#Centennial Celebration

[hello-from-nrc-infirmary]

A Centennial Celebration

Book 2: A Century of Circumstance

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5A] [5B]

Chapter 6: Winter's Fangs

Vern thought he was ready. At least, he had an idea of what would happen when Victor saw him after the meeting. It didn’t take long for his assumptions to be proven right. His unique magic is left withering. 

“You didn’t call,” the winter sprites tone is frigid.

He grits his teeth as he jumps away, dodging an oversized icicle by a hair. Impaling the earth, it sends out a cloud of dirt. Coughing, Vern stumbles as he lands. Barely catching himself, he casts for a thick barrier of brambles and bushes. 

“What happened, sweetie,” Victor’s amused laugh briefly rings in the air, “did that school make you softer?”

An explosive spell slams into his chest and knocks the air from his lungs. Flying back, his buffer instantly wilting. He crashes through several trees. Slamming to the ground hard enough to leave a small crater. Air feels almost impossible to inhale as he’s left choking from the impact.

Pain shoots through his system from his shoulder. His jaw drops in a silent scream, unable to fully process what exactly happened. The high whistle of Victor’s spell gets closer. Forcing his signature spell out, the barely formed line of trees is effortlessly cut down.

Bark splinters whip through the air. Any greenery around him withers as it’s strangled by frost. Struggling to push himself up, Vern’s left panting as he squints through the dust. Ice abruptly shackles his wrists. It drags his arms over his head as a pillar of ice curls upwards, leaving him dangling.

He chokes on a scream, unable to voice it as his shoulder is moved. The pain is dizzying as he tries to focus on casting something—anything. Familiar night-dark eyes glimmer as Victor steps up to him. Vern attempts to kick him, but the winter sprite is just out of range.

“There’s that fire.”

The sharp snap of Victor’s fingers cut through the air. Ice shoots up to trap Vern’s feet, yanking them towards the ground. He steps closer with a satisfied grin, “you know, this would all hurt a lot less if you-“

He stops as spit suddenly splatters across his face. Vern’s glare is sharper than daggers, “I-I still have t-twenty years.”

Chilled fingers grip his chin, “we both know you won’t find anyone…”

Frost curls across his chin and cheeks from the winter sprite’s touch. The light in his amber eyes dims a little. Victor’s other hand traces a jagged scar across Vern’s exposed abdomen. More ice spreads out from Victor’s fingers. He flinches at the touch, trembling as he’s gradually encased in ice and frost. At least, his shoulder has gone numb from the cold.

“Aw, sweetheart,” he freezes the tears on Vern’s cheeks, “you’re as damaged as always.”

“I-I…. ’m… I’m… n-not….”

“Sh…I’ll make you pretty and take-“ a spell slices between them. Victor barely dodges it by a hair. Victor casts an ice spike, stepping further back as it’s shattered by a second and third spell. Vern squeezes his eyes shut against the shards.

“Hey.”

That voice… is familiar. He slowly opens his eyes, new tears spilling down his cheeks. They’re hot against his skin, and the world is overly bright. A flicker of green fire and aurora eyes greet his vision. A relieved smile pulls at the corner of his lips, “h-hello…”

Steel keeps his sword pointed at Victor, who lands a few feet away. He quickly fires a few more spells to blast the winter sprite back. His voice is low, only meant for Vern, “can you hold on a moment?”

“I… th-think….”

He glances at Vern, concern and guilt flash in his gaze, “your lips are blue.”

“O-oh…”

Right as he casts to try blasting the ice holding Vern, a spell slams into him. Stumbling, he tries to stay on his feet. An icicle is launched at them. He curses and slashes it off course, sending it crashing to the ground.

“I’ll be quick. Stay awake!”

Steel blocks another spell with his sword before lunging for the winter sprite. Vern squints to keep ice shards out. Careful not to let his eyes close for too long. He can hear a few other familiar voices. They’re muffled and distant, not quite able to hear what’s being said over the growing ringing in his ears. Even his vision is getting a little fuzzy…

Ooc// Songs: Deep End by I Prevail and Kill the Noise by Papa Roach

@nrcbookclub @castaway-achlys @nightonthemountain

Book 1: [1] [2] [3]

Book 2: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5A] [5B] [6] [7]

Book 3: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

[firechilde]

Centennial Sway

🖤💛🖤💛

[trendynewsnow]

