#Unveiling lore book

[psalmlab]

Tonight's video is all about the Vex

There are some major key points about the Vex, all the way up to Lightfall and beyond! 👀

💠 Where Are The Vex 💠 Vex History 💠 Crota & The Vex 💠 Post-Final Shape

Don't miss it! 📺 watch here 👇🏾‍

[anonymousduud]

crazy, going-nowhere theory:

What if The Witness is trying to make its own guardians. This is how I get Risen Amanda story walk with me- STOP RUNNING

[scorpius-rising]

Destiny 2 is so frustrating story wise. I’m not talking about the seasonal plot lines here, but rather how the stories and lore are so incredibly good and compelling when you get into them...and the only way you can really get into them properly is playing through a live service MMORPGFPS Looter Shooter that’s been adding and cutting access to content on and off since it was launched in 2017

[werestorm]

Haven't drawn anything but it's time to ramble.

AGGGGH universe lore is so fun. The story takes place on Feros, a large continent that's vaguely shaped like the head of an animal- it's mostly a mild to colder climate with short and sweet summers and harsher winters. There's a few islands that branch off, one of them is where Aquarius keeps his cafe... And I'm so glad I found a way for the story to visit the cafe aggh

Clover,,, man. That lore is going to be interesting. Will he truly have ulterior motives? Will he go along with it because he trusts Aquarius's request to be the right decision? Silly deer boy Sebastian finding out he's one of the few people that can fix whatever the fuck is going on and then incredibly tall fire demon is just like "alright. I'm following you now." It's like unlocking the boss monster as a character but then still being overpowered as shit.

Oh but then Cross- when he comes in,,, heheheheh I have plans.

[thefirstknife]

I appreciate the reply! I enjoy reading other interpretations and I can definitely see where you're coming from.

I personally like both options and wouldn't have a problem if things went into a different direction. It was incredibly cool to speculate on the nature of Darkness pre-WQ and before the Witness and how we could fight it and defeat it. The only direction I would've genuinely despised would've been something that shattered the themes of the story (for example, a stupid plot twist like "actually the Traveler was evil this whole time!").

I definitely think that the morality and symbology of the Traveler/Pyramids still works. Pyramids are still an opposite to the Traveler and they're still our enemy and, in simplest terms, evil. Because they're of the Witness and the Witness is deliberately positioning itself as an opposite to the Traveler. That still works the same. The only difference is that we can now separate Darkness and the Witness into two. The Witness is a part of Darkness, but Darkness is not just the Witness. So while it's chasing the Traveler as a manifestation of the Traveler's opposition (Winnower), we now know that there's something beyond it when it comes to Darkness. That makes Beyond Light more intriguing to me in retrospect: we proved that even when the Witness wants to shape Darkness only into a winnowing tool, when that tool is used by us, it inevitably acquires properties that show how much Darkness is beyond just winnowing.

The proof that Darkness is more than just what we've seen our enemies use against us and against life itself has been a really cool way of redefining it. To me, the idea that this whole other paracausal force is inherently bad (even if it could be used for good as a tool) because it comes from an entity that conceived it as bad always felt like the more straightforward story. Therefore the simplicity comment.

Darkness and Light not being divided on a morality line but instead on a line of which parts of existence they shape is for me personally much more interesting. Though it definitely requires a lot of shifts in perspective so it's absolutely understandable that a lot of people did not like that shift. I can see how, even if someone understands this shift, they don't have to like it.

I also know that a lot of people have been immediately disappointed by the Witness being a... thing, tangible and real, as well as with the reveal of what it is exactly. I personally wasn't, as the story of what happened to an entire species when faced with a crisis of cosmic proportions is what truly draws me to cosmic/eldritch horror. Knowing that this thing is actually an entire civilisation gone mad over the scale and complexity of an incomprehensible universe is an absolute banger to me. I can't wait to see how we deal with that.

And as part of Unveiling, to me, it was super interesting that the Winnower was essentially created by the Witness: the Witness thought someone had to do this and nobody else would so it embodied that principle. But even then, is this principle something that still existed "before" or not? Is this a principle that arises inevitably, therefore making it essential to the universe no matter what? I'm really excited to see how things go after the Witness is, presumably, defeated. Will this philosophy continue, but with someone else taking the spot at the top? Does someone always have to embody the principles of the Winnower?

Anyway, without going into even more of a ramble, I totally understand that the solutions we got could never have made everyone happy and that many people envisioned the story differently. As a Darkness and Unveiling enjoyer, this has always been my favourite part of the setting and story so I wanted to add that the dislike is not universal. I've seen the "everyone hates what it turned out to be" comments. That is simply not true.

Ultimately, the problem of how to deal with the story of this scope will always be in the media it's trapped in. If this story had been anything other than a first person shooter video game, it would've probably have gone in some other direction. The limitation of the media it's being told in is something that I think a lot of people forget about. A lot of what we want from Destiny would make an incredibly compelling story, but not a playable game. For what it's worth, I think it did the best it could given all the limitations. In a perfect universe there's a lot I would've loved if Destiny could've done differently or better. And we have yet to see how the saga ends and what will happen after!

Look, I was willing to give the Veil a shot. I was. I was willing to let Bungie cook. But they made the Veil the Travelers opposite, and I couldn't figure out why I didn't like that. Until a random ass reddit comment and it clicked.

The visual storytelling between the Pyramids and The Traveler is such a beautiful way of portraying two opposing forces without explicitly saying what those forces represent. It's all in their design.

Angular/Spherical

Many/One

Black/White

They have "We are opposites" written on their forehead and the Veil kind of fucked it up.

While I'm on the subject, I've been revisiting my favorite lore book "Unveiling" and MAN, that shit was awesome.

I really really really liked when the overarching conflict was about two Gods giving themselves physical form in the universe to win a cosmic argument on whether the conplexity of life made it worth living. I also really liked its interpretation of the Vex: the manifestation of the perfect pattern. Microorganisms that always came out on top before a new rule were forced upon the game. And yeah, i get it, "Unveiling had no reason to be truthful. The Witness had every reason to lie to us to make us fight each other. Untrustworthy narrator." Blah blah blah.

But, I think it would've been way cooler and scarier if it wasn't lying. It would show that The Winnower truly believes what it's saying. It's simply acting in its nature. It doesn't even know if it's 100% correct, but chooses to follow its path anyway.

This part altered my brain chemistry fundamentally. I am NOT normal about this section and I never will be.

Ok. I'm done. You can tear me a new one or pick my apart. You can tell me the new story is better in every conceivable way. But the Unveiling lorebook was P E A K to me

[unpickled-olive]

Realizing that, while I like Destiny lore, what I love is Seth Dickinson's writing.

The Final Shape was a lovely story and the characters' archs were all emotional and satisfying. Maybe a nostalgic tear was shed for Cayde bonding with his reformed, resurrected killer.

But the things that have kept me coming back for 9 years were missing. I thought there'd be concrete answers about the Traveler, or some more thorough insights into the Witness, or even good lore on the Dread. I was hoping for another great lore book to join the ranks of Books of Sorrow, Unveiling, Mysterious Logbook, Marasenna, Last Days of Kraken Mare, etc. Some philosophy and horror, a genesis or exegesis or thorough backstory on a yet unexamined character/species.

Sadly, I didn't find those. The Dread's origin is that the Witness made them. Do they think and feel? TBD. The Traveler's conclusion was something like "you just have to have faith <3." Fine for the characters, but not for the readers/players of a 10-year-old mystery.

There's some nice things. The Micah-10 Traveler interpretations are cool, as is her origin story. And the foreshadowing still has me excited for the Dreadnaught, a yet unseen Disciple, etc. But I think key parts of what made Destiny lore so alluring for me are diminished.

Maybe it's the layoffs at Bungie. Maybe it's new writers going in a different direction. Either way, the aspects of sci-fi/space fantasy—ancient mysteries, metaphysical warfare, _____—have taken the back seat to personal drama that frankly isn't that interesting or fleshed out.

Maya could be an interesting antagonist, but she needed more backstory than "this simulation was evil or something" and more nuance than "the Vanguard are coercive, so I will coerce all of humanity." Why not explore what her presence means for the Vex, or the other simulations helping Praedyth escape the Vault?

The Witness trying to sway various characters was fine, but that has been covered so many times, especially in Beyond Light.

All that said, back to Seth: their absence in TFS made me realize how huge their presence in the lore was for my love of Destiny. I finally went and read their original works. What an incredible writer.

First, I read Exordia, the first/only entry into a dark mindfuck of a space opera. Its horrific in abstract ways: mysterious alien monoliths that poison reality around them. It's horrific in grounded ways, too: the alien invasion plays off of parallels with the Anfal campaign and the US involvement in Iraq. It's campy at times (with a villain who shouts "I love genocide!") but also profound. There's souls and date, but also math. There's also my favorite trope: mysterious, ancient architects.

After that, I read Baru Cormorant—all three books in a month. It's tragic and inspiring and genius. Originally I couldn't get through the first chapter because of the "fantasy" label. I've already read Earthsea and wasn't in the mood for wizards on boats. But I had the wrong impression. Understandable, because there is just no succinct way to label it.

