#and discover the MASTER craftsmanship that is his character

[mittysins]

Uhhhhhh Essie enjoyers come get this wip ig?

[pegafin]

Ai Generated McMansions: Key West Dreams

As a wholesome treat in honor of Mother's Day, I asked my mom for a prompt for this McMansion. She said "Key West." Key West is a very special place for me and my family. It is a truly amazing place, full of rich, exciting history and culture, and art, six toed cats, and wild-living chickens everywhere you go. Only once you have experienced Key West can you truly experience the depth of today's abomination...✨🏝️🍹

Built by a couple who always dreamed of living in Key West, all attempts to build the home in Key West itself ended in suspected arson and historical protesting (as in, myriad characters from the island's long storied history rose form their above-ground-graves in the Historic Key West Cemetery to protest construction).

Now happily located in Sadslot Beach, FL, this home is a true Key West dream. Discover a charming bar around every corner. Bask in a cacophony of color and craftsmanship. Plus, all artwork is included, and load bearing!

The atrium-style foyer boasts quintuple grand staircases and a charming water feature, full of native mosquitos.

Did you think the craftsmanship stopped at just two stories? Think again! This foyer goes all the way up.

The triple-decker living room (left) and the bar & lounge (right)

Live like vacation all year round with a kitchen that's only bars!

Slide into the formal dining room...

...and crash into the game room!

No game room is complete without a functional home sports bar.

Master Suite

Two Story Atrium Suite

Two Story Atrium Guest Room

Guest Bath, with his, hers, and theirs sinks, and his and hers toilets!

Entryway to the master bath, with master bath bar.

Two-Story Atrium Master Bath:

Last but certainly not least… 🌟Indoor Pool & Tennis Complex!🌟

Call now to book your tour today! ☎️📞🤳🏝️

Behind the Scenes:

[animationstarlover1983]

Fnaf system reboot au

Main characters villains: info descriptions (canon)

1. Glitchtrap/Mimic: a digital rabbit mascot and the main antagonist of the au story. Glitchtrap is the digital copy of series villain William afton who now wishes to gain power/knowledge and immortality, glitchtrap also wishes to restore William aftons body to its prime and take over the pizzaplex, glitchtrap also discovers that he has a special power to influence/corrupted anyone with his digital essence he comes into contact with and turn them into evil cult like followers, now mimic is getting to gather followers to continue is work. Species: digital ghost/reborn soul. Soul: William afton. Date of creation: unknown. Appearance: glitchtrap’s appearance is similar to his game counterpart but instead his eyes are gray and only turn purple when using his powers or feeling strong emotions, he also wears a purple suit and pants. Personality: glitchtrap is sinister, intelligent, unstable, self centered, narcissistic, egotistical, overconfident, envious, greedy, sadistic. Facts/info: in this au glitchtrap has a god complex, this glitchtrap was inspired by the thin man (little nightmares 2) and hawk moth (miraculous). Powers: digital character physiology, computer virus physiology, data/code manipulation, technology/machinery possession, virtual reality/augmented reality control, hologram projection, shapeshifting, techno screen transportation, spiritual awareness, ghost haunting, telepathy, influence/corruption, digital evolution, digital consciousness copy/transfer. Skills: genius level intelligence, strategic planning, raw cunning, adept learning, intuition, manipulation/deception, engineering expertise, killing/torture expertise. Likes: himself, family/friends, robotics, engineering/tinkering, fantasy, control, rabbits. Dislikes: Henry Emily, Charlotte Emily, Michael afton, people getting in his way. Goals: put his family back together in his own twisted image, gain power/knowledge and immortality, build his cult and spread his influence in order to continue his work, ruin fazbear entertainment, kill people, capture the blob.

2. Vanny/VANNI: a corrupted digital ai mask and the 2nd main antagonist of the au story. Vanny is one of glitchtraps cult like disciples, vanny unlike the others started as a program but was soon turned into a chaotic/sentient ai mask, she was made specifically to take over and control anyone who wore her. Species: haunted mask/digital ai network ghost. Date of creation: unknown. Appearance: vanny real form is the vanni mask but when she’s in network form she looks like a glitchy rabbit ghost, she has pink glowing eyes and a white/brown color scheme. Personality: VANNI is chaotic, reluctant, irritable, frustrated, psychotic, self centered, unhinged, sadistic, playful. Facts/info: in this au vanny is inspired by majora’s mask and carnage, vanny believes herself to be glitchtraps daughter but she don’t listen and prefers to do what she pleases, vanny holds a unknown grudge for humans due to a superiority/inferiority complex. Powers: peak human condition, advance ai/inbuilt e-manual, techno transportation, virtual/augmented reality warping, glitchtrap virus mutation, spiritual awareness. Skills: high intelligence, raw cunning, intuition, manipulation, deception, stealth, master of disguise, computer expertise, resourcefulness, craftsmanship. Likes: herself, playing games, kidnapping people, costumes, winning. Dislikes: being told what to do, losing, failure. Goals: cause absolute chaos throughout the pizzaplex, kidnap people in the pizzaplex and force them to play her dangerous games/puzzles/challenges forever and become her prisoners, capture Gregory and Freddy.

3. Tiger rock: A animatronic tiger and a main antagonist of the au story. Tiger rock was built around the time the pizzaplex first opened and was meant to be a member of the glamrock band but due to a incident that left a number of guest harmed he was decommissioned and locked away in the utility tunnels, eventually he was freed and recruited by glitchtrap to be part of the malhare followers. Species: animatronic tiger/reborn soul. Soul: David Murray. Date of creation: unknown (early). Appearance: (his appearance is the exact same as tiger rock book cover except his blue eye is replaced with a purple eye). Personality: tiger rocks personality is a mixed combination of both positive and negative data from people. Fun fact: tiger rock was the very first pizzaplex animatronic built. Powers: animatronic physiology (immense strength/immense speed/immense agility/immense durability/advance ai/inbuilt e-manual/creative generator), coding/hacking, robotic limb extension, virtual/augmented reality manipulation, spiritual awareness. Skills: high intelligence, adept learning, intuition, intimidation, manipulation, deception. Likes: friends/family, plushies, parties, music, loud noises, copying others. Dislikes: unknown. Goals: help glitchtrap take over the pizzaplex, destroy the glamrocks.

4. Percy Dylan burrows/pdb/patient 46: A 12 year old boy and a main antagonist of the au story. Percy is the anonymous and nefarious patient 46 and loyal servant to glitchtrap/mimic virus. Species: human/glitchtrap virus mutant. Date of birth: unknown. Sexuality: heterosexual. Appearance: percy has long gray hair and amber eyes, he wears a green/purple t-shirt under a Tiger themed jacket and pants, other times he wears a tiger costume and mask, when using his abilities he looks like a sludge monster. Personality: Percy is two faced, on the outside he’s confident, charismatic, friendly, creative, laid back, level headed, helpful, but on the inside he’s self centered, mysterious, cunning, manipulative, deceptive, playful, spoiled, selfish. Fun fact: in the story ggy he’s known as pdb but in this au this is who he is, he’s also a willing and loyal follower due to having a troubling backstory. Powers: enhanced human condition, spiritual awareness, glitchtrap virus mutation. Skills: genius level intelligence, raw cunning, strategic planning, adept learning, intuition, leadership, manipulation, deception, stealth, master of disguise, computer science expertise, coding/hacking. Likes: himself, glitchtrap, family, being in control, causing chaos and problems, coding/hacking, manipulating/deceiving others, pranks, causing chaos, rabbits, candy, arcade games/video games. Dislikes: Gregory, Vanessa, Freddy, the pizzaplex animatronics and entertainment bots, flowers, bright lights, outside, sports. Goals: serve glitchtrap and do as he pleases.

[saberlightaus]

Top Reasons To Choose The Darth Maul Lightsaber

In the vast galaxy far, far away, few weapons evoke as much intrigue and fascination as the iconic double-bladed lightsaber wielded by the enigmatic Sith Lord, Darth Maul. Renowned for its distinct design and lethal efficiency, Maul's lightsaber holds hidden benefits and significance that extend beyond its menacing appearance.

At first glance, the darth maul double lightsaber captivates with its striking crimson blades, symbolizing the dark side of the Force and Maul's formidable presence. However, delving deeper, one discovers that this weapon embodies not only raw power but also strategic advantage. Its unique configuration grants Maul unparalleled versatility in combat, allowing him to seamlessly transition between offensive and defensive maneuvers with fluidity and precision.

Darth Maul Double Lightsaber And Its Advantages

Moreover, the Darth Maul double lightsaber serves as a reflection of Maul's character and philosophy. As a Sith apprentice driven by ambition and vengeance, Maul embodies duality—a theme mirrored in his weapon. The twin blades symbolize his inner turmoil and the constant conflict between his desires and his allegiance to his Sith master, Darth Sidious.

Beyond its practical and symbolic significance, Maul's lightsaber holds cultural importance within the Star Wars universe. Its introduction in "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace" marked a turning point in lightsaber design, challenging conventional notions and expanding the possibilities for future iterations of the weapon. Its legacy endures through subsequent appearances in animated series, novels, and comics, cementing its status as an enduring symbol of Sith power.

Furthermore, darth maul lightsaber has inspired countless fans to explore their creativity and craftsmanship. From fan-made replicas to elaborate cosplay designs, enthusiasts have embraced the challenge of recreating this iconic weapon, forging connections, and fostering community within the Star Wars fandom. The Darth Maul lightsaber transcends its role as a mere weapon—it embodies the complexity and depth of the Star Wars saga. As fans continue to uncover its hidden benefits and significance, Maul's lightsaber remains a beacon of intrigue and inspiration, inviting us to embark on a unique journey into the heart of Star Wars lore.

[ronalddweissphotography]

Illuminating New York City Through the Lens: A Journey with Ronald D. Weiss Photography

Introduction: In the heart of New York City's pulsating energy and cultural diversity lies the creative sanctuary of Ronald D. Weiss Photography. Through the lens of this distinguished photographer, the essence of the city is captured in a captivating tapestry of images. Join us on a visual expedition as we traverse the digital corridors of Ronald D. Weiss Photography's website, where each click unveils a new facet of NYC's allure.

Exploring the Digital Realm: Stepping into Ronald D. Weiss Photography's website is akin to embarking on a virtual journey through the soul of New York City. With a seamless blend of striking visuals and user-friendly navigation, visitors are greeted by a digital canvas that celebrates the city's vibrant spirit and iconic landmarks.

Unveiling the Portfolio: Delve into the studio's portfolio, a treasure trove of photographic masterpieces that encapsulate the city's dynamic character. From the iconic skyscrapers of Manhattan to the quaint cobblestone streets of Brooklyn, each image tells a compelling story, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of New York life.

Meet the Visionary: At the helm of Ronald D. Weiss Photography is the visionary talent of Ronald D. Weiss himself. With an innate ability to capture the essence of his surroundings, Ronald infuses each photograph with a sense of intimacy and authenticity. Learn more about the man behind the lens and his unwavering passion for the art of photography.

Excellence in Every Shot: Ronald D. Weiss Photography is synonymous with excellence, with each shot meticulously crafted to perfection. From composition to post-processing, every aspect of the photographic process is executed with precision and care. The result is a collection of images that epitomize the studio's commitment to quality and craftsmanship.

Navigating the Website: The website offers a seamless browsing experience, allowing visitors to explore the studio's portfolio, learn more about the photographer, and discover the range of services offered. With intuitive navigation and engaging content, the website serves as a digital showcase for Ronald D. Weiss Photography's artistic vision.

Connect with Ronald D. Weiss Photography: Ready to embark on your own photographic journey with Ronald D. Weiss Photography? The website's contact section provides a convenient platform to connect with the studio's team. Whether you're seeking to book a session, inquire about pricing, or simply want to learn more about the studio, Ronald D. Weiss Photography is here to help.

Conclusion: In conclusion, Ronald D. Weiss Photography's website offers a glimpse into the soul of New York City through the lens of a master photographer. From breathtaking cityscapes to intimate portraits, each image is a testament to the city's enduring allure and Ronald D. Weiss's artistic prowess. Explore the website, immerse yourself in the portfolio, and experience the magic of New York through the eyes of Ronald D. Weiss Photography.

[milehidistilling]

Unleash Your Spirits: A Unique Experience with Milehidistilling.com

Introduction:

In a world inundated with mass-produced spirits, discovering a unique and handcrafted libation can be a truly remarkable experience. Milehidistilling.com invites you to treat yourself to an extraordinary journey through their collection of artisanal spirits. Step away from the ordinary and explore the passion and love poured into each bottle, as Milehi Distilling beckons you to savor the craftsmanship that sets their spirits apart.

