#mutable alter

[charlie-lottie]

── ꩜ MUTABlE AlTER ꩜ ──

── .✦ an alter that (constantly) changes, it can be anything, such as: appearance, age, voice, name, character, etc !¡

Mentions / Tags: @radiomogai @acronym-chaos @imoga-pride @beyond-mogai-pride-flags

★ @pluralterms @pluralitywords

[endless-ineffabilities]

chemical override (8)

Ewan Mitchell x actress!reader

a/n : I had to cut some scenes, explained in the notes below, to be saved for a bonus chap or drabble. Also, I altered the outline, and this story isn't ending with 9 as originally intended. Happy Chem Ov release day! Enjoy 🖤

series masterlist ▪︎ main masterlist

The reader is left confused by Ewan's online stunt. If he really is content with keeping things casual, then why is he acting otherwise? Tensions reach their peak and Ewan is forced to face the consequences of the arrangement.

Day or night, Ewan will answer your call. 

Even when you seem overly irate at him, greeting him with, “Ewan, what the fuck was that picture?”

He exhales haughtily, your tone almost bringing him some twisted sense of pleasure. Like a ‘this is what you get’ type of reaction. Was he 7 or 27? He’s been labeled sensitive before, but right now, he can’t muster the energy to care.

“Hello to you too, darling,” he says, smoke billowing out of his lips as he lounges on his apartment balcony in London. He had convinced himself that his worries about you and Matt vanished the moment he reaffirmed you as his to the world. In this day and age, in your profession, that can easily be accomplished by something called a hard launch. The first image he posted was supposed to do just that, but the internet has a fickle memory. 

Several months had passed with nothing concrete circulating about you and Ewan, leading fans to readily accept the possibility that you were now dating Matt, prompted by the recent Deuxmoi feature. Granted, Ewan was spotted sneaking out of your building once, but what does that really prove?

Unfortunately, some others spun the story beyond recognition, protected by the anonymity afforded by their black mirrors. Aided with nothing but conjecture, they took it upon themselves to accuse you of infidelity. 

All in all, it had been an eventful 24 hours. His impulsive act of possessiveness quickly turned into a mutable gossip headline.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” you reply immediately. “Why would you post that? I didn’t even know you took it in the first place.”

“I was doing you a favour. Don’t you see? People are under the impression that we’re still together.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Darling, you know it matters. It’s not a good look that you were spotted with someone else, you know what people are like,” he said. 

“Oh, thank you so much for saving me from public ridicule, Ewan,” you say, tone dripping with sarcasm. “Since when do you care about what people say? You stay offline for this exact reason.”

“I know some mean things were being said about you.”

“I don’t care about any of that,” you insist, but you no longer sound sure.

“I’m doing you a favour,” he says. “If that picture remains, then it’s basically a ‘fuck you’ to all the people who accuse you cheating on me.”

“How can I cheat on you, Ewan? We’re not together.”

He bristles at that statement, the truth that sits unpleasant in the back of his mind. It hurts that you’re right. “You know what I mean,” he musters. 

He hears nothing for a while, save for some shuffling in the background. Are you screaming your frustrations into your pillow? Is your fist raised at the skies, cursing his name? Tell him you hate him, and he will crumble. The three words will come out of him unrestrained. I love you, followed by, please don’t leave me. 

But they already have spilled out of him, lost among his tearful pleas in the car. That night in September, he crumbled and he lost you anyway. What good would it do now? What difference would it make?

You finally speak, and he hears the frustration in your voice, even as it softens, “You’re so fucking infuriating.”

He can’t help but chuckle, the sound low and easy, “Hey, baby, you’re the one who called me.”

But your next words wipe the smile right off his face. “Ewan… this isn’t going to be the last of it. Sooner or later, we’ll have to make it known that we’re not as in love as everyone thinks.”

He frowns, not accepting that you’re pressing on the topic. “Why?”

“Your memory must be so twisted, Ewan,” you sigh, and he can picture you shaking your head, “Don’t you have that ironclad PR arrangement for your new film?”

His chest tightens. Leave it to you to be the bearer of harsh truths. “That… That might not happen.”

“Might not? Oh, for fuck’s sake, you didn’t quit, did you?”

“No, I didn’t quit,” he answers quickly, trying to keep his voice steady. “But can we not talk about the film? It’s not what matters right now.”

“But it does, Ewan,” you insist, the concern in your voice gnawing at him, “you’ve got this important thing, and I… what if I want out? What if I want something real?”

“Something… real.” It's like a punch to his gut, nightmare fuel, and he scrambles for a response. “Like what?”

“I don’t know… I just – ”

“This isn’t real enough for you?” There is no hiding the vulnerability in his voice now. It wouldn’t even work if he tried. “I… I’m not…”

“Ewan.”

You refuse to answer his question, and he thinks it’s for the best. He responds with his usual, “Darling.”

“What are you going to do about that picture?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it,” he finally decides. 

“What?”

“I’ll get rid of it.”

“Okay. Good.” He can hear the relief in your voice, but he’s not done yet. 

“But you can’t get rid of us,” he says firmly, leaving no room for negotiation. “I won’t let you.”

You groan, “Ewan… ”

His reply is curt, daring you to disagree, “Darling.”

He’s met with a long and uncomfortable silence, the air thick with everything left unsaid. He needs to break it. He needs a diversion. “Are you home?” he asks.

“Why?”

Even over the line, he can feel you pulling away, like your tether to him is loosening. He can’t let that happen again. “Are you still angry with me?”

“Why?”

“Why don’t I come over and we can hash it out?” His voice drops into that rhythm, the one he knows you couldn’t resist. 

“You’re incorrigible.”

“Maybe so,” he admits, a small smile playing on his lips, “but I want you.”

He waits with bated breath, ready to run out the door at your word.

“I can’t believe you, Mitchell,” you sigh, your amusement at him bleeding through. It’s all he needs.

“See you soon, darling.”

All throughout the night, he doesn’t let you go. The moment he steps through your door, the tension from the call dissolves into something more primal, something neither of you can resist. Every touch feels like a desperate attempt to hold onto a love that might slip away, even if just for a moment.

Deep down, he knows, just as you do, that this can’t last. But as the night stretches on and he holds you close, he pushes that thought away, burying it in the recesses of his mind. 

This is enough, even for now. 

And so the song remains the same.

Clad in full costume, you tread the halls of the set, your posture noticeably straighter. Alyna’s attire has a way of transforming you, making each step purposeful, each glance sharp. The familiar weight of the prop weapons at your side makes you feel like a true fighter. 

The Watford studio is buzzing with energy as the Entertainment Weekly photoshoot unfolds, the set alive with activity. It is one of the actual sets used for the show, so you feel right at home - Alyna Rivers in her natural habitat. 

You weave through the crowd, careful to avoid Ewan, whose presence you can never shake off. You’ve never actually been together, in a big group setting such as this, since the beginning of the arrangement. The cast definitely knows something is going on, especially after Ewan’s last daring post on Instagram. Ewan hadn’t deleted the post – he simply deactivated his profile instead. You noticed it the next day when you tried to check, only to find his account gone.

The realisation left you conflicted. On one hand, it meant the picture wasn’t out there anymore. But on the other, it felt like a temporary fix, a way of avoiding the real issue rather than confronting it head-on. It was a pause, not an ending. The post still existed technically, suspended in some middle realm. 

Since the cast is not privy to the sordid details of your arrangement, you think it best to keep interactions with him at a minimum. It had been constantly nagging at you, the thought of being with him but not really. Are you even allowed to hold his hand in front of your friends? Won’t that be crossing the line, breaking the rules that he set when he promised that, you won’t be his and he won’t be yours?

Alyna would never, not in a hundred years, allow herself to be put in this position. Especially not by Aemond Targaryen, of all people.

Just as you start to relax, Matt materialises by your side, a wide grin plastered on his face.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the fiercest bastard in the realm,” Matt says, looking every bit as Daemon with his Targaryen blacks and silver-blonde wig, giving you an exaggerated once-over. “Looking for your next conquest?”

“Careful, Matthew,” you shoot back, smirking. “Alyna’s got a list, and you’re edging pretty close to the top.”

“Good to know I’m on your mind, and as a top priority, nonetheless,” he teases, nudging you playfully. “But let’s be real, you’d miss me too much.”

You laugh, the sound echoing off the stone walls. “Miss your terrible jokes, maybe.”

“You love my humour,” he insists. “I’m just saying, when you get tired of shooting arrows and swinging swords, let me know. I would like to take you out into the real world.”

You raise an eyebrow, cheeks heating up. He caught you off guard, so thank the gods for the sheer boldness that Alyna wears like skin, rubbing off on you as you stand in her shoes. “Is Daemon asking Alyna on a date, Smithy?”

“Depends,” he quips, a sly grin on his face. “Is it working?”

Before you can respond, Tom saunters over, clearly not one to miss out on the fun. “What’s this I hear? Matt finally working up the nerve to ask his on-screen sidekick out? Either I’m going mad or my five espresso shots are working.”

“Watch it, you,” you warn him playfully, unable to suppress a grin. “Alyna’s still got some arrows left. And I’m not his sidekick.”

Tom smirks. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re all talk.”

“Want to test that theory?” you challenge, raising an imaginary bow. Matt lets out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest as if struck.

“See? Deadly,” Matt says, winking at you. “So, what do you say? Coffee, next week? Somewhere far from dragons and politicking?”

You pretend to consider it, tapping your chin. “You know, that doesn’t sound half bad. As long as you promise not to reenact your last attempt at flirting.”

“Ouch,” Matt laughs, holding up his hands in surrender. “I’ll do my best.”

As the photographer calls for everyone to take their places, you catch a glimpse of Ewan watching from a distance, his jaw clenched. The amusement in Matt’s eyes tells you he’s noticed too.

“You’re playing with fire, you know,” you whisper to Matt as you walk toward the set.

He grins, lowering his voice. “I wasn’t called the Rogue Prince for no reason. Besides, I am the blood of the dragon.”

“Sure you are,” you reply, but you are unable to ignore the thrill of Ewan’s intense focus. 

The set buzzes with activity, cast members instructed to maintain their character’s demeanour for the photographs. The Greens go first, with their designated groupings, with Ewan and Gayle sharing a close-up shot. From where you stand behind the cameras, you can feel Ewan’s gaze locked on you, his presence heavy and distracting. After a while, you feel the need to step away, walking further to the side. 

He remains silent, his focus clearly split between you and Matt, who keeps up a steady stream of clever remarks that make you laugh. Each one seems to darken Ewan’s mood further. The tension becomes so palpable that the director finally calls out, “Ewan, can we get your attention over here, please? You’re off your mark.”

Liv and Phia, still awaiting their cues, scurry over to where you stand. Liv leans in with a knowing smirk on her face, whispering in your ear. “Trouble in paradise?” Of course they’ve noticed Ewan’s odd behaviour. 

“More like purgatory,” Phia quips, scrunching her nose.

“Something like that,” you murmur, eyes flicking over to Ewan, who’s now talking with Gayle and the director, looking over the shots taken, though his attention doesn’t stray far from you.

“Well, if you need an escape route, just say the word,” Liv offers, her voice full of concern.

“Do you want me to stare back at Ewan?” Matt cheekily offers, making you punch him on the shoulder. He only laughs openly, the sound free and uninhibited and just Matt. 

“Thanks, guys,” you say, grateful for their friendship. But you know there’s no easy way out of this tangled mess. Not with the way Ewan is watching you and Matt like he’s one step away from bringing The Battle Above The Gods Eye to fruition.

Not long after, it’s time for the Blacks to step onto the set. As you move into position, you can feel Ewan’s gaze practically searing into your back. You fight the urge to laugh. Or grimace. Or shoot him a questioning look. The idea of Ewan in his full Aemond costume brooding over you is something indeed. The fangirl in you would have been sent reeling, if only he wasn’t so fucking infuriating. 

You spot Liv, Tom, and Phia swooping in like a rescue squad with a mission to derail Ewan’s brooding. Phia, ever the animated theater kid, practically throws herself in front of Ewan, waving her hands like she’s recounting the world’s most thrilling tale.

“Ewan, did you catch that last shot of Helaena? Absolute perfection,” she says, grinning.

