#Heavenly Demon Reborn

[fantomcomics]

What’s Out This Week? 11/9

MARIAH CAREY HAS DEFROSTED. WE REPEAT, MARIAH CAREY HAS DEFROSTED. MAY GOD HELP US ALL. 

Two Graves #1 -  Genevieve Valentine, Ming Doyle, & Annie Wu 

Emilia and the man with the veil of smoke have set out for the ocean in a stolen truck. There's a bloody handprint on his neck. She's beginning to worry it's hers. Death and the Maiden go on a road trip. Nobody gets out alive.

Killchella #1 -  Mario Candelaria & Serg Acuna

A group of friends drive up from Los Angeles to attend an ultra-trendy music festival in the Coachella Valley desert. They soon face a bloody night of terror when a reclusive pop star making her big return after five years recruits her most fanatical devotees to assist in a massive human sacrifice ritual.

Mr. Easta #1 -  Kit Wallis

The gloriously demented mind of Kit Wallis brings the galactic adventures of the third best assassin in the universe to Scout Comics! Incredible, kinetically charged artwork blasts the blood, mayhem and quirky humor directly through your brain like a high-caliber bullet. In this issue, it's Elvis night at an interstellar backwater bar, but with all due respect to the King, that doesn't stop Mr. Easta. With the help of Frank, his teleportation parasite, who can also transform into any handheld weapon imaginable, it's business as usual.

It’s Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth GN -  Zoe Thorogood

Cartoonist ZOE THOROGOOD records six months of her own life as it falls apart in a desperate attempt to put it back together again in the only way she knows how. IT'S LONELY AT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH is an intimate metanarrative that looks into the life of a selfish artist who must create for her own survival.

A poignant, slice-of-life-style story perfect for fans of Adrian Tomine's The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist.

Gospel #1 (of 5) - Will Morris & Ver

When opportunity refuses to knock for restless hero Matilde, the devil comes knocking instead. Thrust into action by the hellish arrival, Matilde and storyteller Pitt will quest for answers - answers that threaten to tear them apart and trigger the toughest question of all: "Who am I?" Inspired by the work of Hayao Miyazaki and set in the chaos of King Henry VIII's reign, GOSPEL is a thrilling fantasy adventure that questions the truth behind the stories we tell.

Heavenly Demon Reborn! GN Vol 1 -  O'Emperor & Gom-Guk

In an ancient world where martial artists reign supreme, Unseong can only watch as his master is brutally beaten to death after a false accusation of practicing forbidden demonic arts. Even after a valiant fight, he fails to kill those responsible and faces his own end. But fate has other plans... Instead of taking his last breath, he awakens as a child, training to be an elite soldier of a demonic sect. Now Unseong must embrace the demonic arts and harness power in his ultimate quest for revenge.

Go! Go! Loser Ranger! GN Vol 1 -  Negi Haruba

Attention kaiju and sentai fans! From the creator of The Quintessential Quintuplets comes a new "anti-ranger" action-comedy that'll make you root for the alien invaders! Thirteen years ago, an evil army of mysterious alien monsters invaded the Earth, but the great protectors of mankind-the Divine Dragon Rangers-show up to stop them! To this day, the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance as the fierce struggle continues to unfold! ...Or does it? In truth, the evil aliens were subjugated within the first year, and they've now become nothing more than clowns forced to act out their continuous defeat every week for the entertainment of the masses. They're not real villains, being forced to crank out a monster a week for the Rangers to crush. But one of the aliens has had enough. Something has to change! He'll rebel against the strongest might of the Dragon Rangers and destroy them all from the inside!

Traveling To Mars #1 -  Mark Russell & Roberto Meli

Traveling to Mars tells the story of former pet store manager Roy Livingston, the first human to ever set foot on Mars. Roy was chosen for this unlikely mission for one simple reason: he is terminally ill and therefore has no expectation of returning. Roy is joined on his mission to Mars by Leopold and Albert, two Mars rovers equipped with artificial intelligence, who look upon the dying pet store manager as a sort of god. Against the backdrop of not only his waning days but those of human civilization as well, Roy has ample time to think about where things went wrong for both of them and what it means to be a dying god.

Specs #1 (of 4) -  David M. Booher, Chris Shehan & Skylar Patridge

In this mysterious new series from writer David M. Booher (Canto, All-New Firefly) and artist Chris Shehan (House of Slaughter), what happens when a couple of misfit teens mail-order a pair of X-ray glasses, and realize they've received much more than they bargained for? But all Kenny and Ted want is to not feel like outcasts in their small Ohio town. Their world is turned upside down when the Magic Specs they receive unlock a world of possibilities. Their wishes start out innocent enough, but when they wish that their bully would disappear... things take a cursed turn, with far darker consequences than they thought possible...

Avante Guard Yumeko GN -  Shuzo Oshimi

From Shuzo Oshimi, the creator of Blood on the Tracks, The Flowers of Evil, and Happiness. I just want to see it! High schooler Yumeko is your ordinary high school girl except she's obsessed with seeing the male body part in real life. Determined, Yumeko decides to join the art club at school.

All Your Racial Problems Will Soon End HC -  Dr. Charles Johnson

Before Charles Johnson found fame as a novelist and won the National Book Award for Middle Passage in 1991, he was a cartoonist, and a very good one. Taught via mail correspondence course by the comics editor Lawrence Lariar, mentored by the New Yorker cartoonist Charles Barsotti, and inspired by the call of poet Amiri Baraka to celebrate and depict Black life in America, Johnson crafted some of the fiercest and funniest cartoons of the twentieth century. This collection brings together work from across his career: college newspaper gags, selections from his books Black Humor and Half-Past Nation Time, his unpublished manuscript Lumps in the Melting Pot, and uncollected pieces.

Billionaire Island: Cult Of Dogs #1 (of 6) -  Mark Russell & Steve Pugh

The long-awaited return of the "series that's simultaneously infuriating and hysterically funny in its indictment of not just the 1%, but of the people-and the economic system-that enable them" (Comics Beat). The year is 2046, two years after Billionaire Island fell-taking the world's economy with it. Only one man-er, dog-can save us now. But where is Business Dog?

The Knight & The Lady Of Play One-Shot -  Jonathan Luna

JONATHAN LUNA (THE PHALANX, 20XX: TRANSPORT) returns with another one-shot, illustrated in graphite! After a war with demons, knight Signore Vincenzo is traveling home to his wife in Italy. In a swamp, he comes across a mysteriously hypnotic woman, Motta, who tempts him to stay with her.  

Tokyo Aliens GN Vol 1 -  Naoe

This thrilling sci-fi fantasy series welcomes you to Japan, a top ten destination for extraterrestrials looking for refuge, relaxation, a good time, or just to raise a little hell! Shiny new high school first-year Akira is as ordinary as they come. He's awkward, has terrible grades, and loves manga. In fact, the only thing that really sets him apart from his peers is his staunch determination to follow in his late father's footsteps as a police officer. But fate has its own plans for Akira. After witnessing a ferocious battle unfold between two strangers with unusual powers on the train-one of whom looks a lot like the tall, dark, and handsome kid in his grade-he finds himself kidnapped...by none other than an alien!

Lord Of The Jungle #1 -  Dan Jurgens, Benito Gallego & Gary Frank

At long last, the Lord of the Jungle returns to comics! One of the most famous and recognizable characters in the history of fiction is back, starting with an adventure that returns us to the days before his birth, as well as a time later in life, when a past wrong must be made right, no matter what manner of beast or obstacle stands in Tarzan's way. From acclaimed writer Dan Jurgens (Superman, Spider-Man, Thor, Booster Gold, Justice League and so many more) comes a tale that wraps the familiar with something brand new. With epic art by Tarzan newspaper artist Benito Gallego, this is sure to be a book that delivers for Tarzan fans both old and new!

Lastman Book 1 -  Balak, Michael Sanlaville, & Bastien Vives

Adrian Velba has trained all year to fight in the Valley of the Kings' legendary tournament. However, despite his ambition, he has no chance of winning. Not only is his partner unable to compete, but at 12 years old, Adrian is the longest of longshots. That is, until a mysterious, powerful stranger enters town, offering to join forces with Adrian. But who is Richard Aldana? And why in a world of magic does he rely solely on his fists?

