#Floating Structures Consultants

[floatingstructures]

What are some of the impacts of floating structures to the marine environment?

Floating structures offer potential benefits like renewable energy generation and increased living space, they can also have various impacts on the marine environment. Here are some key points to consider:

1] Potential positive impacts:

Adaptability to rising sea levels: Since floating structures can adapt to rising sea levels unlike fixed structures, expensive modifications required to fixed structures to adjust to changes in sea level and corresponding carbon footprint can be avoided.

Sustainable “Land” creation: In bustling coastal cities such as Mumbai, the creation of land involves reclamation which in turn means dredging at some other location. Both dredging and reclamation have significant and non-reversible impacts on marine life (flora & fauna). Further, the marine environment is also impacted such as changes in current flows and strengths that impact existing marine facilities. Using floating structures to create artificial “land” can overcome these issues.

Relocation Ability: Unlike fixed structures, floating structures can be relocated to different locations depending on business case or project requirements.

­Floating windfarms: Noise from windfarms on land can impact the quality of life for populations in nearby locations. Floating wind farms that can be located further away from population centres can avoid this situation.

Floating Data Centres: Floating data centres have a lower carbon footprint as surrounding water can be used for cooling purposes thereby reducing energy consumption. ­

Habitat creation: In some cases, floating structures can create new habitats for certain marine organisms, such as barnacles and mussels, that colonize the submerged parts of the floating structure.

Renewable energy: Floating structures can be used to support offshore wind farms and other renewable energy sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and their associated environmental impacts.

2] Potential negative impacts:

2.1) Physical impact:

Habitat disruption: Floating structures have the potential to cast shadows, decrease light penetration, and impact the growth of underwater plants and organisms that utilize photosynthesis.

Sedimentation: Structures have the potential to alter water flow patterns, resulting in increased sedimentation in certain areas, which could potentially overtake benthic organisms and have an impact on delicate ecosystems. However, reclamation has much more serious impacts as compared to floating structures.

Collision risks: Floating structures can create collision risks for marine animals, such as fish, whales, and sea turtles, depending on their size and location.

2.2) Chemical impact:

Pollution: Accidental discharges from offshore structures, such as antifouling paints, lubricants, and sewage, from drilling platforms can pollute the surrounding water, harming marine life. However, floating structures are designed and built to Classification Society Rules and need to comply to MARPOL Regulations to prevent marine pollution.

Noise pollution: Construction and operation of industrial floating structures can generate noise that can disrupt the communication and behaviour of marine animals.

2.3) Biological impact:

Introduction of invasive species: Structures can be a stepping stone for invasive species to establish themselves in new areas, which can disrupt local ecosystems.

Artificial reefs: Structures can attract certain fish species, but they may not offer the same ecological complexity and functionality as natural reefs.

­Overall, the impact of floating structures on the marine environment depends on various factors, including the size, type, location, and operation of the structure. Careful planning, environmental impact assessments, and mitigation measures are crucial to minimize negative impacts and maximize potential benefits.

Here are some additional points to consider:

For floating structures that have long-term ecological impacts, more studies are needed to fully understand their potential consequences, as research is still ongoing.

Implementing sustainable practices, such as using eco-friendly materials and adopting responsible waste management strategies, can help minimize the environmental footprint of floating structures.

It's important to weigh both the potential benefits and drawbacks of floating structures when considering their development and implementation in the marine environment.

[bryantmoretta]

under observation - jack abbot x PA!reader

a/n: slow-burn! if there’s room for an assistant im finna put them in a story. this has room to grow if the masses are interested. thank you for reading even if you aren’t interested :)

tonight was your first night as a physician assistant in the emergency department of PTMC. you’d been briefed earlier in the week — two attending physicians, five residents on rotation, and the chief of emergency medicine himself floating in from time to time. it wasn’t going to be easy, but it wasn’t supposed to be. that’s what drew you here.

you smoothed down your yellow cardigan over the hospital-approved scrubs, clipped your badge with the bold red ASSISTANT tag beneath your name, and walked out onto the floor just in time for shift change.

you introduced yourself quietly, politely — always with a smile, never taking up more space than necessary. when the flurry of greetings passed, you found your place just off to the side, near the wall, and waited. clipboard in one hand, tablet tucked under the other arm, pen ready.

you’d been told to stick with dr. abbot for the night, though that would change once the team got used to having a PA around. the position was new here, met with a little curiosity — and, if you were honest with yourself, a fair bit of skepticism.

dr. abbot himself didn’t seem thrilled. he clocked you almost immediately from across the room, a sharp glance sweeping over your ID badge and that bright yellow sweater like he wasn’t sure whether you were a med student who’d wandered into the wrong department or a plant sent from upstairs.

“so… what exactly are you doing here?”

you didn’t look up right away. you focused on the clipboard, fingers adjusting your pen.

“oh, um, i’m here to chart patient interactions, monitor labs, send prescriptions to the pharmacy, and process referrals. i can answer general questions so patients don’t have to wait on you. i’ll keep out of the way. i promise. but if i’m missing anything, or the tone’s not right, just let me know. i’m here to make your life easier, dr. abbot. not harder.”

only when you finished did you meet his eyes. you were earnest, that much was clear — and young. not in only years, but also in how you approached things. careful. measured. like you knew you were walking on uncertain ground and were trying not to step too loud.

jack grunted, barely a nod. and then turned away.

the first patient arrived fifteen minutes later.

you did exactly what you said you’d do: found your place in the room but stayed quiet. you kept your head down, your pen moving steadily over the notes. jack forgot you were even there until he started barking about imaging and a calm voice answered, “patient is next in line, dr. abbot.”

his head turned slightly. not quite a double take, but he didn’t say anything. you were already scribbling again.

by the time jack sat down to catch up on charting, he found half his work already waiting for him. he blinked at the screen — no way you’d written that already. but there it was: complete, thorough, clean. better than he would’ve phrased it himself.

he kept watching.

patient after patient. your notes were on time, perfectly structured, waiting for his sign-off. you never hovered. you weren’t loud. you just… worked. with quiet efficiency and an attention to detail he wasn’t used to seeing from someone on their first night.

he was reading through a set of imaging reports when you appeared again, holding out the tablet.

“scans are back for room three. fractured ulna. radiology’s recommending surgical consult — i paged ortho already, but they’ll need a formal handover from you.” you handed him the tablet, already zoomed to the exact image he needed, and walked away.

jack blinked down at the screen. he wasn’t smiling, not quite, but something shifted in his chest.

for the first time in months, he realized, the only thing he’d really done tonight was practice medicine.

an hour later, he dropped a paper bag by your elbow without a word.

you were mid-sip of your coffee when you looked down at the brownie like it might contain anthrax. he coughed, suddenly feeling a little stupid.

“it’s not laced with anything. just… sugar. welcome to the night shift.”

you smiled, small and sheepish. “thank you. i’m usually in REM sleep right now, so this might save me.”

he found himself leaning a little closer, glancing down at the loops and swirls on your clipboard. “you trained to read hieroglyphics?”

you laughed softly, and the sound pulled at something inside him. it was light. honest.

“no, that’s my shorthand. something they taught us in school, easier to take notes if you’re not writing full sentences.” you pointed to a few symbols. “that one’s sedated intubation. this one’s full code. and that’s patient stabilized.”

jack nodded impressed. “you’re already the smartest person in the room on your first night?”

your eyes dropped, cheeks coloring. “oh — no. i’m not the one doing the procedure.”

jack didn’t say anything, but he filed that away. the way you downplayed yourself. the way you spoke with such care. someone had taught you humility like a rulebook. he made a mental note to unteach that — slowly.

“you’ll get used to nights,” he said. “valerian root tea. blackout curtains.”

your nose scrunched up adorably. “noted, thanks dr. abbot.”

later, you approached with discharge papers.

“room seven. 22-year-old with a coffee burn. dr. ellis cleared them for discharge, but i need your sign-off.”

jack took the pen from his pocket, already moving to stand when you gently held up a hand.

“oh — you don’t need to. i can handle the discharge. i’ve got privileges for that. unless… you would rather?”

he paused. studied you.

so careful not to overstep. always deferring.

“you got this one,” he said, signing the paper. “any questions, come find me.”

he wasn’t sure why, but as you walked toward the patient, jack followed, quietly, from a distance. you explained everything in a calm, even voice. scheduled the burn clinic follow-up, handed over a card with the time and address. you showed her how to reapply the cream, even pulled five samples from your cardigan pocket like it was the most natural thing in the world.

he’d never seen a discharge done with that much… care. not on a routine burn.

by the time he returned to the desk, you’d already updated his charts.

all the way to the last patient he literally just watched you discharge.

and jack couldn’t believe it, eight hours ago, he’d been annoyed at your presence. now he was wondering how he’d ever gone without someone like you.

robby showed up at the crack of dawn, squinting against the overhead lights.

“still alive?” he asked jack, eyeing the coffee in his hand.

jack smirked. “barely. but get this-”

he pulled up a chart on the computer, turning it toward robby. “febrile seizure from literally 20 minutes ago. notes were done before i even had time to sit down.”

robby whistled. “you’re saying upstairs was right about PAs?”

jack didn’t answer. he was looking over toward where you sat at the corner station, head bent low, fingers flying over your keyboard.

“she’s efficient,” robby said.

jack gave him a look. one part warning, one part something else.

“you don’t get to poach this one,” he said quietly. “she’s mine.”

[lirational]

Xeno Witch

Fantasy AU Path to Nowhere

Witch!000 x Reader

A/N: Zero, Zero, you can call her Zero, white hair, cat ears, hiding in your wifi~ :D no beta we die like my soul

Warnings: Porn with a fumbled plot, dubious consent, general yandere shenanigans.

—

The orbs spun around the three-layered ring in mesmerizing, unchanging patterns, the small object heavy in your palm. Its pink glow gave a speck of light in this dark tower, where not even the light followed the rules of physics. Instead, it comverged around one figure, the lights itself moving like it was trying to dispel the darkness her presence provides.

No, it would be more accurate to say that the lights looked like as if they were commanded to highlight her presence instead of this tower’s structure.

“Well?” The witch asked, her tone playful. “All you need to do is swallow. Just a little ‘gulp!’, and you get what you want. Easy, right?”

Flagrant anticipation and mischief twinkle in her mismatched eyes, the tiny, almost weightless rings representing a contract. You were always told to be a good person, to live a good life and stay away from the darkness of the world, yet here you are now, facing one of the very things the world has told you to stay away from.

But, the light has rejected you, and now, you were desperate, angry, vengeful. Your heart a maelstorm that threatens to consume any sense of self-preservation.

Though hesitation colored some of your senses in a foreboding red tint, what you could feel coursing through your body was anticipation.

It was a chance, after all, to get what you want.

“What is your price, witch? What do you demand of me in return?”

You tried to load your voice with conviction. After all, such was expected in the bizarre book you had consulted for the ritual to call her, yet, your voice shook, the feeling of sheer power infused in the very air itself serving as a warning that made you falter.

“Insolent voyager! Are thee making light of the everlasting covenant?”

Seeing you flinch, the witch’s tone softened, glee replacing her pretend anger.

“Come on now, I was just teasing you, are you always this easy to tease? You’re just like a little fawn!” She whistled. “Witch is a little distant, how about you call me Zero? Come on, say it, ze~ ro!”

“O-okay, Zero.”

Well, any attempt to load your voice with authority as the book said has completely failed now.

“What are you waiting for? Come on, swallow it!” Zero floated around you, moving fast enough to breath warm air onto your ears, causing them to heat up. “Do you prefer something more verbose? Ah, ahem, don’t you loath the fate you were forced to tread and feel vengeful to upend the world?”

Her arms snaked on your chest and stomach.

“Then make an everlasting covenant with me...”

With the promise of change, you brought the rings past your lips, her whispers a temptation full of sin.

“… and alter your own fate.”

Power, along with something else, foreign and invasive, spread and took root in the essence of your very being, a breaching presence that could be felt down from the tips of your fingers to the tips of your toes. You couldn’t help but squirm, the oddity of it all too overwhelming to truly comprehend—

Then it stopped, leaving you feeling bereft and cheated.

The nagging sense of missing something important, missing a comprehension that lies beyond a thick veil, remained for quite a while.

“Our covenant has been sealed! With that, let’s return back to your world~“

Only upon looking back did you realize that Zero did not answer the most important question.

—

The incessant beep of an alarm clock spurred you back to the waking world.

Sunlight had started to slip through the blinds, a silent confirmation that, indeed, night has given way to another day. Even though your body felt leaden, frozen in time, cursed to not feel anything resembling restfulness, you shook the fatigue the best you could and forced yourself to roll to the side, then, as your vision started to focus—

“Hey!”

The all-too familiar voice that plagued your dreams greeted you. As your vision snapped into focus, your eyes met the red-yellow ones of the witch who haunted your sleeping hours.

“Zero?!”

“Aw, don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten,” she pouted. “Now that you accepted the contract, I’ll be sticking with you until I get your wishes!”

“Please don’t, I can’t afford to lose this job!” You reply, almost automatically, too panicked for your liking.

Zero didn’t seem to register your refusal. Rather, she seemed even more amused, her lips curling into a smile. “Oh come on, I want to see things! I want to eat snacks, watch the stars, read the new comic books. I won’t drag you down, I promise!”

She took your hand, pale fingers interlocking with yours in such a slow, tender gesture. Her thumb found your ring finger and brushed the base, coaxing a small ring with one loop to appear. The ring glowed in the same pink as the one you saw in your dreams, light particles revolving around it in a slow dance, merging and shifting and chasing each other. If there were any doubts of the encounter being nothing but a dream, the tender gesture would have dispelled it completely.

“After all, you, the one bound by our everlasting covenant, are the only one who can see me.”

Zero released your hand in a slow motion, fingers brushing onto yours for a few seconds too long, before her attention went to something else.

