#ROAL au

[elosiahq]

Random doodles for my upcoming fic

[tabbyrocks]

Monodeku royalty AU where Monoma has been a wealthy prince of his kingdom for a while now. he's not the best, wealthiest prince around but he's well established and that's okay with him

until a commoner gets adopted into his neighboring kingdom's royal family.

this boy, Izuku, being poor basically all of his life knows almost nothing about being a prince.

and yet, somehow, he grows to be even more popular and wealthy than Monoma and multiple other kingdoms combined, and it leaves Neito beyond frustrated.

how could this boy, who has no knowledge of royal mannerisms or traditions become so popular in such a short time, while Monoma has spent his entire life working and dragging himself up to where he is now?

It's not fair, and Neito despises him for it. he wants absolutely nothing to do with him or his future kingdom.

that was, until, he met him in person for the first time ever.

[ghostselkie]

White raven Dracula au

So that first post I made about a White raven Dracula au was partly a joke, but then I started thinking about it more, and well this is the result of that brain worm.

Warning: this is a bit ramble-y.

Lenore is in the role of dracula, and annabel, at first, is in the roal of jonothan harker.

Lenore being a vampire is a secret that has been kept by the Vandernacht family for generations. Also they live in the Netherlands in this au.

Like in cannon the Vandernacts are ludicrously wealthy, and they using that money to help keep Lenore's vamp-ness a secret. Also cause vampire immortality, and a lack of male heirs when she was a human, she still has the money that existed when she was alive. Now Dutch families can be big, so only the main line knows about her.

As for why they keep her a secret, and not kill her for being an unholy creature of the night is because she is useful. She is probably at least a hundred years old at this point and has accumulated a vast amount of knowledge over the years, she knows more about the families wealth and how to handle it than anyone else. Also her vamp powers make getting info on competitors easier. They have a deal, as long as she does stuff to help them they wont murder her in her sleep.

Now this relationship has kind of soured in reascent years. There is no longer any one who remembers Lenore when she was alive, and no one who remembers hearing stories from people who knew her when she was alive. To the current Vandernachts she is a mysterious and potentially dangerous entity. So Thaddeus comes up with a convoluted plan to get rid of her.

He can't just reveal the secret, cause that would cause Lenore to retaliate. So he comes up with an idea for some one to discover Lenore, and say if they die, there would be enough rage to get people to investigate. This results in Thaddeus getting in contact with Ira, and therefore Annabel getting to stay at castle Lenore.

Now the intended result was that Annabel would either discover that Lenore was a vampire, or she would become one of her victims, as Lenore kind of has a taste for the blood of young women (she doesn't kill them though). What ends up happening is gay as fuck.

Lenore is not nearly as evil as book Dracula. She's more of a nuisance than any thing else, sucking just enough blood to satisfy her, but not leave the human with any lasting damage. She is unholy though, and therefore people are still scared of her, they just can't really do anything cause of the Vandernachts.

Now, Lenore has been a vampire for a long time now. There is no way she is still acting or dressing like a normal victorian woman. Shortly after she became a vampire she realized "wait, I'm an unholy creature of the night. I don't have to be straight," and started cutting her hair short and wearing pants. Current Lenore often wears things akin to her dreamland outfit now, or just men's clothing. So yeah, Annabel will defiantly be gay panicking over Lenore in her dreamland outfit.

It's going to start similar to Dracula, sans the racism (old stories are like that unfortunately), and the fear Jonathan Harker had felt in the original story with Annabel's horny. So this, isn't going to be a horror story, at least not from Annabel's perspective.

Now, as for why they fall in love with each other. For Annabel, the reasons are similar as in cannon. For Lenore though, the reasons are also similar, but with the add on that, Annabel is the first person who is not immediately scared of her, and who doesn't become scared of her once she sees all the spooky vampire shit.