Tom saunters up, “Care to explain why you are standing here lurking like some stalker? You’re scaring the crew, mate.”

Phia gently nudges Ewan away from your line of sight. “Come on, Ewan. Let’s go for a smoke, it’s stuffy in here.”

Ewan’s clearly torn, but he’s powerless against his friends’ instigation. You bite back a laugh as you see him getting pulled in every direction. Your makeshift rescue team really needs to get their act together, but you love them anyway. The camera snaps away, and you focus on your poses. Knowing that Phia and the gang are running interference, you’re free to enjoy the moment and be Alyna as the photoshoot demands. You can save the enjoyment from watching him squirm later. 

The photoshoot wraps up in the evening and everyone begins to gather their things, preparing to leave. Cast members chat, stretch, and discuss plans for the week.

“So, coffee next week?” Matt asks again, this time with a bit more seriousness.

“Yeah,” you reply, a small smile tugging at your lips. “I’ll see what I have scheduled then I’ll give you a call.”

“Great. I’ll even let you pick the place. Well, I’ll be off, love, I’m meeting my sister.” he says. Then, as if sensing something, he leans in closer. “But I’d better give you something to remember me by.”

Before you can react, Matt pulls you into a hug, his arms wrapping around you warmly. The embrace lingers just a moment longer than necessary, and as he pulls back, he plants a soft, teasing kiss on your cheek. You catch the mischievous glint in his eyes. What is he up to?

As Matt releases you and heads out of the studio, you spot Ewan coming toward you, his presence all too familiar. He doesn’t say anything at first, and just stands there, his silence more charged than anything he could have spoken. His expression is stoic, but with the way his lips are pursed and his nostrils are flared, you would say that he’s bothered. He’s jealous.

“You seemed to be having fun,” he finally says, his tone casual, though the tension is unmistakable.

“Mmm, maybe I was,” you reply, meeting his gaze head-on. “Is there a problem?”

Ewan’s eyes narrow slightly, but he shakes his head. “Not at all. Just… nevermind. I’m sure you know, we’ve been booked for a magazine feature coming up in a few days.”

You freeze. “Yeah, I heard. What about it?”

“I’m just making sure that you’re okay with it, darling.”

“It’s work, Ewan,” you reply tersely. “We’ll deal with it.”

The tension breaks when Fabien swoops in, his flawless smile in place. “So, you’re stealing Matt away from me now?” he teases, and there’s an edge to his question. He’s still on the fence about you and Ewan, as he feels protective of his friend. But he’s aware that there’s no simple right or wrong here. You both hurt each other; that much is clear. 

“Maybe,” you quip back, shrugging with feigned innocence. “He seems to like my company.”

Fabien laughs, though there’s a hint of something serious beneath it. “I’ll allow it – this time. But don’t forget, I’ve got dibs on him for the next round of drinks.”

As Fabien’s laughter fades, Ewan’s voice cuts through the lightheartedness. “I don’t think she needs your protection, Fabien.”

You can’t help but laugh at that, rolling your eyes. “I don’t need looking after, Ewan.”

“Maybe not,” he concedes, his voice dropping to something darker. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop.”

There’s a challenge in his words, one that sends a thrill of anticipation through you, even as you know it’s a dangerous game you’re all playing. The fire between you smoulders, waiting for the next spark to ignite it. Is Matt that spark? No, you realise, both your actions will be enough to bring everything crashing down.

For now, you step away, leaving Ewan to stew in his misguided jealousy. 

“See you around, Fabs,” you wrap your arms around his neck, giving him a hug goodbye. “I’ll see you for our shoot, yeah?” you tell Ewan, making it clear that you’re not up for another dalliance in between. 

He gets the hint, nodding tersely. But he doesn’t just let you go, not without making his mark, the thing he ached so badly to do in front of Matt, but couldn’t. 

He briefly casts a glance around the room to make sure no one else is hovering, then presses a soft against your lips, leaving you no time to protest. 

You’re exhausted. You’re frustrated. You shouldn’t give in to this, but you do. He feels right; he feels like home. 

If home is a Motel 6 along the highway, ready to kick you out at a moment’s notice. Isn’t that just a knife in the gut?

You pull away after a second, and he smiles, his thumb lightly grazing your cheek.

Fabien shakes his head, a feeling of warmth rising within him at the sight of his two friends who clearly belong together. If only they would get their heads out of their asses.

You seem to remember his presence, pushing away from Ewan’s hold.

Fabien can only roll his eyes. 

Only two days later, and you’re back to work once more. The British Vogue photoshoot has its focus on high fashion, set against the backdrop of an American West-inspired ranch. It doesn’t dwell on you and Ewan as celebrity figures, which is why you agreed to the shoot in the first place. 

Walking onto set, you’re struck with awe at the dramatic tableau of worn wooden fences, hay bales, and lasso props. But your amazement reaches its absolute peak when Ewan emerges, in full cowboy attire. 

Fuck. You bite your lip, and you can almost hear your heart pounding. Unbeknownst to you, the crew notices your flustered state, but they think it’s just you admiring your boyfriend as expected. 

He meets your eyes from across the room, then saunters over to you, that characteristic smirk set on his lips. Your breath catches in your throat, when he tips his hat and greets, “Howdy, darling.”

“Why, hello, good sir,” you try to match his tone, giving a playful curtsy. 

“Ready to give them a show?” he asks, and you’re sure if he’s referring to the photoshoot or the possibility that the two of you might have to play at being a couple as these people expect. You opt to believe the former. 

As the shoot progresses, the tension between you and Ewan becomes almost unbearable. You’re clad in an elaborate, haute couture cowgirl outfit. A sculptural corset made of brown leather, with a tailored vest on top. A floor-length skirt with a high slit reaching your upper thigh, dyed to a rich gradient of burnt sienna. Knee-high heeled boots. A leather choker with a central silver pendant rests on your neck, dangling provocatively. 

For the first set of shots, both of you casually lean against the fence. Ewan poses beside you, watching you with an intensity that is both electrifying and maddening. His gaze is hungry, almost predatory, and you almost forget about the elaborate set around you. Thankfully, each blinding flash of the camera pulls you back into the real world. Keeping you from riding a cowboy right down on the hay bales. How does the saying go? Save a horse…

The photographer snaps you out of it, as he shouts a direction for you to pose solo with a lasso draped over your shoulder. Ewan steps out of the frame, leaning against a wooden post, his eyes locked on you as if he’s trying to memorise every detail of this look. 

“Alright, let’s try a more dramatic pose,” the photographer instructs. “Maybe something with a bit more attitude.”

You adjust your stance, twisting slightly to emphasise the curve of your waist. As you do, you momentarily meet Ewan’s gaze. His eyes are dark with something like desire, and his lips are set in a grim line. 

“I can’t even articulate what you’re doing to me, darling,” Ewan murmurs in your ear, when the photographer calls for a 5-minute break. Set assistants run onto the scene, adding and rearranging props for the next round of shots.

You smirk, “Speak for yourself, Mitchell.”

“Mmm,” he hums, satisfied. 

The next shot calls for Ewan to stand behind you, his arms wrapped around your figure, the position as intimate as can be. Each click of the camera seems to heighten the tension.

His breath is warm against your neck, the sheer proximity electrifying, causing your entire body to heat up underneath the layers of leather and cotton. His heartbeat matches yours, quick and erratic. His voice is a mere whisper, barely audible over the camera clicks. “You’re making this incredibly difficult, you know.”

You tilt your head slightly, “Difficult how, exactly?”

“Keeping my hands off you is the hardest part of my day,” he replies, his voice husky with restrained desire. “It’s like you’re daring me to break every rule we’ve set.”

That you’ve set, you want to correct him, but you bite your tongue. A bitter chuckle escapes you, the sound a mix of frustration and amusement. “So what if I am,” you tease, bending back slightly into his embrace, feeling his body heat against yours. He welcomes your closeness, leaning into you. 

For the next few minutes, it’s a game of seduction and denial, every movement aimed at tormenting the other. The crew, blissfully unaware of the full extent of the tension, is generally pleased about the atmosphere of the shoot. In their minds, you and Ewan are simply leaning into your real-life chemistry and romance.

Nothing out of the ordinary. Little do they know.

In the brightly lit break room, the hum of distant chatter from the set fills the silence between you and Ewan. He’s seated across from you, his gaze unyielding as you check your phone.

His voice breaks the quiet, his tone deceptively casual but laced with curiosity. “Doing anything tomorrow?”

You look up, meeting his eyes, before tentatively answering. “Actually, yes.”

His brows lift, his curiosity piqued. “Care to elaborate, darling?”

You shift in your seat, trying to mask the tension in your voice. “I’m supposed to grab coffee with Matt.”

“Matt.” Ewan’s voice is low as he repeats the familiar name. “Just the two of you?”

“Yes.”

There’s a pause, his expression morphing from curiosity to something more intense. “Is it… is it a date?”

“I think that was implied,” you reply, your tone deliberately nonchalant as you try to maintain control of the conversation.

“Really.” His voice tightens, his response loaded with a mix of disbelief and frustration.

You notice the obvious shift in his demeanour, the way his jaw clenches and his eyes darken. “Why the long face?”

Ewan’s hands ball into fists on the table, his composure breaking. “Fuck, I—”

Before he can finish, you cut him off, your own frustration simmering. “Forget it. Don’t answer that.”

“No, just…” His voice falters, his emotions raw. “I don’t want you to go.”

You blink, taken aback by his admission. “Are you being serious right now, Mitchell?”

“Do I look like I’m kidding?” Ewan’s eyes lock onto yours, filled with a mix of hurt and possessiveness. A concoction borne out of circumstances of his own making. Or had it been you, last September? You can no longer keep track of whose fault reigns over everything. The truth of the matter is, you love him. Of course you do.

But nothing feels right anymore. 

“I don’t know,” you retort, your voice rising slightly, “I hope you are. Because you can’t just say that to me.”

“But I am.” His tone is resigned but unwavering. “I don’t want to watch you with someone else.”

The words hit you like a cold splash of water, freezing you in place. “Then I’m ignoring what you just said. This isn’t fair to me.”

His face falls. “You can’t just ignore it. It’s not that simple.”

You stand up abruptly, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on you. “Well, I don’t see how this conversation is going to help anything.”

He stands as well, his expression pained and conflicted. “I just – damn it. Wait a minute, darling – ”

You take a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. “Look, if you’re going to act like this, then maybe we need to rethink – ”

“No,” he interrupts, his voice desperate. “I don’t want to rethink anything. I just… I need you to understand that this isn’t easy for me.”

The room falls silent, both of you breathing heavily. The unresolved problem lingers, the weight of it all hanging heavily between you. 

You take a final look at him, feeling a mixture of anger and longing. “I’m gonna go get some air.”

Without waiting for a response, you turn and walk out of the break room, the doors closing sharply behind you. Ewan is left alone, frustration clear on his face as he stares at the empty space where you once stood.

Ewan is sprawled on his couch, a half-empty bottle of beer resting on the coffee table. The warm light of a lamp casts a muted glow over his apartment, which is littered with the remnants of his evening alone. He has seen the latest headlines about you and Matt, enjoying a date in Hyde Park.

Hyde Park Outing: Is it Love in the Air for these HBO Actors?

He tries to ignore them all, but the nagging bitterness won’t let him be. The images and headlines keep flashing in his mind. Unable to shake the frustration, he sends a quick message to Tom and Phia, inviting them over for a casual distraction.

A short while later, they arrive, carrying a six-pack and a box of takeout. Ewan greets them with a tired smile, which barely masks his despondence.

“Evening,” he says, opening the door wider to let them in. “Glad you could make it.”

Phia gives him a sympathetic look as she steps inside, setting down the food. “We came prepared. Looks like you could use a break.”

Tom follows, his eyes scanning the cluttered room. “And some beers. We figured you might need them.”

Ewan leads them to the living room, where they settle onto the couch. As they crack open the beers and start munching away, the initial wariness fades, replaced by casual conversation. His two guests are careful not to broach the topic of you, but they know it’s inevitable. Soon enough, it will be time to get down to business, which is essentially what they came for. They’re the rescue squad after all. 

“So… we have a feeling we know what’s been eating at you,” Tom says, taking a swig of his beer. “We saw the headlines, mate. Don’t even deny it. It’s gotta be rough.”

