#Everybody Wants to Rule the World MAP

[sammy8d257]

Hi!

İ want to attend the "everybody wants to rule the world"

but I'm not sure because I don't know what to do or how the animation will be etc.

So what I mean is, can you clarify this activity a little more?

I'm sorry if I took up your time so bye

Hey it's no problem at all!

I understand that MAPs/Multi-Animator Projects/ Multi-Animator Collabs probably aren't as common a thing in the AvA/M community, so I don't mind go over it a bit!

The AvA "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" MAP is a beginner friendly "Anything" Project

What that means is that I have cut up sections of audio (as seen in the MAP Call video) that I will be assigning to people who have filled out the Application form! Once a person receives their audio portion, they can start animating what they thing would work with that section!

Because this is a Beginner Friendly MAP, I'm not too concerned about how complex or professional your ability to animate is

(Although I will say that if you apply for a more complex musical part section or a part that has multiple people applying for, having examples showcasing your art will help me make a decision on who should get it)

Being an "Anything" MAP means that there isn't a script or animatic that needs to be followed for your part. There is however a Theme that should be followed (AvA/M Villains and Antagonists, yes Purple counts too) but aside from that, you can pretty much draw whatever you want for your part!

There is a Discord server set up for organizational purposes and theres already a bunch of people from a previous AvA MAP (Breezy Slide) on there that are very kind and I'm sure they wouldn't mind helping newer people with stuff!

This is also a great video to watch to get a quick rundown on what MAPs are and what to do or not do when applying to them!

[ohhhsosleepy]

Dw about the fact I disappeared for a month, will happen again, but I have something to show for my absence

My part of @sammy8d257 's Everybody Wants To Rule The World map :D

Bit of ramblings + individual frames under the cut

I started the part late June I think??? Took July off since Artfight began and I was also accosted by burnout. BUT I'd gotten a good amount of progress done in that time and was able to finish off everything before the end of August :]

Believe it or not I am a long haired + bug wings purple believer, but feathered wings were easier for me to draw (plus I think they look cooler (sorry bug wing enjoyers)) Decided to give Purple shorter hair because in my mind, they're closer to Rb/ Navy/ Whatever you call them, so they haven't started growing it out yet. After this whole dragon fiasco is when I think that starts happening Speaking of closer to Navy, I'm sure you've noticed the gem on their crown :) I cant share anything about the other parts of the map since well. They're not mine, but I will say all the parts are looking absolutely awesome, I'll be reblogging their posts as I find them Also hello avm community I think this is my first time interacting with you on this blog

[doodlebeeberry]

gary i need to host a map set to a tears for fears song

[sammy8d257]

BRO I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THAT YOU POSTED THIS

AAAA

Lets gooooo!!!

My part of @sammy8d257’s Everybody Wants to Rule the World map!

Yayyyyy! Took me 2 months or smth, but I finishhhhed!!

[what-stasis]

Everybody wants to rule the world ! [part 17, hosted by @sammy8d257]

Map call ^

Finished map ^

[floralcrematorium]

2010s Nostalgia || Hetalia Edition

Hetalia Youtube Nostalgia Playlist | 117 songs | 7hr 5min

• Hey Na Na - Katie Herzig • Viva La Vida - Coldplay • Rasputin - Boney M. • Glad You Came - The Wanted • Hot Mess - Cobra Starship • Counting Stars - OneRepublic • Fireflies - Owl City • Bombshell Blonde - The Jagged Edges • Do Better - Say Anything • Welcome To The Show - Britt Nicole • Dance With The Devil - Breaking Benjamin • Survive - Sick Puppies • Life is Beautiful - Sixx:A.M. • Fairytale - Alexander Rybak • Everybody Loves Me - One Republic • Don't Mess With Me - temposhark • Mimimi - SEREBRO • I Like It Loud - Cash Cash • I Just Wanna Run - The Downtown Fiction • I'm ALIVE! - Becca • Lovestruck - Breathe Electric • I Like To Dance - Hot Chelle Rae • Haven't Had Enough - Marianas Trench • Kiss Me Thru The Phone - Soulja Boy, Sammie • Hard out Here - Lily Allen • Runaway Baby - Bruno Mars • I Don't Care - Fall Out Boy • Airplanes - B.o.B., Hayley Williams • Rock Star - Prima J • This Is War - Thirty Seconds To Mars • Hey Brother - Avicii • Cinderella - Tata Young • Centuries - Fall Out Boy • Déjà Vu - 3OH!3 • Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy Me - Lene Alexandra • Miss Jackson - Panic! At The Disco, LOLO • The Ballad of Mona Lisa - Panic! At The Disco • Europe's Skies - Alexander Rybak • Bad Apple!! - RichaadEB, Cristina Vee • Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off - Panic! At The Disco • Let's Kill Tonight - Panic! At The Disco • Hurricane - Panic! At The Disco • Casual Affair - Panic! At The Disco • Never Close Our Eyes - Adam Lambert • Playing With Fire - Ovi, Paula Seling • Angel With A Shotgun - The Cab • Nicotine - Panic! At The Disco • Killer - The Ready Set • How to Be a Heartbreaker - MARINA • This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race - Fall Out Boy • Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) - My Chemical Romance • Troublemaker - Olly Murs, Flo Rida • Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship, Leighton Meester • I Can't Decide - Scissor Sisters • One Woman Army - Porcelain Black • How To Start A War - Simon Curtis • Maps - Maroon 5 • Do Better - Say Anything • STARSTRUKK - 3OH!3 • Remember Everything - Five Finger Death Punch • The Diary of Jane - Breaking Benjamin • Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes • When You're Evil - Aurelio Voltaire • Canadian, Please - Julia Bentley, Gunnarolla • Sarah Smiles - Panic! At The Disco • Take Me to Church - Hozier • Viking Death March - Billy Talent • Headstrong - Trapt • Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind • Don't Believe A Word - Third Eye Blind • Warriors - Imagine Dragons • iNSaNiTY - CircusP • Paralyzer - Finger Eleven • I'm Awesome - Spose • 24 - Jem • Clarity - Zedd, Foxes • Hall of Fame - The Script, will.i.am • The Is Gospel - Panic! At The Disco • Immortals - Fall Out Boy • Rather Be - Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne • Wake Me Up - Avicii • a thousand years - Christina Perri • Just Like Fire - P!nk • Safe & Sound - Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars • Safe And Sound - Capital Cities • Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Lorde • Demons - Imagine Dragons • DNA - Little Mix • Remember The Name - Fort Minor, Styles of Beyond • Victorious - Panic! At The Disco • 右肩の蝶 (Butterfly On Your Right Shoulder) - Kagamine Rin/Len • We Are One (Ole Ole) - Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, Claudia Leitte • Hero - Skillet • Maraca - Mohombi • The Phoenix - Fall Out Boy • DONTTRUSTME - 3OH!3 • Teenage Dream - Katy Perry • SING - My Chemical Romance • Good Time - Owl City, Carly Rae Jepsen • White Rabbit - Egypt Central • Not Gonna Die - Skillet • The Kill - Thirty Seconds To Mars • We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool, DCup • Nobody's Listening - Linkin Park • Disco Pogo - Die Atzen • German Sparkle Party - The Something Experience • Dirty Little Secret - The All-American Rejects • I Could Be The One - Avicii, Nicky Romero • Can't Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis • Still Into You - Paramore • Primadonna - MARINA • Pompeii - Bastille • 恋愛サーキュレーション (Renai Circulation) - 物語シリーズ • Awake And Alive - Skillet • Monster - Skillet • Poker Face - Lady Gaga • Falling Inside The Black - Skillet

