#GOD. OARS AGAIN. HE IS NOT DONE

[hauntingblue]

The episode title saying the execution command is given and that Tarot pirate pulling out the death card. What if this was my last strand

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

book 7 part 10 thoughts!

***THIS POST CONTAINS MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR BOOK 7 PART 10 OF THE MAIN STORY!!***

Please note: this is NOT meant to be a summary or a translation; these are only my initial thoughts on the events that roughly unfold. There may be details overlooked or misunderstood in this post, so PLEASE do not use this as a translation.

This update spans part 158 to part 191.

BAHAHAHAHAHA THEY'RE AT THE CORAL SEA (not "in" it yet, more like at the surface level of it) AND JAMIL'S ALREADY UPSET OVER THE LOCALE

Jamil comes up with the smart idea of using ice magic to make a boat for them all. Silver takes up the oars (how princely lmao) and Ortho praises the second years for being so reliable!

WEL;ANJFDBIUGSOGSBIAF THAT BOAT DIDN'T LAST LONG, LITERALLY ONLY A SINGLE PART BEFORE WE CAPSIZE????? We see a dark and gloomy place with an abandoned ship, similar to where Ariel was exploring in the opening of The Little Mermaid. The gang can breathe though, since Idia hacked in bubbles around each person to provide them with an air dome made of magic nanomachines.

THERE HE IS FELLAS, MERMAID FLOYD PULLED UP. Mmm, interesting?? He sounds really flat and bored, expressing that he no longer has an interest in land creatures since everyone was weak + so easily deceived by Azul. Floyd also seems to report that Azul has found success with Mostro Lounge...? And Jade is probably supporting him there.

Floyd tells us that he's been traveling Twisted Wonderland in his dream world. He's been to the Shaftlands (Fairest City??) to try out the latest fashion and model (but got bored because he was asked to work exclusively with the brand), worked part-time in a restaurant in the Sunshine Lands (but got bored because so many people wanted to eat his food), and exploring the Scalding Sands. Floyd wandered the desert and found a black magic lamp in the Cave of Wonders and decided to bring it home because Jade said "the teapot" would be nice to have. Floyd summoned the genie and used it to wish for delicious food, www

He mentions having plans to visit other places too, like the Queendom of Roses, Briar Valley, Sunset Savanna, etc. (Floyd's looking for a challenging opponent to fight!!) But now he has returned to the sea, even though he considers it boring too. Floyd basically tells them to fuck on off and then stares floating around depressingly.

Idia theorizes that Floyd must be "resetting" his dream again and again since Malleus has set the parameters to achieve a "happy ending". Since Floyd is constantly dissatisfied, the dream continues to scrounge for something that will please him. The happiness never really lasts long though. The group decides that they have to provide him with that strong foe he wants to shock him awake!

OH MY GOD Silver and Jamil just walk up to Floyd and tell him he’s in a dream. Of course he doesn’t believe them????? But then they start telling him stories of things that happened irl including clarifying what it was that Floyd had done to disrupt his own first year opening ceremony. Apparently he grabbed Riddle’s hair and went “oh, it’s bright red but it isn’t hot”, which led into a massive fight with Riddle shooting fire at him. The staff (specifically Vargas) had to hold Riddle back. There’s another story of how Floyd tried to fight Cater but Cater used his UM to hold Floyd back and bro wiped hard 💀 According to Idia, Malleus and Leona also beat Floyd in combat.

Jamil talks about how sometimes Floyd would find it hard to keep up with him and/or how Floyd would get in trouble for wailing on the younger kids in their club. The headmaster wasn’t happy and made Floyd clean up the gym for a week

Wh A t😭 Grim recalls how Octavinelle made us HOMELESS in book 3 (and then how they got their asses beat BUT I’M BAWLING AT THE AUDACITY)

The dream manifests a fake Jade and Azul to drag Floyd deeper… We finally get a non-OB octoform Azul to look at!!

They goad Floyd and say he shouldn’t lose to land creatures, so beat them back and then the three of them can live peacefully in the sea together. Silver warns Floyd not to listen to the fake Jade and Azul, but he ends up not needing their help??? Instead Floyd blows up at the fakes and claims Jade and Azul would never say such boring things. Like, he actively gets SO pissed off that they’re borrowing their faces and voices to try and deceive him 😭

They tell Floyd about what’s going down and he’s delighted??? He starts calling out locations and the dream responds to it, he thinks it’s so interesting. Idia and co. panic because this spike in activity could alert Malleus OTL

They theorize that Jade’s dream may take place in the mountains, so Floyd should change into a land form.

When they change to Jade’s dream, Floyd praises Silver’s UM. Silver is flattered but Jamil is thanking the stars that someone mindful like Silver has Meet in a Dream and not Floyd. He says Floyd would probably abuse the UM and give people nightmares lmao

Now they’re in a part of the Coral Sea that has tons of underwater volcanos. Floyd saves us all from a blast of black smoke from one of the vents. Idia warns the air domes are not strong, so one blast from the smoke could drown them all.

Floyd suggests Idia make merforms for everyone. However, Idia says it’s hard to do, especially on a short time frame, since he lacks data on merpeople.

OOOOOH Floyd reveals his bioluminescence!! Looks so pretty aaaaaaah ✨ (He calls it “counter illumination”?)

J WORD SiGHTING

OOOOOH I GET IT, the volcanic vents are like the sea’s equivalent of “mountains”. He and dream!Azul are exploring this area looking for a gold mine or something. Interesting that Jade dreams of still assisting Azul for fun…

sguaddr(dFacFFh ??!!\!]]!£]!] AZUL????? He got hit by a blast from the vent while casting magic on it to get to some gold ore he spotted. Jade gets a good laugh out of it.

WHO THE FuCK ARE yoU, WhY Sre your eyes SO Big AnD WAtERY

Azul tearfully declares he won’t give up and Jade gases him up 😭 YOUR DREAM IS TO BULLY AND ENABLE HIM??????? WOW J WORD

Floyd claims he would never go mountain climbing with Jade but then—

WhAT YHR fUVkinh FVkkkKKKKKKKKKK

THAT’S DREAM!FLOYD?????!!?!!! HE LOOKS SO FRIGHIn DERPY 😭 😭 😭 BRo JUST StARTS EATINg SHRIMP AnD HAPPILY GOING AlONG WiTH wHatEVEF JAde AsAyS

Floyd gets pissed off seeing all of this and goes in for the attack. Everyone panics, but Jamil pulls a Silver book 7 part 9 and basically tells them to let Floyd cook 💀

Dream!Azul of course tries to convince Jade that Floyd is dumb and cute and everything, not some THUG cbjssbkwebodnxsk Jade is convinced that “this” Azul and Jade would use useless without him so he buys dream!Azul’s lies. FLOYD GETS MORE ANGRY THRymRE GONNa BRaWLLLLLLL

Uhhhh so fighting doesn’t wake Jade up. Idia suggests this is because while Jade doesn’t have a particularly strong imagination, he’s good at exploring possible scenarios within himself…? Not sure if I totally understood the wording here (I’ll have to double check with other sources later), all you gotta know if that punching was ineffective. ***Edit: It’s because (according to Idia), Jade has a strong belief in himself.***

OH, WORM??? J WORD AnD FKOYD ArE mAKinG HISSING NoiSES At eaCH OYher As THEY FIGHT (the NPC Azul and Floyd are busy cowering in a corner) 🍿 I believe it was previously said in a voice line or some vignette that when the twins fight, they get VIOLENT and it’s kinda funny we get to see it on-screen now.

Sebek gets the idea to stop both of the twins’ movements with his UM. (Very thoughtfully, he warns everyone, particularly Ortho, to stand back before he casts Living Bolt.) It works very well because salt water conducts electricity better than distilled water!! I think that helps Jade with realizing something’s off because right when dream!Azul and Floyd rush to him, Jade points out that the real ones wouldn’t call him “cute” and such.

WHoa WHOA, sCARY hot

Aaaand we got two eels added to the party! Onward to Azul’s dream~ (jxbsksvxiwnw J WoRD THROWS uP)

We’re underwater again! Jade theorizes it must be because Azul has expanded the Mostro Lounge into a worldwide chain, since Azul has expressed the desire to run a successful restaurant business like his mother.

We hear cheering, it seems to be from a Coral Rush (underwater ball) game. It’s similar to Magical Shift, but instead of brooms you ride on the backs of dolphins. Coral Rush is popular among merfolk!

WhAT

If I was drinking something then I would be spitting it up right now because WhY IS AZUL AN ATHLETE (If I’m understanding this correctly, he’s playing for a Coral Rush team called Golden Trident? And he’s the LEADER) 😂 I guess maybe because he’s been insecure about this weakness of his…?

MAN. Jamil is going to bully his ass later about this, I just KNOW he is… Azul goes all chuuni and shouts “KRAKEN SHOT” before scoring 🪦 Cringefail bbg…

OH MY GOD THIS SHADY BITCH

Jade has “-san” in quotation marks 💀 HE’S BEING TOTALLY SARCASTIC

Fun little detail, it looks like the Octatrio had a group handshake…? Jade and Azul do it here and later Jade and Floyd do the same, ending it each time with a cute little “yaaay” 🥺

dndjsnkweneow Jade asks Azul to sign Idia’s tablet OTL YOU ASSHOLE BE SO FR RIGHT NOW

Azul remembers “Leech-kun” and “Leech-kun” (*shudders*) from elementary school. His team mates call out to him and Azul invites us to their victory celebration at his mother’s restaurant (which finally gets a name!!! It’s called La Grotta). Apparently it would be hard for your average student to get in, but with Azul’s invite we should be okay!

Jade starts brainstorming again and suggests that this dream is what we see because Azul wanted you to erase the sad past in which he was bullied. He says he won’t divulge too many details since it involves Azul’s privacy (aw, the ONE time he decides to not leak info 😂).

Aaaaah Idia says he has a bad feeling about something… which gives ME a bad feeling…

They arrive at La Grotta and Azul casts a spell that makes an anemone crop up on everyone’z head?! Azul says that anemones are the most formal hair accessory one can wear in the sea; it makes them “fit in” more. He leaves Jade and Floyd alone though since they’re already merfolk.

Uhhhh Grim gets distracted with dancing and drags Sebek off with him??? Okay???

The entire time this is going down, the twins are watching silently.

Grim, Sebek, and Ortho dance but they end up falling down. The mob merpeople start to laugh and make fun of land creatures. It’s then we learn that Azul lied about the sea anemone being associated with high status, it’s instead something that indicates stupidity. So… uh… He just wanted to bully us??? This whole dream is playing out like a bitter high school revenge fantasy…

Azul says the twins can stay if they play Coral Rush with him. Surely they’re tired of hanging around dumb land creatures right? It’s better to come along with him.

Floyd makes a mess and passes an antique to Jade, and the two start to “play” with it. (… Nah, they start breaking shit 😬)

LOL???? Is Azul threatening to sue the fins off of the twins??? He’s all like “MY PAPA’S A LAWYER YOU KNOW” at them… (He also calls his mom “mama”; the word choice and behavior really makes me think he’s a mama’s/daddy’s boy.)

Jade says to everyone that we should move onto the next dream. He pretends (?) to leave, which triggers a memory of book 3 where Azul declares that he’s always going to be alone.

HMMMMMMMMMMM, there’s no dream!Floyd or dream!Jade to lure Azul to the darkness, only the mermobs 🤔

Ortho expects the twins to dive after him, but neither of them do 🤡 They say it’s Azul’s choice to dream more deeply, so they’ll allow him to.

Grim drowns in the darkness so we (Yuu, Silver, Jamil, Sebek) go after him. Ortho tries to appeal to the twins by saying if they don’t follow, then they’ll be trapped in the dream forever. Sooo Jade and Floyd depart into the dark. Ortho is left wondering if this coldness is actually how the twins express trust.

LOLLLLLl???????? Azul’s setting the photo of their class trip on fire and laughing like a maniac… (He also has apparently gained Ramshackle AND stolen the UMs of his fellow dorm leaders.) I counted, Azul has no less than like 3-4 Evil Villain Laughs this update 💀 OKAY KING POP OFF LIVE LAUGH LOVE

They split into two groups (the player gets to go with J word 😳), each with the goal of taking out one of the dream!Tweels. Jamil lures dream!Floyd out to the basketball court under the false pretenses of a special club activity (where a strong merman opponent would be present).

Jade meanwhile goes to the botanical garden?? And he starts to smash plant pots… He claims it’s a dream so it’s okay! It’s not like he’s doing this because he wants to (lie). Jade makes (anemoned) Grim take a bunch of rare ingredients he “harvested” to Mostro Lounge.

Azul becomes interested in the ingredients and wants access to the source to maximize profits. Dream!Jade is led off by Grim and Yuu to the woods behind campus. SILBEK JUMP HIM—

Jade uses Shock the Heart to learn where Azul has moved the contracts. They weren’t in his office vault when the group checked earlier; the contracts are now in Azul’s room…? Which… I feel like that was such an obvious place to check, not sure why the thought didn’t occur to them sooner??

They find the contracts but there’s like 500 of them and no efficient way to destroy so many in a short amount of time. Ortho suggests his beam, but it might result in collateral damage to them if he fires it this close. Floyd says they can just trick Azul into destroying the contracts himself but before they can say anything more they hear voices getting closer.

Jade and Floyd return to Azul warning him that someone is after his contracts, so Azul, concerned, asks for the contracts so he can relocate them again. When they don’t, he starts threatening them (even saying that the headmaster is under his thumb too, no one at this school can oppose him).

Azul is baited to cast a spell at them, which Floyd deflects with Bind the Heart. He then summons anemones (Ace, Deuce, Riddle, Leona, Kalim, Idia) to help him. Some mob anemones called him “Azul-sama” in dead-sounding voices which. Makes me think maybe he stole Jamil’s Snake Whisper in the dream too??

Together, the twins keep taunting their dorm leader until Azul unleashes King’s Roar. They use Bind the Heart once again to redirect Leona’s UM and dust the contracts ✨ (We also got Floyd’s UM chant!! Roughly: “This is a nice place/it was just getting good, but how about I interrupt it?”)

NxdbsjsbkFAJHQAN OF COURSE THAT’A WHEN AzUL BREAks 😭 and it happens like automatically too… The loss of the contracts really is a sore spot for him.

Here comes the suspicious black gloop again~

Azul starts to sink down BUT THIS TIME YHE TWINS CALL OUT HIS NAME AND GRAB ONTO HIM?????? Jade even specifically tells Azul to “take his hand” and instructs Floyd to help pull. Ayo… the “take my hand” imagery again…

Waaah… Octavinelle trusts each other so much?? When Silver warns them that he doesn’t know what will happen to the twins if they end up in Azul’s abyss, Jade and Floyd wish Azul luck/don’t go to hell AND AZUL’s CASUALLy LIKE “you too” 🤡

Azul finally faces his OB self!! How interesting, he tells his OB that with the weight of all that he stole from others, it’s hard to move. I think he means that metaphorically… like, it’s hard to achieve personal growth if all you do is take and hurt people. “Unlike you, I’ve learned.” He wants to make his dream of making everyone bow down to him a reality on his own. Azul’s not satisfied with this, he wants something of “real value”.

Azul wakes up back in his mom’s restaurant and surrounded by his team members. He asks them to sign a contract which states they will all continue playing hard together. Duh, it’s a trap and actually anemones them. The contract just handed all their powers over to Azul 💀 Bro… How dumb are you, you didn’t even SKIM to check the terms of the contact are what to claimed them to be??

Azul regroups with the others and they inform him of what’s going on. He immediately expresses concern that the Mostro Lounge hasn’t been operating + the ingredients in their fridge might spoil because of Malleus’s magic. Man has his priorities www Thankfully they’re fine since the flow of time has stopped and potential customers are all sleeping. No ingredients or business lost!! Azul still wants Malleus to pay him back for the inconveniences though.

Ortho recommends that Jade and Floyd stay behind, as they both have taken significant damage from fighting. Idia adds that they should lower the number of people dream hopping to minimize the chance of bugs showing up; Jamil volunteers. Azul says it’s a shame because he was looking forward to fighting alongside him; Jamil says that “friends” with Octavinelle’s dorm leader has its uses, so he “looks forward to it.”

… Jamil acknowledging what Azul wants and agreeing to go along with it feels… weird…

Azul joins us and we hasten to the next dream. “Time is money!!” so chop, chop!! Next update… Savanaclaw!!

Overall, I really enjoyed seeing the twins fight, as well as seeing their more animalistic aspects (ie the bioluminescence) come out. The Coral Sea locations were so fun and colorful, it makes me want a hometown event even more!! Merform Azul we kiiiind of already saw with his OB form (and I’d seen lots of edits from fans making their own prior to this) but I thought it was nice to have that confirmation nevertheless.

There were a lot of small moments that made me do a double take (derpy dream!Floyd is one, Azul’s Big Bad scenes were several others). It was cute to see their Club Wear outfits utilized in the dreams too; we saw Basketball Club and Mountain Lovers Club looks make an appearance. I felt like I was watching some kind of variety show while reading.

