#Magic City Casino

[tigers-eyes-26]

Colors Chapter 4: The end

The next night Waluigi didn’t show up. Pauline was the mayor and his employer she could do what she wanted. She knocked on his hotel room.

“Who is it?”

“Who do you think?”

“Go away!”

“IF you don’t show up you are not going to be paid for tonight.”

“I don’t care!”

Pauline blew out a puff of air. Fine if money wasn’t going to draw him out, she had a pretty good idea what would.

**********

The next day a poster was slipped under his hotel door. Waluigi’s eyes bulged when he read it. He slammed the door open. Pauline, who was walking away, turned coolly at the commotion. “FINE, I’m only doing this for my adoring fans and not for you!” 

She looked at him through hooded eyes. “Perfect.” She turned and sauntered down the hall with a proud look on her face.

*************

Poster of the upcoming Dance Show Case was everywhere! The tickets were sold out. Waluigi spend weeks practiced his most difficult dances with the Mayor. The band practiced the handpicked music, the lights were designed to be as flashy as possible. It was all coming together.

Waluigi was relaxing in the green room an hour before the biggest performance of his life. He had a black dress shirt, purple dress pants and white dress shoes. His purple sequined vest was laying next to him on the couch he was sitting on.  An assistant was behind the couch massaging his shoulders. Pauline walked into the room. She had on a silver sequined top, disco ball earrings, a red skirt that was down to her knees and black heels. She looked at the scene disappointed. “Ashely, you can leave.”

“Oh, ok Miss Mayor.” She scuttled past the mayor and out the door. She pouted at Wally. “She has more important things to do.”

“Than give the star of the night a massage!?” He crossed his arms and slouched perturbed. Pauline took the assistant’s spot. She gripped his shoulders and started to dig her thumbs into him. “Wah!” Waluigi flinched with the pressure.

She didn’t let go. “You are not going to get the knots out if you don’t work hard on them.” He grit his teeth together and let her continue. “I’m going to approve of the Casino, with only one caveat….”

“Oh?” He squeaked out.

“That you come to check up on the establishment every year.”

“AH!” he exclaimed in pain and surprise.

“Your fans would appreciate to see your face every once and a while.” She continued to dig at a knot that was next to his shoulder blade. Waluigi gripped at the chair his knuckles turned white. “With you being a partner in Wario Inc. I would rather you and not Wario come to check on it.” He squeezed his eyes closed so that tears wouldn’t leak out. “By the way, why is it called Wario Inc and not Wario and Waluigi Inc?”

“Selfish…baaaAAAHH!”

“There!” Pauline finally let go of his boney shoulders.

Waluigi gently rubbed at the spot that she had been working on. He straightened his back and moved his shoulders around. “Huh?” His shoulders actually felt better.

“Your welcome.” She smirked down at him. He gave her a stink eye. “I’m going to give the band a pep-talk before the show.” She sauntered out of the room.

*********

The show was fantastic, sensational, electric. There was Cha-cha, Samba, Salsa, Swing, Jazz, Lindy hop, Disco and many more dances were put on display. Every trick was performed to perfection. Everyone enthusiastically applauded, cheered, and was awed at the show of expertise. Waluigi was having the time of his life! Sweat dripped down his sideburns but he hardly cared how exhausted he was. He played it up for the crowd, posing for them, and encouraging them to cheer louder for him.

At the end of the last dance, Waluigi dipped Pauline down low. She winked up at him he almost dropped her, instead he spun her up. They both bowed, and the stage was showered with roses.

**********

Waluigi waited for the next helicopter. He had his purple polo and white shorts. His purple fedora wasn’t going to fit in his briefcase, so it sat proudly on his head with a new red rose tucked into the white band around it. He looked up to the sky and grumbled about the upcoming travel ahead of him.

“What no goodbye?” Waluigi whipped around to spot the Mayor in her red pantsuit with a purple sun hat. She got into his space and pouted in his face.

He coolly smirked at her. “Didn’t want to break my fans hearts.”

She smarmily rolled her eyes at him. “c’mere.” She opened her arms to invite a hug.

He scratched the back of his head. “Not really the hugging type.” He deflected. She yanked the front of his shirt to get him off balance and into her arms. “Wah!” he felt her put something in his back pocket. He jumped out of the embrace. “HEY! Hands off the merchandise!” He checked his back pocket. It was a check. His eyes bulged at the amount.

“Your cut of the money from the show case and from the sell of the instructional videos. More will be coming your way soon.”

He gave her a distrustful look. “My cut eh? What percentage did I get exactly?”

“50 percent.”

“Only 50? Your holding out on me toots.”

“The other 50 went to pay the band, the light and sound tech, The camera men and the editors, for distribution, the elect-.”

“I get it! I get it!” He patted the air with his hands to get her to stop her list. “You pay your people well.” He folded his arms. “If I were you, I would pocket a big lump of that.”

She crossed her arms indignantly. “I did get some of it, I was in the performance if you recall?”

He tapped his chin with his finger. “mmmm…. Can’t say that I do….” She moved to punch him in the arm he slipped out of her range, with a big grin. “All I remember was people screaming my name.”

“You Jerk!” She swung again this time contacting his shoulder.

He rubbed the throbbing spot. “Ow!”

“It’s what you deserve you scoundrel!” she balled her fists at her sides and glared at him.

He smiled and slunk closer to her. “Scoundrel, eh?” He wrapped his arms around her locking her arms to her sides “I wouldn’t have you think of me any other way.” she looked up at him with a mix of curiosity and daring. He studied her face. The wind picked up blowing Pauline’s hat off the building. They didn’t seem to notice. Caught looking at each other as their goodbyes. The wind grew stronger blowing her brunet hair back. Stronger still it blew his hat down into his eyes, effectively breaking their staring contest. Waluigi let go of the Mayor and held on to his hat, annoyed.

They both turned around to see the wind was actually coming from the approaching helicopter. It landed. He gathered his briefcase. She yelled over the drone of the blades. “See you next year!” He saluted back at her not wanting to yell over the sound. He jumped into the flying machine and was off. Pauline waved until it was a fair way off. Next year, hopefully sooner, they would see each other again.

-------

Last chapter:

First Chapter:

[iogoodnezz]

Sin City, Sin City part 2, 2024, ink on paper

[some-bunniii]

Lucifer meeting an artist reader

・❥ The King of Hell admires your paintings

| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 |

x: reader is g/n :) no use of pronouns or y/n

warnings: some raunchy details of your painting & mild swearing

When you arrived in Hell, the first thing you did was scream.

Where were you? Why was it so hot? What happened to your bed?!

“You’re in Hell, kid.” A blue bat-faced man had broke the news, as you stood helpless and confused on the street.

Hell? Like, demons and dark satanic magic kind of Hell?

That couldn’t be right. Were you that bad of a person to deserve such a fate? Did the few times you passed the Salvation Army donation bucket without dropping a coin damn you to this place?

Your death was fuzzy, a trail of shattered memories that could only give you bits and pieces of your final days. Did you go quickly in your sleep? Maybe, you hit your head so hard it caused you some kind of post-death amnesia?

Whatever had happened, you were here now with no way out.

During your first few days scouring for answers, you began to notice that Hell had an eerie similarity to life above ground. There were clubs, casinos, concerts. Heck, even TV! Sure, the things broadcasted were dark and sometimes disgusting.. but at least you had something to watch.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all? At least, compared to being thrown into dark, fiery pits for all of eternity like some cruel game of sink or swim.

Minus the people, of course. Most of them were pretty bad. Your first day watching a man get shot in the chest and lines of cocaine across tables in a diner made you decide to stay away from the streets of the city.

Which meant you had to get busy making a life for yourself. It started with working odd jobs as a bartender or a bell-hopper. You’d scrap together enough money to head to the nearest art supply store, and fill your bag with paints and charcoal pencils.

“You an artist or something?” The clerk had asked you as she scanned your items, taking note of your vast amount of diverse tools you were slowly collecting every time you stopped by.

“I usually paint, but yes, I used to do all kinds of mediums professionally when I was.. alive,” You had whispered that last part out with a pang of sadness, the reality of your situation still a fresh wound in your mind.

You had found an ad for an art studio, ran by a demon named Alexandre. You had showed him a few of your pieces, some pretty landscapes, a rendition of the Starry Night Sky which you had replaced the backdrop to be Pentagram city instead of whatever little village it was originally, and a self portrait.

“You got talent, i’ll give you that,” He had hummed, as his eyes scanned your paintings with intrigue, “But the subject? Not really what we’re looking for.”

“What do you mean?” You had asked, confusion evident in your voice.

“We’re in Hell, demons ain’t into pretty ponies and happy, little trees. They want more— eh how do i put this — sinful behavior?”

“Like…?”

“Like tits or anything that can be turned into a kink. They like blood and guts, and dead people splayed around. Dead angels too. Stuff like that.”

Tits? Dead people? You didn’t have much practice with that! At least not enough to make a career out of it.

But you had agreed anyway, this was your only shot. You stayed up late into the night, sometimes even into the early mornings, perfecting your skill when it came to much more risqué visuals. You would buy stacks of pornograohic magazines, flipping through for poses to memorize.

Slowly, you began to master the craft, and your time at the studio increased as you finally settled into life in Hell.

All you had to do was churn out painting after pastel after acrylic in the little cramped room you now called home. Alexandre would then take your pieces and sell them to the highest bidder. You’d get a percentage of the commission, using the money for whatever necessary.

Seeing as you could be mugged at literally any point in time, or anywhere for that matter, you made sure to keep a large sum of cash locked away in a double-bolted safe.

“You know Ozzie’s, that club down in the Lust Ring?” Alexandre had approached you one day, excitement in his eyes.

You shook your head as you sat behind the easel, your brush an inch from the canvas.

“Run by Asmodeus, one of the literal seven deadly sins?”

You shook your head once more.

“Fuck, you still have a lot to learn. Well, he really likes your art. He wants to buy a bunch of paintings for his club, and he’ll drop a shit ton of cash too. Ya think you can handle it?”

Your eyes had widened when he told you the exact price this sin guy was willing to pay. You had jumped from your seat, shaking his hand in profuse thanks, before scurrying off to gather more supplies.

And for a time, that’s how it went. You’d sell your steamiest paintings to Asmodeus, and other private commissions you took one after the other.

Apparently, your painting hung up in Ozzie’s was getting a lot of attention. Especially from a certain spider demon named Angel Dust.

After hearing Charlie’s decision to look for another member of their staff— someone who’d be in charge of decorating the premise with promises of love and tranquility up in Heaven— Angel Dust had taken a few snaps of your work with his phone, before showing it to Vaggie and Charlie. He had complimented your work, claiming it was ‘the best’ oil paintings he’d ever seen.

Although, in his line of work, he probably hadn’t seen many to compare yours so.

“ls this what we want in our hotel?" Vaggie had asked, motioning to a woman on the canvas that was drenched in sweat and white fluid, her private parts exposed to the audience as she posed suggestively on a stripper pole.

To which Charlie has responded, "I think it's... unique! You can definitely see she knows how to, um, really bring the scene to life! l'm sure she'll be open to creating our vision!"

Your phone had rung one night, with a voice on the other end begging you to come to her hotel and at least hear her offer for a new job.

Which lead you to the Hazbin Hotel, a slightly run down building that obviously needed more work. Inside and out.

“Oh my gosh! Hi there! My name is Charlie, and this is my hotel! it’s such a pleasure to meet you!”

“Thanks.. but I don’t see many guests around.” You had told her, your eyes darting around the lobby as you absorbed your surroundings.

