#[[joan dear..why i think every time you make a new blog you always send me salt things to write

[convxction]

🔥

Send me a “ 🔥 “ for an unpopular opinion | accepting lol | @miraclefates  

[ [ hm. something bothers me which is how a mun introduce their muse background or the game lore they are from. I find it way interesting when i ask someone to tell me about their muse a little bit more, or the source they are from; whether a game or an anime and they can actually summarize something neat to read. I find it a little bit red flag like when they just ‘here you go��� and send me a wiki page link. like i will do that. i can do that. i can google that on my own but i want something from your own words. i want to know how you view the world of your muse and how you portray said muse in that world. it’s just lazy and it does not enlist the feel you care about your muse or care about how other people perceive your muse. why i find this annoying too because they sometimes write canon divergent and expect you to read their mind to know that their muse has x thing not y thing like the canon. but i asked you provide me information and you were lazy dont blame me for it. also for oc sometimes people just be so vague about their muse ‘oh they good. they want friends etc’ ok good everyone is good, relatively. i get excited when i ask someone, especially original character muns about their muses and they are ready to provide info on the spot and not just ‘oh idk’ ....i like when they post something length and in depth about the topic so i can read and learn more about their muse and the lore. the back and forth questioning and such is gr8 dude. i want to feel when i talk to the mun they are invested in their muse and want to write fun things and explore more sides of their muse. it is ok if you are uncomfortable with certain plots ofc but i want to see yuor hype for your muse. LET ME HYPE WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR MUSE GDI. I CANT HYPE ON MY OWN. I HYPE ALL THE TIME ABOUT MISTER KRUMBS. so yeah. dont be lazy with introductions. ngl they make or break how i feel about you and your muse. be lazy i assume you are not the type to want think deeply about topics/hcs/ lore. give me information and work on developing your muse, beech im here for you. just say the word and i will make it rain hcs questions. i love sending ppl hc questions about their muses, especially oc because there is no reference to know more about them expect from their muns. 

so yeah dont be lazy. give me the goods. 

[miguel-manbemel]

Aspects & Fanfics Ep. 47: The Cave of Doom Part 2: Give Me My Son Back!

New entry in the main storyline of this fanfic blog inspired on Sanders Sides by Thomas Sanders and Joan S. We continue this multipart story and I hope you are enjoying it so far. Until next time.

SYNOPSIS: Knowing that the ghouls have kidnapped Chris, Virgil, Roman and the rest of the Sides make plans to go after them into the cave to rescue Virgil and Roman’s son. Meanwhile, the ghouls take Chris to the center of the cave and tell Chris their desperate story.

WARNINGS: Mentions to blood wounds, moments of angst and a brief panic attack.Virgil shows traces of an unsympathetic cruel behavior towards the ghouls in the story.

EPISODE INDEX

[Roman is in his room, writing in his diary. His royal suit is covered in dirt, he sports some wounds on his face and a tear falls down his cheek as he writes and his voice narrates what he’s writing]

ROMAN: [voice] Dear diary… we have just returned from the most horrible adventure we have ever faced. I can’t believe that, in order to save us all, I had to give up to my own flesh and bone, my own son… It all started innocently. Virgil suggested our son Chris, who was moving out of our room to live independently as an adult, that he could move to his old room, as it was now empty. So that he could have access to every door in the room, Virgil gave him all the keys he owned from it, but there was one particular key he asked him never to use, the key of the front door. After that, we left him to clean the room, very dusty after so much time unused, and we returned to our own room as we had work to do for Thomas. Virgil decided to take a nap first and startled me when he screamed in his dreams, a scream I could hear from the living room. He said he had a nightmare about Chris, and his intuition was on point as when we returned to Chris’ room, we found that the front door was open and Chris was missing. It was then when Virgil confessed that at the other side of that door there was the Cave of Doom, populated by ghouls, each one fulfilling one of Thomas’ fears. He said that they had kidnapped Chris to lure him into coming back as he, as he finally confessed, was the King and Father of ghouls and had left them to live with us. After all these revelations, we tried to make up a plan to follow them into that cave and rescue our son, before it was too late… The adventure was about to begin, and we didn’t know yet how everything was going to end. If only we had known… Maybe I could have been prepared to prevent… [sobs] losing my son…

[intro sequence]

[The Sides and Thomas look at the half open door]

VIRGIL: [sighs] Okay, guys, the time has come. Are we all ready?

DILLON: Actually… I’m kinda scared, dad…

VIRGIL: Oh, Dillon…

DILLON: But at the same time, I want to help. He’s my brother. It’s just that I don’t know if I could be of much help or if I would be a burden instead. I’m too young and inexperienced as a Side to be of any help. But will I ever improve as a Side if I don’t follow you in your missions? I want to be better… but I’m afraid. I’m sorry if that’s a disappointment for you, but I can’t help it.

VIRGIL: [grabbing Dillon’s shoulders] No, Dillon, you’re not a disappointment! You could never be!

ROMAN: It is not a disappointment at all, son. It’s totally okay that you are afraid and we would never ever push you into doing anything you don’t wanna do before you feel ready.