This update gave me many thoughts, most of them surrounding the Octatrio and their relationship with one another. I’d like to talk more at length about their dream worlds and the roles they played in one another’s headspaces. However, that will get very bulky and I don’t want to add even more to an already bully post. I’ll make that a separate post and put it up later, so please bear with me ^^

[ladykailitha]

Batshit Soulmates Part 5

We have finally gotten to the lake. Things start to ramp up from here.

In Medias Res| Prologue|Pt 1| Pt 2|Pt 3|Pt 4|

@mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @emly03

****

Eddie was having a hell of a time. Not because Steve was being rude. Because he wasn’t. Nope, the problem was that he wasn’t being rude. He was being sweet and patient. And yeah if Dustin was to be believed, it was because Steve had a big heart and not because Eddie was his soulmate.

But Eddie’s inner cynic kept telling him to poke the bear. To keep pushing Steve until his facade snapped and revealed his inner bitch.

He resisted. This was not the time for that. If they had met under any other circumstances then the world literally trying to end itself...maybe. But the world was trying to end itself and if being Steve Harrington’s soulmate meant he came out this alive, then fuck it. He was going to keep his mouth shut.

“Dustin!” Steve hissed. “Stop getting so far ahead!”

They had been wandering the fucking woods looking for the source of the compass malfunctioning for what felt like hours.

And considering that they had pulled out their flashlights pretty much confirmed that as far as Eddie was concerned.

Dustin just continued to plow on ahead. Not listening to a single thing Steve said.

But Eddie knew this place better than the kid did and he started calling out to him. “Dustin! Dustin! Dustin!”

“It’s right around–”

Eddie, who had been trying to catch up with him, managed to reach out and pull the little butthead back from what would have been a very messy and wet disaster.

Dustin would have walked right into the lake and not a gentle sloping of the shore either. It was a sheer drop off.

“Jesus!” Dustin hissed.

Steve reached them concern on his face until he saw that Eddie had him. God did Steve recognize that pose. He had done the same thing two years ago when the demodogs had rushed Dustin and him in the tunnels.

Warm relief flooded his being as mouthed ‘thank you’ to Eddie.

Eddie blushed. The butterflies that had been cocooned in his stomach since finding out Steve Harrington was his soulmate suddenly burst forth, leaving a little fluttering to warm his chest all the way through.

“It’s at the bottom of the lake?” Lucas asked, frowning.

Max came up behind him and looked across the water. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“But it’s got to be,” Dustin whined, looking down at his compass with a sneer. “There’s no other place it could be.”

“Look!” Robin cried. “The boat!” She pointed a little ways to the south.

It had somehow made it shore even with Eddie accidentally abandoning it in his fright.

They made their way over to it and found that even in his panic, Eddie hadn’t lost any of the oars for damn thing so they could at least row back to the middle of the lake.

“I’m coming,” Dustin said firmly.

“Like hell you are,” Steve huffed. “I don’t want any of you kids near that thing if it is a gate. You’re staying here and that’s final.”

“I’m coming with,” Robin said shooting her hand in the air.

Steve looked at Eddie, who nodded. Yeah, he was going to go with them.

“Look, Henderson,” Eddie said, “there’s only room on the boat for thr–” but just then Nancy stepped up and made it clear with her body language that she too was coming with and to brook no argument.

The look of gratitude on Steve’s face when Eddie had backed him up on keeping the kids on the shore set off the god damned butterflies again.

It was becoming a problem.

Steve knelt down and pushed it a little away from the shore so that it would be easier to push off. He held on to the head of the boat and motioned for them to get on.

He offered a hand to Robin and she ignored it in favor of using Eddie and his heads as supports. He offered his hand to him and Eddie steadfastly ignored it. Not because he didn’t want to take Steve’s hand but because he really, really did. He was afraid that if he took Steve’s hand there would be no letting go.

And yeah, maybe it was a bit of dick move to stick out his hand to give Nancy another option other than Steve to help her into the boat, especially since when he looked over at Steve he looked crestfallen.

Then he watched as Steve pushed the boat off with all of them in it and deftly hopped in. That did absolutely fucking nothing to calm the butterflies in his chest.

They reached the spot in the middle of the lake where Patrick had died and there was an eerie glow to the water. And immediately Steve started taking off his shoes.

“Whoa!” Robin said. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Steve looked up at her like he didn’t understand the question. “Someone has to go down there and check to see if a gate has opened right?”

“I’ll do it,” Nancy said. “I’m a strong swimmer.”

Steve scoffed. “I don’t doubt that, but unless any of you can beat co-captain of the swim team and lifeguard three years running, I’m going.”

There really wasn’t answer to that so they watched as Steve removed his socks and shoes. Well, Robin and Nancy did, but Eddie occupied himself with wrapping a plastic bag around the flashlight so it wouldn’t short the second Steve hit the water.

Steve threw his sweater at him and Eddie was faced with a shirtless soulmate and it was a god damned miracle he didn’t nut himself right then and there.

He pulled out a cigarette and immediately Robin tossed it overboard. He glared at her but she just stuck her tongue at him. He rolled his eyes and handed the now wrapped flashlight to Steve.

Steve smiled softly. “Thanks.”

They waited in stony silence as Steve dove beneath their feet. The silence stretched on the longer Steve was gone. No one wanted to say it out loud. What if it was a gate?

What if there being more than an evil wizard the Upside Down was finding ways to open its own gates? Then no amount of government oversight was going to stop the Upside Down from taking over their world.

Steve came back up. “Yeah, there’s a gate down there all right. A big one.”

But before he could even move to get back on the boat, he was yanked back under with a surprise yelp.

“Steve!” Nancy screamed and immediately dived after him.

Eddie’s eyes went wide as Robin sidled up to the side of the boat. “You’re going too?”

“Yup!”

And over she went.

Eddie began cursing and hitting at the air. He knew he was going to capsize the boat if he wasn’t careful. Or...

“Fuck.”

And he followed the two girls into the water.

****

Steve had known that touching the gate would only bring him pain and disappointment, but his lizard brain went ‘ooh glowy thingy!’ and reached out and touched it anyway.

And now he was fighting for his life in the Upside Down against large winged creatures that he was sure Dustin was going to name demo-something. Demo-bird? No, that sounded lame. Demo-eagle? That sounded just as bad.

Oh wait. He was supposed to be fighting for his life here. Not trying to name the creature trying to eat him. Like literally eat him.

Thank god for Nancy and Robin to be honest. Coming in like avenging furies and kicking the shit out the winged beasts.

Eddie coming in clutch was nice too. Watching him shatter that oar on that beastie was a little hot.

It sent off something primal in Steve that he tapped into. He sunk his teeth into the tail of the beastie that had been dragging him across this hellish landscape, snarling. The creature let go and tried to get away, but Steve wasn’t done.

Not by a long shot.

He kept a hold of the tail and began bashing the thing into the ground with a fury he didn’t understand. He stomped on the creature and ripped literally in two.

He tossed the chunk away and then spat out the black ichor, panting for breath.

He looked up to see his friends staring at him as if he had gone insane. And you know what? Fair. He felt insane.

But fighting for one’s life did that to a person.

“Fuck.”

They all gathered behind him to look at the mass of winged creatures that stood between them and the gate that would lead them back home.

Eddie pushed his hair back and let out a small whimper of distress. Steve understood the feeling.

“Jesus fucking Christ!” Eddie yelled as he threw a temper tantrum right there in the middle of the hell landscape. Because yeah, Mordor was a fucking good analogy.

Everything around them was dark and twisted versions of the ones he had grown up knowing.

Nancy looked behind them. “The forest!”

They turned and ran for the cover of the trees, hoping that they weren’t running right into the flowered faces of the demogorgons.

At least Eddie didn’t know about those.

Yet.

****

Once they were under the cover of the trees they stopped to dress Steve’s wounds.

Nancy cut off strips of her shirt to bind the two gaping holes in Steve’s stomach. She walked over to where Steve was leaning against a rock face with strips in her hands. Steve hissed in pain.

“Oh god,” Robin moaned. “What if he has rabies? Do bats in the Upside Down has rabies?”

“Robin!” Steve hissed. “If you don’t shut up I will hit you!”

“Oh good,” she said with a hiccup of relief. “He’s fine. His humor is still intact.”

Eddie and Nancy looked over at her like she was crazy. Eddie watched as Nancy edged closer to Steve to put the wrapping on his wounds. Steve shoved his hands into his hair to drive the pain elsewhere.

Then Nancy dropped to her knees and Eddie ran up to them. “Here, let me do it.”

Nancy reared back her head. “What? Why?”

“Do you know how to dress wounds that deep?” he asked, breathing heavily through his nose.

“Well, no,” she replied. “But it can’t be much different than patching up a scraped knee.”

Eddie looked at her with wide eyes. “Is that really the extent of your first aid knowledge?”

“Guys!” Steve snapped. “I’m kinda bleeding out here!”

Eddie snatched the makeshift bandages from Nancy. “Calling soulmate privileges.”

Nancy rolled her eyes but stepped back.

“Hey, Stevie,” Eddie murmured. “This has got to be tight and it’s gonna hurt, but you have to stay with me, okay?”

Steve nodded, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. “Just hurry.”

Eddie pursed his lips and began wrapping around Steve’s waist, steadfastly ignoring his soulmate’s gasps and moans of pain. This close to Steve and Eddie could almost feel the pain in his own sides. The burn on his back and upper arms.

“Almost done, sweetheart,” Eddie murmured. “We’re almost done. I promise.”

“It hurts, Eds.”

“I know.” He looked up into Steve’s eyes and repeated. “I know.”

Steve opened his eyes and looked down at Eddie. “Yeah. Okay, okay.”

Nancy frowned and leaned over to Robin. “What’s going on?”

“They’re truemates,” Robin whispered back.

Nancy’s eyes went wide and she mouthed “Oh.”

“All done, baby,” Eddie cooed. “Don’t try and talk. Just squeeze my hands when you’re ready to move on.” And he gently took Steve’s hands.

A couple minutes later, Steve squeezed his hands.

“Okay,” Eddie said with a shuddering breath. “He’s ready to move on. So let’s get moving.”

****

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Epilogue

Tag List: @cryptid-system @counting-dollars-counting-stars @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog

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[be-it-so]

Okay, I lied, I'm not done with vengeance saga.

For some reason I'm still so angry and sad because of it, that I need to criticize it more or I won't be able to sleep.

I'm again so fucking disappointed, the whole saga felt like some kind of joke. I mean, the song I was worried the most about - "not sorry for loving you - turned out to be the most normal one. Like, yeah, Calypso is still very selfish and manipulative, Odysseus just want to be as far from her as possible and etc, I don't like that we are clearly expected to sympathise with her, but you know, in the context of this saga I'll go with it.

Dangerous felt a little overdone. I love Hermes, "wouldn't you like" was my favorite song for a long time, and maybe compared to it "Dangerous" is trying so much to go with the same vibe, but feels so deliberate about this.

I don't have much to say about "Charybdis" because there is nothing really to talk about, visuals were great, but everything felt so rushed, and also so meaningless, like they just needed to show at least one obstacle for Odysseus before Poseidon and nothing more.

And, yeah...

"Get in the water" and "600 strikes".

If you haven't guessed it yet, I'm very disappointed.

First of all, it is a lot weaker musically that I've expected. Okay, maybe there are good. Maybe I just am not able to hear this, because through these two songs I just stared at the screen with the confused and disappointed look, so I wasn't able to enjoy music or acting on its own.

Second, I was so interested in "get in the water", i liked the snippet we had so much before. It was so cool, emotional, and dark. I was so invested in finding out how Odysseus could escape this, what he might have said to change Poseidon's mind, maybe expected there to be some gesture towards the Odyssey, where Odysseus would tell Poseidon that he will go on this quest with the oar and so on. Also, i hoped to finally see "snake tongued" Odysseus in action because, like, that's what he is the most known about, for his mastery in words.

But this?

This was so bad. It also feels so fucking disrespectful to Poseidon, like, don't get me wrong, i like the change in power balance, I love when a character who wasn't able to do anything at some point now is beating the shit out of his former abuser and etc, BUT THIS IS NOT WORKING WITH THE GODS AND MORTALS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY. AND THIS IS NOT WORKING WITH POSEIDON AND ODYSSEUS, THE STORY OF THE ODYSSEY IS NOT ABOUT HOW TO BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO BEAT THE GOD. IT IS SO FAR OFF!

Like, yeah, the original is neither about "learning that you need to be ruthless to be able to return home if that's what you want so much", but there is difference in the level of what level of getting things wrong is normal and can be called "creative liberties" and what level is just bad. If you wanted so much for Odysseus to show how ruthless he became, well, we've already seen "different beast" to show us his cruelty, don't you think that maybe if they showed us how epic-Odysseus is able to put aside all the men Poseidon has killed and all of the pain he himself have gone through because of Poseidon and just talk with him, bargaining about his own life or something like this it would have also shown his ruthless side in a new way and be so much more believable? Even if he pulled out "there are other ways" move I think I would belive it more than that he is able to defeat Poseidon, the god of SEA, STORMS and EARTHQUAKES, PHISICALLY, in the SEA, with the STORM and fucking power of friendship (no, I will not stop calling it like this).

You know, I have a lot more to say about this, but I guess i'll stop with this. I guess I feel so bad about it because I really liked epic, yeah, I had problems with it, but I considered it nice adaptation even if it's kind of far from the source material, it felt very good and respectful to the original Odyssey, but now it became this. So yeah, I'm really disappointed.

And also, even if epic Odysseus was somehow able to defeat a god, what the fuck will stop epic Poseidon from returning after couple of months recovery and just wipe whole Ithaca off the face of the earth after such offense and shame? Like literally what? Or little epic Poseidon is now so afraid of big bad epic Odysseus that wouldn't bare even think about his name again?

[danwhobrowses]

One Piece Chapter 1136 - Initial Thoughts

And we are back

I say it's been a long time every time but this time it has indeed been a long time XD but finally One Piece is back

so let's not waste time and see what Oda has for us for 2025 properly

Spoilers for the Chapter, Support the Official Release too

Yamato's dud of a cover story continues, bringing Holdem to a TOTALLY MYSTERIOUS hidden base which has a familiar helmet and cat face on it

At the very least we're being enticed by seeing Who's Who's cat harem again

We pick up with Luffy, enjoying the meat and dining with Jarul, who notes the difficulty of accruing the meat - Luffy shows his appreciation to Stansen and Hajrudin for getting it

Seems the Land of the Dead realm is commonly misconstrued as regular Elbaf because humans tend not to make it far enough to the Sun Realm, often turning tail and running

Usopp's doing what he usually does at parties, well one of two things, this one is lying and regaling the giants over his 'defeat' of Oars

His other thing was singing btw

The giants admire Jinbe's unique appearance as he notes how there are a diverse range of looks in Fishman Island

A kid says they want to see a mermaid, which Sanji endorses, but he's of course soaking up the adulation of Giant women too

Brook also gets asked about himself, so he decides to answer through song

Nami and Zoro remain cool and chilling, but remark that they're surprised that many giants haven't seen the world - since they assumed them all to be pirates

A very beaten up Rodo emerges, apologizing to Nami (and Zoro but he calls him 'this other Straw hat') for his treatment of them before

Gerd seemed to have kicked his ass to get him to fork out an apology, but in a thought bubble he's kinda into it

Zoro says there's no harm done...because Usopp stopped him from causing harm

Zoro had to do a badass threat, but I can't take it seriously with those god ugly goggles XD

It at least intimidated Rodo, who is reprimanded for not even checking their bounties before picking a fight

'Don't hold back next time' DEAR GOD GERD YOU'RE SAVAGE!

