#i am praying again awesome one

[strykerlancer]

— Rainer Maria Rilke, from “I am praying again, Awesome One.”

[hiddenbysuccubi]

Looking ahead and looking up!

Getting an unexpected 1k from Montana, still current in therapy, absolutely shut down my mom's toxicity (her: come back to WA. Or I'll put you away. Plus blah blah manipulative BS. Me: no~)

Two job interviews that also have housing so if I lose this apartment / leave my bad relationship I have it covered. Friend again offered to let me stay and help me set myself up. And one of the moms I work for is expecting and wants me to watch baby next year 😊 if I get all set up I would love to - she's the one who pays me 20/hr and said she'd pay more if I watch baby and her current youngest next year.

There is a bright side. And I'm owning it.

[weirdmarioenemies]

SURPRISE! Did you think the day would come when we would cover Love Live on this blog? I didn't!

Yohane the Parhelion: Blaze in the Deepblue is the Metroidvania-style game based on the fantasy spin-off of Love Live Sunshine, but you probably don't care about that! Statistically speaking, our target audience is Bogleech readers who are deeply revolted by anime girls!

So why bring up? Why bring it up? The answer is 🐠 FUNNY FISH! It's Funny Fish Friday!

Since this game is set in an underwater temple, the enemies this game are all based on sea creatures, and that's cool! Again, statistically speaking, you probably think sea creatures are cool. I really liked seeing the variety of enemies when playing through this game, so I thought it'd be fun if I could share them with an audience of people who otherwise wouldn't care! None of the enemies really have names, as far as I'm aware of. But I'll do my Rubesty...?

Our first guy we encounter in the game is the sort of guy who emerges from the ground like the Zombies from Castlevania, and wow! A good first impression I think. It is sort of a squid mantle, if the mantle was also a cloak for a spooky sort of wizard! The way it doesn't really have a 'face' in the hood and the eye is below really makes it seem like a weird mimic creature. Cool!

They also get a tough lategame variant which looks like a mix between a flapjack and a vampire squid. You don't often see flapjacks be designed as scary!

---

Next is Barnacles! A whole clump of them, like a cake. They shoot Energy Balls at you. Is this what Barnacles can do if they combine their powers...? The top actually opens up, and it looks a lot like a sea urchin's mouth! So maybe it is some sort of naked urchin creature covered in barnacles? Game Theory!

There are also barnacles with Ice Powers. Like real life!

---

Let's give it up for Garden Eel!!!!

What a fine Garden Eel it is! Complete with the sort of grumpy face, and with the addition of two little arms that make it look like it's praying or maybe a bit shy. But it is mean! It also spits energy balls at you, then hides in the hole so you can't hit it. How very sneaky!

SO sneaky, in fact, that these eels have mastered the art of ninjutsu! The ninja eel shows up for a split second in one single room, before smoke bombing away. You'd have to use a time freeze power to get him, but I never got around to doing that. I don't have any beef with a ninja eel! I respect him and his training!

Did someone say CTENOPHORE? I hope you did, or my hearing has really gotten worse. This thing is a grade A ctenophore, only with a ring of Scary Teeth! A little scary to think of a ctenophore who could Bite you, but nonetheless this deserves a :ctenopog:!

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Let's not forget Fish Vortex! Fish Vortex was the first guy to make me go 'wow, this game's enemies really are awesome!' So of course I had to put him at the top of the post! He is my selling point! I am selling all these enemies to you. For 4.99 a pop!

Anyway. This design is just so funny and cool at the same time. A swirling school of fish that leads into an endless dark abyss, and in the middle, a big eyeball. Also covered in fish. It shoots fish at you! Yay!

There is also a pink variant - it shoots fish that give you the Solitude status effect, which basically just makes Yohane too depressed to summon her friends. Meaning? They are Depression Fish! Maybe she just becomes so jealous of the unity and teamwork of these sardines. She's me like just for real! ^_^

---

isopot :)

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This slug is an umbrella. That is ridiculous! Ridiculously EPIC! It does the opposite of shield you from rain, which is create rain, that kills you. But I would still want one as an umbrella.

---

When I first saw this thing, I thought it was some strange round Echimoderm I had never heard of. But upon further inspection (I actually asked Mod Chikako shh), it is obviously like a Brittle Star, with each arm folded round to form a wheel! How creative and fun! It even has a bunch of eyes like a starfish!

---

Last but not least- sushi! There are sushi guys and they are cute. They don't really do much and are typically found in their own rooms, so I'm not sure what the point of them is. But finding a funny walking sushi should be a reward in of itself, I guess! Look at their funny rice feet! Or the one with the roe eyes!

I happened to use fire magic on one of them and this happened. Oopsies...

Now I am sure you are saying, thank you for showing me all these funny enemies. But are there any cool bosses? Of course there are, me! What's a Metroidvania without cool bosses? So I shall show you my favorites without delay!

First is this freak (affectionate)! It is a sort of amalgamation of lots of different animals and I think it just looks plain cool! Two squid mantles combined into one, a bit of a sea angel shape, bug legs and of course a great big eyeball!

If it is not freaky enough for you, let it be known that the bug legs turn into big green skeleton hands, and it also keeps getting pinker, and it grows new eyes and then extra horns grow out of those eyes. If THAT is not freaky enough for you then I am sorry but I cannot do anything about that.

---

Now, how about a sampling of this Freaken Thang? It honestly doesn't seem that sea-creature themed, but it uses seashells so I guess it counts!

What is really neat is that this boss has two different forms, upside down and rightside up! When it is upside down it looks a bit like a Magolor type creature. And of course, I really like the flame thing in the middle as well, that really feels like a Kirby enemy or something! Like a wisp made of plasma!

---

Fans of Anomalocaris won't be disappointed by this one! It's a big Anomalocaris tank and boy is it cool! There's something for everyone here, whether you're an Anomalocaris purist or you've always wanted to see it turn into a sort of futuristic beast with a screen mouth that shoots lasers! It really is the future, zura...

---

After covering all these wacky creatures, I'm going to have to end it off with the final boss! What could the big bad, the ultimate boss of all these sea monsters even be, I wonder? Well, it's...

...a coelecanth. Just a big coelacanth! It is big and blue! And really, does it need to be anything else? It is such an honor to make the biggest ultimate boss a coelacanth. It is even pretty cute!! Think he's smiling! 😊

Uh oh! Is it still cute? I guess so. My first thought seeing this was of course the world-renowned tongue eating isopod, so I really hope it was an intentional reference! It probably just wants to shake hands. Still, a pretty simplistic design for our final boss, right?

Buu buu! Its true form actually looks like this! Actually, it's kind of doing too much. Like let's tone it down a little?

So!! We beat the mega ultra coelacanth, and now we can find out what his motivation is! And it is... that he is the memories of the people of the past or something. And they all didn't want to be forgotten, so they turned into fish monsters! But we forgive them!

It doesn't really matter. All the girlies gather around and sing him a song. Look how happy he is! I forgot I was talking about a Love Live game until now, actually. All's well that ends well, the end, et cetera! Hit it, Yohane! [imagine this is like the end of a kids movie where all the Love Live girls are having a dance party and there is a shot of the big coelacanth in jail and he's tapping his mouth fingers along to the beat]

[endlessdaydream]

I get it, live actions aren’t for everybody and that’s totally fine. Not everyone’s gonna like it. But to shit on the stupidest things, or draw the dumbest conclusions??? Blocked. Y’all look dense as fuck. Views will be mixed as they always are, quit clogging up the tags with your negativity and find some chill 😂 The originals are still there to watch or read and enjoy…so go do that…it’s literally on the same app 👏🏻 I’m trying to be understanding I am, but some of y’all are so damn hung up you’re letting it completely destroy something you’d otherwise enjoy

Anyways!! Here’s some of the stuff I loved from the atla live action!

•cinematography, soundtrack, costumes - all on point

•getting to see the airbenders flourishing!!! Also the dude who played Gyatso?! Didn’t think I could love him more!! Even though it was painful as FUCKKKK getting to see the first invasion of the fire benders was an epic masterpiece

•speaking of, the first scene?? With the earthbender soldiers in the fire nation?? Iconic

•Omashu: unpop opinion I’m sure (bc y’all hate change but simultaneously hate when it’s carbon copy????????🤦🏼‍♀️) I loved how they incorporated like 3 or 4 episodes into one, and they flowed really well together. Jet is FOINEEE. Mechanist was perfect & his son is a freaking badass, amazing casting! Even though it was change, the secret tunnel scenes were still really freaking cool and the badgermoles were SICK AS FUCK. Also I love that Bumi was still cooky but not just randomly cooky? Like mans was run down from being king basically the entire war…which FAIR. And it made sense that he was peeved with Aang BECAUSE they were such good friends. Like the other avatars being mad at him? Yea that’s whatever. But for Bumi it was kinda personal. Also CABBAGE MAN WE MISSED YOU 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Oh! And the way they mentioned other episodes like they were lore when Zuko was trying to find Aang? That was an amazing way to tie back to the OG series

•I love how they incorporated the blue spirit, Koh, the fog of lost souls & parts of the ep where sokka and Katara got sick & Aang had to get them frogs - just reimagined it. Oh also Hei Bai! Yea, I loved that whole episode. Koh & Hei Bai were SCARY as fuck, it was awesome!!

•HAHN MY BELOVED…I ADORE YOU! Favorite character that they added/changed. Katara getting the other women involved in the battle?! Tui & La? The oasis?! 😭😭 stunning!!!! I also LOVEDDDDD Aangs avatar spirit that he turned into, literally perfect! And I loved the change that he gave himself over to the spirits wrath..fucking SICK. Also right before aang turned into the spirit/whatever that’s called, I was praying they’d do the line and thEY DIDDDD!!!

•Fire lord Ozai?? 😳😚 nothing needed to be said - perfection

•Kyoshi?! The Kyoshi warriors?! SUKI?! - speechless

•I like that they’re making more of a point to show how smart Sokka is! Mechanist calling him an engineer…I hope they play more into that! Ik they did a bit in the show with the subs (cartoon), but still

•”~hE rAn~” seriously my favorite line, I was DYINGGGG!!! The scenes with Zuko and Iroh, Zuko before the war meeting, the leaves from the vine being in the background at the funeral….ARE YOU FUCKING WITH ME?! Zuko’s crew being the crew he SAVED?! And when they find out they all do the fire nation bows to their prINCE?! 😭😭😭😭

I’m being fair y’all - things I don’t love/hope they change:

•this one I’m 50/50 on - I don’t love that they tried to give Kuruk a reason for disappearing. They tried to pull shit from Korra to make him look meaningful & not useless as an avatar and it didn’t hit for me

•some of the wigs: obviously we won’t see Yue again, but I wanted her hair to be white. I didn’t love the wig but it wouldn’t have been as bad for me if it wasn’t so grey. Also do NOT love Azula, Tylee or Mai’s hair. Ik they look just like the show but whether that’s wigs or their actual hair (I’m clueless) it needs some serious improvement. Azula’s looks great down, I just don’t like how big the side pieces are that frame her face when it’s up.

•Katara, my love, I am PRAYING part of your development is also going to be her becoming more outspoken and badass, bc this season we saw the tiniest of glimpses of it, not a fan (unless it’s a part of her development…she did grow up in a tiny ass tribe so I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt)

• IK they’re going with a much more serious Aang, but pleaseeeee give us some actual moments of him being a kid. We saw that like twice 😭

•Dante is the PERFECT ZUKO, I will hear NO slander. However, I need him to be more of a dick. I’m hoping we’ll get that when he gets super desolate when they’re on the run & then we have Zuko alone & he has his inner battle. I need snarky dickhead Zuko, so you can truly see the big differences between what he’s fighting (himself vs. who his dad wants him to be)

Have fun kids!

In case I haven’t made it clear, idgaf if you disagree. I go so hard for these live actions because it’s fun! It’s just supposed to be fun and different and new. If you get so serious about it you’re ALWAYS going to be disappointed, there’s no way around it bc nothing is ever going to be as good as the original book, the original show, the original tale. OG atla is ALWAYS gonna be the winner, nothing will compare! So sit back ~relax~ and find some joy in the little things

[wonderbias]

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Chapter One

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x OC (Visenya Targaryen)

Warnings: MDNI, +18, language, violence, manipulation, sexism (style a la medieval), blood, angst, kinda dark?, kinslayer Aemond.

AN: The dividers are from @itbmojojoejo. Their work is awesome, and they make one of the prettiest dividers I've seen. Any questions/asks/any kind of message, feel free to contact me. Enjoy!

