#Jacob was the Ultima

[the-martyrfication-of-the-matron]

What’s your falcon claw lore in Amaranth?

i got this a while ago, sorry its taken so long, decided i'll try and tackle my old asks and all.

This is a long one, especially the section about Ultimas, so... strap in,

TW mentions of like... murder and invasion, and stuff. Nothing graphic, just said that it happens and all

Falconclaw is one of the few villages that have survived from before the Ro'Meave family expansion outside of Gal'Ruk. Multiple regions have Ro'Meaves in their noble bloodlines and all, and Ru'Aun and Gal'Ruk even had them as their kings for hundreds of years. However, not all of Ru'Aun submitted to their rule once they came over.

Falconclaw as well as a few other villages (like Boboros, where Dante is from) managed to retain their heritage and culture despite the invasion, and Falconclaw in particular took on a very defensive and aggressive strategy to do this. They selected their land, built up walls large and strong enough to withstand armies, and if anyone who wasn't their own tried to surpass them, they would be killed and whatever was left of them afterwards would be displayed upon the walls to drive off any wandering adventurer without bad intentions. Good people don't go to gore land, after all, and it was never their intention to hurt good people.

The only real reason this was successful was because the people of Falconclaw had always been very good fighters, as a large percentage of their population had werewolf blood. Their village was the one in which the Ultima curse began, in fact. For hundreds of years, this worked, and they managed to keep their own little populace alive with their own culture and traditions despite their close proximity to O'Khasis, the stronghold for the kings of Ro'Meave name.

It was during the war of the Magi that some major changes happened to their structure, though. Their village was not far from the battlegrounds, and they watched as Wyverns and dragons rained fire from the sky and the ground became corrupt with the potent magicks that was used by those upon it. They watched Irene slay armies on her lonesome, and the Destroyer also. Such an act was clearly admired by a little warrior village, and so the religion of the Three began to thoroughly thrive, not only in Falconclaw, but in some surrounding villages also. Balance, Justice and Death were the main three things they worshipped, and she was their goddess of War. Up until Falconclaw's destruction, she remained as such, though her mythos varied much compared to the legends of the rest of the region, as those who had written about her had been the ones to witness the war first hand.

I mentioned how the Ultima had originated in Falconclaw, but it is not only that, but all of the Ultimas had been their lords. They don't have 'lords' as such, as the title of lord goes null when the title of Ultima meant the same to them, but to the outside world, that was what the ultimas were called. They had the power of a god, and the ability to bestow immeasurable strength and vitality to their own people (lycanthropy). Once a firstborn son came to be, his father would lose the title of Ultima and instead be a former, someone who acted as leader in the Ultima's place until the Ultima was of age (typically this was around 20, but was whenever the former thought it was fitting). When the ultima was given the permission to, he would go through the trial of the soul, a kind of 'good and bad' balancing scale kind of trial, to see if they were both good of heart and yet willing to commit atrocities for the good they intended. This was done through claiming the Moonlight Ward, the largest chunk of Shad's relic that remained after the war (and was discovered by the people of Falconclaw, given to their lord, and voila). Of course, anyone of Shad's blood could claim the moonlight ward, but Shad only has one kid in my rewrite, and, uh, she dies as a child. so he has no descendants. Aaron and Shad are unrelated. However, because of Shad's own nature as a person, before his evil and all, the moonlight ward only goes to those that share his nature. So, being good but being willing to do evil for good reasons.

Ultima's became OP once the trial of the soul came into place, however, this did not imply that the ultima always kept those traits of goodness, or evil, and it did not imply that they all had it to begin with. If an ultima were to fail the test, or refuse the test and the title, they would be killed. It was thought of as a bad omen to keep around an ultima with no purpose, and it would take up space that a younger brother or cousin could fill by taking on the curse themselves. Formers were often left alive, though, as the curse still affected them somewhat, but they weren't considered even the same species as Ultimas anymore. If there were no Ultimas or male heirs, a female heir would act in place, under the title of former despite never having formerly been an ultima, until an ultima could be named.

The mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of Ultimas did have a special place in society, and were not looked down upon as much as one might expect from a male-dominated rulership. They were often advisors, and bodyguards, and were treated just as well as their sons, husbands, brothers and fathers were. Just because they did not carry active traits of ultima blood (or, in the wives case, didn't have ultima blood at all... hopefully) that did not mean they were not worthy of political strength and adoration. It wasn't uncommon for them to be formers position, after the father of the ultima died in battle or of disease when the ultima was still young, and they were often practitioners of magicks. Elder sisters of Ultima brothers were also considered especially important, and would have a lot of religious power amongst other things.

The Ultimas themselves had a lot of religious significance, being the bearers of godly curses, and whilst they mostly did not head their own religion, they were expected to be extremely active in it. Attending services, adorning themselves in the symbol of their chosen god, sticking to their religious rules and showing them off, etc. Generally, they were mostly performative in their religious significance, but there were those that ran their religion and were very active in it.

Since the Ro'Meaves had entered Ru'Aun, Falconclaw and O'Khasis have had serious damage with eachother. A lot of murders of eachothers peoples, causing general beliefs and ideals to spread through eachother's communities (O'Khasis' fear of wolves, Falconclaw's distaste for the colour blue), and a lot of messing with eachother's supplies as well as trade routes. Importantly, they had a lot of religious conflict, especially as Falconclaw held some of the most reliable information on Irene, and relics, and whatnot, despite O'Khasis calling itself the religious centre of Ru'Aun. This came to a peak when Zane took over the church, as he believed they were entitled to the works that Falconclaw had. He tried to ask Aaron to give them up, he tried to threaten him, and he eventually settled on killing the entire village and taking the works for himself rather than admit defeat. So he did as much, being an asshole. The first breach of Falconclaw walls in thousands of years, and it was a child chasing a cat. Of course, Jacob being surprisingly devious worked in Zane's favour, and he gave to Jacob the amulet to bring to his father, and listened with a grin as the village died in screaming agony. Then, he himself skiddadled inside, captured Aaron for experiments, raided the library, and realised his plan was incredibly fucked because... oh, shit, it was all written in Falconclaw's specific dialect of Native Ru'Aun, a language which had long since died out in a general sense and only existed anymore in hyperspecific dialects that applied only to certain villages and no longer could even be called one language anymore with how much it varied since they'd all been self isolated for so long. He had killed everyone who could have translated it for him, aside from one guy, who he had blinded.

And thus, Falconclaw began its important lore with blood, expanded into glory, and died at the hands of a man who was too stupid to think before he acted, and a child who was too sweet for his own good.

Oh, also, theres more. Like about how the village ran, and some important historic events, and the religion and all but I wanted to get the important things out of the way. If you want more details lmk!

[kurithedweeb]

An idea I had last night: Jacob survives.

So, instead of the amulet just making everyone drop dead, we're going with the curse being a plague. (Thank you @irenes-journal for turning the plague amulet idea into what it is today.)

In canon, the amulet kills everyone save the person holding it, so the plague amulet would theoretically grant one person immunity, or at least resistance. How it grants some kind of immunity/resistance is by releasing antibodies for the plague, slowly at first to acclimatize the body a bit before it floods the system, and Jacob got some of the antibodies before he gave it to Aaron.

He was the first to fall ill, and he took twice as long to succumb to the illness than anyone else infected did. The town doctor died before Jacob did, so when he fell into a coma that looked a whole lot like death, he was mistaken for dead.

Lily was barely holding on herself at this point, and Aaron came back from burying the day's dead to find his wife and son dead in Jacob's room. Lily worshipped Menphia and some minor gods, being from Tu'la, and raised Jacob to do the same since Aaron's side of the family doesn't worship any recognized religion (Ultima stuff is for later), and there was a small tomb previously made for when Lily and her children died according to Tu'lan burial practices. Which gives Jacob some more time than he'd have in a grave to get out before he runs out of air.