[graphicpolicy]

Ablaze Dives Into Spring With New Graphic Novel Titles for April

Ablaze Dives Into Spring With New Graphic Novel Titles for April #comics #comicbooks #manga

THE MIGHTY BARBARIANS #1 story by Michael Moreci, art by Giuseppe Cafaro · MSRP: $3.99 ·On sale April 19th They’re barbarians. They loot, they plunder, they conquer. That’s what they do, and they do it alone…until NOW! When an unstoppable force starts consuming one world after another, sorceress Morgan Le Fey uses her magic to assemble a team of skull-cracking warriors who must somehow work…

[googledocsdyke]

the THING is that when aziraphale says “i forgive you” he means “having been utterly re-brainwashed by the supreme and intoxicating force of Approval from a Higher Heavenly Authority to validate my prior life as Good and Righteous and True, i, wracked with newly-reborn self-loathing about ever having turned my back on heaven, forgive you, whom i love and must therefore surely be good and worthy of forgiveness, for rebuking the chance to ascend righteously into heaven with me” and when crowley hears “i forgive you” he hears “crowley i forgive you for the crime and moral lapse of desiring me, of wanting, of kissing me, of giving me love that i cannot possibly respond to nor reciprocate, of being who you are which is someone who is not only a demon but, much worse, wants me.” If you even care. (And for the record you shouldn’t)

[yoga-onion]

Buddha to his disciples, mini-series (20)

Samsara (Reincarnation)

“When something disappears, something is born. In Buddhism, life and death are the same thing.”

“Samsara” is a Pali & Sanskrit word that literally means "wandering through, flowing on", wherein the term connotes "cyclic change" or, less formally, "running around in circles." It is therefore also translated as 'reincarnation'. 

Ancient Indians believed in reincarnation, or rather took it for granted. Therefore, the Buddha also thought it was natural and taught on the premise of reincarnation. And the purpose of the Buddha's teaching is for us to escape from this world of samsara (namely, liberation/enlightenment: Ref).

There are six realms of samsara as conceived by the ancient Indians. They are listed in order of increasing suffering as follows:

World of Hell (naraka), the world of the most suffering. Hell means 'underground prison'.

World of hungry ghosts (preta), a world suffering from hunger pangs. Becomes a demon with a swollen belly. A world where those who have committed the sin of greed are reborn.

World of animals (tiryagyoni), including birds, beasts, fish and insects. There are about 3.4 billion species.

World of warlike demigods (asura), Asura is a demonic species. A world where asuras live and fight all the time, causing constant suffering and anger.

World of human beings (manushya), in which human beings live. It is plagued by the fundamental sufferings, the four and eight afflictions, which are unavoidable in human life.

World of gods or celestial beings (deva), Heavenly beings can fly, and the world is full of pleasures, but here too there is the suffering of old age and death.

ブッダから弟子たちへ、ミニシリーズ (20)

輪廻 〜 “何かが無くなれば、何かが生まれる。仏教では生と死は同じものである。” 

“輪廻”はサンスクリット語で「サンサーラ」という。この語の本来の意味は「さまよう、流れる」を意味し、生あるものが無限の生死を繰り返すことを指す言葉だ。よって、”輪廻転生”とも訳される。

古代のインド人は、誰もが輪廻転生を信じていた、というよりは、それがあたりまえだと思っていたのだ。よって、釈迦もそれが当たり前だと思い、輪廻を前提にして教えを説いている。そして、釈迦の教えは、われわれがこの輪廻転生の世界から脱出すること（すなわち解脱：参照）が目的である。

古代インド人が考えた輪廻の世界は六つだ。以下、苦しみの多い順に並べる:

地獄界〜最も苦しみの多い世界。地獄とは「地下の牢獄」の意。

餓鬼界〜飢えの苦しみに悩む世界。腹が膨れた姿の鬼になる。慳貪の罪を犯した人が再生する世界。

畜生界〜畜生界は鳥・獣・魚・虫など畜生の世界。種類は約34億種。

修羅界〜修羅は阿修羅といい、魔類。阿修羅が住み、終始戦い争うために苦しみと怒りが絶えない世界。

人間界〜人間が住む世界。人間が生きている上で避けては通れない、根源的な苦、四苦八苦に悩まされる。

天上界〜天人は空を飛ぶことができ、快楽の多い世界だが、ここにも老・死の苦しみがある。

[yandereunsolved]

In Death & Life

Pairing: James Patrick March x Fallen angel gn reader Summary: You preform a necromancy ritual on your fiancé to bring him back from death. The both of you reminisce and connect with each other on the mortal plane. trigger warning(s): none word count: 674 a/n: Just a short little thing. I lost determination to write it all the way so I gave it a satisfying end.

Ceremonial crimson candles cast an ominous shadow amongst the room that hides the secrets of a killer. The wicks slowly burn towards their inevitable end, the ritual already underway. Room sixty-four lies bare of any of its previous furnishings. A salt ring lies in the middle. Nothing lies within the ring; not even the light from the candles dare touch it. For it is crowded with the souls of the damned. The demonic entities praising the one that helps their master rise from his grave.

A bowl of rose water lies right outside the ring. A figure clad in cloth blacker than the hearts of men. A veil covers their face as they mutter ancient incantations only known by a chosen few. They mutter them fervently, almost obsessively. Again and again in a seemingly never ending loop.

Their knees ache from kneeling for so many hours. Their heart aches more—your heart aches more. Your heart beats for the man you are resurrecting: James Patrick March. Your James Patrick March. Your beloved fiancé. The one you saved from that wretched woman. The Countess may have felt nothing for the darkness, but you feel everything. You slit her neck and her tower of power crumbled beneath your feet. You filled the hole in his soon beating chest.

You coat your numb hands in the rosewater. One of the final steps in his resurrection. Having an affinity for death and necromancy since childhood finally came to fruition. Without his original body, you had to haggle a few souls in the Cortez for a demon to create a new one for him. In that moment, it was all worth it.

You stand as your hand reaches into the salt circle. The shadows receded as the flames of the candles cast them away. The dance between the devils and the darkness intertwined into both of your souls. He calls out to you like a spellbinding siren's song. From the depths of the shadows comes your true love.

His body was exactly that while in his ghost form. His ravenette strands still ever slicked back. The trimmed mustache of his sitting proudly above this top lip. His toned body was proudly suited to those three pieces. His neck slit is now healed, but the scar is apparent.That charming smile, goddesses, it looks even better now. 

"You are reborn as a warlock, my love. Immortal. Alive." Your words are hoarse and barely escape your cracked lips.

Your shaking hands are struggling to listen to the commands that your mind is giving them. Your left thumb barely touches his cheek before he has dragged you across the circle, separating the salt circle and making it incomplete. You couldn't even begin to care, as the ritual is complete. You are held in his deathly, loving grip once again.

"Indeed, darling. I am now the most famous serial killer both alive and dead." He whispers fervently as he places feather light kisses on each of your knuckles. "We shall wed in a few days time. Our consummation will finally be with the both of us living."

Your frayed wings and broken halo appear for a single moment. After all, you cannot risk using your abilities too often. Lest the angels hunt you, or the devils wish to make deals for your power. Once a mighty angelic being is now only the shell of one. Your wings are nothing more than bone, and your halo floats above your head in pieces. More fragments of your once-heavenly halo chip off and fall every day. Further tethering you to the mortal realm. 

You wrap the bones around his body as tears fall from your otherworldly eyes. His oddly tender hands wipe the tears away. He brings each finger up to his mouth as he tastes your sadness. A pleased smirk appears on his features as he places a teasing kiss on your delicate temple.

"You taste absolutely divine." He purrs gently as he tugs your waist closer towards him. "I cannot wait to taste you even more after our dinner tonight."

