#if he’s a genius then I must be omnipotent

[la-esmerqlda]

I would like to thank Elon Musk for breaking the stereotype that “high functioning” autistic people are geniuses, because he’s genuinely so fucking dumb I can hardly even fathom it.

[stone-97]

GGY: SB - Truth

-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-CRACK-THUMP-THUMP-CRACK-

“I’m furious, beyond furious actually. This anger had been building ever since Becker was butchered by Glitchtrap and his obedient murder slave. Being stripped of control like that is nerve-wracking. It was important to send Becker on a goose chase, all those morons had to do was leave multiple trails out of the city. Should’ve known the plan was doomed to FAIL, but I’m not omnipotent, just overly cautious and paranoid.”

-BZBBZZZBZZBBZBBBZBZBZBZBZBZBZBZBZBZBBBZZBZZZZZZZBZZBZBZZZZZ-

I CAN’T BE EVERYWHERE; SLEEP IS A MUST FOR US! STABILITY REQUIRES SLEEP!

-BSBSBSBBSBSBSSBSBSBSBSBSBSBSBSSBSBSBSBSSBSBSBSBSBSBSBBSSB-

I CAN FEEL OUR BODY TREMBLE AS THE A FAMILIAR VOICE YELLS IN MY HEAD

              My head shakes as the buzzing fades away again, refocusing on the matter at hand. It had slipped my mind what the ramifications of denying the blinding weasel and the braindead puppet. Although, HIS plans went beyond resurrecting a worthless zombie, unlike my “associate’s” belief in the zombie’s gospel. I’m not a fool, the only reason Vanny was still useful was because she has VANESSA’S BODY. My host’s existence was testament to the zombie’s failed initial plan. Then again, it was a miracle that Glitchtrap didn’t order Vanny to dispose of Gregory.

“God dammit! What’s the point of gaining remnant if the dumbasses want child remnant specifically.” My hands vibrate from pain as I tore up failed notes to grasp ointment and gauze.

-RRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPP-POP-SQUEELCH-FWIIIPPPP-RIP-TACK-

“Those two are doing as they please, disregarding the consequences and this new “plan” of theirs will be blown-up in their faces, don’t need to be a genius to see that.” My hair is ruined, and my base is dusty.

-CCCCCRRRREEEEEEEEAAAAK-

              I look at the worn photos in a corner, an echo of nostalgia filling my host before fading into obscurity. Gregory had turned every mirror in the base to the walls, but I know he’s hiding from that specter. I know the specter isn’t harmful, but Gregory suffered enough at the ghastly apparition of my “Boss” to leave mental scars. The apparition is talkative, a mechanic, and clearly a past victim, I don’t know who it is though they value family if their staring at pictures isn’t obvious enough.

“Gregory is an orphan by no fault of his own, I still see flashes of that night he became one by Glitch’s orders. I desired to be FREE, now I’m tired of it all, so fucking tired. Just a few more tuning sessions and I can set it all in motion.”

-CREAK-FWOOSH-CLICK-CLACK-CLICK-CLACK-FWOOSH-

-HRUM-HRUM-HRUM-HRUM-HRUM-HRUM-

              The comforting, amber glow of Gregory’s remnant illuminates this room, the jars are quiet and calm in his presence. However, the room adjacent to this crawl space closet is different, almost joyous in the windy whispers. Although I hadn’t the reason to look into Gregory’s memories, I’m aware of their shared past, but the remnant isn’t picky in what is transferred back into the body. So, I see Gregory’s childhood before the headset, yet it’s clear that Vanny existed before it all. I can’t understand what made her wait to kill THEM, she could’ve done it at any time prior. I can theorize but no proof exists to answer this query of mine.

-CLICK-CLACK-CLICK-CLACK-FWOOSH-CLICK-CLACK-CLICK-CLACK-FWOOSH-

-HROOO-GIGGLE-HROOO-GIGGLE-HROOO-GIGGLE-HROOO-GIGGLE-

-TINK-CLANK-TINK-CLANK-TINK-CLANK-TINK-CLANK-

“It’s all irrelevant, I need to finish what’s in store before those two get wise to my lip service and platitudes. Lucky for me, Vanny’s forethought isn’t beyond covering up her crimes, or she’d ask about the remnant I’m using. Time to check the others.” Crossing the gap to the door.

              This was the other secret I’d kept for so long, these jars are almost gone, soon nothing will stop me from getting what I want. I can feel the exhaustion in my being, but I’m almost finished, soon nothing will matter after this is all over, not Vanny, the missing children, nor the past. Gregory will wake believing it all to be nothing short of a bad dream, it’ll be better for us all in the end.

-Staring into the, now hung, mirror, with the ghost behind me-

              It’s merely a feeling, but a warm echo settled into my chest, guess you agree with my plan. I’m no longer looking at a reflection of blue eyes, only weary amber stared back, a splash of ever-present pain apparent in them. How it feels to watch an imposter live your life, steal your friends, and continuously bloody your hands until knee-deep in bodies. That is a kind of trauma I could never understand, but freedom is near, yours and MIINE.

“Cassidy won’t agree to your plan, no longer will HE be in her grasp.” Sorrow hangs in the room from the ghost.

“What SHE desires is irrelevant, after all, she is still hiding from the consequences of HER actions.” Tis wrong to snap at him, but her actions led to this nightmare’s existence.

              I turn to the machine, Vanessa’s unconscious form strapped into the comfy chair. Moving her was easy, but Gregory worries, she’s gaunt, starved of nutrients, and so pale it’s as if she’s already dead. Yet, tis an improvement over how near-death she had been before the “tuning” I began. Calling it tuning was quite clever when the truth was that I’d been feeding the agony Vanny pulled from Vanessa back into Vanessa’s body.

-SLOSH-GURGLE-TINK-

              I stared down at the faintly glowing, emerald liquid sloshing and coiling the jar like a water snake. It YEARNS to return to the host. I lied when I told them that Vanny would overtake Vanessa, it wasn’t the opposite either, this would weaken Vanny’s hold tremendously, but it won’t be a miracle fix-it as I mentioned to the ghost. There are still other safeguards that wardens set up.

“When the stage is set, I won’t be able to communicate with him, so you’ll have to in my stead.” My eyes glance to the darkened corner.

-TINK-SHINK-TINK-SHINK-TINK-SHINK-WWWHHHIRRRMMM-BUBBLE-BUBBLE-FSSSSS-

“Now then Vanessa, this is your final round of shots. Soon, you’ll be right as rain and on your way.” I slot the jars into the feeder before pressing the button.

              I’d set up Gregory’s feeder last night, so all I need is to sit and let the machine work as we sleep. Everything is done, soon Freddy will deliver Vanessa to the Lost and Found office. As for Gregory, my faithful partner will hide him in one of my burrows near the Atrium, just in time for the show. Vanny and Glitch will be scrambling to brainwash him again. I’ll be laughing the entire time, wherever I land when they realize the chip is gone, from Gregory.

              Remnant is a wonderful quick fix, as long as the one healed match the one it’s pulled from. I glance at the faded scar that’s hidden by Vanessa’s right bang, it’s shrinking more, soon it’ll be completely gone. How easy those two were to convince, an unexpected accident with a Monty endo in P&S was all I needed as en excuse to put her under. Now to get rid of the last piece, her chips.

-POP-HHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS-SQUEAK-HIS-BUBBLE-SPARK-BZZZ-ZIP-GURGLE-

“It’s time for you to return, Gregory. This night will be nightmarish, perhaps traumatizing. No need to worry, you won’t be alone. Neither of you will be alone.” Situating myself comfortably, nodding to my assistant bot.

-WWWHHHIRRRMMM-BUBBLE-BUBBLE-FSSSSS-

              My vision blurs as the needles gently poke and the injections start flooding Gregory’s veins at once. No surprise, I feel at peace, my mind tranquil as the blur turns from white to black.

“-sigh- It’s finally time, will be amazing to sleep, uninterrupted.” Gregory’s head lolls as the rest of him relaxes into the chair.

“It’s time; wake up, Gregory, wake up.” My eyes close forever.

[nickfoo]

Was there ever a time Bege struggled with his devil fruit? What parts can he move on his own(cannons, weaponry, etc) and what requires help from his men to do?

I've seen some folks say that Bege's fruit requires his large mafia pirate gang to help him operate, but I don't think that's the case. Its a lot less of what he requires and more simply what he doesn't have to do. From what we've seen, Bege seems to have total and complete control over the castle. It's his body, it makes sense! Inside the pocket dimension castle he has near omnipotent control to where its reality breaking. We've seen him transform part of a marble checkered floor to have the consistency of quicksand, control the movement and shape of furniture at his will ( turning candles and flames into knife blades on a candelabra ) , and manifest cannons out from the castle floor. I say he could manage the whole thing by himself if he wanted. But he doesn't need to. And Bege's a boss. Part of what a boss does is make their guys do stuff for them. Its one less thing for him to manage. And now, I'm going to go on a talk about Bege's fruit, because the door has been opened now. Read more inserted for your dash convenience

I'm going to start by saying I l-o-v-e Bege's fruit. Its one of the most unique and interesting devil fruits in One Piece to me. Not only is it just cool, it says so much about his character hidden in plain sight! Did Bege have trouble using his fruit? I imagine there's a learning curve to all Devil Fruits, but Bege happens to have a type of fruit I'm going to call a 'High Management' Devil Fruit. These are devil fruits that have more complex mechanics than others. Fruits that require a lot of focus as the user can often be manipulating the multiple abilities that their power has at once. Another good example of this would be Law's fruit, the Opi Opi no mi or Robins Fruit the Hana Hana no mi or Doflamingos Ito-Ito no mi. The Shiro-Shiro-no-mi has a lot going on. An entire pocket dimension to be managed on the inside and also managing everything that implies with it. The user can manifest their own consciousness inside said pocket dimension, and to show his prowess, Bege has shown to be able to control his body on the outside despite his consciousness being manifested inside ( as well as switch back to his main body in a snap ). On the outside, there's plenty of port doors, portcullis and drawbridges to open along with the cannons to fire. Its fair to say, it takes a lot of concentration and multitasking to use.

Of course, its probably second nature by now. Bege isn't a scientific genius character like Caesar or Judge, but he's very intelligent. Its an interesting part of his character that sets him among only afew of the other Worst Generation pirate captains. Bege will try to use his wits and defenses to out do his opponent rather than just raw strength. ( Again playing into his Chess motif. ) Bege is also shown to be meticulous and very well organized. So I'd like to think he was able to master his fruit very efficiently.

But again, Bege is a boss. If there's something his guys can manage for him, its one less thing for him to concern himself with and he can turn that concentration elsewhere. I think its also a show of sorts, that Bege wants to show off the efficiency and competence of his crew and he trusts them to get a job done. ( And before the time skip I have a feeling the consequences for failure were...alot more violent.) I could probably go on, but I'm sleepy and must rise early tomorrow. Thank you for the question!

[aeoki]

Sandstorm - Pointless Death Game: Chapter 5

Location: Lesson Room Characters: Yuuta, Adonis, Kouga & Rei

TL Note:

The word for “hindrance; nuisance; interference” (邪魔) is written with the characters for ‘evil; wicked’ (邪) and ‘creature’ (魔). 

Kouga: Alright…

Now that we’ve reconfirmed the significance of “SS”, let’s go back to practice.

I’m willin’ to do anythin’ if it means to win – to perform the music we wanna perform. Pretendin’ to be rabbits or whatever, I’ll do it.

Yuuta: Oh? You’re feeling up to it now? Alrighty then, it’s jumping time~♪

Kouga: ‘Kay… On the other hand, just so you know, we’re goin’ to do somethin’ you’re gonna definitely hate copyin’ next.

Yuuta: Something I’m definitely going to hate copying? Hmm, like “Crazy:B”?

Kouga: Then, let’s go with that. The further they are from us on the spectrum, the more our styles will grow.

That’s why we’re copyin’ “Ra*bits” and that’s what Adonis wants to do.

It’s gonna be tough but we’re gonna get through it. You shouldn’t keep shovin’ the burden to us. I bet Sakuma-senpai’s sayin’ that too.

Yuuta: What~? He’s not saying a word so how can you tell?

Kouga: He doesn’t need to speak for me to know that! Come on, stop blabbering. Let’s start the practice!

If you’ve got time to look for the easiest path, then you’ve gotta work hard and push through on the hardest one too! It’s way faster that way!

Yuuta: Ugh, we’ve got a muscle-head here… Oogami-senpai, you can get like that sometimes, huh.

Kouga: Oh, shut it. That sorta mindset has stuck with me since I was a kid, so I’ve got no choice but to live like that!

♪~♪~♪

Rei: “Hehe. Things were quite intriguing so I couldn’t help but listen attentively, but I’m here to tell you something important.”

Adonis: “Understood. We’ll talk while Yuuta has Oogami’s attention.”

Rei: “Kukuku. Kouga appears to never be thinking of things, but he’s doing the one thing we want him to do the most. I’m not sure whether I should call him a natural airhead or a genius.”

“In any case, the current situation is looking bleak.”

“We’re evil creatures who live in the darkness, but this body cannot be healthy unless it absorbs the light. Even the whales who live in the water must occasionally come up to the surface for air; it’s the same.”

Adonis: “Sakuma-senpai, unlike our normal circumstances, we’re conversing using sign language, so it’s difficult to understand if you express what you want to say in an indirect manner. My hands also get tired.”

Rei: “Indeed. Besides, a body language like sign language was invented so anyone in the world would be able to understand. It’s the world’s common language.”

“If we continue this for a long time, it would highly increase the probability of someone noticing and figuring out what we’re talking about.”

Adonis: “Yeah. I learnt afterwards that not everyone understands the general sign language. So perhaps it was an exaggeration to call it the world’s common language.”

Rei: “Kukuku. Despite your complaints, we’ve put on many performances using sign language.”

“It’s true that perhaps it wasn’t something that everyone was able to understand.”

“But your idea of wanting our songs to be heard by those who have lost the ability to hear is most certainly not wrong.”

“Therefore, I also agreed without stopping you and I respect that action of yours. Kouga also mentioned this but the things you do are always correct, Adonis-kun.”

Adonis: “Thank you. Common languages – the ones that are spoken – are not the only form of connection with others. I’m sure that’s what my mother wanted to tell me when she taught me sign language.”

“Thinking back on it now, that doesn’t only apply to sign language, but I think to body language as well.”

Rei: “The things your mother wanted to teach you are already things you understand.”

“Besides, if you’ve made a mistake, all you have to do is correct it. Even I often make mistakes – As long as you’re not an omnipotent god, everyone is bound to make errors.”

“Therefore, that’s exactly why no matter how perfect a strategy may appear, there are always ways to find openings.”

Adonis: “What do you mean?”

Rei: “We’re not in a good situation right now. We’ve been separated from our comrades, our movements have been restricted and our freedom has been taken from us – If we’re speaking in chess terms, we’re more or less cornered.”

“Do you know why things have turned out this way?”

Adonis: “No, that’s precisely why I’m at a loss.”

Rei: “Indeed. As I’m also in the same boat as you all, I can only make guesses.”

“On top of the fact that all I can do is watch on the sidelines, it means that, on the other hand, I was able to gather information and have a good think about things.”

“Therefore, I more or less have a grasp on the situation at hand.”

Adonis: “That’s amazing. As expected of you, Sakuma-senpai. You’re like a detective who has gathered the clues and discovered the truth ”

Rei: “If I had to say, I think I’m more akin to those opposing the heroes, though?”

Adonis: “Hehe. I don’t think anyone thinks of you as an “evil creature”, Sakuma-senpai.”

Rei: “No. I’m thankful you say that, Adonis-kun, but you trust the innate goodness of people too easily. I won’t call it a bad habit of yours, however.”

“If someone stands in the way of another’s goals, they are resented and seen as evil. Therefore, a ‘wicked creature’ is written as a ‘hindrance’[⁎].”

“It appears I’ve become that very hindrance this time.”

