#I’m usually much more of a Famous Last Words

[comicaurora]

How does necromancy work in this world? You mentioned that was a thing, and now I’m curious where that fits in the established magic system.

Invoking the truename of a being whose soul has unraveled (aka is dead) can cause local unstructured soul energy to temporarily take on a structure similar to the soul of the truenamed individual. It's like an echo. Effect be strengthened/extended by possessing some of the person's body, mostly bones.

It's very unlike elemental magic and is mostly done through the spoken or sung word, sometimes put down in writing for more lasting effects, but Wind magic can sometimes play a role in deciphering truenames for later use, as the Wind seems to be a repository for every name and secret, spoken or unspoken.

Mortal truenames are extremely long, like DNA-string long - in fact, they appear to be fractal and potentially infinite in their complexity, as each element of a truename can be "elaborated" into a much longer phrase encoding the story and events that shaped this aspect of the person.

Most souls conjured with a truename will be shortened, simplified versions of the beings they were in life. Using an elaborated section of the truename can result in a shade with a more solid consciousness and personality in the area of their soul that element of their truename corresponds to. For instance, a necromancer might want the shade of a great warrior to guide their tactics in battle, so they invoke what they know of their truename but specifically elaborate on the epithet relating to their most famous battle. Acquiring this truename is usually done by meditating on the winds in areas important to that shade, where the course of their life left an impression; Wind mages can also do rituals to coax the wind into volunteering helpful information more readily.

Basically, in a world where elemental magic is a science, necromancy is an art, and an inexact one at that. No mortal or god can directly manipulate soul energy, but it can be coaxed.

[sturniololuvz]

“Shattered Words & Unspoken Fears”

Chris sturniolo x reader

warnings: fighting, crying use of y/n

Chris sat slouched on the couch, flipping through his phone while his brothers, Matt and Nick, sat beside him. The room was dimly lit, the only sound being the low hum of whatever YouTube video Matt had half-heartedly put on in the background.

Nick was sprawled across the couch dramatically. “Bro, I’m telling you, if I have to hear one more person say, ‘You just haven’t met the right girl yet,’ I’m gonna lose my mind.”

Matt smirked. “What, you mean the world isn’t secretly conspiring to make you straight?”

Chris chuckled under his breath, but his attention was soon stolen by the buzzing of his phone. His eyes flickered to the screen, and a small smile tugged at his lips.

Y/N: “I’m outside :)”

Chris stood up, stretching. “Y/N’s here. I’ll go get her.”

Nick waved lazily. “Go get your queen before she freezes out there.”

Chris rolled his eyes but couldn’t fight the smile as he grabbed a hoodie and stepped outside.

—

Y/N was sitting in her car, scrolling through her phone, looking annoyingly adorable. When Chris opened the passenger door, she looked up and grinned.

“Hey,” she said softly.

Chris leaned in, kissing her temple before she climbed out, immediately reaching for his hand. “Hey, you.”

As they walked inside, Y/N let out a dramatic sigh. “Your driveway is awful. Almost slipped and died.”

Chris smirked. “Damn, and here I was hoping you’d live long enough to see me get famous.”

She elbowed him playfully. “Guess I’ll have to hold on a little longer.”

They stepped inside, and immediately, the energy shifted into its usual chaos.

“Y/N!” Matt called from the couch. “About time. Chris has been so boring without you.”

Nick grinned. “Yeah, I was about to file a missing personality report on him.”

Y/N laughed, slipping onto the couch next to Chris. “You guys are such menaces.”

They all settled in, conversation flowing effortlessly. The topic bounced around from stupid childhood stories to ridiculous internet trends, filling the air with laughter.

But then, the conversation took a sharp turn.

Matt, stretching his arms, casually asked, “Oh, Y/N, didn’t you mention last week that you had a family thing coming up? How’d that go?”

Chris didn’t think much of the question at first—until he felt Y/N tense beside him.

She hesitated. “Uh… it was fine.”

Chris turned his head toward her, eyebrows furrowing. “You never mentioned how it went.”

