#Gem was so small compared to the other two man

[fitzs-space]

Got the three genders out here frfr

this was just an excuse to draw characters in hoodies and throw them in a colour void. Individuals below the cut

[froggiewrites]

Into the Dragon's Den

Pairing: Dragon!Ace x Reader

NSFW

Summary: This job is going to change your life. With the treasure from the dragon’s hoard, you’ll never have to work again, you’re sure of it. But when he catches you in the act, you find you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Everything in this room is his, and he insists that includes you. But really, would it be so bad to play your part? Warnings: AFAB!Reader (no pronouns or gendered language used), Smut, Size Kink, Objectification (Reader treated as a treasure), Oral Sex (Reader receiving), Praise Kink, Biting/Marking, Tail Sex, Overstimulation, Possessiveness, Vaginal Sex Word Count: 3k Halloween Special 2024

It’s impossibly warm within the dragon’s lair. Your clothes are soaked through with sweat, sticking to you with every step, but still you press on. Your current discomfort is nothing compared to the bliss that’s going to follow, once you get this gold.

You had no idea how large his hoard was, when you first came here. You knew that even a small hoard would pay for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life, but the amount of gold, jewels, and priceless artifacts in this cave could feed an entire kingdom for a century, at least. You can’t pocket it all, of course, but if you choose wisely you’ll be able to live like royalty once you find the right buyer for it all. You’ll never have to work a day again in your life, safe and protected and cozy in a little piece of land just for yourself. You can’t help the smile that creeps onto your face from the thought.

The dragon is nowhere to be seen, hopefully out hunting or something else that will take it a while. You’re no dragon slayer, and you don’t care to be. You don’t want to kill such a magnificent creature, simply relieve it of some loose change and trinkets. Nothing it will miss. You didn’t even bring anything to defend yourself other than a tiny dagger, one that couldn’t pierce a dragon’s hide even wielded by the greatest warrior. You’re a would-be thief, nothing else.

Your eyes drag over the room you stand in, clearly burrowed out by massive claws and set with a fire that would leave nothing but ash were it set upon you. The floor is a beautiful volcanic glass, which you would love to chip away and take with you, but while your dagger would certainly be able to take off a piece or two, it would also shatter immediately on impact. You instead settle for a large pile of gold jewelry. You can see dozens of precious gems peeking out, sapphires and rubies and diamonds catching the dim light so beautifully you’re drawn closer like a moth to a flame. You spot a particularly beautiful necklace, with an orange gemstone that looks like fire itself inlaid in the center, and you can’t help but reach out for it. It’s only once your fingers have wrapped around it that you hear the rumbling voice behind you.

“Are you sure you should be touching that?” The voice is deep, rumbling, but there’s a hint of joviality to it, laughing like there’s a joke here, and you’re the punchline. You whip around to see it, or him, towering above you. You expected some horrible beast, a lizard spanning the length of the room, but standing before you is almost a man. He’s frighteningly tall, at least double your height, and his biceps and pectorals are larger than your head. His hands, which are reaching toward you, are tipped in black claws that could easily rip you to shreds. He’s hardly clothed, just a simple pair of shorts that leave nothing to the imagination, and most of his exposed skin is covered in beautiful, glistening red scales. His cheeks are dotted with both freckles and smaller scales, and his eyes are piercing, his pupils slits that you can see grow wider as he looks at you. His grin is filled with razor sharp teeth that you can imagine ripping into your throat. On either side of his head are curling horns reaching for the sky. You’d call him beautiful, were you not so terrified. There is a large tail behind him, whipping back and forth with an audible swish. You feel like a mouse caught beneath the claws of a cat, waiting to be toyed with before being ripped to shreds.

One hand wraps around your waist, while the other plucks the necklace easily from your grasp. He holds it up to the light as he pulls you closer, allowing the gem to sparkle and shine. He hums, which is more of a rumble, before holding it up to your neck. His eyes seem to strip you bare as they rake over you. His grin grows wider. “It suits you. Would you like to wear it, little one?”

You stare, mouth agape, and he laughs again, showing off every one of his teeth. You force yourself to answer. “I–I couldn’t possibly.”

His eyes narrow slightly, and you feel as though you’ve failed some kind of test. “You could. I wouldn’t have offered if you couldn’t. It’s a lovely piece.” With the way he’s staring, you can’t help but feel he isn’t talking about the necklace.

You don’t know what role you’re playing here, but you know he’s massive and gorgeous and terrifying, so you try to fulfill it anyway. “Then I suppose I would.”

He grins, pulling you close until you’re pressed against him and releasing you, delicately clasping the necklace around your neck. It’s thick and heavy, feeling almost like a collar. His claw traces gently along where it falls on your neck, leaning down to admire the shine of gold against your skin. “Lovely,” he murmurs, and you can feel his hot breath against your face, smelling of smoke and burning oak. He leans closer, his tongue, which is far longer than a regular man’s, tracing along the path his fingers took. You shiver, and you can feel him grin against your skin before nipping right at your sweet spot. 

You yelp. “Wh–what are you doing?”

His voice is low when he whispers in your ear. “I’m enjoying what’s mine.”

“What?”

“Everything in this room is one of my treasures.” His nips at you again, before his lips brush gently against the spot to soothe the marks he surely left. “And such a lovely one just snuck in to make their place here. How lucky am I?” Another nip, another kiss, then a gentle suckle against your skin. You whine at the sensation, heat flooding you, and he laughs again.

“I’m–I’m not–ah!” His hand inserts itself between your thighs, making you instinctively clench them around it as he presses into you through your pants. He slowly drags up, watching as you whimper and whine under his heated attention.

“Not what? Mine? Or a treasure?” He chuckles, and you feel the sound echo through his chest as it presses against yours. “You’re both, sweet thing. Unless you care to explain why else you’d be here?” His tone is still hot and seductive, but the words carry a challenge. His teeth are still against your throat, and for the first and only time his bite is enough to draw blood. He quickly licks it away, soothing it with his long, forked tongue, but the message is clear.

You whimper, the sound coming from deep within you, though whether it comes from fear or arousal you don’t quite know. You open your mouth to confess, to submit yourself to him, to say anything at all, but you’re met with that same tongue entering your throat. The kiss is horribly sloppy, wet and wild and wanting, as his hands slowly start to move. One keeps pressing against your clit through your pants, tortuously slow, while the other reaches for your chest. You expect to feel him paw at you, but instead you feel a slight sharpness from his claw down the front of your shirt, cutting it and your bra in two. They don’t fall off immediately, stuck to you with sweat, and he makes a discontented grunt before peeling them off of you. You involuntarily squeak at the sensation, and start to pull back, but something scaled and rough wraps around your waist keeping you still. 

His tail holds you firmly, tight enough to keep you from squirming but not tightly enough to bruise. The sensation of his scales scraping against the bottom of your breasts is interesting, and you can’t tell if it’s discomfort or pleasure that makes you shiver. He seems to enjoy it either way. The tip of it starts to make its way down, slipping below the waistband of your pants and pressing lightly against your clit. You gasp against him, and he grins against your lips.

You finally get a moment to breathe as he pulls back to admire your upper half, the way your skin looks pressed against his snails, your exposed chest and the way it heaves as you try to catch your breath. His pupils start to overtake his irises the more he looks at you. “A wonderful addition to my collection,” he murmurs hotly, leaning in to nip at your tits. “The crowning jewel, really. I’ll have to find the perfect place for you. Somewhere you’ll catch the light just right.”

He leaves marks all over your torso, hickies and bites that you’re sure will stay for days. He turns his claws to your pants, finally removing his hand from between your thighs to drag a claw on the outsides of either pant leg and quickly ripping them off. His tail still lightly rubs against you as he peels off your panties and finally exposes you fully to the heated air around you. He finally leaves your chest alone, kissing down your stomach to meet his tail blocking his path further down. His tip leaves your clit, and you let out a pathetic noise that he absolutely delights in.

“Don’t worry, treasure. I’d never leave you wanting.” He looks up at you, scales catching the light, and gives you a smile you could almost be convinced was filled with genuine affection. But the hunger, the wanting, the possession still reflects in his eyes, betraying him for the animal he is. His tail leaves your midriff, and his hands find your thighs, spreading them easily. “You’re dripping, sweet thing. You really are perfect. Could you really blame me for wanting to keep you all to myself?”

You struggle to speak in your lust-infused haze, but you manage. “I–I’m not perfect.”

“Oh, but you are, treasure, even if you don’t know it. You’re going to love being mine, I promise. I take very good care of my things.”

You find yourself coming unraveled underneath his gaze, bare and vulnerable. The truth comes out of you almost like a compulsion. “I was trying to steal from you.”

He chuckles. “I know. You seem a bit greedy.” He easily lifts you, placing your thighs on his shoulders, his nose pressing into your core. “It’s alright. So am I.”

With that, he dives in, eating you out like a man starved. His tongue is much longer than a human’s, finding places within you that you didn’t even know were there to be found. He makes loud slurping sounds, ones that make you blush despite yourself. You’re suspended in the air, coming unraveled on his tongue, unable to muffle your cries as he buries himself into you. You clench your eyes shut, overwhelmed by the sensation. Your hands tangle in his hair tightly, pulling at every movement of his tongue, and he growls against you with every tug. 

He murmurs against you, “So sweet, darling thing.” HIs nose brushes against your clit, and you begin to fall, only to be caught by his tail, held midair, only supported by him. Every sensation you can feel is him, from his tongue to his tail to the warmth of the air in his lair, he is the only world you are allowed to know. His claws dig into the plush of your thighs as he continues his feast, showing his strength, his lethality, but never threatening to truly puncture. You wonder how many people have been ripped to shred by the hands holding you, how many have been consumed by the mouth that presses against you.

He continues to lap away at you as you cry out, muscles tensing as you build towards your climax. He’s unrelenting as he greedily tastes you, lost in your flavor, the feeling of your thighs clenching around his head, the softness of your skin underneath his tail. You manage to open your eyes just long enough to glance down at him and see there is not a single millimeter between him and you. As he feels you grow closer and closer, one of his hands reaches for your clit, gently rubbing against it, and you finally come unraveled around him. He doesn’t slow for a moment as you cry out and clench around him. Your orgasm ravages you just as he does, pleasure bursting through you. You expect him to pull away, to begin to prepare to enter you, but he doesn’t slow for a moment, letting out soft moans against your mound as he continues.

“W–What are you–”

He growls against you as you try to pull him back. “Mine.”

“Please, it–it’s too much!” You cry as he hits a particularly sensitive spot again.

When he hears your noises shift from pleasure to discomfort, he seems to find himself for a moment, finally pulling you off of him slightly. His chin is dripping with your juices, his cheeks shining from the wetness covering them. His eyes are completely blown out, and he looks almost lost as he pulls back. He only focuses again once he looks up at your face, and he seems to remember where he is. You maintain eye contact for a moment, as one of his hands comes up to lightly brush against the necklace you’re wearing. “A treasure, a feast, a beauty. You really are perfect.” His voice is filled with a quiet awe, enough that you allow yourself to ignore the heat of possession burning beneath the words. “And you’re all mine.”

Some part of you wants to deny it, but more of you is lost in the haze of it all, and you find yourself muttering, “Yes, yes, yours!”

“Yes, treasure, yes.” He kisses your thigh before he begins lowering you, holding you with his arms instead. Something scaly and hard begins to slither up your thigh, and you whine as you feel his tail dip against your entrance. “Just a bit more, sweet thing. To make sure you’re ready.”