Dearest daughter, I've accepted the terms. You are right, as always, and this war will only lead to more losses. I cannot say that your father is of the same opinion, but I managed to convince him. We've lost too much…and I am a selfish woman, I cannot bear to lose another one of my children. I'll be seeing you in two weeks and I only pray for the time to go by faster. All my love for you, my sweet girl. Mother.

Visenya, All is fucked, sister. Mother and Daemon are devastated, she took the only thing that kept him away from his grief: the war, and he's fucking pissed. Joffrey pulled a joke on him…didn't work. Baela cut her hair short…nobody bat an eye. Rhaena, I'm so worried for her, before he was her betrothed Luc was her friend…the tear marks seem like they are permanent on her face. This war has taken their strength to live and, honestly, I don't give a shit about the Throne (like, Aegon can get impaled on a sword and I wouldn't care) when my family is suffering. I wish things were like before. All of us playing on the beach, Luke alive and you not married to the Kinslayer. I've tried…like you asked me, but he took our brother Vis…and, as much as I wish for him to be dead, I know it wouldn't be possible without hurting you in the process. So I'll be visiting the Red Keep for one last time…and you're welcome to visit me and Baela (she misses you too) in Driftmark. I need you. I need my sister. I miss you. But don't ever ask me again to make a truce with Aemond. Jace.

The Red Keep had never been livelier.

The walls had been covered with more heraldry of the Seven but also the old Targaryen and Valyrian decorations had been placed back. Servants ran quickly through the halls, carrying food or clothes; the King's Guards armor had been polished until it shined like silver under the sun.

The new Targaryen heraldry hung proudly at the entrance of the Great Hall, and inside it was filled with more. It was truly a lavish and expensive Targaryen party, a banquet and hunting celebration for the newfound peace in the Realm.

But Aemond paid attention to the details…

Like the green drapes, or the green tablecloths. The maids and servants were also in green, and the whole family had expensive clothes made in green for the occasion.

It was a Targaryen party, yes, but the Hightowers were the ones celebrating the rendition of Rhaenyra.

When he walked into the Great Council, everyone turned to look at him. An already drunk Aegon smiled -the same disgusting smile he had given Aemond before making fun of him-.

"There he is, Mother. Ask him and don't bother me," Aegon said as he raised his cup to be filled.

Her mother's tense gaze found his eye, "Is it true?"

His tongue poked his cheek while he sat down, his grandfather calculated eye didn't leave him, "Is what true?"

"That Alys Rivers has come as the Lady of House Strong," there was a plea in Alicient's eyes. 

His face was devoid of any expression, "Aegon legitimized her and she's an ally. I don't see any problem." His fingers moved to touch the pad of his thumb. Once. Twice. Thrice.

Alicient's face fell, her heartbeat pounding in her ears and desperation creeping up her muscles. Her face turned to her father, but he didn't return her look, Aegon seemed preoccupied by the fact that the wine didn't last too much. Was she the only sane person here?

"Aemond, if they find out-"

"I'm taking her as a second wife. The official version will be that Visenya is barren…and that she wasn't able to give me an heir," his tone was flat and devoid of any kind of emotion.

His mother looked like the Stranger had appeared in front of her eyes. 

Then Aegon laughed, a loud and unfunny sound, one that the maids knew well when he forced himself upon them, "You fucker! You're really humiliating our sister! Oh, Aemond, I never knew you were this funny!"

His mother grabbed her necklace, the points of the Star digging in her skin, "This isn't right. Rhaenyra will think that this is an insult…all of this will be for nothing…"

"If I may speak, my Queen," Lord Larys whispering voice was finally heard, "It is not a bad idea. It would weaken Princess Rhaenyra's claim even more."

"Rhaenyra and her family are coming to sign a peace treaty. We are walking on thin ice with them, and it is only by your wife's intervention that we have come to this point. If she comes to sign and finds her only daughter, unhappy and surrounded by rumors of infertility, with her husband taking a second wife…I'm afraid she'll have enough reason to put our heads on pikes," Alicient remarked, her voice trembling at the thought of everything going wrong.

There was a silence in the room, only interrupted by Aegon sipping sounds. For a King he has the manners of a drunken peasant.

"Prince Aemond will wed Alys Rivers a fortnight after the signing of the treaty. You must not be seen in public with the woman," the Hand finally spoke, calculating eyes fixed on Aemond.

Alicient's mouth went agape, "Father you surely-"

"This is for the sake of the Realm, my Queen. Besides, the Princess has no lands to her name…while Lady Alys does. Your son will be the next Lord of Harrenhall…you must think with perspective," the tone of his voice made Alicient blush and sit back on the chair.

From the corner of his eye Aemond noticed Aegon's smile…he took great joy at seeing his mother reprimanded like some little girl. Maybe that explained why he let their grandfather rule in his name.

Aemond stood, "If that's all, I shall retire. My King."

He didn't wait for Aegon's dismissal to leave.

As soon as the door opened, Aemond was greeted with the sun peeking through the curtains and the room filled with his wife's perfume.

They had been moved to bigger chambers after their marriage, ones that his mother had cautiously decorated in black and red, to try to make Visenya feel at home. The last rays of sunlight made it look more spacious and the view to the Blackwater Bay gave the sensation of being on the edge of the world…where nothing could stop you and nothing could reach you.

He walked into the room, his footsteps resounding in the emptiness of the chamber, and stopped at one of the chairs in front of the window.

"Wife," was all he said.

The woman in the chair turned, "Husband."

Visenya Targaryen was everything a woman of their house was supposed to be. Her beauty could only resemble that of the Goddesses of Old Valyria, with high cheekbones, plump lips and a soft straight nose. Her hair was the same shade of her mother's, but longer and always styled with intricate braids, while her eyes were a bright purple.

Sometimes Aemond wondered if her beauty was what made her so hard to love.

She was ethereal, a true beauty with impeccable manners, a proud daughter of Old Valyria.

He had been ecstatic when their engagement had been announced. Aemond Targaryen, the scarred prince, was to wed the most beautiful maiden House Targaryen had seen in years? A pure Valyrian bride just for him?

It was as if the Gods were compensating him for his losses, for his place in birth, for the lack of love he had.

So he had married her. Bedded her. Made her scream his name in pleasure, over and over again.

He had found a partner, the friend he had always needed, and a lover…all in the same person.

They were happy. 

But shit happens.

After his father had died, his mother had ordered for her to be locked in their rooms. Visenya had asked him, day after day, to set her free, to let her write to her mother, to use her as a messenger and a bridge for peace.

Otto had dismissed her and so had Alicient, when she had asked for reason, to let her intervene. Aemond had talked with his wife, over and over again, trying to convince her to stay quiet and to obey.

But she was too much like…them.

And then, Storm's End had happened.

Water dripped from his thick coat and from his hair while he walked through the hallways to their chambers.

He knew he had a report to make, but right now he needed…he needed peace.

When the doors closed behind him, he started to undress, his clothes leaving a puddle of water on the floor. 

He needed them out. It…it felt like the water was pulling him down like…

Like the tides over Luke's body…

Gods…he hadn't meant to. No, no, he didn't kill him, Vhagar attacked Arrax…yes, Vhagar had defended herself and her rider…she was old, surely everyone would understand…and she was a war dragon…she had tried to protect him…Arrax should…should have flown faster…but…maybe it was Luke's fault…who takes a dragon like that in the heavy rain? Yes, it…it was Luke's fault…

"Aemond…?" her voice sounded from the spot on their bed. "Aemond what…? What happened? You're dripping wet!"

Her footsteps resounded in their chamber and, suddenly, she was in front of him, her hair shining gold from the light of the candles. Her hands helped him take off his clothes quickly and covered him in dry clothes, her mouth moved but he couldn't understand her words.

He shook his head, trying to focus on her soft voice while her hands worked on him.

"...and you're gone. What's happening? Please, Aemond, tell me…I'm going mad and my husband leaves without telling me to Gods only know where and-"

"Storm's End," was his shaky answer. Gods, he was freezing.

Visenya furrowed her brows and moved him closer to the fire, her hands rubbing his chest to warm him, "What were you doing there?"

It was obvious she was deceiving herself, she knew what had happened the past days…there could only be one reason for his presence in Storm's End.

Still, his mouth and his mind weren't in the same rhythm, he had never been this cold, "Allies…Luke."

Her brows furrowed even more as she understood the meaning: he had been sent by his brother to seek an alliance with House Baratheon, her mother had apparently had the same idea so she sent Luke there too.

"Oh…" what more could she say? Every word she spoke about this matter left her in a more dangerous position. "I'll give you some wine to warm you up."

She moved off him and went to the little table where the pitcher and two cups were, after filling one she returned by his side and helped him drink, "Well…maybe this…this will bring a peaceful solution. I'm sure Luke will-"

"He had an accident," the wine had helped him get warmer…and to make his tongue loose.

At that, he felt her body stiffening and she moved to look him straight in the eye, "Luke…what? Is he alright?"

"He fell off his dragon…to the sea," was his only answer.

A gasp left her lips, her hands already shaking, "What? H-How?!"

When he didn't answer, her hands went to the collar of his shirt. The tears were already coating her beautiful face…she looked like the statue of The Maiden crying for losing her virtue, "What happened Aemond?! Tell me?!"

His hands gripped her wrists, his voice coming now a little more stable, "Calm down, woman. It…it just…happened."

Her cries were heartbreaking, "Why?! He…He was just a child! How…how did it happen?"

He moved to wrap his arms around her, her tears wetting his neck, "He fell off his saddle…Arrax was already dead."

They stayed like that for a few moments, hugging each other tightly. It had been a horrible accident…but Luke had should known better than to fly with-

"What do you mean that Arrax was already dead, Aemond?" her voice was only a whisper, her hands slowly falling from his shoulders while her head moved away from his neck. When her eyes found his she pulled away, eyes wide open and her lips curved into a sinister sneer, as if she couldn't control her face and emotions.

"I-I…" his mouth opened and closed, not knowing how to answer his wife. What could he tell her? "He…Arrax came too close to Vhagar…and his fire hurt Vhagar so…she chased him…" 

Her nostrils flared and her eyes still shined with tears, "You fucker…tell me the truth." 

Suddenly, their doors opened and Alicient came running , followed by Aegon and the Hand, the older woman's face contorted in pain and…anger.

"What did you do?! You cursed us all!" his mother's hands grabbed his face painfully.

"Mother I-" she didn't gave him time before a slap hit his scarred side.

Aegon was already laughing, delighted in the pain of others, "Oh, niece. My condolences. If you miss your younger brother search in Vhagar's mouth…some people say that his Velaryon cape is between her teeth. Keep it as a memory, your King allows it."

A toe curling scream was her only answer, her hands going to her chest…as if wanting to rip her heart out.

After that he had given her space while he distracted himself with his brother's duties. After a few weeks she had allowed him to touch her, some weeks later she had finally allowed him to bed her again. But there was something missing…

After that, fucking her had become something distant, her presence a memory of his new gained title and, slowly but surely, every little thing about her that he held dear in his heart just…turned into things he despised.

That's why when he had met Alys it had been easy to let her into his bed, and not only her some other women too. He found himself enjoying their touch upon his skin, his confidence coming back. After all…what better thing than to carry a Targaryen bastard?

Alys had been so different to Visenya, always answering his demands and searching for his company.

Alys knew the hardships of the world, knew how unfair it was and how hard one had to fight to be heard. Her drive and ambition was what had pulled him to her, the fact that she was everything that his mother would hate in a woman made it even more exciting, a witch that wasn't afraid to play with magic to get what she wanted.

Visenya wasn't like that. 

She had been handed everything in a silver platter. Name it, she had it. Love, richness, luxurious clothes and people kneeling at her feet. 

A mother that loved her, a grandfather who had loved her even more than he had loved his own daughter, three father figures that protected her and loved her fiercely. 

A dragon. Because of course that Visenya had to claim Silverwing at seven namedays. 

(His father had thrown a feast for a week after that. Everyone already calling her "the Good Princess")

Even his own mother loved Visenya, her hate always directed to the bastards, one could see it in the way Alicient's eyes shined with nostalgia and love every time the Queen looked at her.

He took a deep breath and sat beside her, "Visenya, I need you to listen-"

She held up a hand, she didn't like to be interrupted when writing.

He closed his mouth and pressed his lips tightly, for a few seconds the only sound that was heard was that of her quill against parchment. His fingers tapped rhythmically the arm of the chair, impatiens growing on him.

The door opened and two servants walked with their hands full of clothes, but they knew better than to be seen or heard. Their light footsteps were added to the sounds in the room.

Finally, her quill stopped moving, "Sorry, Aemond. I didn't mean to interrupt you, please, tell me."

His jaw clenched a few times, "Tomorrow your mother arrives and, I'm sure, she will hear of our troubles-"

"Troubles that all couples have," her lilac eyes were soft. This is weird.