“Well, we’re still trying to get our name out there. We’re not just any hotel, we’re a hotel set on redeeming sinners!” She exclaimed with pride.

“Redeem?” You had asked her, an eyebrow raised in disbelief.

She shook her head vigorously, “This hotel.. it’s going to be amazing! We’re going to turn Sinners into well.. non-sinners! They’ll be rehabilitated, and have morals! And honor! Heaven won’t be able to do anything but welcome them as angels!”

This idea had sounded a little far-fetched when you first heard it.

“You’ll be in charge of making art that reflects such views! Something that will make Sinners go, ‘Wow! Now that’s where I want to go!’”

“What’s in it for me?” You had asked.

“Well you’ll have your own room, and your own little studio too! I’m sure it’s much bigger than the one you already have. Plus we have a bar, and good company!”

You turned your head to the small crowd of demons a few feet away. A pornstar, a gambler, a snake guy with weird little walking eggs, and a really creepy man in a red coat that shot you a wide smile with eyes that seemed to stare right through your soul.

This was good company?

You contemplated her words, thinking deeply. Did you really need to leave the studio you were already a part of? You already had a room and place to paint, anyway.

Charlie must have noticed your hesitation to accept before quickly adding,

“Anddd you can sell your pieces here too! Plus, you can keep a hundred percent of the earnings.”

You perked up at that, the money made from your art would be... all yours? And, you’d get a breather from the drawing people having sex? That didn’t sound so bad after all!

“Deal!” You had reached out a hand, shaking hers with delight.

It had taken you a day or two to map out the interior of the hotel and figure out what could go where. You began to slowly brainstorm, what could make a sinner stare at a canvas and want to redeem themselves?

During your time on earth, you studied many artists through history. Most notably however, were those from the Renaissance. You remembered walking through the Sistine Chapel when you were younger,

staring at awe of the paintings of winged angels and heavenly skies.

You perked at that thought. That was it! The inspiration for your paintings, an ethereal perspective on what one would find in heaven. The feelings of bliss and care-free joy.

You spent your first few days in an undisturbed area of the hotel, it was a large room on the farthest side of the lobby. It must’ve been a guest room at one point, but other than a bed and few cushions that the ‘Radio Demon’ had placed for you, it was empty.

It was quiet enough that you could sit there, undisturbed, as you drew upon your memories and vast knowledge of histories in art as you slowly began to bring your ideas to life. Slowly, the room also took form into being yours, personal knick-knacks and stacks upon stacks of blank canvases waiting to bring your visions to life.

At the end of every day, you'd come out with your hands covered in charcoal and paint, your hard work on full display.

You had even grown closer to the other residents in the hotel, beginning to see them as more than their initial appearance. Even Alastor, who still kind of gave you the creeps, you had regarded as someone you could speak to without hesitation.

You’d sit on the couches with Angel Dust, drowning in popcorn as you watched whatever was on TV for the night. Sometimes, you’d sit with Husk at the bar as you listened to his stories from his days at the casino and as an Overlord.

It was there, when Charlie had summoned the courage to call her father, Lucifer, the King of Hell, to come visit the hotel and decide on getting her that meeting with the higher powers in Heaven.

Upon hearing about Lucifer's impending visit, you felta mixture of nerves and excitement. You've heardstories about him-his charisma, his power--but you never expected to meet him, let alone showcase your art to him. Would he even like them? He's no doubt seen much more beautiful sights.

As preparations for Lucifer's visit got more chaotic by the minute, you found yourself back in your Atelier, quickly cleaning up your room and berating yourself for any little mistakes you found in your paintings. Each stroke of the brush carried with it a sense of urgency, a desire to impress not just your friends at the hotel, but also the King of Hell himself.

The current piece you were working on was your most intense one yet. It depicted that of an almost nude man, flying high in the skies. His back was faced towards you, his face hidden from view. He was faced towards the sun, which bathed him in a warm glow. Arms outstretched, knees curled in, it seemed as if the angel was going to give the sun a large bear-hug.

It wasn’t until you heard loud commotion in the lobby did you realize Lucifer had arrived. Quickly dropping the brush you were holding, you sneaked down the stairs and quickly neared the archway of the lobby.

Peaking your head out, you canned the large room. Until your eyes locked in a pale figure. Lucifer.

He was beautiful, definitely held the looks of an angel that fell from heaven. His light blonde hair curled elegantly around his face. The candles from the chandelier above basked him in an ethereal glow, as though he could replace the sun itself. Just like the angel from your painting.

His eyes reminded you mostly of a snake. Calculating and cold, but holding so much wisdom and depth. There was a slight sadness there as well, as though itate at him slowly, consuming his soul. It was masked incredibly well though, and you only caught a glimpse before it disappeared.

His attitude toward his daughter made your heartmelt, it was obvious he cared about her in the way heacted and spoke to Charlie, even if his absence didn't speak so fondly of him.

As Lucifer and Alastor butted heads, you quickly scurried back to your room. You had hoped to finish your work-in-progress by the time he arrived, but the struggle to get those damn angel wings to be anatomically correct was a pain.

You hurriedly continued your work, trying to calm your nerves by busying yourself with the painting in front of you.

Charlie's voice broke you out of your concentration soon after, multiple footsteps closing in on where your room lay. You shot up from your seat, and stood up straight, ready to meet the man of the hour.

You couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation mixed with apprehension as they approached your make-shift gallery.

Charlie, Vaggie, and— wow, he looked so much better up close— Lucifer stepped through the doorway.

“Dad, this is the newest addition to our staff! They are in charge of helping to inspire our future guests through the power of art!" Charlie proclaimed with glee, pulling you by the arm towards her father.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, your majesty. I apologize for being so messy, I was just finishing up another painting." You had greeted him softly.

"Don't worry, you look great," He assured, a gleam in his eyes, "and the pleasure is all mine, anyone who is willing to help my little girl is someone worth meeting,"

You stood there for a moment. Unsure of where to go next, before you felt a slight nudge from Charlie that pulled you back to reality, "Why don't we take a look at your paintings? I promise you, Dad, they are amazing!" She squealed softly.

Beckoning Lucifer forward, you took him through each painting. You described your feelings for each piece, and what made you choose them for the hotel.

You rambled on and on, and Lucifer never said anything, he just listened as you spoke.

Which made you nervous, what was he thinking? Did he like them, or was he just waiting for you to stop talking so he could quickly escape to something of more interest to him? The thought made sweat dribble down your forehead.

To your surprise, Lucifer's reaction to your art was not what you expected. Instead of dismissing it as mere frivolity, he studied each piece with genuine interest, his expression thoughtful and contemplative.

He mostly stayed quiet, but once in awhile would throw in a joke here and there if he noticed anything of interest in the paintings.

His goofy nature that you caught onto watching him earlier was barely evident though, unlike when he was trying to impress his daughter.

After finishing the small tour, you turned to him in anticipation. Your hands nervously rubbing together, as you shot a glance to Charlie, and she gave you an uncertain look. You both held the same question in your gaze: What is he thinking?

"These paintings.." Lucifer began, his voice low and melodic, "Are different than most i've seen down here, not just some scandalous display, but with real meaning. They evoke emotions long buried, memories of a time before.. all this."

His words caught you off guard, and you found yourself nodding in agreement, unable to tear your gaze away from his intense eyes.

The one he was staring at in particular was a recreation of The Garden of Eden by Jan Breghal, a painting that depicted the place where humanity was birthed, and where it fell.

“Does it look like.. how you remembered?" You had asked slowly, if anyone could validate the truth in your work, it would be him.

"Actually, this is much prettier. The real deal doesn't do your painting justice," He replied, "It was so boring, just green on green."

Also," He added, "An unfortunate lack of ducks. Humanity should be grateful that I got them out of that forest, so they could see something actually worthwhile.. and with ducks."

You giggled softly at his words, have you ever met someone that seemed to love ducks as much as him?

As Lucifer continued to explore the room, you couldn’t help but notice the way he lingered on certain paintings, his fingers tracing the delicate lines with reverence. It was as if he saw something in your art that no one else did, something profound and personal.

Perhaps your choice of baby-faced angels, and ethereal landscapes brought back memories of his time in Heaven. Hopefully, that wasn't a bad thing.

When Lucifer finally turned to you, his gaze softened, a hint of something unreadable lurking beneath the surface. "You have a rare gift," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "To create beauty in a place like this... it's truly remarkable."

He looked at you for a moment, before a smile crept onto his lips. He was Lucifer, he knew exactly what you meant. It's what drove him to manipulate Eve to eat from the Tree of Life in the first place.

Was he finally getting a glimpse of the good free will brought to humanity? Was there actually meaning in his past actions that sent him to the depths of Hell?

His gaze narrowed in on the canvas behind you, and he slipped past you. "What is this?" He asked with intrigue, pointing towards your unfinished painting.

“My final piece. I've been working on it for days, but I just can't get the wings right.. believe it or not, i've never actually seen angel wings in person." You said that last bit as a joke.

His smile sent butterflies fluttering in your stomach. For the King of Hell, it was surprisingly warm, and kind.

Then an idea struck you, but you tried to desperately to push it down. Except it seemed like the only time you could ask someone with angel wings to let you use them as a reference. How many fallen angels were in Hell, anyway?

"I'm so sorry if this is out of line, but. could I, um, borrow you for a little bit? I've just been having trouble drawing the wings correctly and you, well, have them?”

His eyes widened, and his chest puffed slightly at your question. He shot you a toothy grin, “Paint me? Why didn't you mention that earlier?! I have the perfect figure for such a thing.”

Behind him, Charlie rolled her eyes, a hint of a smile on her lips. You smiled too, you should've known he'd have no problem with it, he was the embodiment of pride after all.

He plopped down on a stool before you, and removed his overcoat. Beneath what seemed to be a red and white gatsby vest that hugged his frame perfectly. Jeez, he was almost too good looking.

He stretched out his large wings, folding the otherfour behind him, only revealing the two much largerones. They were breathtaking, truly. They looked so fluffy too!

You guided him on the exact position you needed them to be in, before making your way to the canvas and getting to work.

Assuring the group you only needed to get a visual on the canvas, the actual work you would do on your own. Slowly, you traced the frame of his wings, etching out the soft lines of his feathers and the curvatures of its form.

You could only imagine how soft those feathers were and what it would be like to curl around them like a pillo-

You shook your head to rid those thoughts. Why were you thinking such things about Lucifer like that? It's not like he would even want to let you go anywhere near him or his wings.

Would he?

You continued your painting, trying not to meet his gaze as you would occasionally peak your head from behind the large canvas to get another good look at his wings.

There was a moment when you two did lock eyes, and he sent a half-lidded smirk in your direction. Thankfully the large object between you two helped hide your growing blush. He was obviously just trying to get you worked up, you assured yourself. Just like he did with Alastor. In a different way, of course.

"This reminds me of when Charlie was younger" Lucifer began, filling the silence, "We sat for a good few hours trying to get a family portrait painted and she would just not sit still!”

“Dad.. please, not right now." Charlie growled out in embarrassment, her cheeks flushed. Vaggie only smiled beside her, listening intently as Lucifer filled everyone in on her younger years.

“lt got to the point where I had to summon her favorite toy to get her to stop squirming, everything was smooth sailing after that.

"And what was her favorite toy?" You inquired softly behind the canvas

“A rubber duck! Like the ones you play with in the bath? She could not get enough of it whenever it squeaked. One time the squeaker broke, and I went to my workshop and crafted her a magical one that meowed instead! Haha!"

Okay, this family really has a thing for ducks!