Aaron goes on burying bodies and surveying the sick while he mourns his own family's loss. Jacob wakes up maybe a day or two later in the dark with what remains of Lily. Obviously, he freaks out, crying out for help, and no one comes. Fueled by adrenalin and fear, he manages to open the tomb door just enough for him to squeeze through, and he finds the streets covered in graves. He has no idea what's going on, no clue how long it's been, but he runs home and his dad's not there and all the streets he's run down are empty and stinking of rot. He needs his dad to not be dead, so he comes up with this idea that obviously Aaron thought he was dead like everyone else and left.

And so Jacob packs a bag and sets out to leave Falconclaw, and he leaves barely an hour before Aaron gets home. They just miss each other.

Jacob isn't well. He collapses on the road and wakes up in a merchant caravan bound for some village way North. He asks if any of them have seen his father, says he's the son of the Lord of Falconclaw, and one of the mercenaries hired to guard the caravan sees an opportunity. By the time the caravan reaches its destination, Aaron is already in O'khasis being groomed by Zane to become a Juror.

Jacob is snatched off the street by the same mercenaries who were guarding the caravan and sold to someone visiting from Tu'la, and he winds up a servant boy for one of the king's vassal clans. Maybe Nana's, maybe the one his mother escaped from. The plague left him incredibly scarred, so for a long time he's a faceless, bandaged figure in the shadows of the house, all this anger and frustration building up inside him at not being able to figure out a way home, until one day the master of the house thinks it'd be funny to match a servant boy against one of his soldier-apprentices.

And Jacob wins. No training, having thrown away his weapon and beaten the other boy with his bare hands until they were dripping in blood. He's sent to the gladiator pits, maybe the same ones Liochant grew up in, and as long as he has his anger he dominates. His contract is bought by some wealthy noble with a penchant for collecting pretty, broken things, and on the road he kills them and flees into the night.

By the time he gets back to O'khasis, Aaron's time on the Jury is over and he's disappeared completely, having forsaken his own name and become The Stranger. This is when Jacob finally hears about, finally confirms, the fall of Falconclaw. He goes to Zianna, waiting for her to be out in town before he approaches her. She and his mother considered themselves sisters, once, and Zianna had been an excellent spy in Tu'la, if anyone would help him it'd be her. All Zianna has to give him is rumors, but anything is better than nothing.

He takes it, he thanks her, he goes on the road trying to find his father, and gets waylaid a bunch on the way by saving people and taking out the mercenary company that sold him to that Tu'lan visitor and into years of servitude and gladiator rings. He had a number of names in Tu'la, but he goes back to the name from a lifetime ago, introducing himself everywhere he goes as Jacob Lycan, son of Aaron Lycan, last Lord of Falconclaw, in an effort to see if his father will be drawn to the man using his son's name. By the time he makes it all the way around to Phoenix Drop, it's the middle of the Irene Dimension time skip, and since no one knew who The Stranger was or ever really saw his face, they don't realize that that's exactly who Jacob is looking for.

He goes back to Falconclaw, thinking maybe he can find some clues where this all started. It's practically the same as he left it since everyone thinks the land is extremely cursed, and in looking through their home he finds books on the teaching of his father's faith. He fits his father's old clothes, his old faith. He takes whatever he cares to keep from the Lycan estate and visits Lily's tomb before he leaves, and not a day later he comes across Abby, who's taken to the road hoping to find a lead on the woman she believes killed her father, Lady Katelyn the Firefist, who disappeared without a trace years ago about the same time High Priest Zane Ro'Meave and a few other Jurors did. She and Jacob agree to help each other and become good friends, and eventually they round back to Phoenix Drop.

A week after Aaron died.

Jacob introduces Abby first, notes that the Lord, or maybe she's the Lord's mother, seems to know who Abby is, and then he introduces himself. As Jacob Lycan, son of Aaron Lycan, last Lord of Falconclaw. And the look on this Lord's face is indescribable. She asks to speak with Jacob alone.

She tells him about his father in the last part of his life. She tells him how he saved her several times, taught her to fight, saved her guards, those two over there. That one he sacrificed himself for just last week, when he saved the man from another realm and finally got vengeance for his family and village. How he once said that when his journey was done, when he had taken the life of the man who cursed them all, he would finally be at peace with his wife and son.

Then there's a child's cry, and suddenly Jacob is being introduced to two little girls who his father helped raise. To his sisters.

He can't even process it properly before he hears Abby scream, and suddenly he is running to pull her off a blue-haired woman and holding her, thrashing and spitting vitriol, yelling how she thought of Katelyn like her mother, as Katelyn explains what really happened that day, and everything Abby has been keeping inside her for years spills out in wave after wave of tears. She clings to Jacob, and he finds himself crying too. If only they had known the truth earlier.

If they'd only learned the truth earlier, Abby wouldn't have spent so long hating an innocent woman she once adored, and Jacob could have seen his father again. Maybe if he'd known Aaron was The Stranger, if he'd known to wait in Phoenix Drop, Aaron would be alive. He would have had his son to live for.

They can't make themselves stay there once they know the truth. They're not ready. Abby tells Katelyn she'll be back to catch up later, and Jacob tells the Lord he'd like to meet his sisters another time, and with Jacob's quest over they go to hunt the Jury of Nine for Jeffory Goldenheart.

[diamandodusto]

A FEAST TO THE GODS : CHAPTER VIII (FINAL FANTASY XVI)

CHARACTERS

Clive Rosfield : Eldest son of Anabella and Elwin Rosfield. House Rosfield. Dominant of Ifrit. 

Joshua Rosfield : Second son of Elwin and Anabella Rosfield. House Rosfield. Dominant of Phoenix. 

Jill Warrick : A ward of Rosaria and the Rosfield’. Dominant of Shiva. House Rosfield by alliance. 

Cid Telamon : Ex Lord Commander of Waloed, and leader of the Hideaway. Dominant of Ramuh. 

Dyanne Hidgins : Second daughter of Beatrix and Josiah. House Hidgins. Dominant of Leviathan. 

Dion Lesage : Prince of Sanbreque and eldest son. House Lesage, Dominant of Bahamut. 

Barnabas Tharmr : King of Waloed and Ash. House Tharmr. Dominant of Odin.

Sir Terence : Lord Commander of Dion and his lover. 

Sleipnir Harbard : Lord Commander of Barnabas and physical incarnation of his steed as Odin. 

Benedikta Harman : Ally of Barnabas and Chief of the Intelligencers. Dominant of Garuda. 

Hugo Kupka : Economic adviser of Dhalmekian Republic and lover of Benedikta. Dominant of Titan. House Kupka. 

Gav : Cid’s sidekick and scooter. 

Darius Hidgins : Eldest son of the Hidgins. Dyanne’s Shield. House Hidgins. 

Jacob Aryn : 

Bastin Aryn : First heir of the Aryn’. House Aryn. 

Ornela Aryn : Second heir of the Aryn’. House Aryn. 

Anael Aryn : Third heir of the Aryn’. House Aryn. 

Beatrix Hidgins : Darius and Dyanne’s mother. House Hidgins. 

Josiah Hidgins : Darius and Dyanne’s father. House Hidgins. 

Anabella Rosfield : Clive and Joshua’s mother. House Rosfield then Lesage. 

Elwin Rosfield : Archduke of Rosaria. Father of Clive and Joshua. House Rosfield. 

THE HOUSES 

House Rosfield : The Phoenix. Lords and governs Rosaria. Faith of the Eikons. Current head : Clive Rosfield. 

House Lesage : The Dragon. From the Holy Empire of Sanbreque. Governs the same region. Faith of Greagor. Current head : Sylvestre Lesage.

House Hidgins : The Sea Snake. Allies of the Rosfield and has lands in the same regions. Later alleged to Sanbreque. Faith of Leviathan, Eikons. Current head : Josiah Hidgins. 

House Tharmr : The Knight. Possesses Ash and Waloed. Faith of Ultima. Current head : Barnabas Tharmr. 

