#the ministry tarot

[plaquerat]

The Ministry Tarot

Living my truth and doing Cumulus x OC because if I don't I will die. Thank you to everyone who hyped me up 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

Summary: Cumulus helps the newly ordained deacon set up

(Credit @ghuleh-recs for making the divider)

Go all the way down the stairs. Turn left. Walk down the hall until you start to hear a low hum in the air. Stop when you see a stained glass window that you could swear is built into the mountain itself. Turn to the door opposite it. Here you will find the Satanic Ministry’s resident oracle.

“Here?”

“Mmm… higher.”

“Here?”

“A little more to the right…”

“...Here, sweetheart?”

“P-perfect. It's- it's a good spot. Th-thank you, Cumulus.”

Newly ordained, Deacon Virgil was very happy to have help setting their new office up. They couldn't carry very much, and they were scared of standing on anything that wasn't the floor— it was amazing that they were okay not being on the ground floor, given the stairs. Plenty of ghouls were available to help them. They had insisted on it, in fact.

It was just that they had anticipated their older brother, not one of the ghoulettes. Instead of a lanky, rat-like quintessence ghoul, they had been met with an air ghoulette, just barely taller than them, and definitely far more blue and bovine. Cumulus.

At least she wasn't afraid of step ladders.

She had been very helpful so far, and sweet to Virgil, too. Not that they weren't wary. They tended to stick close to their family. Everyone else was nice enough, but they could never tell if it was genuine or because their family ran the place.

It wasn't like they could promote anyone…

They were pulled out of their thoughts by a gentle nudge. They startled a bit, turning to the source.

“You okay, hon?” Cumulus's voice came so sweetly. “You're gettin’ a bit spacey.” Her ears twitched, her expression a bit hard to read with her bangs covering her eyes.

“Oh, uh… y-yeah…” Virgil shook their head, trying not to get too lost in thought again. “Sorry. It runs in my… my, um, family.” They chuckled quietly, a nervous punctuation.

“Oh, bless your heart,” Cumulus chuckled, more genuinely amused than the deacon. “You get it from your daddy?” The ghoulette hopped up on the empty desk behind her, crossing one leg over the other.

Virgil made a noise comparable to a creaking door, trying to not look at the way her thighs squished together. “Uh-huh.” They focused on some spot on the wall. Glow-in-the-dark stars would do wonders for this room. Or look terrible.

“My, uh…” They cleared their throat. “My brother, uh, he gets like this too, so probably. Yeah. From my dad.” They nodded again, wondering how well someone with bangs over her eyes could see them glancing at her thighs. “You know that, I think. He's in the band with you.”

Cumulus shifted a bit, leaning back as her tail thumped against the front of the desk. “In the…? Oh!” She gasped in realization, the bell on her neck making a pleasant clunk at the movement. “You're Phantom's little sibling?” She giggled as Virgil nodded. “He's always talkin’ about you. You know, last week he told us—”

“Hey, actually!” Virgil moved almost robotically, grabbing her clawed hand and tugging her into standing up. “I think there's some things we still need to unpack.” They pulled her over to the remaining box by the door. “Let's do that. I'll, uh, I'll read your fortune after. And not talk about whatever Phantom said. Ever.”

“Aw, sweetiepie…” Cumulus spoke softly as she gently closed her hands around Virgil's own. “He doesn't mean anything bad. He just talks about you ‘cause he loves you.”

Virgil's cheeks heated up at the touch of her hands on theirs. “I know, he just… When people talk about family, it's s-so…”

Cumulus shook her head. “He's too nice for that, you know it.” She removed her right hand from on top of theirs, and moved it up to push her bangs up.

Virgil's heart jolted at the sight of her eyes. Four gorgeous blue irises on pitch black sclerae, like sapphires set on inky black velvet.

If they weren't already attracted to the ghoulette, they certainly would be now.

Cumulus smiled softly at them, her long eyelashes serving to make the look even sweeter. “He always makes you sound so cute, honeybear. You should at least know that.”

Virgil felt like their brain just exploded. Their hands shook as they grasped the one still touching them. “I'm c- you- you think I'm cute?”

Cumulus chuckled, her free hand moving to cup the deacon's rapidly reddening cheek. “I reckon so,” she cooed, her voice like honey. “I've heard all about all the little things you do, your little fungus friends, all that hard work you're always doin’...” Her thumb caressed their face, catching a loose brown curl by their ear and playing with it. “‘N now I have a face to match to that. And, honey?”

“Y-yeah…?” Virgil leaned into her soft touch. Their glasses skewed a bit as the arm stuck between their head and her hand. Somehow they weren't scared of this. Normally they would run from advances, but here, they weren't even fidgeting with their stole. Their attention was undivided.

Cumulus leaned in, her soft lips just barely pecking Virgil's nose. “I like what I see here.”

The next hour passed pleasantly. The office wasn't hard to set up in the first place— a pretty girl liking you was definitely a morale boost, though. Virgil was still nervous talking to Cumulus, but that kiss did seem like an invitation to them, at least for interaction.

By evening, the final crystal had been placed, the final books had been shelved, and chairs had finally been brought in for the tired pair to collapse into.

“Finally…” Virgil sighed. “Thanks for the…” they paused, stretching and stifling a yawn. “The help. I couldn't even try to lift some of that.”

“Any time, baby,” Cumulus responded, leaning on the desk, propping herself up on her elbows. “I do love helpin’ the new clergy members.” She giggled. “I'm sure you didn't forget your promise, did you?”

Virgil huffed, not quite a chuckle. “Alright, alright, let me get the cards out.” The top drawer slid open. Cumulus sat up as she watched a worn box get set down, and open to reveal a deck decorated with eyes and stars.

“I'll read your fortune.” Virgil shuffled their deck, their usually clumsy hands moving with dexterity at their current task. “Let me guess— love?”

[trendfilmsetter]

Happy AMCTheaters Discount Tuesday!

Here are some of the current popular movies in rotation today May 21st (varies by AMC theater)

- IF

- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

- The Strangers: Chapter 1

- The Fall Guy

- Back to Black

- Challengers

- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

- The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

- Tarot

- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

- Kung Fu Panda 4

- Abigail

- I Saw the TV Glow

- Babes

- The Blue Angels

- Spider-Man: Homecoming

[crownedinmarigolds]

Fangfest 2024 - Day Sixteen - The Devil Harrakhty Hamdi, hierophant to the Temple of Relentless Pleasures, Elder Setite and proud grand-Childe to Set. Husband to her elegance lady Parvati and true-blood father to Set Reborn. Blessed by the Father himself with many gifts, he lives lavishly and lovingly for his followers. Born in the dirt and having lived in squalor, he now exists in his immortal unlife entombed in gold, as is his right. The Devil card represents sexuality, bondage to mortal pleasures and materialism. Despite living unchained to the Aeons, Harri is just like the flock he shepherds - shackled mercilessly the pleasures and gifts of the material realm.

[badass-at-fandoming]

Happy VtM FangFest24!

Despite my current level of Busy, I really wanted to meet @fuckyeahlabynight's Fang Fest challenge! Tarot is such a fun idea. 😁 Earlier this month, I ran a poll on what to draw, and "portraits of different canon characters" won by landslide. Here's the first half! As a further treat, I paired each character with a flower whose meaning brought out more elements of their character and card. All flower meanings are from A Victorian Flower Dictionary by Mandy Kirkby. Find it on Indiebound here.

If you'd like to squeak in entries for this challenge, check out the kick off post here! I babble more about my character & flower choices below the cut.

Day 1 - Ramona as the Fool - Daisies double down on the "Innocence" theme of The Fool. From the Clan Novels to her appearance in LA by Night, Ramona goes on a wild journey which attempts to break her. Against all odds, she survives and comes out stronger, choosing kindness, art, and whimsy in LA by Night instead of brooding over the shitstorm she was forced through. It's like, at first Ramona was innocent, then she chooses the innocent happiness of small joys. Yeah, she'll do what she needs to survive—but she doesn't let the experience overtake who she chooses to be.

Day 2 - Ambrosio Luis Moncado as The Magician - HEAR ME OUT. He's the Magician Upright and Reversed. Moncado has plans upon plans. They succeed much more often than not, but Moncado also gets in his own way sometimes. The flowers are geraniums. The pencil thin leaves convey ingenuity—yes, Embracing Lucita was a good, unexpected idea—but red geraniums indicate stupidity. Maybe if he drank more respect women juice, she would return his calls.

Day 3 - Ming Xiao as the High Priestess - In her mortal and immortal roles, Ming Xiao acts as an advisor and knowledge keeper for her communities. She also has a terrible habit of withdrawing and not sharing tidbits. Maidenhair fern seemed a perfect fit: it references the feminine and it conveys a sense of secrecy.

