#black craft saga

[prettylilthingptrns]

Finally got this bad boy on Etsy! Titsoak Twilight themed cross stitch pattern :)

[filmnoirsbian]

Things read in May

Essays & Articles:

Ursula K. Le Guin on Being A Man

Investigating parents of transgender youth has agency on ‘brink of collapse,’ staff warns

Five Indigenous Speculative Fiction Authors You Should Be Reading

DECOLONIZING SCIENCE FICTION AND IMAGINING FUTURES: AN INDIGENOUS FUTURISMS ROUNDTABLE

Using Dogs As A Tool of Racial Oppression

Rings of Power: The new hobbits are filthy, hungry simpletons with stage-Irish accents. That’s $1bn well spent

First case of HIV cure in a woman after stem cell transplantation reported at CROI-2022

The Trees That Miss The Mammoths

NOPE’S SCIENCE CONSULTANT REVEALS THE NAME AND INSPIRATION FOR THE MOVIE’S ALIEN

Reflections on the Poetry of Eavan Boland

The dire state of trans healthcare in Ireland

How Letterkenny Got Indigenous Representation So Right

Einstein's Parable of Quantum Insanity

Surgical amputation of a limb 31,000 years ago in Borneo

Most Transgender Children Stick With Gender Identity 5 Years Later: Study

Were you a ‘parentified child’? What happens when children have to behave like adults

Fear of a Black Hobbit

It’s a ‘Full-Contact’ Haunted House. What Could Go Wrong?

The Craft: How a Teenage Weirdo Based on a Real Person Became an Icon

Remember When Multiplayer Gaming Needed Envelopes and Stamps?

‘We’ll Never Make That Kind of Movie Again’ An oral history of The Emperor’s New Groove, a raucous Disney animated film that almost never happened.

5 Incredible Sagas of Fandom Scams and Deception

I Used to Love British Period Dramas. Now I See Them as Colonial Propaganda

Why gender essentialism is a white supremacist ideology

Liberating Our Homes From the Real Estate–Industrial Complex

You Don’t Have To Be Pretty – On YA Fiction And Beauty As A Priority

Ten Years Later, There’s Still Nothing Like Tarsem Singh’s The Fall

Tolerance is not a moral precept

Scottish Poet and Publisher Derick Thomson 'Transformed' Gaelic Poetry

Poetry:

The Universe, as in One Last Song for the Lonely Hearts by Michelle Hulan

An Ordinary Evening in New Haven by Wallace Stevens

Heaven by George Herbert

Return from Death by Derick Thomson

Coffins by Derick Thomson

Chemin De Fer by Elizabeth Bishop

Yes, It Was The Mountain Echo by William Wordsworth

The Man and the Echo by William Butler Yeats

The Most of It by Robert Frost

Eros Turannos by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Books:

The Dark Yule by R. M. Callahan

The Invasion by K. A. Applegate

The Whisper by Aaron Starmer

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Miss Iceland by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

[soob1nn]

MY FILMS - ADULT FAME DR

REMINDER! I haven’t shifted yet, so all these is just my imagination 🤍

masterlist - main masterlist

Films are a powerful medium of storytelling and artistic expression. Combining visual, auditory, and narrative elements, films captivate audiences, transporting them to diverse worlds, evoking emotions, and sparking thought. From silent classics to cutting-edge blockbusters, the world of cinema has evolved, reflecting societal changes and pushing creative boundaries. Whether it's the magic of a well-crafted screenplay, the mesmerizing performances of actors, or the technical brilliance behind the scenes, films continue to be a dynamic and influential form of entertainment and cultural expression.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" saga is a cinematic adventure like no other, immersing audiences in a world of high-seas exploits, swashbuckling action, and supernatural wonders. This beloved franchise, brought to life by the charismatic Captain Jack Sparrow, has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema.

What sets the "Pirates of the Caribbean" saga apart is its perfect fusion of thrilling action and cleverly woven mythology. From the very first installment, "The Curse of the Black Pearl," to subsequent sequels, the films have taken viewers on a journey filled with cursed treasures, mythical creatures, and, of course, eccentric pirates.

At the heart of the saga is the enigmatic Captain Jack Sparrow, portrayed brilliantly by Johnny Depp. Jack's witty charm, unpredictable antics, and ever-present quest for rum have made him an iconic character in cinematic history.

The franchise's success also lies in its ability to seamlessly blend history and fantasy. The Caribbean settings, the pirate code, and the age of exploration provide a historically rich backdrop for the fantastical elements like cursed Aztec gold, undead sailors, and mermaids.

Each film in the series has introduced new characters and expanded upon the lore, creating a vast and interconnected narrative that keeps fans eagerly awaiting the next installment.

With unforgettable moments, memorable quotes, and a score that resonates long after the credits roll, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" saga has carved its place as a beloved classic. It's a thrilling voyage into the world of pirates, where legends, curses, and epic battles reign, making it a timeless adventure that continues to captivate audiences of all ages.

BEAUTY OF THE BEAST

"Beauty and the Beast," in its live-action adaptation, breathes new life into a timeless tale that has enchanted generations. This magical film takes the beloved animated classic and transforms it into a visually stunning and emotionally captivating experience.

Set in a picturesque French village, the story follows the intelligent and kind-hearted Belle, brilliantly portrayed by Emma Watson, who longs for more than the provincial life she leads. When her father becomes a prisoner in the enchanted castle of the Beast, played by Dan Stevens, Belle courageously takes his place, embarking on a journey of discovery, love, and the power of inner beauty.

With its stunning visual effects, lavish costumes, and memorable musical score, the live-action "Beauty and the Beast" faithfully pays homage to the original while adding depth to its characters and narrative. The film not only celebrates the power of love but also explores themes of tolerance, acceptance, and the beauty that lies within.

This enchanting adaptation is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the hearts of both long-time fans and new audiences, reaffirming the enduring power of this classic tale as old as time. "Beauty and the Beast" in its live-action form invites us to be their guest in a world where magic and love flourish, reminding us that beauty truly comes from within.

LITTLE WOMEN

"Little Women" stands as a cinematic jewel, capturing the timeless essence of Louisa May Alcott's literary masterpiece. This film adaptation, directed by Greta Gerwig, breathes new life into the beloved narrative of the March sisters, presenting a fresh and poignant take on sisterhood, ambition, and the pursuit of one's dreams.

Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, "Little Women" unfolds the lives of the four March sisters—Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—each with distinctive personalities and aspirations. The film gracefully weaves between the past and present, allowing audiences to witness the joys and challenges of the sisters as they navigate the trials of womanhood, love, and societal expectations.

With an all-star cast featuring Winter Reed Jackman, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen as the March sisters, and an exceptional performance by Timothée Chalamet as Laurie, the film brings these iconic characters to life with depth and authenticity.

Greta Gerwig's directorial prowess shines through as she infuses "Little Women" with a contemporary spirit, resonating with modern audiences while maintaining the timeless charm of the original story. The film is a celebration of the strength, resilience, and individuality of women, urging viewers to embrace their ambitions and forge their paths.

"Little Women" is a poignant and visually captivating cinematic journey that captures the spirit of sisterhood and the pursuit of one's aspirations. It invites audiences to revisit the cherished tale with fresh eyes, offering a profound and emotionally resonant experience for both new and devoted fans of this literary classic.

KNIVES OUT

"Knives Out" is a modern masterpiece in the realm of whodunits, a brilliantly crafted film that masterfully blends mystery, humor, and a star-studded ensemble cast. Directed by Rian Johnson, this murder-mystery film takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride of suspense, twists, and dark humor.

The story centers around the death of wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey, portrayed by Christopher Plummer. When renowned detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, is enlisted to investigate, the Thrombey family becomes the focal point of scrutiny. With each member harboring secrets and motives, the plot thickens, and the suspense escalates.

"Knives Out" boasts a stellar cast including Daniel Craig, Winter Reed Jackman, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more, each delivering standout performances that contribute to the film's gripping atmosphere. The narrative is cleverly layered, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they attempt to unravel the intricate web of deception and motive.

Beyond its gripping storyline, "Knives Out" is a sharp and satirical take on family dynamics, privilege, and the consequences of wealth. Rian Johnson's expert direction and sharp dialogue elevate the film, making it a delightful homage to classic whodunits while infusing it with a contemporary edge.

This cinematic gem not only keeps the audience guessing until the very end but also provides a fresh and entertaining perspective on the murder mystery genre. "Knives Out" is a clever and stylish film that engages the mind, tickles the funny bone, and ultimately leaves a lasting impression, establishing itself as a standout in the pantheon of modern cinema.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

"Top Gun: Maverick" is a highly anticipated sequel that soars into the iconic world of fighter jets and high-stakes aerial combat. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Tom Cruise reprising his role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, this film is a thrilling continuation of the 1986 classic, "Top Gun."

Set decades after the events of the original film, Captain Maverick finds himself adapting to a new era of aerial warfare dominated by drone technology. As he mentors a new generation of Top Gun graduates, the film promises heart-pounding dogfights, cutting-edge aviation sequences, and a nostalgic nod to the beloved elements that made the first film an enduring favorite.

"Top Gun: Maverick" not only reintroduces fans to the adrenaline-fueled world of fighter pilots but also introduces fresh faces played by actors like Miles Teller and Winter Reed Jackman. With its combination of high-octane action and character-driven storytelling, the film aims to capture the spirit of the original while propelling the narrative into uncharted skies.

As Maverick confronts his past and embraces the challenges of the future, the film offers a blend of nostalgia and innovation, promising an exhilarating cinematic experience for both longtime fans and a new generation of moviegoers. "Top Gun: Maverick" is poised to be a blockbuster that reignites the Maverick legend while delivering a visual spectacle that takes the iconic franchise to new heights.

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" unfolds on the silver screen as a spellbinding cinematic journey through the glitz and glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age. Adapted from Taylor Jenkins Reid's compelling novel, this film invites audiences into the captivating life story of Evelyn Hugo, a legendary film actress portrayed with brilliance and nuance.

In the film, we follow Evelyn's journey through the decades, beautifully capturing the essence of old Hollywood. The glamorous sets, meticulously crafted costumes, and evocative cinematography transport viewers to a bygone era where stars shone brightly on and off the screen.

As the narrative unfolds, the complexities of Evelyn’s seven marriages come to life, each husband portrayed by a stellar cast that adds depth to the character-driven drama. The film navigates the twists and turns of Evelyn’s life, revealing secrets, scandals, and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of fame and love.

The storytelling prowess of Taylor Jenkins Reid is masterfully translated to the screen, with Evelyn's compelling voice narrating her journey. The film seamlessly weaves together themes of identity, love, and the price of success, creating an emotional tapestry that resonates with audiences.

While exploring the intricacies of Evelyn's life, the film introduces Monique Grant, the journalist chosen by Evelyn to tell her story. Monique's personal journey becomes an integral part of the cinematic narrative, adding layers of depth and connection to the overarching tale.

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" on the big screen is more than a glamorous expose of Hollywood excess; it's a poignant exploration of the human experience. The film's rich storytelling, combined with outstanding performances and lush visuals, elevates it beyond a mere adaptation, making it a cinematic triumph that lingers in the hearts of viewers long after the final credits roll.

[ilikethisacompletelynormalamount]

Andrew Scott and Dakota Fanning, who star in Netflix’s “Ripley,” at the Crosby Street Hotel in New York last month.(Evelyn Freja / For The Times

Developed for television by Steven Zaillian (“The Night Of”), the series was originally set up at Showtime before moving to Netflix, with production spanning from summer 2021 to spring 2022. The lavish thriller, which is shot in black and white, stars Scott as the eponymous scam artist; Johnny Flynn (“Emma”) as Dickie Greenleaf, the wayward heir to a wealthy Manhattan dynasty with whom Ripley becomes obsessed; and Fanning as Marge Sherwood, Dickie’s girlfriend, who is suspicious of the new man in town.

The dark, subversive antihero saga begins as Tom is enlisted by Dickie’s father , who mistakenly assumes Tom is a friend of his son , to venture to Italy to cajole him into returning home. Tom becomes infatuated with Dickie and his lifestyle, then kills him to avoid being deserted — and the cover-up spirals from there. It’s an apt parable for the social media age, in which the carefully crafted image can be seductive to a damaging degree. But Zaillian didn’t embark on the adaptation with that in mind...

