#i désiré him

[arsenwolves]

THIS IS FATAL YALL

[robertdelaunay]

btw jean was ousted from the university (not because he cares about "truth" or "justice" he just didn't want anyone to think he was incompetent enough to accuse the wrong person of murder) and i know that he is sending approximately forty letters a day saying "let me have my department back or i WILL kill myself .for real this time"

[queer-ragnelle]

I’m sooo haunted by what you said abt Tor being referred to as the son of Ares and it reminds me of this scene in the perlesvaus where after Arthur (who is kinda likeable in this text??) learns abt the circumstances surrounding his birth, he takes on the persona of Arthur of Tintagiles . it’s not textually explicit but I like to think it’s bc he’s disowning his father :))

I could talk about Tor forever. The implications of his origins and how he is portrayed during subsequent events? Like he is “Son of Ares” on a technicality—he was dubbed before Merlin revealed Pellinore as his sire (one of his many hilarious “a wizard is never late, he arrives precisely when he means to” goofs…) so Tor’s stuck with that title.

However everyone breaks the rules so you mean to tell me he just… kept a title he didn’t identify with? Not likely. I could go on about the titles different knights have but I digress. The essay nobody asked for lol

Anyway Arthur good???? I’ve heard people discussing this text but haven’t read it myself I’m intrigued! I choose to believe in some universe Arthur does disown U*her. He should really lean in and be Arthur FitzIgraine, just cut the man and the place of his birth out entirely. C’mon Arthur you can do it! I’d love other details to support it like Merlin speaking positively on Arthur’s line of succession and he’s like… “Let me not be known by those who came before me, but by the legacy of my deeds in life.” Or something… also he should do right by Guinevere then I’ll accept decent Arthur and no sooner! Lol

[baronessdecastelli]

I don’t remember the last time I felt butterflies

I buried my hopes with each drink, each laugh

And I barely remember your beautiful face

I only remember it was beautiful

Or was it the butterflies playing in my stomach

Deceiving me with their theater

And poking my soul with the hints about love?

- @baronessdecastelli, The Agonies of a Young Woman (a story to be written)

[dyns33]

Upon a dream

Dream x reader, being idiots, as always 

Morpheus was truly the best boyfriend in the world. Romantic, poetic, attentive, tender, passionate.

If he had been real, he would have been truly wonderful.

But unfortunately such a perfect man couldn't exist, and so it was normal that Y/N only met him in her dreams.

During one of her nocturnal wanderings, she had found herself in a huge library, his library, and even if he had been surprised to find her there, he had not chased her away, allowing her to explore, showing her the castle, chatting at length with her.

It had been a beautiful dream, which she thought she would quickly forget. But she had dreamed of him again the following night, then every other night.

She was trying to convince herself that it was no big deal.

Her life wasn't so terrible, she had her family, her friends, her job, her hobbies. There were plenty of people who remained celibate all their lives and were perfectly happy being alone in front of the television, eating ice cream and imagining an ideal lover who would visit them in their sleep.

Nothing special.

           "My love, you seem troubled tonight. Far from me. Are you alright ?"

           "Yes, Morpheus. Excuse me, I'm just tired." Y/N apologized with a smile, snuggling into his arms to forget her worries, and the fact that he wouldn't be there when she woke up.

           "Good. That's what I'm here for. You can rest in peace, I'm watching over you. What do you want to do, my love ? Lucienne would be happy to show you new books, Cain and Abel wish to tell new stories, Matthew asks for gossip from the waking world. We can also walk in the gardens, travel to the other side of the galaxy, or stay in bed. Tell me, my love, I am at your command."

           "You're adorable. Anything is fine with me, as long as we do it together."

           "My sweet." he whispered, kissing her.

As always, it was difficult for Y/N when she opened her eyes and found herself in her bedroom, alone, in her cold bed, just like when she went to sleep.

It was absurd, she repeated it to herself every time she was about to fall asleep, but a simple dream managed to make her feel things she had never felt in her entire existence. The human brain could really be fascinating. And dangerous.

Depressing.

Because even if she was terribly happy when she was with Morpheus, she was just as sad when she left him and returned to reality.

Several times, she had thought of talking to a doctor about it. To find a solution. But Y/N didn't really see what it was going to solve.

They were only going to tell her that she felt lonely, which she already knew, and that her dreams were trying to fill that void.

The only thing she could do was seek the company of real people when she was awake.

It was not easy.

If Y/N had been able to get a real boyfriend, she would have done it a long time ago.

And it was worse now, because no one could ever be as good as Morpheus. She was really in love with him.

In love with a dream, it was really depressing.

There was also this ridiculous idea in the back of her head, which kept telling her that it wouldn't be very proper to cheat on him. Even if he didn't exist.

He didn't exist. Morpheus didn't exist, he wasn't waiting for her in her dreams every night, he would never magically appear in front of her, and if he loved her, then he would understand that she was looking for someone to spend her life with.

After asking her friends for advice, one of them offered to introduce her to a charming man, with whom she could get along well. It was less risky than meeting a stranger, because they could tell he was a good person.

And if she didn't like him, it would be fine, she would find other suitors.

Désiré was indeed a charming man. Funny, kind, seductive. But during the whole evening they spent together, Y/N only thought of Morpheus.

When their hands touched at the end of the meal, she quickly pulled it away apologetically. He looked a little offended, but he didn't say anything, forcing a smile.

           "It seems to me that I am not up to it." he sighed when it was time to part ways. "I don't like to lose, but I know when I'm not... wanted. Which doesn't happen often. He's lucky. He doesn't deserve it."

           "... I don't understand what you are talking about."

           "Oh, darling. I think that's the part I find the funniest. He'll be pissed that we had dinner together, but I can't imagine his reaction at all when he finds out why we had dinner together. "

           "It's late, I have to go home."

           "You're right. Sweet dreams." he purred, throwing a kiss at her.

Y/N did not try to understand what Désiré had meant. No doubt he had drunk too much alcohol during the meal, and he had guessed that there was someone else in her heart.

Going to bed, she relaxed thinking that she was finally going to find Morpheus and his marvellous kingdom, after this long day.

The throne room was horribly empty and cold when she materialized there. Sitting on the steps of his huge staircase, Morpheus watched her with an impassive face.

           "How was my brother-sister ?"

           "... Your what ?"

           "Desire. You were with them all night. At first I thought I had to step in, that they were going to try to hurt you, but... Matthew told me you asked to have dinner with them. A "date". You asked your friends to find you a 'date', several 'dates'. So I'm not enough for you ? You don't love me anymore ? Are you making fun of me ?"