Oh, right, you have work to do.

Ignoring the ever-curious Zero, you bolted away to make yourself presentable, while the witch eyed your things with interest. She was especially interested at your snack stash, something about the sight of a powerful, wish-granting being from another world being so enamoured about something so ordinary bringing a chuckle to you.

Such was the start of your life with the witch from another dimension, yet, the mundanity only made the dark of your life all that much more stark.

For, as even the fools would have guessed. the first wish Zero granted you was one of revenge.

It was something you had long tucked back in your mind, placed inside a box labelled ‘repression’, taped up, and stored deep where no one should be able to reach, placed under myriad layers of irrelevant memories and kept out of reach from the light of your conscious thoughts. At least until the dam burst as you were forced to face the memory again. Looking back, it was almost childish, something about how a minor feud between competing businesses that spiralled into insanity that claimed the lives of people you knew, until you were forced to grovel as those you formerly considered friendly rivals showed their true colors.

For all these years, you endured the harsh, unfair treatment from them, forced to endure endless additional work until you snapped under the weight of unresolved anger and spite.

More than everything else, though, it was a careless wish, made as one of those former friends attempted to drag you away to parts unknown against your will.

“I wish all of you were fucking dead.”

At that moment, you spotted her black dress at the periphery of your sight, and then, she was in front of you. Even the world had stopped moving, bathed in a blue, criss-crossing grid lines except for the two of you. Depsite the outrageous nature of the request, Zero seemed unperturbed. Rather, she regarded you with a curious look.

“So, these were the ones who made you call for me. Boring people, if you ask me.”

You raise your eyebrow, prompting her to continue.

“Let’s see… these people were going to live unremarkable, mundane lives, and that shouldn’t be too hard…”

Realization hit you then, the fog of anger parting to give way for you to remember the witch’s sheer power.

“Zero, wait, this isn’t a good—“

She seemed to not perceive your presence, rather, she was focused on tinkering with something in front of her. Panels full of thousands of ever-scrolling lines, each with symbols more complicated than the last, enough to make your head pound from within when you stare for too long. Around her, cards wrapped in light of multiple colors rotate and wrap around each other in a mesmerizing display, a sight that Zero seemed to be unaware of - or perhaps, she did not deem it worth paying any mind.

“Done!”

With a flourish, she turned around to look at you, the panels disappearing as the lights shot away in multiple directions before dispersing. As time started to march once again, the person that was harassing you were contorted into painful, impossible shapes, expression frozen in horror without being able to speak as his own body started to break down, turning into—

You didn’t want to look, but out of the corner of your eyes, you saw a dark, yawning void where he was standing not even moments ago, swallowing every trace of him.

“Finished! They’re dead, well, it’s more like they don’t exist,” Zero winked at you. However, it registered as terrifying more than anything else. “Can we get something? I saw that shop selling ice cream so thick that don’t don’t melt even under the sun! Can we try?”

“But—“

“Come on, don’t focus on such boring things! I granted your wish,” she pouted. “This really reminds me of that comic I’ve seen once… Someone made a contract with an evil demon, and in the last part I saw, the villain actually made a cult…”

In contrast to your horrified expression, Zero didn’t seem to mind what she just did, and just rambled on. Just like a cat, Zero marches on her own beat, and your last attempt of protesting were shushed with a pale, slender finger on your lips. Her finger were cold, freezing your lips into silence and compliance, and there, the realization truly slammed itself onto your psyche.

This was a contract where you left the cost section blank, free for the witch to fill as she pleases.

From her smile as she took your hand and walked out of your workplace, it was easy to assume that she, indeed, were aware since the beginning.

That day, the ice cream Zero made you buy alongside her tasted overly sweet.

Perhaps a reminder of the impossible, costly saccharine deal you were sucked into, or proof that Zero was trying to anchor her presence even on one of your most basic senses.

—

The second wish Zero granted you were one without forethought.

With you, she has learned a lot, from simple pop-culture, to the minutiae of life, at least something that cannot be gleaned from being an observer. Though she seemed to like the sound of her own voice, she seemed to adore yours more, at least equal to her obsession with trying new foods if her demands after assisting you were anything to go by. When she asked you for something spicy for a challenge she saw on the internet, her expression twisted into something that must be seen to be believed.

In that moment, you forgot that you were dealing with a powerful witch from another dimension, and not a clueless friend whom you were stuck with.

Your conscious mind, your logical thoughts, all realized that letting your guard down near her would be a mistake, one that you may have to pay dearly for, yet even with constant reminders, it was difficult to stand guarded against her. She was eccentric, even the small kindnesses she did for your sake, such as preparing some food in the morning before you wake and in the evening, or even cleaning up the house with a thought, it was all colored in her character.

From how she made a pancake that started out completely sweet and end up savory with a swallow, to how she turned the apartment walls into edible candy for two days.

(You try not to think of the price you will have to pay when it is time to tally the costs.)

She became a constant presence, and sometimes, when she was away to do her own thing, a sentimental part of you missed her. She was fond of touching you, her cold digits lingering a few seconds too long, the sensation of her touches remaining fresh in your memory for a few hours even after she left.

No one remembered the family you killed. In this altered, unnatural reality, there was no feud that turned deadly, all traces of the ones you bore hatred and swore vengeance to falling into the void and replaced with you. Their wealth, their position, it all fell into the palm of your hand with such a simple command.

Though the question remained. What is the cost of having such a powerful being at your disposal?

A question that were always deflected by a smile and a freezing finger on your lips, scattering your thoughts away until she has long left into another tangent you could not hope to interrupt.

Your reminiscing were interrupted with a familiar rhythmic knocks on your door, proven to be nothing more than a formality not a few moments later, as Zero— the witch walked in from a torn void in reality, one that was definitely not there a few seconds ago.

“(Name)~” Zero called out, her voice sing-song and relaxed. “Heey~ Voyager~ Darling~ the audience is getting bored of you spacing out!”

As panic spurred you to stand up, Zero still looked relaxed, mismatched eyes staring upwards, her gaze directed to a distance so far, far away you could not fathom what she was getting at.

Wait, that wasn’t important. Was there someone here?

“Relax, the gods can’t hurt you! Well, they don’t get to do that as long as I’m here,” Zero flicked your forehead, your expression changing from panic to bewilderment. “C’mon, I heard someone is selling limited version ice cream made from black licorice! I want some!”

“Later, Zero, I’m not really feeling it,” you closed your eyes, your tone conveying exhaustion. “How about you go by yourself?”

“Nope! Come on, don’t be such a stick in the mud,” Zero remained unperturbed, taking your hand and pulling your arm. The sight would have been rather adorable, were your relationship were anything but based off a transaction with an unknown price.

“You already know everything there is to see around here, Zero. You can go by yourself. Sometimes, I wish you know how much you can be a pain—“

You clamped your mouth. Shit. Though you attempted to backtrack, you saw the witch’s expression has already soured, an uncharacteristic scowl highlighting her darkened gaze shadowed by her hair. In that moment, the room seemed to chill into a freezing stillness, even the lights around starting to fade until there was only you and her in the room.

“Zero, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—“

“I see,” Zero only responded, her tone stabbing and cold. “If that is what you desire, my voyager, there is nothing I could do.”

Your tongue felt ice-cold, lips frozen into a frown, unable to make a single sound. Meanwhile, your body refused to obey your commands, and you could only watch as Zero took her hand on yours, fingers hovering on the ring finger where the mark of the contract was, brushing the base of the finger with a movement so tender that still managed to chill you down to the farthest nerves. She lifted your hand and made you watch, watch as another loop started to appear above the first one, each passing moment of the new loop growing brighter feeding the pit of dread that has long formed within your stomach.

“Though, you might want to remember that I will collect what I’m owed, and you should watch your tongue from here on out.”

She placed down the hand bearing the mark of your contract and lifted her other hand, brushing her thumb past your lips, and then, the freezing cold of your tongue was replaced with a searing heat, drowning, breaking, overwriting every other sensation with an unrelenting sensation akin to thousands of heated needles piercing all conceivable surface. It hurts, it hurts, and you swore you tasted iron, without the warm feeling of blood that would accompany it—

Then, it stopped. Zero was no longer there, and everything was fine. You ran to the closest mirror, and a quick check revealed that everything was fine. It was such a tempting lure to think that everything was fine.

Only for the illusion to shatter as the image of a stylized clock face branded your tongue, bearing the myriad colors you’ve come to associate with Zero’s presence.

However, no matter how much you called for her, there was no answer.

—

It was on the cusp of true relief, just when you let yourself truly return to normalcy, that Zero granted your third wish.

You cannot miss what you never had, at least this way, there was no deluding yourself that there was something more behind the transactional nature of your connection. With time, with space, and without Zero shadowing you with her constant presence, it was easier to look at everything with a more objective angle. For the first few days, weeks, you watched your back and surroundings with the paranoia of a fugitive, even tried to make a wish, all without any effects, without her answering your call.

The human mind was not made to handle a nigh constant sense of danger, and with time, you allowed yourself to truly relax. The ring was still there whenever you focused on your ring finger, while the clock that branded your tongue has faded without leaving any traces.

Though you knew what she was capable of, a part of you longed to dismiss the sight that day as nothing but a mere figment of your imagination, an eerily vivid hallucination that had you hearing the sound of ticking for the first few days whenever you so much as closed your eyes.

Even that has disappeared with time, leaving only your not-so infaillible memory of the event.

With what you got from the contract, you have moved far away to restart your life, to a place less crowded, with less modern facilities, just enough to live without too much discomfort. With time, you allowed yourself to feel again, to heal, to dismiss everything from the fateful day piece by piece.

Maybe, the rings would drag you down to be tortured by her for all eternity, just like in one of those stories written by the superstitious.

Months would pass by, before you allowed yourself to be vulnerable around someone. There was someone who offered you help when you were finding your footing here, and they had remained a constant presence, owing to the close distance of your living places and the ease they talk to you with. A wonderful friend that you fantasized, no, hoped one day would become something more.

It was juvenile, a crush on the level of a child who had just learned what romantic love was, but there should be no harm to entertain such a little fantasy in the comfort and privacy of your thoughts.

“I wish they would give their heart to me.”

When the air started to hang heavy with thick, inky darkness, panic gripped your lungs.

Too late. Right when you felt her presence, your body had escaped your control, a doll with enough strength to stand, yet helpless to resist while Zero held your hand. Her pale hand took the hand bearing your contract mark, the other resting on your shoulder, putting you into a kneeling position with a firm yet gentle touch. Her eyes twinkle with amusement and glee, and the undercurrent of something more, something sickeningly sweet and sinister.

“Finally, I almost tried to make bets with the gods on how long until you end up with me again.”

The hand on your shoulder moved to your face, cupping your cheek while her thumb grazed your lips. With her command, you opened your mouth, revealing that the dreadful seal placed upon it has changed, the clock hands had moved ever closer to the middle of the day - or perhaps night, if the dark all around the owner of the mark could be taken as a hint.

“They were waiting for this moment, after all.”

Zero didn’t seem angry - rather, her voice was gentle and soothing. Perhaps it was your eyes, your pleading gaze, your struggle to move, but she seemed to read your intentions.

“Of course, there is no need for regrets, my voyager. After all, this ending has been written ever since we made the contract, even if there are some snags around the way~“

You try to plead, to reason, but what was there to say? It was pointless, she would grant the wish you so thoughtlessly spoke of, and from the looks of her expression, you would come to regret every second of what you were given. It only took a second for her to stop tinkering with whatever it was she altered to grant what you desired, yet to you, it took an eternity, locked to watch as she nudged the first domino that would seal your fate.

“Enjoy your wish, dear voyager~”

Just like before, she disappeared right after. Leaving no chances to ask questions, no chances to plead and regret.

You look at your reflection in the mirror.

The hour hand of the clock branded to your tongue was one hour away from midnight.

—

It took the span of a few weeks to discover what she meant.

Since that day, something deep within you were screaming, pleading, even at times forcing you to flee, turning into nightmarish scenarios that haunted your dreams and plagued your waking hours. A primal fear, unknown whether it was from you or from the manipulations of the witch, made you all too aware, of how the smiles from your friend start to veer into a devouring, smothering affection, until this affection you once so treasured and desired turned into a suffocating leash.

Paranoia crept upon your life once more, as you start to lock doors behind you, start to sense what may not be present in moving shadows, start to see and feel and suffocate with each passing moment of this too-long, drawn out punishment. Even in your downtime, nothing went truly right, for you had to keep your guard up.

At least, it was the most apt description, for you were chained in the most nightmarish instant just before the other shoe dropped.

No matter the pleas you shouted to the void, the witch only smiled, as if your suffering was nothing so dangerous. Even as everything started to crumble around you, from odd incidents of things breaking, chunks of buildings almost crushing you into a nasty pile of meat, vehicles veering just a little too close for comfort, reducing you to hope for a mild scare at the comfort of home.

Until the metaphorical shoe finally dropped.

It dropped in such a bitter show of cruelty, too, as it was the first night you could sleep a little better since the wish tumbled from your lips as a herald to the descent of your life into disaster once more.

There was the sound of breaking, and with no fanfare, as you felt the touch of cold metal on your bare skin, everything stilled, colors fading into muted greys all over. From a strange, geometric void, Zero stepped out, the edges of her movements causing chunks of reality itself to crumble into multicolored fragments and disperse away as ashen dust.

“Hello again, voyager,” she smiled, warm and inviting, despite the circumstances. “Have you forgotten? It is time for me to collect.”

You looked around and saw that the cold metal was a knife, belonging to the special friend that was both your savior and your nightmare within a span of time too dizzying, too quick to truly reconcile with yourself. They have been frozen mid-stab, crazed smile locked on their visage.

“After all, don’t you ask for their heart? You are one demanding voyager.”

