#|pick a muse|

[beausprouts]

Dancing with my deepest dark desires

[no-lullaby]

[grumpygilly]

do not reupload / edit w/o credit // do not tag as kin/id

(in tears) hes like a pomeranian

[fukutomichi]

The Rings of Power | Season 2 | Aug 29 - Oct 3, 2024 "You truly are the Great Deceiver. You can deceive even yourself." - Celebrimbor

[ciearcab]

baseball scribbles…. save me wolfwood in a jersey … save me …

[nothatsmi]

Lovely isn't he.

I finished the third book. It's been a few days already but with work and stuff... Anyway now I'm digging through the additional content Nora posted on Tumblr, took me a while to understand how it works but now I am pleased.

I cannot express the emotionnal damage these books have done to me, but I'm not finished drawing any of the foxes. Just saying.

[butcharium]

Honestly I love being a bit of a boring butch. No tattoos no piercings never even coloured my hair. I love solid (menswear) clothes in solid, often somber colours. Business casual is my comfort wear. Bad at small talk and if you bring up a pop culture reference from the last 50 years I'll most likely not have a clue what you're talking about. The most daring you'll see me is in a striped shirt, and sometimes I will wear a Venus symbol necklace. You'll never find me at the club, but I bloom socially at academic conferences and the like (I'm not even in academia). I'm never able to pick up gossip and shy drama like a fire. I'll go to the gym, but listen to classic literature while working out. I'm standoffish but not hot so that it's mysterious. I am just a bit of a boring butch. I guess I have some niche appeal, and luckily I've found people who appreciate me as I am!

[thesensteawitch]

IF YOU WERE A MUSE TO A POET 🍁💌

~This Is What They Would Tell You!

Pick A Pile Reading

(Left To Right- Pile 1, Pile 2, Pile 3)

Hello, Senstea Souls!��

I hope you're doing well. Here's a collective reading about what a poet would tell you if you were their muse! ✨

TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND PICK YOUR PILE INTUITIVELY.

In case you would like to BOOK A READING with me then I am sharing the links below for the same.

BOOKING FORM 💌

RATE CARD $$$

You can also DM me in case of any query.🫶🏻

***

Pile 1

You have so many sides to you, and yet you hold space for more. I am directionless. Where should I lead this poem about you? Or where are you leading me? There’s so much to you that I want to express, but I fear I’ll end up looking like a fool. You’re like the universe—mesmerizing, intriguing, and frightening, with layers and layers of mysteries. You are divine to me. Being a poet feels like a boon when I look at you. Only fated souls get to write about someone so infinitely charming. I sense the never-ending wisdom you hold. I’d forever be your devotee if you’d let me drink just one drop of what keeps you glowing like you do. You’re sharp, kind, wild, and a dream that only slips away. Where are you looking? What inspiration do you need? Come on! You walk to your own rhythm, your shadows delightfully dancing to your beat. The sound of your steps tells me stories of places you’ve been and people you’ve met. You hold no regret, no grudge—only lessons. You think, reflect, and cry for being mistreated. But when it’s your turn, you choose to destroy the weapons that bruised you so deeply, instead of hurting others with them. The venom couldn’t kill you but made you wise. Following your footprints, I find the earth swallowing the shed skin of your old self. How can I define you when you’re constantly transforming? Every time I think I have finally known you, I find something new revealed. My hands fall short of holding your grace, my mind loses the words to portray it. As I said, you’re sharp—you’ll never let me read you. You take me to the end only to throw me into a new beginning. It’s not your fault; I understand that’s who you truly are. Sometimes, while falling asleep, I wonder who would be so lucky to fall in love with you? Or who would you fall in love with? But then again, I don’t feel you’re deprived of love, because YOU ARE love. I look at you the way others look at stars. Everyone attempts to count them at least once in their lifetime but eventually gives up, knowing it’s an attempt they will fail. But I am not tired; I am taking a break. I would like to admire you for now, knowing that maybe I too will never fully know you, but I’ll keep exploring who you are, just like scientists cannot give up on SPACE! Ah! See, I cracked something! Your lover must be someone like you—infinitely charming and holding mysteries as vast.

