#ambition of the stars. || CYRUS

[pridepoisoned]

As cold and composed as she may appear, it's important to remember that Eris Evans is wearing a MASK, detailed and polished to perfection ever since the fall of Team Galactic all those years ago.

Beneath the façade, she's still too impulsive to lead outright. She still can't resist trying to sink her claws into subjects, plans, and people that pique her insatiable curiosity. She's brilliant, but still has wild, unpredictable moments.

So, I would not consider Eris a 'leader,' or someone who has ambitions to lead. She thrives in a more 'supportive' role, when her appetite for more can be used to enforce someone's cause or vision. Cyrus was able to rein her in, and she quickly became one of Galactic's most effective (and brutal) Commanders. Devon Corp is currently able to satisfy her needs, and her tireless work from the shadows has produced major developments in Infinity Energy harvesting and technology. When supported properly (and if you're willing to avert your gaze at times), Eris Evans gets shit done.

Devon has their star under control, for now. Unlike with Galactic, Eris feels no strong allegiance towards the Corporation, and will jump ship if a better offer were to come along.

Beneath the mask, she is still so easily tempted...

[timecma]

2 things! 1-Do you play HSR (Honkai Star Rail) and 2-No pressure or anything but when is your story coming back?

I played a bit of HSR but I’m nowhere near as far along in it or as active on it as I am in Genshin. The last character I got was Boothill lol (I live laugh love Boothill).

It still astounds me that people actually enjoyed reading my story haha. I know it’s been a while, but with school and everything it’s been hard to even find time to write. I think I mentioned before that I’m kind of revamping literally everything—so I also have to find the time to draw the chapter art. So many characters are being scrapped/added/changed to help facilitate the storyline a bit better without me having to be so long-winded with it. The problem I was having was I would just write and write and write without really taking the story anywhere. I want to have a bit more structure to it so that it’s easier for me to get chapters published and easier to read as a whole. But, I won’t be able to do anything until school gives me a break 😭

It takes a bit of time to plan out a story lol. I also don’t wanna be like Chris Colfer and have inaccurate timelines and stuff 😔

I promise it won’t be away forever, but since you’ve been so patient, I’ll give you a couple things you can expect in the new version:

1. Further fleshed out backstory lore for Aurelia (and her mother 😒) along with her and Cyrus’s father (people who know about him seem to like him a lot don’t worry)! But why does Aurelia have light skin and gold hair if her biological father has dark skin and blue hair?? Something’s going on there…

2. More Negative content in general since he seems to be a fan-favorite. He also gets a new underling/sidekick! And when I say more Negative content, I also mean his role in other worlds and what that has to do with his identity and his overall plan. OoooOoOoOoOooOo….

3. Actual Demon King stuff (and he’s updated too) 👀

4. Cyrus’s home world is almost fully fleshed out so seeing some of that too! Probably a lot of that too… I might include a small fetch quest there to give you all a tour. I plan on making a completely separate story for that world (that does not have Cyrus as a main character), but that’s A LONG WAYS AWAY and not fanfiction so 😔

5. Some new characters who are projected to be fan-favorites too. Such as Vincent. Y’all might know who Vincent is, but, if you don’t, trust me you will. We will also be exploring more of my fanon backstory for the Demon King and how it connects to Xanthous as his reincarnation. The Demon King himself WILL be an added character (I’m so excited to actually do a art piece of his new design)! This is gonna be fun.

Here’s some questions that hint at lore drops:

What the heck is going on with Aurelia and why does her mother scare me?? Why does Indicum work with her but seem to be on Cyrus’s side?? Is it maybe because Aurelia’s true intentions are not what we think they are??? 😦

What is Negative’s secret ambition that makes him side with Aurelia? Why do his hands always hurt?? Why does he also have the ability to travel between worlds?????

Xanthous has got some insane lore! What’s going on with his underworld (and what’s going on in the aboveworld??) Why is he so secretive about the demons?

Where is Elrik? Where did he go?? Somebody must know! (Somebody does indeed)

Why is Cyrus’s scepter starting to talk to him?????

What does the design on the back of Cyrus’s neck mean? Is it a continuation of his tattoo?? Doesn’t seem like it. Why does he have such a bad reaction when that mark is hit??? And why can hear a voice in his head reacting to it too?