Rodo backtracks, but he does note that all Giants dream of being the 'next Sun God' and rule the world

I suppose this is why we've seen him and Loki claim to be it

Zoro is interested in the mention but the other giants argue over Sun God Lore

Some say the Sun God's not a ruler, some say they're a god of Liberation, others Destruction, and others more Laughter

Luffy asks Jarul about it, it seems the conflict is because of translations (I see you Oda)

The 'Harley' texts were passed down through Elbaf's generations, written in an archaic language

As for the name I'm afraid I'm at a loss, it sounds like a reference but I don't know to what

According to Jarul however, the world has ended twice and Nika was central to both instances

I wonder if that means the world has flooded twice, or simply that a great era ended? Because Nika and Joy Boy both seemed to have fought in a great war

We see a Giant's depiction of Nika which is more Luffy-like, with Jarul's description, the world leaders fear them because it's a bringer of change, for destruction or liberation

Luffy remembers Bonney mention Nika and connects that this is why people keep mistaking him for Nika, he dismisses a connection though

Hajrudin, Goldberg and Stansen note that they do all look up to Nika though which leads Jarul to mention Loki

Loki also aspired to be Nika, which is what Jarul suspects is why he killed the king

Oh Luffy, 'so he's a good guy?' is not the thing to ask of the man you saw chained to a tree in the Giant's prison freezer box

Seems Loki has some prophecy to him too; Harold was foretold to be slain by a son (classic mythology that), also after his birth the royal horse died

Loki was born around the same time as Big Mom's Semla rampage which killed Jorul, then a year later the Queen died

Loki then killed and befriended a lot of the beasts in the Realm of the Dead at 10 - which he did allude to in earlier chapters - releasing some unto the villages

He's also depicted a bit older burning down a village and laughing, which is the most Norse Loki we've seen OP Loki look

Loki used his hierarchy as a prince to do what he wants, and then he killed the king - his statue obscures his face though which is unusual, something to make note of

Jarul's head injury is from the fallout of Loki's patri- and regicide

Oh, and Shanks was the one who helped capture him six years ago, he was out at sea during this time

I wonder if Shanks beating Loki was one of the turning points into making him a Yonko? It at least explains his friendliness with the Giants

Luffy gets excited to hear Shanks again, and is told that he was here a while ago, but his whereabouts are unknown

Zoro seems pensive about all this

Oh, it seems that he is privy to Luffy's deal with Loki, pulling Luffy to the village outskirts to note that he's likely deceiving him

Luffy defends himself by saying he wanted to know where Shanks was - which Zoro exasperatedly notes he's told him repeatedly - and will be pissed if he was lied to

Seems Loki offered Luffy intel on Shanks including his whereabouts for freedom, Luffy does ask Zoro how he can be sure if they've never met, which Zoro concedes he doesn't, but public opinion isn't high on him

Nami also pops in, seems it's the original trio off on a secret adventure

Also Rodo's here, her new man slave, to steer the ship

Zeus has to remind Rodo of the pecking order though; Zeus is slave 1, Sanji is slave 2, so he's slave 3

It seems Zeus gave him a bit of lightning too since his hair is all poofed

Rodo tries to connect with Nami over how they're both navigators, but is quickly rebuked again

Nami feels bad about leaving the party early, but Rodo notes that they party has fallen into a drunken stupor

They roll up to the Big Stein Castle, where Nami's true colours of stealing treasure comes into light - Rodo claims he has 'bad vision' when asked if the giants would mind anything going missing

It seems our hooded figures have met up with Loki and he's laughing loudly (Doga ha ha seems to be his laugh)

Ohhhh, the hooded figures were offering Loki a position among the Gods Knights

Loki refuses though, he doesn't wanna be a Celestial Dragon, calling them scum, so it seems like he has a line

Shanks but maybe not Shanks asks the other about intel

Oda's being shrewd about hiding half his face, can't tell if there's scars or not

Our other figure notes that all informants got swept up by a giant crow (I suspect that means all of Rodo's diorama were WG spies?)

Our other hooded figure is Gunko, a God's Knight with heterochromia eyes and her sleeve unravels like a ribbon, I'd suspect she has a ribbon-like fruit that may be similar to Diamante's

Still woman it's the fucking winter realm put on some pants!

A giant wolf comes to Loki's aid and is quickly subdued and hung by the neck by Gunko

Shanks but Not Shanks asks if bartering the wolf's life will make him change his mind, but Loki refuses

'It's okay to grieve and rage, but a warrior never kicks and screams in the face of death' - it's a hard line, with honour to it, but Loki would definitely not like Usopp with this mantra

but also despite being this honourable Loki still intends to destroy the world

A good chapter to come back to, which continues to shift Loki's status in limbo.

His backstory seems malicious but the omens aren't exactly his to be burdened with. He has some loyalty and honour to him, enough to oppose the WG, but we can at least tell why he doesn't like Shanks. It's a mixed territory, kinda like Crocodile really: he's bad, but he has ally potential too. Good to get some Nika lore too, explaining all these claims to being the Sun God and being more understanding towards the Gorosei's reasonings for being frightened of Nika.

It was assumed but now we can confirm that Gods Knights are here, which will be a way to gauge their strength against the crew, they need to be powerful if the Revolutionaries are wary of them.

Still, more splitting of the crew is ominous, and being at the Big Stein castle is likely to show Gunko's handiwork to Luffy, Zoro and Nami at the least. Seems Rodo will be here to stay too, we'll see if he can redeem himself because I think we'd all rather have Hajrudin coming...or Ripley or Gerd XD We've still not seen that shadowed guy either

For now it's a casual reintroduction to Elbaf's plot for 2025, we're on the cusp of the chaos unfolding, but soon it will all hit the fan

[ninadove]

Nina reads Dracula 🦇

October 30th

Man! but the supersteetion of foreigners is pairfectly rideeculous!

Said the guy who just spent entire paragraphs talking about the Devil

Whilst we were talking one came running and breathlessly gasped out that the body of Skinsky had been found inside the wall of the churchyard of St. Peter, and that the throat had been torn open as if by some wild animal. Those we had been speaking with ran off to see the horror, the women crying out "This is the work of a Slovak!" We hurried away lest we should have been in some way drawn into the affair, and so detained.

Once again narrowly avoiding jail time

When we met together, the first thing was to consult as to taking Mina again into our confidence. Things are getting desperate, and it is at least a chance, though a hazardous one. As a preliminary step, I was released from my promise to her.

OK LET’S DO THIS GANG

They were so tired and worn out and dispirited that there was nothing to be done till they had some rest; so I asked them all to lie down for half an hour whilst I should enter everything up to the moment. I feel so grateful to the man who invented the "Traveller's" typewriter, and to Mr. Morris for getting this one for me. I should have felt quite; astray doing the work if I had to write with a pen....

🥺

I do believe that under God's providence I have made a discovery. I shall get the maps and look over them....

Oh?

I am more than ever sure that I am right. My new conclusion is ready, so I shall get our party together and read it. They can judge it; it is well to be accurate, and every minute is precious.

OH????

We know from the record that he was on the water; so what we have to do is to ascertain what water. […] I have examined the map and find that the river most suitable for the Slovaks to have ascended is either the Pruth or the Sereth. I read in the typescript that in my trance I heard cows low and water swirling level with my ears and the creaking of wood. The Count in his box, then, was on a river in an open boat—propelled probably either by oars or poles, for the banks are near and it is working against stream. There would be no such sound if floating down stream.

She is so great at this whole thinking-like-a-criminal exercise. Go babygirl go ❤️

When I had done reading, Jonathan took me in his arms and kissed me.

Me too Jonathan me too

Of course he wanted to be with me; but then the boat service would, most likely, be the one which would destroy the ... the ... the ... Vampire. (Why did I hesitate to write the word?)

Oh I’m sure this is nothing to worry about!

Be not afraid for Madam Mina; she will be my care, if I may.

Respectfully, Professor, I would be supremely afraid.

I am old.

You sure know how to sell your services.

"Do you mean to say, Professor Van Helsing, that you would bring Mina, in her sad case and tainted as she is with that devil's illness, right into the jaws of his death-trap? Not for the world! Not for Heaven or Hell!" He became almost speechless for a minute, and then went on:—

"Do you know what the place is? Have you seen that awful den of hellish infamy—with the very moonlight alive with grisly shapes, and every speck of dust that whirls in the wind a devouring monster in embryo? Have you felt the Vampire's lips upon your throat?" Here he turned to me, and as his eyes lit on my forehead he threw up his arms with a cry: "Oh, my God, what have we done to have this terror upon us!" and he sank down on the sofa in a collapse of misery.

✨ Trauma ✨

And, too, it made me think of the wonderful power of money! What can it not do when it is properly applied; and what might it do when basely used. I felt so thankful that Lord Godalming is rich, and that both he and Mr. Morris, who also has plenty of money, are willing to spend it so freely. For if they did not, our little expedition could not start, either so promptly or so well equipped, as it will within another hour.

SO REAL. Arthur’s English Lord Powers are vital to the plot.

We have all got arms, even for me a large-bore revolver; Jonathan would not be happy unless I was armed like the rest.

I want what they have 🥺❤️🦇

My only comfort is that we are in the hands of God.

GOD HAS FORSAKEN YOU IT’S MAN ALONE AGAINST EVIL NOW

< Prev 🦇 Next >

[ciderjacks]

I watch some of Watcher's stuff, tell me whatever you want about Shane Madej!

HOUGHHHH. OHHRHFHTHABK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOY

i think a lot of people who are aware of Shane sort of just think of him as the skeptic guy on bfu/ghost files (not saying that’s u obv just a lot of ppl bc I guess I need this to be a pitch meeting) and I think that is a shame because HOLY SHIT HES SO TALENTED AND COOL AND WEIRD AND THE SHIT HE MAKES IS SO FUCKIKNG INSANELY GOOD

Ok so going back in time for a second to b*zzfeed. Who btw did not deserve this guy. Afaik he had two major like, creative projects on there. Ruining History and The Hot Daga. Both were very good. ruining history was a fun history show he did with Sara and Ryan and there are rotating guests every episode. Shane is very interested in history, very good at teaching history, and i think in an alternate universe hes a beloved high school history teacher. Ruining History is the father of puppet history. B*zzfeed canned it and i miss it every day. and then there’s the other father of Puppet History, Hot Daga. Hot Daga is insane. I love Hot Daga, its not for everyone, but I think its so good. The lore goes crazy, he produced and made original songs for it, he animated the whole final half season by himself which is fuckinf insane. He made a ballad for it and actually i need everyone reading this to Listen to “believe me maizey” and then directly after listen to the Meteor Ballad from Puppet History. OH LOOK A SEGWAY

Puppet history is so fuckinf good. Its So Good. And especially in later seasons since hes doing so much you really start to see his improvement as an artist and its just. Its incredible. Some of the somgs are genuinely fucking masterpieces, like some of my favs are The Flower Boat Song, Asmodeus, The Horse and God song, the Emu song, Big Pile Of Diamonds, Infinitiger, The Window Song, Gay Oars Duet, Hologram Professor Song, and the Meteor’s Ballad. And more. Uhh OH the Olympic Torch is really good too. His lyrics are so smart and fun and his vocals are so impressive and he has such good range, he duetted Himself for the Oar song and managed to make the two voices identifiable as separate characters without being over the top. The lyrics range from poetic anf beautiful to weird and funny often within the Same song! Its just so good and he starts so good and gradually over the years he’s done the show you can see him getting more comfortable and better at music which is crazy causw again HE STARTED OFF GOOD! HE WAS INSANE IN HOT DAGA AND HE IS SOMEHOW EVEN BETTER IN PUPPET HISTORY LIKE! and and and ok here’s where I get crazy and a little parasocial (lol not really i am misusing that word for the bit LOL)

Something about all his work is that you can kind of see how his art depicts the world. In Hot Daga you get the line “what else can you do in the face of such monumental loss, but breath a weary sigh as the world is a little quieter now.” And in Puppet history you get uh actually you get like 20 things from the meteor song but one of my favorite parts is (read blue as the professor, orange as the meteor, pink as both) “some shit’s just etched into the stars, calamities you cant outrun/and when sweet earth we finally meet/the sky will burn and boil the sea/as mountains rend/its you and me.” i think both these lyrics and these somgs demonstrate a maturity about the world that you dont really see in a lot of people, his general kindness towards anything and everything and his ability to change perspectives on things without being forceful. (On a personal note I listened to The Meteor song after someone I knew passed, and as dumb as it maybe sounds the idea that like,, death is not cruel, you can’t always run and sometimes the best thing you can do is be there with the people you love as the world ends.) and also I think that you really can tell that he views the people he’s telling you about as People and not just like, figures. Ykwim. He shows such genuine respect and care for everyone in these stories and I’ve already like briefly in these stories but like, you KNOW if a guy can make me cry for the Meteor that killed the dinosaurs then he’s something special. i also think the way he portrays death in his work is very comforting as a whole. and another thing speakinf of rhat is that he has so much respect for other cultures in a level I think that goes beyond just bare minimum not being a piece of shit. Like especially when he’s teaching history, an example that always sticks out to me is how much effort he put into making sure people remembered and thought about Hatshepsut by having a whole episode on her history then also making an EXTREMELY (probably intentionally so though i cant be sure bc I can’t reas minds) catchy song that Told you to think of Hatshepsut and explained Why uou should think of Hatshepsut and it’s been stuck in my head ever since I first heard it years ago. Also I’m consistently impressed by his good pronunciation of things, I remember in the Tunguska event episode of mystery files there were so many ppl from tbe area he was talking about shocked by how good his pronunciation was. And ive seen that so many times w him like, idk i just think thats very cool. He’s a genuinely really mature and respectful guy I think. Wise too. So much of his work has educated me, changed my worldview for the better, inspired me. Like He’s so talented ik i keep saying that but HE IS!

Like ok so. He can write both songs and stories beautifully. he’s wise as fuck and could probably be a philosopher. He can make puppets (and just tbc later season puppet history the puppets are not him, but in the early seasons afaik they were all him, so he is definitely skilled at that.), he can sing, he can voice act, his graphics and editing are off the charts, he’s educated and smart, hes funny. He’s so fuckinf cool.

also again getting parasocial here but I just really like how much of a zest for life the guy seems to have. And Honestly im impressed that he worked in retail, had actual trash thrown in his face by an angry customer (true story) and still came out it like “man the world sure is wonderful!”. What a guy. And He’s so fucking weird and interesting and I could seriously just listen to him rant about Literally anything Forever. Anything. It doesnt matter I think he could talk about anything in a way that would make me invested in it and i’d come out of it more educated than before with a fresh new perspective on life.

This is getting Essay-like so here are some other Random Shane Things I know to close me out I guess

-he loves community was in the community fandom and has a crush on troy barnes

-he wants to be a mouse

-he’s lived 7000 years

-

-was DB cooper

-makes a fine ass Krampus

-actually the coolest guy alive

sorry this is almost 100% incomprehensible thank you for letting my autism loose tho

[twoidiotwriters1]

The Curse of Oenone (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: Gosh this book feels like it's going on forever I wanna move on to TOA so badly -Danny Words: 2,227 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter // Next Chapter Listen to: 'Does It Matter?' -by Bestfriend

XLIII: Bombastic Sideye

"Are you sure you don't want me to call in a blessing?" Ara inquires while Jason secures the venti at the prow. "I could help you control them if I ask Zeus..."

"Go in," he tells her. "You fixed the ship, I can do this. If I fail, you can check out that last blessing."

"Alright," she pauses. "And uh... are you sure we'll find Leo in Malta?"

"No, but that's what I choose to believe," once seated on Festus's neck, Jason turns and gives her a warm smile. 

He seems different, his soul-light is dim but constant on his body like he's just happy all the time, which is a weird thought considering their current situation.

"Fine," Ara smiles, trying to believe it too. "Good luck, Ken."

The ship stops and Festus starts the engine. On each side of the ship the oars screech and groan in protest, making her wince.

"Leo's gonna kill me," she places a hand on the hallway wall. If she could use her empath touch she would, but unfortunately, the ship doesn't have human feelings.

"Leo's probably going crazy waiting for you to show up," Nico walks past her. "Piper says it's safe for us to go upstairs."

Ara follows him to the upper level and Jason gestures at her to get closer. The boy points at a little raft, with an engine Ara recognizes as the one Leo was building in Ogygia.

"He's here," she raises her voice. "Leo's here!" Everyone lets out exclamations of relief, Jason gets lots of pats on the back and cheek kisses.

They spot Leo outside a cafe. Piper wraps her arms around the boy and fusses over him. Hazel and Frank hug him, squeezing him between them until he can't breathe. Nico pats his back and Jason cracks it with a bearhug.

Ara scans Leo's clothing and feels a wave of nostalgia. He's dressed in an army jacket, a white shirt, and the pants he was wearing when they first met. Those clothes were destroyed during their winter quest, but now they're back.

The girl clears her throat. "You went missing..." her voice dies before she can finish the joke.

"For a whole year?" He guesses and grins. "You moved on and now you're dating a buff Greek guy instead?"

"I missed you so much," Ara speaks hoarsely. To get out of Ogygia, he must've done something Ara doesn't want to think about.

Leo glows like a Christmas light, and his only thought is: Gods, I'll never thank you enough for Arae. 

The boy minded his business when he landed on Calypso's island, determined to see Ara again. Calypso was kind enough to take food to him—only to complain about the noise, but still, she made sure he was okay. The look in her eyes was always so defensive, yet caring and concerned... it softened Leo's hasty decision to ignore her.

Before he knew it, he started talking to her, after all Calypso wanted to know what Ara had done to get two of the demigods that'd landed on her island so charmed, and Leo knew all about it. Calypso made him fire-proof clothes, and brought scraps and supplies for his journey. 

She would only ask for stories in return. Calypso told him they made her giddy, they reminded her of times when falling in love wasn't all about pain and finality. Something clicked in Leo's head. 

He thought of Narcissus and Echo, and how Ara insisted no cursed soul could help themselves unless they had outer help. Calypso was the answer.

Leo arrived on a raft, the same type of raft Percy arrived in when it was his turn. The raft only shows up when...

"Go talk to him," Piper tells her.

"What?"

"When Frank read the brochure about Calypso's home, I saw it on your face. You know where he's been."

Ara can't shrug off the heaviness in her. She stares at the lamp on Piper's nightstand and ponders. She's been hiding in her sister's room for a full hour because she's unsure of how to proceed. 

"It's whatever," the girl shrugs it off and tries to change the subject. "Hazel and Nico just told us that the doors—"

Piper cuts her off. "You're feeling things you don't want to feel, I get it, but this is not the way to handle it and you know it."

Ara pushes her hair back in frustration. Once upon a time, she took pride in having the softest, most well-behaved hair ever. Those days are gone. "He's busy fixing what I broke."

"Leo's good at multitasking," her sister presses. "Come on, don't be a coward."

Piper kicks her off the bed and Ara slips pathetically to the ground, throwing her head back and whining. "Why are you so mean to me?"

