night owl boyfriend early on his birthday is harder.

But, there you were, dragging Felix out of bed just past six in the morning. You'd scolded him for staying up past midnight on his birthday, letting him know you planned an early morning.

So, a sleepy Felix was resistant to the idea of getting out of bed so early. You tugged on his arm, trying to physically pull him out. His gravitational pull to the bed seemed to increase in the mornings, so it wasn't working out.

"Felix, honey, it'll only be for a few minutes," You pleaded, "You'll be able to go back to sleep right after."

Your boyfriend made a low grumble sound as he finally budged, waving your hand away as he rolled out of bed on his own. "Fine."

Trying to ignore how enamored you were by his morning voice, you took Felix by the hand and walked towards the balcony. The timing was pretty much perfect, the sun just starting to peek above the horizon and the sky spilling out into beautiful colors.

Felix seemed to wake up a little more at the sight, rubbing his eyes as he looked out onto the view. You wrapped your arms around his waist, smiling. "You see that? That's how I feel when I first see you in the morning."

You heard him snicker softly, trying to turn and look at you. "Is this what you woke me up for? A pretty view and a cheesy one-liner?"

Kissing his cheek, you shrugged. "No, I just wanted to show you how much you're like the sunrise in my life. You're my sun, Felix."

Felix made an over-exaggerated groan and turned away from the sunrise so he could hug you back. He buried his face deep into the t-shirt you had stolen from him to use as pajamas. "Thank you," He mumbled into the fabric.

"Of course, sunshine boy," You rubbed his back softly as he held the hug, but then started moving you back towards the door inside.

"Can we please go back to bed now?"

It was unfortunate that you had to get back up only two hours later, but you had other plans in store. Felix slept heavy, so you didn't have to worry too much about getting out of bed without waking him up.

You threw together a presentable look before you left the house. The first destination was a flower shop nearby, exchanging small pleasantries with the employees as you picked out a beautiful assortment of short sunflowers.

It was then that you walked over to the cafe that you had placed a custom order a few days back. They had pastries and cookies that the staff would decorate, given a theme. You had placed a rather large order, telling them to go all out with the sun and sunflower imagery.

You picked it up in a big bag, your hands now full as you traveled back to the apartment. Getting into the apartment itself was a struggle, but you made it with time to spare and set up the pretty display of flowers and breakfast.

With the pastries, you made some pancakes. It wasn't a planned thing, but Felix was taking longer than expected to wake up. So, next to the pastries sat a plate of chocolate chip pancakes. The waiting continued.

Eventually, you heard a yawn as the bedroom door opened. Out stepped Felix, with his blonde hair in a bird's nest on his head. His eyes were hardly open, so it took him halfway to you to stop and look at everything you had set out.

"Good morning, birthday boy," You said with a smile, sitting conveniently next to all of the food set out for him. The flowers were on the other side of the display. His eyes seemed to look over everything, you included, a few times before it all registered in his sleepy brain.

Rubbing his eyes again, he looked like he had finally pieced it together. "Is all this.. for me?"

Standing up and walking over to him, you gave him a quick kiss before nodding. "That it is, sunshine. I got up a little early and picked this up. Thought you deserved to eat some sweet sunny treats and the pancakes I made when I was bored."

Felix circled an arm around your waist and began to walk over to the assortment of pastries with you in tow. "How did you even.. I won't ask. This is perfect, baby. Thank you."

"You don't have to keep thanking me, Felix," You leaned into his shoulder, "I'm just showing you how much you matter to me today."

Felix detached himself from you, walking over to the plate of pastries and picking up a croissant with a little sun shape on it. He bit into it and looked as if he could melt into the floor, turning around and looking at you dumbfounded.

"You like it?" You couldn't hold back laughter as he stared at you like you were crazy, crumbs still on his lips.

"Are you kidding me?" Felix walked over to you and handed you the croissant. "Try it."

You took a bite, tasting the chocolate filling. Maybe it was the hefty tip you left on the order, but it was perfect. The flaky pastry was buttery and delicious, and the chocolate was rich and smooth. After swallowing your bite, you nodded in agreement. "Yeah. That's actually amazing."

"Where did you get these, anyways?" Felix snatched the croissant back from you and took a bite as he awaited your answer.

"Oh, there's this cafe-bakery spot nearby I've been meaning to show you. When I figured out they would do custom decorating orders, this whole plan came together in my head and I decided to hold off on telling you until I did this."

"How could you hide something like this from me?!" Felix feigned exasperation and betrayal, "I'm heartbroken. On my birthday."

"Oh, you drama queen. Eat your pastry."

The day as a whole went great. You had far too many sunflower-themed things throughout the day that Felix was bewildered. Coming up with all of it wasn't easy, but it was turning out better than originally anticipated.

During the day, you took him to a flowery lunch with Hyunjin and Seungmin tagging along. Things went according to plan when both of your friends showed up in their sunflower outfits, much to the shock of your boyfriend. This was going on longer than he expected.

Things seemed to chill out after lunch, spending a few hours in bed watching shows and putting on a movie as you got a chance to nap after the hectic morning. It was nice to wake up on your Felix's chest as you were so used to doing in the mornings, seeing him smile down at you.

"Hi there," You said with a yawn, leaning up and giving him a kiss.

"Hey, you," Felix ran a hand through your hair, his voice warm and sweet, "You said to wake you up at six so we can get ready for dinner."

Catching up to speed on your own plans, you nodded. "Yep, I did. There's an outfit that I hid in the walk-in closet for you on my dresser, can you go put that on? I'll get mine on out here."

Felix looked at you a little surprised before grinning and nodding. "I shouldn't have expected any less after today. Alright, I'll go see what you picked out."

As he stood up and walked over to the walk-in closet, closing the door behind him, you reached under the bed. Pulling out the clothes you hid to change into, you put on your second flowery, warm-toned outfit of the day.

It only took a few minutes for Felix to join you back in the bedroom. "How do I look?" He asked, walking close and looking your outfit up and down.

You smiled and took his hand in your own. "Amazing. Just how I pictured it," You checked to make sure everything you needed was in your pockets, "Alright, you good to go?"