Ewan grimaces, his hand gripping the bottle a little tighter. “Yeah, the headlines. they’re , uhhhh … oh, what does it even matter?”

Phia raises an eyebrow, glancing at him. “Come on, kid. It matters. You can talk to us. We weren’t cast as siblings for no reason.”

Ewan lets out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. “We have this thing, this casual thing. But seeing her with someone else... it’s like a punch to the gut.”

Tom nods sympathetically. “I get it. I’m sure it was fun at first, but – ” 

Phia’s concern wins over her, leading her to interject, “Ewan, maybe you need to bloody talk to her. Figure out where you both stand.”

Ewan shakes his head, though his expression softens, and his unmistakable vulnerability shines through. “I don’t know. I’m not sure I want to see where that leads.”

Phia reaches out, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “Ask her why she ended things last year.”

“I know why – ”

“Just… ask her again? You might find out more than you expect.”

Tom waits a beat before butting in with a light-hearted chuckle, “It’s better than letting it fester. At least you’ll know where you stand. You owe her that much.”

Ewan huffs out a laugh, the bitterness in his voice giving way to reluctant amusement. “Maybe. I just don’t want to make things worse.”

“Mate,” Tom shakes his shoulder, “look at the state of things. How in the bloody hell can you make it even worse? I don’t think it’s possible.”

Phia just smirks at his boldness, but she agrees, nodding to Ewan, “He’s right, you know.”

Tom raises his beer in a mock toast. “To Aemond and Alyna.”

“Oh, you absolute rascal,” Phia laughs in disbelief. 

But they all clink their bottles together, the gesture a small comfort amidst the confusion. The evening winds down after an hour, and after they depart, Ewan’s mind is still consumed with thought.

Day or night, you will answer Ewan’s call.

“Hello?” your voice patches through after a few rings.

“Darling,” he says, “I think we need to talk.”

💌 next chapter

Taglist: @namelesslosers @skymoonandstardust @valyrianflower @luckyfirebasement @omgsuperstarg @elissanatok @callsignwidow @sinistersnakey49 @darkwriteracademia @yyrzmomo @queenofshinigamis @luvaerina @shamelessblazecrown @mirandastuckinthe80s @elleinex0x0 @pierrotlu @aegonswife @strangersunghoon @lunampacheco @writer-ann-artist @gaiaea @of-swords-and-words @ateliefloresdaprimavera @m00n5t0n3 @helaenaluvr @peachysunrize @annie-ruk @luvly-writer @ananas26t @athenafaes @lovelyteenagebeard @mamawiggers1980 @moongirl27 @katherine93 @barnes70stark @justbelljust @cloudroomblog @somestufftoday @esposadomd @girl-in-the-chairs-void @insideyourimagination @vyctorya @wildrangers @onlyrealjoy @hotdismylife @thepurplecrown @just-fics-station @clarkysblog @urmomsgirlfriend1 @misfitbimbosblog (continued in comments ... )

Some notes in the margins...

I did have Matt and the reader's date written out, but I thought it seemed superfluous for this one. Maybe in a bonus chapter?

In the next one: 'THE talk', Ewan dealing with stuff for his film, whippets, interviews, MORE headlines... will they finally resolve everything?

Also, if yous want, I can give a glimpse on what would have happened if Matt got the BV shoot instead :)

The end isn't even within reach. More angst to follow. How can there be more, you ask? Let's hash it out below 😉💙

[rederiswrites]

Just saw a (perfectly good otherwise, which is why I'm making my own post, because I have no desire to beef) post that talked about how good Veilguard is and hinged part of its argument on the idea that bringing down the Veil would kill everyone and would definitely be a bad thing. But that theme worked specifically because they forced the narrative that bringing down the Veil was a bad thing, and purged all evidence to the contrary from the game's lore!

Look, I think Veilguard IS a great game! I love it! But, like every other DA game before it, it leapfrogs right over some established lore to tell a different story, and the story it ultimately told was not about quite the same Solas many of us loved in Inquisition and Trespasser, and the difference is significant.

There was quite a LOT of reason to believe that the Veil is an unsustainable artificial structure that, by its existence, does literally incalculable harm. And no one, probably Solas included, knows what the final consequences of bringing it down would be.

The Veil was a mistake in the first place. It changed Thedas so completely that even the ancient lore of all currently existing cultures does not talk about what it was like before. It's unimaginable. We see only tiny glimpes of a world where gravity might as well not exist and form is mutable and elves don't age and if you got bored you could go on a whole-ass vacation from your body, for centuries if you wanted. Where magic was inextricable from physical existence. Where you could spend centuries playing a piece of music. And not only was it a mistake, but it didn't quite do what it was designed to do! The Blight got out anyway! Slower, and less, but it still got out.

So what Trespasser set up was a choice--continue the deep harms of the current world, a world that is in a near-constant state of apocalypse, or incur the terrible harms of bringing down the Veil for what might be a better world after. But what Veilguard gave us was a man who was used by someone he loved, betrayed by people he trusted, and never in all his wisdom managed to move past that. And your choice is to either trick him or help him move past that. It was actually a compelling story! I can buy it. The story of a spirit, deeply damaged by the things he felt trapped into doing. But it WAS a forced narrative, and they had to brush a bunch of really pivotal lore under the rug to make it work. "What is a Circle" levels of don't mind the man behind the curtain.

I defend the right of creatives to alter their story and tell it the way they want to. I also recognize the difficulties they face dealing with technical and business realities. But let's not pretend that people who were disappointed with Veilguard just don't get it or didn't understand the lore correctly. We can enjoy the game and also not invalidate that disappointment.

[omghallucinations]

seventeen mingyu: in the weeds edition

degrees, outer planets, chart patterns, ascendant complex, asteroids, aspects, upcoming saturn return??? we got it all

dude i'm so mad. i'm so mad!!! as i started writing this i was all, sure i like mingyu, but i'm not wild about mingyu, i mean everyone goes wild for mingyu, i want to spread the love!! okay!! yet here we are.

his chart bewitched and beguiled me. so intriguing! multiplicity! got mommy issues? daddy issues? a healthy attachment style?? mingyu will appeal!! however, monogamy.... probably not gonna be his bag, so keep that one in mind lmao.

29° neptune: it's giving manic pixie dream boy

ok neptune stood out to me right off the bat.

you know when i see a 29° planet i'm always gonna talk about it

neptune aspects 5/9 of his planets, and his ascendant and his MC

neptune co-rules his moon, south node, and his MC 2x (pisces, neptune decan)

a prominent/notable neptune often means people simply love to project the hell onto you, so it's not an uncommon chart situation for idols.

looking at this chart, mingyu can be someone's dream boy no matter what the dream is. he has qualities that can fit into any archetype. you want assertive and competent? he can do that. you want sweet and accommodating? he can do that too. you want clever, you want a himbo, you want funny, you want serious? he can do it all!

-> do being the key word. he does contain multitudes and is genuinely multifaceted (gemini rising, mutable cross) but the neptune factor is also projection. he can play a part, but also people often read into him whatever they want to see.

29 is the anaretic degree, it says PAY ATTENTION TO ME. it's about to pass into the next sign, which adds a few fun layers:

+ skill and proficiency: he's a good actor, fits into social roles easily, has a kind of healing energy for people, very sensitive, idealistic, could have some psychic qualities lowkey or just is very intuitive. don't get too excited!! 29° is not considered a benefic, because what exactly is beneficial about having to finish a project? this is not fun and fancy free 0° just starting shit and doesn't have to worry about finishing it!! finishing stuff sucks so much and this is in capricorn, the pressure is immense!! ->capricorn neptune usually vibes kind of.... self-sacrificial. he might find it a little easy to martyr himself when no one asked him to do all that -> 8th house--well let's amp neptune's needs the fuck up, shall we?? anything in a water house is karmic as shit. also he is intuitive as fuck. walk into a room and he knows how eeeeeeverybody is feeling within 10 seconds. there are a lot of psychic qualities here, and moon conjunct south node can he see ghosts bro??? wouldn't put it past him. + urgency: as neptune is about to leave capricorn, he might feel this desperation to do and acquire as much here as possible. we're gonna see spirituality, merging with others, escapism! there's a sense of need here, the void calls him, he must do it all!!! -> neptune is water, altered states, can't say no -> 8th house is I Feel Too Much I See The Depths I Gotta Crash Out -> capricorn is I Can't Let Go of My Responsibilities Without SEVERE ASSISTANCE -> 29° is SCREAMING SCREAMING SCREAMING... hm. be careful about alcohol, buddy, i'm sensing... binge drinking? + tests: time for final neptune exams! lowkey mingyu might have some addictive tendencies for real. either way he's gonna face some crises around escapism for sure, also probably crises to do with his lack of boundaries, workaholism, and how easily he merges with others.

with neptune in the 8th house, sex addiction or just general promiscuity as escapism is... really not out of the question here i'm not gonna lie. tbh i'd be shocked if his bedpost was not notched all to hell. HOWEVER, it's not at all the stereotypical fuckboy asshole vibe, it's kind of like:

aries sun/venus conjunction in the 11th house: okay fine, a soupçon of fuckboy energy, assertive, probably the kind of flirt who teases you a lot (have u ever met an aries venus who is not playfully mean as a form of flirtation bc i haven't), fun social energy, life of the party, unbearably charming... aaand very much will ghost you. but not in a mean way! however pisces moon/mc, prominent neptune, venus sextile jupiter, moon conjunct sn, lots of other chart aspects tbh: incredibly sweet and earnest, forms genuine connections with people, caring, nurturing as shit, earnestly looks into ur eyes all the time, probably a chronic face toucher however sagittarius 7th house, gemini rising, gemini juno: he's just naturally kind of a roamer romantically! he seeks variety, conversation, connection, experience, adventure, new things. he'd probably be into romance with people from lots of different places, who speak other languages--but again, it's really a one or two night thing. (tbh gemini risings, with that sag 7th house libra 5th house, often um.... .. well they don't settle down easily? tend to have a lot of fun in um social um situations? chart dependent, but it's not unusual (looking at you bang chan))

mingyu might be one night standing 365, but he honestly no bullshit feels a connection with every single person when they're together. he looks upon their time together fondly when he leaves at 3am! and he's not putting on an act here!

like sure he is not staying for breakfast, but he doesn't see that as not... valuing the person, i guess? it's very spiritual vibey, neptunian, ahhh how beautiful, we connected tonight, i'll remember you, our journeys connected for this one beautiful moment, farewell, etc. sagittarius-y too, which makes sense with his 7th house. like it's bullshit in a way but it's not bullshit to him, u know?

man i hope he is good at communication, because this is giving manic pixie dream boy in a huge way. lmaoooo, i can't lie it's kind of fun to me? gemini sun to gemini rising, this is fun!