It would not take a genius to figure out her intention. But you talk back, anyway. Out of futile hope, or out of curiosity that needed confirmation.

“Not like this. You warped their love.”

“Our sacred bond would not allow such a trickery, dear voyager,” Zero answered, voice sing-song as she glances at the person frozen in place just before they struck the killing blow. “As you wished, I gave you their whole heart. Never did I say that I would give them yours.”

Zero grasped your fingers, letting you watch as the third ring appeared above the second, shining with the color you’ve come to associate with the weight of dread pooling deep within. Deep down, you knew, it was the final seal that signified your end. Your limbs felt heavy, but this time, you were not frozen, rather, everything felt heavy beyond compare, as if you were pinned down and prevented to move.

Darkness started to open up beneath you, square by square, reality first crumbling into multicolored cubes before dispersing into ashen dust leading you to your destined abyss.

“Don’t you know that when you alter your fate and others, the world will eventually take notice?”

Zero didn’t seem concerned, rather, she watched as the void beneath you grew larger. “A human who wishes to alter fate will also alter the fate of others, and it’s a matter of time until the world itself—“

She cups your face, her hold tender. In this proximity, there was only you and her, as you drown into her gaze.

“—declares you an error.”

She captured your lips, and together, the two of you fell into the void.

You were drowning, lungs and mind filled with information a human shouldn’t be able to grasp, yet, when you reach out to touch and focus on one, everything eluded your grasp the way floating particles would elude a drop of soap. An eternity, a moment, passing as you attempt to focus and anchor yourself to something, only for everything to slip between your fingers as Zero tightened her hold on you.

“Mine, my voyager, finally mine to cherish,” she stared at you as she guided you to a gentle descent, your peripheral vision registering the familiar walls of the tower you once visited in your dreams. You were only given enough time to take a breath, before her lips took yours again, her tongue tangling upon yours as she tasted you. She tasted of strawberry, of sweet treats and refreshing cold, and she only allowed you release when your breath were truly, completely stolen, a string of saliva connecting the two of you before Zero licked it with a swipe of her tongue. Her manipulations suspended you in the air, your form propped by her powers, soft to your skin yet with the appearance of hardened light.

“Finally mine to take, another error born from fates too far altered. Don’t you know? Many desired your downfall, too, as they took vicarious pleasure from your situation.”

Your clothes disintegrated into nothing, disappearing the same way the gaps in reality did. “Don’t you hear them? They await your arrival here with anticipation. Give yourself to me, give me your heart, for the gods have declared you their favored, and now, you have nothing left.”

Her kisses trail down, bruises marking where her lips touch, her teeth grazing your skin. Though the tower shook, the coldness of the outside void rattling the walls, you felt nothing but rising warmth, radiating from your belly and spreading until it reached the tips of your fingers, your skin responding to Zero’s touches and gentle kisses. Her hold on your waist was possessive, her knee gently pressing between your legs until heat pooled and dripped onto her immaculate dress. She didn’t seem to mind, as her kisses reached your chest, sucking one more mark before her attention went to your lips once more.

Two of her fingers pressed down on your lips, past your teeth, her gaze a silent order.

There was nothing more to lose, nothing more to hold on. Some details of your life has been shrouded in thick smoke, the tightening of your chest a punishment should you try to reach beyond.

With that, you obeyed, wrapping your lips and tongue around her cold fingers.

From the approving quirk of her lips, it was clear that Zero, too, was aware of your predicament.

You sucked, wetting the two fingers, the intensifying, occassional press on her knee to your core becoming your encouragement. It was not enough, never enough, and the fire of desire within your belly only abated for a moment, just enough for you to chase the promise of release, only for you to he left bereft unless you continued. Only when the cold of her fingers were replaced with warmth did she pull her fingers out, one hand keeping your thighs parted despite how the odd, binding lights had already kept you in the best position.

Just when you were starting to think that she would leave you bereft and suspended like this, Zero pushed her fingers in. Even with the slick, you felt full, so full, thighs quivering in an attempt to close itself, to stave a little off the addicting, poisoning pleasure that Zero was feeding deep into the ravenous fire of your thirst. Her movements were experimental, but not inefficient, observing with glee as she found your weak spot and curled her fingers to press on it, drawing a pleased mewl that painted your cheeks in a rosy crimson and burned your ears.

“You can take it, don’t you? They made you strong, they made you able to withstand, for they would, too.” She whispered with a groan, the facade of her dignified witch crumbling long ago. Her hair has curtained your body, not even allowing your peripheral vision to lack her presence, her fingers driving you up to the precipice of release just before she relaxed her movements. “Come on, say my name, I’ll reward you~”

For the second time this day, you obey, and your vision exploded in stars of pleasure as her name fell from your lips in an endless repetition, the witch licking her lips at the sight of you coming undone. She did not release her grip, her gaze shifted somewhere, to something you could not reach, without relenting her hold on you.

“Are you all still not satisfied?”

Her smile turned predatory, a promise of pain and something else.

“Then, follow your desire, call for me, and perhaps, you too, could arrive in this place without the need of a proxy.”

Zero’s attention shifted back to her prey, entangled and basking in each other’s presence and passion.

Until time itself lost all meaning.

[enby-jellyfish]

I See the Light

Part of the Baldur's Gate 3 Fairytale AU Collection

Rapunzel!Gale Dekarios X GN!Flynn Rider!Reader (POC friendly)

Pronouns: You/Your

Summary: You meet a strange man in a tower. Also he's magic. What?

Warnings: Grooming (cuz Mystra), kidnapping, eye trauma, reader yearning against their will.

Word Count: 4673

A/N: This took way too long to write for someone who loves both Rapunzel and Gale...

Once upon a time there was a humble farmer who lived in a cottage in the forest with his pregnant wife. Everything was perfect for the happy couple, until one day the farmer’s wife suddenly fell ill.

The farmer consulted many healers, all of whom told him they didn’t know what was wrong or how to cure his wife.

As she got worse and worse, the farmer’s desperation to save his wife grew. He heard rumours, whispers, about a witch, living not that far from his home.

Unfortunately for him this witch was not a witch at all, but a disgraced goddess, cursed to live in human form.

As soon as he could the farmer bid his wife goodbye and left in search of this goddess. When he found her, the farmer pleaded for her to save his wife.  The goddess agreed on one condition: his firstborn.

Without a moment of consideration, or consulting his wife, the farmer agreed, and he was sent on his way with a magical golden flower from the goddess’s garden.

When back home, the farmer used the flower to brew a tea, which instantly made his wife feel better when ingested.

With her regained health, the wife delivered a healthy baby boy who she named ‘Gale’ for the joy he brought her. This joy however was soon snuffed out by the goddess coming to take what was owed.

She screamed and kicked and cried, but to no avail. Her son was taken from her.

The goddess took the infant to a lonely tower, hidden in the forest. She took great care to make sure no one but her could find it and having only one way in and out of the tall structure, great thorn bushes surrounding the tall structure to ensure no one climb it.

She went through these great lengths to keep Gale hidden from the world because he is special. Gale has magic.

Magic is a rare thing nowadays; many believe it to be extinct. The disgraced goddess can feel it, and with it her only chance of returning to her former glory, slowly ebbing away from this world.

Keeping the young wizard close and grooming him and his power to serve her, they lived for many years in that tower. Gale growing into a handsome, strong, clever man.

He is lonely though, aside from Mystra his only company is a Tressym he named ‘Tara’ he accidentally summoned during one of his exercises.

Gale spent most of his time studying the books Mystra brought him. His favourite time of year is when hundreds of floating lights fill the night sky. According to his calculations, it happens once a year, every year, on the same day: his birthday.

You on the other hand are nothing but a humble thief, currently being chased through the forest by several guards of the castle you attempted to break in to. You don’t see why they’re making it out to be such a big deal. They have plenty, and you don’t. It’s not like they would miss a few trinkets or a couple of coins.

Oh well.

Pretty sure they’ve lost your trail; you dare to stop and catch your breath. You don’t recognise this part of the forest, an eery fog covers the landscape. Looking around, you try and find some form of landmark that would lead you back to familiar soil.

You notice a giant boulder, covered in vines. Maybe if you climb it, you’ll have a better vantage point.

And so, climb it you did. Or at least you tried. When grasping the vines to pull yourself up you notice behind them a hidden entrance through the boulder.

Suddenly you hear the sound of the guards chasing you nearing closer. You quickly pull aside the vines and hide inside the boulder. Listening to them pass your hiding place you release a breath you didn’t know you were holding.

Looking further into the cave you see a small valley with a lone tower surrounded by thorny bushes. Your curiosity getting the better of you, you reach the tower. Looping around it you notice it doesn’t seem to have an entrance. There is, however, a bell attached to the old walls, almost unnoticeable, hidden behind the thorny branches.

You, being the sane, reasonable person you are, decide to manoeuvre your hand through the prickly plant and ring the mysterious bell attached to a creepy tower in a hidden valley.

The second the ringing sound pierces the quiet of the valley you are surrounded by a purple hue. When the purple fades away you are no longer standing in the valley but instead a room. Before you can thoroughly start to panic about being magically teleported, you hear a loud ‘CLANG’, and everything fades to black as you fall to the floor.

When you awake, you notice you are sitting in a chair. You try and reach for your throbbing head in an attempt to soothe the pain but notice you can’t move your arm from its place on the armrest.

Trying to blink away your dizziness you find yourself tied to the chair with, purple tendrils? Is this… magic?

What in the ACTUAL HELL?!

“So, what exactly were your intentions here? Kill me? Kidnap me? Extort me for my magic?” The voice comes from a shadowy corner.

“Uh, no? The only thing I want with your magic is to get out of it?!”

“Oh.” The figure in the corner turns and whispers something to something to a cat you hadn’t noticed before, and to your surprise, it whispers back.

“Did- did that cat just talk?” Magic? Talking animals? A few minutes ago both seemed like something out of a fairy tale, with magic having been long extinct. You can’t tell if your head hurts from the bad hit you just took or the insanity of the situation.

“She’s not a cat, she’s a Tressym.” The man corrects you, carefully stepping out from the shadows, clutching a frying pan. The source of your headache, no doubt. The cat- Tressym follows close behind. As she properly comes into view you notice her birdlike wings.

“My name is Tara!” she says with an offended tone.

The man is dressed in simple, yet well-made clothes. His shoulder-length hair is brown, as are his eyes, and swept back in a half-up-half-down style. A stubble of facial hair decorates his kind, yet stern, looking face. A silver earring, shaped in the form of an eight-pointed star, dangles from his left ear.

An attractive man, you think. If not a bit odd.

“Oh-kay! Nice to meet you?” The odd duo stares at you for a moment, you staring back, before turning to each other. They whisper back and forth for a bit; you can make out Tara telling the man that you ‘don’t seem that bad’ and that he should ‘ask’ you. They seem to come to an agreement and turn back to you.

“Alright intruder-”

“You teleported me up here.”

He ignores your interruption. “We have come to a decision of what to do with you. In return for your freedom, you shall take me to see the lights.”

“The lights?” The man puts up a finger as if gesturing for you to wait and moves to a writing desk, taking some scrolls and showing them to you. “See, they show up every year. According to my calculations they will come again two days from now.”

You look at his notes, they contain astronomical equations, maps, and drawings of his ‘lights’. They seem awfully familiar.

“W- the lanterns? Listen wizard-”

“Ah, I’m Gale.” He interrupts you.

“Whatever. Even if I wanted to take you, I couldn’t. I’m kind of wanted around here.” Taking him with you would only slow you down.

“Oh.” His disappointed eyes remind you of those of a sad baby cow.

He suddenly perks up. “Wait, I could cast a spell so no one could recognise you! What do you say?” You weigh your options and make your decision with a heavy sigh.

“Alright, fine, I guess I can take you.” You cave.

“An excellent choice!” With a flourish of his hand, you’re no longer tied to the chair. You rub your wrists and stand up, glad to be able to move freely again.

“So, a simple cloaking spell should do the trick. Now you just keep standing there.” Having grabbed a thick book, Gale turns to a page halfway through, taps it with his index finger, and speaks some words in a language you don’t understand.

A warm, tingling feeling surrounds your body for a second before disappearing. “Is that it?”

“Yes, anyone who looks upon you from now until after the lanterns won’t be able to recognise you.” He punctuates his sentence by closing his book. “Great. Now, let’s get out of here.” Gale bids Tara, who upon an invitation to come along states she has a prior engagement with a particular comfortable pillow for a nap, goodbye and teleports the two of you out of the tower where your journey begins.

The two of you walk through the forest in silence for a while until Gale breaks it. “Lovely day, this. For now.”

You look at him. He seems a bit skittish, staying close to you while keeping his vigilant gaze on his surroundings. Like he expects an attack to come from behind every tree, rock, and bush. “You don’t get out a lot, huh.”

“No! No. I don’t know if you can tell, but” he leans closer to you, lowering his voice as if telling you a secret “I’ve never actually left the tower.”

That explains a lot. “You don’t say. Well, we’ll have to take the scenic route then, don’t we.” Maybe you can find a way so you don’t have to take him on this little side quest.

“I- Well, a bit of sightseeing can’t hurt, can it?” You give him a pat on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit! I know just where to go first, are you hungry?”

You lead him to the infamous ‘Ugly Duckling’, a tavern known to shelter all sorts of thugs and criminals. The perfect place to take your recluse wizard and scare him back to his tower. You almost feel bad for him. Almost.

Opening the heavy door of the unassuming building, you gently push him inside. “Salutat- ions…” Gale exclaims, his excitement ebbing away half-way through the word when he sees inside the dimly lit tavern.

It is quite busy inside; all sorts of unsavoury types fill the old seats and halt their conversation upon hearing Gale’s out-of-place exclamation.

“Don’t mind us gentlefolks! Isn’t this place great? You should try their rotisserie rat, a true delicacy!” You push Gale past a particularly large thug wiping his bloody nose with his long, no longer white, beard. “How unseemly…” You reach the bar and order some food and drink.