Is it even fantasy? Honestly, I still don't know.

What it is is its own world. One that the inhabitants haven't fully mapped. One whose past is a must and whose future is uncertain. It's about hegemony. It's about purpose, obsession, and revenge. It's about revolution and community.

The colonizer culture is a kaleidoscope of different influences. Seafaring. Peri-industrial. Eugenic. It strikes me as something like 17th century Britain with a 20th century grasp of science. They don't have guns, but they do have both Greek fire and lobotomies. The story plays with different cultural views on indigenous rights, race, sexuality, and gender in ways that commentary real life while serving as interesting world building.

This story also weaves an insane amount of intellectual concepts into it. But rather than bog it down, they lift it up. The fate of the republic hinges on a myriad of different questions: is evolution Lamarckian or Darwinian? Can mathematical proofs usurp cultural hegemony? How do economics influence history? Most importantly, can you destroy the enemy from within before it destroys you?

It is not just cerebral, but tragic and heartbreaking. I saw the end of the first book coming, and yet I was devastated by the last chapter. Crushed like no ending has ever really crushed me. I didn't want it to happen.

There will likely be some time before the final book comes out, which is understandable. So much research goes into these. So many plot threads need to be woven together. So many mysteries not yet confronted.

This is all to say: if you like what I like about Destiny–thorough examinations of ancient mysteries, sci-fi takes on souls and magic, fantasy takes on science and technology, obsessive characters and vividly fucked up monsters, cancer and math as motifs, metaphors manifesting, and genius characters written by genius authors–give Seth Dickinson a chance.

[penguinlop]

Yandere Alhaitham x Reader

/// Ignorance Is Bliss

Summary:

You discover that your new love, Alhaitham, secretly keeps a detailed knowledge capsule about you.

cw: GN reader, spoilers for alhaitham’s lore and sumeru archon quests, yandere themes, stalking, manipulation, implied not-sfw

Alhaitham knows better than anyone else that there's always a price to pay to enter the oasis of knowledge. 

Sanity is the ticket those desert sirens crave to check before you board. 

Enticing scrolls of information wrap around your waist and weary legs, dragging you toward the mirage of gilded wisdom. They dance around, heated faces burned from the whispers of sand. The glistening flow of cleansing texts and books containing forbidden, convoluted details tempts people's thirst. 

It's all for the enlightenment. An intoxicating euphoria of comprehension, to feel the ivory branches and leaves of Irminsul flood their senses. Perhaps it's the glory, that "aha!" moment people desire. They want to fatten their parched egos and satisfy that sinister appetite. They hunger to be better than everyone else by knowing and achieving more, by finding the Holy Grail first. 

Knowledge is the charmer; people are the sinful serpents. 

As with any personal research project for him, it started with discovering the topic of interest

Alhaitham prides himself on being a man with principles rooted in logic. Rationality is the key to clarity. Dreams are mere distractions. They are fanatical fantasies that the mind plays to taunt and deceive. The Sages endlessly speak of how emotions only get in the way of breaking the Samsara and reaching Nirvana. 

Perhaps the moon can only hope to achieve the greatness of the sun. 

That is why it was noon when he first laid eyes on you in the House of Daena.

You smelt of orange blossom.

How could he forget that contemplative look as you searched for yellowing books riddled with dust to pique your interest and aid your studies? It was nothing out of the ordinary, a common spectacle rather. As a fellow member of the Akademiya, you were simply another eager student to him.  

Holding onto such a meaningless encounter wouldn't be rational. He didn't even bother to gather information on you via the Akasha as a testament to his word. 

But one evening, as the lustrous moon wailed in its cage, Alhaitham found you near the beautiful Sanctuary of Surasthana. It was a clear night with a gentle breeze, the perfect time to  contemplate and relax amidst the choir of dusk birds. He was going up there to take a quick breather. There were too many annoying meetings he had to attend.  

With a telescope in hand and a notebook neatly laid on a stone bench nearby, you gazed at the glorious heavens. A faint fragrance of rose water clung to your skin. However, that's hardly what he noticed at the time. There it was again: that contemplative look. They say the scholars of the Akademiya hold the weight of Teyvat by carrying the burden of denying ignorance, the blistering desire to keep on learning. Some seek to know more and more, even as they meet their fated end. It's an addictive, maddening cycle of peeping into the elusive unknown and searching for answers. 

Yet you looked so peaceful. It was refreshing to see. 

Alhaitham couldn't help but reminisce about the words his grandmother left him with. 

"May my child Alhaitham lead a peaceful life." 

"Lovely, aren't they?" you whispered as tenderly as dancing Padisarahs when you noticed his form enter the Sanctuary's vicinity. "Many say the stars are mysterious, but I think they can be quite playful. Every day I unveil more. It's like they ask me to come and be with them" A simple glance nearly made him burn with curiosity. He suddenly felt parched. "I'm sorry if I startled you. I can often get carried away with my studies." You chuckled at the cunning man. Maybe he couldn't even hear you with his headphones on.  

Alhaitham crossed his arms and sighed. "It's fine. I should've known someone from the school of Rtawahist would be up here stargazing. I will be heading off then." Your telescope and blue robes were a telltale sign of your discipline; it was but a mere elementary-level deduction. 

"Are you sure you don't want to stay? I don't want you to feel like I am hogging the place." The fragrance of rose water came oh-so-slightly closer. It was too sweet and enticing. The pragmatic man couldn't help it. He discretely used his Akasha on you. 

After learning of your name and basic information, he came to the blatant conclusion that he needed to leave. Immediately. 

Once again, he thought of his grandmother. 

"You are such a smart child, but you must take care to have a clearer mind than others. You must understand that vain pursuits are but dust."

His mind was fogging up with too many eccentric yearnings. Aside from facts hastily gathered from the Akasha, he knew nothing about you. 

It needed to stay like that.

He nearly scoffed. What was this? That old tale of Layla and Majnun? The man who went insane from love. Give me a break. What use would itching love be to his aspirations? At best, this was but a fleeting attraction. It would go away eventually. 

"Look, I don't think either of us have any more time to waste." Alhaitham reviewed you once more before curtly turning around and walking away. "Now then, goodbye." 

He had made sure to study the contours of your face, your eye color, your height, your posture, how your clothes fit you, and, most of all, that scent of rose water. But, really, it was all to avoid you for future reference. Yes, understanding one's subject is critical. 

You raised your eyebrow as you saw his form grow smaller and smaller. Then, tilting your head up, you looked at the hypnotizing stars and deathly pale moon, trying to read your destiny and find the absolute truth. 

Before he could completely escape your view, you used your Akasha Terminal on him. Perhaps you were also too curious. Sumeru's ideals were fostered by you quite well.

Huh, so his name is Alhaitham…What a mysterious man.  

___

The art of coffee-making is a methodical process. 

Roast, ground, brew, and serve. 

It was akin to the process of learning that Alhaitham used: read, break down, reorganize, and question. 

Depending on the customer's order, it could be embellished with spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, or saffron. In some cases, sugar may be added. 

Alhaitham likes it dark and plain, an afternoon refreshment for the man on the go. While Puspa Café is a common place for social gatherings of people across all walks of life, ranging from lowlife sycophants to wishful merchants, he prefers to be alone. Solitude isn't as vexing as many claim. It allows him to think about his current ordeals. Moreover, it gives him time to read. 

That day, one problem had left him quite disturbed. 

The Dendro user has always been in-tune with his body. Ever since the brief confrontation that night, he had been physically and mentally agitated, with a fluctuating heartbeat, clammy hands, accelerated breathing, and racing thoughts. Coffee was a possible solution he believed could mitigate any troublesome symptoms. But, of course, in moderation. His roommate, Kaveh, could learn about the word moderation. 

Yet this afternoon's refreshment only made it worse.

There you were again. 

A ghastly deev haunting his every footstep. Spreading tendrils of nightmares across his skin to choke his throat, vivisecting his beating heart and rumbling mind to capture any essence of starry wisdom and pragmatic musings. 

Closing the book he was reading, he noticed the color of the coffee that spewed out of your brass dallah. It was so light. Just from the sight of it, he could taste the nauseating sweetness, too lightly roasted, with too much sugar, honey, and spice. Scoffing, he bets you even untraditionally added milk to lessen the bitter taste. Children are the only ones who dream in this nation, yet one quick look at you was enough to guess that you never truly grew up.

As if you wanted to solidify his observation, your eyes glowed and the corners of your lips curled up when you spotted him. You made your way over to his table and asked if he would like to join you with a spring in your step. 

Amidst the overpowering, bold scent of coffee clouding the café, he smelt it the moment you came closer.

Jasmine. 

Were your decisions rooted in spontaneity, or did you cycle through a collection of perfumes? He couldn't help but ponder the answer as you awaited his response. 

"Sure." 

He adored the way you perked up at the sound of one word. A waitress quickly helped to arrange a larger table for you two. 

This was just a way to get more information out of you. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Yes, you could be of use to him. The third time's a charm, they say. 

