#cycle Forrest cycle

[benjaminsblog]

Super League Triathlon, London

I added a new sport to my CV this weekend! SLT takes the typical format of a triathlon (swim, bike, run) and jumbles it up in a variety of ways to create shorter, more exciting races. This edition required competitors to complete three mini-‘athlons back-to-back-to-back in about 45 minutes, with points for the fastest finishers and eliminations for the slowcoaches at the back.

I found myself in London for the second time this week, and got a crash course from Victor - a colleague from our Singapore branch. There wasn’t much prep time nor physical space for us and all our kit, so despite a less-than-ideal buildup, I think we just about got through a frenetic few hours of television.

We were sat in a cabin slap-bang on the finish line, but with all that was going on I only looked up to see actual athletes whizzing by me a handful of times! I’m doing another one in Toulouse next weekend, where I hope I’ll be a week wiser to the trials ahead and be able to breathe a bit more.

Shout out to the UK weather for doing its thing in spectacular style - blazing sunshine that made our work spot feel like a greenhouse, and a thunderstorm that forced us to evacuate the area on rig day!

[naturecyclingnomad]

Cycling through beautiful places fills my heart with gratitude! The feeling of wind in my hair (what's left of it) and stunning scenery all around me is truly unbeatable. I'm honestly so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to explore and appreciate the world. ❤️

[ariesalpinesavi]

[urbanadventureleague]

On elevating the everyday rider

14 May 2024. Camera: Pentax IQZoom 150SL (Espio 150SL) Film: Candido 400 Last year I bought a copy of Eugene Sloane’s Complete Book of All-Terrain Bicycles. I got it because I was buying another book from Better World Books or a similar used books online retailer, and I needed to spend a few more dollars to hit the free shipping threshold. Old bicycle books usually fall into the “a few more…

[rei-ismyname]

Cyclops' dream wedding

Scott Summers is taking a break from the X-Men and working through his grief on a Floridian fishing boat. All of a sudden Jean appears in her underwear and wants to make out. Cool cool. Next thing they're in a church getting married and both their clothes change. He looks like an idiot and Jean cycles through her various eras or identities. She asks which he loves best.

He obviously says 'all of them' to a GIANT Jean and they continue. Scott doubts what's happening but talks himself into it. He's absolutely right that his not wife can and will resurrect herself. So many times.

The priest is fucking Chuck, lol. I'm surprised he's not her father 'giving her away' too. Logan, Piotr and Kitty are in the front row but the rest of the attendees are faceless. Havok and Storm stand next to the happy couple looking awkward. He should have known it was an illusion based on Havok being the best anything. The wedding goes off without a hitch and they're pronounced woman and husband.

In a callback to the time they had butte sex, Jean lifts his visor to look at his eyes and presumably kiss him. SHE EXPLODES INTO BLOODY PULP WHAT THE FUCK. 'The bloody pulp that had once been Jean.' Not even a corpse, just salsa. How awful.

This whole production is the work of a loser called D'Spayre. They can give people illusions but can be defeated if you just ... don't believe them. Scott knows Jean is much too powerful for that to happen and snaps out of it. Lee Forrester's dad carks it though, unfortunately for him. Scott Summers must be a big hit in the demon world - they seriously follow him everywhere.

[koremakaria]

Quest for the Lost Husband

It occurred to me that The Blossoming Love contains strong elements of the lost husband motif with Eros and Pysche often cited as one of the oldest story with this theme. There are different variations of the story but the common themes of this story motif include:

One: First Comes Marriage

In their first incarnation as Pearl and Saint Emperor Zhaoming the two of them 'married' although it was not exactly 'official official' but given that ZM was going to war with a clan of deities and facing imminent death ... well ... I'd say it was official enough.

Two: Then Comes the Forbidden Rule

After marriage the bride usually has to abide by certain rules that she eventually breaks. She committed this act knowing that she's not supposed to. In this case, Pearl fell in love with a human. As an immoral weapon of the Supreme God she was forbidden to have emotions but Pearl was like 'But Daddy! I love him!'

Three: The Lost Husband is Trapped

She released a part of his soul into the mortal realm where he will enter the cycle of reincarnation for ten thousands years. And without missing a beat with blind trust she was like yeah I'll find him again when I fall in love again. Here. ZM's original body is trapped in the underworld while a slice of his soul reincarnated. In lost husband stories, the husband is usually trapped for various reasons. Sometimes due to a curse or a condition of some sort.

Four: Searching for the Lost Husband

After the separation, the wife embarks on a journey in search of her lost husband. My girl here is like 'screw all of you! I don't care! Fate? Predestination? Yeah, I don't know her. So, I'm going to go searching for my beau!' The badassery is unparalleled.

Five: Trials, Tribulations and the Reunion

So when Pearl and Zhaoming reincarnated as Mu Xuanling and Xie Xuechen they offically reunited here but minus the memory of their past life. This is especially beautiful because she has been looking for him for 10,000 years but also MXL here is also looking for her Da Gege who is XXC's from the future. It's like the entire time she was searching for XXC on top of searching for Zhaoming without remembering that she was supposed to be searching for Zhaoming to begin with. It's delightful!!!!

In lost husband stories, the trials and tribulations are used as sort of a test of commitment between the wife and the husband. Like how much do they love each other and how far will the bride go to find her lost husband.

And because Zhaoming is cursed with false memories, we have more trials for the two of them in the story

Yeah I don't think these two are talking about Forrest Spirits here. Zhaoming is just a sad and confused kitten because of false memories but also the knowledge that he had changed so much over the 10,000 years of imprisonment. This was one of their trials. Basically can MXL accept ZM 's darkness and does ZM still have the capacity to love?

Then the final fight with the Supreme God AND then ... happy ending! My favorite kind of endings!

The husband is found! Usually freed from the curse/condition due to the bride's commitment to him. Here we have ZM willingly returned to his imprisonment and then after 10,000 years Zhaoming and Xie Xuechen merged as one soul with XXC as the main personal. And man, I just love this drama! Thank you drama gods!!!

[dearabby1990]

