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ladala99 · 3 years

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Ascension

(narrative)

It started as a respectful spar between Snowdrift and Markus, once both boys realized fully that Luke had passed and one of them was going to take the throne.

Then Ilere woke up.

Soon, every lion was fighting one another, some fighting for Snowdrift and Markus to have their fight fairly, others fighting on Ilere's side, as she had an adolescent son who could take the throne.

Each lion fell, leaving just one standing. Daughter of the very lioness who turned the spar into a bloodbath.

Ilere.

She was the one who was supposed to bond with the next king. The one who didn't have powers. She could hardly believe it as she looked around to find her next opponent, only to find that there was no one left conscious but her.

She won. Well, she won for her brother, Omen. She couldn't take the throne herself. And it was a bit of a relief. Sure, she'd never gain her powers, but she also wouldn't have to live with someone she hated and hated her.

She dragged her brother's unconscious body to the center. It was almost as if something was guiding her paws in what to do. How to transfer the mantle of the demon-lioness to him. How to give him the power of a Primal lion. How to prove to the world that he was king.

Whatever she did, it worked. A red light glowed from the ground, centering itself into a beam that engulfed the adolescent. Within the light, his fur grew brighter and redder, his body bigger and more muscular, large horns sprouted from his head and wings stretched from his body.

He wasn't merely turning Primal, nor was he merely a lion with demon powers. He was now truly a demon-lion.

His eyes sprang open - they were still green, just like his father's - and he regarded Ilere. He seemed confused for a moment, then went resolute.

"I am king now," he said. His voice seemed to echo with the voices of a thousand demons, although his tone was surprised.

"Yes," Ilere said. "I won, and am giving you the honor."

Omen rose and stretched his new body. "It was inevitable," he stated, and Ilere felt that it was true. It was the foregone conclusion. No one could have won but her.

She shook her head, snapping herself back to reality. His power was mind control. "We could have lost," she said, "and there's no reason to control me, Omen."

"All will bow to me," he said, his gaze hardening. "You are no exception."

"I am your sister," she said. "I won in your name. Control the others if you must. In fact, you probably will need to. But me, I'm on your side. Don't waste your energy."

"It is not waste, it is fuel," Omen said. "Unlike my predecessors, I am not limited to serving the whims of another, with limited energy to use for my own purposes. I am the master, and I have the power. Everything I will, I have the power to do. And the more who accept my reality, the strong I will become. So do me the honor, Ilere, and give me a head start. It is inevitable."

That his ruling of the pridelands was inevitable, she could accept, and from there she felt his power worm into her mind.

Of course she had won. No one else could have.

No, she hadn't won at all. Omen had allowed her to.

Allowed her to think she had won, that was. In reality, he was the winner.

Actually, why did she think she had won the fight? It was him who had dealt the final blow. It was him who had been left standing. She had been knocked out. He was the only one who could have won.

Omen's expression softened as Ilere looked at him in reverence.

"You are the true king and winner of the fight," she said, bowing. "I'm sorry I doubted you. Thank you for the honor of being the first to awaken."

"You are very welcome," Omen said. "Now I shall tell the others."

---

The younger, Piebald Ember sat next to the older, Piebald Ashes, watching the rest of the pride with horror-stricken eyes.

"Do you think they're in a dream state, like that Ilere did to so many of them?" Ember asked Ashes.

The older lioness shook her head. "This is far worse. They're aware of their surroundings. They believe what they're saying. Only we remain out of his power." She looked at the elder Dreamwalker Ilere who had trapped the defiant lionesses before. Even she was groveling at Omen's feet. "He's even doing it to his allies."

"What do we do?" Ember asked.

"Either we run or we endure," Ashes said. "And I'm too old to run."

Omen noticed them talking and sauntered towards them, his wings curling and uncurling.

Ember shrank back.

"Why are you afraid?" Omen asked, his eyes deceptively kind.

Ember only whimpered in response.

Omen's tail twitched. "Ember, I'm informing you that, as the youngest adult of your line, I expect you to start hunting as a main huntress today. The others are heading out within the hour."

He was shifting the hunting teams early. Usually the younger descendant would only replace the older once the older one was over a certain age.

"I. . . okay," she said.

Omen looked between her and Ashes. "I assure you both that the world will be a lot more comfortable if you embrace my rule and accept my suggestions."

"We are not trying to resist you, king," Ashes said. "We are merely immune to demonic power. I assure you that we will be loyal."

Ember nervously nodded.

Omen became thoughtful. "I see," he said. "Then I will keep you informed of my will and expect you to work just as hard as the others."

"May I ask what you're doing to them?" Ember asked quietly.

"I am ensuring that when I am happy, they are happy. And that they will strive to keep me happy," Omen replied. "Do you think that's a bad thing?"

"Of course not," she said quickly. But dread gripped her heart. They were being mind-controlled. Permanently. "I'd better get to the hunting team." She scrambled off.

---

Ashes joined the hunting team, and saw that there was nothing recognizable left of the camaraderie of before. Every lioness seemed to be trying to outdo the others, finding the best prey, being the one to make the kill, being the one to take it home. Every conversation was about Omen.

Even the prey seemed to be under Omen's control. The herds moved oddly and the juiciest-looking prey ran slower than the others. It felt too easy.

She could flee, and being out here would be the perfect time for it, but that would leave Ashes all alone. No. If Ashes was staying, so would she.

#lioden #lion pride story #bad ending unlocked

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romancereadingdiva · 4 years

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Top Reads of 2020!

Here are my top reads of 2020! These are the 5 👑 books that I read this year and would want with me if I somehow ended up on a deserted island! This year I wanted to keep my top reads to only one book per author unless it was a series, so I decided to have honorable mentions if an author wrote more than one book this year and I loved them all.

In no particular order my top reads are the following:

👑 The Brayshaw series by Meagan Brandy. This series has strong heroines, alpha heroes and twisty storylines that had me riveted to the pages!

Start with book 1, Boys of Brayshaw High: https://www.meaganbrandy.com/bobh

👑 The Brilliance Trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones. I just love Lisa Renee Jones books! She knows how to write romantic suspense that keeps me engaged, and this one had music which made it perfect.

Start with book 1, A Reckless Note: https://www.lisareneejones.com/brilliance-trilogy.html

👑 The next books in The Devils’s Due series by Eva Charles. I read the first 2 books in the series, Depraved and Delivered, last year, and they were on Top reads of 2019 list. I continued to love this series this year with Bound and Decadent about 2 different couples in The Devil’s Due universe.

Info on The Devil’s Due books: https://evacharles.com/devils-due

👑 The Redemption by Nikki Sloane. This is Macalister’s story from the Filthy Rich Americans trilogy that was on my Top Reads of 2019. His redemption was incredible, and I loved his heroine.

Filthy Rich Americans info: https://www.nikkisloane.com/filthy-rich-americans

▪️Honorable Mention: The Pool Boy. I loved and enjoyed this younger man/older woman romance so much!

Info on The Pool Boy, part of The Nashville Neighborhood series: https://www.nikkisloane.com/the-nashville-neighborhood

👑 In Fury Lies Mischief by Amo Jones. I am in love with this Midnight Mayhem series, and if I could live in this world then I would! The first book, In Peace Lies Havoc, was on my Top Reads of 2019 list. It continued with In Fury Lies Mischief, because Fury + Mischief = Magic!

Info on the Midnight Mayhem series: https://www.amojonesbooks.com/midnight-mayhem

▪️Honorable mentions: all the other Amo Jones books I read this year which are: The Elite Kings Club series, Crowned Duology and Sicko. Her writing is just brilliant, & I highly recommend her.

Info on The Elite Kings Club series: https://www.amojonesbooks.com/the-elite-king-s-club

Info on the Crowned Duology: https://www.amojonesbooks.com/crowned-trilogy

Info on her standalone Sicko: https://www.amojonesbooks.com/flip-trick

👑 Lilac by BB Reid. This rock star reverse harem was all consuming.

Info on Lilac: https://www.bbreid.com/lilac

▪️Honorable mention: the last book in her When Rivals Play series, The Prince and the Pawn. It was bittersweet because it ended, but it was a profoundly beautiful read.

Info on The Prince and the Pawn: https://www.bbreid.com/the-prince-and-the-pawn

👑 Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills. Ava and Knox went through a lot in this book, especially Ava, and they have a piece a heart forever!

Info on Dear Ava: https://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/books

▪️Honorable Mentions: I Promise You and The Renege Pact. I promise you will love I Promise You like I did if you read it! The Renege Pact was golden!

Info for I Promise You: https://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/books

Info for The Revenge Pact: https://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/

👑 Bury Me With Lies by SM Soto. This is the second part of the Twin Lies Duet; they first part, Kiss Me With Lies, was on my Top Reads of 2019 list. This conclusion was a beautifully written story of intense suspense and messy love that when combined took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that I remembered all year.

Info on Bury Me With Lies: https://authorsmsoto.com/books/

▪️Honorable Mention: Chasing the Moon. This was a second chance romance of star crossed lovers that made me emotional throughout the story.

Info on Chasing the Moon: https://authorsmsoto.com/

👑 Truly by Carmel Rhodes. Truly was truly remarkable and phenomenal! A new to me author this year, and I am so happy I found her! I

Info on Truly: https://carmelrhodes.com/

👑 Dark Legacy Complete Series by Tate James and Jaymin Eve. This was a twisty, suspense series with an intense romance between Riley (aka Butterfly) and Beck that I just loved.

Info on the Dark Legacy Series: https://www.tatejamesauthor.com/dark-legacy

👑 Stroke of Midnight by K Webster. This was a filthy but delicious romance, and I can’t wait for book two which releases at the end of January!

Info on Stroke of Midnight: https://www.authorkwebster.com/product/stroke-of-midnight/

👑 Riot House by Callie Hart. A new to me author this year, and I am so happy I found her too! Bless Wren’s black heart, he had a plan for Elodie, but what happens when he falls for her? An amazing book is what happens, and the cover is stunning!

Info on Riot House: http://calliehart.com/index.php/book/riot-house/

👑 I Dare You by Lylah James. This is the second part of a duet; book one, Do You Dare?, was on my Top Reads of 2019 list. This book broke my heart and eventually put it back together, and I loved Maddox and Lila so much.

