#and i think cutting to them being the ones who were ‘’guiding’’ the expedition society in the ruins is SO effective

[vaugarde]

Hmm it definitely requires some retooling for the story and I’m not fully on board because some aspects of the story don’t completely make sense if I go this route, but for my hero and partner oc team for psmd I’m considering having hero also be a reincarnation, and they get found and raised by Nuzleaf as a baby and they move to Serene Village at the start of the story

[sarah-yyy]

what: modern cdrama // completed // 38 eps, roughly 35 mins each where: wetv (also on the app) // viki why: desert supernatural adventure with ni ni and bai yu, this had "sarah is going to lose it over this show" written all over it right from the start tbh, zero percent of people are surprised i enjoyed it. the characters are all well done and ni ni and bygg were great in their roles, the worldbuilding for the society inside yumen was interesting, and the cgi is well done for the genre (i mean...this is basing it off cdrama cgi standards okay!!)

meet my girl ye liuxi:

GOD... xi-jie... 😘 where do we even start

brains: 10 brawns: 100 memory: -300

xi-jie woke up in the middle of the desert, hung on a tree, with no idea who she is, v fragmented memories of the past, and a satchel with some v vague clues. she spends about a year working odd jobs in a town nearby to survive and to work out a plan to find out about her past.

her investigations lead her to chang dong:

dong-ge!! 😍🤤

brains: 10 brawns: 10 memory: 10 (but like 95% of it is tragic)

dong-ge is a desert guide, used to be one of the best (and certainly one of the most famous) in the region until he led an expedition (which consisted of his fiancée and their friends) into the desert and all eighteen of them except him died during a freak sandstorm. major survivor guilt on this boy. ultimate goal is to find the remains of his friends so that their families can move on in peace.

anyway, xi-jie ropes dong-ge into taking her into the desert. it's heavily implied that pre-memory lost her knows where the remains of his dead fiancée is, so the deal is: help me find my memory, and i'll help you find your friends.

they travel to the Yumen Pass together with three others - fei tang (who tags along for an opportunity to steal this priceless artefact he saw on xi-jie), and xiaoliu & gao shen (xiaoliu's godfather is sponsoring the trip for ~reasons, gao shen is her bodyguard with a crush on her), but soon realise that the pass leads to a parallel world where xi-jie is originally from.

in that world, there are spiritual beasts and monsters and all that jazz. the parallel world is governed by three ruling families who fight against a rebel organisation the Scorpion Eye. the gang navigates through the parallel world trying to solve the mystery behind xi-jie's past and the Yumen Pass prophecy. that's p much the gist of it.

the cons: this show moves a little slowly at times, but once you get invested, everything is all good. i'd say the first 2-4 eps needed a bit of getting into, but it does pick up. meng ziyi is in this as well, but i was a bit :/ about her performance - her character needed a bit more nuance and would've benefitted from a better portrayal than what mzy delivered. not something that really put me off the show, tho!!

the pros: ye liuxi is such an excellent character!! she is super fight fight fight and has Minimal impulse control. if a fight can solve problems, that's the way she's going. she starts off a bit "stick close, because if y'all die in the desert i'm not going to care" but just...grows so invested in everyone's wellbeing. chang dong is a nice contrast to ye liuxi - he's level-headed and is more focused on plans and trying to get everyone in and out of the Pass alive. the chemistry between them is great, like i didn't think i would be into this for the romance but GOD DAMN look at my dongxi couple

ni ni and bai yu aside, the rest of the gang were great also - they provided a lot of laughs to cut through the seriousness of the show, and the growing friendship between them was really fun to watch.

the plot was decent!! you can sort of guess the direction it's going, but it doesn't stop it from being a super fun show to watch. i binged like the last 10 eps in one sitting. i also really did appreciate the show giving me the finale i wanted: everything wraps up nicely (*stares at mlc*), there're no loose ends for me to lose my shit over (*stares at my journey to you*).

all in all, a p strong 9/10 for me!! would enjoy if y'all are into those desert adventure cdramas. would enjoy if y'all are bygg fans.

[boilyerheid]

I saw angst and I was summoned.

22 for Joplittle in the angst prompt list

There's a polite knock on the door which Edward is too nervous to turn and acknowledge, but the creaking door of the church anteroom opens regardless. He's been bullied in here by his brothers to collect his thoughts before the ceremony, left with a flask of whisky and instructed to get a hold of himself before he shows them all up before the assembled mass of friends, family, and the well to-do of society.

Miss Jane Irving is a paternal cousin of John's, and it will be nice to be family with his dear friend in the truest sense - though the Irving family's piety and overall staid nature are quite in contrast with the outdoorsy, adventure-seeking Little clan. It's a good match even despite her being Scotch, according to his parents, and will quite cement their youngest's reputation - putting to bed rumours about what happened during the Franklin Expedition's lost years in the ice and Edward's 'trouble' afterwards.

Edward has only met her twice, under supervision of their parents. They discussed opera and he picked his thumbnail bloody while forcing himself not to flee. She's nice, he thinks. Hopes.

"Captain Crozier asks if you need any help in here, Commander Little." The voice makes his heart sink right into his boots even as it thrills him. Edward hasn't heard it since he was forcibly removed from the Captain's house by his family, mired in potential scandal. He turns to see Jopson (his Thomas, his Tommy) standing in the doorway beside the hanging minister's robes and assorted storage boxes. The man is white as a sheet at seeing Edward in his wedding suit, though manners keep him rooted to the spot (Jopson was stripped of the lieutenancy immediately upon their return, of course, and has returned to his former station of service). "He suggests you take a drink, should you need a little courage."

Oh Christ, why did Crozier bring Jopson to attend him here? The Captain wasn't ignorant to what they did in his house, how they were as they helped each other recover after the shale, and he certainly didn't miss the way Thomas crumpled in his arms in the doorway as Edward was carted off for treatment of his 'nervous trouble', never to return (the mind goes unnatural after such hardships, his family had explained in polite, sympathetic company. After such bravery and sacrifice for the Empire, there can be no shame in needing help to return to oneself properly, can there?). Why has he inflicted this pain on them both?

"I'm well-provided for on that front," he raises William's silver flask and shakes it with an queer sort of smile - he can feel the corners of his mouth curling up, but it feels far more unnatural than holding Thomas in his arms ever did. "It's good to see you, Jopson. I've miss-"

"It's good to see you too, sir. I'm glad to see you healthy." The pinching around Thomas's mouth and sallowness of his complexion almost suggests he's nauseous, and Edward's instinct is to reach for him - touch his arm, guide him to sit, stroke his hair and ask how he can help him feel better - but that would be cruel now, to both of them. "The house has been quite empty without you."

"Jopson, I never wanted to-"

"They're ready for you now, sir," Jopson cuts him off like he can't bear to hear the words, and Edward shuts his mouth sadly. The last thing he wants to do is cause this man more pain, after everything, but he wishes... oh, how he wishes he could take him in his arms one more time. That he could kiss him, touch him, that it would be Thomas he'd pledge to love until the day he died in front of their friends and family. In front of the whole world.

"I. Right. Thank you, Jopson," he nods and swallows hard, looking down at his hands where they're clenched around the half-empty flask tight enough to turn his knuckles white. Perhaps Thomas wants him to be equally dismissive, so they can pretend it's all going to be alright while it's all so dreadfully wrong.

They used to do that, when they first connected on the ice. Sit in the Great Cabin after the others had retired and imagine in low voices what they'd do when they returned to England. Edward had promised Thomas a cottage by the sea, the night they first kissed - somewhere they would be safe together and never cold again. Even on the shale, when Thomas was close to death, Edward had kissed his swollen knuckles and told him about how good things would be back home. How he'd make them a house of their own, a cosy little home they could share for the rest of their days.

It's hard to believe he's dismissing that man like a mere attendant, now. Of all the things they've been through, that is somehow the most abhorrent.

"Which part of me wasn't enough?" Thomas's voice is shaking when he speaks up, and the confusion that slams into Edward is instantaneous and sickening. Does he not think Edward tried to come back to him? (Did he try, after the first desperate protestations that he was doing nothing untoward? He's never been a confident man, has always functioned best when being told what to do, and his family were so insistent and the doctors were so sure...) "Aside the obvious?"

"I-. No part, Thomas, none at all. The world... Happiness is simply not permitted to men like us." Edward stumbles over his words at the sight of Thomas's brimming eyes, the way he'd clearly intended to say nothing but had spoken up at the last second because he couldn't let it go unsaid. "It wasn't voluntary, Tom, none of this is. If I could-. If I could-"

"I know. If we could." Thomas pulls one of those horrible smiles then - the kind Edward recognises from within wind-beaten canvas, showing bloody teeth and a loss of hope that things could ever be alright again. No, dammit, he swore to God himself that if they got out of there, he'd never let- "They're ready for you, sir. Congratulations."

"Jopson-." Edward has never been a man who makes decisions easily, but the crack in Thomas's voice and his swift exit taps into something far more primal to his damned soul than dithering. He's out of his seat in a moment, skidding after Jopson on the time-worn stone floor. "Thomas, wait. Wait!"

He catches Thomas before he can reach the chapel proper, and grabs his arm with all the strength he can muster. Thomas turns - to tell him to go to hell, to plead with him to leave him be - but Edward pulls him into a kiss before he can say anything at all. It's raw, so much that Edward can almost taste the iron of their spilled blood and the salt of tears shed just the same, but it's the only beautiful thing he's felt in the year since they were parted. He intends to make sure such a travesty never occurs again.

"Come on," he sounds more confident when they break apart breathlessly than he's sure he ever has before in his miserable life, and Thomas looks at him with pink cheeks and wide eyes. "Let's get out of here."

"Edward, your-"

"I don't care," he promises. And despite the unsteadiness of his hands and the fizzing in his chest, he finds he really doesn't. Bugger his family, bugger polite society, bugger the whole wretched lot of them and England besides - all that gives his life meaning is right here in his arms, and he won't be parted from it again unless they hang him for love. "Come with me?"

"But where will we go?" The disbelieving smile creeping across Thomas's face is genuine, this time, and it makes Edward's heart sing to see it. Not hymns, not for their kind, but they don't need hymns where they're going.

"It doesn't matter," he takes Thomas's face in his hands then, kissing him like he can make up for all the time they've lost, and promising all the time they have to come. "Not so long as I'm with you."

[gfpt-comic]

So. Here goes nothing... (1/?)

(Major spoilers for the comic, but since it won’t update anymore (besides PERHAPS some random comic strips/excerpts without context every now and then, but don’t count on it), I guess it doesn’t matter.)

If you read my answer to the ask posted earlier, you probably know what this post is about. I’ll make a list of every important point I wanted to tackle in the comic, in multiple sections. Be prepared for the long post that awaits you below the cut.

Summary of what was left of Chapter 2

Following their first appearance at the beginning of the chapter, Lolph and Dundgren try to question Blendin, who is staying at a hospital and is still under intense care. They discuss what exactly happened to Blendin in the first place: he was assigned what was supposed to be a routine mission to solve a minor time anomaly in the 21st century, but his time machine exploded when he tried to operate it and he was gravely injured. Dundgren mentions that any normal time device should hardly cause this much damage when malfunctioning, suggesting that Blendin’s level of incompetence is so incredibly high, it somehow managed to make something that shouldn’t be able to explode blow up in his face. On the other hand, Lolph starts to wonder if, exactly because it should be impossible, the accident may have had a reason other than just Blendin’s incompetence. Unfortunately, the accident had consequences so grave on Blendin’s physical health, it seemingly also took a toll on his sanity and questioning him only leaves them with esoteric sentences of dubious credibility.

Blendin: “This is very nice of you… to visit me. There isn’t much time left. I was starting to feel alone, before everything disappears.” Blendin: “Time Baby will succeed… He will free us from this time.”

July 13, 2012 again: back in the gift shop of the Mystery Shack, Wendy and Soos have captured Bill and tied him up to a chair. Wendy starts interrogating him, asking him who or what he is-- throwing in her multiple guesses: the Shapeshifter she defeated with Dipper in the bunker, a paper clone... She doesn’t suspect demon possession or a switch-because-of-the-carpet scenario, however. Bill just keeps trying to break free with little success, without answering; and soon, Stan interrupts them when he enters the gift shop as well, followed by the dozen of tourists he took during his latest tour. Wendy and Soos manage to evade Stan’s obvious questions by pretending they were making a new attraction.

Back in Mabel’s Dreamscape, Mabel encourages Dipper to have some fun with Bill’s powers, but he is scared of messing up because of just how powerful he is; having seen Bill’s powers both in the Mindscape/Dreamscape and in Weirdmageddon when he witnessed the alternate timelines, Dipper knows just how far those powers can go and he isn’t sure he can control them. Still, after some teasing Mabel starts a snowball fight with the surrounding ice cream, and gradually the twins have more and more fun starting with the ice cream, then with the tricks Dipper starts to use. When they take a break, Mabel points out that nothing bad happened, and Dipper grows a bit more confident that he can use Bill’s powers in a way that isn’t dangerous.

Dipper: “I guess it’s easy to do exactly what you want when it literally happens in your mind... Huh.”

Dipper notices it’s almost noon, and Mabel remembers that she was supposed to meet William at Greasy’s Diner for lunch. Mabel is unseasy upon thinking of talking to him again after what happened the day before, and Dipper confirms by showing William’s current whereabouts through a peephole that William seems about as worried as she is. Mabel takes a deep breath, makes sure that she will be able to see Dipper whenever she needs (during the night for sure, perhaps earlier if she asks for it). Still, just before Dipper wakes her up... She has a favor to ask him.

Mabel: “Now that you can do lots of magic stuff and all... Could you do something for me?”

Back in the gift shop, the tourists have left and Bill was untied due to Stan’s confusion over the situation. However, he is forced to stay inside and is stuck sitting by Wendy’s side behind the cashier desk. When Mabel goes through the gift shop to go to the Diner, everyone notices that she made a new sweater -- one with a pine tree symbol on it, no less. Bill is enraged but can’t stop her from leaving.

William has his first face reveal. He is a blonde 13-year-old, and is already waiting worriedly at Greasy’s Diner when Mabel arrives. He immediately apologizes for what happened on the day before.

William: “About yesterday, I... I’m sorry I said your brother was a bad influence. That was uncalled for.”

Mabel: “Yes. Yes it was.”

William is genuinely apologetic, but soon it is revealed that the reason why he thought Dipper and the Mystery Shack were a bad influence was because he doesn’t believe at all in the supernatural. Even if Mabel told him about her adventures, he assumed they were just stories she made up while playing in the Mystery Shack’s museum and never believed them to be true. Mabel tries to convince him by showing him some episodes of Dipper’s “Guide to the Unexplained” -- a series of videos he used to make and post online at the beginning of their summer break upon arriving in Gravity Falls, but stopped making altogether after Summerween. Sadly, the episodes made up until then did not revolve around exceptionally weird anomalies, and aren’t enough to convince William. The only thing William admits to being strange is the fact that every inhabitant of Gravity Falls is “out of their minds.”