Felix had to grab a few belongings but you set off to the next adventure. Once getting to the parking lot, you climbed in the car. In the back was a cooler and basket with food and drinks and a picnic blanket.

You drove him out to a desolate hilltop spot with ten minutes to spare, setting up your little outdoors dinner on the blanket and Felix happily joining you. He looked out at the view, "So, what's this place for?"

"We have to watch the sunset," You answered, "So you can understand how I feel when I see you at night and before bed."

Felix was a smiling mess as he tried to eat his food, but you were entranced with the sun starting to set. The colors were like something out of a painting, vivid and clear.

Your fingers locked with his as your head rested on his shoulder. The view was stunning as the sun began to dip below the horizon, the beautiful colors being encased by the darkening sky. "I hope you get how I feel by now, Felix. You keep me going throughout the day. You're my sun."

Felix wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into a tight hug. "I think I get it. And next time, I promise I'll do the same and show you how you make me feel, okay?"

"Okay," You hugged him back, basking in his warmth as the cold nighttime air settled on your skin, "Happy birthday, my love."

[virelaisnox]

Twice Loved, Once Cursed

Summary : Sacred, yet despicable. You were the lover who was lost in the long night, a night that continues to live in every beat of time that has followed him until now.

She is the symbol of a broken promise, a protection that has failed to be kept.

Previously, her body was tied to a stake, burned alive on accusations of being loyal to dark powers.

A blood-sucking devil—a creature of the night who destroyed cities, who stole and tore apart mercilessly.

Now, that same soul returns—born in the body of a holy, pure, and untouchable person.

And for the second time... he came bringing a fate that could not be avoided.

Warning : Dark religious imagery & spiritual conflict, themes of death, reincarnation, forbidden romance & morally complex relationships, power imbalance & emotional manipulation, mild sensuality.

Pairing : Remmick x Fem!Reader

⚠️MINOR DO NOT INTERACT⚠️

[Chapter 1]

On a dead and darkest night, the owls hoot, the crickets were silent, the sun left the moon without a kiss - a pair weren’t meant to be. A clink of bell from the church was heard from afar, echoed and awoken the woods that lives and breathes under the footing of God knows creatures reside within.

“So the Lord said, go down Moses..” the choir chimed in tuned note, filling the summer night air.. Congregation answering each other, proclaiming, and rising their palms facing the sky.

“Way (way) down (down) in Egypt land

Tell all Pharaohs

To let my people go (let my people go)”

†

That night, for the very first in your life you decided to bail, violated the fifth rule of the Mosaic Law, slipped your feet out of the cold, unloved church. Your feet dragged you aimless through the town that began to bow in silence. The night wind blows softly, bringing a sensation that chills the skin and raises the hairs on the back of the neck.

The city that used to be bustling is now slowly dimming; lights went out one by one, the curtains were closed, and mankind footsteps had begun unheard from the streets. In the dead of night, you step into an old grocery store on the corner of Chinatown - the smell of spices and incenses hanging in the air like an unfinished memory.

Little did you know that on the night when you rejected the will, fate was silently walking towards you. Whether death, misfortune, or an encounter that you could not avoid - all were waiting, in the silence that called you softly.

The jingle of the bell above the door echoed softly, breaking the silence and drawing the attention of the man behind the counter. His hand, which was counting the bills, paused for a moment, and he turned slowly. The shop was almost deserted, except for a lone figure—an old woman in aisle three, staring at the shelves of furniture she didn’t really need.

She hesitated, picked something up, then put it down again. Her steps then moved away, leaving the store without a word. The man at the register watched her with a small smile, and with a slow movement, he waved—as if to greet a silent departure.

“Hey, you! Been long since i last saw you, girl. What’d you do to survive from your daddy’s rage?” The man addressed you with the brightest smile, the monochrome vest that coated his shirt hugged the curves of his sturdy figure. He peeled it off his body and walked closer toward you, right after flipping the sign on the entryway from ‘Open’ to ‘Close’.

"Relax, ya know him, he loves me too much to be mad at me.” You chuckled—the scent of tobacco and clean linen wafted strongly from his body, his smile, warm and serene, always managed to melt your defenses. Gently, he took your hand—his movements were slow, as if afraid of breaking something fragile. Then, without a word, he bent down, and his soft lips touched the back of your hand in a kiss that felt like a longing.

His hair fell, covering part of his face as he looked down, creating an almost sacred moment of comfort. In an instant, the world disappeared—it was just him, you, and the moment that seemed to have stopped between skin and kiss.

“Oh you’re too much…” you said with a blush, but not rejecting his subtle gesture—he replied, not with words but with a look that pierced through your soul and penetrated deep into the surface you wore as a mask. “You deserve more.” he replied after what felt like an eternity of staring at each other—slowly, not half-heartedly he dropped your hand, and cleared his throat, “Okay,” he said as he turned and walked down the aisle of giant, cold cabinets filled with fresh vegetables.

“You here to shop - or was there any other reasons?”

“Surely i have other reasons.” Your reply sounded indifferent.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“There’s a fine man that I need to meet.”

His steps stopped and his body seemed to freeze when he heard what you had just said, as if it was a cruel confession of guilt, his palm fisting—he immediately came to his senses and returned to his neutral attitude and then asked, “who exactly?”

You smiled faintly, apparently Sweet Bo Chow still had the same feelings for you as when you were children.

“Name’s Bo”

“Bo?”

“Yeah, Bummer it's you, Bo Chow.” you clicked your tongue and rolled your eyes in disinterest of his usual BS.

“O-oh..” His cheeks bloomed with a color of rose and stood there like a fool, not knowing what to do except scratch his unitchy head.

"Never mind, I need to buy cooking ingredients too, gotta have a reason to go back home so my parents wouldn’t kill me."

⛧°. ⋆༺♱༻⋆. °⛧

Your shopping is ready to be wrapped, Bo's deft hands make the task look easy and simple, it never fails to amaze you.