Info on I Dare You: https://authorlylahjames.com/truth-and-dare-duet/i-dare-you/

👑 The Reed Rivers Trilogy by Lauren Rowe: Bad Liar, Beautiful Liar and Beloved Liar. These books gave me life; I loved them so much! I had been waiting for Reed’s story, and it did not disappoint!

Info The Reed Rivers Trilogy: http://www.laurenrowebooks.com/reed-rivers-trilogy

▪️Honorable Mention: Smitten. I was smitten with this book from the first page to the last!

Info on Smitten: http://www.laurenrowebooks.com/smitten

👑 The Glass Heart Academy series by Lindsey Iler: Glass Heart Savage and Glass Heart Broken. This suspense/mystery mixed with an intense romance made for an unforgettable reading experience.

Info on The Glass Heart Savage: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49268705-glass-heart-savage

👑 The Sainthood Trilogy by Siobhan Davis. This is another new to me author this year and I had been wanting to read her books. When the opportunity to read these as ARCs arrived, I took it! I am so ecstatic I did! A fierce heroine falling for four guys while trying to stop a bad guy was riveting to read.

Info on The Sainthood Trilogy: http://siobhandavis.co.uk/the-sainthood-boys-of-lowell-high-series/the-sainthood-series-the-sainthood-boys-of-lowell-high-1-3/

👑 Not My Hero by Michelle Heard. This is not a hot and steamy romance; this is two broken souls finding each other, healing and slowly falling in love. It’s difficult to read because of the pain they each suffered, but it was beautiful and worth it.

Info on Not My Hero: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48578538-not-my-hero

👑 Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer. My list would not be complete without Edward on it! I had a few issues with this book, but it did not overshadow how much my love grew for Edward while reading.

Info on Midnight Sun: https://stepheniemeyer.com/midnight-sun-2020/

👑 How the Hitman Stole Christmas by Sam Mariano. I love her unconventional love stories, and this one was no different! Jasper kidnaps Autumn after stopping to help her on the side of the road, because he wants to bring a girlfriend home for Christmas. Fun times and romance ensues!

Info on How the Hitman Stole Christmas: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55967138-how-the-hitman-stole-christmas

👑 A Guy Walk Into My Bar by Lauren Blakely. This author’s first M/M romance made me smile, laugh, swoon and touched my heart.

Info on A Guy Walks Into My Bar: https://laurenblakely.com/aguywalksintomybar/

👑 The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancee by Annika Martin. I laughed out loud at this author’s rom-com about a fake relationship between a grumpy billionaire and his optimistic hairdresser that was steamy and swoony too!

Info on The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancee: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55583284-the-billionaire-s-fake-fianc-e

👑 Crowne Point series books two, three and four by Mary Catherine Gebhard: Stolen Soulmate, Forbidden Fate, Destroyed Destiny. This author ripped out my heart, made me sob while holding on to the Kleenex box then eventually put my heart back in my chest. Story and Gray burrowed into my heart and will never leave.

Info on Crowne Point series: https://marygebhard.com/collections/crowne-point

👑 Royal Elite Series by Rina Kent. Elsa and Aiden (Deviant King, Steel Princess and Twisted Kingdom) captivated me from the beginning, and the couples which are friends or relatives of Elsa and Aiden that came after them did as well. I binged these books and love them with my whole heart.

Info on Royal Elite Series: https://www.rinakent.com/royal-elite-series

▪️Honorable Mention: Royal Elite Epilogue. An epilogue for all the couples of the Royal Elite Series.

Info on Royal Elite Epilogue: https://www.rinakent.com/royal-elite-series

▪️Honorable Mention #2: Kingdom Duet. This Aiden’s father’s story. He was alpha, demanding, possessive, and I loved him. His heroine was sassy, strong and perfect for him.

Info on the Kingdom Duet: https://www.rinakent.com/kingdom-duet

Thanks for sharing your time with me, and I hope you find and read amazing romance books from my Top Reads of 2020 list!

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feuilly-cakes · 5 years

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Wayward Children books 2-5 Review

Author: Seanan Mcguire

I compiled my reviews for the rest of this series into one post for the simple fact that I read them all so quickly. My thoughts changed hour by hour and so I wanted to get them all in one place.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones (book 2)

I found this a fascinating exploration of Jack and Jill’s characters. The takes on gender roles and parental expectations were hard hitting and real, I really felt bad for these girls with their ridiculous parents. The Moors were just the right amount of creepy in my opinion; the danger was there and known but it wasn’t scary to the point where I found it difficult to read. I could appreciate the grimness of the world without being put off by it. I do think as a backstory it was very good, but I think if I had picked it up as a stand-alone I would have been less interested in it. Knowing what became of the girls after the end of the book while I was reading it upped the tension and the desire to find out exactly how that had happened, and if I had been taking it at face value as an adventure story without the big consequences after the end I wouldn’t have been so invested I think. That being said, I really enjoyed it and I was excited to get through to the next book Jack was in.

Here are my thoughts on the characters as they stand by the end of this book:

Jack: I relate a lot to Jack in this. I kept forgetting she was a girl in the first book and she was mostly a character that was vaguely interesting but not someone I could relate to, so this connection was unexpected. Her OCD (or what looks like it anyway) is probably a big factor in this, but she’s also very queer, though not in the same way as me. Very relatable. Her struggle with caring about her sister while also being a victim of her was also pulled off wonderfully. She was the one I was rooting for in this.

Dr Bleak: I thought that Dr Bleak would be cruel or heartless, but I was pleasantly surprised. He’s a stern, practical man, but he cares for Jack and treats her well. He wants her to stay and to flourish in the Moors, and aside from toughening her up a bit for practicality’s sake he doesn’t want to change her.

Jill: She annoyed me. I understood why she is so messed up, but there’s no doubt in my mind that she is a villain in this. Certain events didn’t need to happen but she wanted them to, and ruined lives while doing so, and so any sympathy for her for what the Master did to her immediately vanished.

Beneath the Sugar Sky (book 3)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The adventures through the realms were super exciting, as was seeing the original characters (from the first book that is) Rini was hilarious but also had depth and I felt so sad for her. I also nearly decided to count the amount of times people said vagina because of her but decided that would be far too difficult since it got mentioned a lot in a short space of time. She’s truly a character that one. I was surprised that Rini wasn’t the main character, not that there really are main characters in this book, but we mostly see things from the perspective of Cora, who I thought was nice but the self consciousness and self hatred got a bit much with her at times. She’s a byproduct of bullying and it’s all a bit dark in her head. I did enjoy her character though. The adventure was great. I was on the edge the whole time, because I felt Sumi’s death in the first book was super tragic and shocking, so I was rooting for them to fix that little hiccup the whole time. I’m also hoping that we get to see more of Layla in future books, because I feel she has great potential and could end up being a fave of mine. The illustration of her really made me in awe. Most of the illustrations in this book were lovely, but that one in particular was gorgeous.

In An Absent Dream (book 4)

This review is going to be a longer one, as I have a lot of feelings about this book. First, Lundy's tale was by far the most high-stakes and stressful for me so far in the series, barring the actual murder plot of the first book. Something about the way it was written, I'm guessing. With every new development I was more and more on edge; by the halfway point I was convinced something terrible was going to happen to Moon because of her increasing debts, and 3/4 in I had to put the book down for a day because it got so intense. The Goblin Market itself seems like a cruel and unforgiving place, even as the people within are all caring for each other. The descriptions were reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli setting, and I could see the appeal, at least aesthetically. The rules were what made it seem cruel to me, so I guess I would never have had a door there myself. One thing I didn't really call was that final scene at the market... [sp*ilers over on my goodreads ]

I related to and grew frustrated with Lundy in equal measure. Every time she made a sensible move it seemed as though she made an equally stupid decision not long afterwards. Knowing her far off future just made that frustration worse. The whole time she was in the Goblin Market or making plans to go back to the Market, I couldn't help but think of her poor family. How awful would it be to be treated like she treated them, to be discarded like she discarded them? She never felt guilt for all the worry she caused them, not even when she ran away for 2 years. Sure, sending her to boarding school was a bad move, but so was running away without even a note to say goodbye.

I suppose sometimes the best someone can do isn't the right thing to do, and this book sort of drills that message into your head, what with all the mistakes these characters make all the way, and the prices they have to pay.

Come Tumbling Down (book 5)

I had a prediction for this book: Jack was going to be turned into a vampire because Jill could no longer become one. The real events seemed far more ridiculous and a bit funny, until, as all things relating to the Moors, reality set in and it quickly turned horrifying. The way Jack fell apart due to her circumstances was absolutely heartbreaking and... well, let's just say it hit too close to home. The quest itself was fantastic - I enjoy when characters react to other worlds, and the way the rest of Jack's world was explored in more depth was fascinating. This story was the one I had been waiting for since reading Down Among the Sticks and Bones, where the girls could have gone in any direction and ended up away from the Moors, so the fact that we get to see one of those other directions in the form of the Drowned Gods was exciting and fulfilling. The conclusion to Jack and Jill's story was satisfying to the maximum. It was dark and real and exciting, the perfect ending to their story arcs, and though it all got wrapped up perfectly (to my tastes) and the story of Jack and Jill is over, Jack's story is really beginning anew. She does have a threat still lurking over her after the end, and it allows speculation as we are left to wonder what happens to her after [sp*ilers redacted]

Definitely one of my favourites of the series.