Y/N gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Because there wasn’t much to say.”

Chris didn’t buy it.

Nick, being Nick, picked up on the shift immediately. “Ohhh, this sounds like some tea. Spill.”

Y/N sighed, rubbing her temples. “It’s just… the usual. My parents arguing about stupid stuff, my mom making backhanded comments, my dad acting like we’re all burdens. You know, classic family bonding.”

Chris clenched his jaw. He hated the way Y/N talked about this so casually—like it was just normal.

“It was bad, wasn’t it?” Chris pressed.

Y/N hesitated. “…Not any worse than usual.”

Chris exhaled sharply, sitting up straighter. “That’s not the point. You shouldn’t have to deal with that at all.”

Y/N forced a small laugh. “Chris, it’s whatever. I’m used to it.”

Chris’s expression darkened. “That’s exactly the problem.”

Nick and Matt immediately sensed the shift. Matt leaned forward slightly, his gaze flickering between them, while Nick’s usual lighthearted expression faded.

Chris clenched his fists. “I don’t get how you can just act like it’s normal. Like it’s okay for them to treat you like that.”

Y/N’s shoulders stiffened. “I never said it was okay. But I can’t change it, Chris.”

“That’s bullshit,” he snapped.

Y/N flinched slightly. “Excuse me?”

Chris let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “You just sit there and take it, Y/N. Every single time. You let them talk down to you, make you feel like shit, and then what? You pretend it doesn’t bother you?”

Her eyes flashed. “You think I let them do this? Chris, what the hell am I supposed to do? They’re my parents!”

Chris scoffed. “So what? That gives them a free pass to treat you like garbage?”

Y/N’s face reddened, her breathing becoming uneven. “You don’t think I want to stand up for myself? You don’t think I wish things were different? I don’t need you to tell me how messed up my family is! I live with it every damn day!”

Chris’s voice rose. “Then why don’t you do something about it?”

Y/N stood up abruptly. “What the hell do you want me to do, Chris? Cut them off? Run away? Because news flash—I can’t!”

Chris stood up too, his hands gripping his hair in frustration. “You could if you actually wanted to!”

Tears welled in Y/N’s eyes. “That is so easy for you to say! You don’t get it, Chris! You don’t know what it’s like to feel like you owe the people who hurt you!”

Chris opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Nick suddenly stood, stepping between them slightly. “Okay. Let’s all take a second.”

Y/N let out a shaky breath, her chest heaving.

Chris, his hands still clenched into fists, turned away, his whole body tense.

Matt stood and grabbed Chris’s shoulder, forcing him to look at him. “Chris. Stop.”

Chris’s breathing was ragged, his anger radiating off of him in waves. But beneath it, there was something else. Helplessness.

Nick gently touched Y/N’s arm, his voice softer. “Come here for a second.”

Y/N hesitated but let Nick pull her aside, guiding her away from Chris before she completely broke down.

Nick whispered, “Hey, hey. Breathe, okay? You’re okay.”

She sucked in a shaky breath, blinking rapidly. “I just—I can’t talk about this with him when he gets like that.”

Nick nodded. “I know. Just breathe.”

Meanwhile, Matt was staring Chris down, lowering his voice. “Dude. What are you even fighting for right now?”

Chris let out a shaky exhale, rubbing his face. “I just… I hate that she thinks she’s stuck. I hate that she won’t let herself believe she deserves better.”

Matt’s voice softened. “Then tell her that. Don’t yell at her for it.”

Chris’s shoulders dropped slightly. He ran a hand down his face, his anger fading into exhaustion.

After a moment, he turned to look at Y/N. She was still leaning into Nick, her body trembling slightly as she tried to steady herself.

Chris swallowed hard before walking toward her.

Nick gave him a warning look but stepped aside.

Chris gently touched her arm. “Y/N.”

She sniffled, wiping her eyes as she looked up at him. “Chris, I—”

Chris pulled her into his arms before she could finish.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, voice thick. “I was an asshole. I just—I hate seeing you hurt, and I don’t know how to handle it.”