"Yes. But, as I was saying, if she's displeased, the Peace Treaty is in danger and we can't afford that, can we?" his tone was condescending, as if speaking with a child.

Because you are a child, always sticking your nose where it isn't called.

To his surprise her hands moved to grasp his softly, "Aemond…I'm sorry."

"F-For what?" just what was she saying?

"I haven't been the best wife for you. I placed a blame on you because I was angry and torn with grief, and that was wrong and uncalled for. Day by day, I ask myself 'what could have been if…?' but recently I have started to ask myself 'What can I do now?'

But now I know: we have to work for our future. And my future is with you, giving you babies and loving them. And loving you…I have never stopped loving you. So, I'm asking you for another chance, to give our marriage a second chance for love."

His mouth was closed but his eye was wide open, confusion and surprise mixed in the lilac of his eye, "I…"

Be calm. Be calm. Be calm.

A sigh left her lips and her hands gave him a soft squeeze, "Think about it, please. We…can take one step at a time…so that we can remember why we fell in love with each other."

She stood up and grabbed her letter, then leaned down to kiss his forehead, her sweet and fruity perfume invading his nose.

When the door had closed behind her and the maids, he went in search of the pitcher and took a great swig of wine.

What the fuck was that?

Rhaenyra arrived the next day.

On dragon back, obviously. 

He saw his mother swallow and close her eyes in a quick prayer at the roaring of the dragons, Helaena beside her with her usual disperse demeanor and Aegon sitting on the chair at the head of the table looking…well, absolutely miserable. The only one who looked truly happy was Otto: he could swore he had never seen his grandfather's smile. The rest of the Councilmen were present, the Lords barely holding their excitement at the perspective of "Maegor with teats" kneeling.

The Great Hall was covered on Aegon's and Rhaenyra's heraldry, a symbol of the union and peace between the two factions of House Targaryen, and a huge banner of the red dragon in a black background was displayed behind Aegon. Just for this occasion, they all were wearing black and red.

"You should have brought your wife, Aemond. That would make Rhaenyra feel…at ease," whispered Alicient, her hand against her chest.

He bit his tongue before answering, "She didn't want to be here, mother."

Visenya and him had spoken the night before about this and she had expressed her desire to not be present at the moment of signing the treaty, a frown and sadness in her face as she said it.

Just then, the doors opened and then his half-sister appeared, followed by his uncle and their offspring. It was evident that no one except Rhaenyra wanted this: Daemon had a expression of disgust and his hand was at the pommel of Dark Sister, ready for a fight; Jacaerys seemed like he would rather swallow shattered glass than being here, and his betrothed had the same expression, and Lord Corlys looked absolutely furious…another chance lost for the Velaryons for their "blood" to sit on the Throne.

The expression on Rhaenyra's face was…shocking, to say the least. She looked like the shell of the woman he had met and heard of, her lilac eyes seemed…lifeless.

He was surprised to see the twin of Ser Erryk move forward, "Queen Rhaenyra, first of her name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lady of the Seven Kingdoms. Protector of the Realm."

They all watched as she walked forward, followed by two members of her Queensguard and Daemon, until she was face to face with Aegon.

"Brother."

"Sister."

In an extremely surprising act of manners, Aegon had offered his sister his arm. If Rhaenyra was shocked by it she hid it very well, the only sign of her surprise was a slight twitch on her mouth corner, and her hand placed on top of his arm, accepting his offer.

When they finally reached the table, where two parchments and two quills waited for them, Otto couldn't hold back and finally spoke, "It is a wise decision Princess. You are preventing unnecessary bloodshed."

Daemon looked ready to go over the man and make mincemeat out of him.

"Then my baby and my son were blood that needed to be spilled?" her voice was filled with anger despite it's tone.

She turned around to look at Aemond, pure hate in her eyes. It was obvious that Otto had fucked up and the treaty hung on a thin thread.

Alicient moved forwards as a last attempt to stop violence before it began, her hands clasped on the front of her gown and already bloody, "No one is implying that, Princess. We mourn the deaths of Princess Visenya and…Prince Lucerys, we are family after all."

Daemon scoffed and muttered "fucking cunt".

Taking advantage of the distraction, Aegon's Master of Laws moved forward, "If I may interrupt, your highnesses, we should proceed with the signing."

He handed Rhaenyra her copy of the treaty and motioned to a chair. After her eyes scanned those of Aemond and Alicient, she moved and sat down on the offered chair. Her eyes moved along the parchment, her face still devoid of any emotion as she analyzed the contents. After what felt like hours she reached for the quill.

That was it. That was the moment they were all waiting…the moment where she would finally renounce any claim for her and for her line.

"Is there any reason why my daughter is not here?" she asked no one in particular.

Alicient's eyes opened wide and her mouth opened and closed a few times.

"My wife didn't want to be present," Aemond stepped forward.

Daemon raised an eyebrow, "And why is that?"

Rhaenyra placed a hand on the parchment and looked at the Dowager Queen, "I will sign…but I would like to see my daughter. Surely you can understand…"

The soft and broken lilac eyes melted Alicient and she found herself incapable of denying a mother that simple plea -after all, Rhaenyra had lost two children and her only daughter was the one that tried to mend things between the two factions-.

The Dowager Queen searched Aemond's face but it was Aegon who gave the order, "Brother, go and fetch your wife. Now."

Aemond took a deep breath and nodded, before turning on his heels and walking out of the Great Hall, the path to the chambers on Maegor's Holdfast took him some time.

The door was unguarded -he had ordered all the white cloaks and yellow cloaks to be on guard earlier that day- so he twisted the knob for himself.

The chamber was dark, someone had pulled the curtains blocking the sunlight, "Visenya? Your mother requests your presence…"

Silence.

He walked in and tried to navigate, as best as he could, in the darkness of their room. 

"Visenya?" He repeats again.

Nothing.

By the corner of his eye he noticed a thin strip of light, so he walked to it and extended a hand, making contact with the thick cloth of the curtains.

With a movement of his arm, he pulls the curtains away, light invading the room and hitting every corner. Things are just like he left them this morning: a linen shirt on the back of a chair, the teapot and two cups on the table against the window, and one of his daggers on the nightstand.

But there's one thing that has changed.

His wife is nowhere in sight.

The sixth day of the seventh month - 127 AC I proposed. I have never heard of a woman who propositions a man -not a decent one, at last. But I did. I proposed to my uncle. And he said yes. His beautiful purple eye opened wide in shock when I asked him…as if he couldn’t believe it and then he grabbed me by my neck and asked if I was playing a game, that he would take one of my eyes if I kept on teasing him. I was not. I confessed my feelings. How I had always loved him -first as a sweet boy, now as a woman can love a man-, how I mourned for him when my brother took his eye, and how I wished for him to be my King Consort when my mother died.  I told him I loved him. He kissed me, and was not soft, his mouth on mine was demanding, but his hands on my hips were gentle, as if I was made of the finest porcelain. He is the only one I desire. The only one I will love for the rest of my days. Even if he does not know it, my heart already belongs to him.

Taglist: @snh96

[fawism]

From Dusk 'Til Dawn

Summary: When life gives you lemons, you don't make lemonade. You run for your life and pray that you'll make it out alive of this godforsaken, mass-infected land.

Pairings: Leon Kennedy/reader, Luis Serra/reader, Ada Wong/reader, slight Ashley Graham/reader

Word count and tags: at least 4k / canon-typical violence and your usual RE4R warnings. Slow burn, friendship, awkward flirting, attempt at humor err, slight angst/comfort for future chapters. SPOILERS!!

A/N: This is a multi-chapter fic just a heads up. I also published it in AO3 & Wattpad. :D This was originally a sole Leon fic from years ago until the remake ignited my will to continue the idea again. Note, Leon's technically not in the first chapter but I promise he'll be in the next one. Translations are in the comments!

Chapter 1: Straight outta horror movie

Filth latched on you. Its gross dampness oozed through the white fabric, violating the personal space that was your skin.

One more.

Just one more miscalculated step and you'd lose your well-kept balance, plummeting face first into the dirty, wet earth.

"Why am I even here?"

An upbeat cheer was your friend's response to your unending gripe. "You can do it! I believe in you."

"I don't believe in myself."

Sam was standing atop a boulder just ahead of you with her hands on her hips. "I thought you said you wanted to be adventurous for a change?"

"I said I needed a get-away from the city, not go hiking in this damn weather!" you fired back.

Of course you had terrible luck sliding across mud whilst traversing through the thick forest. Flailing around midway to steady yourself only did you more bad than good when your foot landed on an ankle-deep hole in the soil— you ought the universe likes to be cruel to you in that way.

Your other companion attempted to console your frustrations by extending a helping hand. "This is a sign that you should go out more so you can keep up with us." With Peter's efforts, he yanked you out of your misery and navigated you through the safety of an even ground.

"I do, just not with you two."

"Hurry, hurry!" Sam jogged onwards with a rushing Peter behind her.

"Wait up!"

You stood there dumbfounded, your grumbles of protest soon ignored as they playfully shoved each other all the way to an overview of the massive woods. "Yeah, don't mind me. I'm basically just air."

While they soaked in the presence of nature, snapping multiple photos of the same scenery— everywhere you looked were just rows of trees dimmed into the gathering fog— you busied yourself by sitting next to a withering plant, popping your sludge-filled sneaker off.

You deflated at its state. My shoe.

"We're almost there." The ever so enthusiastic Sam motioned at the path beyond. She withdrew a worn-out map from her bag, waving it off with a wide smile, before flipping it right open. It left you wondering how old the poor thing was, seemed like one more careless unfolding and she would tear it apart herself out of excitement. "It says here there's only a mile until the gates of the abandoned church."

"It feels like I'm in a horror movie about dumb teens walking to their death," you said flatly, back hunched as you tapped the disgusting residues out of your shoe.

"Don't make me drag you by your legs." Your vacant stare glazed over hers. As if she would be able to without cracking a back or two. "Look, I promise you, it's going to be an awesome experience."

"Not when we're walking right into cannibalistic territory."

"Don't worry," Peter piped up, sending you a small grin, "I don't think they're going to be interested in your guts anyways."

"Good, they can start chowing you down first."

Sam eagerly clapped her hands together. "Alright! Less talking, more climbing. Let's go."

Both of them brushed aside your worries as the paranoid talk of a horror enthusiast who has watched one too many films and began trudging up towards the murky terrain. With no other choice you slipped your ruined shoe back on, toes squirming uncomfortably in left-over mud as you pocketed your equally ruined sock.

Considering you had no plans of returning by yourself, far away from the civilization you all came from, you unwillingly followed suit with a permanent scowl on your lips.

Apparently your friends' idea of escaping the hardships of responsibility and adulthood was to trek these rocky cliffs in search for an ancient church hidden within the mountains of this remote land. Scratch that, you reminded yourself that they were nothing but co-workers who have managed to recruit you into their quest of going off-course from the trail a local guide had specifically told you not to go off-course.

The situation had set your alarm bells ringing off the charts. Who in their right minds would journey through these unregistered parts of the area without an escort?

If looks could kill, you'd be charged with first degree murder. Unaware of your glare focused on their backs, Sam and Peter chattered amongst themselves about the thrilling possibility of discovering something bizarre.

It was true that you wanted to step out of your comfort zone at least once. So rather than opting for a usual holiday inn along with the most basic, jam-packed tourist hotspots, you were convinced to accept their offer of exploring an obscure landscape with a secret underground structure.

Honestly, it wasn't that bad.

It wasn't supposed to be this bad.

You wouldn't be moping about if only your colleagues didn't stray from the original route you had all decided to stick to.

Your mind wouldn't be full of unimaginable terrors if the resident guide didn't just vanish nearly two hours ago when he made a beeline to the closest gutter somewhere to take a piss, which prompted your group to continue forward because how else were you guys going to get your money's worth from paying this trip if not make a curious little detour on your own?

No, everything would have been fine if there were no ominous grey clouds hanging above the skies, nor pitter-patters of water dropping lightly on your heads.

Peter swatted your arm at the sight of your sour expression. "Keep frowning like that and you're gonna end up old early I'm telling you."

Leaves and twigs crunched beneath the weight of your feet as the three of you constantly marched through the overgrown branches on the way.

You smacked a few out of your face. "Nothing to smile about in my life."

Sam paused in her steps, whirling around to confront you. Her hands were soon on your shoulders accompanied by a squeeze. "Stop getting worked up so much. You need to relax, okay?" Now she was shaking the hell out of you. "Breathe in some fresh air! Get rid of the pollution in your lungs."

"It stinks in here," you said as a matter-of-fact.

