#sword vs lantern

[petermorwood]

More on pre-electricity lighting.

Interesting to see this one pop up again after nearly two years - courtesy of @dduane, too! :->

*****

After experiencing a couple more storm-related power cuts since my original post, as well as a couple of after-dark garden BBQs, I've come to the conclusion that C.J. Cherryh puts far too much emphasis on "how dark things were pre-electric light".

For one thing eyes adjust, dilating in dim light to gather whatever illumination is available. Okay, if there's none, there's none - but if there's some, human eyes can make use of it, some better or just faster than others. They're the ones with "good night vision".

Think, for instance, of how little you can see of your unlit bedroom just after you've turned off the lights, and how much more of it you can see if you wake up a couple of hours later.

There's also that business of feeling your way around, risking breaking your neck etc. People get used to their surroundings and, after a while, can feel their way around a familiar location even in total darkness with a fair amount of confidence.

Problems arise when Things Aren't Where They Should Be (or when New Things Arrive) and is when most trips, stumbles, hacked shins and stubbed toes happen, but usually - Lego bricks and upturned UK plugs aside - non-light domestic navigation is incident-free.

*****

Here are a couple of pics from one of those BBQs: one candle and a firepit early on, then the candle, firepit and an oil lamp much later, all much more obvious than DD's iPad screen.

Though I remain surprised at how well my phonecam was handling this low light, my own unassisted eyes were doing far better. For instance, that area between the table and the firepit wasn't such an impenetrable pool of darkness as it appears in the photo.

I see (hah!) no reason why those same Accustomed Eyes would have any more difficulty with candles or oil lamps as interior lighting, even without the mirrors or reflectors in my previous post.

With those, and with white interior walls, things would be even brighter. There's a reason why so many reconstructed period buildings in Folk Museums etc. are (authentically) whitewashed not just outside but inside as well. It was cheap, had disinfectant qualities, and was a reflective surface. Win, win and win.

*****

All right, there were no switches to turn on a light. But there was no need for what C.J. describes as stumbling about to reach the fire, because there were tinderboxes and, for many centuries before them, flint and steel. Since "firesteels" have been heraldic charges since the 1100s, the actual tool must have been in use for even longer.

Tinderboxes were fire-starter sets with flint, steel and "tinder" all packed into (surprise!) a box. The tinder was easily lit ignition material, often "charcloth", fabric baked in an airtight jar or tin which would now start to glow just from a spark.

They're mentioned in both "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings". Oddly enough, "Hobbit" mentions matches in a couple of places, but I suspect that's a carry-over from when it was just a children's story, not part of the main Legendarium.

Tinderboxes could be simple, just a basic flint-and-steel kit with some tinder for the sparks to fall on...

...or elaborate like this one, with a fancy striker, charcloth, kindling material and even wooden "spills" (long splinters) to transfer flame to a candle or the kindling...

This tinderbox even doubles as a candlestick, complete with a snuffer which would have been inside along with everything else.

Here's a close-up of the striker box with its inner and outer lids open:

What looks like a short pencil with an eraser is actually the striker. A bit of tinder or charcloth would have been pulled through that small hole in the outer lid, which was then closed.

There was a rough steel surface on the lid, and the striker was scraped along it, like so:

This was done for a TV show or film, so the tinder was probably made more flammable with, possibly, lighter fuel. That would be thoroughly appropriate, since a Zippo or similar lighter works on exactly the same principle.

A real-life version of any tinderbox would usually just produce glowing embers needing blown on to make a flame, which is shown sometimes in movies - especially as a will-it-light-or-won't-it? tension build - but is usually a bit slow and non-visual for screen work.

*****

There were even flintlock tinderboxes which worked with the same mechanism as those on firearms. Here's a pocket version:

Here are a couple of bedside versions, once again complete with a candlestick:

And here are three (for home defence?) with a spotlight candle lantern on one side and a double-trigger pistol on the other.

Pull one trigger to light the candle, pull the other trigger to fire the gun.

What could possibly go wrong? :-P

*****

Those pistol lanterns, magnified by lenses, weren't just to let their owner see what they were shooting at: they would also have dazzled whatever miscreant was sneaking around in the dark, irises dilated to make best use of available glimmer.

Swordsmen both good and bad knew this trick too, and various fight manuals taught how to manage a thumb-shuttered lamp encountered suddenly in a dark alley.

There's a sword-and-lantern combat in the 1973 "Three Musketeers" between Michael York (D'Artagnan) and Christopher Lee (Rochefort), which was a great idea.

Unfortunately it failed in execution because the "Hollywood Darkness" which let viewers see the action, wasn't dark enough to emphasise the hazards / advantages of snapping the lamps open and shut.

This TV screencap (can't get a better one, the DVD won't run in a computer drive) shows what I mean.

In fact, like the photos of the BBQ, this image - and entire fight - looks even brighter through "real eyes" than with the phonecam. Just as there can be too much dark in a night scene, there can also be too much light.

*****

One last thing I found when assembling pics for the post were Folding Candle-lanterns.

They were used from about the mid-1700s to the later 20th century (Swiss Army ca. 1978) as travel accessories and emergency equipment, and IMO - I've Made A Note - they'd fit right into a fantasy world whose tech level was able to make them.

The first and last are reproductions: this one is real, from about 1830.

The clear part was mica - a transparent mineral which can be split into thin flexible sheets - while others use horn / parchment, though both of these are translucent rather than transparent. Regardless, all were far less likely to break than glass.

One or two inner surfaces were usually tin, giving the lantern its own built-in reflector, and tech-level-wise, tin as a shiny or decorative finish has been used since Roman times.

I'm pretty sure that top-of-the-line models could also have been finished with their own matching, maybe even built-in, tinderboxes.

And if real ones didn't, fictional ones certainly could. :->

*****

Yet more period lighting stuff here, including flintlock alarm clocks (!)

[snackugaki-jestsjapesjokes]

In commemoration of this

Let us remember what Frida can do canonically

gave her the ol' Shikamaru's Kagemane no Jutsu treatment for ninpo which is fitting really since

And what's more ninja than shadow manipulation?

Just y'know, from a 90s weeb standpoint who saw how fucking obsessed U.S media was with ninja in the 80s and 90s, the earlier TMNT could have stood to be MORE ninja. The newer iterations kinda sorta have gotten "more ninja" instead of generic milk chocolate martial arts with a shiny ninja candy coating

[purplealmonds]

Finished this just in time for the new trailer drop! This is my Mononoke illustration featuring assorted merch from the anime, movie, and stage play! How many can you recognize? ⚖️👹

(Yes, please send answers in the replies! Answers, progress pics, artist commentary will be drafted on a separate post when I'm less tired) ⭐️ UPDATE 04/03/24: Abridged artist commentary is now available under the cut! For the full version, please see the Google Doc linked in the replies.

👁️Overview 

Late last year, I rather belatedly discovered Mononoke’s 15th anniversary came and went, and with it, an entire swath of new content to manically pore over. This is an illustration of the various Mononoke merchandise, props, and set dressing I discovered.

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🔎Scope

Some fun facts regarding the work that went into this illustration!

Not including research time, this project ran for roughly two months, consuming much of my waking hours outside of my full time and freelance jobs.

While the illustration does not depict all of my findings, it does feature over 120 unique props and set dressings!

The majority of the props and set dressing were modeled to varying degrees of detail in SketchUp.

To model prep, I often put together schematics on Photoshop or Illustrators. Some were created from scratch. Others were created with the liberal usage of the Photoshop transform and perspective warp function. 

The master file is 1.5GB. The dimensions are 6400x3600 at 300 dpi, and contains over 2,200 layers. 

Near the end of production, the master file became so unwieldy I created a separate working file. This way, I could create assets lag-free then import the layers into the master file. 

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Past this point is where most of the commentary cuts were made for the sake of brevity. Again, look in the replies for the Google Doc link containing the full version with a table of contents for easier navigation!

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🗳️3D Layout

As you can see, the backbone of this illustration is the 3D model. I spent perhaps 30-40% of my production time on this stage.

And this is the lit version. The lighting ultimately got downplayed in favor of showcasing the vibrant colors. I like how simple it looks though!

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🎬Production-Based Set Dressing

In addition to merchandise, I wanted to insert set dressing and props from the various Mononoke productions. 

🦊Kusuriuri

It’s odd to have a section dedicated just to him, but his unique appearance warrants it. His garb and overall appearance is an amalgam of the anime and movie. The original intent was ambiguity– kind of like the blue/black vs. yellow/white dress phenomena a few years back. But after doing the color flats, I rather liked how the rich, unaltered colored fit with the overall composition so it became more blatant. I’m surprised that nobody has commented on this since I published the illustration. Maybe because I didn’t feature him in a close-up?

🐈 kai ~Ayakashi~Bake Neko (2006)

Finding props iconic to this story arc (outside of the Kusuriuri’s tools of trade, of course) was somewhat difficult. While the environment was richly decorated, it mainly consisted of 2D artwork which I wasn’t keen on retracing. I opted to paint objects that characters interacted with or featured heavily in the show.

Salt Jar

Candlestick

Rat Trap

🦋Mononoke (2007)

The props fall into three distinct categories here: Kusuriuri’s tools and trinkets; things featured in the opening and ending credits; and objects iconic to each of the five story arcs in the series. I tried to keep most of them clustered on the tatami, but as space grew scarce some props trickled up onto the deck as well.

Medicine Box

Exorcism Sword

Tenbin

Paper Talisman

Mirror

Ring

Geta Sandal

Necklace

Paper Umbrella (Zashikiwarashi)

Daruma Dolls ( Zashikiwarashi)

Gunpowder Ball (Umi Bozu)

Smoking Pipe (Nopperabou)

Genjiko Blocks (Nue)

Train Ticket (Bake Neko)

Lantern (Anime OP)

Butterflies (Anime EP)

☂️Mononoke: Karakasa (2024)

Pretty slim pickings for the new movie since I only had the teaser, first trailer, and movie poster to reference from. Kusuriuri’s tools of trade were a given, but finding memorable and narratively significant objects was a tad troublesome.

Thankfully, the set dressing ended up (however subconsciously) strikingly similar to the movie’s environment design, down to the green tatami and multicolor shoji screen. I suppose at this point I was so immersed in Mononoke content that its aesthetics subconsciously informed my design choices! 