           "Morpheus." she sighed sadly. "Of course I love you. I love you more than anything."

           "But not enough to be faithful."

           "Oh, I knew my mind would go to that ground, it's really not fair."

           "... Your mind ?" he repeated slowly.

           "Listen, I love you. But you're not real. It's just a dream. I can't wake up every morning to be reminded that this isn't true, that I'm alone, not loved, and the only times I feel some joy are during my sleep, with a being that my subconscious has invented. You are perfect, and the more time I spend with you, in this fabulous world, the more I cut myself of the real world. It's not healthy."

           “It is true that it is not good for mortals to live in the Dream. But that does not mean that it is not real. That we are not real. You... You really don't know who I am ? You really don't know it's not just a dream ? It's never just a dream."

           "Morpheus... Don't make me hope in vain."

           "I told you to go on dates in the waking world, boss. Just because you always say you exist doesn't mean the lady is going to believe it's true."

The little raven trembled a bit when his master looked at him, flying away to rest on Y/N's shoulder, where he would be safe, for the moment.

           "Maybe I should have listened to you, Matthew. But it's not too late. Desire also showed me that our love was strong, they couldn't do anything against it. I just have to make up for my mistake."

Slowly, Morpheus stood up, approaching Y/N, who didn't know what to make of this dream. It really wasn't like the other nights.

He caressed her cheek tenderly, before kissing her like every time she was going to have to leave soon.

           "When you wake up my love, I'll be there and you won't have any reason to be sad, or look for another partner."

           "Don't make me..."

           "This dream is over."

Jumping up in bed, Y/N first looked at the window, seeing that it was still dark. She then looked at the time, which made her sigh. It was still very late.

           "Good evening my love."

This time, in addition to jumping, she screamed, falling off her bed. Immediately, a man came running to her side, asking her if she was alright and helping her to sit on the mattress. He had the voice of Morpheus. And his face.

No, it was impossible.

           "Well done, boss. Subtle. She wasn't scared at all."

           "Silence, Matthew. My love, forgive me, I told you I would be here."

           "... I'm still dreaming ?"

           "No."

           "So this is it, I'm crazy."

           "You are not in my younger sister's domain, I can assure you. I should have explained a lot about myself to you more clearly, I should have visited you in the waking world earlier. We were so happy I was not thinking, as soon as you appeared in front of me I only wanted to be with you and I did not see that I was hurting you. I apologize. My love, I am Morpheus, Dream of the Endless, king of dreams and nightmares, prince of stories, and I am very real."

           "... You are real." she said softly, touching his face to make sure he really wasn't an illusion. He closed his eyes when her fingers touched his skin, turning to make them pass on his lips. "All this time, you've been real. And I almost dated another man. You must hate me."

           "I wasn't thrilled by this news, but there was a misunderstanding, so I forgive you, if you promise me never to do this again, and to stay away from Desire."

           "His name is Désiré, and okay."

           "Desire is my brother sister, my sibling. Another Endless. They wanted to have fun with you, at my expense, but your feelings were strong and sincere, preventing them from manipulating you, and proving to me that I had no reason to be jealous."

           "But you were still a little jealous."

           "No."

           "Boss." muttered the raven, poking its head out of its creator's cloak. "Boss, you're really bad with girls. You always have to say yes. Yes I'm jealous, but I trust you, I love you, I don't deserve you and I'll do anything to be worthy of..."

           "Thanks Matthew, you can go back to the Dreaming now."

           "I'm a good wingman, I think it's safer if I stay."

           "My love and I are together for the first time in the waking world, at night, in her room, on her bed."

           "... See you, boss ! Madam ! Be good !"

The raven disappeared back into the cloak. Morpheus waited a few moments, as if wanting to make sure he was gone, before laying sensually on top of her, suddenly looking a bit taller, his shadow enveloping the entire room as a sort of purr emanated from him. Y/N wondered if she was really awake.

           "So, my love, what do you want to do ?" he asked, as he asked her every night.

           "Hmm... I'm too tired to go out. It's a little late to read, watch a movie or even dance. So what could we do ?"

           "What, indeed ?"

           "Is the king of dreams sleeping ? Is he dreaming ?"

           "No, and no. But I think about you all the time, to the point that it interferes with my work. A lot of people often dreamed of you, because I wasn't concentrating enough."

           "Are you willing to sleep with me ? I mean, sleep sleep. I'm really tired. But if you're here tomorrow morning... You know."

           "It would be an honour for me to watch over you while you sleep. I already do it every night, but to hold you in my arms while you are asleep. It is the most beautiful proof of love and trust. Not many people realize that there is nothing more vulnerable than a sleeping being. Thank you for this gift, my love."

Smiling, Y/N snuggled up to him after being settled under the covers. She would have liked to listen to his heart before falling asleep, but obviously he had none. He didn't need it, he wasn't human.

They would talk about that later, and the consequences that implied.

But now she was tired, and happy that Morpheus was really there, in her bed.

           "Are you really not going to sleep ?"

           "No. I'm going to beg my father for the night to pass faster, so that it's morning and we… You know."

Y/N would also ask him about his strange family when she was better awake. In the meantime, she fell asleep peacefully in the arms of Morpheus, who sang her a lullaby while stroking her hair.

[aloysiavirgata]

I would love more of early years Mulder trying and failing at not being completely enamoured with his brilliant partner 🥺

She looked completely different with her hair pinned up in the chignon. Her resolute little chin on display, her stern mouth.

Her lovely neck.

Mulder shakes his head at that, focuses on on her scowls and her eye rolls and the obnoxious scoffing noise from the back of her throat. Her doe eyes the color of a perfect June sky are the result of a genotypic crap shoot. Her officious skepticism is a choice. And Mulder is not a gambler.

Tom Colton wants to fuck her in an abstract sort of way that Mulder finds amusing. Scully, for all her faults, is light years out of his league. Kiloparsecs. She’s the Other Kind of redhead.

He thinks she believes him, Special Agent Fox William Mulder, in one of her deeper, more obscure organs. Her pancreas trusts him. Her spleen. Her heart is still both too proud and tender, her mind too finely trained.

Dana Scully is a dainty bit of work, he concedes. Her delicate Victorian beauty and her gorgeous little brain. He tends towards slouchy brunettes with mile-long legs, towards nibbled lips and tossed hair. But here’s Scully like some sassy Irish lass from A Movie That Isn’t His and he can suddenly see the appeal.

He’ll make her look at the fingerprints again, make her own her skepticism in front of god’s own data. He’ll breathe in her huffy little outputs of carbon dioxide; he’ll watch her prim, Catholic, Sunday-school mouth.

