#Kingdom Hearts Bird Saga

[goldenchocobo]

I guess this is a trend with me now. Flowers are out, pigeons are IN.

Meanwhile...

[yaeggravate]

interesting things from kaeya's hangout:

kaeya played a character who is based on siyavash, a figure from the epic, shahnameh (the book of kings). siyavash was unjustly executed by his father-in-law, afrasiab. in iranian folklore the flowers fritillaria imperialis are said to bow their heads to weep for his tragic end. these flowers are the inspiration behind the mourning flower in genshin.

(the gate of khaenri'ah is located in hangeh afrasiab, named after the place afrasiab was killed by siyavash's son kay khosrow. whether or not kaeya's first name is derived from him/the kayanians is unknown.)

according to the mourning flower's description, the locals believe the survivors from the cataclysm are barred from eternal samsara (rebirth) due to being stained by the darkness.

during the play, kaeya wields the sword the harbinger of dawn. the sword's name emphasizes the story from the veluriyam mirage in which kaeya plays a character from a dark realm who is searching for light. it's also reminiscent of the poem venti gives kaeya.

kaeya is seen talking to a dusk bird. these birds chirp in morse code and are believed to have understood human speech once. in wagner's ring saga, the character siegfried is unable to understand a woodbird's song. he tries to mimick the melody in an attempt to get attuned to it but fails. (eventually he does manage to understand the bird after tasting the blood of a dragon he slayed.) it might just be a funny coincidence, but it's interesting kaeya is paralleled to siegfried here, when kaeya himself is based on hagen from the same story. this all goes back to kaeya's determination to defy the roles dictated by fate. hagen was a villain but siegfried was a hero.

kaeya gives you a lamp as a furnishing gift. he says that according to the merchant he bought it from it once housed a powerful jinni. the lamp's color scheme is similar to the sword xiphos' moonlight. this sword houses a (now-silent) jinni, and it was wielded by xiphos, a prince from a fallen kingdom.

kaeya claims (or jokes) he can make his coin do whatever he wishes of it. however, he can only do this with his own coin (the one from his idle animation). the symbol on the mora coin is a triquetra on top of an upside down 'triangle', which just so happens to bear a striking resemblance to the symbol for kaeya's passive talent glacial heart.

kaeya hints that there's an inept god controlling everyone's fate. this has actually been brought up several times in game. it's speculated that the three moon sisters are based on the fates or morai from greek mythology. the description of xiphos's moonlight corroborates this. according to the jinni, the moon goddesses already decided everyone's fate long before they died. (interestingly enough, the lamp kaeya gives you is called mysterious lamp of fate ordained.) it's possible the triquetra symbolizes the moon sisters like how it symbolizes the triple goddesses in neopaganism.

according to klee, kaeya has been reading her the story of the fox in the dandelion sea. at the end of the book, it is revealed the protagonist is stuck in a loop. kaeya hasn't read her the ending yet.

[inspirationalucky]

🐎 EPIC: The Musical: Act One, The Troy Saga sentence starters. Because the lines are just That Good. Going by the exact lyrics mostly, definitely change things to fit your muse's situation<3

The Horse & the Infant

"Ten long years they've killed us slowly."

"Your family wonders where you've been."

"They're growing old, and yet you're still here."

"Do what I say and you'll see them again."

"What do you live for?"

"What do you fight for?"

"I fight for us."

"What is to come cannot be outrun, can only be dealt with right here and now."

"Say no more, I know that I'm ready."

"I don't think you're ready."

"What sort of imminent threat does he pose that I cannot avoid?"

"If you don't end him now, you'll have no one left to save."

"He will burn your house and throne."

"He'll find you wherever you go."

"This is the will of the gods."

"Please, don't make me do this"

"The blood on your hands is something you won't lose, all you can choose is whose."

Just A Man

"I look into your eyes and I think back to the son of mine."

"You're as old as he was when I left for war."

"Will these actions haunt my days?"

"Is the price I pay endless pain?"

"Close your eyes and spare yourself the view."

"How could I hurt you?"

"I'm just a man who's trying to go home."

"I'm just a man who's fighting for his life."

"Deep down, I would trade the world to see my son and wife."

"When does a man become a monster?"

"When does the reason become the blame?"

"Forgive me."

Full Speed Ahead

"Six hundred men under my command with only one goal in mind: make it back alive to our homeland."

"The problem's not the distance, it's what lies in between."

"My kingdom is waiting!"

"We've run out of supplies to eat."

“Curse the war, our food store’s depleted.”

"Watch where the birds fly, they will lead us to land."

"Look! There in the distance!"

"Maybe they'll share some food, who knows?"

"Something feels off here."

"I say we strike first, we don't have time to waste."

"Gear up, you and I'll go ahead."

"We should try to find a way no one ends up dead."

"Give me 'til sunrise."

Open Arms

"I can tell you're getting nervous."

"Do yourself a service and try to relax, my friend."

"I know that you're tired of the war and bloodshed."

"Is this how we're supposed to live?"

"Why should we take when we could give?"

"You could show a person that you trust them when you stop and lower your guard."

"We're only here for food."

"Stay back, I'm warning you!"

"If we don't get back safely, my men will turn this place into blazes!"'

"This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms."

"It's a lotus, it controls your mind and never lets you free."

"That's what we'd get with open arms."

"I want to show my friend that kindness is brave."

"We'll be fine if we're leading from the heart!"

"I see in your face there is so much guilt inside your heart."

Warrior of the Mind

"Have you forgotten the lessons I taught you?"

"Have you forgotten to turn off your heart? This is not you."

"I see you changing from how I've designed you."

"Have you forgotten your purpose? Let me remind you."

"I had a challenge, a test of skill."

"Maybe one day he'll follow me and we'll make a greater tomorrow."

"I know he'll change the world."

"If there's a problem, he'll have the answer."

"I know you're watching me, show yourself!"

"How can you see through me spell?"

"I was lying, and you fell for my bluff!"

"Well done! Enlighten me, what's your name?"

"Nice try, but two can play this game."

"Nah, don't be modest, I know you're a goddess!"

"So let's be honest, you are Athena!"

"If you're looking for a mentor, I'll make sure your time's well spent."

"I still intend to make sure you don't fall behind."

"Don't disappoint me."

[cut-content-contest]

Matchups, Round One!

Botsun | beta Alice Yabusame (Your Turn to Die)

playable Zelda (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword) | Vah Manta (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)

life indicator rune | early concepts (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)

Termina Ganondorf (The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask) | Unicorn Fountain (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

cut dungeons (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker) | The Legend of Zelda: Mystical Seed of Courage

Yosuke Hanamura romance route (Persona 4) | devil Joker boss fight (Persona 2)

Moonjumper | Timmy (A Hat in Time)

Sand n Sails | Vanessa's manor third floor (A Hat in Time)

distilled emotions (Psychonauts 2) | Li-Po document (Psychonauts)

human woman (Star Fox 2) | Dinosaur Planet (Star Fox Adventures)

Michael Tutori (Wii Music) | fish render (Wii Party)

"like, half the game" (combined with cut levels of Monty Gator Golf) (Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach) | coconut.vtf (Team Fortress 2)

F-Stop | Cave Johnson cube (Portal 2)

Czar Dragon (Final Fantasy VI) | musketeer class (Final Fantasy XIV)

room_water_prebird (Undertale) | unused art (Undertale console versions)

twisted sword | everybody weapon (Deltarune)

unused Ralsei battle (Deltarune) | final boss battle backgrounds (Mother 3)

wolf howls | beast boy (Minecraft)

Rana | Steve and Black Steve (Minecraft)

beta Arceus | beta Giratina/Kimairan | ???-type Arceus (Pokémon Diamond/Pearl)

Pokémon Z | Paldean sea and skysphere (Pokémon Scarlet/Violet)

cut beta pokémon (combined with unused baby pokémon) (Pokémon Gold/Silver) | Kotora and Raitora (Pokémon Red/Green and Gold/Silver)

unused trade theme | Mew (Pokémon Red/Green)

Honey the Cat (Sonic the Fighters) | Tiara Boobowski (Sonic Xtreme)

good Cortex (split from Good Cortex and Evil Coco) | evil Coco (Crash Twinsanity)

8 beta colossi (combined with Spider colossus) (Shadow of the Colossus) | "Hot Coffee" minigame (NSFW) (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)

backdash | ancient_bench (Hollow Knight)

extended Abyss | Pure Vessel dream nail dialogue (Hollow Knight)

the Aviary | Daylight Prairie invisible boat | early Isle of Dawn (split from the entirety of Sky: Light Awaits) (Sky: Children of the Light)

arms on the player characters (Journey) | Omori keyhole cutscene (OMORI)

original rabbit designs (Splatoon) | octoling backup dancers (Splatoon 2)

Singing Mountain (Chrono Trigger) | multiplayer sabre (Halo: Reach)

Selph/Self | robo NiGHTS (NiGHTS into Dreams)

fur (Wobbledogs) | Ancient Castle Spires (Neopets: The Darkest Faerie)

Dude (Hylics) | FN F2000 (Hot Dogs, Horseshoes, and Hand Grenades)

BomBom (Angry Birds) | Snick the Porcupine (Pizza Tower)

Golden Deer!Ashe (Fire Emblem: Three Houses) | Jagen death scene (Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light)

Laura Cruz (Tomb Raider) | Kale quest (Eldin Ring)

Dragon King: The Fighting Game (Super Smash Bros.) | Melee selected animations (Super Smash Bros. Melee)

Meteor Slime (Slime Rancher) | SNES CD-ROM (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)

the original story (Bayonetta 3) | Kid Kirby

Bionis Shoulder (Xenoblade Chronicles) | pitcher plants (The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion)

Phoenix Wright heart eyes | early concept art (Ace Attorney)

cut character models | docks mission (Dreamfall Chapters)

Musa boss battle (Skeleton Boomerang) | the plot (Ace Combat 03: Electrosphere)