“Oh Bo, you never failed to be amazin’” You said with a lost gaze, no, more precisely your eyes roamed exploring every contracted muscle, tightened vein, and long experienced fingers that incited sin. Unfortunately, you were caught staring at it like a thirsty animal.

“Hey—” fuck. “You know, for a preacher’s daughter you ain’t as holy as people expected ya to be.” He chuckled, voice almost honeyed and deep, almost like he was trying to keep his voice below the senses of others when there was no one else in the grocery store except the two of us, the sign that said ‘open’ had been turned to ‘closed’. There were no more customers coming in and out of the store.

“What are you babblin’ about, Bo?” your response was formed in a word of a gaslighter - He just smiles lopsidedly and shrugs his shoulders, knowing that there is no chance for him to win this argument.

†

After bagging your purchases, and some banter between you both, payment matter, he stubbornly refused for you to pay and was finally defeated when your lips crashed against his cheek and pushed some currency into his grasp.

Your feet stepped outside the door of Bo's grocery store, the chill is piercing to your bones, the streets were cleared, only the whispers of the wind and owls can be heard now—the path you are about to walk is quite condemning and threatening, Dad always forbids you to go out past sunset, he is just a column you think, you can take care of yourself. Well, guess he’s about to prove your ass wrong.

It wasn’t like Bo didn’t offer you a ride home, he insisted and convinced you that going home with a friend was better than walking alone tonight. It wasn't too late—your stubbornness overpowered the survival instincts, as if a gun and a knife were enough to guarantee a girl would arrive home the same way she left it.

The crunchy sound of grass underfoot made you regret rejecting Bo's offer to ride you home even more. The tall grass in the fields you passed seemed to come alive and move to trap you for the demon that ruled the territory. The branches seemed to hiss and whisper to each other, watching yet

another poor soul who was not so lucky to return home. The wet and strong smell of earthy soil after the rain seemed to swallow you whole—a perfect full moon.

Suddenly another strange sound was heard, this time it was really new and had not heard since earlier, a growl as if whatever made the sound slipped and almost messed up its plan—that's when you remembered what your father had warned you about. The devil was not a horned, dwarf-bodied, red-colored, knife-tailed creature, and you believed it now because with all your soul, you were sure that the one staring at you this time - was him. A pair of bright red eyes appeared from behind the bushes, his breath was dusty as if he had just stopped running and found his eye on his next target, his mouth and body were covered in blood, your focus did not escape from the open and definitely inhumane fangs—they were quite large and did not fit inside his mouth - he jumped out of the bushes and stepped closer and your heart felt like it was going to leap out of your chest any second if no one came and saved you, you were certain the creature could hear it too. how you wished you would obey your Father and follow the process of worship like the usual Friday night. Your legs grew weak as you saw the creature widen his grin, you could clearly see the sharp and large teeth all the way to the back of his throat, you swallowed hard—his teeth were stained with blood, his mouth and his body too. You were sure he hadn't just been hit or that the blood was his own. No. You bet it wasn't animal blood either.

“Gotcha!” He rasped with a satisfied expression like a child who had just found a long-lost toy - with a swift movement, your hand was quick to pull a gun that you carried in your robe pocket, and of course you wouldn’t give up your life without a fight, but you would be lying if you didn’t feel like crying and fainting. Your hands were shaking, but your grip on the gun didn’t loosen.

“W- who’re you? … you need any help?” A stupid rhetorical question just came out more like a shriek. He laughed, his voice deep and full of disdain—

“—Oh, little hare, out of many questions you could ask… you choose that one?” Well, sure. damn.

“I mean, look at you, ‘course i’d ask that.” In your current position, it is only natural that your fear is mounting and peaking, not only does this man look ferocious but he is a white man probably in his 30s with possibilities you never wanted to imagine.

“...you a klan?” you made a sound and the man looked at you with almost disgust and offense, blood rushing through your body as he tilted his head and spoke near your earlobe, his breath kissing the soft area of ​​your neck.

“Watch yer mouth, young lady.” what? What's wrong with your question? It's not like they were offended by that, instead they felt proud and raised their chins high after that one word was mentioned, as if they had just won a territory by having their names known.

“Alright, I’m guessing that's a ‘no’?”

“God forbid.” He was disgusted. What a strange man.

“So, who are you? what had happened, somebody beat you up?” you asked, somehow the tension between the both of you slowly fading, replaced by a familiar sensation that arose from the presence of this man. As if you had known long before now.

“Beaten?” he shook his head, a sly grin still lingering on his face. “They’re dumber than donkeys then—Oh wait,” He put his index finger to his lips, as if in thought. “They are.” His head tilted like a wild animal detecting a wounded deer. Damn this man with his dark humor. Not wanting to let him off the hook with your unpleasant behavior, you fell silent.

“—calm down, I’m harmless, wait no cross it out, that’s a lie- I won’t hurt you.” He corrected.

“...then, can you let me through?”

“Hm, too bad… no.” Hell, you’re going to die here. Your eyes are sealed shut and you’re reciting the Lord’s Prayer in your mind. Your hand is clenching your gun, the shopping bags you were carrying along already scattered on the ground

“Pray as much as you like, little hare, but you’re going to stay with me, whether you like it or not.” He said firmly. “Damn it…” You cursed under your breath, rubbing your face in frustration. “Sir, please, I’m just a poor girl..” You offered, bad move, he’s not a forgiving creature.

You gasped as he gripped both sides of your jaw tightly and pulled you closer with his other hand tightly around your waist, you were completely trapped now.

“Do you have any idea just who the hell you are dealing with right now, young lady?”

His hands that were originally on your waist now crawled up then pulled roughly at your hair and made you loosen your grip on the gun you were holding onto and dropped it on the ground, your head tilted towards the sky, exposing the soft flesh of your throat, like a lamb about to be slaughtered. Hell, you realized just what the hell this creature is. You felt his mouth inching closer and starting to wet with saliva, his lips were the only thing that felt warm from the rest of his body that showed no signs of life - your breath hitched, you didn’t want to show fear but your body betrayed you and shook violently, you looked up at the sky and surrendered, there was no way you could escape from this situation. Unconsciously your free hand crept to his shoulder and rested there to support your weight. He groaned at the contact.