Celebrating 100 Years of Commonweal: The Legacy of Commonweal Catholics

The Legacy of the Interchurch Center and Commonweal Catholics In the heart of Morningside Heights, a vibrant neighborhood of Manhattan that is home to Columbia University, stands a striking 19-story limestone tower affectionately dubbed by some as the “God box.” This notable structure, officially known as the Interchurch Center, opened its doors in 1960 and has since become a symbol of the…

[santaclaralocalnews]

On June 15, Kimberly Vernon, 27, of Santa Clara, was crowned Miss California 2024 at Miss California’s week-long Centennial Celebration held at the Visalia Convention Center. On Tuesday night, June 11, Vernon received awards in the categories for Health and Fitness and the Preliminary Evening Gown. Vernon won a total of $21,000 from the Miss California competition. This graduate of CSU Fullerton plans to use this scholarship money to further her higher education by setting professional goals for herself. Read complete news at svvoice.com.

[lt-cmdr-data-laforge]

Something that I think perfectly illustrates one of Discovery's problems is the fact that this season opens with the crew at a party celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Federation, and not a single character from the crew even remarks on the fact that they can remember the Federation when it hadn't even celebrated its first century yet

[3416]

could you link the mitch video you mentioned please? I always love watching rookie mitch content!

sure, it's this one!!

[a2zsportsnews]

adidas Basketball Celebrates Hoosier Hysteria at Indiana University with the Unveiling of the Indiana University Centennial Colorway

(Bloomington, IN) – On Friday, October 18th, adidas Basketball kicked off the Indiana University 2024-25 college basketball season by joining Hoosier Hysteria at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The annual event, which marks the start of the men’s and women’s basketball seasons, saw the Three Stripes brand elevate the excitement for Hoosier fans with the unveiling of the Indiana University Centennial…

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"RAZE HOVELS, BUILD PARKS PLEA OF LIEUT. GOV. BRUCE," Toronto Star. March 6, 1934. Page 1 & 2. --- "Areas of Misery and Degradation Exert an Unhappy Influence" ---- CREATE TOWN PLAN ---- His honor, the lieutenant-governor, Col. Herbert A. Bruce, in proposing the health of the city of Toronto at the luncheon given at the King Edward hotel on the occasion of the centennial celebrations to-day, said:

"History tells us that the first mayor of Toronto, Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie, did not enjoy such friendly relations with government house as have his successors. Sir John Colborne, then lieutenant- governor, once made rather elaborate preparations to receive him should he call at government house. He mounted artillery on the roof of government house and gunners with lighted matches stood by, ready to receive the future first mayor and his supporters. I have noted that, architecturally, the present government house is not suitable for such a kind of hospitality, and I assure you I shall not follow this precedent, at least during centennial year.

"Now I am to propose a toast toast to the health of Toronto. The health of Toronto must necessarily mean the health of its citizens. It must mean, too, the continued progress and development of Toronto along desirable lines. We have A great and beautiful city that has been blessed by honest and efficient government. It in city enviably situated, a city of fine residential areas, of beautiful buildings, of high standards of citizenship. That is how we see it, but I fear, in all candor one must confess, that this city, in common with every large city, has acquired the inevitable 'alum districts.

"These are of misery and degradation exert an unhappy environmental influence upon many of our citizens. You will probably say: "but Toronto has few such areas and they are not of great extent. I say, and I think you will agree with me, that Toronto wants none of them, and that Toronto wants the Toronto of the the future which we like to contemplate will have none of them.

Hunger for Recreation "It seems to me that the only availing remedy in Toronto is a planned decentralization which will take the outmoded factory away from our congested central areas and substitute for it in the outskirts a new modern building. That would permit workers to establish their to establish the homes es convenient to their work in surroundings where their children would learn by experience that grass is a green. living and loving carpet and that there are really and truly other and lovelier flowers than those on the lithographed calendar that hangs on the cracked, crumbling and wall of a murky room into of a murky room into sun's rays have never penetrated. It seems to me, also that as we evacuate those factories and hovels, we must raze them and bury the distressing memory of them in fine central parks and recreational centres. These parks and recreational centres would be devoted to the physical and mental improvement of our people they would be community centres for ennobling uses leisure, which to-day hangs heavy on the hands of thousands of our citizens both employed hand unemployed. have to look far for evidence of how normal men and of women hunger for recreational opportunities. Mrs. Bruce and I have been pleased to extend our patronage to the Central Ontario Región the Dominion Drama Festival, whose playoffs take place at Hart House in the near future. One of the competing plays and I asked that it should be performed on the night we will be present is being produced by a group o some forty unemployed who are known as the "Miracle Players." There are many other instances to illustrate how eagerly people welcome an opportunity to make constructive use of their leisure.