Day 4 - Emma Blake as the Empress - I think Emma Blake deserves nice things and barely got the chance to stand on her own. Her "flower" is actually wheat. Emma is essential to the The Victorian Trilogy, just like wheat is a building block of civilization. The narrative wants to grind her down and devour her, like the violence done to wheat to make bread. Wheat is a staple—but for the gluten intolerant it's a poison. There's also the association with Ceres, the mother who, in her rage and sorrow, created winter over her stolen child. I'm like, really happy with this pairing, can you tell

Day 5 - Baron Samedi as The Emperor - What a fun dude. Though he's not always a good father/sire, Baron Samedi takes care of his clan, even at the risk of his own life. The leaves in his pocket are sorrel, which stands for parental affection.

Day 6 - Hesha Ruhadze as The Hierophant - Hesha's story is all wrapped up with faith and spiritual institutions: either following their precepts or secretly defying them for a greater good. Why is he naked you ask? the monocle stays ON during sex Ignore that. Look at the passionflower. Look up a picture of a passionflower. It stands for faith and looks like an alien.

Day 7 - Ilias cel Frumos and Sascha Vykos as The Lovers - This choice was very obvious, haha. Without Ilias, Vykos' life is full of disharmony, arguments, and hatred. United, they blossom. The flowers above them are lilies of the valley for "return of happiness." The drawing is a redraw of this picrew

Day 8 - Karsh as The Chariot - Just like chamomile ("energy in adversity"), Karsh does not quit! Cut him down; he returns stronger! In v5 Modern Nights, I think Karsh would be conflicted over his position in the Camarilla, and the Chariot brings out that tension. B. Dave Walters performed a fantastic Karsh in LA by Night, and I used his outfit and picture from We're Alive: Frontier as an artistic reference.

Day 9 - Halim Bey as Strength - Halim is a gentleman, through and through. He gently persuades, deftly handles his British customers, practices compassion gracefully, and endures like one million billion microaggressions without snapping. That takes strength. The dahlias are for dignity, which he has in spades. The decolonization comment came from me wondering how he feels about the British monarchy these nights. Like how Hesha is wrapped up with faith, Halim is wrapped up in colonization.

Day 10 - Aristotle de Laurent as The Hermit - This one was easy. Since he finished The Book of Nod, Aristotle seems to be quite content puttering around his collection and directing Lucita, Anatole, and Beckett to dig sites. He was The Hermit Upright. With their associations in mythology, queerness, and loneliness, hyacinths seemed a good pick. The purple shades add in the message "please forgive me," which reference his and Beckett's falling out. When he betrayed Beckett, Aristotle's Hermit card Reversed.

Day 11 - Beckett as The Wheel of Fortune - This card fit the (un)lucky Cuthbert "Gehenna is a cycle" Beckett so well! Aristotle and Beckett's portraits mirror each other, because I wanted to tease out their potential for reconciliation. I've drawn Beckett before, but this one came out looking younger and softer to me, which calls back to Beckett's neonate days. The two chrysanthemums symbolize truth (i.e. his constant goal) in British culture. In China, chrysanthemums are, among other things, symbols of the queer male community. Cause, yanno, they kind of look like buttholes. 😅😂 I had to do it do 'em okay

[am3li420]

Remus Lupin head canons i’ve been collecting for 10+ years

- this hoe loves books, i know that’s a common head canon but let me dive deeper;

- he definitely is checking out matilda level amounts of books from the library every week before going to hogwarts.

- homeschooled by his mother 100% and she would make him write book reports so he learned to love annotating books

- cut to lily seeing him writing in a book in 1st year and being absolutely disgusted but eager to make friends so she asks him his favorite books and authors.

- remus goes on like an hour long tangent about tolkien and c.s. lewis and how much he loves fantasy and how he’s so excited he gets to be at hogwarts because it’s so close to his escape from his lycanthropy as a child.

- lily tells him all about literature and they start a book club right then and there.

- remus also studied piano from his mom as well, and then eventually when she couldn’t teach him anymore his parents saved up to pay for a teacher.

- he loves his piano teacher and over summer breaks goes back and takes lessons

- bonds with sirius because of this as sirius had to learn violin to become a “well rounded heir”. they play duet covers as entertainment for gryffindor parties and everyone fucking loves it.

- eventually mary joins in and plays guitar and they have a cute little peter paul and mary vibe going on.

- remus is so outspoken, and truly always the first to be informed on politics or news

- was very forthcoming on his views about the war, along with james and sirius. i believe remus was the most “radical” of them though, and wanted freedom/ equality for all creatures not just wizards.

- he also felt unease at the ministry and wanted systematic changes as well as wanting to fight against voldemort.

- extremely distrustful of dumbledoor towards the end of the war, and it caused division between him and sirius until the second war when sirius realized remus had been right.

- remus had a magical proclivity for defense, and was a great dueler. the only person who he was evenly matched with in his class was sirius. they often fought to draws. they absolutely keep count of their wins.

- remus, lily, and mary all collectively give james and sirius their music tastes. they have new records every time they come home from break.

- remus is absolutely a stoner and loves smoking joints, reading, and listening to music during his free time.

- him and sirius smoke together sometimes but remus smokes a lot more than sirius because it really helps him with his chronic pain and depression.

- oh remus rolling a joint is like the most sexy thing anyone has ever seen. sirius frequently uses those memories for….personal time.

- remus uses an expansion charm under his bed and grows his own weed, eventually becomes hogwarts resident dealer and always puts freebies in his deliveries

- the freebies include:

- little drawings made by sirius

- chcocolates

- sometimes if he’s hanging out with marlene and has to deliver an order she’ll draw a tarot card for the person and write down a little reading for them!

- remus’ own handmade stickers!

- yeah he’s everyone’s favorite drug dealer seriously 10/10.

- he operates this all under minnie’s nose and is forever smug about getting away with it.

- i could probably think of a million more because i just love him so much but ive been hitting my pen while writing this so i’m gonna go make a snack!!!

[dracopias-bloodbag]

Bewitched By Bloodlust | Dracopia x F! Reader | III

Chapter III: Tarocchi

You spend more time in the presence of the enigmatic Papa and he continues trying to whittle away at your stubborn demeanor. But one wrong move sets him off, and the next thing you know he's demanding to see exactly what you can do in terms of your craft. He wants you to prove yourself, and you'll do that with the weathered deck of tarot cards he had found in your bag the night you met.

chapter content: 2.3k words. 18+ only, enemies to lovers, slow(ish) burn, eventual smut, slight dubcon, blood, blood drinking (duh), kidnapping, imprisonment, choking, copia is a sadistic asshole in these first few chapters, the reader Is a defiant little shit, forced tarot readings?? is that a thing?, spitting, canon divergent (see masterlist for details),

Recommended Listening:

The Prophecy – Taylor Swift

Previous Chapter ☽𖤐☾ Next Chapter

Masterlist ☽𖤐☾ Read on Ao3

The next few days are uneventful. You spend the days staring at the wall, the ceiling, even the hole in the corner that an occasional rat sticks its little nose out of to stare at you. Most people would be disgusted, but you cock your head as the little creature looks at you. You toss it a scrap of your dinner, almost feeling a sense of comradery with the vermin.

You’re an outcast like me, but at least you’re free. You think to yourself as you watch the little animal pick up the piece of food and scurry off with it.

At one point you manage to pull your cot up to the window so you can stand on it and look out. There’s nothing much outside aside from the trees in the forest you had come from. For a brief moment you wonder if your pleas for help would reach your coven miles away if you screamed loud enough.

By the time he returns you’re excited at having at least some change of scenery.

Goddess help me.

His hair is disheveled, and he looks tired, but not as bad as the last time you saw him. 

Copia notes how your demeanor is vastly different than before, the way you don’t move from the cot, instead remaining sat criss crossed on it as your fingers weave a tiny braid into your hair.

He had spent all day waiting for this, being in and out of meetings, working out the ministry budget, it was never ending. And then he had a meeting that he had been dreading; the one where he had to lie to Sister Imperator and that insufferable ghost of Nihil about your fate. 

To them, you were a threat he had been warned about, but one that could be easily and quickly exterminated. Copia had spoken evenly, and surprisingly clearly when he stated that you had met your demise; proudly displaying your silver dagger along with your necklace wrapped around it for proof of his supposed kill. He hadn’t missed how two of his ghouls, Dewdrop and Swiss, had exchanged glances. But he knew they wouldn’t tell, they were loyal to him first and foremost.

“And she did this to you?” Imperator’s eyes had landed on Swiss, noticing the cut on his cheek. 

Swiss had glanced at Copia before speaking. “Yes Sister, but I succeeded in driving her towards Papa, and he handled it from there.”

She hummed, seeming to ponder this for a moment, her eyes fixed on the ghoul, until she seemed convinced that he was telling the truth. 

“So she was a fighter, I’m both surprised and glad it’s over and done with.”

When Sister Imperator was satisfied with the outcome she had quickly moved on to discussing some other trivial topic that Copia had absolutely no interest in listening to.

Instead his mind had wandered to you. His little secret, locked away in the confines of the forgotten dungeon. Only his most trusted ghouls keeping watch over you.

Copia knew The Ministry would eventually find out that you were alive, but it was a problem he would worry about later. For now, you were his secret, his meal. He had tried in vain to focus on Sister’s words, but he found himself instead thinking of your scent, the softness of your skin, the way your hair tickled his nose when he fed from you…

Now that he was standing in front of you, strangely enough he feels all the stress of his day wash away.