“She hated it, but that only inspired me to keep making more. Sometimes, we'd sit together on the work bench, and I would just come up with ideas like confetti-spitting, or color changing ducks. She wasn't too good at speaking at that time, so every time she'd laugh that was my clue that she liked it!"

It was sweet, the way he rambled about his daughter. He never spoke of himself or his accomplishments, despite embodying the sin of pride. It was almost like his only pride was his best creation, Charlie.

He continued, the room full of jokes and laughter, even from Vaggie, regarding Charlie's life as a youngling. You listened intently to his stories, his voice dripping with amusement as he recounted story after story.

lt was so sappy and you loved it. Which made you grumble quietly to yourself, why did you have to have a thing for DILFS?! Concentrate on the painting!

After a moment, Lucifer's eyes turned back to the paintings around him, his gaze scanning each painting once more. "I've noticed that you seem to have a repetition in your work.. not that that's a bad thing!" He quickly corrected.

“But in all of your paintings featuring angels, there's always a swan swimming or resting nearby. Do they hold any significance, or are they just a passion for you?"

You looked up from the canvas, and also traced the angelic figures across the room. He was right, with the images of the divine beings also came the appearance of the large, white water fowl. Lying lazily beside the angels, or swimming across pools of water as the care-free beings danced and frolicked.

You contemplated for a moment, before speaking truthfully.

“I just think Swans are elegant and ethereal creatures. They embody the purest of souls, untouched by the taint of sin that consumes the world, just like how their feathers remain untouched from the waters they glide on"

Lucifer's eyes lit up slightly, drinking up your words.

“Plus," You continue, "they mate for life, and allow themselves to just.. decay once their significant other departs from the world. It's very romantic, and love is one of the purest emotions in the world."

Lucifer wasn't looking at you when your eyes met his again, his stare was far off. Past the room entirely, as your words echoed through him. There it was again, the glimpse of sadness that he tried to hide so painfully well.

“Does such love like that exist?," he murmured so softly you had to strain your ears.

There was a few moments of deathly silence before Charlie piped up, asking her father something about heaven. You tried to listen, but your mind was stuck on his words. Lucifer was in heaven once, and he still didn't fully believe in such things?

If there weren't others in the room, perhaps you would’ve asked him.

It took a few more minutes before you were able to wrap up fully, but you had no regrets of asking this man for help, the angel on the canvas actually looked like he had wings, not just stumps of white tuft.

You got up from your seat and walked towards him, noticing that Charlie and her girlfriend were not present anymore. It was just you and Lucifer in theroom now.

“Well, thank you, Your Majesty. You really helped me out here, and it'll go a long way to make the hotel look even better"

“Please, call me Lucifer. The formalities are only for subjects, not friends," he replied, "l did really enjoy getting to see your paintings, you are quite a phenomenal artist. I wasn't lying when I said your work was different from the rest. If only you were around for those family portraits."

You were so taken aback by his praise that you only shrugged it off, like it was no big deal. Even though, coming from the King of Hell, it was.

Glancing behind him, you saw Charlie and Vaggie whispering to each other in the hallway outside of the door. You assumed they probably wanted to finish up so they could get him to agree to the meeting with Heaven.

lgnoring his previous statement of formalities— he was the king, you thought, you weren't going to just pat him on the back and say 'see ya! —you lowered your head and bent down to curtsy, just like you were taught when you were younger, placing your hand slightly in front of you.

Usually, you'd use that hand to shake or grasp the other person's, but it felt wrong to treat this powerful angel like any other man.

Suddenly, you felt the soft touch of fingers gliding across your hand. In confusion, you looked up at those golden eyes and that charming smile. Trying to get a glimpse of what he was thinking.

His hand gripped yours gently, and with a bow of his own, lowered his lips, and pressed a soft kiss your knuckles.

Your breath caught in your throat, and you feared to blink, soaking in his beauty for as long as you could before he had the chance to pull away. You wanted to say something, but your tongue was refusing to work as your mouth opened and closed silently.

When he finally released your hand, he adjusted his hat and turned towards the door. Leaving you standing there, your face burning hot

He cleared his throat, and turned his head slightly, his eye catching yours. A playful smile dancing on his lips.

“l look forward to our next portrait together, hopefully where I am the motivation behind your strokes. Not just these dull wings."

And with his words hanging in the air, you were left alone, with the growing itch to press your face into a pillow and squeal.

——————

awww man, my first fic! I was trying to make this more dating-centric, but i couldn’t stop writing for their first meeting and it got too long haha! If y’all like this one enough, i’ll make a dating version!

let me know what you think 🙏 i reallyyyy appreciate all comments and criticisms!!

wonderful art i commissioned by DawnDrawnS on twitter! <3

[ask-cupbros-parents]

ACT I Headcanon time

( or just some little things)

* Redraw from Casino Cups

...♣️Previous Next♥️...

♠️ First ♦️  

Characters:

Utena Teacup:

Utena is a speedrunner when she collects soul contracts.

She shares a similar appearance with all the girls in the Teacup family, except for differences in nose color and eyelashes.

Utena affectionately calls Walter "fairy godmother" due to the resemblance of his wand to a fairy godmother's wand. She also has playful nicknames for him, like Walt or Waltio, and even Walterella (only she can use this nickname).

Childhood friends with Salt Baker.

Walter Watterson :

Walter's favorite musical instrument is a huge organ.

He can appear intimidating when he's pushed to his limits.

His wizard name is Walthazarbalthazar Feefiefofalthazar III, ( reference)

Kettle, who later becomes a teacher, initially tutors Walter to teach him manners and transform him from a wild child who caused magical bursts and played pranks, to a gentleman.

Walter respects and likes Kettle, as he treats Walter with kindness and understanding.

His parents are unaware of Utena Teacup's existence due to her disguises whenever they find Walter interacting with her.

Kettle:

Kettle is initially hired as Walter's tutor to teach him manners and improve his behavior as a child.

Later, Kettle joins the army of Calix Order, years later he eventually becomes a teacher at Inkwell Academy.

He is Walter's most trusted confidant.

Salt Baker:

Salt Baker is currently an apprentice at a bakery in Inkwell Isles City.

He is childhood friends with Utena Teacup.

Organizations:

Order of Calix:

Before the Order of Calix was formed, the Teacups and the Wattersons engaged in several civil wars.

Despite a truce now, they remain rivals.

Other Headcanons:

There's a "finders, keepers rule" for the Devil's Pitchfork, but rumors suggest it can be used to make a deal with the Devil in exchange for a wish.

The Devil is often in vacation mode and runs a casino as one of his hobbies in Act I.

King Dice dreams of becoming a star celebrity.

Nazca is an intern Angel, observing mortal ecology and writing reports for Archangel Gabriel.

Chalice ( Charlotte) has an "ok relationship" with her adoptive parents ( Walter's parents).

[decaffeinatedpartymuggoop]

Okay, we all know being a demigod is a shit position. Its scary and gets you killed in really nasty ways. But I feel like being a Big Three Kid has to be the shitiest position in all the shit positions.

Like, imagine being Thalia Grace. Your dad is king of the gods, lord of the skies. Led a war to get rid of a tyrant. And the only thing you get is his scorned wife AND brother, who both try to kill you (with one technically succeeding), a drunk of a mother, and brother who you thought was dead. Oh, wait, he’s not dead! No instead he was used as an offering to appease your dad’s wife and help fight in a war and prevent mass destruction.

Or maybe you can imagine being Percy. Son of the sea god, the stormbringer, the earthshaker. You get to live with a disgusting, abusive man for around 6 years. Who smells like literal shit. All because your scent as a demigod is too strong, BECAUSE of who your father is. You see things that you aren’t supposed to see and do things that people can’t do and go years thinking something is wrong with you. That your the problem. Then you get to the one place where you’re supposed to be save. But! Here is the kicker! You’re not! Your uncles hate you and you’ve been accused of stealing a symbol of power. A series of events that will kick off a war, and guess what. You’re a center point for it. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood.

Mhm, but then there’s Hazel. Daughter Pluto, god of the underworld and riches. But that doesn’t really change anything does it? She’s still living in 1930s America, in a red state. One where confederate flags still hang if you go deep enough into the city. She go to a school where the kids are supposed to be just like her! They still don’t like her tho. She’s got no idea who your father is, only that he left her with a parting gift. Only it’s not really a gift. Sure, she can pull rubies and diamonds from the earth, all worth millions. But anyone who’s ever gonna touch it will die. She lives with her mother, a woman gone so mad with greed it kills her. And Hazel, by the way. Laying dead Alaska, inhaling oil. But it doesn’t end there! She can’t have her mother suffering for eternity, can she? The answer is no. Hazel gets to spend the next 70 years in the Fields of Asphodel. It still doesn’t end! Because when she’s brought back to life, she gets to fight in a war against giants, her sad story seemingly never ending.

Nico’s a son of one of the Big Three, one of the most ancient and most powerful. But most people look at him as something bad, something not worth taking a second glance at. Something too look away from, mostly. He’s from the 30s, spent years in a magical time casino with only his sister at his side. She doesn’t stay for long though, she dies soon after they discover their heritage. And he doesn’t remember his mother much, a name without a face. A face without a name. He survived an attempted assassination at 2, though it wouldn’t be the only time his was life was threatened. He clings to his sister, even though she’s dead. He’s the son of the god of the underworld, is he not? There had to be a way, and there is. Only she won’t talk to him, she seems more concerned with communicating with the guy who got her killed instead. She chooses rebirth, and he decides to lay it to rest. She’s not coming back, and he has a war to fight in. (He gets stuck in a jar and forcibly outed a few years later, but that’s a lot to get into for now.)

Jason Grace is a pillar of New Rome, their golden boy, their American boy. He’s a son of Jupiter, a natural born leader. He’s been at camp for as long as he can remember, he wants to be praetor soon. He’s had a rocky start, but maybe he’ll be one of the lucky ones. Retire a veteran and live a long life with Reyna in New Rome. Only that never happened. He has no idea where he is, there’s a girl holding his hand, and she’s cute but it feels wrong. They get attacked and people come in and call him a Greek demigod, familiar, yes, but still wrong. It doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t put things into perspective the way it does for Piper and Leo. He’s goes to a quest to rescue Hera, the name sounds wrong. He nearly dies but at least he remembers who he is. He spends the next 6 months trying to get back home, even though he isn’t too sure on where or what home is. He gets there, eventually, but it doesn’t stop there. He’s dragged on quests and battles and fights in the war but at least he survives it, he’s still there. Apollo needs help, he and Piper give him aid. He gets dumped. He doesn’t get to he a veteran in New Rome. Not with Reyna, not with Piper, not with anybody. He doesn’t get kids or grandkids. No, he gets shot down, another demigod buried.

You could be any one of them, really. Pick your poison, but I guarantee you won’t like any of them. Spending years trying to find a place where you belong, where you feel safe. Only for it to never come.

Percy, who, if you really look at the books, isn’t really all that well liked until he’s at least 2 years into camp. Only to then be sidelined because the courages, brave, fearless daughter of Zeus is back from the dead. Nico, the son of one of the most feared and hated gods. Who has death written all over him, who excludes it so much animals can smell it and humans can sense it, who’s been ostracized and pushed off to the side since he was 10. Hazel, who was treated like disease as soon as she stepped foot on camp soil. Who’s gone her whole life looked as something that’s cursed, that will only bring misfortune, a bad omen.

Shit positions, all of them.

[ordon-pumpkin]

Percy Jackson spoilers and criticism below.

