#int. valeria

[shilohsharma]

"The thing is, I work front desk at the hotel, and there's beautiful plants in the lobby. And I take such fantastic care of them -- watering schedule, pruning, all perfect. But the second I get a plant in my apartment it's like some toxicity takes over."

Shiloh takes a sip. of her wine and tilts her head in consideration.

"Fake plants is actually a great idea."

She straightens up her posture, proud her idea had been well received.

"You could even paint some leaves on it. Or like, vines. Make it look really classy."

@thevaleriaxortiz

"I get that, I can't even keep a succulent alive. Which is truly saying something since I'm practically from the desert." Shaking her head at herself, Valeria just took a sip of her wine, still smiling bemusedly. "I'm a pro at organizing faux plants though. You could raid the craft store? They'll probably have tons of the fake shit now with spring and summer coming up."

A rolling tray...that definitely piqued her attention. "I do. Usually I'm lazy though and buy pre-rolls or just go the gummy route, but...you do make a compelling suggestion. Maybe I should paint it green and everything, fully lean into it."

[ncvaxchen]

@estsolcity (valeria)

"I just don't think having something synthetic doing my job is really going to be anymore efficient, you know?" It almost made sense not to rely on humans, and human error. But, Nova was not a human. Cervid senses were far beyond human understanding anyway.

[durge-marzio]

Meet my Tav, Marzio! Yes, another updated masterpost. I'm so sorry.

His pose is apart of the somatic motion for Sanctuary (if you wanted to know)~

Since my Marzio comic is going to take a lot longer to be produced than I planned, his story will be under the cut! You can read this if you like, or you can wait until I start releasing the comic.

Gender/Sexuality: Trans Man / Bi Age: 33-36, or however old Gortash is -> unsure due to memory loss Race: Mephistopheles Tiefling Origin: Haunted One (Dark Urge) Class: Monk / Cleric of Ilmater -> Duelclass (Open Hand / Life Domain)

Marzio has very little memories of his life before the Nautiloid. All he has left are his name, flashes of old names and training as his time as a painbearer for Ilmater.

Stats:

STR: 15 DEX: 12 CON: 13 INT: 8 WIS: 17 CHA: 10

Important Design Note:

Devil’s Hair listed here is Devil’s Daring Needles or Virgin’s Bower. I didn’t realize thar Devil’s Hair was a parasite twin plant? Correct me if I’m wrong.

His pants are usually white, but I went with blue here... for some reason.

His eyes probably change color during his urges to red or orange

SPOILERS BELOW CUT -> scroll all the way down for screenshots!

UPDATED Marzio Backstory can be read here Marzio's Story (SCRAPPED) TLDR: Marcio got sacrificed to Bhaal and was revived as the Dark Urge (now Marzio).

Life One:

Marcio was a cleric of Ilmater, a painbearer specifically. Marcio was trained to endure the worst pains a person could experience, all in the name of helping others—including but not limited to drowning, starvation, dehydration, extreme weather, and anything physically painful. Reading on Ilmater Painbearers, there's a lot of horrors between those lines.

Despite this, Marcio was satisfied with his life and the path he had chosen. He loves people, and Ilmater is actually pretty cool compared to a lot of the other gods. He was eventually almost made a martyr of when the Nautiloid came and took him away—taken rushing people to safety as the ship tore through Baldur's.

He met Gale after Shadowheart, and one could say the rest is history, but that's unfortunately, that's not how Marcio's story goes.

After a lot of self-sacrifice, Marcio developing an alarming savior/martyr complex, they finally reached Mystra's confrontation. I kid you not when I say that my save files stopped loading after that conversation. Gale had received all the help he needed from Marcio, but the moment Gale turned around to finally help Marcio in return, dead. Save gone.

So, why not take that opportunity to diverge from canon a little bit.

Intermission:

Remember that murder tribunal with Sarevok to Bhaal? Who would be a better replacement for Valeria than Marcio himself—a cleric to Ilmater makes a much better sacrifice than an uncaring investigator.

Gale, I imagine, was nooooot that happiest with this development. But what was done, was done. Can't revive Marcio now.

So, what does our completely sane and not at all unhinged wizard do? Why, he takes the Crown of Karsus to revive Marcio, of course! Somewhat becoming a god, and despite all warnings not to, half-god Gale reverses time with a wish spell. Wish spells though? They're a lot like a monkey's paw. He might have changed the timeline, but not everything came back how it should.

Life Two:

Marcio has been reborn in this timeline as Marzio. (Partially because I needed a way to differentiate the two, and partially the because that was how I meant to spell it in the first place. But I had two save files to experiment with classes, and I was afraid of overwriting something.)

Now here's where the timeline gets messed up.

I don't imagine this new Bhaal was very happy with a sacrifice to him literally being the cause of a new world with new life. No, in fact, it was probably another chance for him to try and destroy the world again. Taking that sacrifice Marcio made for Valeria, Marzio was born as the Dark Urge. Maybe this would direct his destruction on the winning path this time.

So, Marzio is the Dark Urge now. He's all blue, because he was a corpse literally wished to have a new life.

Currently:

Yeah, so that's Marzio!

He and Gale are Betty x Simon coded, and I'm crying in the club thinking about it.

I'm thinking maybe Gale is a tiefling too in this timeline (thanks to High Rollers for that imagery), solely for the fun of it. Who knows. I was this comic to be fun and worth the time it will take to create, but also worth y'all's time to read. Let me know what you think.

I have the dream guardian set as Marcio, so maybe that will change things in the comic for the Emperor? Who knows. I still have a bit of deciding to do with the writing.

OTHER FUN INFORMATION:

Romance Partner: Gortash; (ex-partner: Gale —> They’re friends! Don’t worry! Mutual break up!) Tattoos: Dandelion, Yarrow, Coltsfoot, Bishop's Lace & Devil's Hair (Virgin's Bower) Scars: Morning star scar on cheek; whip/scourge lashings on his back and some spilling onto his arms/shoulders, hips, and sides; rope burn scars (religious practice), vivisections scar from his collarbone down to his abdomen

Other Notable Details:

pierced ears

wears holy symbol ropes around his wrists for Ilmater as often as allowed

doesn’t have t-scars, because he’d prefer no one to know (magiced them away!)

Other Behaviors:

cat-like: purrs, trilling, tail movement (twitching, lashing, etc.), and sometimes other cat body-language (headcanon that all tiefling are somewhat cat-like)

Music Playlist (Spotify): Marcio Leles

Trivia:

Birthday: March 4th / Ches (the Claw of Sunsets) 3rd MBTI: tbd Personality: Shy with people he knows, bold with people he doesn't know, lovingly teasing, patient, self-sacrificing

Favorites:

Food: Potatoes (& anything potato adjacent) Drink: Dry Alcohols (usually ciders or wines) Color: Blue Weather: Slight Breeze, Slightly Cloudy, Sunny Flower: Dandelion Animal: Pigeon Activities: Gardening, Foraging, & Herbalism

Images:

You can thank my roommate for these once in a life time quality screenshots. My laptop does not let Marzio look this high res 👁️

[blcssom]

as much as she knew ava liked to take credit for securing her, val had been just as determined to find a way to be with the blonde. enamored by the confidence that radiated off of the other woman, there had been very few times that they'd run into one another that were true 'coincidences'. her lips curled into a grin even as her tongue continued flicking over the swollen bud, fingers sinking deeper into her warm pussy until she can't push any further. because she did know what ava liked, even if the blonde had tried to keep her at a distance for as long as possible. despite the walls that ava had constructed between them, val had managed to climb over each obstacle until she felt she knew the woman sprawled out in front of her better than almost anyone. "do i ever, baby?" there was a flash of a smug grin before she sucked ava's clit into her mouth with a moan, her fingers pulling back to begin pumping in and out of her cunt at a quick, hard pace.

when ava had first saw val, she told herself she'd not stop until she had her. eventually, she had expected herself to pull back and keep up with appearances like all of the women she had flings with. but after their first time, she wasn't sure she could pull back. part of it was due to the fact that ava could get drunk off of the image of her face between her legs, looking up at her with those eyes. she couldn't get enough of it. "you know just what i like, don't you?" she breathed out, feeling the way she was practically leaking out as she pressed into her. coating her fingers with just how turned on and good she felt. she hadn't realized that fucking her the way she did had made her feel so... needy. "don't hold back," she whispered out, pushing herself up onto her elbows as she watched her.