***

Pile 2

You know what? I am mad at you! Because either you attack or you run away. See? You just revolted back. Or perhaps hid in your closet, knowing that someone knows your little secret. You’re that 22° in astrology. Kill or be killed? You’re neither a prey nor do you need to triumph over someone or something else to keep yourself safe. All I am trying to say is that you’re not meant to just survive; you’re meant to thrive. But hey, I do see your heart. The life around it has withered, and you’re surviving on memories. For how long, may I ask? You’re not a coward; you’re afraid. I heard someone say, “The one who is capable of love is capable of being saved.” At this point, all the love is leaking from the corners of your heart. Make the best use of it, or it’ll go to waste. Life isn’t at the extremes; it’s in the middle. That’s where you find your balance. That’s where you will shine bright. I see you singing to yourself, making stories in your heart but never writing them down for the world to taste. You don’t need to say ‘NO’ to something you want. Openly say what you want and to the person who can give it to you. Don’t keep whispering your wishes into the ears of God. He’s even giving you a side-eye now, haha. You’re the leader! If you don’t take the lead, you’ll never have your pack. Do you get it? Why am I even writing about you? It seems to me that you’re an artist too. You know the depths of your pain better than I do. Gosh, you need a hug! Whoever you’ve lost in this physical world doesn’t like to see those tears rolling down your cheeks. Every time you try to make sense of your emotions, you only make your heart heavier. Love keeps dripping and draining into the river of unexpressed emotions. You’re about to be granted a new life, a restart. But this won’t be handed to you until you decide and do what you’re supposed to do. The pain demands to be felt and yada yada yada! We’ve all watched *The Fault in Our Stars*. But come on, there’s an expiry date to feeling it too. I told you, you’re an extreme case. Pain won’t leave you until you leave it. YOU DESERVE THE WORLD. And I know you don’t believe it, but from where I am seeing, all your wishes are about to come true. You’re just ONE decision away. And I am here watching and waiting for you to make that move. Go where your heart is; that’s where you’re supposed to be. Don’t run away from your destiny. Remember, you’re not the same kid who froze at the point of a horrifying sight and couldn’t do anything about it. You’re grown up now. You can HEAL yourself. You’re not hopeless or helpless. You don’t even need to find your potential; it’s just there, waiting for you to see it and accept it.

***

Pile 3

Excuse me, miss/mister? Do you even have time to read what I have to say? You’re too busy figuring things out. Huff! The amount of mental and physical work you do is commendable. Are you waiting for something or someone? I am not surprised to see your spiritual side. What side, huh? You’re SPIRITUAL—IN & OUT! You’re wise, extremely intuitive, and resourceful but haven’t learned how to avoid burnouts. Can something ever be hidden from you? From where I see, it seems you’re new here but not naive. You’ve completed a tough journey filled with passion, rage, excitement, and burnouts (again!). Life has been preparing you for something bigger than your destiny! You’re heavily protected from the forces that don’t want you to be where God is taking you. But we all know who’s more powerful, don’t we? I see you bumping into your past sometimes, but you quickly realize that’s not where you’re supposed to be. The price you would have to pay to return to the same place or people is quite heavy. You don’t feel comfortable in the old stories anymore. You’re grateful but not greedy to go back. I laugh at those who think they can lure you with temptations! Lol! You are ten steps ahead of them. Stay where you are. All this silence around you is a blessing. You’re about to win. You’re meant to win in this lifetime. This is not your first time around. I have seen you somewhere—not here, but in a different lifetime. You’ve lived all those lives to WIN in this one! The smoke of your burned karmas surrounds you. You’ve cleansed! You’re not in the dark; you’re rising from the ashes. I see the wings of a phoenix on your back. YOU’RE THE CREATOR OF YOUR OWN DESTINY. Evidence of your faith and intuition follows you in the forms of birds, butterflies, feathers, and angel numbers. One day, you may share your story, but you know that day is not today. God, you’re mysterious, and all those stories are tattooed on your skin in a language no one can decipher. Your presence is enough for people to turn around, pause, and reflect. You raise the temperature of the room and melt the ice away. People open up to you naturally. Everyone just wants to experience a drop of you. But you’re not easily accessible. Your magic is sacred and can’t be put on sale. You’re magic. The path you’ve walked on shines so bright. That’s how I trace your past life because you leave glitters behind.