I see people complain about how the show just has the characters figuring out things way too quickly (I completely agree with this.) Then I see people complaining about that criticism saying things like “Oh it makes sense! They would know that because Annabeth’s been at camp, Grover is a satyr, and Percy’s mom taught him about the myths!” However, there is a difference between them knowing about the stories and them IMMEDIATELY figuring each potential trap/situation out and zapping the energy from the scenes.

These same instances in the book usually involve a feeling of unease, something feels off, things seem kind of familiar, and it slowly dawns on them what they are dealing with OR they are escaping one situation to be thrust into another and don’t have time to think about it at all. There’s tension, there’s drama. I’m here for it. The show on the other hand? Oof.

Also the circumstances in which they encounter these situations in the book greatly influence how things go. They are human(ish) after all and them getting into these messes makes them easier to connect to as characters. Let’s break it down a little more there.

- With Medusa they were lost in the woods and hungry. The smell of food lured them in. They were hungry children dang it! From the circus lol (Honestly, this instance didn’t bother me too much in the show when I first watched it because it was early on before the knowing things too soon became an ongoing theme.)

- With the Lotus Hotel and Casino they were tired and feeling grimy, having just traveled in the back of a truck with a bunch of animals in horrible conditions. It was scorching hot outside. They were absolutely exhausted and wound up there where a doorman invited them in and it was a relief to have somewhere to take a break, recoup and figure out their next move. Once inside they had access to a shower! There were snacks. Plus the place was incredible. It also showed their interests with Annabeth being drawn in to trivia and city building games, Percy liked the bungee jumping! Grover played a reverse hunting game! Percy figured out the trap by asking a guy using 70s slang and dressed to match, what year it was. He kept asking and getting different answers. Then he was able to snap Annabeth out of it by describing spiders, which he knew she had a fear of from the Tunnel of Love ride. (This whole scene in the show was such a let down, so was the Tunnel of Love scene but I’ll leave that alone for now.)

- With Crusty they were on the run and dashed into the store. This encounter is one of my favorite moments of Percy’s quick thinking in the books btw. Also his absolute lack of hesitation to slice someone’s head if they mess with his friends. Percy is smart. He’s very street smart actually. In the book this scene shows that really well. (The way I paused the show in frustration and almost turned it off when the episode started already at Crusty’s with the line “I know who you are.” Like of course. That’s just how we’re telling this story now. Check. They met Crusty. And he doesn’t feel like a threat at all. But they met him I guess.)

The exhaustion and the circumstances in these instances in the book and getting into these traps aren’t the trio being “stupid.” They were moments that set up the situation to feel more relatable, alive, tense, and interesting. The show’s changes have taken away most of the tension from these scenes. Them knowing and catching on to things so quickly is lazy and it is incredibly boring. It just feels like they are checking off a list of places from the books they wanted in the show, while losing the entire energy and impact of those locations and scenes.

To me everything in this show feels like it’s at 20%. The humor, the stakes, the tension, the personality, the freaking lighting (why is so much of this show so hard to even see?), the whimsy, the magic, the charm. It’s all so dialed back and watered down. The book is a roller coaster of making you laugh and putting you on the edge of your seat with the tension and situations these kids get into. It’s campy, it’s intense, it’s crazy, and so energetic. The show feels bland in comparison. Idk how you manage to make Percy Jackson feel boring but they did it.

I’m not asking for it to be an exact copy of the book. I’m just disappointed with how dull it is. When it’s boring and it’s a scene that was the furthest thing from that in the original version then YES I’m going to compare it and wonder why there were changes to make it less interesting. In fact, my favorite scene in the show so far is actually the taxi in the parking garage scene. It captured the energy and vibe of Percy Jackson really well and it’s a scene not in the books at all. The energy is important and this show is lacking severely most of the time. It has some really good moments (back to that 20% thing) but overall it’s such a let down.

We have one episode left of the season and I don’t exactly have high hopes of it making things better. It just makes me sad because I wanted to love this series. The incredibly talented cast, a major studio behind it, passionate people being involved including the author, amazing source material… I look at all of the ingredients and it should be amazing. But I’m pretty disappointed right now.

[duck-takes]

Fair warning in advance: I got a bit carried away and this became a lot longer than I meant it to be. Sorry about that, hopefully you don't mind...?

That being said I still can't believe DT17 managed to drop the ball with Gladstone and Fethry so badly. Their debute episodes were great and there was SO MUCH set up there for future opportunities and then. Literally nothing came from it. Like what. Even them reuniting with Della is steamrolled over when everyone else got their chance to properly reunite. Honestly it wouldn't annoy me as much if the two weren't put in the most messed up situations in their debute. Yeah Gladstone has been held prisoner in a casino for who knows how long being used as an all you can eat buffet by an ancient spirit! And nobody in the casino besides said spirit was even real! But he's an entitled jerk so who cares lol. Oh and Fethry? His family stuck him under the sea, all alone, for years and refused to answer his calls, even when it was warning them of the danger the facility was becoming. He literally could have died! But he's the family weirdo so it's fine lol. Like how do you just casually set that all up and then brush it away right after, especially when the show was doing great about handling those types of things prior?

What's crazier in my mind is how they directly parallel Donald and Della. Glad and Don had both met the kids before the show kicked off, were both held as prisoners by a more powerful force, and then were both effectively isolated from the outside world. Gladstone had the company of the man actively using him while Donald had a melon. Meanwhile Della and Fethry never met the kids before the show started, were both completely isolated for years, and their calls went unheard by their family. Della took the Spear and Fethry agreed to go to the lab, but both are shown to regret/be upset about their situation later on. Plus while Della's transmissions were never received, Fethry's calls were straight up ignored. And this isn't even tacking on the other cousin parallels, like Donald and Fethry both using items (and creatures) as friends given that's all they have and Della and Gladstone both having to see the world they couldn't freely return to (Earth from the moon and the city through the windows) right in front of them while isolated. Then you have other characters you can draw parallels to, like Lena also being used by an evil, magical force and Webby's struggles with being the "weird" eccentric kid. They set up so many good opportunities and then just. Never go through with any of it. It's like they just hit a character reset button after the eps are done and start over again. It's so frustrating!

Plus the way they're treated makes others feel OOC in some cases. Scrooge "family is the greatest adventure of all" McDuck is fine letting his nephew drown at the bottom of the sea? He doesn't like said nephew because he takes him on "pointless adventures" when Scrooge himself has done the same damn thing? They both found something they considered interesting, offered their family to go on an adventure to see it to which they agreed to, only for it to end up being nothing exciting for said family. Looking at you Golden Cricket. Only Fethry gets bashed for it and Scrooge shrugs it off for himself. Like c'mon man. Then Donald "nobody gets hurt today" Duck is fine with leaving his cousin alone in said unstable underwater laboratory? Is fine with ignoring his other cousin's call for help? I know he doesn't like Gladstone but the implication both him and Scrooge would have been fine ignoring his call if the kids hadn't butted in isn't helping their case. Actually why is it that the kids are sorta responsible for saving their uncles/cousins both times? What's up with that? Ah and of course my favorite example, Scrooge "I hate magic" McDuck berating his nephew for his luck and then in the next breath talking about how unstoppable he'd be with that same luck. (Per the DuckTales: Solving Mysteries and Rewriting Histories! book which Frank Angones confirmed was canon.) And don't even get me started on how the kids treated Fethry at first. Just. Since when are they that rude, especially given how Fethry acts rather similar to how Webby did in Beagle Boy Massacre. The so called weird person that has been in isolation for quite some time and isn't the greatest socially. Why are they suddenly so harsh with him when they were a lot more relaxed with her? It's just so odd to me.

Final point before I leave you be but the Moonvasion bit where Scrooge calls them all his kids makes no sense at all because of all the prior set ups. At no point leading up to Moonvasion had he treated Gladstone and Fethry with any real respect. Heck it hardly felt like he treated them like family most of the time. The closest we got to that was him tricking Toad to let Glad free...only to immediately ditch him in Macaw to go see a bug right after. He basically abandoned Fethry for over 4 YEARS and then acts like that never happened. Was it a cute moment? Yes, admittedly it was. Does it make any damn sense? Not at all. Just. What the fuck. You had so much there and then did nothing with it. It's just so annoying yet also rather sad to see all that potential get flushed away so quickly. I get that they only had so long to do things and them two weren't a huge priority for the crew but man. It still sucks to see.

Anyways the tldr is that DT17 had great opportunities to do more with Glads and Feths and then just Didn't and I find that both sad and frustrating. Sorry again for kinda going off, I do love DT17 but just. I don't think I'll ever get over how Gladstone and Fethry were treated. They're my favorites and it stings to see them getting screwed over in one of their very rare animated appearances. Technically Fethry's first and only. Man. I'm not sure if this is a hot take or not honestly but um. Yeah! That's my two cents on the matter. Oh and if anyone wants receipts for the DT:SMaRH! book reference and canonicity comment I can share! I will say that outside some questionable Gladdy bits it's actually quite an enjoyable book. Own it myself! I will also admit that I'm pretty bad about looking too deeply into stuff, so I may also just be overthinking a lot here ha. It is fun to do though! Anyways finally getting off my rocker now, keep up the great work here admin and I hope everyone reading this has a nice day! :]

GO OFF ANON!! THIS IS SO TRUE

[theangrycomet-art]

Sonic Underground Reprise: Hedgehog Family Tree Hedge

Here- the parents, the aunts, the uncles, the grandpa and grandma's and even some cousins.

Now, are most of these characters relevant to the main plot? No. But if you have followed me for any amount of time you should know of my love of expanding character's family trees.

COMMISSIONS OPENED

Kofi

Family Notes: (this gets kinda long)

Parlouzer Lore (paternal side)

Charlotte was a sailor who split her time exploring and fishing with her crew

she may or may not have been a pirate

Maurice was a skilled carpenter who worked from his home workshop in Port Mobius

he was just a humble, if a bit on the quiet side,

the two met by chance when Charlotte was exploring the area while Maurice was trying to get groceries

instantly charmed with one another, they kept in touch and she made it a point to always come back to see him every chance she could

after about 5 years of this she proposed to him and the two were married the next day

Chuck was born shortly after (honeymoon baby)

he mostly stayed on the mainland with his father while Charlotte continued working on the high seas

Julius was born when Charles was 12, and Pauline Pauli when he was 19

Chuck left for college early at 16, so he wasn’t particularly close with his younger brothers until they were practically adults

Jules ran away when he was 13 to join the circus, completely cutting off contact for nearly 5 years

At 17, he and several other members of the circus (including Argus) were arrested in Casino City after being framed for treason by a rival performance troupe. Due to their age however, the two were given an alternative to jail time: enlistment, which they begrudgingly accepted (this was HIGHLY illegal btw, as both were underage and therefore not qualified to be enlisted)

around 3 years into service, Chuck got wind of the bullshit charges placed on his brother and threatened to raise hell if the two were not brought back home immediately

Jules and Argus were then hired as a part of the Royal guard where they were charged initially with guarding King Max’s son, Crown Prince Nigel

Pauli avoided trouble growing up, having taken more after his father than his lovely, impulsive older brothers

Ihe developed a passion for piloting and decided to start his own delivery business, which would be how he would meet his future wife Bernie

Bernie

Nadim Lore

ditch the royal family part and exchange it for a powerful magic fam

Hatshe is the matriarch of a powerful magic guild, the Rising Sun, though she has retired from any official position

the Rising Sun was formed by Aman-Rapi long ago

Hatshe met Olgilvie when traveling through the Kingdom of Mercia when the then King requested the aid of the Rising Sun’s strangest magician (they had meant to request “strongest” but their had been a slight typo, luckily for them Hatshe was both)

Bastard son of a a duke, Olgilvie was knight renound for his skills with a blade as well as the strings

he was assigned to aide Hatshe in her assignment

the two did not get along initially, as both were headstrong individuals who had their own way of doing things, but eventually became friends, and later lovers

He ran off after her once her assignment had been completed and continued courting her back home

Layla is Aleena’s older sister, as well as the current leader of the Rising Sun

Though she may appear calm, collected, and regal, outside of official appearances she is a very much a dork who is not above a little mischief

she met Terios when the were children during the family’s travels

more specifically, she found his half dead body lie partway out of a river bank

he was taken in to the guild, where he showed strong promise in healing magic

childhood friends-> lovers, slowburn 160k words basically

everyone knew that they liked eachother except themselves

despite some initial mishaps, the guild has been thriving under her leadership

despite Robotnik’s efforts, their guild halls have remained hidden to him, as well as serving a safe havens for those trying to escape his reign

they work loosely with the Resistance, though Layla leaves it up to the individuals to come forwards and offer aid

[y-rhywbeth2]

Lore: Common Phrases & Words

Accuracy Disclaimer & The Other Stuff [tldr: D&D lore is a giant conflicting mess. Larian's lore is also a conflicting mess. You learn to take what you want and leave the rest]

Abeir-Toril Why it's called the "Forgotten" Realms History | Time & Festivals | Lexicon [1] [2]| Languages | Living in Faerûn [1] [?] | Notable Organisations | Magic | Baldurs Gate | Waterdeep | The Underdark | Geography and Human Cultures --- WIP

Translating some earth phrases and words into their Faerûnian equivalents, plus some words specific to Faerûn; Here's how make friends and insult people in Faerûn. Also they have coffee, guitars and health insurance.