Exorcism Sword

Tenbin

Paper Talisman

Comb

Movie Poster

Butterfly (Custom design)

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🪭Official Merchandise

Goods related to canonical narratives and/or productions.

🎊15th Anniversary

Mononoke Shu - A light novel by Hideyui Niki & illustrated by 2964_KO

Whiskey Glass & Box

📖 Key Frame Art Books by Hashimoto Takashi

Ayakashi Key Art Frame Book (2010)

Key Frame Art Book vol.9 (2017)

📚Manga by Yaeko Ninagawa

Kai Ayakashi: Bake Neko Vol. 1-2

Kai Ayakashi: Mononoke Prequel

Mononoke Vol. 1-10

🎭Butai Mononoke

Bakeneko Pamphlet 

Zashikiwarashi Pamphlet

Zashikiwarashi Acrylic Standees

Zashikiwarashi Manegi

💿Physical Media

Official OST CD

DVD Box Set

Yokai Pattern Fabric

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Common Collab Merchandise

This category consists of goods that are generally more affordable and feature graphics from the source material with minimal alterations.

Amnibus

Wall Scrolls

Tenugui Fabric 

Shot Glasses

Minoyaki Bean Plates

ANIGA-TER

Stickers

Can Badges

Canvas Prints

Anique

Diorama Acrylic Stand

Acrylic Blocks

Challenge Kuji

Kusuriuri & Hyper Clocks

eeo Store Online

Folding Fan

Keychains

Can Badges

gj character G

Cushion

Acrylic Charms

Neo Gate

Satchels

Mini Badges

Mini Badges by Mame Shinoda

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High-End Collab Merchandise

Goods which derive motifs from the characters, props, and patterns from the production and transform them in an elevated manner through abstraction or usage of precious materials.

gj character G

Exorcism Sword Ring

Goodsmile

Kusuriuri Nendoroid Figurine

Folding Screen

Kusuriuri & Hyper Plush

Tote Bag

Kaya

Umbrella

Tenbin Kanzashi

Tabi Socks

Dress

Kotobukiya

Figurine

Mayla

Pump Heels

Kusuriuri & Hyper Hairpins

Tenbin Earrings

Hyper Earrings

Noitamina Apparel

Perfume

Tenbin Necklace

Folding Fan

Super Groupies

Purse

Wallet

Watch

Tsumuji Design

Exorcism Sword Necklace

Ofuda Bracelet

Useless Use Lab

Fragrance Set

Air Purifier

Three-Sided Mirror

[4dango-the2nd]

4Dango Comic Masterlist

These are mostly twitter links right now. I’ll slowly replace them with the tumblr posts as I upload the comics here!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BIRTHDAYS Anthology

Bennett’s Birthday (twt 2022)

Childe’s Birthday (twt 2021) (2022)

Diluc’s Birthday (twt 2021)

Eula’s Birthday (twt 2021)

Jean’s Birthday (twt 2022)

Kaeya’s Birthday (twt 2020) 

Kaveh's Birthday (2023)

Kokomi’s Birthday (2022)

Razor’s Birthday (twt 2021)

Rosaria’s Birthday (twt 2022)

Sara’s Birthday (2022)

Xiao’s Birthday (2021)

Zhongli’s Birthday (twt 2021)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CELEBRATION Anthology

Secret Santa (2020)

Father’s Day (twt 2021)

Christmas (2021)

New Year (2022)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MONDSTADT Anthology

Albedo-centric:

Voices in Ice & Snow (Corrupted Albedo dj, Completed) [twitter] [webtoon]

Cold Tolerance & Homunculus Body (ft. Albedo, Aether)

My Sword (ft. Albedo, Aether, CW: GORE)

Ghost AU page test (ft. Albedo, Aether)

“Father” (ft. Albedo, Subject 2, Dainsleif)

Fleeting Shadow (ft. Albedo, Subject 2, Aether)

Teasing Huffman (ft. Albedo, Huffman)

.

Dawn Winery centric (Diluc, Kaeya, Adelinde):

Eye (ft. Diluc & Kaeya)

Badass Adelinde

Diluc’s Raw Strength (ft. Diluc, poor hilichurl)

Long Live The King (ft. Kaeya, Diluc, Kaeya’s father)

500 Years (ft. Kaeya, Kaeya’s father)

Rain Anthology flipbook animation

.

AUs:

LUPICAL (Modern AU) [webtoon]

Mondt Gala [twitter thread]

.

Others:

Klee’s Big Bang skill (animation)

Use Your Claws, Boy (ft. Razor, Rosaria)

If You Hurt Him (ft. Razor, Rosaria)

Shadows (ft. Diluc & Rosaria, crack ship)

Growing Up (ft. Razor, Klee) [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4]

Ties (ft. Diluc, Razor)

Summer Event (ft. Razor, Diluc, Kaeya, Albedo, Dvalin)

Viktor & Lily

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LIYUE Anthology

Ancient Liyue Collection

Burning Karmic Debt (Indarias’ death)

Farewell Havria

Xiao’s Hobby

Qiqi’s Wish (Lantern Rite comic, ft. Qiqi, Xiao)

Resonant Wave zine entry (ft. Tartali, Childe/Zhongli)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INAZUMA Anthology

Teppei’s Ambition (ft. Teppei, Aether, Scaramouche)

Familiar Fatui Recruit (ft. Aether, Childe, Chouji)

Grand Aspiration (ft. Kazuha, Kazuha’s Friend)

Orobashi & his Generals (character fandesigns)

Rui & Kanna Kapatcir (character fandesigns)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SCARAMOUCHE Anthology

KAGOME [Webtoon compilation]

Kabukimono's Tales of Tatarasuna

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4]

If Niwa, Katsuragi, & Nagamasa comes back to life (ft. Wanderer)

If Niwa comes back to life (ft. Wanderer, Kazuha, Niwa)

Kabukitty

Standalones not featured in my books:

Catharsis (ft. Wanderer, Dottore)

Wanderer animation (based on Deko’s illustration)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SUMERU Anthology

Bug Talks (ft. Collei, Cyno)

Following Footsteps (ft. Cyno, Collei)

Caretaker & Protector (ft. Collei, Cyno, Tighnari)

Pay Attention, Or Else (ft. Collei, Cyno, Tighnari, Aether)

Do You Remember (ft. Nahida, Aether, Lumine)

Ashes & You (ft. Kaveh, Alhaitham)

Samsara (ft. Dottore, Nahida)

Flower for my most gallant knight (ft. Dehya, Dunyarzad)

Your Turn, Milady (ft. Dehya, Dunyarzad)

.

NPC-centric:

The Gilded Sand’s Lullaby (ft. Jeht, Jebrael)

Falcon’s Sunset (ft. Aether, Tadhla)

Child of Snow & Forest (ft. Alphonso, Rana, Arana)

Waiting Forever (ft. Alphonso, Aether, Iotham)

Zandik’s Dream (ft. Zandik/Dottore, Rukkhadevata)

.

Character Fandesigns

Professor Cyrus [grandpa energy] [fandesign]

Pari [part 1 twt] [part 2 twt]

Sheikh Zubayr (doodle)

Greater Lord Rukkhadevata (before cutscene release)

Nabu Malikata, Goddess of Flower 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Others

Rhinedottir fandesign

We Promised (ft. Aether, Lumine)

“I’m Just A Feeble Scholar” (commission, ft. Alhaitham/Aether)

Albedo vs Childe rough animatic

Abyss Memories [part 1, ft. Kazuha, Kazuha’s Friend] [part 2, ft. Lumine, Enjou, Kazuha’s Friend]

Missing You (ft Aether, Lumine, Albedo)

Humble Wish (ft. Lumine, Dainsleif, Aether)

Deception (ft. Aether, Venti, Zhongli)

[off-color-darkrai]

Spooky Fun fact for you:

Did you know that In Disney's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" there are TWO headless horsemen? Brom Bones, obviously, and the real one.

Don't believe me? Check this out!

So when animating all the characters in Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the Disney team made sure to animate each individual character as either Right or Left handed specifically.

Ichabod is consistently Right handed throughout the entire picture.

While Katrina van Tassel is Consistently Left Handed.

There's only one point where Katrina is drawn Right Handed, when she is writing, but seeing as we are watching her hands as she does this, it's clear the animators chose to show her writing in a way so that it wouldn't obscure the words.

Everyone else is either right or left handed specifically.

All, that is, except Brom Bones, who is specifically drawn to be Ambidextrous.

From his first appearance he is punching open things with his left hand, and maneuvering things with his right. He tosses things with both arms, and handles knives with both hands.

In the Headless Horseman song he repeatedly switches arms in his demonstrations. He even switches pointing arms from the beginning of the song to the end.

Now let's look over at old HH.

The first time Ichabod encounters him is in the cemetery, and we get this excellent pan up and dramatic shot.

Note, the sword is in his right hand.

Also that is not a pumpkin.

Ichabod runs, and the Headless Horseman gives chase, the entire time his sword arm remains on his Right.

Part way through Ichabod loses the Horseman for a hot minute by falling down a short cliff.

He eventually gets back on the road, spots the bridge, only to get jump-scared by the Horseman lunging out of the woods in front of him.

Ichabod, of course, turns and runs again, and the Horseman gives chase again, but this time he's changing sword arms every other shot.

And once Ichabod reaches the bridge he lobs his Jack-o'-lantern using his left arm.

That is not at all what he was holding earlier.

Also, if I was attempting to throw something, and I intended it to hit, I would definitely use my dominant arm for that. You know, the one you also use as your sword arm?

Unless you're ambidextrous.

Just saying.

So with that all laid out, I want to throw out a couple more things that support this.

1) Ichabod is shown to be completely alone in the graveyard moments before the First Horseman shows up. He even looks at the entire thing multiple times before having a laughing fit with his horse. Additionally, it's so quiet that Ichabod's laughter is echoing off everything. The sound design actively changes so there's nothing but the echoing sound of his laughter. No music, nothing. You don't hear the Horseman until he laughs too, and by then he's right behind Ichabod.

