#francys the bandit captain

[ineadhyn]

One of my favourite things about Francys X Astarion is that Francys doesn't enjoy being bitten. He'll endure it, but he is not into it. It makes their dynamic so interesting to me. And when he offers it, it's really special.

[hug-kiss-marry-kill]

List of already polled characters:

A.B.A - Guilty Gears: Hug

Abramar - The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood: Kill

Ageha Hijiri - Hirogaru Sky PreCure: Hug

Agnea Bristarni - Octopath Traveler 2: Hug

Aidan - The Illuminae Files: Kill

Aigis - Persona 3: Hug

Akira Kenjou - KiraKira PreCure à la Mode: Hug

All Might - My Hero Academia: Hug

Almalexia - Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind: Tribunal: Kill

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader - Star Wars: Kill

Alucard Tepes - Castlevania: Marry

America/Alfred F Jones - Hetalia: Kill

Anders - Dragon Age 2: Hug

Archer - Pokemon: Kill

Aristotle - Billie Bust Up: Hug

Arthur Lester - Malevolent: Hug

Ashlyn Banner - School Bus Graveyard: Pat on the head

Astarion - Baldur's Gate 3: Hug

Astro Boy - Astro Boy: Pat on the head

Atsushi Nakajima - Bungo Stray Dogs: Hug

Avicenna - Some Desperate Glory: Kill

Ayame Sohma - Fruits Basket: Kill

Babe - Pit Babe: Hug

Bandit Heeler - Bluey: Hug

Barney - Barney and Friends: Kill

Basil - Omori: Hug

Becka - Scarlet Hollow: Hug

Beebee - Adventures with Anxiety: Hug

Benoit Blanc - Knives Out: Hug

Bernd das Brot - KiKa/German TV: Kill

Blazer - Stray: Hug

Blitzwing - Transformers Animated: Hug

Bog King - Strange Magic: Hug

Bolt - Disney's Bolt: Adopt

Bonnie - In Stars and Time: Hug

Brahms Heelshire - The Boy: Kill

Brooklyn - Gargoyles: Hug

Bruce Wayne - Batman: Hug

Buggy - One Piece: Kill

Captain Pip Bernadotte - Hellsing Ultimate: Hug

Catra - She-Ra: Hug

Cerise Hood - Ever After High: Pat on the head

Charles Calvin - Henry Stickmin Collection: Hug

Chelsea - Royal Scandel: Hug

Chibiusa/Sailor Mini Moon - Sailor Moon: Pat on the head

Chilchuck Tims - Delicious in Dungeon: Hug

Chrom - Fire Emblem: Marry

Clint Barton/Hawkeye - Marvel: Hug

Clyde ‐ Dreams of an Insomniac: Hug

Colette - The Thea Stilton novels: Hug

Conan Edogawa - Detective Conan: Pat on the head

Coraline - Coraline: Hug+Adopt

Cordell Walker - Walker 2021: Hug

Crash Man - Megaman 2: Hug

Crying Child - Five Nights at Freddy's 4: Adopt

Daisy Johnson - Agents of SHIELD: Hug

Danny Fenton - Danny Phantom: Hug

Da Quing - Guardian: Hug

Death - Puss in Boots: The Last Wish: Kiss

Death the Kid - Soul Eater: Hug

Diana of Themyscira | Wonder Woman - DC Comics: Marry

Dib - Invader Zim: Pat on the head

Digby - Dead Estate: Pat on the head

Dogday - Poppy Playtime: Adopt

Donald Duck - Ducktales 2017: Hug

Donald Trump - Real Life: Kill

Donald Trump - Real Life: Fuck

Donatello Splinterson - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003: Hug

Dr. Boris Habit - Smile For Me: Hug

Dr. D Light - It's Not Me, It's My Basement: Hug

Dr. Flug ‐ Villainous: Hug

Dr. Ludwig/The Medic - Team Fortress 2: Kill

Dr. Two Brains - WordGirl: Hug

Dragon - Shrek: Hug

Draco Malfoy - Harry Potter: Kill

Dream of the Endless - The Sandman: Hug

Echo - Star Wars The Clone Wars/The Bad Batch: Hug

Ecolo - Puyo Puyo: Hug

Eileen Leahy - Supernatural: Hug

Emily Kauffman - Gylt: Hug

Ena Shinomome - Project Sekai: Hug

Eric Foreman - House M. D.: Hug

Erik (The Phantom) - The Phantom of The Opera: Kill

Eucerin - Object Fool: Kill

Fan - Rockman Strategy: Kill

Fantoccio - Billie Bust Up!: Hug

First Aid - Transformers Animated: Hug

Floyd - Trolls Band Together: Kill

Francis Mosses - That’s not my neighbor: Hug

Freddy Fazbear - Five Nights at Freddy's: Kill

Fubuki Shirou - Inazuma Eleven: Hug

Furina - Genshin Impact: Hug

Future Edd - Eddsworld: Kill

Gabe Ugliano - Percy Jackson: Kill

Gale Hawthorne - The Hunger Games Franchise: Kill

Garry - Ib: Hug

Garu/Karu - Nu:Carnival: Hug

General Sarah Alder - Motherland: Fort Salem: Kill

Gilgamesh Wolfenbach - Girl Genius: Hug

Ginpachi-Senpai - Gintama: Kill

Godzilla - Godzilla (Monsterverse): Hug

Gonta Gokuhara - Danganronpa: Hug

Gosha - Beastars: Hug

Gray Wing - Warrior Cats: Kill

Gray Yeon - The Weak Hero Webtoon: Kill

Gretchen - Scarlet Hollow: Pat on the head

Hal Stewart/Titan - Megamind: Kill

Haruhi Fujioka - Ouran High School Host Club: Hug

Hau - Pokemon (Sun/Moon, Ultra Sun/Moon): Hug

Heath - Blackstar Theater Starless: Hug+Kill

Heathcliff - Heathcliff Comic Strip: Hug

Hello Kitty - Sanrio: Pat on the head

He Who Gets Slapped - He Who Gets Slapped: Kill

Hiro Hamada - Big Hero 6: Hug

Homura Akemi - Puella Magi Madoka Magika: Hug

Hug Kiss Marry Kill Tumblr blog - Tumblr: Hug

Ilya Oblomov - Oblomov: Hug

Inuyasha - Inuyasha: Pat on the head

Invidia Bat - A Little Vice: Hug

Ivan - Alien Stage: Hug

Jack Horner - Puss in Boots: The Last Wish: Kill

Jaime Lannister - A Song of Ice and Fire: Kill

Janet - The Good Place: Hug

Jason Todd - Batman: Hug

Jerry - Undertale: Kill

Jiang Cheng - Mo Dao Zu Shi / The Untamed: Hug

Jiro Yamashita - The Idolmaster SideM: Hug

John Gaius - The Locked Tomb: Kill

Jonathan Sims - The Magnus Archives: Hug

Joshu Higashikata - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 8: JoJolion: Kill

Julian - Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja: Pat on the head

Kagome Higurashi - Inuyasha: Hug

Kakashi Hatake - Naruto: Marry

Kaladin Stormblessed - The Stormlight Archive: Hug

Kankri Vantas - Homestuck: Kill

Karma Akabane - Assassination Classroom: Hug

Kendall Roy - Succession: Hug

Kensuke Kurosaki - Corpse Party: Pat on the head

Kestrel - Wings of Fire: Kill

Kevin McCallister - Home Alone: Pat on the head

Killua Zoldyck - Hunter x Hunter: Pat on the head

Kim - Kinnporsche: The Series: Hug

King Andrias - Amphibia: Kill

Kitty Jones - Bartimaeus Trilogy: Hug

Klaus von Reinherz - Kekkai Sensen: Marry

Klavier Gavin - Ace Attorney: Hug

Klutzy - Club Penguin: Pat on the head

Korra - Legend of Korra: Hug

Kou Minamoto - Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun: Hug

Kris Dreemurr - Deltarune: Hug

Kuzco - The Emperor's New Groove: Pat on the head

Kyubi - Puella Magi Madoka Magika: Kill

L - Death Note: Hug

LadyDevimon - Digimon: Kiss

Lance Serrano - Voltron: Hug

Langly (X-Files): Kill

Leo Valdez - Heroes of Olympus: Hug

Leshy - Inscryption: Hug

Lestat de Lioncourt - Interview with the Vampire: Kill

Lev Myshkin - The Idiot: Hug

Licorice Cookie - Cookie Run Kingdom: Hug

Lisa Simpson - The Simpsons: Pat on the head

Liu Qianqiao - Qord of Honor: Hug

Logan Fields - School Bus Graveyard: Hug

Looks to the Moon - Rain World: Hug

Luan Loud - The Loud House: Kill

Luigi - Super Mario Brothers: Hug

Luisa Madrigal - Encanto: Hug

Luna Lovegood - Harry Potter: Adopt

Luz Noceda - The Owl House: Hug

Maggie Simpson - The Simpsons: Hug

Magolor - Kirby: Kill

Malak - Dark Deception: Kill

Malcolm Merlyn - Arrow: Kill

Marceline Abadeer - Adventure Time: Marry

Maria Ushiromiya - Umineko: Adopt

Master Kohga - Legend of Zelda: Kill

Michael J. Caboose - Red vs Blue: Hug

Miae Hwang - After School Lessons for unripe apples: Pat on the head

Millennial Tree Cookie - Cookie Run: Hug

Min - Parallel City: Hug+Kill

Misaki Ayuzawa - Kaichou wa Maid Sama: Hug

Miss Kobayashi - Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Hug

Miwako Sakurada - Paradise Kiss: Hug+Kiss

Mono - Little Nightmares: Adopt

Moonwatcher - Wings of Fire: Hug

Mo Ran - The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (2ha): Hug

Mr Bean - Mr Bean: Hug

Nate Wright - Big Nate: Hug

Natsuki - Doki Doki Literature Club: Hug

Near - Death Note: Hug

Newton Pud - Little Big Planet: Hug

Nick - Zootopia: Hug

Niffty - Hazbin Hotel: Pat on the head

Niko - Oneshot: Hug

Omnimon/Omegamon - Digimon: Hug

Ongsa - 23.5: Pat on the head

Onion San - Undertale: Pat on the head

Orel Puppington - Moral Orel: Adopt

Oroboros - Honka: Star Rail: Kill

P03 - Inscryption: Kill

Pavel Yudin - Fear and Hunger Termina: Kill

PearlescentMoon - Double lifesmp/Traffic life series: Hug

Phaya - The Sign: Kiss

Portgas D. Ace - One Piece: Hug

Qifrey - Witch Hat Atelier: Hug

Quark - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Hug

Raelle Collar - Motherland: Fort Salem: Kill

Randy Random - Rimworld: Kill

Ranko Mannen - Akiba Maid War: Hug

Rantaro Amami - Danganronpa: Kill

Rasta Beast - Everhood: Hug

Ray - The Promised Neverland: Hug

R.B. Sous-chef Gregor - Limbus Company: Kill

Regina George - Mean Girls: Kill

Rider - Centaurworld: Hug

Riku - Kingdom Hearts: Hug

Robert E. O. Speedwagon - Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Kill