[deathssunshine]

A Date with Death After the End

Warning: bad language, SPOILERS. THIS GAME HAS ONLY COME OUT RECENTLY ABOUT A DAY MEANING SPOLIERS INCLUDING HIS NAME WHICH WASN'T IN THE DEMO AND POSSIBLY HIS NICKNAME FOR YOU ALONG WITH SPOILING THE END

Genre: Really silly

Word count: not counting 💀💀💀💀💀 its small though

Game: A Date With Death by Two and a Half studios

Pairings: Casper (Grim) x you silly

Character: Casper (Grim)

Description: Basically going on from where the end of ending 3 (I think) left off. So right after the kiss with Casper that silly silly reaper. I HAVEN'T WRITEEN FAN FIC IN AWHILE SO IM SORRY

~A date with death after the end~

The kiss lasted a good minute. It wasn't a rough sloppy kiss but rather a soft, sweet simple kiss. You pull back as you open your eyes still straddling his lap. Both you and him had you're cheeks dusted with a soft pink, you looked into his eyes happily as he did to yours.

"Seems like a certain little reaper is quite submissive" You teased earning a scoff from him. "I'm nor submissive or dominant however, I would prefer to be on the dominant side" He smiled reaching out to hold your hand. Your warm soft hand and his icy soft hand intertwined as you two gazed into each others eyes. He pulled you in for a hug, holding you tightly with an arm around your waist and another going up your back with that hand holding your head from behind. (I'm sorry yall know I'm bad at this shit) "I'm surprised you got here this fast from Australia, and without any spiders on you too!" You giggle.

"For the last time I'm from the underworld, not Australia. Pick up a map for fuck sakes," He sighed but chuckled at you. "I can finally hold you in my arms" He pressed his forehead against yours and held you tighter. You then roll off him and to right next to him, laying your head on his chest. He took the opportunity to play with your hair. "I love you, my sunshine"

[sammy8d257]

PURPLE AVM LOOK OUT

Oh no they can't hear me... they're admiring the egg they stole-

everyone LOOK a MAP PART

i love you purple avm

[maechery]

Check out my parts of Sammy's Everybody Wants to Rule the World MAP!!!

[wolf-tail]

So, my little brother's been watching this cartoon called Craig of the Creek, and one of the things I really like about it is how it seems to, even if accidentally, promote an anti-authority stance, possibly an anarchist one.

Craig of the Creek is essentially Recess but in the woods, and takes place in a world where the kids of this town have their fun by going down to The Creek, a society made up of children who play and explore in and around the titular creek. And I do mean this is a functioning society, where the children have their own rules and culture, mostly centered around fun and play.

But the cool part is, no one makes them, there's no kid cops to enforce these rules. They're held up by a sort of social contact, mainly this shared idea that for this space to exist and be fun for everyone, we have to do these things. There's the girl who keeps time for everybody and blows the horn to notify the Creek that it's time to go home for dinner. There's the girl who runs the Trading Tree, where kids barter for snacks, entirely without the use of money. The closest thing the Creek has to leaders are the Elders, three grown ass men who hang out in a cave under a bolder and play Dnd. But they're not in charge, they're just the guys who've been here the longest and who the Creek kids come to for advice. Craig himself doesn't have a particular job per say, but he's the Mapmaker, he maps out the Creek, and he does this because he likes it, it's fun for him. Craig of the Creek is a show that understands that the lamest kind of kid to hang out with is the kid who demands that everyone play by the rules that they made up, and it's made evident by the kids who live on the Other Side of the Creek

On Craig's side, every kid is free to play how they want to. The horse girls run around on all fours in the field, the weeb kids read manga at the waterfall, Craig and his friends do whatever the mood strikes them to do. No one is forced to do something they don't want to, and any kid that tries is considered by the narrative to be a huge jerk and no fun, but on the Other Side?

The Other Side kids are under the rule of a tyrannical king who's word is law. The king decides who gets to eat what snacks and when, what games to play, and forces the kids into a strict hierarchical system, complete with uniforms, and little to no upward mobility. It sucks, it sucks so bad. The king is the logical conclusion to that one kid who makes up rules and throws tantrums being allowed to do whatever they want. It's the job of the Green Poncho kid to guard the overpass that separates the two sides of the Creek, or else the king's influence will spread and threaten sacred playtime.

Unlike in Recess, where a king is needed to enforce the rules and keep the peace, in Craig of the Creek, children don't need a king, rules are kept in place by mutual needs and values, all kings do is fuck everything up. This show really said "no gods no masters" and I love that.

[sanctus-ingenium]

I just wanted to say I loved your map of Inver and the history involving the werewolves and everything! I never would have discovered the Irish used to be known as Hibernians otherwise. I’d love to see more art of your boy Finbarr! His design is GOLDEN

Thanks! For Inver I decided that it needed some hints that it takes place in our world but with an alternate history, and one of the last common eras that we shared before the history diverged was the ancient roman empire. So the place names which linger on to contemporary times in the world of Inver are the roman empire names like Hibernia, Armorica, Aquitan etc (Albion doesn't exist tho it blowed up)

Developing the language of Inver was stupid fun haha. So you mention Finbarr, who lived several hundred years before all my other characters from this region. In his time, he would have called the land Indreabhán.

"Inver" is a real place name, it's the anglicisation of Indreabhán. The modern-day capital city of Invergorken was originally a keep built spanning the inner corner of Amhan bay, called Indreabhán Ceann, the head of Inver. This was where the first High Kings of Inver lived. Finbarr Ó Casaide and his arch enemy/fwb Olivier Fils-Tanet belonged to different cultures and clans, and their kings swore fealty to the High King. Their story is basically the history of the nation and those guys' part in starting the war which turned the scattering of small allied Hibernian, Aquitanian and Armorican kingdoms which settled Albion (post blow-up) and doggerland into one single empire of Inver ruled by werewolves and the near-extinct dregs of the Hibernians.

Everybody say "congratulations on being so toxically horny for one another that you ended destroying your entire world and irrevocably changing the course of history by starting a war" to Finbarr and Olivier

[sammy8d257]

"There's a room where the light won't find you, Holding hands while the walls come tumblin' down, When you do I'll be right behind you

So glad we've almost made it, So sad they had to fade it,

Everybody Wants to Rule the World~"

-Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears

And here it is! The long awaited AvA "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" MAP is complete!

I can't believe it's out for everyone to watch. It was such a delight to work with everyone on this project and I can't even begin to imagine how excited everyone is to finally see the results of all their hard work!