“Father, I surrender to you..” You say in your heart before closing your eyes, waiting for death to come to you—but the opposite happens..

Warm.

Soft.

Wet.

Instead of biting, you felt his soft lips press against the sensitive area where your pulse was beating. A kiss. Not just any kiss, but a kiss full of meaning and intimacy every time he landed it. A wet, longing kiss like he had been waiting for you his whole life and tonight was his lucky night—the way he prayed, like your body was a temple to worship as his grip loosened and framed your face. You turned your gaze to him. His hair wet with sweat stuck to his forehead and now to your cheek.

“You got a name sir?” he doesn’t answer, but continues licking your skin desperately, feverishly, so you let him, not wanting to scare him off - It sounds silly, but it seems so, one wrong move and the creature could snap and lose control.

“It's alright, take it slow, okay?” You said in a soft voice, carefully brushing his hair back, making his body freeze instantly. “What’s wrong?” He shook his head, delaying his body's reaction to the touch of another being who was so full of concern for him, let alone a mortal. Human. Somehow, but his eyes that had previously been glowing red now looked softer.

"You knew me in a past life." What did he say?

“—I’m sorry what?”

“I said it clear.”

“Yeah, yeah, I heard but, what…? What’d that mean?”

“You’re mine.” he said, with that thick, heavy southern accent. Insanity.

Your brain couldn't handle all the craziness that had just been dumped on you, too much had happened in one night, started with this creature appearing out of the darkness up to his bullshit claiming the both of you knew each other and the way he declared 'You're mine' was beyond reason.

“Hey, listen, I really don’t get what you’re talking about…” you choose your words carefully.

“…do you have a place to stay?” you ask with the same gentle tone, but the man refuses to answer your question, apparently wanting more of a reaction from you to his statement—however, you really don’t get what he’s getting at, so you decide to find another way to deal with it.

“—Would you like to come home with me? You can spend the night there.”

At that moment he looked up, a flash of mischief flashing behind his eyes.

†

“Now, who am i to refuse such a kind offer from a pretty girl?” he said, grin widening.

Follow the ࣪ ִֶָ☾.Nightcrawler࣪ 𖹭.ᐟ🌙 🕷 channel on WhatsApp to see updates and story 💗:

[zvezdacito]

Since we're only one day away from Diasomnia Part 13, I'm gonna re-articulate my story concerns with the new Silver card so my point is more clear:

I don't really think the imagery of the Knight of Dawn/Silver Owls is something that can be reclaimed/redeemed. Not even if it's to save Malleus, rather than kill him like Meleanor. The implications of morally saving him from himself through that image is a whole other can of worms (AKA the white savior vibes). And that's lowkey what I originally meant anyway by "heroically beat". Saving him from his OB is still beating him in the narrative...

I'm hoping that its either:

just named that due to Silver's dawn motifs in general and not because he'll actually have to wear something Silver Owls related😔 Original armour design would be cool

OR if he gets put in the armour because it represents the non-diasomnia characters' (and even audience) expectations of him as the good (Silver Owl motifs* popularly recognized as that due to the historical revisionism) defeating what is unquestionably evil in their eyes (Malleus and lowkey the Briar Valley). Only for him to subvert it by denouncing the role, maybe wrecking the armour after wearing it a bit, then stopping Malleus without it. Because he wants them to know that both he and Malleus as persons will be more than the boxes of good human vs evil dragon

Also I think when they make Silver denounce it because he wants them to be seen as more than the past, they have to be careful to not make it come off as "yeah the fae should just never acknowledge the long term con consequences on their land/lives because it's all in the past". Because that wouldn't be why Silver want himself and Malleus to be more than that. It's more to be more than stereotypes and prevent future conflict (he in the human side also has to make effort to compromise their comfort not just the colonized fae)

* Since in real life norms, knightly motifs are associated with good while dragons/darkness are associated with evil, subverting which side uses which in a colonization storyline (then having the colonized dragon motif people be seen as the evil ones due to propaganda) can be metacommentary on how the idea of Good vs Evil in fairytales and popular imagination is dependent on the Status Quo. With even the fandom perceiving the knightly motifs as savior in the narrative despite them being symbols of colonization in-universe due to their established association with heroism IRL

TWST is about how there's more to the stories of fairytale-like characters than binary Good and Evil, so I think Silver only having the card for fanservice but actually denouncing the armour in the story itself makes the most sense to TWST's themes.... IDK what level of faith I should have in the writers, but they are potentially cooking if they commit to this

Also I know people people are gonna bring up how this is about Silver forgiving his birth parents because he realizes they did love him and just tried to do what's best for him. I do think it makes sense for him to have a better opinion of them as individuals, but once again I don't think the place for that should be in the final battle against the face of the people they genocided💀 That still boils down to redeeming and reclaiming the Dawn Knight's role as the "hero" with moral high ground over the dragon. I don't think it's the Dawn Knight's place to have his vision succeed here. As I said it was a long time coming because it's the most obvious way to parallel to original Sleeping Beauty, but doesn't mean I won't side-eye a certain handling of it because they chose to contextualize the twst version with a colonization storyline of all things

And do NOT reply with explanations like "Oh but the Dawn Knight was getting manipulated yadda yadda💔" because ironically every point used to defend him are the exact reasons I think he's hateable /lh

I think he's a more interesting character when seen as intentional depiction individuals on an oppressing/priveleged class being sympathetic, but not being willing to do enough against their own benefits in the system/challenge the system as a whole, thinking isolated acts of charity are enough to offset the extent of the violence they participate in. And even that sympathy can feel patronizing to the colonized's capacity to progress without their involvement/centers the feelings of the colonizer side.

