#have faith folks - the world is going to change very soon

[aviewfromtheclouds25]

I was shown this vision several months ago of the chaos and destruction still to come in the world and shared it on my previous Facebook page as a warning that things on this planet would continue to grow darker still, but that we each have the choice whether to act through love or fear. This illusion of a society is designed to make you fear everything. The dark forces in this world control humanity through fear. But fear isn't real. This society and all its systems aren't real. The dark forces created them, not God or any other name you give to the original source and creator of our universe. They created these systems to enslave humanity, to make people forget who they are inside. Through fear, hate, brainwashing and so many other ways. And all of them go against love. Love for ourselves as well as each other. And love is the ONLY truth. LOVE is what sets you free. But it is always our own choice, whether to choose love over fear. As I was shown in my vision... May we all remember to choose love; in all ways, always. <3

~

I saw “The End Times”

But it was not the End of Time.

The Lord showed me great towers crumbling to the ground

Just as some had fallen before,

But He wanted me to remember that in the cycle of life

When the Tower falls, that is when the World will begin anew once more.

But as I watched this vision of destruction,

A charcoal blanket of smoke and ash erased the sky,

And day gave way to dark, dark night.

And the people panicked as they fought to breathe,

And they pushed their brothers aside as they ran through the streets.

I saw the flames and the chaos and the riots,

I saw how the people turned on each other with sickening violence.

I saw the raging fire of Babylon,

I saw the Dark “Angels” who had long ago Fallen.

Consumed by the smoke and fire of their own creation,

I saw them seek to drag the people into their devastation.

As their bodies began to waste away, I watched the venom spill from their mouths,

Filthy black tar flying through the air and claiming the innocent.

I watched young children weep over the mothers who had sought to protect them.

I heard the world grieving.

I feel a world grieving.

“Do not be afraid”, I wanted to cry,

But my voice could not carry through the burning ash that claimed the sky.

Would that I could have implored humanity to not give into fear,

For the fear is how the Fallen Ones brought us to the darkness here.

And amidst the Armageddon, I heard a call from a small group of watchers like me

Who had found safe haven in the shelter of a large rock by a tree.

And together we stood and watched the world turn to ash,

And I wondered what it would take for humanity to turn back;

Away from fear, and back to their hearts,

Had they not turned on each other, could this rock have been that start?

Because the Prophecies had come and the Dark Ones had fallen for real,

But they had taught humanity fear and hate, and it was by these this fate was sealed.

Do not give into fear, I hear my soul cry,

Because fear is the darkness which allows day to be stolen by night.

Do not give into fear,

Hold onto the love in your heart.

Have faith, the sun will rise again

And this world will be free from the dark.

Do not give into fear,

Fear feeds the dark,

Remember your humanity is the Light inside of your own heart.

I saw “The End Times”;

But it was not the End

Of Time.

~ Written by Lullabies of Venus (my Facebook page).

[marihoneywk]

Duty and Flames

Ser Criston Cole x targaryen original female character

Summary:

Daenys Velaryon, oldest daughter of Rhaenyra Targaryen and, allegedly, Ser Laenor Velaryon.

Hair white like moon, eyes bright like the sun. Many say that she’s the copy of her mother in her younger years, with an ethereal beauty and a kind but wild soul.

After six years in Dragonstone, Rhaenyra and her family have to travel back to Kings Landing to secure Lucerys position as heir to Driftmark. What happens when the chaotic members of the Targaryen family reunite again and a particular Lord Commander of the Kingsguard takes a more dark interest in the sweet Daenys?

Chapter 1 - Of memories and changes

The roads of Kings Landing were just as Daenys remembered it. Dirty, with excrements laying around as if they were flowers. The smell was so strong that she had to close the small window in the carriage. 

“How is this piece of shit the kings home?” Lucerys asked not remembering very well the details of the city that saw him came into this world. 

“Here is awful but in the keep its all clean and smells like freshly washed sheets. That’s what matters to the council in the end.” During the time that she lived in Red Keep, not once did Daenys witnessed the council caring about the small folk or even their living conditions. They were just numbers who only were relevant when someone forgot to pay their taxes or when the crime rates were too high and it started to get hard to put so many men in the dungeons. 

The carriage lurched and Daenys had to brace Jace’s arms in order to prevent her into falling on the floor or on top of Luke, who was in front of her.

“Careful sister, you almost hit my jaw with your elbow.” Jacaerys laughed and helped his sister sit properly on her seat.

Daenys had hit her knee on the wood of the seat and made a small noise of pain thar her brothers didn’t notice. An obvious bruise in the knee would appear in a day.

“Look, we’re here! I can see the gates already!” Luke pointed and the three siblings looked together through the small gaps of the carriage and saw the red gates of the castle. 

The gates opened and just after that, the two carriages that transported Daenys and her family, started to slow down and then stoped in the yard. 

Rhaenyra came out of her carriage, with Daemon and Joffrey behind her, and with the nursemaids that held the babes, Aegon and Viserys, following. The door to Daenys’s carriage open and she, Jacaerys and Lucerys got up and stepped into the ground as well.

As all the family members got out, they noticed an unusual but relevant detail. The lack of a proper reception to the heir to the Iron Throne. 

Daenys heard Daemon laugh, expect it wasn’t in a funny way and was more in a “been in here for one minute and already want to strangle the Hightowers” way.

The only person who was outside to greet them was Lord Caswell. “Welcome back princess. I’m sorry for the small reception but a lot is going on in the castle at moment, so we couldn’t find time to prepare.” 

Rhaenyra gave a yellow smile to Lord Caswell, pretending that she believed in his words and that the humiliating welcoming to the heir to the throne was not made on purpose. 

Daenys and Jace exchanged glances, communicating their feelings about this weird greeting with their eyes. 

“Please follow me your grace, and the maids will show you, your lord husband and your children the way to your respective chambers.” The family followed Lord Caswell and as soon as they entered the walls of the Red Keep they notice how everything had changed. 

The sigils of House Targaryen were no longer a statement in the the walls, and had been replaced with the symbol of the Seven Pointed Star. A clear change made by Alicent Hightower, a faithful women who didn’t understand the ways of the Targaryen culture.

“I would say its nice to be home but I scarcely recognize it.” Rhaenyra confessed and Daenys couldn´t agree more with her mother.

Being the eldest child, she was the one with more memories of the castle, but the current decoration of the Red Keep did hardly anything to relieve her childhood. The few minutes that she had spent inside the castle since her family’s arrival, had not brough the sweet sentiment of being home that she thought would feel.

“Children please go set yourselves in your chambers, while me and Daemon go visit the King.” Rhaenyra asked, as she also murmured to the nursemaids to bring little Viserys and Aegon with them.

Daenys nodded, obeying her mother’s request and took Joffrey’s hand in hers and began walking to their old rooms, with her other two brothers just behind her.

“Almost looks like we’re in the Sept.” Lucerys was still looking around, observing all the changes made in the castle. “If Alicent could, she would kill all the dragons and made us ride seven pointed stars.” He laughed and Jacaerys joined him.

“Shhh! Don´t say that, someone might hear you! The Hand and the Queen have ears and eyes everywhere.” Daenys could almost punch her brothers for speaking so freely about Alicent while they were still in the corridors of the castle. “We’re not in Dragonstone anymore. It´s been six years since we were here, and we don’t know the people who surround us anymore. Don’t forget that the main reason for our travel is to secure Lucerys’s position as heir to Driftmark, so please be careful brothers.” Her siblings laughs came to a stop once she started lecturing them, and the regret in Lucerys’s eyes was visible as he understood the danger of joking around in the keep.

Daenys knew how unpleasant these weeks in Kings Landing would be. Their family didn´t view them as equals, with the word “bastards” always in the point of their tongues. She also knew how difficult the relationship between Alicent and her mother was. Even if Rhaenyra had never spoken directly with her daughter about it, Daenys could read between the lines and notice the awkward stares and conversations the two women shared, since she started to understood the ways of the royalty.

The Velaryon children had finally reached their chambers, and Daenys gave Joffrey to one of his nursemaids and entered alone in her childhood bedroom.

Thankfully, the changes made by Alicent had not reached her room and everything was the same. The bed in the middle of the space with a beige dossel that went from the ceiling to the floor, the dark brown dressing table with a mirror on the left that reflected the image of her bed, and the fireplace that brought memories of her and Jacaerys reading together in front of it in the coldest days.

However, the favourite thing about her room was the window that showed a large view of Blackwater Bay and that would light the entire space from the early morning till very last second of the sunset. Daenys used to seat on a chair near the window and watched the sea move itself, observing the ships departing and arriving.

A knock on the door interrupted her small moment of nostalgia and she went to open it just to reveal Luke and Jace.

“Me and Luke and are going to training yard. Do you want to come with us?” The oldest of the boys asked.

“Are you going to train already? We only just arrived.” Daenys responded, not wanting her brothers to tired themselves so soon, knowing that they were probably sore from the ride in their dragons, even if wasn’t that long of a distance.

“No, we’re just going there to see if the mark made by Luke on the wall it’s still there, and also because we want see our old weapons. “ He stated exchanging excited glances with Lucerys. “Please come with us and don’t stay in your room all day hiding from Aegon.” Jacearys grabbed his sister’s hand and pushed her with them through the corridor.

“I’m not hiding from Aegon! In fact, his presence didn´t even crossed my mind! Not even for a second.” She argued.

Daenys and Aegon used to be very close. Practically best friends. They pulled many pranks together and were like two little nightmares always ready to create chaos in the castle. They used to stole cakes from the kitchen and throw pillows at the knights from the balconies of the keep. This lasted until the day Aegon discovered wine, and since them, his passion for playing and spending time with Daenys was replaced with more dirty hobbies, such as getting himself drunk and chasing around women. Daenys got tired of begging for his attention and learned how to have fun by herself, since she also didn’t like the games that Luke and Jace played, and Helaena was too different for her to understand. She tried befriending Aemond but he was a loner and denied pretty much all her invites to play.

“If you say so.” Jace shrug his shoulders.

Daenys tried to forget the matter, focusing only on walking to the training yard, but now that her brother had put Aegon in her thoughts, she quickly became anxious and wanted to turn around to go hide in her room like Jace had suggest.

“It looks smaller that I remember.” Luke said as soon as they arrived to the yard and Jace argued that it actually looked the exact same. Daenys didn’t really had opinion on the matter, since she rarely spent time there when they lived in keep. She appreciated reading and cross stitching with her Speta instead, being more fan of calm activities.

As soon as three siblings set foot in the training yard, Daenys could feel the looks of others in her skin, and she notice that Lucerys felt the same. Six years had passed since Rhaenyra’s children were last seen by members of the court, but those were not looks of curiosity. She could recognize some of ladies that eyed them, remembering how much they liked gossiping. In a matter of hours, their opinions about the looks of the three siblings would be completely spread through the castle, and she knew it wouldn’t be nice and kind ones.

“Everyone’s starring at us.” Luke said with sad eyes.“No one would question me being heir to Driftmark if I looked more like Ser Laenor Velaryon than Ser Harwin Strong.”

Daenys immediately turned to her younger brother and put her hands in his shoulders in a comforting way. “Please ignore their stares and their words Luke. You are the legitimate heir to Driftmark. Even if you don´t share physical similarities with Ser Laenor, you are the boy he raised and loved. No one is more suited for this than you. “She smiled at him, ruffled his hair lovingly and then planted a kiss on his forehead, trying to make the boy feel better.

