#YOU JUST HAVE TO COMPLETE THE BLINDING LIGHT OF DESTINY FIRST

[chubby-aphrodite]

i think grinding in an mmo should be considered cruel and unusual punishment

[iloveyanderes]

EVEN MORE YANDERE/SAGAU IDEAS!!!!!!!!!!! WITH A LITTLE LESS YANDERE ON THE SIDE😉 BECAUSE I FORGOT TO INCORPORATE IT BETTER

1.A girl gets isekai’d after a boy she’d bullied had enough and killed her. She woke up in the body of a really kind girl in genshin that everyone is obsessed with, she decided to pretend to be this girl as a means of survival, as these people would most likely kill her if they found out she wasn’t that kind little girl. Along the way She met a boy who ended up being her first true friend, making her realize what she has done and wrong giving her the courage to want to change. Just when she got better leading to the path of redemption the boy was found dead completely crushing any type of kindness in her heart, she realized all the genshin characters had killed him so she vowed to kill them all but not before ruining all of there lives first(I actually attempted to write this a long time ago on wattpad but it never went into fruition, so this might seem familiar)

2.Small sagau idea but it goes like this: girl has golden blood for a completely different reason then the sagau idea, ends up in genshin and everyone mistakes her for the creator and she's freaking out trying to convince everyone she's not the creator

3.Genshin impact x Ichigo from tokyo mew mew reader. With your transformation, cat ears and tail, and the actual ability to turn into a cat everyone is trying to get a reaction out of you(look online and you’ll understand why) I'd imagine yae would take advantage of it with the whole gorou situation as proof. Also there is no way inazuma doesn’t have a bunch of light novels or manga on magical girls

4.Dragon reader vs bird reader. You’ll get no further explanation

5.Sagau idea where instead of the reader being the creator they are a holy saint/saintness who's supposed to represent the creator as their prophet who will feel nothing but utter devotion when they see the creator. However on the day that you prophesied the creator would descend something goes wrong, when you lay your eyes on them the only thing you feel is fear and disgust. It’s immediately prevalent that This is not the creator but a demon, everyone else believes this to be the creator however so you can’t really do anything without the fear of being killed or worse, so you resolve to find the true creator while pretending to still love this demon. Meanwhile the demon is someone who always believed themselves to be better then the creator, they’re jealousy blinded them until it turned into envy where they wanted to be the creator. Quite literally trapping them down in hell when they were supposed to descend and taking their place. Since they want to be the creator that meant they had to be loved by everyone including you-especially you. The saintness meant to serve the creator and adore they’re every movement, so they casted a charm spell that seemed to work on everyone-except for you. It doesn’t matter they’ll do anything to get your love- because it belongs to them not that creator-they deserve that destiny

6. Not a genshin nor sagau thingy but what if a genshin archon reader accidentally falls asleep(can be any element you want but I chosen dendro for this) and wakes up thousands of years later where teyvat has become nothing but an empty shell, eventually you get picked up by the astral express after wandering the empty planet. you adventure all the new worlds, help the trailblazer while ignoring their weirdness, and find a way to mourn all your lost comrades. It’s discovered that elemental energy had mixed and muddled with each other eventually forming into something more murky and hallow which made the Aeons, you discover this when they start to hunt you down as there obsessed with you and the idea that your the last ‘pure’ being in the universe, something they want to obtain.

[happilyhertale]

Destiny is all - Osferth x female!reader, Part 3

Summary: You are Finan's sister. You live in a village in Scotland, near the border with Northumbria. You lead a quiet life until your brother decides to visit you with his boys and your life changes completely.

Pairing: Osferth x fem!reader

Author’s note: Hey you (:

Now I am finally sharing my little Osferth story with you. The events are a little different from the story in the series. (No, Osferth will not die either). I hope you will enjoy it! English is my second language, please forgive me if I made any mistakes (:

Warnings: Smut; 18+; NSFW Word count: 2.7 k

Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Other stories of mine

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You hear a loud crack. You open your eyes and groan a little as the sun shines in your face, just rising. Your head throbs a little. You hold your hand protectively over your eyes so that the sun does not blind you. A shadow stands in front of you and as you look closer, you recognise Uhtred. He stands in front of you and grins at you. He is eating an apple and chewing with relish. And then you realise why Uhtred is grinning. You look down at your body and see that Osferth has put his arm around you. He also groans softly as he slowly wakes up. Slowly Osferth pulls his arm away from you. The morning freshness, which immediately takes the place previously occupied by his body heat, makes you shiver slightly. You sit up and see that Finan is already awake. He is looking straight up at the sky. He looks almost relaxed. You have to grin. Slowly you take a small stick that is lying next to you and throw it at him.

He only looks over at you for a moment, annoyed, as you giggle.

You all get up and pack up your things. As you roll up your furs, however, you notice that something is hitting you in the back.

You turn around and see Finan looking conspicuously in the other direction.

"Finan... I know it was ya," you say seriously, but you have to chuckle.

Finan grins and goes to his horse.

When you have stowed your things, you ride off.

No one really talks much in the morning. You have a bit of a headache from the ale you drank the night before. Finan rides silently beside you, while the sun is shining in your face.

"Baby Monk was holding ya?", Finan asks you at some point.

You look at him a little irritated at first, "Pardon?" you ask.

Finan looks at you now, "Well... Osferth... he held ya this morning,"

You clear your throat quietly, "Well... Yea.. I guess he likes to put his arm around other people when he sleeps," you reply.

Finan nods slowly, "Sure... But why were ya lying so close to him?"

You snort lightly, "Are ya serious, Finan? It was cold and I was freezing. And I can't sleep near ya because I'll go deaf"

He gives a short laugh, "But ya do know I'm not afraid to kill a monk?"

You look at him angrily, "And I hope ya know I'm a grown woman?"

He looks at you unimpressed, "Still, I won't stop looking after ya"

You shake your head and try to kick him lightly, "I don't think ya need to protect me from a monk"

He laughs lightly and rides away from you a little.

Behind you, Osferth and Uhtred ride in silence. Osferth watches you, a little embarrassed. He doesn't want to look at you all the time, trying to concentrate on something else. He concentrates on the chirping of the birds. He pays attention to the shadows in the forest cast by the light of the sun. But his gaze always falls on you.

He is not quite sure how it could have happened yesterday. He was just trying to keep you warm, and suddenly you were kissing. He couldn't help it... Your lips were so soft, he couldn't stop.

But you didn't mention it this morning. And now he's unsure if you even remember it, or if you even wanted to kiss him. Did he perhaps push you into it?

But Uhtred snaps Osferth out of his thoughts "He, Osferth... Judging by the look on your face, you finally want to lose your virginity?" grins Uhtred.

Osferth looks startled, "Lord... I am not a virgin," Osferth mutters.

But Uhtred only laughs lightly.

"You didn't deny you wanted to sleep with her," Uhtred teases him further.

Osferth just shakes his head, but can't quite stifle a grin.

"I will not dignify that with a response," Osferth tries to say seriously.

You hear Uhtred laughing behind you. You look over your shoulder and see him and Osferth smiling. But you look ahead again and have to smile too.

Your thoughts devour you again. You don't know exactly what happened yesterday. After Osferth pulled you close to him to warm you, you had a very vivid dream. The dream was beautiful, it was so real. In the dream you were kissing each other. The kisses were incredibly beautiful and gentle. The memory of your dream makes you bite your lip lightly. Your cheek turns a light pink. And somehow you fear that when you look at Osferth you will blush just as much as you do now.

You clear your throat slightly again and you can still hear the boys laughing behind you.

You don't ride for long until you arrive at the next village. And Uhtred decides that you will ride no further so that Sihtric can follow you. You dismount from your horses and make sure they are fed. Finan goes into the inn and you follow him. It is noisy in the inn and even though it is only midday, many people are already drinking. Finan gets some ale and you sit down at a table. You drink your ale and watch the people around you. Uhtred has arranged rooms for you and soon joins you. Time passes quickly and you drink more and more. You laugh a lot and slowly you dare to look Osferth in the face again.

After a while Sihtric suddenly appears.

"Lord," he says simply.

Uhtred looks at him in surprise and you see he is already slightly drunk "Sihtric? Back so soon?"

Sihtric nods and sits down with you, "I didn't have to do much to get the information, Lord. I spent the night sitting around the fire with men and they talked about what they were up to," Sihtric says.

Uhtred looks at him promptly, "And?" he says finally.

"They want to meet with Ubba's people. They want to form a larger army to take Winchester," Sihtric finally says.

Your gaze falls on Uhtred. He seems unimpressed, but you see his mind working.

It is noisy around you. Some people are playing their instruments to fill the room with music and even more people are shouting in confusion. But the silence at your table is deafening.

"Well...", Uhtred finally says, "we have to stop that"

The boys talk about how they are going to stop it and you listen attentively. But they have already drunk too much to come up with a workable plan now. Your conversation drift off. Eventually, you keep drinking and laughing. At some point you are so drunk that you persuade the boys to arm wrestle with you. But you only manage to beat Finan once. With both arms you try to press his hand on the table. You are sure that he is not using all his strength, but you beat him. You shriek with joy and he grins at you.

You continue to drink and at some point you realise that all the ale wants to come out of you again. You have to pee. Without saying a word, you stand up. Your head is spinning, but you totter towards the exit of the inn.

The boys are so deep in their cups and conversations that they don't notice you leaving the inn. But Osferth still notices you staggering out of the inn. Slowly he gets up and goes after you. Outside the inn he catches up with you, "Lady? Are you all right? Where are you going?" he asks you. His words reveal that he is not entirely sober either.

You turn around, chuckle slightly and have to brace yourself against the wall, "Os...!" you say cheerfully, "I need to pee... Would ya like to come with me?" you giggle.

Osferth blushes slightly, "Of course not, lady!"

You start to pout a little, and Osferth notices it immediately.

"No, Lady... I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that..."

Again you giggle, "Wait here Os!"

He looks after you a little irritated, but amused, as you disappear for a moment.

When you come back to him, you suddenly stumble. Osferth catches you, "Oi... Lady... Perhaps I should put you to bed?"

You smile, "Yes... I would like that"

Osferth isn't sure if he got that right, but he puts his arm around your waist and wordlessly takes you to the room.

Due to his alcohol level, Osferth has difficulty accompanying you to the room. You sometimes totter and stumble and you often have to giggle. But when you reach your room, you just drop onto the bed, breathing a little heavily and still having to giggle slightly.

Osferth wants to put a blanket over you, but you don't let go of his arm, you want to pull him down to you. He hesitates a little, but lets you pull him down. This time you don't want it to remain a dream.

He lies in bed with you and you snuggle up to him. He holds you in his arms until he suddenly notices how you start to move your hips towards him. He closes his eyes, he just wants to lie in bed with you… He exhales heavily. Until he feels your lips leaving soft kisses on his neck. Slowly they caress his soft skin.

He swallows visibly.

But suddenly you fear that this is not what he wants and you are about to move away from him when you notice how his hands suddenly grip your hips.

He guides you and moves you further against him. You look up at him and just like yesterday in your dream, your noses touch. But this time you are sure it is not a dream. You hesitate for a moment and bite your lip. But then you let your lips slide onto his. They feel exactly as you imagined in your dream. So incredibly soft. You've never felt lips so soft. As his hand slides to your bottom and grips a little, you whimper into his mouth.

"Oh... Os... I didn't know..."

"...That I was capable of such a thing...?" he smirks against your lips. Suddenly you notice his hand on your thigh, sliding up gently.

You gasp briefly and reach for his arm.

"It's only a sin if I don't ask for forgiveness," he whispers as his fingers gently slide up your thigh.

You bite your lip and you see his eyes searching your gaze. How they try to ask for your permission without words.

But you do not answer. You push your hips towards his fingers and grasp the back of his neck. You pull him closer to you and let your lips slide onto his again. Osferth does not hesitate for long and lets his fingers slide over your folds.