Town Plan for Health "Time restrains me from expounding my ideas in detail, and there is no need that I should do see here men who have be have been giving thought to these thin to these things and we have evidence from time to time that our municipal government has given much consideration to city planning. The planning I have in mind is similar to that to which the Prince of Wales has given leadership. In an address of January 27th last his Royal Highness said: 'We must not he content until we have we have good clubs and everywhere so equipped that those who need them can find opportunities for friendship, occupation, and recreation, where the day can he spent with advantage after working hours. Let self-help go hand in hand with mutual service. Let the state do its utmost by political and economic devices, but there is no remedy which will ever replace, or make obsolete, the way of fellowship."

"We are celebrating our city's centenary. Would it not be a splendid thing to commemorate this, our hundredth civic year, by the creation of a large and noble plan conceived in a spirit of fellowship? A plan that would recognize the inalienable right of every man and woman and child to decent and dignified and healthful environment.

"Gentlemen, I give you the health of the city of Toronto: Toronto today, of which of which we are proud: Toronto of to-morrow, of which our children may be prouder still; and Toronto of the centuries to come. whose citizens, I hope, will have in their hearts a feeling of gratitude because we planned nobly, wisely and unselfishly.

Problem of Financing "I have carefully noted the reference made to-day by his honor in connection with what he has termed by his statement, made with all candor, of the inevitable slum conditions of great cities," replied Mayor Stewart. "I hasten to assure all my listeners that Toronto is proud of the fact that she is known as a city of homes and churches. The elected body throughout the years have ever been mindful of the constructive influence of good environment. There have been several projects advanced to the elected body dealing with the housing situation, but I most respectfully submit that there are limits to the taxpayers ability to finance many worthy enterprises.

"While I with my colleagues, would like to see many unsightly premises torn down, it must also be born in mind the difficulties condemning proceeded," "the mayo proceeded. "What may appear unsightly cannot necessarily be condemned officially as insanitary. It is not as easy a procedure as some believe for civic authorities to condemn privately-owned properties.

"Some consideration might well be given when financial conditions permit to the wrecking of dilapidated properties to create areas to free our streets from congestion. It would indeed be an ideal condition if we had more community centres in the thickly populated areas. We must also remember it would also be an ideal condition if thousands of our citizens had more of this world's goods with which to pay their taxes. Toronto does not encourage nor approve of dilapidated homes being used as adjuncts to factories whereby the whole family are employed in competition with properly regulated and organized labor."

The mayor said if the lieutenant-governor will consent, he will present a motion to city council asking for the appointment of a committee to confer on the housing sing situation, to be headed by the lieutenant-governor.

Conditions Improving "We rejoice in the fact that evidence is daily increasing of improving conditions and we march confidently and hopefully onward to normal prosperity." continued the mayor. "Toronto, unlike places of olden days, has not and will not build walls of stone or selfish restriction about the city. Instead, Toronto has substantially with other municipalities, contributed to the building of avenues of communication and to the institutions for the protection s and betterment of mankind. Instead o of b of building building Toronto depends upon its foundations. Torontonians for a century have builded upon safe, sure and lasting foundations of belief and faith in Almighty God, and ever have and ever will remain loyal to his majesty the King'

[loscerritoscommunitynews]

Excelsior High School Will Hold Centennial Celebration

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Mail Type your email… Subscribe Sign up for local news and alerts; we will not sell your email, who does that? _____________ June 10, 2023 The Excelsior Alumni Association is holding a picnic celebration on the former Excelsior Union High School campus to mark 100 years since the laying of the cornerstone on the Administration Building on the Pioneer…

[dweemeister]

I don’t when I stopped posting soccer stuff on this blog with some regularity on weekends, but it must have been a long long time.

But I just needed to jot down somewhere that being an Arsenal and an LA Galaxy fan is made for an especially painful sporting weekend (actually all season for the Galaxy side, as I’ve been 100% behind the supporters’ boycott to the point where I’m not watching or listening to the game live at all).

Suzume was better than expected, though!

[aligustie]

Absolutely beautiful. It's perfect for her, and as you said has the centennial colors so it's even more perfect! I can easily see her becoming a much more responsible keeper of wishes, being honest about her limited ability to grant them and having a sense of compassion for all who give one, even it can't be granted.

