#lake and river are silly anyways

[static-kills]

Lake gets River to join the band

[lightsresonance]

I just watched both parkour civilization movies and I have so many thoughts about block game

Parkour civilization was restructured so that everyone begins at the bottom layer and makes their way to the top. The other main changes are that the route to the top is neither impossible nor barricaded by design. Failing a jump isn’t an instant ticket to perma death. There’s a universal safety net for so players can keep trying. 

But providing actual ways for the lower levels to advance, does not change the fact THAT THERE WAS A LOWER LEVEL WITH UNACCEPTABLE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE FIRST PLACE WHAT OTHER CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE BOTTOM??? Are the noobs still kept on the verge of starvation?? Is food now free or do you still jump to eat?? Who farms food now that the pros don’t have to work?? Blocks are free for masters what about noobs & pros? And even if anyone at the base layer can make open attempts at the climb, are they provided the practice arenas of the higher levels??

Evbo’s ‘equal opportunity advancement’ solution also doesn’t address the other glaring problem of why parkour civilization was inherently flawed. Some people just suck at parkour! It’s simply not for them and their talents lie in other directions. But being a promising singer, builder, fighter, redstone engineer, or writer doesn’t matter because parkour is the ONLY valuable skill. You don’t like to jump but there’s only one route up. You could be at the bottom forever because your passion is worthless in Parkour Civilization. 

Evbo fails to dismantle anything besides the most obvious, corrupt flaws of the system because at the end of the day, he still successfully climbed said system! (With some cheating & help to bypass the locks ofc). So his idea of fairness is having everyone else climb too. But providing people access to his way up doesn’t change the fact they have only 1 way to climb. And that they have to climb in the first place.

See, the other thing that haunts me is the implanted memories. Evbo KNOWS there’s a lifestyle outside of parkour 24/7. Evbo remembers endless land, buildings, crafting, and mining. Resources gatekept by parkour once used to be open to obtain by anyone. Sure, the memories are fake but the dream didn’t have to be. He was champion then god. Evbo knows about the endless ground but didn’t consider making that idea a reality even with endless power at his fingertips. Because he’s so entrenched in this society. 

His dream was seeing endless skies and once he got there, he failed to share it with anyone else.

The sky used to be free.

TLDR Shonen protag works within in system they’re given and when system shows its flaws of corruption the narrative solution is to power up, beat up the big villains, and become the most op kid on the block instead of actually addressing societal flaws that accommodates and creates said villains

In this fanfic I will-

[angelmiko]

just some more retired 141 thoughts..

retired!141 that buys a lake house deep in the woods with a gorgeous lake behind it, which happens to be the home of siren!reader.

you’re obviously mad that these humans are invading your home so long story short you try to kill soap but he becomes very attached to you and starts feeding you fish which eventually calms you down.

as the days go on they continue to bring you a plethora of shiny things to add to your collection, but never getting into the water like you keep pestering them to.

eventually soap (being the reckless silly guy he is) gets in the water much to prices dismay where he quickly finds out you just wanna play now!

anyways blah blah blah 141 gets attached to what has become a pretty aquatic housemate who can kill them at anytime, and they eventually make a river that circles the house so you can watch them through the windows (and maybe you stumble upon ghost and soap getting a little spicy)

should I make this a series? (On top of my 17 other ones ofc) or just maybe a series of one shots

do let me know!!!

[lycheeloving]

I'm currently re-watching the first season of the Witcher... I forgot how much I love Geralt. So I had to write yandere headcanons for him ofc:

He still has to hunt monsters, but he tries to keep it to a minimum, as to not endanger you

When he does have to do something dangerous, he leaves you at the safest place that's nearby-ish. He doesn't tie you down, so you can still run away if you're in danger. At the beginning, this means he always has to chase you down after he gets back, but he couldn't live with himself if you got hurt because you couldn't get away from some monster.

That being said, you quickly realize that Geralt does, in fact, leave you in the safest place possible, whether that's an inn in a town or somewhere in a forest. Running away usually only gets you into trouble that Geralt has to save you from, so at some point you stop running. He always finds you in no time anyways, because of his enhanced senses. You might as well stay where you are, that's less exhausting.

He doesn't punish you for running away. He thinks it's annoying and might grumble and complain a bit while carrying you back, but that's all. He knows that this isn't an ideal situation for you and how could you ever love him, but he just can't live without you.

He does teach you some basic self-defense stuff, and how to act around certain monsters, so you're not totally unprepared if something were to happen. Usually the only thing you should do is run, though. (He teaches you for which monsters you should stand still, so you don't make a horrible mistake)

You'll sleep outside most of the time.

Downside: he insists on cuddling while you sleep. His arms are around you like a vice and you can't go anywhere. Plus the floor is uncomfortable (even if he has started to carry more comfortable sleeping bags etc with him bc you kept complaining) and cold. Really cold.

Upside: At least Geralt runs hot, so he keeps you warm?

Being outside all the time also means you usually have to bathe in various rivers and lakes... Geralt always stands guard with his sword in his hand. Just in case. He has to look at you, to keep you safe! Not because he likes seeing you naked or anything...

If you're ever in a town, don't expect the people there to help you. Nobody wants to enrage a Witcher, especially not the butcher of Blaviken...

Geralt will let you talk to others if you want, as long as you (or they) aren't flirting. He gets jealous easily. So if you don't want them to "mysteriously" disappear, try to be careful about how you talk to others. And who you talk to.

Doesn't care if other people call him names because he's used to it, but if anyone makes a comment about you because you're with him? They're dead.

Lets you ride Roach. of course.

I feel like he would still be friends with Jaskier. Jask would just think you're being silly if you talk about how Geralt kidnapped you and won't let you leave or whatever. "Haha, yeah, I get it, I keep coming back to him as well, his life is just so fascinating! So, what did you think about my new song?". Useless in helping you escape, but at least he's fun to be around. Might try to hit on you once, but immediately realizes that he should never do that again if he wants to live keep being friends with Geralt.

I feel like Yennefer would flirt with you and make demeaning comments like "Can I borrow your little toy?" about you, to piss Geralt off. You don't like when she's there because she always makes him feel like he needs to prove that you're his.

Will probably leave a bite mark on your neck, to mark you as his. So everyone knows not to touch you, even if he's not around.

Yes, he'll take you to Kaer Morhen. The others make fun of him for "acting like a lovesick puppy". He doesn't care, as long as they're not making fun of you. If someone does make fun of you, Geralt will seriously hurt them, unless you convince him not to. In which case he'll have to hear even more comments about how he's totally whipped. But at least it makes the other Witchers like you more, if Geralt hurts them for you that just pisses them off, and in that case nobody has a good time.

[sealinredshoes]

let's talk about names in The Folk of The Air

I realised today that I physically CAN'T shut up about how great of an author Holly Black is when it came to reference to folklore. I mean she basically build her carrier over her fairies knowledge. So anyway, here's some info about her character names because names are so important in the Fae world.

Let's start with Jude. The lies queen, the oath traitor, the one who

gets to turn a geis at her advantage, the mind trickster, the betrayer. According to multiple etymology work, "Jude" is a alterative form for Judah and therefore Judas, the bretrayer of Jesus. In old hebrew, Jude also mean " to praise". I mean, we are all accusating Cardan of being a simp, but maybe this little fairy-boy was just doing what the name was saying.