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

.ೃ࿐ -ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ- .ೃ࿐

⟿ taglist: @coentinim @bluerthanvelvet444 @cxndiedvi0lets @lacucarachapisser @etheral-moon @fear-is-truth @slutforgarlogan @newwavesylviaplath @violet1737 @marchsfreakshow

.ೃ࿐ -ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ- .ೃ࿐

[blackbird5154]

Papa Emeritus III: The analysis of mythological references

Here are my thoughts of Terzo as a character, finally translated to English. Thank you to @osirisiii-bc who is so kind and gracious!

Read on AO3

Note: The author strongly recommends you to check out the Third Era's "policy document" - The Prologue and Introduction by Peter Bebergal before reading this article. This promotional material was sent out to the media by the label on the occasion of the Meliora release.

This analysis is based on the Prologue to Meliora written by Peter Bebergal. At first glance, this text may seem like a set of nonconnected paragraphs, as well as the music video "From the Pinnacle to the Pit" can be considered as a simple cutting of scenes from old movies. But together these two materials can shed light on the mythology of the Meliora Era and the story of Papa Emeritus III - his origin, background and motives. Let's try to understand how it happened that in the image of Papa combined three mythological characters: Prometheus, Icarus and Lucifer.

This is what the author of this analysis looked like when she wrote it

First, let's take a superficial look at the plot. The action of the video takes place in a fictional retrofuturistic city decorated in Art Deco style. The Prologue even gives us the name of this location - Meloria (not to be confused with the album title - Meliora). The city is ruled by a totalitarian cult, something like a Masonic lodge, located in the highest building of the city, which is often struck by lightning.

The protagonist is invited to take part in a cult meeting and to undergo initiation. There he meets a sultry demonic woman who gives him a magic potion (the commentary to the song "Spirit" hints that it was absinthe). The protagonist experiences a vision in which he sees how the city is actually run. Upon awakening from his trance, he escapes from the meeting and throws himself off the roof of a skyscraper. Crashing to the ground, he is reborn into the ghost of Papa Emeritus III, to whom a crowd of people flock. Papa proclaims that the light should belong to the people and rises above the city. By the way, this character has a special name, or rather, a nickname given to him by the press - Mysterious Spectre. This can be read from the page of the newspaper that Papa holds in another clip thematically related to this storyline, "Square Hammer". The headline states: "Mysterious Spectre wrestles power supply from oligarchs". Papa Emeritus in full vestments can be seen in the photo.

Now, let's dig a level deeper. From the very beginning, the video gives us a hint of the concept behind it. The words "pinnacle" and "pit" appear in the splash screen, inscribed in two triangles. The upper word is written in the style of lightning bolts, while the lower one reminds us of stone catacombs. Besides the fact that it is a Masonic symbol (and not the only one in this video, and in Ghost's art in general), it symbolizes the contrast of the heavenly and underground worlds, sacred and profane spheres. 

That's what the Prologue says as well:

“Rock and roll exists in two worlds: the sacred and the profane. In the first, it harkens back to a time when people worshipped their gods by wearing masks, dancing, and often in the throes of ecstatic intoxication. In the second, rock exists in the here and now, as an expression of rebellion, sex, power, and even fame. In the realm of the sacred, the ego is destroyed when the god is seen face to face. In the profane, ego is the energy that gets things done. This is the eternal spiritual conflict: the will of the gods versus human will. Those who can keep a foot in both the sacred and the profane can change the world.“

Freemasons are everywhere!

Considering Meliora, we are inevitably faced with its duality: on the one hand, it’s a down-to-earth story about a satanic musical group controlled by the Clergy. On the other hand it’s a legend of the city of Meloria, a kind of Gotham of this fictional universe. Even Papa seems to have two incarnations: a physical and a spiritual one. But the two worlds are not only the dichotomy of matter and spirit. The video shows two levels of the metropolis: the celestial - the world of thunder and lightning, power and electricity, and the subterranean - the world of the poor and the catacombs, the underground temples "under the streets". The society of Meloria is stratified, the upper classes exist at the expense of the lower classes, who bust their hump, generating electricity for their masters and covering the foot of skyscrapers with their bones. The totalitarian regime described in the pages of the Prologue is the oligarchy's way of keeping power in its hands and suppressing any expression of free will from the enslaved people.  

“Spies are everywhere. Their eyes are behind the screens of your televisions and devices, their ears attentive to every frequency in the air. Everything is mediated, pre-­packaged, and pressure sealed, your lives pre-­ordained.”

The watchful airships in the video are labeled grucifixes, but don't let that put us off: they are "angels," agents of the ruling class, an enemy force opposed to Papa Emeritus.

"What if man could harness the power of a god?" the Headmaster asks the protagonist. "In a sense, he would need god no longer." It may be recalled here that Meliora is essentially an album about a world without God. That's exactly how the Nameless Ghoul put it in an interview, which is cited in Revolver magazine. “Spirit Absent” ("spirit absinthe") is “Deus in Absentia”, absent God. It is a world in which man is doomed to choose his own path without prompting from above. Modern man, the man of the era of modernism, seeks to curb the laws of physics, to put heavenly fire at his service. We are getting very close to the image of Prometheus in this story.

“You have been chosen to wield this power,” the Headmaster tells the boy. “Here we are the gods.” Then he sends the protagonist to the top of the building on what looks like an elevator, which symbolizes his ascent through the lodge ranks.

The woman reveals to the protagonist that the deity called demi-surge is the source of the power that moves the gears of the city. And the same power is used to enslave its people. It is their backs that we see bowed before Moloch. The vision is replaced by the sight of a lavish ball. “Through industry, man can harness this power and attain all that which he desires!” - the woman tells and invites the character to join.

This situation is also described in the Prologue:

"The world since he was last seen has changed. Called Moloch by some, the great industrial machine has been grinding away, grinding everything and everyone down in the process."

Historically, Moloch was an ancient Semitic deity to whom human sacrifices had to be made. In the 1927 film "Metropolis" Moloch is represented by an industrial machine with an insatiable maw that devours people who labor in its bowels. And since the music video shows us the 20s of the 20th century, this machine operates on electric power. So, in this story Moloch symbolizes the dark side of progress turned against people.

Moloch in the “Metropolis” movie 

The protagonist realizes that the lodge is using ordinary people as fuel for its luxurious life. He is not ready to accept this, so he pushes the woman away and, scattering, jumps from the roof of the skyscraper, from the pinnacle to the pit. There's an important element not to miss here: while he's climbing to the top of the tower before jumping, he's struck by lightning. In that moment he perhaps becomes heir to the mystical power of the demi-surge. By this Papa gains the dramatic ability to shoot lightning from his hands (and a little from his eyes).

As a man of the modern era and a resident of godless Meloria, the protagonist is free to choose how to dispose of this power. Therefore, when he becomes Papa Emeritus, already at the base of the skyscraper, he proclaims that the light should belong to the people. Like Prometheus, who stole the divine fire, he is ready to give it selflessly to the people, so that they can curb the natural force themselves. This similarity must be what the following the Prologue fragment hints at:

“…some still remember the old tales of those who tried to defy the gods. It was said they stole the fire from heaven, or called themselves equal.”

The people who rally around the sacrificed hero become Papa's flock, which is mentioned in the text:

“He is a shepherd of black sheep, the sewers are his cathedral. Here in the darkness they follow the path of the hero’s journey, the necessary travel to the underworld to become transfigured, to become something new.”

The Hero's Journey is a concept invented by Joseph Campbell to describe a monomyth. This archetypal story depicts the way of personality formation, accompanied by psychological transformation. According to the plot, the hero goes on a journey, meets a mentor, passes through a gateway where temptations await, which he must resist. Then he goes to the abyss, where he undergoes a transformation, along with acquiring the gift of the gods, and eventually returns reborn. 

Doesn't that ring a bell?

Probably "From the Pinnacle to the Pit" is also a statement about art. Electricity can be perceived as a metaphor for creativity. It is a bit of heavenly power, which the creator (musician) draws from somewhere in the higher spheres and gives to his audience for free. Here Tobias himself appears as a giver of light.

The story of Mysterious Spectre will be continued in the "Square Hammer" video, where we are told that he successfully wages war with local oligarchs, wresting power from them. Let's wish him luck and pay attention to the similarity of Papa's story to two other mythological characters.