Starbeans café crossover cameos (Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga) | Bottles's Revenge (Banjo-Tooie)

Shipwreck Cove (MySims Kingdom) | MySims Agents 2

Shockwave (Genshin Impact) | doki17.mp3 (Doki-Doki Literature Club)

Satsuki Rin (Touhou Project: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil) | anti-piracy measures (Higurashi: When They Cry)

elh (Luigi's Mansion) | Tramplin' Stu (Super Mario Sunshine)

cats (Super Paper Mario Korean version) | dragonhead flower (Super Mario Galaxy)

[job-ross-the-second]

My favorite parts in epic: the the Troy saga (I'm literally so fucking in love with it like dhjdndndjdndd) :

Warrior of the mind -

I was lying and you fell for my bluff

HaHaHa

-

Sounds like a plan

Goddess and man

Bestest of friends

We'll see where it ends

**sigh okay

Open arms -

just the lotus eaters on general cause like they genuinely sound hilarious

-

You can relax my friend

Huh

I can tell you're getting nervous

So do yourself a service

And try to relax my friend

I'm fine polities

-

My friend greet the world with open arms

-

This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms

Whatever we face, we'll be fine if we lead from the heart

-

My friend I wish that I could say I agree

But look a the way this fruit is glowing

The horse and the infant-

I could raise him as my OWWWN

Or send far away from HOMME

Make sure his past is never KNOWWWWN

ID RATHER BLEED FOR YA DOWN ON MY KNEES FOR YA

I'm BEGGING PLEASE

PLEASE DONT MAKEE DO THIS

Just a man -

When does a comet became a meteor

When does a candle become a blaze

When does a man become a mONSTERRR

When does a ripple become a tidal wave

When does the reason become the blame

When does a man become a mONSTERR

Full speed a head-

And Ithacas waiting

My kingdom is waiting

Penelopes waitinnng for me

-

Six hundred reasons to take what what we can

So captain what's the plan

(CAPTAIN WHATS THE PLAN)

Watch where the birds fly

They will lead us to land

Then we'll hunt for food, my second in command

[theothershin]

More Fic Writer Asks

(Using it for original works and fanfics, since OP said that's okay)

the last sentence you wrote "Raising his hands in surrender, Gunther said, 'Take me to Arthur.' " - Heroically Foul

a character whose POV you’re currently exploring "And so he was loved because he was good at operating the kingdom, but only we know his black heart and dark ambitions." - Preservation of Those Three: Tybalt Arthur Verrell

how you feel about your current WIP Confidant. I feel like I'll get this done in a year or two, and well. There'll need to be rewrites and edits, but not much. Excited to put my thoughts down and share it with the world.

a story idea you haven’t written yet What if Romeo left Juliet, and she decided to marry Paris, and discovered he isn't all that bad after all?

first sentence of the fifth paragraph of an unpublished WIP "But how to get to him?" - A Dream, a Heroically Foul side story

the word that appears the most in your current draft (wordcounter.net can tell you) More, been, and one. Not very interesting, but then again, I just barely began.

your preferred writing fonts Lobster for titles; Bad Script for chapter titles; Architect's Daughter for narration.

if you had to write a sequel to a fic, you’d write one for… Help, video game fandom Aragami 2. it's a very in-depth and detailed version of one of the quests in the game where you play the main character, Kuro, or Warrior, going mad with anger and the desire for revenge - but you have lots of freedom. I took away that feeling of freedom, to show that he was doing what he was doing automatically, out of obligation, rather than because he really wanted to. I would write a sequel and even prequel cuz the game has great moments that would be great if narrated.

start to finish, how long did it take you to write the last fic you posted? A little under a week, I believe.

what is the longest amount of time you’ve let a draft rest before you finished it? Years. Let's leave it at that, yeah?

a WIP you’d like to finish someday Previously called My Lord, now renamed A World of Shadows, and more names pending, the fic is for the fandom, The Saga of Darren Shan/Cirque Du Freak, by tween Master of Horror Darren Shan. In the original book, two sides are fighting a war, and the fate of both sides lie with the main character, Darren Shan(has the same name as the author), and his friend, Steve "Leopard" Leonard. Darren, warned that his victory would eventually cause him to stray from righteousness in arrogance, sacrifices himself to kill Steve. In my fic, he kills only Steve - not himself. It explores Steve's mentor, Gannen Harst, as he tries to deal with his friend's death, his allegiance, losing the war, and his own brother - all while Darren slowly begins to lose himself to the dark side.

a trope you’re really into right now Medieval power struggle. Yes, I know. I told my sister just the day before writing this, "They're annoying in real life, but..." and then realised that isn't true. Sure, they can be annoying, but they interest me. Look into the morality/psychology, especially when there's sour kings who've gotten the wrong hand and are right but also wrong.

a fandom you’re thinking about writing for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The lore is vast and endless, and in a story where the main character's personality doesn't already exist yet they aren't just a blank-looking person and there's space to build a unique personality for them and act on it, there's lots of space for a fanfic.

where do you get your inspiration? Everything - literally.

favorite weather for writing Spring weather - it's ample time to sit down and write, but the weather itself is lovely. The birds are chirping in the sky, and sometimes they swoop down for a few seconds to grace you with the sight of their feathers; the ocean waves(I especially would love to write by the waves) crash against the rocks and sometimes splash on your face - but that's okay, because it feels good, and the bright, warm sun dries your book - and the sounds of nature helps you think.

favorite place to write I'm generally not allowed to sit and write when we're out and about, so on my desk. There's the most privacy, and I've written there so much that there's a vibe.

talk about your writing and editing process It changes over time and depending on which story it is and what type of story it is. I write fanfics between my originals - in school, between chapters, during writer's block for a specific story - and for originals, I write them every chance I can. I write down ideas for them whenever I can and have the notes stored away. When the time comes, I take out the notes and pour over them, changing them according to what I believe should be different and so on... I write down most of the events(then gradually all of them) and write them out of order(choosing from writing prompts), then put them together and read them in order. Then I edit them in order.

if you keep them, share a deleted sentence or paragraph from a published fic I don't keep them, though it would be cool to be able to look back at it. I sort of keep originals, but I haven't published any yet.

the most interesting topic you’ve researched for a fic Prison. In my fanfic, Timeline, the main character goes to jail and rots away there until the end of his life.

in what year did you publish your first fic? 2021

when did you publish your most recent fic? 6 Jan 2024

do you ever worry about public reaction to what you’re writing? how do you get past that? Sometimes I worry, sometimes I don't. I write for myself. I got upset by some hateful comments once upon a time, and told my sister about it after following the criticism that they were saying, and she told me that they were wrong, and that they were only being hateful. I realise that since then, if the comment isn't nice, I block the comment and decide whether I'll adhere to it or not. I'm not a popular writer so I barely get comments and/or kudos, but when I do, it strengthens my resolve to be a great writer, but I don't let it affect me beyond that.

pick three keywords that describe your writing Messy but Organised

how do you recharge when you’re not feeling creative? Organise notes. Read stuff. Play games. Do anything but be creative.

besides writing, what are your other hobbies? Reading novels and non-fiction. Playing games.

are you able to write with other people around? No. I don't know why. but the words fly away from me.

your favorite part of the writing process When everything's clicking together and my creative drive is never-ending and I get into flow.

your least favorite part of the writing process When the creativity dries up.

how easy is it for you to come up with titles? Not easy at all. I do it as I go along, but usually I get the right one when I'm done writing it.

share a fic you’re especially proud of Talk, for the novel series The Demonata by Darren Shan. It was inspired by Zukos_Honour and it's simple, to the point and savours the slowburn-one shot feels.

[bookclub4m]

Episode 181 - Summer 2023 Media Update

This episode it’s time for our Summer 2023 Media Update! We talk about chairs, orangutans, weird music, and 17 novellas! Plus, lots more!

You can download the podcast directly, find it on Libsyn, or get it through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favourite podcast delivery system.

In this episode

Anna Ferri | Meghan Whyte | Matthew Murray | Jam Edwards

Media & Things we Talked About 

Meghan

Graphic Novels

L'Esprit du camp by Cab, Michel Falardo

Friday by Ed Brubaker, Marcos Martín, coloured by Muntsa Vicente

Birds of Maine by Michael DeForge

Looking at Stuff

Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny Odell

A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There by Aldo Leopold, Charles W. Schwartz (illustrator)

Outside Lies Magic: Regaining History and Awareness in Everyday Places by John R. Stilgoe

Novellas

Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire

The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo

Voidwitch Saga by Corey J. White

Matthew

Ducks by Kate Beaton

Weird Music

Venjent - Flowin' with the Vibe

Venjent - Tapping Away

Venjent - Create Machines

Jacek Dzwonowsk - Triple concerto for faucet, water pipes and fiddle

Boys Noize & Pussy Riot - "Chastity" feat. Alice Glass

“Put it in a dick cage”

Yakuza 0 (Wikipedia)

Jam

Captain Disillusion

Orangutan Card Trick DEBUNK

Corridor Crew

VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGi 57 (Ft. Captain Disillusion)

VFX Artists React to Amazing Movie Props With Adam Savage!

The Girl I Am, Was, and Will Never Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption by Shannon Gibney

Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Wikipedia)

‘Breath of the Wild’ is the Zelda Adventure I've Always Wanted by Austin Walker

Anna

Classy with Jonathan Menjivar

LoadingReadyRun - Swap & Shop - Selling Edition

Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art

Photos of chairs (on Matthew’s Instagram account)

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

18 Non-Fiction Military Books by BIPOC Authors

Every month Book Club for Masochists: A Readers’ Advisory Podcasts chooses a genre at random and we read and discuss books from that genre. We also put together book lists for each episode/genre that feature works by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Colour) authors. All of the lists can be found here.