Adonis: “So, what does that mean…? Please explain it to me so I can understand, Sakuma-senpai.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ← Previous Chapter ᠂ ⚘ ˚⊹˚ ⚘ ᠂ Next Chapter →

[inthedayswhenlandswerefew]

Baby You Were My Picket Fence [Chapter 3: Light My Fire]

You are a first grade teacher in sunny Los Angeles, California. Ben Hardy is the father of your most challenging student. Things quickly get complicated in this unconventional love story.  

Song inspiration: Miss Missing You by Fall Out Boy.

Chapter warnings: Language.

Link to chapter list (and all my writing) HERE

Taglist: @blushingwueen @queen-turtle-boiii @everybodyplaythegame @onceuponadetectivedemigod @luvborhap @sincereleygmg @stormtrprinstilettos @loveandbeloved29 @ohtheseboysilove @jennyggggrrr @vanitysfairr @bramblesforbreakfast @radiob-l-a-hblah @xox-talia-xox @killer-queen-xo 

You open the front door and there he is: black button-up shirt, navy jeans, chic but not overdressed. His hair is neatly gelled back from his forehead. In his arms are a lug wrench, a car jack, and a brand new tire wrapped in an oversized, floppy red bow like a Christmas present.

“I think normal guys bring flowers,” you comment.

“I figured...since you’re automotively illiterate and all...you probably hadn’t gotten around to replacing the spare yet.” He shoots a glance at your Elantra, then announces victoriously: “I was right!”

“Mr. Hardy...Ben...I really can’t allow you to perform any more free labor.”

“Five minutes,” he calls over his shoulder as he trots to your car. He has trouble with one of the lug nuts, so it takes him six and a half.

“You can come inside,” you tell him once he’s finished. “I won’t be long, I just have to water my plants.”

Ben raises an eyebrow. It’s dark and rather undomesticated, yet endearing. “I feel like there must be better stalling tactics than that. If you’ve got cold feet, I can handle rejection.” But what he can’t do is disguise the way his shoulders slump, the way he bites the corner of his lower lip apprehensively.

“No, really, it’s totally stupid, but I’m really trying not to kill this batch and if I don’t water them now I’m going to be stressing about it until I get home, and I don’t want to be thinking about houseplants all night, I want to be thinking about...” You wave your hand towards Ben inarticulately. “You know. You.”

He smiles, showing his teeth, his eyes lit up like embers, flickering and radiant and warm. “Take your time, Martha Stewart.” 

“My parents give me so much hell for this,” you call back to him as you flutter around the living room, standing on your tiptoes and reaching around furniture to water your peace lilies and spider plants and devil’s ivy and one wilting ponytail palm. “They’re farmers. They’re professional life-givers. I’m lucky if I can keep the cactuses alive.”

You hear Ben rambling around the kitchen. “I hope your nurturing skills are at least marginally better with first graders.”

You laugh, nodding even though he can’t see you. “I’m alright with those. I’m just more of a rock person than a plant person. Gems and minerals and volcanic glass...fossils and bones and teeth...that’s where the magic is for me.”

“I can see that. Dinosaurs are well-represented in your extensive fridge magnet collection.” There are clicks and scrapes as he rearranges them: prehistoric animals and tiny planets, peace signs and alphabet letters and cross-sections of agate. “These are so cool!” he exclaims.  

You bustle back into the kitchen, place your watering can in the sink, and wipe your hands with a dishtowel patterned with cartoon brontosauruses. “Ready?” Your eyes flick to the refrigerator. He’s organized your magnets into a giant smiley face. It’s ridiculous, it’s juvenile; but you feel this liberatingly simple joy flooding through you like early autumn air. And the way Ben’s grinning at you—a little mischievous, a little proud—reminds you so much of Eli that your breath catches in your throat. You have no idea who Eli’s mother was, but her genetics were omnipotent; it’s almost impossible to find any of Ben in him at all. But every once in a while there’s an unconscious gesture, an off-kilter smile, and suddenly you can see the common threads that wove them into being like spiders’ webs.

“Ready,” Ben agrees.

You smooth your dress as you slip into the passenger’s seat of his Lexus, placing your purse between your feet, checking your hair and makeup in the sun visor mirror. Ben glances over at you as he shifts the car into reverse and roars out of your driveway. Your hands aren’t shaking, your heartbeat is hushed, there’s no hot rushing blood in your cheeks or ears; this shocks you. It’s eerie how inexplicably at ease you are.

“Find something good,” he says, pointing to the radio.

You seize the dial. “Uh oh. My first test?”

He smiles, his eyes on the road now. “Choose something lame and I abandon you at the nearest sketchy-looking gas station.”

You flip through stations until you find Somebody To Love. “I work hard, every day of my life, I work ‘til I ache in my bones...” “Okay, how I’d do?”

Ben steals a suspicious peek over at you. “Are you fucking with me?”

“What?” you ask, bewildered. “No, why?”

He shakes his head. “Never mind. You definitely pass. You’re a Queen person?”

“Oh yeah, absolutely, I adore Queen. Most classic rock, actually.”

“So have you, uh...” He touches his chin thoughtfully, what you’re quickly realizing is a little nervous tic. It’s cute as hell. Goddammit, daddy demon, stop being so fucking perfect. “Did you ever see Bohemian Rhapsody?” But something gives you the impression he already knows you haven’t.

“Not yet,” you confess.

“Not interested?”

“It’s not that, I just...” You hesitate, trying to put it into words. “I know it did well and all. But I guess I’m skeptical of anyone trying to play Freddie Mercury. He was a legend, he was one of a kind. So are the rest of them. Those are massive shoes to fill. It seems like setting the actors up to pale in comparison.”

“I’ve heard it was pretty good,” Ben presses, almost teases.

“Yeah, maybe...”

“And Rami won the Oscar. So his portrayal must have been satisfactory.”

“Okay, oh my god, I’ll see it, are you happy now? Were you on the marketing team or what?”

You’re only half-serious, but Ben chuckles evasively. “So you like old rocks and old music,” he pivots. “But not old not-boyfriends. Except Jeff Goldblum.”

“This is news to me. I sincerely thought you were sixty.”

He laughs, a full gutsy laugh this time, a laugh that says he’s caught-off guard and thrilled about it. “That’s okay. I’m into old stuff too.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Old music, classic rock, just like you. But old books too.”

“Gatsby?”

His eyebrows leap up; you’re watching his face as streetlamps illuminate the car in reiterating flashes like a spinning pulsar. God, he’s beautiful. “How’d you guess that?”

“Eli’s middle name is Fitzgerald. That’s not a common one.”

“Ah,” Ben says, and his full lips turn up at the edges into a smile, proudly, fondly.

“I really like it.” That’s the truth; Eli’s a handful and that’s a titanic understatement—though he has been better the last few days, the only blip on the upward trend being his attempt to convince Brayden to eat a live cricket by paying him in Oreos—but his name is classic and elegant and a few literary references here and there never hurt anyone.

“Yeah, that was me,” Ben reveals. “His mother insisted on choosing his first name, I think she heard Eli somewhere and just liked the sound of it. But she let me pick the middle name. And The Great Gatsby was always my favorite book...and The Beautiful and the Damned, and This Side of Paradise?! Freaking incredible. In my humble opinion F. Scott Fitzgerald is a certifiable genius. So...Eli Fitzgerald.” There’s a color in his voice you can’t quite read: the golden yellow of reminiscence, the murky blue of loss, the grey nothingness of depression, the bloody maroon of deep pain or resentment. Who was she, Ben? How did she hurt you? And could I ever fill those hollow places you’re carrying around like pocket change?

He asks how Eli is doing in class, and you tell him; you ask about his favorite classic rock bands, and he answers: Boston and AC/DC and The Stones and Queen. His Lexus cruises by your go-to dinner spots—the affordable chains like Noodles and Co. and Panera and Chipotle—then past the mid-level raw vegan and farm-to-table joints, and finally into the neighborhood reserved for fine dining establishments with three-figure price tags and reservations booked up months in advance.

“Uh...” you begin. “I don’t think we’re going to get a spot at a place down here.”

“Think again.” He parallel parks with absurd ease in front of an Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant called Nejire. There’s a line of people in suits and evening gowns waiting at the door. You feel like a minnow in a shark tank.

“Ben...”

He comes around to your side of the car, opens the door, and holds out his hand. “You trust me?”

Do I? You take his hand in yours like a life raft. “Don’t let me down, Mr. Hardy.”

Unpredictably, fantastically, he brings your knuckles to his lips. “You got it.”

He spirits you inside, past the line of waiting customers, past the hostess and waitresses; they glimpse up and nod at Ben as he draws you through the main dining room and back to a VIP table in a dimly-lit, quiet corner of the restaurant. Oh, you realize with awe and trepidation. He’s an important guy.

You take your seat and open a menu as waitresses array full glasses of water and wine across the table. There’s nothing under fifty dollars. You flip to the salad page, searching desperately.

“What are you doing?” Ben asks gently.

“Um, nothing, just browsing...”

“You’re not paying for any of this,” he says point-blankly.  

“That’s not very feminist of you,” you quip, but on the inside you’re sinking. This is too much, this is way too much. I can’t let him do this for me.

“I’ll explain later. Trust me, we’re good. Order something expensive or I’ll do it for you.”

“I’m a teacher, Ben. My idea of luxury is Olive Garden.”

He grins at you boldly, almost roguishly. “Oh we are going to have so much fun together, Miss Y/L/N.”

Orders are placed, wine is sipped, appetizers are ferried to the table. As you nibble on ahi tuna tartare and caprese sushi, you find yourself lost in how Ben motions wildly with his hands as he tells stories, how his large emerald-or-jade-or-malachite eyes gleam when he’s animated, how his voice is so rich and deep and yet mild, how it suddenly feels like you’ve known him your entire life. Oh no. Oh no, I like this guy a LOT.

Ben abruptly stops eating and cracks his knuckles. “So there’s something I need to tell you. Since we’re...” Air quotes. “Not dating.”

Oh fuck. He’s married or something. “Okay. I’m listening.”

“It’s about my job.”

Whew. “Ah yes, your elusive profession. You can tell me the truth if you’re a dogwalker or a circus clown or something. It’s always nice to out-earn someone. Actually, dogwalkers in L.A. probably make more than me...”

“I’m an actor.”

“Oh,” you reply cautiously. “Like, for tv shows or independent films?”

“No,” he says, amused. “For major films.”

I knew he was too fucking gorgeous to be a normal person. What am I doing here? “Like what?”

“Well, recently, Bohemian Rhapsody.”

You choke on the white wine you’re drinking and cough and gasp into your cloth napkin.

“You okay?” Ben asks. “Don’t die. You can’t die yet. You haven’t tried their tempura crème brûlée.”

“You...” You cough once more. “You were in the movie that made $900 million dollars...?”

He grins toothily. “So you were keeping up with it!”

“It was hard to miss that tidbit. It was all over the news. BoRhap won the Golden Globe.” Your head is spinning. “You’re an actor,” you repeat.

“I played Roger Taylor.” The brilliant, obscenely good-looking drummer, the man who wrote Radio Ga Ga and These Are The Days Of Our Lives and A Kind Of Magic.

“Oh my god, Ben!”

“I mean, I’ve been in other things too—”

“Ben!”

“Look, relax, we’re cool. I’m not telling you this to freak you out, I’m just explaining that you don’t have to worry about dropping a few hundred bucks at dinner. You have a right to know who I am if we’re going to be...involved. And there’s something else.” He wrings his hands. “I have to be...discrete about my personal life. Try to stay under the radar.” But now that effortless comfort is strained somehow, weighted, ominous; Ben averts his eyes. There’s a presence in the room like a storm cloud, trapped pulsing lightening igniting the opacity from within.

“Sure,” you say, thinking that a life in the spotlight can’t always be easy. “Lowkey. I got it.”

“Awesome.” He’s relieved.

“I have to keep it on the down-low too. I’m a pretty important person myself. A bunch of six-year-olds would lose their minds if they knew about my extracurricular activities. They would color such scandalous pictures in art class. Premarital dinner dates, maybe even handholding. Yikes.”

That makes Ben chuckle; the shadow is nearly lifted. “Keep drinking, Miss Y/L/N. I’m loving this.”

And it should feel weird or frightening or wrong that he’s using the word love this soon, this casually; but it doesn’t at all. It feels anything but wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~

Your feet are on your kitchen floor, your palms empty. Ben’s fidgeting around, his hands in and out of his jean pockets; it seems like he’s trying to say goodbye, but maybe he’s not.

“So...” he ventures.

You wonder if he’ll touch you, if he’ll kiss you. You try to catch his eyes, but they’re everywhere except meeting yours. “Hold that thought.”

You dash down the hall to your bathroom to smooth your hair, touch up your makeup, swish some Listerine. On the way back to the kitchen, you stop in the living room to check on your plants. If it’s possible, they look a little perkier than they did when you left a few hours ago. You run your fingertips over the broad leaves of your peace lilies, smiling faintly to yourself. “Maybe we’re going to make it after all,” you whisper.

You hear the distinct clicking sound of iPhone texting. “Oh shit,” Ben mutters from the kitchen. “I’m sorry, I gotta go, Y/N, okay? I gotta run. But I’ll call you. I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay, just a sec...” But by the time you rush into the kitchen to say goodbye, Ben is gone, the screen door swinging forlornly. Puzzled, you lock the door behind him as headlights flare to life in the driveway and swiftly retreat into the night. Then you turn around.

Your fridge magnets are rearranged again, this time in the shape of a heart.

[lunelantern]

~~Sasuke's Revolution~~

Analysis

{What I want is.... REVOLUTION}

This contemptuous and rather forthright cite from Sasuke is a proclamation of his character inner coordinates as Schopenhauer's philosophy shines brightly as we let ourselves be entralled by the cruel beauty of this seemingly irrational confluence of pent-up inner conflict and Sasuke's response to the ills and mals of a crumbling extraneous society that produced nothing but pain and collective conflict.⚔️

Kakashi wisely concludes in a sheer humanist rhetoric that "Sasuke is the result of the current world's flaws".🌇

His words ascerts that Naruto manga's fictional a universe, as a perfect metaphoric parallelism to the contemporary world, offers an ample overview of the consequences of a world's flaws in its detrimental uncaring decadence; a chaotic system that's governed by corruption, higher ambitions, organized crime, the usage of mass-destruction weaponry and the glutenous strive for dominance, power and conquest. 🏭🛢️🌩️

Masashi Kishimoto crayons a multi-disciplinary narrative allegory of the current world society - - mainly focused on the confluence between medieval Japanese rites intertwined with modern Japan - - where characters' evolution is presented through the technique of metaphysical introspection, which unravels their inner coordinates. ⛩️

In this case, Uchiha Sasuke is the embodiment of the contemporary world's ills in response to the psychological trauma of a system that's profit-oriented.

Kishimoto's personal view of the world rallies with humanism and its organic philosophy.

The two perspective are illustrated in the manga through the two metaphoric answersthat Naruto and Sasuke proposed in their symbolic encounter with the Eremit of the Six Paths - - an introspection into Schopenhauer's Will, congruent to the manga's thesist inclinations and Christian and Buddhist elements about Genesis, karma and cosmogony.

Naruto embodies the humanist view as unyielding trust in the innate good nature of any sentient being, which are moulded and turn into evil by extraneous conjecture.

It's the society and the environment that turns one from good to bad and it's that "turns hatred into love" ; which means that love as an omnipotent transcendental universal force of nature possesses the soul - cleansing ability to make the fallen angel return to his pure, sinless form - - a reflection of the humanist view of the manga.

Kishimoto's solution to acquire universal peace, namely adhering to the humanist view of the world proposes a respectful cohabitation between the two antithetical doctrines - - Yin and Yang harmony/ Naruto and Sasuke's cooperation.

Uchiha Sasuke, as the echo chamber of Kishimoto's empirical view of the world and personal criticism, is the paradigm of one of the two manga's supporting pillars, namely Arthur Schopenhauer's pessimism and life philosophy. The negativism and nihilism, the Antinatalism, the sublime introspection of Will as the pathway to unravel the origins of life and one's life purpose.

In his iconic objectification of Will and the way a person perceived the matter and the material world is intimately intertsined with the personal perception of his Will, or the spirit.

The entire Uchiha clan consists in an expletive repertoire of anti-heroes, whose inner character coordinates are cemented into Schopenhauer's phylisophy of Will and aesthetics.

