#bring on the graphics renaissance

[eoieopda]

[visual content blog recommendations]

we see fic recs all the time, but i don’t think i’ve ever seen rec lists for visual content (gif/art/gfx/etc.) creators! they’ve been dealing with a bunch of shit lately between reposts, tumblr garbage, etc., so i wanna shout-out some favorites. thank you for keeping us fed!!

disclaimer: this is not an exhaustive list!! if you have recommendations of your own, please feel free to expand on this yourself and/or drop some of your faves in the replies for others to see. self-promo is always welcome here, too ✨ p.s. some of these are recent finds for me, so pls expect to see more of them on my blog. eta: i will be adding more as i go!!

[bts]

@yooboobies — réka’s gif sets are *chef’s kiss* and the ART? omg. the talent!!! 😭 we simply have to simp.

@cordiallyfuturedwight — apart from being one of the coolest/funniest people i’ve found on army tumblr, i am a kayla stan because the niche themes for her gif sets (ex. bangtan turtlenecks series) feel like they’re made 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 me 👏🏻 even though they absolutely aren’t, lmao.

@hopeinthebox — the bts as reductress headline + incorrect bangtan series are probably my favorite pieces of content on the entire internet??? also, lizzy is absolutely gd hilarious. tags are 11/10. a blessing upon my dash.

@kimtaegis — i’m not visually artistic enough to say this in a way that makes sense, but annie’s gifs are just… stunning? like, the colors? idk about the process that goes into that, but i imagine it takes a lot of time/finesse to be this vivid.

@kithtaehyung — ryen is the renaissance man of army tumblr, fr. not only can she write (like!!!) but she’s multi-faceted and insanely creative with her graphic design. i want her to tutor me, lmao.

@raplinenthusiasts — ooohhhhh my god. the coloring of their gifs makes my brain go brrrrtttt. this bts x the office set is on my “always reblog” list; i’ll share it every time i come across it.

@heybaetae — this set in particular is on my “always reblog” list, no matter how many times i’ve done so already. also, idk how to describe this, but kelli’s gifs are just…. crispy 🤌🏻 like, so satisfying with the…. texture? filtering? contrast? i’m an idiot re: editing terms, but go peep them and you’ll know what i’m trying to say.

@kth1 — literally who could ever forget maggie’s 100 days of (member) series??? the amount of work that had to go into that? unfathomable.

@jeurias — i want to wallpaper my house and office with their gfx. i’m deadass.

@jinstronaut — emmeline has been doing her “a jin a day while he’s away” series for OVER 250 DAYS NOW. i have never been nor will i ever be able to commit to anything to this level.

[multi/skz/atz/svt/etc.]

@starryoong — do not get me started on starry’s paintings, sketches, etc. because i will never shut up. ever. j’adore 🫠 is also a five-star human being.

@irlvernon — my queue is probably 80% max gifs at any given time. god-tier, fr. a must-follow for carats, as far as i’m concerned.

@vcrnons — incredible gifs, lovely human, and also the writer of some of my favorite svt fics??? we stan.

@yelhsaart — i don’t have any words for how much i love their art so please imagine guttural screaming instead. asdfghjkl!!!

@hizuillu — ……breathtaking. legitimately stunning skz art. like…… i have heart palpitations.

@snug-gyu — THE USE OF COLORS. i’m always a simp for pantone-inspired sets; they just scratch an itch in the back of my brain, and BOY HOWDY, is my brain satisfied 😵‍💫

@yunwooz — again, i have no idea what i’m talking about when it comes to the gif-making process, but the colors!!! the COLORS!!! like, taking a mv that’s not super vivid/is fairly greyscale and bringing it to life? ya know????

@booskwan — you want incredible gifs? they’ve got em. you want stunning gfx? they’ve got em. seriously, idk what to tell you except “pause right here and go follow immediately”.

@haechannabelle — listen……. annabelle’s art style is 😗🤌🏻 (that’s a chef’s kiss). the use of color, and the technique, and and and — ! ALSO, i must mention that she took, like, 50 hours to compile a boycott-friendly k-pop playlist. their vibes are simply impeccable.

rev. 4/10/24

[aureatchi]

there exists a love △ between two of the most dangerous manipulators. . .and a girl who could outsmart them both.

EXPLAIN 𝐹𝒴𝒪𝒵𝒜𝐼 + 𝑅𝐸𝒱𝐸𝑅𝐼𝐸 ? “she chose me.” “did she?”; academia!au; stealing you from the other to dance; yearning through sketching & writing poems; trying to outsmart each other to show off to you. carmine red.

♬: danse macabre, smells like teen spirit instr. (nirvana), headlock (imogen heap), monster; bad romance (lady gaga), i want it all demo #2; when the world was at war we just kept dancing (ldr), cleared (lilithzplug), kitchen (kid cudi), genie in a bottle (christina aguilera), home (depeche mode).

ෆ࣪ . 𓏲ּ ᥫ᭡ ₊ 𝐹𝒴𝒪𝐸𝑅𝐼 : 𝐅𝐘𝐎𝐃𝐎𝐑 + 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄

“THE SUMMER’S HOT BUT I’VE BEEN COLD WITHOUT YOU. . .I WAS SO WRONG NOT TO DOUBT YOUR MEDELLÍN, TANGERINE DREAMS.” — 𝒮𝒜𝐿𝒱𝒜𝒯𝒪𝑅𝐸.

(childhood friends; mortal!au) → enemies → lovers.

chivalry in a dead world. words of endearment but in tongues only he could understand. would gift the earth and your other favorite celestial body if he could. admiring the other in silence. shared book annotations and discussions of their philosophical undertones. the absolute best to spend white xmas together.

ultraviolence (ldr); rose adagio (tchaikovsky); me and your mama (childish gambino); the phantom of the opera (alw); wicked game (chris isaak); knee socks (am); enjoy the silence (depeche mode); nfwmb (hozier); if u think i’m pretty (artemas); no time to die (billie eilish).

TAG. #ಇ. fyoeri ﾉ FICS. museum date . . . ﾉ ART. 1

+ BRIDESMAID’S (gn) WEDDING GIFTS. renaissance!artist (rusmii) fallen!angel (chuuyrr)

♫₊ ⊹ “IF FYOERI WAS A MOVIE” (by redamantiya)

࣪˖ ᡣ𐭩 ་༘ 𝒟𝒜𝒵𝐸𝑅𝐼 : (PM BOSS) 𝐃𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐈 + 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄

“I CAN SEE YOUR WINGS” “AND EVEN THOUGH WE LIVE INSIDE. . .A DANGEROUSLY EMPTY LIFE, YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO BRING ME LIGHT.” — 𝒜𝒩𝒢𝐸𝐿.

rivals → lovers → exes → lovers.

“if death do us part, i will find you in every lifetime,” in every universe. drawn back, no matter the organization. vulnerable conversations amidst physical touch. fixing his suit tie while he ties/straps your shoes. lupin dates. no enemy lays a finger on you. dinner parties and jazz. cloudy days at the beach. dancing in the rain.

venice (ldr); a night to remember (beabadoobee, laufey); meddle about (chase atlantic); arabella (am); she’s my collar (gorillaz, kali uchis); agora hills (doja cat); flawless; baby came home 2 (the neighbourhood); pretty; as you are (the weeknd); japanese denim (daniel caesar).

TAG. #ఌ︎. dazeri ﾉ FICS. -

© AUREATCHI 2024 — no reposts. do not steal or take inspo from anything w/out asking. all graphics mine; don’t save. dazai & fyodor art: @/keikicola (twt). no translations.

*le rêverie upside down on dazai’s to symbolize a (emphasis of) different universe. ;p

[jackdaniel69nice]

Tokoyami Parents are finally here!

There are a few sources from the manga and light novels that imply tokoyami has a strained relationship with his parents most likely because they are too strict. So here’s a short recap of my headcanons for their appearance, personalities, and relationships.

Tokoyami Kohane (心白羽 meaning spirit, white, feather)

Quirk: 6th sense - the user has the ability to read the auras of others, she also has an avian mutation (secretary bird design)

Kohane was trained by her parents to restrain her quirk and suppress her avian tendencies so she does not know how to use her quirk or fly

Kohane is a very tall cis woman mostly due to her long incredibly strong legs. Her wings act like hands and while not completely comfortable she manages well enough with her every day tasks. She has white feathers and golden yellow eyes and later on gets a large scar on her left eye. She was raised by her very traditional parents to do well in school and became a very successful business woman until a few years ago after an Incident where she had to quit her job to take care of her husband and child. She has since resumed working with a lower paying job as a secretary. She seems to be very cold and off putting earning her the nickname “white witch” but she is much more relaxed and gentle when she is around her husband.

She wasn't the motherly type but she loves her husband more than anything and was happy to have a family as long as it was with him, until Dark Shadow arrived that is. She had always found Fumikage's behavior unnerving but loved him regardless. Once Shadow manifested and problems started happening she became more strict and cold. It is needless to say that Kohane has taught her bad habits of suppressing her quirk and her emotions to Fumikage. While he suffered through quirk therapy Dark Shadow was neglected, ignored, and even abused because Kohane could not understand their sentience and tries to get rid of them and save her darling child from this demon within him. Dark Shadow acts out in response to this and the strained relationship between them comes to a head during the Incident.

Tokoyami Hoshitama (星魂 meaning star, spirit)

Quirk: Shadow Summon - User can manifest their own shadow into a physical form

Hoshitama has developed a mental block that keeps him from using his quirk after an Incident a few years ago

Hoshitama is an exuberant and energetic man in contrast to his dark quirk and way of dressing. He always tries to lighten the mood and bring joy to others despite his own problems and tries to hide his troubles from others. He has a very handsome face, red eyes, and long silky black hair. He tends to embrace his effeminate looks and is bisexual but only has eyes for his wife these days. He is a true renaissance man and artist with his main passion being woodworking. During the Incident he severely damaged his spine and became partially paralyzed but has been able to regain some use of his legs with physical therapy and support items. If he is not in his wheelchair he uses his cane. He has recently gotten back to work as a graphic designer.

Hoshitama is a loving father and would do anything for his child. Unfortunately he is blinded by his love of his wife and doesn't resist her strict training, especially not after seeing what Dark Shadow is capable of. When it is just the three of them though he is much kinder and loving to Shadow. He would play imaginary games with them and tell stories with funny voices. Shadow and Fumi love their father very much...it wasn't supposed to happen. They were just so angry at her, and he got in the way. It was just a child's mistake, a mistake that cost everything. After recovering for nearly a year Hoshitama finally sees Fumikage again but neither of them are the same. He feels nervous around his own child, memories replaying in his head, and its hard to look at him. He doesn't talk to Dark Shadow anymore.

Tokoyami is lost for a while but eventually pulls himself from his darkness and decided to become a hero. The relationship between Fumikage and his parents went from tense and fearful to something more cordial. Fumikage is willing to rekindle his relationship with his mother if she admits to her faults and treats Dark Shadow with love and respect but she still refuses to do so.

@kaytaygay @losthibiscus13

[locusfandomtime]

Fake logo designs of various districts/companies in Hermitcraft S8! Something about Hermitcraft brings out the graphic designer in me (*cough* it’s because I love worldbuilding and making tiny details in a world) anyway!