But that feeling is gone as soon as you open your mouth to speak.

“Haven’t you taken enough from me?” Your eyes burn with hatred as you narrow your eyes at him. “One of these times, you’re going to take too much, too close together, and then your favorite meal will be gone forever. Then at least  I’ll finally know some peace instead of having to live in this goddess forsaken hole.”

Copia practically growls as he stalks towards you. He grabs you by the neck and you yelp as he lifts you up effortlessly, before pulling you tightly against his body.

“Why don’t you shut up for just once?”

Your mouth is agape at both his motions and his words. And you shudder as you feel his breath against your ear.

“What else am I supposed to do?” You grit out between clenched teeth. “How else am I supposed to survive this?”

He chuckles, and it sends a shiver down your spine.

“You could try sweet talking your way out.”

“Fuck you.”

He chuckles, the sound echoing through the dungeon and reverberating back at you as it bounces off the stone walls. He just stands there watching you for a second. Those eyes of his flickering over your face as if he’s trying to decipher something, as if he can find a weak point just by gauging your reactions.

“You thought you were so smart sneaking onto The Ministry grounds, eh? You thought it would be simple – get in, make your kill, and get out. But it wasn’t, was it?”

He releases you then, taking a step back as you crumple to the floor before glaring up at him.

“You thought it would be an easy task, no? Your precious pendulums and tarocchi told you that you would be safe, that you would carry out your duty to your coven like a good little witch.”

He pulls something out of his coat pocket then, and tosses a leather bundle at you. Instantly you recognize your weathered deck of tarot cards wrapped neatly in the cover you had made for them. The cards scatter as they hit the floor, and you sit and stare at them in disbelief for a moment, before scrambling to try and pick them up.

He chuckles darkly watching you as you collect the cards and stack them in your hands as neatly as you can in your panic.

“Did you really think we wouldn’t see you coming? Do you really think the other night in the forest was my first time seeing you?”

He reaches down and grabs your face in his hand, and you whimper as his fingers dig into the soft skin of your cheeks.

“I’ve been watching you for a long time, strega. You just never saw me, hiding in the shadows, observing you as you walked amongst your coven. It’s charming really, how sweet you always were to them, how you were willing to do any and every bit of the dirty work they demanded of you.”

“You don’t know anything about them.” You snarl.

Copia smirks down at you, noting the flash of panicked doubt in your eyes as you say those words.

“Don’t I? I watched the way they walked all over you. They forced you to do the spells they were too afraid of doing themselves, like the cowards they are.”

He leans down so that his face is inches from your own.

“It made you feel empty, no? Lonely even. But it made you the strongest witch among them.” His gaze flits between your wide eyes, and for a millisecond you think that you see them glance down to your parted lips, but in the blink of an eye his gaze is locked on yours once more.

“I watched them break your heart over and over again, and I could feel the way all of your fears melted away when they gave you the sacred task of killing me.”

Your jaw is clenched as you glare daggers into his mismatched eyes.

“You thought that if you succeeded they’d finally accept you as one of their own, no?”

Don’t do it.

“You thought they might actually consider you as part of their inner circle.”

You grit your teeth.

Don’t do it.

“Maybe, just maybe… you thought they might promote you to serve as a High Priestess alongside them, eh?” He laughs at that, the sound making you grit your teeth as it bounces off the stone walls once more.

Don’t–

Your lips quirk up into a smirk then, and you push away the voice in your head before…

The motion is quick, if he blinked he would have missed it, but the wet feeling of your saliva on his face is unmistakable.

You fucking spit on him.

About three different emotions cross his face at once as he draws back and wipes at his cheek with his gloved hand. He looks dumbstruck at first, before realization sets in and his eyes meet yours. There’s amusement, shock, and finally… rage.

“You really shouldn’t have done that.”

Copia moves swiftly, moving around your body until he’s kneeling behind you. He secures you with a hand on your neck. He drops to his knees behind you, dragging you towards him, his strong arms yanking your body back against him. He holds you tight to him, so that you’re nestled between his thighs, and you can’t help the blush that spreads across your cheeks as you realize his crotch is pressed up against your ass.

His eyes flit down to the cards in your hands, as he sweeps your hair to the side, exposing your neck to him. He leans in close to your ear, his voice so low and gravelly that it makes you shudder.

“Why don’t you show me what you can do, eh?” He grabs your hand that’s still gripping the tarot deck for dear life. “Why don’t you find out your fate now that you’re here with me?”

You shudder as his lips brush against the crook of your neck.

“Are you fucking kidding?” Your voice is small, barely above a whisper, and it makes him smirk against your skin.

“No, I’m not fucking kidding, strega.” He growls. “Do. A. Reading.”

Your hands are trembling as you move to begin the process. Your knuckles tap on the back of the deck in three short knocks before you begin shuffling the cards. You fight to stay focused, trying to make sure your hand doesn’t slip and cause the cards to scatter everywhere.

His razor-sharp fangs graze against your skin, the action making you shiver and your mind go blank. In that moment the countless tarot spreads you had learned in your short lifetime seem to evade you and all you can focus on is the feeling of his breath on your neck.

He nips at your pulse point, pulling a tiny gasp from you. “Don’t make me ask again.”

Fuck, okay. Past, present, future, keep it simple.

As you finish shuffling the cards you split the deck into three equal stacks, and you feel your heart pounding as you look at them all, trying to go with your gut and choose one.

It's at that moment that he sinks his teeth into the soft skin between your neck and shoulder. You cry out, your hand flying forward to grip onto something, anything as that familiar searing pain floods your senses. Your hand closes around one of the stacks you had made, and you wince as the edges of the cards dig into your palm.

He’s growling against your skin as he drinks, and you want to hit him over the head for the effect his noises have on you. You bite your lip, shutting your eyes, as you instinctively let your head fall to the side.

But he grabs your face with his other hand, making you gasp as he pulls away from your neck for a second.

“I didn’t say you could stop. Focus, strega.”

Is he fucking serious?

But the way his fingers dig into your waist tells you that he is. You stack the cards up again, placing the stack you had grabbed on top, before taking a deep breath as you draw the first card.

Past… Eight of Swords.

Restriction, feeling trapped, like you don’t fit in and can’t express yourself freely.

You take a shuddering breath, trying to ignore the way your stomach flipped as the realization struck that this was exactly how you had felt in your coven. 

Maybe he was right…

You push the feeling and that thought away as you shakily reach for the next card in the stack.

Present… The Tower.

Oh fuck… Of course. Sudden changes beyond your control, upheaval, areas of your life that are being torn down that no longer serve you.

Copia is still drinking from you, and for a moment your attention is torn from the cards to him. His scent seems to wrap itself around you, and you have to bite your lip to stifle a noise as you feel your head begin to spin. He seems to sense your unease and the effects his actions have on your body. He pulls away once again to whisper in your ear.

“One more, piccolina… I know you can finish.”

A hot streak of blood slips from the wound on your neck and slides down your chest. Your shaky hand swipes at it before you hold it up, gasping softly at the sight of your trembling fingers covered in your own blood. You shut your eyes before reaching out with that same hand to draw the last card.

Future… 

The Lovers

What the fuck?

It was one of the most self explanatory cards in the deck, it was the one you spent your girlhood hoping and praying to any deity who would listen for, yet it never seemed to find its way into your readings. 

Until now.

The world spins around you as your vision starts to go out, dark spots threatening to consume it as you begin to lose consciousness. Your ears are ringing so loudly that you can barely hear the way Copia’s breath hitches as his eyes land on the card in your hand. For a moment you mentally curse your beloved tarot cards, wondering why the hell they’re telling you that romantic love is near…

…Or already in front of you.

The last thing you see before darkness consumes you is his gloved fingers plucking the bloodstained card out of your own.

Sorry for yet another delay, I suffered a loss of a childhood pet a couple weeks ago and was also dealing with some intense work stress. But I'm doing better and getting back to working on this has really helped get me out of my funk! ❤︎‬

Thank you as always for reading, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I loved writing this one!

Comments, kudos, and reblogs are always appreciated! ‪‪❤︎

Translations: tarocchi - tarot strega/streghetta – witch piccolina – little one

[m-for-musings]

BG3 meets VTM

So I'm a weirdo and I decided to glue together two of my hyper fixations: Vampire — The Masquerade and Baldur's Gate 3.

I've been playing VTM for 15 years now, and also acting as a Storyteller (GM) to it, but I'm prone to mistakes so if a vampire clan does not fit a character please let me know, let's jump into this weird, totally unhinged, theory together.

P.S.: I know that theoretically any clan can Embrace any individual, this is just a little joke with clan stereotypes and a silly way to imagine who would be Embraced into which clan and why. ALSO low-res clan symbol pics because I'm on my phone.

BG3 characters, but as Vampire Clans

(in alphabetical order)

Astarion: the whole Szarr clan would be a Hecata lineage. Rich, powerful, and full of sassy little bitches that turns into abusive sires that employs weird (and sometimes incestuous) "family" dynamics while also being obcessed with necromancy.