Gayness ensues. The social season happens in the Netherlands, but Annabel and Lenore do stay in touch cause Lenore kinda had to act as her translator, since Annabel didn't end up learning much Dutch. So they get to be together, but Lenore has to watch Annabel meet with other suitors, all while their inevitable separation is looming. Unlike in cannon, however, they both know of a way to be together, but neither of them want to talk about it cause it would involve Annabel being turned in to a vampire. Annabel does end up going back to London to be engaged to her child hood friend, and Lenore, in good old Dracula fashion, fallows her home. Now this is when Annabel transitions from the role of Jonathan to Lucy, except the whole being turned in to a vampire is a lot more consensual.

Vampire lore for this au

[lordsireno]

The trash OT4 next-gen kids shenanigans (The first picture order is Cai, Twoey, Clara and Roal).

Most is Clara and Cai because in this AU them being raised basically as twins does wonders for them. Clara grows to be more out-going and stand up for herself early on, and while Cai gets coddled and let's his sister take charge, it means he doesn't grow up into an anxious mess when leadership roles taking their toll.

And then there's Cletus inciting rivalry amongst the children, and Cai works smarter not harder

[stellocchia]

Come get your Sunday fanfictions everyone! 

On going:

He Knows by lefs

Chapters: 2/?

Royal AU, where Tommy is sort of covering a double role as both one of the princes and a member of the rebellion together with Tubbo

every day every hour turn that pain into power by Drhair76

Chapters: 3/?

Superhero AU that mostly focuses on Tommy who’s pretty much a regular foster kid who wants to be a hero, but hasn’t been able to so far due to life struggles. It’s got quite a few very interesting elements, like Puffy being wonderful, kid Hannah and kid Fundy’s friendship, librarian Ranboo, Tubbo being one of the smartest f*ckers around and so one. It’s great!

The Crazed Trio Of Logstedshire by Soulless_Fawn

Chapters: 2/?

Fantasy AU that promises Bench Trio content soon enough (though Ranboo has yet to be introduced). Basically, Wilbur, Eret, and Fundy are a werewolf pack that adopted Human Tommy in their midst. Tubbo meanwhile is a vampire and he lives with his coven, which is comprised of Phil, Niki, and Techno as far as we know. Tommy and Tubbo meet up one night and become friends to the displeasure of their respective families

Tommy's Horror Movie Tactics by smileforSmilez

Chapters: 13/?

Despite the title the fic isn’t focused on Tommy at all. He’s just the cryptid that’s hunting the Dream smp and, more specifically, the Eggpire (whose members are the actual focus of the fic together with those aurrounding them). It’s a horror/mistery type fic that starts off with Ponk’s disappearance

the cosmos by rainfxll

Chapters: 2/?

Dream kills Tommy in the prison and things go wrong from there. Tommy finds himself in a whole other universe where no one is how they used to be. He’s part of a rebellion together with a different version of Wilbur, Tubbo and a few more against the Somnium Empire (lead by Techno, Phil, and Fundy from what we can tell so far). He may have to fix the new universe to get home

Completed: 

Gold Rings and Goose Down by Misterghostfrog

Chapters: 2/2

Kidinnit steals a golden ring with curse of binding on it and ends up getting adopted by the roal family, as you do

the stars in your eyes by nervousn8

Chapters: 1/1

Technoblade takes a trip to the Nether one time and he ends up yoinking a kid. In his defence, the kid was an orphan

it is a start by darkwhitepebble

Chapters: 1/1

Wilbur has decided that the best way to get his little brother back is through an increasingly ridiculous series of gifts. He starts off with a herd of cows, as one would

To Establish Connection by SilverWing15

Yet another Royal AU where Tommy slowly but surely ends up getting adopted by the royal family, only this time with more trauma!

Making their way up by alwerakoo

Another Techno-centric fic, this time with a focus on the Bedrock Bros arc on the Dream smp. It’s a very sweet fic with some nice bonding moments, highly recommend it!