Exasperated by William’s absurdly high levels of skepticism, Mabel eventually dares him to go on a forest expedition with her, Candy and Grenda on the next day, just so they can show him pretty much anything in the forest that is out of the ordinary. William strongly refuses and tries to dissuade her to go into the forest at all; he has been personally forbidden by his mother from going anywhere near the forest, and he has also read on the local news that there is currently a predator of unknown origin or species on the loose, which has been notably attacking sheep from the nearby farm. Mabel teases him about the fact that he believes that this creature is real, and suggests that it might be a werewolf for example; but William doesn’t take her seriously, especially because the creature is supposed to fly.

And... This is the part where my script starts getting wonky. I’ve been trying to fill the holes, but sadly it’s proven to be quite difficult, especially now that I know I won’t be drawing it in comic form anyway. Still, the main plot should be precise enough! The holes are mainly just “there should be some filler and/or foreshadowing to what’s coming here”, with little more than just prompts for what could be happening.

Back in the Mystery Shack’s gift shop, Wendy tries to sneakily question Bill, but when Stan asks them where Mabel went and Bill tells him she skipped her restocking duty so she could spend time with William at the Diner, Stan asks him to get her back. Bill happily takes this opportunity to slip out of the Mystery Shack, and have an excuse to bother Mabel at the same time.

Eventually, William is obligated to accept Mabel’s terms and intends on coming so he can at least make sure that the girls won’t put themselves in danger upon visiting the forest on their own.

Bill arrives at the Diner. William, thinking he is meeting Dipper again, tries to make amends for the things he said the previous day and says that he earnestly thinks they can start again on the right foot; Bill sadistically mocks him instead, all the while pretending to be Dipper, just so he can ruin Mabel’s hopes of reconciling William and Dipper. Bill finishes Mabel by forcing her to leave, saying that Stan expects her to work at the gift shop like she was supposed to since the beginning.

Mabel gone, William and Bill start to have a tense conversation; well, tense on William’s part, while Bill is mostly just having a blast driving William mad. The old fanfic that was the first “draft” version of the story has this chapter, which gathers most of the jokes I intended to keep, and at least some of the plot points. I’ll put a warning for awkward English, though. Oh and also, apparently in the old version it was July 3rd and not July 13th, so in the comic the “tomorrow is July 4th so the forest trip can’t happen anyway” excuse wouldn’t work.

About the Quetzalcoatlus thing: here, have some fun dinosaur size comparisons & history following my latest research on what the pterodactyl from S1E18: Land Before Swine.

William: “And how would you even know all that?”

Bill: “Because I ate Leonardo da Vinci.”

William: “. . .”

William: “… It must have been some VERY cryptic way for you to say that it was one of those conspiracy things mentioned in the old book supposedly written by a genius that you keep reading passionately every day. Right?”

Bill: “Oh, so your brain CAN work sometimes!”

Bill gets bit by a soothquito. His bite marks spell “FHOASE CORECULLY“

Upon leaving the Diner, they both see someone being kidnapped by a member of the Blindeye Society. William insists they immediately go warn the police, but Blubs and Durland prove to be ineffective as ever. Bill slips in one or two facts about the secret society, but William dismisses them completely as other random insane things Bill just happens to say all the time for trolling purposes.

Mabel is back in the Mystery Shack and starts her restocking duty, but her mind is clearly elsewhere. She starts mumbling to herself, but is interrupted by the decapitated head of Larry King who just happened to be in the vents nearby. Mabel isn’t surprised at all to see he survived, and when Larry King starts "interviewing” her about the issues she was mumbling about, she complies. Some time later, while Soos is cleaning up the floor, he overhears Mabel complaining about Bill being a jerk on purpose and making Dipper seem like a terrible person, and ends up hearing pretty much the whole story that way, without Mabel knowing. Soos proceeds to tell Wendy what he heard, helping them putting two and two together-- all the while understanding why Mabel didn’t warn them, and why they should stay silent as well. They decide not to tell Mabel they know her secret; but when Bill comes back later, just as Wendy’s shift was about to end, she has just one thing to tell him:

Wendy: “Tomorrow 6PM. My place.”

Night time; Bill is annoyed, but not very surprised by the fact that Soos is sleeping with him  for the night, in the room on the ground floor where Dipper had relocated. Bill is at least glad he no longer has to pretend to be Dipper around Wendy and him.

Soos proceeds to ask Bill what his intentions were; not just in the present times now that the switch occurred, but also before it.

Soos: “So you really are that triangle guy from two weeks ago?”

Soos: “Now that I'm thinking about it… A lot of things happened two weeks ago. That's when it began to get all wrong. Well, it was already wrong before that, but… That's really when you came that everything started to get all weird and… bad.“

Soos: “It all started because of that Summerween night. What did you want with us?”

Soos: “Why did you tell Dipper that Gideon summoned you?”

Bill: “It was just a job. Jobs are boring. There’s no fun in it if nobody’s trying to stop you.”

Bill: “Oh, and you wanna know the best part? If you’d taken Shooting Star along with you instead of going just the two of you, perhaps you would’ve had an opportunity to beat me.”

Soos: What did you do with Gideon two weeks ago? Dipper and I knew it wasn’t a coincidence that those government guys showed up just the next day. 

Bill: “Something that neither Pine Tree nor I want anybody to find out, I bet. Also if I were to tell you, you'd either faint or spend the next fourteen hours trying to explain it all to Red. Funny, but not worth it.”

Soos is disturbed by Bill’s attitude, because of course he tries to both troll and traumatize at once, and given how Soos was already terrified of Bill because of the Summerween night (”I’ve had nightmares for weeks!” from an earlier comic page), it doesn’t help. Soos tries to ask Bill about the deal he made with Gideon -- more specifically, he asks what Bill wanted in return for stealing the code from Stan’s mind. However, Bill doesn’t answer and instead opens the bedroom door to reveal that Mabel was trying to eavesdrop.

Mabel was mostly there to make sure that everything was alright, and deduces that Bill hadn't slept at all during the first night and that he intends to never sleep at all, even after she tells him that humans need sleep to survive. Thankfully she came prepared with a “surprise gift from Candy and Grenda”, and sprays Bill with Fairy Dust.

Mabel: “There’s probably enough in that bag to knock out a gremloblin in an instant, so I think he’s good for the night. :p”

Once Bill is asleep, Dipper takes this chance to come to his Dreamscape and talk to him one-on-one; and, he is not happy at how Bill treated Mabel so far. Still, after a certain point the conversation gets to a more pressing topic.

Bill: “You saw it happen, didn’t you?”

Bill: “Weirdmageddon. You saw it, right?”

Dipper: “. . .”

Bill: “Oh-ho, even better! There’s a timeline in which YOU make it happen, isn’t there?”

Dipper: “That’s not gonna happen.”

Bill: “Look kid, take it from me. The more you try to actively prevent a specific outcome, the more likely you usually make it happen.”

Dipper: “You can’t make something happen if you specifically stop everything that can lead to it from happening first.”

Dipper: “Even if it includes lying to Mabel…  I saw it. If she learns there’s a way to get me a physical form, she’ll try anything to make it happen and disregard the consequences. I bet she trusts me to keep things under control, but everything else? There’s just... There’s too many variables. We can’t let her know anything about the portal. Or Weirdmageddon.”

Bill: “Well, that doesn’t change anything from my original plan anyway.”

Bill: “So you’re just gonna stay in the Nightmare Realm forever, is that it?”

Dipper: “That’s not much of a plan so far, but that’s still an effective way to save the world.”

Bill: “Don’t mess with me. You DO know that if you don’t make your way to another dimension eventually, you’re just going to die, right?”

Dipper: “... W-what are you talking about?”

Bill: “Wait. You REALLY didn’t figure that out yet?”

Bill: “The Nightmare Realm is unstable. It’s just gonna collapse one of these days, destroy everything in it. Could be in a billion years. Could be tomorrow.”

After leaving Bill’s Dreamscape, Dipper decides to visit Wendy’s and tell her everything. He confirms her doubts, tells her the whole story with the carpet... And he tells her about Weirdmageddon and what Bill just told him about the Nightmare Realm.

Dipper: “I mean, it’s better this way for everyone, and of course I’m not gonna go with Bill’s original plan to destroy the laws of physics or whatever, but… I-I just don’t wanna die, you know?”

Wendy: “Don’t worry. We’ll find a way.”

> Summary of chapters 3 and 4

[mediaeval-muse]

Book Review

In Search of Scandal. By Susanne Lord. Sourcebooks, 2015.

Rating: 2/5 stars

Genre: historical romance

Part of a Series? Yes, London Explorers #1

Summary: All of London is abuzz with the tale of Will Repton. The lone survivor of a massacre in Tibet has returned to England a hero, but the traumatized explorer has no time for glory. Another dangerous expedition awaits. Nothing will deter him from his quest, and no one will unearth his secret—until Will meets Charlotte Baker. Vivacious Charlotte Baker also has a mission—to find a man whose bold spirit matches her own. When she meets Will Repton, she immediately recognizes him as her soul mate, and she’s naively willing to turn her back on the rules of propriety to ensnare him. Will is torn between his fascination with Charlotte and his vow to finish his quest. He knows what it is to risk life and limb—but what if his most perilous adventure doesn’t lie across an ocean, but within his own lost heart?

***Full review under the cut.***

Content Warnings: graphic sexual content, poisoning, physical assault (not sexual), near miscarriage; mentions of: disemboweling, blood, violence, corpses, murder (including the murder of children)

Overview: I will admit that I felt a little uneasy going into this book. Seeing “a massacre in Tibet” in the summary gave me the impression that there could be some Orientalism (or, if not, some straight up depictions of racism), but since my favorite romance author blurbed and recommended it, I decided to give it a try anyway. I can’t speak to the book’s treatment of China and Tibet, though given the history of Victorian imperialism, it felt somewhat “accurate” here; I didn’t get the impression that the region was over-exoticized, though it was treated as a subject of curiosity and characters bring back “artifacts.” I suppose it wasn’t too bad, given the book’s setting, but I still don’t know how I feel about the whole massacre subplot. That aside, the author’s prose was well-crafted, which was impressive for a debut novel. My main reason for giving this book a middling rating, therefore, had less to do with the premise or writing craft and more to do with the characters and the romance itself. I had a hard time rooting for the main couple, and I wish Lord had spent less time forcing them into awkward situations that made for a tumultuous love story and more time exploring characterization and meaningful connection. As it stands, this book receives an average rating from me, but I would be interested to see if (and how) Lord improves in her future books.

Writing: Lord’s prose is surprisingly well-crafted for a debut novel, achieving a nice balance between description and exposition using a straight-forward style that is characteristic of many romances. While Lord’s prose is easy to read, it doesn’t lack fun flourishes, vivid imagery, and compelling figurative language, when appropriate.

I do wish, however, that Lord had been more attentive to how she crafted the scenes in her book. Many individual scenes felt like they were drawn out for no reason other than to provide Charlotte and Will with a chance to encounter one another, which is fine, except that they didn’t really build on one another to create a meaningful progression in the protagonists’ relationship. They seemed rather like a series of awkward moments, following a pattern in which they would awkwardly try to make conversation, get to a point where they were feeling comfortable around one another, do something like kiss or have a sexual encounter, and then Will would push Charlotte away, usually by insisting that he’s not good for her, that he is going on his expedition no matter what, etc. which would upset Charlotte. They would part, and Will would do something to try to make up for his behavior, and the process would start again in the next scene. It was somewhat cyclical and even frivolous at times - many of Will and Charlotte’s encounters didn’t quite end with the two developing as characters or as a couple, and I wish Lord had built her encounters on something more substantial.

On the flip side, this book was also missing scenes that could have helped with characterization. We’re told, for example, that Will has nightmares, but we’re never shown him having one until very late in the book. Having a scene earlier (not necessarily the beginning) might have helped establish why his expedition was so important to him, while also revealing something about his personality that informs his behavior in his encounters with Charlotte.

Plot: The plot of this novel basically follows Charlotte, a well-educated woman entering her third season, as she attempts to find a husband that will accept her family, and Will, a man attempting to raise money to go back to Tibet to make amends for a role he played in a violent encounter. Charlotte’s predicament in itself was very compelling; torn between wanting to be accepted by London’s upper class Society and her love for her family, she struggles to find a husband that will simultaneously make her happy but also raise the status (and thus, social security) of her brother and sister. I do wish Lord had put more emphasis on this aspect of the plot, and perhaps let it be a defining characteristic of Charlotte’s personal growth. Charlotte is torn between selfish desire and doing what she thinks she must for her loved ones, and I think there was a lot of room in there for an exploration of, say, women’s self-effacement in the name of “duty” or “responsibility,” or even more of an exploration of the hypocrisy of Society.

Will’s plot is a bit less compelling. Though we do see moments when he is meeting with potential investors to fund his second expedition into Tibet (and China, by extension), it never feels urgent. While the expedition holds a lot of personal significance for Will, so much is shrouded in mystery that it was difficult to see the stakes of going versus not going, and I personally didn’t care whether Will stayed in London or traveled abroad. I think revealing more to the reader could have helped with this, and the climax of the novel could have been less focused on revealing Will’s involvement with the massacre to the reader and more on revealing it to Charlotte.

In terms of the romantic plot, I’ll discuss that in more detail below, but I will say here that a lot of the drama felt manufactured. Every situation seemed set up to throw the main couple together, allowing them to express their physical attraction while still allowing Will to be obstinate about getting emotionally involved. I especially didn’t find the marriage of convenience compelling, nor anything that happens afterward, and I wish Lord had spent more time thinking about what the conflicts in the relationship might look like if it were built on something other than Will’s own stubbornness.

Characters: Charlotte, our heroine, is something of a social butterfly. She attracts people to her and is beloved by almost everyone, and she always has something to say to fill gaps in the conversation. While I did like that she was very agentive, pursuing her desires and doing what she wanted despite what was considered “proper,” I did think some of her more interesting characteristics were overshadowed by her obsession with Society and her single-minded pursuit of Will. Lord writes of how Charlotte reads Will’s more scientific reports by begging her brother to acquire copies from the Geographical Society, which is exclusive to men. Charlotte also meets with a group of women weekly, and Lord mentions that part of what guides their conversation is the fear of men seeing them as “too intellectual.” I honestly think Charlotte’s character could have been better served by having her thirst for exploration and knowledge denied to her by her gender competing with her desire to provide for her family by marrying well. It would have presented an interesting conflict for when Will comes along, who has traveled and seen the world, but doesn’t hold the social sway of a duke or earl.

Will, for his part, wasn’t an enjoyable character. He spends much of the book speaking gruffly to others, and when he’s not wallowing in self-loathing, he was saying things to Charlotte that were at best awkward and at worst cruel. He starts out reserved, but quickly grows possessive, and his temper could become violent. His main saving grace is that he’s attentive - he brings Charlotte the flowers she likes when all other suitors ignore her preferences, and he notices the care she puts into things like her appearance. But other than that, I did not find him likable, and my sympathy for his on account of his trauma ran out quickly.