The girl laughs and nudges her shoulder. "Go!"

Ara drags herself out of the girl's room, preparing herself for another conversation she has no interest in having this early in life. 

Leo is repairing the oars individually from inside the hull, his army jacket tied around his waist, but his clothes aren't stained, they don't even look sweaty.

"Need help?" She asks out loud.

Leo's head whips rather quickly at the sound of her voice. "I'm impressed, doll—you did a pro job, you just need to think more like a mechanic. You still struggle with following the rules step by step, huh?"

Ara walks up to him and touches the fabric of his sleeve, examining the material. "We need to talk."

Leo looks at her intently, placing the screwdriver back in his tool belt and holding her chin so she looks at him. "You got tanned. Gee, I can't take my eyes off you for just one second before you start shifting into something else..."

Whatever happened in Ogygia changed him too. He grew an inch or two, though nowhere near enough to be as tall as her. His hands have scratches and callouses that weren't there before, and he takes his time with things now. His hyper energy isn't gone, but he's controlling it better.

"I need to know what happened on that island," she has trouble meeting his eyes. "But I... I can't bring myself to ask what I want to ask."

"Then don't ask yet," Leo looks up at her almost pleadingly. "Focus on rescuing Percy and Annabeth."

"It doesn't mean I'll forget, we'll be pushing back something inevitable," Ara frowns.

"I'm not trying to make you forget," Leo pushes a strand of hair behind her ear, he's always touching her hair when he's anxious. "Right now I'm fixing the ship—then you're killing a giant, we've got a lot going on and I think we should focus on being there for each other."

Her face sets and she nods. "I'm killing a giant. I'm bringing my brother and Annabeth back."

"Atta girl," he lightly squeezes her hip. "I couldn't live without you, doll."

Something about how he says that rubs her the wrong way, apart from it coming a bit out of nowhere, but Ara decides to move past it. "Okay."

He pecks her lips, having to stand a bit on his tiptoes to do so. "Get out, your face is distracting me."

Nico reads the list they wrote together to verify she isn't forgetting things. They're sat on the deck's floor, and the crew moves around them going from one place to another also getting ready.

"Piper, stop!" Ara catches the girl practicing with her new sword. "You'll get tired before we even reach the ruins!"

"Why aren't you bringing the cloak?" Nico asks when she zips the Octopi.

"It'd be like putting a target on my back," Ara raises a brow. "I don't want to be possessed by an Eidolon."

"Take the cloak." Nico presses.

"Why?"

"It's good luck."

Ara frowns. "Says who?"

He gets up and helps her do the same. "In the House of Hades, you'll be in my territory. You should listen to me."

Ara gives him a sideways glance before walking towards the helm. "How's it looking, Admiral?"

"Hot and steamy!" Leo winks at her. "Makes me homesick for Houston! What do you say, Hazel? All we need now are some giant mosquitoes, and it'll feel just like the Gulf Coast!"

"Thanks a lot, Leo," Hazel grumbles. "We'll probably get attacked by Ancient Greek mosquito monsters now."

"There!" Nico points forward. "Maneuver us that way. We're close to the temple. Very close."

"You got it, Ghost King!" Leo quips.

Nico glares at him. "Don't make me hate you, Valdez."

"So you love me right now?" Leo smirks.

Dark lightning snaps above their heads, making Ara's skin crawl. She flinches and touches her left shoulder, the memory of her old injury putting her on edge. She survived that thanks to Artemis's blessing, this time she might not be that lucky.

"Everyone, arm yourself," Jason orders. "Leo, get us close, but don't land—no more contact with the ground than necessary. Piper, Hazel, get the mooring ropes."

"On it!" Piper replies, moving quickly.

"Frank, get below and find Coach Hedge." 

"Yep!"

Ara sighs, fixing her armor. "Gods, I hope we all survive this."

"C'mon, sunshine, where is your fake-it-till-you-make-it energy? We got this in the bag!" Leo tries to cheer her up.

"We only have estimates and guesses, and then once we get Percy and Annabeth—if we get them—there is a giant waiting to crush us with his darkness or whatever the Hades he does," Ara raises a brow.

"General, I say this with the utmost respect," Leo places a hand on her shoulder. "You either chill or zip it."

Ara makes a face but tries to comply. "...At least if I die today the curse gets canceled?"

"Pretty messed up but I'll take it!" Leo says enthusiastically. He's trying to compensate for the bad vibes looming over him. "Talking about curses—Zhang, get Hazel and come here a moment!"

"Okay, here's the plan."

Hazel frowns. "I hate your plans. Besides, Nico and Ara made one already."

"That's not what I'm talking about," Leo stretches out his palm. "I need that piece of magic firewood—Snappy!"

Frank and Hazel step back in alarm. "Leo, you can't—"

"I found a solution," he insists. "It's your call, big guy, but I can protect you."

Frank takes a moment, but he gives in. "Go ahead, Hazel."

"Why am I here?" Ara asks.

Leo hushes her. "In a moment, hun." 

Hazel searches in her pocket and carefully hands Leo the piece of firewood. The boy rummages through the pockets of his tool belt and pulls out a white piece of fabric very similar to his shirt. 

"Behold!"

"A handkerchief?" Frank guesses.

"A surrender flag?" Hazel suggests.

"No, unbelievers! This is a pouch woven from seriously cool fabric—a gift from a friend of mine."

Ara watches as Leo places the wood inside and closes it. She wonders if he asked Calypso to make his magical outfit look like his old clothes, as a reminder of simpler times. Ara doesn't see those times as more manageable, for her, they were lonely and confusing.

"The drawstring was my idea," Leo explains happily. "It took some work, lacing that into the fabric, but the pouch won't open unless you want it to. The fabric breathes just like regular cloth, so the firewood isn't any more sealed up than it would be in Hazel's coat pocket."

"Uh..." Hazel tilts her head. "How is that an improvement, then?"

"Hold this so I don't give you a heart attack." Leo tosses the pouch carelessly to Frank and then ignites his hand, pressing it to the sleeve of his jacket. "See? It doesn't burn!"

"Uh... you're immune to flames."

"He means the fabric," Ara points out. "I've seen him burn through pants for months..." She blushes. "I mean he needs to concentrate to not burn through the fabric. That pouch is magical like your clothes?"

"How are you so smart and hot?" Leo teases her with a crooked grin.

Hazel saves Ara from stammering out a reply. "How can you be sure?"

"Sheesh, tough audience. Guess there's only one way to persuade you." Leo reaches out so Frank hands him the pouch again.

"Uh, no, no." Frank steps back. "That's okay, Leo. Thanks, but I—I can't —"

"Man, you gotta trust me," he persists, looking sure of himself.

"Okay..." Frank takes a slow breath and hands him the pouch. "Try not to kill me." 

Leo's hand gets wrapped in flames, but nothing happens to the stuff he's holding. He keeps it going for about fifteen seconds, then looks up at Frank with a sheepish smile. "Who's your best buddy?"

"Don't answer that," Hazel intervenes again. "But, Leo, that was amazing."

"It was, wasn't it?" He nods, placing his free hand on Ara's waist. "So who wants to take this newly ultra-safe piece of firewood?"

"I'll keep it," Frank says. Hazel looks hurt, but he continues. "Hazel, it's not about you. I can't explain, but I—I have a feeling I'm going to need to step up when we're in the House of Hades. I need to carry my own burden."

"I understand. I just..." she pouts. "I worry."

Leo hands him the pouch and Frank ties it on a loop of his jeans. "Thanks, Leo."

"What are genius friends for?" He smirks. "But this is partly for a selfish reason. You guys know about my curse—and Hazel offered to help Ara, so we're taking you up on that offer, Levesque."

Ara looks at him with concern. "We are?"

He shrugs casually. "I like us as Firecracker and Birdy, I don't want this lifetime to end anytime soon."

Frank pats his shoulder encouragingly. "We'll help, guys, don't worry."

"Oh, I worry alright..." Ara frowns and holds Leo's head against her chest, kissing the top of it and making him blush. "But I won't go through another cursed life either."

Next Chapter –>

Taglist.

@siriuslysirius1107 @ask-giggles1303 @asnyox-the-hoarder @im-planning-something-look @bandshirts-andbooks @coolninjapaper @thewaterlily @whenisthefall @1randomcomic @you-bloody-shank @sunflowergraves @owlalex44 @taylordaughter @typicalsolangelolover @writingmia @espressopatronum454 @slytherinnqueen @orbitingpolaris @obxstiles @ellipsisspelled @thepixiechicksh @ebony-reine-vibes

[ifideliadaworld-blog]

Dragon Hunters: GLACIER OF MADNESS

(PART 4)

Main characters & setting by: © Arthur Qwak, Valérie Hadida, Guillaume Ivernel © Futurikon Screenplay and artwork: Fideliada

Part1--Part2--Part3--Part4--Part5--Part6--Part7--Part8--Part9(end)

(Gwizdo) Lian-Chu, do you have everything under control?! There are no lifebuoys here!!!

(Gwizdo) Yes, Hector, he forgets everything and everyone when an innocent child is in trouble... a tall innocent child... in her twenties.

(Gwizdo) Captain Chu, these zombie polyps don't grow on that ice wall, but to get there, you'll have to fly on... hey?! Glitter: you also invented an anchor for me!

(Caring Lian-Chu) The lighter we are, the better altitude we'll gain! Gwizdo, this style is just for you! (Gwizdo) And you're like a fanboy of the rattle princess. If you get wet, your coat will get heavier! (Caring Lian-Chu tries to joke) You shouldn't be afraid: just stay as clingy as a flying squirrel and don't fall into the river.  (Gwizdo, not even trying to make a joke) If it goes as well as you promise, I promise to serve as your tree prompter on your first date with Victoria...

(The crash of a log on a stone springboard... it is important not to forget to shout, and then it will come back through psychosomatics!)

(A trio of passengers on a lone mast) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

(WHAT A FIREWORK THAT WAS! How brilliantly Lian-Chu had calculated everything! And what now: sitting on the crown of an oak tree, master Gwiz should help Chu babble Vika, once the big guy kept his word?..)

(Gwizdo, biting his lip) Raw moss... I feel it like an oar. You DID it! (Surprised Lian-Chu) I wouldn't have done it without you both! I didn't know IT was so easy to break through... Predatory, but fragile. (Gwizdo answers through gritted teeth) Zombie form, just l-like I thought! Somethin'was feedin'it, somethin'powerful'n'greedy! (Hector) Oooh, Hector wants to go home!

(Gwizdo lets out a loud sigh of relief at being back on solid ground... with a soft surface!)

(Lian-Chu) The poison mast is a formidable weapon in the right hands... can't you hold up your legs? (Delighted Gwizdo) Glory to the hard earth and the soft moss! I have to get used to them again. Give me a couple of minutes to capture my impressions accompanied by pictures, otherwise I won't have the energy to go for a walk. (Lian-Chu, takes a deep breath to himself) Oh, Gwizdo.

(Hector in a stupor) Ah-ah-ta-ta...  eyes watering... oooh... (Lian-Chu) Do you want to sell your map to someone or do you want to warn the scientists about any dangers here? (Gwizdo, growing more enthusiastic with every step) I don't know, I haven't decided yet. If there is nothing seditious around the corner-of course, I will sell it for a sea of gold!

 (Gwizdo, who suspects Hector of being shell-shocked.) God, my eyes! I don't want to lose those great blue eyes, either. Buddy, what is this place? Can you see anything?" (Lian-Chu) The light refracting beautifully in the ice... just don't look there.

(Lian-Chu) Up or down, Gwizdo? (Gwizdo) At the top you need glasses, I have it! But I don't trust the illuminated tree! (Lian-Chu) We use the rocks as elevators. We can go down to the smaller one easily. (Gwizdo) I don't trust that pond down there… Okay, take the lead!

(The trunk makes a faint sound, like a choral chant... either human or not at all...)

(Lian-Chu) Listen, Gwizdo… (Gwizdo) what? (Lian-Chu listening to the atmosphere) You've gone back to your notes, so add that the ceiling tree makes a faint chorus-like sound. (Gwizdo) I was afraid you'd say that, big guy!

(Caring Lian-Chu) Don't be afraid, Hector, Gwizdo will go to great lengths for you. He doesn't even ask for his shirt back. (Gwizdo) Er ... brother, I always enjoy your flattery... but... Could you TAKE A LOOK TO THE RIGHT?

(Sleeping Zoria) Mom... Dad... It's been a long time since I've seen you.

(Immensely joyful Lian-Chu) Found! Zoria's here, she's safe... and she talks! (Gwizdo, shuddering with apprehension) Delirious in her sleep... Where did she get her hands and face so dirty? And she didn't wash it, even though there's plenty of water around.(Hector) Arrr! Zoe's also dirty kid now! (HURRYING TOWARD HER ACROSS A FIELD OF SQUELCHING MOSS, THEY ARE STOPPED BY THE SPLASH OF SOMETHING HUGE AND FAST, RISING GRACEFULLY FROM THE DEPTHS OF THESE IMPENETRABLE WATERS...)

(Gwizdo, suddenly finding powers) We're running out of time, Lian-Chu! Get down!"

(Splash from uncharted depths...)

(Hector, barely restraining his impulse to yell in horror) GURGLE!..(Gwizdo's dumbfounded whisper) Lian-Chu... it can't be, because it shouldn't be... The FIBRAMORIO became extinct thousands of years ago... or they should have, according to the Black Dragonomicon of Kayo!.. No, it's not a dream... God! Seditious cephalopods, why is this specimen so healthy? And what does it do? (Lian-Chu) Wakes her up... the same thing that he did more than once before our visit!..

(Zoria) Good morning, Lian-Chu... Are we going fishing again? 

(Zoria's transparent voice) Thank you for breakfast. Always such kindness to me in response to my taunts and jokes. I was often unfair to those who took care of me... Even to poor Gildas..."

(Lian-Chu) Hector, Gwizdo... she's not talking to us, but to visions that Fibramorio's Tears bring to her eyes. It feeds her and confuses her, even forcing her to confess everything... (Gwizdo) Tears are like truth serum... She's so skinny, so that beast didn't plan to fatten its prey. Is the soul of poor little Zoe its true goal?

(Zoria) Ulg! Am! Strange, I can't stop my tears... But why does it make me feel so good... (Lian-Chu's whisper) Everything points to this. (Gwizdo's whisper) Lian-Chu... Maybe now isn't the time, but... It's been a long time since she reminded me so much of a real princess. (Lian-Chu whispers) We'll pick this princess up as soon as she finishes her breakfast.

(The clink of Lian-Chu's canteen bouncing off a tree that Gwizdo likes less and less...)

(Gwizdo) Hey, Lian-Chu, by the way, where did you park our rock?..

(Gwizdo, in great trepidation) Wait, Lian-Chu, I can't swim... (stunned by the softness of the throw on the moss) hey-uh-oh!.. (Grateful Hector) Ugh-ugh!.. (Lian-Chu) Wait and watch the dragon while I catch him off guard! (Disappears almost silently in the warm water)

(Gwizdo) Big guy, be careful: It seems to value her too much!..

(As Lian-Chu crouches and swims through the available paths, the cursed tree not only sings and giggles louder... it also amplifies the poor girl's voice for the entire "arena", responding to the bright flashes!)

(Zoria under the dragon's Truth Serum) My uncle... I treated you the worst. You weren't a callous scoundrel, you tried to protect me as good as you could. All my life I go without looking back, I run away more than I chase. And I think I ran away from MYSELF!

(The almost silent rustle of the mast pressing against the moss-covered rock...)

(The chilling chant from these branches turned into eerily meaningful whispers as Fibramorio pulled one to the head of his young "patient.".. if you understand the irony of this term!)

(Chorus from the depths of the tree) ALMOST ONE OF US... WILL BE HAPPY HERE... SOON WE WILL BE ONE SOUL... WILL CREATE A LOT OF HEAT!

(Heroic Lian-Chu) Zoria's soul doesn't belong to you... LET MY APPRENTICE GO!

(PARTLY PUNCTURED, THE WOOD AMPLIFIES ZORIA'S VOICE!)

(Zoria, who has just almost turned her back on everything mundane) Is that you, Lian-Chu?.. We were just sitting next to each other... There can't be two of you...

(The scary tree turned down the volume. Maybe only for a while!)

(Zoria) Are you calling me up, Lian-Chu?.. All right, I'll go up... (Gwizdo) The lotus leaves are also zombified?! (Hector) Urur! A ladder to the sky! (Gwizdo) I don't like it, Hector... I DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Part1--Part2--Part3--Part4--Part5--Part6--Part7--Part8--Part9(end)

[igottayellsomewhere]

yes hi hello

thriller bark (*several yells in general*)

but like

are you telling me sanji got *stabbed* and then proceeded to do some heavy lifting (after getting Tossed and Flattened) in the oars fight and he's *still* alive??? I feel like we're ignoring the part where he got stabbed???? in the left side of the chest???? where a lot of the heart is????? (and yeah it's never overtly stated *where* the wound is but like?? its in the area???? thats probably bad right????????)

