#southern rock sole

[janaispunk]

it’s nice to have a friend

this is a secret santa gift for @wethairjoel - merry christmas my love 🫶🏻

pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

word count: ~2.6k

summary: Joel and you have been best friends for years, but maybe this Christmas it’s time for the both of you to admit that that’s not all you want. (Goddamn I should write Hallmark movies)

tags: no outbreak!AU, friends to lovers, idiots in love, Sarah is alive, Ellie is reader’s sister, able-bodied reader, bits of angst/jealousy, Joel being emotionally constipated, mentions of alcohol consumption, FLUFF <3

dividers by @/saradika-graphics who is amazing!

full masterlist here / follow @janaispunknotifs and turn on notifications for fic updates!

much love to @reddedmiller for assuring me that this is cute and not terrible, i love you 🫶🏻

“Ellie, come on! They’re here!”

Your back is turned to the door as you’re yelling up the staircase, waiting for your younger sister to finally come down. You turn around, fixing the open door and your waiting friend Joel with a tired smile.

“Hi,” you sigh, waving at Sarah, who’s waiting in the backseat of Joel’s truck.

“Rough morning?” Joel chuckles and lets you pull him into a quick hug.

As you’re nodding, Ellie finally comes trudging down the stairs, her backpack haphazardly thrown over one shoulder and her hair in a loose ponytail. She wordlessly flips you the bird as she walks past you and you roll your eyes, used to her grumpy mood in the morning.

“Sorry,” you mutter in Joel’s direction, ushering her out of the door, “didn’t mean to make you guys late.”

Joel laughs and shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it, darlin’, it’s no big deal.”

He casually throws an arm over your shoulder as he leads you to his car and opens the passenger side’s door for you while Ellie is already climbing in beside Sarah.

Joel starts the car and makes his way to the girls’ school, the radio playing soft rock music in the background and the girls chattering away behind you.

“Thanks again for doing this,” you smile at Joel.

“‘Course. You’re the one doin’ me a favor here, really.”

Joel and you had both agreed to take the day off and go shopping for Christmas presents for your girls while they were at school.

You had moved to Austin two years ago, a few months after becoming Ellie’s legal guardian. Ellie and Sarah had classes together and had quickly become best friends, easing your worries about Ellie being an outsider at her new school, and they asked to spend more time together outside of classes almost constantly.

That’s how you met Joel, the both of you bonding over being the sole caregiver for your girls and being younger than most other parents at the school. It’s an easy friendship and one that you cherish greatly. Joel is a good friend, making you laugh when you’re with him, always willing to help if anything at your house needs fixing, hosting barbecues for the four almost every weekend in the summer, and someone you can always turn to for parenting advice.

So what if he’s also so handsome that it almost hurts to look at him sometimes and your heart rate still picks up when he’s close to you? When you had first started hanging out more, you had thought that there might be more between you, with the way he kept calling you “darlin’” and the flirty remarks he threw at you, but nothing more ever happened and he never gave you any indication that he wanted anything more, so you figured that it was just his southern charm and that he treated everybody like this. Not wanting to screw up the one real friendship that you had managed to build in your new hometown, you continued to swallow down any deeper feelings, any attraction that you might feel towards him.

You drop the girls off at school and continue the drive downtown, stopping on the way for a coffee. Joel, who you have never seen drinking anything else than plain black coffee, teases you relentlessly over the Christmas themed drink with syrup and an obnoxious amount of whipped cream that you have picked for yourself. It’s a never ending discussion that comes up every time you have coffee together and one that you've gotten used to, with Joel not understanding why you would taint the coffee’s taste and you not understanding how he’s able to drink the bitter beverage without smoothing it out with milk at least.

When you finally reach the mall, already packed with bustling crowds of Christmas shoppers, you sigh. At least you’re not alone, and you have a plan of what you want to get. You pull out the list of potential gifts and stores where you might get them that you had written the night before, making Joel chuckle.

“Always prepared for anythin’, huh?”

You grin back and nudge him with your elbow. “You’re gonna thank me later, trust me.”

“Don’t doubt it,” he mutters and follows you through the crowd of people, a calming presence by your side.

You make a good team, somehow both more equipped to pick out presents for the other’s young girl. Sarah had wished for new CDs, movies and posters of her favorite bands to redecorate her room, an endeavor that you’re more than happy to help with. Ellie wants new strings and picks for her guitar, one that you had bought second hand and that Joel is teaching her to play almost every weekend, and new drawing utensils.

Due to your thorough planning, you manage to secure all the goods before noon, a fact that you don’t hesitate to rub into Joel’s face and he reluctantly agrees that this shopping trip had been done much faster than if he had gone alone, playing up his grumpy demeanor but you know him well enough to see the warm and playful glint in his eyes.

Since you still have a few hours to yourselves until the girls will return from school, you decide to get another coffee and maybe a snack together, this time actually sitting down in a café rather than picking it up. You’re treating yourself to another fancy drink, Joel is sipping on another black coffee and you’re sharing a blueberry muffin while you’re talking about your plans for the holidays.

Ellie and you will be over at the Millers for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, a tradition that you had established last year and that you’re more than grateful for. You love Ellie and she’s the only family that you care about, but you want her to have the best time possible, especially at Christmas.

Joel excuses himself to use the bathroom and leaves you alone at the table. You’re aimlessly scrolling through your phone when another person sits down in Joel’s seat. You look up slowly, taking in the guy in front of you. Slim, blonde, about your age, kind of handsome, you presume, if that part of your mind wasn’t taken up by another man. But that’s not a thought that you’re supposed to have, you try reminding yourself.

“Hey,” the man says, smiling at you. He has a handsome smile, too. “I’m Dan.” He extends a hand to you and you shake it, too perplexed to do much else.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, I just came in and saw you sitting here all alone and I just thought I’d take the chance and ask if you wanted to go out with me sometime?”

You stare at him for a second, the question barely registering in your brain, before you snap out of it. Why not, you tell yourself, this might be good for you. Good to get the idea of Joel and you out of your head once and for all.

“I- um, yeah. Sure!”

You plaster a smile on your face and exchange phone numbers with Dan who promises to text you and gets up just as Joel comes back, scowling at Dan’s retreating back.

“Who was that?” he asks, and you wonder if you’re imagining his tone being colder than it was before he left.

“Just a guy,” you murmur, feeling embarrassed and weirdly guilty, “wanted to go out with me, I guess.”

“And, will you?” You’re not imagining it, Joel definitely sounds colder.

“Maybe. I don’t know. Who knows if he’ll even text me,” you shrug and stand up abruptly, suddenly desperate to get out of the situation, “let’s go.”

Joel’s answering huff doesn’t do much to calm you down and the walk back to the car is more silent than you’re used to with him, none of the usual bantering between you two.

He drops you off at your house and while you had planned to invite him in to maybe start wrapping your gifts together, you’re now kind of desperate to get out of this weird tension between you, so you just grab your bags and hop out of the truck. Joel mumbles his goodbye and you watch him drive off while you’re standing in your doorway, your eyebrows furrowed. You think that maybe something just soured his mood, even if you can’t fathom what it might have been, and calm yourself with the thought that you’ll just text him later.

You do just that, sending him a photo of your wrapped gifts a few hours after you got home, but he doesn’t respond. You don’t hear from him for several days, your calls remaining unanswered and there are no replies to your texts. You actually resort to asking Ellie if Sarah has said anything, but she’s just as clueless as you are.

The weekend rolls around and you go on your date with Dan, who, unlike someone else, has texted you. He takes you out for lunch and while the date is nice and he’s being polite, easy to have a conversation with and you’re fighting with yourself trying to like him, you’re bored.

You don’t feel any spark between the two of you, a spark that you, as you begrudgingly have to admit to yourself, always feel when you’re with Joel. You decidedly swallow that thought back down as soon as it occurs to you, but it stays in the back of your mind, like a kind of craving that you just can’t turn off.

You tell Dan that you’re sorry but that you don’t see the two of you turn into anything more, which he accepts graciously and wishes you all the best and you once again want to kick yourself for not feeling anything at all for this kind and blissfully uncomplicated man.

Grinding your teeth, you call Joel the next evening and to your surprise, he finally picks up.

“Where the hell have you been?” you demand without as much as a greeting.

“Just busy with work,” his voice huffs through the speaker and you can’t help but start feeling slightly more at ease at the sound of it, even if you don’t believe that he was too busy to contact you for days, but at least he picked up your call now.

“How’d your date go?”

He sounds… careful, like he’s not sure if he wants to know the answer. You’re confused for a second; you didn’t even have the chance to tell him about those plans; until your gaze falls on your sister who’s sitting on the couch opposite from you with headphones over her ears and frantically scribbling in her notebook.

“Between Sarah and Ellie, no secret is safe, huh?” you grin.

“So it’s a secret?” His voice is tense.

“I guess not, I just didn’t- I don’t know.” You huff a frustrated sigh. “But it doesn’t matter, I’m not gonna see him again, so…”

“Did he do something?” Joel demands immediately and you feel your cheeks warming at the way he switches into protective mode.

“No no, don’t get all riled up. He was nice, just… not it. I wasn’t really interested in him anyway, so.”

“Huh,” Joel mumbles and though you can’t see him, you can tell that some of the tension is dissolving.

You chat a little more, working out the finer parts of the plans for your shared Christmas celebration in a few days, and by the end of the phone call, you feel like things between you are back to normal.

It’s the second Christmas Eve that you’ve spent at the Miller household and it’s just as chaotic as the first one. Joel’s brother Tommy comes to visit, bringing with him a bottle of whiskey and an air of mischief that immediately infects the two girls who are already giddy with the energy of Christmas, the prospect of getting presents tomorrow morning and the inevitable sugar high that comes with consuming mountains of Christmas cookies.

Ellie and you are meant to sleep over, Ellie in Sarah’s room and you in the guest room, so you indulge in a few glasses of whiskey, feeling pleasantly tipsy and like a warm, hazy glow is surrounding you. You sing Christmas songs along to the radio with the girls, laugh loudly at Tommy’s crude jokes and even get Joel, who is slightly drunk himself, to dance with you for a few minutes.

When you finally retreat to the kitchen to get yourself a glass of water, you somehow already sense Joel’s presence behind you before he speaks up.

“Hey,” he murmurs as you turn around, his gaze trained on the floor at your feet.

“Hey,” you echo, searching his face, “what’s up?”

He rubs his neck, a mannerism that you’ve come to connect with him feeling uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry,” he starts, “I know I’ve been acting weird around you the past week, and…” he trails off again, still not meeting your gaze. Joel has never been good at expressing his feelings, and you can’t deny that you’re curious about what he’s going to say. You knew that it hadn’t been just about work stuff. Joel takes a deep breath, seemingly steeling himself for what he’s about to tell you.

“I didn’t- shit, I’m not good at this.” He rubs his neck again. “I didn’t want you to go out with that guy. And I know that that’s no excuse, but I wanted… I wanted you to go out with me. I’ve wanted that for quite some time, honestly. And I never knew how to tell you, I didn’t want to ruin the friendship that we have, but then that- that fuckin’ guy came along and I just thought, what if I had my chance and I missed it? But still, I shouldn’t have put that on you, I-”

You interrupt his rambling when you step into his space and place your hand on his upper arm, his gaze finally flying up to meet yours.

“You wanted… to go out with me?” you whisper, almost not able to believe what you’ve just heard.

“I- yes. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable, I’ll never mention it again, I just wanted you to know.” He shrugs helplessly and you can’t help the smile that’s slowly growing on your face.

“Joel,” you murmur, taking another step closer to him. “I’d love to go out with you. I never thought- you never said anything, and I didn’t want to make things awkward between us, but…”

This might be it, the moment that you’ve always hoped for but never thought would happen.