[bullet-prooflove]

Stockton!Series Part One: El Cuchillo - Nestor Oceteva x Reader

Tagging: @crazy4chickennuggets @kmc1989 @withakindheartx @anime-weeb-4-life @expir3dl0v3 @danzer8705 @drabbles-mc @alwaysachorusgirl @witches-unruly-heart @mysoulisasunflower @im-just-a-mississippi-girl @multifandomloversworld @est1887 @mortal--soul @buddinglinguist @spookyboogyuniverse @thanossexual @lexondeck @weiwei0210 @trublu2u @justreblogginfics @oklahomapeach @keyweegirlie

It’s a guy from Stockton, it’s always a guy from fucking Stockton.

It isn’t the first time you’ve been groped in the clubhouse, but it hasn’t happened in a long time, not since Bishop instated a zero policy. The girls were treated with respect here, it was a common courtesy.

Yuma were usually fine, but there’s always a problem with Stockton. It’s the reason Bishop clears out all the female bartenders before they show up. You don’t know if it’s a management issue because Ramos is a convicted rapist and his views on women have filtered down or if it’s the calibre of men they’re recruiting.

You don’t usually visit the clubhouse, but Carmen's asked you to swing by to pick up some donations for the community centre that Angel had dropped off. Valeria was growing like a weed and most of the clothing was new or almost new. He wanted it to go to good use in the community, they’d been there for him when he suddenly found himself with a two-week-old infant. He was paying it back or forward depending on how you looked at it.

You’re carrying the box of donations when it happens, a hand comes to rest on your ass, squeezing it tightly before an arm snakes around your waist drawing you into their lap. The box slips out of your hands, tumbling across the floor and the room falls silent.

“Ain’t you a pretty little thing?” A voice murmurs in your ear. A stranger’s lips brush the curve of your throat, unfamiliar stubble raking across your skin. “Where have they been keeping you?��

Your own hand comes to rest upon the one that encompasses your waist, gripping the two middle fingers before you wrench them back, breaking them. The crack of bone resounds through the room, a choked scream erupting out of the man whose lap your sitting in. You rise to your feet and turn to face him.

It’s Ramos.

He’s the only one who has the balls to go up against Bishop, to blatantly break clubhouse rules. You doubt he has any idea of your reputation; how deadly you really are. You look towards Bishop, he’s already out of his seat, his jaw tense, those dark eyes of his glittering with rage.

The whole reason Stockton are here is to discuss Santo Padre relinquishing control of the pipeline. Bishop wants to do it in the safest way possible and that means sitting down with both Yuma and Stockton to discuss the options. What you’ve just done might have usurped all of that.

“The bitch broke my fingers.” Ramos spits, his hand trembling as he holds it up.

“You’re lucky she didn’t cut them off and feed them to you.” Bishop snarls before jabbing his finger at Ramos. “You come in here with no fucking respect.”

Ramos leans forward, his elbows resting on the table as he meets Bishop’s gaze.

“Those are your rules not mine.” He says, the edges of his mouth tipping up into a smile. “If they’re not somebody’s old lady they’re fair game and I don’t see a ring on this one’s finger.”

“That’s not how we operate.” Bishop snaps, his eyes blazing.

“It is if you want to make this deal.” Ramos says, raising to his feet. “She needs to learn her place and I’m more than happy to be the one to teach her.”

“That’s not fucking happening.” Bishop informs the other man, his gaze full of fury. “Now get the fuck out of my club house before I allow El Cuchillo to cut your fucking dick off.”

“El Cuchillo?” Ramos laughs, jabbing his finger in your direction. “There’s no way this, cunt…”

Bishop inclines his head towards you. You realise what this is, him giving you his blessing. He’s had enough of Stockton, of Ramos and his demands, the way he treats the women he interacts with. If it wasn’t you, it could have been someone else, Carmen, Songbird, Stitches. Ramos needs to learn that their women are off limits and who better to teach him?

Ramos doesn’t see the punch coming, it’s a lighting fast blow to the nose that snaps Ramos’s head right back. Blood erupts, spattering the lower half of his face with crimson.

Two things happen when someone who’s untrained gets punched in the face, they flinch, or they flail. Ramos is a flailer, he comes straight back at you, fists swinging. You’re ready for it. You’ve spent years sparring with Nestor, someone with a much more advanced skillset that Ramos. Ramos is a thug, and a brawler.

The first hit he lands on you is a glancing blow, it hurts like hell, but you’ve taken worse, much worse. It gives you the space to manoeuvre, because he’s over extended, off balanced. You hit him with a right hook that turns his head. He spits blood onto Bishop’s table as you slip the ornate hair pin from your hair. It’s the one that Nestor gave you as a birthday present a couple of years ago, back when you were both still working for the cartel. The surgical steel glints in the light that’s streaming through the window before you dive it into Ramos’s palm, fixing it to the wood.

He screams, it’s a shrill, piercing sound that cuts through the air like a blade. Ramos reaches for the pin but you get there first, tearing it out before you grab the back of his head, slamming it hard into the table. You kick his legs apart, your palm pressing down on the back of his neck as you press the sharp end of the pin between his legs, jabbing it lightly against his balls.

“It’s not fun being in this position, is it?” You ask him. “I hope you think about that, the next time you even consider laying a hand on a woman.”

He curses at you Spanish, and you alter the trajectory of the pin just slightly, so it cuts through the denim of his jeans, scraping across his scotum.

“You know it will take the barest amount of pressure to make you eunuch.” You say conversationally. “Do you think they’d follow you then, that they’d still consider you a leader? Shall we find out?”

“Rosa.” Bishop says quietly, his face impassive as he watches Ramos struggle. “I think he gets the message.”

You sigh before pulling away, releasing Ramos as you take a step back. You wipe your hair pin across your jeans, smearing blood across the thigh. Bishop’s attention turns to Smokey, Stockton’s V.P.

“I’d be taking a vote if I were you.” He tells the other man, grasping the back of Ramos’s kutte and shoving him towards Smokey. “This asshole is going to be the downfall of your whole charter unless someone gets him in line.”

There two men share a look of understanding before Smokey loops Ramos’s arm around his neck and guides him towards the exit. Ramos shoots you a final hostile look before the two of them disappear out the door.

It barely closes behind them before Bishop looks at you and says “Fuck, I need a drink.”

Love Nestor? Get added to his tag list!

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[fandomworldofdreams]

Hospital For Souls

"The monotony and the rising tide Is under my skin, is crawling inside. Adrenaline to rewire my mind. I'm only human, I come with knives"

-IAMX

Previous:Prologue, CHP1, CHP2, CHP3, CHP4, CHP5, CHP6, CHP7, CHP8

Warnings: slight noncon, drugging, hallucinations

Chapter IX: I Come With Knives

Her dreams replayed like a broken record. She could not control her own body, just her thoughts. She kept finding Lucian in his bed. Once she pulled the covers back and saw him, the nightmare would start all over again. No matter how much she fought against the dream, her body went along with the scene.