[shadydirt]

Here are my current designs for Blake and Weiss :p

[eternalflxmes]

holy shit i am tempted to put in my mirror verse for shen. i have even doodles to show. details below!

ok so, a while back i had a silly idea where in this universe, shen is a displaced prince, and ends up going homeless with only soothsayer by his side to take care of him. he becomes a fireworks vendor and sells goods. the reason of him having no home is because his parents were killed after a clan raid in gongmen city. the plan was to wipe out the roal peacock family including the their son, who was heir to the throne. the wolf army defended the royals, as soothsayer was able to escape with shen, whom was only a child when it happened. years pass as shen is then raised by soothsayer herself. a drastic change in social status for the young peafowl. oh yeah also, in this au, wolf boss is a bit older than shen, and had served as the general guard to the royals. wolf boss joins with the two in a few years time, as for he survived the raid. he now serves as a line of defense and family friend to what’s left of the royal peacock family.

that’s all i have for now. here’s some doodles i may color and clean up! mind you these were before i came up with the backstory, so i def wanna draw more to this!:

[marvelgirl7]

Steve Rogers Masterlist

Across The Dimensions Masterlist (MCU with a Spin Storyline)

Practically Charmed Masterlist (Magical, Witch Storyline, Steve X Rowan)

Baby’s Breath Masterlist (Roal AU, Steve X Rowan)

Little Wolf (Steve X Rowan) 

To read stories about Grown Westley Rogers & Piper Barnes check out their masterlist! 

Piper & Wes

[kabukiaku]

OH SNAP AU TIME! This is branched out from some doodles I made. 

This is an AU where shen is a displaced prince, and ends up going homeless with only soothsayer by his side to take care of him. he becomes a fireworks vendor and sells goods. 

the reason of him having no home is because his parents were killed after a clan raid in gongmen city. the plan was to wipe out the roal peacock family including their son, who was heir to the throne. shen’s parents were moritfied. they’ve recieved numerous death threats from the same clan, and were brushed off. but things turned to an exreme after they recieved the letter that said their son would be killed if they didn’t surrender. a plan of action was made, as the wolf army who served as the Lord’s guards put themselves as frontlines of defense. 

during the raid, soothsayer was able to escape with shen, having to leave his home, his parents behind. the pain and trauma stayed with him. the horrific scenes are still appear clear in his memories. years pass as shen is then raised by soothsayer herself. a drastic change in social status for the young peafowl. In this au, wolf boss aka general zang (name idea borrowed by @wxlfbxss) is a bit older than shen, and had served as the guard general to peacock royals, and as a close family friend. wolf boss reunites with the two years later, as for he survived the raid. 

PHEW. well that’s it. i didn’t want to make this too long of a read. this AU is a work in progress (as i have more art coming your way!) and it’s really fun to take an exsisting story and just, branch out a different possbility from it. 

[ourmagicclem]

I was tagged by @lookirosefromthedead thanks ❤❤

Fictional characters you relate to?

Marley Rose (Glee), Sansa Stark (Game of Thrones), Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter), Amy Santiago (Brooklyn Nine Nine), Kala Dandekar (Sense8), Robert Frobisher (Cloud Atlas) and Tracy aka the Mother (HIMYM). And probably more tbh

Book you can read over and over without getting tired of it?

Animal Farm by George Orwell (i literally read this one at least once a year), 1984 by George Orwell, Matilda by Roal Dahl, Coraline by Neil Gailman and The Hunger Games saga by Suzanne Collins. 

What’s your favorite comfort show/movie?

Movies: Cloud Atlas, any Star Wars movies, The Truman show, Inside Out, Coraline, Hugo, Seeking a Friend for the end of the world, Pride, Speed Racer, and Stardust. 

Shows: Sense8 obviously, The Good Place and Galavant. 

Which fictional character are you most defensive over?

I will defend Sansa Stark with my life.

Show you fell out of love with?

How I Met Your Mother 

Show you’re most excited for?

The new season of Westworld, the new season of A Series of Unfortunate Events and the new episode of Sense8 (hopefully, it will not be the last episode). Also, next season of Game of Thrones (i can’t believe we have to wait until 2019) and even if season 2 isn’t over yet, I can’t wait for The Good Place season 3. 

What’s your aesthetic?

Stars, the color burgundy, movies, over sized sweater, cats, nerdy t-shirt, vintage phone and winter. 

Favorite fanfic tropes?

Soulmates AU is my favorite by far. 