Speaking of our silly fae king, Cardan name was formed around the word "cairn", in old english. What is a cairn ? Nothing less that some rock pile that, in some stories, where supposed to gard the sleep of old fae king that where once trapped underground because they were too dangerous (or, dare I say, wicked ?). But it doesn't stop here, since "cardan" manage to became a surname for a stubborn person, and guess where the name "Cardan" first appeared ? Cheshire (wanna guess who he relate the most to when he read Alice in Wonderland ?)

Nicasia turn. One of the oldest and most powerful ocean spirit in the celtic folklore is called Old Nick, and I think there is some reference here made by Holly Black.

Taryn. Oh dear, do I have a lot to say about Taryn name. On the matter, she is probably the most gifted. Taryn name came from a variant of Thualta, the name of the godlike people that once rulled of Ireland before leaving to the undying island. Taryn represent the embodiment of the travel from mortal land to Elfame itself. But she also wear the same name as Tara, an old Irish fairy queen, wich name blend the meaning of "hills" and "star", showing the great extent of her power. Taryn is also a name given to the river that tend to overflow often. So, just like for her name, there is much more in Taryn that what we see at first.

Vivi complete name is Vivian and I think it speak for itself. Vivian is one of the many names of the Lady of the Lake, gardian of Excalibur. Her name in particular make me feel a little bittersweat. It bear the love of her step-dad for weapon, but also, it's maybe the first name her parent assimilated to fairies, and they may have chosen it quickly since they were still recovering with all the fae-related trauma. On the other hand, Vivian is also know to have managed to trap Merlin into a rock, so they were maybe wishing for her to be capable of overpowering any fae that could have wanted bother her.

Oak means oak (breathtaking I know), and oak trees are often associated with royalty in Celtic traditions. In France, it's said the king saint Louis was use to take court under a oak trees, and oak seed are often use to keep Fae treasures safe in fairytales

Hazel share some trees linked symbolism. It's known to be a symbols of righteousness and loyalty ( quite fitting for a knight if you want my opinion)

Jack sometimes means " to take the place", and, I mean, he is a changeling after all, but jack is also a name often give' to scarecrow, a parody of human beings

Benjamin's name means "second born" . Wtf, are you thinking if you have read the Darkest Part of the Forest. Isn't Benjamin the oldest sibling? Well yes, but he is the one the fairies like the most. The one who get the gift, the one who gets the story, the one deserving of a fairytale. And in all fairytales, it's the youngest son who is the hero, and who live the story. It's the benjamin brother who gets the magical gifts from the fairy lover who's head over heels for him. Ben might be the first born but by fairytale's logic, he is a Benjamin.

I haven't read the Oak saga yet so you'll have to tell me if it fits, but Suren's seem to means "the heroic one, the strong one"in Armenian, while her second name Wren, is the one of a small bird symbolising determination, enthusiasm and happiness

Some bonus for the Spiderwick Chronicles saga, because YES, I still believe they are part of this universe even if I know they legally can't.

Mallory etymology is from the french "malheureuse", wich means "unhappy", "unlucky", but something about the name of the others characters make me think it was choosen as a reference to Thomas Mallory, academically known as the first person to mention king Arthur in a written document (actually is more complicated but the meaning is still here)

Helen can be a reference as Helen of Troy, a female character who is often perceived as irritating and uninteresting until you start to rethink the story from her point of you, just like Jared have to learn that his mom is not trying to work against him, she is just a single mom trying her best.

I believe there must be some cultural references with Simon names, but I did not find it. All I've got is that his name means"to hear and to listen" such is kinda fitting,not gonna lie, my boy is trying to hold this family together by will alone so he have to play mediator all the time. (And of course It was saint Peter first name, like @amr102 say, everybody in this family is a reference)

I think Arthur Spiderwick name is a obvious reference to king Arthur since they bear (ehee, bear,king Arthur, you have it ?) the same narrative purpose of being the focus point of action without doing anything. (Update, @amr102 also reminded me that Tony Diterlizzi, the other author of the chronicles was massively influenced by Arthur Rackam style for his illustration, so, yeah, there is a reference for both of the authors)

For Lucinda, her name etymology come from lux, the light. But in a lot of gaelic tales, such as Cuchlein and Olwein, characters associated with light tends to turn crazy and / or see what the rest of the world cannot

And finally, Jared, my favourite one yet since the theory that he was named after Jareth the Goblin King from Labyrinth 1986 will never leave my brain.

[multi-fandom-imagine]

can you do some hc’s of Viktor, Mordecai, Serafine, and Zib that have a severe fear of deep water (such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and pools) do to a accident that happened when they were younger ?

A/n: hit close to home with this one, because I have a severe fear of deep water aka - Thalassophobia

•Viktor Vasko•

Notices how tense you get when he mentioned on taking you to a trip to the lake. He wasn't blind nor was he stupid, the man could sniff out your PTSD a mile away but it was not his place to ask about your trauma.

Start's to rethink his plan for on the little anniversary for you both, he does not want you to be uncomfortable. That's the last thing he want's since this weakened is special.

When you do tell him, he hates that he planed something without knowing your fear and though you tell him it's fine Viktor desperately wants to change plans but when you insist you two spend most of your time in the tent or hiking through the woods.

If you ask to try to go in the water, Viktor holds you close and will only go in the water up to your knees. He keep's you in his arms and refuses to let you go.

•Mordecai Heller•

Pins what you are afraid of right away and quickly tries to think of a way to remedy your fears though he doesn't know the exact reason why.

Think's that he can fix this because Mordecai does not like seeing you upset. Does his best to think of different ways he can help you.

Tries different ways to help, well he think's he is helping until he see's how scared you got when he mentioned on taming you to the beach and that's when you finally mentioned what happened to you and he regrets what he tried to do.

Once he learned of your fear, Mordecai keeps you away from any form of deep water and scolds anyone from wanting to try and take you in any place that deals with deep water. He's fine with that anyway. You're far more important than going swimming anyway.

•Serafine Savoy•

She already knew your fear and your trauma behind it since you told her. She doesn't mind it since everyone is afraid of something but she does keep a close eye on you.

It's when you two are at the pool and some boy's toss you in the deep end that she really see's how deep your fear is rooted. The woman swears she see's red as Nico is pulling you from the water.

Serafine hates seeing how scared you are, hates that you can't even hear her brother trying to talk to you. Your frantic cries or how you barely register that Nico is trying to calm you.

She is the one that ends up calming you down, pulling you into her chest as you desperately cling to her. She is soothing you while Nico goes to take care of the problem.

Serafine spends most of her time by yourside, she doesn't like you being alone. She doesn't trust any idiots near you, to help you. You're far too important to her than some silly pool anyway.

•Dorian Zibowski•

Doesn't really understand it but like Serafine get's it that people can be afraid of certain things.

Does his best to make light of it, to make you feel better. That its fine to be afraid of things, tells you his fears to make you feel better.

Jokes about he's fine staying away from lakes, pools or whatever that has deep water. Zib is fine with it. He'll happily sit on the beach, pool deck or dry land with you. It's better anyway, he likes to sleep in your arms.

Tease's about taking bath's with you as he lazily wraps his arm around your waist. "I'll keep you safe."

[wangxianficfinder]

Hello,I know this is not the place to ask for it, but I don't have a single idea where to ask , so if the mods , the followers or anyone seeing this post could answer??

So I'm gonna write a fic, and there's a major plot hole I'm not able to overcome, I know taps didn't exist in the era mdzs canon is set in, and there's mentions on bathing using buckets to fill up tubs. What my question is, is how and where they went to toilet? Especially the disposal? Like in modern system, there's pipeline for everything. But back then how was it?