Design notes under cut! (Alongside some headcanons - it is quite long)

Horse Head Farms: this is the logo that started this idea basically. I got such a cool image of an eclipse with a repeated b+w horse head pattern and I really wanted to make it happen. M.C. Esher has done designs like these but as tiles, which I used as inspiration. I think I could have made it look a bit clearer but for my first time drawing something like this I’m pretty happy. The text is from one of the default Procreate fonts and kinda makes HHF look like a law firm (which is the vibe I was going for, soul-stealers and lawyers are often sorta linked in fiction, and supposedly xB and Hypno are their own legal team). xB and Hypno are the only employees other than the people they blackmail into doing stuff for them.

Big Eyes: I wanted a red eyeball as a reference to Tango’s amazing prank on Boatem and I imagine it’s a goofy little mascot for the company. Some big goofy text felt fitting alongside this. I wanted to make a Pass n Gas specific logo too but I wanted to focus on the main “districts” rather than specific shops. I feel like this is kind of obvious but in-universe Big Eyes are VERY unsuccessful and actively losing money.

Hohenzollern Castle: not really a company but Joe and Cleo are cool so I wanted to include them and I had a tiny bit of blank space left on the page so here we are. I actually really love how the sign looks, the wood texture came out nice. They don’t have a logo as much as they do a sign outside their area, created by Joe, with the text written by Joe’s dyes. The “Hohenzollern” is kinda squished because he began to run out of room but was too stubborn to split the word in half. Cleo argues that it isn’t a logo and is just a sign with the castle’s name on it. Joe argues back with a deconstruction of “what is a logo, really?” and something about companies and capitalism and Cleo doesn’t care enough to respond.

Octagon: I am a fool who initially thought it was spelt “Octogon” and had to fix it well after I finished. Oh well. I wanted this to have a very evil look about it. You can instantly tell they’re the evil tech company running experiments on the quantum realm or whatever in a Hollywood movie. Between the unsafe work conditions and the tax fraud, it is a miracle they haven’t been shut down (reason: the government is scared of Doc)

The Evil Empire: the “the” wouldn’t fit so I had to make some sacrifices. Evil Xisuma is dramatic and edgy so he wanted the logo to be in fancy black calligraphic medieval looking text. It fits the evil castle aesthetic the whole area has pretty well too. The Evil Empire is kinda like a Hot Topic store and a Renaissance Fair combined, but it is also involved with Crypto. Despite being so weird it has a perfect niche of marketing to edgy teenagers so it is quite successful. The employees hate it there because their work mandated uniform is to “dress like an evil minion”. Jevin is a slime monster, Wels cosplays a knight and Beef turned into an alien so they thankfully didn’t have to change.

Boatem (BTM): heavily inspired by Grian’s simplified logo he made in Minecraft, where he shortened it to BTM. Despite already having a reference to work off, this was the hardest design. I knew I wanted it to be simple, all-white and leaning back dramatically but I spent ages fiddling with it. Boatem is the most successful company, being perfect for the general public and their shopping district a tourist destination in of itself. It nearly went into bankruptcy when Mumbo was CEO but has been very successful since his Robot took over.

Zedaph Laboratories: my favourite design. Hand writing the text was a nightmare but it came together nicely other than that. Sheep symbol because sheep are his brand. I used the same colour palette as his laboratory. “Laboratory” is misspelled for two reasons: 1) I realised my mistake too late to change it, 2) I think it is completely in character for Zedaph to not know how to spell laboratory and only realise after Tango points it out and be forever haunted by his mistake. Don’t let the sleek corporate design fool you, Zedaph is still wild and is the only person in the “Zedaph Labratories”.

[koco-coko]

Cain & | Ikemen Vampire Fic

-> Two halves of a whole, seperated by fate.

Tags/Warnings <--> Past Relationships, Fluff and Angst, Vlad/Comte, Comte/Leonardo (not a threesome), Longing, Grief, Comte is babygirl-coded in this, Spicy Scenes (nothing graphic so viewer discreation advised), Heavy Spoilers for Vlad and Comte!!!

Word Count: 1,981

A/N <--> I wanted to post this on valentines, but then I realized maybe a tragic love story wouldn't be great for valentines... but i mean someone needs to bring down the mood right

i think they might like this: @natimiles @yanderepuck and @azulashengrottospiano (I thought you would like seeing comte be sad and moody and also vlad being silly soo) @drewadoodle

“Hello, Abel.”

Is that what Cain said the morning before he killed his brother?

God always favored Abel. No matter what Cain brought, God always favored his brother. So, enraged, Cain killed his brother Abel. And there was no turning back from that, was there?

The smell of cigarillos and book pages forever clung to the man next to him. The light snores he made were all too familiar. Comte knew the five senses of Leonardo better than he knew his own, really. They were ever-comforting in their mundanity.

As he finished buttoning up his shirt, pants still missing (mysteriously lost in the sea of the wood floor, in the tide of other discarded clothes), he turned to Leonardo and threw his arm over the man’s broad chest. (Though Comte did squint when he  realized Leonardo was already asleep– it hadn’t even been five minutes! How was he meant to take this man seriously…) 

Ah– he smiled. He knew that feeling, too; the steady beating of his heart, the rising and falling of his lover’s chest. It was all so normal to him. Homely, domestic, all sensation he craved for.

Though, one wouldn’t be able to tell that from the quickly-healing scratch marks on Leonardo’s back, nor the many bruises on Comte’s collarbone and waist.

As le Comte snuggled closer to the Renaissance man, a vision hit him like a stray carriage. He’d been here before, but the senses of familiarity were much different. There had been plentiful bottles of wine that night, too. There had been affection, pleasure, warmth… but there were a few sensations that were unique about that night.

The firelight traced Leonardo’s face in such a romantic way, the pureblood couldn’t help but lean up and kiss his cheek. Comte tried to exude such images from his mind. The past only brought sorrow and longing, and yet… The fireplace crackled.

The fireplace…

The fireplace crackled. “A-And– And-!” Abel hiccuped, a drunken grin on his face while he wobbled about on the floor. It had been a while since he drank so much, wine bottles as old as them littered about the floor. Vlad was barely conscious at this point, giggling like a madman at every word his companion said.

“She didn’t,” Vlad cooed, barely staying upright in his seating position. He leaned against the fireplace several times, his cheeks flush and his forehead beaded with sweat as he reached for Abel’s bottle.

“She did!” he laughed. Then, a short whine as he tried to take the bottle from Vlad’s grasp. When Vlad tugged again, Abel tumbled to the ground next to him. They both couldn’t stop laughing, far beyond the lines of sobriety. 

When the cackling died to loose giggles, Abel looked back at Vlad through teary eyes. “My, it truly has been an eternity since I’d seen you,” he said, wiping his wet eyes. 

When he looked back, all he saw was a pale red staring at him. The man before him was… entranced, even. Maybe it was the drinks getting to him. Maybe they really were just a bit too drunk. Maybe this was a mistake that he’d regret all his eternal life.

But the next thing Abel knew, his back was against the fur rug and his lips were smashed against Vlad’s. Liquor and Rouge blended into a terribly sweet, terribly addictive taste. A hint of strawberries in there, somewhere. “I missed you, too,” Vlad whimpered, his hands roaming across Abel’s hips. It was just a glimmer, but Abel saw some indescribable sorrow behind the vivid crimson. 

Abel opened his mouth, but all words were cut off when Vlad pulled his collar down and peppered kisses across his neck. Abel giggled nervously, his fingertips gliding across Vlad’s back. “You know…” he started, “Despite my ‘prestigious’  reputation, I haven’t–”

Abel’s breath hitched as a bite was placed right on the side of his neck. His fangs didn’t penetrate, though he could tell that the way they graced his skin was intentional.

Vlad lifted himself up, caging in Abel beneath him. His face was flush with alcohol and affection, but that boyish smile seemed stolen straight from the days long gone. “Me neither,” he chuckled, “It’s been awhile since old men like us have done something new, hasn’t it? Tonight seems like a good opportunity.”

It was strange, Comte thought, how he could barely recall anything else about that beloved night. The night he discovered Vlad still lived, that those years spent longing for him weren’t for naught… That the tears he shed may not have been completely useless… It was all just a blur. 

Perhaps it was the alcohol, fogging the memory of inexperienced touches and passionate kisses, tongues tying only to break apart so the other could giggle at a mishap. Belt buckles and shoes seemed so hard to take off at that time, filled with silly jokes and laughs, plenty of fiddling, everything felt so… new. Experimental, even. It was rare Abel felt particularly young but never unwelcome.

It may also have been Vlad’s touch, gentle and delicate, but so enticing. He was dedicated to him, as if he were painting a fine masterpiece. Each caress came with passion, though their experience was clear as day. Porcelain fingertips traced their way towards Abel’s face and gently covered his eyes, a soft mantra repeated and infested. A rose field appeared in his mind’s eye, a single whisper from the man on top of him. “Dragă mea…” Sharp fangs sunk into his neck with tender care, a soft caress on his side.

From there, it was a blur of pure bliss.

Comte crawled out of bed with a slight sore in his back, though he knew he would dissipate in minutes. Only once he stood up and searched the floor for his pants did he figure out that his shirt was a size too big. The cigarillo musk was just as prominent despite leaving Leonardo’s side. Ha, really, was his lover so possessive as to hand him his own shirt? Comte shook his head fondly as slid his pants back on.

Comte went about cleaning the area, folding up lost clothing articles and picking up the empty bottles of wine littered across the floor. Maybe they overdid it tonight, but sometimes it was nice to recreate their rebellious and reckless phases from bygone days. 

When Comte gazed at the fireplace, memories swirled through his head. It was vivid and blurry, amorous and lonely, everything and nothing. He spent years mourning Vlad, sobbing into his mother’s arms when the news of the Draculęsti family’s death arrived. He remembered acting out constantly, he remembered the longing, the primal need to see him smile one more time.

Abel sighed dreamily, the rose field in front of him seemingly endless. Snow-tipped flowers swayed back and forth like tides on the sea. Despite the wonderful sight in front of him, all he could focus on was the golden pocket watch in his hands, caressing it like a lover. “Is it naive of me to say I’m excited?”

Vlad, laying on his lap, while he played with the split tail of his long coat, merely hummed in vague amusement. “May I ask why you wonder this?”

Golden eyes flitted between the watch and the pureblood snug on his thighs, smiling fondly at each. “It’s nothing, really. Though, often I wonder if my psyche is too human. A newly built home for us both, the expecting of children… I feel like a newlywed wife!” he laughed, his free hand running through Vlad’s silky white hair.

Vlad quickly took Abel’s hand, reverently laying pecks across his fingertips. “I think it’s beautiful. Humans, vampires… I’ve never been able to distinguish us so easily. Well, until that day…” A pause came. Vlad’s smile remained ever gently, not even a flicker in his expression. “No matter, I feel the same, though perhaps I’m too old and jaded to act as giddy,” he chuckled. “Is there anyone you’ve had an eye on, Abel?”

Abel looked out into the sea of roses. A gentle breeze made his long, golden hair sway across his face, though Vlad was quick to sit up and remove it. In this new position, lazy pecks were put against his neck and shoulders. Those everlasting roses, this everlasting love…By any other name, they would smell just as sweet.

“I’ve always had a liking to the works of Shakespeare.”

A yawn elicited Comte to return to his bed, only having a quick tug-of-war with Leonardo for his blankets back. Usually it took longer… He quickly realized that his partner’s relent was due to the arm thrown around his shoulders, forcing Comte close to Leonardo’s chest. He sighed contently as he nuzzled close to his lover.