“From the moment she meets him, Marge is suspicious of him. At a certain point, he appeals to her vanity,” says series creator Steven Zaillian about Tom Ripley, played by Andrew Scott.(Evelyn Freja / For The Times)

[opinated-user]

LO did NOT just receive a message from a blank tumblr claiming to be a mother to a 16 year old kid apologizing to her for her child's "obessive hatred over LO".... *facepalm* This is literally the "I received a message from a father who says his kids are in a incestous relationship and asked my opinion on what to do about it." That's just WAY too elebrate a narrative. A mom makes a tumblr just to send a message to LO, or any tumblr personality for that matter, because their kid is being mean to them???? Nah, smells like fish to me.

oh no, anon, you don't understand. this is absolutely one of the funniest thing that LO could do. if it wasn't because LO gave such a long and obviously crafted response, i'd even believe this is a random troll just messing around because it's that good. LO has never been funnier in her life. this, anon, this is quality nonsense. you have to appreciate it how utterly out of this world someone needs to be in order to do this and think no one will think weird about it. that's a great joke on itself. read how this "concered mother" is so very obviously southern and utterly polite. read how the mother tries to assure that her son "is a really sweet boy". read about how she's "concered" that her sweet baby boy is going to find a "problematic" person to hate online and this is bad, awful, horrible, because he might start blaming everything wrong on his life on this person. he hasn't done it. but he might someday, so the best course of action is to go to tumblr itself and make sure if that person is truly problematic. by asking that person directly. and obviously, everyone would admit point black to being a predator who has molested their siblings for years, catfished a friend, sexually abuse people, groomed a minor, etc, etc, right? right? that's a very smart thing to assume, right? so obviously, as a very reasonable, very maam, this woman is going to directly ask to the people accused of these acts if they're true instead of looking at any of the evidence. just read again how apologetic this woman is to someone she has no idea why people keep calling a predator. no, anon. this is gold. this up there with the kind of absolute nonsense that the whole "i was stalked by a online harasser and i drop kick him in front of my house in the street, i receive a concussion too but no medical assistance required, thank you" saga was. the cancer history can't compare. it's even funnier than the "concerned" father because that was just one random anon that maybe, if you really wanted to, could believe came from someone else. in this ocassion, LO made that account. she actually went through the trouble of making it. the answer of LO too is so funny. first of all, i need to ask: what does "minor therapy" even means? do they come in categories now? there's a "high therapy" that you only get once you have grind enough, i wonder. "reinforcing that he needs to do something else with his time" is so extremely vague that you might as well said "the solution to your problem is to solve it", but somehow making it this big declaration that is supposed to be the biggest help you can get on that situation.

she's treating this reply as it were this big moment of her declaring the truth of the matter... while addressing actually nothing at all. if you were a real mother who thinks your son is following someone that people are calling a predator... well, the first question is obviously why would you write that "predator" at all. but then the other question would be, is that actually a good reply? there's no screenshots, there's no archives, there's no proof of anything of what LO's saying. this is literally just "source: trust me" and it's meant to be taken seriously. LO has found LO innocent of all charges, as LO has declared. she thinks this is going to assure people that she's innocent. that's amazing. that's a great joke. the funniest joke that LO has never made in her entire career. i literally can't stop laughing just imagining LO doing all of this and thinking to herself "take that, Brittanies! now you won't ever doubt the harm you cause! even though i actually completely failed into portraying any real harm done, but nevermind that! take that!"

even in the case that this was a real person who saw her son's entire internet history and somehow felt necesary to make a tumblr blog just so she could message a youtuber out of the blue, LO's answer would mean nothing. if i was a parent, this reply alone would set a new field of red flags everywhere. and that's why it's so funny that LO still has this account pretending to be grateful for receiving what is essentially a big sandwich of nothing.

[feith-rikya]

About this blog:

I decided to open this space to share the drawings I've made in the last few years, mainly focused on the Vampire The Masquerade RPG campaign, which I'm currently playing with my friends.

This campaign has been a wellspring of creativity for me, ignited by the enthralling narratives of the game and the camaraderie with my friends. Now, I'm thrilled to extend this creative journey to you, inviting you to explore the intricate plotlines and vibrant characters that have brought me immense joy over time.

Each artwork I present will be accompanied by detailed character descriptions and story insights. However, I encourage your curiosity and welcome questions in the designated section if you wish to delve deeper into this immersive universe.

To kick things off, let's start with a brief introduction to the captivating realm of Vampire: The Masquerade. Conceived by Mark Rein-Hagen in 1991, this gothic RPG transports players to a shadowy world where vampires battle for supremacy and survival. Themes of morality, immortality, and the eternal struggle between good and evil are woven into its fabric.

Vampire: The Masquerade is a pivotal part of the expansive World of Darkness, a fictional universe crafted by White Wolf Publishing in 1991. This expansive realm encompasses various settings like Werewolf: The Apocalypse and Mage: The Ascension, delving into the interplay between humans and supernatural beings. Notably, this universe is characterized by its dark and authentic backdrop, where characters confront their inner demons and grapple with profound moral choices.

Before we embark further, a few critical points must be addressed. The narratives I illustrate may touch upon sensitive topics and include instances of violence, as well as characters navigating morally ambiguous territories. While there are virtuous and uplifting characters, the overarching tone of the setting leans toward darkness, decadence, and tragedy. As such, characters often emerge as intricate figures with both negative and complex traits. It's important to note that no depiction is endorsed or justified – some content might allude to acts of cruelty, including torture and sexual assault. If these themes are distressing to you, I advise you to proceed with caution.

The narrative unfurls in 2013 as a fledgling group of vampires, known as a Coterie, rebels against London's reigning Prince. This rebellion results in the establishment of an independent domain, reshaping the dynamics of power in the city. Amidst whispers of an impending apocalypse (The Gehenna) and its prophetic omens, characters like Danya Vetranov, Luc Gossens, Nathan Black, and Elizabeth de Lacy set foot on a path they are yet to comprehend fully.

Allow me to introduce you to the key players in this intricate saga. Danya Vetranov, hailing from the Ravnos clan, arrives in London with her circus, accompanied by Luc Gossens of the Bruja clan. As the story unfolds, they cross paths with Elizabeth De Lacy, a Ventrue clan member, and Nate Black, another Bruja. Together, they strive to forge a harmonious coexistence between humans and vampires, a stark contrast to the prevailing exploitation and predation of humans. Simultaneously, their quest for a tranquil vampire existence encounters relentless challenges – from other vampires' machinations to the enigmatic force of Gehenna.

Their journey forces them to confront not just external ancient evils, but also enigmatic biblical forces and their own inner darkness. Despite starting as allies, the characters' paths might diverge into adversaries at any juncture. Their responses to the Gehenna differ: Luc embraces a path of violence and vengeance; Danya seeks redemption and transformation for even the most malevolent vampires; Elizabeth aspires to political supremacy while mediating between extremes; Nate's actions oscillate between cruelty and kindness, firmly grounded in his friends' ideals.

Before delving deeper, some groundwork is necessary. Vampire: The Masquerade immerses players in a dark, gothic universe where they embody vampires. This alternative reality intertwines vampires' existence with the mortal world. Players select a clan for their character, each with unique skills that directly impact gameplay. Crafting your vampire's attributes, powers, and personality becomes paramount.

Embedded in this world are essential rules, with La Masquerade taking center stage. This doctrine mandates that vampires keep their true nature concealed from humans, warding off potential persecution. This adherence is pivotal to avoid inviting unwanted attention and the wrath of humanity.

The pivotal element of Clan Warfare propels the game's political intrigue. Vampires vie for power, influence, and advantage, spawning alliances and betrayals that amplify the tension and complexity.

Within this mesmerizing realm of darkness and drama, I hope to offer you a captivating glimpse into my artistic odyssey. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I genuinely appreciate your interest and presence here!

Feith Rikya

[pkmn-art-reblogs]

new pokémon fanart archive!

Hey guys! The point of this blog is to reblog as many pokémon fanarts as possible (my goal is to reblog them all, we'll see if that's possible haha) so they're all properly tagged and easily searchable here.

I'm just getting started so you might find some tags are still partially or totally empty, I hope you come along to see them grow!

If you have an art blog and you draw/gif/craft pokemon, send me a DM and let me know! Or you can submit your art if you want to :)

what you can search for:

by type of art:

fanart both digital and traditional

gifs from the games/anime and animation in general

merch fanmade - plushies, enamel pins, and other objects

3d model

by character

pokemon: just go to the search bar on the top part of the blog and search for your favorite pokemon! see pikachu, for example. regional variants are tagged like "alolan raichu", not "raichu", though they should show up on the search for "raichu".

human characters: same as pokemon, search them by their english name. for example: gladion. for professors you should search for "professor (name)", like "professor oak" and not just "oak". submas have their own tag for the both of them, but also individual tags for ingo and emmet.

original characters both human and pokemon

fakemon for fan made pokemon, and from there you can branch off to variants or fusions

betamon for beta pokemon (from the leaked betas, like the 1997 spaceworld gold/silver one, or the diamond/pearl one; or from official sources, like the latias+blaziken pokemon from the ruby/sapphire showcase). beta versions of pokemon that exist have their own tags, like "beta wooper" and not "wooper"

by game

just search for the game you're interested in. spin off sagas have only one tag (like mystery dungeon) and main series games that have two versions follow the most used order for them (like black and white).

[monstertsunami]

THE PAFL CHARACTER NOBODY'S HEARD OF

there are a LOT of niche side characters and background characters in pafl: bg gang, nadya, lilya, kolya... but I've been posting about one lately that I realize nobody really knows about.

INTRODUCING...

Dr. Smirnov!

this old man has like no appearances in official pafl media. less than even Nadya, the most underrated queen. it makes sense that the tumblr audience (paflblr? we're not big or fandom-y enough to be called paflblr) isn't aware of him though, because his only official art was posted exclusively on ferry's twitter.

his first (and only) ""appearance"" is some off-screen dialogue in a temnova-centric minicomic where he insults and accuses her over DT's escape.

His dialogue is the black text in the above images, from which we can discern a few character traits of his: he's brash, impulsive, a bit rude, misogynistic, and hates temnova. it's likely that he holds the work done at the facility in high regard, a fact inferred by his outrage over DT's escape.

After ferry released this comic, someone in their discord server asked for a "smirnov reveal".

And in response, they sent back a stock photo of an angry cartoon scientist.

Later on twitter, they replied to the original comic's tweet with screenshots of these messages along with the ONLY public* character art of smirnov, referenced from the joke stock image. The art depicts him with a head injury and his arm in a sling, injuries likely sustained from his presence during DT's breakout. The tweet's caption references the fandom's tendency to overanalyze background characters, as Smrinov is irrefutably unimportant and completely disconnected from the main events of the series.

...And thus concludes the canonical saga of my babygirl, my blorbo, my favorite old man. Two posts. No lore. The MOST niche and unimportant side character in PAFL. He's important to me though. I never fully grasped the term blorbo until I discovered Smirnov and crafted an entire personality for him out of 3 lines of dialogue and a single image. Even if no one else cares about Smirnov, I will always cherish him. Godspeed, you yaoiful old man..

*if anyone in ferry's discord server knows of any more doodles of him or messages regarding him, CONTACT ME CONTACT ME CONTACT ME PLEASE!! IM DESPERATE FOR MORE SMIRNOV. PLEASE.

[powerofelvis]

Sweets For My Sweet

Pairing: Elvis Presley x black!reader

Word Count: 7.9K

Summary: Vampires and Witches have been sworn enemies for centuries. This is the case for you and Elvis, the oldest vampire that has walked the earth since the beginning of time. You were hired by Colonel Tom Parker to keep his prized possession under his thumb. But, are you able to hold on to the century-long rivalry forever?

Warning(s): Vampire!Elvis, ANGST, talks with the colonel, slight blood kink (if you squint), death, lots of death, SMUT, unprotected sex, flashbacks to a past life, sexual frustration, and a little fluff at the end (if you wanna call it fluff)

A/N: This is the second installment of my sweet inspirations saga. This is NOT a follow-up to Sweet Inspiration (although I’ve gotten a few requests to follow up with that, which I will!). This fic is based off of Sweet Inspiration’s Sweets For My Sweet. If you haven’t listened to that song, you should! I don’t really like this installment simply because it’s my very first time writing about vampires, I’m a newbie on that but as always, I hope you guys enjoy ;)

masterlist.

Las Vegas. You were stuck in this shitty town for as long as you could remember. Your family migrated from the bloodline of the enslaved women who were executed in Salem trials of 1692. Your ancestor, Candy was a female servant who toiled away in a puritan household. Your ancestry went all the way back to Barbados, until she was enslaved and sent to the United States, where her mistress, Margaret taught her the art of witchcraft. Your entire family lineage was made up of nothing but witchcraft until it landed upon you. When your family migrated to Las Vegas in 1918, they stayed hidden in fear of being executed or enslaved like the ancestors before them, but yet, they quietly blended in with society until the public couldn’t remember that they even existed. 