Ronald Novikov - Jackson's Diary: Hug

Rory - Morgana and Oz: Hug

Rosa Ushiromiya - Umineko: Kill

Rose Quartz - Steven Universe: Hug

Rozy/Rozana - The Guy Upstairs: Hug

Ryuji Sakamoto - Persona 5: Hug

Sam Winchester - Supernatural: Hug

Sara Lance - Legends of Tomorrow: Marry+Kill

Sasha Nein - Psychonauts: Hug

Saturday Tasogare- vivid/stasis: Hug

Scissors - Paper Mario the Orgami King: Kill

Scylla Ramshorn - Motherland: Fort Salem: Kill

Seliph - Fire Emblem: Hug

Serial Designation N - Murder Drones: Hug

Seungha - Odd Girl Out: Hug

Shaggy - Scooby-Doo: Pat on the head

Shannon LaFae - Heart Fragment: Hug

Shigaraki Tomura - My Hero Academia: Hug

Shin Sato - The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Hug

Shion Sonozaki - Higurashi: Pat on the head must

Shouko Komi - Komi San wa komishou desu: Hug

Shrek - Shrek: Hug

Shu Itsuki - Ensemble Stars: Kill

Siffrin - In Stars and Time: Hug

Simon Keyes - Ace Attorney: Kill

Slate - Outer Wilds: Hug

Snow White/Red Shoes - Red Shoes and the 7 Dwarfs: Hug

Soldier Boy - The Boys: Kill

Sora Harukawa - Ensemble Stars: Pat on the head

Spamton G. Spamton - Deltarune: Kill

Sparkle - Honkai: Star Rail: Kill

Spencer Reid - Criminal Minds: Marry

SpongeBob SquarePants - SpongeBob SquarePants: Hug

Stan Pines - Gravity Falls: Hug

Star Flower - Warrior Cats: Pat on the head

Strider Hiryu - Strider: Kill

Subspace - Phighting!: Kill

Tali'Zorah - Mass Effect: Marry

Tamaki Suoh - Ouran High School Host Club: Hug

Tarvek Sturmvoraus - Girl Genius: Hug

Taylor - Simulacra: Hug

Taylor Hebert - Worm (Parahumans): Hug

Taylor Swift - Real Life: Kill

Teddy - Among the Sleep: Kill

Terry - Deltarune: Kill

Teruki Hanazawa - Mob Psycho 100: Pat on the head

The Ninth Doctor - Doctor Who: Hug

The Nowhere King - Centaurworld: Kill

The Once-ler - The Lorax: Kill

The Second Coming - Animator vs Animation/Animation vs Minecraft: Hug

The Shapeshifter - Odd Squad: Kill

The Snatcher - A Hat In Time: Kill

The Survivor - Rain World: Pat on the head

Thomas Richardson - The Apostle: Kill

Thorn - Wings of Fire: Hug

Tifa Lockhart - Final Fantasy VII: Hug

Tippi - Super Paper Mario: Hug

Titania - Fire Emblem: Marry

Trevor Belmont - Castlevania: Kiss

Trevor Garbo - Smile For Me: Kill

Tsukasa Okino - 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim: Hug

Turbo - Wreck It Ralph: Kill

Twelve - Zankyou No Terror: Kill

Umi - Sharkgirl Umi: Pat on the head

Uncle Iroh - Avatar: The Last Airbender: Hug

Vee - The Owl House: Hug

Vertin - Reverse: 1999: Hug

Victoria Best - Wordgirl: Pat on the head

Vigilante - My Friend Pedro: Hug+Kill

Virgil - Portal Stories: Mel: Hug

Wade Wilson - Deadpool: Hug

Wallace - Pokémon ORAS: Hug

Wes - Pokemon Colosseum: Hug

Wheatley - Portal: Kill

Xavier Riddle - Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: Pat on the head

Yato - Noragami: Kill

Yoo Joonghyuk - Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint: Hug

Youhei Sunohara - Clannad: Kill

Zhang Chengling - Word of Honor: Pat on the head

Zhou Zishu - Word of Honor: Hug

Zim - Invader Zim: Pat on the head

ZombieCleo - The Life Series: Hug

Zuko - Avatar The Last Airbender: Hug

[fallen-down-slowed-down]

🎀... crushes !

(warning: 140+ crushes)

🎀books

Edward Hyde – Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ( book + musical )

Holden Caulfield – The Catcher in the Rye

Košečkin Toporkov - Čekhov’s short stories

🎀films/series/tv shows

Akutarō Shindo – Bucchigiri?!

Alador Blight + Darius Diamonne (poly) – The Owl House

Bandit Heeler – Bluey

Basil – The Great Mouse Detective

Captain Harlock – Captain Harlock ( anime + film (2013) )

CatRat – Gabby’s Dollhouse

Charles Bingley + Fitzwilliam Darcy – Pride and Prejudice (2005)

David – Camp Camp

Debra5000 + Eric – The Mitchells vs the Machines

Eda Clawthorne – The Owl House

Edric Blight – The Owl House

Emile Petit + Francœur + Raoul – Un Monstre à Paris

Ezra – Captain Harlock (2013)

Father – Codename: Kids Next Door

Fukuo – Kiki’s Delivery Service

Gramorr – LoliRock

Hans – Frozen

Ichabod Crane – Sleepy Hollow (2013-2017)

Ichiya – Bucchigiri?!

Kabal – Mortal Kombat

Kakeru Zabu – Bucchigiri?!

King Dice – The Cuphead Show!

Kristoff – Frozen

Kuzko – The Emperor’s New Groove

Loid + Yor Forger – SpyxFamily

Louis – UglyDolls

Marito Jin – Bucchigiri?!

Mephisto – LoliRock

Metro-spider – Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse

Morton – The Owl House

Nicholas Wolfwood – Trigun ( anime + manga )

Ozzie – Over the Hedge

Prince Naveen + Tiana – Disney’s The Princess and the Frog

Sandman – Rise of the Guardians

Scientist (nnic) – Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse

Silencer + Truth – Miraculous: les Aventures de Ladybug et Chat Noir

Spike Spiegel – Cowboy Bebop

Ted Shackleford – Curious George

Travis Maddox – Beautiful Disaster

Waymond Wang – Everything Everywhere All at Once

William Dalton – Les Dalton (2010-2015)

🎀videogames

Achilles – Alchemy Stars

Adras – Alchemy Stars

Angus Ciprianni – That’s Not My Neighbour

Arlecchino – Genshin Impact

Baizhu – Genshin Impact

Beretta – Alchemy Stars

Beverly – Alchemy Stars

Brock – Alchemy Stars

Caleb – Alchemy Stars

Casta – Alchemy Stars

Chenya – Twisted Wonderland

Chevalier Michel – Ikemen Prince

Clavis Lelouch – Ikemen Prince

Comte de Saint-Germaine –Ikemen Vampire

Corax – Alchemy Stars

Cuscuta – Alchemy Stars

Diavolo – Obey Me! duology

Divus Crewel – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Fleur – Alchemy Stars

Francis Mosses – That’s Not My Neighbour

Genevieve – Alchemy Stars

Jack Howl – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Jamil Viper – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Jean d’Arc – Ikemen Vampire

Joselyn – Alchemy Stars

Kleken – Alchemy Stars

Leon Dompteur – Ikemen Prince

Leona Kingscholar – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Leonardo Da Vinci – Ikemen Vampire

Licht + Nokto Klein – Ikemen Prince

Lilia Vanrouge – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Ludovico – The Arcana

Malleus Draconia – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Mephistopheles – Obey Me! duology

Michael – Alchemy Stars

Minos – Alchemy Stars

Mozus Trein – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Nails – Alchemy Stars

Napoleon Bonaparte – Ikemen Vampire

Naroxel – Alchemy Stars

Nazali Satrinava – The Arcana

Neuvillette – Genshin Impact

Pantalone – Genshin Impact

Pittman – Alchemy Stars

Praetor Vlastomil – The Arcana

Quaestor Valdemar – The Arcana

Nadia Satrinava + Portia Devorak (poly) – The Arcana

Rebecca – Alchemy Stars

Rui Kamishiro – Project Sekai

Sam – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Sebek Zigvolt – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Silver – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Taki – Alchemy Stars

Theodorus van Gogh – Ikemen Vampire

Toya Aoyagi – Project Sekai

Tsukasa Tenma – Project Sekai

Vic – Alchemy Stars

Vil Schönheit – Twisted Wonderland ( videogame + manga )

Welt Yang – Honkai Impact 3rd

William Shakespeare – Ikemen Vampire

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Ikemen Vampire

Zandik – Genshin Impact

🎀other type of source

Ace – Bungō Stray Dogs universe

Andrealphus – Hellaverse

Astr0 – Felix’s OC (his name has his social linked!)