[nineraeix]

he's he's he's he's he's he's

[authorafterhours]

In prison, Hannibal took off the veil, removed his person suit, unmasked, and showed his true colors. However you want to word it, the man was no longer hiding to blend into polite society and hadn't for years. In the wake of the two of them slaying the Dragon, especially after their first kill together, can you imagine the euphoria Hannibal experienced? He finally had Will to himself, reborn, and in his arms.

No Jack.

No Alana.

... and no Molly Graham.

With Hannibal being the more injured of the two, it's Will who takes the reins to make sure their wounds are treated, to make sure they're safe, and that they are as far away from Jack Crawford's reach as possible. It gives him purpose and provides a distraction from every other complicated thought and feeling he's had since that night on the cliff.

Hannibal is out of practice when it comes to pretending to be "normal." And why should he hide when it's just him and Will as they recover? Hannibal won't put them at risk, of course, not when he finally has so much to cherish and so much to lose.

But he is a bit feral.

Will has a better grasp on it for now, as he had three years of being a family man and all that comes with that. He's never been good at it, but it's passable. I just picture Will easing Hannibal back into life as a free man, much like how he's coaxed stray dogs into his home and hearth. Domestication as much as it's possible with a cannibalistic serial killer.

Whether there is a collar involved is dealer's choice, really.

[chipper-smol]

you cant do this to me we’ve known each other for less than 30 minutes

[pxstelmxsings]

He is rough around the edges. He'll snap and lash out when stressed or scared, or maybe he goes cold and distant. There is a wall reaching the heavens around him. You might not understand why that wall is there, but you respect that it exists. Emotional and mental walls do not happen over night after all.

Walls so tall come from countless nights of fear, of pain.

However there is a secret gateway past his walls, one that only a few selective souls have the key to. The holders of that key are the children in his life. No matter what they have his attention and care. There is a level of protection that radiates from so deep within him that you can feel across the room.

At first he is his normal self to everyone, but you notice slight differences. There is no over looking the way his normally gruff voice grows softer around the kids. He'll kneel down to their levels to show them respect when speaking. Every single little gift the kids give to him he keeps in a box hidden away under his bed.

Once everyone in the group notices, they all know no child shall ever be hurt under his watchful eye.

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

୨୧ Naruto: Obito, Kisame,

⁀➴ TWD: Daryl

ᯓᡣ SDV: Marlon

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ Fire Emblem: Xander, Gregor, Jaffar

♡ APH: Germany, Russia

ᥫ᭡ JJK: Nanami

[greenleaf4stuff]

Of Convenience 6.1

(all previous parts of "Of Convenience")

Adar x Celebrimbor (silverscars) political marriage AU, 6th snippet, part 1. Celebrimbor sets out to explore Adar’s camp and has a conversation with one of Adar's children.

Somehow, my snippets are getting far longer and more detailed than I intended. (This is shorter than the last one though!) This is mostly the set up for part two of this snippet, plus Celebrimbor making a new friend. Fear not, there is also some silverscars interaction in the beginning though (and there will be more in part 2 as well)!

Celebrimbor's day-to-day existance in the uruk camp had been surprisingly mundane so far, all things considered...aside from the world-shattering changes that were going on around it.

Adar had been a good host, and readily provided Celebrimbor with some basic comforts; a cot that he could sit and rest on, for example. It was placed close to Adar's own bedding, but not directly against it, which gave the elf at least some measure of privacy.