You quickly got comfortable, too comfortable. "Would you like to share some baklava or maamoul cookies? They are quite delicious, though I can order something else for you if you don't like them. Be my guest!" With a slight, delicate movement of your hand, you gestured to the assortment of sweets laying on a brass tray. 

"No. I'm fine. Foods with such high levels of sugar only leave me restless at night. It's a nuisance to deal with while I'm trying to work. You should know better, too. Thank you, though." 

You awkwardly glanced away. "I see…Well, that's not a problem. The offer is always there if you change your mind." Looking down at your hands nestled in your lap, you maneuvered the dying conversation elsewhere and swiftly began to ask about his job as the Akademiya's Scribe. The dreamy gleam in your eyes never faded

He couldn't get enough. His illogical thirst was growing.

His flesh began to blaze with anticipation. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to entertain this romantic fantasy for a bit. Things could be tested with you. He was never one to be enthralled with the concept of love. It was too frivolous and melodramatic, but he supposed studious scholars never limit their perspectives. 

"So, what's it like?" you chirped. 

Why must you question him? He wanted to know more about you, everything there was to know. No, he had to know in order to finally get this greedy parasite wishing to feast on every bit of you out of his mind. Such a visceral need was consuming every inch of his very being. All semblances of practicality were withering before his eyes. No amount of bitter coffee was enough to quench the anxiety that plagued his mind, nor his bouncing knees, as you persistently asked him about his work and Darshan of Haravatat. 

Of course. 

How could he be so ignorant? His approach was all wrong. 

Alhaitham graduated with top grades at the Akademiya; his professors commended him for quickly deciphering incredibly elaborate ancient runes and grasping unfathomably complex syntax and structure. 

You were like that. 

You were a puzzle waiting to be unveiled and exposed to him and him alone. The world has no need of getting to view such convoluted beauty. A rare individual you were, indeed. You managed to hold on to such childish ways of wanting to dream while still maintaining a mature air of unmatched wisdom in your research. 

Alhaitham began the next phase of his project. 

Studying the subject.  

He thanked his grandmother for the lessons she taught him. All he had to do was clear his mind, and the path to wisdom was unfolding. 

___

None of it was wrong. 

No sane student at the Akademiya would ever take their exam blindly or be unprepared for a debate. Comprehension and studying are critical components to achieving success. So why set yourself up for failure? 

Before asking if you would reciprocate his feelings, he had to know first. So many calculated scenarios were emerging through his mind as he thought of what would happen if he didn't make sure beforehand. He couldn't possibly let himself look like some idiot. He had to find out the exact percentage of success, no matter what it took. 

After all, Alhaitham's hands were never the cleanest, even if he did like a cushy life. 

That is why he felt no guilt when he asked to walk you home. It was very late at night. You were stargazing again. He just wanted to be useful.  

Each step was seared into his mind. Each item of interest you pointed out on the way left him with more questions. Upon reaching your abode, sparks of pride flooded into his veins. He had guessed you lived in this area. You often walked here during mornings and later hours; it was a straightforward conclusion. Nothing special. 

A tender smile graced your beautiful face. It was brimming with gratitude. 

He ensured you entered safely and locked the door. It was only when all the lights were out did he truly depart, though. He had to see the peaceful expression on your face as you slept. 

Once Alhaitham arrived home, he felt conflicted. Reasonably, there was no chance he could ever forget anything from today. Yet humans aren't without their respective flaws, especially involving memory. He didn't dare to ruminate on what may occur if he were to somehow forget even one piece of information you blessed him with. Every tidbit and morsel you fed him was significant in nature. 

It was all part of his investigations.  

However, he couldn't write such crucial facts in some random notebook. No, no; such things must remain strictly confidential. It was only logical. What if he misplaced it? Or even worse, what if his obnoxious roommate got to it? He rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue.

Summoning an empty knowledge capsule that he had obtained when he was ordered to draft more ordinances for the Sages, Alhaitham flooded it with every bit of data he had on you, from your slumbering form to your mellow smile and contemplative look. It was all there. Safe and sound, ready for him to access at any time. 

Before resting, he thought of the way you smelt of orange blossom again. 

___

You next met one morning at the Akademiya. 

You wore no fragrance today. 

Chuckling, you noticed Alhaitham stride towards you impatiently. He was clutching a small, decorative bag. After exchanging simple greetings, he handed it over to you. There was neither a frilly explanation nor a blooming blush on his handsome face. Instead, he had a sharp and clean approach. 

"Here, this is for you." 

Though not one to express his emotions so as to maintain an unreadable body language, you had picked up on a few of his habits. He seemed eager. It was charming to think about how he grew more casual and open around you. To the untrained eye, one may think he wasn't fond of you at all, but you knew. That realization was enough to keep you on your toes. 

One previous evening, the glimmering stars and bygone moon sisters breathlessly spoke of your future. It was challenging to decipher, but you stuck to your beliefs that the stars don't lie, and you were greatly rewarded.

The confirming chill that the divine gales of the night brought to you all spoke of the same fortune. 

"There is a man that treasures every bit of you." 

Despite sounding like good tidings, a hole in your stomach grew.

It started off as a tiny sapling. You suspected it to be anxiety for upcoming deadlines or the usual fatigue from nights spent stargazing. Something that could easily be brushed off. Yet branches and roots ravaged and wrapped around your organs as you heard the consistent sound of soil crunching beneath one's feet. Be it dawn or dusk, such dreadful mirages pained your spirit.

But with Alhaitham, it stopped. Perhaps it was a side effect of being in love. Being so on edge around him had taken a toll on you. Is this why the Sages warn of pursuing things such as love? You couldn't help but wonder. 

Nevertheless, it wasn't an appropriate time to have your heads in the clouds. 

You quickly tore off the patterned wrapping paper and grinned. It was exactly what you needed: more jasmine-scented perfume! Just the glass bottle itself was astonishingly exquisite, encrusted with jewels and detailed with gold. You could tell it was expensive. 

"I can't take this. This must've cost you a fortune! I really can't accept this. Though I did just run out of mine… You should return it and use the money for something more useful. Besides, I'm fine with using the cheaper one I usually purchase!"

Returning the bottle to the small bag, you tried to give it back to the man standing before you. 

Alhaitham hated the way you acted. This was just a quick gift he purchased at the Grand Bazaar. It was nothing. He knew you had run out of your usual exactly the day prior. Alhaitham simply saw an opportunity and decided to strike. Honestly, he only studies what interests him. You should know that by now. Why bother with the inessential? 

"Don't be ridiculous.” His eyes narrowed oh-so-slightly. “It was just something I thought you might like. Anyway, keep it. I have no need for such things." 

Still lacking confidence, you treaded carefully, "Well…If you say so. I will treasure it by wearing it every day! Thank you, Alhaitham." Inspecting the perfume bottle again, you couldn't help but smile. "It's almost like a miracle that you gifted me this because I just ran out of my usual. I really want to thank you somehow…."

Bullseye. 

"Hmm… Is that so? Never mind, we will get to that later." He placed his hand underneath your chin and pulled your face from side to side to inspect you. "You haven't been sleeping well, have you? Your eyebags are much more prominent." 

Twinges of insecurity rang through your bones as he examined your appearance. I suppose that's how he shows he cares? Looking down, you played with the strings of the gift bag and tried to awkwardly collect yourself. "Lack of sleep is common for my studies, but I have been a bit more jumpy than usual when I rest, that's all. Perhaps you were right back then…Too much sugar." Your voice grew weaker. "It's nothing, really." 

"If it's ‘nothing’ as you claim it to be, then you wouldn't be so distressed. Come on, spit it out." There was no need to sugarcoat things. Many of his former classmates gossip that he is a ruthless robot, but he doesn't mind such statements. To him, it's better to clear things away than regret it later. 

Not wanting to look into his eyes, you glanced at the other students in the Akademiya mingling with their like-minded colleagues and friends. Dejectedly, you scratched the back of your neck, then quickly gestured to the door with your head. "Let's talk outside, shall we?" 

Sitting under a pavilion, you apologized for the sudden request to head outdoors. Alhaitham remained unfazed. Rigid and cold, silently awaiting a reply. 

First, you breathed in, then shakily exhaled before speaking, "Okay, then. I think someone is stalking me. I can't give you a proper explanation as to why, but I just know. It really has left me so scared. I won't lie, the feeling disappears when I'm with you...." With a heated face, you quickly looked to Alhaitham for validation as you poured out your feelings. "But, um, of course! You are an extremely accomplished individual. Anybody would feel better with you since you're the Scribe, after all." 

He scoffed, "I think Kaveh would beg to differ about your last statement." 

You laughed. 

It was simply perfect. He just wanted to caress your face and tell you how good you were being for him. Yes, so good. So naive. 

"Let's do an experiment. Why don't you stay at my place for a day or two and see what happens?" He couldn't help but smirk at how you shrunk under his all-knowing stare. "If you don't want to, I can think of another solution. However, I believe we have become quite close, and I'm sure you would enjoy it. Besides, Kaveh is out for a bit. But in the end, it's your choice, of course." 