Beelzebub – Hellaverse

Ben Solo / Kylo Ren – Star Wars universe

Carlos + Cecil Gershwin Palmer (poly) – Welcome to Night Vale

Chūya Nakahara – Bungō Stray Dogs universe

Daredevil – Marvel universe

Denver – So Not My Type ( webtoon by @ prollycarmen )

Ezekiel Sims / Spider-therapist – Marvel universe

General Grievous – Star Wars universe

Graziano – The Merchant of Venice

Kowalski + Rico – Madagascar universe

Lewis Pepper – Mystery Skulls Animated

Marchese di Forlipopoli – La Locandiera

Meta Knight – Nintendo universe

Miles Edgeworth – The Great Ace Attorney universe

Mr. Mistoffelees – Cats ( musical )

Mungojerrie – Cats ( musical )

Munkustrap – Cats ( musical )

Mushitarō Oguri – Bungō Stray Dogs universe

Paimon – Hellaverse

Shadow – Sonic universe

Shōta Aizawa – Boku No Hero Academia ( manga + anime )

Shylock – The Merchant of Venice

Sigma – Bungō Stray Dogs universe

Sin-eater – Marvel universe

Skimbleshanks – Cats ( musical )

Projectile dysfunction bloke – Projectile Dysfunction

Turning a Sphere Outside In bloke – Turning a Sphere Outside In

Wally Wackford – Hellaverse

[succulentsunrise]

Where the Fire Lilies Grow

Content: SFW!

It’s time for the Royal Knights Exam! This was supposed to be just one chapter, but it stretched into two...I’ll have the second one ready soon 😅 

In the next one there will be a mention of another person’s amazing and beautiful OC and some more hints towards Mereoleona!! I’m very excited for it!! 

< Previous | Next >

Chapter 3: The Tribulations

“I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love.”

Leo Tolstoy

The days following the announcement of the Royal Knights exam were filled with hustle and bustle. Every participant was training rigorously amidst their normal missions, and Tani was no exception. Since the exam was to be held in the same amphitheater as the Magic Knight entrance exams, she assumed it was going to be a series of duels. This meant she had to win a fight against someone on her own. Common bandits were not a problem for Tani - her skill with a sword came most often as a surprise to them, and she usually had one or two of Luka’s sculpted jackals helping her. In addition, she had been practising binding magic recently in hopes of being able to at least contain people. The situation was different with another Magic Knight though. She knew three other knights from Azure Deer were participating: Fragil, Francis and Eric. If she had to go against them, she would be in trouble. Fragil’s snow magic was a captivating trap that dulled the senses, but could also be used for healing. If the battle would prolong with both of them trying to recover from each other’s blows, the gentle snow mage would likely take the win. Tani did not have as much mana as her. Eric, on the other hand, was an offensive sand mage. Tani had only occasionally seen the brunette man - he was as distant as most Azure Deer’s knights - but she knew that his magic could be surprisingly quick. It could drain some magic attributes, making it possible for him to kill the plants she’d conjure. She’d have the easiest time going against Francis - his attribute was water, which he manipulated for fluid movement and powerful torrents. She hoped she wouldn’t have to go against them. Her every night was restless that week, bouncing between aching muscles, worrisome scenarios and - and Mereoleona Vermillion, the intriguing new captain of the Crimson Lion Kings. Tani knew no one from the squad, and she dared not to inquire too much from Icree. She hadn’t even gotten one glance of the woman since the festival. Of course, she denied to herself that the walks to the capital would have had anything to do with catching a glimpse. Of course not. She just had grown bored of walking in the forest.

On the day of the exam, Tani walked the familiar cobbled streets of her hometown towards the amphitheater. She had not mentioned the exam to her family in her last letter. She selfishly wanted to tell them only after she knew if she was picked or not. If she wasn’t chosen, why worry them with news of such a dangerous mission? If she was - well, then she’d have to hope they’d understand. As Tani entered the stone amphitheater, she could hear the murmurs of people talking to each other. There was quite the crowd. Knights from all squads were gathered to participate. Royals, nobles and commoners, all wanting to unite for protecting the realm. Tani moved to the sides, her gaze searching for Fragil. Eventually her eyes landed on a group of people standing together: a black-haired woman dressed in a long, white dress with another dark-haired man, all clothed in black tunic and a long cape. Next to them was a brunette man with an aqua-coloured tunic. Fragil waved to her happily, while Francis and Eric merely nodded.

“I’m glad you came as well,” Fragil said softly, her smile honest and cheerful.

Eric looked less happy next to her. His round features were rather sullen, as if he wanted to be elsewhere. Tani couldn’t blame him. They all knew each other, but only on the level of acquaintances.

“”Do you know what kind of an exam it’s going to be?” Tani asked, answering the smile nervously.

All three of them shook their heads.

“I don’t have the faintest clue,” Fragil admitted, looking around. “Nor have I heard anyone else mention anything either.”

They looked around themselves, as if they could find some kind of a sign that would tell them what they’d have to do. They found none - however, a voice coming from the balcony snapped them all to attention. The Wizard King Julius Novachrono had appeared on a balcony. By him was one of his advisors, the serious-looking Marx Francois. His appearance and name were the only things Tani really knew about him. He was a man, shorter than the Wizard King, with light blue bangs and hair cupping his face. He was often by the Wizard King’s side, aiding him with the matters of the realm. Behind the two, the Royal King Augustus Kira Clover XIII stepped forward. Tani’s eyes narrowed. She could not understand why the man forced his way into this, as it was none of his business. Everyone knew the Wizard King was behind all of this.

“The exam will consist of a team competition!” the King announced pompously, his voice echoing from the walls. “The rules are simple: protect your own team’s crystal and destroy the other team’s crystal. The first team to do this wins!”

Tani glanced at the others in surprise. A team competition? It made no sense to her. If they wanted teams, they should’ve told the squads to send teams. As the King hesitated to tell the reason for that, Julius Novachrono stepped in.

“In battles against the Eye of the Midnight Sun, brigades will have to work together,” he explained calmly. “We thought this would be the best way to measure cooperation and strategy skills.”

Tani shifted nervously. She wasn’t a strategist by any means, she had always let Icree do it for her. Now it came to stab her in the back, metaphorically. She knew very little people outside of her own squad, and had not needed to often cooperate with them in battle. She wished Icree would have been there. The advisor of the King moved his hand and conjured a giant screen with grouped up names, clearly visible for everyone in the amphitheatre. Tani’s gaze jumped from group to group, seeking her own name. It took her a while to find it among the others.

[Adrastea Dnia Gamma Roon Tani Chartreuse]

Somewhere next to her, Fragil sighed.

“It seems that I am with the Vice-Captain of the Golden Dawn,” she said quietly, her voice a little worried.

“You’ll do great,” Tani reassured her, searching for Fragil’s name.

It seemed indeed that she was teamed up with a vice-captain. That could be a good thing or a bad thing. She might get far, but it would be easy to be overshadowed by someone so capable. Tani was a little bit jealous, but pushed it deep down. She’d rise on her own, without any help. A little farther away, Eric scoffed, still squinting at the screen. Tani was fairly certain he didn’t know his teammates any more than she knew her own. Francis was turning around to go search for his own party.

“Well, I got to go find mine. See you later,” she wished her squadmates, beginning her own search.

It was a rather drawn out search, even when people started finding their own groups. Eventually, however, Tani was able to find the two others. Gamma was a tall, young man with a blonde undercut. His posture was rather relaxed, and he greeted them in a friendly and excited fashion. Covering his black turtleneck was the red, billowing cloak of the Crimson Lion Kings. He was certainly younger than Tani, though she wasn’t sure if he would be even younger than Kliodna. Adrastea was a much more quiet person, barely talking to them. She wore her white hair on a high, tight bun, as if in contrast to her more comfortable clothes. The blue cloak of the Blue Roses was complemented by a white tank top and dark blue harem pants. Her glare seemed to be specifically directed at the member of the Crimson Lion Kings.

“Ready to do your best?” Gamma asked them cheerfully, balancing on one leg.

Tani could only assume that the strange standing position was to relieve stress.

“Yeah,” she answered, glancing over to Adrastea.

The white-haired woman simply nodded. There was certain wariness to her, and based on the glare, Tani had a feeling it was about Gamma. The Blue Roses prided themselves on showing that they were strong women - emphasis being on “women”. Tani could only hope Adrastea wasn’t one of the more extreme members that refused any help from men, or otherwise the team would fall apart quickly.  

“As long as we all work together and figure out--” she started, but was cut off by the appearance of large double doors, made by a nearby spatial mage.

It was apparent it had taken them a little bit too long to find each other, and so they had missed a valuable part of talking and strategizing. Tani bit her lip nervously, but turned towards the doors. It seemed like they were going to go elsewhere for the battles. It made sense - the amphitheater was way too small for trying to protect a crystal from a whole other team. Tani and her team went into the line, glancing at each other still a little warily.

“I’m certain we’ll get far,” Gamma proclaimed confidently, seemingly having no worries.

It made Tani a little worried, but she walked with them through the doors. What opened before the group was a large roof of some kind of a building, and below it a field of grass, ruins and sand. On its northern side was a coastal region with water, and to the east a thick forest. The ground was elevated on both the western and eastern side, where two large crystals could be seen floating in the air.

���This battlefield has a wide range of different areas,” the Wizard King proclaimed, appearing last through the doors. “Use them to display your powers to the fullest!”

Tani noticed a glint of excitement in his eyes, though his expression was a calm one. Behind him, another screen appeared: the tournament chart. Her team was on the last round, facing people she knew nothing of. However, should they manage to win that one, she would be going against Eric’s team. She glanced at the two other members of her team carefully.

“Hey, what are your magic attributes?” Tani asked quietly, trying to formulate a plan as the first battle preparations were beginning.

“Ah, well,” Gamma hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. “Magma. It’s a little volatile still and I don’t have perfect control of it, but it packs a punch.”

Adrastea clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

“My specialty is highly controlled strikes,” she informed them. “My attribute is silk.”