“I like you. More than as a friend. I mean, I really like you.”

Now you’re avoiding his gaze, feeling heat flush your cheeks at your admission. You feel his fingers on your chin, tilting your face up to meet his warm brown eyes, so close to you.

“Guess we’ve both been kinda idiots,” he smirks.

A grin is slowly spreading on your face. “Guess so.”

He leans towards you and your eyes slowly close, just before his lips touch yours.

None of you are aware of the audience that’s observing the both of you from the living room.

“Fuckin’ finally,” Tommy mutters as he leans back into the couch and takes another sip of whiskey. Sarah and Ellie both sigh in agreement.

thank you so much for reading! if you liked it, please consider reblogging or leaving a comment - nothing would make me happier 🫶🏻

[geegers22]

I’ve seen lots of conversation on here about Zutara shippers opinions on aang and mai and i thought I’d give my point of view.

I want to start by saying that I think there should be more of a distinction between disliking a character because they are a bad person and disliking a character because they are written badly. With that being said, I can confidently say that, with the material of the main ATLA show, I dislike Aang and Mai because they are badly written characters. Meaning, if their arcs were properly finished, I would have no problems with them. This brings me to another topic of how I don’t really ‘hate’ characters who are bad people if they’re well written but that’s a conversation for another post.

I need to point out that I didn’t start disliking Aang and Mai until they had their arcs undermined when Kataang and Maiko became canon. With the arcs they were going on, they had so much potential to be really interesting and I enjoyed their personalities.

When it comes to Aang, I had no problem with him as a character until season 3 part 2 when I started to realize that his world view (which is flawed based solely on the fact that he is young and there is no way he’s going to have a nuanced pov) was not going to be challenged. Aang should have had to give up katara. Aang should not have just had everything handed to him with the lion turtle and the pointy rock.

Then there’s the southern raiders which I would argue, if Aang’s arc had been completed, would not illicit as many conversations and arguments about it as it currently has. Because his actions in that episode make sense (Sokkas don’t really but again-that’s another story) because he’s a kid. This episode should have been a big decider of his change in worldview. The problem is that the creators decided his flaws didn’t exist and that he was perfect. (At 12 years old?!?!?)

Then there’s Mai. She’s a much smaller character but that doesn’t mean she deserves less of an arc. Mai is a character whose personality I love! (I’m all for gloomy depressed women!) There’s two ways Mai’s character could have developed, and I think both options are great, the problem is that Bryke decided to go in neither direction.

On the one hand, Mai could have been a representation of unlearning the propaganda she was taught in the fire nation throughout her whole life. I think this direction would make Maiko more believable, although I still don’t think they are a good couple because their personalities create a toxic dynamic and Mai’s story with Zuko is meant to represent that toxicity.

The second option would be to have her views not change, like we see in the show, and have her not get back together with Zuko. This is the more interesting path in my opinion because it’s more realistic. I don’t think the problem with Mai’s arc lies with her personal views of the fire nation, more so with her relationship with Zuko. As we have it in the show, Mai’s views don’t change. Therefor, it doesn’t make sense for her character or for Zuko’s for them to get back together like nothing ever happened.

When it comes down to it. Both Aang and Mai had their arcs sabotaged because the creators rejected Zutara. Even without Zuko and Katara getting together these were the wrong decisions. Both characters had potential to be well written, but in the end, the creators chose the path didn’t allow that to happen because they just couldn’t kill their darling. (Kataang)

Sorry for rambling, this is kind of just my take on the whole “Zutara shippers hate Aang and Mai” take.

[bluespiritshonour]

Another thing I've been muling over: a complain I've seen about Maiko is that she keeps him from going on the right path—and... I agree.

For Mai, Zuko's well-being is her sole concern and the rest of the world could crash and burn and that's... Okay?

Realistically speaking, your support system should NOT be one person. One thing I love about ATLA is that (despite romance writing not being one of it's strong points) the lack of ships that follow the tropes.

Kataang is not an archetype. Neither is Sukka or Maiko.

Having your support system be just your romantic partner isn't healthy (for them or for you) or realistic. But most romances do that and until I watched ATLA it didn't occurred to me that that's not a good thing.

ATLA and Maiko are very realistic in that Zuko needs both the Gaang and Mai. He needs the Gaang to hold him accountable for every shitty little thing he did—and he needs Mai there to keep from spiraling and self-destruction.

Zuko and his uncle were de facto conquerors, so they had to do much more to redeem themselves than Mai and Ty Lee (mere soldiers, but NOT innocent) had to.

Zuko had to work hard to earn the Gaang's forgiveness (personal opinion: he should've grovelled more and he should've been called out on his racism against Aang) and Uncle Iroh reconquered Ba Sing Se in the name of it's people.

They both did reparations to the very people they hurt. And their crimes were much more direct and vicious compared to Mai and Ty Lee’s.

As someone not as responsible as them, Mai and Ty Lee's redeeming themselves was at the Boiling Rock.

And well, when Zuko is Firelord right after the war—he would be paying for the crimes of his ancestors. He needs the Gaang there to keep from acting like he did with Katara pre-Southern Raiders (everyone else seems to have forgiven me!) and he needs Mai to keep himself from actually spiralling into self-destruction and undeserved guilt (Sozin's and Ozai's faults aren't his even if he's paying for it and someone needs to remind him that)

So, yeah. He needs them both for different things.

As for Mai, her conflict was that she was never allowed to express herself. And loving Zuko made up for that—she finally stands up for something she believes in (not in the cause, but in Zuko) and Zuko didn't even have to do anything beside exist. He didn't “fix her.”

Although, again I do have the the complain that Mai has to do a lot of emotional labour for him and if you really are gonna shit on Maiko: it's Zuko who needs to step up, not Mai—well, Mai tried to “fix him” and she couldn't!

That's so important to me!—I’m tired of girl fixes boy narrative. And she couldn't fix him because only he could fix himself and Mai herself is used to making the best out of a situation and being selfish/passive/choosing the path of least resistance. She tried to do to Zuko what worked for her (or maybe didn't, considering she was coping)—and well—later when Zuko's Firelord it'll be Mai who keeps him from harming himself.

Zuko needs both to be balanced out.

He needs multiple people to act as support system and that's both healthy and realistic. Mai isn't everything and neither should she be.

I know what the comics did; don't bring them up here. It's not about the comics.

[wilderebellion]

Calorum Lore Shared in the Dropout Discord

Thank you, Past!Brennan.

Some of them might re-contextualize a thing or two about TRW series. Typically in response to specific questions, but I focused solely on posting Brennan's responses.

Lore on The Ravening War (from April 20, 2020 1:02am ET)

In 1188, a conflict broke out because Count Jacques Tomaté, a Fructeran noble, was by birthright next in line for the throne of Greenhold!

Culture of the Meat Lands (Feb 21, 2020)

Brennan: Meatlanders have clan delineations based on bloodline and their worship/propitiation of The Great Beasts, which is a pagan, polytheistic faith! Warfare between various clans goes back centuries and centuries, a lot like the ancient Celts, so while some Meatlanders might feel kinship with other Meatlanders over outsiders, it's just as common for a given Meatlander to feel THE MOST animosity to a member of an enemy meat clan. So "The Meatlands" doesn't really have a national identity in the same way that, say, Ceresia does, and individuals there are much more likely to define their loyalty by family, clan and faith than by nationality.

(May 18, 2020 8:14pm ET)

The Meatlanders are like ancient Celts: The fact that they don't wear shirts lets southerners stereotype them as barbarians, but their culture is equally as beautiful, ancient and complex as any other land's. Carn is a metropolis full of architectural wonders, beautiful art, etc. Meatlanders rule!!! Labeling them barbarians, like in real life, is a tool artistocrats use to breed xenophobia and hatred into their homleands population, making them more malleable and compliant

The Rocks Sisters (May 1, 2020 11:46pm)

The four sisters were the four archetypal classes! Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Rogue!

Magic Items (April 20, 2020 9:44pm ET)

Magical items aren't quite as prevalent in other nations as they are in Candia!

Amethar's Mom (April 20, 2020 1:21am ET)

Amethar's mother, before she was Queen Pamelia Rocks, was Pamelia Pomegrana, a Fructeran noble!

Magic and Miracle Workers (from April 20, 2020 1:04am, 1:06am, 1:15am)

Brennan: Just like in normal D&D, it takes SPECIFIC training or divinatory magic to tell if magic is arcane or divine, or where its power source originates from! People's reactions to magic are LARGELY based on uninformed prejudice, and aesthetic. This is how Lapin is mostly able to con people.

Even within the Bulbian Church, 99+% of its clergy CAN'T cast magic. Being a miracle worker is a REALLY big fucking deal, and almost always guarantees ROCKETING to the top of the church hierarchy

Liam's magic truly getting him in trouble depends on context! Obvious spellcasting would get him in a lot of trouble, but Candian's magic items usually get a pass from commonfolk because it would be viewed as "alchemy," which isn't seen as being heretical at all!

Leadership in Calorum (from May 6, 2020)

5:32pm ET

Brennan: Plumbeline is the Sovereign Ruler of Fructera, yes! Gustavo had to abdicate in order to become Concordant Emperor! Plumbeline's title is still Lady though, Fructera doesn't have a monarchy, it has a complex consortium of Noble Houses that rule through an orchestrated bloc of alliances, kind of an aristocratic bureaucracy!

5:40pm ET

Brennan: Dairy Islands ALSO a monarchy, just doesn't confer the title of King or Queen to its monarch (uses Prince or Princess), also Ceresia HAS been a monarchy at times, has vacillated between Republic and Imperatorship MANY times, with some dynasties of Imperators lasting a dozen generations or more!

Social Categories

Brennan: All the food nations have weird edge cases, so the delineations are DEFINITELY social and not biological/botanical. Pie people, a combination of grain, butter and fruit, are overwhelmingly Candian. In Calorum, these edge cases would be much like they are in our world, the result of historical wars of conquest, marriages, alliances, etc!

Genetic Complexity (from April 20, 2020 2:14pm ET)

Brennan: Popping in here like a goddamned troll to say that Calorans' DNA are powerfully influenced by more than just their parents genetics, but also by the geographical location of their conception, their gestation and even their childhood dwelling place up through puberty! I suspect that every question I answer only serves to raise further questions, for which I am deeply sorry!!

Other Monarchies in Calorum (May 6, 2020 5:40pm ET)

Brennan: Dairy Islands ALSO a monarchy, just doesn't confer the title of King or Queen to its monarch (uses Prince or Princess), also Ceresia HAS been a monarchy at times, has vacillated between Republic and Imperatorship MANY times, with some dynasties of Imperators lasting a dozen generations or more!

Queer Rights in Calorum (from May 18, 2020 8:23pm)

Brennan: Candia is the MOST permissive of all the nations in terms of most issues, but no nation in Calorum is openly homophobic. However, it's important to remember that archaic concepts like bloodlines, political marriage, heirs and primogentiure [sic], etc. still exist in this world, and are more emphasized and expected in nations outside of Candia, which puts a lot of pressure on the nobility from that end of the spectrum. In a weird way, that means peasants are a lot freer in terms of who and how they love and marry than aristocrats and especially royals, which there is also some interesting IRL research and precedent for!

Post-War Events (May 18, 2020 8:07pm ET)

I don't think any of these are spoilers, but Amethar and Caramelinda married shortly after the war ended. King Jadain died shortly after the war, after the establishment of the Concord!

Funeral Rites of Calorum's Faiths (May 18, 2020 8:04pm ET)

Bulbians practice burial and very formal funereal rites, and have a sharp delineation between body and spirit, so the body which is crass and material goes back into the ground, and the soul joins the Bulb. Meatlanders practice cremation, and have different beliefs based on religious affiliation, but most Great Beast faiths belief that an afterlife is EARNED through great deeds, otherwise you're reincarnated and get to try again!