“Please,��� you mutter, for mercy, for more, for whatever he’ll give you.

“Of course.” His tail slowly enters you, stretching you easily after all of his attention earlier. He pushes and pushes, making you feel wonderfully full. His tail grows wider as it continues, threatening to tear you in two, but you manage to accommodate him anyway. “So good for me, treasure. Doing such a wonderful job. You were made for this. For me.”

You feel the alien sensation of his scales against your walls as he slowly pulls it out and pushes it back in, testing how far you can stretch, how much of his you can take. He murmurs soft praises with every inch you’re able to fit, about how perfect you are, about what a wonderful addition to his collection you’ll be, about what a prize you are. “You’ll stay with me forever, treasure. I have the perfect space for you in my bed, and the firelight will illuminate your beauty just right. You’ll wear all of the jewels you could ever desire. And you’ll feel pleasure like this every night.”

You cry when he pulls out of you, but you’re quickly silenced by the sensation of something far larger poking against your entrance. “Don’t tense up now, treasure. You’re doing so well. It’ll be alright.”

A strangled moan leaves you when he inserts himself, stretching you wider than any point of his tail did. Tears prick at your eyes, and your thighs tense, but you force yourself to take a breath and relax.

“Just like that. You can do it.” He slides and slides for what feels like forever, and you look down to see where he meets you. His cock is monstrous, and you clench around him when you see the bulge in your belly from your body trying to accommodate it. He moans. “Ah, just like that. Perfect. So perfect.”

He pulls you impossibly closer, kissing you with something resembling tenderness. Then, all at once, he pulls out and slams into you quickly, a single hand on your hips moving you up and down at a breakneck pace. You cry out, and he quickly silences you with another deep kiss, bouncing you on his cock like you were made for nothing more than this. His hips pound against you as his other hand reaches for your clit. His claw briefly presses against your skin, but mercifully you find his fingertip rubbing against you instead. You can hear nothing over the blood rushing in your ears and his heavy breaths as he continues to rut against you. His lips leave yours and you whine. He’s saying something, but you can’t make out the words. His tone is enough, wanting and desperate, for you to know he’s singing your praises again.

The heat of it all is quickly becoming too much, and you can see he’s losing himself as well, as his thrusts become even faster and his hand tightens around your hips. The fire moves through you without mercy, pleasure blinding you and taking your breath away as you come cum on his cock. He follows soon after, and you can feel warm spurts of cum fill you as he moans loudly against your ear. When he does, he falls backwards into the pile of treasure behind him, taking you with him. He doesn’t pull out for a moment as he pulls you close, tucking you into him and pressing your head into his chest. His heart is pounding, his skin is on fire, and his breaths are unsteady. He’s come fully and truly undone. 

You don’t know if it’s minutes or hours that you lay there before he pulls out. You feel horribly empty when he does, cum dripping out of you onto his thighs. He laughs when you whine.

“I hope you’re prepared, treasure. We have a wonderful time ahead of us.” His grin is all teeth, his pupils retracting back into slits, and you’re forced to remember once again there is nothing human about the thing sitting beneath you. “You’re going to love being mine.”

Tag List: @pandora-writes-one-piece

[originalwinnerfanfish]

And here is the last part

Predaking - Oh, my fiery boy! I have so much to say about him…

He was probably the main reason I got into the Transformers fandom when I was a kid. My thoughts were like: It's a dragon! And a robot at the same time!? And he turns into a hot looking man!?! *mind blown*

Of course, over time I realized that behind the beautiful cover, he was a rather naive and very foolish character with a storyline too much like Dreadwing's. But despite all this, I still love him. Predaking is a real gem of the third season, and perhaps the coolest character in the entire series, and you can’t deny it!

In the WOF version, he is a resurrected dragon from the extinct skywing tribe. Being the largest dragons in this AU, their tribe was the most powerful on the continent until it completely died out due to a wave of cataclysms.

So, Predaking is a real giant compared to other characters. And, in the final addition, he is firescales! Because it’s BADASS!🔥

(and actually, because he gives me pretty strong Peril vibes)

Unfortunately I couldn't give him a bright color, so his firescales nature is shown through glowing areas on his body, creating the effect that he is literally burning from the inside. I also just noticed that his face looks very much like a skull, and I tried to pay attention to this in the design by giving him dark spots around the eye sockets and nostrils

Hardshell - I don’t wanna draw some random insecticon, so I chose this guy. Here I will be short. He’s appears in only two episodes and died almost immediately. He’s more of a plot tool than a real character

His stripes look cool, but drawing them wasn’t easy at all (I hate floating shapes). I wanted to make him look more like his beetle form, adding a big front horn and green plates on his neck. I also think that insecticons should be more different in coloring in this version

Skyquake - Same story - appeared in one episode - died in the same episode. Most of the fandom remembers him only as a zombie from the shadow dimension, and it's kind of sad. I believe he had potential. I always imagined Skyquake as the "brawn" in a duet with his brother, while Dreadwing was more of the "brain". And it would be great if we were shown this contrast, giving Skyquake a chance to prove himself in at least a couple of episodes

His design is, as expected, almost the same as his brother, but I still decided to add some small differences in details to make it more interesting

Vehicons - STEEEEEEVES!

I like these silly dudes)

I didn't want to make them actual clones or something, so here they're just regular nightwings and icewings, but they may look the same because of the iron masks that hide their faces. Like many other dragons, they are victims of a war they may not have wanted to participate in. Actually, in that case their deaths don’t seems so meaningless and even give the autobots actions a darker subtext (although I believe in the theory that they could simply pretend to be dead on the battlefield (I really want to believe in that))

I know there are still a few possible undrawn characters left, like Skylynx and Darksteel or Unicron, but that's probably enough for me. I'm happy with my closed gestalt)

[akwolfgrl]

Promise day 4

Zoro watched as they drew near to the Braite, the moon dipping below the horizon; the sun just started to peek out. He hadn't seen Sanji in a few months. He was busy trying to save enough money to buy new earrings. They were gold and dangle like his own, but they had a heart made from a blue gem. They caught the light just right and sparkled in a way that reminded Zoro of the shining across the sea. When he first saw them, he had to have them. They looked just like his mate's eyes. 

Johnny came to sit beside him yawning, it was still early. They sailed through the night. The Baratie would be getting ready for the day soon, Zoro was going to find Zeff and ask for Sanji's hand in marriage, he thought it was old fashioned but Curly loved romantic shit. Besides, the old geezer would kill him if he didn't. 

“Wow, is that what I think it is?” Johnny asked him, pointing at the weird fish shaped restaurant, and Sanji had told him about Zeffs chicken figurehead from back when he was a pirate. The old geezer had questionable taste when it came to the shapes of boats. “Man, I've heard of this place! The food is supposed to be to die for! There's always a good fight to see, and rumor has it there is a pretty blond omega who works there,” He felt Yosaku join them. “People saw he looks like an angel,”

“All ture, the pretty blonde's my mate,” Zoro proudly bragged. He wasn't jealous of other men looking. They had no chance. Women on the hand were a different story. 

“Wait, you have a mate?” Yosaku asked, shocked for some reason. 

“No fucking duh, the marks right thire,” Zoro pointed to the back of his neck, right where Sanji could always protect him. 

“Wow would ya look at that!”

“Way to go bro!”

Zoro spotted a blonde head out on the deck, most likely smoking a cigarette and having black tea watching the sun rise. Zoro couldn't wait anymore. He patted his haramaki, making sure the jewelry box was tucked away safely. Zoro stood up and jumped out of their small boat.

“Zoro!” 

“What are you doing?”

“I'm swimming to Sanji!” Their boat was going too slow, and he couldn't wait any longer, Zoro swam towards his omega, his Sanji. His heart was pounding in his chest at the thought of holding the blond in his arms once again. 

When he got to the deck, Sanji was waiting for him, his hair aglow in the early morning light. Zoro understood why people would compare Sanji to an angel…if they never met him. 

“Marmio? It's about damn time you made your way back here,” Sanji smirked. “Maybe you should stay in the water a little longer, I'll bring you some soap, and you can wash your smelly ass,” Sanji's smoke hearts betrayed how happy he was to see him. 

“See if I ever come for a visit again if you're gonna be like that,” Zoro huffed before climbing out of the water. 

“The old geezer would be happy,” 

“Well that's too damn bad for him,” Zoro grinned and scooped Sanji into his arms and spun him around. 

The blonde laughed and took his face in between his hands, his long fingers caressing his cheeks before their lips met. Zoro could taste the omegas tea and cigarettes. Something that shouldn't be so addictive but yet it was. When they finally came up for air, Zoro put Sanji back down 

"Marry me." The words tumbled out of his mouth as he returned Sanji to the floor.

The omega looked at him with amusement in his blue eyes, "Aren't you forgetting something,”

"What? Oh." Zoro dropped to one knee and took out the jewelry box. The earrings glittered in the sunlight. "Marry me, I don't wish to be apart from you for a second longer,”

“Yes!” Sanji launched himself at Zoro, knocking them both to the deck, kissing the life out of him. 

“Hey! You two no fucking on the deck!” Patty yelled at them. 

Zoro didn't need to look to know that Sanji was flipping the other alpha off.

[epilvgue]

The cold weather was something new. Something strange and foreign. Even to the Plant. Vash had only ever experienced snow and winter once, and it had been extremely brief. Not even the cryo-sleep chambers of the SEED's ships could compare to this.

Nothing could compare to the real thing. To seeing it in person. It was so cold that he could see his breath in front of his face, white fluff accumulated on the ground. The shore by the sea was even cooler, but he had gathered there with several others due to a posting and word of mouth regarding some sort of voyage. A voyage out to sea.

The sea.

He stood on the small boat, leaning against the railing. Vash had only seen video's and simulations of the sea and he thought that he could spend hours looking out at the waters, even if it was cold and dreary and the sky was overcast. Yet even as the snow gently floated down from the clouds, the waves were too much to be contained. They wouldn't freeze or ice over like a pond or a lake. However, soon he caught a flash of white and blue out of the corner of his eye. The cold winter sun flashed over his glasses as he raised his head.

"…Oh…" Vash glanced away from Legato. He was so uncertain of how to react to Legato. How to talk to him. How to feel. How to look at him. It felt even stranger as he had already recognized the way that Knives looked at this man who had caused him so much torment - but… this strange version of Legato wasn't quite that man yet, was he?

Finally he raised a hand and waved with a tight little smile. "Hey… what're you doin' here? You wanna see the island too? Or are you goin' after th' gems?" - He thought that he might collect one or two, though he was mostly interested in exploring Arcus Cove. The ruins that were said to be at the top of the cove's rocky, currently barren, peak.

@bluestringpuppeteer / Hearths Rising Starter

[fallenasleepyetagain]

Date - Fresh/Nightmare

Prompt: Meet Cute/Blind Date

Prompt from: @yearoftheotpevent

Media: UTMV/Undertale AUs

Genres: Human AU, blind date, first date, romance (I guess haha), rivals (?) to lovers, ooooo Fresh is from Nightmare’s past ooooo, use of 90s slang because lord knows I’m not going to write Fresh without it

Pairing(s): Fresh/Nightmare

CW/TW - Mentions of Fresh infecting people, mentions of theft

Other Notes: I’m not the most proud of this one tbh😔 this month was rough for writing. I would’ve loved to write their date but I did not have the time. maybe another day��

Word Count: 1837 Words

“Can I start you for tonight, sir?”

“I am waiting for someone, but a lambrusco would be excellent.”

“I will get that for you sir.”