"Well, if you insist…." You took out the perfume bottle and daintily sprayed it on your neck and wrists; you enjoyed how his keen eyes soaked you in. "Thank you for being so kind. You know me so well, Alhaitham." 

"Yes, I really do." 

___

In Sumeru City, when it rains, it pours. 

Streets flood with incinerating kisses and sensual touches intertwined with a rich, floral fragrance. 

To many, Alhaitham is known as a lunatic. Such a name fits the man whose mind was devoured by jasmine perfume. 

He couldn't get enough. 

Every inch of you, he had to learn about. He needed to properly store and encode such mesmerizing information into the recesses of his gluttonous mind. 

That intoxicating perfume permeated Alhaitham’s room and desperately held onto disheveled sheets. It was akin to the incense that scholars use to clear their minds and focus their bodies to become one with Irminsul. Yes, it was just like that. 

You couldn't help but feel so safe in his arms. The stars really do never lie. 

He loved every bit of you.

___ 

Sunlight peeked through translucent cotton curtains and illuminated the room. 

Alhaitham kissed your forehead and greeted you with a simple "Good morning" as you moved his hair from his face and took in his features. The intense perfume still persistently laced through his sheets. 

The domesticity of it all, from changing together to preparing breakfast, swelled your heart. It had been quite a while since you were last able to unwind like this. 

Alhaitham quickly took notice of your lax movements. Good. You were enjoying yourself as planned. By the time he's done, you won't be able to tell the difference between an innocent Sumeru Rose and a vicious Venus Flytrap.

He looked you up and down again. "How do you feel? Did you sleep okay?" 

"Yes, I haven't felt this relaxed for a while. Ever since I joined my Darshan, sleep has become a luxury. It was especially bad when I was first learning the basics because I would have to stay up all night long to study the stars and keep up with other research. At one point, I developed severe insomnia, but I’m fine now. Anyway… Yes, I did sleep well. This is the first time I’ve felt safe in a long while. Thank you, Alhaitham." 

He nodded and spoke, "That's good. If we are going to continue this relationship, then maybe in the future we can discuss more complex matters, such as living together more permanently."  

Your eyes widened as you took in his statement, but you soon giggled, “A little hasty, aren’t we, Alhaitham?” You poked fun at him. “What about poor Mister Kaveh?” 

He rolled his eyes at your teasing. 

Then he shrugged and bluntly defended himself, "It's only rational to think about these things, especially with your situation. Besides, I'm only putting them on the table—" 

There was a knock at his door. 

He noticed your jaw tighten in fear. Alhaitham pulled the strings of the puppet and played along with you. He muttered into your ear to hide from the front door's view just in case.  

The Scribe loved the way you obediently followed his orders and trusted so wholeheartedly everything that he said.  

When he opened the door, he didn't expect to be greeted by the Grand Sage Azar's assistant: Setaria. 

She told him how the Akademiya lost a knowledge capsule about the divine and how the Grand Sage wished for him to gather information on a certain blonde traveler.

A divine knowledge capsule and a heroic traveler from afar. How interesting. 

He crossed his arms and unceremoniously spoke, "I'll start my assignment soon." With that, he nodded, closed the door, and went silent again. Annoyance ran through his veins as he was pulled along into the Grand Sage's plot. A peaceful life as the Scribe was all he desired. Was it really that hard for the Akademiya to provide that?  

Turning around, the reserved man called for you. Your name rolled off his tongue too well, as if he was made to be the sole person on this forsaken continent to cherish and pronounce it. You carefully popped your head out from behind his bedroom door, the corners of your kissable lips turned down, forming a slight frown. 

"Is it all good?"

"Yes, it was just someone from the Akademiya for work. Speaking of, I have a little surprise for us." Alhaitham seemed to look right through you. "Do you want to hear it?" There was an excitement bubbling deep inside of him. Your stomach began to ache as he cloaked himself in mystery. 

You felt those hawk eyes analyze you again. "Uh, sure?" 

"How would you feel about going to Port Ormos for some academic research?" 

___

Alhaitham convinced you that it would help your situation. You could see if that uneasy feeling would follow you on your journey to the port. 

While the actual job itself is mundane and uneventful, as the Scribe, he receives many benefits. One was being sponsored by the Akademiya to stay in an upscale hotel with many amenities. 

Your shared suite had a lovely balcony with a nice view of the sea. Breathing in the refreshing salty air on a balmy day was energizing after being cooped up in such a stifling city of arrogant wisdom. Mere fool's gold.  

"If you want to go and explore, I would advise you to remain within the hotel grounds or near places that are guarded or populated in case anything were to happen. 

You turned to him. "Thank you for your concern, but I will just stay here. It's a nice room. I'll enjoy the breeze and finish up my papers on the balcony. Perhaps in your free time, we can do something together?"  

He thought about it for a second. "I'll see."

You deflated a bit. "Well, when do you think you'll come back?"

"Not anytime soon."

"Oh..."

"Anyway, I should be leaving now." Alhaitham pecked your cheek before heading out.

After unpacking, you began writing rough ideas for your ongoing thesis in your worn-out leather journal. As the clock kept ticking and the hours passed, you grew bored. Small sketches of constellations were sloppily drawn on the side with little notes as you tried to jot down as much information as possible. Becoming distracted, you began to doodle Alhaitham's constellation: Vultur Volans. You wanted to unveil so much more about him. You wanted the stars to guide you in your journey. 

Yet just as you were about to finish your little doodle, your pen ran out of ink.

You scribbled a few lines and circles to test it out one last time before throwing it in a nearby trash bin. It was nothing. A simple delay. 

Before going inside, you closed your leather journal and placed it on top of the stack of scrap papers so they wouldn't fly away. Going to your side of the bed, you opened your Adhigama wood nightstand and pulled out a few spare pens. However, when you sat down and attempted to use them, they didn't work. It was fine. You just happened to bring a bad batch. That was all. 

You knew Alhaitham brought a brand new set with him. It was still in his luggage, though... He was in such a hurry to start his job here in Port Ormos that he had no time to unpack. You always admired his diligence; it's what got him so far so quickly. He was your age, but you were still far behind. Though you couldn't blame him for tuning the world out and focusing just on his studies, he lost so much at such a young age. He was brave to keep looking towards the future despite his parents being gone. Even if he would say, "It was just the most rational thing to do." 

Alhaitham is a man with principles rooted in logic. He would understand why you were rummaging through his things. It wasn't an invasion of privacy! You two were a couple now; albeit new, the love was evident already. 

You were just going to borrow his pens, anyway. 

As you unlocked his luggage and looked for his case of supplies, you stumbled upon two similar containers in appearance and weight. Ugh! Which one was it? I suppose I'll just have to open them both… 

Moving your hand towards the zipper, you noticed your hand shake. Perhaps it was just getting cold. You had left the glass balcony door open, only closing the screen. The soft sound of the breeze and smell of sea salt slithered up your spine, invading your ear canals and nostrils. 

You placed your fingers on the zipper of the bag on the left. The sound of it unzipping was akin to the rustles of leaves and branches in a dark rainforest. What you found inside was a knowledge capsule. 

The pens were in the other bag. 

That was all. Alhaitham works under the Grand Sage. Of course you were bound to find certain items only he should be privy to. 

Yet why was it calling you like the irresistible knowledge that spills from the ivory, archaic branches of Irminsul? It was most likely empty, anyway, waiting to be filled with the information he would discover in the bustling Port Ormos. Why was the hollow, ravaging feeling in your stomach and heart returning to once again suffocate your organs and dry up your blood into grains of sand? 

Your journal was waiting for you. Opening the other bag, you got what you wanted. 

His pens. 

That was what you came for. 

However, the sharp pains and shivers ringing through your body reeled you into the infested desert and the pouring rainforest. A peek wouldn't hurt. Alhaitham would understand, right? He was the one that brought you here, after all, to keep an eye out for your situation. 

Yes, he's a man who knows his morals. Besides, how would he even know? It would be alright. He said himself that he wouldn't be coming anytime soon. 

As you gripped the green and gold knowledge capsule pulsing and flowing with information, you felt so conflicted. The unease was growing, yet you felt so sure that you were meant to do this. Opposing thoughts contrasted each other like fields of flowers flourishing amidst dunes of lifeless sand. It truly nauseated you.  

After establishing a connection with it, you felt it. A flash of memories entered into the recesses of your mind. As if two consciousness were merged together to form one single entity, you felt vines and tendrils weaving through your anatomy. Nearly every bit of knowledge you gained was something you already had experienced. Yet it was from a different perspective. Your face, your body, your studies, your smiles, your slumber, your pens, even your perfume. 

It was all there, only from a different angle.

For so long, you saw life from the eyes of a feeble mouse. Now, you could see what it was like to view the world from the perspective of a hungry vulture ready to gobble up its prey. You dropped the canned knowledge. You barely heard the thud it made with the flooring, as it was drowned out by all of the thoughts racing through your mind. 

Your eyes scattered to the open glass door with the closed screen. The breeze and saltiness of the sea were still there. 

It felt so far. 