Lucerys was a boy of four and ten, but he never denied his sister’s affection, like the boys of his age did. He had a very strong connection with his sister and mother, so he adored when Daenys comforted him, or randomly just hugged him. He knew the role of women in their society, so he wanted to lean into his sister’s love before it was to late and she had to move away from their family to go live with some lord.

The cheers of a crowd attracted their attention and the three of them turned to see what occurred in the training yard.

A long blonde hair was moving in the air, as the person who the hair belonged to moved effortlessly from the blows of a knight. Immediately not only Daenys, but also Lucerys and Jacaerys, recognize the men who trained. Their uncle Aemond, and Ser Criston Cole.

Aemond was very different from the child he once was, now being almost tall as Daemon and with evident muscles from all his hard training. The eye patch was also a very prominent aspect in his new form, and Daenys couldn’t stop herself from looking nervously at Luke.

Aemond was really impressive. She couldn’t remember seeing someone so young and with that much skill. The little and shy boy from her childhood was now a man who did not fear the sharpness of a sword, and fired back with smart but fast blows.

However, her eyes also stopped to look at Ser Criston’s figure. He appeared older, with some visible wrinkles near his eyes as he made some faces during the fight, but at same time, he still looked exactly like the man Daenys used to see daily around the keep six years ago. Now that she was a woman of age and had more maturity, she couldn’t deny the beauty in Ser Criston Cole, even with all that sweat. His dornish features looked more appealing than ever, especially as the sun shine directly above him.

Ser Criston was also old enough to be her father, and had too close of a relationship with Alicent, so she quickly wiped these thoughts of her head.

When Daenys turned her focus on the fight again, it had already come to an end, with Aemond winning and showing clearly to everyone in the training yard his brilliant abilities as a fighter.

“Nephews, have you come to train? Or are you going to hide under your older sister’s skirts?” Aemond’s voice interrupted the conversations in the yard and Daenys locked eyes with him as soon as he mentioned her brothers. Aemond took his time and observed his niece carefully, noticing her also evident changes. She looked more tall as well, and her blonde hair was longer and wavier, touching her lower back almost like a cloak. Her body was also curvier, with the bump of her bottom and the swell of her breasts visible, even beneath the conservative dress that Daenys wore due to being more comfortable for dragon rides.

As Aemond had focus his attention on Daenys, so had Ser Criston, even if it was in a more discreet way. Last time he saw her she was a child of one and ten, and now in front of him he had a whole woman.

Ser Criston made a sound with his throat as he took in her similarities with Rhaenyra, the woman he once had been in love, and that rejected and humiliated him.

Daenys Velaryon shared absolutely nothing with her suppose father, Ser Laenor Velaryon, stealing all the traits from her mother. The hair, the cheeks, the lips and the eyes. Ser Criston Cole swore he was seeing young Rhaenyra in front of him once again. The only clear difference between her and Rhaenyra, was her height, and without realizing Ser Criston suddenly started to imagine the longs legs that were hidden under Daenys’s black dress.

Were her legs pale and thin like her mother’s? How would her eyes look like under the light of a few candles in her chambers? Did she smelled like lemon cake just like Rhaenyra used to? Or did she preferred the scent of jasmines and other flowers?

What sounds would she make as he kissed her neck? Would she touch his back with her nails just like Rhaenyra in that one time they spent together?

Ser Criston couldn’t believe in his own thoughts. He had been a good knight in those six years, loyal to the Queen like he was her dog. He wouldn’t let Rhaenyra ruin him again. Even if it wasn’t her, it was her bloodline that stood in front of him. With a sweet little face that could made the most religious man sin. He hated her already.

Rhaenyra’s family had only just arrived but Criston couldn´t wait for their departure as the simple presence of Daenys in the training yard was making him relive some memories he didn’t want to remember, and was awaking a side of him that he only wished would stay hidden.

Next chapter

Note

I want to read all of your opinions about this chapter and if you find any grammatical mistakes please comment so I can write it correctly. English is not my first language so I’m a little nervous writing this 🥲

Tomorrow I’m going to work on the second chapter and try to publish it as soon as I can.

Also, if you read the summary that I posted almost a month ago, yes I did change the title of the story.

Mari xx

[redhillconfetti]

Blog Post 06-01-23

Confetti

Well, another week has come and gone, and as the working hours of Friday float away, my mind goes to think of Confetti fluttering on the wind.

The act of throwing confetti comes from Northern Italy in the middle ages, however it was far from pleasant, with anything from old leaves to rotten eggs launched at noble folk as they made their way through town. Over time this changed to the nobles tossing small sweets from their carriages at the common folk, many of which were Sugared Almonds or Coriander Seeds. The almonds are known as ‘Confetti’, and this is how the name came to be. In the late 1800s the first recorded instance of throwing paper confetti came into place in Paris on New Years Eve, and from there the tradition of throwing paper confetti during a celebration stuck.

Confetti is what started it all for Redhill Confetti. Ten years ago when I was planning my own wedding, I knew I wanted a vintage style theme for decor and such, and having seen some mass produced paper confetti online for a considerable price I knew I could not only make it myself, but do it much more economically. So armed with an old romance novel and a heart shaped hole punch, I spent many an evening in the run up to our big day simply punching paper hearts out of the torn sheets of the novel.

With the wedding over and the honeymoon a long and distant memory, we were still left with a large box of confetti, and rather than throw it away I bagged it up and put it on Ebay. Within a couple of days it had all sold, with people messaging me to ask if I had any more. An idea formed in the back of our minds and at that point the starting blocks of Redhill Confetti were set into place.

Our very first made-to-order product was actually Fifty Shades of Grey confetti, with the book series at the height of its popularity, people loved the idea of delicate small paper hearts fluttering down around them, only for Great Aunt Maud to spot a rather salacious word or two as they settle. With all our copies sourced second hand from charity shops or just given to us where people had heard of us through word of mouth, for a good 18 months we were inundated with those books, before expanding into other titles with everything from fairy tales to golf manuals. Sheet music was another very popular design, with this being very easy to get hold of and always looked beautiful with its aged paper.

When the time came to start a family, the business had been quietly ticking by in the background and in the summer of 2014 I quit my full time job as a logistics coordinator and made a go of the business full time. At the same time I discovered I was pregnant, and in a huge leap of faith I stuck to my plans and finished at the shipping company to work full time in the wedding business. This was by far the scariest but also the best decision I have ever made. With the time and clarity that came with that resignation, I was able to source a UK manufacturer for our Seed Paper, and found the oldest mechanised papermill in the world right here in the South of England.

The seed paper confetti was a huge hit. Handmade from recycled paper pulp, with wildflower seeds actually in the fibres of the paper, we soon found this product so popular we were sourcing at wholesale levels, all whilst hand punching every single piece individually. It certainly gives our arms a workout, though we haven’t yet considered any arm wrestling tournaments.

In 2018 we were offered the chance to stock Forget-me-not seed paper in addition to the wildflower, which has become very well known in the Funeral trade, with the idea of planting new life whilst remembering those that have passed being a timely reminder of how much we miss our loved ones. We now supply numerous charities and NHS Trusts with these seed paper shapes so they can include these small tokens in memorial boxes.

Throughout the pandemic with the restrictions in place for gatherings, many people came to us for seed paper memorial pieces, and I can now imagine there is a new crop of flowering blooms that appear in the memory of those no longer with us.

Now with the pandemic a long way behind us (hopefully), I look to the future to where we can develop confetti supply and what we can offer. At the tail end of 2022 I was lucky enough to be contacted by a local family whose music teacher Aunt had passed away after over 70 years of teaching piano to local families, and with that had amassed a huge collection of sheet music. They were going to simply send the whole lot to the recycling centre before someone put them in touch with me, and three full car loads later my workshop is now full floor to ceiling with music books dating back to the 1930s. With this we are looking to ramp up production of sheet music confetti, with new cutting tools arriving this week.

Well that’s it for another week, the new year settles into place with lots of exciting new things in the works for 2023.

Enjoy your weekends!

Simone

[spaceguylewis]

Day two of Horizon Base Jams, the single artist playlist!

I chose the Killers — again, very predictable — because there's just something about their discography that hits that perfect desert scrubland vibe that comprises so much of the Horizon landscape.

As for the theme of the playlist, I was very very self indulgent again and picked a song from each of their albums (excluding Pressure Machine) that has that good old Avad/Aloy energy. Explanations for the choices under the cut!

First up, All These Things That I've Done! I pictured this as a call-and-response kind of song between the two of them, particularly the bridge. Of course, there are a few lines here and there that I immediately pinned to one or the other; "Another head aches, another heart breaks // I'm so much older than I can take" for Avad and "I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand // And my affection, well it comes and goes" for Aloy.

Second, Bones! I feel like this one more for Aloy, trying to figure out her feelings and come to terms with the fact that it's okay for her to feel so strongly about something that's not her mission to save the world.

A Dustland Fairytale is more vibes than anything; "A change came in disguise of revelation, set his soul on fire" and "Oh, don't you know, the kingdom's under seige // and everybody needs you" really strike that H:ZD-era Avaloy for me though.

Sweet Talk in the context of this playlist is definitely an Avad song; it brings to mind the weight of his position and his dreams of freedom from it even though he knows he can't leave the throne behind anytime soon.

Deadlines and Commitments is the true heart and soul of the playlist. Sung from Avad's point of view, it's melancholy and soft, gently imploring (If you should ever tire // Or if you should require // A sudden, simple twist of fate) this warrior to care for herself as well as the world and letting her know that wherever he is (I'll catch you darling // I'll be waiting // I am on your side), there's a place for her there too if she wants it. (If you should fall upon hard times // If you should lose your way // There is a place here in this house // That you can stay). Honestly, all the lyrics are just perfect for them, it's really hard to pick which to highlight!

Life To Come is an emotional high point; it has the energy of an Aloy who's figured herself and how she feels out (I didn't see this comin', I admit it // But if you think I'll buckle, forget it) and is ready to see where those emotions lead her — and she's inviting Avad to come along with her. It'll be hard and they'll stumble along the way (I know it ain't a cake walk // Let go of the blame // Have a little faith in me, girl) because she's never done anything quite like this before, but with the two of them she's more than confident they can work it out together (I know sometimes you think that I regret it // But I don't remember stumblin' when I said it // I told you that I'd be the one // I was talkin 'bout the life to come).

My God is for that post-NEMESIS moment of relief and victory — they've triumphed over this impossible foe together, and while there will always be work to be done, here and now they can rejoice in the fact that all the hard work of bringing the tribes together has finally paid off. "Don't talk to me about forgiveness // My God, just look who's back in business // That weight we lugged around, it has been made light // I'm at the top of my lungs // 'Cause big love cannot be understated // Don't push, control is overrated // I know that if we stick together // My God, it's like the weight has been lifted."

... and that's all for tonight, folks! Thanks for reading all the way through, and stay tuned for tomorrow's playlist (most likely also posted very very late lmao)

[oathkeeper-of-tarth]

I have to ask for 21, because I'm me

21. do they have an idea about how they’ll die? do you?

Ahahah, I love you being on brand. Never change.

She has in fact died died twice (so far). Once when refusing to give up the location of Strahd's much sought-after vampire hunter nemesis - being a stubborn righteous ass, she got pretty beat up and blood-sucked, then dropped off one of the towers of Castle Ravenloft to her death. She got brought back a few in-game days later thanks to said vampire hunter having a scroll of Raise Dead and being convinced by the party that, if nothing else, a glowy smitey paladin was pretty useful in the fight against a vampire, so it was worth it. Recovering from that is... well, still ongoing.