This philosophic retoric culminates with Uchiha Itachi avidly insists that "all people live with false preconceptions that they call as reality"; alluding that the materialistic reality is nothing but the extraneous manifestation of one's internal consciousness and perception projected on the material world.

Madara's INFINITE TSUKUYOMI is the pinnacle of the Uchiha's allegory as the struggle to vanquish the major source of pain and suffering in the world - - the mindless Will, and tragedy of self-reflection and pessimist introspection.

Uchiha Itachi is one of the few key characters that represent Kishimoto's "echo" of the manga; a self insertion direct intervention from the author into the plot using the technique of self-indertion, along with Jirayia, Hashirama and Orochimaru.

Only when one would deeply and minutely look into his own soul through introspection will he unravel the enigmas of the universe.

It's the implicit apanage of the naturally reflective minds - - the condition of the genius - - to be prone to introspection. The thinker, the genius, the philosopher, are all key attributes ascribed to the uchiha clan members.

Itachi, madara, obito and sasuke are all self - thinkers by nature. Their scholastic philosophical introspection is what offers dynamics to the manga in contrast to the hero's linear life philosophy. They are reflective in their quest to unravel every iots of the world's greatest mysteries that always challenged the most brilliant minds - - scientists and philosophers all-together.

So, Sasuke's REVOLUTION must be analysed in intimate conjunction with his characters inner coordinates and the dynamics of the manga and Kishimoto's solution to acquire universal peace.

His life philosophy can be asserted as "revolutionary" in contrast to the manga's humanist view.

While Naruto's solution to universal peace proposes the preservation of the original (Hashirama's) status quo, Sasuke proposes an avant-garde idea which is meant to surmount the current flawed system with a novel one.

Similarly to Kant and Schopenhauer and their irrefutable influence aesthetics of the world, Sasuke's proclamation causes a huge shock to the audience.

His character portrayal coupled with his life philosophy and symbolism are cleverly and masterfully introduced into the manga as veiled into the aura of earth-shattering avant-garde contrast to naruto's humanist view.

The tragism of the moment wordlessly speaks for itself. Sakura, Kakashi and even Hagoromo are a sublime frame mirror of the audiences shock in front of a radical opposing life philosophy. We are just as dumbfounded by Sasuke's antithetical view as the tragism and the metaphysical stupefaction seems to transcend the inanimate page of the manga and materialize right before our eyes.

The scene is intentionally written as a veritable drama aimed to cause shock, to impress, to challenge the audience to contemplate upon our own life values and principles.

So Sasuke's revolution is a milestone moment that precedes the grand finale of the manga, namely the crossroad between the two major manga ohukosophies - - humanism and pessimism - - as a possible solution to the biggest manga quest:

How can we acquire universal peace?

One suggests that the understanding of the others soul is the answer, she the other ideology suggests that the answer of understanding the universe is to look inside our own selves. "all of you, iwhtour measuring your own power had no idea of mine", Uchiha Itachi.

Sasuke's revolution offers a solution to acquire peaceful cohabitation as self-reflection to proper understanding of the universe.

The origins of the universe resides in the metaphysical understanding of self - - Will.

Sasuke's metaphysical answer to Hagoromo is revolutionary in the sense that it proposes a divergent and completely new, radical answer in sublime anthitesis to the hero's humanist overview.

The illusory idealism offered as the manga's solution to accede to univers peace is audaciously challenged by Sasuke's revolutionary philosophy.

Sasuke's revolution incites the readers to reflect and review their own system of principles and morals and invites to self-reflection.

In Buddhism, reaching the ultimate state of tranquility and inner peace as to quench conflict and pain as acquiring "NIRVANA", can also be possible once a sentient being quenches its inner bodlity desires and cravings to connect to the flow and energy of the universe. The Buddhist ultimate goal of Nirvana also shines brightly into Sasuke's character.

Schopenhauer himself was inspired by the Buddhist phylisophy of achieving supreme peace of mind and transcendental tranquility as the sublime state of the consciousness which attended perfect communion with the universes organic intrinsec flow of universe (the chakra harmonization and control).

Sasuke's seemingly laconic, spiritless and emotionless phlegmatic character is, in reality, the representation of Schopenhauer's metaphysical aesthetic phylisophy of "sublime" and "beautiful". Schopenhauer argues that the sentient being is a slave to his own incessantly rapaceous Will which can only offer morsels of perennial pleasure that can never Last.

However, once the spirit frees himself from the shackles of Will, for it inevitably leads to pain and conflict and suffering, sublime is achieved.

Schopenhauer argues in his double-faceted subjective and objective nature of aesthetics that beauty and sublime can be attained once a sentient being cuts the bonds with his innate starving Will that's prone to incessant pain and suffering (Sasuke attempts to cut all his erstwhile bonds).

Itachi, Sasuke, Madara, Danzo Shimura, Obito or Orochimaru all crayon the same tragic inner conflict, in which the transcendental genius struggles to be freed from the nightingale cage of his own Will. Their reflective nature and the inquisitive philosophical nature creates a sublime conflict that's reflected into their every action and ambitions.

Sasuke makes it clear from the start that "I'm different from you guys. I walk a different path than you guys. I'm an avanger." in which case, Sasuke establishes his role as the tormented genius whose reflections and metaphysical phylisophy evolves in perfect in contrast to the hero's empirical idealism.

While naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, Hashirama are all governed by a linear idealism organic panteism, Sasuke devotes himself to self reflection and introspection. He's always portrayed as detached, reflective and trapped into his own chain of thoughts rather than seeking immediate pleasure by devoting himself to his Will. He isn't glutenous - - while Naruto is obsessed with ramen, Sasuke only orders plain rice - - he isn't prone to be attached to material goods and the bloom of his pubescent and adolescent years is scarce in typical behavioral traits. While most of the teenagers of his age start to explore the hedonic repertoire of their puberty, hormones and discover of own sexuality, sasuke seems rather dissimpasioned and detached.

That's yet another foolproof reflection of his character symbolism in the manga cementing the metaphysical conjunction of Buddhist philosophy of nirvana and is his sheer pessimism, nihilism and negativism.

And his ideologic revolution which inevitably led to his symbolic "I... Lost" - - implying that his nihilism / pessimism lost to naruto's humanist/ idealist doctrine - - artfully offers one last moment of glimmer of the Yang part of the manga's anti-hero aesthetics and phylisophy - the negativism, the pessimism, the nihilism in the light of Arthur Schopenhauer sprinkled with Buddhist elements.

[knowableunknown89]

My Mentor, The Evil Genius

For lack of a better term, I must refer to you as the Evil Genius. You who has made a choice, as a clearly omnipotent being, to deceive the entirety of life as a man. To betray the gifts, we perceive as a gift of the one we call God, or by any other name. But I do not wish to insult such a being, I admire you. To disillusion so many, to lead the vast majority of supposed existing creatures is no menial feat. I wish to understand to the best of my capabilities the process of your thought and intention behind your actions, to not only unveil the flaws, but to respect the nature in which you command the illusion of life itself.

“To what end could a being that very well may not even exist within its own realm of reality hope to learn by addressing a higher being.” Proclaims the Evil Genius.

To say I wish to understand the reality of my own existence would be a waste of words, that in retrospect may not even exist within themselves. As I pridefully claim to understand, I don’t not have skin, blood, a heart or a brain. These are merely illusions that you have permitted me to perceive as a pseudo comfort, but nothing more than falsehoods you have taken pleasure in misleading me in. Short of these falsehoods, I know that I exist. I can think about the nature of my reality, I question your motives. If I can do so, is this not proof that your illusion has failed?

“For what reason do you believe you so much as have a right to question me? Perhaps there is no reason past the fact that I can? For I can confuse and lay deception upon any son of Adam, maybe I can, maybe I will, maybe I shall!” The Evil Genius proclaims puckishly.

To portray such joy in the fact that someone such as you could deceive someone like me, a mere son of Adam, could it not be said that the paper material that you have constructed reality itself from is deceiving you as well? I dare say that you portray joy in a way that I perceive, meaning this is part of your deception or that you yourself believe in the emotion you feel. Making it a piece outside of your command, a genuine emotion that you experience instead of creating. Does this mean joy is something created by either the universe itself or from the consciousness that exists outside of your deception? I wouldn’t even be able to conceive the notion that you have made an oversight in the fact that a look beyond the veil of the illusion you have created could be so easily seen past.

“Mankind is so easily deceived, for deception lays within the mind of man. Convinced that he is so wise, that he cannot be deceived. You who is so wise, as to consider you have broken my illusion, when you only know that you exist as a thinking being. Unsure of anyone or anything else’s existence, while still questioning if you exist yourself.” Said the Evil Genius. He continues defensively, “Although, you admire my work, the illusions I have set forth thru paper alone are many and vast. Never can a son of Adam see, and experience more than I have allowed. The illusions shall not subside.”

If I were to look at the scenes in life that bring me joy, the things in life that bring me sadness or even the objects that exemplify the mondain aspects of my reality, I cannot say they exist. I cannot claim they be water, stone or paper. I would be incorrect yet again. I must digress Evil Genius, you have done me a tremendous service. Descartes concluded, one true belief through his studies, one that would always remain true. That he is a thinking being, he thinks, therefore he exists. Now with the realization that nothing is certain to be what is appears to any of the senses I control, another truth can be unveiled. The only answer for anything to be considered as existing, is that it is an illusion. These illusions are meant to convince me that they are in which they appear to be, but with knowledge of the illusion, it becomes a much more obtainable goal to see them for what they really are. I cannot help but to praise and admire such a feat, to deceive conscious entities in such a way, presumably many, but only semi certainly one. The only way to truly create a true illusion, that could never be broken would be to create the illusion from nothing. But if there is truly nothing, then there can be no consciousness or reality even from your view. With out something to be deceived, there is not task to take pride in as you do oh Evil Genius. No sense of purpose or joy for you and no confusion, hatred or admiration for you from an independent easily manipulated consciousness.

“Maybe I do manipulate what is and what is not. But how would a son of Adam know any more then what my illusions have portrayed. Simply knowing there is an illusion before you does not give you the insight to see any further past it than you began with. I may crave the admiration, for I exist and manipulate the reality of lesser beings, but only I know the true answers. You know nothing more then when the conversation began.” Gloated the Evil Genius.

I cannot thank the Evil Genius enough. Through disregard of my existence and my thought processes of believing I could see past his very illusion that I so clearly cannot. I have gained reassurance about one true belief. For a being like the Evil Genius to crave admiration and to go through such effort to deceive me, even to him I must be a thinking being. I must exist.

[fezsoup]

So I was tagged in this top 10 characters thing by @voyagers-resident-catholic​ thanks! This was fun to do :) 

1.) My No.1 fav character of all time has got to be everyone’s fav worm Jadzia Dax like... how can you not absolutely fall in love with this crazy ancient one. I would legit watch a whole spin of show dedicated to the various Dax hosts and their mishaps over the years hahah. I just love her boldness and wildness and her simultaneous wisdom and calm. 

2.) Close second to all time fav characters, and also my favourite star trek captain ... Benjamin Sisko!! He is literally the most wholesome captain I mean, MAN the action, the passion, he takes no shit from anyone! Omnipotent alien tries to cause havoc?!?! He punches them in the face, never to be seen again! Far beyond the stars was objectively one of the best eps in trek history 

3) SPOCK. No explanation necessary.

4.) A detour from trek now, in fourth place is Malcolm Reynolds.  I woulda loved to have had several seasons of character development and slow reveal of his backstory but alas twas not be  😭😭😭😭  

5.) Back to trek at no. 5 with Julian Bashir! Honestly I loved his character development arc throughout the series. Something DS9 did really well was show him learning and growing from this naive bby doc fresh out of med school ready to tackle his ‘frontier’ to this amazing well rounded man who managed to hold on to his passion for helping people despite there being a literal war on. My all time favourite scenes julian include ‘you’ve never had to wake your self up from a bad dream??’ and his face when worf and jadzia and then quark (QuArK?!?!) and Grillka come into sick bay for the same reasons hehehe. Oh and of course bursting into ops to tell everyone that he’s JUST MET A SPYYYYYYYY hahahahh

6.) Hoshi Sato! Again another character where I wanted more development and back story pllzzzz. Like why wasn’t there more eps about a character who literally got kicked out of starfleet cause she broke a SO’s arm when he confronted her about A FLOATING POKER GAME she was running!!! She is literally a child prodigy and can speak a billion languages WE DESERVED MORE HOSHI!! 

7.) Now I couldn’t mention Julian and not also mention Cardassia’s favourite exile Mr Plain and Simple Garak.  I mean what’s not to love, the chaos energy of pretending to not to be involved in any espionage despite knowing basically all the high up Cardassians personally. Having various skills dubiously acquired through tailoring or gardening e.g. mr I learnt klingon by doing alterations like ?!?! Idk how to express the sheer audacity of this lizard man like he knows everyone knows and yet goes through the trouble of blowing up his own shop just so Odo will investigate something. like can I just ask the chief of security NO i must put on a major pyrotechnics display its the ONLY WAY 

8.)  Coming in at number 8 is Kathryn Janeway! I absolutely love her for sticking to her principles even if it meant stranding her whole crew in the Delta quadrant.  I loved how much she took care of her crew and the relationships between her and all the other characters <3 She was one hell of a captain for sure. Oh and also abso loved all of her hair styles omg from perf bun captain to sexy battle ruffled locks omg every single one of them was a Look

9.) Leslie Knope. I somehow related so hard to her and simultaneously found her so aspiration. I loved how much she loved her friends but also how off the rails she could get when obsessed with something 

10.) And lastly my girl Sophie Hatter, chaos granny, magical genius and hat maker extraordinaire! I just loved howl’s moving castle both the book and the gibli film (tho the book more, cause grad student howl is such a vibe)

Ok don’t feel like you have to do this but I shall tag a few peeps 

@itsatreklife​ @captaincrusher​ @jane-ways​ and @ideational-star-trek​

and also anyone else who wants to :) 

[vengfulfate]

Both of Them, and Only Them, Ch. 10

Story Summary -   Melanie and Miltiades Malachite have trouble with love. They share everything, and this has either scared people away or made them think their relationship was more open than the twins would wish. Then along came Ruby Rose… could she be the one the sisters have searched for?

Chapters: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine

I apologize to everyone who looks forward to this story for the extended gaps between updates. This is kind of a side project for me. It's getting a chapter now because I haven't settled on my next project yet and wanted to get some writing done. It might get another chapter or two in the next few weeks, or it might not. It all depends on how things go.

Please enjoy!

   ---

The morning came, and neither Weiss nor Ruby knew how to breach the subject. They prepared for their mission around each other in uncomfortable silence. The tension between them only grew along side the silence, and Yang and Blake feared it would boil over badly. As much as they wanted to avoid it, neither of them knew how to get the former ‘BFFs’ to an agreeable conclusion either.

Even the arrival of Zwei, Ruby and Yang’s corgi from Patch, did little to lessen the anxious air. The subject was all that was on their minds, but none of them had to courage to breach it. Not until they were almost on the airship, anyways.

“Hey, Yang?” Ruby asked for her sister to get some words in the air, “What are the details of the mission you guys picked, anyway?”

“Oh yeah, about that…” Yang began cautiously, “We tried to pick a mission that turned out to be restricted to first-years…”

“Then Ozpin came out of nowhere, basically told us he knew exactly what we were up to, and approved us for the restricted mission,” Weiss finished matter-of-factly.

“So… our mission is to actually look for the White Fang?” Ruby asked, confused.

“Not officially,” Blake answered, “But I’m pretty sure that’s what was implied.”

“And… our thing?” Ruby finally directed to Weiss. Getting a conversation out had exactly the effect she hoped. “It won’t get in the way, right?”

“Of course not,” Weiss stated sharply, her classic cold demeanor reemerging.

Yang wouldn’t exactly call it progress, but at least the team knew they would still work efficiently together. It was enough for the team, at least for now.

   ---

Their mission brought them to the ruins of the township of Mountain Glenn. A failed expansion of Vale, Mountain Glenn was a concrete jungle of crumbling buildings and wandering grimm. The concentration of grimm had spiked in recent weeks, which was not unusual on it’s own, but it still lined up with the information Blake had obtained. After a long afternoon with little progress, RWBY and their chaperon set up camp for the night in one of the many collapsed buildings.

