#Leda strike

[denmark-street]

We really will have to wait until book 10 for the solution of Leda's suicide / murder will we.

Because of symmetry and everything 😔

[105nt]

Research dump. Working on a theory that Leda Strike was named Leda not because of the well-known myth depicted on the wall of the Rivoli, but because her father was a ship-enthusiast. It keeps me out of trouble. And it's long struck me as an odd name to choose for a child.

HMS Leda was an 18pdr-armed, 38 gun, Fifth Rate frigate, built at the Chatham Royal Dockyard. The ship went on to be the lead vessel of a class of 47 large frigates.

Two of the Leda class still exist, and one - HMS Trincomalee - was, for some time, moored in Falmouth.

So pretty. I know that's not the point.

There was also a minesweeper called Leda but I can't find a Cornish connection. Not that there needs to be one, I suppose. Ted and Leda's father might have been interested in war ships in general.

[red-moon-at-night]

Etruscan mirrors are so bloody interesting like... What do you mean Hermes carried the egg with Helen in it from the underworld to Castor/Pollux/Leda/Tyndareus/all of them??

What do you mean sometimes they're pointing down to the ground and sometimes the ground is actually depicted as the ocean??? You're saying that the egg was LAID in the underworld and not up here???? The implication being yet again that Nemesis is the mother in these scenarios.

Carpino, Alexandra (1996) "The Delivery of Helen's Egg: An Examination of an Etruscan Relief Mirror," Etruscan Studies: Vol. 3 , Article 2.

Literally knowing of death before her life has begun.

[animenostalgia]

Some sad news to share this morning - Prolific animator, character designer, and illustrator Mutsumi Inomata has passed away. She worked on many beloved anime titles throughout the 80s, including animation work on Urusei Yatsura, Space Warrior Baldios, City Hunter, and Goshogun. Her striking and unique style added unique flare to her character designs for beloved cult titles like Birth, Windaria, and Leda: The Fantastic Adventures of Yohko right alongside more mainstream titles like Plawres Sanshiro and the Future GPX Cyber Formula franchise. She was also a part of the video game world, doing illustrations for Dragon Quest novels in Japan, and being the main character designer for the popular "Tales Of" series of RPG games. Truly, her artwork touched many beloved pieces of media over the years. And for all her unique and beautiful work, she will be greatly missed.

[profoundbondfanfic]

Hey so i was wondering if you had any Kid!Fics that weren’t Mpreg or omega verse more like there is a child and now Dean and Cas are taking care of the child together and fall in love in the process. I love your page thank you

Hey! Glad you're enjoying our blog🩵 Here are a few we could remember:

A Fine Romance by DragonSgotenks (Explicit, 54k words)

Castiel was one of those Parents the other teachers referred to as a "hot mess" but Dean just thought he was hot, even if he did come off as kind of a dick sometimes. When an accident lands him in the ER Dean comes face to face with his biggest crush when he discovers Cas is his nurse. It seems like fate that he manages to strike up a friendship with the father of some of his favorite students. But with Castiel still bitter over the way his ex used him up and then left him with nothing but 3 young kids to raise on his own he may be guarding his heart with too much caution to let someone new in. Dean will have to find a way to thaw the ice around Cas' heart or risk letting his chance at happiness slip through his fingers.

Baby Whispering by EllenOfOz (Mature, 9k words)

When Castiel's babysitter falls through, he has no choice but to take Claire to class with him. But as it turns out, Dr. Winchester isn't so upset about a disruption to his class.

life as we know it by yolock (Explicit, 92k words)

The first time Dean and Castiel ever agree on something happens when when their shared best friend Kelly asks them to be the godparents for her baby. Being a godparent is mostly babysitting occasionally and buying gifts on birthdays, but then Kelly dies on a car accident, leaving her three year old son Jack with no one but his godparents to take care of him. Despite not liking each other at all, the two men take the responsibility left for them on paper, and find themselves on a situation neither of them had prepared for, co-parenting a three year old. As they learn to take care of a toddler together, they learn a lot about themselves and about each other. It's definitely not an easy ride, but it eventually leads to something neither of them saw coming: a family.

let's take a drive by sobsicles (Explicit, 121k words)

Dean takes a really, really long drive to kick fear in the ass. It might just be the best thing he ever decides to do. ~~~ The seat squeaks, and Dean follows the sound, his gaze trailing down. There—where Jack sat moments ago—is a much tinier version of him. He looks mostly the same, just...smaller and more dimply and cuter, if that's possible. His clothes have shrunk to fit him, so he's casually sitting in a t-shirt, jeans, and scuffed tennis shoes. He swings his feet from side-to-side over the edge of Baby's seat the same way Sam used to in the back, and he stares up at Dean with clear eyes.  "Oh," Dean blurts out, eyes bulging, "Cas is going to fucking kill me." 

Light Me Up by tricia_16 (Explicit, 195k words)

Five years after participating in a life-changing threesome with his then-girlfriend and her friend Cas, Dean's single, comfortably bisexual, and has everything he's ever wanted except for that special someone to share his life with. When tragedy strikes, he and Cas are reunited in an unexpected way, and a split-second decision entangles their lives in ways neither of them could have predicted…

Surprises by TessAlyn (Explicit, 32k words)

Castiel and Dean don't have much in common. Dean plays football; Cas watches nature films. Dean wears jeans and flannel; Cas prefers button-ups and waistcoats. Yet somehow, they become friends. And when Cas' brother suddenly leaves an unexpected surprise on their doorstep, the strength of their friendship, and what they mean to each other, is tested like never before.

Swan Upon Leda by kelsstiel (Explicit, 174k words)

Pediatric Surgery Fellow Dean Winchester meets baby Jack Kline and neuropsychologist Castiel Novak his first week on the job. Dean’s been accused a time or two of caring a little too much in the past and it’s hard not to care about the neurotic adoptive father and his medically needy preemie. After a series of run-ins between the pair, Dean and Cas develop a friendship that everyone else around them suspect more from immediately, though it takes them a little longer to get the memo. When Dean struggles with a particularly devastating patient loss, their mutual understanding of loss and love bring them closer in a way that neither of them could have expected.

The guy next door by Castielific (Explicit, 61k words)

When Dean Smith quit his job at Sandover, he had no idea what he was going to do with his life. He definitely didn't plan for his hippie neighbor and his four years old kid to make him question everything he thought he knew about himself. The neighbors to friends to lovers fic you never asked for, along with some cute baby!Jack

The Shawnee Trail by emmbrancsxx0 (Explicit, 166k words)

In 1887, Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak lead a peaceful life in Lawrence, Kansas. Dean and Sam are stagecoach messengers for Wells, Fargo and Castiel is the town doctor. When Castiel's patient, Kelly Kline, knocks on their door one night about to give birth, she asks for the Winchesters and Castiel's help in protecting her son against one of the west's most notorious outlaws. To fulfill that promise, the men set out on a journey full of shootouts, trouble with the law, gambling, and an important discovery: Dean and Castiel really need to define the nature of their relationship.