Dawn Knight being good-intentioned as a parent and him being irredeemable and spineless as a colonizer are not mutually exclusive. It would be interesting to have Silver try to reconcile that without the story suddenly making him think the former point compensates for the latter (that wouldn't really be his place either)

Also tbh I think people overestimate Henrik's manipulation. Like yeah he was saying "ur not good for anything than fighting/you owe us" but it was only harsh words rather than actual blackmail yet the Dawn Knight kinda just folded instantly so that's on him😭 And again this doesn't really change how he distastefully makes so much of the horrors of war about himself and his own feelings. All his sad monologue scenes have the same vibe as US veterans making their massacres about just wanting to pay for bills or how it gave them PTSD lmao💀

That's all... we will find out tomorrow... if they are cooking gourmet or poison

[hehearse]

How do you come up with ideas for your comics? Do you start with writing and then draw something fitting around it?

i don't write them actually! writing feels too stifling since i can't do it well enough to. translate the demonic visions into reality.

so i just get. An Evil Idea which is a "what i wanna do" - for example take the mechanic of simultaneously leading two playable characters through different surroundings. or use frames two show planes of space, if you will. then i think where it would work and with whom - kdj's imagery haunting kimcom works better than if i were to use, say, hyj, who would not fit. his face in the crooked mirrors would be too fake. and there is no one who could take 25yo's yoohyun's place in the coffins of the double dungeon. and no fitting way to construct a scenario since it would imply a tangible reward, you know?

and then i just start going. :D

for example here are the first pages for my darling, my heart and soul - the double dungeon comic <3

i try to do all the pages' thumbnails to then run it by someone else to see if they understand whats going in by text and stick men alone! and then you draw the rest of the owl, as old tutorials handily say <3

can't write it for the life of me though. which is probably not good but ah well!!

(that's different for short comic with character's inner monologue. these always come text first, and then i draw around them, sometimes even figure out who to apply it to after writing it all out)

[hestzhyen]

Chapter 78 Finally Posting

LET'S! FUCKING! GOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Editor's notes: First Page: 敗れた昼彦...！！ [yabure ta Hiruhiko...!!] "Hiruhiko is defeated...!!" Last Page: 京都にチヒロ、 東京にハクリ！2つの戦場が���き出す！！ [Kyoto ni Chihiro, Tokyo ni Hakuri! 2tsu no senjou ga ugokidasu!!] "Chihiro in Kyoto, Hakuri in Tokyo! The two battlefields heat up!!"

YEAH

THAT'S RIGHT

A whole bunch of stuff happened so let's get into it!

Mechanics and Info Yap

Boy did I struggle to translate all the information that was dropped this chapter. But we learned a ton!

[ominous Latin chanting kicks up in the distance]

One, Suzaku is not infinite. Or it's not supposed to be, at least. It also doesn't actually reverse death, but given how hax Samura is right now, Chihiro's information might be out of date. I'm calling it: Samura is certified OP now. He's cracked. A true raid boss. Whatever he did to prepare for this moment, it fucking worked and now he's apparently the Kagurabachi version of Faker. Good fucking luck, Chihiro. Go for breaking Tobimune! It's the only way you can beat him since he won't expect it!

Samura was also apparently pushed into developing Suzaku during the Seitei War. I wonder if we'll see the moment that inspired the move...

Oh, and one-point-five. Owl can even affect the weather, apparently! Samura's almost a god. Seriously, good luck Chihiro (he'll be fine in the long-run because he's the protagonist, but let's pretend we don't have that meta knowledge).

The edgiest member of the Hishaku is also the master of edging himself.

Two, Kuguri's sorcery! Nice to know it! Not exactly practical, but he's a swordsman for a reason. Given how much he loves to train with the blade he probably got quite a bit stocked up before blowing it all to escape from Samura.

Translation note since I have no idea what the official English version will do with his move. In Japanese it's 破暮 [hagure]. 破 [ha] means rend/rip/tear/break/destroy/defeat/frustrate, while 暮 [ku] means evening/twilight/season's end/livelihood/make a living/spend time; 暮れ [kure] means sunset/nightfall/dusk or end/close or year's end. I'd translate this as "Broken Dusk" because it sounds cool as fuck but there's a lot of room for creative liberty here. I think the official TL is cool as hell too so no complaints from me.

[Matrix vibes intensify]

Three, some Kamunabi lore! They have barriers, of course, which were probably a gimme in terms of defensive measures. This guy also looks cool as hell!

We don't know how many fighting forces they have on-hand but it's alright. The non-combatants of the ~500 members of staff at the Tokyo location will go further underground and we will hopefully get some awesome action from a certain someone I've been wanting to see for ages now.

*----------------------------------------------------------------------------*

Let's do some trivia since I'm here!

神奈備 - Kamunabi. It's not just a name, it's an actual word (usually pronounced kannabi) for a mountain or forest where a deity is enshrined. What a fancy, pleasant-sounding way to say your mission is to imprison a guy who went insane and slaughtered about 200,000 people who'd already surrendered.

This chapter, instead of using 防壁 [bouheki] for a defensive military barrier, the term 結界 [kekkai] was used. Kekkai is a mystical barrier rather than a physical one, and folks who frequently read manga/watch anime will probably recognise it because of how common magical barriers are. It's got ties to Buddhism too, of course- it refers to the fence between the inner and outer sanctums in a temple, the prohibition of various things that would hinder Buddhist practice, and is also the Japanese term for Bai Sema.

I just wanted to mention this because the more we see of the Kamunabi the less traditionally military they seem. Leaning on mystical terminology, traditional onmyouji outfits making up the higher-ups uniforms... their whole org appears steeped in spiritual concepts and imagery.

*----------------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hiruhiko, Defeated

Oof.

Man, even I feel bad for him at this point. He wanted his own fight with Chihiro to be as hype of a clash as Chihiro vs. Sojo was but all that happened was that he hit rock bottom instead. He overcame nothing, did nothing, and still got his arm sliced off by the arc's main antagonist anyway. That's the only thing really connecting him to Chihiro at this point.

I don't think I've seen a more miserable, pitiable creature.

The ultimate counter to Hiruhiko is apathy. His passion for fighting Chihiro is burning bright, but even someone as emotional as his "rival" can't feel anything for him. Hiruhiko's totally irrelevant and I feel vindicated for thinking all of his stuff in the hotel until now was an annoying side-show.