“Thank you.” Nightmare nodded, watching the waiter walk off.

Blind dates were stupid. Absolutely stupid. Nightmare set the menu down and rubbed his forehead, looking out at the window. He had to be about ninety stories up, he could still see the sun, despite it trying to set on the horizon. The restaurant's ambiance was nice. It was formal, quiet, and the live music was a great touch. A small orchestra was playing a variety of classical music, and Nightmare quite liked it. It wasn’t the fanciest restaurant he’s ever been to, but he didn’t expect much from his boys. He also didn’t expect himself to agree to a blind date set up by said boys, and yet here he was.

Did he seem sad and pathetic? Is that why they set him up on a date with a stranger? Nightmare didn’t feel sad and pathetic, he was the King of Negativity after all, there was no one better than he. Which is why this blind date idea felt so stupid to him. He could get any man he wanted, and yet his boys decide to set him up with a stranger? How stupid.

…Yet he agreed to it, didn’t he? He supposed that the worst thing that could happen is that it’s some weirdo, and he just chucks them out the window and treats himself to dinner. The best thing that could happen was that no one showed up and he got to eat by himself. The quiet of the restaurant was nice compared to what often happened during meal times. There was always a lot of shouting and lack of manners at Nightmare’s dinner table.

The waiter returned with his wine, opening the bottle and pouring a glass for him. He didn’t allow the waiter to set it back down, as he took it from their hands directly. He thanked them before turning back to the window. He twirled the wine around in the glass for a moment before taking a sip.

Oh, how he absolutely adored red wine. One could call him a wine connoisseur, and he would wear that title with pride. Perhaps it made him seem a bit arrogant, but he didn’t care. He was arrogant, might as well pair it with a fine wine.

Another swish of the glass before he took a sip, slowly feeling the alcoholic juice slip down his throat. His teal eyes shut as he did so, allowing himself the satisfaction of taking in no other sensation than the taste of the wine. Lambrusco was really a hidden gem in the wine world. This particular wine was of great quality. Nightmare could tell. Cheap lambrusco was often very sweet, and this was aged and dry to perfection. He took another sip, his lips curling back into a smile. There was nothing like a good wine on a calm evening. It was perfect. Even if his date decided to show up right at that moment, he wouldn’t even care.

“Yo, Nightmare, brah! I think you’re my date for tonight!”

Nightmare could hear the glass of his soul cracking in his mind. His eyes opened into a confused scowl as he looked to his left. Standing in front of him was that abhorrent, nineties parasite. Standing at a horrific six feet (or two hundred centimeters) was Fresh, and the bastard didn’t even try to dress up! Nightmare was horrified. Fresh was in his everyday wear, which was already beginning to hurt his eyes. He was wearing that stupidly obnoxious blue, purple, and white sweatshirt of his, and the pink shirt underneath and the massive 90s collar. His pants were also a variety of neon colors, and frankly, if it pissed Nightmare off. Pick a color scheme and stick with it goddamnit! Even Cross, the most idiotic man he’s ever met, could understand that!

Fresh cocked his head to the side, a smile on his face. He was wearing his rectangular sunglasses (Nightmare wasn’t convinced that they were actual sunglasses, considering their properties) that currently said “YOLO” in bright yellow and blue lettering. Nightmare knew what the glasses were concealing. This particular host of Fresh’s was tall, a little lanky, and had dark skin. The host had their hair styled into box braids, with neon colored hair extensions weaved into it. No doubt it was Fresh’s doing. Nightmare couldn’t put his finger on it, but he could see the way they had been woven together had Fresh’s name written all over it.

“This cannot possibly be right. What are you doing here?” Nightmare asked, his face pulled back into a scowl. He only got more visibly angry when Fresh sat himself down on the chair across from Nightmare. Fresh grinned at him, leaning back in the seat and man-spreading as he did so. Nightmare didn’t even want to know what the other guests thought of this horrid exchange.

“It most certainly is correct my dude!” Fresh clicked his teeth and gave Nightmare finger guns which made him cringe. “Ya know, when I got the invite from your boys, I was a bit nervous y’know? I thought they were gonna kill me whenever I arrived here, haha!”

Wine glasses were usually supposed to be filled to around halfway, perhaps even less, depending on the type of wine and the consumer. However, Nightmare filled his glass nearly all of the way as Fresh spoke. He nearly downed the entire glass in one sip. He’d need a little alcohol to deal with this nonsense.

“How long have you been here? Sorry for not getting here sooner! Nearly got lost a couple times!”

“It would have been a major shame if you did.” Nightmare stated, sarcasm dripping from his lips as he took another sip of his wine.

“Hella broski!” Fresh, however, did not pick up on his sarcastic tone. Unless he did, and was just messing with Nightmare? God, Nightmare could never tell with this guy! He just could not read Fresh, and it pissed him off.

There was an awkward silence that Nightmare didn’t even attempt to fill. He gently sipped his alcohol as he watched Fresh, noticing that he barely twitches, his stupid smile still on his face. Nightmare didn’t want to look at him nonstop, but there was this awful feeling in his chest, that if he looked away Fresh would disappear or get closer to him. Fresh always had this uncanniness about him. Similar to a robot, or a statue.

In a way, Nightmare was right for feeling that way. Fresh was just puppeting a flesh suit, and all of his mannerisms showed that clearly. It was like he was pretending, acting as if he was human. He was doing an incredibly poor job.

With one final rub to his temple, Nightmare held up his hand to get the attention of a waiter. He was not going to deal with this. He would pay for his wine (as any respectable person would do, he may be an evil king but he wasn’t a monster!), leave, and then discipline whoever thought that playing with his love life was a joke.

“Ah ah! Wait a minute will you brah?!” Fresh reached across the table, grabbing Nightmare by his hand and yanking it down. “C’mon! At least give me a chance?”

“Why?” Nightmare hissed, yanking his hand away. “I know what you are. You can’t possibly feel any actual attraction to me.”

“Woah, bold assumptions there!” Fresh leaned over, putting a hand against his chin. “I mean, you’re the king, broski! Who wouldn’t be attracted to ya?”

Nightmare rubbed his forehead, debating just getting out of there.

“Ah, but anyways, I’ve been wantin’ to talk to you for a while now! You’re just so…” Fresh’s expression changes into something more sinister, and Nightmare can feel the aura of the room changing as it did so. “Interestin’, y’know?” Always have been. Ever since you were purple.”

Ah, right. Nightmare had nearly forgotten his small encounter with Fresh. It had to have been around two hundred or so years ago since their first meeting. It wasn’t anything revolutionary, but it had planted the seed in Nightmare’s mind that there was something else out there. After all, a small, bright purple, four-tentacled creature with a black and yellow eye-mouth isn’t something you say everyday. Especially if your everyday consisted of living in the same forest that never changed. Nightmare dared Dream to eat it- er, Fresh, but he refused. And for better or for worse that decision somehow led Nightmare to be sitting at a dinner table with the man. If only Dream had more balls and eaten him when they were kids. Perhaps this could’ve been avoided.

“So lemme treat ya!”

“With what money? Last time I checked, you lived in a void with your furbies.” Nightmare scoffed, a sly smirk forming on his face as Fresh’s expression fell.

“Yowch!” Fresh held his hands up, a surprised look on his face. “I’m a lil’ hurt by your words, brah! I’ve got money! How’d you think I got all mah trinkets?”

“I figured you just took them.”

Out of all the things, Fresh looked most offended at that. “Whaaa??? Nightmare, brah, that hurts even more! Stealin’ and breakin’ the law is so uncool yo! I would never! I get my money completely legit-ly!”

“Yeah? How?”

“Well, I use the money from my hosts of course! I take their body right? Then I get access to whatever they have! Real simple.”

“That…is stealing, Fresh.”

“Nuh uh.”

Putting a hand to his temple once more, Nightmare gave Fresh a look of incredible incredulity. “Really. It’s not stealing?”

“Nah! Doesn’t count.” He laughed, and Nightmare could hear the cruelty in his voice. “Anyways!”

Fresh leaned over the table and grabbed Nightmare by his hand. The grasp was gentle, as if he knew that Nightmare wouldn’t yank it away. Nightmare couldn’t deny it, there was something alluring about Fresh. It wasn’t the way he dressed, obviously, but his past, how he operated, made Nightmare want to tear into him and see how he ticked.

“Nightmare, brah, please.” Nightmare was surprised to feel that despite the silver piercing in the host’s bottom lip, Fresh’s lips felt soft as they connected with the back of his hand. When was the last time someone had, sincerely, kissed the back of his hand? Was it Cross? It had to have been, when Cross pledged his allegiance to Nightmare those long seven months ago. His lips twitched as he wanted to smile, but remained stoic. “Lemme treat you tonight. It might be fun.”

Nightmare could see the sinister smile in Fresh’s face from a mile away. More often than not, his own grins held that sort of minacious quality to them.

“Maybe I’ll surprise ya in ways you couldn’t even imagine.”

Oh, how could Nightmare decline such an offer?

[m-jelly]

Can you write another regency era but instead with king! Mike! The fic you wrote with lord mike was fire

Forever you

Pairing: Mike x Fem!Reader

Tags and warnings: Royal AU, King Mike, Lady Reader, dancing, slightly posh speaking, confessions.

With a breaking heart, you attend the grand ball thinking Mike will announce a princess as his bride, but instead, Mike focuses on you and declares his love for you.

It was as if your world was falling apart around you and you were tied up and made to watch. The lack of control over your current situation was heart-wrenching for you. With the title of Lady next to your name, you were neither rich nor poor. As a Lady, you had power and standing in high society, but it wasn't very impactful compared to someone with Countess or Duchess.

The King was a kind and strong man with such elegance about him, even though he was so tall and broad with muscles. It was a grey and cold day when you both met. The hunting event was on and you decided to go for the first time ever. It wasn't a surprise when the King won by a landslide and finished early, but what was a surprise was him coming to see you.

The way he gazed at you in that quiet room lit only by candles was hypnotic. His touch was delicate on your skin when he placed a cloak around you to protect you from the cold. Most nights were long, but that night wasn't. The two of you talked until the sun set and rose. The two of you were like long-lost soulmates reuniting again.

After a touching night, you exchanged letters for weeks. You would go to the palace due to countless invites from the King. Mike and you always stole many moments together to chase the love and passion within your hearts. Your friendship turned to romance and many nights you spent warming his bed.

It seemed like you and Mike would be wedded, but a princess appeared in his palace and the invites to see him reduced. She was there at the palace for two weeks. Two full weeks of not seeing the King and then a ball was announced. Whenever a ball is announced, it was a declaration that an engagement was going to happen.

So, your heart ached as you sat in your carriage on your way to the palace. You tried to refuse, but the gentleman who delivered your invitation insisted you came. The messenger was a sweet friend to you and denying his request was hard, so you came.

As the carriage came to a stop you slipped into your internal darkness. Your awareness of the world around you faded away. A drink was placed in your hand and you were placed in a small corner. The maids and butlers cast their gaze upon you, all seemed saddened to see you in your heartbreaking state.

Mike was a glorious lion as he stood at the top of the grand stairs to enter his hall. He stood alone with no princess at his side. As he descended the stairs he scanned the room for the one person his heart so desperately desired. His heart swelled with love when he eyed the woman he loved.

You noticed the princess who had taken your King from you. Her dress was large, glamorous and decorated with precious gems. You admired her and knew she was the perfect woman to be the Queen. You accepted your loss and knew very well there would be no other man.