Y/N melted into him, fresh tears sliding down her cheeks. “I know.”

He pressed his lips to her temple, squeezing his eyes shut. “I just want you to be happy, Y/N. And I know I can’t fix this, but… I need you to know you’re not stuck. You have me. Always.”

Y/N let out a shaky breath, gripping his hoodie. “I know, Chris.”

Matt sighed, flopping back onto the couch. “Jesus. You two are exhausting.”

Nick smirked. “You love it.”

Chris held Y/N tighter, silently promising himself—he’d never let her feel alone again.

[callipraxia]

Note: haven’t tasted any of these yet (though I did say “the heck with good sense” and order some samples; check back in about a week for proper reviews) and am just musing about what some of the components are and how they link to GF characters, at least in my mind. That established, here are Some Preliminary Notes, Just Based On General Knowledge Of Tea:

Mabel: I have no idea what a mix of spearmint, strawberry, and watermelon would taste like (I really like spearmint, but dislike strawberry and am indifferent to watermelon), but somehow, yep, I still feel comfortable saying this one just sounds right.

The Author: If that Assam is a good Assam, then I want this. I will note that I have drunk roasted mate before, but don’t know what it tastes like exactly; Stash used to have this salted caramel mate/black tea mix that was my daily favorite for my lidded work mug, back when we worked in an office. It’s also caffeinated, though I’m not sure that matters as much when it is blended with a black tea and particularly with Assam. Strong stuff, usually, Assam; I drink it a lot in the springtime because it’s one of the few substances that really helps with my awful spring allergies.

Dipper: I…don’t know that I’ve had passionfruit tea before, actually. The ‘passion’ bit certainly fits Dipper’s personality, anyway. Lemongrass is very nice. Sour apple is less my style, I like apples that are very firm and very sweet, but this also suits Dipper’s personality just on name alone, bless him.

Stan: On one hand, Lapsang Souchong is the famous “smoked” tea, and people who dislike it have been known to describe it as like walking into a casino with a mouth full of water. Personally, as someone who likes LS, I don’t think it’s much like that at all - but then, I grew up eating a lot of smoked meat (my father liked mixing in hickory with the charcoal for the fire in his grill), I still like a bite of smoked cheese, and my infernal sinus sensitivity has it where I can immediately differentiate wood smoke versus cigarette smoke (and occasionally, between brands of cigarette - I curse the day my grandmother switched from Salem Lights to Marlboros) vs cigar smoke. I set foot in the lobby of a casino precisely once in my life, then had to flee because of the overwhelming stink of cigarette smoke was making me sick even from a room’s width away….

Oh, wait, we weren’t here for my personal anecdotes and oddly specific knowledge bases, were we? I get sentimental sometimes, which ironically fits Stan as well as an association with a casino does, if that’s how you experience Lapsang. There are a lot of different experiences you can have with Lapsang, from smooth to very ‘prickly’ feeling, sour or sweet, the base can taste woody (which isn’t a bad thing in tea) or overpoweringly naturally fruity, in a dark forest fruits kind of way…complicated stuff, so also appropriate for Stan in that way. Caramel is a lovely sweet flavor, close enough to toffee that Lapsang and caramel could bring to mind both bacon and toffee, two of Stan’s favorite food items. It occurs to me that peanut isn’t really a note I’ve seen in tea…possibly adding a bit of some other nut might give a little nod in that direction, along with moving the caramel more toward toffee? I’d love to tinker with blending myself to see what I could end up with. Which I may actually be able to do - this looks like Adagio Teas, who at least used to have the ‘make your own blend’ option. I never tried it myself - or, in fact, any Adagio teas - but wow, this brings back memories, I can’t even recall when I last thought of Adagio, and had in fact had the vague impression that they weren’t open anymore, though good for them if they are.

