#Invader..fm

[selfmaderibcageman]

[…] In the process we lost sight of one of the cardinal maxims of guerrilla war: the guerrilla wins if he does not lose. The conventional army loses if it does not win.

So fuckin true man.

[aemondapologistfrfr]

Anniversary Gift

aegon x sister!wife!reader x the bloody ben we thought we got but we’re delusional 🫠

Summary: There is a tournament in celebration of yours and Aegons wedding anniversary. A brutal young knight catches yours and Aegons attention and he has the perfect idea what to get you that he can also enjoy.

Warnings: 18+ fingering, oral(f and m receiving), penetration(p in v), unprotected bc that’s like not an option, mm, fm, mfm, public, pleasure house, drinking, swearing, decaying viserys mention, tournament so death and blood

Authors Note: i started writing this before we knew so :/, if y/n is insufferable it’s bc she’s a targtower and has no parental figure ://, i won’t have anyone deny aegon locked in this season and looks good while doing it 🫣 anyways this got out of hand and it's super wild so enjoy 🧍🏼‍♀️

Word Count: 3.5k

⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ ⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ ⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆

I’ve been trying to push back the army of handmaidens that have been invading our chambers for the past two hours. Gods know why I must be fussed over when all Aegon and I will be doing is sitting above everyone else and looking down on men beating each other bloody.

They have finally finished shoving pins in my hair making sure my braids are secured tightly to my scalp. Jewelry has started being added much to my displeasure. I turn my head and exhale deeply at the massive gown they’ve brought in for me to wear.

“I’m not fucking wearing that. I’m to be sitting. Find something more comfortable.” I roll my eyes walking over to find my cup of wine.

“The Queen-“ one handmaiden starts.

“My mother can wear what she pleases and I’ll do the same.” I say bringing the cup to my lips.

“Must you terrorize them?” Alicent brushes past them while offering apologetic smiles as she comes to my side.

“I’m not wearing a massive ballgown when all me and Aegon are doing is watching a stupid tourney.” I finish my cup sighing.

“I say she wears nothing.” Aegon announces as he enters our chambers.

“Don’t be such a pig in front of my maids.” I scowl at him knowing there’s a hint of a smile on my lips.

“I thought you liked when I acted like a pig.” he laughs and then snorts loudly in my face.

“Aegon!” I shout at him pushing him away from me.

“Enough you two. Aegon go finish getting dressed so y/n can do the same. Gods know what I was thinking when I had you two wed.” she sighs shaking her head.

Alicent walks over to my wardrobe and begins looking for other options. She pulls out a couple of gowns that I have yet to wear that she deems appropriate. I settle for a black dress that requires no corset thankfully. There are two slits up the side of my legs that meet at my hips to allow air flow and mobility. The sleeves trickle down my arms encasing them in silk and embroidery.

“I expect you to be in the main hall in twenty minutes. I’m going to check on Aegon and we will meet you down there.” she looks me over and nods.

The handmaids swap my jewelry for more subtle accents and offer me black sandals that strap up my legs. I can take no more of their fussing and I shoo them off and exit our chambers with a full cup of wine in hand.

“Hello daughter!” Viserys calls over to me from the chair he’s sitting in as I enter the main halls. He looks absolutely terrible today and I’m hoping the disgust isn’t written all over my face.

“Hey.” I offer raising my glass grimacing.

“How come she can keep her cup?” I hear Aegon whine as he approaches me with Alicent trailing after him.

“Because it seems no one has had the brain to take it from her.” Alicent seethes as she rips the cup out of my hand.

“Is this tourney not in celebration of us and our anniversary? We should be allowed to drink.” I roll my eyes and grab Aegons arm.

We all but stomp to our carriage in the main courtyard. The guards move out of our way so we can disappear into the enclosed space. As I’m walking up the short steps I start to feel Aegons hands creep up my legs.

“Get off of me you beast or I’ll have you tied up and dragged behind my carriage to the tourney grounds.” I turn around and scold him.

“Mm don’t threaten me so publicly. You know how I love it.” he smiles as his hands go further up. “I also know how much you love when I play with you in public.” I grab his wrist and pull him into the carriage with me slamming the doors behind of us.

“Why must you ceaselessly try to embarrass me in front of others.” I push him to the other side of the carriage.

“Oh come on, y/n. You know I jest.” he sighs and leans back. “What can I do to make it better?” he pouts from his seat.

I turn my head and cross my arms as I peek out of the windows as the carriage begins moving through the city streets. I plan to ignore him until he comes up with a solution on his own. Curse our mother for taking away our wine. I turn my head when I feel the carriage slightly shift and see he’s on his knees in front of me.

“Do you want to come before we get to the tourney?” he asks through his thick lashes. His hands gliding up my legs once more.

“Do you think you can make me come in the next 10 minutes?” I raise my eyebrow looking down at him.

Aegon disappears under my skirt and leaves sloppy kisses on my inner thighs. He grunts in approval at my lack of panties and attaches his mouth to my clit. Soft whimpers fall from my mouth and I try to hide them behind a hand so not to give Aegon the satisfaction. He spreads my legs even wider and slams two fingers into me.

“Fuck Aegon,” I cry out grinding against his mouth as my thighs try to close around his head.

He moans into my core as his fingers start a ferocious pace. I’m arching off the cushions as my legs being to shake from his skilled tongue and fingers. He curls his fingers and my body goes taught. A sob rips through me as pleasure courses through my body. Aegon pulls back and smirks up at me.

“Am I forgiven?” he asks licking his fingers clean and taking his seat across from me again.

“No.” I say as the carriage comes to a halt.

I open the doors and exit leaving Aegon to chase after me. He almost falls out of the carriage trying to reach my side before I enter the tourney grounds. He huffs in annoyance when he reaches my side and grabs my hand more firmly than necessary.

“You’re more stubborn than usual, my love.” he sneers as we start up the stairs.

“You’re more annoying than usual, my love.” I hiss back at him as we start up the stairs.

We make our way up to the royal box and take seats in the back. Alicent tries to convince us to move closer to the rails to be more easily seen but Aegon is already pulling me down next to him. She shakes her head and goes to her seat without another word.

Aegon waves down a servant and sees to it wine is brought to us. Two glasses of wine and the rest of the bottle are immediately brought to our table and left for us. I empty half of my glass and Aegon is quick to refill it once more. I breathe out deeply and relax back into the couch we’re sharing.

“Are you done with your attitude?” Aegon hums pulling me closer to him.

“Am I ever?” I smile turning to him. He captures my lips quickly and I become even more intoxicated by his kiss as he deepens it by burying his hand in my hair and molding my lips to his we care not of any spectators.

“You two shouldn’t make such a spectacle.” Aemond scoffs claiming the seat in front of us.

“This tourney is for us. I’d fuck her on the railing if that’s what she were to want.” Aegon glares at him scoffing.

“You two are animals.” Aemond looks us both over with disgust.

“You could do well with some depravity.” I hum smirking at him.

“Indeed,” Aegon chuckles shaking his head. “You can come sit up here with us.” he raises an eyebrow to Aemond.

“I will do no such thing.” his cheeks redden at our brazenness.

“Enough. All of you!” Alicent storms up the stairs her face red and scrunched with anger.

“Mother-“ Aemond starts but she’s quick to cut him off.

“No. I’ve had enough today and the sun is barely in the sky.” she says exasperated. “I don’t want to have to come up here again.” the threat clear in her voice as she turns on her heel and makes her way back to her seat.

We all remain quiet after that never wanting to push her too far. Sure she’s never been a great mother, but she was a child raising children. The tournament begins after the opening speeches are made and Aegon and I toast to the knights with the crowd before we return back to our seat.

“Why did we ever agree to this?” Aegon sighs resting his head on my shoulder.

“We didn’t.” I chuckle resting my head on his as the first knights enter the sands.

The two men clash into each other loudly and the crowds begin to roar. The duels go on for some time and soon get boring. I’m yawning until a young knight catches my attention from the wanton brutality he offers his opponents. Aegons interest seemed piqued as his eyes follow the knight up to the rails.

“I seek the Princess y/n’s favor.” the young knight announces.

My eyebrows shoot up as I process his words. I untangle myself from Aegon who’s smiling after me. I begin to saunter down the stairs and lean over the rail to get a closer look at him.

“Hello, my brave knight,” I coo down to him. “Before I offer you my favor I wish to look upon you.” I offer him a simpering smile.

“Ser Benjicot Blackwood, Ben, if it pleases you.” he removes his helm smirking and slightly lowering his head.

“The pleasure is mine, Ben.” I melt as I gaze upon his beautiful bloodied face. “You have my favor.” I sultry reply as I slide my crown of flowers down his lance.

“You honor me, Princess.” he grins up at me winking as he turns back around for his next duel. I practically skip back up the stairs to Aegon, giddy from how handsome the knight was.

“I want him.” I whisper in Aegons ear as I join him on the couch again.

“I do too.” Aegon chuckles lowly pulling me in closer.

The rest of the tourney goes by quickly. Ben was never bested and won the tournament. He claimed it was account on my favor and said he would be indebted to me. I smile down at him from the rail with pink cheeks. Aegon is at my side smiling to Ben as his arm wraps around my waist.

“You did well! You should go out and celebrate in the streets tonight, my friend!” Aegon subtly suggests to Ben.

“You honor me, my Prince.” Ben smiles and bows his head.

⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ ⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ ⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆

After a late dinner with the family Aegon and I retire to our chambers for the night. We prepare to journey out and grab a bag full of coin. We tie our cloaks on and then slip into the tunnels within the Red Keep. We know the way perfectly and we soon are entering the most popular pleasure house to find who we seek.

“Happy anniversary to the Prince and Princess!” a man shouts from atop a table in the back.

The pleasure house erupts in cheers as the man gets down and has them make way for him to come to us. As he nears my heart begins to pound in my chest as I realize it’s Ben. He reaches for my hand and places a kiss on it and surprisingly does the same to Aegon.

“Oh I like you.” Aegon smiles darkly at Ben.

We follow him back over to his table and he kicks two of his friends out of the way for us. He eyes us curiously as we lounge back into the couch looking at him with low lids. As he stares back at us it seems as if everyone melts away. Aegons hand is resting on my bare thigh and slowly travels higher which Ben has been glancing at.