It may seem silly questions haha, but these are quite important to my plot. My plot exactly needs, how one (in the canon era) goes to toilet inside their house, takes a bath/shower without tubs (this one's easy, with mugs and buckets) , how they get water inside house when there's no river or lake or pond nearby or even in a mile radius.

One more question, how did they save the food from spoiling? And again waste disposal, inside the house, how did they do it??

I urgently need some helpful advice and answers to these, HELP-

To preface, I'm answering this question because I have ADHD and it piqued my interest so I spent like a full hour just reading articles lol I would suggest trying to find a blog that focuses on Ancient China or even just history in general, you can also just look for documentaries/history papers/articles about the subject.

For the toilet question -

From what I found through a google search, they either had a hole dug into the ground with two bricks on either side so they could squat down and go, had a public hole where everyone went (and had to pay), or had a sort of "seat" built above running water. They also appear to have sold their "collection" to farmers to spread around their field as a sort of soil.

Picture of han dynasty toilets:

Sources: here, here and here

evadingreallife said: Also chamberpots for the toilet question

Yes! Also chamber pots.

How did they get water? -

As for the how people got water when not next to a body of water, Wells. They use wells. They also boiled the groundwater if they were cooking with it or drinking it. But they didn't even need water to do their daily hygiene most of the time.

Sources: here, here, here, and here

As for the Food -

Digging deep ditches and trenches, brining, and salting their foods. Fermentation was a very popular way to preserve foods.

Sources: here, here, here, and here

----

I am not Chinese so please take my Googled answers with a grain of salt. If any of my answers are wrong or the sites I used are faulty in anyway, please let me know!

I hope this answers some of your questions.

Good luck with your fic! 😊

- Mod C

[sapphicrot]

*Hands you a 'go off about a Sig headcanon of your choice card' and sits down*

EHEHEHE

the hc i have bouncing around in my brain is that the river that used to supply moon (and suns) originated in the mountains to the north of their structures. unfortunately, the river was really only able to support two iterators at the time so it was kinda just moon n suns for a bit

and then when the great equalizer happened, sig got built in said mountains! hence the scarf, hehe. i also kinda wanna add fur trim to his (normal) outfit cuz it would be cute. he was originally reliant on geothermal heat from the void fluid to melt the ice and snow around her to get fresh water, but eventually its body heat is enough to keep the water unfrozen and flowing, though the geothermal backup is always active as well. it snows on the edges of his facility.

^ approximate map of Local Groups 037 and 1650. A lot of 1650 was built along a lake (that is gone now, of course) but the water table still provides enough for all of them.

this is also why i make hunter a lil fluffy. cuz she had to stay warm! i also made up a stupid idea for another scug it makes that generates a TON of heat but it ends up generating TOO MUCH heat and it’s paws can melt through metal if it stands there for too long LMFAO. sig still loves it though and names it “A glowing flame beneath seven snowflakes”, and calls it snowflake because she thinks it’s funny. that’s just one of the freaks he ends up making but that one in particular is very silly to me.

anyways these are completely fuckin made up LOL no basis in reality at all but i like coming up with shit like this. for reference moon (and pebbles) are upstream from suns (who’s younger than moon so at the time the river having less water was fine for their systems), and they’re kinda all surrounded by mountains that border the coast of a sea. UI is on the coast because she’s a shipping facility! i could go into group 1650 too but this ramble is already off topic from sig and long as hell already

[queerest-beetle]

Victory over the Ceffyl Dŵr

Alaw

Rambling, less bloody version and close ups under the cut <3

Alaw is the reworked version of an oc I made my second year of artfight from watercolor doodle! I reworked Alaw, formerly known as Lilypad, and the ocs associated with them because I wanted an excuse to draw medieval-ish outfits. This drawings wasn't a part of that, just an idea that popped in my head and started to haunt me.

I've been using a blend of Celtic mythologies when thinking through the world Alaw exists in but Alaw is Welsh centered. They are a Tylwyth Teg (Welsh Fairy) spesifically a Gwraig Annwn (Lake Maidens). Gwraig Annwn were unique from most "water maidens" in eueropean folktales because they lack any fish or other auatic creature traits and are traditionally simply beautiful women that live in the water, specifically rivers and lakes and always wore green.

Ceffyl Dŵr are the Welsh version of water horses, the most well known water horses are the Scottish Kelpie. The Ceffyl Dŵr are known to entice tired travelers to either take them someplace extremely fast or to rise up into the air to a great height before dropping the rider by turning into mist. funny as hell. Their distinct traits that help identify them are occasional things like wings or glowing they are said to always have backward hooves.

Alaw and the Ceffyl Dwr aren't depicted accurate to welsh folklore because I love getting silly with it and making characters colorful and also no one agrees what color the Ceffyl Dwr are. The golden tears for bother of them was a choice made for visibility. The marks on their face dont come from anything I just thought their face was too bare. Their hair which is sticking out a little is water lily petals (:

The wave pattern was based off of the crested line used in heralding, something I have also gotten into for these blorbos. I decided to use it for the river and then based the rest of the background off of vibes to try and match. Alaw's family crest can be seen on both their tunic and their shield, it is a white tower on a blue background with the very bottom being gold and divided by a crested line.

Alaws crest changes some through out the events of their story but the one here is their most basic family crest. Traditionally the symbol of a tower represents safety, and blue is often marked as representing the trait of loyalty.

The Orange and Green on Alaw are tied to their service for their kingdom. Orange is the color that all court and royal workers wear and the green is a family color for Alaw despite it not being on their crest due to it coming from their mothers side which had no crest before the marriage.

Anyways if you have any questions or wanna see their old design or anything you can always just ask <3

[ideas-4-stories]

helloooo! I am once again sharing the cross guild Argentina au ideas. the brainworms are brainworming

also, Romantic Cross Guild!

•Alone, Mihawk would only drink fernet straight up and treat it with as much reverence as a glass of wine. But! With Buggy he starts to be fond of sharing it back and forth as it is meant to, a drink to be shared and enjoyed, he starts to get more loose and eventually he learns to share the moments and be a part of a group that loves him just as much as he loves them. Crocodile wasn't fond of fernet to begin with, but he also got fond of it after Buggy taught them the love that can be shared with it.

•Buggy has an atrocious sweet tooth, borderline solid diabetes. What else did we expect from a clown? Anyways, aside from all the piracy criminal stuff that Cross Guild does, I genuinly think that Buggy would beg on his knees, on his hands, pouting, crying and doing the biggest pretty please he could so Crocodile lets him hire bakers so that they would make him his favourite facturas and sweets every morning and also sold off for a little profit, but mostly for him to eat at mreakfast and merienda. Crododile does try his hardest to resist the pouting clown but he's helpless and obligues after a little while. They now have the best bakers money can get in the island and Crocodile and Mihawk get sugary kisses every morning now. They might have started liking sugar more if it is in their daily clown kisses...but nobody has to know that shhh. Also now on their list of services to offer they have Sweet Argentinian Facturas among other silly little things like murder, kidnapping, taking down pirate ships, y'know, the usual.

•Crocodile is one of the only people in the whole island that drinks mate the bitterest shit yerba can get it and as hot as volcanic lava, nobody wants to drink with him. Mihawk doesn't drink mate, he's more of a terere guy, and Buggy drinks mate with one kilo of sugar on top and midly cold (hes just like me fr). So that's why all three only share the table they put the things on. Every evening at merienda time the table has one stanley termo (like a one liter thing that stores water and keeps it hot), one jug of iced juice, one flashy hand-painted classic metalic kettle, and a distressful amount of sweets and sandwiches and bizcochos of various types and forms. It is always full of color and warmth and love.

