#purely because the dragon is less obscured

[4lph4kidz]

i don't remember whats happening in the foreground of this image but look at this dragon its so fucking cool

[masuchu]

“𝐈’𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐃𝐀𝐘” [ZHONGLI]

what happens when you propose the idea of being zhongli’s birthday gift and letting him have you however he likes? ‧₊˚

genre. smut! very dom zhongli, mentions of punishment, kinda bratty reader, birthday sex!!! , mentions of dragon!zhongli, manhandling?, marking, roughness, biting, he cums inside, just pure filth ig, reader is afab and described as a woman !!!!!!!!!

pairing. zhongli x reader

love, masu. ohohoho. how could i not write a little something for my love? on his birthday? teehee, i hope you guys enjoy! lmk if there are any typos UGH

“I’m afraid I don’t understand, my dear. Are you insinuating you wish to celebrate my birthday by engaging in intimacy?”

You sighed at Zhongli’s blunt and perplexed words. Dating a man who had lived through many a millennia absolutely had it perks; it wasn’t everyday you could hear the history of tea distillery and other obscure topics. But in times like these, you really struggled to explain things that were a bit more ‘in this day an age’ to your ancient lover. Especially things regarding sexual matters.

“No, it’s— Because it is your birthday, the idea is that I am your present! That you can enjoy, um, however you like…”

“But you already gave me a present?”

A groan escaped your lips, “I know I did! It’s not literal, more— conceptual? I’m not actually your gift, I’m giving you a chance to let your fantasies run wild, for term of phrase. Do you understand?”

One of his gloved hands traversed up to his lips, and he gave the lower one a gentle tap of consideration. “I think I understand. It is less of a tradition or a custom, but more of a way for you to treat me in a more intimate manner, because it is my birthday. Am I correct?”

A gentle yet flirtatious smile engulfed your face. “You are correct, indeed. Sooo, will you … take me up on my offer?”

Zhongli’s eyes were overcome by an imperceptible change, so subtle and abrupt that no regular person would have noticed it. But you weren’t any regular person, you were his prized lover. The only soul in Teyvat that has ever had such a firm and unshakeable grip on his heart, leaving him with an inconsolable ache in his being whenever he was not with you. You understood him and saw every twitch or flip of his mood, no matter the size. So, that raging fire set you alight in his eyes did not go misunderstood. He wanted you.

“I think I shall take you up on your generous offer. But you may regret allowing me such freedom over your body tonight. It seems you are the only person capable of stripping me of my prided self control.”

You would have swooned over Zhongli’s words if it weren’t for the rasp in which they were spoken, the way his eyes traversed over your now quivering form, and the warning he gave that seemed to have left his lips calmly, yet seductively.

One of his arms suddenly wound around your waist, the other creeping up to take a stiff hold on your jaw; it juxtaposed greatly with the gentle caress of his thumb on your lower lip.

“I want you to go upstairs, undress completely, and wait for me on the bed. I will be up with you shortly. And believe me, I will not be going easy on you tonight. It is my birthday after all, and you are my gift. Do you understand, my dear?”

A humorous gulp resounded throughout the room, you embarrassingly realised that you were the source of the noise.

“Yes, sir.”

The wait felt like an eternity. The soft bed sheets you were perched on prettily were no consolation or comfort to the uncomfortable ache in your core; in fact, they only fuelled on your lewd imaginations of gripping them whilst Zhongli’s cock pounded into you mercilessly.

God, you were an enemy unto yourself. Why were you so hellbent on fuelling your own neediness and loss of coherent thought? Your pussy throbbed with greed and impatience, and without thinking of the consequences, you began to rut subtly and clumsily with into the soft duvet. Unbeknownst to you…

“I am disappointed. Misbehaving on my birthday, my love? I was only gone for a minute or two.”

An awful squeak was plundered from your lips, your cheeks warm and flushed having been caught red handed. You halted your ministrations and began to plead for forgiveness.

“Zhongli, I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to, I swear—“

Your begs were cut off when a forceful hand ran through your hair and tugged your head backwards. Zhongli’s grip was not harsh enough to cause pain in your scalp, but you understood the intention of his action. It was a warning.

“Morax, is what you shall call me tonight. You must show me proper respect on my birthday. And I am willing to ignore your little… mishap, so long as you are on your best behaviour for the remainder of tonight. Isn’t that generous, hm?” His words reverberated and echoed throughout the room, soothing and tender, but filled with undertones and reminders of his power and heavy dislike of disobedience. The underlying threat of punishment almost compelled you to spend tonight pushing his buttons and testing his thin patience, drawing out his harsher hits and crude tongue.

Almost.

“Very generous, Morax. How would like to— how do you want me?” You whimpered, his dominance having an extremely powerful effect on your slowly escaping pride and dignity.

“Ah, offering yourself up so plainly? I am honoured my love. On your back, please. I would like to see the expressions my gift makes when I ravish it tonight.”

Oh Archons. A sudden rush of wetness overwhelmed your aching cunt, jaw falling humiliatingly wide at his lewd speech. You remembered his order when he gave a you a gentle tap and a raised eyebrow, and you scrambled to present yourself on your back, pussy entirely on display to your partner’s hungry eyes. A dreadful moment of incomprehensible staring ensued before Zhongli finally uttered words that left you even more shamelessly horny than you even thought was possible,

“Absolutely exquisite. Hold your legs up for me, my hands are going to be occupied.”

You did exactly as you were told, like an obedient pet. Something aggravatingly inexplicable about Zhongli made you want to heed to his every call, devote your entire life to him, and pleasure him at every waking moment. Of course, that was impossible. You were an independent woman, and in normal circumstances where you were capable of rational thought, you were always firm about working and making a living for yourself— Zhongli always in agreement with this. But in lustful moments like these, when his pretty digits travelled to your slit and traced along it like he was inspecting a gem, when his other palm encompassed your breast and kneaded them softly? You desired nothing but to be a pampered little cum slut for your precious Geo Archon.

On the other hand, Zhongli was in turmoil. His hard on was uncomfortably trapped in the confines of his trousers, and his mind was dazed with possibly draconic, but absolutely primal urges to fuck you into a pitiful mess. His fingers roughly shoved into your hole, and your drawn out moan was nothing but pleasure to his ears.

“Aren’t you so lovely? Always so obedient— well, mostly. So beautiful spread out like this for me. Carry on making that face, and I won’t be able to wait any longer, darling.”

You couldn’t take his incessant rambling any longer. Could he not just ram you into next year already?!

“Then don’t! Please— I’m begging, just fuck me already! You made me wait, won’t you have mercy on me, Morax?”

Your cries were silenced by a soft pair of lips harshly planted onto yours. The Archon’s tongue traversed your mouth and his canines bit into your lower lip. All the while, his fingers were still plunging in and out of your wet pussy, causing horrendously lewd squelching noises to ricochet off of every wall in your extravagant shared bedroom.

Too caught up in pleasure to notice, you realised to late that Zhongli had taken his rock solid cock out of his pants, only registering the act when he roughly slammed it into you.

“Ah! Zhong— Morax, please!” You had no idea what you were begging for. Less? More? Both at the same time? Your brain was clouded with pleasure, nothing but cock and kisses appearing.

“What are you begging for, my love? You can’t possibly by overwhelmed now. I warned you that I was holding nothing back with you today. Were you listening, or is my cock that pleasurable you have gone dumb?”

“Ngh! Shut— ah, up!”

You regretted your words as soon as they left your bitten lips. Zhongli’s hips slammed vigorously into you, his balls slapping against your ass, and he hit the perfect spot— before stopping entirely.

“My apologies, I must’ve misheard you. You couldn’t possibly have told me to ‘shut up’ just now, hm?”

A rough thrust censored any answer you could have possibly given.

“Not when you have been so good? Not when you are spread out so divinely for me? So at my mercy? Enlighten me, my love, would you really like to find yourself tied down for hours, left with nothing but what I have already given you, whilst I resume my work?”

A sharp pinch at your clit told you the question was not rhetorical. “No, Morax! I am so sorry, I wasn’t thinking—“

“No, I didn’t think you were. Are you going to let me enjoy my gift without any further interruptions?”

“Yes— Agh!”

You could not even utter another syllable before your lover was pounding into you once more. With every snap of his hips, a new spot within you was discovered and abused so harshly you could think of nothing but him, him, him.

His still gloved finger perused over your clit, a string of heightened pleasure dangling above you so meanly. Zhongli did not care, his fingers danced along your sensitive area whilst his lips came down to you once more, this time to leave deep, red marks along your neck. At a long, desperate whine, the God chuckled and pressed down skilfully onto your sore bud.

“Zhongli! Oh my— please, please, please, please!”

“Are you going to cum, dearest? You have my permission, you are allowed to— ngh, come whenever you like. Paint my cock with your juices, I need it.”

His words, his thrusts, his lips on your neck, scenting you. It was all so much, too much. A familiar yet arguably foreign feeling bubbled up in your core. A fervid ache began to grow inside you, encouraged by Zhongli’s never ending praise and vulgar words. His resolve was beginning to crumble, too. You could tell vaguely through your state of disrepair and desperation that his moans were becoming louder, his thrusts ever so slightly sloppier. As if you had been transported to another dimension, everything that had built up began to burst.

“Ah, yes! Cum for me, darling. Don’t hold back, give your Archon everything.”

A screen of white filled your vision, unable to think, unable to feel, unable to breathe. You barely noticed Zhongli’s orgasm happening simultaneously, not until a burst of hot, gooey liquid erupted inside you. Everything felt holy, indescribably divine. The same climax Zhongli had effortlessly brought you to innumerable times, it whirled within you and left you completely immobile. A moment passed before Zhongli carefully fell on top of you, moving to avoid suffocating your almost lifeless form.

A moment of heavy breaths and mutual tenderness passed before Zhongli took at glance at your sore body and spoke,

“Ah, are you in any pain, my dear? I do hope I made you feel the amount of pleasure I felt.”

You breathily chuckled, “You did. Archons, you absolutely did.”

Zhongli came closer a smiled against your lips, before saying in a deepened, all too familiar tone,

“Then I do hope you are not too sensitive. I still have much in mind for my… gift. Remember to never underestimate the stamina of an Archon, my dear. Now, on your front.”

2023 © masuchu , do not repost, reword, plagiarise, take inspiration, translate or share my work anywhere!

[vintagegeekculture]

50 Years of Kung Fu Movies

There’s an overlooked anniversary that hasn’t been widely reported much yet: as of March 2023, it’s been 50 years of Kung Fu movies in the United States. 

Bruce Lee was not the first big international Kung Fu movie star. Rather, the first English-dubbed breakout Chinese martial arts movie to become a hit in the greater US (apart from Hawaii) was “5 Fingers of Death” (also called “King Boxer”) in 1973 starring Lo Lieh, six months before Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon” and posthumous fame, making Lo Lieh the first true international Kung Fu star. There were lines halfway around the block at Times Square to see “5 Fingers of Death,” thanks to a radio giveaway in the New York area, and to those who first saw the movie, they remember the very first scene when the 63 year old Kung Fu master started backflipping and kicking out of nowhere and everyone watching this started losing their minds. “Five Fingers of Death” was like “Star Wars” in that it was a movie people saw over and over, minds blown, never having seen a film like this before. 

Because Kung Fu movies were shown in less expensive grindhouse cinemas in urban areas, like seedy, pre-gentrification Times Square in New York, the audience for these films was disproportionately black, and to this day, the black community has a strong connection to 70s Kung Fu movies. Every middle aged black dad today loves this stuff. It isn’t just due to them being shown in inner city theaters, however, or on UHF stations where they were replayed cheaply on Saturdays. Rather, the success of Kung Fu movies in the black community is based on the themes of the movies. Most Kung Fu movies are about poor dishwashing working class underdogs in an unjust system, usually either Japanese Imperial Occupied China, or during the Manchu Dynasty, where China was ruled by despotic foreign conquerors. The heroes bow in humiliation at first, but who secretly take the power back through intensive personal training, blood and sweat and a montage, that lets them stand up to oppressors. As RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan explained: “when we saw these movies about opposing the Manchu Dynasty, it made us think we weren’t the only people in world history that ever went through this.”

When it comes to introducing the genre, “Five Fingers of Death” is a great “first movie,” a pure, emblematic example of what these movies look like. In the very first scene, in Japanese occupied China, an old Kung Fu Master who is our hero’s teacher is pursued by Japanese karate killers, enforcers of the occupation. His student, Lo Lieh, has to learn the iron palm technique in a brutal, bloody, visceral series of training montages to harden his palms to iron, which involve him excruciatingly breaking every finger in them. The themes of vengeance, pursuing justice under occupation, training montages that are as important as the action, and the theme of failing brutally over and over until it “clicks” and you have a miraculous “Eureka!” moment that every teacher recognizes and lives for. It helped it started with the Kung Fu right away....imagine seeing flips and flying kicks for the first time when you’re used to western bar brawls. 

It’s worth noting that, despite being a hugely important moment in pop culture, 5 Fingers of Death was not a hit in Hong Kong, and was not even in the top 10 highest grossing movies of the year. It reminds me of Voltron, which is absolutely unknown and completely obscure in Japan, when elsewhere, it is THE giant robot show. The fact 5 Fingers was a big hit in the US absolutely baffled the Shaw Brothers, who were convinced to part with the rights for their movies for cheap, leading to a flood of Kung Fu movies. Notably, Lo Lieh, though he was the first Kung Fu movie star and a reliable martial arts leading man, did not have much of a career after this in lead roles. His character skills were best served playing villains in Shaw Films, notably as the evil Kung Fu eunuch supervillain, Pai Mei, in “Executioners from Shaolin” and “Clan of the White Lotus.” Tarantino wanted Lo Lieh to reprise his role of Pai Mei in Kill Bill Part 2, only to discover that he died just before filming. 

[wishywashypunmpkinsauce]

The Berry Nice Beachday

Summary: The young ancients arrive in the Hollyberry Kingdom for a beach day!

Type: Fluff

(Excuse any spelling errors)

___________________________________

The glorious morning sun beamed over the secluded Hollyberry kingdom. Its bright rays shone through the curtains of the forest’s dense thickets and into the windows of the last sleeping cookies. The majority of the kingdom has well and truly risen much before the sun, seeming to find it best to begin their days early to get more done. This is most likely why the Hollybery kingdom had the most export and supplies of all kingdoms. Added it was a chipper kingdom with vast resources, loving, caring, and hard-working cookies as well as a Queen who served them with as much love as they served her.

Currently, the final carriage arrived in the blessed jungle kingdom. Pure Vanilla cautiously found his footing as he stepped down from the carriage, thanking the driver as a few Hollyberrian guards moved the driver and steed to a different area. The young vanillian king turned, fixing his hat, and made his way into the main grounds of the monumental-sized castle. There were no large steeples or multi-colored sugar glass panes, no quiet mummer of calm voices as one wafting through the air. But maybe that’s why Pure Vanilla likes being at the Hollyberry kingdom so much, because it was so obscure to his own ruling that he found so much joy in exploring this unique kingdom. He looked up upon the large, pink-domed building, listening to the loud calls of Hollyberriens, and the soft drowning of babbling brooks. The study breeze that swayed his neatened bangs.

____________________

 “My dear beloveds, I am thrilled you could all arrive!”

The pink-haired queen marched into to open-air, summer ballroom. Making her presence well known as her shoes hit the cool white tiles. Smiling giddily as she hurried to greet the others. She wore pink bathers with white and yellow accents adorning the edges, showing off her strong, sturdy figure. A silky purple, transparent shawl lay over her shoulders. A wide-brimmed, pie-lined hat, fastened with a pink ribbon on her head. Her taffy-coloured hair was in a beautiful braid that reached the middle of her back, leaves, and ribbons decorating the creases. In her arms, was an 8-month-old RoyalBerry. The child already had a full head of silky pink hair which curled out from under his hat. Chubby arms waved about eagerly as he batted about a dragon stuffy. The child wore a pink and white stripy swimsuit which was a size bigger than him, but adorable none of the less. His wide babbling smile squished his cheeks and made him squint with joy. He let out more baby gurgles before mindlessly hiding his face in his mother’s brawn.

The four arriving ancients hurried to hug the plus-sized woman, once reaching the mid-point the 5 mushed together in a tight grasp. Letting out a string of greetings as soft kisses were given to the pink queen. Then finally, all attention was on the most important child ever to bless their lives. Little baby RoyalBerry, the pride of the Hollyberry kingdom, the firstborn son to the beautiful Hollyberry, and the cutest little baby to ever be born. The pink-haired babe gurgled with joy as he was passed from ancient to ancient, each giving soft forehead kisses to the child.

Golden Cheese, White Lily, and Pure vanilla squabbled over who got to hold the sweet baby, Golden Cheese used her ability of flight to her advantage, pocking her tongue out to the duo below. Going on about how much smarter she was than the pair, that was before she got zapped in the ass and squawked in surprise and pain. White Lily chortled with laughter, casting another spell to snatch the pink-haired babe.

Dark Cacao made his way over to the pink-haired, resting a gloved hand on her shoulder.

“HollyBerry dear, how have you been fairing?” he asked, pulling the pinkette into another tight squeeze. In return she leaned her weight on the other, allowing the purple king to hold her in his arms. Her body thanked the king for the moment of relaxation. Having only just experienced 9 months of carrying her babe was a lot, but even after Royalberry’s birth, she was still on her feet. The pink queen wasn’t complaining though, it was her choice to bear a child, and this was just a part of the process. That’s not to say there were moments where she flat out would pass out from exhaustion.

“Oh I have been as well as I can get in times like these, a little tired, a little sore, but I will be fine” She smiled into his chest, moving her arms the sit just on his waist. Hollyberry moved away and started to lift the large metal crest that the man carried on his shoulders. Lifting the cape off of him to remove the weight and to try to cool him down. Being from the snowy planes of the northern ridges, Cacao didn’t do well in the Hollyberry kingdom’s hot humid heats. But even though he began to melt in the blistering summer rays, he still made time to visit Hollyberry no matter the season. His face was hot and bothered and Hollyberry could see the sweat roll down his forehead. She carfuly slipped away the layer of armour and fabric, the stoic king did not once resit. Normal he would protest on how he would rather die than remove such an important image, but the kings anger seemed dormant. Instead, he leaned into the surprisingly cold hands of the woman. Giving a slight smile once the weight and heat were removed from his body.  

