#15 days to Tears of the Kingdom

[mochiwei]

Day 15: Sword ⚔️

Print available here!

[sinnabarmoth]

Tribute for the Dragon (18/18)

(A/N: Just a quick thanks for all the love you guys have shown this fic! Means a lot! Love ya!)

Pairing: Dragon|Sylus x Fem|Reader

Summary: A happily ever after with your dragon.

Content Warnings: Adult language. Child birth.

Length: 2k

Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17)

Read on AO3

The flight back to your kingdom was long and Sylus did not stop until you were across the border. At that point you had told him to land near a stream. He didn’t question why, just dropped down as soon as he spotted some water.

“Are you alright?” he asked for the tenth time. “Do you need a rest? Something to drink? Eat?”

“No. I am fine.” you looked at him now, still covered head to toe in copious amounts of blood. It soaked into his hair and his skin. Every inch of him was died the same crimson as his eyes. “But you need to clean that off.”

Sylus looked down at himself and nodded. You gestured to the stream and he started washing the blood away. You tore off a piece of your skirt hem and dunked it into the water and wiped at his face.

You remembered being sat in the room underground when you heard the bells and alarms ringing. You had know immediately it was Sylus. The unending screams of pain and fear only confirmed it. Then that fucking general had come in to try and take you away, to try and threaten Sylus into letting him live, but his efforts were in vain. They had all died. Sylus ripped every last one of them to shreds just to get back to you.

You had been surprised for a moment when instead of the Sylus you knew a full dragon had busted in through the door. But you knew it was your dragon the second you saw him. He was large, black and red scaled armor with silver horns and spines down his back. His eyes were the same kind of molten red you had seen from Tengya on the beach, as if instead of eyes two pools of magma churned in his pupils. And all that you could think of was how happy you were to see him.

He was back to his normal form now, albeit completely naked, but that hardly mattered. Soon you would be home and all of this would be nothing but a horrible nightmare. You couldn’t wait that long to get this blood off though. So you helped him clean, wiping whatever blood you could off of him. Scooping water into your hands and scrubbing it out of his hair until it was silver again.

He reclined against you, staring up at your face. “I am so sorry.” he said. “I should never have left. They never should have been able to take you. This was all my fault.”

“No. It was not your fault, Sylus.”

“I left you. I left you all alone. I should have taken you to the village at the very least. I was insane to leave you by yourself.”

“Sylus--”

“What if they had hurt you worse than they did? What if they had done something to our child? I would never forgive myself. If…if the worse had happened…” tears cut rivers down his cheeks, “I don’t even want to think about it.”

“Then don’t.” you hugged him. “I am safe. Our baby is safe. What is done is done. We cannot change it. But you ensured that no one would ever come to harm us again and that is good enough for me.”

“I love you. I do.” he turned to face you fully, “I love you more than anything and I swear this will never happen again. I will defend you, body and soul with everything that I am.”

“Sylus…”

“You, the family we are growing, is my entire life. I love you both so much and I do not know what forces in the world allowed me to have you but I will thank them every day.” he pressed a kiss to your forehead.

“I love you too. I will love you forever and no matter what happens, I will always be here by your side. No force from the heavens, hells or this material world will take me from you. I promise.” You brought him close, kissing him tenderly. “I love you, Sylus. I will always love you.”

You sat there by the stream, half covered in blood and crying as you held one another. You were safe. You were together. That was all that mattered.

~~~

Sylus was anxious. He didn’t get anxious a lot but he was anxious as he stood pacing back and forth outside the room you were giving birth in. The women helping you had insisted it wasn’t a place for the men to enter and Sylus wanted to be respectful but with every pained cry that came from you on the other side of the door his agitation grew.

“You’re going to drive a rut into the floor.” your father warned him. “She’s in good hands. She and the baby will be fine.”

“I should be in there.” Sylus snapped. “Why can I not be?”

“Well, for one, your tail hasn’t stopped swishing like an angry cat’s. You’d probably hit someone or knock something over.” he explained, “But it is just how things are done. The women handle the birth, we cut the umbilical cord after they’re out.”

Every instinct in Sylus was telling him to get in the room. He needed to protect you. Protect you from what, he had no idea. But he felt so helpless and useless out here!

There was another loud cry from inside and Sylus snapped to the door. That was it! He wasn’t staying out here!

He opened the door to find you knelt on the floor. You looked up and smiled in relief, holding a hand out for him. “Sylus,”

He knelt next to you, “Right here. I’m right here.”

“He shouldn’t be--” one of the women tried to say.

“No! Don’t leave!” you squeezed his hand, “Please don’t leave!”

“I won’t. I’m not going anywhere.” Sylus shot a glare at the others, daring them to try and remove him. The others shrugged and went back to what they were doing.

“It hurts.” you muttered through clenched teeth. “It really fucking hurts!”

“I know. I know it does, little bird.” he wiped the sweat from your brow. “But it’ll be worth it. We’ll have our little one soon, you just have to endure it for a little longer.”

“Can’t believe I let you do this to me!” you snapped. “I hope you never have another rut!” He figured you were talking out of pain and didn’t mean what you were saying.

One of the women got behind you. “Alright, you’re ready. Time to start pushing. Deep breath, your body knows what to do. Gravity is gonna help us get this baby out quick.”

After several long tense minutes of you holding onto him for dear life, screaming and whimpering in pain as you pushed, the baby was out. A different kind of scream filled the air as your child took its first breath.

“You have a daughter.” the woman holding the baby said. “A perfectly healthy baby girl.”

Sylus cut the umbilical cord with his claw and let them wipe the baby off a bit before settling her in your arms. “She’s beautiful.” you were crying. The moment the baby’s head rested on your chest her cries stilled into little whimpers.

“Most gorgeous things I’ve ever seen.” Sylus couldn’t believe what he was looking at. This tiny thing was yours? They looked so normal, so human. “Hello, my heart,” he said. He receded the claws on his hands so he could hold her. “If you aren’t the most perfect thing in this world I do not want to know what could be better.”

“She is so little…” you cooed. “And she looks so human.”

“I told you she would. But make no mistake, this is a strong and fearsome dragon. That reminds me,” Sylus pulled a small jar out of his pocket. Inside was a small portion of the salve he had gotten from Tengya. He spread a small patch on the baby’s chest.

Once you had enough time alone, just Sylus, you, and the baby you began to let in the others.

“There’s my grandchild.” your father walked in. He came over and kissed your forehead. “You did so well, sweet pea.”

“Thanks papa.” you smiled. “Isn’t she the most precious thing?”

“That she is. So, did you two have a name picked out?” he asked.

“Selene.” you said. Your baby opened her eyes for the first time and you got a shock of brilliant red eyes, just like her father. You smiled, kissing her downy head. “Our little moon flower.”

~~~

As the years passed your family grew. You had two beautiful little girls and a third on the way. You were sitting at the mouth of the cave watching as Sylus was teaching Selene how to fly. Her wings had grown in fully and ever since there was not a moment she was on the ground. Your younger was sitting with you stewing in jealousy that she couldn’t go flying with them.

“Mama!” Ruby whined, “I want to go flying too! When will my wings grow in?”

“It will happen soon enough.” you assured her, “Besides, growing wings isn’t great. It’s really itchy and your back gets all scabby. Kinda like your horns did when they started growing, remember that? Don’t be in such a hurry.”

She crossed her arms and continued to pout until Sylus and Selene touched back down. “Did you see me mama!” Selene came running up to you. “I was flying all by myself!”

“I know! You did so well, sweetie!” you hugged her. “You’re getting to be real good.”

“She’s a natural.” Sylus came up and ruffled her hair. “Soon enough you’ll be flying circles around me.”

“Daddy!” your younger one yelled at him, “I want to fly too!”

“Ruby,” you warned, “Don’t yell. Ask nicely next time you want to go flying.”

Her frown deepened. “Mama’s a meanie!”

“I’m not being mean--”

“Meanie!”

“Hey,” Sylus snapped at her. “That’s not very nice to say. Your mama is just trying to teach you to be polite and now you’ve gone and hurt her feelings.”

“But--”

“No buts. Apologize to your mama and maybe I’ll take you out for a flight.” Sylus turned her around and pushed her towards you.

“I’m sorry mama.” she said, staring down at the ground. “Can I go flying now?”

“I forgive you, sweetie. But dinner should be finished cooking soon so maybe after you eat.”

“Oh, I think we have time for a quick flight around the mountain.” Sylus picked her up and put her on his shoulders.

“Sylus--”

Before you could object he jumped off the side of the mountain and flew up high, your daughter roaring with joyous laughter the entire time. You looked over at Selene who watched them with burning jealousy. You sighed. “Go on. Make sure your father and sister don’t stay out too long. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.”

“Will do mama!” Selene beamed and flew to join the others, albeit it a little slower and more awkwardly. She was getting there though.

You pulled yourself out of your chair and wandered back to the kitchen to check on the food. It was hard to believe it some days. Waking up with Sylus next to you, the girls running in to see you the moment they woke up.

It was hard to get alone time with those two tornadoes running around but there were days you sent them down to the village to stay with your father or their Auntie Tara. They were so full of life and joy. You couldn’t wait to have another even if you knew three of these little monsters was going to be exhausting.