Chihiro won his reality check fight because he was willing to adapt his mindset. Hiruhiko lost because he was laser-focused on his own interpretation. He's differentiated from Sojo's situation because Sojo actively refused to incorporate more information about Kunishige that would alter his worldview; I have a feeling that Hiruhiko will learn quite a lot from this once the shock wears off.

So this will be the true start of Hiruhiko's story I guess. Chihiro's journey didn't really begin until he had to overcome Sojo forcing him to realise that he didn't know enough about his father. So as Chihiro's self-proclaimed frenemy, Hiruhiko's journey will start with him confronting his own vision of reality being incomplete. What form that takes is up to the author- I just hope his growth is interesting to follow.

Chihiro vs. Samura Round 2

Hype and aura incarnate.

They're finally cleared to start fighting now that the Hishaku have retreated. What will happen? No clue! I won't even try to guess because it could be anything.

We've got our arc boss battle set up. Chihiro and Samura going to clash. Sojo was about death of the author and Chihiro accepting there was more to learn about a situation that was more complex than he grew up believing, Kyora was about what it means to be a good father and the dangers of blind devotion to legacy. Samura... is about condemning oneself to a path that one doesn't necessarily have to walk, I think. The burden of guilt unaddressed leading someone to spiral down and eventually out if no one can help them. Basically, what I thought since chapter 51 or so.

This part broke my heart though.

This is the personal reason.

He thinks back to Iori's sadness and it becomes a core part of his motivation. I mean, of course it did- Chihiro started walking the road to Hell the day he lost his own dad. He's burdened by taking a path that neither his father nor Samura wanted him to follow, but he's going to see it through.

So I think that rather than wanting to put Samura down like the previous two main antagonists, Chihiro wants to save him.

Chihiro's whole reason for being out here in this position is because his dad was murdered; he's not exactly champing at the bit to put other people in his position. He takes it so fucking personally when fathers aren't treating their kids right! He only killed Kyora for actively choosing to be a piss-poor father, perpetuating human suffering on a massive scale, and because Hakuri pleaded with him to do so. But Samura? This man is fundamentally good. He's misguided due to guilt and anxiety, but he's not doing things to make the world a worse place, deliberately or intentionally. He's trying to save people and make the world better for his daughter's sake.

This is why I'm so all-in on Chihiro winning the fight by breaking Tobimune. His ideals aren't going to make it easy for him to cut Samura down- he looked up to the man, he knows he's not a bad person, and he definitely doesn't want to make another orphan out of Iori. So even if he could stat check the raid boss his heart wouldn't be in it. The neatest solution would be to break Tobimune instead -Samura's overwhelming strength born from Soaring Faith- and show him a different way to do things.

I'm open to other outcomes obviously. Chihiro might be forced to kill Samura somehow, Iori and the Masumi might come in and throw a wrench in things, anything can happen. But this clash of ideals of Chihiro wanting Samura to live for Iori and Samura believing he needs to die for her is going to be incredible, I know it. Hokazono's at his best when he's examining these themes of parenthood and legacy after all- he's not fumbled once yet with them.

Man. If Chihiro and Samura are both trying to save each other here, I'm gonna go nuts. This fight is set up to be an absolute masterclass and I can't wait for it to unfold.

Meanwhile, at Kamunabi HQ...

The Kamunabi are mostly up-to-date, blah blah. We got an unexpected narrator here though.

Name, please?

We got Prince Nez's PoV and it makes sense. He was the one who tried to reassure Samura in the flashbacks that the Kamunabi was totally secure. He's got an even read on the situation and helpfully points out that we still don't know the Hishaku's exact plan here is. It's anyone's guess so I'll just slap down a non-existent bet that they're trying to cause the Malediction event here and now.

Okay so, who's gonna fight all seven Hishaku members that we may or may not finally see in full? We finally got confirmation that Shiba and Hiyuki aren't present since they're guarding the other two bearers, so who's left to face the intruders?

A new challenger approaches! NOTE: "Hibiki" is supposed to be "Hiyuki". Another dumb mistake from VIZ.

That's right, my gorilla wife is going to take the field- at long last we will see him in a real fight! Probably! Maybe we'll even get to see his sorcery at long last! And maybe we can have a few less jokes about him being the traitor until there's better reasons to believe he's a suspect!

I wifed Azami based on the very little we've seen of him and it's mostly because I like his design and the promise of his personality. He's the only guy in the whole cast who uses the casual male pronoun 僕 [boku] (even Mr. Inazuma uses the rough and very masculine 俺 [ore])! I won't go on a huge tangent here about why I love him so much but there's a reason for it, I swear. He seems to enjoy brawling despite being a straight-laced government agent and it really gets the braincells movin'. Plus being a powerful sorcerer but choosing to fight in melee with his fists. Being a calm and rational guy on the job but having a short temper when it comes to Shiba. The contrasts intrigue me and I will stand by him no matter what. He's my wife: a handsome, polite, and erudite gorilla in a wizard's robes and hat.

There's someone else who's gonna get some time on screen too, though.

[incomprehensible screeching]

HE'S BACK HE'S BACK HE'S BACK HAKURI I LOVE YOU I MISSED YOU AND I'M ALMOST IN TEARS SEEING YOU AGAIN IT'S BEEN SO LONG AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH NEVER LEAVE ME FOR THAT LONG AGAIN PLEASE I BEG OF YOU

He's still got some scuff marks to show he's not completely healed yet but he's BACK. HE'S HERE. HAKURIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Given the announcement for non-combatants to evacuate preceding his reintroduction, I don't think he'll be in the fighting. Poor guy just woke up and surely won't be asked to overtax himself again, will he? Or more like, surely there will be some responsible adults around him capable of stopping him from overtaxing himself again? But his PoV will be valuable to see what's going on with the Kamunabi while Azami and whoever else is on deck fend off the Hishaku's assault. I have a feeling we will be getting some big reveals to set up the next arc thanks to Hakuri. Hopefully he won't be written out for months in real time again.

