#GrassBlades

[romaingimenez]

[the-most-adorkable-smile]

*cracks knuckles* my time to shine! Fair warning, most of what I read is long-running, so I hope you like weeks of back-reading.

Questionable Content is a slice-of-life comic which is currently over 5,000 pages long, it involves AI and robots and it tackles subjects such as OCD, gender and sexuality, and small-town weirdness. The main-est characters (for the most part) are Marten, literally the most underwhelming dude, and Faye, who you get to watch turn from a typical sassy manic pixie dream girl into a butch robot repairwoman with a hot robot gf. The early art is not the best, but Jeph Jacques has had 5,000 strips to improve. My suggestion would be to pick a spot on the TVTropes page and go from there, you'll pick it up quick enough.

Next is Girl Genius! It's a steampunk fantasy about clockwork automata and world politics, but mainly it's a love triangle between the main character, legendary monster castle heiress Agatha Heterodyne, and two sons of nobility vying for her love and the rule of Europe. So good I wrote a post about it urging people to reread it. If you like One Piece, you'll enjoy Girl Genius.

El Goonish Shive! It's a weird one. Technically slice-of-life, it centres on a bunch of teens who have magic powers. Gender nonsense abounds. There's a squirrel girl (no not that one). The storylines used to be very sexually-charged and sorta early 2000's homophobic, but as the author's grown and evolved they've become much more socially conscious and romance focused. I recommend starting around the "Grace's Birthday Party " arc for the fullest experience without early-installment weirdness. As a bonus, there's also EGS: NP, a newspaper-style comic that occasionally dips into canon. Read that if you like gender-bendy nonsense!

Rusty and Co! It occurs to me that this one is getting kinda long, in that it takes me more than an evening to get through it. Tales of a rust monster, a mimic, and a gelatinous cube going on your typical heroic quests. Read if you like puns, wordplay, fantasy intrigue, and puns.

Go Get A Roomie. This is full slice-of-life. It's about a drunk party girl (the eponymous Roomie) falling in love with a sleepy shut-in, and the queer found family they build up. It's finished, but its currently going through a rerun so it's the perfect time to read it! Adult-only (there's lots of nudity and sex)!

If you want something finished, may I recommend Skin Horse? It's a follow up to Narbonic, a webcomic of mad science shenanigans, but this one follows a team of government agents trying to stop rampaging monsters through the power of therapy! Not exactly fantasy but it might as well be. Very slice-of-life, in that every episode is kinda a soap opera.

Finally, I'm gonna recommend a personal favourite of mine, but it comes with a caveat. Grassblades by Anna Landin, it's a samurai fantasy about a Ronin who picks up an orphan child on his adventures. Lots of grumpy dad vibes. Also the dude is super cursed, and has lost the use of a hand as a result. I mainly recommend it for its great art style, because it's currently on indefinite hiatus and has been for some time. What's there is very cool, and I wish there were more of it ^-^"

Hope you enjoy some of these! I'll link them all properly when I'm not on mobile.

I am getting into webcomics again so if anyone has any recommendations please let me know. I usually prefer slice of life/fantasy comedy for this genre, but honestly if the art and story is good I will read anything.

[pleasegetadiary]

🍾 Pick up some Sparkling Spider 🌟

[genericpuff]

Are there any comics you were into around when LO was first coming out that you still adore and highly recommend? Any comics you wish got far more attention they they have?

There are several artists I used to love the comics of that went on hiatus years back/the artist doesn't make content anymore and I still look at them fondly (Snakes and Ladders by Mulattafury guts me. I would've loved to see it continue 😔)

So LO was kind of one of the first "webtoons" I got into, and by that I mean I was reading tons of webcomics for years prior to it, but the whole vertical format thing was still very new at the time and I wasn't accustomed to it. I spent a lot of the early to mid 2010's reading manga scanlations and indie webcomics, some of which are still ongoing today (though others unfortunately were never completed):

City of Blank (which is now an Originals series and it's in its final season, please check it out!!!)

Monster Pop (this one is actually really similar in art vibes to LO, it's very pastel and fun! idk if the creator still makes comics but she DOES make eco-friendly plus-sized skirts with POCKETS now!)