Also included a handful of Waterdhavian phrases and words.

-

Phrases and curses:

"Before all the gods..." - "I swear to god..."

"Well met" - default greeting; hello

"Well again" - greeting between acquaintances, business partners and friends.

"Well enough" - agreement; "ok", "that's fine with me"

“Never undress in a room with a window, a Harper may be near!” – "Be careful what you say, you don't know who's listening. an interesting warning courtesy of Waterdhavian noble matrons.

"Haularake!" - The polite way to say "gods fucking damn it!" while in front of small children.

"Hrast!" - Damn it!

"Hrasted [thing]!" - Damned [thing]!

"[Deity]'s Blood" - eg "Cyric's Blood" Religious oath, rather like jesus christ. Contracted version of Blood of [deity]

I swear that I have seen "Umberlee's Teats" and "Cyric's Balls" said somewhere...

"Being an ox-haunch" - "Being an asshole"

"a breath" - a moment, a second; "wait a breath"

"A breath or two" - A moment/second; eg, "give me a breath or two to finish this."

"A goodly breath or three" - a minute. (Waiting for a notable amount of time, maybe ten minutes, but not that long.) -- The dwarven variant is "but a little while" -- Halflings call it a "long song"

"Counting like a halfling" - Being contrary just to be difficult Most of the Realms counts on their fingers starting with the thumb, halflings do it the other way around.

"Naeth!", "Naed!" - Shit!

"Sabruin" - Fuck you, Fuck off.

"Lay down [good] coin" - "pay [a lot] for something"

“Resourceful as a bard”

"Life's better when you're not a frog." - "Avoid wizards."

“Sweet water and light laughter until next we meet” - A goodbye said between nobles. Technically an elven farewell, but human nobility decided it made them look cultured or something.

"Gone to Daggerford" - Waterdhavian phrase meaning to hide from the law by lying low outside the city

"Black as a black opal" - used to describe people who seem evil, but aren't really. (Especially if they'd dislike you saying so)

- Faerûnian Lexicon:

Scorchkettle - a Karen.

Dining-house - a Restaurant

Glim - Eye-catching, beautiful, flashy

Kaeth - Coffee ~Fireswallow - a colloquial term for Coffee.

Yarting - acoustic guitar

Short scroll - Newspaper

Nandra - mediocre, meh.

Dael, daelin - a year, years

Saer - a term to address nobility when you don't know the proper title, or when they're children

Lackwit - Idiot

Roundskull - a prejudiced idiot who doesn't use their brain; "often applied to local folk who sit drinking in their tavern displaying prejudices and repeating the words of their parents and grandparents, rather than making their own judgements about changing conditions around them, and new concepts, items, and customs."

Handfast - an engagement (to be married) Handfasted - engaged

Goldnose, Goldnosed - Haughty. aka. "Has a stick up their ass." Highnose - as above

Lackcoin - a derogatory term for those living in poverty.

Darkmorning - the early morning hours between midnight and sunrise

Highsun - Midday

the Eavestrough - the Gutter

a Bell - an Hour

a Candle - an Hour

Festhall - a type of establishment found in the Realms. A kind of fusion between an inn, laundromat, spa, night club, brothel and casino. I'll explain these in another post. Suffice to day that BG3 is the most accurate portrayal of how damn horny this setting is that I've seen in a CRPG so far.

Blesséd - an elven loanword referring to immediate family.

Harhand - a labourer (minimum wage employee)

Healthshield - Health insurance, also known as a "healing-bond"

Fire-bond - Fire insurance

Rivvim - horny

Dawnfry - colloquial term for breakfast A common breakfast, especially for travellers at camp, is to quickly fry the leftovers from last night's meal.

Highbite - colloquial term for lunch Long variant is "Highsunfest."

Latebite, Evenfest - Dinner Abbreviation of "Eveningfeast."

the Art - Magic

Lackspell - a weak, or novice wizard

Aloft - Upstairs; "she went aloft/upstairs."

High-coin - Expensive; or referring to a high paying job Low-coin - Cheap; or paying minimum wage

Finework - intricate and valuable metalwork. Silverware and jewellery, for example

Finesmith - a smith who works with precious metals.

Hiresword - Mercenary

Stareyed - naïve

Shraehouse - a type of very small tavern

Fastmud - Cement

a Swords out - a brawl or violent argument

a Smur - a light, misty rain

Beast-men - common word for ogres

Big Folk - Term used by gnomes and halflings to refer to the other races

Longears - term for an elf

Little man - insult aimed at dwarves

a Blackstick - something like a grease pencil. A writing utility made of a stick of thorden (juniper) wood that can be sharpened on one end, which is then slightly charred and used to write with.

a Blandreth - a three legged cooking pot

a Boot - a Traveller

Dadacky - Rotten, Decayed

Heartstop - a Heart attack

Coin - Money; "I've got no coin until I get paid next week."

a Broad Cry - Headline of a newspaper/broadsheet

Holy hand - a temple guard

Tenday - equivalent of a week (10 days instead of 7) Other, less commonly used terms include; an "eve," "hyrar", "ride" or a "domen".

the Elf day - the Weekend. The tenth day of a tenday, sometimes a day of rest.

House storming - a burglary; home invasion

the Realms Below - the Underdark

a Black Robe - a magistrate [Waterdhavian dialect]

a Sun - a platinum coin [Waterdhavian]

a Dragon - a gold coin [Waterdhavian]

a Shard - a silver coin [Waterdhavian]

a Nib - a copper coin [Waterdhavian]

[thesupernaturalhouse]

Are you ready!!! I have finally FINALLY finished the hellverse worldbuilding/rewrite project and I've added a lot mroe stuff then just info on thr rings :³

Please read and tell me what you think because I spent *checks time* 12-14 hours making all this and I'd relaly appreciate it if you guys read or asked questions about it I'm very proud of the backgrounds :³

First off!!! Is of course the rings, I'll have to reblog with the bonus content since only 10 pictures are allowed per post lol

A smart for each ring, theor ruler and native species as well as a small description background is the color that represents their ring more or less

Pride purplish red, wrath red, gluttony yellow, greed yellowish green, lust purple, envy dark teal, sloth, blue

Pride!! Short summary fo the text: prides hellborn species are ethe cannibals, they stay in route due to the infinite food glitch and look the most human out of the hellborn, whoch can be their downfall as some exorcists can mistake them for sinners. They've also adopted human behavior, such as having an overlord, and particularly have taken a liking to the 1900s style

And here's imp city as a bonus!

Next is Wrath!! And the one I spent the most time on lol

Wrath summary is thst their hellborn species are Imps, which adapt to theor surrounds actually. So while Wrath born imps are much stronger, greed and gluttony imps are faster, sloth ring I'm are faster and more adapted to the cold, pride ring imps have more normal feet to help them walk faster, etc

Wrath imps are also very heat resistant, their hot springs being lava instead, imps fork other rings have less heat resistant then wrath ones

And here's gluttony!!

Hellhoudns are gluttonys native species, and because thier the most populated species there are orphanages fudged by beelzabub, though quality varies....pride has the worse due to sinners(which while they can't damage the orphanage due to a barrier its still not the best- even greens are better) while gluttony has the best

Beelzabub juice is made and affected by the general mood of the population/citizens via their energy, which is how it gets made. It doesn't negatively affect the citizens

And next is greed!

Greed by far as the most variety of species, crocodiles, snakes, alligators, lizards, sharks, etc

On one side greed is crowded and packed full of factories and mines and crime, on the other though its liek your average city, to much info to summarize so you'll have to read it yourselves

Next up is lust!!

Lust is basically hells version of ls Vagas, like greed one side if filled with sex shops and clubs and casinos, while the other is a relatively tame and normal city

Greed produces the gems while lust enchants them due to lit demons being the only hellborn species to have enough magic to enchant stuff

Next up!! Envy!!

Envy on the surface is simply an island surrounded by water, but that's simply for the non natives becauseudeewtaer is where the realy envy city is she their hellborn species can breath underwater and are also the only ones able to touch salt without getting burnt

Due to envy just being one giant ocean, they have a lot of resources, fish, coral, sand, rocks, etc, that only they can access, making it the most wealthy ring. Which also affects its citizens and makes them more introverted as their better than even else in their minds

Here's a little capital/under the water Pic as a bonus!

Next up is sloth, which I finished today at like, 1 am lol

Sloths native species consists of bovidae, specifically sheep, antelope, rams, giats, etc. They tend to stay on the softer color scale, but here they are born, which can affect what colors they are(paradise was born in gluttony and is half succubus due to the wings)

They actually eat dreams, or, not really, dreams but more the energy that demons produce whilst dreaming. It doesn't harm them and, in some cases, actually helps them if they have a nightmare.

That's all for now, the slides go into far more details than I did in these short summaries so please read them, I worked really hard on them and would appreciate the support and any questions are also welcome!

Again I'll reblog with the bonus content, or jsut make a nether post caus ei can't add anymore pics to this post🥲

[fakeoutbf]

so much for (tour)dust u.s. leg

magic 8 ball and piano medley songs sorted by date

color coded by album ● repeated songs in bold

tttyg ● futct ● ioh ● fad ● srar ● abap ● mania ● smfs

June 21 - Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Piano medley

- Lake Shore Drive (Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah cover)

Magic 8 Ball song

- G.I.N.A.S.F.S. (Live Debut) (Alias: GOLF)

June 23 - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO

Piano medley

- What a Time to Be Alive (Live Debut)

Magic 8 Ball song

- Of All the Gin Joints in All the World (First time live since 2008) (Alias: GAMMA JULIET)

June 24 - Azura Amphitheater, Bonner Springs, KS

Piano medley

- I'm Like a Lawyer With the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You) (First time live since 2014)

Magic 8 Ball song

- Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year (First time live since 2014) (Alias: OCHO)

June 27 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, TX

Piano medley

- Somebody to Love (Queen cover)

- Take On Me (Aha cover)

Magic 8 Ball song

- The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years) (Live Debut) (Alias: TANGO YETI)

June 28 - Dos Equis Pavilion, Dallas, TX

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie (First time live since 2013)

Magic 8 Ball song

- The (After) Life of the Party (First time live since 2007) (Alias: SIERRA ALPHA)

June 30 - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, AZ

Piano medley

- Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia) (Patrick Slump song, first time live since 2011)

Magic 8 Ball song

- Homesick at Space Camp (First time live since 2013)

July 1 - North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, CA

Piano medley

- Nothing Compares 2 U (Prince cover)

Magic 8 Ball song

- (Coffee’s For Closers) (First time live since 2009)

July 2 - BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Piano medley

- Mr. Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra cover)

- Golden (First time live since 2007)

Magic 8 Ball songs

- G.I.N.A.S.F.S.

