#the crossroads

[madmonksandmaenads]

I have been pondering the Labyrinth, not as prison or as maze, but as the house grown to monstrous proportions. Rooms festering without purpose cancerous within winding corridors. Ornamentations of a forgotten past, functionaries without masters.

The Palace of Minos was one such Labryinth. Its walls swelled with the riches of an ancient kingdom. It was the life bed of a man doomed to be a judge of the dead. Life sheltering death. It grew from resplendent garden to a tangled morose due to the seed of stolen sacrifice. A bull from stygian depth denied its proper return. Life clinging to death. That seed flowered into an unquenchable appetite. Death undeniable within life.

A labyrinth is built from the inside out. Every room carved out, filled up, entombed. It expands layer upon layer with each generation within it. What is the labyrinth but the outward expression of the manifold desires of its inhabitants?

What if that inhabitant is a god? Sobek, great god of appetite, resided within his labyrinth kept company by his crocodiles, his cunning priesthood, and his fearful pilgrims. Appetite is a desire that requires growth and consumption in equal measure. Life and death in masturbatory cycle.

To the ancients the Palace of Minos, the Temple of Sobek, were baffling constructs. Buildings whose sheer size made them unnavigatable to the uninitiated. Would modern man find them so?

In this rat racing aeon; in this landscape of malls, offices, campus complexes; would the Labryinth even register as an oddity. We are already so familiar with the cancer spiral of death chasing life. It has built far larger palaces than any ancient Minoan can dream.

[annadeef]

Pink color tests for Daisy ( @artbytesslyn )

[3rdeyeblaque]

On May 8th, we also venerate Ancestor Robert Johnson on his 112th birthday 🎉

A renowned ICON of Hoodoo History, Culture, & Folklore, and a Delta Blue's legend, Robert Johnson's storied yet brief success has cemented him at the crossroads of Hoodoo Folklore & American History. He is known for his exceptionally eerie singing & masterful guitar play amid living a hard and fast life; after having struck a deal with the Devil to become one of the greatest Blue's musicians of all time.

According to Hoodoo Folklore, it was a cool October night when Robert Johnson walked alone with his guitar down a dark road in the Mississippi River Delta on a full moon night to the crossroads at Highways 49 & 61 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. As he walks he thinks about his sorrow. He thinks about the jeers & shouts for him to get off stage. In his misery, he cries out into the night. For his weakness, jealousy, fear, & the anguish of failure. But he’s not alone. Here, he meets the Devil. The Devil heard his cry & appeared, offering to fashion him a talent so he could play unlike any other in exchange for his soul. Thus Robert Johnson rose to fame as the King of the Delta Blues.

Robert Johnson was the eleventh child of his mother's children & born out of wedlock. He was born and grew up with his mother in Hazlehurst, Mississippi until he left to stay with his father for a time in Memphis,TN. His childhood is largely a mystery. Those that knew of him, claimed that he took up the diddley bow (a wire attached to nails sticking out of houses), as music was his life long interest.

As a teen, Robert Johnson met fellow Blue's legend Son House and Willie Brown. They became his musical mentors as they played in small towns throughout the Mississippi Delta. Thus began his showmanship & his iconic fusion of singing, guitar-playing, & songwriting. From then on he lived the life he sang about, the life a mysterious traveling musician. Though as the old folks of the era would say,  “The Blues was never meant to be taken seriously or reflectively. It was simply a force, expressing the deepest roots of their lives”. That there are only 3 known photos of him in existence only adds to his mystery.

By 1931 he was a popular name in bars and nightclubs throughout the region. While passing through Jackson, Mississippi in 1936, Robert Johnson caught the eye of a talent scout who'd go on to arranged his first recording session, which went on to selling 5,000 copies throughout the region. This was the very 1st time that  Robert Johnson's singing voice & guitar play was recorded. Despite his short life & career, he became a major influence on Blue's & Rock N Roll in the '60s & '70s. He'd go on to influence the likes of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, and Eric Clapton. In 1961 Columbia Records released, King of Delta Blues, which was a compilation of his early recordings; spanning just 29 cut between 1936-1938.

In 1938, a music producer at Columbia Records learned about his recordings & sought him out to perform at Carnegie Hall in NYC in front of an all-Black crowd. Unfortunately, Robert Johnson passed away the night before the show was set.

To this day, the cause of his death remains in dispute. Some say he was shot dead by the man of a paramour he'd messed around with. Others say it was a poison that killed him. His death certificate, however, officially states that his cause of death was Syphilis. Still, whether literally or figuratively, there are those who believe that the Devil did in fact collect his due.