Hollyberry stopped once she removed his gloves, assuming this was enough to keep him cool until the Queen got him into some bathers. Because there was no way in witches, she was going to let him sit under an umbrella and not step a foot into the water. If she had to; she would throw him in! He thanked her as he pressed another kiss to her forehead and right on time, the other 3 ancients returned with the baby. Lily having won the battle of the babe, squishing his chubby cheeks lightly and booping his nose.

“All right you sweaty bastards, let’s get you lot into sometime cooler and go swimming!” The Queen struck a sassy pose, looking at the others with stars in her eyes. The group only jittered with excitement as they followed the other through the long halls of the Hollyberry palace. The group finally ended up in the Queen mothers bedroom. Hollyberry made her way over to the walk-in closet and disappeared while the others waited for her return. Golden cheese snatched RoyalBerry from White Lilys grasp and toppled over onto the huge, marshmallow-like bed. The young prince giggled loud in response.

Pure Vanilla leaped onto the bed, struggling a bit to fight the waves of blankets that fought him off. Eventually, he made it to where Golden Cheese and White Lily had been engulfed by the large, pink covers. RoyalBerry was gurgling slightly, drool running down his cheek as he gawked at the three olders. The blonde haired king moved the place a delicate hand on the babe, running soft circles into Royalberry’s back.

Cacao then appeared from the sea of red and gave a soft smile, running an exposed hand over the sheets and to the happy baby. Royalberry slapped the chocolate king’s hand a few times before latching on and drooling over them. Chewing on the calloused fingers with not a thought in the world. A soft smile appeared on the stoics kings face, a kind of face that yeared the love of this baby. “He’s still got the baby fever ay!” Golden cheese remarked as she sniggered under her breath. The chocolate king snapped his head towards the avian queen with a very unimpressed look on his face. The kind of look you gave to an idiot who told you Earthbread was actually in the shape of a cookie, just more dramatized. But in Dark Cacaos’ eyes, he was looking at an idiot so the reason behind the look was supported. “Oh shut your yapper you glittery penguin” He snapped jokingly, grasping the pink haired baby, and pulling him into his lap. Earning whines from the others to return the babe to the middle.

The group stayed on the bed until the queen reappeared from the depth of the closet, multiple pairs of bathers folded in her arms.

“Now I got these custom-made, so they keep you comfy but cool” The Queen started, making her way towards the bed, and sitting down beside Golden cheese. Giving the avian queen a peck on the head. The golden-haired snapped up and grabbed the set of bathers clearly meant for her. Leaping off the bed and changing right there. The other 3 happily scooched over (pure vanilla and white Lily having to fight their way out of the bed sheets again) the queen handed them their respected bathers before they too went to change.

____________________

“Woo Petals! Looking mighty nice there” Golden Cheese squawked from where she was. White Lily in return, threw her staff directly at avian queens face, bonking her right in the nose.

“And these bathers are super comfy, I might as well trade up my clothes for these” The golden-haired complimented the berry queen, leaping up and pressing a tender kiss against the other woman’s temples.

Golden Cheese had a simple top and bottom. Quite similar to her usual clothing but made from a strange but extremely comfy and waterproof material only made in the Hollyberry kingdom. As no other kingdom really went swimming let alone on a daily basis. The top was white in colour but with teal accents adorning the ruffles and sleeves. The bottoms were yellow and white, pant/skirt-like things. 

White Lily had a full-body suit with a skirt-like fabric over the pants. It was a stripy green and white outfit with sleeves that reach her elbows. White Lily was content with the bathers, finding them extremely comfy.

Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao would have the same outfit if it weren't for the colour and a few minor things. Such as Pure Vanilla having a blue and white stripy set of baths

___________________________

The water was beautiful. Perfect temperature for a swim. Hollyberry raced down a side pier to a spot in the water she knew was deep and cannonballed in. She hit the bottom and felt around the sand before pushing her legs up and shooting up to the surface again. Splashing the group with water as she came up. They made it to the sandy shores where a picnic-like area had already been up. The berry queen hauled herself from the water, snorting some water out of her nose and sitting on the damper parts of the sand. Getting comfy under the suns bright rays. Pure Vanilla was the first to win the running race between him a golden cheese by some miraculous chance. Dark Cacao and White Lily came up behind the two as they squabbled. Dark Cacao still hot and bothered purfulously sweating but seemed better than he was before. White Lily was holding Royal Berry as the she quietly spoke in babble towards the baby. The two came down to sit under the shade of the umbrella.

The pinkette took a deep breath of fresh air.

“Royalberry’s first swim and I have this moment to share with my beloveds,” The queen thought happily. Taking pleasure from the warmth of the sun kissing her paled skin. She frowned at how pale she had gotten over the year, being away from the sun for some time did horrors to her skin tone. Her usually golden brown was somewhat more almond in colour, much paler than she liked. So today was a great day to regain her colours.

The queen was soon toppled out of her thoughts are three figures bombarded her. Dragging her into the water, laughing while doing so. She dived under the cool surface and escaped her offenders. Hollyberry surfaced, seeing Golden Cheese and White Lily in the middle of a water battle, poor pure Vanilla being caught right in the center with no means of defense. Hollyberry looked over to the beach again, Dark Cacao was under the shade, babe in hands. Completely smitten with the small creature.

The mother smiled warmly as she exited the water again and made it up towards the Cacao king. Curling up next to him as she stroked her son’s soft hair. 

“You know Cacao, today will be Royalberry’s first time in the lagoon” She smiled warmly as she ran her other hand over Dark Cacao’s back before running her fingers through the onyx hair. The Cacaoin king turned his eyes down to the woman, a look of surprise present.

“Would you like to take him into the water Cacao?” She asked politely, playing with the strands of hair mindlessly. Watching over both her son on Dark Cacao with steady eyes.

“I would love to” He began nervously “but...” He trailed off, looking down into the water where the other three were still play fighting. Golden Cheese and White Lily now ganging up on Pure Vanilla as the blond struggled to dive to the safety under the water. 

“But what?” Hollyberry asked, sitting up to face the other.

“What if I hurt him? What if I’m not careful and something happens to him!? What if-” Hollyberry pressed her finger to his lip which quietened the frantic king.

“But nothing, there is nothing you can do to hurt Royalberry, plus if you truly feel this scared, I will be right by your side the entire time!” She gave a warm smile which seemed to calm Dark Cacao down.

“Are you sure you don’t want to” He asked, Holly berry only chuckled.

“Dark Cacao cookie, Royalberry has had a lot of firsts. I want you to be the one with him when he has his first swim.” She placed her hands on his, then Royalberry slapped his hands down as well. Gurgling lights, speaking to himself.

“But aaaaaaah” He started up again, stuttering as he tried to think of an excuse for why he would be the worst candidate for the job.

“Wouldn’t Golden Cheese want to have the honors?” 

“Goli’s had her first, she got to have his first flight. Lily got to have his first crawl and nilla got his first laugh.” She rebutted with a smile.

“But if you don’t too, I can always make the others fight for the honor” She gave another cheeky grin, standing up and giving him a peck on the lips. That seemed to persuade the stoic king enough to make his way toward the water.

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Got a little lazy towards the end but eh, i hope you like it:)

Don’t use my work my work as your own, I will find you and destroy you.

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Have a good day:)

[dev-the-dm]

Collection: Purple Dragons

“Born from amaranthine, great form uncoiled, ivory claws extended to the smoke-storming sky, pale eyes blinded by immense hands, yet no less daunting than if they would pierce each mind.” - Excerpt from “Song of the Dragon”, a mythological account of an encounter with the Great Blind Serpent, Rilzriaduss (author unknown)

Scourge of the Underdark. Where some are lucky enough to see - and survive - an encounter with a red, blue or green dragon, those who have encountered their purple cousins are fewer and far between. Purple dragons are difficult to learn about, both because they are extremely solitary creatures, preferring the company of none in their caves and underground burrows, and because any unfortunate soul that meets one rarely escapes with their life. Purple dragons burrow out their lairs, digging it out of stone and earth, and are most often found in the Underdark, where they prey on unsuspecting passersby, which are most often drow or svirfneblin. On rare occasions, purple dragons have dealt with humanoid races through mutual agreements - purple dragons are, in fact, smart enough to manipulate, and wise enough to understand when they have been outnumbered or when escape is unlikely. They are powerful though disloyal allies, although their pure strength is often enough to make up for their rapidly-shifting alliances.

Mental masters. Purple dragons are, just moments after hatching, notoriously difficult to control, whether through mind magic or through deception. Their nature allows them a strong defense against magical effects, and influencing their minds is nearly impossible. They are well-spoken beings, capable of such mental gymnastics that they can change other creatures’ minds without revealing their intentions. However, as cousins to the chromatic dragons, purple dragons are also greatly manipulative, evil, and cruel.

For better, full-page high quality imagery, take a look at the Purple Dragons Collection at the Homebrewery here!

Under the Read More, you’ll find the purple dragon’s lair actions and regional effects.

Lair actions. Purple dragons lair underground, preferring darkness or minor fluorescence over the brightness of day. Their adaptation to their subterranean surroundings has made their lairs dangerous to any that venture within. Purple dragons enjoy hiding in loose earth or amongst crystalline rock, to camouflage themselves, and are masters of stealth, especially within their own lairs.

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the purple dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

Thick magical fog billows around the dragon in a 20-foot radius that spreads around corners. The area is heavily obscured and creatures within it are blind. A creature with darkvision can’t see through the darkness, and light (nonmagical or not) cannot illuminate it. After 1d4 rounds, the fog becomes slightly transparent and the area is lightly obscured. The next round, the fog vanishes.

One creature of the dragon’s choice within 120 feet of the dragon is set upon by illusory imagery of attackers. That creature must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of these imaginary creatures for 1 minute. While frightened, the creature attempts to fight these creatures off, which appear to approach it from any area in dim light or darkness. At the end of each of its turns, the affected creature can repeat its saving throw, ending the effect on a success. A creature can’t be affected by this lair action twice within 24 hours.

The dragon’s shadow appears to start moving on its own. Until the start of the dragon’s next turn, it gains a +3 bonus to AC, and attack rolls against it have disadvantage.

Regional effects. The region containing a legendary purple dragon’s lair is warped by the dragon’s presence, which creates one or more of the following effects:

Caves and narrow passages underground begin winding in a labyrinthine, nonsensical way. Corridors connect in non-Euclidian manners, dead ends appear where a connection to another space was expected, and previously crossed spaces suddenly seem to be cut off by steep rock walls or unexpected cave-ins that were unnoticed before.

Nonmagical and magical illumination is immediately snuffed out within 1 mile of the lair, and can’t be lit again.

Twisted crystalline constructions or dimly phosphorescent mushrooms grow in great numbers within 5 miles of the lair. Areas with large concentrations of crystals or mushrooms are considered difficult terrain. A mushroom that is disrupted (such as stepped upon or destroyed) releases a cloud of poisonous gas. A creature that inhales the gas must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or take 3d6 poison damage and be poisoned for 1 hour.

If the purple dragon dies, the mushrooms wither and die after 1d10 days, but the crystals remain indefinitely. Immediately after its death, routes within the caves no longer change randomly, and lanterns can be lit once again.

[izunias-meme-hole]

Top 10 Mario Characters (Remake)

Number 1. Bowser - Bowser is a genuinely great villain and fun as hell. Sure, there are a crapton of underrated villains in the Mario series, but no matter what you cannot really hate this guy. He’s a giant fire breathing turtle-dragon who’s a evil king, but he’s also a meathead, arrogant as hell, has very cool boss fights, is a surprisingly good father to his kids, and he’s an amazing protagonist and ally, as shown in games like Bowser’s Inside Story, and the Paper Mario Series. At the end of the day, Bowser is just an entertaining villain and an great character.

Number 2. Wario - Whaddya expect? Wario is a perfect take on an “Mario Double” by not being a literal Evil Mario. He’s just a disgusting, rude, and greedy little bastard man that just so happens to not only look similar to Mario, but is also the exact opposite of everything Mario is! He’s also a game developer, and a treasure hunter, plus his games are actually pretty fun. In other words, Wario for the win!

Number 3. King Boo - The Boo’s are annoying little shits and the cutest enemies in the series, but this guy is legit nightmare fuel and a delightful slice of ham. He captured Mario, he captured Peach, he turned Mario and Peach into paintings, and he went from wanting to capture Luigi to just wanting to outright kill him! Also, much like Bowser, he's consistently entertaining every time he is on screen, and I find it surprising he isn't an Mario RPG villain because he certainly fits that description pretty damn well. Overall King Boo is just a delight to see, and he’s the perfect nemesis for Luigi.

Number 4. Dimentio - Easily the biggest asshole in the Paper Mario games, and the biggest asshole in the whole series. This jester is suave, smug, manipulative, AND sadistic. He feels less like a Mario villain, and more akin to a Final Fantasy or Kirby villain. Also the twist with him betraying Bleck was somehow not the asspull I thought it was when I first played the game, and it was actual kinda built up well throughout the game.

Number 5. The Shadow Queen - The easiest way to describe The Shadow Queen is that she’s a Kirby final boss in a Mario game. Eldrich in nature, terrifying, powerful, and PURE EVIL. Also, despite just being the final boss, her build up is done exceedingly well, so she doesn’t feel out of place either. In short, this ghastly demon queen is so non-Mario as a villain that it works perfectly in her favor.

Number 6. Count Bleck - A well written tragic villain in a Mario game that is also quite the horrifying bastard? HELL YES!

Number 7. Bowser Jr - Bowser Jr is a small gremlin that is on the same level of fun as his father, and is extremely underrated. He’s got some of the most versatile bosses in the series due to his mechs and clown car, is very energetic, and his relationship with his dad is pretty healthy and fun. In short, the son of Bowser is just neat. However his biggest problem is that he's so underutilized in the mainline games, like how does Nintendo hit gold and decide not to use it often.

Number 8. Rosalina - She is beauty, she is grace, she has a sad backstory, she's helpful, she's the mother of these stars that become planets, she's considered to be either a witch or a goddess, and overall out of all the princesses in the series... I don't think we've had one like her. Daisy is outgoing and tomboyish, Peach is more refined, but Rosalina feels like a divine entity mixed with a mother figure who's experienced a lot. Sorry, but top 2 goes to star mom.

Number 9. Princess Daisy - Do I have to explain? Despite only appearing in an obscure ass game and some party games, Daisy is a HUGE contrast to Peach, and it’s in a good way. She’s a tomboy, is loud and proud, and her energy is constantly high as all hell.

Number 10. Princess Peach - When she isn’t being kidnapped by Bowser, she’s actually pretty fun. Sure she lack’s Daisy’s high energy, and is more “girly,” but she’s still got some sass and her own unique type of high energy that is let out in the party games. Also her Mario 64 castle theme is one of the best leitmotif’s in the series.

[faroreswinds]

I know the games refuse to answer these questions directly, but in terms of pure speculation, why do you think Sothis created the surface humans, if humans (the Agarthans) supposedly already existed in Fodlan before she arrived there? And why are the humans she created able to transform into demonic beasts (usually against their will) under the right circumstances? Is it because they were created from dragon blood, similarly to the Nabateans? Are the humans of Fodlan just lesser Nabateans? And why is it that crestless humans meddling with heroes relics (which are Nabatean bones) are corrupted into demonic beasts, while humans with crests (which supposedly makes them more Nabatean/less human) do not? The lore is vague and obscure which makes the thematic elements at play here difficult to decipher; which is probably somewhat intentional since a huge part of how the story of Houses is constructed relies on none of the characters working with the full picture. Leaving some questions relating to the story's ancient past unanswered is a choice I can respect, but after two installments I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a little frustrating just how much of it is still left completely unclear.

I'm interested to hear your take anyway though.

I know the games refuse to answer these questions directly, but in terms of pure speculation, why do you think Sothis created the surface humans, if humans (the Agarthans) supposedly already existed in Fodlan before she arrived there?

Personally? I think she created them after she thought she killed all the Slithers.

Why would she do that? Perhaps guilt. Or perhaps she felt it was her duty to. She wiped out the indigenous species (assuming they are indigenous and not another one of her creations, who knows) and maybe felt she had to return life as close to as it was before. Hard to say. We don't really know Sothis well enough to say for sure.

And why are the humans she created able to transform into demonic beasts (usually against their will) under the right circumstances? Is it because they were created from dragon blood, similarly to the Nabateans? Are the humans of Fodlan just lesser Nabateans?

One possibility is that Sothis cannot freely create life as one may think. Her own children, for instance, are basically weakened forms of her - heteromorphic beings with a beast form and a human form. So the humans she created may simply be altered Nabateans in a sense. So under the right circumstances, when they are introduced to the powers of Nabateans, it may force their bodies to revert to what is essentially their true form. But it's really, really hard to say for sure. I'm not confident enough to stand by that without a second thought.

But if that's true, then humans are just Nabateans without Crests or a second form that they can freely transform into. It would explain why Nabateans can potentially breed with humans, and why humans can receive Crests, while Slithers never seem to try- Slithers may be unable to.

Or, Slithers just refuse to because they hate Nabateans so much that they refuse that power. Who knows?

It could also explain why Seteth and Rhea are determined to guide humanity- in a way, humanity is a fledging race that is an offshoot of their own.

If, of course, all the above is true. Which it may not be.

And why is it that crestless humans meddling with heroes relics (which are Nabatean bones) are corrupted into demonic beasts, while humans with crests (which supposedly makes them more Nabatean/less human) do not?

That is a pretty good question. But don't forget that Crested people can transform too, if they push their Crests too far, such as Maurice did.