Gale surprises you, you figured he would back out from the musty smell of the place alone, but here he sits trying his hardest to make polite conversation with the bartender. “Charmed, I’m sure.”

The bartender gives you a look. “’Charmed’?” You give an apologetic shrug. “He’s not from around here.” The bartender looks Gale up and down one last time before seemingly accepting your answer with a scoff.

You sit and enjoy your meal for a bit, Gale less so, until guards suddenly barge into the room. You’re thankful they won’t be able to recognise you, if Gale’s spell worked, but still get ready to run at any moment.

“We have been commissioned to find a wizard. We’ve received word he’s here. Hand him over now, and there won’t be any bloodshed.” The captain’s loud voice fills the room as everyone looks around suspiciously. You feel Gale grasp your arm, squeezing slightly. He’s shaking. You can’t tell if it is due to the adrenaline of the coming fight or the fear of being caught.

The guards draw their swords, making everyone stand up and draw their own weapons. The fight that breaks out starts with a plate being thrown at one of the guards, food still on it. In the chaos you briefly consider slipping away, leaving Gale to fend for himself.

“Swords, meet sorcery!”

Dork.

Wait, idiot! He just gave away his identity!

The fighting continues and suddenly you come face to face with your companion. Gale looks relieved to see you, but relief quickly melts into something else when he sends a purple blast over your shoulder. You look behind you to find a familiar guard unconscious on the ground.

The fighting continues as you and Gale manage to make your way out of the tavern. Finishing off your last opponent you turn to Gale to find him knocked on the ground.

“Get me up, would you?” He pants, clearly not used to using his powers for this cause. “You fought well.” You try to assure him, unsure as to why you’re bothering putting in the effort, pulling him up.

“Well, one can’t always be a gentleman.” The laugh that escapes you is genuine, much to your surprise.

A crashing sound from the tavern pulls you out of your daze. “We should go.” Gale agrees and the two of you rush away to safety.

It is dark when you decide to stop and rest. You gather firewood and Gale sets it ablaze for a perfect campfire. Only then it is you notice a wound on your side. Something must have nicked you in the chaos you think as you peel the fabric of your clothing aside.

“You’re hurt.” Gale states the obvious, taking a seat next to you. “I know a simple spell to remedy that, allow me to demonstrate.” And you do.

With your permission he places a purple glowing hand over your wound, causing you to hiss in pain, before a warmth flows through the tender flesh.

Upon Gale’s hand leaving your body, your skin looks untouched. You gently trace where your wound used to be. Despite having seen it several times now, magic is still a shocking concept to you.

“Thank you.” His gaze is soft, an unreadable look in his gentle eyes. “You are most welcome.”

Oh no, you may be starting to like this guy.

You snap out of your daze, clearing your throat. “Sooo… How long have you been a wizard?”

Gale lets out a surprised chuckle. “Uh. Forever, I suppose. Mystra says people tried to kidnap me for my power when I was a baby. Hence the tower, she says it keeps me, and my gift, safe.”

His eyes grow distant at the mention of this ‘Mystra’. “She must be something special.”

He gives a sad smile as he turns his gaze to the flames. “She is. The Goddess of Magic. She was my guardian, my teacher, muse, and eventually lover.”

Ouch.

And gross.

“Must be a complicated relationship.” Gale chuckles sadly. “It is, I suppose. But it’s the only one I have. Except for Tara, I accidentally summoned her when I was ten. Thankfully Mystra allowed me to keep her.” He smiles as if it’s a good thing.

“’Allowed’? And you’re sure you want to go back?” You can’t stop yourself from asking the question.

Gale startles. “Yes! Maybe- I don’t know. It’s complicated.” He splutters out, scrambling to defend himself, and her.

He clears his throat and turns back to you. “But enough about me. What about you? Have you always been a thief?”

You laugh. “Touché. Ah, no, I haven’t. I didn’t have a lot growing up and had to make do.”

He gives you a sad smile. “Desperate times call for desperate measures, I suppose.” His voice is soft. You give him a sad smile back. “Exactly.” A warm, fuzzy feeling you can’t exactly place fills you.

You inhale sharply. “It’s getting late, we should probably get some shut-eye.” Gale smiles. “A pity. I’m sure I could talk to you all night, but, as you wish. I bid you goodnight.” You watch him turn away to prepare for the night.

Oh no.

The next day the two of you make the final stretch of your journey into town. Decorations for tonight’s spectacle cover every street and alley. Gale is having a great time drinking it all in, dragging you from stall to stall, from view to view. The food, the sights, the sounds, he simply can’t get enough, and you’re happy to indulge him.

He smiles oh so sweetly at you when you do.

When the day comes to an end and the sun begins to set you take Gale on a small rowing boat on the lake.

“You’ve been looking forward to this for so long, I figured you should have a decent seat.” Gale smiles at you, but you can tell it’s forced. “Is everything alright?”

He sighs, brows furrowing. “I- I don’t know. All my life I’ve been dreaming about what this very moment would feel like. What if it’s not everything that I dreamed it would be?”

You grab his hand, an impulsive decision meant to comfort him. “I’m sure it will be.” You squeeze his hand. “And if it isn’t, you’ll get to find a new dream to look forward to.”

His soft gaze and small smile gracing his lips make your heart clench and butterflies erupt in your stomach. It makes you both afraid and excited. Adrenaline flowing through your veins like electricity.

“Gale I-” You hesitate, Gale’s thumb caressing the back of your hand in a comforting motion. “You have my attention.” He gently encourages.

You take a breath to speak again but interrupt your confession when you notice a small light rising from behind the trees. “Look.” He does.

Hundreds of lanterns start filling the night’s sky, casting a soft yellow light that showcases Gale’s bright smile as he watches them being carried by the wind towards you.

You look at him instead. How the lights’ twinkle reflects in his eyes. His excitement when the lanterns float close enough for him to guide one back into the air.

As the lights slowly drift away Gale turns to you, grasping both of your hands into his. “Thank you. Truly. I wouldn’t have even left my tower if it wasn’t for you. I am so very glad you came, to share this with me.” He looks at you so earnestly. It feels like your very soul has been set ablaze.

“I have enjoyed our time together. A little too much, perhaps.” There is a shake in his voice that wasn’t there before.

“With you, I feel happy, safe. You must know you’re- you’re very special to me.”

A breath.

“With you, I forget my goddess.” That last bit is spoken as if it is a secret only meant for your ears. It makes your heart skip a beat.

“I don’t think I want to go back to the tower. You’ve shown me there is so much for me to see, to learn, to experience out here.” One of his hands releases yours to reach up and take out his earring.

“Mystra gave this to me as a token of our relationship.” With one quick motion he throws the silver earring into the lake, for it to sink into its inky depths.

“But that is in the past. I want to move forward now,” His hands clutch yours again, the same shake present as in the tavern.

“, with you, if you’ll have me.”

Time seems to stop.

Your brain, seemingly unable to present an eloquent agreement, instead moves your hand to softly cup his cheek.

You lean in closer, his breath tickling your face, yours probably doing the same to him. You can feel his face starting to heat up underneath your palm.

Just when you are about to meet in the middle Gale suddenly halts his movement, his suddenly stern gaze fixed on something behind you.

“Is everything alright?” It isn’t, you can tell, but can’t stop yourself asking.

“Yes. I just-” He takes a breath, steadying himself before turning his gaze to you again. “I need to take care of something before we leave.”

Once back on land Gale nervously asks you to wait by the boat until he comes back before disappearing into the dark of the forest.

You sit there, anxiously waiting for him to come back as seconds turn to minutes which turns to close to an hour.

About to lose hope of Gale coming back you let out a sigh of relief at the sight of a dark figure emerging from the forest. “There you are. I was starting to think you’d ran back to your tower and left me.”

Your smile leaves your face when the figure comes closer, revealing not Gale, but a tall, slender woman with dark hair.

Mystra.

“He did.” Her voice is smooth, powerful.

“What?” You start to feel nauseous.

“Gale came to realise the mistake that was leaving his tower.” You’re shaking now, tears welling up. “No, he- we were-” She interrupts you. “You were what? Come now dear, you didn’t think any of it was real, did you?”

“Now, dry those tears. He’s back where he belongs. With me.” She then disappears.

Confused and hurt you head back to town. You aimlessly wander the cobblestone streets, wondering if it indeed was all fake.

“Rough night, hon?” You stop and turn to the source of the voice. An older woman, dressed in a purple cloak. Her long, brown hair, decorated with silver streaks, pulled into a loose bun at the nape of her neck.

“I suppose you can say that.” She looks at you with, oddly familiar, dark eyes, framed by crow’s feet and laced with a melancholy sort of pain.

“It happens to the best of us. I can never find it in myself to be particularly joyous on this day.” She takes you by the arm. “Come child. I’ll put on the kettle for you.”

Her cottage is warm, homely. The tea is comforting, and so is the crackling hearth. You fall into easy conversation with the woman, Morena, as she introduced herself.

“Hmm, you know I started with the lanterns?” She reveals. “I hoped that one day my son would see them, and they would lead him back to me.”

“You have a son?” It would explain her motherly nature. “Yes, but he was taken from me when he was but a baby.” Her brows furrow. “His father sold him, so he could cure me. A witch took him. Apparently, my son had, has, a gift.” She takes a shaky breath. “I dropped that man as soon as I found out. Never saw him again, nor my son.”

Wait a minute.

“Your son. What was his name?” She looks at you, confused by your sudden desperation.

“Gale. I named him Gale.”

Oh.

Oh.

Oh no.

“I am so very sorry, Ms Dekarios, but I suddenly realized something, I have to go.” Surprised by your sudden rush she allows you to borrow her horse after you promise to bring it back.

“C’mon boy, let’s see how fast you can run.”  You ride through the forest, arriving at the boulder that shelters the hidden tower, dark clouds make it seem even more menacing than before.

You jump off your horse, rushing to the tall structure and ring the bell, thorns scratching at your hand in your rush. “Gale? Gale, I need to speak to you!”

Nothing seems to happen for a moment, then, instead of the familiar purple, a white haze surrounds your vision. When it clears you are back in that room. It is dark and in disarray, books strewn from their place on the shelves over the floor. Gale is nowhere to be found.

“Gale?” You call for him. A muffled sound catches your attention.

Gale is gagged and bound to a chair in the familiar way you were previously. Instead of purple, white tendrils hold him in place.

“You should have stayed away.” Mystra comes slithering into view behind Gale. “He. Is. Mine.” She traces her perfectly manicured nails across Gale’s face, causing him to flinch away. “And now you’ve forced my hand.”

Before you can reply you feel yourself being violently pushed by an invisible force. You go flying through the room and out its only window. The last thing you hear before hitting the ground is Gale’s panicked, muffled voice calling for you and the wind rushing through your ears.

The first thing you notice when you wake up is the drops of rain hitting your face, the second is the darkness, and the third the pain.

You try and blink your sight back, to no avail, as you attempt to get up. As you wrestle your way out of the thorns you realise, they must have broken your fall, blinding you in the process.

Freed from the plants you kneel to the wet ground, breathing shakily. Bringing your trembling hands up to your face you gingerly feel around, finding cuts and torn flesh. You find yourself unable to tell the wetness of your blood apart from that of the rain. You bring your hands back to the ground, trying to find stability in the wet earth.

Unable to tell how long you’ve been out; you use your remaining senses to try and figure out what is going on.

You hear voices above you, though it’s hard to understand what they are saying above the clattering of the rain, the rushing of the wind, and the occasional clap of thunder.

“NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”

Your suddenly hear a blast, loud enough to make you cover your ears. The earth beneath you shakes and a gust of what you can now clearly identify as magic passes through you.

You sit with bated breath, hands still digging into the ground. It has stopped raining.

A gush of wind, clumsy footsteps, a sharp gasp.

“You’re- I thought you were- I thought I would never see you again.” Gale’s voice shakes, heavy with emotion.

He collapses next to you, clutching your shoulders as if they are his only lifeline. You cry his name through a sob, bringing your hands up to hold onto his arms.

“Your eyes.” He breathes, his warm, gentle hand brushes over your cold, wet cheek.

You let out a nervous chuckle, shaky with adrenaline. “I’ll live. What happened up there?” You feel his forehead resting against yours. “She’s gone. I’m free.” He lets out his own shaky laugh as you feel your tears mixing with his.

When you go to blink the wetness from your ruined eyes you suddenly notice your vision growing better with each blink.

“Gale.” He hums and pulls back slightly, a shocked expression gracing his face when he does. “Your eyes!”

You laugh, honestly and earnestly, as does he, pulling you into a tight hug, which you gladly return.

“I have to tell you something. Something I didn’t have a chance to on that boat on the lake.” He pulls back slightly, looking at you intently. “I could go hours waxing poetry about how I feel about you, but I feel this situation calls for something simpler. I love you. Plainly and completely.”

You can’t hold back the smile tugging at your mouth. “And I love you.”

He then pulls you into a gentle kiss, filled with desperation and relief. It tastes of blood, and rain, and tears.

It is perfect.

“I hate to interrupt this sweet moment, but I would like to know where we are to go now?” You had almost forgotten about Tara you think, Gale spluttering excuses at her.

“I don’t think that is something we have to worry about. Gale there is someone I met while we were separated. I’m sure she would very much like to see you again.”

And there, back in that small town, after a tearful reunion with his sweet mother, you and Gale lived happily ever after.

The End.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Masterlist

Masterlist

Tag list: @glitterandgoldfinds

Thank you for reading <3

[thelampisaflashlight]

Headcanons surrounding the abbey, the siblings, and the ghouls. Let's go.

-The abbey is a mix of new and old architecture, with an emphasis on cohesively blending the newer wings with the older parts of the building, at least from an aesthetic standpoint.