VIRGIL: You can stay here if you want, and that’s not disappointing at all, son. Problem is, what are you going to do on your own in the Mind Palace? You need someone to be with you while we’re out, just in case someone tried to enter the room from the cave. But who could stay with you?

THOMAS: Yeah, I could have asked Joan or Talyn… but they’re busy out of town today, I can’t call them.

IAN: Guys, if you think you can handle this yourselves, I can stay behind with Dillon to take care of him. If something serious happened, I could know through Janus’ memories and join you to help. What do you think?

VIRGIL: Actually, that’s a great idea, Ian, and I’d be very grateful if you would take care of Dillon while we’re gone.

IAN: Then it’s settled. Dillon and I will wait for you here while you guys get in there.

DILLON: Be careful, dad, father. Please, save Chris.

VIRGIL: We’ll be careful, I promise.

ROMAN: And we’ll bring your brother back, you’ll see.

[Dillon hugs his parents]

DILLON: I know you will.

JANUS: Pay attention to every step we take in the cave through my memories, Ian. Who knows if you’ll need to remember the path if you have to follow us for some reason.

IAN: Don’t worry, I have a very good memory as you know. You guys, be careful, okay?

JANUS: We’ll be careful. You two, cover our backs from here.

IAN: We will, right Dillon?

DILLON: Right.

VIRGIL: Okay, guys. Let’s go.

[Virgil opens the door and they all go through it. As soon as they cross the door, they’re in a half-lit cave that goes deep down]

THOMAS: Were is the light coming from? I don’t see any torches or any source of light at all.

VIRGIL: There can’t be shadows without light. And this place is full of shadows ready to strike behind any corner of these caves.

THOMAS: [concerned and ironic] Heh… thanks for cheering us up, Virge…

JANUS: I’m totally not about to poop my pants right now…

[The gang starts walking through the cave, always down on a 45 degree slope. They keep walking and walking]

ROMAN: What I wonder is how we’re going to come back. Descending is more or less easy, but ascending is gonna be like climbing a mountain.

REMUS: If we do have the chance to ascend…

ROMAN: Remus, for goodness sake!

REMUS: What? I’m just saying what we are all thinking right now, that’s all!

THOMAS: What I was thinking is… I thought you said this cave was labyrinthine, and up to this point, this has all been a straight cave with not even a turn or a bifurcation.

VIRGIL: You shouldn’t trust your eyes, Thomas, not in this place. The truth is we’ve already made lots of turns, it’s just that you’re under the illusion that you’re walking straight.

THOMAS: The illusion of walking straight? That’s the story of the first 23 years of my life…

VIRGIL: [beat, frowns] …Only I can defeat the illusion, that’s why I’m guiding you.

THOMAS: I find it hard to believe it…

VIRGIL: You do? Well, how do you explain this? Look behind you.

[Thomas and everybody looks behind them. There’s a wall a few steps behind them, no sign of an exit anywhere]

ROMAN: [impersonating Frollo from Hunchback of Notre Dame] Witchcraft!

JANUS: How are we going to come back if there’s no path anymore?

VIRGIL: Don’t worry, as I said, it’s all an illusion. That wall isn’t real and if I stand in front… [Virgil walks to the rear part of the group in front of the wall, and the wall suddenly dissolves and shows an ascending pathway] …you’ll see how the wall evaporates as if it was steam from just-made coffee.

THOMAS: Goodness… Sorry for doubting you, Virge… Then it’s clear we mustn’t split out, under any circumstances, or we’ll get lost in the caves.

VIRGIL: Exactly. Whatever it happens, don’t… walk… away from me. Now, let’s go on. I think we’re not too far away from where we need to go now.

ROMAN: Okay, your majesty, lead the way.

VIRGIL: Please, don’t call me “your majesty”. I’ll only admit “your highness” as consort prince of Sandersia, nothing more.

ROMAN: As you wish, your highness.

[The gang keeps on walking through the cave. Meanwhile, in a huge cavern well lit a group of shadows carry a huge tied bag shaking. Chris’ voice is heard in muffled yells]

CHRIS: Let me outta here, whoever you are! This is outrageous!

GHOUL #1: In a minute, your majesty. We’ve finally arrived.

GHOUL #2: He surely has put out a fight all the way. I’m gonna have sore arms for days!

CHRIS: Let me out and the sore arms will be the most insignificant of your pains

GHOUL #1: Heh, you were always so funny, your majesty. Your dark humor was always the best.

CHRIS: Why do you call me your majesty!? And let me out NOW!

[The ghouls place the bag on the ground, then they untie it and Chris takes his head out gasping for air]

CHRIS: Finally, I can breath again! I mean, I can’t die of suffocation, but it’s so uncomfortable… who are you?

GHOUL #1: We are your humble servants, your majesty, and we’re glad to have you back in our kingdom which is all yours as always.

CHRIS: [getting rid of the bag and standing up] What are you talking about? I’ve never seen you in my life! What is this place!?

GHOUL #2: Okay, your majesty, for a joke, it’s been funny, but, please, cut it out. You have a kingdom to govern and we need your help. Nice new outfit, by the way.