She was trapped in a loop that felt more like hell than a dream.

She knew what was coming as she crept into the room for what felt like the hundredth time. But when she pulled back the blanket it wasn't Lucian's dead body that lay there. It was Sebastian. His throat was slit, the blood now dried. His face was frozen in terror.

She screamed, the high pitched noise shook the house causing her to fall back. The cycle was broken. Her back did not meet solid wood. It met air, endless darkness, and the floor swallowed her whole.

The first thing Valeria felt was pressure on her forehead. She stirred, groggily opening her eyes.

Dr. Lecter's hand was pressed to her forehead, his lips were parted, tongue resting against the roof of his mouth while he looked at her curiously.

"You're slightly warm but nothing to panic about. What was your dream?" he asked, retracting his hand. He was seated in a chair next to the bed.

She sighed, sitting up and stretching out her limbs. She winced at the pain that shot through her stomach and face.

"My brother." Dr. Lecter nodded, not asking any further.

She glanced across the room, eyes immediately locking on the empty bed.

"Where's Jane?" Her voice was panicked.

"With Dr. Garcia," he said calmly. "I have come to collect you for our session, I planned a little outside walk."

"I can go outside?"

"Under my supervision, yes. Terrance!"

Teddy walked into the room, eyes quickly locking on hers. His face winced in sympathy while unlocking her cuff. They both helped her stand to her feet.

"That will be all," Dr. Lecter didn't even look at Teddy as he said it. She glanced at him instead, trying to communicate with her eyes that they'd talk later. A curt nod was all she got in return, calming her nerves.

Dr. Lecter held out his elbow, she hesitantly slipped her hand into the crook of it and he guided her out of the room.

The hallways seemed longer than usual, each step a loud boom in her ears. It could have been the overwhelming feeling of how close she was to Dr. Lecter. The anxiety of messing up or making a fool of herself in front of him set her nerves on edge.

When they reached an exit he swiped his card, waited for the light to turn green, then held open the door for her.

She hadn't realized how much she'd missed fresh air.

The cool breeze rustled her hair and brushed her skin in a comforting way. Her lungs filled with the crisp air as if it were her first time truly breathing. He continued to lead her further down the pathway where they reached a vast grass area surrounded by a very tall gate.

The sun was something she had not missed, it's brightness blinding her, making her eye shoot with pain.

"Why did you bring me out here today?" She glanced over at Dr. Lecter who was looking straight ahead.

She took a minute to admire his demeanor and aura. His colors were more relaxed today, yet there was this strange forced color on the outer shell that seemed to mold into her own. Not that she had ever been able to see her aura, but she felt it, saw the outline of the edges.

"I thought in your condition some fresh air would be nice. After all, Mr. Gibson is a rather strong man, I'm impressed you didn't break something. Though the bruising is bad it could have been worse." His eyes cast across her face making her feel self-conscious.

"Brawn is all he's got going for him," Valeria replied bitterly.

"I find it interesting you did not fight back. From the guards and his accounts you just blocked his assault. Correct me if I'm misinterpreting, but that does not seem like you." He glanced at her and she shrugged.

"I heard Jane was hurt. It was the only way to get information. But I didn't start it. All I did was show him how to correctly play chess."

He smiled. "Ah, I too indulge every once in a while, I enjoyed it very much when I was a young boy. I find it hard to discover a worthy opponent to challenge me nowadays. Perhaps we could engage sometime?"

"I would enjoy that."

A comfortable silence passed as they continued their walk, enjoying the sounds of the birds chirping.

It was Valeria that broke the silence. "I had requested your presence last night, but the nurse wouldn't hear of it."

Out of the corner of her eye she saw him suck in his bottom lip, a look of disdain crossed his face. "She told me of your condition, then that you were asleep after being given a sedative prescribed by Dr. Crane. So I did not come right away. I do detest liars." That last part was almost a comment to himself.

"I panicked when I learned you hadn't prescribed that sedative."

Or whatever drug it was, she thought.

"I did discuss this with Dr. Crane. But given your situation it was best to put you in a calming state after the trauma your body went through."

She nodded, pressing her lips together. The idea of Dr. Crane and Dr. Lecter discussing her made her uncomfortable. The fact they engaged at all did as well. He moved his hand to rest over hers, which was still wrapped around inner elbow.

"What is troubling you?"

She looked back at Arkham, from this far it seemed almost normal, by her standard at least in comparison to its interior.

"Jane. What happened to her. I can't begin to understand why or how."

"Yes, it is rather troubling that someone was able to break in and do such a thing."

Valeria glanced to him. "You believe her?"

"Do you?"

"Of course."

"Then so do I." Valeria's chest warmed at his words. "I do not know enough about Ms. Lockwood to form an opinion of my own. I only know what you have shared during our sessions. But I do know you. I trust your perception on the matter."

She felt her face go warm and looked away. "Thank you." She knew she was just a patient, but his words and actions always had a way of making her feel special. If she ever got out of here she would miss him, even if it was just his job to make her feel that way.

"Dr. Crane informed me you two have a session this afternoon, per your request."

She licked her lower lip, tracing the scar. "Yes, I wanted to talk to him about what he's going to do to find the person that hurt Jane." Not an entire lie.

"You're playing a dangerous game, Valeria," his tone was serious as he watched her expression.

"If I don't try and help her, who will?" A cold breeze swept over them causing her to shiver.

"How rude of me," he said, pulling his arm away to remove his jacket and hold it out.

"That's your jacket Dr. Lecter"

"I insist. After all, I invited you for a walk and did not inform you of the weather." She hesitated before sliding her arms in the sleeves. The warmth that overcame her made her sigh in relief. The jacket consumed her and felt strangely intimate as his scent filled her nostrils. He held out his arm for them to continue and she obeyed.

The rest of the walk was filled with talk of her physical and emotional well-being. As they neared the end of their walk Dr. Lecter went to swipe his card. When he opened the door he placed his hand on the small of her back making her tense.

"I requested they keep you in the infirmary for one more night so you can be with Jane and keep an eye on each other. Amongst the fact you are also still recovering." She eventually relaxed into his touch and smiled.

"Thank you for everything."

The smile that he gave her was genuine. When they reached the infirmary she went to remove the jacket but he halted her.

"I'll get it back in the morning when I come to collect you. It gets rather chilly in here, keep it for the night." She hugged the fabric tighter to her. She was at a loss for words so all she could do was beam and nod.

He turned from her, only making it a couple steps before she called after him.

"When I first met you it was a woodsy brown with specks of dark blue. That combination to me means wisdom, insight, and the ability to read others. Your aura changes with each emotion you present though. Your colors appear like a curtain sometimes, not allowing others to take a peak behind. Every so often the curtain pulls back a tad and I see a new color."

He glanced over his shoulder at her, eyes crinkled in mirth. He then turned forward and left. Teddy was waiting in the infirmary when she entered, Jane had also returned from her session.

"What the hell happened?" Teddy immediately asked. She told him the events from the previous day, minus the talk with Dr. Crane. He shook his head in disbelief. "You are crazy." She chuckled as he cuffed her hand with an apologetic look back to the bed rail.

His eyes cast over Dr. Lecter's jacket but didn't ask about it. Jane however, immediately shouted across the room.

"Oooo, how was your date with Dr. Lecter?" Valeria rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

"He took me outside, it was cold. Get your mind out of the clouds."

In all honesty she wasn't sure how she felt about him. The insinuation of a date made her heart flutter, but she felt he filled a fatherly role more than anything, especially with his age.

"I'm not the one sporting my therapists jacket."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe Garcia will give you hers next time." Jane laughed at that.