Transformed: A Navy SEAL’s Unlikely Journey from the Throne of Africa, to the Streets of the Bronx, to Defying All Odds by Remi Adeleke

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

Unbecoming: A Memoir of Disobedience by Anuradha Bhagwati

Infinite Hope: A Black Artist's Journey from World War II to Peace by Ashley Bryan

Gabriel Dumont Speaks by Gabriel Dumont, translated by Michael Barnholden

Body Counts: The Vietnam War and Militarized Refugees by Yen Le Espiritu

They Called Us "Lucky": The Life and Afterlife of the Iraq War's Hardest Hit Unit by Ruben Gallego

Knocking Down Barriers: My Fight for Black America by Truman K. Gibson Jr.

Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins

Ira Hayes: The Akimel O'odham Warrior, World War II, and the Price of Heroism by Tom Holm

Strong Hearts, Wounded Souls: Native American Veterans of the Vietnam War by Tom Holm

Sounding Thunder: The Stories of Francis Pegahmagabow by Brian D. McInnes

The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII by Chester Nez

Duty, Honour and Izzat: From Golden Fields to Crimson - Punjab's Brothers in Arms in Flanders by Steven Purewal

Call Me Chef, Dammit!: A Veteran’s Journey from the Rural South to the White House by Andre Rush

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

From the Tundra to the Trenches by Eddy Weetaltuk

Now Let Me Fly: A Portrait of Eugene Bullard by Ronald Wimberly

Give us feedback!

Fill out the form to ask for a recommendation or suggest a genre or title for us to read!

Check out our Tumblr, follow us on Instagram, join our Facebook Group, or send us an email!

Join us again on Tuesday, September 5th when we’ll be discussing the format of Lyric Poetry!

Then on Tuesday, September 19th it’s time for our One Book One Podcast as we discuss the novel Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey!

[sabugabr]

Brazilian's Inland Cinema and It's Unique Beauty (3/3)

Continuing from part 2...

So, to wrap this all up and lock it with a golden key (Brazilian saying) I'd like to talk about a Brazilian work from the 2005 whose central themes were the Brazilian imaginary, folklore and popular culture:

HOJE É DIA DE MARIA (TODAY IS MARIA'S DAY)

aka the series that seemed very much for children but actually WAS NOT MADE FOR CHILDREN AT ALL and therefore traumatized a whole generation of kids who watched it thinking it was for kids and were ROUNDLY FOOLED

But at the same time it is one of our most beautiful productions

THE FIRST JOURNEY

Hojé é Dia de Maria was inspired by folkloric and mythical elements present in popular orality tales, to tell the saga of Maria (Mary), divided in two journeys.

The series adapts folk tales and festivals, mixing theatrical scenarios with an aesthetic derived from the study of the imaginary of dreams.

This festival is called Folia de Reis (King's Revelry), where people in monstrous costumes dance frantically incorporating the demons that run the earth on the 6th day of the year. This festival is very common in the countryside of Brazil

In the first journey, Mariazinha, still a girl, loses her mother and lives between her stepmother's malice and her father's drunkenness in the Sertão. Seduced with honeycombs (that later turn into gall) her stepmother buries her in her traveling father's land and there grows a very green grass. When her father returns, passing through that land, he hears the girl's singing and digs her up, resurrecting her.

This culminates in Maria's escape, who runs away from home to chase her heart's desire: find the fringes of the sea. Her only companions are the Virgin Mary (who appears to her in the figure of her mother) and a big, silver bird, her protector.

Along the journey, when helping a flute seller recover his shadow, that had been stolen by the Devil, Maria ends up arousing the fury of the Devil himself, Asmodeus, "The Lord of Missteps", who starts to chase her in his multiple facets.

And one of the tricks Maria uses to recognize the Devil's disguises is his characteristic walk — in popular culture it is said that the Devil can only walk sideways.

After being tricked by the girl multiple times, Asmodeus casts a curse on Maria: He steals her childhood. Blood runs down Maria's leg, and suddenly she turns into a grown woman.

Lost in a land where the sun never sets, the now adult Maria finally arrives in a kingdom where she manages to build a new life, always accompanied by the silver bird. (and not knowing that all along, her father had abandoned everything to go after her, repentant and covered in grief)

There, Maria quickly matures and finds security in herself, matching her new exterior.

If you can/want to, please watch this video (I subtitled it). It's a perfect example of the translation of the latina life into the imaginary, and you also get the chance to hear a Cordel being beautifully recited. And yes, that's her father over there. Long story

Things change when the kingdom's castle — inhabited by metallic creatures cursed by a selfish prince doomed to wear an iron mask — offers a big ball. There, the Prince falls madly in love with Maria, who also steals the heart of a young Saltimbanco (a kind of minstrel)

She refuses them, for by drawing an arrow that she found trapped between the feathers of the silver bird, Mary calls the night back to earth. And in the dark of night, the bird transforms into a young man (entitled to a Beauty and The Beast - like scene), whom Maria discovers to love.

And I'm telling you, their dialogues could make Shakespeare BLUSH. And I'd like to add that all the quotes I'm putting here in the original are in rhymes, but as I lack the necessary English grammatical knowledge, I couldn't translate rhyming and I'm devastated. So please pretend all these phrases are rhyming, will you?

But as he only assumes human form at night (while by day his destiny is to roam the land like a bird and etc etc), Mary divides her days between inhabiting the realm of Men in the sunlight, and meeting her love in the ethereal light of the moon.

And yes, ONCE AGAIN your eyes don't deceive you, yes, it's Rodrigo Santoro again. Look at him go

And then a lot of things happen, but to make matters short : The Devil discovers that he is still unable to defeat Maria, and intimidated by the growing love between her and the bird-man, he turns her into a child again — because, envious, he ican't withstand a power greater than his own.

Night is banished from the land, and Maria, now a child with no memories of her adult life, finally finds the Sea. And then she begins her second journey.

THE SECOND JOURNEY

This part will be briefer, because from now on things get absurdly sad and it makes me sad, so basically what happens is:

Jumping into the Sea, the little Maria arrives at a very strange land, where she encounters a sleeping giant. Maria is swallowed by the giant and enters the "real" world for the first time, finding herself in a strange city inhabited only by puppets.

Here, the Devil takes the form of the puppet-master, who shelters Mary for occult and dismal purposes. She is forced to work for him, pretending to also be a puppet, and then Maria discovers violence, consumerism, the exploitation of minors, female oppression, market laws, greed and war. (and yes, the puppets are SCARY AS SHIT. That played a big part in the childhood trauma stuff I mentioned at the beginning of the post)

She finally manages to flee from the horror of her plight, and encounters a noble knight errant, Don Quixote Chico Chicote, defender of poetry and justice, who tells her: “It is through dreams that we go"

Yes, it's Rodrigo Santoro again. There's a big metaphor going on here, guys

Don Chicote wanders the world, accompanied only by a stray dog, seeking justice and crying out "Hail the Human Heart!", being ignored by everyone. IT'S SAD AS HELL, SO I'LL SKIP THE DETAILS

Maria becomes Don Chico's squire, he makes her manage to trust and dream again, and they hold to one another. They leave on a journey: She seeks to return home, and he seeks to fly and to find his loved one: Dulcinea Rosicler.

Several bad things happen, they fall into the sea, and finally they return to the beginning — the Sertão. As Don Chico lost all his memories in the fall, now is Maria who protects him.

Together, they build wings for Don Chico, who takes flight with his beloved, reunited at last. Maria finally catches sight of her house, and in a final clash with the Devil, she embodies Jorge da Capadócia (Saint George), a HUGE popular figure in Brazilian folklore (he's the one who goes to the Moon to slay a dragon). You can find in Brazil a lot of popular images in which the dragon figure is replaced by the Devil. But back on track

A lightning flashes, a curse is lifited, and the little Maria wakes up in her bed, out of a strong fever, in her loving father's arms. The end.

IN CONCLUSION

Taken to the extreme, this work perfectly translates what would be our fairy tale. If you want to watch Today is Maria's Day (you can easily find it subtitled on the internet, and you can watch the sub Emmy trailer right here!), I'm sure you'll recognize several elements that came from European tales (this post only covers the bottom of this fable), but represented in a very, very different way. Such as the case of the Magical Realism, we made these tales our own. They are ingraved in our culture, beautifully.

Both Hoje é Dia de Maria and O Auto da Compadecida stand out for me because they can translate the imaginary of a colonized culture, and if you decide to watch any of these works, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, or that my posts can somehow help you understand them better!

Once again, thank you so, so much for reading!!!

[goldenchocobo]

Based on this:

[auspiciousotter]

M6 as Cosplayers

Asra:

Likes to cosplay but is pretty chill about it.

Will put in the work to make the outfits, but doesn’t fuss about being 100% accurate or detailed. It’s all for fun, so why worry too much.

Prefers to do couples cosplay with MC, or to rope Muriel into a matching one, but will happily solo as well.

Example cosplays: Riku from Kingdom Hearts, Kotaro Tastsumi from Zombie Land Saga, and Disney prince/princess if MC joins him.

Nadia:

Nadia has the best cosplays hands down.

It helps being able to afford commissioning outfits, wigs, etc, but she’s also really good at making mechanical props (like moving bird wings).

Second best make-up game, but it’s a very close second.

Will often create original characters just to show off her prop making skills.

Example non-oc cosplay: Bayonetta, Lady Dimitrescu fromRE8, and Urabosa from BoTW

Julian:

This guy was a drama kid, so cosplay is right up his alley.

He’s not great at making the outfits, but that’s what he’s got his sister for! His talent is more in getting into character (makes him the best at tiktok cosplay)

Prefers cosplays that allow him to hide his eye, and the scars around it, especially if the character is already wearing an eyepatch/facial covering.

Example cosplays: Majima from Yakuza, Dmitri from FE Three Houses, and Corvo from Dishonored.

Muriel:

Absolutely does closest cosplay when he’s forced to dress up.

Would wear a shirt saying “this is my cosplay”. That’s the level of effort you get out of him

Really doesn’t want to be here, but Asra made him join.

He’ll use his woodworking skills to help Asra or MC with making their cosplays, but otherwise doesn’t really understand the appeal.