CHRIS: Do I look like a joker to you? I’m telling you I’ve never been in this place and I don’t know who you are or where I am!

GHOUL #1: [scared, to his ghoul friend] Oh, no. Could it be that… we got the wrong guy, Rejection?

CHRIS: You did get the wrong guy, certainly! Get me back to where you found me, right now!

REJECTION: That’s impossible, Height. He was in our king’s bedroom in his private room. Who else would sleep in that bed other than the king himself?

[Chris shows a face of realization and starts understanding what is going on]

CHRIS: Wait, wait a second… that king you’re mentioning… Is his name… Virgil, by any chance?

HEIGHT: [beat] Yes…?

CHRIS: Well, you got the wrong Side. I’m not Virgil! Virgil is my father! And what do you want him for!?

HEIGHT: Your father!? You mean, he’s had offspring?

CHRIS: Yes. He has two children, my brother Dillon and me. My name is Christian, but you can call me Chris… if you were friends, that is, because you have kidnapped me, and you intended to kidnap my father! I demand you to take me back to where you found me and leave my father alone!

REJECTION: I… I’m very sorry for the confusion… your highness, but that won’t be possible.

CHRIS: What do you mean it won’t be possible!? You brought me here, you’ll send me back! And, once again, I demand you to tell me where here is.

HEIGHT: Certainly, your highness. You’re standing in the center of the ancient underground kingdom called the Cave of Doom. Your father, King Virgil the 1st, Father of Ghouls, ruled and protected our kingdom for many years.

CHRIS: My father… a king? A real king?

HEIGHT: Yes, and since you’re his son, that makes you a prince. Sorry if the news of discovering that you’re royalty are too shocking for you.

CHRIS: I mean… I’m already a prince. Prince Christian Gerard Sanders, heir of the Principality of Sandersia. My other father, and Virgil’s husband, is Prince Roman, ruler of said principality.

HEIGHT: Principality of Sandersia? A principality is like a kingdom, is it not? A foreign kingdom… Does that mean that… we could enter in a diplomatic conflict over what we’ve just done? Just what we needed, a war with a neighbor nation when our homeland is in such a serious disadvantage!

REJECTION: Don’t be silly. If our King has married that prince, that means that he’s annexed that place, Sandersia, for our kingdom, under the same government. No wonder he didn’t give sign of life, our monarch has been busy bringing glory to the Cave of Doom.

HEIGHT: Well, glory or not, we need our King here and now! This place is collapsing! Oh, no, don’t worry your highness, I didn’t mean the ceiling literally collapsing over our heads, it was just an expression…

CHRIS: [beat] I got you the first time… What do you mean this place is collapsing?

HEIGHT: You see, since his majesty left us, we’ve been ungoverned. Now, chaos has spread throughout all of the cave. We remain loyal to the legitimate king and wait patiently for his return, but there are other ghouls…

REJECTION: A bunch of vile traitors, those are the other ghouls! They think that the King is not coming back, so one of them decided to seize power and push their evil agenda over the rest of the ghouls. I can’t begin to narrate the atrocities they committed over their own brothers of shadow who didn’t want to betray King Virgil. Everyday we were less and less… We need your father. He’s the only one who can save us. We need him desperately.

CHRIS: Well, I’m very sorry to hear that, but my father never mentioned your existence at all. Perhaps it’s true that he doesn’t want to come back.

HEIGHT: But he must! If he doesn’t, what have we been fighting for? What have so many ghouls like us lost their freedom for? He wouldn’t just leave us like this? He’s our father of shadow!

CHRIS: Father of shadow? What does that exactly mean?

HEIGHT: We’re incarnations of Thomas’ fears… Yes, we never get out of this cave, but we know about Thomas, because our King usually mentioned him when he was here. Virgil’s our father of shadow, because he gave us birth. He created us as Thomas felt us. For instance, I’m Thomas’ fear of heights. Call me Height for short.

REJECTION: And I’m Thomas’ fear of rejection. That’s why Height called me Rejection.

CHRIS: I understand. Nice to meet you, I guess. But still, if he never mentioned you, he must have a good reason.

VIRGIL: [speaking behind them] I do.

[everybody turns around. The gang has just entered the place. Virgil looks at them with a mixed face of relieve and anger]

CHRIS: Dad! You’re here! I’m so happy to see you!

HEIGHT: Your majesty! It’s an honor to see you again!

VIRGIL: [yelling, angry, with his tempest tongue] How dare you speak to me without being spoken to! Be quiet in my presence! And how dare you take my son! I should crush you till you’re nothing but dust!

REJECTION: We’re sorry, your majesty… We were desperate…

CHRIS: It’s okay, dad. They didn’t mean any harm to me, they told me the whole story and…

VIRGIL: [still in tempest tongue] And you! Why did you disobey me!? I gave you strict orders about not opening the front door under any circumstances! Look what you have forced me to do! I hate putting on this dark warlord persona! I never wanted to do it again and I had to, and it was your fault!