“How long have you two been wed?” Ben asks lowly licking his lips.

“Seems like forever.” Aegon lets out a breathy chuckle as his fingers slip underneath the fabric of my dress keeping eye contact with Ben.

“Should I get us a private room?” Ben rasps adjusting himself in his pants.

“In a bit. She likes to put on a show.” Aegon smirks as his fingers slide up my slit.

I let out loan whine and Ben’s eyes shoot to mine. Aegon lazily circles my clit and my thighs start to spread. He kisses my neck and begins to speed up his ministrations. My eyes shut as my hips start to grind into his hand seeking to take their own pleasure.

“Look at me, Princess.” Ben’s voice goes straight to my core and my eyes snap open and lock with his.

Aegons fingers slip into me as I bite my lip to keep from crying out. Ben’s cheeks have become more flushed as he watches me fuck myself on Aegons hand. Aegon uses his thumb to circle my clit as his fingers continue pounding into me. My thighs squeeze around his hand as I come around his fingers, whimpering as Ben looks at me with a devilish smirk. Aegon slowly removes his fingers and begins to bring them up to his mouth.

“May I, my Prince?” Ben holds out his hand for Aegons.

Ben’s hand wraps around Aegons wrist and brings his hand to his mouth. He wraps his lips around Aegons fingers and licks them clean. Aegon groans as he watches Ben clean me off of him. I watch with heavy lids at how perfectly Ben fits with us.

“Don’t be mad I did this first.” Aegon offers to me over his shoulder quickly.

Before I process his words he’s pulled Ben’s lips against his. I gasp out in surprise and watch as Ben and Aegon lose themselves to the kiss. Ben bites down on Aegons lip causing some blood to speckle on the surface. Aegon groans and pulls back with pleasure swirling in his eyes.

Ben’s eyes look to mine and before I know it his lips are upon me. I sigh out in pleasure as I taste myself and Aegons blood on his tongue. I bite down on Ben’s lip in return for Aegon and he moans into my mouth and droplets of blood appear. He kisses me more fiercely as I mold to his mouth.

Aegons hands travel up my sides and to my neck. He brushes my hair to the side and attaches his hot mouth to my pulse. Ben pulls our lips back as a trail of saliva and blood still tethers us. He looks at Aegon and me hungrily and rises.

“Let’s go somewhere a bit more secluded.” Ben smiles offering both of us hands to us.

We flow behind Ben entranced by him as he parts a curtain for us. He closes them shut behind of us and turns to us with a wicked smirk on his face. Aegon pulls me down on to the bed with him and pushes me onto my back.

I prop myself up on my elbows and see Ben starting to stalk over to us on the bed. Aegon spreads my thighs and moves my skirts to expose my dripping core. Ben’s eyes lock onto me as he wets his lips. He lowers himself on the bed and snakes his way up to my thighs.

“May I taste you, Princess?” Ben’s breath fans across my heat as he looks up to me from between my thighs.

“Please,” I whine bucking my hips up towards his face.

He quickly wraps his arms around my thighs and pulls me to his mouth. He licks at my clit feverishly causing my back to arch off the bed. Aegon pulls the top of my dress aside to expose my breasts. Whimpers are spilling from my mouth at the pleasure coursing through my body.

My fingers curl into Ben’s hair and tug as his tongue continues its vigorous assault on my clit. He groans into my core as Aegon pinches one of ny nipples particularly hard. My legs try to squeeze around Ben’s head and he chuckles lowly.

“Fuck Ben,” I cry, back arching off the bed as I come all over his face. He continues to lick at my core sending jolts through my body. Ben detaches himself from me and starts to kiss up my body and lays next to me.

“I want to see you come on his cock next.” Aegon hums rising from the bed to get a cup of wine. As he saunters back over to us with his glass Ben sits up and his hands rise up to Aegons hips pulling him between his legs.

“What about you, my Prince? Would you like some pleasure?” Ben smirks up to Aegon as pushes him back a bit so he can sink to the floor on his knees.

“Mm, how kind of you.” Aegon gazes down at him cupping his jaw.

“I’m very devout, my Prince.” Ben whispers raking his hands up Aegons legs.

“His mouth is very skilled.” I hum as the pleasure still thrums through my veins.

“I’ll decide that for myself.” Aegon declares smirking down at Ben with dark eyes.

I sit further up as I watch Ben’s fingers unlace Aegons trousers. He wasted no time freeing Aegon and gripping his hard length in his hands. Ben’s thumb swipes over Aegons red and leaking tip. Aegons groans as Ben pumps his length, teasing his tip as his fist makes its way up.

Aegons head tosses back as Ben swirls his tongue around the head of his cock. I slowly slip out of bed to come up behind Aegon and slowly kiss his neck and run my nails down his chest. Ben slowly takes Aegon in his mouth and he lets out the softest whimper. Ben starts a faster pace while holding on to Aegons thighs to steady himself. Aegon is a mess of panting and groaning as mine and Ben’s names fall from his lips.

“Fuck,” Aegons hips begin to shutter as he releases himself down Ben’s throat.

Ben slowly pulls off of Aegon causing him to whimper. Once Ben becomes eye level again Aegon pulls him into a harsh kiss. They pull apart breathlessly and then Ben quickly turns and captures my lips once more. My hands fly to his shirt and begin lifting it off. He pulls back from me as Aegon finishes removing it.

Mine and Aegons hands trail all over his body worshiping every inch. The three of us have no end or beginning as our breaths mingle as we finish undressing each other. We’re a clash of lips and teeth as all three of us tumble to the bed.

“Please, Ben,” I whine as his fingers find my wet core.

“I think the Princess wants you to fuck her.” Aegon chuckles as he begins to fondle my breasts.

“Yes, please Ben,” I beg lifting my hips up to his hand.

“I want to hear you say it.” I can hear the smirk in his voice as Ben’s lips ghost over mine.

“Please, fuck me, please,” I whine as he pulls his hand away from my core.

He sheaths himself inside of me, splitting me in two. My legs wrap around his waist as he starts pounding into me at a brutal pace. Aegon continues to grope my breasts and pinch my nipples which has my eyes rolling into the back of my head.

“You’re doing so good, Princess.” Ben grunts as he lifts one of my legs pushing into me at a deeper angle.

Aegon is whispering soft praises in my ear as his fingers continue to pinch and tease. His hand begins to slide down my torso and begins to circle around my throbbing clit. A moan rips through me as I clench down around Ben as my orgasm washes over me. I feel him begin to fill me prolonging my pleasure.

He stills inside of me and rests his forehead on mine. Aegon leans in near us and beings peppering kisses on our necks. Ben slowly pulls out as I whine at the loss. We all fall back on the bed together in a mess of limbs and heavy breathing.

“You know, me and y/n could use a new sworn protector. You could have the position if you were to want it.” Aegon offers propping himself up to look at Ben.

“It would be my honor to watch over and protect you both.” Ben looks at us with pleasure glazed eyes.

⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ ⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ ⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆

pt2 is Sworn Protector

masterlist

[dr-zeddy]

I also believe that Miquella was jealous of Mohg/saw him as competition regarding his original plans

and intentionally made the Mohgwyn Dynasty look like an awful alternative to what he tried to do with the Haligtree.

This is on my personal speculative side but with the in-game context of what the Formless Mother religion symbolized in the Land's of Shadow, we may assume Mohg and his followers celebrated her in a similar fashion before Miquella took over his mind.

The bloodfiends are literally just vibing until you attack them/invade their territory. Bloodshed isn't the only thing this Outer God represents, it's also a symbolism for maternal love/birth/rebirth for those shunned and cursed (Hence why she blessed Mohg and showed up to the "subjugated tribe" in the Land's of Shadow), which we know from the "Outer God Heirloom"

I believe this deity is still twisted and not to meddled around with, but I don't think the Formless Mother exclusively stands for murdering people. We also know that the bloodfiends resulted to SH occasionally to serve their "mother" (which is in itself a little problematic but it also indicates that they do not walk around and randomly kill everything in their path) (see "Bloodfiend's Fork")

So my take is that when Miquella brainwashed Mohg this entire cult got corrupted too, making it the center of (mercy) killings and death while Miquella is the only anchor of life, we see this in the "Lord of Blood Exultation Talisman":

Spilling blood to create a new life. Which is, naturally speaking, nonsense and as I said before, a lot of things point to the fact that the FM has natural roots, while giving hope to those who were shunned.

This indicates that Mohg had similar goals to Miquella with his Haligtree, offering outcasts a haven/place to be/belong to. Miquella always relied on enchanting/manipulating people to achieve his goals, I guess he was pissed that Mohg was able to do this, only by being naturally charismatic, since we know that he had to be quite the leader if he pulls actual reasonable people like Ansbach to his side. He was the perfect leader for outcasts and the oppressed (see additonally my post about Mohg's appearence being extremley devine in the Land's of Shadow) and therefore was a direct threat to the things Miquella wanted to achieve with his Haligtree. Because why follow Miquella when there already was a similar cult/religion with a charismatic leader like Mohg?

[carmyberzattosjournal]

Entry 8: FM Static

Bearblr Promptober Day 8: Autumn Leaves

Summary: In which Carmen has a panic attack in front of his girlfriend for the first time.

Warnings: Panic attack, swearing, trouble breathing, mentions of vomiting, written with fem reader who is a trauma surgeon (nothing gross described) in mind, she/her pronouns.

Notes: All journal entries will be titled as such and tagged with #cb journal.

Reblogs appreciated. Thank you to @carmenberzattosgf for putting together this prompt list.

GIF by @hotch-girl

08 Oct 2024

The wind sounds different through autumn leaves.

It’s high pitched, crisper. Bit like an out-of-tune radio. Less an adagio, more an allegro. The skittering sound they make as they somersault across the sidewalk has quickly become one of my favorites to pick out among street noise, so much so that I’ve begun walking home without headphones in, something my girl isn’t thrilled about because car horns and sirens will fuck up your hearing pretty bad. But it’s just for the fall, while the leaves are crunchy and tumbling around. Not like a kitchen is a quiet place to work, either.

She tucked my hair behind my ear.

“I’d love to know what you’re smiling about, sweetheart,” she said.

“Just. Sound of the leaves,” I said, gesturing to the few cartwheeling across the trail in front of us.