Running to the balcony, you rushed to lock the glass door and fumbled to close the cotton curtains. 

"Didn't anyone teach you to clean up after yourself?" 

Alhaitham's voice made everything cold. Sharply turning your head, you faced the man who both tormented your life and made it so beautiful. He came back so soon. Too soon. 

"Once the Matra knows about this, you will go to prison, Alhaitham, for what you did to me!" Your hands were shaking as you bunched them into fists and furrowed your eyebrows. Tears were threatening to spill at any moment. 

He merely crossed his arms. His precise, uptight composure never faltered. "You think the Matra will do anything to me? I'm the Scribe. The right hand of the Grand Sage." He stepped closer to you. “Did you know there once was a Rtawahist student who was so desperate for sleep that they went to Port Ormos and looked for knowledge capsules to help their studies and cure their insomnia? The Matra were never able to track down the culprit." Alhaitham walked closer to you. "However, I think today, that could change. The usage of canned knowledge to gain an advantage over one’s peers in the Akademiya is strictly against the rules." He was always one step ahead of you.

"Is it not?"

Cupping your face and forcing you to look at his darkening eyes, he stared into you, drinking up the way you brimmed with fear. Just how he liked it. Everything was falling into place as calculated. He whispered into your ear. "Think of this as the 'thank you' you said you would give me that day." 

Alhaitham embraced you tightly, taking in the exquisite jasmine perfume he gifted you. Trembling in his arms, you felt so small and helpless. Dreams shattered as you thought of everything that you had learned. The stars and wise moon didn't lie to you that night. There's a man who loves you with all his being. There's a man who knows everything about you.  

Seeking what is forbidden will always be the downfall of humanity. 

Perhaps ignorance truly is bliss. 

Thank you so much for reading!!!

(⺣◡⺣)♡*

[woonhakist]

FIVE NIGHTS AT JAEHYUN’S

SYNOPSIS — the rumors about your local pizzeria having haunted animatronics didn’t stop you from drooling over minimum wage, so settling for the guard job was easy—until a certain animatronic did get a bit quirky at night.

GENRE — social media au, fnaf au, crack, maybe SLIGHTLY scary for 2 mins, romance, fun for everyone

PAIRING — myung jaehyun x fem!reader

CHARACTERS — mainly y/n + boynextdoor, mark + johnny + doyoung of nct

WARNINGS — this will NOT be that lore accurate its just for the funs (faz)bear with me, cursing, sexual innuendos/jokes (probably), drug jokes (probably), mostly crack, ignore timestamps, characters are works of fiction NOT an accurate representation of the people used (extra warnings in future chapters)

TAGLIST — (CLOSED)

STATUS — complete!

NOTES — i HAD to release something silly for october/halloween so HERE IT IS! i’ll return to bloxian banter and who! later …

PROFILES (1) | PROFILES (2)

CHAPTERS

NIGHT 0: PROLOGUE

NIGHT 1

1. commander bootybrawler on duty

2. I Am Freddy

BONUS: johnny puth

NIGHT 2

1. soul finding by Kim Woonhak

2. IWANTOKISSROBOTITIS

NIGHT 3

1. greasing for the rusty fur

2. freddy fazbear is an iphone user???

BONUS: doyoung’s babysitting business (CALL 1-800-KYS-NOW TO BOOK)

NIGHT 4

1. The Unveiling.

2. what came first, the chica or the egg?

NIGHT 5

1. beauty and the bear

2. how to get a girl in five nights (at freddy’s)

BONUS: job quitters: the trilogy

NIGHT 6: EPILOGUE

start — 10/9/23

end — 6/20/24

© woonhakist 2023

[thefirstknife]

*hears Witness refer to themselves as the First Knife*

*eyes Bel*

*slowly backs away*

Welcome to my twisted mind.

Jokes aside, I also saw that ofc! It was also called that in the campaign by the dissenters:

I really enjoy that this got confirmed (either way!). There's been so much speculation on it. I've personally been on and off on the theory that the Witness is the first knife or just a manifestation of it or maybe that the first knife is just a concept, and if the Witness is trying to embody it or not. And so on. It's been really cool speculating and theorycrafting!

But now we know! Well... sort of, still. The Witness certainly believes itself to be the first knife, but is it truly? What does that mean? Does it even matter?

There's a ship you can get for finishing one of the sidequests: The First Knife. It has really cool lore of Mara and Ikora discussing the first knife and its meaning. I'll shorten the lore tab to just their dialogue so it's easier to copy and have at hand:

Mara: "When I first encountered the Witness, I heard it proclaim to me, 'We are the first knife.' It was as if that title held power. Meaning." Ikora: "The apocryphal texts we dug up on the moon, the ones Eris translated, mentioned the knife as a concept." Mara: "And even if we consider that unveiled text as dogmatic propaganda, there may be truth behind the allegory. The knife becomes the metaphor of a concept. A power. A knife that winnows, cutting things into a defined shape." Ikora: "A power that winnowed living beings into Taken. A power Oryx wielded." Mara: "You're wondering if the knife is a title, or a power. Did Oryx wield the power of the Witness like a knife?" Ikora: "The Witness is a manipulator. It distorts the truth to bend the wills of its supplicants. The allegorical fantasy told to us by the Witness paints itself as a monolithic cosmic force. But perhaps that's a shadow cast by the truth." Mara: "A knife is a tool, wielded by another's hand." Ikora: "If the Witness is the knife, as it asserts, then what wields it?" Mara: "The Witness is not a being. It is the culmination of a bleak ethos willed into existence by the nihilistic desires of its creators. Is their will the hand on the knife? Or is there something else?" Ikora: "I don't know."

This about summarises my thoughts on it, the ones I've always had. I'm not sure if there's any other information, maybe in the raid or the raid's lore book, but for now I'll focus on just this.

Mara says what I've always also agreed with: Unveiling is an allegory, but it has shreds of truth. The problem is that we don't know which parts are truth. We could speculate on that to no end. Ikora agrees as well and also asserts what I believe is the confirmation that the Witness wrote it, by calling it the "allegorical fantasy told to us by the Witness." Or at least this is what the characters believe to be true; Ikora also notes how even that could be a part of that truth among the allegories.

They consider it as a possible power, but they also consider it through the concept of it being a knife: a knife is wielded. Is the Witness being wielded by something else? Is it a knife because the species that made the Witness is the hand? Or is there something different? The conclusion is that neither of them know.

The problem, I think, we'll always have here in regards to the Winnower and anything above the Witness is that it will be hard to tell unless this hypothetical other being actually appears. The Witness may believe that it is the knife of the Winnower, but that could just be its interpretation of its own purpose. Essentially, the Witness may hold a religious belief about its place in the universe that simply isn't true, or believe in a being that isn't real. Just because the Witness says "We are the first knife [of the Winnower (?)]," doesn't mean that is the actual truth. It could be! But we simply don't know, and we won't know, until the Winnower appears (if it ever does; even if it is real, it may still not ever appear in person, in lore or the game).

Even if there's any other information, unless that information is from a reputable source (something that isn't the Witness itself or the Witness-aligned factions telling us a story), it will be hard to tell what's the truth. I really like that! I also really like that the first knife is still discussed also as a concept, not just something that the Witness believes it is. At the end of the day, this title represents something and it's the concept of winnowing, cutting things off.

But I do also like that "the first knife" has been addressed and explained. The Witness believes it is the first knife, and depending on more unfathomable cosmic forces, it may or may not really be that thing as something tangible and powerful, or even just as a title. Does the title matter? It does only because it matters to the Witness. At least for now. Until something actually shows up and presents itself as the wielder of the first knife, we will not know for certain.

Currently waiting to see when I can get the raid clear and the raid lore book, maybe for more information!

[bloomingdarkgarden]

Could Vassa Be Immortal After All?

A Firebird Theory

(WARNING: HOFAS SPOILERS BELOW)

While reading CC3 I couldn’t help but notice a plot element regarding curses that brought me back to Vassa in ACOTAR.

In HOFAS we learn Jesiba's mysterious backstory and all this talk of curses- I couldn’t help but to meditate on our favorite firebird. Jesiba unveils that she has been cursed in Chapter 38:

And also elaborates that there were unintentional consequences of the curse:

Jesiba obviously holds a strong grudge against her cursor but is able to use the curse to her advantage.

So Jesiba, similarly to Vassa, was a mortal, cursed unwillingly by an immortal male figure. The curse made her immortal in turn. This has me thinking- what if the same has happened to Vassa? More from Ch.38:

I also find the passage in ACOWAR really interesting, in which Feyre is describing her perception of Vassa the first time they meet:

‘Only a few years older than me, but ... young-feeling. Coltish. Fierce and untamed, despite her curse.’ (ACOWAR chapter 79)

Could this be because although Vassa is, let’s say, age 28- she actually stopped physically aging when she was cursed at age 20? Perhaps it's just Feyre noting that she's a spicy pepper. Who knows.