"They still don't know who did it," Teddy said, eyes on Jane, darkening the mood. "There's talk amongst the guards that a patient is living in the vents. But I doubt that. If anything it's the basement. Nobody goes down there."

"Dr. Garcia said they doubled the guards watching me, kinda surprised. I had no idea they cared." She placed the palm of her hand to her chest in an exaggerated manner.

"Too much paperwork," Valeria chuckled.

"I'm here for a few more hours, so if you two need anything I'll be right outside the door."

Valeria watched him leave, his aura swarmed with worry. She turned back to Jane. "How are you feeling today?"

Jane sighed, running her fingertips gently over her face. "Like Freddy Krueger."

"Damn am I glad I'm older than eighteen." They both softly chuckled. Jane leaned her head back against the pillow.

"I had a dream last night that he came for me, but instead he hurt you too."

Valeria pressed her lips together. "No one came for you last night. I was up for a while to make sure of that. At least until the extra guards showed."

Jane nodded, eyes casting to the door. Valeria felt a pang of guilt for lying, but knew it was for the best.

"Thank you."

"Wanna play 'I spy'?"

"Sure."

The next hours stretched on from playing the game to discussing each other's lives. They chatted about anything they could think of. Valeria gained a new understanding of Jane and admired her. She saw some of herself in Jane, but also parts she wished she had.

Jane had an optimistic personality that seemed to cope via humour. Valeria had always had a dryer personality, not lacking sarcasm, but perhaps comedic wit.

Food was brought to them by a new nurse, she was an older lady with permanent frown lines and glasses that made her eyes look twice the size.

The mush made her gag, reminding her of being force fed.

Then that thought spiralled into her session that would soon await her. What horror Dr. Crane had planned. She ate a couple bites and pushed it away, losing her appetite.

"You gonna finish that?" Jane asked. Valeria shook her head. The nurse took the plate, bringing it over to Jane to finish.

Surprisingly the new nurse seemed more laid-back, despite her sour disposition.

The door opened. Valeria turned, expecting Teddy to walk through.

Dr. Crane stepped through, offering a tight-lipped smile to the nurse "I'm here for Ms. Gray, we have an appointment."

"I could have escorted her to your office, Dr. Crane," Teddy said, stepping into the doorway. Dr. Crane studied him for a moment.

"I'm aware. Uncuff her from the bed, then cuff her wrists behind her back."

Teddy turned to Valeria and did what Dr. Crane ordered. She stood to her feet, back to him. When he cuffed her wrists he did so very loosely. She was sure she could almost slip her hands out of she pulled hard enough.

"Where did you get that jacket?" He suddenly asked, an envious shade of green seeped into his colors. She questioned what he had to be jealous of.

"Dr. Lecter let me borrow it."

He frowned before seeming to catch himself and neutralize his face once again.

"Very well. Shall we." Dr. Crane said, grabbing her by the elbow and tugging her alongside him. They made their way down the familiar hallways, reaching his office. She was grateful for the jacket as it created a barrier against his skin and hers. He opened the door, partially shoving her in.

When he closed the door she heard the sound of the lock click into place.

He did not sit behind his desk, instead he gestured to the armchair and couch that sat across from one another in the middle of the room, a small side table was next to the armchair with a bottle of water.

Valeria awkwardly sat, trying not to lean against her arms so the cuffs wouldn't dig into her spine. Dr. Crane sat opposite from her.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Um, sure." Her brain screamed at her once she'd said it, but her mouth felt so dry from nerves. He reached over and grabbed the water bottle, opening it. She furrowed her eyebrows when he held it out to her.

"I can't grab it, I'm cuffed."

"I know." He was looking at her expectantly. She swallowed her pride, leaning forward, wrapping her lips around the edge of the top. He tilted the bottle, allowing her to take a few large gulps. She pulled away, her lips had a tingling sensation. He placed the water bottle on the table, crossing his legs and balancing a notepad on his knee.

"How did you sleep last night?"

"Fine."

"Any nightmares?"

"No."

"Ms. Gray, you made a deal with me. If you'd like to decline the terms then by all means I can take you back to your cell."

"You haven't told me the terms of our deal."

"At this moment, honesty. I'm going to ask you questions and you will answer truthfully. I will be able to tell if you're lying. If you try our arrangement is forgo and I no longer show any regard for the safety of Ms. Lockwood."

Valeria scowled. "I had nightmares all night. The same one repeating."

"What was it about?"

She hesitated. "It was about my brother. When I found him dead. I was aware it was a loop, but it felt very real." She left out the part about also finding Sebastian.

He tapped his fingers on the armchair. "What are you afraid of, Ms. Gray?"

All Valeria could think of was Jane. She had to focus on her friend. She could play this game whether he was the rule maker or not.

"I'm afraid of a lot of things, Dr. Crane. Do you mean fear in terms of spiders or more something like fear of failure?"

"Let's start with physical situations, we'll save the emotional for after."

"I'm afraid of small spaces."

"Claustrophobia," he hummed. "Have you always been afraid of this?"

She shrugged. "It started when I was ten and just got worse. I'm not sure what caused it." He nodded, writing something in his notepad.

"What about the fears that hold you back in life? The ones with imaginary scenarios that just seem to spiral."

"I have a fear of failure, so I usually end up not trying." He once again wrote something down before reaching up to adjust his glasses.

"Do you remember any of the times your father took you and Lucian to Gotham University?" Her brother's name sounded like venom when he said it.

His voice seemed to fill the room now, loud enough it was making her anxious.

"Not really. I was very young."

The room was growing hotter by the second.

"Could you take these cuffs off? They're very tight."

He stood from the chair, placing the notepad down and approaching her. Her whole body froze when he leaned down, sitting next to her. His hand gently pressed to the back of her neck, the feeling of his skin on hers sent shivers throughout her body. Slowly, his hand traveled down her spine. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to twist from him as he got closer to her lower back.

His face had leaned closer to her ear. She felt his warm breath and shuddered.

His hand slowed once it reached her tailbone, thumb brushing over the peak of her ass. She didn't realize she was frozen in fear of what he was doing. She thought he would go further down, but instead his hand slid to her wrists and she felt a tight pain when he squeezed the cuffs tighter into place. She yelped as he yanked her wrists slightly so she leaned into him. Her wrists now pulsating as blood found it harder to circulate.

"I'm sorry," he said, tone full of mock sincerity, a malicious look in his eyes. "Is that still too tight."

He released her and returned to his chair like nothing had happened. Valeria could feel her heartbeat in her ears as well as a headache coming on.

"So is this it? We just sit and talk about me while you continue to be a jackass? Just like we've been doing?" Her voice shook. He chuckled at her question.

"No, my dear. This is simply a formality. Let me ask, do you also have a fear of intimacy?"

"No," her voice was quick and she cursed herself for it.

"Tsk, tsk," he clicked his tongue. "You're lying to me, Valeria. Do you remember what that leads to?"

"Yes, I have a fear of intimacy," she blurted out. "In all forms. Friendship, family. I'd say it's more vulnerability than intimacy."

He smiled, reaching up to remove his glasses and place them on the table next to him. "Are you perhaps a victim of sexual abuse?" She flinched at his words and shook her head.

"No, nothing like that."

She felt like he was reading everything about her as if she were an open book. She was feeling ill, the same way she had felt the night before when she was given the pill.

"Fear takes many different forms: fight, flight, freeze, fawn. You're reaction to me being so close to you shows a freeze response. When you were younger it was fight."

The room was spinning, Valeria had to lean forward to try and clear her head.

"What do you mean when I was younger?"

"Your father did inform you that you and I had met. Don't you remember?"

She tried to remember, memories like that had been blocked out. Unless it was a good memory of Lucian she didn't want to recall her childhood.