We were taking a walk in the park near my apartment on a Sunday morning, before it got too busy. She does this thing where she hugs my arm and intertwines our fingers while we’re out. At first, I thought it was to stop my nervous fidgeting, but she likes tracing her thumb back and forth over the inside of my wrist, over the scar on my palm, so I think it’s sort of her form of nervous fidgeting, you know?

“Yeah?”

I could hear her smiling.

“Does it help at the restaurant, sweetheart?”

“Finding sounds to focus on?”

“Mmhm.”

I took a deep breath. “I don’t know? I-I still get really wound up. I still forget to breathe. Sometimes, it feels like my stomach is turning inside out. Sometimes, it feels like I’m going to explode, but I don’t, but then I hurl after service.”

Her eyebrows crinkled together. “Oh. Oh, honey, that sounds terrible.”

I nodded, tried to say something about the leaves to keep the conversation moving, but the words got caught in my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut. Wriggled my hand out of her grasp to press my palms to my cheekbones as the sights and sounds of the kitchen invaded. Doors. A dropped plate. Refire these steaks, 8 minutes behind, get the fuck back to work, call outs, chefs, keep the pace up, every second counts. My chest tightened, throat killed, head swam, and the leaves—they sounded too far away. And it was too warm, it was always too fucking warm. Pressure on my shoulders that I yielded to. Someone was talking to me, who the fuck was trying to talk to me?

“…can hear me, you’re in the park,” she murmured. “You’re not at work, sweetheart. It’s Sunday, you’re taking a walk in the park.”

Something about her voice didn’t seem real, okay? It was this ethereal, weightless thing, not because of its pitch or volume, but because of how effortlessly it flowed. It existed separate from the grimy, gritty, loud, bright, boiling world, from my dry and oily skin, from the callouses on my hands from the knives, from the jagged pain that threatened to burst through my spine. It was somewhere else. She was from somewhere else. My sky would fall on her. I was the other shoe.

This is where she leaves, right?

Cold hands clamped around my wrists. “Carmen? Carmen, baby, you’re not breathing. I need you to breathe.”

That prompted me to empty my lungs and heave for air. My heart pounded so hard, I was convinced she could see it, my head spun, I couldn’t seem to get enough air in, it was a million degrees, my teeth hurt. She pried my hands back, something rough and papery hit my fingers.

“Can you tell me what that feels like, Carmen?”

“Don’t call me that, Nat!” It hissed out between my teeth before I could stop it. A vice clamped on my throat, and then I couldn’t breathe. Fuck. Why couldn’t I breathe? Why was the world still dark? Where the fuck even was I?

Hands sized my jacket lapels and shook me. “Breathe!”

I gasped for air.

“Good. Good. Keep breathing, sweetheart.” Something dull and cold on my chest. Her hand? “You’re okay. You’re okay, I promise. You’re safe.” The papery thing touched my hand again. “Keep breathing. There you go.”

It hit me that I’d just had a panic attack in front of her, and my stomach flipped. She kept the thing pressed against my hand while also rubbing circles over my chest. I pinched it between my fingers. Tried to. My hands were trembling so bad that I couldn’t tell if I was holding it or if she was. Some kind of a ridge. Another. Another.

“Uh, ridges?” Fuck me, I sounded like I was about to cry.

It took her a second to respond. “Mmhm. Ridges. What else can you feel?”

I felt along the edges. Skittering sound of the wind blurred into my periphery. “It’s a maple leaf.”

“Mmhm.”

It snapped when I bent a lobe of the leaf. Disintegrated into nothing when I rubbed it between my fingers. I blinked my eyes open, squinted against daylight. Then realized the ground took up too much of my view. How long had I been crouched on the gravel?

“S-sorry. Sorry. Shit, um…” Where. The fuck. Are my words?

“It’s not your fault.”

“I’m-I’m-I’m getting better, I promise.”

“I believe you.” She finger-combed my hair off my forehead. “Do you want to take your jacket off for a few minutes? You’re really warm.”

Yeah. Yeah, that was a good idea. I hauled myself up, she followed, I shrugged off my jacket, cold air slammed into me like a physical thing because I was sweaty, and, as if abruptly awoken by my alarm, the rest of the world snapped into focus. Distant traffic, arguing birds, a barking dog, conversations that I couldn’t make out, solid ground, frozen spots on the backs of my shoulders, my sides, singing of a wind chime. FM static from the leaves. I needed to hold her? Don’t know what came over me, but I needed to hold her, and it took her by surprise because she made a cute little squeak when I pulled her in for a hug. She smoothed her hands over my back, pressed a kiss to my neck. Her nose was cold.

“Do you feel like talking about it?”

“No.” I responded too fast. “No, I’m-I’m gonna freak out again.”

She kissed my shoulder. Swayed me gently. “That’s okay. Maybe we try decompressing for now, hm?”

I nodded. Turned the broken leaf over and over in my fingers as she held me.

“Um, tell me a story?”

Another kiss to my shoulder. “What kind of story do you want to hear?”

“Um. I don’t know, something that makes you happy.” It still came out sounding like a question.

She drummed her fingers along my back for a few long moments while she hunted for one. “So, my mom has this dog, right?”

“Mmhm.”

“She’s a rescue, so we don’t know what breed she is, but she’s tiny. Minuscule. She’s like 8 pounds soaking wet, right?”

“Wow. Really tiny.” I watched some leaves flip around as they blew by.

“She loves the fall because, uh, my mom will rake up the leaves in the backyard into this big pile.” She wandered a cold hand into my hair, and my eyes drifted closed. Fuck, it felt good. “And she has to go barreling full speed into the pile,”—I started laughing—“like not jumping into it, she just sprints through it, and they go flying. And she’ll just do that over and over and over again, having the time of her life. And then my mom will rake them back into a pile the next day, and off she goes. It is. So fun to watch.”

“It does sound fun.” I squeezed her tighter, almost felt like we couldn’t be close enough, almost like I needed her hands on my skin. Maybe she understood, because moved her hands to either side of my neck. Stroked my throat with her thumb.

She pulled back enough to meet my gaze. “You’ll have to visit her, yeah? See Cookie running through the leaves.”

“The dog’s name is Cookie?”

“Yes. She’s teeny and she’s got sandy colored fur with some brown spots like a chocolate chip cookie. So, we named her Cookie.” She kissed my forehead. “My mom’s cool. Promise. But feel free to mull it over.”

I nodded.

Tried not to think about what meeting her mother meant for us because if I did, then it meant something horrible would follow. It always did.

[lovenote-xo]

INTRO POST !!

haii, im max !!!! :3 he/it, 6teen, aussie !! i luv music, invader zim, drawing and painting, energy drinks, and a lot more but im lazy and dont wanna type it all lolz dni if ur gonna b mean :p i need mootz :3 !!!

other socialz ! last fm- flashboy0312 insta- lovenote.xo tiktok- meow._meow._meow._6 spacehey- lovenote_xo

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

ASOIAF entities as main pop girlies

The Night's Watch = Katy Perry

Once upon a time, pop's most influential hit maker suddenly decided to dye her hair blonde and get a pixie cut, got political, and publicly spoke to a therapist who told her to get her shit together. Thus began her never-ending flop era.

In an unrelated sequence of events, Aegon I Targaryen (a weird blonde man) invaded Westeros, created a central political unit, told the different kingdoms to get their shit together, and cut off the NW's weekly supply of men since there were no more pointless wars going around. Thus began their never-ending flop era.

BTW Jon Snow is the NW's 'Harleys in Hawaii'....their first and only hit in a really long time :(

The Kingsguard = Taylor Swift

Very famous, very rich, very influential, actually has a history of producing incredible material. But every now and then, you get a pop album that's just so..... bleh :/ And is Jaime Lannister the Westeros version of Taylor's Reputation era? Idk, you tell me....

Also, remember how TS had a feud with KP but got more famous and successful as Katy faded into irrelevance? Yeah, me too. In the same vein, the KG continues to maintain its high reputation while its counterpart (the NW) becomes even more irrelevant than it already was, if that's even possible.

The Golden Company = Gaga

Exclusively for the gays and no one else. There's really no doubt about it. But Gaga hurt the fanbase when she decided to pivot into acting, which is currently giving her more success than the music stuff. The GC has a great reputation but comes from a history of flop rebellions. So they've pivoted to a "Targaryen" pretender in hopes that they can win big this time around.

The Rainbowguard = Charli XCX

Huh?? Shouldn't the Rainbow Guard be Gaga??!

Please 🙄 don't be ridiculous. They do not have the material, and that's the T. But they're both for the gals and the gays. And in the same way that Charli had like two hits then faded into the shadows, the Rainbow Guard really can only claim Loras and Brienne. The rest are inconsequential.

The Brotherhood Without Banners = Dula Peep (aka Dua Lipa)

Who doesn't know THE Albanian pop princess Dula Peep?? She new, she's hot, and she's from out of town! She's got good music, but critics say that she's been recycling the same sound for a while now which is getting stale. The BWB has fallen into the hands of a foreign red god, and critics say that they can't produce a hit anymore since they kept recycling the same Beric. They did it six times, which got a little stale...

The Faceless Men = Grimes

Grimes makes really good music, I think? Also, remember when she dated a douchebag billionaire, got dumped, then staged a PR stunt reading the communist manifesto? Me neither. Anyway, the FM are known for being very good assassins who sell their services for the highest price possible. They were also founded by slaves, but that's probably unrelated.

Maesters of the Citadel = SZA

The talent is there, the influence is there, and the reputation is there. But you cannot trust them because they like to lie a lot...unprovoked.

[BONUS] Robb Stark's Vanguard = Bebe Rexha

Bebe is responsible for some of the greatest pop hits of the 21st century; she's even written one of the greatest K-pop songs of all time, that's a whole other region!! She's the very face of talent, but she's unfortunately a blink and you'll miss it type of gal. The average Joe would most likely struggle to name more than two songs from her. Robb's Vanguard also has the talent. They have the material. But sadly, 90% of us would struggle to identify anyone not named Dacey Mormont. I mean, did you even remember that this group existed?

[BONUS] Tywin Lannister = Nicki Minaj

A very talented but messy bitch who likes to play around with extremely problematic people...do I need to elaborate any further?