The surrounding environment reeked that it felt like the stench personally sucker-punched you in the nose. It was as if here rested a burial of decaying flesh and numerous crap combined.

Hopefully said decaying flesh was of animal remains, not something... much worse.

"Man, don't be lame. We don't get this much days-off from corporate so you might as well enjoy yourself," Peter huffed as the three of you resumed walking.

"He's right. Do you really have to be negative about it?" Sam questioned, craning her head sideways to peek at you.

"Listen, I'm not here to spoil your fun."

"Well you're already doing a good job at it."

"The point is," you interjected fast, "it takes zero effort to be a bit more careful in general."

She raised her brows. "Yeah, because a cannibal's going to jump its teeth right at us."

"Or some rando with a mask and a machete," Peter added, nudging at her. They both wore matching snickers. "See? This is what happens when you keep watching those crappy B-rated films at midnight."

You deadpanned at their lack of tact in comprehending the dangers of travelling on foreign roads. "When I die, I'm haunting you two first."

Not that this exchange was anything new.

It should've been half expected, them dismissing your comfort in general for their own fun. The last time you attended a company gathering, a couple of your associates were dragging you left and right to a toast by chugging multiple bottles at once. One thing led to another, with you refusing to be black-out drunk with some unfamiliar faces, then you ended up getting blamed for killing the fun out of the party.

All because you didn't like the idea of being wasted around people you didn't know. That and you wouldn't want to turn up at work the next day with a banging headache.

You didn't hate your co-workers.

Although you were tempted to wring some of their necks at one point or two, you'd rather learn how to mingle with the crowd than be tagged as a pathetic social outcast. Sure, you can stand up for yourself, but it was easier to stay on everybody's good side while you simply faded into the office wallpaper minding your own business (not at the expense of your boundaries of course!)

It's hard enough that your superiors stack tons of reports on your desk with a huge, fat date of a deadline attached to it, you didn't need another hassle in the form of people who actively wished for your downfall just because you were being a jerk about somebody's ugly outfit or whatever.

Having close acquaintances to help you out with a few workloads was a plus too.

And so, socialize you did.

"If you hate it so much, why did you bother coming?" Sam fell back in line beside you while Peter wandered ahead.

You stomped on dirt as you treaded under the bleak drizzle of the afternoon. "Because if I didn't, who knows what would happen to you two? And they might accuse me of pushing you off a cliff or something if I came back without you guys in tow."

Her quiet snort didn't go unnoticed. "Would you push us off a cliff or something?"

"Hm." Your eyes shortly closed, as if you were contemplating over the thought. "I'm still deciding on it."

An abrupt shift in the background and hasty rustling from the hills had you snapping your neck in alarm towards the source of the unwelcomed noise. Your gaze started darting everywhere, seeking for anything, anyone, scurrying around the meadows prepared to pounce on your unsuspecting selves.

You turned to Sam, shushing her with a finger. "Hold up."

"Now what?"

"Did you hear that?"

"Oh for Pete's sake," she exclaimed in disbelief.

Peter tossed a glance by his shoulder. "You called?"

"No not you!"

"Okay, I swear, I heard something." Your voice hinted budding anxiety.

"Can you please stop scaring yourself every five minutes?"

"It could have been a squirrel or raccoon on the run from you," Peter suggested out loud.

Wind breezed just right past the edge of your cheeks.

Something swift came whizzing from behind you, hitting Sam and straight up knocking the breath out of her backwards.

Your heart almost leaped out of your throat that you would have stumbled on your feet if they were not physically petrified on the forest floor at the same time. Eyes bulging wide and insides twisting together in sick realization, you stilled at the arrow that was jammed deep into Sam's shoulder.

Dark red started blooming along her clothes while she laid there stunned.

Holy shit.

Holy shit.

Holy shit!

Frantic screams erupted all together, cutting through the once uncanny silence encompassing the woods.

Your head shot up everywhere while you cradled her against you. Sam's trembling hands hovered unsurely to where the tip of the arrow has punctured her. She gasped through labored breathing, spluttering words of pain and sobbing begs for help.

"Peter!"

He dashed towards the two of you before you knew it, his knees skidding across the field. Peter found himself in a binding frenzy and his immediate move was to rip the arrow out of Sam's flesh at her repeated pleas.

"Wait don't!"

She burst into another fit of shrieks.

"Shit!" Peter was quick to let go of the arrow's handle once he understood his grave mistake. He jerked around back and forth the area. "Where did it come from?!"

"I don't know!"

"¡Forasteros!"

"¡Cazadlos!"

"¡Preparad la trampa!"

Not far away from your rooted position were screeches of a seemingly angry mob emerging from nowhere. Their initial silhouettes soon changed into clear outlines, revealing a group of villagers rapidly approaching armed with various pitchforks, sickles and torches illuminating their vicious nature.

Hostile gazes were dead set upon you.

"¡Muerte!"

Fear rattled you down to the very core. "Get her up! Now." Your arms circled around Sam's limbs to hoist her up, Peter did the same, and both of you began carrying her limping form with all your mights. Her head flopped to the side, signifying that she was on the verge of passing out. "Sam, stay with me."

An arrow came zipping through the air.

And another.

And another.

"Watch out!" In a matter of seconds you were tackling Peter to the ground. Filth spread throughout your clothes as the two of you rolled out of the ambush.

Long ago did you forget your holds on Sam. The force of their consecutive shots sent her flying and toppling on her back. When you wobbly pushed yourself back up to reach out for her, your voice died into a mute static, mouth hanging agape in sheer shock. Terror tightened its clutch on you as your heart lurched at the image in front of you.

"—elp."

There was an arrow lodged into Sam's windpipe. Similar ones were protruding from her thighs and abdomen from singlehandedly taking on the earlier onslaught. You watched in quiet horror as she miserably clawed at the one speared on her neck while choking in her own blood, light splatters painting her face as she gurgled the thick liquid now pooling from her mouth. Red slowly trickled underneath her, it stained the golden browns and bright greens of the fallen wet leaves.

"—go."

A different voice reverberated through the soundless background, screaming for your name.

"Let's go!" Peter's hand seized you by the collar of your shirt, almost strangling you in the process. He pulled your mind out of the water and you instantly tumbled forward alongside him. "Move godammit!"

You finally found your footing at his harsh tug and the two of you raced maniacally through the woods, never once looking back. You didn't think you canever look back at the macabre where you left your dying companion behind.

It wasn't until a few minutes into making a run for your lives did you glide into a complete stop. You placed a hand against a tree to support yourself from the hammering in your chest and to catch some needed air. "Sam, she," you uttered, regaining the ability to speak again without bile threatening to spill. There was an inaudible crack in your tone. "She was..."

Peter was just as breathless as he combed through the stuff inside his backpack. "W–we need to, we need to call for help," he stammered, fumbling with the phone that he barely had a grasp on.

Following his act, you brought out yours. Your grip intensified, stomach sinking at the screen with zero reception. "Really, at a time like this?"

"Useless piece of crap!" Peter threw the device in a brief outburst of rage. It smashed against the bark of a tree. He wound up scrubbing his face, hands moving to clutch his hair.

"What are we gonna do?" You thrusted your phone back into your bag. "Sam had the map."

"I... don't know." Peter lifted his disoriented features at you. He sniffed a bit and rubbed his nose using the sleeves of his jacket. "I don't know."

Lightning flashed above the dreary skies. The thunder's presence rumbled across a distance soon after. A storm was brewing not far ahead.

"Aprisa, aprisa, seescapan los corderitos!"

Both of you jolted out of the fleeting sense of peace, trepidation on the rise yet again at the impending horde whose sole mission was to disembowel you alive by the looks of it.

"They caught up," you whispered panic-stricken as you ducked out of their line of sight.

Peter grabbed your arm. "When I run, you run, got it?"

"Do you even know where we're going?"

"It doesn't matter!" he retorted, "We're running until we find help. Don't look back, you understand?"

You gulped, before flashing him a hesitant nod with your lips forming a tight line.

"C'mon."

Adrenaline pumped through your nerves as the two of you sprinted blindly towards the woodland.

Peter appointed himself to take the lead and was now speeding in front of you. "We're going to be fine, we're going to be fine, we're going to be fine," he continuously mumbled under his breath. It was more of a reassurance for him to help his remaining sanity intact. His jaws clenched in agitation, the throbbing across his ribs was non-stop.

He risked a glimpse at you, hoping that you were still trailing behind him. Stick together and we're going to be fine.

A violent snap echoed in your ears.

"Fuck! Ah!"

Dread crashed down on you all at once. You could feel your own foundation on the brink of crumbling at the scene playing right before your eyes that you almost collapsed when you staggered back.

Peter howled in agony on the ground, hanging on to his leg where his foot has been clamped shut by a bear trap. Its rusty maw chewed at his flesh, the teeth penetrated his muscles open while chunks of skin still dangled around the pulverized bone of his ankle joint.

"No no no." Fingers dug into the gaps of the trap as you scratched at its surface, putting all of your combined strength into prying them apart. "Come on you stupid metal crap!"

"Stop."

You didn't hear it the first time.

"I said stop."

You refused to hear whatever the fool has to say at all.

"You're hurting me you dumbass!" Peter slapped your desperate tries away. His words and actions, however, contrasted the rueful smile he had on. Peter dropped his head, his shoulders visibly quaking that you couldn't exactly discern whether he was about to cackle or cry or whichever in between. Then he broke into a series of strained laughter seconds later, which slowly but surely evolved into him shedding mild tears. "I'm bleeding."

"No shit." The blood smeared along his pants said as much. "Now help me get you out!"

"I..." He practically drifted off at the fact that he's screwed, catching himself before he could absolutely lose it. "I'm only going to slow you down."

"Peter Connors, I'm going to drag your ass if I have to!" you yelled at his face as you forced your way through the trap once again, striving to split it open.

His conviction in saving you nearly wavered at your stubbornness to let him go. "You need to leave."

You snatched him by his shirt. "Pull yourself together and stop playing hero!"

He aggressively shoved you in return that he slipped off from your hold. "Do you want to die? I said go!"

His words rendered you speechless. How were you supposed to answer that knowing what he's asking of you meant?

"Beat it before they get here! Just..."

The situation crushed you, despaired with the struggling realization of leaving someone you knew behind to their doom. Again.

It was a miracle that Peter was even capable of a weak chuckle at his misfortune, yet he did. "Horror survival 101, am I right? What else are we supposed to do?"

Your expression contorted, eyes blurring misty. There was a lump stuck in your throat, together with uncertainty that kept your tongue tied. "I'm..."

No.

"I'm going to get help."

Why are you parting him with false hopes?

"So don't you dare die on me, you hear me?"

He doubted he'd still be here in one piece if you did come back. Peter's mouth twitched into a small, helpless smile. "Loud and clear."

You ended up squeezing his shoulder, because it was the only thing you could ever possibly offer someone who would be meeting their eventual demise. "Hang tight."

Great, you sucked at comforting a man who's at death's door too.

"Now go."

He didn't have to tell you twice.

You were already fleeing from the site, like your legs have worked on a mind of their own and now they're pushing you to the limit as you bolted through the extensive land regardless having zero knowledge of the right track.

There should be at least one decent person in this place who could help you out, right?

Right?

"¡Oye!"

With you barreling your way through the forest like a madman, you didn't have ample time to hit the brakes the moment someone else appeared right in front of your path. The impact struck hard as you unintentionally hurled yourself at them, the collision launching both of you spinning down the steep hills against each other.

Pain exploded across your skull when you landed on your back after with a loud thud. "I c— I can't breathe," you wheezed, applying all of your remaining energy turning to your side, but the person responsible for your lack of oxygen doubled your suffering by pressing you down with his entire weight on top of your body.

The man stroked his head, wincing as he carefully picked himself up with a groan, "¡Mierda, you literally ran me over."

Your fight or flight response kicked in as soon as there was space between the two of you and you thrashed like crazy, causing your fist to jab him by the chin. He yelped, jumping back from your punch. You took this chance to spring back on your feet despite the overwhelming ache crossing your temples.

You scrambled with anything you can get your hands on to defend yourself against this likely deranged stranger, until you uncovered a large stone beneath the rubble.

"Woah woah woah!" He almost tipped his balance at the insane intruder rising up with a rock on their hand. "So after your little hit-and-run you're just gonna bash my head in, huh? Is that it?"

"The hell are you saying?" You hissed, vision and limbs unsteady. "Are you a member of that cannibalistic cult?!" you demanded, jutting your weapon in his direction to show him how ready you were to use it if necessary.

"Don't lump me with them! I'm not the one looking like a lunatic."

Your heated clash was interrupted by the imminent, recognizable voices from afar.