▪︎Buggy can and will gobble up a whole jar of dulce de leche with spoonfulls. Croco and Mihawk are horrified.

▪︎Mihawk mainly dresses whith white loose shirts, used to hot climate like in Cordoba. So the moment winter starts he does not go out at all, he is deep in blankets. Buggy and Croco are very amused, but also find it a little cute

▪︎Crocodile gets up at 6am no matter what, even worse, he is an old ass cranky morning person. Mihawk and Buggy do not like it but, he is THEIR old ass cranky morning person, what're they gonna do about it?

(In this AU I headcanon Karai Bari island as looking less tropical and more like the woods around El Bólson(a village?city?town?in argentina) incluiding all the mountains and cascades and rivers and lakes and woods there are there, so the next places i will name are real ones, you can google them i love them all)

•As their first official date together they decide that nothings better than the Bosque de las Hadas (Fairy Forest) because of how magical and quiet it is there, after all, the fairys and gnomes are just stories, right?

Well, turns out stories are there for a reason, the start the date and everything is beautiful and they have the whole forest to themselves so they go al lovey dovey and suddenly they start hearing weird shit until they have to run out of the forest with Crocodiles help. At the end they had a disastrous date and Mihawk was kinda devastated inside, cuz he had suggested the Fairie Forest, but his partners made sure to make him know that it was interesting anyway and they spent a good time even if they were chased off by tiny feral fairies. Smooches are required and they do...other things too...

•As for their next day, they try a place with less magic in it, they fo to the Waterfalls. They have to do a little hicking; Mihawk is unbothered and enjoying the forest, Crocodile cheats with his sand a little, and Buggy whines the whole way up even if he is enjoying it, his whining stops when Crocodile puts him up on his shoulders and does indecent and spontaneous ass-grabbing. The Waterfalls gets to witness public indecency. It is a beautiful and succesful second date.

oooops i got carried away. anyway thank u for your time! have a good day :}

Sorry it took so long to reply, many long projects for school came one after another. Then I had no motivation for some days, but I'm back and I just have to say that I love these ideas. Them drinking together with something they either don’t drink with others or don’t drink at all is so cute to imagine!

I’ve heard ideas where Devil Fruit users need something that gives them energy or something like that… it could be food of some sort or smoking. I wonder if that’s true, Buggy’s must be sugar. Poor Mihawk and Crocodile, watching Buggy eat an entire dinner worth of sugar a day like Crocodile smoking through a pack or two of cigars a day isn’t bad as well.

I’m chuckling because I see Mihawk popping his head out of some blankets with Crocodile and Buggy, thinking Mihawk is being so cute. Love that Crocodile is their cranky old person in the morning. Karai Bari being more woodland area than topical looks nice in my mind, the fairy forest with little feral fae chasing them is so funny to think about. I wonder who pissed them off? The second date is everything, Buggy complaining about the shits n giggles, then gets lifted up onto Crocodile’s shoulder, now able to see more things with price of some public indecency.

[velvet4510]

I’m pretty sure this has been said already, but as a more recent fan who is only just starting to take a minor character like Radagast into deeper consideration, I’d like to pour it all out anyway.

One might be quick to ask, why would one of the Istari have a mission other than defeating Sauron? Why would Yavanna, who was the one who insisted Radagast join the Istari, be less interested in the defeat of Sauron than the others and only want an Istari to protect her trees? But here, I think, is the genius of Tolkien at work yet again:

There is more than one way to contribute to the defeat of an enemy.

During LOTR, while Gandalf is more of a leader and gives direct strategic advice and guidance to the armies (as does Saruman, but not on the Free Peoples’ side because he’s a traitor), and the Blue Wizards are said to have served as undercover spies weakening Sauron’s power over the Easterlings, Radagast’s skills are different. His power lies among the natural world that Sauron is threatening.

Some of the Istari needed to help with the physical battles against Sauron’s armies, yes, but Sauron was not just threatening the Free Peoples. He was also threatening the world’s olvar and kelvar, which were in as much danger - and, as living beings, had as much intrinsic value - as the people.

So Radagast WAS contributing to Sauron’s defeat, by focusing his attention and work on the living forms of Middle-Earth who could not speak.

On top of this, the natural world’s previous protectors - the Ents and Entwives - were no longer as sufficient as they used to be. Sauron destroyed a majority of, if not all the Entwives in the Second Age when they burned their gardens. By the time the Third Age arrived, the number of guardians of the olvar and kelvar had severely diminished, and Sauron was regrowing as a threat. The poison and darkness that he would spread was likely to annihilate all of Middle-Earth’s forests and wipe out the Ents completely.

So naturally, Yavanna would want a contributor to the fight against Sauron to focus on defending the olvar and kelvar. And she would want him to stick around as long as possible, and give him permission to stay there forever and never return to Aman if he so chose, which he did.

And I think there’s plenty of evidence of Radagast’s successes, considering the state of the world during the events of LOTR.

Fangorn Forest still exists. Mirkwood still exists. The Shire still exists. Parth Galen still exists. Dozens of lakes and rivers still exist. Who but Radagast could’ve helped the few remaining Ents preserve these places and prevent Sauron’s forces from totally eradicating them?

Sauron’s armies are not mentioned to include any wild birds or beasts, other than fell-beasts and oliphaunts and werewolves, all of which very well could’ve been hand-bred by him. Who but Radagast could’ve ensured the majority of Middle-earth’s birds and beasts remained enemies of the darkness?

Radagast’s many achievements of his mission are actually right under our noses. Saruman calls Radagast a fool because he is not truly in tune with Yavanna’s world and sees it as little, worthless, and able to be conquered by him. Even Gandalf does not entirely share the immeasurable depth of Radagast’s understanding of the olvar and kelvar.

Any work during a war that is not direct involvement in military/battle strategies is all too easily dismissed as passivity or inaction. But by just taking a closer look, we see how Radagast proves that silly notion wrong.

[eggoflore]

Completely random Worldbuilding ideas #2 : Swamp Tritons

In a lot of fantasy settings there is more often than not a species of people adapted to life underwater, from more amphibious tritons to fully aquatic merfolk. The thing is, a vast majority of these representations are always associated with the most common bodies of water, ranging from rivers, to lakes, to oceans, yet I feel as if the most interesting aquatic environment has been left out altogether: swamps.

I absolutely adore bayous, mangroves and all means of wetlands as well as the incredible ecosystems they encompass, and I feel like creating a fantasy race adapted to survival in their lush and humid conditions would be particularly interesting. Therefore, dear reader, I present to you my concept for the Swamp Tritons.

As a consequence of swamps being a lot shallower than the typical oceans that tritons inhabit, I feel like this particular subspecies would be a lot more adapted to life on land, and while they'd still retain their ability to breathe underwater, they would most likely have much more dexterous, thinner frames which would allow them to maneuver nimbly through vegetation, unrestricted by the traits normally necessary for life under the pressure of ocean depths. This would mean they'd probably be smaller and thinner than your average triton (ranging around 5 feet rather than 6) and most likely capable of much more acrobatic feats. Their blue skin would probably also have taken on a much greener hue so as to allow them to hide efficiently in both luxuriant terrain and marshy waters, rendering them almost invisible to the untrained eye as they swim and dart through the murk. This natural increase in stealth and dexterity would probably be crucial to their survival in a place which is most likely filed with all kinds of giant snakes and crocodiles (as most fantasy swamps are), though I feel like as a final defense mechanism they'd be able to secrete a poisonous mucus from their skin like many frogs do, something which would probably stop them from being ingested by the gargantuan wetland monstrosities that share their home. They might even use this mucus as a tool, harvesting it to coat weapons such as arrows, sabers and spears which would be an essential tool in their hunting process, but could also allow them to take on opponents much larger and stronger than themselves as long as they'd be capable of stalling long enough for the toxins to take effect.