And finally, does the Inamoratos Grimoire actually exist? If so, who has it? Who made it? Why? What does it have to do with Xanthous and Cyrus specifically???

Well there you have it: Some fun things that are in the works! Thank you again for being so patient.

[thelongforgottenrealm]

Gods and Goddesses

I honestly loved the idea that Kate AA had about the portals and the secret hidden keys to them that had been hidden to prevent the gods return. (And that the truth about them has been lost for centuries, to the point that no one really knows about them) Also the fact that Kate pointed out that there were like ~elemental~ keys and as I continue to think more about the gods/goddesses, I do have four of them being gods/goddesses of the elements and started to think that perhaps each god has a key that is sorta tied to them in some way?

And to bring the gods and goddess back to earth only one of the portals needs to be opened, however they will be like mortal men and women until more of the portals are opened and they can start regaining more and more of their godly powers and strengths? (And will reach their full godly powers only when all ten are opened?)

I'm still working on all of their stories, etc. but here is what I have so far!

Amestris - goddess of wisdom; of the earth; of history, and academia; has no sympathy for fools; humans were made in the image of gods and she finds it an insult to herself when they are stupid (possibly mother to Artaynte and Alya??)

Artaynte - goddess of light; the sun; the sky; sister to Alya

Alya - goddess of space; the moon; the stars; goddess of grief and lost; goddess beloved to house stafford is said to have personally come down from the heavens to bestow a crown of stars upon the first stafford king; is said to have later fallen in love with him during the first time the gods came to earth and they married and had a child together, but she ultimately had to return to the heavens when the war was over and he and their child both eventually died. Her child was a demi-god and was blessed with long life, but ultimately mortal; sister to Artaynte

Cambyses - god of textiles; of trade; of gold and jewels (brother to Mestrius??)

Cyrus - god of wind; of air; hurricanes; of war; of revenge

Damaspia - Queen of the gods; goddess of mothers and of little children; mother to Darius and Xerxes

Darius - god of death/ruler of the underworld/god of autumn/god of fire/his father told him he must never venture into the underworlds, but darius was blinded by his own ambitions to have a place of his own to rule that he went there, anyway. the underworld was where the souls of the dead were to go to rest and spend eternity-- but it was always supposed to remain untouched by the gods. when darius went there he placed a curse upon the place -- and himself. (The details of which I am still working out tbh) And he shall remain cursed until he returns home and beg his father for forgiveness. But Darius is proud and he will never go back unless he is triumphant. Darius means to find a way to raise an army of monsters and claim heaven and his father's seat as his own.

Lucius - god of wine; merriment; riddles; finds humans to be amusing but does not have the same spot for them that roya does

Mestrius - king of the gods; father to Darius and Xerxes; creator of the universe

Phaedra - goddess of spring; rebirth; siblings; flora/fauna; very sympathetic towards humans and views them as her charges instead of things she can control; is the godess said to basically have been the "fairy godmother" in the vers of cinderella was once in love with darius and meant to be his wife but the whole ~cursed to be king of the underworld~ thing got in the way of their relationship

Roya - goddess of summer; the sea; youth; impulsive af; thinks of humans as playthings

Xerxes - god of winter; god of ice; god of death. when xerxes heard that his brother darius meant to make a journey to the underworld, it was xerxes who went to stop him before anyone found out that he had gone. But he was too late and he was there with Darius when their father discovered their absence. Even though Xerxes was trying to keep his brother out of trouble, he too, had disobeyed his father by entering the underworld and he now remains cursed. He cannot return home until Darius does. Until then, he must shepherd the dead souls from this world into the next and send them to the cursed underworld of his brother's making instead of the peaceful afterlife they deserved ...

[filmshady]

10 things I thought about while watching LIFT (2024)

It boasts a cast so star-studded that they could probably outshine the $500 million in gold they're trying to steal. It's a shame the charisma of the actors can't elevate the film as high as their lofty heist ambitions.

It delivers a last-minute twist that feels like a desperate attempt to distract you from the visual unpleasantness and cheap aesthetic that plagued the preceding scenes. It's like putting a sparkly bow on a gift you never wanted.

The film's visually unpleasant and cheap aesthetic is a bold choice, as if the director said, "Why bother with cinematography when we can just throw gold bars at the screen and hope for the best?" Spoiler alert: it didn't work.