We Are by lotrspnfangirl (Explicit, 50k words)

When Dean broke things off with Castiel, right after graduation, he hadn’t anticipated the long term effect it would have. He’d done this, he ruined things, and he deserved to be punished. Despite trying to move on, he found himself at the bottom of a bottle more often than not. When Lisa took their son, Ben, away - well, he had nothing to keep him going. Castiel packed his broken heart across the country, swept up with a woman who only loved him for what he could give and another who treated his friendship as gold. When Kelly left him, leaving him broken once more, he threw himself into raising his son, Jack, and letting him know how loved he was. When a broken teenager came into his life, he absorbed Claire into his family and took a chance, moving back home to the small town life, for a better chance for them all.

Also, the Dadstiel Bang starts posting on August 26th, so you might find more fics there. And we also have a "as parents" tag that might interest you.

[itstheendofthegoddamnworld]

Swallowed Whole by The Flame (Messmer the Impaler x Tarnished! Reader) 8

MASTERLIST

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Summary: The storehouse calls to you, your path awaits.

A/N: I've been ill for a while, so this is coming out when I feel better! Sorry for the delay! A promise is a promise! More interactions!

A03 link

-

Chapter 8: The Encounter

The rest of your day is spent avoiding Messmer as best as you can, despite the heavy enforcement of soldiers who seem to follow your every move. It comes to you with great unease and irritation, but you're thankful when you've eaten supper and you can be to yourself for the rest of the evening,

Your thoughts are spent thinking about the specimen storehouse and where your heart lies in the books you could be reading. It comes with great restraint not to sneak out and go there in the dead of night, but you promise yourself you would rather worm your way through befriending Ansbach better to gain some further insight.

You go to sleep slightly content with your goals, hoping you can go through with them easily.

Ansbach is who you go to seek out after breaking your fast, dressing simply in your usual garbs before you find him in his usual spot. You strike up a conversation with him for a bit before you know his suspicions are up, knowing you're up to no good.

"You know, Lord Messmer will not be too pleased in knowing you're not where you are."

"How so? He's not looking for me, he's not sought me out." You shrug, though you cannot help but eye the red-cladded knight who loiters close by. He's aware of your presence down here, but he is allowing it for some reason. Could it be some ploy to think he's fine with it all?

"I think his Lord is so caught up in worrying about me, he should be addressing the real issue." You continue, "Any news of Miquella? Or even Lady Leda?"

"It seems Leda has found the gift you left." Ansbach addressed plainly, "What she wishes to do to deal with our betrayals, I am still left in the dark of. I have no doubt she will be finding some way to create an ambush."

"Best be on our best behaviour then." You jest, but Ansbach grunts in response. Why must everyone be so grumpy in this Keep, no, these lands? You remember fellow allies like the kindly girl Roderika, the polite sorcerer Rogier, and Boc your seamster - even in the coldness and darkness of the world, they still found kindness that could be shared with strangers.

Two days pass since your conversation with Ansbach, and despite lingering for far too long in the storehouse staring at the endless shelves, you cannot finally help the urge that calls to you.

Only dressed in a nightgown and dressing gown, its green silk robes still feel foreign on your skin. You scamper to the door of your chambers barefoot, the cold wooden floor cool against your skin as you slowly pull the door open. Looking to see no one there, you gather yourself, shutting the door behind you as darkness engulfs you in the small tower.

Feeling along the walls as your aid, you trek downwards, careful to keep your pacing quiet.

Quick as a mouse, sharp as a cat. You tell yourself as you avoid what you think are soldiers who are posted along the lower grounds, patrolling as they go.

You stick to the shadows as best as you can, passing the infirmary as you near the steps heading down into the dimly lit storehouse. Your smile broads, victory is on the horizon as you continue to sneak before you find yourself in endless bookshelves. 

Finding a small candle and taking it along with you, you pace down the bookcases until you cannot find Sir Ansbach in his usual spot. Instead of him, you find the endless books you have been dying to open since you last spoke with him.

You feel a sense of pride wash over you, eagerly picking up the first book with too much force that it knocks the tower to the ground, some books clatter open with a loud crash as you freeze, assessing your situation before turning back to continue with the pages.

You find books on the history of the lands, of the Hornsent, the war and tyranny that seem to address in length of Messmer's battles, but you work your way to find one that is of great interest to you—the History of Queen Marika and the Golden Order.

It's when your foolishness and brashness bring you to be unaware for a moment, too engrossed in what's around you, that when you try to reach for a book on the shelf that is too high for you, a voice hisses out to you in the darkness.

"Thou art rather brazen at which hour thee sneaketh."

You almost scream out, but catch yourself, your voice being stuck in your throat as you turn to who stands behind you.

You should've known you were being followed, but nothing had prepared you to finally come face to face with the redhead. You had to admit, it was rather haunting how someone so tall as he was able to move around with ease of not disrupting noise. Despite the darkness, your candle caught a glimpse of his red hair, almost blending in with the bookcases. He appears to you how an apparition would, his form languid and swaying as if he is uncertain as to what your next moves shall be. He has a ghost-like quality that only he could carry in a Keep so full of others. He instead thrives in the abyss, in the dampened walls and cold grey spots. You wonder what he carries, the stoicism that he was born with, would it be broken if he finally saw his mother again? And just how long had it been since he last saw her?

"Firstly thee fight mine own men liketh a drunken in a tavern." He spouts. "Next I findeth thee sneaking off to mine own library. Bid me, where shalt I findeth thee next? Sneaking wine into thy chambers?"

"Are you taking note of everywhere I go?" You bemoaned. "If I had known better, it seems you enjoy stalking me."

The glare he sends you is not enough to make you cower, rather you swear you see his cheeks redden at your words. He averts his eye from you, but he keeps his mood sour. "Bid me, art thee going to starteth destroying mine own books?"

You stare at him incredulously, "I read, you know?"

It's his time to gawk, his snakes look between one another before looking up to their master, the three staring as if they are silently communicating. You can't help but feel like the fool at this moment.

Messmer surprises you as if he is a grumpy unapproachable cat, slowly inching his way towards you, his movement slow, hesitant. There is bewilderment present in his features as he whispers, "Thee... read?"

"Yes," Your words are mixed with a weary laugh that has been bubbling inside your throat, "you believe I'm ready to tear your books apart like a beast?"

He doesn't answer that, rather he's quiet, maybe from embarrassment for assuming.