Only your underwear separates his fingers from your wet arousal. You moan into his mouth. He lets his fingers glide gently over your underwear. But suddenly he pushes your underwear aside. His fingers are immediately soaked with your arousal. He groans at the feeling. You gasp as he slides his fingers along your folds again and again. As he circles your pearl and caresses it, you cry out and your hips move against his fingers.

"Os...", you moan. Your hand grips his bicep more firmly. He kisses you wildly. Without warning, he lets two of his fingers slide inside you. Your pussy immediately clenches around his fingers in response. You are a moaning mess. His fingers spoil you and you can't hold back. You feel his warm breath, which also quickens.

He lets his fingers slide into you faster. His palm brushes your pearl with each thrust. Obscene noises fill the room. He increases the speed again as his fingers disappear inside you. You feel his thumb making circular movements on your pearl.

Your thighs start to tremble, your arousal runs along your ass. You grab his neck again, pull him to you and kiss him deeply. Your walls clench frantically around his fingers.

"My lady... cum on my fingers..." he gasps. You can only whimper. With the next thrust he inserts another finger into you and thrusts his three fingers into you almost brutally. Your breathing is heavy and you moan into his ear. His thumb continues to put pressure on your pearl. You gasp and moan as a hard pressure builds in your lower belly.

"Os..." you can only moan and then it is over. You cry out and your walls spasm uncontrollably around his walls.

You squirt over his fingers and only hear him groan deeply at the sight. His fingers continue to slide in and out of you and are completely soaked. You breathe heavily and whimper softly. Only when your walls stop clenching around his fingers does he slowly pull his fingers out of you. You can't help but kiss him. A deep rumble forms in his chest. He is also breathing heavily as you look into his eyes. You gently caress his cheek.

"I should ask for forgiveness a little more in the morning," he whispers. You blush slightly and have to laugh.

He grins too and kisses you again. Your tongues glide gently around each other.

"Have I got ya into trouble with the holy lord now?" you murmur against his lips. You notice how he grins, "I'd take that trouble any day," he whispers.

You see his gentle face, he smiles at you and your eyes fall on the cross hanging around his neck.

You get curious, "But... how is it that ya can be intimate with women...", you can't finish the question, but Osferth understands what you want to ask.

"Prayers," he says softly.

"And that is exactly why I need to pray more and intensely. I pray for forgiveness and understanding. Pray that the holy lord will guide me back to the right path... Until I relapse again...", he smiles at you.

You giggle, "Os! I am shocked... "

He just smiles, "Well... I think it's the influence of your brother and the other boys..."

As Osferth mentions Finan, you realise that Osferth should be leaving your bed soon.

He gently caresses your cheek, "I should go to my bed..." he whispers.

"I know..." you just say softly. He kisses you softly, continues to caress your cheek gently.

When he wants to get up, you hold him tightly, "Stay a little longer...", you say softly.

He chuckles softly, "If Finan catches me in your bed, I will never be able to share your bed again," he says softly.

You sigh, but let him go.

Osferth reluctantly leaves your bed. He lies down in the bed next to yours. You look at each other and have to grin. Like silly lovers.

When suddenly the door to your room opens. The other boys come stumbling in.

"I'm sleeping in y/n's bed," Uhtred mumbles.

"I don't think y/n would want to sleep in a bed with someone who smells like wet dog," Sihtric replies.

You have to smile slightly, because all you hear is a muffled noise and the gasp of Sihtric.

"Nobody sleeps in y/n's bed!" you suddenly hear from Finan, who is the last to stumble into the room.

"Everyone goes to their bed!"

You can still hear them giggling and teasing each other until silence eventually falls. You turn onto your back and look up at the ceiling. You can still feel Osferth's touch on your body. You bite your lip lightly, wanting to go over to his bed. You look over at him, but his eyes are closed.

Outside on the street, people are shouting and singing. But at some point you are only distantly aware of the voices and fall asleep.

The next morning you are sitting in the inn. You are all a bit hungover and eating your breakfast. When Osferth suddenly gets up, "Excuse me a moment," he mumbles.

"Where are you going?" asks Uhtred as he chews.

"I have to go to the church... ask a little forgiveness," says Osferth almost shyly.

You were about to take a sip from your cup, and this time you are the one who chokes. The boys look at you and Osferth gives you a barely noticeable wink.

Your cheeks turn red, but you just look at your plate and try to continue eating in silence.

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[darth-jess]

“If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy.”

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes."

I think it’s become kind of a Star Wars joke when Obi-wan replies to Anakin, “only a Sith deals in absolutes” because Obi-wan is making an absolute by saying "only." However, I honestly don't think this was a mistake. I think this line was very intentional, and I think George Lucas knew exactly what he was doing with this line.

I think Obi-wan's statement shows how far the Jedi have fallen from what they were meant to be.

In 25,800 BBY and before, the Jedi recognized the light and the dark within themselves, and life was a constant balancing act between the two parts of themselves. In Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void by Tim Lebbon, we see Lanoree (a Je'daii Ranger) even acknowledge the darkness in herself, and struggle to balance it with the light. She does not fight against her darkness, she does not even try to expel it from herself, she accepts it as an important part of her life, she just cannot let it control her.

This novel takes place long before there were Sith (the religious order, not the species) and I'm not sure but I feel like the Sith just existing really shifted Jedi priorities.

I think because the Sith chose Dark over Light, the Jedi began to choose Light over Dark, instead of balance. They still preached about balance in the Force, but I'm not sure they truly understood what that meant.

Even Master Yoda does not understand this until he meets the Five Priestesses and they put him through a trial to face his darkness (Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 6, Episode 12: Destiny) and he literally goes in like a warrior, expecting to FIGHT his darkness. He tells Dark Yoda, "Part of me, you are not!"

But Dark Yoda replies, "Part of you, I am. Part of all that lives!"

And Yoda is nearly defeated by his own darkness, simply because he continues to deny its existence.

Finally, Yoda says, "Recognize you, I do. Part of me, you are. Yes. But power over me, you have not." And he is finally able to reject his Dark Side, choosing not to give into it. He rejects it, but he does still recognize it as his own.

The fact that even Master Yoda did not at first recognize his own darkness, did not even acknowledge its existence, is a serious flaw in the Jedi Order of that time. The Jedi were so blinded because they refused to see the darkness even within themselves, and so were blinded to see the darkness that rotted at the heart of the Republic.

And so, when Obi-wan says, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes," he is, completely on accident, also revealing the flaw in Jedi thinking, the flaw that ends up destroying the Jedi. A Sith should be the only one dealing in absolutes, but the Jedi have begun to deal in absolutes as well. In denying their own darkness, in only recognizing the Light, they blind themselves, just as the Sith blind themselves with the Dark.

Btw… this is not an anti Jedi post, this is just an observation of one of the flaws of the Order.

[myfavouritelunatic]

The Blacksmith

This is it. The final chapter. I cannot believe we're here. I hope you all enjoy it! ❤️

Pairing: Halbrand/Sauron x Female Reader; Galadriel x Female Reader; light Haladriel/Saurondriel.

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: None

Links to Chapter One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-One, Twenty-Two, Twenty-Three, Twenty-Four, Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, Twenty-Seven, Twenty-Eight, Twenty-Nine, Thirty, Thirty-One, Thirty-Two, Thirty-Three, Thirty-Four, Thirty-Five, Thirty-Six, and Thirty-Seven!

Chapter Thirty-Eight/Epilogue

Your eyes stung as they flung open, searing white light consuming the entirety of your vision. Gasping for air as if you had never breathed it in before, you begged your eyes to adjust to your new surroundings, your fear of the unknown taking hold. You commanded your body to rise, and stand upright, and it obeyed, but not in a fashion you were familiar with. It felt as if you were floating, levitating now over the surface upon which you had been laid. Casting your vision downward, your body was clothed in stars. It was a fabric of unknown origin, clinging to your form like a mist over mountains, with twinkles of light scattered through it. Curious, you moved your hand slowly down to feel it, and gasped when it passed right through you. A strange tingling buzzed from your fingertips up to the top of your head. This made you giggle.

Looking up ahead, the white light was still blinding, but had begun to subside, or at least become easier on the eyes to take in. For the entire environment was colourless, no dimensions of any kind to be made out, no horizon, no earth, no sky, just white space, empty and endless. But then, there was music. A faint sound you weren't sure at first if you were hearing it or imagining it. Though as it's volume increased, it entered your ears and spread within your luminescent figure. The beauty and power of it was overwhelming, and you smiled, crying tears of joy. Invisible instruments and voices made up a great symphony that was unlike any music you had ever heard. It was almost tangible, the only thing in this boundless space besides yourself that could take on form.

It excited you greatly, filling you with a sense of purpose like you had never felt. Suddenly you were spinning, twirling, watching as the stars and mists of you danced about in unison as you floated in time to the heavenly harmonies and melodies. It was bliss. Though something unexpected happened to slow your movements. Without any doubt, you had heard your name called out to you, weaved into the song, yet separate enough to be distinguished. But it was the voice that called it out that took you aback.

It was your mother.

She arrived steadily, emerging into dazzling colour from the all encompassing whiteness. Her form was covered in a gown made of the sea itself, peaceful and tranquil at her shoulders, though it's waves raged against each other at the bottom as she swept towards you, a hem of sea foam moving as if on sand. She smiled at you with her diamond eyes, embracing you completely, and it felt as if your spirits were merging. The water of her did not dampen you though, nor did the colour of her ocean become affected by your starry mist, yet you were as one. Mother and daughter, reunited at last. "My child… I have long been waiting for this time to come." Her voice was almost the same as you remembered it, with an added ethereal quality that made you smile even wider. "I knew I would see you again. You were watching over me, guiding me. You never left me." "It was my purpose, my destiny, to keep you in the light. Just as it was your destiny to leave Arda before the darkness would consume you fully."

"The… darkness…" A flash of fire engulfed you, as the images of your life appeared before you, reminding you of the only existence you had known. You had been so caught up in this otherworldly euphoria that you had somehow left all thought of it behind with your earthly body. Halbrand came back to you, your love, your king, your destiny… or so you had thought. Now your tears became droplets of sorrow, of grief for what you had lost. "Mother… this… this can't be my destiny! I… I'm meant to stay with Halbrand… to ensure that goodness endures in Middle-earth…" A powerful sense of dread invaded you as a realisation struck you. "If I'm gone… then… then…" You couldn't bring yourself to say it, so instead, the words came out of you in a different way, manifesting before you the aftermath of your demise.

You and your mother watched on in silence as Halbrand succumbed to his grief, and succumbed to Sauron. The tears were streaming out of you now, a river that flowed down and into the sea that surrounded your mother. This was Sauron like you had never witnessed. It was pure unadulterated power. The display of which you had heard mention of, but never truly believed that the man you loved was capable of exhibiting such force. Yet it was occurring right before you as if you were standing still in the town square having never left. He had dominion over the elements, conjuring fire, summoning lightning, needing no sword to strike his enemies.

Though it seemed he still took pleasure in the elegance of a sharp blade. Your blade. Sauron murdered Olwenna and Padrig, and your pain was immense. But you were not hateful towards your love, even still, even after seeing this horrid sight… you understood him. Fighting because he must, and because all meaning had been lost, taken away from him. The light had fled with you, nowhere to be found within him. As if the sun itself had been extinguished. Only darkness would remain.

You could feel your grief turn to anger, your sorrow to rage, building quickly within your spirit. The mist that covered you began to darken and your stars dwindled as they fell victim to your change. A new voice entered your ear then, as you drifted back the vision to the moments before your lifeless body became no more. You closed your eyes, imagining your spirit back within your flesh, wanting to hear the words spoken as if your dead body was actually listening. The language was black speech, and although you had never heard it, you understood exactly what it meant.

"And now the fire that burns so blindingly… is our love immortal, burning for eternity."