This is where you reside, quietly learning and perfecting the craft that was passed down to you through generations of witches that existed before you. You were a part of a coven that originated in Vegas, The Lucky Seven as you would like to call yourselves. The Lucky Seven were a smaller part of the coven as you were a part of the Salem Black Enchantresses coven that made up the original ancestors like yours. You were a group of women who turned away from black magic and now spent their time hunting vampires who made their home in the seedy city. You would be lying if you said that you weren’t tired of chasing filthy bloodsuckers for a living, but you had to pay the bills. Your family has been chasing vampires even back in Salem, but they were using darker measures such as black magic to do it. 

Your coven resorted to physical measures to chase them, often using wooden stakes and crucifixes to do so. You were hired by different organizations and even the President at one time, but your world changed the moment that Colonel Tom Parker entered your life. The odd shaped man waltzed in like the arrogant bastard that he was, giving your sisters an irrefutable price that only you couldn’t turn down. The thing that you had to do was keep his prized possession, Elvis Presley under his guidance. He must have been crazy, thinking that you would be able to keep the strongest vampire that ever lived under his foot. It was no surprise that Elvis Presley was a vampire, in fact, he made it known that he was. 

From the beginning of his existence, Elvis Presley was causing chaos wherever he walked. His family was the original vampire coven who battled with the Salem Black Enchanteresses, even wiping out half of your bloodline with only a twinkle of an eye. It wasn’t a secret that you hated Elvis Presley with every bane of your existence, but he was also untouchable to you. Your family would scold you for taking the bribe, claiming that it was going to be the end of your coven if Elvis even knew who you were. You didn’t care though, the money seemed all too tempting to pass up, and the idea of seeing Elvis beg and plead for mercy at your feet made you fall at the opportunity. You knew that in the back of your mind, you would be foolish to think that you could take down the all-powerful vampire that caused so much pain to your family and the city, but you pushed that thought further away as you would meet with the colonel for the first time of many. 

“I hope you know that I won’t stop until the bastard is weak, right?” You say in front of the dirty man who hired you, rolling your eyes as the colonel tapped his fat fingers on the hardwood of his desk. “Oh, I expect nothing less, Y/N. That’s what I paid you for, yes?” His squeaky voice made you grimace with disgust as his eyes lingered on you a little too long for your liking. “He might die. I don’t think you understand, Colonel. If you’re asking me to use magic, even he can't withstand it for long periods of time.” You swore that you wouldn’t use black magic again, not even letting clients become aware that you ever could. They thought that maybe you were the type of witch who used tarot cards to tell the future, but it was only because they didn’t begin to know the half of power that you held. 

The colonel seemed to have researched you and your family because he knew about the magic that you inherited, asking you to face the bane of your existence. “I know all about your little black magic, Y/N. Do you know why I asked you to take this job? Because you are familiar with my boy. Your family is all connected with him, you have much more to lose and so does he.” The undertone of his voice sending chills up your body as you clicked your tongue. “I don’t have anything to lose except my life, Colonel. Elvis killed everything when he wiped out my lineage. And I don’t have anything to lose by snapping your neck with only a snap of my fingers.” You sat up in your chair as you leaned over his desk, whispering the last part of your sentence so only he could hear. 

The colonel didn’t seem phased, only cracking a smile when he saw how close you were. “If I’m dead, Y/N. You won’t be able to permanently defeat Mister Presley. Isn’t that what you want?” He was right. That was what you wanted, but you weren't ready to let him know how much you’ve trained for this exact opportunity. The colonel gave you all of the information that you needed, even giving you the ammo that he knew Elvis couldn’t resist, a beautiful woman. You had to attend one of his shows, dressed better than any other woman in hopes that you would catch his attention. After all, Elvis was riding so much on the high that came from stardom that he wouldn’t think twice about another woman that he could bed and then possibly kill. 

So, here you are at the International on one of the nights that he held his shows, tugging at your dress that made you uncomfortable, dolled up at the hands of your sister, Clem. Clementine was your closest sister, being the only one who understood your hatred for Elvis and why you decided to take the job in the first place. “I get why you have to do this, even if I’m not comfortable with the whole idea.” She said as he picked out your curls, making sure that none of them were out of place at the chance that you wouldn’t get the opportunity to see Elvis up close. The sheen from your bronze complexion glistened under the light, nerves getting the better of you as you realized that tonight was the night that your plan would begin motion. “I know you do, Clem. I just don’t know if I’ll be able to pull it off. There’s gonna be hundreds of women like me, but what if he doesn’t even choose me?” 

“Y/N. You are drop dead gorgeous. If Elvis doesn’t choose you, it just shows that he’s a mindless leech that needs to be wiped off of the planet.” She laughed, wiping away the remaining mousse that she put in your hair. You laughed at the memory from earlier, walking into the ballroom that held the show tonight. You sat at the nearest table that you could find that would be in his line of view. You scoffed at the women who were lining up in the room, seeing their excitement at being close to the man of the hour like he was some sort of God to them. You couldn’t blame them, he had them all under his spell, enchanting them with his thrusting hips and crooning voice. You weren’t going to be one of those women, in fact, when he came on stage moments later, you sat stoic in your chair while women who sat around they screamed and flailed their arms as he looked around the room. 

What a joke. 

You crossed your arms, sitting up in your chair as the show continued. His eyes roamed the crowd, seemingly as if he felt that someone important would be there tonight. You were sure that his eyes lingered in your direction longer than usual, his gaze burning into you as he took in your body. A smirk glided across his face as he turned away from your direction, continuing with the next song that he was performing. You could feel your heart accelerate as his cerulean hues continued lingering over your body, his crooning lighting a fire in your loins. You are not here for this, Y/N. Snap out of it. Although you hated his guts in every sense of the word ‘hate’, you conceded he was the most attractive man that you have ever laid eyes on. You never ever laid eyes on Elvis Presley in person, but the pictures did him no favors. 

His tanned body hugged that black Herringbone suit, sweat clumping up his slick and oily black hair as his eyes scanned the crowd as he bellowed out a ballad that had the entire crowd in awe. You had to admit that his voice was alluring, seemingly getting under his spell a little. Your body was betraying you, the hatred that you held for him swaying as he watched you intently as if he was sizing you up before devouring you whole. Like a predator to its prey, you slowly got sucked into his world. The song ended, breaking you out of a trance as Elvis disappeared behind the curtain. You hissed in anguish as you thought that maybe the colonel had set you up, knowing the power that Elvis held, you weren’t sure if you would be able to make it out of this mission with your devotion intact. 

You were stopped by a dark haired man, his shirt hugged his body a little too tightly as his arms sat by his side. You raised your brow as you stepped back a bit, seeing the exact same pendant that Elvis wore but it wasn’t jeweled with rubies, instead a beautiful emerald sat in the middle surrounded by diamonds that spelled out ‘TCB’. This must be one of his men, you thought as you eyed him cautiously. He smiled at you finally, his eyes crinkling but you could still see his eyes. “E.P. wants to see you.” He turned, leading you towards the back, doors littering the hallway as you followed cautiously. You cursed yourself that you didn’t come prepared, but in the back of your mind, you were happy. You were happy that he had chosen you, the plan was now setting the stage. 

You stood in front of a brown door that spelled out his name, your heart thumping in your chest as the man knocked on the door. “Hey E, I got the girl that you were talking about.” The door immediately opened and you were faced with the most graceful and attractive man that you’ve ever laid eyes on. His jawline was chiseled, stubble covering his jaw which led up to the bushy sideburns that sat impeccably on his face. For a moment, you forgot that you had a job to do as your eyes lingered on his face as he shined his bright white teeth at you. “Thanks Jer.” He stepped aside, allowing you to walk into the room before shutting the door behind you. It was finally happening, you were face to face with the man who tormented your family for centuries but all you could do was shyly stand in the middle of the room as he faced you. 

“What’s your name, sugar?” He briskly floated across the room, his fingers playing with your tight curls that laid on your shoulders. You played with your dress, goosebumps appearing on your skin as you eyed him with caution. “Y/N. My name is Y/N.” You whimpered out, seemingly under some sort of spell that he had casted upon you when he was on stage. “That’s so pretty, mama. d’ya know why I asked for you?” He was standing behind you, you melting into his embrace as he continued to toy with you. His fingers moved away from your hair, now resting on your neck. Elvis could smell the fresh blood pumping through your veins, trying to hold himself together. You smelled so sweet to him, his damned soul begging for just a little taste, but he wanted to wait. 

All good things come to those who wait. 

“I’m sure you’re willing to tell me, Mister Presley.” Your fingers were gripping your dress tighter, nearly ripping the material apart. He turned you to face him, his cerulean eyes burning a fire within you that you never knew you had. His fingers tilted your head up so that you looked into them, a sly smile spreading across his deadly lips as he stared so deep into your soul, you could feel him penetrating you without physically doing so. “I finally found you, my love. I know who you are. You look just like her.” Your brow raised in confusion as you stepped away from him. “H-how do you know who I am, Mister Presley? I’ve never seen you before in my life.” You turned away from him, the fear in your heart made you stand where you were as you secretly hoped that he didn’t know what your plan was. 

“Candy. You look exactly like my darling. I’ve waited nearly a century for her to return to me.” He turned you around to face him once more, his hands caressing your face as you looked up into his eyes once again. You knew that he knew Candy, he fought her personally when she was alive. However, you didn’t know that he was romantically involved with her. “Candy was your—what?” Elvis’ cool fingers moved up your throat, placing his chin into your shoulder. “You mean you ain’t ever heard about me and Candy? She was burned at the stake not because she was a witch, baby. Her witchy friends knew that she was my woman. I fed from her, she fed from me. She didn’t wanna do this witch lingo anymore, so they killed her. They killed her and sent her burned heart to me. Her so-called friends.” 

You were appalled that all of this was even true. That was not the story that you were told, in fact, that was farthest from the truth. The lie that your family told you that Candy was murdered by Elvis and that he ate her heart was all a sham. “So you didn’t kill Candy? Everything I heard about you were lies?” You turned around to face him, placing your hand on his chest as you were still cautiously looking at the man. You didn’t know if you should trust him, you were on a mission. You just weren’t sure if the mission would happen as easily as you anticipated. “I would have never killed the love of my life, little one. She was my bride, the only witch that I could tolerate. You don’t think that I don’t know that the son of a bitch that’s supposed to manage me hired you? To kill me?” 

Your heart stopped in its tracks, your body language telling Elvis all that he needed to know. He was old, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew that the colonel wanted him controlled like an animal, following only his instructions on who to kill and how to kill them. “It’s no secret then. Yes, I was hired to control you, and I have no problem with killing you. Only because you were rumored to wipe out my bloodline. I grew up learning to hate you and your kind. That’s the only thing I know.” You pushed him away, turning around to face the door. You weren’t sure anymore about anything. However, you also didn’t trust Elvis either. “How do I know that I can trust you? Trust that you’re not lying to save your own ass. That you wouldn’t kill me when you had the chance?” 

Elvis stepped away from you, laughing underneath his breath. “If you want to kill me, do it. I won’t do a thing, after all, this vampire shit is getting old. I'm tired of outliving everyone that I cared about.” You turned to face him once again, noticing that Elvis was serious. He couldn’t be serious, right? There’s no way that this man was eager to die, but in your heart, you knew that he was pushing you to see what you would do. “Come on then, little one. Let’s see if your powers are as powerful as these witches claim. Hit me with your best shot and then I’ll explain everything.” Elvis tapped his chest, growling as his lips snarled like a wild animal—fangs glistening under the light. 

You gasped as he walked towards you, his face as demonic like a beast starved for its next meal. You backed away from him, whispering creole under your breath, black smoke rising from your hands as you tried to control the situation. You managed to speak incantations, placing your hands up to his body. Elvis immediately flew across the room, hitting the wall as he slid down. His eyes widened at you, blood pooling out of the side of his mouth as he chuckled out in happiness. “You are Candy. You’re her incarnation, I know her magic anywhere.” You rolled your eyes, looking at him as your hands still pressed him against the wall. “I don’t believe you.” You continued muttering incantations as your hand moved around his neck, picking him up off of the floor. 

Elvis struggled against your hand, clawing at your arm before he managed to get your hand free. “Shit!” You gasped as he wrapped his hand around your throat, pinning you down on the floor. You groaned in pain, placing your foot against his stomach, flipping him over underneath you. At that moment, your birthmark that was shaped like a moon crescent was revealed to him. His hand eased around your throat as his eyes lingered on the mark, his mouth agape as he pushed you away. You were going in for the kill, but you immediately ceased as you noticed that his fingers were tracing your birthmark. “What now?” You asked, pulling your dress over the mark, covering yourself from his greedy eyes. 