However, there are some parts of the abbey that have been intentionally cut off by modern additions, in other words; There are parts of the abbey that are visible form the outside, but completely inaccessible from within.

These parts of the abbey are either structurally unsound, thus dangerous for anyone to venture into, or have been sealed for reasons unknown.

As a result of this decision to conceal rather than demolish these areas, the abbey has a very mazelike layout akin to the Winchester Mansion, and new and old siblings of sin are often seen consulting maps to find their way around.

-The basement where the ghouls reside/where their dorms are housed is NOT the abbey's "real" basement; The abbey's actual basement, where the electrical panels and pipes feed down to, is only accessible through two points on the property.

The first entrance is located through a door labeled, "Custodial Services Only", and is pretty obvious, given that the door itself is painted bright red and has a keypad beside it, whereas the other one is located... somewhere.

Yeah, no one actually knows where the second entrance is, but it's somewhere outside.

The ghouls also have another way of getting into the actual basement, but that's because ghouls really love to dig.

-Speaking of weird shit underground, if it wasn't bad enough that the abbey is a maze, there's plenty of places where one could accidentally wind up in the catacombs, because, yeah, not only do they have two basements, they have a tunnel of bones, too!

Mountain says it used to be used for burials back in the olden days, but that it eventually took on a more sinister history that he prefers not to delve into.

Dew sometimes hangs out down there with "the nuns", and he won't elaborate more on what he means by that, and everyone is lowkey a little concerned.

-On the topic of the nuns though... Yeah, there's a bunch of dead nuns floating around the place, which may or may not be the reason why the library is so fucking haunting, but we digress.

Many of the siblings report seeing apparitions of nuns -not sisters of sin in their habits, straight up nuns- traveling through some of the more secluded hallways, and on occasion one of the old chapels seems to be filled with the sounds of prayers spoken in Latin despite the room itself being condemned and empty.

This is another place where Dew can be found from time to time, seemingly having conversations with the air.

-The infirmary is one of the newer additions to the abbey, as the older wing dedicated to medical services was bricked shut during renovations decades ago and has been left to rot ever since.

There's a challenge among the medical staff, ghouls included, in which they have to travel from the infirmary to the old wing, touch the wall where the door used to be, and come back, and there are marks from where they've placed their hands there.

Aether undertook this mission solo after his retirement, needing to feel some kind of connection to the abbey and leave his mark, and truth be told he's never quite been the same since.

According to him, once you see the wall, it's impossible not to feel different.

"You'll always know someone is looking out for you... whether you like it or not."

And lastly;

-There's a rumor among the siblings that there's a secret cemetery in the woods surrounding the abbey, but no one has been able to find it... at least no one who's lived to tell the tale.

Many more scientifically minded folks think these individuals may have fell victim to sinkholes or one of the edgeless, cavernous wells -such as Ol' Dens' Pond- that have cropped up over the years, but no one can say for certain.

In a way, perhaps, it is a self made graveyard, born of aimless wandering and a lack of caution.

Though the worn crosses turned to naught moss covered stones beg to differ.

[ask-annamary]

Do you make your tuna sandwiches correctly? As in, devoid of those dreadful pieces of celery, properly salted, and with the right mayo-to-tuna ratio?

I have an inkling as to who you are, Anonymouse... but I will not make any assumptions.

To be completely honest, it is actually quite easy to keep tabs on what you consume and how your perchases impact the world around you. If you wish to have a tool around to help be more mindful of your food, I highly recommend https://www.seafoodwatch.org/ , it is an immensely helpful resource and I even used it to formulate this response. You can even contact them for printed guides on what you should and should not eat. I personally carry around a few cards for myself and to share with-

Ah... I have noticed a good number of you expressing interest in hearing more about my "infodumps", so I surpose it wouldn't hurt to indulge every now and again. Many of my coworkers have commented about how verbose I can be, so I try to scale down my words from time to time. This will not be one of those times.

Ah yes... the world of industrial fishing. To be as clear as water, I am fully aware of how flawed that system is as a whole. Certain practices are downright devastating to oceans, but alas it is what these companies do to "make ends meet." If you asked me I'd believe the only end they're meeting is the deep end.

Now, where should I begin... ah, let's tackle Bluefin Tuna as a whole. The reason behind this strict avoidance is shrimple: it's overfising. The rate at which these fish are being collected far exceeds the rate at which they can reproduce, meaning that if current practices continue on these fish will not be able to make up for all the numbers lost to fishing.

The method of which these fish are caught can also be quite problematic. Methods such as FADs and drifting longlines can be detrimental not only to tuna, but to many other ocean going creatures. Drifting longlines for example, have a dire habit of getting other creatures ensnared by their hooks, such as various sea birds and sea turtles. FADs, fish aggregating devices, are floating structures created to attract the attention of Tuna, but they bring along other fish that are not intended to be caught like various species of sharks. The phenomena of animals other than the target species being caught is called bycatch, and many of these animals needlessly perish in this process.

Now, one may think farming these fish will be the shorefire solution to this conundrum. Many fish can be sustainably farmed, but one must keep in mind that tuna are gargantuan predators with appetites to match their size. It can take up to FIFTEEN TONS of fish caught from the wild to just produce one ton of tuna meat, meaning more fish are hunted for a mere fraction in return. On top of that, these farms produce a great amount of... er... effluent into the surrounding waters, which then throws the local ecosystem off its balance.

Truly the best way to avoid these issues in fishery is to focus on Tuna whose species are not threatened by over fishing, and more importantly to make sure the fisheries you are purchasing them from are not practicing harmful methods of fishing. One more thing to keep in mind is which ocean they hail from. While species such as Skipjacks and Yellowtails are by no means threatened in the Indian Ocean, many fisheries do not follow rules put into place to prevent over fishing.

Did I cover everything? Or... most of everything? That must be a lot to take in at once, but I am not quizzing any of you on anything. Again, if you are feeling unshore about what youre buying, whether it be tuna, trout, tilapia, or really any seafood, don't hesitate to consult a Seafood Watch guide.

The Deep Diver's excitement slowed to a stop as he remained silent for a moment, realizing how long he had gone on and on and on about... what, something that had initially begun as a debate on tuna sandwiches? Lights within the dark of his helmet began to glow dimly... as if she were... blushing!

... Thank you for listening. I have work to dive back into. Goodbye.

[multif0rmed]

Wrong Side of Heaven - Chapt. 2

Rating : T (mostly for Xehanort, really)

Summary : During that year Ventus had been apprentice underneath Xehanort. Follow both of them as they navigate throughout this time - as their relationship starts off strong and eventually deteriorates. Presented as snippets within the year.

Brings in Dark Road elements, along with BBS, because we've never gotten the mix for the two.

Will be posted here as well as on ArchiveOfOurOwn.

Index HERE.

Chapter 1 - HERE Chapter 3 - HERE.

Chapter underneath the Read More.

And now with that business handled within that world ...

He could attend to this one.

At least when he stepped into this world, it didn't feel as much as a contrast - its bleakness easily felt, as opposed to the brightness that had been held within the Dwarf Woodlands.

Dust swirled, trying to gather around him, before blowing away again. At least it didn't stick to any parts of his coat, but it threatened to do so within the crevices of the buckles. He momentarily felt bothered by the wind there within the Graveyard, but it is hardly of concern as he tossed his vision upwards to stare upon the clouds, knowing Kingdom Hearts remained there hidden.

With a multitude of pictures he had been able to see the mystical moon - but it seemed to always be hard to see, or otherwise. Usually only parts of Kingdom Hearts had liked to stick out over the numerous centuries, never wanting to be fully seen. What a shame. But he understood why -- its pure Light needing to be protected unless absolutely needed.

Soon, the singular word splashing within his mind.

A sigh cascaded out of him, as he slid his eyes closed, letting the wind gently played at his goatee. It tickled - but he was able to keep his mind focused, thoughts whirling around about the conversation he just had.

A boy it said ...

Only one? Why? But he hadn't thought of asking that; he had figured the Mirror could only provide so much.

Not to mention, he had basically all but lost it during the conversation.

He tilted his head back down, slowly opening his eyes to gaze at the dull brown environment. Eyes flickered around, and then his body turned. Where could he start searching for the boy? Something grounding, so he could track where he had searched last, so ... A large structure of rocks stood nearby, and so boots started to crunch the gravel beneath them.

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned to what seemed like hours ... The elder's head turned, and turned back again.

Where was the boy?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ

A flick. A color.

The blonde didn't know what quite was happening - but he felt as if his sense of identity had been lost. Being a singular characteristic throughout this strange journey, he wasn't sure as what to exactly feel - not that he could anyways. Time, despite getting into one of the pods, didn't mean jack squat. He felt as if within an ocean - water that rushed by, flowed fiercely. A part of Nothingness - the only consultation of existence being his color - gold.

Things started to slow - start to pull together. More characteristics formed, and he tried to pick them out in desperation. Identify them, separate them. But - he couldn't. They all wanted their own turn, and as a result, something snapped.

Whatever he was - there was a sudden rumble around him, some things breaking. Things pushed to become more clearer. He wobbled; vision clouded. The ground shook underneath his feet, startling him and causing to fall. His fingers and palms got the brunt, as he felt his rear land on the dusty ground. A cough, as dust came forth, leaping into the air.

"W-Where am I ...?" He questioned outloud, as he blinked. Strangeness still filled his vision ...

That voice ...

Blonde brows furrowed. Who was he?

With that inquiry, broken files tried to align themselves within his mind. Bits and pieces floated around - huh? Huh? A stutter .. A million pieces were present, but they couldn't be put together.

He lifted one of his hands, while letting the other continue to hold him up. He used his wrist to rub at his eyes, attempting to clear them - which .. didn't help much.

A grumble.

Elsewhere, not too terribly far away, Xehanort still kept his head turned upon feeling and hearing the shockwave that had occurred. His footing had nearly been lost, but he had shot out an arm to keep himself from falling, the leather material still gripping at the rough surface. His other arm still covering his face finally lowered. He huffed - there had been a large amount of hard-to-see particles within the air, but it didn't help that he had been near some rock formation area.

A rough cough suddenly erupted forth from the depths of his chest, and Xehanort shoved himself away from the rock that he had taken solace in. Damn dust ...he hotly thought, as boots scuffed the ground as they took their owner a few feet away. Silence and consideration once he got his bearings, guarded relaxation falling upon his shoulders.

That had been no doubt him.

The sound of his boots moving across the ground pierced the atmosphere, seeming like the only sound within it. The wind existed within the same space - but that hadn't been the definitive noise within those few important moments. The noise would draw the boy's awareness. The elder drew closer and eventually stopped. The man's general appearance startled the boy ; it didn't help that something sinister lingered around him. It made the boy take a step back away.

"Just you ..." Xehanort decided to voice outloud, prompting confusion to scrunch onto the blonde's face. He slid his eyes closed, sighing out of his nose. Now what of a vessel? Could I use him? Perhaps I could eventually explain to him about it ...

"Just me?" He decided to voice, pushing the words out. Who exactly had been this man, and what did he mean?

Yellow stared. He didn't say anything.

T-Those eyes ... Unease built around him, and the boy looked elsewhere. Where could he go? He didn't recognize anything. Why was --

"Never mind that, it is inconsequential to this discussion." His hand gestured off to the right - as if throwing away something, to illustrate his point. A certain softness dropped into his hues - as if a drop of dye into water. "Are you alright, my boy?" A tranquil tone - as if the older male had been starkly aware of how he appeared earlier.

The boy didn't know what to think - but it certainly could open a world of possibilities. Sincerely, he stood there, quietly prodding at himself. What is alright? He wondered in defiance. Emptiness reigned supreme - what filled the spaces within his mind? Drips of terror begun to crawl onto his face, until - A voice interrupted.

"Are you physically harmed, or anything?"

The inquiry seemed to come at the right time - as the boy flicked his vision onto the old man quite quickly. He swallowed hard - trying to get a sudden lump formed within his throat. "I ..." he trailed off, patting himself down, trying to cover every inch of his body. ".. I think so,'' he squeaked out tiredly. The best answer he possibly could give ...

Xehanort scraped just a bit closer. "I sense hesitation, if I may point it out." He smiled weakly. Trying to press.

"I uhm ..." His cheeks burned, anxiety spiraling up. Nothing made sense. How could he put it in words? He looked so lost ; he was on an edge overlooking an abyss..

"You must be tired," the elder gently coaxed - noticing the other's body language. The shorter male looked as if he could pass out any second.

He nodded. "I ... am, yeah,'' he said quietly. The other seemed like he cared - and who else would there be to challenge that? "I .. don't remember anything ... It's ..." He shook his head. His breath picked up a notch - mouth parting and heavy breaths slowly crawled out.

''Surely, you remember something. Perhaps start off with something more on the simpler side," Xehanort suggested, already acting like a mentor to the clueless boy.

"Simple?" Blue eyes fixated onto the yellow.

"Yes .. Let's say .." The elder lifted his free hand and stroked at his goatee. "How about your name? Are you able to do that for me, hm?"

"My ... name." Blue blinked slowly, figuring their owner could do that, right? "Uhm, I think it's ..." Silence. But that didn't seem to bother the elder. If anything, it seemed like he remained perfectly patient.

"It is ...?" Xehanort pressed, after a few minutes had passed by.

The boy felt an immediate sense of guilt - what kindness. Had he experienced this before? He shifted a bit awkwardly in place, a hand shooting up and rubbed at his face. A stray thought wafted through his mind - maybe they could get out of the harsh environment? But where would they even go? He tossed his eyes in a random direction.

"My boy." Just a gentle reminder.

Something suddenly clicked. "V..." He furrowed his brows, pushing harder. "Ventus. I-I think it's Ventus." He looked for approval within that not-so-scary yellow. They shined appropriately with glee.

"Ventus," Xehanort repeated, nodding. He'd save it. Name of one of my friends … "That's a nice name."