Gale: prodigy wizard doomed with a hunger for knowledge and driven by the promise of unravel the mysteries of the occult, while also being a "yes-ma'am"? Tremere it is.

Halsin: a shape-shifter who sometimes struggles with his bestial side and feels awkward in urban environments, just like a classic Gangrel.

Jaheira: she pretends otherwise, but it is clear that she has a network of spies under her command, and a deep knowledge of her home city's dirtiest little secrets and hideouts. Even her personal life is shrouded by secrecy, secured against (most) prying eyes. She comes and goes in a blink, sometimes disappearing without leaving a trace. A true Nosferatu elder.

Karlach: good old Brujah, with the head as hot as the heart, passionate and strong-willed (and stubbornly resolute) to fight for her goals and ideals.

Lae'zel: nothing screams more "Banu-Haqim" than a fierce and straightforward gith with a strong sense of purpose and justice, a thirst for retribution and loyalty to the elders that she seems worthy.

Minsc: threading a fine line between bold and oblivious, the embodiment of "The Fool" tarot Major Arcana. Completely unpredictable and impulsive, torn between the unhinged and the wise, finding sense where others see pure unbridled chaos, he would become a Malkavian.

Minthara: she has enough poise and status to be a classic high-borne Ventrue, being able to proudly recite her sire's lineage all the way up to the very first of them. Born to rule, with a commanding presence and unwavering will. BUT!!! She is also vicious, ruthless and ambitious enough to get the attention of the clan Lasombra, and their shadow-bending powers also fit the Underdark pretty well, so I'm torn between those two clans for her, although strongly prone to Lasombra.

Shadowheart: either by following Shar's principles or by completely defying the goddess, The Ministry is fit for her, be it for good or for evil, to tempt or to liberate, to expose secrets or hide it, to manipulate or to seek the truth, to be part of a cult or a leader to a sect. She can't fully abandon the spiritual aspect of life, be it for fullfil her desires or to serve her goddess.

Wyll: the Prince of the Gate is the last romantic. He has an innate sensibility, grace, charm, beauty and an unbridled appreciation for arts and love-tale's romance that can be found among the most classy Toreador.

[drarryspecificrecsdaily]

2024.01.01 ~ New Year

Complete fics posted on AO3 this day

1. A Moment of Weakness by @adventurer515 [T, 1k]

►Harry accidentally watches Malfoy strip. For one heart-stopping moment, he doesn't hate it.

2. on the cards by @getawayfox [E, 5k]

►Draco reads tarot cards on national television. Harry is obsessed. /// A story of finding love and being brave about it.

---

Fest/Exchange

1. Get What You Knead by Anonymous [E, 7k]

►You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes... You might find You— ★ Harry/Draco Owlpost 2023 | @hdowlpost

2. I've got you by oldenuf2nb [E, 64k]

►Ten years ago, Harry resigned from the Aurors and effectively vanished from the wizarding world. So why is Draco suddenly thinking about him and what is the mystery behind the amazing cookies Hermione brings him? ★ 25 Days of Draco and Harry 2023 | @slythindor100

3. A Sight Unseen by Anonymous [E, 1k]

►Harry and Draco sneak away in the middle of a Ministry event to indulge in their exhibition kink. They play it too close and almost get caught. ★ Harry/Draco Owlpost 2023 | @hdowlpost

[celticcrossanon]

Celta, great tarot idea: Who asked the Army to fabricate all the medals Harry never earned and ignore all the exams Harry failed at Sandhurst and lie that Harry was a pilot when he actually was a gunner? Was it Charles who asked the Army to do this or Queen Elizabeth II? The 8 part military tea I just sent you from "T n T UK" on YT shows how angry current/former servicemen and women are at Harry's preferential treatment. I don't blame them. It's stolen valor, IMO.

Hi TeaWithBooks,

The medals that Harry wears are real medals, given out to military personnel for various reasons. Some of the ones Harry wears were given out to every member of the royal family just for being a member of the royal family, so they are worth no more or less than anything else that he gets by reason of his birth. Others, like his one for serving in Afghanistan, were given to every person who served and met the criteria for the medal, so for me the question is 'Did what Harry do count as serving?' and depending on the answer, he either deserves the medal or not.

According to wikipedia, Harry has the following medals:

Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal - wikipedia says this was awarded to active personnel in the British Armed Forces and Emergency Personnel who had completed 5 years of qualifying service, but it also went to members of the Royal Family just because they were members of the Royal Family. For example, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Philip were all awarded this medal, and none of them were on active service in the Armed Forces at the time the medal was awarded.

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal - awarded for being a member of the BRF (see above)

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal - awarded for being a member of the BRF (see above)

King Charles III Coronation Medal - awarded for being a member of the BRF (this one is listed in wikipedia but there was some debate over whether it was issued to Harry or not)

Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan - The one medal that Harry has that was awarded for his military service. Per wikipedia it was awarded by the Ministry of Defence 'for service by British Armed Forces personnel in support of the post-2001 Afghan War'. As I said above, it is up to the individual person to decide if Harry deserved this medal or not, which (once again) he probably got more because of being a member of the BRF than because of his actual service.

I think the lying about Harry being a gunner and not an actual pilot was part of the Her Harry PR at the time. It was cleverly done - the actual PR releases never said that Harry was a pilot, they simply left it to be inferred from what they did say (eg Harry is going for training in X country and no mention of whether he passed the training or not, so the assumption was that he passed, people ran with that and the palace did not correct them).

Harry passing through Sandhurst was definitely because he was the grandson of the monarch at the time. There are articles some where that talk about how the officers in training at Sandhurst did an IQ test? aptitude test? I think the average score that people got was around 5, Prince William scored a 7 and Harry came in at 3 or 4. So the people at Sandhurst knew he wasn't officer material.

I can understand the veterans of the Afghanistan Wars being angry that Harry was awarded that medal, as that is specifically for people who served in those wars, and it depends on whether you call what Harry did 'serving' or not.

I can ask who put pressure on Sandhurst to accept and pass Harry through officer training and who assisted with his promotion in the military, but I don't know if the actual person matters. It is the same as nepo-babies in any other industry - Harry got where he was through his connections, not through any ability or effort on his own part. Let me know if you want me to ask specifically who was involved and I can take a look at it.

[sovaghoul]

This is what I have so far. I am open to discussion and suggestions. I am honest to Gods thinking about trying to get this off the ground. You all have @endopyre to thank for more firmly planting this idea.

Ghost Tarot

The Fool | Phantom

The Magician | Dew

The High Priestess | Mist

The Empress | Cumulus

The Emperor | Mountain

The Hierophant | Papa

The Lovers | ______

The Chariot | ______

Strength | Aether

The Hermit | Zephyr

Wheel of Fortune | Seestor

Justice | Omega

The Hanged Man | ______

Death | Ifrit

Temperance | Rain

The Devil | Nihil

The Tower | Swiss

The Star | Aurora

The Moon | Cirrus

The Sun | Sunshine

Judgment | ______

The World | Ministry

Still want to place Ivy somewhere, still not sure about lawsuit ghouls. Maybe separate the Papas?

[krisluxxeeempress]

JANUARY 1ST- JANUARY 8TH, 2024 | PREDICTIVE VEDIC ASTROLOGY

JANUARY 1ST- JANUARY 8TH, 2024 | PREDICTIVE VEDIC ASTROLOGY | PLANETARY PLACEMENTS

DATE: JANUARY 1ST, 2024 | VEDIC ASTRO | PLACIDUS | 12AM FULL VIDEO REPORT AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE & PATREON ...

LILITH RX (JANUARY1,2024) : LEO (19) 12TH HOUSE

I MAY BE BIASED WHEN I SAY THIS AND I WILL FOREVER SAY THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT VIEW LILITH AS AN ASTROLOGICAL GOVERNMENT OF MY INNATE AND ANIMALISTIC NATURE THAT HAS BEEN SUPRESSED OR DENIED FOR CONFORMITY. I HONOR LILITH AS MY SPIRTUAL MOTHER WHO FAITHFULLY  WATCHES, PROTECTS , LOVES AND TEACHES ME OF NOT ONLY WHO I TRULY AM BUT ALSO, ABOUT THE VAST WORLD OUTSIDE OF ME. LILITH RX IN LEO, IS LIKE MUFASA IN THE LION KING, TEACHING SIMBA ABOUT HIS TRUE POWER AND SOON TO BE REIGN OF THE PRIDE LANDS. MUFASA TAUGHT SIMBA STERNLY TO NEVER GO INTO THE DARK AREAS, WHERE THE SUN DOESN’T SHINE AND WITH LILITH RX IN THE 12TH HOUSE WHERE THERE ARE SHADOW AREAS AND HIDDEN ENEMIES LIKE HYENAS WAITING TO KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY YOU. FOR SOME OF YOU, YOUR PRIDE LAND IN ACTING, ENTERTAINMENT, DESIGN, SALES, POLITICS, MINISTRY, COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA, MODELING, FASHION, AND OR ENTREPENUERSHIP. SOME OF YOU WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE IN THE DARK OR TO DWELL WITH HYENEAS OR TO SERVE SCAR. SOME OF YOU ARE MEANT TO SHINE AND WITH LILITH RX IN LEO, YOU ARE LEARNING THIS AND BEING TAUGHT TO HANDLE THE SPOTLIGHT.