House Kupka : The Titan. From the Dhalmekian Empire. Current head : Hugo Kupka

House Aryn : The Stag. From Waloed. Faith of Eikons. Military house of Waloed and allies of House Tharmr. 

Thanks to : @aria-lesage​ and @damatheirin​ for their help and support. 

CHAPTER VIII 

DION  

For once in his life, the palace was so silent. No maids, going back and forth if not the one who took out the bloodied sheet from her bed to change it. Dion had told her to remain in bed until he could get out of the bedroom, covered, he undressed the upper part of his body to make it look more real, and only opened the door himself to the poor redhead that would discover their “duty” done during the night. They discussed it for a bit, beforehand, how she felt, he reassured her, even. Made a version both of them could tell the curious ones. Sure, he strictly avoided sitting on the bed at the sole moment he knew what happened on it, but the couch was comfortable enough to get his cheeks on to wait. 

He warned her the castle would speak of them two. That, gazes would be given, whispers chanted. That she had to bear with it, that, during his absence, there was a chance for his father to invite her more to spend time with him. Dyanne was maybe still too innocent when things were about herself, but Dion, on his side, was her polar opposite. Thus, protecting her as much he could. 

And she was on her little cloud, how could he take her off it ? That was not what he wanted. Himself, got to see Terence again, during the night. Spent it just the way Clive and Dyanne did, he could only understand her. In the end. 

Therefore, when the red-headed maiden took off the bedsheets to take it out of the bedroom, he laughed heartily : she would run to Anabella to tell her, if that was for her good graces. And, thus, this would get to his Father. And, before his departure, he’d be given a word with him. 

And it went, just as he planned. 

“My Liege, his Grace, commands you to come to his chambers. He wants to discuss with you.” Dion nodded kindly, in the corridors of the Castle of Oriflamme. Making his way, he made his bones crack quickly, in absolute relaxation. He knocked on the door thrice, before his Father dared to ask him to enter. 

“I am expecting you to explain what were your shenanigans last night. No hiding. No lies. I know the versions of those who witnessed, you better tell the whole truth, Son.” He sat on his father’s couch, crossing his leg one above the other. “I intended to bed the woman who shares my days, Father. Isn’t what a man shall do in such case ? Our departure on the sea is for today, I did not want to lose time with her and desired to spend more in her company.” 

“You two aren’t even wedded!” 

He faked surprise. “Yes, that is truth, I must admit. But, I am only but a man, Father. Is it really that bad ? I can marry her, when the political situation between the realms will cool itself. As of the time being, it is no good idea to betroth us, by the way. In my opinion, we shall wait for a bit.” 

“Did you come in her?” 

He was stunned on the spot, his maroon gaze becoming almost surprised by his father’s directness. He took a couple of seconds before finding his senses again. “I… No-I don’t remember it well. In the middle of action, I must admit I did not exactly look, if you would pardon my language.” He lied. 

“What will I do if…?” 

Dion thought. Yes, he didn’t think of that possibility. Not to say he wasn’t there to look if Clive bred or not, sweet Dyanne, and he didn’t want to know. He wouldn’t ask her, either. They were close, but not this close. “There are plenty of solutions, there. You are the Emperor, your Grace. Tell our folks and nobles you’ve betrothed us in secret, and we wedded in such as well. Thus, nothing shall be more muttered throughout the populations that surround us.” 

Sylvestre sighed. This boy exhausted him. Since his very birth, Dion always did as he saw fit and didn’t exactly look who could be affected by his own actions. The latter got up from his seat, approaching his father. “I shall take her today, say goodbye to her brother, therefore do not expect those hounds to remain silent when they’ll see us three, or even four, with Lord Rosfield always with him. I shall get you warned, Father. May Greagor lead us to victory.” 

He went out of the room, before pressing on to the outskirts of the castle to join the Deccan. He asked Dyanne to move by herself to the docks to say goodbye to Darius, Clive, and himself. Until then, he left her to her own doings. Yet, Sylvestre, on his own, was already thinking of the outlets of this matter. 

Wasn’t Dion right, in the end ?

ANABELLA 

Fucking wench. 

Whore. 

Bitch. 

Slut. 

She threw a vase nearby, awakening the birds by her window, she yelled and then clenched her fist into striking the table of wood. Wounding herself in the process. That fucking streetwalker, she thought. She bloodied a sheet on the ground, her feet kicked in it. She cursed Dion, she cursed Sylvestre for his incompetence, she cursed Dyanne for messing up with her plans to place Olivier, heir. Anabella thought numerous times of how she’d get her way, but now the Dominant of Water and of Light shagged, Sylvestre would focus on his eldest and Olivier would… She shook her head. She could simply not come to terms with the fact of the ending she’s planned would never happen. 

Anabella looked at herself in the mirror. Oh, how beautiful she was in that dress. But then, her thoughts went back to Dyanne and Dion. If two Dominants bedded, there were higher chances their offspring would be also one. Hence, discrediting all of her efforts to take good care of Olivier’s future. He’d be nothing but a discharge of sperm. All because of Dyanne’s fucking womb and the fact the Erysean’ women were known for their fertility. That was also why Elwin chose the girl as a spouse for Clive, as well. Just because of the wonders, genetics from her god-damn people. 

Anabella wished she (the Sea Snake) would drown. But, Leviathan couldn’t drown, could she ? And, despite all her good pride, Anabella feared Bahamut and his bursts of rage. At the moment, she could not even attempt to give a moon tea to their political hostage, in case that’d be suspicious. And, she knew Sylvestre wanted to become a Grandsire, oh, so badly. All of this must've been a dream for him. And, Anabella started to become afraid of the possibility of Dyanne reaching the good treats of Sylvestre, due to her role in this atonement of bullshit. 

“Bring me ink, a feather, and paper.” She commanded her lady-in-waiting. The other blonde woman executed herself, ordering the latter to prepare her a bath before sending the letter she attended to be received. Anabella smirked as her fingers swung against the piece of paper, attending. She wrote three of those, three of them. She enveloped them, destined to be posted by the woman she called “her favourite”. 

“Where, my Lady?” 

“East, The Iron Kingdom, and the North.” 

She nodded, as Anabella engulfed herself into the warmth of her path. 

Was it a women’s war she desired ? 

Then she shall have it. 

DYANNE 

Oh, how much she hated that. 

If somebody had told her the aftermath was to be thing… Embarrassing, maybe she would've thought twice if not thrice before getting there. But here she was, now on the docks, watching the knights come and go in paddles to fill up the Deccan. She admired the ship, its sea-city rising tall and proud on the sea. White, white, pure as untouched snow. Golden, like the sun. She smiled when she spotted the sigil of her house : the seahorse. 

“I thought you would never come.” She heard behind her. Turning around, she found Clive and urged herself to not break off before the urge to reach his arms and kiss him on the spot. She could not get away with herself, neither could he, if she ever was to do that. “I hesitated. Maybe denial suits me better than facing good ol’ truth after all.” She half-joked, remarking her brother was discussing with Dion not far away. She waved at them. 

“You would have regretted this.” Assured Clive, keeping also his hands to himself. “Surely, yes. I would’ve. How does it feel ? To know you’ll be soon enough on the Master of all Ships ?” Clive laughed heartily before giving a glance around his fellow, Dion and Darius. Of course, the stares were judgmental, curious, but nowhere near what it was two days ago. “I never thought I would've got on the Deccan. It was more mythical than anything else, for me.” 

She smiled, before seeing Dion and Darius approach. She embraced her brother before Dion and she shared a gaze. “Here we are, at last. Time to sail.” Confirmed Darius. She pushed back the tears from her eyes, at his words. Of course, she trusted Leviathan to take care of her Shield, the man she loved and the one she considered her brother. 