I was inspired by @/jonuelsketch on Insta to give Asha my take (and my hope) on a potential finale transformation dress; ofc bestowed on her by Star!

I’m hoping she’ll become a better version of whatever Magnifico was up to.

And ofc the movie comes out in a little over a month but I’m ✨speculating✨

Anyway! Enjoy! Haven’t posted on here in a while!

[hello-from-nrc-infirmary]

Vern's Hometown: Centennial Celebration

Book 1: A Founding Fiasco

Chapter 1: A Tiny Dilemma

"Oh! And umm... anyone who needs their refill while I'm gone-"

"-has to present their student ID and we check the chart... We know! Just go," Pam snaps as they tap their roots on the desk.

Vern nods, more to himself than the plants, "o-okay.... umm... r-right. Okay. Call if you ummm... need anything!"

The crocuses start prodding him to move towards the door. All of them start talking slightly over each other, "don't worry! Bennet is coming in to help!!!!"

He hesitantly lets them push him out while trying to not step on any of their thin roots. Not even a moment after the little flowers shove him into the hall, the infirmary door slamming shut echoes off the stone walls. He blinks, adjusting his satchel before starting off towards the mirror hall. Each footstep disturbs the silence of the school.

It was too early to leave, and yet... his amber gaze drops to the basket in his grip. The lavender cloth covering it slightly rustles as he walks. He hadn't found someone to watch his bunnies. The centennial will keep him busy and his stomach twists at the thought of not having enough time for them. He considers asking one of Uncle's... no, they would also be busy.

As he arrives at the mirror chamber, Koa lifts his head from where he's laying. Vern let the elk out of the stables earlier. His familiar had sent him out of the room several times in the past few hours. The elk's ear twitches, watching Vern carefully as he stares at the mirrors.

"Patience... you-"

"-I know," he sighs, grip tightening as he turns to Koa, "I'm umm... my stomach is all um... knotted a-and ummm... my hands are umm... shaky, too..."

"That is your nerves and anxiety. He will-"

"-and if he doesn't? What if no one-"

"-Vern," Koa stands, taking a few strides towards him. The elk bends its head down to press against Vern's forehead, "everything will be alright."

Chapter 2: The Sleepiest Solution

“Hey~“

Vern jumps a little at the familiar voice. Smiling as he turns, he takes care to not jostle the basket of bunnies too much. His nerves are somewhat eased to see Steel finally join him. Part of him wanted to ask about the lack of any visible blot, but the memory of Pam’s scathing remarks tie his tongue.

“G-good morning, I’m umm… thank you, again for um…” he pauses, noticing Nightshade attempting to nose his way out of the basket. Vern frowns a little as he carefully tries to nudge the rabbit’s head back under the blanket.

“Eh, no problem..” he earns a shrug and a raised brow, “you brought the bunnies?”

Vern lifts the basket higher to let Steel pet Nightshade, “I umm… couldn’t find someone to um… watch them…”

“Hm...” a playful grin slowly crosses Steel’s features, “I know someone~”

He looks up at him, “r-really? Are you umm…. sure they won’t mind?”

“Sure...” Steel only winks “it’ll be fun~”

“O-okay…” Vern fidgets slightly, but quickly follows him. He’s hesitates before stepping through the Diasomnia mirror. The ever-looming storm causes his nerves to spike as lightning flashes. Walking faster, he does his best to stay close to Steel while his amber gaze continuously darts to the sky. His muscles lose some tension as they enter the dorm. Every window they pass, he unconsciously checks the sky. Vern briefly draws Steel’s attention as he accidentally bumps into his arm.

“… right. I can take them for you, if you want,” he offers, his voice a bit softer than normal.

Vern stiffens at a distant rumble of thunder, “I-I would umm… rather um… s-stay…”

“… alright..”

They eventually reach a familiar door, giving Vern pause as Steel steps into the dorm. Despite his initial hesitation, he follows and looks around. It’s probably a good thing that Silver has not woken up, or perhaps it’s the opposite?

“You can set them over there.”

Nodding, Vern places the basket in the corner. Smiling to himself, he whispers a small farewell as he casts for some vines to create a nice enclosure for them.

“A-and you’re umm… sure he won’t mind?”