[dreamsofminnie]

“Ethereal Paintings”

10~ Drunken haze party ☂️

Scaramouche x Fm! Reader Smau

{!! Small Suggestive content ahead !!}

You can skip the paragraph in italics

“I’m fukiang lossstttttt. I’m stuck in the abyssss, lika—ouch.” Dazedly rubbing your forehead from the drunk impact of your head hitting a sharp chin, you stare back at violet eyes boring into yours. Both your drunk lidded eyes dilated, unbeknownst to each other within the haze.

“Hi, pretty.” Your lopsided grin tilted his vision to your pink lips in movement. Entranced by how they moved so fluidly. And how he wanted to capture them in his lips.

“Are ya lost too? I think I fogot my map in yours. Or was it, your map is in my heart? I duno. I just know i want you—to map with me.” Your own face contorted into confusion but nonetheless confidence in your output of pickup lines.

Scaramouche stayed as still and silent as he could. He didn’t want this drunk dream-like moment to disappear. His few gasps of air are what kept you knowing he was real and standing immensely close.

When he wound up drinking too much of the wine glasses his friends poured him, he asked Ayato for a room he could lay in for a bit. Which consisted of staring at the door in deep empty-brained thought. Didn’t think you would save him of that and come by his door to shrill a strange song. Glad you did that drunk mating call; but strange in your own wondrous ways.

Rocking on your toes you count the beautifully long eyelashes Scara had; while you waited for his voice to pierce the muffled party music down the windy halls.

“Uawh, uhs, kill, marrige, or me?” His incoherent speech bubbled in misguiding words which you heavily dodged, too focused on his soft mumbled voice.

“Heha, silly. Kiss of course!”

~~

Scara didn’t know when his hand was in your hair, or when your hands were teasing his stomach under his shirt. How your tantalizing body was pulled so close—the closest anyone; has ever been. You; being the only one to have ever, invaded his senses so close. But honestly, none of you knew what words actions or even place were. How his oh-so breath deepened in gulps of your hot lips. Drinking in his every gasp, you let your eyes glance over all crevices of Scara’s face. The haziness in his eyes were incomparable to yours. You trembled at his hesitant caresses on your skin under your clothes, lips still infused with his skin on your lips in your jaw kissess. The heaves of your chests intermingled as they sync with the push and pull of the passion from the other. You gave leeway for Scara to markup your neck as you heavily did to his—

~~

—though, you didn’t know what was a make-believe dream, or factually real, at this point.

Your drunken haze cleared up a tad, enough to sit up from the carpeted floor and view your surroundings for the first time since you entered this room and bumped into Scara.

This was definitely one of the extra guest rooms the Kamisato family house had to offer due to the simplicity and cleanliness. And Scaramouche was definitely passed out beside you on the futon blanket, not being able to withstand his unreformed stupor for more than 5 minutes with you.

Chugging the large water container Scara had brought previously on his way into the room, the senses you once lost resurfaces with stings to your temples.

Only then, realizing you made out with your stunning crush made from dreams, did you bolt out through the door, retreating to the safety net of your friends.

Previous | Masterlist | Next

Synopsis-> When you were required to help the new transfer student the history of art from the two weeks he missed. He didn’t know you were the one artist he was inspired by. You grow fond of each other but stay at a flirting stage. But finding out that he’s a dreaded a.i user; your mortal art enemy; everything in your relationship is obliterated. Will he be able to reconcile and steal your he-art♡ once again?

The first time the timestamps matter :teary-eyed:

Ignore the date tho😔 /for the first two tweets

//Taglist//

@akagism2 @pokidot @kyouzki @rmiyuki @infe-risk0 @sakurapeach @bluebelony @kichiyoshi @mikctp @kur44pika @cupids-chamber @aeongiies @crucnhice @neigesprincess @scaramoo @gojoandelsalovechilde @childeslegstrap @sakiimeo @d4y-dr3am3r @m3gitsune @scarletttcroww

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

Israel will bar Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the “occupied Palestinian territories,” from entering the Jewish state, including Judea and Samaria.

Albanese blamed the slaughter of Jews by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 on Israeli “oppression,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel announced the decision on Monday, following the U.N. envoy’s offensive tweet on Saturday.

“The time for Jewish silence is past. For the @UN to regain its credibility, its leadership @antonioguterres must unequivocally renounce the anti-Semitic statements made by their ‘Special Envoy’ @FranceskAlbs and remove her from her position immediately,” Katz tweeted on Monday.

“Barring her entry to Israel will serve as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed by Hamas, including the ruthless targeting of innocents,” Katz continued.

Responding to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comment at a ceremony on Wednesday honoring the 42 French Israelis murdered on Oct. 7, where he referred to the Hamas invasion as “the greatest antisemitic massacre of our century,” Albanese tweeted:

“The ‘greatest anti-Semitic massacre of our century’? No, Mr. @EmmanuelMacron. The victims of 10/7 were not killed because of their Judaism, but in response to Israel’s oppression. France & the international community did nothing to prevent it. My respects to the victims.”

Katz on Sunday rebuked Albanese for her comments, calling them “deeply troubling” and demanded her dismissal.

“I call on Secretary-General Guterres to fire @FranceskAlbs immediately. The time of Jewish silence in the face of such misrepresentations has passed. We must stand strong and vocal against such narratives,” Katz tweeted.

Albanese has frequently courted controversy among Israel supporters for singling out Israel for blame in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She has made frequent comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany.

When JNS asked Albanese in December whether Hamas was justified in invading Israel and killing Israeli security personnel, she said, “Why is this so unbelievable? You seem to be puzzled by this. What is the right to resist?”

She also accused Israel and American evangelical Christians of weaponizing antisemitism to silence her and other critics of Israel.

“Israel occupies the Palestinian territory illegally, continuing to colonize the land, to brutalize the people, to let its armed settlers go around and terrorize everyone,” Albanese told JNS. “The Palestinians have no recourse to justice, because the Israeli army is not there to protect the Palestinians. It is there to protect the settlers, who are illegal.”

[7-bcc-news-press]

Hungary quits IIB Bank after US sanctions

The Hungarian government decided to exit the Russia-controlled International Investment Bank (IIB) after the United States imposed sanctions on three senior officials of the financial institution. Russian nationals Nikolay Kosov, the bank's former chairman, Georgy Potapov, and Imre Laszloczki a Hungarian citizen, were named on the sanctions list.

Before Budapest's decision the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania have already quit or started the withdrawal process from the bank that is often referred to as Moscow's trojan horse' in the European Union.

US Ambassador David Pressman held a press conference on Wednesday where he announced the sanctions. "The presence of this opaque Kremlin platform in the heart of Hungary threatens the security and sovereignty of the Hungarian people, their European neighbors, and their NATO allies," Pressman said. “Unlike other NATO allies, Hungary has dismissed the concerns of the United States government regarding the risks its continued presence poses to the alliance,” the ambassador added.

Pentagon leaks: Orban called the U.S. one of his main adversaries

Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban was also mentioned in the recently leaked CIA assessment. Orban reportedly called the US one of the top three adversaries of his party. According to the leaked document the comment was made during a Fidesz parliamentary meeting in February. The leaked CIA document states that Orbán’s statement “constitutes an escalation of the level of anti-American rhetoric in his discourse.”

Relations between Washington and Budapest are tense, many because of Orban's close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hungary was the only EU member state without an invite to US President Joe Biden's Summit for Democracy last month.

Hungary signs new energy deal with Russia 

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto signed new agreements in Moscow to ensure Hungary's continued access to Russian energy. The Hungarian FM met Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Alexander Novak and Alexey Likhachev, chief executive of Rosato, AP reports. Szijjarto said Russian state energy company Gazprom had agreed to allow Hungary, if needed, to import quantities of natural gas beyond the amounts agreed to in a long-term contract that was amended last year.

Szijjarto is one of the only EU officials that have met Russian officials in Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine. “As long as the issue of energy supply is a physical issue and not a political or ideological one, like it or not, Russia and cooperation with Russia will remain crucial for Hungary’s energy security,” Hungary's top diplomat said.

Belarusian Foreign Minister holds talks with Szijjarto in Hungary

On Tuesday, Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik arrived in Hungary, to meet with Minister of Agriculture István Nagy and Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto. Szijjarto has just arrived back from Moscow where he sealed new energy deals with Russia, despite EU criticism. Alenik took part in an intergovernmental meeting where economic cooperation was discussed between the two countries.

In March the European Parliament adopted a resolution that underlines the importance of strengthening EU unity concerning Belarus, including the diplomatic isolation of the current regime. The resolution includes a paragraph on Szijjártó's recent trip to Minsk.

[carcassarkis]

Ok so my "Big Idea" post from earlier last week

I've written one of those classic Star Wars scrawl title things and some character details for those interested in this TFA AU!! I'm going to be calling it the "galaxy's force" AU from now on so it'll be easier to find :)

Title Scrawl:

Trouble in the galaxy! The vile FIRST ORDER has made its move against the NEW GALACTIC REPUBLIC. Supreme Leader SNOKE has sent some of his personal militia with teams of troopers to invade planets with low defenses. The most notably successful of these invasions was led by his very own Force user, known by most only as THE KNIGHT!

In response to these attacks, Senator LEIA ORGANA and her partner, HAN SOLO, built up a RESISTANCE army. Many citizens of the New Republic are against the First Order, but will they be enough to stop Snoke and The Knight?

Meanwhile, a mysterious figure calling themselves a JEDI has appeared on Jakku. Senator Organa sends a small fighter to investigate these claims!

Character Details:

SUPREME LEADER SNOKE: Leader of the First Order. Horrifically scarred and disfigured, seems to have appeared from nowhere a mere 5 years after the Fall of the Empire. Age undetermined. Appears to be somewhere between 65-80 standard years.

THE KNIGHT: Snoke’s only Force user. Wears an impressive suit of armor and carries an unstable red lightsaber with a crossguard. Armor seems to be made of imitation beskar. Age determined to be between 19-25 standard years. Identity unknown.

SENATOR LEIA ORGANA: One of the founders of the New Galactic Republic. She maintains the honorary status of “senator” due to her services, but no longer participates in the Senate after the end of her term. Carries her lightsaber – blue – everywhere, despite never using it. Lives on Naboo. Age 58 standard years.

HAN SOLO: Husband of Senator Organa. Has a business in shipping, mainly partnered with Bespin and those nearby. Is almost never on-planet, but loves to spend time with his wife when he is on Naboo. Always on the lookout for someone important. Age 65 standard years.