Mysterious Spectre in the background of the moon. Handsome as hell.

The cover of the single "From the Pinnacle to the Pit" shows us Papa as Icarus. Let us recall that this ancient Greek young man daringly ascended to the sun, scorched his wings with its heat and fell from heaven to earth, losing too many feathers attached with the easily melting wax. Here we can exclaim after the prophet Isaiah: "How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!" Because the image of Icarus in this song is combined with the image of Lucifer. In Wikipedia we can read: "Lucifer is the Latin name for the morning appearances of the planet Venus. It corresponds to the Greek names Phosphorus Φωσφόρος, "light-bringer", and Eosphorus Ἑωσφόρος, "dawn-bringer". The entity's Latin name was subsequently absorbed into Christianity as a name for the devil."

Or maybe he didn't fall, but jumped, as the Prologue directly tells us. A man of the modern era is free to choose his own destiny. And it is up to him to decide whether he will be thrown down from heaven or will take a step into the precipice himself, without waiting for a kick from above. Because there is no other way than "from the pinnacle to the pit". Such is the Hero's Journey.

“One figure was considered so prideful he was imprisoned in a pit where he gathered a legion to plan a great rebellion. Now they are merely stories to scare children, to remind them that defiance is a sin. Papa Emeritus III will steal your breath, the parents say. He will unscrew your hands and feet. He will take your eyes.”

Here the image of Papa is so merged with the image of Lucifer that it is difficult to understand who the text is talking about. It seems that the figure of Papa has been defamed: now he is a monster of the underworld, who is used to scare children to make them obedient. He was transformed from a light-bearer into an evil character through slander. Once again we are faced with an almost direct analogy with the Devil. By the way, isn't that why Papa addresses Cirice with the words "I know your soul is not tainted even though you've been told so" that he himself has been stigmatized, presented as a villain? Isn't this the essence of the fall and the punishment?

However Papa Emeritus appears to us: whether he is a rebel, a Melorian revolutionary who made the oligarchs tremble in their skyscrapers, a hero of the common people who brings the light of electricity and freedom to the populace, a fallen angel banished from heaven for his defiant thoughts, or a chthonic demon to scare children, he is a figure who appeals to our unconscious layers through mythological archetypes. Only one question remains: are you, dear reader, ready to follow Papa Emeritus into the abyss, taking the path of rebirth, feeling the halo above your head melting and being replaced by a mitre with an inverted cross?

[miyamiwu]

Cool dice

Cool Dice = nerd (complementary), cool socks, please tell me about your special interest/hyperfixation

Hmmm where do I start

I am really into Chinese bl (danmei). Most danmei are like shounen with the homoerotic undertones, except the sexual tension actually gets paid off!!!

And I say “like shounen” because, unlike Japanese BL, there’s a lot more emphasis on plot when it comes to danmei. Of course, there are also danmei focusing on romance, but the best ones have complex plots you don’t really find in shounen ai/yaoi.

Naming a few mainstream danmei, to start:

Heaven Official’s Blessing = fallen god reascends for the third time and befriends a demon king. Together, they get to the bottom of a lot of scandals in the heavenly court

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun = evil emperor is reborn to the year he was still a teen and is yet to do any evil stuff and once again has to face his loathed master (shizun) and obey him.

Little Mushroom = sentient mushroom takes over dead human body and infiltrates the human base to retrieve his stolen spore

The Earth is Online = humanity is pulled into a death game

Sha Po Lang = ancient industrial Chinese setting (steampunk???) about a prince and his Yifu + war and stuff

And some non-mainstream ones, but are my absolute favorites:

Fourth Perspective = Sci-fi where characters have “logic chains” that grant them random abilities (that may or may not be useful), but with limits. Main character’s logic chain allows him to see other people’s “logic factors”

I Became a God in a Horror Game = Guy who’s obsessed with money gets pulled into a death game and comes out victorious every time (his driving force is money). Very mindblowing arcs and well-written characters

Mermaid Effect = guy picks up “fish” on the beach and keeps it as a pet, but then it turned out to be a biological weapon

Si Tian Guan = guy who died in political drama gets reborn to the year before it all started and vows to not repeat the mistakes of the past and also protect the person most important to him. This one made me cry a lot that I still couldn’t finish it...

It’s like… these stories just happen to have gay protagonists. The characters being gay and in love aren’t their main selling points. They actually have stories to tell outside the romance and the fucking (which is often censored coz, yknow, China) and also explore a variety of deep themes, and that just makes them more interesting to me

[kittifang]

Dilf! Priest Simon x Reader 1/?

WC : 1,382k

CW: Fem Reader, Creampies, Dacryphilia, Spanking, Face slapping, Rough! Simon, Sacrilege (they fuck in a church), Catholic Priest Simon, Age Gap, Reader is 19, Simon is 38, Corruption, Degradation, Humiliation, Overstimulation, Hair pulling. 18+ MDNI.

The usually filled pews of St. Christopher's Angel's Church were deserted. After all, it was a Monday evening, and the hymns of the choir no longer filled the air. But in its place, according to Simon, was a much sweeter melody—your sweet moans. Followed by the unmistakable slapping of skin, his against yours. No other harmony could ever compare to this. And even still, he wonders how he got here. Yet some part of him knows that this was inevitable; he had entered a losing battle from the minute he saw you. Sly exchanged looks of desire, and building tension can only go on for so long before someone cracks, and Simon was in pieces.

His usual gentle voice sinks into a menacing, stern tone. "This is what happens when you tease. When you look at me like a whore begging for my cock during mass, when you should be focusing on bible verses instead," and the vulgar words accompanied by a rough hand coming down on the flesh of your ass have you keening against him. A chorus of yesyesyes barely being able to escape alongside your desperate mewls and gasps. You never thought something so unholy could feel this divine.

You'd be a liar if you said you hadn't fantasized about this specifically, and on multiple occasions. And him being sinfully gorgeous didn't help one bit. Slicked-back blonde hair, a defined jaw littered with stubble, his towering height and muscles, the accent...it was no surprise that the other sisters tended to fawn over him as well. The church's golden boy was generally loved. Your feelings only escalated further when you noticed the kindhearted priest's ring finger was empty. You knew you had to get closer. Even if you couldn't have him the way you wanted, at least you'd still know him, right? Maybe you'd be satisfied with that—at least, that's what you told yourself in the beginning.

The respected head priest , a saintly missionary. Had been reduced to nothing but a man who was unable to resist one of his more carnal and frowned upon desires, lust. A sin said to be one of the greatest downfalls of men, and he knows it's true because you are the undoing of him. You’re fat hips are pushing pack to meet his cruel thrusts with vigor, and he knows he’s supposed to be a man of God, a role model who teaches the holy texts. But with the way your walls are strangling his cock, he thinks he’d rather be reborn into a lifetime of sin for a millennia if this is how delicious it was. And this had only been a small taste, a tiny indulgence on the long list of vile things that he wanted to do to your sweet, pliant body.

Simon knows he should feel ashamed, and on some level he does. For goodness' sake, he was supposed to be an important role model, especially for the youth of the church. But instead he was defiling one of them—a sister he occasionally counseled in the holiest of places. More specifically, he had her spread out on the altar. If this act alone didn't condemn him to hell, he didn't know what would, so he might as well make sure it was worth it. Brimstone and hellfire couldn't compare to the flames that were currently running through his bloodstream because of you.

He can't seem to decide whether or not you're a demon or an angel, so he decides you're both. Because there is absolutely nothing angelic about the way your pussy is weeping on his thick cock. No heavenly being would allow themselves to be bent over the altar with their clothing littered on the carpet like this. Eyes rolling to the back of their heads as the crucifix above them witnesses the whole indecent act altogether. So this is where his dilemma begins, because only an angel could be this beautiful. Have those innocent, doe eyes that made him want to corrupt you since day one. That gorgeous laugh. But maybe it isn't worth thinking about, at least not right now. Not when he finally has what he wants in the palm of his hand.