Why? No idea, not even a guess at this point. Something with Crests and the Creststones (not so much the bones themselves, since without a Creststone the weapon is rendered useless).

It might be that the Creststone is where the true power lies. So when faces with this true power without matching power of your own, your body warps.

The lore is vague and obscure which makes the thematic elements at play here difficult to decipher; which is probably somewhat intentional since a huge part of how the story of Houses is constructed relies on none of the characters working with the full picture. Leaving some questions relating to the story's ancient past unanswered is a choice I can respect, but after two installments I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a little frustrating just how much of it is still left completely unclear.

Same. I don't like these questions being left to linger. Why DOES a Crestless person transform? Why don't they transform when introduced to a Crest? Why can they push their Crest too far? What is the relationship between power and their bodies?

I want real, honest answers....

[kaediisarchive]

Final thoughts on the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie.

LOTS of spoilers under the cut! Do not look at this post if you don’t want to see spoilers!

And remember, this is all just my opinion. It’s not like an actual in-depth review because I’m not a film student; this is just my perspective on what I saw as a fan of this franchise.

POSITIVE

Sub-Zero and Scorpion were great. Opening fight was great.

“Eddy Tobias” namedrop lmao

I love the snow preceding Sub-Zero’s attack. Very foreboding.

Score is AWESOME. My favorite soundtrack is probably the one that plays when Sub-Zero is attacking them in the city towards the beginning.

Sonya rigging her house with a secret bunker and trap doors is smart and fits her character.

I like that the dragon logo has an integral meaning to the story.

Loved Jax vs Sub-Zero. Not mad about the origin change of Jax’s arms. I like that he had to work through his feelings of inadequacy and failure; people don’t just immediately bounce back after something that traumatic. I also like that his arcana manifests to protect Sonya rather than in the heat of battle. It shows his emotional priorities and what separates him from people like Kano who manifest their arcana in a fit of rage.

Sonya “Throw Hands on Sight” Blade lmfao. They nailed her fighting style too and I am happy.

Kano is the best thing about this movie. No competition.

Kotal reference!

Nightwolf reference!

Shang Tsung’s soul magic being black and wispy and foreshadowing Noob Saibot.

KANO DID THE HEART RIP

CHEKOV’S GNOME I’M SCREAAAAAAMMMMIIIIIINNNNGGGGGG

I love Liu Kang in this. He is 1000000% a Wholesome Boi. I like that he’s younger and unhardened and not the fully realized champion version of his character yet. Let him grow into it so it feels earned later on. I like that he’s the underdog, and I like what they’ve set up for him in the future. Also, the casting for him was perfect and they nailed his fighting style, too.

That little “the FUCK” that the Kano actor improvised(?) in the middle of Liu Kang’s lines made me laugh more than it should have. I don’t know why that moment got to me so much but it did.

I love Kung Lao. And they nailed his fighting style, too! Great to see variation that represents the characters (though there were less shining examples, which I’ll touch on later).

LOW SWEEP! LOW SWEEP! LOW SWEEP!

Egg roll scene is best scene.

Kabal! I love his dry humor. And his voice reminds me of Duke Nukem, which I’m not mad about. It complemented his dialogue well.

Not mad about Kung Lao’s death because it was meaningful. His fatality on Nitara was sick, too.

Liu Kang taking the ribbon from Kung Lao’s hat and wearing it in his honor, giving an origin for his signature headband is FANTASTIC.

THE PIT!

FLYING BICYCLE KICKS!

LIU KANG’S DRAGON FATALITY!

SONYA’S ENERGY RINGS!

Sub-Zero was a GREAT final boss. They really built him up appropriately to make him feel like it.

Scorpion’s fatality! And his skull face!

NEUTRAL

Not sure how I feel about Sub-Zero being wholly evil and there being no involvement from Quan Chi. It’s more straight forward for sure. It makes him an interesting (and badass) character, and I’m really behind this portrayal in that he is one of the most believable characters in the movie, but I’m not sure if I like the implications for later films in how this has simplified the dynamic in the entire Shirai Ryu vs Lin Kuei plotline. Having Quan Chi be the Machiavelli was always one of my favorite MK twists. And how do we eventually end the feud now? If Bi-Han / the Lin Kuei were wholly responsible, why should Hanzo EVER make peace with Kuai Liang down the line? The complexity feels like it’s been stripped down a bit, but I do love this iteration of Sub-Zero. I truly do. That’s why this is in the neutral category and not the negative XD.

Why didn’t Jax tell Cole when he saw the mark? Why wait until his family gets attacked? Maybe he didn’t want to do it in front of his family to keep them out of it, but that ends up endangering them more. Not a gripe, just a curiosity.

Sound editing was a bit too intense at times for my taste. I have tinnitus, so...big boomy bass with very mild voices is a chore for my ears to switch between. My ears were ringing within the first twelve minutes.

Torn between “fuck you Reiko” and “Reiko deserved better”. He deserved just a little bit better, but Skarlet says “get fucked” anyway.

I don’t like the “shaky cam” used in the fight scenes. Not my cup of tea. Very hard to visually process at times.

Whatever cosmic force is picking the champions for Earthrealm is doing a shitty job at it.

Why did they change the location of the Sky Temple to a desert? Again, not a gripe, a curiosity.

“We will not see another full moon before the tournament begins” THEN WHERE IS THE TOURNAMENT BUDDY???

Not sure how I feel about the “arcana” concept. It’s an okay plot device but kinda hammy.

Kitana’s fan! But why? Why is it there? I could understand the Kotal and Nightwolf references because Sonya has been researching, but why is Kitana’s fan randomly in an Earthrealm temple? Purely cheap fanservice.

Nitara was really cool. Shame she had to die, but her death was cool and there have to be some characters that get killed off. Wish she had more screentime though; feels like another instance of fanservice just having her show up basically as a namedrop and a quick kill.

The phrase “Are you okay?” was said WAY too much in this film. So much that I actually notices how often it was said, and I usually don’t pick up on these things.

Pretty sure a camera operator fell at one point in a Sonya scene because the camera jerked around violently all of the sudden then stabilized. Whoops.

How did Sub-Zero know to take Cole’s family to the gym? WHY did he take them there?

NEGATIVE

Opening scene was awesome, but it’s emotional impact felt stunted. I feel like the order of events should have been twisted a bit. Hanzo find his wife and son should have been the big emotional climax of the scene, but it felt like a passing moment and gave him no time to mourn and no time for the impact to truly set in with me. It was an “oh no they died” moment instead of an “ OH MY GOD THEY DIED THIS IS SO FUCKED FUCK YOU SUB-ZERO” moment. I dare say that the Legacy web series did it better in spite of their lower budget and overall quality; the series of events had better pacing and gave more emotional impact because of it. I said what I fucking said don’t @ me.

Wish we got more Scorpion. I love Sanada, I love him as Scorpion, but they didn’t give us the time we needed with his character to truly get a grasp of him.

Cole Young is like white bread in a parade of decorative cakes.

Raiden, a normally passionate and protective character whose fatal flaw is that he involves himself too much in events because he cares about the people in his realm and ends up fucking things up because of it, now seems to not care in the slightest. He feels completely uninvolved save for an occasional pop in to give a nod of disapproval. I don’t like this unemotional take on one of the most emotional characters in Mortal Kombat.

Small complaint from my perspective as a martial artist but uh...”Throw your uppercut!” was a bullshit line in a bullshit scene. If you’re locked up with someone like that and the guy has his arms around your neck, you physically cannot uppercut. You cannot fit your arms between his arms because they are cinched tightly around your shoulders/neck. YOUR HEAD is between your fist + bicep and HIS HEAD. In that situation, the guy has also left his body completely unguarded, so the most logical thing to do since you CANNOT reach his head is to go for BODY BLOWS. Beat him until he lets go to protect himself, catch his floating rib with double strikes, or punch the dude in his fucking liver as hard as you can to DROP HIM. Cole is supposed to be an experienced fighter, yet he makes one of the most rookie mistakes a fighter could ever make. Normally I wouldn’t care to point out mistakes in fight choreography or whatever because it’s MK and I expect ridiculousness, but this is the WRONG kind of ridiculous. It’s just NONSENSE.

I have SO MANY issues with Mileena. I’ll make this as short as I can. I don’t like the design of her mouth. I don’t like her weird stacked voice. She shows NO personality, not in her acting or even her fighting style, just an evil minion that got angry because she almost got her ass kicked. The turned one of the principle characters of the entire franchise and a fan favorite into a GRUNT. There is NO mention of Kitana outside of literal “fan”-service. Not even a reference to one of the most important plotlines in all of Mortal Kombat. And then they KILL HER OFF!!! When they do inevitably bring in Kitana WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY GOING TO DO SINCE THEY KILLED OFF MILEENA???? I’m heated and biased and they did my girl dirty.

Speaking of doing characters dirty, poor Reptile. They turned him into an actual animal. What a waste.

Why are they so mean to Sonya if she doesn’t have a mark? She wouldn’t be as much of a “liability” if they would take the time to prepare her and teach her how to defend against fighters that have unlocked their arcana. Mind-numbingly stupid logic.

This movie relies A LOT on prerequisite knowledge to work. It’s like they want fans to fill in the blanks for them. But not everyone watching is already a fan; this isn’t an obscure release, this is a blockbuster movie released worldwide. These gaps in lore and prior knowledge don’t make sense for such a broad audience.

Cole Young literally could have just been Johnny Cage.

Where was Raiden when his temple was being assaulted?

Cole’s arcana is LITERAL PLOT ARMOR IM FUCKING DONE

No but for real that’s the most boring decision they just ripped off Jax’s MK11 heater effect and Baraka’s blades (I know they’re tonfa and they aren’t attached and I DON’T CARE). Also, now he’s suddenly good at fighting again? After being dog shit this entire movie??? And tanks Goro?????

If Raiden is an Elder God in this continuity, why is he allowed to help Earthrealm AT ALL? It seems like favoritism and bends the rules that the Elder Gods are supposedly bound by way too much. They really just shouldn’t have made him an Elder God; I honestly think they just said it to introduce the concept without a fuck given towards the actual lore of the Elder Gods.

WHY DID RAIDEN TELEPORT KANO TO SONYA’S HOUSE AFTER HE BETRAYED THEM I HAD TO REWATCH THAT SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE SURE I JUST SAW WHAT I SAW  WHAT THE ACTUAL NONSENSICAL FUCK

Cole REALLY should not have been involved in that last fight. Especially not after Scorpion shows up. It should have been Scorpion vs Sub-Zero ONLY for the final fight. Cole tag-teaming Sub-Zero with Scorpion cheapens Scorpion’s revenge.

Camera work in the final fight was not good, especially in the first portion. At one point Cole gets thrown into a fence, but it cuts to an awkward inverse angle that makes him look like he’s bouncing off of a trampoline. This continues to happen and ruins several shots for me.

Honestly Scorpion should have just possessed Cole. Permanently. No switching back and forth. No more Cole, only Scorpion.

PREDICTIONS

Lots of dead characters come back as revenants and / or with upgrades.

Kano comes back with cyber eye.

Mileena comes back with full teeth.

Liu Kang becomes MK champion, wins tournament, and kills Shang Tsung. As it should be.

Cole Young helps Liu Kang become champion somehow idk maybe he sacrifices himself or something just please don’t make Cole the champion I will start a riot.

Next movie will start IMMEDIATELY at the tournament since there was supposedly less than a month until the tournament starts in this movie.

New characters coming in will be Kitana, Shao Kahn, Jade, Quan Chi, Kuai Liang, Noob Saibot, Ermac, and Johnny Cage.

OVERALL

This movie was good, bloody fun! It’s not an A++ Oscar-winner, but if you expected that going into it, you played yourself. It was Mortal Kombat; it was stupid, it was gory, and I had a blast watching it. Kano and Liu Kang were the best parts of the movie for me, with Scorpion and Sub-Zero tied for third. Also I popped a lot for the cheap nostalgia hits. I’m overall satisfied with what we got in spite of my complaints, and I only complain so in-depth about the things I love lmao so trust me when I say I’m not actually mad, just nitpicky. I’ve watched it twice now, and I would watch it again. It’s like a 6.8/10 for me.

[ja-khajay]

2020-2021 Animation Watch(ed)list

I haven’t posted about animation in a while that I remember, and I know a lot of my followers are into it as much as me so I decided to make a list of the animated movies and series I watched on the past year or so, coupled with my short, spoilerless take on them. Enjoy!

Organized by

Things I saw for the first time

Things I rewatched

Under a cut for the sake of your dashboards! PS: I have not added any images yet. If you are interested in knowing more about the visuals of these movies, I might make an old fashion ask-prompted imageset list.

Part One: Things I saw for the first time

The Bear’s Famous Invasion of Sicily

Movie, 2019, Italian/French

9/10, a delightful little movie with amazing visuals. It feels like an animated picture book.

One of those “plot is in the title” media! I had never heard of this before but was heavily recommended it by my family members, who all loved it! It’s a sweet story, nothing groundbreaking but the unique colorful visual style alone makes it worth it.

The Castle of Cagliostro

Movie, 1979, Japanese

10/10. Reminded me of all the books i loved reading as a child

I assume its because it’s so old and the art style and themes are so different that it gets little to no love compared to other Ghibli movies, which is a shame! It’s fun with an endearing cast and as always, great animation and music

Mushishi

Series, 2006, Japanese

10/10 three episodes in I knew it was going to be my favorite series ever

One of the few things I’ve seen I’ll describe as life-changing. It’s absolutely lovely but never toots its own horn about it. Humble, calming, emotional and surprisingly mature. It’s pretty impossible to binge due to how intense the experience is. I just want to walk in the forest now...

FMA: Brotherhood

Series, 2009, Japanese

6/10 Dissapointing adaptation of a classic story

I read the manga for this when I was in middle school and remembered loving it. The animated version does an ok job of presenting the characters and worldbuilding and has some nice action scenes but overall looks really damn cheap and just. Not very good. Seeing I already knew most of the plot I did not have the element of discovery that made me marvel so much reading the original. It’s still a nice series but I really recommend reading it instead.

Code Lyoko (s1+2)

Series, 2003, french

3/10. 1.5 being for the opening song alone

This show sucks ass if I hadn’t been watching this with my bestie I would have dropped it two episodes in. The art style is ugly the stories are always the same and the first season has a (later removed thank fucking god) LITERAL “erase any consequences” button as a plot device in every episode. If you watch it for one thing let it be the nostalgia factor of early 00s Vidya Game Plot

The Legend of Hei

Movie, 2019, Chinese

7/10. Impressive visuals and a poor story

I finally watched this, peer pressured by the load of gifsets on my dashboard! It’s a sweet movie with really impressive animation, sometimes a bit too flashy for my taste (the action sequences go so ham they become not very readable...) but the story was just ok? The setting is barely explained and you are instead bombarded with vague epicspeech about powers and stuff that made me fondly remember Kingdom Hearts lol but that asides it’s a really good time! I need to watch more Chinese movies the few I know are just delightfully off the shits in how they approach action and I love that

Hunter x Hunter

Series, 1999, Japanese

9/10. Superior to the recent one!

I first got introduced to the series via the 2011 one. Comparatively, the 99 series focuses way less on action and way more on the characters, which I love because that fits my personal preferences! Despite mediocre filler episodes and some weird slight pointless plot changes, what it changes from the original manga doesn’t have much of an impact on the characters. The animation quality isn’t always consistent including a huge art style change for an arc (???) but it’s overall pretty nice. The series really shines in the last arc it adapts.

Oban Star-racers

Series, 2006, Japanese/french

9/10 a lovely surprise

This series is completly obscure despite having been created by people famous for their other series (Cowboy Bebop, Code Lyoko that i can name) and it’s a crime! It’s a kids show but without being stupid about it who tells the story of an inter-planetary race. If you liked that one scene in the star wars prequels you know what I mean. It’s got surprisingly nice animation for a TV series, and some truly great character design. The art style is a bit unique in a not for everyone sense, but I didn’t mind it much. It’s also THE most offensively 2000s series i’ve seen in terms of visuals. y2k kids assemble

The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon

Movie, 1963, japanese

8/10. Classic fairytale format with incredible visuals

Watched this for the art style because I know it inspired Samurai Jack, and it delievered! I dont’ have much to say about this one, it’s a very simply film but it’s sweet. For my pirates out there if you want to find it in good quality with english subtitles it’s VERY hard to find. If you just want to see the looks of it, it’s on Youtube with portugese subs.

We now enter the Gobelins Shorts Zone....!

My Friend Who Glows In The Dark

10/10 makes me cry each time

Pure delight...great animation writing everything. A little short about death and friendship but not in the way you imagine!

Colza

9/10

Visual treat...homely and nice :) not far from a 10 but a 9 because nothing about it is that groundbreaking

Sundown

9/10

If you’ve ever been ten minutes from failing a group project because of a single dude you will REALLY enjoy this. Loved the colors and personality

T’as vendu mes rollers?

10/10

It’s SUCH a sweet little short I loved that one so much

Dix-huit kilomètres trois

10/10

Surprisingly well written dialog. Visuals are great but the humanity of the characters carries this to another level

Un diable dans la poche

9/10

Amazing visuals and the most tense/creepy of Gobelin shorts i’ve ever seen. Chilling

La bestia

8/10

I had some issues with the pacing. Interesting story and visuals choices but I was not fond of the art style

Goodbye Robin

5/10

Confusing but predictable. Both at once??? Yes!

Le retour des vagues

6/10

Cool animation stuff but felt pretty pointless

                                                                ***

Part Two: Things I rewatched

Ruben Brandt: Collector

Movie, 2018, Hungarian

10/10. Underrated as hell

Watched this fully blind for the first time in an animated festival and rewatched it with friends. It’s a crime I never see anyone talking about it given the amount of whining I see about the lack of both adult animation and 2D movies? This film is a unique love letter to art in the form of a weird mix of charming crime story and psychological horror with amazing visuals. I recommend watching it blind and also buying it to show appreciation for how nice it is!!! WATCH THIS MOVIE...