CHRIS: Wait, wait, wait, what are you talking about? I didn’t open the front door! I didn’t even know that this place was beyond the front door! Someone got me while I was taking a nap, put me in a sack and brought me here. I didn’t open the door! I wouldn’t disobey you, dad, much less when it seemed so important and serious for you to leave that door locked. I didn’t open it, I promise! I… I’m not even carrying the key chain, I left it on the kitchen counter before I went to the bedroom! If you don’t believe me, search me if you want!

[Virgil shows a face of confusion]

VIRGIL: [normal voice] But if it wasn’t you… Then who…?

JANUS: [suddenly yelling in pain and grabbing his head with both hands] Awww! My head! Awww!

[Everybody gets startled and looks at Janus]

REMUS: [scared] Janus, what’s wrong with you!?

JANUS: [a little relieved, he lowers his hands] I don’t… I don’t know… I suddenly felt a huge headache, as if I had been hit on the head again, like the last time… then the headache suddenly disappeared.

REMUS: But you’re okay now, right?

JANUS: I don’t know… I’m feeling okay… mostly, but at the same time, I don’t know, I feel something weird in my head, I don’t know… But I’m okay now, sorry for startling you.

PATTON: What could have caused that sudden pain? It’s had to happen for a reason.

VIRGIL: We’ll think about it later. Now, the important thing is to get back to my room and out of this place.

HEIGHT: Please, your majesty, we’re begging of you! Don’t leave us! We’re desperate!

REJECTION: [panicking] I’m getting heightened… I’m getting heightened… He’s rejecting us! Everything’s lost! Everything’s lost!

CHRIS: Please, dad, listen to them. They told me their story and they really need our…

VIRGIL: That’s completely out of the question! For starters, you’re coming back to our room with Roman and I until we find a safer place for you in the Mind Palace. [looking at the ghouls] And as for you, I can’t lock my room without my key chain, but that won’t be necessary, cause you can’t get out of my room to other places of the Mind Palace and no one is gonna return to that room ever again!

HEIGHT: I knew you were dark and ominous… but I never thought you could be so cruel and cold hearted…

VIRGIL: How dare you speak to your king with such disrespect!

HEIGHT: Except you’re not, you said it yourself, and I didn’t say any lies! You’re being cruel and cold with us, your children of shadow, the children you’ve blatantly denied. Don’t worry, your former highness, we won’t disturb you in your bright life under the sun anymore. We’ll escort you back to your room, then you can do as you want while we just perish in here. Follow us, please.

[The ghouls lead the way through the caverns. Time goes by and they reach the door]

HEIGHT: Well, you’re here, your majesty, safe and sound. I wish we could say the same about ourselves.

CHRIS: Dad, please… these guys may be ghouls, but they seem nice and in danger. Why not helping them if we can?

VIRGIL: I said no. The only one whose safety I’m worried about is you. Do you have any idea of how worried I was about your safety?

CHRIS: [angry] Yes, I do, cause you’ve always been like this! You’re always trying to overprotect me! I know it’s part of who you are, but I became independent for a reason, dad, to take care of myself on my own terms without the need for your protection. And let me remind you that you agreed on these terms and recognized I needed to be on my own. So when are you going to stop treating me like a baby and consider me an equal adult like all the rest of the Sides? Tell me, dad, when!?

[Virgil does not have time to answer as Thomas interrupts them]

THOMAS: I can’t open the door! It is locked!

VIRGIL: What!?

[Virgil tries to open the door too. He can’t]

VIRGIL: [to the ghouls] You two! You locked the door, didn’t you!? Give me the keys right now!

HEIGHT: What are you talking about? We don’t have the keys!

VIRGIL: But you got in there, and if Chris didn’t open the door, it had to be you! Who else!?

REJECT: The door was open when we got in. Besides, think carefully. You all went through that door and it was still open. When you crossed the door, we were already deep in the caves carrying your son. How could we have locked the door? We can’t teleport.

VIRGIL: Then it was one of your accomplices! You gave the keys to someone and…

HEIGHT: We have no accomplices. We are the two last ghouls of our kind, no other ghoul in their current subjugated state of mind would have wanted you back to this kingdom. And besides, the keys were originally in the room on the other side of the door. We’re shadows, not ghosts. We couldn’t go through the door to fetch the keys, and if we could, what would have we needed the keys for in the first place?

LOGAN: Virgil, you must admit that his logic is completely sound.

VIRGIL: [beat] I know… but there’s something amiss here. That door couldn’t have opened itself! Someone must have opened it… and the only ones who knew of the existence of that key chain, other than the ghouls, were Chris himself, Roman and me.

ROMAN: Well, I…

VIRGIL: I know you didn’t Roman, I know you’d never do that to our son.

ROMAN: Thanks for trusting me, my love.

VIRGIL: And it’s out of the question I didn’t do it, I would have never opened that door on my own free will.

REMUS: Speaking about free will…

VIRGIL: What?

REMUS: Could it be that someone had been forced to open the door against his will?