- America’s Suitehearts (First time live since 2009) (Alias: ASS)

July 3 - BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Piano medley

- Every Breath You Take (The Police cover)

- I’ve Got All This Ringing In My Ears and None On My Fingers (Live Debut)

Magic 8 Ball songs

- The (After) Life of the Party

- Bang the Doldrums (Live Debut) (Alias: YANKEE HOTEL HOTEL)

July 5 - Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA

Piano medley

- Alison (Elvis Costello cover)

- What a Catch, Donnie

Magic 8 Ball song

- The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes (First time live since 2013) (Alias: PATRIZZY S)

July 7 - USANA Amphitheatre, West Valley City, UT

Piano medley

- What a Time to Be Alive

- Hold the Line (Toto cover)

Magic 8 Ball song

- The Kids Aren’t Alright (First time live since 2018) (Alias: KILO)

July 9 - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village, CO

Piano/acoustic medley

- Goin’ North (David Stump cover)

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner (First time live since 2014)

July 11 - Walmart AMP, Rogers, AR

Piano medley

- (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Brinsley Schwarz cover)

- What a Catch, Donnie

Magic 8 Ball song

- I Slept With Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me (First time live since 2015)

July 13 - Somerset Amphitheater, Somerset, WI (shortened show due to weather)

Magic 8 Ball song

- Fame < Infamy (Live Debut) (Alias: BRAVO WHISKEY PAPA)

July 15 - Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Favorite Record (Live Debut)

July 16 - Ruoff Music Center, Noblesville, IN

Piano medley

- What a Time to Be Alive

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Where Did the Party Go (First time live since 2014) (Alias: WHISKEY PAPA)

July 18 - Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Piano medley

- Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover)

- I'm Like a Lawyer With the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)

Magic 8 Ball song

- 27 (Live Debut) (Alias: TANGO SIERRA)

July 19 - Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA

Piano/acoustic medley

- Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner (full song)

Magic 8 ball

- She’s My Winona (First time live since 2009) (Alias: BEETLE JUICE)

July 21 - PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, NC

Piano medley

- Lean on me (Bill Withers cover)

- What a Catch

Magic 8 Ball song

- Dead on Arrival (First time live since 2013) (Alias: DELTA OMEGA ALPHA)

June 21 - Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA

Piano medley

- What a Time to Be Alive

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- 7 Minutes in Heaven (Atavan Halen) (Patrick on drums, First time live since 2007) (Alias: WOLFGANG)

July 24 - iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, FL

Piano medley

- Dancing Queen (ABBA cover)

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things to Do Today (First time live since 2013) (Alias: GATOR BITES)

July 25 - MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Miss Missing You (First time live since 2015)

July 26 - Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta, GA

Piano medley

- Nothing Compares 2 U (Prince cover)

- I’ve Got All This Ringing In My Ears and None On My Fingers

Magic 8 Ball song

- From Now On, We Are Enemies (Live Debut)

July 29 - Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI

Piano medley

- What a Time to Be Alive

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball song

- Don’t You Know Who I Think I Am? (First time live since 2007)

July 30 - Budweiser Stage, Toronto, ON, Canada

Piano medley

- What a Time to Be Alive

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball songs

- West Coast Smoker (Live Debut)

- G.I.N.A.S.F.S.

August 1 - Forest Hills Stadium, Queens, NY

Piano medley

- What a Catch, Donnie

- Just One Yesterday (First time live since 2014)

- Stereo Hearts (with Travie McCoy)

- Cupid’s Chokehold (with Travie McCoy)

Magic 8 Ball song

- I Am My Own Muse (Live Debut)

- 27

August 2 - Fenway Park, Boston, MA

Piano medley

- W.A.M.S. (Live Debut)

- Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond cover)

Magic 8 Ball songs

- XO (First time live since 2007)

- G.I.N.A.S.F.S.

August 4 - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Darien Center, NY

Piano/acoustic medley

- Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part to Save the Scene and Stop Going to Shows) (First time live since 2006)

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball songs

- You’re Crashing but You’re No Wave (Live Debut)

- 27

August 5 - PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ

Piano medley

- I've Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song) (Live Debut)

- What a Catch, Donnie

Magic 8 Ball songs

- Bob Dylan (Live Debut)

- I Am My Own Muse

August 6 - Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden, NJ

Piano medley

- Jet Pack Blues (First time live since 2018)

- I've Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song)

- Golden

Magic 8 Ball songs

- Pavlove (Live Debut) (Alias: KEVIN BACON)

- 27 (Alias: ONLY THE GOOD)

- G.I.N.A.S.F.S. (Alias: ACRONYM)

[tigers-eyes-26]

Colors Chapter 3

Their dance that night was a more subdued affair. Pauline couldn’t stand the atmosphere it was choking. Waluigi counted the steps out loud. She took a step closer to him instead of out. He raised an eyebrow. She whispered to his ear “I’m sorry,” She kept up the steps but kept close to him as they stepped forward and backward. He didn’t answer still counting the steps, but his eyes kept on her. “I’m just a curious cat.” She gave him a small smile. He took a step back spinning her to the beat. They came back together. “That’s sweet you had someone to help you.”

“Ok lets do that again.” He addressed the cameras. They reset.

She continued to whisper so the cameras wouldn’t catch it. “I wasn’t so lucky.” He heard her but kept counting. “I need to tell you something.” Again, he spun her around. “But only after the cameras are off.” He nodded slightly.

“Now lets go a little bit faster.”

*******

She waited for the lights on the cameras indicating they were on to go off. She turned to a scowling Waluigi crossing his arms. “What is it you need to tell me about?” She opened her mouth to answer but he cut her of immediately. “The people are robots.”

It was Pauline’s turn to scowl. He again didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I’m smart too sweetheart. They all dress the same. They are all the same age. There are no old or young people around. I maybe skinny but I am no weakling and it required me to put way more effort to swing those ladies at the club around than it is you.”

Pauline opened her mouth again, and again was denied to speak. “So, what’s the point of telling me they are robots?” He bent into her face a little.

She glared at him not wanting to try to speak again until she was sure he was done. She took a breath. “That wasn’t what I was going to talk to you about, but Yes they are.”

Waluigi gave a small fist pump “I knew it.”

“Even though they are robots. They have personalities and are very much alive and need to be treated like any other people.” She gave him a pointed look. “Capisce?”

“Yah, yah, yah,” He flippantly agreed.

Pauline decided not to continue to argue but switched topics. “What I really wanted to say is I’m sorry about digging into your life without sharing my own dirt.”

Waluigi mulled over what she said. Was he curious about her? Did he really care about what she was going to say? Ehh…What the heck it would be interesting. “Ok Shoot, what dirt do you ~wish~ to share?”

“As you can probably tell from how I speak, I’m from Brooklyn.”

Waluigi held up his hand sharply. “Don’t tell me! You knew the Mario Brothers before they came here.”

Pauline sputtered a little. “I Did…”

“You better not tell me you dated one of them!” He pointed an accusatory face at her.

“Ah…Well…”

“WHa! I bet you dated Luigi didn’t you!?” He crossed his arms and mumbled. “That timid freak somehow gets all the hot feisty babes.”

Pauline stamped her foot. “NO! I went on a date with Mario, it was to thank him.”

“Even better! Thank him for what!? That runt is always saving the damsel in distress. It’s like he has a radar or something! So, what did he save you from? A thug? The Mafia? A handsy fan?”

“No!” She shouted; she took a breath to calm her anger. She quietly continued, “From a gorilla…”

Waluigi burst out into laughter. His laughter stopped when the air was forced out of his lungs. He was suddenly on the ground with a stiletto on his chest, his arm having been captured by Pauline. “Listen buster! If I’m going to continue my story you better listen!”

“…Okay..” He wheezed out. She let his arm go and sat down near his head.

“We think a super shroom got into our world and made it to the Brooklyn Zoo. He wasn’t your average gorilla. You’ve meet DK before, haven’t you?”

Waluigi was still catching his breath but nodded.

“It was his father. We’ve sat down and had a conversation about it. Apparently, animals who eat the food from here get really intelligent. DK and group have their Island as a refuge for all those animals that end up here.” She glanced at Waluigi. He was laying on his stomach with his hands on his face. His face was giving her an unimpressed bored look.

“Anyways that’s not important to our story.” She moved on. “The Mario bros went missing from the community and everyone searched for them. Eventually everyone gave up. I didn’t. I found a pipe and ended up here in a magical world with robots that practically worship everything New York. They had modeled themselves off of 1920s Noir films and 1950s business magazines.”

Waluigi sat up in a cross-legged position. “So, they worshiped you, a girl from the magical place they only had pictures of.” He threw up is arms in frustrations. “What a dream!”

“Hey! It’s not all sunshine and roses! Not everyone thinks I’m doing a good job as mayor. I can’t blame them I never studied political science. I was a bar singer!”

He scoffed, “Cry me a river!” He stood up and brushed the nonexistent dust off his pants. “I would kill to be in your position.”

She looked up at him with a playful face. “Is that a threat?”

“Wah! That’s not my style, I don’t like to get my hands dirty. Plus, that would make me infamous.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Aren’t you already infamous?”

He crossed his arms and glared down at her. “What do you know about me?”

“I heard from some reputable sources that you tend to cheat.”

He snorted. “Is that source Mario?”

Pauline got up from the floor and into his face. “So, what if it is?”

“He’s just a jealous ex.” He grinned victoriously at her.

She huffed.

Waluigi chuckled, “This is why I don’t tell people things; it can be used against you.”

“Is Mario telling the truth or is he spreading a rumor?”

He didn’t answer. He examined his hand nonchalantly. “I’ll never tell.” 

“Grrrr your infuriating!” She went to punch him he slipped out of the way. She continued to throw punches and Waluigi continued to slink out of her reach, cackling at her efforts.

He slipped out of the door with a playful cry of “Ciao!”

****

The next night after their recording session.

“I have asked around if anyone here knows of your reputation.”

“Annd…?”

“And no one knows about you, all they think is you are a smug grumpy dancer.”

“Yah, So what?”

“So, you don’t have much of a reputation here. You could be whoever you wanted to be.”

Waluigi mulled that over. “Why do you want me to be such an upright citizen?”

“Its what friends do.” she said casually.

“Oh, so we are friends now?” He raised an eyebrow and smirked, “I thought this was only a business relationship?”

“It was at first but now I just want to help.”

“~just wanna help~” He mimicked. “Like some hero to save the wayward grifter. I can see the headlines;” he spread is hands over his head as if outlining the headlines. “Mediocre Mayor turns hardened Mushroom Kingdom criminal into goodie New Donk Citizen.”

The barb got under her skin, “I’m not doing as a pollical ploy!”

“It probably makes you feel so ~good~ about yourself!” He hugged himself and gave a faux relaxed face.