The Craftsmanship Behind Milehi Distilling:

Milehi Distilling takes pride in its commitment to crafting high-quality, small-batch spirits. Unlike the commercial giants that flood the market, Milehi's spirits are a testament to the artistry of distillation. Every bottle is meticulously created with a blend of science and passion, resulting in a product that stands out in terms of flavor, quality, and character.

From Grain to Glass:

One of the hallmarks of Milehi Distilling is their dedication to the entire distillation process. Starting from carefully selected grains, their master distillers use traditional techniques to transform raw ingredients into liquid gold. This hands-on approach ensures that each batch is a unique expression of the distiller's artistry, setting Milehi's spirits apart from the uniformity found in mass-produced liquors.

A Diverse Collection:

Milehi Distilling offers a diverse and enticing collection of spirits, catering to a wide range of tastes. Whether you're a connoisseur of whiskey, a fan of vodka's clean simplicity, or intrigued by the complexity of gin, Milehi has something to tantalize your taste buds. Each spirit is a reflection of the brand's commitment to excellence and innovation.

Locate a Liquor Store Near You:

Embark on your journey with Milehi Distilling by finding a liquor store near you that carries their exceptional spirits. The website's user-friendly interface makes it easy to locate retailers in your area, ensuring that you can enjoy Milehi's handcrafted gems without delay. Simply enter your location, and let the adventure begin.

Exploring Milehi Distilling Online:

For those who prefer the convenience of online shopping, Milehi Distilling's website offers a seamless and secure platform to explore their collection from the comfort of your home. Browse through detailed descriptions of each spirit, read about the distillation process, and perhaps discover a hidden gem that piques your interest.

Conclusion:

Treat yourself to more than just a drink—indulge in a unique experience with Milehi Distilling. Their commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and the art of distillation sets them apart in a crowded market. Whether you're a seasoned spirits enthusiast or a curious novice, Milehi Distilling invites you to savor the passion and love that goes into each bottle. Find a liquor store near you or explore their collection online, and elevate your spirits to new heights. Cheers to the extraordinary!

For more info:

mile hi distilling

mile hi dsitilling moonshine

[hakesbros]

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[husbandohunter]

Moments of Despair #2 [Genshin Impact/Albedo x Reader]

Synopsis: "The alchemist who relished in his gifts only to fall from grace."

(A series of works where the boys deal with the passing of their beloved).

Diluc’s despair

Warnings: angst, tragedy, major character death and psychological horror (correct me if otherwise)

(A/n): I decided to take a slightly different approach this time. Regardless, it’s still killing my heart TwT.

---------------------------------------------------

Out of the many wonders of Teyvat, one thing Albedo loved most was how you were so different from him. 

Difference ties to the unknown, one that must be discovered. He was drawn to you the first time he had laid his eyes upon your form standing at the heights of Mondstadt's cathedral. The Sisters scolded you from below, but all you did was reply with a wink amidst their chaos before soaring into the skies and letting the wind carry your glider. Reckless they said. For him, your recklessness was intriguing. 

As the sun's light blinded his vision, everything he saw seemed like a glass barrier. For the ground was where he thrived and chalk was his core, it became the basis of Albedo's very existence. Even the geo Archon granted him a Vision of the same element to affirm his identity. The earth will forever be attached to his feet as he will keep on his stride until every last truth of Teyvat have all been realized. You, on the other hand, hailed from a place where he couldn't quite reach. What lies beyond this glass ceiling? Albedo found himself gradually holding onto a string of curiosities, a string he could touch but was not able to feel. 

'Interesting,' he thought quietly, while the breeze slip between the fingers of his outstretched hand. 

He was a character of logic, possessing sharp eyes that could pierce through the depths of the most complex formulas and a mind to predict their outcomes-  as long as alchemy was still related. All impossibilities thrown in his way only paved a path for him to become the well known genius he was now. Whether it was alchemy or  investigations with the Knights of Favonius, Albedo never failed to deliver the answers. But despite it all, he always found himself endlessly contemplating over things that were considered intangible. He wonders why you smile when there was nothing to laugh about. How could you tell between the complexities of the human heart? Albedo can't seem to put a finger on it. 

'Why? What drives you? What are you thinking?' 

The Chief Alchemist couldn't resist being fascinated by your unpredictability. It reels him in similar to a fish being baited out of the waters. However, unlike those creatures, Albedo only tightened his grip on the strings as if they were a lifeline, determined to find out what they truly felt like to the touch. 

"I can't really say it's much of an answer," you hummed, clasping both hands behind your back before declaring with a grin, "To put it simply, you just gotta follow your heart."

'Follow your heart...' What does it mean to follow your heart? 

"I'm afraid I still don't understand," he replied in a thoughtful manner. The statement never really resonated with him and it certainly weren't the words his Master taught when he was in the early stages of being created, "But it does suit you very much." 

"Really? But still bring your head with you," a playful laugh escapes and you add while pointing a finger, "At least, it's what everyone tells me these days." 

"Hm," Albedo then affirms with a nod, "I can definitely see why they would tell you that." 

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" 

The days go by and his repetitious march towards the truth remains the same. However, there was never a dull moment when you were at his side. Perhaps that was the reason why Albedo became so attracted to your aura. The way you'd follow around his experiments, eyes so full of enthusiasm at every step of the activity. Sometimes the events can get a little too out of hand in which he needs to step in and save you from getting stuck in slime condensates...constantly. Albedo grew fond of your childlike excitement even when you weren't entirely sure what was going on. He normally distanced himself from socializing as it never sparked his interest. Frankly, he was too much of a genius for mundane conversations. Your presence was rather refreshing in this case. You were an oddball, just like him, and for once the alchemist felt like he didn't need to place that glass barrier between the two worlds. 

"You seem to be in a very good mood today Mister Albedo." 

He was a man of subtle expressions yet anyone could notice the small gleam in his eyes whenever he saw you walking in the hallway. Sucrose often remarked with a giggle after she noticed her teacher holding his documents upside down. But who could blame him? Joy, fun, laughter. He was able to experience those emotions all because of you; his beloved. You were the colour to his canvas and the meaning to his flower. You were a force of nature. Like a warm breeze gracing upon the terrestrial lands, you move him. 

Thump- thump- thump- 

Strings around his world began to weave one whole picture while they also tugged inside his chest. God had finally blown the breath of life into mankind's body, it was only a matter of time before Albedo came to follow his heart too. 

-------- 

"Alright, just one more detail aaaaand done!" 

You gave a small tap using the tip of your pencil and leaned back to examine your artwork. 

Masterpiece! 

On days when Katheryne had no commissions assigned to the guild, Albedo would accompany you to the Whispering Woods and conduct his sketches there instead. He was aware of the discomfort Dragonspine brought as the temperature wasn't ideal for anyone except for him. You eventually learned that your lover was not only intelligently different from the rest but physically too. Albedo, aside from the Cavalry Captain, was mysterious in his own way. He was hard to read yet never came off as intimidating, no one knew of his origins nor they knew how he came to Mondstadt. You wondered why someone like him would have wanted to get involved with your shenanigans. Rosaria often gave warnings regarding the alchemist's 'hidden intentions' in which you'd roll your eyes in response. The Albedo you knew was far from that. He was a big brother to Klee, a man passionate about his work, he was the one golden star among the many silvers in your sky. He was your lover. 

My Albedo. 

Brushing a hand upon the drawing you made of him, you glided down the lines of his cheek before resting your finger on the mark by his neck. You gazed at it with fondness. Truly a masterpiece indeed. 

"You do realize I'm still here?" 

The paper nearly flies out of your grasp and you snatched it back to your chest, "HUH A-ALBEDO, WHEN DID YOU APPEAR???" 

"I was with you the whole time," he states. The corner of his lip tug upward ever so slightly, "You said you wanted to sketch me." 

"A-Ahahaha, so I did," you reply while scratching your head bashfully. 'I thought I was looking at a sculpture!!'  You rushed to cover your face with the sheet. It wasn't that you forgot he was there, rather, you forgot he was still a living and breathing specimen who just witnessed your little serenade. As Lisa had once said, Albedo was easy on the eyes. His graceful features made him seem almost like an oil painting that could only be found in  halls of the most prestigious households. You made sure to capture everything, every detail, every curve just like he had done with your portraits. Only now you noticed the sun already began its descent below the lakeside, dusting the landscape with hints of bright orange as it marked the day's end. If only time could slow down. But duty calls upon your next journey and there was no telling when you'd return. At the very least, a simple portrait would suffice to fill in the temporary gap of his absence. 

"Can I see it?" 

You glanced his direction while keeping the drawing close to your nose, "Are you sure about that? It might not be up to your expectations." 

"I'm sure," Albedo affirms with a straight countenance, "I can already tell you've put a great amount of effort, otherwise you wouldn't have taken this long." 

"Yeeaahh I kinda lost track of time. I guess it's only fair that you get to see the finished product," you say and shoved the drawing in front of him, "Tada! I present to you, my masterpiece!" 

Albedo takes it out of your grasp and you watched the way his eyes expanded upon sight. 

"Well? Whaddya think?" 

Words could not describe the mixture of emotions that erupted within him. Was it distinguishable or abstract? Albedo spent his time pondering between the two answers as he examined the drawing closely. Despite the lines being slightly jagged and the unevenness in the placement of his eyes, he managed to make the shape of the entire image you were trying to convey. Perhaps it was all thanks to his well trained artistic vision which gave him the ability to do so. Or maybe he was simply biased. But there wasn't a shred of doubt that this was indeed your craftsmanship. 

"You even added flowers in the background," he pointed out with amusement. 

"It's the thing you make when using your elemental burst, I couldn't fit your hand in the picture so I decided to put it somewhere empty," you informed, "Out of everything, that one took me the longest." 

"And the rabbits?" 

"They resemble Klee's bombs!" 

He lets out a chuckle, "I see." 

Albedo kept his attention downward until he was mindlessly staring at the paper in hand. This was a memory made to be carried as you moved on to your next journey and it saddens him that he could not accompany you. If only time slowed down. Albedo wanted to hold onto the memory forever, because he knew once he gave it back, he wouldn't be able to see you for an uncertain amount of time. 

"Do you really have to go?" 

His voice was barely above a whisper. Guilt crept into your heart and you gingerly layed your fingers on his gloved ones, bringing down the paper that blocked his face. A pair of teal orbs held a reflection of your image as the sun's rays casted from the side. You returned it with a reassuring grin, hoping to soothe his worries somehow, "I just need to pay a visit to my father since he's been very sick lately. I'll be fine, so don't worry too much okay?" 

Albedo turns over his palm and gave your hand a squeeze, "How long will it take?" 

"I'm not sure but it will be a while. Snezhnaya is pretty far so..." you trailed off, "But my time in Mondstadt, with Klee and with you, I will never forget! I won't even if I tried." 

When you were met with no answer, a breeze came in to fill the melancholic silence. He too will not forget and he would ensure that it was the same for you. Slowly, Albedo brought your hand up, past the center of his heart all the way to cupping his cheek. He allowed himself to indulge in your warmth, tangling the strands of his hair with your fingers while closing his eyes. Sweet flowers. You always carried the smell of sweet flowers. 

"Albedo?" You gawked, "What's the matter?" 

"...There are certain aspects where drawings can't imitate,"  he says, grip tightening ever so slightly, "How I feel against your skin, the shape of my jaw, your warmth radiating with my own. These are the things I want you to remember." 

Breath leaves your slightly parted mouth. It was unfair how straightforward Albedo could be when showing his affection. Doing as he pleases without anyone's approval to the point it would even catch you off guard since he often absorbed himself in the arts of alchemy. But during times when Albedo did choose to express his feelings, you knew they came from a place of pure genuinity. The thought made it hard for you to tear away from him, "Did you ever find out what the strings felt like then?" 

Albedo returns his gaze, long golden lashes hovering them as he smiles softly, "...I have." 

As he began to reveal his stories, the dusk sky continued to flare across the landscape with colours of passion. Red, it was the thread that had led him to you, the same string that weaved him together as a whole. Albedo lays a kiss atop of your pinky, there was a reason why Mondstadtians called him the Chalk Prince. You didn't know the intention behind his sudden affection but he knew. It was a promise, one to ensure that the thread would also have you return safely back into his arms. 

Oh how he hated the colour red. 

"Al...bedo..." 

