#ember gibson

[somanybookssolittletime1]

January Book Wrap Up

~~~ Good Morning, bookish lovelies! 📚 A little late with posting this but damn January just flew by so fast. These are all the books I’ve read in in the last month. I read 16 books in January, well… 10 of which was this manga series (A Sign of Affection) I’ve been wanting to read forever and I finally did!! These are the books I read/am currently reading. I feel like I didn’t get to read…

[identifying-guitars-in-posts]

based off the Gibson Flying V and Gibson Les Paul

edit for more information because it's not 2am:

Rigby has a Gibson Flying V in Ember Red from 1980

I honestly thought they'd have cheap knock-off guitars, but not only does Rigby's seem to be an actual Gibson Flying V, the exact red color with the red painted headstock seems to be consistent with only the one pattern of guitars Gibson produced in 1980, tho the pickups seem to be missing their covers

Mordecai's, on the other hand, could feasibly be cheaper.

One of these is a Gibson Les Paul Classic in Ebony, retailing for $2,000+, one of these is an Epiphone Les Paul Classic in Ebony retailing for $600

Spot the difference lol

interesting note, mordecai seems to have pickup covers on his and the input jack is in the wrong place

Other than the few minor details, these are really accurate good job Regular Show

[starssaroundmyscarssblog]

𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐔𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄, 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋

pairing: teen!noel gallagher x fem!oc (fern gibson <3)

summary: in which noel tries not to get jealous over someone who he knows he shouldn't be worried about, and fern gets high for the first time to soothe the blow

word count: 2.92k

warnings: smoking, swearing, sexual references, mentions of past relationships with people who are now in a position of authority,

PART TWO IS HERE

noel was fucking fuming.

he tapped out the butt of his cigarette against the low pillars of the gates, grumbling and crushing it under his shoe. the bell had gone ten minutes ago, and there was still no sign of fern emerging from the brick building. noel was about to light up another and he drew a cigarette out of the packet with his teeth as his other hand reached into his jacket pocket for a lighter.

chesc and eloise emerged from around the corner, giggling behind their hands as they walked down the road to the bus stop. before they managed to cross, noel whistled out of the corner of his mouth and he beckoned the girls over when they looked up at the noise.

"have yous seen fern anywhere?"

chesc shook her head, "sorry, no. i can't remember what she had last."

he muttered again and was about to spin around on his heel to leave, thinking that waiting by her car would be a better idea. eloise pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of her pocket before he could leave, though. she adjusted her glasses onto her nose. "yeah, that's it. she's had philosophy."

"oh." noel nodded. then upon his second drag after offering it over to eloise, "ah. that does sound familiar now you say. how long d'you think she'll be?"

"anyone's guess. i'm sure they'd let you wait inside for her if you want."

he could have laughed at the notion. "nah, you're all righ'. your, er," he gestured down the road, "the bus is here if that's useful for ya."

eloise made an angry grab at his hand and pulled it closer to her mouth for one last, final drag and she exhaled slowly. "c'mon you," chesc pulled at the sleeve of her blazer, "if we don't hurry up all of the good seats'll be gone."

both girls crossed the road and chorused out "bye, noel" over their shoulders. then, just his luck as the last embers of his cigarette died out on his finger tips, fat drops of rain fell one by one from the rolling grey clouds. he dropped the butt out of mild shock and out of irritancy he hiked his shoulders up to his ears and walked through the gates.

he hadn't ever been too far into fern's school, only really up to the top of the stairs where they sometimes sat together during her lunch break in the summer term. noel pushed forwards through the open doors, sidling up to the reception desk where the receptionist was staring down rather intently at a form requesting absence during term time.

noel cleared his throat. "'ello." he said, tapping his knuckles awkwardly on the desk, "i'm looking for fern gibson. she's, er, late for her driving lesson." he hoped his lie would work.

the receptionist clicked her pen and held it from one end in her claw-like fingers, using it to push his hands away. "her last class of the day was philosophy with mr watson. however if she's not there i'm afraid i can't help you as it is technically after school hours."

"right . . . thanks?" noel remained rooted to the spot.

"will that be everything?" she asked, sighing heavily as she looked up once again from the document, expecting his to have gone.

"no, could you tell me which classroom it was? just in case she's there."

"h7, up the stairs and all the way down the corridor, take a left and then three rights. you'll see it, can't be missed."

noel's feet propelled him down the languages corridor off the main hall and away from the receptionist. he traipsed up the stairs and was beginning to feel increasingly uncomfortable in the environment. it was all polished wooden floors and high ceilings, long windows with even longer curtains and framed pictures as far as the eye could see.

he tried to imagine fern walking around between classes, sitting at desks and listening intently; it wasn't a hard task. what was tricky, though, was trying to see her walking around his catholic secondary school, sans blazer and clearly out of her depth amongst the sort of people who flocked through the blue gates every morning.

instead he could see fern perched in window sills along corridors with eloise and chesc, whispering to each other and talking about their weekend plans. at some point he hoped fern would talk about him, perhaps what film she'd forced him to watch or how nice he could actually be when he felt like the world and its mother wasn't watching him.

right at the end of the second right turn was the sports corridor, and noel's attention was dragged away from daydreaming about fern to looking at the glossy pictures secured behind hand-crafted frames. football teams were lined up next to newspaper clippings and cut outs from scoresheets at inter-school competitions.

in one about tennis, where a year eleven had won out in a city-based championship, there was a picture of a twelve year old girl running frantically across the court. noel recognised the name, lottie reid, because liam had come home one day swearing blind she was the squarest girl he'd ever met.

he complained as he kicked the football at the wall, complained as he was forced to sit at the dinner table and complete his spelling homework, and complained as he and noel were brushing their teeth much later that evening.

further along and finally in the corridor after the third right turning, were copied and framed prize-winning essays written by students. he saw something fern had written about the reformation, an essay by the girl she hated, jessica, about the harrying of the north, and something eloise had written about pride within 'othello'.

the door of h7 appeared halfway along, and noel breathed out a sigh of relief when he saw the back of fern's head through the sliver of glass. his relief was short lived however, when he noticed fern was leaning closer to talk over the desk towards a student teacher.

something in him clicked then, his beaten up leather jacket and scuffed trainers weighing heavily on his shoulders and feet in a school he shouldn't ever have been anywhere near. noel knocked on the door and regretted it as soon as he did, though fern's face breaking out into a wide smile when she turned and saw him settled an unease lurking at the back of his mind.

she walked steadily over to the door and opened it, pulling him in with a hand around his arm. "noel!" if his reluctancy wasn't obvious by his slow steps then he didn't know how he was going to tell fern, without grabbing her by the shoulders and telling it to her face, how he was increasingly uncomfortable and wanted to leave as soon as possible.

he stood near the door and cast his eyes around the room, much bigger than any class than he could remember at barlow r.c. there were desks placed two by two, covered in ink stains and spills running through the knots of wood on the surface. fern's place, in the middle of the room, was obvious. her blazer was draped over the back and she'd hooked her bag over her chair delicately.

noel looked at her looking intently at her teacher who looked vaguely familiar. fern was nodding and humming, occasionally pointing her pen at something she agreed with before writing it down at the end of her essay. he tapped his fingers against his thigh in impatience, looking at the hands of the clock inch further round the numbers, and noel wished he wouldn't ever start thinking that looking at fern was boring.

there was a slight smudge of eyeliner out of place from where she'd rubbed at it. behind her ear was a pink bruise blossoming into a deeper shade of mauve, and noel knew there was a matching one on the back of her calf. right on the tip of her chin was a dash of pen in the colour he knew eloise used. her nails drummed rhythmically on the back of her refill pad in a constant meter. fern's leg was bouncing up and down in a tell that noel knew meant she was impatient to leave.

"but i think that's everything for you there, fern, so if you get the chance to add some improvements leave it on my desk monday morning and i'll get it back to you as soon as i can."

noel nearly let out an audible sigh of relief as fern started to pack her things away into her bag. she winked at him as she pulled her blazer on and hiked the straps of her bag higher up her shoulder. "thanks, sir. sorry to keep you."

he followed fern as she walked closer to noel, wrapping her hand over his wrist in preparation to drag him out of the classroom. "no no, it's no trouble at all miss gibson. i'm here whenever you need me."

it was noel who was ready to grab fern and run then, when her teacher, who's face had just been connected to a name in his mind, left his hand on her shoulder. he hoped she wouldn't blush. a light tinge flooded from fern's nose and she cleared her throat to rush out a thank you before wrenching the door open and shutting it firmly behind her.

she looked at noel guiltily, and avoided his stern gaze by pretending to pat her pockets down for something. "don't even start i'm not in the mood for it," she said and shot off down the corridor without another look behind her.

fern marched around corners and down the large stair case. she shoved open the doors to the school with her shoulder, leaving just enough time for noel to grab them and slip out behind her. the receptionist had gone home, leaving half-completed paperwork abandoned on the desk.