Much like Sylus had said when you were pregnant with Selene, the girls were born looking exactly like humans but as they got older more dragon like features started to grow. Selene had horns and wings and her father’s bright red eyes, but so far no claws. Ruby though almost immediately started sprouting a tail which Selene didn’t have and was starting to grow in her horns. She wouldn’t have to worry about wings for about two more years, if she grew them at all.

You traced a hand over your stomach. You wondered what this one would be like. Maybe it’d be a boy this time.

A few minutes later Sylus and the girls came running back in, their faces windstung and bright. The girls immediately went to setting the table and Sylus walked over to you, hugging you from behind. “Smells good.” he said.

“Thanks. I decided to try this new recipe Tara gave me.” you gave the pot another stir.

“Wasn’t talking about the food.” he whispered before pulling your face towards his for a kiss.

“Ew! Daddy! Stop that!” Selene said. “You’re being gross!”

“I’m showing your mother how much I love her. What’s gross about that?” he shot back. “You two go clean up before you start eating.”

The girls ran out of the room leaving you alone. “Very subtle.” you elbowed him lightly. “I’m already pregnant, you can’t put another kid in me yet.”

“I know. But it is never a waste to practice.” his hands ran over the bump in your belly. “Just six more of these to go.”

“One more!” you elbowed him harder this time. “I have told you a hundred times I’m not popping out nine kids.”

“I can’t help it.” he spun you around, “You know how dragons like to hoard treasure.”

“Our kids are treasure now?”

He smiled softly, holding you close. “Of course. The most precious in the world, right next to you.”

[mynnthia]

compiling my headcanons for what video games dungeon meshi characters would like, if they were gamers in modern day

some taken from this post and my reblog additions there. added more characters, with some suggestions by friends/mutuals (marked by *asterisk ).

this can also be a games recommendation list based on your fav/most relatable characters too, if you want

characters that are not are included are bc i dont have ideas for them. if i only list the genre name but not any specific titles, its bc im not familiar enough with the character/genre to pick a specific game.

this list is, of course, biased towards games im more familiar with. feel free to ask me to elaborate on my choices or make suggestions in the comments

Laios' party:

Laios: plays lots of Monster Hunter. loves Spore but he doesnt often play past the tribal stage. likes Pokemon but he's more focused on catching the pokemon than following the story. played WolfQuest and DragonFable back in the day. enjoyed the concept of Bugsnax but wasn't interested in dealing with the NPCs

Marcille: mainly Dwarf Fortress, RTS games, some colony sims. but also sometimes The Sims, and dollmaker dress-up games. i could see her also enjoying Rollercoaster Tycoon and making elaborately-themed parks. might also occasionally indulge in some visual novels if she's in the mood for narrative she has Stardew Valley so she can have something to play co-op with falin, but its not a game she plays a lot of otherwise. when playing with falin, marcille micromanages the farm to maximize productivity, and does the decorations

Chilchuck: puzzle games and hidden object/escape room games as a video game-equivalent to finding/dismantling traps and lockpicking. i think he'd also enjoy Bejeweled.

Senshi: mainly Wii games and Cooking Mama. occasionally plays Snake on his 15-year-old nokia phone. i dont think he would enjoy games like Overcooked or restaurant manager games, because he likes to take his time making food, not stressing about customer service

Falin: some *Legend of Zelda games – she likes the exploration aspect in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, maybe also some of the toon zelda games like Minish Cap or Wind Waker she also plays Pokemon (*Pokemon Go when she's traveling), and i think she would enjoy some indie games, like Penko Park or Chicory: A Colorful Tale. plays Stardew Valley co-op with marcille – falin mainly takes care of the animals, mining, and picking the crops. occasionally makes improvement suggestions that marcille didnt think of

Izutsumi: i could see her enjoying games with parkour mechanics, like *Assassin's Creed, or Mirror's Edge. or maybe something simple but requiring cat-like swipes, like Fruit Ninja. despite her impatience, i think she could also enjoy action games with interesting longer narratives, as evidenced by [this omake] (relevant portion pictured below), so maybe *Final Fantasy 7 – my friend who's familiar with the game said "she’d find Cloud and Vincent relatable"

[ID: a dungeon meshi omake, where laios' party watches a nightmare monster manifest marcille's dream. there are snippets of dramatic soap opera-like dialogue. the rest of the party are initially enthusiastic but get bored over time, meanwhile izutsumi remains enthralled]

Kabru's party

Kabru: definitely Crusader Kings. maybe also some rpgs with relationship/faction mechanics, such as *Fire Emblem (one of the older ones or FE:3H) or Fallout: New Vegas (hes maxing out the speech stat asap) i think he would also enjoy mystery games like Pentiment and Return of the Obra Dinn – he would love the process of getting familiar with the many characters and deducing "who did what" in both games.

Rin: she takes pride in being an indie gamer (translating her disdain for upper class magic academy mages -> disdain for AAA games). given her chain-lightning magic in canon, i think she'd enjoy games with AOE-type magic, so maybe games such as Vampire Survivors. my mutual also suggested she might enjoy indie mystery visual novels like *Paranormasight, and that her AAA guilty-pleasure would be *Final Fantasy 14 – that rin is "a hardcore ff14 raider. would join PUGs and shot-call every week. #holm and diya might also play ff14 casually with rin but holm would be fishing mainly"

Mickbell: mainly Bethesda games like Fallout and Skyrim– enjoys the bootstrapper power fantasy in them. the type to go out of his way to pick up all the loot he can, to later sell

Kuro: enjoys the same games as Mickbell, but for the open-world exploration and investigation factors

Toshiro and Tansu's party:

Namari: her interest in fighting and weapons could translate to brawler/fighting games and action games with a focus on weapon stats – so maybe *Street Fighter, *God of War, and/or *Dark Souls. might play *Monster Hunter with laios but for the weapons. i could also see her occasionally enjoying truck simulators

Toshiro (Shuro): has the perseverance for soulslikes and other high-difficulty action and/or metroidvania games, but would take his time overthinking item/weapon synergies sometimes. given [his fondness for bugs], i could also see him enjoying Hollow Knight

Tade: would enjoy the cute aesthetics and lighthearted gameplay of Animal Crossing and Katamari. would also like idol anime rhythm games

Kiki: i think she would enjoy horror games such as Resident Evil, but would play it while super chill. i dont have much reasoning for this aside from vibes

Canaries:

Mithrun: plays Doom. got into Hollow Knight but still hasn't finished it because he keeps getting lost. senshi introduces him to Cooking Mama later on, which he finds surprisingly therapeutic

Cithis: plays Hitman and enjoys staging elaborate accident kills. i think she'd also enjoy The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, with her background as a devious fortune-teller

Fleki: surreal indie games like Hylics. also plays Team Fortress 2, and is a scout main. occasionally joins lycion in Animal Jam

Lycion: active WolfQuest and Animal Jam player. occasionally joins fleki in tf2

Pattadol: plays Stardew Valley – shes comparatively a normie, but on the meticulous side. she would enjoy perfecting her in-game farm

Otta: plays Genshin Impact. the serious reasoning is because of her (earth) elemental magic and how genshin has an elemental magic system (from my understanding. ive never played it). the joke reasoning is how some genshin players play to collect "waifus", and how otta goes through a lot of women in her dating life

Other:

Leed: runs her own guild in World of Warcraft

Winged Lion: god-games like WorldBox or Simmiland. and Darkest Dungeon (this ones mostly a joke)

Thistle: plays the original Plants VS. Zombies. also plays Minecraft and is very serious about it, but hasn't updated his game in years (translating the fact hes a 1000-year-old kid frozen in time -> playing "slightly old" games popular in the early 2010s)

[ID: tweet reply by twitter user ranchuppi – "thistle calls it lord delgal's server but he is the only mod. whole royal family is locked in spectator mode. Hell. living hell on earth."]

[foggieststars]

if you're interested, can i request 15 for landoscar? just so curious to read your take on it and so delighted you're doing this!! 💕💕💕

15. sexual slavery

ok i got a bit carried away with this i will admit. in my defence i'm rereading an old fav fantasy series rn and well...... it all got a bit much.....

tw for like. non consent. dark themes. etc <33

-

The boy - Oscar, Jenson had told him, thrusting the chains into Lando's eager palm - doesn't look much like their usual captives. He's too pale, for a start. Most rebels that get brought in have tanned, weather-beaten skin, from a life spent tending the fields.

His hands are another tell. The skin on them is soft and callus-free, no scars to point to years spent on battlefields. Not a warrior, then. Interesting and disappointing in equal measure. Lando likes breaking soldiers most of all.

He doesn't speak to Lando, during the days that follow. Not entirely unexpected. The creatures the king keeps in his war camps are enough to turn even Lando's stomach, and their slaves spend most of their time carrying out their chores in a dazed, frightened silence. Still, they usually crack after a week at most, begging for their freedom, for Lando to put an end to their misery. He sells those ones off pretty sharpish, once they reach their breaking point.

Oscar's different. Lando gets the sense that he's not been scared into silence, so much as he is opting for silence. Lando can't have that. It betrays a wilfulness of spirit.

Lando's not an idiot. He knows he's only here as a favour from Lord Jenson to his father. He will remain on campaign for as long as Jenson's favour holds. The eagerness with which Jenson had welcomed Lando into his bed notwithstanding, Lando needs to prove his usefulness. He can't do that with errant slaves wandering around the camp, rage in their hearts and defiance in their eyes.