"Look-" you begin to walk closer towards him, not even getting as close as you predicted before something is face to face with you, squaring off. You're startled back, keeping eye contact with one of the serpents that had unwound itself around Messmer's torso to stare down at you. You never realised even up close how vivid its scales were, bright and a brilliant crimson hue. 

You also realise the difference between both serpents: one had startling blue-green eyes, the other matching Messmer's. One is slightly bigger, the other slimmer and longer. You cannot help but feel inquisitive by the one inches away from your face, it also doesn't move as it inspects you. Instinctively, you hold a hand out, somewhat frightful it could change its mind and latch its jaws around your hand, but rather than that, it takes in your scent, its long tongue flickers up your finger before you gingerly stroke along its nose once it has investigated you enough.

"Woah," you marvel in wonder, "they are beautiful." Messmer seems stiff and unresponsive, watching but not daring to move. You assume he's in two minds: fight you off his serpents or allow you to continue, however, you're still hesitant you've overstepped.

His skin even ashen holds a light blush to his face, and it finally dawns on you. He can sense what the snakes feel, for his golden eye is sharp and wide in shock. He does not recoil from you, but he finally does seem to come back from whatever trance he's in, nodding in agreement with your statement. 

"Do they have names?" You ponder aloud.

Messmer's voice is soft as he points to the one with blue eyes, "Fos," he points to the other, "Eos."

It is Fos who turns from you to look up to Messmer, almost pleased to be finally formally introduced, which brings a smile to your face. To think, these serpents have their personalities and thoughts, working independently from their master if they wished.

You realise you need to say more so it does not fill the air with awkwardness, "You asked if I read?"

"I did."

"I do because I wish to learn," you answer, "Not only of these lands but of the one I have long forgotten. I am Tarnished, yes, but I also had a life before, one I have not remembered in a long time. If I am to defeat Miquella and know of his plans, I must learn more of what I'm up against."

Messmer is silent as he takes them in, his face stoic and cold but his eye is darting across your face, over the books surrounding you. It is only then that he sighs heavily. "Very well. If it is true t' is what thee needeth, it shalt be provided." The smile that grows on your face as you hear his words, "However, thee shall not seeketh this inf'rmation without mine own aid. Nor shall I allow thee to be in the storehouse alone."

A fair agreement. You think to yourself, soaking in his deal. "Deal?" You are the one to hold your hand out to him, an olive branch of peace. He stares at your hand then your face, slowly reaching out, his large clawed hand warm as you predicted, swallowing yours in the softness of his skin. "Deal."

It feels like a long time before one of you remembers to pull away, your hand feels extra cold away from his heat, the power he exudes. You go pick up the book you wished to read, but Messmer is quick to add, "T'is yours to read," his voice is a gentle whisper in the coldness of the night, "if it keeps thee from fighting mine own men."

It dawns on you, that his tone is not dour when he tells you that, there is a tinge of humour laced within him when he wants to be droll. "Now, that I don't know I can keep as a promise, Lord Messmer."

-

A/N: So, I wanted the serpent names to be cute and matching. Fun fact: Fos means light and Eos means dawn but also is the personification of dawn🥺

[eruhamster]

Honestly for all the memes about Miquella being evil and Mohg being vindicated, considering the way only one of Miquella's followers truly aligns himself against Miquella with the idea that he's just manipulative(against the evil blood lord???), and how the Hornsent all seem to truly believe in him, and the actual good he's done throughout the Lands Between... I do think Leda has a point when she claims that you were only sent by the Erdtree. The grace very specifically leads you to Miquella in a way it does not lead you to kill the other demigods like Malenia.

Miquella, in other words, seems to be an actual threat to the Erdtree and the Greater Will. It wants you to kill him. Specifically him. I think Miquella legitimately was going to become a god, was going to follow through with his promises. He could force people to love him, but he had the true intention to become not Elden Lord, but a real god, so he can do the things he couldn't as a Demigod- bring his brother back, cure his sister, give those that Marika wronged justice - Bury the original sin, and embrace the whole of it.

He strikes me as a great unifier. He wasn't acting selfishly, and in fact was acting so selflessly that St Trina begs you to kill him rather than let him suffer as a god; she wants you to grant him mercy in death.

It gives me a bad taste that he had to die. He may end up failing, he might go nuts(given how Fromsoft usually goes) but he clearly wasn't evil, and his plan probably would have been far better than even the best Elden Ring ending where a Tarnished simply lets the status quo continue. And I think the fact that the grace leads you to him to get you to kill him REALLY suggests that he was a true threat, in a way that even Ranni was not, to the Greater Will.

I mean. Look who he picked as consort. The kindest man he knew. The man who was able to keep the stars out even when he'd completely lost his mind. There is not a single suggestion that he was only faking all that kindness he provided to every person Marika had wronged or that fought valiantly and justicely. Not a hint of malice in any quote from him. The only people who dislike him are themselves evil. I really do not think he is the villain. It's the opposite. You are. You doomed everyone he promised peace.

[hunnysnoops]

South Park Music HCs

What music I think the South Park characters would listen to.

Stan ✰ Kyle ✰ Kenny ✰ Cartman ✰ Wendy ✰ Bebe ✰ Heidi ✰ Tweek ✰ Craig ✰ Butters

With Spotify links!

Stan Marsh

Artists:

Radio Head

Siouxsie and the Banshees

Crywank

She Wants Revenge

System Of a Down

Slipknot

The Front Bottoms

Favourite Songs:

Atoma- Dark Tranquillity

Smokey Eyes- Lincoln

F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X- The Fall of Troy

Mr Grieves- Pixies

Misc:

Generally angsty

Gets embarrassed of his taste when he’s put on aux

He probably likes 90s dad rock

Whenever Stan listens to ‘System of a Down’ Cartman calls him ‘Syndrome of a Down’

Likes The Front Bottoms purely because he relates

Kyle Broflovski

Artists:

Dan Mangan

The Cure

Echo & the Bunnyman

Blur

Weezer

Billy Idol

Favourite Songs:

I Love You- Fontaines D.C.

Troubled Mind- Dan Mangan

The Killing Moon- Echo & the Bunnymen

Jumping Someone Else’s Train- The Cure

Candy- Paolo Nutini

Misc:

Cartman calls him a virgin for listening to Weezer

If he’s playing his music around you, he’ll sneak glances at you to see if you like it

Definitely has a poster for The Cure in his bedroom

Refuses to use Bluetooth headphones

Kenny McCormick

Artists:

Eminem

Outkast

Ini Kamoze

Car Seat Headrest

Cypress Hill

Limp Bizkit

Green Day

Favourite Songs:

Hits from the Bong- Cypress Hill

Sexy Drug- Falling in Reverse

Deadlines (Hostile)- Car Seat Headrest

Take A Look Around- Limp Bizkit

Misc:

Watches clips of Woodstock 99 on YouTube

Plays his music so loud that it spills through his headphones and gets weird looks for it

Listens to Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter with his little sister

Eric Cartman

Kanye West

T-Pain

Lady Gaga (we all saw this coming)

Rihanna

Black Eyed Peas

Oliver Tree

Pitbull

Favourite Songs:

Church- T-Pain, Teddy Verseti

Meet Me Halfway- Black Eyed Peas

I Can’t Stop- Will Smith

Bury Me Alive- Oliver Tree

Happiness is a Butterfly- Lana Del Rey

Misc:

Strikes me as the type of guy who doesn’t really listen to music

Unironically likes Oliver Tree (His music and him as a person)

Rips on everyone for their music but won’t tell them who he listens to

Lip syncs to Wiz Khalifa while flexing in the mirror

Listens to T-Pain and Will Smith to make him feel tough

Prefers podcasts

Wendy Testaburger

Artists:

The Shins

Gwen Stefani

Hozier

Grizzly Bear

Nelly Furtado

Olivia Rodrigo

Elliot Smith

Favourite Songs:

Swan Upon Leda- Hozier

Lacy- Olivia Rodrigo

Stand By Me- Ben E.King

Vienna- Billy Joel

Pocketful of Sunshine- Natasha Bedingfield

Misc:

Thunder makes her think of stan so she skips it

Relates to Vienna and probably got a small tattoo for it after she graduated

Probably has an eclectic taste and loves 2010s pop

Lets everyone else play their music while she’s driving and never complains

Stares at her ceiling and listens to Elliot Smith when she’s sad

Gets ready listening to y2k pop songs

Bebe Stevens

Artists:

Jungle

Wild Belle

Dominic Fike

Kesha

Avril Lavigne

Justin Bieber (baby era)

MGMT

Favourite Songs:

Feet Don’t Fail Me Now- Joy Crookes

Back On 74- Jungle

Memory Box- Peter Cat Recording Co.

Keep You- Wild Belle

Beauty And A Beat- Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj

Ur So Gay- Katy Perry

Misc:

Hates sad music, she’ll force herself to listen to USHER during a breakdown

Picky about her music, if someone plays a song she doesn’t like she’ll definitely skip it or complain until someone else does

Mentioned she liked Justin Bieber and then got in an argument with Cartman because of it

Never lets Clyde near the speaker

Screams Ur So Gay at the top of her lungs when it comes on

Heidi Turner

Artists:

Jack Johnson

Syd Matters

Daughter

Fleet Foxes

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Noah Kahan

Of Monsters and Men

Favourite Songs:

Open Season- High Highs

To All of You- Syd Matters

Two Weeks- Grizzly Bear

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing- Jack Johnson

Sisyphus- Andrew Bird

Blue Ridge Mountains- Fleet Foxes

Misc:

Loves going for walks while she listens to music

Sends you songs that remind her of you

Listens to every song you send her and tells you what she likes about it

Hums when she has her headphones in without realising

Her and all of her friends love Noah Kahan

Tweek Tweak

Artists:

Billie Holiday

Billie Marten

Johann Sebastian Bach

Claude Debussy

Ludwig van Beethoven

Foals

Connie Francis

Favourite Songs:

Who’s Sorry Now- Connie Francis

Cello Suite No. 1 in G Minor- Johann Sebastian Bach

Méditation from Thaïs- Jules Massenet

Bad Apple- Billie Marten

The Lark Ascending- Ralph Vaughan Williams

Misc:

I actually think he would hater Hyper-Pop

Prefers slow/classical/instrumental songs

Listens to a lot of white noise, really specific ones like ‘Heavy Rain in Autumn Fairy Forest 9 hours’

Musical prodigy, plays piano and cello

Craig Tucker

Artists:

Nirvana

Hole

No Doubt

Foo Fighters

Pulp

Arcade Fire

Jeff Buckley

Favourite Songs:

Common People- Pulp

Malmo- Mook

Forget Her- Jeff Buckley

The Pretender-Foo Fighters

Dumb- Nirvana

Misc:

Made one playlist in eighth grade and never listens to anything else

Thinks Courtney Love killed Kurt Cobain

Hates TikTok music, like genuinely.

Somewhat of a gatekeeper

Butters Stotch

Artists:

She & Him

Blonde

Kate Bush

Dolly Parton

Regina Spector

The La’s

The Mama’s and the Papa’s

Favourite Songs:

You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine- Lou Rawls

In the Summertime- Mungo Jerry

Hey, Lucky Lady- Dolly Parton

The Tide is High- Blondie

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here- She & Him

Don’t Let The Good Life Pass You By- Cass Elliot

Clay Pigeons- Michael Cera

Misc:

Songs absentmindedly all the time, annoys the hell out of everyone

Quotes the songs he listens to

Developed choreography in middle school and still remembers it

Asks people if they’ve heard a super popular song that’s all over the radio and social media out of genuine curiosity

Anyways, that’s all I got for now. Re log or comment what you think they’d listen to bc I’m genuinely curious, thanks for reading!

Also it literally took hours to add all of those Spotify links so I hope you got something out of this! they wouldn’t let me add more than 100 :/

[scriptorsapiens]

Classicstober Day 14: Helen (𐀁𐀩𐀛/𒄭𒇷𒉌)

Helen of Troy… Helen Queen of Sparta… Helen Princess of Sparta… Helen the daughter of Leda and Zeus… the face that launched a thousand ships wore many masks over the course of her life but one thing that remains the same is how compelling she remains as a character. Many thanks to @symeona for helping me with her look!

Helen is a character intrinsically associated with her appearance, but early sources do not describe her at all outside of demonstrations of her status. For this piece, I have borrowed from two sources. The first is symeona, who's excellent translations on Ancient Greek color theory informed my take on Achilles. The second was that wretched and accursed fnckboy Ovid, who described Helen's mother Leda as having 'snowy white' skin and black hair. Since Zeus appeared to Leda in the form of a swan, and considering how pale Leda was, I decided to make her somewhat swan-like in appearance, with big black eyes and naturally ruddy lips to seal the deal.

First, let's talk about Helen the Spartan (rendered here in Linear B as 'Eleni of Laconia'). Despite mainly being known for her role in the Trojan War, Helen lived the majority of her life in Sparta and her husband Menelaus claimed the throne of Sparta through her. Laconia and Sparta are some of the oldest sites of Mycenaean culture, so Helen got to be depicted as Mycenaean as all getout. The high-piled hair, the diadem, the open tunic, and the bracelet are all very common in depictions of Mycenaean and Minoan women. She also has very elaborate florets to mark her status. The red fabric and large gemstones mark her wealth too i completely forgot to draw in the necklace she wore in the sketch version.

I mentioned before in my picture of Cassandra and Hector that I am basing the Trojan looks heavily on ancient Hittite clothing, and this is no exception. I know the movie Troy sucks for lots of reasons, but I did like that they made the Trojan theme color this very rich blue so I decided to add that here; dark, rich colors in general are very expensive to produce, so even if it's not red the saturation makes the cloth very expensive and a mark of royalty. I based her clothing and jewelry off a Hittite statue, but I decided to omit the tall hats that Hittite women appear to wear under their veils; I kind of wanted that to represent status, so only Andromache and Hecuba would wear the tall hats if I depict them.

I was not trying to make a commentary with it, but it does strike me how conservative the veiled, tunic wearing Hittite woman looks compared to the open-bodiced Mycenaean woman. That could easily be read into, but I'm just going to leave it as depiction and not try to ascribe any symbolism to it.

The decorative circle around Helen represents several things. Horses feature prominently in her life. The Trojan Horse is the most well known, but the wedding oath that Tyndareus made Helen's suitors swear to was sealed with the sacrifice of a horse too. Anemones are a sacred flower to Aphrodite (long story) and the white lilies seem like a fun way to evoke the 'pure woman' image.

Also in the circle are depictions of Eris' golden Apple of Discord. For the life of me, I could not find any translation related to fairness or beauty in any Mycenaean dictionaries so I had to cheat: "𐀴 𐀏𐀪𐀯𐀳𐀂/ti ka-ri-se-te-i" is just a phonetic transliteration of ΤΗΙ ΚΑΛΛΙΣΤΗΙ (tē(i) kallistē(i)), translated as 'for the fairest.'

[cannedwyrms]

Spoilers for Shadow of the Erdtree but...

So, Moore. I'll admit, didn't strike me as very interesting my first playthrough. Yeah, he was a funny little guy, but that seemed to be it.

I wanna talk about Moore for just a bit.

However, on a few subsequent runs and an unhealthy amount of thinking, I believe Moore is a lot moore complex than I originally thought.

When we first meet him, he's right outside Belurat, next to Ansbach. Most of Miq's followers can be found on close proximity to each other, which may just be to show that they are all fellows, united in common cause, but there might be some reason for specific placements.

As far as I'm aware, Moore's placement next to Ansbach doesn't have any significance, but I'd love to hear any theories or thoughts if you have any.

He's like the supplier for Leda's band, working with other members of the forager brood to find things, which he then shares with the others.

"Things give joy to all," as he says.

Moore talks in a very simplistic manner. To me, it almost seems like he's forcing some of the words out. This could be because he's actually not a guy, but one of the pests, part of the forager brood. That's just a headcannon of mine, but I do think there's some evidence for it.

Anyway, Moore's quest revolves, as all of the followers do, around the breaking of Miquella's great rune.

But there's quite a bit of missable dialogue before it that really adds to his character.

We learn he's part of the forager brood, who you can find, well, foraging all over the Lands of Shadow. They'll give you cookbooks, and generally be cute little guys (gender-neutral). There's one by the church of crusade that's shivering and cold.

Pop down a warming stone or other similar items, and it'll heat right up. If you go back to Moore after doing that, he'll give you a cookbook with two items that are almost useful.

If you attack any of the brood, he'll eventually invade you and you'll be forced to kill him.

After the great rune is shattered, Moore seems to have a bit of a crisis. He feels abandoned, and will tell you that him and his brood were abandoned by their mother.

Before we continue any further, let's speculate on who Moore's mother could be.

Personally, I believe the forager brood to have, in some way, been birthed by Romina. A bit obvious, perhaps, but the pests have always been associated with the scarlet rot, and Romina became pretty bug-like after she accepted the rot. As to why she would abandon her buggy children, that's where my theory starts to fall apart. If I end up making a post about Romina herself, I'll explore this idea further.

Back to Moore, we can now get into the specifics of what his quest is actually about. What the theme is, how it informs our reading of the rest of the game, etc.

Moore's quest is about trauma. And, to be moore specific, Moore wants to forget the trauma of his abandonment, and believes Miquella's love is the way to do that.

After the great rune is shattered, you are able to give Moore a rare three-way choice to end his quest. If you choose the "sad forever" option, Moore will tell you goodbye and be found dead, next to the corpse of one of his siblings.

If you choose the "put it behind you" option, Moore will decide to keep following Miquella, believing that his love will "banish the pain."

The next time you meet him will be in your fight against Leda, where he will remark about what a tragedy it is for you and the others to fight, and will die. He seems to regret needing to fight you. At his heart, Moore is kind and gentle, only moved to the tides of battle because he, like so many others, believes it will save him.

Accepting Miquella's love is not the solution to moving past his trauma. There is no easy escape, and even if Miq's love did banish Moore's pain, it might not even help him feel any better.

This is one of the moore interesting ends to Moore's quest, because it informs us a bit about the theme of his questline, and Miquella's faliure to understand others' suffering. Becaus Surprise! Somehow I'm actually still talking about Miquella!

Basically, if Miquella really wanted to fix things he would've invented therapy.

Moore's final ending is very interesting as well because he's the only character that can actually survive the whole dlc.

If you choose "I don't know," Moore will eventually come to the conclusion that, even though it hurts, even though he's still sad, he has his family and the things he enjoys doing, and concludes that that's enough for him. And because of that, he actually survives the dlc. He's still there after you defeat Miquella and Radahn, and even though he's sad that Leda and the others never come by to visit, he's still alive. He's still foraging.

And this, I think, is actually another thing the game is trying to tell us.

Amidst all of these great ambitions, these demigods and champions trying to bring about change, to "fix" the world as they see fit, the one person who survives is the only one who finds contentment not in some great goal, not in revenge or obsession, but in simply appreciating what he has and trying to make the best of it.

It's not a perfect solution, sure, but Moore eventually comes to understand that, while he might not be fully happy, losing himself to some goal is not going to magically fix his problems or give him some sense of fulfillment. That's why he's the only one that survives.

Even in the base game, most characters eventually die, mostly for the reasons I stated above. Alexander chases a glorious battle, Hewg loses himself to the promise and obsession of making a godslaying weapon, Melina burns herself to fulfil our goals.

But Moore can live.

And maybe this is what Miquella was missing. In the pursuit of a perfect world, he missed the fact that no world can be perfect, especially not one built off the back of suffering. Instead, Elden Ring says, true peace—true kindness—comes from making the best of your situation and appreciating what you already have.

Of course, this doesn't mean you shouldn't try to improve your surroundings any, it just means that often our happiness can come from things we might have taken for granted.