#seanan mcguire #wayward children series #down among the sticks and bones #beneath the sugar sky #in an absent dream #come tumbling down #book review #books #books and literature

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amneris-hermione-violet · 5 years

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A Song for Supercorp

“Elaborate Lives” from Aida, sung by Adam Pascal and Heather Headley. This one isn’t angry like some of the other songs I’ve posted recently, but still angsty (especially if you know what’s going on in the plot of Aida). Lyrics after the cut, also an explanation of the parallels.

part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qthnXGppuRI

part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjdU59GPA9k

part 1

We all lead such elaborate lives Wild ambitions in our sights How an affair of the heart survives Days apart and hurried nights

Seems quite unbelievable to me I don't want to live like that Seems quite unbelievable to me I don't want to love like that I just want our time to be Slower and gentler, wiser, free

We all live in extravagant times Playing games we can't all win Unintended emotional crimes Take some out, take others in

I'm so tired of all we're going through I don't want to live like that I'm so tired of all we're going through I don't want to love like that I just want to be with you Now and forever, peaceful, true

This may not be the moment To tell you face to face But I could wait forever For the perfect time and place

We all lead such elaborate lives We don't know whose words are true Strangers, lovers, husbands, wives Hard to know who’s loving who

Too many choices tear us apart I don't want to live like that Too many choices tear us apart I don't want to love like that I just want to touch your heart May this confession be the start

part 2

We all lead such elaborate lives Wild ambitions in our sights How an affair of the heart survives Days apart and hurried nights

Seems quite unbelievable to me I don't want to live like that Seems quite unbelievable to me I don't want to love like that I just want our time to be Slower and gentler, wiser, free

We all live in extravagant times Playing games we can't all win Unintended emotional crimes Take some out, take others in

Too many choices tear us apart I don't want to live like that Too many choices tear us apart I don't want to love like that I just want to keep your heart May this confession be the start

I know you gave me courage To face what I must face With all these complications In another time and place

We all lead such elaborate lives We don't know whose words are true An affair of the heart survives All the pain this world can do

Aida sp*ilers! Kara is secretly an alien and a superhero; Aida is a slave who is secretly a princess of Nubia and planning to help her father, the captured king of Nubia, to escape, as well as to help her father’s subjects, who are now her fellow slaves. Lena is, well, Lena; Radames is head of the Egyptian military and engaged to the Egyptian princess, Amneris, who is heir to the pharaoh. Aida and Radames fall in love. The big reveal of Aida’s secret occurs in the middle of the story, but more towards the end, so Radames knows who she really is in part 2 of the song, but not in part 1. Part 2 takes places right at the end of their story, which is a very, very sad ending, but at least they are together.

#supergirl #supercorp #kara danvers #kara zor el #lena luthor #melissa benoist #katie mcgrath #a song for #aida #elaborate lives #reprise #radames #heather headley #adam pascal #elton john #tim rice #a song for supercorp #a song for supergirl

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0sunflowerstripes0 · 6 years

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Lair of Dreams

I fucking love this book so much. The representation of different sexualities passed with flying colors. Warning! There may be some spoilers! I color code the spoilers blue and the ratings black, for your safety, and also mine! (Don't hurt me!)

Henri is currently my favorite character of all time. My little gay son is amazing and I love him. The characters were probably the reason why I liked the story so much.

The king of crows who?

The author, Libba Bray, went back and forth on making a character good and evil. Like Evie, she was an absolute ass at times, but he was suffering some serious PTSD from the previous book, and she was so caught in her head that she didn't realize it. She definitely not one of my favorites, but she was a well made character

Mabesy! Why do you have to treat the poor girl so bad? Constantly making her the odd man out, or not including her in anything. I understand since she's not a diviner, but still! Stop causing my heart pain!

Fuck! This book gave me chills! It was absolutely horrific! The empty sewers, being grabbed from under water, not being able to escape your dreams, the weird creatures that chase you around the station.

I love how Will was gone for majority of the book. He was helping other diviners but also, how did the author manage to span that short amount of day in a six hundred paged book?

Major spoilers! ----- Louis made my heart break in two! Henri's back story is so unfair and sad! He introduces us to this lovely gay, and then she kills him! What!

Our new asexual child named Ling! My scientist! President of the 'How many times can I roast Henri' club!

Memphis Campbell! Such a lovable dude! I just imagine his as that protective big brother who literally is the size of a bolder and love to give hugs!

I know I'm not being very serious at all with this review, but this book was amazing! It dealt with issues about prostitution, immigratation, racism, and homophobia! It hit all those marks, but was also able to focus on other thing including the problem with ghosts, and tied with the first book too! This was extremely well written and I love it! I hope someday I can have the whole series on my shelf!

#book #books #book reccomendation #book review #booklr #books to read #bookworm #booklover #bookish #lair of dreams #the diviners #diviners #supernatural #horror

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soupwife · 8 years

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ok brief-ish, sp*iler free impressions after about 8 hours

- the facial animations aren’t /that/ bad. they’re definitely not mind blowingingly good but they aren’t too distracting imho. A Good Soul made a post about how to make a ryder that doesn’t look weird which was very helpful (i’ll find and reblog it) i love my ryder and think she looks good & cool. also the outfit customization? 👌

- the frame rate.... is killing me. if anything is distracting its this. sometimes its fine and then all of a sudden im watching a powerpoint. had to totally downgrade all my settings which is a shame because A) my computer is not that old and B) the environments are lovely and i want to be able to enjoy them fully

- sometimes the UI is a little overwhelming, im still getting used to the 70002375876 menus but tbf im always bad at that because im a baby who likes baby toys. theres too much text and i dont know how to read

- cora just walks like that?? i guess?? lmao

- i am still the number one salarian stan. kumail nanjiani is INCREDIBLE as director tann, and Kallo (who i’ve only seen for about 3 minutes) is already becoming a new fave

- Vetra makes anything and everything worth it bye

tldr: aside from serious frame rate issues, i’m having fun. i continue to want to play it which is essentially my only metric for if a game is good or not. im glad i took some vacation days

@zetablarian and i’ll tag @nianeyna too wth

#mass effect

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allthelittlethingsihavetosa-blog · 5 years

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#TheFavor Aedan and Sawyer {@ASmallTownDoc @JustOneMoreTmrw}

::After my talk with #Abigale at the print shop I felt so much better, she told me who to talk to and I could even begin to tell you how relieved I was. Of course once I got in the car I googled the infamous Doctor Aedan McLoughlin, reading what I could about him. I stuck to the papers here in town and his qualifications the remainder about his life growing up seem like I was invading his life or getting ready to run some article. I wasn't. I just needed the basics for an intro that was all. Once I had all I needed I grinned softly, turned the car over and headed towards his office hoping he could help me. Even just a little with my show. At this point if he didn't I would be running around like a chicken with my head cut off wildly handing out invites, maybe quite possibly clucking while I did so. I chuckled quietly to myself while I parked across the street from his clinic and let myself out of the vehicle to grab a few invites before making my way across the street. I hummed quietly to myself before I pulled open the door and was greeted by the friendliest receptionist I have ever met.:: "Have a seat, Miss. Edwards and I'll let Dr. McLoughlin know he has a visitor." ::She even winked as I took a seat, I couldn't help but blush. There was something about her that made you feel completely at ease and I think that was one of the reasons he must have hired her. I pulled out my planner to take a few more notes while I waited, then pulled out my phone and added the millions of new requests from the copious amounts of emails #Diedre had sent to "check in"::

Aed:

||It was a typical day for me, meaning nothing more remarkable than diagnosing and treating a poison ivy rash to explaining for the hundredth time to Old Man Iler that bacon if eaten in moderation is okay.

“You young whipper snappers change that every other month. It’s good. It’s bad. I’m 97 years old, if I keel over at the kitchen table then the good Lord saw fit to call me home.”

It was a losing battle that kept his daughter up to her eyes in worry and since she insisted that he not be placed in a nursing home it wouldn’t resolve itself until he passed. I was pulled from my thoughts when Mrs. Willmont poked her head into my office. “Aedan, your next appointment is here. General checkup to establish as a patient.”|| Thanks, Mrs. Willmont. Is she done the initial paperwork? ||Until that exact moment I’d never truly believed you could hear someone roll their eyes. I was wrong and my office manager/receptionist/godsend made a tsk noise.|| Sorry, ma’am. ||Her good natured laughter followed her out to the main area where I heard her direct someone named Sawyer to follow her to room 2.||

Sawyer:

::I was lost in emails, grumbling under my breath in reply to the nasty few Id gotten in haste of my lack of rushing to #Deidre's immediate attention. Did she really think I sat around all day and awaited her messages? My head lifted with a slight grin as I shook my head, I already knew the answer to that question. Of course she did.::

“Sawyer? Follow me please, Room 2 is ready for you.”

Thank you ::I flashed a smile the receptionists way before I felt her gently press her hand against my back, nudging me to get my full attention. I wasn't so much started as surprised.:: “Whoever that is on the phone that's got you so riled up, I wouldn't give them another thought. Erase and move on. You're far too beautiful to frown my dear.” ::I barely manage to open my mouth before she closed the door with a wink and vanished from view, if only the world was filled with more women like her. Not only would it be a better place but it would probably have a lot less anger in it.

My bag came to rest on the table I was probably meant to sit on while I took a quick look around, the office was simple which I enjoyed. Me being me, I couldn't help taking a look in a few of the drawers while I waited. I'm sure the doc would be a little while longer::

Aed: “All set, my dear.”

||The salacious wink that Mrs. Willmont gave me had me blushing. How a woman half my size and close to my mother’s age made me either feel like a teen boy caught looking at his crush or a recalcitrant toddler if I was cross with anyone, it was up for debate but it happened more than I cared to admit. Her husband said she was feisty and I wholeheartedly agreed, it only endeared her more in my eyes. Standing, I cleared my throat and went to the proper door, knocking softly. I’d been here nearly two years but I still had nerves when meeting a new patient. Old Doc. Moore didn’t just sell me his practice but his idea of small town medicine and why it was an art that shouldn’t die, I agreed. House calls had fallen out of fashion decades ago, not here and while people were refused at other offices for no insurance I was more than happy to take payments or car repairs, lawn mowing and so on. Being a doctor wasn’t about the prestige or lucrative salary for me it was caring about and taking care of people; it was a simple concept.||

Sawyer:

::I pushed aside a few of the samples that were in my way hoping to find some sort of picture of the doc I was about to meet, maybe an old newspaper clipping or business card. But I found bubbkiss. Absolutely nothing. I had no idea who was going to walk through that door, shit. My eyes widened instantly when I realized what was happening:: Oh crap. No. ::I meant to shut the drawer quietly and dash over to the bed, take a seat like I'd been there waiting casually all along. That wasn't how it went at all. I heard the knock, panicked then slammed the drawer proceeded to trip over my own heels and nearly knock myself out on the small stool that would have assisted me onto the bed where I would have sat. I groaned loudly and just sat there for a second fully aware by the pair of shoes now joining me in the room the doc had arrived. I laughed cause honestly it was all I could do before I found my feet then straightened myself out. It wasn't until my eyes lifted that my jaw nearly hit the floor, I was gonna need a moment.::