Through hell or high water Gareth Emerson x Reader

Being the new kid was never easy… ever since your parents divorced you’ve found yourself in this cycle of getting used to some place and then having to up and leave again. But not this time finally somewhere to plant some roots even if it wasn’t the fanciest place in the world a permanent home of any sort sounded like heaven to you. Your moms sister forever the family savior helping your mom put a lump some down on a trailer in forest hills trailer park in Hawkins Indiana. Moving in had been a hassle beings your mom had to start her new job right away leaving you unpacking the moving truck all by yourself. You got a majority of it inside except for the large furniture items causing you much frustration. You grab your long black hair with bleached out bangs forever loving to be the odd ball not giving a flying fuck what anyone thought of you and not being anywhere long enough to give a shit anyway. You grunt sitting on the back of the truck fiddling in your pockets for your cigarettes and failing to find your lighter before a ringed hand offers you one causing you to jump back surprised by their presence “holy shit I didn’t see you scared the shit out of me man” you clutched your chest catching your breath as he laughed “sorry neighbor.. wanted to see if you needed any help over here my uncle and friends just came out and saw you try and she hulk that dresser you’re gonna throw your back out” as he offers you a light “thanks you live around here too?” He lights his own shaking his head “yeah right over there my names Eddie come on over I’ll introduce you to everybody” you smirk “okay Eddie… it’s nice to meet you the name is y/n” you offer a hand to which he shakes “come on over I’ll introduce you to the guys and the old man” you follow him over seeing a small group of young guys one particularly catching your attention as you both stare at each other a moment before looking away “hey guys this is y/n… y/n this is uncle Wayne” “nice ta meet cha darlin” he offers a kind smile which you return “this is Dustin” you nod “cool hair you kind look like Rogue” you laugh “I’ll take that I love x men” they all look bewildered “you read comics?!” “Yeah I collect them too I have a ton” you smirk “this is Mike and Lucas” “hi” both shyly say in unison you waive “this Jeff and freak” “hi guys” and this is my best friend Gareth “hi” he says shyly cheeks bright red something not unseen by Eddie who wears a shit eating grin “hello” you duck your head from his gaze before Wayne breaks the awkward silence “Alright gentlemen let’s help the lady out everyone get over to the truck and we’ll finish helping her get everything inside” your eyes bulge “oh! You don’t have to do that really it’s oka-“ cutting you off “no no no now what kind of neighbor would I be watching you try and struggle with all that when we have a bunch of hands over here to help ya out it’s not a problem really” “thank you really I appreciate it” you turn directing them towards the truck as the boys all file in figuring out who should grab what and work together getting everything inside you hurry to your room pulling out your phone plugging it into the outlet happy your aunt called ahead just for you to make sure you felt at home in the new place you pull out the phone book looking up a local pizza place “uh hello yes delivery please.. uh 34 cherry tree terrace Forrest hills trailer park… yes 3 large cheese 3 large pepperoni and four 2 liters just mix them up but preferably Dr Pepper for one if you have it?… okay great no that’s all… 30 minutes? Okay have a good night” you hang up running back into the living room as the guys file in carrying the sofa in eddie and gareth working their way through the door with it. “Um i really appreciate the help so… for a thank you… I… kind of ordered a bunch of pizza I hope plain and pepperoni is fine?” They all turn to you smiling eddie smacks gareth to get him to talk “uh yeah that’s good and uh no problem really” he tries not staring too long working his way inside setting down the sofa as Mike and Lucas carry in the dining room table.

After everything’s inside a tap at the screen door you skid to the front door with your wallet “what’s the damage?” You ask “18.50” you hand him $25 “have a goodnight thank you!” As you carry it through the entryway gareth sees you and jumps up “here let me help with that” you blush again “thanks” “you’re welcome” you set everything on the coffee table and go to grab plates and cups in the living room the boys bicker all though you can’t understand them from where you are. “Dude Gareth totally likes her his face is so red right now” Mike cackles “shut it wheeler you been goo goo eyeing her too” Eddie says as he swats the back of mikes head “gareth go help the girl in the kitchen and quit being a chicken shit we can all see the hearts in your eyes… I’m not an idiot she’s a smoke show if you don’t go for it then I will” he tests his friend watching his eyes go wide as he stumbles his way into the kitchen causing Eddie to chuckles “hey.. need any help in here..” “yeah can you go in that box next to you and pull out enough cups for everyone while I dig out the plates?” He nods smiling bringing over small amounts of glasses eventually emptying the whole box without realizing it as he admires you. You look at him his eye his freckles feeling a warm fluttering sensation in your chest you smile and rub the back of your neck before looking at him again “you have really beautiful eyes” you blurt out before slapping your hand over your mouth he laughs “thanks but I think yours are way more beautiful” “huh” he takes a deep breath “look I know you just got here and all and I understand if you don’t want to or think we’re freaks or whatever but… would you wanna maybe catch a movie.. or something Saturday?” You smile “I don’t think youre a freak… at least not as much of a one as I am” you laugh “but I don’t see why not I’d really like that” he seems surprised by your answer stumbling a bit catching himself on the kitchen counter “you… really?.. okay cool” digging his toe into the flooring like a shy schoolgirl “how’s 8 is that good?” You pretend to think for a moment “hmmm yeah that’s cool” you shrug he lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding onto while helping you carry everything to the living room Eddie looking at both of your beet red faces shaking his head laughing to himself “okay guys here ya go help yourselves and there’s cola, Dr Pepper, root beer and orange soda in the kitchen” everyone digs in Eddie has gareth go with him for a drink “so what happened? Spill!” Eddie whisper yells “I uh… I asked her to goto the movies this Saturday” Eddie grins “and?..” “she said yeah” he slaps Gareth’s back “that’s my boy there ya go now you could potentially have a prom date good for you” gareth shakes his head at his friends teasing both getting a drink and heading back to the sofa. Everyone eats while you all get to know each other talking music and comics not realizing how much you all have in common. You start unloading one of your boxes for your room when they see a tattered d&d book Eddie’s eyes light up “holy shit do you know how old this is?!” You blush “uh yeah I do actually because it was my dads he taught me how to play” they all turn slowly and doe eyed “you have to join hellfire we definitely could use another girl” dustin blurts out “what’s your class and level?” Gareth asks “Level 20 Half elf” they all look extremely surprised “LEVEL 20?!” Mike yells you nod giggling showing them your old campaign book from back in Chicago. The boys take turns skimming throughout the pages along with your sketches and character pages of old friends. “This is amazing” “yeah totally” Eddie and Gareth talk amongst themselves before looking up at you. “Have any interest in joining hellfire?” Eddie asks “hell yeah” you stick your hand out to shake his “and you’re name is?….” “Lady Luna level 20 half elf” you curtsy as he bows and both laugh. “Thanks for the help tonight guys I really appreciate it” “no problem neighbor we’ll get out of your hair but if you need a ride to school tomorrow I leave at 8 sharp just come on over” “thanks Eddie”

You spend the rest of the night unpacking boxes and putting things away so the house was set by the time your mom gets in from work. After all the unpacking you hop in the shower and plop on your mattress the bed can be put together tomorrow as you pass out for much needed sleep from the long day you had. Maybe Hawkins isn’t so bad after all.

[flusteredmoonn]

down bad; remus lupin

summary: "everything comes out, teenage petulance," in which remus doesn't realise how caught up he is in searching for a cure.

tags: (SFW), angst, attempted angst to fluff, mentions of remus being a werewolf, discussions of gore and injuries, unspecified house, implied pre-existed relationship, she/her pronouns, fem!reader, third person y/n

words: 1.5k+

ttpd tracklist. request.

the shrieking shack wailed painfully, howling at the glistening sky. the residence of hogsmeade village had grown used to the inception of the regular screeching, rarely sharing worried glances as they passed one another on the cobbled streets anymore. the students of the neighbouring wizarding school slept soundly, barely roused by the distant disruptions.

it wasn't much longer until the suns wake, aggressive abrasions persisting against wood on the inside of the rickety house. the wolf inside the old building heaved as it scratched itself, rolling on the ground in search for some form of relief inside the small space. its claws bit into its own skin, spilling crimson on the wooden panelling as it yearned to hunt in the forrest just outside the constraints of the torturous walls.

the moon reflected through the broken windows, casting an eerie shadow through the space. the partial illumination caused the wolf's attention to shift suddenly, turning to the orb in the sky and letting out louder pained cries. the whimpering shook the nearby village as the moon began to depart from the sky.

remus woke with a jolt. the cold of the early morning air making a shiver snake through his body. he reached for a blanket before he stood up, wrapping it around his waist and flinching in pain. ahh. he seethed as he moved to dress. the scarred boy was unsure how many more moon turns he could handle. the repressive cycle had made remus feel as though he was living two different lives, that he was perpetually living an out of body experience.

he couldn't remember the journey, yet he had found his way to madame pomfrey's office, who awaited him with a solemn expression. the tension within the room was nearly palpable as the nurse moved to treat remus. internally, he grumbled any time she cast her wand at him.