The GamerCat

AwkwardZombie (i stg this is one of those comics that will probably live to see the heat death of the universe LOL)

A BETTER PLACE (this one was REALLY fun to experience at the time because it pulled off some time travel shenanigans that you literally had to be there to read, you deadass can't read the original pages that got overwritten in the timeline near the end of the story, it doesn't affect the overall narrative at all but it's fun knowing that I was there LOL)

Grassblades

An Exercise in Futility

A Tale of Two Rulers

Theodd1sout (yep, before they were big on Youtube, it was a webcomic!)

Fail by Error (unfortunately it seems the creator of this comic has removed it from Tapas entirely, I'll see what I can dig up through Wayback but until then you might be stuck with Pinterest on finding strips from this one)

A Matter of Life and Death (this one is pretty much cancelled indefinitely BUT the creator is still an active comic creator and just recently started up a new original project! they also make super cool Jojo fanart and AU stuff if you're into that haha)

Two Guys and Guy (same as Fail by Error, its site seems to be long gone now but some of the strips can be found online)

Happle Tea (^^^)

And of course there was all the manga that I used to binge like fucking crack LOL Soul Eater, Death Note, Naruto, Bleach, Full Metal Alchemist, Yotsubato, Sailor Moon, One Piece, Deadman Wonderland, and those were just like, the well-known popular ones, there were a ton others across varying degrees of popularity that I don't even fully remember the names of now.

On the whole, there was a LOOOOT of stuff I read prior to LO, I used to practically live on sites like Tapas. Some of it's still as good as ever, others haven't aged quite so well, but for the most part, I look back on it all very fondly as it's what made up a lot of my formative years as a webcomic creator :'3 If you haven't read any of these, feel free to check them out, maybe you'll find a new favorite! <3

[exitwound]

Grassblade given life

[thefleetingflashofa-sword623]

this fairy just played a perfect rendition of a pluggnb melody on its grassblade flute

[annalandin]

This was my January. Luckily, I managed to Do Stuff (tm) anyway, and have scraped together a Patreon post for one of my 2024 projects (the one with dragons in it). (though this post has zero dragons in it). You can check it out here! also, I posted the final, very last ever Grassblades PDFs on Patreon for high tier backers - where they will remain, as an archive.

The comic website is being taken down sometime before February ends. It's the melancholy end of an era.

[my-soul-sings]

let's go to uluru

Fandom: Love and Deepspace Characters: Xavier x MC

Summary: They meet again in a sea of flowers, one that looks just like their little planet.

Contains spoilers for Xavier's 'Shooting Stars' myth story.

A/N: I needed a fix-it fic after reading his myth story, and this is how I wish it would end for Xavier and MC in their timeline. :")

Also posted to AO3 - see the link in the replies to this post!

+++++

It’s been a long time, to say the least. But, coming back to Philos isn’t an event to be celebrated. After all, he’s a backtracker; a traitor who is no longer welcome here.  

The spaceship lands in the middle of Starfall Forest, with only the rustling of leaves and the gentle afternoon breeze extending a soft greeting. The forest, once deemed to be a frightful, dangerous area crawling with wanderers, is now a tranquil haven under the cover of the towering trees. 

Xavier leaves the spaceship and feels the gravel crunching beneath his boots. His hair tousles as the wind blows against his lifted cheeks, and he inhales a deep breath of fresh air. 

When he closes his eyes, all he can see is her. 

And in his mind, the same question that has been haunting him for days remains: 

Is she still waiting for him? 

++++++

Behind the palace is now a blooming field of flowers — one that never existed in his time. 

Xavier climbs up the slopey hill, mindful not to trample on the little wildflowers as he goes by. As he ascends, so does the pace of his heart. It trembles in his chest, his mind anxious as he wonders what he should say when he sees her again. Centuries have passed, and people change. What if she no longer remembers him? Or what if she has fallen in love with someone else? 

Xavier’s questions promptly vanish, dissipating into stardust when he finds a familiar figure standing in the middle of the sea of flowers, her regal cloak floating in the air. A stronger breeze blows then, nudging the hood of her cloak off her head, and then he sees ribbons of her hair, flowing and dancing in the breeze. 