“Well, we are a somewhat rounded team then,” Tani said quickly, not liking the slightly hostile attitude of the other woman. “Mine is plants, and I specialize in supporting other people. I can help you with control or simply augment your abilities.”

“Don’t worry, with the recent training with our new Captain, I can work with my powers much better!” Gamma exclaimed happily, clearly unbothered by Adrastea’s disapproval. “Even if I never managed to reach the hot springs in time…”

“Hot springs?” Tani questioned, raising an eyebrow at the statement.

She wasn’t aware there were any hot springs in the vicinity. The younger man didn’t answer, however, as his attention was stolen by the battle that had begun below. The other team seemed to be barraged with long range attacks without a way to properly dodge them.

“Is it possible for us to do something like that? Long range?” Tani asked the other two. “I can increase your reach, if you have good aim.”

Adrastea shook her head.

“I fight in close-quarters. Don’t you have something like that yourself?” the white-haired woman asked, nodding below.

It was clear she meant one of the other participants, who also used plant magic. Mimosa Vermillion was one of the royals, as evident by her bright orange hair. Her magic was very praised for its healing capabilities, and not without a reason - she had gotten to the Golden Dawn, after all. It seemed like she had some offensive spells as well, as a giant flower with pink blooms had formed behind her. The young girl was shooting missiles of mana out of it while protecting the flower and determining the position of their enemies. A small feeling of envy twisted inside of Tani. Royals really were on a whole other level.

“No,” she replied.

Adrastea looked to her for an explanation, but Tani gave none. She did not feel like explaining to her group that she couldn’t even shoot a concentrated missile.

“I can throw quite a bit, but my aim’s wonky,” Gamma confessed, balancing once more on one leg. “The crystal’s big though. If I can get one hit in, it might be enough to break it.”

“Great,” Adrastea commented sarcastically. “Rely on the unreliable.”

“Hey, if you have a better idea, shoot ahead.”

Gamma’s voice was a little sharper now, causing Tani a budding headache. These two would butt heads sooner or later.

“We should go quickly to their crystal, and I will cut it with my silk,” Adrastea stated, crossing her arms.

“Yeah, uh, did you look at who we are against?” Gamma laughed, the sarcasm starting to seep into his tone. “Weiss has air affinity. She is going to be on us before you get there.”

“How about we combine your ideas?” Tani suggested tiredly.

The two others turned to her with a questioning gaze.

“We’ll start with long range attacks. I’ll try to help Gamma with aiming, while Adrastea, you’ll protect our crystal. I will give your mana detection a little boost. If only this Weiss comes closer, leave the protection to me and head for their crystal. If they all come close to us, we’ll move as a group and I’ll support you two as you destroy their crystal.”

“I don’t have a lot of protective spells,” Adrastea warned quietly.

Still, she and Gamma seemed to be considering the suggestion. Tani had no idea if it would actually work, but if it made the two of them work together, it would be the best thing they had. Below, the battles were continuing. It was intriguing to see so many different kinds of magic. She had always listened half-heartedly to Icree talking and describing how important it was to recognize and read mana patterns, but here Tani was simply blown away. The difference between a commoner and a royal seemed so vast. Every show of great power made her more and more nervous, forcing her to fiddle with her fingers. Even Fragil’s team’s battle was short and simple, with the dark-haired Azure Deer member having very little to do. The vice-captain of Golden Dawn, Langris Vaude, took care of it with only one spatial spell. It was a terrifying gap in ability in Tani’s eyes. It was shocking enough for her to ignore the fact that her own captain, Rill, was taking part in the competition. It took Gamma’s repeated questions to snap her out of her frozen state.

“Isn’t that your captain? You know, if we win, you might have to fight him!” he spoke eagerly, eyes glued to the captain of the Azure Deer.

Tani crossed her arms tightly, giving her captain a glance. The blue-haired man was as cheerful as always, eagerly speaking with other competitors. The exam felt as good as failed for her. Rill Boismortier’s magic was picture magic: whatever he drew came to life, and he had the ability to control it as he wished. He was a genius, a prodigy.

“Then we’ll have to hope that we are very uninspiring fighters,” Tani sighed. “The more you excite him, the more he gets into it. Though - he seems rather excited already.”

“Aren’t you excited about fighting him?”

“No, not really. I’ve no way to counter his art.”

Gamma looked thoughtful, but did not pursue the subject. Tani had a feeling he disapproved of her lack of enthusiasm. She turned her gaze back to the battleground, where Rill and his team descended.

“Plus,” she started, giving a glance to the match-ups again. “It seems Francis will have to go against him first.”

“Francis?”

“He is also a member of Azure Deer. He is going to fight against one team, and if he wins, he’ll be against Rill.”

“You are very certain your captain will win,” Gamma commented cheerfully.

Tani nodded. Certainly, her captain was making a point down there, first having been captured by the enemy team, and now countering their magic with relative ease.

“I wouldn’t be so sure your Francis will win, though,” Adrastea intruded into the conversation. “Puli is in the team going against him, and she is very strong.”

“I’m not aware of the full extent of his capabilities,” Tani said quietly, not wishing to start any rivalries between squads. “It is very possible this Puli will win.”

“We’ll see soon,” the member of the Blue Roses replied, looking as the two other teams descended to the battleground.

The battle wasn’t long itself, and as Adrastea predicted, her squadmate’s team won. Still, Tani did not think the team would be able to win against her captain. She would be surprised if they did. She didn’t have a lot of time to think about it, however - they were next in line to fight. She could see the other team briefly, as they both started to head to their respective starting points. They were all from different squads than Tani’s team, consisting of a long-haired, blonde man wearing the short coat of the Green Mantis, one slightly larger man with the triangular coat of the Purple Orca, and a pale, white-haired woman with the fluffy cloak of the Silver Eagle. There was no telling what their affinities were, other than the woman’s - Gamma had mentioned she was Weiss, the air mage. The groups separated in tense silence, Tani heart beating faster than ever. She questioned why she even was there. She hated exams.

“Let’s hide in the ruins, set up a place to throw missiles at them, and wait for them to come to us,” Gamma suggested silently as they stood on the starting place.

“How are we to know where to throw the missiles?” Adrastea asked, her voice no longer so cold.

It seemed like her distaste for Gamma was pushed back by the need for a strategy. Tani felt slightly relieved.

“It’s a long shot, but I could locate them,” she said hesitantly. “It would eat a lot of my mana though. It might be better that we set up an ambush of some sort and hope Weiss rushes in.”

The others nodded, looking at the ruins nearby. They’d set up there and protect the crystal. They would win.

Hopefully.

[michaelmoonsbookshop]

A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue Anon [Francis Grose] London Printed for S Hooper 1785 First Edition

Francis Grose's 'Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue' was first published in 1785, and is a dictionary of slang words. Grose was one of the first lexicographers to collect slang words from all corners of society, not just from the professional underworld of pickpockets and bandits. So while 'The Vulgar Tongue' includes many of the words found in earlier 'scoundrels'' dictionaries (such as Head's 'Canting Academy'), it also lists a whole range of mundane slang words such as sheepish (for bashful), carrots (for red hair), or sweet (for expert, dexterous, clever). He records many rude words, such as bum fodder (for toilet paper), or double jugg (for a man's bottom). And he includes many nicknames for food and drink - words for gin (an enormously popular drink at the time) include: blue ruin, cobblers punch, crank, diddle, frog's wine, heart's ease, lightening and drain. Grose and his assistant Tom Cocking took midnight walks through London, picking up slang words in slums, drinking dens and dockyards and adding them into their 'knowledge-box'. 'The Vulgar Tongue' was recognised throughout the 19th century as one of the most important collections of slang in the English language, and it would strongly influence later dictionaries of this kind.

entries include Betwattled — to be surprised, confounded, out of one’s senses Blind cupid — the backside Bone box — the mouth Brother of the quill — an author Cackling farts – eggs Captain queernabs — shabby ill-dressed fellow Chimping merry — exhilarated with liquor Comfortable importance — a wife Dicked in the nob — silly, crazed Dog booby — an awkward lout Duke of limbs — a tall, awkward, ill-made fellow Eternity box — a coffin Head rails — teeth Hickey — tipsy, hiccupping Irish apricots — potatoes Jolly nob — the head. “I’ll lump your jolly nob for you”: I’ll give you a knock on the head. Knowledge box — another term for the head. Kittle pitchering — to disrupt the flow of a “troublesome teller of long stories” by constantly questioning and contradicting unimportant details, especially at the start (best done in tandem with others) Knight of the trenches — a great eater Just-ass — a punning name for a justice [judge] Paw paw tricks — forbidden tricks; from the French pas pas Penny wise and pound foolish — saving in small matters, and extravagant in great Sugar stick — the virile member Tallywags / Whirligigs — testicles Whipt Syllabub — a flimsy, frothy discourse Whipster — a sharp or subtle fellow

[crookytails]

here it is! a list of frankie facts nobody asked for that i'm providing anyway!

his full name is francis morrison but NOBODY gets to call him francis. NOBODY.

rush does it sometimes to mess with him but he's the only one who's allowed...

lots of tattoos! rush had them and rush was his Role Model so he just.. got a bunch to be lowkey matching with his idol lmao

met rush when he was like 14 or 15 (he's 24 at the start of the game.. a baby) and has been with him ever since. hadn't been captain of security for long before the train incident.

like the twins and carmina, he grew up in a post nuclear apocalypse world so he doesn't know anything different. can't relate to the older generations when they get nostalgic about how things used to be.

his motivations for "making things better" and "rebuilding" is really just him following and trusting rush. in reality he's used to and accepting of how the world is and he knows he can survive in it because he's resourceful. like if rush decided to become a bandit, frankie would 100% just not question it and follow him like ok this is what we're doing now. it takes pastor jerome to adjust his moral compass, really make him reevaluate why he's doing the things he's doing for prosperity, and make him actively want to help people. but he could easily have ended up being a highwayman, he's just lucky he fell in with the right side first.....

his parents were out the days the bombs fell and so his nanny took shelter with him in the bunker they had at his house. he never found out what happened to them

totally complains that the highwaymen have a cool aesthetic and prosperity doesn't

frankie: we look like hobos >:(

rush just glares at him

frankie: not me tho. but some of ya'll... i'm embarrassed

kim: wow, really?

ksjdks pure what are thooooose energy

when he sees new edeners in their leathers and furs for the first time he's like "wow.. a group that dresses worse than ya'll... " carmina just punches him in the arm

starts believing in god (and joseph 😳) when he gets the powers from the apple. plus all the weird visions joseph/the bliss show him. also thinks ppl exaggerate when they tell him about what the peggies did before sldjfk... yeah... not that he joins them or follows joseph, but he's definitely not against them. and definitely doesn't kill joseph. the judge (ash) does :-) and that's that on that

[donestiel]

2019 in review!

tagged by the wife @thatsuperawkwardgirl​

top 5 films you watched in 2019:

It Chapter 2

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (cause I technically didn’t watch until 2019)

JoJo Rabbit

Captain Marvel

The To Do List (yeah I only watched for the first time in 2019 HOW?!)

top 5 tv shows in 2019:

Barry (is it terrible if I just put this as like...all 5)

Killing Eve

...not gonna lie I started to watch Jeopardy for the first time this year

I rewatched the first season of True Detective does that count?