With speed he never knew he had, Albedo scoops you into his embrace and held you close. How did everything happen so fast? He curses his mind as it proceeds to scan your injuries, drawing a conclusion where he wished to be wrong for once: 

You were beyond help. 

"Ah..haha..." you managed to laugh through bitter tears, "You don't have to say it. I know." 

His breath hitches, trying to make sense of the feeling that was slowly tearing him apart from the inside. It's not real. Of course it wasn't, it couldn't be. What other possible answer was there to explain the numbness stinging his fingers? The reason for his shaking? Everything felt so cold. Your body hardly registered to his to touch, you were losing so much blood. You were losing. He was going to lose you. 

"No," Albedo shakes his head, "We still have time. I'll go find help." 

Please, hold on. 

He forced himself to think. The ruin hunter ran off shortly after it had ambushed you, by now the Knights would eventually noticed and apprehended it on sight. They couldn't be too far. All he needed was to carry you back to safety and everyone can go home. Albedo darted his eyes all over the place, breaths becoming shallower with each passing second. Where? Where to go? Which route was best to not overexert your wounds? Think. Think. Think. Why couldn't he think? 

"A..." You watched him in your helpless state. Every part of you throbbed with pain but it pains you even more to see the renowned genius who stood atop the pedestal of elegance and grace so utterly, undoubtedly lost. This was not the goodbye you wanted, though death already had you tight in their grasps. Not yet. Using the last particle of your strength, you tried to stay alive as long as possible. Just a little bit more time. 

Albedo freezes when a trembling hand extends itself to cup around his cheek. Every single thought he had in mind vanished and was replaced by a loud ring resonating in his ears. Dreadfully, mechanically, he turns his attention to where you lay. 

"Don't cry," you whisper, "I love you, don't cry- okay?" 

Albedo grimaces, shutting his eyes closed as he allows the pent up sadness to flow out of him completely, "I can't," he said in a shaky voice, "Please. Stay." 

"I'm sorry," Your vision blurs and he hugs you even more. Drawing your final breath, you relay your most cherished words through a broken smile, "But no matter w-where I go...I won't for..ge.." 

The moment your hand fell, Albedo finally understood the difference between death and loss. 

It was...suffocating. Having the air trapped in his throat, begging to release yet it hurts to speak. The never ending stabs that pulsed within his veins rushed forth like the scraping  blizzard of Dragonspine until his whole body lost all its senses. The world was shattering. He could no longer feel your weight. He could no longer feel. 

(Y/n). 

Albedo glances at his blood stained fingers where the thread had been severed, wide eyes drowning in sorrow. What a horrible feeling. Was this a warning sent by the gods? For stepping into the boundaries of knowing too much? Ah the curse of knowledge man must bear when eating the temptatious fruit. It was the result of choosing to love you. With life, death is inevitable and with love, it will eventually bring pain. Everything had a price to pay and as an alchemist, Albedo knew that better than anyone. 

"...Meaningless..." 

But he refused to accept it. 

Cradling your corpse, he leans in and places a kiss on your forehead, lips quivering as they lingered for a second too long before gathering the strength to stand back on his feet. Nothing will stop the alchemist from reuniting with you. If the laws wished to take you away from him then he will use everything in his power to fight against those laws. 

"This is not goodbye..." Albedo said to the sleeping girl, "And it will never be." 

When the sun sinks below the plains and the stars lose their light, the sky had been replaced with a palette of darkness. It was time to go home. 

------ 

"Have you all heard about the rumours?" 

A group of knights gather in the corner as they whisper about. Sucrose stops on her tracks and hides behind a wall, clutching the book close to her chest in an attempt to stay hidden. 

"Another criminal disappeared from the dungeons? Crazy..." 

"More like creepy. I was told that place might be haunted by some dead prisoner's ghost. Even the Church is hopping onto this case." 

"Well I hope it doesn't get any worse. So many of us started going on night patrols..." 

Their voices faded out of range as the anemo user backtracks her steps carefully. Several months passed since the news of mysterious kidnappings have been announced to the public. Rumours of their whereabouts swirled around the city and much to her discomfort, Sucrose happened to catch every single one of them. There couldn't possibly be evil spirits lurking in the Favonious Headquarters right? She silently shrieks at the thought, shaking her head furiously to stop her mind from going too deep. No, I have to find him. Without wasting another minute, the anemo user sprinted towards the stairs all the way up to the second floor before stopping directly in front of her teacher's office. Despite the adrenaline that occured at the same time, she made sure to knock. 

No answer. 

"Strange, he told me he would be here today..." Sucrose muttered to herself. But suddenly she heard the sound of objects shifting from the otherside, signaling that there was indeed someone occupying the room. Without realizing, she held her breath out of anticipation. 

"Come in." 

The door creaks as she opens them, giving her enough space to slip between the gap, "Mister Albedo?" 

"You're early today," The Chief Alchemist noted from his desk, "Is there something the matter?" 

"Y-You mean you don't know? There was just another case about a person disappearing from the dungeons," Her tone became more frantic as she rambled to herself, "The kidnapper never leaves a trace and no one knows how they were able to get out. Even when we ask the guards what happened, they can't seem to remember as if...as if someone casted a spell on them!" 

"A spell?" He inquires, "I suppose that could be a possibility." 

"I think so too. I-It's the only explanation that makes sense! I mean...ghosts don't exist after all," Sucrose nervously looks down at her shoes while giving her book a squeeze, "But why? Who could be capable of such advanced techniques? No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to understand their intentions." 

"...Yes. It is a very strange occurrence indeed." 

Noticing her teacher's withdrawn attitude, Sucrose couldn't help but feel flustered at her own behaviour, "Ah my apologies Mister Albedo, I didn't mean to go off track. Have there been any progress on the investigations so far?" 

Albedo briefly glanced at the various documents splayed across his table. His reputation as an incredibly intelligent individual had reached far and wide through Mondstadt. This led to the authorities requesting his assistance regarding the recent matters, despite him specializing in the alchemical field, he was also the Captain of their Investigation Team. Although, Albedo detested partaking in things he deemed irrelevant to his research; 

"I'm afraid I would need more evidence to draw a conclusion." 

"Eh? You still need more?" 

He could not deny that the given authoritative position had provided much benefits to his own accord. 

"My expertise lies in the subject of alchemy," Albedo reasoned and proceeds to intertwine his fingers in front of his mouth, "Humans on the other hand, are very unpredictable in nature. Even the essence of their existence is hard to obtain." 

"Essence of their existence?" Sucrose repeated softly. She wanted to ask what he meant but the blank expression was evident  enough to signal his impatience. At least, that was what she thought, "Nevermind! I have something that might help," taking out a slip from her textbook, she handed it to him, "It's the report Captain Kaeya gave me. He said that the culprit might be a traitor coming from the Knights of Favonius." 

He narrows his eyes. 

"I-I think he might be right! Just think about it, we haven't found anything at all for the past few months but when we do, I sometimes feel like we're just running in circles...oh what if it's becau-" 

"Sucrose." 

"Y-Yes?!" 

Albedo calmly looks at the flustered girl, not realizing how sharp his tone was, "You're overthinking again. Perhaps it's best that you take this day off." 

"But I came here to help," she insisted, "I know it hurts to lose someone you love! Don't you understand that we're all worried about you? And Klee, she..." 

"..." 

"Please Mister Albedo, if there's anything I could do-" 

"No need," he cuts her off once again, "Your stress levels are too high. We can't go any further if you continue to act like this." 

"Oh," her ruby eyes casted to the side, "I understand..." 

"Good. Now, if you would excuse me," Albedo bid her farewell and watched as the door clicked behind her, observing every detail until he was sure that the absolute silence had returned. He picks up Kaeya's document. Such remarkable handwriting. But of course, appearances are only meant to be displayed on the surface for the Captain was a sly man, wearing a mask to shield what lies underneath. Just like his letter, they were full of innuendos and condensed meanings, orchestrated together until the truth spoke loudly to Albedo himself. 

"So, that's what he thinks." 

Perhaps the alchemist should have been a little more discreet. 

-------- 

There was a certain place in Dragonspine that no one dared to enter. But those who have, they never return. 

"Hm, no response. Now as for the next step..." 

And he was the reason why. 

Taking the sword out of the transmutation circle, Albedo turned to the snowy hill nearby and activated his alchemy. A small portion of it dissipates, revealing a trench that went so deep underground that even warmth couldn't outplay the sheer cold. It was the perfect hiding place for the evidence to lay out of sight and an environment where only he could handle. The alchemist tossed the leftover along with the others before exiting quietly, summoning back the ice to bury his victims once again. Another day, another experiment, another stain goes to his title. The path he walked upon was one littered with corpses and the sins he committed. But despite the bones crunching beneath his feet and the weight of the dead hanging on his shoulders, the alchemist was numb to it all. Like an entity floating in space with nothing to hold, he became unable to feel. 

"I'm back," When reaching the center of Starglow Cavern, Albedo puts his hand on the icicle and caressed it's hard cold surface, "Did you sleep well?" 

The girl did not respond. Her eyes were closed and her skin was as young as ever. She was frozen in time. 

"You must have." 

Albedo felt the sword beginning to shake in his grasp as it resonated with his energy. Dust particles emitted from the hilt and slowly made their climb to the side of his arm. Still, Albedo's attention did not waver, "To this day, I've been thinking about what you told me the first time we met." 

"..." 

"Follow your heart. I couldn't understand it at first but after being around your presence, I believe I can finally recognize what that term means." 

He closes his eyes as he envisioned your lively form running across the landscape. Albedo, Albedo! The sound of his name was mixed with your laughter while Klee came into the scene and caught the dandelions with you. A content smile formed on his countenance as he watched from afar, even if it was just a memory, "It's everything. The breakfast we ate together, to the nights spent camping outside, and the silly moments we shared, they bring all these colours that I never knew existed." 

"..." 

Albedo curls his fingers against the ice as he continues to lament, "Perhaps that's why I began noticing the strings around me. The closer I was to answer, the more I felt it was necessary to discover what they are. All this time, you were the answer I was searching for," Moist begins to build up in his eyes but they freeze up once reaching the corners. How cruel. Despite what he went through, he wasn't even granted the liberty to cry, "Because with you, I'm able to feel them." 

He wonders what you would think if you saw him right now. Albedo peers at his reflection casted on the crystalline surface, the frame of his face had been decorated with streaks of purple and red, spreading out like tree branches as they both fought for dominance. The teal coloured orbs you once adored were beginning to transform to a colour that reminded him of his darkest days. This was Albedo's true nature- a monster, a being that wasn't human, the essence in which you never had the chance to see. 

"I know I may not be the same as I was before," he added, "But if that is what it takes to follow your heart, will you let me feel the strings again?" 

Would you still love me the same? 

"..." 

"If so, then please understand my actions," Albedo takes a step back as he held out the sword in front of him. At last, the preparations have finally been completed. He plunges the blade to the ground with full force and the surrounding area begins to shake under the power accumulated through many, intentional sacrifices. To revive the dead was a forbidden art as it came with heavy consequences. If it weren't for Albedo's talent and quick wit, the process would have consumed him long before executing the last stage. He winces, the pain was excruciating. It was hard for him to ignore the sound of his skin cracking below his ears and all the way to his nose as they fall off in the shape of small rock-like chunks. Everything hurt so much that even death sounded like a sweet dream but Albedo couldn't afford to give up. He had already come this far, his hands completely washed with sin and his reputation already broken beyond repair, Albedo had nowhere else to go. This was his last destination. 

"Soon-" he pants between choked breaths. Soon your eyes will open. He could drown in your embrace, one that was warm and not cold. Soon he will be able revive those cherished memories from a frozen past. It was all he could think of right now. Your existence was the reason why a part of him felt whole and your death made him realize how painful it was to tear away those pieces. Albedo refused to let go of those pieces, they had already become a part of him. And if this path ended up tearing him even more, then so be it. 

"I should have stopped you the moment you were born." 

The intruder snapped him awake and he swung around to where they stood. But before Albedo could make out who it was, they lunged past him with incredible speed, kicking the sword off the ground while severing his two arms once and for all. They flew to the side, blood dyed purple trickling from the edges of his joint as he struggled to stay upright. 

"Dains...leif..." 

Dainsleif watched the alchemist fall onto his back as the light around him slowly faded away. He turned his gaze to where the objective was and noticed a girl encased within the ice. The man sighs out of relief when she shows no signs of life, he came just in time, "So this is how it ends." 

Albedo weakly stared at the blonde man. He attempted to say something but the blood caught in his mouth prevented him from that. 