A Miscellaneous TL Note

If anyone was curious, 響 [hibiki] means "echo" or "reberveration"

Also, this week's chapter title is 交代 [koutai] which has a bunch of similar-yet-distinct meanings like "switch", "change", "substitution", and "taking turns".

Lastly, perhaps most interestingly...

"Resurrect" here has some fun double meanings. It was written as 黄泉返し [yomikaeshi], which actually means "return to/from Hell" but the Ruby over top reads [yomigae] for 甦, "resurrection". It's got some nice thematic tie-ins to how Chihiro and Samura both think they're headed for hell (but have a very good chance of being redeemed in some way).

OKAY! For the first time in ages I am vibrating in my seat waiting for the next chapter. I'm so freakin' stoked, man. See you next week if I don't explode from anticipation, dear void.

[dol--blathanna]

Thinking a lot about Orym choosing a rabbit when asked what animal he would pick if cursed with lycanthropy.

Because, it makes sense. Orym is small, quick, agile, jumps well, and is highly perceptive. That definitely evokes rabbit imagery. But a lot of Orym’s identity is also tied up with being a protector – giving people AC bumps, the shield being as much a part of his fighting style as his sword, even his title: Saviour Blade of the Tempest. He wants to be a “Shield that protects Exandria”; his priorities about saving the gods are less about the gods themselves, and more about protecting the people of Exandria from the unintended consequences and bloodshed of releasing Predathos. And it would’ve been very easy to pick a large, strong predator to try and evoke the sense of a protector – a wolf, for example, an animal associated with loyalty and protecting its pack. Yet Orym chose a rabbit.

And I think that’s interesting, because rabbits are often seen as ‘cute’ animals – but they’re also a prey animal. In fact, they’re a common food source for many animals across several ecosystems: foxes, wolves, wild cats, dogs, birds of prey like eagles or owls, coyotes, stoats, and humans (and that’s just off the top of my head). Rabbits are skittish, easily frightened; to be rabbit-hearted is to be timid or cowardly. They are not generally associated with fierceness or prowess in fighting. Mice and rats are prey animals too, but typically seen as vermin (rabbits are sometimes seen as vermin too, but a farmer could eat a rabbit – they wouldn’t eat a rat). Deer are prey, but they have hooves and antlers that bring a danger to hunting them, for any animal – the difficulties of hunting rabbits are more related to their evasiveness, speed and good hearing than any life-threatening danger they might pose. Rabbits are, first and foremost, prey animals. They are killed and eaten, so that another animal might live.

Which made me think a lot about one of Orym’s other key traits: self-sacrifice. Bait and switch doesn’t just bump up his ally’s ACs, it specifically switches their place to put him directly in harm’s way. Goading attack is meant to encourage enemies to attack him instead of his friends. He literally made a deal with a hag, essentially exchanging his own life for power to protect his friends. How many times has he gone down in a fight? He’s not the only tank – but unlike Ashton (and Chetney, who also uses ‘self-sacrifice’ in his fighting style with his blood curses) he has no abilities to reduce the damage from the hits he takes (barbarian rage and the werewolf form).

(Side note: I think it’s pretty interesting that Chetney, the wolf, has attacked Orym, the rabbit, more than anyone else when losing control. That Orym’s facial scar was given to him by a friend, not a foe).

Of course, Orym isn’t the only character with self-sacrificial tendencies (FCG wins by a landslide), but I just can’t stop thinking about how weirdly perfect it is that he chose a rabbit for his animal. Rabbits are prey animals. They are eaten, so that other animals may live. Orym takes the hits, he goads and switches with his team mates to put himself in danger, he makes a deal with a hag at the cost of his own life. He’s a soldier, throwing his life away for a cause over and over again because Ludinus must be stopped, because Keyleth has put her trust in him, because it’s the only way to protect his friends, to protect everyone, because it’s the right thing to do. Orym is a rabbit. He’s always been a rabbit. That day in Zephrah, it could have easily been Orym who died instead of Will and Derrig – “unfortunate but necessary sacrifices”, as Ludinus viewed the attack. It’s unfortunate they had to die, but it was for the greater good, according to Ludinus. It’s unfortunate that a rabbit has to die, but it will feed a family of foxes, or stoats, or even a hungry human, so it’s acceptable, right?

Orym is a rabbit. He is giving himself to a greater cause that could very easily kill him – he already willingly signed his life away to Nana Morri. Because that’s what rabbits do. They die to feed others.

And the theme of being disposable is present across the entire group, not just in Orym – Bell’s Hells has been called a “party of NPCs” before. Aside from FCG’s death, I’d say Laudna perhaps fits this theme the best: she was literally murdered and hung from a tree simply because she looked similar to Vex, acting as a warning to adventurers she had never met before. But FCG’s death was – rightfully – viewed as a terrible tragedy by the group. Laudna’s decision to remove Delilah, finally freeing herself from her abuser and emphasising she is more, and deserves to be more, than just some disposable puppet – this was rightfully viewed as a very good thing! But Orym seems to be embracing this identity of self-sacrifice instead, rather than this mindset being properly challenged or acknowledged as a bad thing. After all, there’s no time. There’s too much at stake. Keyleth, Bell’s Hells, all the memories of those who have died in this fight, all the people who might die if Predathos is released and kickstarts a second Calamity – they’re all relying on him, right? A rabbit feeding so many animals with his sacrifice. And it’s not malicious compared to the way that, say, Delilah killing Laudna was an incredibly evil, fucked up and unnecessary thing to do. If Orym died to save everyone else, well, at least everyone else would be saved, right? Saving lives is good, isn't it? How could he complain?

Because rabbits are prey animals, and Orym is a rabbit too. Destined to die so that another animal may feed.

Except, that’s not true. Rabbits are more than just prey. They’re highly social, and thrive best living with others. They’re playful, they enjoy running around and kicking their legs just to show their enjoyment. They’re inquisitive and mischievous, even being associated with tricksters in some folklore and stories. They’re also associated with innocence, playfulness, spring, youth – all manner of things, depending on the story or culture. And they’re not helpless, either, even if they might be thought of as such. They can bite and scratch and draw blood quite easily if they want to! In fact, freezing up isn’t their only response when being attacked by a predator, they are known to fight back if cornered. They can sprint quickly, they have excellent hearing and senses of smell, they know how to evade predators.