"No, I don't. Nor do I care."

This time when he leaned forward he placed a hand on her thigh, eyes locked with hers.

"Perhaps you should."

She felt trapped again, the walls seemed to close in on her. His hand burned the spot it touched. She knew what he was doing, playing on her fears. All he did was toy with her.

"If you did anything worth remembering, I would. But you don't seem to do many memorable things," she said.

His hand moved further up. Her breathing become more rapid. She started yanking against the cuffs.

he studied her for a moment, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a pill bottle.

"I'm going to give you a pill. It's effects are stronger than the one you took yesterday. Perhaps this will have a better result."

Removing his hand from her thigh, he popped off the cap and grabbed a pill.

She clenched her lips shut when he stood and walked in front of her.

"Very well, I'll make sure the guards are sent home."

Valeria immediately opened her mouth so he could drop the pill in. He held out the water for her to drink.

The liquid sent the pill on its journey. She leaned her head back, wondering if she would puke.

"You were locked in one of the classroom closets," he said. "I heard the screaming and opened the door. There you were." Valeria shut her eyes, trying to block out his voice.

"I had a strong dislike for your father, he seemed to be an idiot. Then he brought his children to work and I detested him even more. Your brother wandered into my classroom, after a lecture, lost. His fear response was freeze, I could barely get him to talk. Then you came flying in the room, small but mighty I suppose. You had this rare form of anger. The kind where fear fuels it, fear keeps you alive. That is a rare. Fear usually causes people to shut down. You had an immediate distrust of me then as well. Even when I opened the closet door later that day. You were ready to challenge me."

Valeria saw a flash of the science closet where they stored lab coats. How had she gotten trapped in there?

"So imagine my surprise when I see you now. Your fear having shaped and evolved, or devolved. That is still to be determined."

She had banged on that door til her bones felt like they would break. Screamed til her throat was hoarse. The room was so small. She couldn't breathe, her chest was tight.

She was back in it, her whole body tense and uncontrollable while she rammed it into the door.

When she looked behind her it was not lab coats that hung from hangers.

In a tight row Lucian, Jane, Sebastian, and Teddy all hung from the coat pole. They were being held up by the nooses around their necks.

"No, no, no," she whispered, head shaking. There faces were all pale, bruises poked out from under the rope

"What do you see?" Suddenly she was back in reality. Dr. Crane was now half-sitting on the arm of the couch. His arm supporting him by gripping the back of it.

"This is what you gave Jane. You did do this to her." She turned her body towards him and scooched away to the other end of the couch, half-falling.

"I will admit the contact dosage on the water bottle usually does the trick. You seem to have a tolerance to fear, which is perfect for my research."

"Am I going to die?"

"No, not yet," Dr. Crane mused, moving towards her causing her to thrash her legs out.

"Don't touch me!"

He gripped her shins and with a hard yank her body slammed into his, painfully. Her legs on either side of his hips.

Too vulnerable, too intimate.

"W-what are you doing?" Her body shook under him.

"Testing something." He gave her a lascivious wink, but with the way her eyes were seeing things she thought it could've been in her mind. He leaned closer to her, she could feel all his body against her. The way his hips dug into her thighs, she tried not to let her mind focus on any other area.

She flushed at the rush of arousal that ran through her, possibly from the pain and fear. Her mind was spiraling, no longer feeling like her own.

"Intimacy you don't fight. Perhaps you're a runner instead of a deer." His hands rested on top of her thighs. She tried wiggling away but he dug his nails into her skin making her cry out.

"Be a good patient and hold still." His hand traced up to her hips while his body moved even closer, his lips inches from hers.

"Tell me what you saw and I'll stop." His hand inched upwards.

"I was in the closet again, but this time people were hanging in there."

"Who?"

"Lucian, Jane, Sebastian . . . . Just them."

His lips pursed. "Do you see anything else?"

Her eyes looked around the room. "Just shadows, hiding. Waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Demonic whispers filled the room.

"To tear me apart."

He grinned,"They'll have to wait in line."

"Don't hurt Jane or Sebastian. Leave them alone." He regarded her the way one would an unknown specimen.

"You behave and continue these little sessions of ours, taking my toxin willingly and I won't touch them. As long as you survive the dosages, that is." A cruel smile crossed his lips. She knew he could do this to her no matter if she agreed, so why not use it to others advantage?

"O-okay."

There was this glint in his eyes as he stared at her, she watched his aura turn a shade that made her even more nervous. He ran his tongue over his lips, seeming to be in a battle within his mind.

Then he was off of her so fast she felt her head spin. He adjusted his tie and jacket.

"You'll remain here until the toxin has worn off completely. I don't need anyone asking questions." He strided over and took a seat behind his desk, all focus on her gone.

Her whole body felt heavy, especially her eyelids. Fear was a dull presence in her mind as she gave into the unknown.

[kiranxturner]

There was always a challenge with getting full council support. Sable and Ngelah could be a little resistant with himself, and the other younger councillors. But, a good idea was a good idea regardless of who it came from. At least Valeria was offering good ideas rather than getting into all the big personalities and infighting. Kiran could respect that, and was willing to give his support to it as well. As much as he liked clinging to the fact that he had this power, he also did like to help where he could. "I know Adrian," Kiran offered, "He's a good man. These... updates aren't without risk I imagine?" Experimenting on active agents always made him a little nervous. Especially good agents like Adrian. They could be hard to come by, and he really wasn't sure about using him or any other major agent as a tool for new equipment. There had to be another avenue for that. "Adrian is on board with this, too I take it?" And he hopefully wasn't just standing on ceremony if he was on board.

Valeria’s eyes flick to the chair, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she recalls Kiran’s wry remark about its lack of flair. It really was a dull, nondescript chair—one of many scattered throughout the building, clearly chosen more for practicality than style. Still, she adjusts herself in it, settling in as comfortably as the rigid design allows. Buen trabajo, cielo. Kiran’s words replay in her mind, a quiet affirmation that lingers, bringing warmth to her expression. “Thank you,” she says, her smile widening into something brighter, more genuine. “I appreciate it.”

She pauses, gathering her thoughts before continuing. “One of the guards, Adrian Walker Jr.—he has cybertronic implants,” she begins, her tone shifting into one of focus and resolve. “I’m planning to work with him to enhance them using the prototypes we’ve been developing, as well as provide him with some general updates. Of course, anything requiring approval will go through the proper channels first.” Valeria’s gaze briefly meets Kiran’s, her words steady and deliberate, though she knows the suggestion might raise some eyebrows. She could sense the potential hesitation from the team—or maybe even Kiran—but it was a risk worth taking. Progress always started with bold steps, and she was determined to make this one count.

[nova-as-a-star-cluster]

You are so COOL I wanna int from main but PPD tells me you're somehow an ex friend?? Even though you're v clearly not

For now then I'll be on anon

You're SO COOL I think it's awesome how you speak on your experiences as a massive system (not as big but we may have 600+) ^-^

-[🕳️☄️]

hi anon!!! thanks for the kind words! :D

tbh we like talking about our experiences a lot just in general, but the existence of tumblr as a blogging website really lets that out for us lol! plus, its nice to be talking to some sort of ‘community’ out there yk? people are cool and all that

i hope you’re doing well with your 600+ fellas over there!

-Valeria 🎀✨, (+ celeste & nova)

[moviemunchies]

I think I underestimated this film when I decided to watch it this time. I had thought I would find it a very dumb actionized adaptation of the Howard character with little substance. And that’s not really what I found? There was more to this movie that I rediscovered on this watch-through.

So that’s cool.