“I’m not doing this for me! I’m doing it for you!”

She was losing her cool and Waluigi could sense it. “Why do you care about me!?” He threw his hands up in the air.

Her mouth clamped down, she blushed. Why did she care?

Waluigi didn’t give her a chance to explain, “Am I just some kind of entertainment for you?” he accused.

“NO!”

“Everyone has their reasons for helping. Mario does it for the attention of the princess. Luigi to prove he’s just as good as his brother. Wario for the money. What’s yours, honey?”

She rolled her eyes at his cynical comment. “I told you already! You’re my friend, Wally, I help friends.” Waluigi opened his mouth, but it was her turn to not let him speak. “Do you not think you are worthy of friendship?”

A shadow passed over his face. He tried to rebound. “I-I am Great! The Greatest! Everyone should be dying to be my friend! I…Just…I don’t…need any more friends….right now….” He quickly reasoned.  He…He needed to go. He turned sharply and speed walked out the door, blushing. Pauline watched him go, feeling victorious.

-----

Next Chapter:

Last Chapter:

First chapter:

[snixxlixx]

can we talk about the taxi scene for a second?

this scene is everything, and one my favorite moments from season one — not only because it's adorable and so perfectly captures the dynamic of book one percabeth, but also because it's subtly setting up a wonderful "rule of three" pattern that we'll (hopefully) revisit in seasons three and five!

the rule of three is a storytelling device often used in writing, film, TV, comedy and other mediums, where a story is told three times: the first two instances establish a pattern, but the third instance diverges from the established pattern with the intention of surprising or amusing the audience.

it makes a lot of sense for the pjo writers to use this scene as the first instance of a rule of three pattern; not only is the number three important in this series and throughout greek mythology, but the book series has two more scenes that can perfectly complete this trifecta.

here's how i think the show will apply the rule of three to the recurring pattern of "demigods attempting to operate moving vehicles" (spoilers for the titan's curse and the last olympian ahead):

percy drives a taxi (season one)

percy tasks himself with driving the taxi out of the lotus casino, and it's an absolute disaster. he crashes into multiple walls, goes straight through the boom barrier and almost gets t-boned twice. it's a miracle (or, more likely, whatever magic is controlling hermes' taxi) that they make it to santa monica in one piece.

2. thalia drives apollo's sun chariot (season three)

in the titan's curse, apollo picks up percy, thalia, grover, nico, bianca and the hunters from westover hall in his chariot-turned-flying bus. despite her protests, apollo makes thalia drive it from maine back to long island — and as we later learn, thalia is terrified of heights, so it was a disaster waiting to happen. while attempting to control the vehicle in a panicked state, she freezes over the new england coastline, sets it on fire and then crash-lands into camp half blood's canoe lake.

3. annabeth lands a helicopter (season five)

at this point in the series, we've had two instances that establish a pattern: when demigods are tasked with operating a moving vehicle, it goes terribly and almost gets everyone killed. so in the third and final instance of this, annabeth defies our expectations and completely flips the pattern on its head.

during the battle for olympus, rachel flies back from her vacation in a helicopter to tell percy the message she received in a dream. unfortunately, she doesn't know about the sleeping spell morpheus cast over manhattan, and the pilot falls asleep as they begin to descend into the city. as the helicopter starts to spin out of control, percy and annabeth fly up on a pegasus to rescue rachel. annabeth manages to grab onto the side of the door, and rachel pulls her into the helicopter.

now, this is the moment where we expect everything to go wrong. previously, percy and thalia — children of the big three, two of the most powerful demigods alive — were comically awful at driving vehicles, so based on the established pattern, this should also be a disaster; but this is annabeth "you're better at this than me" chase we're talking about, and she gets her elle woods moment.

annabeth swaps places with the pilot, and when the helicopter is seconds away from crashing into a building, she manages to control it and safely land it in the middle of fifth avenue.

at sixteen years old, she lands a helicopter in manhattan. in the middle of an active war zone. with zero helicopter-flying experience.

what, like it's hard?

this is the perfect scene to round out the rule of threes, because the audience goes into it with a preconceived notion that we know how it will end: with a demigod's comical incompetence at operating a moving vehicle. instead, we get the brilliance of annabeth chase on full display, beautifully diverging from the pattern and proving that while she may not be a child of the big three, she has distinct abilities that they don't have, abilities that make her just as strong and capable and powerful as percy and thalia.

in conclusion: the taxi scene is not just a cute percabeth heart eyes moment, but could be setting up an incredible subplot across the five seasons of the show.

[aishangotome]

Ellis Twilight: Chapter 9

Chapter 8

♡———♡

--The next day, after patrolling the city.

I was heading to the casino with Ellis and Jude.

William and the others had found out that the ringmaster of the circus troupe in question occasionally visits the casino, which is one of the gang's bases.

(We will scout nearby and detain and interrogate any suspicious individuals.)

I repeated the day's mission in my mind, filled with tension.

Jude, who was smoking a cigarette a short distance away, sighed in exasperation as he glanced at me.

Jude: What are ya gonna do in that state?

Kate: I'm nervous now, but I'll be fine.

As I put on a brave face, Ellis bent down slightly and offered me some tea.

Ellis: Here you go. Warming up your body will help you calm down.

Kate: Thank you...

The warmth spreading to my fingertips, chilled with nervousness, felt good.

Kate: ...Oh, it's honey tea. Delicious.

Ellis: I'm glad. Feeling a little better?

Kate: ...Yeah, a little.

Ellis: Don't push yourself, Kate.

Even after yesterday's near-confession, Ellis is treating me the way I wanted, "the same as always"... I think.

(But, I can't help but be conscious of it.)

I feel my heart beating a little faster when Ellis is next to me, so I discreetly take one step away.

Ellis: They're probably rough people, so if there's another scary scene, close your eyes.

Kate: Hehe, I can't do that... It's my job to record what you two do.

Ellis: Even if you don't see it, I'll tell you about it later.

Ellis: You're hardworking and wonderful in that way, but... I want you to take better care of yourself.

Kate: Uh... yeah...

(Is this what he meant by "the same as always"...?)

Every time he smoothly says sweet words, my heart can't help but pound.

(No, no, I have to stay focused... so that things don't end up like last time.)

*flashback*

Ellis: They were trying to harm Kate.

Kate: ...

(So, this carnage is...)

(Because I followed them, Ellis...)

Ellis: ...It's okay now, Kate.

*flashback over*

(...So that things don't end up like last time.)

Kate: You too, Ellis, don't push yourself.

The words naturally spilled out as I remembered Ellis standing in a pool of blood.

I know full well that it's his job, his mission, what he has to do.

That's why I wanted to be there for him in the pain and suffering that comes from it.

Ellis: Me? I'll probably be fine, but... thanks.

Kate: Let's eat something delicious after the mission is over!

Ellis: ...Yeah. ...Hehe.

Suddenly, Ellis smiles at me as he looks at me--.

Kate: ...? What?

Ellis: I just got a little excited thinking about which restaurant to take you to.

Kate: .....!

(Does that mean...)

(Going to dinner with me is something Ellis himself is looking forward to.)

Not just for me.

For some reason, I'm so happy about that, my face breaks into a grin.

(Focus... on the mission...)

I hurriedly tighten my loosened mouth.

But Ellis didn't miss my changing expressions.

Ellis: Kate? Is something wrong?

Kate: I'm looking forward to dinner too!

Ellis: I can't wait to go either.

It was when Ellis and I smiled at each other.

???: Ah...

A small scream, and when I turned around--

A little girl had tripped on the stairs and fallen flat on the ground.

(Oh no, this is bad!)

As I instinctively stepped forward, Ellis also approached the girl.

Ellis: Are you okay?

Ellis gently lifted the girl up, but...

Girl: ...Uh...

Tears quickly welled up in the girl's eyes.

(It doesn't seem like her parents are around. Then--)

Kate: That must have hurt. Um, what's your name...?

--A cheerful voice came from above the three of us.

Man with Eyepatch: Well, well, little lady!

Man with Eyepatch: The flowers want to say hello to you!

(Who...!? )

The man with the eyepatch who suddenly appeared clenched his fist tightly, then opened it with a pop, revealing a beautiful flower blooming in his palm.

Kate: ! This is...

Ellis: The magic trick Bill did.

"Flower": Don't cry, lady. I want to see your smile!

The man with the eyepatch spoke in a high-pitched voice, as if squeezing his throat, pretending to be a flower.

Girl: Hic... Flower...

"Flower": If you smile, I feel like I can bloom even more!

Girl: ...Hmm...

As the girl tried to force a smile, small flowers overflowed from the man's palm one after another.

Girl: Wow...!

The girl's eyes, still wet with tears, sparkled.

Then, a woman with a panicked expression came running over.

Panicked Woman: Cathy! I've been looking for you, don't go off on your own!

Cathy: Oh, Mom! Look, look, it's amazing! It's like magic, the flowers...

Cathy's Mother: I'll hear about it later! I'm so sorry for the trouble!

Man with Eyepatch: No, no, not at all.

Ellis: That child might have scraped her knee. Please take care of it.

Cathy's Mother: Huh? Did she fall? Did she cry and cause you trouble!?

Cathy: I didn't cry! That man did flower magic...

(I guess she was really happy about the flower magic trick.)

The mother smiled as if relieved at the girl's excited chatter.

Cathy's Mother: It seems you all helped her... Thank you very much.

Cathy's Mother: Cathy, I'll listen to all your chatter when we get home.

Cathy: Okay!

The girl, now smiling, took her mother's hand, waved to us, and left.

Ellis: Take care.

Seeing the mother and daughter off, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Kate: I'm glad her mother came to get her.

Ellis: ...Yeah.

The tone of his voice sounded stiff, and I turned around in wonder.

Ellis: ...............

Ellis, who had been smiling at the girl, had turned a calm face and was staring at the man with the eyepatch.

I followed his gaze and looked at the man again.

(That's right. Who is this man who suddenly appeared...?)

He has an unhealthy complexion, but he's tall and well-built.

He has a friendly smile, but his sharp, wolf-like eyes give off an intensity as if he's driven by something.

(Eyepatch... Performer.)

Then I remembered the physical characteristics of the "ringmaster" that Alfons had told me about.

*flashback*

Alfons: It's said that the one who invited her was Jake Grace, the ringmaster himself.

Alfons: From the characteristic scar on his eye, which he got from a wild animal when he was young, it was definitely him.

*flashback over*

(If he was active as a ringmaster 20 years ago, he must be at least in his 30s...? )

The man in front of me looks to be in his 40s.

(Just because he's wearing an eyepatch, I don't know if he has a scar on his eye, but--)

Jude: ................

Jude, who had been watching the scene with a cigarette in his hand, approached.

Jude: Ellis.

Ellis: Yeah.

At that moment, Ellis stood in front of me as if to protect me.

Jude: Hey, do ya know a guy named Jake Grace?

Man with Eyepatch: Oh my, have I been found out! Indeed, I am Jake Grace himself!

Jude: .............

Kate: Huh!?

(He's so openly introducing himself!? )

Even though he's supposed to be involved in the kidnapping case, he's so carefree that I'm taken aback.

Jude, who was supposed to be setting a trap, narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Ellis: I heard a rumor that you're kidnapping the performers. Is it true?

Kate: Ellis?

(If you ask him so directly, he'll be on guard...!)

But, despite my worries, the man shrugged and laughed.

Jake: Kidnapping? Me? Ah hah hah hah!

Jake: No way. It's true that I'm gathering people to reunite the circus. I'm calling out to them, but

Jake: Everyone is just agreeing because they're attracted to the charm of the circus!