He’ll call Désirée later on the 900 line because even if Scully is bitchy and rigid and contrary for no reason at all, he can’t see any reason for Colton to use her up.

[josefavomjaaga]

Letter from Laure Junot to her husband (1812)

This is for @impetuous-impulse and @snowv88: As promised, here’s the letter Laure Junot wrote to her husband in September 1812, when Junot was with the Grande Armée in Russia. It’s taken from the book "Lettres interceptées par les Russes", edited by Frédéric Masson (and of which I only own one of those Indian "reprints" that come down to a really bad scan and that I had rightfully be warned of before I bought it 😋. However, these pages are perfectly legible.)

For context: While the publication contains letters that normally did not reach their destination, as they were intercepted during the second half of the Russian campaign, this missive actually had been written during the first months of the invasion and had gotten to Junot safely. However, in his answer, Junot sent it back to Laure, and this answer then fell into the hands of the Russians. (I do not know what they were thinking. Because it’s rather private, and not pretty.)

Laure Junot, at the time when she wrote this letter, happened to be at a spa, at the same time as several other ladies of the court, off-duty empress Joséphine, Julie more-or-less-queen of Spain, Pauline Borghese and the crown princess of Sweden, Julie’s sister Désirée.

The Duchess L. of Abrantès to Junot, Duke of Abrantès. Aix [en Savoie], 7 September 1812 Your last letter caused me to feel both pain and pity. It comes from a fool, and from a fool all the more guilty for being so, as it depends on him to recover his reason and as he refuses to do so as stubbornly as if it meant his eternal misfortune. People dominated by an unfortunate passion are, in the beginning, like sick people who do not want to submit to the vigorous treatment that would cure them. And you want me to feel sorry for you! You want me to pity you! But do you deserve it? Yes, perhaps, but of this pity stripped of all esteem, for you are not the one to whom I promised to offer mine along with all my friendship as the prize for his noble efforts to deserve the name of man, by removing from his heart a feeling that he knows can never be happy. In this respect, you know my way of thinking. It is invariable, and nothing can change it. For many months I have spoken in the same terms to you, and I always will, because it is the language of both my heart and my reason. Perhaps it seems too harsh to you and you find me too frank. A more flirtatious person would no doubt be less so, but is it not better for me to refuse you a poison that would only aggravate your wound and to apply to it a balm that should, according to my desire, remove even the scar and only leave behind of its memory that which could, in the future, spread more charm over our friendship?

Whoa. Now that's a handfull. Please don't hold back, Madame! I have no clue (but would love to speculate!) what kind of "unfortunate passion" she refers to.

For a long time I had this ambition that almost all women have, this unbridled desire to attract attention and admiration, to inspire passionate feelings, to be a kind of divinity for everything around me. I paid for all these adulations with a look or a smile that often troubled the soul of the person to whom they were addressed, without stirring mine. Well, it is with bitterness that I remember this time in my life, and it would seem criminal to me now to encourage or give rise to a feeling that I could not share.

Is this a hint at her own wrongdoings, the affair with Metternich?

I am very happy to think that you are now close to your mother and your son. Give the latter all the time you can spare from your business and the duties you are obliged to fulfil. You have, you told me, great confidence in his tutor. But could strangers ever match a father's eye? Your abilities and your wit put you in a position to watch over his studies very closely yourself. May your loving attention also be focused on his young heart and his feelings. May he one day be able to return to you all the good things he possesses. Believe me, his virtues will be much dearer to him.

This passage confuses me deeply. How can she assume Junot is with his mother and his son in September 1812, when Junot is with the Grande Armée, and the Grande Armée in Russia since June? She must have known that, right? We'll see in the postscript that the ladies were informed of what was going on at the front. Also, the need she feels to interest Junot in his own child is so sad.

I'm leaving for Geneva the day after tomorrow, no matter how much the princesses insist that I stay. I haven't seen my children for three months now, and the need to be closer to them is becoming more pressing every day. I promised to go to Changrenon. I have to spend two days there, and from there I'll go straight to Paris, where I'll be very happy to see and embrace my children, the joy and glory of my life! Ah, when I look back on such moments, I no longer say that it is deprived of any happy future!

Which apparently otherwise she had said. - Also, as she says she will go to Paris to see her children, does that not imply that the son (who was five at the time, according to a footnote) was also there? Does that mean that in the passage above she supposed Junot to be in Paris as well? For that matter, was Junot's mother in Paris, or did she live elsewhere?

I hope that the first letter I receive from you will be good and reasonable, just as I want it to be. Many people take great pride in never changing their feelings. Do the opposite and put your pride in driving away from you those who now dominate you. It is only through weakness, believe me, that we retain an unreasonable inclination, and the word consistency is profaned when applied to madness. Farewell, believe in my sincere friendship; nothing can diminish it, and one thing can increase it greatly: the certainty of being able to give it to you without fear.

This sounds more like a mother trying to reign in an adolescent. The use of the word "crainte" is also interesting. What precisely does she fear?

You ask me about my health. In truth, I don't know what to tell you, as I am still too ill to go and distress my friends by telling them about my sufferings. I'm still coughing up blood, and in the last six days I've had three new bouts of vomiting. There you have my bulletin. P.S.: I am reopening my letter to tell you that I am no longer going to Geneva. Yesterday, after writing my letter, I received the bulletin of the 25th [August, of the Grande Armée in Russia, mentioning her husband]. You have probably read it, and you know me well enough to be convinced that this is not the moment I would choose for a pleasure trip. I'm also in a lot of pain; two hours ago, on my way back to the Empress's, I vomited so much blood that it could only be stopped by putting ice on my chest, so now I'm in so much pain that I can't breathe.

Does she try to imply that the army bulletin they received made her feel worse? I think it's the one mentioning Junot not quite being up to the job.

Also interesting: She adresses her husband by the formal "vous" throughout the letter. Which I believe was slowly going out of use but still not unusual in France, especially between spouses of high nobility. Still, this letter makes me feel as if Laure and her Andoche at this point already lived seperate lives. It sounds like one you would write to a husband you had recently divorced.

[princesssarisa]

I've noticed that a lot of Sleeping Beauty adaptations side-step the issue of the title character's passive personality by focusing instead on the fairies or sometimes the prince. Do you think it's possible to make Sleeping Beauty an active player in her own story? And what are the trends you've noticed in how adaptations characterize her when she is awake?