Shrugging, Steel leads Vern back into the hall, “animals like him, no worries~”

Vern nods as they head back towards the mirror chamber. He barely notices Steel quickly sending a text and quietly hopes he tells Silver about the bunnies.

Chapter 3: A Land Called Paradise

Vern looks around as they return to the mirror chamber. Koa seems to have stretched his legs a bit while waiting. The elk's ear twitches as the pair returns, aware of more footsteps heading towards the chamber.

"You found a suitable place for the small ones?"

Vern glances at Steel, a bit of humor lighting his own eyes after a moment, "I ummm... think so, yeah..."

"Good," Koa nods, "it's almost time for the others to be arriving..."

Book 1: [1] [2] [3]

Book 2: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5A] [5B] [6] [7]

Book 3: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

[mrscam776]

Happy Centennial to my Favorite Pretty Poodle @jjroxtoesox ! So proud of you and for all you do with this organization 💛💙🐩 #sigmagammarho #1922 #centennial #sgrho #prettypoodle #celebrations #blackgirlmagic https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck3VqklrYww7OMmED1X9BkOpx74FvncZodMVk80/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[trendynewsnow]

The Interchurch Center: A Legacy of Midcentury Liberal Christianity

The Interchurch Center: A Symbol of Midcentury Liberal Christianity In the heart of Morningside Heights, Manhattan, adjacent to the prestigious Columbia University, stands a striking 19-story limestone edifice affectionately referred to by some as the “God box.” Officially known as the Interchurch Center, this architectural landmark was inaugurated in 1960 and has since served as a testament to…

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

au where vaggie has another little secret she didn't even know was a secret still (spoiler it's Mortality) (spoiler charlie Isn't Happy) and when she sits down with charlie for a hotel talk it goees like (TRAUMATIC EMOTIONAL SPEED RUN AAAAHAHAHA)

Vaggie: "Alright sweetie, the hotel's going good so far, one soul redeemed, minimal fire damage this week, so we should probably start planning for the next hundred years of operations."

Charlie: "YAY!!! Planning planning planning~ What's first on the list??"

Vaggie: "Start looking for a replacement manager."

Charlie: "You don't wanna keep being manager? OH- we can be CO-FOUNDERS together! WE COULD HAVE A PARTY FOR IT! And plan for the next one too- Charlie and Vaggie's centennial wow the hotel is still here celebration...!"

Vaggie: "That's sweet, but I'll be dead by then either way, so we still need to deal with the staffing shortage before then."

Charlie: "....dead... tired?"

Vaggie: "Dead as in dead. Doornail style."

Charlie: "What?"

Vaggie: "Expired. Shit, when did we last check the hotel fridge..."

Charlie: "Vaggie wait, I'm, I'm not hearing you right, what are you saying?"

Vaggie: "Heaven born don't live forever? Especially not down in hell, turns out."

Charlie: "I don't understand."

Vaggie: (chuckles) "Sweetie, thanks for ignoring my eyebags and zombie groans while getting out of bed in the morning- but my wings are already GREY, for fuck's sake."

Charlie: "Yes they're, grey. Beautiful and- aren't they supposed to be-?"

Vaggie: "And I'm pretty sure it's not just from the stress of running a business for a few months. Being hotel manager isn't that hard."

Vaggie: "....Mostly. Compared to, some things...." (sigh)

Vaggie: "Think anyone would believe that if we put it in the want ad?"

Charlie: "But-"

Vaggie: "No buts. We really need to get a head start on this."

Charlie: "....but you're a winner."

Vaggie: (SNORTS) "In my dating life, yeah. Anyway-"

Charlie: "But none of the other exorcists' wings are grey! So, so THEY aren't aging- so YOU aren't aging!!"

Vaggie: "They've got halos to protect them from the whole physically getting old thing-"

Charlie: "Halos???"

Vaggie: "-so we- they- can keep fit and ready for fighting our- THEIR whole lives, but duh we don't live forever. Lute and Adam left me here to die, not chill for all eternity."

Charlie: "Wh.. but-"

Vaggie: "Can you imagine how much heaven would've freaked if one of their actually immortal souls had gotten killed down here in hell...? But it was just one of us Adam's girls, and it was up to him to deal with it. With more murder. Bastard."

Charlie: "...."

Vaggie: "Uh.... Charlie?"

Charlie: "....your mortal?"

Vaggie: "I'm, yeah.... wait, Charlie..."

Vaggie: "...people know that about exorcists, right? You didn't... think heaven would risk putting winners in their rank and file army and send them down to hell?"