IC (JANUARY 1,2024): SAGITTARIUS (16) 4TH HOUSE

THIS PLACEMENT INTUITIVELY GIVES OFF THE ENERGY OF PAST LIVES AND DEEP-ROOTED FEARS PERTAINING TO THEM. THE 16TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS INDICATES INFECTIONS, RESPIRATORY ISSUES, DROWNING, SMOKING AND AIR POLLUTION. KNOWING THAT SAGITTARIUS ENERGY LOVES TO TRAVEL AND DWELL WITHIN FORGIEN LANDS AND AMONGST FOREIGN PEOPLE AND THEIR CULTURES CAN FURTHER CONFIRM A FEAR OF TRAVELING WHICH I FIND FURTHER INTERESTING BECAUSE OF YOU MAY BE CALLED TO DO JUST THAT DURING THIS TIME, TRAVEL.  IF NOT, REFLECTING BACK ON THE LILITH RX IN LEO 12TH HOUSE PLACEMENT, YOU HAVE EXTREME PROTECTION AROUND YOU BECAUSE OF A PAST LIFE WHERE YOU TRAVELED INTO UNKNOWN LANDS AND A TRAGEDY OCCURRED.

VERTEX(JANUARY1,2024):  ARIES (0) 7TH HOUSE

WITH HEAVY CONSIDERATION FOR LILITH RX IN LEO AND THE IC IN SAGITARRIUS, IT WAS ALWAYS DESTINED FOR YOU TO BE THE GENERATIONAL CURSE BREAKER. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DESTINED FOR YOU TO PAVE A NEW WAY AND WITH THAT THE HARDSHIPS YOU’VE UNDERGONE TO GET TO THIS POINT. WITH THE VERTEX IN ARIES AND AT ZERO DEGREES, THIS INDICATES A CLEAN SLATE. THIS FURTHER INDICATES A REBIRTH AND THE RENEWING OF YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS. A NEW PATH HAS BEEN PAVED AND YOU ARE READY TO FINALLY EMBARK ON IT. IN TAROT THIS WOULD BE THE ACE OF WANDS, SWORDS, PENTACLES AND CUPS COMBINED TO DESCRIBE THIS PLANET AND THE ENERGY. EVERYTHING YOU WEREN’T BEFORE, YOU ARE NOW. YOU ARE ASSERTIVE, AMBITIOUS, HEADSTRONG, HONEST, OUTSPOKEN, ACTIVE AND PASSIONATE. YOU ARE A LEADER AND VIEWED AS SUCH IN THE 7TH HOUSE OF THEE PUBLIC. FOR SOME OF YOU, THIS INDICATES BEING THE FIRST IN YOUR FAMILY TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING WHETHER THAT BE GRADUATE COLLEGE, BECOME A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPENUER, ARTIST, AUTHOR, OR WEALTHY- YOU NAME IT. YOU ARE THE FIRST! IT IS AT THIS MOMENT THAT EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE IN THE PAST THAT ACTED AS HYENAS, HELLBENT ON STEALING, KILLING AND DESTROYING YOU WILL NOW BE DESPERATE TO BE IN YOUR LIFE OR HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. THE 7TH HOUSE DEALS WITH ENEMIES BUT ALSO CONTRACTS AND SPIRITUALLY- YOU HAVE BEEN FREED FROM ANY KARMIC TIES AND RELATIONS WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND OR LOVERS.

DESCENDANT (JANUARY 1,2024) : PISCES (14) 7TH HOUSE

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED CATCHING, LET ALONE HOLDING A FISH WITH YOUR BARE HANDS? IT’S IMPOSSIBLE, THE FISH WILL SLIP OUT OF YOUR HANDS AND GRAPS WITH EASE. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE SAYING “ BUTTER FINGERS”? WELL WITH THE DESCENDANT IN PISCES IN THE 7TH HOUSE OF RELATIONSHIPS, YOU ARE HARD TO GRAPS, PIN DOWN OR EVEN PREDICT. YOU ARE ELUSIVE IN THE EYES OF OTHERS, THERE ONE DAY AND GONE THE NEXT. I AM NOT SURE WHY I WANTED TO START OFF THIS INTERPREATION WITH  “ HAVE YOU HEARD” BUT CLEARLY THAT IS SYMBOLIC FOR HOW OTHERS WILL BE TALKING ABOUT YOU THESE DAYS. PEOPLE HAVE ONLY HEARD OF YOU, BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW YOU AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL. PISCEAN ENERGY ABSORBS IT SURROUNDINGS WHICH IN MOST CASES IS TOXIC AND THIS ALWAYS CREATES TROUBLE THAT IS DETRIMENTAL TO ONES HEALTH. WITH THAT IN MIND, YOU OR OTHERS HAVE TO BE WITHDRAWN, ALOOF AND DETACHED FROM MOST PEOPLE. LIKE FISHING, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TRY TO DECIEVE FISH WITH BAIT ON A HOOK. IN RELATIONSHIPS, THAT IS HOW OTHERS VIEW & TREAT YOU- LIKE  A FISH THAT NEEDS TO BE CATCHED AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT, IS TO BE DECEPTIVE. CATCHING YOU WOULD ONLY BE SEEN AS A PRIZE OR FOOD TO OTHERS MEANWHILE, YOU GET ABUSED AND USED IN THE PROCESS. IT’S NOT WORTH IT! PISCES’ ENERGY IS SACRED AND THE 7TH HOUSE OF THE PUBLIC IS NOT.

ASCENDANT (JANUARY 1,2024) : VIRGO (14) 1ST HOUSE

AS FOREMENTIONED, THE DESCENDANT IN THE 7TH HOUSE WILL ALWAYS INFLUENCE THE ASCENDANT IN THE 1ST HOUSE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I LEFT OFF WITH THE DESCENDANT IN PISCES THAT MOVING FORWARD IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET CLOSE TO YOU EMOTIONALLY. WITH THE ASCENDANT IN VIRGO AT 14 DEGREES, WITHIN THE 2ND DECAN RULED BY SATURN- THIS MAKES ME STATEMENT TRUE. IT’S HARD ENOUGH GETTING PAST VIRGO ENERGY. JUST IMAGINE TRYING TO MIND F^%$ AND MANIPULATE JUDE JUDY, BUT THEN TO ADD A SATURIAN INFLUENCE AS WELL- ENERGETICALLY IT’S LIKE A BRICK WALL.  WITH THE ASCENDANT IN VIRGO IN THE 1ST HOUSE, YOU ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO READ, CONNECT WITH OR GET CLOSE TO. IT’S LIKE YOU HAVE SECURITY AROUND YOU ENERGETICALLY AT ALL TIMES. THE REASON FOR THIS THICK SHEILD IS TO PROTECT YOURSELF ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO OTHERS, IN ALL FORMS. THE 1ST HOUSE IS HOW YOU VIEW YOUR SURROUNDINGS MAINLY DUE TO THE DESCENDANT AND SO THE ASCENDANT CAN TRULY REVEAL HOW OTHERS VIEW YOU AND THESE DAYS YOU APPEAR FOCUSED, DETERMINED, AMBITIOUS, MATERIALISTIC, ORGANIZED, STRONG- WILLED, AND VERY OBSERVANT. I DID A WHY ARE THEY MAD READING FOR VIRGOS, AND I LITERALLY KEPT SAYING OTHERS ARE MAD BECAUSE YOU ARE TOO SMART. OTHERS VIEW YOU AS TOO SMART TO THE POINT YOU DO NOT TRUST ANYONE, LIKE AT ALL.

MIDHEAVEN ( JANUARY 1,2024) : GEMINI (16) 10TH HOUSE

IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING MY ASTROLOGY REPORTS IN ORDER, STARTING FROM LILITH RX IN LEO TO THE MIDHEAVEN IN GEMINI- FOR THOSE WHO NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR ENERGY, CONTENT, WORK, SKILL, OR SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE STARTING TO LOSE THEIR MOMENTUM, THEIR DRIVE, THEIR PULL, POPULARITY AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY WERE USING YOU FOR THAT GRANTED THEM SUCCESS. GEMINI, AT 16 DEGREES, DOESN’T HAVE A POWERFUL STIMULUS. SO BASICALLY, YOU ARE COMING OFF PLEASANT, OPTOMISTIC, AND SOCIAL BUT DUE TO THE VENUS INFLUENCE IN THE 2ND DECAN, YOU AREN’T GOING DEEP OR REVEALING TOO MUCH, YOU APPEAR TO BLEND IN. THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE YOU ARE NO LONGER EXERTING SO MUCH ENERGY, TIME, EFFORT, KNOWLEDGE OR SKILL INTO WORK OR PEOPLE THAT ISN’T PAYING YOU WHAT YOU DESERVE OR GIVING YOU WHAT YOU ARE REALLY WORTH AND SO YOU ARE RESORTING TO DOING THE BARE MINIMUM. IF YOU WORK A 9-5, INSTEAD OF BEING AN OVERACHIEVER, DOING MORE AND RECEIVING LESS- NOW YOU SIMPLY DO WHAT IS REQUIRED. NOTHING MORE OR LESS. IF YOU ARE AN ENTREPENUER, YOUA RE GIVING WHAT OTHERS HAVE PAID FOR AND NOTHING MORE UNLESS THEY PAY MORE. GEMINI ENERGY IS EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND INTELLIGENT AND KNOWLEDGE IS ABSOLUTE POWER, ESPECIALLY IN THE 10TH HOUSE OF CAREER, STATUS, SUCCESS, AND POWER. OTHERS NOW HAVE TO PAY YOU FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY ONCE  USED TO GAIN POWER.