An uneasy smile spread across Ventus' lips. "What's yours?"

"Xehanort,'' he immediately replied, letting his hand fall from his face to go back to its usual place behind his back. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ventus."

Ventus nodded, more ready to interact with this strange man. "Y-Yeah. It's nice to meet you too." He turned away, only to study his environment, feeling a bit more confident in doing so. He coughed suddenly. One eye squinted - it really was bad here, wasn't it? "...W-Where are we? Do you know?"

The master nodded. "We are in the Keyblade Graveyard." Had that been a brief flicker of recognition within the lad's eyes ..? Thoroughly expected. One could never truly forget such an essential part of themselves.

''Keyblade ..." Ventus mumbled, his arm moving automatically into the air - and held out his hand. Not realizing. "What ... is that...?" As if he hadn't even heard the second word - and thankfully for Xehanort he didn't zero in on it. No that it would have mattered - Xehanort could have spun some story about the wastelands.

"It is this," Xehanort said, holding out his right arm, fingers flexed. Instantly, a gothic-looking blade shimmered into existence within his grip. He moved it, tilting it. "A keyblade. A weapon of the heart."

Ventus' eyes sparkled almost, the wearing off adrenaline starting to catch up with him. "Wow.. C-Can you teach me about it ...?"

The elder grinned. "I certainly can, lad."

He exclaimed, "You can!?" He leaned forward - and ended up stumbling onto a few rocks nearby before shooting his hands out much like before to catch himself. Except, the impact didn't come. He had floated a few inches off the ground, as Xehanort's free hand kept in position to keep the boy afloat.

"You should try to be careful," he reprimanded, letting Ventus fall gently to the ground.

The boy grunted lightly before sitting up. "I know, but... I guess .... I'm just tired for whatever reason." A mumble. He seemed dejected.

The elder already knew the risk of lingering around an area for too long with other energetic interference - but holding someone's hand could bring even greater interference. But nonetheless - he held out his hand, palm up. "Here, let me help you up, boy."

Uncertainty. Blue hues gazed up towards the other - a kind smile and gentle yellow. Maybe he would be okay. The boy took the master's hand, the elder pulled him up to his feet.

"I can let you rest -" He took a look around them, pretending to examine the mysterious lands. "These lands could be far too dangerous for you be within."

A moment of panic. "What, really?"

"Yes, lad. I have a home where I have an extra bed."

Ventus smiled. "Thank you.. that'd be nice." No one else around to help him - this man, Xehanort, was the only one.

Wisps of darkness started to collect within the air.

"Then let us leave."

[ace-trainguys]

What if I posted the draft of the prologue to a fic of an au I haven't talked about on Tumblr. For a Halloween treat.

It's not edited up to where I want it. That and because this is only the first part of this au and it will be a long while before I write the rest is why I'm not posting it on ao3 yet. But if you would like a little something spooky, here is:

Heart of the Subway, part 1: Descent

Ingo sweeps his flashlight out in front of him. Even though Chandelure floats beside him, it is the proper safety procedure to illuminate the path ahead. The sensor that went offline is rather deep in the maintenance tunnels, but it shouldn't be too far now. Ingo hums to himself and Chandelure whistles along.

He reaches the next intersection and pauses. Instead of the two branching paths he was expecting, there are three. Ingo consults his mental map- he had been certain he was going the right way, but he must have made a wrong turn. A rare occurrence - one that hasn't happened since Ingo and Emmet became Subway Bosses, in fact. But that's the only explanation for the discrepancy. Each tunnel has the even shape of a man-made structure - no chance of a subterranean pokemon causing mischief.

All three paths slope downwards.

"Chandelure," Ingo murmurs. "Have I made a wrong turn?" She, too, knows these tunnels well. Chandelure chimes in confusion, confirming that she is also in the dark. Ingo had presumed as much - if she had noticed something wrong, she would have stopped him earlier. But he had to ask. "Very well. Let us retrace our steps."

Ingo turns around and heads back the way he came. He could have sworn that this tunnel had a slight downward slant when he had originally gone through, but he must have been mistaken. It's certainly sloping lower now.

Sooner than he expected, he reaches another intersection. It's wrong. There should be an opening to his left, and an opening forward, but there are four tunnels splitting off. This is not the way he came, but how could he have ended up somewhere else?

"Chandelure, do you sense anything?" Ingo asks. If it is a trick by a ghost, she will certainly be able to tell. When he doesn't receive a response, he turns and finds the space beside him empty. "Chandelure?!" He calls, but only his own voice echoes back to him. His loyal partner would not wander off and abandon him, but her purple tinted light is gone. Where is she? Ingo whips around to the direction he came from and-- it goes down.

No, no, he definitely descended coming this way. Did he get turned around? Which way did he come from? He shines his flashlight into the other tunnels, but all four slant deeper into the earth.

That's not possible. It-- the direction he came from, he went down. He didn't hear anything. Nothing could change the tunnels so silently.

It feels like a dream, but Ingo bites the inside of his cheek and feels pain. He's awake.

Ingo pulls out his radio and gets blasted by static. No matter how he tries to tune it, the results are the same.

Ingo... does not know the protocols for a situation like this. But he cannot simply stand around. He picks a tunnel and descends.

After several yards, Ingo turns and shines his flashlight back. The tunnel does not appear to be going back up like it should. He shudders and turns around again. What a horrible optical illusion, he tells himself, and desperately tries to believe it.

As he walks further and goes deeper, he begins to see cables run along the walls. He shines his flashlight on them, and though they are in line with the electrical wiring used in the subway, their placements and directions do not make logical sense. Ingo is intimately aware of how messy the wiring of the subway system was when he and Emmet began their careers. It was one of their highest priorities to repair when they became the bosses. It would make sense that there could have been wires they missed when doing the power system overhaul, so deep in the maintenance tunnels, but... these cables dip in and out of the walls in a way he's never seen before.

As he continues going deeper, he encounters cables drooping down in loops from the ceiling. An egregious safety hazard in five ways he can count off the top of his head. No one must have been in these tunnels in decades.

The wires grow thicker on the walls, running in all directions. Yet it is quiet - no hum of running electricity, despite the forest of cables. The only sounds Ingo can hear are his own careful breaths, and his rapid heartbeat.

It is not long before the cables have grown so thick that the walls are no longer visible. Ingo nearly trips before he realizes there are wires reaching out of the floor as well. He trains his flashlight and eyes at the ground, stepping carefully around the growths.

The tenuous beam of light hits a slab of solid metal. Ingo raises it to view an ancient door, wires twisting around every inch. Thick cables have entirely replaced the walls and floor - and a quick look upwards confirms the ceiling is covered as well. He swallows his dread and turns the doorknob with a shaking hand.

Immediately after stepping through, the door closes behind him with a sense of finality. The chamber he has entered is much wider than the tunnel he was in previously. Cables twirl and flow all around, congregating in a massive pillar in the center. Ingo realizes with a start that he can see outside his flashlight’s meager view - the whole room is filled with a dim sourceless light.

When he returns his eyes to the central pillar once more, he feels–

welcome happiness home

What…?

Ingo finds himself relaxing despite the incongruous nature of the emotions. It doesn’t make sense to feel this at home in such a strange, alien location, and yet. It’s as if he’s sitting on the couch, one arm around his brother, surrounded by their pokemon. Comfortable, safe, warm.

He can’t hear anything, but he can almost feel a noiseless sound. A pulse. Gazing upon the monolith of intertwined lines, he gets the sense that these wires, despite the lack of electricity flowing through them, are not lifeless.

He is suddenly, indisputably sure that this is the heart of the Unovan subway system. There is no logical evidence, nothing that could have led him to this conclusion, but he is certain.

Ingo is awestruck. Nothing could have prepared him for the power and life that the core of the subway emits. After all these years, all the effort Ingo and Emmet put into restoring a run down transit system - seeing that it has blossomed into something like this makes him want to laugh and cry. It was worth it.

The corners of his eyes pinch, his version of a wide smile. He wonders if he should feel reverence, in the core of the place he and his brother dedicated themselves to, but instead he’s filled with love, love, love that is not his own. Ingo realizes that it’s the subway itself, communicating with him in pure emotions, and he laughs. His own joy is reflected back at him. He loves and adores the subway, and it seems it loves him back.

With a noise like leaves rustling in the wind, cables shift in the pillar, opening a small entrance. Ingo feels a gentle pull forward, an invitation to enter the heart. happy closer appeal. Ingo notices he’s taken a step closer without realizing it.

He steps back and plants his feet firmly to the ground. Come come come. No, Ingo will not do anything blindly. Love safety stay happy, the subway croons wordlessly, yet he feels himself start to sweat.

Suddenly he’s sure that if he enters the heart, he will never be able to come back out.

Comfort love safety. It’s not bad, down here. Pleasant, really. The subway loves him. He could be happy, nestled securely in the heart.

But he cannot do this. To stay here would be abandoning his responsibilities. It would mean leaving his job and his passion behind. Never seeing his friends or his pokemon or his brother again.

Negative false reassurance. Still there still there

Ingo shakes his head and shudders. He doesn't understand how staying here could be anything other than abandoning everyone. He tries to turn back around and--

He can’t move.

Despite the subway’s faith confidence trust, Ingo feels his breathing speed up. It won’t let him leave. It won’t-- he doesn’t want this but he can’t even lean backwards.

Ingo shivers, and thinks of Emmet alone. Not knowing what happened to his brother. Worrying about Ingo. Worrying Ingo left him, falling into those old self doubts. Ingo promised he would never leave. He promised - and in a burst of frantic energy, he turns and manages to take a step away.

No love safe comfort stay stay STAY

Ingo struggles to take another step, while a whispering rasp hisses behind him. As he pushes his frozen legs as hard as he can, he spots squirming black shapes approaching in the edge of his vision. Cables reach out to him, wrapping around his arms, ever so gently. More circle his wrists, his legs, his feet, his chest, his neck, with extreme care. Like handling fine china, like holding a precious treasure, the wires cradle Ingo, embracing every inch of him. Ingo’s terror and panic fight the calm safe love, but he can’t move at all in the wires’ tender hold.

Paralyzed, Ingo can do nothing as the cables begin to drag him into the heart. He tries, he desperately tries, but he can't even twitch a finger. He can't move, he can't move, he will be stuck down here for the rest of his life and he will never see his brother again-

adoration safe calm belonging stay

Drawn into the subway's heart, a path made specially for him, all Ingo can do is scream "EMMET!"

Then the wires fall back into place, as if the entrance was never there at all.

No– stop- what's going on? He doesn’t want this! He can't move! He doesn't -

Home safe belonging love love love

the pressure, it's everywhere- he's being crushed, he - air? Is he breathing? He can't move, he can't move- help-

Calm safe peace secure

What is that sensation- running through him, he's never felt something like that, he doesn't understand- rumbling stopping and starting, in him - pinch and itch and drag on parts a body doesn't have, how- he doesn't want this, please stop-

Right belonging acceptance

There's no color- How is he seeing so much at once - too much, it's too much, he can't- make it stop, please-

Rest reassure love

It doesn't hurt but he doesn’t understand- he's not supposed to be– he is supposed to be…what is he supposed to be?!

Right correctness cherished belonging

help, he can't– it's so quiet- this is too much, he can't–

Reassure calm love adoration

He can't- he can't…

Acceptance belonging home

H-help… Em… met…

Belonging belonging belonging

He...

Calm safe belonging

…

Calm.

He calms.

Emmet is doing paperwork in his and Ingo's office when the lights flicker off for a second. They're back on almost immediately, but Emmet groans regardless. The subway's backup generators prevent essential functions from shutting down, but a power outage, no matter how brief, means there are many safety checks that must be run.

Emmet blinks, and places a hand on his chest. Nothing happened other than the lights going out, but he feels like something is different. He can't put his finger on what or how, exactly, but…

Hm. He'll have to ask Ingo if he felt it too after he gets back.

[scribefindegil]

HI I LOVED the new chapter- can you talk about Serizawa a little bit? Is it that his anxiety is fending off the effects of the broccoli since he wanted to take Tsubomi’s request immediately or is it that Reigen’s behavior is reminding him of Suzuki and he doesn’t like that? He’s very interesting to me in this situation

(Also the way Reigen’s anger and panic is what finally tipped him over to Remembering because the brainwash is overcome by strong emotions- just So Good)

I'm so glad you liked the chapter!!

Serizawa's super interesting here because he's VERY susceptible to what Dimple calls "the passion of the masses;" I sometimes see speculation that he would have resisted the power of the broccoli because his psychic powers are so strong, but I think this is a bad read. Serizawa cares a lot about fitting into society, and he often doesn't feel like he has enough lived experience to trust his own judgment. Divine Tree takes place only a month or so after World Domination, so he's very much still adjusting to living on his own, and while he's starting to make his own decisions, he has a tendency to look to authority--Mob, Reigen, the business books his mom gave him--to provide structure and guidance. So when suddenly everyone in the city is exerting huge social pressure to care about the Divine Tree and the Psycho Helmet Religion, he's going to be swept along in that. His anxiety, rather than protecting him, just makes him more susceptible.

So why doesn't he speak up in defense of the Psycho Helmet Religion earlier in the chapter? Because of Reigen. I wanted to follow through with the way that Reigen's brainwashing manifests in canon; instead of becoming an outright devotee of the broccoli, the mind control just makes him complacent. He stops seeing the Divine Tree and its cultists as the threat that they are, and instead sees them as just a bunch of people having harmless fun. Nothing to worry about. And this is terrifying to me in its own way and makes him incapable of taking Tsubomi seriously when she shows up, but it also means that one of Serizawa's main authority figures has been advocating for complacency instead of devotion. That's why I included this bit:

Reigen grins. Gotcha. “But I don’t even like the Psycho Helmet Religion!” he says. “I’ve been complaining about how little business we’ve been getting now that everyone’s off having fun with the broccoli, haven’t I Serizawa?”