At the time of his death, his grave remained unmarked thus no exumation effort could ever conclude with 100% certainty that the uncovered remains are his. Today, what has long-since been presumed to be his remains, is buried in Little Zion Baptist Church's cemetary, in Greenwood, Mississippi. 

"I pray that my redeemer will come and take me from my grave" - Robert Johnson’s final words

We pour libations & give him💐 today as we celebrate him for his legendary contributions to the art, history, and lore of Blue's & Black Culture. May we elevate him in light & healing.

Offering suggestions: listen to/share his music, play Mississippi Delta Blue's , & menthol cigarettes paired with dark liquor

*Note: offering suggestions are just that & strictly for veneration purposes only. Never attempt to conjure up any spirit or entity without proper divination/Mediumship counsel.

[strawberrryjerry]

[shinagawa-division]

Scorpion Battle Anthem (The Crossroads Diss)

Featuring Akari "Cinder" Himura of @katsushika-division

Bring The Beat!

[Scorpion Den:]

(1, 2, 3)

[Sumire:]

If it’s war you want then it’s war you’re gonna get

[Scorpion Den:]

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

[Sumire:]

We’re gonna drag you down to hell

[Scorpion Den:]

(1, 2, 3)

[Sumire:]

Run back to your Father, it’ll be your last farewell

You’ve made a terrible mistake

[Scorpion Den:]

Scorpion Den is gonna make you break!

[Sumire:]

Now what’s this that I see?

It’s dumb bitch Juu stepping up to me

Some people just don’t know when to quit

Oh well, it’ll be fun seeing you submit

[Yosuke:]

Chimaki, I’ve seen bacteria more scary than you

You’re nothing compared to what I’ve been through

Just another tiny drop of water in a sea of fools

Why don’t you go fuck yourself with your own tools

[Miyabi:]

Poor little kitty, Kahori’s grasping at straws

Let me show you what I can do with my own claws

Don’t make me laugh, this bitch thinks she’s a cat!

How pathetic, you’re really nothing more than a rat

[Akari:]

Ha! Well ain’t this fucking amusing?!

God’s little mistakes are definitely losing

Manobu will be nothing but ash when I’m though

And don’t think I’ll forget your little brother too

[Zoya:]

You already lost ever since this battle began

And yeah, I’m talking to you, old man

Ippei’s gone thinking that he’s a god

But he’s only a false prophet wearing a facade

[Janine:]

Tora, let me tell you something about love

Since it’s obvious you have a severe lack thereof

Your “love” lied to you, left you to misguide

It long since died

[Trickster:]

Watch who you’re talkin' to

Pint-size little shit!

Think you can stop me?

You're still suckin’ on your brother’s tit!

[Sumire:]

You heard it here first

Be prepared to face our worst

The Crossroads will be condemned

And no God will save them

[Scorpion Den:]

24/7!

Crossroads, mess with us and you’re going to fucking lose!

24/7!

You’re nothing but toys to break and amuse!

[Sumire:]

The will of God?

[Scorpion Den:]

Pitiful! Pitiful!

[Sumire:]

Can’t beat our squad

[Scorpion Den:]

This fight is in our odds!

You can try to beat us down

But our rebellion will always be around!

24/7!

We’re the Scorpions, our sting is deadly and we’re quick to strike!

24/7!

We’ll stick your Father’s head on a fucking pike!

[Sumire:]

We’re way past the point of a warning

The Church’s gonna be in some serious mourning

[Scorpion Den:]

Damn right!

We say ‘screw your rules!’

You can’t beat us

You’re just a dumb pack of mules!

(1, 2, 3)

[Sumire:]

If it’s war you want then it’s war you’re gonna get

[Scorpion Den:]

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

[Sumire:]

We’re gonna drag you down to hell

[Scorpion Den:]

(1, 2, 3)

[Sumire:]

Run back to your Father, it’ll be your last farewell

You’ve made a terrible mistake

[Scorpion Den:]

Scorpion Den is gonna make you break!

[Sumire:]

It's sad, Juu, watching your attempts at "revenge"

At this rate, your parents will never be avenged

How sweet it was, listening to their screams and cries

And I'll make sure you'll meet the same demise

[Yosuke:]

"Dr. Saw" is just a cheap knock off

Call yourself a real doctor? I can only scoff

You're nothing more than a freak with a blood fetish

And I'll be glad to make your life more hellish

[Miyabi:]

Like an insignificant ant I can crush under my heel

Why don't you be a good kitten, Nyan, and kneel

I'll give you a real reason to go mental

Bad girls get punished and I won't be gentle

[Akari:]

Did you come up with that with your pea size brain?