Conan the Barbarian is an adaptation of the Conan character (who wasn’t really known exclusively as “Conan the Barbarian” in the original stories, though he is sometimes described as a barbarian) from Robert E. Howard, set in the mythical prehistoric ‘Hyborean Age’, but with more Plot to make it a film. Conan is a Cimmerian child whose parents and village are slaughtered by the forces of cult leader Thulsa Doom. He’s sold into slavery, and grows up as a champion gladiator. When he escapes slavery, he becomes a thief. When he and his friends go up against the cult of Thulsa Doom, Conan decides it’s the perfect time to take revenge. Of course, it’s not so simple as that to kill a powerful cult leader.

The original Conan stories tend to be mostly self-contained. There is not an overarching Plot to the stories. This movie, and th 2011 remake, try to make it more cinematic by having Conan’s parents be murdered, and Conan hungering for revenge on the warlord who killed them. But that’s not in the stories–Conan isn’t a tragic hero looking for vengeance. He’s a wandering warrior trying to make a buck! 

So the first time I saw this movie, I was a teenager, and I had started reading the Conan stories (albeit, the ones with editing by Sprague de Camp, not the original Howard stories, because that’s what my dad had); I was frustrated that the movie turned Conan’s into a typical Hollywood fantasy revenge tale. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, only that it didn’t really feel like Conan to me, and I resented how it became the version of the character most people knew about.

But this is actually a pretty good movie on its own? It has some problems, of course. The female lead, Valeria, never has her name spoken in the movie (she’s named in the credits, and in the sequel, but not int he movie), and I’m not sure WHY she’s so in love with Conan in the first place, other than that he’s the lead. 

Conan’s also got a lot less agency than he should. Yes, his slave masters taught him to read for… Reasons (and also used him as a breeding slave what??). And he’s set free, he doesn’t escape slavery, again, for Reasons. He sort of stumbles onto Thulsa Doom’s cult, though when he does, he decides to go all the way, so that’s definitely a choice on his part.

I’m sorry I’m making this sound like a really stupid movie. It’s not! This is a movie that defined fantasy filmmaking for years for a reason. There are plenty of action scenes and sword fights, which feel exciting without feeling overdone or over-choreographed. The brutal style of combat fits for a world that we’re told is before the rise of civilization as we know it. I’m also impressed at times at how clever some of the characters are in combat���shooting enemies from a distance, setting traps. And yet those action scenes are still loads of fun.

The music is, all in all, surprisingly good? I didn’t remember it being this good, which is dumb because it’s apparently famous. But it captures the idea of an exciting, swashbuckling fantasy adventure (despite not really being swashbuckling, I guess?). I could listen to this over and over for a while now.

I don’t know if I’d call this movie deep, but it’s certainly thinking about deeper themes. Conan’s god Crom never appears in the story, but his relationship with Crom is a key if understated part of his character. The Riddle of Steel clearly occupies his mind, and while it’s not as if he goes around demanding the answer, it’s one of the first things about his religion that he explains to Subotai. 

[Also, some people seem to think we’re meant to assume that Thulsa Doom’s answer is correct by default? I don’t know that it is, at least, not completely.]

And of course, Conan’s final prayer for vengeance, which he ends by saying that if Crom doesn’t grant it, then “to hell with you!” It’s certainly memorable.

Thulsa Doom is not actually a Howard Conan villain (I believe he’s a Howard Kull villain?). He’s still terrifying. I am not generally a fan of ‘religious fanatic’ characters in fiction because they tend to be shallow and written without any effort at making them make sense. But a cult leader? This is a great type of villain, when done correctly, and Thulsa is pretty good. He actually feels like a threat, because you see his hordes of fanatical followers, and how devoted they are to him.

Although I don’t know how his cult makes sense–they have a weird orgy where they serve people soup? What is your theology, guys? What does this have to do with snake worship? 

And why does he turn into a snake? Not a deal-breaker, but it’s weird. Supposedly the novelization explains it. Either way, it’s freaky and unsettling, which is I think exactly what they’re going for. It definitely works in the scene it takes place in.

I liked this movie more than I thought I would on the rewatch. If you’re interested in fantasy films, old school action movies, well, Conan the Barbarian should be able to satisfy that itch. It’s fun, it’s deeper than you’d expect, and it’s certainly memorable. It’s not flawless, and it’s certainly not close as an adaptation of the Howard stories, but that doesn’t make it a bad movie. It’s still a pretty good one.

[ivypapercutsxo]

@nixetdracones [Starter: The Tenth Doctor + Valeria Snow]

"Ivy Cove isn't a terrible place to be stranded in." The doctor admitted, giving a slight shrug. "When I say stranded, I mean I can't leave int eh TARDIS, like some people can't really leave in a plane or anything like that. It sucks, I know, but I'm trying to get over it."

[silkchvffon]

HE MEETS HER GAZE, BROWN HUES LOCKED on hers. he can't look away even if he tried. « you think i'm a catch ? » he teases, snaking one arm around her shoulders gently. « honestly, it's already gone to my head. just having you beside me is the ultimate ego boost, » he adds, and though harry means for it to be a joke the words come out surprisingly soft.

a chuckle falls from her lips as she finds herself bumping back into his shoulder, dark hues rolling up at him. “ could you imagine what that would do to your ego? i mean, think about it, the entire world knowing what a catch you are — i just think that would go straight to your head. “ she’s clearly teasing but she still can’t help but scrunch her nose up at the thought. him having a humongous ego? she hoped she’d never see the day. 

[fmp2rubix1786]

Hot Shots! (1991).

AI Prompt: Hot Shots! (1991).

Hot Shots! (1991)

Director: Jim Abrahams Writers: Jim Abrahams, Pat Proft Main Parody Target: Top Gun (1986) Other Inspirations: Dances with Wolves, 9½ Weeks, Superman, Rocky, and war movie clichés

Overview

Hot Shots! is a hilarious parody of action films, particularly Top Gun, but it also spoofs war movies, romance films, and over-the-top military tropes.

Filled with absurd slapstick humor, sight gags, puns, and ridiculous dialogue, it stars Charlie Sheen as Topper Harley, a fighter pilot with a tragic past, daddy issues, and an ego to match.

Plot Summary

Topper Harley (Charlie Sheen) is a disgraced fighter pilot who quit the Navy due to his father’s bad reputation. He’s called back for a top-secret mission, but his personal demons (and sheer ridiculousness) threaten to get in the way.

Best Parody Moments & Running Gags

1. Topper Harley = A More Absurd Maverick (Top Gun Spoof)

Topper is a cocky yet deeply insecure pilot, just like Tom Cruise’s Maverick in Top Gun.

His tragic backstory is exaggerated to ridiculous levels—his father was responsible for the deaths of several pilots due to a freak accident involving a buffalo falling from a plane. 🦬✈️

He’s haunted by his past, but mostly uses it as an excuse to be dramatic.

2. The Training Camp is Beyond Ridiculous

Pilots work out with laughably oversized dumbbells 💪.

One pilot rides a mechanical bull… for combat training.

There’s a “stealth” training exercise where everyone is covered in leaves, even though it’s completely unnecessary.

This mocks action movie training montages, where soldiers do random, excessive training that has nothing to do with actual missions.

3. The Romance Scene – 9½ Weeks & Top Gun Spoof

Topper and Ramada’s love scene is exaggerated to absurdity:

Ramada fries bacon and eggs on Topper’s chest. 🍳🔥

They use a bow and arrow to shoot grapes into each other’s mouths. 🍇🎯

The lighting is so overly dramatic that it changes the entire mood of the scene multiple times.

This mocks the steamy, overly dramatic romance scenes in 80s and 90s movies.

4. The Rivalry Between Topper & Kent (Classic “Tough Guy” Trope)

Kent Gregory (Cary Elwes) is the perfect, smug, all-American golden boy who competes with Topper.