Ruby was keeping watch when Doctor Oobleck, their history teacher and huntsmen chaperon clad in safari clothing, approached her. “Good evening, Ms. Rose.”

“Hey, professor,” Ruby greeted in turn in her usual cheerful demeanor.

“Doctor,” Oobleck warned.

“Right, sorry,” Ruby giggled.

“You team is very impressive, for first year students,” Oobleck complemented.

“Thank you!” Ruby smiled. After a pause, she added, “Doctor.”

“But there is a tension here, isn’t there?” the teacher pointed out.

Ruby’s smile failed. “You see it?”

“I do,” Oobleck nodded.

“It won’t get in the way,” Ruby promised, “we’ve talked it over.”

“But not resolved it?” Oobleck pressed further.

Ruby sighed. “Doctor, how do you feel about… polygamy?”

“Hm...” Oobleck thought. That seemed a lot more complicated than what he initially assumed teenagers would argue over. “I believe there is too much negativity in the world deny someone something that makes them happy.”

“One of my team mates doesn’t believe it can be real,” Ruby explained.

“And another is partaking in a polygamous relationship?” Oobleck deduced.

“I am,” Ruby confirmed.

Oobleck couldn’t help but think back on the various observations he had made that day. “Not to be inconsiderate, but Ms. Schnee...?”

Ruby did a double take, panicking for a brief moment. She felt like confirming such was akin to bad mouthing her behind her back. “I… shouldn’t gossip.”

“Of course,” Oobleck nodded, understanding. “I admit I don’t have any advice for you. Much as he may seem it, Professor Ozpin is not omnipotent. Teams are not always a perfect storm of friends and confidants. Being able to work together regardless is part of being an adult.”

“We’re trying,” Ruby nodded. “I just wish I could make her see she’s wrong.”

“She may be wrong in this specific instance, but her fears are not entirely unfounded,” Oobleck defended. “There are those in this world who would prey upon the young, hopeful and niave. If she is concerned for you, it proves that she indeed cares about you.”

Ruby cast her gaze behind her, landing on the heiress’s figure bundled in her sleeping bag. She smiled. “I guess it does. She’ll come around. I can feel it.”

“You are her leader and friend, and would know her better than I,” Oobleck explained, “if you feel as such, I’m sure it will be so.”

“Thank you, professor,” Ruby nodded. Oobleck opened his mouth, but Ruby quickly cut him off, “Doctor! Heh, sorry.”

Oobleck closed his mouth and smiled. With a nod, he left the young leader to resume her watch.

   ---

Weiss gazed over the city with blank eyes. It was her turn to watch camp, but her mind was engulfed by other thoughts. Truth is, she was wide awake when Oobleck prodded Ruby about the tension in the team. She heard the entire conversation, and it gave her plenty to think about. She knew her upbringing was oppressive, to say the least, but there had to be a line somewhere?

“Hey, Weiss?”

Her concerns weren’t baseless, that much Oobleck agreed with

“Um, Weiss?”

But was it really true that Ruby’s relationship could be fine? Healthy, even?

“Weeeiiiiissss?”

Weiss was ready to wait in the wings with an ‘I told you so’, but maybe-

“Weiss!”

“Huh?” Weiss spun around, finally broken from her train of thought.

“Finally,” Ruby sighed in relief, having finally gotten Weiss’s attention. “Are you still tired? We can swap watches if you need more rest.”

“No, I’m fine,” Weiss insisted.

“Alright,” Ruby shrugged, “anyway, I wanted to say I think I noticed something. It’s probably nothing, but I’m gunna go check it out.”

Weiss nodded, “don’t rush into something, okay? Call us if you need us.”

“I will,” Ruby promised.

Weiss nodded and cast her gaze back over the city once more. Ruby may not be a genius, but she was far from stupid. Crescent Rose alone could attest to that. And she is training to be a huntress, so it wasn’t likely the twins had physically overpowered her at any point.

I was ready to standby with an ‘I told you so’, but maybe that’s not how I should be thinking. And it won’t help Ruby should that come to pass. Perhaps I should support her now, and be there for her later if the worst indeed happens. And if it doesn’t happen, if Ruby’s relationship is valid…

“I don’t want to lose her as a friend,” Weiss finished her thought aloud.

The sunrise wasn’t far away, and soon the light and warmth of morning was rousing the sleeping hunters.

“Well!” Oobleck stretched and took a swing from his portable mug, “Who’s ready for a brand new day!?”

“Wait a minute,” Blake looked around, “something’s not right...”

“Yeah, where’s my sister!?” Yang noticed.

“What do you mean?” Weiss asked, “Isn’t she back?”

“Back?” Blake questioned in turn.

“She told me she was going to check something out,” Weiss explained, “and she promised to call in if it turned out to be, well, something. I never got a call.”

“And you didn’t notice she never returned!?” Yang shouted, “How long has she been gone!?”

“Girls!” Oobleck quickly took control of the situation, “now is not the time for anger. Whatever lessons this mistake can teach must be pondered later. First, we resolve the mistake itself. You leader may be in danger, and we must stay calm as we search for her.”

Camp was packed hastily and the group set out with no delay. Blake was the first to spot Crescent Rose, folded on the ground in front of a large sinkhole. Oobleck began a rant about sealed subway lines underneath the township, but Weiss could barely hear it.

She was looking forward to telling Ruby about her change of mind and hopefully mending their friendship, and subsequently the connection with the rest of the team, in the process. Now the girl was in danger and Weiss would regret it the rest of her life if she never got the chance to repair that particular bridge.

“Well, Weiss?” Blake broke through the heiress’s haze of thoughts, “You with us?”

Weiss quickly deduced what they were asking, not that it was very hard. They needed to go down into the dark. Weiss picked up Crescent Rose, steeling her resolve. She looked to the others and nodded, “Let’s go save our fearless leader.”

   ---

Melanie yawned as she leaned across the bar. “Why on earth are we awake again?”

“Because Junior agreed to host a wedding reception and he needed hands,” Miltiades reminded her sister.

“Who the hell has a reception at a nightclub?” Melanie stifled a laugh, “They’re probably under 20. I give them two months.”

“Don’t be rude,” Junior scolded, “They’re paying customers. Well paying customers.”

Melanie sighed. “Can you at least turn that off?” she pointed to the television currently displaying the morning news. “It’s putting me to sleep.”

Junior nodded and picked up the remote.

“Wait!” Miltiades stopped him, staring at the screen.

“What?” Melanie looked up and read the screen.

BREAKING NEWS: Explosion! Huntsmen and Grimm brawl in downtown Vale!

“Holy shit...” Junior read, “Don’t think that’s near us, though.”

“Mel...” Miltiades pointed again as the ‘huntsmen’ came into frame.

Black hair. Combat boots. Red cape. “Ruby!”

Now wide awake, Melanie dashed out of the club. Miltiades made to follow, but stopped short. The less brash twin didn’t want to leave without her boss’s blessing.

“Go,” Junior told her. Miltiades nodded and ran after her sister.

By the time the twins reached the battlefield, the chaos had already passed. Someone in handcuffs was being loaded onto an airship and a tall blonde the twins recognized as a Beacon teacher from the dance was talking to a man in safari gear. Ruby and her team stood close by. Blake spotted the twins first, nudging Ruby’s shoulder.

“Girls!” Ruby’s eyes lit up as she jogged over to them, “what are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” Melanie turned it around, “I thought your mission was outside the kingdom, not blowing up downtown Vale!?”

Ruby, perhaps still high on battle adrenaline and victory, giggled.

“What?” Melanie asked, confused.

“I’m sorry,” Ruby continued to grin widely, “but you acting all super concerned like is adorable.”

In another rare display, Melanie stuttered and struggled to respond, simply crossing her arms as her face lit up.

“She does has a point,” Miltiades defended, “What happened?”

“Well...” Ruby searched for where to begin.

Before she could, the three were interrupted by an approaching Weiss. “So,” the heiress cut in, “Which of you is ‘Miltia’?”

The twins shared a silent conversation, quickly deducing this was Weiss. They crossed their arms defensively before Miltiades answered, “I am Miltiades.”

“And I don’t believe I have heard your name?” Weiss looked to the other twin.

“Melanie,” the white twin answered.

“I am Weiss Schnee,” the heiress introduced herself elegantly.

“We figured,” the twins answered in unison.

“Right...” Weiss nodded, slightly unnerved. She pushed through regardless, saying what she wanted to say. “I have made some comments recently that I have come to regret. And I apologize.”

Melanie raised an eyebrow at this while Miltiades cautiously lowered her crossed arms. Ruby placed her hand on her partner’s shoulder. “Weiss?”

Weiss lowered Ruby’s hand before continuing. “The team is trusting Ruby would let us know if anything untoward is happening, and I can’t deny you are making her happy. I won’t attempt to disguise that I still have my doubts… However, I look forward to the three of you proving me wrong.”

“Was that… acceptance?” Melanie looked to her twin.

“It sounded like it to me,” Miltiades answered.

“I knew it!” Ruby drew her partner into a crushing hug, “I knew you’d come around!”

“Off! Ruby, get off!” Weiss panicked, trying to pry herself away. “Get off me! Down! Down!”

Ruby let herself be peeled off, retaining her grin. “You like it.”

The heiress huffed, but made no real rebuttal. Instead, she turned back to the twins. “As much as I’m sure Ruby would love to run away with you right now, we’re still ‘on the clock’, so to speak, until we debrief at Beacon. I’m glad to have finally met the two of you.”

“Wait, we still haven’t heard what happened?” Melanie recalled.

“I’ll call you the second I’m free!” Ruby promised as she and Weiss walked back to their team. “I should be going before Professor Goodwitch gets angry. Well, angry-er. I love you both!”

Melanie frowned at missing the story. Miltiades supplied, “We love you too.”

As Ruby and Weiss fell back in line with the team, Ruby offered a, “Thank you, Weiss.”

Weiss smiled. “I know I don’t show it well, but I do appreciate our friendship. Same with Yang and Blake as well. You constantly show me how to better myself, really better myself and not just… well, you know.”

“Don’t worry, Weiss,” Ruby smirked, “We’ll have you wearin’ PJ pants all weekend with some wicked bedhead like the rest of us lazy commoners before you know it!”

“As if!” Weiss defended. “I will hold on to some decorum, thank you very much! There is a difference between elitism and harmless class.”

“You’re definitely a class act,” Yang jabbed.

Weiss turned to the blonde. “Yang, I-”

“Stop worrying,” Yang cut her off. She flashed a smile for good measure. “Just messin’ with ya, shortstack.”

Weiss returned the smile. “Brute.”

[fableway-blog]

Eye-Opening Quotes That Will Make You Notice What You Always Ignored

Seem to be going through life without taking the time to smell the roses? Here are some eye-opening words to help you notice things which you have always ignored.

Sometimes you never realize the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. Dr. Seuss

A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not why ships are built. A fortune cookie

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Calvin Coolidge

Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in a long-shot. Charlie Chaplin

A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd. Max Lucado

It is the mark of an educated mind, to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle

Another flaw in the human character is that everyone wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance. Kurt Vonnegut

I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him. Mark Twain

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. Robert Frost

Silence is holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking. Anonymous

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. George Bernard Shaw

What do they call the person who graduated last in his class in med school? Doctor.

All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible. T. E. Lawrence

Nothing of me is original. I am the combined efforts of everyone I’ve every known. Chuck Palahniuk

There is only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing” Elbert Hubbard

Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon. Paul Brandt

If you remember me, then I don’t care if everyone else forgets. Haruki Murakami

When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That’s the message he is sending. Thích Nhất Hạnh

Warning: everything saved will be lost. Wii notification

There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man. Patrick Rothfuss

Imagining the Future is a kind of nostalgia. You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you’ll escape it one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the present. John Green

Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. Marcus Aurelius

Treat the Earth Well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. Kenyan Proverb

I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, it’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone. Robin Williams

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

A person is a person no matter how small. Dr. Seuss

There are 1,000 lessons in defeat. But only one in victory. Confucious

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. Teddy Roosevelt

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change. Charles Darwin

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.

Eleanore Roosevelt

Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying. Arthur C. Clarke

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the universe. Albert Einstein

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. André Gide

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. George Carlin

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Mr. Rogers

Stay strong. Depression lies. Wil Wheaton

I have noticed that people who claim everything is predestined, and we can do nothing to change it, look both ways before crossing the road. Stephen Hawking

You are the universe experiencing itself. Alan Watts

For more dramatic content, check out www.fableway.com.

[and-then-there-were-n0ne]

Throughout history most gods were believed to enjoy not omnipotence but rather specific super-abilities such as the ability to design and create living beings; to transform their own bodies; to control the environment and the weather; to read minds and to communicate at a distance; to travel at very high speeds; and of course to escape death and live indefinitely. Humans are in the business of acquiring all these abilities, and then some. Certain traditional abilities that were considered divine for many millennia have today become so commonplace that we hardly think about them. The average person now moves and communicates across distances much more easily than the Greek, Hindu or African gods of old.

For example, the Igbo people of Nigeria believe that the creator god Chukwu initially wanted to make people immortal. He sent a dog to tell humans that when someone dies, they should sprinkle ashes on the corpse, and the body will come back to life. Unfortunately, the dog was tired and he dallied on the way. The impatient Chukwu then sent a sheep, telling her to make haste with this important message. Alas, when the breathless sheep reached her destination, she garbled the instructions, and told the humans to bury their dead, thus making death permanent. This is why to this day we humans must die. If only Chukwu had a Twitter account instead of relying on laggard dogs and dim-witted sheep to deliver his messages!

In ancient agricultural societies, most religions revolved not around metaphysical questions and the afterlife, but around the very mundane issue of increasing agricultural output. Thus the Old Testament God never promises any rewards or punishments after death. He instead tells the people of Israel that ‘If you carefully observe the commands that I’m giving you […] then I will send rain on the land in its season […] and you’ll gather grain, wine, and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your livestock, and you’ll eat and be satisfied. Be careful! Otherwise, your hearts will deceive you and you will turn away to serve other gods and worship them. The wrath of God will burn against you so that he will restrain the heavens and it won’t rain. The ground won’t yield its produce and you’ll be swiftly destroyed from the good land that the Lord is about to give you’ (Deuteronomy 11:13–17). Scientists today can do much better than the Old Testament God. Thanks to artificial fertilisers, industrial insecticides and genetically modified crops, agricultural production nowadays outstrips the highest expectations ancient farmers had of their gods. And the parched state of Israel no longer fears that some angry deity will restrain the heavens and stop all rain – for the Israelis have recently built a huge desalination plant on the shores of the Mediterranean, so they can now get all their drinking water from the sea. […] 

In premodern times religions were responsible for solving a wide range of technical problems in mundane fields such as agriculture. Divine calendars determined when to plant and when to harvest, while temple rituals secured rainfall and protected against pests. When an agricultural crisis loomed as a result of drought or a plague of locusts, farmers turned to the priests to intercede with the gods. Medicine too fell within the religious domain. Almost every prophet, guru and shaman doubled as a healer. Thus Jesus spent much of his time making the sick well, the blind see, the mute talk, and the mad sane. Whether you lived in ancient Egypt or in medieval Europe, if you were ill you were likely to go to the witch doctor rather than to the doctor, and to make a pilgrimage to a renowned temple rather than to a hospital.

In recent times the biologists and the surgeons have taken over from the priests and the miracle workers. If Egypt is now struck by a plague of locusts, Egyptians may well ask Allah for help - why not? - but they will not forget to call upon chemists, entomologists and geneticists to develop stronger pesticides and insect-resisting wheat strains. If the child of a devout Hindu suffers from a severe case of measles, the father would say a prayer to Dhanvantari and offer flowers and sweets at the local temple - but only after he has rushed the toddler to the nearest hospital and entrusted him to the care of the doctors there. Even mental illness - the last bastion of religious healers - is gradually passing into the hand of the scientists, as neurology replaces demonology and Prozac supplants exorcism.