So basically before Tsubomi's visit, Serizawa's been sort of happily floating in a state where he just accepts what's going on in Seasoning City and doesn't really think about it. Both the societal pressure of everyone else in the city and the authorial pressure of Reigen are telling him that this is nothing to concern himself with. He's been made to forget Mob along with everyone else, and while he's probably aware on some level that something's missing, it's easy not to think about it. Not to worry about it. Not to worry about anything.

And then this girl shows up.

And Serizawa defers to Reigen during consultations. He's still learning. Reigen is so much more knowledgeable than him, so much more experienced.

But they're supposed to be helping people. He took this job because he wants to help people. He's not going to simply defer to authority if that authority is cruel; that's exactly what he was trying to get away from. And so when Reigen gets mean and sharp and dismissive, that, more than anything that Tsubomi is saying, is what gets Serizawa to push back. And once he refuses to blindly listen to Reigen, he also starts to break away from the influence of the Divine Tree.

The climax of this chapter is very deliberately evocative of both Separation Arc and World Domination. Reigen acts in a way that reminds Serizawa of Suzuki, and he refuses to accept that, and it makes him remember the first person who told him that he could have relationships that weren't just built on deference and fear. And Serizawa's refusal to back down reminds Reigen of Mob, and that makes him realize what he's doing, and instead of continuing down the path of control and denial he stops and decide that he isn't going to repeat his old mistakes.

[averyhollow]

OFMD S1E5: Izzy, Lucius, & The Command Problem: Or, How Izzy Hands Helped Take The Revenge And All He Got Was Insubordination Due To Unclear Command Structure

Intro

In which I incoherently ramble (you’ve been warned) my way towards making the case that both Lucius and Izzy (but Izzy more so) were justified under their understanding of the chain-of-command and that Izzy was absolutely not bullying Lucius, but that it doesn’t matter because the writers only really cared about setting up a character dynamic.

Every so often I see floating about, the argument that Izzy was bullying Lucius by trying to make him do physical labor in episode 5, or somehow out of line and acting without any legitimate reason to believe he had authority to give orders. I reject that view due to my conviction the show just didn’t care, and this is supported by how no clear command structure is established by S1E5.

The captain goes down with the ship. & A ship can only have one captain.

At the end of episode 4, Ed’s line about the captain going down with the ship suggests that he sees the Revenge as his. Earlier in the episode we get lines from both Izzy and the crew, specifically Frenchie, Oluwande, and Jim that indicate an expectation that the Revenge, and its crew, are now in the custody of Ed. In E7, Ed further hints at considering the Revenge under his command when, as a partial explanation for his decision to leave, he says a ship can only have one captain.

Izzy has reason to believe they’re still doing a hostile takeover of the Revenge, albeit covertly when it comes to the hostile part, and are to bring it line with Ed’s expectations of how a pirate crew and ship should function. Even if they’re all to be executed, in the meantime they’re still a ship and crew that is under Ed’s command & tutorage, and therefore reflect on his reputation.

Whereas Lucius, in his capacity as That Man’s scribe, is mostly seeing things from the angle of Ed working with That Man as a consultant.

Fang backs Izzy up.

Until he doesn’t, of course.

Given how quick Fang is to abandon his task to supervise Lucius and how little he cares that Izzy’s about to find out he’s posing nude for the guy who’s work he’s supposed to be supervising, I doubt he would’ve followed Izzy around enforcing orders he knew Izzy didn’t have the authority to give.

Fang backed Izzy up and was ready to enforce his orders, until he dropped that responsibility for a bit of portraiture and flirtation. We’ve seen that Fang will acquiesce to Izzy’s commands when Izzy is acting on Blackbeard’s orders. We see how little regard Fang has for Izzy’s authority, absent the backing of Blackbeard. I’d argue that we also can see that Fang was apologetic about not pulling Lucius up when Lucius first asked him to, which suggests Fang considered supervising Lucius’s work something he had to reluctantly do.

I think Fang’s actions of initially backing Izzy up and enforcing his orders, only to later abandon his post and flagrantly disregard Izzy’s orders, make the most sense if they don’t need to make sense. There need not be rhyme or reason to how Fang engages Izzy’s authority when it’s bestowed by Blackbeard vs. when it’s not, if all that matters is using him to escalate the absurdity of the situation and the conflict between Lucius and Izzy.

Buttons

Buttons is That Man’s First Mate, and didn’t attend the party. If Lucius was 100% certain in the rightness of his argument, he could’ve directed Izzy to Buttons so the two first mates could sort it out between themselves.

If chain-of-command mattered and had been laid out in-universe, it means Lucius passed up a chance to use Izzy’s adherence to structure and hierarchy against him and make dealing with Izzy someone else’s problem. But he didn’t. Am I really to believe Lucius would pass up such an opportunity?

Conclusion

So, if the reasoning behind Lucius’s refusal to follow Izzy’s orders and Izzy’s authority to give those orders doesn’t matter, why do I think it happened?

As a convenient way to facilitate a conflict between Lucius and Izzy that would come down not to an appeal to rules of chain-of-command and rights of conquest/boarding, but snipping and personal attacks.

I don’t think the show cared about anything else, least of all who was “right.” Lucius and Izzy needed to be set up to butt heads, and the confrontation needed to be between them and not something either could address by appealing to That Man or Ed to make a decision.

All that said, Lucius was clearly in the wrong.

[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

MOANA 2 writer/co-director Dana Ledoux Miller spoke in great length to The Writers Panel podcast on the production of the TV show-turned-movie... And it has revealed quite a bit...

Some direct quotes, and not the redditized fanfic adaptation:

"The movie had been developed as a TV show originally, so... Um, when I came on- January/February of 2023, as a consulting writer, and I was working with Jared [Bush] and Bryson Chun... I think we started outlining it, Jared and I started outlining it as a feature in September of last year."

"I wrote drafts of it as a TV show... I was writing on it like a... You know, a consulting writer, a staff writer, essentially, on a TV show... We were done writing for the most part, I think we had this expectation that we would be done writing the last episode at the end of last summer. It was around that time that, Jared and I started talking - very off the record, by the way, like not like somebody was telling us that to think about it this way, but... The idea of it being a feature started to float around. And then it kinda took real shape. I don't know what the conversations were above me, that made that happen, but at a certain point, Jared's like "I think we need to start outlining this as a feature, and see what comes of it."

"I don't think we really got the official, official call until early January 2024? That it would 100% be a feature that would open November 27 of 2024... I mean, once we started outlining, we just moved forward with hope and a prayer... We were just putting it on its feet, we had a screening in December... An internal screening, and we showed that to Bob [Iger] and Alan [Bergman], and that's how we got the go-head."

"Even when I came on, when it was still a series... It was a complete story, it was told over 5 episodes, it had a beginning, a middle, and end. There was a loose three-act structure to that... It was much more a story about the larger community and crew around Moana, and so a lot of the work we did in making it a feature was really making this her story."

"All of these things... And some the big set pieces that are still in the film, there's a giant clam, like all of those had been made and so, you know, they had started a little bit of production in the TV show."

Ledoux Miller goes on to explain, in all honesty, that she was initially not skilled at leading into a classic Disney-style "I Want" song, and that Jared Bush and Jennifer Lee had to educate her on that. I mean, she was an outside writer, she hadn't worked in animation or on a Disney musical before, so that's to be expected. Naturally, the translations of the interview going around are all like "Proof that Disney lost their way! They don't know what they're doing!" When it's like, this has been a norm for Disney for a while. Jennifer Lee herself was a real outsider hire when she had been brought in to write WRECK-IT RALPH, and then got bumped up to director status on the original FROZEN... And that movie was a huge hit beloved by so many folks all offline, lol.

Otherwise, Ledoux Miller's words tell us what we probably already knew or suspected. It seems, to me - to these ears, that they were slowly reimagining the show - already movie-like in 5 episodes - as a movie and realized that it needed more of Moana herself... But Iger, Bergman, the upper management, locked the picture into a Thanksgiving 2024 debut that it absolutely could-the-hell-not move out of...

But it should've. Sure, it broke Thanksgiving records at the box office, but I think it could've worked better as a movie AND no crunch, if it had been moved to spring 2025. But Disney didn't, soooooo... At least we have some clarification.

[vision3d880]

3D Hologram Explanation: How 3D Projections Are Revolutionizing Industries

3D hologram explanation helps comprehend this extraordinary innovation’s working principles and influence across sectors. The 3D hologram refers to an image that can hover in mid-air in three dimensions. You don’t require any kind of 3D glasses to view it. In contrast to conventional three-dimensional screen images, holograms enable viewers to walk around the object and view it from all angles, like a real object.

How does a 3D Hologram Function?

A 3D Hologram is based on a unique principle of light. It divides the laser wave into two, and each of the beams has a purpose. One of them is directed toward the object, while the other will reach the surface, which is used to record light waves. When these two beams cross each other, they create a certain pattern on the film, which is known as the interference pattern. Afterwards, when light is thrown on that interference pattern, a 3D picture appears in space, which is an illusion.

Hologram projector and video wall Holographic projection Screen

Nowadays, for real-world visualization of 3D holograms, tools such as the hologram projector and the holographic projection screen can be employed. Such devices use lasers, mirrors, and other elements to create beam diffracted images of the object so that it virtually floats in the air. Capable of displaying colored holograms, thanks to different colors of laser beams or a combination of specific lasers, can be found in some projectors.

The latest technology aiming at widespread usage is the virtual holograms. It creates 3D images even from ordinary pictures and videos using A.I. enabled advancements. Hologram production is therefore made cheaper and with less requirements.

Industry Applications of 3D Holograms

Services for Media and Entertainment

The image graphical representation of certain deceased artists is built at concerts thanks to 3D holograms. Frequent in movies and advertisements are creative holograms that pull the audience in and make them want to be in the scene being talked about.

Learning and Practicing

Some teachers use holographic screens, which allow them to project images of complicated structures such as the internal organs, machines and any other part in 3D learning activities.3D  Hologram explanation enables the students learn even better because they view the item from every angle. Medical learners can also analyze the function of a cardiac image-hologram much more than they would do when using the illustrations in the texts.

Medical Field

While for doctors, they are able to make use of hologram projectors in the operating room. It Enables them to perform surgery on any structures of the body using 3D concept. During virtual consultations patients and doctors can also exchange holograms to make communication clearer.

General Retail and Advertising

Holograms, for example holographic screens that display the product in 3D, are used in stores. This allows the customers to look at the products from all directions without the need to touch them. It makes purchasing easier and increases the store’s revenue.

Industrial Design and Production

In designing, virtual holograms help in showcasing products and evaluating the relationship between various elements and how to fix them. Such collaborations can take place across remote working regions bringing about timeliness and minimizing errors.

Current Trends and Future Perspectives

Some other innovations include the application of artificial intelligence that produces realistic 3D holograms without elaborate preparation. Others have mirrors that spin and enhance the display of large colorful holograms for public purposes. As the technology becomes more available and costs go further down, it is expected that holograms will be applicable in vehicles, homes and many other places.

Wrapping Up

The 3d hologram explanation also makes it clear that holograms are not a component of science fiction anymore. They combine light and algorithms designed by computers to produce realistic 3D images which appears to be floating in the air. These industries employ the use of hologram projectors, holographic screens, and virtual holograms to enhance efficiency at work, improve learning, and make entertainment more fun. In the blink of an eye, 3D holograms will have infiltrated everyday living, transforming all spheres of perception and interaction.

[cannoliparty]

the maid of hope

i LOVE writing about maids, so this was perfect! the hope aspect is also so fun to explore, as its very influential to the morale & even the fate of a session itself ^_^

the maid

here's a snippet on the maid class, taken from my guide to classpecting!