"¡Ahíestan!"

"Oh good, did you really have to bring an army with you?"

"Yeah, because I just love the attention from a bunch of crazy townsfolk."

The trade of sarcasm didn't go undetected that the conversation earned a glower of annoyance from you and a pompous smirk from him.

"Looks like we're partners in crime now, no?"

"What?"

"They hate you, they hate me. I don't think they're on their way here to invite us for dinner, don't you think?" His talk was dripping casual as if this was all routine of a typical Sunday morning. "What do you say?"

The shouts were increasing in volume.

"Okay, fine. Fine!" You flung the rock in another direction, resigning your fate into his hands. "Lead the way then or else we're the ones on the menu tonight."

The mystery man didn't budge at first, which provided you with the impression that perhaps you made a mistake of trusting whoever this guy was, instead he put his open palm out for you to— you assumed— shake?

"Luis Serra."

You swiped at him and his untimely introduction. "Save it for later!"

"Ow, rude," he said pretending to be disheartened at your rejection of his camaraderie, before the traces of his comical attitude disappeared, now replaced by a genuine grasp on both of your present circumstances.

"Run like your whole life depends on it."

[anewp0tat0]

yea no I lied, I couldn't leave before doing this cause obviously I'm obsessed. obviously.

here's what I could research about the staff highlighted to be working on Black Butler season 4 in the time and patience that I had right now.

Kenjiro Okada: Director

I did some casual gathering on the good ol Wik. I don't recognize a lot or any of the previous works that he has been a part of, but it is a plenty some, so feel free to take a look for yourself. for a better idea, I took a glance at him through IMBD as well. I gotta be honest, not to cause any concern but just to be blunt, it's not the best look. when briefly checking out the works that he's done, a good some of them only make it up to 6 stars. only a few actually make it up to 8. but of course this could be due to a couple different factors, such as the source materials being not well known, or just not that great to begin with. after all he works mainly with adaptation. this could be his big break idk maybe :>

further on that, here's something I borrowed from Wiki.

honestly, this could be a potential concern as well. we all know that an unfortunate part of the fandom, especially over in japan, is into things the rest of us would rather not see in anime. I don't know why else yana would continue to add fan-service time and time again(I'd rather not think of her personal preferences). so if this person is really interested in pandering to the fanbase, it may lead to some scenes being uncomfortable... as usual. but, I shouldn't focus on the negative, all in all this looks like it will be a good thing! all we want from an anime adaptation is for it to be faithful to the manga, and especially after season 1 and 2, I think this assurance is much needed. besides, this could be an indication that he will be working closely with Yana, and projects that do so have succeeded *points to campania*. I'm optimistic, and I sure hope that we're in good hands.

Hiroyuki Yoshino: Head Writer

so unless I'm looking at a different Hiroyuki Yoshino it looks like this guy is a voice actor and singer first... interesting. as far as I can see it, he hasn't voice acted anyone in Black Butler.

oh no yea completely different guy, my bad! very different. the Real Hiroyuki Yoshino(screenwriter) was the screenwriter for Book of the Atlantic! sorry. we're all good here, perfect in fact.

unless he decides to substitute someone else for the double charles :] I still remember that. I don't remember if they're in this arc and personally I wanna keep it that way.

more info.

Yumi Shimizu: Character design

I'm not really jumping out of my seat to research this one, no offense to the designer, but I don't think we'll be seeing much character design other than Yana's. as for the artistic style of the anime, we already saw the teaser, and I think we're happy(I am really trilled that they released the announcement at the same time as the teaser, the announcement alone would not have had the same huge impact. plus it reduces the fear of cancelation ;] not putting that out there).

more info.

Ryo Kawasaki: Music

this is someone I really wanted to look into cause the music will matter a lot to me.

I found it, here's the soundtrack for the upcoming season 4.

with a background of jazz and band(popularizes to fusion genre apparently), this guy doesn't appear to fit with previous Black Butler soundtrack history. but I think that this is an indication that the mood and music of this season may be different of the rest due to it now being a sports show lol. and I think that's good! if done right I think the tone change will be hilarious, or, if everyone hates it, it's easily distinguishable from the rest.

I think this will be fun. here's more. also he looks awesome. impressive guy. man I'm praying for a killer new opening GOD.

I still wonder who the composer for the more classical score that I saw in the teaser is, if not him. it was nice :>

and finally:

CloverWorks

they're doing Spy X Family, did The Promised Neverland, Shadow House, many more that even I know of, we're good!

their page

a lot of y'all are very savvy at research, so if anyone wants to add on or contradict, go ahead! have a very, lovely day, everyone.

[tobiasdrake]

One down, two to find. Let's see what else we can poke.

...that....

...that feels like an awfully big thing to ask of me. I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of a commitment.

...

I am so intimidated by this pretty flower right now. Um? UMMMM!?

HERE TEAM LEADER YOU ARE AN AWESOME TEAM LEADER PLEASE TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME AND DON'T READ ANYTHING INTO THIS.

I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO TAKE ON SUCH A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY AS THIS.

GREAT. DO THAT. AND LET US NEVER SPEAK OF THIS AGAIN GOODBYE.

Felt tho.

This sign perfectly encapsulates my feelings for the intense Flower Mission I just had to undergo.

There they are. Hey there, Bon-bon, what's on your mind?

Whoa! Hostile. Guess you're not holding up so well, huh?

Yep, that explains the dourness.

Look, Bonnie, I'm not going to give you some platitudes about embracing Change even when it hurts or whatever. That's Mira's job. I think. I still don't fully understand the particular creeds of our religion.

What I am going to tell you is that you aren't wrong for feeling it. These feelings you're experiencing are entirely valid. I want you to open yourself up and let yourself process them.

Carry them with you. And then, tomorrow, I want you to take those feelings and turn them into violence. I'm not going to tell you that it will be okay. I'm going to tell you that the hurricane of violence we unleash tomorrow is how we make it okay.

This is a child terrified for an imperiled loved one. I don't know why I even asked. They obviously have only one thing on their mind right now.

Yep. Hostile. Okay, so my takeaway from this conversation is that Bonnie is going through a lot and seems nice enough to the people they like, but absolutely hates my guts for some reason.

Okay, one left. That just leaves the Favor Tree.

HEY THERE BIZZA-ZISS... Busy....

Hey Isa, how's your favor coming along?

If you can't think of a favor to ask, you could ask it for some kind of imprint of the tree itself that you can take with you. Then you'll always be able to remember how cool it is.

...

OOH OOH, I should ask the Favor Tree for little statuettes of my face that I can hand out to people. Same reason.

Oh. It doesn't grant wishes or anything? That's disappointing.

Hold on, let me jot this down in my Pocket Notes. "Followers of Change pray to large nearby flora instead of their deity." Got it. I am suddenly much less enthused about the Favor Tree.

Sure, that passes muster. Cool. Cool-cool-cool.

Honestly, I've heard worse superstitions. Even if it doesn't work, offering prayers to a nearby tree is pretty harmless. I'm not going to be mean about it.

Honestly, you should. Your whole aesthetic is working for you. I particularly like the way your earrings hang down low enough to reach the rise of your turtleneck collar to create the impression of a smooth continuation.

The matching nail polish helps, too. I realize we're very limited in our available color palettes but you've got just the right amount of contrast to bring the whole look together. I think you're going to go far.

Oh, we have a habit of doing this? Cool, that makes me feel much more comfortable with it. Don't know why Croc Lady made a fuss if Isa and I are already used to being bunkmates. Maybe she's weirded out by platonic male intimacy.

Hang on a second, let me jot that down on her Pocket Note.

"Possibly Toxic???"

There we go. All set.

[inaconstantstateofchange]

Hi!

I'm so glad i found your blog, your deep dives are making my brain tingle in the best of ways! It's so difficult to really find all the info your curious about with the many different editions and histories of everything so you are an absolute lifesaver for understanding all these intruiging lore aspects.

I've been very curious about Asmodeus for a while now but am kinda struggling finding out more about him, I know he's very strong and apparently a large snake?? But I was wondering if you at some point feel the motivation to if you could tell me some about him, he seems so interesting to me and I just wanna know more about who and what he is.

Again, you are so awesome and I vow to devour all your writing!

Asmodeus: An Origin

Thank you so much for the kind words - and for your patience as I worked on this one. If there's any question you had about him that feels like it's not wholly answered here, feel free to let me know! There's still a lot that I was not able to include.

As ever, these writeups will align with current 5e lore, and draw from 3.5e for additional supporting information. On rarer occasions – and always noted – I will reference 1e and 2e, but with the caveats that there is much more in those editions that is tonally dissonant with the modern conception of the Forgotten Realms, and thus generally less applicable.

You would be hard-pressed to find a more succinct introduction to Asmodeus himself than in the following passage, from 3e’s Book of Vile Darkness: 

Asmodeus the Archfiend, the overlord of all the dukes of hell, commands all devilkind and reigns as the undisputed master of the Nine Hells. Even the deities that call that plane home pay Asmodeus a great deal of respect.¹ 

As to his current position, 5e’s Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide features Asmodeus among the list of gods, naming him the “god of indulgence”, and crediting to him the domains of knowledge and trickery. His symbol is “three inverted triangles arranged in a long triangle”, as seen in the image below.² 

While his active circle of worshippers remains small, he is one of the gods habitually turned to by those in need, particularly those who have done something to earn them the displeasure of another god:

After transgressing against a god in some way, a person prays to Asmodeus for something to provide respite during the long wait. Asmodeus is known to grant people what they wish, and thus people pray for all the delights and distractions they desire most from life. Those who transgress in great ways often ask Asmodeus to hide their sins from the gods, and priests say that he will do so, but with a price after death.³

Asmodeus is particularly appealing to those who fear what awaits them after death, or have arrived to find the reality does not match their hopes. For these souls, even the hazards of Baator might be preferable to long centuries of solitary wandering on the Fugue Plane. 

All souls wait on the Fugue Plane for a deity's pleasure, which determines where a soul will spend the rest of eternity. Those who lived their lives most in keeping with a deity's outlook are taken first. Others, who have transgressed in the eyes of their favored god or have not followed any particular ethos, might wait centuries before Kelemvor judges where they go. People who fear such a fate can pray to Asmodeus, his priests say, and in return a devil will grant a waiting soul some comfort.³

The worship of Asmodeus attracts staunch individualists, who desire a future unaligned with the domain of any of the other gods, and are willing to choose self-determination in any form that might approach them.

The faithful of Asmodeus acknowledge that devils offer their worshipers a path that's not for everyone — just as eternally basking in the light of Lathander or endlessly swinging a hammer in the mines of Moradin might not be for everyone. Those who serve Asmodeus in life hope to be summoned out of the moaning masses of the Fugue Plane after death. They yearn for the chance to master their own fates, with all of eternity to achieve their goals.³

Asmodeus achieved his current official status of godhood during the Spellplague, which lasted from 1385 to 1395 DR. After this, for reasons he has unsurprisingly chosen not to reveal, he performed a ritual to alter the metaphysical categorization of all existing tieflings, giving them features that highlighted this connection.

Due to this shift, tieflings are often perceived with wariness by those who believe that Asmodeus is able to exert control over these newly-determined “descendants” of his. While this is an unwarranted suspicion, as tieflings are no more bound to his will than any other individual of another race, the mistrust remains unfortunately pervasive.⁴ 

The true origins of Asmodeus, particularly from 3rd Edition on, are kept rather ambiguous, seemingly quite by design. This is both for Watsonian reasons – that a supreme being of evil such as Asmodeus would not carelessly leave information about his origins (and, potentially, weaknesses) floating around – as well as Doylist: it is a more elegant solution than eternal retcons, and leaves it up to the individual scholar or DM which explanation they ascribe the most veracity to.⁵ 

On the charge of Asmodeus’s true form being a giant serpent, we have Chris Pramas to thank for that bit of lore, stated in 2e’s 1999 Guide to Hell, but rarely mentioned - and not in any definitive manner - from 3e onward.⁶ 3e’s Manual of the Planes, published in 2001, does reference this account, but as a whispered and shadowy theory about the Archdevil Supreme, rather than objective truth.

Brutally repressed rumors suggest that there is more to Asmodeus than he admits. The story goes that the true form of Asmodeus actually resides in the deepest rift of Nessus called the Serpent’s Coil. The shape seen by all the other devils of the Nine Hells in the fortress of Malsheem is actually a highly advanced use of the project image spell or an avatar of some sort. ... From where fell Asmodeus? Was he once a greater deity cast down from Elysium or Celestia, or is he older yet, as the rumor hints? Perhaps he represents some fundamental entity whose mere existence pulls the multiverse into its current configuration. Nobody who tells the story of Asmodeus’s “true” form lives more than 24 hours after repeating it aloud. But dusty scrolls in hard-to-reach libraries (such as Demogorgon’s citadel in the Abyss) yet record this knowledge. Unless it is pure fancy, of course.⁷ 

One can see from the framing of the above excerpt that there is no attempt made at certainty. Perhaps it is mere conjecture, or perhaps a secret, hidden truth that few may know. It is impossible to say for certain. 