ok let's add some qualifiers, aspects with less than 2° orb (so they're strong, is what i'm saying)

square libra chiron in the 5th at 29° (0.07°A) yeah so um, that's likely more of the same sort of theme (5th house includes casual romantic relationships), but more neuroses about it. -> on some level he's a little afraid to let people stay--like he's not at all afraid of connection, but he is afraid of sustained connection -> he is also afraid of NOT GETTING ENOUGH ATTENTION!!! (5th house) but he's very cute and earnest about it. he probably feels genuinely upset and remorseful if someone feels led on by him. -> also like, fifth house as childhood, who hurt you mingyu??? who discouraged your artistic expression when u were a kid??? were you discouraged from expressing urself for social conformity reasons?? did u feel shame about breaking the peace and ur need for attention?? man that saturn and SN in the 10th... mars in the 4th... pluto squaring your MC-IC... heal ur inner child mingyu 😭

quincunx gemini ascendant (1.57°A) : in one sense mingyu is acting in a genuine way and if people don't get that that's their problem, but at the same time the projections occur, and make him feel like he's not being perceived as his true self :/ is it because people think you're a dom top when you're actually a sub service top... jw -> the quincunx is a thinky thinky aspect--whenever i see it i know the person can analyze that shit (and too much probably, with another strong quincunx between mingyu's mercury and pluto) -> mingyu's Life Journey is about communicating (gemini) and asserting himself (aries), and his neptune issues (escapism, martyring himself, ghosting) come into conflict with that journey

conjunct pallas (0.42°S): ok. well. this is where my head really turned for mingyu, like damn bud he has the Vision. -> amazing natural leader, inspiring, strategic, problem-solver, finds creative solutions out of nowhere. -> sometimes an active neptune can lead to an easily bruised quality (i love her but blackpink jennie (neptune conjunct sun) was like this before her saturn return[in pisces!]). with that pisces moon i had assumed mingyu would get this too but!! he does not. he has a deep, unshakable like... belief? connection with the universe in a way?? he knows he can get through anything; he's incredibly resilient. -> sidebar pallas is at 0° aquarius-- he is smart smart smart, really quick thinker

trine gemini juno in his 12th house (1.5°S): goddamnit this chart keeps getting cuter but not too cute, i'm so mad. he's a natural caretaker and nurturer, especially with this being in a water houses trine. people look at him and are like, immediately ready to confess all their troubles. he's so nurturing!! if you have mommy issues, mingyu could appeal to you! (oh shit is that why this is working on me...? lmao uh oh) -> gemini juno in the 12th, he likes a partner who is clever, communicative, variable, possibly who plays hard to get sometimes, in the 12th he wants to feel like Fated to that person, however likely to have lots of undefined relationships and/or secret relationships and/or issues with partners meaning ill towards him or causing him harm directly or indirectly (not a guarantee, just a possibility)

bucket chart with a 4th house mars handle: go go go! (home? NO! the CLUB! then home :) )

mingyu has a bucket chart pattern--almost all of his planets are in one half of his chart--mostly the upper half (public facing, life is about external situations), but there are two in the lower half--pluto and mars. OHHHH boy, he's got some subconscious brewing down there, baby!! 6th house pluto and virgo mars can u say... anxiety???

notably, mars is our "bucket handle", since it's off by itself. it's gonna flavor the whoooooole pot, and since it's down by the IC in the most private and personal part of the chart, it's like mingyu holds this very close to his chest.

bucket chart patterns usually mean EXTREMES, pushing urself, conflict, all that kind of thing, and mars as the bucket handle??? lmao. life is about ACTION.

however. mars is in virgo in the 4th house and retrograde, this isn't a straightforward fiery direct mars in aries in the first or something. he is very go go go but also there's a lot of fear and restriction in there. also virgo is about SERVICE, so that is key (and: service top energy???)

any planet trying to make a move: so yeah that's my plan, i just need you to sign off, so if you can do that real quick... mars rx: hey :) you gotta learn how to assert yourself in your own individual way that is free from societal pressure :) u won't learn this for a long time so :) hope you enjoy things going wrong :) virgo mars: i have made 8 lists and cross-referenced all of them and then i will make a decision but wait what if i made a mistake, hm let's make another 2 lists, why are you getting impatient there is no point doing something if i do not do it correctly, mars in the 4th house: no yeah that's fine i can um. i can do all that. for sure. no problem. just gotta... cancel all my other plans so i can do everything myself since i'm the ONLY one who can,,,,, so, ,,

-> quincunx 11th house aries venus: (mars trying to throttle venus for impulsive choices because of social pressures YET AGAIN) -> quincunx 11th house aries sun: (following aries sun to parties whispering how have you been of service lately in his ear while he takes another shot) the perfectionism really jumps out in this whole area of the chart, plus the heavy 10th house -> conjunct lilith: oooh boy!! energy, charm, willpower, sexual magnetism, assertive, basically like injecting cautious virgo mars with a bit of scorpio and a bit of aries, ooohHHHH boy. his action and will is based on passion! however, potential to dominate situations and/or make rash emotional decisions (virgo mars hates this) -> conjunct virgo lilith in the 4th house: perfectionism runs rife, also some issues with the family (esp with his mars being in the 4th)--could be family secrets, or he feels beholden to his family all the time, or he didn't feel like he belonged in his family, or something else, but it leads to a certain masking quality for self-protection. -----> especially with this conjunction directly opposed to his 10th house moon--possibly an unhealthy relationship with his mother or another parent-like figure, enmeshment or just a ton of pressure on him (and possibly the reverse, pressure taken off him when it's not necessary). a lot to unravel here for him, lots of generational stuff at play, this is less fun and honestly more red flag-y? but it could also be just another thing to help him be even more empathetic, it really depends on how he deals with it!

mutable cross, mutable planets

rare is the aries sun who vibes like a mutable sign. despite clearly having an aries sun, mingyu has a shitton of mutable energy muddying the waters. very weird for cardinal fire aries!

so mingyu is fire dominant, with water coming a close second. then mutable energy goes crazy.

mingyu's angles are in a mutable square--gemini ascendant, sagittarius descendant, pisces MC, virgo IC.

mingyu's cardinal sun, saturn and venus might feel awkward with like his life direction and shape, in a sense. his mutable placements (his pisces moon, lunar nodes, virgo mars and even his sag pluto which is generational) gel with the way his life moves and may feel more "accessible" to him. it's an interesting combination!

pisces moon in the 10th house -- deeply empathetic, need for emotional contact, softness, but also expects a lot of himself (10th house), it's the highest planet on the chart so it's visible, easily accessible, very public. HUGE sense of responsibility to others.

virgo mars in the 4th house -- precision, energy, highly competent, good at "home" stuff, probably good at DIY and cooking and anything homemaking, also very high expectations of himself, loves to Provide

sag pluto in the 6th house -- pluto in the 6th house is all about Service, which literally was already point 1 and 2 on this list, so this is what is called a "repeated theme" lads! mingyu's soul journey has a huge slice about service to others. pluto in the 6th is all about getting humbled, lmao. he may go through crises or just humiliation in some way, whatever it takes for the soul to get a reality check. this placement can be prone to over-work, distracting themselves from anxiety, that sort of thing. a crisis that may happen often does through the body--illness or injury forcing someone to have to slow down and assess shit.

while we're here, let's look at his MC

in pisces: at work/in the wider world he moves in a sensitive, artistic way, very empathetic, he needs to be able to be creative and to connect with other people in order to feel satisfied professionally neptune decan: all that projection, tho conjunct the royal star fomalhaut: this was super interesting to me--any royal star in close conjunction with someone's chart will bring gifts and success and the opportunity to share a message w the world, but it will also make you go through Trials. mingyu's neptune is already putting him through Trials so like join the club i guess!! -> pros: wisdom, empathy, artistic talent -> cons: intense very visible emotions, aforementioned Trials

let's add some dialogue with the aspects, shall we?

pisces MC: i meet the world with sensitivity and empathy :) if i don't get to do that professionally i feel incomplete :( sextile taurus mercury in the 11th: my talent for communication aligns perfectly with my career :) also i have a nice down-to-earth and sensible vibe :) i love to chill with my friends and like-minded groups of people :) trine chiron: wow i am so wise :) feeling stifled creatively when i was young has made me value what i have now! i can heal others through my artistic expression! square pluto: knock knock pisces MC: no... no don't do it... square pluto: say who's there. never mind i don't care, it's time to force that transformation, baby!! pisces MC: but my escapism? square sag pluto in the 6th: not anymore :) damn look at that, now you have a slight terror around your need to be liked... a deep inability to follow orders you think are stupid... pisces MC: at least i have a cute duality between innocence and wisdom now? square pluto in the 6th: hey u know that deep soul level feeling of lack and internalized guilt that permeates everything? hm what if that could be fixed... with enough power/success/approval from other people pisces MC: but it's ... it's never going to be enough? square pluto: but it's never going to be enough :)

active 9th, 10th, 11th house: Externally Focused, Extrovert Style

(not that people with these placements are all extroverts, it's just the whole picture is screaming SOCIAL BUTTERFLY here)

-jupiter in the 9th: he's live laugh loving, he's listening and learning, he's on a Journey, jupiter's favorite house is the 9th and she can't wait to tell you about her backpacking trip (mingyu loves a backpacking trip) -> jupiter in aquarius: curiosity! interested in new ideas, also thinks he's right all the time -> jupiter sextile sun (exact orb): people like him! he has a talent for literally shining, but also projecting and expanding the vision of the self -> 9th jupiter sextile 11th sun: talent for communicating ideas to groups of people -> jupiter sextile venus: people really like him very much -> jupiter square vertex in gemini: you know that sylvia plath quote about the fig tree? that. so many possibilities! sometimes gets disappointed because he has really high expectations. wants everything all at once! cannot have :(

aries sun in the 11th: SOCIAL!!! also smart. wants to be influential with groups, is already influential with groups, feels he is not influential enough? natural leader tho. -> also super loyal! -> sun conjunct venus (exact): very pretty :) very charming :) very adorable :) gentle :) sweet :) NEEDS TO BE LOVED BY EVERYONE ALL THE TIME OR HE WILL WILT!!! HIS FEELINGS WERE HURT BECAUSE U DIDN'T GIVE HIM ENOUGH ATTENTION!! aries venus in the 11th: flirts by teasing someone, wants to be flirted with by teasing, also would prefer this to happen in public where everyone can observe and he can feel like a special boy (he is a special boy!!) -> insanely huge social circle, CONSTANTLY out, hates being alone, loves the club, loves to flirt with e-v-e-r-y-one. also falls in love with everyone, but for like 30-50 seconds each. -> venus quincunx mars: a little afraid of serious conflict for an aries sun!! asteroid sedna in the 11th: mmm. a little bit of a doormat at times for his friends. will give the shirt off his back, and then all the shirts from his closet, then be like wait :( i have no shirts :( why didn't someone give me their shirts???? why am i always the one giving shirts???? hopefully his aries energy can balance this out. mercury in the 11th: lives to communicate with others. wants to share his thoughts and ideas!! ability to analyze things! -> taurus mercury: when he has made his decision about something, good luck changing his mind lmao it ain't happening -> taurus mercury in the 11th: fixed energy on fixed house energy, unbelievably stubborn, lord with the aries sun as well... ... god bless. i mean i think this combo is fun, but... .... yeah don't try to change his mind ever, just manipulate him into it, it'll be easier for both of you. -> quincunx pluto in the 6th: some anxiety and fear here--does he like overshare when he gets drunk at a party and then regrets it and crashes out a little bit the next day?? very possible. -> sextile MC: lucky! his need to communicate is matched perfectly with his public persona -> taurus sextile pisces MC: he has (a) a talent for communicating in a way that has people emotionally connecting and (b) a certain level of realism and practicality protects him from having the tissue paper boundaries of many pisces MCs

moon in the 10th: have discussed a little, but having the most sensitive intimate moon (pisces) in the most public business boy house can feel weird sometimes, a little bit vulnerable, however he is well-loved -> conjunct SN: SENSITIVE saturn in the 10th: the 10th is saturn's favorite house, it's the house of Getting Real and Growing The Hell Up and Having Expectations That Are Maybe Unrealistic and then Beating Urself Up For Not ACHIEVING ENOUGH... i mean. however saturn is a rude bitch so even when your saturn is a place where he is comfortable, he will still fuck up your shit :/ don't get me wrong i love saturn, but i do not think that mingyu loves saturn? aries and saturn... well. -> aries saturn in the 10th: a whole mess of contradictions. starting and stopping, rushing and waiting, wanting to SHINE and being terrified of shining? -> saturn conjunct sun: was his dad... really strict? bright side, huge amounts of self-discipline, hard worker, reliable, very different flavor of an aries sun. still an aries sun, though, you cannot quash the aries sun. also SKY HIGH expectations of himself.

stay tuned for ur saturn return starting 24 may 2025, mingyu, it's gonna rock your shit up 😬. ahh lord, look at this!! i'm not even a predictive astrology girlie and i went "uh oh..."

like, his saturn return as our foundational issue, then saturn activating his moon, SN, saturn, sun, venus? pluto activating the 8th the whole time? squaring his mercury? uranus activating the 12th?? nodal reversal?? damn that is... a lot of upheaval and transformation and change, bud. neptune haunting the 10th like "hey... what if all ur future plans... were all wrong? no i do not have an alternative plan for u i'm just here to tell u ur lost :)"

great if he deals with things productively, however It Hurts To Become and all that!!

godspeed, mingyu, at least you bagged another admirer on this day (my dumb ass)

[theplotmage]

Hi, I was wondering if you could so some sort of rule set for time travel? I'm finding it hard to describe, and what rules there are on the subject.