[teddi-bearly]

Rating Klinger Outfits on Flamboyance Because I’m Bored: Part 1

This is in no way an exhaustive list, nor is it meant to imply any of Klinger’s outfits are not fabulous. Because they are. It’s more of an excuse to talk about Klinger’s outfits and how much I love them. Also I don’t have any fashion training whatsoever, so this is just for fun.

I’m going to do a part 2 because I don’t want this to be giant and it already is pretty big

Anyway

one of the ones I see the most often

Iconic

The pose. The sass. Amazing

Honestly one of his more practical outfits

I love any outfits where Klinger has flowers in his hair argue with the wall

I’d wear that to a spring picnic

6/10 the flowers in the hair give it more points, but overall I think I’d see a woman wearing that at church on Easter Sunday

MORE FLOWER

And the fur coat? The ring? THE FEATHER?

Right this way madam

Stunning

I don’t think I’d wear this though, red may be Klinger’s color but it is sadly not mine

And the pose? He’s such a ham and I love him for it

11/10

Scarlett O’Hara who???

The yellow is lovely

And the parasol?? Incredible

And the gloves? And the hat?

It’s so much it’s so much

The hoop skirt? WHERE DID HE GET A HOOP SKIRT

It’s giving rich southern belle

1000000/10

The tiara is beautiful and so is the dress

Very similar to the first one though, but feels more like evening wear while the other one is church wear

The mink? (I think it’s mink??) Lovely

He looks like a princess who is undercover and trying not to be recognized as the princess but is failing

8/10 gains points because of the fur and tiara

Simple but nice

Looks like the kind of dress I would’ve worn to a middle school dance though I’m sorry

I love it though, and coupled with the army boots and helmet makes it much more unique

Also the low cut?? Ok I see you

7/10 because of the skirt volume

Again, red is such a great color on Klinger

Cute, not crazy but definitely cute

The blouse is my favorite part, it’s so cute

The hat pulls it all together I think

4/10 for flamboyance, the chances of me seeing someone wearing a similar outfit in the wild are decent

Another good spring outfit

The dress is pretty practical, and nice

It kinda reminds me of a hospital gown though

Which is topical

Klinger definitely slays every outfit he’s in, but I’m not actually super big on this one

It’s nice, but it doesn’t stick out to me

5/10, kinda looks like something a great aunt would wear

I just realized this dress is going to return in part 2

But it’s two different outfits technically and I have two different opinions

The fur coat definitely makes this one more flamboyant

Also I’m not gonna lie, that coat looks so comfy and warm like I want it

And the matching hat?? Incredible

His stance is also so powerful

Like ok gorgeous

8/10 solely because of the coat and hat

I know this isn’t a dress, but it’s a Klinger outfit

And you know what? I love it

He rocks dresses AND suits, what an icon

I want that hat

However? Not flamboyant at all

Business man core

1/10, the only reason it’s not a 0 is because the hat makes it a little unique for me

Carmen Miranda!! Yes!!

The sparkles? The red fur trim? THE HOOPS??

I wish we’d gotten more of this outfit it’s so amazing

Definitely not very practical though, especially the (incredible) fruit hat

Take it from someone who had to wear a fruit hat for theater, those things are SO top heavy

Very hard to secure, you constantly feel like it’s going to fall off

So props to Klinger

15/10 it’s so much and I love it

All images are from Pinterest

[ironmandeficiency]

modern lotr character headcanons

characters included: aragorn, boromir, gimli, legolas, pippin, merry, frodo, sam, arwen, eomer, eowyn

word count: 745

summary: random thoughts abt lotr characters if they lived in modern times

a/n: this is literally just silly shit, enjoy

boromir listens to old country (conway twitty, george jones, loretta lynn, etc.) and does not tolerate anyone insulting the opry legends

he also listens to divorced dad rock (hinder, nickelback, theory of a dead man, etc.) which gimli will sometimes jam to as well

gimli lovingly maintains an old-as-dirt bench seat ford truck despite there almost constantly being something wrong with it. ignores legolas’s badgering about him getting something more reliable

obviously legolas drives a hybrid and he almost acts as if this fact makes him better than gimli (not in a dickish way, though)

horse girl aragorn.

frodo is the epitome of shy emo boy with the black skinny jeans & death cab for cutie playing in his air pods

merry is the golden retriever in the “golden retriever in love with the black cat” trope 

aragorn and arwen host game nights and various other parties for their friends, but neither of them can cook so they just order delivery (or sam hijacks their kitchen for the hours before)

pippin has a large follower base on social media bc of his drinking songs and other inebriated antics that are usually recorded by whoever happens to be with him that night. usually it’s eowyn & merry, and the three of them will shake some major ass to megan thee stallion

sam goes to open mic nights at local coffee shops to people watch. he will never perform himself, but it’s nice to watch people he knows do their thing

eomer accidentally goes viral on tiktok when eowyn records him doing some dumb shit. never lives it down

the amount of joy gimli gets from going to rage rooms is almost alarming

arwen has a very thorough skin care regimen that she introduces to aragorn, and it becomes a sweet nightly routine for the two of them

eowyn & eomer don’t allow anyone to talk shit about or annoy the other bc that’s their job fuck you very much

frodo has a shitty immune system but sam’s homemade soups seem to always heal from the soul outward

sam is the little spoon favored by the resident neurodivergent

frodo is the resident neurodivergent

yes they’re dating

arwen is always the dd

when it comes to birthdays, don’t ask boromir to remember anyone but faramir’s. hell, he forgets his own birthday sometimes

legolas is the best at remembering the birthdays of his friends but forgets his own

they have to remind each other of their own birthdays when that time of year comes around

merry is always the favorite audience member at a drag show

arwen & eowyn never dress like they’re going to the same place when they hang out

gimli says southern grandpa idioms unironically — “as useless as a screen door on a submarine”, “higher than eagle titties”, “busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest”, you get the idea. merry keeps a running tab of said quotes

boromir is the “we’re not getting a dog” dad. said dog ends up being his best friend & the sole inheritor in his will, fuck them kids

aragorn & gimli have their own moonshine still they think is perfectly hidden from everyone

that does not include merry & pippin, who are booze bloodhounds and immediately knew where to find it but swore to secrecy as long as they got more than everyone else

frodo sips fruity little drinks because he can’t shoot whiskey

sam can drink in the way only a divorced middle-age man can despite not being a divorced middle-aged man

eowyn cannot drive for shit & the several dents on her car prove it. the only reason her insurance hasn’t gone up astronomically is because she just. doesn’t report any of it

said car has a fuck ton of bumper stickers with all sorts of silly things

gimli can’t ride a bike AT ALL but has a motorcycle, make it make sense

he goes on bike rides with eomer when they have the time & the weather is nice

merry & pippin are two halves of a whole idiot at every given moment

eomer LOVES 90s and 00s country music but is kinda picky about newer country (he is a massive fan of cody johnson but will throw you through a wall if you talk about morgan wallen in his presence)

arwen dances in the rain & literally never gets sick from it. merry is insanely jealous of this fact

frodo’s favorite video game is animal crossing: new horizons & has very sound opinions on what villagers are the best (fuck you, rodney)

[highfantasy-soul]

Moments I loved from NATLA Episode 4 - Into the Dark ❤️️❤️️

Aang and Iroh interacting more - love that they're not friendly to each other, per se, but it builds a foundation that makes their later respect make sense

The Earth Kingdom being harsh with their 'fallen foes' is nice to seed in here as in the animated version (season 1), most of the 'bad' stuff was relegated solely to the Fire Nation

The Earth Kingdom is no pushover and it's nice to see that early

Sokka defending his dad "My dad would have never done what you did" even after he commiserated with the Mechanist about his dad 'not valuing' what Sokka could bring to the table.

Though Sokka is frustrated that his dad doesn't see "him", he knows his dad is an honorable man doing his best and when Sai tries to use him as an example of 'doing the wrong thing just to survive', love that Sokka calls him on it

SECRET TUNNEEELLLL!!!

Like them introducing this now - all old buildings have secret passages - it's just a law

Teo's "its time to fight!" attitude - love it. He's so ready to stop cowering and wants to hit back

Flopsy statues!!!!!

Rolly ball throne? Nice touch

"Bumi? BUMI!!" :D

"You did 🤨" Love how Aang keeps his "I'm just gonna say the truth and I don't care if that's 'not allowed' I'm gonna do it anyways because your social rules are stupid" attitude

Katara's water pouch!!

Love the shake in Jet's voice as he tells Katara "I am nothing like the firebenders"

Katara's assessment is shallow on her part, but the core has a ring of truth - no, freedom fighters aren't the same as their oppressors, but when you start harming your own people to hurt the enemy, then you really have lost sight of what's right and wrong - why you're fighting.

FREEZE JET'S ASS!

I love Jet, especially this version of him, but yeah, no touchy

And Katara is absolutely right: Jet might have helped her through her block, but her power, that's all hers.

What are you going to do, Zuko?? What choice will you make!!??

Love that we're getting this choice of his here in Omashu

Bumi's puns 😭 kill me now - though very canon accurate

Like the vibe that everyone just has to laugh as to not anger him - there's less of a whimsical madness vibe to Bumi here and a more serious - yeah, this guy is our leader vibe that's quite unsettling

The tonal shift with Bumi did give me pause, but I like how the writers kept the jokes, the games, his eccentricities, but shifted the vibe to make them darker

In the cartoon, whimsy might work, but if you think about it realistically, that leadership style would NOT work during a war - a 100 year war, at that.

HIPPIIEESSSS!!!!

Sokka getting into that maraca - you let your little musical heart fly

"What are you doing here?" "We're doin' what we're doin'" :)

Oma and Shu lesbian supremacy!!!

Always get chills when this story is told

Lol Sokka's "There's no such thing as angry spirits." Right before the episode where they're kidnapped by an angry spirit XD

Love the switch up of the rocks not really being the path out - keeping us animated show fans on our toes as to what the lesson will be this time

Everything about the Earth Kingdom soldier's interaction with Iroh - all of it is just so good.

The cartoon glossed over Iroh's warmongering past - but he did do terrible things that hurt so many people. No, 'it was war, I was a soldier' is not an acceptable excuse (we didn’t accept it with Jet, so why the double standard for a ROYAL MILITARY GENERAL??)

The funeral scene

Leaves from the Vine

Zuko offering a soft and kind memory of Liu Ten instead of just talk about him being a soldier

Zuko sitting next to Iroh so he won't be alone!!!!!!!!!

The conversation between Katara and Sokka in the cave where she talks about how Jet helped her and Sokka how Sai helped him - then Katara reminding Sokka that when he was forced into a leadership position for the Southern Water Tribe, he didn't have anyone to help him through that

The concept of us all needing people to help us through our journeys is so important and really comes around at the end of the episode and just through the entire series

BADGERMOOOLLLEEE!!!!

Is it bad that all I could think about was how cute it was the entire time it was on screen?

Dallas Liu is so. Freaking. Good. At. His. Stunts!!!!

And the first mention of the theme Zuko struggles with of compassion being weakness!

Sokka's little 'thanks!' as Katara saves him from the badgermole XD

Seriously, all the little touches in Ian Ousley's performance are great

Idk why Sokka assumed the badgermole was a man, that's clearly a dignified lady

The power of sibling love guiding the badgermole was a great alteration from the OG - if they can be controlled through music, they can definitely respond to emotions

Bumi's whole speech here - and his willingness to get crushed - is what brought me around on this portrayal of him

He's right: it's a game where you have to make impossible choices - you have to fight even when you don't want to (a much more poignant message for Aang than 'look at things a different way')

The power of friendship saves the day!!!