Comte had never been a fan of the past, at least in recent years. The present was far more constructive, more real than the years he lived. He was never one for reminiscing, and yet, even with his dearest, the man he’d given his heart to, beside him… His mind betrayed all logical thought.

Was it foolish, even moronic, of Abel to sit alone in his room and cry that day? The years of longing and grief had been for naught. Vlad had returned and died again. The mournfulness seemed to infect the halls of the mansion, each wall and painting mocking him. The mansion used to be so warm, so full of expectation and hope.

Now all that lingered was the never-wilting flower, alone and abandoned. Vlad had died twice. Abel’s mourning period seemed to know no end.

Comte desperately tried to purge the memories from his mind. First with Will, his firstborn son, and then the others who followed. Leonardo had been a constant figure, someone to rely on. While a love with Vlad was youthful, Leonardo’s affections were much more mature. Ha! Mature, Leonardo? What an oxymoron, Comte thought.

Still, he couldn’t deny the truth. He was carefree with Vlad by his side, making love whenever the time was right and sharing kisses and cuddles whenever it felt right. They were teenagers in love, hanging on by the loose idea of a bright future with one another. Vlad was the eternal honeymoon.

But Leonardo… The eternal marriage. Affinity was much more subdued. Deep, longing gazes and the lighting and sharing of cigarillos had replaced the passionate and messy kissing. Amorous exchanges only for private viewings replaced the rather indecent affection Vlad would perform close to the public eye. Not to say these things were gone from their relationship, their intense tryst tonight proof of such, but even these impulsive acts were done meticulously, years of trust and deeply-rooted adoration in their every thrust and rub.

With the arrival of the other residents, the mansion had suddenly grown warm again. Perhaps his giddiness over reviving historical greats as his own was a more specific issue of his, but the fact couldn’t be denied: a void was filled. The mansion, the home he had built with Vlad, was now filled with laughter and friendship, bonds between great men (and a woman) that would most certainly last their long lifetimes. The mansion was as it was meant to be: the floors painted with life, the walls etched with memories.

The castle was cold. Quiet, empty. The walls were etched with unwanted, disgraceful memories. Abel had only visited once, and never returned. He couldn’t bear seeing his oldest companion reanimated, yet possessed by a different soul. Vlad had died twice, in Comte’s eye, yet never buried.

“Hello, Abel.”

That’s what Vlad said the morning he killed Abel. 

Comte rose from his ashes, staring at the friend he once knew. “It’s been an eternity since I’ve seen you.”

He looked so lonely as he bore an ephemeral smile. “I’ve missed you, too.”

Comte sighed, unable to respond to the stranger before him.

[thegayhimbo]

Stranger Things x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crossover Review

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out my other Stranger Things Reviews. Like, Reblog, and let me know what your thoughts are about the show or the upcoming final season! :)

Stranger Things Reviews/Theories

Stranger Things Comics/Graphic Novels:

Stranger Things Six

Stranger Things Halloween Special

Stranger Things The Other Side

Stranger Things Zombie Boys

Stranger Things The Bully

Stranger Things Winter Special

Stranger Things Tomb of Ybwen

Stranger Things Into The Fire

Stranger Things Science Camp

Stranger Things “The Game Master” and “Erica’s Quest”

Stranger Things and Dungeons and Dragons

Stranger Things Kamchatka

Stranger Things Erica The Great

Stranger Things “Creature Feature” and “Summer Special”

Stranger Things Tales From Hawkins

Stranger Things Tie-In Books:

Stranger Things Suspicious Minds

Stranger Things Runaway Max (Part 1 of 3)

Stranger Things Runaway Max (Part 2 of 3)

Stranger Things Runaway Max (Part 3 of 3)

Stranger Things Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Part 1 of 3)

Stranger Things Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Part 2 of 3)

Stranger Things Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Part 3 of 3)

Stranger Things Rebel Robin Book and Podcast (Part 1 of 2)

Stranger Things Rebel Robin Book and Podcast (Part 2 of 2)

Stranger Things Hawkins Horrors Review

Stranger Things Flight Of Icarus

Stranger Things Lucas On The Line

Stranger Things Episode Reviews:

The Vanishing of Will Byers (Part 1 of 2)

The Vanishing of Will Byers (Part 2 of 2)

Synopsis: Set before the events of Season 3, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max take a field trip with Mr. Clarke's class to New York City (with El secretly tagging along) to explore all the sights in the Big Apple. However, when the group gets separated from the class and encounters an old enemy, they're forced to join with some unexpected allies as they attempt to stop a world-ending threat........

Observations:

This is one of those comics where I wish I had been in the writers room so I could understand what their thought-process was.

The premise: Sometime in 1985, the Party is in New York City on a field-trip with Scott Clarke's class (why and how they get this trip arranged is never explained). Along the way, they split from the main group and end up lost in the underground subway. As they try to come up with a plan, they hear sounds coming from the tunnels and go to investigate. Guess who they end up running into?

DEMODOGS...........except with robotic parts attached to them?!

To make this more surreal, the Party gets saved by (you guessed it) the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMMTs for short):

Later on, after introductions are made and explanations given, the kids and TMNTs (with encouragement from their sensei Splinter) discover that:

a.) The robotic demodogs (referred to as Demomousers by Dustin) are being controlled by Baxter Stockman, a mad scientist who's one of the Turtles adversaries.

And b.) There's a gate in NYC allowing demodogs and demogorgons to come through, and the Mind Flayer is preparing to invade.

Realizing they need to join forces, the Party and TMNTs attempt to take down Baxter and the Mind Flayer before they bring ruin to the city.

If all of this sounds weird, you now know how I felt reading it.

I'll admit when it comes to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I'm not an expert. I have some knowledge of the franchise from when I was growing up, mainly from the 1987 cartoon and the first two live-action TMNT movies (no, NOT the Michael Bay produced ones), but as far as the comics go, I've never read the original ones. In terms of my knowledge:

I know the 4 turtles are named after famous Italian Renaissance artists: Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

I know they have a sensei named Splinter, a former human martial arts instructor from Japan named Hamato Yoshi who was transformed into a rat via a chemical mutagen (since the chemical mixes the DNA of living beings who've been in contact with one another, and Splinter had constantly been in contact with rats while living in the sewers).

I know that the turtles were originally ordinary turtles that Splinter adopted in the sewers before they also got infected with the chemical and (because they were in contact with Splinter when he was human) became humanoid turtles.

I know Splinter named and trained the turtles in ninjutsu, adopting them as his students/children.

I know Splinter and the Turtles arch-enemy is Oroku Saki, aka The Shredder. He was responsible for dumping the chemical that transformed them, he runs a criminal ninja organization called "The Foot Clan," and (in the 1987 TV show at least), he has two animal/human hybrid henchmen named Rocksteady and Bebop. Also, Shredder aims for world-domination.

I know Shredder was allied with an alien brain named Krang from Dimension X, and they operated from a station called the Technodrome.

I know there was a scientist named Baxter Stockmam (who's one of the main antagonists in this comic) who created MOUSERS (also present here) that did his bidding and reeked havoc.

I know about April O'Neil, the news reporter who is an ally to the turtles, and Casey Jones, a violent vigilante who wears an ice hokey mask and has a bag of weapons, who is also an ally to the turtles. They make a brief appearance in this comic towards the end:

Finally, I know about this earworm of a song:

Like I said, my knowledge primarily comes from the 1987 show and the first two movies. What little I'm aware of about the original comics is that the turtles all wore the same red-eye masks before later media would color-code each turtle (likely so audiences could tell them apart). In typical 80s fashion, the comics were dark and gritty. Judging by how the Turtles are depicted here in this crossover, it appears they based the Turtles characterizations off their original comic book iterations:

This brings me to one of my problems with the crossover: Because it's dead-set on portraying the characters in a grim fashion, it doesn't leave much room for humorous interactions between the turtles and the kids. What little humor is present is either forced, or just recycled jokes from the show. Stranger Things is rooted in the science-fiction/horror genre, but it balances it out by having funny moments between the characters to level out the tension. Same thing can be said for the 1987 TMNT cartoon: Part of what made that work is the creators realized how absurd the premise was, and embraced the weirdness while having fun with it. This comic expects the reader to take the story solemnly, and all it does is highlight the ridiculousness of its premise.

Another issue I have is the whole crossover aspect. I know this isn't unique to TMNT and characters from this franchise have done crossovers with Batman, Power Rangers, Street Fighter, Transformers, Archie Comics, etc. The difference though is that 1.) These were usually done with other superhero or cartoon characters franchises, and 2.) To my understanding, most of those crossovers weren't usually considered canon in either universe.

This comic on the other hand tries REALLY HARD to make itself canon in the Stranger Things universe by setting it between seasons 2 and 3, before The Battle of Starcourt:

On top of that, when the kids and the Turtles finally confront Baxter at his lab about his motivations, he reveals he was a colleague of Dr. Brenner, which is how he knew about El:

This ends up creating several plot-holes:

1.) You'd think that if the events in this comic took place in the show's continuity, the kids would have talked about it at least once during seasons 3-4. I have a hard time imagining, for instance, that Dustin wouldn't have been chatting Steve's ear off about encountering a bunch of humanoid turtles living in NYC sewers, or the Demomousers they had to fight off.

2.) Same problem with Baxter Stockman and Dr. Brenner's relationship: No mention of it on the show? That's not even including how this relationship is at odds with Brenner's character since he considered other people (even fellow scientists) to be beneath him in terms of intellect. Brenner was NOT a man who saw others as his equal.

3.) Since Stranger Things is a show set on referencing 80s media and paying homages to it, and since the TMNTs were a big franchise in the 80s, does that mean the first volumes of the TMNT comics that came out in 1984 don't exist in this universe? Especially when the kids reactions to first encountering the TMNTs is not knowing who they are:

I get that Stranger Things is a fictional show that requires suspension of disbelief when it comes to its science-fiction elements (i.e. The Upside Down, El's powers, etc), but for the most part, it was grounded in a believable way. By that, I mean its universe was set up to be one that could conceivably take place in this reality. From its references to historical moments that occurred in real life, to its disturbingly realistic portrayals of bullying, bigotry, Cold War paranoia, homophobia, racism, government corruption, abuse, forced conformity, trauma and grief, and other social issues, to the whole dynamic of the Party being outcasts trying to survive middle school and high school. It's a coming-of-age story that also acts as a deconstruction of the 80s, and uses science-fiction elements in service of that goal. I've talked before about the Upside Down being a not-so-subtle metaphor for Hawkins and the 80s as a whole: Things look shiny, bright, and appealing on the surface (especially since the 80s continues to be a decade our current culture is obsessed with romanticizing), but when you actually dig deeper, there is rot underneath.

By setting the Stranger Things universe in the TMNT universe, it breaks that illusion in favor of turning it into popcorn entertainment. Some would argue Stranger Things was already this to begin with, but considering how the Duffer Brothers incorporated the themes I've just described into their work when they could have ignored them altogether, and considering how Stranger Things has a passionate fanbase dedicated to analyzing the show, its characters, and how it acts as a commentary for events and situations in the present, I would argue the show transcends that in a way TMNT never could. This comic tries to achieve this, with the Turtles (and Splinter) preaching about the importance of friendship, how everyone has challenges, not being defined by where you come from, etc, but all of these themes were already examined on the show way before this comic ever came out (and in a much more satisfying manner). Here, it comes off as repetitive without offering anything new to the table.