REY SKYWALKER: Padawan learner of Luke Skywalker. Regarded as his daughter, if not by blood. Basically adopted her after her parents tried to save her from some sort of family curse. Has a blue lightsaber. Unclear if it belongs to her. Age determined to be between 14-17 standard years.

LUKE SKYWALKER: The last Jedi Master. Vanished off the face of the galaxy after the disaster that killed half his students, sent a quarter missing, and took the other quarter with him. Has a green lightsaber. Age 58 standard years.

POE DAMERON: Pilot for the Resistance. Well-regarded by cohorts, and jokingly called the “Senator’s son” due to his high esteem. Quietly, of course, as everyone knows. Son of an ex-First Order loyalist who saved him from being forced into spice running on Kajimi. Age 21 standard years.

FN-2187: Stormtrooper in the First Order. Captain of a squad of troopers with designations FM through HO. One of the main squads to accompany The Knight on excursions for Snoke. If asked by members outside the Order, he will state that his station is merely “sanitation.” Age determined to be 20-21 standard years.

   FM-1849: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 18-19 standard years.

   FX-0367: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 22-24 standard years.

   GB-1214: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 20-21 standard years.

   GE-0101: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 24-25 standard years.

   GI-0803: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 22-23 standard years.

   GW-3295: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 17-19 standard years.

   HC-1654: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 19-21 standard years.

   HF-2250: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 24-26 standard years.

   HK-0231: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 18-19 standard years.

   HO-3999: Stormtrooper under FN-2187. Age determined to be 15-17 standard years.

PHASMA: Stormtrooper in the First Order. Frequently called by the title “Captain,” but seems to be of a higher rank. Commandeers all stormtroopers on-ground, unless overridden by Snoke or one of the leading Generals. Age determined to be around 30-34 standard years.

LEADING GENERAL HUX: One of the 5 Leading Generals in the First Order. Unclear if “Armitage Hux” is real name or just a title. A harsh man. Often seems to be a precedent to The Knight. Age determined to be around 23-27 standard years.

BB-8: Small, orange-and-white astromech. Accompanies Poe Dameron on flights. Seems relatively new; acts like a puppy.

[mrscorpio]

Another MR. SCORPIO'S HOUSE FIRE is UP! Mixcloud: http://bit.ly/Mixcloud299 D/L: http://bit.ly/DL-HF299 Shows: http://bit.ly/ScorpioPodcasts 50 Hubert Street (Original Mix)/Freestyle Man/Night In Motion Success (Nebraska Remix)/Byron the Aquarius/The Round Up Pt. 9 Sudan (Extended Mix)/Riveron/Afrospherical, Vol. 6 I LOVE YOUR GIRLFRIEND (LONG MIX)/Omar S,Alister Fawnwoda,John FM/I LOVE YOUR GIRLFRIEND Real Love (Original Mix)/Yamil, Thimble/Real Love We gonna get ya/Shaka/Four Flowers ep Soul Farmer (Ghetto 25 Vocal)/Jeff The Fool/I'm Not Jeff Jump On It (Original Mix)/ЮНОТУС, Younotus/Bunny Tiger Summer Sampler, Vol. 5 Feel the Love (feat. John Newman) (Rudimental VIP)/Rudimental/Home (10th Anniversary Edition) Matig Modern/Lennard Ypma/Rave Invaders, Vol. II Werq. Feel. Gruv. Vogue./Demuir/Heist Classics Vol. 01 VIBRATE/Louis VI/EARTHLING 10 Toes Down (feat. MyGuyMars)/Futuristiks: Mike & Keys, Casey Veggies, Kay Franklin/Ten Toes Down - EP Table Manners feat. Nejma Nefertiti/Napoleon Da Legend & D-Styles/Invincibl Rap Mislz (Extended) Eventide/Atmosphere/So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously Baltimore To Tokyo Interlude feat. DJ TMB/Budamunk x Ill Conscious/Sakanoue EP I Would Never/El Michels Affair & Black Thought/Glorious Game L.F.O. (feat. Sampha & George Riley)/SBTRKT/The Rat Road Talkin' to Me/Illa J & Harleighblu/Second Record Aquired Taste/Tino & Marrrtin/La Pie Bavarde Szechuan Capital feat. Action Bronson/Madlib, Meyhem Lauren & DJ Muggs/Champagne for Breakfast Kings Wear White Minks feat. Big Cheeko/Ru$h & Tha God Fahim/Luxury Art Ion Wanna feat. Traxx Sanders & Courtney Bell/Royce Da 5'9"/The Heaven Experience EP The Gist/Alfa Mist/Variables Neon Nightmares/ChasBeats/Neon City Dreams Love Brings Happiness/Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad/Lonnie Liston Smith JID017

[tofufei]

I posted 4,600 times in 2022

That's 51 more posts than 2021!

251 posts created (5%)

4,349 posts reblogged (95%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@disasternoj

@.katachresis

@mistbornhero

@.jellyfishdirigible

@brandybradyrandyandyndy

I tagged 1,988 of my posts in 2022

#art - 153 posts

#kitties - 89 posts

#fei rambles - 79 posts

#x - 68 posts

#witch hat atelier - 63 posts

#got7 - 53 posts

#birbs - 47 posts

#lyb fanart - 37 posts

#guardian - 37 posts

#shaman king - 31 posts

Longest Tag: 133 characters

#i am very willing to sacrifice hours of sleep for an opportunity to talk to her the way she's sacrificed work hours but like 这也真不是个办法

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

一把刀而已 // he's just a sword, nothing more

22 notes - Posted November 23, 2022

#4

burrito mei changsu for @ineedarendezvous

[ID: A digital, colored drawing of Mei Changsu's head peeking out of a burrito. He wears his hair up in a bun with a green jade guan to fix it and a deadpan expression. His fluffy, white coat collar resembles rice spilling out of the burrito. (He looks positively warm and bundled up.) End ID]

64 notes - Posted October 16, 2022

#3

Little Mushroom Audio Drama Trailer [ENG SUB]

Synposis from 猫耳FM:

Do not go gentle into that good night, do not peacefully surrender to extermination.

Earth's magnetic field disappeared, mutated organisms invaded, the end of the world is near. A little mushroom from the Abyss makes its way into a human base on the search for the spore it has lost, and runs into The Arbiter Lu Feng. One human, one not, they meet at the end of the world and get to know each other, and together they walk into a future in which the only thing certain is uncertainty…

Ask anyone who has listened to Little Mushroom's audio drama and it is almost certain that they will tell you that it was one of the best produced audio dramas they have ever had the pleasure to experience.

You can find the whole thing - with English subs even - on 猫耳FM/missevan, so if this piece of media has ever been on your radar (and even if it hasn't!), let this be the sign that you should join this pit.

I haven't seen any translation of the trailer, so I took a stab at it. Excuse the violation of the maximum recommended CPS count, but there wasn’t much I could do about it... you might need to pause the video at times :P

Some notes on this translation under the cut.

.

.

Because I am both lazy and hate articulating my thoughts, this will not so much be me providing much actual insight on translation choices than just some disjointed notes on the back-translation process of Dylan Thomas' poem "Do not go gentle into that good night".

An overly literal back-translation of the Chinese poem:

不要温和地走入那个良夜。// Do not go gentle into that good night,

我们应在日暮之时燃烧。// We should burn in the hour the sun sets,

怒斥、怒斥光阴的消逝。// Rage, rage at the vanishing of time and light.

尽管智者深知黑暗终将到来。// Even if the wise are fully aware that darkness will inevitably come.

尽管他们的话语无法再迸发出闪电。// Even if their words are unable to make lightning burst forth again.

不要温和地走入那个良夜。// Do not go gentle into that good night.

在这悲哀的山巅。// Here, on the sorrowful mountaintop.

请用你的眼泪诅咒我、祝福我。// Please curse me, bless me with your tears.

不要温和地走入那个良夜。// Do not go gentle into that good night.

Notes on the Chinese translation of the poem:

The refrains (“Do not go gentle into that good night” and “Rage, rage against the dying of the light”) basically map one to one to the English original, which makes it easily recognizable as Dylan Thomas’ poem

This makes the other changes feel very much like deliberate choices on the author's part, even if they do leave me puzzled

No references to the gendered figures (wise men, my father)

In the second verse, 尽管 is repeated for emphasis where it wasn’t in English

Why is the line 在这悲哀的山巅 so much shorter than all others? The original English poem has 10 syllables per line, but the Chinese one is…just whatever. No discernible structure here, only vibes

山巅 (mountaintop) where in the English it’s an unspecified “height” and can be read metaphorically, while here it is very much a physical location. (I mean, of course it could be read metaphorically as well in Chinese but there are many other words you could have chosen that do not have "mountain" in them.) Might or might not have been a deliberate choice referencing [spoiler] Base

I thought it prudent to back-translate the poem since there are some changes and they aren’t that minor.

Back-Translation process:

Pretended the original didn’t exist and translated it off the Chinese alone

Compared it to the original and modified it so that it still stayed 95% faithful to the Chinese while calling back to the original

Tried to keep the ABA rhyme scheme and felt powerful af when I managed to make the 2nd line in all the tercets rhyme

Squished or stretched the lines into 10 syllables, while still keeping as close to both Chinese and English as possible

Despair. Because at this point I should maybe just have used the original poem or gone for a freer translation, what am I even trying so hard for when this comes nowhere close at all to the original

What I ended up using in the subs of the AD Trailer, ABA ryhme scheme, 10 syllables per line if you squint*

不要温和地走入那个良夜。 // Do not go gentle into that good night.

我们应在日暮之时燃烧。 // We ought to burn the hour nightfall nears.

怒斥、怒斥光阴的消逝。// Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

尽管智者深知黑暗终将到来。 // Though the wise know darkness will bring its blight.

尽管他们的话语无法再迸发出闪电。 // Though their words no longer fork lightning fierce.

不要温和地走入那个良夜。 // Do not go gentle into that good night.

在这悲哀的山巅。// Here, on top of sorrowful mountain's height.

请用你的眼泪诅咒我、祝福我。 // Please, I ask, curse me, bless me with your tears.

不要温和地走入那个良夜。// Do not go gentle into that good night.