"as the active creation class, maids "prepare the others in their session through their aspect and serve/take care of their aspect” their job is to prepare other people of note for what lies ahead. they must also take care of the housekeeping of their aspect (like a real maid) making sure that it does not go to chaos in their session. this "housekeeping" is their challenge, where the maid must learn to rely on themselves and their aspect."

the maid takes the utmost care of their aspect in a session. hussie also used the play on words "maid/made of ___" to dictate that maids also closely embody or harness their aspect. maids are guaranteed to end up in great control of it, creating and therefore "cleaning up" their aspect to their will. but maids will start out in a session lacking in their aspect. this is part of their challenge to learn to rely on themselves for their aspect, therefore putting that "made"-part to use. theyll often consult others for aid in this aspect, or be at a loss of how to use it. but eventually they find a way to become greatly self-sufficient through the overcoming of outer and/or inner conflicts & doubts.

a great example is aradia, maid of time. she starts out lacking time, and is basically frozen in death, away from the flow of time itself. but with the help of outer forces and godtiering, she is able to become alive again and therefore made of time. her demeanor is patient and on the cheery side, as if she has the utmost faith in how time resolves all, and finds comfort in its forever presence. other instances where aradia is harnessing time is when she floats around through dream bubbles and centuries worth of doomed timelines, now being immortal through godtiering, she is further made of time and uses this to her utmost advantage (more than other godtiers). aradia is adamant on staying alive, but she is still aware of time's unwavering certainty. when she tells john shes sticking around to "watch this whole place break apart", she is saying "what's another death?" because to her and her long history of mortal torment, mortality and immortality are the same. as long as her death is neither heroic nor just, aradia remains. on a more physical standpoint, aradia's powers included freezing/harnessing time and being able to travel through different timelines whenever she pleases, and for however long she wants. she could also possibly have her own sort of created way she travels about time, as centuries of travelled doomed timelines was just a few years to everyone else until aradia was back.

hope

hope is a morale-based aspect. it's based on the belief in a positive fate, with a great acceptance and diligence towards achieving it. no matter how they go about it, hope players can be adamant on their beliefs.

jake english, page of hope. he always managed to look on the bright side, and was cheery as ever. his potential abilities in hope shone through his belief in his friends and their powers, but as a page, this hope lacked a lot of substance at first. pages do not start out strong in their aspect at all, and jakes constant berating of positivity often brought his friendships to disarray, for he lacked in actual foresight for his hoped outcomes. lets present this thought through an example, jake and janes friendship and one-sided romance. though jake believed in jane and how great of a friend she was, he failed to actually put that hope into their actual conversations, as in he was completely clueless on how uncomfortable jane was. in short, he was positive but it lacked structure/something to be built off of, there was nothing very positive in his relationship with jane. but often whats forgotten is the immense potentiality in pages. at their full power, they might have some of the strongest levels of raw ability in their aspect across all the classes. jake's untapped abundance of hope allowed him to accumulate a self-made dirk, through his sheer hope and belief in his friend. this hope, in a more raw form, is so strong that its a blinding and unwavering light (see aranea forcing jake to reach his full potential!)

a more moral-twisting example is eridan, prince of hope. a prince destroys/destroys through his aspect. what eridan hoped for was romance of his own, but his destructive hope-related tendencies made him helpless. his own class turned him over, and even if he didnt necessarily give in to destroying his own hope/himself, eridan basically destroyed any hope he had of a single quadrant! he also destroyed a lot of the hope in his session by killing feferi, blinding sollux, and overall just dragging the trolls' morale down. through a magic wand, eridan harnessed raw hope (again with the blinding, unwavering beams of light) to destroy his aspect.

the maid of hope

a maid of hope would start out negatively stubborn (though hope players tend to be stubborn, this wouldn't be in a good way T_T;). they might depend on others for their own morale-boosting, and could be driven to giving up easily.

but after overcoming their challenge, the maid would be practically unstoppable. imagine being MADE of hope! nothing but the utmost belief in yourself and your team, just an unwielding force of faith in what the maid believes will happen, or what they wish to happen.

and this maid can create hope, both for themselves and the people around them. itd be a super useful morale booster, and they can even just harness hope, twisting it from the enemy and further drive the maid's willed/wished fate into existence! the maid will be self-sufficient and highly confident in their beliefs, especially in the abilities of themselves and the forces around them can very easily end up in their favour. even out of godtier, theyd be useful!

conclusion

omg.... sorry for the super lengthy character explanations!!! i got carried away but overall im happy with how i explained the maid of hope. i just loove the classpect itself, it was soso fun to explore! let me know if you have any analysis requests, classpect questions, or your own insights on this classpect/classpecting in general! toodles!! ^_^

[naushtheaspiringauthor]

~Child Of The Storm~

Nikolai Lantsov x OC

Image by - @brokendreamtale2

Warnings- none 😽

A/N- Let me know if you'd like to be added or removed from the taglist!

Taglist- @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @sirisuorionblack @nadeleine123n

Ch-24 ~Unexpected manoeuvre~

Later that night, Anaya was jerked awake by Tamar calling her name

“Time to go,” she said.

“Now?” Alina asked blearily. “What time is it?”

“Coming on three bells.”

“In the morning?” she yawned and got out of her hammock

“Where are we?” Anaya asked hoarsely

“Fifteen miles off the coast of West Ravka. Come on, Sturmhond is waiting.” She was dressed and had her canvas bag slung over her shoulder.

As Anaya was putting her kefta on, Tamar handed out a tawny coat in front of her, "I'm sure those people won't exactly be happy to a see a grisha from the little palace"

She put on the coat and left her kefta on her hammock, stuffing her notebook in the inside pocket. 

On deck, Mal stood by the ship’s starboard rail with a small group of crewmen. It took Anaya a moment to realize that Privyet had been wearing Sturmhond’s garish teal coat. The boy would've been hard to recognize if he hadn't been the one giving orders. He was swaddled in a voluminous greatcoat, the collar turned up, a wool hat pulled low over his ears.

A cold wind was blowing. The stars were bright in the sky, and a sickle moon sat low on the horizon. 

“What’s happening?” Alina asked.

“We’re going ashore.” Mal responded

“In the middle of the night?”

“The Volkvolny will raise my colors near the Fjerdan coast,” the captain spoke. “The Darkling doesn’t need to know that you’re back on Ravkan soil just yet.”

Sturmhond bent his head to conversate with Privyet

Anaya looked up at the starry sky. Whatever sort of trouble was coming their way, she was ready to face it. And whatever the mad captain intended to throw their way wouldn't be much of a surprise to her, she'd already seen worse.

She looked over at Rabeah, who'd been talking to the fabrikator from a few nights ago. 

She noticed Alina and Mal speaking in low voices.  Mal bent to kiss her, a sight that made Anaya grimace. Sturmhond’s voice cut through the dark. “Can we get to the cuddling later? I want us ashore before dawn.

Mal took Alina's hand and they returned to the group.

Sturmhond gave Privyet an envelope sealed with pale blue wax, then clapped him on the back. They boy appeared as he was about to cry. Tolya and Tamar slipped over the railing, holding tight to the weighted ladder secured to the schooner.

Anaya looked over the side. She was surprised to see a smaller structure, similar to the sketches she'd seen in Sturmhond's cabin, floating alongside the Volkvolny. IIt was quite an extraordinary ship. Its two hulls looked like a pair of hollowed-out shoes, and they were held together by a deck with a giant hole in its center.

Mal and Alina followed, stepping onto one of the craft’s curved hulls. They picked their way across it and descended to the central deck, where a sunken cockpit was nestled between two masts. Sturmhond gestured Anaya to follow and then leapt down after them, then swung up onto a raised platform behind the cockpit and took his place at the ship’s wheel.

Anaya looked around but was quickly relieved to find Rabeah standing near the cockpit, glancing in her direction with curiosity

“What is this thing?” Alina asked the question building up in Anaya's mind

“I call her the Hummingbird,” he said, consulting some sort of chart. "Though I’m thinking of renaming her the Firebird "

The girl's expression quickly changed but the bloke only grinned

"Cut anchor and release!” he ordered

Tamar and Tolya unhitched the knots of the grapples that held them to the Volkvolny. Anaua saw the anchor line slither like a live snake over the Hummingbird’s stern, the end slipping silently into the sea. 

“Make sail,”  Sturmhond called

The sails unfurled. Though the Hummingbird’s masts were considerably shorter than those aboard the schooner, its double sails were huge and rectangular, and they required two crewmen each to maneuver them into position.

They pulled farther from the Volkvolny.

The captain shook himself, then called out, “Squallers!”

A Grisha was positioned in each hull. They raised their arms, and wind billowed around them, filling the sails. Sturmhond adjusted the course and called for more speed. The Squallers obliged, and the vessel leapt forward. 

“Take these,” the privateer spoke He dropped a pair of goggles into Alina's lap and tossed another pair to Mal. He then handed similar pairs to Anaya and Rabeah.

They looked similar to those worn by the Fabrikators in the workshops of the Little Palace. All of the crew seemed to be wearing them, along with Sturmhond. 

Anaya pulled them on along with the others. 

The boy soom called for more speed, he seemed to be in a hurry. 

The Hummingbird sped over the water, its shallow double hulls skated from wave to wave, barely seeming to touch the surface of the sea. 

“All right, Squallers,” commanded Sturmhond, “Take us up. Sailors to wings, on my count.”

Anaya looked around in confusion, unable to comprehend what was going on

“Five!” the captain shouted.

The crewmen started to move counterclockwise, pulling on the lines.

“Four!”

The Squallers spread their hands wider.

“Three!”

A boom lifted between the two masts, the sails gliding along its length.

“Two!”

“Heave!” cried the sailors. The Squallers lifted their arms in a massive swoop.

“One!” Sturmhond yelled. 

The sails billowed up and out, snapping into place high above the deck like two gigantic wings

Sturmhond was laughing like a lunatic. The Squallers were calling out to each other in a volley, making sure they kept the updraft steady.

That was when Anaya finally realized, They were flying.

[deltagalacticdaydreamer]

@o-craven-canto asked me this here so I might as well use this as an opportunity to talk about what exactly the "Primum Mobile" is and where exactly my OCs like Alexander come from

The Primum Mobile is basically my own little worldbuilding brainchild project, being a sort of Shin Megami Tensei inspired mythology world that's meant to combine aspects of Abrahamic and Greco-Roman mythology and folklore. It's one of many worlds based in a sort of multiverse of mine, made by the earth literally being fractured into different realms based on bodies and cannons of stories and folklore.

As for the Primum Mobile itself, it's a layered world built around the concept of "what if the underworld blended with the real world" and thus ends up sort of having people and monsters either living together or vying for control on the various layers. Keep in mind that I'm constantly changing my mind on how this works, so everything here is subject to change, but as it is the general layout is as follows:

Limbo, essentially the surface of the world, corresponding to the circle of the same name as well as the "purgatorio" section of the divine comedy. This is where a good majority of humans make their housing, in cities that literally rise above the wastes below them, and oftentimes have nearby forests, oceans, and other biomes that rise alongside them. One of these cities, New Eden, sort of corresponds to Florence and is the home of Alexander Durante- before he was exiled to the realms below for his crimes.

Lust essentially describes the abyss below limbo right between Limbo and gluttony, with the bases of these cities also making up the majority of people's dwellings here, and filled with winds of gasses so dense they form their own ocean. Most of the population consists of harpies and aerial demons who are capable of fighting against the winds here, as well as wayward souls who are trapped by the maelstrom. Massive effigies of long forgotten gods and legendary humans rise from the abyss- some with their own followings and cults. One such effigy, one of Minos, is consulted by those who have been exiled to the layers below regarding where they have to go to be free from their punishment.

Gluttony is the swamp below lust, and arguably where the "inferno" really begins. It's a bizzare mix of organic matters, with plant, animal, and fungus blending together to form the monsters and vessels for the souls here. Watch your step, lest you be devoured by the land itself.

(I'm going to be real with you guys I don't know what to do with greed yet, so like, just a forge with a ton of gold perhaps? Mechanical inspiration would be fun)

Wrath is basically an underground sea, with waterfalls and cascades leading to the circles below. settlements here usually consist of either floating, manmade settlements, or within the bellies of the aspidochelones of this area. Be sure to watch for the cetacean orcs of this place, and especially their lording cetuses.

The city of Dis is the other major settlement for humans, and quite possibly the most significant area of magical studies on this plane. Dominated by a circle-wide metallic city, and navigated by the streams that pour from the ocean above, it is home to demons and gods (as well as their aspects) that might have fallen out of favor with the humans above. Farinata, a major cult leader within this circle, is currently a significant figure for his attempts at a transhuman cult- one where his idea of "freedom" is achieved by locking yourself within a metallic body and incinerating your impurities.

Violence is one of the most bizarre layers, being dominated by massive trees holding up the foundations of Dis where there seems to be a constant war breaking out along the branches and supported settlements- one where monsters and overpowering wraiths of humans fight for dominance, as their blood spills in a rain below.

Fraud is arguably the most "artificial", being a labyrinthine, constantly shifting structure meant to prevent entry or exit from the layer below it, and built by a genius inventor know by many as Daedalus. Some legends even say he built his very being into the structure, building his soul into the structure as it carries his unknown goal. The group of demons known as the Malebranche reside here, ruled by Malacoda, and make it their life's work to contort any unfortunate tresspassers into whatever designs they decide fit.

Finally, Treachery stands at the center, where the bodies of giants and other beings posing threats to those above are sealed. Proserpina, the "ruler" of the lower layers, resides on this one, with a bizzare and legendary being known as "The Adversary" trapped in the core of this very core. Almost no humans who have embarked on the path of exile have made it to this region in centuries.

Like I said earlier, I'm constantly changing ideas for this world, but this is really the first time I've gotten the basic idea of how it works out online. I would appreciate feedback and questions as to how this works on a deeper level- both because I need to figure out some details myself and because I have some ideas for lore and stuff I want to share. Hope you guys enjoy this, and find it a bit interesting.

[sanjeevannetralaya]

Uveitis Symptoms Causes & Treatment

Uveitis, also known as middle layer inflammation, is a condition in which the eye develops. The iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid make up this structure. They control light penetration, produce aqueous hormone (fluid filling up front parts), and supply blood and oxygen to the retina.

Uveitis may be caused by infection, an autoimmune disorder, or idiopathic (of unknown origin). Uveitis can cause eye pain, blurred vision and sensitivity to light. Uveitis can be treated with steroid eye drops/injections, oral medications, or surgery in the most severe cases.

If you suspect you might have uveitis, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. Untreated, it can lead to vision loss and glaucoma.

What are the symptoms of Uveitis?

There are many symptoms associated with uveitis. They can vary depending on the cause. Nevertheless, there are some common symptoms and signs associated with this eye condition:

Eye pain

Eyes are red

Blurred vision

Photophobia - Sensitivity towards light

Floaters are small spots or specks that appear to float in your field of vision.

Vision loss or decreased vision

Headaches

Tearing or watering down the eyes

Eye irritation or discomfort

Uveitis can present in various stages. Some people may not have symptoms at all, and some inflammation may only be diagnosed during routine eye exams. Consult an eye doctor if you have any of these symptoms, or have concerns about your eyes health.

What is the treatment for Uveitis?

The treatment of uveitis depends on the severity, location and cause. The goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation, alleviate symptoms, prevent complications, and preserve vision. The following are common treatments for uveitis:

Uveitis must be treated immediately to prevent complications and maintain vision. It is recommended that you have regular follow-up visits with your eye doctor to monitor the condition, adjust treatment, and report any changes.

Regular visits to your doctor are important. Advance Ayurvedic Eye Care by Sanjeevan Netralaya is extremely effective for Uveitis and all other retinal problems. Each patient's health and history is considered and a customized treatment is created for them. This ensures that there are no side effects and pain-free treatment.