“Please, I beg of you three, make it out alive. I could not bear your losses. I can’t think about continuing without you all.” Dion winced sadly at what she said. Sure, this was the duty of going to the front. Moreover, on the sea itself to land. But at least, the very least, was to assure their safety. And hence, hers. If they’ve lost, Greagor above could only know what would await her. Dion grabbed her hand, gently. “Remember what we said last night : I gave you everything I’ve had to ease your wait. But, be courageous. You are Dominant, and a strong person. I know you can do this.” She nodded, as Darius wiped off a tear running down her cheek. Clive was distraught. He couldn’t touch her, nor could he even get closer without being looked upon by those who dared listening in their conversation. 

But, may the Founder be blessed, Dion seemed to understand that. He called them off, to the ship, to wait on them. Thus, executing themselves, they were all three on the deck. 

“I will take care of myself, sweet sister, you shan’t fear for me. I will always come back to you, even without a member, I would. It’s you and me until the end of the line. Plus, I got Leviathan’s blessing. I can get myself just fine.” Swore Darius. She dug her head deeper against his armoured torso, before kissing his cheek wholeheartedly. Then, Dion called Darius to help him pack some ropes, letting only the two else, together. 

Without a glance upon them any further, Clive kissed her forehead and dragged her into an embrace she wished would never stop. “Thank you, Dyanne.” She raised her head, looking at Clive right into his eyes. “For what?” she asked. Lord Rosfield kissed the tip of her nose, his hands resting in the crease of her back. “You eased the pain. All these years. You, Darius. You were the only mooring anchor I had, when I was alone and lonely. Not only that, but you visited me each day, gave me all of your attention, you’ve never given up on me. Never. And for this, I shall give you all of my gratitude. I wished I would stay, to accompany you each day. But I can’t, and this breaks me.” 

Dyanne’s eyes watered again, as Clive kissed under each of her eyes, his lips becoming salty due to the taste of water. “This sounds like a farewell.” She concluded. He shook his head. Was it ? No, definitely not. But he wanted to be honest, to say what was on his mind. “No, see it like a promise of a better future for you, for Darius, your parents, me, us. I’ll avenge Joshua, my Father, you, myself, and all the ones they’ve wronged. Your company and your brother have kept me standing still and straight in my boots, always looking for my goal. And I owe it to you two. Then, I promise you I’ll do everything to make it out alive. To make it back to yo-.” She kissed him tenderly, on her tiptoes, her flat shoes not making her taller, Clive took a salty taste upon her lips, but took greed in their paradoxal sweetness. “I will have to go.” He said as he heard Darius and Dion coming back. 

Jumping in the paddle, Clive and the two other men waved at her, as Dyanne teared down, falling on her knees as she witnessed them three drifting away. They’ve felt their heart break, all of them. But they could not turn back. 

War is war. 

Goodbye, Brothers, she thought. Goodbye, dearest Clive. 

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[cffabioblog]

m hr + con recital de Sandro

Desde El Estudio 1 De Prado Del Rey

Con La Maestra de Mafalda, Wendy Wower (en el coro) y el Maestro Mr. Kieslowski presentanjunto con Oscar Anderle y al publico el tremendo recital a cargo de Joe Gardner con la tremendabanda y orquesta de varias escuelas el recital del cantante Argentino Sandro, con sonido directo. Orden del recital y del capitulo o episodio.Nota: Los temas o títulos de las canciones, puedes buscarlos en youtube para poder escucharlos si quieren... Primera parte del programa Primera parte del recital -presentación- -. Como Lo Hice Yo

-. A Donde Vas Los Domingos (con Pyida, Abby, Tyler, Miriam de coro)

-. El Deseo De Vivir

-. Quiero Llenarme De Ti

-. Quinto A

-. Agua Caliente

-comerciales-

Segunda parte del programa Segunda Parte del recital -. Trigal (versión tango, con Che Copete en el acordeón)

-. Así-. Volverán Los Días

-. Porque yo Te Amo

-. Esperame Que Un Día, Volveré... (dialogo con los maestros de la "Lester B. Pearson School" y con Wendy Wower.)

Tercera parte del programa

-comerciales-

Tercera parte del recital. (Medley) (Hace Tiempo... Mucho Tiempo / Tengo / Deja De Llorar Mi Vida / No Creas Que Eso Pasara / Esa Mujer Donde Estará / Atmósfera Pesada / Rosa, Rosa / Una Muchacha Y Una Guitarra) (dialogo con el publico presente, con Gardner y personajes aludidos...) -. Me Juego Entero Por Tu Amor

-. Me Preguntas Y Preguntas

-. Mi Gran Locura (Con Solo de flauta traversa a cargo de Meilin Lee)

-. Fue La Ultima.

Cuarta Parte Del Programa

-comerciales-

Quinta parte y final del programa Cuarta parte y final del concierto -. Me Amas y Me Dejas

-. Sos Una Locura

-. Dime Que Mas Quiero

-. Mi Amigo El Puma. FIN Copyrights Meilin Lee / Mr. Kieslowski© Pixar / Domee S. All Rights Reserved. Hilda© H. / Netflix. All Rights Reserved. Jenna© Universal. All Rights Reserved. Scamp© Disney. All Rights Reserved. Todee© WildBarain / Jacobs / Schultz. All Rights Reserved. Bart© FOX / Disney. All Rights Reserved. Joe Gardner© Pixar. All Rights Reserved. Wendy Wower© Disney / Marvel / Man Of Action.  All Rights Reserved. Canciones de Sandro© Sony Music Entertrainment. All Rights Reserved.

[carmenvicinanza]

Rebecca Miller

Rebecca Miller, regista e scrittrice statunitense, indaga le relazioni umane alternando cinema e letteratura.

Sostenitrice delle donne nell’industria cinematografica, le sue storie hanno sempre protagoniste femminili e anche i cast tecnici sono costituiti in gran parte di donne. Per il suo impegno, nel 2003, è apparsa nel documentario In The Company of Women.

Tra i suoi film, che ha scritto e diretto, spiccano Angela, che ha ricevuto il Gotham Independent Film Award, Personal Velocity: Three Portraits, che ha vinto il Sundance Film Festival, The Ballad of Jack and Rose, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Maggie’s Plan e She came to me.

Ha scritto i romanzi The Private Lives of Pippa Lee e Jacob’s Folly, il libro che ha anche illustrato A Woman Who e la raccolta di racconti Personal Velocity premiata come miglior libro del 2001 dal Washington Post.

È nata a Roxbury, Connecticut, il 15 settembre 1962, da due celebrità, Inge Morath, fotografa della Magnum e il drammaturgo Arthur Miller. Cresciuta in un ambiente culturale molto stimolante, ha studiato arte a Yale e si è specializzata a Monaco di Baviera, in Germania.

Stabilitasi a New York, nel 1987, ha iniziato la sua carriera come pittrice e scultrice, esponendo in diverse gallerie.

Dopo gli studi di cinema alla New School, ha iniziato a realizzare film muti che esponeva insieme alle sue opere d’arte.

A teatro, si ricorda il suo ruolo di Anya ne Il giardino dei ciliegi di Anton Čechov diretta da Peter Brook, nel 1988.

Ha lavorato come attrice cinematografica e televisiva in film come A proposito di Henry (1991), Wind – Più forte del vento (1994) e Mrs. Parker e il circolo vizioso (1994).

Ha anche diretto un’opera teatrale.

Da regista e sceneggiatrice, il suo primo lungometraggio è stato Angela, presentato in anteprima al Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema e poi al Sundance Film Festival, che le è valso l’Open Palm Award dell’Independent Feature Project e il Sundance Film Festival Filmmaker Trophy oltre a altri importanti premi per la fotografia.

Dopo il matrimonio con l’attore Daniel Day-Lewis, da cui ha avuto due figli, si era trasferita a Dublino dove ha prestato servizio di volontariato in case rifugio per donne vittime di violenza, impegno che le ha ispirato la raccolta di racconti Personal Velocity che poi è diventata un pluripremiato film in tre episodi che esplora la trasformazione personale in risposta a circostanze che cambiano la vita.