Hushed whispers alerted you to a change around you. You cast your dulled eyes up only for them to brighten at the view of the King you loved. As Mike moved closer to you, you felt breathless as if you were in a dream. You longed to dive into his arms and be held by him, but you knew that no good would come of it.

Mike presented his gloved hand towards you and with a cocky smile spoke. "Would you do me the greatest honour and take my first dance?"

You gasped and clutched your chest. "My King, it would be improper of me to do so. The princess-."

"Is none of my concern." He shifted closer and lowered his voice. "I desire no other woman at my side. I will not leave this spot. I will accept rejection of a dance, but I will not remove myself from your presence. A fortnight was much too long to be parted from you."

You hesitated a moment before taking his hand. "I accept."

Mike smiled and guided you to the dancefloor. "I owe you an explanation regarding my absence."

"Indeed you do, my King."

He pulled you close and glided with you across the dancefloor. "The princess invited herself to my palace. I was made aware of her cruel ways towards other women. I removed all of my female staff to protect them from her wrath. Her jealousy knows no bounds. I admit, I should have conversed with you regarding this. It was improper of me to not inform you, however, she arrived with such haste that I was unable to notify you. Please, forgive me."

You welled up at his admission. "So, there is no other woman? I was not used by you?"

He stopped dancing with you. "My darling love, I did not use you. My feelings for you are true. You have captured my heart and soul." He took your hand and showered it in kisses. "You are my Queen. I would rather live a life of endless suffering and pain than be parted from you. I am besotted by you." He smiled and softly said your name. "I love you."

You gasped as tears rolled down your cheeks. "And I you. My love for you knows no bounds. I truly, madly and deeply love you."

Mike pulled you against him. "Forgive me for being improper again, but I must taste your lips again." He crashed his lips against yours causing a joyful commotion within the hall. "Marry me."

You gripped his chest. "Yes."

Mike smiled. "My Queen." He raised his head. "Ladies and gentlemen, I brought you all here tonight to propose to my love and to announce our engagement if she accepted. I am pleased to declare that she has accepted. We are to be wedded as soon as she allows it."

You blushed. "You..."

He chuckled. "I know. I am a pain, but it is one of the reasons you adore me so, is it not?"

You nodded. "It is."

[siriannatan]

Series of Unexpected Occurences

So I decided to write an origin story for fWhip from Jinn & Other Troubles and it's all because Jimmy's No Good, Very Bad Year (Made Better) by TrosesPink has inspired me to come back to this AU.

To say fWhip was at a loss would be an understatement. Yes, he has somehow made it to Stratos safely. He even found the Evermore Academy. And had someone talk to him. All that just to be said 'No, go home kid'.

Well, he was not about to go home after that. Father would be much more than just upset with him. Gem was off, studying magic at the other end of the world the whole year already. And she was just a girl. fWhip was more than aware that Gem, unlike him, was born a genius. Always good at everything she touched. Moving on, what was he to do if he was not going back home? 

What he decided to do was find a job. Practice his magic a bit more and try again next year.

And so the most exhausting time in the whole sixteen years of his life started. He jumped from doing errands to helping at the docks to even more errands to used things stores. He barely had any time to think about practising with how much of his time was taken just by paying for the room he was stuck in. And it wasn't even in a nice inn but some dingy one by the docks. Finding a stable, not overly expensive apartment in the big town was much harder than expected.

Finding a small job helping someone start an inn or restaurant or something like that was possibly the best thing that had happened to fWhip in a long time. The woman in charge - Katherine she introduced herself, was apparently a former adventurer and a mage of some sort. fWhip was not too knowledgeable about the kinds of mages. But that wasn't important. What was important was that she paid well compared to everything fWhip did so far. And not only that. Unlike all the gruff warehouse owners and captains fWhip dealt with so far she was darn nice.

"What is that?" Katherine asked as she caught fWhip and his lunch out the back of her new restaurant. She has just decided they should have a break, rest a bit and eat something.

"My lunch?" fWhip mumbled over his meat pies. They haven't even gone fully cold yet. Thank you nice weather. He was a bit confused why his lunch was an issue. Meat pies were nice even when cold, and filling, while also cheap. Maybe he should have gone somewhere a bit further away with it? "I can move if..."

"No. No. No. I'm not having a young man work on all the hard and heavy things on just meat pies alone, in with you, the stew's almost ready," Katherine stopped the young tiefling and nearly pulled him inside the inn. 

fWhip was left by one of the tables he helped bring in. Actually, it was just him and Katherine doing all the stuff. Well, most of the port freelance workers probably scoffed when a woman asked them even if she was offering good pay. No matter, it meant fWhip's pay was a bit higher and didn't need to see certain people so he was not complaining. But for now, while waiting for Katherine he finished his first meat pie. He was not about to annoy someone who was paying him but he was also not about to waste his already half-eaten pie. Leaving it like that would not be good.

He was barely done with his pie when Katherine walked in with a tray with two steaming bowls and some bread and a jug of juice and two glasses on it. It was a really big tray. "While helping me out don't worry about lunch or any other at-work meal," she announced and left no room to argue. fWhip just nodded as a steaming bowl of stew and a couple of thick slices of bread were placed in front of him along with a cup of juice. "No need to be so polite," she chuckled when he mumbled a thank you.

"I... I'm still getting used to being away from home," it didn't really matter what he said. It wasn't like he'd be much in this part of town anytime soon. Too fancy and expensive for him. "More work than back home," he quickly added, just to avoid having to elaborate too much. He'd hate to lie to her after she fed him. She absolutely did not have to be that nice. "Didn't want to get stuck there," avoiding the truth was not lying. Right?

Katherine seemed satisfied with it so fWhip shut up and focused on the stew. It was really good. Bread and juice too. Actually, he didn't have food this nice since leaving home... But he was going back. Maybe the enchanting shop he walked past needed someone to carry heavy things? fWhip was getting good at moving boxes lately.

After food - Katherine offered him seconds but he politely declined, after the first bowl and the meat pie he was quite full - they moved furniture and boxes couple more hours before fWhip was paid and asked if he can come back the next day. He obviously accepted the offer. Anything to have some time away from the smell of the sea. It got boring very quickly - the smell of rotting fish and fish guts and constant noise did not help.

On his way back fWhip checked a couple of used things stores and even found one useful book. Lucky for him whoever the store got it from and the store staff knew nothing about magical things so it was really cheap. Illusion's weren't something he was ever really interested in but it was the first book he managed to find so he was still very excited. Who knew what would be useful in the future?

The next day he made his way to Glimmer Grove a bit late. Who could blame him, the book was much more interesting than he anticipated. So interesting he brought it along in case there was even the briefest moment to read some more. Somehow there was a chapter on familiar summoning in this one, and while fWhip had no idea what he'd like his familiar to be he was immensely fascinated. Unfortunately, it was rather difficult and expensive to summon one but if he could do that then maybe he would be able to get into the academy. A good option to have just in case.

Katherine did not mind that he was late or that he was reading during his breaks but she put a limit on lunchtime. "No books next to food," she said sternly but with a smile. "Interested in magic? Shouldn't you be in Evermore then?" she asked as fWhip sheepishly set it aside.

"I tried, apparently being able to do magic is not enough... At least it was a good excuse to get to the..." he instantly started stringing together an excuse as close to the truth as he could without sounding as bad as it probably was.

"And you're stuck in town because you don't feel like going home after failing? Believe me, you're not the first to have that happen to them, I know several people who were told no and who are now the pride of Evermore," Katherine instantly cut him. "I have free staff rooms so you can stay here."

"I... I'm very grateful but I can't pa..." fWhip instantly protested. Katherine was already the nicest person he's met since coming to town. She paid well, gave him regular breaks and fed him. He had no real way of expressing how grateful he was to have met her.

"You can pay by occasionally helping with boxes and cleaning, it'll make saving for Academy easier won't it?" he was once more cut short. "And I can ask some friends if they need any help? Recommend you based on how well you worked here? You don't have to agree now. But if you do feel free to bring all your stuff tomorrow."

"I... I... Thank you, it's a very kind offer... I'll think about it," fWhip nodded, staring at the scrambled eggs, bread and vegetables Katherine made for them. She was a really good cook. 

"It's nothing big kid, one less room for me to clean," she laughed and fWhip felt a bit better. There was no saying what she went through as an adventurer. Or.. was she even a human? Or did she retire adventuring very young? She could be an elf, her hair would easily hide the ears and it was hard to say how old elves were.

"Just never call me 'mam, I'm not THAT old," she finished the topic and they finished their lunch before it's gone cold. Unlike meat pies scrambled eggs were not too good cold.

After another round of boxes and furniture moving Katherine said she was nearly ready to open. Just some more cleaning and organising, stocking up and finding at least a cook. Luckily she was in a good spot by one of the main roads through the city and there were already curious customers peering in and asking if it was open. And promising they'd come by when it was. Citizens of Stratos liked a good restaurant and were always eager to visit any new one - as long as it was at least in the Middle Stratos it usually stuck a while and prospered well enough.

On his way back fWhip bought a couple of meat pies. Maybe he could ask Katherine if she had a good recipe for meat pies... for later in life. A memento of her? That sounded lame. Just because he liked them. Yes. He also stopped by the same used-things stores. No more books but he got a well-priced dagger just in case. It was a bit rusty and dull but he could deal with that.

He barely got any sleep while thinking over Katherine's offer. It was very generous and would help him greatly and he did not mind helping around Glimmer Grove if he was ever out of errands around town. And if she ever told him he needed to move he could find another cheap inn to stay at. So feeling only mildly bad with how little he owned at the moment - he just got to the city and travelled light okay - he packed his meagre belongings into his bag. Ate his pies. Read some more about illusions and tried out a couple of simple ones. With shocking success too.

The next morning he paid for his room and went to Glimmer Grove feeling like his life was tuning out to be a bit better. At least there'd be much less fish smell and seagull noise in it. And hopefully, the room Katherine would give him would be on the ground level... Or have curtains so he could not see it was not...

"Decided to grab that room?" Katherine grinned at him from next to a cart full of ingredients and general supplies required to run an inn. 

"If it's still open," fWhip smiled sheepishly. He was suddenly feeling even more awkward with how little he owned. "I was supposed to be at the academy now," he excused himself just so she would not feel too bad for him.

Katherine was fine with the excuse and after quickly showing him the room - ground floor with barely any window, lucky for him, and had him helping unload the cart and then with some errands and picking up more things around the town. And after that she had him helping clean the place as she interviewed potential cooks. In general, a great day even if he didn't get much reading in and all but passed out after it.

[sorcerous-caress]

Ugh, it finally happened! Khal'ian and Kira's saves are fully cooked! So close to finishing act3 with my boy! 😓

Well, it gives me an excuse to finally remake Kira or create Khal'ian's in-lore manic best-friend Issal.

Welp, time to test honor mode with new subclasses!🤗

I'll work on more Wyll/Kira drabbles later tonight, but I have a question.

Do any of your Tav/Durges co-exist? Would they be pre-game friends/foes/lovers? I find it fun to branch out and see the characters I create interact with each other.

-githzerai anon

You can try to downgrade the game version and script extender versions to finish the saves off if you were really close to the end!

Also in the new endgame epilogue, Voss sends a letter that mentions the githzerai canonly in game! I thought of you when i saw it. If you're okay with spoilers lmk and I'll post it.

Also dude, honour mode is fucking brutal. One save file, you can't reload and if you die in the tutorial ship the whole save is nuked. All the rolls are inflated with a higher check number, I couldn't recruit Us because i failed the mutiliate roll despite having advantage. So many other people mentioned failing the Wyll Karlach pers roll and the pulling Gale out of the portal roll too. It's full on sadistic and I'm loving it but I can't go far yet because I'm still waiting on my favourite mod to update.