I just recently watched the 1978 Czech adaptation Jak se budí princezny, or How to Wake a Princess: you can read my review here. This is a version that focuses more on the heroine than most other versions do. Like Disney's, it ultimately reduces her sleep from a hundred years to just a day or two – with the threat that if her prince fails to reach her and kiss her, she'll sleep forever, and the evil fairy (who in this version is her own aunt) determined to stop him. Really, I think that choice is a good first step in any version that wants to make Sleeping Beauty an active player (even though when Disney did it, they still focused mainly on the fairies), because it lets her have a fleshed-out romance with the Prince who's destined to wake her.

Another twist in How to Wake a Princess is that Princess Růženka knows about the curse. Most versions keep it hidden from her so she can naïvely touch the spindle, but in this version she knows, and the knowledge adds weight to her decisions. Her parents arrange for her to marry a neighboring kingdom's crown prince, because the curse only has power within their own land, so if she leaves, she'll be safe. But Růženka falls in love with the crown prince's younger brother instead; yet the brothers' royal parents would never agree to let her marry their younger son, because their spoiled firstborn heir always gets the first and best of everything. So Růženka has to choose between protecting herself with a loveless marriage and following her heart, and she ultimately chooses the latter, which leaves her vulnerable to being tricked by her aunt into pricking her finger.

But even in this version, once Růženka falls asleep, the focus shifts to Prince Jaroslav as he fights to reach her and wake her. Even if Sleeping Beauty is the story's active, principle player for three-fourths of the story, it's obviously hard to keep the focus on her when the plot hinges on her falling asleep. One retelling that subverts that issue is Robin McKinley's novel Spindle's End. That version follows Disney's example of having the princess raised as a peasant by the fairies to protect her from the curse. But the big twist is that in her peasant life, "Rosie" (as they call her) becomes best friends with a real peasant girl, Peony. Since the royal court and the evil fairy don't know what the grown-up princess looks like, Peony sacrifices herself for Rosie by masquerading as the princess, touching the spindle, and falling asleep in her place. (The curse was never softened from death to sleep in this version, so if Rosie had touched the spindle, she would have died; but Peony just falls asleep because she's not the real princess.) So Peony becomes Sleeping Beauty, while the real princess Rosie takes on the role that mirrors Disney's Prince Phillip, fighting the evil fairy and waking her friend with a kiss.

But maybe that's cheating a little bit, by shifting the Sleeping Beauty role from the princess to a supporting character.

Personally, if I ever write a retelling of the story, I'll think I'll keep Sleeping Beauty active even while she's asleep by having her communicate with the Prince telepathically. This idea is inspired by two things: (a) the fact that many versions imply that as she sleeps, she has prophetic dreams of the Prince, so she knows exactly who he is and already loves him when she wakes up, and (b) that in Tchaikovsky's ballet, the Lilac Fairy shows a vision of Aurora to Prince Désiré before she leads him to her. I would give the Prince recurring dreams of Sleeping Beauty, in which they talk, get to know each other, and fall in love, and eventually reveal that they really have been communicating – in her sleep she's been having identical dreams about him. In this way she could give the Prince advice that helps him conquer the obstacles that bar his way to the castle. It could also resolve the story's issue of consent, as she herself could instruct him to kiss her when he finds her asleep in the real world.

As for how Sleeping Beauty is characterized when she's awake, I have noticed a few trends in the different adaptations I've seen so far. One common trend is for her to be lively, outgoing, and playful. More so than either Cinderella or Snow White. I suppose there are three factors in this: (a) a lively, inquisitive girl is all the more likely to explore an unfamiliar tower, and then try her hand at something new, like spinning, (b) the more full of life and joy she is, then the sadder it is when she falls into her deathlike sleep, and (c) unlike Snow White or Cinderella, whether she's raised by her parents or by the fairies, she's traditionally grown up in a happy, loving home, not abused by a wicked stepmother. Another quality often seen in her is loneliness and longing to be free to see the world and meet new people. Her parents or guardians tend to be very protective, maybe overprotective, and she's typically never been outside the castle grounds or the forest where they live and never had any friends her own age. While she loves her parents or guardians and isn't unhappy, she longs for companionship (especially romantic love), new experiences, and to be allowed to grow up. If we view the story as an allegory for growing up, with the spindle prick representing the end of Sleeping Beauty's childhood and her awakening by the Prince's kiss as the beginning of womanhood, then this characterization makes perfect sense. Like many parents, the King and Queen or the fairies would like to shelter her forever and stop her from growing up, but of course that's impossible. She also tends to have a beautiful singing voice, and is often a good dancer and/or plays a musical instrument too – even though it's not essential to the plot, musical talent is very often one of her gifts from the fairies. And she's usually very kind and generous, even in the versions where she's had the most privileged royal upbringing, treating the castle servants as close friends and giving gifts of clothes or food to the poor.

I still have many more adaptations to watch, but these are the trends I've noticed so far.

[lumpyrock]

Now I have a tag list!

(Yes, that is a scar on Luigi's chest)

"Truly, the best part of the show was Odile's and the Prince's duet. A wonderful blend of acting and dance, a wonderful use of the art form. Odile was truly the ideal dancer, wonderful figure and beautiful form, except for the glaring issue of the mustache."

Everyone is gathered around the paper two days after the first show. An amazing review from a famously uptight reviewer, and the thing he's complementing most is the stand in!

That secures Luigi as the title character of the studio's next production, sleeping beauty.

(Yes, I actually watched the whole ballet this time)

Peach gets cast as the Lilac Fairy, and since Bowser did such a good job as the prince last time, he gets cast as Prince Désiré.

Bowser is like, hell no! He knows how act 2 ends, and he's not kissing Luigi!

Director says that since Bowser's so big, he can just get slightly close and the audience will believe it all the same.

Bowser decides to be dramatic and not practice.

This kinda hurts Luigi, cause, dang, is he just that terrible to dance with?

Director sees this and will not put up with it.

"You either keep being a baby and I get Peach to play the prince, or you play him. Your choice."

Bowser reluctantly agrees to cooperate.

Luigi can tell that Bowser is only doing this to stay employed.

Whenever they practice the kiss scene, Bowser doesn't even get remotely close.

As the preformence is getting closer, it's time for trying on costumes.

Luigi's costume reveals his chest.

Luigi thinks it looks awesome on him and is showing it to the studio.

He eventually shows it to Bowser, who notices the scar.

Bowser can feel it in his gut how he got the scar, but he asks anyway.

"Oh, when you accidentally scratched me."

Great. Now the world can see where he injured his partner!

Now they're practicing in costumes, and once they get to the vision, oh boy does Bowser notice it.

The guilt!

Anyway, first real preformence.

Luigi's doing great, and so is Peach.

Vision sequence, Bowser is extra careful.

Blah blah, ballet.

Kiss scene...