This isn't to say that the comic itself is bad. It still has cool moments and impressive visuals, and the fights between the heroes and the monsters of the Upside Down are a treat to behold:

The levels of detail put into these images is impressive, and it's neat seeing each member of the Party take up weapons to deliver damage to the Mind Flayer and his monsters.

On top of that, there were elements in the comic that (whether intentional or not) tie into the show and leave a lot to chew on.

For example, the whole fight against Baxter Stockman's forces and the Mind Flayer gives an idea of what we might see in Season 5. Whether it's the main characters dealing with Colonel Sullivan (who's still set on capturing El) or Vecna's impending invasion.

Even Baxter Stockman and his ambush of the heroes reminds me of Colonel Sullivan and the soldiers under his command from S4:

There's also Will's description of the Upside Down being worldwide and how the dimension isn't just limited to Hawkins (which is something S4 also confirmed):

There's also the Turtles speculating that El's powers are tied to the Upside Down, which is something I've discussed in my reviews (specifically Six and Suspicious Minds):

Additionally, the comic introduces the idea that there are other dimensions out there besides the Upside Down that can be traveled to.

While I doubt the Utroms (i.e. the alien brains) that the Mind Flayer possesses will be making an appearance in season 5 (or the TMNTs for that matter), the idea of multiple dimensions is something the Duffer Brothers could explore in the final season. It could also give more detail about what the Upside Down is, and whether the Mind Flayer really was just black particles with no conscious that Vecna formed into his avatar, or it was a multi-dimensional conqueror (as I've seen speculated by parts of this fandom) and it was simply dormant until Vecna woke it up and started collaborating with it:

But like I said, this is all speculation.

Overall, my feelings about this comic are mixed: On its own, it's a decent read and has plenty of cool moments and creative imagery. However, when you look closely at the story and how it's supposed to tie into the Stranger Things universe.........it starts falling apart. I think fans will enjoy this crossover for the sheer entertainment of it, but I seriously doubt this is going to be counted as canon.

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (October 1-7, 2023)

Godzilla: Rulers of Earth has evidently been a huge hit for Japanese publisher Phase Six, kicking off a lengthy run of translated and original kaiju comics. They'll be releasing the first 12 issues in a ReMonstered Edition hardcover on Halloween. It's ReMonstered because Matt Frank made some tweaks to his art, although he promises he "didn't, like, replace guns with walkie talkies." The real prize, however, is a new six-page story called "Thinking On Our Feet", starring Lucy Casprell, Kristina Sumres, and Varan! Longtime readers know that I am Not Normal about the Rulers of Earth lesbians and will probably have to import this reprint of comics I already own, as an English release for the six-pager is just a dream right now.

EDIT: @starestream points out that IDW is reprinting all of its Godzilla comics in giant Library Editions, and they haven't done Rulers of Earth yet. (Volume 1, which came out a couple days ago, gathers Gangsters & Goliaths, Legends, and The Half-Century War.)

Legendary Comics launched a Kickstarter for hardcover editions of two Monsterverse graphic novels: Godzilla x Kong: The Hunter and Monsterverse Declassified. They've already vaulted over their goal, unsurprisingly. If you're content with paperbacks, the main news here is a little more information about the comics. Oh, and a glimpse of a new Titan on the cover of Monsterverse Declassified that the campaign studiously avoided naming. (Supposedly it's Abaddon.)

Synopsis for Godzilla x Kong: The Hunted:

A twisted Skull Island trophy hunter baits his trap and sets his sights on the biggest game of all deep within the Hollow Earth in the official prequel graphic novel to the upcoming film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Synopsis for Monsterverse Declassified:

Discover the legends of four fan-favorite Titans - Doug, Behemoth, and Tiamat, plus one to-be-revealed Titan! Join Bernie Hayes as he takes readers down the rabbit hole to reveal classified Monarch secrets and ancient monster myths in the first-ever Monsterverse anthology!  

Godzilla: Here There Be Giants #4 has the series poised to end on a high note, bringing in the Giant Octopus in its final pages. (It's called Oodako here, which is a name I never expected to see in official media, seeing as it just means "giant octopus" in Japanese.) Amazingly, this is its first time fighting Godzilla, despite debuting in a Godzilla movie all the way back in 1962.

If you live in the States and were hoping to see Godzilla Minus One in IMAX, bad news: Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé is now opening on December 1 as well, and IMAX preorders for it have already started. Godzilla's taken on a Queen B before, but concert films are suddenly box office gold (Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is poised to open with $125 million domestic, higher than any 2023 superhero movie). The subtitled period piece doesn't seem to stand much of a chance, Godzilla or not. Still, keep an eye out.

A black-and-white version of Shin Godzilla called SHIN GODZILLA:ORTHOchromatic will play in a handful of Japanese theaters on the last weekend of October. I'm guessing the film has been regraded (the announcement mentions that Shinji Higuchi and AD Katsuro Onoue supervised the project), so changing the settings on your TV won't perfectly replicate it. But it's a hell of a lot cheaper than a plane ticket.

[bad-fucking-omens]

The Witch Twin (Alec V. x OC) - Chapter 8 - Welcome

Summary: When I thought about my future, I was sure that I had the rest of my life vaguely planned out.

Then, my older sister moved up from Arizona to stay with us — and turned my entire life upside down.

I had no idea just how bad it had gotten until I was standing in a castle in Italy, convinced that I was about to die.

Length: 3.2K words (Complete fic 71.8K words)

Fic warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, death, explicit smut (M/F), referenced/implied past child abuse, emotional manipulation by sibling

Chapter warnings: None

Read on AO3 or read below

8. WELCOME

I woke up just as the private jet was about to land in Florence, Italy. My eyes fluttered open and I lifted my head from Alec’s shoulder. He smiled at my tired expression and deftly brushed my hair away from where it had fallen across my face.

“Good morning,” he murmured softly.

“Is it morning?” I asked.

Alec’s smile grew. “No. It’s about seven in the evening. The sun is just starting to set.”

He lifted the shade that covered the window next to him. Golden light spilled into the dim cabin and I leaned closer to him to look out of the window.

“It’s so beautiful. . . .”

I could see the entire, large city of Florence beneath us. The Renaissance-style buildings were all varying shades of pale yellow and beige and white, their roofs all lined with terracotta-colored tiles. The basilica cathedral in the center of the city stood above all of the other buildings. A river ran through the city and mountains surrounded the city on one side.

“It is,” Alec agreed. He looked away from the city to look at me. He trailed his cool fingertips along my cheek. “But not as beautiful as you.”

I smiled at him and kissed his cheek. “You’re so sweet.”

“Only for you,” he whispered teasingly. I laughed and laid my head on his shoulder again. Alec hummed and rested his head against mine, taking my hand and linking our fingers together just as the plane began to descend.

Alec carried my suitcase for me as we walked down the stairs from the jet onto the pavement. He took my hand in his again and led me across the landing strip, through the airfield, to the small parking lot nearby. He put my suitcase in the front-trunk of a white Lamborghini. I smirked and raised an eyebrow at him. Alec simply grinned and moved around the car to open my door for me. He closed the door once I was seated and got into the driver’s seat. He took my hand again once he started the car and began driving.

“How far are we from Volterra?” I asked, looking out of the dark-tinted window and watching the gorgeous Italian countryside pass by.

“About half an hour,” he replied.

I nodded, though I could feel the anxiety begin to crawl under my skin at the thought of returning to the place where I thought I would die. Alec rubbed circles on the back of my hand with his thumb and said, “Eve, I promise that everything will be okay. I will be right by your side the whole time, and I would never allow you to be harmed in any way — not that anyone would dare to harm you. You have nothing to worry about, my love.”

My heartbeat slowed as my nerves settled. I looked at Alec and smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”

He smiled back at me and squeezed my hand gently, linking our fingers together. He said, “Aro requested that I bring you directly to see the masters when we arrive. Aro wants to greet you properly, as my mate.”

“You’ll be with me?”

“Of course,” he said. Alec lifted my hand up to his mouth and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of my hand.

Alec drove through the gates of the city. I looked around at the Tuscan-style buildings as he drove carefully through the narrow streets. Volterra was even more beautiful than I remembered, especially now that the streets weren’t flooded with people dressed in red and I wasn’t worried about my sister reaching Edward in time or worried about both of us dying.

The castle where the Volturi resided finally came into view. Alec brushed his thumb along the back of my hand as my anxiety spiked again and my stomach twisted uncomfortably. The wrought-iron gates to the castle opened to allow the car past the tall, pale stone walls. Alec pulled the car into a part of the castle that turned out to be a garage filled with expensive, European sports cars. He parked in a spot near the doors that led inside the castle.

We got out of the car. Alec grabbed my suitcase from the trunk, then took my hand in his once again. He led me into the castle, to the lobby where the receptionist was sitting behind her tall, wooden desk.

“Welcome back, Alec . . . Eve,” Gianna said with a smile.

Alec led me past her, ignoring her without a second glance. Halfway through the hallway that led to the throne room, Alec stopped walking. He drew me into his arms and held me against his body. I closed my eyes and rested my head against his chest, winding my arms around his waist.

“Do you feel a little less anxious, now?” Alec murmured softly. I nodded. He hummed and kissed the top of my head.

“Alec.”

We broke apart from each other and turned towards the voice. Jane was standing a few feet away from us, dressed in a knee-length, black, sleeveless dress with her hair tied back in a simple plait. Her face was neutral, until she met my gaze. Then, her eyes narrowed slightly at me. Instinctively, I pressed a little closer to Alec’s side, glancing down at the floor.

“Jane,” Alec warned, a slight edge to his voice as his arm tightened around me. “Play nice, sister.”

I looked up as she huffed in annoyance. She looked back at me and said begrudgingly, “Hello, Evelyn.” Her crimson eyes flicked back to Alec. “Don’t keep them waiting much longer, brother.”

He nodded. Jane walked past us and into the throne room. Alec looked down at me and brushed his thumb along my cheekbone.

“Let’s go, my love.”

I followed Alec down the length of the hallway. He slid aside the piece of paneling and opened the plain wooden door hidden behind it. Alec walked in ahead of me, clearly protective as he took measured steps and kept my hand firmly in his, using his body to shield mine.

“Ah, you have returned to us, young Eve.”

I gripped Alec’s hand nervously as Aro approached us, smiling. The other two leaders, Marcus and Caius, were sitting in their thrones, a bored expression on Caius’ face and a passive one on Marcus’. The guards I had seen on my previous trip — and several that I didn’t recognize — were gathered in the room, their red eyes all watching me curiously. All the attention was unnerving, so I pressed closer to Alec’s side and he squeezed my hand gently.

Aro laughed lightly and said, “Relax, young one. We are all quite happy that you have decided to join our dear Alec, and us by extension.” I saw Jane roll her eyes from the corner of my vision. Aro either ignored her or didn’t see her. He extended his hand to me. “May I?”

I placed my hand in his. He clasped my hand between both of his frozen ones, his cloudy crimson eyes staring into mine intensely. No one spoke or moved while Aro searched through my thoughts.

Finally, he blinked and smiled, gently patting my hand. “Thank you, my dear. I am sorry that you anguish over causing your father pain by disappearing from your previous life.” My heart twisted in my chest as Aro looked at the vampire standing beside me. “Alec, take your mate to your chambers. We shall allow her to settle in for a while before she is turned.”