ROMAN: I know what you’re implying Remus, and if you think the Paladin took control of me and forced me to open the door, I can confirm that’s not the case. I didn’t open the door and the Paladin didn’t take my body. I would have remembered everything I’d have done as the Paladin, and certainly I would have never hidden that to you, much less to Virgil.

REMUS: Okay, it was only a theory… a Remus theory.

ROMAN: A wrong theory. Besides, since Thomas got released from hospital, I’ve been feeling better than ever. I have never had any visits from the Paladin again after the last brief one that almost costed me my marriage. Not ever again. I think the Paladin’s very well reined in and we won’t know about him for a long time. I don’t even feel any trace of his presence at all, as if he had left me for good. I hope that’s the case.

REMUS: Okay, if you say so. Sorry if I’ve offended you, brother.

ROMAN: It’s okay. You had the right to ask and it was good that you did, so that I could clarify it.

VIRGIL: But then, who?

VOICE: Awww…

JANUS: [overlapping with the voice that no one seems to notice] Awww… My head… it’s started hurting again… Aw…

REMUS: Let me see, Janus, take your bowler hat off…

[Remus takes Janus’ hat off. He gets scared when he sees blood on the hair]

REMUS: Honey, you’re bleeding! Your hair is stained in blood! I’m not impressed by the sight of blood, of course, I’m accustomed to it… but if it’s your blood, that concerns me a lot! Did you hit your head or something?

JANUS: No, not at all. How is this possible?

VOICE: Awww…

LOGAN: Wait, what’s that sound? I heard it before but I thought it was Janus. And it certainly is not coming from him.

VOICE: Awww…

VIRGIL: It comes from that corner of the cave on the right side of the door.

[they all come to check the origin of the sound and they all get horrified when they find Ian with his head full of blood, lying on the ground]

JANUS: For goodness sake, Ian, are you okay!?

[Janus lies down to attend Ian, he’s barely conscious, unable to answer Janus, other than with painful groaning]

LOGAN: Well, that explains Janus’ sudden headache and his weird later sensation. Ian is Janus’ Siamese brother and they share memories, and what affects one affects the other, just like Roman and Remus. If Ian was knocked out, he couldn’t feel his memories anymore. And that explains the blood on his head too… but what it doesn’t explain is who did this to Ian.

PATTON: Step aside, Janus, maybe I can be of help. I’ll try to heal him with the gift from the Core.

JANUS: Thank you, Patton.

[Patton gets closer to Ian and puts his hand on Ian’s forehead. A light blue aura surrounds them both. The wound on Ian’s head then slowly disappears. The aura disappears and Ian opens his eyes]

JANUS: The wound is gone from me too, I can feel the pain is gone. Thank you, Patton.

PATTON: Happy to oblige, kiddo.

IAN: How… how did I get here? Where am I?

JANUS: Thank goodness you’re okay, Ian. What happened?

IAN: I’m not sure… I can’t remember… My last memories were that I was with Dillon watching a rerun of The Munsters on TV. Then, I remember I got up from the couch, for some reason, and after that my memories are blurry, then nothing. I can’t remember anything else.

VIRGIL: My son, Dillon, where is he?

IAN: I’m sorry, I don’t remember. What happened to me? [touches his face, and his hand gets stained with a trace of blood falling from his now healed forehead, he sees the blood on his fingers and gets scared] And how did my head get covered in blood? What is going on?

LOGAN: Obviously, someone must have attacked you from behind and rendered you unconscious. You must have lost the last few minutes before the attack due to the damage in your head, otherwise you would remember the attack. Then, while you were unconscious, the attacker, whoever they are, dragged you to the cave and locked the door. They must be the one who unlocked the door in the first place.

VIRGIL: [panicking] If the attacker hit Ian so easily, they must have done the same to my son! He could be anywhere and he could be wounded or worse! Can’t you remember anything, Ian? At all? Please, this is important, try to remember!

IAN: [anxious over Virgil’s state of panic] I’m… I’m sorry, Virgil… I can’t… I can’t!

ROMAN: [holding Virgil’s shoulders] Calm down, Virgil. Don’t harass Ian. He’s helping as much as he can now and we need to give him some room to recover.

VIRGIL: [after breathing slowly for a couple times] You’re right… I’m sorry, Ian.

IAN: It’s okay, I understand your concern and I would help if I could. But I can’t. I have no idea where Dillon is.

THOMAS: Guys, I suddenly had a thought. When we couldn’t get to Logan’s library because of his door being locked, you made me conjure a new key to unlock it. Can’t I do the same with this door?

VIRGIL: You could, Thomas… if you were in the Mind Palace, on the other side of the door. As long as we’re here, you can’t conjure a new key, just like I can’t conjure it myself. I should have conjured it before entering the cave, that was a terrible oversight on my part. But I thought Chris had the keys with him, and most importantly, I never thought someone would shut us out here.

REMUS: I’m sorry for being the Devil’s lawyer again, Virgil, but… if none of us unlocked the door, and the only one out of sight right now when we’re all trapped here is Dillon… couldn’t it have been Dillon who opened the door in the first place?

VIRGIL: What? Dillon? That’s the craziest thing you’ve ever said, and it was difficult to top them! That’s impossible!