"i was doing some reading over this last week–"

"i'm not an experiment, poppy," the brunette interrupted with a shout, before mumbling an apology, refusing to let his gaze dance over the rest of the room.

"i've found a potion, that i believe, in the least, would help," pomfrey's tone was now hesitant, remembering the imbalance on the days either side of a transformation. "it's called wolfsbane," she continued after being met with silence. sharply, his eyes snapped to her, a silent plea for her to continue.

"it's still in an... experimental phase– and it's by no means foolproof, but it's something remus. it could help," unsureness filled the space as she continued to fix him up.

the beat between words could've been mistaken for an eternity, as remus deliberated over the risks within taking up the offer. he wasn't an experiment, but he couldn't keep doing this. the nurse opened her mouth to speak again, filling the silence;

"okay," was all remus said, as poppy opened her mouth. trying her best, she suppressed a smile as he accepted help, asking what it did.

"i'm not entirely sure of how effective it is, but it is meant to stop part of the transformation, i'll have my contact send it over," she smiled at the boy as he hopped off of the stretcher in the office.

remus left the office infirmary with a renewed sense of assurance, feeling lighter than he had a month ago as he repeated the same routine. his head finally felt silent, relieved that something could actually work in at least partially dulling his condition.

he was so in his own head he almost didn't hear her call his name. yet, as though it were subconscious, he looked down at her, pausing his quickened pace.

"hey," her voice was small, unsure. she was shocked by his demeanour to say the least, "are you alright? are you hurt?" her eyes scanned him apprehensively, searching for invisible signs of pain.

"i'm okay," he half smiled at her, shrugging before feeling relief in knowing the scratch which had been there no longer caused him discomfort. "i do have assignments to catch up with, however, so i do need to get going," he paused, "i'll catch you later?" he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, abruptly turning away and continuing on his venture without waiting for an answer.

behind him, she pivoted on the spot, following him with her eyes. her brow quirked as she noticed that he no longer held the limp he normally did after the night of the full moon. part of her wanted to follow after him, question why he didn't have his usual limp, question why he had brushed her off. yet, she shook her head and decided to continue the rest of her day.

she had made her way throughout her scheduled classes of the day, scribbling down as much as she could pay attention to, for her mind was elsewhere. she was awfully concerned for him. choosing to observe him rather than pay attention to whichever professor they shared, in classes they shared together.

he had been unfocused throughout the day too, hanging on to every word madame pomfrey had said to him that morning. he had brought his book of potions to each of his classes, desperately searching through it to see if the instructions for his condition had been in there all along. by the days end, he had read the book from cover to cover, deflating slightly at the revelation.

days had passed before remus was finally called down to the hospital wing to speak with the nurse. days had passed since remus and y/n had had a proper conversation, only short murmurs were exchanged in passing. but not due to a lack of trying from the girl, at every opportunity she sought him out, only to be shut down under the guise of the workload and the cycle of the moon.

remus had entered the infirmary as the girl had walked into the great hall. it had become apparent that she wasn't the only one which her boyfriend had been neglecting. his group of friends had sat by themselves, an incomplete trio, as they glanced around expectantly. she walked past them and moved to sit with her own friends, only for to be called after.

she whipped her head around to be met with sirius, who had asked where remus had been.

"i don't know, he's been dodging me like mad, figured you lot'd know something about that," she had responded.

"you're not the only ones being dodged, it seems," james spoke up, biting into a half sandwich. the girl nodded before continuing over to her friends.

the rest of the week was much the same, with her desperate for a moment with her boyfriend. and his friends desperate for their friend back. and remus hunch over in the potions class late into the night trying to perfect the brew.

that was where she found him on the last night of the week. hunched over a cauldron, glass ladle in hand, with the other propping open a folded page of parchment.

"remus?" her voice was quiet as she pushed the door open, its creaking filling the silence of the space. his head snapped up at the call of his name. "y/n?" he questioned, before glancing between her and the potion, making sure it bubbled just the right amount.

"how did you find me?" he spoke unsurely, mindfully stirring the mixture beneath him.

"james showed me on the map".

"oh,"

"yeah".

silence blanketed between them, both unsure of what to say. this is the most they had seen of one another in a week. there were so many questions left hanging through the room. "how're y–"

"where've you been, remus?" they both spoke at the same time, the girl prevailing.

"here," his voice was small suddenly, looking over her shoulder rather than in the eye. "after the last full moon, poppy told me about this potion, and i've been trying to brew it ever since,"

"oh," she was at a loss for words at what remus had told her. "i would've helped you, if you had just asked, you needn't shut me out," she paused, "i would've helped you in a heartbeat,"

"i didn't know how to tell you, i–"

"your friends would've helped you, then, they would've understood," she begged.

"they've done so much for me already, for my... condition, i didn't want to ask for more," he explained, the sizzling of the cauldron filling the silence.

"they still would've helped you. been proud to do so, even," she assured him.

"i dunno, i mean, i don't want to inconvenience them even more than i already do,"

"you don't mate," both heads whipped round at the third voice entered the room. it was sirius, who was tailed by james and then peter.

"we saw you two were still in here and came to see what was up," peter squeaked from behind his friends.

"yeah, wormtail's right. but we sent pads in first in case it was anything less than decent," the bespectacled friend spoke, causing y/n to look at him unimpressed.

"thanks, guys," remus matched her face with his tone, rolling his eyes, "i guess i'll fill you all in, then," he gave a shy smile to the group before beginning to talk.

i'm back, i think... sorry i left for so long, life's been lifin' lately. short fic whilst i get back into it.

[tokoyamisstuff]

Spellbound pt. I

Chapter 1: Pax Vobiscum (Lt. "peace be with you")

2,4k. words | f! Reader | pre-canon | enemies to acquaintaces

"Witches were wise, wise women they say. And there’s a little witch in every woman today! Some people thought that the witches were bad. Some people were scared of the power they had. But power to help and to heal and to care' Isn’t something to fear, it’s a treasure to share."

Witch Song by Bonnie Lockheart [Source]

"A blood red moon makes witches swoon" or so they say.

Certainly, the pure light it usually offers being obscured by crimson was always a sight to behold.

The bible foretells that it's a sign of the apocalypse - the time when their savior will return, making unrepentent sinners burn in hell and ascend the faithful to salvation in heaven's bliss.

Science has long since explained the phenomenon, but the thought of sun earth and moon aligning so perfectly doesn't make humans any less reverent to the wonders of this world.

So tonight, like so many nights before, there is no sign of the coming end, just the ever repeating cycle of this orb in space circling your world.

There is an odd comfort in knowing that.

After an eternity of searching, on a glade deep in the forrest, you found what you were looking for: A blue spider lily.

An incredibly rare ingredient that proves useful for many schemes. Though it blooms only during those brief minutes of a blood moon and always at a different location, so the chances of finding it are slim.

The petals need to be conservated in a special way your anchestors had passed down for generations, otherwise they will wither and be of no use before you'd even arrive back home.

Just when you were about to start however a loud howl shakes up the otherwise peaceful forrest.

A Lycan maybe?

Not wanting to risk being attacked in the middle of your work, you decide to assess the situation first. You follow the animalistic growls and shaking tres not far from you, speeding up when the sound of clashing metal and strained yells - that sound awfully human - mingle with the noise.

Peeking through a bush onto another clearing, you finally saw what the turmoil was about.

Oh.