2) The way they draw the object the Horseman is holding in his first appearance vs. At the bridge is completely different. I mentioned this above, but the first object is dark, barely lit, and almost Smaller than the Horseman's hand. That is a skull. The one at the bridge is a jack-o'-lantern, well lit, not even the same shape, massive, and spitting flames. Both are pretty intimidating, but why bother drawing two different ones? It can't be something only Ichabod sees either, because he definitely sees the pumpkin at the end, and again, it's shooting flames. Imagine it's a skull all you want, I doubt he'd downplay the supposed hellfire spewing out.

3) Ichabod falls down two cliff faces in the first part of the chase. The first one he goes down and the Horseman jumps the entire cliff to go after him, not even breaking his gallop. The second cliff however, the horseman doesn't even attempt to follow Ichabod, instead letting him get away for a good amount of time. The horseman was literally right next to Ichabod and chose not to follow him. Why? If there was only one horsemen (Brom) and you were Ok jumping a cliff to keep up the chase once, why break off the second time? Why bother possibly losing Ichabod to go the long way around just so you can jump-scare him in front of the bridge?

A flesh and blood horseman would have followed, but an actual spectre? No. Why?

Because the Bottom of that cliff crashes straight into running water.

Folklore of the time stated that things such as Spirits and the Unholy couldn't cross running water (hence why crossing the bridge meant safe haven). So an actual ghostly horseman would be physically incapable of following Ichabod down the second cliff (metaphysically speaking).

In Conclusion, Disney's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is a lot spookier than you probably thought, and the animators really did an excellent job.

Thank you for coming to my T.E.D. talk.

[bigasswritingmagnet]

Blood Will Out Ch 30: Vrin vs Consorts (or, Vole!!!)

<Prev | AO3 | Next>

“Aaronev truly believed you, you know,” Vrin said. Her voice was cold and smooth, polished ice dripping with disdain. There was a saber in the scabbard at her hip, but she did not draw it. “Even when you ran, he tried to convince me that this was somehow a plan, that you intended to act as a double agent, perhaps to open the gates when we arrived, or sabotage the defences from within.“

She stepped forward. Tarvek stepped back. He reached out a hand to pull Gil back with him, and grasped empty air. Tarvek didn’t dare look away from Vrin to see where he'd gone. 

Gil wouldn’t run, he told himself, firmly. Even if it wasn’t for me, he’d never run from a fight. And, and even if I’m the one in danger, things are different now, they aren’t back to normal but we’re okay. I know we’re okay.

“It wasn’t until our agents told us they had intercepted your message to Mechanicsburg that he was convinced. Even now, if it was he who found you first, I believe you could have spun some lie to convince him to let you live.” Her lip curled and she spoke in mocking tones. “Oh, he had such faith in his son.”

“If that’s supposed to make me feel bad,” Tarvek said, “it isn’t going to work. Even if I believed you, which I don’t , I’d have to care about my father’s good opinion to be sad I’d lost it.”

Vrin drew up sharply, briefly indignant. Her already pale lips paled tighter as they pressed together, twisting into an irritable frown. 

“A shame you did not inherit your father’s loyalty. Perhaps the Goddess could have taught you to love her, as she taught your father.” Vrin drew her sword and Tarvek took another step back. “But you are unworthy. I will take care of you , and then I shall take the Holy Child back to Sturmhalten, where she will fulfill her great purpose. Our Goddess will walk again.”

Vrin moved with lightning speed. Her saber crashed against the crossed blades – jagged-edged and wicked-looking – that Gil held in both hands.

“The Heterodynes have some really fascinating trophies,” he said with a smirk, nodding his head back. A little further up the hallway, a suit of armor lay sprawled on its front. Its head was so flattened it was almost two-dimensional, and now its torso had been disconnected from its lower half and one arm was attached only by wires. 

It had two empty scabbards on its back, and was attempting to drag itself down the hallway by the fingertips of its single functional arm

With a strength that shocked Vrin and Tarvek both, Gil twisted his swords and wrenched the saber straight out of her hand. He even managed to keep it trapped long enough to toss it behind him to land at Tarvek’s feet. Tarvek scooped it up and swung hard, knocking aside the spear a second Geisterdame was about to drive into Gil’s unprotected back.

“You still talk too much,” Tarvek grumbled. “This isn’t a Heterodyne Boys story.”

“I knew you had her,” Gil said confidently. This startled Tarvek badly enough that he almost failed to parry the Geisterdame’s next swing. “Uh oh.”

“Do I want to know?” Tarvek asked.

“Two more, behind Vrin.”

“Yes indeed,” she said, pleased.

“That won’t be enough,” Gil said. “We won’t let you touch Agatha.”

Vrin snorted.

“Two children and a wounded Jӓger against four of the Goddess’ chosen? This will be laughable.”

“Vole, shut the door!” Tarvek yelled. Vole reached out into the open space, grabbed the doorknob, and jerked the door closed with a bang. All four Geisterdamen raced for him. Tarvek grabbed Gil and dragged him back when he tried to stop the one Tarvek had been fighting from passing.

“What are you doing?” Gil demanded.

“We wish to enter!” Tarvek bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Instantly, the two statues shuddered, eyes and lanterns brightening to a blazing light that dazzled the Geisterdamen, who backed away.

“You must—” the left statue began, and stopped. Both statues looked around carefully. Seeing no sign of Agatha, they relaxed. “You must choose.”

“One must die.”

“So one may enter.”

“Them!” Tarvek shouted, pointing at the Geisterdamen.

The statues were massive, three times the size of an average woman – and the women they were modelled after had not been small in any sense of the word. Though the statues would have been filled with gears and wires, rather than solid metal, the weight of them was still palpable. Just looking at them, you knew the ground would shake with every step they took.

Which was why it was all the more surprising that they moved faster than the Geisterdamen did. Tarvek didn’t even see the first blow – one moment, a Geisterdame had been standing there, the next, the statue’s axe was buried in the floor, having bisected the woman.

Lengthwise.

Tarvek’s stomach rolled, but it was almost worth it for the look on Lady Vrin’s face.

“You dare!” she howled.

The next closest Geisterdame tried to run, but Vole sunk his claws into her mane of white hair and yanked hard, dragging her to the floor. She screamed and threw up her hands, which did absolutely nothing to protect her.

Vrin and the final Geisterdame managed to dodge the next blows, although Tarvek was sure he saw a few clipped strands of hair fluttering to the ground. While Vrin lashed out at the statues, the final Geisterdame simply tried to run. Gil and Tarvek jumped to block her exit.

They worked in tandem, and it was so… easy . As easy as it had been on Castle Wulfenbach, standing up to the bullies that did not consider Tarvek’s title wide enough to shelter Gil, as well. They each trusted the other to be where he was needed. No hesitation. No uncertainty. One would block the Geisterdame’s blow, the other would swing at her, forcing her to move back. 

Her blows grew more frenzied as she began to panic, but that only made it easier. Gil and Tarvek saw the nearest statue draw her axe back over her shoulder. Without even needing to look at each other, they both dropped to the ground and latched onto the Geisterdame’s ankles, pinning her in place. She began to turn to look over her shoulder at her impending doom, but didn’t even make it halfway.

Her head landed with a wet thud on the ground between Gil and Tarvek.

“ Eukh ,” Tarvek said, letting go of the Geisterdame to wriggle sideways away from the head.

“Don’t be such a baby,” Gil said, just as the Geisterdame’s headless corpse tipped over and landed on top of him. He let out a shriek and thrashed his way free. Tarvek started to laugh, despite himself, although it was edged with more than a little hysteria.

Vrin, meanwhile, backed slowly away from the statues, her sword upraised. Vole grinned wickedly. 

“Hyu is in Castle Heterodyne now, lady!”

“The cost has been paid,” the statues intoned, and went still again.

“What!” Gil exclaimed. “But there’s still one more!”

“…only three of us,” Tarvek groaned.

“I hate dis place,” Vole growled and lunged for Vrin with his good hand. Vrin slipped by like a gust of smoke and slammed her fist into the bandage on Vole’s shoulder. He let out an animal roar of pain, but stayed upright.

He lashed out with his injured arm, catching Vrin off guard and sending her flying. It cost him, though – he stumbled back, ashen-faced, a flower of red blooming on the bandage. Vrin’s foot caught him in the stomach, knocking him onto his back. He rolled just as her sword came down, twisted and lunged, catching her around the waist and driving her backwards into the wall.

With only one arm, however, Vole could not pin her. Vrin landed two more blows on his injured shoulder – and this time it sent him to his knees. She darted out of range, motions as smooth as a dancer’s, and readied herself for his next move.

It didn’t come. Vole tried to stand, and dropped back down again. As Gil and Tarvek began to advance, swords once more in hand, Vrin stepped backwards, until her foot knocked against something that clattered, metal on stone. She looked down.

Both Gil and Tarvek froze – and Vrin saw it in their eyes. She swung down and scooped up Agatha’s gun.

“What little trinket is this?” she asked, examining it. “Is this the work of the Holy Child?” 

Vole tried to stand and fell again. This time he had to catch himself on his hands, and he landed hard. He cried out and grabbed his shoulder, barely stopping himself from falling sideways. Blood oozed from between his fingers and dripped down his sleeve in ink-blossom strands, stark against the dirty white fabric. 

“So unlike her mother’s work,” Vrin mused, turning the gun this way and that, not sparing Vole a glance. “Too much of her father’s blood, I suspect.”

“No,” Vole said. “Her poppa vuz veak. He vuz an insult to de family name. She is stronger den he ever vuz.” 

A look of surprise briefly crossed Vrin’s face, then realization – and contempt. 

“I know you,” she said. “The once-Jӓger.” Her lip curled in disgust. “The oath-breaker. Yes, the Goddess told Milvistle of the tale, once. How weak the Jägertroth must be.” She tipped her head to one side. “And yet even as you insult the one you were made for, you fight for his child. Would you not rather work with us? Remove the last of this line you so despise?” 

Vole forced himself to his feet, his injured arm hanging limp and useless at his side. He bared his teeth in his own sneer of contempt. 

“Hy dun fight for his child. Hy fight for my Heterodyne. Und Hy vill die before Hy let you take her.” 

Vrin shrugged and pointed the gun at him.

“If you insist,” she said calmly, and pulled the trigger.