La pellicola, proiettata al Tribeca Film Festival e all’High Falls Film Festival,  ha ricevuto importanti riconoscimenti e fa parte della collezione permanente del MoMA di New York. 

Nel 2005 ha scritto la sceneggiatura per l’adattamento cinematografico dell’opera teatrale Proof di David Auburn, vincitrice del premio Pulitzer che ha visto come protagonisti Gwyneth Paltrow e Anthony Hopkins e ha diretto The Ballad of Jack and Rose, proiettato al Woodstock Film Festival e all’IFC Center di New York. Il film le ha procurato una menzione d’onore da MTV nel 2010 per le migliori registe che avrebbero dovuto vincere un Oscar. 

Nel 2009 ha girato il suo quarto film, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, un adattamento del suo romanzo del 2002 con un cast stellare composto da Robin Wright, Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder e Julianne Moore.

Del 2015 è Maggie’s Plan, girato principalmente nel Greenwich Village e presentato in anteprima al Toronto International Film Festival che è stato proiettato in importanti festival internazionali.

La sua ultima fatica risale al 2023, She Came to Me presentato in anteprima mondiale al 73º Festival internazionale del cinema di Berlino, interpretato da Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei e Peter Dinklage.

Le sue narrazioni sono pregne di ironia, delicatezza e profondità.

[agrpress-blog]

Fiona May intervista Marcell Jacobs: "A Roma per vincere" Marcell Jacobs sarà fra i protagonisti ... #europeiatleticaleggera #MarcellJacobs https://agrpress.it/fiona-may-intervista-marcell-jacobs-a-roma-per-vincere/?feed_id=5274&_unique_id=6647473ce71d9

[magpiejay1234]

Anyway, in Frustrated Jacob's KH3 playthrough, there was the one-off line from Goofy about how they wouldn't be much of a use, because they don't have Keyblades, hence why they will eventually get them.

This is kind of silly, since they become pivotally important against the not-actually-final Master Xehanort fight, so ehh.

The other issue is of course, as Jacob said in his Untitled Video rewatch streams, is that MoM does not really need a Keyblade to achieve his goals, which makes his character more bizzare, since he single-handedly caused Keyblades to become the main attraction of the franchise.

I suppose we already discussed about the 13 guardians of light, and expansion of trios into quartets, but it will be really weird for all characters to have Keyblades, and eventually go to a place in the story where Keyblades have become clearly outmoded.

I suppose the good part of this could be that, after learning elemental Darkness in MoM, Sora would then branch out to really old classic FF tactics, and spells, like Ultima Spell, or various special moves. That could be a cool lore build up, since it would imply Sora would need to go beyond both light, and dark, and learn everything possible.

****

Anyway, rewatching the ending was fun. So Xehanort had to have his darkness literally manifest into his own being, triggering the Re:Mind events, have him defeated, have Eraqus beat him ideologically, and then have him recognize Sora as the new proper chosen kid of this iteration, because he embodies the good elements of both himself, and Eraqus.

Of course, the whole thing is supposed to be metanarratively about Nomura (Xehanort) reconciling with Sakaguchi (Eraqus), so ehh.

****

I suppose I will add more criticisms here, but his weird dislike towards Demon Tide/Towers becoming the new Darkside does not make much sense to me, since it is literally the third iteration of Heartless we see in Destiny Islands (it is the thing that eventually destroys it), making them the third iteration of Heartless in the franchise overall.

They also showcase how corruptive form of darkness works, it transforms everything into a hive mind first, then degenerates them to pure energy/matter (hence the cores of Demon Tides), eventually erasing them, and their host world, leaving nothing but primordial matter/energy to eventually restart the universe.

The whole thing is kind of funny, since considering Buddhist themes of KH, you would think the franchise would consider humility to be good thing against pride, but the most common enemies achieve their strongest, world-destroying form by being a totalitarian mass, not through becoming Sith-like selfish individuals, despite being as emotional them. It is the emotionless Nobodies who become selfish backstabbers, not negative emotion filled Heartless.

Imagine, for a moment, that your sense of self suddenly vanishes, and you achieve nothing but euphoria because you are part of a raving mad mass. As you get further into your hysteria, your body starts to dissolve, and you start to actually melt away, and by the time you are completely transformed into energy, and matter, everything you hold dear was destroyed...by your own hands, and hysteric mass you were a part of. It is just a weirdly dark concept that I kind of wonder if Nomura was inspired by his FF VS 13 dilemma for this reinterpretation of this concept, even though the concept itself comes from KH1.

****

As a side note, final CGI shot does indeed have different hair color for Roxas (his hair finally matches his brown eyebrows for once since KH2) among other things, but since I greatly dislike the models in CGI cutscenes, I can't fully appreciate it.

Of course, this opens the can of worms about the divergent character progression of same face cast. Like, how Vanitas is going to look like now, considering his design already diverged from KH3 Sora. Are we going to make him, and Ventus look more Italian (like basing them off their Italian VAs or something), with Ephemer looking more English. Is Young Xehanort going to look like young Christopher Lloyd, or Ben Diskin now.

I guess people will be really confused in the inevitable KH2 remake when Roxas looks like Sora with Ventus's hairstyle as he always intended to be.

****

Okay so other tidbits:

**Jacob constantly harps on the Ventus vs. Vanitas clash, but Nomura retroactively retconned Vanitas back into being the darkness inside Ventus, that got somehow exalted by one of the 13 Darknesses, specifically the homicidal one. I'm giving some slack for Nomura since it seems Union X writers didn't know Nomura's long-term plans deeply, but this plotline will get more convoluted, because it is set up for the post-MoM arc, not the MoM arc itself. So it won't get resolved for decades. So feel free to write an entire backstory for Ventus about his pre-Union X days.

**Mechanics of Xion's revival pisses Jacob off, but he seems to be frustrated by the most obvious part, Xion absorbing the memories of her past iteration from Roxas's heart inside Sora's heart, which makes sense given how Xion actually works (parasitically absorbing memories of everyone around her). It is obviously very weird, and bizzare, but it is perfectly accurate to canon.

Xion having some semblance of personality before the memory reabsorbption is a bit weird, but Secret Reports imply it was because of the limited experiences Xion had with Saix, and presumably Vexen, which is not particularly well thought, but works okay.

For everything else, Jacob has some point, though as others pointed out, Secret Reports confirm Saix intentionally goaded the real Org 13 to remake Xion, so the problem is really how Saix remembers Xion, than anything else.

(We already discussed why Xion isn't a world antagonist before, she was presumably supposed to be Xaldin's replacement in-game, but that plotline got deleted at the last minute.)

(Possibly other junior Org members, Repliku, and Vanitas, were also originally intended to be replacements of Vexen, and Demyx after their demotion to back-up status, but those two already had established roles in-game. They could have given Xion a last minute appearance, possibly during the Saix-Axel scene, before the final fight, though.)

**Riku Replica being the only replica who actually leaves his replica is kind of weird though, it is also weird that he is the only one leaving a blank polymer replica, whereas other replicas we see already have some features (even first form Xion has a face). This implies either prime time Riku Replica knew how to reset it to factory settings (this seems to be canon explanation), or they intentionally gave past Riku Replica a sh**ty placeholder one that might be weaker than his original specialized replica body.

****

Further addendum:

This post was actually made before all others, since I started Jacob's playthrough from the end, so this is not chronologically in order.

Anyway, the Goofy-Donald Keyblade thing is actually established in San Fransokyo with the Keyblade Hero 3 joke, and later on in Mysterious Tower, though since Yen Sid's Tower was supposed to be playable originally, I guess the set up would have been more extensive.

I'm still iffy on it, since we already going to have one more Keyblade wielder in the form of Isa for plot reasons, so having every recurring character besides Jiminy, and Naminé (who will likely also have a Keyblade), on top of at least of half of Foretellers possibly defecting to Sora's side, all the returning Dandelions, and possibly recompleted post-Luxufication Braig alongside rest of DiZ apprentices... it is a bit too much.