"You CAN rely on your friends - and that's the only way I'm going to save the world: with my friends"

"You think like a child" (derogatory) "Is that really so bad?" (genuine)

Bumi made Appa's whistle!!! 😭😭😭😭

One last time Zuko chooses protecting his uncle over capturing the Avatar 🥲

"Everything I need is right here on this boat" 😭😭😭

[Masterlist of my NATLA thoughts]

[undercoverpena]

want.

joel miller x f!reader wc: 600 || warnings: smut, p in v, angst with a slab more of angst, jo being poetic for no reason. an: me to @guyfieriii : 'girl, i want to read this...' and thus, because this is what i wrote while eating my food, it is solely dedicated to her.

1.

sometimes, joel's fingers just twitch at his side because you're the last person he wants to see.

the echoes of his last statement still bounce around the barely-filled kitchen cupboards and the undecorated walls.

and he just stares through his brows, silence rolling all heavy and thick. it's close to barrel waves, aiming for ankles, determined to remove any hope of oxygen.

not that you show it. you stare, well-versed in masking your emotions, the end of times does that to a person, and joel miller forces you to perfect it.

he'll wear that expression, the one that's hard to read, worn and beat. if he feels regret, he never shows it. there's never an apology, not in word form, only ever in the things he does.

turning, you let your shoulders sink—and then it’s the sound of boots on hardwood flooring. like drums.

thud. thud. thud.

they land to the beat of your heart. your lashes blinking before his hand grabs your hip, turning you, forcing you to face him. pausing, staring at you, the briefest chance to push him away, to tell him to go.

you don't. then his dry, cracked lips are on yours. and he’s fire, burning, and eroding past anger; all wishful hatred melting it all.

it’s rushed fingers, buttons sliding from their places as soft thuds become the background instruments to the carnal act about to happen.

no words, just your clothes gone and his jeans around ankles.

and now it’s something else entirely. it’s born from the words said moments ago and fused with desperate kisses full of teeth and tongue; it melds itself with pleasure, of feeling so full you stop hating him for the briefest second, letting a whimper escape at how stretched you feel, and how good it is all at once.

now it’s Joel. it’s please. it's fingers on his neck, teasing the uncut curls at the base of his hairline as he begins to move, making promises about it feeling good, that he’ll make you feel good, that he’s the only one that will.

you know, in the same way your brain does, he's right.

even if your nerves are busy, occupied, rendered useless by the brutal pace he’s set—your breath swallowed by him, under the spotlight of his gaze. the one you crave. the one you hope will remain, but knows it never will.

not even when he holds your chin, grunts to keep your eyes on him. you do. don't even question it, not bothered you're sullying the table in Jackson or that splinters are embedding themselves in.

you just hoping he’ll leave bruises and marks. just so you have it, something from him tomorrow that won’t have turned cold and distant.

sometimes, joel hates you because he doesn't hate you at all.

2.

joel doesn't want you, yet your things live with his.

two souls wandering, swirling, moving around the other, living in conjunction, but not really together.

it's different when he brushes his palm over your waist, an indication, a sign. it's the only time you feel he lets you in—when he’s sheathed himself inside of you.

you're granted access passed empty brown into warm hazel. it's when he calls you darlin’, let his southern drawl extend each letter of it as it coats your ear as he rocks his hips against yours and his lips over your jaw.

sometimes you’re on your back, splayed out for him—a sight he says is fuckin' heavenly. sometimes you’re on top of him, held in place, perfectly positioned, a fuckin' goddess.

you savour it, the sounds of his grunts and groans, the way he looks at you as though you’d never had to kill, never done anything more than cook a meal and make a bed.

in these moments, the two of you can pretend that this is something special, and not just relief. it’s not just two people desperately seeking pleasure, a break in the fear—something akin to a treat.

it's why you kiss him with adoration, instead of the bitterness he expects. why you hold him for a second or two after your breaths are both caught. his eyes ablaze with lust, blinking a shard of it away until you're greeted with somewhat-narrowed eyes and a gritted jaw.

when it’s over and his jeans are back up his thighs, the emptiness from the lack of him feeling larger, as if something close to being cared for has been ripped from your grip.

but then, it was foolish to expect such things from joel miller.

he’s weathered, practically turned to stone. his hands are soaked in blood, his body littered in scars, and his soul is a blend of them both.

you still want him, all the same.

[littlebookoftamriel]

⟡ Happy Heart's Day/Mara's Day/Sanguine's Summoning Day from Little Book of Tamriel! ⟡

Looking for a detailed cultural breakdown on what the holiday means across Tamriel? Look no further - Sugar and Spice are here to give you the information you need to make sure you dont have a major faux pas with Bretons, a spoiled soiree with the Altmer, or a ruined romp with the Nords!

════════════════════════════════════════════

Altmer society places little importance on the romantic aspect of Heart's Day - public displays of affection are typically frowned upon. Instead, the day focuses on acts dedicated to Mara, as opposed to focusing on one's partner solely. Children are given small sweets, such as sugared nuts and fruits, fresh agricultural produce is a staple for the day's meals, and traditionally, acts of service are performed for the poor, the elderly, and the infirm - although, with the rise of the Thalmor, this tradition has fallen out of favor.

Argonians do not celebrate Heart's Day or Mara's Day, in fact, due to their communal structure there's never been an interest in it - up until the Imperials and Dunmer began entering the region. The only known Argonians who practice religiously and culturally are those who have fully assimilated to foreign cultures such as Breton, Nordic, and Cyrodiillic - with many in Morrowind even converting to celebrate Sanguine's Summoning Day! As the region's culture has gradually shifted due to a slowly rebounding traditionally Argonian population with interspersed dense pockets of foreigners, some Argonians have begun to celebrate a bastardized version of the traditionally Eight-based holiday, instead making the holiday about playing heart-themed games, seeing it as a lucky day to work, and basing entire outfits around reds and gentle pinks.

Bretons, especially the southern Bretons, absolutely adore Heart's Day! Originally introduced by their Imperial ancestors, Heart's Day has morphed into something all about love, love, love! Bretons will save up all year just to purchase the most lavish and expensive gifts for one another - if its not extravagant enough, then the gift-giver is likely to be shunned by acquaintances and even friends, as it is seen as a terrible social blunder. There are multiple feasts, balls, and most marriages happen on Heart’s Day - making it one of the most beloved holidays of the people of High Rock.

Bosmeri culture places a special kind of importance on the holiday, which is commonly known as All-Hearts Day. As with most Bosmeri holidays, they begin their day with a hearty breakfast and alcohol - lots of alcohol! The Bosmer are one of the unique races in that they are forbidden from consuming any plant matter, and rely on a purely meat based diet - additionally, they are one of the last known races to practice cannibalism. This extends into the way they show love... by giving eachother hearts! Any and all relationships will give eachother hearts to consume on All-Hearts Day, feeding the organ to eachother to symbolize their devotion and care for one another.

Dunmer do not celebrate Heart's Day, but rather, celebrate Sanguine's Summoning Day, as the festivals fall on the same dates. Lavish banquets and feasts are held across Morrowind, with almost every Dunmer over the age of majority drinking in excess at these feasts. Many Dunmer find themselves elevated in the ranks of their Houses on this day, depending on what acts of magic or craftsmanship prowess they show off to their tutors - as today is seen as an auspicious day, many schedule their hearings to be on the date!

The first instance of Mara's Day being referred to as Heart's Day comes from an Imperial account. Gifts for romantic partners are carefully considered and vary in price, although a common superstition in Cyrodiil states that if the gift is bought because the price was cheap, the relationship is doomed to fall apart. Handmade trinkets are also a common gift, especially in rural areas, and typically include something belonging to one's partner, such as a lock of hair.

Khajiit do not celebrate Mara's Day. Instead, they have their own festival later in the year dedicated to Nirni, the personification of Nirn. Traditional offerings during this festival include local flowers and herbs, as well as seasonal fish and cicadas.

Nords are the people to party with on Mara's Day - having village and city-wide celebrations. Mara is one of, if not the, most important divine in the Nordic pantheon, and Nords are given the day off from work to reflect this. Children are expected to present their parents with gifts, and this often carries over into adulthood too. Savoury food is nearly impossible to find on Mara's Day, whilst sweetrolls and honey nut treats are abundant. Mara's Day is a particularly auspicious date in the Nordic calendar, marked by rhymes such as:

"The farmer who sews his seeds And the father's child conceived On Mother Mara's blessed day Will reap good fortune along their way"

The Orcs are a very reclusive people, stalwart and rugged - as a result, they have no holidays today, nor do they celebrate Mara's Day or Sanguine's Summoning! Despite efforts to convert the region, Orcs tend to be most similar to Redguards as they would treat today like any other day of the week. Wait until spring, when the Orsinium celebrates with their yearly fertility festival - just be careful, as its not uncommon to find young lovers engaging in various forms of fighting to show off prior to properly celebrating!

Redguards traditionally, like Argonians and Orcs, do not celebrate any form of Mara's Day or Sanguine's Summoning, instead having rejected it and all worship of the Eight during the Great War. Today is just another day for the Redguard - the closest thing to Mara that the Redguard have is Morwha, and her destival is not until later in the year. So, if you're looking for a place that is free from the holiday, try having some goat kebabs in Hammerfell!

════════════════════════════════════════════

[alwaysdevilday]

So I found an interesting worldgen… (Icemourn Pt. 1)

Last night I got the itch to play some Dwarf Fortress (the Steam version because I love me some pretty graphics and menus) so I loaded it up and generated a world.

Much to my surprise, one of the options for a starting civilization (a nation of origin from which my dwarves can be from) was this:

What you're looking at is a civilization of one (1). The king of this entire nation is also its only member, and he spends all his time sitting in his castle alone at the edge of the known world surrounded by ice and frozen peaks. There ain't anybody else other than my seven starting dwarves.

I thought to myself "oh this is gonna suck, there's no way I can't do this", and decided to go for it. I was gonna raise this nation out of the dirt as if my life depended on it.

I chose a spot in the frigid coniferous forests off the landmass's southern coast. No close neighbors, just me and the bears and whoever decided to pass through.

For my preparations, I loaded up on the bare essentials until I ran out of points, gave my dwarves the standard spread of jack-of-all-trades skills and took a few animals for emergency food and protection. The water buffalo are hard to take down and although they eat a lot of grass in pasture, they yield lots of useful resources if I have to Do The Deed. War dogs would take up the task of saving my hide from any potentially dangerous wildlife.

I named the fortress "Icemourn" or Ushilleshal in the dwarven tongue. I thought it appropriate, given that the land remains frozen and blanketed with snow 9 months out of the year.

My embark location was rather auspicious, sporting a wide range of towering trees and plenty of fruit during the admittedly brief surface growing season. The presence of a small river and a natural (if shallow) cliffside did not go unappreciated.

My first task was to carve out a chunk of the hill into something more useful (and aesthetically pleasing). It was there that I would set up my home base, digging out soft and heavy earth to make room for rudimentary bedrooms and the first two workshop areas. The room to the north would be my first dining room, something I planned to convert to a tavern's main floor later.

Initial setup complete, I set about securing my dwarves' safety with some log walls around the entrance. A drawbridge would block all but the biggest and meanest of hostiles from entering in times of emergency. Thankfully, trees were so plentiful in this location that I almost certainly would never run out of usable wood (though that might spell trouble if elves decide to visit later).

That done, my next task was to start carving out the uppermost workshop and stockpile rooms to ensure that my dwarves could carry out essential tasks without being forced to venture into the harsh winter. Dirt walls are ugly and unpleasant, but they get the job done. Beautification would have to come later.

The bare essentials on their way, I had time to order my dwarves to dig deeper, down about 8 z-levels (units of height, estimated to be about 2 meters) until we struck rock. To my delight, the substance proved to be shiny black obsidian. An aesthetically pleasing material, and one I could make basic weaponry out of without having to go to the effort of setting up forges. And as a bonus, fire opal gemstones! Right at my fingertips!