Another story of Asmodeus’s possible origin is found in 3e’s Fiendish Codex II. This text, again, does not frame the information given as universal truth, but rather takes pains to emphasize its ambiguity. 

The best way to understand devils and their ways is to listen to the stories they tell about themselves. The most famous of these tales have propagated as myths throughout all the worlds of the Material Plane, becoming familiar to mortals of all sorts. But as is often the case with legends, contradictions abound. For example, the tale of the Pact Primeval is the accepted version of the multiverse’s creation. But an alternate story claims Asmodeus as the fallen creator of the universe.  Countless cultures have their own versions of the Pact Primeval legend. The names of the deities featured in it change depending on where it is told, but the names of the devils are always the same. Perhaps this fact is what inspired Philogestes, the accursed philosopher of evil, to pen his famous proverb: “The gods exist in multiplicity, but Asmodeus is unique.” As is the case with any myth worthy of the name, the following tale is true — whether or not it actually happened.⁸ 

In this account, Asmodeus began as a celestial embodiment of law, formed from the concept itself to fight against the embodiment of chaos — demons.⁹ Over time, as he and his followers became more akin to the enemies they were facing, those celestial beings not engaged in the fight grew leery of what they were becoming, and took him to trial, to account for himself. The god of valor spoke first, laying out the concerns of those gathered against Asmodeus. In response: 

Asmodeus smiled, and the smoke of a thousand battlefields rose from his lips. “As Lord of Battle,” he pointed out, “you should know better than any that war is a dirty business. We have blackened ourselves so that you can remain golden. We have upheld the laws, not broken them. Therefore, you may not cast us out.”⁸

Despite their efforts, the gods were able to find no laws that Asmodeus had broken. Unsurprisingly, as he himself had helped write them. This conflict between Asmodeus and his host and the remainder of the unsullied gods continued on, with the gods unable to get rid of him, and free themselves of the constant reminder of the Blood War.

With time, the concepts of “good” and “evil” entered the world alongside law and chaos, and Asmodeus was able to argue for dominion over those souls that chose evil. The gods loathed the reminders of this fact, however, and when Asmodeus volunteered to move to the empty plain of Baator, they enthusiastically agreed. It was only years later, when the number of souls arriving at their own planes after death began to sharply decrease, that they thought to travel to Baator themselves, where they found a robust operation based around encouraging mortal souls to take to the path of evil. 

“You have granted us the power to harvest souls,” replied Asmodeus. “To build our Hell and gird our might for the task set before us, we naturally had to find ways to improve our yield.” The war deity drew forth his longsword of crackling lightning. “It is your job to punish transgressions, not to encourage them!” he cried.  Asmodeus smiled, and a venomous moth flew out from between his sharpened teeth. “Read the fine print,” he replied.⁸ 

While the recorded story implies a simple act of one-upmanship, a later section of the Fiendish Codex tells us that Asmodeus’s split from the other celestial deities was not so amicable. 

Once he had committed himself to residing in Baator, the deities physically cast him out of the upper realms, and he fell — and fell, and fell. Upon reaching the plain of Baator, he plunged through the nascent layers he had begun to shape. (In some versions, his fall created the layers, breaking the formerly featureless plain into nine pieces, which then arranged themselves into floating tiers.) At last he hit solid ground but continued to fall, spiraling through rock and soil. The protesting earth of Baator tore at his flesh, opening scores of gaping wounds. Still he fell, until he could fall no farther. The point where he finally stopped was the deepest part of Baator — the Pit.  The wounds that Asmodeus suffered in his dramatic fall have never healed. Though he manages to appear blithely unperturbed by his injuries, they still weep blood every day, and he has been wracked by constant pain for millennia.¹⁰ 

This casting down and its associated injuries is corroborated in other texts as well, including 3e’s Manual of the Planes. 

5e’s Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes seemingly follows on from the Fiendish Codex’s account, sharing one conception of the fallout of Asmodeus’s stratagem, positioned as an in-universe account penned by the aasimar bard Anodius in a work titled “The Trial of Asmodeus”.

At some point after Asmodeus broke from Celestia to rule Baator, he was brought up on trial for unspecified crimes and trespasses. Asmodeus claimed the right to speak in his own defense, and a court was gathered, arbitrated by Primus, a being intrinsically aligned with Neutrality and Law. From Asmodeus’s recorded arguments in his own defense, we can surmise that those on Celestia had accused him of acting outside of the law in actively working to turn mortals to evil. 

The case stretched on, with neither side ceding ground, for weeks, until finally Primus declared his judgment. While Asmodeus could not be convicted of any true crime – for he had acted within the law in all things – he was to take an artifact, the Ruby Rod that is synonymous with his position, which would “guarantee his adherence to law”.¹¹ A quote from Anodius’s in-universe text is helpfully provided by Mordenkainen: 

“I literally sit beneath eight tiers of scheming, ambitious entities that represent primal law suffused with evil. The path from this realm leads to an infinite pit of chaos and evil. Now, tell me again how you and your ilk are the victims in this eternal struggle.” – Asmodeus addresses the celestial jury, from The Trial of Asmodeus¹¹

In a manner similar to his contested origin, Asmodeus’s appearance is described in several varying ways — a fact that seems in line for a principal schemer such as himself. This seeming discrepancy could also speak to varying uses of aspects or projection spells.

The Fiendish Codex II in one instance paints him as “a horned, red-skinned humanoid with a tall, lithe frame” who “dresses in splendid robes and understated but elegant accoutrements.”¹⁰ A later section in the Codex corresponds to this description given in the Book of Vile Darkness: 

Asmodeus stands just over 13 feet tall, with lustrous dark skin and dark hair. He is handsome in the same way that a thunderstorm is beautiful. His red eyes shine with the power of hell, and his head is crowned with a pair of small, dark red horns. He dresses in finery of red and black; a single garment of his might cost what an entire nation spends in a year. Of course, he is never without his Ruby Rod, an ornate piece of unparalleled jeweled finery and vast magical power.¹ 

Regarding his personality, he is most often described as “a soft-spoken, articulate, chillingly reasonable fellow who is confident in his status as one of the multiverse’s most powerful entities. Even when surprised, he reacts with supreme poise, as if he were already three steps ahead of his adversaries.”¹⁰ The Book of Vile Darkness notes correspondingly that: 

The actions of Asmodeus are often mysterious to outside observers, but that is due to the short-sighted and dim-witted view most beings have. Asmodeus’s manipulations are labyrinthine and insidious. They work on a grand scale, although when it suits his needs he is willing to focus his attention even on the status of a lowly mortal soul.¹

¹ Book of Vile Darkness. 2002. p. 165-6.

² Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide. 2015. p. 21.

³ Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide. 2015. p. 24.

⁴ Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide. 2015. p. 118. 

⁵ “Watsonian vs. Doylist”. Fanlore.org. 

⁶ In general, I try to stay in-universe with these lore writeups, but in this case it did feel like some out-of-universe context was necessary. 

⁷ Manual of the Planes. 2001. p. 123.

⁸ Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells. 2006. p. 4-5.

⁹ While the description of these events found within the Fiendish Codex is too long to transcribe here in its entirety, I highly encourage you to read the full account for yourself. 

¹⁰ Fiendish Codex II. 2006. p. 73-4.

¹¹ Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes. 2018. p. 9-10.

[iamsososick]

Soo it’s 5 am and I have some miscellaneous thoughts on brendon ending panic! 

Panic has been a shambling corpse since like 2014

I’m glad that brendon isn’t gonna be walking around wearing the shield of Ryan’s teenage accomplishments.

I have trouble defining panic at the disco!, I feel like a lot of people do. Obviously Fever and pretty. Odd are “true panic!” and here are my opinions on the other albums

to get it out of the way, I consider vices and virtues “real panic!” Primarily because a lot of it was made by dallon weekes. I hear so much dallon in v&v, to me at least he has such a particular style. It leans so heavy into that 1920s orchestral baroque pop rock.

listening to a lot of the brobecks you can kind of tell what he brought to v&v cause it’s present in his other music. Think of a track like visitation of the ghost. It just reminds me quite a bit of ballad of Mona Lisa. Old timey feeling Haunting intro with soft spoken verses and explosive choruses.

I also think it’s important to acknowledge the way that dallon was treated during his time in panic! And that many ideas and songs were stolen and changed by brendon even in later albums so, keep that in mind.

I still think that v&v is an awesome mind child from one artist I really love and one I at least used to love. I suggest that anyone that likes v&v check out dallons other work. if you wanna get into a band that isn’t like from the 2000s but still has that nostalgic dallon weekes feel absolutely listen to IDKHOW. And if you want a indie feeling vices and virtues, go listen to violent things.

After v&v is where things get fuzzy. My opinion on too weird to live too rare to die is positive. I used to dislike/not listen to this album until pretty recently, But this comes back around to the stealing thing. The song that originally changed my opinion on TWTLTRTD was far too young to die. as some may know, that’s dallons song and you could and should go listen to his demo, it’s so good. songs like girls/girls/boys and all the boys(not on the album) we’re also taken and changed from dallon in some form.

So yeah, obviously they’re good songs, brendon didn’t really make them, which is something I find I say over and over again when talking about panic!

As for death of a bachelor. It’s definitely not a bad album. it was one of my favorites in my tweens. But looking back on it, it’s very… brendon. I believe that at some point brendon himself made decent/good music. And that point is death of a bachelor. It’s him. It sounds like a solo project it sounds like just his musical influence, and it’s good. Not amazing. But they’re good songs. Maybe I’ve just listened to them so so so many times but they’re not all that remarkable anymore.

Now into the decline. When pray for the wicked came Out embarrassingly enough i really liked it. I was 14. Listening to it now I think it’s alright. Very mediocre album, a far cry from real panic!

I do think it has some interesting sounds like, i don’t mind the intro to roaring 20s. And old fashioned isn’t bad, but it sounds like a Taylor swift song, I swear. Just imagine her vocals instead. Which isn’t a bad thing I love Taylor but it’s definitely not panic!

An important note about pray for the wicked is the start of Brendon’s vocal deterioration. From what I’ve heard brendon doesn’t take care of his voice, he’s also a smoker which definitely doesn’t help. This takes us right into…. Viva las vengeance.

I’ll save you the savage take down of this album that has already been torn to shreds. It’s just bad. It’s so insanely bad. It not just bad, it’s lifeless. Like a dead wet fish being smacked against the ground. His voice bothers me like nothing else.

Brendon was always praised for his voice, and specifically, his high notes. And if you know the guy, you know he loves attention. So he kept busting out high notes, kept throwing them in live during songs that didn’t call for them. At first it was cool, I remember being so impressed with his dream on cover.

But it’s just not cool anymore. He seems to have damaged his voice into locking in a high register. He almost never uses his lower register anymore.

I don’t have to spell out why that is so unfortunate. being all high notes isn’t impressive or healthy . It’s only cool when it’s special. I remember how people used to talk about victorious and how vocally impressive it was. Now it’s all he can do.

The actual music in viva las vengeance is bad too. I don’t know a lot of music theory but I do know it just sounds hollow. Middle of a breakup sounds like generic kids YouTube Chanel backing track and don’t let the lights go out is just empty and off putting.

And. Local. God.

At first, The fact that he even opened his mouth about Ryan after all these years felt confusing and infuriating. Its hard to even explain what brendon is trying to do. It’s not a diss track. But taking a second to relax and actually listen, It seems like a lament? a lament of a time long Gone. To me he maybe is thinking back on what he could have done differently. Should he have been like Ryan? Should he have let the music speak for itself instead of selling out and single-handedly running this once great band into a wall. I hear so much regret in the way he takes about ryan. I can tell he still admires him.

My final opinion is, As bad as the song is, it’s still closure to me. He finally actually made a song about how he feels about Ryan Ross and early panic. It’s almost validating to know he really has been holding onto this for so many years. it wasn’t just us looking way too into things. We all had a feeling he still thought about early panic even when he denied it. A lot of the things that felt like they were about Ryan probably were. So excuse me while I high five my younger self.

All in all, I’m glad panic can finally die. As someone who’s been invested in this band and the fraught relationship between these two men for the better half of my life, the circle feels completed. Ryan said his piece with lonely moonlight, brendon with local god. Ryan got what he wanted, to never sell out even if it means fading away. And brendon rode his superstardom straight into the ground. It all makes sense. I feel like I can lay it all to rest.