Due to how difficult and impractical traversing swampland would be for most other fantasy races, swamp tritons would most likely live in small, tight-knit communities buried deep within the waters of their marshy homes, having a rich culture unique to their tribes (maybe some kind of mythology where the scarcely seen herons are considered sacred?) and most likely a profound distrust of outsiders, meaning very few would venture beyond their territory, leading their existence to be kept secret from a large part of the world. Despite this I think it'd be particularly interesting to see the experience of a swamp triton integrated into the more mixed species common society present in a lot of different worlds, from the hurdles of not being able to touch others directly due to their poisonous skin, to the effectiveness it'd provide for certain posts like apothecaries or assassins.

If you've read this far into the post please know I am incredibly thankful for your time and attention, and I hope my silly little worldbuilding rambling may have interested and inspired you. If you have any comments, questions or honestly anything to say in general I'd love to hear it, being able to share my work with people means the world to me. Anyway, thanks for reading, EggOfLore signing off!

[asteroid-fruitcup]

how i write poetry

basically a tutorial to how tf i write poetry because no one asked

first of all i am NOT an expert on poetry i dont know SHIT about shakespeare or any cool people like that aND i type like this like idfk 90% of the time like this is literally all one huge sentence and i made typos TRYING TO FIX MY TYPOS

anyways

usually, i start with some theme to write about. i’ll use my poem “i wish i was a river” to demonstrate

I was prompted to write a poem about victim AvA ehehe so I wanted to make a poem about wanting to change yourself but feeling like you can’t and kind of spiralling down because of it.

so step 2, I come up with a metaphor. You may have seen this post and well yeah. the metaphor I came up for was “i wish i was a river, yet I remain a lake”.

lemme break it down hold on

“i wish i was a river” because rivers are always flowing and they pave their own paths throughout the land. they do whatever they want. they’re just silly like that.

“but I remain a lake” lakes don’t fuckgn move. they just sit there. still water. mud and weird shit festers at the bottom and who the hell would want to swim in still water. they stay there and dig their own grave in the mud 😭

so now you have a yummy delicious metaphor to start your poem with. amazing. you’re on your way to cooking up a 5 star meal

now. build on it !!! explain the meaning of your metaphor through more words. use figurative language, say everything you mean. it does NOT matter. it’s poetry. poetry can be chaotic, because if it wasn’t chaotic I would never have written any.

if you would like, you could end it there. but from here there are also more options.

for example, you can repeat that process and add more metaphors. i built on to my original metaphor and changed the ending which got me “i wish i was a river, but I became a storm” so to translate “i wish i was open minded and able to change but i think i’ll just get angry at everyone instrad” so yeah we love vic

you can change the direction of the poem entirely. make the speaker confused. make them realize something midway.

in my poem “I am that friend” the poem starts off super light with “haha i love you and I’ll be loyal and never leave your side!” but then eventually the skies mfing darken and it explains how I try so hard to make people happy that I destroy myself in the process :3 (if you cant tell i kind if have a habit of saying really dark stuff like that and then purposefully putting “haha! im so silly :3” at the end idk why im like this :crying)

and something i feel a lot of people dont realize? poetry doesnt have to mfing rhyme. don’t listen to your kindergarden reading material omg like at most 2 of my poems have rhymed and they’re long lost

the poems I write are more like… rhythmic speech. like singing to some extent (cough cough liana flores cough cough)

i try to make my poems sound like you’re trying to have a deep conversation with someone and prove your point. you’re really trying to pack meaning into your words but still sound casual not to confuse the person you’re talking to. idk if casual is the right word but i think you get what i mean idkkk

but yeah, thats how i write my poetry! also keep in mind these arent like. the rules. seriously go mfing wild make your poem sound like a tired mother finding her kid on their phone at 3am and being so done with rhythmically talking or making strong metaphors

its poetry. fuck the rules. :>

[frostyclove]

am too tired to record this one i think. here is what i would have said about the episode. want a nap. its 8am.

my thoughts on the well - what would be my like 10 minute video on it

8.75, round it up to a 9. What an episode. 

Now I must say - im about to go seriously spoilers btw leave now please  - I have never really been a fan of the original episode. I know. It’s a great episode. That doesnt mean I like it. Welcome to objectivity vs subjectivity. With that in mind - it was a really good episode! I hated it ! I was on the edge of my seat in terror but in the not fun way (and to be clear - only doctor who ever achieves the not fun way. Midnight, The impossible planet, night terrors, murder on the orient express, 73 yards. I generally prefer moffats version of it, because he at least caves and gives a reason or slight explanation for everything, ie the 12 three parter, sleep no more, oxygen, under the lake before the flood, flatline. I could go on. Obviously most of those are actually another writer, but, theyre in the Moffat era so go with it. 

The doctor and Belinda kinda sorta getting married??? Taking note of that. May be important later.

Obsessed with having toxic back truly phenomenal 

Anyways the tardis is all sterile because its a doctor and a nurse in it its a hospital so its sterile I take no more complaints about it 

Really ~jumping into the action~ on this episode (bar the pun in sure Russell thought he was so silly with that)

I love the arrogance f the doctor unssuiting - just for it to quite literally screw them over (technically it was the doctors need to know that did but the suits didn’t help) 

The thing is I unfortunately do just love ncuti as the doctor. No matter what he does I think I’ll like it. 

For someone that doesnt want to be here Belinda is honestly doing so well and keeping up and having so much fun lying and playing the part and shes great at it truly iconic 

Cassio was the worst thats kinda all im gonna say there. Wouldn’t listen to anybody but himself. Like just stop moving bud. Honestly what a way to get rid of half the cast though kinda respect that was efficient as hell while also realllyyyy serving the narrative 

Also to be completely silly but also serious - so it’s like Clara, river, a small handful of people that actually know his name. Meaning - technically - the chances of Clara, in a face of boy kind of way, being the midnight entit, is technically possible. It would actually kinda make sense to tbh she is that bonkers for it (please dont do this Russell im mostly joking about) 

I love (painfully hate) when a could be companion dies. It’s always so mean of the writers. But such a nice emotional note narratively im sorry im a sucker for tragedy in fiction

Oh and - the earth is gone again! Im pretty sure its disappeared from one day on - im going to ponder a guess and say its something to do with the one guy from 73 yards coming back again and with ruby no longer with the entity thing he never became un-preident or something of the sort basically we nuked the planet off the face of the earth therefore no more humans no more earth no more impact on the future ~ kind of thing. Conrad when I catch you I know you have something to do with this 

Also sorry - didn’t the behind you part also mean that the midnight entity had possessed the thing that was behind aliss? Or did I misunderstand that part? Which could explain the ending and numbers - the thing behind her went with her in the pod, the entity stayed. i wonder if it ever actually even went into Belinda, or if she just felt like it. Idk. I think this may be the point of the entity and all , but it could have very easily hopped onto the other one, making the entire sacrifice pointless! And I kinda love that its a lovely twist for the vile-ness of the creature - and if this is the case we have only seen the creature it inhabited (which looked kinda like the creatures from hide) rather than the midnight entity itself

I loved the moment where the whole plan was made. That was nice. Normally its just throw stuff run a bit and talk and hope it works out. But he actually took a moment to make a plan and communicate it. Look at the doctor growing and learning 