Mononoke

Series, 2007, Japanese

10/10 Visual/storytelling masterpiece in the weird shit departement

If you can stomach intense stuff watch this. The visuals are incredibly unique and beautiful and under the jewel tones and art direction high takes it’s a really cool horror series. My only obstacle to enjoying it the first time I saw it was how dense it is - simply put, it’s so...culturally Japanese it’s not very accessible to me who doesn’t know anything about the culture? Watching it for the second time helped understanding the stories more! 

Corto Maltese in Siberia

Movie, 2002, french

9/10 but really close to ten. A great adaptation!

I’m a huge fan of the original comic so I entered this a biiiittttt suspicious it would suck but it was a really pleasant surprise! It has all the wonder and charm of the original and the animation was surprisingly good for the little budget. If you’re not familiar with the series, it’s a sort of geopolitical action/adventure movie but with it’s own really poetic vibe to it. It’s almost impossible to find online but happens to be fully on YouTube so go ham I guess?

Redline

Movie, 2009, Japanese

10/10 cinema was invented for this, actually

Every review of this movie i’ve seen gives it five stars and starts by talking about how immensly stupid it is. I’m no different. It’s a masterpiece of escalating energy with the depth of a puddle and it fucking rules. It’s free on YouTube too so there really is no excuse to not watch it. Watched it for the first time on a huge cinema screen and despite this my second rewatch on my small laptop was as/even more enjoyable. If you watch this stoned with friends you might travel to another dimension

Spirited Away

Movie, 2001, Japan

10/10 deserves the love it gets

I watched this a single time as a kid and had little memory of it! I mean it’s Ghibli you know it’s going to be good as hell but this one rly shines in how colorful and detailed it is and in it’s world! It made me remember I had a huge crush on the dragonboy as a kid. I’m gay now

Kung-fu Panda (1&2)

Movie, Usa

10/10. KFP fucking rules

Honestly my favorite franchise of the whole disney/dreamworks/pixar hydra. It’s fun as hell, doesn’t skip a single beat and has amazing animation and character designs. If something is a good time I will not care if it’s deep or not and boy I fucking love these movies

Sinbad, Legend of the Seven Seas

Movie, 2003, Usa

5/10 Some great some really bad and overall generic

I tend to hate american cinema and this includes that era of animation I have no nostalgia for. Sinbad is in a weird place because I love adventure stories and the visuals of the movie absolutely deliver but it’s very predictable and TANKED by the addition of the female character, pushed in your face as “look we have woman!!!” despite her writing being misogynistic as hell lol. The evil goddess rules tho. This movie would have been a solid 9 if instead of the girl the two dudes had kissed

[nerdybubblebee]

Sweetest Nightmare (Demon Daenerys AU)

Summary: 

What happens when a starving succubus meets a kind mortal in a bar? Add demon hunters who want her dead in to the mix. Would sparks fly? Or would it all end in tragedy?

Notes:

Hello everyone! I know... It's been forever. I apologise. 

This fic is one that has been a work in progress for months since just before GoT ended. The biggest reason for that? Loss of motivation and inspiration. Then, came finishing uni, moving countries, losing a family member and pure exhaustion. Life demanded that I take a step back from writing. So, I did.

But, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t abandon this ship and my fics so I recently decided to start writing again. It hasn’t been easy coming back. Dealing with bout after bout of writer’s block, grief etc. First time back after so long? I pray this doesn't disappoint haha. Hope you guys like it! 

As per usual, I have to give a thank you and a big bear hug to @midqueenally​ for helping me with this moodboard >3<

Thank you @waytoomanyhobbies​ for helping me out so much along the way too <3.

PS: @adecila​​ the idea for this fic was born partly from a certain one of yours ;). I promised you I’d give this to you ages ago. It’s finally here!

Chapter I: Prey Turned Predator

~Preview~

Dear Satan, she was starving.

If she didn’t find sustenance by the time this bar closed, she just might keel over, well before the sun rose up to greet the day. That was beside the point. Her true identity coming to light could undoubtedly pass off as high-quality cosplay, so that wasn’t an issue either. What she worried about was losing her means of defending herself. Having spent this long with abilities that made her a far cry from human, she dreaded to think what it would be like to have them stripped away from her, to be rendered mortal once more. Judging from the fact that she could no longer separate the filth from the innocent mortals, her powers were already beginning to diminish to dwindling.

Giving the room a cursory glance, Daenerys cursed that bastard, his cronies and their bloody perfect timing.

Two Weeks Ago - The Dragon Pit

In her long life, she had patronized establishments such as this one countless of times. To find one teeming with the absolute filth of society was not uncommon. But this one? This hunting ground was one of her favourites. It was a seedy night club down by the water where rich white men went behind their wives’ backs to gallivant with ladies of the night. It was the perfect place for them to pick up women and no one would give a damn, if they were to say… disappear without a trace the next day. These men were her sustenance of choice. Oh, how effortless it was to pick those poor sheep out of the crowd!

This night was no different.

Tonight’s meal was gyrating against one of the dancers, prodding at her lower back with his crotch. He trapped her to him with his meaty paws gripping her tightly around the waist. Even a fair distance away the grimace that graced the young girl’s face could be seen under the strobing lights. Licking her lips, Daenerys smiled to herself. This man’s aura oozed around him like sludge, so much so his face was almost completely obscured by its muddy brown hue. He must have been a man who had done despicable things. What things? Those details were irrelevant. Adding an extra sway to her hips, Daenerys made her way across the dance floor toward her intended victim. All she needed to know was that despicable men made tasty meals.

Tonight, she would feed. 

One less adulterer would walk this earth come morning.

It was really too easy.

A brief flash of her cleavage, a coy smile and a crook of her finger had the clueless fool following her over to a secluded booth in the back corner. There they sat, his eyes firmly fixated on her chest as if just by looking hard enough, he would be able to see more of her. The band on his left-hand ring finger that shackled the fool to his poor spouse at home, most likely rocking their baby to sleep, left a dull cold sensation on Daenerys’ thigh. Greasy hands groped at her flesh, desperate to touch her beneath her skirt.

Batting her eyes at him, Daenerys decided that she must have been doing her job well because the buffoon all but leapt across the small gap separating them, deciding to go in for a kiss. The cologne he wore invaded her personal space in an instant like a miasma, pulsating along to the ebb and flow of his sludge like aura.

The urge to gag was so strong that she had to turn her head away from him. The silly man lapped greedily at the guise of her offering him her neck and it was exactly the moment, when his pair of slimy lips landed on her skin that she noticed a bearded man entering the club.

He was portly, all clad in leather and flanked by two younger humans, a male and a female. They made an odd trio what with the two towering over the bearded man. It was clear to Daenerys however, that the stout man was the boss. She couldn’t tell what he was saying to them from where she sat but, the gesture of his hands told her that the lackeys had just been issued an order. An order to split up.  Were they the police on a raid? 

Ordinarily, she wouldn’t have bat an eye but, this man and his underlings…

No, they weren’t the police.

Biting back a hiss, a scowl etched its way onto her face.

They were demon hunters.

Read the full chap on Ao3 :). Stay safe, stay healthy everyone!

[indiavolojones]

anon your MIND… 

 YE━(｡･`ω´･｡)ゞ ━S!!

Idk if you meant this as a request but I did it!!! I hope you like this incredibly spur of the moment, university wicked au lmfaoaoooo

5kish words, gen, asmo/solomon

“I can’t concentrate on coursework or go to bed if you’ve got someone moaning in your bed every other night.”

“Sounds like a personal problem,” Asmo sniffs, and Solomon very quickly finds the situation slipping through his fingers. All of his phenomenally constructed arguments for why Asmo should be a respectful roommate have disintegrated in the face of Asmo’s pure obstinance. “Besides, where would I take my partners if not to my room?”

“Their rooms. A car. A bathroom.  A dark alcove somewhere. I don’t care--anywhere else but here.”

Pls keep in mind a bunch of small notes:

-I haven’t seen Wicked, only listened to the soundtrack! I don’t remember what happened to make them room together/much of the plot hahaha. This is less of a wicked au and more a magical college au, whoooo~ -I made up so much shit for this. I was pulling lore outta my ass like nobody’s business -Everyone is human! -I skipped around a lot, so if there’s something that doesn’t make sense pls ask and I’ll clarify hahaha, I wanted to keep this short!! (is,.... 5k short...)

-

-

-

“We're all supposedly the best of the best, and yet none of us could stop a burst pipe," Solomon bemoans the status of their old dormitory.

“In our defense, it happened in the middle of the night and we had no idea what was going on?" Simeon offers, tilting his head with a sympathetic smile.

"But midway through the semester!" Solomon won't admit that the loss of one of his few friends being constantly at his side is more daunting than he thought it would be. Simeon is a phenomenal roommate, and understands Solomon better than anyone.

With the unfortunate mad dash to get all the affected students into new, undamaged rooms, the two of them are being split up, and now Solomon will have to get used to another, likely annoying roommate.

"I never realized you were this dependent on me." Simeon teases, and Solomon glares at him. Simeon swirls himself around in Solomon’s desk chair while Solomon walks by, cardboard box in his arms. Just to annoy him, his foot shoots out to stop Simeon mid-spin, and Simeon huffs, looking up at him.  

“Didn’t you say you were going to help?” Solomon asks.

Simeon laughs.

“You asked me to come help move boxes? I thought it was for sure because of you freaking out at getting a new roommate.” Solomon’s lips quirk downwards, and turns his head away with a scoff as he brings the box to the corner of his new dorm. Simeon props an elbow up on Solomon’s desk and watches the other.

“What could you possibly do to help with that?” Solomon asks, palm pressing to the box and releasing the sealing spell on it. “Do you have a solution for this?”

He gestures at the other half of the (thankfully) large room.

Instead of the traditional bunk bed and lower desk set like on Solomon's side of the room, the other half of the room consists of a large wardrobe as additional closet space, an extravagant vanity filled with beauty products, and a nest. A massive nest of pillows, sheets, and blankets—describing it feels ridiculous, but to look on its glory is surprisingly enticing. It does look… very comfortable.

“I think it looks rather nice,” Simeon examines the fairy lights strung up around the walls near the bed. The edges of his roommate's influence barely encroach onto what Solomon would consider to be his side, but as he’s the one imposing on this person’s space halfway into the year… he’ll bite his tongue.

Realistically, there’s no reason for RAD to have shared dorm rooms--the school is prestigious enough that each student could probably get their own living suite… but the chancellor of their particular location is the direct son of the president. He’s a bit eccentric, and enthusiastically vocal about the benefits of shared dorms as integral to the relationships they develop with their peers.

(There are things Solomon’s heard of him too: how he’s the youngest person in his role, how despite the accusations of nepotism he’s completely taken the magical community by storm in his unconventional approach to education.

An interesting man that Solomon would enjoy meeting face to face, rather than admire on a podium, even if he is quite handsome.)

Simeon purses his lips, before snapping his fingers, “A privacy screen?”

Solomon rolls his eyes hard enough that they feel like falling out of his sockets.

“I don’t know why you’re so up in arms about this. I’m sure your roommate will be fine,” Simeon says then, gentle--Solomon looks at the opposite side of the room and has his doubts. “It’ll be good for you to try making more than three friends, you know.”

Taking the books out of the box and lining them up on the shelves of the book case, Solomon tosses a glance back at Simeon.

Simeon isn’t wrong.

Solomon could be the most powerful sorcerer in the world, but it means absolutely nothing if he can’t effectively operate in the modern magical community. Maybe if he was born several hundred years earlier he could have swept up the world in the sheer magnitude of his power, but nowadays, politics infect everything. Solomon can’t patent a spell to wipe his ass without a sponsor, and no one wants to sponsor the intense kid with a bad attitude.

His ability to cast magic without any kind of aide or incantation launched him into the spotlight at an early age. Solomon has always been aware of what other people thought of him. When empty praise didn’t ingratiate his sycophants to him, it just as easily turned to criticism; kids are cruel, after all. As a result, Solomon has always struggled connecting with others.

By the time he realized he would have to work on his people skills to get anywhere, he was halfway through high school with a bad reputation, no friends, and no open doors.

(Funnily enough, it was around the same time that he met Simeon that he realized he needed to be less of an asshole if he was to ever get anywhere in life.

Simeon has been integral in teaching Solomon "how to person", as he puts it.)

“Who’s your new roommate, anyway?” Simeon asks when Solomon doesn’t respond to his comment. “I don’t think you said their name.”

"Did I not?” Solomon hums, “It’s someone named Mephistopheles.”

“Mephistopheles?” Simeon parrots, head tilting to the side, “Didn’t he get expelled?”

As Solomon opens his mouth to question Simeon, the door handle jiggles as someone unlocks it.

It swings open unceremoniously, followed by the quiet moans and shuffling of clothes as two people stumble inside the threshold. Simeon and Solomon can only watch in stunned silence as the taller, curly haired man presses a shorter woman against the wall, his face fully obscured in the curve of her neck as he lavishes it in open mouthed kisses.

Her eyelids flutter, he must be doing a great job--but the second she makes eye contact with Solomon, she shrieks.

“Asmo, Asmo wait--” The girl bats at his chest, her face bright red, “There’s people here!” Asmo pulls his face away from her skin to look at the room, a gorgeous smile on his face as he notices the others does not falter in the slightest.

“Oh, you’re Solomon!” Asmo smiles, before looking at Simeon, “And you’re Simeon. Lovely to meet you both.” Solomon looks at Simeon for some kind of hint as to what the fuck he should do here,  but Simeon also seems at a loss. Before either of them can say anything, Asmo slides a hand up the girl’s side to cup her cheek, speaking to them even as he stares deep into her eyes.

“Now, would the two of you kindly get out?”

-

-

-

The rest of living with Asmo is pretty much a continued repeat of their first meeting. Multiple times a week, sometimes once or twice in a day. Solomon has no fucking clue how someone like Asmo gets any schoolwork done, or hell, when the other gets sleep?

Regardless, it’s two weeks of Asmo getting laid and Solomon not getting proper amounts of sleep, and he’s sick of it.

“There need to be,” Solomon grimaces, swirling around in his desk chair but faltering as Asmo emerges from the bathroom, toweling his hair and jeans hanging low on his hips, “...ground rules.”

Asmo tilts his head, “Rules?” He says the words like it’s a foreign language, new and clunky in his pretty mouth. Solomon wants to sock him.

“You can’t keep bringing partners back here,” Solomon says. Asmo goes back to toweling his perfect fucking hair.

“And why is that?”

“I can’t concentrate on coursework or go to bed if you’ve got someone moaning in your bed every other night.”

“Sounds like a personal problem,” Asmo sniffs, and Solomon very quickly finds the situation slipping through his fingers. All of his phenomenally constructed arguments for why Asmo should be a respectful roommate have disintegrated in the face of Asmo’s pure obstinance. “Besides, where would I take my partners if not to my bedroom?”

“Their rooms. A dark alcove somewhere. A car. A bathroom. I don’t care--anywhere else but here.”

Asmo ponders this for a moment, before he shrugs his shoulders as he walks across the room to his drawers by the window, “Nope. I don’t think that’s considerate for them.” He digs through to presumably find a shirt, and Solomon bites the bullet.

“You’re on academic probation, aren’t you?” Solomon says, and Asmo freezes with his back turned to Solomon, tension evident in the line of his shoulders. When he turns around, his expression is colder than anything Solomon’s ever seen directed at him. In his brother Levi’s words, there it is: the infamous Bitch Smile.

“I didn’t know you cared about gossip,” Asmo looks like a dragon picking his teeth with human bones as he sits against the window sill.

The afternoon light drifting in through the sheer curtains casts him in an ethereal glow, and Solomon bites back his unnecessary request for Asmo to move out of such flattering lighting so he can negotiate with him properly.

“I don’t, which is how I know it’s true.”

“And? What? You’re going to try and blackmail me with this information?” Asmo sneers, but even crippling distaste is an attractive look for the other.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Solomon scoffs, “I’m offering to tutor you.”

Asmo blinks at that.

“I won’t tell anyone. You know my grades. Half of our required classes are together, so it’s not like it would put me under any more stress than not sleeping. And I’m not unreasonable,” Solomon says, “If you must bring people over, just let me know in advance and I’ll go to a coffee shop or the library. I do need to sleep, so I want them out by nine or ten at the latest.”

Asmo doesn’t immediately say no like Solomon thought he would, so things are already going much better than he expected. However, it still does not prepare him for Asmo’s response.

“Fine. Is that all you want?” He asks, and Solomon pointedly ignores the double entendre.  

“I want one of the shelves in the bathroom cabinet,” Solomon blurts, because Asmo has too many beauty products and there’s no space for him in the current set up. Asmo’s brow rises, even as his mouth twist into a wry, surprised smile.

“Maybe.”

“I can work with maybe,” Solomon smiles in return, standing and extending his hand out for a shake. “It’s a deal, then?”

Asmo stares at the hand, his expression unreadable, before something seems to break. He pushes off the window sill and in a few short strides, huffing with laughter, “What’s with the handshake? So formal.”

Solomon doesn’t rise to the bait even if there is a light dusting of pink on his cheeks. This is the first time they’ve touched, he realizes as his magic hums as Asmo’s hand is warm and steady in his own.

“It’s a deal.” Asmo says, and there’s a hint of interest in his eyes as he seems to see Solomon in a new light.

-

-

-

Solomon doesn’t mean to overhear it. He spends so much time in RAD’s library that it’s essentially his second home.

“How’s your shady roommate?” He hears a voice say, and it’s familiar enough to jarr Solomon from his thoughts.

A tinkling laugh, and Solomon blinks in realization. Asmo? Solomon tries to not eavesdrop, tries so hard to not let his interest wander from the potion formula in front of him, because it really has been giving him trouble...

“He’s not bad. Too stiff. Looks great when he comes out of the shower,” Asmo purrs. Solomon feels the bright pink blush rise to his cheeks. They’re talking openly about this in a library, of all places. RAD’s library is unreasonably huge, though--even on a busy weekday, one could be several aisles away from another human being in this space.