By this time the year's thaw had come, right on schedule in the middle of the summer. Pretty! Warm! Hospitable!

This brought to mind the fact that sooner or later, I would need a water source, so I set my dwarves to tunnel out some of the loam towards the river, forming a subterranean channel that would pipe fresh water into a cavity beneath my entrance's "courtyard". A covered well would allow the dwarves access to drinkable water year round, without concern for it freezing easily.

As autumn approached, the first traders arrived from somewhere far away. I hastily set up a trade depot for them and dumped my sole bin of wooden crafts onto the offering table. By the time the deal was done, we had procured several barrels of alcohol (and the trader had procured a nearly 60% profit, absurdly) and had lightened our load a bit. Unfortunately, our three months of sunlight was over and the snow once again began to fall as the traders packed their things and hastily left.

Continued Later

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Future On Hold [Chapter Seven] Into the Deadlands [Cidolfus 'Cid' Telamon]

Warning(s): fighting, mild blood, teasing, Cid being Cid, bullying, alcohol, original character.

The sharp strike of the wind against her heated face and the thump of heavy footsteps - too heavy to be her own - were the only sounds that Eirene could hear as she sprinted across the moist and rocky terrain of the Southern Gate, a wide area teaming with beasts. 

Heeled boots are a curse in Waloed. 

Her sole had sunk in the mud more than once as she evaded jets of flame and the swings of a massive wooden club. While it was not uncommon for beasts to emerge from the gloom, Eirene did not expect to run upon a Gigas just outside the gate. The lumbering brute often accompanied Goblins, mistaken as one due to its similar appearance, large bat-like ears, and desaturated orange skin, but this one was alone until it roused a nest of Bombs who were in the area. 

It was by Cid's order that she drew its attention from the gate, and while Eirene was against the plan to have a massive target on her back, she understood that he was using her to draw out the Goblins who were no doubt hiding somewhere nearby. It was a clever ruse, to ambush anyone who came from the capital. Goblins were much smarter than humans gave credit to, and though the Gigas lacked intelligence, they made up for their disadvantage in strength.

Eirene grunted as the Gigas' club rushed through the air above her, missing her by a head. She was tired of this cat-and-mouse game. If the Goblins did not come out soon, she was certain that she would lose her head, or be turned to a smoldering pile. 

At the corner of the field where the path became narrow leading into the Mothers' Mines, Eirene saw a bolt of lightning strike down. She witnessed Cid standing on the high rocks that surrounded her, motioning her over. For what–

An arrow pierced the ground ahead of her, forcing her to dodge to the side. Her boots slid in the mud, but Eirene managed to steady her footing, turning her wide curious eyes a brief moment to notice a triad of Goblins had turned up. She understood. Tightening her jaw, she changed direction and ran toward the area where Cid was.

As she passed into the gap, Eirene heard the Lord Commander shout something before he leaped down with ease onto the Gigas, piercing his sword through its head. The beast went limp in its arms, stumbled a brief moment, and then fell onto its back with a wet thump. The Goblins, he took out with a surge of lightning, an action that Eirene found both impressive and ignorant. 

She tightened her jaw and launched the partisan through the air, piercing one of the Bombs between the eyes. The force of the throw spun it backward and knocked it to the ground where it remained; the fire surrounding it faded away in a whisp. 

All that remained was the final Bomb.  

While it would be easier to fight it with her magic, since it was a floating mass of self-contained flame and rock, she obeyed Cid's order to not rely on her magic and ran toward the fallen beast to retrieve her weapon. With it in tow, she spun it around her body and then stepped into a lunge, striking the creature. The pole sent a painful vibration through her arms as the spearhead made contact, but she ignored it and yanked back the shaft.

Not bad, Cid thought as he observed her form.

Eirene had taken to the weapon quicker than he had expected. Though she had quite a bit to learn about the beasts of Valisthea. For instance, Bombs never fled when attacked. They did however do something much worse. 

As he feared, it began to shake and grow as Eirene carved away at it. He could feel the flames intensifying. Did she not notice? Groaning, Cid rushed toward her and knocked her to the ground as the Bomb combusted, sacrificing itself. The heat of its flames singed his leather coat, to his annoyance, but at least no one was dead.

"Is it necessary for them to fucking blow themselves up whenever they feel cornered?" He grunted.  

Eirene narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

"Did you have to shove me down?"

"If it means saving your arse. Be grateful," Cid retorted, standing with a grunt.

Eirene pulled herself from the mud and brushed as much of it as she could off. Her cotton tunic was caked, no longer the forest green that it was when she put it on.

"I need a bath."

"Wear leather," Cid suggested. He took out a cigarette, put the end in his mouth, and lit the tip with weak fire magic. "It's a hell of a lot easier to clean than cotton." 

Eirene turned up her eyes. 

"Is that my advice for the day?"

Cid took a puff and then grinned. 

"Based on that performance…I have a few."

She shook her head in annoyance. This man seemed to bring out the worst in her. With an uneasy breath, Eirene yanked her partisan from the mud and leaned it against her shoulder. She faced the entrance to the Mothers' Mines and clutched the shaft of her weapon.

"We will rest in Eistla for the night before braving the gap in the morning," Cid stated.

Eirene didn't like the sound of this, but regardless, she shook her head. At least Eistla was safe. The caravan that took goods to and from Salacia always went through the town since the road was less dangerous than coming from the Northwest near the channel. She still had no idea what business Cid had at the Shadow Coast, but it had better be worth the trouble. 

"Best be going then, ey?" 

Cid brought out his hand, motioning toward the entrance of the mines.

"After you, my lady." 

Eirene ignored the flush of heat that spread across her face and continued forward. She wasn't sure what came over her. 

For the next half hour, she and Cid trekked cautiously through the mines, which were no more than a route carved through the cliffside. There were no beasts to be fought, but every once in a while, the two passed by a miner, chipping away at the rock, who barely turned their eyes to them.

"What sort of place is Eistla?" Eirene found herself asking. 

"You have never been out of Salacia, ey?" Cid asked with a snort. "It is no more than a settlement, but it has water and it has food. We are welcome there."

At least that was not a problem for them. Some places were not so welcoming to troops intruding into their lives. The town Eirene and her sister were from, before the rise of Salacia, loathed soldiers from Waloed. Perhaps this is the reason Barnabas raised no finger to help them when the Beastmen attacked. 

Fishers who valued their privacy. 

She was taken back a moment, remembering the sound of their terrified screams. An icy chill ran down her spine as memories of death and bloodshed filled her mind but like a candle illuminating the dark, the memories crept away as a warm comforting hand touched her shoulder. Eirene turned her curious eyes to Cid, who simply grinned.

"Careful with those. Memories can be dangerous."

What did he know about tragic memories of the past? The man hardly seemed to be bothered by anything. 

Eirene simply shook her head and focused her eyes forward. They had arrived in Eistla. She was impressed by what she saw. The miners had built their houses at the excavation; some were even resting on sturdy wooden platforms along the cliffside. How long had they been here? She wasn't aware that there were such valued resources in Waloed. 

"Come on then," Cid ordered as he walked around her. "There is a tavern nearby with a room we can rent." 

Eirene hummed. Following Cid, she took in the area around her. There were more people than she expected in Eistla; men, women, and children roaming about. Some were Bearers, working at stands, selling meats and materials. They appeared to be a tight-knit bunch, perhaps relatives of the miners. 

As they neared the tavern, Eirene noticed a group of four Royal Knights standing outside. They seemed to be in a heated altercation about something and the reason for their outrage was pointed at a teenage Bearer with short hair; a crate of red apples were at his feet. Did he bump into one of them? Or did they bump into him?

Eirene narrowed her eyes. To make matters worse, no one was stepping up to defend the teenager. The townspeople nearby were unnerved but refused to make a move or open their mouths.   

"Why is no one helping him?" She asked in irritation.

The answer she sadly knew, but her mind could not fathom it. Why were people so cruel? 

"He is a Bearer, poor lad," Cid pointed out. "None of them can stand against a Royal Knight."

No. But she could. Eirene clutched her partisan tight and made a step forward, but the Commander stopped her, resting a firm hand on her shoulder. 

The furious look she gave him in protest made him grin.

"You want to step in? A word of advice, darling, the powers that be are not going to take likely to your disobedience," he stated, referring to Barnabas. 

"And he calls himself a king," Eirene retorted.

Cid released her and widened his eyes. There was a storm brewing in her, one he had only ever seen in himself years ago. He stared at her back a moment, then stomped out his cigarette.

You and I have more in common than I thought. 

Unbeknownst to Eirene, he was proud. 

The said woman approached the Royal Knights and cleared her voice. She honestly considered aiming her magic at them or whacking them with her partisan, but she figured that she best handle the situation with care, at least at first. 

The Knight closest to her peeked at her from over his shoulder with lethargic eyes and grinned. His face was red and the scent of honey mead radiated off him.

"What do we 'ave 'ere?" He paused for a moment to look her over. "Easy on the eyes, ey fellas?"

His comrades turned to her, ignoring the Bearer. 

Eirene curled her nose. She disliked dealing with drunks. 

"That boy you are shouting at, leave him alone. An accident or not, there is no reason for your irritation. He is simply trying to do a job."

The Knight with a lazy expression knitted his brows.

"Pardon me? Who the 'ell–"

"This gentleman is my mentee," Cid interrupted, standing beside Eirene. 

The said woman raised a curious brow but said nothing about his statement. What was he attempting to do?

"Lord Commander," one of the four addressed in shock. 

"We were not doing anything, sir. Simply 'aving a drink is all," the lazy-eyed soldier stated. 

Of course, they would try to spout some bullshit to get themselves out of trouble. Eirene tightened her hand around the shaft of her partisan. 

A laugh from Cid turned her attention to him. 

"In Eistla? That is a long way from the gate, ey?" 

Not a word was spoken. Cid raised his arm and tightened his hand into a fight; the leather around his knuckles creaked in protest as he adjusted the glove. 

"You lot best return to Stonhyrr. And apologize to the lad for shouting."

At first, Eirene did not think that either of the four would comply, but with a forced laugh, one of the Knights turned and uttered an apology to the Bearer. He gave a heated look to his comrade, the man beside him, and then one by one they apologized to the teenager and turned to leave. Before the last did, he stared Eirene down and then gave a nod to Cid.

"You know 'ow to pick them, sir. She is a cute one. I can not wait to see her in action." 

"I don't think you would like me much then," Eirene retorted, as a warning. 

The Knight grinned and quickly left. It was a shame. Eirene wanted to drown him. 

Once the four were gone, the teenager dropped to his knees and collected the apples, placing them into the crate. He uttered his thanks to Cid and Eirene, then hurried into the tavern. Despite their intervention, the frightened look in his eyes tore her apart. 

"I should feel better, but I don't," she admitted. Not when there was still fear in his eyes. "Isn't there more we can do?"

Cid sighed. 

"Not yet."

But soon.  

A comforting hand touched her shoulder. 

"Come now."

With a heavy heart, Eirene followed Cid into the tavern. 

The comforting heat of a bath consumed Eirene like a warm blanket. She was clean and dressed for bed in a long cotton nightgown. Her head felt intoxicated by the heat but she was not yet ready to lie down, not until she checked in with Cid. 

Her bare feet tapped against the wooden floor as she walked downstairs to the bar, where she left him. He was seated in the same seat, drinking alone with his head down. She wasn't sure but it looked as though he was deeply saddened by something. As she approached, he turned to look at her and a grin came across his face. 

"Eirene. Come sit. Have a drink with me," he suggested. 

The said woman shook her head. 