it was still raining when fern reached her car, and her hand slipped from the handle when she tried too hard too quickly to open it. when noel eventually caught up with her, fern was leaning diagonally with her forehead planted against the roof of her car, bag hanging open on her shoulder.

noel gently took her car keys from her hand and opened the car for her, feeling like he was folding her up and unravelling her in the drivers seat. fern slumped forwards and lay, rather dramatically, over the steering wheel as noel sat in awkward silence. he began to shuffle through the cassette tapes he'd filled the glovebox with in an effort to distract himself from fern's theatrical display of emotion.

eventually, fern slowly fixed herself upright. "sorry," she sighed, "i didn't know he was coming back. really."

when fern pulled onto her driveway, rather quickly sending her and noel jolting sideways, she was still arguing with him. "i'm telling you, i didn't know he'd come back." she unlocked the front door and stormed up the stairs, and noel heard a crash he assumed was her school bag being thrown into a corner of her room.

"that's not what i care about, fern, and ye fucking know it." noel yelled back, hanging his jacket over the banister at the foot of the stairs. she blazed past him still in her uniform and beelined for the kitchen. noel followed her, ignoring her setting up her notebook on the breakfast bar. he stood on the other side of the counter, arms folded over his chest.

fern glared up at him, pen held so tightly her knuckles were turning white. "well then what is it you do care about, noel?"

"that you didn't tell me when he did come back. you know i can't fuckin stand him and you never even thought to pissin' tell me!" he argued back, fighting the urge to grab the essay fern had written, that was covered in his handwriting, in both hands and tear it apart.

she scoffed behind her hand. "like that would have gone well."

noel pulled his head up to look right at her. fern had her eyes cast down to where she was re-writing parts of her homework onto a blank piece of paper, chin balanced on her hand as her eyebrows raised in anticipation for his response. he could hear her smirk and when she let out a little scoff and mumbled "thought so" noel opened the french doors and stepped out onto the patio.

fern watched out of the corner of her eye as he brushed down one of the chairs from the set of patio furniture and lit up a cigarette. against her better judgement, fern stared at the flex of his vein as noel clicked his lighter a few times, tucking it into his pocket once the cigarette he held in his lips caught the flame.

she tried to look at her essay and really take in the feedback she'd gotten from mr watson, but the glint in his eye when he told fern that noel was shuffling about outside the classroom kept her mind away from school work. outside, noel reached out to tap the end of his cigarette out in the ash tray abandoned in the middle of the table, but when he noticed fern shuffle her chair slightly closer to the doors noel moved his hand to the side.

fern was out of her chair and right infront of him faster than he could blink. "do you mind not tapping it out on the actual table? there's an ash tray for a reason."

"thought you were too busy reading what hugo's written specially."

if anyone else had spoken to her like that, noel would have expected fern to flounce away with a sharp turn of her heel. instead all he did was simply hold out the cigarette to her. she put her hand out to take it from him but noel only gestured with his head for her to sit down next to him. eyeing him cautiously, fern sank into the chair and leaned closer.

noel lifted up the cigarette to her lips and fern took a long drag, exhaling heavily. "come on. i'm really sorry."

"yeah, i know."

it wasn't that noel didn't like hugo (it really was, he fucking hated the cunt), it was more the fact that fern had a thing with him before he left to become a teacher. hugo was a year older than fern and noel, and while noel didn't associate with anyone or anywhere related to st augistine's day and boarding school, it left him with an uneasy feeling of dread whenever fern or her friends would mention her old boyfriend around him.

he had trouble with saying the words 'i'm sorry' even to fern, so offering her the rest of his cigarette was the next best thing. noel watched her cheeks hollow as she took the last three drags, and patted his knee when felix came streaking around from the side of the garden shed to preen around his legs. the small cat hopped up onto noel's lap and settled there, contently purring away, until a bird landed in the middle of the garden.

felix dug his claws in and pounced, using noel as a spring board and, not looking back at the small "fuck" that sent fern's eyebrows raising into her fringe, stretched his small body out for the bird that fluttered away as quickly as it had landed.

as felix settled into the middle of the garden, stalking away into the bushes to claw his way up the trees where the birds were chirping eagerly, noel thought enough time had passed to allow him to broach the question to fern. "are you still okay to drop me off at mike's tonight?"

she hummed. "i was thinking of coming with you, actually."

"that'll be-" noel had half-risen from his chair and remained so still it was like he'd been paused. "what?"

fern looked at him, feigning confusion. "last night, you said i could come with you if i wanted to."

"ha, um, look fern i wasn't really thinking perfectly straight when i said that." she pulled the same face at him that she'd done the night before. the one she made right before she pulled him into her room after mrs gibson had let him in through the front door, and pushed him down onto the middle of her bed only for fern to get halfway through palming him through his trousers when she declared she had homework to do.

upon recollection, in his haze of fleeting pleasure, there was a slight chance that noel had let the question slip. the look in fern's eye was far too much to take even for him, and he would have given in there and then if it wasn't for the chance that one of her neighbours could look out of their window to see a pair of teenagers getting it on in her parent's garden.

if anything, noel knew he had to make up for his overreaction to fern choosing, probably for the better because he knew he could be a miserable cunt at the best of times, not to tell him about hugo watson. he sighed and led her back inside, only to ask if he could use the phone.

"fine, you can come. but none of this prissy princess bullshit, and don't smoke, eat or drink anything that i don't give directly to you."

🪩⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊🎸

[dru-reblogs-stuff]

Get to know you tag

Yoinking an open tag from @blind-the-winds because it's been a hot minute since I've done one of these.

last song:

On the Railroad, performed by Colm McGuinness. It's a work song about building the First Transcontinental Railroad from Nebraska to San Francisco Bay. I'm particularly attached to this song, because it reminds me of when I traveled that route.

favorite color:

Let's go with 'vibrant rainbow' because I'm not really having an strong favourite colour at the moment. The Gent sent me a bouquet of pinks and purples and whites. The crocuses in the balcony are mostly yellow. The Housemate made some lego roses which are deep red. Everything else is shades of green, and the show I'm watching is filled with cyber blue.

currently reading:

Red Team Blues by Cory Doctorow. A very interesting story about an older forensic accountant who gets wrapped up in mafia wars to do with moving money through cryptocurrency. I'm learning a lot from it which I can use in Haven's Ember.

Countdown to Zero Day by Kim Zetter and Count Zero by William Gibson are on the backburner for now.

sweet, spicy, or savoury:

Sweet. I've had a really bad craving for ice cream for the past few days. I'm blaming how terrible the weather is.

last thing i searched online:

"green vegetables that start with a P" - On the way to my mum's yesterday we were talking about the sorts of things one can put in SpagBol, and Mum couldn't remember the name of a vegetable: "it begins with P" and I couldn't remember any veg names so I turned to the internet for help.

The vegetable she was thinking of was sPinach.

current obsession:

I've got a couple of things on the go, but none of them are really obsessions?

I'm editing a fanfic AU from 2017, which is bringing back ~emotions~. But it's also slowly getting posted on my main blog

I'm thinking about the next art project I want to do

I've been binge-watching my way through The Expanse which is awesome. I've not had a good space opera fix in a while (not counting Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente which I read over xmas and was very fun)

Open tag! Tag me back if you yoink it so I can read all about you :D

[just-barrow]

How close are the cast of SAS: Rogue Heroes to their real life counterparts? Pat Riley is played by the much better looking Jacob Ifan!

Charles George Gibson "Pat" Riley was born in Wisconsin and was a US citizen, moving to Cumbria with his family as a child. He forged his documents when he was 16 in order to join the Territorial Army and was deployed to Palestine. On his return he became a policeman and at the outbreak of war joined the regular army. As with others in the Coldstream Guards, he volunteered for the Commandos, ending up in 8 Cdo with Jim Almonds in Jock Lewes's troop. Reg Seekings and Riley boxed against each other in the army championships, with Riley winning on points both times. It has been said that he even knocked down Mayne on one occasion when Paddy was drunk and causing havoc.

Some of the Commandos were sent to Africa as part of the misemployed Layforce and Lewes' troop ended up helping defend Tobruk. Whilst he was there he received (and ignored) his call up papers for the US Army! Riley was involved in the Twin Pimples raid before Layforce was disbanded and along with Almonds, Bob Lilley and Jim Blakeney, he was one of the very first invited to join L Detachment. The "Tobruk Four" were the blueprint for the SAS principle of small four-man teams.

After the disastrous start to L Detachment's history, Riley was instrumental in destroying a huge fuel dump at Bouerat Harbour, resulting in it being out of action for weeks and him being awarded the DCM. Pat became one of the key SNCOs, taking over Training Officer from an irritable Paddy Mayne. He was later promoted to Sergeant Major of the SAS, a post that had been mostly vacant since Op Squatter. From there he left for a few months, quickly commissioned as a Captain and returned to an SAS that was now lead by Mayne and about to invade Sicily. He then set up Britain's SAS training camp to prepare for the Normandy invasion and was in charge of vehicle and weapon procurement.