Thanks!

Hello, I'm also writing a time traveling sci-fi fiction with a fantasy blend to it and here are some things that I find that could help us out!

Rule Set for Creating Believable Time-Traveling Fiction

1. Time Travel Mechanics

Mechanism Description

- Clearly explain how time travel works in your story. Is it a machine, a natural phenomenon, a magical object, or an innate ability?

Scientific Basis

- Incorporate real scientific theories, such as Einstein’s theory of relativity, wormholes, or quantum mechanics, to ground your story in plausible science.

Limitations and Costs

- Define the limitations of time travel, such as distance in time, frequency, energy requirements, or physical toll on the traveler.

2. World-Building

Historical Accuracy

- Research and accurately depict the time periods your characters travel to. Include cultural norms, language, technology, and major events of those eras.

Parallel Worlds and Timelines

- Decide if time travel in your story creates alternate timelines or if it follows a single, mutable timeline. Consistency is key.

Temporal Organization

- Consider the existence of a governing body or organization that regulates time travel. Define its structure, rules, and purpose.

3. Language and Communication

Temporal Dialects

- Characters from different time periods should speak differently. Use historical dialects, slang, and accents appropriate to each era.

Temporal Jargon

- Create specific terms and jargon for time travelers and the technology they use, such as “temporal jump,” “chrononaut,” or “time anchor.”

Code of Conduct

- Develop a code of conduct or set of guidelines that time travelers must follow, including how they communicate with each other and with people from different eras.

4. Character Development

Motivations and Goals

- Clearly define why characters want to time travel. Is it for adventure, to change a personal event, or for scientific exploration?

Personal Growth

- Show how time travel affects characters emotionally and psychologically. Do they struggle with the ethics of their actions or the loneliness of being out of their time?

Conflict and Tension

- Use the potential for paradoxes, rival time travelers, and moral dilemmas to create conflict and tension.

5. Ethical and Moral Implications

Paradox Prevention

- Address how your story handles paradoxes, such as the grandfather paradox. Use concepts like self-healing timelines or fixed points in time to explain inconsistencies.

Ethical Dilemmas

- Explore the moral implications of time travel. Should characters intervene in historical events? What are the consequences of changing the past Responsibility

- Emphasize the responsibility that comes with the power to alter time. Characters should consider the broader implications of their actions.

6. Plot Structure

Non-Linear Narrative

- Use non-linear storytelling techniques to enhance complexity and intrigue. Flashbacks, flash-forwards, and parallel timelines can create a rich narrative.

Foreshadowing and Payoff

- Plant clues and foreshadowing that pay off later in the story. Ensure that all plot threads are resolved by the end.

Multiple Perspectives

- Consider telling the story from multiple viewpoints to show the impact of time travel from different angles.

7. Integrating Science Fiction and Fantasy Elements

Scientific Plausibility

- Ground your time travel mechanics in plausible science, even if you incorporate fantastical elements. Use pseudo-scientific explanations to bridge the gap.

Imaginative Enhancements

- Blend scientific theories with imaginative elements, such as ancient artifacts, alien technology, or supernatural forces.

Explanatory Dialogue

- Use character dialogue to explain complex concepts in an accessible way without overwhelming the reader with technical details.

8. World-Building Consistency

Timeline Integrity

- Map out key events in your story’s timeline to avoid inconsistencies and plot holes.

Cultural and Societal Impact

- Consider how time travel affects society. Is it a well-known and regulated practice, or a secret known only to a few?

Technological and Historical Changes

- Explore how changes in the past affect technology and history in the present and future. Ensure these changes are logically consistent.

9. Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Avoid Overcomplication

- Keep the rules of time travel simple enough for readers to follow without getting bogged down in excessive technical detail.

Plot Holes

- Be vigilant about potential plot holes and inconsistencies that can arise from complex time travel mechanics.

Exposition Balance

- Balance the need to explain time travel mechanics with maintaining the story’s pace and engagement. Avoid info-dumping.

Rules for Time Traveling

1. One-Way Trips Only

Restriction

- Time travelers can only move forward or backward in time once without the possibility of a return journey.

Explanation

- This rule ensures that the timeline remains linear and prevents paradoxes caused by multiple interactions with the same time period.

Effect

- Limits interference with historical events and reduces the chance of creating alternate realities.

2. The Observer Effect

Restriction

- Time travelers cannot interact with their past selves or directly influence their previous actions.

Explanation

- Direct interaction with one’s past self could create paradoxes, such as the “grandfather paradox,” where altering past events prevents the traveler’s existence.

Effect

- Maintains the integrity of the timeline and ensures personal history remains consistent.

3. Fixed Points in Time

Restriction

- Certain historical events, known as fixed points, cannot be changed or altered in any way.

Explanation

- These events are crucial for the stability of the timeline and the universe’s structure.

Effect

- Prevents catastrophic changes to reality, ensuring key moments in history remain intact.

4. Memory Corruption

Restriction

- Excessive time travel can lead to memory corruption, where the traveler starts forgetting crucial details of their original timeline.

Explanation

- The brain struggles to handle multiple versions of events, leading to cognitive dissonance and memory loss.

Effect

- Ensures travelers use time travel sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.

5. Temporal Anchor

Restriction

- Time travelers must establish a temporal anchor, a fixed point in time to which they can return or stabilize themselves.

Explanation

- This anchor serves as a safeguard against getting lost in time or drifting uncontrollably through different periods.

Effect

- Provides a safety net for travelers, ensuring they have a way back to their original timeline or a stable reference point.

6. Butterfly Effect

Restriction

- Minor changes in the past can have significant, unforeseen consequences in the future.

Explanation

- The butterfly effect illustrates how small actions can ripple through time, drastically altering future events.

Effect

- Encourages travelers to be cautious and minimize their impact on past events to avoid unintended consequences.

7. Temporal Energy Consumption

Restriction

- Time travel requires a significant amount of energy, often depleting the traveler’s resources or affecting the environment.

Explanation

- The energy needed to manipulate time is immense, and its usage can lead to resource shortages or environmental damage.

Effect

- Ensures time travel is not undertaken lightly and that travelers consider the environmental and resource costs.

8. Chrono-Sickness

Restriction

- Prolonged exposure to different time periods can cause physical and mental ailments, known as chrono-sickness.

Explanation

- The human body and mind are not designed to handle the stress of moving through time, leading to disorientation, nausea, and psychological effects.

Effect

- Limits the duration and frequency of time travel, encouraging travelers to minimize their trips.

9. Temporal Interference

Restriction

- Time travelers must avoid interfering with major historical figures or events.

Explanation

- Interfering with significant events or individuals can drastically alter the course of history, leading to unpredictable outcomes.

Effect

- Preserves the natural flow of history and ensures major events occur as intended.

10. Temporal Paradoxes

Restriction

- Travelers must avoid creating paradoxes, situations where actions in the past contradict the present or future.

Explanation

- Paradoxes can destabilize the timeline, potentially leading to its collapse or the creation of alternate realities.

Effect

- Ensures travelers act responsibly and with caution, preventing actions that could lead to paradoxical situations.

***

[funeral]

Grasped through intuition, duration expresses the core inner-self as a mutable entity that defies the inscription of an exterior abstraction. This "supple, mobile, and almost fluid representation" overcomes the rigorous tendency toward viewing time as solely spatial and instead suggests that memory and time exists in a continuous discontinuity... Seneca once wrote, "All time is in the same place; it all presents the same aspect to us, it lies together. Everything slips into the same abyss"... The intellect, meanwhile, merely comprehends the superficial exterior self, existing as a linear succession of altering states that can be dissected, divided, and decapitated. In abstracting thought from its context, thought becomes, like the shadows in Plato's cave, a static representation of its true self.

Dylan Trigg, The Aesthetics of Decay: Nothingness, Nostalgia, and the Absence of Reason

[saintshadow]

“The psychic prowess of Mercurial Natives”

#001

✮ mercury/jupiter sag/gemini pisces/virgo edition

Jupiterians 🤝🏼mercurians

Picking a concept/narrative/desire and pulling it out of their ass like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat

WHY Mercury is psychic af:

I believe mercury is about psionic gifts and reality manipulating. In other words, mercury ISNT psychic becsuse it has a refined intuition, or becsuse they read the room with ease. It’s becsuse they know how to manipulate the foundations of shit in order to get to a desired goal or outcome. The issue I’ve seen, especially with mercurial psychics that have Jupiterian influence (ie a sag rising with Gemini/virgo Jupiter, A Virgo rising or Gemini rising with a sag mercury, and so on and so forth) I’ve noticed these particular natives align strongly w the “grotesque expansion” aspect of Jupiter. Their impulses come to life with ease and if the individual is hedonistic or self serving it’s a WRAP. They’ll go to insane lengths to get what they desire, because remember this is the magician archetype in tarot w influence of the wheel of fortune. A mf who makes reality as they go, who projects their deepest desires, fears, and even their selfish wants into reality. Even sometimes trumping the wants, needs, and desires of others in order to attain a goal. There is something about the combination of mercury and Jupiter that can be incredibly destructive in its expansion. I think particularly this is the case with Gemini due to the dissecting nature of air. With both also being high mutable in nature (mercury Jupiter) it is easy for things to mutate or morph beyond recognition.

✮ In some cases where the native has Scorpio placements they can at times become vampiric of others. Even feeding on blessings, pain, suffering, or other things of others in order to sustain themselves emotionally and keep the energy to generate their manifestations. ✮

Mercury can be so very illusory and very believably so. It feels lucid, it feels engaging, it’s like you’re coked the fuck out at a car dealership with the most charismatic salesperson ever. They know how to sell you on an idea or a narrative, even if there isn’t supportive evidence a mercurial person can make it make sense to others. They know how to spin things to sit in their favor and they know how to passively alter small pieces of information or moving parts of a situation so that it looks like something it ISNT. MERCURY IS A SALESMAN!!!!! They know how to buy people with time effort, energy, and actions. They do things/say things to other people transactionally to get a specific response and have a certain outcome so they can rely on those people for favors of some kind a lot of the time. I’ve noticed that like aquariuses Virgo’s tend to have a lot of people they know who know things. It’s Absolute madness but it’s so stimulating, mercurians are INCREDIBLY psychic in my personal observation.

Piscesans manifest easily and often but also can be incomplete- it’s like they forget to put more effort into shaping the desire. I feel like this is the same exact issue for Sagittarius and why the manifestations never seem to last.

I will admit that with mercury it can last, but the issue is CAN IT BE MAINTAINED? I think that mercury does require a lot of balance and mastery and the ability to hone and focus energy. I do believe that mercurial psychic gifts show up very differently than the generalized idea we have of these gifts. Mercury goes beyond just the senses, mercury is the reality. Mercury is the mundane detail, these are people who can alter the shape of their reality and the reality of others. Is this scary? Maybe a little, is it cool? HELL YEAH BROTHER!!!!

