#Ophidia in Herba

[delirium-reflection]

ophidia in herba chapter eleven + extra

A 1930's Hazbin Hotel Human AU Summary: An ex-journalist and a radio broadcaster walk into a train station. Or is it an information broker (turned police informant) and a serial killer walk into a train station? Jonathan (Vox) is on the run and doesn't have many options when he accidentally gives his last dollar away. No good deed goes unpunished however when a stranger named Hugh (Alastor) steps in to help.

Chapter Eleven:

Brilliance and Bullshit - 1919

Thank you for your patience, everyone! We love you! ❤️

[writing-reference-redux]

I felt like sharing my collection of Latin phrases that may make good fanfic or fanart titles or inspiration. Some of the translations may be off, so you might want to double-check them before use. Also, I used capitalization liberally so you might also want to check where capitalization is actually indicated.

Ab Intra (From Within)

Acta Est Fabula (The play has been performed)

Acta Sancti ___ (The Deeds of Saint ___)

Ad Undas (to the waves / to hell)

Advocatus Diaboli (Devil's advocate)

Aegri Somnia (a sick man's dreams / troubled dreams)

Alea Iacta Est (the die has been cast / point of no return)

Apologia Pro Vita Sua (defense of one's life)

Caetera Desunt (the rest is missing)

Cedere Nescio (I know not how to yield)

Damnatio Memoriae (damnation of memory / denying someone ever lived)

De Nobis Fabula Narratur (their story is our story)

Decessit Vita Patris (died before their father)

Diem Perdidi (I have lost the day)

Dies Tenebrosa Sicut Nox (a day as dark as night)

Dolor Hic Tibi Proderit Olim (some day this pain will be useful to you)

Dulce Est Desipere In Loco (It is sweet on occasion to play the fool)

Dum Vivimus, Vivamus (while we live, let us live)

Dux Bellorum (war leader)

Ex Umbra In Solem (from the shadow into the light)

Festina Lente (hurry slowly)

Fortis Cadere, Cedere Non Potest (the brave may fall, but can not yield)

Fui Quod Es, Eris Quod Sum (I once was what you are, you will be what I am)

Graviora Manent (heavier things remain / the worst is yet to come)

Haec Olim Meminisse Iuvabit (one day, this will be pleasing to remember)

Hic Mortui Vivunt (here the dead speak)

Hinc Illae Lacrimae (hence those tears)

Hodie Mihi, Cras Tibi (Today it's me, tomorrow it will be you - of death)

In Ictu Oculi (in the blink of an eye)

In Somnis Veritas (in dreams there is truth)

Inter Spem Et Metum (between hope and fear)

Lapsus Memoriae (slip of memory)

Luctor, Non Mergor (I struggle, but am not overwhelmed)

Lux Ex Tenebris (light from darkness)

Media Vita In Morte Sumus (In the midst of our lives we die)

Memento Mori (remember that you will die)

Memento Vivere (remember to live)

Morior Invictus (I die unvanquished / death before defeat)

Mundus Senescit (the world grows old)

Nemini Parco (I spare no one - death)

Nitimur In Vetitum (we strive for the forbidden)

Non Ducor, Duco (I am not led; I lead)

Non Omnis Moriar (I shall not all die / part of me will survive beyond death)

Nunc Scio Quid Sit Amor (now I know what love is)

Oderint Dum Metuant (let them hate, so long as they fear)

Omnia Mutantur (everything changes)

Onus Probandi (burden of proof)

Opera Posthuma (posthumous works)

Ophidia In Herba (a snake in the grass)

Pax Aeterna (eternal peace - a common epitaph)

Primum Non Nocere (first do no harm)

Pulvis Et Umbra Sumus (we are dust and shadow)

Quis Leget Haec? (who will read this?)

Quod Periit, Periit (what Is gone is gone)

Res, Non Verba (deeds, not words)

Respice Finem (consider the end)

Scientia Et Sapientia (knowledge and wisdom)

Seculo Seculorum (forever and ever)

Sed Terrae Graviora Manent (but on earth, worse things await)

Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (if you want peace, prepare for war)

Sic Infit (so it begins)

Sic Vita Est (such is life)

Silentium Est Aureum (silence is golden)

Sine Nomine (without a name / author unknown)

Sola Dosis Facit Venemum (the dose makes the poison)

Solvitur Ambulando (it is solved by walking / simple tests find solutions)

Stamus Contra Malum (we stand against evil)

Succisa Virescit (cut down, we grow back stronger)

Sum Quod Eris (I am what you will be - of death)

Summum Bonum (the supreme good)

Summum Malum (the supreme evil)

Sunt Lacrimae Rerum (there are tears for things)

Sunt Omnes Unum (they are all one)

Tabula Rasa (blank slate)

Transire Benefaciendo (to travel along while doing good)

Tu Fui Ego Eris (I was you; you will be me - of death)

Ubi Amor, Ibi Dolor (where there is love, there is pain)

Ultima Forsan (perhaps the last / sundial quote "perhaps your last hour")

Usque Ad Finem (until the end / fight to the death)

Vacate Et Scire (Be still and know)

Vi Et Animo (with heart and soul)

Victoria Aut Mors (victory or death)

Vincit Qui Patitur (he conquers who endures)

Vita Ante Acta (a life done before - of reincarnation)

Vivere Militare Est (to live is to fight)

Vox Clamantis In Deserto (the voice of one crying in the wilderness)

There are also some longer ones that may not make good titles because of their length, but are still worth inclusion:

Aut Simul Stabunt Aut Simul Cadent (they will either stand together or fall together)

Flectere Si Nequeo Superos, Acheronta Movebo (if I can not reach Heaven I will raise Hell)

Forsan Et Haec Olim Meminisse Iuvabit (perhaps even these things will be good to remember one day)

Igitur Qui Desiderat Pacem, Praeparet Bellum (therefore whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war)

In Regione Caecorum Rex Est Luscus (in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king)

Minus Malum Toleratur Ut Maius Tollat (choose the lesser evil so a greater evil may be averted)

Quem Deus Vult Perdere, Dementat Prius (whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad)

Ubi Sunt, Qui Ante Nos Fuerunt? (Where are they, those who have gone before us?)

Virtus Junxit Mors Non Separabit (that which virtue unites, let not death separate)

[charmeecoffee]

I had to draw one of my favorite scenes from @delirium-reflection ‘s fic, Ophidia in Herba. Outstanding Radiostatic au, I highly recommend everyone to go check it out!

[elkonigin]

Supersum - Chapter 106 is up!

CHAPTER UPDATE!

It’s available to read on AO3 and FFN.

Chapter Title: Ophidia in herba | “A snake in the grass”

Summary:  The gang continues to head back home.

Taglist after the cut!  (If you would like to be added reply to this post, and I’ll add you to the list!)

@cookiethewriter​ @ruddcatha​ @shiyshy2004​ @anisaanisa​ @writemydaydreams​ @born-for-eachother​ @lordofthechips​ @themusicalshoo​​ @scaponigifs​​ @zelink-inukag​​  @liz8080​ @shikonstar​​​ @swimgirlz-200

[treeofliferpg]

Ideas de rol: Hechizos

Recordamos que el siguiente texto no ha sido redactado por el staff de ToL, solo lo hemos traducido para que pueda llegar a más personas. La autoría pertenece a @goodbyedearfriends. Su tumblr está desactivado, pero podéis leer el post original en nuestro tumblr bajo la etiqueta "idioma original".

ab intra - desde dentro

ab origine - de la fuente

absit iniuria - “que el insulto esté ausente”

absit invidia - “que la envidia esté ausente”

absit omen - “que el presagio esté ausente”

ab uno disce omnes - de uno, aprenden todos

abyssus abyssum invocat - el abismo llama al abismo

a capite ad calcem - de pies a cabeza

acta non verba - acciones, no palabras

ad altiora tendo - “Me esfuerzo por cosas más altas”

ad astra - a las estrellas

ad fontes - a las fuentes

ad meliora - hacia mejores cosas

ad oculos - a los ojos

ad undas - a las olas

ad victoriam - a la victoria

adsum - Estoy aquí

a fortiori - desde la fuerza/fortaleza

a mari usque ad mare - de mar a mar

audeamus - atrevamonos

audentes fortuna iuvat - la fortuna favorece a los valientes

audi, vide, tace - escuchar, ver, callar

beatae memoriae - una memoria bendita

bona fide - de buena fe

bono malum superate - vence al mal con el bien

capax infiniti - sosteniendo el infinito

carpe diem - aprovecha el día

carpe noctem - aprovecha la noche

cave - cuidado

ceteris paribus - todas las cosas son iguales

circa - alrededor

citius, altius, fortius - más rápido, más alto, más fuerte

clavis aurea - llave dorada

cogito ergo sum - Pienso, luego existo

compos mentis - en control de la mente

concilio et labore - con sabiduría y esfuerzo

concordia cum veritate - en armonía con la verdad

concordia salus - bienestar a través de la armonía

coniunctis viribus - con fuerza conectada

consummatum est - estar/está completo

corruptus in extremis - corrupto al extremo

crescit eundo - crece a medida que avanza

de novo - de/desde lo nuevo

de profundis - de/desde lo profundo/profundidades

dies irae - días de ira

dona nobis pacem - danos paz

ego te provoco - te desafío

esse est percipi - ser en lugar de parecer

esse quam videri - ser es ser percibido

esto quod es - ser lo que eres

ex animo - desde el alma

ex luna scientia - de la luna, conocimiento

ex scientia tridens - del conocimiento, poder

ex silentio - de/desde el silencio

ex undis - de/desde las olas del mar

experientia docet - la experiencia enseña

fac et spera - hazlo y espera

fac fortia et patere - haz un acto valiente y aguanta

faciam quodlibet quod necesse est - haz lo que sea necesario

faciam ut mei memineris - Te haré recordar

facta, non verba - hechos no palabras

fortis et liber - fuerte y libre

fortis in arduis - fuerte en las dificultades

gloriosus et liber - glorioso y libre

hic abundant leones - aquí abundan los leones

hic et nunc - aquí y ahora

hic sunt dracones - aquí hay dragones

hinc illae lacrimae - por eso las lágrimas

hinc itur ad astra - desde aquí el camino conduce a las estrellas

igni ferroque - con fuego y hierro

in memoriam - en la memoria

in nocte consilium - el consejo llega de la noche a la mañana

libra - balance

littera scripta manet - las palabras escritas perduran

locus standi - derecho a estar en pie

luceo non uro - Brilla, no te quemes

luctor et emergo - lucho y emerjo

mare liberum - mar libre

memento vivere - recuerda vivir

more ferarum - como bestias

natura non contristatur - la naturaleza no se entristece

nec spe, nec metu - sin esperanza, sin miedo

noli me tangere - no me toques

ophidia in herba - una serpiente en la hierba

pro se - por uno mismo

propria manu - por la propia mano

quaere - buscar

quod abundat non obstat - lo que es abundante no obstaculiza

resurgam - me levantaré

semper ad meliora - siempre hacia cosas mejores

semper anticus - siempre adelante

semper apertus - siempre abierto

semper fortis - siempre valiente

semper liber - siempre libre

stet - dejaló descansar

tuebor - protegeré

vera causa - causa justa/verdadera

[phantom-ellie]

Temet Nosce Chapter 4: Stede the Good Boy

Click for Chapter List/Content Warnings

Ed’s pet dog was adorable. He was entertaining. Lovable. Fun! And so excitable in the morning. Ed would take his dog for a sail, giving him new things to smell and balls to chase. He was a very good boy to have, and to hold. Obtineo et teneo. Ed was so protective of that dog. And of course, any good pet owner does what they must to keep their pet healthy and safe. You don’t explain to the dog why you’re cutting its balls off, or that you’re going to have to give it a flea bath. You just do it, because that’s what you do for the pet you love. You don’t sit and listen to the dog’s feelings on the matter, or dwell on reasons, because it’s a dog. You don’t ask your dog for its consent to be petted, to be loved, to be kissed. It’s loyal and loves you and it’s there for your own happiness. Right?

So then why did it run away?

Ophidia in herba.

---

The difference in sound a ship makes between an over-decorated, fluffed and fabric-draped extravagance of a room and a wretched, debauched hovel is palpable. Sure, on the surface the creaking is the same tone, but it’s less muffled now. Somehow louder without all of the fine things hiding it. And Blackbeard has had plenty of time to become well-acquainted with the difference. It’s worse with a hangover, but that hasn’t stopped him. He’s still drinking. He’s still raging, and crying, and hating, and adoring, adoring forever. It doesn’t stop, it’s a rot in his brain. Brain rot. That’s what he’s got. That’s the problem, there. The only solution is to rot his liver even faster, apparently. He takes another swig.

I thought I’d have a cooler death than this.

Izzy is screaming about something. It’s a wonder, really. Blackbeard’s crew has never been smaller. It’s the bare minimum of who is needed to keep the ship moving, and Izzy is still screaming. He’s chased everyone away, in time. He won’t stop, he never stops. The screaming and chasing, that is. How much anger can be contained in a man?

Blackbeard chuckles to himself. That’s a hypocritical question if he’s ever heard one. Vexata quaestio.

The screaming dies out, but Blackbeard knows he needs to deal with it. He needs to show his face, to glower with everything he’s got at these idiots, propelling this stupid fancy ship across the waves with the sheer force of ire. He has to do it all, everything. Fuck. He lurches towards the deck.

***

There's rum staining the deck now, such a fucking waste. That was supposed to poison his liver, was supposed to make the pain end that much sooner. But he had to show his face here, come back from the doggy heaven or wherever the fuck Ed’s pet Stede lifted his leg and took a piss, wherever that jester danced, oh god does Ed love him. Oh god does Ed miss him. Oh god does Ed want to kill him, but he knows he never could, can’t even lift an arm to hit him, even now that he’s stone cold sober.

Stede is taking his ship back, nec vi, nec clam, nec precario.

“Well, Ed, everything else is taken care of, do you want to do this in front of everyone or-”

Blackbeard smashes the rum bottle at Stede’s feet and points angrily in his face.

“I’m not Ed, I’m fucking Blackbeard-”

“Well, I’m not here to talk to Blackbeard, I’m here to talk to Ed, so figure it out!”

For a second Blackbeard imagines his fingerless gloves wrapped around Stede’s neck, but only for a second, because he can’t maintain that vision. Thoughts are swimming in his head and he can’t push them out. Everyone is looking at him. Everyone... And the looks on their faces… no, nope. Fuck no. So he does the bravest thing that comes to mind. He turns around to run away.

“Ed! No, you are not doing this.” Stede pursues, alone, balls for days.

“What the fuck do you want from me?” Blackbeard strides towards the safety of his lair. Lock him out, lock them all out. No more.

“We’re talking this through! You can’t escape down there! We’re talking it through.”

Blackbeard wants to keep running, but it's the traitor Ed who whirls around like a trapped animal, knowing he is about to crack up on those rocks, again. He can't help himself.

Nisi para non pugnant.

“What the fuck do you think you can say to me? Why would I ever listen to you? You… fucking…”

“Because that’s what we do here on the Revenge!” Stede’s hands are on his hips. He looks serious, furious, gorgeous, and terrible, just terrible.

“This isn’t your ship anymore. This is my ship and I say that Stede Bonnet must shut the fuck up! I’m done listening to you, to any of you-”

“Done?!” Stede laughs, but not his good laugh, but a sad and exhausted one. “You’ve never even started! You never listened to me, you never let me talk-”

“You talk all the time! I can't shut you up half the time-” He’s interrupted by a sudden lurch towards the wall. Stede… Stede had shoved him. Stede had shoved Blackbeard. Stede grabs Ed’s shirt with both hands and pins him to the wall in a mad surge fueled by adrenaline and frustration.

“You’ve never listened to me. You’ve never let me make choices. You just made them for me every time, like I was a child, like I was an animal-” Ed grabs Stede back, spittle flying in his sunburned face.

“You were acting like a child! I was saving you from getting killed, every fucking day!” He shoves Stede in return, roughly sending him sprawling back several feet as he attempts to maintain his footing. Ed stands on the balls of his feet, livid. “You’d be dead ten times over if it weren’t for me! You and your entire bloody crew! I did everything. I gave it all up, I sacrificed everything for you! And how did you repay me, huh? How did you fucking repay me?”

Sunt pueri pueri, pueri puerilia tractant.

Stede takes a deep, sharp breath through his nose and marches forward, bringing his hand into the air to strike a blow.

Strike a blow. Just like him. And if it is anyone else Ed would lose it right there, would gut him like a fish, would pound him into the floor with his fists until he was a mess of blood and sinew, but for some reason Ed feels a hot wave of panic shoot down his torso (locus minoris resistentiae) and by God, he turns his head and flinches, like some fucking coward.

It’s always the quiet ones.

And instead of the strike he knows is coming he feels a sharp tug on his shoulder as Stede grabs his upper arm and heaves him towards the cabin. And for fuck’s sake, Ed allows himself to be dragged in shock.

Ed is heavier than Stede. He is taller. He is stronger. But for the duration of those seven measly seconds he feels like the kraken has jumped right out of his body (ab invito) and into that of this perfect gentleman who can’t even begin to contain it. Ed feels like he is watching himself from the outside, powerless to do what needs to be done. He can only glower at his own... patheticness as Stede launches Ed into the cabin, turns on one heel, and slams the cabin door shut.

“I’ll fucking kill you,” Ed growls. “I’ll kill you for that, and for everything you’ve ever done to me.”

Stede whips around and holds a finger in Ed’s face like he is scolding a child.

“You will listen to me first. You will listen to everything I have to say, and then I will listen to everything you have to say, and then you can do whatever you… fucking want, I don’t care. You’re going to look at me, you’re going to see me, so that for once in my life I will know what that feels like.”

Ed hears he rough scraping heavy furniture over wood just outside the cabin. And there’s the adorable, funny, polite fucking menace, by fuck is he a fucking menace, heaving with adrenaline in front of the door, eyes locked on Ed’s with a look that Ed can barely recognize.

“Like fuck I will.”

“You’re not leaving until you do.” More scraping of furniture as Ed realizes what is happening.

“No, fuck you, Stede!” He runs forward to open the door. Stede stands in front of the handle, moving back and forth in order to block Ed’s hands from getting behind him.

“We’re doing this, Ed. Now.” Now. It reverberates in Ed’s mind, but he’s over the shock, he doesn’t care, he wants his fucking ship back, he’s lost control of it and that control is the only thing he has anymore.

Oderint dum metuant.

He uses his hands to grab Stede around the waist (noli me tangere) and hurls him at the couch, as if Stede weighs no more than a fucking Bichon Frise. Stede hits the couch with a sound something between a whump and a crack, and Ed turns around to open the door. It opens inward, of course, which of course stupid fucking Stede Bonnet hadn’t taken into account and-

He comes face to face with another door.

“What the fuck is going on?”

He tries to open this door, but it’s stuck flat. There are more scraping noises and he can hear Wee John’s voice on the other side.

“Sorry Captain Blackbeard! Gotta keep you in there for a while!” More furniture is moved in front of the door. Ed kicks it in rage. All that does is hurt his foot. He pushes at the door that has been removed from the kitchen and shored up with what must be half of the furniture left on the ship. There’s no crack or dent for Ed to get his fingers into. He’s trapped. He’s trapped with… the res nullius.

He realizes he’s just opened himself up to an attack and whirls around to defend himself against this crazed, rabid version of Stede, only to see that he is seated on the couch, absentmindedly rubbing his side.

“If you think I’m going to just… sit here and talk with you after all this, you really don’t know shit about me,” Ed growls into the nether. Really into the nether, because Stede doesn’t appear to hear him. In fact, Stede isn’t looking at him at all.

Stede Bonnet has the most delicious and devastated look on his face. The only thing that escapes from his mouth is a whimper. Ed’s guard is let down.

“Are you gonna say something? Stede?” No response. Ed follows Stede’s gaze to rest upon the empty-

Pater peccavi.

Chapter 4

[visiodei]

{CONT.} 004; ophidia in herba

[ @psychcdelica​ is an independent variable. ]

   — THE OLD MAN CLICKS HIS TONGUE IN RESPONSE, regarding his accomplice with a dispassionate, faraway stare. Mira truly is an inscrutable woman; she possesses all the ferocity and brutal cruelty of an apex predator in the wild, yet there’s a certain innocence with which she carries out her misdeeds, a sense of seeking, of almost childish curiosity, that sets her apart from the typical profile of a night-prowling, disemboweling serial killer. To say he dislikes her wouldn’t quite be accurate, but it is rather hard for Delta to feel at ease in her presence. Then again, when is Delta ever at ease?

   “Not quite.” He shifts his weight onto the edge of a nearby table and turns to face her, a hum leaking forth from his lungs. The corners of his mouth curve slightly downwards, perhaps with thought, perhaps with disapproval. “I’m merely taking this opportunity to stretch out my legs. She may not be here to tell me, but I can say with certainty that my physical therapist would be... rather opposed to the idea of me sitting down for days on end.”

[smnthchrstn]

“Home is wherever you are.” | Foxxay

author’s note: hi, this is a writing i did for valentine’s day that never made it up on time. it’s kind of six ideas turned into one, so if it’s a little all over the place i still hope you enjoy it. the word count is 1,078 and there’s a teeny little bit of zadison in there (as i usually do when i write foxxay for some reason) some mature content, but not a lot. if you want more, let me know! thanks for reading. 

check out more of my writing here.

We make a great team. We make a great team.

It had been a few months since Misty had returned from hell. The two women had gotten undoubtedly closer during their time together. They'd spent nights talking of strange dreams, their darkest moments and how much they'd missed one another. The girls had discussed their feelings at length - thanks to Mallory, she'd known so much more about the two of them than she'd ever let on. Cordelia and Misty had unspoken chemistry always - especially since Misty's return to Robichaux's, her return home. No one could deny the sparks that would fly each time they were anywhere close to each other. Hands brushed hands in the greenhouse, arms touched as they both laughed and one night Misty had a little too much wine after dinner and feelings were confessed. Not a single thing had been the same since - and they'd both never been happier.

Despite all the happy, Cordelia had her moments. She had countless nightmares of waking up and realizing Misty had disappeared - either that she'd been killed or sent back to her personal hell. Cordelia cherished every single moment with Misty.

"Ophidia in herba. Tuebor, natura non contristatur." Cordelia could hear Misty in the greenhouse and could easily remember a time when she couldn't. "Nature," Cordelia commented, placing a hand on Misty's shoulder. "You scared me. You're smart, Delia," the younger witch reacted, jumping slightly. "I found this little guy outside, hurt.  Mallory healed him. We can keep him, right?" Misty asked with a bright smile. She lifted her left hand, presenting a small green snake to the Supreme. Cordelia smiled a little and reached out to pet his head. "Do you have a place to keep him? We wouldn't want to alarm the other girls if he escaped." Misty took a brief moment to play with the snake. "You're right. Told ya you're smart, Delia," she said with another bright grin. Cordelia smiled with admiration for the younger witch. "What's his name? If he's staying with us - you have to give him a name," she pointed out, taking a seat on one of the stools. "Steve?" Misty pondered. "Snoots? Fleetwood?" she continued to ask. Cordelia laughed warmly. "Steve, I think Stevie is the best one for you." Misty nodded in agreement. "Steve Goode," the younger witch said thoughtfully. The Supreme felt something inside her go soft. "Why does he get my last name?" she questioned. "Because if he's my son, then he's yours too," Misty pointed out slowly, offering Cordelia a tiny smile. Things like that had been happening more and more often. Each time Misty said something like that, Cordelia could feel her insides turn to mush. She'd felt that a lot lately, but certainly had no complaints.

Noise left the master bathroom that morning, Misty belting Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere". The sound brought a flutter to Cordelia's stomach. Most mornings started that way. Cordelia had been trying to think of something special she could do for Misty and Valentine's Day presented her the perfect opportunity. Kyle had made a mess of Misty's music collection and Cordelia knew how badly that had upset her - she'd still talk about it, even two years later. Cordelia had spent months at flea markets, garage sales, searching Craigslist ads, and anywhere she could to find just about every Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks album she could get her hands on. After collecting them, she took a very quiet trip to Los Angeles with Queenie, where they'd visited Stevie and asked her to sign and personalize every album. They didn't stay at the Cortez - as per Mallory's wishes. Getting a record player was easy and setting everything up wouldn't be a difficult task. Eventually, Cordelia had to hide it all in Zoe's closet. Misty had been wearing Cordelia's clothes, and she simply couldn't risk the surprise being ruined.

Bang, bang, bang.

"Girls? I needed to get my hat that you borrowed last week, right now," Cordelia said in code. When she didn't hear anything but muffled noise, she took it upon herself to open the door. When she saw Madison with her head under the blanket and Zoe's horrified expression, she knew she shouldn't have let herself in. "God, Madison. I told you to lock that!" Zoe exclaimed. "She's the fucking Supreme - she would've let herself in," Madison shrugged, getting off the bed. "Then why didn't you stop?" Zoe retorted. "Because you didn't want me to," she shrugged again, stopping to light a cigarette. "I need Misty's stuff," the Supreme stated, ignoring everything they'd said and hoping to clear the memory from her mind. "Hoping to get laid on Valentine's Day?" Madison asked snarkily.

Setting up Misty's gift was fairly easy, preventing her from seeing it early proved to be a bigger challenge. "And I can't open my eyes? Are you sure?" Misty questioned. "What will happen if I peek?" she teased. "Don't try it, I'll make a blindfold if I have to," Cordelia threatened softly. Misty smiled as she blindly followed Cordelia's lead. "Is it food?" the younger witch asked eagerly. "Better than food?" Misty mumbled softly. "Better than food?" Cordelia stopped at the doorway. "Okay - now open." The younger witch uncovered her eyes and took in the scene before her. Cordelia had spread flower petals everywhere and arranged all the albums on the bed, where Misty could see them clearly. "Delia, you did all this for me?" she asked, wonder in her eyes. "Of course. I love you, Misty.” The younger witch walked to Cordelia, placing a hand near her jaw and pulling her in close. "You are so thoughtful," she whispered, trailing a finger down Cordelia's jaw. "I just want you to feel at home here." Misty's vision blurred again. "Cordelia, I always feel at home - home is wherever you are." Cordelia leaned in slightly, pressing her lips to Misty's tenderly. Misty bit the woman's bottom lip, sliding her arm around Cordelia's waist. Cordelia's hands roamed around the younger witch's body, finally halting near her shoulders. A hand slipped under Cordelia's shirt, Misty's fingertips brushing over her stomach. A shiver chilled the Supreme witch. Breathing became heavy and articles of clothing fell to the floor; first dresses and then undergarments. With a few brief pushes, Misty'd managed to get Cordelia on the bed. She fell back against the mattress, a gentle gasp leaving Cordelia's lips. "God, I love you," Misty whispered breathlessly. "I love you too," Cordelia breathed.  

[softlydivine]

⋉Latin phrases for Incantations⋊

List of Latin phrases to use as incantations <Credit to @mothmaam>

ab intra - from within

ab origine - from the source

absit iniuria - “let insult be absent”

absit invidia - “let envy be absent”

absit omen - “let omens be absent”

ab uno disce omnes - from one, learn all.

abyssus abyssum invocat - deep calleth unto deep

a capite ad calcem - from head to heel

acta non verba - actions not words

ad altiora tendo - “I strive to higher things”

ad astra - to the stars

ad fontes - to the sources

ad meliora - towards better things

ad oculos - to the eyes

ad undas - to the waves

ad victoriam - to victory

adsum - I am here

a fortiori - from the stronger/from strength

a mari usque ad mare - from sea to sea

audeamus - let us dare

audentes fortuna iuvat - fortune favors the bold

audi, vide, tace - hear, see, be silent

beatae memoriae - of blessed memory

bona fide - in good faith

bono malum superate - overcome evil with good

capax infiniti - holding the infinite

carpe diem - seize the day

carpe noctem - seize the night

cave - beware

ceteris paribus - all other things being equal

circa - around

citius, altius, fortius - faster, higher, stronger

clavis aurea - golden key

cogito ergo sum - I think, therefor I am

compos mentis - in control of the mind

concilio et labore - by wisdom and effort

concordia cum veritate - in harmony with truth

concordia salus - well-being through harmony

coniunctis viribus - with connected strength

consummatum est - it is complete

corruptus in extremis - corrupt to the extreme

crescit eundo - it grows as it goes

de novo - from the new

de profundis - from the depths

dies irae - day of wrath

dona nobis pacem - give us peace

ego te provoco - I challenge you

esse est percipi - to be is to be perceived  

esse quam videri - to be, rather than to seem

esto quod es - be what you are

ex animo - from the soul

ex luna scientia - from the moon, knowledge

ex scientia tridens - from knowledge, sea power

ex silentio - from silence

ex undis - from the waves of the sea

experientia docet - experience teaches

fac et spera - do and hope

fac fortia et patere - do brave deed and endure

faciam quodlibet quod necesse est - I’ll do whatever it takes

faciam ut mei memineris - I’ll make you remember me

facta, non verba - deeds, not words

fortis et liber - strong and free

fortis in arduis - strong in difficulties

gloriosus et liber - glorious and free

hic abundant leones - here lions abound

hic et nunc - here and now

hic sunt dracones - here there are dragons

hinc illae lacrimae - hence those tears

hinc itur ad astra - from here the way leads to the stars

igni ferroque - with fire and iron

in memoriam - into the memory

in nocte consilium - advice comes over night

libra - balance

littera scripta manet - the written words endure

locus standi - a right to stand

luceo non uro - I shine, not burn

luctor et emergo - I struggle and emerge

mare liberum - free sea

memento vivere - remember to live

more ferarum - like beasts

natura non contristatur - nature is not saddened

nec spe, nec metu - without hope, without fear

noli me tangere - do not touch me

ophidia in herba - a snake in the grass

pro se - for oneself

propria manu - by one’s own hand

quaere - to seek

quod abundat non obstat - what is abundant does not hinder

resurgam - I shall arise

semper ad meliora - always towards better things

semper anticus - always forward

semper apertus - always open

semper fortis - always brave

semper liber - always free

stet - let it stand

tuebor - I will protect

vera causa - true cause

[etoilesdephan]

Ubi sunt qui ante nos fuerunt? (Chapter 16: Ophidia in herba)

Chapter masterpost

Chapter words: 2.6k

Overall words: 41.2k

Read it on ao3!

Trigger warning: Self-harm.

======

“When your lease was coming to an end and Cornelia's friend couldn't figure out a way to get you released without Phil's testimony, we had to make the decision. Though your channels were still earning you money, and with all the income from the tours, it felt like it would be a waste of money to keep paying the rent since you'd need the funds once things would settle,” Martyn, fingertips pressed together beneath his chin, explained, seated in the chair while Dan cradled Phil's sleeping form close on the narrow bed. “And the landlord wasn't very keen on the idea of extending the lease either, after the police had nearly knocked down two doors in one night and then roaming around so much and disturbing the peace of the other tenants repeatedly.”

“Why not ask me? Or at least tell me about it?” Dan asked quietly, his thumb rubbing slow circles on Phil's arm, his eyes avoiding to look at Martyn, finding it easier to merely hear the information, instead of seeing the lips pronounce it.

“I think you know why, Dan,” Martyn answered, just as quietly and the silence set between the two men, heavy but not hostile. It was full of thoughts and unspoken questions and answers that both of them knew well already.

Finally, Dan sighed, staring at his knee, oddly balanced a little over Phil's legs that had tangled into the blanket “And all of our stuff?” Though he wasn't happy with the news, far from it (He'd never quite expected to find himself homeless like this, not after everything had been going uphill with their careers the previous year), it was a welcome distraction to try and sort out now. Something to focus on and what would allow him to feel like he was actually working towards fixing this mess.

It was enough that he had a purpose again, and with Phil close to his heart and so fragile, he had suddenly found a renowned strength to keep himself together. Physically though, his body was struggling - his heartbeat was uneven and the neck was aching from the poorly slept nights and the horrors that his mind had been conjuring so easily. The flashes of fright came in waves when something seemed even remotely hostile, remotely similar to what had happened in those long months though he had thought it to having become a welcome part of his life.

“We've stored most of it at a rental storage,” Dan nodded, and smiled a little, only a serene feeling in the little bow of lips.

Here they had been musing out loud about a bigger storage space, about the possibility of moving. Now life had forced them to take the step, and Dan was sure that all the places that they had been looking at before were long gone and out of their reach now.

He sighed and raised his eyes enough to look at Phil who's sleeping face was smushed into the the wrinkly hoodie that Dan hadn't really changed ever since he'd gotten it after his mum had coaxed him into taking a shower and changing few days after his release.

“Also - this,” Dan looked over when he heard Martyn shift and suddenly he saw his phone, handed back to him. Though he'd longed for this easy connection for months, Dan had completely forgotten of it in the delirious state post-trial.

“Thanks,” He took the rectangular object and watched as the screen lit up with the familiar screensaver and the digits of time, and the date.

“But Dan,” Martyn drew his attention in again and Dan simply pocketed the phone without unlocking it “Don't let the things you see get to you. The past months, especially after the news release, a lot of people have had a lot of opinions, and they have been very keen on expressing them.”

Teeth dug into the chapped lower lip and Dan nodded. At an idle moment he'd thought of what had come of their audience, friends, and colleagues. Now that he had a power to find out though, he understood how much he didn't want to know.

He was afraid of the what he wound find.

Dan understood though, he couldn't stay quiet forever. Now more than ever he was aware of how the world worked and he knew that the news of his release had probably travelled the globe in the places where they mattered in one way or another.

“And a few people have been trying to reach you, but you'll see that in the call logs and messages,” To that, Dan just hummed a nod, wrapping his arms around Phil again.

“So where do we go now?” After a silent moment in which he could only hear the hospital chatter behind the closed door, Dan asked.

“We've been looking into it already and there are a few options. For now however, you need to rest, Dan. I'm not trying to nanny you,” Martyn added when Dan opened his mouth to protest “But you will exhaust yourself and right now we desperately need to get you back on your feet to settle everything that's been piling up.”

Martyn looked down at Phil and Dan followed suit after noticing the slight crease in Martyn's forehead. It seemed like life liked to draw lasting lines on everyone's faces these days.

“As much as Phil's used to be in charge of half of the paperwork, he's in no condition right now to handle any. He was pushing himself so much to ensure that the trial goes through as soon as possible.” As if noticing the guilt begin to bud in Dan again, Martyn interjected quickly “He wouldn't have gotten any rest until you would walk free, so this is for the best.”

Dan pressed his lips together at that, trying to accept the words as the truth.

“He needs to focus on getting well now, so we can't push any work on him. On the contrary, we need to keep him away from it.”

Dan nodded again, heaving another sigh, and the tiredness was evident in the heat of his breath and the way his heart felt weird in his chest, pumping with a struggling feeling of far too many hours spent awake and poorly rested.

======

Leaving Phil behind felt like a mistake. As soon as Dan had exited the hospital, everything about him was screeching to go back, to take that seat again and be prepared to hold Phil once more if necessary. To be by his side and do what he hadn't been doing for such a long time.

The cab never paused though, and before Dan knew he was well on his way to Martyn's apartment.

As the world zoomed by, it looked too peaceful and unchanged. Only the seasons had rolled over from spring to summer and all the way to autumn, the leaves on the trees yellowing already. It was a familiar sense of meaninglessness that he'd successfully branded as an existential crisis over the years. Only now, he actually saw it, and understood on a level that he had never before.

Life had moved on, with or without Dan and Phil and all of their achievements. All of their work seemed to have been for naught.

It made him wonder, like many nights before in his years; did he really matter on any scale? Was the work that he did anything important? Was the grand scheme of things for him to merely exist as a piece of grain in the infinite and endless vortex of the universe?

“Try to sleep, okay?” Cornelia was unchangingly gentle, like she'd always be whenever something wasn't quite right. And things had really gone to shit.

It was a softness Dan appreciated; it was safe, emphatic. It almost made things feel alright.

He couldn't sleep.

Though his body was exhausted, his mind was a raging storm and he kept tossing and turning hours after he had been left alone, huddled with the blanket and a phone on the bed besides his pillow. In the darkness of the room he felt uneasy, and the warmth of a home was something that he was still taking time to get familiar with in his gut.

He was free and he could do as he pleased again, and it was something that he couldn't fully grasp just yet.

Because this freedom came with responsibilities that had previously been forcefully removed from him, too.

His phone screen lit up expectantly when he pressed down on the home button and for a while he stared at the nondescript background until the light went out again and he was left in the darkness with his eyes stinging.

“Take your time,” Martyn's voice rang in his memory “There's no coordinated update to do, no timing, just let them know when you feel like it's time to do so and when you think you can handle the response.”

He clicked the home button again, but this time he didn't let the light to turn off and instead he  finally tapped the screen, unlocking it. The familiar smooth movement of apps appearing and the more personal background was in front of him, and he stared for a while, remembering of the last time he'd used the device and how the random games and little notifications were scattered across the screen in the same manner still.

Like nothing had changed.

Like whether or not he and Phil existed didn't matter. He knew it was dumb to think about a phone not caring, but it was one of the many reminders of how the universe was so huge, so uncaring.

He kept scrolling, slowly, through the screens of apps, eyes trailing over the bright colours and lingering on the twitter blue and the messages in the corner. His heart was beating too loudly in the silence of the room, and he paused, uncertain, finger hovering over the twitter icon for a brief moment of hesitation before he finally tapped on it.

It was strange, the feeling, when the world opened up to him through 140 character posts, icons, and weird usernames. Dan stared at the first few - an update of some news twitter he had followed back in the day and the one from BBC. His chest tightened, and the words blurred in front of his vision with the realisation setting in. That his freedom was there, that he had the access to all the same things again and had the influence as one of the crowd once more.

When the screen went black again, he dropped the phone on the bed and curled up in the blanket, bunching it close to his chest in the manner he was used to, wrapping a corner around his head. His eyes were shut tightly, his breaths were short, hot, but he tried to hold on to the peace and curiosity from before.

But he wasn't the same Dan from before, and he wasn't sure if he was capable of going back to that life again. It seemed like such a different life, one he was never allowed to return to. Where he and Phil would just lounge on the sofa, either silently, or sharing a joke, sometimes even planning new videos. Where life seemed almost careless though it still could be stressful and dark at times.

The lack of oxygen was suffocating, but also relieving, and he curled up more, his back cold where the blanket wasn't enough and had rode up, but he couldn't find it in himself to change that, and he let the light shiver ran down his back. Instead he curled in on himself, and allowed the mixture of tiredness and no air to slowly take over him.

His heartbeat was slowing down. His thoughts were becoming fuzzier. His limbs finally released the tension just enough.

Reality was exchanged with nightmarish sleep.

Everything was warping in a way that made him sick, and the air was full of hostile noise. The images weren't clear in front of him, but he drew some peace in that distortion, though they made his stomach turn uncomfortably.

His skin was hot, uncomfortable, and he felt like getting it off. Nails dug into the flesh, and he pulled, pulled, but the feeling wouldn't go away. Water poured down his face, and it took a while to understand that it was his own sweat, his body evaporating slowly but steadily.

His joints were aching, with the low, dragging feeling that would easily allow him to move still but which inevitably was draining the body ten times quicker.

Something cold startled him awake.

The rough texture of a wet towel was pressed against his forehead, wiping away the heat and the sweat. It replaced them with the cool water droplets that tried to pool around his eyes only to trickle down the sides of his face, unnoticed.

He opened his eyes but the world was spinning, so he shut them instantly, groaning weakly when the world would continue to warp, even quicker now.

He squirmed, and tried to turn, but his muscles screeched and he remained still though it made him feel absolutely uncomfortable. It was evident that someone was there, the coolness of the towel disappearing for a brief moment before it returned with a renowned coolness.

Slowly, slowly, the things seemed to become better. He would squirm, willing his limbs to start tossing around again, and then - relax. The coolness would leave only to arrive back repeatedly until it never did. There were moments that were warping and others where everything was too still. He found that he didn't feel like pulling off his skin anymore, but his body stung oddly.

It felt like a short moment had passed, but something in his limbs screamed much longer.

Dark eyes opened to the world again, and he stared for a while, breathing slowly, but the heat had disappeared for once. How much time had passed of him just staring up at the darkening ceiling without a single coherent thought inside his skull, Dan had no idea, but slowly the whirlpool subsided and he became aware of his surroundings.

His body felt spent and his arms, his chest, everything - hurt. His back felt too stiff against the covers and his face felt steamed.

Fingers twitched and the feeling coursed through the entirety of his being. He moved his toes, stretched his neck a little, a few pops ringing inside his skull when his spine cracked.

Slowly, he pushed himself to sit up, knees bent and head leaned forward so he could touch his face, but he stopped when he noticed the white bandages around his arms. They were wrapped with an extreme care; not too firm but not too loose, as if someone had been afraid to hurt him. His eyes trailed over the cover until he noted a long, red scratch mark, wide like his own fingernails but not deep enough to break the skin, stretching out from beneath the bandage, the irritated skin crawling up his arm and disappearing beneath the sleeve of his shirt, where other similar lines were sneaking from below.

And it was annoying.

He felt the temptation to pull the bandages off, because the cotton wrap felt suffocating, trapping, dehydrating.

It made him think back to the last visit to the prison's hospital.

It made him feel deformed.

The stinging increased when he touched fingers against the white cotton wrap and the feeling extended to his eyes, to his head and beyond to his heart once more. It made the fatigue spike again and his muscles were slow to comply.

He lied down, the covers against his skin not comfortable, and closed his eyes again. His arms settled on his stomach, hugging his body weakly once more like they had for days.

And there was a peace in his core where nothing mattered anymore.

[delirium-reflection]

hello! i just wanted to say that i really appreciate your writing, so i made some art inspired by Ophidia in Herba <3

Oh goodness! We just saw the art! It's amazing! Thank you so much! (We've never had anyone draw anything for anything we've written!) ☺️🩷

[dreamter-blog1]

`is — is that /your/ bird?` a beautiful one at that, but it puzzles jason. birds have always flocked to him in some way — and he loves them as much as they're curious about him. this one, though. this one wouldn't come near him at all. either his pride's been pricked, or jason is genuinely wondering why. `it's gorgeous. you don't see many of them staying so close to humans, but.`

chainsaw tilted her head curiously from where she rested on her usual perch of ronan’s tattooed shoulder. she could tell that she was being talked about and puffed up in a self conscious attempt to look bigger, sharp talons digging into his perpetually scratched up shoulder as she readjusted her grip. ❛  she.  ❜  ronan corrected. ❛  she’s a she, but yeah. she’s mine. i mean i basically raised her since she was a chick, bottle fed her and everything so she probably thinks i’m her mother or some shit.  ❜

[charmeecoffee]

“Rumor has it. You actually like getting into these little fights. That you seem to enjoy them quite a bit.” - Ophidia in Herba by Control_Is_Cinnamon_Roll on ao3!