Bowser does the thing he usually does what he usually does, but quickly decides f*** it, and actually kisses him.

Luigi is blushing for the rest of the second act (and a little bit of the third).

It means nothing, they agree, they're just business associates... right?

@fishtale88 @dragonwritersblog @digimonandpokemon um, let me know if you do or don't want me to tag you? I've never done this before.

[robertdelaunay]

btw i forgot to mention jean escaped the mirror realm 👍 however with the way things are going scandal-wise he'll be exiled to the tomb-colonies any day now

[empirearchives]

Excerpt from Désirée Clary’s letter to Napoleon Bonaparte while they were engaged:

“The thought of you is with me always, and will follow me to my grave. […] Our hearts are much too closely united for it ever to be possible for them to separate.”

The engagement did not work out, and they never married. When Désirée found out Napoleon had gotten together with Josephine, who he did marry, she wrote to him:

“You have made me miserable for the rest of my life, and yet I still have the heart to forgive you. My life is a horrible torture for me since I can no longer devote it to you.... You, Married! I cannot accustom myself to the idea, it is killing me, I cannot survive it.”

Source: Napoleon: A Life, by Adam Zamoyski

[galionne-speeding]

What're the eight gods like in your Sonic Pantheon AU?

Aah thank you so much for asking! I wasn't sure how/when to drop all the character info ; but now I've got the perfect excuse! To make it more digestible to read (and easier on myself) I'll copy/paste my character doc! (with some slight adjustments)

- - -

Name: Boreas (Also known as "The Cursed Winter", "Lord of Ice") Age: 25 Gender: Male (He/They) Species: Megaloceros Emerald: White

Several millennia ago, the last known megaloceros tribe was wiped out by its neighbors who greatly feared its people's ability to control ice and the cold. The sole survivor of the massacre, Boreas, was able to flee and it is believed he found a Chaos Emerald during his escape. Imbued with new power, he would soon return to avenge his people and slaughter those who had taken their lives ; until a small group of warriors was able to seal him deep inside an underground ice lake.

-

Name: Piia (Also known as "The Trickster", "Devil's Child", "The Moon-Kissed Spirit") Age: 8 Gender: Non-Binary (They/Them) Species: Pygmy Rabbit (Albino) Emerald: Light Blue

Piia was only a child when their village was hit by a disastrous harvest ; and they were offered as a sacrifice to the mountain their people worshiped. They were thrown into a deep crevasse and were killed on impact. However, their body had landed next to a Chaos Emerald which seemingly fed so much energy into it, Piia was brought back to life and granted an array of supernatural abilities. The young rabbit would go on to terrorize their old village, until they were tricked by another child into sealing themselves into a small mirror.

-

Name: Zeutaros (Also known as "The Storm", "The Great Dragon", "The Beast") Age: 201 (Early 40s by Zeti standards) Gender: Male (He/Him) Species: Ancient Zeti Emerald: Red

A Zeti Warlord of terrifying renown, it is believed Zeutaros fell to Mobius from the Lost Hex in ancient times. He seemingly found a Chaos Emerald near his landing site which charged him with immeasurable power and soon began ravaging the land in an enraged frenzy. The carnage would only end when Zeutaros accidentally broke the roof of a large underground cave system, where he fell and was buried by the rubble.

-

Name: Mother Agnes (Also known as "The Sunset Witch") Age: 62 Gender: Female (She/Her) Species: Luna Moth Emerald: Yellow

Little is known about Mother Agnes’ past ; only that she suffered greatly in her youth. In her early 60s she opened a boarding school for lost and troubled children which saw great success ; until all of the children put under her care began to vanish. It was soon discovered that she was in possession of a Chaos Emerald, which she was using to put the children into a comatose sleep in order to feed on their dreams. Her school was promptly swarmed by villagers and Agnes was captured and burned at the stake, at which point all of the children woke up. Her medallion is currently displayed in Sunset City’s history museum.

-

Name: Désiré (Also known as "Prince Raj", "The Adored One") Age: 17 Gender: Agender (They/Them) Species: Jacobin Pigeon Emerald: Purple

Born into wealth and nobility, Prince Raj was raised from the youngest age to be the next ruler of the kingdom and believed to have everything one could ever wish for. Yet many ; servants and nobles alike ; had noted how disheartend and dejected the prince always appeared both in public and in private. When the future sovereign turned 17 they were gifted a large purple gem which they took a particular interest in. Not long after this, communication from the kingdom to its neighbors slowly dwindled until it fell completely silent. It was soon discovered that the large purple gem gifted to Prince Raj was in fact a Chaos Emerald ; which they were using to warp the minds of the entire kingdom, so that all alike would see their lives now revolving around their new ruler as they worshipped and adored Raj day in and day out. The spell was only broken when an assassin was sent to enter the palace and successfully killed the prince.

-

Name: Malda (Also known as "The Hermit", "The Pestilence Witch") Age: 51 Gender: Female (She/Her) Species: African Common Toad Emerald: Green

Malda used to be a peaceful and solitary hermit living deep in the forest, making herbal remedies for those daring enough to visit her hut. When a villager went missing after visiting her however, she was quickly accused of causing his disappearance- as well as all others in the area. While historians now believe she was innocent, villagers at the time condemned her to death by drowning in the nearby lake. Not long following her death, the region was hit with several devastating epidemics ; which were only quelled once the lake was drained and The Pestilence Witch’s skeleton placed in an airtight coffin. A Chaos Emerald was found near her remains during the draining process.

-

Name: Manas (Also know as "Royal Seer Manas", "The Devil's Tongue") Age: 57 Gender: Male (He/Him) Species: Manul Emerald: Dark Blue

From a young age, Manas had always displayed the uncanny ability to learn everything from an individual, just by shaking their hand or touching their clothes. As this ability was sharpened over the following years, Manas began to slowly amass followers who were bewildered by his visions and predictions of the future. Little did they know, Manas was granted these abilities by a Chaos Emerald he was keeping safely hidden. As more and more people joined the ranks of his followers, the manul declared himself emperor and set his people on a path to conquer new land ; aided by his visions and knowledge. It is believed this conquest lasted for several decades and saw hundreds of war victories for the manul- until it all fell apart. One of Manas' visions turned out to be inaccurate, leading to a crushing defeat and the loss of nearly three quarters of his army. Disillusioned and under the assumption their ruler had knowingly sent them to their deaths, it is believed the survivors tracked down Manas and brutally murdered him for his failures.

-

Name: ∅ / Null Gender: ▇▇▇▇ (It/Its) Species: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Emerald: ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

[margridarnauds]

Idk if you still want asks, but do you have any thoughts on Stephen Sondheim's work? 👀

Oh, God, Sondheim and I have a long and complicated history, and some of my views have changed, some of them haven't.