As wrong was it may sound, you would've prefered to see an innocent civilian being attacked - but there was no mistaking it, the man in battle truly was one of the cloth. He was struggling to keep his stand against a giant black dog, it's eyes as crimson as the moon above.

You hiss out sharply, all trepidation and worry having been replaced by sheer irritation.

What do you even care if another reckless fool of the cross dies? If anything, after all the suffering they caused in the name of their Lord, they deserve nothing less!

That creature managed to make the warrior lose his balance, preparing to lunge at his throat once again - yet at the very last second, it crashed against a spell you had cast to shield him instead.

Damned be your soft heart...

Anderson recognized the insignia glowing on the barrier right away: The Theban alphabet, used by witches and other occultists in their incantations.

Bloody hell, another foe he really cannot deal with in his current state.

"Show yourself!" he demands in that gruff voice of his, gripping his bayonets tightly in each hand.

When you came out of your hiding the exorcist couldn't help but gasp in surprise: Such a wee, dainty gal was certainly not what he expected.

No.

It doesn't matter he reminds himself, shaking his head. Enemy is enemy, whatever sweet facade they may hide their true, wicked nature behind.

You step into the dim moonlight with your hands above your head in a placating manner, tentatively approaching the growling beast besides the man. Whispering something in a foreign tongue you mesmerize it into cooperation, forehead touching the animal's as it shrinked into the size of a normal dog.

"What a foolish woman" he thinks, "disregarding a threat just like that." He could easily take you out right that moment, kill two birds with one stone...but he was too fascinated with the scene unfolding in front of his very eyes.

Tears dwell in your eyes as you reassure the spirit animal and it obediently nuzzled it's head against your palm. You chuckle slightly, and Anderson barely manages to withstand the enchanting effect of your voice himself, unwilling to let his guard down like that.

His stance gets defensive when you turn your attention to him then, a mischievous grin playing on your lips as you came closer. You stand in front of him, hands confidently on your hips and he cannot fight the slight blush creeping up his neck.

"Beautiful moon tonight, isn't it?" you cheer, reaching out to lend him a hand. Surprised by the gesture he slaps it away - softer than he intended to, though - muttering under his breath. "I had everything under control..."

You snort quite amused. "Yeah, I could see that."

Somehow your carefree demeanour was even more infuriating than his hurt pride from having a lowy infidel like you saving his butt.

Isn't he part of Section XIII, the very people that almost eradicated your kind? Why aren't you taking him seriously, damn it?!

"Oi. You shouldn't underestemate me, enchantress." The man lifts his weapon to your direction, making your new furry friend in the background huff angrily. You merely glare at his distrust and disdain, already regretting having bothered yourself with him in the first place. "Your judgement is clouded by bigotry and bloodlust, papist. I just saved your life, no matter how you want to twist my actions."

"Shut it!" He roars with a snarl at your insolence, still keeping you at distance with his blade pointed to your abdomen. "C'mon, a paladin assaulting a weak maiden?" Not really a new low for those zealots, really.

"Weak doesn't equal defensless" he rightfully states, refusing to meet your eyes in fear it'd make him grow vulnerable to your charm. "I know what you truly are."

"You only know what your church wants you to know" you snap back harshly, taking a few steps forwards until the gap between you and the tip of his bayonet is nonexistent. "They've always dealt in absolutes, scared of what they don't understand...and what they fear they burn."

Your words could evoke nothing in the priest, all he was able to perceive from them was mockery of his faith.

"A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death" he quotes Leviticus, as if to repel your blasphemy. "You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads."

Frustrated, you pinch the bridge of your nose. What a stubborn one...well, to be perfectly honest, you had expected nothing else.

And yet it intrigued you that until now, he has yet to attack you.

"Let me at least treat your wounds..." you offer generously, despite his transgressions. He protests as you crouch down, yet doesn't make a move to put his weapon into action. You take a proper look at the torn and bloodied fabric of his cassock, but much to your surprise there wasn't a scratch on him left.

"Ohh, would you look at that." Clasping your hands together in amusement, a slight hint of wonder was present in your tone. "A regenerator? Fascinating. Seems like the catholic church finally opened their horizon to progress!"

Anderson doesn't comment on your insolence, instead he quickly leaps to his feet again, staring you down with an almost adorable frown, the hold on his bayonets loosening despite not putting them away just yet.

Judging from experience, his sheer strenght would absolutely demolish you in a serious fight. Of couse you had some tricks at hand, but you generally weren't skilled at offense.

Fleeing would be your best option, that much was sure.

"So, what now?" You ask after a while of him mutely observing you, both enraged and captivated by your confusing behaviorw. "...just go" he eventually grumbles, even though still itching for carnage beneath the calm surface. "Just this once, but then we're even. Next time I won't hold back."

Surprised by the refreshingly amicable offer you blink up at the man, gifting him a lopsided smirk in return. "Mhh, if that's so, mind if I ask you a favor?" He grimaces almost offended at your audacity. "Not killing you is the favor."

"I don't know if you were aware" You ignore his remark, pointing to the dog that was still lurking in the back. "But this is a Church Grim. They used to guard your graveyards, so I'm surprised you'd even attack it."

"I couldn't care less what it is" he bluntly replied, no sign of remorse behind his justification. "It attacks the townsfolk whenever they step inside this forrest. Someone needs to put it down."

"You can't stab your way through every problem..." you scold him like a damn child and he crosses his arms in defense, wincing slightly at your aggravated tone. "Those spirits are deeply connected to the place they're protecting. Even if you'd manage to destroy it's physical form, it would simply appear again at that very same spot."

Gesturing for it to come over, the dark creature hurries to your side, alarming the priest briefly until he realized it meant no harm at least momentarily. You knelt besides it, softly ruffling through it's fur like it wasn't able to rip your throat out any time.

What a peculiar woman you were.

"We are able to communicate with them." He knows that, he's not that ignorant. Yet he remains quiet, curious what you're implying. "It has been a normal dog in the past, but his master has been brutally killed and disposed of right in this forrest. It guarded it's owner's grave until his dying breath, but then...strong emotions can sometimes outlast death itself. Strange, isn't it?"

Anderson listened intently to your explanation, his eyes softening ever so slightly as he heard this beast was once such a loyal companion. You cracked a meek smile, almost hopeful at his unusual receptiveness.

"No promises, but maybe you could purge it by blessing the spot his owner resides. If anything it'd at least be appeased."

For a while the priest just stares at you, his expression blank as if you had just asked him to commit a felony.

Why would he even listen to some filthy heathen? This had to be a trap he just hasn't gotten behind yet. But on the other hand, then why did you go out of your way and assist him in the first place?

Nothing about you made any sense - not in the way he was comparing you to everything he was teached about witches at least.

He clenches both jaw and fists, his whole body tensing up at the inner conflict he was trying to resolve. Begrudgingly, he proclaims his decision. "...then lead the way, would you."

The Grim brought you to the place, an overgrown piece of nothingness at a random location in the woods. No funeral, no justice, no rest.

You gather some flowers and try to craft a makeshift cross while Anderson cuts and rips away the thorned vines with his gloved hands. He still can't believe he's doing such a ridiculous thing, but you seem to be serious about it after all.

It felt weird - yet not wrong - to stand besides the catholic, hands folded at your front and eyes downcast as you listened to his improvised eulogy.

"...the righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." (Isaiah 57: 1-2)

Anderson closes the bible and clears his throat, catching a glimpse at your still way smaller form. He could feel the pace of his heart start racing but in his ignorance he mistakes it for his usual rage.