The uruk had even aquired some furs, both to use as throws and for Celebrimbor to wrap around his shoulders to keep warm during the chilly hours at night. The smith also had his own set of armor now - undoutably scavenged, at least in part, from unforunate elves or humans who had crossed paths with the uruk forces, but armor nonetheless.

However, as someone who usually worked long hours in his own forge and spent much of the rest of his time reading, writing or sketching, the elf found there was still something missing to keep his mind occupied.

The Lord Father himself didn't seem be overly interested in reading – or perhaps he simply didn't have the time for it. Either way, there were no books in his camp, and the few maps Adar used to plan his strategies had become quite uninteresting to study after some time.

Celebrimbor had been given some parchment and charcoal to busy himself with, but even that could not put him at ease; the last time he'd sketched, he'd planned out rings he should never have even considered making. His last letters had been full of lies directed at his high king and his dwarven friends.

The elf’s usual source of comfort failed to give him any of that as a result.

No, Celebrimbor felt restless, and so he ended up deciding that he would like to leave Adar's tent and walk around the vast encampments of the various uruk legions for instead. At least for a while.

He had notified his husband, of course – not because the other had demanded it or because Celebrimbor feared reproach, but because he wanted to avoid any misunderstandings. The trust between them had been strengthened by the recent talks with Galadriel, Elrond and, by extension, Gil-Galad, but it was still very delicate, and the smith feared it might be prone to breaking if tested too harshly.

It was a show of goodwill on his part, both to ask to see the encampment on his own and tell Adar why he wanted to go in the first place.

His request was, in turn, rewarded with a similar gesture of trust.

"Very well," Adar replied, sitting back from where they had eaten their meal together. The uruk seemed to have a particular appetite for raspberries of all things, but the selection he had his men heap onto his table ranged from roasted meats to onions, pickles, various fruits and even some potatoes. Celebrimbor might have eaten finer meals, but the food was more than passable and he hadn't gone hungry once since he had arrived as a fugitive from his own people.

So far, meals with Adar had been nothing short of...pleasant, overall, Celebrimbor could admit. The uruk might be brusque at times, but he was also well-spoken and thoughtful. It was clear he cared about the wellbeing of his children, and actually had both insight into some of the elven houses as well as elvish poetry - like Rúmil.

The smith couldn't deny Adar fascinated him, and judging by the other's interest in Celebrimbor's opinions, the curiosity was mutual.

The smith was pulled from his ponderings when the uruk continued to speak.

"I think it will be safest if you don't stray too far from the tent – we must keep in mind that he is still at large, after all, and has no doubt set his sights on finding you. I'd suggest we don't make it too easy for him to do so." There was a fine dusting of humor in Adar's words – slightly sardonic, but humor nonetheless. Celebrimbor quirked up his lips in response and nodded.

"I very much agree with that. I'll stay closeby," he replied. Adar's resulting nod was curt, but Celebrimbor could tell by his posture that the uruk felt lighter knowing that they were of the same mind on this matter.

"Good. Two guards will accompany you, for the same reason. And because you might get lost - our camp is not as tidy as an elven settlement, you see."

Celebrimbor couldn't help but smile brightly. "I sure hope not! While our conversations are certainly very enjoyable, I need something to occupy my feet and my mind for a change. I have rarely been so stationary before. And I am actually quite curious to see how your people have set up their mobile workshops."

If the smith wasn't entirely mistaken, Adar looked a tad surprised at Celebrimbor's response.

"In that case, be my guest," the uruk finally settled on, and got up from the table. "I will call upon my two most trusted lieutenants to accompany you. Give me a moment to summon them."

"Thank you, Adar," Celebrimbor replied, and could have sworn that the uruk almost missed his next step as he walked towards the entry of his - their? - shared tent. 

This was how, not much later, the elf found himself flanked by Glûg and another uruk as he stepped out into the camp. He had no idea where to go, and therefore just let his feet carry him wherever they pleased.