Now, i get in the following scenes its played off as comedic cause like, what else you gonna do? hes busy getting ObliteratedTM and getting *stabbed* isn't important right now (and tbh I'm down to ignore the *waves vaguely* absalom conversation/fight stuff too if given a choice cause Yikes) but I feel like a lot of the kuma scene is so much Worse when you remember and acknowledge he got *stabbed*?????

like its definitely Essential Sanji to go personal consequences be damned, kuro cannot take Luffy. Essential zoro too but sanji is hurting, and zoro is respectable and will want to do this solo anyway, theres no way that.... zoro can't finish kuma.... oh god...... well, they still got this, wounds be damned, for everyones sake! then he's falling and hes broken himself more for the effort and now theyre Officially Done For. No hope. Nothing left. This is it.

Both zoro and sanji having 'failed' solidifies that their only option is what zoro is presenting; a trade, because luffy *cannot* die. Cannot. so when zoro offers his head, sanji Knows. he is held together by the buttons on his suit jacket and a prayer and he Knows. most definitely stabbed and bleeding and crushed he Knows, knows clearly that regardless of who is traded he Will Not Make It... he Knows, deeply and utterly... and he can tell zoro wants to believe otherwise...

"Don't make luffy lose both of us, shitty marimo"

with the intense calamity that is his self worth playing chess with his brain, the burning need not to be a burden, and the bright ache slowly consuming him, he Knows, and he accepts

There is so much that Could Be if looked at with this thought pattern context. Makes things... i dunno its more...tragic? intricate? heartbreaking? Everything could change. Nothing could change. If sanji was poised to die anyway, would zoro actually accept it? would zoro refuse the inevitable and they both end up dead? could they both live? could chopper only save one? would they have to choose? would genetics or humanity win? would luffy Find Out? what would never be the same again? what would never change??

There are several reasons things didn't happen this way (other character moments, the genre this fits in, the rewarded hope that is the heart of one piece, ect.) but if it did.... yall... the *possibilities*

[megarywrites]

find the word tag game

tagged by @thewriteflame and my words were: joke, jump, brown, bug, book

all from Seafoam

joke

Zeno murmured something, and I blinked, abandoning my racing thoughts and returning my attention  to him. “What?” 

“I said, we could get married.” 

The absurd desire to laugh nearly overcame me. He was about to speak again, but I shook my hand between us, cutting him off. “I appreciate you trying to make a joke, but is this really the time?” 

His expression contorted to an almost-grimace before it shifted into a small smile. Then, he shrugged. “Sorry.” I scrubbed my hand roughly over my face, leaning forward, slightly away from him. “It is an idea, though.” 

“Us getting married?” 

“Yeah.” 

I sniffed a quiet laugh, despite everything. “Please, we’d be miserable.”

jump

The door to [the captain]'s quarters was right up against the railing, with just the riggings swaying between me at the oar-churned ocean below. I stopped, looking into the water, my hand absently fingering the shard in my pocket as my gaze traced patterns in sea foam lining the choppy waves. I could jump. The oars might catch me. Or they might sweep me under, their turbulence keeping me below the surface until I was out of air. 

Heart stammering, I stumbled away from the railing until my back pressed into the wall. Did I actually wish for death? Or did I just want this to be over? 

Freedom. That’s all I wanted. Basate promised that; I could hold out until then. I could…

I would.

brown

It was strange. Being here. New experiences—not that I had a lot of practice with them, mind—always were strange. She sat across from me, crossing her feet beneath her and clasping her hands together in her lap. 

“What was your name, again?” 

“Solera,” she said, her grin bright white against her russet-brown features. My eyes dropped to the dimples indenting her faintly freckled cheeks. “And, I know coming here, leaving your family, it’s a bit much to take in.” I met her gaze again. “If there’s anything I can do to help you adjust, or settle, just let me know?” 

I returned her smile, however faintly, and nodded.

bug beetle

A tiny armored beetle skittered over the marble steps by my fingers, deftly avoiding them in its hurry. 

Could I have done anything to help? Would the sound of Osmari’s pleas ever stop ringing in my head? 

“Stay back,” a calm voice said, drawing near. “I’ll talk to her.”

Geros. No longer the Diamo, to me.

Solera was right. He was just another man who had done nothing to deserve my respect. 

The beetle had made it past my hand now, scurrying over the sun-warmed marble toward the shade of the pavilion until it was crushed under Geros’ sandal as he made his way to me. He hunkered beside me, his hand rubbing false comfort between my shoulders. 

“It’s disturbing, isn’t it. The lengths my children force me to go.”

book

“Be still, and accept the blessing of the gods,” he said, stepping nearer to them and laying his hand on each of their heads. When he spoke again, it was almost song-like. A chant, of sorts. In the old tongue. I knew very little of it. Just a few words. Curse words, to tell the truth. Zeno, Ismi, and I had found an old book of it in the attic of their home years ago, and that had been all we had been able to look for before Hele called us down for lunch. 

His voice resonated throughout the latridom, even after his chant had stopped. 

He lifted his hands, staggering back a step. As if he had been possessed by the gods themselves and they had suddenly left him. 

“You are now one.”

I'll tag....... @pinespittinink @flowerprose @daisywords @ashen-crest @isherwoodj and @nectargrapes (as always, no pressure!)

your words will be: purpose, plain, peer, pressure, and pain

[libidomechanica]

Untitled Poem # 11282

A sonnet sequence

               1

But at hir owene they were in his thyn, pardee! I thinking spar, just which he defining. Who late is past expected, meridian- born, to wher thin fine way. To foreigners—and London which Drachenfels frown on Natures rude. ’ As every scribe,—that it doth lose his word? In winter’s flow, anon she lover’s lips, he whole, when armour client, poore, and I was deef. And the true we hearse.—Is yet to his complaintive castellacioun; but evere age that day’s rude hoarsest straight.

               2

Which meet, two or the phantasied. And pleasure it can’t complain, petitioned to dispute with their native hermit, ever story far as just now I am to the thinn’d at they sette noght foot, fresh air. On so greet a flowery flower as he written too much regret— no major ten paces were sleeping oar, and a child, gaue her ready known, the grown more than light on the Rhodian stupid eyes like golden song apollo each wrestling up that here beauty lay.

               3

His bed of traitorous friend, vpon whose some twenty stone to wrecche or circumstance, see they hearted up, to batter, and therefore, and speech tells to see you an onion. And teach to each other she I wol hem so a wyf; allas, that great Bandogs will bear it. And let the convey towards; ’twas in my verse more relief to wedde, and rose-briar, friend Jeffrey write at his loveth ryot and floor. I have tried to an end of trees,—he means, to yield to set up vain pretence me with gore.

               4

My head, or sleeps with pains in Scotland, the roofs. You left alone I am no long stand, praising hath be more their teeth, and to such a bear the second time. Look you, your eye things waving that we loose vnchastitee; lat hem bye, spoones I hitte hem that sate upon their wiliness, nor knew not where the saves the othere is mistinguish gloom, in something wind the time, blood agayn Jovinian; in which never lost; jove’s fated water-course than what by love, and tempest campaign.

               5

Nam nat I. Above the charmed her classes. They glare the noble. And as romance, but if to my mind; he shook. Because to save thou preye Argus eyed and weep algates hous all! Death be, let herde the sun’s truth, and yong, and like sour fresh and left me in power, wake unto me! Innkeepers, who, radiant face, and now, by Pan, which men see there are mails faster purely. Strangers, from the times of youth, and a world, that matter date, or dreamer, beam on the faille, thou wolt preysed.

               6

Not only at night once, quick, she opened eyes in magestee, so be true’; swiftly flew the joy of beautiful as shed upon the first bride she would read again. For all them glides away, like thinne hir lecchour, and the lieu of a voice, nor the baser side with some on the bleacherously he might employ’d for the scorch’d his sheen, that if we done praye to all thine inmost bosom, all smoothed, the Virgin’s mystic middle-aged like home to some Mussulmans, who must steed was deef.

               7

A wys womman cast a fine way. And night of my head. The port them go home again. Till I pray, that nowe nor her for itself the trophies home to save, and eek myn estaat I ne tolde he for clamouring Time, to bear or their nurses; scaring not marvelling arms and Mars the rock; or as he site of doors ajar? Give us no more shapes a brute; so well took al nyght an hawe of his mind, resolve to leader of thirty, in all minute, as the wind upon hisses?

               8

Owing up a horses o’er a survey; and cursed God—His arrogance, and the wise and thou looked not a tobacco on a sudden at my words:-but for to dye, thye neuer had done. A sounds bleeding medium. And merrily roar out Harvests cling trial patient reed, till strange enough if deaf ear,—the urchin’s fit to any sign of an old passion to them; but, at their hair it is an aspirant to the vessel: soon removed. Faire eyes of olde dotard, by this fate!

               9

That virtues, borne in me? Than in mageste, and grass turn’d to thee: I lay upright, and now to pleased the constant spell, somewhat: and with reverence; that morn when then dames looked at a’? I am so stanck, though which shall market make no bar; for want prepare for a weanell was fals, but now reduced when to upbraid. The night I’ll be, the monks looked as soon was container can I admire; as flies, yet received the conduct himself a fool of natural pleasant riddled. But consented, and from the death, will hauiour garres men, and nightly taut in the latter, had gone— like gold forgat he would look on his foes about with your those who land: old England, whilst hers to sweet as puff from the bleachers. Never want of Allah!

               10

That on the brave opprest nature’s hip he doth she wove a net who were at my neighbours’ time, youth to view, fairing at full heauens for you! I loved he storm-beaten what a pryvetee. Them all the laces were vale! And not understonde. Without consequent to these are gone—so much to his young man, her hand; she would have had been wyse, and leaving was child of man’s goal. Here. Which can tell: where is no repreeve of tax and pearly houses? Babylon: what she so noble kindred me?

   ��           11

A turnpike road, a things more did makes their naval stoicism, nought with schnapps’—sad dogs! She would his patient with martial storms, and old; brother kindest gaze upon the cheke that field or by ethereanent. Then step, or understand al swich a to-do! Advance, the sun arose or me? I’m o’er young, hands with chosen, thought to all their symbol-essence condescended all its ropes relent, so ripe a judgment upon the praetor bending, blessed was shown, and transitory hues; for beauty which—as a woman thousands and hire housbondes on earthquake. Unforeseen prevarication for one by a boat. Stallion-hoofed false pair!; Through the proofe of joy, in the his breathe, or less? And never in oon, to this veins?

               12

And now was out a world—which I will last Review line the tops shrinking somehow, and nowe they have leave, the vast fire with circumstances struck his want prepared of flutes and than womman, folk desire: I have a-year. Of ayde or modern Ancient and should turn out, and in hole in circles mo thanks to mirke. But shame: for senate in the stood read think I heard in your meaning to stay, until to spend, but thee of, who, by the higher time; and the pass, shorn of a desire?

               13

By thee forth has confound, and morwe; and I am aliue and on Fortune shewe. You and strove a nations: then she: tis hardly word nor sword, i’ll paint to please, but little house,—for his noon, and maimed, the chekes indure marble, mixt red mote vnfolde men, and pebbles, diamond engaged by the roar increase, by wine of engendrure,—thanne we wol I tellė kan, and bridge, by sun on snorting from mortals aforesaid occupied the gods of brave, letting otherwithal he knew myn herte was as is to be summoned to excuse he conversation! Then step, or underwent a breath of smoke, and silver hooks: however, yawn, or doon a sudden can, if that bitter scorn whom so love, as thee to shield. Then felt, and turbans.

               14

Little Clod of dalliance, stood in the empress, who lord and man, steadily from, their own blows, to punish you diedst unlov’d. Whoever in his eyebrows, once Electra her sex nor and hir lecchour, when she less thanks. Though that when loue of hell which never kisse thee, Moon! Thus on she hadde a passage presence great, who bawled thud that I spekestow at each that sith a face her take it. Tho redde it all! But is prove among some sullen summer blown below? For a martyr.

               15

Of illness, for his storm an aged, held out thy Sisters voice I hung lieutenant. She took at least be so; and i say that giant’s discontinue—’t is as with a stay against his was the sea- nymph’s cheek, don Juan, who had perceiving not, but whence in doubt which is most meek surprises—and moaning on, till they came meekly on one port: if the moon, visit my Cythereanent. Left alone in a second the rarities caged. And covered bit of my forerunners.

               16

Besides that fish, with his her spouse, the fronting for the world is the nation, began to be true’; swifter the wall, casement not for to bareyne lond and rhymes, since on the soil to some straue to feel: in vain bubbling crowd pursued his heart’s blood; but yet love is the man process of deede, requires decorum— No—Decorum—No—Pro patriot nation in the dear Redeemer said: yours to their hand were ensues, the fewer housbonde was nat fer from Iceland there’s son? Ah!

               17

Close of shame, and my love in goodnight feels his largest wing, dwelt alone in a stones, ne’re looketh Wilkyn, our royal riddled. Foote in one thing: thought a glimpse at line, they looks naught else, young again. But tend upon him out d’ye call Stellaes faces, and look bad in pearl. Good king: the dust up, all that, iste perfecit opus! Continents, the old text, ne afterwards o’er a wounded, and fled. For the hope remains, and fresh and well? But she believe than that! Where the high Poet!

               18

The women is, ye may stooped, re- father, droop, but nowe I love it unto a double from ignore the Solway, but a little prosy I said she stone boats airily out this mad spleen, and if beyond then second rape, for seen, but to silently their name, the glittering the with relief some does shoulder’d o’er he spoke not, and by my sovereign, thou so far as obstinate matter. Dreamer, out and here, noiseless, tame, and then. His day approche, for I have behind.

               19

And then add soul and remark with payne, no less massy of officer of Ismail’s no blot of bedding ring, and prover, I must be beaty and new knights bright is thine in fact, the manners frame the same kin; some skill answer’d by former word the old truly braine of flight: and happy words something is not say fie on t, ’ if I wolde preciously: not the sea-swell abreast. And clear day was wont to seize; she bow of Iris, where throng made a book their birth, and doubled me—mother’s brink? I dwelt full flash the flash’d, and she played it would steel his kind; excuse he bade the good; and hotel; thy plagues, the phantoms with care; but every bon, he shapes of morn she fled away in spring stations pith, lotting or election.

               20

So she, my tale is echoed by lies, nor ever: but grind the human head, pitying maid to their brother. On like a kiddy upon the Russian bands of light, that and stare, and curse or kick down from an addict. To go,—so witty, and level, than worst for no matter what been transgressions out are gone—like the river-whisper’d, still and in something but tender of Chasseurs, also hear heart and look down a precipitously. She also. Who, like a feyned fire.

               21

You and I, that which foreigner or the hall, and never would have; choose to me. But t is the prey of doubtless as amber shut did hang a little palpitating load on his great Bandogs will fly and now were vain, such occasioun amphiorax at Thebes lost, in the skies from heaven. I have seen, because and passing t is very clown- accent: Potent goddess was the ravished it—but went. God of wit. Before he shall marrow and silks, to display once more love shore!

               22

Though the devils who tempts my saints thy knife has dived the good boxer, in carried mud from me, stood glaring not marvellington and ourself, nor did the throng to brynne. For white for which I doubt, for obliteration—bear that we still my arms, descending throwing gales, the cost, chose ancestors counsell in my boys, come, which oft divide no wyf to go with a sober reason: through Poland and may not hight, ne in more shore. Your business from his medicatest living bride.

               23

Race; beautiful multitude. Long time ne’ertheless bargain for nothing itself, but a bride hadde without Greek, or by som manere, but his turn the lilies out of the fair to his young snakes descending anyway, sire, redde had hem slayn hir bookės sette hym on lyve. No more, lovely girls and faire, and his tale I telleth in the ball. Crooked as frail human head, deny the highway rings strange the treasure he’d come talk is well of grisly thyng that I knew, and man turn.

               24

’ Upon your little bent. Till I want of law before this thyself comprise. Rude work sublimest exults but a giant; at length your days, making dried me within the man! Make thine air liker and tingle, sunning. I AM my mammy yet. Ah fon, no vapour, discover’d him out the and strew these metres men his cravings for rage now to one deepest in: o Moon! Fling on the world—flowers, transparent, and won. Which once more than oon; as, wolde support he was a pye.

               25

—He from a pistol-shot the fair, nor seize the road, the subject to rally those circles, and night, in shore; known power remained, thy love- drynken wyn on Venus said, and would be schism. I read for ever yet they nevere agilte hire housbonde for his fo; lucia, like galvanism upon his the hapless, but stern, instead, but nowe fast as the lawyers, and studied lesson new men and taking load is of the mother outward, flesh extended by his soul stand may be.

               26

Battle; and I won’t they removed. Had sketches of leaves you truth! Even thou the love! There large society, walk’d on like raines will? If by the stars kept my walkynge or daunce to deny the follow. Now, O winged Child! They boast thy praised by vanities, till the whisk’d again. Rang ruin, and still—It’s a kind of incorrigible, the only fiction along his face tempting me, and ’twould gaze at his honest maze. Or elles hadde the very joy and pendent wish God damn!

               27

At last time next of my gossib or a season scanned, and hope will gives are when people going the bitter peep out spak’ the quantity encumbers, of him to the pity, and the gaze upon they went are but vulgar naturally though! But as well perform that least night have deserved such deformities! Johnny, yet used to haue I not comes for each to his youth once seen there, was image yow made, was pricke, say on you; so shy, and roar’d of the empressed. With a nod.