They have a hilariously passive-aggressive rivalry, with Kent constantly reminding everyone that he’s the superior pilot.

The film exaggerates rivalries from movies like Top Gun, where two alpha males try to outdo each other in every possible way.

5. The Mission is Complete Nonsense

The final mission is over-the-top ridiculous:

Topper shoots down enemy planes with bullets, missiles, and eventually… chickens. 🐔🔫

The enemy forces are laughably incompetent, and their planes explode at the slightest touch.

The villains wear cartoonishly evil mustaches, just to make sure you know they’re bad guys.

This mocks war movies that take themselves too seriously, turning the battle into a cartoon-like spectacle.

Why It’s a Brilliant Parody

1. Rapid-Fire Jokes & Gags

Hot Shots! uses ZAZ-style (Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker) humor, meaning it’s packed with visual gags, puns, and absurd dialogue.

Nearly every scene contains multiple jokes, rewarding rewatching.

Example: A pilot asks for a cigarette mid-mission. Another replies, “We’re out of cigarettes.” Instead of a lighter, the pilot pulls out a full barbecue grill to light his cigar. 😂

2. Parody Without Cruelty

Instead of just making fun of Top Gun, the film celebrates its tropes while exaggerating them.

It pokes fun at military heroism, romance, and action clichés, but never feels mean-spirited.

Even Topper Harley, despite his many flaws, is ultimately a likable hero.

3. Strong Cast & Performances

Charlie Sheen plays the lead with the perfect mix of sincerity and cluelessness.

Lloyd Bridges as Admiral Benson steals every scene with his complete incompetence (he confuses his medals for candy and forgets where he is mid-sentence).

Valeria Golino (Ramada) plays the love interest straight-faced, making her absurd scenes even funnier.

Legacy & Influence

Hot Shots! was a box office hit and is still considered one of the best parody films ever.

Inspired future parody films like Austin Powers, Scary Movie, and Tropic Thunder.

It was successful enough to get a sequel: Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993), which parodies Rambo and other action war movies.

This is a trailer to the film, that also parodies how people who watch the film get inteviewed, they are paid to say it was really good.

[herrfivehead]

Pure Thief Rogue (final itemization, feats, buffs, combat), or as I call it, "The Action Economy is Just Fine"

fiendlock build nature cleric build eldritch knight build

Starting Stats: -8 STR (will eventually be respecced to 12 after acquiring the Amulet of Greater Health) -14 CON (8 after amulet, will be set to 23) -16 DEX -8 INT -12 WIS (14 after amulet) -16 CHA

Quest-Sensitive Requirements: -Must save the grove to be able to invite Arabella to camp for the Shadow Blade ring* and buy the Evasive Shoes off of Mattis -Must kill Valeria and become an unholy assassin to be able to purchase Bhaalist Armor

*To acquire dual Shadow Blades from the ring, recruit a hireling, have them cast Shadow Blade (normally just a concentration spell that summons a shortsword that deals psychic damage), dismiss them via Withers and immediately re-recruit them without exiting dialogue. This makes it so a Shadow Blade shows up in their inventory not as a concentration spell, but as a physical weapon. This process can be repeated to create as many as you want.

Feats: -Ability Improvement at level 4 (+2 DEX, increase 16 DEX to 18) -Sharpshooter at level 8 (Flat +10 damage to all ranged weapon attacks, -5 attack penalty) -Ability Improvement at level 10 (+2 DEX, increase 18 DEX to 20) -Savage Attacker (Roll twice for damage on melee weapon attacks, take higher result)

Permanent Buffs: +2 DEX at Mirror of Loss (increase 20 DEX to 22)

Armor: -Marksmanship Hat (+1 to ranged attack rolls) -Cloak of Protection (+1 to AC and all saving throws) -Bhaalist Armor [(All enemies within 2m gain piercing vulnerability), replace The Graceful Cloth (Advantage on dexterity checks, +2 DEX up to 20) with this once reaching 20 base DEX] -Helldusk Gloves [(Deals an extra 1d6 fire damage to weapon attacks and 1d6 necrotic damage to unarmed attacks), replace Gloves of the Balanced Hands (grants Two-Weapon Fighting passive) with these once you defeat Orin and have the Bhaalist Armor] -Evasive Shoes (+1 to AC)

Jewelry: -Amulet of Greater Health (sets CON to 23, respec stats once acquired) -Risky Ring (Grants advantage on all attacks and disadvantage on all saving throws) -Caustic Band (Deals a flat +2 acid damage to all weapon attacks)

Weapons: -Bloodthirst [main (bound to wielder, inflicts piercing vulnerability on enemies struck with weapon), replace Shadow Blade once acquired] -Crimson Mischief [off-hand (deals an extra 1d4 necrotic damage, when wielded in off-hand gives two-weapon fighting passive), replace Shadow Blade once acquired] -Hand crossbow +1 (main) -Ne’er Misser (off-Hand, deals force damage instead of piercing and gives wielder a 3rd-level magic missile once per short rest)

To keep in inventory: -Resonance Stone [(Gives everyone psychic vulnerability within a 9m radius) Keep in container to prevent it from losing function, get rid of it once no longer using Shadow Blades] -Drakethroat Glaive (Equip it, drop Ne'er Misser on the ground, use it to infuse NM with a +1 to attack rolls and 1d4 elemental damage of your choice, pick up NM, then re-equip NM and melee weapons. Buff lasts all day.)

What a Turn of Combat Looks Like (main action): -Due to the Risky Ring’s benefit of always having advantage on attacks (save for circumstances, such as shapeshifters or foes out of range, that impose disadvantage), your main hand attack is almost always allowed to be a sneak attack. -You have your choice between melee and ranged combat, but by act 3, melee becomes much more powerful due to inflicting either psychic or piercing vulnerability on your foes, depending on your itemization. -Either way, you’re dealing a flat +2 acid damage per attack thanks to your other ring.

Bonus Actions: -Whoever you don’t kill with your sneak attack can be finished off with your two off-hand attacks. If you decide to use your ranged weapon for your off-hand attack, you’ll be dealing force damage, 1d4 infused elemental damage, and 2 acid damage. -If you decide to use your melee weapon for your off-hand attack, you’ll be dealing piercing damage, necrotic damage, and acid damage, or psychic and acid damage. -If for whatever reason you’re too far away from an enemy you want to attack, you can use one of your bonus actions to dash, sacrificing a potential off-hand attack.

[mahoorakb90]

Around the World in 80 Days Premiere

Films: Around the World in 80 Days Premiere; England: London: Charing Cross Road: Astoria Cinema: EXT GV Astoria Cinema CU Balloon logo: MS Guests arriving in period costumes MS Crowds looking outside: MS More guests arriving in period costumes TS Cars along the roads MS Guests arriving: INT MS Crowd in the lobby: Another similar shot: CS Mike Todd (film producer) talking to Valeria Hobson (actress): Todd's wife, actress, Elizabeth Taylor MS Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent and Princess Alexandra arrive in the lobby: MS Stars being introduced to the royals - including actress Deborah Kerr, actor Eddie Fisher, actress Debbie Reynolds, actor John Mills and actor Ronald Squire: CS As the Duchess talks to Ronald Squire:#Elizabeth __Taylor #

[soulsuckrrs]

Kaiden didn't want to force Ria to do anything she didn't want to but he needed her to know that she had to kill him now because there wouldn't be another chance later, he wouldn't let there be. He tried not to let his mind wander to every little emotion and crease of her face, recalling just how intimately he had known each curve and the warm press of her body against his. How close they had been was a sort of closeness he hadn't even gotten with his wife, the mother of his children, nothing had ever come close to Valeria and he was sure nothing ever would, a part of him had believed they had been destined for one another but now... now he wasn't so sure. So much time had past and she was here on their orders after all but perhaps he owed her a chance to explain herself past what he already knew which was little to nothing outside the fact that she had been sent there for him.