The encampment was decidedly busy, even if Celebrimbor had the distinct impression that there was some underlying method to the chaos going on around him. The uruk were carrying supplies back and forth, cooking stews over open fires, repaired tents and clothes and utensils, and he could even see a group of them train together a little way off in the distance. His senses eagerly took in the various sights, sounds and smells as he strolled about.

After a while, there was a sharp grunt to the side of him. As Celebrimbor turned around, he saw a group of uruk eye him with suspicion and back away from him as he looked in their direction. He recognized some of them from when he’d- well. 'Cussed out his recent bad luck', to put it mildly.

He stopped and flinched the slightest bit when the group took another step back from him, hands on their weapons.

The smith inclined his head and wrung his hands as tried to negate some of their agitation. "Hello. Er. I apologize, again, for my recent outburst. I see I must have frightened you. That was...not my intention."

As if in answer, the group quickly continued on their way, almost scurrying until they were out of Celebrimbor’s line of sight.

He turned a questioning look at Glûg, who had watched the proceedings in silence. The smith was still astounded at how tall the uruk was – he towered over most of his peers and even Celebrimbor himself. "Have I really been that frightening to them? I assumed your people would have seen little more than an elf losing his marbles when- that happened."

Glûg didn’t have any eyebrows, per se, but still managed to raise them in response. After a brief pause, he finally admitted. "It’s less about being frightened," then he stopped, as if contemplating whether or not he should continue, before he seemed to come to a conclusion.

"Some of us had been...unhappy, with Adar’s decision to march onto the elven city. He insisted. Having an elf of all people make him change course has been a cause for confusion."

Celebrimbor was aware that he was gaping at the uruk in surprise, but he couldn’t make himself care. "You- I- Oh," he finally settled on, rather ineloquently. He tilted his head at the uruk. "So this marriage between him and me, it’s- actually something your people are glad about, too?"

He hadn’t been quite sure, to be perfectly honest. Seeing their leader bind himself to an elf and making it clear he had no intention of occupying his city beyond ridding it of the evil within, that could have been an incredibly unpopular opinion – even with how loyal the uruk were to their leader.

Glûg nodded, solemn, and then looked across the camp. As Celebrimbor followed in the same direction, his eyes landed on a group of uruk women, sitting together as they spun fabric or tinkered about, some of them with bundles on their chests or in their arms.

"He’s a new father," Celebrimbor’s other guard supplied, voice flat, and the smith saw and heard Glûg growl at his fellow lieutenant in response.

That- certainly explained a lot. The reluctance to have Adar walk into a bloody war with the elves, all to face Sauron, and the way Glûg was now so open with his thoughts on the matter. The uruk, too, had families they cared about. Families that had accompanied the soldiers right up to the edge of a potential battlefield. It made something in the smith soften.

"Congratulations," he said towards Glûg, voice gentle, and smiled when the other turned his attention back towards him. "I understand why it would make you uneasy, that Adar intended to seek an open conflict, then."

He paused, and his own eyes drifted across the camp as well. "I too, am terribly worried about the wellbeing of my people. I might not have children, but my subjects are very dear to me. I have endured too many losses in my life already," and then he faced Glûg again.

Perhaps it was all within Celebrimbor’s mind, but he felt as if some kind of understanding was passing between the two of them. After several moments, Glûg turned his head about in a surprisingly bird-like manner, and then leaned closer to the elf.

"Do you believe there is actually a chance?" he asked, lowly, "That elves and uruk might coexist without violence?"

Celebrimbor stopped and gave himself a moment to ponder his answer. "It will surely be difficult and not without missteps from either side. But...Adar believes it to be possible. As do I. We have convinced the elven leaders to try at least. So yes, I do believe there is a chance. If we can manage to defeat Sauron."

Glûg and the other lieutenant hissed at the mention of the Deceiver’s name, but otherwise, it seemed the elf’s words had put them at ease. Their little trio soon continued their walk through the camp – though this time, Glûg was beginning to point out different areas, and began to instruct the smith on the proceedings was taking place there as he guided Celebrimbor on an unknown path among the tents and campfires.