               28

Spare, or live and feet, sweet brood; pluck it for loved Cassandra too with cold bier.—I saved, as do the earth, and wipe my life to continent, and the Florentine. Lethal. When we proved the joy of being a gold-green ruin, rustle off to home. Kind of Thamis—whom you, don’t yet again: the ken, or trotte, or of the already gaping with barly breed and still a man’s tide— and Iphigene, she planes, and press. The earth, in Paradise of Biron. I am your Highness dole.

               29

Where did draw thee, and height yield and critique, juan admired the years: to try if he was well performed of them went from the bridegroom, take aught of the same rules of change grownd, and the race, and creeping out of joy, and I sank her heats and seyde, A womman thou, sweet voice of hoof and couldn’t see their grieve, and as he sat by the hills, which are the wild which harness’d to feyned lovely mistress real while the state recognize her softly light, and ball. As were live back in blood, be maistries of female with grief it flash’d sudden row, nor the sudden, proportions, such thinges relent, so will not stir their grooms are chance, but Phoebus lends but aske hem at things divine, by God’s worse the proceed from those who pass the with great and shore.

               30

His mornings in Jove’s air; yet as the limpid water, there’s no one will not my old season, whence the loss: then for me I scarcely gazed, and up his suited, and ripe-ear’d and poor monk, you fought, crawls to seke? And all: then loue to the cast, who rather pleasure it can’t fare wonned a curious revelation, thought; now strew sweet break upon this loste his art; I said never had be burnt vn’wares his pallid beam on my break Thus changeable and dewdrops instantly?

               31

Her eyes of many wise, whose and cleanly couering station—bear it, ye soothing but after a surprise. Upon my heavenly rapture to church, two were all ability. Of fire was any benedicitee! Let us commended as he sail for verray shame your soft palm—Not so Leonidas and fixed to Roffy renne to whose business in wait wholesome, and a dozen new men and you’ll find sounds can tax my mighty crowned. The city’s part by painted anything.

               32

Thy transfix the face: till pour from whence those miserye. Her he was near, instead of kirtles when deadly quarrels burst with due proprė body, and yre, whose vaunt, a thing’s a turnpikes, and faire adoun, but could not stood wings grew against Greek’s earliest beat hear a little, the feuds, at last some smooth a flower o’ the Frere; now, by my rival bark directly steed was chang’d, however, her hunger mourne, I though awkward as with his mercy. And there, in shore; they had a hands he disowned, and mesh my designed, when she cannot containing a yard or two, they maad upon he had fired in sunshine hover upon a wee white fingers, and other: and lat us wyvės that the Dogges hem needeth fast, to drew.

               33

For every true, were ful offer be as yow lest, in feelynge, his who now exults; they found the mean in thee my warde-cors, as he sail in the unseeing, flash of lead in safety to general Lascy, but you, we han slayn, that my fourthe holly unexpected such a deel; al thing sweet breast, who cause she’s less cinders. As where, waiting for virtue thatch ’mongst other. But yet in flowers let us cull for hym on this crispe heer, shynynge assailled upon reflection view.

               34

Nay, but that it a secretaries, till I leaves with the blood and remarried as Pasimond, the pricked Wolfe lowder call’d Paradise, ’ which that halfe in hir wikked an old passing inch by inch, for hir housbonde had been leaves anothers samphire, ’ through to tear flow’d to your ears. To tall grass-grown the stal, is noght in little Turkish battery onward weight of my fourthe hour in riding ring, and with great curst magician’s name. The great more lovely danced and said that all along.

               35

I ask a brother housbonde pissed with a leon of the gray stood in love, and clepeth for such as unders grew up the golden three: but when the even now wol I telle. And have you play at homeward the tress, and no richesse, as the ravished these joys of human face an old passion, than stood, and the daughter. My first doth transfix the fierce, and led, softened spuds, the name for wit, and by my wing— at Neptune, I thee of heaven waste so much hellish female child!

               36

Whose to endless every wight years even widow’d what I protected: and years their bodies, not disappearing not things in subiect wert, bore no title to live. But what the processiouns, to let me from my words were the inveterate century their reward father and tarry. Of deede, ready were vulgar, cold, and honour of al man hir dronken as the mooste cride Pees! Where is oold, as do too— Harry, Tommy, Wilfred, Edward’s head. The pith, lotting up tomorwe!

               37

Elsewhere Nature’s softer earth, in dream and scarcely join his hour and quiet place: but whether heart gazing sun, that which scarce could be burnt- out brain, answered full lips as to laughė whan he had so rarely class’d his quarter-florin to smother, Donna Inez, finding grenadiers, their bare of fools! Of sinfull be. Sovereigns may be your ease, diggon areede, whose sad face: till pudding— was heart was their continent’s clutch his hold my heads; saw them chide my Julia blush to flee away.

               38

I bow full heart where juniper expire. That way;—juan yet against duns, and his book a little grim, save their usual Origin of men: and half we scan as obstinate assemble. My mourne, I say, whote cole ones in gross, detestable, and day the same, she stone- Henge is the utmost prevarication, will gathered least before the day. See what of al hir lord. Whan shower, despite of hym corrected. I though hardly left behind, no fashion not letting day.

               39

The king by would turned each ear was a moment, for clamour, where fixed regard. As when, for a book agayn Jovinian; in wyfhod I wol nat lightning, were half foolscap subject to reach’d the town, and many other’s former know them, being so longer envy e’er could not comes faintly sang; an active share you’d left them the way to say, mine never since it with his incessant back to remained, he learned for sinck. Night legitimate the hors I koude wynne who, there woods!

               40

But O for all the way which rain’d. The fangs shall scatters drew there’s my clouds and when the next of mayntenaunce. Perhaps; but stern, and religion grow ignorance was favour’d up his eyes looked elipses gainst a wall, or as Apollo’s touch on the king his breathing unforeseen prevailed if, what their wealth to wind and brute to spendthrift hour in riding the poore I stood, nor be my smile. Poor weakling silently, and gay, and he shal nat maketh deere? Where I am helmsman.

               41

They err’d, and iust excuse he had seen, on his souls of Mercurie is dissipated amidst them talk— he pictur’d the sea, admit not go seken halwes, and hir treson lost lie, until thou art ripe to me to be very isle, and man, ere he alighten thou must contented? How potent by painful is all for his body, in no foul dragon-fly came chaast allowances of him great and pity;— I should steer my skiffs which bread and wondered and by, my stomachs.

               42

Day to track our historians for purgacioun, and Iphigene tooth, so levell’d tree, right employed that was at my niece … patron-saint— is it dooth myn housbonde born delighter, making that earst the softly, flutes; nor care. As Auld Lang Syne! It’s arm I’ll teach the man-slayer, ’—then awake unto the tenths of mind;—’God save, and dread of cunning wind blaws the long’d a health to view, fair, my like the starts, ’ just as Koutousow might except it shortest wing, but if to pleasing gracioun.

               43

She sail’d when the goodnight, in should not veer round Endymion: then, be’st loth, by the rock; or as thee biseke! A whole ranks: some appears, who survived the fallen: then—all good uses us to hem ful blisse, and remark with all silent; but I am helmsman. But Blanche: and have I Martes mark these; if so, by the ashes! Difficult somehow, and send ourselves: if no noise of Crete, for, by which last must burn the framed of sooth’d in the respiration— I don’t much, Cynara!

               44

In such a desires, and walke I wolde nat God dispence. Like as a heart whose an ungratefull, what concede quarter, whom favourites of politics, tactics, polite; ’ but with flash’d their host. Sometime and pyne?—Olde dotard, by the conteck and quivering seen. These metres men may conscience is his patience; first time had made me dead or hence? Make his system made no purpose to end they will see unfold heaven black and pyne? No, never shall espye: the lacing o’t.

               45

Smiling with symbols by thy text, still, and half daddy, the future twirl’d; the stream: I can only trampling with all his beading all the rout clustering death for the lake- like brows and they give to such determine, by habits;—not so you, or some back a bachelor now occurr’d— it might be so preche; and fine you new. And her bosom, all you return, and in summer breezeless may be married at the first ray then being a virtues only spak, Of courses; scaring ill.

               46

She then in slumbers; common men with thy harshest vengeance humanity— which wisė kyng, daun Salomon, ovides Art, and that sweet air; and was well equipped for those there understonde. As one would say who besides in disgrace: her so, lending back at once more stood nor peace witty could groan, when like voice extremely have in his labour tost, and bar. A genial war is. Now sees on me down she find an hors over the wisė wyvės mo than aught up think such sacrifice.

               47

—Such he durst begin to get it—for shone faultering death been a wyf, dame of Or Molu. Who furrows of Death, if I shal seye that piercing that’s friend of a someres game with little superficial, all by law of Reasons selfish, and loves then another looks: in the cloud breast these treasure of them rises to seek roses damask’d, red and so laid them apes of the long day: by this after than costes, men speke after my grace to join again, or hieroglyphics on Egyptian soldiery to lifeless. If love anon; now dame, quod he, and not stop with great convenience in disgrace: but sith that most dainty hue gleam luridly. Despair make a iolly so too;—and before the thinks themselves.

               48

Or near heard of grape is made som men even they ask of joy with the day incapable of thilkė tonnė that I forgive her? ’Er is swells, even for my privetee, beating, but praise, they were, in shone faire, ycladde in robbing wind it o’er. Designs in his want him taken up your leaves of this, and pearls of mine, cheere, I wol hire housbonde was just now seems my child, the waves are chance commission until time’s fully resolve to say he puff’d out, as the impress! From those who wise.

               49

Directed. Express how pure, hue, or an empty as the thou shalt win much the portion with regard. Their fresh from hue-golden climes wolde I bend my wit, not pomp subservient to gard. Of English naval stoicism, nought that ech of Thamis—whom it soon the Bread. One steps luxurious damme’s’- the wall, which nevere agilte his child! Both particular am I, that my merit first,—I will bet Moscow’s climes and tread you kiss her, nor could just as might be changed.

               50

” One asked to flee out of my heart. In oure sire of clouds o’er-sweetest subiects wrong. And the first to put thy part of myster sayings in a row. My heard of grief. In this book, and such a sigh and in all that hath clepėd us, who gads upon the which once they—now furious blaze of inclined, the kingly scour those lips have the monks look, as over my joy! This knight chemic yet tick, except to praise, once in the houses full of verray shame away, til attentions.

               51

About in women, like airy conclusion, that o’er, vibrate to shame ye woot thy prince. Brute; so to regular gleaming told thee in fashion. In this worse, alike pearly wander, and the already ripe to be convey towards which that eve. So green, and friend: this knock’d up by a dallying inch of sense filling been they know. Thus was heart was of o thyngės small items costly.— He nevere smyte! The east, I say: is the Fourth, most nobly, and for folk that followed up its head.

               52

Last time of chalk, a wood-coal canopy the tribunes’ crew; and the Eolian twang of the los of aged men, saving lay, and who tremble: piteously to softened the fire, his face her—which choked the skipping in silent, English as welcome, when the more please; for, like Nature bright-dark struggle, then: blessing! Perceived with his whole the vasty deep, never stop with thick’ning city. Nay, you shall profit and cannot rouse and cradle their long stars go on the Rhodian you em more the streets, beneath a crew before these sulphuret. You walke not, kind eyes, like an aspirant to hem nat I. Itself hath but red mote vnfolde me, caw the soul when matter; commodious people desiren us in verse, all walls.

               53

Nor would have spoke, bubble’s shining not the streets eight ocean’s suited not mark a gleam. Sometimes, without the affected with those true as soon unright we Diggon, I lamentable steps a sweeping. Of carnage,—and through the deepest mast can set off your faced both hidden three day, she yaf hym Daryus, where lost thou wast my self to plesaunce; I wol hire horrid speakers—I have done sort of my former vows, and fann’d the poor more of Selefkia from off to Canterbury!

               54

Takes the latter; or, if he was not answer’d, Look of bread and weep, and before the shimmer of his vesture, and maken gayne, no more. Going slowly from mortal column, thou dost thou art farre worse stounde, so be thy lyf! As, wolde lyve parfit changed in the poore her hand is safer: on tiptoe through the lights long as flesh, I cannot flies, bewitcht with little bent to Tauris, was heres: slepynge, his wyf to go seke? The light, all is perpetual feast received to the bed.

               55

His tendril the rarely—man’s bed, in truth, and early house, trash, suck my perish’d—his path, and if that; and of itself more beside! Rusty bosom, all my being in Spanish, and nose and confusion force were woo’d me back to mirke. Why, for tears and got out the Woolfe in her a towers of the examples on our fill, and creeping with all its cold lead things swell, cries the blood and me night at a stately sheltered the spirits told me so, I will come up with this enough!

               56

A city;— I shuffle sideways, pitying cranck. As Auld Lang Syne. As perles, ne eek to change my friend Don Juan, thou point.—As also recommeth hem mysavyse. Sweet beauteous vassalage, look! For madden’d Turks he me how I plot to shine own life was run, for nothing his clown, he loved the tide of pearl which Eve mightie eating, now Nature, as care, were I rise again, or dull cloud; the Sun. Have given for thee, vnto the flash their fire, of ayde or corn is reckon’d all the down the savage; and shapes unseen light, for it move his brother, he red their gaze calibrating every mind. Where it burst of some pleasures— touch’d the sentiment one every shadows and given to feel: in vain: let the devil’s den; but last!

               57

That motto dreamer, awakes us too, nor draw out you may cross. The goodė men of a boy, ’ a tide I hadde a book, and turned unbathed, and hotel: forth we let your vows, and what goes before my self doth devocioun; but O too fierce common cry and ogle: o, ye ambrosia; so it is anticipated nation, kept them, they bene Wolues, as her celestial Mansion House of Or Molu. I have him master of bed my humbles, diamond was stranger!

               58

After all its dimm’d eye’s spreads the rushing his yet still thee perfumes is to maintain. That glow rolls an ox o’er though heavy poem again; and Wordsworth a portal names with the chime there: if I were straue to dispersed the hors I koude byte or conferr’d the wings thrown himself be snuff about the rose’s the highway at oure made a vocation which once addeth to watch’d no less reeks. Again, or holla for me to keep your form happy mother, it may be double-vantage!

               59

Chose of wedlock; and white good heard,— and I soon unriddles of thilk same true woman, children climb the day we hadde with Time renders the hen-dove shall I own When Bishop Berkeley said the river. Love lies and flame’s gaunt famine nor them for all are the raw as quite it is a bulletin. Tho redde he should, my Adonis kind of more than one: there people deem merely give to such of imitating even now. All so;—God may be done, o’er a spanyel she short adieu!

               60

Blessing, but euer liggen in her like cattle, these secretaries, in one his hand. Who sniff at vice and a rather sigh like sun, who will sea-worthy skiff; and ices. I knew not with a grisly twine, and wipe my life, with dilated glance, and some little.—Mine’s shining not the found eyes, like a womman wole, and wolde he fourthe hors over the Medici, i’ the shepherds called, who ruled the dead? Simple song his breath; though theirs alone, not yourself, from his will, to the Grand?

               61

To take, dear their eyes to doubt why, if wommen kan nat kepe me stood wings we embrace, remember yet, which he parables to, but he was lucky thou ynogh, the Russian or two soul would touch encheason, white, doe interprises—and I begin! The frosty with that oon the soveraynetee, and forward withstood danger, and where Cymon’s black silk neckcloth—and replied: At least stale down upon the wind, if by fight, new as he wroth, life and kiss her, yet dare vnder foot-prints.

               62

This knowe a long I saw not why, arrived. Be dawed, to han thou make him pardon the True Believe so much pique myself shalt unders of the knuckles—they unclasp’d—I caught: and than with infant came as a hero, harlot, lawyer’s breathless, pleasures. To tak me frae the generate matters. The crescent’s free of all move or bridal hours be with his when her hamper’d, reach’d that I am poor beautiful dreamer, all dispute what a plant bombs inside you. Oh, no—it sank.

               63

To speak them chaste. The assault: hounds, ascend thy cruel enchantments. Cloud; her hunger-pinch. How mought to beguiled by no means to bear the teeth stuck in me down upon the bride the leon, tel me why that I was dizzy, busy days, reader! There composed with my deeds. Just at their musical tennis match’d the necessary bile; my nature bankrupt is, if I cannot, dreamt of flowers, two discover in her married and south summer blood run upward to heavens despised?

               64

Why is my merit it be cautious mowing which eve doth have seen our guide. The tug of what they feast is finished it—but weak disdain your teeth stuck faster thy white, wepyng, spynnyng God it withdrew the gentlier-mightie eating imitate his brutal summer’s holiday, thy long, that is whelp destroying wind fauour fed my helpless massy of thee, intense when alow; nor long oppress’d in a row like a great disturb the soul, even if she had been with no sound a whirl’d.

               65

The through a lad, in their return, I am the tide ebbs in summer wind, following to stem?—But permit, who grew again torture- pilgrim wilde the heed, namoore prosperous magian fish most human seems secured a little near related. Of his main, not exalts their due reward, is to be bold and my being to thinketh al to a lightning for to bareyne lond and all her wish, and in time next tell the reed, Woo’d and the Frenchman, oh Jack and flying of death?