Personally, I like Moore's second ending the best, the one where he fights alongside Leda and the others, but that's only because I'm a sucker for a good tragedy. Moore's inclusion in that fight also strengthens the idea that what you're doing is kind of wrong (something I'll get to when I talk about Leda) and that there is no moral black and white, only shades of gray.

All in all, Moore is a lot moore interesting than he might first appear, and his inclusion reveals another theme and strengthens all the other ones we've talked about.

I'll get to Leda soon, and eventually to all of Miq's followers, but when I seriously started analyzing Moore I realized I needed to make a post on him. Although, I'll admit I'm still not completely sold on this interpretation, I'm still pretty proud of it.

Okay, bye.

[luminaryofblood]

okay LONG wall of text sorry but in regards to your recent three posts may i add that mohg was never confirmed to be "mohglestering" miquella, that was literally a fan theory, and ive been saying that for a while because of how annoying it is to see people treat it as canon/a fact; and then go on to attack people who like him (pre sote anyway)

i dont mind if people see it that way but its literally one vague item description. he did have the torture blood cult though, but its okay because he's my meow meow/j

anyway miquella is not any better than mohg and vice versa, miquella also had literal expiraments on albanurics, probably forced radahn to agree to the vow, all that charming / brainwashing gig, and etc! thats not even mentioning him literally using mohgs body and forcefully putting someone else's soul into it...

i like both mohg and miquella (guess which one i like more, hard guess, i know) but seeing people who like them have a death grip on defending them and then attacking people for seeing them insert way / insert lore thing is so. unneeded??? i thought we were going to have that mohg miquella wedding micheal zaki promised... ok explodes

And he also had footsoldiers stationed at the Haligtree who blow themselves up, so that's kind of another strike against Miquella.

Also, for all the talk about Mohg tormenting the albinaurics over at the Mohgwyn Palace -- a lot of them seem... Fine? Like, arguably the only one tormenting them is us; like, those albinaurics drop a lot of runes.

But what really really really bothers me is how many people are gung-ho for the world Miquella is trying to create. And yeah, I do fully believe that all it amounts is mass brainwashing, and it is SO not a good thing.

And yeah, they honestly do act a LOT like Leda.

I honestly can not sympathize toward Miquella after the DLC. No matter what way you look at it, what he did to Mohg was cruel, and incredibly evil.

And I've mulled over what kind of world Miquella wanted to bring, and... Honestly, it does not sound like it would be a good thing.

I've made a post mulling over the thoughts that would be going through my Tarnished's head and why she would be like "Fuck that."

[105nt]

I don't buy any of these but it's a neat little summary.

[joannerowling]

reading career of evil and having thoughts and feelings about the recurring bad mothers in the series, and in particular mothers who are bad because they choose to protect an abusive/violent son/husband over a daughter. we have leda failing to protect lucy from whittaker and irene brockbank choosing her husband over protecting her daughter from his abuse.

but we also have lady bristow choosing to bring lula into their home even though she knew john killed charlie.

and of course, the tibh show just showed us katya upcott who can't even in the end think about her daughter because the only things that matter to her are her abusive husband and her fail-son. and as a sort of almost-mirror we have charlotte declaring that she wasn't intendinguse the video of jago abusing his daughters to protect her children, she just wants to use the video to hurt jago on her way back to strike.

Eh, i don't know if i agree with your analysis entirely. Not sure i'd single out Lady Bristow as a bad mother for the reason you mention for instance: she failed Lula, but she didn't adopt her alone - it's even said that her husband is the one who had the necessary connections for that to happen, after Charlie. I'm also not sure she really knew that John had killed Charlie. She lies to herself a lot. And in any case she prefered Charlie and later Lula to John. She's a bit of a counter example, she loves her daughter, she just didn't understand her and was also callous about children needs in general, treating them like little dolls instead of human beings.

I think Jo does a pretty good job at not stereotyping bad parents and showing us the "diversity", so to speak, in child abuse and/or neglect, particularly for women. On top of those you mentioned, i would add Mazu Wace and Janice, who are pretty extreme cases of bad mothers (especially Janice). So we have a decent spectrum from "dangerous psychopath" to "failing human being"; i appreciate that even when they're bad mothers, women are never demonised.

For example, both Leda and Charlotte are neglectful mothers, but in completely opposite ways. Charlotte is utterly indifferent to her kids, only had them to "get" Iago, knows it's bad and doesn't care, but this attitude can definitely be explained by the way she herself was raised. By contrast Leda was never unloving, only constantly distracted by her very intense way of life, which she genuinely thought was the best way to live. She dragged her kids with her and put them in horrible danger, not because she didn't care for them, but because she truly wasn't able to measure the risks, or thought the benefits outweighed them.

[margotbamborough]

I'm just jotting down a few themes I've noticed so far in the Running Grave!

Food/hunger/weight: while Robin's undergoing forced starvation in the cult (again, a common form of mind control used by cults) Strike is on a diet. A lot of references are made to characters being under- or overweight. For instance the detail that one of the ex-cult members developed a binge eating problem following her traumatic experience with the cult. Food (and Strike's and Robin's respective relationships to it) has been a pretty consistent motif that has popped up throughout the series so far and it's being made very explicit in TRG. There's definitely an idea of unhealthy relationships with food being explored. (Though also jkr just likes to write about food lol that's pretty clear in hp as well)

Disconnection from family: While Strike is actually connecting with his family more than we've seen before– forging a new bond with Lucy and her family, taking care of Ted, getting to know Prudence– the cult's MO (as is the case with most cults) is the opposite, to alienate victims from their families. We're getting to know several families who have been torn apart by UHC. The central family to the mystery is of course Mazu, Wace, and Daiyu. There's specifically a focus on mothers: there are several mothers or expecting mothers in the cult, Leda, Mazu, Ilsa (the book starts at her son's christening with her as a new mother). Even Bijou's apparent baby-trapping schemes fit into this theme, though I'm not sure how thats going to play out yet.

Mental illness/trauma: Prudence is a psychologist, and several of the cult victims either suffered from mental illness before being recruited or as a result of the trauma they experienced. Lucy discloses the fact that she's in therapy to Strike, a fact which surprises him, and encourages him to pursue therapy as well. Robin and Strike are both characters who have a great deal of unprocessed trauma, which they've slooowly been coming to grips with throughout the series, but I think so far this is the book where it's been most directly addressed. As of yet mostly in Strike's case, though given the nature of what's happening at in the cult I imagine I'm going to start seeing some of Robin's too.