Sauron's lament, once lines of a loving stanza he had sung to you by the fire. Now they took on a different meaning. Your spirit could not take anymore. The demented screams that escaped you now were carried on a black smoke that billowed quickly from your mouth. The sound clashed almost violently with the serene orchestra that had brought you such joy only moments earlier. It was twisted, deformed, inhuman. It was all you were now.

"Hold onto me, daughter…" You could hear your mother's peaceful voice on the edge of your shriek, your dark music. You turned to see her waves reaching for you, the hand of her spirit outstretched. The screaming endured, and she was enveloped by your charcoal plumes. "SEND… ME… BACK…" you cried, demanding to leave this place, to be apart of it's blissful music no longer. "You want me to remain in the light… I cannot do so here! For parted… Sauron and I will only bring darkness to whatever realm we occupy. I will infect this place, mother… I will be a plague upon it! Is that what you want?"

The smoke from you was fast filling the white space, the music drowned out and replaced by your haunting. Now your mother's tears flowed down and into her ocean. "The time at which your life ended… was a point of no return. There was only shadow ahead. It was the last chance to ensure you left Arda with light in you. I had to protect you." "Why?" you shouted at her, monstrously. "Because a mother loves her daughter… and would sacrifice anything to keep her." "What have you done!?" The weight of your mother's actions hit you with blunt force. "All of your interference only led to our darkness being unleashed! Halbrand is lost!" "My child… I am afraid his dark descent was inevitable… I had to spare you of it… save you." "SEND ME BACK!" you demanded hopelessly, not even questioning if your mother had to power to do so or not. She seemed to be responsible for ripping you out of the arms of your love, why would she not be able to return you to him? "That is something that I cannot do. Your spirit belongs with me now. Until we are called upon to serve our greater purpose."

The opaque fumes that had emanated from you had now completely covered the realm in which you both resided. The music could be heard no longer, and now peace, bliss, was something you would perhaps never find. Existing now in eternal heartache, parted forever from your love, only able to look upon him from a great distance, and watch as he continued on in his world, without his queen by his side…

*****

The lands of Mordor trembled under the power of the fiery mountain, its eruptions sending the blood of Middle-earth up into the sky and down upon the ground, scorching it. New vibrations suddenly began to clash with those of nature, for a great army was marching in, invading the ash covered plains, bracing to war with their enemy. The dark lord stood atop his dark tower, Barad-dûr, a looming symbol of his power within his domain, threatening and evil. Lightning in the distance provided a striking backdrop for the Nazgûl as they flew across the impending battlefield, the screeches of their fell beasts echoing across the landscape. Sauron watched, amused by the attempts of men and elves to conquer him.

His charcoal armour sounded in the air with every step he took, pacing on the precipice of his tower, gazing downward as his orcs howled and readied themselves to fight in his name, banners of The Eye blowing fiercely in the wind. His muted brown hair flowed out long behind him, underneath the six spired crown he wore, signifying his rule. He had grown rather fond of the idea of wearing one ever since his first kingship. Indeed it was the very same crown, only transformed by his own forging, crafted to represent his presence now as the dark lord. Sauron's thoughts of his brief time in Pelargir were never far from his mind. In fact, the city still stood all these years later, untouched by his shadow since the day he left.

Since the day you left.

He grinned, closing his slitted eyes, taking in a deep breath, feeling as if your spirit was passing into him. Sauron always felt you near, for though you had died, it was as he had said, your spirit would always linger, stoking the fire of his beating heart. "Oh my love…" he whispered to you, "Look who comes for slaughter…" he snickered devilishly, the fast drumming of his heart your response as his excitement took hold. It was then he turned to face you, the one ring on his armoured finger, glistening in the flames of Mount Doom, it's power unmatched, transcendent, making the dark lord almost a being of pure omniscience. Feeling it's pull, he glanced at it proudly, for his achievement was great. Though it was not what he considered to be his best work. That, was what he gazed upon now.

For in the very centre of the summit of Barad-dûr, there stood a statue. A monument, an effigy… of you. Wrought in blackened iron, your love had crafted an image of you, capturing your beauty, your love, and your reign as queen. For on your form was shaped your diadem atop your head, and your wedding gown which Sauron had captured expertly, down to the detail within the billowing sleeves of pearl. He had recreated the way the dress had moved, even with this statue as still as the night, it looked as if it were fluttering elegantly in the wind.

This sculpture was also your tomb, and the last touch added to the dark tower upon its completion. Inside the great forge of the mountain, your love had fused your ashes within the iron, giving you new life, a new vessel from which to rule. Sauron stepped towards your ethereal figure, gazing up at the soft smile he had carved on your face, and he took off the sharp metal glove from his left hand, revealing his wedding ring. He had never removed it. Placing that same hand upon your own ringed finger, connecting the two bands of your love he had made for you both in Pelargir, Sauron beamed up at you as a single tear shed from him. The wind blew around him then in a circular motion, just as it did that day when your ashes had spiralled around him in farewell. He couldn't help but let out a loving laugh, and just for a moment, he was a humble blacksmith again, working a forge on Númenor, greeting a beautiful woman who had stumbled upon his workshop. And now, he beheld his greatest creation. The meaning of his life.

Sauron kissed your hand gently, grateful to have his queen by his side. As it was destined. Though together, but very much apart, the darkness was victorious over the light, and the shadow of Sauron, of Barad-dûr, of you swept across the lands, and the lady of light was ever out of reach.

Tagging: @denzit @heronamedhawks @pursuitseternal @coraleethroughthelookingglass @hikarielizabethbloom @restless-tides @vaguelyvibin @imjustsuperweird @gil-galadhwen @somebirdortheother @lady-of-imladris @princessfantaghiro @starlady66

Thank you so much to ALL OF YOU who have taken the time to read my story. I really cannot put into words how it makes me feel. To those of you who have been on this journey since I posted the first chapter, to those who jumped on during the ride, and to those who have found this right at the end... you all have a place in my heart. I truly hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I did writing it. It's changed my life. And that's mostly thanks to all of you. I am eternally grateful. Now... onto the next! ❤️❤️❤️

[fantasyquests]

Rewatching Season 1: Some thoughts on episode 5 1. What do you know of darkness? Light and darkness are explored in several storylines in this episode. There is an excellent exchange between Galadriel and Halbrand in which she repeats her brother's advice: "Sometimes to find the light we must first touch the darkness". Halbrand's reply, "What do you know of darkness?" is so good and hits different now that we know who he really is. Galadriel's brother, as she mentions, was also killed in a place of darkness. I love that Galadriel is quite aware of the dark aspects of her own psyche, her obsession with fighting to eradicate evil and defeat Sauron. She believes that completing this task is the only way she can ever find peace. This self-awareness also enables her to forgive quite easily those who have betrayed her: her company which has turned against her, Elrond and Gil Galad who have conspired to send her to Valinor. Not knowing Halbrand's real identity, she convinces him that he, too, will only find peace by returning to Middle Earth and fulfilling his destiny there. I believe Sauron really undergoes some inner struggle in this episode, because we see some evidence of this struggle even in the scenes where he is completely alone and is not acting for the sake of convincing any other character.

Darkness is also mentioned by Tar-Palantir, who warns his daughter Miriel not to go to Middle Earth because she will only find darkness there. The prophecy refers to the fact that she will go blind, but may also be a prediction of the dark trials that await her when she returns to Numenor after a military fiasco. Harfoots are walking through a sinister forest and mention that walking won't get any easier in the dark. The Stranger repeats, "Easier in the dark", learning new words, but perhaps also suggesting to us that at this point his character is not yet clearly defined and we don't know if he symbolically belongs to light or darkness.

Another significant mention of darkness is in Bronwyn's conversation with Arondir. She says of the Southlanders, "We are destined for the darkness", at the moment when she contemplates pledging allegiance to Adar and his forces. It is clear that Bronwyn has no desire to side with evil, she simply believes that this is the only way she and her countrymen can survive. The same may be said about the Southlanders in general. There are very few of them who, like Waldreg, consciously and unreservedly want to serve the forces of darkness. Most of them just leave the fortress out of fear for their lives. There is also a deep resentment they harbour against the Elves, whom they experience as invaders and an occupying army. Those people have never seen the Orcs and are not fully aware of the evil they can do, but they have lived with the presence of the Elvish military forces for centuries, and the hostility they feel towards Elves makes it easier for them to decide to join the other side. For Theo, this dilemma is also personal -- the Elves have invaded the Southlands just like Arondir has invaded his own family, by starting an affair with his mother -- and it takes him a while before he trusts the elf enough to show him the hilt key.

2. Good vs. Evil. It is, of course, closely related to the previous motif. We see it in the storyline following Harfoots and the Stranger, as the community constantly redefines him and tries to decide whether he is good or evil. He kills the fireflies, but then he helps Nori's family push their cart. Malva is convinced that he is to blame for the devastation in the forest they are passing through, but then he saves her and the others from a pack of wolves. But just as Nori wants to administer a balm for his injuries, she gets hurt by touching his frozen arm. The only thing we can say for certain at this point is that the Stranger is immensely powerful, but does not know how to control his power, nor does he know the limitations of his physical body. In fact, the only act which is unequivocally evil in this storyline is when Malva urges Sadoc to take off the wheels from the Brandyfoot's cart and leave them behind. In psychological terms, this is a kind of projection -- Malva sees evil in the outsider, but is completely unaware of her own capacity for evil.

Good and evil are also, allegedly, the components of mithril. I must admit I have problems with accepting this origin story, and I think it's good that the scriptwriters have made room for doubt by mentioning that it is apocryphal, i. e., perhaps not true. I also find it faulty in terms of logic: if mithril consists of good and evil in equal parts, then how will it save the Elves from fading? If they are supposed to be bathed in the light of the Valar for the purpose of healing and protection, shouldn't that light be all good and pure? We also know that Tolkien has a very Christian understanding of evil, which he views as a deviation from good, and not as a force in its own right. As Galadriel tells us in the very first episode: Nothing is evil in the beginning.

Links to the previous reviews: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4

[nidhi-writes]

Vēṭkai (Part -1)

Karikalan knows that going in meant that there is no exit, no way to live once he stepped inside the room which was light by his past love who now waits for him to plunge his heart. He knows that there will be no going back, and he didn't want to go back. All these years he waited and endure the torture of his own heart that cause him great loss. If this is what will free him then he wants it to accept it, what's better than letting it go by her hands?

As he entered the surroundings made it look as if he is teleported to this world where it was just him and her. There she is currently close to the ground and touching the sword that is on the ground. A gold-embedded sword with a fish-like structure adorning its hold. But it's her fish-like eyes that captivated him. There she just being her, her skin glows like shining gold, her hair black as khol that spreads to the surface, Her face showed both longing and hurt along with something he can't read. As he proceeds to get near her she looks up and meets his eyes.

There they are feeling like a 15 yr old who fell in love with each other, who didn't expect anything from each other, who wants to live together and cherish their love. But here they are now completely separated by their duties, their living, their pride.

When the words failed. When the eyes look through each other's souls. When the time stops two hearts can beat at once.

Aditha watch Nandhini silently picking up the sword, the same sword which she kept to take his life.

Nandhini abruptly stood and placed the sword in between them, ready to pierce his heart and take his life to present to the ones she owed. The sharp end of the sword poked Aditha's chest, a tiny scarping of the skin causes it to tear and from inside a single drop of blood poured out. He didn't care or give sense to it nor did he acknowledge it. It was her eyes that held the answers to all his answers.

Nandhini opened her mouth to speak for the first time over the years to him

NANDHINI: I have been waiting for this moment my whole life.

ADITHA: You do?