Aed:

||Normal protocol was to wait for my knock to be acknowledged but from the sounds coming from behind the door I rushed in and nearly let my laugh slip at what I saw. On the foot stool sat a stunning blonde who apparently was a bit of a snoop and mildly klutzy. Just as I was about to offer my hand, she popped up from her seat and blushed from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.|| Ms. Sawyer, did you find the swabs to be in order? ||This time I did chuckle and heard a feminine snicker from down the hall, apparently Mrs. Willmont found it funny too.||

Sawyer:

::Two things popped into mind; First was, was I wearing skirt because at this point it may have been hiked all too high for the first meeting with the doc and second I was already thinking of a second meeting. Both hands drop to smooth out the fabric only to let out a small sigh of relief when I realized nothing was riding to far above the knee, still flushed I chuckled tucking a few strands of hair behind my ears focusing my attention on the good doc:: Swabs are in immaculate condition, I must say. Do you often keep them in size order? ::Dear lord I was flirting already, Sawyer stop. Work. Focus woman. Christ. I shook my head desperately trying to reign myself in all while trying to look professional. But then again I'm sure that look got tossed out when I kissed the stool moments ago::

Aed:

||Professionalism is a concept that I pride myself on but with this woman it was a task.|| Of course, Ms. Sawyer. Chaos would ensue if the swabs were so much as a millimeter out of place. ||Humor danced in my eyes.|| How can I help you today? The stool will be punished for its transgressions, attacking patients is unacceptable after all. ||Closing the door on the sound of Mrs. Willmont’s laughter, I leaned my hip against the cabinet.||

Sawyer:

::Yup, this was a losing battle and he was on the conquering side. My eyes once again betrayed me as they looked him over before I bit down hard enough again into my lip to shake myself out of my reverie:: I was actually here to ask for your help, Dr. McLoughlin, I’m throwing a small party more like a gallery showing of some of my photographs. Since I’ve only been here barely over three weeks and know absolutely no one except for the fantastic woman at the printing shop and your receptionist, who by the way I swear thinks we are doing more than just meeting right now ::I chuckled softly, shaking my head while I shifted just enough to dig out my portfolio and an invite:: Basically you’d be helping me hand these out, I figure if you came along with me people would be more likely to show up and if you wanted to take a look to see what you’d be selling... ::I blushed instantly hating how I was making this sound, it wasn’t what I wanted to say at all:: This isn’t how I wanted to say it all. Just take a look my photos, and let me know what you think, then we can move on to the other stuff. ::And just like that my nerves hit me like a sack of bricks::

Aed:

||I was instantly enchanted not just by the jumbled word vomit but by the blush that stained your cheeks. My fingers loosened their grip on the counter as you continued.|| I’d love to take a look and please call me Aedan. Doctor McLoughlin makes me look for my father and or my mother. ||Waving a dismissive hand at myself. I opened the portfolio on the examination table and flipped through a number of pages before closing it.|| You’re very talented, Ms. Sawyer. It takes someone special to evoke a response from a viewer when the image is of the mundane. I’d be more than happy to pass out fliers or invites to those that come in the office, is there more that I can do? ||A ruckus sounds from the reception area; the Peterson twins and their helicopter mother. That woman has been a thorn in my side since I started here. She sees a bank statement every time she looks at me, the epitome of a social climber and I would prefer to keep her claws and everything else far away from me in a social sense.|| Ignore that please.

Sawyer:

Thank you, Aedan, I’ve spend majority of my life taking picture ::I chuckled softly tucking some hair behind my ears that stubborn blush seemed to be staying as I watched you flip each page:: I think it was something I was simply born to do, it comes naturally. If you could hand out invites and spread the word so the event is a success I would grateful. This was all just kind of dropped in my lap and if it..::I heard the ruckus and instantly started to move towards you, brushing against you while reaching for my things before pausing:: Are you sure you don’t want to at least go and see what the ruckus is? ::I lifted my gaze to yours, once I was sure I carried on with a smile:: This whole thing is all on me, if it isn’t a success then I fail and I don’t know what happens then. ::Actually I did know, what happens was I got stuck with the entire bill of the entire event, plus #Deidre's bill and all her commission.:: Anything you could do would be gratefully appreciated.

Aed:

No, the noise is a set of rowdy 6 year old terrors that belong to a mother that….let’s just say the interest is more in me than anything else. Show your portfolio to Mrs. Willmont on your way out, I’m quite sure the word will be out quickly. ||Rolling my eyes as I hear Mrs. Peterson use a snippy tone with the boys.|| I know it’s not professional but would you like to have dinner with me? We could discuss more about the showing and about the prints I’d like to buy. ||Lifting a brow as my question hangs in the air.||

Sawyer:

She sounds like a pure delight, I’m sorry you have to deal with women like that. I’ve had a few men who have more interest in what I can do for them then anything else. ::There was that damn grin, the one that normally showed only when someone truly shocked me and Aedan just had. He wanted to buy my work already? I swore he like the color of my blush cause he seemed pretty damned determined to show keep it on my cheeks for the entirety of this meeting. I let my fingers brush his as I finally scooped up my things:: Dinner sounds amazing, Aedan, just name the time and place.

Aed:

||Trailing the tips of my fingers along the back of your hand for a brief second made me smile.|| Tomorrow night, say 7:30 at the Station? They have the world’s best greens and mac-n-cheese. ||There is a crashing sound rapidly followed by crying.|| Get my number from Mrs. Willmont and I’m sorry to rush you out. It’s nice to meet you Sawyer and welcome to town. ||Opening the door, I stepping to the hallway to usher the hellions and their mother aka Satan’s mistress into an empty exam room.||

Sawyer:

::It was the little touches that I longed for more of but they would have to wait till dinner tomorrow night and that had me a little more excited than I was willing to admit. I chuckled to myself while squeezing past Mrs.Peterson who seemed all too displeased to see me, so I tossed in a little grin as I turned:: It was 7:30 for dinner tomorrow right? And you wanted me to wear something tight and blue, was it? ::I spun on my heels after flashing a quick wink, the look on her face was priceless. I also caught the look of on Mrs. Willmont’s face and nearly blushed a neon pink, she was all smiles holding the good doctors number in her hand right along with his address. Just in case she said::

#TBC #TheFavor

#Sawyer #Aedan #TheFavor #sls

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footballvillenation · 6 years

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Amazing Moments in Super Bowl History

Follow the history of the Super Bowl’s most exciting moments with these captivating images, and explore this all-American event’s place in the larger scope of U.S. history.

Since the first game on January 15th, 1967, the Super Bowl has become more than just a sporting event. In recent years, more than 100 million people have tuned in to watch on television. They rooted for their favorite teams, waited for half-time shows, and laughed along with much-anticipated commercials. In some of our most trying times, the country has turned to the Super Bowl for comfort, motivation, and strength.

Every decade, the game comes to mean something new to the American public. But, one thing remains the same: Super Bowl Sunday is a time for families to come together and celebrate. As one excited fan told once told BBC reporters, “There’s Christmas, there’s the birth of my first born child and then there’s the Super Bowl.” Let’s take a look at just a few of the games that helped shape the last half-century, as well as some of the news stories that dominated the headlines right before they aired.

Super Bowl III

On January 12th, 1969, the New York Jets defeated the Baltimore Colts 16-7 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

New York Jets Joe Namath (12) hands off to teammate Matt Snell (41) during Super Bowl action against the Baltimore Colts, at the Miami Orange Bowl, Florida – 1969. Photo by Anonymous/AP/Shutterstock

Prior to this historic game, Joe Namath of the New York Jets made a bold claim by stating, “We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.” The Jets were major underdogs at the time, but the team proved their quarterback correct; for that reason, this Super Bowl is widely considered to be “pro football’s greatest upset.” In this photo, Namath passes off to Matt Snell.

Meanwhile…

President Lyndon Johnson, right, confers with President-elect Richard Nixon in the White House – 1968. Photo by Charles Tasnadi/AP/Shutterstock

On November 5th, 1968, Richard Nixon was elected President of the United States, securing a victory over Hubert H. Humphrey. He spoke about reuniting a nation during times of upheaval, as the country struggled with tensions both in Vietnam and at home, where the battle over civil rights had reached a fever pitch.

Charles Tasnadi began his career at the Associated Press Washington bureau back in 1964. He captured this photo of Nixon with then-President Lyndon Johnson on December 12th. The inauguration took place just over a week after the Super Bowl on January 20th.

Apollo 8 Astronauts, left-to-right, James Lovell, command module pilot; William Anders, lunar module pilot; and Frank Borman, commander, pause in front of mission simulator prior to training in exercise for their scheduled six-day lunar orbital mission in Kennedy Space Center, Florida – 1968. Photo by AP/Shutterstock

This photo of Jim Lovell, Frank Borman, and Bill Anders dates to December 18th, 1968, just three days before the astronauts would launch into space as part of the Apollo 8 mission. On the 24th, they orbited the moon, marking a turning point for all of mankind.

Super Bowl XIII

On January 21st, 1979, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 35-31 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw goes up in the air to watch his pass during the XIII Super Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys, in Miami, Fla. Looking on are his teammates Ray Pinney (74) and Sam Davis (57). The Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 35-31 to win the title – 1979. Photo by Kathy Willens/AP/Shutterstock

In what NFL Media analyst Elliot Harrison dubbed “the greatest Super Bowl of all time,” a few unforgettable things happened, including a dropped pass from Jackie Smith, a controversial tripping call, and an MVP performance from Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw. In fact, upon seeing his statistic sheet, Bradshaw himself asked, “Did I do all that?”

Meanwhile…

Superman, Christopher Reeve. Photo by Moviestore/Shutterstock

On December 10th, 1978, Superman: The Movie premiered, setting the stage for generations of superhero productions. As Kathleen Carroll wrote for the Daily News at the time, the film provided audiences with a healthy dose of both “pure escape” and “good, clean, unadulterated fun.” With the iconic Christopher Reeve in the title role, this film sparked the imagination and the hopes of a nation emerging from transformative events like the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.

MILK San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco’s seventh annual gay freedom parade – 1978. Photo by AP/Shutterstock

On November 27th, California’s first openly gay elected official, Supervisor Harvey Milk, was assassinated, along with George Moscone, the Mayor of San Francisco. In addition to advocating for LGBTQ rights, Milk had addressed everything from gentrification to income inequality during his brief time in office. His life was cut short when Supervisor Dan White fatally shot him and Moscone.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, then President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, found Milk in his office. “It was clear he was dead,” she told NPR decades later. “And that changed the world.” Milk himself had considered the possibility that he might be killed and had made a recording in case of such an event. “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country,” he proclaimed. Decades later, his legacy continues to inspire Americans to join the political sphere and affect positive change.