As for the Tav/Durge question, they definitely share a common dragon theme, I based them on different dragon species for fun.

First Tav was based on a gold dragon, friendly, chatty, noble heritage, extroverted and flirty. Romanced Astarion. Backstory is them being a noble supposed to take over the head of their family soon but got kidnapped, comes back to finding out the previous head got murdered and everyone in their family is a suspect except them since they were far away. Their dream person was a half-elf women. Gets thrown off the ship with a small baby red dragon that serves their family, followed them here. Hoards eggs/gold/gems.

First Durge was based on a red dragon, prideful, rude, arrogant, easily jealous, competitive and loves flattery. Romanced Minthara. They're not native to Baldur's Gate and instead come from a far away land in the east, they don't remember much since losing their memory, they hold a lot of Gortash themed stuff in their inventory not knowing why or who it belonged to. Their dream person was a drow man. Hoards bones/skulls/corpses.

Latest Tav is based on a brass dragon, loves to talk/sing, overconfident, cute, bad at being humble, anime magical girl tropes. Romanced Wyll. Multiclassed into bard, backstory is that they are a famous popstar that recently went solo from their band, too used to only dealing with fans so they tend to be offputting to normal people, they were touring in Baldur's Gate when they got kidnapped. Their dream person was a dragonborn man (mod). Hoards books/art/statues.

How do they relate? I'm not sure, maybe they're the same person but a different dragon lineage each time that drastically alters their life? Maybe they're long lost siblings? Maybe they don't know each other.

Well except two of them. I made a durge high elf guy for Minthara to abuse on a playthrough once, he is friends with my first Tav and i made them his dream person but they got separated ontop of the ship.

I mostly think about how my characters would interact with other people's characters, I think most of my Tavs or Durges would be indifferent to each other.

Khal'ian for example, I can say my first Tav would consider him a friend, maybe get a bit protective.

First Durge would be condcending with him and compares his shortcomings to Laezel a lot.

Latest Durge would be very friendly and think he needs encouragement to get out of his shell, might even be pushy about it.

I try to switch up the companions too on each playthrough to make it like it's an alternative dimension where every shifted a bit. Aka the werewolf Shadowheart au or the younger Gale one, since the more playthroughs you do, the more dialogue and scenes you start skipping so their canon plot gets old quickly and writing your own sounds more interesting.

But i do make them all human, all of my characters except that one high elf guy made specifically for Minthara. I genuinely have the biggest hard on for humans. i really think they're neat.

And my first dnd character was a dragonborn paladin yet here i am in human sorcerer heaven/hell?

What about you anon? Do Kira and Khal'ian know each other? What about the best friend you mentioned? Do any of them co-exist?

First Tav - Gold Dragon

First Durge - Red Dragon

Latest Tav - Brass Dragon

[blackbutlerfandomnerddomain]

Candles and Broomsticks

"Tell me Elizabeth, how come it's taking so long for any of the children to be baptized?"

Lizzie causally sipped her tea as she speaks with a visit of one of the "mother friends" she "made" over the one year Bella attend a special school. "Well me and my husband never really thought to baptized Bella. And Albert, Anthony, and Rachel just aren't cause Ciel and his wife chose not to. It's not the end of the world." The red head huffs and fans her fan near her face, her long lashes fluttering as her blue gems roll. She is a opposite of Lizzie you see, from her hair to her sharp facial features compared to Lizzie's soft, to her outfit that isn't so cute and mature as Lizzie's but more tight formal that shows she's a prize of the doctor she wedded. Her name is Lady Lenora Bell, wife of a Lord Doctor Arthur Bell, and has a daughter Bella's age named Marge who's just like her mother and not in the pleasant way Lizzie would've hoped.

It still boggles her mind how she wound up accepting her into her home.

"On a off topic, is your husband arriving for the party? I heard some gossip on it while I was in London." Asked Lenora with a smile of her dark red lipstick. Lizzie's heart fluttered in her chest as she smiles and speaks, "Yes, of course my darling husband will attend. This is a very special day for him after all."

Indeed, just down the road is a carriage being driven by the Phantomhive's chef and most special butler in the spring air. "Ahh, can't wait to pick up my lil Amelia." Said Bard after taking a large breath in the spring air. Sebastian chuckles beside him, "You saw her last week. Though I do agree with your words Bardroy."

Inside the carriage are a total of five adults and five children who sit excited, a little girl's legs kick in her seat as she giggles. "I take it you're excited Rachel?" Asked a boy with dark wisps of black hair that cover his ears, skin a pale smooth beige, and big lovely brown eyes behind brown ribbed thin glasses dressed nicely in a white button up and brown slacks with suspenders to match and a black coat over it. Rachel giggles and nods happily, causing her parents to smile.

The scent of yummy food and sweet cakes fills the senses of everyone, the sounds of music and happy voices fells the ears of everyone. The party was in full bliss and there wasn't a singe frown upon a face. Beside the desert table stands Bella, her long black hair in waves down her back with a lovely blue gem necklace draped around her neck tightly dressed in a lovely gown that brings a gentle glow of her pale skin and a pop of her emerald eyes. With her are many teens her age dressed all lovely as well with happy smiles and sparkling eyes. "Wow Bella, the dress is so pretty!" "Thank you. My father and our tailor helped make it."

Across the way in the ballroom stands Ciel and a man whom he hasn't seen in a long while, a Chinese man dressed in emerald greens and sparkling golds. Lau brought his glass to his lips and took a sip of his shiny golden drink before speaking, "My my, doesn't that dress look familiar. At least the fabrics. Perhaps a certain party connected to a case?" The Earl chuckles softly yet meekly, "Thank goodness that dress is being used for better use." The two were interrupted by a beauty, a man with fair blond hair long and tied in a small pony tail and skin a pale peach color with beautiful crimson eyes, dressed in a formal dark green suit with a beautiful sapphire blue cummerbund. "Oh Joanne!"

Joanne smiles in return and spoke, "How are you, we haven't seen each other since Christmas." "I've been doing well, and you?" "Very well." Suddenly, Ciel paused, "If you're here than certainly so is-" He turns his body and quickly grabs hold of two children, one girl who's 7 and a boy who's 9, one girl with shoulder long black hair and big green eyes of emerald blue and a button nose booped with flushed blush and freckles and a boy with the same shade of black short hair and big brown eyes. "Hi uncle Ciel!" Ciel chuckles and hugs them tightly, his voice dipped in a childish way, "You were sneaking up on your dear uncle weren't you??"

Odin and Violet Sullivan-Harcourt, sweetest little angels you'll ever meet everyone will claim. Over the years it came a shock to the Phantomhive household to hear Joanne Harcourt was interested in courting the very lovely mad genius she is of Sieglinde Sullivan, the German girl Ciel and Sebastian took in and funded for everything she needed.

"My what adorable children you have Sir Harcourt."

The three adults and two children stop and look at Mrs Lenora walking over with a wine glass in one hand now wearing a lovely robin blue dress that tightly hugs the cleavage. With a hum she leans down to look at the children more after Ciel stood up straight, "Such adorable children indeed. Though, I must say Miss Violet's eyes are a surprise twist." The man looks at his school friend as he looks to his children and smile softly, "Yes, well, it's a family trait." He pauses. "Well, that is to say from my family. My grandmother was rumored to have such lovely blue eyes." Though he smiles, Ciel can sense Joanne's shift of things. A shift he's familiar well. A shift to never be truly honest.

A big thing of change over time was Ciel, and not just him marrying and having children, he is no longer a boy seeking revenge but instead a man though wounded accepts life's odd path of surprises. With him in that change was a familiar face, a mirror face if you will, of his brother from the dead away from the decaying fire and memories. It was a begging plea of Undertaker after his madness parade of cheating death and justice finally ended for Ciel and Sebastian to please keep him living until his final breath when Sebastian devours his soul with his wife's. It wasn't easy at first, framing your brother for murder can do that to you, but over time the two found peace. Hell, with help from Sieglinde they found a way to help him age normally with his healthy way of blood transfusion. And along that time the girl and boy simply grew close. Maybe it was the sense of unable to move about freely or books, who knows, what they do know is the two are very close, two souls as one. Around this time was when Joanne began to express courting her. You can ask anyone and you'll get a different story how the three came to be with a public wedding of Joanne and Sieglinde and then a secret wedding of Sieglinde and the forgotten twin, but the answer is the same.

No one knows the truth of Violet's true father.

Ciel glanced to his left and smiled at Xiu talking with two girls, one 8 year old with long straight brown hair and brown eyes and one smaller sized 7 year old with long thick curly dark brown hair and big brown eyes with small speckles of green if you look closely, and smiles. Amelia, the daughter of Midford's maid Paula and the Phantomhive's chef Bardroy. Mariposa, the daughter of Phantomhive's lovely gardener Finnian and his lovely wife Valentina.

"Why invite servants children to such a party? They'll bring the mood down."

That sentence snaps Ciel out his thoughts as he turned to Lenora, but before he could snap at her she has walked away giggling. "You know, I don't quite like her my Lord." Said Lau with venom dripping from his words.

The room fell silent with the sound of a gentle tap of a glass, making everyone turn their heads to the direction of the noise to the handsome man with dark hair combed back wearing a white suit with a dark purple pink cummerbund and matching tie with a pearl broach clipped to the center, holding a glass of wine in one hand and holding Lizzie dressed in a lovely red dress of black lace beside him. "Thank you all for coming to the birthday celebration of Lizzie's and I's lovely daughter Bella. Thirteen years ago today my life was simple darkness until she came into the world and lit it up as the stars in the sky. A light I never realized I needed until the day came." Said he as he looks to Bella who smiles bashfully. Hannah leans to Angela, both dressed in dark purples and whites, and whispers, "How much do you want to bet someone will start crying?" This earned a giggle in which she smiles. After a moment, a large cake of four lairs coated in candles gets carted in by the Phantomhive servants and the kitchen staff of the Midford manor, stopping right by the girl in pink. With her smiling softly everyone began to sing, some singing in different languages, but not one person can copy the look of warmth that Sebastian holds as he watches her. Within a blink he sees the image of him holding a small infant girl crying before coming back to view to see Bella blow her candles out firmly.

It's strange, demons shouldn't cry, but he can feel his eyes grow misty since her birth.

Offical part three of my current fics of my Black Butler Next Gen AU for @nullb1rdbones, @annoyinglyshinycherryblossom, @sebalizzie, @docmartensanddietcoke, and @onehellofashadynerd

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

[shahzadkhuram]

Khuram Shahzad Diamonds Jewellery House in Birmingham

Khuram Shahzad Diamonds real lab-grown diamonds have constantly offered the tantalizing prospect of making the beauty of true, real diamond affordable to jewelry lovers around the world. Unfortunately there is still a large gap between typical media articles and the reality of what diamond growing labs can actually grow as of November 2009.

White Diamonds:

There are only two labs that have publicly noted that they are working on growing white lab diamonds for the consumer market at this time. While one lab has had a few as large as 1ct, these were rare occurrences and not readily reproducible to date. Even after years of research and effort, the typical diamond produced is less than.50ct, and often the color is below the typical gem grade white mined diamond. The few that are available typically sell for the same price as or higher than a comparable natural mined white diamond and wait times for larger sizes (.75ct and higher) can exceed one year with no guarantee of if or when you will be able to purchase. Because of this disparity between supply and demand for real lab grown white diamonds, there are still a number of CZ sellers who run ads, likely even showing next to this article, proclaiming 'Flawless Man Made Diamonds', 'Perfect Lab Created Diamonds' or similar false claims. The only twist is how many sellers have succeeded in taking advantage of the consumer’s knowledge gap between media articles over-proclaiming the availability of real lab grown diamonds, and the limits of what truly is available in real lab created white diamond.