[immobiliter]

natlan has been so frustrating to me because i have genuinely enjoyed the overarching story and lore, but i don't care about this cast of characters whatsoever and i think that's honestly down to the fact that there's no tension whatsoever, everyone gets along too well lmao. i know the abyss is a Big Threat but it's literally everyone vs. a big external threat ( even the fatui ) instead of the character-level/faction conflicts that we saw in fontaine and sumeru plus a big threat. i personally find stories way more compelling when you can create interesting character conflicts in the face of a huge world altering threat, or that are actively working against said threat and have to be resolved before it can be addressed

more specific livestream thoughts under the cut-

"mavuika is one of the strongest humans in teyvat" sure she can throw a sword ( and a motorbike ) around and is physically strong but can you please SHOW me why we should care about her beyond that lmao. me trying not to act aggrieved about this as a furina stan

i'm excited to see the end of the archon quest though. abyssal dragon sovereign??? sign me up. and lantern rite actually has me hyped this year ?? aside from the fontaine chapter, i really didn't care that much for last year's ( which is a shame as it was my first lantern rite ). i am genuinely excited for what is to come though, i just think some of these natlan character choices ( plus their traversal gimmicks ) have been very odd

[tastee-caffeine]

"My love for you, endless as the galaxy"

only sharing if we're friends - 🟨 not comfy sharing, whether it's romantic or QP - ⭕ iffy on sharing - 🌀

italic - F/O of main focus currently

updated last: March 2nd of 2025th

ROMANTIC F/O's:

❤️ Wallter (regretevator) [#improvized concrete]

❤️ Mannequinn_Mark (regretevator) [#treehouse lovers]

❤️ Pest (regretevator) [#you stole my heart too]

❤️ Mach Carolina (regretevator) [#banhammer and warhammer]

❤️ Boyfriend.xml (FNF)

❤️ Ruvyzvat (FNF)

❤️ Black (FNF vs impostor v4) [#I'd kill for your love]

❤️ Monotone (FNF vs impostor v4) [#I'm the doctor! I'm the patient!]

❤️ Garfield (self explanatory) [#fight for dominance!]

❤️ Godfield (FNF x Gorefield v2/Lumpy touch) [#my divine mortal]🌀

❤️ Sansfield (Lumpy touch/FNF x Gorefield v2) [#kitty puns] 🌀

❤️ Gorefield (self explanatory) [#my lucky bunny] 🌀

❤️ Bob (FNF) [#blob and I]

❤️ Smug Sun (roblox MUGEN) 🟨

❤️ Cyclops (roblox MUGEN) 🟨

❤️ Cheeky (roblox MUGEN x FNF) 🟨

❤️ Omen (roblox MUGEN) 🟨

❤️ Sebastian Solace (roblox PRESSURE) [#be gentle to yourself love]

❤️ Muriel (the arcana)

❤️ Dancing banana (shovelware's braingame)

❤️ Red guy (DHMIS) [#calm before storm]

❤️ Paintbrush (inanimate insanity) [#art buds]

❤️ Nightcrawler (kaiju paradise) 🟨🌀

❤️ Lantern Shork (formerly Kaiju paradise) 🟨🌀

❤️ Carneline (formerly kaiju paradise) 🟨🌀

❤️ Narinder (cult of the lamb) [#death's wife] 🟨

❤️ Rewrite (sonic.exe interp) [#I am God and you're my mortal] ⭕

❤️ Subspace (phighting) [#my greatest achievement is you~!] 🌀

❤️ Medkit (phighting) [#I need a doctor oh~...] ⭕

❤️ Katana (phighting) 🟨

❤️ Hyperlaser (phighting) 🟨

❤️ Slingshot (phighting) 🟨🌀

❤️ Coil (phighting) ⭕

❤️ Shuriken (phighting) 🌀

❤️ Banhammer (phighting) 🟨

❤️ Sword (phighting) 🌀

❤️ Rocket (phighting) 🟨

❤️ Great_Day (roblox myth) 🌀

❤️ Radiant_Day (roblox myth) 🌀

❤️ SELOZAR (roblox myth) 🌀

❤️ Alonetraveler (roblox myth) 🌀

❤️ Heart (CCCC - Chonny Jash) [#preening wings] ⭕

❤️ Mind (CCCC - Chonny Jash) [#ruler of her everything] ⭕

❤️ Soul (CCCC - Chonny Jash) [#monster lovers] ⭕

❤️ Whole (CCCC - Chonny Jash) [#I hear a symphony] ⭕

❤️ The Announcer (GWortLH - Chonny Jash) [#monster mash with me!]⭕

❤️ Devil (WWPH - chonny jash) [#angelface] ⭕

❤️ Ego (TTMPH - Chonny Jash) [#you're perfect the way you are] ⭕

❤️ Griefer/Brad (blocktales) [#Y0U AR3 M1N3!] 🌀

❤️ Noobador (blocktales) 🌀

❤️ HATRED (blocktales) [#I suppose I don't hate you...] ⭕

❤️ Karl (Law of Talos/Castle of Nations) [#you're an exception~] 🌀

❤️ Dandicus Dancifer/Dandy (Dandy's world)

❤️ Astro Novalite (Dandy's World)

❤️ Sprout Seedly (dandy's world)

❤️ Rodger (dandy's world)

❤️ Plague Doctor (TDX)

❤️ Eradicator (TDX)

❤️ John Doe (Forsaken) [#I'm all yours Mr. Doe] 🌀

❤️ 1x1x1x1x (forsaken) [#my one and only] 🌀

❤️ Guest 666 (TRUD & Forsaken) [#hello my lady] 🌀

❤️ Builderman (FORSAKEN & TRUD) [#I'll build for you my dear]🌀

❤️ Shedletsky (FORSAKEN) [#KFC is better shared!] 🌀

❤️ Mafioso (dream game) {#ruler of rabbits!] 🌀

❤️ Capitano (Genshin Impact) (will ever be the only one tbh)

❤️ Airy (ONE) [#you and me always forever] 🌀

❤️ Animatic (Animatic Battles) [#insanely sketched love] 🌀

❤️ Notepad (Animatic Battles) [#love notes] 🌀

QUEERPLATONIC F/O's:

🤍 20XX (20XX - chonny jash) ⭕

🤍 Pico (FNF) [#guns and healers] 🟨

🤍 PartyNoob (regretevator) [#come on barbie! let's go party!] 🟨

🤍 Yin-Yang (inanimate insanity) [#you balance me]

🤍 Sprinklekit (Kaiju paradise)

🤍 Sinox (Kaiju paradise)

🤍 Zuka (phighting)

🤍 Mayor Thanyiel (BLOCKTALES)

🤍 Skateboard (phighting)

🤍 Cruel King (blocktales) [#you warm my cold heart]

🤍 Climber (Endzone/Law of TalosCastle of nations) [#my best human!] 🌀

🤍 F (alphabet x number lore) [#I L U 2~]

🤍 GREED (blocktales) [#greedy for you!] 🌀

🤍 SOLITUDE (blocktales) [#come be lonely with me...] 🌀

🤍 FEAR (blocktales) [#I fear of losing you] 🌀

🤍 Burning spice cookie (cookie run: kingdom) [#fireflower]

[dc-megatournament]

DC Ladies Only Tournament

Round 1

Lady Vic's feats:

Agility

Intellect

Marksmanship

Stamina

Stealth

Swordsmanship

Tracking

Hand to Hand Combat

Weapon Master

Bekka's feats:

New God Physiology

Flight

Immortality

Superhuman Durability

Superhuman Speed

Empathy

Swordsmanship

Intimidation

New Genesis Armor

Swords

Yellow Lantern Ring

Energy Construct Creation

Force Field Generation

Energy Blasts

Phasing

Invisibility & Light refraction

Energy Absorption

Flight

[dragonomatopoeia]

i saw the new miyazaki movie and i have a lot of thoughts. also i took notes almost the entire time. however since the word count on those notes is Bonkers i will not be organizing them or writing a cogent thesis at all. so i'm dumping everything from my notes app directly under a readmore.

War setting-framing-imagery apparent immediately

Conscription propaganda

research use of flag/choice to not depict symbol of imperial power when depicting time period. commentary from well-versed historians/animators?

Elderly women first characterized and animated to look unnerving as they swarm around the canned goods— reflection of mental state of perspective character?

heron flying directly out of rising sun over shinto lantern— came out of the decrepit european tower- broken wooden sword

Practice sword emulating father? Inheritance

Mass of fish and frogs swarming and compelling mahito to “join us” in apparent parallel to conscription imagery

Imagery of father’s shoes dividing natsuko and mahito’s

Father is the foreman of a war machine factory— child is at odds with agricultural volunteers

Bribes school for mahito’s exception from school- parallel to father’s own exception from war?

Self-reliance/ insistence on creating weapons/ stealing through more difficult means and bribing male figure while eschewing aid of female caretakers— still emulating aunt/stepmother in choice of weapon

Was too concentrated on training in weaponry to worry about natsuko

How to Live 1937- transition point into accepting help from elderly maid and searching for Natsuko. inheriting guidance

fecemi la divina potestate- dante’s inferno reference? Divine power made me

dante inferno beatrice and virgil? heron virgil figure?

Class and bloodline codified. inheritance again

Heron from wall design in mystical library that caused greatuncle to “lose his mind”. Power of art and representation? How to Live and its influence

Eyes in the sun motif in the center of the tower— closeup of heron’s eyes.

Heron’s power represented with water. Mother’s death- fire

Rose shattered— phantom of the opera reference? Organic material frozen as a rigid unchanging representation

Multiple paintings evoked- isle of the dead, ships, the plains, pilgrim looking over the mist

All of those who seek my knowledge shall die- at gate on isle of the dead

Rejects Kiriko’s help initially and attempts to send her away, but the representational world kiriko becomes a mentor figure, and he implicitly accepts the protection of the elderly women as guardian dolls

Kiriko is a very hot woman but there are a lot of mixed ideas about overfishing and humanitarian relief that are also tied up with what appear to be Soldier metaphors

The usual antiwar sentiments are here, but the framing of imperialism and imperial projects are difficult to untangle. Might be due to protagonist’s perspective? Confusion of positioning and coming of age. War and colonial project as inheritance?

The departure of the small figures/ letting the dead go

Death as a ship— departures

Eating as provision and care vs eating as predation and consumption

Water as illusion and death (eternity?) vs fire as vitality and ephemerality. Protection.