40 parts with 35 participants! And you know what? Everyone absolutely kicked it out of the park

Please take the time you check out everyone's credits below and give them your support!

In a separate post I'll share the MAP Call image, the Thumbnail, and the Credits image without their words because I think they make great backgrounds!

And I hope you enjoy this crowning MAP!

Credits (Check out the Video Description for Full Credit Links!):

Intro & Part 23: Sammy8D257 (yours truly)

Part 1: Pegg @sticksfight

Part 2 & 20: Mary @mary-games-and-arts

Part 3 & 13: NivousNiv @nzn43

Part 4: Rubtix @rubtix-a-betz

Part 5: zkylearnstherope @zkylearnstherope

Part 6: AveryBug [Youtube]

Part 7: Whirld @whirld-of-color

Part 8: Sticky @sticks-without-stones

Part 9 & 25: Vita1/Galactic Bastard [Youtube]

Part 10: Wildcrest [Youtube]

Part 11: Eclipnet @eclipnet

Part 12: Urantum [Youtube]

Part 14: Danrishy @danrishy-ava

Part 15: Marsh @marshmallowart

Part 16: Lara Prisma @lara-prisma-avm-ask-blog

Part 17: Jack What-Stasis @what-stasis

Part 18: KikoQueenoftheRats @kikoqueenofrats

Part 19: dazeyyt [Youtube]

Part 21 & 33: Maechery @maechery

Part 22: Ghosty [Youtube]

Part 24: Reptilia @reptilia0freptiles

Part 26: FireflyFlareNight @fireflyflarenight

Part 27: Ella @ellathebirb

Part 28: Celentinel [Youtube]

Part 29: Ravienski [Youtube]

Part 30: Wxlfy @wolfydoesstuff

Part 31: Oaks @veryoaki

Part 32: Sabre @sabretoothedhorse @ohhhsosleepy

Part 34: Flanik @flanik

Part 35: Theo/Purple @cindersnows

Part 36: Yumesz [carrd]

Part 37: Jadeactuallysucks @jadeactuallysucks

Part 38: Storge @storgicdealer

Outro: Allu @allunary (w/ bkgs help from NivousNiv)

Thumbnail Credits:

Victim: NivousNiv

Purple: Maechery

King: Lara Prisma

Dark: FireflyFlareNight

Background: Sammy8D257

[theladyofbloodshed]

SJM Romance Week - Day 5 - Favourite Tropes

@sjmromanceweek

Forced Proximity x Injury Recovery meets Sister Act

Two years. Two long years since Nesta had been given sanctuary by the priestesses in Itica after running from her life from Hybern’s beasts.

Even now, days before the anniversary of hammering on the doors with her bloodied hands, she remembered the thundering of her heart as she was herded by monsters. Remembered the soul-wrenching fear that kept her bare feet pounding across the rough stone even as it tore open her skin. She bore the scars from that day. Her feet had been in ruins. Her hands even worse.

On that night, her slumber had come to an abrupt end. A soft voice had whispered that she must open her eyes and when she did, a knife was plunging for her chest. If she’d not stamped on her instincts year after year, her magic would have flared out of her. It had spent too long locked away, so like a beaten animal, it was too afraid to emerge. Nesta had wrapped her hands around the blade, its kiss agonising. She didn’t know how many soldiers had burnt their way through the village, how many lives they’d ended. Nesta had leapt from the window, bones cracking on the impact and ran. Ran and ran and ran.

The Mother had always favoured her, people said. They were comments that she’d laughed at. Everybody wanted to be favoured by the Mother but it was another thing to truly be blessed by her. But that night, Nesta did not know how she could have survived without a soft, maternal hand pushing her along.

In two years, she hadn’t become a believer. Despite the gratitude she felt towards the priestesses and the acolytes for granting her sanctuary, despite whatever kindness the Mother had offered her, Nesta wasn’t moved by religion. She wore their garb - pristine white robes with a hood that covered her hair - and joined them for prayers as was expected of her, but Nesta still couldn’t muster her faith.

It couldn’t go on like this, she knew, hiding forever amongst the priestesses. One day, the world would remember Nesta Archeron, the girl who stole from the Cauldron and come looking for her to tear her heart from her chest and repair what was taken.

***

Another dead end. From the whispers and foreign tongues that they had managed to gather across the centuries, the feet of the Cauldron were hidden in temples.

Azriel and Rhys had sat with Amren for hours, collating information, trying to narrow down the search. Prythian was littered with temples. As was the Continent. And Hybern. They ruled out temples that had been built since the war, which only eliminated a handful. It was Azriel’s task to sweep through as many as they could, starting with ones they had associations with, no matter how weak they were. The words were too precious to put in a letter. Every night, he’d winnow to a new location then return at dawn to cross it off on their map. Each night, their disappointment grew.

‘Where to next?’

Amren drummed her painted fingernails on the table. ‘Hybern. It would make sense if all three feet were on a different piece of land. One for the Continent. One for Prythian. One for Hybern.’

Azriel raised his brows. ‘Are you sentencing me to my death?’

‘Don’t get caught, Spymaster.’

Once darkness fell, Azriel was away. A different tactic was needed for Hybern. He’d hit up as many temples as he could in an area lest word spread that he was spotted flying there night after night.

It was bitterly cold in Itica. Snow had already blanketed the craggy ground before winter had truly arrived. He tread lightly, flying as often as he could despite the pummel of wind. The first temple did not allow him entry because he was male. The second was made up of only males but when Azriel made excuses that he wanted to pray, he was followed. If the feet were here, his shadows would be trailed by the priests. The third and fourth temple were also a bust, but more and more attention was being shown to him although it was late into the night.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end even before he’d winnowed to the fifth temple of the night. If Azriel hadn’t been so committed to finding the feet, he’d have listened to his instincts and not bothered going.

As soon as he landed, the armed guards stood on the brass doors of the temple outside moved.

At the same moment his shadows enveloped him again, an arrow hit him in the wing. He felt the sting of ash sear through his blood. He could only get a short distance away and the guards were coming. Again, he winnowed. Again, another arrow sailed through the black sky, this time piercing his leg. Amongst a volley of arrows, his shadows swooped around him, taking him as far as they could whilst his magic was nullified. Another hit him, sinking deep into the flesh of his shoulder. In the distance, he could just make out another temple carved into stone. His wings and his shadows did all they could to get him there despite the pain racking his body.

***

Poppea’s rough wake up left Nesta shaking. It had brought back too many memories of that night.

‘Come. Quickly.’

Nesta donned her garb, pulling the hood up and over her hair. It was still pitch-black outside so it had to be an emergency. That was not good news. She dreaded running again. She’d spent so much of her life running.

The temple was quiet. A peaceful sort of quiet. The great, metal basin at its centre remained blazing with more candles flickering in their silver candelabras around the prayer room.

At a statue to the Mother which was veiled, Poppea paused.

‘There is a male here.’

‘He cannot be,’ replied Nesta, well-accustomed to their sacred vows even if she had never said them.

‘He is a male I recognise – a good male. Yasmeen has used what little healing power she has to stabilise him, but you are more learned in such matters.’

‘Healing?’