[eatsbooks]

a deep dive into eris vanserra's birth chart

virgo sun — mutable, earth, mercury-ruled

intelligent and methodical. extremely caring but reserved in expressing his full range of emotions. prefers routine and consistency. always structured or otherwise very organized in what he does. knowledgeable and exacting but open to altering his opinions or points of view given new information and adequate reason. sarcastic and humorous. harsh on himself and on his loved ones in an effort to incite growth. ambitious — no-nonsense attitude in completing tasks and seeing them through to their end.

capricorn moon — fixed, earth, saturn-ruled

the moon is in detriment in capricorn, making emotional connections particularly difficult for him — both in expression and acceptance. this moon sign is associated with growing up too quickly and having a strained relationship with the mother. need i say more. prefers logic over feeling. insists on digging deeper to see all sides of a situation before forming an opinion and allowing an emotional response. a general sense of never being quite satisfied with what he currently has, always needing to push on to more, to better. keeps emotions close to the chest, buried deep, until perhaps they are not quite even there anymore, until something cracks down into the core of him and the pressure forces them to erupt.

libra mercury — cardinal, air, venus-ruled

extremely intelligent but perhaps underestimated by others. seeks balance — constantly weighing the pros and cons before executing decisions. can easily read into intentions but not necessarily intuitive when it comes to emotions. tactful when required. would prefer to bottle up personal issues than start an interpersonal argument. not a very confrontational placement on its own, but with a scorpio mars chart ruler and an aries rising, this is outweighed when the confrontation extends beyond interpersonal relationships. an element of justice-seeking to his thought processes — not a binary right and wrong, good and bad, but a sense of, i will see this put to rights, whatever that looks like to me in this situation.

virgo venus — mutable, earth, mercury-ruled

venus is in fall in virgo, making the way eris shows love easy to be misinterpreted and his acceptance of love stilted. shows love through consistency and action. grand, heartfelt, romantic sentiments are unlikely to sway him, and he is not going to participate in them readily. wants to see affection through what others do to prove it exists — because that is how he shows it. needs someone as motivated as himself. initially skeptical and closed off towards love, critical of it even. diligent and practical once he lets the love in. will take care of all the little things so his partner does not have to, will try to quietly perfect everything because way down deep, all he has ever wanted is to be taken care of in that way.

scorpio mars — fixed, water, mars-ruled

mars is in domicile in scorpio, meaning that taking action comes naturally to him. where an aries mars would give him a sort of overt aggression, scorpio mars gives eris that covert aggression he is known for. incredibly strategic, possessive, and analytical. sees everything (bolstering his libra mercury) and knows how and when to act on the information he has to greatest effect. very passionate when working towards a goal or engaging with a subject that interests him. does not like to ask for help even if needed — would rather use information as leverage than reveal any weakness in outright asking. has a difficult time expressing his emotions; they might not be recognizable at all even when the action he takes is in pursuit of them because of how well he hides his true motivations.

aries ascendant — cardinal, fire, mars-ruled

aries in the first house means that eris’s scorpio mars rules his chart, governing the trajectory of his life and coloring his personality. while an aries rising is typically very straightforward and direct, his scorpio mars chart ruler (and capricorn moon and libra mercury) gives him that never-quite-says-anything-plainly affect. intense and passionate, vocal and in-charge; demands the attention of a room without even having to ask for it. can be charming when he wants to be, but when he doesn't, he is hellfire, he is wrath. confrontation does not cow him. knows what it is he wants, and he will get it. does not often need to repeat himself or ask twice — and if he has to, he will do it himself.

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hi :) Perhaps an odd one, but I was wondering if you had any recommendations of games to play out events that have already happened? The end game has been predetermined, but the events that lead to it are more mutable? I'm running a dnd game with a group that has been very open to trying out different systems and I was thinking it could be very fun to put the player characters back in time into the shoes of other characters during the campaign's inciting event. Thanks!

Theme: Recalling Events

Hello friend, so there are definitely games that allow you to do something similar to what you’re looking for. There are games that go back in time, games that flashback to previous events, and games that take place at moments in our real-world history that have already happened. I don’t know if any of those games exactly work for what you’re looking for, but they might be interesting to look at in order to ask yourself how you want to run something in a timeline that you’ve established for a specific setting.

Ten Candles, by Calvary Games.

Ten Candles is a zero-prep tabletop storytelling game designed for one-shot 2-4 hour sessions of tragic horror. It is best played with one GM and 3-5 players, by the light of ten tea light candles which provide atmosphere, act as a countdown timer for the game, and allow you to literally burn your character sheet away as you play. 

Ten Candles is described as a "tragic horror" game rather than survival horror for one main reason: in Ten Candles there are no survivors. In the final scene of the game, when only one candle remains, all of the characters will die. In this, Ten Candles is not a game about "winning" or beating the monsters. Instead, it is a game about what happens in the dark, and about those who try to survive within it. It is a game about being pushed to the brink of madness and despair, searching for hope in a hopeless world, and trying to do something meaningful with your final few hours left.  

There is only a few facts pre-determined at the beginning of this game, but those facts are important: all of your characters will die. Over the course of the game, you will slowly blow out ten candles as your characters grow closer and closer too their doom.

However, the nature of that doom can be altered. I’ve seen it done for the Locked Tomb, for example, and you can set it in a modern world, a futuristic world, or a fantasy world if you like. If you want to hack this game for your group, I’d recommend playing out a scenario that involves characters that you don’t mind saying goodbye too - perhaps a catastrophe your party heard about, and you can role-play the last moments of some people they failed to save.

Firebrands Games

Mobile Zero Firebrands is a game about mech pilots getting into fights and falling in love, but more importantly, it’s a game that guides the group through mini-game-like scenes that are common tropes in various stories. The beginning scene and the end scene are usually pre-determined, but all of the other scenes happen in whatever order you prefer.

The original system has been hacked a number of times, so you might find a game or genre that works for you - perhaps you’d like to play pirates in One Particular Harbour, or gods and heroes in Divine || Mundane. You could play members of a religious order looking for a new leader in Hierophants, or look into the complicated lives of mages in Hearts of Magic. If you don’t find anything that works for your specific tastes that already exists, you could also hack the system to make it fit for your specific group.

Eat the Reich, by Rowan, Rook & Decard.

Eat the Reich is a tabletop roleplaying game in which you, a vampire commando, are coffin-dropped into occupied Paris and must cut a bloody swathe through nazi forces en route to your ultimate goal: drinking all of Adolf Hitler’s blood.

This over-the-top, ultra-violent game is designed to be played from beginning to end in one to three sessions of carnage, blood magic, meaningful flashbacks and hundreds upon hundreds of extremely dead fascists. It tells one story, it tells it loud, and it tells it brilliantly. Think Wolfenstein crossed with Danger 5 and you’re not far off the mark.

Eat the Reich both happens at a very specific point in time - WWII - and also has a mechanic that allows characters to flash-back to various points in their shared backstories in order to play through a high-action sequence while still getting to know the characters. Your vampires have been working together for a long time, and while Eat the Reich is meant to be rather fast, these flashbacks allow you to speed up that relationship-building by letting you fill the details in backwards.

Eat the Reich started out as a hack of Havoc Brigade, if I remember correctly, so the system is definitely hack-able: perhaps you can think of a big event that happened in your party’s past or even in another part of the world, and then design characters that represent folks who were behind the big event. I think this kind of game would work best for heists or high-stakes assassination - anything that expects your players to put their lives on the line for a big, sweet payoff.

Retrocausality, by Weird Age Games.

Retrocausality is a tabletop RPG about time travel adventures, in the vein of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure or Back to the Future.

It uses a rules-light, card-based system that lets you decide how time travel works. Whether you have a specific movie you want to emulate, you have Opinions on the Novikov self-consistency principle, or you prefer not to ask too many questions, Retrocausality can make it happen. Even better, the rules are so light you can use Retrocausality to run a time travel adventure in a different game. That's twice as much game.

Many of the examples shown in Retrocausality indicate that the time travellers you play will be messing with a timeline, and since the rules can be ported into a different game, that tells me that you could use this for any genre you like. This of course, means that you’re not just telling a story about your characters’ pasts - your characters are actually going back in time to a specific part of history.

I suppose you could use this to either bring your characters back to a time period before they were born, or maybe instead you’re interested in taking new heroes back to a point in time when your characters were doing something significant off-camera.

Houses of the Sun By Night, by Emily Zhu.

These are 13 houses of the underworld that the sun passes through at night.

These are 13 minigames you can play in specific situations, during your other games or on their own.

This is how the dead come back to life.

This series of games is explicitly designed to be hackable, with a setting that can be ripped apart if you like. The original setting is a nod to the underworld of Egyptian mythology, but the moments themselves can be zoomed in on a small moment or used to navigate a special event that may have big effects on the larger story. I think you can use some of the games in here to re-visit moments of your characters’ pasts, or reference events that may have happened to NPCs that the characters were not necessarily witness to.

If you want to learn more about this set of games, you can watch Aaron Voight’s review of the game on Youtube!

Other Games To Check Out

Feng Shui 2, by Atlas Games.

Time Travel Recommendation Post

[vivianbernadetteaurora]

First of all, I wanted to find more pictures of Saturn ruled, Pluto ruled, and Neptune ruled. Unfortunately, I couldn’t.. which was very disappointing, I may say, because it’s very accurate, I am a Pluto and a sun-ruled person. And the Pluto one I relate to heavily, and I’m sure I’d relate to someone too. That’s why I’m so bipolar in my moods. But these memes of astrology are just so on point I love it.

The way they pick up on such nuances and ways of being.. is pretty cool… especially people who are Neptune role my auntie is Neptune dominant, and she says dreams come to her all the time. Now I just said I’m Pluto dominant and sun dominant and I don’t dream anymore. And it’s one thing I’m actually very jealous of when people say they do.

When someone is on Mars Ruled. It’s so obvious and when they’re strong Aries in their chart also it’s very obvious like an Aries moon Trump’s over a lot of stuff does it say domicile in the 1st house because it rules the 1st house and 1st house and I find Aries to be very straightforward to the point and I love that about them I love it because you know where you are with an Aries Scorpio rising the scarier the Scorpio tries to get the more they the less scary they are because they’re trying to play their ways but they just become a crisis more gentle because they’re trying to protect their pride and ego,, in fact, I think Scorpios have one of the biggest egos going. They’re not gonna lie. Some people find Scorpio scary, and those people are weird. You want to be a lot more scared of people like Sagittarius and cancer,,,, as much as I love Kansas they have a side to them that you probably don’t even know about same with Gemini.. and that would become with being immutable sign like Sagittarius Sagittarius and Gemini get up to the wild ship that I and you haven’t even dreamed of I don’t have either of these signs in my chart. Apart from my 5th house obviously. Which is the type of person I’m attracted to. And it often says foreign lands with Sagittarius and I’ve been out of a lot of foreign men.

Now being Saturn ruled is very different to being Pluto ruled because they are both signs about being lessons learned they’re very different kind of lessons Sagittarius is usually straight to the point where it is Scorpio is much more complex and complicated Saturn is more about hard work and an astrologer my ex’s mother described it to me as beating something with a stick which made so much sense to me.

Capricorns are funny ones. They’re very charming, but they can also be very blunt; there are mutable signs they're harmless, really. But they can have a dark side. Honestly, if I’m being honest, I’ve not met many in my life apart from my mum and myself, who are both Capricorn stellium moms. My mother with her inner planets and mine with my alter, probably why we struggle with each other quite a lot. She has a cat moon I have a Scorpio moon she's an Aquarius son and I’m a Leo sun sign

[baldudiable]

Sun opposite Moon in the natal chart: An inner battle

Sun opposite Moon is an astrological aspect formed when the Sun and Moon signs are in the same polarity. This aspect can cause internal tensions since the two signs operate differently. While they are alike in certain ways, the sun's ambitions can sometimes conflict with the moon's emotional needs. Having this aspect can lead you to adopt certain habits or attitudes that don't align with the person are learning to become. Below are some potential manifestations of this aspect for each zodiac sign.

Aries Sun, Libra Moon

Having these two placements in a natal chart is tricky. The Sun is the ego. Aries, as the first sign of the zodiac, represents the self. Having an Aries Sun naturally makes you centered on your growth and self-actualization. Being self-centered sometimes means going your own way without considering the needs of others.

On the other hand, a Libra Moon craves harmony and is deeply influenced by loved ones. As a sign of relationships, Libra is conditioned to make decisions with others in mind, often prioritizing how those decisions will affect people around them. This placement can make you inclined to put your needs aside to satisfy others.

However, your Aries Sun urges you to prioritize yourself, even if it goes against others’ expectations. Aries is an independent and driven sign, which aligns with the sun being exalted here, granting you the determination to achieve your goals and get what you want with greater ease. Yet, the Libra Moon’s desire to please others may hold you back from fully pursuing your ambitions, as you often feel compelled to put others’ needs first.

Taurus sun, Scorpio moon

The tension here arises because of Taurus's quest for stability and the Scorpio's perpetual need for change. Taurus is known for its stubbornness and tendency to remain in places that provide comfort or security. You may struggle in times of change because it means altering your habits or ways of doing things. After all, why change something that already works? Change also implies starting anew after investing significant time and energy into an endeavor.

This pursuit of sameness, however, can hinder your evolution in the eyes of a Scorpio. While your Scorpio Moon also seeks stability, it cannot help but involve you in complex, emotional situations that force you to transform what no longer serves you. Scorpio's archetype is that of the alchemist or healer—it draws wisdom from positive and negative experiences to give birth to a new and improved version of yourself. This water sign is associated with death and rebirth, symbolizing the transition from one state to another.