When Oscar drops a tray of crockery helping out in the kitchens one night, Lando seizes his chance. He has him strung up on the whipping post, five lashes for insubordination.

When he's cut down, Oscar's breathing is ragged and hitching, tears rolling silently down his face. When he looks Lando in the eyes, the rage in them is nearly unfathomable. Lando leaves him lying there in the grass, lets the other slaves bring him back to their quarters. They'll patch him up as best they can, with what little they have to offer. He'll be lucky if he doesn't die of infection. One less problem for Lando to deal with.

Later that night, undressing in Jenson's tent, Lando frowns at the flecks of dried blood on his boots. He'll have Oscar clean them, when he can walk again. Scrubbing his own blood off the supple leather might teach him a thing or two about pointless displays of resistance.

Oscar's even quieter after that, ducks his head low when Lando returns from scouting missions, goes about his chores in quiet, throbbing silence. Lando has him assigned to his own tent, so as to keep a closer eye on him. The lashing doesn't seem to have broken him, as Lando hoped it might. If anything, Oscar stands even straighter after it. Though maybe that's just to avoid tugging on the still-healing scar tissue.

Fortunately for Oscar, he's not the only slave Lando's assigned to look after. Following a particularly successful raid on a rebel camp in the north, the slave quarters are full to bursting. Like a fool, Lando lets it distract him. He breaks rebel after rebel on the whipping post, forgets to take note of Oscar's ghostly presence in his chambers.

Until, that is, one night. Jenson had been summoned to the king's tent after dinner, and shows no sign of returning soon. There's talk of rebels gathering under the banner of a boy king in the south, a pretender to his executed father's throne, in a kingdom which no longer exists. Lando won't be needed in Jenson's quarters tonight.

When he steps through the flaps of his tent, Lando catches Oscar in the act of rifling through the correspondence he keeps on his desk. Oscar straightens up coolly, pretending to be merely neatening the piles of letters on Lando’s desk. If Lando had been a mere moment later, he’d have thought nothing of it. But he’d clearly seen those slender hands clutched around a letter, affixed with the seal of the king’s hand. 

So that's what he is. It explains the pale skin, the lack of calluses. Not a warrior. A spy. 

“Find anything interesting in there?” Lando asks, his first words to Oscar. 

Oscar looks at him askance, continuing to neaten up the piles. 

Lando prowls closer, practically tasting fear in the air. “You’d have been better off examining the letters from Lord Sainz. The king’s hand has many eyes, but few that stretch as far south as Max Emelian’s territory. Supposed territory.” 

Oscar speaks, voice cracking with disuse. “I don’t know what you mean.” 

He’s got an odd accent, Lando thinks. From the very southern territories, perhaps?

“That is what you were doing, no?” Lando asks, tilting his head. He’s always been one for playing with his food. “Searching for information. About the pretender to the southern throne.” 

Oscar’s a good spy. His face betrays no emotion, other than the slight flare of his nostrils when Lando says the word pretender. 

“Yes, I think you would have found that much more interesting than whatever is in Lord Alonso’s letter. Though how you planned to smuggle it out, I don’t know. I do intend to find out.” 

Oscar’s mouth thins, likely as a result of the implied threat to his anonymous allies. Lando wonders who he’s working with. Other slaves, most definitely. But all of them, like Oscar, spend their days wrapped in chains. Their quarters are guarded by the king’s beasts. Someone else then, with money and power. A nobleman. 

Lando can see it now. The glory he’ll win, as the one to root out the rats in the camp. 

To do that, he needs information. Information he won’t be able to glean if Oscar does what Lando would do in his place. Find the nearest nobleman to offend, have his head removed from his shoulders. Anything to protect his powerful ally. 

“Or…” Lando offers, shrugging a careless shoulder. The very picture of a spoiled nobleman’s son. “There is another way.” 

Oscar’s eyebrows quirk up, betraying his interest.

Lando breathes out, slow and steady. “Kneel,” he says, and Oscar does. 

Slumping into the seat behind the desk, Lando undoes the ties of his breeches with a deft, practiced hand. He’s not had servants to dress him whilst on campaign, and with how in demand Jenson is, Lando’s had to learn to be pretty quick about getting naked. 

Pulling his cock out, Lando watches Oscar take it in. Quick, desperate little breaths, the only sign of Oscar’s clearly rising panic. 

“You know what to do with this, or do I need to show you?” Lando asks. 

Oscar’s eyes shut tight, and then open. His face empties of emotion as he shuffles closer, wraps his hand around Lando’s cock. It’s an effort not to groan at the stimulation. “I know what to do,” Oscar murmurs. Lando takes him in with assessing eyes. Pink lips, deep brown eyes, that mop of unruly hair. It’s no surprise that someone’s bent him over long before this. 

Oscar leans forward, prepared to take Lando’s cock into his mouth, when he’s stopped by the pricking of a knife at his throat. Lando smiles down at him lazily, turning the knife in a lazy motion. It makes the skin at the base of Oscar’s throat whiten. 

“No teeth,” Lando commands. “Or I’ll slit you throat to anus, and your little friend on the inside, too.” 

Oscar nods, breath warm and trembling as it hits the head of Lando’s cock. Lando pulls back just enough to let Oscar move without cutting himself open, but not so far as to let Oscar relax. It’s a struggle to maintain the position when Oscar swallows his cock to the base in one, smooth movement. 

Oh, yes. Oscar’s definitely done this before. 

Lando hitches his hips up, hits the tight ring at the base of Oscar’s throat, listens to him gag. Credit to him, Oscar takes a steadying breath through his nose, swallows around the intrusion in his throat. The wet heat is incredible. He wonders if Oscar would be so pliant on his hands and knees, too. If the warmth is in any way comparable. 

Oscar hollows his cheeks and swallows, taking Lando deeper, until Lando can see the bulge of his cockhead in Oscar’s throat. It can’t be comfortable, especially not with his collar of iron. He’s talented with his tongue, pulling back to press delicate little kitten licks to the head, pumping with his hand what his tongue can’t reach. 

“Harlot,” Lando hisses, at a particularly damning twist of Oscar’s wrist. Where had he learned to suck cock like this? Did the rebels pluck him from a brothel, decide his talents would be of more use elsewhere? 

Oscar glances up at him, eyes wet with unshed tears. He doesn’t look quite so self-possessed anymore. In fact, there’s nothing except pure desperation shining in his eyes. Whoever it is that Oscar’s trying to protect, he clearly cares for them very much. Enough to debase himself like this. 

The chains between Oscar’s feet clank on the ground when he moves. It’s taking embarrassingly little time for him to bring Lando to the brink, that sinful tongue, the slick heat. It’s all too much, too fast. Unlike the other heirs, privileged enough to be chosen for the king’s campaign, Lando doesn’t get to slink off to brothels after the endless meetings are finished for the night. Jenson requires servicing, and he’s not much of one for reciprocal lovemaking. It’s the way of the world. Lando has no doubt that in twenty years, he’ll be doing much the same with his own ward, given to him for training and protection. He doubts he’ll stoop to what Oscar’s doing for him now. 

There are tears leaking down Oscar’s face by now. Lando wonders how much of it has to do with the physical discomfort. The tears are what does it for him, pushing him over the edge. Lando comes with a broken cry, something to be embarrassed about in front of a suitor. Lando doesn’t bother to pretend in front of Oscar. He likes the way Oscar shudders as he swallows the load, the way his eyes screw tightly shut, brows furrowing on his forehead. The little trembles of Oscar’s hands as he cups his own elbows, drawing his arms tight against his body, like he’s trying to protect himself.

“That’ll do for now,” Lando says, tucking himself away with careful, measured movements. 

Oscar, kneeling still, slumps slightly. Shoulders curling in on themselves, he wipes at his mouth with a desperate air. He doesn’t get it all on the first go around, pink tongue darting out to clean the rest of Lando’s come from his lips. 

The fierceness radiating off him, the rage in his eyes - it’s gone. It takes all Lando has not to preen with victory. 

He breaks them all eventually. 

“Have your belongings moved to my tent,” Lando informs him, revelling in the way Oscar’s shoulders stiffen. “It should give me a chance to keep an eye on you.” Keep him so busy bouncing on Lando’s cock he won’t have time to slink away for a secret rendezvous with his man on the inside - until Lando wants him to, that is. 

It’ll be easy. Plant just enough information in official-looking letters that Oscar gets desperate. Until he takes the first opportunity possible to meet with his informant, unaware that Lando will have arranged it all. Lando can catch them in the act, throw the traitor at the king’s feet, and be awarded a kingdom’s ransom for the privilege. And until then, he’ll keep Oscar by his side. 

Perhaps after that, even. 

[jullbnt]

Linktober 2023 – Day 16. Dragons (!TotK spoilers!)

Here's all five of them because why not?

(This was painful!)

Previous (Day 15. Favorite character) | Next (Day 17. Prophecy)

Linktober 2023 Masterlist

Linktober 2023 Tears of the Kingdom

[hunterofartemis7]

Adopted by the gods AU pt.15

Anticlea: *holding an ice pack that Hera gave her to her cheek*

Laertes: *sitting by his wife rubbing her back*

Zeus: I deeply apologize for the way my daughter acted today. She is never like this. I assure you, she will be punished for thi-

Laertes: thank you lord Zeus, but that won’t be necessary.

Apollo: your wife got slapped in the face twice by one of the eldest goddesses on Olympus and you don’t want her punished? Bro you need better priorities.