I don’t know what a mambo is outside of a song about “mambo Italiano” that everybody sang like three lines of all the time when I was in elementary school (despite none of us speaking a word of Italian, unless you count ‘macaroni,’ and probably none of us even being able to find Italy on a map), but I suspect it’s here to prevent us from ending up with too darkly elegant of a cup - the base blend might hit multiple things Stan likes, but comes off a little more dark academia than any flavor of chaotic or animated. “Mambo” also may be Spanish, which would be a nice nod to Stan’s adventures in central and South America. Other ways one might accomplish that could be a touch of mate, or, if one really must, some coffee-flavor.

Ford: If I were to assign Ford a Lapsang souchong, it would be one of those raw-dark-fruits one I mentioned in Stan’s bit, ones where the smoke plays only a minor role. I think Ford would really like to be something like, say, Smoky Earl Grey from Fortnum’s, but I spent the past two years of my life writing a monograph on the subject of how this is a veneer, not his actual personality - there aren’t really any Fortnum’s people in Gravity Falls except perhaps Pacifica, and I think of her as more of one of those very…frilly-feeling French teas. But we’re discussing Ford…really, really good pu’erh can give you a sort of brain-sparkly feeling I can see working for Ford. Inadequate memory of what hazelberry tastes like to comment on that. Assam -

Assam, really, is plenty complicated on its own. Indian teas are especially characterized by whether they are first flush (the first round of leaves harvested) or second flush (the ones that grow in later). A nice Assam can have a lovely honey note, though the word most people use for Assams is “malty.” I don’t know what malt tastes like, though, so I don’t know about that. I can say that I can usually tell if I’m going to love or hate a given Assam at practically first sip, which, along with how Lapsang is very much a matter of taste, does reflect on how divisive the character is said to be in corners of the Internet that aren’t mine.

Stan W/O Lapsang: can’t see the description in the image, can’t comment on that one.

Bill Cipher: I can’t really imagine these tastes together, but I automatically want to revolt at lavender being included - I like lavender, you see. If I was going to make a Bill tea myself, I’d get a really lousy pu’erh - I vividly remember one I had one time that tasted like fish fried in over-used grease and which made me sick to my stomach if I drank too much of it even if I somehow drowned out the fish with enough of Harney’s Vanilla Black - and then throw all the tropical fruits in it, and then throw a red berry mix into it (I don’t like red berry blends, unless you count teas with cranberry flavor in, which your standard Four Red Fruits type of tea doesn’t usually have). This would probably taste bizarre, foul, and utterly confused, but it would be in character. Though really, if I was going to sum up Bill as a liquid, I’d probably go with a cocktail of antifreeze and bleach.

The Mystery Shack: I can’t remember off the top of my head if Pu’erh Dante is flavored or not, or if there’s anything extra to account for the ‘moonlight’ aspect of Earl Grey Moonlight, so I really can’t say much here, except that pu’erh and key lime could capture something of the sense of the place - bright and summery colliding with all this tangled mess of messy adult lives just beneath the surface. Can’t really imagine what that would actually taste like, though.

Mabel (Alt W/O Strawberry): “berry blast” is too vague for me to say anything without knowing what the berries in question are. I probably wouldn’t like it (see comments on Four Red Fruits blends), but it does match the idea of Mabel.

Ford W/O Lapsang: Fun fact: the tea typically called gunpowder green isn’t actually smoky at all. It’s named that because of the unique shape of its preparation, which make the leaves into little pellets that apparently resemble stuff you put into really old-fashioned guns. The best gunpowder I ever had tasted strongly of honey; the worst was a bitter mess that I couldn’t dump enough honey into to salvage it. Which is also kinda Ford-appropriate, in a way….

This tea’s primary interest lies in how it’s a blend of three out of the four/five most common tea ‘categories’ - no oolong or white tea, but green tea, black tea, and pu’erh? That’s an interesting combination. I’ve seen green and black blends before (Murchie’s of Canada particularly has a thing about mixing a little green tea into their black teas; results vary for me), though since you don’t make black and green tea at the same temperature, I must admit the idea has always kind of confused me. Never seen one with pu’erh in it before, though, so points for originality if nothing else.

@sovonight has Gravity Falls inspired tea!

Complete with their beautiful artwork on the packaging.

Get the tea here!