Supporting characters were a bit more enjoyable to read. I liked the bond that Charlotte had with her brother, Wally, and wish more was done to showcase their closeness. I also liked that Charlotte’s sister, Lucy, married for love, and despite being socially shunned, their happiness seems to set the bar for what Charlotte wants in her relationship. I would have liked to see some of the main, unimportant scenes between Charlotte and Will cut and more scenes devoted to Charlotte’s relationship with her family, and perhaps even more done with Wally, whose sexuality caused the family to fall from grace in the first place. Perhaps if Wally had a subplot where he finds happiness again would have been a nice compliment to Charlotte’s arc of defying Society for the sake of her passions.

The antagonist, however, was not nearly so intriguing. Starting as one of Charlotte’s admirers, he quickly becomes over-the-top evil when rejected. I guess powerful men can be reactionary when it comes to not getting their way, especially if they’re sexist to begin with, but I just didn’t care for the conflict with the villain. I was much more intrigued by the possibilities of the protagonists’ inner conflicts.

Other: As I mentioned above, I had a hard time rooting for Charlotte and Will as a couple. Charlotte admits to imagining herself with Will before they even meet, and her reaction to him when they do come face-to-face for the first time is something like insta-love. For the majority of the book, Charlotte’s one-sided love for Will and pursuit of him despite his behavior towards her feels juvenile. It felt a lot like hero worship or a celebrity crush, and even though Charlotte says she becomes disillusioned with him and sees Will as a person, the fact that she sticks around when he’s acting like a jerk did not endear me to her or their relationship.

Will, for his part, seems to fall in love with Charlotte for no reason other than she’s pretty, and even though he’s attentive to her favorite things, I couldn’t see what Charlotte saw in him. He constantly pushes her away and says or does things to upset her, including directing his unattractive anger at her, and I was wishing that Charlotte would just cut her losses and find someone better. I think their dynamic could have worked if more focus was placed on Will’s social awkwardness rather than his self-imposed denial of romantic affection. For example, if he’s shy and awkward in Society, maybe Charlotte’s social personality draws him out of his isolation and allows him to connect with people. Maybe her influence also allows him to attract investors, and he finds himself so impressed by her abilities and support for his expedition that he finds it harder and harder to leave. Something more than the manufactured drama that makes every interaction between the two feel cyclical.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in historical romance (especially set in Victorian England), 19th century exploration, botany, love triangles, and marriages of convenience.

[feynites]

So my internet’s been out for the past few days. But I got it back now! Huzzah! And while it was down I played some games, including an interactive horror/fantasy game that I got free on Steam, called Lake of Voices. I recommend it if you’re into such things, the art is beautiful and the story has some fun twists and turns. It’s also got romances! It’s short but it’s one of those games where you’ll want to play it a couple of times to get the full story.

Anyways, it also gave me wicked Dirthalene feels. So I wrote a thing that’s not really an AU of the game’s story but more just inspired by elements of it?

Mostly mazes and guides and spooky shit. This is only part one and it ends in a cliffhanger, of sorts, so head’s up!

And happy October everybody! :3

(Edit: almost forgot to tag @selenelavellan)

When Dirthamen first built the labyrinth to cage his brother, it was in a remote region, far from any settlements.

 A mountain basin surrounded by thick wilds. A place where his brother had secretly constructed his own spirit vault, secure in the knowledge that the odds of anyone finding it were minimal. Dirthamen had laboured for years to create the labyrinth. To make it not only a place where his brother could be contained, but where he could live, too. Filled with puzzles and challenges, trials to overcome, and opportunities for Falon’Din to attain the personal growth and self-realizations that might save him from the dark path which Dirthamen’s own poor counsel had set him upon.

 It had not worked.

 Dirthamen’s counsel and ideas remained poisonous to his brother, who had raged against being contained, and over the years had reshaped the labyrinth into a place of increasing danger and instability. Dirthamen was forced to build outward, in order to keep Falon’Din contained. He was forced to reconsider the challenges of the maze, and make the outer layers more hostile towards his brother, in order to discourage his escape. Falon’Din’s wrath and anger only seemed to grow with each new ring that was built; but through great effort, Dirthamen at last secured the structure against his brother’s escape.

 It took centuries.

 By the time the last wall of the labyrinth had been put into place, the remote mountain basin was no longer quite so far-flung from the edges of mortal society. Villages began to crop up. Campsites and settlements built by wandering nomads were made. Trade routes and hunting grounds began to spread through the thick wilderness, and for the first time in an Age, Dirthamen found himself spying elves in the distance. Hearing their voices ring out, speaking the language he had only heard whispered by spirits for centuries, or shrieked by his brother in incoherent rage.

 He does not know what to make of it. But he is wary of the development. His brother always was able to sway the hearts of mortals, and Dirthamen fears that they might have come to worship him again. To break apart the labyrinth and free him. Which would not be good. Falon’Din is not ready to be freed; the cost to the world around them would be too great to permit it.

 But he did not design the labyrinth to be difficult to enter. Only to escape.

 The first few elves to venture inside do not appear to be priests. Dirthamen attempts to dissuade them, but when he approaches them outside of the labyrinth walls, his form seems to alarm them. They race inside in an effort to escape him, and as he pursues them through the maze, he is reminded starkly of the fragility of mortal elves. Two of the four elves do not survive the first ring of the maze that they enter. Yet another is lost to the varterral guards of the second ring. The fourth makes it far enough for Falon’Din to find them. His brother attempts to seize control of the mortal’s mind, and when he finds his powers too depleted for such things, he traps the elf instead. It takes Dirthamen several weeks to relocate them, and by the time he does, the final mortal has perished in a most terrible fashion.

 Falon’Din’s interest is heightened, however. He seems to realize, after the fact, the implications of having been rediscovered.

 Dirthamen does not think anything good can come of it.

 He attempts to dissuade further intrusions from mortal elves by placing warnings around the labyrinth. This seems to work, for a time. Most travelers heed them. But as the settlements in the region grow and develop, the warnings lose some of their effectiveness. The basin is nestled between a large port city and several interior villages. Going around the labyrinth takes weeks - even months, if landslides have cut off other pathways. Passing through the labyrinth would, theoretically, only take a matter of days - the temptation to conquer the trial and open up a viable trade route seems more compelling to mortals than Dirthamen can countenance.

 He knows time is precious to those with finite lifespans. But he cannot see the logic in risking certain death for a matter of days.

 The second group of mortal elves to attempt the labyrinth does not fare better than the first. Falon’Din makes more efforts to seize control of their minds, but that ability is lost to him. The labyrinth will not allow it - mostly by accident, in fact. Dirthamen’s wards are meant to keep his brother from manipulating their bond and controlling him, and yet, they seem to work well enough at preventing other forms of control as well.

 It is interesting, even if the discovery still comes on a wave of death and tragedy.

 Eventually, more elves come. An explorer establishes a camp near to the labyrinth. Mortals who seem versed in magic and the mechanics of the world begin to investigate the borders of the maze, and at first, do not venture inside of it. Dirthamen watches, dispatching Fear and Deceit to observe the comings and goings, and is wary that at last a group of his brother’s worshippers have come to try and dismantle the walls. They do not seem adequately equipped for such a task, however, and after a time, Dirthamen comes to realize that they simply seem… curious?

 They take tracings of the wards he has made. Draw pictures of the structures along the outer walls. When the varterrals cry at night, and the sound reverberates throughout the basin, Deceit spies several mortals making furious note of the noises and debating the possible sources.

 It is several weeks before Fear overhears the mortals speak of venturing inside.

 An impending disaster.

 Falon’Din is not aware of the camp of mortals just beyond the outer walls of his prison. But he is always attentive, these days, for any signs of outside presence in the labyrinth. He wanders often, and does not sleep. Beyond the need for rest, now, as the maze changes him in ways that even Dirthamen could not have anticipated. He has kept the bones of the other mortals he slew. They remind him of death; of the position he himself once held, as a guide to the space beyond the veil.

 A guide…

 Dirthamen hesitates at the thought.

 While his ability to track Falon’Din’s movements is imprecise, he is generally aware of where in the maze his brother happens to be at any given time. Near or far, north or south; the interior rings or the external ones. If the mortals are so set upon entering the labyrinth, perhaps… perhaps he could at least help advise them on where to go?

 But the last time he approached the elves, they fled.

 Dirthamen considers the matter a great deal, before at last sending Fear and Deceit in his stead. Deceit takes on the form of a mortal elf, while Fear remains a raven. The pair approach the camp of elves, and are brought to the expedition’s leaders. Deceit attempts to counsel the elves to leave the labyrinth, to explain that it is dangerous. The mortals do not seem to take their words at face value, however. They seem to think that Deceit is ‘superstitious’ and strange, but they are interested in the concept of a ‘local’ to the region. They ask many questions which Deceit cannot answer. They grow frustrated.

 Dirthamen’s social ineptitude is proving costly again.

 Despite his efforts, the mortals go through with their plan to send elves into the labyrinth. Deceit and Fear go with them; navigating the maze is far easier for Dirthamen and his aspects than for anyone else. The elves attempt to mark the entrance which they came by, but that is not how the labyrinth works. Once they are inside, there is no means of backtracking to exit by the same way again. The walls shift, and the mortals must find a new exit.

 Fortunately, there are several options for that. Deceit advises the expedition members stay in the outer ring. Some listen; others do not. Cutting straight through the maze, they believe, is the fastest way out. The group splits into two, though the elves attempt to maintain contact via magical threads and charmed items. Those fail to work in short order, however. The labyrinth sucks the magical energy from them. It creates illusions. Designs once meant to build trials for Falon’Din, pluck up the same from the minds of the mortal elves - though at least, with Deceit and Fear present, the varterrals do not hunt them.

 The group heading towards the center of the labyrinth lose contact with the others. As they venture closer to Falon’Din’s location, Fear leaves Deceit to attempt to warn the group away. The mortals ignore the raven, until it is almost too late. Falon’Din is able to capture two of them, and subjects them to his… methods. The third elf flees as his fellows are mutilated, and at last follows Fear, who flies at a distance to avoid their brother’s chase. It is luck, far more than design, which has the maze shifting in a fashion that distracts Falon’Din just long enough for Fear to lead the survivor back towards the outer maze, and find a path that rejoins with the others.

 The survivor - Elrogathe, his name is - trembles and shakes, and speaks with haunted eyes of the monster at the center of the maze.

 His fellows are forced to carry him the rest of the way. But the make it through to the nearest exit, following Deceit, and leaving behind the bones of their less fortunate colleagues. The doorway takes them to the other side of the labyrinth; and so they must trek back along the exterior. Some of them take more notes. But many seem only to eager to be gone from the maze for good, and their recountings once they return to the camp are filled with horror.

 Dirthamen wonders if this will be the end of it. If the experience, now with witnesses to attest to it, shall prove harrowing enough that the mortals will give up on venturing near to this place.

 He hopes so.

 But the camp does not disband. The leaders seem most intrigued by Deceit’s usefulness in passing through the labyrinth. Another expedition sets out - but this time, the elves seem more inclined to simply do as Deceit advises. The group does not split up, and the center of the maze is avoided. Falon’Din can move where he likes, however. Dirthamen must spare a great deal of his own focus for tracking his brother, in order for Deceit and Fear to lead their party through the passageways that do not intersect with his location. At times, the mortals pass close enough that they seem to become aware of his presence. Their voices drop into silence - which is good - and while some of the trials of the labyrinth have put them seemingly at odds with one another, they nevertheless walk more closely together, the closer Falon’Din’s presence comes.

 And yet, they make it through.

 Perhaps that is a mistake. Dirthamen does not wish death upon these mortals, but when an entire party is able to safely traverse the labyrinth, interest in further trips is only encouraged.

 He tries many things. Deceit refuses to accompany some groups. Those groups do not make it through, however, and Dirthamen feels immense guilt for their deaths. The mortals begin to offer Deceit payments, rewards, even a title as Guide. Deceit accepts, if only to stave off more death. But as months turn to years, the position affords Dirthamen some modicum of control over the situation. The mortals realize that entering the maze without Deceit is a death sentence. So they are able to refuse some escorts, to deny some elves access to the interior. Those who might be more susceptible to Falon’Din’s influences, or those who seem too apt to ignore Fear or Deceit, or even those who do not have the sturdiness to withstand the labyrinth’s trials. Dirthamen begins to modify some of the outer layer. He cannot make the place easier to escape, for that would defeat its purpose. But he can make some of it less hostile towards the mortals who attempt a crossing.

 It is a great deal of work, though. And as he expends his energy on this, Falon’Din gluts himself on the bones he has collected, and grows eager for more.

 The mortal elves, too, investigate much of the magic of the labyrinth. Indeed, the seems to become a more pressing point of interest for some of them than simply traversing the distance itself. Few traders are willing to take the risks presented. Though, some attempt it. Not many who pass through the labyrinth once are willing to take the trip a second time. But some do. The most curious, the most eager to gather information from the spellwork woven into its walls, sometimes muster the wherewithal.

 A decade passes. The faces at the campsite come and go. Some who have been involved in the project from the beginning start to remark on how well Deceit is ‘aging’, and so after a time Deceit creates the illusion of an apprentice, to maintain the appearance of mortality. They modify their appearance to begin to look older, though it seems they are imperfect at it. It is easier, then, to simply falsify a scenario wherein Deceit is killed within the labyrinth, and their ‘apprentice’ - who is merely Deceit’s projection - takes over the role of Guide.

 After that, Deceit merely wears a slightly different-looking guise, and answers to another name.

 Though many mortals remark that ‘Sairal’ is not as exemplary a guide as their predecessor. Dirthamen is somewhat surprised when a memorial is erected; he had not thought the mortals terribly concerned with Deceit or their persona. But perhaps it is more symbolic, in the end. Mortals often seek guidance, and they had deemed Deceit a guide. The ‘death’ even seems to discourage others from attempting the labyrinth at all. Many seem convinced that if, in the end, Deceit could be claimed by the maze, it truly was a risk too great to tempt.

 Sairal’s services are less fervently sought.

 Though, there are also some who take it upon themselves to attempt the labyrinth alone again. Bold elves who seem to believe they can become ‘guides’, and somehow gain prestige from it. It takes several fruitless ventures, and many more deaths, before the idea is quashed. And then there is another development. One of the nearby settlements deems an elf in their community to be corrupted by the presence of a malevolent spirit. Dirthamen does not know what to make of it, when they force this elf into the labyrinth. Though through Deceit’s new persona, he gathers that the local elves believe that the labyrinth was built by the gods to contain a dangerous and powerful abomination.

 Which is a slight underestimation, but not wholly invalid.

 In that mindset, however, some elves have decided that exiling further ‘abominations’ is a valid use of the space. The convenience of simply discarding unwanted persons into the maze seems to hold appeal - once the first prisoner is sent in, more follow. Few of which are actually touched by demonic energies of any kind, in fact.

 It is not good.

 The prisoners fall prey to Falon’Din, and their deaths feed into his hunger, and the strength of his will as well. Deceit attempts to dissuade this behaviour, but the mortals do not heed them. Dirthamen is forced to adapt the labyrinth again, and Fear is given the task of trying to guide the exiled prisoners through the maze. At length, some begin to make if through. Those that follow Fear and can overcome the trials, and are lucky and quiet enough to evade Falon’Din. Strangely, it seems that elves who make it through the labyrinth are, after some debate, cleared of their charges. The mortals determine that their survival is a redemptive act. Dirthamen is uncertain what to make of it, as in essence, the hope of the labyrinth is reformation. But it was meant for his brother. Still, the space does shape trials for the mortals themselves to conquer.