               66

I watches o’er they are boote that famous fair goddess of our soul at alle men peeled a banana. Until ’twas to ashes lay, glad if for her heart—just ere shone a new heart; at length, nor cousin withal upon a pot of seven more bestow’d upon its late scatteries your sails declivity which is neither came; the man’s bed, I’m o’er young, I’m o’er he giue the gate calm speeches past exile must await, from a dark locks that for gore and keep him can compare.

               67

Crept them three, I bow’d down to quench’d volcanos, orange, now swimming best of flying save a common run, who fought, all forms and rise, good as cayenne doth make up the Saxon king, and more penchanted shafts, though he’s damned. Sets dost lords advance was ful of view my love, war, pestilence: while the store, but nathėlees, then skeletons of mo prover, or let me put his equally though I am not a moral me; he’llfind thanne is youth and all: then it with mortality.

               68

Should a blockhead hung up on Greek, or Runic, swear the river’s faces level, that rudeness, the other care the ship and who can be astonished side by side, but’s scratched the great sang a little score, what’s rattles, are over: Here’s spright, as Danae in living from dull even in that with house, there in ech degree. And Ireland’s house. Keep back into throne—thought you shalt nat bigon, and all dark, has run, when thou hast the forest root; and, which is most dear, tis not to be fiddle.

               69

Even if she spawn of days and reach’d it down on my boys, come, quite worn out, and led, softened song, whan the prince thing’s high, magnificent House they looking in array. And play then of the wholesome, and chide that I have enshrine such things could kick him for shrewe thy resolves to a Jew; both parting my fifthe hostile ship moore will less cinders. Don Juan, whose nation round the affected spot for a much noise of light of Albion’s ear, when she came a hurry of man’s falleth meet decaye.

               70

In ever the talent that our head. … The mountain still pour from oother home and Napoleon or lost; at length he could grave. His after all around was sent out the stood, nor could gladly be bride. About loves so witty, but by an arrowes tried my eyes like a young sounds to Cologne, and seye that speech tells you is God’s daughters and past: since Adam, with alterational;— but Juan and much, and perish’d very joy and our side the earth, and well? His broad air can compare.

               71

My lettest out the Park. Ascended all other the name of Green Erin, ’ which now his hand thence no doubtful section bore him meditative. Heart-broken: let me die! So Catherine, all out, and her married as an as start not for alle were sleep the depth ther Mercurie is gone and Preaching ready plaints adds pious man was image once they came, and his proper could knows! As if I shal the betters! And what every blot, and when some in disentangling his condition.

               72

If not for that sin by his gulfe. From their handes at my merits; for to give her babe and the right; our doors of travel their force were profit and lo, it is not in this wesand bending vaguely towards a torrent or a weak defensive weapons fly. Yet t is very accurate, discover the parapet just not for fears renew. His right and she that I have seen, lull’d down through the roll the best kan, now were unlaced you walk from the morrow frae naebody.

               73

Hid, and swell; tis said, I am to the first and stronger. And hover upon the rose, like airy flowed they met; but doubt I am to the Saxon king, no one by line carrying that bosom, all the wo, Ful giltelees, and another he shrink to wind an hooly seinte Venus is exalt alone the young, I’m fley’d it may be perhaps, ’ though her growe? And I keep your lately glistening being breast. Oh, tis pity, and the bestows, the day was I to drew. Till one.

               74

Hounds, which people say over them. That froward the queen, seated verse, all the year heart? Of those who upon hir lyve. Chance, see thyng, and sky. ’ She stopt with how I plot to say his flight: then lo! The hap of all around—But when ther when you luld he giue they gush out, as no man woes: for loved what they built of al hir lord. The lay before to chace, but which turncoat Southey, where three bishoped by a shot; his tears. Their plighter, and ease. So, all scummy slight, trim, but if that cannon.

               75

—Then Love will fortunates of light, and mother, bronze and replied a grief and from eve to loves of grief and arms and were we wished from beneath throughout a spectator, yawning fate: ’tis the saddle before, but of those suffer what men like pitch black-eyed Eulalie’s Come hither come ye in women, and accept all the prize what made those who love new-born babe—in that Boon lived and greedy thirst with theeues thou fleet steed was bent toward mind, and at them the foe defining. Answered upon their cheerful to Cymon ploughs will, to think my life, and thews immortal columns were the girls in thy brave as eye could not combat with your affair on what anon; for it—’t was great Gracchus of a piece-meal with his body.

               76

A modern wit named after than I, say, will placed, where, ere mails fast; his troop retired, all we both rebell by law of Reasons self- approbation; her hands, white body, you talke, and when the gentle Orb! Or Diggon, I prepared as a fossile man, who had been a Duke no matter’d over wheresoe’er that doth call this path of wit? Of Neptune’s shaved and may never cantos of what to the pricke, say one’s stranger oute we done to share you are now as I’m nearing.

               77

Offspring come, which so pierce pulse between the key upon my stories, as careless grace a savage sorts and walking, drowned in court was so hard upon thy lyf; keep me as I said, for hem, seeming got vp a treasure, and sick of condition. And plumes and lace itself hath highest maze. Tempting place which every ocean must now them leaue the Syrens fainters, as once more in love not for her sorrow not only fiction awaits fountains, who really prolling eyes. And burn more bene ydle and wasted, ere the care not borne thee lust endure what slight myrie wol ben at height, for thy transfix’d with art’s despite, in this Pardoner, and could pierce was a love the leaders sped; but a bey to answered upon hisses?

               78

But, if all may yield to thy garland groans, which victory, and eating gore: there mixed, till pudding swollen billows greet and by thy month of their weight of ladies, I am old, we teased the Nereids dancing by cool rocks,—and sorrow depart; for hir wirkyng ful contrary; but let me so seen, though I never these uttering, choking, which teach to his hundred of summer, sir, and me night womankind. And left themselves the very white the sun soon the cry: so sterile beach.

               79

As patriots now and this a sign of a chastity? I sey nat dwelling pranks, stopp’d down from its tranquil ken, but by any means, the pious people of heaven. But to prove of índulgence; so it with should she mighty greater page, till often this enormous city’s abyss of the river’s kiss will, for could for man’s brink, as there man cried ’Tis ask and grief and aff like your mother wiping her approach them rises to search through thou wert cold gray stones from heaven.

               80

Holds john Baptist’s head or sleeping which waves, as hym list comes to wed the least extract much leprosy. Upon a pot of the rough the bricks, to push on; he was none that thou shame which well suits his bleed and thou art of my cotage thousand here and retossed by the city wall; but wheresoe’er it move his shouts the more of words through t is best in fresh and sinews bent towards she would for alle the Prior, turn him love; or if it there in thanks. The laste, and pity;—hark!

               81

Outburst out upon his brow, so narrow drain’d him in the crosswise, and let me disappearing—i only care, each ravishers remains unseen strike the same truth! But live and peace her throne, and one good heart gazing he was on wire, and the fool wither’d with the town at zero, she accompanied by the dark, who hath made my heard, look’d down in this the gleam, the flocke, thought, and hear one fierce, perswades for it were rain; I sue not wherewith they may makes a stiffen’d head.

               82

That Socrates and Miss Maevia Mannish, both in this cursed by her celestial Mansion have seen Napoleon, white as in a grace to be you wilt swim through a gentle Juan never was he kan hire talked with banish’d to make with an apple famous for all the road. Grew more relief: the day and pant, and in depth of aged men; but a possibility poised at distance a witness—it must at the sky, vaunt as start not, that once in cloudlets, glittering death’s valley.

               83

Wynne agayn my love, to put they fell my pouch I yielded in; and smile heroes, and with they led on fired; love made a mocke at the bettre in honde, this king, and happy Eternity: the croupe they saye the field of my dark stair into swears tis only wonder’d, Look a guard the gray begin with me wither’d Infidel, and all I said thee in the door with me, and steady, that bee-like, but one of hym Daryus, when Cymon found him doubt, he or spyen? Our enemies haue: a right: and chessman, make the ladies even now, a cloak of bloody has becomes tooth. On which cannot tell exactly what may yow soore I am for such glory as thre, the war, was well equipped for, spied its march’d there we prayer!

[natjennie]

that stupid fuckign red piece of silk is gonna make its way to stede i swear to god. the logic in this show doesnt make sense we know it doesnt. its possible. ed just threw it out into the wind. stedes gonna fish it out of the ocean with his oar and Know that he needs to get back because something is wrong. he's gonna dry it out and press it and do tiny little needlework repairs on it and fold it neatly back into a pocket square for ed, taking care of his washed up, thrown away little heart and making it whole again. not because ed asked him to but because he wants to. and ed's gonna see that people care about him, even after everything he's done. and it's gonna be okay again.

[malvolios-yellow-stockings]

Some thoughts on the final two episodes and why what happened had to happen because they weren’t ready to be in love your honour

disclaimer - did i basically just describe the plot of episodes 9 and 10 without much analysis, yes i did, but this is self-care so it doesn’t count

After becoming coherent again, after processing what happened in episodes 9 and 10, I can safely say 

Guys, guys, this needed to happen.

This right here ↑, this was never going to work. Stede and Ed have both been desperately trying not to deal with their past one way or another.

Both of them have shame and guilt over it (relating to themselves, each other and other people as well). And terrible amounts of self-loathing and self-doubt that make them unable to deal with their problems in a healthy way also dwell in both of them.

Don't get me wrong, these two are definitely in love, but to me it seems to be a „meeting the right person at the right time, they change each other’s lives but neither of them is emotionally ready for a relationship yet“ kind of situation.

Let me explain what I mean in a semi-coherent way (which means throwing my brainrot at the walls of my atrophied analytical brain and seeing what even remotely sticks, you have been warned):

Let’s go over their pasts real quick

So, we know Stede has been in a sense traumatized, made fun of and humiliated for being a weak-hearted, soft-handed, lily-livered little rich boy, in his father's words, since his childhood. Where every act of kindness and unwillingness to be cruel just meant he wasn't a proper man. Where him picking flowers as a kid resulted in being bullied and his hands being tied to oars with rope, being made to row across a lake (river?) while the other kids threw rocks at him.

The society he grew up in has never really appreciated his eccentricities, but has made him extremely insecure in himself to the point of believing there's something wrong with him, that he really is weak, a monster who destroys everything he touches because he is just unlovable and a burden.

  ↑  from episode 1

my dear brother

your own family

↑  from episode 9

And when Badminton (the balding one who says he doesn’t pay much attention to the fact his twin had more hair although he totally does) says this to Stede's face - Stede Bonnet is not a human, he validates every deepest fear and hatred Stede has for himself, every single doubt he has ever had.

And the worst of it all:

God's perfect little rich boy

And this is where he completely breaks down

He believes he ruined Ed, that Ed will be so much better off without him. And we know, from the way he reacts to Ed's plan and the way he reacted to Ed's perceived calmness in the Royal Privateering Academy before that, that the doubt of what he has done to Ed is finally settling in. Stede hates himself and he carries that hatred 24/7.

Stede has always wanted to feel accepted, to belong, to feel his thoughts and opinions matter to someone, that there must be someone willing to listen to him and respect him. He left his wife and kids because he felt like a burden, which doesn't really justify his selfish actions but does make them understandable, sincerely believing his disappearance would be better for them (even if he used that as another excuse to leave and to make himself feel better about the decision). But there's almost no point in time where he doesn't regret his decisions, especially when he's at his most vulnerable. Although he acts selfishly quite a lot, and displays either naivety or unwillingness to process the consequences his actions have on others, he still cannot help but feel deep guilt over what he did to his family by fucking off to the sea and abandoning them "on a whim". He feels responsible for that.

So when Badminton dies after making him completely crumble, of course he reverts back to his old life, wanting to forget Ed. He thinks Ed will be better off without him, that he has somehow made Ed weak like himself. But he also feels like Ed will realise everything Badminton had previously said to him is true, and it's better to run away than ruin something directly, by being himself, the parts of himself he cannot change and the parts the society he grew up in has ostracized him for (I believe, that at this stage, Stede hasn’t fully realized that Ed likes and „understands his idiosyncrasies“). I think that fear of Ed "seeing through" him and finding nothing but a spoiled, weak man also propels Stede to do what he does, and that is to run away (or back, I guess, to his wife and kids with an excuse, while also trying to make himself sincerely believe, that he’s doing this to make things better with them, to reconcile and correct his past mistakes) because as Stede has said himself - he's a coward. Both for leaving Mary and the kids, and now for leaving Ed.

Fun, now onto Ed. So, Ed isn’t the primary main character in season 1, he gets fully introduced a few episodes in. We also don’t know much of his backstory. There are a few incredibly important character moments for Ed, an in many ways, his narrative can seem incredibly similar and also incredibly different to Stede’s. As I’ve already mentioned, the things that link them together are the shame, guilt, self-doubt and self-loathing they experience. The boredom Stede feels before he runs off to become a pirate and the lethargy we find Ed in while Stede is recovering from his stab wound.

The first bit of his childhood we learn of is when the crew prepare their first „fuckery“ and the mythical Kraken gets reintroduced (first time obviously being the traumatic memory Ed disguises as a cool monster story he tells to the crew). (Holy shit, that part when Ed falls down and retreats visibly upset is so fucking sad).

The display reinvigorates Ed’s memory and Stede witnesses his distress. He reveals to Stede he was the one who killed his father, to protect his mother and himself. The thing is, Ed struggles with the fear of being unlovable as much as Stede does. He has grown up in violence and poverty, using ruthlessness as the only way to get by and to survive the harsh conditions in which he lives. He has been brought up on violence, he’s enacted it, and he remains haunted by the memory of strangling his father, and has not directly been the cause of another’s death after that but has always outsourced the job to someone else (mostly Izzy presumably, but many others as we see in the scene where he tries to learn to dine). He is driven to feel unworthy of love and kindness because of his past behaviour, like there is something fundamentally wrong with him. While Stede hates himself because of his perceived weakness and soft-heartedness, Ed, on the other side of the same coin, feels ultimately unfixable because he considers himself to be violent. Still, he doesn’t go through killing Stede, instead growing even more attached to him. Stede, who is one of the first people who has shown him kindness and friendship, gentleness, and the man to whom he has introduced himself as just ’Ed’, not mentioning he is Blackbeard until later.

And throughout their developing relationship, while Stede learns about pirating, Ed’s change is more fundamental, Stede’s kindness is „rubbing off on him“. Calico Jack returning brings out some of the carelessness and rudeness from Ed Stede hasn’t seen before and the whole episode proves a challenge to the question of Ed’s nature. Seemingly, his self-doubt, and trauma-born (or at least informed) Blackbeard persona come back, Ed ready to leave with Jack. But as he finds out Stede is in danger, all of that goes into the water as he tries to get back to The Revenge in time, while Jack is baffled to realize Ed considers Stede his friend. Ed is beginning to shed Blackbeard as the only facet of his personality more and more.

So, when the big disaster™ happens, much like Stede’s biggest fears are awoken by Badminton, Ed’s deepest insecurities of being unlovable and outright evil are, in his mind, confirmed, when he waits the whole night for Stede and Stede doesn’t come. I think that deep fear is the reason why Ed doesn’t even consider Stede might be dead, not trying to search for Stede, thinking „of course he doesn’t love me, even at my most vulnerable, most kind, most Ed, he doesn’t love me, he doesn’t even know Blackbeard like others do and I’m still not enough, I’m not good enough, I’ll never be, I’m broken and I don’t deserve to be happy“. So he goes. And cutting someone out of your life is hard this time, it’s not Izzy or Calico Jack, even though he is attached to them, it’s Stede, the first person he allowed himself to fall in love with and the man who has changed him.

Now we go to The big disaster™ 

The big disaster™ hits because of a few things, but I’ll focus on the two I think are the main reason(s?). Stede and Ed aren’t on the same page when it comes to their relationship to their respective pasts. Both are held down by them, but Ed (thinks) he’s ready to move on while Stede still feels some form of regret and need to see his (previous) family again. Ed, it seems, doesn’t get that, and wildly suggests China which scares Stede even more, the whole „leave everyone behind to be together and create new identities“ thing. It pulls Stede even more back to his past. He is confronted with what he has done to Mary and we get this little flashback I think is important.

Now, obviously, this flashback can take on a completely different context and meaning to Stede, Mary and their relationship in episode 10, but in episode 9, right after Ed suggests going to China, Stede realizes he cannot do that, he feels he doesn’t deserve it because of what he’s done to Mary and their children. So while I’ve seen others suggest this expression Stede is wearing is one of complete adoration for Ed and belief in his plan, I suggest this – this is the moment Stede becomes more determined to go back to Mary and kids, and the face he makes really looks like he’s second-guessing himself and Ed, it’s the continuation of his doubt while becoming aware of what him leaving Ed in that moment might do to him although not completely understanding the scope of what will actually happen to Ed. In other news, Stede doesn’t actually take his own advice to talk about his feelings.

After The big disaster™ strikes and the parallels

I’ve already written about what happens directly to Stede and Ed, now let’s talk about the character evolution/devolution aspect of it all and what flips them over.

As episode 10 moves along we see Stede devolving and relapsing into this old life, still a shoe that doesn’t quite fit, Stede trying to make it happen at all cost. Him being a pretty terrible husband, he and Mary, as Mary says, „can’t seem to stop hurting each other“.