I’m tagging all these great people: @sweetpumpkinpieinwithcoffee, @amel-2405, @youshouldwriteabook-goonview, @aerishey, @jonsnowisthesexiestbastard, @jonsaremembers and @kittensith

[naschkater-com]

Mit Hershey’s Gold und Nestlés KitKat Gold sind gerade zwei neue güldene Süßigkeiten auf den Markt gekommen. Gold steht hier für die Geschmacksrichtung Karamell.

Wohl kaum eine Süßigkeit ist in Asien ein so beliebtes Geschenk wie Ferrero Rocher! Gerade zum Chinesischen Neujahrsfest sind die Lebensmittelgeschäfte bis zum letzten Zentimeter vollgestopft mit den gold glänzenden Rocher-Geschenkpackungen. Und das liegt vor allem an der güldenen Verpackung der Knusperpralinen: Wenn man etwas Goldenes geschenkt bekommt, verheißt das Reichtum und Glück für das kommende Jahr.

Auch bei uns wirken Gold-Verpackungen und auch Bezeichnungen, die das Wort Gold enthalten, als hochwertig und edel. Die bekanntesten Produkte mit Gold im Namen sind der Goldbär von HARIBO oder der Goldhase von Lindt. Aber auch der Goldschatz von Ritter Sport und das Stileis Magnum Gold (köstlich, aber leider zurzeit nicht zu haben) haben eine Popularität unter Fans erreicht.

Auch bei ausländischen Süßigkeiten sind Goldbezeichnungen nicht selten. Im Englischen ist es das gleiche Wort, im Französischen De l’or, im Spanischen Oro, auf Niederländisch Goud auf Dänisch Guld.

Süßigkeiten mit Gold im Namen

Haribo Goldbären Minis

Lindt Goldhase

Ritter Goldschatz Sport Vollmilch 40%

Nestlé KitKat Gold

Hershey’s Gold Peanuts+Pretzels Caramelized Creme

Magnum Gold?!

Tise Goldtaler 200 Stück 700 Gramm

Doppelt gefüllter blonder Oreo.

Heindl Fine Chocolate Tresor Vollmilchschokolade mit Pralinenfüllung

Heidel Gold Credit Card Schokolade

Cadbury Wispa Gold 4 Stück

Terry’s All Gold Dark Pralinen

Guld Barre: Dänische Goldbarren von Tom’s mit Minzgeschmack.

Guld Barre – Goldbarren vom dänischen Tom’s, gefüllt mit Pariser Linsen (bunten Schoko-Minz-Linsen).

Goldbarren-Schokoriegel von Toms mit Orange.

Tom’s Goldbarren mit dragierter Mandel

Helle (“Golden”) Oreos aber ohne bunte Birthday-Cake-Streusel.

Dieser salzige Snack besteht aus kleinen Vollkorn-Fischchen mit Cheddar-Geschmack – aber in vielen verschiedenen Farben!

Cote D’Or Mignonnette Collection

Lakrids by Knud Licorice Gold Lakritz mit Schokolade goldfarben

Goldmine: kleine, unregelmäßige Kaugummistücke in Gelbgold von Espeez.

Gut+Günstig Goldkringel Butter-Spritzgebäck 400 Gramm

Golden Wonder Tacos – muss ich noch probieren, war zu viel auf einmal.

Golden Wonder Pickled Onion – ich denke das bedeutet so viel wie sauer eingelegte Zwiebeln – schmeckt schön intensiv.

Nestlé Gold Knackiger Mousse-Riegel

Wieder mal eine originelle, zeitgeistige Sorte von Nescafé: Coconut Latte

Anthon Berg Since 1884 Dessertchokolader 800 Gramm Pralinen

Tafelschokolade von Goldkenn mit dem Geschmack von Jack Daniels-Whiskey, 100 Gramm.

Eine sehr bunte Dose mit einem Whiskey-Cola-Gemisch von Goldkrone.

Zickengold Fruchteis ,mit Alkohol auf Likörbasis

Ein lustiger Name für ein Eis von Langnese bzw. Algida oder wie das Heartbrand von Unilever im jeweiligen Land heißt.

China Tütensuppe Goldenes Hähnchen

  Snacks und Süßigkeiten in goldiger Verpackung

Ferrero Rocher Riesenkugel

Herbstliches Eichhörnchen von Ferrero Rocher: Wirklich sehr schöne, ungewöhnliche Hohlform. Nur noch ein wenig artifizieller und größer und es wäre ein echt fantastisches Kunstwerk.

Schneemann in Weiß und Goldbraun von Ferrero Rocher.

Gianduiotti sind die nach oben spitz zulaufenden Nougat-Pralinen, meistens einzeln verpackt in Goldpapier. Für Nougat-Liebhaber ein Gedicht, für mich nicht…

Rausch Herzen Edelkakao-Schokolade Peru Gold_RGB

Mondelez Toblerone Adventskalender in Gold und Pyramidenform.

Der Mondelez-Konzern (früher Kraft Jacobs Suchard) ist besonders gut darin, seine Brands zu mischen. Nicht nur mit Milka, auch mit der ursprünglich norwegischen Schokolade gibt es ein Oreo-Cross-over.

Diese Skandinavier müssen über Lakritz reinhauen, selbst in die leckere Marabou-Schokolade! Marabou gehört wie Norwegens größter Schokoladenhersteller Freia zu Mondelez.

Marabou Schokolade Orange-Krokant

Auch eine schöne Variante: Marabou-Schokolade Mint-Krokant (Mondelez)

Suchard-Schokolade mit Chips Ahoy!-Füllung.

Suchard-Schokolade mit Oreo (beide Mondelez), gesehen in Spanien.

Die Cruncie Rocks von Cadbury schmecken eigentlich Choco Crossies von Nestlé, nur dass hier noch eine dünne, knusprige Karamellschicht eingearbeitet ist.

Crunchie ist luftiggeschlagene Zuckermasse, die im Mund zusammenfällt und klebt. Nicht mein Ding.

Büste des Schriftstellers Theodor Fontane aus massiver Schokolade, mit goldener Lebensmittelfarbe zu seinem 200. Geburtstag.

Aldi Reichsgraf Weihnachsmann mit Goldglasur 60 Gramm

Aldi Reichsgraf Weihnachtsmann.mit Goldglasur 70 Gramm

Auer Feinste Waffelspezialitäten seit 1920 Fandoro Haselnuss 20 Stück

Manners Mignon Schnitten gibt es mindestens seit den 1970er Jahren – weiter kann es selbst Manner nicht mehr zurück verfolgen. Die “Gold Mignon” (mit der Größe der Neapolitaner-Schnitten und nicht die Größe der Sticks) gab es bis 2011.

Werther’s Original als gemischte Box (gefunden in Anatolien, Spanien)

Überraschungsfund bei Aldi: Quadratische goldene Dosen im nostalgischen Look für Storcks Riesen-Karamellkaubobons.

Grether’s Pastilles for Throat and Voide Handmade in Switzerland Blackcurrant

Pfirsich-Bonbons in einer ähnlichen Dose des Mitbewerbers Queen’s Delight von Ragold.

Goldener Inhalt und goldene Dose: Cavendish und Harvey bietet seit letztem Jahr verschiedene Toffees, Fudge- und Karamellproduktel an – da drängt es sich förmlich auf, diese Geschmacksrichtung auch auf die Bonbons auszudehnen.

Spanien 007 Chips salt+vinegar Glutenfrei

KCA CrikCrok: Kugelrunde Maispuffs mit vier dem Geschmack von vier verschiedenen Käsesorten.

Lindt Haselnusscreme 40% haselnüsse

Wenn das nicht mal eine edle Verpackung für einen Pudding ist: Dieser Sahne-Pudding von Zott kommt gülden daher. Ober auch so schmeckt?

Cookie Bros. Keksteig zum Naschen Cinnamon roll

Klassiker: Die Mozartkugel als Likör von Mozart Distillerie.

Gelungener Marketing-Gag: Café Roal verpackt eine Schachtel Gold und wirbt mit Ex-Boyband-Idol Robbie Williams als Geheimagent No. 2. Eine der vielen Schachteln, die ich gekauft habe, habe ich immer noch nicht angebrochen und bewahre sie mir auf!