PART OF FORTUNE ( JANUARY 1,2024) : CAPRICORN (16) 4TH HOUSE

THE MIDHEAVEN IN GEMINI WAS WITHIN THE DECAN RULED BY VENUS, AND I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WAS BEST FOR YOU TO BLEND INTO SOCIETAL NORMS AND EXPECTATIONS IN ORDER TO GAIN NOTERIETY IN YOUR CAREER. WHEN WE DO WELL IN OUR CAREERS IT ALSO TRINKLES INTO OUR PERSONAL, HOME LIVES. I MEAN, WHY ELSE DOES ANYONE WORK UNLESS, OF COURSE, IT’S THEIR PASSION? WE ALL WORK SO WE CAN MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND IF WE HAVE SOME DISPOSABLE INCOME ONCE EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF, EVEN BETTER. THE PART OF FORTUNE IN ASTROLOGY IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE LOTTERY AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH WINNING SUCH THINGS. IT APPEARS MY INTUITION WAS RIGHT WHEN I SAID TO BLEND INTO SOCIETAL NORMS BECAUSE THE PART OF FORTUNE IN CAPRICORN, AT 16 DEGREES, IS WITHIN THE 2ND DECAN ALSO RULED BY VENUS. VENUS ATTRACTS BUSINESS, MONEY, LOVE, CONTRACTS, AND OUR SUPERFICAL NEEDS AND WANTS. CAPRICORN ENERY RULER OF THE 10TH HOUSE IS ALL ABOUT SUCCESS, MONEY, STATUS, FAME AND ACHIEVEMENTS. IF WE PUT BOTH TOGETHER, THIS INDICATES A LOT OF ABUNDANCE AND SUCCESS COMING TOWARDS YOU GOING INTO THE NEW YEAR, THAT WILL LAST A LONG TIME WITH CAPRICORNS INFLUENCE. SPIRITUALLY, YOU ARE GOING INTO A CONTRACT WITH VENUS WHERE AGAIN, YOU WILL BE ATTRACTING A LOT OF SUCCESS, ABUNDANCE AND EVEN WEALTHY LOVE OFFERS.

THANK YOU FOR READING! TIPS ARE WELCOMED.

FOLLOW MY TIKTOK:

[a-araiguma-a]

Between the serving and Her smile

Chapter 5. Muggle Studies

Fandom: Harry Potter Pairing: Oliver Wood x fem!reader, Charlie Weasley x f!reader, <?> Warning: fluff, mutual pining, friends-to-lovers, drama, first love, jealous

Summary: He was the captain and keeper of the Gryffindor team, and his quest to win the Quidditch Cup became an obsessive goal. All his thoughts revolved around tactics, training and strategies, but sometimes his own heart reminded him of another, equally important side of life. He believed that love and Quidditch could coexist in his life. He swore to himself that he would do everything possible to preserve these two treasures, even if it required the impossible from him.

Start - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6

At this time, Margaret decided to immerse herself in less emotional pursuits—her studies. In her third year, she was introduced to additional subjects, and out of the entire list, she found herself particularly interested in Numerology, Divination, and the Study of Ancient Runes. She found solace in studying magical symbols, ancient languages, and numerical prophecies.

Numerology is one of the divinatory sciences, claiming that each letter corresponds to a specific number and that the sum of the numbers in each word has its own meaning. The roots of this science stretch back into deep antiquity; many ancient teachings employed the so-called "magic of numbers." Given Margaret’s inclination toward analysis and logical thinking, she eagerly delved into the world of numbers, attempting to decipher the hidden messages within them.

Divination represented another aspect of magical science, exploring various forms of fortune-telling and methods for interpreting different phenomena. Initially skeptical, Margaret gradually began to see something more in it. Tarot cards and palmistry particularly piqued her interest.

"I’m not sure it’s always possible to accurately predict the future," she once told Emma, sharing her thoughts. "But sometimes I think that intuition and symbols can help us better understand ourselves."

"And you know what’s most interesting?" she added. "Certain numbers have started to repeat themselves in my life since I began studying them, and I’m starting to realize they hold a deeper meaning for me."

Ancient runes, on the other hand, were a form of writing that witches and wizards had used hundreds of years ago. By studying them, one could gain insight into the magic of the ancestors. Margaret was drawn to the depth and mystery of the runes; they demanded not only knowledge but also intuitive understanding, as if they were speaking to her, revealing their secrets. She attended the classes together with Percy Weasley, who was extremely ambitious and eager to work at the Ministry of Magic, for which he needed to study everything possible.

These subjects required great concentration and perseverance, but Margaret enjoyed immersing herself in the mysteries of magical symbols, ancient languages, and numerical prophecies.

Another subject worth highlighting is Muggle Studies, where the behavior and everyday life of Muggles are studied from a wizard’s perspective. This elective was not mandatory and was intended for those who grew up in magical families and knew little about the ordinary world.

Muggle Studies was considered one of the easiest subjects, and many students chose it to lighten their academic load. But not Margaret, who had grown up in the Muggle world and knew their lifestyle and daily life well. Unlike her, her friends Sophie and Emma decided to take Muggle Studies. Sophie had grown up near Muggle villages and had some idea about the lives of ordinary people, but her knowledge was superficial. Emma, on the other hand, had lived exclusively in magical lands and had practically no contact with the Muggle world. Both were pure-blood witches and were eager to learn how people live without magic.

The girls never talked about their backgrounds—it didn’t seem necessary and never came up. Having met on September 1st after their sorting, they had always stuck together and continued to get along. But Margaret’s surprising background was accidentally revealed when Sophie and Emma once again struggled with their Muggle Studies homework.

“I don’t understand why Muggles are so fascinated by these… what do they call them… movies?” Sophie complained, pondering the latest assignment. “And what is a television? Is it like a magical mirror?”

“I thought it was some sort of device that lets you see over long distances,” added Emma, looking a bit confused. “But these instructions in the textbook are so confusing.”

Margaret, sitting with her friends in the library, noticed their confusion and decided to help. She had already explained basic things to them several times, such as how a telephone works or the significance of money in the Muggle world. But this time, her explanation truly shocked them.

“A television isn’t a magical mirror,” she began with a slight smile. “It’s a device that shows moving pictures and sounds. Muggles use it for entertainment, education, and news. Movies are stories filmed with cameras and actors. It’s like a play, but recorded on film so it can be watched anytime.”

Emma and Sophie looked at her in surprise.

“How do you know all this, Margaret?” Sophie asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. “Even without attending the classes, you explain things better than Professor Quirrell.”

“Well…,” Margaret replied, realizing that she would now have to tell the truth. “I grew up in the Muggle world until I was eleven and didn’t know anything about my magical heritage. My mother was a witch, but she never revealed it to anyone, and after her death… her family didn’t stay in touch with us. I was like a normal child, growing up and going to a regular school, never suspecting that one day I’d receive a letter from Hogwarts and everything would become a bit complicated.”

Her friends froze, processing what they had just heard.

“You’re… a half-blood?” Emma asked, wide-eyed with disbelief.

“You could say that,” Margaret nodded. “But when I found out about my heritage, everything changed—an intensive course on the magical world, learning all the details, and this school.”

Margaret felt the silence hanging in the air. Emma sat motionless, her gaze fixed somewhere in the distance, as if trying to comprehend something important. Margaret felt a slight unease, but still decided to ask the question that had been on her mind:

“Does it matter if I’m pure-blood, half-blood, or Muggle-born?” Her voice was calm, but a note of uncertainty crept in.

Sophie immediately perked up, her eyes lighting up warmly.

“Of course not! You’re my best friend, and that doesn’t affect how I feel about you at all.” She looked at Margaret with such sincerity that Margaret immediately felt relieved.

Emma was still silent, lost in her thoughts. Her face showed concentration but not hostility.

“But how did you become the top student in our house if you didn’t know anything before?” she asked, her voice full of genuine curiosity. “You always seem to understand everything in class right away, and you have excellent grades.”