"I am going to bed. The only reason I came down here was to let you know that the bath is free."

Cid hummed. 

"That's no fun." He paused to take a drink. "My advice as your mentor is to never pass up a good drink of rum." 

"You could never be a mentor. You are the biggest hypocrite I have ever met," Eirene remarked with a tired grin. 

She was referring to his restrictions. 

Cid snorted.

"I'm flattered."

"You bark all the time about how I need to not rely on my magic and yet you ignore your advice," Eirene added. 

Perhaps if he weren't buzzed, he would argue with her, but instead, he did not allow her comment to rile him too much. 

"Someone has to do it."

Eirene wasn't sure what he meant but based on the look on his face, there was no point in questioning him. She held back a yawn and took a step back.

"As fun as it would be to pick you apart while you are drunk, I need to rest." 

Cid motioned her away with his hand and returned to his drink.

For a moment, she considered sitting him simply because he looked so conflicted earlier but opted to turn in instead. Eirene watched him frown as he rubbed his left arm, then turned and ventured back upstairs. 

For someone so spirited, he had a sadness in his eyes that she could not understand. Was there something more to Cid than what he allowed her and the others to see? 

Perhaps I should not be so bratty toward you. It seems we are going to be together for a while, mentor.

With a brief laugh, she returned to her room.

[cainluvr69]

Surely, We Can Make Miracles Chapter 15

Previous Chapter

Figaro: <Possideo>

Magic focus in hand, Figaro began casting healing magic on Snow, still locked in the frame. Pale light embraced him, and the dark poison's corrosion of his body began to slow down, even if only a little.

Figaro: Oz, take it down!

But Oz had already drawn his staff from the aether, holding it aloft, rising through the air until he was even with the top of Hwylryn's head. I looked down at Hwylryn's face, riddled with injuries. His silver eyes quietly observed not Oz but me, the person next to him.

Akira: (…I hate this.) (…I don't want to hurt Hwylryn!)

Oz: <Vox…>

I impulsively shook Oz's hand off of my own and pulled it away from him. Oz's eyes widened. That was when we started falling.

Akira: (…!)

Oz pressed my head into the safety of his chest, trying to protect me. We crashed into the water with a huge splash.

✦✧☾✧✦

I was trembling. It was because I was underwater again. It was because I'd shaken off Oz's hand. It was because White was gone now. It was because Hwylryn was covered in wounds. Feelings of guilt and rejection swirled in my heart, an endlessly discordant mess that made me feel like I was going to pop. I saw something's shadow coming closer to me and I gasped in fear.

Akira: …! …!

I tried to inhale water and immediately choked on it. I couldn't breathe. Something in my head was getting hot. The something that had come close grabbed my hand. Should I cling to it? Should I try to shove it off? Fear and hope seethed against one another inside my skull. But it was Oz. Of course it was Oz's hand. All the chaos in my mind settled down, and he pulled on my arm, leading me to the surface.

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: Hah… Haahh… Cough…cough cough…!

Oz: Hah…hah… Are you unharmed, Sage?

Akira: Yes… Sorry about that…

Oz: Give me your hand. Grant me your power. I will once again…

Akira: N…no…!

As Oz reached for my hand again, I reflexively pushed him away. Even though I've said that I owe him my life.

Oz: …

Oz's eyes widened slightly, startled. But even at a time like this, I saw no anger in his eyes. He spoke to me with all the patience of a long-suffering parent.

Oz: …Why?

Akira: Hwy… Hwylryn is… That dragon is…

I froze, my mouth still open, suddenly anxious about whether or not this was something I should talk about.

Akira: That dragon is my friend. I don't want to hurt him…

As soon as I put that into words, I finally started crying. An innocent, carefree dragon whom I'd only just met. My beloved Snow and White, who were always so kind to me. Oz, who had saved me countless times. But here I was, feeling like I was betraying all of them. I didn't know what to do, and so I cried. I felt like I was being selfish, like I was trying to shove all of my problems onto the person who'd made me cry, just like a child would. But Oz didn't scold me. I looked up, bewildered, as rain rolled down my cheeks. It was cleansing me, maybe.

Oz: I see…

Figaro: Master Sage! Oz! Where are you?! I can't feel the dragon's malice… …!

Lennox: <Mare Praeda>

Suddenly, an icy blizzard sprang into existence, its winds aiming solely for Figaro.

Figaro: <Possideo>

He threw up a barrier on reflex, deflecting the attack. But inside Figaro's barrier, inside his frame, Snow's skin was slowly being painted the color of the poison coursing through his veins. His limbs were limp and weak. Figaro held a hand over the painting again, and a pale light once more wrapped itself around Snow's body. But that weakened the barrier, and it cracked open.

Figaro: …kh… You…you're…

Figaro looked for his opponent, and then his voice rose in shock.

Figaro: Leno…?!

Standing as a tyrant would over his domain, the Southern wizard Lennox presided over the storming sea and sky. I saw pure, unadulterated loathing smoldering in the eyes of this kind, taciturn wizard, whose presence was better suited for a grassy field under a bright blue sky.

Akira: Lennox…!

He didn't even glance at me. His eyes were on Oz as he rocked back and forth in the waves, his grin a hateful sneer.

Lennox: Oz! Who could have imagined we'd meet again in a place like this!

Oz: …Balthazar…

Figaro: Bastard… What have you done to Lennox…?!

Lennox?: Ahaha! So you know the owner of this body. All the more reason to stifle his soul and use him as my arms and legs!

Figaro: Wh…

Lennox?: You stole my land from me, after all!

Akira: …Stole your land…?

Oz: …

Figaro: …

Both Oz and Figaro stayed silent. But this was a story that I'd heard before. Once upon a time, they'd sought to conquer the world.

Akira: (Could the wizard manipulating Lennox be someone they angered back then…?)

While I was still reeling from the shock of Lennox attacking us, I saw another spectacle that made my eyes grow wide. Hwylryn had quietly coiled around Lennox--around the wizard puppeting Lennox's body, the one named Balthazar.

Akira: (Huh…?)

Hwylryn: Balthazar. Did you find your foe?

Lennox?: Yes.

Hwylryn: I found Gwawlyn's, too.

Lennox?: I know. You've taken down Snow of the North.

Hwylryn's silver eyes narrowed happily. He was…smiling.

Lennox?: If he's been struck with your poison, he won't last until dawn. Oz, Figaro. Though you came to steal my land here three times now…

Figaro: You've got that wrong, Balthazar.

Lennox?: I won't let things go how you expect. If you try to steal from me again, I'll sink Borda Island the same way Adams Island sank. <Mare Praeda>!

I heard a strange rumbling from below us. What had he done? While I was glancing around anxiously, I saw some dark silhouettes racing through the night sky. It was Arthur, Cain, Murr, Rustica, and Chloe.

Arthur: Master Sage! Lord Oz!

Oz: Arthur…

Arthur: I'm here to help! <Pernoctant Nixzo>!

Arthur's magic lifted Oz and I to his broom. Cain took Oz in the middle.

Arthur: Are you unhurt? Has something happened to Lords Snow and White in their painting?

Cain: Oz, are you okay?! Lennox and that dragon are…

Chloe: It…it's a dragon… I've never seen one before… Wh-where's Shy…

Rustica: You there! I don't believe you're actually Lennox, but you do know where Shylock is, yes? Could you kindly turn him back over to us?

Lennox?: Shylock will never return.

Chloe: Why not?!

Lennox?: Because he has become my servant.

Murr: Did he really? 'Cause that sounds even more difficult than getting the whole world to sit in your palm!

Lennox?: How dare you…

Murr: <Eanul Lambru>!

Lennox?: Hwylryn!

Hwylryn: You need to run, Akira.

Akira: Huh?

Hwylryn faced Arthur and I and then exhaled a long breath. We immediately got sent flying, his breath sending us tumbling far, far away from their battlefield.

Akira: Wah… Waahh…!

Arthur: …gh…! Master Sage!

I thought I was going to fall off his broom again, so I grabbed one of Arthur's arms and held on tight. It had taken such little time for us to end up so far from where we'd been. And when I thought that, of course, a fierce bolt of lightning illuminated the clouds, and the ocean waves raged violently.

Chloe: Waaahhh…!

Rustica: Chloe!

Cain: …Damn, that's some power he's got! Is this whole storm because of that one dragon…?!

Oz: …It rivals my own.

Murr: <Eanul Lambru>! …Wahh…!!

Figaro: Cain, stop Murr! His death would be a loss for the entire world!

Cain: On it!

Murr: ……! <Eanu…>

Cain: Murr! Watch out…! <Gladius Procella>!

Murr: …! Cain!

Cain: Glad to see you're still in one piece!

Murr: …Shylock…

✦✧☾✧✦

Lennox?: Hmph… That's enough. Withdraw, Hwylryn.

Hwylryn: You sure? You aren't gonna eat your enemies yet?

Lennox?: I will only kill Oz and Figaro after I have returned to my original form.

Hwylryn: …

Lennox?: Though they'll be no match for me within my underwater city.

Hwylryn: Gotcha.

✦✧☾✧✦

Chloe: …They vanished into the ocean…

Rustica: Shylock must also be somewhere below us…

Murr: …

Cain: Why is Lennox doing this…? Figaro?! Are the twins okay?!

Figaro: … …I don't know… …This is an incredibly strong poison. Healing magic can halt its progress, but it just keeps eating through him… If we can't find a way to help him, then…

✦✧☾✧✦

Arthur: …Are you okay, Master Sage?!

Akira: …urgh…yes… …

I stared at the spot where Hwylryn had disappeared into the water, complicated feelings twisting around in my chest. I just…hadn't realized anything back then. That wizard, the one named Balthazar, had captured Shylock… Hwylryn had poisoned Snow… And White had disappeared… Oz couldn't use magic at night… Figaro had his hands full with Snow's treatment… Faust was badly shaken by Lennox getting possessed… All of the Sage's wizards we called "teachers" were… Dealing with very, very different things than our usual day-to-day life.

✦✧☾✧✦

Lennox: … I wonder where this is… … Courir… Haha… What's wrong? What are you doing over there… I feel like we've been apart for a while, but… I've wanted to see you again. …Where is this… I feel like I was looking for someone… Who was it…? … What's wrong, Courir? Should I keep looking for them… Or should I stay here… I have a feeling there's something I don't want to face in the distance. … But…I want to see them. I don't know what I want to do once I see them again, but… Let's go, Courir. We don't have to rush. Let's take it step by step…

✦✧☾✧✦

With the twins' frame securely in our hands, we returned to Borda Island. The only thing in the frame was Snow and his suffering. Figaro was using his magic on the painting within the frame, not pausing even for a moment. Next to him, Arthur was desperately calling Snow's name.

Arthur: Lord Snow! Lord Snow!

Figaro: I don't think he can hear you right now… If I let up on the healing even for a second, death is going to claim him in the blink of an eye… I can't believe a dragon's poison is so potent…

Arthur: What led to Lord Snow fighting a sea dragon?

I faltered for a moment under Arthur's gaze, but I still told the truth of the matter.

Akira: …Because Snow and White killed that sea dragon's… Because they killed Hwylryn's twin brother. That's what he said…

Arthur: A pair of dragon siblings that Lords Snow and White sought to kill…

Figaro: They were incredibly powerful in their prime. Hearing that they killed a dragon isn't odd at all.

Arthur: Lord Figaro… You aren't looking well either, Lord Figaro. You're shouldering too much right now…

Figaro: I'm fine. I'm just feeling down about my own mistakes.

Arthur: Mistakes?

Figaro: I can keep treatment going until tomorrow morning. But if we can't come up with a way to actually cure him…

Cain and Chloe were listening in on our conversation, their faces downcast.

Chloe: Is there no antidote for the poison in Lord Snow…?