Everything about it was completely obscene. A sheen of sweat coating his, and your skin. You were fucking like animals, and the worst part is that you both got a thrill out of it. It was really quite simple: Simon was the predator, and you were his prey. The pretty little bunny who stumbled across the wolf . And he'd devour you again and again until he was satiated. His hands couldn't stop their attack on your lush skin even if he wanted to, he would sink his teeth in so deeply that no one else would even dare to look at you. Your plump ass was now a deep shade of crimson from his bruising assault on it, and your pretty eyes were flowing. A cry escapes your throat, and he quickly has a fist tangling in your hair to see the sight for himself. Angling your head backwards to see that adorable face, aren't you a vision? Your makeup, at least what's left of it, is almost gone. Drool running out of your open mouth. He's already made you come twice.

It's humiliating. Being unable to do anything but stare dumbly through the blur of your tears. And a moment passes before the man cruelly laughs at what he's reduced you to, you swear his eyes are a darker shade. His husky voice rings out. "Look at you, all dumb and cock drunk for me. This is all you needed, wasn't it?? Needed me to bully this little cunt. Hmm ??" Brutal thrusts never stopping because he wants to see you struggle. "Answer me bunny ,I wont ask again" the priest says in an even harsher tone. It's too good, too much, and you're trying to remember how to speak, which clearly isn't done fast enough for his liking. Seeing as his palm strikes one of your tear stained cheeks before you can even blink. A half moan, half gasp of y-yes! escaping your plush lips at the harsh treatment, fingers grasping at the edges of the altar for dear life. How could you go back to living without this pleasure?

You've gone completely boneless beneath him now, shoulders giving out and unable to hold up your weight any longer, top half slumped on the sleek wood. Taut nipples resting on the surface. The fact that the beloved priest you'd come to know had a side so devilish to his friendly demeanor only muddled your brain further. There was no doubt that you were thoroughly enjoying it. Hell might be waiting for you, but at least the journey there will be filled with his cock. How could anyone resist pleasure like this? Slick drips down your thighs in a never-ending river, lewd sounds following every time he sinks into your plush hole. Simon doesn't think he'll ever be able to get enough of it, or of you.

He's nearing the edge now, and he's going to take you with him. A hand drifts down to massage your head sweetly. "That's it, pretty girl, just one more time for me. Let me fill you up" And with a faint hum of approval from you, he's dragging his agile digits between your trembling legs. Thumb going to caress your sensitive clit with his thumb. White-hot pleasure building up to the limit for the both of you. Guttural groans part from his lips, and with a few more motions of his hips and thumb, you're both falling together. Kitten like whimpers sounding from your mouth.

Your battered cunt milking him for all he's worth while he fills you to the brim. So completely and utterly full. Any guilt and doubt that he had once felt is gone because he knows he'd choose this every time, choose you every time. And he makes sure to get the message across by littering your neck and torso with gentle kisses. "You did so well, so so well for me". His words instantly put a dopey smile on your face. Only reaffirming the thought that you wanted this man to be yours forever.

AN//: This was my longest work / fic ever?? I plan To release multiple parts for it Soon. Hopefully you guys enjoy because I tried my best and was very proud of how this turned out. Bye!!! <3333

[xianxia-if]

Reincarnated in a Xianxia World

is a fantasy interactive novel. It can be played on both pc and mobile, it’s entirely text-based, it's currently in development, and it will be released episodically.

GENRES: 

Fantasy, Romance, Chinese Historical, Xianxia, Portal Fantasy/Isekai

RATING:

Rated M, for Mature Audiences, 18+.

CONTENT WARNINGS

Violence, death, murder, and sexually suggestive themes.

SUMMARY

It’s been years since you remembered your past life and it took you even longer to realize that you had the tremendous misfortune to be reborn as a villain in the xianxia tv show you were watching before your sudden death.

You are reborn as a whelp of the Red Lantern District. Your mother died at your birth and you grew up assuming you’ll be just another courtesan, at first. When the courtesans start getting murdered, cultivators show up, suspecting the hand of spirits or demons. You catch the eye of a head cultivator. They are suspicious of you and fascinated by you. They unmask the fact that you aren’t human, not anymore, and convinces you into becoming their disciple.

Now as a disciple cultivator to a cultivation sect, you must do everything you can to keep your heritage a secret. Unfortunately, now there is someone besides just you that knows that you are not human and they are eager to make use of you. Once you are trained enough, that is.

Whatever long term plans your master now has for you, you want no part in. But that is no longer in your hands.

FEATURES:

Customize the main character. Choose their looks, gender, personality, and more.

Choose your heritage, whether you are a celestial spirit or a demon.

If you’re a celestial spirit, you can decide whether you are a nine-tailed fox spirit, water dragon spirit, peach blossom tree spirit, or moon rabbit spirit.

If you’re a demon, you can be a heavenly demon, moth demon, or a dream demon.

Become a cultivator!

Choose your cultivation style: physical cultivation, spiritual cultivation, musical cultivation, demonic cultivation, or medical cultivation.

Choose between five types of personality: (1) soft-spoken and diplomatic; (2) outspoken and acerbic and prickly, (3) humorous and playful and charming, (4) stoic and non-judgmental and aloof, or (5) blunt, awkward, and a bit tactless.

Romance 1 of 7 possible options or remain unattached.

Choose missions to undergo as a disciple cultivator and prove your worth!

Explore the Demon, Mortal, and Celestial Realms!

Your moral alignment is your choice. Be a villain or attempt to be a hero.

ROMANTIC OPTIONS:

Feiyu / Fang Hua | Your Shizun | Male/Female Human

A possible ex-lover of yours, they're the head of the demonic cultivation department and is renown for their unscrupulous, seedy ways. They are also the only one, besides yourself, that knows your true heritage.

Chenxing / Chenguang | The Unicorn | Male/Female Celestial Immortal - Unicorn Spirit

Here is the original protagonist of the tv drama you were watching. They are a unicorn spirit and a medical cultivator. Normally they are quite soft spoken and shy, a typical white lotus.

Ming Yu / Meixing | The 12th Prince/Princess | Male/Female Human

Ever since you competed in the tournament in the Alliance Conference, you have caught their eye. The sect is not powerful enough to turn down the requests of a Prince/Princess, so you’re stuck in arranged marriage with them.

Xuesong | Your Rival | Non-Binary Snake Demon

They extremely dislike you. They work for Shizune as their demon servant and they are completely loyal to him. They distrust you because they think you are going to betray him. Cold, icy, and calculating, they operate from the shadows and you are often teamed up with them for missions.

Ruoxuan | The Best Friend | Non-Binary Human

A possible best friend, they are friendly and easygoing. They would be more popular if they had befriended someone else. Still, they have loyally stuck to your side for years despite all the bad rumours about you.

Dong Yang / Dongmei | The Assassin | Male/Female Crow Demon

They intended to kill you. Unfortunately for them, you easily overpower them and now they owe you a debt for sparing their life.

Haoyu / Huiying | The Hermit | Male/Female Celestial Immortal - Star Spirit

A reclusive celestial immortal scholar and fortune-teller. They have lived a life of seclusion, far away from the Celestial court or Mortal world.