"Save your breath, you won't be having any," Dainsleif remarks in a cold manner and glared at his bloodied form, "The renowned Chief Alchemist of Mondstadt and an important member of Ordo Favonious. Hmph, what an interesting turn of events. Out of everyone, I never thought you were the type to act so foolish." 

Foolish...what a foreign name to be called as. He never heard anyone tell him he was foolish. 

"Truly a pity," With a flick of a wrist, Dainsleif brought his sword to Albedo's neck. It was unbelievable how he had the endurance to go through all that pain while still breathing at this point but what is there to be expected from a monster? "Remember that all actions have consequences." 

The alchemist watched as his life flashed before him, the weight of his sins had finally caught up. He had always seen the world as a platform for his objectives and results were merely a natural cause after attempting many experiments. But death as a consequences was an unbearble realization upon his final moments. He abandoned his title, his pupil and his dearest sister. In the end, he was still unable to fulfill his duty. 

"I just..." Albedo mumbled, his words slurring together, "wanted..." 

As the ashes turn to ashes and dust becomes dust, chalk returns to the earth, forever yearning a place that can never be reached.

[donatoarts]

Mordenkainen the Wizard

Planeswalker

34” x 25” Oil on Panel, framed

2020

Art Director: Zack Stella

I am honored to present the portrait of Planeswalker Mordenkainen from the Adventures in the Forgotten Realms D&D expansion from Magic:The Gathering.

This painting is my most detailed and masterfully executed Magic: The Gathering cards as well as one of the finest portraits to grace my portfolio.

This portrait of Mordenkainen envelopes so much of what I love about my career as an artist - from portraiture, to narrative storytelling, rendering of reflective surfaces, dramatic lighting effects, and most importantly conveying a sense of wonder and mystery. We may never know what the wizard was working upon as we interrupted his contemplative thoughts in his study, but we can be certain we will feel the wrath of his ire!

Ever since discovering Dungeons and Dragons in my youth, I have enjoyed the complexities, challenges, and excitement of role-playing the character class of wizards. This portrait represents the deep passion I have for gaming and the art creation infused within my youth around roleplaying. It was this wellspring I returned to again and again as this work evolved.

Reaching back deep into those wizardry gaming roots are a set of bookends I created during my hard-core D&D days, with one side a diorama composed with the elements from Grenadier’s ‘Wizard’s Room’ lead figurine miniature set. I loved to paint these miniatures, owning handfuls of the diverse sets produced, and enjoyed endless hours of enjoyment in use in our campaigns.

Due to the lack of access to proper art supplies as a young artist, all small details on these figurines were rendered and applied with sharpened toothpicks. I am happy to state those logistical hurdles are no longer a hinderance in my art creation now! I have long ago learned that proper tools are part of the pathway to creating masterful, professional works of art.

To those ends, as this painting came closer to finish, a proper frame was needed to house this image and complement its craftsmanship. Masterworks Frames in Utah was commissioned to create a customized silver frame with a slight accent of dark blue in the broad field of the frame.

Auction for the art live through July 11th 11:30pm EST

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mtgartmarket/posts/3081494005414131/

[allthefilmsiveseenforfree]

Waitress

I’m not sure how I missed Waitress when it first came out - it certainly seems like something my friends and I would have picked up from Redbox in college. If it was Focus Features or Fox Searchlight Pictures, we were all over it, so I really don’t know what happened here. I’ve been tangentially aware of this film for ages, even more so after the hit Broadway musical, so I was really looking forward to watching it when Wes requested it. I knew it was a sweet little dramedy about a waitress (Keri Russell) in a diner who makes pies and gets pregnant but there had to be something more to it for it to have the long-reaching pop cultural impact it’s had, right? Well...

This is one of those perfect little indie movies that makes me glad to be a cinephile and reviewer. Everything about this film was clearly created with so much care and craftsmanship that it makes it impossible not to love it wholeheartedly. The script is fantastic, a quick-witted, twisting thing that never quite goes where you expect, and the performances are pitch-perfect, grounded in real love for a specific place and for women. Women who are mothers, who are friends, who make pies, who fall in love, who make mistakes, who are stuck, who are free. WOMEN. Adrienne Shelly wrote, directed, and starred in this love letter to women and her vision is what makes this movie what it is in every frame.

Some thoughts:

Not since Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory have the opening credits of a film made batter pouring look so good. I don’t even really like pie that much but goddamn now I want some pie.

Jeremy Sisto does an excellent job in this as Jenna’s abusive husband Earl, which makes sense as Sisto was the master of playing manipulative, controlling assholes circa 2003-2006. 

This is a crackling script - it feels very Gilmore Girls meets Steel Magnolias. Snappy dialogue, lots of banter back and forth, with that sharp Southern wit.

Andy Griffith! I love Andy Griffith and always have. I spent more Saturday and Sunday mornings than I can recount watching The Andy Griffith Show with my dad, and just seeing his face onscreen takes me back to a very warm and secure feeling from childhood.  

I can definitely see how this was made into a musical. The film score is lovely, lilting piano, there’s the perfect set up for an “I want” song, the small town vibes would lead to great ensemble pieces at the opening and closing of a two-act structure, and Jenna’s fellow waitresses (Shelly and Cheryl Hines, both of whom are fantastic) form a sort of Greek chorus for all the proceedings.

Ogie (Eddie Jemison, whom I only know from the Ocean’s trilogy and who was so surprisingly delightful here) and his spontaneous tidbit that rhymes is annihilating me. 

I don’t think I really was familiar with Keri Russell’s work, other than a brief guest spot on Scrubs, but she is fantastic in this. Jenna is smart, driven, creative, no-nonsense, and supportive. And I love love LOVE that she doesn’t want to be a mother. She says it perfectly, she respects the baby’s right to thrive and does nothing to harm it but she doesn’t want it and doesn’t want to be a mother. Not all women do. And she doesn’t want to be saved. I can’t imagine how important seeing Jenna onscreen would be for countless women who are stuck in relationships they don’t want to be in, who fear becoming a mother, or who simply don’t want to.

Y’all! You live in a small town!! You can’t just be kissing all willy nilly everywhere! 

Good god the honking - I can’t think of a more indicative behavior that Earl is a 100% grade A jackass than the constant horn honking. What a perfectly awful character choice. 

Nathan Fillion is so so good as a romantic lead. His Dr. Pomatter is exactly the right amount of good-looking, masculine but not aggro, compassionate but not a sap - he feels like an accessible fairy tale, just a solidly good dude. But I have to say, it’s pretty disturbing that almost every single person in this movie is married and having an affair. Obviously Jenna’s situation is one that makes sense: she’s living in poverty under the thumb of a controlling and abusive husband and she’s fucking pregnant. For women like that, divorce may as well be a trip to the moon for how accessible it feels. But Dr. Pommatter is a doctor who makes a good living, he’s a newcomer in town (so there’s no fear of judgment or excommunication), and he has no kids. C’mon, man, just get a divorce or approach your wife about ethical nonmonogamy. It’s the 21st century, man, get it together. 

At the end of the credits, there’s a note “In Loving Memory of Adrienne Shelly” which prompted me to look her up and this was the worst movie trivia I’ve discovered since I looked up the little girl from Poltergeist. Writer/director/co-star Adrienne Shelly was murdered by a random construction worker in her apartment building between the time this movie was completed and its release. Discovering that made me sad in a way that’s difficult to articulate because this film treats women with the respect and nuance and joyful care that the world so rarely does. Shelly’s death turns Jenna’s triumphant reclamation of her life into a fantasy, something that only happens in movies. I’m just so fucking devastated that we’ll never get to know what other stories she had to tell.

I can see why this film grew into something greater than the sum of its parts. It’s wildly different from anything I’ve ever seen, and its behind-the-scenes story has turned it into something incredibly bittersweet - much like The Dark Knight or RENT, its story is made even more powerful by the loss of its creator. I’m so glad I got to experience it with fresh eyes and an open heart, because it is a new favorite that I know I will revisit again and again.

If you liked this review, please consider reblogging or subscribing to my Patreon! For as low as $1, you can access bonus content and movie reviews, or even request that I review any movie of your choice.

[contextualalice]

Research Essay

Research

·       Born 5 January 1941) is a Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, a film and animation studio, he has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and as a maker of animated feature films, and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished filmmakers in the history of animation.

·      Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985

·      Hayao Miyazaki was born on 5 January 1941, in the town of Akebono-cho in Bunkyō, Tokyo, the second of four sons.[1][c] His father, Katsuji Miyazaki (c. 1915 – 18 March 1993),[3] was the director of Miyazaki Airplane, which manufactured rudders for fighter planes during World War II.[4] The business allowed his family to remain affluent during Miyazaki's early life.[5][d] In 1944, when Miyazaki was three years old, his family evacuated to Utsunomiya.[4] After the bombing of Utsunomiya in July 1945, Miyazaki's family evacuated to Kanuma.[5] The bombing left a lasting impression on Miyazaki, who was aged four at the time.[5] From 1947 to 1955, Miyazaki's mother suffered from spinal tuberculosis; she spent the first few years in hospital, before being nursed from home.[4] Miyazaki's mother was a strict, intellectual woman, who regularly questioned "socially accepted norms"

·      He aspired to become a manga artist,[11] but discovered he could not draw people; instead, he only drew planes, tanks, and battleships for several years.[11] Miyazaki was influenced by several manga artists, such as Tetsuji Fukushima, Soji Yamakawa and Osamu Tezuka. Miyazaki destroyed much of his early work, believing it was "bad form" to copy Tezuka's style as it was hindering his own development as an artist

·      Miyazaki's works are characterized by the recurrence of themes such as humanity's relationship with nature and technology, the wholesomeness of natural and traditional patterns of living, the importance of art and craftsmanship, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic in a violent world. The protagonists of his films are often strong girls or young women, and several of his films present morally ambiguous antagonists with redeeming qualities

·       Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke was the first animated film ever to win the Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year, and briefly became the highest-grossing film in Japan following its release in 1997;[a] its distribution to the Western world greatly increased Ghibli's popularity and influence outside Japan. His 2001 film Spirited Away became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history,[b] winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards, and is frequently ranked among the greatest films of the 2000s

·      Born in Bunkyō ward of Tokyo, Miyazaki expressed interest in manga and animation from an early age, and he joined Toei Animation in 1963. During his early years at Toei Animation he worked as an in-between artist and later collaborated with director Isao Takahata. 

·      In September 2013, Miyazaki announced that he was retiring from the production of feature films due to his age, but wished to continue working on the displays at the Studio Ghibli Museum

·      In August 2016, Miyazaki proposed a new feature-length film, How Do You Live?, on which he began animation work without receiving official approval.[155] In December 2020, Suzuki stated that the film's animation was "half finished" and added that he does not expect the film to release for another three years

 Possible Hayao Legacy’s:

·      Traditional Art/Animation (compare to Walt Disney – timeline)

·      Timeless messages despite set eras/worlds etc…

·      His artistic style

·      Expressionism and Surrealism doesn’t seem to stray too far from reality

·      Harmony of art and music

·      Tells his own stories through his work (like a grandfather to all his viewers exaggerating his life stories to the viewers)

 Walt Disney Overview:

·       Walter Elias Disney (/ˈdɪzni/;[1] December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American entrepreneur, animator, writer, voice actor and film producer. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film producer, Disney holds the record for most Academy Awards earned by an individual, having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations. He was presented with two Golden Globe Special Achievement Awards and an Emmy Award, among other honors. Several of his films are included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

·       Born in Chicago in 1901, Disney developed an early interest in drawing. He took art classes as a boy and got a job as a commercial illustrator at the age of 18. He moved to California in the early 1920s and set up the Disney Brothers Studio with his brother Roy. With Ub Iwerks, Walt developed the character Mickey Mouse in 1928, his first highly popular success; he also provided the voice for his creation in the early years. As the studio grew, Disney became more adventurous, introducing synchronized sound, full-color three-strip Technicolor, feature-length cartoons and technical developments in cameras. 

·       Disney was a shy, self-deprecating and insecure man in private but adopted a warm and outgoing public persona. He had high standards and high expectations of those with whom he worked. Although there have been accusations that he was racist or anti-Semitic, they have been contradicted by many who knew him. His reputation changed in the years after his death, from a purveyor of homely patriotic values to a representative of American imperialism. He nevertheless remains an important figure in the history of animation and in the cultural history of the United States, where he is considered a national cultural icon. His film work continues to be shown and adapted; his namesake studio and company maintains high standards in its production of popular entertainment, and the Disney amusement parks have grown in size and number to attract visitors in several countries.