I recently went down a rabbit hole of Slavic lore and I’m so intrigued by Vaasa’s storyline in the upcoming books. Most folks are aware that SJM has taken her story directly from Slavic mythology- and there are loads of potential breadcrumbs in the fables of:

Ivan Tsarevitch in which Ivan, the youngest of several malaligned brothers, sets out on a quest to free a firebird from a dark sorcerer who also entraps other princesses (often Koschei the deathless).

Princess Vasilisa in which an archer finds a firebird’s flaming feather and gets roped into a quest to deliver a lost princess. Hello Elain’s vision regarding this exact imagery: “I saw a feather of fire land on snow and melt it.” (ACOWAR)

Swan Lake in which Princess Odette (Vassa) is cursed into a swan form by an evil lord and can only take human form between midnight and daybreak. Only a faithful vow of true love can break the spell. If her true love makes a vow to the wrong woman (Elain perhaps) the princess dies instead. Could something as powerful as a male (Lucien) breaking his mating bond to forge a destiny with Vassa be the key to breaking her curse??

Who knows.

Will Vassa be immortalized by Koschei's power touching her and chaining her to the lake? Will Lucien be the key to deliver her from her curse as Ivan was in the fables?

I don't know. But regardless of Lucien's heart, I myself am a Vassa acolyte. I'm so enraptured by the beautiful myths surrounding this lore, and am so intrigued to learn what becomes of Vassa as a heroine in her own right. Her character and story have so much magical potential!

In the words of Yakov Polonsky’s poem:

And in my dreams I see myself on a wolf's back

Riding along a forest path

To do battle with a sorcerer-tsar

In that land where a princess sits under lock and key,

Pining behind massive walls.

There gardens surround a palace all of glass;

There Firebirds sing by night

[zodiac-academy-rp]

𝐙𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐂 𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐘: 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐌 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐌!

Welcome to 𝐙𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐂 𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐘: 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐌 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐌!

A fandom roleplay based on the Zodiac Academy books, here you will be able to explore the world that has still yet to be unveiled by the authors themselves, allowing you some creative freedom to roleplay and possibly bring in your own flair to roleplay. Though you have two species to speak of, as fae; the world is your oyster from Nemean Lions, to Muskian Tigers, you will struggle to make a choice for your own character(s) at Zodiac Academy. We look forward to seeing you here, and making your own characters, or perhaps taking up the mantle for certain canon characters!

𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: The roleplay takes place in our world, that's hidden through magic in a mirror world that allows fae and nymphs to live freely and in peace; for the most part. Much like anywhere in the world, no matter the story, darkness lurks not far off from us, and it's down to us to not let that darkness win.

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄: The roleplay is currently being decided, and possibly a poll which will allow members of the community to vote on which storyline appeals the most to them.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐄 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑:

Lore pre-given by the authors and adapted for roleplay purposes,

Many positions open as its a brand new server,

Fanon & Canon characters open to make / claim,

Active, friendly and positive owner/staff,

RP channel requests & RP pings,

SFW but MAY contain violence, in battles etc; 18+ advised,

LGBTQ+ friendly,

Limited and balanced abilities/powers to ensure fairness,

[minawritesfanfic]

Neville Longbottom x Reader

A flower and a fairy

Word Count: 3,700+

Summary: You start finding notes at your seat before class, each note has a floral scent and sweet words written in it. Each letter is sweeter than the last, it just has you dying to find out who they’re from.

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

Class droned on like usual, I always found it hard to focus in Divination. The room had a way of lulling you to sleep and it didn’t help that it took an Olympic workout just to get to the classroom. Plus Professor Trelawney talked on and on with her words going in one ear and straight out the other, It was just hard to stay attentive when I had more important or well interesting things to focus on, like my secret admirer, or Gardenia as he likes to call himself.

Our interactions started roughly a month ago, at first it was simple notes going back and forth. Gardenia would leave a note on my seat before class and inside would be a silly or interesting plant fact, and in return, I’d leave the note where I found it with either a fact of my own or a silly drawing sometimes relevant to the fact. Just a silly light-hearted back and forth between two strangers but eventually it grew a bit more intimate, two weeks ago I received my first poem from them. It was beautifully written and even now I find myself rereading it sometimes, and I definitely do not keep it with me in my pocket. I just happened to have it with me today, my hand crept over to it and I silently recalled the poem.

In gardens where courage takes its bloom, my heart whispers secrets, no longer in the gloom. A shy Gardenia, thriving in the sun, with feelings it wishes to let come undone.

In the garden, there was also a dazzling fairy. Their smile is like magic and their laugh makes the flower’s heart rate erratic. But every word that the fairy speaks, is filled with a tender grace, captivating the flower's heart in a soothing embrace.

Like Gryffindor's lion, the flower's courage may rise, to face the unknown, and eventually to meet the fairy's enchanting eyes. Yet still, the flower hides in the shade, not yet ready and very much afraid. Maybe one day when the moment is right, this flower will let his affection take flight.

For now, the flower waits between these carefully written lines, hoping that through these words his true intentions will shine. A flower who sees the wonders of the fairy albeit behind rosé tinted eyes, the flower cherishes the fairy every time they come by.

My fairy, my light, for you, my heart dances, both day and night. I can only hope that one day I might have my fairy by my side.

Like I said it was a beautifully written poem that honestly still tugs at my heartstrings weeks later, It was also the first letter that cued to me that this secret messenger had a crush on me. I was incredibly flustered when I first realized it, especially since I had been in a class like I was now. With a new letter that was unlike the ones, I’d received before.

Inside there was no poem, fact, or any of the usual ramblings of Gardenia. Instead, there was a riddle, I hadn’t gotten the chance to read it yet as today Professor Trelawney made today's lesson very interactive. I was just thankful that class was supposed to end soon, the curiosity had been eating away at me this entire time. I couldn’t help but wonder what made him send me a riddle, what the riddle was about, whether I would even be able to solve the riddle, and why now had he decided to send a riddle?

My prayers were answered when Professor Trelawney dismissed me, and as quickly as I could I left the class. I balanced my books in one hand as I pulled the letter out from my other pocket, quickly reading it as I walked the halls.

In pages bound, magic's whispers dwell, a tale untold, its secrets to unveil. Heroes and villains dance in its ink, a world of wonder, where dreams link. Find this book of legends and lore, in Hogwarts' library, it shall be restored.

It seems Gardenia was sending me on a treasure hunt to the library. I had an idea of which book he might be referring to but I couldn’t be sure until I got there. So I decided to go to the library since I had some time to spare. I was kind of excited and wondered what I would find in the library.

★ ✮ ★

So it turns out there are a lot of books that fit the description of the riddle, and I've gone through most of them. I groaned into my arms as I laid my head on the table, I don’t even know how long I’ve been in here at this point nor how many books I’ve gone through. Who knew that the library had so many books on the history of Hogwarts, certainly not me. I planned to wallow in my failure and let the curiosity eat me alive when a familiar voice called out my name.

“What’s got you in such a stifling mood?” Hermione asked as she stood over me, a curious expression played across her face.

“I just learned how much I hate riddles and scavenger hunts. Mostly because I seem to suck at them.” I said sitting up and letting out a heavy sigh, Hermoine just looked even more confused as she sat beside me setting her books down on the table.

“What are you talking about? Riddles, a scavenger hunt, what is going on?”

“It’s a long story but I have a secret admirer? Today they sent me this riddle,” I passed her the letter with the riddle on it. “I just can’t seem to find the book they’re hinting at.”

“Are these all the books you’ve tried so far?” She asked as she handed back the letter and gestured to the pile of books on the table beside me.

“Yeah, I checked all the pages but there’s nothing.”

“Of course, those are all generic history books. I think your admirer was referring to a history book that fixates on a specific event, like that incident at the Yule ball several years back.” I watched Hermione curiously as she walked away disappearing into the library.

She returned after a minute with a smaller book, unlike the others it was much newer and delicately taken care of. I opened the book up carefully and immediately on the first page was another letter, I took it out and showed Hermione. I set the book down and we read the next riddle together.

In Gryffindor's embrace, find a cozy space, where courage resides, in every chase.

Lion-hearted souls gather, warmth in the air, a heart of friendship, where memories are shared.

Seek the den of bravery, where heroes meet, unlock the secret, the common room's treat.

“I guess I’m going to the common room?”

Hermione walked with me to the common room, we talked as we walked which I really enjoyed. I wasn’t as close with her as Harry and Ron were so I rarely saw her most days, so small moments like this where we could talk for even just a few minutes meant a lot to me. But when Harry and Ron exited the common room she went off with them. I was a bit sad but waved her goodbye with a smile anyway and continued on my mission. It was probably best I solved the riddles on my own, if I could that is.

I walked into the common room as always it was warm and sunny inside, it always made me feel pleasant and sleepy. I looked around the common room and noticed three new things, a new plant on the table in the back, a new piece of wall tapestry, and a bowl of candy. I debated which to check first, the plant would make sense because of how often Gardenia mentions some type of plant. On the other hand, it can’t be a coincidence that there’s all of a sudden a bowl of candy in the common room.

I decided to check the plant first, it made the most sense and wasn’t bound by a coincidence. I walked over to the plant, small white flowers were poking out from between the brush of leaves. If I remember correctly these were gardenias, I felt more solid in my decision now. I spun the pot around carefully on the table, I was really thankful there was no one in the common room right now. I bet I look a bit odd over analyzing this potted plant, but there didn’t seem to be anything hidden in the leaves. I carefully picked it up and found a note card underneath it, I grabbed it and set the pot down.

The riddle you seek is not with me

I frowned and sighed but continued searching, I made my way to the bowl of candy. I grabbed one of them eating small round chocolate candy, when I bit into it a splash of caramel spilled into my mouth. That definitely soothes my mood, I picked up the bowl of candy but there was nothing underneath. It was a clear bowl so I looked at the bottom of it. And there was the note, I set it down and dug my hand into it grabbing the letter from the bottom.

I grabbed a few more of the chocolate candies I tried before and brought the note with me as I sat down, For the first time the outside had something written on it. I read it before opening it up and reading the contents inside.

Your last riddle

Where nature's bounty blooms and thrives, a verdant paradise, where life derives. Flowers of myriad hues leave so green, a sanctuary for plants, a gardener's dream. In the heart of greenery, love's whispering tune, Gardenia awaits, hoping to see the fairy soon.

I felt my heart beat a bit faster as I finished reading the riddle, my scavenger hunt all this time was to find gardenia. I had a hunch but now that the reality was right in front of me, I was starting to freak out. What would I even do when I got there, what would I say? What would they say? All it took was a single riddle to have me flustered, confused, excited, and terribly nervous.

Still, I found my feet moving on their own as I walked through the many hallways of the castle to the greenhouses. I tucked the riddle away and fiddled with the wrapper of unopened candy, anything to distract myself from how wildly my heart was beating in my chest. Which only raced harder once I stood outside the row of greenhouses, I felt my throat go dry and my hands get clammy. Most of the greenhouses were empty besides the plants that grew all over the inside of them, though I could just barely make out the figure of someone in one of the further greenhouses.

I don’t even know why I’m nervous, it's not like I’m the one about to confess or anything. Yet I still found myself hesitating to approach, I just stood there beside the greenhouse where Gardenia likely was. He was crouched down, likely tending to one of the lower plants, thankfully he couldn’t see from where I stood. He raised to his feet and moved to tend to another plant, though his back remained facing me. All I’ve managed to see of their face so far was slivers of a side profile, so it’s hard to tell who it is.

“Is there anything I can help you with dear?” I felt like my heart nearly burst out of my chest, I jerked my body around to find Professor Sprout behind me.

“I uhm well-“ I fumbled over my words glancing from her to the greenhouse trying to form even the semblance of a proper sentence, I took a deep breath and tried again. “I was told uhm to meet someone here…?”

“Someone, do you not know who dear? I think I know who you’re looking for, likely my student aid Longbottom.”

I thought for a moment before responding, I instantly recognized the name since I heard it during a few of my classes but then I realized Neville was one of Hermione’s friends, we’d talked a few times before albeit briefly. Though considering that he’s a student aid for the herbology teacher, the plant theme makes a lot of sense now. I felt my nerves calm slightly, for some reason having the name and face of this once mysterious admirer before our meeting calmed me somewhat.

“Yes, not someone but Neville. He told me to meet him here, I just hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Oh not at all, he should be finishing up soon. I’ll leave you to it then dear, I’ll be in my office if either of you needs me. Good luck.” I waved goodbye as she walked away, I let out a relieved sigh and turned back to the greenhouse.

Neville was no longer crouched down on the far side of the greenhouse, he moved to the other side and stood carefully spraying the leaves of a plant I couldn’t identify. Though I had a clearer view of his face now, he had a relaxed and content expression as he tended to the plants. It was kind of cool watching him work as he skillfully took care of the plants, I found myself in a sort of trance. Though I figured it was best I entered the greenhouse sooner rather than later.

I stepped up to the entrance opening the door carefully, As I stepped inside I again had a view of his back. Now that I was actually inside I had no idea what to do now, do I wait until he realizes I’m here do I say something? Though I was shaken from my thoughts when I watched him slip, I hissed and winced at the fall. He groaned on the floor, I stifled a laugh as I approached. Though my laughter came out freely when I managed to slip as well, apparently greenhouse floors are obnoxiously slippery.

I laughed as I lay on the floor eventually sitting up and turning to look at him, Neville looked over at me with a flurry of emotions on his face as well as a clear coat of red on his cheeks. He sat up quickly and just stared at me his mouth agape, and lips moving as he tried to formulate a sentence. I decided to speak first since it was clear he needed a moment.

“Hi, Neville or Gardenia was it? I definitely didn’t expect us to both tumble on our first meeting, I wish I had known the floors were this slippery.” I said with another laugh more nervous than before as I met his gaze, a coat of red on my cheeks as well.

“Hi…” Was all he said in response still thoroughly flustered I assumed, I felt bad for being comforted by his nervousness. It was just nice knowing it wasn’t just me.

“Hello,” I responded as I climbed up off the floor and offered him a hand. “Need a hand?” He looked from me to my hand before taking it.

I helped him up though we both faltered slightly, nearly slipping again. He mumbled out a quiet thank you as we stood there clutching onto each other trying not to fall again, Once he had his footing Neville pulled away. Now that there was some distance I could get a proper look at him, his face slightly pudgy matching his almost doe-like eyes and button nose, I smiled up at him breathlessly still feeling a bit nervous as well.

“I wasn’t sure that you would come.” He said quietly for a moment once he composed himself somewhat.

“Well, it’s not like you gave me any reason not to. Though I struggled a bit with that first riddle, so I almost couldn’t.” I said with a nervous laugh, which was starting to become a habit just to fill the slightly tense silence looming in the room.

“I’m sorry, I had help with that one. I’m not very good at riddles. I hope the rest were easier.”

“They were so much easier, I have a few questions though. Why gardenias and why a scavenger hunt?” He turned red again and avoided my gaze.

“Uhm well I guessed that you might like a scavenger hunt, I’m sorry if you don’t though. But I’ll answer your other question after you read this.” He pulled out another letter and handed it to me before his hands came together in front of him. He fiddled with his robe idly as I unfolded the letter.

Fairy, enchanting, and ethereal, in your presence, my heart's aurora unfurls. Your grace and light, a celestial glow, with every moment, my love for you grows.

In dreams and waking hours, you reside, a muse, a spark, someone I yearn to have by my side. Your laughter, a melody, so sweet and rare, it fills my world with joy beyond compare.

In your eyes, I find a universe's embrace, a magical connection, an infinite space. With trembling words, I must now confess, fairy, my heart beats for you, and no one else.

For in this realm of love, so pure and true, fairy, my soul finds solace in you. You shine brighter than any other, with a beautifully unique ethereal glow. There is only one thing that I wish to know, and it’s if you’ll be mine?

I just stood there staring at the last line, occasionally my eyes flicking up to other parts of the poem. My face was a clear shade of red again, I didn’t know what to say. I just read it over and over for a while, I could see Neville shifting nervously in front of me through my peripheral vision.

“Gardenias are most commonly known for their wonderfully scented and waxy white flowers, they symbolize a variety of things: trust, purity, clarity, peace, hope, or even renewal. In this case, though, they symbolize secret love. Though I also like that they can also say ‘you are lovely’…” He explained quietly, filling the silence with his voice, I finally looked up from the letter at him.

We just stared at each other, both unsure what to say. I had been slowly developing feelings for my secret admirer and now that he was in front of me confessing his feelings in the way we talked to each other before melted my heart. I just couldn’t find the words to express myself, I found my lips moving to speak like his had just a while earlier. That's when I got an idea, Actions speak louder than words right?

I tucked the letter away with the others and reached my hands out to cup his face, his face was warm and red. His eyes widen as he watches me carefully, partially confused and thoroughly flustered. I lean up towards him, our faces close, and I can feel and hear his breathing hitch.

“Can I kiss you..?” I didn’t know that his eyes could get any wider and I laughed again as he nodded his head yes.

I closed my eyes and pressed my lips gently against his, his lips were soft against mine. He practically stood there like a statue not moving as I kissed him but he did at least kiss back, his lips pressed against mine. His long hair tickled my forehead and the warmth of his cheeks spread through my hands to the rest of my body. Eventually, I pulled away and smiled at him, he was even redder than before with a big smile.

“I wasn’t sure how else to respond, but it’s a yes,” I said with a smile causing his smile to grow even wider than before, he pulled me into a hug.

We hugged for a while in the slightly foggy and damp greenhouse, both of our cheeks red as tomatoes in the garden. Neither of us said anything for a long while, we just held each other listening to the other’s breathing that filled the silent room. It was a quiet moment where we were surrounded by plants and love. Out of the time I’d spent here at Hogwarts, this moment had to be the most magical moment I’ve ever had.

★ ✮ ★

“You knew?! You cheeky bugger!” I said tossing some dry food at Hermoine who just laughed and blocked it.

“It wasn’t like I could tell you, that would’ve ruined all the fun!” She said picking up the food I threw at her and throwing it back. I caught it in my mouth chewing grumpily.