Poppea frowned, the deep etchings of her face worsening from the motion. ‘Males.’

At that, Nesta’s own brows drew together. Poppea had made it clear that Nesta's rude, uncouth behaviour had no business in her temple over the last two years. Often, she'd been sent to bed without supper for snorting during prayer or for cursing when she dropped an item. Now she was flaunting Nesta's history.

The high priestess cleared her throat. ‘Many of these females have never known a life beyond these walls. They have few memories of the fathers that gave them away. Many have vivid memories of the males that hurt them.’ Poppea rested a hand on Nesta’s shoulder. ‘The Mother brought you here for a purpose. Perhaps this is it.’

With support from the other acolytes present during the night, Nesta was ushered into the tunnel running beneath the statue armed with supplies. Yasmeen offered strict instructions on how to take care of the male. As the statue was moved back into place, she followed the glow of lights at the bottom of the sloping stairs to find her way. Nesta knew the route well. She had spent three weeks beneath the ground when she had first arrived because it was the only place that could guarantee protection and privacy.

On one of the beds, a male with massive, leathery wings was asleep although the slumber did not seem peaceful. Sweat beaded his brow despite the relatively cool temperature under the ground. Blood stained his skin. A hole was punctured into his right wing. His clothes had been cut away by Yasmeen and an arrow removed from his shoulder. It would scar through the intricate whorls of obsidian ink on his upper body. Yasmeen seemed to have balked at removing his trousers so had sliced up the length, leaving them flapping open all the way to his thigh where another arrow had likely hit him.  

Nesta knelt down beside him and pushed his sweat-soaked dark hair from his tan skin. The moment she looked at him, she felt like she’d found something that had been lost forever, like he had been missing from her life until that moment.

‘Who are you?’

She ran a thumb over his brow, the skin burning beneath.

Whilst following Yasmeen’s instructions to clean and bind the wounds on his body, the judder of boots above her head had Nesta stilling. She remembered this moment. The absolute soul-gripping fear of discovery. How the gentle priestesses had the courage to look Hybern’s soldiers in the eyes and lie would always amaze her. For now, they hadn’t crossed that line in sieging a temple because their fear of the Mother held them back.

The male jerked away, hand reaching for his sheath which was now empty of its blade. Despite the pain, his eyes fixed on Nesta. Hurriedly, she bared her palms to him then pointed to the ceiling where the rough, low voices of the males seeped through. She pressed a finger to her lips.

He glanced down at the bandages she’d been winding around his thigh then relaxed slightly, recognising that she was not a threat. In a terse silence, Nesta continued Yasmeen’s instruction while they both listened keenly to any shift in the conversation above.

***

This female was enchanting.

Azriel had lost blood. Could still feel the ash coursing through his body. He ought to have been terrified of being found, of bringing death to this temple, but all thoughts emptied at the sight of this beautiful female dabbing the wound on his shoulder, silver eyes focused on his injury. She had an elegant, classic beauty – one that seemed criminal to hide away in a temple.

She grazed her knuckle along the bone of his wing and that motion had him biting down on the flesh of his palm.

‘Painful?’

Azriel shook his head. ‘Sensitive.’

‘I need to clean the wound.’ She added, ‘I’ll be gentle.’

That was almost worse, he thought. Azriel could feel every languid touch, every soft breath as she leaned close to the membrane. Her concentration had her lips pursing slightly, making her all the more enticing to look at.

Once the noise had died down, Azriel tried to stand but the female pressed a hand against his bare chest to keep him on the mattress. She was more forward, more physical than he knew acolytes to be when it came to males.

When she had finished, she carried a basket over to the bed. Inside were robes of differing sizes, all pristine white, and Truth-Teller rested on top. He felt better knowing the blade’s location.

‘How long must I remain here?’

She shrugged. ‘The priestesses risked their lives to keep you safe.’

Azriel bowed his head. ‘I’m grateful.’

‘Good,’ she replied, fighting a smirk from her lips. ‘And to answer your question, I was down here for three weeks when I arrived.’

Three fucking weeks?

Azriel doubted he’d make to morning before he was climbing the walls. Already, he was shaking his uninjured leg as the realisation that he was trapped in here settled in.

‘Are you going to do that all night?’

The female was staring at his jiggling leg, disgust curling her upper lip.

‘Who are you?’

‘Company for the foreseeable future,’ she replied. ‘There’s a small alcove back here with food for emergencies. Take what you need. There’s also a bucket that will be emptied when its safe for somebody up there to move the statue.’ She sucked in a breath. ‘Since you’ve bloodied up that bed, I will sleep in this one.’

Was he supposed to just fall asleep after being shot at by Hybern’s soldiers? Trust that these priestesses wouldn’t betray him or the soldiers wouldn’t come back and slaughter their way through the temple? The ash was still suffocating his magic preventing winnowing, preventing Rhys from reaching out with his mind.

‘What’s your name?’ The female was sizing him up like an apex predator.

‘Azriel.’

She gave a slow nod in response. ‘Poppea recognised you.’

The name wasn’t familiar. Azriel gave a shrug. ‘Where I live, we have a sanctuary for females who have been injured – similar to this temple. I help females find their way there.’

‘A hero,’ she said, not hiding her sarcasm.

Fine. That line had worked numerous times, but not on a priestess it seemed.

‘Your name?’

‘Nesta.’

As soon as she said it, her expression froze. A misspeak. She smiled tightly, the light not meeting her eyes.

‘Well, I was woken to be your nursemaid. I shall return to sleep.’

***

It took some tossing and turning, but Nesta eventually fell asleep. She had been hyperaware of the male definitely not sleeping in the bed opposite. There had been a lot of grunting from pain as he sloped off to the pantry then she’d spied him in the largest white robes they had to offer, with slashes in the back to force his wings through.

It was Azriel who woke her with his pacing like a caged beast. He dragged his injured leg across the floor and his wings rustled as he fought to keep them upright with the injury to his shoulder.

‘You need to rest your leg,’ she snapped.

‘I can’t be in here.’

Nesta sat up in the bed, her hood discarded in favour of comfort. ‘You have no choice. Get in the bed.’

If this male had a tail, it would be lashing. He stood at the foot of the stairs, staring up at the darkened tunnel.

Gritting her teeth to keep from yelling – her prickly nature never quashed by soft prayer – Nesta stormed across the room and dragged him by the hand back into bed. The skin beneath her fingers was odd, deeply set in some places or smooth in others. In the dim light, she could not make it out fully. She released his hand and pointed to the bed. ‘In there.’

‘Have they sent the most ferocious priestess to guard me?’

No, Nesta was on her final warning. She refused to say her vows, refused to commit herself to the Mother until her dying moments because she had to believe there could be more to her life. She’d not kerbed her bad habits; she still cursed, still blasphemed, still drifted elsewhere during services when the others sang. Poppea had made it very clear that staying was a curtsey if she was to remain a guest and it could be easily taken away.

‘Yes, I’ll smother you if you wake me up for a third time tonight,’ she replied shortly, before climbing back into her own bed.

‘It’s difficult for me to be here,’ Azriel said.