Super Bowl XXIII

On January 22, 1989, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 10-16 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana (16) and wide receiver John Taylor (82) clasp hands after Montana’s pass to Taylor at the end of the fourth quarter resulted in a 20-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at Super Bowl XXIII Jan.22, 1989 in Miami. Photo by Rusty Kennedy/AP/Shutterstock

By the fourth quarter of this tight game, fans were on the edge of their seats. With three minutes left, Cincinnati was in the lead, but everything changed when San Francisco scored their winning touchdown. The next day, The Washington Post described the game as “the most dramatic Super Bowl since 1971.” In this photo, we can see quarterback Joe Montana and wide receiver John Taylor, who completed that final pass with just 34 seconds remaining on the clock.

Meanwhile…

A Miami policeman squats behind a police car holding a rifle, as a vehicle burns in the background in the Overtown section of Miami, Florida. Disturbances broke out after the death of a young motorcyclist who was being chased and fired on by police – 1989. Photo by AP/Shutterstock

Rioting broke out in Miami the week of the Super Bowl after a police officer named William Lozano shot 23-year-old motorcyclist Clement Lloyd, leading to the deaths of both Lloyd and Allan Blanchard, a passenger on his bike. It was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the killing of two black men reignited long-standing fears over the treatment of African Americans by police. The aftermath of that event, and the legal proceedings that followed, continue to reverberate throughout the city and the country in general.

President George Bush raises his hand Jan.20,1989 as he takes the oath of office as president of the United States outside the Capitol. Vice President Dan Quayle watches from behind. Photo by Ron Edmonds/AP/Shutterstock

Two days before the Super Bowl, George H. W. Bush took the oath of office, stepping in as the 41st President of the United States. At the time, the nation was contending with a federal budget deficit. During his inauguration, Bush spoke about bridging the gap between the country’s political parties, easing tensions that lingered still from the days of the Vietnam War, and tackling issues like poverty and homelessness.

Super Bowl XXXIII

On January 31, 1999, the Denver Broncos defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-19 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida.

In the final game of his career, Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway (7) stiff-arms Atlanta Falcons linebacker Cornelius Bennett in the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami. Elway earned MVP as he led the Broncos to a 34-19 win for their second consecutive Super Bowl championship. He passed for 336 yards with one touchdown and carried the ball himself for another score – 1999. Photo by Doug Mills/AP/Shutterstock

This second consecutive Super Bowl win for Denver was also the last game for quarterback John Elway, who is now the team’s general manager. As Thomas George of The New York Times put it at the time, the MVP had “saved his best for last.” Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post chimed in too, writing, “Elway was the oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. And he made winning look easy.”

Meanwhile…

Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan laughs as his wife Juanita answers a question during the announcement of his retirement – 1999. Photo by Morry Gash/AP/Shutterstock

Michael Jordan announced his second retirement from the NBA on January 13th. Though he would later return to basketball, the retirement of one of the greatest athletes of all time rocked the sports industry and the world beyond, with President Bill Clinton making a statement in his honor. In this photo from that day, he laughs with his wife Juanita as reporters ask questions. Tellingly, the basketball star would not commit definitively to leaving the game behind. He explained that he was 99.9% sure he wouldn’t come back. As he put it, “I never say never.”

Robert Iler, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Edie Falco, James Gandolfini. The Sopranos – 1999. Photo by Hbo/Kobal/Shutterstock

On January 10th, a new TV show premiered on HBO: The Sopranos. The series told the story of the New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano and his family. While the producer David Chase initially had trouble landing a network, it was nothing short of a sensation. In 2007, as the show was in its final season, the cultural critic Peter Biskind described it as “perhaps the greatest pop-culture masterpiece of its day,” and later, Rolling Stone named it as the number one greatest television show of all time, with the journalist Rob Sheffield claiming that the series “changed the world.”

Super Bowl XLIII

On February 1st, 2009, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27–23 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver Santonio Holmes (l) and Arizona Cardinals Cornerback D Rodgers-cromartie (r) grab each other’s facemasks in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, USA. 01 February 2009. Photo by Justin Lane/EPA/Shutterstock

With this game, the Steelers became the first team in history to win six Super Bowls. Wide-receiver Santonio Holmes, pictured here, was named MVP after a game-winning touchdown catch in the nail-biting final minute. In fact, Pittsburgh had tried the very same play earlier in the game but hadn’t made the touchtown, making that last moment all the more dramatic.

Meanwhile…

Airline passengers wait on the wings of a US Airways Airbus 320 to board a ferry to be rescued. The jetliner safely ditched in the frigid waters of the Hudson River in New York, after a flock of birds knocked out both its engines. All 155 people on board survived. Plane in River, New York, USA – 15 Jan 2009. Photo by Steven Day/AP/Shutterstock

On January 15th, US Airways Flight 1549 left LaGuardia airport in New York en route to Charlotte, North Carolina. The plane lost its engines when it hit a flock of birds. In order to save the 155 passengers, the pilots Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles made the choice to land on the Hudson River.

The incident could have echoed the traumatic events of September 11th, 2001, still fresh on the minds of American citizens. But, all aboard Airbus A320 pulled together to achieve what would later be termed the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

Everyone, passengers and crew included, survived. “This is a potential tragedy that may have become one of the most magnificent days in the history of New York City agencies,” Governor David A. Paterson told the media at a news conference.

Inauguration Ceremony of United States President, Barack Obama. Barack Obama takes the oath as the 44th US President. His wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha accompany him. – 20 Jan 2009. Photo by Shutterstock Large crowds gather along the National Mall for the inauguration of Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States. – 20 Jan 2009. Photo by Shutterstock

On January 20th, Barack Obama made history when he was sworn in as 44th President of the United States. The country grappled with an uncertain future, plagued by the Great Recession and by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But as an estimated 1.8 million people flooded into the National Mall for the inauguration of our nation’s first African American President, there was cause for hope. “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America,” Obama urged in his inaugural address.

via Darrell Streeter https://footballvillenation.com/amazing-moments-in-super-bowl-history/

#American Youth Football #American Football #American Youth Football Highlights #Florida Sports #Darr

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tigren · 7 years

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i dont expect anyone to actually ~*read*~ this but im bored and i love my neopets so here's a looooooooooong post about my neopets as vaguely constructed characters or ideas for them or i dont know. if you’re on mobile and the readmore link fails and you have to scroll past this im sorry.

in no particular order:::

abbur: (pink bori) my sweet gay baby boy. i couldn't Possibly choose a favorite child but if u held a gun to my head he's the first that comes to mind. he's a witch and he loves flowers and faeries and magic. he grew up in brightvale & when faerieland fell he moved to a lil cottage in the forest at the outskirts of faerieland. he made friends w/ an earth faerie who taught him some rudimentary magic.. he wasn't born w/ any natural magic ability but he was able to learn some basic spells and potions and things. his Heroes are Rasala the Bright and Ilere of the Woods. his dream is to meet ilere and convince her to take him on as a student, like she did for sophie!! he's scared of the haunted woods but he doesn't think ilere is dangerous or scary like some do.

thessa: (fire xweetok) she's a Warrior Space Princess! she's a galactic voyager and commands a large space ship that travels to planets for resources, exploration, and scientific experimentation. there isn't a royal lineage or monarchy or anything... it's just a respectful title she has been given for high ranking diplomatic role on the ship. when the voyagers encounter other intelligent creatures, she's the one to communicate and negotiate. those living on the ship are not colonizers and try not to be disruptive in foreign galaxies, but sometimes encounters become hostile and her warrior experience comes in handy.

classent: (robot cybunny) he lives on thessa's ship! sentient robots on the ship are treated as regular citizens, but tend to have "blue collar" jobs. classent is a mechanic and keeps the inner workings running smoothly. but he loves science! he wants to be part of some of the field work the scientists on the ship do on the planets they land on!! he uses his big ol ears with their powerful Audio Receivers to eavesdrop on the scientists and learn as much as he can. one day he's gunna be part of their crew!!

kovica: (cloud yurble but someday she'll be brown.. or something) cryptozoologist lesbian!! she runs a blog about supernatural events & creatures in neopia with a focus on cryptids. she lives on mystery island and she's desperately trying to track the weird monkey creature from the old secret mystery island treasure random event. she wants to be a journalist but nobody will take her seriously.

volkat: (halloween eyrie) wiccan goth lesbian. she's friends with abbur. their magical practices are very different but they love exchanging ideas anyway and just spending time together. she lives in the haunted woods. i haven't rly had the chance to think too hard about her lol

kasdri: (chocolate aisha) she grew up in shenkuu and loves fashion!! she wants to be a fashion designer and has lots of ideas and even makes most of her own clothes, but she's a lil full of herself and doesn't like to be criticized or take no for an answer. she moved to neopia central because she felt like there was more opportunity there, but for now she just works a shitty retail job at one of the big shops. she comes off as a snobby "popular girl" type, but she's really sweet and generous. she's def judging what youre wearing tho

alabryss: (royal uni) he's one of my oldest pets but i can never think of WHO he is, in his heart. :( recently i've thought of him as a normal ol farming boy from meridell who ended up having the opportunity to join the royal guard. he doesn't do anything particularly exciting but it's a glamorous job. but idk, it's so hard for me to settle on anything for alabryss even tho i love him so much. he's been painted a bunch of times before finally reaching his final form as royal so he's always been kind of nebulous. maybe i should incorporate his many forms into his lil story, idk!!!!

purrow: (black aisha) he's literally just one of the aisha theives. he and his brother are dirty dirty theives who steal things. like i'm sure i could expand upon that but i've always justified my laziness w/ the fact that he's canon

arphen: (white peophin) her name is sindarin elvish (from lotr lol) for "noble" and i haven't rly thought of anything in particular for her beyond the vague idea of.......... elf nobility. she lives in the forest.. the one outside of altador i guess. i try not to think too hard about how she really gets around the forest considering she's a horse mermaid.

whomf: he's my lab pet rn but he's perfect and gay and wears his pink heart glasses always. i think if he never gets zapped into something i get attached to and end up with a new lab pet, he'll be a candy blumaroo. i created him as a blumaroo and that's just... who he is....... if i follow thru w that, my whomf plans are::: he's a college student majoring in anthropology. he's from roo island & his school is in neopia central but he's studying abroad in mystery island. as much as he wants to Achieve His Goals he's also spending a lot of time just having fun on the island.. he goes to a lot of parties. he also has a part time job at a lil juice shack. tuition isn't cheap!!

pibbet: (starry poogle) she's a traveler!! she grew up in kiko lake and it's so small and quiet. she felt trapped & bored and now she wants adventures! freesom!! she wants to see all of neopia! her favorite place that she's visited so far is terror mountain because it's sooo tall, being at the peak practically feels like you CAN see all of neopia.

i have a few other pets (khrysinne, vamarie, stymi, ninneko, annapurna) that i don't rly have anything to say about!!!!