Stranger Things because the last season dropped in 2019

top 10 songs of 2019:

(i’m just going off the most listened to songs on my phone right now)

Sunflower - Post Malone, Swae Lee

Goodbyes - Post Malone

Bob Dylan - Fall Out Boy

i love you - Billie Eilish

Baby - Marina, Clean Bandit

That one country cover of I Don’t Love You by My Chem

Missing You - Chosen Jacobs (BECAUSE OF YOU, SARAH)

Doom Days - Bastille

Popular Monster - Falling In Reverse (don’t judge me, I don’t get it either)

Into the Unknown - Panic! At the Disco (I know, Frozen 2 and I haven’t even seen it but Brendon’s version is lit)

top 5 books you read in 2019:

The Stand - Stephen King for the first time somehow

Basically all I read is fanfic y’all.

Even though apparently fanfic doesn’t count for these - the most important of all: Married Life by @thatsuperawkwardgirl and if you haven’t read it yet, you suck

5 good/positive things that happened to you in 2019:

I made friends with Brianna and Francis and now i’m stuck with them for life apparently.

Bought MCR tickets for myself, Brianna and Francis to go see the reunion show in Auckland 4 days after my 27th birthday.

Worked on more short films and finished several full treatments/scripts for future ideas.

Learned to drive and bought myself a car.

AND, finally, I met my wife Sarah online like 6 or 7 weeks ago and now I guess i’m gonna have to travel back/move to the US so I can marry her for reals cause apparently she’s the real one yo.

[imaginehamilton]

Saving the prince (pt.1)

Theodosia was one of the most prestigious knights that the kingdom had. She was the captain on the military for the king. The kings first born son had been kidnapped by a group of bandits. The king had decided to send Theodosia to retrieve his son. Originally, he had planned to send a small squadron with the captain; however, she was stubborn and continually told the king that she didn’t need the squadron. After about a week of planning, and triangulating the bandits position, Theodosia set off on her journey. Originally King Alexander had thought it was just some group of bandits, but with further investigating, the royal mages had come back with evidence of the captor being from the next kingdom over, sent by King Thomas. It was almost common knowledge that Alexander and Thomas loathed each other. They were try constantly to start wars with each other, only to have their wives step in and calm them down.

She gently pat her horse and looked around the forest. For a group of bandits, they were really bad at hiding their position. The trail that they had taken was littered with broken tree branches and food wrappers.

Theodosia shook her head and sighed, “Looks like these bandits are going to be taken down easily... what do you think, Francis” The horse neighed and shook her head. Theodosia gave a small chuckle and nodded. The forest was fairly quiet, other that the jingling of the horse's bridle and saddle. Some talking could just barely be heard, “I think we’re getting close.” She said softly and bent down, doing her best to be quiet. It was easy with the light, leather armor she had on currently. The small road started to have more and more broken branches and trash on it. They were close indeed. Theodosia had started heard some rather loud talking from a little ways off the road. She dismounted the horse instructing her to stay put, and started walking on foot. She rested her hand on her sword, ready for a fight. As the young captain walked through between the trees, she kept her eyes open for any signs of Prince Philip.

Some glinting in the sun caught Theodosia’s attention. She knelt down and picked up the thing. She stared at it for a moment. It was the necklace she had given Philip on his birthday when they were kids. She put the necklace around her neck and hid behind some bushes. She was just a few feet from a clearing that looked like the bandits hideout. On the other side of the clearing, Philip was tied to a post with a rather nasty black eye. Theodosia narrowed her eyes and looked around the clearing. For a group sent by a king, they didn’t have many people. They looked look they were drifters. Theodosia rubbed her head in confusion and froze as a woman walked in front of her and stopped. She had long braided hair and looked extremely muscular.

“That must be their leader…” Theodosia thought. She really didn’t want to be caught by the woman. She stayed still, waiting for the woman in front of her to walk away. Theodosia was just starting to slightly regret not bring a squadron with her. She slowly started skirting around the clearing until she was behind Philip.

“Pip,” she whispered, “I’m here to rescue you, but stay quiet.”

Philip jumped a little at the voice behind him, “Just hurry, Theo,” he whispered back.

Theodosia pulled out a knife and started cutting away at the ropes that bound Philips wrists, thankful for the cover of the bushes around her. Once the ropes were cut, Theodosia took a deep breath, “I need to clear out these bandits…”

“The woman with the braided hair is the leader,” Philip said in a hushed voice before some of the bandits yelled for him to shut up.

Theodosia nodded before moving around once more for a better view of the camp. There were four tents on the outside,it looked it looked like there were two people per tent. There was one tent that looked like a small mess tent and a fire just outside of it. It really wasn't the big of a camp. Theodosia scanned the camp, thinking of a plan of action. The feeling of a knife pressed against her back made the captain freeze.

“You should know not to intrude on business from other kingdoms, captain Theodosia,” a smooth voice said from behind her.

“I try not to, but when it involves the heir to the throne, I have to step in.”

As promised!~ Mod Hamilham wanted Pip to be a princess but nah, sorry babe ;*

[canadianexpress0451]

Let me tell a story for you me memories of war and peace and survival in the world they created in New York I went to New York in rikers island it’s a island where the prisoners workers and settlers are turned into skeletons I turned rikers island into a glorious settlement there I built a powerful radio transmitter beacon for settlers to arrive and the bridges needed maintenance to support the docks needed fixing the boats will restore to function and the fueling station for boats and planes to start i turned on the beacon attached the broadcast tower pre war I was a gentle giant with a long past height is 7.4 weight 455 pounds I was born in Warsaw Poland a 19th century hospital and my parents were athletes and me a strongman I was born with gigantism baldness and increased endurance and super strength and immune to radiation energy poison and ballistic resistance is extreme and enhanced reflexes and I speak polish English Chinese and Spanish Russian and more my parents were killed in a traffic accident a drunken driver driving a city bus that wasn’t in service he was tired of working hard he sleep in his bus he woken up he gasped he was arrested for murder me I got rescued by a man named Francis Adam richman an American military drill instructor and a former hockey player for New York ranger a captain he read my name is witold Polanski a powerhouse in Poland Francis woke witold up he said witold I am arriving that Warsaw was hit by a nuke I said what happened to Europe he said gone by nukes and the vault is for you in vault 750 my iq is 255 and I was promoted to colonel of United States armed forces I thawed out in the year 2288 211 years after the Great War and I step out of the vault I speak polish New York is wasteland a vast asphalt of dead man and bandits of war alike I ordered my men to restore the entire fort and make food and water purified and My second in command lieutenant Jane Rhodes a buxom intelligence officer and reconnaissance specialist she has short brown hair and blue eyes and she was thawed out with her workers and her assistant Michael a great kid with a passion for helping people outside the base Jane is beautiful and sexy her assistant Michael was a great great grandson of Vice President Trevor Francis Greene a us army major witold is walking to the command Center or hq for short he summoned xerxes the Persian king I founded the famous military on earth eastern company an elite military and trading against the unholy demons created by the Great War and to help people who are in trouble

[pamphletstoinspire]

Saint Francis Borgia - Feast Day: October 10th - Latin Calendar

" I long for Jesus" - Saint Francis Borgia

Saint Francis Borgia, named for Francis of Assisi at his birth in 1510, was placed under the tutelage of his uncle, Archbishop of Saragossa, after the death of his mother when he was ten years old. Soon he had to go to the court of Spain, as he was destined to be one of the great lords of that nation. There he remained Christian, modest and virtuous. His noble and beautiful appearance soon brought upon him snares which he succeeded in escaping, setting for himself regimes of prayer and study to escape from the dangers. He wore a hair shirt, and never would enter into any of those games of chance which cause the loss not only of money but of time, the spirit of devotion, and peace of soul. The Empress arranged for him to marry Eleanor de Castro of Portugal, who like himself was very pious. They were blessed with eight children, five sons and three daughters, who continued to practice the virtue of their parents.

Having become the Duke of Gandia after his father’s death, he became one of the richest and most honored nobles in Spain. In 1539, there was laid upon him the sad duty of escorting the mortal remains of his once beautiful sovereign, the empress Isabella, who had died still young, to the royal burial ground at Granada. The coffin had to be opened for him, that he might verify the body before it was placed in the tomb; and so unrecognizable, so astonishing a sight met his eyes that he vowed never again to serve any earthly sovereign, subject to so drastic and terrible a change.