 He supposes it is an unintended function, but at least Fear does not lead the mortals out only for their own kind to spill their blood outside the walls instead.

 Five years after Sairal has become the Guide of the Labyrinth, a man deemed an abomination is condemned to walk the pathways.

 It has been months since Sairal’s services as a guide were retained. The labyrinth’s new role as a form of legal punishment seems to have reduced interest in his services even further. Fear goes to try and help the newest prisoner avoid detection by Falon’Din, but not twelve hours later, a young woman beseeches Sairal to give her passage through.

 When Sairal attempts to explain that they are not permitted to traverse the labyrinth within twenty-four hours of a prisoner’s sentence to it, the young woman attempts to bribe them. She seems fiercely determined, even claiming that she will go without or without the guide’s services.

 It is very curious.

 She is a striking figure. The name she gives them is Selene. Like moonlight, then. It suits her.

 Dirthamen thinks her face would be one that might haunt his memory if she died.

 So Sairal takes her coin, and goes with her into the outer ring of the labyrinth’s walls.

  ~

  The condemned man is named Des.

 Fear gathers this from listening to him talk to himself. Des is clearly not enthused to be in the maze. He spends the first hour of his time by the first wall, attempting to feel his way across the surface; obviously in search of some kind of exit. Fear watches. This is not the first time they have seen a mortal behave this way. Some pound at the walls. Others scream or cry or plead in terror. The outer ring is dark, but it is not pitch black.

 Des only searches, however, before exhaustion seems to claim him and he sits for a while instead. He does not look as if he was kindly treated before he came here. There are bruises on his arms and legs, and he likely has not been offered food or water for too long a time.

 “Okay,” he says to himself, as he sits in the dark. “Other people have done this. You can do it, too, Des. Just… keep to the outside. Just like she said. Around, not in. Around, not in…”

 His breaths catch. Fear can feel Des’ fear through the labyrinth as well. He is afraid that he is going to die.

 Under the circumstances, that is a very reasonable thing to fear.

 Fear follows the prisoner silently. He is easy to track, not as quiet or stealthy as some. Occasionally he speaks to himself, and every once in a while his hand will brush over a warded segment of wall, and make the runes glow. That seems to bring him some comfort. Fear notices the mortal deliberately pressing the runes, after a while, to better navigate the smooth floors and darkened passageways. He hesitates at the first turn he comes to. There is still only one direction to take, but it bends inwards. For several long moments Des searches around himself, as if looking for another route. And then finally he resumes his trek. Keeping his hand upon the wall, as Fear senses Falon’Din begin to stir in the far-middle-west portion of the maze.

 He is still a significant distance away when Des encounters his first Trial.

 The labyrinth latches onto something of his thoughts, and begins to conjure up whispers. Shadows that trail behind Des and echo his footsteps; only to vanish whenever he turns to look. The walls shift subtly to cover the runes, until the mortal’s searching hands cannot find any. His footfalls halt, and hesitate again, and after a while he begins to stumble.

 “It is going inwards…?” he murmurs to himself.

 The sound is echoed back at him in whispers that make him flinch, and freeze.

 The path has not changed directions. But after a few minutes, Des seems to become convinced that it has. He begins to backtrack. Following his original path backwards too far will not lead him to an exit, however; and following it further still would take him to the second ring, and that much closer to Falon’Din.

 Fear brushes a wing against the ceiling of the maze. Along the path ahead, an illusion paints itself across the tops of the walls; the impression of sky and light, spilling in through ‘cracks’ in the maze structure.

 Of course, there are no such cracks. But the light seems to draw Des’ attention back towards the path he had been taking.

 He lets out a shaky breath.

 “That’s… that’s daylight,” he says to himself. “Okay. That way.”

 He begins to walk again.

 “Of course, it could be a trap,” he muses, under his breath. “At least it’s brighter, though. And who I am I to resist the allure of shiny things? No one. Clearly.”

 Fear wonders if the man is a thief. This seems an extreme punishment for such a minor offense; however, the values of mortals can often be baffling. Des continues to murmur to himself as he walks. There is not much light, and the labyrinth seems compelled to frequently draw him into darkness. The floors tilt and the whispers say terrible things to the man, but on balance, this trial is far less harrowing than some.

 After a time, the walls of the maze grow higher. The light Fear conjured drifts further away. They flapping of their wings echoes, and the sound gives Des pause as they err just enough to cast the shadow of a wing over him. He looks towards them, but in the darkness they hide in, cannot actually see them, in the end.

 A minute later, the prisoner swallows.

 “This isn’t so bad, really,” he says. “Piece of cake, in fact, I don’t know what everyone’s always complaining about.”

 Turning forwards, he begins to resolutely walk again.

 Two hours later, he is flagging. He seems to feel as though he has been walking for days, rather than minutes. The darkness has won out, but Des has managed to keep his path straight by using his hand to anchor himself to the wall. He is sweating heavily, and his breaths are becoming laboured. He feels weighted. The whispers and the darkness are dragging upon him in earnest, now.

 “Demon child,” they say. “You killed your own mother. You know, deep down inside. That’s why you are really here. Here where you belong.”

 “In the darkness.”

 “With nothing, with no one.”

 “Do you think death awaits you here?”

 “No, demon child. There is nothing here. That is what awaits you.”

 “You will wander here forever in the dark. No respite or mercy will find you. No comforts. No peace.”

 “This is what you have earned.”

 Eventually, Des collapses. He falls against the wall, breathing heavily, and it is clear he will not make it to any exit without assistance. This is what some of Dirthamen’s modifications are for, however. Fear weighs their options, before descending to perch on one of the darkened sconces, on the wall across from the exhausted elf.

 The sound of their wings seems to draw his attention. He blinks, unseeing, and tenses.

 “What’s that?” he asks. “Don’t tell me some bird managed to fly into this place…”

 Fear taps at the wall.

 Speaking has never been their strong suit. Particularly not since the last time Falon’Din managed to catch them, several centuries ago. But they can caw, and they can tap their claws. And after a moment, Des seems to decide to follow the sounds they are making.

 “This is probably a trap,” he tells himself, in a ragged, rasping voice. “Selene would be saying ‘don’t just follow strange noises in the haunted maze, Des’. Hypocrite.”

 Fear caws.

 “You’re probably not even a real crow.”

 Fear caws again. Des staggers, but finally he comes to an archway. His hand slips from the wall to the opening, and he stumbles. All but falling through, and then blinking as several runes light up. Bright enough to illuminate a small room, with a running fountain, and several fruiting bushes arranged around its basin.

 For a moment, Des stares uncomprehendingly at the sight.

 Then he pulls himself hastily towards the fountain, and begins to gulp down Fear settles onto a carving above the fountain, and watches as Des drenches his face and shoulders in water, and drinks, and drinks, and then examines the berries. After a moment of scrutiny, he shrugs tiredly, and begins to eat them. After the first bursts on his tongue, he consumes many more. Until finally he sags onto a mossy patch of floor, and falls asleep.

 Fear focuses their attention on Falon’Din’s movements, as more hours pass. They also glean things from the other aspects, as well, but more distantly. By the time Deceit is negotiating passage with a strange and determined young woman, Des has woken up again.

 The elf stares up at them for several long, inscrutable minutes.

 Then he shifts himself onto his knees.

 “I don’t usually do this stuff,” he says, quietly. “And at some point I’m going to have to find a corner to piss in, which doesn’t seem… uh… respectful? But, no intentional disrespect is meant. For the record. So if you’re, you know.. listening. Dirthamen, God of Knowledge and Secrets, thank you very much for sending this bird and also I would like to not die in your heinous death trap. I’ll build you a shrine or something if you keep helping me out here. You’re the best, definitely my favourite of all the gods I don’t believe in. Or didn’t believe in. That’s not a firm ‘no’, just a really strong ‘probably not’. So… cheers, I guess?”

 Fear blinks.

 Des makes a few odd gestures, which seem vaguely similar to some mortal praying customs, and then gets up and, as foretold, finds a corner to relieve himself in.

 When he is finished, he seems to be feeling somewhat better. Though he hesitates for several minutes before crossing the threshold back into the pathways of the maze. Fear can feel his trepidation, his reluctance to go back to the darkness and the danger, the whispers, and a fear of something even more than death. The sense of timeless void is not taking long to wear upon this one.

 At length, however, he sets out.

 With their presence now known, Fear does not bother to disguise it. Des seems to find it encouraging, in fact. While some who traverse the labyrinth seem to recognize Fear as ‘Deceit’s Raven’, and believe them to remain in the maze in search of a ‘lost master’, others have branded Fear an ill-omen and a dangerous illusion of the pathways. It is not uncommon for them to be attacked, or viewed as ‘mocking’ the travelers.

 Des does not seem to take either approach, however. Instead, he appears to believe that Fear is a boon sent by Dirthamen.

 It is strange to have a mortal make an accurate assessment, for once.

 Fear’s focus on Des is distracted when Falon’Din begins to move swiftly towards a new location. He does not appear to be heading towards themselves or Deceit, however. Despite having occupied the labyrinth for centuries, Falon’Din is not adept at navigating it. The space is designed to challenge him. His interest has him moving closer to the center of the labyrinth, which has Fear letting out a slightly sigh of relief.

 That keeps him far away from the relevant points of interest, for now.

 When they turn their attention back towards the prisoner, it is to realize, however, that the labyrinth itself is reacting more strongly to Des’ sustained presence.

 Wraiths are beginning to manifest.

 Projections created by the labyrinth and pulled from the background noise of Des’ thoughts. Unlike the shadows of before, these ones are solid, and capable of inflicting physical injuries. Fear watches as they begin to manifest. Des keeps moving, which is good. He seems to have noticed some of the odd sounds, and the shift in the atmosphere around him.

 “Bird?” he calls, quietly. “Are you still there?”

 Fear caws an affirmative.

 “Okay. Don’t come down here. I think there’s something… I think something’s following us.”

 Fear caws another affirmative, and Des begins to speed up. He does not have much energy, however. Despite the water and the berries, and the sleep, he still seems to be tired. The labyrinth itself weighs upon him. The shadows here are heavy.

 It is not long before a wraith finally forms and manages to catch up to Des.

 It takes on a shape caught somewhere between wyvern and wolf, and charges at him. With a startled curse, Des breaks into a run. The wraiths are complicated constructs. Without their target, their existence cannot be maintained; yet they are driven to manifest some aspect of the creator’s fears. Originally the energies that make them were designed to provide Falon’Din with challenges to overcome. However, his presence has somehow perverted them, and now they are mostly prone to pursuing mortals through the labyrinth and feeding off of their terror.

 Most wraiths do not actually catch their targets, nor wish to. But the fear of being chased is often enough to drive their victims to more dangerous parts of the maze. And the snapping, snarling jaws of the wraith have every change of injuring Fear, too.

 They fly slightly ahead, and hope to direct Des towards the correct passageways. But the elf is too focused on evading the wraith. He runs with little regard for direction, after a time, losing track of the outer wall and then staggering down random corridors. More wraiths join the first, which only amplifies Des’ fear and makes him more desperate. The walls of the labyrinth distort around him, trying to pen him in, and succeeding in driving him deeper towards the next ring. Fear caws a warning.

 The wraiths lunge.

 Des makes a sharp turn and flings himself through the archway to the next layer of the maze.

  ~

  Deceit and Selene have barely crossed the threshold into the maze when Selene begins to visibly search for something.

 “Des?” she calls. “Des! Can you hear me?”

 Deceit watches, curious, as Selene makes her way towards one turn in the path, only to reverse course and head for another. She calls out for ‘Des’ several more times. But even as she does, her gaze rakes over their surroundings with obvious interest. The outer layer of the maze is dark, but Deceit is particularly good at illuminating it. The light from their staff bounces off of the smooth, black walls, and coaxes veilfire into the sconces set inside them.

 This is not the first time that someone has come into the labyrinth in search of one who was lost here. They are not entirely surprised; such people are typically the hardest to deter from entering of their own accord, with or without a guide. And Selene had threatened just such a thing.

 Although, they are still somewhat surprised to hear her calling the name of the exiled criminal who Fear is currently with.

 “You knew the prisoner,” Deceit surmises.

 Selene hesitates.

 “I know him,” she corrects. “He’s not a criminal. I mean, Des has his faults, but he didn’t murder anyone. He doesn’t deserve to be here.”

 Deceit tilts their head.

 “No, he does not,” they agree, readily enough. “There is only one being that deserves to be here, and he has been in residence for a long time.”

 Selene falters, somewhat.

 “You’re talking about the monster,” she guesses. “The demon at the heart of the maze.”

 Deceit nods.Though, at the moment, the demon is slightly west of the heart of the maze.

 They are somewhat surprised when Selene reaches out and grasps their wrist. They wonder, for a moment, if she intends violence. Threats or coercion. Those are also not uncommon, from mortals within the maze. However, her gaze turns beseeching.

 “My father crossed the labyrinth, when he was younger,” she tells him. “He went with your mentor. He never spoke to me about it, but I found his notes on the journey once, when I was cleaning. He saw the demon. He described it as being like a fallen god, and my father was not given to romantic over-exaggeration. Who could possibly think it’s justice to subject someone like Des to something like that?”

 Deceit considers this. Very few travelers have seen Falon’Din and lived to tell the tale.

 “Is your father Elrogathe?” they wonder.

 Selene halts in surprise.

 “I… um. How could you guess that?” she replies.

 “Not many travelers have survived seeing what he saw,” they explain.

 After a moment, Selene sighs.

 “I guess your mentor told you a lot. Alright, yes, he is,” she says. “But I would appreciate it if you didn’t spread that around. I’m not supposed to be here. And after this, Des and I are going to disappear, and not come back. We don’t need anyone hunting us down to drag me back to the clan.”

 Deceit nods, though they do not entirely understand.

 Selene gives them an entreating look again.

 “So will you help me?” she asks. “I just need to find him. Then we can all leave, I don’t care if we make it to the other side or not. So long as we get out alive.”

 “That is a good perspective,” Deceit commends. “But it would be better to try and make our own way out. Entry and exit points in the labyrinth are difficult to predict. Your friend could very well be nowhere near here, even though we both came in by the same gate.”

 Indeed, according to their sense of Fear, Des is on the opposite side of the maze.

 “No. We have to find him,” Selene insists. “Before they took him, I told him everything I knew about the labyrinth. All the things I’d read in my father’s notes. He’s still alive, and if we can just figure out where he is, you can lead us out.”

 “He may find his own exit before we encounter him,” Deceit explains.

 Selene does not seem convinced.

 “Just…” she begins. Then she lets out a long breath. “Where might he be? Do you know?”

 They consider this matter for a moment, and then nod.

 “I know.”

 “Then let’s go get him! I swear, I’ll find a way to send you more money, to compensate. I know it’s dangerous,” she says. “But if you really think that no one other than that monster should be in here, then please, help me rescue my friend?”

 After a moment, Deceit lets out a sigh.