NANDHINI: Yes, I do! you are the reason for my life being hell, you are the reason I have been banished out of the kingdom. You are the reason that I am having to deal with all kinds of madness that is played out so far in my life. So for that, I will be the reason for your death

Aditha held the sword that has been cutting his chest little by little and dig it deeper. But the action made Nandhini nervous and tried to take it out of his hand. She knew that they are being watched and this is the moment she was trained for, but her emotions are making her blind and her hand are trembling to not take action further.

Silent tears fell down her eyes running down her cheeks, and that's when she knew that she can't do it. How could she? After all it's him, the one who made her fall in love and made her earn for the same love over the years. Seems both of them need the same thing.

His eyes didn't leave hers. How could he look away, it's her! Who made him feel harder for her. She is his as much as he is hers.

NANDHINI: After all this time?

ADITHA: (smiling softly) Always.

Like the cry of the peacock who is missing her mate, Nandini dropped the sword and hugged the man before her. The souls which are separated for a long time finally touched others to drink from each other. No other thoughts crossed their mind. Aditha hugged her back and silently caressed her upper back like a feather going down and buried his head into her aroma-filled hair. It is like he finally breathed into the life of elixir which made him feel alive.

With her head against his chest, she listened to his heart beating faster but that made her feel safe, safe after life long run that finally led her to her destiny. This is her destiny, at that moment her past trauma has been forgotten, her relationship with others has been forgotten, and now she is just a Nandhini who was waiting for her prince long back.

But their moment of solitude with each other was short-lived, Karikalan was quick on his feet and took out the dagger that has been in his hip, and shoved Nandhini to his back to protect them from whoever that is in the room with them.

NANDHINI: You have to leave! I will hold them, please escape from here.

ADITHA: (Looks at her with a smile) Do you think I am going to leave you here with those people? after all this time! We will be out of here but I won't be running away like a coward.

He jumped to his feet as Ravidasan came towards them but Aditha is quick on his feet and made a dagger cut the chest of the enemy who is currently standing in front f him.

Nandhini watched the fight helplessly, She knew Karikalan could able to overpower Ravidasan but he is not alone there, as she is thinking Devaralan came running inside but he is been caught by Vandiyathevan who just in time broke the door lock to defend his Prince. And also he heard everything, but who is he to judge as what he witness is nothing but pure love.

Nandhini went in and held Ravidasan's hand from going forward with his action, the look of betrayal crossed Ravidasan's face and anger took over him as the woman who promised to support them and kill the Chola prince now turned against them. Just cause of her itch to be with a prince, and he looked at her with utter disgust. But Nandini didn't care, all these years she helped them and made sure to do so without expecting anything in return.

Ravidasan pushed her and fought with Aditha, he have to say that the Chola prince is indeed a great warrior, that he give him and it would be an honor to take his head off and keep it as a trophy. Maybe Kotravai is blessing him to do the killing. As he yield the sword and run to take the life out of the Chola prince, he planned to first strike at his stomach and make him weak to see the pain, the Chola prince's experience should be equal to what his King Veera Pandian experienced at the last moment.

But as he struck the sword it punctured the stomach but not Aditha Karikalan's but Nandini's who was now standing in front of him. Aditha froze and held the body of his love who saved him, the one he fell in love with saved his life and doesn't care that she took the blow for him. Vandiyadevan looked at the scene and anger consumed him as he punched Devaralan and got hold of Ravidasan by his neck.

VANDIYADEVAN: Ilavarase(Prince)! you have to take Devi Nandini to Vaidyar now! I will hold them as much as I can.

Aditha didn't wait for one sec he carried Nandini and she rested her head against his chest. If this is how she is going to go then she is most fortunate. She may have gone against the promise she made for Veera Pandian but nothing comes before Love, Heart wants what it wants.

ADITHA: Don't close your eyes, Nandini, don't you dare do it.

His voice broke as he said those lines and his eyes never left his lover's body which is now slowly losing its blood. He couldn't use the regular way to get outside of the palace nor did he trust the raja vaidya here will be helpful, he knew that down the hill a Siddha vaidya works for the poor. His legs carried him outside and to the end of the hill. As he is going to descend the hill a loud shouting made him turn around only to be struck by an arrow in his chest a few inches away from Nandini's head

There stood Ravidasand and injured Devaralan who is making sure to get the task done, but one thing they didn't expect is there is no fear in the eyes of Karikalan who stood there holding his love close to him, he is not running away but he is in need to make sure to protect his Nandini. As the thoughts consumed him he smiled at the attackers. Vandiyadevan came running shouting at the attackers along with him all the Kadamburs and other chieftains who is shocked to witness the scene before them.

Karikalan looked down to see Nandini smiling at him, even with both of them in so much pain this moment made them happy. He knew that they can't be together here, nobody would accept, as he looked down at the hill and back to Nandini who nodded her head like she knows what was going on inside his brain. As he smiled at her he stepped backward and welcomed the fall with grace. There they are finally reunited and happy, even if it's dead they are together and none can now separate them.

VANDIYADEVAN: Ilavarase! No! No!

As he run towards the end of the hill ready to jump in to save his prince but was held back by Kandamaran, who told him to not do it, as they are already dead by now. Vandiyadevan sobbed and cried his heart out. Ravidasan and Devaralan escaped like how the wind goes by fast to not get captured.  Smirking at themselves that they are now closer to defeating Cholas.

Is this the end of the love of the Chola crown prince and the beauty of his eye?

                                             To be Continued..

@vibishalakshman  @thatacademic @thelekhikawrites Let me know your thoughts! 

[coruscantide]

✔

► MUSE PREFERENCES

Do I know your muse(s):  yes | no | a little | tell me about your muse

Setting: our verse | my verse | your verse | modern | alternate universe | other

Pre-established relationships? yes | no | depends on the relationship

Possible relationships: friends | classmate | co-worker | roommate | family, real or adopted | dating or blind date | married | friends with benefits | unrequited love | lending a hand | teacher - student | rivals | allies | partner-in-crime | enemies | protecter - guarded | business partners | spy - infiltrated | manipulator - manipulated | star-crossed | first meeting | other 

I’m in the mood for: fluff | angst | horror | romance | humor | crime | hurt / comfort | action | supernatural | slice of life | crack | dark threads | light threads | any genre | multi-para | shorter para | one-line | any length | plotted threads | unplotted threads | other

Feel free to: message me ooc | message me ic | tell me your ideas | write a starter | answer one of my opens | send a meme | reblog this with your preferences - let’s find common interests!

canon likes to not focus on the kairi and riku dynamic but i remember. nomura you can't make me forget kh1 to kh2 and all the shit riku endured for kairi and the clear same level of care she has for him even if you only let her show it for like five minutes at most or have pieces of it mirrored in their relationships to other characters and barely acknowledge it otherwise. i'm not gonna delve too deep into this here because i'm already in the middle of doing a long ass post about what riku means to kairi so time to put a pin in that and onto plot ideas!

maybe threads were they talk about what's on their mind? they clearly do off screen. and let them tease each other oh my god. let them support each other while also being able to drag each other for little things. meeting riku exponentially increased her snark capabilities. just like how riku was protective of kairi, she is protective of him, though it tends to usually manifest in different ways, and they both could take it a bit too far unintentionally or not ( side eyes kh1 ). and a background element i vibe with? right person wrong time missed opportunities but echoes of it still there on both ends (*cough*orwecoulddosomethingwiththat*cough*).

sparring sessions! riku did visit her while she was learning under merlin so let them take a moment to train. the master can show her the ropes lest she run off into a crowd of heartless wildly swinging the keyblade around again.

you know, one thing they can have is their own long running score over anything and everything. from arcades to those table games like air hockey and soccer to who manages to bean a specific branch the most times with a rock to surfing to fishing to card games like triple triad to who can catch the most peanuts in their mouth to whoever can stomach the most donuts. just random things they do together and turn into an impromptu competition, and because it's been going on so long they sometimes get the current tally wrong and insist they're the one in the lead.

next time riku goes to destiny islands someone ( selphie? ) should really hand him the stack of sealed letters addressed to him by kairi but were never really intended to be sent since he had been mia off the islands for over a year. i wonder what they say...

oh, ha, maybe, one day, they're talking and kairi just casually mentions something in conversation that riku picks up on though she breezes past it without much thought like it's common knowledge but it isn't. because. because he thought she didn't know about it and the only time he mentioned it to her was during that time in kh1 when he had her empty body and implications are there now and

au time. *looks at your dark route* *looks back at you* p,,, please.

i too have an au or two you can peruse *trips and a bunch of aus falls out of my pocket* altered memory kairi living with namine during com and completely forgetting her former life and friends and can't recognize them when they find her, kairi winding up with her keyblade and clashing with sora over the better way to help riku who was missing his heart, sora not quite saving kairi in remind and being booted to quadratum leaving kairi kinda dead to haunt the narrative from the final world as a formless star and riku is the only one she can connect with, crossover verses- *scrambles to shove them back in my pocket* anywaYS I'm down for anything! Just hit me up! Or I'll hit you up.

[aintgonnatakethis]

Hi Ian!

Thank you for the wip tag, I might gonna skip this time since it didn't change from the last one few days ago (I'm a slooooooooooooooooooooow writer 😁)

By the way, I'm curious about your :

Other SGU : Your Own Worst Enemy,

if you feel like sharing 🙏

Thanks for the ask @gioiaalbanoart! 😄

Content warning for Your Own Worst Enemy Answer: non-explicit discussion of sexual assault First excerpt: I would describe as non-explicit just-prior-to-the-event, but be safe Second excerpt: memories of child abuse Third excerpt: verbal and psychological abuse between partners but nothing sexual

I started writing this massive thing in 2022 and haven't posted any of it yet because I think I need to finish it completely first, due to the sensitive nature of the subject material. It's also quite heavy work to write as it's so serious and delves as deeply as I can into the trauma of Rush, Young, Telford, and Destiny all suffering from some form of sexual assault, varied in method, severity, reaction, and aftermath. So I have to be a very specific headspace to be able to work on it, which I haven't since *checks* a year ago!

It's also the first story I started writing with the aim of posting to AO3 (there was the 450k extravaganza I wrote while lockdown was ongoing to keep myself sane - with there being 2 vulnerable people in my house it was quite a bit longer than the official lockdown - but I never intend on posting that because the start requires a full rewrite due to me being off the pace quality-wise after years out. There are also a lot of other people's ideas in there. Basically I wrote it just for myself and have been rereading it recently and picking bits out that I think I can work into the current stuff I'm writing). Tangent over 😂

The starting premise of Your Own Worst Enemy is one I've seen used a few times: foraging on a planet, Young gets dosed, attacks Rush. I wanted to take that in different directions than I'd previously seen written, and focus heavily on the 'sometimes you never recover' angle. So I highly doubt it'll have a happy ending, but there's so much focus in media and fandom on recovery being something everyone always "succeeds" at and I'm just like… It can be messy, one-step-forwards-two-steps-back, angry, destructive, dangerous… Basically I want all four of them to be the most IMperfect victims they could possibly be.

First excerpt is from right at the beginning. I have Telford-being-the-hero disease. (Read: so does he, he desperately wants to be the Big Hero, even if he'd scoff if someone said it out loud.)

There's a flicker of movement from the stairs, the shadow coalescing into a human shape. Rush's heart leaps in his chest. No one on the ship likes him but surely they won't walk away from Young raping him, no matter how much blind loyalty the man somehow inspires. When the man's face finally comes into the light it's Telford, his eyebrows raised high in surprise but a light smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. Rush heart sinks. The sound of a zipper comes from behind him and Telford's eyes follow the movement, not even sparing Rush a glance. He probably thinks this is what Rush deserves, what he's got coming for all the shit he makes Young put up with. He chokes back bile as Telford turns away to make his way back up the stairs. "Help me!" Now Telford looks at him for the first time, pausing with one foot on the stairs. He looks unsure, his forehead creasing as his eyes dart back and forth between Rush and Young. Please, Rush thinks, for the love of god please. "Hey, Everett," Telford says casually, his foot coming back down off the step. Thank you. Thank you.