Her head turns at the sound of his footsteps, and their eyes meet. 

For a moment, he’s not sure what to say. But his legs continue to move, closer and closer and closer, until his toes meet hers. 

She doesn’t utter a word, not even when her name slips past his lips. She only stares at him, eyes wide and glassy with unshed tears. The unspoken question that she has is written all over her face: 

Is this a dream? Are you real? Have you truly returned to me? 

He takes her hand in his, marvelling at how warm she is to the touch, and places it on his chest. His heart beats stronger and faster now, as his eyes trace over the curves and lines of her face. 

She looks the same as the day they parted, except now, there’s a trace of a hesitant smile on her lips. 

“It’s me. I’m home.” 

Her palm presses into his chest, taking a moment to feel his heartbeat, and her eyes search his. Whether it’s to search for a trace of a lie or truth in his eyes, he’s not sure. 

But the moment she’s done studying him, no more assurance is needed. She throws her arms around his neck in that instant, leaping into his embrace. 

Taken aback by the sudden weight, Xavier catches her, but fails to steady himself. They go tumbling down the hill, rolling down the slope of flowers. Petals and grass are thrown into the air as they go, until they eventually roll to a stop at the foot of the hill. 

They continue to hold each other tightly, as if afraid that letting go will mean the other will disappear once more. 

Then Xavier hears a quiet sob, and he hurriedly releases her, holding her by the shoulders and checking her for injuries. All he finds are flowers and grassblades in her hair, and despite the tears streaming down her face, she can’t help but giggle as she picks out a stray petal from his cheek. 

“Are you hurt?” he asks, wiping them away with his thumb. 

She shakes her head. “I was, but I’m okay now.” 

Another choked sob escapes her, and she buries her face in his chest, her tears dampening his clothes. 

Xavier lets her cry, cradling her in his embrace and holding her like that for as long as she needs. 

++++++

The sun is setting by the time she’s composed herself. They sit together largely in silence, her head resting against his chest as she leans back against him, and his back rests against the flowery slope. Their fingers are still tightly intertwined, and he can feel the ticklish sensation of her fingertips brushing against the back of his hand, as if to examine him thoroughly for injuries like she used to.

“You made me wait for so long,” she murmurs absently, and his heart aches at the sound of her slightly hoarse voice. “I thought you’d never return.”

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to either,” he replies truthfully, thumb brushing over hers in a soothing motion. “And I thought you wouldn’t be waiting for me after so much time has passed.”

“Hmph. As if I’d let you get away so lightly. You owe me a huge debt for taking over your royal responsibilities all this time, and more importantly, you ought to be punished for lying to me.”

“I… lied?”

She turns her head, shooting him a glare from the corner of her eye, before returning her gaze to the sky above them. “Yeah. You’re a biiiiig stinking liar.”

He chuckles at the sight of her cheeks puffing up slightly. It’s been a while since he saw her throw a tantrum.

“I apologise… But, what did I lie to you about?” 

She scoffs lightly. “Some apology. Shouldn’t you reflect on your own before apologising?” 

Xavier smiles, resting his chin on her head and wrapping his arms around her waist. She doesn’t put up a fight, which means she isn’t truly mad at him. 

Still, he considers her words for a moment, before his eyes are distracted by a nearby bee hovering over a cluster of white flowers. 

“Did you create this flower garden?” he asks, changing the subject. 

“I did.”

“Why?”

“Because… someone said he’d take me to a place where there are no people and no wanderers, only flowers. I waited and waited for him to take me there, but he never did.” She turns around so that she’s now sitting cross-legged, facing him. 

“I wanted to see how it might look like for myself, in case he never kept his promise.”

Xavier’s gaze softens, sweeping over her eyes that hold more sorrow than actual anger at him. With his thumb, he presses the center of her forehead to ease the frown etched on her brows.

“You… remember Uluru?” 

The name is like magic; she fails to maintain her indignant facade and drops her shoulders, eyes lowering and her expression turning wistful. 

“Our little planet,” she murmurs, quoting what he had said that night when he carried her on his back through the forest. “I wonder if it’s already turned into a shooting star now.”