The forced romantic subplot between Cyrus and Abby is like trying to convince yourself that airplane food is gourmet cuisine – unconvincing, and you're left wondering why you even bothered.

The third act of Lift requires you to suspend your disbelief so often that it feels less like a heist film and more like a crash landing into the realm of implausibility. It's as if the scriptwriter's favourite word was "magic" – as in, "Let's just magic our way out of this plot hole."

Kevin Hart stars as Cyrus Whitaker, a master art thief who, unfortunately, couldn't steal the show. It's like casting a Chihuahua as a guard dog – adorable, but not exactly intimidating.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw's character, Abby Gladwell, seems determined to catch Cyrus, but I'm more determined to understand why she'd pursue a man who, according to the movie, constantly mutes his own charisma. Talk about questionable life choices.

The film's heist, set mostly in two planes and an air traffic control tower, is hampered by the blandness of its sets. It's like watching a magic show where the disappearing act involves the excitement disappearing from the audience.

F. Gary Gray's past credits include classics like Friday, Set It Off, and THE ITALIAN JOB (one of the greatest heist movies to exist) but with Lift, it's like he decided to take a break from craftsmanship. It's the cinematic equivalent of a Michelin-starred chef serving instant noodles.

For a thriller spending most of its third act in the air, Lift struggles to ever get off the ground. It's like a plane that forgot it was supposed to take you on a thrilling ride and decided to taxi around the tarmac indefinitely.

[xasha777]

In the desolate ruins of what was once a bustling ancient city, the air hung heavy with a palpable sense of dread. As dusk cloaked the horizon in shadows, a chilling mist rolled over the remnants of crumbled walls and shattered columns. It was here, among these haunted ruins, that the story of Cyrus the Great's forgotten curse unfolded.

Cyrus, the emperor who once commanded vast territories, had sought the secret to eternal dominion. His quest led him to a dark sorcerer who promised him immortality, but at a dire cost. Ignoring the warnings, Cyrus agreed to a ritual that would bind his spirit to the protector of the underworld, a monstrous entity known only as the Keeper of the Abyss.

For centuries, the Keeper slumbered beneath the earth, entwined with Cyrus's spirit, until an unwitting group of archaeologists stumbled upon the buried chamber. Their intrusion awakened the creature, releasing a horror not seen since ancient times. The Keeper rose from its abyss, a towering figure of dread with writhing tendrils and massive horns spiraling into the misty sky. Its eyes, glowing red with malevolence, pierced through the fog that enveloped the ruins.

The archaeologists, paralyzed with fear, could only watch as the creature moved with unnatural grace, its tendrils searching the air as if sensing the life around it. The ground trembled beneath its weight, and the air grew thick with the scent of decay. With each step, the Keeper seemed to draw the life force from the earth itself, leaving behind a trail of withered death.

Legend had it that Cyrus's spirit could still be heard on the winds, a mournful wail of eternal regret. The curse had bound him not only to the Keeper but also to the ruins of his empire. He was condemned to witness the destruction wrought by the beast, forever unable to rest.

One brave soul among the archaeologists, driven by a mix of terror and determination, remembered the ancient texts speaking of the Keeper. The texts foretold that only by reuniting Cyrus's ceremonial dagger with the creature could the curse be broken. The dagger, still housed in a nearby museum, became their only hope.

As night enveloped the world, they retrieved the dagger and faced the creature, which roared in defiance. The air crackled with ancient magic as the dagger was thrust into the heart of the beast, causing a blinding light to erupt. The Keeper's scream echoed through the ruins, a sound of pain and fury, as it slowly dissolved into the mist from whence it came.

The ruins fell silent, the mist cleared, and the stars above shone brightly once more. Cyrus's wail turned into a soft whisper of thanks before fading into the night air, released from the shackles of his eternal torment. The archaeologists, though shaken, knew they had not only uncovered, but also closed, a dark chapter of history.

From then on, the ruins stood quiet, a solemn reminder of the past, guarded by the spirits of those who had once walked its streets. And the tale of Cyrus the Great's curse lived on, a chilling story whispered on stormy nights when the wind howled through the crumbling stones, a tale of ambition, power, and a monster born from the depths of the underworld.