DEMO TBA

[rarepears]

July & Aug 2023 Masterpost

twin cat brothers shen jiu and shen yuan plus their poor owner luo binghe AU

shen jiu and liu qingge's peak sibling moments AU

shang qinghua and mobei jun transmigrate into solo leveling as architect and sung jinwoo respectively AU

Evil goose transmigrates into Liu Qingge's body au

BAI ZHAN PEAK DISCIPLE!LUO BINGHE AU

shen jiu transmigrates into su she au

newly transmigrated shen yuan vs deaged without memories shen jiu AU

shen jiu gets the death note au

lol imagine if shen yuan wrote game of thrones and is a professional author yet he still follows pidw

luo binghe thinks shen yuan is OLD old AU

tywin lannister x sung jinwoo

shen jiu feds the local stray cats au

honkai star rail X solo leveling AU

red-green colorblind Jedi would have Issues recognizing Sith based on their laser swords... au

abo solo leveling AU starring Sung jinwoo the omega

modern AU where Shen Yuan is looking for his cat Shen Jiu AU

luo binghe and shen yuan transmigrate as Lan Qiren and Wen Ruohan AU

cat!shen yuan adopts a human shen jiu AU

mdzs crossover with kung fu panda

Shen Jiu gets spirited away to Ancient Greece AU

wei wuxian gets dumped into Tianlang Jun's body AU

Mace Windu was the one to found Cang Qiong sect and teach Yue Qingyuan AU

Shang Qinghua is the only alpha Cang Qiong peak lord au

bakugou reincarnated into mdzs AU

khr X Welcome to demon school crossover

shen yuan transmigrates into Mu Qingfang instead au

Modern AU Bingliushen date

liu qingge faked his death in pidw to go on a secret mission au

tywin lannister x sung jinwoo

secret realms in pidw are actually solo leveling dungeons AU

Komamura Sajin x endeavor AU thoughts

taxation in svsss meta

heavenly demons actually have small pillars due to EvolutionTM AU

shen yuan was a rich boy who never went outside so his original world could very well be a world with mechs and space travel AU

sung jinwoo x shen jiu

if obiwan reincarnated as a gusu lan sect disciple au

hannibal lector reborn as Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe's firstborn son AU

Let's dump Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe into KHR world AU

urahara kisuke x todoroki enji AU

Cang Qiong Sect disciples included a number of Jin Guangshan's illegitimate children AU

endeavor gets a pet dragon AU

SVSSS grease AU

[hel-the-growl]

Nezha Reborn annotations - Part 1

Since New Gods: Yang Jian is about to enter NA theaters this week, and before I do a huge information dump about that movie, I wanted to write about its prequel - Nezha Reborn.

I've already seen Yang Jian twice in cinemas here in Australia, and the animation has markedly improved in the one year since Nezha came out - it's definitely worth seeing on the big screen. You don’t need to watch Nezha before Yang Jian but if you’re interested in the lore, then you should lol. It's on netflix.

My original thread on twitter.

Background

Nezha is one of the most well-known characters from the 16th Century Chinese Novel Investiture of the Gods (IOTG), with countless adaptations based on his legend.

New Gods: Nezha Reborn is one of the latest portrayals of the character, and is the first move in Light Chaser Animation Studios' attempt at establishing a New Gods cinematic universe.

Nezha’s origin story

Nezha was born as a round ball of flesh after his mother Lady Yin was pregnant for three years. His dad Li Jing thought he was demon spawn, so tried to kill him but was spared by the immortal Taiyi Zhenren who became his master. At seven years old, he caused a lot of trouble like accidentally killing a demon from 1000 miles away and killing the dragon king Ao Guang’s third son Ao Bing as well as his right hand man the Yaksa Li Gen. When Ao Guang demanded retribution from Li Jing, Nezha chose to sacrifice himself instead. His master later resurrected him using lotus roots to construct a human body, and he came back more powerful than ever. 3000 years later...

Breakdown

Donghai (East Sea). It was the mythical underwater city that Nezha once conquered, now depleted of all its water resources. Set design is inspired by Republican-era Shanghai and Manhattan in the 1920s and 1930s. The poor Chinese style backdrop is contrasted against the glitz of the Western style architecture in the rich area. Rickshaws were commonplace on the streets.

Fashion is also blend of east and west, like the guy wearing kung fu shoes with a denim jacket.

The qipao was a favored dress among women at the time, popularized by Chinese socialites and high society women in Shanghai. Flapper fashion also influenced Kasha’s outfit, blending eastern and western styles.

Li Yunxiang shares the same surname as the original Nezha. His brother Jinxiang’s name is also similar to Nezha’s eldest brother Jinzha. Jinxiang’s look is very typical of the republican era - complete with his center-parted hair and round glasses.

Old Li has the same temperament as Nezha’s dad, The Pagoda Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing.

Who is Yunxiang’s adoptive sister Kasha? She’s an orphan of Belarusian descent, however not much else is known about her past. Her name means porridge in Belarusian. It might be a corruption of Katyusha (喀秋莎) with middle character removed in order to follow Chinese naming conventions idk.

If you know the history of the Republic of China, there were many girls like Kasha in that era. Her father was a soldier and left Kasha and her mother after the war.

✨Princess✨ Ao Bing～～ and the Yaksa Li Gen. Ao Bing is the third son of the Dragon King of the East Sea. The Yaksa Li Gen is the dragon king’s right hand man.

The four big clans - De, Li, Shun, Song (德家、利家、顺家、松家) - actually corresponds to the titles of dragon kings of the four seas. King De, Dragon King of the East Sea; King Li, Dragon King of the South Sea; King Shun, Dragon King of the West Sea, King Song, Dragon King of the North Sea.

A netizen looked this up and really wanted to kneel to Light Chaser for their worldbuilding.

Fun fact: the white horse from Journey to the West is the third son from the Song family.

H*rley-D*vidson Darrley-Hudson product displacement on the arm of Kasha’s jacket:

Actually the film has left some hints about her past. There are some Soviet-style badges pinned to her jacket, along with some small badges that Kasha herself added as well. Since this jacket is huge, it can be assumed that it was left to Kasha by her biological father.

The giant buddha statue is reminiscent of the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan.

Daddy! Ao Guang, the dragon king of the East Sea.

Art deco details on the hood ornament, decals and invitation card.

Monkey’s suit is basically a hot pink version of the Zhongshan suit, a style of menswear introduced by Sun Yat-sen during the republican era, adapted from Japanese student wear. The four pockets are said to represent the Four Virtues of propriety, justice, honesty, and shame. He's blinged up his prayer beads too.

Does this mean Dr. Su is a descendent of Su Daji, the femme fatale of IOTG? Or could she actually be Daji’s reincarnation? Now I don’t know whether to trust her or not.

All these sea creature demons. Why? Chinese dragons are aquatic. They live underwater, and command water-based attacks, unlike western dragons who breathe fire. So it makes sense for them to control an army of demons that came from the deep.

So this is the crystal palace.

After Nezha’s death, Li Jing found out that Nezha’s mother had built a temple in his honor and burned it down because he was still angry at his son for all the trouble he caused to the family. The soul of Nezha was pissed and after his reincarnation, began to pursue his dad with the intent to kill. It took several parties to step in before matters were resolved.

Looks like monkey likes to listen to Peking Opera.

The Pukui fan, commonly known as the cattail fan, is a fan made from palm leaves and stalks. Lightweight and cheap, it is the most widely used fan in China.

Part 2｜Part 3

[justbookscatsandtea]

I got the feeling that people hate the arc in the mortal world where Yan Dan pushes Tang Zhou away after regaining her memories. But I have to say that I actually really liked that part ... I mean it was heartbreaking and I was somewhat frustrated but I also feel like it was necessary and beneficial for them in the long run.

After first regaining her memories, she was understandably upset because Ying Yuan did everything in his power to make her hate him so that she may have a future. She doesn't know that and her feelings of betrayal are valid (I do not blame Ying Yuan for his actions either. He had an abundance of horrible and worse options and tried to make the best choices. It might have been better if he and Yan Dan communicated more but I feel he was the only one who really grasped the enormity of the situation - that there was no way Yan Dan would have survived if he so much as hinted at caring for her - the emperor was on his case already). Anyway she feels betrayed and doesn't want to be with a man who could never love her (as he made her think) and could definitely never choose her. So pushing him away was her wish to save herself from future heartbreak. It also gave her time to come to terms with her feelings and to find out what really happened back then (like with the butterfly of hate but actually love).