After the war he returned to policing, but ended up working with the Malayan Scouts who were the embers of the new SAS, putting down terrorists in Malaya. His medals were purchased by Lord Ashcroft.

source

[theirwolfbicanthrope]

nine people I'd like to get to know better

Tagged by: @ladyculebras

Last Song: Numb Bardcore cover by Linkin Park/Jawnae. It is legitimately so good.

Favorite Color: Purple, crimson, black, dark jewel tones.

Last Book: Currently reading A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson, A Soul to Revive by Opal Reyne, and Stone Hearts by S.E. Wendel. Previously finished Embers in the Snow by Anna Carven. Been on a high fantasy/monster romance kick again.

Last Movie: Last movie watched for the first time? Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Part One. Last movie watched period, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Love both.

Last TV Show: Um...well, haven't finished it, but went back and picked up Disenchantment from the beginning with Rob. Also have been steadily getting through Deep Space Nine and just started I'm in Love With the Villainess anime, both of which watching with my friend Carrie.

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: I love all but I am weak to my sweet tooth.

Relationship Status: Married <3

Last Thing I Googled: How to read kindle on the desktop...cause I keep forgetting and losing the link.

Current Obsession: The forefront hyperfixations are DnD/DnD-adjacent fantasy and crocheting. But am always obsessed with werewolves/monsters, horror, and fantasy. And 1999's The Mummy.

Looking Forward To: Trying to learn something new this year.

Tagging: @theyearofthewolf @nobodysuspectsthebutterflyly @ofhouseadama @crafteroftheforesthearth @gloriousmonsters @echrai and honestly whoever else would like to give it a go :)

[sunsetcarnation264]

Poly Monkeys Nickname HCs

I haven't thought about like everything here, but throwing out what I do have regardless.

-Generally, Antauri refers to his partners as "dear" and doesn't use specific nicknames for them individually (besides Otto and Nova). Gibson generally uses "love" and other British endearment terms (I can't think of more rn) for everyone else.

-Sprx and Nova both call Otto their green angel. He's such a sweetheart that they couldn't help it, though they don't realize they use the same nickname for him until sometime later.

-Antauri and Nova refer to Otto as Otter due to him holding onto others while he's asleep similarly to an otter. Nova uses the nickname for him more than Antauri does though.

-Nova has different nicknames from the others. Gibson calls her Supernova, Sprx calls her Firecracker, Otto calls her Novie, and Antauri calls her Ember.

-Aside from a few nicknames, Sprx doesn't usually stick to nicknames and goes all over the place (he might use baby, maybe it'll be cutie today, or hotcakes, depends on how he's feeling today) but when he does stick with a nickname, it's more special and meaningful that way.

-Antauri's nicknames are Cool Tea and Moon from Sprx and Nova respectively. Cool Tea due to him drinking a lot of tea and how calm and collected he is, Moon because of how soothing he can be when comforting/reassuring someone.

[bushdog]

1965 Gibson SG Junior EMBER RED Wide Nut Les Paul Jr. Custom Color – Kansas City Vintage Guitars

[gena-rowlands]

jean's read in 2022

hello! so as university reading will take up a lot of the rest of my reading for the year, i thought i'd give a full wrap up here! i may update a few times, but this is my almost-comprehensive reading list of 2022! (insp. by @adamronans)

books in red come with moderate< trigger warnings so feel free to ask on/off anon for more info or please look up the tw's before reading!

non-poetry:

Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh (★★★★★)

The Dumb House by John Burnside (★★★★★)

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (★★★★)

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu (★★★½)

Heaven by Mieka Kawakami (★★½)

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris (★★★★★)

It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror (★★★★½)

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca (★★)

Clementine #1 by Tillie Walden (★★★)

Fragments of Horror by Junji Ito (★★★★)

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma (★★)

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (★★★)

The Sluts by Dennis Cooper (No Rating)

We Have Always Lived in The Castle by Shirley Jackson (★★★★)

Heartstopper vol.1 by Alice Oseman (★★★★★)

Queers: Eight Monologues by Mark Gatiss (★★★★½)

Heartstopper vol.2 by Alice Oseman (★★★★★)

The Harpy by Megan Hunter (★★★★)

Politics and the English Language by George Orwell (★)

Little Weirds by Jenny Slate (★★★★½)

Alcestis by Euripides (★★★★)

Medea by Euripides (★★★★½)

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (★★★★½)

Pew by Catherine Lacey (★★★½)

Pine by Francine Toon (★★)

Slow Days, Fast Company by Eve Babitz (★★★★★)

Normal People by Sally Rooney (★★★★)

poetry:

The Book of Women by Dorianne Laux (★★★★½)

Flux by Orion Carloto (★★★)

Sweetdark by Savannah Brown (★★★★½)

Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass by Lana Del Rey (★★★½)

Life of the Party by Olivia Gatwood (★★★★★)

She Felt Like Nothing by R.H. Sin (★½)

Madness by Sam Sax (★★★★½)

soft magic. by Upsile Chisala (★★)

Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds (★★★★★)

The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus (★★★★)

The Boys I've Loved & The End of the World by Catarine Hancock (★★)

Night Sky With Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong (★★★★½)

Portrait of my Body as a Crime I'm Still Committing by Topaz Winters (★★★★)

There Should Be Flowers by Joshua Jennifer Espinoza (★★★★½)

Grit by Silas Denver Melvin (★★★★½)

Voyage of the Sable Venus and Other Poems by Robin Coste Lewis (★★★★½)

Wild Embers by Nikita Gill (★★½)

Lunch Poems by Frank O'Hara (★★★½)

God I Feel Modern Tonight by Catherine Cohen (★)

Diving Into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich (★★★★★)

Salt by Nayyirah Waheed (★★½)

Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson (★★★★½)

Incarnadine by Mary Szybist (★★★★)

Firstborn by Louise Glück (★★★½)

Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire (★★★★)

Mules of Love by Ellen Bass (★★★★½)

What Is This Thing Called Love by Kim Addonizio (★★★★)

New American Best Friend by Olivia Gatwood (★★★★)

At Least This I Know by Andrés N. Ordorica (★★★★½)

Rail by Kai Carlson-Wee (★★★★)

The Asylum Dance by John Burnside (★★★★½)

War of the Foxes by Richard Siken (★★★★)

I Would Leave Me If I Could by Halsey (★★★★)

Bloodsport by Yves Olade (★★★★)

American Melancholy by Joyce Carol Oates (★★½)

The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman (No Rating)

[therevengeoffrankenstein]

I posted 7,769 times in 2022

That's 5,689 more posts than 2021!

715 posts created (9%)

7,054 posts reblogged (91%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@arcadeghozt

@trupowieszcz

@preciousanalogheart

@ourbastardofsorrows

@hug-me-brutha

I tagged 6,523 of my posts in 2022

Only 16% of my posts had no tags

#me - 1,599 posts

#myevilposts - 685 posts

#fav posts - 584 posts

#art - 528 posts

#dra-queue-la - 339 posts

#peter cushing - 263 posts

#gifs - 212 posts

#yeah - 116 posts

#music - 110 posts

#personal - 107 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#and it's not bc my art is bad. bc i know it's not awful and i see. sorry. much much worse art by other people getting much much more reblogs

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

read this lmao

20 notes - Posted June 6, 2022

#4

ember. danny phantom’s TRANSformation. that one episode where sam cross-dresses to save the day. sam in general. dani’s existence.... etc etc etc i’m trans and bisexual now

22 notes - Posted August 17, 2022

#3

like the pines family is meant to be jewish right. like the more and more i rewatch gf the more apparent it is to me that stanley at least is incredibly jewish

30 notes - Posted August 24, 2022

#2

peter cushing getting choked out again: >:P

literally everyone:

38 notes - Posted October 31, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

taste in men quiz i made that kinda blew up on the actual site lol

75 notes - Posted April 7, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[halloweennut]

Once Shattered, Now Whole: Chapter 2

oh heck, backstory. Mara, Chiro and Sprx go to a smuggler planet for supplies and Mara confronts some ghosts from her past. Skeleton King snoops. cw: almost murder. 

Mara told Antauri that meditation with him felt like it had when she was in limbo. It made sense: he and the Alchemist had been taught the same techniques by the Veron Mystics. Then there was the very fact of the Power Primate being present in her mind. That confused Antauri to no end. How had she never noticed it, how had no one picked up on the connection? The Veron Mystics should have welcomed her to their temple... unless their corruption began years ago. Perhaps it was because the presence was weak...but one would think they would have sought Chiro who was so strong- his spirit and connection burned so brightly. They may have taken a different approach to gain their initiates, waiting for them to grow into their own before finding them. 