Miyazaki’s Legacy in comparison to Walt Disney

 ·      Miyazaki’s Legacy has the potential to keep developing as he has come out of retirement, whereas Walt Disney cannot because he is dead.

·      Disney’s iconic 2D style started to decline in 2005 after the release of Chicken Little, but officially came to an end in 2013 with their 3D movies rising rapidly to success.

·      Ghibli released its first 3D animated movie Earwig and the Witch in 2020 without Miyazaki’s involvement and ended up not being as successful. However Miyazaki himself is out of retirement and working on his own 2D movie for which is far more anticipated. Proves his legacy is still strong because the Ghibli name is so heavily tied to his style despite it not conforming to the 3D take over.

·      Although exaggerated, Ghibli seems to capture emotion more realistically imperfect that Disney.

·      A majority of Disney films are based on stories that are already out there, prequels, sequels, remasters etc… whilst although Ghibli takes some inspiration from pre-existing stories… is mostly original.

·      From the beginning till now Miyazaki represented strong, independent women. Disney on the other hand took a lot longer. Could be argued that Disney was around a lot sooner in History when people were less open minded.

·      Ghibli is a lot less censored than Disney, making t both more and less accessible to certain viewers. Even though a majority of Ghibli isn’t too graphic, there are some mature themes that put an age limit on 1 or 2 of the films. Could be seen as what makes Ghibli more realistic and emotionally

·      Though Ghibli has a lack of diversity in its characters, they are otherworldly enough, as well as relatable enough for all audiences to fall in love with. Disney has shown a lot more progression with it’s diversity and representation, however that can’t make up for the offensive undertones he began his legacy with. Neither are perfect but at least Miyazaki never insulted anyone from a different culture.

·      Practically all of Miyazaki’s main characters are human without power or fancy clothing, putting emphasis on the impact everyone and anyone can make on the world. Disney tends use a lot less realistic characters, even humanising those that are not, perhaps to avoid encouraging certain behaviour to children?

[tshepiso-reads-books]

My Favourite Books of 2019

I had a pretty good reading year in 2019. Formulating my favourites list this year was definitely harder than it was in the past couple of years. This list has changed and shifted drastically as they year went by (if you’d like to know my favourites in the first half of the year check out this post).

I agonized for weeks trying to rank my favourites and eventually had to give up entirely. I read so many different books this year across genre and form and it was absolutely impossible to rank and compare them. So this year I’ll be talking about my favourite books from four categories: fantasy, science fiction, comics and contemporary. This is going to be a long one, so gird your loins.

Fantasy

2019 was a fantastic year for adult high fantasy. I finally dipped my toes into this category after years of hesitancy and discovered stories filled with rich worlds, pulse-pounding plots and fantastic characters.

The Fifth Season · N.K. Jemisin

If I had to choose a singular favourite book of 2019 The Fifth Season would definitely be it. Every single aspect of this novel was done to perfection our characters were fully rendered, the plot was absolutely gripping, and the worldbuilding so fleshed out and unique. This book was so perfectly realized and is truly a feat of master craftsmanship.

Circe · Madeline Miller

Even after all these months, Circe is still a stand-out story. Miller’s prose was breathtaking and cutting and our main character, Circe, so all-encompassing and well explored. The lens through which Miller views greek mythology was fascinating and the way she explored characters we already had preconceived notions of was fucking brilliant.

Jade City · Fonda Lee

This book was the perfect blend of inciting action, gripping family drama. The multi-layered and ever-changing landscape of the plot of Jade City kept me flipping the pages of this book, but the strong interpersonal relationships between the family at the center of this book kept me connected to every single plot point.

The Diviners · Libba Bray

The Diviners is the only YA fantasy on this list and I think it truly speaks to the heights that this book reached. What stood out most to me about this book was how politically relevant it was. Bray’s focus on the bigotry and hatred in America in the 20’s time felt pointed and relevant today. With fantastic characters, atmospheric writing and engaging mystery to boot The Diviners was a truly great story to read.

Foundryside · Robert Jackson Bennett

Foundryside was a genuinely fun time from beginning to end. I was gripped by Bennett’s unique magic system which I can only describe as “coding… but magic”. The great character work and entertaining character dynamics added to my absolute enjoyment of this story.

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Sci-Fi

I got really into sci-fi for the first time this year and absolutely adored so many of the stories in this genre. I glad I dove into this genre more in 2019 because I discovered some fantastic stories.

The Wayfarer’s Trilogy · Becky Chambers

The Wayfarer’s trilogy was like a warm blanket to me this year. Every time I picked up a new book in this series its themes and messages filled me hope and joy. Chambers is really writing the sci-fi we need in 2019. I loved every book in this series, but I wanted to shout out A Closed and Common Orbit in particular because it was definitely my favourite.

Ninefox Gambit · Yoon Ha Lee

Ninefox Gambit was a late entry into my favourites, but damn did it hit with a bang. It was certainly one of the most challenging books I read this year, but the reward for sticking through it all was just priceless. Lee crafted such an intricate world and delving deeper into it as I kept reading was enthralling.

Sleeping Giants · Sylvain Neuvel

It took me a while to fall for Sleeping Giants, but once I did I fell head over heels. Neuvel weaved in an interesting story through the interview format he utilized. I’m awed by his ability to capture the scope of the world and create a heart-pounding plot and intriguing mysteries exclusively through interviews.

Time Was · Ian McDonald

Time Was was an excellent novella. It captured everything I adore about time travel stories and historical science fiction. In a few pages, Ian McDonald sold me completely on every aspect of this story. I loved the sweeping romantic atmosphere imbibed into the story.

The Calculating Stars · Mary Robinette-Kowal

Another historical science fiction made its way into my favourites list and it truly deserved to. The level of detail poured into The Calculating Stars is amazing; Mary Robinette-Kowal delved deep into the space program and her accuracy to the time is astounding. Her ability to make me care about the minutiae of daily life is a credit to her character work because the protagonist of this book, Elma, was so charming and real that I couldn’t help but be invested in her story.  

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Comics

I read comic books for the first time this year and absolutely loved most of what I read. I discovered some fantastic authors and artists telling amazing stories and hope to only increase my comic reading in the coming year.

Nimona · Noelle Stevenson

What more is there to say about Nimona. I raved about it so much both online and in my personal life. Noelle Stevenson is writing the kinds of stories that sink their way into my heart and stay there. I adored every single panel of every single page in this story and encourage every single person to pick it up as soon as humanly possible.

The Vision · Tom King & Gabriel Hernandez Walta

I don’t even know what to say about The Vision other than, wow. This dark, psychological, tragedy affected me so deeply. It’s one of the three books I actively cried while reading this year and to this day I can’t eloquently express why I adored it so much. King really makes you care about the family at the center of this story which makes the tragic outcome of the story and the inevitability of that tragedy all the more painful.

Hawkeye · Matt Fraction & David Aja

I love Clint Barton with my whole heart and Hawkeye is the reason why. Fraction and Aja demonstrated a true understanding of Barton as a character and through their three-year run, they crafted what I believe is the best story about him out there.

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Contemporary

This year was pretty light on contemporaries both in number and quality but I did discover amazing stories that spoke to me deeply.

Radio Silence · Alice Oseman

Radio Silence is a book that directly spoke to an exact moment in my life. I read this at the start of my final exam season of high school so the failure of the education system really resonated. Oseman managed to capture the rat race that is school. This book was deeply affecting and emotionally resonant which is probably why it’s one of the books that made me cry in 2019.  

Fangirl · Rainbow Rowell

I’m kind of cheating by putting a re-read on this list, but I found rereading fangirl this year to be so impactful and moving that it would feel a right shame to leave it out of any ‘Best of 2019’ list. Fangirl spoke to me so much harder in 2019 than it did when I first read it. Rowell perfectly captured the reasons we go to fandom for solace and community and the struggles Cath faces in this book are all the more relatable with time.

Autoboyography · Christina Lauren

YA contemporary captures the melodrama of teenagerdom in a way other subcategories of YA never really do. Autoboyography distils the essence of what it feels like to be a teenager so well. And not only does it do that it also contains a beautiful love story at its center.

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Honourable Mentions

I read so many fantastic books this year and this list would feel incomplete without some honourable mentions. All of these were so close to making it on to my final list but sadly didn’t make the cut.

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So, that was my extensive favourites list for 2019. I had such a good reading year in 2019 and I want to bring that energy into the new decade. I’d love to hear about all your favourite books of the year in the comments below so please feel free to share them.

Happy reading!

[dent-de-leon]

Hey Leo! Sorry for the random questions but do you recommend The Dragon Prince? Is it about the dragons or are they like background lore or something? Thanks!

Short answer: hell yeah,, it’s so much fun!! Give it a try if you love fantasy adventure stuff. Long answer: 

DRAGONS ARE MY FAVORITE THING EVER SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT I ABSOLUTELY CAME CAUSE I HEARD “DRAGON” AND “PRINCE” AND “DRAGON PRINCE” AND THAT SEEMED TO SUIT MY VERY SPECIFIC INTERESTS,,, there’s a lot of lore and they seem to be more or less the ruling forces of Xadia, the land of magic and elves. But they’re definitely not just a backdrop piece, they’re major players! Sadly we don’t get to see as much dragon action in the first season, but the entire focus of the main trio is to protect a dragon that’s a royal heir, the eponymous “Dragon Prince.” 

And so,, bit of a spoiler, but you DO get to actually meet the Dragon Prince in the series,, they hatch right before season 2 and become one of the traveling companions of the main trio. They’re the cutest little baby dragon!! Again, I’m sorry for the spoiler, but if I say like…there’s a dragon companion Eventually and you know that episode 1 introduces a dragon egg, like…it’s kinda hard to talk about without giving away, and DP certainly didn’t shy away from advertising Baby Dragon in all the promo stuff for season 2 so I figure you’ll run into it anyway. And we see glimpses of other dragons as the episodes go by, and they all exude this sense of absolute awe and power. So if you came for the dragons,, there will!! Be!! Dragons!! 

But what else is at the forefront–even more so than the dragons? One of my other favorite things in all of fantasy ever. ELVES,, and lots of them!! All elves–and indeed, all the magical creatures native to Xadia–are born with an innate connection to something called an arcanum, which is a kind of really cool elemental magic!! The writers of Dragon Prince are some of the people that splintered off from the Avatar series after Last Airbender (so they were uninvolved with Korra, but part of the original series). And you can definitely see that in the influence of a lot of the lore and world building. 

Each race of elves having their own affinity for a particular arcanum is definitely going to be reminescent of the whole bender thing. These arcanum are also known as “Primal Sources,” because they’re kind of this mystical, primordial energy that controls the natural forces of the universe. So you have: 

Moon Arcanum (Moonshadow Elves: value loyalty and their oaths above all else, honorable, mystical, withdrawn, spiritual, duplicitous, illusionists, assassins, conditioned to never show fear)

Sun (Sunfire Elves: masters of the forge, unparalleled craftsmanship in their weapon and armor smithing, destructive, nurturing, charismatic, passionate, can invoke either a “rage” based state to rampage with increased strength and speed, or harness their “light” in order to heal) 

Sky (Skywing Elves: Keen minded, clever, value their freedom and autonomy above all else, gifted with flight)

Earth (Earthblood Elves: Patient, steadfast, stubborn, introspective, inquisitive, very in-tune with the balance of the natural world, value harmony and discovery) 

Ocean (don’t know what these elves are called still,, rip,,, but: Peaceful, empathetic, deeply connected to others, forge intimate bonds, adaptable, versatile)

Star (Startouch Elves: very rare, elusive, have a vast concept of time and space as seen through the lens of infinite cosmos, gifted in divination, posses ancient magic and potential secrets of the universe) 

The main conflict of the show is actually between the humans and the elves. They used to all live together, but then humans betrayed the others through the creation of dark magic, a sort of “cheat” since humans aren’t born naturally connected to any of the Primal Sources. Since they’re cut off from the arcanum, they saw their only viable means of practicing magic as sacrificing other magical beings to draw from their life force. This can be anything from crushing bugs to ritual use of phoenix feathers, and even killing dragons. So that’s how you get the alleged “sixth arcanum,” Dark Magic. And honestly, lots of Magical Creatures weren’t a Big Fan of that. Humans eventually went to war with the elves and dragons, and!! Yes!! They lost. And got driven out of Xadia. 