Gently, he tips her chin up, so that she’s looking at him once more. “It’s still a fairly young planet, and the flowers should still be blooming. Shall we… go together?” 

He watches as her eyes brighten like stars awakening in a pitch dark galaxy. Her lips spread into a playful grin. 

“Are you asking me to elope with you again?” 

He chuckles. “Yes. Would you come with me?” 

Instead of saying ‘yes’ like he expected her to, she purses her lips and crosses her arms over her chest, pretending to be deep in thought. 

“So you intend to have me, the Queen, abandon Philos? How irresponsible.” 

“Hmm… It wouldn’t be abandonment if I kidnap you there myself.” 

“Xavier!” 

He only shrugs nonchalantly. “I’m already considered a traitor, I don’t think another count of treason would make a difference.” 

She laughs then, a sweet melody in his ears. “You’re incorrigible.” 

“And you’re beautiful,” he says, fingers brushing against her cheek and holding her gaze, a rush of emotions filling his chest. Her cheeks redden and she doesn’t seem to know how to react to the sudden tenderness in his voice, other than to clumsily change the subject. 

“B-By the way, I never got to ask.”

“Yes?”

“Why did you call the planet Uluru?”  

“Do you not like it?” 

“It’s cute, but it sounds kind of silly. Is there some other meaning to it?” 

“Well… Try saying it out loud.” 

“Uluru.” Her lips form a little ‘o’, and her eyes narrow at him with scepticism. “I don’t get it.” 

Try saying it slower.” 

“U… lu… ru..?” 

In the next moment, he seals the gap between them, lips finding hers in a gentle, sweet kiss. 

[the-quasar-hero]

I’m going to list off items and you just tell me if any catch your interest, okay? Here we go:

Lesbian chips

Explosive wallet

Licorice toothbrush

Burger that transports you to the cook’s childhood home

Hairy glasses

Smooth towel

Pillow full of sand

A fan that spins at uncomfortable speeds

Rose gold shovel

Perfectly straight corkscrew

A gay jeep

The last sip of the first wine ever made

Extraordinarily deadly fidget spinner

A teacup set made from tungsten

Glass grassblades

A blue water bottle of green water

Shark that knows how to do taxes

A copper ring engraved with a language unknown to all and two sizes too big

Sheet of drywall that repairs itself

Vibrating leather jacket (cannot stop shaking)

A bowl of sunlight

Taxidermized Komodo dragon that still moves

A book of lies that are true

The sharpest needle in the universe

A toilet paper roll made of salmon meat

[neoyorzapoteca]

and on the paper though the boy had vanished I mapped his constellation there, there, there the back of his head, base of his spine, place of this foot, the other, this arm, the other, and sketch in a head (well the head barely mattered, it wasn’t what mattered) but I spent most time on his back foot, the place with the curve of the sole on the rise : get it right, how it sprung the whole body, just that single detail and it’ll lift the whole picture like the foot lifted him : get it right and the picture itself will lift (cause the way he’d gone up the stone steps had made even the stone of them unheavy) : he was off to a ceremony maybe, the boy? He had the torch lit though it was daylight, ergo I added the suggestion of a door so he’d need a lit torch, doubled a line into a lintel above his head for somewhere to go and I shaded in front of and round him so the torch in his hand had more purpose (made the flame on it like long hair flowing, but upward instead of downward, beauty of impossibility) then round him on the ground a scatter of small rocks, twig here, 4 or 5 by the wall, then right at the front 3 stones and a brickslice very like a slice of cheese all arranged round grassblades in a curtsey for the Falcon as if even grass will bow respectfully at such a man. (After which, a final touch, there at the end of a grassblade, 2 or 3 points, a slip of the pen? a butterfly? for my pleasure alone cause no one else’d notice.) Long gone, the picture, I expect. Long gone the life I, the boy and the man I, the sleek good sweet-eyed horse Mattone I, the blushing girl I.