The victory of science has been so complete that our very idea of religion has changed. We no longer associate religion with farming and medicine. Even many zealots now suffer from collective amnesia, and prefer to forget that traditional religions ever laid claim to these domains. “So what if we turn to engineers and doctors?” say the zealots. “That proves nothing. What has religion got to do with agriculture or medicine in the first place?

Traditional religions have lost so much turf because, frankly, they just weren’t good in farming or healthcare. The true expertise of priests and gurus has never really been rainmaking, healing, prophecy or magic. Rather, it has always been interpretation. A priest is not somebody who knows how to perform the rain dance and end the drought. A priest is somebody who knows how to justify why the rain dance failed, and why we must keep believing in our god even though he seems deaf to all our prayers.

Yet it is precisely their genius for interpretation that puts religious leaders at a disadvantage when they compete against scientists. Scientists too know how to cut corners and twist the evidence, but in the end, the mark of science is the willingness to admit failure and try a different tack. That’s why scientists gradually learn how to grow better crops and make better medicines, whereas priests and gurus learn only how to make better excuses. Over the centuries, even the true believers have noticed the difference, which is why religious authority has been dwindling in more and more technical fields. This is also why the entire world has increasingly become a single civilisation. When things really work, everybody adopts them.

-  Yuval Noah Harari, The Gods of Planet Earth in Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

[thehierophage]

Holy Day Meditation for April 9, 2020 æ.v., the Feast for the Second Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law

April 9, 2020 æ.v. Dies Jovis, Sol 20° Aries, Luna 10° Scorpio An Vvi æ.n.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

The Feast for the Second Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law, The Greater Feast of Saint Rabelais, The Greater Feast of Saint Francis Bacon Lord Verulam, The Day of Beth, The Day of the Magician

Hebrew Letter: Beth

Numerical Value as Letter: 2

Numerical Value as Word: 412 (Beth+Yod+Tav)

Meaning: House.

Thoth Card: The Magus (Atu I)

Alternate Title: The Magus of Power.

Image:

Correspondences:

Tree of Life Path Association: Key 12 - Binah to Kether (from Sephira 3-1)

Astrological Sign: Mercury

Element: -

Egyptian Godforms: Thoth, Seshat, Imhotep (deified) and Cynocephalus

Geomantic Figure: Octagram

Gemstones: Achates/Agate, Opal

Perfumes: Mastic, Mace, Storax, Nutmeg, Euphorbium, Karaya, and all fleeting odors

Plants: Nutmeg, Vervain, Ash, Herb Mercury, Palm, Arnica, Mullein, Cinquefoil

Animals:Dog, Mullet, Monkey, Jackal, Cynocephalus ape, Civet cat, Weasel, Bee, Hybrids, Fish

Colors:

King Scale – Yellow 

Queen Scale – Purple 

Prince Scale – Grey 

Princess Scale – Indigo, rayed violet

The Secret Instruction of the Master:

The True Self is the meaning of the True Will: know Thyself through Thy Way! Calculate well the Formula of Thy Way! Create freely; absorb joyously; divide intently; consolidate completely. Work thou, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, in and for Eternity.

Mnemonic:

The Word of Wisdom weaves the web of lies, 

Weds irreducible Infinities.

Liber Arcanorum Verse:

1. The lightnings increased and the Lord Tahuti stood forth. The Voice came from the Silence. Then the One ran and returned.

Genius of the House of Mercury:

Beعθaoooabitom

Genius of the Prison of the Qliphoth:

Baratchial

Recommended Text for Meditation:

Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX, Cap. 2

The Book of the Law Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX

as delivered by XCIII = 418 to DCLXVI

II

1. Nu! the hiding of Hadit.

2. Come! all ye, and learn the secret that hath not yet been revealed. I, Hadit, am the complement of Nu, my bride. I am not extended, and Khabs is the name of my House.

3. In the sphere I am everywhere the centre, as she, the circumference, is nowhere found.

4. Yet she shall be known & I never.

5. Behold! the rituals of the old time are black. Let the evil ones be cast away; let the good ones be purged by the prophet! Then shall this Knowledge go aright.

6. I am the flame that burns in every heart of man, and in the core of every star. I am Life, and the giver of Life, yet therefore is theknowledge of me the knowledge of death.

7. I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. "Come unto me" is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

8. Who worshipped Heru-pa-kraath have worshipped me; ill, for I am the worshipper.

9. Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are but as shadows; they pass & are done; but there is that which remains.

10. O prophet! thou hast ill will to learn this writing.

11. I see thee hate the hand & the pen; but I am stronger.

12. Because of me in Thee which thou knewest not.

13. for why? Because thou wast the knower, and me.

14. Now let there be a veiling of this shrine: now let the light devour men and eat them up with blindness!

15. For I am perfect, being Not; and my number is nine by the fools; but with the just I am eight, and one in eight: Which is vital, for I am none indeed. The Empress and the King are not of me; for there is a further secret.

16. I am The Empress & the Hierophant. Thus eleven, as my bride is eleven.

17. Hear me, ye people of sighing!

The sorrows of pain and regret

Are left to the dead and the dying,

The folk that not know me as yet.

18. These are dead, these fellows; they feel not. We are not for the poor and sad: the lords of the earth are our kinsfolk.

19. Is a God to live in a dog? No! but the highest are of us. They shall rejoice, our chosen: who sorroweth is not of us.

20. Beauty and strength, leaping laughter and delicious languor, force and fire, are of us.

21. We have nothing with the outcast and the unfit: let them die in their misery. For they feel not. Compassion is the vice of kings: stamp down the wretched & the weak: this is the law of the strong: this is our law and the joy of the world. Think not, o king, upon that lie: That Thou Must Die: verily thou shalt not die, but live. Now let it be understood: If the body of the King dissolve, he shall remain in pure ecstasy for ever. Nuit! Hadit! Ra-Hoor-Khuit! The Sun, Strength & Sight, Light; these are for the servants of the Star & the Snake.

22. I am the Snake that giveth Knowledge & Delight and bright glory, and stir the hearts of men with drunkenness. To worship me take wine and strange drugs whereof I will tell my prophet, & be drunk thereof! They shall not harm ye at all. It is a lie, this folly against self. The exposure of innocence is a lie. Be strong, o man! lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture: fear not that any God shall deny thee for this.

23. I am alone: there is no God where I am.

24. Behold! these be grave mysteries; for there are also of my friends who be hermits. Now think not to find them in the forest or on the mountain; but in beds of purple, caressed by magnificent beasts of women with large limbs, and fire and light in their eyes, and masses of flaming hair about them; there shall ye find them. Ye shall see them at rule, at victorious armies, at all the joy; and there shall be in them a joy a million times greater than this. Beware lest any force another, King against King! Love one another with burning hearts; on the low men trample in the fierce lust of your pride, in the day of your wrath.

25. Ye are against the people, O my chosen!

26. I am the secret Serpent coiled about to spring: in my coiling there is joy. If I lift up my head, I and my Nuit are one. If I droop down mine head, and shoot forth venom, then is rapture of the earth, and I and the earth are one.

27. There is great danger in me; for who doth not understand these runes shall make a great miss. He shall fall down into the pit called Because, and there he shall perish with the dogs of Reason.

28. Now a curse upon Because and his kin!

29. May Because be accursed for ever!

30. If Will stops and cries Why, invoking Because, then Will stops & does nought.

31. If Power asks why, then is Power weakness.

32. Also reason is a lie; for there is a factor infinite & unknown; & all their words are skew-wise.

33. Enough of Because! Be he damned for a dog!

34. But ye, o my people, rise up & awake!

35. Let the rituals be rightly performed with joy & beauty!

36. There are rituals of the elements and feasts of the times.

37. A feast for the first night of the Prophet and his Bride!

38. A feast for the three days of the writing of the Book of the Law.

39. A feast for Tahuti and the child of the Prophet--secret, O Prophet!

40. A feast for the Supreme Ritual, and a feast for the Equinox of the Gods.

41. A feast for fire and a feast for water; a feast for life and a greater feast for death!

42. A feast every day in your hearts in the joy of my rapture!

43. A feast every night unto Nu, and the pleasure of uttermost delight!

44. Aye! feast! rejoice! there is no dread hereafter. There is the dissolution, and eternal ecstasy in the kisses of Nu.

45. There is death for the dogs.

46. Dost thou fail? Art thou sorry? Is fear in thine heart?

47. Where I am these are not.

48. Pity not the fallen! I never knew them. I am not for them. I console not: I hate the consoled & the consoler.

49. I am unique & conqueror. I am not of the slaves that perish. Be they damned & dead! Amen. (This is of the 4: there is a fifth who is invisible, & therein am I as a babe in an egg. )

50. Blue am I and gold in the light of my bride: but the red gleam is in my eyes; & my spangles are purple & green.

51. Purple beyond purple: it is the light higher than eyesight.

52. There is a veil: that veil is black. It is the veil of the modest woman; it is the veil of sorrow, & the pall of death: this is none of me. Tear down that lying spectre of the centuries: veil not your vices in virtuous words: these vices are my service; ye do well, & I will reward you here and hereafter.

53. Fear not, o prophet, when these words are said, thou shalt not be sorry. Thou art emphatically my chosen; and blessed are the eyes that thou shalt look upon with gladness. But I will hide thee in a mask of sorrow: they that see thee shall fear thou art fallen: but I lift thee up.

54. Nor shall they who cry aloud their folly that thou meanest nought avail; thou shall reveal it: thou availest: they are the slaves of because: They are not of me. The stops as thou wilt; the letters? change them not in style or value!

55. Thou shalt obtain the order & value of the English Alphabet; thou shalt find new symbols to attribute them unto.

56. Begone! ye mockers; even though ye laugh in my honour ye shall laugh not long: then when ye are sad know that I have forsaken you.

57. He that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is filthy shall be filthy still.

58. Yea! deem not of change: ye shall be as ye are, & not other. Therefore the kings of the earth shall be Kings for ever: the slaves shall serve. There is none that shall be cast down or lifted up: all is ever as it was. Yet there are masked ones my servants: it may be that yonder beggar is a King. A King may choose his garment as he will: there is no certain test: but a beggar cannot hide his poverty.

59. Beware therefore! Love all, lest perchance is a King concealed! Say you so? Fool! If he be a King, thou canst not hurt him.

60. Therefore strike hard & low, and to hell with them, master!

61. There is a light before thine eyes, o prophet, a light undesired, most desirable.

62. I am uplifted in thine heart; and the kisses of the stars rain hard upon thy body.

63. Thou art exhaust in the voluptuous fullness of the inspiration; the expiration is sweeter than death, more rapid and laughterful than a caress of Hell's own worm.

64. Oh! thou art overcome: we are upon thee; our delight is all over thee: hail! hail: prophet of Nu! prophet of Had! prophet of Ra-Hoor-Khu! Now rejoice! now come in our splendour & rapture! Come in our passionate peace, & write sweet words for the Kings.

65. I am the Master: thou art the Holy Chosen One.

66. Write, & find ecstasy in writing! Work, & be our bed in working! Thrill with the joy of life & death! Ah! thy death shall be lovely: whososeeth it shall be glad. Thy death shall be the seal of the promise of our age long love. Come! lift up thine heart & rejoice! We are one; we are none.

67. Hold! Hold! Bear up in thy rapture; fall not in swoon of the excellent kisses!

68. Harder! Hold up thyself! Lift thine head! breathe not so deep -- die!

69. Ah! Ah! What do I feel? Is the word exhausted?

70. There is help & hope in other spells. Wisdom says: be strong! Then canst thou bear more joy. Be not animal; refine thy rapture! If thou drink, drink by the eight and ninety rules of art: if thou love, exceed by delicacy; and if thou do aught joyous, let there be subtlety therein!

71. But exceed! exceed!

72. Strive ever to more! and if thou art truly mine -- and doubt it not, an if thou art ever joyous! -- death is the crown of all.

73. Ah! Ah! Death! Death! thou shalt long for death. Death is forbidden, o man, unto thee.

74. The length of thy longing shall be the strength of its glory. He that lives long & desires death much is ever the King among the Kings.

75. Aye! listen to the numbers & the words:

76. 4 6 3 8 A B K 2 4 A L G M O R 3 Y X 24 89 R P S T O V A L. What meaneth this, o prophet? Thou knowest not; nor shalt thou know ever. There cometh one to follow thee: he shall expound it. But remember, o chose none, to be me; to follow the love of Nu in the star-lit heaven; to look forth upon men, to tell them this glad word.

77. O be thou proud and mighty among men!

78. Lift up thyself! for there is none like unto thee among men or among Gods! Lift up thyself, o my prophet, thy stature shall surpass the stars. They shall worship thy name, foursquare, mystic, wonderful, the number of the man; and the name of thy house 418.

79. The end of the hiding of Hadit; and blessing & worship to the prophet of the lovely Star!

Love is the law, love under will.

[mystical-magician]