 “We may head in that direction,” they decide. “But if we reach an exit first, then you are leaving. I will come back to find your friend myself.”

 Selene takes in a breath, as if to speak. But after a moment, she only lets it go again, and nods in agreement. Deceit cannot escape the impression that she is only feigning capitulation. But the advantage in this situation is still their own; they find themselves hoping that Fear will safely guide this ‘Des’ out before Deceit and Selene reach an exit, because they suspect that even if they get her safely back outside again, Selene will return to try and find Des if he cannot be produced in short order.

 But she does not seem keen to press the point now, as Deceit begins to lead her along the outer ring of the labyrinth.

 Much of this ring’s magic is focused on illusions, and spatial distortions. Walls grow and shrink, shadows spread, at times the floor looks like water, at times the ceiling seems like a deep and dark mirror. The air can be oppressive, and hallucinations are not uncommon. That is in addition to the actual illusions, that pluck and pull at material from mortal minds.

 It does not take long before the pathways they are traversing decide to become cramped.

 The walls grow tight. The spaces narrow, and solid. Deceit must move their staff sideways to keep hold of it, while Selene struggles to pull herself through. Unlike her guide, she cannot simply narrow her frame in discreet ways that make it easier. Her hands press against the walls, and her bag scrapes and rattles as she pulls it along behind her.

 “Is it all this tight?” she asks, sounding short of breath.

 “No,” Deceit tells her. “It is feeding off of your subconscious and fears. The walls are attempting to crush and confine you because you feel trapped.”

 This is not an uncommon feeling within the labyrinth itself. But it must be rooted in something deeper for it to manifest like this.

 Selene smacks a hand against the narrow passage, and lets out a stuttering breath.

 “So, what? You’re saying it’s a… a mind-over-matter thing? If I stop being afraid then the passage will get bigger?”

 “No,” Deceit replies, with a shrug. “We do not have time for you to reach internal philosophical equilibrium on the confines of your life. Eventually, though, the labyrinth will pick up on something else to manipulate.”

 “...Oh.”

 They push on for several more moments. Though the space does not get tighter, Selene seems to think that it is at many points. She does not complain the way that some do, but it is clear that the longer the situation persists, the more distressing she finds it. Eventually, her words fall away, and she goes quiet. Deceit does not think her outlook has improved, however. It seems more that she has simply reached a point where she is no longer able to move and speak at the same time.

 After several hours, they do manage to reach a resting point, however.

 The narrow corridor gives way to a small fountain chamber. Selene sobs, once, and drops to her knees once she has the space to do so. Her muscles are trembling, and her elbows are bruised. Deceit hesitates for a moment, before venturing a hand to her shoulder. She does not seem to take the gesture badly. While she recovers, they head over to the fountain, and retrieve some supplies for her. There is a single fruiting pear tree, and a basin of clear, flowing water. Fruit is not always the best food for mortals, but there was only so much that any aspect could coax into growing within the labyrinth.

 Selene has supplies of her own, at least. She does not seem to recollect the existence of her pack until Deceit brings her a pear and a freshly filled waterskin.

 “Where…?” she asks.

 Then she seems to notice the chamber they are in, for the first time. Deceit supposes she was so relieved to simply have space, the rest of it must have escaped her attention.

 “How is that growing?” she asks, looking from the pear to the tree. “There’s no sunlight here.”

 They shrug, by way of answer.

 Selene seems dubious of eating the pear, or drinking the water.

 “Is it safe?” she asks them.

 “Quite safe,” Deceit assures her. “Chambers like these are only in the outmost ring. Venture deeper inside, however, and anything like this would be an illusion. The maze is a prison. It is designed to draw its prisoner back towards the center of it, to offer temptations and tricks that make finding an exit more challenging. Sometimes it will use unpleasant measures, but sometimes it will create enticing lures, as well.”

 “I’ll keep that in mind,” Selene says, and then tentatively takes a drink.

 Though her initial movements are careful, before long she is draining the waterskin, and then devouring the pear. She opens her pack and retrieves some of her own supplies, and even offers Deceit a strip of cured meat and some travel bread. They decline, gesturing towards their own rations. An illusion, but one that helps in situations like these. It will do no good for mortals to waste their precious supplies on one who does not need them.

 “We should keep moving,” Selene decides, when she can find her feet again.

 “This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Deceit advises her.

 “I’ll rest more readily when we’ve found Des.”

 Without much recourse to her stubbornness, Deceit can only acquiesce, and show her to the exit from this fountain room.

 They direct Selene towards the safest paths they can, as they attempt to reach Fear’s position. Still, the labyrinth responds to the presence of the minds within it, and with a growing aptitude for creating disturbances. Before long the path of the maze begins to sink into water. Black and still, creating an obvious sense of depth as high walls sink into it. As with the shrinking passageways, Selene fares well enough at first, but begins to flag as they are forced to swim. Phantoms pass by in the darkness above them. Spirit fragments that leech the heat from the corridor, and begin to show flashes of images. Deceit only sees a little of what it shown, too busy swimming to note much beyond a man with red hair, and a splash of crimson blood. But Selene’s swimming strokes falter. Deceit has to extend her staff towards her to help her make it to the next ledge, and when they climb up, she seems frantic.

 “Did you see that?!” she asks.

 “The fragments are pulled from reflections of your thoughts,” Deceit tells her.

 “But did you see?”

 “No,” they admit. “I was focused on swimming.”

 Selene looks like she’s trying to decide if she believes them or not. After a moment, she lets out a breath, and sags against the ledge.

 “We should not linger here,” they advise her. Wraiths can form in these corridors, and if they are not moving, they will be easy to catch and harass. Selene shivers, but after a moment, she permits Deceit to help her to her feet. The labyrinth’s water clings almost like oil to her skin. Her face seems pale in the light of their staff, but after a moment, she starts moving again.

 This segment of the labyrinth seems to want to offer them many branching tunnels, after that point. The air lightens somewhat, but only to reveal what seem to be dangerously crumbling ruins. The faint scent of smoke clings to the stonework, in the place of slime and dank. But despite that, the cold remains, and the water on their skin makes the smoke cling to them.

 Between the crumbling stones of the walkways, Deceit sees flashes of images. Like the ones visible while they swam.

 “Don’t look,” Selene asks them. Or perhaps says to herself, as well. Deceit keeps their head up, and that seems to ease her some. Though as they progress, the images seem to appear in more places. Never with enough clarity for Deceit to glean much from them; but apparently with enough context that Selene is deeply unnerved by what they might witness.

 It makes her want to leave this corridor, Deceit can tell. But all of the turn-offs only lead deeper into the maze.

 After two hours, they have to restrain her from turning down the nearest archway that promises a change of scenery.

 “Not that way,” they say, firmly.

 Selene swallows, but does not protest. As they direct her down the same path, one of her hands closes around their wrist again.

 After a moment, they decide to permit the contact. While letting people touch them can be dangerous, they do not think this will be one of those situations. Selene seems to fold in on herself as they start moving again. Deceit cannot change much about the labyrinth’s format - though they created it, such complex magics have long since developed past their ability to deliberately control without extensive renovation - but they can shift the light of their staff so that the images are less visible. More muted; like reflections on the surface of a lake.

 If it helps Selene or not, they cannot tell.

 But it is inevitable that the labyrinth begins to develop wraiths, before long.

 Most they pass by without Selene even seeming to notice them. But eventually a heavy, dragging rhythm of footsteps starts to follow them. Deceit turns, and notes the wraith. It has taken on the form of a tall, red-haired elven man, but with distinctly corpse-like qualities. When Selene notes the wraith, she freezes up. Rooted to the spot, as the figure lurches closer.

 Deceit prods her.

 “We must keep moving,” they say.

 Selene backs away from the wraith, and then takes off at a run. Deceit keeps pace with her. To their relief, she still lets them direct their course, but no matter how fast she manages to go, the lurching wraith remains the same length of distance behind them.

 “It is an illusion,” they tell Selene. “But do not let it catch you.”

 She lets out a ragged breath.

 “If it’s an illusion… then why can’t I let… let it catch me?”

 “Because it is a very solid illusion.”

 Selene makes an odd sound, somewhere between an incredulous laugh and a pained groan, and asks no further questions in favour of breathing while she runs. They cannot hold their pace indefinitely, however. At length, Deceit begins to slow; and after a moment, despite her obvious reservations, Selene follows their own slackening pace.

 The wraith remains the same distance away from them regardless.

 “I do not think it will get much closer,” they say. “So long as we maintain a steady pace, we should be fine.”

 Selene shakes her head, but does not actually voice a dissenting opinion. It’s clear that she is intensely disquieted, nonetheless, as they wind their way through several more corridors, and do not lose their persistent stalker.

 Deceit is curious, of course. But they have learned that voicing such curiosity tends to make things worse, in terms of traversing the labyrinth. And Selene does not look eager to clarify the meaning behind the shape of the wraith or the fragmented visions; if anything, it is the opposite.

 The pace being set remains grueling, however. When they slow down too much, the wraith does start to close the distance. But no matter how fast they go, they cannot gain any grew ground. Every inch of space they lose to catch their breath seems gone forever. The wraith’s gaze is blank, but every so often it breathes out a wordless sound, accusatory in nature; and Selene futilely redoubles her pace. They make their way through yet more corridors, until she begins to outpace Deceit; and their efforts to coax her back seem to fail.

 Eventually, she breaks out into a run again.

 “Leave me alone!” she calls back at the wraith.

 “Selene! It is not real!” Deceit reminds her.

 She does not seem to hear them. Her legs carry her towards the next turn in the maze, and she makes the wrong choice; heading deeper in, rather than remaining at the outskirts. Deceit speeds up to catch her, and correct the mistake. They grab her arm, but it is the wrong move to make. Selene cries out in fear, and flails away from them. Her feet slip across a smooth patch of weathered stone flooring, and her balance is lost, her limbs too tired to recover. Deceit sees a flash of fear across her face - directed over their shoulder, at the wraith behind them.

 Then she falls into a pool of inky black water.

 The currents are strong enough to drag her down. The environment weighing her, feeding off of her desire to get away from their pursuer. But a mortal elf can drown in the labyrinth’s water, as surely as she might drown in any lake or moat. Deceit secures their staff to their back, and then jumps in after her.

 In the water Selene looks ghostly pale. Her hair fans around her head, and her fingers reach towards them. They strike a rune on one of the nearby walls. The glow illuminates things, but more importantly, it triggers the maze into shifting. They swim downwards more determinedly, watching as the waters beneath Selene open up; though it still seems to take her by surprised when she goes from sinking to falling.

 The black pool becomes the pitch-dark shadows of the ceiling above, as they two of them tumble downwards, and land several corridors over; just shy of the next layer of the maze. Deceit lets out a breath of relief, while Selene coughs and sputters. The wraith is gone, at least; if they can manage to avoid encountering any more, they might be able to make it to where Fear and Deceit are without much further incident.

 As soon as the thought occurs to them, however, Deceit becomes aware of Fear’s own growing concern.

 Des is running from his own wraiths.

 And he is faring worse than Selene. Deceit is caught, for a moment; watching through Fear’s senses as the exiled criminal speeds through corridors and is herded deeper and deeper into the labyrinth. Their breath catches as he flings himself into the next layer of the maze.

 No.

 “...alright? Sairal?”

 The urgency in Selene’s tone snaps them out of Fear’s mental space.

 She is kneeling beside them, soaked and wide-eyed, looking desperately worried. At least until they meet her gaze. Then some of her fright seems to ease, and she lets out a long breath. Which turns into a cough.

 “Sorry,” she murmurs, afterwards. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I mean. Are you alright?”

 Deceit pats their chest, and offers her a nod in answer.

 What are they going to do? Selene will not leave the maze until they find her friend, but her friend has now gone deeper than they are. Fear has led travelers out of the maze from deeper places before, but most of them were experienced explorers who had gone in deliberately, with supplies and some notion of what might befall them. Des has nothing, and the inner rings cannot sustain him. Unless Fear can find a way back out to this level again… his fate is sealed.

 Although.

 There is chance… if someone were to bring supplies from one of the outer layer fountain rooms, if he had more help than what Fear can offer…

 Deceit hesitates.

 They have no way of conveying this information to Selene without giving up more about themselves than would be wise. Her brows remain furrowed as she gently urges them to sit back.

 “I think we lost it,” she says, after a moment. “Do you… do you know where we are? Where we should go now, to find Des?”

 Deceit weighs their options. Des may be doomed, but they could still save Selene. But if they get her out of the maze only for her to come back in search of her friend again, the situation will be more dire than before. They can sense Falon’Din. He is… closer to Fear’s location than they would like, though still not near to the aspect, or their charge.

 With a heavy breath, Deceit gets to his feet again.

 “We passed the point where we should have encountered your friend,” they say. “That means that either he has gotten out himself, or he has gone deeper into the maze.”

 Selene pales.

 “Des is alone,” she says. “With these things around… what are the odds that he actually got out?”

 Deceit remains silent for a long moment.

 “We are only a few hours away from an exit,” they say, at length. “I can see you safely out, and if your friend is not there, I can then come back for him myself. I will be faster on my own.”

 The comment makes Selene flinch, for some reason. Before Deceit can really respond to that, however, she levels them with a resolute gaze.

 “He went deeper,” she says. “Didn’t he?”

 Again, they do not answer. There should not be any way for them to know.

 Selene shakes her head.

 “I can’t leave him.”

 They sigh.

 “Then we will need to find another fountain room, before we set out again.”

  ~

  Fear flies swiftly as Des crosses the threshold into the next ring of the maze. They shift their form, increasing their size, and grow just enough to snatch the falling elf’s arms with their talons. He cries out in surprise, but Fear has no time to waste, as their path has veered straight across that of a patrolling varterral.

 The archway becomes a blank wall behind them. The varterral rears back, startled at the sudden flurry of activity before it. The pursuing wraiths follow, and that ends up being a good thing. Their dark claws skitter across the labyrinth’s floors, and they streak into the path of the varterral, which proceeds to target them with its riled instincts. It jabs at the illusions, and buys Fear enough time to swoop down the corridor and flap their way up a nearby ledge, and finally deposit Des onto a safer path.

 He is wide-eyed and panting as their own strength gives out for a moment. Fear shrinks back down to their normal size, and then they flop onto the ground.

 They are not certain why they went to all that effort.

 This prisoner does not stand good odds of surviving.

 Des continues to stare at them in astonishment. At least until the sounds of the varterral and the wraiths fighting seem to jolt him from complacency. Fear nearly bites him when he suddenly reaches over and scoops them up; surprise, more than anything, stymies their reaction to the unexpected contact. But Des does not try and twist their neck or break their wings. Instead he tucks them under one arm as he begins to put more distance between the two of them and the labyrinth’s squabbling denizens.

 “Shit, shit, shit,” he swears. Clearly at a loss for where to go. Fear could show him, if they could just catch their breath; but instead the panicked elf hurries them along, winding through passageways in an obvious effort to find a path back the outer layer.

 It is not long before this segment of the labyrinth begins asserting itself, however.

