#✎ helldustedstories : open

[helldustedstories]

"Tonight's the Harvest Moon!" Stolas exclaimed, a delighted smile on his face. "As usual, I shall be attending the festivities in Wrath to curse the crops under the light of the full moon. But this particular Harvest Moon is even more special than usual."

He opened a little portal so the night sky was visible behind him. "It's called the Harvest Moon as it's the closest to the autumnal equinox. And it'll be a supermoon, which means it'll seem to be larger in the sky, and it will also be a partial lunar eclipse!"

"Like other moons, it has other names, too. Some of the other names to describe this particular moon are the Corn Moon, the Autumn Moon, or the Mating Moon! One of the pieces of folklore about this moon is that frost that happens in the dark of the moon will ill fruit buds and blossoms, but if it frosts in the light of the moon, it will not!"

"I have all sorts of other moon facts. Is there anything you want to know?" He's got a little bit of time before he has places to be.

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"My how time does fly!" Stolas says, realizing that it's once again time for the full moon.

"This month's moon is called the Flower Moon, and it's named that way because quite a few flowers are blooming on earth around this time," he explains. "It's also called the Budding Moon, the Planting Moon, and the Moon of the Shedding Ponies!" The addition of that last fact was very deliberate on his part.

"It's supposed to be a good time to let out your feelings, to allow yourself to become more vulnerable. The moon's full energy can help to bring matters to the light, which can allow you to come to realizations you may not have before."

Of course, full moons are significant for a number of reasons; he hopes a little insight into what the universe has in store is useful.

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With both the new moon and an eclipse falling on the same day, Stolas was feeling…..out of sorts. But he still had a job to do, and he was going to do it to the best of his ability, even if that meant pulling from his own stores of energy, rather than the moon's.

The ceremony itself went off without a hitch, with everything happening as it was supposed to; Stolas had made sure that the eclipse's charge would last at least until the next one. But he did not have the energy to mingle, as was expected of him.

He couldn't just leave immediately, much as he might want to. So instead, he sits at one of the tables, nursing a glass of….he's not actually sure what it is, actually. Some eclipse-themed drink he'd been handed when his part of the ceremony was done. If no one came to talk to him, hopefully he'd be able to slip out soon.

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Echo lays across the table, gazing over at the other. "I can be whatever you want me to be; just say the word."

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"Great. As if one fuckin' Angel wasn't enough around here."

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Usually when the full moon rolled around, Stolas was in a much better mood. But this one was…..different. Something had to give…., and he was afraid it was going to end up being his heart.

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"If Glitz and Glam are the 'Glam Sisters,' does that mean one of them is Glam Glam?"

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"Ah, I seem to have missed this month's full moon," Stolas said, doing his best to smile. There had been quite a few things going on, if he was being honest, and it had been hard to keep track of much, after that.

"Tonight, on the night of Halloween, is the last phase of the waning crescent, which means that tomorrow will be a new moon."

He paused for a moment, looking skyward, though the new moon shouldn't make him feel nearly as much as the full moon did.

"However, that's not what's exciting about this week's celestial activities. When the moon begins to wax once more, on November 3rd, it may be possible to see both Venus and Mercury just after sunset."

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"It's my birthday," the small imp said with a little grin. "I've got a couple of tickets to go see P.hantom of the O.pera if you're interested in accompanying me." Blitz and Millie were busy, but he was still determined to have a good time, seeing his favourite show.

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"Tonight's full moon is quite special," Stolas murmurs, gazing upwards, as though he could see the moon even now. "Not only is it a supermoon (which means it'll appear bigger and brighter to the naked eye), it's also a blue moon: the third full moon in a season that contains four moons."

With a wave of his hand, there's a glowing replica of both earth and the full moon hovering above his hand. "It's known as the Sturgeon Moon, for the fish that are more easily caught this time of year in major bodies of water. Of course, that's not its only name!" he adds with a little laugh. "It's also called the Corn Moon, the Harvest Moon, and the Black Cherries Moon by different native peoples of earth."

He looks at the little replica in his hand, thoughtful expression on his face. "Because of where the moon is, it's possible there could be miscommunications, along with surprises being revealed. It's important to take a deep breath and and listen, as hard as that can be, and then respond from a thoughtful, rather than an emotional place."

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Stolas gazes up at the night sky above him, through the portal he'd opened, the light of the full moon shining brightly down on him.

"This moon is called the Buck Moon," he murmurs, closing his eyes for just a moment to bask in the moonlight. It's one of those things that never fails to make him feel like things might not be so bad, regardless of what's happening. Because if the moon is still waxing and waning, if time is still moving on, then the wheel of fortune is still turning.

"It's called the Buck Moon because antlers of the male deer on earth are in full-growth mode at this time. They grow a larger set every year, so the time for growing them is very important!"

He lets out a little laugh before adding, "Because this particular full moon is in the same constellation as last month's, it's a continuation on the theme from June: a time of growth, renewal, and potential transformation. As the bucks shed their antlers every year, we must shed old patterns and believes in order to grow."

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Stolas is aware of the fact that it's his birthday, but he never really fussed over it, not anymore. For the past seventeen years, his birthday had never really been about him, anyway, so why should that change just because he was in the process of a divorce and wouldn't have to attend the party Stella always threw, to draw as much attention away from him as possible.

He could never have a day that was just about him; his eighteenth birthday had been his wedding day, and an excuse for Stella to keep everyone from looking his way.

Today looks to be no different, really, though perhaps he'll purchase a cupcake later, as a little treat. But for now, he's taking a walk, to enjoy the nice weather they've been having recently.

But of course, the moment he has that thought is the moment he steps into a deep puddle, getting mud all over the new pants he'd put on.

"Happy birthday to me," he mutters, pulling himself out of the puddle. Maybe he should have just stayed home.

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"It seems fitting that the first birthday I'm not forced to celebrate an anniversary I did not want would fall on a full moon," Stolas muses. Ever since his eighteenth birthday, which had also been his wedding day, his birthdays have never been about him. And he doesn't really see that changing much, not really.

"But since it's the first full moon of the summer, that means this particular moon is called the Strawberry Moon! This helps to indicate that the berries are ready to be picked."

A soft laugh leaves him as he adds, "Of course, there's much more to this moon than that, and as summer is ushered in and we're surrounded by growth, this moon suggests opportunities to expand one's horizons, to lean into joy and celebration, along with one's spirit of adventure!"

He gazes up at the sky, red eyes unblinking, as though he can see past Hell's borders, into the very skies he studies so often. "It is a time for manifestation and self-reflection, a moon that encourages evolving, learning, expanding. Celebrate your growth, recognize your strength, and use the moon to empower you to create positive change in your life."

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The young prince opened his eyes, and for a moment, he wasn't sure what day it was. But when it dawned on him, he sat bolt upright, excited. Last year, he'd received his grimoire and made his first friend! Perhaps this year would be equally as exciting!

"It's my birthday!" he exclaims, leaping out of bed. And he hears voices in the hall, so without getting fully dressed, heads out to see if there are indeed visitors so early in the morning.

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Gonna go through what I've got in my inbox and then I'm gonna do a couple of updates to my carrd before seeing about what replies I can get to.

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"Wait a minute, you mean to tell me the second-in-command of Heaven's army is named Lutefisk?"