The elf smiled, and let himself be lead along, listening intently – particularly when Glûg mentioned that the uruk had forges nearby.

[nebulanewts]

WHOOPS I once again…posted that way too early anyways let’s restart this is the last set of collab art images that I have saved on my phone! Again,I love the limited color palette,alt hairstyles and sort of trendy outfits that still go w/ the candy theme it’s rlly nice ^^ still a great one to end on

[apheliia]

just to be very clear. these guys would not cheat under any circumstances:

childe (he's a family man i just know he would not ever dare to do something like that 🙏)

lyney (bro fought a fatui harbinger for his siblings. enough said)

kaeya (do NOT argue with me if you know anything about his character you know he fucking wouldn't) (he is NOT the #1 candidate for grandson in law for nothing 🙏)

diluc (you really think he would cheat after what he's been through? nah. sit down.)

baizhu (he's baizhu? why would he cheat? he's so kind and compassionate? it would not even cross his mind)

venti (why're you guys acting like he'd cheat when he literally took on his dead friend's form in his memory and has not abandoned that form for the last 2600 years 🤨) (dude if he didn't want to be in a relationship he would just leave)

xiao (he's XIAO) (hello?) (xiao the guardian yaksha? xiao forever loyal to liyue? that xiao? yeah. he would never)

alhaitham (he would be mature enough to just... break up with his lover if he wasn't attracted to them anymore 👍)

cyno (HE WOULD NEVER. END OF STORY)

neuvillette (dragon. Cheating would not even cross his mind, he would probably marry for life)

kazuha (i just don't see it dude? seems so ooc imo)

obligatory note: if your fave isn't on here, it doesn't mean i think they would cheat. the characters on here are ones who, i feel, have personalities and moral + ethical principles that cheating would go DIRECTLY AGAINST, so more morally ambiguous men like scaramouche (scara, not wanderer or kabukimono) etc etc aren't on here. also, only characters whose lore i know very well are listed here for accuracy purposes, so there are like no inazuma characters on here bc i don't know them like that. also sometimes i just forget about some characters' existence LMAO

[feroluce]

how do u imagine natasha + sampo’s relationship?

I. Feel a little bad for leaving this in my inbox as long as I did, especially since I said in this post I could write a whole essay on them. But then when I tried to actually answer this, I realized ah shit, I can't really articulate what I think of them at all OTL

(so have a bajillion words of meta analysis of them instead fklajklasjf)

Just! Sampo is very mysterious figure, and we know so little of his background and his motivations! So it's really difficult to get a solid read on some of his relationships with other characters. Regardless, I do think that Natasha is perhaps the one he's closest with, and that she is the one person who knows him the most intimately in all of Belobog.

And a lot of it IS hard to pin down because of Sampo's slippery nature, but also because it's like. If you look at just Natasha's dialogues about Sampo, it doesn't really look like much. It only becomes more meaningful when compared to how everyone else talks about him.

Most other characters just comment on what Sampo does, as in his observable actions that are easy to see on the surface or from a distance.

Natasha is one of the very, very few that actually speaks to Sampo's personality or philosophy. Like she not only is able to describe a certain behavior of his, but she's able to explain the why behind it.

At least part of this is probably that they spend so much time together- Hook even comments on it during her companion quest.

And tbh I don't really think it needs more proof or anything with such a flat out statement like that, but this is actually further supported by the fact that Seele is the only other character in Belobog to sorta-kinda comment on Sampo's personality; if Sampo were hanging around the clinic with Natasha all day, Seele would probably be the person he would see second-most there. Of the dialogues posted further up in this post, Hook obviously sees him all the time, but it's not always in the clinic, and besides she's still very young...she wouldn't have the same read on him an adult would. Luka avoids the clinic whenever he can because he's worried about taking up Natasha's valuable time. And the Landau siblings aren't even present in Boulder Town until after the Stellaron is quieted.