Laertes: I at the very least want her to apologize for..that and for us to figure what ACTUALLY happened that night. I don’t believe Lady Athena just took him and made up this story of us abandoning our son. Something had to have gotten lost in translation the night she found him.

Aphrodite: found her! *dragging Athena in by her arm*

Athena:🙄

Hera: *crosses her arms* Athena. Do you have something to say?

Athena: I’m only here to find out what really happened my son.

Aphrodite: *elbows her in the ribs*

Athena: ow!

Hermes: *flies in* okay! Got the spell from Hecate!

Anticlea: what does that do?

Hermes: this will show us what really happened, from both your perspective.

Zeus: and when this is over, you will apologize to the queen first the way you acted

Athena: *rolls her eyes* when it shows my son was abandoned, those people will stay the fuck away from my kids.

Hera: and when it doesn’t, you will return both boys back to their home kingdoms.

Athena: THE FUCK I WILL!!

Hermes:….okay! Let’s get this show on the road! *throws the vial on the ground and blue mist surrounds them, showing a vision from the day Odysseus was taken*

*The vision shows baby Odysseus being taken from his crib in the middle of the night by some random man. Laertes sends the guards out to chase the men and they follows him to the waterfall, where he throws the baby off the edge. It then shows Athena catching baby Odysseus and hiding behind a tree when the guards look over the edge for. It shows the guards leaving and Athena taking the baby back to Olympus. She flies to the palace where the captain tells the king and queen that their son has died and his body wasn’t found. What Athena heard made it sound like the king and queen planned to kill Odysseus, but in reality they were just in shocked that their newborn son was dead. She had flown off before she could hear the queen break down in tears*

*the vision ends, and all the gods look between Athena and Anticlea*

Hermes:…….so at least we know this was a huge misunderstanding *laughs nervously*…this is awkward.

Anticlea: I told you I never abandoned my own son.

Athena: he’s not your son

Anticlea: are you still going to be like that!? You just saw with your own eyes what really happened—

Athena: and that doesn’t change the fact that neither you or your husband actually looked for him, and I’ve been the one raising him for the past 11 years! You might have given birth to him but he is my son!

Anticlea: need I remind you that you were the one who hid him when he fell!?

Athena: he would’ve died if I hadn’t!

Zeus: BOTH OF YOU ENOUGH!!!!

Anticlea and Athena: *shut up*

Zeus; where is the boy? He needs to know the truth

Odysseus: *comes out from under the table with Diomedes* right here grandfather, and I heard everything.

Zeus: well that saves me some work.

Athena: Odysseus…

Odysseus:….*runs up and hugs her*

Diomedes: *follows and hugs her too*

Athena; *drops to her knees and hugs them both close*

Hera: Odysseus, since you heard what really happened, it seems you have a choice to make.

Odysseus: *let’s go from the hug* what do you mean?

Athena: yeah what do you mean?

Hera: the boy knows he’s the real heir of Ithaca, and that he wasn’t abandoned as you previously said. So it seems he has a choice; stay with you till he turns 18, or go with his birth parents now.

Athena: over my dead body is he going with them!

Hera: you don’t get a say Athena.

Athena: he is still underaged and I’m still his mother! There is no choice to be made here!

Apollo: wouldn’t Anticlea have a say in this since she’s his birth mother?

Athena: stay out of this!

Apollo: yes ma’am!🫡

Athena: and no she doesn’t because she didn’t raise him!

Laertes: lord Zeus, if I may. I don’t want to lose our son again after just learning that he is in fact alive, but I don’t want him taken away from the woman who’s raised him either. Isn’t there some kinda of compromise we can come to?

Odysseus: how about we forget this whole thing and I stay with my mom and brother?

Hera: the boy needs to learn how to be king Athena.

Athena: I can teach him that. Besides he has 7 more years before he can even become king!

Artemis: than just do that. Both boy stay with Athena till their 18, and in that time she will teach them how to be kings.

Laertes: or at the very least until they need to become kings

Artemis: what he said.

Hera: I suppose that could work. Athena? Could you comply with this?

Athena: *sighs* if I must.

Odysseus: what!? Mama I don’t want to leave you!

Diomedes: me either!

Aphrodite: you won’t be leaving her immediately, just when you become adults. By then you’ll be sick of her and want to leave anyway

Athena: hey!

Odysseus: *clings to her leg* never!

Diomedes: *clings as well* yeah! We’re never leaving mother!

Zeus: you both will when it is time for you to become kings. End of discussion.

Anticlea: wait, does this mean I still won’t get to see my son for another 7 years?

Zeus: well—

Athena: that’s exactly what that means

Hera: Athena!

Athena: I’m not going to make Odysseus go somewhere he doesn’t want to!

Zeus:..*sighs* if the boy wants to visit his birth than he shall, but he cannot be forced.

Athena: *mumbles* thank the gods.

Odysseus: *buried his face Athena’s side* yay

Diomedes: *does the same*

Athena: *holds them close*

Hera: now I believe there’s still the matter of an apology that you owe Anticlea for slapping her.

Athena: *rolls her eyes* I’m sorry I hit you, after you called me a bitch in my own home😑

Zeus: just go

Athena: *takes her kids hands and leaves*

[confession-of-the-heart]

Kingdom Hearts is a well written piece of art. The idea that Kingdom Hearts is riddled with plot holes and retcons is perpetuated by a casual audience and a cynical fast-paced culture. An audience that doesn't have the time or patience to play though all of the games and fully process the connections being made.

This level of understanding, created though half-listening and misremembering, is parroted to groups that want to tear it down for entertainment. People who've decided, without seeing for themselves, that the story is dumb and overly convoluted. That a "children's game" with 20 years of continuous narrative is bad because they can't understand it with a loose, poorly told summary.

The narrative surrounding Kingdom Hearts is poisoning the narrative contained within it. There is a bias of bad faith shared by millions of people. The story being told is that Kingdom Hearts is a bad story. That Tetusya Nomura is a bad storyteller. This effects how people respond to his style of writing.

Nomura will give the player a question, and the question won't be answered for a long time. (15 years sometimes) The player will then assume there ISN'T an answer. That if the story conflicts with what they know, that the AUTHOR is wrong and NOT the narrator. They don't ask how. They don't ask why. They just say "WRONG".

Kingdom Hearts isn't perfect, but in my experience, every twist is foreshadowed. Every plot point is precendented by prior events, parallels, and well placed symbolism. There is a purpose for what is said and what is done. There is an overarching plan for the story, and it's been around since day one. The answers will come, but they take time.

There is reason not to engage. This story is as old as I am, and unfortunately there have been and will continue to be people who die before they see it end. But there isn't much longer to go. The Lost Master Arc has its pieces in place and they'll be all put together soon. I predict the story will end with Kingdom Hearts V before 2035. Five Acts. Like a Shakespeare play.

But, before that, and I'm calling it now, we'll get Missing-Link, KH4, Re:Union χ [Cross], a cutscene compilation of Dark Road, Verum Rex, maybe a movie?, another side game, and a book.