You remained motionless, barely audible whispering your own kind of prayer - a heresy that he would usually never allow in his presence, if it wasn't for the fact that you kept your eyes closed as if you genuinely trusted this total stranger that he still was.

"Happy now?" he eventually speaks up and just when he does, he's tackled to the ground by the heavy dog. Opposite to his worries it simply licks his cheek, it's happy little noises able to lure a low chuckle out of the man. "You're a good boy after all, eh?"

You watch him petting the animal with a hesistant awe until he notices, growing nervous under your scrutiny. "What?" His demeanour immediately shifts into a harsh and reserved one again, but you continue watching each other - almost as if to try and make sense out of the person that doesn't fit the stereotype you had both created in your heads.

"You're different..." Out of a whim, you snatch the bible out of his hand, scribbling something inside one of the pages much to his dismay. "In case you need something. Consider it an action of gratitude."

Anderson furrows his brows, forehead wrinkling as you hand him the defiled holy scripture back. "W-what did you put in there? A spell?"

"My phone number..." You roll your eyes, yet the vibrant smile his selfless gesture put on your face would not falter in the slightest. "Take care, Father-"

"...Anderson." His back is already turned to you as he reveals his identity, for lack of a better way to thank you. "The name's Alexander Anderson."

"Well then, Alexander Anderson..." You taste his name on your tongue and he immediately feels another blush threatening to set his cheeks on fire. "Shall we meet again."

Anderson ignores the cartwheel his heart does in his chest, but before he can hurl out any insults or threats your face suddenly fell, as if you had just remembered something very urgent.

Turning on your heels, you wave as you leave the baffled man alone just like that. He looks after you for a while, until your silhouette disappears into the shadows of the night. Ultimatively he's left trying to unravel tonight's events in his racing mind, one thought predominant no matter how hard he tried to erase it.

You have very kind eyes.

At another place of the same forrest, you are finally able to do what you came here for in the first place - much to your frustration however it seems you have missed this opportunity to harvest the blue spider lilly...

...you couldn't even feel mad, though, for tonight you have found something way more valuable.

"Guess my judgement was too quick...that one sure has potential."

[Next Chapter]

[dent-de-leon]

au where Caleb doesn't escape the Empire's vicious cycle of blood and ruin, where the dreaded Waldhexe is very much a real, living entity sustained by every sacrifice. Caleb being forced to carry that mantle, being turned into something otherworldly against his will, a hag forever bound to those dark woods. Whispers of the powerful mage haunting a cursed forrest, plagued by an endless, gnawing hunger he refuses to sate.

Lucien who was always so terrified of the hag that tormented his family as a child, the witch who tried to keep him as an Empty doll without a soul.

Molly who has no fear of the "monstrous" Waldhexe, who holds out his hand and greets him with all the fondness of an old friend--

[bullet-prooflove]

Hey, loving your work. I was hoping as the ask box is empty I can put another ask for Scott Forrester. I think this one kinda fits him and Natalia, considering his past with Hanna. "Find someone who grows flowers in the darkest parts of you"

Tagging: @kmc1989 @district447 @delightfulheroshoeflap @Gatefleet @fkaams

Oh this was the perfect piece to get me back into writing him. I've missed him so much!

After what happened with Hanna, it’s like Scott doesn’t exist. He becomes Forrester, a man so entirely immersed in his career that a personal life doesn’t exist. It becomes a cycle, finishing a case, starting a new one because truthfully Scott doesn’t know what to do with the time in between so he seeks out the next one and then the next one. It goes on like this for years until he meets Damien, who coaxes him out of his shell, reminds him what it’s like to have a friend again. It isn’t until that moment that he realises how closed off he’s been, how much of himself has shut down.

It gets easier after that, to make friends, to be a person again. By the time he gets to Budapest he’s starting to heal he thinks. The distance helps, no one over here knows anything about his past so he pretends it didn’t happen, that he’s not so broken inside he can’t form an actual intimate relationship. He’s tries with Jamie but there’s a disconnect. He worries after that, that he can’t form an emotional attachments. He cares about his team. He would die for any one of them but when it comes to a lover, it’s about physicality, that’s all that Scott give.

And then he meets you and his whole world starts to change. The darkness that’s been shrouding him this entire time, it starts to ease and for the first time in over a decade he can finally take a breath.

It takes four years for Scott to get his shit together and in that time the sunshine breaks through the clouds and he starts to engage with his life, he starts to live again.

 Flowers begin to grow in the darkness and before he knows it, he’s falling in love.

That’s why he kisses you that night in Rome, why he starts to court you when you return to Budapest, why he’s now standing in a jewellery shop looking at engagement rings because Scott, he’s finally ready to take the next step. He’s ready to make you his wife.

Love Scott? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[alyygx]

Just Hold My Hand

Paring: Eugene Roe x Reader

Requested?: Yes, by @xxluckystrike

Warnings: None really. Just lots of fluff. So much fluff, in fact, you'll feel like you're floating on a cloud!

A/N: This is the first fic I've written in quite a long time so please be kind. I hope you all like it! And if you do please tell your friends or maybe even reblog! And then shoot me a request while you're at it. 😊

The cigarette smoke hung thick in the air as you sat smiling to yourself watching the rowdiness around you. These boys sure know how to enjoy themselves and Lord knows they all deserved it. Especially after everything this war had put them through. You were nursing your second glass of wine sitting on a stool that was brought outside. Everyone was gathered at a clearing in the woods just next to the beautiful building you were all staying in while in Austria. Spiers had forced everyone outside after the noise being made interfered with him concentrating on his paperwork. But there was no stopping the celebration. VE day was definitely something that needed celebrating. After all, it had been a long time coming. Sometimes you felt as if the war would last forever; that somehow this was just your life now, an endless cycle of blood, violence and death. You were one of the medics in Easy Co. and though you would do practically anything to take care of your war family you frankly couldn't stand seeing one more soldier wounded, bleeding, or in pain. It completely broke your heart in two. At that you grabbed your glass of wine and downed it, attempting to chase the thought away.

In the distance of the buzzing party chaos you heard a voice, sounding a lot like Luz but slurred, summoning you to come and join in the festivities. It's not that you weren't extremely thrilled that the Germans surrendered, far from it, you just really weren't a party person. The majority, if not the entirety, of the men were thoroughly drunk at this point and you were just ready to get out of there. You shook your head 'no' in Luz's direction and slid off the stool you were sitting on.

"Sorry guys. You're having way too much fun I'm afraid I couldn't keep up tonight." You said chuckling.

Luz just shrugged his shoulders and with a smile turned back to the group. As you turned to walk away you collided with another warm body only to discover it was Eugene.

"Where have you been hiding? I've been sitting here waiting for you!" You giggled, looking at your fellow medic waiting for his answer.

You and Gene had steadily grown closer and closer over the course of the war. Him being one of the few soldiers in company who could completely understand the things you were going through and vice versa. You both had finally admitted your feelings for each other and made things official shortly after Bastogne. With everything that happened in that God forsaken forrest being worried about rejection suddenly seemed like a stupid reason to not share what you feeling. Eugene apparently felt the same way too because you both ended up just blurting it out to each other at the same time and then laughing at your shared impatience.

"Sorry darlin' I didn't realize the location of the festivities had been changed. Walked around inside looking for everyone for 20 minutes before Spiers yelled from his office for me to look outside." He said smiling at you.

After glancing around at the other men and their drunken antics though his smile fell.

"You don't actually want to be here do you?" You asked, secretly hoping he wanted to do literally anything else but hang around this party.

"What?" He said suddenly as if you snapped him out of a thought. "Do you wanna get out of here?" Gene asked, taking both of your hands in his.

A wide smile spread across your face as your grip on Gene's hands tightened. He could tell by the look in your eyes that you had an idea.

"Yeah, and I think I know just the place to go."

Letting go of one of Gene's hands and pulling him along with the other you both started walking away from the festivities and onto a path that would lead you deeper into the woods. After walking together for several minutes, your hands never parting, you arrived at the lake. The moonlight was reflecting off the water and the mountains lined the background standing tall and regal topped with snow at their tips. It was the clearest night you'd seen in awhile. Not a single cloud in the sky and the stars shining so big and bright they looked like literal diamonds glistening out from a black background.

"This has been my favorite spot since we arrived here." You said staring out at the view. "But I had no idea how beautiful it would be at night"

Your eyes never left the view, Gene's eyes, however, never left you.

"Well, let's enjoy it then." Gene said, slowly beginning to sit on the ground, pulling you with him by your still entwined hands. You both laid close to each other, your hands still never parting.

"I use to do this all the time as a child." Gene told you. "Just laying, staring up at the stars at night. Really has a way of helping you figure things out."

You nodded your head in agreement. Allowing your thoughts to wander. To take you to what life will be like after you finally get to go home. You had told Gene that after you took a quick trip to see your family and gather your things that you would move to New Orleans with him. You're far from having second thoughts but now that Germany had surrendered you were beginning to get even more nervous about it.

"Gene?" You ask softly.

"Hmmm..." He hummed in acknowledgement.

"What if they don't like me?"

"Huh? Who mon cher?"

"Your family. I've never lived so far away from home before. What if they don't like me?"

Gene just smiled. His thumb beginning to rub circles on the back of your hand.

"Oh chérie. You have nothing to worry about. I know for a fact that they're going to love you. If for no other reason than because I love you."

This made you smile. Gene had always had a way of soothing you no matter what you were upset about. It's one of the many reasons you fell for him.

"Things are going to be so great once we get home. We might have to stay with my parents for a little while before we find a place of our own. But once I get a job and save up I'm gonna buy you the prettiest house in New Orleans. We'll fix it up real nice inside and get everything set to start our lives together!"

Gene was squeezing your hand now in such a manner that you couldn't help but feel his excitement. It was getting you hopeful for the future too. But at the same time you were still nervous. He seemed to pick up on this because he suddenly stopped talking.

"You ok?" He asked turning to face you.

"Yeah." You started. "It all sounds wonderful, it really does. It's just the idea of being in a new place so far from my family. I'm still a little nervous. It'll be different then being away from them like I have during the war because this time it'll be by choice. Or at least more of a choice than I felt I had when I enlisted." You sighed.

Gene just looked at you with those soft eyes of his you loved so much. Eyes so full of caring and compassion you could've just leaned over and kissed him right there.

"Everything will be fine mon amour. Any time you feel nervous or unsure all you have to do is just hold my hand. I promise that with time it will feel like home. We'll build our home together, we'll build our life together, and then once you feel comfortable we can get married." Gene smiled a hopeful smile while fishing his free hand in his pocket and suddenly pulling out something shiny.

You gasped, your eyes growing wide. It was the most beautiful ring you had ever seen.

"Well, what do you think?" He asked, holding the ring to hover over your left ring finger. "Will you marry me?"

Tears now filled your eyes. The whole thing felt like a dream. A dream you never wanted to wake from.

"Of course I will." You answered, the tears now running down your cheeks.

"We're gonna make it chère. I promise. Doesn't matter if the times are good or bad, all you have to do is just hold my hand."

[forlornmelody]

Bad Seeds

Rating: Teen (About the same amount of violence, swearing, and angst you'd expect from an animated Batman movie.)

Fandom: DC Comics

Ship: Poison Ivy/Harley Quinn

Ao3

--

Summary:  

And so Ivy happened upon a quiet warehouse on the edge of the construction site. At least, it was quiet. Before it exploded. As Ivy hid behind a concrete wall, heard a familiar voice distorted, this time in the form of a wail. And laughter that made her blood boil. And, much later, the rumble of the Bat Cycle taking off. Honestly, Ivy wondered if perhaps the jet lag was getting to her. This all sounded too much like Gotham.

Well, there was one problem solved. At least for the moment. The explosion would delay the construction by months, if not years. And Ivy had more pressing issues to deal with. Time to find a ride home.

Wait. The Green tugged at Ivy’s senses. She felt the vibrations of something heavy disturbing a patch of trifolium nearby. Ivy reached out with her mind, immersing herself in the Green, and she gasped when she saw it.

A human hand.

Belonging to a child.

A living child.

---

Note: Basically, a canon-divergent AU where Ivy revives and raises the second Robin before Ra's Al Guhl can get to him.

---

“Perhaps a rest is in order, Master Bruce?” He nearly jumped at Alfred’s voice behind him. 

Bruce rubbed his face. “What time is it?”

Alfred set the tray down. “What day is it, more like.” He scrunched his nose as he took up the other two trays, the sandwiches and meat pie both left untouched. “Gotham’s most wanted botanist giving you trouble, sir?”

“You’ve no idea.” Bruce had been staring at the screens so long the images and words blurred together. 

Poison Ivy’s MO had changed so drastically Bruce wondered if it was a copycat. But the DNA checked out. Before it was billionaire CEO’s and the board members of less-than-environmentally-friendly companies. Poisoned one by one over dinner, or sometimes all together in the middle of a board meeting. Well. That stayed the same. 

Tonight Batman had found Ivy’s toxic pollen in the nostrils of the board members of Wayne Enterprises. But why? 

Dammit. Bruce knew each of them. Shelly Marks, Chairman, came to Dick’s graduation. Bill Roberts, Vice Chairman, was the second biggest sponsor of the Thomas and Martha Wayne Charity Gala three years running–they played golf together in the rare moment Bruce and Batman had a day off. Alex Shaeffer, secretary, always brought their homemade cupcakes to each meeting, even the emergency ones. Jade Wong, treasurer, always gave him a card on the anniversary of his parents death, along with a hand-delivered bouquet. Why on earth would Ivy want them dead?

—-

She wasn’t even supposed to be there that night. Poison Ivy primarily worked out of Gotham. Men who cared more about their pocketbooks and ledgers seemed to fester in that cesspool like it was a party. But the Green had whispered about construction of a nuclear power plant near one of the largest river systems in Markovia. Ivy remembered with a racing heart the scars of the “Red” Forrest. Never again, she told herself. 

And so Ivy happened upon a quiet warehouse on the edge of the construction site. At least, it was quiet. Before it exploded. As Ivy hid behind a concrete wall, heard a familiar voice distorted, this time in the form of a wail. And laughter that made her blood boil. And, much later, the rumble of the Bat Cycle taking off. Honestly, Ivy wondered if perhaps the jet lag was getting to her. This all sounded too much like Gotham. 

Well, there was one problem solved. At least for the moment. The explosion would delay the construction by months, if not years. And Ivy had more pressing issues to deal with. Time to find a ride home. 

Wait. The Green tugged at Ivy’s senses. She felt the vibrations of something heavy disturbing a patch of trifolium nearby. Ivy reached out with her mind, immersing herself in the Green, and she gasped when she saw it. 

A human hand. 

Belonging to a child. 

A living child. 

Barely. 

—--

The Botanical Gardens glitter in the moonlight, but Ivy and Harley pay them hardly any mind. 