(Eh......)

Ellis: ...... I heard that even those who refused your offer have disappeared.

Jake: Disappear? That can't be true. I'm a man of principle, I step aside cleanly when rejected.

Jake: As fellow lovers of the arts, we'll meet again somewhere someday if we live!

Jude and Ellis: ............

(We actually saw a woman who rejected his offer get attacked by a gang.)

There's a big discrepancy between that fact and Jake's statement.

(But, he doesn't look like he's lying...... What's going on?)

Jude: Where are your new circus buddies who accepted your offer?

Jake: They should be at a mansion in the suburbs, polishing their performances without any inconvenience!

Jake: The other day, I saw a child in trouble on the street, so I invited them. They accepted without hesitation.

Jake: Children under 10 years old can easily improve their physical abilities.

Jake: If they can master tightrope walking, they can say goodbye to a life of scavenging for trash on the roadside!

Ellis: Are you the one who guides them to that "mansion in the suburbs"?

Jake: No? The owner of the casino ahead said he would invest in my circus!

Jake: Until the first performance, that person is taking care of them.

Jake: I'm going to meet him today about that.

Jake keeps a cheerful smile on his face.

(This refreshing way of speaking. And, judging by his response to the girl earlier... he doesn't seem like a bad person.)

(If that's the case, then this person might be--)

Ellis: He's being used as an accomplice in the kidnapping, but he doesn't realize it.

Ellis put into words what I wanted to say.

Jake: Hm?

Ellis: I think you're being deceived.

Ellis: Have you met with any of the people you recruited since then?

Jake: They occasionally send me letters. I still have to gather more people, so I haven't been able to go to the mansion.

Ellis: ...... Please check it out properly.

Jake: Alright, alright! I'll check it out. Thanks for your kindness.

(The troupe leader doesn't know anything. That means...)

Jude: We have no choice but ta' catch the leada' of the gang an' investigate directly.

Jude muttered in a low voice, sounding annoyed.

Ellis whispered in the same way.

Ellis: What should we do? Should we pretend to be aspiring members and infiltrate the casino?

Kate: Huh?

Ellis: Because the casino owner this guy is going to meet is either the leader of the kidnapping or a liaison, right?

Ellis: I think it's an opportunity.

(Indeed... that might be the quickest way to contact the kidnapper...?)

If we can condemn the leader here and cut off the source, the kidnapping case will be solved.

We can also track down the victims, and the mission will be completed in one fell swoop.

(But...)

Kate: Ellis and Jude, who are resented by the gang and whose faces are known...

Kate: Won't you be kicked out of the casino before you can meet the owner...?

Ellis: Can't we just hide our faces?

Jude: Our voices will give us away.

Ellis: Can't we just keep quiet?

Kate: ...... Indeed...?

(Huh? Could it be that we can infiltrate...?)

Jude: ............

Ellis: .............

Jude and Ellis exchanged glances silently.

I held my breath and watched them, and after a long silence, Jude clicked his tongue.

(This probably means, "It's a pain, but let's do it," right?)

He glanced at Ellis, and Ellis nodded as if to say, "That's right."

Jake: I feel a little lonely being left out of the conversation, so I'll excuse myself.

Jake: I'm not offended. As I said, I have an appointment to meet someone at the casino!

Ellis: Ah, wait a minute.

Jake: Hm? What's wrong?

Ellis: Won't you let us join your circus too?

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 10

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

[zergula]

Welcome To Sims3City!

They say if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere! Celebrities can be found wandering the shops and giving impromptu performances all over Sims3City. There's live show venues everywhere and it's easy to see why they say this city runs on dreams yet never sleeps!

I found this absolutely gorgeous map: Waterfall Beauty and just had to use it to make my own city world save! This map did come with lots already designated so I filled it up with the best townhouses, apartments, and city life buildings I could find or make to make my own version of a mashup of Starlight Shores and Bridgeport.

INTERESTING CHARACTERS

Every sim comes to Sims3City to make it big! With a performance venue on nearly every corner, you're sure to see:

The Warflowers - These twins started a band and pulled some of their reluctant friends into it. They know once they got here to The City, they would make it!

Chloe and Bob Katt - always on the hustle to make people believe in magic again!

The Myth family is here, of course, living in the spookiest house!

Mirage Sable always seems able to make everyone else's wishes come true, hoping one day her only one will, too!

Candice and Arthur finally made it to The City when Candice got her book deal. Arthur is hoping to make it into the celebrity chef business...with a little help from his friend and now roommate, Derek. This new relationship has a lot of challenges being thrown its way, but this couple is determined to make it here and everywhere!

The Vireowing Fairy Sisters not only have beautiful voices, they love to bestow inner and outer beauty on all of those around them. That's perfect in a city that values beauty!

As with anywhere, crime can be overwhelming in the city but H & H Private detective family, Harmony and Henry, are on the case!

Lots of sims from Starlight Shores and Bridgeport are here: The Drama On TV household, the Crash Pad household, the Atkins Household, the Elson Family, the Sagar Family, the Platt Family, the Hemlock, Schlick and Slayer families, the Belle family, the Art Central household, and the Whitfield family.

AROUND TOWN

38 Community lots

74 Residential lots

This city is ALIVE! Along with all EA rabbitholes, you will find:

CHIPS Casino - a big show venue where you can see the greatest performers and play all games

Across the street, you will find another live show venue - The Locker -

where you can see more live performances. After that, dance the night away at Bubbleworks -

and keep the party going with the late night crew over at The Afterlife Vampire Lounge!

Don't worry about ghosts, though. A recreation of the firestation from the movie, Ghostbusters, is right next door so we ain't afraid of no ghosts! Next to that firestation and hospital emergency center, you will find the Anachronistic Art Gallery and City Hall rabbithole, with some mysterious things to explore in the basement!

In the more affluent area of the city is where you will find the Affluence Golf Club rec park and Tee Off! Sports Bar and Grill -

and some sweet treats at The Big Cheese bakery and shops!

In the center of town, you will find lots of fun for the kids at The Wise Owl Library next to the Aquarium Science Center and the Bright Beginnings Daycare and School center -

Stop by and get some sweet treats at The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor

and then get rid of all of that excess energy at the Big Rock Climbing Centre Gym or The Pac Man Public Pool next to the stadium rabbithole!

Don't forget to visit the Surf's Up Wave Garden at the beach right across the street or the seasonal festival grounds!

Downtown, you can get those extra strings at the DownTown Music Store, play some games at the Laserberry Arcade, and then head over to the Stardust Diner for some drinks and good times!

If you go at certain times of the day to catch a movie at Serena's Community Cinema, you might be able to see some of today's biggest stars working on set! You can pick up whatever you need at the big Sims 3 Market nearby and marvel at all of the old historical residential buildings before you head over to the Double Rainbow Disco Club for more dancing!

For those sims with a more exclusive taste, Club 112 in the historical section is the perfect lounge!

There's The Remaude Coffee Emporium Coffeehouse and Elixir Of Life Coffeehouse and shops for more live venues and fun in Sims3City!

After all of that excitement, the city folks like to visit the Stone Troll Mill Fishing Pond to unwind and maybe catch some dinner if they're lucky!

MORE INFO

This is a world save file. You will need to have the world installed in order to play the save file. In this download, you will find 3 save files and the world file:

Sims3CityCommunityLots - this version of the save is only the community lots

Sims3CityUnpopulated - this is the final version of the save without households

Sims3CityPopulated - this is the final version on the save with all households

I have all expansions, stuff packs, and store content so most of it is probably used in this save. If you do not have the item, the game should generate a similar item. The only expansion not used is PETS so I do not know how this save will run with pets, my apologies. THERE IS ZERO CUSTOM CONTENT IN THIS SAVE. All lots are set as regular lots (not apartments) so if you want to change them for roommates, etc feel free! I hope you enjoy this save as much as I am! Please tag me @zergula or #Sims3City if you share any photos, I would love to see them!

Please check out my other world saves here:

River Falls

Simarellen

Kaodina

Lunestia

Happy simming and green plumbobs for all <3

SIMSFILESHAREDOWNLOAD

[lesfir]

This is the kind of post that become a flight of thought and reasoning with a bit of hc. The Break Up with Lord Astarion Like: Asc Astsrion dickpic photo of a drunk ex - behavior nah well if drunk... still nah+meh Astarion has centuries of seduction experience. His brains aren't so smooth as to send Tav a "dickpic" in hopes of attention and success. He'll come up with a really nice and neat plan to get Tav to come to him on their own. He's got time. It's AU meme modernity ofc. It's hard to work. Without context, Astarion loses a lot. The medieval, vampirism and slavery is a big context. Depends on how painful it was. Let's say it went okay, a little uncomfortable, but normal. In modern times, if Tav was kind, he'd be something charitable, showy. For Tav and good for building influence, too. For love of the people. If Tav was more evil. He'd be doing something extravagant, still logical. Looking like a fool is not a best seduction tactic. For a good Tav, he'd create parks in the city, and support the arts, charities. For the evil Tav, he would seek influence in closed circles so that those she knows about (admires) would talk about him and his deeds like new skyscraper-hotels with casinos. In any field he would quickly become famous: a beautiful man with refined taste. Speaking of the Middle Ages, in Faerun. Depends on what Tav is interested in, it's magic - the best relics from around the world in Baldur's Gate. New opportunities for mages from all over Faerun. Come to Baldur's Gate. Warfare - don't even ask. Fella will climb into any dragon lair on his own to get to impress. (And have some fun). Astarion despite having goals, would quite enjoy and discover new things in the world. In general, he would get his way. I don't think it's even canonically obsessive, that you can't get off once, like a frenzy, nah.

He'd remember his personal plans, he'd party a lot, he'd be sad sometimes that Tav couldn't share the fun with him. Eventually he was able to taste the food again. There was so much around that he couldn't for 200 years. Seriously he would eat 10 kinds of desserts and enjoy them, forgetting everything. I prefer it when Tav loves everything and shares eternity, pleasures and decadence, the line of play. In this line-breakup I'm more interested in the “partners in crime” that Lord Astarion suggests. That's the fun line of the game.

Here, if Tav friendly agrees, he definitely:

Kinda Friendship Zone. But Astarion is ok with it.

-- Everyone on the Sword Coast thinks they're having an affair. -- He very often emphasized in the beginning that Tav was his friend, like a little poke. But he stopped doing that when Tav returned the favor. -- Astarion feels the need to touch Tav's hand. In general, touching Tav makes him feel better. This Tav is also tactile, she needs to touch someone she likes, someone she is friends with. -- That Tav is a druid. She turns into a frog if Astarion goes too far. And starts croaking. A thing that makes him angry, sad and happy. -- Astarion crosses the lines of edgy flirting while dancing. -- Sometimes Astarion thinks dark thoughts, but he always just thinks them. He has time. To lose her smile is to be a fool. -- He always sulks for about three days when their temprs clash. But that doesn't happen very often. This Tav is as calm as a toad in the sun. -- Surprisingly. He was so greedy for her time, literally, but he'd only gently invite her to join him - for a party, a walk, on a ship to Calimport. Tav had said no a few times. Needing to keep her distance, not to spoil the greedy dragon. And he'd just go like a cat and she'd be bored while he got the fun of traveling. He brought back souvenirs. But she would have liked to see his smile the first time he looked at this town. -- No friend in the Realms gets gifts like Tav. -- His legions of crows are on duty outside her house. Tav didn't mind, she didn't have the best opinion of the world anyway. They were showing up together, these rumors... who need to prick him, will prick her. -- At sunset they often walk together in the parks in the Upper City.