Whatever the reason, it was still there. Faint and dim like an ember but warm. 

Regardless, meditation and Mara went together like a fish to water. She fell back into the habit, but now there was no other reason for it than for self-care. Since they had started, Antauri saw fewer instances of sleep disturbances, and the tension she carried was slowly unwound. She was still cautious, but that was more than understandable. Mara still held back from talking about some things. Her time on the prison planet was off-limits, as were some parts of her childhood. But she did admit to gaps in her memory - she just assumed they were due in part to a head injury or blocked out from some sort of trauma. Antauri knew that in time they would have to work on those, but not then. 

"How are you feeling?" Antauri asked after a few minutes. They were sitting in his quarters, being the quietest place on the ship. 

"Worried still, but that's mostly for the new blockades," Mara replied after a moment. "But that's for the Main Bridge."

"What else is worrying you?"

"Chiro is no longer on the sidelines," Mara replied. "I'm worried that I won't be able to protect him."

"He is a very capable young man," he said. "But I understand your worry. I also worry for him, as well as the rest of the team. But he has all of us - and now that he is back on the field, we're employing more protective formations." 

Mara sighed at that. "You all have been so protective of him...I know he's safe with you all."

Antauri hummed at that. "What else is on your mind?"

There was a pause. "Some little things...but I'm not sure if I can talk about them yet. Maybe next session?"

"Of course. Shall we continue in silence?" 

"Yes please."

-

The new blockades had been only sent up recently. The Skeleton King apparently wanted Shuggazoom to be completely blocked off from the universe, which, considering the dwindling supplies they had, would help put the city at his mercy if he went undefeated or the blockades were evaded. However, there was also the issue of no one wanting to come near Shuggazoom because of the war and the threat the Skeleton King posed, not wanting to risk their own home planets. 

"There has to be a way through or to at least destroy part of a blockade long enough to get supplies in and out," Sprx said as the team scanned a projection of the new blockade encircling their planet. 

"Any destructive measures would have to be extremely well planned, "Antauri said. "Debris could injure those on the ground, not to mention the other ships would attack immediately."

"Maybe we can do something to scramble their signals?" Gibson offered, watching out of the corner of his eye as Otto had already set to the task. "If we could block transmissions from the Black Spire and from between the ships, we may be able to create openings. We would just have to configure it to the rest of the Horde."

"And done! One modified signal jammer, courtesy of yours truly," Otto announced. "Tada!"

"Perfect!" Chiro said. "But the suppliers are another issue..."

"True," Nova replied. "We've been reaching out more and more, but less and fewer people come to help. Not to mention we need that iron alloy for ship repairs, and no one can get that in right now."

"Why don't you use smugglers?" Mara asked from across the room. The team looked up at her. "They're good at breaking blockades and are loyal if you pay them. Hell, I've cracked a few blockades of my own." 

"That's...not a bad idea," Nova replied. "Do you still have your old contacts?"

"I'm a bit out of the loop, honestly," Mara replied. "Not to mention most probably think I'm still in the clink or dead, so I doubt any communication I send would be answered. The only thing I can think of would be to go to the Vault..."

"The Vault? Isn't that the smuggler's den?" Sprx asked. "I thought that place was a myth!" 

"It's real. Just...very protected. You need a special access code to even get in and land, let alone get into the main city," Mara replied. 

"One of us can go," Chiro said. "That way-"

"Chiro, sweetie, it doesn't work like that," Mara interjected. "Only smugglers and a few guests, if they're clients, can go. The rules are strict, and we don't have time to establish ourselves as clients - too much paperwork, and too many mouths to feed." 

"So you...you would have to go," Chiro sounded distant. "I'm not sure that's a good plan."

"It's the only one we have, star sweeper," she said. "I have the access code and know how to get in and around the place. Not to mention I still might have some sway."

Her son sighed at that. "I know. But you aren't going alone."

"I volunteer, Chiro," Sprx replied. "I can fly the fastest - if something goes wrong we can make it back quickly."

"Chiro, I believe you should go as well," Antauri said.  Chiro looked shocked at that. 

"But, Antauri-"

"I believe this will be good for you both. You could also provide a voice for Shuggazoom if Mara cannot," Antauri explained. Chiro sighed - he was right. 

"Alright. How long will the trip take?" he asked. 

"If we leave now, we might be able to make it back home in the middle of the night," Mara replied. "Once we hit hyperspeed and catch a universal current, we'll be there in no time. But we need to grab one of my freighters. If we are able to come back with things, we'll need the room."

"As long as my ship fits, we're good," Sprx replied. "Meet you at the hangar!"

As he sped off, Mara and Antauri turned to Chiro. 

"Don't worry, Chiro, we'll be fine and back before you know it, okay?" Mara said, kissing his forehead. "Antauri and Nova will hold down the fort."

"Contact us immediately if anything is needed," Antauri added. 

"We will, and please let us know immediately if you need us," Chiro softly replied before quietly following his mother out of the robot.

-

It was odd to Mara to be in the captain's chair of one of her ships. It wasn't the Tomorrow's Destiny but it served its purpose well. A little smaller, but easily held Sprx's ship and would hold everything they needed. The new signal jammer was installed, and worked like a charm and a half, the Formless ships drifting out of formation long enough for them to pass through and then off like a shot. 

"Computer, assume auto-pilot. Navigation to the Vault. Access Code: 100526MD upon entry," Mara ordered the ship. "Enter hyperspeed."

The computer affirmed the commands, and immediately they were well on their way to the Vault.  She tried to settle into the chair, but couldn't. It had been a while since she had been to the smugglers' planet last. Mara hoped some of her old friends were still in the business, otherwise, she'd have to run on prestige alone. But it would be worth it. 

"So...smuggler planet," Sprx said slowly. "What's it like?"

"Part ritzy nightclub, part seedy underbelly," Mara replied. "With a lot more security."

"A lot of secrets, I bet," he replied. 

"Oh you don't know the half of it," she leaned forward in her seat. "There were markets I refused to touch. A lot of people keeping their identities hidden, a lot of stolen, rare items...the one thing no one I knew got into was slavery or otherwise. People aren't cargo but...a lot of rich people don't care about that. They see some pretty young alien and want to keep it as a pet." 

Mara's voice was a snarl at the end. "I may or may not have made a few enemies in that circle." 

"Damn," Sprx said after a moment. "You think Chiro should stay on the ship? This doesn't sound like the best place to bring a kid."

"I brought him here when he was one," she replied. "And I was mad about it."

"What? Why?" Chiro gasped. 

"So, there is some honor amongst thieves," Mara said. "All the head smugglers or captains meet at least once a year, but we have exceptions called 'parlays,' where tension or arguments are settled between captains. I was the mediator for a good share of them in my time, and hell, I was called upon to do them most of the time. That was the last parlay I did."

"Why's that? It sounds like a nice job," Sprx laughed. "Solving other people's problems."

"Oh, it was my last one because I was a mother and didn't want their nonsense. I had told them I was done, and still, I get an urgent summons to the Vault," Mara rolled her eyes. "So I stroll into the meeting chamber, mad as a bull, with Chiro on my hip, and I laid into them. Absolutely decimated them and told them I didn't want my son around this. They didn't know who to apologize to first, me or Chiro!"

Sprx and Chiro laughed at that. 

"And Chiro was none the wiser," Sprx replied. "More confused than anything."

"He was busy with a toy most of the time, babbling away all the while," Mara smiled.  "After that, they never called on my attendance. I sometimes consulted a mediator or two, but otherwise, that part was over." 

"Are you going to be alright going back?" Chiro asked. Mara thought about it for a moment but nodded. 

"I will be. We'll only have to see maybe two or three people at most," she replied. "I hope at least..." 

She knew that she'd have to talk more about her life as a smuggler soon enough. Mostly with Antauri - there were some things she didn't want Chiro to know yet, but she knew being here would bring up fresh memories. But that would be for later. Soon enough, they were orbiting the planet. 

"This is the Vault? It just looks like a garbage planet," Sprx scoffed. Mara smirked. 

"Good security system, eh? Computer, enter access code," Mara ordered. There was a series of beeps, and a small section of the projection on the planet faded away, revealing a sprawling cityscape, glowing in lights from golden to neon from the pitch black. "Where's the garbage planet now?"

"Wow...," Sprx said. "This is amazing!"

"It is beautiful," Chiro replied. Mara nodded, eyes scanning over the planet with some affection, some nostalgia, and a little anger if she would be honest. She pressed a few buttons on her console, and landing protocols engaged. The ship descended onto the planet's surface, veering away from the city to a large hangar. 

"It's a private hangar. I own space here," Mara said, watching as the ship came to a stop. "Heads up, the owner of the hangar is going to run out. He's probably confused. But Zorad is nice." 