“You have the same birthmark as Candy. You really are her incarnation. You came back to me, love.” Elvis spoke, knowing that you still didn’t believe him. He waited centuries for his lover to return, but you knew that it couldn’t be you. “I know you want to kill me. I know you don’t believe me, but listen to me when I say this, you are her. You have the same fire that she had, the same mannerisms, everything.” You stared at him as if he was crazy, but you knew that he wouldn’t lie to you. “Tell me everything you know.” You whispered as you stood up from your position on the ground, putting your hand out to help him up. “The only way I could let you see for yourself is to bite you. Are you willing to let me do that, mama?” 

You were weary, not really planning on being fed on but you nodded your head. Elvis whisked behind you before you could blink, your curly locks blowing under his windy movements, revealing your neck to him. You took a deep breath as his fingers ran across your neck, goosebumps appearing on your skin as you gave him silent permission to feed from you. He growled once again, your guard shaking as you closed your eyes. He sank his fangs into your neck, earning a gasp from you as your eyes opened once again. At that moment, you saw memories that you didn’t know that you had. 

You were getting up from the ground, wiping the blood from your mouth as you faced him. His animalistic nature shifted back into his charming persona as he helped you up from the ground. “Did I hurt you, my love?” His arms wrapped around your waist as he leaned in pressing his blood covered lips to yours. You were happy, finding love in one of the grotesque ways possible. Your sisters turned their back on you, promising that you would soon regret loving their sworn enemies. Yet, you didn’t care. “Yeah, but I’m stronger than you think, E. Do you think I’ll be ready to face them? They taught me everything that I know. Before them, I was only a slave who couldn’t read or write. I can’t just turn against them.”

At that moment, Elvis smiled. “You’re ready. Once we defeat them, you’ll never have to hide again. You’ll become my bride. Hell, you’re already my bride, mama. We will rule this world where vampires and witches can co-exist without wanting to kill each other. We will show these humans that we aren’t animals or demons. Your sisters will come around, I promise you.” You were weary, but you believed him when he stared at you with his soft blues. He wanted to protect you. He wanted you to be his wife and he would do anything to ensure that you are happy with your family and with him. That was all that you needed to see before you nodded your head. “Alright, I’m ready.” 

You gasped out in pain, but the pleasure was also there as he continued showing you the memories that were buried in your soul. The next memory that you saw brought tears to your eyes, ignoring all of the pleasure that you were feeling from his touch. 

Your sisters stood over you, chanting incantations that you didn’t quite understand. You screamed out in pain, begging for mercy as their magic ripped you apart from the inside. You could hear Elvis screaming your name. “Candy! You can fight them! Don’t give up, darlin’! Please, I love you!” You sobbed as you knew that you were powerless against the dark magic that was being used against you. You had given in to their whims, looking over at your lover as he was held back by his vampire brethren, his growls soothing you as you mouthed ‘I love you’ to him. You were surrounded by darkness, only hearing Elvis as your heart stopped. You were at peace, the peace that you craved with Elvis and your sisters but you could only dream that one day that peace will come true. 

Your heaven was with Elvis, cuddled into his arms as he told stories about his life. Soon enough, you would come back to him. You were never going to leave his side again. As you wait, your bronze complexion shone in the sun as you took in the surroundings that would be your home. “Elvis, I will be coming home. Wait for me.” You sobbed as you sat down in the soft grass until your time would come. You could only wait, and so you did…

You gasped as he pulled away, lapping up the holes that he punctured into your neck. “Did you see? Did you see everything?” You turned around to face him, your face covered in tears as you nodded. “They killed me. They killed me and tore me away from you. I believe you.” You sobbed as he pulled you into his arms. “Everything that they taught me was a lie. Vampires and witches can exist in the same world, but they don’t want that. How can I even go on believing in my powers if they weren’t even real to begin with?” You shook your head as you pushed him away. You knew you had to report to the colonel, but you didn’t even have any information for him. 

“I have to tell the colonel that I have you under my control, but clearly I don’t. What should we do?” Elvis grabbed you by the hand, tilting your head up to look at him. He had the same blue eyes as he did in your vision, soft and welcoming. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I have a plan to get rid of him for good.” You nodded your head at his words, allowing him to tell you everything that he had planned. 

Your meeting with the colonel was after you met with Elvis. “So Miss Y/N, is he under your control?” You bit your tongue, glaring at that man who wanted to hurt Elvis. “Yep, he never saw it coming. He thought he would be able to kill me like all of the other women that he came across, but as I always do, I proved him wrong. You should be able to have him do your bidding now.” You chuckled, staring at your nails so that you wouldn’t have to stare at the wretched man. “I knew I made a good choice by choosing you. You have to continue using your powers on him. We have a lot to do.” He laughed, sliding the money across the desk. 

You grabbed the duffel bag that was filled with the money that he promised you, standing up on your feet as you walked to the door. “You’re right, we have lots to do. Thank you kindly, colonel.” You smiled softly, opening the door to his office before stepping out. Once the door was closed, you laid on it, sighing as you shook your head. “Lots to fucking do.” You spat as you walked away from the door, smirking as you thought about the newfound plan that you had made with the devil himself. 

Clementine knew something was wrong once you returned home, throwing the duffel bag on the ground before stomping off to your room. “Y/N, what’s wrong?” She followed as she stood at your doorway before you could shut it. “Everything is a lie, Clem. Elvis never killed Candy. He was in love with her. You should have seen what I saw! He wanted us to live in peace! But I have to keep him under my control to appease this slimeball that he calls a manager.” Clementine stared at you for a while before she took you by the hand. “You know everything, don’t you?” You stared back at her in shock, pulling your hand away from her. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell me that I was her this entire time? Everything that I was taught and know has been a lie and yet you knew?!” 

She nodded her head as she walked into your room, sitting down on your bed. “Mama told me the truth before she died, Y/N. She said that the only way to protect you was to hide it from you. I didn’t know that you would meet him again. What are you gonna do?” You knew exactly what you were going to do and yet, you couldn’t bring yourself to tell her the exact plan. “Nothing right now, I need time. Just give me a little bit of time, Clem.” She shook her head at you, leaving your room to allow you to have your time. The words of Elvis played again and again in my mind, different lives could be ruined, yet you didn’t care. You had finally returned to Elvis and he had returned to you. If only things weren’t so complicated. 

The following day, you arrived at the International, butterflies fluttering in your stomach at the fact that you were going to see Elvis once again. Things had changed between the both of you overnight, but you weren’t really enthusiastic at the idea that you would use your black magic again. After seeing what effect that it had on Elvis, you were back to square one, swearing off using black magic as it could harm the man that you were starting to have feelings for. Feelings, already? You really were a pushover. You arrived at his penthouse suite, being pulled into the tall man’s arms as he hugged you carefully. Elvis knew that although you were his reincarnated lover, you were still human. He could still crush you if he used all of his strength, so he held back even if it hurts him. 

“Everything go okay with the colonel?” Elvis sat you down on the couch in his suite, slithering flawlessly next to you. “I would like to think that it did. He doesn’t have a clue that you’re not under any spell, so you’re gonna have to play the part flawlessly. We can’t afford to have this plan backfire on us.” You chuckled, turning to look into his blue eyes that were burning holes into you. “Do you remember everything that we discussed?” The memories of last night played in your mind as you recalled the plan at hand. “You’re gonna go meet with the colonel after all of our meetings.” Your mouth dropped as you realized that this wasn’t the only time that you would meet with that con man. 

“Have you lost your mind, Elvis? I was only supposed to meet with him ONCE! How am I supposed to keep this act up when I have to see him every night?” You crossed your arms, turning your back to him. Elvis wasn’t having it, turning you back around to face him. His lanky fingers held on to your shoulders as he bent down slightly to catch your gaze. “Darlin’, I ain’t putting you in harms way. All I’m asking is that you put him off of my trail. I’ll handle the rest, you’ll see.” His southern drawl nuzzled against your bones as you mindlessly nodded at his words as if he had you under his spell. “Okay, I’ll do anything for you.” You muttered, the stubborn look on your features made him smile. 

“That’s my girl. Now, here’s what we are going to do.” Elvis began, still massaging your shoulders as he stared into your chocolate eyes. “You’re gonna use some of your magic on me little by little each day, not a whole lot to weaken me. I’ll feed off of you to get stronger, healing the bites afterward.” You held up your hand as you tilted your head to look at him, brow raised. “Now why are you feeding off of me?” Elvis laughed as he shook his head. “I get stronger feeding off of witches, which is why I used to hunt your kind back in the day. I’m not going to hurt you and I can also tell that it brings pleasure to ya. Don’t think I ain’t notice how wet you get when I’m biting into ya.” 

You blushed at his words, stupidly hoping that he didn’t catch on to your arousal at the feeling of him feeding from you. “Shut up. Continue what you were saying, Elvis?” You rolled your eyes as you hid behind your hands. “I’ll pretend that you have me under your spell, doing a little here and there for the colonel, while you also work your magic with him.” You pulled your hand down as you nodded, knowing that you wouldn’t have to use black magic with the colonel because he was only human. A little phony spell and he would be wrapped around your finger. “Go on, what’s the catch?” 

“The catch, mama, is that once I get strong enough, I’ll kill him. And we will take back what we worked hard for. I know what you’re thinking, baby. We won’t harm your family or anyone that you care about, but it won’t be easy once they figure out that we are working together.” You thought about your coven. You were upset, rightfully so, they lied to you. However, you weren’t upset enough to want to harm them. You breathe out a sigh of relief that Elvis didn’t want to harm the ones that you loved, he only wanted to make progress between his kind and yours. “Okay, Elvis. Count me in.” 

So the days continued as they always did with you meeting with Elvis, you using a little magic on him, and him feeding from you. Each time, your arousal would pool into your panties to the point that you eventually decided to forgo panties for these meetings. As Elvis fed from you, you could feel a piece of you longing for him to make love to you, smearing blood over your body as he took you again and again. However, he would always stop before you could reach an orgasm. Needless to say, you were extremely sexually frustrated. Elvis could tell, always promising you that once the colonel was dead, he would fuck you. You would use this frustration on the colonel, snapping at him as he used witty phrases as you both conversed. 

“Listen colonel, I know I told you that I would keep your boy in check, but that doesn’t mean you have me in check. I’m doing this as a favor for you. Don’t forget I’m a fucking witch, I’ll have you dancing like those chickens.” You stood up from your chair, snapping your finger in his face. As you snapped your fingers in his face, he was silent. “Alright dear, I’ll keep the comments to a minimum but don’t forget that you work for me.” He smirked, sitting back in his chair as he tilted his hat to you. You rolled your eyes as you left his office, grumbling under your breath about how he was a penguin shaped bastard. Your frustrations were also taken out on your sisters, arguing with them about the simplest things, before you eventually let it slip that you knew everything. 

They didn’t know what to say, giving you everything that you needed to know that they were hoping that you didn’t find out. Clementine stood on the side, not saying a word as you packed up your things. “I can’t stay here, Clem. I can’t stay in a place where my sisters are lying to me!” You yelled at her, immediately feeling the guilt of taking your frustrations out on her. “Well, where are you gonna go, baby? I hope you’re not going to stay with that blood-.” You snapped your eyes to her, causing her to close her mouth. “Yes, I’m going to stay with Elvis. At least he’s not lying to me.” Clementine took you by the hand, shaking her head. “You don’t know if he is or if he isn’t. Remember baby, he’s our sworn enemy. You mustn’t get too close to him.” 

If only she knew. You didn’t say a word as you snatched your hand from her, grabbing your bags before leaving the house. Elvis was thrilled that you were staying with him, making sure that everything was to your liking. Although he didn’t eat much human food, he did ensure that you had your strength as you both planned the final stage of your plan. It was Elvis’ last show for a while at the International, the perfect decoy for the destruction of the colonel. You sat next to the colonel and the owner of the hotel, playing it off that you hated Elvis and that you didn’t want to be there. What a bunch of fools. 

Elvis entered the stage, his charismatic energy taking the room by surprise. He was dressed in all black, which made you and every woman in that room crazy with arousal. The only difference between you and those women was that he belonged to you. You were his and he would become yours tonight. It was insane how you were back in the same room as you were weeks ago, with hatred in your heart for the man. Now, you were madly in love with him. Ain’t it funny how things change? “He’s been a very good boy lately, hasn’t he Y/N?” You rolled your eyes as you turned to face the men, a stiff smile on your face. “He sure has, colonel. I’m glad that I could use my services.” 

You turned away, mouthing a spell under your breath as you tapped the colonel’s knee. The time was coming, you could feel it. As the show neared its end, Elvis began his speech. “It sure has been nice performing for all you nice folks, but this is the last show that I’m ever performing here.” The crowd gasped in disappointment, causing the colonel to grunt out in surprise. “His last show? Y/N, what is he talking about?” You turned to face him, chanting your spell a little louder but only he could hear as the look on his face changed from surprise to shock. “He said that it was his last show, Tom. I believe that you heard him.” 