I take a bunch of inspiration from their fic, so go check it out!

[thekultofo]

#RandomEpisode Horae Obscura LXXVIII - Ophidia in herba

[tbhstudying1]

from for the dreams i want to catch https://ift.tt/2AKblzS via See More

Latin phrases to use as incantations.

This is gonna be a long list.

ab intra - from within

ab origine - from the source

absit iniuria - “let insult be absent”

absit invidia - “let envy be absent”

absit omen - “let omens be absent”

ab uno disce omnes - from one, learn all.

abyssus abyssum invocat��- deep calleth unto deep

a capite ad calcem - from head to heel

acta non verba - actions not words

ad altiora tendo - “I strive to higher things”

ad astra - to the stars

ad fontes - to the sources

ad meliora - towards better things

ad oculos - to the eyes

ad undas - to the waves

ad victoriam - to victory

adsum - I am here

a fortiori - from the stronger/from strength

a mari usque ad mare - from sea to sea

audeamus - let us dare

audentes fortuna iuvat - fortune favors the bold

audi, vide, tace - hear, see, be silent

beatae memoriae - of blessed memory

bona fide - in good faith

bono malum superate - overcome evil with good

capax infiniti - holding the infinite

carpe diem - seize the day

carpe noctem - seize the night

cave - beware

ceteris paribus - all other things being equal

circa - around

citius, altius, fortius - faster, higher, stronger

clavis aurea - golden key

cogito ergo sum - I think, therefor I am

compos mentis - in control of the mind

concilio et labore - by wisdom and effort

concordia cum veritate - in harmony with truth

concordia salus - well-being through harmony

coniunctis viribus - with connected strength

consummatum est - it is complete

corruptus in extremis - corrupt to the extreme

crescit eundo - it grows as it goes

de novo - from the new

de profundis - from the depths

dies irae - day of wrath

dona nobis pacem - give us peace

ego te provoco - I challenge you

esse est percipi - to be is to be perceived  

esse quam videri - to be, rather than to seem

esto quod es - be what you are

ex animo - from the soul

ex luna scientia - from the moon, knowledge

ex scientia tridens - from knowledge, sea power

ex silentio - from silence

ex undis - from the waves of the sea

experientia docet - experience teaches

fac et spera - do and hope

fac fortia et patere - do brave deed and endure

faciam quodlibet quod necesse est - I’ll do whatever it takes

faciam ut mei memineris - I’ll make you remember me

facta, non verba - deeds, not words

fortis et liber - strong and free

fortis in arduis - strong in difficulties

gloriosus et liber - glorious and free

hic abundant leones - here lions abound

hic et nunc - here and now

hic sunt dracones - here there are dragons

hinc illae lacrimae - hence those tears

hinc itur ad astra - from here the way leads to the stars

igni ferroque - with fire and iron

in memoriam - into the memory

in nocte consilium - advice comes over night

libra - balance

littera scripta manet - the written words endure

locus standi - a right to stand

luceo non uro - I shine, not burn

luctor et emergo - I struggle and emerge

mare liberum - free sea

memento vivere - remember to live

more ferarum - like beasts

natura non contristatur - nature is not saddened

nec spe, nec metu - without hope, without fear

noli me tangere - do not touch me

ophidia in herba - a snake in the grass

pro se - for oneself

propria manu - by one’s own hand

quaere - to seek

quod abundat non obstat - what is abundant does not hinder

resurgam - I shall arise

semper ad meliora - always towards better things

semper anticus - always forward

semper apertus - always open

semper fortis - always brave

semper liber - always free

stet - let it stand

tuebor - I will protect

vera causa - true cause

[fortunespeak]

ophidia in herba | Kohana | RE: Calandra, Kathy

Kohana remained standing. Her face betrayed little emotion. Perhaps the cumulative pain of everything, of all the trials and all the deaths, meant this was little more than a teardrop being added to an ocean. Perhaps she was just keeping up a fragile facade of composure. Perhaps she really, truly, did not care. It was impossible to tell with her.

"He does not have to be the one who lies in it."

Her voice was small, so small and so soft one might have missed it. When she looked at Calandra, her gaze was ice. It was Siberian; it could freeze the inferno. Her hands were tightly clasped, her expression had not shifted from its usual neutrality, but somehow her deep blue eyes chilled with a simple look. If eyes were windows to the soul, hers looked into a void.

"Miss Ueda, you may recall that, last time we were in this courtroom, one who did not strictly kill another still suffered for the crime. Justice is blind. It strikes wherever we direct her. Even if, technically, one did not kill, the judgement is ours to make. Perhaps Miss Jeggare is not the one who set the traps, but she is the one who condemned your beloved to death, crocodile tears and claims that she tried to warn them aside. Is it not perfectly poetic, brilliant and most righteous retribution, to make her pay for this? Even if Mr Kawasawa was the killer, is there not enough blood staining the blackened vestiges of Miss Jeggare's soul to justify her end?"

She bowed her head, dark hair masking her face. Her voice was unwavering, steely.

"Love is a most rare commodity. Like fire, it brings hope. Prometheus stole the flame for philanthropic purposes, yet he suffered. Does not the one who manipulated it, who perverted its pure intent for her own selfish purposes, deserve to suffer even more as a result? And does the innocent, misled, not deserve a second chance, does he not deserve mercy? Whoever we vote for dies, whether they're the killer or not. Does Mr Kawasawa deserve to die? Does Miss Jeggare, heartless, one who'd throw her supposedly most beloved to the proverbial wolves, deserve to live and walk among us? The pain of loss cuts deep. Perhaps both Miss Jeggare and Mr Kawasawa are guilty, perhaps, depending on your viewpoint, to different degrees. But I know who I'd rather have among us in whatever tribulations are to come. I know who'd stab me in the back without a second thought. I know who Miss Fukui would choose to save. Speaking in technicalities, one may be the killer, but they need not be the one who pays the price."

As if her speech had exhausted her, she all but collapsed back into her seat, her gaze drifting down to her tightly clasped hands.

"Salus populi suprema lex esto. May the welfare of the people be the highest law. May we never stand for such injustice. May we defend love for what it ought to be."