This thing technically started all way back in KH1's development as we discussed before, back when Oblivion was called as Riku's Keyblade, and was presumably intended to be his true Keyblade, though in the actual storyline it technically started in CoM with Riku, and Repliku retaining Soul Eater, and got turbocharged in KH2 with Xemnas's "Warriors of the Keyblade" speech, but at least back then Nomura had the idea of keeping some characters without it.

By the end of MoM arc, I guess the only past characters without Keyblades will be Maleficent, Remy, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Jiminy, Pluto, Daisy, Minnie, Fairy Godmother, Merlin, most of FF cast, Sora, and Riku's Dream Eater homunculi, various Chirities, Ansem DiZ, and some, but not all of HPO, and that's even a maybe. Pete will almost certainly get his, and Scrooge will probably be revealed to have been a Keyblade wielder all along (though that wouldn't be surprising, both in-canon, and Scrooge's other iterations).

I guess this is partly why Godmother's role is increased, so we could still have a powerful magic user (who, being a fairy, is technically mostly composed of magic herself) that doesn't have much reason to have a Keyblade thematically, or in terms of power level (being the personification of selfless love). Of course, Cinderella can theoritically become a Keyblade wielder, so that would go into jeopardy, but for now we are safe.

[delectablywaywardbeard-blog]

Atletica, Italia a caccia di ulteriori soddisfazioni nell’ultima giornata agli Europei indoor 2023

Ancora emozioni sono attese all’Ataköy Arena di Istanbul dove è in corso la quarta e ultima giornata di gare. Dopo l’emozionante concorso vinto dall’azzurro Zane Weir nel lancio del peso, e il trionfo italiano nei 60 metri piani con l’oro conquistato da Samuele Ceccarelli in 6”48 davanti a un non ancora in perfetta forma Marcell Jacobs (che ha comunque fatto segnare il suo miglior stagionale con…

[imperfekt]

Theo congelou onde estava ao ouvir que Vincent pretendia contar toda a verdade para o namorado. Gostava de Jacob e nunca virá o amigo numa fase tão boa quanto no período ao qual os dois namoravam e entendia o dilema que ele vivia, principalmente agora que tinha sido praticamente forçado a escolher entre contar a verdade e admitir uma traição que nunca tinha acontecido. - Essa é uma péssima ideia, Vince. - Disse, colocando a mão no ombro do amigo para para-lo por um instante. - Eu sei que está passando por muita merda agora, mas vai por mim, você só iria deixar o Jacob paranoico com todas essas teorias e a possibilidade de morrer nesta realidade. - Suspirou com pesar, antes de continuar. - Eu sei que você... Ama ele, mas pensa bem se contar tudo isso vai mesmo melhorar alguma coisa ou só piorar de vez. - Aconselhou como uma ultima tentativa de colocar alguma razão na cabeça do amigo, mas sabia que Vincent faria o que achasse necessário para não perder Jacob, e no fim das contas, como melhor amigo, Theodore sabia que precisava apoiar o amigo no que quer ele escolhesse fazer. Theo soltou um assobio alto, claramente surpreso com o que seu amigo tinha acabado de admitir que havia acontecido entre ele e Noah. - Caramba. - Foi apenas o que conseguiu dizer depois de um longo tempo em silencio. - Parece que eu perdi mesmo muita coisa aqui, hun? - Brincou, cutucando o amigo enquanto voltavam a andar procurando pelo automóvel. Theo sabia que o lance da Herpes era claramente algo inventado pelo reitor para abafar os rumores do que Jawie havia feito, mas sentiu-se um pouco aliviado pela expertise do amigo, afinal, apesar de ser um viajante do tempo, ele ainda tinha uma reputação a zelar naquele espaço e tempo. Ainda assim, uma curiosidade derivada ao acontecido despertou em sua mente. - Acha que o reitor falou aquelas coisas porque pensou que Jawie estava maluco, ou talvez ele possa estar mais envolvido nisto do que sabemos? - Podia jurar que um frio incomum percorreu por suas costas diante do que confabulava naquele instante. - Estava me lembrando do discurso dele no dia em que tudo isso começou e posso jurar que tem algo de sinistro naquele cara... Estava prestes a concordar com o amigo a respeito de ver o objeto que tinha depois quando claramente tinha ouvido o barulho de um carro apitar no meio do estacionamento. - Nem fodendo! - Soltou, surpreso que de fato tivessem encontrado o que estavam procurando, apertou o passo junto com Vincent para que pudessem chegar até o automóvel mais rápido que o normal, quando recuou por um instante diante da pergunta dele sobre Kath. - Não foi um quarto, foi um banheiro. - Corrigiu a contra gosto. - Ela me levou para um banheiro e começou a gritar comigo, e ai... Eu beijei ela. - Suspirou, derrotado. - Não sei porque fiz isso, Vincent, eu realmente não sei. - Disse na defensiva. - Talvez tenha a ver com o meu ego ou algo assim, mas essa garota ela... - Juntou as mãos em garras como se pudesse agarrar o ar. - Ah, eu disse umas coisas bem feias para ela, mas mesmo assim, me bater?! Mas foi bom, é, foi bom, eu não quero mais saber dela e... - Tagarelava até que foi parado pelo amigo, tinham achado o bendito carro, os olhos de Theo se arregalaram de surpresa, aquela era a primeira vez que estava de fato investigando algo e tinham encontrado. - O que está esperando, vai, abre esse carro! - Empurrou o amigo levemente em direção ao automóvel pelos ombros. - Vamo revirar ele até encontrar alguma coisa!

─ Não sei. Falar a verdade, eu acho. Ou o quanto dela eu conseguir. ─ deu de ombros, mesmo que Theodore tivesse sido tão incisivo antes que aquilo era algo que Vincent não deveria fazer. Quando o nome de Noah foi citado, o cirurgião franziu o cenho e revirou os olhos. ─ Nós som... Éramos bons sócios. ─ Noah estaria louco se achasse que manteriam a parceria depois daquilo. ─ Depois que ele entrou no processo de divórcio as coisas escalaram. Nenhum namoro, nenhum sentimento, só sexo. Ele estava desesperado e triste por perder esposa, filho e dinheiro, eu queria desestressar e aproveitei a chance. ─ falou com tanta naturalidade que nem fazia jus ao real peso da informação que confidenciava ao melhor amigo. A verdade era que as escapadas sexuais de Vincent cada vez mais arriscadas e desprovidas de sentimento já não eram tão incomuns quanto não eram saudáveis. Depois do funeral, as palavras "Vincent" e "um relacionamento estável" só estariam juntas na mesma frase se fossem conectadas por "não consegue ter". ─ Fica de boa com a herpes, o reitor só deu uma desculpa parada. Herpes simplex que causa alucinação são só associadas com encefalite, que nós já sabemos que Jawie não tem. A não ser que seja uma consequência da viagem no tempo, mas eu duvido. Ele estava bem consciente do que fazia. ─ travou o maxilar de tanto ódio. Mas não poderia se deixar distrair tanto, tinham um carro para encontrar. ─ Certo, então depois vemos o MP3. ─ assentiu com a cabeça e continuou andando pelo estacionamento... Até ouvir um "bip bip". Olhou com as sobrancelhas erguidas para Theo, em um misto de animação e curiosidade. ─ Parece que vamos descobrir agora. ─ apertou ainda mais o passo, seguindo o som até o veículo que emitia o barulho mais ao longe. Enquanto andava, continuava escutando com atenção sobre Theodore e Katherine. ─ Ah, sim. "Alguma coisa rolando". Então vocês saíram do jogo depois dela beijar o Jawie para se matarem no quarto? ─ questionou, com deboche. Vincent sabia identificar quando o amigo havia sido fisgado. Ser Katherine só deixava as coisas mais interessantes. ─ Jura? Por que ela fez isso? ─ seu interesse naquele relacionamento só aumentava; contudo, não bastou muito mais do que alguns momentos para finalmente chegarem na frente do carro que emitia o som. ─ Esse... Definitivamente não era meu carro. ─ foi o que foi capaz de comentar.