True to her words, as soon as they walked down the platform to the hangar proper, a slim, worried-looking alien ran up to them. He wore a mechanic jumpsuit, somewhat greasy, but it was hard to tell what was oil and what was a hole as his skin was an iridescent dark gray that shone like oil. "Holy Zyzsgy...Mara! Mara you're alive? We heard you died!"

"Rumors of my death were exaggerated," Mara replied, calm, cool, and a little intimidating in how she straightened her spine and shoulders. "More of a...deep coma."

"Damn...and after you sprung out of jail? Talk about one thing after another!" Zorad replied. "The Guild will be pleased-"

"The Guild isn't to know," Mara said quickly. "Not yet."

"Of course," he replied with a bow of his head. "I won't tell anyone."

"I appreciate it. My friend, my son, and I should be back later with cargo," Mara replied. "We'll need a few hands with transport."

"Oh, little Chiro! I wondered what happened with him...I'll call in staff," Zorad said, pulling out a tablet. "How much cargo?"

Chiro cleared his throat. "Three tons of iron alloy, and enough provisions for a city, including medical supplies."

Zorad let out a low whistle. "The War on Shuggazoom, right? Didn't expect you to get involved, captain." 

Mara didn't respond to that. "Just have things ready, alright?"

Zorad nodded, running off to get the crew needed for the work. Mara gestured for Sprx and Chiro to follow her, leading them to a walking speedway that took them straight into the city. "We're going to head uptown. An old friend of mine is a huge supplier, more than likely we'll be able to make this a one-stop-shop." 

"What was that about you and wars?" Sprx said. 

"I kept my nose out of some warfronts when I could have made a pretty penny, let alone be an active participant," she replied. "Makes me an outlier, I guess." 

"Well, no time like the present to go right into the deep end," he laughed, elbowing her leg. She smiled at that, but as soon as the end of the speedway came to view, it faded, and with a single tap on her ear clasps, her facemask deployed, covering the entirety of her face. Safety first, Sprx thought, if she wants to stay low.  Would having a brightly colored monkey and a teen spark too much attention?

The answer was no. There were odder aliens with odder and more eye-catching companions and accessories walking past. Stores and stands were lit up, displaying wares from across the universe - Chiro thought for a moment he saw knock-off toys of him and the rest of the Hyperforce but decided to move past that as they wove through the crowds. It was an odd beauty about the place. The crowds, the noise, the lights, the smells of food stands...it was intoxicating! Mara smelled a few familiar stands and her stomach protested walking past them. But there were more important things at hand. 

 Going up an alley, they emerged into another street. It was quieter, a bit posher. Mara led them across the street to a tall, monolithic building, studded with windows displaying goods. It felt intimidating and out of budget for their needs. Regardless, Mara went to the buzzer on the door. 

A loud voice answered. "No walk-ins!"

"Ay, come on," Mara replied. "Tell Rufo that Destiny's here."

They grunted at that. 

"They were...pleasant," Chiro said. "Are you sure this Rufo will allow us in?"

"Oh, he will," Mara said, raising three fingers and slowly dropping them one by one. "Three, two, one-" 

The doors flew open. "There we go!"

The three were barely in the door when a large, humanoid flower ran to them. He had a large rose-like flower for a head, and his body seemed to be made of twisted green vines and petals, covered by a fine suit. "My Mara! My Captain!" 

The facemask dropped with a tap, and Mara extended her arms. "Rufo!"

Vines extended forward, grabbing her and pulling her close into the petals that made up Rufo's head. Rufo cooed in his mother tongue, a dozen worried-sounding phrases, clearly fussing over his friend. Mara only smiled as she endured the onslaught before Rufo carefully placed her back down. "I missed you too, pretty boy."

"You darling-darling sweet," Rufo replied, cradling her face with two gentle hands. "I worried I wouldn't see you again! Oh! And you brought friends!"

"Rufo, this is Sprx, and this is Chiro," Mara introduced proudly. Rufo gasped before rushing at Chiro. 

"Oh roots and bulbs, little Chiro!" Rufo exclaimed, scooping him up under his arms, despite the boy's cry of alarm. "I haven't seen you since you were a sprout! And look at you! So big and so handsome, just like your mama!"

"Very nice to meet you, Rufo," Chiro smiled as he was placed down. "Well, meeting you again, I guess?"

Mara pulled him close in a side hug. "Rufo gifted your entire nursery and was one of the first people you met outside of my crew. I had a little bassinet and dresser chosen, and he had to go and spoil us." 

"How could I not? Your mother was one of my closest friends and best business partners!" Rufo replied. "I was always trying to send more as you got older, and then..." 

He cleared his throat into a hand. 

"No matter! You're here again, safe and sound and alive!" Rufo cheered before looking at him and Sprx, who had barely managed a hello. "I'm going to assume you're the same Chiro that's protecting Shuggazoom with the Hyperforce."

"Yep, that's our Chiro," Sprx said, just as proud as Mara was. Rufo tsked. 

"Had I known I would have started sending supplies. Or come to Shuggazoom myself!" Rufo said. "I'm just so rooted here, and I didn't- I honestly assumed that one of your old crew would have taken him in. But I suppose I would have seen him ruling the roost here." 

"Well, you can make up for it now," Chiro said. "Shuggazoom needs supplies. The Skeleton King has a blockade that's preventing trade, and we're running low."

"Not to mention we need a lot of iron alloy to fix our robot and other defenses," Sprx added. 

"Consider it done," Rufo said with a snap of his fingers. A well-dressed violet came from the back of the store. "Viko will assist you. Tell her everything you need supply-wise, and I will have it sent to your ship. Same hangar as always?"

Mara nodded. "We need to get in contact with some other smugglers to see who would be willing to work with us. I'm just apprehensive about revealing my status as being alive."

"What about the iron alloy?" Chiro asked.

Rufo shook his head. "I'm afraid I sold my last shipment. But he might be willing to part with some! He was your mother's scout on Tomorrow's Destiny-" 

Mara immediately stiffened, face cold. "Rufo, can we speak privately?"

"Oh? Of course- Viko, take care of these two?" Rufo asked before maneuvering himself and Mara towards his office. "We'll be right back! And if you both see anything, please add it to the order! I have birthdays to make up for!" 

Chiro and Sprx paused, a bit put off by Mara's sudden shift. 

"Is she okay?" Sprx asked. 

"I don't know...I know someone on her old crew betrayed her...I think that was her scout," Chiro replied. Mara had explained everything but hadn't gone into detail about titles or job positions, just that he had been in charge of checking in on bounties and making sure the crew was safe. "Come on, I bet she's just going to talk about how we definitely can't go to him. Maybe there's another vendor."

"Yeah...come on, let's get the shopping done. And since he did say anything else we wanted," Sprx smirked, pulling the boy's attention from the direction of the office. "Maybe you can get something for Jinmay~"

"Hey!" Chiro flushed. "This is a mission for Shuggazoom - but you can go ahead and get something for Nova!"

Sprx sputtered, getting impossibly red. "H-hey!"

-

"That son of a rotted-," Rufo spat. Mara had divulged what had truly happened the day of her capture, how her scout had betrayed her and her crew. 

"I know," Mara said sourly. "If I ever see him again, I don't know what I would do. I want to expose him for what he did, but I know that won't happen anytime soon."

"You actually might," Rufo replied. "There's a parlay tonight. Everyone will be there. He has been called to mediate."

"So...he sold my life, only to take it over," she said. "After everything-"

Mara cursed under her breath. Rufo gently gripped her hand. "I know. But maybe this can get some vengeance for your crew. For you. He violated so much trust, so much honor."

She could only nod. "I'd be recognized in two seconds. I want them all to be shocked. I want them to think I'm a ghost for how they all let this slide, didn't look into any of it."

"And a ghost you shall be," Rufo replied, patting her hand. "I have had a gift for you, saved for years for when you came back - if you came back into the captain's seat."

"Rufo-," Mara sighed. "You sentimental thing."

"I have accessories too," she could hear the smile in his voice as he rooted through a grand chest of drawers for a large, white box. "Petals forbid I let you go looking so out of fashion."

He placed the box on her lap, and she opened it happily. "Oh...this is...it's lovely."

"I know."

"Think you can keep Chiro and Sprx occupied? I don't want them to see me go, and I definitely don't want them to see how I'll act there," Mara asked. Rufo nodded. 

"Easy. You get dressed, I'll distract them - just be back soon," he replied. As soon as he left the office, Mara unpacked the rest of the box, quickly changing, and slipped out the window, a sliver of white and gold heading uptown. Her feet led her quickly through the streets, old muscle memory taking over as she made her way uptown. The Guild building was one of the oldest and grandest buildings, demanding respect from the rest. She paused in front of it, and the world she had wanted to leave crept back in. Every cocky behavior, every backstabbing move, every silver-tongued word on the back of her teeth came flooding back. She needed them again. Mara took a breath, fixed her stance, and released the new golden mask over her features. Requiem-solemn bells rang from the impressive tower above her - the parlay was starting, and now, she had to lay and wait. 