Shut the fuck up, "Am", and stay in your lane

“Die!"

Ain't no comparison, we all know it's true

That I got way more bigger balls than you

[Zoya:]

Hey "Scientist", don't you feel even a little bad?

A man your age living in a delusion is just sad

You preach on and on about reaching divinity

But I bet 20 bucks that you haven't lost your virginity

[Janine:]

Cassiopeia has the gall to talk about beauty

But all she does is come across as snooty

All she thinks is about her Father in her head

I wonder, does she spread her legs for him in bed?

[Trickster:]

Hey! Hey! It's the wannabe thug!

Can't take "I" seriously with his ugly mug

I'll feed him and his brother to the hounds

I wonder how "Kita Stew" will sound?

[Sumire:]

We'll show you how true pain feels

Maybe then you'll find out God isn't real

The Crossroads, listen to me loud and clear

Scorpion Den are the only demons you should fear

[Scorpion Den:]

24/7!

Crossroads, mess with us and you’re going to fucking lose!

24/7!

You’re nothing but toys to break and amuse!

[Sumire:]

The will of God?

[Scorpion Den:]

Pitiful! Pitiful!

[Sumire:]

Can’t beat our squad

[Scorpion Den:]

This fight is in our odds!

You can try to beat us down

But our rebellion will always be around!

24/7!

We’re the Scorpions, our sting is deadly and we’re quick to strike!

24/7!

We’ll stick your Father’s head on a fucking pike!

[Sumire:]

We’re way past the point of a warning

The Church’s gonna be in some serious mourning

[Scorpion Den:]

Damn right!

We say ‘screw your rules!’

You can’t beat us

You’re just a dumb pack of mules!

(1, 2, 3)

[Sumire:]

If it’s war you want then it’s war you’re gonna get

[Scorpion Den:]

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

[Sumire:]

We’re gonna drag you down to hell

[Scorpion Den:]

(1, 2, 3)

[Sumire:]

Run back to your Father, it’ll be your last farewell

You’ve made a terrible mistake

[Scorpion Den:]

Scorpion Den is gonna make you break!

🖕

[holycatsandrabbits]

Hey, y’all, it’s Weird Wednesday! Where on some Wednesdays, I blog about weird stuff and give writing prompts.

Today: The Crossroads: Metaphysical Meeting Place

Welcome to Weird Wednesday! Today we are going to visit…nowhere.

No, really. Because when you stand at the center of a crossroads, that’s exactly where you are. Which road are you on? What direction are you going? And there’s no path forward that doesn’t pass over some kind of border.

Crossroads are contradictory, and in folklore, that makes them very powerful. They’re “thin places,” meaning the border you cross may not only be physical, but metaphysical. It certainly makes dying or being buried at a crossroads quite a fearsome fate…

For one thing, it would be super noisy! Because you can meet all kinds of interesting characters at a crossroads. Step on over here for a look!

Check out the blog post for the whole story and some spirited prompts, such as:

The $64,000 question. What if, as a necromancer, you have what seems to be an unanswerable question? Maybe you have asked every spirit you can summon to the crossroads, good or evil, and have never gotten an answer. The question could be something huge like “What is the meaning of life?”, or smaller but important: “Where is my dad’s will?”.

Or maybe the necromancer is looking for simple historical information. Imagine asking “What happened to D.B. Cooper?” and you just keep getting spirits who have no idea. Nobody was in the Pacific Northwest at the right time, nobody knows anything about skydiving except maybe Joe, who died in a skydiving accident, but that kinda disqualifies him as an expert. And as for asking demons, well— when they don’t know an answer they’re likely to say something like “Oh, yeah, I know Dan, he’s still in the woods ‘cause he married Bigfoot.”

Ao3 ~ DannyeChase.com ~ Linktree ~ Weird Wednesday writing prompts blog ~ Ko-fi ~ Newsletter

Image Credit

[wordsofahoneybee]