Nesta gave a short laugh. ‘Do you think any of us would choose to be here?’

Few of these females had dreamed of being the unwanted daughter given to the Mother because they served no other purpose or saying holy vows that committed them to the temple for eternity because they had nowhere else to go.

‘It’s different.’ Azriel eased himself back into bed with a groan. ‘I spent my childhood locked in a dungeon. I never planned to be locked up again.’

‘Nobody does,’ replied Nesta as she pulled the blankets up and over her shoulders. ‘I’m sorry that happened to you, but the females in this temple have risked their lives to keep you here. As soon as the soldiers aren’t watching the doors – and when your magic allows – nobody will stop you from leaving.’

In the morning, he was in a deep sleep. Nesta could hear his low snore as she opened her eyes. When she moved from her bed, he did not stir. She idled her time reading the book of prayers kept in the bunker for lost souls, not believing much of it. Faith was a strange concept to her. She’d grown up amongst mortals, her mother one, and they didn’t set much store in higher powers, not when the fae ruled their lives. Her sire – whoever he was – had to be fae for Nesta’s powers to be so great. They’d flared out of her one day when the soldiers came to the village to capture more slaves to be chattel for their army. Nesta couldn’t take the screams. Her magic had erupted in cold, silver flames that devoured. Since that day, Nesta spent her whole life running, never staying in a place more than a moon.

She perched on the edge of the bed near the male who was blanketed by shadows. They parted for her to press a hand to his forehead. The skin beneath burnt fiery. An infection had settled into his body during the night and she had slept through everything.

When the statue was removed for fresh water and food, she called for Yasmeen.

‘She is afraid to be here,’ replied Athilea. ‘You know what happened to her.’

‘This male is unconscious.’

Yasmeen would not go below again, but provided more tinctures and fresh muslin cloth to rebind his wounds.

‘The soldiers?’

Athilea nodded. ‘Still there. Still waiting.’

The male’s sleep was uninterrupted by the exchange. When Nesta returned to Azriel, shadows coiled around her wrist as she worked. It was wasteful to cut away his robes but she didn’t know how else to reach his shoulder. At Azriel’s nudity, she averted her eyes upwards and adjusted the thick, woollen blanket across his lower body. Nesta had seen males before. It was one of the hardest parts to give up when she entered the temple.

The wound on his shoulder was angry and swollen, the skin red around the entry. As she cleaned it, he stirred slightly with an incomprehensible murmur then a hand landed on her thigh.

Nesta spoke to him softly, explaining what she was doing in case a part of him could hear. His shadows were happy to curl onto her shoulders like little birds observing too.

For longer than she should, Nesta remained wedged onto a sliver of the mattress with him, a hand stroking against his black hair as she sang the few hymns she’d learned during her time in the temple. He was handsome, she decided. Too handsome. The sort of face she’d have made hers in a dingy tavern. The kind of face she’d want to wrap her thighs around.

Azriel blinked himself into consciousness, eyes adjusting to the dim light Nesta’s bobbing faelight offered. Could he have sensed those thoughts she’d just had? Surely not.

‘You were unwell,’ she stammered to explain why she cradled his head and had been caressing his soft hair for the last hour.

Azriel pushed an elbow against the bed to lift himself, teeth clenching together from the pain. ‘Were you singing?’

His shadows snapped between them, hiding her blushes. He waved a hand through the blockade, scattering them. ‘They don’t usually do that.’

‘I don’t usually sing,’ she countered.

‘Must be the effect I have on you.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I mean, I’m a shadowsinger.’

‘I gathered,’ she replied, pressing her lips together. It was fairly obvious from the blanket of shadows that stayed with him, but she’d let him keep his mystique. ‘You have an infection. It will require regular cleaning.’

‘Am I naked?’

Her blush deepened, turning the apples of her cheek crimson. Nesta tried and failed to speak, her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth. No man had ever found issue with her undressing him before.

A brow rose. ‘A nude male doesn’t affect the gentle disposition of a priestess?’

It had been a long, long time since Nesta had seen a naked male but not a single one had looked like this male with his face carved by the Mother’s hands or his powerful body. And those wings. It had been such an effort to keep her hands from those but she’d seen the effects they’d had on him yesterday when she cleaned the blood away.

She flicked his cheek, sending him back down onto the mattress. ‘I’m not a priestess. I haven’t said any vows. I was like you once with no place to go but the Mother’s arms. Your nudity is no cause for alarm.’

***

This female had to have been sent by the Mother herself. She was gentle with his wounds, diligent and compassionate, but she had a sharp tongue which was at odds with that gorgeous face. The notion that she had not yet committed herself to a lifetime of servitude to religion sparked something in his chest that he was trying to extinguish. Nesta did not need him panting after her. But gazing at her provided an alternative to spiralling in worry about being beneath the ground with no escape route.

As the days wore on, they became more companionable with each other. Still, his wounds needed tending to thanks to the ash making them heal as if he was mortal. Nesta was devoted in this. She cared for him as though it was her calling in life. Day and night his wounds were left to air in between bandage changes and she’d clean each one before. It could have been his imagination but Azriel was sure her fingers lingered longer than they needed to on his thigh. Once, she even ran a tender finger against the whorl of his tattoo. It had been damaged from the arrow but it could be re-inked in Illyria. Nesta enquired about their origins then listened intently as he spoke of Illyria.

'You came from there, but they aren't your people?'

Azriel swallowed, the knot in his throat pulling tighter. He wanted to tell her everything - about his beginning, his father, his mother, learning to fly - but Nesta was a stranger. A stranger who felt as familiar to him as his reflection.

'No. I have family but we aren't bonded by blood.'

There was no news from Rhysand. He had to hope it was due to the nullifying effects of the ash. Either that or they thought him dead or in enemy’s clutches so had gone silent.

There were still soldiers making the rounds but not as frequent so as soon as his magic returned, Azriel could leave. They'd strike when a blind eye was turned to the temple so he could pass the threshold and winnow. Ancient magic was imbued into the building's foundations preventing winnowing inside the walls.

He almost didn’t want to leave. What would his evenings be without Nesta dragging her bed close to his and playing cards or word games to pass the time? She had no fear around him – almost seemed to relish his company despite spending her life in this temple. The females that he’d ushered into the library were reluctant to be around him, their fear of males deeply rooted. This one had moved her bed alongside his for their games then ended up sleeping just inches from him ever since. Each night, Azriel wanted to close the gap and reach out for her slender hand. Sometimes Nesta's reached out to the end of the bed, daring him to hold it.

‘I think you’re cheating,’ she murmured, peering at her hand of cards. Nesta was cross-legged on the bed, hood pulled down. They wore the same virginal white robes but they suited her. Cassian would laugh himself hoarse if he could see Azriel in his.

Azriel let out a low chuckle. ‘It’s my shadows. I didn’t ask them to spy.’

Nesta dropped her cards on his lap. ‘Dirty cheaters.’

‘You dealt a dodgy hand yesterday, bending the aces. I saw you.’

She shrugged both shoulders. ‘No idea what you’re talking about. False accusations.’ She pressed her hands together in prayer. 'I am a devotee of the Mother.'