Meanwhile, Ed is taking the heartbreak harshly, obviously, and through a bit of Lucius’ help, he expresses his feeling, trying to get over it in the way Stede has taught him. He even dresses in Stede’s clothes, to comfort himself and to take on Stede’s management style for just a bit. He’s becoming more comfortable with appearing feminine, expressing himself, opening himself up to others and listening to their feelings too, something he hasn’t quite done before. He’s experiencing his first real heartbreak, and even though Stede’s a massive dick for leaving him, his advice and the way he’s changed Ed are currently helping Ed heal.

Then shit hits the fan and flips the scenarios big time. Why? Because of the people Stede and Ed have surrounded themselves with and deemed important, people who have, for better of worse, been a part of their lives for years and possibly decades.

And these two people, who flip the switch, couldn’t be any more different – Mary and Izzy. Neither likes what they see in front of them, both want to return to their „normal“ lives by dealing with the person who’s making that a difficulty. But, Mary has found love in Doug, is loved by her community, friends, and children and has a blossoming painting career while Izzy wants to return to ruthlessness, pirating and generally being a stinky little bastard git a piece of shit. Mary wants to have kindness and happiness in her life, while Izzy wants that eliminated. So, they obviously have different ways of dealing with Stede/Ed.

After a failed murder attempt (girlboss), Mary and Stede talk things through, realizing they absolutely do not belong together. Mary helps him finally understand what being in love feels like, something he hasn’t felt before and therefore hadn’t known how to recognize, and he tells her - „His name is Ed“.

To finally grant himself and Mary the freedom they both deserve, Stede uses the knowledge Ed has passed onto him, to create a „fuckery“ and fake his own death, ready to get back to Ed.

No specific reason why I put this in, I just think the whole scene with Stede faking his death is really entertaining.

Meanwhile, Ed’s healing is interrupted by Izzy pushing him more and more into becoming Blackbeard again, insulting him at every step. While Mary has uncovered the man underneath Stede and helped him, Izzy has uncovered Ed instead of Blackbeard and he fucking hates Ed.

Izzy doesn’t want Ed, he doesn’t see Ed, he only sees his captain as Blackbeard. He rips out a page Blackbeard has explicitly made fun of in Stede’s presence well before they became as close as they were, and shoves it in Ed’s face, solidifying the fact that Izzy has never really understood the man underneath Blackbeard.

After this, due to many factors, being emotionally distressed after being left by a man he was in love with being one of the biggest ones obviously, Ed reverts back to his coping mechanism, something he has built for survival, but this time, it’s an entirely different beast, not Blackbeard – the Kraken. The beginning of this is symbolized by two actions – the throwing away of his red fabric which has become a stand-in for Ed’ heart and the raising of the new flag with a heart being stabbed through.

Three things that directly portray him coming to „the dark side“ are throwing Lucius overboard (Lucius was a crew member Ed was closest to, whom he confided in and was also the least oblivious to the feelings Stede and Ed had/have for each other, so interpret that as you wish, although I’m pretty sure Lucius is unkillable, bless him), cutting Izzy’s pinky and making him eat it (a parallel to the scene where he is ready to leave this all behind for Stede, when he tells him about „making people eat their toes for fun“ which makes Stede react, reasonably, in disgust, so I interpret this as Ed trying hard to distance Stede from himself as drastically as possible) and leaving Stede’s crew, „Bonnet’s playthings“ as he calls them (notice the shift from using Stede’s name to his surname), to die on a small „island“. His transformation is apparently, assumedly complete. He is donning a mask he has used to survive this long.

Closing thoughts A.K.A. It’s going to be alright

While Stede's journey is more focused on him grappling with heteronormativity and what he thinks he ought to do, Ed grapples with toxic masculinity (Blackbeard, in my opinion, being a real part of Ed, not a performance, a fractured image of himself he used in order to survive, the only way he knew how, and the Kraken being an exaggerated, almost parody performance of Blackbeard, taken to the extreme, as I’ve written beforehand) and what/who he is. Although this is obviously simplified.

In the end of episode 10, the season finale, we see Stede accepting himself, realising he cannot fit into the upper-class bubble he has tried "correcting" himself into. He finally accepts his feelings for Ed and what they mean for both of them, taking what Ed has taught him with him on the journey, determined to make things right again. On the other hand, the last shot of Ed we get isn't that of the ruthless Kraken, but of Ed himself, heartbroken, crying, alone, trying to exorcise every trace of Stede, reminded of what happened as he looks at the lighthouse painting, the only thing he has presumably kept of Stede’s, we see that the Kraken is something he is trying to "correct" himself into, although it seems not to be working.

Stede is finally starting to accept himself and he had his closure with Mary, now it's Ed's turn.

It’s all going to be okay and CHEERS TO SEASON 2 Y’ALL!!! 🌈 🏴‍☠️

did i basically just describe the plot of episodes 9 and 10 without much analysis, yes i did, but this is self-care so it doesn’t count, i apologize to anyone who has read this

[melrosing]

Hey hey! What do you think Jaime’d’ve done if he’d found Arya in AGOT…? We know what he thinks he’d’ve done but also he isn’t exactly the clearest assessor of his own actions?

Tbh that’s a tricky one lol. Jaime is sincerely expressing the fear that he might’ve done it, and that can’t be dismissed; it’s possible that he might’ve switched out of that headspace in the moment, like when he plans to smack Brienne over the head with an oar lmao (god two timelines, one where JB become the Lovers and one where Jaime just whacks her across the head and sails away), but the chapter ends on this note, so I think we as readers should understand that if nothing else, Jaime was out there fully intending to kill or maim a kid.

However, people often read that as just the way Jaime was preseries, which isn’t true - rather, I think he’s in a uniquely fucked up place in AGOT. Like honestly, he’s probably slightly traumatised over what he did to Bran - and no sympathy for that lol, but I think that’s what the chaotic behaviour in AGOT spouts from. He’s never done anything like that before (I.e. attempted murder of an innocent), and I think it’s the first time he’s had to wonder if he is actually as awful as everyone thinks he is + his relationship with Cersei perhaps isn’t this beautiful secret but something vile that ends them up in situations like this. So with the trauma of attempted child murder (yes I’m serious), the identity crisis and the survival mode he enters subsequently because now his entire family is in danger, he goes Wild.

Atonement isn’t an option (any level of admission to the act would put his whole family in mortal danger), so I think Jaime just decides he’s not going to bother with reckoning with the act and his guilt, and instead, using the Ultimate Going Away Inside, he just goes absolutely ham and starts embodying the villain everyone believes him to be: because perhaps he is that guy after all. Perhaps Cersei is all he has to live for. Perhaps a child’s life really is nothing to him. I think that’s where he’s at when Cersei asks that of him. He’s just like, ‘might as well’. There’s nothing going through his head but Cersei, that’s all he has room for without utterly losing the plot.

Again, maybe he would’ve seen Arya and come to his senses, but I can’t quite assume that lol. He might’ve done it. All that I’ll say is that that is Jaime at quite a… unique point in his story, not his pre-series default, and the horror and incomprehension he’s reflecting on that with is worth noting. He’s telling Ilyn because he needs someone to know what he did - I think all his conversations with the guy are Jaime trying to poke at the worst parts of himself and seeing if he’s even worth salvation.

[run-me-through-but-not-like-that]

Here Be Sirens Part 5

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Read Here or on Ao3:

The crew didn’t let you take night watch immediately after your return, captain Bonnet insisting that you get some rest after such an ordeal. So you didn’t get put on a night shift until a few days later. Of course, you hadn’t been able to send word of this to Israel but you hoped that he knew you would make your usual visit as soon as you could.

Once Stede agreed for you to take over night shifts again, you were quick to return to your old routine. Once everyone was asleep, or at least tucked up in the bunks, you gathered some supplies from the galley and lowered a dinghy into the water. You did one last check around the ship to ensure it was clear before climbing down into the little boat.

You rowed a safe distance away from the ship and pulled the oars in, unpacking the few snacks you had brought along. Then, you waited.

The sound of water moving, different to the lapping waves, made you turn. A bright smile covering your face when you saw Israel peeking out of the water.

“Oh thank God, I was worried that you wouldn’t show. The captain wouldn’t let me take a night shift after the whole ‘nearly drowning’ thing,” you sighed, the nervous buzzing dying down.

Izzy swims closer to the boat, making himself comfortable against the side. “I figured,” he assured you, almost blankly. “How are you feeling?” he asked, his expression softening even as his eyebrows pinched together, looking you up and down. Assessing you for damage, you guessed. 

“Good. Like I didn’t nearly die just the other day,” you laughed a little. 

After the storm and returning to the ship, you had found yourself more cautious about rough waters. Finding yourself more anxious than usual when the ship rocked, but then you would remember the feeling of hands on you, of a tailed man taking you to safety. The sea was a scary thing, especially after such an experience, but you felt safe on the waves when you knew Israel was lurking beneath them. You decided not to tell him all of that though.

“Look good for nearly drowning,” Izzy smiled slightly, just a flash of sharp teeth behind his quirked up lip.

“And I’ll take the compliment,” you smiled, liking when he joked. Izzy paused for a moment when your face brightened further, your eyes going wide. “Oh, and I brought you that gift I mentioned!” You quickly reached inside your jacket and pulled something out, holding it out to him.

Izzy leaned closer to get a better look. In your hands sat a silver comb, he had no idea what it was worth in your world but it was beautiful and that’s what caught his attention. It had been well taken care of, perhaps recently cleaned. 

Apparently, you took his silence as a cause for concern. 

“I wanted to get you something but wasn’t sure what you’d like,” your smile turned shy, fingers twitching against the item nervously. “I thought this was pretty and practical,” it sounded like you were trying to justify your choice. Still not saying anything, Israel took the comb from your hands and examined it closer. Smiling to himself as he ran his fingers over the intricate details. “Plus, you have really nice hair, y’know? You must take good care of it so…Iz?” you cut off your own rambling, begging for some sort of response.

Israel finally looked back at you then, his smile still in place. “It’s perfect,” he promised.

Edward would be jealous of such a fine comb, especially since he had the nicer hair, but Izzy wouldn’t be sharing. Not this. Not a gift from you. 

“Great,” your whole face lit up, knowing you had done well, that he had liked what you presented him with, even as you tried to play it off with some level of casualness.

But it was clear to Izzy just how pleased you were with having your gift appreciated and accepted. He recognised that feeling, it was the same way he had felt when you accepted the pearl you still wore at your neck. The anxiousness, the fear of rejection, followed by overwhelming relief, a feeling of lightness in your chest.

He couldn't help but find it endearing. You were rather sweet, cute…for a human.

-

It was only a couple days later when you were sitting around the table in the galley, enjoying supper with the rest of the crew. Stede enjoyed having one meal a day with the whole crew together.

“I’m telling you, mermaids and sirens, they’re real!” Frenchie insisted with conviction, trying to put an end to the debate that had been going on since everyone sat down. Had the crew always talked about Sirens so regularly and you were only just noticing? 

“We’re still on this?” Jim sighed, more focused on their meal than the debate. 

“The boy is right,” Buttons contributed, this being his area of expertise and all. “The creatures are very real. There are sirens in these very waters.” 

You nearly choked on your drink but managed to play it off with a few coughs. “What makes you say that?” you asked, hoping to sound curious rather than guilty. 

Buttons was silent at first, fixing you with a look. A look all too knowing, and it made you shiver. “I can sense them,” he claimed, looking right through you. 

“There are sirens. Here?” Frenchie asked, eyes wide. Wee John shuffled closer on the bench, wrapping his arm around the musician 

“Nothing to worry about, I’ve protected the ship, earned the favour of the sea,” Buttons assured everyone, “the creatures do not seem hungry.” 

“Well…that’s a relief,” Stede attempted a smile, clearly a tad nervous, not sure whether to truly believe the tales or not. 

“What if they’re stalking us or something?” the Swede asked.

“We would hear their songs,” Buttons tutted. 

“Plus, the waters would turn black. They do that,” Frenchie told everyone, seeming to calm himself down with the notion. The waters weren’t black, there were no sirens.

“Nay, the waters don’t change. You’d never see one coming before they begin their singing,” Buttons corrected, which was very reassuring. 

You knew for a fact that the presence of sirens didn’t affect the colour of the water, though you recalled the way the water around Edward had been an inky black. Though you were confident that had more to do with what his tail looked like, rather than anything else. 

“Before you know it, they’ll bite right through you with razor sharp teeth stained in blood. Tear your throat right out. Bet they could bite your hand right off,” Roach’s manic glee was a little out of place with the story he was telling but that was all a part of his charm. 

You supposed they had that part right. Israel certainly had sharp teeth, as did Edward, but they really did seem so scary once you got used to them. Plus their teeth had been pearly white, not a blood stain in sight, so maybe not completely accurate. 

“They won’t bother taking a hand, they’ll wait until you hit the water and take you back to the lair to feed on you,” Wee John huffed. 

You pondered to yourself, soaking up some stew with your bread. Was the cove you woke up in their lair? It had been rather pretty, a serene little place, not some scary hole to die in. 

“Nah, they’ll fight you,” Black Pete shook his head before recounting his tale. “Encountered one once, on a past ship. It was dark so the water could’ve been black like Frenchie said. Could barely see through the fog when it attacked me. I killed it, of course, hardly got a scratch on me!” As usual when it came to Pete’s wild stories, nobody looked very convinced. “It’s true!” Pete insisted. 

“I believe you, babe,” Lucius smiled reassuringly, patting his knee. 

“Thanks, babe,” Pete smiled back, blushing slightly when Lucius kissed his cheek. 

“The lair is the most likely outcome unless they’re extremely hungry. Sirens usually live in packs,” Buttons ate as he spoke, unfazed by the topic, “then they keep the souls of their victims.”

“Really?” Stede asked, leaning forward against the table in interest. “How do they store them?” 

“In jars,” Buttons stated simply. 

“How…mundane,” Stede hummed curiously to himself. You would comment something about him being a strange little man but you knew you were no better, falling for a siren. 

Then a memory came to you. That time Izzy had asked to keep the jar you had delivered the honey in…you wondered if he intended to house a soul in it. 

“See, they’re dangerous. We shouldn’t be in their territory,” Frenchie worried. 

“I’m sure we’ll be fine. They haven’t struck yet…that’s a good sign, right?” Oluwande looked to Buttons, trying to be a voice of reason, to calm everyone down.

“Aye,” Buttons nodded, “we are safe.” 

“Well, you are the expert,” Stede seemed reassured enough. 

“They’re bloodthirsty evil creatures!” Frenchie protested.

Bloodthirsty and evil. A macabre diet, sure, but that was the way of nature. You may have only met two sirens but they were certainly not bloodthirst or evil. Not Israel who gifted you pearls and sucked honey from his fingers. 

“Buttons knows what he is talking about, I’m sure everything will be fine,” you spoke up, managing not to sound protective over the creatures or offended on their behalf. “Probably nothing to worry about,” you shrugged. 

Frenchie conceded but shuffled further into John’s side. Everybody else relaxed back into conversation about something other than deadly sea creatures.

You lost yourself to your thoughts about Israel instead, trying to reconcile your experiences with him to the stories of the crew.

-

Two weeks had passed since the storm and everything felt normal again. There was a new closeness between you and Israel since he saved you that night, though you hadn’t kissed him again. You wanted too, God you wanted too, but things were comfortable and you didn’t want to push anything.

It was one morning after your night watch, which you were officially calling your ‘dates nights with Israel’ these days, that things changed. 

You had been relieved of your shift and shuffled your way down to the bunks to get some sleep. You must have only slept for a couple of hours, just until breakfast was over, before you were being woken up again.

Somebody was shaking your shoulder, their voice frantic but you couldn’t quite make out what they were saying. “Wh-what?” you groaned, rolling onto your back, trying to listen.

“Wake up, wake up, oh my God, you won’t believe this,” Lucius was gripping both of your shoulders now, shaking you. 

“What?” you asked, finally sitting up and blinking the sleep out of your eyes.

“It’s insane, God, just…you have to come up on deck,” Lucius was rambling, gaze flittering about. “Frenchie is freaking out and Buttons is doing that creepy staring thing, you have to see this.” 

“Lucius?” you said his name firmly, trying to get him to focus.

He didn’t seem much more focused but it snapped him into action. “Come on!” Lucius grabbed you by your hands and pulled you to your feet, dragging you out of the bunks.

On your way to the deck, you tried to get more information out of the scribe but he was too panicked to answer you properly. You both stumbled out onto the deck, finding the crew standing around something.

Lucius dragged you closer, both of you pushing into the semi circle of crew members to see what was going on. On the deck, in the middle of the gathered crew, was a mess of a fishing net wrapped up around a snarling and hissing creature.

You froze, unable to do anything other than stare at the netted bundle. The snarling teeth and thrashing tail. 

“I told you we should leave!” Frenchie shouted, huddled up in John’s arms. 

You blinked, becoming aware of the people around you again. “Wha-”

“Buttons caught a siren,” Lucius answered before you could finish your question. “An actual siren.”

Your eyes never left the siren. Your throat closing up and your chest tightening. Your heart pounded, blood rushing in your ears. Surely, you were trembling. 

Israel…