The bells could be heard all over the city, hitting Rufo's shop in their echo. Chiro and Sprx looked up from the paperwork for the supplies in surprise. Chiro looked to Viko and Rufo curiously. "What was that?"

"Parlay meeting bells," Viko said pleasantly. "The Guild must have started the talk." 

"Think they could be louder?" Sprx asked sarcastically. 

Rufo shrugged. "It's to get all the captains together, and it certainly needs to reach the depths of the city considering some of their predilections. Hopefully, none of them show up sloshed - no decorum, truly." 

"So they all just have to sit there while two people shout it out?" Sprx asked. "Thrilling." 

"If your mother was mediating, it would be over in an hour. With this guy? I swear it just draws on," Rufo complained. "Stops trade for too long, but I guess that certainly doesn't bother him. Lets him get another vacuum of power to take advantage of."

"Like after he hurt my mom?" Chiro asked. Rufo stilled at that, then sighed.

"Yes. What hurts most is that we thought- he told us he was the only one who escaped, so we extended our contracts to him. We helped him after he did something so awful," Rufo replied. "Marsos, your mother's scout, was her closest friend too. She won't say anything to you, I know that much, but that betrayal cut her deep."

"I couldn't ever think of doing that willingly," Sprx said. "I don't want to think what Mara would say or do to the guy if they crossed paths."

"Probably shoot him out an airlock," Rufo shrugged. "Or drag him to the Guild and demand her pound of flesh."

He froze at that, realizing that: 1. That was certainly what Mara was doing right at that moment. 2. Chiro had definitely noticed that Mara hadn't emerged from the office. 3. He had given up the plot. "Forget I said that."

"Rufo. Where is my mom?" Chiro asked. 

"She asked me not to say-"

"Rufo. She's at the Guild building, isn't she?"

Before Rufo could confirm or deny, Chiro raced towards the door. "Chiro! You don't know where the building is!"

"I think we can figure it out," Sprx replied quickly, chasing after him. "We'll finish this up in a bit."

-

The Guild building was easy to find after asking a few people, but what was difficult was entering. The building was armed to the teeth with guards and defenses, but somehow, Mara had gotten in easily. All Chiro and Sprx had to do was figure out how without attracting attention. Flying up to the roof gained them access to a pried-open air duct and disabled cameras, undoubtedly his mother's handiwork. Chiro couldn't tell if he should be worried or angry at her - she had promised no more secrets, but there they were. But then again...if someone so close to him betrayed their team, Chiro guessed he wouldn't exactly stay in pocket. 

The air duct dropped and leveled out again, the thin grates looking out over an assembly of fifty or so people seated in front of a long table with three seated at it, two at either end and one in the middle - the captains with grievances and the mediator. Chiro now had a face for Marsos. He was a fellow humanoid, but with sharper, more animalistic teeth. He was finely dressed, looking polished and brilliant. 

'Traitor,' Chiro hissed in his mind. 

The parlay was in session by the time they settled in, one captian finishing his side of the argument, which the other stood up to shout his retort at, only ending in a shouting match. Marsos pinched his brow. "Gentlemen, gentlemen, please. Getting angry never solved anything." 

The two captains seethed but sat down, backed only by the quiet muttering from the crowd. Marsos continued. "Now Captian Mobius, Captain Harmill, as we have demonstrated, you both have contracts with the same planet for the same goods and same services, both for the same payment. Why does sharing the market plague you both?"

"Because they're getting scammed." 

A new voice rang out. The doors to the meeting room slammed open, and a person dressed in pure white and gold strutted forward. The two guards in the hall lay unconscious behind her as she continued forward. The crowd looked on in shock and confusion at the sudden interruption...but something felt familiar about the new addition. Marsos looked at her in feigned politeness. "You must be a new captain, but this is not how a parlay works."

"Oh, I know how it works," she replied. "I've sadly been...indisposed of for the past eight years. But I see that you don't know how one works either."

Before he could say another word, she turned to the captains. "Your issue isn't with each other, it's with the person you have a contract with. He's using you to get more product out and more money in while only paying you a fraction of the cost." 

The two looked at each other. Harmill spoke up first. "I suppose a collaboration to renegotiate those contracts may be in order?"

Mobius nodded. "Just this once, then we go back to hating each other's guts. Deal?"

"Deal."

The new guest turned to Marsos. "That is how it is done. Now...I have come to demand satisfaction for a slight brought onto me and mine."

"I'm sure I can be of service-" Marsos tried to say, but the captain grabbed him by the lapel and pushed him down into his chair. He could feel her eyes boring into him. 

"You will, but first, let me tell you, all of you, a story," the captain said, voice booming. "There was a captain and her crew. Illustrious, powerful, could outfly half their league. Now, she had retired to raise her child, but was called in one. last. time. Sound familiar, Scout Marsos? It was your crew, afterall." 

Marsos gulped, and the murmur of the crowd grew louder. She continued. "The last mission was successful, lining their pockets. But someone had betrayed them. Someone that Captain Mara trusted above all others. Someone she called best friend. Her very own Scout!"

The captain turned and pointed at Marsos. "Marsos turned in her and her crew's bounties in exchange for his freedom and the money, leaving them all to rot on a prison planet for eternity."

The assembly grew into an outroar. Marsos stood, face red. "How can you even know this is true? You're lying?"

"How can I lie...when I was there?" the Captain replied. The golden mask folded back, revealing Captain Mara to the whole guild. Marsos looked fit to faint. She turned to the crowd. "Marsos has deceived you all. He betrayed his crew and his captain, and profited from it."

Mara looked at him in anger. "I want my pound of flesh, Marsos." 

"Mara- please, I beg you-," he begged, rushing to kneel in front of her. "Spare me, please- I loved you-"

There was a soft clatter above, unnoticed by all save Mara who glanced up to see her son and Sprx climb from the air ducts to the mezzanine, undoubtedly ready to stop her if she pulled her blaster. She sighed, moving her hand from the holster. "I know. If you had waited...only a few days, Marsos...things could have been different for the both of us. But now? All I feel is hatred for you. You ruined every good memory I have with you. I could kill you and be justified in doing so. But you know what? It doesn't take the years away, it doesn't absolve my pain. My crew is still there, part of me too, stuck in that prison cell. My son grew up without me. I can never forgive you for that. There is nothing you can do to make up for it, and I'm sure the Guild agrees."

There was a clamor of agreement, of anger, from the crowd. Marsos looked at the sea in front of him. "Please, Mara, take whatever you want from me - my ships, my money, my hands- just don't leave me to the Guild."

"Alright then. I want it all at my disposal then. Including the iron alloy you purchased today. The money can be used to get the rest of my crew free. Your ships? Belong to the Guild now," Mara decreed before turning to the rest of the members. "I, Captain Mara, declare satisfaction and depend on you to make sure it is kept. I want this man to live, just so he can live with the guilt of his actions with none of the luxuries he was afforded by them."

An older captain stepped forward. "We agree to those terms, Captain. We're relieved to know you lived."

Mara nodded. "Thank you. I have one more request of the Guild. Shuggazoom needs supplies - we're in the middle of a war and our people are starving. The money taken from our traitor may be used to counter costs."

"War with the Skeleton King and the army of the dead?" came one voice. "That's insanity."

"We don't want to join that fight, Mara," another called. 

"Then don't do it for Mara, do it for everyone!" Mara looked up to see Chiro shouting from the mezzanine. "If the Skeleton King is able to try and take over the universe again, he will be unstoppable once he has Shuggazoom, if he wins. No one would be safe - he's almost done it before, but even me and the Hyperforce need allies. We can provide signal jammers and security through our atmosphere. You aren't helping one planet, you're helping a galaxy!"

Mara smiled, proud, and turned back to the crowd. "Well, are you going to tell my son no?"

The older captain turned to the rest, and slowly turned his gaze back to Mara. "Shuggazoom and the Hyperforce have our aid. Consider it a gift for the past eight years of abandon." 

Mara nodded her head deeply. "Thank you."

She turned back to her son, and in an instant she knew they needed to talk. Once she evaded the rest of the Guild and their questions, she made it up to the mezzanine. "Sprx, maybe you could get back to Rufo? I need to talk to Chiro."

Sprx nodded and flew up and out through the main doors now that the need for secrecy was gone. Chiro didn't look up at her. Mara sighed, sitting down next to him. "I know I messed up."

"You think? You ran off to get revenge!" Chiro snapped. "You didn't even tell me."

"I didn't tell you because I....," Mara trailed off. "I don't like the person I have to be here. I don't want you seeing it." 

Chiro looked at her confused. She had commanded a whole room. 

"I know, I know, I was in control. I had power. But I don't really like how I have to put my head to be able to do that," she continued. "Don't get me wrong, I enjoy having the sway, but I don't like who I am when I do. I almost killed Marsos, I would have. I would have gotten my pound of flesh knowing that it would do nothing." 

"Why didn't you?"