Kiriko’s outfit depicts wheels

Father prioritizing production over family/ Explicit depiction of war proceeding

Okay so explicit parallel of bomb with a Structure destroying surrounding life right before the meiji restoration— nature intrudes and the granduncle builds a european style tower that consumes those who go near

Father arms himself and dresses in symbols of imperial power/ stuffs chocolate and a sword in his suit while holding an explorer’s lantern

“The one who made the hole has to fill it”

Using a knife to cut fish or to mend the beak or to craft a new weapon

Flight imagery in different contexts— heron/ departure of the dead/ fire flight

Guard birds have lanterns/ constrained fire as opposed to the free burning flames

Parakeets- caged birds

Birds and consumption

the attempt to fight against imagined or fantastical danger that becomes ridiculous within the context of the real- parakeet soldiers become real/harmless parakeets

New life within a grave— cycles of death and rebirth

Natsuko’s morning/mourning sickness within the context of her grief Literally forced away from Natsuko by grief and representations of death that are then burned away by the power of her sister’s love and the thing that eventually killed her

Attempting to bridge the gap of rejection and being pushed away with acknowledgement of familial connection and a willingness to approach one another

The master of the tower continually evoked through famous western masterworks

The hallway of chiascuro- classical columns

Tapping at the geometric shapes. It’s literally a Study. His study is made out of artistic studies

God i wish i remembered the actual names of these paintings instead of just being able to recognize them

Evil greatuncle is the antagonist of slay the princess

His power of eternity comes from literal stone. Inorganic and thought to be unchanging, but subject to entropy

He imagines a world that is not subject to death and in this way disrespects the dead. His tools of study and construction are made from tombstones. Literally using the dead as building blocks

Stone and water are used to sharpen blades. Sharpening as an act of fighting against entropy

Food is a huge focus— plenty available for the parakeets, but the pelicans are starving. The shades cannot hunt for their own fish. In reality the people are desperate for canned food and rations

The parakeets eat people and display slavish devotion to their king. They all bear arms

Occasional staging like a Shakespearean play- hamlet moments

Silence when focused on the granduncle. Sound of wind when camera shifts to mahito

A tower built with malice toppling, an empire built upon graves, resentment for the frailty and mishandling of a structure leading to the parakeet king hastening its demise and destroying it with a symbolic weapon

Sincerity and death as interlinked concepts

Self-inflicted wound as representation of malice The granduncle trained in england and brought ideas back. Isolated self from family in pursuit of perpetuity and… art? Empire? Imperial control and its manifestations through art? Inherited ideas

Miyazaki’s antiwar sentiments always seem to be filtered through the understanding of those dwelling within or benefitting from the empire’s power

Mahito does explicitly refuse the building blocks of empire/ imperial tools and reject the project/ inheritance with reference to his own capacity for malice. Gestures at self-inflicted wound. Implicit acknowledgment that empires cannot exist without malice? Seems too narrow/individually focused, but may be symptomatic of a story that is simultaneously attempting to be about family, art, and empire. Inheritance as throughline

I do think Miyazaki should retire for real this time and make time to bond with his grandson instead of trying to transmit a lifetime of lessons through a symbolic art piece maybe

[mattapparentlystumbltourneys]

BRACKET REVEAL

Alright. At long last, I present to you the bracket...or should I say...*BRACKETS* for the Virtual Character Tournament!

Given the scale, the first round is going to be one bracket per week, 4 a day, with each lasting 24 hours. I know that this is still tight, but given how many contestants there are, along with the necessary inclusions of images and propaganda (oh and I guess also my job), it's what I can do to keep this semi-manageable. There's also no redemption round this time. It's gonna be a single elimination tournament. Be kind to your peers. This is not but a drop in the infinite ocean of the internet.

...oh yeah the brackets themselves. We'll be going in order over the course of 4 weeks. I'll make proper announcements for them as they commence. Given how many there are and what I want to get done beforehand, Bracket 1 will likely begin some time this week. But for the matchups...

Bracket 1:

Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid) vs. Elohim (The Talos Principle)

Flame (Yu-Gi-Oh! VRains) vs. The Supervisor/Mouthless (Tenkuu Shinpan)

XANA (Code Lyoko) vs. MetalMan.EXE (Mega Man Battle Network)

9-Jack-9 (Zot!) vs Poppy Pipopapo (Kamen Rider Ex Aid)

Sage (Sonic Frontiers) vs Mektryllis (Fate/Extra CCC)

Dot Matrix (Reboot) vs V Flower (Vocaloid)

Wizardmon (Digimon) vs Delta (Red Vs. Blue)

Sora (Ever17) vs Kasane Teto (UTAU)

The Doctor/EMH (Star Trek Voyager) vs Crash (Awful Hospital)

Burroughs (Shin Megami Tensei IV) vs Quorra (Tron Legacy)

The Machine (Person of Interest) vs The Rocket Dex (Pokemon)

P03 (Inscription) vs. M.X.E.S (FNAF Security Breach: Ruins)

Hakuno Kishinami (Fate/EXTRA) vs Data Riku (Kingdom Hearts)

Samaritan (Person of Interest) vs ART (The Murderbot Diaries)

Cortana (Halo) vs M-Bot (Skyward)

Mitsuko Miyazumi (Archer) vs Ritsu (Assassination Classroom)

Bracket B:

Ene (Kagerou Project) vs The Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe)

Amadeus (Steins; Gate 0) vs D.O.M (The Adventure Zone)

AM (I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream) vs Theo (Meta Runner)

Colonel.EXE (Mega Man Battle Network) vs Daia (Kiratto PriChan)

Agumon (Digimon) vs The Bobbiedots (FNAF Fazbear Frights)

Felix the Desktop Cat (Real Life) vs SHODAN (System Shock)

MegaMan.EXE (Mega Man Battle Network) vs Church (Red vs. Blue)

Shepherd (ENA) vs Dr. Coomer (Half Life VR But the AI is Self-Aware)

Sophie/Sophia (Persona 5 Strikers) vs Dizzy (Beyblade)

Miss J/SCP 5094 (SCP) vs Ultraman X (Ultraman X)

SAYU (No Straight Roads) vs Falulu (Pripara)

Incarceron (Incarceron) vs Benry (Half Life VR but the AI is Self-Aware)

Lea (Crosscode) vs Kiracchu (Kiratto PriChan)

Dragon (Prahumans) vs Murder-Bot 2.0 (The Murderbot Diaries)

Ai (Yu-Gi-Oh! VRains) vs Glitch Slime (Slime Rancher)

Eris (Wolf 359) vs Monika (Doki Doki Literature Club)

Bracket III:

Hera (Wolf 359) vs Shin AI (Your Turn to Die)

Alba (Star Twinkle Pretty Cure) vs The Denpa Men (The Denpa Men)

Guy (Free Guy) vs EDI (Mass Effect)

Aetna (Lore Olympus) vs Yui (Sword Art Online)

Nicole the Holo-Lynx (Archie Sonic) vs Gabumon (Digimon)

Jacqueline Box (Pripara) vs Mamechi (Tamagotchi)

Vanellope von Shweetz (Wreck-It Ralph) vs Cleverbot (Real Life)

The Phantom Virus (Scooby-Doo) vs Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa)

Alter Ego (Danganronpa) vs Digit (Cyberchase)

Simulcast (Reflection TTRPG) vs SARA (Toonami)

Lumina Ichihoshi (Dig Delight Direct Drive DJ) vs The World Machine (OneShot)

Rumble McSkirmish (Gravity Falls) vs Holly (Red Dwarf)

HAL 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey) vs Samantha (Her)

PAMA (Minecraft Story Mode) vs Noah Kaiba (Yu-Gi-Oh!)

Agent Smith (The Matrix) vs O.R.C.A (Splatoon)

Spunc (Alpha Betas) vs Porygon (Pokemon)

Bracket Delta:

GIFanny (Gravity Falls) vs Coco (Aikatsu Friends)

Vic Fontaine (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) vs Red One (The Last Angel)

Glitchtrap (FNAF Help Wanted) vs Holo (My Holo Love)

Avina (Mass Effect) vs Light Hope (She-Ra)

Motherboard (Cyberchase) vs Aya (Green Lantern: The Animated Series)

Bonzi Buddy (Real Life) vs Tama (AI The Somnium Files)

Dragon (Worm) vs Bip (Runway to the Stars)

Failsafe (Destiny) vs J.A.R.V.I.S (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Aiba (AI: The Somnium Files) vs CanHaz (DC Comics)

SAYER (SAYER) vs Fey (Welcome to Night Vale)

Buddy (Buddy Simulator 1984) vs Ziggy (Quantum Leap)

Maggy (Hellspark) vs The Squip (Be More Chill)

Lyla (Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse) vs Durandal (Marathon)

Beta Jay 137 (Ninjago) vs Zero III (Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward)

Sergey Ushanka (The Magnus Archines) vs Demetra (Spy Kids 3: GAME OVER)

Alie (The 100) vs Lil' Hal (Homestuck)

As always, thank you for bearing with me during this long and arduous process. Sorry for the hassle, and be prepared, as it is almost upon us.

[disorganizedkitten]

Hello! You've found The Blog! Welcome to the Masterlist!

Ao3 | Discord | Main Blog | Reblog Blog | Writing Archive

Links may be finicky, in the meantime, if something looks interesting ask me about it!

Coldest Girl In Coldtown

And I Loved You So Much I Turned Around

Behind Borrowed Blood

Bloody Phosphenes

By Definition, We’re Not Insane Yet

If Home Is Where The Heart Is, Where Do The Heartless Rest?