“Yes, Master,” Alec said softly.

Alec bowed his head to Aro before he guided me out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind us, he wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up off the ground. I laughed and wrapped my legs around his waist as my arms curled around his neck. He kissed my cheek, then lightly pushed my head down to nestle in the crook of his neck. I smiled against his ice-cold skin as he carried me through the castle.

I barely felt him move, so it surprised me when only a couple seconds later, Alec loosened his grip on me and let me slowly drop down to my feet. He kept his arms around my waist as I turned to look at the room.

The bedroom was large and rectangular, made of the same, light, beige-colored stone that the rest of the castle was built with. Dark oak-colored bookshelves lined most of the walls from floor to ceiling, almost every shelf filled entirely with books. Some books looked ancient and delicate, made of leather and parchment, while others were clearly more modern. A black leather couch, matching armchair, and a dark, wooden coffee table — which also held a couple small stacks of books — stood in front of a fireplace that was built into the wall. A large, flat-screen TV hung above the fireplace and a few gaming systems were resting on the mantle.

A king-sized bed sat between two of the tall bookshelves, covered with a dark gray comforter and pillows that were tucked into black satin pillowcases. To the right of the doorway to the hallway, there were two doors fitted between another couple of bookshelves. I assumed that they led to a closet and possibly a bathroom. Directly across the room from them, to the left of where we were standing, laid a balcony with an intricately designed wrought-iron railing behind two glass doors.

“Your room is amazing,” I said.

“Our room,” Alec corrected softly. He pressed a kiss to my hair.

I laughed quietly. “Our room,” I repeated. I turned around and rested my head against his shoulder. Alec smoothed his hand over my long, dark hair. I reached up to play with one of the drawstrings of his hoodie, twisting it around my finger lazily.

“My sweet girl. . . . We should put your things away.”

I nodded, though neither of us moved to pull away from each other. Alec chuckled warmly and I smiled. Just hearing his laugh made me feel warm and happy.

Alec wrapped his arms around me and picked me up easily. He moved us over to the couch, where he laid down with me laying on his chest. Our legs tangled together as I rested my head on his chest. Alec pulled a thick blanket that had been hanging over the couch over us, gently tucking it around my body. I hummed happily, nestling into his side as his hand rubbed along my back.

“I’m so happy that you’re here with me,” he murmured, brushing my hair away from my face. He took a deep breath and sighed. “I wasn’t sure that I would ever meet my mate, and I would never have imagined that I would bond with you so quickly, but now I cannot fathom living without you.”

“I think in some ways, I’m still in shock from all of this,” I mumbled. “I mean, it’s crazy that just a few weeks ago, I had no idea that vampires were real, and I could never have imagined that I would fall in love with a vampire. But I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world, Alec. . . . Will you tell me something?”

“Anything.”

“What happened to you when I decided to stay in Forks?” I asked, pushing myself up a little to look at him. I could see his hesitation and I said, “Please tell me, Alec. I want to know. . . . Please .”

I could see his resolve crumble at my plea. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling as I laid back on his chest. His voice was quiet as he spoke.

“I . . . I was barely able to do anything other than sit in the corner of my room and focus on the pain in my heart. It . . . it was the second worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. . . . I kept the shirt that I had been wearing when I first met you. It still had your scent on it, and every time I caught your sweet scent, it made the pain worse and better, as strange as it sounds. The day I came for you, Marcus had come to me. He convinced me to go to you.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, curling closer to his body.

“Don’t apologize,” Alec replied quickly. “This was not your fault, my love. You were manipulated and lied to. . . . But you’re here with me now, and that’s all that matters.”

He brushed his lips along my forehead and I let my eyes flutter shut.

“How long do I have until I’m turned?”

“Aro suggested three days. Is that okay?”

I nodded. My eyes fluttered open as Alec very gently pushed my head up with his finger under my chin. He looked into my eyes for a long moment before he pressed his lips to mine for the very first time.

I gasped softly against his mouth. His lips were as hard and cold as ice, yet somehow he was so very gentle. I took a deep breath through my nose, breathing in his perfect, sweet, intoxicating scent — which put my mind into overdrive. Everything except the feeling of his lips on mine faded away. I fisted my hand in the soft fabric of his hoodie and pressed as close as I could to his body. All I could think about was pulling him closer, closer, closer.

Alec pulled away, carefully holding me back with a gentle hand on my shoulder. I sucked in a deep breath, filling my deprived lungs with air. I panted softly as he brushed his hand along my cheek.

“Are you okay?” he asked anxiously. “I’m sorry, I knew that it would be overwhelming–”

“I’m fine,” I assured him, still a little breathless. My lips tingled the same way my skin had when he had first touched my cheek. “Don’t apologize. It was amazing.”

He smiled a little smugly and I rolled my eyes at him. I jokingly slapped his chest, then hissed at the pain that radiated through my hand. Alec quickly wrapped his hand around mine, letting his cold skin soothe away the ache. He raised my hand to his mouth and brushed his lips across my knuckles.

“Careful, sweet girl,” he murmured.

I sighed after a moment and said, “I really should unpack my stuff.”

“We can just lay here, if you want.”

“But if I unpack, then we will have nothing to do other than cuddle together.”

Alec laughed and said, “That’s a good point, love.”

We slowly untangled ourselves and got up off the couch. Alec moved my suitcase onto the bed and unzipped it. He put his arm around my waist.

“I can take care of all of this for you in a few seconds,” he offered. “Then we can go lay down again.”

“You’re very persuasive,” I teased with a smile.

“Is that a yes?”

I nodded. Alec hummed and placed a kiss on my cheek. Then, I only saw a blur moving around the room as things disappeared from my suitcase. Mere seconds passed before he returned to my side, only the photo of me and Charlie left. I took it from his hands, smiling sadly down at it.

“I wasn’t sure where you would want it,” Alec said.

“Um . . . I’m not sure.”

“Maybe over here?” he suggested, leading me over to one of the bookshelves. I hadn’t noticed earlier when I was looking around that two of the shelves in this particular bookshelf held small paintings and pictures of him and Jane and a couple other members of the Volturi over the years. He took the picture from my hands and tucked it into the corner of one of the large picture frames.

“We’ll get it it’s own frame soon,” he said.

“Thank you.”

“Of course, love.”

“Where did you put my books?” I asked.

Alec smirked and teased, “Somehow I knew you would ask that first.” He took my hand in his and led me over to another bookshelf. He knelt down and traced his fingertips along the spines of the books that I had brought with me to Italy.

“Which one is your favorite?” he asked.

I brushed my fingers through his silky, dark brown hair. Alec leaned into my touch as I said, “That’s a hard question. . . . I really enjoyed Frankenstein when I read it, more than I thought I would.”

“Mm,” he hummed.

I smiled down at him. Alec seemed far more focused on my fingers in his hair than my answer to his question. He rested his head against the side of my thigh and closed his eyes. My smile widened as I watched him, continuing to run my fingers through his soft curls.

“Get off the floor, Alec, you are not a dog.”

The sudden, vicious voice in the room made me jump. I pulled my hand away from Alec’s hair, my eyes going wide as I looked over at Jane. Her lip was curled into an angry sneer, her hands balled into fists as she glared at me.

I looked away from her quickly, glancing down at Alec. Alec’s bottom lip was just barely jutted out into a slight pout, likely from our moment being interrupted. He sighed and took my hand in his, looking up at me as he pressed a lingering kiss to my knuckles. My anxious heartbeat slowed even as I blushed at his affection. Alec stood and turned to look at his twin sister, hiding me partially behind him.

“Jane,” he greeted.

Her eyes finally moved away from me and her gaze lost all hostility as she looked at her brother.

“I was coming to steal you away for a while,” Jane said pleasantly. A surprisingly soft smile curled her lips as she waited for his response.

“Sister, you know that my mate just joined me. I won’t leave her alone,” he replied carefully.

The blonde girl frowned and shot me another glare from over Alec’s shoulder. Guilt twisted my heart.

“It’s okay, Alec,” I said softly. “You should spend time with her.”

Alec turned to look at me, and my heart ached even more when I saw the confusion and slight hurt in his eyes. But only a second later, it all disappeared and he suddenly looked determined. He turned back towards his twin.

“I will visit with you later, Jane. I promise,” Alec added in a softer tone when she sent me another annoyed look. I looked down at the ground. “I want to spend time with Eve right now.”

Jane growled angrily and whirled around, quickly leaving the room. Alec turned fully towards me and lifted my chin gently so I was looking into his crimson eyes.

“Do not put anyone else’s feelings or desires above your own,” he murmured. “Jane will adjust to not being able to monopolize all of my time. We have spent the last twelve-hundred years by each other’s sides. She can handle a few days without me.”

“I just don’t want to come between you,” I said.

Alec took my face in his hands. “You won’t, sweet girl. Jane just needs time to adjust and get to know you.”

I nodded. Alec leaned close to drop a kiss on my forehead.

“Okay. Now, I’ve been a little daft and have forgotten that my beautiful mate is still human and needs to eat,” he said. I smiled with him. “Let’s go get you something to eat.”

“Lead the way.”

[elena-mayfair]

Dreams that came true

Paring: Morpheus x f!reader, Sandman x f!reader Warnings: swearing, horror images, graphic violence, adult themes, reader discretion is advised Summary: Be careful what you wish for because some dreams do come true. Word count: 4.8k Note: Gifs are not mine, credit to the authors.

Series Masterlist Part fifteen: One with the Dream

***

If someone had ever told Morpheus that on a warm autumn afternoon he would be enjoying the company of two mortals it would probably have been met with his resentment and contempt. He remembered very well how, in 1889, Hob Gadling merely suggested that perhaps he was looking for friendship, alluded that he might be feeling lonely, he remembered well his own reaction. Outrage, anger, storming out into the rainy night, but also sadness, pain. Something he never told him and probably never will. His words hurt him like a burning iron applied straight to his heart, pained him because there was truth in them, he felt lonely. He had always felt lonely, isolated. But he would have liked to think that this must have been the nature of his existence, the lonely Lord of Dreaming. All the attempts he had made to fill that solitude turned into nothing. Killala, Nada, Calliope…each attempt always ended the same way, nothingness, loneliness. Therefore, he made the decision that love had no place in the Land of Dreams, because love comes from Desire, manipulates the heart and mind of beings, brings them to ruin. But what about friendship? Friendship, in Morpheus's eyes, was only a secondary to love, the first step leading to it, the first mistake he could make. It was not a privilege or a luxury he could afford. Eons of life had taught him that neither love nor friendship had any place in his existence. And yet, more than a hundred years since that memorable rainy night, he found himself in the company of a friend and his beloved, and he had to admit to himself that the sight of their smiling faces immersed in conversation brought warmth to his heart, made him feel good. It made him feel happy.

"Unbelievable…" Y/N whispered and her eyes lighted up with amazement, "You are in your thirties since 1389…."

"More than 600 years…" Hob smiled kindly.

"Fucking unbelievable!" Morpheus observed her childlike wonder, "You've lived for six centuries…holy shit, the things you've seen, the people you've met, you've seen the world change…" she continued in a hushed voice, "I have so many questions! There are so many things I would like you to tell me about!"

"I'm sure Morpheus has seen even more than I have…" Hob smiled emphasizing his friend's name bluntly, "You have certainly seen a lot yourself."