Example cosplay: Whatever MC asks him to wear, so long as it isn’t super revealing.

Portia:

Adores cosplaying! She loves everything about it, from making dresses, styling wigs, doing makeup. She isn’t expert level, but she’s got some skills.

A resourceful cosplayer. She can work wizardry with almost anything, finding the most random odds and ends to turn into props or accessories. Also knows how to cosplay on a budget, though she will splurge sometimes.

Likes to do off the wall creative cosplays the best, ones where she can have fun.

Example cosplays: Pokemon Gijinka, [any character] but with fishnets, and Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn

Lucio:

All of his cosplays are commissioned specifically for him. He can’t be bothered to make any of the pieces and he has the money, so why not.

He does his own make up though, and it’s always on point.

Prefers to either do sexy bad guys, or hero characters, and insists that MC couple cosplay (with him commissioning them an outfit, please MC they have to be the same level of quality or it won’t work, no, I’m not saying your bad at making cosplays –sweats-)

Favorite cosplays: Both Cloud and Sephiroth from FF7 (he just can’t decide), and Dio from Jojo’s

[booksociety]

Book Society presents its November reading event! This time our members have selected Behind the Mask as the theme and A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown as the optional book of the month. The event will be full of mystery, as we’ll be reading books featuring a prominent theme of secret or hidden identity. We hope you come and join us! This event is open to everyone, not just our members.

✧ how to participate:

optional: reblog this post; check out our network and members

read (or reread) either A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #1) (young adult, fantasy, romance; 480 pages; TW & CW: death, animal death, panic disorder) or a book of your choice that fits this month’s theme

share what book you’ve chosen, thoughts, reactions, and/or creations

use the tag #booksocietynet (see terms of use) in your event posts, and include “@booksociety’s Behind the Mask Event: [insert book title here]” in the description of your creations

the event starts on November 1 and ends on November 30

✧ reading recommendations (under the cut):

Across a Star-Swept Sea (For Darkness Shows the Stars #2) by Diana Peterfreund (young adult, dystopian, romance; 449 pages)

Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness #1) by Tamora Pierce (middle grade, fantasy; 274 pages)

A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1) by Alyssa Cole (adult, contemporary, romance; 360 pages)

A Song Below Water (A Song Below Water #1) by Bethany C. Morrow (young adult, fantasy, contemporary; 288 pages; TW & CW: suicidal intent, police brutality, racism)

Bonds of Brass (The Bloodright Trilogy #1) by Emily Skrutskie (young adult, sci-fi, lgbt+; 304 pages; TW & CW: violence, war, invasion, oppression)

Bring Me Their Hearts (Bring Me Their Hearts #1) by Sara Wolf (young adult, fantasy, romance; 370 pages; TW & CW: violence, blood, gore)

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer (young adult, sci-fi, romance; 400 pages; TW & CW: terminal illness, child death, child abuse, ableism)

Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity #1) by Elizabeth Wein (young adult, historical; 352 pages; TW & CW: torture, death, war)

Cruel Beauty (Cruel Beauty #1) by Rosamund Hodge (young adult, fantasy, romance, retelling; 346 pages)

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia (young adult, contemporary, romance, mental health; 385 pages; TW & CW: suicidal intent, anxiety, bullying, cyberbullying)

Fake Like Me by Barbara Bourland (adult, contemporary, mystery, thriller; 368 pages)

Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist #1) by Renée Ahdieh (young adult, fantasy, romance, historical; 392 pages; TW & CW: ritual suicide, death, violence)

From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (new adult, fantasy, romance; 634 pages)

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Robin LaFevers (young adult, fantasy, romance, historical; 549 pages; TW & CW: sexual assault, physical abuse, violence, gore)

Jackpot by Nic Stone (young adult, contemporary, romance; 345 pages)

Legendborn (Legendborn #1) by Tracy Deonn (young adult, fantasy, romance, retellings; 512 pages)

Magyk (Septimus Heap #1) by Angie Sage (middle grade, fantasy; 564 pages)

Mirage (Mirage #1) by Somaiya Daud (young adult, sci-fi, romance; 320 pages; TW & CW: torture, death, violence, gore, racism)

Openly Straight (Openly Straight #1) by Bill Koningsberg (young adult, contemporary, romance, lgbt+; 320 pages)

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay (young adult, fantasy, romance, retelling; 400 pages)

Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (adult, fantasy, lgbt+; 848 pages)

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman (young adult, contemporary; 416 pages)

Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard (young adult, sci-fi, dystopian, romance; 383 pages; TW & CW: torture, violence, toxic relationship)

Red Rising (Red Rising Saga #1) by Pierce Brown (adult, sci-fi, dystopian; 382 pages; TW & CW: torture, death, violence, gore, colourism)

Renegades (Renegades #1) by Marissa Meyer (young adult, sci-fi; 556 pages; TW & CW: violence)

Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack (young adult, fantasy, romance; 380 pages; TW & CW: torture, violence)

Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin (new adult / young adult, fantasy, romance; 513 pages; TW & CW: torture, violence, gore, blood)

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Creekwood #1) by Becky Albertalli (young adult, contemporary, romance, lgbt+; 303 pages; TW & CW: homophobia)

Slay by Brittney Morris (young adult, contemporary; 323 pages; CW & TW: racism)

Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1) by Elizabeth Lim (young adult, fantasy, romance; 392 pages; TW & CW: sexual assault, off-page death of loved ones, war, violence, blood)

Spoiler Alert (Spoiler Alert #1) by Olivia Dade (adult, contemporary, romance; 416 pages; TW & CW: fatphobia, body shaming)

The Bird and the Sword (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles #1) by Amy Harmon (fantasy, romance; 328 pages)

The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom #1) by Danielle L. Jensen (new adult, fantasy, romance; 354 pages)

The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno (young adult, contemporary, mystery, thriller; 256 pages; TW & CW: suicide attempt, depression)

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson (young adult, fantasy, romance; 492 pages)

The Last Magician (The Last Magician #1) by Lisa Maxwell (young adult, fantasy, historical; 500 pages; TW & CW: sexual assault, violence, racism)

The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas (young adult, historical, retelling; 348 pages; TW & CW: death of loved ones, war, violence, gore, slurs, sexism)

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (young adult, romance, lgbt+, graphic novel; 277 pages; TW & CW: transphobia)

The Princess and the Fangirl (Once Upon a Con #2) by Ashley Poston (young adult, contemporary, romance, lgbt+; 320 pages)

The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2) by Roshani Chokshi (young adult, historical, fantasy; 416 pages)

The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu (young adult, fantasy; 355 pages; TW & CW: self harm, death, violence)

The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy #2) by Marie Rutkoski (young adult, fantasy, romance; 416 pages; TW & CW: slavery, violence)

The Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter #1) by Virginia Boecker (young adult, fantasy; 362 pages)

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo (young adult, fantasy, romance; 344 pages; TW & CW: death, gore)

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (young adult, contemporary, romance; 368 pages)

We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya #1) by Hafsah Faizal (young adult, fantasy, romance; 472 pages; TW & CW: torture, violence, death, sexism)

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon (adult, historical, romance; 411 pages; TW & CW: off-page death of a loved one, violence, blood)

White Tears by Hari Kunzru (adult, mystery, thriller; 271 pages)

[whosafraidofvirginiawoolf]

Books Read 2021

Fingersmith, Sarah Waters

The Woman in Black, Susan Hill

West Wind, Mary Oliver

The Pigman, Paul Zindel (reread)

White is for Witching, Helen Oyeyemi

Lovecraft Country, Matt Ruff

The Dark Phoenix Saga, Chris Claremont & John Byrne (reread)

Mansfield Park, Jane Austen

Affinity, Sarah Waters

The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco

The Lying Game, Ruth Ware

18 Best Stories by Edgar Allan Poe (reread)

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (reread)

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (reread)

Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins (reread)

The Mysteries of Udolpho, Ann Radcliffe

The Scapegoat, Daphne du Maurier

We Were the Mulvaneys, Joyce Carol Oates

The Paying Guests, Sarah Waters

Eileen, Ottessa Moshfegh

The Night Watch, Sarah Waters

The Library of the Unwritten, A.J. Hackwith

Cat’s Eye, Margaret Atwood

The House of the Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Talented Mr. Ripley, Patricia Highsmith

Death in Her Hands, Ottessa Moshfegh

The House on the Strand, Daphne du Maurier

Gentleman’s Agreement, Laura Z. Hobson

A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams

The Desert of the Heart, Jane Rule

Ripley Under Ground, Patricia Highsmith

The Terror, Dan Simmons

Homesick for Another World, Ottessa Moshfegh

Ripley’s Game, Patricia Highsmith

Planet of Exile, Ursula K. Le Guin

Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood

The Year of the Flood, Margaret Atwood

MaddAddam, Margaret Atwood

Tipping the Velvet, Sarah Waters

The Boy Who Followed Ripley, Patricia Highsmith

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Tennessee Williams

My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Ottessa Moshfegh

Mrs Dalloway, Virginia Woolf (reread)

Dawn, Octavia Butler

City of Illusions, Ursula K. Le Guin

Red Dragon, Thomas Harris

The Dream of a Common Language, Adrienne Rich

Don’t Look Now (Not After Midnight, and other stories), Daphne du Maurier

A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Edward Albee

Ripley Under Water, Patricia Highsmith

Suddenly Last Summer, Tennessee Williams

The Silence of the Lambs, Thomas Harris

Adulthood Rites, Octavia Butler

The Night of the Iguana, Tennessee Williams

Hannibal, Thomas Harris

A Delicate Balance, Edward Albee

Imago, Octavia Butler

The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, Edward Albee

The Other Typist, Suzanne Rindell

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Shirley Jackson (reread)

Sweet Bird of Youth, Tennessee Williams

Tangerine, Christine Mangan

The People Who Knock on the Door, Patricia Highsmith

The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, Tennessee Williams

Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood

The Two Mrs. Carlyles, Suzanne Rindell

The Next Species: the future of evolution in the aftermath of man, Michael Tennesen