Dragon Prince takes place sometime later, and is essentially about heightening tensions between humans and elves, and likely, the very inevitable impending war. There are numerous human kingdoms, each with their own politics, as well as everything we’ve yet to discover about the interrelationships between differing arcanum elves. The series features two human princes trying to navigate their role in society and expectations for the future alongside the emerging threat of war and disconcerting realization that Xadia isn’t quite as sinister as they thought. There’s also their new friend Rayla, a Moonshadow Elf and trained assassin–who has decided to grudgingly open up her heart, and maybe give humanity a chance (I love her). You also have the obligatory Dark Magic sorcerer with his own agenda and secrets. Not to mention his jock son and dark magic daughter, who are honestly both so quirky, endearing, complex, and can just steal the show. 

I also have to mention General Amaya!! She’s the general of one of the human kingdom armies, and she’s also mute. All her soldiers communicate with her in sign language (and it’s actually correctly animated ASL!!). Everything about the way this character was brought to life was so amazing and, not knowing anything about her beforehand, I was so pleasantly surprised by her strength, charm, chivalry–she’s amazing. And it’s clear that considerable research and effort went into representation here. 

Other reasons to watch include one of my personal favorites,, Hot Elves,, you’ve got both Runaan and Aaravos here and they’re all I can focus on whenever they’re onscreen. They both own my heart and soul and they’re 100% perfect I’m very thankful I can always look forward to them,, 

Unfortunately, I can talk about how much I like Dragon Prince all I want, but I also have to definitely mention there’s a relationship between two queer characters in a flashback of season 2, and they’re both killed off soon after their introduction. That left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I’ve seen people “compare” it to Voltron, try to claim it did things “better,” but that’s honestly all ridiculous. Not to mention, VLD’s LGBT rep was always meant to be Shiro, and he was still around, whereas TDP introduced two minor LGBT characters and then proceeded to kill off their only LGBT characters an episode later. This isn’t me trying to complain or start a fight or anything, but it’s a matter that raises valid concerns and was understandably upsetting for people, so I feel like it’s fair to warn anyone going into it.

As a whole, I do love TDP though. Really, the fun here is in the characters and charm of the series. It’s also really not a show that takes itself too seriously, which is kinda nice. A lot of people have said it was too childish for them, which I can understand, but the whole thing feels very storybook and endearing to me. There’s also certainly layers of nuance there, with political games, duplicitous motivations, usurping kings, self-sacrifice, betrayal, the grieving process, how far you’d go for someone you love–I think there’s definitely some substance to it. I’d recommend that most people at least give it a chance to see if it’s their thing. And if you do, I hope you enjoy it 

[obliterus]

REVERSE AU//MVA part 1

It’s been a while, but now it’s coming back. Some things have been completely re-vamped, some things have gotten darker and more sinister here. I’m going to begin re-telling the story of this AU on this blog since Shion will be involved, and then offer all other exclusive in-depth character profiles (several key characters that are vital to the plot, and who I want to write again or introduce) on my upcoming multi-muse blog. Since... I’m sure there will be questions and there will be answers. 

                WELCOME TO MY VILLAIN ACADEMIA!

Please enjoy your stay and remember to do your best, because an attempt isn’t tolerated. Let’s get started, shall we?

        Everything that you’ve come to love and cherish, those storybook heroes and their happy ever after endings don’t exist here. This is a story in which raw power and glory run the show and all that heroic bullshit? Well, let’s just say it doesn’t exist! In this world, your abilities dictate your entire life, how you attend school, and even the friends you make! If you’re born quirkless, from the moment you take your first breath, life will be especially hard for you, because you’re as good to dirt in this society. Villains are the top dog here, and your life can only get a little bit better if you entrust yourself into the hands of those with abilities greater than your own. You’re considered a disability to the system if you’re quirkless, you may as well just kiss your life goodbye or die trying! 

         There are no happy endings here, only the struggle to come out on top, and become the best Pro Villain you can. Corruption is encouraged, using your abilities to get ahead and manipulate are all welcomed here, so is physical violence. Not too much though, we don’t need to mop up blood off campus every single hour on the hour. We have a battle arena if you need to fight out your differences, but please book that in advance. Most of your peers will be anywhere between Green and Orange ranking, so please respect them once you encounter them and their ranking. This is the opposite of the hero stories you’ve come to understand, so please make sure you’re familiar with all of the rules and where you, yourself fall! Have a GREAT year!

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My Villain Academia is an alternative universe in which tells takes the canon storyline and completely reverses it! Yes, that’s right. Everyone you know and love is actually a heartless villain in training in this. I shouldn’t say completely heartless, but they’re pretty close. Also, your heartless canon villains are actually morally wonderful underground Heroes. UA Academy is a school that prides itself on producing some of the best Villains not only in Japan but across the globe. With its excellent selection of courses and rigorous acceptance exams, one can only dream of being accepted to UA. The story is narrated by the resident King of UA Academia, Midoriya Izuku, and his journey in becoming a Pro Villain.

The school is separated into two classes when it comes to the Villain Course, A and B. These are considered some of the top aspiring students in all of Japan. They’ll do just about anything and everything to get ahead, but they will not turn on each other. They are required to work together in some fields because powerful quirk users combined can be a beautiful thing in the face of battle, or in establishing dominance, right? It’s designed to set you on the right path and separate the powerful from the weak hearted.

General Studies is offered to students that have failed the Villain course exam but still have the potential to join the Villain course during the spring of their following year. However, General Studies students can usually be seen in one of two lights: Scrubs and targets, or potential villains based on how students present themselves in those classes. They’re sorted into C and D, and E categories.

Support Course are students that have been gifted with extreme knowledge and craftsmanship. These are the individuals that instead choose to support their future pro Villains along their course by designing weapons that can enhance not only their quirks but their combat abilities. Support students are highly treasured at UA, and often shown an extra level of respect so that villain course students can ultimately get what they want to be made. There is no limit to what they can make, and their stock room is filled to the brim with assorted tools. Some legal, some very illegal. Anything goes when you’re in support course territory! They are sorted into F, G and H categories.

Lastly, but certainly not least, the Management Course. They are the individuals single-handedly responsible for starting a Villain’s career. They deal with all marketing, opening up agencies, and provide a line of direction for newborn villains. They are sharp individuals, with great problem-solving skills and are masters of working the system in their favor. They’re a more isolated group of students, who choose to keep their secrets to themselves. They are sorted into I, J and K categories.

Much of the Discourse that should arise in UA isn’t handled by the teachers but handled by the ranking system that is established among the Villain Course students. It is called The Royal Flush and composed up of a King, Queen, Jack, Ace and Ten of Hearts. Each title is worn by a Villain Course student, and with it, comes specific duties that are to be obeyed around the school. Before I outline who this is made up, I’ll explain how society’s ranking system works based on what type of quirk you’re born with. Or NOT born with.

When a child’s quirk manifests, they are immediately classified into a color that will dictate how the rest of their life will go. Let’s start from lowest to highest! Now, these are subject to change if a quirkless child is a late bloomer and their quirk manifests later, OR an individual that was already sorted has a quirk change or an enhancement in their abilities that calls for them to be sorted into a different classification. This is done by the government in which the person goes through a series of tests to be passed on to a different classification.

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COLOR QUIRK CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM ;;

QUIRKLESS (Black) If no quirk manifests in a child, they are tapped as black and are donned as a disability to the society overall. They are shunned and mocked, these are the people who have a very hard time finding suitable jobs and education for themselves. They tend to stick together to survive and are virtually non-existing to society unless they do something to prove themselves. A lot of them do the services that many quirk users do not want to do, and this buys them protection and a safe space. The highest suicide ranking is among the quirkless.

LOW TIER (Blue) The weakest on the quirk totem pole. Low tier quirk users are registered under the color blue to signal their ranking. These are the people who are offered the lowest ranking jobs and education. They have a chance to climb up the pole if their quirk changes after they’ve already been tapped as a child. Otherwise, these are the people who are easily taken advantage of and who often deflect for the Hero underground.

MID-TIER (Green) The middle of the pole. Once sorted into this category, I would consider this the middle class of the quirk ranking system. A lot of citizens are mid-tier users. They have the ability to hold decent jobs, can become advisors to higher ranking quirk users, are offered good education, and are respected enough to be left alone. They don’t help the weak if they know what’s good for them and their safety. A lot of UA students are Green users that are trying to advance to Orange if their ability allows, but honestly, being Green is a good thing. It doesn’t get you looked at like the Blues, and it takes some of the pressures of Orange off you.

HIGH TIER (Orange) The second highest ranking on the quirk pole. They are the world’s leaders, offered the highest ranking jobs, exposed to the absolute best education system. The police tend to turn a blind eye to high tier users who act out in society because they are seen as the best of the best. Their power isn’t something to be questioned. High tier users can offer protective services to mid-tier users.

SUPREME TIER (Red) Extremely rare. 5% of the population. These are people that are considered walking Gods because of their quirk abilities. Both feared and praised, they are hunted down for their abilities and turned into lethal villain machines. They can offer protective services to just about anyone they choose and it will -never- be questioned. It is very much a thing that children born and tested as Red, will be registered as Orange and their quirk abilities fairly suppressed.

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Now that that’s outlined, going back to The Royal Flush squad. The Big Three were the top dogs of UA while they were there, Mirio becoming King in his second year, along with Nejire as Queen and Tamaki as Jack. The Big Three came to dominate the school, they were the people that aspiring individuals looked to for advice. They handled a lot of disputes, while not only increasing their profiles as Villains but also letting people know that they were not the ones to be questioned. Izuku inherits the King title, reluctant to do so after he inherits his ability, None for All, and was now tasked with building his own elite team to wear the Royal titles through the years at UA. Izuku is the only one to become King during his first year.

Who he picks are a total secret, and one you’ll come to discover later on.

Now, what about the Hero Underground? Is there a silver lining in all of this? Of course! The Hero Underground, known as the League of Heroes, is a widespread society that was started by one man, known as All For One. However, in the Villain realm, he’s known bitterly as Robin Hood. He can steal quirks from the most sinister of Villains and gift them to aspiring Heroes who are desperate to try and make society a better place. There have been rumors floating around forever that Shimura Nana has killed him, but in reality, AFO is safely hidden in an unknown location that’s under intense security.

The League of Heroes fights for everyone. They do not discriminate against Quirkless and Low Tier users and are always welcoming to any Villain that chooses to deflect. Once somebody chooses to deflect, they are stripped of their ranking and are considered as good as dirt to society. Heroes are seen as vermin, with their want for equal rights among everyone else and to have quirks liberated rather than controlled by the government and other systems. Hero Agencies exist in locations spread all over Japan, some greatly hidden behind walls, underground, within a maze of tunnels, or through extensive passwords. 

Three misfits, ostracized and hunted for their abilities joined the Hero ranking and own one of the most successful Agencies of all time. (Also a real pain in the ass for the Villains of the society) Chisaki Kai, Todoroki Touya, and Shigaraki Tomura. Three individuals who were born RED, who deflected from villain society and built an Agency from the ground up in honor of liberation.  They are walking messiahs to those on the lower end of the deal, and they’ve already saved countless people. They have dodged great difficulties to get to where they need to be. The question is, the government wants them, but more so have been forced to turn the other cheek. The system is just as much afraid of them. 

They operate out of an office that’s disguise as a Speakeasy, hidden behind a door with a peephole that Touya maintains. Those looking for their aid are given specific instructions to this door, and will only be let in if their password is said correctly. This office also operates as a safe house for those who just are looking to escape the gruesome system they were born into. Welcome to the Hero world! Let Todoroki Touya be your guide. 

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(Part 1 end)

[paperspell]

Kingdom Hearts || Three Half Promises

Rating: Teens and up

@mimiplaysgames and @lyssala are both gifts to the fandom

Summary: A character study of Aqua and Terra from childhood to adulthood

Chapter 2: My name is Aqua | Names hold power

As Eraqus has promised, the first chime comes bright and early in time with the rising of the sun. She wakes up as a disorientated heap of blankets. While her new bed is the most comfortable she has ever experienced, the time difference has indeed taken its effect. She was so giddy and wound up last night that she slept very little, if at all.

She steps out of the bathroom just as Terra is walking past the hall. He winces at the timing but pays no further heed to her as she follows him downstairs to the dining hall for breakfast. It seems that Eraqus has already set up some options for them, but she can’t say she is familiar with eating any of it this early in the morning; a pot of cloudy soup, a large bowl of white rice, two grilled salmon and what appears to be a plate of rolled omelette. Terra picks up two small bowls and starts ladling soup in one and scooping rice in the other. With no clue in what else to do, she follows suit, only to feel his eyes shoot her a twinge of annoyance.  