Cain: If you can't heal Lord Snow, that means Lord White won't come back either, right? Lords Snow and White have done so much for me, but I still haven't been able to pay back even an ounce of what I owe them. Is there anything we can do? Like, canvassing the wizards' market for ingredients for a cure, anything.

Cain's words reminded me of what Hwylryn had told me about the cintamani stones. He used to hold two cintamani stones, one of poison, and one of medicine.

Akira: (But Hwylryn only had one of the gems on his bracelet.) (The other one is… Right!) The cintamani stone of medicine… Hwylryn told me he had the cintamani stones of poison and medicine.

Cain: Cintamani stones? What are those?

Arthur: Lords Snow and White told me about them when I was little. They're gems with strange powers that appear in dragons' dens.

Akira: I think that's it, yeah. Hwylryn has the cintamani stone of poison set in the bracelet he wears… And as for the stone of medicine, he gave it to the Western witch… Right, he gave it to a Western witch named Melissa.

Arthur: The Western witch, Melissa… Have you heard of her, Chloe?

Chloe: Melissa… Umm… Right! Murr knows her! She's the Western witch who wanted to see the ends of the ocean!

Figaro: Think he'll give us any details? Let's see, where's Murr…

Murr: Melissa never came back to Western Country. Maybe she settled down in her very own paradise she found all on her own, or maybe she's at the bottom of the sea!

Rustica: Oh my… I'm back, Chloe.

Chloe: Murr, Rustica! What's wrong, is that…part of the mechanism in a magitech installation…?

Murr: It's a weapon the Western army's Magical Technology Corps made. Looks like they improved on it a little! And noooow it's your turn! Give us the details, Figaro. Who's Balthazar?

Figaro: …

Murr: Better start talking, or Lennox is gonna turn up without his head. Riiiight, Arthur?

Figaro: Excuse me?

Arthur: …The bodies of three large, muscular men have been found without their heads along the shore. Lennox fits the victim profile. It's entirely possible that it's just a coincidence, but it's just as likely that the person manipulating Lennox's body is the murderer of those three men.

Figaro: I see…

Murr: Whatever. Just ask Oz about it. I'm gonna go rescue Lennox and Shylock now. Arthur, you coming?

Figaro: Mu…

Arthur: Of course.

Cain: I'll lend a hand, too.

Chloe: Me too! I mean, we've gotta save Shylock!

Rustica: But of course. I imagine the Eastern and Southern wizards will want to assist as well.

Chloe: Murr, do you remember anything? You were super cool and totally kicked the butt of whoever sank Adams Island, right?

Murr: Mm-mm, I can't really remember… Though I did kick butt super cool and all that…

Rustica: I wonder what variety of "cool" it was…

Murr: No matter what kind it was, I was still super cool! I dunnoooo! I'm gonna go think about it while getting ready to go!

Chloe: Okay! Take care!

✦✧☾✧✦

Arthur: Murr, please wait!

Murr: What's up?

Arthur: I wanted to ask you about Shylock's abduction… Does it involve parts of Lord Oz's past that I don't know about?

Murr: Pretty sure, yeah.

Arthur: …I see. Alright. Thank you.

Murr: Arthur. It's okay if there's things you don't know. You don't have to force yourself to guess about or endure or accept what anyone's done in the past.

Arthur: …

Murr: And just so you don't get it twisted, I wanna say I don't dislike the bond you and Oz share. It's fascinating, and I can feel a lot of hope and possibilities inside of it. I even think it's wonderful. I'm not going to deny anything. I don't want to hurt you, and I want to respect the things you love. That said, if you don't get a proper explanation at the end of this and wind up having to clean up someone else's mess… That makes Oz a real piece of shit.

Arthur: … Thank you for worrying about me, Murr…

Murr: You're welcome. That's the first time someone's thanked me for saying shit!

Arthur: …And while Shylock's in so much trouble, too. I know he's a very precious friend to you.

Murr: I'd say you've got it worse right now. There's someone out there who hates the very person you love and respect so much. Northern wizards might fear him, but to you, he's the person who lovingly raised you. It must be hard.

Arthur: …sniff… …I'm sorry…I'm just feeling a bit weak… Lord White has vanished…and Lord Snow is suffering so terribly…and yet… I still can't bring myself to think of the surviving twin dragon as bad, not after hearing what the Sage had to say about him… Lord Oz, Lord Figaro, Lord Snow, and Lord White… They've always been so kind to me…sniff…so why… …And now Lennox and Shylock have gotten dragged into this mess…

Murr: Don't apologize, Arthur. This isn't something you should be apologizing for. I know I'm repeating myself, but this isn't something you can take responsibility for. Understand?

Arthur: …sniff…

Murr: Poor, poor Arthur. I can't believe things have gotten to where you'll cry in front of me…

Arthur: …uu…sniff…

Murr: Wanna see some fireworks?

Arthur: …yeah…

Next Chapter

[calabria-mediterranea]

Southern Italy's Calabria in the footsteps of the poet Edward Lear: Gerace

Written by Italian Gems

During his travels around the southern Italian region of Calabria in 1847, the English poet and artist Edward Lear stopped in Gerace and reserved significant praise for this town, which is perched on a 500m-high cliff near Locri.

In the diaries he wrote about his trip (Journals of a Landscape Painter in Southern Calabria), the author of “The Owl and the Pussycat” nonsense poem said Gerace was “by far the grandest and proudest object in general position, and as a city, which we have yet seen in Calabria”.

He admired both “the beautifully placed buildings” as well as the views: “the great height at which this place is situated, and its isolated site, give it a command of views the most wide and beautiful in character”.

When I approached Gerace by car, the modern town in the distance looked quite different than that drawn by Lear, though I could recognise the landscape in his depiction.

According to local legends, Gerace’s early settlers were guided here from Locri by a sparrowhawk. A discovery of the remains of a prehistoric necropolis show however that the table-like hilltop was inhabited as far back as the Neolithic age. It was chosen by refugees from Locri due to its safety and ease of defence, as the eastern coast of Calabria used to be at risk of Saracen invasions.

Under Norman rule it became a rich and powerful town, with many churches, convents and monasteries built within and around it. The old medieval town is still mostly intact, and includes some architectural gems, above all the cathedral, which is the biggest church in Calabria.

Consecrated in 1045, it has preserved a lot of its original form despite adaptations following earthquakes. Combining Byzantine structure with typical Norman characteristics, the cathedral used to be covered in frescoes, though it now has a plain, simple beauty.

Several of the columns in the main building come from the ruins of the ancient city of Locri.

I also liked the chapel of the Madonna of Itria in the crypt of the church, which originally contained a “Hodegetria” – an eastern Christian icon of Mary holding Jesus and pointing to him as the route to mankind’s salvation. A statue of Mary and Jesus now stands in its place.

After our visit to the cathedral, we wandered around the centre of Gerace and up and down its lanes and alleyways. Lear’s words remain true to this day when he said “each rock, shrine, and building at Gerace seems arranged and coloured on purpose for artists, and the union of lines formed by nature and art is perfectly delicious”.

As Gerace is so steeply situated, I thought that it may not be a very busy town, but I was quite surprised. It actually seemed much more alive and buzzing with local people than several other villages and towns we visited nearby.

On the other side of the town, we came to Porta del Sole, one of twelve gates that were part of Gerace’s defence system. Its name relates to the fact that it faces eastwards and so the sun’s rays shine through its arch at dawn.

Follow us on Instagram, @calabria_mediterranea

[tastesoftamriel]

I don't remember seeing any asks about solely fish based foods across tamriel, so what are the most popular fish based foods around the provinces?

Fish and seafood are much beloved by every Tamrielic race, but what sort they consume is entirely dependent on geographical access to bodies of water. Whether it's oceans or lakes and rivers, there's a dish for every fish lover out there.

Altmer

Summerset inhabitants are spoiled for choice when it comes to fish, as they are not only surrounded by the ocean, but also have access to bodies of fresh water like the Clott River. One of the most traditional fish dishes, said to be passed on from the Aldmer, combines ocean fish with river crawfish in a delightfully flavourful stew served with rice, somewhat similar to coastal Imperial paella. The seafood is stewed in Russafeld Heights white wine with herbs and spices, and the boiling mixture is poured over rice and left to cook on low temperature until the rice is creamy and tender. You can also find more Altmeri seafood inspiration at the Anchors Aweigh Inn!

Argonians

The stereotypes are true: Saxhleel cuisine is, where possible, primarily seafood-based. Whether it's Blackwood Stuffed Banana Leaves or baked clams in coconut sauce, there's a little something for every seafood lover out there in Black Marsh. Most importantly, everything must be as fresh as possible; no pickled fish! Be sure to try the Lilmoth specialty of whole coconut coal-grilled snapper and king prawns, served with calamansi sambal and coconut rice.

Bosmer

Fish are most certainly Green Pact compliant, but many people seem to forget that the Bosmeri diet consists of far more than just meat! Both river and ocean fish and crustaceans are beloved across Valenwood, and popular seafood dishes include things like timber mammoth cheese-baked mudcrab, fishcakes served with crispy bacon, and creamy molten scampi baked with witchetty grub "rice" . Rich, filling, and delicious!

Bretons

Seafood is much beloved by coastal Bretons, and there are many ways to serve it in High Rock! From smoked and breaded herring roe to fish pies and soups, Breton seafood dishes are renowned for being mild yet flavourful. Aside from the ubiquitous crisp fish and chips (always served with plenty of salt and malt vinegar), fans of fried seafood can also enjoy a whole range of battered delights, from cod bites to prawns, mussels, squid, and crab claws when visiting any Breton street food or beach stall. Don't forget the lemon aioli!

Dunmer

Seeing as Morrowind and Solstheim are both islands, there is an abundance of fish dishes featured in Dunmeri cuisine that are often overlooked in favour of more exciting meats like nix-hound or guar. However, one can't call themselves a true seafood connoisseur without trying a Narsis favourite: a flavoursome seafood broth thickened with saltrice, brimming with generous slices of Resdaynian Sailfin, Shalk-Brother Crayfish, steamed hackle-lo, and kwama egg drops. Simple, satisfying, and very tasty.

Imperials

The Gold Coast is renowned across Tamriel for its delightful fresh seafood, and takes special pride in featuring it in small sampler plates known as tapas. Squid ink paella, boiled cold octopus with lemon, grilled fish sausages, and scallops in brown butter sauce are some classics that will whet your appetite! Of course, don't forget to pair it with your favourite white wine, in true Cyrodiilic fashion.

Khajiit

Southern Elsweyr is known for its delicious seafood, and if there's one cohesive theme there, it's the spice! You can expect any Khajiiti fish dish to be loaded with flavour and an appropriate amount of tear-jerking spices. I'm a huge fan of grilled lobster tails topped with loads of chunky fried chilis in sweet moon sugar syrup, Pellitine Tilapia red curry with coconut rice, crunchy baby squid in moon sugar saltrice sauce, and crispy fried Khaj'Roh (something of a cross between an eel and a catfish) salad with sour young papaya.

Nords

People love picking on Nords for our pickled fish, but always forget that Skyrim has access to rivers, lakes, and the Sea of Ghosts, thus making seafood one of the backbones of Nord cuisine. Whether it's smoked fish roe paste on rye bread for breakfast, mudcrab salad for lunch, or baked salmon with potatoes and leeks for dinner, you'll find no shortage of fishy delights all day, every day.

Orcs

Wrothgarian Orsimer have greater access to the coast, and as a result have a more seafood-heavy diet than their inland kin. Blood cockle omelette, made with chub loon eggs, is a favourite dish in the region, and is served with frost mirriam-infused echatere cream cheese. Another local specialty are savoury, cake-like octopus balls served with a sweet and spicy mayonnaise dressing, and topped with crispy dried whitebait and shaved bonito (the latter being a curious import made popular by Baandari travellers).