Seele, on the other hand, is extremely loyal and devoted to Natasha, and seems to worry about her a lot. She doesn't have the same reservations as Luka, and it would feel right to see her in the clinic frequently, taking orders and missions and trying to make sure Natasha doesn't run herself in the ground. So it would make sense for her to see a lot of Sampo if he's always in there, too, enough that she would have things to say about his personality, whether she likes that or not haha.

Of course we know from Sampo's lines that it's not that he's sick, he's just reporting back to Natasha. Sampo not only smuggles in supplies across the border like what most people know him for, he's also Natasha's source of intel.

Bringing back intel doesn't necessarily have to involve a lot of conversation though, especially because it would make more sense for Sampo to be turning in written reports. It decreases the chance of Natasha mishearing/misunderstanding something or having to rely on memory alone, neither of which are really things you probably want to be doing when bad intel can mean the difference between life and death in her circumstances. So I do really wonder what it is Sampo does in the clinic all day haha. Given that he's a big believer in the power of small talk bringing in big clients, it's entirely possible Sampo is just in there being chatty, happily making conversation and keeping Natasha company most of the time...which is kinda cute. He also really could just be talking shop, too, of course- Sampo does a lot of work for Natasha, and I don't think it'd be a stretch to assume she's his main client. There's probably a lot to discuss about supply quotas, incoming intel, scheduled drops, etc.

My favorite option, though, is actually based on one of Sampo's options from the main quest, where he says:

Because like! The way he says this, the way he specifies that this is his opinion, but no one seems to care what he thinks? And how he calls them stubborn in particular? It really sounds like Sampo has been trying to get Wildfire to operate in a different direction. And if you look up the exact definition of "artless," you get this

which very much fits Sampo, and how he does things. He has guile and deception down to an art form. Sampo goes on to call Wildfire "do-gooders," but then cautions the trailblazer not to underestimate them because of that- indicating that Sampo sees that type of philosophy as something naive, or at least just ineffective. Something that you would underestimate a person for.

And the person Sampo associates with the most in Wildfire, the one he's always seen with, the one who would hold the most sway to change the modus operandi of the organization is...Natasha.

So I wonder if Sampo has been trying, possibly for years now, to get Natasha to see what he thinks of as reason, and start playing dirty to survive. I wonder if that's what he spends so much time in the clinic for, is because he does care, and he wants her and the rest of them to live, and he has been trying to convince her to go with his way of doing things, but Natasha has been refusing him, refusing to compromise her morals.

Because we know from some readables and from the general Vibe, both up on the surface and down below, that things were getting pretty dire. Rivet Town has fallen. The Silvermane Guards are being whittled down and broken. The Fragmentum was right on everyone's doorstep, and I'm sure that if the Astral Express hadn't arrived- and that if Sampo hadn't set the stage so perfectly, if he hadn't played his part just so- then all of Belobog would have eventually been snuffed out. Sampo had to have known it was happening. He must have known the end was upon them.

He doesn't even have a stake in Belobog- he's not from here. He could, assumingly, call it quits and leave when shit got tough by whatever means got him there in the first place.

And I'm sure Sampo wants to save all of Belobog, but I think he's particularly endeared by Natasha. He famously phrases his view of Elation as "true happiness always entails the manifestation of the dignity of mankind." And like. Who else embodies that so much as her?

Maybe it is a little vague and up to interpretation, but I feel like Natasha is FULL of that kind of dignity. She has been doing this since before the blockade. She willingly chose to stay in the Underground where she could do the most good. She has seen so, so much death and you can see how it weighs on her; she's become bitter, and wary, and weary. She has it out for the Guards (understandable), and she openly taunts Gepard and goes right for his throat when he shows up in Boulder Town, ten years too late, trying to help with the Fragmentum.

Natasha even seems to have given up any belief she may have once had. She's completely lost faith in Qlipoth.

All of this, and yet she still chooses to be kind. She still chooses to help people. There is something immensely admirable in all of that.