‘How does a soon-to-be-priestess know so many card games – and how to cheat?’

‘I told you,’ she replied, ‘I’m not a priestess. I had a life before but I was given shelter here two years ago and never left. I've visited enough taverns to know how to play and how to cheat.’ Nesta held out a hand for a shadow to sit upon. ‘I spent my whole life running. I could catch my breath here, but it’s not my forever. I just don’t know where to go next.’

‘What are you running from?’

‘The King of Hybern.’ Nesta swept her hair away from the top of her ears. They were curved like his, but he’d have sworn she was high fae. ‘My mother was mortal. I was raised by mortals. But I wasn’t like them.’ With her free hand, she let silver flames crawl across it. Azriel flinched, expecting heat, but could only feel a seeping coldness. ‘I escaped his dungeon and have been running ever since.’

The flames died out, sputtering with sparks as Nesta banked her power. He couldn’t imagine looking over a shoulder all the time, never settling, never building bonds. Azriel didn't want to think about what she'd endured at the King's hands. Hell, how had she even escaped?

This was a female who’d had her choices taken from her. She’d chosen safety over desire but that need to be immersed in life still blazed within.

Azriel didn’t know if it was the right thing, but he said, ‘I know a place you could go. A library. It’s safe and secret.’

‘I’d have to be there forever?’

No. He imagined her dancing with him at Starfall on the roof beneath a sky of stars falling for only them. Cheating at cards alongside him to drive Cassian wild. Shopping with Mor as they explored the boutiques of Velaris and showing him what she’d bought. Curling her head against his chest at Solstice when they were full of food and joy. Mostly, Azriel imagined her beside him like they were here, beneath the ground.

‘You can be in my city. It would be safe. Hybern would never find you.’

From her expression, Azriel knew she doubted him. He clutched her hand, the shadow scarpering. ‘I promise you this: I would keep you safe.’

‘You arrived here with three arrows sticking out of you,’ she reminded him.

‘Trust me.’

‘I don’t know you,’ she said, voice dropping to a whisper.

Azriel pressed her hand to his heart to feel the steady beating of it beneath. ‘You have the rest of your life to know me.’

[sarroora]

Hey sorry to bug you but uhhh things aren't looking too hot in the good ol US of A right now because Mr. Overcooked Rump Roast is expected to win and basically has already

In my current situation I should be safe for a while but a lot of the people I know won't be

I'm hoping that whatever dumpster bonfire is going on over here doesn't affect Egypt too bad but shit damn I also thought that Kamala would win but look how that turned out, heh.

(You don't have to respond I just wanted to give you an update and some prayers ❤️🙏)

Hey dear ❤️ - no, please do, I too NEED to reach out and talk to people.

Like I only have a surface level understanding of how elections in the US work, but I know that the system is bullcrap. And yes, Trump’s a psycho so please protect yourself. The very idea that not every vote has the same weight at the end of the day is steeped in racism and classism but nothing surprises me anymore.

Really, if there’s anything the Zionist-American genocide against Palestine confirmed in clear light is how evil of a lie ‘western democracy and morality’ is. Like - the rest of the world already knew it for centuries (most of us endured long histories of abuse and settler colonialism since the Romans, after all) but now even people living in the west have their eyes open and no longer fall for the lies and propaganda. But it feels awful to be associated with what our govs are doing when we had NO choice in the matter.

GOD don’t get me started on Egypt - did you know that our complacent ‘leadership’ has allowed a ship carrying weapons to IsnotReal through our waters? People went nuts. Everyone is in a rage and feels humiliated that this happened.

Like here’s a short vid taken by a woman that went viral and even made it to foreign news channels. You may not understand what’s being said in the vid, but the people are aghast, and you can hear rage and panic and profanity all around. The lady recording could only keep repeating in utter disbelief, “you sons of bitches.” (Referring to our president and posse)

Yeah. Things are going to hell here overall. We as civilians are literally held hostage by a draconian military regime that’s throwing everybody in prison on one hand - including minors - and robbing people blind with unexplained ‘taxes’ and insane inflation on the other. The middle class is crushed. No economical reform and no jobs. And people go to prison for objecting - kidnapped by the police in the middle of the night and thrown in secret prisons across the country where their own families can’t find them.

The currency rate to the USD right now here is 1 USD to 50 Egyptian Pounds. FIFTY.

And it’s projected to reach 80 by the end of the 2024. EIGHTY. In less than 2 months. Shifting the blame onto anything else but the consequences of their own decision-making. All while the president and ruling class (military generals) are becoming wealthy and sit above the law. The justice system is in their pockets.

And guess what, Trump loves our guy. Why wouldn’t he, I wouldn’t put it past him that he do anything - even sell his own country and its people and the people next door in Palestine if Trump asked him to. And I’m sure Trump’s gonna push for Palestinians to be expelled from their land and settle in Egypt (which is another country Isnotreal is VERY interested in occupying next, btw) thus helping the Zionists fully take over what remains of Palestine and expand into Greater Isnotreal.

These freaks are insane, istG.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but from what I heard of Harris, it’s not like she was gonna be much better than Trump. Just perhaps a little sneakier. US has treated Isnotreal as its 51st state for decades, it’s not like the politics of the country will change with her. Congress deals with Isnotreal as if it’s more important than America itself. Who’s given the title of ‘president’ doesn’t matter.

Until the US political system is completely changed and the settler colony that is Insnotreal is wiped off the map, we’re all gonna do what’s right in whatever small ways we can and be each other’s backs, even if we live on different continents ❤️.

[jillsandwhichs]

Our Future Days

Joel Miller x Reader series , Chap 8 , After all these years

Masterlist

Pairing: F!Reader x Joel Miller

Summary: It has been twenty years since the outbreak took place. You're currently on a supply run at a Weston's and you run into an old acquaintance

WC: 2.5k

Type: SFW

Minor warnings: Mentions of death, blood, guns & knives, an animal passing & gory depictions are written for the sake of atmosphere & story

A/n: Hi! Hope you all enjoy. Please check out my masterlist, there's a lot of stuff there. You can get to know me, you can see the rules of my blog and then you can see all of my fanfictions. You'll be able to find the previous chapters to this fic and upcoming ones. You'll also be able to find my Wattpad & AO3. Comments, reblogs & likes are appreciated. Thank you

Walking and walking and more walking. The days never seem to come to an end. You've lost track of time ever since that dreadful day. The only way you can determine what time it is, is by the sun & moon. Other than that, you're completely on your own. You've learned to adapt to it. You've found yourself going to check your watch or grab out your phone but then you remember-you literally can't.

Your phone died the same day as this treacherous outbreak began. You couldn't charge it either, power went out everywhere shortly after. Your watch was broken in a fight. This man was trying to steal Becker away from you and you had to murder him and whilst doing so, he stabbed your watch, causing it to shatter. So you're shit out of luck when it comes to time tracking. It's just up to your estimations now.

The sun is still up but you can tell the evening is approaching. If you had to guess, it's between five and six pm. The sky just has that orange tint to it that lets you know it's getting closer and closer to the darker hours of the day. You just want to raid one more building and you'll be on your way.