“You’ve had some crazy ideas, Red, but this is batshit.” Harley has her hands folded behind her back, rocking back and forth on her heels. She watches the kid? Corpse? On the bed closely. His chest rises and falls, but his breath is wet. Fluid in the lungs. Yup. Alive. Not dead. Yet. 

“I’m aware, Harley.” Ivy doesn’t even look at her but waves her hand vaguely as she marches across the room, cradling a hoard of instruments in her arms. “Now are you going to help me or not?”

She giggles lightly, too lightly, like a breath frozen in the air as she steps to the other side of the gurney. “You know me. I love crazy.”

A little too much. “Then let’s put your medical degree to use.” Ivy reaches up, tilting the lamp down across a battered body. “What can we do to nurse this wilted one back to full strength?”

Harley lets out a low whistle. “Think we’re gonna need a lot more than just water.”

—--

“What exactly are we hoping to see here?”

“We’re looking for what we don’t hope to see.” Batman peers through his bat-noculars, the heat sensors showing him what the naked eye will not. As much as he hates to admit it, it’s nice to have Dick around. Tim has been good to him, more than good, but he still wears that damn costume. It’s not the same costume–that one is still on display in the Batcave, starched, with stains removed as if nothing had ever happened. But it still has Jason’s colors–Dick’s colors. And seeing Tim in those colors makes Bruce wonder if Robin was ever a good idea in the first place. Dick wears his own colors, thank God. He’s still here. Gotham hasn’t taken everything from him. Not yet. 

The rail yards once hummed at night, but Gotham’s once thriving freight and passenger trains have fallen into decline, save for the commuter monorail that ends service at midnight. And Batman can’t find a single security guard on site. Something big is about to happen. But what? Or more importantly, who?

One semi rumbles between stacks of shipping containers, its headlights off save for the markers.

“Drunk driver?”

“Or they don’t want to be seen.” Batman turns on the thermal scanner on his goggles and finds two people inside. The back of the truck’s refrigerated, so he can’t get a reading. “We need to get closer.” 

“You got it.” Ever so graceful, Dick Grayson cuts a shortcut across the stacks of shipping containers, cutting the truck off, but landing on its back so the driver doesn’t see him. He jumps to the cab, peering upside down through the shotgun window. Unfortunately, that’s when the driver swerves to avoid hitting a raccoon. 

Spinning off the side, Nightwing grabs the radio antenna for purchase, and that’s when the driver spots him.

“Gnah!!” He honks his horn as if that will help.

“So much for stealth.” Nightwing swings in, boots first, shattering the shotgun window on his way. “Alley-oop!”  He winks at the driver. “Hi there. What’ch’ya haulin’?”

“Oh fuck no!” The driver swerves again, but it’s already too late. 

“You see, the funny thing about escrima sticks—I can’t shock you with them and grab onto you at the same time. You’re conductive as copper wire.”

“GET OUT OF MY TRUCK.”

“No need to yell.” Nightwing twirls the stick. 

“Get on with it.” Batman murmurs in his ear.

“Fine. Fine.” He manages a dramatic sigh, and then he grabs the steering wheel. “But if I grab this? Insulating.” Nightwing reaches over with his other hand, and pokes the driver with the stick, electricity arcing in a way that leaves a sparkle in his eye. 

“What in the world does a crook want with natural gas?”

Batman’s eyes narrow as he listens through his coms. “Where’s he headed?”

“Well, he’s passed out, so I can’t exactly–”

“Look at the GPS.”

“Oh shit.”

“Nightwing. Tell me where he’s headed.”

“He’s heading for the dam!”

“Stop the truck.”

“There’s a driver in the way.”

“Stop the truck, Nightwing.”

Nightwing grunts as he maneuvers the driver in the passenger seat and himself into the driver’s seat. He swerves as the drunk threatens to go past the guard rails, braking so hard that the squeal echoes throughout the canyon. Sighing with relief, Nightwing turns the engine off, and hops out. “Easy peasy.” 

“Police are on their way. En route to pick you up before they do.”

“Oh good.” Nightwing starts stretching his limbs, taking a moment to admire the view of Gotham’s glittering skyline. It’s pretty, from a distance. “I’d hate to have to explain why I have a stolen truck in my--” The engine fires up behind him. “What the–” Whipping around, Nightwing registers a red helmet and a black leather jacket waving at him before he has to dive out of its path. 

“Batman, he’s got the truck!”

“En route.” Batman summons the Batmobile, opening the sunroof and landing in his seat with a flourish.

“Was that really necessary?” Alfred murmurs dryly over the comms. 

“Always.” Bruce takes off after the truck, racing down the windy road to the dam. As he ascends the ridge…something is off. In the mcmansions scaling said Gotham Heights…not a single light is on. It looks like a model train set that’s been turned off. 

“Alfred. Check Gotham Electric. Are there any notices about power outages?”

“No, sir, everything is online.”

“Hm. Check social media.” Batman pulls to a stop, allowing Nightwing to hop in before taking off again. 

“Nothing there, sir. But the Ring cameras are showing a hooded figure knocking on all the doors.”

“What?” Batman rounds the corner, almost reaching the gates of Gotham Dam. 

And that’s when the truck crashes into the dam in a fiery explosion.

[thalia-vargas]

"That's complete and utter bullshit."

Then twelve years old, Thalia stared at her grandmother, Carmel. The older woman was busy making dinner one evening when her granddaughter's question prompted a whole side of Carmel Thalia had never seen before. In all her life, this was the very first time she'd ever heard her grandmother swear. In front of her, no less. Thinking she'd imagined it, Thalia blinked.

"What??"

"I said," Carmel repeated without hesitation, mixing ingredients in a pot, "that it's complete and utter bullshit." She paused to momentarily turn from her cooking, chuckling at the sight of seeing how flabbergasted her granddaughter looked. "What? It is!"

Ten minutes before, Thalia had come home from school inquiring about something she'd learned — Murphy's Law, to which Carmel unapologetically claimed to be 'complete and utter bullshit'.

"How can you say that??"

"Oh, come on, Tia," Carmel sighed. "How can you believe that 'anything that goes wrong will go wrong'?? The one thing that's absolute in the world, and in life, is change. And if there's change, there's always a potential for things to go one way or another."

"So?"

"So, Murphy's Law is bullshit because it's all relative," Carmel explained. Turning the stove off, she wiped her hands on her apron and sat beside young Thalia. "The future is no absolute. Good things and bad things can and will happen, simultaneously. It is our thoughts and attitude towards life that changes how the outcome affects us."

**

"You're wrong!"

Thalia screamed into the abyss as soon as she reached the shore of her favourite beach. It was a short drive outside of Los Angeles, a miraculous find if there ever was any. Though nothing quite like the beaches in Colombia, at least it was quiet and very rarely visited, making it a perfect getaway for anyone wanting to escape reality for a little while.

"Everything that can go wrong went wrong!" Thalia cried. "No matter how I tried to fix things! It just blew up in my face!" Fresh, angry tears freely rolled down her face. "How could you lie to me, abuela?!" She yelled in agony before finally breaking down into a heap on the sand. "How could you leave me..."

Wrapping her arms tightly around her legs, Thalia sobbed. She wanted nothing more than to forget everything and everyone. And yet, as if to mock her, all she could do was replay every conversation she's had with Forrest since she'd ended things with him. Through texts, it was clear that everything was getting lost in translation, so she figured that perhaps it would be better to speak in person, but only after the holidays are over as to not inconvenience him further. Thalia was surprised when Forrest agreed wholeheartedly, even suggesting to her that he fly out that very same day. Thalia had hoped this eagerness was a sign. A good sign. But whoever Murphy was, was right. Anything that can go wrong did go wrong.