 Roots start to appear along the passageway. At first they just make traversing unsteady. But then the walls themselves start to turn to wood and bark. Gnarled trunks and branches sporting razor-sharp leaves, and tangled, stinging vines. The sounds of more varterrals follow behind them, though, and so Des barely hesitates before heading into the tree-like passageways.

 “This isn’t so bad,” he says.

 Fear works themselves loose from his grasp, recovered enough to fly on their own power. They flutter up towards the best pathway. Des has to crouch and crawl and climb by turns to reach them; each new segment they come to seems more overgrown and tangled than the last. But Des is not wrong. Despite the difficulty in traveling, the cover of the trees holds an illusion of safety, too.

 There’s just one problem.

 None of these passageways lead where they need to go.

 Fear manages to find a way out of the network. However, Des is reluctant to follow. The path away from the center of the maze is dark, and empty. But the path closer to it has opened up into a segment of the labyrinth which resembles a pleasant grove. A waterfall gurgles, flowing into a gentle pond, and a blanket of flowers releases sweet meadow scents into the air. Fruit trees bend beneath the weight of plump and ripe offerings; bright enough to look like party decorations. And a seemingly-discarded keg of wine leans against a ruin stone, looking ancient but also well-preserved.

 “Come on, birdie,” Des says. “Let’s just take a break. I need a rest.”

 Fear caws insistently, and motions towards the other passageway.

 “But this is even better than that other place you showed me! Look, we can go that way afterwards. Don’t you want some fruit?”

 With another caw, Fear flies up closer to the correct passageway.

 Des looks pained.

 He shoots a glance back towards the grove.

 “I’m gonna level with you, Birdie. I am not good at resisting temptation,” he says.

 Fear feels their frustration mount as the fool elf then turns away from them, and heads into the illusion instead.

  ~

  Fear is mad.

 Fear is very, very mad. At Des.

 Deceit hesitates as they cross the next threshold with Selene. Just long enough for her to regard them with some concern. But they pull her along through before she can remark on their hesitance, and then both of their attention is consumed by the sounds of agitated varterrals.

 The entrance vanishes behind them. Selene watches it go with apprehension, before turning towards the hostile sounds awaiting them. The chamber they are in is large. Exposed. It gives off a quality that makes Deceit think of temples, and of the new tributes and shrines that the elves at the camp beyond the labyrinth tend to build. Etchings of the sun mark several high pillars. Elgar’nan’s visage glowers down at them from the end of a long walkway; and yet, as they progress, Deceit is given to the impression that the space is outdoors. The light is orange, but perhaps that is the glow of evening, falling across some kind of ceremonial pavilion. The scent of smoke clings to them again.

 Selene is clearly disquieted.

 “What are those sounds?” she wonders.

 “Varterrals,” Deceit supplies. “They are guards, of a sort. If they are making this much noise, then it’s likely we are not too far from where your friend has ended up. Usually they are silent, unless they detect intruders.”

 “Are they going after Des?” Selene asks, urgently.

 “Yes,” Deceit supplies. “But they are not difficult to avoid, as long as one runs and does not attempt to fight them.”

 “We have to get to him first,” she insists.

 Deceit examines the chamber around them. There are several exits leading out from it. They take a moment to shift their senses towards Falon’Din, as well. He is… not as far off as they would like. But still not close enough to merit excessive concern. The trouble, of course, is that he is quick. And if he should realize that there are mortals in the maze, he will become much, much more difficult to evade.

 After a moment, they indicate the passageway to the furthest right.

 “That one,” they decide. “It will take us closer to the varterrals without venturing deeper into the maze.”

 Selene does not argue, or question their expertise. Which they appreciate. They head through the archway, and find themselves in a mirror-walled corridor. Their shadows throw distorted shapes. Selene keeps her eyes ahead, which is wise. Some of the things seen in the reflections are… not easy to look at.

 And it means she does not spy the black shadow wings that unfurl behind Deceit’s reflections. Nor note the way their image shifts, from humble Sairal to the one they had first worn in the camps.

 Selene herself is wreathed in a halo of fire, that makes the corridor flicker with the reflected light.

 The first turn takes them to another chamber. Or what seems like one. In truth, it is just more of a passageway, but the illusion creates a sense of space. Shelves crawl up along the high walls. Illusionary corridors lead past them, and lanterns illuminate yet more of the same. Rows upon rows of sturdy stone shelving that glimmers with preservation runes, and holds a seemingly endless trove of scrolls, books, and tomes. Perfectly sealed, and written on in the ancient tongue.

 Selene stops in her tracks, and stares at it all.

 “It’s an illusion, right?” she asks. Deceit notes the symbol of Dirthamen hanging, ironically, over the exit.

 “Yes,” they confirm. “There is nothing there but more walls, and a single true pathway that leads deeper into the maze. But the more you give into the illusion, the more depth it will attain, and the greater its hold on you will become”

 Selene sighs.

 There is a slightly wistful note to the sound. But then she follows them down the correct turn, and only clasps her hands together, as if to resist the urge to reach for a book and test their claims.

 They pass through more libraries. And workshops. Seemingly ruined rooms, that pose as exposed parts of the maze, and display themselves as half-broken fragments of the magic used to create it. Those are the hardest to pull Selene away from, as she wonders aloud whether or not this might actually be a broken part of the labyrinth - and how valuable it would be to learn more about the spellwork used to create such a place.

 The third time they are interrupted, Deceit gives in to an inexplicable urge.

 “I know a great deal about this place,” they say. “If you are so curious, then I would be happy to share some knowledge with you. I promise it will be more accurate than anything the illusions themselves tempt you with; the knowledge they offer can only reflect your own knowledge back at you. Which is not invaluable, but would not help with your current aims.”

 Selene’s cheeks darken at their comments. They wonder if they have given offense; but after a moment, she pulls herself away from the exposed crystals and ‘crumbled’ side passage, and falls into step alongside them again.

 “You were taught by Deceit, right?” she asks them. “I heard about them, before they passed. People said they were brilliant. It must have been amazing to study with them.”

 Deceit blinks.

 “Brilliant?” they ask.

 Selene blinks back at them.

 “What? You don’t agree?” she asks, uncertainly.

 “I would not disagree,” they say, after a moment. They shrug. It is a useful gesture, and one they are glad they picked up on before they took on this guise. It looks much less stiff on Sairal. “I simply did not know they were held in such esteem. Though I suppose that would explain the unfavourable comparisons between us.”

 Selene frowns a little.

 “You seem very adept at all of this to me,” she assures them. “I don’t see how anyone could compare you unfavourably to your predecessor. My father’s notes didn’t even mention any safe resting places, and you are helping me even though… even though it is dangerous, and you don’t even know if I can get you the payment I promised.”

 “I do not do this for money,” Deceit assures her. They mean the comment to soothe any worries she has that they will abandon this effort if she cannot offer them adequate compensation. But the comment just seems to make her curious.

 “I guess there are easier ways to make a living,” she muses, voice a murmur. “But then, why…?”

 “It is personal,” they say. They attempt to keep their tone apologetic.

 Fortunately, Selene does not take offense. Some have, in the past. They find Deceit suspicious - Deceit does not suppose they can blame anyone for that, in the end.

 “...Legacies are hard to put up with sometimes,” she says instead, after a moment. Her gaze slips towards the walls, and the passage before them turns sharply uphill. The incline is steep enough to stave off further conversation or inquiries. The next few temptations they pass go unheeded, and Deceit manages to keep them clear of the agitated varterrals. Unfortunately, the maze conjures up several dead-ends and even abruptly stops in a wall of thick-growing trees; too tightly interwoven for them to make their way through.

 But at length, they discover a narrow, rickety staircase. Battered by inexplicable winds and dangling above a seemingly endless darkness. The bottom of the staircase opens out to a chamber that seems like a combination between a forest festival and a grand ballroom. An open night sky spreads overhead, and wraiths dance as revelers, while music plays and various unclothed figures undulate against one another in shaded corners. Long tables offer a vast array of wines and food. Selene flushes, and looks shocked at the sudden furor of noise and activity.

 Deceit is less surprised. Fear is ensconced in one of the nearby trees, and cawing irately at the elven figure currently pouring mouthfuls of illusion down his throat.

 A moment later, Selene herself spots him.

 “Des!” she exclaims.

 The elf looks over as Selene rushes to their reunion. Deceit is uncertain of what to expect - a romantic embrace, a tearful clutching of arms, or even a rush of apologies. They have seen many reunions by now, though, so they are not entirely taken aback when Selene hauls off and smacks the other elf.

 “What are you doing?! You’re in a deadly maze! This is all fake! Why are you sitting on your ass drinking the air and letting those - those things get close enough to trick you?! Didn’t I tell you this place was dangerous? I told you to keep to the outside! This is not the outside, Des! You went further in!”

 Des gawks.

 “Selene?!” he asks, clearly astounded. His gaze flits over towards Deceit, and then back to his friend.

 Finally, Fear thinks. Now maybe he’ll leave.

 Des does stand up, at least.

 “What are you doing here? How did you even get here?”

 “I told you I wouldn’t let them do this to you,” Selene snaps back at him. She gestures towards Deceit. “I used my dowry to buy the services of the actual labyrinth guide. We’ve been looking all over for you, to help get you back out again.”

 Des looks flabbergasted.

 “That’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done!” he finally declares. “Don’t you know this place is a death trap?”

 “Don’t you?”

 Fear flies over to Deceit and alights onto their shoulder, which seems to draw the mortals’ attention away from their argument.

 Des’ eyes narrow. After a moment, he takes a cautious step back from Selene - who frowns at the movement.

 “Wait,” he says. “How do I know this isn’t a trick?”

 Fear caws at him in irritation.

 This? This is what he thinks is a trick, after hours of falling for the most obvious illusions in here?

 Deceit wonders if the man failed to realize that everything around him was false. Or if, instead, he knew full well - and had simply resigned himself to a more peaceful and indulgent end than death via monster. He would not be the first, though most who attempted such things were usually found by Falon’Din anyway. Or else they learned that death by dehydration was not an enviable fate, either.

 The thought reminds them of the waterskins they filled with Selene before heading in from the outer ring.

 “It’s not a trick,” they say, and toss one to the elf. He catches it, though he still seems wary.

 Selene sighs at him.

 “How can we prove it?” she wonders.

 Deceit shrugs.

 “We can’t,” they say. “Either he’ll take the chance or he won’t. But none of this is real. If he remains here,the monster will find him. Or he’ll die of thirst while drinking imaginary wine. But, the former option is more likely.”

 Selene gives her friend a hard look.

 “I’ll carry him out myself before that happens,” she says.

 Des sighs.

 “Alright,” he says. “I suppose you could be real. Especially since everyone still has their clothes on, and that guide of yours is sort of plain looking. No offense. But my imagination tends to be much more colourful than that.”

 Deceit only shrugs again. Though they are surprised to find themselves feeling vaguely annoyed, too. They cannot place why. Sairal’s appearance is deliberately neutral. It has helped somewhat in reducing the instances of harassment on a few fronts, though it seems to be contributing to their reduced popularity as well.

 Des is a handsome elf, and Selene is strikingly beautiful.

 Deceit frowns, slightly.

 “Des!” Selene protests.

 “What?”

 “Sairal came to help!”

 “You just said you paid them to!”

 “That doesn’t mean you can be a jerk-”

”How was I being a jerk? I was just making an observation…”

 The pair of mortals bicker for a while, as Deceit tries to unobtrusively check their reflection in the surface of a nearby pond, and Fear’s annoyance grows. Eventually, Fear breaks the disruption with an irate caw.

 Selene points at them.

 “That’s a raven,” she says.

 “Well spotted,” Des quips.

 She gives him a look, and he subsides.

 “Elrogathe mentioned ravens in his notes,” Selene continues, pointedly. “He said they helped guide him out of the labyrinth. Deceit used to train them to assist travelers who became lost in the maze, didn’t he?”

 “I think Dirthamen sent it,” Des counters. “Birdie’s been keeping me company. It even saved me from one of those spider things - it can change size. It’s magic.”

 Deceit glances at Fear.

 Fear responds with the equivalent of an internal shrug.

 Selene comes closer, and gives Deceit a look that makes them think she is expecting them to illuminate the situation. She ventures a tentative hand towards Fear; and when they offer no protest, lightly pets at their feathers. Before she can ask more, however, Des finally moves from the segment of the chamber where most of his lounging seemed to be happening. The wraiths posing as revelers take note; they glance, faceless, to where the four of them are standing.

 The shift in the atmosphere is not lost on either Des or Selene, either. Selene’s hand freezes next to Fear’s head.

 The wraiths begin to murmur with indistinct whispers.

 “I think it is time to go,” Deceit says, calmly.

 “Which direction…?” Selene asks.

 The wraiths start to move towards them.

 With a swift turn, Deceit shoves Des towards a tunnel half-hidden by the decorative overgrowth.

 “That one!” they say.

 Right before the wraiths begin to charge.

[curiozitywizard-blog]

Emir Abdelkader, a Saint among the Princes

The year 1827 came with the great battle of Navarino. A naval battle between the Ottoman navy together with the Egyptian navy, against the allied forces of Britain, France and Russia, during the Greek war of independence. The Ottoman’s days of dominating the Mediterranean sea came to an end since the allied forces decisively defeated the Ottoman and the Egyptian forces resulting almost complete destruction of the Algerian navy which was an essential force of the Ottoman navy since the Algerian coast was the naval base of the Ottoman Empire. 

Algeria, a country with a vast area and strategic location, and a province of the Ottoman Empire since the days of Barbarossa, is now without a defence force. Because the stray herd has to be devoured by the wolves, France marched toward the Algerian coasts, in an attempt of conquest. The French forces were faced by a resistance led by the forces of Hussein Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman Regency of Algiers. But the French troops were able to settle in the coast of Sidi Fredj after defeating the Algerian forces in an unequal battle known as the battle of Stawali, to set the sails for colonialism that lasted for one hundred and thirty-two years (1830 - 1962).

Let us answer one question; why France? It is because France always saw itself as the protector of Catholicism and the fact that the crusades started from France and not from Rome is enough as proof. And Algeria was known as “the Land of Islam and Jihad”. So the conquest was motivated by religious tendencies, in fact, some historians considered it a crusade. Now, Let us respond to the people who claim that France invaded Algeria to create a civilization. Algeria was a civilized Ottoman Regency. It was rich economically, in fact, France was borrowing money and grain such as wheat from Algeria. France was not able to pay its debts, and after a contentious meeting on 29 April 1827 in which the French consul refused to provide satisfactory answers, the dey struck the consul with his fly-whisk. And later, the incident became known as “the fan affair”, and it was one of the indirect causes of the conquest. The population of Algeria was highly educated, as the German traveller Wilhelm Schimmer/Shimbra -who visited Algeria in 1831 1832- said: “I have deliberately searched for one Arab in Algeria who is illiterate, but I couldn’t find any, while I found people who were not able to read or write in southern Europe where it is hard to find someone who can read or write.”