The second one happened when facing some extremely pissed off Strahd harassment just before the endgame, engaging him in melee and trying to keep his attention away from the rest of her exhausted companions as well as the Martikov family - great allies of the party who were at the moment providing desperately needed sanctuary in their winery (and also I love them). Strahd had a magical fire shield up which meant each attack on him was… costly, to say the least. This one was very brief, as one of the family's three precious magical gems was sacrificed to bring her back almost as soon as Strahd, that absolute bastard, left after a brief gloat and threat or twenty. This was also very costly for the artificer in our party, as the backlash of tinkering with the gem to unleash its magical properties ultimately led to him losing his arm. It was a very, very grim time and a real “darkest before the dawn” moment nearing the end of the whole Barovian misadventure.

I know player character death gets handled wildly differently depending on the table. Some folks love permadeath and going through a dozen characters and just rolling (haha) with whatever the dice decide, while some lean fully into playing in worlds where bringing someone back from the dead is just a couple of diamonds and a brief cleric visit away. I feel like I’ve played in games that fell all throughout the spectrum, but in this particular case we went more narrative focused than probably ever before. In our discussions with the DM about how we'd even handle character death in the campaign we all agreed bringing in new outsider characters would be kind of a pain and would ring pretty hollow, so we agreed we'd use the scarce and often very costly possibilities given in the adventure itself, and, if all else failed, we'd go the Revenant route - i.e. whoever dies can be some brand of Too Angry To Die, swear to do one last thing (probably defeating Strahd and freeing the land in this particular case), and come back as an extremely driven undead version of themselves, a sad kind of semi-existence, that, bittersweetly, is guaranteed to end when the task is accomplished. It never actually came to this, as it happens, though each member of the 3-strong party had a brush with it. But it was certainly a rather grim (and appropriate) possibility.

The Silver Flame, which Ramiel formally belongs to via her knightly order, believes that the souls of the worthy and faithful are supposed to join the flame after death and strengthen it in protecting the world from demons/fiends/all manner of evil - so essentially she expects the fight to never really end. Barovia, however, is a prison for a specific evil lord - which also happens to be a prison for the souls of anyone who dies within it. So not only was that hanging over her, but she experienced a small, brief taste of it (twice!) - the revenant option doesn’t seem so bad anymore, suddenly.

All of this is to say, the possibilities were and are many and varied, but I am absolutely certain this is not a person who is going to die peacefully in her sleep at a venerable age, and so is she.

[blue-skiesand-silverlinings]

Hello and Welcome!

This is an AU story that explores the question of what would happen if someone from our world took the place of the main character and follow the predetermined story in those footsteps. How faithful would they remain to things and just how much would they justify changing for the sake of saving time, people, pokémon…or even just for personal convenience?

FAQ under the cut:

[From left to right: Luna (Skitty), Breela (Shroomish), Faye (Taillow), Sela (Poochyena), Keno (Mudkip), Ambrose (Ralts)]

*QUICK FAQ:

Where can I read this story?

Here are the links to both the AO3 and Fanfiction sites!

Will there be any shipping/pairings in this story?

For the time being, no. It’s not going to be the focus, as the greater scope of the main plot is what I’m aiming for, as well as the character development. It may change in the future, a fling may happen, or even an actual pairing, but it’s currently not being planned.

Can I do fanart based on the story?

I would love to see someone take a crack at it! I would be so happy to see stuff from people who read and love my story! The only thing I request is nothing deeply NSFW-related like explicit porn. I’m relatively okay with gore and horror, however—pokémon in this ‘Verse aren’t just going to be scuffed and bruised. It can get worse, so have at it on that front!

Can I translate your fanfic into another language?

Yes, but let’s have a talk first about it. I’d love to know a bit more about you and how you want to approach it!

Can I edit/trace over/repost your art/use for AI/NFT?

That’s gonna have to be a HELL NO. I don’t really make money off my art or my writings, why would I let someone else do that? That doesn’t seem very fair that I do the work and someone else makes a profit off it, does it?

Do you have a TVTropes page?

It’s currently a work in progress and should be up soon!

If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to reach out! I’d love to hear from you folks!

[prof-peach]

{{ Could you tell us more about Plum? I saw their name in the moveset post, and that selection of moves really intrigued me! Why the selection of ghost/psychic moves? What do they do on the island? Are they as prickly as the move selection made them sound? Super intrigued!

Plum grew up in the city, with very well off parents, who pretty much gave her the world. While that had its benefits, it came with some down sides. She became very entitled, putting herself on a pedestal and demanding a lot of others. When she wanted to become a ranger, to be like the cool actresses in the movies, attempting daring rescues, fighting crime with their Pokemon. Her family bought her a dratini as a first Pokemon, and paid to enrol her in the ranger academy.

At the same time, peach had been recommended for the same course by local authorities that wanted to channel her destructive nature into something more useful. She was indifferent to doing it, so just went along with the whole thing.

Day one, the pair met their class, their teachers, and the campus. They immediately clashed. Plum was being snide and condescending to other students, peach was sitting behind her, called her some unpleasant things with her stupid dead-pan face, they broke into a fight pretty soon after.

This behaviour continued for four months before the teachers began to explore other options for the pair. Plum had proven incapable of handling her rogue dratini, it paid her no attention, and was often disruptive and chaotic. However she was very astute on the written tests, and technical knowledge of the law. Peach on the other had was suited to the practical learning, her and her vulpix were agile and effective at battles. She however only just scraped by with the written content, and slacked in classes, did just enough to pass with the least amount of effort put in. And so the crazy idea of the pair having to work together at all times until they get along was born. If they didn’t achieve this, together as a team, they would both be booted off the ranger program.

Plum was distraught, the ranger training was hard, it was nothing like the movies showed, she felt cheated out of what she wanted. Her new human partner was a nightmare, rude, blunt, disrespectful, irritating. Her Pokemon partner was unruly, why didn’t it like her? She bought it the nicest things, and fussed over it, and all it would do was run away or try to break all her expensive things. Nothing had turned out right for plum, it was not going to her plan.

The pair had three months to get it together, or they were out.

First month they argued constantly, nitpicking behaviours, being petty, generally getting nothing done well. Peach would bring their collective grade down to spite plum, and plum would slow down and spook Pokemon in the wild constantly, making it impossible to do anything tactical.

Second month peach got sick and tired of plum’s dratini being unruly, and began to secretly work with it to build some trust, whenever plum wasn’t watching. Because plum’s head was always in the books, she was completely unaware of this going on. Instead she studied and brought their written grade up, making sure to compensate for her lazy human partner.

Month three was when plum caught on that peach was working with her Pokemon. They were out tracking an injured aipom, trying to help. Plum’s dratini was out, and it bolted off in one direction, plum called it, it didn’t respond, peach did the same, and it turned immediately to come back, returning to plum’s side. Shocked, plum for once said nothing. They managed to successfully track and trap the injured Pokemon, and give it aid before release. The mark of the first actual successful mission.

Plum began to actually look at what peach was doing, for the first time, she took her head out of the books and secretly began to observe. Observation turned to practice. She started to use things peach was doing, to connect with her partner, and grow their bond.

By the end of their trial three months as a duo team, they had not stopped arguing, fuelled by their newly developed bitter rivalry. Instead of crushing each other down during drills and exams, they worked to out-do each other. A save of your partner was a win, because you could rub it in their face that you were the reason they weren’t hurt. It was enough for the teachers to allow them both to stay on the course.

This continued for a year and a half, they were very volatile together, but always got the job done. It was then that peach had a run in with some truly horrible poachers, and found herself in possession of a Teddiursa with a lot of trauma. There was only one thing to do, the ranger course was regimented and strict, and that didn’t suit her lifestyle. Peach left for the mountains to work with the new member of her team, ditching plum and all her connections without a word.

Plum was furious she would just leave, and vowed to do better than peach ever could have. She finished the ranger course, worked her way up the ladder, and achieved a high ranking admin position after a number of years. Her rich taste never changed, her family money never ran out. Perhaps she could have been brought back down to earth if she had to work with someone like peach for longer, her now faithful dratini had evolved in that time, but always reminded her of the early years, when things were exciting, and she had a strong goal to achieve bigger and better things than her ranger partner.

With new labs popping up, and new connections being made, plum was assigned liaison duty with Dotaku island, unaware that her once small, young rival, was now a big, strong professor. Plum’s dragonair was the tell. It sensed peach a mile off, for the first time in many years, bolting off towards her when it first touched down on the island. Plum saw peach, peach saw plum, snide comments followed, that escalated to insults, then to shouting. And finally the realisation that they had to work together again after all those years.

Now when the ranger bases local to the island catch something that needs specialist care, they send it through, and plum will be the one who handles their cases, and eventual release or rehoming. She does all the paperwork and organising, and the labs handle the actual care and rehabilitation.

Plum is still childish at times, usually quite snide when provoked, but has become strategic and observational about how she handles most things. After graduating top of her class, she’d had a complex about being the best, and prides herself on that. Her paperwork is flawless, her analytical skills top notch. She does however fall short on her people skills, folks do find her snooty at times. She’s taken full advantage of her family money, and bought a lot of gear and lessons to improve her skills over the years. She does lose herself when confronted with her old rival, and both tend to resort to playground tactics.

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 308: VIBE: CHECKED

Previously on BnHA: Lots and lots of Shindou idk what else to tell you.

Today on BnHA: Tired Nomad Deku rescues Shindou from Muscular, and us from Shindou. Muscular is all “OH BOY I SURE CAN’T WAIT TO FIGHT DEKU AGAIN AFTER HE TOTALLY KICKED MY ASS THE LAST TIME!! I’M SURE THIS TIME WILL GO DIFFERENTLY SEEING AS HE’S HAD ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR’S WORTH OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING, AND ALSO HAS SIX FOURQUIRKS NOW, IN ADDITION TO THE CONFIDENCE THAT COMES WITH HAVING EIGHT OTHER PEOPLE’S SOULS CHILLING OUT INSIDE HIM OFFERING MORAL SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.” Deku is all, “[kicks Muscular’s ass effortlessly].” Muscular is all, “[gets his ass totally kicked].” I for one am very satisfied with this, and with respect to all, I would like to hereby declare this post a discourse-free zone. I’m just happy to see my son out here making good use of his FOURQUIRKS, and more importantly beating Muscular in less than seventeen pages so we can all go on with our lives lol.

damn Deku since when were you allowed to look this cool

from this perspective and with the smoke, cape, backpack, and mask more or less obscuring his actual profile, he looks less like a sixteen-year-old boy and more like a grownass man

OH SNAP

we got a glimpse of this in the cleaned-up scan of 307, but seeing both of his eyes looking so distinctively All Might-esque here is... whoa. I mean we know that his face still looks pretty normal underneath the mask and he doesn’t actually have the black sclera, but still, this is an awesome look. mini-Might

lol Muscular

you and me both. I mean no offense, but yeah

so Deku is just standing there silently

typical Deku. tight-lipped and expressionless. mum’s the word. quiet as a mouse. silent as a grave

okay no but seriously this is so weird and creepy though you guys. Deku please say something or else I’m just gonna mindlessly say whatever stupid things come into my head in an effort to make things less awkward

so Muscular is all “I should probably make a cool speech about revenge but Horikoshi couldn’t think of anything good so I’m just going to stand here clenching my fist real slowly”

“I’m not here to go on a monologue” he says, as he monologues about not monologuing

okay you guys I confess I have only read through/watched the Deku VS Muscular fight once because the arm-breaking is just way too uncomfortable for me to revisit. and so as a result, I have completely forgotten Whatever The Deal Is with Muscular’s eye lmao so let me go look it up real quick

okay so it’s a prosthetic, obviously, and he changes it out according to his mood. that part does sound familiar. I just can’t remember which eye is supposed to indicate which mood. don’t tell me I actually have to go back and reread this shit

lol I’m skimming through chapter 75 now and remembering/realizing that I hardly paid any attention to this the first time around because as soon as I found out the villains were after Kacchan my brain was like “TIME TO FOCUS ON THIS AND ONLY THIS NOW AND FOREVER” and yeah. ah memories

anyway so he started out with the flower-looking eye, and then later on he was all

which begs the question, how on earth could I have ever forgotten the most ridiculous panel I’ve ever read lmao

anyway, but so after all of that, I'm only just now realizing that this isn't one of his previous eye prosthetics in the current chapter; this is an ACTUAL FUCKING ROCK that he's just randomly shoved into his eye socket fkdsjlk

so basically (1) I did all of that painstaking research for nothing, five whole minutes of my life wasted THANKS A LOT, and (2) what, and I have never meant this more emphatically, THE FUCK

anyway so now he's leaping at the building that Deku is standing on top of. but he’s not aiming anywhere near Deku though, wtf

(ETA: HAHA YOU BROKE ALL YOUR MUSCLES YOU LOSER.)