From the moment he arrived in LA, there was tension there. Thalia could still remember the sting of how bluntly he'd talk to her; it was a stark contrast to the sweet, caring Forrest she had grown to know. Thalia squeezed her eyes shut remembering the way she finally blew up at him, unable to endure his rudeness any longer. But nothing settled after that. Instead, the vicious cycle of both sides wanting to be heard, and yet not being heard continued until Thalia — despite her desire to stay and mend what had been broken — decided it best to walk away before either of them said anything they'd regret.

Thalia tightened her embrace around her legs, feeling the harsh chill of the ocean breeze. Wiping her face with the sleeve of her hoodie, she came to realise that it was Forrest's she was wearing.

Quiet tears cascaded downwards, but not of anger anymore. Stripped of it, Thalia realised that this hoodie was probably the last she'll ever have of him, and the thought broke her into a million more pieces. She could've had it all, she thought, if only she didn't mind sharing. But then, would it have really been 'all'?

Thalia sighed, exhausted and defeated. She was tired of chasing the idea of home and family when the one family she ever knew had left her, too. Maybe Forrest has the right idea after all. Maybe the key is to never depend on anyone else but yourself. Maybe that's the only way to keep things from going wrong.

* All conversations are in Spanish.

[forrest-dunn]

Forrest slouched in the cramped airplane seat, arms crossed, jaw clenched. His headphones blasted some random playlist, but the music barely drowned out his anger.

This was bullshit.

The past twenty-four hours replayed in his mind like a broken record. Christmas with Anissa had been great. She looked at him like he was her whole world, and for a moment, he almost believed he could be. Almost. But then Thalia had to text him.

“Can we talk about this in person?”

He respected the decision she’d made a few days earlier. Accepted that Thalia wasn’t into the setup anymore, and fine. That was her call. But then she reached out to him, and he thought, okay, maybe she’d had a change of heart. Maybe they could talk it out like adults.

Instead? Fucking disaster.

The whole thing had been a waste of time. He’d flown across the country for what? To get screamed at in the apartment he graciously offered to her? To have Thalia tell him - again - that she didn’t want to share him, that she wished she was “enough” for him? Then she’d stormed off like she hadn’t just invited him there in the first place.

He rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the tension headache building behind his eyes. “What the fuck was I even thinking?” he muttered under his breath.

The flight attendant glanced at him, but he ignored her, staring out at the dark sky. He felt like an idiot. Worse, he felt… stuck.

It wasn’t about choosing Anissa or Thalia. It was about everyone assuming he should choose. Like settling down was some fucking requirement to be considered a functioning adult. 

Maybe the problem wasn’t them. Maybe it was him. He didn’t want to settle down. He didn’t want to play house or plan a future or whatever the hell everyone else seemed so obsessed with. Not with Anissa. Not with Thalia. Not with anyone.

Forrest shifted in his seat, his knee bouncing. The plane hummed quietly, the kind of white noise that normally calmed him, but tonight it only made him angrier.

He could still see the look on Anissa’s face when he told her about LA. She immediately started questioning him, and his intentions, about agreeing to talk to Thalia face to face. 

“I love you, Forrest,” she’d said. The memory brought forth a wave of nausea.

He was so disgusted. With himself and the situation, after he dropped everything for Thalia, flew out there like some desperate asshole, and came back with nothing to show for it.

Fuck this. Fuck all of it.

Forrest stared out the window, his reflection staring back at him. Maybe it was time to walk away. From Anissa. From Thalia. From all of them. Take a break. Get some space. Focus on himself, his business, his workouts — anything but this endless cycle of trying to be someone he wasn’t.

Because the truth was, no one was going to understand him. No one was going to get him. And he was fucking done trying to explain.

The plane hit a bit of turbulence, but Forrest didn’t flinch. He leaned back, closing his eyes, letting the hum of the engine drown out his thoughts.

Maybe being alone wasn’t the worst thing. Maybe it was the only thing that made sense anymore.

[ms-m-astrologer]

Transiting Ceres enters retrograde zone

Timeline (current events in bold)

Saturday, May 24, 2025, 18:34 UTC - transiting Ceres enters pre-retrograde shadow, 2°30’36” Aries

Monday, August 11, 21:38 UTC - transiting Ceres stations retrograde, 16°47’51” Aries

Friday, November 21, 23:59 UTC - transiting Ceres stations direct, 2°30’36” Aries

Thursday, February 5, 2026, 19:33 UTC - transiting Ceres exits post-retrograde shadow, 16°47’51” Aries

=+*^*+=+*^*+=

This transit may not have much of an effect on you personally, unless Ceres is prominent in your birth chart: closely in aspect to the Sun, the Moon, &/or an angle; strong Virgo &/or 6th House energy. Ideally we’d want to see at least two of those.

Aries has very strong aggressive instincts. It must fight; and if it refuses to fight, it will attract all kinds of stress. In his series of books about the four elements, astrologer Steven Forrest makes the case for channeling this aggression into protectiveness.

What protectiveness can do, is turn Ceres into Mama Bear. And Heaven knows there is a great need for Mama Bears on this planet - here in the US, for example, the entire executive branch of the government seems hell bent on punishing everyone from great-great-grandma down to the newborn babe, for the “crime” of not loving Felon 47 enough.

Let’s see how Mama Bear operates in Ceres’ areas:

Procreative sexuality, parenting, children, family - the right to have children or not. A lot of people standing up for their right NOT to reproduce. Expect the battles over reproductive rights to heat up. Families don’t want to be told what to do. (And that could work out well, or poorly.)

Child and elder care, nurturing professions - here is where the protectiveness can make an important, powerful stand.

Agriculture, gardens, growing cycles, food - this is the most worrisome part (to my way of thinking). Aries isn’t considered a fertile sign, and with Ceres stuck here for several months our farmers could be dealing with drought, excessive heat, and fires. We need to extend the Aries protectiveness to Mothers Earth and Nature.

Concern for domestic animals - probably a lot of “debate” about outside cats. There may be more of a push for letting our pets be closer to their “wild” natures.

During the pre-retrograde shadow, we’re made aware of the problems we need to address. It isn’t necessarily time to do the work - remember that Ceres will be backtracking over these same degrees, potentially making us “do over” what work we’ve done.

Allow up to a week on either side of these aspects:

Wednesday, May 28 - Ceres/Aries sextile Pluto Rx/Aquarius, 3°41’. This sextile happens only this one time, and when this happens I call them “one and done.” Might be a wake-up call for some people; others will get a little more clarity about the Ceres problems we face.

Tuesday, July 22 - Ceres/Aries (15°37’) semi-square Uranus/Gemini (0°37’). First of three. This is the only three-peat involving an outer planet. At least it’s “only” a semi-square! This will probably manifest itself as the realization of just how much the general public needs to be educated on protecting our planet and its people. (Not shamed or berated, educated.)

Sunday, August 3 - Monday, August 11:

Ceres/Aries sextile Pallas Rx/Aquarius, 16°37’

Ceres/Aries inconjunct Vesta/Scorpio, 16°47’

Skidding into Ceres’ retrograde, our focus is on what needs to be done in our immediate communities. Most likely won’t be the smoothest sailing, but hey, Mama Bear doesn’t necessarily start the fight, but she doesn’t back down, either.