To me, The life and death of panic! at the disco is a tale of creative integrity, and just what it means to be a real musician. This band birthed the yin and Yang of selling out. The shining example of someone who refused to let his music be warped and hollowed by fame. And someone who only knows how to take and change for the sake of it.

The band is gone, The legacy lives on only through us now. Thanks for reading this long ass post. Stay real out there panic! Fans.

[imaginarycyberpunk2023]

Tag appreciation 6/?

I am having a bad time in real life so I decided to remind myself of the awesomeness of the tumblr CP VP community and make another one of these, which is long overdue.

In this series I shine a light back on the community and all the fun, love and sass going on in my notes.

@braindancer you show up in my activity feed a lot and always have something nice to say; I love your tags! This -> I have no idea what you're referencing here, I wanna know what you imagine Vinnie to dress up as! So if you can shoot me a message!

@peaches-n-screem omg yes, this is exactly what I was going for! Vinnie can be messy but he is efficient. Not every fixer appreciates this but Muy tries!!! Because! That's his BOY!

@chevvy-yates you know I sometimes run over to Discord to thank you for your always well-thought out tags and I just wanna emphasize here that it is not NECESSARY to leave a lot of or any tags on any post but I APPRECIATE it so much -> and I love silly tags as well, YES SHE WILL BONK YOU

@punkraeman first of all, congrats on the new sideblog. Second of all, I agree 100% because this is such a DAD cap and not in a sexy way and I was like HOW THE HELL DOES HE MAKE THIS WORK? I am never sure at this point if it's just the amazing progress of my brainrot or if he is *actually* that sexy and I love affirmative sexy tags!

@drunkchasind Whenever I shoot in this orange light I think of your gorgeous VP so I kinda figured you'd like it - it is heavily inspired by your work as well!

@wraithsoutlaws I've said it before and I will probably say it again - the natural thing is what I am (usually) going for in my VP. I do like stylized, conceptualized VP as well, but my fav thing to do is making them come to life in a very naturalistic way, finding moments in between movements that make sense. In this set especially I loved the progression of their movement together and how flustered Vinnie is in the first pic which is a rare sight.

@tafferling you apparently got the vibe I was going for with this. I tend to photograph Vinnie smiley and sexy and enticing but he can be an intimidating and dangerous presence. Just imagine this dude coming at you, very calmly, standing at 6"6 and tellling you to calm down. And you don't see any weapons (yet).

@humberg I am so glad you're back and I love when I get tagged like this! EXCUSE YOU! hahahaha - another example of the tags on this post that were all so supportive of the edits -> I usually barely edit my pics because I never know, what to edit. I've talked to other VPers about this and we did edit exchanges at some points and it's interesting to see how others handle my material. I still gotta post some I got from @dustymagpie that turned out amazing and completely different from what I usually do!

@juststayquiete I LOVE YOU FOR SCREAMING IN MY TAGS!!! and yes, I dare say myself that this was a really cool idea! And imaginary (her name will change) already might have met Macha and Vinnie. And old space movie vibes is what I was going for. I love the mechanical space ships (think "Aliens") -> I prefer them over the Space X clean look any day!

That's it for today.

I will continue this series because it makes me see how much good happens in this space! And I love my community that I have gathered here!

Saying hi to my newest followers - welcome to the brainrot:

@setaphil-edits

@cyberpsychotic-purgatory

@cyberholic77

@aaaleksandrovna

@ratsstick (ratsstick)

@water-dhavians (water-dhavians)

@sixty---six (sixty---six)

@leavrettes

@bogo-posts

I have no idea why tumblr won't let me @ some of these blogs although they exist so adding their links and praying tumblr won't remove them because that is an annoying bug I have -> tumblr removing text links from my posts.

[tryan-a-bex]

A Reunion in the Dreaming

1274 words, Gen, fluff and cheesecake, no dragons. Thanks to @aetheltrythh and @best-wishes for beta reading! Based on this post by @windsweptinred and a prompt by @violetoftheendless; thank you! @themirokai also wrote a version of this reunion, how cool! More cake! Unity's situation is based on Desires well-tended are a hearth by @dancinbutterfly. Read it on AO3.

“Rose! Jed!” 

Unity’s eager greeting floated from where she stood waving beside the picnic she had spread out under a stately maple tree in Fiddler’s Green. Rose blinked as her mind adjusted from regular dreaming to the lucid dreaming state that let her visit with her great-grandmother in the Dreaming. Looking around, she saw Jed beside her also blinking, and watched his face transform into a huge smile as he saw Unity.

“Nana Unity!” he cried, running over to give her a big hug. The joy in her eyes as she snuggled him almost brought tears to Rose’s eyes as she walked over more sedately, joining them in a group hug when Jed and Unity refused to relinquish each other. Laughing, they finally separated and turned to the picnic. 

“Ooh, cherry cheesecake!” Jed exclaimed. Rose had shared with Unity that Jello cheesecake from a box had been Jed’s favourite when he was little, and Unity had asked Lucienne for help replicating it in the Dreaming. It seemed to have turned out well, and Jed’s reaction was especially gratifying. Enthusiastically, they all settled down to catch up over an open-air meal. 

“My manuscript is almost ready to go to the editor,” Rose shared excitedly. At least this was one deadline she wasn’t late for! She reached for a fresh strawberry in celebration.

“And how is your application for grad school going, dear?” Unity asked, pouring some lemonade for each of them.

“I’ve applied at three schools–they all have very good reputations for their Creative Writing Master’s.”

“Excellent!”

“Yeah, my buddy Joe wrote this great story about a monster robot praying mantis!” Jed interjected. “He was telling it during soccer practice. I got a goal that day, it was super awesome!”

“Wonderful!” Unity beamed at Jed’s accomplishment, and Rose glowed with how happy and settled he was becoming. As he dug into the cucumber sandwiches and sipped his lemonade, Rose turned to Unity.

“How about you, Unity? How have you been?”

“Oh, my dear! It’s so lovely to visit with Desire again! They made me happy for over a hundred years while I was asleep, and Dream has been so kind as to allow them to continue seeing me now that I am back!”

“I’m so glad for you!” Rose said. “But I thought Dream and Desire didn’t get along very well?”

“Well, no, you know, they didn’t. But I asked for them specially, and Dream was able to allow it, as long as Desire stays with me. Dream’s been visiting too, you know, at my request.”

“Really?”

“Oh yes! I thought he could use a grandmother, you know. He needs taking care of!”

“Hey, look! What’s that?” Jed pointed as a big green bug leapt out of the grass. “Oh, cool, a grasshopper!” He ran over to see if he could catch it, and crowed with joy as he startled a handful more from the grass. Rose leaned back on the blanket, full of joy at watching him regain the simple childhood pleasures he had almost missed out on.

“For example,” Unity continued, watching Jed chase the grasshoppers, “just the other day, Dream was looking kind of down, when he came for tea, and when I asked him about it, he confessed. He was feeling guilty that it bothered him that Hob was leaving his dirty socks on the floor, and he just didn’t know how (or even whether) to talk to him about it. You see? A grandmother is just what he needs.” Rose and Unity chuckled as they sipped their lemonade, but Rose was actually quite glad that Dream was finally willing to ask for and receive wise advice from time to time. 

Suddenly, Jed came running back to them.

“Look, look, what could that be?” He pointed at a couple of dark shadows high in the sky. “Dragons, do you think? Will I get to see the roc today? What if it’s a pterodactyl?” 

Unity squinted at the sky and nodded in excitement rather than agreement. “No, I think it’s something much better than any of that!”

“What?!” Rose laughed, “Better than dragons?”

“Yes, look!” Unity said as the shapes grew closer and larger. “It’s my friends, Lucienne and Gault!”

“Oh, yes, Lucienne is even better than dragons! I remember hearing Gault’s name before,” Rose mused. ”Wait, was she the one…?”

Rose’s words dwindled off as she watched Jed run toward the two women, raven and fairy wings now clear, carrying them closer to the picnic under the tree. Jed doubled back as they passed low over him, and he ran up laughing as they came in gracefully for a landing several feet from Rose and Unity. 

“Rose! Unity!” Lucienne exclaimed. She came forward to hug each of them in turn, followed by Gault who also embraced Unity. 

“I think we’ve met,” Rose said to Gault as they came face to face.

“Yes,” Gault confirmed, turning to include Jed as well. “We have met, though not under the best circumstances.”

“Wait, I remember you!” Jed tilted his head, scrutinizing the dark, glowing fairy before him. “You’re what mom turned into right before the King of Nightmares took her away.”

“Yes.” Gault smiled gently at him. “I never was your mother, I only looked like her for a time. But I did enjoy the time I spent with you, and I’m so proud of how courageous and strong you were in all of your dream adventures. I see you’ve met your real life adventures just as bravely since we were parted.” 

A thoughtful look crossed Jed’s face and he hesitated–looking around at the four beautiful women gazing at him fondly and surrounding him with love–and found his courage once more. “I have a request. Can you be Mom again? Just for a minute, so I can say goodbye to her?”

“Oh, Jed,” Rose said. “You know it won’t be Mom? Are you sure it will help, and not just make it harder for you?”

Unity nodded. “It’s hard to say goodbye to people. Sometimes saying it out loud with someone else there helps. But living in a fantasy will not help you heal.” 

“I know. But she helped me a lot, when I was at that place, and I want to say thank you.” 

As the women all nodded in understanding, Gault transformed into the shape of Miranda. Jed’s smile broke open like the sun coming through clouds, and he threw himself into her arms. They hugged for a long moment, as tears ran down everyone’s cheeks. 

“Thank you. Thank you so much for helping me there,” he said, his face buried in her chest. “Thank you for not leaving me alone.”

“You are welcome. I’m so proud of you for being so brave, and I’m so happy about how well you are doing now.”

Jed stepped back, knuckles swiping away the tears prickling in his eyes. “Goodbye, Mom.” He nodded, and Gault transformed into herself once more. Suddenly he threw himself into her arms once more. Startled, she embraced him back. “I hope we can be friends,” he said this time.

“Of course!” Gault wiped a tear from her cheek as her face also broke into a glorious smile. “I’d love to be your friend, Jed!”

“Oh, excellent!” Unity exclaimed. “Now that we’re all friends, everyone sit down and help me eat this cheesecake!” They laughed, brushing the tears from their faces, and sat around the blanket.

“So, how have you two been doing?” Rose asked as Unity handed out cake.

“You wouldn’t believe,” Lucienne answered with a smile. “The other day, Merv got himself into such a scrape…”

For the rest of that story, read Fireflies and a Missing Person. @carnelianmeluha I described the food (a little bit) just for you, but it's very simple: cherry cheesecake, cucumber sandwiches, strawberries and lemonade. The cheesecake box link is in the endnotes! @thesandwomen this is really early for your October event and it's not a femslash. But. I was thinking of you.

[jasontoddiefor]

okay so, i realize that's probably not your current fandom, but i'm (once again) in a pjo content binge and i when i checked your pjo tags (Trading Tomorrow fan here) the first post was "no mist au". Which sounds really, really awesome. would you be willing to share some ideas about it or something?

I am always willing to talk about my AUs!!! And I'm glad you like Trading Tomorrow! That fic is still very dear to me!

Right, as the name says, the "no mist AU" is essentially an AU where the mist ceases existing when Percy is still like toddler age and the world is thrown into chaos. We end in some sorta post apocalyptic state where we see the return of the old worship mixed with new ways because demigods are still pretty much the only ones who can kill monsters. But now, well, normal people are praying to the gods as well again.

Some plot points include

Sally taking Percy and running and establishing herself as a person who knows what's up, and more than that, has a kid. She ends running a city alongside the coast as Poseidon's priestess.

The Roman Empire makes a return. Ne Rome adapts quickly to these new circumstances and they do it really well, expanding territory. Thalia and Jason both grow up in New Rome!

On that note, there is kind of a constant power struggle going on between various territories and gods and Kronos is also Awake And Having Some Thoughts

Camp Halfblood is the other big player. I'm not sure which name it'll get but it'll definitely will be renamed. I like New Alexandria (as opposed to New Athen as I've seen in a couple fics) because of Alexander the Great kicking off the Hellenism (just bear with this phrasing I know that's not how history works) and PJO seeming to rely more on late stages of ancient greek history.

But here are plenty of other bigger settlements with their own leader, goals and protections. Though being a demigod guarantees having kind of a higher status in society and people that are/would have been born clear-sighted have a sort of sense for when monsters are near, opposed to normal people.

But yeah, mostly this is post apocalypse meets ancient greek civilization?