While Taurus uses its foundations to build upon them, Scorpio destroys them to begin again on a new slate. The moon falling here, your emotions, even the most difficult, can feel magnified. This placement may even create a desire to provoke intense feelings, feeding Scorpio's desire for intensity while challenging Taurus's need for peace.

Gemini Sun, Sagittarius Moon

Gemini is an air sign ruled by Mercury, the God of knowledge. As such, it has an insatiable thirst for stimulation. This sign can jump into studies and research to satisfy its need for stimulation. But this desire for knowledge can often be superficial. Gemini seeks to know simply for the sake of it, and that knowledge is not always applied in practical ways. More than any other sign, Gemini is likely to change roles multiple times in life. Its mutability makes it highly adaptable, viewing change as a form of growth.

Sagittarius, on the other hand, seeks knowledge with purpose. It needs to feel that what it learns can help expand its worldview and benefit others. Ruled by Jupiter, the celestial body associated with philosophy and religion, Sagittarius finds meaning in its explorations. While Gemini seeks to know, Sagittarius seeks to understand.

Cancer Sun, Capricorn Moon

While its cardinality makes Cancer ambitious, this sign is deeply emotional and focused on building meaningful relationships. Ruled by the moon, Cancer embodies the mother archetype—nurturing, feeling, and forming strong attachments to people, places, and things. Cancer needs significant relationships not only for emotional support but also to provide it to others. However, this desire to care can lead the native to take on the burdens of others, often at their own expense.

A Capricorn Moon, on the other hand, is associated with heavy responsibilities. It often absorbs the problems of loved ones, pushing the native to exhaust themselves in their efforts to help. When paired with Cancer’s altruism, this moon can stretch the individual’s emotional limits, especially considering that the moon is in detriment in Capricorn.

This Saturnian Moon represses emotions, making it a counterproductive force in the emotional realm. The native may immerse themselves in tasks and duties to avoid confronting their unhappiness. This dynamic contrasts with cancer’s emotional and vulnerable nature, which requires the ability to express deep feelings to maintain balance and well-being.

Leo sun, Aquarius moon

Leo is known for being passionate. It rules romance, flings, and childlike play. Everything a Leo expresses is grand, urgent, and dramatic. As a fixed fire sign, Leo seeks intensity in experiences to feel alive.

An Aquarius Moon is the opposite. The moon governs emotions, while Aquarius, the last air sign of the Zodiac, is the most rational of them all. This combination gives the native great intellectual clarity, as Aquarius Moons are rarely overtaken by their emotions. They believe strong feelings can cloud their ability to make logical decisions.

While your Sun's warmth attracts many people, you might find it hard to attach to people who don't match your intellect. Air signs need relationships that stimulate them mentally and offer new perspectives. This creates an interesting dynamic: the Leo Sun, which naturally craves the spotlight, may feel uncomfortable in it due to the Aquarius Moon’s tendency to focus its attention outward, prioritizing others over personal recognition.

Virgo Sun, Pisces Moon

Virgo is an Earth sign that finds comfort in routines and daily tasks. Pragmatic and grounded, Virgo knows that hard work is necessary to improve one's conditions. This sign takes pleasure in repeating actions because it knows the results they will produce. And results are what Virgo seeks most. Perfectionistic by nature, Virgo is quick to notice flaws and to improve them.

As a mercurial sign, Virgo can struggle to express sentimentality. Though sensitive, it strives not to let emotions interfere, focusing instead on its duties. This placement values control, not only because it ensures that things will be done perfectly, but also because it helps ease anxiety.

This contrasts with a Pisces Moon's ability to go with the flow. Pisces, a spiritual and intuitive sign, accepts life's circumstances and makes the best out of them. In the eyes of a Pisces moon, everything happens for a reason. This Moon is content to let the universe take over, trusting it to provide a better path forward.

To Virgo, this carefree approach may appear irresponsible, leading them to bury themselves in constant activity to quell their own anxieties. As a result, Pisces’s natural capacity for dreaming and enjoyment may feel threatened in the push for structure and control.

Libra Sun, Aries Moon

Libra Suns are tasked to instill harmony in environments and prioritize others' needs before their own. Many Libras grow up in families where closeness and mutual support are emphasized, fostering their deep desire to remain surrounded by loved ones. however, this inclination can sometimes lead to an expectation for Libras to suppress their needs or desires to accommodate others.

Libra’s generosity, attentiveness, and listening skills are often overlooked or taken for granted. The Aries moon in these individuals may feel frustration or resentment, but such emotions are rarely expressed directly. Instead, they may surface indirectly or passively, as confrontation is not typically in Libra’s nature.

The Aries Moon encourages the native to prioritize themselves, but it can also leave them feeling guilty for doing so. While this moon is usually a strong placement, its energy is weakened here, as the sun is in fall in Libra.

Scorpio Sun, Taurus Moon

We grow into our sun sign through time and experience. Our sun sign shapes the experiences we encounter, often pushing us into situations we may wish to avoid. These experiences are frequently uncomfortable and seem to repeat themselves, yet the sun demands that we learn and grow from them.

Scorpio, more than most, may wish to avoid certain experiences. this is tied to Pluto, the ruler of the underworld. The name "Ploutōn" translates to "wealth-giver" in Greek; Scorpio draws power and depth from their emotionally complex and dark experiences. While this sign seeks evolution, it can grow weary from the constant battles and crises it faces.

This weariness may be amplified when the native’s Moon is in Taurus, a Venusian sign that craves calm, peace, and the ability to savor life’s pleasures. A Taurus Moon feels uneasy in emotionally charged situations, as they threaten the stability they work to achieve. While this Moon's avoidance can prolong difficult situations, its exaltation in Taurus allows the native to handle challenges with grace.

Sagittarius Sun, Gemini Moon

Sagittarius seeks to live without limits. It’s a sign that thrives on exposure to foreign ideas, cultures, people, and landscapes to expand its mindset. As a free spirit, a sagittarius needs the space and freedom to grow.

On the other hand, a Gemini Moon prioritizes learning but also craves connection. This Moon needs to relate to others, confide in close friends, and exchange ideas with like-minded individuals. It is a highly social Moon, but not necessarily comfortable in every setting, taking time to form meaningful attachments.

This dynamic can make relationships challenging when the Sagittarius sun is always on a mission. As a fire sign, Sagittarius prefers first-hand experiences, learning through action, and spontaneity. Gemini Moon, by contrast, is more intellectual and indirect, relying on understanding how things work before taking action. This nervous, Mercurial Moon often hesitates to apply its knowledge and skills, which can slow down Sagittarius’s quest for exploration and teaching.

Capricorn Sun, Cancer Moon

Capricorn is on a mission to achieve success and recognition. Represented by the goat, this earth sign is constantly climbing, never stopping until it reaches its targets—and even then, it aims higher. Having endured the horror of lack or failure, Capricorn works hard to ensure they never face such hardship. It overloads itself with work and duties to bring something tangible home, completely overlooking its emotions.

This tendency is amplified when the native's moon is in Cancer. The Moon here heightens emotional sensitivity and the need for care. While Capricorn is usually independent and confident in its abilities, this combination introduces a layer of vulnerability, making the individual more prone to insecurity.

Knowing where to direct your energy also becomes more difficult. The Capricorn Sun is driven to accomplish and become known for its achievements, while the Cancer Moon longs for an uneventful and predictable family life. However, even if they differ in many ways, they seek longevity and stability.

Aquarius Sun, Leo Moon

With the planet of ego in detriment in Aquarius, the focus often shifts to the group's needs. As the water-bearer, Aquarius nourishes and uplifts those it encounters. This sign frequently finds itself leading groups, striving to make decisions that benefit everyone. Highly social, this air sign has a keen understanding of what others need and acts as an advocate to provide it.

This dynamic contrasts sharply with the Leo Moon’s self-centered tendencies. Decisions influenced by this moon are often driven by emotion and serve to satisfy the ego. Aquarius’s rationality and innate sense of justice are put to the test in this combination. Remaining in the background becomes particularly challenging when Leo’s energy demands to take center stage and call the shots.

Pisces Sun, Virgo Moon

The Pisces individual is deeply spiritual, carried by the flow of life. Its motto is "I believe," though it could easily be "I dream." Pisces believes in miracles and has faith that everything will work out. This water sign is highly creative and capable of producing works of immense beauty, yet its emotionality can make it unstable. For Pisces, creativity is a form of emotional release, but it cannot be forced—it ebbs and flows on its own terms.

The Virgo moon, on the other hand, brings structure and consistency to Pisces’s energy but often at a cost. This moon tends to be critical and demanding, particularly of itself. Virgo craves perfection in its creations, while Pisces finds beauty in imperfection. This dynamic makes it harder for the individual to feel satisfied with themselves or their work.

While Pisces trusts that everything will fall into place and often finds a way to make things work, the Virgo moon may overthink circumstances, introducing doubt and potentially sabotaging opportunities.

[stars-and-sugarcubes]

Pisces and Sagittarius.

Ruled by Jupiter

Of the two larger planets Jupiter is the most positive and moderate. Like Mercury, Jupiter rules half of the mutable signs and occupies a half of the seasons. Mercury occupies the youthful Spring and abundant Summer while Jupiter occupies the hard-working Autumn and scarce Winter. As the planet of growth and fertility, Jupiter ruling over Autumn and Winter signs interests me. While materials are harvested, utilized, and stored away, there is less to work with freely. Maybe the expansive nature of Jupiter is less so material, and more related to the mind and spirit. After all, Jupiter loses dignity in Capricorn through its fall.

Pisces - Cold, Wet, Mutable

Feminine • Nocturnal • Winter

Calm, moderation, sentimental, sensible, compassionate, empathetic, sympathetic, generous, loving, soulful, sorrowful, vindictive, pessimistic, nihilistic, apocalyptic, emotional depth, overwhelmed, sensitive, intuitive, receptive, honest, wise, connected, liberation, eroticism, mysticism, servile, at home in the mind, imaginative, of two minds, dazed, wandering, restless, fickle, inconstant, disregard, dispersal, complicated, plastic, adaptive, sociable, popular.

Of the body the feet, soles, sinews of feet, ankles.

Rulership

Venus’ Exaltation |

Mercury’s Fall & Detriment | Mercury’s loss of dignity suggests unfamiliarity with themes of sentimentality, sympathy, and sorrow.

Sagittarius - Hot, Dry, Mutable

Masculine • Diurnal • Autumn

visionary, (re)discovery, spiritual, deep-thinking, profound, questioning, critical, moral, self-righteous, sense of justice, lenient, sparing, generous, inspirational, good-humored, interest-focused, positive, optimistic, vivacious, motion, versatile, experimental, adventurous, prevailing, reputable, jovial, spirited, unbridled, hedonistic, gregarious, grandiose, undiscriminating, undisciplined, permissive, stubborn.

Of the body thighs, groin.

Rulership

No Planet’s Exaltation

No Planet’s Fall

Mercury’s Detriment | Mercury's loss of dignity in the sign of Sagittarius suggests unfamiliarity with themes of justice, repute, and spirituality.

Significations primarily sourced from Demetra George’s Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice Volumes 1, Helena Avelar & Luis Ribeiro’s On the Heavenly Spheres, Christopher Renstrom's The Cosmic Calendar, and Roy Gillett's The Secret Language of Astrology.

Disclaimer: Please do not copy, redistribute, alter, or claim this text as your own...

[keydekyie]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

(Quote from Ursula Le Guin:)

All times are changing times, but ours is one of massive, rapid moral and mental transformation…. It’s unsettling. For all our delight in the impermanent, the entrancing flicker of electronics, we also long for the unalterable…. So people turn to the realms of fantasy for stability, ancient truths, immutable simplicities.

And the mills of capitalism provide them. Supply meets demand. Fantasy becomes a commodity, an industry.

Commodified fantasy takes no risks; it invents nothing, but imitates and trivializes. It proceeds by depriving the old stories of their intellectual and ethical complexity, turning their action to violence, their actors to dolls, and their truth-telling to sentimental platitude. Heroes brandish their swords, lasers, wands, as mechanically as combine harvesters, reaping profits. Profoundly disturbing moral choices are sanitized, made cute, made safe. The passionately conceived ideas of the great story-tellers are copied…advertised, sold, broken, junked, replaceable, interchangeable.