...huh

lmao okay then. I hope those annoying citizens in the building next door are watching this go down and rethinking their life choices

dlkdkljk

just keep standing there pressed right up against the window, why don’t you. “WHAT’S GOING ON THIS SUPER CLOSE COLLAPSING BUILDING IS BLOCKING OUR VIEW.” well, folks, we’ve long since known there’s a critical shortage of hero and villain brain cells, but what we’re learning now is that civilian brain cells are also in short supply

OH THANK GOD DEKU IS FINALLY TALKING THAT WAS ACTUALLY UNSETTLING AS FUCK

SO HE’S STILL OUR GOOD, POLITE, WORRIED, CONSIDERATE DEKU UNDERNEATH THAT COOL AND MYSTERIOUS VENEER. for real, thank fuck, because I swear to god if he suddenly started acting like the Dekus in all of the vigilante AUs my interest in this series would have dropped something like 50% lol. just because he dropped out of school and ran away from home and is currently dressed like the physical manifestation of a Linkin Park playlist doesn’t mean he’s not still the WORLD’S BIGGEST DORK okay

I MEAN, THIS RIGHT HERE. THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. HE’S APOLOGIZING FOR THE DELAY

PLEASE FIND THE ATTACHED SHINDOU YOU REQUESTED. BEST REGARDS!!!

OH MY GOD WHY IS HE SUCH A BADASS

something about making bold, confident statements while obscured in smoke?? idk but damn it fucking works

ffjkkl

more importantly, should you tell him you actually need your copy of Shindou in excel format and not pdf?? on the one hand you don’t want to sound ungrateful, but on the other hand what are you even supposed to do with this

this chapter so far consists of like 50% smoke, but on the other hand Deku VS Kacchan 2 had a lot of cinematic smoke too so who am I to complain

OMG IS IT HIS ARMS

IDK DID YOU?! TELL ME YOUR SECRETS. PLEASE, AT SOME POINT THIS FIGHT HAS GOT TO ACTUALLY ADVANCE THE PLOT

OHHHHHHH

IT’S EN’S QUIRK!! OH MY GOD OKAY THAT’S ACTUALLY AWESOME

I CAN HEAR THE SOUND OF DISCOURSE RUMBLING IN THE BACKGROUND BUT I DON’T CARE LOL. WON’T CATCH ME EVER SAYING NO TO ANOTHER SIXQUIRK. GO AHEAD, BRING THEM ON, I WANT TO SEE THEM ALL but take it easy though Deku. don’t want to give yourself lung cancer or anything

also it’s good to see that in a very real sense he’s not fighting alone. the Vestiges really did mean it when they said they could appear more easily now. this is on a whole other level

so is this whole next page still En talking, or someone else? because whoever it is sure is chatty

okay, several things

pretty sure it is En, because he keeps saying “I suppose.” for someone who never said two words until one page ago, this guy sure never shuts up. we can’t all follow Muscular’s lead I suppose. oh my god now I’m doing it too

really like the suggestion of Deku using the SIXQUIRKS like tools in an arsenal, because that’s what he’s good at! it’s almost like he’s been training for this his entire life. “you value quirks too much” LOOK HE JUST THINKS THEY’RE COOL OKAY IS THAT A CRIME

where the fuck did all this rope come from

not gonna ask what the fuck that thing is sticking out from the back of his utility belt. Horikoshi will surely explain this

is that a fucking jetpack. I’m sorry Deku were six fucking quirks not enough for you. you can fucking float??? but JUST TO BE SAFE, LET’S STRAP A PAIR OF ROCKETS TO OUR SHOULDERS IDK

-- or wait, is this all supposed to be like a visual representation of En’s metaphor?? OH MY GOD AM I JUST STUPID LOL, DON’T ANSWER THAT. NEVER MIND. NEW LIST!!

rope = blackwhip

jetpack = float

radio = danger sense

and so I’m guessing that this ridiculously phallic thing is supposed to be a flare or something?? and that = the new quirk, smokescreen. well that was a fucking ride lmao we now return you to our regularly scheduled chapter

so now Deku is floating to his heart’s content and thinking that he’ll just sneak up on Muscular and vibe check his ass or whatever

WOOOOOOOO DANGER SENSE YESSSS I LOVE THIS FOR HIM

okay guys, I'm gonna press pause here for a sec to make a serious note, because I am loving the shit out of this, but tbh I'm having trouble enjoying it as much as I want to because I keep getting anxious thinking about the discourse. I know that a lot of the fandom has very strong opinions on Deku's character development one way or the other, and I want to respect that. but I also really have no spoons to debate this topic at all beyond what I’ve already weighed in on. so if it’s all the same to everyone, I plan on staying out of this discussion, at least this week

anyway! that said, YEAH BOI GET HIS ASS

VIBE: CHECKED. CURB: STOMPED. HOTEL: TRIVAGO

-- OF COURSE HE’S STILL FUCKING FINE LOL HE CRASHES INTO BUILDINGS FOR FUN IDK WHAT I WAS EXPECTING

dammit Muscular. how many fucking quirks does it take to beat you?! the annoying thing is that even with all of his cool new powers, Deku is still something of a mismatch against him. anyway r.i.p. to all these poor buildings

OOOOOHHHHH

you guys have no idea how intrigued I am at the prospect of watching Deku try to play both good cop and bad cop here lmao

anyway so Muscular says he doesn’t know, go figure

“I’m not here to make small talk or anything” he says as he small talks about not small talking

OH MY GOD DEKU

are you really gonna talk no jutsu all of these villains from now on?? that last battle really did have a profound impact on you, huh! interesting

you guys he’s really doing it omg

Deku this guy tried to murder a five-year-old literally just for fun. I mean more power to you, but holy shit you’re really gonna try to defeat Muscular with anger management therapy huh

I MEAN

WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THAT RESPONSE COMING dlkjslkjk

FUCK’S SAKE DEKU, I KNOW YOU MEAN WELL BUT THEY CAN’T ALL HAVE TRAGIC PASTS KIDDO

but. I have to admit, I do still like that he tried. probably knew just as well as we did what the end result was going to be, but still. he made the effort in good faith and I respect that

uh oh

why do I get the feeling Muscular just got a whole lot deader

oh my god oh my god he’s doing the “powering up” stance ffff don’t fucking tell me you can still use your fucking arms here, Deku

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT’S THIS??

okay so basically he’s saying that whatever it was he sensed in Tomura, he doesn’t sense from Muscular. which, yeah, that sounds exactly right. good judge of character here lol

AHHHHAHAHA YESS

WHOOPS, GET FUCKED I GUESS

WOOOOHOOOOOOOO

lmao so apparently this is the belated result of Shindou’s attack from chapter 307?? I’ll be damned. good for you Shindou!! I always liked you buddy. please just take my word on that and don’t fact check that statement

okay lol the one tiny bit of discourse I will allow is that it’s bullshit that he just did that with his right arm. like, I’ll fully acknowledge that. that makes no fucking sense, and I demand an explanation from the Great Plot Hole Filler himself. he’s never let us down before when it comes to continuity so I’m trusting him not to suddenly start now

that said, we love to see a rematch against a boring guy settled quickly and decisively within the span of a single chapter. THANK YOU

I like that Deku implies that his power is being a smart nerd who battles villains using the power of ANALYTICS. he basically didn’t do anything except restrain Muscular and wait for Shindou’s attack to take effect while halfheartedly checking to see if he regretted any of that murder and stuff

(ETA: and almost forgot to mention, he made excellent use of all four of his active SIXQUIRKS. it’s like the chapter title said; this is basically him fighting all-out, and it’s a sight to see.)

also, as cool as the mask was, this just feels right. like, we had our fun, now let us see his face, yes good

anyway, I think this was a good start towards establishing What’s Up With Deku Right Now! so if it’s all the same to Horikoshi, I would next like to take some time to explore Why’s Up With Deku. that, and What’s Up With Everyone Else, Especially Kacchan. por favor

[edenmemes]

assassin’s creed valhalla starters

words within ‘()’ are additional, optional choices! more maybe to be added at a later date. some n/sfw present. 