REMUS: Sorry for insisting, but he’s the only prime suspect we have. Think about it. Ian was alone with Dillon when he was attacked. Who else could have attacked him? And he could have been the only one able to open the door, drag Ian inside and lock the door again.

VIRGIL: No, I can’t believe it. I refuse to believe it! Why would he do that in the first place? You say he’s the prime suspect, but to be a suspect, you need a motivation. What motivation would Dillon have to do that to us, to his own brother and family who love him?

REMUS: I’m sorry, Virgil. I really am. Dillon is my nephew too and it hurts me too to bring up these accusations, but you know that it’s a very strong possibility. You’re right, I don’t know why he would do that, but reviewing the facts, he’s the only one who could have done it. Maybe he’s being controlled by someone, like when the Dark Master’s Dark Sprite took control of Ira, I don’t know.

VIRGIL: Oh, gosh… you may be right… Dillon would have never done that on his own free will… but perhaps this is all another of the Dark Master’s plans to return to the Mind Palace. Gosh, not even being trapped in the Core is gonna stop him? Is he never gonna let us live happily ever after?

ROMAN: Relax, Virge. If this is the Dark Master’s doing, we’ll find a way to defeat him, as we’ve always done, and if he has our son, we’ll set him free. But for now, we must find a way to get out of this place, and soon. It won’t be long till someone starts missing Thomas in the outer world, and that could put him in trouble, as if it wasn’t enough the trouble we’re currently facing in this cave.

[to be continued, guys gals and non binary pals]

[end card]

[Remus is furiously hitting the door with his Morningstar, trying to bring it down, but despite his furious efforts and the violence of the bumps, the door doesn’t show a single dent]

VIRGIL: Don’t tire yourself up, Remus. I told you it’s completely useless. That door, like all our front doors, is completely indestructible and impossible to open without the key.

REMUS: [panting, frustrated] Not even a dent… [yelling] F*ck!

LOGAN: Well, it seems to be obvious that we can’t get away from this cave, at least through this door, so we need to think on something else.

HEIGHT: I have an idea that could be of help. We, ghouls, could help you search the whole cave to find the key, wherever it’s hidden.

CHRIS: Although we don’t even know if it’s hidden here. The culprit could very well have stayed in the Mind Palace and locked us all here. And besides, didn’t you just say that there were only two of you left?

VIRGIL: I find it hard to believe. Where are all the other ghouls. There used to be hundreds.

REJECTION: Yeah, we used to be a lot, until you abandoned us. Then one of the ghouls decided to take charge and started subjugating the other ghouls into following him. Only the two of us are left out of his control, and frankly, I don’t know how we have lasted for so long.

VIRGIL: Let’s see… if I helped you get rid of that ghoul and liberated all the rest of the ghouls that are under his control, would you help us find the key to get us out of here?

HEIGHT: You would do that for us, your highness?

VIRGIL: I would do that for the key, that’s my number one priority.

REJECTION: Your majesty… what did we ever do to you so that you hate us so much? Why did you abandon us like this?

[Virgil sighs]

VIRGIL: It’s not that I hate you… I don’t hate you… In any case, the only ghoul I hate is… myself.

PATTON: I will physically fight you!

VIRGIL: I don’t mean that I hate myself as a whole, dad, I mean that I hate the ghoul part of myself. I don’t want to be a ghoul anymore.

HEIGHT: That’s not much better for us, in all honesty. What’s so wrong about being a ghoul?

VIRGIL: You are all of Thomas’ fears. You cause him to feel fear and that makes Thomas suffer… and I don’t want Thomas to suffer, much less because of me.

REJECTION: We don’t want Thomas to suffer either, your majesty. We don’t do our work to torture him. It’s just… that that’s what we’re programmed to do and we have to do it. We don’t understand why, but we have to, and something inside us tells us that, in fact, we are supposed to do what we do and it would be worse for Thomas if we didn’t do it.

THOMAS: I think I understand. It’s the same principle about why we accepted you in the first place, Virgil. These ghouls you created don’t exist to make my life a misery. They exist to help me get my guard up and protect myself from the dangers in the world. If I didn’t have any fears at all, yeah, that would be a utopianly wonderfully calm and relaxed life… but I would be unable to identify danger and I eventually would end up hurt or even dead if I didn’t know when to respond to threats. Just like this cave is an extension of your room, these ghouls are an extension of your purpose, Virgil. You shouldn’t feel ashamed for making me feel fear. Sure, some fears may be irrational and hindering, and I might benefit from not having those in particular, but most of the times… these ghouls could be saving my life, and it would be thanks to you because you created them to protect me. Embrace that part of yourself just as I’m embracing it too, because there’s nothing in you that you should look at in shame. Be proud of being the King of Ghouls. I am proud of who you are, of each and every aspect of who you are, my dear friend Virge.

[Virgil looks at Thomas, emotional. He doesn’t say a word, he just hugs Thomas tightly. Then he looks at the ghouls]

VIRGIL: I’m sorry. Thomas is right and I owe you an apology. Everything you have been going through has been my fault. I hope you can forgive me, and I’ll do my best to help you in your ordeal and make sure it never happens again.