At that moment, Elvis revealed his fangs to the crowd of people. Screams were heard all around the room as people began to leave their tables, screaming for their lives. His coven of vampires all appeared from all around, tackling the unexpected people as they tried to flee. You looked around the room, seeing people on the ground, collateral damage for the real target. You grimaced at the sight of vampires feeding on humans, but you turned to the colonel, pushing him back down in his seat as he tried to run away. “You’re gonna stay right here, Tom. You’re not really a colonel are you? You see, I did a little background on you myself. You’re not even American. You piece of shit.” You whispered in his ear as his eyes widened. 

“And guess what I did with this information? Just guess.” You laughed as you pulled his hat off of his head, placing it on your head. You turned around facing Elvis who was now making his way over to you, his face covered in blood from the patrons that he fed from. He placed his hand into yours, kissing your knuckles as he turned to face the now-shocked man who sat below you. “That’s right, colonel. I showed your so-called attraction who you really were, and from the sight of it, he didn’t like it.” You chuckled, picking the colonel up with your free hand, holding him by the throat. He struggled under your grasp, trying to form words. “M-my boy, she’s lying! You can’t trust a witch over the man who made—who gave you everything.” 

You laughed, chanting more of your spell causing his mouth to shut. “You’ve been lying to me, Andreas. Y/N told me everything. But you also don’t know that she’s been by my side the whole time. You see, Y/N is my lover. Do you think that she’s gonna betray me by working for you? I already knew all about your little plan, but guess what? It didn’t take long to convince my little girl to betray you.” He laughed, tapping your shoulder which caused you to release the poor man from your hold. He replaced your hand with his, picking him off of the ground. “I’ve been waiting for this exact moment to ruin ya, now it’s here.” He growled, digging his nails into the man’s throat before growling at him, revealing his fangs. 

You stepped away, turning your head away as you heard the colonel’s screams as Elvis ripped his throat out from him. Silence filled the room as you turned back to see the colonel dead in the booth that he was sitting in, dread filling your bones as you noticed the damage around the room as dead bodies were strewn about. Elvis turned back to face you, tilting your head up to look into those blue eyes once again as you fell underneath his spell. “Are ya okay, mama? I didn’t scare ya, did I?” You shook your head as you became lost in his gaze, your hands running up his chest as he pulled you into a kiss. You could taste the metallic taste of blood on your tongue, sending you into a frenzy as you latched on to his body. 

Elvis groaned into the kiss, swooping you up in his arms as he walked through the chaos of vampires running amuck in the ballroom. You caressed his jawline, still staring into his eyes before he found a door along the long hallway that adorned the backstage. He shut the door, throwing you on the bed before he was before you again, his fingers running down your body as he smirked in happiness. “It’s finally done, darling. The world is ours.” He ripped the dress that once adorned your body off, connecting his lips to your throat. You moaned out in pleasure, the burning feeling of his lips on you sent fire through your body. You huffed out in impatience as you pulled his jumpsuit off of his body, begging for him to touch you. 

“I told you that I would please you once this is done, so that’s what I’m gonna do, mama.” He was inside of you before you could adjust, his hips thrusting into you at such a frenzy that you felt that he would break you apart. Visions of you and Elvis making love by the fire played in front of your eyes, moans filling the room as you melted into his embrace. You could tell that Elvis was holding back, his blood soaked lips smearing all over your body. “It’s okay, I’m okay, I promise.” You moaned out giving him permission to use his super speed. He looked into your eyes, fear and uncertainty showing itself to you. You giggled as you caressed his face, nodding your head to him. “You can use it.” 

WOOSH. WOOSH. WOOSH. That was the only noises that you could hear as Elvis pounded into you almost at lightning speed, his hands gripping your body in a vice grip, grunting in your ear. You whimpered, seemingly in slow motion as you held on to him. The bed squeaked from underneath you, headboard hitting the wall at such force that it dented. You felt so much pleasure, eyes rolling into the back of your head as you clawed down his skin. “Fuck, you feel as good as I remember, mama. Fuck, you’re such a good girl for me.” He grunted as he pounded into you, sinking his teeth into your neck once again. You screamed out in ecstasy as you closed your eyes, the pleasure of him fucking into you mixing with the endless pleasure of him feeding from you. 

You felt as if you would fall apart at the seams, moaning his name out repeatedly as if it was only the both of you in the world. “That’s right, mama. Tell the whole world who you belong to.” You could feel your orgasm coming, much faster than you wanted. “Oh fuck! Oh fuck! I’m cumming, Elvis! I’m cum-.” You chanted as your orgasm crashed around you, holding onto him tightly as he continued to fuck up into you. “That’s it, mama. That’s it.” He praised, moving his hands from your side to hold on to the headboard. He grinded harshly into you, growling in pleasure as he tore the headboard right off of the hinges. You gasped as he threw the headboard effortlessly to the floor, tearing to many pieces as he growled animalistically before you. 

If you weren’t so turned on, you would be afraid but it was Elvis. He was your love, your everything. You betrayed everything that you could have ever known to be with him. You held onto his face, looking into his eyes again as he came to his senses. “It’s just me, baby. It’s okay.” You whispered, pressing your lips to his cheek as he slowed down his thrusts, slowly pounding into you again. The overstimulation was prevalent at this moment, your pussy clenching around him. The feeling of you clenching around him made him cum inside of you, coating your walls with his seed as he roared out in pleasure. You continued kissing his jaw, whispering honeyed words into his ear as he came down from his orgasm. 

“Fuck, I didn’t realize you had that in you, baby. You completely destroyed the bed.” You laughed, kissing his cheek as you pulled away from him. He looked over his shoulder as he took in the damage from the headboard, snorting as he pulled out of you. You groaned from his emptiness, sitting up in the bed before following his eyes to the corner of the room. “I’m gonna have to definitely be careful next time with ya, mama. I lost control for a second.” Elvis crawled over next to you, pulling you into his arms. You sighed, thinking about how you were going to convince your sisters that vampires weren’t all bad. 

“Penny for ya thoughts, baby?” You rolled your eyes, knowing that Elvis could feel your mood shift. “Just thinking about how I will convince my sisters that we can exist with vampires. We’ve spent centuries hunting your kind and yet, we have nothing to show for it.” Elvis tilted your head up to look into his eyes, only this time you weren’t under his spell. He was under yours. “Baby, your sisters will come around. I’m yours now, and you’re never leaving me again. They’ll have to get used to me. Not to mention, with our history, it will take some time.” He laughed, making you shake your head as you laid against his chest. “I would like to see you try to convince them before they come at you with a wooden stake.” 

“I sure hope that you won't let them kill me. I would be one pissed off vampire.” You knew that it would take some getting used to, sleeping with the enemy, but you were ready for whatever came your way. “Well since we are really doing this now, shouldn’t you tell me what the plan is now? The colonel is dead, what now?” Elvis grew quiet, looking down at you with a smirk before he crawled on top of you again. “I know you’re not about to fuck me again. I’m sore, Elvis.” He shook his head, laughing before his features grew serious. “What happens now is we show ourselves to the world. You’ve been hiding, I’ve been hiding. We need to let the world know that vampires and witches aren’t demonic entities, we were or are humans. Since my coven is the only vampires who can live longer than others, we should get them all together.” 

You were surprised to say the least, not really thinking about showing your coven off to the world. You were the only witch that the public knew of, dread filling your body once again as you thought about telling your sisters that they didn’t have to hide anymore. “Let’s just start with telling my sisters that we are together, yeah?” Elvis shook his head, tongue in cheek as he nodded. “Let’s start with that.” As you snuggled with the man that you began hating, you could only see their faces when you walked hand-in-hand with him. Will they hate him more at first? Yes. However, you didn’t care. You would rise again, with the power of your ancestors before you. With Elvis in your corner, your coven will once rise again. 

Taglist: @lindszeppelin @aconflagrationofmyown @flowersofcement @ep-supremacy @missmaywemeetagain @austinbutler-91 @flwrs4aust @rosaminny @plasticfantasticl0ver @heartbrake-hotel @lovininapinkcadillac @loving-elvis @woundmetender @elvisabutler @presleysdarling @navy-elk @lilycherries123 @literally-just-elvis-fics @littlebitofgreen @infatuatedharleys @austinsmutler @cryingabtab @babylovepresley @star-shard @stargiirl27 @arianatheangel-girl @oh-my-front-door @ophelia-writes-stuff @oh-kurva @stitchattacks @russian-soft-bitch @rosecoloreddesire @troubleinapinksuit @foreverdolly @rainydayz101 @polksalademma @dkayfixates @thatbanditqueen @jelliedonut @wonka-gifs @nemos-rapture @mad-over-elvis

[sylvan-librarian]

Nissa's Pilgrimage Part 3: Growing Pains and Gatewatching

She unfolded the topmost layer of the silk pouch, revealing the four small seeds. One by one she planted them in the holes she had dug. As she did, she whispered to them of her dreams for the forest they would one day become. She told them of the world they had come from, what Zendikar had been like, and what it had been through. And then she told them of the pyromancer, the telepath, and the fearless leader who had come to save them, who had made this world a safe place for them to grow. With a final breath, Nissa pressed her palm to the ground and reached into the land; there was one more thing to do. She brushed against the soul of Zendikar. She told it to take care of the seeds. But before it could respond, before it could pull her in, encircle her and hold her close, she lifted her hand, and with it her soul. "I will see you again," she said. "I promise." Then she stood up, moving away from the world she had known and toward the one that was waiting. — "Zendikar Resurgent"

Introduction

Hi! During part one of this essay series, I introduced Magic the Gathering’s Nissa Revane, iconic green (and blue ... and black) planeswalker and cinnamon roll with a tragic backstory (is Nissa actually a One Piece character?). I talked about my own connection to this character, why she means what she does to me, and where she comes from. During part two, I analyzed Nissa’s dual origins, why her original backstory was retconned into the aether, and how that has been interpreted over the years. For part three, I am going to explore how Nissa was characterized throughout the genesis of the Gatewatch story arc: Battle For Zendikar and Oath of the Gatewatch. 

Despite being roughly half a year in real time, this covers a lot of narrative ground, and as you’ll see, Nissa goes through a lot of growth during this single set; that Nissa herself goes through a metamorphosis in how she interacts with the world is a direct mirror how she is characterized by the Magic Story Team as they hone the craft of Magic storytelling. A lot Vorthoses at the time argued that Nissa’s characterization was weak and that the Nissa presented in the Battle for Zendikar block is single-minded to a fault, the only thing occupying her mind is the survival of Zendikar, the destruction of the Eldrazi, and: 

It’s easy to find the Nissa of this era a little boring and one-note, and the prose itself of the Battle for Zendikar block — famously a little lacking — does little to turn this around. 

However, underneath the veneer of sometimes poor writing, there is more than meets the eye with Nissa’s characterization. In fact, even though the Battle for Zendikar and Oath of Gatewatch stories function primarily as an Avengers-type origin myth, I would argue that Nissa is more-or-less the main character of the saga. The Eldrazi are free primarily because of Nissa’s mistake, and the action of the plot follows her attempt to rectify this. Many turning points in the story are due to her appearance: the liberation of Sea Gate, the entrapment of Ulamog, and most importantly, the destruction of the Eldrazi Titans themselves were only due to her influence on the situation. Nissa is also the character who goes through the most change: Gideon steps into his role as the charismatic, fearless leader he always wanted to be, Jace and Chandra both learn to shed their checkered past and become determined heroes heroes, despite whatever commentary any outside forces have on them, but Nissa … 

Nissa comes to terms with the grief that most of the violence and tragedy on Zendikar is due to her own error; she learns to shed the xenophobia that was ingrained in her by her Joraga upbringing; she learns that no matter how much of a ‘chosen one’ she is, she can’t win every battle on her own; and most importantly to the plot of future Magic stories, she learns to trust other people and embrace intimacy with other people rather than only with the spirits of the natural world. We are presented with a character on the brink of metamorphosis, and unlike the Nissa of old, she embraces the bonds she creates with others and blossoms into something new instead of rejecting them for the sake of austerity and wilting into stagnation.