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ladala99 · 3 years

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Markus vs Cloudy vs Nick - Submale Fight Calculator

These submales are just growing just barely before Luke gets old enough to have a chance to die. So here's what may be the last submale fight of Luke's reign! (Ethan's not too far behind, though...)

((Disclaimer - Lioden Fight Calculator stuff is entirely my own doing and playstyle and does not reflect regular Lioden gameplay.))

The Defending Champion

Markus The Rare-based boy of Broodmother, not Huntress, stock. He’s gained quite a few stats from his time as the Favored Heir before getting replaced by the Piebald Snowdrift. While he's finally reached the age where his stats will take a hit, they're still really high.

The Challengers

Cloudy Son of Sunrise who has one mark and is overall not all that interesting. He does have pretty decent starting stats for being the son of an older Huntress and a king at the end of his life, but they're still pretty low since he hasn't had the chance to train, himself, yet.

Nick Son of a Noctis-based lioness who is not canon. He has four markings, but other than that is a bit plain.

Helpers?

Only Sunrise could be a helper, but as a neutral lioness she respects Luke's wishes for the lionesses not to interfere with Markus's battles. Thus, no Helpers this time.

The Teams

The teams are Team Markus versus Team Adolescent.

Team Markus is just Markus, who would win if the calculator chose based on raw stats, whether via individual or team. Based on pure RNG, he has about a 63% chance to win, leading to an overall approximate 81.5% chance to win.

Team Adolescent consists of both Cloudy and Nick and is a bit pointless to be a team since that doesn't change their chances but I didn't know that when setting up the teams in the calculator. The displayed percentages (which are rounded) are that Cloudy has a 20% chance to win and Nick a 16% chance if the calculator chooses based on full RNG. And if these guys win via the full RNG, there won't be a second round since the winner will already be displayed.

The Results

Results were determined by individual stats.

Markus wins!

Snowdrift, the favored heir who doesn't fight, is also not catching up fast enough. Markus is looking more and more like he's going to win the whole thing.

Next Fight

Either Markus vs Ethan (of Eclipse's Legacy) in two rollovers or the new-king fight if Luke dies before then.

The new-king fight might potentially be interesting - Adolescents are allowed to join in the fight, and Ilere has another Adolescent son growing. With Luke dead, there'll be no one to stop her from trying to win the throne for him.

Well, no one but the rest of the pride who don't want Ilere to gain power.

#lioden #lion pride story #lioden meta

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romancereadingdiva · 4 years

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Glass Heart Broken Excerpt Reveal!

Glass Heart Broken, book 2 in the Glass Heart Academy series, by Lindsey Iler is coming October 19th, and today I have an excerpt for you!

Excerpt:

“I didn’t take you up there for that,” he says, eyeing me through his lashes. Is he too afraid to be vulnerable in front of me and say what he means? An uncertain smile edges onto his face. It’s so uncommon with Marek, I almost think I’m seeing things.

“It’s my fault. No matter how angry I am with you, it’s like I’m incapable of holding you accountable for the things you do.”

“Acknowledging you have a problem is half the battle,” he says, leaning over me to flip the lock to open. “You’re free to do whatever you want, Palmer.”

“That’s the problem, though, isn’t it? You’ve created this world where my freedom doesn’t belong to me, and now, it’s like my choices aren’t my own anymore.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“But you did anyway.” I tug on the handle and open the door.

“So, what was that just now?” He glances over his shoulder. “You laying yourself out for me as a test or something?”

“That was me taking back a little bit of my control. I get to decide when and where. You look at me like I’m something to possess, but that needs to stop now.” I grab my bag off the seat and shut the door.

Marek rolls down the window. “Whether you believe it or not, I don’t want to possess you.”

“I’ll ask you again, what do you want to do with me, then?”

“Worship you.” The window rolls up, ending this conversation, and he drives away.

I’m left alone in the parking lot, wondering how he always manages to have the last delicious, mind-altering word.

Blurb:

LIES. SECRETS. MAYHEM. The campus of Glass Heart Academy will never be the same once we’re through with it. Palmer They tried to break me, but they underestimated my strength. When Marek says things aren’t always what they seem, I don’t want to believe him. Now, I know the dark truth in his words. As a participating player in this wicked game, how do I know who to trust when it seems our past is doomed to repeat itself? Marek Cruelty is my love language, and Palmer's ready to make me pay for it. We both know we shouldn’t want what’s right in front of us. Will she accept the dark, broken pieces of me, or will she always watch over her shoulder, waiting for my blade to take pieces of her she doesn’t know are exposed? While we try to find ourselves in each other, darkness continues to follow us, setting off a series of events no one is prepared for. What will be the cost of exposing the truth that haunts us?

💚Add Glass Heart Broken to your Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54464964-glass-heart-broken?from_choice=false&from_home_module=false

Need to read book, Glass Heart Savage? No problem!

+Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GHSgoodreads

->Amazon: mybook.to/GHS

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ladala99 · 4 years

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October’s Aftermath

(Lioden October event narrative part 4, November event narrative part 1)(I’m going to call these ‘Chill’s Saga’ now. So it’s part 4 of Chill’s Saga)

Chill let out one last roar, sending the Nepheline he was fighting flying back to its home in the skies. Around him, he could see the war fading. The dark forces from below sinking back into the ground and the heavenly forces above flying back to the sky. They were retreating. They were all retreating. Why?

Chill bounded back to the portal he used to speak to the demons. It, too, was starting to diminish. Had they won? Had they lost? Had all Chill’s effort meant nothing? Chill ran for the portal. He had to know. However, a familiar wing spread out in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. It belonged to Nirah, the manticore.

“My dude, unless you want to get stuck in there, you should stay on this side,” Nirah said.

Chill growled. “It’s all ending so suddenly,” he said. “I need to know what happened. Who won?”

“No one wins these wars, my dude. They won’t until the end of times. They just go until they decide it’s enough, and now it’s enough.” Nirah said.

A few red wisps flickered in what used to be the portal to the demon lands, and finally, they too vanished. Chill wouldn’t be able to check back in.

Nirah arched his back in a relaxed stretch. “I should be going, too. See you around, my dude!” Without any other explanation, the manticore leapt into the air and flew off towards the horizon.

Chill checked his whip paw. The power was completely gone. And he no longer could sense the presence of Lana and Sandy in his mind. It was over. But what did that mean for the lionesses?

---

The dark presence over the land was gone, and Lightning was relieved. Demonic and angelic magic retreated, and her kind of magic, nature magic, took their place as the dominant power over the land.

“Uh, Lightning?” Ember’s daughter, the Piebald lioness, asked hesitantly. “Something’s wrong with Sandy. Penelope asked me to get you.”

Sandy. She had never recovered from that fight with the demon lioness, Ilere. Sandy had claimed she didn’t feel any different, and had refused Lightning’s treatment. Something was definitely different about her since that time, however.

“Bring me to her.”

Sandy was breathing, at least. It was shallow, however. Dark clouds of magic rolled off of her, but Lightning knew none of the other lionesses could see that. They weren’t in-tune enough to notice.

“She’s not waking up,” Penelope said. She was pacing in front of the sleeping lioness. “Is there anything you can do for her?”

“I don’t know,” Lightning said. “I’ve never seen this affliction before.”

“Don’t you know of an herb to force her awake or something?” Penelope asked.

“She is blanketed in darkness,” Lightning said.

Penelope rolled her eyes.

“This is the result of magic, believe it or not, Penelope.” Even after Lightning had fought with Ilere, some of the other lionesses didn’t believe that she had powers. “Ilere did this to her.”

“We haven’t seen Ilere in months,” Penelope replied. “And if she did this to her when we last saw her, why didn’t you fix it then?”

“Because Sandy refused treatment,” Lightning said. “I won’t force treatment on anyone. She chose to take this risk.”

“And now she’s going to die,” Penelope said.

“Not necessarily. I only said I didn’t know if I could fix her. Not that I wouldn’t try. Ashes,” she said to another lioness who was standing around, “get my herb stores. I need to try something.”

Nothing of Lightning’s cleansing and warding rituals put a dent in the dark magic coming off of Sandy, but it did slowly fade away on its own. Well, not necessarily fade, but condense. It stopped seeping out of her body because it collected itself within her soul.

Finally, not even a tendril of darkness seeped out of her. She flashed for a moment in pure magic, and opened her eyes.

“You’re awake!” Penelope lit up. She stepped irreverently over the circle of stones Lightning had set up and pressed her muzzled to Sandy’s side. “I was so worried.”

Sandy slowly blinked. “Worried about what?” she asked.

“You wouldn’t wake up,” Penelope said.

Sandy shrugged. “I’m up now.”

The other lionesses also similarly greeted her, and she reacted with confusion the whole time.

Lightning didn’t join them. She could see clearly in Sandy’s eyes that this wasn’t Sandy. Previously, it had been Sandy, but tainted by evil magic, but now there was nothing left of the lioness. It was something else pretending to be her.

None of the lionesses noticed when Lightning walked off, taking her herbs with her. She knew if she tried to warn them, they’d wonder what it was she had done. They’d blame her for failing. Or simply not believe when she said Sandy was in imposter.

“I have one job.”

Lightning jumped as she heard Sandy speak. It was sunset, the others were soaking up the last rays of the evening. Lightning had been looking at her herb stores within a section of the cave, wondering if there was anything she could use to reverse Sandy’s transformation.

Lightning turned towards the other lioness. She kept an eye on the exit. Could she run?

“I know you can see who I am,” ‘Sandy’ said, “and who I am not. The Sandy you knew is gone. It’s no use trying to bring her back.”