Empathy/forgiveness: I'm not sure how to word this one but there's a feeling that Strike is becoming more open to understanding others and feeling more empathy towards them. He's a character who has previously been somewhat harsh and judgmental towards the people he deals with both in his personal life and his work– I'm not complaining, it's a good bit of characterisation. But after having criticised/scorned Lucy's lifestyle for the entire series so far, he's finally beginning to understand why she is the way she is and respect her. His realisation that she's actually incredibly brave was a HUGE moment. In general, Strike's inner monologue has been much less critical of the people he interviews than it typically is. The cult has a very black and white mentality, people are either good or evil, and I think this is something Strike has tended towards in the past- so TRG seems to be putting forward the notion that people deserve understanding and kindness. That nuance is important. A big issue when dealing with victims of cults is that many of them have been coerced into doing terrible unconscionable things that are difficult for the rest of us to understand, and many of them struggle with guilt, while outsiders struggle to forgive their actions. Steve Hassan explains this very well in his book (which is referenced in TRG and read by Strike)

I may expand on this!! These are just a few thoughts I've had so far

[justiceforanders]

Reunited

Part of the "Wings and Blades" Lucanis x Rook Stories

Pairing: Lucanis x Rook (she/her)

Rating: T

Words: 2.1k

Available on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61884079

Summary: Lucanis and Rook are reunited after she is pulled from the Fade prison. Rook struggles to grasp with who they've lost.

Reunited is a story written for @leda-de-riva, as part of my "Wings and Blades" series exploring the romance between Lucanis and different Rooks.

The air in the Lighthouse was heavy with silence when Lucanis Dellamorte entered. His hands trembled slightly as he carried a steaming mug of cioccolata calda to the small table where the others had gathered. He’d made it by hand, painstakingly, in the hopes that the rich, velvety drink would help anchor Leda now that she had returned to them.

They had done the impossible – they had pulled her out of Solas’ prison in the Fade, but Leda de Riva was not the same woman who had gone in. Lucanis had seen it in her eyes the moment the team dragged her back to the Lighthouse. Her long white hair, once silky and luminous, was now tangled and dull, cascading over her shoulders like a ghostly shroud. Her purple eyes, so vivid and full of life before, now looked haunted, clouded with memories of a prison where time had no meaning. Before he’d headed to the kitchen, she hadn’t let go of his hand from the moment she had stumbled through the portal, her silver circlet askew, as though her were the only tether she had to reality.

And she had whispered his name like a prayer, over and over again, as though she didn’t believe he was real. The sound of it, broken and reverent, had shattered something deep inside him.

Now she sat on the faded sofa, the fingers of one hand clutching the edge of a blanket that Neve had draped over her shoulders. Lucanis placed the mug in her other hand, crouching in front of her as though she might vanish if he blinked.

“Here,” he said softly, his voice rough. “Your favourite. Just like you like it. As thick as possible, and as sweet as… Well, you.”

Her lips twitched faintly at the corner, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She took the mug and held it close to her chest, the heat seeming to seep into her shaking hands. Lucanis wanted to pull her into his arms, but he didn’t. Not yet. She was like glass – fractured, delicate, and he feared one wrong move would shatter her completely. He could only hope she’d let him help piece her back together, one careful fragment at a time.

“You’re here,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackle of the fire. Her gaze met his, and tears welled in her striking purple eyes. “Lucanis, I saw… I saw you. I saw your body in the Fade. You were… You were dead.”

His heart twisted painfully. He reached out and cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped down her face. “I’m here, Leda. Alive. Real. I swear it. Solas lied to you, twisted the Face to make you see things that weren’t real.”

She leaned into his touch, her eyes closing for a moment. But then they snapped open, hope flaring in her gaze. “If you’re alive, then… Then Harding…” Her voice broke. “Is she… Is she alive too?”

The words were like a blade to his chest. He glanced over his shoulder at the others – Neve, Emmrich, Taash, and Davrin – all watching quietly from various corners of the room. Neve’s face was somber, her lips pressed into a thin line. Taash, seated on a stool nearby, had gone unnaturally still, their hands clenched tightly into fists on their knees.

Lucanis turned back to Leda, his own eyes stinging. “Leda, I… Hacedor, I’m so sorry. Harding, she… She’s gone.”

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Before Leda could react, Taash shot to their feet, their seat clattering to the floor. They stood frozen for a heartbeat, their face a mask of pain, before they turned and bolted out of the room.

“Taash!” Neve called, starting to rise, but Davrin was already moving. The lithe elf sprinted after Taash, whistling sharply. A moment later, Assan bounded after them, the soft clink of his talons fading into the distance.

Leda’s whole body tensed, and for a moment, she didn’t seem to breathe. Then she shook her head violently, the mug of cioccolata calda trembling in her hands. “No. No, she can’t be. I saw you dead, and you’re here. Maybe Harding…”

“Leda.” His voice was gentle but firm. He took the mug from her hands and set it on the table before clasping her hands in his. “Harding gave her life so I could take down Ghilan’nain. She’s not coming back.”

Tears spilled freely down her cheeks now, and she shook her head again, but this time it was a broken, defeated gesture. “Harding,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “She was my best friend, Lucanis. I… I can’t do this without her.”

He pulled her into his arms then, unable to hold back any longer. She came willingly, clutching at his shirt as though he were the only thing keeping her grounded. He held her tightly, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other wrapped around her waist.

“You’re not alone,” he murmured into her hair. “You have me. Always. And you have Neve, Emmrich, Taash, and Davrin. We’re not going anywhere.”

Her sobs were muffled against his chest, but he felt every shudder that wracked her body. His own tears slid silently down his face as he held her. Spite’s wings unfurled from his back, their dark, feathered expanse wrapping around them both like a cocoon. The demon’s presence was a steady hum in his mind, uncharacteristically quiet but deeply relieved.

She is here, Spite’s voice murmured. She is safe. We will not lose her again.

Lucanis tightened his hold on her, his lips pressing to the top of her head. “You’re safe now, Leda. I promise. Whatever it takes, I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

After a while, her sobs subsided into quiet sniffles. She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her face streaked with tears. “What about Bellara?” she asked, her voice still trembling. “Have you found her?”

Lucanis hesitated, his jaw tightening. “Not yet. But we will. You know Bellara – she’s too stubborn to let anything keep her down. She’ll find her way back to us.”

Leda nodded faintly, though her expression remained uncertain. Her gaze flicked to Neve, who was standing near the doorway. “And Varric? Is he…?”

Neve’s eyes softened, and she stepped forward, crouching beside them. “I’m sorry, Leda,” she said gently. “Varric… He’s gone too. It’s been a long time. If I’d realized you didn’t know…”

The grief in Leda’s eyes deepened, and she looked away, her shoulders slumping. Lucanis stroked her hair, his heart aching for her. She had lost so much, and he couldn’t begin to imagine the horrors she had endured in the Fade prison. How many lifetimes had she lived in that place? How many illusions and lies had Solas woven to break her spirit?

But she was here. She was alive. And he would do everything in his power to help her heal.