Crossover drabble #1

Good Omens crossover drabble where Stephen Strange was Archangel Raphael and meets someone unexpected.

~~~

"Tony Stark, my name is Dr. Stephen Strange. I need you to come with me."

He paused, attention arrested by the woman standing at Stark's side. Stephen had seen the CEO of Stark Industries before, of course, but never in person. For a moment, he sees pale skin and blood red hair outlined in flickering flame, before the impression fades, leaving behind only the seemingly ordinary human. Pepper Potts.

She is staring back at him in what appears to be shock. But there is something calculating behind her eyes, and he notices the way her attention seems drawn to his shadow. There is nothing unusual about it for most people. For almost everyone on the planet, really, including magic users (he was never really sure what the Ancient One saw).

Some very special few could see three sets of wings in his shadow.

It is surprisingly difficult for Stephen to split his attention with Stark commanding so much of it. But he sorts through what he knows and what he sees, following threads of connection until he realizes just who this Pepper is. The touch of War was a pretty big clue, admittedly.

Stephen lets Banner distract Stark and usher him through the portal while he lingers behind, avoiding their notice for the moment. It's only polite to pass on a warning, after all.

"You might wish to warn your friends," he says, gently folding his hands in front of him.

Pepper frowns briefly at the sight before looking back up into his multi-hued eyes.

"If we fail, I have a feeling that Famine's Antithesis, at the very least, will be needed."

"If?" she repeats sharply, nodding with some significance at where his wings would be.

Stephen rolled his shoulders, trying to will away the tension. "You, of all people, should be aware that I am not omnipotent, Ms. Potts." Frankly, for all that Heaven and Hell had originally put up a fuss about their two field agents, from what Stephen had been able to find out, they hadn't really done a whole lot to actually stop Armageddon. That had been mostly the Antichrist and his friends. What the Principality and his Adversary had done to so enrage both sides was stand up to them.

"But this isn't Heaven or Hell, is it?" she demands, arms crossed, and oh, is that a trace of an English accent slipping through at last? "Seems like you've got much more influence that way."

"I'm not what I once was. I'm of neither Above nor Below, not since humans began populating the Earth," Stephen says. He spreads his hands, bringing attention to the scars and tremors to make his point. He won't explain further, although he has a feeling he'll have to give a little more to the Principality and Adversary should they come looking.

He'll keep his original name out of it, he decides. He's gone this long without gaining anyone's attention in Heaven or Hell, and he has no intention of going back. Although if anyone mentions the number of wings in his shadow, it wouldn't take a genius to connect the dots.

Stephen wonders what Heaven has been telling people about Raphael's whereabouts.

Pepper lifts her chin. "You had better win, either way."

Stephen smirks. "And then it will be your Domain."

She smiles faintly. "I've had some practice at Peace."

"War must either hate you, or grudgingly respect you."

"Both would be my guess."

Stephen turns to take his leave, and is brought up short. Stark is standing behind him, having been hidden by his Cloak and the angle of the portal. His eyes dart between the two of them, curiosity, hurt, and anger writ all over his face. Banner is nowhere to be seen.

Stephen strides forward, forcing Stark to either move aside or be run over. His ears barely picking up the sound of Pepper's hiss as he collapses the portal.

Perhaps if he bulldozes his way through to giving all attention to the current crisis, the superhero will forget about what he'd heard. Perhaps he just needs to be aggravating enough.

Stephen's particularly good at aggravating people. He's had countless different lifetimes to perfect the art.

[eostre94]

My Fair-y Lady Ch 02: Eventually, the Bubble Bursts (Part 02)

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Based on & Inspired by the: Lady Fairy AU by @beebeebombam​

CHAPTER 02: Eventually, the Bubble Bursts (Part 2)

Opening Remarks: Welcome to Part 2 of Chapter 2: “Eventually, the Bubble Bursts”. This will obviously now involve the more action paced parts of the episode rewrite.

Stick around at the End Notes if you want to read some fun tidbits and references I noted. 

I hope you all enjoy my story, and if you want, leave a comment since I would like to reply to them when I can, and I hope I can continue writing more on this!

AO3 Link          ( ~     Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ     ~ )          FF Link

—————

“Marinette! How are you going to be Lady Fairy without your butterfly Faes?! They are all at home!” Nooroo voiced out his concerns at how calm Marinette was being. She merely held the bottle like charm in her pendant.

“Don’t worry Nooroo, I already figured out a way to work around this,” She let Nooroo notice the content of the bottle charm as the Kwami finally understood.

“You managed to hold your Faes in the bottle like your butterfly homes!?” Nooroo grew fascinated as he saw small minute lights resonating the same magic as his own flicker inside the small bottle charm.

“Yes, but I could only carry a few of them in these charms. They’re more of my Faes-on-the-go should I need to be Lady Fairy while outside the house.” Unlatching the lid of the bottle, four white lights flew out of the charm as each grew into full-sized butterfly-like manifestations.

“That’s amazing Marinette! You’re a genius for thinking ahead!” Marinette smiled at her amazed little Kwami but knew time was of the essence.

“No time for compliments Nooroo, we have a friend to save.” Picking her Miraculous brooch from her purse, she placed in on her dress and stated her command.

“Nooroo, Wings Flutter!”

In no time at all, Marinette transformed into Lady Fairy and with her command of one of the few Faes she had carried with her, she gave it her command as it fluttered to its destination.

“Fly forth and quick, my Fae! For my friend is in need of you now more than ever!”

Through the Miraculous’ magic, she can sense that Nino was still not bubbled but somehow holding off 3 green bubbles surrounding him.

Before the green bubbles fully ambushed him, her Fae managed to land on the small bubble container poking out of his pocket. Silence permeated the library as Nino gently floated in the middle of the room in his green bubble prison before a calm voice called out to him.

“I am glad I managed to make contact with you before it was too late.”

Opening his eyes, he can feel a sense of calmness as he heard her voice and realized who he was talking to.

“Yo-you’re Lady Fairy, aren’t you!?”

The voice chuckled at his observation, seemingly relieved that he was not hurt.

“M-may I know your name?”

“I-I’m Nino Lahife, du— Madame!”

Her voice giggled again as Nino realized that he’s basically talking to the seemingly omnipotent Butterfly user and was already making a fool of himself in their first meeting.

“You don’t have to be so formal with me Nino.” Her voice was so calming that Nino almost felt at peace even in his bubbled prison.

“I come to ask you for your aid and if you choose to help, I can grant you the power and be my Champion against this new Asura. And once that is done, I must ask you to relinquish it afterward.”

“Woah . . . I was chosen?” Nino still couldn’t believe he was actually talking to Lady Fairy, but her asking him to be his Champion because he was chosen was another level for him.

“Yes, Nino. I can see in your heart this resolution to protect, encourage and support your friends, even at the expense of you being in the line of danger. And while I can certainly ask for people to think more of themselves—“ Nino winced as he realized that she was starting to sound like he was being reprimanded.

“—I appreciate when a friend is there for those he cares about in times of need. And your sacrifice will not be in vain today.” The way she added that last part made Nino remember how honest yet kind he has heard Lady Fairy speak to his Chosen. He understood that she meant well, and he certainly realized that maybe she was just worried about him.

‘She really is Paris’ Great Lady’

“So, Nino Lahiffe . . . will you accept this chance to be my Champion and put an end to this Asura?”

“I do, Lady Fairy.”

And as soon as he said his confirmation, he felt magic rush around him. Even at the confines of the bubble he was stuck in, he felt freer than he had ever been. So much was the magic flowing through him in becoming a Champion that his bubble prison finally broke from the sheer power and he landed gracefully onto the library’s floor, finished in transformation.

Standing up proud was a new Champion.

Almost impeccably similar to knights seen in fantasy, the Champion wore shining armor over what seems to be dark purple robes. A royal purple cape draped along his shoulder pieces and flows on his back while a similarly designed knight’s helmet obscures all except his mouth and parts of his eyes. The armor itself is further styled with intricate designs, with a running theme of the butterfly and music as it is prominent in the designs of both parts of the armor and cape. The Champion wields a large circular shield embedded with seven multicolored stones arranged in a pattern around the center with a sword sheath attached while on his other hand holds a gleaming sword with 7 similar multicolored stones arranged along the middle of the blade.

“I have come to defeat the evil and protect those in need. With the strength of arms and music in my heart. I am your Champion, the Myrical Knight!”

Lady Fairy could only beam yet internally giggle at her friend’s choice of Champion. As much as she wants to jest at Nino for having based his look on video games she knows he loves playing, she’ll just keep that to herself.

‘I still love the look though.’

“Excellent choice! Well then my Knight, is it possible for you to first clear the bubbles surrounding your area? I fear that many more people might still be hiding from the malicious bubbles.

“Yo-you’re right! Mar— my friend must have gotten bubbled from stragglers. I should make quick work of it before I meet up with Chat Noir then.”

‘I didn’t even think that far into my alibi, I was just worried some bubbles might come in the bathroom while I am transformed but uhhhh . . . good thinking me!’ Lady Fairy chuckled at her roundabout way of ensuring her secret identity.

Running outside to the school’s courtyard, Myrical could see some bubbles still floating around. With a jump to the rooftop, he made a long arc slash with his sword that seemed to make a wave of light fly forward. The wave merely phased through the school yet it decimated the straggling bubbles.

“Alright! My sword can pop those suckers no problem!”

“That might be true, my dear Knight, but many of those imprisoned are probably too high up for us to even reach . . . and even then if they were to be popped we run the risk of the civilians falling a great distance,” Lady Fairy warned as she realized the implications of his power.

“R-right . . . that would have been way too easy.” Myrical Knight knew then that he had to defeat the Asura first before thinking of how to save the innocent from their bubble prisons.

“I’ll run through you where Chat Noir is, he might need you right now my Knight.”

“Of course, my Lady! You can count on me!” Taking a leap, he shot forward towards the rooftops before making a beeline to where Chat would be, possibly still fighting the Asura.

“While we’re running, mind running me through the rules my Lady? Like I know this type of superpower must have some rules right?”

“You are correct, my Knight.” A slight pause before she continued.

“The biggest rule is that you will start reverting back immediately should the object where my Fae’s residing is destroyed by the enemy, which is actually your shield’s sheath itself.” Nino looked at his shield remembering that the butterfly landed on the bubble container. Biting back his inquiry at how that came to be, he continued listening.

“You will also start reverting back with a timer once I present you my second ability. Similar to Chat Noir’s, we will both start losing our transformations and powers over a set time. That also includes any Champions I gave powers to.” She paused before giving her last rule to the new Champion.

“And finally, please do not allow either Chat’s ring to be taken nor let the Asura get a hand of my Fae if it ever comes out. Both are cases in which Chat and I deeply wish to avoid at all costs. Remember: Once the Asura is defeated, I must ask you to give back my magic.”

‘Don’t let baddy get ring or butterfly and once our supermove gets unlocked, we both got a timer before we revert back. Also can’t keep powers after Asura is slain. No sweat!’ Internally, Myrical Knight noted down the basics of his job as he remembered them.

Nearing his destination, Myrical Knight readied his sword and shield once more.

“Don’t worry, my Lady. I will protect both your Fae and Chat Noir and ensure that the Asura is slain so hard, the birdbrain won’t be able to think straight!”

A chuckle can be heard as Lady Fairy heard his declaration. With a smile in her voice, both Knight and Lady realized they have this.

“Very well then. Good luck to you, my Myrical Knight!”

—————

“Stop dodging you stupid frog-turtle-thing!”

“HEHEHEHEHEH! FUN FUN FUN!!!”

“This isn’t fun for one of us you know!” Chat bared his teeth in frustration as the Asura seemed to just dance around Chat while the hero in black was trying to catch up to him.

‘This is literally becoming the most annoying birthday by far! Can’t this Asura stay still!?’

The more Chat Noir tried to swing his staff at the Asura, the Kappa looking demon would just laugh at him, make a bubble, bounce off it, dodge the hero’s attacks, and then laugh again at him. Rinse, repeat, cringe.

‘I still haven’t used my Cataclysm yet so I am still good, but I am hoping I could get some help right about now.’ Chat thought out loud as he once again failed to strike the creature as playfully dodged him. But realizing he has been at it for over 30 minutes, Chat started thinking of the worst.

‘Oh no . . . what if . . . Lady Fairy was bubbled!? I mean I have never met her and while her voice sounds kind of young, it’s not entirely impossible for her to be legally an adult!’

While Chat Noir started dreading that this fight might solely rely on him, he failed to notice the demeanor of the Asura change. With a glint in its frog-like eyes, it waved its hands around which seemed to manipulate the bubbles that have since gathered around them. For a split second Chat Noir realized what was happening and tried to dodge the torrent of green bubbles swarming him like flies until he noticed the Asura jumping towards him.

The next thing Chat knew, he was dazed and pinned to the ground, smaller green bubbles acting like chains on his legs, neck and arms while his torso sat upon by the Asura. Its fingers twitching, excited over finally getting the ring for its master. A glowing blue mask formed around the Asura’s eyes as it was commanded to take the ring.

Chat Noir, still too dazed from the attack to even think straight, could only hope for a birthday miracle.

“Move it creep!”

Chat’s focus seemed to come back as something metallic and purple rushed and seemingly bashed the Asura off of him, thankful it didn’t get the chance to remove his ring yet.

“You okay Chat Noir?”

Chat focused more as he realized he was being talked to a knight in armor with a purple cape and an awesome looking sword and shield. A butterfly-shaped neon symbol formed at the knight’s helmet.

‘Maybe this birthday won’t be so bad after all.’

“Y-yeah I am good, a little dazed and a bit pinned but thanks for the save!”

The knight smiled at him before he slashed his sword in the air, creating a wave of light that phased through Chat and only destroying the bubbles chaining him. Getting back on his feet, Chat readied his staff and stood together with the Champion.

“I am taking you’re the one who can help me get rid of this Asura,” Chat asked as he noticed the Asura finally getting up on its feet, scowling at the new hero.

“Yeah, sorry we’re late . . . our Lady must have had a hard time trying to hide from the bubbles as well before she contacted me. But we’re here now and we can definitely pop this Asura down to size!” The knight readied himself as the Asura merely pointed a finger at him.

“WHO YOU!? CHAMPION!?”

“That’s right! I am the Myrical Knight and we’re here to end you!”

“NO FUN! . . . LIKE ADULTS! NO FUN!” The Asura growled out as it vigorously blew a torrent of green bubbles towards the duo.

“Get behind me!” was all Chat needed to hear as he went behind his ally and the Knight swiped his sword in the air, causing a large horizontal wave that decimated all incoming bubbles while pushing the Asura off its feet. Myrical Knight used that moment to leap into the air and try to deliver a finishing blow but the Asura rolled to the side, dodging his demise. But not the kick from Chat Noir as he slammed his foot on the Asura’s face.

“Forget about me, ugly!?” Chat smirked as he noticed that they now have a good chance of ending this monstrosity.

“Lady Fairy said I can keep pushing him back then when we see an opening, you can grab its pearl. Is that good, Chat?” Myrical Knight stated while Lady Fairy’s communication symbol still formed.

Chat nodded before looking back at the enemy.

“Let’s end this!”

The Asura, now also manipulated by Le Paon’s own symbol, released another torrent of bubbles but the team was prepared.

Holding his shield up in front of his ally, the Knight managed to hold out against the torrent. When they saw the Asura show even a hint of reluctance, the moment was there for the taking.

“Now Chat!”

Chat Noir threw his non-extended baton as it whizzed through the air, causing the Asura to crouch and try to taunt them but was surprised when he saw Chat already in front of him, smirking. With a readied form, Chat did a somersault kick that launched the stunned Asura in the air only to meet an airborne Myrical Knight. With a quick shield swipe, the Knight slashed his blade at the Asura, a wave of light further shooting it down on the ground as the monster finally laid unconscious.

Chat Noir took the time to pull the pearl-like Soul on top of its head and removed it from the Asura.

“I can destroy this and the Asur—“

“W-wait! If you destroy that, wouldn’t everyone who is still floating start falling when the bubbles get destroyed along with the creature?”

Realizing that his ally was right, Chat stopped himself from enacting the plan.

‘Crap, he’s right . . . what do we do now?’

“Myrical Knight, I think it’s about time I gift to you my second ability,” A voice rang in Myrical Knight’s mind as Lady Fairy spoke out her plan.

“Your second ability?” The Knight replied as the symbol formed while Chat Noir awaited her plan.

“That’s right. But to do so, I need to you realize how you want to use that second ability. It will be molded by you to how and what your intentions will be in using it.”

“And when you give it to me and I use it, I’ll eventually stop being your Champion right?”

“Yes.” There was a hint of sadness in her voice, but both knew that was part of her magic.

“Okay then. I ask you to lend me your gift, Lady Fairy.” Chat Noir heard his words with such finality yet confidence and respected his decision as he stood back.

“Very well my Knight, I grant to you my gift for which you will mold for this trial . . . “ Magic started rushing through her before she can allow it to diffuse onto her Champion.

“Fairy’s Blessing!”

In Myrical Knight’s mind, he can see the magic as something moldable. It felt like the magic was anything and everything he can use it to be but with the empty canvas in front of him, he saw the need to fill it with his intentions to create his masterpiece of a supermove.

‘I need to make sure the people who are still bubbled can be brought down safely. I want to make sure the people I care about are safe before we fully destroy the Asura. I want to use more than just the sword and shield to save them. I want to protect them with all my heart and soul.’

As though the magic fully heard his wishes, so too did he realize what it could finally be. Opening his eyes, Chat Noir saw the Knight’s eyes glow and putting his sword back on to the shield’s sheath, he raised it in the air and proclaimed his power.