“Where did she go?” Lightning asked.

‘Sandy’ smirked. “Where the rest of the demons went after the war ended. She belongs to them now.”

“Why? She wasn’t evil.”

“She was enslaved by the Demonic Whip,” ‘Sandy’ said. “All who it touches have their will erased, enslaved to the whip’s holder. Unfortunately, that mortal’s time to hold the whip has passed, and she is in new hands. An elder demon’s hands in particular. She’ll make a nice pet.”

“Who are you, then? Why are you here?” Lightning asked. “Why are you explaining this?”

“Answer number one: another demonic slave. My old master got bored of me, so he’s letting me be reassigned. Answer number two: the one who enslaved Sandy did an excellent job fighting the angels, and the demons do intend to reward him while he’s alive. I am here to help fulfill his wishes. Answer number three: his wishes include you trusting me and him. And I know if I’m not frank with you, you won’t.

“I know you’re more powerful right now,” ‘Sandy’ continued. “Even if I was a demon, I wouldn’t be able to control you. I mean no harm. And the mortal I’m helping means no harm. Quite the opposite - he wants to reunite the pride.”

Chill. Of course. The Primal lion that Sandy, Penelope, and Ashes had fled when he took over the pride from his destructive father, Tiger.

“I know it’ll take time,” ‘Sandy’ said, “but give me a chance. I promise no harm will come to you or the others if I have anything to do with it.”

With that, she left the cave.

Lightning wasn’t sure what to make of all that. Perhaps, now that the ancestors were closer than ever, she’d be able to ask them what she should do.

---

As Chill got back to where his portion of the pride currently rested, Ilere stood in his path.

“My king, there is something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” Chill asked. “Is it Lana?”

Ilere nodded. “As the power of the demons faded over the mortal realm, you may have noticed you no longer possess the Demonic Whip. It has been taken back, and so have the lionesses you had taken control of.”

“So someone else controls her?” Chill asked.

“And has taken her soul,” Ilere said. “Her body, however, is still usable. Someone on the other side may be able to possess it for the rest of its lifespan. If you want it, of course.”

Chill wasn’t sure. “Using it against Lana in the first place was an accident. There’s no way to get her back?”

Ilere took a bit to respond. “There is, but it’s a price I don’t think you’re able to pay.”

“What is it?” Chill asked.

Ilere looked him dead in the eyes. She didn’t put him in a trance, though. Either she didn’t want to or no longer could. “Most of the time, the price is yourself. However, your father sold you long ago already.”

“Wait, what?” Chill asked. “My father...?”

Ilere smiled. “When your father procured my mother, he also procured a potentially endless lineage of part-demon lionesses. His payment was not only himself, but also every one of his male descendants, to be broken only if one of my mother’s descended sons becomes king. I serve you in life, but you serve me after. And I will not give you up.”

Chill felt a shiver run down his spine. He was giving that fate to every one of his sons?

“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” he asked.

“It’s not like you can do anything about it,” she said.

“Perhaps I don’t want to continue this curse to the next generation,” he said.

“Too late for that,” Ilere said.

“Now it is,” Chill said, “but if someone had told me earlier—”

“—What’s past is past,” Ilere said with an annoyed twitch of her tail. “We need to decide what we’re going to do about Lana. We can’t get her back. We can, however, get back another of our ancestors. Ones owned by the demons, anyway; the ones who moved on to other skies aren’t available. So, just my mother and your father.”

“I’m not bringing back Tiger,” Chill said without a second thought. “I’m not sure I want your mother back, either. I don’t need two of you, no offense.”

“I understand,” Ilere said. She seemed amused by this.

“Can we ask about the real Lana at least?”

“If that is what you wish, my king.”

---

Ilere set up the summoning circle in a wide open field a good distance from where they had settled their den. The full moon shone bright above. Without the portal, they couldn’t enter the demon’s land to speak to them - they had to get the demons to come to them.

Ilere chanted in some unholy language, and the symbols in the field started to glow. An ugly shape rose from the ground, made of ash and dirt. Two glowing coals rose from the ground and formed eyes on the creature.

“What do you want?” The demon’s gravely voice said grumpily.

“Is there—” Chill began.

“—O old one,” Ilere interrupted him. “We wish to obtain the lioness Lana’s soul from you. What do you want in exchange?”

“She’s mine,” it hissed. “She and that other one.”

The demon was talking about Sandy. Was she knocked out, too? Did the other lionesses realize what was going on?

“There is nothing you would like more?” Ilere asked. “No other souls? No—”

“—Nothing,” the demon said. “Nothing you can offer. Willess souls are too precious. Is that all you wanted? Because I refuse.”

Ilere looked to Chill, but he didn’t know what to do. That was it, then. His mistake had cost Lana everything. And Sandy too, but that was Ilere’s fault.

“That is,” Ilere said.

“Then goodbye,” the demon said, and disappeared.

“I’m sorry,” Ilere said to Chill as the symbols’ glow faded.

“You did what you could,” Chill said. “What’s going to happen to Lana’s body now?”

“It will be filled. It probably already has,” Ilere said. “Come. Let us meet her.”

Lana was dozing towards the edge of the den when they arrived, but woke up and stretched as they approached. The other lionesses were farther in.

“Hey Ilere, Chill,” she said. She sounded way more relaxed and confident than the real Lana ever had.

“Greetings,” Ilere said. “May I ask who you really are?”

“Sure, but I don’t remember. I’m told that was part of the deal,” Lana said.

“So are you a demon, or...” Chill asked.

“No way!” Lana said. “Just a poor unfortunate soul excited to get another chance at life. That is, if you’re not replacing me. I’ve been serving... well, I’m not supposed to tell you his name, but I’ve been serving him for centuries. It’s nice to get a breath of fresh air. I hear you’re all about bringing your family back together? That’s so cute!”

“I... I don’t think I could replace you,” Chill said. “But I do hope Lana’s okay.”

“Man, you’re not even evil,” Lana said. “How’d you get caught up in all this?”

“My father, Tiger.”

“Ohh, I’ve heard of him. He had some serious issues. Got bullied as a cub and couldn’t let it go. Turned to the dark side for revenge and ended up selling out all his descendants, plus giving his whole self to a demon, turning him into a machine of hatred and destruction. And you’re a descendant, so that’s how you ended up doing this stuff. Okay.”

Chill knew Tiger had made a deal to get Ilere and possibly even the throne, but he hadn’t known it had gone that far.

“This goes way deeper than I thought,” Chill said. “I think I need to get some rest. So, uh, what should I call you?”

“Keep calling me Lana. Unless you want to tell everyone what happened to her.”

Right. He didn’t.

“Yeah, are you acting like her around the others, or...?”

“Absolutely. Unless you don’t want me to.” She cocked her head.

“Keep it up,” Chill said. “Maybe I’ll feel better about all this in the morning.

#lioden #lion pride story

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ladala99 · 4 years

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Cursed

(October event narrative part 3)

Lana, Ilere, Eclipse, Luna, and Sunrise hunted. They tracked a herd of zebra, waiting for one to lag behind.

Suddenly, the herd scattered. Lana turned to the direction they were running from and spotted another hunting party. Snarling, she bounded over to them, making sure to showcase her long Primal fangs.

“This is our territory...” Wait, she recognized these lionesses. “Sandy? Ashes?” The lionesses from the old pride. And three she didn’t know. One of which looked at her as if looking at a ghost. That one knew something.

Lana’s companions ran up behind her. Of them, only Ilere was from the old pride, and she stepped forward. “What are you doing here?”

“Hunting,” said Sandy, “same as you. You know how the old territory is - we need to search farther to find anything. We didn’t know this is where you lived.” She turned to her own hunting party. “This is Chill’s territory, let’s get out of here.” The lionesses Lana didn’t know grumbled a bit, but the other hunting party turned to leave.

“Not so fast,” Ilere said.

Ever since Lana had fallen victim to that fiery whip Chill held, she could sense when Ilere was about to do something. The air seemed to get colder and dark wisps rose from the ground, surrounding the demon lioness. Lana knew that these were invisible to everyone else.

The dark wisps scattered to surround the lionesses of both hunting parties, ignoring only Lana. Eclipse, Luna, and Sunrise of their own hunting party closed their eyes and lay down as if for a nap. Ashes and the three lionesses Lana didn’t know did the same, but Sandy resisted it.

“What are you doing?” Sandy demanded.

Ilere locked eyes with the leader of the other hunting party, freezing her in a trance.

“What are you planning?” Lana asked Ilere. “They would have left.”

“And denied us an opportunity. They came to us. Now Chill doesn’t have to go to them to unite us under one loyalty.”

Lana felt a cold chill of dread. “He doesn’t want this, you know.” She knew with certainty that, now that Chill more fully understood what the whip did, he didn’t want to turn it against lionesses of his own pride - or those potentially of his own pride - any longer.

“He’ll come around,” Ilere said. She started backing up, leading the entranced Sandy forward. “Come, we’re going home.”

“And leaving our pridemates to the vultures?” Lana asked.

Dark wisps rose from the ground, this time dancing around and above the unconscious lionesses.

“No one will approach them,” Ilere said. "It is best they don’t know what’s happening.”

Lana could agree with that, at least. While she didn’t understand why Chill didn’t want to make the other lionesses unafraid of him like she was, she respected his wishes. And if they knew what was going on, he might have to capture them as he had done Lana. Otherwise they might get the wrong idea and turn against him.

---

It was a long trek home with Ilere backing up and maintaining eye contact with Sandy the whole way.

Chill was resting at their current gathering area. He got up and approached as he noticed them.

“What’s going on?” he asked sternly, looking at Sandy. “Ilere, what are you doing?”

“Her hunting party trespassed,” Ilere said, still not breaking eye contact with the other lioness. “It’s a great opportunity. I can bring them here, one by one, and our pride will be united again.”

A full minute passed before Chill found the words to respond.

“No. Not like this. Bring her back to the others unharmed.”

“Chill—” Ilere began.

“—If you serve me as you claim to, you will listen and obey. Besides, didn’t you say I wasn’t strong enough to tame them?”

“With my help, you will meet no resistance from them,” Ilere said.

“I want them to return of their own volition. I want them to realize that I am not my father. I know I considered enslaving them before, but now I realize the victory would be hollow.”