China Tütensuppe Goldenes Hähnchen

Übrigens habe ich auch schon über Comic-Verpackungen geschrieben, über Tiermotive und Süßigkeiten mit Eichhörnchen.

Golden Sweets: Süßigkeiten in Gold und mit Gold Mit Hershey's Gold und Nestlés KitKat Gold sind gerade zwei neue güldene Süßigkeiten auf den Markt gekommen.

[lordsireno]

The OT4 and their children~ (aka my previously designed next gen, but as siblings)

Coal and Cai are the eldest, with only a few weeks separating them. Coal is a cheerful and curious child that easily wins hearts. Cai is more reserved and withdrawn, but also stubborn and tries to take the leader role.

Roal came a year later. Energetic and playful, but mental issues make them hard to communicate and deal with when things don't link up like they should.

Twoey came three years later (they waited until Roal was slightly more manageable). Lives up being the baby of the group to get away with things. Likes to cause trouble with Roal, but also adores the attention of Coal and Cai.

[jonatits]

We need to know more about your OCs and ships, bestie 😘💕

Tell us everything.

-by beloved ox @maladaptivedongdreamer

I was writing this and my damnable phone frickin dies I-

Aus/ World building etc

So I have two types which is the canon jjba s/i lore and a universe I specifically created for self-ship which have almost little to none of the original jjba concepts.

It's still bizarre in a way, especially the main RoAl ship but the action and shonen side of the show is kinda out of the window.

I won't go into the s/i one since it's still underdeveloped and a big jumble of mess despite having rough layouts all the way to SO. There's so many new characters, concepts and in-depth inside the s/i one and I haven't finished figuring all of them out yet.

The self-ship universe is the one I'm running on this blog. It have almost no world-building and just a simple universe for fluffy healing self-ship prompts and the likes.

It has no canon facts, set lore or concepts and is always changing. Basically where I dump all the fluff.

Like I need a place where I don't traumatized every single character especially Al herself with loads of angst and craps bro-

This also means, things like how the characs met, their biography and whether they're in the story or not are not permanent.

This is also where I figure out imo the in-depth of the characters like the decision-making, interactions, married life, personal things they do, type of ppl they like/dislike etc.This apply to both canon cast and ocs.

I'm open for hearing bout others opinions on themso feel free to send urs in.

For the time being, this universe is solely focused on jjba casts but it may or may not change later on since as I say, this world is not permanent and is based on my current interest.

Ships

I have so many-

but I'll go with my top three comfort :-

RoAl / Alwagon

- Robert and al

Jonal / Alonathan

- Jonathan and al

Joseal / Aloseph

-Joseph and al

give me ship name ideas please I-

Besides Roal, both of the others are constantly switching depending on the genre and my mood that day in being platonically or romantically interested.

RoAl is purely romantically interested and have the most story as well as in-depth lore followed by Jonal who is the balance one out of the three.

Joseal on the other hand, lean more towards platonic/ bestie type of thingy.

[dramaticallyhis]

Charlie et la chocolaterie - Roal Dahl

Charlie et la chocolaterie – Roal Dahl

Charlie et la chocolaterie est un livre pour enfant écrit par Roal Dahl que j’ai récemment emprunté à la bibliothèque en version originale afin de perfectionné mon anglais, une fois de plus dans le cadre de mes études. Je l’ai lu assez rapidement, souvent pendant le trajet que j’avais à faire pour me rendre au travail. Vous connaissez sûrement déjà l’histoire mais au cas où, je vais vous la…

[phil-forum-blog]

Polizist schießt 38 Mal auf Ehefrau und Sohn

Polizist schießt 38 Mal auf Ehefrau und Sohn

Manila, Philippinen – Ein Polizist aus Manila hat am Sonntag, 28. Mai 2017 seine Frau und seinen 13-jährigen Sohn in einem Anfall von Wut mit 38 Schüssen getötet.