"Yes but it's not the same! Sorry but I don't have as much experience of life as you! You lived through the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, the Elizabethan era, the Victorian, the Regencies! Oh, the history of culture unfolded before your eyes!"

"Believe me it sounds better than I remember it."

"Oh, gowns, balls, beautiful Ladies, classy Gentlemen!" a blush of excitement appeared on her face.

"Ignorance, crudity, poverty, pestilence, wars…" Hob interrupted with a slightly cynical smile.

"Oh don't spoil my fantasy!" she scolded him with a laugh only to become serious a moment later, "My god….you saw both World Wars…" she uttered quietly, "it must have been…oh, I don't even know what to say."

"I'd rather not see the third one," he smiled brightly, "But don't get me wrong, I don't regret a moment of it, each of those times you mentioned had something beautiful about them and I can't wait for the future!"

"So you still want to live." Morpheus mused in a low voice.

"Of course I do! I will never look for death! You should already know that about me!" he replied with certainty.

"How is that possible?" Y/N asked curiously, "How is it possible that you have been alive for over six hundred years?"

"I'll tell you what it looked like from my perspective…" Hob leaned his elbows on the table, moved closer to her and began to speak in a hushed voice, "In the year 1389, I was sitting with my companions in a tavern. We were talking over a drink and a meal as was our custom after a week's work. A discussion about death ensued. And I, being my presumptuous self, started lecturing them even then! Heh, how little I knew back then…" he smiled faintly and took a sip of his beer, "It seemed to me that since I had seen people from my village die one by one, consumed by the Plague, that as I had seen the fallen in battle in Burgundy where I fought under the command of the Earl of Buckingham, I knew what death looked like. Because you see people around me were dying but not me…"

"I remember you called Death stupid," Morpheus chuckled.

"Well because I thought so!" Hob replied and continued the story, "I said to myself 'the only reason people die is 'cause everyone does it' and I really thought so! And I made a decision that I would not die. And I didn't die."

Morpheus watched as sadness seeped into Y/N's fascinated eyes at the implications of his words. For a moment, anger even glimmered in them.

"And you didn't die, just like that?" she queried.

"That same night I met Morpheus who asked for us to meet in the same tavern in a hundred years." Hob smiled at Morpheus, "We have been meeting once every hundred years since then."

Y/N was silent for a moment hiding her feelings in her cup of coffee. Unlike Hob, she knew more about the supernatural forces that ruled the world of mortals. Morpheus could clearly see how the initial fascination and admiration mixed with anger, frustration and sternness. He saw how hard she tried to hide it and how much these feelings tried to flood her. For a moment he regretted asking for her company, for a moment he regretted that his selfishness and desire for her company overshadowed his perception of the situation. He reached out with his hand under the table and gently brushed her leg, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"You should write a book!" she smiled at Hob swallowing all the negative emotions, "It would sell in the millions! I can only imagine how many fascinating stories you could tell!"

"Nay, that's not for me! I'm a simple man, enjoying the simple things in life!" he replied and leaned relaxed against the couch, "But I must admit that you're not all that surprised by my story," he noted, "forgive me for asking a direct question, I don't want to be rude, but are you a human?"

Y/N only laughed warmly.

"Yes I am," she replied, "In a way." she corrected herself, "in a sense… damn, it doesn't surprise me that much because maybe I've already seen too many things in my life. I'm a Witch," she explained.

"Wow…" A gasp of amazement escaped Hob's lips, "A real one, you mean? With spells, incantations, potions, and stuff?"

"And stuff…" she confirmed, " Not many people like me are left in the world."

"No wonder after the clerics and commoners murdered most of you in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries…"

"Many bloodlines were destroyed but as you probably know well many innocents were murdered as well," she finished. "Have you met many famous people?" she quickly changed the course of the conversation, "Mozart? Bach? Michelangelo? Shakespeare maybe?"

"Hah! Will Shaxberd! What a funny little man he was!" Hob laughed at the reminiscence, "He wrote something and performed in the theater, nothing outstanding! His friend Kit Marlowe, that one had talent! But, of course, everything changed after William caught the interest of Morpheus," he looked pointedly at his friend, "You never confirmed it to me, but I know that you made some kind of deal with him. Who would have thought that hundreds of years later people would still be admiring his works."

Morpheus answered nothing only gave a crafty smile.

"Wait a minute…" Y/N's astonished gaze flickered to him. How he loved looking into her delighted eyes, "Are Shakespeare's works your making?"

"Perhaps."

"Oh no my dear, perhaps, isn't enough here!" she leaned closer to him while fascination danced in her eyes, "how many great writers? Lovecraft? Poe? Tolkien? You have to tell me!"

"Later," he replied softly, "I believe that if we start this conversation day and night will not be enough to finish it."

"We have all the time that exists…" she smirked at him.

"That we have…" he smiled at her and for the first time, Hob saw love in the eyes of the once mysterious stranger. Hob Gadling watched with delight as they hung their gazes on each other for longer than acceptable in the respectful company, watched as Morpheus' eyes shone when she smiled slyly at him when she closed her eyes for a fraction of a sec when he took her hand, courteously helping her up, as he watched intently her every move, her every gesture when she said goodbye to him giving her promises to meet him again soon. And even if they did not meet sooner than in another hundred years Hob was happy because he knew that his friend had found happiness, he knew that his friend was no longer lonely.

***

"You'll have to tell me all about Shakespeare!" Y/N embraced Morpheus' arm and let him lead her on a walk through the crowded streets of the city. The day was slowly coming to an end, the sun was setting over the horizon giving way to the enwrapping darkness of night. She looked at him while the fascination and childlike wonder danced in her eyes again.

"I think that of all those you mentioned Shakespeare is the least interesting figure," he smiled at her.

"Did you know Poe? And Lovecraft?!" without letting go of his hand she stepped half a step in front of him and started walking backward, like a child unable to contain her excitement, "Did you know Tolkien?!"

"I have met them all my dear," he replied and the corner of his mouth twitched again.

"Oh, Morpheus! You can't tease me like that! Tell me, please! Tell me about them!"

Morpheus stopped and took her hand, directing it back onto his arm.

"I will tell you about them if you want me to," he looked deeply into her wide-open eyes, "I think I will be able to offer even more than a story," he teased.

"What's that?! Tell me please!" she demanded an answer, so joyful, so excited. He couldn't stop enjoying her delight, her cheerful smile, and her sparkling eyes.

"Let it be a surprise," he kissed her gently taking her argument away. How he loved the taste of sweetness on her lips, the scent of jasmine that invaded his senses every time she was near.

"If you think I can't see what you're doing then you're sorely mistaken," she glared at him with a cocky smile but allowed him to lead her further through the city streets, "I may sometimes be unreasonable but I am not stupid!"

"I have no idea what you mean," he quipped amused.

"Mhm, for sure! That subtly marked dominance of yours, I hope you don't think I don't notice it."

"I have not thought so for a moment, your intelligence and perceptiveness are exceptionally highly developed."

"Don't think that I will always submit to you," she continued, throwing him amused glances.

"There are some situations in which submissiveness can bring a pleasurable outcome," he lowered his voice deliberately and felt a shiver run through her body. Observing her reaction gave him unimaginable satisfaction.

"Excuse me Dream Lord, is my Lord flirting with me? she gazed flirtatiously.

"Perhaps I am," he gazed back.

"And what sort of pleasurable outcomes of submissiveness did you have in mind My Lord?" she smiled slyly.

"Use your imagination," he leaned in and murmured softly.

"My imagination tells me that we should now be anywhere but in the middle of the street," she replied.

"And where would you like to be My Lady?" a blush came to her face as he addressed her with the title.

"Let me think…." she indulged in a daydream for a moment, "maybe in my bedroom?" she looked at him playfully, "Nah, too obvious. Maybe in a 16th-century Gothic castle where I could wear a beautiful, richly decorated, long gown made of black velvet," he liked the vision. "Or on a deserted beach hidden under the cover of night, where I would bathe naked in the pale moonlight," this vision pleased him even more. "Or a gothic masquerade ball where concealed under masks, we could dance and twirl to the envy and admiration of the other guests."

"It can all be arranged," he replied quietly when she stopped again and moved closer to him, closer than he would have liked while being out in public.

"For now, take me home…" she whispered as she gazed into his eyes.

He smiled and pulled her gently away from the crowded street. One of the side alleys was empty, shrouded in the darkness of night, as the single burnt-out lamp provided no light, offering a perfect cover from the eyes of passersby. He reached into his pocket for his pouch of sand, but before he could take it out Y/N grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him close. She took two steps back, leaned with her back against the wall of the building, threw her arms around his neck and pressed her burning lips to his. There was no trace of modesty nor softness in her behavior, there was only pure passion and desire. Without diverting his lips from hers he slipped his hand under her jacket and embraced her tightly around the waist as she clung eagerly to him. Holding her so close, he felt as if he held in his arms Everything, the past, the future, the present, everything that was and everything that would be, everything that mattered, everything he desired, the purpose of existence beyond his function. With his other hand, he reached back into his pocket and in one smooth motion surrounded them with golden sand carrying them back home.

He wanted them to stay like this, as one, in the space between time and place, suspended between Dream and Reality. Like a pair of lovers enslaved by desire. He never wanted to be parted from her, he wanted her to be by his side forever. He wanted nothing more than to make her his queen, to hide her in the Dreaming from mortal life, to make her his for all eternity.

Consumed by love, controlled by Desire, he almost lost sight of Dreaming. Almost…

***

"What's wrong?" you asked when Morpheus suddenly broke the kiss and pulled away from you, "Morpheus I can see that something is wrong."

"Something has changed in the Dreaming," he answered with a gravely voice as his eyes stared into space, "I must investigate."

"I'll go with you…"

"No, "he interrupted you gruffly, "I don't think it's a good idea."

"But…" you tried to continue upon seeing his sudden change in demeanor. Gone was the charming, seductive man who only a moment ago was passionately taking devotion from your lips. The stern King of Dreams stood before you again, and the King of Dreams did not accept disobedience. The cold stars shone menacingly again in his endless eyes and his whole posture seemed to have grown, filling the space around you with impenetrable darkness.

"The affairs of the Kingdom of Dreams belong to me Y/N, and I must attend to them without delay," he stated.

"I understand…" You replied reluctantly and lowered your gaze. Morpheus only came closer to you and tenderly embraced your face in his hands.

"Please listen to me for once," he said after which he kissed you and disappeared in a swirl of golden grains of sand.

You were alone again...

You stood for a moment just as he left you, not quite knowing what to do next. Although the night was deep you didn't feel tired or in need of sleep. It was as if the few hours you had slept in his Kingdom had made your body and mind feel rested like never before. You stared into the space that just a moment ago was filled by Morpheus and felt the emptiness. Two days and nights spent at his side were enough for you to know that you never wanted to be parted from him again. Being by his side was so intoxicating, addictive, as if in an instant he became your whole world, the whole meaning of your existence, every heartbeat, every breath, every thought and every desire.