‘I intend to use this power . . . to protect!’

“MYRICAL BEATS!”

Chat could only describe what he witnessed as magic radiating from the Champion as he created multicolored chains of 7 glowing spheres that seemed to pulsate as though it was a rhythm come to form. Various chains of the same glowing spheres shot out to the air, and Chat swore he could hear music coming from them, knowing it was not his imagination. He saw them shoot out to the sky, and latch themselves around the bubbles.

While he saw empty ones get decimated by the chains of multicolored spheres, Chat Noir started to see various bubbles imprisoning people floating downwards. The chains of multicolored spheres revolving around the bubbles, like rings and moons of a planet, as it seemed to direct the bubbles down to the ground all while the people cheered being saved and some floated nearby seeing the heroes with the defeated Asura.

As the light finally stopped radiating, Myrical Knight staggered in standing up. Not wanting to let the magic fully exhaust him before his end, he looked at Chat Noir and gave him the thumbs up. It was his signal that it was now safe to destroy the Asura.

Nodding back, Chat looked at the pearl like shell he held in his right hand and manifested his own special move.

“Cataclysm!”

Almost immediately the outer shell that was the Soul crumbled as the feather within also ceased to exist due to the sheer destructive properties of the move. The monster also faded into nothingness, as well as all the bubbles that imprisoned the citizens.

As people cheered and the remaining magic from Myrical Knight flew to the sky and made a spectacular multi-colored light show before disappearing, Chat helped Myrical Knight up as they leaped to somewhere they can take rest away from peering eyes. They landed by the empty school as both took a breather, Chat himself looking down at his right hand.

‘Hope Le Paon enjoys that cataclysmic headache! That’s a plus at least on my birthday,’ Chat internally snickered at the idea of the blue evil enjoying a migraine of that intensity, rather than using his Black Scratch which he usually saves for the feather itself. He hoped that maybe for the next week or so, Le Paon would be wary of making another Asura unless he wanted another taste of that.

“We did it!” Chat was brought out of his thoughts as the Knight smiled at him, Lady Fairy’s symbol also appearing in front of his face. Chat smiled at them before pushing his fist out to which his ally complied.

“Pound it!” All 3 exclaimed in their hard-earned victory.

“Thank you again for saving my butt back there. I would have lost the ring if it weren’t for my Knight in shining armor!” Chat jokingly swooned to which Myrical Knight laughed.

“Ahahaha  . . . Don’t sweat it my man! I just really wanted to make sure I helped.”

“Also I really like your style . . . and I feel like I know where you got your look from.” A cat-like grin formed at Chat as he realized this Champion was probably playing the same video games as he does.

“Ahahaha oh this is embarrassing, but . . . yeah, I may have been inspired by one of my favorite games. They just look so cool . . . and I like how they can protect and tank for their allies.”

“Hey if we ever had time, maybe we could have popped by an internet café and went on a few missions together. I mainly go melee Assassin with my black cat hybrid,” Chat Noir gleamed at the idea of two heroes just chilling playing an MMORPG.

‘Oh boy . . . men and their video games,’ Lady Fairy sighed in amusement before she heard their timers ringing.

“Well looks like I have to get going. Maybe if you ever get Chosen again we can finish quick and play the game sometime! See yah!” Chat grinned and gave a friendly salute at his new friend before vaulting off.

“We should probably go back to the Library so as to not arouse suspicions as well,” Lady Fairy suggested to her Champion as he nodded to her idea.

“Yeah, I’m pretty chill about things but I’d rather not have people hound me for being a Champion. That’s just not my style.” As they reach the Library with a minute to spare, he was thankful it was still empty.

“Thank you again for saving me back there Lady Fairy, and for letting me be Chosen as your Champion.”

“No, thank you. You have proven to be an amazing ally. I wouldn’t be opposed if I ever need to call upon you again.”

“Woah! Really!? Awesome— I-I mean of course, my Lady. I will be at your beck and call if ever.”

He only heard her jovial laughter before his transformation finished, reverting back to Nino Lahiffe. As he saw the butterfly turn into a flicker of light and disappear to wherever, Nino realized he still had to look for his blind friend. Running out to the halls, he sighed with relief as he saw Marinette leave the restrooms, possibly also looking for him.

As both friends met and were relieved knowing they were safe, Marinette and Nino decided that it was time to finally go back to the party with goals in mind.

“Come on, Nino. Let’s make sure Adrien still gets a great birthday party!”

“Yeah . . . I still want to talk to Adrien as well.” Smiling with his new resolve, Nino and Marinette left to ensure the party can still continue.

By the time they reached the park, they saw the party managed to restart and this time with no looming danger. Nino saw Mr. and Mrs. Dupain-Cheng still handling the food table while nearby Alya and Adrien were scanning the area until Alya spotted them, leaving Chloé who was angrily talking on the phone as Sabrina cowered. Alya and Marinette’s parents rushed over and came to hug the duo.

“There you kids are! Thank goodness you guys are safe. Where did you guys go during the attack?” Mrs. Dupain-Cheng asked as she checked to see if the two teens were hurt in any way before they all led the two to a bench to rest.

“We ran to the school. I— uhhh, got bubbled in the library until I guess the Asura was defeated . . .” Nino worded out, realizing he really didn’t want to be interrogated by Alya by being connected to the Champion.

“Ye-yeah, Nino held some bubbles back before I managed to hide in the restrooms. If it weren’t for him, I would’ve been bubbled!” Marinette danced around the truth enough as it was correct that she hid in the bathroom. Just not the part where she used that space to become her superhero persona and made Nino her Champion.

“Well, I am thankful to you Nino for having saved Marinette back there. You really are a great friend.” Mr. Dupain-Cheng exclaimed.

“Yeah, thanks Nino,” Patting his shoulder with her hand, Marinette smiled at her friend all while he smiled back. Looking at Adrien who only looked back with a small smile, Nino realized he still had one more thing to do.

“Hey . . . is it okay if I talk to Adrien alone?”

Everyone looked at the two boys before Marinette and eventually everyone else realized what he meant. Nodding at the two, they went off towards the food table. Adrien sat down next to Nino and both teens were in moments of awkward silence.

“Hey—“

“Listen, I—“

Both looked at one another before laughter arose from both. After a moment or two passed of just them laughing, Nino smiled and looked back at his friend.

“Hey, sorry again for causing that scene at your house. I know I was angry but I was just more mad at your dad than at you. I get you’re too scared to talk back to your father so I won’t hold it against you.” Holding out his hand while also holding out the same bubble container, Adrien looked torn at what he heard before he sighed.

“N-no Nino! I really should be the one on my hands and knees asking for your apology. I really shouldn’t have had my father talk to you like that. You have every right to be mad at me a-and . . . even stop being my friend because . . . friends are there to support you. And I fail–“

“Who said you’re no longer my friend?”

Adrien, in trying to not look like was about to cry, looked back at Nino who was also trying to not let his emotions get to him.

“We’ll always be friends, Adrien . . . Even if your old man hates the idea . . . honestly, still being your friend is one way to really stick it to him!” Adrien chuckled and both friends gave each other a hug before Nino finally gave him the bubble container, to which Adrien still took happily.

“H-hey, do you want to play the MMORPG World of Fantasy? I have been thinking of maybe playing that again,” Adrien asked to which Nino beamed at the idea.

“No way, you play that too? Sure we can meet up online at one point! I can even have you in my party with the others. I mainly play tank though.”

“I mainly play as a melee Assassin with my black cat hybrid!” Adrien beamed before blowing again at the smaller bubble container.

‘Huh. Déjà vu’

But before Nino could continue on with his thoughts he saw Marinette coming forward with Alya carrying a cake towards them. The music Alix was still handling suddenly ceased as everyone with smiles held their bubble swords out. Realizing what was happening, Nino helped Adrien up before he joined the crowd.

“Hey birthday boy, come on over and blow out your candles!” Alya exclaimed and Adrien was being led towards the center before everyone started singing to Adrien, who was still trying to hold in tears but somewhat failing, all while everyone were producing large non-malicious bubbles as Adrien blew out the candles after the song.

“Happy birthday Adrien!” Nino cheered before everyone else cheered as well.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADRIEN!” Everyone cheered and continued waving their bubble swords as Adrien, with tears in his eyes, looked to see everyone smiling at him and congratulating him: Nino, Chloé, Alya, Marinette’s parents, Marinette. Everyone was there happy for a certain Adrien Agreste on his birthday.

The party recommenced and everyone cheered on.

—————

As everyone continued to party, Adrien moved out of the dance floor after a multitude of dances alongside Chloé, Nino and his other classmates before he saw her sitting down by a table, just as beautiful, eating a slice of his cake.

‘Marinette.’

It was only then did he finally realize how pretty she looked and secretly hoped she changed to her dress just for his party. Marinette herself merely smiled at where the dance floor was.

‘I wonder if I can have a slow dance with her.’

“Hey . . .”

“Hey yourself,” she smiled as he sat across her in the table.

“You having fun?” Marinette asked him as finished another bite.

“Ye-yeah, I am having the time of my life! I am really thankful you and Nino set this up for me, so thank you.” Adrien was starting to feel nervous talking to her but she didn’t seem to notice.

“Yeah . . . But really you should be thanking Chloé because she was the one who managed to get this party like this,” She merely smiled back at him as she continued eating.

“Wai-wait what?”

“Yeah, Nino told me. He and I only thought of a small get together yesterday but Nino, in his wanting to give you the party you totally deserved, messaged everyone about it to help. Chloé said she wanted to help and was the one who really paid for a lot of the equipment and added food. She was even the one who bought everyone a bubble sword when Nino suggested it, while also threatening us to not be too public with any of our posts regarding your party if you did decide to attend.” Taking another bite and swallowing it, she continued.

“For all Chloé can be arrogant, spoiled, and likes to believe she is above everyone else . . . she still cares and looks out for her friends like you in the end. I guess even her friends can be lucky to have her.”

“Yeah . . . just like people who are friends with you and Nino are really lucky as well.”

He looked to see her pause before she smiled with such care that Adrien was wondering if he died then and there and went to heaven.

“Well then consider yourself one lucky man Adrien Agreste, because you’ve got people like Nino, Chloé and me as close friends. Now have the cake and eat it too.” Leveling her fork with cake to where she knew Adrien was, Marinette would have never noticed how red he became at the thought of feeding him.

‘I already snuck out and fought a monster as a superhero, I am pretty sure Nathalie can forgive me for having some more cake,’ Adrien thought out as he opened his mouth for the cake she was feeding him, only realizing the next day that he technically shared an indirect kiss with her through sharing her fork and had a hard time looking at his blind friend without being reminded of it.

‘Happy Birthday to me.’

—————

By the time Adrien snuck back into his bedroom, he still had 15 minutes to spare before he was expected to have dinner alongside Nathalie and maybe his father as well. Not that any of it mattered anymore as Adrien just had his fill of fun and partying when he left. He even managed to have a dance or two with Marinette before he had to skedaddle.

Showering and changing into a different set of clothes as to not look like he just spent a good 2 hours enjoying himself partying, Adrien reached the dining table to see Nathalie awaiting him. No sign of his father anywhere.

‘Typical, but I could care less at the moment.’

Both son and secretary ate in silence before Nathalie stood up and grabbed something. Coming back to the dining table, Adrien can tell Nathalie was about to give him his gift from his father.

But he knew the truth.

“Nathalie. I know . . . that isn’t from Father.”

Judging from how he saw her flinch ever so little and her eyes open wide, he knew and continued.

“I’ve . . . always known the gifts weren’t from Father.”

“A-adrien . . .”

“I know . . . that they’re from you. I can tell how much you put time and thought into the gifts so I really want to thank you for that Nathalie.”

“Ho— When did you learn it wasn’t from your father, Adrien?” Nathalie sat down while still holding onto the light green gift bag.

“I think I first knew about 3-4 years ago. I remember you gifting me that blue scarf that you said Father made just for me. When I tried to flaunt it to Father, he didn’t show any care for it but I remember you did. That’s . . .  kinda when I just knew, but I didn’t want to say anything until now because . . . I guess up until this point I really wanted to still believe it was from him.”

Nathalie still listened in complete silence, seeing as Adrien realized the deceit she had to do for the sake of his father, not for him.

“But I realize that while it’s the thought that counts, I think I should at least be thanking those who actually put a lot of thought into it . . . so thank you, Nathalie.” Adrien gave her the same warm smile that radiated so much care and even forgiveness that Nathalie knew then and there that what she was about to do would ruin it. Showing the gift bag to him, she can see he was about to take it and thank her again but she interjected.

“This . . . isn’t from me sadly.” Nathalie confessed and seeing the look of surprise on his face, she continued.

“Due to the upcoming Fall Fashion, I have been so busy that I only did realize it was your birthday today and forgot to take time to get you your gift. Monsieur Agreste reprimanded me for forgetting and I was about to give up when this gift from one of your friends left it with no gift tag.”

“I was going to present it as a gift from your father, but after you knowing the truth and making me realize as well the value of being at least honest with one’s gifts . . . I knew it would be wrong to take this from someone who did put time and effort into this gift. I apologize.”

At this point Nathalie already expected the same verbal reprimanding from the son similar to the father, but what she got instead was a hand placed over hers and a warm smile that just silently tells her he forgives her.

‘He really does take after Emilie more.’

“Thank you for being honest, Nathalie.” Taking the light green bag, he did notice it lacked a name tag.

“If you’re wondering who it was from, I do remember a girl in a purple dress running after your friend Nino around the same time we received the gift. It’s probably from her.”

‘Girl . . . in a purple dress? Realization struck him as he smiled already excited at what she gave him, but was interrupted in his haste to check the gift.

“Adrien . . . I still really wish to give you even a late birthday gift.” Pausing in his opening of the gift, he listened on.

“Seeing as your father has just updated me that he has been feeling under the weather due to his work, I can relax your schedule for this weekend. I can let you go meet with your friends and maybe even have a little party . . . just make sure your father nor any paparazzi find out and that you’re in safe hands,” She added in the end as is part of her job as the secretary.

Adrien contemplated before an idea struck him and smiled at his secretary.

“That sounds excellent Nathalie . . . but is it alright if you can get me a nice dinner reservation this Friday instead? I would very much like that if you can.”

“Certainly Adrien, how many will there be,” Nathalie smiled as she already checked her smart pad and set a reservation she knows she can get.

“3 people including myself.”

Nathalie was already thinking that Adrien may have wanted to invite that Nino boy and the girl in purple but Adrien beat her to the punch.

“Oh I see . . . will you be inviting your 2 friends for that din—“

“Actually . . . I was hoping that dinner reservation could be for us.”

Nathalie stopped in her tapping at the reservation and looked to see the teenager look shy and somewhat embarrassed.

“I was hoping I can enjoy a late birthday dinner with you and, I already think father cannot attend, my bodyguard.”

“I-I don’t understand Adrien.”

“I just want to have a dinner to celebrate my birthday with people who have been there for me, so I am hoping you and my bodyguard can be there to enjoy it with me . . . if that’s okay!? I-I understand you guys might be super busy and all!” Adrien stammered the last bit, realizing that maybe asking someone as busy as Nathalie might be too hard.

“You’ve really grown up haven’t you Adrien?”

A small smile graced Nathalie’s lips and even let out a slight chuckle as he saw Adrien grow slightly pink in his face before smiling back at her as well before calling on the cooks to complement them on his dish while asking someone to call his bodyguard over regarding the reservations. Nathalie looked at this young teenager and realized how much he had really grown from when she first met him all those years ago.

‘Emilie . . . if you’re out there, I hope you can see how much your son has matured.’ Her thoughts think back to Madame Agreste and of how, even as she has been gone for so long, Nathalie can see bits of the Madame in her growing son.

‘I just wish you were here to see this . . . and help him. Both of them. In these trying times.’

—————

It was around 3:41AM when Chat Noir finished his solo patrol.

He easily snuck back into his bedroom and let the transformation dissipate, reverting back to Adrien and Plagg. As Plagg went off to his own separate sleeping corner, which is one of his drawers that now reek of Camembert cheese, Adrien went back to his desktop and let it light back up after putting it on standby.

Adrien knew it would have been a fruitless endeavor, but as one of Paris’ leading heroes he did want to try and figure out certain anomalies related to the Miraculous:

1.) Where Le Paon is hiding. As Chat Noir, Adrien knew that while he is still relatively new in being Chat Noir and progress has been close to non-existent in the hunt for the elusive Peacock user, he thought that maybe patrolling the streets late at night could give him a clue as to the whereabouts. Something, anything he can use to help himself, Lady Fairy, and the Parisian law enforcement in tracking down Le Paon.

2.) Locating the mystery that he can only describe as a ‘Miracle’. He noticed a few weeks since being Chat Noir that somehow things turn back to normal. What were once varying degrees of damage in the city, from small to huge collateral ones, would be somehow fixed overnight. While he is still relatively new to the job, Adrien was for sure that whatever is reverting everything to go back to normal, even after the harshest damages from Asura attacks, had to do with the Miraculous. He has yet to even consider the possibility of trying to tell Lady Fairy about this because:

a.) He knows that she is next to impossible to communicate since she only ever releases her butterflies during times of Asura attacks.

b.) He knows he is sounding like those crazy conspiracy theorists or crackheads so even if he does tell her this so far with little to not concrete proof, she might worry about his sanity, which to be fair he is starting to worry a bit himself.