"Because I saw you. And the last thing I want to be in front of you is that version of me. So...I was myself. It's less cocky, sure, less mean, absolutely, but it gets the job done and done right," Mara said. "Chiro, the minute I knew you existed, I wanted to be better. I am better. I fly off the handle still, but-" 

She stopped once she felt Chiro hug her. "Just tell me things, please? Especially this kind of thing."

"Okay, star sweeper I will...," she replied, pulling him close. "Where do you want me to start? You deserve to know who I was back then - just don't let it change how you see me."

"It won't, I promise."

"And I promise to not do this anymore." 

And until the ship was loaded, Mara told Chiro nearly everything about her days as a smuggler, continuing all the way back to Shuggazoom. But once he fell asleep, safe in his quarters, Mara made her way to Antauri's room with the simple phrase: "I'm ready to talk about everything." 

-

The blockade certainly did wonders for Shuggazoom's morale. But for the Skeleton King, it was an even better cover for him to take his personal ship off-planet, hidden amongst the horde. Corolla Dawn was set in his sights. While he could have easily done this through hologram, the situation called for a more personal approach. The ring sat warm in his fist still, almost bitingly so as if it was trying to sting him. Usually, the Verron Mystics were so protective of their artifacts, even under his control, so how this ended out of their grasp was truly a mystery. 

Landing on Verron, the bright sun of the planet system stung his eyes - the Power Primate undoubtedly trying to make him miserable while unable to attack him. It had, apparently, closed the inner sanctum, sealing itself shut and away from the Mystics who now could only extend their former gifts so far without its presence.  The Skeleton King couldn't care, as long as they obeyed, and certainly now without the Power Primate, what choice did they have?

The Mystics bowed as he entered the temple, walking past them with no acknowledgement until he reached the meditiation hall, where the Master Mystic stood waiting. He bowed deeply. "My king, what brings your emminence here today?"

The Skeleton King held up the ring. "How did this get to Shuggazoom?"

If the Mystic was surprised, it didn't show as he took the ring, gently holding it aloft in a soft glow of magic. "How curious...this ring disappeared more than 80 years ago."

"Who had claim over it?" the Skeleton King demanded. 

"I am unsure. Since I no longer have connection to the Power Primate, I can no longer see the memories of Master Mystics past. The records are also lacking for it," they replied. The ring seemed to glow and shine more than ever, probably in response to being home. "It has a match we have records for at least. This pair of rings is rare, not even because of their components. They're only used for special ceremonies, but we only have record of the match being given, but no ceremony." 

The ring floated back to the Skeleton King's hand. "But I'm sure you remember, due to the Alchemist's memories-"

"The Alchemist is dead. Watch yourself unless you want to be replaced," the Skeleton King hissed. "I shed those memories with his skin."

"My apologies, my King," the Master Mystic prostrated. "The rings are used for connubiality rites, worn for a few months and then returned to our halls." 

"This was found in the home of the Chosen One, with his mother," the Skeleton King replied. "Perhaps an ancestor."

"The Alchemist was the only human to come here," the Mystic replied. "He was the last person to wear the match as well, but there are no records in memory or our archives about why or how."

The Skeleton King paused at that. "Isn't that curious...bring the other ring here. I believe I would prefer to have the set. Perhaps I can fill some holes in this plot." 

[sodo-mizerr]

Three jammin ghoulies!! Let's go!

Here's 3 of my ghoul ocs with their instruments! The two ghoulette's, Alexi and Ember are from a few months ago, and Torque's was finished yesterday! :D

Instruments used; Gibson SG standard '61 Ebony, Ibanez GRG140 White & Fender Player plus precision bass Silver Smoke

[restrumed]

Need a Puppy Break from the Lions Superbowl playoff game?? Say hello to Ember, the living Mascot of Restrumed! This is sure to make you smile 🐶🥰😁

*we do not own this music*

#restrumed #guitarstringjewelry #upcycled #jewelry #guitar #guitarpick #guitarist #musicians #artist #wearableart #guitarstrings #music #musiclover #gifts #dogmom #fender #gibson #superbowl #bandmerch #puppysoftiktok #dogsoftiktok #playtime #playwithme #puppy #fyp #detroitlions #detroit #lions #michigan #superkera

Storytime:

June of '22, Ember was part of the "Puppy kissing booth" at Peacefest in Waterford Mi where The Restrumed Mobile Rock Shop was set up for a festival. The "canine companion pet rescue" had set up and brought a few adoptable puppies to help raise needed funds for their pet rescue. She was just 10 weeks old and went home with us THAT VERY NIGHT! During the next day, she returned to her day job wearing a pink Tutu and selling kisses for dollars for her foster family.

She will be two years old in March this year and is Super Kera's shadow and best friend 🐶🥰😘

[parkerbombshell]

Stereo Embers The Podcast: Stephen Fredette (Scruffy The Cat)

Thursdays 2pm-3pm EST 11pm-12pm PDT 7pm-8pm BST bombshellradio.com stereoembersmagazine.com Stereo Embers Magazine #StereoEmbers, #podcast, #RadioShow, #AlexGreen, #Nowplaying, #BombshellRadio, #StereoEmbersThePodcast Repeats Fridays 1am EST and Sundays 11am EST "Boom Boom Boom Bingo" Scruffy The Cat dominated the College Rock scene of the late '80s with a run of fabulous albums like Tiny Days and Moons of Jupiter, plus two stellar EPs High Octane Revival and Boom Boom Boom Bingo. If you don't have these four releases-get them. They're the most perfect blasts of rootsy indie pop you'll ever hear. The six member Boston outfit, which formed in '83 lasted just under a decade, breaking up in 1990. Over the course of their career they went Top 5 on the CMJ College Radio Charts, were played on MTV's 120 minutes, were critically lauded by pretty much everyone, including the Village Voice and The Chicago Tribune, cracked the Billboard Top 200 and toured with Los Lobos, The Replacements and Yo La Tengo. The six member Scruffy personnel consisted of Charlie Chesterman, Stephen Fredette, MacPaul Stanfield, Randall Lee Gibson IV, Stona Fitch and Burns Stanfield. Omnivore put out two great anthologies that celebrate the band's legacy and as far as alums go, Scruffy is down two men with the deaths of Chesterman and Gibson, but the music remains and it sounds as fresh as ever. As for Stephen Fredette, he's a marvelous and accomplished artist who did all the Scruffy covers, and he just had his first gallery show in the Boston area. And he's been working on some songs.... www.scruffythecat.com (http://www.scruffythecat.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenbooks.com Stereo Embers Twitter: @emberseditor IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com (mailto:editor@stereoembersmagazine.com) Read the full article

[krisztiantoth]

2023 - könyvek

* Tim Chester: Örömteli kapcsolat Istennel

* Clifford és Joyce Penner: A szexualitás ajándéka (2013)

* Sue Johnson & Kenny Sanderfer - Kapcsolatra teremtve | Ölelj át! Együtt, Istennel (kötődés)

* Wayne Jacobsen – Dave Coleman: Szóval nem akarsz többé gyülekezetbe járni Egy váratlan utazás

* A Story that Should Never Have Happened (Hence Deserves to be Told) 2015 Gábor Grèsz

* Paul Washer: The Essential Means of Grace

* Billy Graham: Közelgő lódobogás - Az Apokalipszis négy lovasa

* Cseri Kálmán: Sorsfordító imádságok

* Coulson Shepherd: Zsidó ünnepek (Prófétai és keresztyén jelentőségük)

* Greg Gilbert: Who Is Jesus?

* Ingmar Bergman: Jelenetek egy házasságból

* Kevin Leman: Szexre hangolva Kendőzetlenül a házassági intimitásról (Harmat)

* Az 1689-es Baptista Hitvallás

* Jordan B. Peterson: 12 szabály az élethez | Így kerüld el a káoszt!

* Szabados Ádám: Az apostolok hagyománya (2019 - KRE doki)

* Jonathan Edwards: Sinners in the hands of an angry God

* Russel Moore: Adoption: What Joseph of Nazareth can teach us about this countercultural choice

* Jeramie Rinne: A gyülekezet elöljárói - Isten népének pásztorai

* Paul Washer: The Gospel of Jesus Christ (füzet) ©2016

* Sam Rowland: A hihetetlen határán (YFC)

* David Gibson: Living life Backward - Ecclesiastes

* Kepes András: A boldog hülye és az okos depressziós

* John Calvin: A Little Book On The Christian Life (Ligonier)

* R. C. Sproul: Mi az evangélium?