Orpheus Descending, Tennessee Williams

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Out Cry, Tennessee Williams

Strangers on a Train, Patricia Highsmith

Beloved, Toni Morrison

Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler

Parable of the Talents, Octavia Butler

The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams (reread)

The Rose Tattoo, Tennessee Williams

Lady Oracle, Margaret Atwood

Play It as It Lays, Joan Didion

Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Eugene O'Neill

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey

A Memory Called Empire, Arkady Martine

The Fifth Season, N.K. Jemisin

Melmoth, Sarah Perry

The Obelisk Gate, N.K. Jemisin

Kingdom of Earth (The Seven Descendants of Myrtle), Tennessee Williams

The Heart Goes Last, Margaret Atwood

The Stone Sky, N.K. Jemisin

The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, Tennessee Williams

The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield

Fledgling, Octavia Butler

The Bloody Chamber, Angela Carter

Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller (reread)

Bodily Harm, Margaret Atwood

Vieux Carre, Tennessee Williams

Hedda Gabler, Henrik Ibsen

Conjure Women, Afia Atakora 

What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours, Helen Oyeyemi

A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen

Deep Water, Patricia Highsmith

Surfacing, Margaret Atwood

The Italian, Ann Radcliffe

The Iceman Cometh, Eugene O'Neil

Paradise, Toni Morrison

Sisters, Daisy Johnson

Boy, Snow, Bird Helen Oyeyemi

The Castle of Ortranto, Horace Walpole

Period of Adjustment, Tennessee Williams

The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, Tennessee Williams

The Mutilated, Tennessee Williams

Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin

Stone Mattress, Margaret Atwood

The Edible Woman, Margaret Atwood

In the Dream House, Carmen Maria Machado

Me: Stories of My Life, Katharine Hepburn

The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins

The Robber Bride, Margaret Atwood

Moby Dick, Herman Melville

Another Country, James Baldwin

The Blunderer, Patricia Highsmith

Moral Disorder, Margaret Atwood

A Thousand Mornings, Mary Oliver (reread)

Sula, Toni Morrison

Nothing Holds Back the Night, Delphine de Vigan

Frankissstein, Jeanette Winterson

Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Loyalties, Delphine de Vigan 

The Romance of the Forest, Ann Radcliffe

The American, Henry James

The Seep, Chana Porter

The Old English Baron, Clara Reeve

The Letters of Vita Sackville-West to Virginia Woolf (reread)

The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison

Nightwood, Djuna Barnes

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Challenge, Vita Sackville-West

Life Before Man, Margaret Atwood

Go Tell It on the Mountain, James Baldwin

Gingerbread, Helen Oyeyemi

The Family Plot, Cherie Priest

Experimental Film, Gemma File

Henry James: Stories of the Supernatural

The Silent Patient, Alex Michaelides

The Discomfort of Evening, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld

Passing, Nella Larsen

Quicksand, Nella Larsen

Horrorstor, Grady Hendrix

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon

[realityhelixcreates]

Lasabrjotr Chapter 80: The Littlest Seidkona

Chapters: 80/?

Fandom: Thor (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe

Rating: pg

Relationships: Loki x Reader

Characters: Loki (Marvel),Thor(Marvel)

Additional Tags: Post-Endgame: Best Possible Ending (Canon-Divergent), Party Time

Summary:  It's the final ceremony of Buridag-the Seidkona initiation-and all eyes are on you.

You woke up in Loki's arms, right where you had collapsed, Ulfrun, the junior healer looking over you.

“There.” she said. “It is as I told you, she was simply overwhelmed. There was a great deal of power moving during the ceremony, and she is still but mortal...”

“Yeah, that's me.” you grumbled. “Reaching above my station again.”

Ulfrun jerked back like she'd been burned. Loki chuckled.

“Yes, I think she will be all right. The Princess in Courtesy is in the habit of getting back up after she falls, never fear.”

Princess in Courtesy. That was what you were now. A princess without a kingdom, or people of your own, but you had the title...and for your purposes, that was all you needed.

“Will you have her come by for a checkup this evening? I'm certain Bjarkhilde will want to look her over.”

“I think I can do that.” You said, and she jerked back again. “I know, it's pretty weird, isn't it? But this'll make things easier in the long run, won't it? Except for the people who like talking trash at me, it's gonna suck for them, but I don't really feel bad for them.”

“I think we will be fine Ulfrun, thank you for your help.” Loki said.

“So. The ritual has brought you an inheritance.” Loki said, after the junior healer had hurried away. He kissed your cheeks and forehead, mumbling in affection. “So you will understand me now when I say that when I am drowning, you are my air, that I wish to wash my hair in your perfume, that when you look at me, an arrow pierces my heart, fixes it within my breast, pins it to my soul. Like a hapless bird, your gaze knocks me from the sky, to fall into your gentle, blossoming hands.”

Warmth flowed all the way to the tips of your ears.

“Stop, you're gonna make me faint again.” you murmured.

“Later then,” he said, amused. “When you are already laying down, perhaps.”

Thor poked his head around the back of the dais.

“The smoke is clearing.” he announced. “Is she all right?”

“Yeah, I'm good.” you said, Loki helping you to your feet. You had completed the ritual, now it was time to be presented to the people.

Out of the thinning smoke, and into the courtyard the three of you appeared, Heimdall keeping his vigil from atop the high dais. No one would dare make a move against you while he watched.

“The ceremony is complete!” Thor announced in his booming voice. “The paths of fate have been cleared for the Princess in Courtesy. May she pass down them in peace, for as long as her life has been interwoven with ours!”

The cheering was loud and enthusiastic, and seemed genuine. Your finger didn't hurt at all anymore, likely due to lying in Loki's arms for those few minutes while Ulfrun looked over you.

You stood and let them cheer as much as they wanted, then followed the princes back out of sight behind the dais when the crowds enthusiasm began to wane. You unwound the bandage from your finger to show a very pleased Loki that the tiny cut had nearly disappeared. It was nice to see how happy that made him, to remember how willing-even eager-he had been from the start to share that healing bond with you. You had never found out if that had cost him in pain or energy, just that it was very clear that he was more than ready to give.

“So you have gained something.” Thor mentioned on their way to drop you off with the other Seidkonas. “That will come in very handy. Save you decades of study.”

“So you didn't know it was going to happen either?” you asked. He shook his golden head.

“I've never actually seen one of these ceremonies performed. The last one I know of was for my mother, and that, of course, was before I was even born.”

“They must have had one for me,” Loki mused. “In secret. Hidden away in shame from prying eyes.”

Thor's warm smile withdrew into contemplation, as all three of you tried to envision it: A tiny, possibly blue infant, held over the bowl and crying, like a human baby getting their first check in with a doctor, a blade held against one minuscule hand or squirming foot...

It was an uncomfortable image, but it made sense to get it done as early as possible, if they were to pass Loki off as their son.

“So this is probably normal. Just another way to pass on the magic of Allspeak. We'll just see how well it works out for me.”

                                                 ******

The second part of your day was to be taken up by another, much longer and more complex ritual, that had to be done partially in secret. Thor and Loki escorted you, followed by many people, to one of the popup apartment complexes that now housed to majority of Asgard, until more permanent housing could be built. This one housed the thirteen remaining Seidkonas of Asgard, and had been transformed by them into a ritual house. With some small pomp, the princes transferred you into their care, but beyond their doors, it became a strict 'no boys allowed' club.

This was because, as soon as the door closed, you were led into the next room and stripped down, a bundle of incense being wafted around your body. Once naked, you were plunked down into a metal tub filled with a redolent herbal tea, which the others scooped up in bathing bowls and poured over your head, as if making a kind of Seidkona soup.

The entire dwelling was dimly lit with only candles, and the other Seidkonas were mostly silent in their work, speaking only to give you quiet instructions, or chant ceremonial blessings from the Norns.

Newly cleansed, you entered a different room, this time converted into a kind of sauna. In the pitch dark you sat and sweated, swaddled in thick clouds of suffocating steam from more herbal tea, ladled constantly over the hot stones.

Whether from the heat, the herbs, or the incense, you didn't know, but you began to feel odd. The magic within you felt as though it was swelling, throbbing with a heartbeat different than your own. The passage of time became meaningless, but eventually you began to see a light. Soft, blue, and ephemeral, you couldn't focus on it's source, as it dimmed down into nothing every time you tried to concentrate on it. But it pulsed like the heartbeat of your magic.

The Seidkonas who had joined you in the sauna began singing one word, one tone over and over. Your heart and your magic began to attune to it, thumping along in time, like your little Seidkona drum. The word felt natural, it slotted into your mind, filling a tiny, empty hole. The last syllable of the chant you had been practicing for weeks now. The very last piece of the magical puzzle, that you were not yet meant to utter.

You heard the beating of drums outside, muffled by the door, which cracked open and let in a blast of air. You knew it was warm, but it felt cool on your heated skin, disintegrated the clouds of herbal vapor, and sharpened your heat-fuzzed mind to a razor point. You exited the sauna like an infant; brand new and surrounded by sensation. The air was cool, the candles were bright, and the tub of pure water they dumped over you was like shards of ice.

While some of the women dried and helped you dress yourself, others continued the drum beat that had started while you were in the sauna. Seidkona drums were made of wood now, but their drumstick was shaped like a bone, and the little drums were rounded like skulls, and they may have been these things, long, long ago.

You sat among them, and were given a chunk of bread to eat, and a light, sweet fruit juice to drink. The flavor and texture was more clear than ever before, the sensation of relieving hunger and thirst practically palpable. The drumming continued while your hair dried and and you devoured the snack.

It wasn't just the steam or the heat-whatever herbal concoction you had bathed in and breathed in was effecting you. Your senses felt wider, like you were experiencing sensations on a deeper level. Maybe you always felt things this much, but simply hadn't noticed before.