Chapter 1: —Ashaya—

Before jumping into an analysis of Nissa’s characterization, let’s address the elephant in the room that was brought up earlier: the prose of the Battle for Zendikar block. In many places… it’s just not that great, and this had a significant impact on how Nissa was viewed in the Gatewatch’s early years. A lot of her stories suffer from endless repetition. One of the more infamous examples of this is in “The Silent Cry,” which is were the —Ashaya— memes were born:

When Nissa's breath came back it was in great gasps; she couldn't get enough air. The silence around her was heavy and oppressive. And her vision was dull. Ashaya. All she could think was Ashaya. Nissa reached out into the land to summon the elemental. But there was nothing there to grasp. Ashaya. She reached deeper, plunging her feeling into the land. But that was where the silence was coming from. Nissa's ears rang and the world spun. Ashaya. She dragged herself over to the pile of branches and mounds of dirt. Her trembling fingers flitted over the broken pieces. Which splinter of wood had been Ashaya's finger? Which leaf had grown from the top of her head? Where were the roots that had held her soul? Ashaya. The silence was overwhelming. Nissa staggered to her feet, but the sensation of vertigo sent her back down. She hit the ground with a hard smack. A sharp rock cut her cheek and a mound of dirt dug into her side. The land did not cradle her, it didn't protect her—it hurt. No. This made no sense. Ashaya.

What the author is clearly trying to do here is depict Nissa’s sense of loss at the disappearance of —Ashaya— an elemental being she (rightly) believes is the incarnation of Zendikar’s soul. One one hand, this goes a long way to show the reader how holistic Nissa’s approach to life is: in her world, the world itself has a literal soul and a life of its own that everyone living on it relies on, and this soul’s survival is tied to the survival of the planet itself. It also goes a long way to showing Nissa’s social mindset at the time; the Nissa of this era has spent decades by herself with only the ephemeral spirits of the plane to talk to, and its loss is paramount to losing the only friend she’s made in her last forty-or-so years on her own. On the other hand, however, this melodramatic sense of despair can feel a little trite because we, as readers, have seen what is going on in the broader world. Entire civilizations have been ground to dust in the last three years, and in just the previous story in the arc — “Slaughter at the Refuge” — Gideon and Jace return to Zendikar to a scene straight out of a war movie: 

And bodies—bodies were everywhere. Some looked like the casualties of any other war, blood soaking their chests and streaking their faces, limbs torn free, gore spilling from gaping gut wounds. But more—so many more—had partially crumbled away, leaving heaps of dust where heads or legs or arms had been. The smell of blood and entrails mixed with the carrion odor of the Eldrazi and turned Gideon's stomach.

The audience can logically parse exactly why Nissa is so upset at the loss of Ashaya: Ashaya has been her only real friend for a very long time, her way of life ties her to the spirit of the land itself, her magic is tied to the spirit of land itself, and she sees her partnership with Ashaya as her one real chance to free Zendikar of the horrors she is at least somewhat responsible for. However, the mawkishness that Nissa is written with in scenes like the one above from “The Silent Cry” can come off as trite when the audience is intimately aware of the broader ramifications of this worldwide conflict.

Chapter 2: Sentimental or Stagy?

Despite occasional missteps with the prose itself, however, Nissa’s character arc throughout the Battle for Zendikar stories is much stronger than many argued back in 2015 and 2016. I said earlier that many found Nissa in the Battle for Zendikar stories to be a little one-note and boring, and I would argue this is intentional. First of all, Nissa’s singularly-focused priorities are a realistic response to the situation she has found herself in. 

When we pick back up with Nissa in Battle for Zendikar, she has experienced her first victory after three years of utter defeat and hopeless despair, but she is far from feeling like she is able to save Zendikar from its destruction. As we see in “For Zendikar,” she is still on the verge of giving up hope. A vampire who knows her identity as a planeswalker approaches her with seeds from Zendikar’s native flora and petitions her to take these to another world so that at least some of Zendikar survives, and she heavily considers the prospect:

[S]he stood there in the empty, corrupted camp in the shadow of the elemental, the silk turning sweaty in her palm. She could feel the lives of the seeds within, the trees they might someday become—each of them a small part of Zendikar. So why should she feel guilty for wanting to save them? "Why shouldn't I at least try?" She looked to Ashaya. "I've been telling you all this time that I can't do what you want me to do." She paused, but of course Ashaya had no response. "But this, this is something I can do. At least this way you'll know," she tucked the silk into her pocket, "you'll know that Zendikar goes on. That will have to be enough."

Of course, not much later in the text, Nissa runs these thoughts back after she becomes able to commune with Ashaya, and by extension the soul of Zendikar itself. Her despair blossoming into hope, Nissa comes to understand the holistic nature of the world and all who live in it as she becomes one with nature:

Zendikar had not asked her to do this alone. It had not chosen her; there had been no choice to make. She was part of the world, connected to it like every other living thing. A tree does not choose a branch, the branch is merely part of the tree; it is one with the tree. When the tree grows, when the tree bends, or when the tree falls . . . so too does the branch. And when the branch rustles, when it sprouts leaves or bears fruit, so too does the tree. Nissa could not be chosen by Zendikar and she could not choose Zendikar, for she was one with Zendikar.

Seen in this light, the schmaltz in Nissa’s endless obsession with —Ashaya— comes off as intentional. Here is a woman utterly alone, on the verge of giving up, wracked with unbelievable guilt at the apocalypse her single act of mistrust wrought upon her world, but who has also now found a friend, a living soul to commune with in a way that does not require words (extremely comforting for a character like Nissa who struggles with communicating verbally), and hope: a means to protect her home and atone for her mistakes.

In short, Nissa’s single-minded fixation with her ideals, with —Ashaya— during the Battle for Zendikar is better characterization than many Vorthoses have given Magic’s creative team credit for. Ahsaya is Nissa’s only true friend in her last forty years, the soul of the world she loves but unintentionally injured, and the mechanism of her redemption. It’s much easier to read Nissa’s outbursts as pathos rather than melodrama when you take time to get to know her and where she has come from.

(Wait, was Kiora always in the Call the Gatewatch art?! Am I going crazy here?)

Chapter 3: Love or Loneliness?

That Nissa’s characterization as single-minded, obsessed, and off-putting was at least in some ways intentional is hammered home by the underlying message of her arc: Nissa’s worldview is flawed. The audience was never meant to take at face value the belief system of a character who rejects relationships with others for the sake of wordless communion an ephemeral worldsoul, who distrusts outsiders to a fault, and who has trouble acknowledging the human cost of this conflict when the greater good is at stake. This message is clear when you look at how Nissa gradually changes as she meets, befriends, and then commits to her friends and allies in the Gatewatch.

For example, throughout the Battle for Zendikar stories, Nissa sets herself apart from everyone else. In “Nissa’s Quest,” for example, we are told that she 

almost spun on the kor, she almost snapped, almost told him that Zendikar wasn't something you could "take back." Zendikar wasn't something that belonged to anyone. Not to the people, not to the Eldrazi, not even to the great Commander-General Jura. Zendikar, the real Zendikar, was simultaneously bigger than anything they could imagine and so much more intimate than they could ever understand. She almost told him that when they cried out—"For Zendikar!"—they didn't know what they were saying.

Elsewhere, she is belligerent when trying to create plans with her allies; when faced with Jace’s plant to trap the Eldrazi Titans, she responds like this:

"Trap?" Nissa, who had been hanging back, stood up straight. Her ears tilted and her glowing green eyes pierced Jace. "You said trap." "I did." Jace nodded. "One hedron alone isn't enough, but a complex network of hedrons can be aligned to bind the titan so it can't cause any more destruction. Once we trap it—" "No." Nissa pounded her staff into the ground. Oh, good. More antagonism. Jace was on a roll. "We do not trap it," Nissa's voice resonated with power. "The titans have been trapped here for too long. The world has been in pain for too long."

Of course, Nissa is highly principled and always sticks to her guns even in less apocalyptic situations, but this sort of antagonism belies her absolute certainty that only she knows the correct path forward. 

Compare this to the latter half of the Oath of the Gatewatch stories. In “Brink of Extinction,” instead of “almost snapping” at Jace when he rallies the troops with a “For Zendikar” rallying cry, she encourages it. In this same story, instead of “more antagonism,” Nissa enthusiastically trusts Jace’s plan and also becomes one of the only people in Jace’s life to ever invite him into her mind; after listening to Jace’s scheme, she responds like this: ‘“I can do it’ said Nissa, staring off toward some distant horizon. ‘How?’ She turned, as though she hadn't noticed Jace standing there. ‘It's complicated,’ she said. ‘Let me show you.’” This particular scene is important to the growth of both of these characters. Jace is used to people being terrified of his powers, and Nissa is used to communicating nonverbally, in spirit. For both of them, this is an intimate, vulnerable moment that hinges on an extreme amount of trust. It’s one of the highlights of the entire Battle for Zendikar saga. 

In Nissa’s case, showing vulnerability with another sentient mortal rather than with an ageless immortal worldsoul goes a long way to changing her outlook on the world, and this is only the first time this happens this story arc! The next time Nissa bares this much of herself to another person is in the climax of the entire saga. The ending of Oath of the Gatewatch is well-known at this point, but just to summarize: Jace’s and Nissa’s plan is to entrap the two Eldrazi Titans in a leyline pattern drawn and controlled by Nissa. Once that happens, Nissa can use the leyline prison to drain the Eldrazi’s essence back into Zendikar so that the plane can do to the Eldrazi what the Eldrazi have been doing to it for the past three years: consume them.

As expected, however, the plan goes awry. Zendikar doesn’t quite have enough mana left to accomplish this task, and the trauma of this threatens to destroy everything. Fellow planeswalker ally Kiora attempts to take things into her own hands and stop the process by hurling a tidal wave on the Gatewatch to stop them from keeping Titans chained to Zendikar. Jace counters this spell, but the plan is still on the verge of falling apart when Chandra asks the group if she can attempt to destroy the Titans with her pyromancy. Not having another recourse, the rest of the Gatewatch agrees to let her try, but this also doesn’t work… at first:

The torrent of fire touched the contorted Eldrazi mass, but it wasn't nearly enough. Her fire could barely scratch the titans even when they were finite, discrete beings. She couldn't burn their epic entirety now, any more than she could burn an entire plane. In the corner of her eye she saw one of the floating islands tumbling out of the sky, and she realized with a tiny part of her mind that it would barrel right into her. Simultaneously, she could see the glyph glow bright, down in the basin, as the fire streamed across the titans' bodies. It was all falling apart. The glyph would expire soon. Her fury would expire soon. They would all die soon. She was barely conscious of Gideon leaping from the outcropping, blocking the landmass with his own body, of a shower of pebbles raining down as it broke against him. She just concentrated on hurling as much fire out as she could, even though it wouldn't be close to enough— Chandra felt a hand resting softly on her shoulder. And then she felt the mana of an entire world streaming into her. The leylines. Nissa had been the focus for all of Zendikar's fury, and now, with Nissa's touch, that fury poured into Chandra instead. Chandra was the focus now, the nexus that connected Zendikar to the titans. She knew she couldn't hold their reins as Nissa had done. So she tried something else. She screamed. And in her scream, she willed all of Zendikar's fury through herself, into her spell, into her fire. The leylines themselves caught fire, igniting like a spark hitting streams of fuel. Flames spiraled from Chandra into the streams of mana and branched out across the sky, following the paths of the leylines, enveloping the titans. Either Chandra was still screaming, or everything else was. The world flashed with a roar of apocalyptic orange, then went blinding white. Chandra's legs buckled, and she collapsed.

In the final moment, Nissa relinquishes control of the situation to someone else, an ally she just met literally a day ago. By combining their abilities, Nissa and Chandra are able to incinerate two entire Cthulhus in a singular blast. Without stepping out of the person she was before — mistrustful of outsiders, unwilling to attempt communication and vulnerability with other people — Nissa never would have done this. We are told that in this moment, the two women “connected in a way Nissa had never connected to another being, not even to the soul of Zendikar.” Even more so than the vulnerability Nissa shared with Jace, this moment changed Nissa’s life dramatically (tangentially, this moment was also extremely important in Chandra’s life, but we won’t learn about that until almost an entire year later). 

Pretty much immediately, Nissa softens from the person she was throughout the rest of this block. In “Zendikar Resurgent,” Chandra notices (💚and❤️likes💚) “the way [Nissa's] movements were gentle, her hands kind.” Nissa comes to recognize her aching need for companionship beyond that of the ephemeral spirits of wild and to embrace that even over the embrace of —Ashaya— : 

With a final breath, Nissa pressed her palm to the ground and reached into the land; there was one more thing to do. She brushed against the soul of Zendikar. She told it to take care of the seeds. But before it could respond, before it could pull her in, encircle her and hold her close, she lifted her hand, and with it her soul. "I will see you again," she said. "I promise." Then she stood up, moving away from the world she had known and toward the one that was waiting.

In choosing to leave her friend Zendikar behind, we see a reversal from the person she was at the beginning of this arc. The kindness, gentleness, and ride-or-die loyalty Nissa becomes known for in later stories like Kaladesh is not due to the Magic Story Team altering her characterization; Nissa grows into this kindness, gentleness, and ride-or-die loyalty as a result of what she experiences in the Battle for Zendikar.