==========

How to be both (Ali Smith)

[lifemod17]

It's been a while since my last vibe scenarios went out so excuse me if my writing is subpar, but for me you feel like:

A glade in an awaking forest, fresh on an early spring morning, just after sunrise. The morning dew is still glistening at the tip of the grassblades, a gentle mist is visible at the edge of the treeline, half obscuring a stag intently watching an early butterfly thumbling in the air. It should be chilly but the first rays of sunlight already creep in with an irresistable warmth. Birds are singing. Only two but they are chasing each other playfully, vanishing and reappearing as they rush between the branches. There is a gentle breeze, that unsettles a small cloud of fruit flies time and time again as they are geathering around a berry bush. There is something soft and small sleeping in a hole in the ground, with gentle breaths that seems to be in tandem with the entire glade. There is a scent of a smile and a thought of a hug in the air. And anticipation. For what i do not know. But it is an electrifying sensation, filling the air with a crackle for not exactly mischief but a sort of adventure. Maybe only to the next glade, but it is going to be fun.

♥

LEVYNNNNN!!! I am speechless, this is so very sweet and thoughtful whut the heck 😭😭😭 your words paint such a beautiful image and the fact that that is the vibe you think I give off? I am WEAK. in SHAMBLES.

Big hugs and lots of love to you my friend!! 🫂💛🫂💛🫂💛🫂

[the-hexagonal-conundrum]

Wales visitation, by Allen Ginsberg (1967)

White fog lifting & falling on mountain-brow Trees moving in rivers of wind The clouds arise as on a wave, gigantic eddy lifting mist above teeming ferns exquisitely swayed along a green crag glimpsed thru mullioned glass in valley raine—

Bardic, O Self, Visitacione, tell naught but what seen by one man in a vale in Albion, of the folk, whose physical sciences end in Ecology, the wisdom of earthly relations, of mouths & eyes interknit ten centuries visible orchards of mind language manifest human, of the satanic thistle that raises its horned symmetry flowering above sister grass-daisies’ pink tiny bloomlets angelic as lightbulbs—

Remember 160 miles from London’s symmetrical thorned tower & network of TV pictures flashing bearded your Self the lambs on the tree-nooked hillside this day bleating heard in Blake’s old ear, & the silent thought of Wordsworth in eld Stillness clouds passing through skeleton arches of Tintern Abbey— Bard Nameless as the Vast, babble to Vastness!

All the Valley quivered, one extended motion, wind undulating on mossy hills a giant wash that sank white fog delicately down red runnels on the mountainside whose leaf-branch tendrils moved asway in granitic undertow down— and lifted the floating Nebulous upward, and lifted the arms of the trees and lifted the grasses an instant in balance and lifted the lambs to hold still and lifted the green of the hill, in one solemn wave

A solid mass of Heaven, mist-infused, ebbs thru the vale, a wavelet of Immensity, lapping gigantic through Llanthony Valley, the length of all England, valley upon valley under Heaven’s ocean tonned with cloud-hang, —Heaven balanced on a grassblade. Roar of the mountain wind slow, sigh of the body, One Being on the mountainside stirring gently Exquisite scales trembling everywhere in balance, one motion thru the cloudy sky-floor shifting on the million feet of daisies, one Majesty the motion that stirred wet grass quivering to the farthest tendril of white fog poured down through shivering flowers on the mountain’s head—

No imperfection in the budded mountain, Valleys breathe, heaven and earth move together, daisies push inches of yellow air, vegetables tremble, grass shimmers green sheep speckle the mountainside, revolving their jaws with empty eyes, horses dance in the warm rain, tree-lined canals network live farmland, blueberries fringe stone walls on hawthorn’d hills, pheasants croak on meadows haired with fern—

Out, out on the hillside, into the ocean sound, into delicate gusts of wet air, Fall on the ground, O great Wetness, O Mother, No harm on your body! Stare close, no imperfection in the grass, each flower Buddha-eye, repeating the story, myriad-formed— Kneel before the foxglove raising green buds, mauve bells dropped doubled down the stem trembling antennae, & look in the eyes of the branded lambs that stare breathing stockstill under dripping hawthorn— I lay down mixing my beard with the wet hair of the mountainside, smelling the brown vagina-moist ground, harmless, tasting the violet thistle-hair, sweetness— One being so balanced, so vast, that its softest breath moves every floweret in the stillness on the valley floor, trembles lamb-hair hung gossamer rain-beaded in the grass, lifts trees on their roots, birds in the great draught hiding their strength in the rain, bearing same weight,