Today has been good-supply run wise! You have found some canned goods and water. You're set for a good two weeks or so. You've learned serious discipline. You only ever eat more than probably 500 calories when you plan to go and raid a larger area, one that could potentially be more populated. Other than that, you don't eat a lot. You savour what you get and you make sure it lasts.

When Becker was still alive, he ate so much and it pained you to have to starve him. Not literally, but to feed him less so you could ration broke you. He got skinner within time and it got to a point where you just had to give in and feed him a lot so he wouldn't die from starvation. He passed away four winters ago, so four years ago. You just woke up one day and he wasn't breathing. You sobbed, hard. He was all you had in this shit hole new world. You miss him so fucking much.

Just to think about him makes you emotional, so you quaked the saddening thoughts from your mind.

Just a few yards in front of you is a Weston's. It's a pharmacy. You never recalled seeing it pre outbreak but you've seen quite a bit during your travels. You've went literally everywhere in the U.S ever since this entire ordeal occurred. Your favorite place was Michigan, it was the safest and you had a good group there. It's too bad they all had to die on you. It's not surprise anymore. Everybody does at this point.

The first place you went to was Oregon. Of course you had to pass through states to get there but it's the first place you inhabitated. You went to your parents house just days into the outbreak, wanting to check on them. You did it all by yourself too, of course with Becker though. You used a map and your photographic memory to get there and once you did, you dropped to your knees sobbing.

The sight of your parents on the floor bleeding and decomposing was sickening and you wish you hadn't seen it. What was even worse was that it was recent. If you had just made it there a day or so sooner, you could've possibly prevented their deaths. As for Hannah, she was no where to be found. You searched the entire house and property, no sign of her. You like to think she's safe and with good people, but knowing Hannah and her cowardly side, there's a high chance she's long gone.

You like to imagine the positives though.

You took guns and ammo from your dads safe and those were your weapons for a long time. You were loaded actually. A rifle and a handgun with a sick combat knife, you felt safe always. You were grateful that your father taught you how to shoot and defend yourself-you wish he could be here to see how well you've handled yourself. You miss them so much. Your parents are in a better place though.

Within time, you expanded your arsenal. Well, you had to, your original weapons were stolen. You were out on a run, wanting to stay in shape and boom, hunters out of no where. That was the first time you got shot too, right in the leg area. It was only a bb so you were fine but man, the impact was not pleasant. They left you for dead though and you luckily survived. Eventually you found new guns and knives and you've been set since.

Your luck throughout these past twenty years has been oddly increased.

Entering the Weston's, you held up your pistol, slowly aiming and turning around swiftly. You just want to be as careful as you can be. The place seems safe enough. You'll scavange and be on your way. You're currently sleeping in some rundown hotel. You sleep in one of the highest floors and it's actually nice, all things considered. There are hella spores on the floors above you but they haven't made their way lower-yet.

You used to be with a group. You guys called yourselves the Texans because most of you resided there beforehand. A few of the members weren't but majority. You ended up leaving that group due to conflicts and you hope most of them are well aside from that cunt Tammy. You hope an infected tore her goddamn neck out. She just had it out for you.

Another group you were apart of was the last one you ever joined. They made you feel welcomed and as if you were family immediately. You were with them for a very long time too, almost two and a half years. One day when you got back from taking Becker on a walk, they were all just dead. Dead. You were heart broken. You forced yourself to not get attached though and you soon moved on.

That's just how life is now.

You meet people, you either kill or get killed or if they're kind, you work with them and that's final. There isn't a in between.

Picking up some supplies, you stuffed bandages into your rugged green backpack. It was getting heavier with each item, which is more so a good thing than a bad thing. There were some snacks but you have no idea if they are good or not. "Expiration date is 2014... I'll give it a shot." You snickered to yourself, very quietly though. You put the snack in your sack. "I'll eat around the mold if I have to." You huffed out.

This place has definitely been scoured through already, it's obvious. What seems more odd is the fact there is fresh blood near the bathroom door. Is there an infected here? You genuinely have no clue but you're prepared to do anything you need to do. With your pistol raised up, you slowly treaded towards the door and heard the sound of grunts and whimpers. Yep, has to be an infected. It doesn't sound like a clicker but it's possible.

With your right foot, you creaked the door open, pistol up. You saw nothing. "What the hell?" You mumbled. You turned your flashlight on since infected can't see it anyways and you entered the large bathroom. Multiple stalls were connected to the walls. You planned to analyze the room more but you were abruptly stopped when you felt a large arm go around your neck.

You began to hit it-hard. Punching and punching and punching. You remembered that you have a knife in your holster. With the tips of your fingers, you began to reach for it. Your fight or flight has been activated and it's time to fight for your life. This was so sudden. You don't miss moments like these and it's been awhile, hence why your adrenaline is pumping more than usual. You got ahold of your knife and sliced the man's thigh. You assume it's a man, it has to be.

Their grip got lighter and that's how you slipped out of their grasp. You dropped to your knees, catching your breath with haste until you remembered you're literally fighting for your safety here. You grabbed your knife and pistol instantly. You stood up and turned around, aiming it at the man. Although, you couldn't find it in you to shoot him because well, he wasn't a hunter. Hunters travel in groups and this man is alone. He has a pistol but didn't bother using it on you. That left you curious.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!?" You panted, keeping your gun on him. He put his hands up. His thigh was bleeding. "Ma'am, I didn't realize you weren't a hunter. My apologies." He has a Southern accent. You kept your pistol up. "Drop everything you have. Now!" You shouted. You've become more roughened up these past two decades. You've had to. There's no getting around it. You can't be a softie in these times.

He gently dropped his stuff and kept his hands up.

"My leg is bleedin' . You cut me up pretty bad." "You tried to choke me out." "I understand but miss, I need to aid this?" "Who are you? Do you have a group? What are you doing here?" "I'll answer any of your questions, just let me patch myself up." "This isn't a fucking negotiation." You said sternly. The older man looked at you and nodded. "Ok, ok..." He kept his hands up and nodded. "Tommy, Tommy Miller. I do have a group. I was trying to get supplies for me and my wife." He explained himself.

Your eyebrows contorted. Tommy Miller? As in Joel Miller? Joel had a brother named Tommy. But Tommy and Miller are such common names, this may or may not be him. Oh Joel... You've held onto that name for so long. You wonder if he's alive or not. The last you heard about him was that he was wanted alongside a woman named Tess, that was a year or two ago and it made your heart swell. Maybe he's alive, maybe he isn't.

"Tommy? Tommy Miller? Can I ask you something." You voice was a bit shaky. "Answer this for me and it may be your ticket to getting out of this alive." "Anything, ask me anything." "Do you have a brother named Joel Miller?" "Whose asking? How about you tell me your name?" You told him your name and how you know of a man named Joel. "Jesus Christ..." Tommy was speechless. "Guess you are her."