Second excerpt is quite a ways in and won't make a bit of sense out of context, but it's one of the bits I'm most proud of. 😊

Something is wrong. He can feel it, a creeping horrifying sensation beneath his skin, as if his veins are being slowly plucked like violin strings. Spaghetti-like tubes slither into him, dragging and clogging and taking up space that should be empty. He feels his heart stutter as if from very far away. "It's important," a voice whispers to him. There is grief wrapped hard around the words, a loneliness that slips into the edges of his consciousness and sinks its claws in deep. It is too hot and he is a child shivering beneath his blankets, terrified. There is nowhere to go, he knows. He is going to die here. "Doctor Rush?" Don't move. Don't make noise. Maybe they'll forget he's here. Maybe it will go differently this time; the black mould on the ceiling and the inlaid bricks and the metal grates and the sand hot in his mouth. He is an adult and yet he is also twelve sitting in a car unable to escape as his mother tells him she wants to kill herself. He thinks a part of him will always be in that car, knowing he has no control, that he will be powerless and weak and dependant forever. He wants freedom. He wants to do something about it. If she wants it so damn badly, his mind whispers, then give it to her. He would be better off. He would be free. "There's so much work to be done. I know you understand." He does understand. No one else does. They can't. They don't have the framework. He's built for this, it is his purpose. "I don't want to be alone, Nicholas." He stares at a chalkboard and doesn't move. The phone rings and he doesn't move. A man appears in his house and he doesn't move. The man sits next to him and says, "You'll feel this way for the rest of your life. But I think that's okay." Rush doesn't agree. He's held stationary and he's cold and he can't breathe. There are too many dangers lurking in the dark, too many possibilities of pain, too few ways to extricate himself. His fists hurt from trying to beat his way out. There's blood on his hands and his brain sparks with pain. They stare at him and he asks for help and they don't react. There are hands on him, poking and prodding and pinching. Terror, in the bruises on his face and his hips and his chest, over his heart and inside deep where no one is meant to see. It would be so easy to do it again. They could leave him behind. They could show him who's actually in charge. There'd be no repercussions for them. No one cares enough to put themselves in the firing line for him. "It's important," she says. She doesn't want to be alone again, drifting in the dark depths of space. He understands. He doesn't want to be alone either. He inhales water and he inhales air and he inhales vacuum.

Third excerpt. I'd paste it here but I think this answer is already long enough 💀 This is why I'm so slow answering asks for this game fwiw. I need to ramble and infodump or I'll die.

WIP Name Game

[allw3doisadvert1se]

The CIFT Hall of Fame

Welcome, one and all, to the Hall of Fame. As the CIFT is a relatively new company, there is still much that can and will be added to this area as time goes on. But, if you will please step this way, I can talk you through the figures who are here.

First and foremost, we have the Head of R&D, Markus Baal. The painting depicts a man formed of strings upon strings of entwined binary code wearing a white lab coat accented with gold detailing. Markus first joined the CIFT after teleporting here from his home fountain of [REDACTED] to escape the [REDACTED] of the dark fountain. It was almost like destiny brought him into our loving arms, and he has since lead his department on a path towards true progress.

Next to him is of course the Advanced Security Overseer, or Aso for short. A humanoid security camera wearing a neat black suit with silver detailing is shown in this painting, faint red light shining from his lens. Aso is the byproduct of the former head of security, [REDACTED], being augmented to serve his duties in a more efficient manner. These changes have caused him to forget his previous existence, and he now serves the Founder in a manner which is much more to His glorious ambition.

Up next we have Amanda Highmore, our head of the Communications department here on site. The painting depicts a stern looking woman who, shockingly, is actually a human. The sole Lightner on the board of directors has a tight bun held behind her head, and in her arm rests a very content looking Tasque. Ms. Highmore joined the board after rising through the ranks from the bottom, starting as just a worker in the mailroom. Isn’t that something? Just goes to show that everyone at the CIFT has the potential to surpass expectations.

This next member is unlike the others as they were not appointed onto the board. Everyone, this is Unit 000001. A cold metallic face that bears no expression other than pure stoicism stares through this painting. All over their artificial body are engravings and inscriptions of different CIFT motives. A sigil of an eye is engraved on their forehead, while the words “Science: God of All” is inscribed on their chest. This brave Unit was the first to face the unknown darkness of the worlds beyond and successfully report data back to us. Sadly, they are no longer with us, as after completing 66 excursions, their signal has disappeared entirely and has yet to come up again. Masks depicting this Unit’s stoic face are given to each new Unit to remind this generation of vessels who they have to live up to.

And right over here, we have the glorious Founder himself. The brilliant mind who caused us to turn our then blind eyes towards the worlds that we could rule, and gave us the machines to do it. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this is Heinrich Cane. The painting depicts a man who does not exist, with a face hidden behind a black box. He wears flesh that does not exist upon a Darkner body that does not exist. Heinrich Cane never has, and never will exist. There is only the machine. The Founder was once the scientific advisor to the Queen of long past, but upon her merciless slaughter at the hands of the Lightner, [REDACTED], he took over and provided the remaining Darkners with hope, and a future. A future that’s quickly coming closer and closer to reality.

This concludes this brief tour of the Hall of Fame, but it may be revisited at a later date once the amount of names on the walls has expanded. On behalf of the CIFT, we thank you all for joining us today, and we hope you have a regular day.

[deathisararemercy]

No time to continue my "Day Three of "Drawing animals so I can make some proper Puss in Boots fanart" challenge, but I did finish this small character sheet for one of my…many OCs.

This is Fate - pronouns a work in progress. Fate is a bird lady with three faces. Fate's head swivels around to each of the different faces - one has gold eyes, one has blue, and the other has red. Fate actually wears a big curly wig; Fate's "real hair" is just bird feathers. Fate's high collar is also made of feathers, which Fate uses to write in the Book of Fate.

The Book of Fate is a seemingly normal-sized book. It has a lovely navy clothbound cover with silver embossing in it. It's really pretty! And if you look inside it or (stars forbid) write inside of it, you supposedly go mad! After all, reading about your or other people's destinies or trying to change fate itself could end in cosmic disaster!

Fate's job is simple. Protect the book from landing in the hands of anybody else, and give Life and Death their list of tasks in the mortal realm based on the people's fates in the Book. Every week Life and Death drop by Fate's little pocket dimension called The Writer's Room to get their assignments. This bit I wrote for a fic explains how Death gets there - by ripping a seam in the universe:

He flicked his sickles down and dragged them on the ground in a circle around him. Once it was completed, he stepped in the center, flexing his fingers. “Here we go.” He leapt up in the air. The sickles collapsed into half-moons. And the wolf slammed them into the ground. If he were mortal, his bones would have shattered from the force. If he were mortal, his lungs would have collapsed from the air around him being vacuumed from existence. If he were mortal, the dirt and rocks that flew from the ground would have blinded him, if the dazzling array of light and color didn’t first. But Death was not mortal. He fell through this seam ripped open in the universe, and for a brief moment, his heart stopped. And then, the seam sewed itself back together, he stood up, and his heart began to beat again rapidly in his chest. “Never going to get used to that,” he grimaced, rolling his shoulders back and shaking off the dust.

Fate and Death have a working relationship. After all, everyone's fates all end in death. Death…tolerates Fate, but Fate really wants to be Death's friend. And we all know the best way into Death's heart is by teasing him relentlessly:

“So you’ve come back to me yet again.” “We do this every week, Fate.” “Oh, Muerte! Never change!” “Hahaha. Hahaha. You’re hilarious,” Death scowled. “Stop being so grumpy. What’s wrong? Realized that meddling in mortals’ affairs makes things less fun for you? Did that cat escape with his last life?” “I let him go,” the wolf growled. “What a surprise! I told you, Death. My book never lies.”

Honestly, I think Fate looks forward to Death's visits solely because he tells her stories about what it's actually like in the mortal realm. He also doesn't mind telling them, since he doesn't have many other people to talk too; Fate is an eager audience.

Fate is bound by cosmic law to remain in the Writer's Room. If Fate were to leave, the Book of Fate could be in danger. It's not all bad. Since Fate lives there alone, Fate can redecorate all the time. Fate has been in "forests" and "mountains" and "villages" based on the stories Death tells. But Fate know these little worlds made in the Writer's Room are nothing like what the real mortal world is like. In the mortal world, there are wonderful sights, and colors, and sounds, and people. It's lonely in the Writer's Room.

One little trip outside of it wouldn't hurt right?

One little peek to those forests of Far Far Away that Death had described wouldn't cause any harm, right?

This is how Fate's book gets stolen by a girl in a red hood.

[musicarenagh]

Mapping the Future: The Heroic Enthusiasts Illuminate with 'Clear' The Heroic Enthusiasts have quickly risen in the ranks of modern indie music in the vibrant New York music scene. Their latest single 'Clear' is a stunning mix of New Wave sensibilities and cutting edge indie rock, and their first track to be produced by Stephen Hague, who has worked with the likes of Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order and more. With their third release from the forthcoming *Illuminate* album, The Heroic Enthusiasts deliver their signature sound in the form of James Tabbi and Thomas Ferrara. Themes of adventure and destiny blend together to weave a classic road trip narrative that inspired the track. Tabbi says it is like the romance of 'opening an old school paper map and driving all night with a new love' while Ferrara calls it a 'call to live each day fully.' The singles 'All I Want' and 'Wake Me When It's Over' have already seen them garner over 600,000 streams, with a growing global following to build on. This shows that their evolution from critically acclaimed EPs to their current work has been a consistent commitment to pushing creative boundaries, yet in the truest sense of synth pop. Since *Illuminate* will be out in April 2025, 'Clear' is a great tease for the future of this groundbreaking pair and hint of where they're headed with their rising alternative careers. Listen to Clear https://open.spotify.com/track/4jzKbZnIPRPQGJKBZzVrwG?si=twyTO0RHSvmZ3cKW0O6Abg Follow The Heroic Enthusiasts on Facebook Spotify Youtube Instagram "Clear" is an intriguing title. What's the story or emotional landscape behind this single? "Clear" is about that feeling of being absolutely, undeniably hooked on someone, even when you know red flags are waving in front of you. It's that push and pull between your head and your heart. The song captures the intense rush of that initial "blinded infatuation," as the lyrics say, where you're willing to ignore the warning signs and just go with the flow, wherever it takes you, surrendering to the moment, even if it's a bit reckless. Can you walk us through the creative journey of developing this track? What inspired its conception? The journey of "Clear" started with a simple spark—a driving drum and bass sequence and the lyrics and melody of the chorus, “I wanna make it clear, I’m not giving up!” which felt undeniably catchy and energetic. We were in the studio when Stephen Hague, our production partner, brought us these song seeds, and we were all immediately drawn to the infectious energy. From there, the lyrics started to flow, inspired by conversations about those relationships where you're completely swept off your feet, even when logic tells you to proceed cautiously. We've all been there, right? That feeling of being drawn to someone like a moth to a flame, even if you know you might get burned. We wanted to capture that tension in the song, the internal struggle between desire and reason. The lyrics about maps, streets, and avenues are metaphors for navigating this confusing emotional terrain. At the same time, the "warning light on the dashboard" represents those nagging doubts you try to ignore. Stephen's input was invaluable in shaping the song's structure and dynamics. He has a knack for creating soaring, anthemic moments that perfectly complement the emotional intensity of the lyrics. He helped us craft a soundscape that mirrored the story's push and pull. How does "Clear" represent your current musical evolution or artistic direction? "Clear" represents an exciting step in our musical evolution.  We've always been drawn to crafting emotionally resonant pop music with a bit of an edge, and this song embodies that. While we've always had a pop sensibility, "Clear" leans further into that realm. The song is catchy, with a chorus designed to get stuck in your head. We're not afraid to embrace those earworm melodies and infectious hooks, but we always strive to do it in a way that feels authentic to our sound and vision.

Overall, "Clear" feels like a culmination of everything we've been working towards as a band. It's an emotionally resonant and sonically captivating song, representing a significant step forward in our artistic journey. We're incredibly proud of it and excited to see where this new chapter takes us.   The band name "The Heroic Enthusiasts" is quite unique. How does this identity reflect in the music and specifically in this new single? You're right; "The Heroic Enthusiasts" is definitely a unique name! It's inspired by a 16th-century poem by the philosopher Giordano Bruno called "The Heroic Frenzies." The poem explores themes of love, passion, and the pursuit of knowledge, all of which resonate with us as artists. Ultimately, "The Heroic Enthusiasts" is more than just a band name; it reflects our core values and artistic aspirations.  We strive to create intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging music that celebrates the human experience in all its messy glory. "Clear" is a perfect example of that, blending passion, vulnerability, and a touch of romantic idealism. [caption id="attachment_58241" align="alignnone" width="982"] Ultimately, "The Heroic Enthusiasts" is more than just a band name; it reflects our core values and artistic aspirations.[/caption] Were there any particular challenges or breakthrough moments during the recording of "Clear"? Ah, you're digging deep into the creative process! You're right; there were some challenges and breakthrough moments during the recording of "Clear." One of the biggest hurdles we faced was finding the right vocal “answer-back” hook for the chorus. We knew we wanted something anthemic and memorable that would complement the music's soaring melody and driving energy. We tried all sorts of different phrases and melodies, but nothing seemed quite to click. Then, we had this spontaneous moment in the studio where we were just throwing out random ideas, almost like a stream of consciousness.  Then James just blurted out, "Dead or Alive!" in this nearly defiant tone, and it instantly felt right. He may have listened to “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” early that day. It was one of those magical moments where everything just fell into place.  The phrase perfectly captured the reckless abandon and sense of inevitability we were trying to convey in the song. It added this extra layer of intensity and drama to the chorus, becoming a defining element of the track. Another challenge was finding the right balance of guitar, electronic, and organic elements in the production. We wanted to create an expansive and intimate soundscape with swirling synths, melodic guitar lines, and driving rhythms, but also with moments of raw emotion and vulnerability. Stephen Hague was instrumental in helping us achieve that balance. He has a knack for blending electronic and acoustic sounds in a modern and timeless way. Can you describe the musical and emotional atmosphere you aimed to create with this track? With "Clear," we aimed to create a musical and emotional atmosphere that was both exhilarating and unsettling, mirroring the intoxicating rush and inherent risk of surrendering to intense attraction. How does this single differ from your previous musical releases? While we've always collaborated within the band and with our producers, "Clear" represents a deeper level of co-creation, with Stephen Hague joining us as co-writer and co-producer. His influence is evident in the song's structure, sonic landscape, and overall polish. This collaborative spirit brought a fresh perspective and helped us elevate our songwriting. We've always loved experimenting with sound, but "Clear" showcases a more intense and darker sonic palette. The production is rich and layered, emphasizing atmospheric textures and dynamic shifts. Stephen Hague's influence partly influenced this evolution, reflecting our growth as musicians. What genre or musical influences are you exploring in "Clear"? "Clear" is

a melting pot of influences, reflecting our diverse tastes and the overall evolution of our sound. New Wave and Synth-Pop are core elements of our sound, and "Clear" definitely draws inspiration from new wave pioneers like Depeche Mode. You can hear it in the pulsating synths, the driving basslines, and the overall mood of dark romanticism. We've always admired Depeche Mode's ability to blend electronic textures with emotionally resonant songwriting, which we strive for in our music. Bands like INXS were a significant influence on us growing up.  Their blend of rock energy, pop sensibility, and soulful vocals informs our songwriting approach. In "Clear," you can hear that influence in the driving rhythms, the anthemic chorus, and the raw emotion in the vocals. We are also drawn to the darker, more experimental sounds of Nine Inch Nails, a band we deeply respect.  While "Clear" isn't a full-on industrial track, there are subtle hints of that influence in the song's darker undertones, distorted textures, and overall sense of tension and release. Were there any collaborations or special contributions from other musicians in bringing this single to life? "Clear" was a collaborative effort between The Heroic Enthusiasts and Stephen Hague. We played many instruments, with Stephan adding a few sonic elements to the mix in the production phase. Beyond that direct contribution, we also want to acknowledge the ongoing support of our fantastic team at Meridian/ECR Music Group and The Orchard/Sony. They've been incredibly supportive throughout the process, providing visionary guidance and complete creative freedom. https://open.spotify.com/artist/27HE97d4Pog3JWMqckNsxD?si=hFff57jVTDiV64A5jv4LTQ For listeners who might be discovering your music through this track, how would you describe the essence of "Clear"? If "Clear" is your first taste of The Heroic Enthusiasts, imagine driving down a dark highway at night, the road stretching ahead like an endless ribbon. There's a sense of excitement, of anticipation, but also a hint of danger. You're unsure where you're going but are fully committed to the journey. The vocals are raw and emotive, expressing desire, vulnerability, and reckless abandon. There's a sense of urgency, of something important hanging in the balance. That's the essence of "Clear:" It would be a journey you would be pleased you decided to take. What do you hope listeners will feel or experience when they hear the song for the first time? We hope that first-time listeners of "Clear" will feel a connection to their emotions: This song is meant to be felt in your body and your mind. We hope it makes you want to dance, drive fast with the windows down, or just let loose and express yourself. Can you share any behind-the-scenes insights into the songwriting or production process of this single? It might surprise you that Stephen Hague provided the initial spark for "Clear." He presented us with this captivating musical idea—a driving bassline and a pulsating synth melody that immediately grabbed our attention. It was one of those moments when you just knew you'd stumbled upon something special. From there, we collaborated with Stephen to develop the lyrics, instrumentation, and melody. We delved into conversations about those relationships where you throw caution to the wind and dive headfirst into the unknown despite the potential risks.  The lyrics about maps, streets, and warning lights emerged as metaphors for navigating the uncertain terrain of love and desire. The Heroic guitar lines, sometimes doubled with synth sounds, were written and evolved to support the melodies and set up the song's sought-after emotions. As mentioned earlier, the "Dead or Alive" backing vocals in the chorus were a happy accident. We experimented with different vocal ideas, and that phrase spontaneously emerged. It perfectly captured the reckless abandon and sense of inevitability that we were going for. Overall, creating "Clear" was a genuinely collaborative and organic process.

It was a testament to the magic that can happen when like-minded people come together with a shared vision and a willingness to experiment and take risks. We're incredibly proud of how it turned out, and we hope these behind-the-scenes insights give you a deeper appreciation for the journey of bringing this song to life.

[sakuraswordly]

Drafts spoiler tsofph season 7

Danny: Punch! Fight!

Punch: .................!

Danny: If you lose, you die! If you win, you live! This is how the world was! You must fight if you want to save your family! In This world, it is kill or be killed!

Evil Leader's Country: Are you out of your mind, brat?!

Danny: TAKE HIM OUT, NOW!! FIGHT! FOR YOUR FAMILY TO LIVE!!

*Punch put up the gun*

Punch: I can't.......*Shivering*I never killed anyone with my own will before.......!

*lighting strike before her eyes or sudden*

Punch: (At that moment, I remembered....that I'd witnessed this event again and again...in reality, in dreams, in illusion and in books that I had seen so many times. It's always been unfolding before me. But.....I turned a blind eye to it. That's right......this world is cruel....even if we can kill this leader, doesn't mean everything will end happily ever after. No matter how much time passes, world wars will happen repeatedly because there is light and darkness! At that instant, my body stopped shivering. Since then, I changed into a completely different person. I found out that I am not human....I awaken my true self, my inner self and turn me into a hater of this world....I forgot I already prepared my resolve and my burden for this world....I did kill someone in the past. Because to protect them, my friends. Now I become a murderer who hunts the soulless or heartless in human form. That time I killed someone for no reason.......but now I am ready...ready to kill anyone because I grew so much hate for this world. That's what makes me a real "freak". Fight!)

*lighting strike comes back to reality*

Punch: Fight! FIGHT!! Take this! YOU BASTARD!!

.

.

Danny: Why do you say you were a murderer? This isn't the first time you kill someone who is against the rules or the will of this world.

Punch: I did kill someone in the past by accident but not of my own free will like this time. That person and this evil leader were beasts that just happened to look human....just like you said...If I hadn't started right now, It would've been too late for both my homeland and my family.....

Danny: Punch......I can't believe it....you're a cold person......you ready to carry the burden of this world....even you--

Punch: I did tell you before I did kill someone in the past. Because to protect them, my friends. I became a murderer who hunt the soulless or heartless in human form. I wanna feel that I'm actually alive. I killed someone for no reason. Danny, you should've protected your everyday life. Even your memories of when you were a human still have not come back yet. You shouldn't decide that you will die. If you don't right to exist in this world then I will be the one who reminds you that you exist.

Danny: *Start to feel Sad and pity Punch's destiny and her path*

Punch: I'm ready to give up my human form for the sake of this world.

#Tsofph Season 11(Chapter3 The beginning of the miracle)

Punch: A cruel world where many lives kill each other, the cycle of life and death that won't end no matter what. But I have a place to return to fight and change the future in this timeline. Sonic......Mr Gilgamesh...if my brothers still exist, I can do anything to keep moving forward!

[pmpmyread]

Composure // A Destiny 2 fanfic

My tardy contribution to #IkoraWeek2024, for the Vanguard/Void prompt, cross-posted from AO3. Summary: Ikora and Zavala have a long overdue chat, spurring a moment of clarity for the Warlock Vanguard. Set just before the final mission of the Witch Queen campaign. Content Tags: friendship, hurt/comfort. WC: 3.1k

Ikora Rey slowly exhaled as she counted down from four, lingering on the final second before opening her eyes to an overcast afternoon sky.

She had just completed her daily meditation session, followed by a brief box breathing exercise. This week's events had finally nudged her towards reintroducing her old habit, after weeks of neglect; her unusual laxness had come to an abrupt halt a few days prior, after an incident on Mars during which she had all but stormed off after a tense exchange with Zavala.

"My point, Ikora, is that we’re meant to be a team. You can’t rely on your instincts alone," Zavala had said pointedly.

"Perhaps I can’t rely on them at all,” Ikora had replied."The way this investigation has been going, it’s clear my judgment has been compromised."

She'd paused briefly, taking a moment to weigh her words.

"I should step back. Let you and Eris handle this. As a team."

She had Ophiuchus hastily transmat them back to her ship, putting an abrupt end to the discussion, and set course to return to the Tower. Ikora understood the gravity of her statement, and that she had effectively recused herself from the weeks-long investigation into Savathûn’s insidious infiltration. Over that time, she had been fighting internal battles, just barely managing to stave off capitulation, by keeping herself busy and distracted. She'd spent sleepless nights toiling away at endless riddles that only led to more questions, all the while maintaining her leadership duties with her Hidden operatives and continuing to serve as a Vanguard leader at the Tower. She'd internally committed to staying occupied at all times, keeping herself busy in a preventive, perhaps desperate measure to prevent herself from caving to the looming sentiments of defeat that slowly but surely threatened to consume her.

In reality, the idea that Ikora had failed to detect and thwart Savathûn’s latest act of trickery, putting her own mentor’s life in jeopardy, had been almost too much to handle. She hadn’t felt this distressed since those first long weeks of the Red War, when she had just her Light.

This time around, she had her work to serve as a buffer between herself and her intrusive negative feedback loops, and this had led her to operate at an unsustainable pace. She'd been cutting corners and, as a result, created blind spots within her team, which was the last thing they all needed right now. On this, she conceded, Zavala had been partly right.