Throughout breakfast, he does not seem too eager to befriend her and ate opposite of her in silence. As she spoons her hot salty soup, wondering what to say, he polishes off his food and clears his side of the table just as fast. He speeds down the end of the dining hall towards the corridor and exits right as Eraqus rounds the corner.

The boy bows briefly to his Master and continues on his way without turning to look back.

“Like the earth itself he seems determined to search himself across all four corners of this world,” Eraqus sighs. He pulls out a chair and starts pouring tea for himself. “I do hope you find the food to your liking. Terra usually marches straight to the training grounds, so I never know.”

“It’s delicious,” she assures. Different maybe, but far better than cold oatmeal.

“That’s good to hear,” Eraqus says, smiling into his teacup. “Since it is your first day in this world, you are not expected to be thrown into training straightaway. Do you remember what we discussed last night? About getting to know oneself?”

“Yes sir,” she answers promptly.

“It is my personal belief that at the tender age both you and Terra are in, the strain of vigorous training need not befall you just yet. There will be studies and disciplining of the body, but for now I do encourage you both to indulge in other activities.”

“Um, but sir,” she says, fidgeting under his gaze, “isn’t Terra already training? I don’t mind starting right away either–”  

“Ah, to have a rival. How marvelous, I have forgotten…” Eraqus puts down his cup. “It’s true the boy trains very hard, and given his earlier arrival, his knowledge of the worlds’ lore is greater. But, there is still an important element he lacks to proceed in becoming a Keyblade wielder. Would you like to guess what that is?”  

It seems like one of those trick questions the teachers will occasionally ask children to see if they are paying attention. Shamefully, she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what is the correct answer. She shakes her head.  

“Terra trains every day since he had arrived. I have seen the boy develop his own skills with small guidance of my own, yet he is no closer to producing the Key as he was on his first day. His swordplay, although rough, is rather good for his age. And so, with the ability to summon his own Keyblade, hone its power at an early age, will he not become more remarkable?”

At this point Eraqus is mumbling these thoughts, perhaps more for himself than to share with her. However, at the word Keyblade, she feels a leap of excitement, the handle of the blade ghosting on her hand again.  

“You see, I figured somewhere down the line, there must be a balance, something more than training and studies of history’s past. Something close to the heart. Terra himself has daily matters to keep busy, and more importantly to discover some hidden truths about himself. In a way, this may be the first step in calling out the Keyblade.

“While I understand both of your eagerness to become warriors, the quickest way to obtain strength lies not with the pursuit of power. I think the best course of action for you is to adjust to the patterns of this world first and learn to trust in the rhythm of your heart. After all, power is born within the heart. When the time is right, you just need to look inside yourself and you will find it there.”

The poetry of his words rings in her ears. She tries not to envision the boys back at Radiant Garden. They would probably be indignant if they find out she isn’t already on track with being the greatest warrior ever. She smiles at the thought, finishing the last bits of omelette.    

Once breakfast is cleared, they step outside to survey the Land of Departure once more. Crossing the bridge, she cannot find Terra among the training grounds. Eraqus holds little worry as to what his other disciple is doing. Instead he gestures at a vague direction nearby the woods.

“Somewhere out here, is a project Terra has been tending to. He has shown me once, and I have to say, I am rather impressed by his craftsmanship to create such a place. He suits his name – I do believe I chose it well.”

“What do you mean?” she asks. Her eyebrows rose in surprise.

“Of course, back then Terra went by a different name. But when I discovered him and led him to this world, he insisted that he didn’t want it anymore. He wanted a new name, fit for a Guardian of Light. That request was not unusual – in the Golden Age of Keyblade Wielders, it was tradition to have a name, or an alias, that has something to do with the worlds. Like the elements that surround us, and nature that makes each place unique. It signifies what we have to protect, and because of that, nothing is out of reach for us.”

She follows the sweeping motion of his hands, revealing Land of Departure in a new light. Looking at it once more, she can see everything a lot clearer. The landscape, which is fully uncovered now that it’s morning, is a sight to behold. It holds none of Radiant Garden’s symmetric architecture or ridged lines. The land itself isn’t quite tame; it is full of lush trees and blooming wild flowers that grew wherever they pleased. Ponds connect with each other through trickle of streams, glittering in the sunlight. The mountains in the distance seemed to reach to the heavens, its peaks touching the clouds. The world is rough, but at the same time, welcoming. It’s as if years of being a training ground for wielders has shaped it to beckon light.

“We keep the darkness at bay from the hearts of the world and its inhabitants. Keybearers thought to possess the names found in nature as a...declaration of sorts. Think of it as a domain of power. The more the name is connected to the order of the worlds, the more the worlds see to the name keeper’s individual strength, luck, and even fate.”

“I didn’t know names have that sort of power in them,” she admits.

“Well, that much can’t be certain,” Eraqus smiles wryly. “Still, I don’t make light of tradition, especially those that carry good fortune. And so, I decided I’ll give all my students names that best reflect their heart’s might. Ah, and there he is...”

Eraqus nods to the clearing a few yards away, which leads to a small forest. From out of the shadows Terra pops into view. He’s holding a wooden box of tools in one hand and dragging a bag of fertilizer by the other, both probably tools to aid him with his project. After he packs everything up neatly into a nearby shed, he turns their direction, making large expert strides over the hill. When he gets closer, she could see he has a knowing look on his face, like he knew exactly what they had been talking about.

“Terra is a good name,” Eraqus continues, nodding towards the boy. “It is the vastness of the land, as well as the sturdiness of the earth. All worlds are only as good as their foundation.”

Terra’s face is solemn, and he looked every bit as serious as his master. Nevertheless, she catches the pink coloring his ears, and how he busies himself by wiping the dirt clean from his hands with a faded towel.

She turns to face Eraqus once more.

“Will I have to change my name too?” she implores.

“Only if you want to,” Eraqus says gently. “As it is, your current name is already quite nice.”

She thinks for a moment. After everything that has happened, since leaving Radiant Garden and coming here, she felt fluttering anticipation. It isn’t a bad or good feeling, but it’s powerful and steady. With everything so uncertain, a little luck is exactly what she needs.

“I want one too,” she decides. “Can you...?”

She tries to muffle the shyness that kept creeping up her skin. She felt Terra staring at her again, but his expression is unreadable.

Eraqus’ eyes are twinkling, regarding her kindly.

He stoops down to her eye level and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Without a moment of hesitation, he’s giving her what seems like a gift that he picked out ages ago. Maybe he already knew since the beginning.

“Hair like the waves, eyes like sapphire stone,” he muses. “The worlds’ waters dances and cannot be contained. It gives to all through vast oceans, and travels to those beyond help by streams and rivers. May this encapsulate your curiosity and resourcefulness...Aqua shall be your name.”

There is a stillness in the air when he finishes. Terra glances briefly at Master Eraqus, but he doesn’t question the decision. Together they look at her, and she released a small breath she was holding to break the quiet spell.

“Aqua,” she declares, and it's like breathing anew.

The rest of the morning was a most peculiar of lesson. There was no arithmetic, reading comprehension, or chemistry. There are no classrooms to enter, or materials to pass out for that matter.  There was a lot of history though, and Eraqus spins them a tale from a century ago, about when the worlds were one during the Age of Fairytales. They sat by a slope near a pond cover with lily pads, and the trickle from the streams went in time with Eraqus steady pace as he told them about five factions from long ago, the collection of Light (formally known as Lux), the rise of tension, and the Great War that led to the downfall of many Keyblade wielders.

During each of Eraqus’ pauses and prompts of questions, Terra would answer, steadfast and ready, almost anticipating what was next. The boy simpers with pride, and she can feel his smugness next to her. If she could, she would have happily taken down rapid fire notes for the next lesson, but Eraqus hasn’t given them any pencil or paper.

“…Thus, the world of Daybreak Town split into many fragments, each piece developing into a world of its own. The stardust that covers the outer atmosphere shines so brightly each world seems like a star. It is theorized that however luminous a world appears reflects on the quantity and quality of children’s hearts, yearning and waiting to be seen. It’s no coincidence that Radiant Garden honors itself as such a city. They are most likely the brightest world – with the exception of this one – found.

“As you can see, the history of the Keyblade, the Light and Darkness, is not a happy one. The Great War helped to slow the rise of the oncoming darkness, and brought many years of peace, as fracture as it may seem. Yet a colleague of mine and myself have recently felt a stirring amidst.”

Catching her look of alarm, Eraqus flags down her unspoken question.

“Yes, even the shadows you encountered in Radiant Garden are just a weaker strand of what is possible. Although there are no real, physical shadows to fight now, darkness is never truly gone. It can rise at any moment, and the responsibility will fall on our shoulders.”

“Yes master,” Terra quickly replies. She follows his lead, uttering after him, something she’s sure he didn’t miss.

Eraqus looks at them both with satisfaction.

“Seeing as this was your first lesson, I can understand a lot of this may be befuddling. Terra knows all this by heart, since he’s had more time. But perhaps this might help,” Eraqus says, pulling out a book from his robes.

It was an ancient volume, with the cover worn, the title faded, and the pages yellowed. She flips through it quickly, catching bits of text about what Eraqus had told them earlier. There’s a whole section introducing the five foretellers: Ira the Reliable, leader of the others…Invi the Virtuous…Aced the Fearless...Ava the Prudent…Gula the Scholar. They all followed under a master too, selected because they were the best of their kind…She skims to where Eraqus stopped earlier. Past all the countless sacrifice made, for one singular goal–

“Kingdom Hearts?” She thumbs the page. It was mentioned before…    

“The elusive Kingdom Hearts,” Eraqus murmurs, bending over to see the page. “Heart of all that is cumulated through space and time. The heart of everything, so to speak.”

“So then, after the Great War, and after the world had split…was it gone too?”

“While it’s true that Daybreak Town is no more,” Eraqus says, rubbing his chin, “I would not say it is gone – rather, it was reborn, just more spread out. As for Kingdom Hearts…”

In the corner of her eye, she could see that Terra has abandoned the pieces of grass he was fiddling with, his face turns curious with a piece of the story he hasn’t heard of before.

“…I would say it faced a similar fate. Hypothetically, it is still possible to summon Kingdom Hearts, as it is not bound to the physical like we are. However, that is the path of a Seeker…and we should leave the natural laws as they are.”

Before she could ask anymore, she feels a warm pat on the head.

“Reborn, very much in a way you were today, Aqua.”

She feels a small, sheepish grin make its way across her face. It was a bit strange, knowing that is who she is now. Had Terra felt the same way when his own name was bestowed on him? Once again, he’s knotting the grass, determine not to look her way. Eraqus closes the book in her hands.  

“The library will be an incredible resource to help you catch up with the history of this world, as well as a number of others discovered from me and the masters before us. Let’s see…the first shelf by the door should do. I trust you are acquainted with the library?”

“Yes, Sir Eraqus,” she says, bringing the book closer to her chest.

“Then I will leave you two at it until lunch. After dinner we usually have a bit of astrology by the north tower. Chances are likely for clear skies tonight.”  

He gives them a nod, and both students return it with a slight bow. She felt a little proud then, for even if she is a bit slower than Terra at responding with formalities, she has more or less gotten the hang of it. Eraqus crosses the bridge to the castle. They are alone for a whole of one second before Terra decides that’s enough company for today and whisks off, predictably, to the training grounds.

“Hey, um…Terra–” She shuts up, immediately embarrassed.

“What is it?” he drawls, pivoting on the spot.

“Can I come too?”

She originally plans to apologize for yesterday, but the words got jumbled on the way out. She doesn’t know why she’s asking for permission. Apparently, neither does Terra.    

“Doesn’t matter to me,” he shrugs. She winces, knowing that is probably true.

Still, she follows him to the training ground, nothing more than a shadow as he secures the golden hoops on a wooden training pole, laces up his shoes and gears himself with knees and shoulder pads. There was a treasure chest by the connecting bridge from where they came from, and Terra unlocks it. Out from the chest was a wooden sword, the same one from last evening. He gives her another one of his meaningful stares, a sign for her to stay out of his way. She crosses the grounds and settles in near the shade. Terra flexes a bit before working in a few quick strikes with his sword. After he was satisfied with that, he shifts into a guarded stance, circling the brass loop like one would to an enemy. She flips through her book, landing once more on the page of the foretellers.