Rabbits are prey, and they are also survivors. They have their own social dynamics, their own habits and dislikes and preferences. They are more than just a wolf’s meal. And Orym is more than a soldier, too. He’s more than a “necessary sacrifice”, he’s more than just a shield and sword. He deserves more than to die for a cause. He deserves a happy ending, just like everyone else. I hope he remembers that.

Orym is a rabbit. And the message isn’t that he shouldn’t be a rabbit. It’s that rabbits are worthy of surviving, too.

[khaire-traveler]

🌠 Subtle Nyx Worship 🌌

Go star-gazing, especially out in nature where you can see the stars more clearly

Learn about the different constellations as well as any Greek myths associated with them

Pay attention to the phases of the moon; learn what their meanings are

Try veiling

Get a candle that reminds you of her (no altar needed)

Wear jewelry that reminds you of her

Wear silver jewelry

Keep a picture of her in your wallet

Have a stuffed animal horse or owl; have a stuffed animal of any nocturnal animal

Have imagery of the night sky, stars, space, horses (especially in a chariot), owls, nocturnal animals, or foggy nights around

Meditate at night; try to relax at night; sit in darkness silently for a bit

Get a telescope; use it to observe the stars

Leave a glass of water/salt water on your windowsill at night

Take a bath/shower with only the light of candles/dim lighting (SAFELY!!!!)

Support space-related organizations such as NASA

Learn more about space, stars, planets, etc.

Engage in relaxing activities or ones that you're passionate about

Have a bedtime/nighttime routine

Keep a dream journal; write down your dreams; try to interpret them

Drink black tea or coffee (or anything that relaxes you); add honey if you want

Drink red wine or red sparkling grape juice; raise a glass to her

Pick and save flowers still wet with evening dew; dry or press them; great if the colors are ones you personally associate with her

Feed neighborhood cats, dogs, birds, etc., especially at night (please make sure it's safe to leave food out in your area; do not attract predators!!!!)

Burn a relaxing incense at night; lavender, jasmine, patchouli, etc.

Write poetry about the night, stars, space, etc.; it doesn't have to explicitly name her

Try to practice meditation; practice mindfulness

Ground yourself regularly, especially at night

Make your space comfortable and relaxing for yourself; sleep with cozy blankets, decorate with dim fairy lights for nighttime, sleep with stuffed animals, etc.

Learn getting comfortable with change; go outside your comfort zone, do something spontaneous, cope with stress during an unpredictable situation, etc.

Let go of things that no longer serve you

Dance or sing at night; enjoy yourself at the end of your day

Play with pets before bed to tire them out so that they can sleep better c:

Watch movies or shows at night with loved ones; something you'd all enjoy

Light a bonfire or small fire at night; enjoy the peace of the night around you

Go camping; sleep under the stars

Keep a personal diary; write down positives and negatives; make it your own

Make a list of things you enjoyed and disliked about your day at the end of your day

Feel your feelings; cry if you need to, etc.

Practice listening and observing your surroundings/people around you; don't make yourself paranoid, just passively observe

Practice patience and compassion, especially towards yourself

Spend your evenings decompressing, whatever you need to do to unwind; drink a warm drink, eat something comforting for dinner, read a book, etc.

Try to cut down your screentime before bed

-

I'll likely add more later, but for now, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Nyx. I hope it's helpful, and take care! 💜

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

[chaifootsteps]

i've seen a lot of people complaining about how viv can't draw birds for shit (which is true) but the thing that really frustrates me about it is the underutilization of the bird motif within the goetias.

they're kind of royalty in hell (minor royalty, but it still stands), which means they're probably all loosely related to each other (i think in original bible lore paimon is everyone's father

i think it would be really cool if the type of bird they are was related to their status and job inside the goetia. like if they had an internal hierarchy and every "branch" was represented by a different bird and had a different job.

owls are usually a symbol of wisdom, so it makes make sense that stolas has a grimoire that allows him to see the future.

it could even be used to give some depth to stella. maybe she is from a lower branch and marriage was an opportunity for her family to ascend inside the goetia. women being married off with the intention of bettering the family status is a thing that's been happening for centuries. it would also explain why she doesn't seem to have any powers (i thought that's what they were going for at first, but her brother does have power so maybe the real reason it's just that she is a woman).

even her design is more interesting that way. at first I thought she was supposed to be a swan, all elegant, white and regal. but she is actually a goose, she just looks good like a swan (aka her real status is much lower that you would think at first).

idk, i just think it would be interesting

That would be incredibly interesting, I agree! Unfortunately it's Viv, so there's no room in her creative mind for the very, very obvious connection between branches and birds; it's all taken up by chain imagery.

[sylibane]

AUtober Day 11: Animal-Based

Prompt from @autober

Alan Wake/Control daemon AU. I spent way too long on this. Details under the cut:

Alan - great horned owl. Just used his canon animal motif.

Odin and Tor - raven and goat respectively. Based on their mythological namesakes, with Odin having raven servants and Thor's chariot pulled by goats, and I felt an aggressive, grumpy goat really fit Tor.

Alice - Eurasian skylark. Larks are associated with the dawn, love, and beauty. (I was stuck on Alice the most and also considered snowy owl and hummingbird for her before settling on lark.)

Jesse - American kestrel. Thought a small but predatory bird fit her vibe, especially with the orange and blue color scheme.

Darling - burrowing owl. I thought it really fit his dorky mad scientist vibe and also wanted him to have an owl to parallel Alan's.

Trench - German Shepherd. Wanted something that would seem businesslike and intimidating and also for both him and Casey to have canine daemons.

Casey - husky for the real one and wolf for the fictional/Dark Place one. Again thought a big working dog fit the vibe, while Alan probably gave the fake Casey a wolf instead to seem cooler. Plus there's already some wolf imagery tied with the Dark Place.

Saga - deer. Again just went for her canon animal motif.