And finally, c.) Is he even right about this being a ‘Miracle’? Somewhat in lined with b, Adrien wasn’t sure if this was even something he should have noticed. Is it because he uses a Miraculous? If so, does Le Paon or Lady Fairy know? Lady Fairy doesn’t even seem to be bothered by how things seem normal again during fights and neither does everyone else, so should he? Was Miraculous magic just passively reverting things back to normal?

Adrien has tried to ask Plagg, but the lazy Cat would only demand more cheese and nap. Sighing in front of his desktop, its times like this Adrien kind of wishes he had like a ‘sensei’ or mentor, or even a ‘Miraculous for Dummies’ guide or instruction manual since he’s practically just doing everything on the fly. Not that he doesn’t like it, but it would help if there was a bit more support in understanding all of this.

“Being a hero is tough work,” He muttered mainly to himself. Scanning his desktop he saw the light green gift bag that he admittedly forgot to open after he decided to set a dinner date with Nathalie and Mr. Gorilla, as Adrien lovingly calls his burly bodyguard and driver.

Reaching for the bag, he peered into it to see a CD in a case that had the words ‘Happy Birthday Adrien!’ written. Somewhat iffy if this CD would have viruses but trusting that Marinette, who based from Nathalie’s description of the possible sender, wouldn’t do him like that, Adrien still loaded it up to his desktop. Opening the CD, he saw it had an MP3 file labeled ‘Birthday Gift Playlist’. Seeing as it would be best for any and all beings sleeping now, he brought out his earphones and plugged them in before opening the file.

What Adrien listened to was something of a journey told through a violin. The music he was listening to was amazing and with added sound effects and mixing melded well together with the violin playing that Adrien was at awe at what he was listening to at 3 in the morning.

After a few pieces, Adrien got curious and wanted to know more about the CD. Clicking at the option ‘Show Hidden’ out of curiosity, Adrien was pleasantly surprised to see a folder that was hidden; it being named ‘Extra surprise … Enjoy :^) ’. Clicking into the folder, he saw it contained a notepad file and an MP4 video file. Clicking onto the notepad file named ‘Message’, Adrien read the following.

‘Hey Adrien! I was hoping you’d actually notice this little surprise I decided to hide from both you and Mari, but now you can see it. I hope you can enjoy these little outtakes we took. P.S. Don’t let Marinette know about this unless you want me to be murdered by a blind girl. Hope you enjoy and Happy Birthday! ~ Nino’

Chuckling at the message, Adrien closed the notepad file and opened the video file labeled ‘Bloopers (DON’T LET MARINETTE KNOW PLEZ!)’ with a bit of anticipation and let the file load.

What Adrien got was something he’d very much like to cherish for as long as he can live.

“Nino, have you seen m—“ Marinette couldn’t even finish her sentence before she slipped and caught herself at her swivel chair while laughter, very much from Nino, raised and the girl could only laugh along with her before another clip loaded. It showed Marinette pretending to play her violin as though it was an electric guitar and she a rockstar like Jagged Stone. She was doing eccentric dance moves while banging her head up and down, all while the same voice of Nino continued to giggle and hold in laughter. Possibly because he was secretly recording his friend’s antics. She ended her performance by kneeling onto the ground striking a pose as she just laughed afterward, following Nino in their cacophony of giggles and laughter.

Another video clip showed Marinette spinning in a black swivel office chair while making a ‘Weeeee!’ sound. Another clip showed the two of them sitting in front of his desktop all while singing along to ‘You are My Sunshine’ that was being played. Another showed Marinette just dancing funnily at the background while Nino was possibly working on the playlist, all while possibly not knowing her cute dances were being recorded as like many of the others.

Many more outtakes of either Marinette and or both of his friends continued to play, all while Adrien was enjoying every moment of it. He was trying his best to hold in his laughter as to not at least wake up the Kwami but seeing the antics of his friends in these videos posed a challenge for him. The last video outtake was her in a makeshift recording booth as she seemed to have finished playing a violin piece.

“You’re good Mari!”

“Really?! Awe—“ She couldn’t fully finish the word as she let out a loud burp. With redness that could rival her red sleeveless top that she was wearing, she looked to where she knows Nino was recording her.

“You better delete that last part or else!” But Nino couldn’t hold in his laughter all while Marinette’s blush worsened and she was getting up to leave the booth.

“I— I swear I am going to delete it,” Nino obviously having lied, continued laughing while an angry blind girl was rounding towards him, the intent of murder seemingly radiating off her.

“Nino Lahiffe, I swear to Jagged Stone if you’re lying you’re dea—“

“Ahahaha Wait Mari— Ah!”

The video cuts to a black screen with a caption that just reads: ‘Hope you enjoyed those bloopers :^) ’

To the young blonde teenager named Adrien Agreste, he could only hold in his laughter as to not wake anyone else but held it in his as best as he could before turning off the desktop and going to bed, knowing that he might have to hold in a sigh of content and a giggle if he sees Marinette later in school. As much as he likes her, he’d rather be still alive and not murdered alongside his friend Nino who gave him that extra gift as a secret.

Sighing into his bed, Adrien let out one more whisper to himself before he let sleep take over.

“Best. Birthday. Ever.”—————

End Note (Tidbits & References)

Regarding Marinette’s resourceful plan about carrying Faes with her. That was basically my way of trying to reason how she can be Lady Fairy while not always being at home (since in Canon Hawk Moth never leaves his lair except at some points where all his butterflies are). I had the idea of them being in a bottle since I randomly looked up butterfly in a bottle charms and seeing as I already made it seem possible for the butterflies to fit in small spaces (like the butterfly homes) as to not make Marinette too obvious as LF, I decided to go with the idea of a bottle charm she can carry a few Faes in so she can be LF on the go.

Regarding the choice of Nino’s Champion. I honestly did want to try and keep it along his original Akuma theme, but I am going to be very honest: I hate Bubbler’s design and his powers are kinda ehh for me. (TBH his design looks like a weird blow up sex doll for clowns with a balloon fetish…). I wouldn’t have super minded it if it weren’t for the fact that bubbles aren’t really a recurring theme of Nino, unlike music. And seeing as I already have plans on making recurring Champions reappear similar to the AU originator’s plan of having Lady WiFi be a recurring ally, I at least want to make Nino’s Champion a viable recurring ally in future stories and wanted to give him something grander.

Regarding the Champion’s Name & Design. When I originally was going to make it stay on theme with like Bubbler, his name was going to be Sphyricle Knight. I love word play references so his name was a play on Sphere (like the shape of a bubble), Lyric/Lyrical (regarding music) and Miracle (like Miraculous). When I decided to forgo keeping the bubble theme, I decided to go with Myrical Knight which is a play on Miracle, Lyrical and even Mythical. The Knight aspect was something I always wanted to do and while originally I wanted his sword to be like a magic bubble making sword like in Bubbler, I decided to just go with something more fantasy-esque. I still did want to incorporate music aspects; hence, why his super move was called Myrical Beats. More about this Champion may or may not be further developed in future chapters.

Regarding Chat’s use of Cataclysm on the Soul. I never planned on making Black Scratch as the only move to destroy the feathers; far from it, I made that as a way for Chat to destroy it even when he already used Cataclysm. While I will delve in this further in future chapters, just think of Black Scratch as a super niche and weaker version of Cataclysm.

Regarding what I said in Part 1. This is with regards to how I am changing the dynamics of certain characters’ relationships and personalities as to fit in this narrative I am building. As you can already tell, a lot of changes in the characters are different from Canon, such as the personalities of Chloé and Nathalie along with relationship dynamics such as Nino and Marinette being childhood friends and Chloé and Adrien having a more fleshed out friendship. I did this mainly to already establish how things will be different compared to the Canon and to flesh out better characterizations of characters than what is currently portrayed in Canon (AKA I am not that big of a fan of the show’s current character developments, especially with minor characters if there are any); hence, you’ll be seeing more of these in future chapters. I hope to not be too out of character, but I hope that people can enjoy different takes on the personalities and dynamics of the characters.

[alarawriting]

I think I have figured out which of my various universes and story ideas I will be exploring with my ficlets. (Why, yes, if you hadn’t figured it out I am totally cheating; instead of coming up with a ficlet based on the prompt, I am matching the prompt to existing universes and story ideas to see what fits best.)

So far, in 7 ficlets, I’ve covered:

#arcana: The arcana are psychic/energy vampire mages, whose magic draws from life force taken from consenting clients (though not always well-informed consenting clients.) First came up with this idea when I was 16 and I actually wrote a lot of stories based on it, only one of which doesn’t suck, because I was 16. (You modern 16 year olds, with your Internet and your instant feedback and your ability to grow as authors faster than we did back in the day!... you’re awesome, keep it up. But when I was 16? I sucked.)

“zombie humans spreading spam”: Hey, I could really go for some Five Guys.

#child impersonators: I mentioned this in the ficlet -- this idea is based on P. J. Plauger’s “Child of All Ages” (but isn’t fanfic because I’ve done something drastically different with the concept). The “child impersonators” are adults who have been taking medication that suppresses their aging, entirely, since before puberty. They do not go into puberty, they do not grow and they do not age. “Grownups” refers solely to traditional adults, as “child impersonators” have all the legal rights of adults but are not grown-up.

#diane duane #young wizards #faro and ilya: I think someday I will come back to these two, but they are the only story idea I literally didn’t come up with until I saw the prompts. I’d wanted to explore the concept of a dog wizard, mostly because, as much as I love cats, they are overdone in SF and fantasy. But the only idea I’d had about dog wizards was that they probably work with human wizards, rather than in packs with other dog wizards, because unlike cats, who can come and go as they like without humans being alarmed, dogs can’t freely travel around without human supervision. A wizard can get around this, but expending extra power when you don’t need to is against their code. It became a husky and her Russian partner protecting the Arctic because the prompts were “freeze” and “husky”.

#kai diwar universe: I really love this universe and plan to explore it in detail one of these days. I got sick of “humans are special”, “humans have a quality of growth”, “humans are the only one who make alliances with other species”, etc, and decided to create a universe where the thing that’s unique about humans is that we like beer and kitty cats. No, seriously. We made friends with the galaxy’s greatest engineers because they thought they were the only ones with a love of fermented grain until we showed up, and they traded technology for novel microbrews; we made friends with the galaxy’s deadliest and most frightening warriors, the felinoid Kai, because catlike beings exist on most planets with sapient life, but Earth is the only one where they’re small enough to make pets of, so we were the only ones who saw giant cats and instead of terrifying “tigers and lions and panthers, oh my!”, we were able to think “Ooh, kitty!” instead and befriend them.

#not even past: So imagine what if Harry Potter, or a story like it, had taken place in America. And imagine that all of the teens fighting the great evil had died except the Hermione character and the Draco character. And imagine that as a result, the Hermione character had quit the world of magic entirely, gotten married to a non-magical man, had kids, and uses magic only to protect and care for her family. Imagine that she has serious PTSD about the magical world and nightmares about the deaths of her friends, which are getting worse because her own kids are getting to be the age when she went off to magic school herself. Now imagine that the bad guys are back and targeting her. That’s the plot of “Not Even Past.”

Other story ideas I plan to do ficlets on:

#nodrama: No Drama. I did a WIP promo on this. Snarky omnipotent alien is on Earth without most of his powers, investigating whether God is actually a corrupt politician of his people. Check the tag for more related ficlets.

#coldlight: The Cold At The Heart Of The Light. Did this one too. Supervillain must protect the baby of her nemeses’ mentor against her nemeses, a superhero team, because a time traveller has demonstrated that the baby will destroy the world if allowed to grow up, but the supervillain thinks she can change things. Check the tag for more related ficlets.

#proxima: Set in the same universe as Cold Light, but with different characters. The Proximas, like Marvel mutants, are people born with the capacity for superpowers, which come in during adolescence typically.

#libertyangel: Superman expy where the Clark Kent character was female. 

#demange: The demanges -- part demon, part angel -- are entities that do not belong on Earth, and generally prey on humans. Mark discovered years ago that he was half demange, and that this obligates him to do something, so he travels the world solving problems caused by demanges. If this sounds to you like the plot of Vampire Princess Miyu, congratulations, except you missed the part where I crossed it over with Hellblazer and Dresden Files.

Mad Max the librarian: This needs more fleshing out, but basically, in a post-apocalyptic world, a badass dude on a motorcycle rescues books and computer equipment and brings them home to an oasis of knowledge and (barely) working technology called The Library.

#theclos #greenworld: In a universe where Earth has a twin planet that is more like early science fiction’s take on Venus -- hot and jungle-like -- an explorer from our world who is trying to be ethical runs afoul of a member of a godawfully powerful humanoid race who are worshiped as gods on that world. Conflicts over non-interference, the human value of trade and cultural exchange vs. colonialism, and so forth, develop. Also, the human explorer and the Theclos representative fall in love. (Yes, based on Picard/Q, though in this version the Q character is female. If you want to see one that maintains the m/m dynamics keep reading.)

#mikelondon: Bears some slight resemblance to my story “Eyes That Can’t Be Mesmerized” (posted here on tumblr!), but came first. Mike London is an IT guy, and an albino, with rhythmatic nystagmus. It turns out that this protects him from vampiric mesmerism, and that makes him a target of the vampires, so he becomes a vampire slayer.

#doctorultraviolet: I posted the first bit of the first chapter of this here, years ago. Dr. Ultraviolet is The World’s Greatest Evil Genius. After surviving the superheroes’ destruction of her base and her finances, she has to take refuge with her sister... a single mother with 5 kids who lives in the suburbs and works as a real estate agent.

#sifralef: A ship captain in an era much like the Age of Sail, but with magic, is taunted by a Daemon, a mysterious entity with near-godlike power over the world. It turns out the world is a simulation, Daemons are AIs who run the simulation and maintain it, and this particular Daemon wants humanity to wake up, leave the simulation and achieve the destiny that was planned for them when the simulation was first created... for reasons of his own, and he’s chosen this ship captain as the human to awaken. Yes, it’s based on Picard/Q. Yes, this time they’re both dudes.

Plus, story ideas that I’ve posted incomplete bits of or the concept of here on Tumblr, such as the Pale Bro, Lair of Cat and Dragon, Hole in the World, or two lesbians drive across a future America in an ancient car held together by spray-can aluminum. And some other stuff I’m not going into in detail. And there may be ideas from @writing-prompt-s or concepts people posted on Tumblr in a “I wish someone would write this” or explicitly story prompt fashion.

[hello-thefatlosshabit-blr]

We can’t achieve anything of significance without discipline. Success and great achievements are only accomplished through years of disciplined effort. We need discipline to adopt the habits that will lead to our desired results. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle. We must be the architect of our daily rituals to take control of our life. Anything we want to accomplish has to be part of our daily habits.

You’ll discover that doing something every day is much easier than doing it some days. We are creatures of habit. Our minds prefer routines. Routines allow our minds to operate on autopilot; actions flow almost unconsciously. We have each discovered that if we don’t do something every day, we will not do it any day. One missed day become two, and pretty soon we forget about what it is we wanted to do regularly to get better each day.

Every day is our life in miniature. If self-improvement isn’t a daily priority, it won’t be a priority. We form habits, then our habits form us. We become what we repeatedly do. We become an expert in our field by dedicating ourselves to daily study. Jim Rohn suggested that if we spent an hour a day reading and studying our chosen field, in a year, we’d become an expert in our field. As he put it, “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”

“Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.” — John C. Maxwell

The world rewards excellence, but the rewards are not immediate. It takes years of disciplined effort. Anyone can take actions that produce immediate rewards. It is the disciplined person, focused on their long-term goal that repeatedly puts in the work, day after day, with the belief they will achieve it, that persevere. The future is purchased in the present. If we can stay focused on our goals, it will help us make better use of each day. Today is the game. Today is your life in miniature.

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn

Discipline allows us to persevere. When we doggedly pursue a goal day after day, we can overcome almost any obstacle. “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”- Calvin Coolidge. I completely agree. Knowledge is rarely the problem. Most of us know what we should do. What is missing is discipline and commitment.

Discipline is a keystone habit that makes other good habits possible. Change your habits, change your life!

If you enjoyed this article, please LIKE and SHARE. Our Book is NOW Available on Amazon!

Best wishes and Best Health!

Are you ready to reboot and reset your relationship with food and exercise? Most programs focus on the mechanics of weight loss but fail to adequately address the psychology of change required. Most people know more than enough about nutrition and exercise to lose weight, but fail to take action. This book takes a new approach to getting leaner, fitter, and stronger.

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The book contains:

7 Change Strategies for Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle

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"The temptation to take the easy road is always there. It is as easy as staying in bed in the morning and sleeping in. But discipline is paramount to ultimate success and victory for any leader and any team." Jocko Willink We can’t achieve anything of significance without discipline. Success and great achievements are only accomplished through years of disciplined effort…