Infected Pearl au

No Pandemic Au

Pearl Bach And The Horrible Terrible No Good Very Bad (88) Days

Thorns and Tombstones

Time Loop

"1800s" au

Harry Potter

A Conspiracy Of Errors

A Week In A Day

And Salt The Earth Behind You

Antithesis / Charlie's Demons

Arial Anarchy

Cobra Lily

Dark As Dried Blood

Dark Magic For Dummies

Emotional Support Cookies

Gentle As Flaking Blood

Harry Potter Does Not Exist (A Presentation)

Hyacinth

I'm Gonna Kill Santa Claus (But Uno Reverse)

Incubus

It’s Only Right As A Math Problem

Judge My Carmine Fingertips (It Won't Make Them Clean)

No Rest For The Wicked

Not Every Open Wound (Is Simply Healed By Time)

Not (Our Parents’) Children 

Nothing Like A Trail Of Blood To Lead You Home

Obliviate

Seven Months Away

Swing a Scepter, Wear A Crown

The Potter-Riddle foundation for abandoned children

The Soul Feels Like The Universe / I Feel As Though I've Been On This Earth Before

There Is Magic In Every Living Thing

Three War Orphans In A Magic Castle

War Crimes Verse

Win Come Late

You Held My Heart In Your Hands

Miraculous Ladybug

A Bug To Bee Talk

A Day In The Life Of - Mafia Au

A Miraculous Mix Up

A Study In Friendship

ANJR

Be Still My Undead Heart

Bursting Bubbles of Bad Luck

Chronicles of Ladybug and Baset

Climbing the Louvre

Depth of Cold

Four is Quantic but five is too

G-day: a celebration of Girlfriends and Glitter

Going outside (for more than the view)

Is It Really Safe?

It's in the blood

I’m Literally Right Here

Luck of the claws

Miracle Fighters

Moving Places

My Safety Isn’t The Concern

No Longer A Villian

Paper Lanterns

Plume Reign

Red’s the Color Of Your Heart

Rena

Scarlet Swords

Shades of Warmth

Sharing is Caring

Skipped a Step

Sunshine and Roses

The Marinette Lucky Charm

These Hopeless Helpless Miraculous-Wielding Romantics

We Recover Only To Be Broken Again

You’ll Survive

Crossover Fics

#girlsupportinggirls

Carrying capacity

Circus au / Into The Mixing Bowl

Closer Than Friends

Exchange of blades

Feathers and Shells

Geronimo Weasley

Ghostinette

Gifts Between Girls

How To Live (When You've Long Been Dead)

Immortal Children

Ivory Shadows

Jaded eyes, stolen stories (Jaded eyes, poached prophecies)

Jagged Leaves

Life goes on

Location Soulmate au

Marinette's Guide To Adopting The Local Vigilante

Power he knows not

Princess Mara au

Queen, Devil, Champion

Recruiting Red

Robbery chatfic

Seven Faces over Seven Continents

Switching and Swapping

Tales of the Tacticional Twins

Talon mindshare

Tim Drake-Wayne vs Albus Dumbledore

Trained Together

Two Can Keep A Secret If One Of Them Is Dead

Wine Aunts Salt au

Wishes Fishes

My Hero Academia

Borrow

Hold Your Bloody Head Up High

How Long Can Someone Be Lost

Lost In Translation

They Call Them Feral

We're All Dead Here

Wingfic

Scooby-Doo

Eldritch Doos au 

Gang Soulmate au

Summer camp au

HTTYD

Dragonborn

The one where Dagur is a good brother

The one where Dragon Riders are their own tribe | Feral Hiccup au #1

The One where Dragons are actually Aliens

The one where everyone is secretly friends

The one where Heather and Mala pop in during HTTYD1

The one where Hiccup and his brother kill the red death before realizing they’re brothers | Feral Hiccup au #4

The one where Hiccup Gets Hurt in the ring

The one where Hiccup Runs Away (and meets the wingmaidens) | Feral Hiccup au #2

The One Where Stoick Suffers Despite His Best Efforts | Feral Hiccup au #5

The one with the human sacrifice except Dagur is a faithful husband and very offended | Feral Hiccup au #3

JCA

Hypermnesia

Reacquisition

Danny Phantom

Age Swap Au

Three Feet To The Left

Walk Beside My Corpse (It's the memory that decays)

Welfare Check

Other

In The Vacuum You Left Behind

Keep Me In Balance

Prerecognition

The Fuzzy Duckling

The Name of Frankenstein

The Paris Fic

We Dared Open The Door

Some fics did not make the list. Considering how many I have, that’s not a surprise. They can live in the docs for a little while longer.

If you wanna chat; ask box is always open, and otherwise there’s the shared discord (mostly HP but I WILL eventually get us an entire CGIC area).

 If you’re interested in other topics! Nino Lahiffe Appreciation Squad Discord - Ethereal Grimoire Discord - Maribat Insanity II (link upon request)

 Otherwise, a wild DK may be spotted but I don’t have rights to those links and I’d rather catch you by the throat from behind. ^~^

[ryukang1995]

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe counterparts/matchups

Superman = Raiden - The ultimate defenders of their worlds. Superman is like a god while Raiden is literally one...well, before New MK1 came along.

Batman = Liu Kang - The greatest human defenders of their respective teams...at least before Liu Kang became the Fire God. Both are expert martial artists and have an animal motif going on (Liu Kang has a dragon theme while Batman's is self-explanatory).

Wonder Woman = Kitana - Warrior princesses from other worlds. Depending on which version you're going with, they also have close relationships with Batman and Liu Kang.

Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) = Kuai Liang (Scorpion/Sub-Zero) - Members of councils who often share their mantles with other figures in the canon (Hal is part of the Green Lantern Corps while Kuai Liang is a member of the Lin Kuei clan, and later the Shirai Ryu clan in New MK1). Green Lantern's ring and Sub-Zero's ice often function similarly with both of them being able to create practically anything with them.

The Flash = Kabal - Super speedsters who often can be snarky.

Aquaman = Rain - Royal figures who are hydrokinetic and can manipulate the weather.

Deathstroke = Hanzo Hasashi (Scorpion) - Top ranking assassins who left behind their families from previous lives.

Catwoman = Sonya Blade - Arguably the most recognizable female characters besides Wonder Woman and Kitana, they're often on opposite sides of the law since Sonya is a Special Forces agent while Catwoman is a burglar. They too have close relationships with Batman and Liu Kang (mostly in my works based on MK, and even in the Jeff Rovin novel).

Dick Grayson (Robin/Nightwing) = Kung Lao - The partners/sidekicks to Batman and Liu Kang, they too are skilled martial artists.

Cyborg = Jax - African-American males who are cybernetically enhanced.

Starfire = Li Mei - Female fighters who can fire plasma/nova blasts. They also have close relationships with Dick Grayson and Kung Lao (at least in my works based on MK).

Raven = Ermac - Figures who use telepathy and dark magic.

Beast Boy = Nightwolf - Characters who can morph into animals.

Shazam = Fujin - Godly figures who are somewhat connected to Superman and Raiden.

The Joker = Kano - Psychopathic criminals with a penchant for knives and a twisted sense of humor.

Harley Quinn = Mileena - Seductive yet playful and twisted femme fatales.

Green Arrow = Kung Jin - Archers who are also skilled martial artists.

Black Canary = Sindel - Authority figures who are also mothers and have ultrasonic screams.

Blue Beetle = Takeda - Young heroes who have an insect motif.

Booster Gold = Johnny Cage - Egotistical celebrity heroes.

Katana = Kenshi - Japanese fighters who wield swords that have the souls of family members trapped in them.

Sinestro = Bi Han (Sub-Zero/Noob Saibot) - Darker foils to Green Lantern and Kuai Liang who used to fight for good until they became villains who invoke fear.

Killer Croc = Reptile - Sideshow freaks with a strong reptilian theme.

Lobo = Baraka - Deadly otherworldly beings.

Bane = Goro - Behemoth fighters with a level of intellect. They also have pivotal roles against Batman and Liu Kang (while Bane broke Batman's back, Liu Kang defeated Goro to become the Mortal Kombat champion).

Doctor Fate = Shang Tsung - Sorcerers.

Lex Luthor = Quan Chi - Power-mad and intellectual villains.

Darkseid = Shao Kahn - Tyrannical rulers bent on conquering worlds.

That's all for now. I did leave some characters out, but these are who I could think of at the moment. If you view them differently, it's all good.

[evilestgentleman]

The Bracket

Round 3 is underway, links to all current and previous polls beneath read more

Round 3

Group 1 26/6

Dorian Gray vs Elias Bouchard

Shelly De Killer vs Gustavo Fring

Essek Thelyss vs Dracula

Hannibal Lector vs Jean Descole

Group 2 28/6

Ty Betteridge vs Jin Guangyao

The Gentlemen vs Babenon Dosal

The Phantom of the Opera vs Count Dooku

James Moriarty vs Kristoph Gavin

Round 2

Group 1 19/6

The Master vs Dorian Gray

Elias Bouchard vs Peppermint Butler

Silco vs Shelly De Killer

Gustavo Fring vs Elim Garak

Group 2 20/6

Hannibal Lecter vs Toffee

The Gentleman Ghost vs Jean Descole

Sebastian Michaelis vs Essek Thelyss

Doc Scratch vs Dracula

Group 3 21/6

The Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair vs Ty Betteridge

Jin Guangyao vs Jigsaw/John Kramer

Dr Jekyll vs The Gentlemen

Babenon Dosal vs Luxord

Group 4 22/6

Spy vs The Phantom of the Opera

Viren vs Count Dooku

James Moriarty vs Scar

Kristoph Gavin vs The Penguin

Round 1

Group 1

The Master (Robert Delgado portrayal, Doctor Who) vs Dennis Reynolds (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

Dorian Gray (The Portrait of Dorian Gray) vs Bill Cipher (Gravity Falls)

Ghirahim (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword) vs Elias Bouchard (The Magnus Archives)

Fate (Death and Taxes) vs Peppermint Butler (Adventure Time)

Group 2

Silco (Arcane) vs Swain (League of Legends)

Billy Flynn (Chicago) vs Shelly De Killer (Ace Attorney)

Gustavo Fring (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) vs Captain Hook (Peter Pan)

Elim Garak (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) vs Sinestro (DC/Green Lantern)

Group 3

Xu Wenwu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) vs Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs (1991))

Elijah Mikaelson (The Vampire Diaries, The Originals) vs Toffee (Star vs. the Forces of Evil)

Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant) vs The Gentleman Ghost (DC)

Jean Descole (Professor Layton) vs Lucifer (The Sandman)

Group 4

Gabriel (Good Omens) vs Sebastian Michaelis (Black Butler)

Lysandre (Pokemon XY) vs Essek Thelyss (Critical Role)

Doc Scratch (Homestuck) vs Aro (Twilight)

Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes) vs Dracula (Dracula)

Group 5

Togami Byakuya (Danganronpa) vs The Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell)

Saruman the White (The Lord of the Rings) vs Hubert von Vestra (Fire Emblem: Three Houses) (vs Ty Betteridge (woe.begone))

Jin Guangyao (Mo Dao Zu Shi/The Untamed) vs Ferdinand (Granblue Fantasy)

August Ruthven (The Case Study of Vanitas) vs Jigsaw/John Kramer (Saw)

Group 6

King Dice (Cuphead) vs Dr Jekyll (Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde)

The Gentlemen (Buffy) vs Griffith (Berserk)

Emet Selch (FFXIV) vs Babenon Dosal (Critical Role)

Luxord (Kingdom Hearts) vs Horde Prime (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Group 7

Spy (Team Fortress 2) vs Tywin Lannister (A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones)

Señor Senior, Sr. (Kim Possible) vs The Phantom of the Opera (The Phantom of the Opera)

Walter Strickler (Tales of Arcadia: Trollhunters) vs Viren (The Dragon Prince)

Count Dooku (Star Wars) vs Lestat (Interview with the Vampire)

Group 8

Gentle Criminal (My Hero Academia) vs James Moriarty (Fate/Grand Order)

Scar (The Lion King) vs Magneto (X-Men)

Kristoph Gavin (Ace Attorney) vs Zaroff (The Most Dangerous Game)

The Penguin (Batman) vs The Spider (The Spider and the Fly)

[druidx]

7 Snippets, 7 People

Thanks for the tag, @artdecosupernova-writing, @eli-writes-sometimes & @late-to-the-fandom. Because I got many tags for this game, I figured I'd throw them together and do 21 excerpts.