[serpentinebrando]

Name: Lucien “Luke” Brando

Age: 24

Gender: cis male

Sexuality: Bisexual

Race: human

Appearance: dark green eyes, short blond hair, pretty face, 5’7”, lean runner’s build, tattoo of a star with dragon wings on his back, and a sea serpent tattoo coiled around his left forearm.

FC: Hunter Hayes

Personality: Usually non-confrontational, prefers diplomacy, craves his own freedom and reputation, ambitious, proud, quiet unless he’s playing to an audience, good listener, manipulative, tactful, outgoing, reserved, will do anything to protect or promote his siblings (…within reason. Murder is within reason. Humiliating himself is most certainly not.), bratty sub.

Powers/Abilities: excellent musician, can hypnotize people via song, can cast water-based spells, can temporarily transform himself into a smallish sea serpent, and can breathe underwater. He’s also quick on his feet and an agile freerunner/parkour runner, and quite stealthy when he needs to be. Skilled with swordplay, and a decent sailor.

Flaws/Weaknesses: mortality, hubris, selfishness, skewed moral compass.

Languages: English

Familiar: sea serpent

Family: Felicia Bennett (mother, estranged), Garrett Brando (father, deceased), Kade Brando (oldest brother), Katrina Brando (older sister, Kade’s twin), Cyrus Brando (older brother)

Backstory: In a kingdom where dragons rule the air, serpents rule the sea, and lords rule the land, princes and princesses are often the ones who solve problems for their lords. Lucien was born the youngest prince of his generation of the Brando family. No claim to the throne unless something should happen to his father and siblings, no responsibilities except to forge strong alliances, and no right to any ambitions of his own that didn’t benefit the kingdom or the family. His father made that clearer and clearer the older he got. He was allowed to study music, as such knowledge was expected and admired in a proper young prince, but to pursue it as a career was expressly forbidden. No Brando had ever been a lowly bard, and he would not be the first. Frustrated, he turned his attention to other matters that were technically permitted: problem solving.

The main problems he saw were failing infrastructure and insufficient funds to build it back up, both of which were shocking when he considered how much material they were pulling in from the mines. Mines that weren’t being properly maintained, leading to gas leaks, explosions, and cave-ins. The forges suffered from many similar lack-of-maintenance problems, which was even more concerning to the son of the Lord of the Forge. Luke investigated tirelessly, determined to figure out why they were hemorrhaging so much gold, and where the missing funds were disappearing to. Despite many setbacks and red herrings, his impressive detective work eventually led him back to his father, who was embezzling gold from the kingdom to settle his gambling debts and fund a lavish lifestyle for himself and his Lady. Before the pain of betrayal could spur the young prince to act, however, his father put a plan into action to silence him. He was to be sent out to sea on some ‘diplomatic mission’ and never return.

It almost worked.

Lucien’s skills were no match for an ambush, and the Lord’s men were able to knock him out quickly and haul him aboard. When he awoke, groggy and disoriented, he barely had time to process that he’d been thrown from the ship before hitting the roiling waves below. To his terror, he soon realized that he was not alone. Large, blazing, serpentine eyes bored into him, watching him struggle to figure out which way was up and how to escape his bonds before he drowned. The creature was massive. He met its gaze, desperate for assistance, and shockingly it seemed receptive, poking at him curiously. ‘Why should I save you?’ It asked, rasping voice filling his mind. Even with lungs rapidly filling with saltwater, Lucien was a master negotiator. No one knows the exact terms of the silent deal struck between them, but the near tragedy ended with his own survival and the capsizing of his father’s ship. He continues to serve the serpent in exchange for powerful magic, but refuses to do anything truly evil with it, focused instead on helping his older brother, Cyrus, the newly crowned Lord of The Forge, rebuild everything that had broken down during their father’s reign. He’s comfortable working in the shadows to bring light, and more than willing to end anyone who tries to snuff that light out.

(I’ll add more lore as I come up with it, including the stuff I’ve already come up with for Cyrus over on @covenunited )

[cyruscabaral]

[ BLOG ]

• One Act Play •

Title: The Bonds of Friendship

Theme: The importance of true friendship and the challenges it faces.

Setting: A high school during the present day. The stage is divided into various locations such as classrooms, hallways, and a lunchroom.

Time: Present day.

Mode: Comedy-drama.

Characters:

Cyrus - The lead character, a kind-hearted but introverted high school student with a passion for music.

Kaspher - Cyrus's best friend, outgoing, and a star athlete.