So what is going on with the vindicator ? Why does flood want to know about it? Is she following it? Im so curious 

The grime on the set truly added to it that was really nice 

ALSO the lighting and set design on this episode - the way it goes from the tardis brightness to the dullness of the planet to the gorgeous golden orange hue of the hallway… creative team you deserve so much love well done 

Loved the ‘hope is irrelevant’ bit - because I so deeply disagree and the whole point by the end is that it is relevant ugh I love it 

People have been mentioning the want for things to remind the doctor of the danger and all of that and how Belinda should outright be like ‘no doctor. Youre dangerous. I hate you . Goodbye’ but like… killing off side characters does that just as well and often can pack (as seen in this episode) just as much of a punch

“What we should have done in the first place - nuke this site from orbit” - I cant help but wonder if this adds to the missing earth thoughts ive been having. That could very easily be some RTD foreshadowing bad-wolf style 

Also well and truly poor aliss girl just wanted to make some food and all of a sudden everyones killing each other like she was handling herself very well given the circumstances

can we take a moment for the subtitles those are cool as hell can we get those irl ? But also …. I feel like the tardis should be able to get an upgrade that would do that but im not sure how it could

And Take note from Belinda Chanda how easy it is to go “well we aren’t quite there yet but we absolutely should be’ and remember that we aren’t dealing with a monster of epic proportions and to go fix the problems we do have (in this case - ablism) 

The directing when the doctor steps forward was damn weird but im guessing that was either because ncuti wasn’t on set so it was a stand in OR it was to keep the doctor from dying based on the spacing and all that but I honestly cannot tell

Simolin is going to matter later. I dont know how. But they keep mentioning it by name. 

Something about Belinda being the first one to notice. She looks to deeply at things. And yet even being the one to notice, she manages to not actually be bought into the fight of it all. Even looking at the thing that is meant to absolutely screw her mind up - it doesnt. Belinda has a psyche of steel and I cant wait to see how that will later impact with whatever the hell is going on with missing earth. Not only does she see right through the doctor, but she sees right through the entity. She doesnt lose communication , she continually blames herself… she may end up noticing stuff in the next few episodes. Pay attention to where her attention is. She may be one of the smartest companions to companion (simply due to her 

The wars came. Diamonds. Everything is making me think about S3 finale. About utopia. About the S4 finale. The bees. I —— theres something here. 

Belinda definetly had a crush on Mo 

Am a bit confused why aliss was lying about the thing behind her but it is what it is 

Love the use of a diagram me too Belinda gal 

Im fairly certain it’s been implied that it might be part of the pantheon - but we will never know. Which feels like a good balance on that. On that note - This season, with all the pantheon stuff, is actually covering a really interesting aspect - what happens when the villains just, enjoy it. When they destroy things for fun? And how no matter what you say to them, they simply want to keep having fun. Because for them the destruction is fun. And I cant help but notice its at the same time that many world leaders are doing the exact. Same. Thing. What is the line between the pantheon and them, outside of them being fictional gods? Do they not act the same? Treat others the same? Even though they didn’t cornifm it as part of the pantheon, they confirmed it was just as willing and excited to destroy as they were. You dont have to be one of the gods to aim to be as destructive of them. and how we (like the doctor) very much do have the power to stop them. We just have to actually try. Which of course we can at least get a start on by bringing back woke with a force but we gotta S3 it and actually work together on that stuff. 

“Please dont turn your back on me” already obviously means a lot because aliss is deaf and literally cant communicate if he does, but also because thats how this entity kills. continuing on my last point, if you let yourself turn your back on a group (uk ; trans people , us ; immigrants, I could go on) you are choosing to allow the possibility of them being killed. Im sure someone will write a much better version of that (please im begging its a very important point) but thats just my preliminary thoughts on that 

God this episode has a crazy bodycount omg 

Ncuti is such a phenomal actor he truly deserves so many awards I just… hes so perfect for this role I do just love him so dearly 

Shaya is her name <3 

The little run motion he does is just so cute omg I know y’all hate space babies but I do just love seeing the doctor being all cute and silly 

Okay also I do think there is something to the boom of it all. In both episode 3’s , a companion mostly dead? Varada in both? 

Ack doctor who is so mean what do you mean im crying again quit killing butches omg. Basically gave a doctor ass speech. Ugh. Tears. Ouch. Well done. Congrats you made it hurt well done. 

I love Belindas like ‘okay im not dead not immediately pivoting - where the hell did earth go’ she did not waste even a moment 

“Bravery in the face of impossible odds” CLARA SPLINTER CLARA SPLINTER CLARA SPLINTER” I yell as they drag me away 

Also preemptively - Conrad I hate you I haven’t met you yet but I hate you 

[lal-ffxiv]

Prompt #30: Two Heads Are Better Than One (Be by Our Side - The Sweeplings)

Luka sat in a field outside Idyllshire overlooking the Dravanian Hinterlands. Being here and in The Longmirror Lake made Luka's heart and soul twist in the same way. Among ruins that are overtaken by elements made Luka think of being dead and buried. Luka thought how dreadful it would be to be buried underground. 

"There you are. Riva has been walking circles in the city looking for you." Haran said as zie approached Luka.

Immediately Haran feels something amiss with the warrior. Luka never quite looks forlorn even though their body may be weighed down by sadness. Luka only looked lost when the grief became overwhelming, so Haran sat down in the grass as well. 

Luka lays down in grass briefly disappearing before rolling over to Haran's side.

"When I die will you give me rites like the U. To be spread over the land, not buried." Luka said in place of any kind of greeting.

"What brought this on? Bored to death?"

It isn't right to say that Luka is bored. There were too many and too much to commit in memory for Luka not to be glad for the peace. It is only that rest isn't kind to the sort of restlessness Luka has in their bones.

The zephyer came over the hill and passed over them. The wind whispered for Luka to follow, 'but to where and what am I to do there', Luka thought. Luka moved closer to Haran to lean on zir and asked, "What can I do if I'm not the Warrior of Light?" 

Haran accepted Luka's weight. "You'll be who you've always been. What were you before being known as the Warrior of Light?"

Luka looked to the sky and thought of the sky over the sands of Thanalan, how the sky peeks light through the canopy of the Twelveswood, and where the sky meets the sea on horizon at La Noscea. So an adventurer, Luka thought. Yet. 

"I looked for adventure and I've had adventures to beyond and back. I wanted to help people and I have saved everyone. I'm called legendary, so is my story over?"

Haran held the miqo'te closer now. "Your story is written as you breathe, and I'm sure we can think of something to keep busy. Even if it may not be so exciting as slaying gods." 

"Did you say you'll think? Good luck. There isn't enough sense between you for a good idea." Riva joined them by sitting in the grass too. Luka promptly tosses their legs over Riva's lap.

"It is good you've found us then. Between all three of us should make one head of sense and reason." 

Riva glared at Haran's insult, but gave suggestions anyways. "There is always some game to hunt or a quarry to mine. Those silly, fluffy imps are always in some kind of trouble." 

"The moogles." Haran corrected in agreement. 

"Is there no one or no place to see anew, or have we met everyone there is to meet?" Riva continued.

This was all true. Luka's thoughts had overburdened them, and the answer was there all along. Peace was itself an adventure. Unknown and new. A time to travel more and learn more. 

"Wherever we go, we go together?" Luka asked their friends. 

"We write our stories together with yours." Haran affirms, and zie can see relief come over Luka. 