Charlie: "I thought you were a sinner."

Vaggie: "Hostia- right. I keep forgetting, they don't get old do they?"

Charlie: "Sinners don't. They get killed but they don't just. Die."

Vaggie: "I'm sorry. I thought- I really should've told you-"

Charlie: "Angels aren't supposed to die either."

Vaggie: "We did a good job proving that wrong. Exhibit A, Adam's corpse."

Charlie: "He was KILLED- it's not the same!"

Vaggie: "And angels aren't the same either. There's a lot of different kinds in creation- most of us aren't in the higher orders, there's waaaay more exorcists than seraphim."

Charlie: "But heaven is still supposed to be HEAVEN! People don't DIE in heaven! That wouldn't be Heaven! How could- how could it ever be HAPPY up there if, if- if people still left!?"

Vaggie: "Oh, sweetie... the only people who've earned a heaven like that are the winners. The rest of us are just-"

Charlie: "Just what? JUST, WHAT???"

Vaggie: "We're there to make heaven a good place for them. Keep it running smooth and safe. Mostly it's the higher ups who deal with winners personally, the rest of us stay back and stick to our jobs, try to keep some distance so no one... gets too attached... shit that sounded a lot less fucked up before I said it out loud-"

Vaggie: "Look- it's like that with hellborn too isn't it? The imps and hellhounds and-"

Charlie: "NO! YES? But this is HELL! Of course it hurts and isn't fair! You're not FROM hell it's not supposed to BE like that for you!"

Vaggie: "Or for my girlfriend."

Charlie: "I'm not the one who's dying!"

Vaggie: "You're kinda freaking-"

Charlie: "IM NOT FREAKING OUT!!"

Vaggie: "Right. I meant, you should've had more warning. I'm sorry I didn't say... I wasn't thinking that far ahead."

Charlie: "WELL I WAS! And I'm not- we're not losing that."

Vaggie: "Charlie-"

Charlie: "We're getting you your halo back."

Vaggie: "Pretty sure it's already been recycled-"

Charlie: "THEN WE'RE FINDING ONE FROM ONE OF THE DEAD EXORCISTS and you are WEARING IT until we FIX THIS."

Vaggie: "Sweetie- heaven collected all the halos from our battle-"

Charlie: "They didn't pick up all the spears and stuff, maybe they also missed-"

Vaggie: "No they wouldn't have. Halos aren't, they're not like the weapons. Heaven doesn't care if sinners kill each other with some left behind divine steel, but a halo? They store and conduct heavenly power or whatever. No one's gonna leave one of them lying around."

Charlie: "Fine. FINE- let me think-"

Vaggie: "Can we think less and focus more on you not shaking like a damn leaf first? C'mon, sit down-"

Charlie: "-the angel Carmilla killed. We'll use that one."

Vaggie: "We could use a deep breath right now."

Charlie: "It's head was missing when heaven picked up the body."

Vaggie: "Yeah? An Overlord probably has it hanging on their wall, big whoop, Charlie please slow down-"

Charlie: "If it's head was left behind then maybe it's halo was too! If we find the Overlord-"

Vaggie: "No. No more deals with Overlords."

Charlie: "I'll make as many damn deals with them as I want!"

Vaggie: "But not for ME, alright! If it's about me then you don't get to sell your fucking soul! Or bind it or whatever! You can't make me be the reason for that!"

Charlie: "Vaggie- we NEED that halo."

Vaggie: "No we don't. I don't."

Charlie: "You're dying without it!"

Vaggie: "I KNOW I am. But that's just, life!"

Charlie: "LIFE? Dying so soon isn't-!"

Vaggie: "Charlie, you're half seraphim. You mom was the original demon, your view on life expectancies is kinda skewed."

Charlie: "You said the halos let you live longer!"

Vaggie: "I said they keep us young. It's not the same thing."

Charlie: "It's still SOMETHING!"

Vaggie: "We don't even know that would help at this point, I've been in hell for years-"

Charlie: "Oh so we shouldn't even try!? Just, sit back and go 'well we haven't don't anything to stop this but I guess it was just completely unavoidable'-"

Vaggie: "It probably WON'T help. No, listen- It worked up in heaven and for short runs down here- that doesn't mean it'd have any power to draw on in hell. It's probably just a fancy looking hoop down here."

Charlie: "Then we'll get you back to heaven until we can make it work."

Vaggie: "I'm not going back to fucking heaven!"