PO2 Roal Sabiniano stritt sich am Sonntag gegen 13:15 Uhr mit seiner Frau, Mary Jane. Im Streit zog der Polizist seine Dienstwaffe und schoss auf seine Frau, als der 13-jährige Sohn seine Mutter schützen wollte, erschoss der Vater auch…

[la-princesse-de-cleves]

Le bombardier s’en sortira toujours. Stanley Baldwin, chef du parti conservateur, lors d’un débat parlementaire en 1932.

Une vie est composée d’un grand nombre de petits incidents et d’un petit nombre de grands. Roal Dahl, ancien pilote de la Royal Air Force

Alles nähe werde fern (Tout ce qui est proche parait lointain). Goethe

Chaque dimanche, pendant que mon père pilotait ses avions, ma mère m’emmenait a Prague pour rendre visite à sa mère. Nous descendions a la gare principale et elle me guidait a travers la place Wenceslas et le pont Charles vers la colline du château ou elle achetait des smažený sýr1 avant de traverser la ville jusqu’à la maison de ma grand-mère. Les bulbes noirs juchés sur la cathédrale se détachaient, imposants, sur fond de ciel marbré. En montant les rues pavées, nous passions devant des cafés et des bars ou les hommes suivaient du regard la beauté de ma mère. Arrivés au sommet de la colline, nous entendions le bourdonnement du Danube dont le flot d’un gris absolu coupait Prague en deux, telle une immense créature divisant la ville pour mieux la surveiller.

[...} J’avais beau n’avoir lu qu’à moitié le livre offert par mon père ce soir-là instinctivement, j’eus envie, avant de le refermer, de tourner les pages jusqu’aux sections qui suivaient la fin du récit. Là, je tombai sur la liste des gens que mon oncle Poxl avait tenu à remercier pour leur aide dans la réalisation de ce livre, l’accomplissement de sa quête, l’apogée d’années de travail. La liste des noms était impressionnante, mais mes yeux ne s’y attadèrent pas. Car je ne vis qu’une chose, surgissant dans un paragraphe en bas de la page comme si elle était écrite en caractères italiques et gras - un arbre solitaire dans une forêt : Merci enfin à Elijah Goldstein, mon premier lecteur et auditeur attentif. C’est à toi et pour toi seul que j’ai raconté ces histoires.

[...] Et puis, un jour, plutôt que d’aller vous détendre dans les bois vers l’est, plutôt que le réconfort d’un lit de femme, vous montez vers le ciel en avion. Vous volez, c’est la nuit , en contrebas les nuages blancs scintillent - et au dessus de vous, là où autrefois des étoiles tapissaient le firmament, il n’y a plus qu’un noir total. Ce vide porte en lui le souvenir des étoiles, de la façon dont vous les sentiez autrefois vous guider. Peut-être même vous rappelez-vous une époque où, perdu dans le ciel nocturne lors d’un vol d’entrainement, vous avez repéré la Grande Ourse et n’aviez dû qu’à son Etoile polaire, pointant vers le Nord, de retrouver votre chemin vers la base. Seulement la nuit est noire, à présent, et depuis tout ce temps la voûte rosacée sous laquelle vous restiez confiné vous empêchait de savoir qu’au fil des ans, les étoiles s’étaient effacées du ciel. Et vous vous souvenez de ce temps où vous lâchiez des bombes sur des villes, où vous détruisiez des villes au-delà de tout espoir de résurrection, et où tout ce que vous pouviez voir en dessous de vous était les nuages. Alors que vous pouviez savoir - mais non comprendre - que vous étiez en train de détruire ce qui se trouvait en dessous de vous, à présent il n’y a même plus d’étoiles au dessus de vous.

[...] La plupart du temps, ces souvenirs restent à distance de mon esprit, même si leurs serres éraflent la peau du quotidien, y laissant une marque indélébile.

[...] Pour être tout à fait sincère, peut-être que j’ai commis l’erreur de vouloir faire miennes des émotions qui ne m’appartiennent pas. C’était une histoire d’amour et de vengeance que j’avais voulu écrire, pas encore une histoire d’amours et de regrets.

Le dernier exploit de Poxl West (The last flight of Poxl West) Daniel Torday