Epilogue

If you made it this far, thanks! I started this little project to pass the time while job hunting and didn’t think anyone would be super interested in it, so if you’re getting anything out of this, it means a lot to me!

Next time, I’m probably going to skip Nissa in the Shadows over Innistrad stories (but I’ll reread them throughout the week to see if there’s anything in them worth talking about) and move straight into Kaladesh. There’s even more to say about Nissa in Kaladesh than there is here, so this one will almost certainly take longer than the two weeks I’ve been giving myself between posts. Between the myriad Gruulfriends moments and Nissa’s achingly beautiful friendship with Yahenni, there’s just so much to talk about here…

But thanks again!

References

Beyer, D. (2016). Zendikar’s Last Stand 

Digges, K. (2016). Brink of Extinction 

Kreines, K. J. (2015). For Zendikar 

Kreines, K. J. (2015). Hedron Alignment 

Kreines, K. J. (2015). Nissa’s Quest 

Kreines, K. J. (2015). The Silent Cry 

Magic Story Team (2016). Zendikar Resurgent 

Wyatt, J. (2015). Slaughter at the Refuge

[declanlikesmusic]

Music is a thing in the music industry and so I would like to talk about music,

Why Plunderphonic Concept Albums Should Be a Bigger Thing, Actually.

Plunderphonics is such a fascinating genre to me. There is so much potential in taking pieces from other peoples' work and using those pieces to orchestrate a new work entirely. Not just that, but taking those pieces and crafting a new story out of them aurally, like a concept album or a sound collage, something of the sort.

When I say that, the first example that comes to people's minds when it comes to sample-based concept albums, it's most likely Everywhere at the End of Time by The Caretaker. If you don't already know, Leyland Kirby produced a monolithic 6-part saga of albums that ran from 2016 to 2019, each part representing a different stage of Alzheimer's disease & dementia and each part taking from super old traditional pop & jazz records and warping them to some degree until the very end where they're no longer intelligible. It's an absolutely staggering work of art and it blew up in the years since its conclusion to stunned reactions.

But to me, there's a lot more do delve into than creating haunting ambient pieces like this. Not to knock The Caretaker at all, I think it's amazing that this even happened, but it's nothing that I would personally want to listen to regularly, unless I wanna feel spooked by putting on Stage 3, but even then, look me in the eye and tell me you would listen to that kind of thing in the background on a casual setting.

Another artist that kind of fails in this regard is also one of the most important & genre-defining plunderphonics acts. Negativland are an infamous band in one of the best ways possible, using sample-based music to create some of the most biting pieces of satire in the late 80s and even 90s. I love it. They still don't have that replayability to me personally, but I still can't think of songs like Christianity is Stupid and Yellow Black & Rectangular from their Escape From Noise album without chucking a laughing fit.

Nowadays, plunderphonics music is so much easier to make than with the technology they had back then, so those albums are still miracles to me. Today, they're almost too easy to make. There are more plunderphonics albums in this past decade and a half than at any other point in history. To mention that, I need to talk about vaporwave again. They didn't start off as super detailed conceptual albums, but the way they have presented themselves over the years, you'd think they were conceptual by default.

Vektroid's pioneering albums in this genre are very potently indicative of the sounds, atmospheres and even worlds that they were not only capturing, but deeply exuding in their mere presence. You listen to Floral Shoppe under her Macintosh Plus alias and you are immediately taken somewhere else. It's completely atmospheric in that there's an ambience to the music that's playing and how they're twisted to warp you into its reality.

I know I've knocked The Caretaker's music for being too ambient, but there's a musicality in the way that Vektroid distorts her samples that still keeps them wildly enjoyable to me. I've especially been tuning into her New Dreams Ltd. project's Initiation Tape: Isle of Avalon Edition a lot recently for this exact reason. I almost so desperately want a visual accompanyment, I want to be in that lonely hotel room in the middle of the night with only this music & my feeling.

I could talk all day & every day about vaporwave albums that capture me and lift me away with their potent atmospheres. Tuning into Vacant Places by Hantasi, which makes me float like a ghost across the halls of its incredibly haunted & dense yet empty shopping centre; or The Path to Lost Eden (ロストエデンへのパス) by Nmesh & telepath テレパシー能力者 whose individual sides take me to two different ends of a journey to a mystical rainforest paradise; or Into the Light by Infinity Frequencies if I ever want to see The Backrooms again.

I also want to add probably vaporwave's biggest leading act right now into the conversation, who were responsible for some of the genre's most enriching & creative concept albums. death's dynamic shroud.wmv is a supergroup who at a point in time were creating conceptual mixtapes non-stop in 2014, my personal favourite being SEAWRLDハートブレーク from their member Tech, but there are a ton of fan favourites across their discography to choose from.

They didn't stop there either. James & Keith put together the group's magnum opus in their essential I'll Try Living Like This the following year and after a while of slowing down, they've since kicked off the NUWRLD Mixtape Club with new albums almost every month, many of which are concept albums of multiple stripes! It's so impressive how much they've been able to put together as a group.

But I'm getting ahead of myself, because over the course of its existence, vaporwave as a genre has also grown to have albums sometimes simply be albums without the need for heavy concepts or even samples to speak of to deliver an atmosphere. But I want to talk about a certain artist who bridges between plunderphonics & vaporwave in ways that I think have loads of potential in unprecedented ways.

If you know me, you know I'm talking about christtt. He's one of the most experimental figures in the vaporwave genre and often the most polarising because of it. His 2016 album no lives matter* takes the simplest components of vaporwave and completely flips them on their head by delivering themes & concepts of death and the afterlife in hell. It's the minimal sample editing and yet potent atmospheres that are common in most vaporwave albums taken to some of their logical extremes.

Along with that, you have his 2018 album deep dark trench, another concept album that delivers in a completely unique way, taking from sound collage to deliver emotions about worldwide tragedies. Not to mention his side-project 아버지 (father2006) and its album reflection, another album about death that is far more ambient, simultaneously dissonant and yet emotionally devastating. These three are among my favourite albums of all time. They are so incredibly captivating, both sonically & conceptually that they make up my most replayed listens ever.

There is so much potential in the music that he's creating that so few people are taking from to create their own concept albums with these approaches to vaporwave & plunderphonics. Especially since the ones that I currently have in mind the most recently are also among the most flawed examples. To bring up christtt again, as much as his best material has some amount of contentious decisions put into them, his lower received material is even more debatable.

His most recent album last year A.D. is probably his most underrated? It combines many of the styles that he's experimented with in a concept album about the rapture. It mostly centers around the lone survivor, but there's also a suite of tracks titled hell that surround those in the afterlife, which caught many people off guard. Even worse is social justice whatever from 2017, what I see as a love letter to the early ages of the internet paired with subtle sombre & bittersweet moments, most other people see as a compilation of chopped together memes & shitposts, understandably so.

But the biggest example to me of the unforeseen potential in music such as this is made not by him but one of his protégés. This year, a friend of mine RAWINTHEVOID put out their most recent concept album NOTINTHEMOOD, which tells the story of love at first sight turned into a sexual yet eventually bitter & spiteful relationship. There are some amazing tracks on this album that I highly recommend you sit through to find for yourself, but in my opinion, it also has some rough patches. I'm proud to say he's certainly found his edge ten albums in, but it needs some sharpening & polishing to say the least.

Conclusion? No. Concussion. 💥🔨

Overall, I hope this post serves as an inspiration for more albums like these to be made. Plunderphonic music these days is so easy to create, but it's also much more difficult to create great plunderphonic music and additionally, great plunderphonic concept albums. I would kill to see so many more albums like these coming out today. With the state of Bandcamp right now and how slowly the vaporwave scene itself has been progressing since 2017, it's easy to not have too much hope, but the potential I see is incredibly boundless and I implore anybody reading this who's interested in making music like this to get creative and go wild. The music world is your plundered oyster.

[correctproseka]

Ok someone asked me for a little tutorial on the craft and since the manual is in JAPANESE which i stared at for like 15 minutes trying to make sense of, im doing it.

(im going to tag this as papercraft saga if anyone wanna block the tag to not get spammed)

Everything is under the read more

Ok so here i have an An and a Kohane for the different kind of hairstyles they have.

First things first, separe the numbers 1, 2 and 3 (legs and torso) be sure to cut it at the black line, the white bigger line is there as more of an area that doesnt need to be too close if you're not able)

Second step, glue the leg like this and then turn it to the back where you glue it again

You can use smth long to help you glue the insides, this is a hint for every part.

Repeat it on the other side...

And tcharam, legs done, pass glue on the white spaces and bend the torso by the lines to glue there

Be sure to get the shoulders down

Part 2: the arms, now its numbers 6 and 7.

If you want bendy elbows, you can cut it on the black continuous line in the middle, where it starts more - - - is where you should leave it to connect both parts of arms

I dont want bendy elbows tho so

The arm is easiee you can do it outside of the rest of the body, glue here

And i reached limit of images so im continuing this on a rb

[yandins-beleagured-historian]

Entry #005.2ndcompany.v2[avaronedit].txt

--The Second Company, Part 1 of 5-- +Header Item: Pict-Capture, elements of the Second Company, Iron Fists Chapter, during deployments on Crucible, Poros Crusade, 985.M41. The Departmento Photartem formally apologises for resolution losses and degradation encountered during processing.+

Within every Astartes chapter, there is a company that occupies the lion's share of the spotlight. For some, this is the result of years of dutiful service, such as the Dark Angels' fifth company, or a hereditary, prominent position at the tip of the spear in the case of the Space Wolves' Blackmanes. The Ultramarines second company, oft-referred to as the Guardians of the Temple, exemplify this trend most clearly, thanks to their 'crafted...reputation as dynamic heroes'. The test for such prominence is fairly trivial, and requires that one merely browse the galleries of chapter artwork and identify the company heraldry that comes up most frequently. For the Iron Fists, this trend manifests strongest around the Second company, sometimes colloquially known as the black-blades, but more often referred to as simply "The Second". However, unlike the famous companies of first-founding chapters, the Second's prominence in the eyes of the outside world is not the result of a prodigiously long roll of honour, nor a saga of dramatic, galaxy-shaking deeds. It is a quirk of doctrine that makes the Iron Fists' Second stand out. The bespoke organisational layout of the Second dates back to around 350.M39, some half-century hence of the Fall of Taralus during Abaddon's tenth black crusade. With limited resources with which to rebuild the shattered chapter, surviving command staff were compelled to devise novel force structures in order to maximise the utility of what few assets they had. Swiftly-promoted from savant-initiate to captain (a normally unprecedented ascension that owed more to the lack of more senior candidates with more seniority), it was Llewellus Thoca who received the responsibility of reforging the Second.

Thoca deserves a treatise all of his own (which I am told exists but am struggling to locate at present), but his restructuring of the Second was one of the earliest and most immediately effective measures of its kind. The company focused itself around a core of assault veterans who had survived the Fall of Taralus by near-constant ship defence actions. The successful utilisation of these squads would prove pivotal in the company's first actions since the fall, and gradually the company's doctrine would shift towards creating and exploiting scenarios where their effect could be maximised, usually in the form of rapid, pinpoint strikes on key enemy targets. This structure had its fair share of downsides. The Second had significantly less specialised resources at its disposal in comparison to its contemporaries. The company's core strength was bound up in close-range infantry, and if improperly commanded, that infantry would take heavy casualties, especially if tasked to handle threats they were incapable or inequipped to face. These core assault squads also required significant coordination inside and outside the Second, which required company command to establish and maintain high levels of trust and cooperation with outsiders.

Nevertheless, such hardships would foster unique levels of proficiency across the company's tactical, assault and devastator units, creating a company-wide focus on cohesion, diplomacy and quality intelligence gathering. The entombment of select veterans of the company into dreadnought chassis would further this trend by preserving hard-won expertise for future generations to learn from. In particular, the tactical squads of the second company would develop a bespoke reputation for quality, both within and beyond the chapter, and it was not uncommon for individual squads to be placed under the command of other captains in instances where well-disciplined line troops were vital.

Thus, when the Second was suitably managed and supported, their ability to turn the tide of battles or even whole campaigns was profound. Such deployments frequently put elements of the Second in positions of much greater visibility to mortal soldiery and imperial commanders alike, in stark comparison to the other four battle companies who were generally more capable of operating alone. This factor would be further enhanced by the personality of the Second's captains, who were chosen by vote from within the company and were generally selected for their zeal, inspirational abilities and diplomatic candor, all the better to secure the collaboration that made the Second effective.