"There is only one place you'll go alone." Riva said with a mischievous look in xyrs eyes. Haran understood the look and gave one of zis own. "And that's into the river!" 

Riva clasped Luka's legs as Haran lifted Luka by their arms. Together the pair carried Luka over to a stream.

"Nooo! I don't like being wet." Luka protested loudly, but did not struggle to be released as they were swung over the water.

Luka embraces the fresh, running waters as they are thrown into the mountian's river.

[solarianradiance]

“Cmon!” Bubblegum said as she stretched the hose. “Come... ON!” The hose snapped as she stretched it too far, wrecking the rest of it. She held the broken item in her hand, her hopes of fixing it gone, dashed to the winds.

She threw it away in a fit of anger. “Grob, DAMMIT!!!” She then thrusted the butt of her flamer into the ground, stabbing the Earth over and over again in a tantrum.

“MOTHER MOTHER MOTHER MOTHER MOTHER MOTHER MOOOTHERRR!!!” She then paused upon her last strike. Some tears began to slowly trickle out of her eyes. She was holding them back, but the thought she couldn’t fix a simple hose had gotten under skin.

She then leaned back into the tree she sat under with her palms in her eyes. She sighed deeply, trying not to sob over this mess. She wiped away her tears and got herself mostly under control as she looked around the forest, she was in.

It was an oxbow lake she was on specifically, a sort of moated island the river naturally made then mostly left.

There were flowers basking in the sun, bees and butterflies tending to them. It was beautiful, which gave her some comfort. The place was peaceful, something she craved. She looked around more scanning the area to admire the wonders of nature, working together in harmony, shifting her head from one way to the other.

She knew their popular names, Giant Honeybees, Starwing Butterflies, Sugar flowers. But she also knew their scientific names, ones given to them in the Ancient languages of the Latins and Greeks, those pioneers of Science & Culture that she admired and whose traditions she continued in a way to honor them.

The Magna Apis. Stella Cornu Gloria. Ursa Mino- wait what?

“Hi!” Said the Bear Boy with a cheerful smile.

“AAAAAAAA!” Screamed the Princess as if she was some sort of victim in a horror movie.

“AAAAAAAA!” Shrieked the boy like a girl.

The two screamed and they harmonized, killing much of the tension in the air. Then their harmonized screaming slowly pittered out, the two staring at eachother for several moments, as if time had stopped just so they could do so, only the sound of running water keeping them company.

The two gazed upon one another, they saw each other as strangers, yet they both felt like they have somehow met before.

A butterfly landed on the bear boys head, which snapped the Princess back to reality.

“You snuck on me there! Hehehe.” She chuckled with a mild blush, realizing it was rude to stare, thinking about how silly it was.

“Yeah, uh, s-sorry about that! Sneakin ain’t my usual style.” Said Finn as he kept a respectful distance.

“How long were you there for? WERE YOU SPYING ON ME?!” She demanded.

“Wah?! NO! NO NO NO! Well, not on purpose! See I was walkin through the woods and I kinda spotted you sittin under this tree and you started fiddlin with that thing-a-ma-jig-thingy and you sorta... started crying and stuff, so I came outta hiding to see if you needed some consolin and junk.”

“That’s what spying is ya dingus!!!” She said in anger. “That’s twisted creepy! ACHOO!”

“Bless you.” Said Finn.

“Danke.” Said Bonnie.

“Well, I wasn’t doin it on purpose and... um... I’m sorry.” Finn said with sincerity. “Do you... need help?”

Bonniebel’s anger subsided slowly, she remembered it was a public space, one that she technically owned, but he had a right to be out here like anyone else. She had no right to be angry with him spying on her.

“...Y-you... got a hose or something on ya?” She asked, trying to be polite, not expecting him to have anything on him she could use.

“Uh...” He flipped his backpack open, emptying out its contents. It was mostly junk, food, drinks, a pencil, a toy slingshot.

“Hey, lemme see that slingshot!” She said. The boy passing the item to her. Then she noticed it was a rubber band and not a tube. “Ugh, no, that won’t work. I need a tube hose.” She then tossed it back to the kid. “Thanks anyways.”

“Hmmm... why not, make a tube from something, like clay or dough?” Finn offered the pink lady.

Bubblegum felt a tinge of anger from the suggestion, she brushed her hair out of her face, ready to give the kid a piece of ehr mind. “A tube from claydough? Really? That s...” Then she paused and realized she was made of gum, which was like claydough. “Actually... gimme that pencil, will ya!”

Finn gave her the writing utensil. She took it and then ripped off a piece of her hair, with which she began to roll into a ball, then wrapped it onto the pencil, and kept rolling it until it was an even shape.

She spent a minute working it until it was satisfactory. She then pulled the pencil out, giving it back to the kid and then attached the new tube to her flamer, taking another moment to shape it just right.

Then she stood up, lifted the flamer, lit the flame, and gently squeezed the trigger. Out poured a great blast of fire into the air. “OOO-HO-HO-HO YEEE-HEHEHESSSS!” Said the Princess like she was a giddy pyrophiliac. Which she was not, mostly, that was Flame Princess, probably.

“SHAMAZOZOW!!! THAT IS AWESOME!!!” Finn cheered with his fist up in the air. “You invented a flamethrower?! That is so cool!”

Bubblegum felt a tinge of pride within her, which she tempered with humble honesty. “Heh, well, invented in a strong and inaccurate term. All I did was just build off of the concept and replicated previous designs for my purposes. But I did design this one myself. I actually have better ones back at my place, including a handheld one I use for cookin!”

“A handheld flamethrower?!” Finn asked rhetorically. “That is so cool! Or hot! Spicy hot! Spice!”

“Heh! Spice!” She said back to him, liking the term.

“Spicy spice flamethrowers are so spice!” Said Finn with enthusiasm.

“Yes! So. Very. Spice!” Bubblegum said with emphasis, followed by a cascade of cathartic laughter, something in which Finn joined along with her as if she told a profoundly deep joke.

Bubblegum then kept on laughing for a while longer, slowing down as fell on her butt, relaxing a bit. Whatever tension was between the two, it was gone, almost like it was never there and she was in the company of an old friend.

“So, feelin better?” Finn asked the lady.

“Yeah, actually, I do feel better! In fact... I can’t say when I last laughed like that! Thanks kid!”

“No problemo! If you need any help, I’m your Man!” He said with a gentle seriousness.

“Heh, I’ll keep that in mind, I actually need some help from time to time. So, what brings you out to the taffy forest?”

“Oh, I’m on my way to the Candy Kingdom for the first time, as a birthday present for myself! I just turned 12! I’m gonna go see the Princess!”

“PFFT! Hahaha!” The Princess laughed, almost like he was being absurd. “You wanna see the Princess?! What for?” She asked, wondering if the kid had something particularly important to ask her. Probably for a toy or cake or something.

“Well, I heard a lot of stuff about her havin probs, like big probs! Big problems she can’t solve and how they’re makin her grumpy n stuff over it all, cuz she can’t get any time to herself! So I thought I would come and help so she can do stuff she wants to do and live her! Cuz Princesses got rights to have fun and junk too!” He explained in a rather quick and long winded, almost deadpan manner.

Bubblegum stared at him waiting if the child had anything else to say. “Th-thats why you wanna see the Princess?” She asked, almost not believing him. “Just so you can ask to help her? And that’s your birthday wish?”

“Well I wanted to check out some other stuff. Never been to the Candy Kingdom, or any city for that matter. My brother Jake is easin me into things about life and all that song & dance.”