For the most part: His work really isn't my favorite. I'll be the first to admit that I thrive on spectacle, I thrive on catchy tunes and big ballads and epic set pieces and belting. To some people back in the day, that'd have marked me out as a fake musical theatre fan. As someone who has now been in this for the last...well. 14 years, with a working knowledge of musicals across almost every single country that has staged them, I can say I don't care. I know what I like and what I don't like and I own it. I often think that Sondheim's work de-emphasizes the music in favor of the lyrics, which is fine if you like that (he's brilliant), but it isn't where MY focus is. It's the same way I feel about Great Comet.

That being said, I do like INDIVIDUAL Sondheim works -- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is dated in many ways, it shows its age in often-uncomfortable ways, but it DOES have an absolutely iconic opening number and is probably one of the single most pitch-perfect adaptations of a Roman comedy.

West Side Story (though, since he was only responsible for the lyrics, YMMV as far as how much it belongs on here) -- Iconic, beautiful, truly deserves its place as one of the greats. Again, aspects of it age uncomfortably, but when you consider the time it was made in, it really does make sense. "Tonight", my absolute beloved, perfect depiction of young love that's hurtling at the speed of a shooting star. "I feel Pretty", yes, it's been parodied to death, but it's FUN. "A Boy Like That" chilling, touching, painful given what happens afterward. "Maria"...is there.

Sweeney Todd -- I've never been able to watch it because of the whistle sound, it's a little too sharp for me (and I refuse to watch the film). Imo, not musically as good as West Side Story, but it STILL has some great numbers, "Johanna" (esp. the quartet), "Green Finch and Linnet Bird", "Poor Thing" (which is nightmare inducing), "Epiphany" (THEY ALLLLLL DESERVEEEE TO DIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE), "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" (SWING YOUR RAZZZOOORR HIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGHHHHH SWEENEY HOLLDDD IT TO THE SKYYYYYYYYY), which, very much to its credit, ABSOLUTELY inspired the various reprises of Facade in Jekyll and Hyde.

Into the Woods -- A little too mean spirited and cynical for my taste, even as it doesn't end on a totally miserable note and tries to reconstruct the world of fairy tales. I like individual strands of it, I like "Last Midnight", but it's hard to get over the cynical attitude towards fairy tales at the heart of it.

A Little Night Music - Probably my first Sondheim and honestly one of my favorites to this day, I love "Every day a little death" in particular and, of course, the iconic "Send in the Clowns." Désirée, the woman that you are.

Passion - One I've never actually listened to, but I appreciate the book, and I appreciate Sondheim's defense of Fosca, which I'll get to.

Company - ...well. "Being Alive" is nice.

Something I'll give Sondheim is that he was really comfortable shining a light on the human soul, the dark and the light parts, in a way that I think a lot of composers since have TRIED to imitate and that I don't think any have really succeeded in in the same way. And something I really give him, looking back as I was writing this, is that I don't think there's anything particularly SEXIST about the way that he writes female characters; I don't think that he has the Frank Wildhorn Madonna - Whore Complex or the ALW Every Woman Is My Ex Or My Wife Complex or the LMM Every Woman Is In Love With M-I Mean, My Protagonist Complex or the Michael Kunze Women Ruin Everything Complex. Like, "he writes women as people" should be a low bar for a male composer to clear, especially since I've never seen a female composer praised for writing male characters as people (we would consider it a cardinal writing sin if she didn't), but it's something of note. He has messy women, he has obsessive women, and they are distinctly WOMEN whose identities and roles in the story are intricately tied to them being women...but I don't think they're sexist because they're right there next to his men who are equally as messy and obsessive. And I do love the way that he defended Fosca in "Passion:" "[Audiences] refused to believe that anyone, much less the handsome Giorgio, could come to love someone so manipulative and relentless, not to mention physically repellent, as Fosca. As the perennial banality would have it, they couldn't 'identify' with the main characters. The violence of their reaction, however, strikes me as an example of 'The lady doth protest too much.' I think they may have identified with Giorgio and Fosca all too readily and uncomfortably. The idea of a love that's pure, that burns with D.H. Lawrence's gemlike flame, emanating from a source so gnarled and selfish, is hard to accept. Perhaps they were reacting to the realization that we are all Fosca, we are all Giorgio, we are all Clara."

Whatever I think about his work, whatever I think about his musicals, I can appreciate a man who is willing to appreciate a manipulative, relentless, and physically repellent woman and, not only appreciate her, but to accept that she's a part of him.

Overall, is he my favorite? No. A lot of his music and his overall style just is not to my personal taste. But he's a valuable, vital part of the canon, and with good reason. The man truly was a genius. I think that he did what he set out to do with musicals, even if he and I have different emphases, and I think that he did a lot better with women than MANY composers who like to pat themselves on the back for how progressive they are for including paper-thin female characters.

[northernmariette]

Bernadotte, a traitor? A personal opinion.

It's still Bernadotte's birthday for a few minutes as I start this, so here is my offering for today's birthday boy.

Here is my inexpert, insufficiently researched opinion about Bernadotte being, or not being, a traitor. Right off the bat, a traitor to whom, to what? To Napoléon? To France? In my opinion, he was a traitor to neither. I might be all over the place with this, so please bear with my disorganised rambling.

Someone much wiser than I am wrote something, somewhere, that there are no unmixed motives. So did Bernadotte act from completely noble motives? I doubt it. Were his actions justified after he became heir to the Swedish Throne? In my opinion, yes.

Because there are some people who think that it was inappropriate for Bernadotte to marry Désirée Clary, I will put this to rest right from the get-go. Napoléon had dumped Désirée. He had *dumped* her. He had done so when it was much more serious to break up an engagement than it is now. So Napoléon had no claim at all anymore on Désirée. At the time of her marriage to Bernadotte, Napoléon was certainly more politically and socially prominent, but Bernadotte was no slouch himself.

Personally, I suspect Napoléon was not too proud of the way he had treated Désirée, and this is part of the reason he went easy (sort of) on Bernadotte, a general he disliked, if not more. Similarly Bernadotte had no great affection for Napoléon. These two never got along. Napoléon did not like rivals, for one thing, and Bernadotte had had a successful military career himself and was politically ambitious.