Then comes the iteration where Tang Zhou does the unthinkable: he decides to choose her over his sect, over his martial arts, over everything that held importance in his life. I think that it did help her heal and see that duty is not more important to him than love. (Funnily enough I have the Barbie and the Pauper quote stucknin my head because of this show: duty is doing the things your heart might well regret. It just fits them so beautifully because honestly the duty of the Sovereign Lord alnost broke them both)

But then comes the most important part for her I believe - what she did not even manage to do in the heavenly realm as isolated as she was from the world up there: she understood what Ying Yuan meant to the world. That all her friends, her family, the people she loved needed Tang Zhou to become the Sovereign Lord again. He can choose his duty over her because the sect will be FINE. Sure they needed some help establishing themselves but ultimately they did not need Tang Zhou to lead them. The stakes were pretty much non-existent. This is not true for the world where a conspiracy 11 000 years in the making has already seen ENTIRE REALMS DESTROYED. He IS the powerhouse of the heavenly realm, the only one who can make things right. That is also the compromise they make at the end after all. AFTER fulfilling his duty and saving the world, he will leave for the mortal realm and they can be together. When the world is save to live in once again. And she needed to get to the point where she sacrificed the second part of her heart not only for love. The first half was mainly out of her love for him. Sure she thought that the heavenly realm might need him but the reasons where far more personal. Now she also knows that he NEEDS to be up there and make things right. In the end he sacrificed himself for duty and love for he had already hurt her with the demonic powers he cannot control and she choses to share his destiny which enabled them later on to be reborn together.

Another minor point is that she basically turned the Uno reverse card on him: now she will push him away for his own good. I think a part of her doesn't want him to choose between the world and herself again because it is at the end a cruel choice that will tear him apart no matter what. And she loves him too much to do that hence the compromise later on.

[digitaldoeslmk]

This a little too complicated for a ask but, how do Chinese demons work, how do they come into being, how do their powers work, how do they get their powers, what types exist, what is the general feel about them since it not totally extermination, what type of civilization they have, what can they make like how do they get there weapons and armor, how strong are they physically, and for a joke you think the Armstrong canon is a mortal weapon that a author might not have thought of they wrote a demon is immune to all mortal weapons. (This why you don’t power scale historic mythical figures DEATHBATTLE.)

welcome back, bud! and, hoo boy that's a lot of questions ajhdadbjawdw

i'm assuming you mean in my au, but for most of them, i gotta point towards actual folk religion beliefs, since that is what i'm leaning on. and as most thing with real mythology, it's Complicated xvx

so, Chinese demons come in many shapes and sizes and have multiple origins and power levels, sometimes (but not always) related to their origins. i'd have to direct you to my own sources, aka the ever wonderful @journeytothewestresearch and his articles!

this one explains some of the basics and a few nuances of JTTW demons while also offering the book from which the information was acquired, and the one below is a wonderful compilation of a myriad deities in folk religion, as well as some info on how worship and the pantheon functions.

but for the sake of convenience, i'll do a quick run down under the read more uwu

to make a very complicated and deep topic veeery short, though. demons (Yao) are simply one class of being, like mortals and immortals. some demons (Yaoguai) are animals who cultivated (either through the Dao or Buddhist merit) themselves into demonhood. some become cultivated enough to shed their animal form and assume human form, which is generally considered pretty advanced. sometimes, they are just animals that for some reason grew to be Very Old, grew very large, and became demons. sometimes, they are restless spirits who lingered and cultivated into Yaojing. some even, are celestials and immortals who committed some misdeed or crimes, and were punished into being demons, either for a set time or until they've redeemed themselves somehow.

overall they don't have a specific "civilization", they are also part of the Middle Kingdom (the mortal realm) and exist within it or on the skirts of it. most of them are not unlike highwaymen or a very dangerous animal; they attack people on roads, they have mountain lairs and call themselves "mountain kings" over the region they control, etc. as demons, they often are on a bad path, killing and stealing and causing grief wherever they are, and so the locals learn to avoid them as much as possible and call on exorcists if the demons become too much of an issue. but there are demons who seek a better path, cultivate on their own without causing mischief, and those may even gain an appointment in the heavenly bureaucracy.

in very short terms, you were reborn in a lesser tier of the reincarnation realms and thus you have to work your way back into the human path by doing good deeds, or you dig yourself a deeper grave by causing chaos. generally, humans fear demons because they more often than not cause chaos, illnesses, bad luck, etc. and if uncovered, they'll likely be expelled from wherever they are.

as for weapons, some of them are let's say signature weapons. in Esoteric Buddhism and folk religion, how a deity is depicted is imperative to asking for their blessing or summoning them; their pose, colors, clothes, mudras, chants, and indeed even weapons, are very clearly detailed so that you won't be fooled by a masquerading demon impersonating them. therefore some deities are assigned weapons as the signifier of who they are. for example, Sun Wukong has had many forms and depictions over the years, but you Know it's him by the Ruyi Jingu Bang. same for Bajie and his rake.

however, some are weapons that were stolen in some way or another from higher beings. a common trope in JTTW is that demons were acolytes or underlings from higher deities, and left service with a few trinkets from their masters, which are then returned once the demons are defeated.

as for what they can do, a few are depicted as being able to produce pills of immortality for instance, from their own merit as cultivators, so again depending on their level of cultivation, they can accomplish quite a lot.

and if i remember right, Wukong himself is a demon (sorta) who is impervious to mortal weapons. he cultivated to reach Copper Head Iron Arms, a skill that makes him impervious of any attack. he also has his warding circle, in which he draws a circle on the ground with him staff, and everything and everyone within the circle is protected.

EDIT: depending on the region and myth, you might also see yaksha and rakshasa being mentioned. they are imports from India thanks to Esoteric Buddhism, but like demons, there are good and bad individuals among them. i don't know enough about Hinduism and Esoteric Buddhism to go in-depth on the topic, but know that they are Different But Similar xvx

[quitealotofsodapop]

I'm watching Nezha Reborn listening to Yunxiang narrate like some kind of noir detective and now I can't stop imagining LMK Nezha doing that in his head the entire show and it's hilarious. "As I lay there, beaten and weary, I can't help but think about how far I've fallen for a single crayon to down me with such ease..."

Nezha is trying his best to have a super-serious, Watchmen-esque, internal dialogue; only for the world around him to be far to absurd to be taken seriously.

Nezha, serious-thoughts mode: "The rain fell heavy like... soup? Wait is that a giant dumpling!?"

And since he still has a littel bit of kid-brain, his serious pre-battle speeches get ruined by him not remembering a cool analogy. Turning his speech from Braveheart to Darkwing Duck within seconds.

Nezha, facing SWK in the past: "I am Nezha, The Third Lotus Prince! Youngest born of the Li Jing the Pagoda-Carrying Heavenly King! I am the spear of Heaven. I am the snake in the grass. I am the wheel of wind-fire. I am the demon born from a meatball- no wait that sounds dumb." SWK: "Don't worry I'll remember it, meatball." Nezha: "NO!!!"

He's getting better at the "being dramatic" part of his character. XD

[snicker-doodles]

Qiubing Xianxia AU

I’ve been rewatching love you seven times because of Ding Yuxi, and it gave me this xianxia AU idea for qiubing.

The drama version of Qiu Qingzhi had been nerfed a lot in comparison to the manhua and donghua, cause he’s supposed to be very very strong to the point he can decimate a whole army all by himself, so, Qiu Qingzhi is definitely the strongest God of War from the Heavenly realm.

As for Li Bing, I really like the demon realm storyline in love you seven times, so, Li Bing is a cat demon who managed to become the new Demon King after defeating the previous King.

After the last great war, the Heavenly and Demon realm have been at peace for thousands of years. They don’t usually interact with each other, and both have currently been fighting a common enemy from the Devil realm.

One day, Qiu Qingzhi got hurt after being ambushed by some assassins from the Devil realm and he accidentally fell to the Demon realm. Li Bing found him, then help to nurse him back to health. This is how they got to know each other.

After getting nursed back to health, Li Bing found out that Qiu Qingzhi is very strong, and for the first time in his life has met someone that can defeat him and also manhandle him with ease. Which, he’s really, really into, so… yeah.

As for Qiu Qingzhi, he really feel thankful, and swore to always protect Li Bing in return, but also, this cat demon is really really pretty, and his cat form is very cute, and also, the sound he made when being manhandled is very… ahem… interesting.

Qiu Qingzhi did eventually return to the Heavenly realm, cause he’s the God of War, and he’s got tons of work to do. But he will sneak out to go to the Demon realm from time to time to hang out with Li Bing, and they also often help each other in dealing with troubles caused by the Devil realm.