He sounded childish, as the bear boy should, he was 12, but he also sounded completely sincere as opposed to not really meaning what he says or understanding what he means.

“So you... just... wanna help the Princess with her problems to take the time off for herself in exchange for... what?” She wanted to know what he wanted in return, or if he actually thought any of it through.

“Nothin! Just wanna have fun doin quests for her so she can have a good time and stop bein a grumpy butt or whatever! Not to mention I get to help all kinds of other peeps while doin it!”

“Huh...” She huffed in surprise, a bit of her cynicism subsiding. “Why help m-... her specifically and not somebody else like somebody out in the town?”

“Why? Why not! I mean... u-um...” Finn pondered the question, trying to think of it longer term reasons besides just doing it. “Well, shes the Princess, so shes got the job of lookin after everybody. So, if I help her, I can help lots of folks all at once!!!”

“And... you just trust her to know what she's doing and stuff? You would just do it for her?”

“Heck yeah I would!” He threw his hands up into the air. “Cuz that’s what guys like me do! She’s the Princess so she probably knows what to do when it needs doin!”

Bubblegum stared at him, he had such a light and energy that sort of made her own sour dour fade, like a shadow by the sun. She liked his enthusiasm and wished more people had it.

“...What are you anyways?” She asked.

He gasped. “I...” He stood up onto his feet and in front of her and pulled out a golden sword from his backpack, raising it up into the air. “-am an Adventurer! And I wanna be a Hero!!! Just like Billy!”

“Like Billy?” She asked, giving a soft giggle. He was a kid with a petty dream, probably playing more than actually meaning it. “Well, you got a long way to go. I mean you aren’t exactly hero shaped right now. More life... friend shaped!”

“Well, yeah, I guess I am.” Finn agreed, looking upon himself. “Gotta start somehow, yknow?!”

“Yeah, I like your attitude.” She agreed as she stood up, towering above the boy. “You’ll grow tall.”

The two starred at one another, gentle soft smiles were on their faces, a gentle breeze blowing as the sun casts its warming rays upon them. It was almost as if time had stopped for a while.

“But don’t forget to enjoy your childhood.” She warned, breaking the silence, snapping back to reality. “You only get to have one for so long. Some people don’t even get to really have one.”

“YEAH! Cuz bein a kid, is... well it’s... Blabbabloopy!!!” He declared.

Bubblegum felt a sting of reality, a longing for something she saw everywhere, every day, something right in front of her right there and now but could never have for herself. Her duty to the burden of leadership and sacrificing for the good of others demanded that she could never even try to have a childhood of her own. Far too many people were relying on her.

People like the boy in front of her. She had to protect them all. This sweet innocence of the boy, who did not know her name, yet was eager to be her friend and help her however he could. As if they were never strangers to begin with.

One day the boy who thirsts for adventure would be gone, replaced by an adult, maybe like herself. But for now, she needed to protect him from anythig that would hurt him, even his own foolishness.

She smiled at him, one that came easily. “Well, maybe when you grow taller you’ll appreciate it even more! Heh... blabbabloopy! Hehehe... What’s your name anyways, kid?” She asked.

“My name? I didn’t tell you?!” He asked in confusion.

“Nope!” She answered, sucking on her cheek. “Guess ya forgot!”

“Oh, sorry, It’s Finn! Nice to meet ya!” He said with a toothy smile.

“Finn? Finn... Finn Finn Finn!” She said. “I like that name! It has an elegance to it!”

“Whelp, it’s been a blast lady! Be seein ya!” Finn waved as he turned to wander.

“Wait, where are you going?!” She said in shock, having not given her name yet, she was actually a bit offended. He must have forgotten his manners, or that she didn’t give him her name yet.

“The Candy Kingdom!” He said. “I’m off to see Princess Bubblegum, like I said! See ya later!”

She gave the boy a glare. “What makes you think you haven’t already met her, Finn?” Said Bonniebel with a tinge of anger, honied with a tone of teasing.

“Huh?” Finn looked back at the girl. “What do you mean?”

“Kinda obvi, ain’t it?” She asked. Was this kid actually dense or did he not know how to spot a Princess when he saw one? Especially one as famous as she was.

“...Um... ar-... are you her!?” Finn guessed, unsure if that was what she meant.

“Yup!” She confirmed, planting her hand on her hips, striking a pose of triumph. “I am Princess Bonniebel Bubblegum of the Candy Kingdom! It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance!” She then gave a formal curtsy.

“No way!” Finn said.

“Yes way! I am happy to fulfill your birthday wish.” She began with a happiness in her voice, like it was coming out of her chest. “As I am su-”

“Nah-nah, I mean, no way!” Finn interrupted. “You can’t be the Princess!”

Bonnie stared at the kid and gaffed at him with a huff. “Uh... yeah, I am! I am obviously the Princess!” She retorted, thinking the Bear Boy creature really was dense. Maybe he needed his ears cleaned?

“Nah, you can’t be, why would a Princess be out here in the middle of the woods. Plus you don’t have a crown! Princesses need crowns to let everybody know they’re Princesses! It’s the rules and stuff!” He threw his hands up into the air as he approached the girl.

“Uh, first of all, I can be out here if I want, these are my woods!” She said with a hint of righteous arrogance, like a teacher lecturing a student. “Second of none, I DO have a crown! It’s on my head, as you can clearly see! I mean, it’s more like a Tiara, but it totes counts!” She pointed to her head, bowing a little to show it off.

Finn stared at Bonnie’s head for a moment, scanning it. “...I don’t see nothin.” He shrugged.

“Are you blind?!” She asked in frustration. “Or color blind and it’s blending in or something?!” She then placed he hand upon her head. “It’s right... there...”

The Princess then waved her hand around her head, then rubbed her hands directly upon it, only to discover the shocking horror. “Oh FFFFFUUUUUUU-” She began, only remembering just now that a child was present. “-uuuu-dge. Fudge.” She censored. “Fudge, FUDGE! FUDGE FUDGE FUDGE ME ALL THE WAY TO CHURCH!!!”

“I like fudge!” Finn commented, partly trying to diffuse her anger by being silly, but also stating a fact.

“I LOST MY CROWN!!!” She yelled, almost panicking as she searched around the area. “OH GLOB! I-I need to retrace my steps! Oh Grob it better not fallen intot he river!”

“Whoa calm down, Princess! It’s just a piece of jewelry!” Finn said, trying to calm her down. “Nothin you can’t replace!”

“MY CROWN IS A SYMBOL OF MY AUTHORITY! One that you clearly demonstrated that I needed!” She spat. “Besides, the crown itself isn’t all that important, the Gem is! I NEED that Gem! More than anything else! It’s crucial to the lands safety.”

“Oh zip! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to downplay it!” Finn said with remorse, feeling an icy chill of regret. “What does it look like!? I’ll help find it!”

She huffed and then sighed. She did need his help right now in finding it and this was her fault for losing it to begin with. No need to take out her anger on him for something he didn’t mean to do.

“Okay, thanks kid, I appreciate it! Now it looks... like... what’s he’s wearing right now.” Her face grew into one of fear as she pointed behind Finn.

“Wuh?” Finn looked behind himself and saw a pink guy on the top of the waterfall wearing a red gown, a fashionably cute Tiara meant for girls, sporting a most mighty and righteous beard.

“Hey good lookin!” Said the Ice King with a grin most crazy wicked. “Watchya got cookin?”

Adventure Time Presents: The Good, The Fair & The Beautiful. - Chapter 7 - Zalloj - Adventure Time (Cartoon 2010) [Archive of Our Own]