❝ you should see the other man. he got the worst of it. ❞   ❝ and who better to lead us to glory than me? ❞ ❝ i am most at home helping others. ❞       ❝ i’ve waited long enough for you, and you for me. ❞   ❝ thank you for not saying anything about my past. ❞       ❝ know that however far away, you’re always in my thoughts. ❞   ❝ when you see your god, tell them i sent you. ❞   ❝ what you make up in muscles, you’re lacking in spine. ❞   ❝ i almost envy you, to see the world through such a muddy glass and live with such petty concerns. ❞   ❝ i smell the stink of a dozen kingdoms in your beard. ❞   ❝ this feud is not yours, yet you fight it all the same. i find that strange. ❞   ❝ by the look on your face, you have lost your will to live. ❞   ❝ my arms are numb from battle. does it need any dressing?    do you think it is a serious wound? ❞   ❝ oh dear. this is not how i foresaw things. not at all! ❞   ❝ should we take this to your chamber? ❞   ❝ i want this. i want you. ❞   ❝ turn around, walk away, and you keep your insides inside. ❞   ❝ stay back! back! i will fight you! ❞   ❝ you look like reddened shit. what happened? ❞   ❝ i have always wanted to experience the world as you do. ❞   ❝ you come like a valkyrie out of a fog. but i have no dead to give you. ❞   ❝ all right, stay close and do as i do. ❞   ❝ home. or...it was home, once. now it is nothing but bone. ❞   ❝ i’ll have no qualms wiping clean your grin. ❞   ❝ just take care. such hatred can make you careless. ❞   ❝ away from your table for a day and you are already lusting for blood. ❞   ❝ if i did not know any better, i would say you are teasing me. ❞   ❝ the dream of new lands is a powerful lure. ❞   ❝ i love climbing up here. makes me feel as high as a raven. ❞   ❝ if i don’t find your horse, i will steal you a new one. ❞   ❝ i feel somewhat trapped. in this room, in this settlement, in this life. ❞   ❝ you are lost in a sea-storm of your own making. ❞   ❝ the poet in you sings once again. ❞   ❝ tonight, we will eat and drink like gods and wake in a kingdom made new. ❞   ❝ i wish i understood you better. for those i do not understand, i do not trust. (and i cannot stomach a lack of trust.) ❞ ❝ i’ve been called worse. ❞   ❝ you have nothing to fear from me. i bear you no ill will. ❞   ❝ you are a shadow of your father. weak and witless. ❞   ❝ what is this? is this...are we in hell? ❞   ❝ keep company with kings and you will soon have a crown of your own. ❞   ❝ a toothless cub may grow to be a dangerous wolf. ❞   ❝ you are far too young to speak so wise. ❞   ❝ i need clear, sound judgement. i need you. ❞   ❝ kind and courageous people live the best lives, but it can be a difficult path to keep. ❞ ❝ i want to say...i love you. and i have for some time. ❞ ❝ you smell that? the stink of jealousy. (of our budding friendship, i think). ❞   ❝ ah, while i have you, i’m reminded...i have this for you. ❞   ❝ your lies are just like you. big and bold. ❞   ❝ don’t excuse yourself. you enjoy this too much. ❞   ❝ you've come back. why are you wasting your time with me? ❞   ❝ care to sing a song? helps me pass the time. ❞   ❝ that is twice you have earned my admiration. ❞   ❝ you have only the setting sun to tell you when to stop. ❞   ❝ i want to know what you know. name your price. ❞   ❝ people like you deserve something worse than death. ❞   ❝ they called me a lout, a disgrace. they were right. ❞   ❝ i will have to get used to watching the sights of war from afar now. ❞   ❝ there’s no other way. fight or hide. it’s up to you. ❞   ❝ do not think me a coward. i am not afraid of war. ❞   ❝ friendships end. often at the point of a spear. ❞ ❝ i will make you beg as your father begged. ❞   ❝ (until that time,) it would be best to keep all discussions about...    about us to yourself. ❞ ❝ without you i would have lost my way a thousand times. ❞   ❝ you have no other friends. so tread lightly here. ❞   ❝ be it a blessing or a curse, family is always first. ❞   ❝ let’s not walk too far with that idea. i need you right where you are. ❞   ❝ you bested me. yet, i’m the one left standing. ❞   ❝ it’s a pleasure to meet you at least. ❞   ❝ you and your people here have done more for me than i could ever repay. ❞   ❝ you have my highest respect, regard, and trust. ❞   ❝ you’re not shy, are you? ❞   ❝ if we do this, you’ll earn the right to call me friend ten-thousand fold. ❞   ❝ does this have the stench of betrayal to you? ❞ ❝ today has meant so much. we rode, we fought, we drank, we laughed. (you showed me your world.) ❞       ❝ your end was written the moment you came for me. ❞   ❝ i am a sellsword. i ask what i please, and i take what i’m owed. ❞ ❝ you move and i will take your eyes. you hear me? ❞   ❝ i will leap first. on my word, you must follow. ❞   ❝ many times i wished to tell you. wished to say what was in my heart and what i desired. (but duty kept me from it.) ❞   ❝ these wounds will heal quickly. you’re lucky. ❞   ❝ anything to help you feel at home. ❞   ❝ our friendship is the best thing to come from this mess. ❞   ❝ you will be remembered for this, for years to come. ❞   ❝ i thought i had lost you. for good this time. ❞   ❝ you have shown me a great kindness. it is only fitting that i do the same. ❞   ❝ the mess you’re in...you don’t know the half of it. ❞   ❝ you have drawn a dark conclusion about me, haven’t you? (that is all well and good. i’ve drawn some about you as well.) ❞   ❝ you seem...strangely familiar. ❞   ❝ here i am, an upright man who never once learned how to bend the knee. and yet...i shall try. ❞ ❝ that’s a bread knife. do you mean to butter me? ❞   ❝ is that not something you worry over? ❞   ❝ a blind pursuit of vengeance has made you predictable. ❞   ❝ no matter where you are, or how far you travel, i will hunt you down. ❞   ❝ i came for you, looking for a friend and ally. ❞   ❝ people change.    it may be that you change with them, or you go your separate ways. ❞   ❝ i wish you whatever peace you may find in this new life you’ve found. ❞   ❝ i want your word: you will follow my orders. ❞   ❝ the day is new, and the air is bracing. are you ready for the fight ahead? ❞   ❝ er...good to meet you as well? ❞   ❝ what riches are worth so much misery, and the deaths of honorable men and women? ❞   ❝ my destiny is mine to weave. ❞   ❝ my road forward has been a muddy one. slick with blood and tears. (but we can reach its end together.) ❞   ❝ it is a wise leader who considers the needs of others. ❞   ❝ i think my mouth has gotten me in enough trouble today. ❞   ❝ at the end of all things, you will find yourself with nothing but your regrets. ❞   ❝ you saw fit to keep me guessing through your fits of madness. ❞   ❝ by all the gods, what was that? ❞   ❝ i was...restless. a quiet walk alone clears the head. ❞   ❝ when winter is past, summer will come and wind you in a flowered skirt, for you are beauty and shall not wither. ❞   ❝ ...unless you had a more interesting day planned for us? ❞   ❝ i do hope you see it now, for all you have done for me. ❞   ❝ your passion, your strength. i have never met such a burning soul. ❞   ❝ i have no guilt nor regret for what we have done, but we should be careful. ❞   ❝ i see before me a person full of passion, vigor, and a love for their people. ❞   ❝ if i wanted to hear you talk shit, i’d cut out your tongue and shove it up your ass. ❞   ❝ you! you look stronger than most of the others. ❞   ❝ your hatred for me burns bright. i could warm my balls on it. ❞   ❝ you’re quite like your arms: incredibly thick. ❞   ❝ i fought as i do, as hard as i do, to survive. (for i know what awaits us in the end. only darkness.) ❞   ❝ a shameful trick. you are your father’s child. ❞   ❝ you destroyed my life. i will take yours. ❞   ❝ you snore a little, like a wounded bear. ❞   ❝ that’s when i knew i would live and die for you. ❞   ❝ i’m going to pretend your last words were taken by the wind. ❞   ❝ i might still kill you yet, if your prattling doesn’t cease. ❞   ❝ you are weak like your father was weak. (you dance better than you fight.) ❞   ❝ have you ever seen muscles as massive as mine? ❞   ❝ i’m honored by your faith in me. and your confidence. ❞   ❝ after my missteps, i worry what you must think of me. ❞   ❝ with so much blood in the water and death in the air, i’d like to know your name and purpose. ❞ ❝ i have a good feeling about this place. ❞   ❝ you helped me reclaim what i had lost in myself. ❞       ❝ you speak of honor. where’s yours? ❞       ❝ you will throw away all reason to defend what you sworn to. ❞       ❝ you really are like a hero out of folk tales. ❞       ❝ how much would you sacrifice to be freed of fate’s shackles? (would you give your tongue, your hand, your sight?) ❞   ❝ there’s no power strong enough to do what you say. ❞       ❝ please, you must fight for me.    who knows what vile people might come to harm me? ❞   ❝ i have no need to count my kills. they number too many. ❞   ❝ i appreciate you for all of your qualities. ❞ ❝ not even the gods can change fate. ❞       ❝ i think it is time i take my leave. ❞ ❝ you really thought my life was in danger? (and you risked your own life...) ❞ ❝ the path ahead is bright, with glory at its end. ❞ ❝ it is easy to lose one's way on the road to glory. do not let false victories blind you to what is true. ❞ ❝ the act of leaving so beloved a home, there is a sadness to it. ❞       ❝ so there’s nowhere...you call home? ❞   ❝ all things end. ruins are not a warning, they are a testament. ❞   ❝ be nice to sleep in a real bed when this is over. ❞   ❝ in my sleep i dream. and in my dreams i see an end to the doom that will grip the earth once again. ❞   ❝ even when we win, we lose. ❞   ❝ i am as good with my lips, as i am with my tongue. ❞   ❝ is this your idea of a pleasant ride through the country? ❞   ❝ no whispering god brought me here. i brought myself. ❞   ❝ i would like very much to pass some time with you. ❞   ❝ ...and that’s how i got that scar. ❞   ❝ do i now haunt your dreams? ❞   ❝ it was never in their character to lead, it was always within yours. ❞   ❝ so easily wounded by words. imagine the ruin my axe would inflict on your flaccid ego. ❞   ❝ i have felt this way for some time now. i care for you. ❞   ❝ i have not felt safe since then. not really. ❞   ❝ how long have you been chasing me? seventeen winters? eighteen? ❞   ❝ you are not always to be trusted. your passions overcome you. ❞   ❝ i like you. you may help me here or step on me...and by the look of you i’d welcome either. ❞   ❝ it is good to have you in this fight. ❞   ❝ you need only know my impressive scale and flawless build. ❞   ❝ i am better than any man here. ❞   ❝ i can tell by looking at you, you are not a great warrior. (you know it too, there is no reason to deny this.) ❞   ❝ i am looking for honor, and have become lost as a result. ❞   ❝ many apologies. you are no child, simply a frail and fully-grown fool. ❞   ❝ i was stupid, selfish, reckless, blind, boneheaded, and i smell like blood and shit. ❞ ❝ anything to say for the mess you led us to? ❞   ❝ how was your...first kill? ❞   ❝ you squirm like that and my axe will miss your neck! unpleasant for both of us. ❞   ❝ i know you would defy me to the death, fighting for a glorious end.     that i will not allow. ❞   ❝ most men choose to be loud or stupid. impressive, that you managed both. ❞   ❝ you are a great warrior. conquerer of this land and that of your birth. ❞   ❝ you’re chasing shadows like a madman howling at the moon! ❞   ❝ quite a hit you took. how many were lost? ❞   ❝ well fought! even if your wits were somewhat rattled. ❞   ❝ we suffered no losses in this fight, and the men who humiliated us are dead. what is there to say? ❞   ❝ i would like to be close to you. ❞   ❝ if you are a warrior with honor running like sunlight in your veins, then you may help me fulfill my destiny. ❞ ❝ you are a long way from any warm hearth, warrior. Is this where you call home? ❞ ❝ am i to go the rest of my days without love or attention? i think not. ❞   ❝ the gods favor you. they always have. ❞   ❝ the others, they are like clubs. blunt and ungainly, you are nimble, like a knife. ❞   ❝ people with eyes that gleam like yours are always up to something more. ❞   ❝ only a fool stays awake all night worrying. you are tired when you get up, and the problem is still not solved. ❞   ❝ i liked you from the first. i saw something in you that captivated me. (as if a forgotten memory of an old friendship had suddenly resurfaced.) ❞   ❝ you've done nothing but give me your blind word! ❞   ❝ did you bring me any treasure? ❞ ❝ the woodsmoke from your firepit does sting the eyes. but the warmth is welcome. ❞ ❝ it is not something i can speak on. or wish to. ❞ ❝ i'm with you. only say the word. ❞ ❝ until we cut off this serpent's head, it will poison us, day by day, drop by drop. ❞ ❝ get some rest and return here at first light. ❞ ❝ i missed having you at my side. how i wished i could have taken you along on my travels. ❞ ❝ i do not like this, but i will not stop you. ❞ ❝ i have waited too many years for this day. when ___ stands before us, give me the final blow. ❞ ❝ why do you carry such a useless burden? let it go. ❞ ❝ i have waited years for this, but i will not risk losing it through rashness. ❞ ❝ i cannot fathom your game. you are either a young fool...or deceptively wise. ❞ ❝ your confidence blinds you to so much in plain sight. ❞   ❝ it’s good to be here, with you and your people. (i feel my life has found a new road.) ❞   ❝ there has always been war, even among the gods. ❞       ❝ my honor has been stained. until it's wiped clean, i want nothing else. ❞ ❝ i lack the patience for pole fishing. i would have better luck with my bow. ❞   ❝ if we tell all our stories, we’ll be here for a week. ❞ ❝ can you teach me the art of archery? ❞   ❝ bury the past. build the future. ❞       ❝ i missed you. your clear head and your courage. (we have not had enough of both in recent months.)   ❞   ❝ i have a good feeling this war is near its end. ❞ ❝ explain in plain words why you have willfully disobeyed my commands. (do you mock me?) ❞   ❝ the gods favor you. they always have. ❞   ❝ my love for you rises tall and strong, like the tree of life. ❞   ❝ the prize is some of my time. (a walk in nature, maybe more if that is where our conversation takes us.) ❞ ❝ together, we are unstoppable. ❞ ❝ it is natural to fear change. to resist it. (but all things change, and all things end.) ❞ ❝ you said nothing of this to me, not a word. ❞ ❝ so long as men and women fight to secure honor and freedom, their allegiance hardly matters to me. ❞ ❝ i care for you. i do not know how to say it any other way. ❞   ❝ love can burn brighter near death. ❞ ❝ i knew this would be difficult, but sometimes the weight bears down heavily. ❞ ❝ you are young and still foolish, so i will spare you your life. (but cross me again or harm anyone i cherish, and you will join your friends in hell.)   ❞ ❝ if you are as brave as you appear, you will come. ❞ ❝ this is not a natural quiet. it's as if a curse has befallen this place. ❞ ❝ there was a curse here long before i came along. ❞ ❝ we’ll forge a warrior from your softness, hammered on the anvil of war. ❞ ❝ you are different than the kind my flights of fancy attract. burdened, decorated and…delicate. ❞ ❝ i do not know what else to say. m-my memories are faint, hazy. ❞ ❝ how are you doing? you survived a serious blow. ❞   ❝ we’ll weave our sagas together, thread upon thread. ❞ ❝ i try to use my knowledge to help others. i am only a threat to those who fear the unknown. ❞   ❝ slap some moss on that gash and wrap it well. ❞   ❝ a knife to the back is a wound that never heals. ❞       ❝ with me you have wisdom! glory! power! what more do you need? ❞       ❝ if your hell is real, i’m glad you’ll get to see it. ❞   ❝ to fight beside such legends is an honor. (i've only heard tales of your conquests. now i get to live them.) ❞   ❝ i have tried to live well. it is enough that the gods know that. ❞ ❝ a cloud hangs over you. is something wrong? ❞   ❝ you have plunged my city into chaos. ❞   ❝ my sword is gore-greedy. i am ready to fight. ❞   ❝ accept your fate and die a coward, here before your people... and i will spare the rest. ❞   ❝ you would take the rescue for yourself, so the victory song is written about you? ❞   ❝ kneel, and i will spare your life. ❞   ❝ it has been some time. what brings you so far to see me? ❞