One day Qiu Qingzhi has to go and do his mortal trial. Li Bing sneaked in to find him and give him a protective amulet, but accidentally fell in to the pool of rebirth with him. And so they are both being reborn as humans and has to do a mortal trial together.

So, it’s basically a xianxia AU where white cat legend drama universe is their mortal trial lol.

Yeah, well, this idea just somehow got into my head and I just had to get it out somehow.

[coffeetailor]

GTober Day 2: Acorn

"Nuts in a Tree"

To die and be reborn in the world of his own novel, Proud Immortal Demon Way, was bad enough luck as it was. To be sent into the frozen northern wastes by his ever uncaring system was even worse. Add that all to the steaming dung heap that was the fact that he'd been reborn tiny, and Shang Hua was having a very bad time!

[Mission: Retrieve northern frozen acorn. Time limit: twenty-nine minutes.]

"I know!" he whispered angrily under his breath, waving a hand at the floating blue square that'd been counting down since he'd been given the stupid quest. The screen flickered before growing brighter out of spite. "Don't you give me attitude."

[Host is running out of time.]

"Only because you took off two days for 'punishment,'" Shang Hua hissed. "I'll get the acorn. Just give me a moment. If I go out now, I'll get seen!"

[...]

[Twenty-eight minutes.]

If he ever got his hands on a keyboard and computer, he was going to find a way to uninstall that stupid system. Or give it a virus! He'd invented this world, so why couldn't he have been born into a good position?! Like some lofty immortal cultivator, or a wealthy lord who could have tearfully sent his beautiful sister off to join Binghe's harem and gained his benevolence in return. But no! He'd been born as some kind of demon borrower, with a tail even!

He'd thought about writing about tiny people once or twice in the story, but it'd never won the polls. Readers couldn't imagine a proper papapa scene with a woman smaller than the heavenly pillar, so they weren't interested. (Unimaginative rocks, all of them.) But other than one or two silly scribbles, he'd never even drafted them, so why were they in his story?!

Trouble with needing to get specially a northern frozen acorn was that they only grew in a few places. The trees were very slow to grow, because they only grew in the northern desert. Shang Hua only knew of three places they could be found. One, the top of a mountain even further north, which was probably full of monsters who'd love a snack, and was even colder. Second, in Huan Huan Palace, growing in sealed container of never-ending winter in the Old Palace Master's lab. Third, within the walls of the Northern Palace of the Mobei clan.

Somehow, because he'd pissed off the fates at some point, the third was the most accessible. Especially after he'd asked for a scenario pusher to help and nearly been eaten by a demon hawk before it'd dropped him inside the walls. And into the tree he was now clinging to, holding as still as he could.

Because he wasn't the only one in the small courtyard he'd fallen into.

Pale skin, dark eyes, long, blue-black hair twisted into braids, and a face to stop anyone with fear or desire, the demon didn't need an introduction. Shang Hua knew his own favorite creation. None of the fan artists had been able to do him justice. He was beautiful.

And he was excruciatingly deadly, especially when you were six inches tall and intruding into his personal garden.

Still, Shang Hua couldn't resist the urge to learn forward, trying to get a better look at him as the leaves of the tree he hid in blocked part of the view. Arguably the best part, as his king walked beneath the tree, his chest out and exposed.

He heard the twig he'd put his weight onto snap a moment too late. His eyes flew wide and as if in an old cartoon, he felt weightless for just long enough to realize what'd happened before he plummeted down towards the ground. Nooo, he was too young to die, spattered on the stones below!

The tiny demon's scream was abruptly cut off when he hit something. It felt about as hard as the ground, but was a whole lot closer, leaving Shang Hua to bounce off and land in a softly, spongy surface and lay back, dazed. The tree wavered far above, looking so harmless considering it'd just dropped him to his probable death. When a face leaned in to block his view of the traitorous branches, he smiled. "Pretty..."

The curious expression abruptly vanished, the tips of pointed ears darkening blue. If he'd died, maybe this was actually heaven, if he got to look at such a pretty face all day.

[Twenty-five minutes.]

Shang Hua jerked at the sudden count down reminder blaring in his ear, brought back to sharp reality in an instant. Which brought his attention to some very, very dangerous facts. He'd landed on Mobei-Jun's chest. He'd bounced off that chest. And he'd been caught in the demon prince's hands. The very hands that were olding him now as Mobei stared down at him.

The author scrambled to his feet, ready to try and jump the rest of the way. If he died, oh well. Better than being killed by a pissed off ice demon who'd been violated in his own garden!

Or, at least, he tried to get to his feet. The moment he tried to sit up, a claw tipped thumb stretched across his chest and pushed him back down to lay across that palm.

"Who are you?" Mobei-Jun demanded, studying him with narrowing eyes that Shang Hua felt with every sweep over his tiny body.

"I'm no one!" Shang Hua sputtered, his heart pounding under the trapping finger. "No one important at least, worth spending any of your attention on. If you let me go, I'll go and you'll never have to lay eyes on me again!"

[Host must still attain the acorn.]

You think I don't know that?! I can't retrieve anything if he decides to pop my head off as easy as picking a grape!

Somehow, that face was still handsome as Mobei's frown deepened into a scowl, his fingers curling around Shang Hua's whole torso, holding him tightly. Tight enough to make him gasp before those fingers relaxed just enough to keep his ribs from creaking.

"Please be more gentle, my king! I'm small and fragile, and my bones break easily," he begged, arms trapped at his sides. "I'm sorry for breaking into your garden. I didn't take any of the magical herbs, I promise!"

System, if I can have another pusher to let me survive this, I promise to talk nice to you. For... a week!

[...]

[...]

[...]

[Scenario pusher activated. Punishment for not upholding payment will be a loss of 10,000 B-points.]

One handsome eyebrow arched as Mobei continued to look down at him, and Shang Hua could feel a cold sweat running down the back of his neck. Of course it was cold. Everything was cold here.

"What were you doing here?" the ice demon asked at last, apparently willing to listen to his excuses before deciding whether or not to kill him.

His brain spun as he tried to figure out a plausible reason that wouldn't sound like the bullshit it was. Because not having written these tiny demons, he'd already figured out that no one, practically no one knew anything about them!

"It's for a courtship ritual!" he blurted out at last, before Mobei ran out of patience. "My people, we gift little items for the home when we want to court someone! Dishes, tools, that kind of thing. And we make bowls out of acorns! The rarer and harder to find ones the better! I don't have anyone, but that doesn't mean I can't be ready! And your garden is one of the only places where the northern frozen acorns grow! The other places, I'd get eaten or used in some cultivator's magic potions! Please forgive his lowly one for intruding without asking!"

Squeezing his eyes closed, Shang Hua waited for the inevitable decision that'd determine just how much longer he lived.

And waited.

And waited some more.

When there was a rustle of branches, he peeked his eyes open cautiously. Mobei-jun brought his free hand down from the low hanging branches with something held in his hand. The demon relaxed his grip a little more, which allowed Shang Hua to free his arms carefully. When that other hand came near, however, he felt a flash of worry that he was going to get slapped between them, right up until the point where Mobei-Jun opened his other hand.

He was holding an acorn. Specifically, a large northern frozen acorn, and one of the clearest one's he'd ever seen.

"Will this do?" Mobei-Jun asked when his tiny handful didn't respond.

"Will- what- Oh! Yes, it's a very nice one!" Shang Hua sputtered as his brain caught up. He reached for it, missing the satisfied smile and nod from the demon looming above as he took it. "Thank you, my king!"

"Then you accept this lord's courtship."

"Well of course I- wait, what?!" If he hadn't still been being held in place, he would have dropped the acorn and fallen on his ass. As it was, he turned a bright red as Mobei's words sunk in. "You don't mean- you can't-"

"This lord has presented you with your people's gift of courtship. My father's court has been bothering me to line up a mate. You will do nicely. Unless you find this lord ugly?"

"Of course not! Anyone with eyes can see you stand far above the rest in looks, and I'm not just talking literally! But we only just met and I'm not nearly important enough for someone like you!"

System!!!

[Mission: retrieve northern frozen acorn is complete. Reward: chance an easy life.

Good luck, host!]

You're not helping!