Blue Diamonds:

Natural mined blue diamonds are created when grown in the presence of boron, which accounts for their rare and unique blue color. Mined blue diamonds showing a rich, saturated blue color (Fancy Vivid Blue is the diamond term) of any reasonable size are exceedingly rare, and when available are nearly always sold via auction (Sotheby or Christies) in order for the seller to obtain maximum value for what will likely be a once in a lifetime sale. As a result, natural vivid blue diamonds can command prices from $565,000 per carat to as high as $1.3 Million dollars per carat. A vivid blue diamond at auction is a media event, and regularly covered as such by the press due to the extreme rarity, beauty and eye popping prices presented by mined blue diamonds.

Pink diamonds:

Lab grown pink diamonds are an area that presents disappointing news. There is currently no available supply of new pink diamonds, and those consumers who were able to purchase one of the very few pink diamonds over.50ct in the past should be very glad they purchased when they did. The only lab that produced pinks has stopped production, and no other lab has stepped in. Doing so is anything but consistent, and the result is most of the lab grown pinks come out off pink or have gaps within the diamond coloration where parts are yellow or clear, and parts are pink (color zoning)...thus only a small percentage of production is the truly prized, even and rich pink color, and the diamond grower is left with far more unsellable 'off- pinks' than finished and sellable rich pink diamonds.

Yellow diamonds:

Yellow diamonds were the first type of lab grown diamond available to consumers (around 2002) and their arrival is what sparked most of the media coverage on lab diamonds. In total, five labs ended up producing yellow diamonds for sale to the jewelry market. With minimal demand for what they could consistently produce, and no easy way to grow the pure yellow consumers wanted, the result was the exiting of most of the producers from the business of producing lab yellow diamonds. Visit here https://ksdiamondsdmcc.tumblr.com/ to know more info

[breaddragonette]

Bones of Dragon

Deprived of any gleams within the darkness, the great beast soared through the air with no hesitation or question as to where it was going. Clouds cluttered the sky above, shoving any possible star into the back with no room for them to slip by, grumbling often and low. Even though the air remained dry, exceedingly few would even wish to step out into the shadowy abyss engulfing the lands. But, as dangerous and terrifying as this would be for many others, the dragon accepted the child's play offered before them.

Certainty filled their mind more than the darkness filled the land. Others, even with a powerful source to scare off nearby darkness, would not have the same clarity. Their ability to see a couple feet ahead leaves them blind, for the dragon can tell precisely how far something is, almost as if it were pressing against the tip of their nostrils. Their navigation through the darkness was nothing to be impressed about; rather, the haste they make into it is what should be praised. They are flying at full speed, and have no intention of slowing down until they reach their unmarked destination.

The night may be dark, but they themselves were darker. By contrast, the shadowy abyss engulfing everything is to them as sunshine is to most living creatures. The void itself was not enough to hide anything from such a creature, their own shadow casting a darkness over the blanket itself. Grand in size, rougher than a mountain, and tougher than reinforced steel, the dragon was nothing short of a terror that pierced through what cannot be seen into.

In time, the immense dragon came upon the entrance of a cave, one that was quite too small compared to themself. They came to a quick landing, sending a small quake through the ground. They allowed a brief moment to stretch their limbs before folding in their wings, spitting out two separate objects from their maw onto the invisible ground. Soon after, they would rapidly shrink, their body changing alongside their size, becoming something else. Where once a large dragon stood was now someone the size of a man, and while he seemed nothing alike to what he was before, some dragon features remained, revealing who he really was.

Now that he was a size that could enter the cave entrance, the dragon bent over to take the large sacks he spat out moments prior, still drenched in saliva. Taking a large, heavy sack in each hand, the dragon man proceeded into the cave. It was as dark inside as it was outside, which, to say the least, meant it was just as bright outside as it was inside. They effortlessly wandered through the cave, avoiding stalagmites and stalactites alike, and would travel for a number of minutes before reaching what lay on the other end.

On the other side was a large room, simply as bright as anything else, with mounds of treasure lying in wait: gold coins that would twinkle, gems and valuable stones that would glisten, even valuable jewelry that would sparkle. Carved and expanded, the dragon's den held more wealth than what many nobles could spend, slowly and steadily growing larger as time went on. The dragon added to it, opening one sack to pour more over what was there, and simply left the sack itself on top.

Despite all of the valuables, not even so much as one measly little coin was of any value to the dragon.

Instead of marveling over the growing wealth, the dragon simply carried the second sack further into the den, walking around the mounds to reach an area in the back. Greeted by what seemed to be an ordinary wall, the dragon placed an open palm onto it, and simply used his strength to slide it over, revealing a hidden room. He stepped in, leaving the fake wall exposed, and came to face his true treasure.

Bones.

But just not any ordinary bones. The bones of his enemies, from those great to those forgettable. Yes, truly, this dragon had no interest in material wealth, or anything of the sort. Instead, he holds a great interest in the enemies he had encountered throughout the years. Stepping further, the dragon's purple eyes shone with revelry, recognizing various bones displayed, remembering many battles fought.

There were shelves, pedestals, and even a pile. The pile consisted of those either lackluster or irrelevant, used as nothing more than building material for those more worthwhile. And the worthwhile went onto the shelves, their skulls, some even just fragments, were placed as trophies of sorts. While none too remarkable, the owners were vaguely interesting in some way or another, be it respectable or despisable. But, the true collection pieces were the skulls set on top of pedestals, carved of stone as the base, and adorned with the remains of others. These were the remarkable ones, either having won their place through a valiant battle, or becoming such a hated foe that they could not leave the dragon's mind.

He took a moment to gaze over the skulls atop the pedestals, admiring the great battles, and despising the worst of the wretches. But, amongst them, sat an empty pedestal, yearning for its own decoration to display. The dragon set the sack down, and snatched out the latest skull that has marked their place to belong. While not the most impressive combatant, their wit stood out from many others, especially among the group they fought in. This one lone skull was allowed to rest atop the pedestal, while the bones of the other members were promptly tossed towards the pile without a second thought.

A fresh skull always brought a certain life to the unlit cave.

Dragons have treasure hoards for adventurers to target. Those are usually cover ups to hide what the dragons actually care for. Some run orphanages, others have meticulously tended gardens, some have the most well stocked libraries in the world etc.

[umaraheja]

Chiang Mai, the "Rose of the North," is a captivating city in Thailand that enthralls travelers with its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty, and laid-back charm. This vibrant city serves as the perfect base for exploring northern Thailand's wonders, offering a delightful mix of ancient temples, bustling markets, and exciting adventures. But beyond the city walls, a hidden gem awaits – Pai, a small town nestled amidst rolling hills and lush valleys, beckons with its bohemian vibe and unique experiences. So, follow this guide as we delve into the must-sees of Chiang Mai and the must-dos in Pai, crafting your perfect itinerary for an unforgettable northern Thailand adventure.

Chiang Mai Travel Guide:

Start your Chiang Mai adventure by exploring its magnificent temples. Wat Phra Doi Suthep, perched atop Doi Suthep mountain, offers panoramic views of the city and houses a revered Buddha relic. Immerse yourself in the serene atmosphere of Wat Chiang Man, the city's oldest temple, and marvel at its intricate Lanna architecture. For a unique experience, visit Wat Phra That Doi Kham, a temple complex adorned with glittering white elephants.

Beyond temples, Chiang Mai boasts vibrant markets that are a feast for the senses. Wander through the sprawling Saturday Night Walking Street Market, a haven for handicrafts, souvenirs, and delicious street food. Explore the Warorot Market, a bustling daytime market where you can find everything from fresh produce to clothing and local spices. For a touch of history, head to the Sunday Walking Street Market, held within the historic walled city, and browse through antiques and local crafts.

Things to Do in Pai:

After soaking up the cultural richness of Chiang Mai, take a day trip or extend your stay in Pai, a haven for nature lovers and free spirits. Nestled amidst breathtaking scenery, Pai offers a slower pace of life compared to Chiang Mai. Rent a motorbike and explore the surrounding countryside, stopping at cascading waterfalls like Pai Waterfall or the scenic viewpoint at Pai Canyon.

For the adventurous soul, Pai offers exciting activities like white water rafting on the Pai River or ziplining through the lush jungles. Challenge yourself with a challenging trek to Pai Caves, a network of limestone caves adorned with stalactites and stalagmites. Embrace the bohemian spirit of Pai by taking a yoga class or learning about traditional Thai massage techniques.

In the evenings, Pai's vibrant night market comes alive with delicious street food stalls and local handicrafts. Sample the local specialty, Khao Soi, a flavorful curry noodle dish, or indulge in fresh fruit shakes. Head to one of Pai's many reggae bars and enjoy live music under the starry sky.

Planning Your Trip:

Chiang Mai is well-connected by air and train from Bangkok and other major cities in Thailand. Pai is a two-hour drive from Chiang Mai, and several affordable transportation options are available, including minivans and motorbikes. The best time to visit Chiang Mai and Pai is during the cool and dry season, from November to April.

A Glimpse into Northern Thailand's Soul:

Chiang Mai and Pai offer a captivating glimpse into the soul of northern Thailand. From the cultural treasures of Chiang Mai to the laid-back charm of Pai, this region promises an unforgettable experience. So, pack your bags, embrace the warmth of northern Thai hospitality, and embark on your own adventure through this captivating corner of Thailand.

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond! Cast: Sunky and Tlels

Replaces: Plush Spider-Man Origin(s): Sunky.MPEG/Sunky the Game

They occasionally Sunk. What else do you want me to say?

(Mini Note: Their sprite sizes in the mockups are not to scale. They are canonically smaller than what is presented, but I still wanted them to stand out regardless, so my apologies.)

Sunky the Hedgehawg and Micheal "Tlels" Powder (or Tlels the Fix) are two titular protagonists from the dimension they originate from, which is quite lighter and softer compared to other universes.

One running thing you'll find in their dimension is that no monsters and true villains (save for the relatively-normal Dr. Robotnik) roam the land, as it's a pretty happy place, all in all. Though Sunky has had his fair share of scrapes with characters like Shidow (his version of Shadow), he's always remained bright and optimistic.

At one point, he donned a ".exe" persona of his own, dubbed Sunky.MPEG, to go around spooking people with. That said, compared to many other EXEs, he hasn't killed a single soul. Instead, he led his friends and rivals into parties of his own making, and was more than welcome to share his milk and cereal with them as a treat.

At one point, Sunky, Tlels and a great number of their friends went and built a big schoolhouse of sorts, where fun and learning were the prime focus. However, Robotnik was led there via his tracker for the Chaos Emeralds (dubbed the "Emerdoods" in the Sunkiverse), and after managing to trick Tlels into thinking he was the doctor's cousin, he went through the various floors to find the Emerdoods.

Of course, because he was considered a member of the crew, he still had to put up with activities like dancing in Tlels' class or running around gathering purple donuts (the equivalent of rings) for a fussy Mitee. With luck, however, he made it to the generator, where, daftly enough, all seven Emerdoods were being used to power a single building. "Well, that's dumb."

However, Tlels caught up and realised what was going on, seeing as Robotnik had gone and smashed the generator's glass. Though seemingly fooled by the excuse of polishing the gems, he realised quite quickly that Robotnik was actually trying to steal the Emerdoods. Unfortunately for Tlels, he was easily kicked back down the hallway.

Once at safety, and knowing the place was going to explode with the generator tampered with, Tlels ordered a full-out evacuation of the schoolhouse, and when the timer hit 0, it exploded with Tlels inside, catapulting the guy out to where the others were. Robotnik managed to get away with the Emerdoods, and Tlels was feeling beat that the doctor actually outwitted them.

However, they got their payback, and went and messed up the doctor's home as retaliation, the fat scientist not happy with them STILL being able to outsmart his plans despite this setback. As you can probably guess from what I described, Sunky and Tlels may be small, likely smaller than other versions of Sonic and Tails, but they both really pack a punch when the chips are down. You know, one might even say that they could secretly be memetic badasses that even an EXE fears (discounting Lord X and Majin Sonic, at least).

One day, EV!Sonic and Tekno ended up arriving in their dimension, helping stop Robotnik when he was after the Emerdoods again. The introduction between them and the Sunk duo was... kind of awkward. In IAB! (like his appearance in Sunky's Schoolhouse), Sunky doesn't say a word, so instead, Tlels is more than happy to talk on both of their behalf, understanding well what his best friend is trying to convey.

Due to the two having the right determination for protecting their home, EV!Sonic was more than welcome to include them in the Quill Society as members, allowing them to meet fellow heroes just like them. They even got to meet some of the worst rogues from throughout the SEGAVerse, some of them (like the Game Gear Spinball Robotnik) not even being taken seriously due to being SMALLER than Sunky.

During the race to apprehend Lost Memory Sonic, Sunky and Tlels are a couple of those more disadvantaged, due to not being able to move very fast on their own. However, Nicky was happy to help give them the horizontal boost they needed to catch up with him. Tlels is also quick to scold the rogue blue blur for his actions, quicker than anyone else can get it out, in fact.

[cinemacentral666]

The Kingdom (1994, 1997) & The Kingdom: Exodus (2022)

"Movie" #1,133 • Ranking Lars Von Trier #5

There are so many inexplicable twists and turns and forced cliffhangers in the last fifteen minutes of what remains the series finale, the eighth and final episode of The Kingdom, that you might forget how smooth and cohesive the otherwise bonkers story came together in totality. Clocking in at nearly ten hours, Lars von Trier's "Twin Peaks in a hospital," shot and released on Danish TV in the mid 90s in two 4-episode seasons (1994 & 1997), is a hard-to-find gem that deserves far more attention if not recognition for being just about the weirdest fucking thing I've ever seen released on a mainstream platform (if we can call Danish TV a "mainstream platform").

I was perhaps most impressed by LVT's ability to juggle upwards of a dozen different storylines which seamlessly crossed and merged when they needed to. I feel some unease with how it ended given this segment of an interview I recently watched on YouTube with a slightly demented-seeming if not sickly Trier. Is he really going on about how not having an ending is a problem? Did he ever even watch this? Does he have any recollection making it? But for the love of god, this man can't help but being an insane and inscrutable maniac for one minute; so, he can get away with it. Few can.

Saying one thing when you mean another is a trick, which is not unlike the whole of LVT's filmography. On one hand, this is among his most accessible works: a procedural genre drama. And on the other, it's a thing where Udo Kier plays the double role of Demon from Hell and a baby born with a normal adult-sized head whose body grows exponentially gigantic by the day until he's like seventeen-feet long screaming for his mother to kill him, which–SPOILERS!–she does.

I will hold off from saying more at this juncture as, apparently, there might be a third and final season on the way, à la another famously long-dormant television franchise from a luminary auteur. But this being Lars von Trier, who the hell knows.

THREE YEARS LATER…

"With this being Lars von Trier, who the hell knows" was an appropriate way to end my initial review of The Kingdom for the S.O.B. went ahead and did it: he finished his small screen masterpiece and gave it an ending for the ages. Having just completed the long-awaited Season 3 here in 2023, with future von Trier projects somewhat up in the air after his recent Parkinson's diagnosis (he says he will continue making movies for as long as he can, and I hope he does, but who knows), I can say that if that is indeed his final project, it's certainly a worthy one to go out on.

To get this out of the way (as anyone writing about The Kingdom: Exodus is legally required to mention within the first two paragraphs): the comparisons to Twin Peaks: The Return are as unavoidable as they are perfectly and eerily apt. LVT was getting compared to Lynch well before he decided to complete his own visionary TV show 25 years later as well. But, while the initial inspiration for The Kingdom had to have been spurred by the groundbreaking Twin Peaks, his conclusion and how he went about it is vastly different. Both are phenomenal, in my opinion, but where Lynch departed from the original framework and story to the nth degree, von Trier's return is firmly grounded in the tone and aesthetic of the original run. Outside of a very meta beginning and ending, Exodus feels like a natural continuation of the story, in the same location with the same sepia-drenched sheen. There's no excursions to the purple ocean world or Buckhorn, South Dakota here.

Not to say he doesn't get weird or try different things within this original landscape, because he does so IN SPADES. It's a thrilling, hilarious and endlessly wild ride in five one-hour installments. The biggest hurdle (and main reason the final season was shelved for so long) were the deaths of several notable actors in prominent roles. He handles this with nuance and boundless creativity. It never feels like an homage because it's so rich, fresh and new. Ernst-Hugo Järegård's Dane-hating Helmer is replaced by his son (as Helmer Jr., comically nicknamed "Halfmer" by the Swede-roasting staff); Jens Okking as Bulder is simply exchanged for a look-alike (Nicolas Bro); and Sigrid Drusse (Kirsten Rolffes), the truth-seeking heart of the show is swapped out for a new lead, a similarly aged Karen (Bodil Jørgensen), who begins the action in the non-sepia "real world" watching the original two-season run of The Kingdom on DVD; and Udo Kier… well, please just watch it to see what they do with Udo Kier.

The meta narrative is fascinating, as everyone in Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet is well aware of the madman Lars von Trier and his awful, fucked up TV series. LVT's own credit-roll commentary also returns (although he speaks behind a red curtain now out of vanity; only his jittering shoes are visible), as does a new Greek chorus of male and female dishwashers: gone are the actors with Down syndrome, replaced by a robot (who's constantly breaking dishes) and a man with a different, and a more severe genetic disorder. As is often the case, many of these choices range from squeamish to deliriously comedic, often simultaneously, but when — MAJOR SPOILER — von Trier himself arrives in a helicopter in the role of none other than Satan, how can you not smile?

If I had known going in that some of the threads in Exodus were going to touch on culture wars stuff, I would have said, "Oh no." But everything is handled with such ease — from #MeToo to Nazism! — and, more importantly, humor. This shouldn't work on paper, but it does.

I watched this on the heels of the Nymphomaniac Director's Cut and came away with a similar take: that LVT is really great at longer form storytelling. Some of his very best work is also the longest, and I don't think that's an accident. He's always tried to distill BIG IDEAS into thoughtful if not nihilistic and absurdist scenarios (Willem Dafoe plays one of the devil's minions who's also an owl), but even when the action makes you want to scream or walk into traffic, there's a cleverness at play which brings it full circle. The shift from the neurological to the cardiological departments (via Birgitte Raaberg's character) is such a lovely and simple notion. The head vs. the heart. You can make a big complicated thing with boundless metaphors, but what does it matter if you don't feel anything? The idea that this is all just a mad artist's foolish creation seems to be the ultimate point and that is a fitting send-off for von Trier in a way, I think. It's cheap on the one hand (it's supposed to be), but also a perfect example/explanation of art as entertainment and/or vice versa. Exodus — yes, like The Return — is as standalone fascinating as it is successful; honoring, but more importantly elevating the original series in the most magical ways.

SCORE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[hhbridgertonau]

13 - Casting Stones

Not the chapter you're looking for? Check the Masterlist!

Last night, at the king’s ball, a passer-by spotted two shadows in the king’s garden. These two illustrious gems stood a little too close for comfort, burning in an act of unbridled passion. Now this author wagers that your delightful imagination can fill in the rest. It is a pity that the brighter a star shines, the faster it burns. And it is an even greater pity that this star may never recover from such a scandal…

Daleon’s lips were softer than he imagined.

Imagined? Ridiculous. He dreamed of them. He must have gone mad for allowing this to happen. And yet, he couldn’t find it in himself to stop. He pulled her against him, glove-less hands feeling the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her gown. Had she always been so small in his arms?

He held her face, thumbs caressing smooth, faintly powdered cheeks. Her button nose pushed against his own as they both desperately sought the other. The way her lips molded perfectly to his was enough to drive him over the edge. He chased after them. Discipline began to slip from him, the same way his lips slipped from Daleon’s to kiss her jaw and further down her neck and throat. She moaned his name and tugged at the short strands of his hair, pulling him closer to her. Her rose-scented perfume filled his being with desire, the scalding heat of it pounding in his blood and through his skin. He wanted her. That was the most terrifying thought. He wanted her terribly—

Gab jolted awake, panting as cold sweat rolled down his forehead and neck. The familiar cream ceilings and crown molding reminded him of where he was. He was in Edengrove. Home.

He sat up in bed, yanking on the duvet to cover the embarrassingly evident bulge straining against his trousers. Shame on you, he thought, thinking and behaving like a pubescent boy, all from a kiss from four days ago. It was clearly an accident - a moment of shroud in both of their minds, one that seemed to follow him. But perhaps the shroud went by another name: guilt. After all, it was his choice to see her one last time.

To say he yearned for her was a strong word, but it was impossible to forget her. Frankly, the notion made him sick. Even something as insignificant as the roses and carnations at Stewart Hall was enough to bring her face to his memory. He blamed the archery match, Tomo, and Jellie, for even putting those thoughts into his head. But most of all, he blamed himself for his fickle heart. The presence of one lady should not have befuddled his whole world like this. She was like a stone cast into the still waters of his mind, creating unending ripples and waves. He allowed himself to be carried away with the tide, and now, they were ruined. He could imagine the reprimand from his parents were they still alive. He knew it was nothing compared to the public shame Daleon might endure, and that knowledge made him feel worse.

He prayed no one saw them, but Gab would be a fool if he didn’t think of any countermeasures should the event be brought to light and public scrutiny. But what countermeasures? The correct one would be to marry her; the other would leave her in ruin. He didn’t know if he could do one or the other, especially because he was a far cry from the man Daleon wanted, and could not envision Daleon as his wife. That wasn’t reason enough to leave her to her cruel fate. But would it not be crueler if she ended up with him?

He hoped he would not have to make that decision.

A few knocks came upon his door. Gab’s butler, Keith, entered to draw the curtains. He did not greet him.

“You have guests from London, your grace,” he said instead.

Gab’s blood went cold. “Who?”

Keith fidgeted as he turned towards his master.

“His Lordship Bastion, and Duke Morningstar are waiting in the foyer, along with the marquis.”

It was one day’s trip from London to Edengrove. If they came to see him in haste, they must have been exhausted.

“I apologize for you having to come a long way, my lords,” he said in greeting. “Had I known you were coming, I would have tidied up the guest rooms.”

Neither Dancel nor Roush seemed to have the grace to greet him. Instead, Ergon came up the steps with the ferocity of a wolf, hands balled into solid fists, ready to maim him. Roush and Dancel raced up the steps to hold him back, but Ergon gritted his teeth and resisted with all his strength - they thought his coat would rip.