[forestcat000]

ultima question

so i was thinking about Jacob (Aarons son in mcd) and i decided i eventually want to bring him into my rewrite to see how Aaron would parent a child who was the ultima would Aaron do what Derek did would he give Jacob freedom would he confine to his room as much as possible then i thought of a question can there be more then one ultima

to the best of my knowledge we never saw Derek go ultima we heard about happening before Aaron was born but never after so i was wondering is Derek just really good at controlling it or is he not the ultima anymore,

lets say that when a son is born to a ultima the curse leaves the parent and goes to the child,

Derek is already a bad person and parent but if that's the case that makes Derek so much worse and so much more selfish. Derek did not have to have kids and if he did he could have stopped Melisa without passing down the curse (the curse does not go to girls) but he didn't he had another child Aaron. if this how the curse works maybe this was Derek's way of getting rid of the curse for himself. maybe he had Aaron for the soul purpose of getting rid of his own curse.

BUT most likely I'm over analyzing things and Derek just good at controlling himself and i missed something anyways someone let me know if i'm wrong. either way this could be an interesting concept.

also if more then one ultima can have what if an ultima just had a bunch of sons would they all be ultima.

anyways Jacob Lycan is going to exist

[the-martyrfication-of-the-matron]

Ultima lore is different I just need to know the timeline for it

[cscclibrary]

[Horizontal graphic; background yellow streaks on black. Black, blue, and orange text: “Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books of the Past Decade / ALA American Library Association.” Image courtesy of the American Library Association.]

In 2020, the American Library Association released a list of the 100 most frequently banned and challenged books from 2010-2019. Most of them are for children and young adults, or are commonly assigned in schools. They range from century-old classics to current popular novels. Some were challenged for predictable reasons--swearing, violence, or sex. Many were challenged because they contained LGBTQ+ content. Some were challenged because they critiqued social institutions.

All of them are available either in the Columbus State Library or via the OhioLINK system. Clicking on any of the titles below will tell you where you can find the book; OhioLINK items can be requested and sent to the Columbus State campus. In the case of a series, the link usually leads to the first title in the series. Enjoy your right to read!

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Looking for Alaska by John Green

George by Alex Gino

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

Internet Girls (series) by Lauren Myracle

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I Am Jazz by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Bone (series) by Jeff Smith

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss

Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg

Alice McKinley (series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

It’s a Book by Lane Smith

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones

A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer

Bad Kitty (series) by Nick Bruel

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Goosebumps (series) by R.L. Stine

In Our Mothers’ House by Patricia Polacco

Lush by Natasha Friend

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The Bible

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Gossip Girl (series) by Cecily von Ziegesar

House of Night (series) by P.C. Cast

My Mom’s Having A Baby by Dori Hillestad Butler

Neonomicon by Alan Moore

The Dirty Cowboy by Amy Timberlake

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle

Dreaming In Cuban by Cristina Garcia

Fade by Lisa McMann

The Family Book by Todd Parr

Feed by M.T. Anderson

Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach

Habibi by Craig Thompson

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah Hoffman

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Nasreen’s Secret School by Jeanette Winter

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan

Stuck in the Middle by Ariel Schrag

The Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal

1984 by George Orwell

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Glass by Ellen Hopkins

Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesle´a Newman

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Madeline and the Gypsies by Ludwig Bemelmans

My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis

Prince and Knight by Daniel Haack

Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology by Amy Sonnie

Skippyjon Jones (series) by Judith Schachner

So Far from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

The Color of Earth (series) by Tong-hwa Kim

The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter

The Walking Dead (series) by Robert Kirkman

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S Brannen

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

[cerezawrites]

FFXIV Write 2022 - Row

Spoilers for Endwalker

Cereza sorted through the rows of reagents, ensuring all had been returned to their proper place.  Though her brother-in-law had told her not to worry about cleaning up after, her own experience told her that she needed to do that much.  After all, he’d been kind enough to let her work out of the business’ lab; it was the least she could do.  

Satisfied that the vials and bottles were properly replaced, she went back to her results.  The experiment had gone as well as she’d hoped, based on the math.  In front of her sat a single crystal, still cooling from the heat of the process of making it.  A soul crystal.  Properly made.

Making soul crystals wasn’t terribly uncommon - time-consuming and a bit expensive, yes, but it wasn’t impossible if you could find the right materials.  The problem was finding them.  The Machinists had gotten a supply of the right kind of crystal somewhere - she suspected from the remnants of Dalamud that had crashed into Coerthas but wasn’t sure - but no one to her knowledge had MADE a new soul crystal from scratch.  

The problem was, she wasn’t sure she trusted other sources anymore.  More and more the crystals had started to remind her of Auracite - and specifically, the cursed kind Ultima had created in ancient Ivalice.  Using a pre-made crystal was fine, because someone else had usually imprinted upon it already, mitigating the risks.  But for what she hoped to accomplish, she needed one whose source could be guaranteed safe - and the only way to verify that was to make it herself.  

Jacob yawned as he came back to check on her.  “I thought I told you not to worry about cleaning up.  Ah, but you would feel bad if you didn’t.”  Cereza smiled at her brother-in-law and best friend’s knowledge of her quirks.  He came over and offered a cup of tea, which she gladly accepted.  “Did it work?” he asked, looking at the crystal.  “Were you able to distill it?”  

Cereza nodded as she sipped the hot tea, then responded.  “It worked.  The process is still a bit resource intensive for mass production I think - both materials AND labor, that is.  But for my goal, this will work.”  

He nodded, considering the crystal without touching it.  “What IS your goal, exactly?  You never quite explained it all the way - or if you did, you used terms even I didn’t get.  Remember, I’m an alchemist, not an aetherologist.”  

Cereza laughed.  “Ah, you probably know more about aetherology than you realize.  But no, I was playing my cards close to my chest on this, and I apologize.”  She picked up the crystal finally, feeling its smoothness in her hand.  “The truth is, this is meant as a failsafe.”  She hesitated before speaking.  “Back in Garlemald, something... happened.  I don’t want to get into the details... but it involved me losing control over my body.”  SeShe rolled the crystal around on her hand.  “I’m hoping it never happens again.  But in case it does, I’m... preparing.  My hope is that this will be one part anchor, holding me in place, and one partdeterrent against anyone trying to control me.  We’ll have to see how it shapes up though.”  

Jacob listened, stunned by her admission, and understanding her reluctance to speak further.  “Well... I hope it works as you want it to.”  He clearly made a mind to change the topic.  “Meanwhile, I was hoping that while you were here, you might be able to help with something else.”  

Cereza smiled at the chance to leave those memories behind.  “What’s up?  No, let me guess.... the children’s school, right?  Showing up as a surprise?”  

Jacob nodded.  “Your mom didn’t want to bother you with it, but I know it would mean the world to Becca.”  Rebecca was Cereza’s niece, a four-year-old girl, soon to be five, with a mind full of lofty adventures, inspired by her aunt’s stories.  “And probably the other kids, too.  Even without Becca telling your stories, it’s not like you aren’t a celebrity.  I know you don’t like to do public appearances and trade in on your fame but-”  

Cereza held a finger to Jacob’s lips.  “You know this is different.  Hopes and dreams are a powerful force.  I refuse to use my fame for personal gain, but for helping inspire those things in children?  Especially on my niece's name day?  It’d be an honor.”  

“Well,” another voice said, “I had told him it wasn’t something to trouble you over, but I suppose Jacob never was good at listening.”  Cereza’s mother Annabelle came into the lab, shaking her head but with a smile on her face.  Cereza’s mother had retired from active service as a Conjurer and Hearer, but served as a teacher with a children’s school in Gridania, helping the little ones to learn their numbers and letters.  “And I admit, it’d be a treat for the kids.  Not every day you meet your hero.”  