Anyway, enough about the early days. It is well known that Bernadotte had treated his Swedish prisoners well during the napoleonic campaigns, and that this created a very favourable impressions at the Swedish court. In 1810, when Bernadotte was asked to become the Crown Prince of Sweden he was in disfavour with Napoléon and perhaps felt that there was no future for him in France. The Swedish offer must have seemed a gift from Heaven. As I see it, here was his chance to get out from under Napoleon's thumb, acquire some elbow room and satisfy his own political ambitions. Still, he sought Napoleon's consent before accepting the offer. I hardly see any traitorous action yet.

Bernadotte was not naïve about the reasons for the Swedish offer. Russia had just wrested Finland from Sweden, and the Swedes wanted a military man to wrest it back. Bernadotte chose another path: he came to an agreement with Russia, and increased Sweden's territory by seizing Norway instead.

Here is where we get into the whole treason business: it was expected that once Bernadotte assumed de facto rule In Sweden, which happened immediately as the King was no longer fit to reign, he would remain faithful to the interests of France. Bernadotte looked to the interests of Sweden instead. In other words, he refused to keep one foot in each camp and brought both feet into the Swedish camp. In my opinion, this was the right thing to do.

Let me offer this metaphor : suppose you have this legendary sports team. Just for the heck of it, let's say the Montreal Canadiens hockey team. It includes many star players, one of which spent his long career on this team, all the while with a coach who just loved to browbeat him. Then the star player gets a dream offer to become a coach himself for a less prestigious team, but with carte blanche to mold it according to his own ideas and principles. Would this new coach act properly if he enjoined his players to go easy on his former team, just because he owed his fame to his time there as a player? My answer is no, no, no, no! The new coach's loyalty has to be to his present team, the one who wanted him as a coach; anything else would be wrong.

This is an oversimplification, of course, and I have no doubt that jealousy and resentment played a part in Bernadotte's choices. However, on the face of it I am convinced Bernadotte acted properly by protecting the interests of his new country. If the interests of Sweden lay with joining a coalition against Napoléon, then this was the proper decision for Bernadotte to make.

If I were to study Bernadotte's life in greater depth, something I would like to do, I might come to another opinion. In the meantime, I see no treason in his putting Sweden's interests first.

[ablatheringblatherskite]

Assigning dæmons to characters in the Phantom of the Opera!

Quick explanation of what dæmons are: In summary, in the His Dark Materials world, they're basically physical manifestations of the soul, just in animal form! They are most commonly the opposite sex of their human. It's also taboo and just. wrong to touch another person's dæmon, and usually only happens between lovers or in battle. You also can't move too far away from your dæmon without dying/being severed intentionally (which is. very traumatic. unless you're a witch). The relationship between a person and their dæmon is sacred—they're your lifelong companions, which I love the idea of. And, until a certain age, dæmons can shift to different animals (the age you settle (when your dæmon choose their final form) varies depending on the person).

ANYWAY enough info dumping time for my HEADCANONS for what dæmons the characters from The Phantom of the Opera would have!!

Christine Daaé: a canary named Einar

I'm just gonna say it now—I don't have much reasons for picking these dæmons other than vibes. I just believe that Christine would definitely have a little bird dæmon, and the canary just seemed like the cutest choice! Plus, according to google, canaries are "somewhat timid and shy little birds. Unlike larger bird species, they don't usually do well with being handled, although there may be the occasional exception. Canaries are charming birds..." They are also, from what I know, very cheerful and playful! Which I think fits Christine very well!

Plus, imagine the dynamic between her dæmon and Raoul's and Erik's dæmon—with one being a dog and one a cat. I don't know, I think it just adds a really interesting dynamic to their relationships!

Raoul de Chagny: a golden retriever named Lili

I think the reason I picked the golden retriever for Raoul is fairly obvious LOLL. But aside from the obvious matching personality, I thought it would be really interesting if his dæmon was a dog, especially because he's nobility. Because, according to His Dark Materials, people with dog dæmons actually usually tend to be servants. Which is very classist LOL but like. I feel like it makes complete sense to me that Raoul's dæmon wouldn't match his status in society, plus it would definitely give something extra for Philippe to be worried about regarding him. The dynamic with his social status and his dæmon just sounds like something really interesting to explore!

Plus, I love the image of Lili cuddling with Raoul whenever he's upset and/or starts crying.

Erik: a Siamese cat named Ayesha

I feel like the reason for this is really obvious LOL. Why don't I make Ayesha his dæmon?? I think it's extra sweet if she were! Plus OF COURSE Erik's dæmon would be a cat LOL. Honestly, what else would it be?? Plus, there's this analysis I found of Siamese Cat dæmons, and I think it fits him pretty well!

Plus I love the image of Ayesha getting really annoyed with Erik's shenanigans and advising against them, but still helping him with them anyway LOL.

Meg Giry: a nova scotia duck tolling retriever named Maxime

So I was thinking that, personality wise, Meg definitely would have a dog dæmon too. I was actually considering a golden retriever but I felt like it didn't really fit vibes-wise? So I looked for dogs that are similar and thought that the nova scotia duck tolling retriever looked perfect!! Plus, after I googled their personalities, I think they definitely fit Meg. I also just think it's adorable that Christine's two best friends both have retriever dæmons ehehehe

Philippe de Chagny: a red-tailed hawk named Désirée

So going with the nobility thing, I thought that Philippe would definitely have a really grand dæmon. Like the red-tailed hawk!

The dæmon forum on tumblr have actually already analyzed this dæmon, and I think the traits fit Philippe really well! Although I guess it can be argued he's an extrovert and not an introvert, but there's also such thing as introverts that are very social, so.

But yeah I just love the image of Philippe, with his hawk dæmon, and Raoul standing beside him with his golden retriever dæmon 😭

The Persian/The Daroga/Nadir: a Persian leopard named Fariba

No because I truly believe that Nadir would have the COOLEST dæmon ever. Which is yes, a Persian leopard. Like, the vibes just make sense!! Plus considering he was the chief of police, it just makes sense.

I also love the image of Nadir, with his epic leopard dæmon, and Erik beside him with his house cat dæmon LOLL

OTHER HEADCANONS FOR THIS AU:

I bet Raoul, when he was younger and before Lili settled, would often like it when Lili would shift into a red-tailed hawk, completely because he wanted to impress his brother and have a dæmon like his.

I also think that Christine and Raoul played all sorts of pretend games together, with their dæmons shifting into animals to match whoever they were pretending to be. I can also imagine them taking naps together under the tree, with their dæmons curled closely together.

I feel like when Erik was in the circus, his dæmon was handled so much to the point that he became desensitized to it. I also think he probably learned how to separate from Ayesha even if it hurt a lot to do so, but like out of necessity 😭

I feel like Einar would sit in Christine's hair a lot. I also feel like he and Ayesha would have a very interesting relationship with each other. I also feel like Einar would like to sit on the head or nose of Lili whenever Raoul and Christine are hanging out together.