Tagging back: @aalinaaaaaa @thewriteflame @wildswrites @aquadestinyswriting @artdecosupernova-writing @autumnalwalker @blind-the-winds @eli-writes-sometimes @hannahcbrown @oh-no-another-idea @rhikasa @swordsoulwrites @winglesswriter @andromeda-grace @writingmaidenwarrior @wispstalk @late-to-the-fandom @athenswrites

Rules: Post 7 snippets and then tag 7 people (DW, I'm not expecting anyone else to do 21 snips 😅️)

Once again, all these are from Alexis Dalliance vs the Evil of Titan, in my unending quest to edit the damn thing.

One

Alexis hurried off again, every step taking her further from her companions. Halfway down the west corridor, the tapping of claws sounded from around the corner ahead. Alexis' heart sped up. Along the long, straight corridor there was little cover – only the nook where a support buttress met the ground. Quickly, she stuffed herself into it, crouching down, thinking small, invisible thoughts. Two goblins passed her hiding spot. By their conversation, their attention was less on any interlopers and more on what they were having to eat once their shift was done. Alexis waited, hardly breathing, until they had turned the corner. She counted out slowly, keeping her ears alert. When it was clear they'd moved on, she slipped out of the nook, continuing her investigation.

Two

At the corner, turning back east, she noted an alcove on the inner wall. A quick look showed a set of stairs spiralling down into the inky darkness. Not the direction they intended to travel, but worth noting for later investigation. Alexis continued down the corridor, passing a wide door of sturdy, studded wood. It must lead to the outer defences. At the further end, she paused at a door on the outer wall to check the sounds coming from within; a barracks, this one. Once again, the corridor turned sharply right, southwards now. Halfway down was a shadowy alcove. Alexis frowned – that had to be the stairs up. As she approached, the scritching of goblin claws on stone came again. She ducked into the alcove’s far side with only a moment to spare, breathing lightly as the goblin guards rounded the corner on their patrol and strode on past. She waited, eyes on the winding stair above, willing her heart to slow, as the receding click of claws counted down the seconds.

Three

As soon as it was safe, Alexis started to duck out of the alcove but paused. Richard and Ithanor hadn’t come rampaging around the corner yet, and it would be prudent to at least observe the next level… As fast as she dared, she scampered up the stairs, peaking into the next level. The brightly lit corridor led away in the same manner as below, racks of arms and armour lining the way. Odd, that no doors lead off the inner wall… Feeling she was probably pushing the limits of her companion’s patience, she padded back, completing her circuit of the tower.

Four

This floor was well lit, flicking touches replaced with wicked lanterns, the light forced outwards by metal dishes behind each flame. A hacking cough from her left made Alexis freeze. She pulled back into the shadows of the stairs. When the cough didn't get any closer, she peaked out. At the end of the corridor was a barred door. On either side stood goblins with spears. There was no way of her exiting the stairwell without being seen so she retreated back to the others.

Five

"There's some kind of prison cell up there, and it's being guarded by two gobbos. They're looking right down the corridor. I'm good, but not even I can hide in plain sight like that," Alexis told them Richard hefted his sword. "They're evil. We should kill them." With a heavy sigh, Ithanor put a hand on Richard's blade, lowering it. "We can't. It'll create a ruckus and bring the whole tower down on our heads." "Maybe," Nathardin said, running a finger along his bowstring, "we should turn back. Captain Hengar told us not to take any unnecessary risks." As one, the group turned and glared at him. Nathardin held up his hands in defeat. "I'm just saying." "We have made it this far," Victor said with a glance to Richard and Ithanor. "We are strong, brave, and true! I know we have it within ourselves to defeat Zagor. We must continue!" "There was a lot of goblin and orc styled armour on this level. The woodling and I are both reasonably small. I bet we can convince them to leave their post. Right, Half-pint?" Ithanor raised an eyebrow. "It could work. Do you speak the goblin tongue?" Bastet's grin faltered. "No…" "I do," Alexis said. Richard and Nathardrin raised an eyebrow each at her. Alexis shrugged. "To know the language of one's enemy means you can always defeat him. That's what my Uncle used to say, anyway." Ithanor nodded. "Then it's agreed. Go select your new outfits, ladies."

Six

Their old armour shucked, Alexis passed her pack to Ithanor, muttering phrases in Goblinish. "You alright, Sprout?" Ithanor asked. "Yeah. I'm just rusty." Alexis blew out her cheeks. "Listen, Sprout." Ithanor crouched down. "I know you can do this. And you know, if Sindla fails you, we've got your back. You've just got to holler." "Keep forgetting that." "You'll get get used to it, lass." He rapped on the top of her helm. "Off you go. Telak guide your tongue."

Seven

With that, Alexis continued to feel out the lock, brow furrowed in concentration. With a faint clunk, it popped undone. "There." The dwarf shoved open the door. "Well knock me down with Moradin's hammer! 'Tis a woodling after all. Nice job with them green-skins, lass." "Thank you." Alexis' ears twitched, catching the distinctive rattle of Richard's heavy plate armour. "And here is the rest of our group."

Eight

As the others crowded around, Alexis introduced her companions to the dwarf. "I am Magar Silvarius, the boss of this here fort," the dwarf said, reaching up to shake hands with everyone. "I'm right glad you folks have come. My fellows are in the other cells. You think you can get 'em out?" "Of course we can free them," Richard said. With a flourish, he gestured towards the other barred doors. "Alexis?" "Yeah, sure. I'll get right on that," she muttered, heading towards the doors. Over her head, Magar called out, "Worry not lads and lassies. You’ll be out in a jiffy." The lock Alexis was picking popped open. "One down, seven to go…" The dwarves inside pushed out, shaking first Alexis' hand, then bustling over to Magar who embraced them. "Hey," Alexis called, "what happened to the gobbos we sent down to you?" "We took them out, of course," Richard answered. "Right. They have any keys on them? This would go a lot faster if I had help." "I think I saw a keyring on one of them," Nathardrin said. "I'll go check." Alexis sighed and got to work on the second door.

Nine

"Alright now, settle down, settle down!" Magar called after a while. "I've had a wee word with her ladyship-" here he nodded to another dwarf, standing a little apart, dressed in fine velvets, "-and we've agreed it's only right and proper we compensate these fine folk for their work in freeing us and taking our home back from these marauding nuisances." The dwarves cheered. Magar turned to the group. "The next level up contains our vault. But it’s also the most fortified level. There’s a guard post at every corner of the tower, and Moradin knows how many gobbos are in each." "We can take on whatever’s above," Richard said. "But there are still many vermin in the lower levels which stand between you and reclaiming your tower." Victor scratched at his chin, glancing at Ithanor. "A little help would not go amiss," he said and turned his attention back to Magar. "There are arms and armour down below, if you’ve any men still able to fight?" As he spoke, Alexis saw many of the dwarves nodding their heads, some pounding fists into their opposite hands. Magar must have seen it too, as she ran a critical eye over her people. "Aye. I think I’ve a few."

Ten

Soon the dwarves were back, armed and armoured. Five of the dwarves remained with the group; the rest were led by Magar's lieutenant back to the lower levels, set on wiping out the goblinoid invaders. "Here's the plan then," Ithanor said. "We'll split into groups of three. Alexis and Bastet will lead our most stealthy into position outside the furthest rooms. They'll hold until Richard and I can get into position. We attack simultaneously. Agreed?" Ithanor glanced around as the group variously nodded heads or gave murmurs of assent. "Alright, Alexis, take your team and check the coast is clear." "Right. Nathardrin and Victor, you're with me," Alexis said. "We'll take the far left room. What d'you think, Bastet? Five verses of Down in the Square?" "Make it seven," Bastet said, looking at the two dwarves who'd come to stand next to her. "Richard, Ithanor, give us seven verses of Down in the Square to get in place before you come up and give the signal." With that, she scampered up the stairs, and, once sure the coast was clear, called down, "C'mon, lads."

Eleven

The others were similarly successful; by the time the three of them had moved forward, the fighting was over and Magar was dismissing the dwarves to help with the fight downstairs. "Right, then," Magar said. "Now yer all here, let's have a wee look at those feckless beasties have done to my vault." They followed her around to a solid metal door, decorated with ornate geometric designs.

Twelve

"Magar," Ithanor said as they were finishing up. "Thank you for these gifts, and your help to clear the lower levels." "It’s no problem, laddie. You’ve still a few levels to go. Sure you don’t want an extra hand or three?" "We’ll take it from here. With these new weapons," Ithanor hefted his warhammer, "we’ll have the fort freed in no time." "Alright," Magar shook Ithanor’s hand. "Best of luck, all of ye. Moradin’s strength go with ye."