HEIGHT: Of course we forgive you, your majesty. You are our father of shadow. We knew that, eventually, you would help us.

REJECTION: And after that, we’ll help you all find a way to get out of here back to your world. We promise.

VIRGIL: Thank you…

THOMAS: Who would have thought? These ghouls are actually very nice.

VIRGIL: [low voice] Wait to see them doing their job, Thomas… [Thomas goes a little pale over Virgil’s gloomy way of saying that, but he says nothing] Okay, then let’s get cracking. Who is the ghoul that has rebelled against my legacy and wants to overthrow me in the throne? In other words, whose face do I need to punch.

HEIGHT: The truth is, not much is known about that ghoul. It’s one of the latest ghouls to be added to the cave. Before he assumed power, the only thing we knew about him, and not everyone knew it, was his name.

VIRGIL: And what’s his name? I’m asking because I didn’t know I could create ghouls without noticing. If you say he came recently, I was out of here when he was born.

REJECTION: Yes, your majesty, he came recently. In fact, he showed up barely a couple months ago and turned this cave into a mess in such short time. His name is… Paranoia.

[Virgil shows a face of shock when he hears that name and is rendered speechless, with a dash of fear in his eyes]

[archivesdiveronarpg]

Congratulations, ALLIE! You’ve been accepted for the role of GERTRUDE. This application was truly a joy to read, Allie! We’ve been waiting for someone to come along and bring our complex mother (and captain, and lover, and adulteress) to life, so it’s safe to say that simply seeing an application for her in the inbox was a treat in itself, but your understanding of her and your attention to detail absolutely blew me away! I adored the way you depicted her as deliberate, if not a bit two-faced, in the wake of her husband’s death, and your mention of her avoidance of alcohol as a result of his excessive drinking was something even I hadn’t considered but loved so, so much. Thank you so much for applying! Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within twenty-four hours.

                                                                           WELCOME TO THE MOB.

Alias | Allie

Age | 21

Preferred Pronouns | she/her

Activity Level | Very active! All my friends leave me when they go back to school, so I’m usually on daily.

Timezone | EST

In Character

Character |  Giya Godrej (Gertrude)

What drew you to this character? Every time I’d read or watch a version of Hamlet in class I would just yearn to get into Gertrude’s head! This would be the perfect chance to do so, don’t you think? Since I’m so fascinated with her I do think that I have a good grasp on her, but she’s one of those characters that can never fully be put in a box. You can’t completely condemn her or justify her as a character, and there’s so much fun gray area to play in. I can’t say enough good things about her bio and how you made her such a strong flushed out character.

What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character? I think that Giya has such a crazy juxtaposition of denial and self awareness in her life that she’s just bound to combust eventually, or if she can overcome her guilt she’ll be able to rise to the top. (Obviously all of this will be discussed and plotted out with the other characters)

1) Giya has obviously found it hard to be around her son lately because of the guilt and how much he reminds her of his father and what she did to their family. The three musketeers. She really fucked that one up. Still, the guilt she feels is leading her to want her to be a better mother to him and make sure he turns out to be the amazing man she knows he is. There’s the possibility of her growing more and more worried and concerned by his antics, and she’ll go to any length to help the one thing in her she loves more than herself. There’s no part of her that wants to come clean about Clark right now, and she justifies keeping the secret because the truth would only hurt him. But, there’s also the possibility of him finding out about her relationship with Clark.

3) I could definitely see Giya becoming a leader/mother figure to all the younger female Montagues because she’s all about empowering women. In all honesty, I see her growing closer to all of the younger Montagues during this war and there might even be more maternal instincts that she never even knew she had kicking in. She’s already has that kind of dynamic with Odessa which I can’t wait to see developed. Giya comes off as humble, but she’s pretty freaking impressed by herself and all that she’d managed to achieve in life and there’s no way she’s not excited to bestow those lessons and tactics on someone as deserving as Odessa. She was very surprised at the interest that Odessa took in her job at first, but the younger woman is slowly proving herself to Giya.

4) I can see Giya going to Roman and/or Hector and looking for help or advice on her relationship with Hiran. Or maybe she’ll try to convince herself they’re the bad influences on him? Either way, there’s a lot of potential for her having some plot lines with these two.

5) I know that currently Gia is recovering from what happened at the Masquerade (I read the event summary and I’m assuming that’s still applicable) the attack is something that is going to set a fire under her ass and it’s not something she’s going to take sitting down. Orion better watch out.

6) Giya’s relationship with Clark could either be strengthened at this time, or turn very tumultuous. Although she’s a strong woman who doesn’t need protecting, she’d going to expect that he provides a sense of security for her and Hiran. I think a lot of their relationship is going to depend on how he handles the war. Also, there could always be a sneaking suspicion that Clark knows more about his brother’s death that he’s letting on. That would definitely lead to an existential crisis for Giya.

In Depth

What is your favorite place in Verona?