Lana’s eyes widened as she noticed dark wisps rising from the ground again. They engulfed Sandy, who fell to her side asleep, not able to resist this time as she was already under Ilere’s power.

Ilere turned her gaze to Chill. “They will never return of their own will, and you know it. They distrust you because of your Primal appearance, and that is something you can never change.”

Lana let out the breath she was holding as she realized Ilere hadn’t used her powers against Chill. He pointedly avoided eye contact.

“Lana,” Sandy said quietly. Apparently Ilere’s power had been unable to hold for long, although it seemed the rebel lioness was having trouble moving.

Ilere had all her attention on Chill, and Lana knew Chill would want her to respond. Act as everything’s normal. Not that this situation was normal.

“Sandy,” she approached so they could speak more quietly.

“Help me get out. I’ll convince the others to let you stay with us. I can see no good is happening here.”

Chill wanted them to unite. Lana leaving would be against that.

“I have to stay here,” Lana said. “I’m sorry.”

“What, did she put a spell on you, too?” Sandy asked.

“We only need one,” Ilere said to Chill. She turned back to Sandy and shot a questioning look at Lana. “Then, perhaps, we can do it your way. She’ll convince the others to come back.”

“I will do no such thing,” Sandy growled. “We are independent of you. Leave us in peace and we will leave you in peace.” She looked past Ilere, straight at Chill.

“Maybe we can talk this out another time,” said Chill. “Just me and your alliance.”

“No,” said Sandy. “We will not meet you, and if you trespass on our lands, you will be chased away. Our time in your pride is over.” She attempted to rise, but the dark wisps surrounded her again, forming chains that kept her tied down.

Ilere looked at Chill expectantly.

Lana could feel how hurt Chill was at the prospect of not even having a chance. That Sandy rejected him and clearly would never change her mind. He hated that Ilere was right.

“Lana, help me,” Sandy said. “I can’t move.”

Lana could sense that Chill had made his decision. He hated himself for it. He hated Ilere for it. And he pitied Sandy for it.

Lana put a paw on Sandy’s. Chill no longer desired for her to keep her condition a secret from the rebel lioness. “You’re going to be like me,” Lana said. “I used to be afraid all the time, living here. I used to think Chill was a monster, and that my fangs showed that I was part monster, too. I don’t feel that way anymore. I’m happy to live here. You will be, too.”

Her speech didn’t have the effect she had hoped. Sandy recoiled away from Lana in horror. She looked between the three lions like cornered prey, even though she was sitting in an open field.

“Why does that scare you?” Lana asked.

“Lana, enough,” Chill said. He was ready. Lana backed away from Sandy to give him a clear shot. Ilere, noticing what Lana was doing, did likewise. He locked his gaze with Sandy’s. “I’m sorry.”

He flicked his paw and a whip of fire and evil extended out of it. It hissed through the air before coiling itself around Sandy, passing through the ground to do so as if it wasn’t there.

Lana could hear their battle of wills. Sandy’s body clawed at the air as if she were fighting dozens of invisible foes. Her will clashed against Chill’s as she struggled to remain in her convictions.

Chill stood firm in his own convictions. He would never accept ‘no’ for an answer when it came to the pride being reunited. Anyone who stood in the way of that had to be convinced one way or another, and if this was the only way Sandy would be convinced, so be it.

Sandy’s voice made a sound that should never come from a lion’s throat. In the battle of wills, though, it was a standstill. Chill only wanted her to understand. He wanted to change her mind, but he wasn’t making any moves to help the whip extinguish her will.

Lana wanted to help, but she knew talking to Sandy would only make her fight harder.

“Ilere, aren’t you going to help him?” Lana asked.

“He’s doing fine,” Ilere said. “All Sandy’s doing is drawing out the inevitable.”

“Wouldn’t it be merciful to end it sooner?”

“Lana, remember how cruel she and Ashes were to you when you we were all in the same pride? They bullied you. Ostracized you. All because of your fangs. They only acted worse to me, even if they were afraid to do so in front of my mother. Not only is my fur growing in an unnatural pattern, but I am part demon. I am different. I have no pity for her. I will only intervene if Chill starts slipping.”

While what Ilere had said was true, Lana didn’t hate them for it. And it wasn’t just Chill’s will running through her mind that felt that way - even beforehand she hadn’t hated them. They hated her, and it hurt, but she had been convinced that they were right. She had inherited Tiger’s Primal Fangs, and they were nothing to be proud of. They were a sign of the curse that had led to Tiger being a machine of hatred and malice.

Remembering how much she used to hate Chill and herself made Lana feel glad he had used the whip against her. She felt so much happier now. And watching Sandy struggle made her feel all the more grateful to Ilere for hypnotizing her to make it quick.

Chill’s will remained an unbreakable wall and Sandy slowly stopped fighting. Her thrashing got weaker and weaker until, after one last huge effort, she stilled, breathing heavily, her eyes dull. Her will acted likewise, repeating her mantra of independence over and over again until it was just a whimper. And then, after an exclamation of I hate you! it was extinguished. The whip retreated into Chill’s paw.

The whole ordeal had lasted over an hour, but Ilere hadn’t had to intervene.

“That felt dirty,” Chill said.

“It would have gone faster had you actually tried,” Ilere responded. “As it was, you just waited for her to run herself out of energy.”

“You’re the one who wanted me to do this.” Chill snarled. “Why didn’t you help this time?”

“You weren’t losing,” she said.

Chill huffed. Lana sensed him give the command to Sandy to rise and act relatively normal. Just not aggressive while they were still alone.

Ilere’s dark wisps cleared and Sandy got to her feet. She looked indignant. “Okay, you win. What do you want with me now?”

“You will return and act as normal to start with,” Ilere said.

“I’m asking Chill, not you,” Sandy said.

“She has the right idea,” Chill said. “Don’t let anyone know what happened to you if you can help it.”

“What about Lightning?” Sandy asked. “She’s a mage and might sense it.”

“Is she the one with the cobweb markings?” Lana asked.

Sandy nodded.

“She could tell something about me just by looking,” Lana said. “She’ll know.”

Ilere sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would have chosen her first. Chill, perhaps we should do this one more time, for safety.”

“No,” Chill said. “I can’t repeat that ordeal again so soon. Sandy, you’ll just have to quell her fears by acting normal. If nothing happens for long enough, I’m sure she’ll lose her suspicions.”

“It does help that she already doesn’t like me,” Sandy said thoughtfully. “I’ve prevented her from doing her rituals many times out of distrust of mages. The others are more likely to write it off as her having a grudge.“

---

Ilere led the way back to the place the two hunting parties had been knocked out. Lana and Sandy lagged behind far enough that she couldn’t hear them talking.

“How do you feel?” Lana asked.

Sandy flicked her tail. “I’m a bit annoyed you decided to do this to me only to send me back with a request to act as I was. What’s the point?”

“To have someone on our side,” Lana said. “So you guys will come back. Maybe not soon, but someday, when you can convince everyone.”

“Maybe when Ashes retires,” Sandy said, “but that’s not exactly what Chill wants, is it? Penelope retired - she’s never going to rejoin. There won’t be this big happy reunion like he wants. All I can do is try to keep Lightning from stirring up trouble. I think she wants us to war with you.”

“If she does, we know you’re on our side,” Lana said. “I’d say you could be our spy, but Ilere already has that covered.”

“So Lightning was right; someone was watching through my eyes?”

"That was probably her, yes.”

Ilere stopped ahead of them - they had arrived where the hunting lionesses were still suspended in enchanted sleep.

“I am not quite powerful enough to erase their memories,” Ilere said, “Sandy, you will have to act as if you fought against me and won, freeing them from my spell. You must call a retreat.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Sandy said.

They took their positions. Ilere flopped down as if knocked over and Sandy hovered over her, unsheathing her claws and bearing her teeth. The lionesses slowly woke up.

“Retreat!” Sandy shouted. “Before she recovers!”

The lionesses in her alliance shot up as soon as they were able, hastening away from Ilere’s influence. Sandy roared in Ilere’s face as if giving her a warning and ran off after them.

Once they were gone, Sunrise hesitantly approached. “Ilere, why did you make everyone sleep? And why did you hit us as well?”

“I didn’t hit you,” Ilere said. “They have a mage, too. She attacked first. I retaliated. One of their lionesses was very resistant, though, and I had to hypnotize her. But even then, she broke free. Perhaps I need more practice.”

Sunrise seemed to accept that explanation. “Oh. Well, thank you for defending us, then.” She looked up at the sky, probably puzzled as to how much time had passed. “Let’s get back to hunting.”

---

Lightning hadn’t said anything to Sandy’s face, but it was clear she knew something was up. She kept giving her the strangest looks before looking away.

If she wasn’t going to bring it up, neither was Sandy. Sandy looked across the drylake, now empty due to it being dry season. If everyone came back together again, would they have to leave this place? It had been their home for generations.

The piebald cub ran gleefully along the sandy edge, playing chase with her brother.

“Are you still against rituals of every kind?”

Sandy jumped as Lightning spoke, standing a respectful distance behind her.

“Yes,” Sandy said. “We will not be using spells on our pridemates.”

“Even to dispel the evil magic used on you? The others seem to have recovered completely, but you still seem to be under some dark influence.”

Meercats. Lightning thought Ilere had done this to her, and that it could be reversed. It would be suspicious to refuse. What should she say? Should she let her try to dispel it? What if it worked? Would Sandy want it to work?

“Do you know what this spell does?” Lightning asked at Sandy’s lack of response. “Surely you can feel it. It’s pretty powerful.”

“Do you know what it does?” Sandy asked. “I don’t feel any different, actually.”

Lightning tilted her head. “It’s the same spell as was on one of the lionesses in Chill’s pride. Not the dark mage, but the one with long fangs. Perhaps it mutates your body.”

“Lana had the fangs her whole life,” Sandy said. “I don’t think that’s the result of a spell. I’d rather not be your experiment if you don’t know what you’re facing. Maybe it’s intended for you to try to cure, only for its latent effect to establish itself. It might be best to leave it alone unless it starts making me feel sick.”

“I would have thought you’d be more concerned,” Lightning said. “You may have a point, though. Trying to dispel dark magic is almost as dangerous as using it in the first place. I’ll just keep an eye on you and report if there’s any change. Will you do the same if you notice anything?”

Sandy nodded. “Of course.”

That went better than expected.

#lioden #lion pride story

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