* Paul Washer: The Preeminent Christ

* C H Spurgeon: Reggel és Este🙏🏻

2023 - filmek

* Chosen 3. évad (8 epizód)

* Madarak a dobozban (Birdbox)

* Együtt kezdtük

* Szia Életem

* János vitéz (Nemzeti Színház)

* Nyolc hegy 🏔

* Raised on Porn | Documentary

* Ifjúság (2015) Youth

* OTTO (Tom Hanks)

* Titanic 3D

* Nyugaton a helyzet változatlan

* A bolygónk jövőjének tudománya

* A lehetetlen (2012)

* Brian élete

* Anabaptisták - 500 éve a Kárpát-medencében

* Gyagyás gyilkosság 1,2

* A LEVÉL (Ferenc pápa)Üzenet🌏

* Egy asszony illata

* A pápa ördögűzője (exorcist🔞)

* A nemzet aranyai💦

* Az elefánt suttogó

* Két távoli idegen

* A szürke ötven árnyalata

* Átjáróház

* The Missionary Position (2014)

* Apcsel sorozat🎞 (12 rész)

* Gucci ház

* Whale

* Tizenkét dühös ember

* Sound of Freedom *

* Pursuit of happiness

* Holt költők társasága

* SKYFALL (James Bond)…

* Jesus Revolution - Netflix

* Boldogság kezdőknek

* The Deepest Breath

* Bolygónk Csodái 2. (Attenborough)

* Non-stop (Liam)

* JOBS

* Steve Jobs (2015)

* A szabadság ötven árnyalata

* Blokád

* A védelmező 3.

* Nyugati nyaralás

* Egy mindenkiért (Sz.Áron) 🥇

* FAUDA (arab-izraeli sorozat)

* What is a woman?

* Van valami furcsa és megmagyarázhatatlan

* Hab (magyar vígjáték)

* Nagykarácsony

* HADIK

* 10 év úton (B@gossy)

* The Holiday

* Semmelweis

* The Crown (utolsó rész)

* Maestro

* Tűzszekerek

* Nyúl Péter 1, 2.

[marcmarcmomarc]

RWBY: The Holiday Special

Taking place after the series, we get a look at what the holiday season is like on Remnant.

Starring the voices of:

Lindsay Jones as Ruby Rose

Kara Eberle as Weiss Schnee

Arryn Zech as Blake Belladonna

Barbara Dunkelman as Yang Xiao Long

Cast:

Dawn M. Bennett as Elm Ederne

Jen Brown as Pyrrha Nikos

Sena Bryer as May Marigold

Ashley Burns as Coco Adel

Burnie Burns as Taiyang Xiao Long

Tiana Camacho as Glynda Goodwitch

Cam Clarke as Bartholomew Oobleck

Colleen Clinkenbeard as Jinn

Amber Lee Connors as Vernal

Aaron Dismuke as Oscar Pine

Michele Everheart as Fiona Thyme

Dave Fennoy as Dr. Pietro Polendina

Gavin Free as Scarlet David

Caitlin Glass as Willow Schnee

Anna Hullum as Raven Branwen

Samantha Ireland as Nora Valkyrie

Michael Jones as Sun Wukong

Mick Lauer as Marrow Amin

Morgan Lauré as Summer Rose

Cherami Leigh as Ilia Amitola

Marissa Lenti as Joanna Greenleaf

Jason Liebrecht as Qrow Branwen

Yuri Lowenthal as Mercury Black

Miles Luna as Jaune Arc

Joe MacDonald as Yatsuhashi Daichi

Aaron Marquis as Nolan Porfirio

Penny Layne Matthews as Zwei

Elizabeth Maxwell as Winter Schnee

Shannon McCormick as Professor Ozpin

Taylor McNee as Penny Polendina

Lani Minella as Rowena Sunnybrook

Max Mittelman as Fox Alistair

Katie Newville as Emerald Sustrai

Jessica Nigri as Cinder Fall

William Orendorff as Hazel Rainart

Josh Ornelas as Sage Ayana

Neath Oum as Lie Ren

Tara Platt as Kali Belladonna

Anairis Quiñones as Harriet Bree

Jason Rose as James Ironwood

Anthony Sardinha as Peter Port

Kerry Shawcross as Neptune Vasilias

Keith Silverstein as Professor Theodore

Melissa Sternenberg as Maria Calavera

Valentine Stokes as Ambrosius

Karen Strassmann as Gretchen Rainart

J. Michael Tatum as Klein Sieben

Cristina Vee as Robyn Hill

Howard Wang as Whitley Schnee

Caiti Ward as Velvet Scarlatina

Christopher Wehkamp as Clover Ebi

Casey Lee Williams as singing voice of Weiss Schnee & Neopolitan

Kent Williams as Ghira Belladonna

Todd Womack as Vine Zeki

Anne Yatco as Xanthe Rumpole

Additional Voices:

Orion Acaba as Harold Mulberry

César Altagracia as Crimson

Amalee as Ivy Thickety

Yssa Badiola as Ciel Soleil

Laura Bailey as Amber

William Ball as Saber Rodentia

Ryan Bartley as Arslan Altan

Eric Baudour as Forest

Brian Beacock as Roch Szalt

Dawn M. Bennett as An Ren

Laila Berzins as Starr Sanzang

Grace Bono as Nebula Violette

Jen Brown as Red Haired Woman & Lisa Lavender

Reba Buhr as Lily’s Younger Sister

Billy B. Burson III as Branwen Bandit 2

Paige Campbell as Dew Gayl

Bruce Carey as Captain

Dani Chambers as Iris Marilla

Clifford Chapin as Shay D. Mann

Luci Christian as Lil’ Miss Malachite & Fria

Greg Chun as Green

Lucella Wren Clary as Adrian Cotta-Arc

Alfred Coleman as Merchant

Kate Daigler as Atlas Soldier Officer

Adam Ellis as Cardin Winchester & Tukson

Dorothy Fahn as Slate

Melissa Fahn as Lily

Erin Fitzgerald as Rae Noire

Flynt Flossy as Flynt Coal

Jim Foronda as Russet Ka

Sandy Fox as Ariadne Guime

Scott Frerichs as Mata

Grant George as Ivori

Blaine Gibson as Brawnz Ni

Christopher Guerrero as Dudley & Blacksmith

Claire Hogan as Octavia Ember

Victoria Holden as Mata’s Mother

Xanthe Huynh as Claret Berbere

Chad James as Asher Mora & Councilman Sleet

Chris Kokkinos as Fenix Nemean, Spider Bodyguard 2, Branwen Bandit 1, & Crew Member 2

Anjali Kunapaneni as Cye Ayu

Skye Lafontaine as Olive Harper

Aleks Le as Nadir Shiko

Judy Alice Lee as Ruda Tilleroot

Mela Lee as Caroline Cordovin

Marissa Lenti as Oscar’s Aunt

Alex Mai as Dee

Joel Mann as Drunk Mann

Bryan Massey as Bertilak Celadon

Dustin Matthews as Drinking Buddy

Kyle McCarley as Sky Lark

Mike McFarland as Mayor

Daman Mills as Leonardo Lionheart

Ryan Mitchum as August Caspian

Cassandra Lee Morris as Kandi Floss

Kim Newman as Higanbana Waitress

Richard Norman as Fenix Atar

Brooke Olson as Mantle Child

Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Thumbelina Peach

Bryce Papenbrook as Russel Thrush

Jack Pattillo as Hei “Junior” Xiong

Paul St. Peter as Edward Caspian

Kyle Phillips as Nubuck Guards

Anairis Quiñones as Councilwoman Camilla

Eden Riegel as Elektra Fury

Sam Riegel as Finn Asturias

Jon Risinger as Bolin Hori

Cindy Robinson as Ann Greene

Patrick Rodriguez as Shopkeep & Cyril Ian

Kristi Rothrock as Zure Ayu

Andrew Russell as Kobalt

Ian Russell as Mossius Berbere

Alejandro Saab as Dove Bronzewing & Henry Marigold

Lindsay Seidel as May Zedong

Kerry Shawcross as Pyke Rite

Lindsay Sheppard as Saphron Cotta-Arc

Michael Sinterniklaas as Roy Stallion

Jamie Smith as Terra Cotta-Arc

Gus Sorola as Fiona’s Uncle

Laura Stahl as Roane Ashwood

Christine Stuckart as Grandmother

Kaiji Tang as Li Ren

Jenn K. Tidwell as Mother & Spider Bodyguard 1

Alexis Tipton as Bianca Prisma

Maggie Tominey as Miltia & Melanie Malachite

Meg Turney as Neon Katt

Natalie Van Sistine as Cerise Claire

Erin Winn as Reese Chloris

Kimberly Woods as Olive Gashley

Yunhao Xhong as Crew Member 1

Laura Yates as Arrastra Skye

Christian Young as Rhodes

Mylissa Zelechowski as Gwen Darcy

Molly Zhang as Mikado Lem

Derreck Ziegler as Matte Skye