I also feel like Erik would often be VERY tempted to touch Einar, and his hand might hover so close to him—but he would pull away before he ever did. But I also think that a part of Einar really wanted him to actually do it while at the same time being terrified that he does.

I also feel like, in this universe, to get Raoul, Erik actually grabs Lili so that Raoul is immediately weakened and pretty much incapacitated, and THEN he wraps the noose around his neck. I don't think he'd bother holding onto Lili the entire time—I don't think he'd like doing that either lol, considering his trauma regarding it. I also do feel like Erik would have Ayesha attack other people's dæmons, kind of like how Mrs. Coulter does it? But Lili and Ayesha have definitely had at least one fight, maybe during Wandering Child.

Everyone finds Nadir extra intimidating because of Fariba, even if Fariba is the most chill dæmon ever.

I love the idea that, after all the events of POTO, Christine and Raoul are sitting together and comforting each other, and that's when they touch each others' dæmons for the first time. And that's when their relationship with each other truly solidifies, because there's nothing more intimate than touching another person's soul.

[exn0bisstudios]

Scene - Nova in Soggy Cat mode

Talks on the server reminded me how much I enjoy when the usually-smooth Nova is... not so smooth. So, here is an early draft of a scene that does a good job of illustrating Soggy Cat Nova.

The version in this post doesn't include any of the variations or player choices, so don't worry if it doesn't fit the type of MC you want to play. This format just makes it easier to read for now.

Context: Early book one. MC has only known Stella & Nova for about a week. Unexpected disaster separated everyone. This is the route that has MC meeting Andrai first, and this scene introduces Désiré (though the bulk of that has been omitted).

Hope you enjoy!

Your arrival only receives the barest acknowledgment.

There's an uncomfortable mood hanging over the makeshift camp. Like they're all far too busy trying to sink into the ground to notice the new arrivals with the giant tiger. Definitely not what you expected from a crew of criminals.

But, the mood becomes understandable once your taciturn guide leads you to the heart of the camp.

Nova.

How loudly the Nightmare is complaining stifles your relief in finding someone familiar. Or, maybe it was more like whining? You catch at least 4 uses of the word 'terrible' and 6 of 'unfair' before you finally come to a stop at the edge of the group. Definitely whining, then.

"And as if getting shipwrecked wasn't bad enough," they lament, potentially for the 3rd time, "I get washed into a bog! A bog!"

Andrai grumbles beside you, so quiet you assume it is unintentional. "It's a saltwater swamp…"

"I am soaked! I am filthy! Look at my clothes! My boots!"

You glance around at the other faces in the group as the tirade continues, finding no one else familiar. The group is diverse, and they all seem to be withering beneath Nova's complaints. Some meet your gaze but return to shifting around uncomfortably when you don't jump in to save them.

The complete lack of security or suspicion irks you. Whether it is from overconfidence or inexperience, they are far too lax for a group of criminals. You're about to write them off when you feel a strange prickle against your skin. The hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. There is a predator nearby. A threat.

[[ INSERT MEETING DEZ FOR THE FIRST TIME HERE ]]

"You!" The force of the accusation interrupts all else, causing an involuntary flinch. So, Nova has finally noticed your presence.

"This is your fault!" They're standing now, voice shrill and indignant. Their shoulders hiked up to their ears as they point aggressively in your direction. "I never would have had to leave my house if it wasn't for you and your damn Hunter! I hope her armor made her sink!"

"Hey!"

"Oh, don't you dare!" You clamp your mouth shut. Now you get why the smugglers had deflated into an uncomfortable silence and awkward shuffling. This was a rampaging Nightmare no Seer could stop; best to let it run its course, then.

"I have seawater in places it has no business being," Nova continues, ticking off on their fingers. You marvel at how they still manage to strike such a haughty air while looking like a drowned rat. "I'm soaked to the bone and covered in mud, grime, and Void knows what else. This reek I am subjected to is unspeakable, and I promise you, Eau de bog is definitely not in season right now."

The ranger at your side shifts like it physically pains him to not correct the misclassification.

"There is no amount of laundering in the world that could possibly save my current outfit." They gesture wildly at the once-colorful silk of their ensemble, stained and sopping. "Oh, and also! It's a shame that fish don't enjoy the bespoke! Considering all my luggage, all of it, is sitting at the bottom of the ocean right now. An entire wardrobe, worth more than you make in a lifetime, gone, just like that!" They take a sharp breath. Their hands ball into fists, trembling in a uniquely regal kind of rage as their meltdown peaks.

"And my boots, [Name]! My! Boots!"

Silence descends, and it carries the kind of gravity that should only go with war crimes and great tragedies. Though, you imagine Nova finds that appropriate. A glance around confirms the whole camp, save the dispassionate smuggler, seems to be holding its breath. Waiting, still as can be, hopeful the Nightmare is finally done. And, wary of setting them off again.

That hope seems to bloom when Nova finally releases a deep, slow sigh, their tension going with it. It seems they're exhausted from their extended outburst. They start to lean, likely to flop back against the crate behind them in one final act of drama. You teeter on the edge of celebration with the rest, peace and quiet so close you can taste it—

"Oh but, wait."

You blink, a flash of collective confusion when a new voice breaks the silence. All eyes move to watch as the assassin, Stella, materializes next to the dispassionate smuggler as if he'd been there the whole time. He likely was, you realize, and he shoots you a winning smile across the group.

But once more, any relief in seeing a familiar face halts, this time stopped by the dispassionate smuggler. He's finally stopped staring at you to start emoting, eyes closing beneath a furrowed brow. He looks… tired? And you quickly realize why.

"Dreamwalker, babe," Stella coos, grin positively gleeful despite his voice being over-laden with sympathy. Nova's eyes re-sharpen. You swear you see multiple smugglers jolt to stop Stella from speaking. If only.

"There's something weird in your hair."

Time stops. Until, slowly, Nova raises shaking hands to their head, eyes wide. They repeat Stella's claim in a mumble before a look of unadulterated horror skews their face. The no-longer-dispassionate smuggler releases a sigh that can only be described as long-suffering. Andrai is pinching the bridge of his nose in supreme annoyance, the feeling echoed in the chuff let out by his tiger. Stella's grin has become maliciously revelrous as they lovingly deliver the final push.

"Looks kinda slimy, actually. Need some help?"

Chaos descends, and it is a cacophony: Nova's shrieks, the mournful groans of a camp denied peace, and the positively delighted cackling of an assassin who you'd very much like to strangle.