Groan thru breast and neck, a great Oh! to earth heart Calling our Presence together The great secret is no secret Senses fit the winds, Visible is visible, rain-mist curtains wave through the bearded vale, gray atoms wet the wind’s kabbala Crosslegged on a rock in dusk rain, rubber booted in soft grass, mind moveless, breath trembles in white daisies by the roadside, Heaven breath and my own symmetric Airs wavering thru antlered green fern drawn in my navel, same breath as breathes thru Capel-Y-Ffn, Sounds of Aleph and Aum through forests of gristle, my skull and Lord Hereford’s Knob equal, All Albion one.

What did I notice? Particulars! The vision of the great One is myriad— smoke curls upward from ashtray, house fire burned low, The night, still wet & moody black heaven starless upward in motion with wet wind.

[jellyfishdoodler]

Three years ago yesterday, my friend took his own life and I still miss him almost every day. I hope he would like this little piece.

I also wrote something under the cut- mostly just kinda rambling about him but its more just for me.

Take care of yourselves out there and I beg of you, if you are struggling, please reach out to somebody. Because if you leave then you will be so dearly missed by more people than you know.

You are loved, you are cared for, you matter so somebody.

Take care 💛

I think about you a lot. 

But the things that come to mind are mostly about the video games you used to play with me.

You adored the giant mushrooms in minecraft. We explored far lands and deep caves together. You always killed the mobs for me because I was scared of dying even though we had Keep Inventory on. We would have long strip mining sessions and talk about how we were doing. Tell jokes and stories from our lives or just quietly enjoy each other's company. You always got so excited to see any of the in-game critters. You would have loved the cherry blossoms they added.

You always picked dark green in Among Us but always changed your hat for silly situations. Once you thought I was smart for going back and killing you while you were behind the Admin table, but I was just panicking. We laughed about it in the lobby after I lost. I tried looking for screenshots but I think they got lost. But we'd always run around the boxes while we waited.

You loved to wear the cute outfits in Animal Crossing. I gave you the pretty umbrella and it became your favorite item. We gathered on my island like it was a party to catch shooting stars and spin our umbrellas in unison in between the showers. I remember you lighting up like the sun when you got the New Horizons themed Switch for a really good price because it was in a small local game shop everyone overlooked. 

You enjoyed playing Grounded in early access. Telling me how decorating your base was your favorite part even though you couldn't sit in the little grassblade chairs. There's been a major update with story and more items added. It's also multiplayer now... 

I would give almost anything in the world to be able to play with you again, Gydeon.

I think about you a lot.

You were deeply protective and loved your friends with your whole chest every day. Even when it was damaging to you.

We would talk privately outside the server we met in. Saying how so many of them were in the wrong for so much of the drama they caused and that what they were doing was not okay. But they were our friends. We held each other's hands while walking on eggshells together. Trying to settle their emotions and each other's when we had nothing left to give. 

I still remember your bright laugh. I remember your sleepy mumbles not wanting to leave the group call when it got late in your timezone. I remember you being bored out of your mind while you waited in your dad's car. I remember you getting furious over the actions of someone and losing your cool. I remember you being so excited when you figured out and came out as Pansexual. You decorated all your avatars with Pan flag stickers and were so giddy to find out that part of yourself. I remember you joking about your depression. I remember you being down low and I remember how we would go online and play together to escape for a while.

I think about you a lot. 

Finger snapping has become a stim for me because you taught me that the sound comes from when your finger thumps against your palm. 

Whenever I need to feel brave I think about you standing up for what was right even though you got backlash for it. 

You had so much courage and pride but the thing you inspired in me most was to choose kindness above all else. No matter what. Its easy to be rude and angry and violent. It takes a strong spine and head to be able to let petty shit go and to choose to remain soft and gentle in spite of everything.

I think about you a lot. 