Cereza smiled at that.  “Indeed indeed.”  She sipped the last of her tea, considering the idea of this event.  “Just let me know what I need to prepare.  Oh, and how I should dress... I can dress for state dinners and diplomatc events, but no idea what a pre-school birthday part calls for.”  

The other two laughed, and the conversation turned to preparations for the event.  Eventually, her mother and brother-in-law both headed out from the lab to their respective homes for the evening, leaving Cereza alone in the lab holding the crystal.  She closed her eyes and allowed her aether to merge with it, suffuse it, and join the rest in a long row in her mind’s eye.

[alexdark284-blog]

A Serpe de Bragança em Hogwarts - Prologo

A noite chegou e era hora do chapéu seletor escolher as casa dos alunos, bom eu queria ter ido para o CasteloBruxo porém por certos motivos, que não convém falar no momento, minha família foi proibida de estudar e de viver no mundo mágico brasileiro . Bom eu não vou focar nessa história agora, eu vou deixa isso para outra hora.

Um dia antes de ir para Hogwarts conhece fui ao beco diagonal para poder comprar meus materiais na entrada eu encontrei Rowan Khanna..

Afonso: Olá

Rowan: Olá .

Afonso: Você pode me ajuda eu tenho que comprar uma varinha caldeirão entre outras coisas

Rowan: Então você vai estudar em Hogwarts?- ele estava visivelmente empolgado

Afonso: Sim presumo que você também irá estudar lá?

Rowan-Sim.

No dia seguinte pegamos o trem para ir para Hogwarts, Rowan estava muito empolgado, sonhava em se tornar um professor em Hogwarts, ele perguntava também sobre mim, mas eu evitava falar muito sobre meu passado ou minha origem, já basta meu irmão Jacob ter sido expulso e desaparecer em seguida. Apesar disso, tivemos uma ótima conversa.

   Quando chegamos na estação, pudemos ver quão linda e imponente é Hogwarts. E assim, fomos guiados por homem chamado Hagrid pelos barcos no Lago Negro e depois por uma das professoras, chamada Minerva McGonagall para a cerimônia de boas vindas. E assim ela disse que quando chamasse nossos nomes deveríamos nos sentar que ela colocaria o chapéu em nossas cabeças.

Primeiro foi uma aluna chamada Penny Haywood segundo o chapéu ela era uma garota gentil e de bom coração por isso foi para a Lufa-Lufa, após ela foi a vez de um tal de Talbott Winger, que parecia ser bem reservado e tem mente afiada, então ele foi para Corvinal, então Ben Cooper foi chamado, ele tremia muito e parecia nervoso, mas para a surpresa de todos o chapéu o pôs na Grifinória.

E assim seguiu a seleção, até que uma garota que me chamou a atenção: ela tinha os cabelos bagunçados e uma mecha com uma cor diferente seu nome era Mérula Snyde, e foi para a Sonserina, assim como meu amigo Rowan, devido a sua ambição pelo conhecimento.

Então chegou minha vez: "Afonso Pedro" disse a professora, juntando minha coragem, eu fui até a cadeira sob os olhares dos que sabiam o que meu irmão havia feito. Ao me sentar, chapéu diz:

Chapéu: Ah, temos um caso peculiar aqui- faz uma breve pausa- Você não me parece um texugo... nem uma águia... nem uma cobra... muito menos um leão- ele diz fazendo pausas que pareciam uma eternidade- Não, você é uma Serpe

Quando ele falou isso eu travei por que ele deveria ter descoberto minha origem. Eu não sou filho de Comensais da Morte mas de um bruxo que até mesmo eles temem e tremem diante de seu poder, devido a isso temo pela minha vida, se alguém descobrir a verdade podem querer me matar.

Chapéu seletor: Essa certamente será uma escolha difícil, você tem muito de cada casa.

Esse situação durou agonizantes 10 minutos, com o chapéu de vez em quando grunhindo ou resmungando:

Minerva: Em quais casas ele está empatado?- pergunta com certa estranheza, devido ao caso raro.

Chapéu: Senhora McGonagall, acho que nem os fundadores conseguiriam definir, o garoto se encaixa nas 4 casas- ele faz uma ultima pausa- Tenho uma decisão, melhor que seja... SONSERINA!!!

Alguns bruxos da casa aplaudiram, outros reagiram mal, mas sem duvidas, Rowan era o mais feliz por estarmos na mesma casa, e então iniciou o jantar de boas vindas. Percebi que várias vezes a tal Merula me olhava, mas resolvi ignora-la.

Logo após o jantar, fomos para o Salão comunal da Sonserina, ele era incrível, bem escuro, com uma lareira e vários moveis e as cores verde e prata:

Rowan: Não incrível Afonso?- ele estava empolgado.

Afonso: Claro só faltava ter uma iluminação melhor mas essa janela para o Lago Negro é a melhor parte- Era tudo tão incrível e maravilhoso, mal podia acreditar que isso era real.

Rowan: Eu tenho medo que ele quebre.

Afonso: Acho pouco provável de isso acontecer- dou risada- Bom acho melhor irmos para os dormitórios porque amanhã vai ser um dia bem puxado.

Rowan: Mas antes, Afonso, acho que será um ano complicado para você

Afonso: Não se preocupa com isso, só vamos para nosso quarto

???: Um momento, vocês dois- diz um bruxo mais velho.

Afonso: Quem é você?

Rowan: Ele é o Felix Rosier, nosso monitor aqui na Sonserina

Felix: Exatamente, e é bom você não causar problemas como o idiota do seu irmão.

Afonso: Você conheceu meu irmão?

Felix: Claro que conheci. Se ele focasse nos estudos seria um excelente aluno, mas as ações dele só envergonharam a nossa casa. Espero que não seja um maluco igual ele.

Afonso: Eu não sou meu irmão- falo um pouco irritado.

Felix: Excelente, agora vão para seus dormitórios, eles ficam a direita. Você vão dividir o quarto com o senhor Lee.

Rowan e eu fomos até o dormitório, aonde vimos o tal garoto dormindo, deve ser o tal Lee. Nossas malas já estavam no quarto, então digo:

Afonso: Melhor irmos dormir, amanhã vai ser um longo dia.

Rowan: Concordo plenamente.

Nos deitamos e logo peguei no sono...

[mrsomewhere]

Top 100 most banned and challenged books of the last decade:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Looking for Alaska by John Green

George by Alex Gino

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

Internet Girls (series) by Lauren Myracle

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I Am Jazz by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Bone (series) by Jeff Smith

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss

Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg

Alice McKinley (series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

It's Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

It's a Book by Lane Smith

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer

Bad Kitty (series) by Nick Bruel

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Goosebumps (series) by R.L. Stine

In Our Mothers' House by Patricia Polacco

Lush by Natasha Friend

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The Holy Bible

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Gossip Girl (series) by Cecily von Ziegesar

House of Night (series) by P.C. Cast

My Mom's Having A Baby by Dori Hillestad Butler

Neonomicon by Alan Moore

The Dirty Cowboy by Amy Timberlake

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle

Dreaming In Cuban by Cristina Garcia

Fade by Lisa McMann

The Family Book by Todd Parr

Feed by M.T. Anderson

Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach

Habibi by Craig Thompson

House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Jacob's New Dress by Sarah Hoffman

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Nasreen’s Secret School by Jeanette Winter

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan

Stuck in the Middle by Ariel Schrag

The Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal

1984 by George Orwell

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

Awakening by Kate Chopin

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Glass by Ellen Hopkins

Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesle´a Newman

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Madeline and the Gypsies by Ludwig Bemelmans

My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis

Prince and Knight by Daniel Haack

Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology by Amy Sonnie

Skippyjon Jones (series) by Judith Schachner

So Far from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

The Color of Earth (series) by Tong-hwa Kim

The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter

The Walking Dead (series) by Robert Kirkman

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S Brannen

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks