#The little secrets. The secret wisdom. The correct way to cut fabric

[random-conspiracy]

FIGHT FOR THE ARTS AND CRAFTS!!!

FIGHT FOR THE LEGACY OF A CULTURE!!!

The book binders, the shoemakers, the secrets of fabric and wood. What will happen when all is automatized, what will happen if we grow far and far away from the things we use and do.

Fight to keep alive the legacy. The wisdom and knowledge macerated by generations. Someone has to carry the torch!

[themangolorian]

skillet bread and mangoes

For @kanejweek Day 5: Love (atypical affection, domesticity)

Pairing: Kaz x Inej

Warnings: only sickly sweet domesticity here

Someday you’ll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. Padjen recalled the morning she had overheard her beloved husband telling their young daughter those words.

Her eyes wandered the countertops of the Van Eck mansion’s kitchen. Golden mangoes overflowed from a wicker basket, ripe enough that the kitchen smelled sweetly of the rare tropical fruit that had been a favorite of Inej’s in childhood.

...even if he is too poor to give you any of them, her husband had continued. There was no shortage of expensive scarce goods here; Kaz Brekker had made sure of that, though Inej would not tell Padjen exactly how. But Padjen was no fool - she knew it meant no less that Inej’s favorites were easily in Brekker’s reach thanks to his great wealth. She knew he would have acquired the mangoes no matter the amount of gold in his pocket.

Padjen turned her attention back to the dough at her fingertips. She folded the bread under and over itself, under and over, as she had a million times before, eyeing the dill just to the side of her pan. It would go in on the last fold. 

A familiar tap and step sounded from the hallway. Sure enough the door creaked open to reveal Kaz Brekker, the boy who had mysteriously paid their passage all that time ago.

He has brought her knives and death, not flowers and songs, Padjen recalled fretting at her husband only days after meeting Kaz Brekker.

Only one woman loves knives with the names of Saints, her beloved husband had responded sagely. Padjen had put her fingers to her lips, then her chest, in the holy gesture of her Saints.

"You're back," Padjen said now, clearly pleased.

Kaz Brekker nearly never smiled, but Padjen had always been intuitive at sensing the moods of others, and this one wasn't too far from happiness - dare she say, maybe even joy.

A split second later, it was clear why. A bullet of a child zoomed through the doorway just narrowly missing running right into her father's legs. The little one, Padjen's pride and joy, had been a gift bestowed upon them by the Saints, and Padjen had been thanking said Saints every day since.

"Matka!" The Suli word for grandmother in the tiny child's high-pitched voice always made Pajden's heart melt.

"My little love," Padjen exclaimed, scooping the small girl up.

"How's it coming along?" The voice of Kaz Brekker was something akin to listening to one stone pave way against another.

"Your nose will tell you better than words ever could." Padjen beamed at him.

Kaz eyed her bemusedly. Now I see where Inej gets it from, he'd told her once with more warmth than she'd ever heard him express before at that time. When she'd asked, he explained Inej's partiality to proverbs. You mean wisdom, Padjen had corrected him, smiling. But he'd never been mocking of their ways, only observant.

"Did you find the rosemary then?" Padjen eyed Kaz Brekker's hands, which were empty but for his cane.

"No, but-"

"...she likes it better with dill." Padjen said along with Brekker. 

And it was true. When Padjen had first been reunited with her daughter and the enormous wealth that came with that, Padjen had made skillet bread with rosemary, but Inej had scrunched up her nose, lamenting the lack of dill.

Only one woman loves dill skillet bread, Padjen could imagine her husband commenting.

"Can I ha'?" Padjen's beauty of a granddaughter pointed her chubby fingers at a tray of pastries Padjen had toiled away all morning making. Not that she hadn't had any help. Kaz Brekker himself had joined her to make and shape the dough. 

They were to celebrate the day of Inej's birth this night around an open fire.

"You may have anything your little heart desires." Padjen leaned forward to tickle her grandaughter's little belly to the sound of shrieks and giggles.

"You spoil her too much," Kaz complained, brushing his hair back, but there was no mistaking the ghost of a smile as he watched his daughter eat.

Padjen clucked her tongue at Kaz in vexation. "And what do you call buying her her own gondol equipped with its very own grisha security spells, jamatr?" The Suli word for son-in-law.

Kaz raised a careful eyebrow. "Cautious." But there was a pleased air to the gesture. He'd never admit it, but he enjoyed the title.

The little girl in Padjen's arms began to squirm excitedly, her face now coated in sugar and jam. "Guess what Papa said he's going to get me next, Makta!" The little squirmed her way successfully out of her grandmother's arms and was flying back towards her father. She landed with a whump against him, bouncing excitedly up and down as she gazed up at him adoringly.

"Now-" He began, looking conspiratorially down at his daughter.

“I spoil her,” Padjen huffed under her breath sarcastically. "Let me guess," she harrumphed, turning her back on them to attend to the skillet bread dough. "A pony? A ballet troupe? An island?"

Padjen heard the door to the kitchen re-open.

"Papa promised to get me my own knives!" The little one announced proudly to Padjen's absolute and utter horror. She turned swiftly, but Brekker had already retreated up the hallway.

“Kaz Brekker!” Padjen called after him helplessly. He’d known she wouldn’t leave the skillet bread dough unattended. It had been his idea to make it, but Padjen, whatever she wanted to say, loved to spoil her daughter as much as Kaz Brekker did.

***

"What was all that about?" Inej had just been about to go see what all the ruckus in the kitchen had been about when Kaz had suddenly appeared in the doorway.

"Your mother isn't very happy about the knives." He said almost carelessly as he shrugged out of his coat.

"My knives?"

"The little knives." Kaz nodded discreetly at the case stored in secret across the way.

"What about them?" Inej demanded, affronted.

"I don't think she wants her to have them."

Kaz shucked off his gloves where they joined his coat in a heap on the chaise. He leaned down and kissed Inej deeply.

"Of course my daughter is going to have knives." Inej said, offended, as soon as their lips parted.

“She’s your mother,” Kaz shrugged, but his lips tugged at the corners as he parted to go greet Jesper and Wylan.

Inej blanched. “She likes you better.” She called after him, but he only laughed dismissively. 

Later, sitting around the fire in the garden, surrounded by her family and closest friends - really, all family - Inej found herself full and satisfied.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth,” Nina was cooing, cradling the remains of a golden mango and ignoring Matthias’ glare.

Inej giggled and had to silently agree. She was about to get up to get another serving when a shadow fell over her. She looked up and her lips broke into a grin. Kaz was balancing their child on one hip and a tray of mango slices in his other hand, accompanied by salt, chili and lemon, just as she liked.

“Mmm,” Inej said as way of thanks, taking the tray.

Kaz dropped to the stool next to hers, swinging their child around to his lap.

“Mama, you’ve already had four,” the little girl trilled, holding up three chubby little fingers.

Inej captured the tiny hand and brought it to her lips. “And I shall have more,” she pretend to gobble down the tiny little hand to the joyous shrieking, giggling and running away that usually accompanied such an attack. The little girl sprinted to her grandmother to seek refuge, laughing all the way.

“You’re lucky you claimed Brekker first,” Nina was lamenting, jealously eyeing Inej’s tray.

Kaz scoffed at her side, but Inej took up one mango slice and leaned over across the way. “Here.” She said, feeding it to her friend. Nina’s face was rapturous.

“You were right, it’s so much better with lemon.” Then Nina was trouncing across the yard, Matthias at her heels, to get her own tray of similarly decorated mango.

Inej grinned, placing another slice of mango between her lips. The sticky juice, cool and sweet, ran down her chin. Her eyes met Kaz’s. Then, one long, pale finger came to her jaw, hesitated and then swiped gently at the juice.

Inej stared at his face, soft as it was for all its hard edges, and was lost for a moment.

“Thank you.” She murmured, wanting to kiss him deeply, wanting more, and knowing it wasn’t the time. She was thankful for more than the gesture, for more than the fruit, and it was enough that he knew that.

“For what?” His lips twitched and she elbowed him lightly before plucking up another mango slice.

Inej had mentioned it in passing, years ago. Her favorite fruit. It had still been a delicacy then, something she hadn’t had but had craved since childhood.

She had blinked long and slow when the first shipment of golden mangoes had arrived at their doorstep not long after. He pretended not to have known what she’d been so excited about. But when she’d served herself a mango, cut into slices and smothered in lemon, salt and chili, he had thereafter ensured no shortage of all four items in their pantry.

“What?” Kaz asked, uncertainty painting his voice as he watched her watched him with what could be nothing less than longing and love.

That boy would bring you the sun if he thought it would make you happy, her mother had once told her after Kaz had gifted her a particularly expensive new knife.

That’s impossible, Mama, Inej had replied, laughing.

Exactly, her mother had said, something all knowing in her eyes.

“I have a gift for you,” Inej said suddenly.

Kaz’s left eyebrow tilted dangerously. “On the day of your birth celebration?”

Inej nodded and absently placed the tray down on the floor at her side, her craving for mango forgotten. She turned slightly to take hold of a package she’d hidden under the fabric of her stool.

Kaz’s face was cautious, careful and curious all at once. “What is it?” He asked as she placed it in the open palms of his hands. The package was light as a feather.

“Open it,” Inej barely breathed at him.

With the quick help of his deft graceful hands, Kaz plied the box open- and froze.

His eyes slowly found Inej’s again.

Inside the box was the tiniest hat, an exact replica of the one Kaz wore every day. An exact replica of the one he’d asked Inej to buy him all those years ago.

His eyes darted to her flat stomach where her hand had rested absently. “Are you sure?” He asked, fighting a smile, but it was a losing battle as Inej said-

“Yes, my darling Kaz, treasure of my heart.” Inej had meant to mock those words he’d spoken to her all those years ago, but her heart felt too full of love, she could almost not speak.

Kaz barked a surprising laugh, and all heads around the fire turned to look at them. It was a pity, as Inej wanted nothing more than to lean forward in that instant and kiss him silly. But Kaz had never been one for public displays of-

The thought was chased from Inej’s head in an instant when Kaz brought his lips crashing down on hers.

“Oi, save some sugar for the rest of us!” She heard Jesper crow at them distantly.

***anyway, food is my love language, and i adore mangoes, and my headcanon is that inej would too, so kaz would stop at nothing to get them for her. and also all the crows’ palates became more refined once inej’s mom showed up. they only eat the very best now 🥺 and she was horrified that all they were subsisting on before was waffles and hutspot***

[boomboomjaz]

𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕕

prince! kuroo x f!reader

summary: kuroo was cursed and has lived with it from a young age

word count: 3705

note: this is long overdue but ya girl was going through some stuff

Being the prince of Nekoma was not a blessing. It was the exact opposite for Prince Kuroo Tetsuro. It was a curse that he will never be able to escape. The day his birth was officially announced, a faerie visited at night which startled the royal family, causing them to throw insults. This angered the faerie that was respected in every other kingdom and decided to curse the young prince with limited shapeshifting abilities. He could only turn from a human to a cat.

When Prince Kuroo first transformed, he was napping in the crib. The queen had turned away for a second and when she turned back around, the newborn baby was replaced with a kitten. She let out a screech which caused the king to rush to his wife’s aid. Not long after, the two witnessed the kitten transform back to their baby. That is when they discovered that the prince of Nekoma was really cursed. This was a secret that both the king and queen didn’t want revealed. So only the select few that cared for Prince Kuroo were informed of this in hopes of preventing a scandal.

Over time, as Prince Kuroo grew older and older, they discovered something about the curse. With each year he grew, the longer his transformation as a cat was extended. During the first ten years of his life, Kuroo would randomly turn into a black cat. But once he reached the age of 11, he started to transform into a cat during the day. It started with three hours of being a cat during the day and after that, he was back to being a prince.

Now at the age of twenty, Kuroo had to deal with being a cat during all hours of the day and being a human at night. This had caused wild rumors to spread across the kingdom that the prince of Nekoma was a womanizer. It was a widespread rumor to cope with the fact that the prince hadn’t shown his face during the day and could only be spotted at night. In reality, it was the exact opposite. He can’t do a single thing as a cat except for meowing, licking his body clean, and napping. It was making his royal duties harder to accomplish.

But, during the time that he is trapped in a cat’s body, he had managed to find something to do. Something that always washed his worries away. In his kingdom, in the town that his castle resided in, there is a merchant girl. Her name was Yn Bokuto from what Tetsuro could hear. And you always gave him treats and played with him. Giving him the type of attention that he didn’t receive in the castle.

“Meow.”

Kuroo walked in circles around his guardian Kenma. His cat eyes glaring at him before motioning to the window. He was starting to get fed up being stuck in a room all day and wanted to go out. To see you. It was his favorite thing to do to pass the time.

Kenma let out a sigh as he picked up the black cat with the red collar. A way to distinguish Kuroo as the prince cat.

“This is getting tiring Tetsuro,” Kenma stated.

Yet, he obeyed the cat. Kenma took off the collar from the cat and carried Kuroo towards the window. He carefully opened it and looked around, making sure no one noticed. His grip on Kuroo loosened, allowing Kuroo to jump out of his arms.

Kuroo stretched on the ledge and meowed once towards Kenma. His way of saying thank you. From there he took off on his four-pawed legs. Navigating through the outside of the building, following the paths he knew by heart to leave the castle grounds. Until he was on the buildings of the town that he’s been exploring since he figured out how to sneak out.

The busy noise from the morning market could be heard from where Kuroo stood. He laid down on the rooftop and watched. His eyes scanning the crowd trying to find the familiar figure. His tail swung left to right, waiting patiently. That is until the warmth of the sun made him sleepy. Kuroo was slowly falling asleep but was quickly awoken.

He heard it. Your laugh. It was the best sound he ever heard in his life. Quickly, Kuroo got up and made his way down to the streets and into the market. Having the body of a cat made it easy to slip in and out of the crowd without anyone questioning him. Because who would question a cat? Soon he found himself at your stall at the market. God, Kuroo loved watching you deal with your customers. Everyone always assumed they could get away with scamming you since you were a girl but you were always quick to prove them all. Your knowledge of different material, craftsmanship, etc was always shown when you spoke. You knew what you were doing thanks to your parent’s wisdom and you always made sure to show it off.

Once you were done dealing with a customer who claimed that a piece of fabric you were trying to sell wasn’t from Seijoh, you sat down. As busy it may have seemed in the market, it wasn’t a busy one. So you were thankful to have time to sit down and rest. You closed your eyes for one second and then felt something soft and slightly heavy on your lap. You looked down to see the black cat that always came to help you work.

You smiled at the cat as you stroke his back. He always did keep you company and you appreciated it. Humming to yourself, you reached into the bag next to you and pulled out a small bag with treats.

“Hey, buddy,” you whispered. You took out a treat and waved it in front of his face. You laughed when you saw his head following the movement of the treat. “Thank you for always keeping me company.”

You gave him the treat and continued to pet him.

-----

You popped your neck before you started to gather up your things. Your shift at the stall was over and it was time for one of your parents to take over. You grabbed your bag and whistled at the black cat.

The two of you walked side by side through the crowd until you made it to a less busy street. It was a routine between the two of you. Work until noon, head home, and two hours before it grew dark, the cat went home. You didn’t mind it at all. You actually enjoyed the presence of your cat friend.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Kotarou Bokuto, your brother yelled in the middle of the street.

Kuroo looked up at your brother and tilted his head. He had seen him around but according to your little rants. Kotarou is mostly coming in and out of the kingdom, transporting merchandise for your family.

“Kotarou, our parents are looking for you. They want to talk about your next travel arrangement with Akaashi.” your words were simple and straight to the point.

Kotarou nodded his head before he took off towards the market while you and Kuroo walked home.

Once the two of you were back in your house, you brought out the cat toys that your father brought back from one of his overseas trips. You used the toy to play with the unknown cat. It was insulting at first when you would treat him like a cat, but Kuroo ended up loving it. He loved the attention you gave him.

Having as much fun as the two of you were having caused time to fly by. Because soon, it was starting to grow dark outside. Kuroo woke up from his nap and realized this. He squirmed out of your arms and jumped towards the open window. He gave you one last glance before he took off back to the castle. He had to transform back in there to prevent Kenma and himself from getting in trouble.

Sneaking back in the castle was easier said than done. Since he wasn’t sure what entrances were open, he always had to jump from window to window and sneak around to get back inside. But luckily, the windows to his room were open, making it easy to get back inside. He looked around and found Kenma playing cards by himself.

Kuroo made his way over to him and meowed. Letting Kenma know that he returned.

“Tetsurou, that was cutting it close,” Kenma stated with a sigh. He got up from his spot and closed the window and shut the curtains.

Kuroo just walked in circles around his bed, ignoring Kenma’s words. He just wanted to transform back into his human self. It didn’t take long before he found himself sitting on his bed as a human. Lacking clothes, but luckily there were clothes waiting for him on his bed. He got up and quickly changed into them.

“I couldn’t help myself,” Kuroo replied with a smile.

He just loved spending time with you. It kept him sane through all of this insanity of a curse. He didn’t have to worry about anything.

“Yeah, yeah. She’s amazing. I get it,” Kenma mocked replied. “But your transformations are cutting it close. What if you transform while you’re with her? How do we explain that to her and your parents?”

“That my friend is a problem for another day,” Kuroo answered.

He was scared. Scared that his parents would find out about his secret because who knows what they would do. They are doing as much as they can to keep this a secret for no one to find out.

“Anyways,” Kenma continued. “Your parents want to talk to you.”

Oh. This wasn’t good. Kuroo could already feel his humor leave his body as he grew serious. His parents, the king and the queen, wanted to talk to him. All the stress from his royal duties could be felt on his shoulders as he straightened up and nodded his head.

Kuroo left his room with a determined look on his face. Talking to his parents wasn’t his favorite thing to do. Not with the way that they have been raising him. Keeping him locked up because they were ashamed of their mistakes. It was just all so frustrating.

Carefully, he opened the door to the throne room. And there on the throne, his parents sat with dignity and status. They quickly sent everyone out of the room, only leaving the three of them in that room.

“Mother, father. I was summoned?” Kuroo asked. He bowed slightly, trying to show some respect to his parents.

“You are correct son,” the king said. He looked at his wife and silently they agreed on something. “We have decided on what to do about your little… problem.”

They couldn’t even say curse. It didn’t feel right to them. They didn’t want to acknowledge it but alas they had no choice.

“We decided that once… you fully transform. That you should be relocated to the countryside,” the queen continued.

Kuroo froze. Relocated? To the countryside? It was far from home and he couldn’t help but feel even more cursed. He was basically being forced out of his home just because he didn’t fit into the human standards. Just because of his parents' mistakes. And it was all being taken out on him.

With his hands behind his back, he clenched his fists. He knew it would be pointless to argue with his parents. There was no point in it, so he agreed with them and left the room. The second he left the throne room, he fell to his knees. He didn’t care if the maids or the soldiers saw. He was frustrated, angry. He never wished for any of this. Kuroo just wanted to be normal. To be seen outside the castle during the day without looking like a cat. He couldn’t stand it anymore.

Quickly, Kuroo got back on his feet and rushed to his office. Once inside, he saw Kenma sitting in a chair looking at one of the documents that Kuroo was supposed to look at.

“Kenma,” Kuroo said. Kenma looked at Kuroo, confused as to why Kuroo was bothering him. Then he saw the frustration in the prince's eyes.

“You’re going to run away?” Kenma asked, looking back at the document. It wasn’t a surprise. This was a topic that Kuroo had a tendency to bring up.”There’s a hidden route in my room that leads to the village. If anyone asks, I’ll say you excused yourself to your room because you had a headache.”

Tetsuro appreciated his only friend in the castle before he left the cursed castle that he spent most of his life in. There was only one place he knew where he could go to. And that was your house.

----

Your ears perked up at the sound of knocking. You had just finished cleaning the dishes from dinner while the rest of your family went back to the market. So you were confused as to who could be at the door. Not many people came to your home. The more you thought about it, the more it seemed like it could have been Kotaro. That boy probably forgot his keys and something else in the house.

Quickly, you whipped your hands on a hand towel before you headed towards the door. You opened the door immediately saying disappointing words towards Kotaro. It took you a total of two minutes of talking to realize it wasn’t your brother. No, it was the prince of Nekoma wearing a really bad disguise.

Without a second thought, you slammed the door and stood there in shock. What in the world was the prince doing at your house? Were you his next hookup? No, it couldn’t be. You never have seen or met the prince before other than the royal pictures in the papers and announcements.

“Oh crap,” you cursed under your breath. “I just slammed the door on Prince Tetsuro Kuroo.”

You took a deep breath and regained your composer and opened the door and bowed. Showing your respect to the heir next in line for the throne. Oh man, if your parents saw how you slammed the door, no doubt you would be working full days at the market.

“No need for that. Can I come in, Yn?” Kuroo asked.

You nodded your head in confusion as you opened the door wider and allowed him in your small house. You were in bewilderment on how he even knew your name. There was never an introduction between the two of you. This was getting confusing.

“How can I help you today, Prince Tetsuro?” you asked while closing the door.

Kuroo took off his terrible disguise, walked towards your kitchen, and sat down. It had scared you by how well he knew your house as if he had been inside before. You followed him and started to prepare a cup of tea.