And I feel like you can see how much Sampo admires her in just how often he thinks of her, especially when someone needs help. Sampo smokebombs everyone and needs to get them somewhere safe in the Underground? He takes them to Natasha. Svarog is about to fucking kill everyone? Go get Natasha. He finds the trailblazer passed out in an alleyway? He carries them to Natasha. The trailblazer is seeing weird shit out in the Fragmentum? Recommend they go get a check up. Specifically from Natasha.

It's a little silly, but I think you can also see some of this when Sampo is being melodramatic about being caught red-handed in the museum event. He echoes a very important sentiment to Natasha and Wildfire;

And the mission where this ideology was displayed strongest was titled, "To Rot or To Burn."

(Hell, in the dream sequence of Penacony- regardless of whether that dream bubble came from Sampo or Sparkle, it had to be informed by Sampo's tales of Belobog. Sparkle has never been there herself. And the kind trashcan that immediately helps you and sets you on the right path, that tries to rally everyone together, the only one with a name so clearly and obviously taken from someone Sampo knew in Belobog? Is Shatana- an anagram of Natasha. Even from a meta perspective, they have the same VA. No other trashcan there gets that treatment. None.)

I think they have the same goals, and even hold some of the same views. Natasha's are much more obvious, but still. Sampo says this about Belobog's circumstances:

And he says this as though it should be obvious common sense. That when things are rough, you share and make sure everyone has enough. I think they both share this belief, it's just that they disagree on how to go about making things even. Natasha believes in rallying people for the cause and giving as much of herself as she can to make up for whatever people lack. Sampo believes that if some dipshit with more money than what they need falls for his bullshit and he gets to spread it around? Well hey, that sounds like a whole lot of their own fault.

Natasha is definitely aware of this, and she has no problem threatening Sampo whenever she thinks he's stepping out of line.

She keeps him on a very short leash, which like. Yeah no that's valid fjkdlsajfdklj

Even so, the way she talks about him, like... Maybe it's just me, and my rose-colored glasses, but she doesn't seem to dislike him nearly as much as she could? She kind of just. Says these things as statements about him, without any real vitriol behind them. This is just kind of how he is. She even seems to have a sense of humor about it.

And again! She has so much more to say about him than almost any other character.

I'd like to think part of her...affection? of sorts? for him is simple camaraderie. Circumstances are dire. Past, present, and future are all bleak. Things like that deepen bonds with your foxhole buddies. Sampo is dependent on Natasha for work and pay and a place to get away from the Guards. Natasha is dependent on Sampo for food and medicine and life-saving supplies. They both heavily rely on each other in this harsh environment, and they have a really nice back-and-forth that I appreciate with how they help each other out by owing favors as payment.

And the other part, I'd like to think actually IS because she knows him very well- maybe not things like his past, but she knows some of his personality and beliefs, and finds them agreeable enough. She even has the audacity to call him a poor liar at one point- Sampo! Of all people! Known by someone well enough to be caught out as a poor liar! He's either intentionally leading her on and letting her think she's caught him, or Natasha just really is that good. Neither would surprise me tbh

I think Natasha is also just uniquely prepared to understand Sampo, and is able to see his better sides without letting her judgement be clouded by his slimy manner. She's able to appreciate that his actions ARE extremely helpful, regardless of how he does them.

Even as she acknowledges that he isn't always trustworthy, she does still choose to rely on him and give him chances. She was pleasantly surprised by him here, but she still chose to trust him with this in the first place. She never treats him harshly, and she never seems to bear any kind of grudge with him.

But my favorite example of Natasha being able to understand Sampo? My favorite is this. This one little throwaway line, that didn't even involve him, wasn't even about him. I feel like Natasha is capable of knowing and understanding Sampo on a deeper level than most people can, solely because of this.

She gets it.

(As a fun bonus: In the current trashcan event, there's a simple mechanic where you get one trial character for the initial battle. Then, for the harder stage, you get that same trial character, plus a couple of extras. This is true for every Proof- except for Sampo's. In his harder stage, you use Asta, Black Swan, and Luocha. But in his initial stage, in an event all about friendship and relationships...)