And Sally doing everything she can to keep her kid safe and being very badass in turn.

Uuuh take a snippet?

Sally had devoured entire volumes about Greek mythology and the gods’ worship during her pregnancy. She’d never breathed a word of it to Percy, choosing ignorance as protection, but in their changed world, her knowledge needn’t be summoned. It was already there.

“Does anyone have sweets on them or alcohol?” Sally asked.

The people in her group only stared at her in confusion, some even in mistrust.

“It’s important.”

“What are you doing?”

“Prayer,” Sally said. She hadn’t ever been religious, meeting Poseidon hadn’t changed that. But could this really still be religion if she knew it to be truth?

Sally tossed the chocolate bar and the vodka from the flask into the fire.

“To our Lord Poseidon, for protection and safety of this commune.”

Actually take two snippets:

Leo does not like to admit that they might be in trouble, but he’s so nervous he can’t think of a weapon to aid him, never mind focus on making any fire. He glances to the right where Bryce’s body was already cooling, and nearly threw up. The scorpion’s sting had ripped right through his stomach, leaving behind an ugly, revolting wound. Luke is still holding onto his sword, but he can’t even stand properly, never mind fight.

The realization that they are utterly fucked hits like a brick to the face.

He’s survived the end of the world, myth becoming reality and this is what kills him: a regular patrol in an area that should be free of monsters. Leo hadn’t even been scheduled to go on this patrol, only volunteered at the last minute. He’d hoped to impress Luke, maybe see if he could secure permission to move outside the safe perimeters to get more parts to work with.

How stupid, not even their base is truly safe.

With an ugly roar, the scorpion turns around, aiming straight for Leo. Behind it, Luke struggles to get on his feet.

That’s it, Leo’s done for.

He tries to smile so Luke won’t blame himself and maybe do the smart thing and get away. Optimistic last thoughts so that Leo can rest peacefully in the underworld, having died a hero’s death. Phrased like this, dying doesn’t even sound that horrible.

The thought does not make the scorpion look any less terrifying and just when Leo decided to scream, he is cut off.

“Hold this for me.”

Instinctually, Leo holds out his arms and a bag gets dropped into them. The bag is warm and soft and has bright green eyes and oh, gods, that’s a baby.

Leo looks up and there’s a blur of black and blue standing in front of him. His brain is a bit slow on the upkeep, still reeling with the realization that he is holding a baby, and in the seconds it takes him to realize a stranger had come to their aid, the man has already drawn his blade. It’s made from pure celestial bronze, which is enough to make Leo’s jaw go slack. He’s only seen pure celestial bronze or imperial gold only a handful of times. The metals are incredibly scarce and Leo wants to touch that sword right now.

But he can’t.

Because he’s holding a baby and the sword is in its wielder’s hand, who is using it to systematically decimate the scorpion without ever breaking a sweat.

The monster surges up on more time, and the man simply adjust his hold on the sword and drops low, piercing the beast from below.

And just like that, it’s over and the clearing is silent.

[albertfinch]

REVEALING THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY     

When Jesus went up the mountain with three of His disciples, he was transfigured or altered from His human state to a glorified one (Matthew 17:1-9). It was a fearful moment of splendor as the Son of Man revealed His heavenly identity and manifested His glory in human form.

HIS BRILLIANCE WOULD BE EXPOSED AGAIN

Jesus declares to His disciples "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead." (Matthew 17:2). This was indicating that there would be a time that this manifest presence of Jesus, in all its blinding brilliance, would be revealed and exposed to the world.

"His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light..." Matthew 17:9. The word "shone" is a derivative from the Greek word "Lampos" or "to shine with brilliance." The color of His clothing was "white as the light" which is "Leukos," the word for "white light" or "fire." Jesus had become a brilliant, radiant white flame that caused the disciples to collapse to the ground in terror. This was a prophetic keyhole into the future which would be accessible to all after His resurrection.

"WHITE LIGHT" REVEALED AGAIN AT THE EMPTY GRAVE

In Matthew 28 we see this brilliant glory revealed again where the Body of Jesus had been laid. We see again the same "white-Leukos" or brilliant light that is white like snow and bright as lightning. The angel appears in the same glory that Jesus revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration.

The awesome presence and power revealed to the world in all of His stunning glory on the mountain, then later at the empty grave, is for a much larger, dynamic purpose. These manifestations were not just showcasing His stunning brilliance, but rather it was to confirm His resurrection and life to the world--past, present, and future.

"WHITE LIGHT" AND "FIRE" NOW DEFINE THE REALITY OF THE CHURCH

This becomes even more clear as we hear the description of the harvest as Jesus exhorts His apostles: "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are already 'white' for harvest!" (John 4:35). The same Greek word used at the Mount of Transfiguration to describe His glory and the same vivid language at the empty grave of a resurrected Jesus now defines the living reality of the Church -- Leukos: brilliant with light and fire!

We see now that the engine of the Gospel message that drives it into the world--is His presence and glory -- an illuminating light that leads the world to Jesus and becomes the pillar of fire that leads His Church in revelation concerning advancing His Kingdom in the earth. through the Christ calling of born-again Believers. 

"You are the Light of the World" (Matthew 5:14).

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory..." (Colossians 1:27).

A CALL TO ADVANCE GOD'S KINGDOM IN THE EARTH

Our job description now is to reveal the LIGHT OF ETERNITY in a dark world void of it

In Luke 10:2, HARVEST is literally mentioned three times, "Then He said to them, 'The HARVEST truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." The word "LABORER" can be interpreted in the ancient text as "toiler or TEACHER."  New Believers need to be TAUGHT (discipled) into an understanding of their Christ identity.

Affirmations:

I AM LIGHT TO THE WORLD AND AM HERE TO TRANSFIGURE AND TRANSFORM  IT.

I AM A CITY SET UPON A HILL THAT CANNOT BE HID.

I AM THE TRANSFIGURING LIGHT OF HIS PRESENCE AND AM THE ONLY HOPE OF THE WORLD TO SEE IT.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[whaliiwatching]

hey, what poem did you use for hobie's face in kaleidoscope crush? (actually, if it's not too much to ask, what poems did you use for the entire piece? your art looks fantastic) :)

thank u so much! i’ll do my best to list em. they should be in order from bottom left, around the character, to bottom right lol

//

from blossoms by li-young lee

saying your names by richard siken

only ever yours by louise o’neill

the second coming by dante émile

//

famous quote by farouq jwaideh (i think)

transformation and transcendence by emily rapp

little dog’s rhapsody in the night by mary oliver

abundance (after mary oliver) by amy schmidt

a moveable feast by ernest hemingway

letters to véra from vladimir nabokov

on a train by wendy cope

i have dreamed of you so much by robert desnos

//

valentine weather by edwin morgan

from my favorite love songs by oozins

tiny beautiful things: advice on love and life from dear sugar by cheryl strayed

for m by mikko harvey

did you know that there’s a tunnel under ocean boulevard by lana del rey

the shortest and sweetest of songs by george macdonald

persephone to hades by nikita gill

the riot act

ordinary things by ryebreadgf

comme des garçons: poem denim jeans by junya watanabe

line from disco elysium

//

from these violent delights by micah nemerever

other lives and dimensions and finally a love poem by bob hicok

coffee and cigarettes by sade andria zabala

letters to milena from franz kafka

drunk confessions by spencer thomas

here again now by okechukwu nzelu

letters to caitlin by dylan thomas

desperation sits heavy on my tongue by tullipsink

i am praying again, awesome one by rainer rilke

i hid my love by john clare

//

and lastly, the one everybody goes wild for:

how will you/have you prepare(d) for your death? by chen chen

[blackjackkent]

Update - as I suppose I should have expected, Naaber has more dialogue if we keep clicking on him. Looks like there might be one for him trying out every potential class. XD Featuring Hector being the most patient man in existence, bless his heart.

Starting with barbarian:

"Roar. ROAR! ROAAAAAAAR! Are you scared? Did you wet your pants? Did you? Did you?"

"Not even slightly."

"Appreciate the honesty. *Sigh* Oh well. Back to the Naabing board! ^_^ "

-----

Bard:

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to youuuuu! HAPPY BIIIIIIRTHDAY DEAR...."

...

...

"...Hector Carlisle."

"HAAAAAAAPPY BIIIIIIIRTHDAY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUUUUU. What do you think, am I a good bard?"

"All the bards I've met play an instrument."

"Oh. I don't have one of those. Balls. Back to the Naabing board, then..."

------

Cleric:

"Bless us with your gentle - no, holy - spirit - no, soul - no, spirit... your powers - your divine powers... bother."

[CLERIC] "Are you trying to... pray?"

"You're very good at this! Perhaps you can teach me. I'm trying to pray. Am I doing it right?"

[CLERIC] "It's more like... By your sacrament ever be praised. Oh holy, most wise, eternal god..."

"Wooooooooow! That was awesome! I bet it even works when you do it!"

------

Druid:

"*Sniff sniff*"

"What are you sniffing?"

"Oh, you didn't get it? I'm pretending to be a dog. Everyone likes dogs! ^_^ "

"...Carry on, then."

"*BARK! BARK!*"

------

Wizard:

"Behold, mundane meddler! You step in the domain of a master speller. For I am to be a most mighty WIZARD!"

"What's your favorite spell?"

"Wizard! W-I-Z-A-R-D! Wizard!"

"...No, spell. As in magic spell. The thing wizards cast."

"Wait. There's another step after that? Rats..."

-----

Warlock:

"Know any fiendish philanthropists? Fickle fae financiers? Eldritch employers? I want to make a pact!"

"Are you sure you're ready to be a warlock? To sell your soul for eternity?"

"My SOUL? I have to give up my SOUL to become a warlock????"

-----

Monk:

"Ommmmmmmmmmmm. Ammmmmmmmmmmm. Ummmmmmmmmmm...."

[MONK] Join in.

"Oh, HI! I didn't see you there! I was deep in meditation, see. Isn't peace and quiet just the best? I've decided to be a monk! [pause, inhale, VERY LOUDLY] I'M GOING TO BE THE BEST MONK THERE EVER WAS!"

"Go back to being silent, then."

Narrator: Naaber seals his lips, but you feel the pressure of words behind them. The poor thing is straining fit to burst.

"Aaaaaaaaargh! Ican'tdoitihavetoomuchtosay! You were right. I can't be a monk. I just want to TALK! Talking's great, see? You can say words, make friends, tell everyone everything you're thinking and feeling..."

Narrator: As he empties himself of his latest slew of thoughts, you take the opportunity to slip away.

-----

Rogue:

"BOO! Bet you didn't even see me coming. I'm a shadow. A mastery of sneakery. A ROGUE!"

"No, you're not. I see you. You're right there."

"Oh, thank goodness! I was worried I was getting too good at it and nobody would ever see me again! Hello! Hi!"

------

Ranger:

"If not a rogue, then a ranger! I'm great at chasing things down!"

"I hope you're looking forward to those long, lonely months on the trail."

"Godsdammit, why are so many adventurer jobs so lonely?! I thought you were supposed to have parties!"

-----

Sorcerer:

"Perhaps the answer was deep within me all along! An ancient spark of arcana! Yes, I was born to be a sorcerer! I can feel it!"

"Cool, can you do any magic?"

"Let me focus... I can feel the power deep within me... It's coming up! It's coming up! *BURP* Oops. Just indigestion. Haha."

-----

Paladin:

"My liege! I swear to you an undying oath of absolute devotion. I am but your humble paladin."

"I don't accept."

"Really? But... I'm ready to do anything!"

(At this point these were the three available options - Hector has finally run out of patience:

)

"Please just go away."

"But you're the one who keeps talking to me! I- I don't want to-- all right. An oath's an oath, I suppose."

-----

Final conversation:

"These roles sure are restrictive, aren't they? Maybe the adventuring life's just not for me. I really like talking to you! There's not a lot of people that want to talk to me, so I brought you a present. Here."

He hands Hector an "Absolute Confidence Amulet," which grants +1 Performance and -1 Intimidation.

"Now, what are we going to talk about if not about the adventuring life? Wait. Wait! What if I *mix* the classes - Oh, Naaber, you GENIUS!"

And he books it out the door and out of sight.

---------

They all watch him run out, and Karlach lets out a soft giggle. "Hec, how the hells did you keep a straight face through all that?"

"He even tried to help him," Jaheira says with some amusement. "In my earlier travels, when we would meet such a man on the road, we would make tracks for the horizon at highest speed."

Hector chuckles. "You forget I have spent much of my life guiding the youth of the world to a better path - those who came to a life at the monastery, at least. And some of them were far more headstrong and far less sensible than that lad." A pause. "Although, I will admit -- not many."