[ladylyra]

I hope it's okay that I ask Abt ur ocs again aaa I really like reading Abt ppls characters. If you're up for it could you explain a little more about Louis and Briar? And maybe more Abt the group of OCS you have tagged as "mutant" in general the designs are rlly cool and I'd love to know more!! (´ . .̫ . `)

sure!! this got a little lengthy so i just kept it at louis and briar

mutancy in my universe is mostly a thing genetically passed down, a result of permanently altered genes, so the last case of it occurring through infection was 300-ish years prior to canon, for reference.

louis is a zombie mutant who was originally a human, his condition being a result of being experimented on by his own parents, a pair of researchers interested in mutant genes. he was intended to be their protege, but became their patient following a break-in of their home where he was critically injured. they were successful in keeping him alive, but he wouldn't describe this as a pleasant existence. the mutant genes that were spliced with his own are often at odds and it can often feel like his body is fighting itself. the label of being a zombie is simply a reflection of his appearance--it's no official classification. there's nobody like him, with his combination of genes. however, his feelings aside, it was considered a success by his parents--and soon he was the subject of study not only by him, but also by their peers. he only escaped this in adulthood, with his silence being bought with the offering of enough money that he'd be able to live comfortably. he used this money to move away and basically cut all contact with the outside world.

personality wise, he's about as much as you could guess from looking at him. he's apathetic and conflict-averse. he'll often take the road of least resistance if it means less trouble for himself. the biggest thing you could ask of him is ask him to go out of his way; you can expect him to only do something if he thinks he can gain something from it. because he has enough money, finances often have little to do with his desires. i'd describe him as somewhat hedonistic, but it's difficult to pin what he gets pleasure from being that he's impossible to read. it may be better to describe him as someone seeking to feel something, or in the very least entertained by those that are more forthcoming than him with their own feelings and reactions. while he has no interest in serious, grave conflicts, he does have a personal hobby of getting a rise out of others.

briar is a candle mutant and, like louis, was originally a human. despite her appearance, she's hundreds of years old; she was a human that experienced the initial infection that changed a large number of the population into mutants. she was kept in a lab as a cryogenically frozen specimen for the course of these hundreds of years, after having been sold off by her family in exchange for protection. following a present-day lab leak, she managed to escape, however, she had nowhere to really turn to. her family was beyond dead, and any records of the briar of her time were also long-gone. it was also likely she was being sought after. being on the run, she took shelter with a number of different folks--before, eventually, finding her way to louis. it was a hard sell to get someone supposedly conflict-averse to take in someone wanted potentially by the government, but she eventually convinced him.

personality wise, she's very reluctant to trust and is typically reserved. her mutancy makes it so her emotions are difficult to conceal, melting in any instance of powerful emotion, which makes her a level of forthcoming she despises being. she's a natural pessimist due to how she's been treated, with her negative outlook contributing to the little amount of faith she'll extend to her peers. in her time alive, she was highly regarded for her intellect and considered academics to be her primary interest. because so much has changed, she feels a sense of incompetency that she isn't as smart as she thought and spends a lot of her time facing a world that has outpaced her and trying to play catch-up.

[its-warm-in-here]

Playing Pretend

I’m sorry I didn't get this up sooner. I gutted the end but here’s the first part of the first chapter of a Heisenberg x reader fic that will probably go on too long. This is more of a prolog. No smut yet! Written with a female reader in mind, but I may have versions for both m and f when the final product goes up. Gonna start out kinda fluffy before we get darker. Comments and constructive criticism are always appreciated!

Summary: This summer trip to Romania was supposed to be momentous, life changing, and the bases for your master’s thesis. Too bad the villagers want you gone and this ‘Mother Miranda’ won't even see you. Luckily, you run into a greasy engineer who says he can help.

Or

Karl tries to take a day off from being ‘Lord Heisenberg’ with the cute stranger who wandered into the village. Things only spiral from there.

~2080 words

Miranda loved the yearly festivals. She always made a big show of the village, flowers and banners everywhere. The townsfolk would bring out their best clothing, even if their best was still black and brown. The dreary village would come alive with drinking, dancing and merry making. Even some of the neighboring villages would join in the festivities. The town would be near bustling, the local tavern would be full, laughter and song would echo from the church to the castle.

He hated it. All of it. Heisenberg avoided the celebrations, instead opting to stay holed up in his factory as much as possible. And it wasn't just because of the excess of people, while that didn't help. No, it was an insidious purpose for these gatherings. He exhaled a ring of cigar smoke.

First, boost morale through the village and reaffirm the people's faith in Mother Miranda. Second, and far more insidious, was to widen the flock, to expand her influence and bring in new blood for her experiments. The surrounding towns were just as small and removed from the rest of the world as Miranda's village. Made it easy to bring new blood under her wing. Youth would meet and marry, a drunk or four would go missing, and some of the visitors would become new members of Miranda's community. More meat for her Cadou grinder.

Heisenberg flicked the ash from his cigar and watched it float down before the wind caught it. The early morning view from the top of his factory wasn't bad. It was his own part of the world: no view of the village, the stench of the reservoir was nonexistent, and the most he could see of Castle Dimitrescu was a massive wall keeping their territory separated. Just him and his machines. He took another puff. As much as he planned to avoid today, Heisenberg knew that he would have to make at least some appearance. All the Lords did, even if it was just for a moment. Just another way to show her power; having all of her ‘children’ before the townsfolk. He grimaced at the thought. Târgul de Fete was set to start soon. At least that gave him the morning to get shit done. Heisenberg kicked a bit of metal scrap off the roof and it bounced off the scrap heap below with a ping! before landing in the dirt. He rolled his shoulder. Time to get to work.

---

"Well fuck you too!" You slammed the door behind you.  Why even bother going through the proper channels? No matter what, they turn you down, tell you to leave and treat you like an outcast. You spoke to towns folk, to village leaders, hell, you even wanted an audience with their 'Mother Miranda,' but she refused to even see you! You stormed along the path and the few people that had not made their way to the Târgul de Fete celebration steered clear of you, opting to give you a side eye and shuffle to their destination. All you wanted was to observe their festival, and maybe take a few pictures, but even that was negotiable. You had even offered to leave your camera behind with them for the day. Why hadn't you gone to Sweden with the rest of your class? No, instead you went to some culty, backwater town in Romania!

You kicked a rock, hard, sending it flying into the tall grass. "God Damnit!" This was supposed to have been your thesis! Supposed to be life changing! No, now you were just stuck, miles from any true civilization and being kicked out of some stupid, ramshackle heap, whose plants can't even grow right in a Romanian summer. Some of the plants were barely green, most appeared dry or yellowing. The flowers were either wilted and falling apart or hadn't even bloomed. You were no botanist, but you were certain that wasn't healthy.

You kicked another rock, it soared through the grass, but it struck something metal this time before landing with a thud. They didn't want you here, didn't want you at Târgul de Fete? Fine, but they didn't take your camera. Without thinking, you dug the old DSLR out of your bag and snapped a picture of the church.

And immediately deleted it.

You signed. Even if the villagers were a bunch of jackasses, this was their culture and they made it very clear that you were not welcome. Even if they had agreed to all this three months ago. And even if they had called you a bad omen, a poison and a danger to the whole village.  You weren't about to infringe. Crestfallen, you huffed your bag over your shoulder and began the trek back out of town. It was at least a four hour walk to your rental car and a good chunk of that walk was more of a hike. Not like there was much you could do other than leave after cussing out the town speakers and nearly slamming the door off its hinges.

The village had felt abandoned when you walked in, and now that everyone had headed off to a celebration, the village was positively desolate. No traditional brightly-colored dresses or intricate belts to be seen. And no wary or hostile glares from the inhabitants either. It was... quiet. Aside from the occasional crow, you might as well have been in a ghost town. It took you a bit to find the correct path out of the grave yard, but after spinning in circles for a good moment, you pushed past a red door and were back on your way. The village wasn't large, most of the paths were poorly maintained and the whole place was enveloped in a strange fish smell.