Eradicating the Islamic civilization and the Islamic values and morals was a major gaol for France in Algeria. Out of one hundred and twelve mosques in Algiers - the capital city of Algeria - only five left. The rest were turned into warehouses and stables. Strict orders were given to the France soldiers by General Thomas Robert Bugeaud, to take all the books that they found in the mosques and libraries, and transfer them to France to translate the content. After the battle of Stawali, the France soldiers immediately spread into the city and broke into houses to loot gold and booty. Women ears were cut off by the knife in order to take their golden earrings. And even worse crimes were committed. Algerian women tattooing their hands and heads was a famous trend. Because Christians in that time were disgusted by tattoos, so it was the only solution to protect Algerian women from getting raped. Rivers of blood, oppression and injustice, soon overflowed the whole Algerian land. During these atrocities, a hero emerged, he is Emir Abdelkader El Djezairi. Who later would be known as “Saint among the Princes, the Prince among the Saints”.

Born in the sixth of September 1808 near the town of Mascara. Raised in a religious household. His father, Muhyi al-Din, was a muqaddam in a religious institution, which means he has been authorised by his/her guide (Sheikh, master, teacher) to assist in teaching the path to other students. Abdelkader the boy, received a traditional education in theology, legal theory and grammar; it was said that he could read and write by the age of five. By the age of fourteen, he was able to memorise the Quran by heart, thereby receiving the title of Hafiz. By the age of seventeen, he set out to the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage and took the road to Mecca. He returned to his homeland a few months before the French invasion.

The invaders have come. Abdelkader with his knowledge of the book and the wisdom he acquired from his father and his teachers knew that the time of Jihad has come. The twenty-two years old youngsters with his big determination to fight the oppressors united the tribes under his leadership and established an Islamic state. Created an army, and declared war on France. Note: The Islamic state he established was on the path of Quran and Sunnah, it was for spreading peace and justice while fighting the oppressors. It was not by any means a state of spreading fear and hatred. Five years passed since the establishment of the Islamic state and the declaration of the war, France has endured great loses. The French officials came to an agreement that its the time to end the nightmare of Abdelkader, and they agreed to go into a mighty battle against him, and they agreed that this one must be the last one. 28 June 1835, General Camille Alphonse Trézel headed with his mighty army of two thousand and five hundred soldiers equipped with cannons and ammunition to the fight the army of Abdelkader. The two armies met in a place called Macta in the west of Algeria. The French troops were defeated. the loss of almost one thousand soldiers, among them the dead and the injured, declared the victory of Abdelkader.

His victory in the battle of Macta made him honoured among the tribes, and his state was recognised by France. Abdelkader became known as Emir which means the Prince. Later, he established a capital which he named Smala, it didn’t have any specific location, because it was a mobile capital, it followed him where he moves since he was always chased by the French army. Smala was capital of thirty thousand population, among them were women, children, old people and servants. Abdelkader also had his own library with him, which contained thirty thousand books. Later in 1843, France, launched an expedition under the lead of Henry d’Orleans, Duke of Aumale, against the capital while Emir Abdelkader was absent in Morocco. The expedition succeeded and the capital was destroyed.

Even after Emir Abdelkader’s loss of his capital, it seemed that France couldn’t defeat him for good. He came back from Morocco and fought France again causing great damages to the French army until France had to make a peace treaty with him, and he agreed to the treaty.

The peace treaty was soon broken because France never intended to keep Emir Abdelkader alive and free. General Thomas Robert Bugeaud implemented the Scorched-earth policy to force Emir Abdelkader to surrender, and he did. The prince was imprisoned in France and after few years he was called by Napoleon III and was honoured by him and he was asked to take France as a second home but Emir Abdelkader refused, so he was released with the condition of not going back to Algeria. Emir Abdelkader headed to Constantinople the capital of the Ottoman Islamic state and the modern day Istanbul. He was welcomed and honoured by the Ottoman Caliphate. A short time later, Emir Abdelkader asked the Caliphate to let him travel to Damascus and live there. The Caliphate gave him permission to do so and he lived there until his death in 1883.

“I will enter your mountains, I will burn your villages and your harvests, I will cut down your fruit trees.” ـــ General Bugeaud.

In Damascus the Prince was already famous, so he immediately was considered as one of the leaders of the society there. He was a political and religious leader as well as author and a poet. While Emir Abdelkader was in Damascus, civil strife broke out between the Muslims and the Christians. Mighty atrocities were committed by the Muslims in Damascus. The truth was on the side of the Christians, and Emir Abdelkader chose to be on the side of truth. He protected the Christians and fought with them, he hid many of them including political leaders, monks both men and women in his palace, but when their number got bigger - reached ten thousand and five hundred - he sent them to the city castle. By these heroic acts, he was considered as a hero for humanity, a man who stood against the oppressors whoever they were, Christians or Muslims. He became an embodiment of the verse “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the enmity and hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is acquainted with what you do”. The noble Quran (5:8).

“Saint among the Princes, the Princes among the Saints”.

Note: This is a very summarised story of Emir Abdelkader, I've written it from what I remember from primary school and middle school history lessons since I am from Algeria and the life of this great hero is in our educational curriculum. I backed up my background knowledge with researches I've done about his life and adventures and his death, but you may find more information about Emir Abdelkader if you do your own researches. However, I think this article is enough to at least give you an idea about a hero of truth that may inspire you and affect your life in a positive way. Peace!

[symphysins]

Have any other good fics for us???

sorry this took a while to reply back to. i’ve been compiling this for a while.

since you didn’t specify what kind of fics, i’m gonna give like a smorgasbord of different ut fics i love w/ a blurb of stupid commentary from me :’D

(be warned, snas is my fav so a bunch feature him/are centered around him.)

(also be warned that not everything i like may be ur cup of tea, so make sure to read the tags/warnings.)

longpost under cut. ready? here we gooo~ ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ 

Universal Displacement by knowmeknot: A forgotten doctor once theorized that when the same event occurs at the exact same time in two separate universes, they converge for a single moment and something… spectacular happens. A destabilization maybe. Or a merge. Or better yet, a displacement of two similar but different entities.

one of my favorite kedgeup things is when ut!sans or uf!paps lands in the other’s universe, and this fic expands on this idea rlly well.

A Lack of Brotherly Love by Askellie: After a brutal series of genocide runs, Sans wakes up in an alternate universe where the monsters were saved, everyone is on the surface and the future looks bright…except the fundamental difference in this universe is that its resident Sans never loved or supported his brother. As a result, Papyrus is a lonely outcast, unable to fit in and scarred from years of emotional neglect.And Sans isn’t going to let that stand.

i desperately want sans to punch the fuck out of dr.serif. and then go give poor paps all the hugs he deserves.

To Love Yourself by undertailsoulsex: UF!Sans fights with his brother and doesn’t know what to do with himself. He ends up traveling to the Undertale Universe where he meets the kindhearted Sans and Papyrus.UF!Sans has to come to terms with his depression and his newfound feelings for the other skeletons.

this fic emotionally destroyed me… but in a good way i swear! it’ll lead you on a rollercoaster of feels, but it’s worth it.

It’s A Long Story by RiseiTekiSensei: a soriel series detailing toriel and sans’ relationship in the underground and aboveground. i really like how both of them have their own issues, and how they support eachother through those issues. i also love how head over heels sans is for toriel.

A Fortune Cookie For You by Darkhymns: “In bed” jokes are the lowest form of comedy. So, of course, Sans and Toriel love them.

the jokes man. the jokes are the best.

Never a Lovely So Real by Kaesa: The city of Ebott, 193X. The market’s down, the crime rate’s up, and Sans is just trying to make a buck and keep an eye on his brother by working for the Dreemurr crime family. But after the Dreemurrs rescue a human child from their rival gang, the Flower Boys, Sans soon finds himself in way over his head. (Well. Not that that’s hard.)  

i love all the research put in to make this mob au fic really authentic. reading the little anecdotes at the end is rlly fun. 

Our Skeleton by yastaghr: The people who love him come to realise Sans may be hiding something from them. 

this. this is the fic that really got me into sansgoriel. royal goats showering tiny skele in love is the best.

for queen and country by tealmoon: Being the Judge of the Underground isn’t just a job, it’s about being chosen to carry out the infallible will of the Royal Family, to keep chaos and crime at bay, to protect all of Monsterkind.            

And for Papyrus, it’s about being helpless, and afraid, and alone.

us!paps suffering: the fic. somebody give this skele a friend. pls, he desperately needs one.   

Fired Up and Bone Weary by perniciousLizard: slowburn domestic sansby series. sans is written so in-character and grillby is really fleshed-out as a character. there’s tension and drama here and there, but it still feels mellow overall. reading this fic feels like sitting next to a warm hearth. 

These are our Days by Rehlia: Two days ago, you said goodbye to your best friend. Yesterday, you lost your job with no prior notice. And then today, you had a fight with your mom. So that’s your day today. Lonely, fighting with your mom, jobless. Perfect Day for a drink or two, right? What’s that on TV about monsters?You didn’t expect the monsters to accept that application for a social media job you sent them while you were drunk. Now you’ve suddenly moved to Ebott and spend your days hanging out with monsters, documenting your weird new life, and marvelling at how different monsters and humans can be - and how similar.  

god, i love all the worldbuilding in this fic. the little things about monster culture are so great. this fic really makes me invested in monsterkind’s integration on the surface. and the build-up to the sans/reader relationship rlly makes it all the more satisfying.

Tend to your memories by Rainbow_Sprinkles: Post-Pacifist after many, many resets. Explores political, social, and personal facets of monster integration into human society. Begins in 211X and spans over many years. Political and social climates have undergone major shifts from those of the present day. Character development and platonic-familial relationships receive the most attention. Major motifs include health, medicine, and science. 

realistically, i think a lot of the ut cast have been traumatized in some way, and this fic explores that very thoroughly. i think my favorite part about this series is the frisk, flowey, and chara development.

Kingship, And What Comes Next by CatKing_Catkin: This is the story of the Underground after Sans hung up the phone, after Papyrus took the throne. There’s no one left to guide him, no one left to look up to. Papyrus doesn’t want to let anyone down, especially not Sans when his brother is working so hard to support him. Sans doesn’t want to let Papyrus down, when his brother really is all he has left.They make mistakes, they miss one another, but together, they try to figure things out.This is a story about growing up, moving on, and what’s important in life.

this fic managed to take one of the saddest (imo) endings and turn it into something hopeful. 

lest ye be judged by nilchance: in an alternate universe, asgore became something like a parental figure to sans and papyrus. the whole series is wonderful, and i love the relationship sans and asgore have. 

Tsum Papyri by BarkingPup: In this world there is only Papyrus and… more Papyrus

the super sweet tsumtsum au made by zarla turned incredibly horrifying.

Overextension by MaxieSatan: Strength and weakness are not mutually exclusive, and neither one always looks the same.

i like reading fics about undyne & sans, bc you really never see them interact in game. it’s interesting to think about how they’d act around eachother.

Late Night Snack by EvilZebra:    

Tuesday 3:55 amRUDE SKELETON: did he ask you to help too                     

RUDE SKELETON: he did i can hear more pots dying             

RUDE SKELETON: pls spare my ketchup it does not deserve this 

papyrus cooks at 3 in the morning. sans and undyne suffer.

social links by simplycarryon: Friendship’s pretty neat, or so your video games and anime dictate. But you are not an anime protagonist, and you’re not sure you know what friendship is any more.

i love sans and alphys being science buddy friends.

Angels in the Underground by joliemariella: 200 years ago, angels were banished from the surface world after the commander of the heavenly host, Asgore, declared war on mankind. Now, young Frisk has fallen into the Underground and must conquer the angels’ seven trials if she, and the angels themselves, are to have any hope of escape. Along the way she meets Sans, a wounded seraphim who agrees to guide her through the trials at Toriel’s request. Friends are made, history unfolds, and Sans comes to hope again.

monsters with wiiiingsss. also seraphim dad sans is best dad.

Butterscotch and Bones by kaliawai512: Toriel promised herself she would never leave the Ruins. She had to stay there, to make sure that if a human fell, she could care for them - even if she couldn’t stop them from going to their deaths in time. But now and then, leaving is inevitable. The Ruins have only so many resources, after all. This time, before she heads Home from her latest expedition, she decides to stop and check in on the asocial Royal Scientist who was once her good friend.                                                   

She doesn’t find him.                                        

She finds two other someones instead.

FLUFF. SO MUCH FLUFF. some sad, bUT THAT ONLY MAKES THE FLUFF SWEETER. this fic is like a balm on the soul from the hurt of the handplates au.

Under the Veil by poplasia: Sans has gotten himself stuck in the void between worlds in a successful attempt to stop the resets of his timeline. He’s not sure how long he’s been chillin’ alone there, but eventually a chance at escape stumbles his way in from the Veil of Death. His name?—Sirius Black.

crossovers are great. crossovers with two of my favorite fandoms are even better. i’m really excited to see what these two pranksters will do next.

Missing Child Case by StoryCloud: Against all odds, the police find the four-year old that went missing around the summit of Mount Ebbot. A story from a child’s perspective has many interpretations.

it’s really rare to see fics that deal with neutral route endings, so this is a nice treat. also the fact that frisk is only four puts things into a diff. perspective.

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times by ABadTime: Set immediately after the pacifist run, the dark history of the skeleton brothers begins to surface when everything that held them together unravels, leading to the revelation of dark and transformative truths.The Best of Times, the Worst of Times sees the rise of heroes of unusual stripes in the face of unusual traumas, and explores the value of relationships in unusual times. The True Labs hold a great many terrible secrets only some of which have been able to reach their conclusion.

leaves you hanging on at the edge of your seat at some points, and has a satisfyingly happy ending. not to mention super cool gb!sans.

a lesson in grief. by ohmygodwhy:                           

you’ve got pressure dripping off your shoulders.               

or: sans tries to deal with some things.

let’s end this off with some of that sweet, sweet sans suffering. one of the first few ut fics i read. the ending was like a punch in the gut.

[coopdigitalnewsletter]

10 August 2020: Is Covid-proof a marketing strategy?

Hello, this is the Co-op Digital newsletter - it looks at what's happening in the internet/digital world and how it's relevant to the Co-op, to retail businesses, and most importantly to people, communities and society. Thank you for reading - send ideas and feedback to @rod on Twitter. Please tell a friend about it!

[Image: Beeple - see events, below]

Is “Covid-proof” a marketing strategy?

Will store safety end up being an essential “hygiene factor”? Will it be a marketing strategy in future? If a shop or a supply chain can be assured as “Covid-proof”, are you more likely to shop there? Or will you go back to shopping everywhere when everything “returns to normal”? 

💥  Why this matters: the virus won’t be “solved” quickly and has sufficiently accelerated change, so there’s no longer a “normal before” to return to. So safety will remain an important consideration.

Two good quotes from that article:

"Cleanliness has moved from a compliance responsibility to something that is part of the customer experience."

“Previous to COVID, you would try to do a lot of cleanliness and janitorial practices out of sight of customers. Now you want them to be visible, because you want to send a message to customers that things are safer”

Managing queues inside and outside Co-op stores during the pandemic. That’s a great read about how the Co-op pulled a team together, researched remotely, planned, tested, iterated and ultimately improved ways to give shoppers useful information and to manage queues at shops.