“Leda,” he said softly, tilting her chin up so she would look at him. “I know it’s a lot. Too much. But you don’t have to face it alone. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”

Her purple eyes searched his, and for the first time since she had returned, a flicker of light appeared in their depths. She reached up and touched his face, her fingers tracing the lines of his cheek, running through the length of his beard.

“You’re really here,” she murmured.

“Really,” he replied, his lips quirking into a small, sad, lopsided smile. “And so are you. That’s all that matters to me.”

She leaned forward then, pressing her forehead against his. The quiet moment lingered until a soft cough drew their attention.

“My dear,” Emmrich’s smooth, measured tone broke the silence as he approached. His hands were clasped behind his back, his weathered face warm with a fatherly expression. “Might I suggest you retire to your room for a spell? Rest is the most effective balm for a weary soul, and you’ve endured far too much already.”

Leda glanced past him where Taash and Davrin had run off to, her lips parting as if to protest, but Emmrich raised a gentle hand. “Please, my dear. Allow us to worry over the others for now. You need not shoulder everything at once.”

Neve stood, her hand clasping Emmrich’s shoulder. “He’s right, Leda. We’ve got this,” she added softly. Emmrich offered his arm to Neve, guiding her away from the room.

Leda gave them a small, fleeting smile as they left, then stood up slowly, her legs unsteady but determined. She walked toward the door with deliberate steps, but before she reached it, she turned back.

“I’ll rest for a while, as Emmrich suggested,” she said to Lucanis, her voice steady now, though there was an edge of something deeper beneath it. “I won’t be long. I just…”

She faltered, and for a moment, Lucanis thought she might collapse from the weight of it all. But she didn’t. She stood tall, the same fierce woman he had always known, only now, her strength seemed like it came from a new resolve.

Lucanis swallowed, his chest tight with something he couldn’t name. As she stepped toward the curved stairs, he stood frozen for a moment, watching her leave. The faint, sharp sting of fear crept up again. The thought that she might slip away from him, that after everything, he could lose her…

No. He couldn’t let that happen.

Not again.

Spite’s voice broke through the whirlwind of his thoughts, surprisingly gentle, a soft whisper that echoed in his mind.

Go after her.

Lucanis took a sharp breath, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. For a heartbeat, he hesitated. Could he really? Would she even want him to? Was he overstepping by chasing her now, when all she might need was time alone?

But Spite was right. He couldn’t stand here, helpless; his legs moved before he fully realized it, the urge to follow Leda burning in his chest. He had come so close to losing her. The thought of it, the emptiness he’d felt when he’d believed she was gone – he never wanted to feel that again. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t.

Not when they’d defied all odds – not when they’d been given another chance.

With a steadying breath, he crossed the room quickly, his heart thundering in his chest as he reached her door. Leda hadn’t yet stepped into her room. She paused, her hand resting lightly on the doorknob, but she didn’t turn to look back at him.

“Leda,” Lucanis called quietly, his voice raw with unspoken emotion.

She froze for a moment, then slowly turned to face him. Her expression was a quiet mask of resolve, but beneath it, he could see the exhaustion that lingered just beneath the surface.

Her gaze softened, but she didn’t speak right away. The seconds stretched on, each one heavier than the last, as if the world was holding its breath. Finally, she crossed the small distance between them. She didn’t speak, but her hand reached up to touch his face, her fingers trembling as they traced the lines of his cheek.

Lucanis closed his eyes at the contact, his heart lurching in his chest. The feeling of her hand on him, the touch that was more real than anything he had experienced in the past few weeks – it shattered everything that had been building within him.

She lowered her hand, but the quiet moment held. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, Leda murmured.

“Come with me. Please.”

It was all the invitation he needed. Without another word, he followed her into the room, the door closing softly behind them.

And in that moment, Lucanis knew. He knew what he had to do. He would no longer wait in the shadows of his fears. Whatever it took, he would stand by her side – no more distance, no more hesitation. They would face whatever was to come together, and he would never let go of her again.

The room grew still. And, for the first time in what felt like forever, Lucanis allowed himself to feel what he had been so terrified to admit. He was in love with Leda. Completely, irrevocably.

And he wasn’t going to lose her. Not ever.

The door clicked shut behind them, and the world outside faded to black.

[craftyballoonwinner]

Miquella the Streamer

I love the idea of Miquella being a streamer or Instagram influencer.

FYI Pro Miquella/Radahn

Definately posts beauty tips and reviews make up lines.

Has TWO channels. One for beauty and one for games.

Plays mostly RPGs, action or dating sims.

Always looks dressed to the nines and wears a crystal headset in gold cubic zirconia (or at least they hope it's fake)

Catch phrase "if it's gold it's good" even if said item is shit in game.

Does marathons for chairty that includes games he hates (usually with Radahn or Malenia)

Leda moderates his chat and has a zero strike policy.

His icon is a chibi face with the haligtree in the back.

Goes on multiple vacations and posts videos. Always talking to someone no one can see. Chat knows it's not Malenia, he shares the video with her when she's there with Finley.

Does not date although watchers can swear he sometimes looks/ talks to a man off screen and sometimes poses sexily and jokes to said man behind the camera.

Is non binary, loves pretty dresses and soft colors.

Sometimes shows up in drag persona St. Trina with purple highlights.

Can and will drag trolls expertly.

Has depression and mommy issues.

Will review red carpets while being dressed better than the attendees.

Can have a temper. His collaboration with Godrick the Golden will go down in history as the most angry he will ever get when Godrick told him Malenia got rotted because she's unhygienic and Limegrave viewers need to get off their asses and work.

sings well but refuses to do covers.

As his popularity rises so do the stalkers. Someone called Needle Knight really freaks him out.

Takes frequent brakes for all the trips he goes on but works hard to record so online posting doesn't stop while he's away.

Drives an expensive ass car ( he accidently pulled out the keys for a Lamborghini while search for lip balm in his purse) and viewers can sometimes spot several names brand purses in the background of his streams.

Uses an office, with a glowing neon sign of his channel and several high quality action figures of his favorite game on the shelf behind him.

Goes through a horrible break up and stops streaming when some named Starscoruge publicly states they miss him in chat while he struggles to get through Dark Souls 1. Chat talked about that for months on end. Starscourge is never seen again and no one knows who they are. They theorize he was the man Miquella talks to behind the camera.

Stops streaming when university starts. Comes back three months later when he flunked out and hated it.

Things get bad, chat starts to worry about his mental health and freak out when Marika posts an update that she will be closing down his channel for the safety of his mental health.

Is surprised when he comes back a year later on a new channel with a co host. Starscoruge Radahn (who runs gym, games and health channels under his Redmane name). Malenia will fill in when he can't stream with Miquella.