They’re both taking the same potions class, so it’s not too far off the mark that they’d both be in the same area looking for reading materials. Solomon should really just leave before he hears anything else that makes his ears burn.

“I don’t trust him.” Asmo’s brother, Satan, says. Of course. Solomon grinds his teeth. Asmo hmms.

“He definitely has a weird powerful vibe about him. I don’t blame you. His face just looks like he’s up to something,” Solomon swallows the spike of hurt that hits at Asmo’s words, even if he’s heard them before. Two months since he started tutoring Asmo. Three months since he moved in. Their cohabitation isn’t domestic, but it is at least civil. “I’ve seen him sleep but I don’t believe it, you know? I’ve never seen him do anything for fun. He’s so pent up and proper that I’m not sure how he does it.”

“He doesn’t.” Satan tsks, “You’ve heard about what happened, right?” Solomon feels his blood run cold.

That was different. It was an accident. He was a child. He was weak then. Solomon would never do anything like that on purpose again. Surely, surely Asmo wouldn’t--

“Of course! It figures though, all the super powerful kids are fucked in the head. But other than that, he’s not bad.”

But he’s not bad. But he’s not bad. As if Solomon would ever settle for not bad after such an callous description of his person. Fury, the kind that makes his magic churn under his skin at a rolling boil, rises in him: at Satan, at Asmo, at himself for.. For what? Believing that Asmo may actually have been different? That they could have been friends?

“What was that?” Satan asks, likely sensing the swirl of Solomon’s magic.

Cursing inwardly, he wrangles his wild emotions under control through years of practice. He will not prove them right. Solomon closes his textbook. His chair screeches against the floor as he stands, Satan and Asmo crossing out of the aisle into the open study area where Solomon has been seated, completely unhidden.

“Were you eavesdropping?” Satan accuses, his bright green eyes sharp and disdainful.

Years and years of diligently studying. Never losing his temper. His single minded determination to better himself has erected a wall that others look on in contempt. Do not prove them right about you, Solomon tells himself, nails digging into his palms hard enough to leave red crescent marks. Do not let the rumors be true.

He cannot look at Asmo, so instead, he smiles at Satan.

“No,” Solomon laughs, and the politeness in it is so fake that it hurts, “I was studying for the same test that Asmo is studying for. Voices carry quite well in a library.”

Satan glances at Asmo, but Solomon still cannot look at him. Tossing his book haphazardly into his bag, he throws it over his shoulder.

“I’ll leave the two of you to it, then.”

-

-

-

“Solomon, hey, wait!” Solomon is not running away, but he has a very brisk pace and does not feel bad when Asmo has to job to catch up with him. “Listen, about what I said--”

Solomon stops sharply enough that Asmo almost runs into him, but Solomon uses his magic to help steady Asmo. It isn’t to be helpful, it’s to stop Asmo from getting close enough to touch him, as if that will protect him from all of these hurt, churning emotions. He exhales through his nose.

“Since you’re actually taking the time to go to the library… I don’t think you need my help anymore.” Solomon forces himself to look at Asmo, steeling himself against whatever petulant expression is probably on the other’s face.

“Right?”

Asmo’s face is not petulant in the slightest. He seems… upset? Solomon feels the beast snarl inside him, a lick of rage at the downtrodden expression on the other’s face. He gets caught shit talking him openly and then has the gall to look hurt when he gets his free tutoring cut off? Asmo’s family is disgustingly rich and well connected. Let him lose his pride and ask them for help.

Solomon will last the year. He and Simeon will room together next year. Asmodeus will not be what breaks him.

Asmo falters at the intensity of Solomon’s gaze, the severity of his words.

“... Right.” Asmo says, and Solomon lets his feet carry him away before either of them say anything else.

- - -

After a week of tense, peaceful avoidance, Satan dropping into the seat opposite him at the campus coffee shop is the last thing Solomon expects.

“I apologize for my conduct the other day.”

Solomon blinks at him.

What is Satan doing here? Irritation immediately blossoms in his chest--he may not be furious anymore, but that doesn’t mean he wants to see Satan, nor had he expected to.

After cancelling their tutoring sessions, he’s made it a point to spend as little time in their (when had it become their room? It was always Asmo’s room at first) room as possible. Sure, it means spending garbage amounts of money on overpriced coffee and shitty wi-fi when the library gets too stuffy, but at least he can breathe.

None of that explains why Satan is here. Apologizing to him. Surely it must be some kind of a trap? A childish prank? Really? Would Asmo stoop so low? He doesn’t know either of these brothers enough to truly say. It’s best for him to be polite for now, until he can figure out Satan’s true motiv--

“You realize that a lot of people don’t trust you because there’s a moment on your face where you look like you’re actively plotting, and then you say some polite nonsense,” Satan says, and Solomon’s brain stops like a record screeching.

“Is this really an apology.” Solomon says, drily. Satan shrugs his shoulders.

“That was an observation. This is the apology.” Satan clears his throat, looking Solomon straight in the eyes. “It was unbecoming of me to speak of you like that in public. I should know better, and I’m sorry.”

“It’s what you thought,” Solomon says, because it’s true. It’s what they all think, and for a good chunk of his life, Solomon rarely tried to make them think differently.

“It was ignorant.” Satan’s bright green eyes stare into his own, and Solomon senses no dishonesty in his words. When Solomon speaks, he finds that he actually might believe them.

“Apology accepted.” Now leave me alone.

Satan narrows his eyes, “Really?” Solomon resists the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose.

“Yes, really.”

“Will you speak to my brother again, then?”

“It’s a little presumptuous of you to ask for my forgiveness and a favor in the same breath.”

“Asmo flunked the last test,” Satan says, in lieu of a proper answer, “He’s in a world of shit at the moment.”

“Why doesn’t he try flirting with the professor?” Solomon scoffs.

Satan props his chin up on his hand with a lopsided smile that’s far more relaxed than he’s ever seen from the fourth brother, “That’s the thing, he hasn’t. Lucifer chewed him out about it and he took it with his tail between his legs rather than kick up a fit about it too.” Solomon’s quick mind lets him skip over the next lines of whatever shitty banter they’ve got to reach Satan’s point.

“You want me to tutor him again.” Solomon asks in disbelief, despite himself. Satan snorts and leans back.

“Nothing so pedantic as that,” Satan waves the notion away, “Just stop avoiding him at every turn, and hear what he has to say. If you’re still mad at him after that, then that’s perfectly reasonable too, considering my brother is one of the biggest assholes to ever exist. He’s unbearably dramatic when he gets into fights with his friends.”

“... Friends?”

Satan stares at him like he’s grown another head, “Obviously.”

Solomon laughs so hard, he’s sure that he’s confirmed all of Satan’s weird opinions of him.

-

-

-

“Solomon?” Asmo breathes his name, hand lingering on the doorknob as he enters the room to see Solomon sitting in his desk chair.

“Satan talked to me,” Solomon says, reveling in the stunned look on Asmo’s face, before crossing his arms, ”He apologized for what he said. And then he asked me to at least hear you out because you’re sulking.”  Asmo pouts at Satan’s words, and Solomon quirks his brow.

“Is he wrong?”

In response to this, Asmo’s face looks pained, lips pressing together as he glances to the side. He’s like a petulant child, Solomon thinks, even if he’s somehow still amused by the other’s expression.

When Asmo looks at Solomon, and he throws his hands up in the air,  “I shouldn’t have said it. There, are you happy?”

“Not really,” Solomon admits, “I understand why your brother might think that of me, but to hear it from someone that I’m helping out...” He adds a little bit of a softer, sadder tone to his voice to make Asmo writhe, and ha, does it work.

Asmo groans, ruffling his hands through his hair, “Alright, I’m a dick! Are you happy? I’m a gossipy bitch and I say things I shouldn’t. You helped me out and I.. took advantage of it. I’m sorry!” Asmo’s arms cross, and he looks so genuinely uncomfortable that Solomon wants to laugh.  

“You’re terrible at this. I was confused as to why Satan might say I can still be mad at you after you say your piece but.. I get it. You’re even worse than he is at it, dare I say.”

“You haven’t met our eldest brother,” Asmo sniffs, before continuing, “Besides, words and emotions are hard, bodies are easier,” Asmo shrugs, like it’s the simplest thing in the world.

“You sound like a bad high school drama,” Solomon scoffs, rolling over Asmo’s affronted gasp, “In any case, I heard you flunked the last test we shared. Maybe if you spent less time flirting with the TA in that class, you could retain the information on the board.” Solomon brings his knuckles to his chin, holding his elbow in his other palm.

“It can’t be helped. If we can get you set up with some extra credit there and you ace the next few exams that should keep your grade above water.” Solomon runs the numbers in his head, but Asmo is waving his hands in the air.

“Wait, wait, waaaait! You’re forgiving me?”

“I’m considering it. You have to make it up to me somehow, but as for the tutoring.. we’re too close to exams for me to want to deal with another roommate if you get yourself suspended. I don’t have blackmail material on anyone else, unfortunately.” Solomon’s kidding about the blackmail, but Asmo deserves a little ribbing after that awful apology.

Although Asmo doesn’t seem offended by the joke. No, it actually seems to be... the opposite? As he speaks, Asmo’s looking at him with a blinding smile.

“Are you listening to me?” Solomon frowns, knocked off balance by Asmo’s expression, “Because if you aren’t, I swear i’m going to--”

A flurry of motion, Asmo crosses the space of their room quicker than Solomon’s ever seen him.

Asmo’s hand cups his face, the other lands on his hip; Solomon has very little time to think, because Asmo’s gorgeous face is in centimeters away from his own. The scent of Asmo’s perfume fills his senses, rendering him stunned--Asmo glances down at his parted lips, and then back up at Solomon’s eyes.

Asmo kisses him, and Solomon’s magic blows out the fuses in their entire building.

-

-

-

In the chaos of their plunge into darkness, Solomon’s hands shooting out to shove Asmo back accidentally activates his magic, and Asmo stumbles a few paces further before falling to the ground.

“Ah,” Asmo yelps, at the same time Solomon rises from his seat, “What the hell, Asmo?”

They’re not in total darkness, thanks to the dim light from the streetlamps outside, but it still takes Solomon’s eyes a few seconds to adjust. Asmo’s vague form is still seated on the floor, propped up on his elbows.

“What was that?” He demands, still haunted by the firm press of Asmo’s lips against his. Asmo shifts to get up, and Solomon’s arm immediately reaches out to offer his assistance. Asmo huffs at the motion, but takes his hand anyway.

“I thought I could make it up to you this way.”

“By offering to, what, make out with me?” Solomon says, disbelief mounting. Asmo shrugs his shoulders, one hand trailing up Solomon’s hip.

“Sure, we could do that. We could do whatever you want,” and now that Solomon’s eyes have adjusted to the dim lighting, he can see the coy smile playing at Asmo’s lips, “I see how you look at me, how could you not? Besides, you’re quite handsome yourself…” Asmo purrs, his free hand reaching up to graze against Solomon’s blushing cheeks.

For a moment, Solomon hesitates--Asmo is gorgeous. Even if Solomon were deaf to the campus’ adoration of him, he would have to be blind as well to not realize that just by existing near Asmo. There’s always a mix of challenging and inviting in his eyes, an ease that shows itself in all of his movements. Asmo exudes a level of sensual energy that is a powerful skill in its own right, and Solomon is a healthy young adult…

But Solomon has no desire to fall into Asmo’s bed like another one of his hundreds of admirers, clamoring to get into the other’s bed space. He has more important things in mind.  

“That’s not what I meant by making it up to me!” Solomon is very proud of his voice not cracking as he pushes Asmo’s hand away, and the coquettish expression is quickly replaced by Asmo’s pout.

“Well, how else am I supposed to show you how truly repentant I am!” He whines at his failed seduction.

“I can’t even begin to explain how screwed up that is, Asmo.” Solomon groans, running his hand through his hair, “You could have offered me another shelf in the bathroom cabinet or more sink space and I would have considered it a start.”  

Asmo blinks, tilting his head to the side, “... Really? That’s all you want?” He seems stunned that someone would turn down his body.

“Now that I know you were going to offer your body, half of the sink sounds too fucking small, doesn’t it?” Solomon retorts, and Asmo laughs.

A loud knock startles both of them out of their conversation, and he hears the muffled voice of their RA from the other side.

“Are you alright in there? There’s been a power outage -- will you be alright casting magelight, or do you need flashlights?”

Solomon, in desperate need of a reprieve from Asmo’s… Asmo-ness… goes to open the door as the RA speaks. After a quick exchange of assuring the doting senior in their pajamas, Solomon shuts the door with a sigh. When he turns around, Asmo is seated in his desk chair with a soft pink magelight floating idly nearby. Asmo seems to be deep in thought, and Solomon approaches him with slight hesitation.

As soon as Solomon gets closer, Asmo’s gaze snaps up to look at him so suddenly that Solomon almost balks.

“I know what I can do for you,” Asmo says, his eyes twinkling with mischief and utter glee. The pink light casts an almost eerie, and somehow still enticing shadow on the other’s face.  

Solomon isn’t too proud to admit he’s terrified by whatever Asmo is about to offer.

-

-

-

“... So you didn’t sleep with him?” Simeon asks, and Solomon chokes on his tea.

“What! Of course not!” He coughs through his instantaneous response, pounding his fist on his chest. “He said… oh hell, I can’t say this, it’s ridiculous.” Solomon covers his face with his hands, an unbidden blush rising to his cheeks.

“He said he was going to make me popular,” Solomon groans, a little quieter in volume. Simeon is silent for a long enough time that Solomon takes his face out of his hands to look at him questioningly, but Simeon’s got one hand over his mouth as he shakes in stifled amusement.

“Wh--” At Solomon’s confused expression, Simeon is unable to contain himself any longer, bursting into a loud fit of laughter. Simeon throws his arms around Solomon in a crushing hug, even as Solomon tries to shove his way out of it.

“Oh, this is going to be great.”  

-

-

-

I feel like this would definitely be considered #crack or #ooc slightly because it’s always hard to translate personalities that are defined by specific experiences (such as being alive for thousands of years) into any AU, but especially ones where they’re only 19/20 year olds lmaaoo

Facets of their personalities I tried to keep: Solomon’s ambition/the fact that people think he’s so shifty, and Asmo’s sexual bravado/blatant insecurities of his person. Who knows if that comes off here, but hey, I had fun lkajflaks

As always, ty for reading!!! I appreciate your kind words and responses on my stuff ;w;

[inventors-fair]

Mechanical Commentary: All across the spectrum

People went pretty far with this one, honestly. There were a lot of overlapping mechanics and ideas that were related, but across the board, there was a mix of flavor and pure gameplay that came together in an interesting way. 

I think that if I had to give advice for doing this contest again, I would encourage everyone to keep it SIMPLE in their card submission choices. What is the best example of your mechanic, not your card? What’s the best choice for how this mechanic can work and be grokable? Contests like this aren’t about showing off the coolest thing or the most radical notion. No, they’re about proof of concept, presenting that concept, and creating clarity above all else. Unless we’re asking for a contest in which you make a confusing card, clarity is pivotal in all things.

@cas-420 — Flayed Alive

This card by itself is very good, probably an uncommon but very good. My main concern with the mechanic is that it can either only exist on reactive instants OR be in a set where life loss is a key concept. That’s what I’m not a fan of. Losing life during your own turn doesn’t come naturally to Magic. Some mechanics require support and certain environments, like, say, modular, or constellation, but “having artifact creatures” and “playing enchantment cards” are things that more or less happen in the game already. So, I would consider this a cool one-off card, but Agonize as a mechanic feels too narrow.

@dabudder​ — Drownyard Crawler

This is the reason why Ikoria introduced ability counters, besides being a design experiment. Memory issues with this card are crazy hard. If you have multiple copies of the same creature, and one of them is viral, how do you know? Swap places like magic cups, and it becomes impossible. Conceptually and flavorfully, this ability is fine. I won’t call it reinventing the wheel, but I don’t dislike it. There are a couple wording issues. I would change “to a creature” to “to another creature,” and I would have it say “Creatures with viral have skulk and “Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.”” in quotes. I like how this makes combat more complex.

@dancepatternalpha​ — Arkelas, Ruler of the Lost

I don’t really understand what ephemeral’s place as a mechanic is, but I think I’m seeing the set you’re trying to build around. I imagine there are a few cards that would also interact with exile? And as the game went on, the more cards exiled created more powerful effects? I can see it. Ephemeral doesn’t make me tingle with excitement, but I can’t be harsh with it. I think I understand where you’re coming from, and I feel that a common or uncommon submission might have been more favorable.

@deafeningsandwichpeach​ — Bursting Beetle

FEWER, NOT LESS. Ahem. Sorry, that was harsh. But there are a couple wording issues. “Swarm X (When this creature enters the battlefield, if you control fewer creatures than each opponent, create three tapped 1/1 green Insect creature tokens.)” Fewer words, easier to grok. Not a bad mechanic. Feels reactive, though, less of a choice and more of a “I’m gonna hold onto this card because it’s a little useless otherwise.” It’s worth tweaking, though. I love token mechanics. Maybe this card could have been five or six mana.

@demimonde-semigoddess​ — Blood Remora

Ey, a fishy! Ooh, an evil fishy. An evil fishy with one big issue: if it deals combat damage to an opponent and there are no other targets, it has to target itself. And that’s my main issue. “Whenever this creature deals combat damage to an opponent, you may attach it to target creature that player controls. It can’t attack or block as long as it’s attached this way” could work? Might have a couple memory issues, but that’s not a major issue. You can just move cards around. It’s not a bad mechanic, but it’s a little hard to parse at first glance.