“It’s all thanks to my grandfather. He helped me adapt and understand what magic is,” Margaret explained, smiling, though her voice held a hint of sadness. “He knows a lot and loves sharing his knowledge. In the beginning, I often consulted with him, and then I grew to love reading books about magic and studying them on my own. I was very motivated to live up to his expectations and become as smart as he is.”

“That’s amazing,” Sophie finally said, her voice full of admiration. “So much has happened, yet it made you one of the strongest witches in our year.”

Sophie glanced at Emma, expecting her support, but Emma was slow to respond. Margaret began to doubt whether it was wise to continue the conversation, but when Emma finally noticed that both her friends were looking at her, she sighed and raised her eyes.

“It’s… it’s just unexpected,” she began, searching for the right words. “I never really thought about it. I knew there were many mixed-blood students, but I didn’t think it was so close. You never seemed like one of them. For me, everything related to the Muggle world seems so distant… unfamiliar.”

Emma paused as if still considering what to say next. Margaret felt her heart pound harder, fearing that this revelation might strain their friendship. But then Emma looked at her and smiled, albeit a bit tensely.

“But, if you think about it, it doesn’t change anything, right?” she said, as if convincing herself. “You’re still the same Margaret as before. We’ve already been through a lot together, and what’s the point of dwelling on where you were born or who your parents were?”

Margaret sighed in relief, feeling the tension inside her ease.

“Thank you, Emma,” she replied quietly, with sincere gratitude. “I’m glad you think that way. I don’t want this to change anything between us either.”

Sophie, always more straightforward, added, “Of course, nothing will change! We’re here to learn magic and support each other, not to discuss someone’s background. What matters is who you are, not where you came from.”

Emma nodded, her smile becoming more natural. They had always known her as a smart and determined girl, but now they understood the challenges she had faced to become that way.

Margaret felt her heart warm with gratitude. She knew there would be difficulties related to her background, especially given how some pure-blood wizards viewed Muggle-borns, so she tried not to dwell on it. But she was fortunate to have met people who would support her no matter what, and that gave her confidence in herself and her abilities. Her past was not something to be ashamed of, but a part of her life that had helped shape who she was today.

“Let’s get back to our studies,” Margaret suggested, wanting to change the subject and finally dispel the remnants of awkwardness. “You still have a lot to learn for your essays.”

“Great idea,” Sophie agreed, once again bending over her book.

A few days had passed since that conversation, but Sophie couldn’t shake the moment when Emma hesitated to respond. It left an unpleasant feeling in her heart, and something inside Sophie urged her to figure out what had happened. She felt it was important to understand why Emma had taken so long to support their friend, and whether she really wanted to.

One day, as the three of them sat by the pond, Sophie decided to take advantage of the opportunity when Margaret stepped away, leaving them alone. Emma was lying on a blanket, thoughtfully flipping through the Monster Book of Monsters, when Sophie, gathering her courage, quietly said:

“Emma, can I ask you something? It’s about that conversation in the library about Margaret’s background.”

Emma looked up, her face tensing slightly, but she nodded nonetheless.

“Of course, Sophie. Go ahead.”

Sophie hesitated, searching for the right words.

“You… you hesitated a bit when you found out Margaret is a half-blood. Why did it shake you so much? I understand it was unexpected, but it seemed to me that there was something more. Am I right?”

Emma sighed heavily and set the book aside. She knew this conversation was inevitable, and maybe it really did need to be discussed.

“Yes, you’re right,” she began quietly. “It wasn’t just a surprise. In my family, and in the society I grew up in, we were always taught that half-bloods and especially Muggle-borns were something inferior. Since childhood, I was told that Muggle-borns are almost like Muggles, and Muggles…” She paused, clenching her fists. “Muggles are stupid, disgusting creatures, unworthy of even our attention. All of this was so deeply ingrained in me that I never questioned how unfair it was and just kept carrying on with my parents’ teachings.”

Sophie listened carefully, not interrupting, but a sense of bitterness was growing in her heart. She knew prejudice was a part of the magical world, but hearing it from a close friend was painful.

Emma continued, her voice trembling slightly:

“When I found out Margaret was a half-blood, it was like a slap in the face. I couldn’t understand how someone so close to me could be someone I was taught to hate and despise. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how absurd it all was. Margaret is one of the smartest, kindest, and most talented people I know. How could I have believed, even for a moment, in the nonsense that was drilled into me from childhood?”

Sophie saw Emma’s eyes fill with tears. She realized that for Emma, this was as difficult a revelation as it had been for Margaret.

“You know,” Emma said, swallowing her tears, “this friendship with Margaret really opened my eyes to the fact that the prejudices of my elders are just lies meant to divide us. But I’m so ashamed that I could even doubt Margaret in that moment, doubt us and our friendship… I’m ashamed to admit it now.”

Sophie gently placed her hand over Emma’s, her voice full of compassion and understanding:

“Emma, I know how hard it is to overcome what’s been instilled in you since childhood. But what’s important is that you were able to recognize it and change your attitude. We all grow and learn. Now you understand that Margaret is no less than us, despite her background. That’s what true friendship is—seeing a person for who they really are, not through the lens of someone else’s prejudices.”

Emma gratefully squeezed Sophie’s hand, feeling the tension slowly dissipate.

“Thank you, Sophie. I promise I’ll fight these prejudices within myself—I truly value our friendship.”

“We all do,” Sophie said softly, smiling. “Let’s just keep supporting each other and not let these prejudices drive us apart. We’re stronger together.”

Emma nodded, feeling her heart fill with warmth and confidence. They fell silent, but the silence held no tension—only the sense that they had grown even closer.

At that moment, they had no idea that their candid conversations had sparked a new wave of trouble. The Slytherins, raised in families where only pure-bloods were valued, had found in Margaret a new target for their bullying. These students, brought up to believe that only pure-blood wizards were worthy of studying magic, saw Margaret as just another confirmation of their biased views.

“Guys, you won’t believe what I just found out,” one of them said to his group of friends, his voice hushed as if he couldn’t contain his excitement. “The Gryffindor know-it-all who’s in my History of Magic class is a half-blood.”

“Well, now that’s interesting,” sneered a tall Slytherin whom the others considered their leader, his eyes lighting up with a dangerous gleam and his lips curling into a malicious smile. “Looks like we’ve got a new target. Let’s give her a warm welcome.”

The others murmured in approval, already anticipating the trouble they would cause. Plans were already forming in their minds—from simple nasty pranks to more serious mischief. They felt that by punishing people like Margaret, they were restoring justice and defending the honor and traditions of their house.

“Just remember, everything needs to look like it’s her own fault,” the leader added, his voice low and venomous in every word.

Meanwhile, Margaret remained unaware, continuing with her usual activities.

[nextgensquad]

I'm curious, what careers do you think the new generation will pursue? (Weasley, Potter, Malfoy, Lovegood, Lupine and Longbottom)

just gonna put my (pearl) answers here for now and publicly pressure everyone else to come and edit theirs when they have a moment! sorry it's taken so long, anon, i love this question <3

becca's answers now added too!

pearl:

victoire - my victoire is a v different from fandom typical victoire nowadays and she is a sporty, quidditch-obsessed jock who lives and breathes for the sport. one of the best captains gryffindor has ever seen, gets scouted for five teams out of school, including two french teams, and chooses the holyhead harpies like her aunt ginny.

dominique - unspeakable researcher at the department of mysteries. dom is into arcane witchcraft, crystals, tarot, astrology, things like that, which everyone else thinks is silly, but she puts a lot of time and effort into researching it and her discoveries catch the attention of the dom who send her an offer letter out of the blue. nobody in her family knows exactly what she researches down there but it makes her very good money. eventually, i think, becomes the divination professor at hogwarts.

louis - one of the only two academically gifted weasleys, he goes into politics after his uncle percy, which you may claim makes him a nepo baby... and you'd be right. doesn't actually have ministerial ambitions, and works in public relations, eventually becoming press secretary for the minister after percy.

molly - investigative journalist for a leftwing paper called the legacy, founded by susan bones a couple years after the war. she didn't start out as that, though, but worked her way up from fluff pieces.

lucy - out of school she makes her money drag racing and bartending, but hard to say what she'll do after that. she's very reactive and doesn't put a lot of thought into her future.

fred - magical engineer, taking muggle things and reverse engineering them and making them better with magic. probably arthur's favorite grandchild because of it.

roxanne - magical ice dancer, quits hogwarts after her fourth year to pursue it professional in the wizarding olympics called the meteorics

rose - artist, she's very smart but in a completely different way than hermione, also dyslexic so doesn't love academia even though she would if she didn't have to deal with hogwarts being completely unfriendly to kids with learning disabilities. mostly works with painting but also does other types of art

hugo - another one that's hard to tell, mostly because like lucy, he gives the impression of not caring very much one way or the other. also like lucy, it is a false impression, he cares very much, and is also super smart, just hides it well. i think ultimately his girlfriend edie urquhart (pansy's daughter) will be the breadwinner of their house though

james - just like victoire, a born and bred quidditch fanatic who gets scouted out of hogwarts and (unlike her and most hogwarts recruits), gets placed on a starting position at the falmouth falcons (one of the best teams in the leagues) at age 18. nearly monumentally fucks up his quidditch career at age 21 though.