Charlie: "AND I'M NOT LETTING YOU STAY HERE AND DIE!"

Vaggie: "You can't kick me out- this is OUR hotel, not just yours."

Charlie: "YOU- you-"

Vaggie: "We need. To calm down."

Charlie: "CALM DOWN! Every second you spend down here your body is-"

Vaggie: "Not dying anytime soon, okay? I'm fine. This whole talk has gone way too far way, way to fast. That's my fault for not thinking about all this sooner, but. Just. Take a breath. Let's just take a breath, take a break, and come back to this when we're both had a moment."

Charlie: "....."

Charlie: "Did you plan all this."

Vaggie: "What?"

Charlie: "Owning the hotel together. Making sure you couldn't be forced out of hell."

Vaggie: "That's not why we started the hotel-"

Charlie: "No, that's not what I was thinking when we started it. But were you?"

Vaggie: "Charlie... you're connecting dots that aren't there..."

Charlie: "You're here. You're here and dying and don't want to leave."

Vaggie: "I'd be dying up in heaven too."

Charlie: "But your wings wouldn't already be GREY, would they?"

Vaggie: "They'd still be an exorcist's wings, if I'd never left-"

Charlie: "Well they're not anymore and going back wouldn't change that. All it would do is help you stay alive."

Vaggie: "I don't want that life."

Charlie: "It's that or die."

Vaggie: "You're being dramatic-"

Charlie: "You've always said you liked that about me. Was that a lie too?"

Vaggie: "No."

Charlie: "Do you want to die, Vaggie?"

Vaggie: "Of course I don't- I could've just let Lute-"

Charlie: "Die, not be killed. Does it make you feel better about all the people you've killed? You'll die and join them, sooner rather than later?"

Vaggie: "......."

Vaggie: "... I want. To spend my life. With you."

Charlie: "No you don't." (voice cracking) "You can't do that when you're dead."

Vaggie: "That's not my fault."

Charlie: "Your choice though, right?"

Vaggie: "It’s not same thing-"

Charlie: "Yes it is. You want to be one who leaves."

Vaggie: "....... wouldn't you?"

Charlie: "...."

Vaggie: "..."

Charlie: "I don't.... want it to b- be like this."

Vaggie: "I know."

Charlie: "I want US! Not like this."

Vaggie: "I know, sweetie, I know... I'm so sorry-"

Charlie: "Stop it." (muffled in vaggie's hair) "You don't want this either, stop apologizing for it!"

Vaggie: "... I shouldn't have let you think, it could be different."

Charlie: "...."

Charlie: "It will be."

Vaggie: "Okay. Denial, that's a, normal step in-"

Charlie: "No- It WILL BE. I- We going to- we'll MAKE it different."

Vaggie: "I don't think we can..."

Charlie: "We will."

Vaggie: "Charlie-"

Charlie: "Damnit just trust me! If we can save a sinner's soul, then we can f-fucking save you."

Vaggie: "....."

Charlie: "Please, Vaggie. Can we try?"

Vaggie: "...it'll be a waste of time."

Charlie: "No it won't."

Vaggie: "We're already not gonna have forever together, sweetie. Why not just. Enjoy what we do have?"

Charlie: "I will! We will."

Charlie: "But we're going to have longer than one century for it."

Vaggie: "Half that, maybe..."

Charlie: "That's not the sound of trying. Vaggie. Please."

Vaggie: "...well... if you're gonna look at me like that about it..."

Charlie: "Don't joke about this."

Vaggie: "I'm not." (smile) "I just know better than to doubt Charlie Morningstar when she gets an idea into her cute, stubborn head."

Charlie: "All my head needs right now is an answer. One word. Clear. Honest."

Vaggie: "... alright. Yes. We can try."

Charlie: "Thank you." (kiss) "Thank you, thank you, thank you..."

Vaggie: "But you have to promise me. No deals. No selling souls- not for my sake, not even a little bit. Got it?"

Charlie: "Why are you so strict about this-"

Vaggie: "Because it's your soul."

Charlie: "-people make deals all the time! YOU made one with-"

Vaggie: "And it creeped me out even though it wasn't with my soul. Do you promise?"

Charlie: "This is a heaven thing isn't it?"

Vaggie: "Do you promise."

Charlie: "...."

Charlie: "I won't make, deals with anyone in hell, to save you."

Vaggie: (breathes out) "Then... we'll start by talking to Carmilla tomorrow."