The series is a time commitment. There is a TON to remember. But it IS made with care, and if you decide to play it and pay attention to it, the story can be very rewarding.

~~~

[darkfluffydragon]

Cookie Run AU Ideas #15: Neverland's Lament

A wonderland-type world, except it's genuinely just paradise.

Though sometimes the world just isn't quite right, that's okay; they've learnt to live with it. That street doesn't exist anymore? Go back another day, it'll come back. Perhaps smaller, perhaps bigger, perhaps it's not even a street anymore, it'll come back. The king is gone? He'll come back, or maybe a queen. Or someone completely different, sometimes someone they know, or someone completely new. That's alright; simply accept it and move on.

Pure Vanilla was fine with this, he was just a regular cookie, a shepherd. He lived quietly, with his flowers and his sheep. He didn't need more; he didn't desire more. He was content.

Until he woke up one day in a room, not his, of marble walls and stained glass. Robes he's never worn, servants he's never seen the faces of before, but a castle he's seen thousands of times in the distance. Pure Vanilla has become the king, and he doesn't quite know what to do. He's not a king, yet that is the role that their weird world has deemed that he should play. He doesn't understand, why him? Why do these cookies, who have never met him, act as though they have served him their entire lives? Why do the sovereigns of the other kingdoms treat him like a dear, beloved friend? He's never met them before; he knows they've never met him either. They don't know his favourite food, his hobbies, his favourite colour. This is their first time meeting, yet they act with an ease that only those who have known each other for years would. They learn, though.

Quickly, the world adjusted to fit the new reality. Is this his new life? Is this what the other kings experienced? What happened to them?

Who is the jester, who seems as though they know much more than anyone else?

Pure Vanilla, much like the rest of their world, had never questioned the oddness of their reality. Yet perhaps, he would have no choice to now.

A world, a reality, a life contained within the pages of the book. Within the lines of desperate ink, of tear-stained paper, of sleepless nights wishing for one to open their eyes.

[It is not his time yet. He has not lived. He has not seen the highest mountains, he has not visited the cool rivers that run through the forests. He has been confined to the prison of cloth, linen, and illness. What can he do? He cannot bring him to his wishes, cannot gift him the life he deserves through the right of living.

All he can do is wait and hope. Wait and write, create a false world, one where they could live peacefully. Without fear, without cold, without hunger, without fear. Just them and the eternal happiness that was the sunrise. Perhaps it will take a few tries. Editing characters and areas, crossing out places and names, crying over unfinished sentences and ripping out pages to be thrown into the fire to burn. All for him, who remains still in the bed. Unmoving.

He will write their unlived story, in hopes that perhaps, a miracle will occur. That the paradise will one day become their truth, so that he can see him smile as they run through the sand and chase after birds down the road. Perhaps one day, the characters will look back at him just as he looks at them (at hope-desperate, wavering, hope).

Or perhaps nothing will happen, and fantasy will remain a fantasy, and their remaining candle will burn out. The story will burn, along with the last one he has left. Until he is alone.]

or

An AU where the world is written by Shadow Milk. The real him, which represents the pre-corruption personality, and the jester him, which is more after the corruption personality. He's trying to write a book, the ideal world, for Pure Vanilla, who is sick and dying.

Story PV represents the king Pure Vanilla and jester Shadow Milk represents the real SM. He's aware of everything because he's essentially the representative, avatar of the writer of their world. But they can't communicate, or he doesn't know how to communicate with the real him. Their entire existence relies on the fact that Real Pure Vanilla stays alive, because Real Shadow Milk losing hope means their world being thrown into a fire. And neither of them wants that.

Eventually, the story becomes focused on the idea of hope, and persistence. Of trying to teach a mourning man better ways to cope, as well as understand what exactly you want yourself. How to live your own life, decide your own choices, without letting others pick for you. To find your own true happiness.

Is it happiness if demanded by someone else? Do you want truly want something, if it was pushed by societal pressure and expectation? Is it friendship if you feel obliged to act and not act in a certain way? Is it love, if you feel tired of trying to keep the other happy all the time? Is it truly the life you want, if you are constantly looking around you and stopping to see what others are thinking and seeing?

Is it helping, being kind, if it is for your own, selfish purpose?

[linesonscreens]

Let's Read Peanuts (You WILL believe an unremarkable white boy can become president) – December 1958

There are lots of great strips I just don't have room to comment on. I strongly encourage everybody to read the full month at the official GoComics page. Today's month starts HERE.

December 1, 1958

It’s once again that special time of year where everybody desperately avoids making eye contact with Schroeder.

December 9, 1958

This one baffles me. Normally this kind of joke has a character doing something that cuts against one aspect of their character in order to emphasize another. For example, you might have Snoopy playing baseball with Charlie Brown saying something like “We have the only shortstop that gets drool all over the ball!”. The joke being that while Snoopy is very human in a lot of ways, he’s still a dog.

This strip isn’t rooted in any aspect of Snoopy’s character though. ~Why~ is Snoopy the only dog that can do this? He’s never been bat-like, and while he imitates other animals from time to time he’s never gained their powers in the process. You could have the “ARF” do literally anything and it would make exactly as much sense.

December 11, 1958

Replace “Westerns” with “Anime“ and “Rustlers Roundup” wi-

Actually, you know what? Screw it. We’re doing two edits in the same post. I mean, why not right? It's not like you can stop me. I am not unlike a god* in this respect.

*Specifically, one of those Shinto gods with an extremely niche and hyper-specific domain.

December 12, 1958

And we have our first appearance of Snoopy sleeping on the doghouse!

Why did this end up becoming a central pillar of the strip? No idea! Schulz probably just liked drawing it or something.

December 15, 1958

This joke has been brewing for over two weeks now. It had better be worth the buildup. 

December 16, 1958

It was not worth the buildup.

December 21, 1958

This feels very spiritually in-sync with the Christmas special. You can kind of see how the idea of overtly acknowledging the religious aspects of the holiday will evolve over the next few years. It's also very cute.

December 23, 1958

Oh, great and powerful Claus, conqueror of the skies and master of divine beasts,

Long have we anticipated your return to the realm of man, so that we may once again revel in your perfect judgement upon our wicked souls. Every day we think only of your supreme will. Every hour we enact your glorious purpose. 

Should you deem it a worthy endeavor, I beg of you to shine favor upon his wretched worm. I need not gold nor fame nor even a Nintendo Switch with the limited edition Tears of the Kingdom pro controller. I seek only that my name be immortalized in the sacred pages of the Book of the Nice, so that I would know my daily toil in your name was not in vain. Grace this humble home with your crimson visage, partake of our milk of the cow and sweetened bread (purchased by mine own hands during a long and arduous pilgrimage to the Safeway), and leave not the black stone of shame in your wake.

This I wish, and nothing more. May the generous be spared your righteous anger, and may the blood of the naughty flow so freely that it’s red current floods the world and rises to meet you on your journey across the night sky.

Your lowly servant,

-Linus

P.S.: A bike and some Roblox gift cards would also be nice. Thx in advance.

Thoughts:

OK! Time for the year end roundup! Let’s start with looking at how the style has evolved so far. This time we’ll take a look at…

Lucy!

(March) 1952

(December) 1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

Lucy is kind of interesting in that she changed quite a lot early on, but then doesn't visibly change all that much after 1955 or so. You can tell she's a bit older now and her overall look has shifted with the rest of the strip but on her own terms she's almost exactly the same as she's always been. It's not a mystery why, either. It's just a really solid design that doesn't need to be messed with.

Personality-wise though she's actually changed quite a bit due in no small part to her brother continuing to grow up and become his own person. It's changed a lot about how she interacts with him (talking with him, teaching him stuff, trying to look out for his interests in her own unique way), and this change has altered her relationships with everybody else. I mean, she's still a pain in the ass, but she's now terrorizing people in a more sophisticated and mature way. It's great, and I'm starting to actually like her as a character and not just as a funny antagonistic force (who I thought was kind of awful as a person).

On a larger scale the art hasn't really changed all that much this year but I do think it's been "refined" a bit. Around 1955 the art took that weird shift into a more blocky look (I lovingly call this the "fat kid" Peanuts era) and it always bothered me because I felt like some of the expressiveness and really solid draftsmanship of the early strips got lost in the transition. This year though I think the strip is finally making it work. The line work is a bit more loose and expressive and Schulz getting better at letting the character's unique personalities show through. We also got an uptick in the number of those detailed backgrounds we got in the early days, which was nice to see. Though I suspect that we'll still see fewer of them going forward.

You can also start to see the look of the "classic" peanuts era of the 60s-70s just beginning to emerge, which is pretty neat!

The biggest beneficiary of this year by far though is Snoopy, who's stretchy half-human cartoon look is finally starting to work for him. It's still ~a bit~ awkward and off-putting, but it's at a place now where it works more than it doesn't. I think it's the snout maybe? It was very long and wobbly before but recently it's been drawn in a much more short and round way that's a lot more cute. I don't know, you tell me (Engage the algorithm! Comment! Like! Subscribe!).

1957:

1958:

Overall I'd say that this year was another solid step up from the prior one (which was a step up from the one before that). Still not as good as 1953-1954 but we're getting close.

[beatles4ever65]

WIP Snippet!

I realized it can't exactly be called WIP Wednesday if it's posted on a Friday, but either way, I wanted to share a short snippet from the latest upcoming chapter (Chapter 15) of Courage of Stars!

     Celebrimbor looks so small in that chair, so lost. His demeanor takes Maedhros back to days in Valinor, time spent holding Celebrimbor to his chest after a nightmare or the numerous times when Celebrimbor, thumb in mouth and big eyes welled with tears, toddled over after losing his favorite stuffed bear. Maedhros’s expression softens as he opens his arms, willing to withstand the pain of his broken ribs if it means he can brighten Celebrimbor’s big, forlorn eyes. Tyelpë looks up in surprise and moves to sit beside Maedhros, hugging him back just as tightly.      When they part, tears hang in Celebrimbor’s lashes. “Thank you,” Celebrimbor mumbles, wiping his eyes with the heel of his hand. “The fact that it happened is so…embarrassing. Shameful. My entire kingdom was utterly destroyed and for what? Hubris? Love? How many people died because I wanted to live? How many will continue to die because of my work?” He shakes his head, biting his quivering lip. “I didn’t give in to his demands. He found out I sent the rings away and he…”      “You don’t have to say anything,” Maedhros says. His heart hurts. “I know.”