It was many years before he could follow the call of his Lord; the emperor named him Captain-General of Catalonia, and sent him to bring to justice a group of bandits who had ravaged the countryside. The poor found in him strong protection against oppression. Vices were banished by his ordinances; he endowed poor girls and assisted families ruined by misery and reversals; he delivered debtors from prisons by paying what they owed. He was in effect the very Christian Viceroy of the Emperor. Saint Francis was relieved of this duty when he asked the Emperor, after the death of his father, to return and govern his subjects at Gandia. In Gandia he again did much public good; he built monasteries, founded hospitals, helped the poor in every possible way. But suddenly, his wife was taken from him. He was told by God that this loss was for both his and her own advantage, and amid his tears he offered his own life and that of his children, if that would please the Eternal Master.

After making a retreat according to the Exercises of Saint Ignatius, under Blessed Peter Favre, he made the vows of a Jesuit privately until he could see to the establishment of his children. When he went to Rome with one of them, it was rumored he would be made a cardinal like two of his brothers. But he wished to avoid all dignities, and succeeded in doing so by leaving Rome as soon as possible. Saint Ignatius made him his Vicar General for Spain, Portugal, and the East Indies, and there was scarcely a city of Spain and Portugal where he did not establish colleges or houses of the Company of Jesus. At the death of Saint Ignatius two years later, the Order chose him to be its General. Then his journeys became countless; to narrate them all would be an impossibility.

The Turks were threatening Christendom, and Pope Saint Pius V commissioned two cardinal-legates to go and assemble the European Christian princes into a league for its defense. The holy Pope chose Francis to accompany one of the Cardinals and, worn out as he was, the Saint obeyed at once.

The fatigues of the embassy exhausted what little life was left to him. Saint Francis died in the same year as Saint Pius V, happy to do so in the service of God and the Church, when he returned to Rome in October, 1572.

Several works by Saint Francis Borgia have been published, the principal of these being a series of Exercises similar to the Exercitia Spiritualia of Loyola, and a treatise Rhetorica Concionandi.

The Opera Omnia were published at Brussels in 1675. His life was written by his confessor Pedro de Ribadeneira.

Reflection:

Francis Borgia learned the value of earthly grandeurs at the funeral of Queen Isabella. Do the deaths of friends teach us anything about what awaits us also?

Spiritual Bouquet:

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. II Cor. 9:6 Final Note:

When Saint Francis Borgia died in 1572, the same year as his great friend, Saint Pius V, who gave us the feast of the Most Holy Rosary.

Saint Francis Borgia’s last words as he was dying were, "I long for Jesus".

[nightbringer24]

The Stand of the Swiss Guard

The year is the Year of Our Lord 1527. In the escalating conflict between the French king, Francis I of the House of Valois and the German-Spanish Emperor, Charles V of the House of Hapsburg, almost the whole of Italy is at stake. By the choice of Pope Clement VII, the Holy See appealed to the French for aid to stop the Hapsburg dynasty controlling the Vatican, forming the League of Cognac, joining forces with the Kingdom of France, the Republic of Venice, the Duchy of Milan, the Republic of Florence and the Kingdom of England. Commanding the army of the Hapsburgs was the disgraced Constable of France, Charles de Bourbon, who led a combined force of German landsknechts and Spanish forces in to Italy. After a few initial victories against the forces of the League, the realities of Renaissance warfare came to the fore: the men under Imperial command were not being paid soon enough, and the focus of Charles V was focused on other matters of state to see them paid. Which made for some very angry men. Men with pikes, halberds, swords, bows and arquebuses. A VERY volatile mix. The common mercenary solider would not have been the most educated man in Europe at the time, but one thing was known to them: in the heart of Italy stood the single richest city in all of Christendom; the Vatican. Gold aplenty collected from the tithes for the Catholic church, the seat of the Papacy and all of it's cardinals, and it was virtually defenceless. The perfect target for plunder. With no intention to follow the orders of a man who had not seen them paid for several months, the commanders of the troops forced de Bourbon to take them to Rome and the Vatican. On the 5th of May, 1527, the Imperial forces, comprised of German landsknechts, Spanish soldiers and swelled by a number of Italian forces, Lutheran followers who saw the defenceless Vatican as the perfect target for the newly born Protestant religion and a number of your run of the mill bandits, nearly 20,000 men in total arrived at the city. Opposing them was 5,000 condottieri mercenaries backed by 500 Vatican militia, and 189 of the Swiss Guards of the Holy See. While the walls of the Vatican were tall and thick and topped with a large number of artillery, these did little to stem the tide of the attacking Imperial forces. During the initial attack on the wall, Charles de Bourbon was slain, his customary white cloak leaving him as an easy target to spot, and legend has it that he was brought low by the Florentine goldsmith, sculptor and artist, Benvenuto Cellini. With their leader slain and command taken by a very unpopular and ineffectual commander, Philibert of Chalon, the attackers rage was finally and fully let off it's leash. The walls of the city were taken and the attackers, as was almost customary for the time, turned the attention to the defenceless city and the loot that lay within. In a scene that would have easily resembled a scene from Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the captain of the Swiss Guard, Kaspar Roist, made his decision. He and his fellow Swiss had sworn an oath, an oath to defend the Pope, to defend the cardinals and to defend the home of Christendom itself when called upon. Arming themselves, they made their final prayers with God and the Saints, bade farewell to their families, as Kaspar Roist did, and charged in to battle against the attacking enemy. 189 against nearly 20,000. Though they fought with all the fury, all the fire and the skill they possessed, their small numbers lead to their downfall, and it was in a cemetery, the Campo Santo Teutonico (German Graveyard) that they made their stand, showing that fate has a twisted sense of humour. Captain Roist was wounded in the melee before, in full sight of his beloved wife, he was killed by Spanish soldiers. Breaking from the melee and joining the tide of refugees, the survivors of the fight ran to the steps of Saint Pete's Basilica. Their bloodied weapons still in hand and their bloodied red and yellow uniforms their death shrouds, the Guard did their best to stem the tide of advancing German and Spanish troops. With halberd and sword, they fought as well as Leonidas and his fellow Spartans did at the Hot Gates of Thermopylae, but once again, the numbers of the enemy proved too great and all but forty-two died, leaving the survivors to break through for one final action, and one last chance to fulfill their oaths. Under the command of Hercules Goldli, the forty-two survivors escorted Pope Clement VII along the Passetto di Borgo, towards Castel Sant'Angelo, fighting off any Hapsburg troops that had advanced that far, seeing to it that the life of the Pontif was saved. The population of Rome fell from 55,000 to just over 10,00. Churches were sacked and defiled, money was looted and plundered. Men were killed trying to defend their families and homes while women were raped and butchered by the Imperial soldiers. Swathes of the city were destroyed in the resulting inferno of the city, and the Pope was confined to Castel Sant'Angelo, a prisoner in his own city. The occupation of Rome continued for eight months until the food finally ran out, no-one important enough was left to ransom and the destruction and death in the city allowed the plague to take hold. While a sack on such a scale as the Sack of Rome would be a black mark on the banner of any guardsman or soldier, through the sacrifice of the Swiss Guard, their oath was fulfilled; the pontiff was saved and Christianity saved. Though they would be replaced with 200 German guardsmen, the Custodia Peditum Germanorum, in 1537 under Pope Paul III, the Swiss Guard would be reinstated as the defenders of the Papacy. It is because of their bravery, that every year, on the 6th of May, in the San Damaso Courtyard, dressed in virtually the same uniforms that their predecessors would have worn on that hot day centuries ago, new recruits are sworn in to once more act as defenders of the Pope, Catholicism and Christianity. While the Stand of the Swiss Guard and the Sack of Rome has not had much coverage in media outside of the written word, I do believe that a fitting tribute was created by the Swedish power metal Band, Sabaton, in their aptly title song, The Last Stand, which you can listen to here:

While the music itself may not be to everyone's tastes, I do very much believe that the lyrics, especially those for the final chorus are truly on point:

In the name of God! For the grace, for the might of our Lord, For the home of the holy. For the faith, for the way of the sword, Gave their lives so boldly. For the grace, for the might of our Lord, In the name of His glory, For the faith, for the way of the sword. Come and tell their story, Gave their lives so boldly. Come and tell the Swiss Guards’ story again!

[ineadhyn]

The fic about them: copper hearts

[soft--and--sweet]

I’ve been waiting FOREVER to post this! I’ve been keeping a list of every band/artist I started listening to this year, so here we go! (in order too)

Bands I started listening to in 2016:

(January) New Found Glory Joshua Radin Kevin Devine Allison Weiss Silverchair La Dispute Tiny Moving Parts Right Away, Great Captain Manchester Orchestra Xaiver's School For Gifted Youngsters Their / They're / There Bobby Meader Music Fireworks Being As An Ocean Bo Burnham Bad Books Margot and The Nuclear So and So's Toby Foster Turnover Foxing The Hotelier ----------------------------------------------- (February) Steam Powered Giraffe Catfish and The Bottlemen Letlive   Lucy Rose Steady Hands We Were Promised Jetpacks Phil Ochs Scott Walker Wind In Sails Wes Montgomery ---------------------------------- (March) Jeff Rosenstock Bomb The Music Industry! AJJ Flatbush Zombies Citizen Gaslight Anthem The American Scene Enter Shikari Architects --------------------------------------------------------- (April) Pet Symmetry Elliott Smith Laura Stevenson P.S Elliott Bonfires ---------------------------------------- (May) Johnny Hobo and The Freight Train Ghost Mice Paul Baribeau Bob Dylan Bat Country Days N' Daze The Wild The Manx Ramshackle Glory Mr.Irish Bastard Nana Grizol Devildriver Devil Makes Three Iron and Wine Chad Hates George Douglas Für   ------------------------------------------- (June) Frank Turner The Taxpayers Big D and The Kid's Table Against Me!   Little Tybee an Unkindness ----------------------------------- (July) Jonathan Coulton Peter Bradley Adams Boris Smile Chris Farren Garfunkel and Oats The Weepies ---------------------------------------- (August) FilthyFrank Liam the Younger Imaginary Cities American Football   Jesse Y Joy   ----------------------------- (September) PUP Da Vinci's Notebook   Lemon Demon Elvis Costello Dads Lil Dicky Gregory Alan Isakov A.A. Bondy Benjamin Francis Leftwich José González   Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Professor Elements Sufjan Stevens The Secret Sisters Band of Horses J Mascis Joyce Manor Mewithoutyou -------------------------------------- (October) Mischief Brew Harley Poe Blackbird Raum The Menzingers Toh Kay Fond Farewell Alice Walker Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution Bishop Allen Sage Francis Danny Schmidt The Ink Spots JPNSGRLS Milo Small Leaks Sink Ships Greydon Square Two Gallants Scroobius Pip Analog Rebellion Ben Folds Five Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground The Smith Street Band Tally Hall Cloud Cult ミラクルミュージカル Sledding With Tigers Barton Carroll Chuck Brodsky Rodrigo y Gabriela The Bombpops The Cog Is Dead The National The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die Julien Baker Just Nick Frank Zappa Kimya Dawson Amigo The Devil Cursive I Fight Dragons Forces Of Evil Julia Nunes Skyhill Madeline Streetlight Manifesto Windmills Wingnut Dishashwer's Union --------------------------------------------------- (November) Kendrick Lamar The Sound and Color Rotting Christ Roger Miller Jeffrey Lewis Adam Green The Prettiots Matt Pless The Jane Austen Arangement Why? ------------------------------------------------------------------ (December) All Humans Unwoman Cake Bake Betty Jayne Trimble Of Montreal Optimus Rhyme Lost Dog Street Band San Fermin Billy The Fridge Paul Simon The Eagles ---------------------------------------------------------------- Can’t wait to start a new list next year! ^^