Full lips turning up in a small smile, with only the most tasteful hint of sadness, Giya let out a small, contemplative, hum. “Well I always loved being home with my two boys. It’s been hard, after everything. But I can’t stay cooped up forever. Haref would have never wanted that for me, and I have to be strong for my son.” What was she supposed to say, Clark’s apartment? A place where they could both momentarily escape the paranoia of what they were doing? In all honesty, if it wasn’t for the memory of her husband, the great man he was, and her son Giya would have no qualms about that answer. She never felt the need to explain herself to those who didn’t know her, as if they had any moral high ground to judge her from. Unfortunately, that would never be the case, of which Hiran was a constant reminder.

What does your typical day look like?

Giya was aware that she was still constantly evoking sympathy among her peers, but some quality closest to pride stopped the widow from playing into that more than she needed to. The brunette could have effortlessly turned her answer into a tearjerker, waxing poetic about her deceased husband and how much her life had changed since his passing. But why lie more than she needed to? Instead, she narrowed her piercing eyes for a few seconds to create the illusion she was thinking thoroughly before she spoke. “I’ve been spending a significant amount of time with Odessa Vernon.” Beat. The poor thing. The words Giya would never verbalize silently trailed behind her sentence. If anyone knew what it felt like being treated like a human porcelain doll with feelings more delicate than her frame, it was Odessa. “She’s turning out to be quite the impressive little spitfire, and at the risk of sounding like an old lady- she reminds me of myself at her age.”

What are your thoughts on the war between the Capulets and the Montagues?

Giya made a conscious effort not to light up at the question, for this was one she could answer with complete honesty. Not as grieving widow. A worried mother. A guilty adulterer. But a Montague. “You’d think they’d know better than to throw rocks and hide their hands. Then again, intelligence has never been a Capulet’s strong suit.” The triumphant smirk that didn’t grace Giya’s full lips was heavy in her voice however, she just couldn’t help herself. “It shouldn’t last long, I have great confidence in the Montagues.”

In-Character Para Sample:

Cabernet Sauvignon. Her old wine of choice. The mixture of dark fruit and even darker pepper wafted through the air and sent Giya to a time she’d never thought she’d be trying so hard to forget.

The night she drank more red wine than she thought humanly possible. Back when her precious Hiran was just a young boy, before she realized that at least one parent should set a good example and she and swore off alcohol. She was also still very much in love with Haresh. He was charismatic, magnetic, and everyone knew it. They’d taken the day to shop for sport supplies, and the two boys spent a full hour testing basketballs.  Leaning against a nearby shelf, feet sore and back cramping, Giya had made the mistake of suggesting they just pick one already. Hiran was hurt by her tone, and stormed off; inconsolable. Harsesh looked at her as if she had just told their son Santa Claus killed his favorite puppy.

When they got home that night, Giya was at the end of her rope, and that scared her. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this whole parenting thing. It came so natural to Haresh. Everything always did. He was father of the year and she was … what? Mommie Dearest. Joan Crawford. Norma Bates.

“Mom. I was annoyed by him.” She sobbed over the phone, mascara sliding down to her wine stained lips. “I was annoyed by my baby.” What that she heard on the other line? Static? A fucking laugh? The woman who she hardly spoke so candidly to actually had the nerve to. A quick reminder why she hardly ever called home. Giya thought she was broken as a mother, and this was funny to her? “That’s going to happen sweetie, it doesn’t mean you love him any less.” She was right about her daughter’s love for her grandson, and Giya would never stop striving to put his happiness before hers. Maybe it wasn’t something that came naturally, but she never stopped hoping it would be. Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for Haresh.

Something inside Giya clenched at the thought, rendering her speechless for a moment. “It smells lovely, dear. But I’ll just have a water with lemon.” Her smile might have been tighter than it needed to be. Still, the novice bartender took the sample glass out from underneath her nose and granted her the peace and quiet she desired. No longer feeling obligated to sniff the new house wine, Giya turned her attention back to her phone. She resented not being able to work with Damiano in person, but she was still considered to be too fragile for anything but the occasional catch up email. She itched to be back at her head boss’s side, and was growing weary of chasing away all the questions she had regarding appropriate mourning procedures. Then again, she had nothing to prove to herself. She mourned the loss of her husband, but knew that he’d want her to carry on as the strong asset she was to the Montagues.

Extras: www.giyasinspo.tumblr.com

1) Giya was able to shed most everything from her life pre-riches, except for the fact that she popped out of her mother’s womb cursing like a sailor. Poise wasn’t exactly the first lesson taught in her household, it was something she realized she had to teach herself. Usually skilled at catching herself in front of other people, she acts properly mortified and apologetic when a curse slips once a blue moon. It’s the one thing about her that hints at her not so pristine upbringing, and she hates it but can’t shake the habit.

2) She’s a Virgo, and has always been very competitive when it came to the odd board game here and there. Still, she doesn’t even like to show that side of her, she keeps her emotions close to her chest.

3) Deciding that her husband was doing enough drinking for the both of them, she only has the odd glass of white wine here and there. Mostly when she’s with Clark, but lately his drinking has been irking her more than usual.