Somehow you knew when to stand up. You and all the other Seidkonas got to your feet at the same time, some kind of unknown but compelling signal alerting you. As one, you all filed to the door.

Your instructor, the eldest of the Seidkonas stepped up beside you, as the others gathered their cloaks and drums.

“You are different than us.” she said. “The magic runs through you just the same, so you should know in advance: at the initiation, something new is always revealed. Some power, some knowledge previously unknown or lost. I know you've read about it with Saga, and you must understand that there is the probability that it will also happen to you. But you must also know that it's possible that it will not happen. Because you are different than us, and though the magic flows through you just the same, the rest of you might not be able to handle such a revelation. Never have the Norns allowed one of us to be harmed by this initiatory experience. They care about those who act in their stead, and will not force you through something you cannot handle. However, if they decide that you can handle it, human or not, they will push you to your very limit. Be ready for either outcome, for once it is started, there is no going back.”

The ancient Seidkona provided you your little rounded drum, and the parade began; a double line of esteemed sorceresses, wrapped in dark blue cloaks. You followed behind, cloakless, beating your drum in time with the others, a call to the masses that the initiate was coming, the ritual was beginning.

You followed your escort into the same courtyard from earlier in the day. In the time you had been squirreled away for cleansing, the whole area had been transformed. The tall dais was gone, another set of seating had taken its place. There were special seats for the most important guests, and new fencing had been erected, leading to clearly defined separation of Asgardian and human spectators. The entire courtyard had been swept clean of all snow and slush, all debris had been removed and sapphire blue decorations depicting your mark in silver had been put up. New torches had been planted and lit, and large braziers had been placed within the circle-one for each Seidkona, and an extra one in the center for you. They were each filled with a bundle to burn, a little tuft of incense herbs poking out of the top.

The drum beat continued as people filled the seats, as Thor and Loki took their special places, mere spectators in your grand show. The Seidkonas fanned out from their lines and each stood in front of a brazier. The drums only stopped once you had reached the brazier in the center. Each sorceress lit their own fire in their own way. Some were able to use magic, others used burning rods, lit from the torches. You had decided some weeks ago not to use a rod, but to use your magic to teleport burning material into your brazier.

And it worked! You were able to teleport fire! Your bundle burned...for all of a few moments, before the flames shrunk and went out.

Damn. You tried it again. Once more, the fire popped into being within your brazier. And once again, dwindled and disappeared. And again, with the same results. Why wasn't it working?

You heard muttering in the crowd, and you could pick out a few conspicuous questions being asked.

“Is that supposed to happen?”

“Is this a bad omen?”

“Does this mean she's not supposed to be doing this?”

“Did she fail?”

Frustrated, you stalked over to a torch, uprooted it, and used it to light your brazier. This time, the damn thing stayed lit. You scoured the gathered people with a glare, as if daring them to say anything more.

To your eternal annoyance, you spotted Todd among the human seating, his eyes narrowed in the expression he always got when you'd done something he hadn't expected or given you permission to do. Thankfully, you were much too far away to hear the veiled insults and negging that always followed that expression, but your memory helpfully provided several old examples, and they echoed around in your head until you forced them to cease. You swore, if he ever brought this up to you, you were going to teleport him into the middle of the river. If he was properly apologetic, you might even pull him out of the mud before he sank in forever.

Maybe.

“Practical.” Loki said in a stage whisper that carried out over the crowd. “Even mages must know how to solve problems without resorting to magic.” The crowd fell silent once again. Positioned right in front of you, the old Seidkona's wrinkled lips twisted into a wry smirk. She then lifted her drumstick into the air, and the dance began. The dance was supposedly simple: three steps and a quarter turn, four times, ending in a full spin, and then starting again, all in a circle around the burning brazier. Simultaneously, the drum beat, and the chant song kept time. You thumped your little drum, chanting along as you'd practiced. It would only get more challenging, you knew, and as soon as the chant had reached its end, it started over, this time faster. Your performance, how long and fast you could go before declaring the secret last word and bringing it all to an end, was supposed to determine how powerful a Seidkona you would be. In reality, your status was already confirmed, and everyone knew that expectations had to be different for a human, but you were still determined to give the best showing that you were physically capable of. And so you sped up. And sped up. And sped up, continuing until the world became a blur, and dizziness  threatened to overtake you. Blue light sparkled at the edges of your vision, having escaped your dreams, now following you into trance states, when you were between awake and asleep. And faster. And faster. Though you were breathless, the chant song filled your ears, the drum beat mimicking your racing heart, until finally, lest you fall over into the fire, you stopped, threw your drumstick hand into the air, and shouted the last word at the top of your voice. Something appeared in your hands, forcing you to drop the drum and stick. You flung it high into the air. Both Loki and Thor cried out in surprise.

You felt the mark on your hand spark into life, runes searing up your arm, neck, and face. The power buzzed through you, like a swarm of bees in your blood, and for the first time, you could make out words in the thrum of magic. You finally knew what it wanted from you.

You were meant to break the lock. Learn us Learn us Learn us.

“Show me.” you commanded. And then the universe opened up before you.

[hosts-of-valyria]

As high as Honor

Something ends, something begins, Princess Cirilla Arryn-Vengerberg:

And when she saw the brave warriors of House Arryn in the high crypts of the Eyrie, she knew that there are still noble virtues, "the Eyrie is high, as high as honor", thought Ciri when she saw it for the first time.

"Who wants to pass the Bloody Gate", called the Knights of the Vale.

"Princess Cirilla of Cintra. Your King Jon Arryn, Tywin Lannister, Rickard Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen have put my world back in order, thank you. The noble, brave and virtuous Knights of the Vale. I thank the brave Knights of the Vale for the great victory at Cintra and Sodden Hill. You honor the First King Artys Arryn of the Eyrie, Vale and Mountain. Hawks as big as dragons. The heir Robin Arryn came shooting out of clouds with mighty hawks and swooped down to behead the soldiers of the Empire with his valyrian sword 'Falcon strike'. Huge falcons came out of the clouds and tore the soldiers of Nilfgaard apart, the earth shook when the Andals came, the earth shook as the knights of House Arryn swept across the Empire's armies in a rush. Nilfgaard is still shaking his knees as banners of falcons descended on them. This banner fills me with pride. Falcon banners descended from the sky on Nilfgaard. The people of Cintra cheer for you, they want to be as brave as the Knights of the Vale. Your King and Queen Jon and Lysa Arryn already have love in Cintra and the northern kingdoms of my world. The young hawk Robin Arryn is loved by the people. I don't have to choose, I love Westeros as much as I love my world. I now have a very exciting life, I have my two favorite worlds. I love and admire House Arryn, I have my favorite house. Now I know that there are still noble virtues and knights in worlds. This world has the most potential of all the worlds I have traveled. As high as honor right?", she answered.

The soldiers applauded her, "We thank you Princess Cirilla. You have to tell us about other worlds. This fills us with great joy. It is our honor Princess. Robin, Jon and Lysa Arryn await you in the high crypts of the Eyrie. Welcome to the Vale of Arryn."

Ciri rode through the Bloody Gate and had a glass of wine with the soldiers, "a holy grail, any piece of crockery. It is said to offer bliss, eternal youth and food in infinite abundance. Should i eat till i throw up? This miraculous and holy vessel, which gives eternal life force, is surrounded by a community that suffers from a lack. The land here and in my world has also suffered and is blossoming again. I'm definitely not looking for a holy grail. Galahad can seek his Holy Grail alone. Robin Arryn also fights honorably in duels. Just one more saga, prophecy, legend and myth and I'm only human, I'm getting older too and I don't want to be immortal. I am glad that I saw the end of Nilfgaard. Rhaegar Targaryen made the prophecy of the Prince Who Was Promised come true when he proclaimed independence and removed the Iron Throne, the darkness is gone from Westeros when Jon and Geralt slew the Night King. Robin made the prophecy come true of the mythical King Artys Arryn that the Falcon King is back in the Eyrie Galahad can also make something meaningful out of his life if he finds a holy grail, but without me. I find Robin more interesting. Let's see where this independence leads for the kingdoms. The races in my world live together in peace, justice and order. The Middle Ages are coming to an end soon in my world and in Westeros. I love who I want with a good heart and Robin has a good heart."

The soldiers looked at each other, "ah religions. A holy grail, immortality, then life is boring."

On the back of falcons: A whole new world: The Lady of Worlds, Most powerful ally of Cintra: House Arryn

Suddenly Hot: Robin Arryn

Robin and Ciri flew through worlds and clouds with huge hawks, "I can show you the world, shining, shimmering, splendid. Tell me, princess, now when did you last let your heart decide? I can open your eyes. A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view. No one to tell us, "No", or where to go, or say we're only dreaming", said Robin.

Ciri smiled, "A whole new world, a dazzling place I never knew but when I'm way up here it's crystal clear that now I'm in a whole new world with you."

The first meeting: Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon and Robin Arryn

Captivity of Cahir by Jon Arryn and Sandor Clegane on orders from Robin Arryn. King Jon Arryn and Queen Lysa Arryn of the Vale, love between Lysa Arryn and Jon Arryn

The coming of the Andals: "In a rush the Knights of the Vale rode over the soldiers of Nilfgaard."

"End for tyranny, death for the armies of the empire of Nilfgaard", called Jon Arryn.

The swift hawk has been a popular hunting bird for thousands of years. He is the mark of the warrior. Return of magic to Westeros, magical beings return. Lannister Lions return. Giant Hawks from House Arryn return.

Ciri was amazed at the tall crypts and huge hawks. Giant falcons flew over the Eyrie, "I heard legends about giant hawks. Big enough to fly with people. The banner men love you. I heard stories about the brave and noble Knights of the Vale. Nilfgaard is still shaking his knees as falcon banners rushed over them. Arya is one of my best friends, you are her cousin. You have to be Robin. I am Ciri. I have to thank you and your parents. Little did I know Arya had such a hot cousin. Such a pretty face. I'm getting very hot. We should be about the same age. Apparently I have a thing for nerds. You have to come to the celebration over Nilfgaard in Cintra."