You sat down on the bed and reached for a cigarette. The thick smoke made you dizzy, only now you realized that you hadn't smoked for the past few days. But that wasn't the only thing you hadn't done in the past few days. You didn't check your phone, your email, your messages, you didn't check your mailbox, you didn't even took the laundry out of the washing machine. "I've completely lost all sense of reality," you thought with surprise noticing how easily you let yourself be drawn into the Dreaming World. "Is this what it's going to be like?" you leaned back on the bed as you continued to drag on your cigarette, "Moments of dreamed fantasy followed by complete emptiness?" You closed your eyes and let the memory of Morpheus' touch, his hands wandering over your body, his greedy kisses exploring every part of your body reignite your senses. You weren't ready to let him go. You craved that fire, craved to feel him with your whole being. His voice carried a pleasant shiver, in his gaze you were able to see the whole world, his touch ignited your soul and mind, made you feel more alive than ever before. You desired to feel that fire again as your hand went up your thigh under your dress. You desired this delight….

Desire...

The storm light flashed through you warningly when you felt a sudden change. You abruptly opened your eyes and saw red. A bright, flashy, vulgar red that shone like a perfectly polished stone. The air smelled of the sweetness of licorice.

"Well hello there…" a smokey, sultry voice reached your ears making you rise rapidly to your feet, "Surprise to see me?" with your eyes you found its source. A blond-haired and golden-eyed stranger was smiling seductively at you, writhing in a chair as red as all the surroundings. Stranger was dressed all in black, with a deep neckline exposing a chest, a feather collar surrounding a beautiful face. It smiled at you, blood red lipstick decorated its luscious lips. "You shouldn't be," the stranger purred like a cat.

"Who are you? Where am I?" you asked in a hushed voice.

"I can feel that you are still searching for something…" it ignored your question, "there, in my Big Brothers Realm."

"Big brother?" you whispered.

"I suppose I should introduce myself…" the being stood up and approached you seductively balancing its hips, "I am Desire," the enticing low voice penetrated you as it graced you with a wide grin.

"You are one of the Endless. A Morpheus sibling," you stated as your heart began to beat with an uneven rhythm.

"That is what I am, that is what I do," Desire affirmed, "I make you want," Desire moved closer to you and deeply took in your scent, "It is me that you feel in the longing, in lust…." with its fingers it brushed the hair off your neck, "you are drawn to these objects, to these feelings, like a butterfly to the flame. But…" a chuckle escaped Desire's lips, "you already knew that didn't you? And yet, knowing that, you gave in to me so easily."

"I think you underestimate the complexity of human nature," you looked at Desire angrily but Desire only laughed.

"If you think so tell me then, what is that you want? Don't be shy…" Desire grinned widely again, "you weren't shy just a moment ago," it remarked. "Or perhaps I should try to guess?" it looked at you flirtatiously. "You want something sensual, or maybe something precious, or…maybe someone special?" humming laughter came from within it, "or maybe you want all three?"

"Go to hell," you growled.

"Yes. I think that might be just the case." Desire circled around you far too close for your liking, "You know, my Big Brother always thought that Endless are servants to you mortals. But I know what you really are. You are a creature of Desire, my creature."

"I don't belong to you Desire, I belong to him," you looked into their golden eyes with certainty but Desire only laughed derisively.

"Oh, how confident," Desire mocked, "you twist and bend as I require it." Desire ran a finger down your arms, "whenever you wake my Big Brother is taking his leave of you. But I'm not. I am always with you right there in your heart," it stopped its hand on your heart.

"You are wrong," you fumed while looking daringly into Desire's eyes, "You confuse lust with love and devotion, which I think are utterly unknown to you. And Morpheus doesn't…." you bit your tongue, certain that Morpheus would not want you to reveal the details of your relationship.

"Go on, continue, tell me what I don't know about my own brother," it challenged you, "But perhaps you are right. Perhaps my brother has changed. It is true that you are a remarkable being. So I think we will see if you are remarkable enough to change my brother."

"Stay away from us," you snarled.

"Oh is that a threat? I almost felt a thrill of excitement," Desire purred in your ear, " Go away, little witch. I'm sure we'll meet again."

And with those words the red before you disappeared. You were in your bedroom again. Your heart was pounding like crazy trying to keep up with your nervous breathing while you got up from the bed, lit a cigarette and ran to the living room in search of the phone. You needed to talk to John, the only human who could understand what was going on in your life. Once again, he hadn't heard from you for several days, but you were pretty sure there was no signal in the Dream Realm anyway. Traveling in the arms of Morpheus also left no opportunity to take your phone, bag, and other things that were so necessary in the Waking World. You didn't need them anyway. Plugging the phone into the charger, you were sure to see at least a few notifications of missed calls and some messages. One thing you didn't expect was the content of the first message that popped up on your screen.

David is dead. He killed himself.

You froze. You understood the urgency that Morpheus had to investigate. You understood why he didn't want you to go with him. It was your fault.

***

The moment Morpheus no longer detected David in the Dreaming he knew something had happened. The Nightmares he had ordered to torture him had returned to the Realm and were waiting to be summoned for a report. However, he had to see for himself first what had happened. He had to make sure his intuition was not misguided. Standing in the living room of his apartment, the truth spread in a bloodstain before his eyes. A shattered skull fragments of brain and blood splattered on the wall and the back of the armchair on which his lifeless body lay. His jaw hung open, and dried blood oozed from his mouth. The stench of feces and decay hung in the air. "He was supposed to suffer longer," he thought while looking at his dead body with dissatisfaction.

"Bloody hell, the bastard was many things but I never wished him such a death," Constantine also looked at David's body however unlike Morpheus he covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve, "Poor son of a bitch."

"Do you feel sorry for him Constantine?" Morpheus asked in a murderous voice, "Do you feel sorry for his death?"

"Yes and no," he replied, "Even the worst bastards don't deserve such a death."

"Perhaps not," Morpheus shifted his gaze from Constantine back to David's lifeless body, "Perhaps he deserved a fate far worse than this. Death…Death granted him an opportunity for an early escape."

"I have to report this to the police," John stated and reached for the phone, "Good thing Y/N isn't here. I don't know how she would have reacted."

"You have very poor timing Constantine," Morpheus remarked after which he stepped away from the corpse and looked into space where a swirl of golden sand began to form from which Y/N emerged a moment later. She looked confused first at Morpheus, then at Constantine before finally focusing her eyes on David's body. She took two steps back and leaned against the wall, Morpheus watched as her eyes widened filling with horror.

"Bloody hell, sweetheart! You shouldn't be here!" John rushed over to her trying to block her view but Morpheus was already there. He filled the entire space in front of her eyes.

"I asked you to stay home," he said in a quiet concerned voice, gently forcing her to look at him, "You couldn't listen to me…" There was no emotion depicted on her stunned face, only her eyes betrayed horror, "Y/N look at me," he ordered. And look she did, she looked straight into his eyes, while horror gave way to anger.

"Would you tell me if I stayed?" she asked rhetorically, "Get out of my way, I want to see him."

"Love, I don't think it's a good idea," Constantine interjected.

"And you what?!" Y/N looked at John furiously, "Some bad cop good cop routine you're playing! Since when did you two even…" she didn't finish, "Get out of my way both of you!"

Morpheus felt a wave of power surge out of her teasing his senses like a current flowing through his body. He looked at Constantine who also felt it, much more strongly, as he moved back two steps and tumbled slightly as if protecting himself from falling.

"Beloved," Morpheus tried again to get her attention, "This is not a sight you should be seeing."

"It's my fault," she replied quietly and pushed him away.

Morpheus did not try to stop her again. He knew that his requests and commands would be of no use, not in this case. He could only watch as Y/N approached the dead body of the Nightmare that had tormented her for years and silently looked at the blood stains on the wall, the skull fragments, the dried blood on his mouth, neck and shirt. She did not avert her eyes, did not cover her mouth or nose, she stood proudly like a statue, breathing calmly and steadily, with a statuesque face betraying no emotion.

"It's my fault…" she whispered quietly.

"You cannot say that…" Morpheus stood half a step behind her, in case she would fall.

"But while it's true…" she continued in a cold tone, "It's my fault. His death, his blood is on my hands…"

"Y/N…" he tried to interrupt her.

"If I hadn't met you if our paths hadn't crossed…" her voice trembled, "One thing led to another. There are no words that….It's my fault Morpheus. I wished the son of a bitch all the worst, I said it to his face, I told him that I would like to kill him, that I would like to feel his neck crack under my fingers, that I would like to watch his life escape," she said quietly and calmly, "I meant it. I said I would spit on his grave. And I wanted it with my whole heart."

"You did not kill him…" the Morpheus voice came from deep within grounding her in reality.

"No, I didn't kill him, not then. Even though I could have, even though I wanted to, I told him I wouldn't stain my hands with his blood, that I wasn't a killer…." she turned her gaze away from David's body and looked straight into Morpheus' endless abyss, "So tell me beloved why I feel like I'm the one who pulled the trigger?".

He answered nothing. He wanted to deny it but that would have been a lie. He put his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to offer comfort. He saw all the joy disappear from her consumed by Despair.

"Be careful what you wish for…" she sneered, "because dreams do come true…"

Part seventeen: Letting go

~~***~~

Author note: Hi friends! My apologies for the delayed chapter. I had a lot going on last week and the last thing I wanted was to give you some half-ass attempt at the story. This week, however, I'm planning to push a bit more, and hopefully, give you two more. No promises though.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Even if I'm not replying to every single comment, and believe me I'm trying, I am reading each and every one. Thank you so much for all of your comments. You are the best!

For now, as always Dear Reader, I thank you for reading :)

~~***~~

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[uwmspeccoll]

Psychedelic Saturday

We're going a little psychedelic this weekend to bring you some of the more hallucinogenic pages from Milwaukee's radical underground newspaper of the 1960s and 1970s, Kaleidoscope. The newspaper, which ran from 1967-1971, included dozens of psychedelic pages and page spreads, most of which we can't show you because most include some element of nudity, which Tumblr has been scrupulously censoring of late, even if posts include images of classical sculpture, renaissance paintings, or illustrations by Beardsley. Still, if you'd like to get a better understanding of the graphic elements of this no-holds-barred newspaper, you can view our digitized version of the collection.

Kaleidoscope was a biweekly newspaper offering an alternative and radical-liberal perspective that addressed and critiqued the social, political, and cultural issues of its day, including American politics, police actions, civil rights, gender issues, sexuality, activist activities, and contemporary art, music, and literature. Attempts to censor the publication were a challenge from the very first issue. The editor and publisher John Kois was even convicted of obscenity and the case, Kois v. Wisconsin, eventually went to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1972 (after the newspaper had folded). However, the Court ruled in the newspaper’s favor stating that the challenged contents of the newspaper did not constitute obscenity. In a concurring statement Justice William O. Douglas wrote that “the vague umbrella of obscenity laws was used in an attempt to run a radical newspaper out of business . . . . If obscenity laws continue in this uneven and uncertain enforcement, then the vehicle has been found for the suppression of any unpopular tract.”

View more posts on Kaleidoscope.

[breadknight-likes-things]

Holy Hell Capcom, You Did It.