[readersforum]

What to expect from Apple’s ‘Show Time’ event

New Post has been published on http://www.readersforum.tk/what-to-expect-from-apples-show-time-event/

What to expect from Apple’s ‘Show Time’ event

The biggest surprise about next week’s Apple event may be the fact that the company has anything left to announce. This week, several core pieces of Apple hardware received upgrades, including the iPad Air and mini, iMac and AirPods. Given the company’s rush to get all of that out the door, we don’t expect to see much in the way of new devices at Monday’s event.

Apple sent invites announcing that March 25 will be “Show Time.” The wording was a subtle nod to the “It’s Showtime” invites the company sent for its 2006 Special Event, which saw the announcement of, among other things iTV — an early peek at the product that would launch as Apple TV the following year.

This time out, however, the company is all about the services. Taking center stage will be its long-awaited original content play. Apple couldn’t keep the news fully under wraps as it pumped around $1 billion into content, so we’ve been hearing dribs and drabs over the past year or so (more on that below), including hiring everyone from Oprah to Spielberg.

Here’s a gif of the animation pic.twitter.com/YD3QZLi9Kf

— Matthew Panzarino (@panzer) March 11, 2019

The service is set to compete with the biggest names in streaming, including Amazon, Netflix and Hulu, along with long-rumored newcomers like Disney. Among the more compelling reports we’ve seen surface so far involve the company helping to sell you other streaming services.

In a sense, it wouldn’t be entirely unlike the current Apple TV model. Reports have the company building a new content store focused on offering bundles with cable services like HBO, Showtime and Starz. Put more simply, Apple may be looking to disrupt cable TV by essentially becoming a cable TV provider. Its tremendous hardware outreach will play a major role in helping it gain a toehold — like Apple Music before it.

As for the original content, it’s not clear whether Apple plans to monetize these shows at all. Instead, reports suggest that it could make them available for free to viewers with an Apple device.

Here are all of the projects that have been revealed so far. Keep in mind that they’re in various stages of development, and, as such, may change dramatically or never see the light of day.

“Amazing Stories” — a reboot of the science fiction anthology series executive produced (in both its old and new versions) by Steven Spielberg.

“Are You Sleeping?” — a crime show about true crime podcasts, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and starring Octavia Spencer.

“Calls” — an adaptation of a French short-form series emphasizing audio storytelling.

“Central Park” — an animated musical comedy from Loren Bouchard (creator of “Bob’s Burger”), as well as Josh Gad and Nora Smith.

“Defending Jacob” — a thriller adapted from William Landay’s novel, starring Chris Evans.

“Dickinson” — a coming-of-age series about the poet Emily Dickinson, starring Hailee Steinfeld.

“For All Mankind” — a space race-themed science fiction series from Ronald D. Moore, who created the acclaimed reboot of “Battlestar Galactica.”

“Foundation” — an adaptation of the classic science fiction series by Isaac Asimov, with David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman as showrunners.

“Home” — a documentary series about extraordinary homes.

“Little America” — an immigrant-themed anthology series showrun by Lee Eisenberg (“The Office”) and Alan Yang (“Master of None”).

“Little Voice” — a romantic dramedy executive produced by J.J. Abrams and the creative team behind the “Waitress” musical, Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson.

“Losing Earth” — a series based on Nathaniel Rich’s New York Times magazine story and book about the history of climate activism.

“Magic Hour” — a mystery series inspired by the real-life story of Hilde Lysiak, executive produced and directed by Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”).

“My Glory Was I Had Such Friends” — a series that reunites J.J. Abrams and Jennifer Garner (Garner will star, and both will executive produce), based on the Amy Silverstein memoir of the same name.

“Pachinko” — a series based on the Min Jin Lee novel, a multi-generational saga about a Korean family.

“See” — a science fiction drama written by Steven Knight (“Peaky Blinders”) and directed by Francis Lawrence (multiple “Hunger Games” sequels).

“Shantaram” — A series based on the novel by Gregory David Robert, about a man who escapes from an Australian prison and ends up in Bombay.

“Swagger” — a scripted series inspired by basketball star Kevin Durant’s life.

“The Morning Show” — a drama about the world of morning TV, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell.

“Time Bandits” — a reboot of the cult classic Terry Gilliam film, co-written and directed by Taika Waititi.

Untitled Brie Larson series — a show featuring the “Captain Marvel” star, based on the real-life experiences of undercover CIA operative Amaryllis Fox.

Untitled Colleen McGuinness series — a comedy series inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection “You Think It, I’ll Say It.”

Untitled Damien Chazelle series — not much is known about the content of the series, but the “La La Land” director is expected to write and direct every episode of the first season.

Untitled M. Night Shyamalan series — a thriller written by Tony Basgallop, with Shyamalan directing the first episode and executive producing.

Untitled Oprah projects — Oprah Winfrey has signed a multi-year partnership to produce original content for Apple, though what kinds of content remains to be seen.

Untitled Snoopy series — a short-form series starring Snoopy and focused on STEM, which is part of a larger “Peanuts” deal between Apple and Canadian broadcaster DHX Media.

Untitled Richard Gere series — a drama based on the Israeli show “Nevelot.”

Untitled Rob McElhenny/Charlie Day series — a comedy from the team behind “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” with McElhenny playing an employee at a video game studio.

Untitled Simon Kinberg/David Weil series — a science fiction series co-written by Kinberg, a longtime writer and producer of “X-Men” movies.

That will no doubt monopolize the majority of the event, but Apple could well have some surprises up its sleeve. The leading contender for a second announcement is the company’s long-rumored subscription news service. As with its movie/TV plans, Apple’s reportedly been talking to a number of different publishers to launch what some are referring to as a “Netflix for News,” which would expand on its acquisition of digital magazine app Texture.

Reports have noted, however, that many outlets are less than thrilled about revenue share that would come with the service’s paid tier. Still, some big publishers, including The Wall Street Journal, are said to already be on-board for launch.

A third major rumor finds the company launching a consumer credit card through a partnership with Goldman Sachs. The investment giant’s CEO is reportedly planning to attend the event in order to launch a co-branded card.

Everything kicks off at 10am Pacific on Monday, March 25. TechCrunch will be on-hand to bring you the news as it breaks.

[toomanysinks]

What to expect from Apple’s ‘Show Time’ event

The biggest surprise about next week’s Apple event may be the fact that the company has anything left to announce. This week, several core pieces of Apple hardware received upgrades, including the iPad Air and mini, iMac and AirPods. Given the company’s rush to get all of that out the door, we don’t expect to see much in the way of new devices at Monday’s event.

Apple sent invites announcing that March 25 will be “Show Time.” The wording was a subtle nod to the “It’s Showtime” invites the company sent for its 2006 Special Event, which saw the announcement of, among other things iTV — an early peek at the product that would launch as Apple TV the following year.

This time out, however, the company is all about the services. Taking center stage will be its long-awaited original content play. Apple couldn’t keep the news fully under wraps as it pumped around $1 billion into content, so we’ve been hearing dribs and drabs over the past year or so (more on that below), including hiring everyone from Oprah to Spielberg.

Here's a gif of the animation pic.twitter.com/YD3QZLi9Kf

— Matthew Panzarino (@panzer) March 11, 2019

The service is set to compete with the biggest names in streaming, including Amazon, Netflix and Hulu, along with long-rumored newcomers like Disney. Among the more compelling reports we’ve seen surface so far involve the company helping to sell you other streaming services.

In a sense, it wouldn’t be entirely unlike the current Apple TV model. Reports have the company building a new content store focused on offering bundles with cable services like HBO, Showtime and Starz. Put more simply, Apple may be looking to disrupt cable TV by essentially becoming a cable TV provider. Its tremendous hardware outreach will play a major role in helping it gain a toehold — like Apple Music before it.

As for the original content, it’s not clear whether Apple plans to monetize these shows at all. Instead, reports suggest that it could make them available for free to viewers with an Apple device.

Here are all of the projects that have been revealed so far. Keep in mind that they’re in various stages of development, and, as such, may change dramatically or never see the light of day.

“Amazing Stories” — a reboot of the science fiction anthology series executive produced (in both its old and new versions) by Steven Spielberg.

“Are You Sleeping?” — a crime show about true crime podcasts, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and starring Octavia Spencer.

“Calls” — an adaptation of a French short-form series emphasizing audio storytelling.