Lost in her thoughts, Ikora had mindlessly found her way back to her office on the Tower, drawn by the seclusion of her space. As she shut the door, she welcomed the quietness. As she entered, she paused and surveyed the area. Her two huge bookcases occupied the entire eastern wall. Her desk sat in the back middle of the room, buried under several weeks’ worth of research materials in the form of books, paperwork and trinkets haphazardly sprawled over her usually tidy workspace.

Her gaze landed on the far left portion of the room, by a large bay window, a corner delimited by a burgundy textured area rug with a large mahogany cushion. A simply designed zone she had dedicated to once regular meditation sessions. Ikora suddenly became conscious of the silence, and felt the resurgence of her flooding thoughts. She distractedly made her way to her once cherished zone. 

Resigned, she swiftly sat down, nearly dropping her knees to her cushion on the ground. She exhaled sharply, bringing her fingers to her temples. She was in an urgent need to calm herself, and she turned to the best tool in her arsenal, not unlike one would break glass to pull a fire alarm in the case of an emergency. After weeks of getting away with evading her deepest thoughts, fears and feelings, she finally was forced to quite literally sit with the consequences of her own self-evasion.

For a fleeting moment, she contemplated walking it all back and returning to Zavala, Eris and the Guardian on Mars, before realizing that couldn’t muster up the mental fortitude to face them right now. She was far gone and needed to regain control. She placed her hands on knees and took a breath.

Her first attempt to center herself was easily thwarted by a flood of thoughts, questions and worries: the altercation she had just had with Zavala, the perturbing details her Hidden had reported back to her that morning, the horrors that Osiris -if still alive- was undoubtedly suffering at the hands of Savathûn, and the threat that the Witch Queen represented over the Last City, whose inhabitants were increasingly losing faith in the Vanguard’s leadership.

It had all been such a messy, interminable thread of questions that only yielded more uncertainties. Under her increasingly cacophonous thoughts, a faint but present voice, her very own, was grasping at any form of stability.

"The answers are there. Focus, clear away the noise. Listen to what is already inside you."

Advice she knew all too well, having dispensed it on numerous occasions to her own students before sending them off on their own meditation sessions. And so, she focused, slowly counting to four with each breath, counting again as she breathed out.

The familiar zipping sound of Ophiuchus, snapped her out of her contemplation, interrupting her revisiting of that pivotal day. It was amazing to witness the effect a few weeks of meditation had made on her. She had since dived back into her essential role in supporting the Vanguard’s efforts in the war against Savathûn, this time with a clearer mind.

Meditation was not a magic bullet for her inner turmoil. Her first few sessions back were hit-and-miss, even feeling unfruitful at times. In time, however, they had proved to have served their simple yet crucial purpose of clearing her head.

Over the last few weeks, Ikora had been forced to unlearn the ascription of rigid measures of effectiveness to her sessions. Sometimes, she needed to let her thoughts flow if for a few minutes, without yielding an answer or solution, and that was okay.

On other occasions, she had had sessions that, in addition to contributing to her wellness, brought her clarity or helped her piece together a puzzle, her session from the previous night being one of them. It had helped her come up with a theory, one about Savathûn’s worm familiar, which the Guardian had retrieved from the underbelly of her Throne World. Ikora suspected that it contained a memory that Savathûn did not have access to. She had presented this theory at the tail end of this morning’s Vanguard briefing, and she along with Zavala, Eris, and the Guardian all agreed that they would pursue this lead as it could very likely yield the key to get one step ahead of Savathûn. For once.

Indeed, balance was everything, not unlike her urge for movement after her moments of stillness. The sun was preparing to set, making it an opportune time to take a walk.

Once outside, Ikora crossed the bazaar area and made her way towards the courtyard. As she passed by workers and citizens preoccupied by their day-to-day worries, she appreciated the semblance of normalcy they brought to the Tower. It took some distance from the last few crises for her to perceive just how much was currently weighing on the members of the Vanguard.

Savathûn’s appearance had brought its own set of lasting negative effects, one of them being the waning trust of the Last City’s citizens.

First, there was a lack of trust by the inhabitants in the Vanguard leadership. In a way, Ikora could not fault them as the events of the last few weeks had shed light on a part of the Vanguard operations that did not exactly exude "under-control". The necessary covert nature of the Vanguard operations only fanned the flames.

There had also been a lack of trust and by extension, a notable decrease in unity among the population. While the unceremonious dissolution of the tower faction helped soften the lines drawn between the different points of view, a palpable tension could be felt in the air. Ikora was no stranger to the complications that a divided, paranoid and fearful population would bring to the equation.

All of this stress had accumulated over the past few weeks and Ikora had underestimated its effect on her. She was not alone, as this stress manifested differently in different people, she had learned earlier that day, at the Vanguard meeting earlier that morning.

They had learned of yet another unexpected move by Savathûn, this time of her appropriation of the Light, handed to her by none other than the Traveler itself. The discovery of this ultimate betrayal gave rise to an outburst by Commander Zavala, the likes of which she had rarely witnessed in all her years working with him.

Ikora had leveraged her contrasting state of mind and expertly rerouted the meeting back on its solution-oriented track. By the end of the meeting, Zavala had seemingly regained his composure, however, Ikora still worried for her friend, and perhaps this explained why she was now absentmindedly finding her way strolling towards his office.

She didn’t need to venture much further, as she spotted his familiar silhouette leaning against a Tower guardrail, in a shaded area just outside his office. She took notice of the unusual spot and his equally as unusual, hunched stance, eyes fixed straight ahead in clear avoidance of the ever-present giant paracausal orb that hung in the early evening sky.

Ikora swiftly approached where the Commander stood, leaning on the same guardrail right to the left of him. Zavala must have been lost in thought, as he glanced at his interloper sidelong raising a single eyebrow in surprise of being faced with Ikora.

"You must be very preoccupied." Ikora chuckled, "If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you almost didn’t notice me there."

Zavala’s face relaxed as he turned his head back to fix his gaze upon the horizon. His mouth tugged into a sad smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Ikora waited for a defensive comeback that never came.

Instead, they both stood in silence for a minute. The knowledge of Savathûn possessing the one thing that made them Guardians, and the implied way by which she acquired the Light hung heavy both figuratively and literally above their heads.

Zavala broke the silence, "Thank you, for taking over earlier." Shifting to lean on his right arm, now facing her. He continued, "I had clearly lost my composure and with it, all ability to appropriately lead the meeting."

"It’s what teammates do." Ikora replied, mirroring the Commander’s stance. "We step in for each other when the other needs it. Call it balance."

The titan raised his eyes to meet hers. "I do not take your support for granted. Just as I do not take your instrumental leadership and contributions to this entire investigation for granted. It is not lost on me that we are likely sitting on the only lead that will allow us to shut down Savathûn for good." He paused. "We would be nowhere near this point were it not for your efforts. Your approach was the appropriate one. I was wrong, I see that now, and I apologize for getting in the way."

Ikora could read the candid regret creep over Zavala’s icy stare. She closed her eyes briefly, digesting the moment. Even in her most frantic moments over the prior few weeks and as she was riddled by self-doubt, she had always acted intuitively, always making calculated decisions out of the best information she has at the time. Her formula had never changed, and in this instance, as it had been for many prior, sticking to her approach had likely proved fruitful.

Deep down she had known this, but it was nice to have that sentiment validated and vocalized, by Zavala no less.

She opened her eyes to find Zavala still gazing at her, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

She responded finally, "What I’ve learned in dealing with the Deceitful Sister is that we have to employ agility." She paused, shifting in place before continuing, "And that sometimes this agility comes at the detriment of deliberation."

Zavala silently nodded in agreement, turning back to the city below them.

"It is true that I tend to be a bit…" He hesitated, seeking the right word.

"Intransigent beyond repair?" Ikora teased, tilting her head in her view to catch his gaze.

"I was going to say overly cautious…" He side-eyed her before continuing. "But. I suppose I deserve that one this time around so I will take it."

Ikora snickered, basking in her victory. Determined to cut her celebration short, the Commander leaned fully onto the railing, feigning indifference, before setting up his retaliation.

"You miss Cayde so much that you’ve made it your mission to take his place as the reckless member of the Vanguard leadership."

The Warlock Vanguard’s jaw dropped in shock as she took in Zavala’s unexpected words. She spotted the corners of his mouth rising ever so slightly in amusement. It was now his turn to bask in glory.

Unwilling to let the Commander get the last word in, she retorted, "Now Zavala.” she crossed her arms in mock indignation. "It’s more like you miss him so much, that you’re seeing recklessness where there is none, and treating me like you did him!"

Unable to exercise further restraint, and for the first time in seemingly forever, Zavala finally let out a chuckle. Ikora sighed at the thought of their dear friend Cayde-6 who, even in death, was able to bring them a much-needed moment of levity.

Zavala must have had a similar musing, as his joyous smile took a tinge of sadness. For the first time during their exchange, he lifted his head, looking straight at the Traveler. His eyebrow furrowed and his eyes filled with an indecipherable expression.

"Since we’re being candid, I don't quite know what to make of our latest discovery. Osiris being taken over by Savathûn was a shock but not surprising as a ruse coming from her. But the Traveler?" the commander said.

He tightened his grip on the railing, swallowing before continuing.

"The Traveler willingly granting our enemies the Light. I fear that will push me deeper towards paranoia… Who are we to trust anymore?" Zavala dropped his gaze to his feet, loosening his grip on the railing and turning back to Ikora. 

"If it comes to that point, where I am too far gone, I will need you to step in and be a balancing force. Being impediment and playing into Savathûn’s hands is exactly what I should be avoiding." This was the dutiful Commander in him speaking.

"Noted, although I am confident that we won’t reach that extreme. We are a lot more familiar with Savathûn and her cunning ways. And thanks to the Guardian, Eris and the Hidden operatives, we are armed with more information than ever. We just need to stay closely aligned and ensure that we maintain a small circle of trust… Which I understand is not exactly the easiest of endeavours these days." Zavala looked up at the Traveler again, this time in contemplation.

“That’s just it. How does one effectively rebuild trust in one’s own ability to trust under these kinds of circumstances?”

"Everyone who was ever caught in this eternal struggle between Light and Darkness has had to contend with this. Even Savathûn was deceived by The Witness, long before she took on her current name. Ultimately, knowing who to trust comes down to intuition, always but especially in times of uncertainty."

She paused, taking a deep breath before she continued, "The Guardian I thought to be Osiris appeared off and distant to me, but at the time, I wrote it off as logical considering his recent loss of Sagira. I should have trusted my intuition then, but I got distracted."

As though a switch had flipped within her, she continued.

"The only thing worse than going against your intuition is not knowing when you are doing it. We’ve collected a lot of information and have learned much from our enemies and allies alike. Intuition comes down to knowing and trusting yourself that you will do right by the facts and data available to you at the time. Most importantly, it’s about walking alone long enough to understand what you need to carry, while also knowing your allies and understanding when it is necessary to share the load."

Ikora Rey stopped, surprised at her own clarity in the matter. She had just vocalized her weeks-long internal struggle in a few words. The number Savathûn had played on the Vanguard had left them in a seemingly irreparable state of cynicism, both as a group and as individuals. While they had to continue to fight the enemy, they first also needed to heal. To Ikora, the path towards healing was always a journey back to herself.

After a few moments of introspection, Zavala slowly nodded in understanding. He turned to gaze at her, putting his hand over hers on the railing.

"You know, you’ll have to guide me through a meditation session one of these days. I think I could benefit from it," he said with a warm smile.

Ikora placed her other hand on top of his, lightly squeezing it. "Well, if I do manage to make the most rigid Guardian I know experience a moment of true relaxation, it just may prove to be my most successful project," Ikora replied, grinning. 

On the following day, the team embarked on what was the final mission to take out Savathûn. Coming in urgent assistance to clear a path for the Guardian, Ikora boldly tested a maneuver she had not yet perfected, much less prepared to utilize on the field. 