+Supplementary Log, Cosrau Yandin, Captain, 7th Company Iron Fists+

As a former sergeant of the Second's sixth tactical squad, Captain Yandin had this to say when asked about the prominence of the company. [edited for brevity]

"This is a feature, not a glitch. The Second lives and dies on its reputation. The moment it is perceived as unreliable by those it fights alongside, it is no longer able to draw on the support, intelligence or specialist units that allow it to fight as well as it does. You've only to look to instances like Ibossim to see how the Second fares when fighting alone." "A lot of the training leverages this mechanic. While you always train with your squad, eight times out of ten your squad trains alone. This cultivates an understanding of what happens when you are unsupported. If you make a mistake, you die, and so do those around you. The pressure is extremely fierce, as a result." "This pressure extends to every part of the company . A warrior of the Second bears responsibility for the lives of those they fight beside. But a captain of the Second carries the entire company on their shoulders. It lives and dies with him. He must be considerate enough to soothe his allies, yet passionate enough to inspire them. He must carefully consider his stratagems, yet always be ready to join the fray himself. He must be open minded to new ideas, but throne forbid he make a mistake." "That's not to say it's all as brutal as it sounds. Yes, I mean it, stop looking at me like that. The Second has just as long a history of teaching its members as it does combat-simming them into perfectionists. Sharing knowledge strengthens the whole company. Ascendants teach the sergeants, who teach each other, who teach the rank and file. [Author's note: 'Ascendant' is a term used within the company to refer to those interred in dreadnoughts.] The first squad was a self-contained bladesmanship academy long before it was the captain's personal bodyguard, and those who do make captain often spend decades being prepared for the role by their predecessor. The last captain, Exitas, could trace the teachings he received all the way back into M40, when Hayabusa Shandar was wrestling necrons out of their night scythes."

"That tradition could've continued for another thousand years, had his tenure not ended so abruptly. Exitas died on Kalidos, during the retreat from the Stygius sector, barely thirty years into his tenure and with no suitable successor prepared. Throne, it wouldn't have been so bad if we'd just lost Exitas. Samas Tenebra was right there, Exitas' direct predecessor, the only First Captain in the chapter's history to have risen from the Second. There was literally no better to teach Exitas' successor, but then Saphyre happened, and before either of them were laid to rest in Taralan soil, our beloved Chapter Master bike-slides onto the Tsiolkovan and declares Throne-damned cog-brained Artos Myra as Second Captain and before you know it-"

+Log terminated: storage capacity exceeded+

Saved by the voxcaptor, Hester Vinchix Calimorre, Historiographer-Moderatus, Logos Historica Verita.

+Attached Image: Second Captain Shado Avaron in action at the head of first squad Zaio, second company, during the "Ibossim Bloodbath", circa 639.M41. Recovered from data-fragments extracted from Praetorian XIX regimental datalink.+

[ethanreedbooks]

Krakoa May be Gone but Benjamin Percy’s X-Force Fights On: Unveiling the Fall of X and the Evolution of Mutantkind

In the ever-evolving world of Marvel's X-Men, change is a constant. The latest seismic shift has seen the fall of Krakoa, the mutant nation, and the upheaval of its citizens' lives. Amongst the chaos and uncertainty, Benjamin Percy's X-Force emerges as a beacon of resilience, determination, and intrigue. In an exclusive conversation with CBR, Percy delves into the impact of the Fall of X on X-Force and the culmination of the storyline he's been meticulously crafting with characters like Colossus and Mikhail.

X-Force: The Guardians of Intelligence and Covert Operations

Once the intelligence arm of Krakoa, the X-Force stood as the defenders of mutantkind, gathering strategic information and conducting covert operations to safeguard their nation and its people. However, the turbulent events of the Hellfire Gala have shattered the paradisiacal Krakoa, leaving it shattered and many of its citizens presumed dead. In the midst of this uncertainty, the future of X-Force is cast into shadow. What will become of this once-stalwart team? Which operatives will rise to prominence in this new landscape? And which adversaries will seize the opportunity to emerge from the shadows and make their decisive moves?

These questions now drive Benjamin Percy and artist Robert Gill's X-Force series as it navigates the uncharted territory of the Fall of X. In a candid interview with CBR, Percy peels back the layers of this intricate narrative, unveiling the heart of the story that has been building since the series' inception.

The Phoenix Rising from the Ashes: X-Force's Evolution

With the mutants facing a dire situation—many of them killed or exiled—Percy reveals that X-Force, in some form, still persists. Mutantkind may be down, but it's far from out. In the wake of devastation, the surviving X-Force members are fighting for survival, acting as prisoners, defenders of their kind, and an underground rebellion force. The dynamic of the team has shifted, evolving to fit the demands of a world plunged into chaos.

As an integral part of the build-up to the Fall of X, Percy has witnessed the transformation of mutantkind's status quo firsthand. Expressing his enthusiasm as both a fan and a writer, he acknowledges the privilege of contributing to the X-Men saga during this transformative era. He's quick to point out that Krakoa's utopia was never meant to last indefinitely, as the stagnation of the status quo rarely lends itself to compelling storytelling. Now, as the idyllic paradise crumbles, a more treacherous era of spycraft and insurgency emerges—a fertile ground for riveting narratives.

The Enigmatic Presence of Mikhail Rasputin

A significant figure set to make a grand entrance is Mikhail Rasputin. The storyline involving Mikhail and his intricate relationship with Colossus has been a slow-burning fuse since the inception of the series. Finally, in the Fall of X, their arcs collide in a crescendo of tension and conflict. This long-anticipated moment is a testament to Percy's storytelling finesse, meticulously crafting a narrative that unfurls over time, allowing for depth and emotional resonance.

Percy's penchant for suspense is further reflected in the upcoming X-Force issues. In the forthcoming X-Force #43, readers will gain insight into the team's experiences during the tumultuous Hellfire Gala, adding layers of complexity to the overarching narrative. The intrigue deepens as Black Tom Cassidy takes center stage, his importance intertwined with his unique connection to Krakoa.

A Fractured World and Shifting Allegiances

In a world fractured by the cataclysmic events, Percy emphasizes the theme of brokenness and resilience. The team dynamics shift as characters grapple with the aftermath, torn between surrendering to despair and the unwavering drive to rebuild. Orchis, the enigmatic organization with a fervent goal of eradicating mutants, stands as a formidable adversary, while Mikhail Rasputin's shadowy enclave in Russia emerges as another force to be reckoned with. The impending conflict carries echoes of the Civil War storyline, thrusting characters into a realm of shadowy operations and tense allegiances.

Artistry in Chaos: Collaborators Shaping the Series

As Percy navigates the uncharted territory of the Fall of X, his words are brought to life by the skilled hands of artists Robert Gill and Daniel Acuña. Gill's mastery shines through as he deftly handles the intricate challenge of illustrating a diverse cast of characters and conveying their personalities within action-packed sequences. His ability to weave intricate details into the backgrounds adds a layer of authenticity that grounds the story.

On the cover art front, Percy expresses his excitement at having the talented Daniel Acuña contributing his artistic sorcery. Acuña's covers promise to capture the essence of the story, drawing readers in with his distinct visual style.

Teasing the Future: The Beast's Tale

As the Fall of X unfolds, one of the most anticipated elements looms large—the return of X-Force's former head of intelligence, Beast. Percy tantalizingly hints at a "big, big, big Beast story" on the horizon, leaving readers eager for the intricacies and revelations that lie ahead.

A Tumultuous Battle: Mikhail vs. Colossus

The evolution of X-Force reaches a crescendo in X-Force #46. The culmination of years of storytelling sees the long-simmering conflict between Mikhail Rasputin and Colossus boil over. Brothers pitted against each other, their battle embodies the complexities of loyalty, power, and revenge. As the dust settles, the consequences of their clash are sure to reverberate throughout the mutant landscape.

In a world where mutant-kind faces unprecedented challenges, Benjamin Percy's X-Force stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the X-Men. As the mutants adapt to the fallout of the Fall of X, readers can expect a narrative filled with intrigue, espionage, and the untamed resilience that defines these iconic characters. With the creative prowess of Benjamin Percy, Robert Gill, and Daniel Acuña guiding the way, the future of X-Force promises to be an exhilarating journey through the untamed terrain of mutant-kind's new era.

[sexinhermes]

the fall guide

١. MOVIES

pride and prejudice

the craft 

heathers

corpse bride

Jennifer’s body

the Addams family

just like heaven

it’s the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown

twilight 

beetlejuice

when harry met sally

dead poets society

hocus pocus

a walk to remember

autumn in New York

cruel intentions

the notebook

coraline

the Harry Potter saga

sweet home alabama

practical magic

ghostbusters

fantastic mr fox

Scooby doo

Stuart little back to the future

interview with a vampire

carrie

 the phantom of the opera

The Godfather

١١. TV SHOWS

Sabrina the teenage witch (1996)

sex and the city

Buffy the vampire slayer

gossip girl

supernatural

charmed

Dawson’s creek

the vampire diaries

pretty little liars

friends

Gilmore girls

that ‘70s show

one tree hill

true blood

١١١. MUSIC

Fall resonates differently to everyone. The following songs/albums are my personal favorites for this time of the year.

First, we have what I call the 70s/80s haze (some kind of retro music). Best listened to at night, these songs make me kind of nostalgic, even thought I haven’t lived during that period. 

       The Rah Band

You might know them from their hit “messages from the stars”. Two of my favorite albums “past, present & future” and “mystery” are a must. Here are some recommendations if you don’t really want to listen to the whole albums :

clouds across the moon

sam the samba man

are you satisfied

rock me to rio

some other songs of the same genre

stop fantasy by plustwo

IC love affair by gaznevada

winter love

it’s your move by Diana ross

        French Songs

I love old French songs. I would (reluctantly) recommend listening to serge Gainsbourg. Here a few of his songs

la javanaise

l’anamour

bonnie & clyde

black trombone

je suis venue te dire que je m’en vais 

Jane Birkin’s

ex fan des sixties

is also a great song.

If you want to listen further, then Charles Aznavour and Dalila are two of the best singers for this genre.

          New York themed songs

These are the best. I have this thing where I always associate seasons or periods of my life with cities, like autumn is for New York, winter is for Paris, Spring is for somewhere in Scandinavia and summer is for Bermuda or Greece. These are always changing for me, not something constant. It all depends on my mood. Anyway, listening to New York themed songs during this time of the year makes me really excited about romanticizing this period of the year. Here are some recs

The sex and the city theme song

uptown girl by billy Joel

vogue by madonna

I love New York by madonna

the boy from New York by the AD libs

like a prayer by madonna 

fly me to the moon by frank Sinatra 

FIONA APPLE SONGS

LANA DEL REY SONGS

THE ARCTIC MONKEYS’ SONGS (!!!)

١٧. BOOKS

This is just my list of autumn to-be-read books (you can also pick any book from Rory Gilmore’s list)

black swans  by eve Babitz  

the bell jar by Sylvia Plath

confessions of a shopaholic by Sophie kinsella 

germinal by Zola 

american psycho by bret Easton ellis

prozac nation by wurzel Elizabeth 

death in her hands by Odessa moshfegh

a certain hunger by Chelsea summers

٧. RECIPIES

French toast : https://www.mccormick.com/recipes/breakfast-brunch/quick-and-easy-french-toast

pumpkin cookies : https://www.verybestbaking.com/libbys/recipes/old-fashioned-soft-pumpkin-cookies/

apple strudel : https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/47821/easy-apple-strudel/

pumpkin spice latte : https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/229378/easy-pumpkin-spice-latte/

apple cider vinegar tea : https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/244510/apple-cider-vinegar-tea/

halloween sugar cookies : https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/halloween-party-cutout-cookies/

healthy halloween toasts : https://t.co/xnsPBjjbqu

 hope you all enjoyed my fall guide, xx

[d6b-onion]

Awkward grammar appals a craftsman. A Dada bard as daft as Tzara damns stagnant art and scrawls an alpha (a slapdash arc and a backward zag) that mars all stanzas and jams all ballads (what a scandal). A madcap vandal crafts a small black ankh – a hand- stamp that can stamp a wax pad and at last plant a mark that sparks an ars magna (an abstract art that charts a phrasal anagram). A pagan skald chants a dark saga (a Mahabharata), as a papal cabal blackballs all annals and tracts, all dramas and psalms: Kant and Kafka, Marx and Marat. A law as harsh as a fatwa bans all paragraphs that lack an A as a standard hallmark.

Excerpt from Eunoia, by Christian Bök, Chapter A.

This kind of poetry, that uses one and only one vowel, is called a monovocalism. Christian Bök's Eunoia contains various constrained poems around vowels, this excerpt is the first of nineteen paragraphs of a monovocalism in A. Bök states in the afterword that each chapter uses about 98% of all usable words.

The whole book can be found archived here. The archiving process broke the page navigation so only the first page can be seen, but the whole text can be found within the source code.