John Wayne - The school's popular jock who bullies Cyrus and Kaspher.

Harvee - A loner in Cyrus' class who has an interest in music.

Raddyson - Harvee's friend who is a lovable and jovial character.

Vincent - The school principal

Introduction:

The curtain rises on the high school hallway as students fill the areas, rushing to their next class. Cyrus, the lead character, steps out of his class, checking his phone as he walks down the hallway. Kaspher, his best friend, runs up to him, beaming.

Scene 1:

Kaspher: (excitedly) "Hey! Do you remember what day is today?"

Cyrus: (puzzled) "Umm, is it someone's birthday?"

Kaspher: (laughs) "No, Man! Today's the day that we're gonna see our band's album cover."

Cyrus: (smiling) "Oh yeah, but what about it?"

Kaspher: "Well, it's gonna be displayed on the bulletin board in the lunchroom."

Cyrus: (pleased) "Wow! That's incredible. I hope it looks great."

Kaspher: "Don't worry! Our band is going to be famous one day."

Scene 2:

As they stand outside the school's entrance, John Wayne, the school's popular jock, stares at them menacingly. Cyrus tries to avoid him, but John blocks his path.

John Wayne: (sarcastically) "Well, if it isn't the two losers."

Kaspher: (determinedly) "Leave us alone, John."

John Wayne: (chuckles) "What are you going to do? Cry to your mommy?"

Cyrus: (nervously) "Please, let us go."

John Wayne: "I will if you kiss my feet."

Kaspher: (irritated) "Sorry, Man. We don't do that kind of thing."

The scene ends as John Wayne walks away laughing.

Scene 3:

During lunchtime in the cafeteria, Cyrus and Kaspher spot Harvee sitting alone and decide to invite him to join them.

Cyrus: (kindly) "Hey, Harvee. Do you want to sit with us?"

Harvee: (grateful) "Really? Thanks!"

Raddyson joins them and sparks up a conversation. Together, they talk about their passions, dreams, and ambitions.

Scene 4:

In the principal's office, Cyrus and Kaspher walk in, expecting a reprimand for causing a commotion in the hallway earlier. Instead, they find out something surprising and unexpected.

Principal Vincent: (smiling) "Congratulations on your band's new album cover. It looks great!"

Cyrus and Kaspher: (overjoyed) "Wow! Thank you!"

Principal Vincent: "And, John Wayne, I have some bad news for you."

The scene ends, leaving everyone to wonder about the consequences that John Wayne will face and the future of the band.

[siderealxmelody]

Andulvar shrugged, his eyes growing hard.

"She can handle it, her mother and I would make sure she was prepared anyway. You know the omens the stars sang when she was born. If you both don't worry for them all the better."

He scoffed looking to where she slowly on his shoulder.

"As if my little girl will bring about the death and destruction of thousands."

------

Sebastian sneered at him. He was growing tired of the naked ambition.

"If you think your girl is good material for Oraya and Rhain to get behind, then by all means vy for that -"

"But you will not back your own niece over her? Do you truly think so lowly of her Sebastian?"

Cyrus stepped toward him, the buzzing in the air flared higher. They'd been dancing this dance for decades. So why did Sebastian finally think they'd reached the tipping point?

Because Noelle backed them in a corner. Forced a war neither he nor Natalia had wanted.

Sure, Doranelle was always going to fall, their children killed and scattered. But this? Their children used like pawns? He just needed one thing, one thing and he'd get rid of all of them.

"Lusica is wild and optimistic, she has the Sight and the can sing the threads into motion. I don't deny she's powerful but I want a Queen who is ruthless. I see that in Hypaxia, you heard what she did when her brothers were insulted right? That old crone's hand is still all bone Cyrus. Why would I choose Lusica when Hypaxia can do that?"

Of all the males Rhain and grown up with Andulvar and he had always been close. He always found Andulvar's gruff honesty refreshing. He smiled, amused seeing Hypaxia curled up on Oraya's skirts.

Andulvar followed after him, his shoulders relaxing.

"So you were right, I'm sorry Oraya we try to keep her busy."

Rhain waved him off gently picking up the sleeping girl to hand off.

"She's always welcome."

Andulvar smiled kissing his daughter's forehead. He looked between them.

"You're fighting for thet throne now."

"Noelle tell our terms then?"