“Central Park” — an animated musical comedy from Loren Bouchard (creator of “Bob’s Burger”), as well as Josh Gad and Nora Smith.

“Defending Jacob” — a thriller adapted from William Landay’s novel, starring Chris Evans.

“Dickinson” — a coming-of-age series about the poet Emily Dickinson, starring Hailee Steinfeld.

“For All Mankind” — a space race-themed science fiction series from Ronald D. Moore, who created the acclaimed reboot of “Battlestar Galactica.”

“Foundation” — an adaptation of the classic science fiction series by Isaac Asimov, with David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman as showrunners.

“Home” — a documentary series about extraordinary homes.

“Little America” — an immigrant-themed anthology series showrun by Lee Eisenberg (“The Office”) and Alan Yang (“Master of None”).

“Little Voice” — a romantic dramedy executive produced by J.J. Abrams and the creative team behind the “Waitress” musical, Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson.

“Losing Earth” — a series based on Nathaniel Rich’s New York Times magazine story and book about the history of climate activism.

“Magic Hour” — a mystery series inspired by the real-life story of Hilde Lysiak, executive produced and directed by Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”).

“My Glory Was I Had Such Friends” — a series that reunites J.J. Abrams and Jennifer Garner (Garner will star, and both will executive produce), based on the Amy Silverstein memoir of the same name.

“Pachinko” — a series based on the Min Jin Lee novel, a multi-generational saga about a Korean family.

“See” — a science fiction drama written by Steven Knight (“Peaky Blinders”) and directed by Francis Lawrence (multiple “Hunger Games” sequels).

“Shantaram” — A series based on the novel by Gregory David Robert, about a man who escapes from an Australian prison and ends up in Bombay.

“Swagger” — a scripted series inspired by basketball star Kevin Durant’s life.

“The Morning Show” — a drama about the world of morning TV, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell.

“Time Bandits” — a reboot of the cult classic Terry Gilliam film, co-written and directed by Taika Waititi.

Untitled Brie Larson series — a show featuring the “Captain Marvel” star, based on the real-life experiences of undercover CIA operative Amaryllis Fox.

Untitled Colleen McGuinness series — a comedy series inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection “You Think It, I’ll Say It.”

Untitled Damien Chazelle series — not much is known about the content of the series, but the “La La Land” director is expected to write and direct every episode of the first season.

Untitled M. Night Shyamalan series — a thriller written by Tony Basgallop, with Shyamalan directing the first episode and executive producing.

Untitled Oprah projects — Oprah Winfrey has signed a multi-year partnership to produce original content for Apple, though what kinds of content remains to be seen.

Untitled Snoopy series — a short-form series starring Snoopy and focused on STEM, which is part of a larger “Peanuts” deal between Apple and Canadian broadcaster DHX Media.

Untitled Richard Gere series — a drama based on the Israeli show “Nevelot.”

Untitled Rob McElhenny/Charlie Day series — a comedy from the team behind “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” with McElhenny playing an employee at a video game studio.

Untitled Simon Kinberg/David Weil series — a science fiction series co-written by Kinberg, a longtime writer and producer of “X-Men” movies.

That will no doubt monopolize the majority of the event, but Apple could well have some surprises up its sleeve. The leading contender for a second announcement is the company’s long-rumored subscription news service. As with its movie/TV plans, Apple’s reportedly been talking to a number of different publishers to launch what some are referring to as a “Netflix for News,” which would expand on its acquisition of digital magazine app Texture.

Reports have noted, however, that many outlets are less than thrilled about revenue share that would come with the service’s paid tier. Still, some big publishers, including The Wall Street Journal, are said to already be on-board for launch.

A third major rumor finds the company launching a consumer credit card through a partnership with Goldman Sachs. The investment giant’s CEO is reportedly planning to attend the event in order to launch a co-branded card.

Everything kicks off at 10am Pacific on Monday, March 25. TechCrunch will be on-hand to bring you the news as it breaks.

source https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/22/apple-show-time-preview/

[fmservers]

What to expect from Apple’s ‘Show Time’ event

The biggest surprise about next week’s Apple event may be the fact that the company has anything left to announce. This week, several core pieces of Apple hardware received upgrades, including the iPad Air and Mini, iMac and AirPods. Given the company’s rush to get all of that out the door, we don’t expect to see much in the way of new devices at Monday’s event.

Apple sent invites announcing that March 25 will be “Show Time.” The wording was a subtle nod the the “It’s Showtime” invites the company sent for its 2006 Special Event, which saw the announcement of, among other things iTV — an early peek at the product that would launch as Apple TV the following year.

This time out, however, the company is all about the services. Taking center stage will be its long-awaited original content play. Apple couldn’t keep the news fully under wraps as it pumped around $1 billion into content, so we’ve been hearing dribs and drabs over the past year or so (more on that below), including hiring everyone from Oprah to Spielberg.

Here's a gif of the animation pic.twitter.com/YD3QZLi9Kf

— Matthew Panzarino (@panzer) March 11, 2019

The service is set to compete with the biggest names in streaming, including Amazon, Netflix and Hulu, along with long-rumored newcomers like Disney. Among the more compelling reports we’ve seen surface so far involve the company helping to sell you other streaming services.

In a sense, it wouldn’t be entirely unlike the current Apple TV model. Reports have the company building a new content store focused on offering bundles with cable services like HBO, Showtime and Starz. Put more simply, Apple may be looking to disrupt cable TV by essentially becoming a cable TV provider. Its tremendous hardware outreach will play a major role in helping it gain a toehold — like Apple Music before it.

As for the original content, it’s not clear whether Apple plans to monetize these shows at all. Instead, reports suggest that it could make them available for free to viewers with an Apple device.

Here are all of the projects that have been revealed so far. Keep in mind that that they’re in various stages of development, and as such may change dramatically or never see the light of day.

“Amazing Stories” — a reboot of the science fiction anthology series executive produced (in both its old and new versions) by Steven Spielberg.

“Are You Sleeping?” — a crime show about true crime podcasts, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and starring Octavia Spencer.

“Calls” — an adaptation of a French short-form series emphasizing audio storytelling.

“Central Park” — an animated musical comedy from Loren Bouchard (creator of “Bob’s Burger”), as well as Josh Gad and Nora Smith.

“Defending Jacob” — a thriller adapted from William Landay’s novel, starring Chris Evans.

“Dickinson” — a coming-of-age series about the poet Emily Dickinson, starring Hailee Steinfeld.

“For All Mankind” — a space race-themed science fiction series from Ronald D. Moore, who created the acclaimed reboot of “Battlestar Galactica.”

“Foundation” — an adaptation of the classic science fiction series by Isaac Asimov, with David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman as showrunners.

“Home” — a documentary series about extraordinary homes.

“Little America” — an immigrant-themed anthology series showrun by Lee Eisenberg (“The Office”) and Alan Yang (“Master of None”).

“Little Voice” — a romantic dramedy executive produced by J.J. Abrams and the creative team behind the “Waitress” musical, Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson.

“Losing Earth” — a series based on Nathaniel Rich’s New York Times magazine story and book about the history of climate activism.

“Magic Hour” — a mystery series inspired by the real-life story of Hilde Lysiak, executive produced and directed by Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”).

“My Glory Was I Had Such Friends” — a series that reunites J.J. Abrams and Jennifer Garner (Garner will star, and both will executive produced), based on the Amy Silverstein memoir of the same name.

“Pachinko” — a series based on the Min Jin Lee novel, a multi-generational saga about a Korean family.

“See” — a science fiction drama written by Steven Knight (“Peaky Blinders”) and directed by Francis Lawrence (multiple “Hunger Games” sequels).

“Shantaram” — A series based on the novel by Gregory David Robert, about a man who escapes from an Australian prison and ends up in Bombay.

“Swagger” — a scripted series inspired by basketball star Kevin Durant’s life.

“The Morning Show” — a drama about the world of morning TV, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell.

“Time Bandits” — a reboot of the cult classic Terry Gilliam film, co-written and directed by Taika Waititi.

Untitled Brie Larson series — a show featuring the “Captain Marvel” star, based on the real-life experiences of undercover CIA operative Amaryllis Fox.

Untitled Colleen McGuinness series — a comedy series inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection “You Think It, I’ll Say It.”

Untitled Damien Chazelle series — not much is known about the content of the series, but the “La La Land” director is expected to write and direct every episode of the first season.

Untitled M. Night Shyamalan series — a thriller written by Tony Basgallop, with Shyamalan directing the first episode and executive producing.

Untitled Oprah projects — Oprah Winfrey has signed a multi-year partnership to produce original content for Apple, though what kinds of content remains to be seen.

Untitled Snoopy series — a short-form series starring Snoopy and focused on STEM, which is part of a larger “Peanuts” deal between Apple and Canadian broadcaster DHX Media.

Untitled Richard Gere series — a drama based on the Israeli show “Nevelot.”

Untitled Rob McElhenny/Charlie Day series — a comedy from the team behind “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” with McElhenny playing an employee at a video game studio.

Untitled Simon Kinberg/David Weil series — a science fiction series co-written by Kinberg, a longtime writer and producer of “X-Men” movies.

That will no doubt monopolize the majority of the event, but Apple could well have some surprises up its sleeve. The leading contender for a second announcement is the company’s long-rumored subscription news service. As with its movie/TV plans, Apple’s reportedly been talking to a number of different publishers to launch what some are referring to as a “Netflix for News,” which would expand on its acquisition of digital magazine app Texture.

Reports have noted, however, that many outlets are less than thrilled about revenue share that would come with the services paid tier. Still, some big publishers, including The Wall Street Journal, are said to already be on-board for launch.

A third major rumor finds the company launching a consumer credit card through a partnership with Goldman Sachs. The investment giant’s CEO is reportedly planning to attend the event in order to launch a co-branded card.

Everything kicks off at 10am Pacific on Monday, March 25. TechCrunch will be on-hand to bring you the news as it breaks.

Via Brian Heater https://techcrunch.com