Thirteen

At the final stairwell, they paused, silent. Ithanor motioned for Alexis to go up first. Her heart in her throat, Alexis glided up the stairs, her crossbow primed. The top of the tower was a domed, circular room. To the south, bookshelves stood sentry beside a writing desk, piled high with scrolls and pens. To the north was a gleaming piece of equipment, with balls of multicoloured stones on concentric rings, taking up a large space by itself. But what caught Alexis’ eye was the figure to the east of the room, turned away fiddling with something on a bench filled with esoteric rods and scrolls. It was long and lean, draped in an ill-fitting robe of yellow. This has to be him! Alexis thought. There was no one else in the room, and he certainly fit the ideal of an evil warlock. She breathed out softly and raised her crossbow, training it on the creature’s narrow back. Her trigger finger curled. One good shot could end this now– "There is no point in doing that, little one." His grating voice filled the space. "You’ll find it will not work." Alexis jerked. Her bow triggered. The bolt rattled harmlessly off an invisible shield. Zagor sighed and turned. "What did I tell you? A shame. I thought you were the observant one." He tapped his foot, and it was then Alexis noticed the circle inscribed around him, arcane sigils dancing at its edges.

Fourteen

Alexis shivered. Her hand groped out for her meagre blanket; it found only hard-packed dirt. The air was cold and still and weighty in her nose – like the hours after a snowfall. Her face scrunched up. The middle of summer shouldn't be so cold. She rolled over, hand exploring a different way. Where was her blanket? She'd always had her blanket. After the Wargs and their riders had left, the folks who found her let her take items from her ransacked home. The blanket embroidered by her step-grandmother had been the first thing she'd grabbed, and it had never left her side, ever. So where was it? Her questing hand hit something hard and cold that rang with a dull chime. Smooth, metallic. Round. Alexis opened her eyes. Darkness, pressing in on all sides. A blank, black void. She sat up. If it wasn't for the feeling of her chest rising with each breath, or the sound of her heartbeat drumming in her ears, Alexis might have thought she'd gone to the Here After.

Fifteen

She sat, perfectly still, with one eye squeezed closed. In the incessant dark, she counted out time with her heartbeat. Slowly, she became aware of others breathing nearby. When she opened her eye, lumps appeared a few meters away, softly rising and falling. They were too slight, too low to the ground to be her companions. Confused, Alexis stood, turning to take in more of the strange situation. A chill breeze pricked her flesh. She wrapped her arms around herself, shocked to find she was wearing nothing but her undershorts and shift. Her eyesight more attuned, she searched for her equipment but found only the bars of a cage. The metal was cool and slick under her hands, ringing with a dull chime when she taped it. "Oh," she breathed. "Bollocks."

Sixteen

"Wake up, scum," the guard said, then in a mocking tone: "Breakfast is served." He slung a bowl of thin gruel onto the cell floor, barking out a laugh as half of it split on the floor. The women took turns, each quickly eating a spoonful of the gruel, with Bastet and Alexis last. Alexis tried not to think too hard about the taste or what it may have been made from, as the guards unlocked the cell.

Seventeen

Soon enough the menfolk were brought down. Alexis strained to see in the guttering torches, watching the procession of haggard elves as they passed by. She felt her heart lighten as she caught sight of the rest of their party. Nathardin and Victor looked ragged, but Richard and Ithanor still stood strong and true – though the latter already sported a purpleing bruise on his cheek. Alexis waited while the men's line was secured and the guards passed back, before she gathered up the slack in her line, shuffling to be closer to where Richard stood at the end of the men's line. She hissed up at him, and the elf looked down, relief spreading across his face. "Alexis! Thank the gods!" "Shh! Keep your voice down, you big twit." "Sorry," he whispered. "You have a plan, right? You can get out of this?" Alexis huffed. "No, no plan yet. They took all our gear." "Same here. We woke up with nothing." "There's very little I can do without my lockpicks. Even if I had something to use as a rake and tension, I'm not sure how much good it would do us. I'm sure you've noticed all the heavily armed guards?" Richard blinked and nodded. "Yeah. So even if I could get us out of our cells, we still have to deal with them in nothing but our skivvies." Richard opened his mouth – but was cut off by a whip-crack behind him. "Keep working, scum," a guard snarled. He prodded Richard with the but of the whip. "You – stop slacking!" Richard raised his pickaxe, face contorting, but Alexis put a hand on his knee. He looked down to see her shaking her head, eyes wide. With a growl, he turned the pickaxe on the mine face. The guard watched as Richard hewed huge chunks of rock and opal from the mountain. Satisfied, the guard turned, making his way further up the line. Richard paused. "He's gone," Alexis whispered. Richard dropped his pick. "I know you'll figure something out," he patted Alexis on the head, "cuz you're super smart. I'll pass the word along that we've got a lock-breaker who just needs some tools. Maybe one of the elves has something."

Eighteen

From Richard's other side came a heavy thud. Alexis looked around him to see one of the elves, an older man, collapsed on the floor. "Hey!" called the guard, marching back towards the fallen elf. "Get up! I said, get up you worthless milk-drinker!" The guard pulled back his foot, intending to kick the old elf. Before anyone else could move, Victor was there. The wizard cried out, falling to one knee as he took the blow meant for the elf. "Leave him alone," Victor ground out. The guard laughed. "Look like we got a hero here, boys," he called, summoning three other guards to join him. One of the new guards drew back his lips in a contemptuous snarl. "A good beating will teach you how things work around here." No matter how much she and Richard strained against their bonds, the chain wouldn't budge. They watched, helpless, as the three guards used feet and fist and whip to beat him bloody. Alexis growled – if only she had her tools! In frustration, she spat out a curse. One of the guards turned around. "You want some too, short-arse?" he said, flexing the whips between both hands as he strode towards her. Alexis cursed herself for being so stupid. The guard raised his arm. Alexis flinched back, squeezing her eyes closed. The blow never came. Only a pained grunt from above her. Alexis opened her eyes to find Richard standing between her and the guard. His back was ridgid, his fists clenched. The guard backed away, flicking the whip. "Back to work, cur," he snarled, but Alexis could see the fear in his eyes. Richard's head turned as he watched the guard back away, stumbling over a loose rock, until he was back with his mates. "All of you," the guard cried, cracking his whip again. "Quit gawking. The opal won't mine itself! Go on, move it!" Two of the guards dragged the elder elf away, the other two walking up and down the line, their whips flicking, as they cowed the slaves into action once again.

Nineteen

Back in their cell, the women were given another bowl of slop and a bucket of gritty water before the lights were expunged. The rest of the women curled up, as they had before, against the far wall. Bastet laid down in the middle of the cell, putting herself between the door and the women. Alexis was moving to join her when Nassurae called her name softly. "Yes?" Alexis asked, as Nassurae shuffled over. "I just wanted to thank you for what your friend tried to do today. The old man who fell was my father. He had been growing sicker for the past week. Nothing could have been done to save him – but your friend's actions allowed him to pass in some dignity, and for that I am thankful." Nassurae's green eyes shone in the darkness. "The resistance you showed too… We quickly gave up on our hope. But, perhaps – with your help – we may find it again. Goodnight, sá itil." "Good night." With that, Alexis curled up, back to back with Bastet.

Twenty

The next day arrived and left the same, but on the third Nassurae came to Alexis again. "Sá itil," Nassurae said. Alexis looked up from listening to Bastet's plans for eviscerating their captors. "Yes?" "I have something for you." The woman beckoned Alexis closer, and from the skirt of her shift revealed a flat section of metal and a piece of moulded wire. Alex's eyes grew large, and she hurried to take them, hiding them in the waistband of her shorts. "Where did you get these," Alexis breathed. "They are from my husband," Nassurae said. "He had planned to attempt our escape himself but did not have confidence in his abilities. After hearing your friends' tales of your skill, we agreed they would be better in your hands." Nassurae grabbed Alexis' hands, moss-green eyes mositening, her voice sinking low and shaking. "Please, please get us out of here. I know your people did their best for my father, but I could not stand it if I lost my husband here too." "It's okay," Alexis said. "We'll find a way, I know we will. My companions are resourceful and clever. I'll let them know of these tools and we'll come up with a plan to free everyone. I promise." Nassurae still gripped Alexis' hands, but she nodded, acorn-brown hair swaying with the movement. "Now, you must sleep," Alexis said. "Tonight is for remembering the stars. Tomorrow is for planning." "Of course." Grudgingly Nassurae let go of Alexis' hands and shuffled away to sleep with her people.

Twenty-one

Alexis returned to where Bastet sat cross legged, and lay down behind her. "What did she want?" Bastet asked. "She gave me some things I can use as lockpicks," Alexis said, her voice hushed. "I suppose Ithanor or Richard convinced the men we have a plan to escape. Being able to pick the cell doors is a good thing, but I'm not sure it helps us really." Alexis sighed. "I don't know if I'd be able to find our weapons and the men and free them before the guards would catch me." Bastet leant back against Alexis, her nails sounding a dull staccato on the dirt floor. "What if…" Bastet said slowly. "What if I could create a distraction?" Alexis rolled over, looking up at Bastet's face, creased in thought. "How would you do that?" "Drow men are easily swayed by feelings of power, and it's not often a drow woman will allow a man to have power over her. If I can convince the guards to let me… entertain them, that would give you enough time to get out and let the others out." "But what about weapons?" "Maybe the men have something improvised that can be used while we find our own. We'll need to discuss this with the others. " Bastet yawned. "Either way, it's time for sleep. We're going to be busy tomorrow." With that, she laid down, back to back with Alexis, and fell asleep.

[dzgrizzle]

12 Comics to Get to Know Me

Harrow County Hellboy (including all its weird spinoffs) Black Hammer (including all its weird spinoffs) Alan Scott: The Green Lantern (current series) Nightwing (current series) Swamp Thing (especially the Nancy Collins issues, 110-138) Any Godzilla comic featuring art by Matt Frank Conan the Barbarian & Savage Sword of Conan Batman: Gotham by Gaslight Star Trek (current series as well as the Gold Key Comics of my childhood) Jonny Quest (Comico, 1986-1988)

Archie (from the Christian Archie comics of my childhood up to recent series like Afterlife with Archie, the gay Kevin Keller comics, and the weird crossovers like Archie vs. Predator)

Shown: my favorite Hellboy cover, The Crooked Man and Others by Mike Mignola; and Tales from Harrow County cover by Tyler Crook