*and pronounce hour with 2 syllables

Some thoughts on translation choices, apparently:

See the full post

111 notes - Posted May 15, 2022

#2

See the full post

395 notes - Posted October 1, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

See the full post

420 notes - Posted April 24, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[verai-marcel]

Inexplicably Inevitable (RDO Fanfic, Part 1 of 2, 18+)

Summary: Min and Everett have finally solidified their relationship, only to have a ghost from their past come up and rattle everything they thought they knew.

Author’s Notes: I really, really, didn’t want to just leave Mateo like that. So I gave him a happy ending too. I mean, honestly, this fic is just an excuse to write some MxM and MxMxF smut.

Tags: OC x3, MM, MFM, FM, bisexual, feels, angst, smut, double vaginal penetration, HEA

AO3 Link is here.

Word Count: 5953

--------------------

1894, Somewhere in Central California

“Run! Don’t look back—”

Blood exploded from Mateo’s back as he fell to the ground.

The world stopped. Min couldn’t even breathe as she waited for him to get up and call her name, but his body lay unmoving in the crimson-stained grass.

A bullet grazed her arm and another grazed her side, the burning sensation pulling her out of her shock. For now, she needed to survive. She wouldn’t be able to save anyone if she was dead.

So she ran.

***

The Diablos Locos gang had been terrorizing small towns up and down the small valley near Owens Lake. Enough chaos had been caused that Everett had been sent here to investigate. He had built up a reputation in the past seven years as a man who could get a job done, albeit often with a lot of messy consequences. But he didn’t care what others thought. He saved lives, and if a few criminals ended up dead while he was doing it, then so be it. 

So when he was sent on a mission, he knew that the upper brass didn’t care about how it was done, as long as the menace was stopped. They gave him the usual lecture: to take as many men alive as possible and to let the court handle their lives. All he had to do was deliver them. 

He knew better than to take on the gang himself; after all, he was only one man, and they were many more than one.

However, he had heard from the sheriff of Keeler that the gang had been seen going south, away from the area. Everett decided to go and find their hideout; perhaps they truly had moved on, but his gut feeling said that it was unlikely.

He trekked through the forests while riding Cobalt, his trusted horse. Finding their trail, he worked backwards to their hideout, nestled in a particularly thick copse of trees. As he approached, the smell of death and gunsmoke invaded his nose. Wrapping his bandana around his face, he looked around and was a little surprised to find dead bodies littering the area.

After making sure that there was no one left alive inside of the abandoned campground, he walked around the perimeter, spiraling outwards as he checked each body for any sign of life. So far all of them were dead.

He came across the last one. Unlucky fellow had been shot in the back. Probably accidentally by one of his own men, it seemed. He squatted down and looked at the revolver that the man had been holding. It was a navy revolver, blued steel and in great condition. He reached down to take the gun from the man’s hand.

The grip on the gun tightened.

Everett tore the gun out of his grasp and pointed it at the man's head. “You’re alive?”

“Barely,” the man rasped.

Everett sighed. Sticking the revolver in his belt, he toed the man onto his side, eliciting a pained groan.

“Who are you?”

“Are you one of the Diablos?” the man asked in reply, wheezing as he spoke.

While Everett didn’t generally like being asked a question in response to one of his, the man’s tone struck him differently; this was no gang member. He decided to answer truthfully. “No, I’m a ranger.”

The man strained to look at him as if he was trying to focus. “Did you find a woman here?”

Everett blinked. “No, I didn’t.”

“Good. She got away,” the man muttered before he slumped over, his eyes closed.

Surprised, Everett checked his pulse to see if he was still breathing. While it was shallow and weak, the man was still alive.

“I don’t know why the hell I’m doing this,” he muttered as he rolled the man back onto his stomach and examined his wound. It was as if the bullet had ricocheted off a rock and angled upwards, grazing across his back and shoulder. He’d lost a lot of blood and his back would be scarred, but the wound itself wasn’t deep and the bullet had never penetrated muscle.

He sighed and hauled the man over his shoulder and whistled for his horse.

***

Mateo woke up feeling two things: confused as to why he was on the back of a horse, and relieved that he, despite his massive mistake of turning his back on the enemy, was still alive. 

He only groaned as his attempt at movement was met with a flowering of pain in all parts of his body. 

"You should've stayed asleep," a voice said beside him. The tone was sympathetic yet teasing, and he recognized it as belonging to the man who claimed he was a ranger. Mateo wanted to ask more questions, but his throat was drier than the Mojave Desert. He only coughed and wheezed. 

"You can talk once we get to the river. I need to wash out your wounds before we head north to Lone Pine. They got a doctor there."

Mateo was touched that a stranger would go so far to help him. Most people would have left him to die. 

They reached the river after another hour of traveling, Mateo drifting in and out of consciousness. The man helped him down from the horse and half-carried him to the river.

“You’re going to have to take off the shirt. It’s going to hurt,” the man said, already setting him down on a rock near the water’s edge.

Mateo quietly unbuttoned his shirt and peeled it off, grimacing with pain as the cloth tore at his skin where the blood had dried.

The man had refilled his canteen full of water. “Give me your bandana.”

Mateo wordlessly untied the bandana around his neck and handed it to him. He watched as the man soaked it with water and settled himself behind him. The initial slap of cold water on his skin was shocking, but then as the man began to wash the blood from his back, Mateo was even more shocked by how gently he washed him.

“So, what's your name?"

Mateo nearly told him, but not knowing the current situation, he opted for a half-truth. “Leon,” he answered, using his middle name.

“You got a last name?”

“Ortega.” It was the last name of his mother. Until he got to know this man better, he’d go by this name. He technically wasn’t lying; his full name was Matthew Leon Delgado y Ortega. 

“Sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances. I'm Everett Osborn.”

“Well, thank you for helping me, Mr. Osborn.”

“Just call me Everett. Otherwise it sounds like you’re talkin’ to my pa.”

Mateo let out a short bark of laughter, and then winced in pain.

“Take it easy there,” Everett said softly. “I’m almost done, then we can get you to the doc.”

***

Mateo woke to an unfamiliar room, laying on his side. Groggy as hell, he blinked away the sleep and pushed himself up from the hard cot. His back and shoulders protested, but he forced himself to sit up. Scratching his short beard, he noticed that he was bandaged, his shirt hanging on the chair next to the bed. He vaguely remembered being taken to the doctor and getting stitched up while in a painful delirium. Then his memory became even murkier, only remembering being taken through the woods in the dim light of sunset. This place must be where they had ended up.

The door creaked open. Everett entered the room with an empty basin and clean bandages. 

"Thank you," Mateo said gratefully. He honestly had not expected the man to stick around after stopping by the doctor's. 

Everett shrugged as put the basin down on the ground before he sat down in the chair, scooting it as close to the bed as possible. "Don't thank me yet. I need to change your bandages."

Mateo quietly allowed him to remove the bloodied strips of linen, wincing when they pulled away from his damaged skin. Despite the man's rough appearance, his hands were warm, brushing across his chest and back with the gentle familiarity of a lover. 

"You said you're a ranger," Mateo said after a while. 

Everett nodded. "I did."

Mateo turned his eyes onto him and really looked at him. He had bright cornflower blue eyes beneath a stern brow, focused on his work. His lips were curved down in a concentrated frown as he steadily removed all of his bandages. His brown hair was parted on one side and looked feathery light to the touch. He had a strong jaw and a slightly crooked nose, as if he'd been punched in the face one too many times. 

Not finding anything else to say, he just watched the man as he picked up the basin and stood up. The man was tall, broad shouldered, and definitely looked tired. 

"I'll come back with a poultice for your wounds. Your back is goin' to scar somethin' fierce."

Mateo shifted and immediately winced.

“Don’t move, you’ll tear open everything,” the man said as he left, leaving the door slightly ajar. Mateo could hear water sloshing and the soft crackle of a campfire outside.

After a little while, he heard the steady pounding of a mortar and pestle, the scent of mashed herbs wafting inside. 

Unable to do anything else, he surveyed the room. It couldn’t even be considered a cabin; it was more of a shelter, just a place to rest before heading onwards. Other than the bed and the chair, there was only one small table that appeared to double as a nightstand, right next to the bed. There was a small pile of firewood stacked up in the corner, and next to that, a saddle with some saddlebags. 

Mateo’s gun and satchel lay on top of the saddle, well out of reach.

As he considered getting up and risking additional injury to get his things, he heard the man shuffle around outside and reconsidered.

The door opened. “Get on your belly,” Everett ordered curtly.

Normally a direct order would irk Mateo, but something in the man’s tone made him obey. He was helping him, after all. The least he could do was follow instructions.

Expecting the usual sting of antiseptics, he was surprised to feel a cooling feeling on his skin, making the sting more manageable. Under the man’s skilled hands, he relaxed.

“So what were you doing out there?” Everett asked after a while.

Mateo wasn’t expecting the question. He paused for a few moments, but figured it wouldn’t hurt to tell him a partial truth. “I was hoping to get at least one of the gang members for a bounty, make a quick buck. Didn’t realize I’d run into their whole gang up there.”

His answer was met by a soft hum, tinged with suspicion. “And you brought a woman with you?”

“She’s as good a fighter as any man,” he replied.

Everett snorted. “Sure.”

Mateo turned his head to glare at him, ignoring the pain in his shoulder. “She could outshoot most men. She’ll be better than me one day.”

The ranger nodded and gently pressed the poultice on a new spot on his back. "Alright, I believe you." After a few moments of silence, he spoke again. "She’s your lover," he stated. 

"Yes," Mateo answered without hesitation. 

Everett continued to press the poultice against his wounds. "Must be nice," he said wistfully. 

Mateo glanced at the man, who seemed to be lost in his own head for the time being. He left him alone while he stewed in his own thoughts. He couldn't go after Min until he was healthy enough to travel.

A small voice in his head wondered if she was even still alive, but he quickly shut down that thought. She was a fighter. A whole posse couldn't take her down. 

At least, that was what he hoped. 

***

The posse had been chasing her south for days. She had managed to hide well enough for now, but she needed to truly rest. She was slow to heal because she kept running, kept moving, and tore open her wounds over and over again.

***

Everett regarded the man lying in his cot with a mix of admiration and suspicion. He got the feeling the man was mostly telling the truth; he most likely was some kind of bounty hunter. The two things he found odd were that he had a woman with him, and that he paused before telling him his name. 