You bit the inside of your cheek. This was a good thing, really. Who would've wanted to stay in the ramshackle place for more than a few hours, let alone a few days? You groaned and kicked at the ground again. While not lacking in repellent attributes, the pagan worship of the place fascinated you.  They had their own religion but had incorporated traditional Romania holidays into their culture. Where else in Europe could you see that happen in real time? Of course, you could think of a couple of places, but you had picked here in the Carpathian mountains in particular! While you did have a second choice, you couldn't stop the self pity from setting in.

Ugh.

The village was relatively small and was quickly fading to forest, the castle that overlooked the town vanished behind you as you shuffled down a particularly steep part of the path. The trees here looked more normal, less sickly. While it was only marginally, you felt a bit better, a bit less mad. Stepping away from that place was a breath of fresh air.

Your boots skid a bit as you reach a flat spot. With a huff, you grip both backpack straps to center yourself.  If this couldn't be your thesis, that didn't mean you had to hate the walk. This was Romania afterall, when was the next time you were going to be here? The sky may be overcast, but it sort of added to the eerie charm of this place. You sidestepped your way down another steep incline, using one hand to grip overgrown branches for balance. The last step is a bit further, but you find your footing easily.

And the rock gave way under you, tilting forward with an abrupt grinding sound. A burst of panicked adrenaline rushed through as you struggled to stop. You pitch forward, stumbling over branches and underbrush, your eyes forcibly losing focus.

"The fuck?"

That wasn't your voice. You slammed full force into something, another body? And it gives under you. The other person takes the brunt of the fall, landing on their back with a distinct, "oof."

For a moment, you don't speak, too focused on catching the breath. Finally, your vision swims back and you find your voice, "Damnit... are you ok?"

The man under you goans, sitting half way up to look you over. His hair is grey, and a bit too long, but he couldn't be any older than forty, possibly younger. "Get off." Your eyes go wide and that panicked beat fills your chest. "Ya deaf? Off."

"Er, right," you scramble to your feet and, without thinking, extend a hand to the stranger, "Sorry about... that." You gestured vaguely to the path. "Lost my balance."

He lets out an exasperated huff, and knocks your hand away. For a moment, he doesn't acknowledge you, instead retrieving something from the grass behind him. He's wearing a loose linen shirt, sleeves rolled halfway up with black leather gloves. You force yourself to look somewhere, anywhere else, nervously bouncing from foot to foot. When he turns back to you, he has a tattered, wide brim hat in place and is looking over a pair of broken sunglasses. One of the lenses was clearly shattered, but he hooked them over his shirt collar, his attention finally turning to you. "You're not from around here, huh?”

You couldn't help but snort, "What gave it away, the wind breaker? Don't worry, I'm leaving."

"Leaving?" He repeats.

You start moving back to the path. "Yup, your village speaker has made that very clear."

"They were clear? Not all back and forth on it?" He chuckles, "That's impressive, they must really not like you."

You stare at him, was this a friendly face? It was certainly a handsome face, even with scarring and stubble. But a trustworthy one? "You sure you're ok? Didn't scramble that brain when I ran into you? The rest of the town was pretty dead set on driving me out."

" 'Cause they're a bunch of morons, sweetheart," he insisted, "All part of Mother Miranda's big, idiot mob."

"Huh," you are walking ahead on the path, and he's not but a footfall behind you.

"But they don't matter."

"No?"

"What matters is, why didn't they want you here?"

You stop, turning to face this stranger. He was gruff, and more than a little rude, but in comparison to the townsfolk, he was downright friendly. Hell, you were surprised he was so forward with you.  "Masters thesis," you put plainly, hoping he'll leave it at that.

"On what?"

"Anthropology."

He leaned in close. He wasn't that much taller than you, but you couldn't help but move away from his imposing figure. From this distance, you could smell motor oil and some kind of smoke on his clothes. "That's it?" You scoff, the sooner you are back in your car the better. "I just mean, it's surprising they'd want you gone. You sure there's nothing else? Didn't kick over any goat statues?"

"Not that I noticed," you started back down the path. You'd wasted too much time talking to this weirdo anyway. Just based on his demeanor and dislike of the rest of the village, you wonder if you'd maybe tripped over the town pariah. He certainly wasn't dressed like anyone else from the village.

"I could get you back in."

You stopped, not fifteen feet from him. "You're assuming I want to go back in." And didn’t you? You just risk getting yelled at again. But if there was a chance to write your thesis...

“Well, if you're not interested,” he turned to leave. You grit your teeth, your nails digging deep into your backpack straps.

“Hold up!" It doesn't take much to catch up to him. "How exactly are we going to do this?"

"My word carries a certain amount of weight," he carried on, "Though,  the village doesn't meet on these matters till next week."

"But what good does that-"

He isn't listening, "For today, I know a place you can watch the town. Besides, you're an Archeologist, you probably want an interview, right?" Of course he gestures to himself with a sort of half bow.

You roll your eyes, but still follow, "Anthropologist." He gives you a blank look. "I'm studying Anthropology, not Archeology."

He doesn't seem to care, instead pulling a cigar and lighter from his pants pocket. "Got a name?"

"Oh, (y/n). You?"

The stranger is part way up on the path you had tripped down. "Karl," he had extended you a gloved hand. You look from him to his hand, before brushing past him, pulling yourself up next to him without the offered aid.

[aviewfromtheclouds25]

In line with the prophetic vision I just shared, I will soon be sharing another vision. I will be posting it at some point within the next few days and will be sharing it on this blog as well as my other platforms as it is important for this next vision to reach as many people as possible. Because this next vision is the truth. It will explain everything that is going on in the world right now. It will explain everything that has been happening the last few years, and why. It will explain how humanity has been lied to for thousands of years. And it will explain how change is coming. A new world is coming - a better, real, free world.

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

That time is coming. Very, very soon. So hold on and have faith, folks. There will soon be a new dawn.

[antikate]

So a thousand years ago some lovely folks tagged me in a game to share the first lines from 20 of my fics! That seems like WAY too many so I’m going to share 10 instead. Thank you to @saretton and @ineffable-houseplants and @racketghost for inviting me to play!!!

And I’ll be honest, I’m always so scared to tag people for fear of leaving people out so I’m giving anyone who sees this carte blanche to do this game too (tag me in it if you do, I’d love to read it!)

Ok, so here’s the most recent 10:

1. Not everyone who attends a magic show is a person of faith. From Gods in the Gaslight, which we published last week. Full disclosure, @redfacesmiley, my amazing co-author, wrote this line. But I think her writing lifted me up and I’m proud of this fic in a way I’m not of anything else I’ve done (Alexa, play You are the wind beneath my wings.)

2. Two weeks after the world hadn’t ended, Crowley warded Aziraphale’s bookshop with a web of subtle demonic power. From Vapour in Your Love, which is ... a silly PWP IDK I am not very good at PWPs so they tend to turn into PWPs with 11 special plots and spices.

3. The bookshop wasn’t haunted, but it might as well have been. This is from The Ordinary World aka 25,000 words of Crowley having a very bad time. I’m proud of this fic but I know it is a lot of angst.

4. They came with the smell of ozone and the crackle of lighting. Neither Flesh nor Foul, which is another PWP with too much plot and probably not enough other P?

5. Somehow he’d forgotten it was today, even though it was all over the papers and all the radio announcers spoke of. An Ending, Ascent. This is my not abandoned 1960s Doctor AU. I think about these two versions of Aziraphale and Crowley all the time, and I’m hoping to get back to it really soon.

6. Aziraphale slid down off his horse and stretched his back, easing the sore muscles with a tiny miracle. And No Birds Sing.  Naga Crowley, the middle ages, a curse, a spooky tower... I am trying to get the next chapter of this done right now, and it’s SO CLOSE to being finished but apparently I’m incapable of writing anything quickly these days.

7. Antonio burst into the saloon through the swinging doors like an angel of vengeance and Zachariah knew at that moment that there would never be another man for him. Romancing The Tome aka my cheesy romcom. I am proud of this fic even though it feels like someone else it wrote it? It’s been a long year.

8. It happened sometimes when he slept. Bite The Hand, another PWP with too much plot, good god I should stop trying to write PWPs. If I was writing this fic now I’d change this first line and probably all the lines that follow it, but anyway, rewriting fics from ye olden days (of 2020) is madness.

9. Crawly was hanging around the markets, causing the fruit in the most expensive stalls to go rotten, encouraging fleas to migrate from stray dogs to the prettiest of the women gossiping by the fountain, and upping the alcohol content in the beer in the hopes of starting a few fistfights as the day wore on. A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Human Sexual Behaviour. Gosh that’s a long sentence, innit? Get this, this is another PWP with a stupid elaborate set-up.

10. The first time Aziraphale made holy water for Crowley, he’d taken it straight to the porcelain sink in his back room and dumped it out of the pitcher immediately, and had stood trembling with the horror of it, unable to move. Left With No Trace. This is a 1920s Berlin ... PWP with too much plot again. Surprise! Insert Janet cactus meme here.

Ok I lied, here’s 11: In the beginning was the sword. This is from A Hell of His Own Making, which was the very first thing I wrote for Good Omens, and the first fiction I’d written in more than a decade.

Right yeah that’s about it! A smol dog is chewing on my chair so I’m going to wrap this up here.

[mapleandgingeroatmeal]

CR2E114- An Open Window

Ok I know I say this like, every four or five episodes, but this one's a new favorite, folks. The Intrigue! The Romance! The adorable bonding! The awkward nervous coming out! The real Irish Accent! The disability rep! 114's got it all.

Matt's really out here thinking "how can I stick it to ableists as hard as humanly possible", and his solution was to put a wheel-chaired npc in the fucking antarctic and make him the most gruff competent badass possible because this is a magic world and a chair can be perfectly all-terain and disabled people aren't always delicate fuck you. A legend.

I also just like Dagen in general? His disability is touched on just the perfect amount without at all defining his character, and I know from little mentions that he's gonna be a frequently occuring npc for a while into the future, and I am very excited to get to know him better, because I think he's gonna have some great stories and cast interactions.

We got CaducACE Clay up in here hell yeah boi!!!! I was pumped for this moment. What was interesting to me was how actually obviously nervous he was? It was brushed off as if he was confident in an instant, because that's just how Deuces "i have no negative emotions" Clay operates, but I for sure think that this is something he's actually had to struggle and come to terms and think about. Not bc it's bad obvs, just because thats what Being Queer is like. You can see in the way he sort of waffles around the issue with Veth. It's hard for him to actually get the words out and tell her something so deeply personal, but he does! I am so proud of my boy!

Jester makes friends everywhere she goes in such a delightful way. I think so much of her appeal comes from the fact that she just enters every interaction on complete good faith. She really likes most people, and assumes people will like her back!

God Beau and Caleb. I think I had that exact sequence of interactions with my sister a few months ago. I've noticed that very recently Caleb has been such a happier, more playful person, and I have to wonder what exactly triggered the change. I feel like it's actually the Rumblecusp conversations everyone had about their commitment to this group as a family who wasn't going to leave each other? Hearing that in words from everyone seems to have broken down that last paranoia barrier in his mind, the voice that was still telling him how this joy and these people would leave him soon. He trusts and loves the Nien unreservedly now, and it's so beautiful to watch.

Oh my god that scry on Lucien gave me such chills. THAT VOICE THO! It was instantly so magnetic and charming, I love an Irish accent. And the way he just had a friendly chat with the scry and the ominus shit he said?? Immediately drew me in. This guy is totally gonna be a favorite villian of mine, I can already tell.