albus - magical hacker, ran a black market ring of illicit muggle tech goods in his time at hogwarts and also likes to amuse himself by dicking around the ministry of magic's fledgling magic internet systems. this eventually gets him scouted for the aurors, mostly against his will.

lily - magical photographer, ends up working at the scamanders' magical creature sanctuary and kind of accidentally winds up doing public relations for them via her photography

scorpius - future comic book artist, once he gets over his internal prejudice about muggle things and his refusal to admit he likes comic books and drawing. also future wizarding art professor at hogwarts i think

teddy - he's in a band with his best friends that accidentally gets very famous

lorcan & lysander - run the magical creatures sanctuary their parents helped set up

jake longbottom - auror like his godfather harry

abigail longbottom - healer, with a special focus in magical neurobiology, in the hopes of one day finding a cure for her grandparents

becca:

teddy - loves working with animals and children but lacks any noticeable ambition; works a bunch of random jobs after school, to fund his real passion, which is mainly volunteering at various magical animal rescues. eventually in his late 20s gets around to following the career that's always been in the back of his head, care of magical creatures teacher at hogwarts.

victoire - the opposite of teddy, very driven and ambitious. goes into the department for international magical co-operation as an assistant and rises through the ranks to become a delegate to the international council of wizards.

dominique - could probably have been a professional quidditch player but takes a different route into journalism. writes an anonymous gossip column for a while, which causes upsets with the family when it's revealed. they forgive her, and she eventually becomes a travel writer.

louis - works for the wizarding wireless network, in the behind-the-scenes broadcasting team, where he works for years, and ultimately becomes a programme commissioner.

molly ii - works at obscurus books, initially as an assistant and eventually as an editor.

lucy - develops a passion for theatre at a young age and turns her school drama club into a travelling theatre company. will one day be one of the foremost magical theatre directors in the business.

fred ii - inherits his dad's entrepreneurial spirit and starts his own business with some friends, selling all sorts of magical illusions, spectacles and experiences, for pleasure and entertainment. highly experimental stuff and sometimes not quite legal.

roxanne - studies fashion design at the lugh school of magical art, in northern ireland, and designs beautiful clothes imbued with magic and charms.

rose - follows in her dad and uncle's footsteps and becomes an auror.

hugo - becomes a bestselling romance novelist under a penname (to hide his famous connections), it's big news when his identity finally comes out.

james - fails to make it onto a professional quidditch team out of hogwarts (for reasons unrelated to his quidditch ability) so takes a job at the ministry sports department, which he loathes, so quits and does bar work for a bit instead, before he goes into lower league quidditch and makes his way up to international player.

albus - overcomes his anxieties to become a healer, eventually specialising in pediatrics, he's especially good with other anxious kids.

lily - drifts about for a while, works some retail, slowly develops her baking hobby into something professional and in the end sets up her own little patisserie.

scorpius - uses his skill with intricate, technical charms to go into magical invention, essentially creating magical tech, particularly (in the end) forensic technology.

iseult malfoy - quidditch player for the holyhead harpies, teaches flying at hogwarts after she retires.

caelum malfoy - currently in my fic he's approximately eighteen months old so i haven't thought of a career for him yet.

lysander - starts a magical co-operative living project with lorcan and a bunch of their friends/partners, where he takes charge of the practical side and spends his days growing vegetables, mending roofs and caring for animals and children.

lorcan - lives in the same community as lysander but is a poet, philospher and stargazer.

aidan longbottom - photographer and filmmaker in the embryo magical film world starting to grow up.

sophie longbottom - actor and wardrobe mistress in lucy's theatre troupe

[crownedinmarigolds]

Fangfest 2024 - Day Eighteen - The Star

"Rejoice! For He has been reborn in Her. The Father reforged in new flesh and blood, broken free from the prison of Duat and the siren's call of the Aeons. Rejoice! For the Herald of the Good Times is among us! Praise be unto Father Set, praise be unto Kahanni. Our time beneath the soil is coming to an end, my Kindred, and the great serpent will swallow the sun as a gift to Her and She will guide us at last to our rightful seats as the Gods of humanity." The Star represents inspiration, hope, opportunity and renewed faith. While Harrakhty and Parvati met and walked with Set, in modern nights the faith began to wane the longer He remained absent. When Parvati went mad at the awakening of Zapathasura and nearly slew the temple in her fury, Harri was near a breaking point - knowing his earthly gifts were finite and he could lose his treasures and his beloved in an instant. He needed something more, something real to remind him of his faith. When a young Giovanni necromancer came to him, begging him to save her Thinblood friend in exchange for providing him a flesh and blood child, how could Harri not see this as a sign from divinity? Kahanni is his miracle child, his treasure. She has a huge weight on her shoulders, but for the entirety of the Followers of Set, surely it's worth it in the end?

[courtneysmovieblog]

Trailer Bowl LVIII

Fine, not all these trailers were from the Super Bowl, but they came out this past month, so might as well take care of all of them:

Immaculate: Nun gets supernaturally pregnant with a demon. Yikes.

Road House (remake): Sorry Jake Gyllenhaal, you're not Patrick Swayze.

Ricky Stanicky: Zac Efron and his buddies hire John Cena to pose as the imaginary friend they made up to get away from their wives and families for the past 20 years. Oh, this better end with one of the friends getting divorced when the jig is up, but knowing it's a Farrelly Brothers movie, I doubt it.

Monkey Man: Dev Patel gets to be a vigilante, and it looks AWESOME.

Despicable Me 4: Gru has a baby now. And we get Will Ferrell as the bad guy.

Tarot: Yup, tarot cards get a horror movie now. Makes sense.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: True (albeit very fictionalized) story about British spies fighting Nazis. Hey, one of them is Henry Cavill, I'm game.

A Quiet Place Day One: Prequel where everyone learns that sound=death by aliens. Somehow, it doesn't feel the same. We already KNOW what happened...

Twisters: A sequel? Really? I heard about it, but I still can't really believe it, because it seems so unnecessary.

Wicked: I don't care if it's all green screen and split in half, I'm still excited for this. And Cynthia's "Defying Gravity" riff sounds fine, you're all just mean.

Deadpool and Wolverine: Darn, I was really hoping for "Deadpool and Friends" for the Garfield reference and to rip on Pratt's Garfield. But oh well, it looks like the MCU is going to get skewered nonetheless. Happy day!

[writterings]

do you have any recommendations for resources re: tarot

hmmmmm

okay so actually i have advice. don't read the literal meanings of the cards. like it can be helpful to know the intended meanings, the astrology, the numberology, and symbolism but ultimately a reading will be more accurate if you understand the tarot in your own personal way. a lot of practitioners recommend making your own personalized deck to start to understand this concept better (like, printing out a photo of a butterfly and taping it to the death card to represent death bc that symbolism hits better for you).

for example, the knight of swords was a card i associated with an ex of mine. now whenever it shows up in a reading, i can either interpret it as its literal meaning or as having something to do with the romantic partner of the person im reading. but that will ultimately depend on the message of the readings, which is up to you to interpret.

also some people use spreads. i personally find spreads pointless. you don't need them to be able to read. don't memorize them. the position of the card on the table means nothing unless it DOES mean something. but that's up to you to FEEL not formulate. so don't use spreads. unless, like, you personally vibe with them. i'm not a cop or your mom so you do you.

in terms of resources, don't bother with books unless you're looking for general history stuff or some scammer's take on the "the soul's feminine and powerful journey of the tarot" or whatever. here's what you're going to look up:

-the history of the specific deck you're using, who created it and for what reason

-occult symbology and associations

-alchemical symbology and associations

-basic classic art symbology (ie what poses mean, etc)

-astrology in general and astrology in its relationship to the tarot

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY

-meanings of each suite

-numberology (but like numberology specific to tarot. you can take into account actual numberology but tarot has its own numberology. googling 'tarot numberology' should work)

those last two are literally just what tarot is and it's usually universal across any type of deck. for example, take five of rods. rods = fire = knowledge. five = conflict. the five of rods' literal meaning in traditional practice is either a conflict or fun challenge. so conflicts are caused by differing opinions or thoughts OR conflicts can be seen as fun brain challenges. so five of rods literally means what rods and five represent together.

finally, a note on reversals - don't read them when first starting out. reversals don't mean the opposite of the upright card a lot of the time and you'll just get confused when trying to remember them all. just read the cards like normal and then eventually start to understand what the reversals mean TO YOU.

also those pick a card tiktoks never work bc its all based on algorithm. find some on youtube though (like the hour long ones) and just listen to those readings even if you don't think their advice applies for you. hearing someone else's take on interpreted tarot can be pretty beneficial in seeing how you view it.

also practice tarot with friends when you can, it's fun. make them learn tarot too so you get readings sometime as well.

anyways hope this helps. my source is that i have been a tarot reader for 10 years now, i'm a student at a government-recognized occult temple (and technically completed my first year of ministry training but i'm prob not gonna continue to priesthood), and i have paying clients. have fun.