The name was likely fake.

But in the end, that didn't matter. He had clearly been the one to take out most of the dead bodies at the hideout. After seeing his location compared to where the dead bodies had fallen, it was apparent that he was defending a position. The only reason he could have been shot in the back is if he had turned around. 

And Everett had the feeling this woman was the reason. 

Women shouldn’t be in places where they’re getting shot at, he thought. A woman should definitely know how to protect herself, but for goodness sake, keep them in a safe place. 

He looked down at Leon, sleeping soundly on his side, bandages all clean. Without thinking, he reached out and brushed the dark brown waves from his face. 

The sleeping man was almost too pretty, with his thick eyelashes and full lips. If not for the short beard, Everett would have been confused. 

Hell, he was confused now, for he wanted to lean in and brush his lips against the curve of his.

He shook his head at the notion. He wasn’t against the idea; he had just never thought of the idea in the first place. So far, all of his pleasurable dalliances had been with women.

Everett turned away and got himself settled, unfurling his bedroll beside the bed and laying down, setting aside his errant thoughts. Or at least he tried, but the last thing on his mind was the lonely look in Leon’s eyes and the soft smile on those kissable lips.

***

A week passed, and every day had been the same. In the morning, Everett had woken him up and changed his bandages, and then taken off to patrol the nearby area with a promise that he’d be back before sunset and an order to stay until he was healed. Mateo was starting to feel like an injured pet, being fed and taken care of while having nothing expected of him other than to obey the command to stay.

For the first couple of days, even getting up and shuffling around the small cabin was enough to make him break out into a sweat and breathe heavily. He had dragged himself back to the bed and slept for most of the day after that. But each day, he grew stronger, with Everett’s stew helping him regain his strength. The man was surprisingly good with herbs and hunting. Not that he couldn’t do the same, but he just didn’t have the energy to lift a knife, let alone track and hunt down a rabbit.

Every day when Everett returned, they talked. They traded tales of shootouts, the craziest criminals they had ever come across, and the interesting people they had met over the years. And every night, Everett would help him back into the bed and tell him good night before settling down on the bed roll on the ground, like some kind of loyal guard dog. 

By day six, Mateo was mostly up and about, helping to clean around the place. He would dress any dead game that Everett would give him before he left to do ranger things. Mateo never asked what he did, and Everett didn’t talk too much about it. Instead, they just argued about how well Mateo was doing, or in Everett’s eyes, how well he wasn’t doing.

“I can see your left shoulder is still stiff,” the ranger groused after coming back from his patrol on the seventh day.

Mateo paused for a moment, feeling the strain in his shoulder before promptly ignoring it. “I’m fine,” he mumbled as he continued to stir the stew in the cracked dutch oven that hung precariously over the campfire. The three jury-rigged branches holding the old pot shifted slightly as he stirred.

Without looking up from the pot, Mateo could hear the man sigh as he set down his haversack and walked over to him. Quietly, Everett sat beside him and gently took the spoon from his hand, his fingers brushing over his hand ever so lightly along the way. 

Mateo finally turned to him, wanting to put up a fight, but one stern look from the blue-eyed ranger quelled his urge to protest. Like a sullen child, he leaned back and sat next to him, shoulder to shoulder, refusing to move aside out of spite.

That, and he didn’t want to admit that the comforting warmth of sitting next to Everett was what he needed at the moment, especially with his deep-seated anxiety starting to take hold of him.

I need to find Min. She’s out there, all alone…

Mateo let out a pained groan. I don’t know where she is. I know she’s alive. She has to be. I can’t…

His mind blanked and he buried his face into his hands.

“Leon?”

He could hear Everett distantly calling for him, but his heart kept racing as an uncontrollable terror overwhelmed him. Everyone you love dies on your watch. You can’t protect anyone.

“Leon!”

Everett’s hand on his shoulder and his stern voice brought him back to reality. He swallowed hard, his mouth dry. “I’m fine,” he rasped.

“You’re lyin’,” Everett growled as he handed him a canteen. Mateo gratefully took a drink, clutching the canteen and staring at the scratches in the leather as he tried to calm down. It took a few moments for him to realize that Everett hadn’t stopped touching him; in fact, the man had pulled him close and was gently rubbing his shoulder.

For a long time, Mateo had been the one to comfort others, to be strong when everything else fell apart. His older brother had always pushed him to be a strong, independent man, and never gave him a moment to be weak. He was grateful for that, because he had to be strong for Min, who was younger and naive to the ways of the world. Even while he was growing up, he had to protect his village, protect his mother, get revenge for his father’s death…

To have someone take care of him for a change was both a strange experience and a welcomed one. Everett’s soft touch on his arm, the warmth of his body as he sat next to him, the sun setting over their little camp, and the smell of the stew cooking, all of these things made him feel safe, and not because he had fought for it.

This feeling of safety was because Everett was here.

***

The man probably hadn’t realized that he was shaking ever so slightly. Looking at him, Everett couldn’t help himself. He pulled Leon’s head into the crook of his shoulder and gently took the canteen from his tight grip. 

“C’mon. Let’s get some food down, then you can rest for the night. Alright?”

“Alright,” Leon mumbled.

He looked down and let go of his head, just as Leon looked up at him.

A thought crossed his mind like lightning across a pitch black sky. The wavy hair, the warm brown eyes that reminded him of a puppy, and those lips that he couldn’t stop staring at.

The crash of the dutch oven falling onto the fire broke the whimsical spell. Pulling back, Leon seemed to regain himself. “Shit, let’s get the pot off the fire. Food’s probably cooked well enough anyway.”

Everett nodded, getting his gloves and lifting the pot away to set it down nearby. They ate quietly, but this time, there was a tension that Everett could feel viscerally, deep down. It pulled at his heart every time he looked over at the other man.

“You got some food on your face,” he said, automatically reaching out to wipe it away from the corner of Leon’s mouth. 

When the man’s tongue flicked out at the same time, brushing against the pad of his thumb, he paused. Leon’s eyes widened in surprise and then fluttered close as Everett gently caressed his lip, unable to stop himself from touching him. He noted how elegant his eyelashes were, how soft his lips were. The short beard that Leon had grown could not hide the shape of his jaw and his cheek. Cupping his face with one hand, Everett began to lean in, as if led by instinct.

“I… I think I should go rest in bed,” Leon mumbled, but stayed still, his cheek remaining in Everett’s grasp.

Feeling like a bucket of cold water got dumped on him, Everett stopped his advance, but didn’t move back. Instead, he stayed where he was and watched as Leon subtly leaned his head into his touch for a moment more before he got up and fled back to the bed inside the lean-to.

So I’m not the only one attracted, Everett thought, looking down at his hand in wonder.

***

Mateo clutched his chest as he lay in bed, trying to calm his pounding heart. He had wanted to stay with Everett so badly that it had frightened him. Was he that lonely? What about Min? She was out there, all alone. He should be looking for her, not yearning for another man’s touch.

And yet whenever he looked into Everett’s cornflower blue eyes, his worries melted into the sky. Something about the man made him feel like everything would end up alright and that if he just took things one day at a time, things would work out.

Just as he was contemplating why he felt that way, the object of his ruminations walked through the door carrying a bucket of water and a scrap of cloth.

“Time to change your bandages, Leon,” Everett said softly. 

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Mateo sat up and removed his shirt and set it aside. Everett sat behind him and began to slowly remove the bandages, dried blood flicking off his skin. He sat docile as a lamb while he was being unwrapped, and continued to stay still when Everett took the warm washcloth to his back.

“You’re looking a lot better,” Everett remarked as he carefully wiped around his wounds. “How do you feel?”

“Alive,” Mateo answered quietly. His heart was still thumping harder than it should have been. He turned to face him. “Thank you. Truly. You didn’t have to do any of this.”

One corner of Everett’s lips quirked up, a wry grin that Mateo was starting to find effortlessly charming. “Didn’t feel right leaving you there,” he replied. “Besides, it’s been nice to have someone to talk to these past few days. Been travelin’ alone for far too long.”

Mateo only hummed in agreement as Everett continued to wash his back. When his hands settled on his hips and didn’t leave, Mateo looked over his shoulder.

Their eyes met.

“Should I help wash the rest of you?” Everett asked, his voice low and husky as if his throat had gone dry.

Mateo swallowed hard. “Only if you want to.”

The blue in Everett’s eyes deepened. “I do.”

***

Everett couldn’t stop himself from staring as Leon slowly stood up to undo the buttons on his pants, letting them fall to the ground in a heap. His short drawers came next, and suddenly before him was something akin to a work of art that one might see carved in marble in one of the big cities. Leon’s form was unmistakably masculine, yet there was something graceful, lean, and just damn beautiful in the way he held himself.

Swallowing hard, Everett knelt down to soak and wring out the washcloth before slowly wiping down his legs and his thighs. He stood as he moved the washcloth to Leon’s backside. Leaning forward to brush his lips against the shell of his ear, Everett whispered, “Just let me know when you want me to stop.”

“Keep going,” Leon answered in a hushed rasp.

Everett ran the cloth over his backside, teasing the cleft as he washed him. Pleased by the soft moan escaping Leon’s lips, he continued, holding his hip with his other hand as he worked his way around to his front. Glancing downwards over Leon’s shoulder, Everett could see the man’s shaft jutting out. 

“Glad to see you’re enjoying this,” Everett stated, gently reaching down to wash around his cock, teasing him around the base.

Leon only moaned softly in response.

Everett’s hand moved from his hip to his chest, pulling the man against his body as he tossed the cloth back into the basin. Spitting into his other hand, he reached down and gripped Leon’s cock. He started a slow stroke, making sure to curve his hand around the head every once in a while.

Leon’s hands gripped Everett’s thighs, tight enough to make him wince, but he kept stroking the man, finding his own pleasure from watching Leon reacting to his touch. 

“Everett,” Leon gasped, his hips thrusting into his hand.

“That’s it, that’s right, just let go, let it all go,” Everett murmured, holding him up with one arm around his chest, his lips brushed against the shell of his ear.

Leon let out a wordless shout as he spent himself in Everett’s hand, thrusting powerfully and spilling his essense onto the floor. When he finished, he sagged against him, his heartbeat palpable against his chest. Everett gently brought him down to the bed, sitting next to him as he leaned against his shoulder, huffing and puffing for air.