There has been encouraging news on vaccines, but even so it looks like the coronavirus is a "around a long time, live with it" thing. So beyond the current social distancing and hand sanitation measures what might a COVID-proof shop look like, materially? Unfortunately, fears about the virus have driven shoppers back to single use plastic shopping bags, which sounds bad for everyone except the plastics industry. Similarly, delivered grocery uses a *lot* of single-use plastic bags. So perhaps there will be reusable bags and containers with anti-viral coatings. 

Refitting is a longer-term option. You can imagine today’s self-serve sanitation stations becoming automated and permanently built into store thresholds and shelf displays. Perhaps some shops will refit for infection control, replacing plastic and steel door handles and work surfaces with copper, or refitting fabrics and materials impregnated with silver? There are some small-scale architecture ideas and set ups for outdoor eating (like Arup, Rockwell).

Amazon Go in the UK

Amazon will launch 10 or more checkoutless Go stores in UK by the end of the year, the first of them in London.

Sainsbury’s piloted a checkoutless store in London in 2019, but ended the pilot because the need to download and register on a dedicated mobile app discouraged passing trade.

💥  Why this matters: Amazon continues to experiment with retail formats. Go stores are a marketing beachhead for selling the technology to other retailers.

Also Amazon: 

The 16% investment in Deliveroo is approved.

UK drone deliveries team grows.

Uber: moving meals not people

Ridehailing giant Uber has always looked like a next generation taxi service, with some incremental businesses (delivery) tacked on. But Uber’s second financial quarter results just saw food delivery revenue overtake ridehail revenue! Ride bookings were down 73%, food delivery orders (Uber Eats) were up 113%. This doesn’t mean that Uber’s main business is over: Uber will expand to 170 locations in the UK by buying Autocab. But the main thing and the side gig are swapping places. Or more accurately: Uber’s core business is moving vehicles around, not moving people around.

💥  Why this matters: the virus turns industries upside down and forces organisations to reinvent. Reinvention often looks like digital transformation but it feels scary if your organisation is really optimised for doing the thing that *used* to work. 

Can machine learning write like humans write?

GPT-3 is a machine learning system which doesn’t understand language but does write it. It’s 

“an auto-complete tool that is a skilled predictor of which word comes next. And yet it’s capable, to varying degrees, of writing music; playing chess; telling jokes; and talking about philosophy. This is surprising, since we think our own ability to do all these things is due to capacities that GPT-3 lacks - understanding, perception, agency.”

💥  Why this matters: When machines can generate content that is plausibly written by humans, and when the internet gives you infinite ways to publish that content (and even attribute it to others), there will be a crisis in trust. So you’d expect to see a lot of work in future on how content could be provably authenticated as “authored by this human”. 

GPT-3 is sufficiently good at predicting the next word that you can make search engines with it. It had a clunky predecessor called GPT-2, which you can try out on the internet. If you give it the first sentence of this story, GPT-2 will write things like this:

“GPT-3 is a machine learning system which doesn’t understand language but does write it. This post explains what this machine learning system is, how it can be used and how it is going to help me to understand better how I ’ve been taught to write. Let me explain. There are some things that machine learning can't do. One of them is understanding how you write. We need to learn how to write something. This is the goal of machine learning. We need to learn to write something , so we will write about a system that can write that . What I will show you is a model which can make an accurate estimate of how you write”

If you were a human that made a living writing, you might find that reassuring, threatening and critical all at the same time. It’s not great writing, but GPT-3 is apparently much better. The “try GPT-3 out” websites aren’t often online because it costs the creators a lot of money just to let newsletter writers see if they’ve still got jobs. However there is a “friendly competition” online to see whether humans or GPT-3 can write the better performing headlines (further reinforcing the dispiriting view that click through rates should be the critical measure of online content quality! :( ) 

Signals/numbers

Procter & Gamble sales rise 4% as consumers buy more cleaning products.

WH Smith may cut 1,500 jobs after sales plummet.

'Staggering' levels of plastic pollution by 2040 - 1.3 billion tonnes.

UK electrical waste mountain growing - 1.45 million tonnes a year.

Various things

Bill English: Computer mouse co-creator dies at 91 - “In an experiment, the pair asked users to try out the mouse alongside other pointing devices such as a light pen or joystick - and found that the mouse was the clear favourite.”

Neobank Monzo’s annual report makes its community nervous - though accounting rules make expected losses look extra painful. 

Entrepreneur's 'free rice ATMs' for Vietnam's poor.

After those poor Boston Robotics robodogs get rescued by the RSPCA from the people that used to kick them, they get jobs where they are loved. Like Fluffy, who now works at Ford, laser scanning its factories, and being loved by its manager. You could imagine that being used for gap scanning the aisles of a supermarket. 

Co-op Digital news and events

 Federation - free events: 

Andy’s Man Club – Gentleman's Peer to Peer Mental Health Meet Up – Mondays 7pm

Self Care – Online Workshops – Various dates/times in July

Virtual Data Expedition – Online Workshop – 11 Aug – 10am

NW Drupal User Group – Meet Up – 11 Aug – 7pm

Beginners Guide to Retrofit – Webinar – 12 Aug – 6pm

Women in Tech – Networking – 13 Aug – 8.30am

Motion North – Animation & design Showcase – 13 Aug - 7pm. Motion North is an animation & motion design enterprise at Federation House. Their online event features not one but two stateside speakers! First up is GMUNK. A designer and director who uses a fusion of science-fiction themes and psychedelic palettes to produce enigmatic and atmospheric work. Following on is Beeple Crap, renowned for his “everydays” producing a piece of work every day with the purpose of developing and getting “better at different things”. 

Meteoric Meters – Acoustic & Spoken Word Open Mic Night – 20 Aug – 6pm

LGBTQIA – Hackathon – 28-30 Aug

Paid for events:

Invisible Cities - Online Tours of Manchester or Edinburgh – Various Dates & Times

Mandala Yoga – Online Yoga Sessions - Various Dates & Times

Tech Ethics – Meet Up – Various Dates & Times

More detail on Federation House’s events. You can also see how The Federation is planning for a safe return to the co-working floor.

Thank you for reading

Thank you, beloved readers and contributors. Please continue to send ideas, questions, corrections, improvements, etc to @rod on Twitter. If you have enjoyed reading, please tell a friend! If you want to find out more about Co-op Digital, follow us @CoopDigital on Twitter and read the Co-op Digital Blog. Previous newsletters.

[ruffsficstuffplace]

The Keeper of the Grove (Part 28)

The Trader’s Guild was a combination administration building, bank, trading post, and training center, set inside a tree smaller than the Tree of Life but even more heavily and blatantly guarded, Watchers, their animals, and surveillance birds everywhere you turned.

Compared to the hot springs, it was all business: Fae walked about briskly and with purpose; Shinies and other commodities changed hands constantly; and though cracking a joke wasn’t exactly illegal, the atmosphere didn’t encourage it, either.

Weiss wandered into the center, looked up at the circular opening in the middle of the floors; instead of being able to see all the way up into the canopy, she found herself getting dizzy by just how many animals, packages, and items were zipping on by through a large series of interconnected cables, guide rope, and streams of magic, like an intricate spider’s web.

Ruby held her steady and coaxed her eyes back to the ground floor.

Weiss thanked her before she put a hand to her head. “How the hell am I supposed to know how to get anywhere here?” she asked as she willed the world to stop spinning.

“Through the information desk!” Penny chirped, pointing to it. “It’s just in front of the Job Board.”

Weiss turned to look, found herself staring up at a three-story tower of desks and public terminals staffed by a small army of uniformed Fae, and behind that, a giant slab of enchanted rock whose surface constantly shifted and changed as job seekers pressed their hands on wanted ads and work notices, signing up for duties and taking on commission work.

“Please tell me I won’t have to use that every time I need a job...” Weiss muttered as she worriedly eyed the scaffolding and the stairs for people to reach the higher postings.

Penny shook her head. “Transactions and communications are mostly through comm-crystal or terminal for centuries now; most of the folks that use the Wall either prefer to use it, or are legally obligated to physically show up to the Guild and sign here, much like yourself.”

“Finding people willing to sign up is the easy part, getting them to actually show up is the hard part,” Ruby added.

“So you’ve got unemployed slackers, too?”

“We call them ‘Moss,’ yeah,” Ruby replied. “Don’t know how anyone’s willing to put up with eating rock bread or meat paste and sleeping in the homeless shelter every single day for the rest of their lives, but they do!”

Weiss snorted. “And here we humans were wondering what sort of magical, wonderful society could be built in a place like this...”

Ruby chuckled. “Yeah, it’s really funny to read some of the things humans think Keepers like me do when I’m not hunting down people! … And a lot of things that are just really messed up!”

Their conversation was interrupted by the PA system booming:

<Calling all participants of the Job Gauntlet! I repeat: calling all participants of the Job Gauntlet! The morning session is about to begin.>

The Fae that had been lounging around in the lobby, hanging about by the indoor cafeteria, or walking about aimlessly all began to trek towards a direction.

Weiss watched them go and turned back to Ruby. “I’m guessing that call was for me, too?”

“Yup!” she replied. “Good luck in there, Weiss,” she said as hugged her goodbye—careful to point her horns away from her face.

“You’re not coming with me...?” Weiss asked as she pulled away.

Ruby shook her head. “Blake needs me as her Spotter for an emergency fishing trip—some animals broke a fish pen, so now the river’s flooded with domestic tuna, and we need to catch them before they wreak havoc on the ecosystem.

“Those guys grow big, and eat even more!”

Blake licked her lips. <Mhmm...~>

Weiss blinked. “Oh… I see...”

“Don’t worry though! Penny’s going to be with you the whole way as your translator!”

Weiss nodded. “Okay. I guess this is goodbye, then...”

“Mhmm—for now, at least~” Ruby smiled and waved. “See you later, Weiss!”

Weiss weakly waved back, before they split up and went their separate ways.

“I'm detecting a dramatic downward shift in your mood levels, Weiss,” Penny said. “Is something the matter?”

“Nothing,” Weiss replied. “Let's just get me a job already...”

Just inside the gate, a caravan made of Watchers, Tenders, and other citizens who wanted in on the free fish were organizing and making the final preparations for the trip. As Blake and Ruby stood around and waited for the go signal, they got to talking.

<Hey, Ruby, what was with that back there at the Guild?> Blake asked.

<What was what back at the Guild?>

Blake sighed. <Oh, I don’t know—that whole display back there? You couldn't have been any more obvious! I swear, I could hear the all the sighs from the people waiting on you to kiss her.>

Ruby blushed. <Why would I do that?>

<You’re chasing her, aren’t you?>

<What? No!> Ruby shook her head. <I already told you, we’re just friends friends.>

<So you cuddle with her in the same nest at night...>

<She was crying, I wanted to make her feel better.>

<… And then you hold her hand and guide her through the whole of the hot springs because her ‘human sensibilities’ can’t handle public nudity...> Blake said, making air-quotes.

<I promised her I’d get her a private bath, didn’t I?>

<… And then you cut our time short so she can have it all for herself!>

Ruby scowled, her ears pulling back as she turned around. <Oh, give her a break, won’t you, Blake?!> she yelled, unconsciously lowering her horns towards her. <You of all folks should know what it's like to be the new girl in a city where everyone hates your guts, and Weiss isn't so lucky to be a Fae like us!>

Blake winced, her ears pulled back and her tail darting between her legs.

Ruby sighed, her face expression softening. <I know you've got issues with humans, Blake. I do too! But I don't let them make me be a total assbutt to people that don't deserve it, just because they happen to be from the same species.>

Blake's ears and tail stayed down. <Okay, I'm sorry… but just one more question: are you attracted to her?>

<Oh, HELL YES I AM, why wouldn’t I be?> Ruby replied, brightening up immediately. <She's so cute and so great to cuddle with, too—soft, smooth, and squishy-squishy~ Oh, Eluna, I wanted to ask her if I could sleep on her chest so badly!> she said, swooning.

<I mean, yeah, she's almost completely flat-chested, but boobs are boobs, you know?>

Blake stared at her, her mouth agape and an expression of deep regret on her face. <Didn’t need to know that last part, but I suppose I was asking for it...>

The caravan master called out for everyone to start loading up and rolling out.

<Look, Blake, Weiss is just my friend, okay?> Ruby said as she picked up her scythe. <Just because we’re both gay, and I happen to be super attracted to her doesn’t mean we’re automatically going to be girlfriends.>

<I might not even be her type, you know!> she added as she headed up to the front of the train.

Blake stared at her, before she took her post at the last carriage.

<Hey, your Keeper Ruby's friend, right?> one of the other Watchers asked as Blake boarded.

<What of it?> she asked cooly.

<Mind if I ask if all those rumours are true? You know, the ones about her and the new soft-skin being--> they made a sexy animal noise.

Blake sighed as she climbed up to the roof. <I honestly don’t even know anymore...> she replied.

Back at the Guild Hall, Weiss and Penny were standing in a large auditorium, as all the seats had already been claimed, or given away to others more deserving of them in the unofficial pecking order of the Job Gauntlet.

As Weiss understood it, elderly Fae and those that were obviously just looking for a new career out of boredom, financial difficulty, or genuine interest were first; young children and teenagers who were about to embark on their first ever Gauntlet were second; and last were the Moss, a mishmash of different ages, attitudes, and backgrounds unified by the air their lack of a desire to get a job, ever.

As an outsider, Weiss was lumped into that last group.

If it was any consolation, the Guild’s heavily practical attitudes continued here; no one seemed to recognize or care that she was guilty of her father’s expeditions by association, only that she behave and look interested as a presentation started—spoken, written, and with animated cartoons for the illiterates or those with poor comprehension.

The orientation ended with all of the Fae reciting a vow—Penny later translated it as “The Three Truths,” the guiding principles of most of Fae society. As the words, concepts, and historical context were too deep and complex for her to interpret without an hour or so of dedicated processing and cross-referencing the Codex for information she might not be allowed to share with Weiss, the extremely rough, very basic translation came out as this:

I am the World, as the World is I.

I am the Other, as the Other is I.

As the World rises, so We rise; as We rise, so does the World.

These truths we hold in our hearts and our minds, in thought and in deed, in living and in death, now and forever.

Weiss was tempted to say “Praise be,” as those of the Holy Shepherd would, but didn’t.

The presentation ended, and the participants for the Gauntlet were given slips of paper with their schedules, the names of their facilitators and the potential jobs they were being tested for, along with a space for stamps or signatures they needed to get lest they risk a hefty fine, community service, or even imprisonment.

“You are really serious about everyone having a job, aren’t you?” Weiss asked as Penny guided her to her first test.

“Very much so!” Penny replied. “Few Fae are willing to forsake the Three Truths and the laws and practices that they are based on, but as you humans might say, ‘There is no free lunch.’”  

Weiss nodded. “So what am I looking at here, anyway?”

“Mostly Maker and Tender positions involving lots of precision work and deft handiwork! Though we understand it doesn’t extend to the whole of your species, humans in Fae society tend to have a reputation as excellent artisans, engineers, and scientists.”

Weiss smirked. “Then this’ll be easy!”

Penny calmly put a hand on her shoulder. “There’s a Fae saying I think is very appropriate right now:

“’All prey are easy kills until you actually try to kill them.’”