“I-”

Kuroo couldn’t form words on how to explain his situation. How do you tell someone that you’re cursed to transform as a cat during the day and turn back into a human during the night? That you have been hanging out with them this whole time as a cat? No sane person would believe him if he said these things. But Kuroo knew you were different. Maybe you would believe him.

“I’m the black cat that has been hanging out with you this whole time,” Kuroo stated. His face turning red. You were the first person ever to hear the closely guarded secret. It sounded so ridiculous.

Which was why you laughed, thinking it was a joke.

“I’m sorry your majesty,” you said in between laughs. “But how can you, a human, be the adorable little cat that I have been taking care of this whole time?”

This was Kuroo’s worse fear. You didn’t believe him and he didn’t blame you. It was far fetched. Could a cat really be a prince? What kind of fairy tale was that? Unfortunately, it was one that Tetsuro Kuroo was living.

“I promise you that I am telling you the truth,” Kuroo defended himself. He racked his head on ways to convince you that he was telling the truth. Until he remembered something important. “You want your parents to let you travel for work and not be bounded to Nekoma.”

You stood there with your mouth ajar. You never told anyone your true feelings except for the cat that came home with you. How was this even possible? There was no denying that the prince was indeed the cat you loved so much. Heck, it was hard to believe that the prince that you had a crush on when you were younger was standing in the middle of your house. There was so much to take in that you had to rub your temples. Until a memory resurfaced.

“Wait! Then you saw me change!”

Kuroo could feel his blood rush up, making his face go red. He could remember that day as if it was yesterday. He had escaped the castle and came to your house. He just didn’t think that while he was laying down on your bed in his cat form that you would change right in front of him. The only thing that he managed to see was your bareback before he jumped from the bed into a corner to give you privacy.

“I didn’t see anything!” Kuroo swore.

Oh, man. Why was this happening to him? He quickly took a few steps forward to try to explain himself but one of the cat toys that he used to play with got in the way. He had accidentally stepped on it, which took him by surprise causing him to fall forward. His eyes widened as he realized he was going to fall on you. Without thinking, he wrapped an arm around you and used the other to break the fall.

There on the floor, the two of you were inches apart. Both of you were breathing heavily. Looking each other in the eyes. You could see Kuroo’s hazel eyes and how they were narrowed-eyed. His pupils reminded you of a cat and you couldn’t help but think… that this boy really was cursed to be a cat.

Meanwhile, Kuroo was captivated by your face. He could see little details that he had never seen before. Slowly, he leaned, even more, trying to take in the small details of your face. Soon enough, his lips were deeply close to yours. He closed his eyes and decided to close the gap.

You were taken aback but closed your eyes as well. You relaxed under his touch as his lips met yours. It was slow and gentle. You could taste the toothpaste that he used to clean his teeth. It was minty and refreshing. Soon, your hands found their way on Kuroo’s neck and you pushed his head a little closer. Causing your teeth to cling against one another as the kiss was deepened. You couldn’t help but enjoy it. A small smile formed on your lips.

There was a loud noise that caught both of your attention. Both you and Kuroo pulled away and looked towards the direction of the noise. At the doorway stood your older brother Kotaro with his best friend Akaashi. Apparently, Kotaro had dropped his keys from the shock. Quickly, you and Kuroo got up and awkwardly coughed.

From there, the two of you tried to clear up the misunderstanding. Thankfully, the two boys were understanding and let it slide.

“So what are you doing in our house?” Kotaro asked.

At that moment, Kuroo explained his situation. How he was cursed from birth, how he would sneak out of the castle in his cat form and hang out with you, and his parent’s recent plans on relocating it.

“We have to help him,” you stated.

What was happening to Kuroo was unfair and wrong. It shouldn’t be something that anyone should experience.

“Well, we can probably smuggle him out of Nekoma and take him to Karasuno. At least until his curse is lifted?” Akaashi suggested.

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and came up with a plan. Through it all, you held onto Kuroo’s hand. Assuring him that you were there to help him. There was a slight problem with the plan that Kotaro didn’t like and that was that you were going to go with Kuroo. With a little arguing and Akaashi’s help, all of you were able to convince him. It would be better if you went with Kuroo to keep him company when he was in his cat form. Your family either way had a small market in Karasuno that you could run in order to support both you and Kuroo.

It didn’t take long until you had your things packed. Along with some of Kotaro’s clothes for Kuroo and left the place you grew up in. And that’s how it went. You and Kuroo moved to Karasuno. It was a small and peaceful life. Overtime, Kuroo’s curse grew weaker and weaker the more he fell in love with you and learned the commoner’s life. His duration as a cat was getting shorter until it completely disappeared.

It had been two years since the two of you moved when it was decided that you would return to Nekoma. It shocked the whole kingdom at the sudden return of their missing prince. Especially when Kuroo exposed what his parents kept hidden. His grandparents were disappointed upon hearing this and pressured Kuroo’s parents to step down from the throne.

The same day of his conination, it was Tetsurou’s wedding day. The day he got to marry you. Rule by your side. With the knowledge that the two of you shared, you ran Nekoma depending on one another. The people loved you and it made Kuroo happy. To know that you would be by his side and that you cared about the people that lived with in the kingdom’s borders and beyond.

gen taglist: @panda-saurus @aditiot @haikyuu-fics-and-aus @ex0ticgrxavity @haverlingus

[gerbiloftriumph]

So you wanna be a king (pt6)

Or, at the least, you want very much to cosplay one, and you have put too much time and energy into this to stop now. Let’s finish this costume.

Part 6: The Adventuring Cap (and also hair and some makeup)

The rest of the tutorials are here: cloak, tunic, pants/boots, bracers/pouch, accessories, and as always, I’m a novice cosplayer making all this up as I go along, so feel free to ignore me or steal my ideas and run.

There’s one last piece to this costume. Something important. Something that unifies Graham across the years from 1983 to 2015: his adventuring cap.

Even when he has his crown on, that old hat isn’t far away. So let’s get into it. 

But before we can actually start sewing a hat, we need to talk...hair. Because that will probably alter the hat size.

Hair (and also make-up):

Should you be blessed with the slightly curly black hair Graham has, then that’s fantastic! 

I do not have such hair.

You remember how hot this costume is? At least three shirts, one and a half pants, a cloak, a cowl, bracers, and knee high boots? Let’s make it worse by adding a wig.

I buy all my wigs from Arda Wigs--I love that quality and those nice prices. I’m the sort of person who pulls the wig out of the bag, fluffs it up with hairspray (got2b glued is a miracle in a can), and runs, but should you want to try heat sculpting, they’re great wigs for that too.

Since I’m revealing all my secrets, this particular wig is a Benny in Deep Brown (when I bought it it was called Natural Black, but I think it’s the same color). It’s warmer than their pure black, which I wanted for this sunshine boy. https://arda-wigs.com/products/benny-classic?variant=27836199174

Incidentally, while we’re here, some quick make-up things:

If you can’t grow your own beard, spray some hairspray on your chin and sideburn patches, take an old tube of mascara (the older and weaker the more control you have--gosh that sounds mean), and build up your own with downward brush strokes. A little goes a shockingly long way--I tend to overdo it myself. Use an eyebrow wand brush to shape the beard and make it look more natural. Seal with more hairspray, maybe a touch of setting powder. 

For the freckles, I smear a thin layer of eyeshadow primer across nose and cheekbones, and then go ham with a marker eyeliner in dark brown. Seal it with a touch of setting powder. I promise, it will go absolutely nowhere, even in the hot RenFest July sun, unless you yourself rub it. (I carry both beard and freckles makeup tubes in my pouch, just in case.)

Okay, fine, we’re done stalling. You want the hat, so let’s do it.

Hat time!

First, vocab lesson! Repeat after me: bycocket. That’s the name of your hat. It’s a medieval cap popular among men, women, nobility, and business classes. And also, yes, with Robin Hood too. 

http://honorbeforevictory.com/14th-c-embriodered-bycocket-cap-of-maintenance-with-a-split-loop-seam-tutorial/ - I found my template from this page and scaled it up. Other Robin Hood hat tutorials will also likely suit, but this is my semi-tutorial, so this is what I used.

I bought what looks like less than a yard of some light blue denim and some dark blue denim. I wanted the stiffness of the fabric to help hold the triangular shape, thus, the denim. I also happened to have a large quantity of semi-stiff orange felt for some reason, which I used as a core strengthener, but this core is almost certainly unnecessary. The hat keeps its shape really well once it’s on your head--no wonder it was so popular. Feel free to skip the core if you want.

Grab your measuring tape, plonk your wig on your head, and measure where the hat will sit. I got 24″ around. Feel free to make tests with that boundless scrap from the rest of this cosplay to get the size you want. My shape is 14.5″ long, and 11″ from its highest tip to its brim. Don’t forget to add half an inch of hemming space to your pattern (which in my case is made of scraps of paper taped together because I Am Cheap). 

Test your samples, adjust the pattern as necessary to make sure you’re happy with the brim length and how it sits. 

At this point, I made another one of those choices. For some reason, I intentionally transposed the colors, putting the darker color for the main body and the lighter color for the brim. I don’t know why. 

The following tutorial will get confusing if you look only at the colors. I didn’t have a lot of images of the process, and I felt like redoing the hat with the correct color order this week. Because I could. So, ignore the colors as some pictures are old and some are new, and look at the text instead. For reference, all things will be referred to via this image terminology: 

Your top color will be cut exactly to the pattern size you like (with that .5″ hem margin, as usual). Your brim color, however, gets an additional half inch on the bottom, where you wear it. For a visual, like this:

This way, you can fold the brim over the rest of your hat sandwich (...I’ll explain that, hang on), to sew a video-game-clean line. 

Cut two identical shapes from each color, not forgetting that extra half inch on the brim bottom pieces. Sew them along the half inch hemline, so that you have two (three if you’re making a core) separate triangles, open at the bottom since that’s, y’know, where your head goes. They’re kinda like little tents.

Take your scissors and cut out tiny triangles close to, but not into, the hem stitch at the top curve, so that you can poke a smooth arc into the top (see visual below). Iron all hems flat. Take your top piece and turn it inside out, with the hem sitting inside. The core (if you’re making one) and your brim will remain inside-out looking, because that’s how you’ll build your hat sandwich.

It’ll look like this. I stuffed the core piece inside the top piece, then shoved the brim piece into the core piece. All three pieces are tightly, cleanly, stacked together. It’s a hat sandwich! Stitch the hats together in key places so they don’t shift--like at the top of the arc, and in a few places along the hemlines.

Starting at the hemline in the back, fold the extra half inch from the brim piece up, curl it over itself just a smidge so your line stays nice and clean, pin, and hand stitch the top and brim together.

It’s a bit tricky to get a photo of what it looks like, but once it’s all done and you fold up the brim, the stitches will be hidden, giving you that nice clean edge.

Should you be so inclined, at this point you could get fancy with embroidery (that split loop stitch from the bycocket tutorial is one I eventually want to add), or determine a nice way to add the trim to the brim. Which I haven’t yet so...you’re on your own.

(Incidentally, if you’re in a hurry and you have one fabric choice like a sturdy felt, or maybe you’re doing Ch1Graham and don’t want to deal with this double-color nonsense, you can always go with a single sheet method. Cut the usual two triangles of your single sheet, sew them together like normal, but stop sewing when you get to the fold of the brim. That’s about 4.5″ along the back for me. Turn the whole hat inside out, so the nice hem is along the top, pin and sew the back flap that you had left unstitched, and when you fold up the brim, the ugly hem is hidden inside. A visual example is here:

For the feather, I chose an ostrich feather because A: It’s huge and flouncy and bouncy and I like that, and B: ....it’s what the craft store had at the time. Because I figured I’d need to eventually replace it over time and wear, I did loose ugly stitchwork just under the brim, so I can unpick it and replace it as needed. 

And with that, my friend, you are A Whole Entire King. 

Go memorize some addenda, go act with bravery and compassion and wisdom, go make friends with some squirrels, and please watch out for fairy tale obsessed goblins. 

Always seek adventure~!

(And that’s all for the cosplay how to semi-tutorial series! I hope it was helpful! If you have questions, feel free to DM me. I’m happy to help you look your best! At this point, that’s my last post on this topic unless someone asks for how I made the crown. 👑 Let me know if you want that too~)

[ikesenhell]

Chosen One

ALL SHADES OF BLUE, Chapter 3. You can find all other IkeSen works of mine here. NOTES: Thank you so, so, so much to @nyktoon-ikemenlove and @daeva-agas for sharing SO MUCH USEFUL INFORMATION ON KENNYO AND HIS HISTORICAL CONTEXT. It has been wildly appreciated and helpful. Though it’s kind of hilarious to think of people calling him Saint Kennyo pfffffft

They packed up camp with the sort of well-practiced haste Kennyo had grown so used to. No idle hands hovered around the paths. Fires were doused and strewn with leaves, bedrolls tucked away, what meager possessions they had tucked into bundles and sacks and thrown over heavily-laden shoulders. With unspoken stillness they slipped away in different directions one at a time. All the better to evade detection. With any luck, they would be so spread out in their movements that no one would detect their new location until it was far too late.

Kennyo went last. He always did. So often his men begged him to reconsider, but their lives were important. Until the last man took the long walk down the hillside, he remained.

Today happened to be a perfect time for that. He was alone when he heard the crunch of leaves underfoot, soft footfalls back up the mountain path, and he swiveled to find her poised at the edge of his clearing.

“Wow,” she commented. “You guys really cleared out. I can barely tell you were here.”

“You came back.” Something swelled in his chest. “I didn’t think you would.”

“Why not?

He didn’t answer that. Instead he reaffirmed his hold on the staff and shook his head at her. “I have only a minute. After that, I must take my leave. You cannot follow me.”

Of late he’d grown used to disappointing others. Even so the flicker of hurt lingered in her eyes just a little too long for his comfort. “I wasn’t going to stalk you.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

She quirked a brow. “Did you just copy my catchphrase?”

He had, hadn’t he? He took one long moment to assess the situation. “Why did you come back?”

She shrugged--a hollow, empty thing, much too simple for the depth he knew hung behind it. “I sort of missed being out here. I thought I might come and visit a while. You know.”

“And Date Masamune, I presume, doesn’t know you’ve come.”

“He encouraged me to, actually.”

Kennyo absorbed that with no small measure of confusion. What a bizarre development. Did he think she would take advantage of his kindness and learn his secrets? Was this an attempt at subterfuge? He squinted at her, but then she shrugged the bag off her shoulder and held it out to him.

“I brought you something.”

“A gift?”

“Kind of. It’s some rice. You all didn’t have much, so I bought some in Azuchi.”

Damn it. Damn his weakness. Damn his soft heart and his faithlessness.

“If you’d like to accompany me for a walk, I could spare some time.” He paused. “We would pass through some local towns. After that, I’ll have one of my men see you back to Azuchi. I cannot take you to my new encampment.”

Her expression brightened immediately. “Yeah. That’s fine. I’d like that.”

He took her satchel wordlessly, fixing it to his belt despite her small protests. It wouldn’t do to let her carry anything all that way. “Come then. Let’s look at the surrounding area.”

---

Masamune was taking tea in his office when Mitsuhide all but let himself in.

“Your pet project went on a little outing today,” he drawled idly.

“Good morning to you, too.” He smirked up at his associate (he couldn’t exactly be called a friend--friendship implied a kind of openness he really wasn’t certain Mitsuhide was capable of). “Yeah. I know.”

“Have you any idea where she went off to?”

He just shrugged and set a letter to the side, the ink still wet, and fished around for his setting powder. “Did you come just to talk about her?”

“Mmm.” Evasive as ever, Mitsuhide settled beside the desk and produced some reports in lieu of an answer. “She certainly has a fixation with Kennyo, doesn’t she?”

“Fixation? I dunno. He’s just some crazy monk.”

For once Mitsuhide made his expression plain. He stared, bewildered and wide-eyed at Masamune. “I thought you were religious.”

“I am.” He puzzled over that, picking up his tea for a long sip. “Why?”

“You didn’t realize? Not once?” Mitsuhide nearly doubled over with sickeningly jubilant laughter, setting his head against the desk to compose himself. It was almost so terrifying that Masamune considered calling for a physician. “Not at all? You didn’t connect the dots to it being that Kennyo?”

Oh. Oh. The teacup dropped from his hand, shattering all over the freshly written letter and spraying the other man.

“The Monshu?” Masamune staggered over his words. “The living representative of Amida Buddha? The head of Hongan-ji? That Kennyo?”

“Who else, you absolute lunatic?”

“Oda Nobunaga stabbed the living incarnation of Buddha in the face?” He almost yelled, too thrown to contain himself. “I thought it was just some Kennyo! Some other monk, I don’t know! He--I thought it was someone else! I expected--I expected a light or something--”

Mitsuhide lapsed into uncontrolled laughter once more, slumping back against the tatami mats. Oh no. Realizing all at once the danger their chatelaine was in, he flung himself onto his feet and charged from the room.

---

She didn’t talk about living with the Oda, which he mentally thanked Amida Buddha for. He didn’t know if he could handle that--not on the road again, on the road for the thousandth time, wondering if he ought to bring his power down harder on his enemies and still uncertain til the last. Instead she talked about her sewing.

“I didn’t take you for a woman that sewed,” he commented. “It’s a useful trade for certain, but I didn’t think you had the… inclination.”

Her wry smile was something he’d sorely missed. “I told you I was more eligible than you thought.”

“I stand corrected indeed.”

She told him about the small room she had set aside in Azuchi. Apparently she was a good speaker; he found his mind wandering with her along the slender hallways into a sunny chamber. The tatami mats were as clean as expected in a sewing room. He saw the wide space she’d set out for cutting the fabric, bolts of silk stacked in neat piles and arranged by color and pattern. He saw the bundles of thread that she’d arranged in the window to catch the light, their fibers luminous in the midday sun. Rays leaked in through the paper screens, or the wind blew through in torrents when she thrust it open to soak in the imperfect storm of air. He couldn’t help but wonder what she looked like bent over her work. Did she arrange those expensive metal pins in her mouth in dangerous rows, each gritted between her teeth and used in orderly precision? Did she shake out her hand after long hours cutting pattern pieces? Did she change out the candles before they guttered entirely, staying up long into the night like he knew she did, or did she wait until only the moon filtered through that untamed hair and shone against her neck that stayed too, too, far too exposed to men like him?

He wondered for one dangerous moment if she knew how much she shone. Each of the earrings in her ear (seven--seven, he’d counted them, each ridging the inside of her left ear in places he’d never imagined one might put metal, only two on the other side in large glass pieces that were smooth as porcelain) flitted and flashed in the sun and he asked himself if she knew she resembled the night sky washed gold in light.

“What are you thinking?” She asked him finally, that smile working over her mouth.

“About your sewing room,” he lied, and finally turned his head from her. “Your sentences are transportive. What of your sewing room in the future?”

Her smile faded until it was nothing at all. “I don’t have one.”

That surprised him. “No?”

“No. I can’t afford it. That money goes to rent.”

Landlords. He sucked on his mouth in distaste. It figured that the feudal system hadn’t disappeared in five hundred years. “I see. No patrons will fund your work?”

She pinned her lips between her teeth in a barely restrained laugh at his expense. His heart warmed for it. “People don’t pay for that in the future. Not really. You can go to shops and just buy anything you want for clothes in a split second. They’re all ready and waiting for you. It’s too expensive to buy custom stuff.”

He tried to wrap his mind around it. “Like vegetables?”

“I--” She halted in her footsteps and absolutely cackled. In that same moment he realized just how ridiculous that sounded.

“‘Like vegetables’,” he repeated, judging himself immediately. “Buddha granted me patience, not wisdom.”

“Oh my god--” That didn’t help. She laughed until tears streamed down her cheeks, squatting in the road and gasping for breath. At long last he couldn’t help it and joined in, graceless and hardly able to keep standing. “Like vegetables.”

“Not my finest moment.”

Eventually they could breathe again. She dusted off her knees and straightened her kimono, trying to adjust her obi and failing, and finally he took pity on her and adjusted the tie with his own practiced hands.

“You’re not accustomed to wearing this, are you?”

“Not in the least. I never wore one before.”

He smoothed the wrinkles from the fabric and they pressed on together, entering the first small township. It wasn’t so long ago that he walked these sorts of streets openly, was it? How odd it was that he came through with no disguise at all. At the very least it seemed unlikely that he would be recognized.

How very wrong he was.

A small group of farmers, still muddy from the paddies and tired from a hard morning of work, slumped into the main road. Kennyo excused himself to the side to let them pass, concealing his staff in the fold of his robe. For a moment he thought he might pass as a simple traveling monk. He had in the past. But no--not this time. One of the men halted in his tracks, an old man with graying hair and a weathered face, and gawked openly.

“The Holy Kennyo!” He gasped.

“The what?” Her eyes immediately snapped to his.

Too late. The man dropped to his knees and prostrated himself before him, the other villagers rushing to join him. One of them began crying.

“Please.” He answered, gentle as could be. “Please rise. You are doing me too great an honor with your reverence. I beg you to stand. You’ve done far too much hard work in the fields today to drop to your knees before me.”

The man who recognized him didn’t move from his bow, so Kennyo finally dipped low and caught him under the arm, forcing him to his feet. The others followed in turn, still murmuring their gratitude to Amida Buddha.

“Please join us for a meal,” he entreated. “We don’t have much here, but we would gladly share.”

“I could not possibly.” Besides, what would happen if he lingered too long? What wrath would Nobunaga inflict on this humble town if he knew the villagers saw him and said nothing? “Your kindness was hospitality enough. I must be on my way; I am escorting this young woman and I am afraid I cannot be swayed from my current course.”

They all nodded and bowed and assured him it was no trouble, they would gladly serve him if he ever returned, and for his part he lead them all in a quick and humble prayer of gratitude to Buddha, and when they left the town she immediately rounded on him.

“You’re the what?”

“It’s…” He fumbled through his words. So apparently he could handle a crowd of devoted admirers, but a simple explanation to a friend evaded him? “I am the Monshu of Hongan-ji. Rather, I was.”

“What does that mean?”

“Do the teachings of Jodo Shinshu not survive in your age?”

“I imagine they do,” she answered, “I don’t know personally. Lots of people are Buddhist, though. I just don’t know what any of that means.”

“I had the honor of being the leader of Hongan-ji,” he answered simply.

“And they believe you’re Holy?”

“Yes.” How embarrassing was this? “Many believe me to be the living incarnation of Amida Buddha.”

She fixed him with a single long, penetrating stare. Whatever it was she held on her tongue, she didn’t dare say it at first.

“So…” A pause. “How do you feel about that?”

How did he feel?

He didn’t realize he’d halted until he saw her peering intently in his eyes. When was the last time someone asked him how he felt about that? How he felt about the throng of ardent worshippers, the press and plea of those desperate for something better, the adoration of those he’d never even laid eyes on?

Never. Never before had he dared to ask the question to himself. It felt like a luxury he couldn’t afford.

“It’s a great honor to be the eleventh of my line,” he recited. “And I have devoted myself to Amida Buddha and their boundless karma.”

“Great answer for the public, bad one for me. I’m not so easy to get to lay off.”

“If only you were,” he groaned, only half-honest.

“Do you think you’re the living incarnation of Amida Buddha?”

“You have a habit of shooting straight to the core of something, don’t you? Hasn’t that gotten you into trouble in the past?”

“Oh yeah. All the time.” She shot him an impish grin. “More times than I can count. It’s a very bad habit.”

Unable to resist, he teased back, “I thought you said you were suitably eligible. I’d say that cancels out your sewing talents.”

“Ooh, sharp, aren’t we? I feel like I’ve hit something raw, so I’ma back off for now.”

“‘I’ma’?”

“It’s a slang version of ‘I will’.”

“Ah. ‘I’ma’. Interesting.”

The gravel road crunched beneath their sandals comfortingly. Wind swirled around her hair and cast his own in his eyes, tickling his nose in a way he still wasn’t quite used to, and he wished he could brush off her inquiry so easily.

---

She returned to Azuchi late, and Masamune was still pacing in the hallway when the doorway swung quietly shut behind her.

“Hell,” he murmured. “You’re finally back.”

“Sorry.” She even bowed, which was frankly a strange look on her. “I went on a long walk around the surrounding area.”

“You’re lucky no one tried to kidnap you again. What were you thinking, Kitten? Could’ve gotten hurt by bandits or something.”

“You’re starting to sound like Hideyoshi,” she prodded gently. “Thanks for your concern. I’m just fine. I had an escort.”

The idea of one of Kennyo’s (the Kennyo, the Holy Kennyo, Saint Kennyo) fanatical lackies showing her around made his skin crawl. He’d had enough incidents with them in Oshu to distrust and need their cooperation in equal measure. “Alright. Have you eaten?”

“Kind of.”

“Come on. Let’s get something in you.”

She followed him to the kitchen without resistance. Fixing back his sleeves, he dipped straight into the barrel of rice he always kept for such occasions, poured water in a pot, chopped some vegetables with neat precision. Her eyes tracked his every movement. In the first weeks she’d tried to help him, but with enough assurance that yes, he really enjoyed every step of the process, she’d finally let it alone.

“Here.” It was an easy meal. He set the rice balls and stewed vegetables in front of her, laying the chopsticks directly in her hand. “I want to see you eat all of it.”

“Yes Mother,” she teased him, popping the first carrot in her mouth and chewing with relish. “I appreciate it.”

He settled down across from her and tucked into his own bowl of rice. For a long time nothing but the delighted sound of her chewing filled the space between them. But no--now he needed to have that uncomfortable conversation with her, so he pushed back the rice bowl and cleared his throat.

“Gotta talk to you about something, Kitten, and you have to promise not to hate me for it.”

“Alright. What’s this about?”

“Kennyo.”

Her expression faltered and shuttered the way that Mitsuhide’s or Ieyasu’s would. “Alright.”

“I didn’t realize who he was until today. Dumb of me. I get it. Were you aware he’s that Kennyo?”

She shook her head. “Not until today.”

“Right. Well, that kind of complicates things, Kitten. If it were just some monk then no, it isn’t a big deal for you to visit and hang around. I wasn’t so worried when I didn’t realize who he was. But now…”

“What’s so bad about him?” Her inquiry was serious. Did she really not know? “He’s pretty nice.”

“It’s--you gotta understand, Kitten.” He huffed a disbelieving laugh. “You know that practically everyone in Japan reveres him, right? He wields the kind of power that Nobunaga wants to have. Samurai would up and die for him. Monks would up and die for him. Villagers would die for him. If he snapped his fingers--and I don’t know why he hasn’t, and that scares the hell out of me--then half of Oshu could riot underneath me.”

Her eyes were round as sake cups. With a heavy sigh, he took her empty plate and chopsticks. “I don’t wanna kill your mood. I’m sure they were just fine to you. The fact that you were just fine is heartening, but… Kitten, you gotta understand. I’m trying to keep you safe.”

The soft exhale of her breath was all that greeted him. She was a thing of fire and wind and iron, a wave crashing restlessly against the immovable wall of a cliff, all the elements tangled together at once, but--but now she was just a woman, their Chatelaine, their little lucky Princess, and for the first time he wondered if she could always look so sad.

“I know,” she answered.

“Atta girl.” He checked her under her chin. “Face up, Kitten. I promise we’ll give you something to do.”

Ceramic clacked together comfortingly in the sink as he sudsed them up. All at once she was by his shoulder, dipping his empty bowl into the water alongside her dishes and scrubbing it out.

“Ah, come on, woman. Let me just do this.”

“No.” She set her stubborn jaw at him and he snickered at the sight. “I’m going to do something for someone, damnit.”

[megstielforever]

My headcanon about Meg...

According to legend, Azazel was one of the fallen angels who had children with human women. The earth was chaotic and God made the decision to clean up all the disaster. Before sending the Flood, he sent a garrison of angels, led by Michael. The rebellious angels were caught and punished. They were sent to hell for all eternity and their childrens ( the nephilims) were killed. (This story can be found in old "Book of Enoch”)

Well, my guess is one Nephilim ( daughter of Azazel ) found a way to run away from that killing. She ran off to Hell. She was tortured;  with sufficient time, she was turned in demon and their "angel" part was annulled. She forgot her true nature and she became a powerful and completely loyal demon.She became Alastair's favorite because she learned perfectly the art of torture. Also, She was one of Azazel's, her father's, privileged , who when realized that she had forgotten her past, he preferred keep it a secret. She was so loyal that It was for this reason that she was chosen for the mission of the Winchesters. And... In a  way, she was an angel so that's why Castiel called her "beautiful". He saw something in her, something he couldn't explain <3

(I want to clarify that I haven't forgotten about Tom, the brother of Meg, He could have slipped out with her too, but I wanted to focus only on Meg).

The next is something I wrote about the moment when Meg flees from the garrison of angels.

 (My thanks to @inkbleeder​ who has corrected translation errors in the next...)

 ---

[Through me you pass into the city of woe: Through me you pass into eternal pain: Through me among the people lost for aye.

Justice the founder of my fabric mov'd: To rear me was the task of power divine, Supremest wisdom, and primeval love.

Before me things create were none, save things Eternal, and eternal I endure. All hope abandon ye who enter here” "Prose of" Hell "- Dante Alighieri ]

“The branches hit with her face at the speed of her footsteps. She almost drowned in the smell of her sweat and blood. Saving her power to use it at the right time, she just kept running down the road hoping to get to that place she saw as her only salvation. Far away behind, she knew they were there chasing after her. smelling the wake of light and dust that she was leaving behind. She didn't have much time. Midnight was approaching and that was the right time to do what had to be done. The piercing sound of the archangels grew louder and there was still a long stretch before they reached the cave hidden among the sharpened rocks of the mountain.When she began to hear the murmurs in Enochian, she tried to go faster but stumbled on the road, adding another wound to the set of scrapes and bruises she already had on her body. A piece of her torn robe was left behind in the path. If she had stopped to retrieved it, she would have been delayed and every second was more than valuable. So she risked leaving it as an obvious clue to the way she was going. She didn't want to stop to think, she just ran and she ran as fast as she could. Shortly after, the entrance to the cave was closer and she took another breath and sprinted again. The spell that kept her hidden from the sight of the angels was losing its effect when the Enochian whispers became thunderous voices that specifically spoke of her and how she had to be trapped and killed to save the honor of the heavens. The black mouth of the cave opened. Her fear grew even bigger and she made an effort to focus only on the part of herself that was going to help her at that moment. She turned her head back and could feel them right behind her. She took a breath of air and stepped quickly into the opening. Blinded, she continued running. Only the voices that followed her pushed her to continue as lightly as she could. The air became thicker. She could see a red spot in the distance and ran in that direction. Little by little, the stain became a wall of burning rock, as if it were boiling red hot. When she stood in front of it, so close the heat it emanated could burn her skin.

When she stood in front of it, so close that the heat it emanated could burn her skin, she took out a razor and cut the palm of one hand, letting the blood fall on the other. She sighed again and tried to silence in her mind the voices that had been pursuing her to concentrate on the pronunciation of the spell. She had to do it perfectly, because she didn't have time to try again; otherwise the angels would come to her. After shedding the last drop of blood, she fixed her eyes on this and began the recitation. The palm of her hand burnt but she had to finish. "You will be punished and eliminated from the face of the earth for being the result of the sin of our race against God" Michael's voice boomed behind but she only reached to rest the palm of her hand on the burning wall. Her blood boiled and the fire the fire rise up her arm. In a matter of seconds, the flames consumed her completely. The garrison of angels was met with nothing but a huge wall of rock and a pile of ashes.”

[dfroza]

have you found your treasure in an eternal Tree?

(and simultaneously have you found my heart as a friend?)

for there is a pure Tree of life that connects us, and we must become as humble children to see its Light

A point made clear in Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the book of Matthew in chapter 18 where we see the True illumination of “Home” and the path of the Son that leads us there:

Around that same time, the disciples came to Jesus and questioned Him about the kingdom of heaven.

A Disciple: In the kingdom of heaven, who is the greatest?

Jesus called over a little child. He put His hand on the top of the child’s head.

Jesus: This is the truth: unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. In that kingdom, the most humble who are most like this child are the greatest. And whoever welcomes a child, welcomes her in My name, welcomes Me. And do not lead astray one of the weak and friendless who believes in Me. If you do, it would be better for you to be dragged down with a millstone and drowned in the bottom of the sea.

Beware indeed of those in a world filled with obstacles and temptations that cause people to turn away from Me. Those temptations are woven into the fabric of a world not yet redeemed, but beware to anyone who lures righteous women and men off the narrow path. If your hand constantly grasps at the things of this world rather than serves the Kingdom—cut it off and throw it away. If your foot is always leading you to wander, then cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to hobble, crippled, into the kingdom of life than to burn in hell with two hands and two feet. And if your eye always focuses on things that cause you to sin, then pull your eye out and throw it away. It is better for you to see the kingdom of life with one eye than to see the fires of hell with perfect sight.

Make sure that you do not look down on the little ones, on those who are further behind you on the path of righteousness. For I tell you: they are watched over by those most beloved messengers who are always in the company of My Father in heaven. [The Son of Man has come to save all those who are lost.]

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 18:1-11 (The Voice)

to be accompanied by the lines of Psalm 17 and Proverbs 17 for Today’s date of October 17:

A David Prayer

Listen while I build my case, God,

the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear.

Show the world I’m innocent—

in your heart you know I am.

Go ahead, examine me from inside out,

surprise me in the middle of the night—

You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.

My words don’t run loose.

I’m not trying to get my way

in the world’s way.

I’m trying to get your way,

your Word’s way.

I’m staying on your trail;

I’m putting one foot

In front of the other.

I’m not giving up.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 17:1-5 (The Message)

and the complete Psalm in The Voice:

[Psalm 17]

A prayer of David.

Listen, O Eternal One, to my cry for justice.

These words of mine are true—turn Your ear toward me.

Announce that I am free of all the charges against me—only You can see into my heart to know that to be true.

Treat me with fairness; look at me with justice.

You have searched me—my heart and soul—awakened me from dreaming and tested me.

You’ve found nothing against me.

I have resolved not to sin in what I say.

The path violent men have followed,

I will not travel. Violence is not my way.

Your ways and Your voice now guide my journey.

I will press on—moving steadfastly forward along Your path.

I will not look back. I will not stumble.

I am crying aloud to You, O True God, for I long to know Your answer.

Hear me, O God. Hear my plea. Hear my prayer for help.

Put Your marvelous love on display for all to see.

Liberator of those who long for shelter beside You,

set them safely away from their enemies, ever welcomed by grace.

Keep close watch over me as the apple of Your eye;

shelter me in the shadow of Your wings.

Protect me from the wicked who are poised to attack,

from the enemies swarming around me and closing in quickly.

Like clay baking in the sun, their hearts have hardened;

arrogance spills from their mouths.

They’ve tracked me down like quarry.

They’re surrounding me

and are poised to throw me down into the dirt.

Like a lion—crouching in the brush—they are ready to tear me apart.

Like young lions in their hiding places, they are poised to strike.

Rise up and confront them, O Eternal One! Make them pay.

By Your sword, set me free from my wicked enemies!

May Your rescue find me here.

By Your hand, save me from my enemies, Eternal One.

Save me from men whose hopes are rooted in this world.

But as for those You cherish,

may they feast on all You have set aside for them;

may their children never be in need;

may they have enough so their children will inherit their wealth.

But as for me, my hope is to see Your face.

When I am vindicated, I will look upon the holy face of God,

and when I awake, the longing of my soul will be satisfied in the glow of Your presence.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 17 (The Voice)

and lines of wisdom from Today’s chapter in the book of Proverbs:

[Wisdom’s Virtues]

A simple, humble life with peace and quiet

is far better than an opulent lifestyle with nothing

but quarrels and strife at home.

A wise, intelligent servant will be honored above a shameful son.

He’ll even end up having a portion left to him in his master’s will.

In the same way that gold and silver are refined by fire,

the Lord purifies your heart by the tests and trials of life.

Those eager to embrace evil listen to slander,

for a liar loves to listen to lies.

Mock the poor, will you?

You insult your Creator every time you do!

If you make fun of others’ misfortune,

you’d better watch out—your punishment is on its way.

Grandparents have the crowning glory of life:

grandchildren!

And it’s only proper for children to take pride in their parents.

It is not proper for a leader to lie and deceive,

and don’t expect excellent words to be spoken by a fool.

Wise instruction is like a costly gem.

It turns the impossible into success.

Love overlooks the mistakes of others,

but dwelling on the failures of others devastates friendships.

One word of correction breaks open a teachable heart,

but a fool can be corrected a hundred times

and still not know what hit him.

Rebellion thrives in an evil man,

so a messenger of vengeance will be sent to punish him.

It’s safer to meet a grizzly bear robbed of her cubs

than to confront a reckless fool.

The one who returns evil for good

can expect to be treated the same way for the rest of his life.

Don’t be one who is quick to quarrel,

for an argument is hard to stop,

and you never know how it will end,

so don’t even start down that road!

There is nothing God hates more

than condemning the one who is innocent

and acquitting the one who is guilty.

Why pay tuition to educate a fool?

For he has no intention of acquiring true wisdom.

A dear friend will love you no matter what,

and a family sticks together through all kinds of trouble.

It’s stupid to run up bills you’ll never be able to pay

or to cosign for the loan of your friend.

Save yourself the trouble and don’t do either one.

If you love to argue,

then you must be in love with sin.

For the one who loves to boast is only asking for trouble.

The one with a perverse heart never has anything good to say,

and the chronic liar tumbles into constant trouble.

Parents of a numskull will have many sorrows,

for there’s nothing about his lifestyle that will make them proud.

A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul.

But the one whose heart is crushed

struggles with sickness and depression.

When you take a secret bribe,

your actions reveal your true character,

for you pervert the ways of justice.

Even the face of a wise man shows his intelligence.

But the wandering eyes of a fool will look for wisdom everywhere

except right in front of his nose.

A father grieves over the foolishness of his child,

and bitter sorrow fills his mother.

It’s horrible to persecute a holy lover of God

or to strike an honorable man for his integrity!

Can you bridle your tongue when your heart is under pressure?

That’s how you show that you are wise.

An understanding heart keeps you cool, calm, and collected,

no matter what you’re facing.

When even a fool bites his tongue

he’s considered wise.

So shut your mouth when you are provoked—

it will make you look smart.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 17 (The Passion Translation)

my personal reading in the Scriptures for October 17, the 25th day of Autumn and day 290 of the year:

[unassumingvenusaur]

Mitama x Ophelia C-S

It just occurred to me that I don’t think I actually submitted this to you via Tumblr, just linked you to it and got your (or rather, your girlfriend’s) approval for it.  Here it is, properly submitted:

Mitama x Ophelia

PLEASE NOTE: I don’t quite remember the capitalization for “chosen one” when Ophelia speaks of herself.  I seem to remember that “chosen” is capitalized while “one” is not, but that certainly may not be the case.  Please feel free to correct any technical consistency mistake I may have made in regards to this matter.

C Support

(Mitama Onscreen)

Mitama (Normal Smile): …Zzz…

Ophelia (Offscreen): …let the sanguine miasma be purified, by the will of the cosmic flames dancing in my blood!

Ophelia (Offscreen): And furthermore…

Mitama (Distressed): Zzz–huh?  What? Who causes this racket? People are trying to sleep!

Mitama (Angry): Cacophonous churl! / Your etiquette has left you. / My nap goes with it!

(Exit Mitama. Ophelia Onscreen)

Ophelia (Normal Smile): …and so I take this storied sapphire of antiquity into my grasp–

Ophelia (Angry): And yet! My hand trembles to clutch such potence!

(Mitama Onscreen)

Ophelia (Distressed): Do I have the mystic fortitude to unlock its secrets? Is it hubris to even try?

Ophelia (Relieved Smile): …Ah, Mitama! Have you come to assist the Chosen in her hour of need?

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Your aura overflows with ferocity! The stars in your eyes rage with power!

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Together, we can surely–

Mitama (Angry): A storm approaches. / Dark clouds of malice brought forth / by a fool’s clamor.

Ophelia (Distressed): *Gasp*

Mitama (Angry Smile): I am glad to see that you’re properly terrified. Now take your loud nonsense elsewhere!

Mitama (Angry Smile): Bellows of thunder! / Roiling skies frighten the fool. / Lightning shall foll–

Ophelia (Distressed): Another curse! Oh no!

Mitama (Distressed): What? Curse?

Ophelia (Angry): Oh wicked tongue that can work such fell magicks so quickly in succession!

Ophelia (Angry): Strengthened by the fury of your soul’s starfire…

Ophelia (Distressed): …these surely are greater arcane hexes than even a Chosen can weather!  I must flee!

(Exit Ophelia)

Mitama (Distressed): What? Those were haiku, not curses!

Mitama (Angry): I just wanted you to take your shenanigans out of earshot!

Mitama (Distressed): …Drat!

Mitama (Distressed): Adieu, sweet slumber! / Poetry, misunderstood? / Mitama shan’t rest!

Mitama (Angry Smile): Ophelia! Come back here!

B Support

(Mitama + Ophelia Onscreen)

Mitama (Normal Smile): …And those are the basics of a haiku.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): So it was poetry you spoke, not a hex! How silly of me to overreact so.

Mitama (Angry Smile): Silly indeed. I could not allow such an ignorance of the matter to persist.

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Certainly not! One should never suffer an affront to one’s passions to stand.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): I am curious, though. What is the appeal of these haikus?

Ophelia (Frown): It seems a woeful loss to be limited to a mere 17 syllables!

Ophelia: (Winking Smile): The more the world hears of a Chosen’s storied exploits, the better!

Mitama (Distressed): Yes, there is little appeal in haiku to those enamoured with the flapping of their own lips.

Mitama (Angry Smile): Any fool can express themselves fully given limitless time and words.

Mitama (Normal Smile): But through limiting us so sharply, haikus force us be masters of our language.

Mitama (Enthusiastic) Bared soul of our thoughts / In its brevity, beauty… / Say much with little.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Ah, I see…what an intriguing concept!

Ophelia (Frown): I have often felt that no matter how many and grand words I utilize…

Ophelia (Frown): Perfectly capturing the spectacular enterprises of a Chosen One in vocabulary is a futile endeavor.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Perhaps I shall pursue a new approach of sentiments fleeting, rather than extravagant.

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Fine by me, if it reduces the noise you produce. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a nap to–

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Oh master of the unspoken word, eyes brimming with starry wisdom, I beseech you!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Teach me your artful restraint, Mitama!

Mitama (Distressed): What?

Ophelia (Winking Smile): I would learn to temper my too talkative tongue from you!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Please, help me to translate the sprawling epic verse of a Chosen into precise haiku.

Mitama (Distressed): I…but…well…

Mitama (Angry): Plea for haiku help… / My bed must yet stay empty. / Poet’s duty calls!

Mitama (Angry Smile): Very well, I shall assist you in adapting your fanciful nonsense to haiku form.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Huzzah! You have the gratitude of Ophelia Dusk, Mitama! How shall we proceed?

Mitama (Normal Smile): Let’s begin with you fabricating one of your typical elaborate outbursts, and we’ll go from there.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): By your command, my astral-eyed sensei!  Ahem…

Ophelia (Angry): Behold, by the bushes! What eldritch monstrosity is this, that so offends the trained eyes of a Chosen?

Ophelia (Angry): Destiny shrieks within my mortal form, eager to leap forth to combat this forsaken beast!

Ophelia (Distressed): But can even the power of the Chosen stand against it?

Ophelia (Distressed): It stands, hulking as a tower given life and malice! It shrieks, a voice cast from sharpest–

Mitama (Distressed): Yes, yes, enough! Large, completely imaginary monster by the bushes, shrieking blood, I get it!

Mitama (Normal Smile): Now, let’s try to trim that down a few syllables, and see if we can make a haiku from it.

(Fade to Dark. Come back to Scene)

Mitama (Angry): No, no, no! I keep telling you, there is no line in a haiku that will fit “indefatigability!”

Ophelia (Normal Smile): The power in my heart cries out! / Ophelia Dusk, / heroine of the star-flecked seas of time arises!

Mitama (Angry): You’re still way off! I tell you, it has to be lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables! Not 8-5-13!

Ophelia (Distressed): This is much more difficult than I had expected.

Ophelia (Distressed): I keep trying to restrict myself, but then another magnificent description pops into my head to add in.

Mitama (Distressed): Perhaps jumping straight to haiku was too hasty.  Let’s try a simpler exercise.

Mitama (Normal Smile): Forget the specific syllable lines. Let’s just try to condense your speech a little.

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Imagine that everything you say must fit into a box sitting right below you.

Mitama (Angry Smile): But the box only has space for so many words!

Mitama (Normal Smile): Try to get what you wish to say across in as few words possible, or your box will be overfull!

Ophelia (Angry): *Gasp* You say a textual prison lays beneath us? Our words, the utterances of our very souls, fall into its hungry maw, and we must be cautious to limit the speech which we feed it!

(This line is intentionally far too long for a text box–fit all that you can into a single dialogue box, and cut the rest off, OR, if the game handles text overflow by simply pushing the text outside of the dialogue box’s confines but still putting it all on the same screen, do that).

Mitama (Distressed): Oh, dear…I didn’t mean to trigger that overactive imagination. You’re just getting worse.

Ophelia (Distressed): Apologies. There’s simply so much within the head of a Chosen, desperate to escape!

Mitama (Angry Smile): Small wonder. I’d want to flee the delusional chaos in your head, too.

Mitama (Normal Smile): At any rate, we don’t seem to be getting anywhere with this, so let’s stop for now.

Ophelia (Angry): What? No! A Chosen One does not give up so easily!

Mitama (Angry Smile): Leap to conclusions… / This, Ophelia does well. / Haikus, not so much.

Mitama (Normal Smile): I’m not giving up on teaching you. I just need a break to think of a new approach.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Ah, of course! Forgive me for doubting you. We shall adjourn for now, and cross paths again at a later time!

Ophelia: (Winking Smile): Farewell for now, Mitama the Astral-Eyed!

(Exit Ophelia)

Mitama (Normal Smile): …What is it about this army that attracts such oddballs, anyway?

A Support

(Mitama + Ophelia Onscreen)

Mitama (Normal Smile): Ah, Ophelia, there you are.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Mitama! Thank the stars, for they have sent you to Ophelia Dusk in her time of need!

Ophelia (Normal Smile): We must make haste; an otherworldly blight seeks to descend upon our lands!

Ophelia (Normal Smile): I see you, too, have come to to seal the unseen portal to the realm of cosmic horrors!

Mitama (Distressed): What? No. I just had an idea for a new approach to teaching you to craft a haiku.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Oh, truly? Excellent! Do tell me all about it!

Mitama (Normal Smile): What was all that about cosmic horrors, just now?

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Oh, pay no mind to that. The unspeakable galactic monstrosities will keep for a bit.

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Now, impart your grand insight upon me, that I might learn artful restraint!

Mitama (Normal Smile): …Right. Anyway…

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): I realized that I have forgotten one of the most important parts of instruction:

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Modeling!

Mitama (Normal Smile): I can hardly expect you to get the hang of crafting a haiku through explanation alone.

Mitama (Normal Smile): I also need to give you examples to learn from!

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Sensible…but you already do, don’t you?

Ophelia (Winking Smile): I have seen you many times compose on the spot, in the midst of conversation.

Mitama (Normal Smile): True! But that is not a perfect model. Such poems express my thoughts.

Mitama (Normal Smile): But my thoughts are vastly different from yours. They’re sane, for one thing.

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): You need a model which is built around YOUR thoughts!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): What marvelous insight! In you, Mitama, the stars selected their Chosen well!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Tell me, what mystifying means shall we employ to create this model?

Ophelia (Winking Smile): A forgotten technique to meld our thoughts?

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Will you read my mind with some forbidden spell, gleaned from a tome of antiquity?

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Shall you scry the depths of my soul, and your tongue weave a tapestry–

Mitama (Angry Smile): I was thinking I would just have you speak, and make a haiku of that.

Ophelia (Annoyed): …Oh. Well, I suppose that will do.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): How would you like to start?

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Hm…you were troubled by some cosmic horrors or some such when I arrived.

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Let’s hear more about them, perhaps?

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Excellent idea! The fate of this world does hang in the balance, after all.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): You see, at this spot is a weakening of the fabric of the physical world.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Through this rift, hostile beasts from a dark realm of non-reality may enter our own!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): It is the responsibility of a Chosen to mend this fault, before our world is besieged!

Mitama (Normal Smile): Mmhm. Very dire. Now, observe how the situation may be condensed to haiku:

Mitama (Distressed): Invasion impends! / Darkness seeks to enfold us… / Chosen, be our light!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Marvelous! How do you do it? So much, said with so little!

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Although you didn’t really get into the dimensional tear.

Mitama (Normal Smile): Patience, I haven’t forgotten it. Now, what form do these otherworldly beasts take?

Ophelia (Normal Smile): They come from their lightless lands into our own, shapeless and inscrutable!

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Our world trembles as their black presence invades unseen!

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Their sinister presence lurks all around us, hiding amongst the shadow…waiting!

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Yup, got it.

Mitama (Distressed): Seeping through realms’ rift / Oily black shapes stalk us all / Trust not your shadow!

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Ah, there’s the rift! Splendid!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): And your description of these beasts as something liquid, black…how insightful!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): I had not thought – er, NOTICED them as such, but now I clearly see you are right!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Oily, liquid shadows…you, too, are beginning to see with the eyes of Chosen!

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): I’m glad you enjoy the embellishment.

Mitama (Angry Smile): But one can save us! / She who strides the light and dark: / Ophelia Dusk!

Ophelia (Tender Smile): Why, thank you! I so love a good heroic introduction.

Ophelia (Tender Smile): And I didn’t even have to prompt this one!

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Yes, this is…rather more fun than I had expected.

Mitama (Angry Smile): Now, how will you send these shadowy whatsits back from whence they came?

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Ah, well, within my heart is embedded a starry sapphire, and with its resonations…

(Fade to Dark.  Come back to Scene)

Ophelia (Angry): …It is too much! Oh, that my strength had not been wasted upon the shade legions!

Ophelia (Distressed): Ophelia Dusk falls to her knees, helpless before the sinister king of the dark!

Mitama (Distressed): The fell sovereign laughs! / He delights, our world despairs… / None can save us now!

Ophelia (Distressed): Is this truly the end…?

Mitama (Angry Smile): Her blood boils…power! / Ophelia, beaten? No! / With our faith, never!

Ophelia (Angry): Of course! The strength of the day, the grace of the night…Ophelia Dusk draws upon both!

Ophelia (Angry): With the hopes and dreams of all the world in my heart, I may make one final strike…!

Mitama (Angry Smile): Arm snakes forth, trembles! / She twirls, sparkling with power! / Her final attack:

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Scarlet Astrolabe of Divinity!

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Carmine sphere flies true! / Shattered king, unearthly howl…! / Then…a stark silence.

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Shadows defeated, / Rift mended, dark king vanquished… / Dusk has saved us all!

Ophelia (Normal Smile): …

Mitama (Normal Smile): …

Ophelia (Tender Smile): …Hee hee! That was so much fun! I’ve never had anyone narrate my adventures so!

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): It truly was!

Mitama (Normal Smile): I am accustomed to writing haiku based on what I myself perceive and feel…

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): It is actually quite exhilarating to adapt myself to the imagination of another.

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Particularly an imagination so lively as yours!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Do not be so modest! Your eyes saw the unseen just as well as mine, by the end!

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Imagination / Yours ran away, mine followed / Elopement of minds.

Mitama (Normal Smile): At any rate, with all those haiku models, do you think you’ve gotten the hang of it?

Ophelia (Distressed): Oh…I apologize, Mitama. I got so carried away…

Ophelia (Distressed): I wasn’t really concentrating on learning from all your wonderful haiku…

Mitama (Angry): What!? After all that, you still haven’t gotten the hang of the form?

Ophelia (Distressed): I’m sor–

Mitama (Angry Smile): Well, we’ll just have to give you some more models to learn from, then!

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Do you think you’ll need to save the world again any time soon?

Ophelia (Tender Smile): Mitama…

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Er, why, yes, as a matter of fact! I AM a Chosen one, after all.

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Adventures are a daily occurrence! The world needs ever so much saving.

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Then it seems we shall resume our lesson for tomorrow’s disaster.

Mitama (Normal Smile): And now, I must catch up on my napping.

Mitama (Angry Smile): I’m unaccustomed to experiencing so many consecutive hours conscious.

Ophelia (Winking Smile): But of course! The chronicler of a Chosen one must be well rested!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): Until tomorrow, my celestial-gazed friend!