@dimestoretajic​ — Strike From Above

So, this is the conflict between “simple” and “exciting.” Everything about this card is more or less exactly understandable. But the name, the mechanic name, and the flavor text don’t feel as inspired as they should be. I don’t get a sense of quality from them. It’s an intangible aspect, and I’m sorry because I know that sounds like a real jerk way of putting this, but: for future cards, consider the world, the story, and what the card would look like once you open it up. I don’t get a sense of MTG from this card yet. Instead, it feels like a concept. That’s fine for personal reasons, but as a submission, I’m not excited. Airstrike itself I wouldn’t keyword as a mechanic. This card would be better without that aspect.

@emmypupcake — Aftermarket Additions

 Great name, great flavor text, great ability name... Super limiting. The as-fan of artifact creatures in this theoretical set would have to be hella huge, like Mirrodin-block big, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing? Maybe you could batch it into “charge, haste or +1/+1 counter”s so it could interact with noncreature artifacts? Wait, this also works for vehicles. Man, this is probably a cooler mechanic than I thought originally. Call it a B- for relying on a specific sub-category of cards. A+ for badass bikers.

@fractured-infinity​ — Thunder Hammer

This mechanic was real close to being a runner-up. Quickdraw would need a bit of flash interaction to really make it worthwhile, though, and a strong equipment/aura theme as well. Could it work with auras? Would it make sense, or are you going for a wild-west-ish theme? Kind of? The card itself is good limited fodder and equipment tribal goodstuff for commander, I suppose. Not a fan of the name or flavor text personally, but it’s simple enough to make sense. Green and “thunder” don’t always go together, y’know. In my opinion. Which is not always a good one.

@ghost31415926535 — Storm Fleet Rapscallion

Plunder: a fine mechanic. I like the artifact synergy. Now, let’s go over the wording issues.

You forgot a card type in your submission. That’s a big one.

“When” should be capitalized.

“Treasure” should be capitalized.

“Tap” should have just been a symbol T followed by a comma. Was this what you meant? It wasn’t entirely clear.

There should be a period and an end-quote at the end before the paren.

@gollumni​ — Nayan Cataloguers

I kept reading this as “cartographers.” My fault, not yours. Anyway. So, I can see this is based off explore. Honestly, it doesn’t really...feel as good? Partially because it’s similar in both mechanic AND flavor, and partially because you’re forced to put the card on the bottom of your library. I would also have it say “Reveal the top card of your library. If that card’s converted mana cost is greater than this card’s, put it into your hand.” I think that groks? 

@i-am-the-one-who-wololoes​ — Dragons’ Secrets

I would not have made this spell modal. Honestly, I would have picked a simpler submission in general, but I don’t dislike this card. It feels a little cheap and it’s an insane storm enabler. What if the modes were together for both of them, and the mana echoes did the same? DM me if that doesn’t make sense. In general, mana echoes isn’t a bad ability. This card is wordy and cluttered. I like how you went for “converted mana cost.” Makes sense, good in limited, I think.

@ignorantturtlegaming​ — Underground Network

Too much. I would much rather you have submitted just a common Wurm with burrow and some flavor text instead of this card, and even then, I’m not a fan of burrow as a mechanic. Why the alternate cost, plus the counters, plus the upkeep, plus the status effect? It’s all grokable individually but together it’s too much to keep track of for one mechanic. And what does “during each player’s end step” mean? Can you do it at instant-speed? Should it be a trigger? Why is it each player’s end step instead of just yours? There are a lot of questions this card raises that I don’t think it answers satisfactorily. 

@juggernaut-is-a-metalhead — Embercoil Serpent

So out of the two cards you submitted, I felt that this one was the best designed. There are a couple questions I have. One, should mono-red be able to have this? Yes, I know it’s hybrid, but if a mono-red deck could play it, would it? It’s a pretty powerful ability, a la Scrying Sheets. Two, I assume that the number after Dig refers to the number of untapped lands you have to sacrifice, and I think that it’s pretty cool in the late game, but why not just have it be “you may cast this spell from your graveyard by sacrificing an untapped land in addition to its other costs” instead of a number? I feel it could have worked better that way. Also, Udon is adorable!

@kavinika​ — Iron Guardian

That’s a cool character asset. They should put that in a game! So, I would have made this a keyword action ability word instead of a keyword ability, personally. Like, “Craft — You may pay (4) and sacrifice an artifact and a basic land rather than pay this spell’s mana cost.” Would that have made the last ability weird? I don’t know, I don’t think so, but. Wait, no, it wouldn’t have, they had clash things in Lorwyn that worked the same way. Not a bad concept. Pretty flavorful for artifact creatures and other artifacts. 

@koth-of-the-hammerpants — Wanderwood Warden

I love alliterative names. I don’t love angels without flying, but that’s a “me” issue. So, for this card, I like obscure, but I don’t like the darkness counters. I think that the face-down stuff works well on its own. And I would change “obscured cards” to “face-down exiled cards” so it could work with other cards from Magic’s past. I do like the gist of your flavor text, and I like this card and I like obscure. I wouldn’t call this one a stellar example, and I would have submitted a more straightforward card, but that’s just me being pedantic. Speaking of pedantic, “its owner’s,” not “it’s.”

@misterstingyjack​ — Time Mage’s Teachings

I’m going to be pedantic again, yay. My issue with this card for this contest is that, well, it’s not a new mechanic. Technically, everything on this card could exist within Magic’s rules text as-is and wouldn’t add anything new to the rules. We were looking for a new NAMED mechanic. I thought that was evident, but I suppose not. This card’s great, so keep it around for that, but it technically is not eligible. Personally, I would have also made it uncommon for limited purposes.

@nicolbolas96​ — Gitaxian Surgeon

Combining Phyrexian mana, permanent control, AND infect onto a single card, two of which exist within the same mechanic? Let’s take a step back. Phyresis, besides already existing as a card, is a cool concept to bring to the table. As a mechanic, permanent control of any creature, including your own, turning it into a 5/5 with infect, is bonkers. If this existed with any number, then 1) it would be useless half the time considering it has to target things with specific mana costs and 2) it would be busted beyond belief. I think that this card would be fine with the exile cost as a singular card. I don’t think Phyresis is a mechanic worth exploring for the time being.

@nine-effing-hells​ — Phlogiston Burst

Good on you for making me look up a word I didn’t know! This card is... Definitely uncommon, that’s for sure. But hm. I don’t DISLIKE Overchannel. So, in theory, you can exile three random cards and two red cards to cast it for free? Okay, maybe it’s common, forget my previous rambling. It’s an interesting take on Delve that isn’t broken, and this one was pretty close to being a runner-up. I worry about free stuff, but the hand isn’t an infinite resource. It’s probably fine. I’ll give this card and mechanic kudos. A rare one might break a format, but remains to be seen, y’know?

@nvijork​ — Grenzo, Fist of the Queen

I love the fact that you did your own art for this! So, locks are interesting. They’re a little bit of a non-issue in the late game, but I’d have to really play with them to see just how frustrating they are. I think there’s plenty of room for exploration and I think that this card (which IMO should be rare) is a...fine example? Not blowing my socks off, and you could have shown an example of something that happened when you had multiple locks or that triggers based on locks or something. Keep this mechanic around. I like it. Bad news: in the story, Marchesa actually fired Grenzo. So is this an alternate universe, or do I have to get out my Story Correction Rod of Spanking?

@partytimesdeluxe​ — Stringplayer

Like kavinika’s crafting, this is a mechanic that definitely needed to be a keyword action ability word. “Crescendo — Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if it has the greatest power among creatures you control, gain control of target creature.” The mechanic is probably fine, I’d love to see it played in limited, and the potential play with multiple crescendo triggers would be so much fun. Not bad, but the wording on this specific card as presented could use work.

@real-aspen-hours​ — Drag Away // Umbral Kidnapper

If your MSE is acting up, feel free to message me on Discord or Tumblr and tell me so we can help you out. So, my main concern with this card is that I’m not sure if you’re submitting abduction counters as your new mechanic, or if you’re submitting Twist as your new mechanic; I’m going with Twist. It’s not bad! Someone’s going to correct me, but I think that in this instance you would use “return” instead of “put.” Again, correct me if I’m wrong. I think that it’s a cool way to turn instants and sorceries into permanents. I won’t call it the most flavorful or mind-blowing mechanic in the world, but I like it. I don’t see why you can’t put the exile clause on the flip side instead of on Twist where it won’t really be remembered. Also, the second side should have “those spells” — see Haldan, Avid Arcanist.

@reaperfromtheabyss​ — Dark Reprise

I think it should be “This spell costs” instead of the name, but aside from that and a period at the end of the sentence, it’s fine enough. There really isn’t much to say about this card. It’s a fine example and I like how the name creates flavor without flavor text. The mechanic and card don’t excite me enough to give it a place, but I mean, this is probably the safest example you could have gone for, and you know what, I can respect it.

@shandylamb​ — Fidi, Alluring Lamia

I love the uncommon legend, heh. As a mechanic, I don’t really like siphon. I don’t like how there’s a number attached instead of just “exile it and gain 2 life.” And I don’t like how it’s only cards from a graveyard. Why can’t you siphon cards from player’s hands and libraries and the battlefield as well? It would be so cool to, like, have powerful cards that suck away hidden power and turn the world into your vampyric victims. Instead, there’s...this. It gave me inspiration, but I wouldn’t call this one a slam-dunk.

@teaxch​ — Vyne Rowe Vagrant

You know, this mechanic is making me think of Adamant, except...different. And I’m leaning a little more towards Adamant, although I can see this card’s properties. The problem that comes up is that this card doesn’t feel tailored to a limited environment, nor does it feel tailored to Commander. Dedicated feels like a mechanic based solely around constructed environments, and I don’t know if I like that? It’s a build-around-me card without the big payoff. As a card, and as a concept, again, I don’t...dislike anything about it. But the mechanical feel is off. It’s not something that I feel like I’m attaining or that I’m synergizing with. I’m not sure exactly how to explain myself here, and I’m sorry about that, but I hope that the contrast is enough to make some sense.

@tmstage​ — Precise Pikeman

Handsome feller. Lol, and he fells indeed. I think this should be a replacement effect, like, “If this would deal damage to a creature with toughness 6 or greater, it deals double that damage instead.” I’m gonna side with your own personal feelings as you submitted this one. It’s not a fantastic mechanic, because it’s just so crazy limiting in what it requires to work. I think that as a single card without Tankbuster it would be fine.

@walker-of-the-yellow-path​ — Grand Annex of Elesh Norn // Elesh Norn, Voice of New Phyrexia

Technically, and I say this being a giant ass, this isn’t a new ‘mechanic.’ It’s a new card type and it would add things to the comprehensive rules, but it’s not a mechanic. Doesn’t matter, it’s worth commenting on anyway. I don’t hate it! Every part of this card by itself is pretty cool. I personally don’t like how it only requires one creature to attack, and I don’t like how the vault abilities aren’t static like a changing enchantment could be. Y’know? It feels like a saga more than it does an artifact. Again, this card is cool and would be great in a custom cube, but I would make some changes before adding vaults to a set.

~

Thank you all for your entries! New contest tomorrow. Spooky. Or not.

[quirkfics]

greeting shadows

commission for the darling @ghost-flakes

word count: 5k

warnings: smut, oral, touch-starved, All the Feels

pairing: Kurogiri x Reader (gender neutral) [[reader has a quirk: spectre! 

The public eye never need see Kurogiri. With coordinates or clear sight, he can move himself from place to place faster than a breeze, with no one the wiser. It’s safer that way, to keep his quirk hidden from public knowledge, and Kurogiri takes little issue with it.

But even he craves being able to lose himself in a crowd, to walk amongst the tide of people and exist near others. It’s an itch, a need, that irritates him sometimes, especially as the safest way to go about it calls for rain. 

Between an umbrella and a hooded coat, it’s almost too easy to remain in anonymity. Everyone is too eager to get out of the wet to look closely at passers-by - and Kurogiri gets the chance to be near others. To satisfy what he knows is a kind of skin craving, even if he’d rather dissipate than admit it.

“You look like you’re enjoying the rain almost as much as I am,” breaks through his thoughts. At first he assumes he isn’t the one being spoken to, but he glances anyway, expecting to see someone looking past him - and finds your eyes on his. 

For a moment, but only a moment, he considers not answering. 

“Is my glee that apparent?” He asks, and notes the way your lips part, your eyes growing large as he speaks. He assumes his appearance and demeanor will soon have you turning on your heel.

Kurogiri is incorrect.

“As is your sarcasm,” you reply with a laugh, gently touching your elbow to his forearm. His heart nearly jolts from his chest at the touch, but… Something about you is utterly charming.

He walks away from a short, but thoroughly enjoyable conversation, believing he will likely never see you again. He does his best not to visit the same place twice, and has always kept to overly crowded areas-

But it turns out that Kurogiri is wrong, twice. It's pure chance that he runs into you a second time, in a completely different city, but you capture his complete attention as surely as you did the first. You’re able to slip him your phone number without him knowing, and that is reason enough for Kurogiri to call you.  

From the moment the words first passed your lips, Kurogiri found you fascinating.

It’s not the attraction to you that’s a surprise for Kurogiri though, not exactly. Day in and day out, people of all kinds are admired. For their looks, or their voice, or the way they handle a situation. Even Kurogiri has fallen prey to it on occasion - though he can say with certainty that he’s a bit more selective than most. And yet, despite his general lack of time, and his need for obscurity? The yearning for companionship still exists within him. It has always been there, simmering below the surface. Barely enough of a thought to keep shape, lingering in the back of his mind.

No, it’s not the attraction to you that’s a surprise. He finds, and has always found you lovely. The quiet determination in you, the passion in your voice- the way you made a point to greet a nameless stranger. It wasn’t who he was attracted to that made him feel as if he’d misstepped. It was how much. 

Even now, Kurogiri feels like a child when he speaks to you, frozen with stage fright when faced with a crowd. Never mind that the audience is a kind and receptive one, he feels stilted and awkward. Idle chit-chat is absolutely abhorrent, as he wants you to think well of him, like him, to want-

He still isn’t sure how exactly this became his reality. Wanting you to want him. 

Perhaps, it’s simply that he’s never let himself have that much before. The skin hunger, the desire to touch is almost overwhelming, and the first time your hand slips into his, Kurogiri forgets every single thought he might be harboring. Mist is not the most solid of forms, and while he is solid enough to have a body- 

“It almost tickles,” you confess, smiling down at his fingers twined with yours. “Cool, but not damp?” You say aloud, mulling over the words as dark specks of mist dot your skin and vanish. 

“I’m not a swamp cooler,” he says, and relishes the embarrassed smile that brings to your face. Never has he been more thankful, and yet fearful at the same time. He wishes you could read the joy on his face, as easily as he does yours - but sharing even that much of himself makes Kurogiri’s chest tight with worry.

“Obviously not,” you say, trying to keep the expression on your face under control. “Swamp coolers are hardly this attractive. And they definitely don’t sound like you.”

The things you say. Kurogiri can’t remember the last time he was around such genuine levity. The last time he felt so utterly unburdened. He leaves your side only reluctantly, and every time he does, the mere memory of you keeps him warm. 

Every meeting, every conversation with you seems like a revelation. Slowly, you’ve become a lantern he finds himself seeking in the dark, a promise of pieces he thought lost, finally returned. He can’t stop whiling away all his free hours at your side, can’t stop thinking about the next time he’ll have the chance to see you, to hear your voice.

More often than not, the two of you take rambling walks through the city in the evening. Sometimes he finds himself distracted, wondering what you would think if he could tell you of his quirk, if he could whisk you away to far off vistas at your slightest whim. You rarely push for answers from him though, far too content to build this strange relationship block, by slow, steady block.

“No,” you insist.

“Why would I lie about that?” Kurogiri asks, eyes focused on a distant street corner. It looks like a cafe, and his brain is two steps ahead, wondering if he should phrase his question in some sort of official sounding way.    

“You mean to tell me, you’ve never once had someone eager to catch your attention somehow?”

Kurogiri halts, and has to glance back over his shoulder to find that you’ve stopped - and you aren’t attempting to catch up with him. “Surely that isn’t surprising?” Kurogiri asks, turning back to face you. “There are few who see shadows in the dark and rush to greet them.”

You scoff, jamming your hands into your pockets and narrowing your eyes, content to watch him from a far vantage - at least for a moment. “You sound like you’re quoting a poem,” you accuse, and then shake your head, walking back to his side. “Seriously, though? The figure you cut in that waistcoat, and not one-”

“I suppose there has been one,” Kurogiri amends, and watches you absolutely light up with curiosity. You miss his entire point though.

“Yeah? Tell me about them! I bet they were some kind of fancy globe-trotter. Did they have their own je-”

Kurogiri sighs. “Why must I be attracted to such ignorance?” He mutters, too quiet for you to make out the words.

“Wait- what was-” 

“I mean you,” he clarifies. Kurogiri’s mouth goes dry when he takes your hand again, amazed that his heartbeat isn’t echoing down the street. “You rushed to greet a shadow,” he says, and reels you into the circle of his arms. “And you wax poetic about my.. figure.” You laugh, and hug him, but all too soon you take a step back. Kurogiri has to keep himself from clutching at you when you make to walk again, but he doesn’t want to rush you if you’re not ready. If you’re not willing. It doesn’t stop the desperate yearning to hold you though, or the way it’s been building inside him like a dam near to bursting. He leaves you only reluctantly that night, and nearly throws all his caution to the wind when you straighten his tie- but your reasoning for ending the walk is all sound, and he too, has work to finish.   

A large part of him knows that all of this is ill advised. He has goals to accomplish, not only for his own sake, but for society and yet it doesn’t stop. He can’t seem to walk away. Can’t seem to want to, not really. Days, and months pass, and each touch of your warm hand in his misty one only seems to reinforce his desire for you. To have you in his life, if not in his bed.

He’s started to dream of your face, gentle with sleep on the pillow next to his, and wonders at the fact that his errant thoughts of you haven’t become a horrible preoccupation. Kurogiri hasn’t neglected any of his duties though, and as his face gives nothing away- Mayhap to assuage his worries, he treats his time with you as an incentive to work all the harder. He wants to hoard each second like a dragon, claws clutching at gold, but it always seems to fly by. 