Redguards

You won't find much in the way of fish in the desert, but Redguards from Sentinel, Hew's Bane, and Stros M'Kai love their seafood! Curries are one of the most common ways to serve fish and crustaceans, and they range from mild and creamy to spicy and pungent. In addition, prawns and crawfish with sweet goat's butter sauce topped with crisp cereal flakes, fried fishcakes with shredded coconut and chilis, and bread rolls stuffed with curried potato and mudcrab are just a few of the delicious things you can try on the region.

[charlesandmartine]

Saturday 13th April 2024

Another beautiful day so on good advice we made our way to the old harbour in time to see the fishing fleet return at 10.00am. Apparently when the boats arrive, 6 resident stingrays also appear. Huge they are: as tall as a man. Sadly there was no sign of either, so we followed the second bit of advice from our landlady and walked along firstly the boardwalk and then the beach for as far as our Start-Rite shoes would take us. The sun shone and the pastel colours of the beach and the sea were stunning. What a fantastic part of the world this is! An angling club was having a bit of a competition; rods and lines were everywhere. It seemed that most members were policemen so hopefully there was no crime in these parts today. Occasionally a cry went up and officials had to verify a catch. We witnessed a sand shark being landed. Wasn't huge, but apparently it counted. After a flap or two on the sand it was ceremoniously returned to its watery home. Also in abundance on the beach were an invasion of Portuguese Men of War left high and dry, marooned for all time by the receding tide. I might mention also the snake, but identification was difficult.

We checked again on return to the harbour for the presence of stingrays but once again we felt let down by their absence. I'm told the fishing fleet may not have gone out due to the turbulence at sea, therefore stingrays remained buried in the sand, as they do.

After luncheon, following yet further instructions from the landlady, we again put the VW through its paces with specific attention this time to suspension on unmade-up roads, and then in full Virginia Woolf fashion, 'To the Lighthouse'. We clambered up all 71 steps within it to view the light and walk the balcony, perhaps despite the concern of the girl in the ticket office who seemed to have doubts we might make it up and down safely. We could see she was much relieved when after 20 minutes or so her charges returned none the worse for wear despite the inclination of all the steps and ladders required to negotiate. Installed 1st March 1849, 31m high, at a cost of £15,871 with a 400W bulb that flashes every 5 secs, the lighthouse has a range of 31 nautical miles. It was esigned by Col.C Mitchell, Surveyor General of the Cape Colony in a style of the Pharos of Alexandria in Egypt. Well with a design of that provenance it should have fixed the problem for good, however on 16th November 1982 in a terrible storm, a 45m Japanese trawler, Meisho Maru No 38 hit rocks close to the lighthouse so hard it broke up and is still there. Well, I guess there's always one isn't there? All of this is bang on the Southern most point in Africa, named Ponts de Sao Brandao by Bartholomew Dias the well known Portuguese Mariner when he happened to pass by on 16th May 1488, and marks the official position where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic. Both sides look the same to me but I'm sure the fish know the difference. That name didn't stick too long because it was renamed in 1502, Capo Das Agulhas meaning 'Needles' after the sharp looking rocks nearby. Now since 1972 just called Cape Agulhas for short. The exact location has been a bit of a discussion issue since 1836, so recently the International Hydrographical Organisation waded in and said that's it, not discussing this any more it's slap bang on the longitudinal line 20°E. End of.... Oh ok then....

Talking of fish, we then went to the Trattoria for a superb lemon sole fish supper. Well, I had that but Martine thought some form of pasta would be preferable. Very nice it was too. We had a bottle of SB on ice back at the motor pool to wash it down with. Great day. Tomorrow we move further along the Garden Route coast.

[crosslong31]

East Sooke Park: Alyard Farm To Beechy Head

Follow the trail all the means in which to the top where it arrives on the top of the aylard Farm parking lot. After hiking for fairly someday along the rugged shoreline, you reach a sign marking a junction. Go left on the sign and walk a couple of extra meters past to the place the trail opens up onto a rocky outcrop on the southern most space of East Sooke Regional Park. The views from this level are spectacular on a sunny, clear day as you possibly can see as far south towards Washington State's mountains in Olympic National Park. Follow the wide path to a junction that is marked with signage and go proper. Aylard Farm location is the preferred of the three parking tons that enable access to East Sooke Regional Park. As you drive down the narrow highway, you may not be assured you are going the proper way, nevertheless it opens up to a large car parking zone and a cleared area with grassy fields and fruit trees. Within a comparatively quick stroll, you probably can expertise Creyke Point, the white sand seashores of Becher Bay, views into the primary nations’ previous, and the attractive shoreline overlooking Juan de Fuca Strait. To get to the Petroglyphs, take the path within the bushes to the right on the parking lot entrance. It edges the sphere alongside the forest, slicing across to the Petroglyphs. Or take the well-established path that continues through the open field toward the beach. Earl Spencer has linked this BBC Panorama interview to not solely her subsequent divorce, being stripping of the HRH title, but in addition, her tragic death. Dogs are allowed in East Sooke Park, nonetheless should be kept underneath control at all times. From June 1 - September 15, canine must be leashed when cross through a seaside or picnic area and cannot stay. Please pickup after your dog and me conscious of your pet's impression on the ecology and wild animals in the park. Be aware of ocean currents earlier than swimming, paddle boarding or kayaking. You can discover extra information on the trail on our dedicated East Sooke hike page.

Go left at the junction and proceed a bit additional to Alldridge Point, following the signs.

But in return, you will get a well-marked stunning rugged shoreline with pirate coves, pebble seashores and an old entice shack at Cabin Point.

Afterward, pull out a packed lunch and luxuriate in whereas taking in all the coast presents.

It also needs to ship probably the most well-informed, customized steerage — turning the easy seek for a product into an enlightening journey.

Go right and continue via the forest, making your method up a small hill and over a ridge as the trail goes deeper into the forest.

Following the primary route, you reach a rocky hill, which requires some climbing, but when you reach the highest, Creyke Point presents gorgeous views of Becher Bay and the Juan de Fuca Strait. Enjoy a day of paddle boarding on gorgeous Thetis Lake, a preferred grasp for families with a wonderful sandy beach. In a damning report for the 99-year-stalwart reputation of the BBC, retired decide Lord Dyson discovered the group culpable for overlaying up for Martin Bashir's fake financial institution statements.

Creyke Point - The View You Don't Want To Miss In East Sooke Park

You’ll see your first glimpse of an out-cropped rock to the proper. As you continue, the path will open up where you probably can vier proper and head down a windy shore path to a small rock island. Travel down the path and end up at an endearing cove that invitations you to take a seat again and relax in its breathtaking scenery.

The statements were instrumental in scoring him the sensational 1995 interview with Princess Diana. The data offered herein is further subject to our Terms of Use. COMOS delivers the intelligent reply to those challenges – a comprehensive range of solutions covering the complete plant lifecycle. COMOS Walkinside offers options for 3D virtual reality mannequin building and viewing. To get there, take Highway 14 in course of Sooke, and switch South on Gillespie Road till you come to the three-way stop. Make certain to tug over and snap a photo next to the driftwood Sasquatch. Then head again southeast down East Sooke highway before turning proper onto Becher Bay Rd, which is in a position to open up into a reasonably sized parking lot in a meadow space. Vancouver Island’s south west coastline is a landscape of great natural beauty—with soft-sand seashores, rugged cliffs, and old... It continues to observe the shoreline, via lush west coast forests, passing many arbutus timber in the course of. The trail reaches the seashore area at Becher Bay, the place you probably can simply stroll all the method down to the sandy shoreline. The Coast Trail in East Sooke Park is doubtless considered one of the most scenic climbing trails close to the Victoria area because it follows the rocky shoreline alongside Juan de Fuca Strait. The route additionally passes the petroglyphs at Alldridge Point, carved into the rock by the Coast Salish First Nations. The seashore is a pleasant stroll from the car parking zone, passing through the fruit trees and across the sphere often recognized as Aylard Farm. You will see the white sand past the trees take the short path to paradise in Becher Bay.

Store Myhavtorn's Greatest Sellers

Watch for signs for East Sooke Park and ultimately flip left onto Gillespie Road. Follow Gillespie Road till the tip and turn left onto East Sooke Road. At the first street on your proper, turn right onto Belcher Bay Road and drive to the top, where you'll arrive at the Aylard Farm parking area. Returning to the junction, proceed to follow the Coast Trail as it makes its way by way of the forest with many glimpses out in path of the Juan de Fuca Strait. The path through this space isn't too difficult, although there are some sections the place you'll have to step up or down and over rocks. The 14km East Sooke Coast Trail is known for its magnificence and difficult terrain, but you don’t must hike the whole trail to absorb spectacular views of East Sooke. Stay proper on the subsequent junction because the trail now becomes a large path. Continue the hike by following the Coast Trail because it passes a rugged section just up from the seaside space. The path arrives at an indication at the end of the Becher Bay space the place it continues into the forest. The subsequent part to Alldridge Point is longer than the last sections and, again, has some areas that could be a bit difficult however total, the route just isn't too tough.

But in return, you're going to get a well-marked stunning rugged coastline with pirate coves, pebble seashores and an old entice shack at Cabin Point. Go left at the junction and proceed a bit additional to Alldridge Point, following the indicators. Walk out onto the rocks and punctiliously make your method down, on the lookout for the petroglyphs on the rocks on the best side. The historic First Nations drawings present proof of the Coast Salish individuals residing in the area hundreds of years in the past. Unfortunately, the drawings carved into the rocks are fading and may be difficult to see as they have endured years of battering from the winds, rains, and tough west coast weather.

Sombrio Seaside

From downtown Victoria, drive to Douglas Street and head northbound as you leave the town and continue driving alongside Highway #1. Take Exit #10 to View Royal / Colwood and stay within the left, exit lane as you move underneath the highway. Follow Sooke Road for quite some distance because it leaves the shops behind and continues along a single-lane highway towards Sooke. Unfortunately, it won’t be lengthy earlier than the images have all but pale away. Jogging stroller may be okay to the Petroglyphs however not after that. Bashir had initially argued in regards to the allegations made by Spencer, who referred to his detailed documentation of each lie the reporter had fed them to secure the bombshell interview. In 'Point three' in Spencer's Althorp Papers , Diana's brother says Bashir advised them Mi6 had recorded Charles and Aylard talking about an alleged 'finish recreation', and likewise that Diana had "advised Aylard what she considered him." Amidst the finer particulars which are rising, came the revelation that Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, stored meticulous and detailed notes from the time Bashir met him and Diana to secure the interview. The path round Upper and Lower Thetis Lake is nicely marked and straightforward to comply with. We suppose that a great beauty store shouldn’t just ship the simplest unhazardous merchandise in the world. It should also deliver probably the most well-informed, personalised steerage — turning the easy search for a product into an enlightening journey. We search the globe to search out you one of the best wholesome magnificence products. COMOS Walkinside permits the utilization of 3D engineering knowledge from the basic and detail engineering phases throughout the complete asset lifecycle. Mainly, our providers are based mostly on the management of digital models. slot gacor can be done in several ways by exporting models and then adding plugins information to optimize or creating processes. You will find a hidden pocket seaside with white sand and a rope swing nestled between two rocky outcrops. Climb and explore, take pleasure in a swim in the cool and refreshing water, take off your shoes, and run along the shoreline barefoot with abandon! Afterward, pull out a packed lunch and luxuriate in whereas taking in all of the coast offers. If you are in search of extra of a problem, this space is a great start line for all sorts of day hikes, including the rugged but gorgeous East Sooke Coast Trail. Once you cross the petroglyphs, the terrain turns into tougher; anticipate a lot of ups and downs over uneven rocks.