S Support

(Mitama + Ophelia Onscreen)

Ophelia (Normal Smile): And so falls the last! / Assassin shades lay all ‘round, / Brought low by blade of Dusk.

Mitama (Normal Smile): You had an extra syllable at the end there, but otherwise good.

Ophelia (Angry): All is now silent… / Yet booming questions resound: / Who sent them? And why?

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Spot on that time! Keep going.

Ophelia (Angry): I whisper a prayer / To consult the stars themselves! / Who sought ambush me?

Mitama (Distressed): Good…I think. Wait, how many syllables is “prayer,” anyway?

Ophelia (Distressed): The heavens respond, / My blood chills. Twas the orc lord: / Galdrasteminos!

Ophelia (Winking Smile): The Chosen’s new foe! / Can she survive his fury? / Only time will tell!

Mitama (Distressed): Hm? Oh…I suppose it is growing a bit late.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Indeed. Even menacing orc lords must have a good night’s sleep.

Ophelia (Winking Smile): One cannot properly enact a foul reign of terror while exhausted, after all.

Mitama (Angry Smile): Right, of course. Fortunate that both your schedules happen to line up so conveniently.

Mitama (Normal Smile): …

Mitama (Distressed): You’ve…become quite proficient in haiku.

Ophelia (Tender Smile): Quite so! You have turned out to be a most adept teacher.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): In fact, I think I shan’t need your assistance much longer.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): You’ll soon be able to cease our sessions, and return to daily napping.

Mitama (Distressed): Yes…I had thought as much.

Mitama (Distressed): It will be…good, I suppose, to settle back into my solitary routine.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Indeed! And I don’t care to have a teacher along with me on every adventure…

Mitama (Angry): Oh? Well, if that’s how you feel, then–

Ophelia (Winking Smile): What I could really use is a partner, instead!

Mitama (Normal Smile): I…oh. So you mean…?

Ophelia (Winking Smile): It is ever so tiresome and lonely to be the sole defender of the world, you know.

Ophelia (Tender Smile): Sharp, clever-tongued Mitama, in whose eyes swim the cosmos…

Ophelia (Tender Smile): Will you take up the mantle of Chosen as well, and join me in my crusades?

Mitama (Enthusiastic Smile): Gladly!

Mitama (Normal Smile): My worries dispelled / Our friendship’s base is more than / Just teaching haiku.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): Well…it is true that our friendship was formed from your tutelage.

Ophelia (Blushing Normal Smile): But it was my hope that being Chosen partners might be based on…

Ophelia (Blushing Tender Smile): Well, something a little…more.

Ophelia (Blushing Winking Smile): Perhaps you might harbor similar hopes?

Mitama (Blushing Enthusiastic Smile): Bold as ever.

Ophelia (Winking Smile): One should expect no less of a Chosen.

Mitama (Normal Smile): Well, you’re not wrong. At first, I simply found your mad adventures unexpectedly fun…

Mitama (Blushing Normal Smile): But I’ve come to enjoy our time together more for you than entertainment.

Mitama (Normal Smile): You have such a vivid, if sometimes extraneous, command of language!

Mitama (Normal Smile): And spending so much time as your narrator, seeing through your creative eyes…

Mitama (Normal Smile): I feel I’ve come to know you well through the adventures we’ve woven together..

Mitama (Blushing Enthusiastic Smile): And I like what I’ve discovered.

Ophelia (Blushing Tender Smile): And I quite like you, too.

Ophelia (Normal Smile): For even as you gently chuckle at my flourishes and fancies…

Ophelia (Tender Smile): You transform them to poetry with care and respect.

Ophelia (Blushing Tender Smile): It means much to me. And so do you.

Mitama (Blushing Enthusiastic Smile): A new haiku, then, / we’ll write tomorrow, as we…

Ophelia (Blushing Winking Smile): / …Adventure anew.

[hellongtraveller-blog]

The Best International Travel Tips No One’s Ever Told You About

Google "travel superhero", you will get a trillion similar results. Ask the door host for an update, bring the chocolates to the cabin crew, wrap your clothes when packing to save space, etc.

These are good tips, to make sure! But for those who may be on an International Travel Tips flight for the first time, I wanted to share some tips on international travel that apply only to those who are traveling internationally for the first time. These are the tips that you would like to know before you travel, which is particularly useful if you are looking for tips to travel abroad for the first time. Do not worry, veterans travel: here are also some wisdom nuggets and advice on international travel!

Best international travel tips that nobody has told you.

Take these tips seriously and you will definitely have a great experience abroad. Trust us, we are experts!

International Travel Tips n. ° 1: Limiting social networking, travel advisor, and guided tours

I never understood the desire of people to do tours. Being surrounded by livestock among pre-planned activities, the restaurants accredited by TripAdvisor and the "fabricated" cultural experiences do not seem much fun. It's like jumping out of bed and saying you're out of parachuting. Technically, I've done it, but have you really done it?

Guided tours can take their place on the trip, but I suggest that if you go abroad for the first time, it takes some time to explore in a way like Anthony Bordan. Save your phone for today. Walk around town. Explore the alley. Ask local people about food and drink suggestions. Handshake, move away from the beaten path and walk wherever your curiosity takes you.

International Travel Tip # 2: Pack these things that you might have overlooked

First things first: Bring half the amount of clothing you think you need. This advice always finds its way to international travel tips. If you are traveling abroad for the first time, you may feel the need to bring everything you own. I assure you that this is a mistake.

The truth is that you will wear the same pants / pants / sandals / three yoga shirts every day. This always happens and is incredibly free to be forced to follow a simple lifestyle for your trips.

International Travel Tip # 3: Make your trip productive

It is understood that most people make an international journey as if it were a war. It is simply a matter of piracy, fighting and survival to the end. But, you do not have to be that way. I love international flights. Several hours without phone, free drink, wifi and time for you? Yes please.

International flights are a unique opportunity to be productive. Sure, you can watch awesome movies, but what happens if you finish the book you read or write? Or did you draw? Or did you work on the idea of ​​working? Or have you written your goals for your time abroad?

I'm not Tim Ferris. I am a normal person who loves comfort and relaxation. I easily realize that I can not be the product of a long journey. My journey home from Vietnam was always brutal, and in the end, I am an angry, terrified and imprisoned animal.

But I usually read and write a few hours while drinking wine and snacks, and really, how many times do you get hours of uninterrupted time to work on a passion project? I can also take advantage of it. You can even start writing your own list of international travel tips to share with friends!

However, here are some elements that can make your trips more comfortable and less stressful if you think ahead of time and include them in:

• International phone charger: Different countries have different outputs in Fig. Do not start your journeys after fighting to find the right type. Operate universal charger or adapter and easy convenience.

• Change aircraft clothes: Do you have a 4-hour scale? There is nothing better than bathing in a dressing room or in the lobby and wearing some fresh clothes in the middle of a daily trip. Also, after changing clothes and some toiletries, the size of the trip in your luggage can save the day if you lose your luggage.

• Amazon Kindle: Reading on Kindle instead of moving without thinking about your phone will save your phone battery, which is good for you

• International Debit Card: Before leaving for your trip, calculate international usage rates for your bank. If you have a bank like Wells Fargo already tapped you with a pointed stick every time you use an ATM abroad, you might want to create a friendly account with another bank (such as Charles Schwab) before you leave.

• Sony MDRZX110NC headphones for noise cancellation *: I just bought two of these pairs. At a cost of $ 30 on Amazon, they are very affordable and have good sound quality and prevent 90% of the aircraft noise. If you are forced to see Paul Blaart Mall on board, you can also get good sound quality.

• Baby Wipes: Trust me and throw them.

International Travel Tip # 3: Make your trip productive

It is understood that most people make an International Travel Tips journey as if it were a war. It is simply a matter of piracy, fighting and survival to the end. But, you do not have to be that way. I love international flights. Several hours without phone, free drink, wifi and time for you? Yes please.

International flights are a unique opportunity to be productive. Sure, you can watch awesome movies, but what happens if you finish the book you read or write? Or did you draw? Or did you work on the idea of ​​working? Or have you written your goals for your time abroad?

I'm not Tim Ferris. I am a normal person who loves comfort and relaxation. I easily realize that I can not be the product of a long journey. My journey home from Vietnam was always brutal, and in the end, I am an angry, terrified and imprisoned animal.

But I usually read and write a few hours while drinking wine and snacks, and really, how many times do you get hours of uninterrupted time to work on a passion project? I can also take advantage of it. You can even start writing your own list of international travel tips to share with friends!

International Travel Tip # 4: Do the Visa Duty

Missing important information in translation is part of international travel fun. However, finding that you can not board the plane in the final phase of your trip because your final destination requires you to confirm that your visa is waiting for you is more than just a minor inconvenience.

We need to spend some time making sure you know the visa status of any country you visit. For example, my current home in Vietnam says on the Internet that you can get a "visa on arrival". This is technically correct, but you need to confirm from the visa company that you have a visa ready for you before you take the plane to Vietnam. The airport does not allow you to apply for a visa upon arrival, but only issues it.

Such technicians and visa laws that are constantly changing, are not rare, especially in developing countries. Make sure to search and find out what documents you need for each country.

International Travel Board No. 5: Work and Travel

This is a secret: International Travel Tips finance using an unreal travel code. I know, a lot of people seem to be doing this, but (mostly) they do not. This place is full of people and breaking noise takes a long time, not to mention monetization. We will be limited if we do not share this information in our international travel advice list.

However, there are other ways to finance your trip. If you are interested in making travel a lifestyle, the remote function is a great way to travel and work at the same time. Teaching English, seasonal work and working in shelters for rooms and meals (and other short-term) are viable options to maintain the positive flow of money while traveling.

But, of course, there are thousands of other jobs that allow you to work and travel. You just have to find the right person! (Note: You may like this other article that I wrote: "Travel to live, I do it, you can too!).

International Travel Board No. 6: Partnership with other travelers to divide costs

Depending on your budget, you may find International Travel Tips or activities you'd like to do, but it's not reasonable to do it on your own or out of your budget. I mean, riding a banana boat alone? This is a bit sad!

But if you add some friends to the mix and the cost is cut, suddenly a banana boat ride becomes more logical!

Collaborating with other travelers is an excellent way to meet new people, make friends from around the world, explore different types of activities, and save a little money.

International Travel Tip # 7: Take advantage of travel programs

Are you interested in traveling, and at the same time, extending your hand for amazing and non-profit reasons while doing so? So the international program is right for you. These are particularly good options for travelers who are traveling for the first time, or if you are heading to a completely unknown destination. Why? Travel programs eliminate logistical coordination problems and provide guidance along the way. This helps you make the most of learning and traveling.