“Sometimes,” you confess one evening, leaning on the stone windowsill of a storefront, “I used to wonder if I saw you purely because of my quirk. Never mind that I’ve never seen other- I thought you were a ghost,” you say with a laugh. “No one else ever went out of their way to acknowledge you-”

And it’s a barb in his chest, knowing why. He is nothing more than a ghost, walking streets where no one knows his face, much less his name. Kurogiri is nothing more than a shadow, with just enough mass to keep people from treading on his toes. It’s the best way, the only way, to continue to accomplish his goals, and yet… He wants people to see you together, to know that he exists, if only as your shadow.

“You did,” Kurogiri says, and feels his heart wrench when you smile. “You’ve always seen me, and I don’t believe you’ve any idea of how much that means.”

You laugh, and then hide it behind a sip of your warm drink, and Kurogiri is almost sure that you’re ready to pull away again, to sidestep the topic of feelings. He won’t force it, but he can’t seem to keep his silence, not for much longer. You’ve no idea about the things he does when he isn’t with you, and he desperately wants to keep it that way.. And yet he still wants to share it all too. 

He’s been visiting here enough that he’s sure his presence has been noticed by someone. And it’s only a matter of time, really, before word spreads. Before they say something to you. Part of him hopes they’ll ignore him, realize who he is and who he works for and leave everything be- and yet he also finds himself wondering whether you already know because surely... Surely, someone would have told you. Someone would have said something already. A good Samaritan, concerned for your safety. Perhaps you ignored them, or perhaps they decided they were too scared to speak the words- Either way, Kurogiri isn’t sure he wants to know. He lets the topic die in his mind, lets his feelings take the forefront, all too eager to be shared.

“Everyone wants to be seen, Kurogiri. I- I might understand that a little more than most, is all,” you say, raising your hand. If he hadn’t been watching for it, Kurogiri might not have noticed the flicker of your skin. The way you turned diaphanous, absolutely see-through, for the space of a second. “Like a spectre,” you explain, shaking your hand as if the feeling it left behind was a bothersome one. “People weren’t stumbling into you, but it was almost like they couldn’t. Like you were intangible, or creating some kind of barrier-” You laugh. “I had to know.”

“Tangible to others or not,” Kurogiri murmurs, stepping into your space. Everything within him thrills when your legs spread, allowing him such closeness. “Your touch has always held weight to me.” His fingers close around your wrist, and it’s ridiculously difficult for him not to lean down and try for a kiss. You appear to be receptive to it, the way you look at him, lips parted, leaning into his hold on you- But this is hardly the place, even if the time feels right. 

“Romantic, aren’t you?” You rasp, and make to set your cup down on the sill beside you. For a moment, Kurogiri thinks he might be willing to use his quirk, just this once- but his phone buzzes in his slacks, and the only people who have his number are not particularly patient individuals. You blink, eyelashes fluttering against you cheek when you hear the soft buzz of his phone. “Important call?” You ask, and the moment flits away on the breeze. 

“Unfortunately,” he says, and barely feels guilty for the thought. He leaves you with a barely-there caress against your cheekbone, and a promise to call you again when he’s free, almost trembling with need as he walks around the corner and warps away. 

Though Kurogiri usually displays endless bounds of patience, it’s all slowly falling to the wayside. Each delay leaves him longing for you so badly that his lungs feel bound with iron, and your wistful voice in his ear - when he can spare the time for a personal phone call - does nothing to stem the tide of wanting.

He worries he’ll make a fool of himself when the time finally arrives to see you again. He smooths his hands over his clothes so often, he frets about wrinkling them, and warps to the corner near your home almost ten minutes early, though there is no feasible or potential way he would ever allow himself to be late. His worry is atrociously loud in his head, white noise and anxiety, echoing around in his skull, all the way up until you open up the door. 

“Are you early, or am I running late?” You ask, laughing awkwardly as you stand back to let him in. You nearly tremble when he walks by, and Kurogiri has to clench his hands to keep from reaching out to you immediately. “Honestly, I’m a little-”

“I’m afraid my own nervousness got the best of me,” he confesses, and clenches his hands tighter when he thinks about smoothing any wrinkles in his waistcoat. “I am a bit early,” he clarifies, when your eyebrows raise in surprise.

“To think, today is the day I finally see you nervous,” you tease, and the words seem to push back the tension in the air, giving the both of you enough space to breathe. A startled look suddenly passes over your face. “We talked about you stopping here first, but- but we never mentioned after-” You say, and this time Kurogiri doesn’t stop himself. He snags your tense hands in his, reveling in the warmth of you and the way you immediately relax in his hold, and takes a step closer. 

“I care little for anything but time with you. If that means a walking tour of the city? So be it. If you’d like dinner, or-” A very small thought in the back of his head says that he should surprise you with food from the other side of the planet. A wiser part of him knows that this is not the moment to display his quirk and it’s… illegal uses, no matter how enticing the idea is.

You free one of your hands to wave it in a placating gesture, but… you're not stepping away. "Those all sound great, but I'm not going to lie," you say, voice a little strained, "it would be nice, maybe, if we could stay? Here, I mean.” You bite your bottom lip when Kurogiri takes your hand back in his, wishing you could see the smile he feels, just standing here with you. 

“Of course,” he says, and his hand slides up your forearm- only for you to turn, tugging him towards the kitchen. 

“I did pick up that wine you mentioned though. I have a friend- anyway, I owe a favor, but-” You pull away, taking the bottle off the counter and nearly brandishing it at him. Kurogiri takes it, if only to keep it from falling out of your anxious hands. 

He suspects you’re ready to go on a tirade of some sort, with nerves so apparent, but he stops you with a sigh and your whispered name, setting the bottle carefully back on the counter. 

“I know we haven’t exactly- we haven’t put any kind of label on things, but. There is something here, right? Between us? I never want you to feel rushed or anything, but sometimes I think-” You make a small noise of surprise when Kurogiri finally slips his arms around you, clinging to you, breathing in the scent of you. He has so much he wants to say, so much he needs to, if he wants to keep this, keep you in his life, but for now-

Kurogiri leans back until he can look you in the eye, unsure of what exactly, he intends on saying, but knowing he needs to say it. “I find it difficult to think of anything but you,” he says. The words slip free of him, but as soon as he sees the look on your face, he wouldn’t dream of taking them back. They taste of truth, anyhow, and it’s important that he tells you what truths he can. Any truths he can. “So yes. I believe there is something between us, and I would very much like to follow where this leads, if you’re willing to have me.” He isn’t sure whether it’s the phrasing, or simply the moment, but you choke on a laugh and curl your arms around him again, burying your face against him. 

“That’s good,” you say, voice slightly muffled with the way you’re pressed to him. “Did you.. Did you want some of that wine?”

Kurogiri hesitantly strokes a hand over your neck, zeroing in on the way your skin shivers with gooseflesh. He wonders if the mist of his body will be unpleasant to you, too cool for more intimate settings- but you haven’t complained about it yet. “Later, perhaps. I would rather be clear-minded, this evening.” He repeats the action, cool fingers against the top of your spine and shivers himself when you clutch him closer. “I already feel out of step around you in the first place. Alcohol won’t help matters.” 

“Me?” You ask with another laugh, lifting your head away to look him in the eye. “Mr.You greeted the shadows feels awkward around me?”

“Indeed. I could say something trite and cliche about stepping into the light, but I fear you don’t appreciate my poetry.” 

You gasp, and smack a gentle hand against his shoulder blade, but it’s true. Kurogiri had never once gone seeking out someone of your caliber. If he admired anyone, that was where it began and promptly ended. He had little time to devote to another, little time period, but he had… He had taken the time to get to know you. In small, stolen moments where your hand slipped into his, and you smiled up at him like he meant something to you. In the ambling strolls through rainy city streets, where he felt his heart, more solid and heavy in his chest than ever before, insist that he do something, if only to keep feeling the warmth of you, to keep hearing your voice, to keep- To keep you in his life. 

“Lies and slander!” You insist, laughing again, tension fading from your frame, and his heart thuds unevenly. The way you smile, the gentleness of your hands upon him… “I do appreciate your poetry. Tell me then. Am I.. sunlight or- or a moonbeam?” You ask, smile turning wry when his eyes narrow in response.

“I would think starlight a finer partner for shadows,” Kurogiri says, tone nearly reverent, and bends closer when your eyelashes flutter. He wants to kiss you, if you’re willing, wants to wrap you in the mist of his body and feel warmth that goes more than skin deep.

“I suppose shadows can reach far off stars,” you say, voice growing soft. The traces of embarrassment have vanished, leaving behind nothing but tenderness. If it had been anyone else, if it has been only a month sooner, Kurogiri isn’t sure he could have faced the immense amount of emotion in either of you and stayed.

“Reach and catch them fast,” Kurogiri murmurs, voice almost as soft as yours. “Perhaps I might have a kiss?” He asks, close enough to breathe in the taste of you.

You don’t answer with words, though a moment of panic crosses the iris of your eyes. You lean forward to kiss him, eyelids falling closed, trusting him to adjust as necessary. Some inexplicable part of him wants to laugh, but he wants your lips against his far more than that. Kurogiri leans into the kiss, eager for the taste of you, the steady spread of body heat, and presses a glancing kiss against your mouth.  

It isn’t like the reel of images he’d stored in the back of his head, the silly hopes and wonders - it’s better. Having you here, listening to you breathe out another laugh before you chase his lips for more? It’s more vivid and thrilling than anything he can summon to mind. 

His fears about being too cool to the touch seem to be completely unfounded. You don’t shy from the icy mist of his face, of his hands. You press close to his every caress, and your lips part willingly, tongue hot against his own.

“That was a kiss,” you gasp, pulling away and cradling your suddenly warm face. “I think you’ve been holding out on me, Kurogiri,” you tease. You nerves still betray you though. He spies your pulse thundering in your neck, and wants nothing more than to feel the steady thud of it against his tongue. 

“You’ve but to ask,” he replies, and drags a knuckle over the jumping vein in your throat.

“Seriously? How do you do that? You say barely half a sentence and I feel like I should be melting into a puddle on the ground.” You take a step back, and never has Kurogiri felt the acute loss of warmth as he does now.

“You like the sound of my voice?” He asks, and his eyes narrow again as you reach out to tap the edge of a fingernail against a button on his waistcoat. 

“You can’t say that you hadn’t realized. You nearly send me into shivers every time you speak. Did you think I was just a very cold individual?”

Kurogiri scoffs, and closes the distance once more, hoping you won’t turn tail and run, or change the subject. “The thought has crossed my mind. More than once, even. Though I thought I might be projecting.” 

“Project all you want,” you mutter, glancing down at the floor. “Especially seeing as it’s true. You, uh-” Your hand moves from the button up to his tie, fumbling with it until it’s loose and you can tug him close again. “More kisses, please?”

“Only kisses?” Kurogiri asks, resisting the next gentle tug of his tie. He can’t deny he wants to throw all caution to the wind, but it’s been so long- he’d rather make sure you were entirely sure of it all. Entirely sure of him. The last thing he wants to do is break what little he has with you, especially if you’re not ready. 

“Maybe more, if-” You blow out a breath, pausing. “If you’re interested in that too?” You finally ask, your gaze tracing the lightning of his eyes. “Because I am. Interested.”      

That's all Kurogiri needed to hear. He let's your next gentle tug of his tie bring him back into the orbit of a kiss. As soon as his mouth finds yours again, dark mist dotting your face, you make a soft, small sigh that has Kurogiri's body lighting up with want. Your hands are gentle, stroking over the line of his shoulders, and Kurogiri wants nothing more than to watch your nimble fingers unbutton his waistcoat and his shirt, watch you arch into his touch- He bumps back into the fridge, and then he realizes you're both simply fumbling about in the kitchen, too enamored with each other to even think of moving.

“Oh,” you say, pulling away to catch your breath, eyes darting around the room. “I haven’t even let you get in the door and I’m already-”  

“I’m not complaining,” Kurogiri murmurs. “But perhaps we should find somewhere to sit?”

Neither of you end up sitting. You keep interrupting the conversation for stolen kisses, and swift caresses, stumbling against the wall before he draws you back into the circle of his arms. He can’t seem to stop touching, eager to see your eyelashes fanning against your cheek, and the way you inhale, as if you can taste him on the air. You make it all the way to the bedroom before you lose track of time, of yourselves, shedding clothes and inhibitions smoother than the wine you left closed on the counter.

Kurogiri is careful as he lays you down on the bed, strong, cool fingers trailing down your bare thighs, heart caught fast in his throat as he parts them. He wants to kiss your knees, and draw idle patterns over your hips, he wants-  

“Can I taste you?” He asks, voice rough with longing, and doesn’t miss the tell-tale shiver of appreciation that his question brings. You nod your head, slow and measure, and Kurogiri’s grip on your thighs adjusts, tightens as he leans down between your legs. His tongue is warmer than the mist of his body, but still markedly colder than most, and that first touch has you arching, fingers curling into the sheets. 

“Kurogiri,” you breathe, and you tremble as he works you over with gentle touches, and strokes and sucking- And then slows, those lightning eyes focused on yours as he halts, all too soon. 

“I find myself a little impatient,” he rumbles, sitting up and taking your thighs in hand. He pulls you down the bed, mussing the blankets, and hooks your legs around his hips.

“Not complaining,” you reply, breathing in deeply as he leans over you. The sight of it, the lithe angles of his shoulders, and the way his hand strokes up your chest- “Not at all.” 

“Good,” he says, and laughs when your hips rock. “Is there something you’d like to ask?”

Your open your mouth to speak, hesitant, but his thumb stroking over your hip spurs you on. “Keep talking? The way you speak..” Your eyes close when he shifts, the hard length of him brushing against your thighs.

“How could I refuse?” 

He doesn’t move, doesn’t leave your side, but the slightest shift of the sheets has you opening your eyes to him flicking open the top of a small, expensive looking bottle of lube. You wonder- but decide it’s a question for later. You want him too much. 

“Everything about you,” Kurogiri murmurs, slicking you up expertly with careful fingers, “is exquisite.” The lube is warm, and you can’t help the jolt of your thighs at the temperature change. “I worried you’d find me too… Cold,” he says, and for some reason, you’re unsure as to whether he means his body, or his demeanor. His fingers curl, and you gasp. “I worried you’d decide against this. Against me, and yet you’ve surprised me at every turn.” His fingers pull out of you, but before you can even mourn the loss, the head of his cock is pressed against you. 

You can’t quite find the words, can only clutch at his forearm, and hook your ankles behind him, urging him to press closer. “Please,” you finally get out, gratefully accepting a kiss before he thrusts shallowly into you. At first, he’s as cool as the rest of his body, but every slow roll of his hips, every stroke of your hands over his shoulders has him warming.

You want him to speak, he knows, but Kurogiri can barely summon the breath to keep moving. The heat of you and your eager touch fumbling over his shoulders- He groans, and picks up the pace when you ask for him to speak more, to whisper what he wants in your ear-

“You,” he chokes out, voice rough. “I want you, like this. I want you to say my name, to keep looking at me-” Kurogiri loses track of everything but you. He can’t recall the exact layout of the room or the brand of wine on the counter, all he knows is how good you feel around him, how much like.. How much like a home you are, warm and inviting, and pleased to have his company.

You press an open mouthed kiss to his shoulder and gasp when he bottoms out, fingernails digging into his back, teeth catching his skin. Kurogiri curses. That hint of sharpness has him speeding, gasping, thrusting harder when you cling to him- and then you’re coming, and Kurogiri’s thighs are burning with the tension. He fucks you through his orgasm, legs trembling, but it isn’t until you gasp his name that he realizes how close he is.

“Fuck,” he groans. “The heat of you, the way-” He loses that small shred of control, shuddering as he comes, but before he can say anything else, you’re pulling him back into another kiss. The heat- He half wonders if his mist will burn away with continued exposure to the warmth of you, but he decides then and there that it’d be a lovely way to go.