Ikora first employed Heat Rises to float her way above the towering hive ogre blocking the Guardian’s path to Savathûn. She then derived a huge surge from her void energy, dispensing her Nova Bomb and successfully annihilating the creature in a single move. Finally, she generated a continuous beam from her Arc-sourced Chaos Reach and opened a path to the depths of the Throne World, urging the Guardian to pass through and put an end to Savathûn’s plans, once and for all. 

She had combined all three supers with a cool-headedness that surprised even herself. Just as she turned aroung to stave off the incoming wave of thralls, it happened: for the first time in weeks, even if for only a moment, she entered a state of flow, fully feeling like herself again.

She made a mental promise to meditate on this triumphant moment later.

Ikora Rey was back.

[soullessxpandora]

Pandora could recall how full of light they were in their younger years, seemingly chosen by the goddesses to become mortal carriers of their abilities. It was her destiny forming a coven led by kindness and a firm grip as was it Ezekiel's destiny being a father to all. Being the guiding light when one is lost within themselves, and when they were together? A cosmic collision written in the stars. She could not fathom how her vengeance could have blinded her so that she would abandon what they created from their blossoming love and the everlasting dedication to their children. Their twins. Pandora knew she was partly to blame, if not, utterly and completely responsible. Their coven lost a leader, she lost her family in one fell swoop. A devastating wake crippled those around the First Witch, the others disbanded after such a momentous grief clung in the air. Ezekiel's absence further divided what she once cherished and built before tainting a legacy she and her husband were fostering for the next generation. The ritual may have strengthened their already powerful magical bond, but the confessions and the truth solidified the fact that they will never separate ever again. "If there was ever a single second where you doubted that I still loved you, I am sorry, my darling. We are forever connected by bond and by the greatest love nothing in this world will diminish." Pan's eyes steadily lowered to their connected hands, the warmth of his heat soothing her very soul and feeling like home. She once has forgotten the meaning of the word home entirely. "A compassionate woman does not send her husband away or drag her son down to the darkest depths. I have poisoned Rhys, my darling. How are either of us certain I am still capable of compassion when I've failed our boy at every turn because of my selfishness?" The doubt strangled Panny no matter the web she spun. Nothing offered proof that the girl Ezekiel married isn't lost for good, it is a girl she has not seen in centuries, the stern and merciful witch untouched by unimaginable loss.

Pandora's eyes immediately shot upwards in shock at her husband's stated suggestion, nothing she hasn't thought herself at one point, but the fact he would offer this idea as if there were no other choice caught the woman with her back against the wall. Ezekiel's long-winded explanation, describing Rhys's turn to the darkness and detailing the consequences the King dished for every Prince, sent Pan through a whirlwind of emotions as her mind internally rationalized why she could never break the curse. Was she that stubborn, that vain and pure evil as to deny those boys their only chance ridding themselves of a monstrous abuser because of her own hubris? Pride placed a great barrier between himself and the King, going against his nature playing the dutiful soldier. Unexpected from him. She thought about Gluttony, souls ripped from his hands and a voice he coveted destroyed that left him with the silence just as Sloth was plagued by the screaming voices of the damned. She thought about Lust and his plight keeping his Prince from harm's way. Every memory she possessed of the brothers raced in her mind, blurry and indistinguishable, chaotic and causing enough fuel to set the woman into a complete panic. Those thoughts abruptly zeroed in on the two brothers who meant more to her than the idea of punishing the King. Greed and Wrath. Greed once upon a time looked her way when the other princes were preoccupied by the curse's effects, offering friendship and brotherhood when she spent her days alone. He opened his trust to her and she bared her soul as if they were two beings designed to coexist perfectly. And Wrath...the prince who granted her daughter happiness when her family could not rescue her. He and Pandora carried an understanding and he concealed her secret from his brothers for Celeste. Pan shook her head from side to side frantically, someone who exuded confidence her entire life, now left grappling with an impossible decision. "Everything that I have done, my promises to him, will have been for nothing." Pandora released her grasp and stepped back, willing the denial of the possibility to touch her lips, but the words failed. Zeke was right. Those boys are as good as dead in the water if their full abilities were not restored before the war landed at their feet. "I should have shown them mercy a long time ago." She whispered after a long paused beat. Pandora's attention shifted on her husband, nodding with acceptance. "It's time I let go before it really kills me, my darling. No more of this...this game of vengeance. For you, for our children, for those boys who deserve freedom. Our gift." Panny reached for the male's hands again, "We are breaking the curse."

Ezekiel almost couldn't bear the look that crossed Pandora's face at his admission, yet he didn't look away; he couldn't look away. Not when he needed to come to terms with what he'd thought and done once upon a time. He could have been a better father, been faithful to his moniker that was bestowed once upon a time, yet he failed– watching his son, their boy, cross the line into dangerous territories of never being able to come back from his decisions. He watched as his wife relished her chaos up close and personally– feeding into the despair that her curse caused on the Princes as they scrambled to find purchase in the mortal realm that they didn't belong in. All because their King stole his daughter from them. His eyes closed the moment that Pandora's hand slipped onto his face, turning so he could press his lips onto her palm. He almost couldn't comprehend that even after all these years and distance, if something had happened to the witch... his Panny still loved him so much so that she couldn't bear living without him. "You are my light, my love. We've both done uncharacteristic things these past centuries, but nothing stopped me from believing deep down that we'd meet again. This life or the next, and nothing will ever change that." Zeke listened to his wife speak with such fondness in his heart that only beat for her, his hands squeezing hers between his gently. "You are my wife, my whole soul. If you believe me to be strong, then I believe that you, with all my heart, are not so far from who you were before this tragedy either. You may have ruled with a strong hand over the coven, but you also had compassion within you that was dimmed when our daughter perished, but it was not snuffed out completely." He thought back on the interactions that he'd had with most of the Princes, and Ezekiel knew that even if they were told that they would never return home regardless of their King, their powers were never given back... they wouldn't blame Pandora. Not one of them would blame her, but instead blame their King.

"There is a way to give them back their power, Pandora. We can break the curse," the words falling from his lips quietly, almost as if he were afraid he'd spook her with the idea, but with what he felt from her earlier when her secret came to light... Pandora was already thinking about it. She just needed an affirmation. "Our boy is on the cusp of losing himself completely, and while he might not like the Princes being redeemed... he needs to see that rage doesn't last. Anger only leads to despair and the wrong people being brought into the crosshairs. You are not severed from your mercy, my love, not with the sorrow you feel if the Princes never forgave you if they knew your truth." He held her hands firmly in his still, bringing her knuckles to his face to gently press his lips to them. "While I understand why you placed the curse onto the King as you did, hurting him by way of his children just as he hurt you... we can't let it go any longer. It's not hurting him; it's only hurting those boys just as he is hurting them now in their vulnerable state. They may have been complacent and let him hurt Celeste, but they were merely following the rules of their leader, their father. If there's one thing I know about you, I know that you've gotten close to Greed through all these years, regarding him so highly, and you know Wrath loved Celeste when we couldn't be around her... I know about the others." His gaze never left his wife's face as he began to list all of the information he'd been able to glean in a small amount of time. "Pride, who's trying so hard to stay away from his King's influence because he knows it's wrong, doesn't wish to hurt anyone he cares about any longer. Envy who's trying to do right by his Queen and protect his happiness while breathing hope back into us and Wrath. Lust, who's stolen away the object of his King's ire and left everything he's known behind to keep Azriel safe. Sloth came out of hiding to support Wrath, whose life was colored by the light of what their King said he was. Gluttony who had gone through imaginable pain and suffering just to keep his brother safe and defied his King for once in his life." A sadness washed over him again, knowing that without breaking the curse, the Princes would surely perish against their King. No matter what magical assistance the Firsts gave them. "Those boys deserve mercy. Even if there was no connection between you and Greed or Wrath and Celeste... they don't deserve to be served up to the King on a silver platter under the guise that they have a chance against him without their abilities. We cannot let them die, my love, or else we are no better than him. Let me help you break their curse."

[sylvaridreams]

I love the ways Aeris has evolved over the years... she and Alba were saplings together and friends. :) and they both had dragon related dreams so it was very like ohhhh were both destined for huge things hehe ^_^ so exciting good luck to us both let's go slay those dragons!

And then Alba succeeded and killed Zhaitan. And Aeris struggled and kept working, chipping away at how to kill Kralkatorrik like ok I'll catch up to you soon hehe! And then Alba killed Mordremoth and Aeris was like Haha um. Lol! Two of them huh. Bit of an overachiever aren't you? Lol! Well two is plenty.

And then Alba killed a god and Aeris was like dude. You're kind of making me look like shit right now. 🧍‍♀️ whatever. (Failgirl who takes things personally.)

Anyway then they teamed up at thunderhead keep to finish HER wyld hunt, to kill kralkatorrik with all of the knowledge she'd gained over her lifetime, all that research funneled into killing one elder dragon, doing her part, making her mark! She got to be there to finish it with her own two hands! HER research, HER wyld hunt! HER destiny! And they failed. And Kralkatorrik withdrew, less one eye but otherwise fine, unharmed. Aurene dead, Alba badly wounded. So much carnage among the rubble. Felt like shit obviously, but beneath that was the feeling that SHE had to fix it.

She went to the Crystal desert because she knew she was missing some factor, some tidbit in her equations that you don't get out of studying the brand in Ascalon, something out there that must only be present in Kralkatorrik's own home. And then of course she found what remained of the first of Glint's scions, and was struck down by the very emotional realization that this was her purpose, this is what she'd been meant to do all this time. Just as Alba was meant for Aurene, she'd been meant for Vlast, and she'd just never showed up as his champion. And he'd died alone without ever knowing his champion, without ever getting to bond with a mortal, being fed fresh fish and played with and feel safe and loved. So she had this heartbreaking realization that not only had she missed the offramp for her own destiny but that Vlast had suffered alone in a miserable, lonely life, until his miserable, lonely death.

It was like she'd changed the decade old batteries in a flashlight, and was blinded by the sudden light, not having realized it could do that at all. Everything just made sense, she could see her dream from the right perspective at last as the final pieces fell into place. But it was all too late! And what are you supposed to do when you FAIL your wyld hunt? No one had ever so much as mentioned that as a possibility, let alone given her a heads up of how to handle it. She was left wailing in the desert, terrified that since she'd fucked up and failed her hunt, since she hadn't fulfilled her purpose for living, she'd cease to exist soon, and feeling like shit that she could even be so selfish, worrying about herself in the midst of it all.

Alba killing Kralk while she was grieving in the desert was basically just salt in the wound. Sure man, I'm sure you needed another w. Whatever. Why not go for the last three and finish the set.

And obviously Tryllwenn found her and got her back on her feet, showed her life doesn't end at failure. Eventually sent her home, but like... where do you go when home is a task that you failed to complete? What do you say when home is the Priory, and now they want nothing to do with you, for wasting all their research money in the end? You're stunted in personal relationships because you were so focused on your career and your goal. You're afraid to go home to mom (what would be worse? Her rejection, or her pitying acceptance of your failure?)

In soooo many ways she mirrors Alba in her dedication to her job, in her refusal to ever have a homecoming from her long journey. (See: Alba never going back to the Grove because the burden and guilt of killing Trahearne made him feel like he couldn't. Never going home again, because surely the Mother Tree would look on you with hatred for your choice, surely the other sylvari would gaze at you with active malice.)

Which I guess is why it makes sense that she found home in following Alba. Visiting the places he visited. Where Alba goes, the Pact follows, and technically since Aeris refused to resign or show up to her firing, she's "technically Priory" and you can't kick the Priory out of the Pact!

Truthfully I think people feel bad for her, and as long as she makes herself somewhat useful, there's no real reason that they should chase her off. So she's present in the background a lot, kind of trailing behind Alba. Kind of like she always has been. A few steps behind. A side character to his triumphs. A footnote on a chapter about heartache.