“‘Rett,” he sighed, and smiled up at him with a satisfied look in his eyes. Everett’s heart shifted and he held the man just a little tighter while his head drooped tiredly against his shoulder. He quietly waited until Leon had enough energy to look up at him once more. “What about you?”

Everett blinked. “What about me?”

Leon’s eyes didn’t break contact as he slid one hand towards the button fly of Everett’ pants. He let out a shuddered breath as Leon undid each button with an unbearable slowness before he pulled out his hard cock, stroking him tentatively. 

“Keep goin’,” Everett rumbled.

Leon’s eyes softened, and he smiled so beguilingly that Everett nearly came from that alone. However, he held himself together and watched in a delicious lust-filled haze as Leon spit in his own hand before stroking him just like he had done.

It felt so damn good, feeling Leon’s hand around him, seeing his half-lidded look of satisfaction as he pleased him. 

“Does it feel good?” Leon asked, a teasing smile on his lips.

“Hell yes, it feels so damn good,” Everett breathed. “Faster, I’m close.”

Leon obliged, stroking him faster, tightening his grip and reaching down with his other hand to massage his balls.

“Oh, Leon,” Everett moaned as he came. He reached out and grabbed his jaw before pulling him in for a scorching, dominating kiss.

Leon was surprised, but quickly returned the heat in kind, their tongues fighting for dominance until Everett finally pulled back and held Leon’s hand.

“Stop, stop, I’m all spent,” he said, laughing. Leon laughed with him as he let go of him and pulled away.

“Now look at me,” Leon said, holding up his hand, wet with Everett’s spend. “I guess you’ll have to clean me up again.”

Everett just shook his head and gave him a wry grin. “Spoiled, that’s what you are.”

***

“Ready to go?”

“Yeah, I got everything.”

Mateo let Everett take his bag and pack it on Cobalt’s saddle along with the rest of his own things. He and Everett hadn’t spoken about the previous night’s… activities, but he felt a connection with him, a comfortable feeling that stayed with him like a warm blanket. 

They set off together, back to the town of Keeler to look for Paco, Mateo’s horse. Everett led his horse by the reins and walked beside Mateo, their hands brushing every once in a while. With every fleeting touch, Mateo’s determination waned. He had planned to go his own way after they found his horse to look for Min. He hadn’t told Everett that yet, of course. 

When he had tried to bring up the topic of leaving on his own before, Everett had insisted on going with him, at least back to Keeler.

“I have to talk to the sheriff there anyway, find out if there’s any news about the Diablos Locos gang recently,” Everett had said.

Mateo had just acquiesced, but he was already plotting how to sneak away once he had his horse. He felt guilty for wanting to stay with Everett while also looking for Min. Maybe Everett could come with him—

No. That would make things extra awkward. He could just imagine the conversation:

Why yes Min, I had relations with another man, but only with our hands. No, I won’t share you. Unless you want to—

He quickly shook his head of the thought before the surge of heat made its way to his loins. Even the mere flash of a mental image of having Min between him and Everett was enough to make his breath catch. He had never wanted another lover, let alone share his current one, but for some reason he thought it could be possible with Everett.

“You alright?”

He looked over at the ranger, whose brow was furrowed with concern. 

“You sure you’re good to travel?” Everett asked.

Mateo swallowed. “Yes, yes, I’m perfectly fine. I can handle a day’s walking, thank you.”

“Of course you are,” the ranger said as he turned away from him, but Mateo could see that he didn’t believe him, the concern in his eyes as clear as day. 

By late afternoon, they had reached the location where Mateo had left Paco before he and Min had snuck off to take down the local gang for the bounty on their heads. It had been merely a week ago, and yet it felt like an eternity to him. Looking around, he could see a pile of dry horse manure and a piece of rein dangling from a tree branch.

“Paquito?” he called out into the forest. He whistled and walked around the area, continuing to call for him.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. His doubts began to whittle away at his mind. Did something happen to him?

“Maybe someone took’im,” Everett said quietly.

Mateo turned to him, pushing down the despair. “The reins didn’t get cut, they snapped,” he said, pointing back at the tree, now off in the distance. He could hear the slight edge of desperation in his own voice and swallowed the fear. “Paco probably just pulled himself off and ran around for a bit. He does that.”

Not wanting to see Everett’s skeptical expression, he turned around and continued to call for his horse.

A half hour passed.

“You don’t have to stay with me,” Mateo said over his shoulder. “I’m grateful for all you’ve done; you don’t have to do any more.”

Everett sighed. “I can’t in good conscience leave you in the forest by yourself.”

“You’re treating me like I’m weak,” he grumbled.

“I’m treating you like a friend,” Everett countered.

Shocked into silence by his sincerity, Mateo could only nod in acceptance before continuing to  whistle for his horse.

Forty-five minutes since they entered the forest, and he finally, finally heard a familiar whinny. From behind a thicket, his pal, Paco the grullo mustang, crashed towards him.

“Paquito, you bastard!” he yelled in delight, running up to him. Paco, in return, headbutted him. Shaking off the blow, Mateo laughed and patted the horse’s neck, happy to see him a bit dirty, but otherwise unharmed.

***

Leon’s pure smile, untinged by melancholy or tiredness, was a sight to behold. It was as if Everett was watching the sun rise over the unsullied plains of the east, its golden light warming everything it touched. And so he stood there, watching, a small smile on his face, as Leon reunited with his horse as if he were a boy, a grin on his face and talking to him like he would an old friend.

When Leon finally turned back to Everett, his heart lurched. That golden, brilliant smile with all of its luminosity was directed straight at him, straight at his heart.

“See, told you he was around,” Leon said with a knowing grin, as if he had no doubt in his mind that Paco was just wandering around the area, waiting for him to return.

Everett could only nod, not wanting to spoil his good mood. “Alright, you were right. Now c’mon, let’s head to town and get some sleep. We’ll figure out where to head next in the mornin’.”

***

Mateo stared at Everett’s sleeping form in the moonlight. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to stay; far from it, in fact. But he had to go find Min. She was alone out there, and he wanted to make sure she was safe. He would head north, since that was the direction they were headed, and keep searching for her until he found her.

Then maybe he’d come back. Introduce them. And maybe…

He shook his head. Who was he kidding? He would find Min and they would continue to travel together as they always had, and he would put Everett and his brilliant blue eyes deep into the back of his mind and forget about him.

A soft snore coming from Everett broke his reverie. He leaned over slowly and checked to make sure he was still deeply asleep. He’d made sure of that earlier, the feel of holding him in his hand and sounds of the ranger’s satisfied moans of release still fresh in his memory.

Quietly getting his things, he snuck out of the room they had shared for the night, tiptoed down the stairs in the back of the saloon, and fled into the night.

***

“What the hell.”

Everett looked around, but finding nothing left of Leon, he could only assume that the man couldn’t wait to find his lover. He had been willing to go with him, to assist him in his search, but sooner or later, they’d find this woman, and then what? Leon would leave with her, leaving Everett alone once more.

“Probably better this way,” he muttered, although his heart stung something fierce.

***

Min finally lost the posse, nearly a quarter of the state south. She was safe. Now she just had to heal up, then she was going to turn right back around and murder all of them.

It took her weeks to heal, and another month of bounty work to get the money to restock on the ammunition she’d need to take out the rest of the posse. But she managed. She got her revenge.

But in doing so, she lost sight of the principles that Mateo had tried to instill in her. Be good. Be forgiving. Only kill if necessary.

She never found his body. Of course, after a couple of months, nature must have run its course. All she could find was his spare kerchief; it must have dropped from his pocket as his body was dragged away by animals—

She didn’t want to think about that. After wiping out the whole posse in cold blood, she didn’t want to think at all.

------------------------------------------

Part 2 is here.

[darkmaga-returns]

By Palestine Chronicle Staff

The Director-General of the Gaza Health Ministry, Dr. Munir al-Barsh, said that Israel has renewed its attack on the Kamal Adwan Hospital, burning down medicine warehouses and deliberately disrupting the work of international organizations.

In the occupied West Bank, the Al-Quds Brigades announced an ambush against invading Israeli troops in Tulkarm.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry (Gaza), 43,163 Palestinians have been killed, and 101,510 wounded in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza starting on October 7, 2023.

Click here for previous blogs.

Thu, Oct 31, 2:22 PM (Palestine Time) Mikati: Stop the Aggression LEBANESE CARETAKER PM MIKATI: We asked diplomatic bodies to intensify pressure on Israel to stop its aggression.

Thu, Oct 31, 2:22 PM (Palestine Time) 15 Israeli Soldiers Injured in Gaza, Lebanon ISRAELI ARMY: 15 soldiers were injured within 24 hours, 11 in Lebanon and four in Gaza.

Thu, Oct 31, 2:22 PM (Palestine Time) Saudi FM Says Palestinian State Must Be Estabilished SAUDI FM: A Palestinian state must be established and the Palestinians’ right to self-determination must be guaranteed.

Thu, Oct 31, 2:22 PM (Palestine Time) Two People in Syria SYRIAN MEDIA: Two people were killed and others were injured in Israeli shelling of the city of Al-Qusayr in the Homs countryside.

[archoneddzs15]

PC Engine - Last Armageddon

Title: Last Armageddon / ラスト・ハルマゲドン

Developer/Publisher: Brain Grey

Release date: 31 August 1990

Catalogue No.: BRCD0001

Genre: RPG

Format: CD-ROM2

A port of the FM Towns version of the same name titled "Last Armageddon: CD Special". If you ever wanted to play Final Fantasy after apocalyptic events ravaged Earth, here is your game. The Earth has changed. We don't know yet what happened to humanity, but we know it was eradicated. The new Earth is called Makai - the Demon World. Generations of mythological creatures dwell upon the planet, from which the human being has mysteriously disappeared. One day, a wave of energy hits the Earth. The leaders of the demons realize that a robotic alien race from outer space threatens their existence. The explosion turns Earth into a wasteland. Many demons die in the chaos of destruction. It is now up to the remaining demons to fend off the alien invaders, to bring back peace to the demonic race, and perhaps to find out more about the tragic fate of humanity. This game also saw a port on the Nintendo Famicom where that version already has a fan translation.