ANATOMY OF A TREE PART II: MORUS ALBA  K. Cináed Cahill

TEXT ID: ME: Do you remember when we planted you here? MULBERRY TREE: Of course. We were both very young, barely sprouted. M: I begged my mother to let you live. Pleaded with her to plant you somewhere else. T: You cried to her about it. M: I did. T: Why? I was only a weed then. You've plucked plenty of weeds. M: It felt unfair. We'd left you for years, and we tear up your roots just as you're really starting to grow? T: It happens. M: But I had control over it. I had a choice. T: You were a child. M: And you were a weed. I wanted to let you grow. M: Are you happy? T: What do you mean? M: Are you happy? Do you enjoy your existence? Are you glad you got a chance to truly grow? T: Of course. Life is always a precious thing, the chance to grow is a rare one. I am always happy for it. M: The neighbors cut down another tree. T: This upsets you. M: It doesn't upset you? T: I am a tree, very little upsets me. M: I wish they would stop cutting them down. They were beautiful. They were healthy. A family of falcons lived in that pine. T: That is unfortunate. M: It feels too empty now. I'm not sure I like seeing so much of the sky unobstructed. T: You want me to be upset about the trees. M: I do. T: Why? M: It feels like something to be upset about. It feels like I'm watching something important slip away. It feels like watching my mother tear up your roots. T: You asked me if I was happy. M: I needed to know if it was only sentiment. If I’m still just the child who cries about mowing over dandelions, or if it means anything. T: It was kind. Does it have to be anything else? END ID

[cloudysarts]

Rise of the Pirate God

heres a random drawing i forced myself to finish after trying to for AGES in honor of the fact that return is finally coming out!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it of course is on the DAY that i start college too so im not even gonna get to play right awayjkdfj

plus an alt version under the cut!! <3 potential eyestrain warning i WAYYY oversaturated it

[ginza-division]

Last Judgment Drama Track 1 - Prosper, See Heaven; Falter, See Hell

Pt. 1

— Ginza City, Sigma Inc. HQ —

[The sound of papers being picked up and put back down was heard in the large, spacious office of the CEO and president of Sigma Inc, Eiji Noguchi. He was overlooking the data on each paper, taking a minute to analyze every word and figure present before he set it back down and picked up another one.]

Eiji: Hmm... these numbers aren't bad. They're a lot better than last month's. I'm glad to see PROFILE is becoming more popular in Russia.

[Picking up another paper, Eiji looked at it and frowned at what was written.]

Eiji: But numbers have slowly been falling over in the West. I'm surprised we don't have more users in America. I blame that country's representative...

[Eiji thought back to the angry email he received from the current U.S. president, Bryon Douglas, after it was announced that he had been banned permanently from PROFILE due to violating the rules regarding some of his comments. Within a day, he had received a hate-filled email demanding that the site revoke his banning, citing that they were infringing on his constitutional right to 'freedom of speech'.]

Eiji: *Smirks slightly* Too bad nobody told him Japan and America have different interpretations of the meaning of 'freedom of speech'.

[Giving a slight chuckle, he placed the paper down, reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out a pack of Lucky Strike Cigarettes. Pulling one out of the pack, he quickly lit it and inhaled it, allowing the nicotine to enter him. Blowing out the smoke, he sighed, a content look on his face before placing the still lit cig in an ashtray on his desk.]

[Picking up another paper, he was prepared to look at it until he heard a noise and looked as a holographic woman in a business suit holding onto a clipboard appeared out of nowhere, surprising him.]

???: President Noguchi, sir.

Eiji: *Sighs* ALICE[1], what have I told you about surprising me like that? Please make your presence known first.

ALICE: *Bows her head* My apologies, sir. But you told me not to alert you unless it was extremely important.

Eiji: *Sighs again, nodding* That, I did. *Picks up his cigarette from the ashtray* So, what is it?

ALICE: *Raises her head* I've received an update on Project: EVORU from the R&D Department, sir.

Eiji: *Suddenly looks serious* What did they say?

ALICE: *Looks at her clipboard* They have made significant process on the project. They'd like you, at your earliest convenience, to please head there to verify it for yourself, sir.

Eiji: *Stands up, groaning* I'll head there now. *Picks up his walking cane* Hold my calls for me, please.

ALICE: *Bows her head* Of course, sir. Please be careful on your way there.

[Giving a brief nod, the CEO groaned as he lumbered his way to his office door. Pushing a button, the doors automatically opened and he made his way through them. The holographic woman continued watching him, up until the doors closed shut 10 sec. later.]

— Ginza City, Eden no He Michi —

[In the largest Catholic church in the city, and perhaps in all of Japan, a priest was delivering his sermon to a crowd of people all seated in the pews. Most, if not all of the congregation, stared at the man with loving dedication as he spoke each word from his lips fluently and precisely. Masa Judice, or "The Father" as he came to be known, continued preaching for a couple of more minutes until his message had reached its conclusion.]

Masa: *Speaking Latin* Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Spìritus Sanctus, Amen. Ite, missa est. Deo gratias.

(Almighty God bless you, Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Go, the dismissal is made. Thanks be to God.)