Robin smiled, "you don't have to thank us for anything. Is that an invitation to a date? Then we fly to Cintra with the falcons."

Ciri smiled, "oh i really want to fly with the hawks. I don't have a dance partner yet."

Robin smiled, "I come. I think you two know each other, right?"

Jon Arryn and Sandor brought Cahir to his knees, "kneel before your princess and swear friendship and allegiance to her", said Lysa.

Cahir stuttered, "spare my life princess. Have mercy on me."

Ciri laughed out loud, "hello asshole. Look who we have here, Cahir the Nilfgaardian. Do you enjoy the close friendship with Sandor? I'm still thinking about whether I know mercy. Maybe I'll kill you or rob you, I don't know yet. Let's see how my mood is, be a good, submissive boy. Maybe Daenerys should kill Emhyr or maybe not. Maybe Yennefer should kill Fringilla or maybe not. Be careful Cahir what you do, I see your steps ahead. If necessary, I'll overthrow the empire again. Nilfgaard is no more. I don't want you to swear any love and then betray me. Robin is already protecting me more than you or Emhyr ever did. You can swear friendship and allegiance to me, if you want to serve me Cahir. Robin, Sandor Clegane and Arya Stark know what you are, and Sandor and you could be best friends, it would be so nice if you finally have real friends. But right now I don't want to see your face any longer. Because otherwise I have to vomit really hard the longer I see your face, Cahir. Jon Arryn could give you high titles and claims, I think it's called Warden of the Bloody Gate. You can expand your military career further. I will be here often from now on because of the strong alliance between Cintra and House Arryn. If you want to serve me, House Arryn can pay you very well and set you high. You can be a leader in one of the best armies in Westeros. You are highly educated in the army and Lysa and Jon Arryn are willing to pay a lot of money for you because of this military training. I would be incredibly happy for you if you have friends, Sandor and you are both grumpy. Sandor can tell you a lot about his brother Gregor Clegane. Arya would be happy for Sandor."

Lysa smiled, "I have already prepared wonderful rooms for you."

Jon Arryn nodded, "I will pay you based on your military training. My men are fascinated by your military skills. Robin told me about your military training in the Army of Nilfgaard and I will give you high titles, claims, and money, I give you power. The guardsmen at the Gate are trained swordsmen and archers, you are a trained swordsman and archer. We'll make something of your life. I can use a well-trained soldier Cahir. Brynden Tully is back in Riverrun, I need a new Warden of the Bloody Gate. Sandor Clegane is the leader of my bodyguards here at the Eyrie. The hill tribes rebel and proclaim themselves kings and regularly attack the Vale. I am ready to give the mountain peoples land to settle when the attacks and looting stop. And I look forward to seeing you on patrol with your own men soon. A good education is also well paid. Everyone gets a chance and I believe in you too, but no more fanaticism or tyranny. Pavetta, Calanthe and Emhyr dissolve Nilfgaard and put the conquered territories back to the point of independence. At some point there is an end to kings and queens, everywhere, it ends at some point, time keeps turning and we have to make something of our lives. I also dissolve the vassalage."

Cahir smiled and nodded, "that's good. I serve House Arryn. This career sounds good. That power sounds good. You are very wise. You have a good son and heir in Robin. You raised him well."

Sandor led Cahir away, "we'll get you armor."

Ciri knelt in front of Lysa, "my queen. I come to you at the request of Calanthe and Pavetta. You are a shining example as queen for young girls who are forced by fathers to marry against their will. I admire you, you are a great queen, you love Jon Arryn more than anything, Calanthe and Pavetta admire you. You did not submit to your father. You have had a difficult time.

Your father Hoster forced you to marry Jon Arryn. Lyanna and you did not submit to your fathers. My mother and grandmother thank House Arryn for the alliance."

Ciri knelt in front of Jon Arryn, "My king, I admire House Arryn, you are a very wise and strong King. You and Lysa are beacons in worlds that absolutely suck. As high as honor. Robin has achieved so much at a young age, he has brought strength back to the Eyrie. You have a wonderful heir. The people of Cintra cheer for the valor of the Knights of the Vale. Calanthe and Pavetta invite you to Cintra. I am very proud to be able to call Yennefer, Jon, Geralt and Daenerys my foster parents. Petyr Baelish is already raging in Riverrun, he says you have dishonored him. He says you and Catelyn dishonored him. He calls Catelyn and Lysa power-hungry cunts."

Lysa and Jon Arryn smiled, "Ciri, the lion cub of Cintra, you don't kneel in front of anyone. You are truly the Lady of Worlds. Send our greetings to your mother Pavetta and your grandmother Calanthe. We're pleased to meet you. We are very proud of Robin how much he has already achieved in two worlds. Welcome to the Vale of Arryn. Welcome to the Crypts of the Eyrie. But I've failed all along the line when it comes to Robert as Storm King and Heir of House Baratheon. I was a fool about Robert here in the Vale. But it's no longer my fault", said Jon Arryn.

Lysa nodded, "Call us Lysa and Jon. Jon broke the engagement when I arrived at the Eyrie of my own accord. He conquered me. These worlds are very similar and I am very happy to have such an exciting life. I love Lyanna and Elia like sisters, I love them as much as I love Catelyn. Lyanna, Catelyn and Elia are wonderful mothers. I am very proud of Sansa that she and Aegon love each other more than anything. I admire Yennefer, she is a strong woman. Yennefer and Jon are a dream couple. Geralt and Daenerys are a dream couple. We look forward to coming to Cintra. I left Riverrun on my own initiative. I worked hard for the Crown of the Vale and earned it. I love my falcon king more than anything, he gave me time to fall in love with him. I don't give a fuck on Petyr, Catelyn is still my sister and not his. Next time he can kiss my boots. He's just trying to divide families and sisters. I don't give a fuck if he lives as a ward in Riverrun for a lifetime. I'm highborn too, I'm still a Tully too. Edmure and Roslin are good kings and queens in Riverrun, they have the best-equipped army in Westeros. Roslin just has to wait until Walder dies, age has been bothering him lately. Petyr knows as much about honor as pigs know about laying eggs. Catelyn and I can wait until Petyr makes mistakes, we have time, he has no time. I can play a little game too. I can spread my legs for my Falcon King as often as I want, I don't need Petyr's consent for that. And my king can fuck me as many times as he wants he doesn't need Petyr's consent for that. And my king and father of my son fucks me as often as he wants and if he wants to stick his cock in my ass he can do that."

Jon Arryn kissed Lysa, "I love you."

Ciri and Robin smiled, "let's fly with the hawks, Robin. Show me more of Westeros, I want to understand and know everything, I want everything. Westeros has everything I want."

[dmsden]

Monster of the Month - Green Dragon

Hullo, Gentle Readers. As we slouch into this rather odd May, i know I’m looking forward to some warm, fragrant Spring breezes in my future. But our Monster of the Month isn’t known for its pleasant breath. This month, we’re looking at that most noxious of draconics, the Green Dragon. As always, a tip of the top hat to Scott “K-9″ Fabianek for his awesome original art. If you enjoy his art, you can find more of him on Twitter at @art_mutt

Like most of the Chromatic Dragons, Greens have been a part of D&D pretty much from the beginning. Their ability to breathe a cloud of poisonous chlorine gas is just the tip of a venomous iceberg when it comes to these nasty beasties. I personally didn’t find Green Dragons as interesting as the others earlier in my D&D career. But the Dragonlance Saga and the awful Green Dragon Cyan Bloodbane changed my mind. The iconic image by Clyde Caldwell of this creature poisoning the dreams of an elf king trapped by a Dragon Orb was so evocative that it made me understand how wonderfully vile these creatures were.

Greens have the standard draconic attack suite, plus the aforementioned poisonous breath weapon. They are amphibious, so they can borrow some combat tricks from our black dragon article. They are considered to be the most cunning of the evil dragons, and their Intelligence reflects this. Even a wyrmling is much smarter than the average human. They are no doubt aware that many creatures are immune or resistant to their breath weapon, and so they might not strive to catch those creatures in the area they’re targeting. Dwarves, stout halflings, green dragonborn, and the like won’t be their particular focus when breathing. They do love to devour elves, however, so these folks are likely in trouble.

Green dragons are forest dwellers, which may explain their connection to elves. More importantly for my purposes, however, they are corrupters. I love the story potential for this, because it makes them absolutely wonderful villains. The PCs might be trying to root out the corruption behind a kingdom or a religious body, only to find that the foul heart of it all is a green dragon, whispering in the ears of a king or high priest. This is what made Cyan Bloodbane such a fun villain in Dragonlance, and it’s what attracts me to these dragons in particular.

They’re also the evil dragons most likely to have prisoners or to consider people as part of its hoard. This is also a fascinating story element. The green dragon wants to gain power and wealth without putting a lot of effort into it, so they’re unlikely to be above deception, blackmail, extortion, protection rackets, and the like. But they’re always likely to be one or more places removed from the scheme. They might not blackmail someone themselves, but they might whisper in the ears of a bandit king, who might have one of his underlings do it. Finding the green dragon’s influence should always be like peeling back the layers of an onion. It should be a rare instance when a green dragon is willing to do its own dirty work. 

Once a dragon has established a lair, they become even harder to root out. The forest twists around them, becoming choked with a maze of briars (which makes me think of the climax of Sleeping Beauty and the Maleficent dragon). The dragon leaves no trace of its passage, leaving adventurers to wander the lazes without the benefit of tracking the dragon’s wake. Worse, the very birds and rodents serve it within a mile of its lair. Adventurers will see crows and squirrels staring at them before darting off to give their master warning. No green dragon will ever be taken by surprise in its lair. 

I like the idea of a village under the sway of a green dragon. Maybe the green dragon controls both the lord of the town and a group of bandits in the forest. The bandits extort money from the townsfolk, and the lord constantly makes a pretense of routing them, but really makes sure they stay protected. Meanwhile, the green dragon collects from them both. And possibly the local church as well.