Its been 3 years and I still hold some guilt in my heart for what happened. I don't think it will ever go away and I almost don't want it to, but I've worked hard to make it bearable. Your memory still weighs heavily in my chest when I think about you, but it's more like a comfortable weighted blanket rather than an unrelenting mountain trying to swallow me whole.

You were an incredible young man and I'm one of the luckiest people in the world to say I was able to meet you. Even if the time spent with you was far, far too short. 

You were funny. You were smart. You were the kindest, sweetest person I have ever had the honor to get to know. 

You were one of my close friends and I miss you dearly, Gydeon. I love you, buddy.

[lazulian-devil]

Valanis, the father

When he saw the calamity, when he saw what had happened, he called upon his children and asked them to crawl into his maw. For he could not stand a world in which he would live and they would not. And they came, willingly. Knowing that they would be safe with him. All but Kryn came and embraced their father. Valanis understood when he saw his son. He wished him well, knowing that they would see each other again once it was over. - Excerpt from "The Book of Thread"

Valanis is the promise of life and death, of rainwater flowing into the rivers into the oceans into the clouds again, of wind sweeping the world clean for new opportunities, of trees growing and dying and their bodies being home to mushrooms and bugs and moss. Valanis is a silent giant, from every grassblade to every mountain. He is harvest. He is abundance. He is scarcity.

His symbol is that of the swirl, representing both the cycle and growth. Anything from rocks, to leaves, to winds or water is associated with Valanis.

Epithets include: The World, The Seed, The Wind, The Water, The Weather, The Cycle, The Father, The Craft

Like Ternia, Valanis is a very present god in everyday life. As Father Nature, he provides food and drink for the people. Sculptures of any kind are made in his name, using his body as material. Instruments, claywork, masonry, carpentry. All forms of worship to the Father, all done with gratitude and care.

Shepherds, Farmers, Fisher- and Huntsmen, as well as Musicians and Artisans carry his symbol with them. When traveling, small circle Talismans are laid upon Travelstones to ask for safe passage. 

His temples stand atop rivers (on stilts, on bridges), surrounded by trees. Or high up, to reach for the winds. They are sturdy buildings, built with as little waste as possible. Glass mosaics are common.

Valanis has two major festivals: The Winter and the Summer Solstice. Both are celebrated with large Pyres, to bring the father close to his only living son. Like Newmoons and Woven, they are major markers in a calendar year.

Besides these two, he is also worshiped after each successful harvest, hunt or gathering trip. These smaller celebrations are called Springbell, Summerbell or Fallbell. They are marked by a small celebration and - who would have guessed - celebratory bell chimes.

The biggest one happens before Winter arrives in its frozen glory. It is called Winterbell, as it rings the bells for tough times to come. Winterbell uses not the chimebells of any belltower, but instead the largest one (usually the storm or warning bell) and while it is still a celebration, it is the last good thing to happen. There's still three or four Newmoon to the Winter Solstice. And then another three or four to Woven.

[theafterlifeiscalling]

You are but a fae. One considered dangerous, but hey, even the grassblades of the overworld fae realm is dangerous- they stab and stab until there’s no more blood to drink through the soil.

you are but a bone fairy’s child- and a changeling’s child. A rare combination but one that… at the moment? was busy catering to several boney fae who lack insides and are definitely no fae you’ve seen before. Your hands are wet with something.

They look as different as a ruinic might. You can’t remember how to spell their name even in fae’s only written tongue. Mindlessly you place the towel you had been wringing out habitually for the past few minutes or so onto one of the stranger’s heads.

Maybe if you left on a hunt for food and to get some more fae’s bloods as paints you might waste enough time for them resting… There’s a wonder what color their bloods might be- are the blue and full of copper instead of iron? Perhaps lead? Maybe coal is what their blood uses as a method of oxidizing itself? Maybe their blood tastes like raspberries and are full of gemstones?

So many questions you can’t ask yet. A step out of the doorway to your humble handmade home with a vague feeling of someone watching your back.

Unaware you leave to gather food, bones and blood, with a dark as night skeletal fae watching your blood splattered wings twitch as you walk away.

[gemharvest]

(sees kitten playing with grassblade I must've tracked in) Awwww you got a Brade of Glass?