“You bastard,” he snarled. “I’ll kill you.”

So much for pleasantries. “Who told you?’ Gab asked.

“The papers,” Dancel replied, grunting as Ergon tried to break free of them. “You were seen. Daleon confessed to it afterwards.”

“Only because he told her to say she advanced on him first,” said Ergon, struggling to break free from their holds. “I thought you a man of character, but now I see how you’ve plotted for my sister’s ruin.”

Gab sighed. God must have had a strange reason for not answering his prayers. “I hope you did not come all the way here for a boy to lash out at me. His energy is better directed to caring for his own.”

He watched, almost with amusement, as the young marquis tried to lunge for him again. Roush pushed Ergon away and blocked him with his body, whispering rather angrily to the young Morningstar, like a stern father scolding his child for misbehaving. Gab could not catch what Roush was saying, but the baron’s words seemed to pass one through one ear and out the other with how upset he was. His eyes were on Gab, still with the intent to kill.

“I am here to ask you what is to be done, as you are also an affected party,” said Dancel, straightening his coat.

Gab held his breath. “I know exactly what you wish to ask of me, and I respectfully, my answer is no.”

Dancel glowered at him. “It is a lady’s right to deny a proposal, not a gentleman’s.”

“I am saying I have no intention of proposing to her,” he replied. “It will be wasting both of our times and resources.”

“I’d rather die than watch her marry now,” Ergon growled. “If Gab dies, then Daleon will have no obligation to be with him.”

Dancel clicked his tongue. “Ergon, your behavior over the last few days has been absolutely dismal, and I expected better from a Morningstar.” His voice steadily rose with his words. Gab felt it wasn’t only Ergon he was referring to.

Now Ergon’s attention turned to Dancel. He shoved Roush away and marched right up to him, sizing him up. They were almost the same height. “If you didn’t let Daleon debut, none of this would have happened. Our world was perfect before all of this.“

“Something else would have happened,” Dancel snapped back at him. The hall went still. “None of us can predict how our future will turn out. I cannot protect you forever, and neither can you for Daleon or that perfect world you’ve envisioned. This is our present now, and we will deal with it accordingly, with decorum.”

Ergon’s shoulders rose and fell with every seething breath. “I won’t let you give her away. I won’t. If you make them marry, I don’t think I’ll be able to forgive you, your grace.”

There was a pause, and then with a defeated sigh, Dancel looked down on him. “Then I shall prepare myself,” he said. “I suggest you do the same.”

Ergon’s eyes went wide. With a stifled curse, he marched away from them and out the door. Roush ran to follow him.

Gab cleared his throat. “I admire your tenacity, your grace.”

“I’ve spoiled them too much. Being a parent is difficult,”

Gab knew he wanted to say more. “I’m sure it must have been quite a journey, might I offer you some refreshments?"

Gab tried to ignore the large oil painting of his mother and father as they entered the study. He strode towards his desk and sat. “Tea? Or perhaps something stronger?”

Dancel sat across Gab. “Coffee would be nice, thank you.”

Gab wondered where to begin. “It must have been difficult, raising them by yourself.” The strong smell of coffee wafted towards him as the servant filled his cup.

“You’d be surprised at how many people it took to actually raise them,” Dancel gave a gentle smile as he sipped. “I wonder where they get their stubbornness from. One minute they’re children, and then suddenly they’re adults with thoughts and dreams of their own, and you wonder how long you have left with them?”

Dancel must have realized he got carried away. He set down his cup, and changed the subject. “I do not doubt for a second that Daleon instigated this whole affair.”

Gab relaxed his shoulders. “On the contrary, the roots are deeper,”

“I know about your little arrangement.” He paused. “Do you truly expect me to believe that you have felt nothing for Daleon in the time you’ve spent with her?”

Gab knew his silence was a dead give away, but he could not find a suitable response. He tried to steady his breathing, but that only made his chest tighten so much he thought breathing was impossible.

“She loves you, Gabriel. Why else would she do what she did?”

The words hurt more than he thought. Gab swallowed. “I am not the man she wants. And I will not allow either of us to suffer because of the absence of love in our marriage. I’ll only end up disappointing her.”

Perhaps he already had. The image of his parents in the corner of his eye began to bother him. They watched him - judged him from heaven. He tried to keep his gaze steady on the Duke instead, and try as he might to analyze his eyes, he found them unreadable, distant almost. It was funny to see how he remained such a mystery in the eyes of the ton, even though they were only a few years apart in age.

“I know you mean well when you say these things,” he said at last. “In that case, the three of us can move away from London for a while. I’m sure the ton will forget in a few years.”

A breath of relief, or was it remorse? Either way, he was a little appalled the man did not insist. “Where will you go?”

“Paris perhaps, or maybe Venice. Who knows, Daleon might find someone there. Someone who can take her mind off you.”

Gab’s hand clenched on his lap. “That might be for the best,”

“You do not sound very pleased,”

He wasn’t. But he couldn’t say that, not on his life. “That is none of your concern,” he said instead.

“Very well. I appreciate your hospitality, your grace,” Dancel stood, his cup of coffee only half-finished. “But if that is the course of action we are to take, then I must return home immediately. We have quite a few things to pack.”

Dancel saw himself out, leaving Gab to finally address the one thing bothering him. He looked up at the painting, trembling as he stared into his parents’ eyes. Their blue and brown gazes were lifeless on the still canvas, yet analyzing and expectant.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he muttered under his breath. He must be mad now, talking to a painting in such a way. “What was I supposed to do?”

Behind him, thunder rumbled. A drop of rain thumped onto the window pane, then another, and another until it poured and battered against the glass. Somehow, the rain only made him feel even guiltier.

“The rain has made it too muddy to travel. The roads will be unable to support the carriage,” said Roush. He had gone out to assess the roads himself, and came back soaked.

“Even if the rain let up, we would not likely reach the coaching inn by nightfall,” Dancel mused.

Ergon frowned. “So we are stuck?”

“I’m afraid so,”

Ergon glared at him, seemingly cursing him with his eyes. Gab knew all he wanted in that very moment was to be with his sister, if not kill him. Having them here was yet another reminder for Gab of what he was failing to do - what he chose not to do. It wasn’t his problem, he tried to tell himself, but the overbearing presence of his guests made him think otherwise.

He could, at the very least, be hospitable.

Gab allowed them to wander his estate with Mrs. Warrick, the head of house, while they cleaned and arranged the guests' rooms. The rest of the day was sombre, with the darkened sky and unexpected company. Dinner was especially grim, with everyone eating in silence. The rain stopped a few hours ago.

“Shall we play some pool after supper?” said Roush.

Dancel smiled at the suggestion. “I think we could all use the entertainment,”

“I shall decline,” Ergon rose from his seat, neatly folding his napkin and tossing it on the table. “I intend to set out at first light, with or without your grace. Good evening, gentlemen.”

In the dimly lit pool room, Gab poured each of them a brandy.

“Anything to toast to?” Dancel asked as he took his glass.

Gab thought for a moment. “Nothing comes to mind.” He handed one to Roush.

“To friends, then?” Roush raised his glass. Gab and Dancel followed.

“To friends.”

Gab wasn’t one for drinking, but the drink went down his throat a little too smoothly that he wanted another glass. The burning against his throat afterwards did relatively little to deter him. He opted to sit out on the first round, not feeling in a particular mood to play just yet. Perhaps he wanted the company, or needed the distraction to battle the thoughts swirling in his mind.

Two glasses became three. His body began to heat up. He shed his coat and vest, and even unclasped the first two buttons of his dress shirt. He had almost forgotten that he was the master of that abode - but at that moment, he felt more like a criminal with an unnameable crime. His conscience faded in and out of the pool room, though the clacking of ivory momentarily grounded him.

“You have a lovely home, Gabriel,” said Roush suddenly. He realized he was trying to include him in their conversation. “It reminds me of the farmlands a little bit, all rustic and cozy. I wonder what this place is like in the spring. Would you wager it’s as beautiful as the blooming meadow near your home, Dancel?”

“I’d wager it’s equal in beauty,” he chuckled, dusting off his cue. “A pity we will not be able to see it this year.”

Roush blinked. “What do you mean?”

Dancel glanced at Gab as he leaned over the table and aimed. “His grace has no intention to marry Daleon, as we know it. Considering this scandal was Daleon’s doing, I thought it was best that we move away.”

A ball rolled into a corner pocket.

Roush looked at Gab, with a disapproving gaze. He shook his head and took position where the white ball lay.

“There must be some other way,”

“We’ve exhausted our options,”

Roush hit a colored ball, but it bounced back on the rails. He shook his head again in dismay. “This will hurt her more than you think it will,”

Gab knew that comment was directed towards him, in addition to Dancel.

“Do not assume you know Daleon better than I do, Roush,” Dancel picked up his cue rather forcefully. His gaze had changed into something colder. “I’m well aware of the pain.”

They watched in silence as Dancel almost got another ball into the pocket. “Ergon is too, but Daleon needs to take responsibility for her choices.”

There was a pause. “When will you leave?”

“If packing goes smoothly, possibly by the end of the week. Of course, I’ll still have some businesses to attend to, so I might remain in London while the twins make transit.”

“You know I’m against it,”

Dancel made it into another pocket. He was ahead of Roush by two points. “I know you are.”

Where had Gab seen all this before? Or could it be this was the battle inside his head somehow manifesting before him?

“Dancel, please reconsider,”

“I’m considering Daleon’s future.”

Gab too was considering it. Could he stomach the idea of her in sorrow? Could he live the rest of his life knowing he practically abandoned her? If she loved him, could he not be kind and be there for her?

He was sure his mother would ask him all these questions. And if she had, Gab would have been forced to act. But she wasn’t there. He asked these questions himself. And he could not bear to deny the answer any longer.

Roush’s breathing became shallow. “Gabriel, say something.”

“Will you keep quiet?” he retorted, rubbing his fingers against his aching temples. “You’re blowing these consequences out of proportion.”

“I think I’m being fairly reasonable,” said Roush, game forgotten. “This is practically self-exile.”

Dancel breathed out through his nose. “I am not leaving the continent,”

“That doesn’t make a difference—“

That was enough. “If only that girl had shown some self-restraint, none of this would have happened!” Gab hurled his glass against the wall, shattering it into pieces. The room went silent. He heaved through his breaths, slouching into his seat when he realized what he had done.

“If only we never met, I wouldn’t be feeling this. And we could all be spared from this misery.” Gab’s throat ached with the words. His nose began to sting, and his vision blurred with the onslaught of tears. But damn him if he cried in front of them, or else he’d never live down that shame. He held his hand over his eyes, wanting to hide.

“I just want us all to do the right thing,” said Roush, his voice cracking. “And I know this isn’t it.”

Footsteps fell rapidly, before the door creaked open and slammed on them.

“I’m afraid the mood has soured. Good night, your grace. Perhaps some other time.” The door opened and closed again, and when Gab looked, they were gone. The pool table was a mess. But he bad no heart to clean it or call for a servant. He knew they would do it eventually.

And Gab knew Roush was right. That stupid baron. When did he have a knack for being the most virtuous out of all of them? Perhaps Daleon was better off marrying him after all - but that would not solve the problem, not efficiently, at least.

He stumbled towards his study, fighting against the weight the alcohol in his system suddenly gave him. He almost tripped towards his desk and pulled open the drawer on the right hand side. With barely any light to see, Gab rummaged through his father’s old ledgers and letters, feeling around until he knocked into what he was looking for:

A small velvet box.