Courage of Stars is part of a time travel eldritch alternate universe about family, hope, grief, healing, and redemption. This chapter is shaping up to be a doozy, and I can't wait until I can post the entire thing!

If you want to read more and are new to the series To Begin Again, you can find the link to the beginning of the full series here. I highly recommend reading that way!

[creativewaygrace]

Bible Verses About Witchcraft

1 Chronicles 10:13- Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the Lord because he did not keep the Lord's word He even consulted a medium for guidance.

1 Samuel 15:23- For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.

1 Samuel 22:23- Stay with me. Don't be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life. You will be safe with me.

2 Chronicles 33:6- He passed his sons through the fire in Ben Hinnom Valley. He practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did a huge amount of evil in the Lord's sight, angering him.

Leviticus 19:31- Do not turn to mediums, or consult spiritists, or you will be defiled by them, I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 20:6- Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists and prostitutes' himself with them, I will turn against that person and cut him off from his people.

Leviticus 20:27- A man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritists must be put to death. They are to be stoned; their death is their own fault.

Revelation 18:23- The light of a lamp will never shine in you again and the voice of a groom and bride will never be heard in you again. All this will happen because your merchants were the nobility of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.

Revelation 21:8- But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

Galatians 5:19-20- Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions.

Galatians 5:19-21- Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing and anything similar. I am warning you about these things, as I warned you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Micha 5:10-12- In that day, this is the Lord's declaration, I will remove your horses from you and wreck your chariots. I will remove the cities of your land and tear down all your fortresses. I will remove sorceries from your hands, and you will not have any more fortune tellers.

Acts 19:17-20- When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high esteem. And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver, in this way the word of the Lord flourished and prevailed.

Isaiah 8:19-22- When they say to you, "Inquire of the mediums and the spiritists who chirp and mutter, shouldn't a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead, on behalf of the living? Go to God's instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them. They will wander through the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged, and looking upward, will curse their king and their God. They will look toward the earth and see only distress, darkness, and the gloom of affliction, and they will be driven into thick darkness.

Isaiah 19: 1-4- A pronouncement concerning Egypt: Look, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. Egypt's idols will tremble before him, and Egypt will loose heart. I will provoke Egyptians against Egyptians, each will fight against his brother and each against his friend, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. Egypt's spirit will be disturbed within it, and I will frustrate it's plans. Then they will inquire of idols, ghosts, and spiritists. I will hand over Egypt to harsh masters, and a strong king will rule it. This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.

Acts 8:9-13- A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and amazed the Samaritan people, while calming to be somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest and they said, "This man is called the Great Power of God". They were attentive to him because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time, but when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed

Deuteronomy 18:10-14- No one among you is to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery, cast spells, consult a medium or spiritists, or inquire of the dead. Everyone who does these acts is detestable to the Lord, and the Lord your God is driving out the nations before you because of these detestable acts. You must be blameless before the Lord your God. Though these nations you are about to drive out listen to fortune-tellers and diviners, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do this.

Isaiah 47: 8-14- So now hear this, lover of luxury, who sits securely, who says to herself, I am, and there is no one else. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children. These two things will happen to you suddenly, in one day, loss of children and widowhood. They will happen to you in their entirety, in spite of your many sorceries and potency of your spells. You were secure in your wickedness, you said No one sees me. Your wisdom and knowledge led astray. You said it yourself, I am, and there is no one else. But disaster will happen to you, you will not know how to avert it. And it will fall on you, but you will be unable to ward it off . Devastation will happen to you suddenly and unexpectedly. So take your stand with your spells and your many sorceries, which you have wearied yourself with from your youth. Perhaps you will be able to succeed, perhaps you will inspire terror! You are worn out with your many consultations. So let the astrologers stand and save you, those who observe the stars, those predict monthly what will happen to you. Look, they are like stubble, fire burns them. They cannot rescue themselves from the power of the flame. This is not a coal for warming themselves, or a fire to sit beside!

[soulsnatcher0xx]

Yandere Prince X Reader

Title: Lost in your Fantasy

A young boy wonder around the forest, there was tears in his ocean green eyes. He was lost in the woods and without his servants, he was useless because ever since he was born, he was protected by his parents from the cold outside world. He stops crying when he saw a little girl running toward him, she took him by the hand and began leading him deeper into the forest, she look just like a normal human his age but he then realize she was not quite human when she let go of his hand and went behind the bush and pull out a pair of pure white wings, she put them behind her back and all of a sudden they look like they were real and she took him by his hand again and began to flop the wings she had just put on, in no time her feet was off the ground and he was flying with her. She went over the large forest and into humanization, she fly around a few times until they spotted his kingdom. She landed him on a balcony and oh boy he was so happy to be home again but then he turn around to thank the young girl but she already jump and out in the open air. He watch as her from become smaller and smaller untill he no longer could see her. 15 years have pass and he still long for the day where he could meet her again.

One day he went hunting to the same forest that he got lost in, hoping to find the girl with pure white wings he met long ago but he never did find her, he went back to the forest again and again until years have pass and he was now 29 years old and began to accept the fact that he will never find her. He went back to the forest one last time since tomorrow was his wedding day and he want to enjoy being free one last time before duty come crashing down on him.

He walks and walk until he got tired and went to look for water near a stream but then he hear giggling up stream so he follow the sound of the enchanted voice. There sitting on a rock was a beautiful woman, her skin glow under the sunlight. She was unaware that he was there, he watches while the young women sitting on the rock call out to her seven sister from the sky. In a few min they come flying down from the bright blue sky. He was in awe as they greet one another. But one sisters caught his eyes. She have big bright e/c eye that seem to shine brighter then the moon itself. He remember her from all those year ago. He watch as they landed on the ground bear feet, talking to each other as they help each other take off their wings and hide them behind a giant rock. Each wings has a unique marking, her wings was smaller and have the purest white between all of them. if you didn't look closely you would never know the difference between her sisters. He watch as the sisters bathe in the river but the youngest watch with alertness then carefully taking off her wings and hiding them behind the tree where she has always hide them. She dips her toe in cool evening water deciding to test the water a little before submerging herself in the water. Later that day the prince find out that her name was Y/N and she was forever engrave inside his heart.

Months have passed and he continue to watch her and he grown to love her even more but at the end of the day she always end up leaving him, flying up to unknown sky that his feet can not take him. So one day he decided that he will take her wings so she can no longer fly.

like normal Y/n and her seven sisters decided to come from the sky to bathe in the river when everyone was done, they put on their wings and one by one they left. But Y/n could not find her wings and she have swear that she left them right under the tree. As she look around she run into a unknown man and he took her by the hand and said

" i know you i walked with you once upon a dream"

<TO BE continue>

part two will be coming.

[dailydemonspotlight]

Day 15

Race: Oh god

Alignment: Oh fuck

April 9th, 2024

After a few hours of rigorous training, I think I’m ready. Day 15 is a special day, after all. Welcome to the all-for-one Jack Frost special! 

1. Lucifrost 

Race: Herald

Alignment: Light-Law 

Lucifrost is a very strange Frost with a surprisingly intricate design, a demon that only appears in the Demikids and Devil Survivor games, typically as a mid-late game boss. Unlike what one might expect, he isn’t a frostified version of Lucifer- no, his backstory is far more fun. 

Lucifrost once was a Jack Frost, but he was exiled from the Frost family due to betraying them, much like Lucifer did to the Angels. Jealous, he wandered down to hell, eventually finding himself in the final layer, wherein he saw the frozen Lucifer in a lake of tears. Rather than feel pity, though, Lucifrost saw an opportunity… for profit. Frozen Lucifer was a perfect idol for the ice-obsessed fiend, who began to try and impersonate the fallen angel, eventually returning to hell after achieving a perfectly angelic form… only to see that Lucifer had long since departed. Likely despondent, he wandered aimlessly to find the king of demons for all of eternity, ending up crossing paths with the DemiKids and Devil Survivors protagonists along the way. 

While his backstory is silly, his design is fantastic, an interpretation of an angelic Jack Frost that makes him far more adorable than the Morning Star could ever be.

2. Frost Ace

Race: Genma

Alignment: Light-Neutral

The legendary hero of the Frost Lineage, Frost Ace makes himself known as a mid-game demon who exists as a parody of superhero media and, more specifically, tokusatsu sentai shows like Super Sentai.

Frost Ace mostly works as a 'good side' equivalent to Black Frost, being a heroic transformation that any Jack Frost is implied to be able to take to grow in power. I personally like to see Frost Ace, on top of that, also serving as a general in King Frost's army, as it adds on a bit to the whole 'Frost Kingdom' theme.

You getting tired yet? I'm nowhere near done!

3. The Frost Five!

Race: Frost

Alignment: Five