To talk to him, sure that's what they wanted with him. Not the fact he had two half fae children or that he had evaded their capture for so long. He had been a strong soldier, a leader in his own way, they were right to be afraid of not knowing his whereabouts at all times because Kaiden could be the face of a revolution and that was what that cruel, vindictive little fae prince had thought when Kaiden had stood up to him. One pebble in the water can cause a ripple and that could cause waves. If anything was as delicate as the decadent fae clothing and culture it was their politics and all that held their lines and rules in place was a very thin thread.

He could feel her weakening in his hold and some instinct sought to draw her closer, support her so she didn't fall and his hold on her wrist did slacken enough to move the blade from his throat. But he denied himself the touch he truly wanted, the way his hands wanted to cup her face and brush those tears away with rough thumbs across smooth cheeks. Instead, he eased the dagger from her hand, disarming her enough for now, at least if they fought it would be on even ground but some of the fire sizzled out at making Ria cry. It could be an act, one used to fool him, training that surpassed his good heart and inability to trick someone so cruelly but Kaiden wasn't inclined to believe that from Valeria. He still didn't want to believe they had gotten their talons in her so viciously while he was gone but he had been gone, unwillingly so but that didn't matter.

"I knew you wouldn't," he assured her in a quiet tone, pausing for a good moment or two before continuing on. "Whatever they told you was a lie, Ria," Kaiden started again, making an effort in calming himself down but that anger and hurt was still there in his tone, softer though it may have been. His eyes dropped down to the dagger in his hand and he held it between them on an open palm, a weapon he had once been so familiar with felt foreign and cold. "I didn't want to leave, they gave me no other choice. Do you think I wanted them to do that to my family? Strip them of all their works and accomplishments to be shunned and ostracized by our kind? Of course not, they forced my hand, I had to run but even that wasn't enough, they just can't leave me alone, can they? They don't like loose ends."

with every fiber in her being she wished that she could where she'd fucked up, how he'd come to understand what her job here was. she'd been so careful, and even more than that there was what she could hardly even admit to herself - that she'd started to lose sight of her so-called mission not all that long after she set eyes on him again. there probably wasn't a day that had gone by in his absence where she hadn't thought of him, some days missing him desperately and other days cursing him for leaving her alone, and some days even experiencing both. to say the feelings she had for him were complicated would be something of an understatement.

the anger in him was understandable but still left her feeling hurt, unable to untangle the web of emotions weaving together in this situation. she bites down slightly on her tongue as his gravely voice draws her eyes back to his and her gaze softens as he shakes his head. " no, i'm - " she starts in telepathy but cuts herself off, her throat closing up momentarily, the words catching there as she frowns almost imperceptibly. " they promised they only want to talk to you, " she confesses some small part against her better judgement, letting the bounty of her feelings for him cloud her mind.

it wasn't wise, she knew, and it was proven nearly instantly as he takes advantage of her distraction and seizes the wrist of the hand that held her weapon. everything that happens in the following beats feels lighting fast, his restraint of her steadfast and purposeful as he brings her blade to his own throat in a movement that surprises her and snaps her attention to him. the way he spoke to her then melted away at her resolve, weakening the backs of her knees. she stares into his eyes as he speaks, enraptured, clenching her jaw as he squeezed her just tightly enough to keep her there and ensure that any movement on her part would lead to the hurt she desperately sought not to cause him.

there's a long moment of tension between them then without words before her crystalline eyes welled with tears and she blinked them back, woefully disappointed in herself for being unable to hold them back entirely and sniffling slightly before she finally speaks. " i can't, " she whispers, closing her eyes tightly. " and .. i won't. "

[tryingtounderstandbrainheart]

Lite senare

Nu har det blivit typ tio ...? tjejer som jag träffat. Alla har så himla olika personlighet och det blir uppenbart att hitta min tribe inte bara är "några bra". Jag är väldigt perticular och jag tycker jag är öppensinnad men jag dömer och bara, nope, not good enough. Nån där kändes lika kul som färg som torkar och hon bredvid mig hade nåt passivt aggressivt som jag inte alls gillade. Haplo hade intressanta sidor och drag men samtidigt osar det trubbel. Som att jag vill fråga henne känslomässiga saker trots att jag inte känner henne och fråga om hon tyckte att det gick bra o whatnot. Min magkänsla säger att jag kör över henne och dränker lite? Upplevde att hon tyckte meh och fick nog. Va det så? Eller va hon kanske bara trött och frusen? Japp...hellooOOooo trubbel.

Haplo slängde ut sig skojiga saker och det märktes att hon skrattade åt vissa grejer jag sa men ändå så får jag sådär...fan jag vet inte. Magkänslan säger nej Trots att hon borde funka med mig..? Det vaju hon som hade piercingar och nån cool svart kavaj med grejer på.

Bredvid mig satte sig en derpig tjej i lila vindjacka och ett smile. Stina. Hon var den enda där som inte var typ 1.50 och hon känns sådär jamen vi är ju olika. Men vi skrattade och det var liksom lättsamt på en gång och synkade meningen and harm none, do as you will.

Emma var ett skämt. Hon dränerade min energi och så fort hon pratade kände jag hur jag bara sjönk. Säkert snäll men ufh..! Boring AF. Jenny var lite både och. Hon hade en energi iaf och positiv attyd men fan hon vände fort och hade en sharpness som kändes som kritik typ. Som att som så jag var, var fel. Allt normalt och sött var bra men jag vet inte...nä. Hon skrattade visserligen också lite men...litar inte på henne och nä.

Zana hade tydligen varit på disgusting food museum och ätit insekter och varit i Indonesien och druckit dedär kaffet gjort på poopbönor, som tydligen va såååÅåå gott..! ojaba...japp I like Zana :) hon sa ju det att om jag nånsin söker nån att göra nåt galet så kan man ringa henne. hon va ju så liten så jag hade svårt att tro det men hon är en svart häst tror jag.

Jess var från Chicago och...också sådär jag kände mig inte ok. Som att jag behövde klippa och fixa för att passa. Vi pratade väl lite på tåget hem men... nja. nån avlägsen.

Det är lite som att prova kläder tänker jag. Det ska liksom kännas bekvämt och easy..?

Nästa vecka hoppas jag att träffa Ellinor och imorn är det...Valeria. Jag hoppas verkligen på henne. Vi funkar att prata på nätet, hon gillar old school rock och ville iväg och åka inlines och gå på konserter. Jag fick en aktiv feeling av henne. "bring bathing clothes!" Jag behöver verkligen det. Men det är en sak med nätet och en annan i verkligheten.

uffh. fulla bullar.

Jag har inte ens träffat kitefolket än och har ingen aning om vem de är. Jag försöker att ta mig framåt och göra det jag vill utan att braka samman. Det är en slags "det går alldeles för långsamt" samtidigt som hela bygget knakar och bara...Sakta neeeeer!

Men det är kul med möjligheter . och det är ju lite insane. Det skulle va kul o gå ut lite också. Jag har ju inte ens provat nåt sånt än..! Ajwannaaadäääns.

Men liksom...inte alla smaker samtidigt. Det blir lite insane. Jag hinner ju inte fatta vad choklad smakar innan jag provat päronsviss, mintkrokant och äppelstrudel och...barbiekaramell och ..!

Jag märker också hur mycket jag uppskattar människor i min närhet. Människor kan verkligen vara så himla olika.

Oh well, framåt! :)