I didn't go into the Resident Evil 4 Remake with pessimism. If anything, my hype for the game had been pre-validated by Capcom's near absurd run on the franchise since it's soft relaunch with Resident Evil 7 in 2017. Coming into this remake we'd already been shown a mastery at both creating new experiences in this classic franchise, and reimaginations of two of it's older games (Say what you like, I think Resident Evil 3 Remake is a hell of a good time.), so why should we be surprised that Resident Evil 4 Remake is perfect? And it is perfect, a word that I often use to describe some of my favorite video games, but still a word I don't use lightly. It is a word, however, I would use to describe Resident Evil 4 Remake, and I'd use it in a multitude of different contexts. The games new tone is a perfect blend of the 2005 cornball adventure we all love, and the slow simmering horror that it was always obvious that cornball adventure was trying to create as best it could. Leon and Ashley's far more balanced dynamic is perfect, with Ashley now feeling like an actual character, rather than a slate to be looked after, which she sadly rarely rose above being in the original version. Luis is just perfect, and still a huge cornball, albeit, a cornball with some real pathos somewhere among the kernels. Every single one of Leon's goofy roundhouse kicks, and German Suplex moves, leaps off the screen with a perfect screwball energy that never stops being simultaneously hilarious and electrifying. Capcom took a masterful knife to the original Resident Evil 4 experience in ways that often seem to defy logic. As someone who has played through Resident Evil 4 an absurd amount of times, I never stopped marveling at every correct decision Capcom made in cutting out, or around, the different parts of that game to create this new experience. For every classic section that's in here fully remade with modern graphics and design sensibilities, there's an entirely new section or level that fits in so well with the game, you'd think it had been there all along. I don't know how they did it, or what amount of intensive playtesting it took, but Capcom seemed to inherently understand every fond memory I had of Resident Evil 4, and crafted this remake to those specifications. Every section, encounter, or weapon I liked, was here and ready for me to re-experience in stunning new fidelity and enhanced game feel. Every mildly annoying part I could take or leave, was left, leaving me with a veritable greatest hits collection of one of the greatest video games ever made. The pacing is immaculate, I never once got bored, and during every section I assumed I knew front to back, Capcom surprised me again and again. Even the games semi-infamous final third, The Island, that often gets cited as the only time RE4 went wrong, is edited down so incredibly, I was left stunned by the result. It's almost absurd to think that just a little over ten years ago now Resident Evil was in such a dire place, many of us were wondering if it'd ever be good again. We're now five games deep into an incredible renaissance for the series, and only just now have we hit new heights that I wouldn't have even thought possible only a few years ago. Honestly, if we can see something even half of this games quality, bring on Resident Evil 5 and 6 Remakes next. I have nothing but faith in Capcom's ability to knock these things out of the park. After Resident Evil 4 Remake, I have nothing but faith in Capcom, period.

[bearpillowmonster]

Seriously though, Epic Mickey coming back is huge. First off, it supports Oswald, I don't care whether I play it or not (I will) but I'd buy it anyway to support Oswald.

Second is that this is a potential renaissance for Epic Mickey (forgive me for being lofty here but-) bringing back the planned and canned sequels as well as the movie that was supposed to go along with it. If we support this, we could get more content in the future. Now, they said this with Monkey Ball and that wasn't exactly the case, it did come back, but I don't think it was the support of Banana Blitz HD. If you like the game already, support it, if you don't, don't be too hasty.

Third is that I revisited Epic Mickey within the past two years and man is that hard to control now and days, not even the paintbrush, just the jumping mixed with the camera. That's why I hope we see a little more with this remaster, fine tuning its art and technics, the graphics already look like a complete overhaul so I wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't on the horizon already.

Now last thing- This brings Epic Mickey to a whole new audience. Part of the reason it died in the first place was because Disney games were already failing and the performance of 2 was disappointing despite branching out to other consoles. (Really it was that they gave them so little time to develop it) Critical reception of the first game is a lot better and is now for the first time on all these other platforms as it was exclusive to the Wii before.

[kvtnisseverdeen]

now that merlin, teen wolf, the hunger games, and doctor who are all ~back~ so to speak, we need to bring back picspams and graphics....it's the only thing we need to complete the tumblr renaissance...the tumblrenaissance if you will

[reasoningdaily]

The Black History Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained Click to DOWNLOAD FOR FREE ON Z-LIB

Discover the rich and complex history of the peoples of Africa, and the struggles and triumphs of Black cultures and communities around the world. With profiles of key people, movements, and events, The Black History Book brings together accounts of the most significant ideas and milestones in Black history and culture.

This vital and thought-provoking book presents a bold and accessible overview of the history of the African continent and its peoples - from the earliest human migrations to modern Black communities and the African diaspora.

Powerful images and innovative infographics bring to life the stories of the early kingdoms of Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and Carthage; the powerful empires of the Medieval and Early Modern eras; and the struggle against European colonizers. Black history and culture beyond the African continent is also explored in detail - including the Atlantic Slave Trade; the quilombos (slave resistance camps) of Brazil; the Harlem Renaissance and Jazz Age; the "Windrush" migration; Civil Rights and Black feminist movements; and Black Lives Matter.

Using the "Big Ideas" series' trademark combination of authoritative, accessible text and bold graphics, The Black History Book examines the achievements and struggles of Black communities across the world up to the modern day, as well as the influence of Black cultures on art, literature, and music the world over.

[watching-pictures-move]

Movie Review | The Masque of the Red Death (Corman, 1964)

It's been many moons since I've read the story this is adapted from, and while I don't consider this as an especially great failing given the circumstances, I always felt the ideal movie adaptation should be realized with grotesque, taboo-shattering explicitness. Given that this is a mid-'60s gothic horror, there is only so much you can show in terms of satanist debauchery without pissing off censors. A dancing child and a dog for entertainment? Maybe if they were eaten after the performance, that would be pretty messed up. No nudity, aside from a carefully blocked scene of Jane Asher getting out of the bath, although Hazel Court provides plenty of heaving bosom. There is a gorilla suit in a more sinister and horrifying context than I'm used to (which automatically makes this a good movie, regardless of what I'm rambling on about at the moment). So the movie has to suggest depravity and evil with a bit less showing and a bit more through atmosphere, meaning that it tasty in other ways. To be perfectly honest, I'm just chewing over some pretty minor reservations, but I'd like to see a version of this that plays like a more engaged Caligula (minus Bob Guccione's additions).

Whatever my (extremely minor) misgivings, this is a really engaging work. This is the first Edgar Allan Poe adaptation I've seen from Roger Corman, and on the basis of this, I'd definitely like to dig further. One thing he does that's really smart is find great actors for the material. People like Vincent Price and Patrick McGee look natural in the renaissance faire costuming, and are able to imbue wit and mischief into their fancy schmancy dialogue. Both are clearly having a ball. And Jane Asher provides a nice, sympathetic centre, grounding the movie's flamboyance, although I can picture another version where she's a bit more tempted by Price's evil, debauched ways. And as mentioned above, Hazel Court brings certain obvious... *clears throat* ...charms.

And the movie is just gorgeous to look at. Despite Corman's frugal reputation, this movie looks credibly lavish, likely because they were able to save some money by reusing the sets from Becket. Corman as always gets the most bang for his buck, having us creep along during the many scenes in which characters walk down the corridors, which along with the gorilla suit automatically makes this a good movie. This was shot by Nicolas Roeg, who with the help of the production design, floods each frame with bold colours to simultaneously eerie and decadent effect. I wouldn't quite call the look of the movie experimental, certainly not as much as Roeg's directorial efforts or his work as DP on Richard Lester's Petulia, which has an early form of his fractured editing style, but the ambience the movie achieves feels bit more off-kilter than the usual gothic horror costume piece. A high point is the nightmare sequence in which Court is attacked by a slew of scary foreigners, with the ghastly green hues and dissolve-heavy editing by Ann Chegwidden casting a palpably sinister aura over the scene. And if the climax is less graphic than one might hope thanks to the censorial limitations, the bold use of red certainly gives it a kick.

[loup94]

Why you should give Hexes & Exes a read...

Hi. 

Myosotis here, the self promo queen. 

Now, I’m here to talk about my first book, Hexes & Exes, and give you a couple hints on the plot & genre & themes and why I think adults who crave easy fantasy, relatable characters & smutt should pick it up (and the sequels, Potions & Arsons, etc etc).

Firstly, I’d like to make this very clear : this book and the series is intended for an adult audience, no exceptions. It contains mature situations, graphic language, graphic violence and sexual content which isn’t suitable for anyone under 18. 

It is contemporary fantasy, dark fantasy & fantasy romance. 

1. This isn’t a book about chosen ones. This isn’t a story about a teenager who discovers powers and is suddenly pulled into a magical world where everyone wants a piece of them. This book is about adults living in a magical society, they are already well-aware of it and are far from being chosen ones. We don’t like teen protagonists saving the world here, not anymore - and if we do mention them, it is as side characters. Here, we have adults who are broken, learning, and hoping to heal. Some of them have bad coping mechanisms, some of them don’t even know they have to recover until they do, and others are unapologetically themselves despite how much it hurts them. Be prepared for some self destructive thinking, behaviour, and their inner thoughts being exposed. 

2. So, because I’ve established we’re talking about ADULTS, these characters are all well over 25 (25-30 years old) and are active members of their wizarding society. Lee Strix, our protagonist, is a professor in a magical school, some of her friends are too, others are journalists and lawyers and sentinels (aka law enforcement). As Adults, they have lives which we can all relate to (minus the magic and all), with things like complicated relationships, work, expectations, romance... smutt. Lots of it, not going to lie. 

3. While the premise of this book focuses a LOT on Lee strix and her coming to terms with her childhood traumas (being a gifted child, loosing her spark, becoming a burned out adult, having communication issues with her parents, fear of commitment, etc) and her rivalry with Ren Peridot, there are tons of layers that build up to a larger overarching story that is the central plot of all the books (which I can’t reveal, spoilers). Just know that it’s about a LOT more and it will involve a lot of mystery, investigation, plot twists at every corner. 

4. While you may jump into this series thinking Lee Strix is the protagonist, there are actually many main characters. I’d say in total, you could consider 5 as being ‘main’ and 4 as being ‘secondary’, though ideally I’d like you to consider them all as equally important because they all play a role and bring their own piece to the puzzle that is the story. So be prepared for many POVs coming in this book and the next, where other characters get time to shine. The characters are of diverse backgrounds, descent & sexuality. 

5. As I mentioned, there is a lot of smutt. That’s not the whole purpose of the book, but it is a very important part of it as it is in some ways a tool for our characters to learn about themselves and grow as individuals. So, there’s also romance. Though it isn’t the central plot, it is very crucial to it because it will play an important role in how the characters build relationships amongst themselves. 

6. Dark academia !! This serie’s whole vibe is dark/light academia meshed into one with a gothic melancholic ambiance and a dash of urban aestethic. If you like the idea of magical schools around the world, each unique and reminiscent of gothic, renaissance, medieval, byzantine or oriental architecture, then you’ll be satisfied. If you like the idea of a parallel world of magic with creatures, a complex magic system, wands, rituals, potions etc then it’s definately for you. And if you like all of that mixed in with the comfort of modern society (clubs, phones, stores, malls, restaurants etc) then HELLO, we have whole chapters that happend in Paris, New York, Seoul, San Francisco (not all in book 1, sprikled in the sequels too). 

Finally, I’d like to thank every reader that has already been so kind to check my books out (on kindle, KU, paperback, hardcover etc) and left ratings & reviews. Please do the same if you have read them or intend to, it really motivates indie authors like me to keep writing, it makes all that we pour of ourselves into the stories worth it. 

Now, if you want to dive in... 

https://www.amazon.com/Hexes-Exes-Sex-Secrets-Spells-ebook/dp/B09FH35CL5#:~:text=4.0%20out%20of%205%20stars%20Amazing!