What the commodifiers of fantasy count on and exploit is the insuperable imagination of the reader, child or adult, which gives even these dead things life-- of a sort, for a while.

Imagination like all living things lives now, and it lives with, from, on true change. Like all we do and have, it can be co-opted and degraded; but it survives commercial and didactic exploitation. The land outlasts the empires. The conquerors may leave desert where there was forest and meadow, but the rain will fall, the rivers will run to the sea. The unstable, mutable, untruthful realms of Once-upon-a-time are as much a part of human history and thought as the nations in our kaleidoscopic atlases, and some are more enduring.

We have inhabited both the actual and the imaginary realm for a long time. But we don't live in either place the way our parents or ancestors did. Enchantment alters with age, and with the age.

We know a dozen different Arthurs now, all of them true. The Shire changed irrevocably even in Bilbo's lifetime. Don Quixote went riding out to Argentina and met Jorge Lois Borges there. Plus c'est la même chose, plus ça change.

-Forward to Tales from Earthsea, by Ursula Le Guin

[strangelittlestories]

In the magical land of Elsewhere, on a throne in a high castle, there sits the Paradox Crown ... waiting for someone to claim it.

Elsewhere is no stranger to visitors. In fact, the world is hungry for them.

It is a place that floats in the outer layers of reality, where the rules are mutable. In Elsewhere, truth is like that cat in a box, in that:

1) it could be anything and will only decide when you look at it.

2) it is mercurial, hungry, duplicitous and has never been fed ever.

So it opens doorways. It opens them far and wide and without discernment. It opens them for the seekers, for the lost, for the yearning, and for the unaware.

It opens them like mouths, swallowing up travellers and digesting their rules, their perspective, their knowledge, then shitting out *stories*.

Oh what, you thought your magical isekai quest was some vital contribution? The stars weren't winking out until you arrived. The talking sword only learned its first words when you stepped through the portal. Did you think that dark lady really couldn't be defeated by the *people who already lived here*?

Look, it's not a bad deal. You get a fantastical, life-altering tale. You get to discover that the magic was within you all along. Maybe you even survive. And Elsewhere gets another tether to keep it from spinning off into the void of unreality for another year.

This is, however, *hell* for the actual people of Elsewhere.

As a harm reduction measure, to keep the influx of protagonists from going *full Chosen One*, they created the crown.

The rules of the Paradox Crown are simple: 1) if you claim it, you will rule Elsewhere with ultimate cosmic power. 2) it can only be claimed by one who is truly humble. 3) anyone with enough gumption to claim it is not humble enough to wear it.

Thus, the world always retains the *potential* to fulfil all of visitors dreams, to remake itself in their image, to turn society on its head and forge a brighter dawn...

...but the secret magic test to unlock their destiny is deprecation-locked.

Visitors can still tread the road of story, of course. They simply have to do it the hard way - laying it brick-by-brick before them, joining it to the spidering paths paved by others, and finding the tale is a rich weaving walked by many feet.

Thus, they take the individuals their world hungers for, and they feed them into community.

Colloquially, the call this process: "turning the crown upside down".

[talonabraxas]

“Behind The Beauty Of The Moon Is The MoonMaker” ― Rumi

The Super Blue Moon In Aquarius

Summer ‘24 is bringing the heat! And we’re not just talking about the weather! The rare sturgeon super blue moon in Aquarius is making waves on August 19, urging us to re-envision our goals and reshape our futures. According to our calculations, the last super blue moon in Aquarius occurred on August 10 2014, making this lunation rare and exceptional. Gaze upon the moon and manifest your desires! You might find that the stars and planets hold the answers to the questions you've been pondering and reflecting upon.

In August 2014, what concepts were you imagining and wanting to bring to life? Did you want to join forces with like-minded people or to rebel against the status quo? This is the second telling of the hopes and aspirations from that time. Reinforcing individuality and authenticity is essential: We’ve been trying to liberate ourselves from past trauma and pain, to have creative breakthroughs and to heighten our self-worth. We can augment our present situations by reassessing the events that unfolded 10 years ago.

A blue moon transpires when there are two full moons in 29.5 days. Since the last full moon was on July 21, we have days for a blue moon to ensue. And no, the moon isn't actually blue — although it can sometimes appear that way due to natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires. We use the phrase “once in a blue moon” as a metaphor to mean something that is highly unlikely or only happens rarely, just like getting two full moons in one calendar month. The super moon occurs when the moon is perigee to Earth (perigee is the technical term for proximity). When this happens, the moon appears bigger and brighter. Earthlings feel deeper emotions and the tides are more intense due to the moon's gravitational pull. Since all living beings are mainly composed of water, we get affected by lunar vibes like those of the super blue moon.

The lunation is in the sign of Aquarius, who is associated with innovation, progress and group efforts, and is in aspect to Mercury, who's retrograde in Leo, and Uranus in Taurus. Combining the three fixed planets (moon in Aquarius, sun in Leo, Mercury retrograde in Leo, and Uranus in Taurus) forces us to take action. This isn't a time to sit on the sidelines and watch matters unfold. We will speak up about humanitarian issues to bring change to the world. If there is a cause that you're drawn to on an individual level, the super blue moon will push you to advocate for that cause.

The super blue moon allows us to explore new and novel ideologies. As Mercury is currently moonwalking, it may bring conflict with others when we’re on our soapboxes. Find ways to understand the philosophy and ideas of others — mainly by keeping an open mind. We don't have to agree with the opinions of others; however, we shouldn't argue with them because that creates unnecessary noise and stands in the way of our points being heard. Expressing yourself with a calm demeanor could transform people’s views. Once they comprehend your standpoints, altering their perspectives will be easier.

Three mutable signs (Venus in Virgo, Jupiter in Gemini, and Saturn retrograde in Pisces) form an energetic knot on August 19. These fraught connections push us to break free from the past and move forward with the times. We want to explore more evolved ways of reasoning and search the universe for answers. Finding different modalities of thinking through group endeavors can start a positive revolution for and by the people.

The super blue moon in Aquarius is the climax of the recent upheaval we’ve been facing. With the comet Chiron, retrograde in Aries, in play we can heal the world. We can change and rebuild the planet one step at a time. Practicing compassion, empathy and benevolence will help us on our quest — so put your best foot forward and show others how to love each other and fight for their beliefs. Remember, now is not the time to be silent. Take a stand!

You can be your own astrologer and find personal meaning in the lunation by following this cosmic advice: If you're wondering how the super blue moon will affect you, look at your birth chart. The houses that Aquarius, Scorpio and Sagittarius rule and the location of your moon sign will be the most impacted. Why? You always want to look at your moon sign and placement during major lunations because it anchors how you'll feel. Pay attention to the house ruled by the sign Aquarius to see the focal point of the super blue moon. The fixed signs in the mix do not include Scorpio so that house will take a hit, too. Also, Sagittarius isn't included in the activated mutable energies, which is why it's vital. Then you can create your personal super blue moon story and know what to manifest. You got this! -Refinery29

Super Blue Moon In Aquarius by Talon Abraxas

[nobredoesart]

So, since seeing the new season announcement about The Dragon Prince I've been ruminating and wondering what I would differently with this universe. And I reached the conclusion that I would do a lot different, and so, wanted to explore that, in what will hopefully be a series of posts!

With that in mind, here is the first one! Effectively, they are just my initial notes and sketches, but they are important to what I want to do. I want to make the world feel more vast and involved in its own magic system, and to do that, I wanted to alter some of the Primal Sources/Arcanums, and I wanted to change the elves! Especially the elves. I'll definitely make a post just about the elves in general too, but first-

Moonshadow Elves: Of course they aren't all assassins, or even close to that. They are the most competent assassins, sure, but that portion of their society is less than 1%, and whilst it would have some focus due to Rayla's role in the story, I don't believe it should be the focus. I'll expand more later in the post, but the moon Arcanum and Source are deeply entrenched in Liminality, in Unreality, in Deception and in Death. Creatures that have a connection to it are, therefore, deeply odd. They are in a constant state of vague of uncertainty, but instead of it bringing them distress, it makes them flexible, malleable and more often than not, capable of connection with that which surrounds them.

Moonshadow society is, therefore, filled with philosophical discussion, an odd state of impermanence, and a loving relationship with transitional periods, such as youth, equinoxes, death and journeys. They have a tendency to be "grounded" by choice, choosing to dress down to earth, fulfill simple tasks and keep a steady hand, while letting their mind wander, and keeping their thoughts flighty. It is also, of course, nocturnal for the most part, with most Moonshadow Elves feeling a little lightheaded when out in broad daylight.

Truth is, of debatable usefulness to a Moonshadow Elf, because it is mutable to them, just a trick of the light.

Rayla, and her band, for example, are wonderful assassins, because they do question what is given to them, they question and wonder and thrive in the uncertainty of what is in the balance, only finally using the binding ritual to assure they can go through with it in the end! I think it's an interesting tool, that Bindings like that are used within that society to assure that one can't let their mind wander once more!

Also, as will be touched on later, all elves know some inherent magic, and have more innate magical properties than canon, with one of the weirder ones for the Moonshadow Elves being the fact they can feel any boundary line, metaphorical or not.

Skywing Elves: Freedom, Idealism and Change, Skywing Elves embody their Arcanum all their life, and try to always reach beyond their measure. They all, also, have wings, because damn it, it's in the name, and it makes no sense for a race that is hyper-connected to the sky to not be capable of flight! Those wings, usually coming in pairs, but at times more than that, are useful in a society that tends to reside among mountain tops, cliff-sides and high altitude environments, with great spires, bridges and nests built all over the continent, but mostly within their Principalities!

As they value Freedom and Change above all else, if there is a race of elves that keeps trying to push for progressive measures, for acceptance and constant change to that which existed for long, it is the Skywing Elves. To avoid the whole, Planet of Hats scenario, this isn't of course, universal. But the connection to the Sky does push a lot of elves to become mages, speakers, inventors and even bards, traveling and pushing others to change and fight. Though, you will also find many Skywing Elves love exploring the land, and come back home to roost.

As the image shows, they usually dress in bright, airy clothing, with a lack of attention or rigor to modesty, because it's not like it matters too much to people so focused on the freedom of everything, The brightness of the colors is also so they can spot one another at a distance, even in flight, and the loose fabrics help them feel the wind and currents, even through layers and layers.

A small constant pull that affects all Skywing Elves is that they always feel a passive restlessness when entrapped in some manner, and their instincts sharpen to compensate, from reflexes to even pushing their bodies further than expected.

(You'll also note, that due to the Arcanum being explored more, it will affect Callum's connection to his first Primal Source, which I'll address later!)

Startouch Elves: Frankly, I didn't like the idea that Startouch Elves barely canonically exist. So no, they do exist, and are just, around, though they are a smaller population than most others elves.

They are weird, even by elven standards, as will be their opposite, the Tidebound/Oceanbound Elves, because both of these races are connected to the Primal Sources that most deal with time and existential concepts. The Stars touch on Paths, Possibilities, Understanding and Vastness of the Cosmos, and so, the Startouched are almost fully alien from most species in Xadia that aren't also connected to the Arcanum. Slightly displaced in time, Startouch Elves effectively have a limited distortion of time, existing in a sort of fugue state half the time where they're nigh on prophetic, but not to a grand scale without the assistance of magic. Due to this, they tend to seem, space-y and displaced, not quite understanding what is going on around them, or understanding it to a level that is so uncanny as to make most uncomfortable.

Their society is therefore truly a disorganized collection of families and lands, all kept with hundreds of years ahead in mind, haphazardly constructed structures and half incoherent communication that still ends up making sense to those within it. They produce a great many researchers and academics, many historians and prophets, and a fascinating amount of friendly faces, even if disconcerting. There is a lot of things odd about them that will require more exploration, but I wanted them to feel, alien and kindly, but almost not in the same plain as others. Distant, but watching, like stars, finding meaning in the emptiness and connecting dots that aren't there, like constellations.

I also gave them antlers because they all shine on the tips, resembling constellations!

-

I'll add the other 3 races later, and start expanding on the Arcanums and more, because gods do I have so many ideas!