I hope this article has you thinking about our venomous friend, the Green Dragon. If you’ve ever used a green dragon as a major villain in your campaign, let us know about it in the comments.

[aethelflaedladyofmercia]

The Long Walk

(We have a lot to celebrate this month: 30 years from the publication of Good Omens, one year since the series came out. I, myself, have some big milestones: 666 followers, 200k+ on AO3, and 30 fics posted! And I’m about to hit 4,000 Tumblr posts. Naturally, I choose to celebrate with something VERY melancholy

(This fic was inspired by my prompt for @itsthearoway - milestones of Crowley and Aziraphale through history - but was written right after I went into self-isolation. It’s a bit of a reflection on death, life, and hope. I’m not tagging it for death because technically there are no on-screen deaths, but if you are avoiding fic that make you think about mortality DO NOT READ THIS. It’s hopeful, but also very angst.

(Thank you all! I’m working on a longer light-hearted fic about the early days of the arrangement for @itsthearoway that I hope to have the first chapter ready for in a couple of days. Here’s to another 200k!)

--

The Long Walk - A short saga of the world, two observers, and the question: what is it all for? (1697 words)

Also on AO3

The sands stretch away from the Walls of Eden, eternally in either direction. Endless empty wasteland. Unrelenting heat fills the air, beaming down from the sun, up from the dunes. The kind of heat that nothing can live in.

Through the endless empty wasteland walk an angel and a demon, side-by-side.

“Seems an awful waste,” says the demon. “Build a whole world with nothing in it. If the Almighty is so powerful, why not make everywhere like Eden?”

“Eden was special,” says the angel, sadly. He hasn’t been cast out, not in the way the humans and the demon have. But the Garden’s time is over, and he can move on, or fade with it. “Eden was perfect.”

“Yeah, a perfect prison.” The demon rolls his eyes. “Too perfect for the likes of me.”

“No, not perfect like that. Perfectly balanced.” The angel holds out a hand, tipping it side to side. “The weather, the animals, all life, everything hung perfectly from the slightest thread. The was no…no room for deviation, you might say. No room for evil, yes, but also for good. For knowledge. For choice or free will. Once the humans had that, they had to leave. Even if they stayed, it all would have fallen apart.”

The demon considers as they walked. “That’s your ‘ineffable’ explanation?”

A shrug. “It makes sense, doesn’t it?”

“Not really.” The demon looks at their surroundings. “And it still seems an awful waste. Sending the humans out here to die.”

“Oh, I don’t think it will come to that. They may yet find something outside the Garden. Look.”

Ahead of them, a shape bursts from the shade of a dune, a small lizard, mottled brown, running for all it's worth to cower in the next shadow. “There’s still life,” says the angel. “Still a chance.”

A thousand years.

Frozen winters.

Drought-filled summers.

A Flood covers the land, and recedes.

Through lands scoured clear of any trace of life walk an angel and a demon, side-by-side.

“Not much of a chance, if our sides keep interfering,” the demon says, watching the brown river rush past between barren banks.

“You shouldn’t say things like that,” the angel chides.

A snort. “You’d say the same if it were my side that did this.” Silence, apart from footfalls in the mud. “Well, go on. Tell me it’s all part of the Plan. I can practically hear you thinking it.”

“Well it is. I might not understand it, but it must be.”

“Some Plan. A thousand years of struggle and toil, for what? Just to be destroyed like that.”

“Nonsense.” The angel points overhead at a flitting dove. The first bird either of them has seen since the rains began. “It isn’t over yet. And we can’t know until it’s over.”

Two thousand more years.

Cities rise.

Cities fall.

Sodom.

Thera.

Troy.

They walk together through the empty streets of what had once been the world’s greatest city, past shattered walls and burned out homes and the remains of a wooden horse.

“They’ve learned from you,” the angel says, an edge of bitterness.

“They’ve learned from us,” the demon corrects, but without rancor.

The angel pauses to study the remains of a temple, altar within shattered, blood spattered across the floor from more than sacrificial animals. “Either way, they surpassed their teachers.”

“They did.” In the distance, past once-impregnable gates that will never close again, high-masted ships depart. Not the attackers, returning victorious to kingdoms that have been destroyed in other ways; these are the survivors, in search of a new home. “Do you suppose they’ll do any better the next time?”

“We must hope,” said the angel, looking where white flowers grow through the cracks in the path. “We must always hope.”

Phoenicia.

Persia.

Carthage.

Rome.

Empires grow.

Empires topple.

They walk, tracing the path of an aqueduct, still valiantly carrying water to an empty city, miles away.

“You know, I really thought they had something this time,” sighs the angel, watching the rodents burrow beneath the monumental stones.

The demon tosses his head, looking at the endless span of arch on arch, crossing a continent. “They did.”

“Next time,” the angel says, with confidence he doesn’t feel. “Next time they’ll get it right.”

“They will. For a time.”

“Oh, there is no need for you to be…pessimistic,” the angel snaps.

“It’s not pessimism, it’s – oh, never mind.” The demon saunters a little faster. “I think I see a village up ahead. Probably have something to drink there.”

Wars rage, brought by raiders or kings or desperate humans.

Famine crawls from town to town, spurred on by locusts, by ice storms, by greed.

Pestilence crosses the world again and again.

Death. Death. Death.

An angel kneels in the street, holding a human’s hand. The human isn’t moving.

A demon materializes from the shadows behind him. “Give it a rest. You can’t do anything for him now.”

“I know.” He stands up. “But I had to try.”

All around them, the city stands silent. Not empty. Humans locked in their homes, afraid to go out, afraid to be too close, afraid the plague may catch them, too.

“He should have fled,” the angel says sadly. “Left the city while he still had a chance.”

“Not everyone can run,” the demon points out.

“I know.” After a time, he walks again, the demon beside him. Past empty fountains, abandoned marketplaces, homes boarded shut. “The city has changed so much. Do you remember that lovely restaurant we used to visit?”

“Burned down. Almost a thousand years ago.” The demon shrugs. “Vandals. Or Goths, maybe.”

“Ah. Pity.”

From a nearby alley, the stench of death. The demon tries to look away, only to find himself meeting the angel’s eyes.

“You won’t find anyone in there.”

“I know. But I have to try.”

The demon sighs, but follows him in. “I hate this century.”

“You always say that, dear.”

New continents.

New art styles.

New wars.

New technologies.

Until one afternoon the world ends – and is made anew.

And only one small group of humans will ever know – and an angel and a demon, stepping off a bus together at three in the morning. The city isn’t empty, merely asleep.

Not ready to go inside just yet, they walk around the block, listening to foxes rummage through rubbish bins, watching lights flick on, here and there, where another insomniac has risen from bed.

“What do you suppose comes next?” the angel wonders, when the silence becomes too much. “For the humans.”

“Dunno.” The demon tosses his head, hands stuck in his pockets. “More of the same, I would guess. Life, death, love, hate, good, bad. Human stuff.”

“But something has to change,” the angel insists. “The world nearly ended for…for Heaven’s sake,” he finishes, voice full of irony. “But if it was the Plan, it must mean something. What’s it all leading to?”

“We might find out. Depends what comes next. For us.”

“Ah.” The angel slows. Stops. “Do you…do you suppose they’re very angry?”

The demon turns to face him with a snort. “What do you think?”

“I think…I think…” His hands straighten his waistcoat, smooth his tie. “I think that whatever comes next, however much time we have…I should like to carry on as we always have.” His tone is light, his eyes searching.

A slow nod. “Yeah.” The demon reaches out, gently squeezes the angel’s shoulder. “Yeah. Me too.”

When they start walking again it is, as always, side-by-side.

“And, you know, I would like to see how it all turns out.”

“You and me both, Angel.”

More time passes.

The world grows old. Ancient.

Another war. The Really Big One. Bigger than any seen on Earth or in Heaven.

Everybody fights.

Everybody loses.

When it is over – when all things are over – there is nothing left.

No world, no Paradise, no eternal torment. No Hosts of Heaven, no Legions of Hell.

No humans, no Satan, no God.

Just an endless, eternal expanse of nothing and, somewhere in the featureless plane, an angel in white, kneeling, alone.

Slowly, the darkness around him resolves into another shape. The demon steps forward, fighting back a smile. “There you are. You survived.” As if he hasn’t been frantically searching. “Thought as much. You’re very hard to kill.”

The angel doesn’t respond.

“It sure was a mess, though, wasn’t it?” The demon shakes his head ruefully. “Should have expected it, really, but right at the end when –”

“I was wrong.” The angel hasn’t moved, eyes still locked on the endless Nothing. “Thousands of years, millions of sunrises, and for what? There was never any point.”

“No, Angel.” The demon kneels beside him, rests a hand on his shoulder. “I mean, yeah, you were wrong. Because the ending was never the point. It was the journey – all those millions of days, filled with love and hate and smiling children and fighting with friends and favorite foods and annoying songs and struggles and choices and…and life. Everything they never would have had if they’d stayed in the Garden. That was the point. That was always the point.”

“Perhaps,” the angel tries to smile. “It was lovely, wasn’t it? While it lasted?”

“Yeah. It really was.” The demon helps him to his feet. “And, you know, it’s not completely gone.”

He waves a hand, long fingers trailing through the void as they had at the beginning of time, helping to shape the stars. He gathers together every atom, every wisp of matter, closer, closer, into a ball. The angel presses his hands into it, and together they compress it, tighter, denser, until –

A spark. From neither. From both.

BANG.

The void fills once more.

With chaos.

With potential.

With light.

The demon looks around, nodding with approval. “What do you think, Angel? Time for another walk?”

He gazes out at the disks of galaxies forming in the expanding cloud of debris. “Do you…do you think things will be different this time?”

A shrug. “Only one way to find out.”

Through the glowing crucible of a newborn universe walk an angel and a demon, side-by-side.