So I actually didn't realize that the gang already knew Molly was back when he killed Vess? My original thoughts for how this arc went down was that they went to Eisselcross like everything was normal, waited for Vess, went to check on her, and then the first time they ever see Lucien is him laughing at them from a window-sill after killing Vess. I do like the way it happened, but I'm kinda sad also bc can you imagine the sheer drama of the surprise it would've been to see Molly alive for the first time like that?

I can't believe they've gotten away with stashing the body. I wonder how long they can keep this Charade up with Dagen? Will he even care who died if he's getting paid? Are they gonna drag him along into the tomb takers? So many questions.

[winterhawkremix]

The time has come!

The collection has been opened up and all of the fics we have received are now available to be read... except no one knows who wrote what!

Here’s the full list of all the remixes that were created for this year’s Winterhawk Remix in alphabetical order. There are 18 fics in total, so that should keep you all going for a while, and maybe you’ll rediscover some old favourites when you see what has been remixed!

Note that, while we’ve included ratings, to conserve space, we have not included tags, so make sure you check them out when you click through! Fic responsibly, folks.

And now, without further ado...

Go forth and read!

[Remix of] Is That The Fangs I Get? (Rating: Teen) A remix of @downwarddnaspiral’s Is That the Fangs I Get? “He does know, right?” “Know what?” “That I’m a vampire.” “Oh! Yeah. He’d have to, right?” Behind Bars (On The Other Side Remix) (Rating: Explicit) A remix of @captn-sara-holmes’s Behind Bars If Clint had known that hooking up with his cellmate would lead to escaping prison, making it all the way to Wakanda without being recaptured, and convincing King T'Challa and Captain America to let him stay once he got there, then he'd...well, he'd probably still have kissed the guy. Bucky was smoking hot, after all. Clint just really hopes he doesn't get mad when he finds out that Clint's been telling everyone he's Bucky boyfriend. Bottom of the Sea (just don’t go without me remix) (Rating: Teen) A remix of @verdantmoth’s bottom of the sea It was on his way out that he saw it. It looked pretty innocuous, like a bedroll or someone's discarded coat, but he knew it as soon as he saw it. His mom's had looked the same way, too long unworn and faded around the edges, but still silky smooth and beautiful in the right light. Clint limped over and grabbed the skin, draping it over his arms as best he could, trying not to touch it too much with his hands and the crusted-in blood under his fingernails. By Faith Alone (Rating: Teen) A remix of @badacts’ sola fide Bucky's daemon knows full well what he wants, but it's going to take a while for his head to get onboard with his heart.

Fractured, a Splintered Remix (Rating: Explicit) A remix of @flawedamythyst’s Splintered Clint touches something mystical at Dr. Strange's place and next thing Bucky knows, there are four extra Clints running around. He takes it upon himself to gather them up and help them come to some important realizations about the world. You know. Sexually. I dreamed I held you in my arms (Rating: Teen) A remix of @fadedsepia’s Like Sunshine He’s just about managed to focus on the mission, mentally reviewing the details of the target, when Clint strolls out of the bathroom, long and lean and — “You’re wearing that?” James finds himself saying. Clint stops short as he loops the purple aid around his ear and presses the earmold in, sky-blue eyes wide and startled. “Yeah? Why — is there something wrong with it?” James can’t help himself, his eyes wandering the slow course from head to toe. The dress shirt is mustard-yellow, linen so fine that it’s practically transparent. The collar is unbuttoned almost midway, showing the sharp jut of Clint’s collarbone and a slice of freckled chest below. The residual steam from the shower is already making the fabric cling to Clint’s incredible musculature. It’s fucking obscene. i hope i'll see you when it's light (the remix) (Rating: Teen) A remix of @nightwideopen’s i hope i’ll see you when it’s light After the fifth time they sleep together, Clint knows he’s in too deep. I Still Choose You (The Public Domain Remix) (Rating: Teen) A remix of @1000-directions’ i don’t have a choice (but i still choose you) Clint really didn't intend to do anything more than make a joke, but when his stupid 'soulmate' comment gets posted on social media, he ends up in a fake relationship with the one person he wishes really were his soulmate. Just Being Neighbourly (The Remix) (Rating: Teen) A remix of @mariana-oconnor’s Just Being Neighbourly Bucky can’t remember the last time he worked this hard to get somebody’s attention. He lowered the beaters into the mixing bowl with the speed setting turned up a little too fast, making his batter fling up in tiny flecks. “Jesus, again? What are you baking for now?” “Shut up, Stevie, and hand me the vanilla, damn it.” Make You Feel At Ease (Rating: General) A remix of @tintedglasses’ tell you truth, but never goodbye Just because it was Memorial Day and things in the past had definitely not been as kind to Bucky as they should have been didn’t mean that Steve needed to worry. But he also knew that man deserved a whole lot more good than that world had decided to give him. Novel Recognition (Rating: Teen) A remix of @lissadiane’s Blame It On Bad Luck Bucky tries to ignore the sudden change, the words that push to the surface of his skin some time between getting off work and getting Steve’s rail-thin ass up the stairs without falling or bruising any more of his best friend’s ribs, but… Why the fuck would it show up now? Bucky Barnes finally has a soulmate; someone he knows, but has yet to meet. Organic Chemistry (the remix of Improper Fractions) (Rating: Explicit) A remix of @cloud--atlas’s Improper Fractions Natasha's got a hot new roomate, and Clint's got a staring problem. The guy's a science teacher for fucks' sake. But if Clint doesn't get to suck his dick, he might actually die. Personal Security (Let's Go Steal Ourselves a Remix) (Rating: Teen) A remix of @kangofu-cb’s Personal Security Whatever his intentions, right now Clint’s a thief and a liar, and Bucky has worked hard to leave this kind of life behind him. It wouldn’t be fair to make a move right now. Push and Pull (Rating: Mature) A remix of @flowerparrish’s hey there, demons Bucky really wasn't expecting to see his one night stand at work the next day. right here, empty for days [a Written On My Heart remix] (Rating: Not Rated) A remix of @supervillainny’s Written on My Heart Soulmarks are funky lil' things. He can’t feel the lines on his skin, doesn’t know they’re there until he spots them. (Sometimes he thinks that’s a bit of a fluke on fate's part. What happens if ya miss ‘em? Or ya can’t see ‘em? Maybe fate knows though, which ones are meant to be seen.) safe and sound (finally safe remix) (Rating: Teen) A remix of @loonyloopylisa’s Finally Safe “I’m so sorry,” Clint says and it feels inadequate, but he doesn’t know what else to say. He thought he had a rough time waking up in that HYDRA cell, but at least he woke up somewhere else. He can’t imagine what it would be like to wake up in the same place he went to sleep, knowing that there’s no one else out there for him. “It wasn’t rare,” Bucky says, ducking his head slightly. “It was the thirties and healthcare wasn’t great and so it wasn’t rare for people’s soulmates to die before either of them reached twenty-one.” Bucky swallows hard again, his voice the quietest it’s been when he says, “But I guess I just never thought that it could happen to me.” susurrus (the one touch to know remix) (Rating: Teen) A remix of @drgrlfriend’s A Murmur in the Trees Sam Wilson has a nice place. It’s also conveniently located across the street from a small park with several old, heavily-in-leaf trees with an excellent vantage of his windows. Clint, settled high in the canopy in the vee between two sturdy branches, watches a weary, limping Cap arrive fresh from the hospital through binoculars. It’s embarrassing that this is what his life has come to. take a snapshot (dirty laundry remix) (Rating: Explicit) A remix of @thescarletwitch’s Take a Snapshot (If It Makes You Feel More At Home) You know this is basically soft porn, right?” Clint murmurs with a sly grin, cupping his own dick through his pants before shaking his head and laughing. Clint, like Clint Barton. Like the Avenger. Fuckin’ Hawkeye, for fuck’s sake. The not-so-secret love of Bucky’s very gay life. “Nothing soft about it,” Bucky mutters to himself. Clint and Bucky get dirty at the laundromat.

-

Author reveals will take place on 30th June. Until then, have fun reading and enjoy the mystery!

[faithfullies]

the residents of sematary knows francisco “cisco” de león rather well. they’re 23 years old, they work as a freelance artist, and they’ve been living in sematary for their entire life. their neighbors seem to know them quite well. they’re always complaining that they’re blasting vas by jagger finn all hours of the night..

warning!!  this intro post has mentions of missing persons, death, depression & suicide. please proceed with caution if these (or similar) topics trigger you

full name.  francisco mateo-rosario de león

preferred nickname.  cisco

age.  23 years old

gender, pronouns.  cis man, he/him

orientation.  heterosexual, heteroromantic

occupation.  freelance artist

IMPORTANT BACKSTORY NOTES. —

› was born and raised in sematary. it was all he ever knew so he didn’t really have much of a problem living in such a  ..  boring area. his parents were very devout and, in turn, cisco was too

› (tw) the de león family [ which consisted of cisco and his parents, alejandra and javier ] were loved among the sematary locals which meant the news of alejandra’s disappearance spread very quickly; the majority of people had heard about it within a few hours of the emergency services call javier made

› his mother was missing for a total of 8 months  &  during all of those months, little 15 year old cisco went quiet. he didn’t talk much and typically kept to himself. he got into drawing as a way of escaping real life  -  often drawing him and his parents on vacation.  (tw)  alejandra’s body was found washed up near the docks early one morning. her death was ruled an accident due to her cause of death supposedly being drowning; it was assumed that she went boating one day and ended up flipping over and was unable to get to shore in time. this news broke the de león boys; their faith slowly began to dwindle [ what kind of god could allow such a thing to happen? ] and neither father nor son ever showed up to church after that

› javier was never the same after losing the love of his life. cisco tried his hardest in every aspect of his life in order to make his father proud but he was simply too lost to even notice his son’s efforts. cisco spent more and more time away from school and his friends in order to care for his father

› (tw) cisco got a call from a neighbour [ & family friend ] during lunchtime at school one afternoon, informing him that there were a bunch of police cars and ambulances outside his house. he ended up skipping the rest of the day; going home to find out his dad had lost his battle with depression. he graduated not long after and, because he was 18, was responsible for moving on  &  going straight into adulthood on. with no other close family on the island, he was left to his own devices [ along with family friends and other loved ones to support him ]

› present day, cisco has lost just about all of his faith; he doesn’t believe there’s any god or higher being or anything like that. he’s quite pessimistic and wants to be left alone 90% of the time. currently lives in the house he grew up in [ given to him by his father via his will ] and has a bearded collie dog named needy who he absolutely adores. has no plans on moving out of sematary anytime soon [ or ever, really ] because he doesn’t think there’s much to live for anymore and just.. doesn’t see a point in moving away; that could definitely change down the line though. he offers art commissions as a means of making a living and has no plans of going to college or uni right now

POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS. —

› crush, 0/1.  someone he has a soft™ spot for. cisco is mad at the world but never at her and gets an incredible amount of butterflies when they talk / hang out / he sees her

› enemies, 0/1.  someone he fights with.. a lot. they can never seem to find common ground and are always bickering about one thing or another

› family friends, 0/4.  folks who are like family to him; who were there for him when his mother passed  &  then his father. he definitely considers them to be family despite them not actually being related in any way

› best friend, 0/1.  his rock, his ride or die, the one person in the whole entire world that truly gets him. without them, cisco has no idea what he would do. the pair are truly two peas in a pod and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for them

› (childhood / new / good) friends, neighbours, someone he dogsits / dogwalks for, someone who frequently buys his art / commissions him, partying / smoking buddy