Masa: *Holds up his right hand* Et semper memento, Pater te amat.

(And always remember, the Father loves you.)

[As if mimicking him, the crowd all held up their right hands.]

Congregation: Gratias tibi ago, Pater.

(Thank you, Father.)

20 minutes later...

Masa: Thank you, my child. God be with you.

[With a smile on his face, Masa waved as he bid the final member of his flock to leave. As they did, the priest pulled on the large, golden doorknobs to the doors of the church, closing it. As he did, the shadow of the large building seemed to eclipse him as his smile took on a more... malevolent appearance. Though it was still early in the day, the light from the large magnificent stain-glassed windows of the church did nothing to erase the darkness that appeared in the building.]

[Turning around, the priest made his way back to the back of the church and began walking down a corridor before arriving at a pair of stairs that led downward. Placing his foot on the first step, he fearlessly descended to the first floor of the church. After a minute or so, he arrived on the floor and walked to a large mahogany-colored door. Noises could be heard from inside the room. Pushing the door open, he smiled at the figures in the room, all of whom were seated around a large table.]

[As he stepped into the room, everyone present ceased what they were doing and stood up from their seats, bowing their head in reverence to the man who had just entered. These individuals, though different, all had a special place in Masa's heart. They were his Chosen Ones, his Disciples, his Children, the ones who would lead all of those foolish heathens into the arms of the Church. They were his creation: The Crossroads.]

[Taking his seat at the head of the table, the "Father" nodded his head and all members of the group raised their heads and took their seats.]

Masa: Now then, my followers, let us begin this meeting.

The Crossroads: *In unison* Yes, Father.

To be continued...

Artificial Learning Intelligent Computer Entity (ALICE) - An A.I. (artificial intelligence) that Eiji created to serve as his assistant whilst at work. He came up with the idea to create her after watching numerous sci-fi films about A.I.'s, such as: Tron, Tau, Zoe, & many more. She is loyal to Eiji and is devoted to working hard to ease his burdens, whatever they may be. Eiji is currently in the process of creating an android body for her, not only as a reward for all her hard work but also so she can stop surprising him.

[madmonksandmaenads]

It's unfair that I won't get to play with my own bones.

I want to toot a shrill note on a flute carved from my femur

I should be able to pose with my skull for some macabre mellodrama

I would scrimshaw crude drawings on my ribs

Roll my own knuckle bones

Don't we deserve that? After all these years together, shouldn't we get one last chance to play.

[annadeef]

Halcyon the Dancing Queen, Ruler of the of the dance floor since she was 17

More UMP stuff @artbytesslyn

[banal-nadas]

Around Thedas

[strawberrryjerry]

Feel like I’ve got to plug this here, if you liked the Crossroads and are waiting for the sequel, you’ll love the lesbian side story 🫣😇🏳️‍🌈👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩

[urdnotcadash]

| Sunshine Cadash | Inquisitions Inner Circle: Morrigan | 14/? “I am many things, but I will not be the mother you were to me.”

[ellavi-a03]

How do all of you feel about a new story based on that dream I had lol

These are Tessa Rockwell and Daniel Collier, from a new story called The Crossroads. Here’s a sneak peek! I might be publishing the first chapter today or tomorrow.

She begins to scrounge around in her purse for her keys. “Better get goin’,” she mutters, and Daniel’s eyebrows fly up.

“Not that shitfaced you aren’t,” he tells her.

“Can’t afford a cab, and dunno where to go. Can’t go home, I can’t do it,” she says as the tears finally start to make their way down her face. She can’t handle another silent, cold, empty night without her best friend nearby, where they wake each other up at the most ridiculous hours and stay up talking.

“Then I’ll drive you to my place. You can sober up there.”

Her eyes widen. “Daniel,” she sputters. “Can’t ask you to do that.”

He shakes his head. “Tessa, Tessa, Tessa,” he says, her name rolling off his tongue in a way that nearly makes her blush. “We’ve been friends for years. I can easily take you back to my place, no questions asked. It’s alright. Besides, there’s a serial killer out there. What kind of friend am I if I don’t help you get home late at night?”

Tessa rolls her eyes. “Please,” she says. “It’s so unlikely that the Crossroads Killer would get to me after…after…” She chews her lips, recalling the sight of Dee’s body in her casket.

Daniel sighs. “Please, Tessa,” he says, placing the glass he was washing down. “If anything happened to you too, I wouldn’t be able to stand it.”

[strawlessandbraless]

Dean taking on the cw when he finds out Cas could have been balls deep in him instead of that rusty nail