“Whateverrrr.”

I looked over at Neville who laughed and gave my hand a small squeeze under the table. Harry and Ron were at the table with us as well, We ended up hanging out all together at the Three Broomsticks Inn. I hadn’t really hung out with Harry and Ron much since they were always running off stealing Hermione from me, but they were Neville and Hermione’s friends so I had ample opportunity to hang out with them now. They were as troublesome as I heard, though they were still sweet guys who I could tell cared about their friends.

“Are we having a food fight?” Ron asked as he threw a fry at Hermione and Neville, I laughed watching the mini food fight.

“Cut it out, the barmaid is glaring at us!” Harry chastised quietly.

“Yeah, really mature Ron. Food fights are for children.” Hermione said in a playful but mocking tone.

“I’m still young, not quite yet an adult. So of course I’m doing kid things, and how come I’m the only one getting lectured here? I wasn’t even the first one to throw food!” He said with a huff gesturing to me.

“Well you’re the one who brought up a food fight, Ron, they weren’t trying to start a war with food unlike you.” Neville chimed in, I smiled at him thankful for the support.

“Thank you, Neville, I’m far too old for food fights now anyways.” Ron rolled his eyes at us all before eating another fry.

The banter was light-hearted and fun, which fit the warm cozy vibe of the inn. Unlike outside where it was cold and the windows were frosts over from the winter air. We all ate, drank, and talked for a long while enjoying each other's company. This was the most I had wholeheartedly laughed in a while, I could get used to hanging out with them all. I had expected things to be awkward but it was far from it, especially with Ron he was welcoming and friendly right out of the gate. Nudging Harry to do the same, he eventually opened up as well. It was just a really nice time and I couldn’t be happier surrounded by good company and a lovingly sweet boyfriend.

Eventually, we all parted ways, the trio heading off on some new adventure leaving Neville and me to enjoy each other’s company. We walked through the streets of Hogsmeade just peeking into the windows of the shops, there were a variety of trinkets and items displayed in them. We didn’t end up going into any of the shops though, just walking around aimlessly.

“I never did get to ask… but why fairy?

“What? Oh uhm well there was this time when I saw you outside the greenhouse by Hagrid’s hut, you were in the pumpkin patch and as I got closer I could see you interacting with the fairies. You looked so beautiful and smiled so brightly, I just couldn’t keep my eyes off you…” He said shyly as his cheeks turned red but he didn’t avert his eyes and stared intimately into my own.

I smiled up at him feeling my cheeks turn red as well, I squeezed his hand with a smile. “Ahh, that’s sweet though I’m a bit embarrassed. I hadn’t thought anyone saw that, let alone remembered it way after the fact.”

“Well I’m glad you worked up the courage too, I really do like you, Neville. A whole lot, I was honestly surprised you knew who I was beyond one of Hermione’s friends.”

“I could say the same thing, everyone only really thinks of Harry and Ron when they think of Hermione. They forget about side character friends like us it seems, though I kind of prefer not having all that spotlight. Everyone knows who you are, sounds frightening.” He shivered dramatically to emphasize his point, I nodded and laughed agreeing with his point.

“Frightening indeed, I prefer to be off in the limelight with you. That way I can do things like this without it ending up in the paper.” I stopped walking and pulled him towards me.

Like the day we met in the greenhouse I cupped his face and pulled him towards me, we kissed standing off to the side of the path. It was a bit chilly out and it had just started to snow. Neither of us had worn hats so snow started to pile up in our hair. Despite the coldness of the snowflakes trickling down onto our faces in liquid form we still stood their kissing, unlike the first time his hands had found their way onto my waist holding me tightly. As if he thought that if he let go I’d disappear like the melting snowflakes in his hair. After a few more moments we parted lips and he smiled a big dopey grin at me.

“We should probably head back to school, I wouldn’t be surprised if this were a snowstorm.” I nodded in agreement and we continued our walk now with a destination in mind.

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

[zavalas-bignaturals-lore]

Okay, so, THE cutscene is officially here and released. The Witness' origin story, why it does what it does, its relation to the Traveler, the Light, the Darkness, etc. Spoilers ahead.

I know that the Unveiling lore book has been a source of speculation and a bit of mystery for quite some time, but I'd very much like to engage with it in the context of the new cutscene. Namely that, if we take Unveiling as a story that the Witness told us, the story was predicated on capital B bullshit. Unveiling suggests that there is a specific cosmic struggle that has been going on between the Gardener and the Winnower since time immemorial, but according to the cutscene, that is blatantly false. The Witness invented the very concept of the Winnower as an opposite to the Traveler/Gardener's "unfettered chaos." I want to make clear that my reading of the cutscene does not hold that the Veil and the Winnower are the same thing. Instead, the Witness is attempting to be the Winnower. The race that would become the Witness "merged themselves into the salvation that they craved." They sought a Winnower, and thus became so. All of its preaching about the necessity of its Final Shape have been the megalomaniacal musings of a race that was hurt when they attempted to kill god and take its place. The Witness has been lying and manipulating its way across the universe in pursuit of its god, destroying race after race in the name of nihilism. There is not and never has been any kind of universal truth in the Witness's words. Instead we can see it for what it is, a conman peddling death as salvation.

Honestly, given this knowledge of the Witness? I can't wait to commit a one-shot genocide when we kill it. Gestalt consciousness head ass

[purplebass]

I finally finished Sword Catcher, and here's my thoughts. Spoilers, of course. So read at your discretion.

Story

The first 25% or so of this book felt too descriptive to me. I know we need to know context, but I was busy thus I could read one chapter a day and the beginning was a bit slow and it concentrated a lot on politics and well, descriptions of places and backstory. I held on because I knew that this was all preparation, and the story improved a lot after our second pov character, Lin, made her appearance. It went better from that point on, and even if some things felt like a deja vu (to some scenes happened in tsc) I tried to not to let them influence me and pretend this story wasn't written by the same author (of tsc). I liked that since this is a fictional world, there was a lot of freedom when it came to dress code, lore, magic, etc.

Characters

Our main POV characters are Kel and Lin. I have to admit, Kel fell very flat to me at first. He was a little boring, and up until the 25% mark (so after the story really started to take off) he annoyed me. After then, I still preferred other characters more, but I enjoyed him more (still like other characters more, though). I instantly liked Lin. She is interesting, and I liked that she was a physician and she is peculiar.

Out of the royals, I really like Conor, and as far as ships are concerned, I ship him with Lin. They are enemies to lovers, and there seems to be mutual interest but of course, being him a prince and she an outcast girl in this world, it seems like they can never be. Wrong. Hope we'll see more development about that.

I also really like Antonetta. She seems like the typical naive girl but she is clever, and I also believe she likes Kel and their situation is quite like Conor/Lin (royal/peasant). Kel kissed a lot of people in this book, but he seems to have a thing for Antonetta.

The other royals are okay, I guess. They are entertaining, and I think the one who wants House Aurelian to fall might be among them.

Out of the criminals, I find the character of the Ragpicker King super interesting. Who is he? Where does he come from? My idea is that he might also be a royal bastard, but we'll see. I also like Ji An and Merren (who gives me Christopher Lightwood vibes) and Jerrod.

The whole criminal gangs business is not over and considering the ending, I think the criminal characters will help unveil who is the traitor on the Hill.

Overall, I enjoyed it (the second half more than the first) and I want to know how it continues, since it ended in a cliffhanger. I wouldn't say this book had an impact on me, though. I liked it enough, but I wouldn't consider it a 5 stars book. To me, this is a 3.5/4 stars.

[twilights-stuff]

Adding on to this post and on my Celestial au in general, since it might take a while to finish the character refs I've made of both Stan and Ford in this au, I've decided to show y'all some of the early sketches and doodles I made for this au as I have mentioned I've been working on this for quite some time. I can't wait to introduce this au properly. In summary, this is an au where Stan is a sun god by the name of Phoebus and Ford is a moon god by the name of Mene. (Alt text can explain on some drawings that need further context)

The last two were snippets of what I am working on recently but it was nice to see how far I've gone in terms of their designs and their stories. I really do hope to keep adding more to this au and build up to the lore I have created around it.

On the meantime, I suppose I should introduce a little synopsis of its story here because why not?

Au plot summary:

"After being sent to Gravity Falls to live with their great uncle Stanley Pines for the summer along with his twin sister Mabel, Dipper expects another boring three months to unfold in the seemingly normal, yet unusual Oregon town. But things took a turn as he finds himself in an underground, ancient cavern that might have been used for worship to an unknown god with an eeriely familiar face. When he takes the mysterious book kept within the cave, his eyes is laid bare to witness an eons long conflict between beings far greater than himself and a prophecy that might just lead to the end of the world he loves. Side by side with his sister and his new found friends, facing foes and meeting allies both mortal and divine, he slowly uncovers a truth in regards to the man who has been housing them the whole summer and the secrets he has kept so close to his chest. Will Dipper be able to unveil what is hidden from the eyes of men or will the truth should perhaps remain untold from the world before fate and destiny comes for him and his family?"