She likes all of them in equally, including their animal symbols; all of them a master in their own right. It was rather tragic then, for things to unfold how they did. The text shows how they each had a different style of fighting: Master Ira has near immunity, his battles won over strong defense…Master Invi is a graceful mage, every attack fused with magic…Master Ava has perfect form, her strikes straight and true…Master Gula is the keen one, always setting up his attacks to confuse and ensnare his opponent.

She looks up from her book to see Terra making wide, rapid swings at the hoops. Eraqus did not lie; the boy has talent in swordplay. His jabs are slow, but definitely hold power.

“Hmm…kind of like…” She scans the page to find the master she was looking for, and upon finding it, whispers a quiet “aha!”

Master Aced is a known wielder that relies on strong barrages to subdue his foes. Although slow to strike, his endurance in battle can outlast most, and let it be known that even one hit from this Master can knock out anyone who is less than his equal.

She raises her book up, so she can match the illustration of the foreteller to Terra. Even the way Terra knocks at the hoop holds some semblance to Master Aced’s finishing jab. She continues to watch as Terra parries and dodges. His breathing is getting deeper now, his skin flush. Still, when he turns at a certain angle, his eyes reveal to be just as blue as ever. She indulges for a moment too long, enough for those eyes to skim over and meet hers–

“Guh!” Terra grunts as he hits the ground hard due to a misstep. Seeing her about to get up to help, he holds out a hand to stop her. “Just stay over there,” he hisses.

His face is completely red now. She stands still, stung by his harshness. As he readies himself to a defensive position, he half pulls a backward glance at her again, before thinking better of it and charging to claim victory over the hoops. As practice wanes on, he was not faring any better; if anything, he is slipping up and making more mistakes, stopping himself from eyeing her almost as if he expects that she’ll get satisfaction from it. Midway through his dodge roll, she decides to head to the library.

“Hey, you–” He pauses, coughing uncomfortably onto his fist. “Aqua.”

It sounds warble and forced, as if he is pulling her name from murky waters.

“Yes?” she says, suppressing the surprise from her voice.

“Where are you going?”

It is phrased less of a question and more of an accusation. She has never known any other child her age to hold such regard for themselves as to monitor the other; even the prefects at school were never this haughty. Had he asked differently, she might have told him.

“Well it doesn’t matter to you, I don’t think,” she says quietly.

He raises an eyebrow at this.

“No, it doesn’t…” he replies slowly, “…but if it did, it’ll only be to make sure you don’t get into any sort of trouble.”

“I won’t. But I’m probably causing a lot of trouble here, since you’ve been slipping and falling a lot–”

“I have not!” he growls, before steeling himself. “And you haven’t answered the question.”

“I’m just going back to the castle,” she says. She makes a point not to say where, though.

“If that’s all you’re going to do you can go.”

She doesn’t leave immediately at what appears to be a dismissal. Instead, they stare at each other in silent defiance, before she remembers he’s still got a wooden sword in his hand, and he wonders if she’s ever going to blink as a sign of submission. He breaks contact first, maybe deciding this wasn’t worth the time he could spend training.

She broods all the way back to the castle, mostly out of worry. She’s never been so confrontational to another person before; on principle she avoids conflict. How then, was she supposed to sidestep Terra, when he lives in the same quarters she does, shares training and meals with her?

Finally reaching the library, she steps in to find the first bookshelf just as Eraqus had mentioned. Her jaw drops – there are rows and rows of books, and this is only considered the beginning. It will take her weeks to forge ahead, let alone catch up, to Terra. She marvels at the old, withering essays, finally making out where she has to start from. The top row is a bit hard to reach, even as she presses square on the shelf, on her tip-toes. Thankfully, there’s a nearby stepladder, and she climbs on top to read the spines of each volume, from Practical Uses of Potions and Charms to Standard Techniques of Swords and Shields. Histories of different, well known Keyblade wielders are placed in-between.

She grabs two thick books and sighs at the sheer weight of it. Finding a table by the window, she tips them over. It’s rather unlikely that she’ll manage to finish one by the end of today…

Terra’s not quite sneering, but proud face crosses her mind.

With a loud scoot from her chair, she rushes back to the first shelf, and pulls out three more books.

The chime of the bell startles her awake. She rubs her eyes, searching for a clock. High noon already…with a long stretch, she could feel the tiredness from earlier melt away. The nap was a long and refreshing one, so the promise of sleep will surely elude her tonight too.

The piles history books are laying out in the open. She had folded tips of pages she thought were interesting to take a second look at while underlining important dates and facts. The books themselves held various scribbles from readers before her, some faded and some more visible. The ones she can make out were written in fresher ink but are no more visible than the rest. The penmanship is poor, and she is certain a few words are misspelled. She pulls out a blank piece of paper and scribbles some words on it in perfect script. There’s immense satisfaction in knowing her handwriting is head and shoulders above Terra’s. However, this small victory becomes further diminished by the fact that if Terra had indeed written on this book, that meant he has already finished it, and so back she went, plowing through page after page.

She takes a break only when her stomach is growling with hunger. Hopping off her chair, she heads over to the dining hall, but changes direction at the sight of the neighboring room’s door held ajar. If she recalls correctly, it’s the treasure room, but she’s never been inside it. She takes a cautious peek inside.

Terra’s back is facing her. He’s sitting in the middle of the room, surrounded by boxes. Each box is full to the rim with odd trinkets, mismatch of things, some she suspects that are broken. Terra is holding on to a thin slip of something – a photograph maybe – and what little she sees of his face is seldom, a look that’s far too serious. It’s a moment that belongs to only him, and she fears that if she is to swing the door open, she would pop his bubble of peace. She slips away, careful to go unnoticed.

The halls are empty as she passes them to reach the dining hall. Although food was placed on the table, she couldn’t see any signs of Eraqus. After a silent meal, she roams about, but there’s still no signs of the Master.

“He’s not here,” Terra utters flatly, after she’s made a full circle around the castle and stands once more at the entrance of the dining hall.  “The Master leaves almost every day to survey new worlds. He won’t be back until late.”

“Oh,” she says, a bit abashed at being caught wandering without reason. “What do you usually do when he’s away?”

He shifts his weight on his other foot. “None of your business.”

What follows is an awkward silence.  

“Okay,” she mutters, trying to rid the discomfort.

“Look,” he sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, “you can do anything you’d like for now, since you haven’t been given any chores. The best thing would be to just catch up on lessons, and try not to poke around at stuff, or cause any problems.”

“I’m not trying to,” she says, readying herself for another one of his cold replies.  

Yet Terra is already walking away, and she has no desire to chase after him, to seek his approval. She spins around, heading the opposite direction. To tread carefully around each other is going to be a hard task indeed.

“…and there, you see, in the constellation not far beyond, is a world that lies between two suns…” Eraqus explains, pointing at the mass above.

They are situated at the north tower, the night sky dazzling them with its radiance. It’s cloudless, just as Eraqus had promised. Both students take turns looking through a brass telescope, hyper aware to keep at being mild-mannered now that the Master is back. Eraqus had returned a little after 6pm, according to the clock in the library. After a dinner with more assortments that she couldn’t name, the three of them climbed a circular stairway to the highest tower, where Eraqus began pointing with precision at every world he’s familiar with. Lucky for her, she had brought a notebook this time, and as Eraqus begins listing off the characteristics of this world, her pencil is ready, and she’s jotting down shorthand notes as fast as he could say them out loud.

“Because of its position, it has a unique feature that no other world can replicate – even as it spins in place, with constant exposure to both suns, it never experiences night. The days go by in perpetual twilight.”

“Wow,” she whispers, as Terra passes over the telescope.

Unfortunately, because of its weak range, the most they can see is the stardust surrounding the world. They have to be wary not to look for too long though, as the worlds’ magnified still have potential to blind their eyes. For a while they sit without talking, comfortably full from their meal before. Eraqus reminisces, Terra drifts a little way off to look at other constellations, and she flips through yet another book Eraqus has brought with him.

“Mr. Eraqus sir, what about when stars blink?”

Eraqus shifts his gaze sadly to the ground.

“That strange phenomenon appears only as a signal when a world succumbs to darkness, collapsing in on itself until there is nothing left.”

“Oh.” She gulps. “I’m sorry…”

“Dear Aqua, there is no need to apologize. An excellent question is still worthy of being asked, no matter the answer.” Eraqus points at the book in her hands. “Much like how many stories hold sad events, they are recorded because they hold truths that are irreplaceable in our attempt to move forward from the past.”

“Alright sir,” she says, looking down at the text. “I think I understand.”

“At any rate, it’s still a wonder how darkness can even overtake a world. It’s a strange case, something that happens so rarely that very few has borne witness to. I believe Ansem the Wise is studying this very question as we speak, but we both have so few leads, and even fewer ideas to even form a hypothesis.”  

On the Master’s other side, Terra has gone quiet, sporting the same expression she’s seen when she crossed the treasure room.

“So then, that’s why you left? To study other worlds and get an idea?”

Eraqus faces them both with a somber expression. “I do apologize for my absence. I do not intend to make light of my position as a mentor. Even so, I will be leaving from time to time to look for shifts in patterns, as well as potential outbreaks of danger. There are answers to questions that I’m sure will give us certain closures we might need.”

She could be imagining it, but she felt the last sentence being directed to Terra. If he realizes it, the boy made no signs of acknowledgement.

“However, you’ll be glad to hear that I will not be going about as much,” Eraqus says, a tiny smile gracing his features, “since you have arrived. I think, with two promising students now I’ll have my hands full in shaping you both to be the most astounding wielders the worlds have seen yet.”

Like all those times Eraqus has roused her spirits, this is no different. Something is bubbling forth – even Terra has left behind his neutral mask and was finally wearing what appears to be, a smile. It made his face softer, fully uncovering his lovely features.

He puffs out his chest a little, brimming with determination. He has no doubt that he will become a Guardian of Light in the future, so why should she? To have a rival…it’s just as Eraqus said, isn’t it? She can’t let Terra be the only one.

A surge of excitement washes over her at the thought of becoming a full-fledge Master.

The night goes by as a sleepless one. The hours ticks on as she studies by lantern, devouring each book she could get her hands on, until her head is swimming with names and facts. The Foretellers…The Great War…endless promise of Lux…collapsing worlds and rebirth…

Soon her eyelids grew heavy, and it’s time to turn in lest she falls asleep during Eraqus’ impromptu lectures. She stifles a yawn as she makes her way out the library. Again, the treasure room has its door left open. She creeps nearer to the gap. Had Terra forgotten to close it? Speaking of which, he was examining something here earlier, something important. She bites her bottom lip. The whole thing is far too curious for her to let go.

She pushes pass it, glad to find the room empty. Just her, and a couple of boxes. She digs through the nearest one, combing at all its hidden treasures. There are items which she is familiar with, like a ruler, a bag of marbles and a small trophy cup. Then there are others which beckons more of a mysterious air – loose pages of a diary, a ring with its jewel cracked in the center, and an ornate mirror.

Another crate holds knickknacks which she isn’t familiar with. None of them works, as she tries multiple times to operate what appears to be a music box. She pokes around the stuff underneath in a similar fashion. In the end, she ruffles through most of the available trunks, with nothing to show for it except the dust on her hands.

Dust…it occurs to her how odd it was, for all this to be left alone, and for such a long time too.      

She picks up one of the diary pages from earlier. The date marks it to be thirty odd years ago, from a town she’s never of, written by a woman of twenty. A quick rummage between the page causes an old photograph to fall, that of ordinary townsfolk going about their daily lives.

She grabs the marble bag she discarded. Flipping it over, she reveals a messy scrawl of perhaps a six-year-old boy. The ring with the cracked jewel on the top has words etch in the inner surface, something about everlasting love – a wedding band.  

She had assumed that everything in this room was, as Terra had mentioned, “just old stuff from before Master Eraqus” or collections from the masters before him. However, there is just too much history and intimacy for that to be true. Each crate holds the stories of multiple inhabitants from different places.

There is nothing wonderful or magical about any of these objects, only a displaced sadness. She is right to think she’s intruding. Her neck prickles.

She’s standing on a small graveyard, holding remnants of worlds long gone.

[wandabherrera]

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Aleada Siragusa

Aleada Siragusa a will be a fine craftsman who has practical experience in scene painting; she additionally paints different subjects including creatures and individuals. She gives tips and exercises on craftsmanship on her blog, go there to learn more on what makes a craftsman and how to consider the to be from a's perspective. She is energetic about her work and it gives her extraordinary euphoria to have the option to make craftsmanship and offer her reality with others. She adores authenticity with vivacious direct canvas and drawing. She likewise appreciates composing articles on workmanship, craftsmanship history, and composing verse.