Tommy's muscles relaxed and yours did automatically. "So you know him?" "Of course I know him, he's my goddamn brother." Tommy sat down and began to fiddle with his backpack. You weren't worried even a bit anymore. Tommy and Joel were good men. You sat down as well. "Patch yourself up. I'm sorry for cutting you." "Hey, it's life or death, right?" Tommy chuckled, getting some medical supplies out.

The entire room felt as if it was closing in on you. This is an entirely new revelation for you. Joel is alive, and so is his brother. This changes everything. You were always wondering how he was doing. You heard about him back in a QZ but never did further investigation for your own sake. You've missed him a lot. He was the only person who helped you when you moved to a Texas and he was so welcoming

And fuck, you fell in love with him. Then out of no where, you two were split up because of this pandemic. Goddamn crops. You wish none of this ever happened.

"So he's alive? For sure?" "I saw him an hour ago. Yeah, he's alive." This means everything! "How is he?" Your tone was eager. Tommy looked up and you and snickered. "The man is fine. Roughened up and old, but fine." Tommy disinfected his wound. "Need any help?" "I'm good." Tommy seems to have a weird awkwardness to him. Does he not like you or something?

"Could you maybe tell me where he's residing?" "You want to see him?" "Badly, yes. You remember how me and him left off, yeah?" "There was no other way, we had to get Sarah to safety." The way Tommy said Sarah's name was odd. It was as if he was deeply affected by it emotionally. "I understand but it'd be pleasant to get some closure with him." "Closure?" "Tommy, I want to see him. Tell me where he is." You said softly. You are such a persuading person.

He sighed deeply and nodded. "You have a horse with you? A car?" "No, I travel by foot." "Damn girl," Tommy laughed, "By foot? All the time?" He asked. "Yeah..." "I'll get you a horse, no problem." He stated. That means a lot. You used to have a horse with your old group, Sally, but she ran off when shit went down. "Oh, okay. Thank you then." You nodded. "But I wanna-" "You're going to see Joel. He's in town, he doesn't have patrol today so you can see him the second you enter Jackson with me." Jackson? With him?

"Alright." You said quietly. You don't want to pry too much. You'll just go with the flow as he does. You're going to see Joel, that's all that matters.

-

A few minutes go by and Tommy finishes his bandaging. You sighed softly and stood up, adjusting your backpack and stuffing your gun into it's holster alongside your knife. "Just ride on my horse with me. We'll be to Jackson in no time. You're going to have to have a sit down with my old lady though, we don't just let anyone in." "Got it." You smiled. A ray of joy coursed through you as you both made your way outside. This is what you've been waiting for.

This can't just be a coincidence. This is fate. The Universe has set this up. What are the chances you meet Joel twenty years ago and suddenly meet him again? Once in Texas and now in Wyoming. This is a dream come true.

Tommy hopped up onto his horse and helped you up to. You held onto him as he began to immediately trot his male horse. "Jackson is about four miles from here. Just hang on and look at the pretty views." He chuckled.

You laughed too and rested your head on his backpack, admiring all there is to this place. Unlike a lot of areas, this place doesn't look so bad. It's pretty, just as he said. Mother Nature definitely took over, there is a lot of overgrown plants and vines but it just adds to the serenity of it. You closed your eyes and simply imaged in your head what your guy's reunion will look like and feel like.

It's been so long.

You can't wait.

[probablyaseamonster]

On fWhip's new SMP

fWhip, years after ending the Empires series and New Life drizzled out, has decided to create what appears to be the first season of a new series: SOS smp.

Not an acronym (well, i mean, technically) for a longer name, that's the official title and not the fandom tag.

Other fans have addressed the "no lore" thing already, even though the series is only a day old. Check the tag if you want clarity. Or just, you know, watch the videos.

What I want to discuss is the "twist" that sets it apart from other related SMP concepts.

In SOS, every time you die, you leave behind a gravestone. But, the gravestone will also disappear if a set time runs out. This doesn't just take your stuff away, like one might expect. When you die, you enter spectator mode. And if the time runs out and no one ELSE comes to save you, you are banned from the server.

But that's not all! In order to save someone's life, one must ALSO insert a special currency. Each person starts the server with one coin, but you can get more from doing things. This means that a person could not save you, even if they dug into the deep dark or traveled to the end island, if they did not have a coin with them. Horrifying concept, right?

Now that the basic game mechanics are layed out, let's discuss how this relates to other popular SMPs.

This series could not be another edition of the X Life series, for one thing because of there being no world-gen mods, let alone the numerous amounts of other potential gamechangers Afterlife and New Life came with. Excepting everything related to the gravestones, this is a normal minecraft world.

This also clearly can't be the third empires season, for obvious reasons as well as personal context. And as far as I know, no other SMPs fWhip has played in have been this simple.

In fact, this series most closely resembles the Life Series with its simplicity, modded items, and death mechanics. It most obviously resembles the two newest seasons, with the time limit and an implied otherworldly force that could easily be headcanoned as evil.

Now, what REALLY makes me think is how SOS at its core, is set up to foster relationships. A player is 100% dependant on being rescued, but there are no rules that say a person can't NOT rescue someone else, and no penalizing for it. The worst thing a person could do is completely isolate themselves in a far off corner of the map, or worse, antagonize people without making any friends to balance it out. If nobody LIKES or cares about you, or if everyone agrees the server would be better off WITHOUT you, you will be dead forever. Everyone is encouraged to play nice, buy more importantly, develop a deep bond with at least one other person. But even then, there's a chance that person might not even be ABLE to save you. And THAT results in guilt, hatred, and hurt.

Everen, the person who made the iconic Who Are You Really, Everybody Wants To Rule the World, Running Up That Hill, and Battle Cry animatics, once said on stream that Secret Life has been her least favourite season so far, because she felt that none of the alliances really cared about each other. Now, I highly disagree with that take, but I was thinking about it. She said that the creators seemed more focused on making each new episode a Crazy Action-Packed Banger, that they forgot that what most fans really cared about were the quiet moments that make you root for a couple to survive. That, much like Last Life, the twist that season ended up driving people apart and breaking trust, even though the shenigans were funny to watch in comparison to largely angst-inducing. And, unlike Last Life, the winner that season was not the one person who defied the rules more than anyone else; the winner was someone who had played the game, had no allies, and was forced to hurt people and not explain himself. And considering the observation that each season's new rules seems to be based off of the previous winner's Life, I only fear that the next season will be even worse in those regards.

Then, you have fWhip, who'd never been a member of the Life Series (kinda hoped he would, but thats just me), and his new server seems like... like it's rules were made in opposition of that trend.

SOS will, there is no doubt, have at least one tragedy like I had formerly mentioned. Someone will eventually permadie because they had no allies, or were general jerks. In order for the server to end, everyone has to stop saving each other, until there is no one left to save the "winner". There WILL be angst. And there will be relationship drama to make it all hurt more. Even if there is no "lore", no characters or backstories or connections to prior series, there will be fanfics made, fanart drawn, analysis thought of, poetry written, and even songs produced. People will care about this server, even if the community is small and Hermitcraft's stories are booming.

And I am so glad that this series has been made, at this time when Hermitcraft and Life Series seem to hold a monopoly on this fandom.