[chibiclem]

'The Queen was gardening, head over her flowers, When she felt a slight sensation, a presence holding an ancient power, reacting to her own ones. As she was stuck looking down at her begonias, a shadow suddenly obscured their bright colors from her sight. And when her head moved up, she was facing a young man, looking at her with a curious but intense look. Surprised, she backed away a few steps, but no sound came out of her open mouth as something about the individual struck her. His ears...and this giant tail, forming a diamound. His clothes looked ancient but elegant, oddly long, as if it was only made for beings that could fly like he was actually doing. But there was something else. She felt like she had some sort of ...connexion, to this creature. No, in fact, she felt like the connexion was like..restaured? "Could it be...no way...." she whispered. The weird dragon was still looking, not even fazed by her movements. He looked like something in between a contemplative painter and a cat asking for a hug. Maybe more like a cat, floating lazily and without much effort. His tail was holding a clock that would show exactly, she discovered after, the time it was in her kingdom. There was not many beings  that could fit such an odd description, Lili knew. But among all the stories she had ever read from the royal library, she would never though this long lost legend to be true. Her hand moved slowly forward, as if a little girl wanted to pet the wild cat that had just appeared, with cautious not to scare him. In response, the floating one bowed his head slowly, saluting his Queen with complete faith, but no contact was made, as some servants behind them started screaming. Lili saw the core of diamound taking altitude, flying around her, before escaping in the air, not once losing his stern look. Oh, she knew the best he wasn't scared at all by all the noise, may be just annoyed by the intempestive presence. But he was back where was his place, after so long... And as Francis her King came running to her, wearing a worried face, and asked what happened, she slowing turn to him and announced : "The Ace of Diamounds....he has returned." ' *** Here is a little sight of a story about Cardverse and the awakening of the 4 aces! Actually, seeing how long I put to draw a single piece of any of my project, I'm not sure I can do a whole fancomic about it, but at least I can draw some of the sceneries! * Diamonds : In the stories I've read so far, there's mostly stories about Spades ( I will just let "USUK" as an explanation of why! XD), and maybe a little with Hearts? I didn't saw one where the story was centered on Diamounds actually (except an Hetagame "Diamantalia"!), and among all the stories, Lili was really not a central character, if she may appear at all. I want to put each kingdom at the same place in that story; beginning by develloping my idea of diamounds. *Greece, Ace of Diamound : “Hé” is a lazy scaredy-cat Ace that can stay days floating in the same spot while making his siest. he isn’t as worse as Greece but he have more free time than a country though! Nothing seems to faze him or his face. And like a gigantic floating cat, he likes to be patted on the head by his Queen. The Kingdom of Diamound is the one of Nature, and Hé can, more than making things grow exponiancially, litteraly create a whole forrest and making it move from nothing! * King Francis and Queen Lili : May be people find that France and Liechtenstein is a weird couple, but I would say that in contrary it gives something interesting to the whole! Lili appears a frail young lady and Francis, as we saw with Jeanne d'Arc, can be a real gentleman that treats his ladies with care. But my vision of thing is more elaborate, so let me explain what I think happened on their background : Lili wasn't a noble, but was born with the mark and the magic power that would potentially make her a queen. (Potentially because she isn't alone in her case. I like the idea of Mother nature marking a future Queen, but not the one saying it's only one person, decided by fate! Let's have some choice! I will explain another time how Queen and Kings are actually chosen in much details !) So, among all the other pretendants, and despite her young age, she was chosen by Francis as she was pure, loyal, smart and cared about people. Also, she may have complete lack of knowledge about aristocracy (so she makes  mistake on the etiquettes), being a little shy in public (she will never be the one to speak loud before too many people) and may seem a little out of place sometimes hiding behind her charismatic husband, but she is actually quite sharp at noticing details and remaining calm, and her Jack knows better than anyone she is quite capable at her duty despite the wat she displays in public. I can't say Francis and Lili are in deep love because no, we can't say that, but their relation is sweet anyway so it's hard to tell for their people. They respect each other and they know they can count on the other one if something bad happens. They could even be mistaken as brother and sister sometimes, because they don't need to talk to understand each other and are quite accomplice. Francis being older (like I would say 7 years older because well, it's the middle age and I think they married when lili was around 16 and him 23!), he often guides her in her decision and teach her how to reign, even though they don't have the same role in their hierarchy. ( The rules wanting the King to be in charge of the need of the citizen and taking care of open international negociation, while the Queens have more secretive goals, studying magics to use it for the sake of the kingdom, but also controlling the undercover operation. In summary, the King is the bright side of the iceberg while the Queens are their shadows to make everything go smoothly, more or less depending on the kingdom) And no, I don't like the idea of an hidden romance between Francis and Arthur, it irks me! OuO Because they respect each other, neither him or Lili would ever go watch another woman/man (Well, not seriously, Francis actually likes to flirt with ladies to build a certain image of himself but he will never go too far. Besides, he appearing as frivolous is actually made on purpose so he can gain informations and relations  by seducing noble women who doesn't suspect it and think he's a Don Juan!! So his attitude is actually all strategic!) . In that they are quite old fashions! * One last thing about the kingdoms : Each have a magical speciality, and I choose that they would be the kingdom of nature and agriculture, being quite rich as they feed the 3 others kingdoms (with taxes, muahaha). Queens of Diamounds have the power to grow plants with their wills and accelerate the process, though Lili likes to garden like a common person most of the time. But the flowers of the Royal garden would only bloom once the Queen has been chosen! ***

Links to others Cardverse related art: https://chibiclem.tumblr.com/tagged/cardverse

[militant-holy-knight]

American Founder and second U.S. president John Adams once extolled his era. Some called it The Age of Reason. It was a time in which people were beginning to know more about their world than they ever had before. Knowledge was increasing at an exponential rate, and this filled the air with excitement. The Old World – Christendom, led by the Catholic Church – was on its way out. The Enlightenment was well underway to shape the West forever. Adams, a Unitarian, was greatly pleased that men would be able to lead their lives and their own society on the basis of their own conscience.

He then less than halfway joked that, just maybe, something bad might arise from the movement of his day:

“The world grows more enlightened. Knowledge is more equally diffused. Newspapers, magazines, and circulating libraries have made mankind wiser. Titles and distinctions, ranks and orders, parade and ceremony, are all going out of fashion. This is roundly and frequently asserted in the streets, and sometimes on theatres of higher rank. Some truth there is in it; and if the opportunity were temperately improved, to the reformation of abuses, the rectification of errors, and the dissipation of pernicious prejudices, a great advantage it might be. But, on the other hand, false inferences may be drawn from it, which may make mankind wish for the age of dragons, giants, and fairies.”

Indeed, a great many false inferences were drawn from the Enlightenment. This period in history, which shaped America herself, started a downward spiral for the West that appears to have no end. Adams was right. In spite of himself and everything he achieved for the United States, times have definitely grown darker, and the cause for our empire’s downfall can be traced to its own blueprints.

As a result, the people in our day have a great need for escape. Over two centuries later, men find themselves at odds in a hateful world ruled by principalities and powers that are insurmountable. The people have been force-fed “the progress of civilization.” So now there are vast entertainment industries that produce escapist literature, film, music, and games to help people flee from the madness of their overlords. Over the centuries, they’ve carried the label of Romantics, Decadents, Symbolists, Counter-Culturists – they all run from the oppressive boot that shoves them onward to a destiny they didn’t ask for. They seek to escape from forced rationalism into something mystical.

Our Imaginations Must Be Free, Not Trapped

The mind can tolerate a wasteland for only so long. Men require a pilgrimage and retreat. Otherwise, one settles for vice and debasement. Experiencing wonder is necessary for a mature mind. It is not enough to be raised in a plain fashion, learning good moral habits to live by as if it’s all a simple matter of hygiene. Becoming a lawyer for “what’s good and what’s bad” does not securely instill the Faith in children, who, above all, are in the business of make-believe. No, we must leave the districts and subdivisions gerrymandered in our brains. We must fly above the rooftops from our suburban bobo communities. We’ve got to run for our lives into something fresh, new, and perhaps even dangerous:

“At first they had passed through hobbit-lands, a wide respectable country inhabited by decent folk, with good roads, an inn or two, and now and then a dwarf or a farmer ambling by on business. Then they came to lands where people spoke strangely, and sang songs Bilbo had never heard before. Now they had gone on far into the Lone-lands, where there were no people left, no inns, and the roads grew steadily worse. Not far ahead were dreary hills, rising higher and higher, dark with trees. On some of them were old castles with an evil look, as if they had been built by wicked people. Everything seemed gloomy, for the weather that day had taken a nasty turn. Mostly it had been as good as May can be, can be, even in merry tales, but now it was cold and wet. In the Lone-lands they had been obliged to camp when they could, but at least it had been dry.”

–From The Hobbit

Perhaps it is true that people are considered respectable when they “never have adventures or do anything unexpected.” Maybe it is true that the majority of people value someone who never breaks a taboo and can be counted on to be consistent and predictable. And, after all, even Puritan-loving John Adams will tell you that obscure men are hardly ever honored. Conformity and monotony are what the world tells you it wants. But this mode of dry, uninspiring, Dudley-Do-Right, unimaginative thinking is like planting seeds in depleted soil:

“[T]he seminal ideas of Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas, only properly grow in an imaginative ground saturated with fables, fairy tales, stories, rhymes, romances, adventures–the thousand good books of Grimm, Andersen, Stevenson, Dickens, Scott, Dumas and the rest. Western tradition, taking all that was the best of the Greco-Roman world into itself, has given us a culture in which the Faith properly grows; and since the conversion of Constantine that culture has become Christian. It is the seedbed of intelligence and will, the ground for all studies in the arts and sciences, including theology, without which they are inhumane and destructive. The brutal athlete and the aesthetic fop suffer vices opposed to the virtues of what Newman called the “gentleman.” Anyone working in any art or science, whether “pure” or “practical,” will discover he has made a quantum leap when he gets even a small amount of cultural ground under him; he will grow like an undernourished plant suddenly fertilized and watered.”

–Ryan Topping, Renewing the Mind

There has been a war against fantasy, a war against wonder. And yet, those who wonder and philosophize are superior to those who despair cluelessly. And only someone who does not know everything has the capability to wonder. Therefore, what better place is there to explore than fantasy? The realm of fantasy is a place accessible to all, and as it is ever changing, we can never hope to know everything about it. The Land of Faerie, as Tolkien called it, transports and uplifts us. It renews us. It waters the soil of our minds, and it serves as a much needed respite from the godless demands of the world.

Fantasy’s Ultimate Effect

John Adams ridiculed imagination. He joked that Shakespeare could have been an electioneering agent. In his view, “superstition, prejudices, passions, fancies, and senses” were weaknesses to be manipulated, preventing you from ever having what he considered liberty. Adams believed that fantastical thinking was forced upon the West in order to control the people. This is all a grievous error. “For God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

It is the imagination that enables us to survive in today’s wicked world. We have a sense of wonder that rationalists like Adams cannot understand. This sense of wonder is what prepares us for understanding the wider world and what it means. The vast majority of people who fall away from the Faith or refuse to consider it lack wonder. As a result, you have a large portion of people in the West who fall into hedonism. They try to numb their own senses as they struggle to follow the crowd – as though they were swimming among a school of fish.

“Fantasy, horror, and science fiction, apart from allowing an author to comment on things in a way he normally could not in mainstream writing (so much of which is garbage anyway) – it breeds a sense of wonder. And ladies and gentlemen, if you do not have a sense of wonder, you cannot really understand the Catholic faith. You’ll just be ‘Oh well, the bread and wine turn into the body and blood of Christ.’ You may actually believe that, but if you don’t have a sense of wonder?

“Listen, ladies and gentlemen, what is more amazing? The idea that with a wand I could wave, everything would start dancing around the room? Or that Christ Himself comes down onto the altar and becomes bread and wine that we are able to receive into ourselves? Which is more wondrous?

“If I already have a sense of wonder, then I can look at this incredible gift that God has given us. And the fact [is] that every single Mass that has ever been, or ever will be, or is being said at this moment across the globe is one with every other – and with the Crucifixion, and with the Last Supper. That’s astonishing. That’s absolutely amazing. And I have a sense of wonder that prepared me for that – to make it go from a mere set of things I learned in school and home to being a living reality that dominates my life. …

“[U]nless we approach our faith with that wondrous quality, it will grow old and tired. That is not a fault of the Faith. That’s our fault.”

–Charles Coulombe, “Off the Menu,” July 16, 2018

Being good “to be good” is not enough. John Adams thought so, but his Puritanical sensibility was mistaken. Man lives his life on a quest. He is not meant to run from his imagination and all that is mystical. He is meant to explore with awe and curiosity. His heart is meant to be lifted, not shackled.

A strange and exciting land lies before man when it comes to fantasy. We go to that place because it presages the Land Beyond we all hope to emigrate to, Heaven itself. “And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them, and said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2-3).

[him-e]

Submission: How do you think r+l=j will be handled in the books?

Hi, him-e! I appreciate the fact that you make an effort to parse through what the show’s given us in order to make more calculated predictions about what’s coming in the books. I’d like to ask, then—because I don’t recall you ever talking about it—how will r+l=j be handled in the books. It’s a fairly accepted possibility in fandom that finding out about it will wreck Jon. And fair enough, it probably will, considering how much pride he takes from being Ned’s son. But then there’s the rub for me—a lot of people also expect Jon to be angry at Rhaegar and to revolt against his biological father by abandoning the role he was supposed to have in the WftD. That makes sense, it can be existentially terrifying to think that your actions are all a product of a prophecy and that you have no control over them. It’d also fit with the other five main characters, who will likely all be going through their own dark phases. Here’s the part where I think we should take the show into consideration. What effect did r+l=j have on Jon, exactly? Mostly, none—I’d say it served as a catalyst for Dany’s downfall. Nothing was made to challenge Rhaegar’s character or actions, and the last season was the perfect place to do so, considering he’s Dany’s brother and almost every single aspect of Dany started being portrayed negatively. But sure, one could argue that the show isn’t good at handling psychological turmoil and that he’s Jon’s father too, and Jon must remain morally pure. Still, I then think about the books. If GRRM intends to make Jon rebel against Rhaegar and what he stood for as part of the fandom believes, why didn’t he seed anything related to that yet? Anything that makes Rhaegar more challenging and least susceptible to idolization? Some examples of how he could’ve done this: * GRRM could’ve shown Doran or Oberyn still angry at Rhaegar for leaving Elia behind. Instead, they both want to side with Viserys and later Daenerys without any (mentioned) reservations. * GRRM could’ve had Ned thinking about the fucked up power dynamic between Rhaegar and Lyanna (less harshly than Robert, but still negatively), but instead Ned only thinks about how Rhaegar didn’t frequent brothels. * GRRM could’ve had Dany have her view of Rhaegar be challenged the way her view of Aerys is being (slowly) challenged, instead she still thinks of him the same by the end of the fifth book. * GRRM could’ve added a POV who is critical of Rhaegar’s actions, yet he added three in FeastDance who idolize him (JonCon, Cersei, Barristan). And that’s not even mentioning how R/L was painted as straightforwardly romantic in the S7 finale, which may well be what GRRM does—if he doesn’t think Dany was raped by Drogo in the books, maybe he thinks R/L is an unproblematic love story, even if many have pointed out the consent issues. Finally, I don’t see his friend Arthur Dayne having his reputation challenged in any way in-universe for remaining with Rhaegar despite the fact that there is reasonable criticism to hold against him. My question, then, is: isn’t it more likely that Jon’s problem with r+l=j lies with his relationships with Ned and Dany and not with Rhaegar?

Hi, thanks for your submission, and sorry it took me a while to answer! ;))

Using the show as an indicator for how the books will deal with things like this is very tricky—because, as you said, the show sucks at psychological insight, and character motivations are usually either grossly simplified or not taken into consideration at all (which, ironically, makes them seem even more obscure and complicated if you’re trying to analyze them. See: the entire debate on why Sansa didn’t tell Jon about the knights of the Vale back in season 6. The show simply didn’t address the reason why she didn’t tell Jon, because it wasn’t important to the plot, but the fandom—me included—tried to make sense of it nonetheless, with increasingly convoluted explanations. Was Sansa trying to throw Jon under the bus, and let him perish in the battle so she could be lady of Winterfell? But that clashes with her desperate attempts to convince Jon to delay the battle. Did she hope they could do without Littlefinger’s help until last minute? Was she afraid that Jon would’ve had the final say on how to use the Knights, had he known? Was she trying to prevent him from taking credit for the victory? And so on).

There’s also the fact that the show dealt very quickly and superficially with the Prince that was Promised and Azor Ahai prophecies, mostly via Melisandre’s cryptic catchphrases and more as an afterthought or book nod than as an organic part of the narrative. The prophecy was just not conveyed well in the show. We’ve hardly ever seen other characters grapple with its meaning, or experienced its importance in the context of Westeros’ slowly waking up to the threat of the White Walkers. So, if the bulk of book!Jon’s reaction to r+l=j is temporarily rejecting his supposed role in the PtwP prophecy, it makes sense that the show completely skipped it, just as it makes sense that it skipped the valonqar part in Cersei’s prophecy: it simply has no place in the show’s narrative as they devised it. There would be no point in having a major character angst about his role in a prophecy, if said prophecy is all but a namedrop whose significance remains largely unknown to the average viewer who hasn’t read the book.

So… is it possible that in the books resurrected!Jon will go through a phase of complete rejection and denial of his heroic destiny, that will climax with the reveal of his parentage and a major identity crisis? Yes, totally. It’s exactly the mix of complex character study + mystical/magical stuff that I can see d&d scrapping in favor of a more materialistic, down to earth “game-of-thrones” narrative (the whole bend-the-knee pseudopolitical drama with Dany, for example).

But what will he reject, what will he deny? Which identity will challenged?

His destiny as a prophesied hero, fulfilling which has never been an (explicit) driving force for him? (we know everything Jon’s done in the Night’s Watch was building up towards his becoming the champion of humanity against darkness, the “third head of the dragon”, the “prince that was promised”, but it was Ned’s teachings and Ned’s moral lessons that inspired his choices and actions, not Rhaegar’s prophecy) His (non-existent) relationship with a biological father that never mattered to him?

Or…

isn’t it more likely that Jon’s problem with r+l=j lies with his relationships with Ned and Dany and not with Rhaegar?

^ Nailed it.

I think Jon’s psychological conflict about his parentage will be more about Ned/his Stark identity (and Dany) than about Rhaegar. For one thing, Rhaegar—regardless what light the overall story presents him in—isn’t really present in Jon’s narrative; Jon has virtually no opinion of him, and Rhaegar’s name rarely shows up in his chapters. Sure, when the PtwP prophecy finally erupts in Jon’s narrative and he realizes what Rhaegar was trying to accomplish, he’ll necessarily develop more complex feelings for him. But as of now, Rhaegar Targaryen is simply someone from the past that Jon isn’t really preoccupied with. Secondly, and more importantly, Rhaegar is a dead character, who has always been dead since the beginning of the story. I truly doubt he is going to have more of an impact on Jon’s character evolution than Ned (the father that raised him, the only father he’s known, and the faux-protagonist of book one) or Dany (the living and breathing major character Jon will plausibly have a romantic dynamic with, that with no doubt will be drastically affected by the parentage reveal).

I actually think it’s more likely and more narratively compelling that, rather than rebelling against Rhaegar, r+l=j makes Jon rebel against Ned, and everything he represents. Make him temporarily reject his Stark identity (out of fiery anger re: being lied to by Ned, and forced to a life of bastardy and anonymity, the reasons behind which resurrected!Jon, more wolf than he’s ever been, might not immediately understand, or care to understand) and embrace his Targaryen ancestry instead, with the whole fire&blood shebang. That is… until he’s made whole again by the love he has for his siblings, and the need to protect them. I think Jon’s love for his family—the family he grew up in—will be what eventually leads him *back home*, back to his Stark roots, back to Ned’s teachings.