These bozos are each based on separate frozen deserts, save one, which is a cocktail. In order, Blue Hawaii Frost is based on the Blue Hawaii cocktail, Lemon Frost is based on lemon-flavored shaved ice, Melon Frost is based on melon-flavored shaved ice, Strawberry Frost is based on strawberry-flavored shaved ice, and lastly, Milky Frost is just ice cream.

Ahem.

4. Hee-ho-Kun

Race: Student

Alignment: Broke due to Student Loans

Less of a specific demon and more of a recurring character, Hee-ho-Kun is a demon who originates from SMT if... serving a minor role as a friendly Jack Frost who can become an optional party member, apparently enjoying going to school.

Unfortunately, in order to pay his college bills, he had to open a shop! In SMT 3: Nocturne, Hee-ho-Kun makes his grand return as a shop owner in Shibuya, though later finds his calling as a Black Frost, becoming an optional boss of the Kabukicho Prison area after being cleared, then becoming a recruitable party member once defeated, appearing in the Labyrinth of Amala.

Lastly, Hee-ho-Kun manages to get a girlfriend! In Megami Ibunroku: Persona, aka Revelations Persona, he appears at St. Hermelin HS as a student after it is frozen over as a result of the Snow Queen quest. Let's hope he got the education he hoped for, especially given his acquisition of a girlfriend!

Finally. The Jack Protags.

Ah, they truly are great. Let us bask in their brilliance lest we forget the greatest frosts of them all. Raiho is a personal favorite of mine.

Also, Jack Frost somehow got a Demonica? Enter Demon-hee-ho, a recurring boss in the Strange Journey games. Admittedly, I don't know much about SJ, but I find his inclusion to be really silly, so he gets a special shoutout among his protag contemporaries.

...And that's that! I hope you enjoyed the Jack Frost miniseries. I'm missing a few Jack's, such as the Petite Frosts, but I'm honestly just tired of doing Jack Bros. stuff. Let me have this break. Either way, though, the Frost blockade has been cleared. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming once our snowplows come by.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Jesus is asked about the supposed significance of disasters

1-5 It was just at this moment that some people came up to tell him the story of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with that of their own sacrifices. Jesus made this reply to them: “Are you thinking that these Galileans were worse sinners than any other men of Galilee because this happened to them? I assure you that is not so. You will all die just as miserable a death unless your hearts are changed! You remember those eighteen people who were killed at Siloam when the tower collapsed upon them? Are you imagining that they were worse offenders than any of the other people who lived in Jerusalem? I assure you they were not. You will all die as tragically unless your whole outlook is changed!”

And hints at God’s patience with the Jewish nation

6-9 Then he gave them this parable: “Once upon a time a man had a fig-tree growing in his garden, and when he came to look for the figs, he found none at all. So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, I have come expecting fruit on this fig-tree for three years running and never found any. Better cut it down. Why should it use up valuable space?’ And the gardener replied, ‘Master, don’t touch it this year till I have had a chance to dig round it and give it a bit of manure. Then, if it bears after that, it will be all right. But if it doesn’t, then you can cut it down.’”

Jesus reduces the sabbatarians to silence

10-12 It happened that he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day. In the congregation was a woman who for eighteen years had been ill from some psychological cause; she was bent double and was quite unable to straighten herself up. When Jesus noticed her, he called her and said, “You are set free from your illness!”

13-14 And he put his hands upon her, and at once she stood upright and praised God. But the president of the synagogue, in his annoyance at Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath, announced to the congregation, “There are six days in which men may work. Come on one of them and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”

15-16 But the Lord answered him, saying, “You hypocrites, every single one of you unties his ox or his ass from the stall on the Sabbath day and leads him away to water! This woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom you all know Satan has kept bound for eighteen years—surely she should be released from such bonds on the Sabbath day!”

17 These words reduced his opponents to shame, but the crowd was thrilled at all the glorious things he did.

18-19 Then he went on, “What is the kingdom of God like? What illustration can I use to make it plain to you? It is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took and dropped in his own garden. It grew and became a tree and the birds came and nested in its branches.

20-21 Then again he said, “What can I say the kingdom of God is like? It is like the yeast which a woman took and covered up in three measures of flour until the whole lot had risen.”

The kingdom is not entered by drifting but by decision

22-30 So he went on his way through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way towards Jerusalem. Someone remarked, “Lord, are only a few men to be saved?” And Jesus told them, “You must do your utmost to get in through the narrow door, for many, I assure you, will try to do so and will not succeed, once the master of the house has got up and shut the door. Then you may find yourselves standing outside and knocking at the door crying, ‘Lord, please open the door for us.’ He will reply to you, ‘I don’t know who you are or where you come from.’ ‘But …’ you will protest, ‘we have had meals with you, and you taught in our streets!’ Yet he will say to you, ‘I tell you I do not know where you have come from. Be off, you scoundrels!’ At that time there will be tears and bitter regret—to see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets inside the kingdom of God, and you yourselves excluded, outside! Yes, and people will come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and take their seats in the kingdom of God. There are some at the back now who will be in the front then, and there are some in front now who will then be far behind.”

The Pharisees warn Jesus of Herod; he replies

31 Just then some Pharisees arrived to tell him, “You must get right away from here, for Herod intends to kill you.”

32-33 “Go and tell that fox,” returned Jesus, “today and tomorrow I am expelling evil spirits and continuing my work of healing, and on the third day my work will be finished. But I must journey on today, tomorrow, and the next day, for it would never do for a prophet to meet his death outside Jerusalem!

34-35 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you murder the prophets and stone the messengers that are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children round me like a bird gathering her brood together under her wings, but you would never have it. Now, all that is left is yourselves, and your house. For I tell you that you will never see me again till the day when you cry, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” — Luke 13 | J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Cross References: Exodus 20:9; Nehemiah 3:15; Psalm 6:8; Psalm 69:25; Psalm 107:14; Psalm 112:10; Song of Solomon 2:15; Isaiah 5:2; Ezekiel 17:23; Daniel 4:14; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 7:13; Matthew 8:11; Matthew 9:8; Matthew 11:16; Matthew 13:24; Matthew 13:33; Matthew 14:3; Matthew 19:30; Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 6:6; Luke 3:8; Luke 7:3; Luke 14:35; Luke 19:41; Luke 21:28; John 9:2; John 11:9; Titus 2:8

Luke 13 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise)

[skzhocomments]

The Rising Empress (Bang Chan) - Chapter 14 - The Punishment

General Masterlist

Story masterlist - please consult it for the summary of the story, trigger warnings etc.

Wattpad | AO3

Chapter 13 | Chapter 15

Taglist: @vxllxnsworld

---

Chapter 14 - The Punishment

Chapter word count: 2.7k words

Aristia takes a long bath, watching intensely as her garments hide the precious peace treaty on a chair in the bathroom.

With a heavy heart in her chest, she slips under the covers next to Chris, who doesn’t hesitate to embrace her.

“Haven’t you fallen asleep?” She asks, watching as night slowly turns to day.

The dawn is beautiful, but she knows that once the sun is up and she will wake up – that is, if she will even manage to sleep at all – she will have to tell Chris everything.

“No. Even if you came back safely, I still feel on edge for some reason. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.” He answers, his voice soft, as he pulls her closer.

“Mhm. Me neither.” She replies, turning around and facing him.

With every minute that passes when she doesn’t confess what she’s done, she feels even worse. Maybe it would be better to cut to the chase and simply tell him now, because no matter how much time she waits, the outcome will be the same.

She’s dug her own grave, and now she will have to lie in it.

“You seem troubled about something…” Chris hesitates, noticing how Aristia spaces out. He’s not used to seeing her this way, and she looks incredibly fragile in the soft morning light.

“Chris, I have to… uhm… I have to tell you something.”

She takes in a deep breath and watches how the Emperor is looking at her with tired eyes. She decides to hug him one last time, to give him a last kiss before confessing everything, and so, she does, and Chris welcomes her warmly.

His embrace feels safe, and she feels on the verge of crying again, but this time, she doesn’t let any tears spill. She keeps her composure and stands up, grabbing the two documents – the treaty and the document proving the ownership of the emerald mine – then returns to bed.

Chris follows her and sits up, watching intensely as she brings the two papers.

“Before you read these… Please let me speak and listen to me without asking any questions.” She says in a quiet voice, barely audible, and Chris nods, confused.

“I didn’t… I didn’t want our Empire to go to war with the Kingdom of the South. This would’ve been an unnecessary, avoidable war, and I didn’t want any of our people to die any longer. As Mr. Silverstone stated, the Empire hasn’t known any peace in way too long…”

“Aristia…” Chris starts, immediately shaking his head. “What exactly did you do…?”

“I’m sorry.” She shakes her head, her hands trembling. “I… I didn’t trust that you would hear me out, so I ended up acting on my own. Chris, I… I betrayed you.”

“What are you saying…?” His eyes suddenly widen, all the tiredness he felt so far simply melting away in an instant.

“I employed a plan with my half-sister to bring our nations to peace. This plan entails a… a formal, signed agreement… a treaty between the Empire and the Kingdom to make sure that for the next one hundred years, no blood will be shed on either side.”

Saying this, she hands Chris the papers, which he is quick to snatch away from her in a swift motion. His eyes first scan the paper regarding the emerald mine, and then, the treaty, which he reads carefully.

With every sentence he reads, he seethes with anger, but when his eyes reach his signature and his stamp, he puts the paper down, and without any words, he gets off the bed and begins walking towards the door.

“Chris, wait-”

“Don’t.” He immediately cuts her off, not even turning around to look at her. “Don’t say anything anymore.”

“But I-”

“As of today, you are to stay confined to this room until I decide what to do with this… with you.”

Aristia’s shoulders slouch as she watches helplessly how Chris exits her room, and her heart begins to hurt even worse.

If only she would’ve trusted him… maybe none of this would’ve happened.

She decides to get under her covers and tries her hardest to fall asleep, with no success whatsoever.

~

“Good morning, Your Highness.” A maid she doesn’t recognise enters her room with a tray of food, but Aristia’s appetite is non-existent to say the least.

“Who are you?” She inquires. “What happened to my maids?”

“My name is Nora. As for your other maids, I don’t have any information.”

“I see…”