Charlie: "TOMORROW!? But that-"

Vaggie: "Will give us time to figure out what we actually wanna SAY to Carmilla. She's still an Overlord, Charlie. Any info we give her she'll want to sure to keep her family safe first."

Charlie: "I know the fucking feeling..."

Vaggie: "So we're slowing this down and doing things carefully, so we do them right. Right?"

Charlie: "Right." (grumbling) "Fools rush in- blah blah BLAH."

Vaggie: "That's my girl."

Vaggie: (hesitates) (tentative smooch)

Vaggie: "Feeling better?"

Charlie: "Fine. I wish you'd stop asking ME that."

Vaggie: "Just glad you're not shaking so much anymore. Kinda scared me for a second."

Charlie: "I'm fine." (sighs) (hugs vaggie) "I didn't mean..."

Vaggie: "I didn't mean to scare you, too."

Charlie: "It's fine. You'll be okay."

Vaggie: "Mm. Already am."

Charlie: "And we're NOT looking for a replacement hotel manager."

Vaggie: "We're gonna need-"

Charlie: "NO."

Vaggie: "-okay. We'll hold off on it. We've got time."

Charlie: (holds her closer) (glares at distant light of heaven)

[mysticstronomy]

WHAT IS AN ISLAND UNIVERSE??

Blog#422

Saturday, July 27th, 2024.

Welcome back,

No other science engages human curiosity like astronomy. From antiquity onward, attempts to comprehend the architecture of the cosmos have commanded a substantial fraction of humankind’s mental budget for intellectual endeavor. Only in the last century, though, have astronomers grasped the structure of the cosmos accurately. Just a hundred years ago, a great debate raged about the fuzzy patches on the nighttime sky known as “cloudy stars,” or nebulae.

Some astronomers believed that those cosmic fuzzballs resided within the Milky Way, the galaxy containing the sun and billions of other stars. In those days the Milky Way essentially comprised the known universe. But some experts suspected the nebulae to be very distant stellar systems much like the Milky Way itself — “island universes” populating the vastness of space. Skeptics argued otherwise, contending that the nebulae would be impossibly far away if they contained stars similar in brightness to the sun.

In October 1917, the prominent astronomer Harlow Shapley reported that the brightness of novae in various nebulae would place some of them millions of light-years away, in conflict with other measurements of rapid internal motion within the nebulae. (At such large distances, internal motion would not be perceptible.) “Measurable internal proper motions,” Shapley wrote, “can not well be harmonized with ‘island universes’ of whatever size, if they are composed of normal stars.”

The centennial of Shapley’s paper is not being widely celebrated, of course, because he was wrong — distant nebulae are, in fact, island universes (the measurements of internal motion supposedly ruling that out turned out to be bogus). But there is another anniversary worth celebrating this year — the dodransbicentennial (or dodrabicentennial) of the founding of the Cincinnati Astronomical Society in 1842. That event is noteworthy for its connection to one of astronomy’s greatest mysteries: who first coined the phrase “island universe.”

Often that honor is attributed to the philosopher Immanuel Kant. But Kant wrote in German, and he didn’t use any phrase that could be translated as “island universe.” He was among the first to figure out the nature of the Milky Way, though. From ancient times, skywatchers had wondered at the eerie dim glowing band of light visible across the nighttime sky (until modern light pollution drowned it out). Galileo’s telescope revealed within the milky glow a vast population of stars too distant and dim to discern with the naked eye.

More than a century afterward, in 1755, Kant reasoned that the Milky Way was actually a large lens-shaped disk, a system of stars (including the sun) analogous to the sun’s system of planets.In essence, the Milky Way was the universe, a grand collection of countless worlds — stars surrounded by planets, possibly inhabited. Kant further speculated that the Milky Way was not alone. Nebulae, it seemed to him, were too big to be merely dim fuzzy stars. He deduced them to be at a great distance (too far for their individual stars to be detectable), each of them another entire “universe” like the Milky Way.

But he didn’t call them islands. When he used the German word for island (Insel), he was referring to things like Jamaica, or an uninhabited planet. When Kant said “these elliptical figures are just universes,” the actual term he used in German was Weltordnungen, which is literally translated as “world orders” (or in some places Weltgebäuden or Weltsystemen, world systems).

Originally published on https://www.sciencenews.org

COMING UP!!

(Wednesday, July 31st, 2024)

"DOES DARK ENERGY EXIST??"