“The Emperor is expecting you in his office after breakfast.”

“Alright.”

The maid bows politely then gets out of the room, but Aristia doesn’t have the energy to get out of bed, let alone sit at the table and eat anything. She plops right back and hugs her bed covers tight. They still smell like Chris.

After a little while, she decides she can’t stay in bed forever, so she gets up and heads towards the food, but just the sight of it makes her sick.

She’s unbelievably nauseous, most likely from the lack of sleep, and she has no energy whatsoever.

Instead of eating, she begins getting ready to face Chris and opens the door to get out of her room, which Changbin is guarding.

“Good morning.” He bows. His expression seems grave.

“Hello, Changbin.” She smiles shortly, before starting to walk the familiar path towards Chan’s office.

When her presence is announced and she is permitted to enter, she is shocked to see her three faithful maids and a couple of officials she barely recognises, as well as Jisung and Seungmin, who both avert their gazes when her eyes gloss over them.

Tensions are high, and Aristia can sense the air growing dense around her as she steps inside the room.

Alice looks rough. She must’ve found the last night difficult to cope with, and she must still be in shock.

Chris’ back is turned at first, and for a few moments, she doesn’t know whether she should say something or not. She decides to keep silent.

“Empress,” Chris begins, finally turning around to meet her eyes. “You have committed one of the greatest sins, forging official documents and complotting against the Crown with the help of your maids.”

“If I may speak-” Aristia starts but gets cut off immediately.

“You may not.” Chris immediately counters.

“- my maids had nothing to do with this. I did it all on my own.” She says either way, ignoring his interruption. “Please let them go.”

“They had nothing to do with this?!” Chris chuckles lowly, the officials throwing questioning looks at each other.

“Yes. None of them were aware of my plans. They were just forced to act the way they did after I threatened them.” Aristia speaks softly, looking at her maids and their pained expressions.

Of course, she’s never threatened them. They did everything out of loyalty to her, and they even kept silent because they are willing to go down with Aristia. Still, she promised she would protect them, so this is what she will do.

“Please understand that they are mere subordinates who followed my orders blindly. They didn’t know what they were doing.” Aristia insists, still keeping a mellow voice, looking directly at Chris. She completely disregards the presence of the other officials, as she couldn’t care less about what they think of her.

Chris lets out a large sigh, closing his eyes tight. He was trying to help her out – to get her to put some blame on others so he could lessen her punishment – but Aristia’s already made up her mind to take all the blame. After all, she truly was the one who made up the plan, all on her own.

“I understand. Still, they must be held accountable for refusing to report to me when asked. They will be relocated far away from the Capital. Actually, why not to the Kingdom of the South, since you so dearly promised them that we’d allocate any resources we have should they need them?” Chris lets out a mocking, short laugh, but Aristia just smiles, grateful that her maids won’t have to pay too dearly.

They could always start anew somewhere else, she figures. All of them are young and beautiful, and extremely quick-witted, so she is certain that they will find a place in this world, away from the Palace, away from the Empire of the Sun, and most importantly, away from herself.

Everyone in the room is on edge, the officials shift uncomfortably in their seats, clenching their fists and waiting for the Emperor to speak again.

“Then, you are free to go to your rooms until further instructions.” Chris commands, and the maids get out quickly, as if afraid he would change his mind.

Left alone in the presence of her husband, her teacher, Jisung and the other officials, Aristia straightens her back and prepares herself to face whichever punishment they have decided to give her. She holds her head high and faces them fearlessly - even though her insides are burning.

“Have I been wrong on anything else?” Chris asks, which takes her by surprise. He’s essentially giving her a chance to explain herself, to somehow rationalise why she’s done this.

“Yes, Your Highness.” She begins. “You’ve mentioned I complotted against the Crown, however, this was never my intention, nor my plan. Everything I did was for the peace of our home, our Empire.”

“Yet you signed a peace treaty none of us knew about, let alone agree with. Did you think you could do whatever you pleased?” He challenges.

“I was afraid you would not understand my judgement. However, I believe I made the right choice.”

As she says this, all the officials shake their heads, one of them beginning to speak.

“Your Majesty, this is not right! She can’t do however she pleases!”

“I agree! Even if the treaty in itself wasn’t a bad idea, the way she went behind everyone’s backs is simply inadmissible!” Another one chimes in.

“She must be punished accordingly, Your Highness!” Another one of the officials exclaims with a scoff, and Chris lets out a long sigh, trying to control himself.

This whole situation is terrible, as he doesn’t know how he’d end up turning it around to make Aristia escape the apparently inevitable fate she’s faced with, and she’s not helping the situation at all either, for she asks:

“What is my punishment?”

“Since your crime was so grave, there is no precedent.” Chris sighs again after a few short moments, averting his gaze. “However, the Empire has established a protocol long ago in case of forgery of documents on a lower scale, which will be applied to your case as well. Seungmin, would you tell the Empress what that protocol is?”

Seungmin looks at Aristia for the first time, and as their eyes meet, she can sense how crestfallen he is to deliver the news. He looks completely different to the usually composed Seungmin she’s worked with for the past months.

“The… uhm, the punishment in this case would be execution.” Seungmin finds it hard to speak, and he closes his eyes before continuing. “Normally, a trial would be held to have a judge overview the case, however, since her Highness confessed to the Emperor himself and in front of all the officials of committing this crime�� no such trial is needed.”

“Thank you, Seungmin.” Chris speaks, clearing his throat. His insides are burning and watching the woman he’s grown to love receive this verdict, his heart clenches. He really doesn’t know what to do to get her out of this tough spot.

Her position in front of the court officials is unfavourable, and even though, after thinking long and hard about it, he was willing to brush over her betrayal and look at the grand scheme of things – as the peace treaty is indeed useful to the Empire, the emerald mine dispute has been settled, and they’d even conduct some other useful trades for their agriculture - the officials won’t hear any of it, and unfortunately, even though he is the Emperor, by the way their court is established, he must take into account the vote of the majority.

The officials become restless, urging Chris to deliver the final blow, and there is simply nothing he can do than inform his wife of her punishment.

“Aristia Bahng, as of this moment, you are stripped of your last name and of your title as the Empress of the Sun. Your execution will take place in a week’s time. Until then, Changbin, please escort her to the dungeon.”

A punishment fit for the crime, she believes. Aristia nods shortly and turns around, waiting for Changbin to lead the way. Watching her husband deliver this news felt like an arrow had been shot straight to her heart. Perhaps it’s better that she won’t have to see him again until her execution. She already feels sick, the nausea getting worse, and she’s on the verge of passing out.

“Wait.” Chris says, stopping them dead in their tracks and making them turn around. “Is there anything else you’d like to add? Anything at all?”

“Nothing, Your Highness. Please excuse me.” She smiles softly, looking in the eyes of the man she loves, and she once again regrets not being able to trust him. Everything she’s done was for the prosperity of the Empire, to ensure no other lives will be lost meaninglessly anymore, however, she went about it the wrong way, and the pain in her chest only proves this further.

She looks once more at Chris and feels a wave of sorrow wash over her.

She couldn’t even bring herself to apologise.

~

“Your Highness, it might be best to go to your room first and grab something warm, since the cells are underground, and very cold…” Changbin frowns.

“Please don’t call me that, Changbin.” She smiles. “I am no longer your Empress.”

“You will forever be my Empress, Your Highness.” He counters.

“The Emperor commanded you to escort me directly to the dungeon, so we are unable to drop by my rooms. Please, respect his command.” Aristia continues, and with a dejected nod, he leads her towards her cell.

He unlocks the door to the metal cage using a large key, but before she steps inside, he grabs her wrist and pulls her into a hug.

“I’m so, so sorry.” He whispers, and when he pulls back, his eyes are filled with tears. “We all know that you fought for the Empire until the very end. Even the Emperor.”

Aristia tries to stay strong and simply pats his shoulder one time before stepping into her cell and sitting on the old mattress on the bed, facing the wall. She doesn’t think she could stand watching Changbin and his downcast expression any longer, not without spilling any tears herself.

~

The cell is indeed cold, and Aristia wishes she wouldn’t have respected Chan’s orders to come straight here.

She wishes she had a coat, or at least a blanket to cover herself with, and she wishes she would’ve had something to eat in the morning, because for the rest of the day, she wasn’t given anything.

The next morning, she wakes up feeling as nauseous as the previous day. Her nose is slightly congested, her head hurts badly, and so does her back, due to sleeping on the thin, uncomfortable mattress.

There is nothing to do in this cell, nothing at all but stare at the brick walls.

For breakfast, she is given a fresh loaf of bread, steaming hot, and to her surprise, a warm blanket. She eats the bread with reluctance, but she feels so sick, not even 30 minutes later, she throws it up in the small bucket in the corner of the room.

Even though she’s lying in bed in the other corner, the smell is horrible, and her nose, despite being congested, is quite sensitive to it. She doesn’t remember having such a strong sense of smell.

She tries holding her breath, counting seconds in her head, but is unable to do so for long, as she feels another wave of nausea wash over her, and she finds herself throwing up in the bucket again.

The same happens during lunch, when she receives a warm soup and another loaf of bread. She assumes she’s treated better than the other criminals that have occupied the dungeon before, but still, she can’t eat, and she’s so cold, even with the blanket.

By dinnertime, she doesn’t even look at the food anymore. She asks Nora, the maid who’s brought it, to simply take it back, because the smell of food is making bile rise up her throat, and she throws up again.

~

Chapter 13 | Chapter 15

[simmeringstarfruit]

Roasted Carrot Stew

A delicious savoury roasted carrot stew with earthy vegetables and aromatic fresh herbs. Perfect for a cold rainy day, this vegetarian soup recipe is inspired by the carrot stew from Zelda Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild.

Roasted Carrot Stew

This delicious carrot stew recipe makes 5-6 servings and takes about 90 minutes to make. 

To reduce the recipe time to one hour, skip roasting the carrots and potatoes – just simmer them for 15-20 extra minutes during step seven. Enjoy!

Ingredients

¼ cup oil

1 – 1 ½ cups onion, diced

4 cups carrots, chopped 

4 cups potatoes, diced 

2 tbsp butter

1 – 2 tbsp flour (for Gluten-free version, I recommend potato starch)

1 ½ cups coconut milk...

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