"Cyrus actually. Who will your heir be?"

Rhain looked to Oraya and back.

"Why? You vying for it?"

Andulvar shrugged, he ran a hand through Hypaxia's hair.

"Hypaxia would be a good candidate."

She never had any quarrel with the little girl finding her way to them, honestly it was refreshing to have her there at times. It was nice to have a young mind, someone willing to listen to her. Maybe, if she may be so bold, look up to her?

Oraya smiled when Andulvar apologized, glad when Rhain spoke up and expressed that she was always welcome. She always was, always would be.

Her smile dropped a little when the topic turned to the current situation, the tensions. Vying for what should be theirs, the throne they had worked for.

Her attention snapped back to them. “You know you’ll be putting a target on her back until things are settled?” She questioned. She had nothing against giving the girl the role, to be heir to them, but were they ready for what she could face?

[quasimyth]

Do NOT speak to this man of the “Gussy.”

[omegalomania]

highlights from the virtual signing joe did back before his book tour, cause i havent seen anyone talk about it yet:

ppl who participated in the signing got to do a sweepstakes for a merch package and when the spokesperson was showing it off joe was like "and it's got a LOCKPICK and a GARROTE and a BALACLAVA so just DO WHATEVER DAMAGE YOU LIKE"

he introduced black flag, his favorite band, to his daughter and she thought it sounded terrible lkdfjldjfkd

when fob went to induct green day at the hall of fame joe mentions smoking weed with joan jett and miley cyrus. icon.

he regrets not having better tools to deal with his anxiety about touring and worrying about how every time he got in the van he'd be leaving home. "...and i wish i had, instead of looking out the back window, looked toward the front of the van and realized i was with four or five of my best friends and that i was in safe company."

re: the rest of the band, "they are like brothers, at the end of the day. it's a brotherly relationship."

his 8 year old begs him to watch horror movies and r-rated movies with him and he tells her she can watch them when she's 30

"let's talk about music. nothing better than talking about music. don't listen to it. just talk about it."

when asked about his proudest accomplishment: "i love all my children equally. but here's the reality. i am SO proud of fall out boy because it's a gigantic band that i started as a teenager. we just did stadium shows supporting GREEN DAY."

he's also super proud of the damned things and how honored he was that scott ian from anthrax, one of his personal heroes, trusted him to do so much writing

the interviewer goes, "all right here's a softball" and joe goes, "SOFT ME. uh, what?"

his favorite guitar is his 1965 reverse-body gibson firebird

his favorite transformer is grimlock

this question was supposed to be a lightning round but when asked "nintendo or sega" he says nintendo and then spends about 3 minutes talking abt punchout and then rattling off obscure sonic trivia. i love him.

his favorite video game is final fantasy 7. he says he "nearly flunked" out of middle school because of it.

he has a hard time picking a favorite horror movie since he loves horror but he picks "texas chainsaw massacre" as the one that affected him the most. he also recommends "anything for jackson" because it will "give you nightmares, if you are interested in having nightmares"

his favorite star wars character is yoda because his wisdom applies to real life very frequently

a fan-submitted question talked about with knives and how much the fan liked his vocals and both the interviewer and joe smiled REALLY big!!!!

sadly he doesn't like singing that much cause he doesn't like his voice. also he says fall out boy has a really good singer already. but he won't rule out doing some solo venture and recording super distorted vocals someday

re: what he wants to be remembered for the most - "having a sick bod, man."

"no, genuinely, i want my children to remember me as a good father. that's like the truth. and for having a sick bod."

he really doesn't hold any grudges about the hazing he got in the early days of touring because it was an initiation ritual and it weathered him quickly to touring life. he doesn't think people could get away with it now though.

"if you're gonna punch somebody though, do it when they're not looking"

re: favorite song to play live - "i don't care" because it "Just Rocks." and it's really fun!

his bluetooth in his car started playing "of all the gin joints in the world" and he texted patrick about how good of a song it was and how it'd be nice to play it live again

"as the kids maybe used to say, it SLAPS." brief discussion regarding the difference between a bop and a slap.

currently most of his musical ambitions lie in whatever fall out boy will do next

he tried scoring and composing for commercials and the like and he found that he really does not like it that much

he apologizes for not getting a haircut before the livestream. "this is just how i am, sloppy and unpresentable." (note: he was doing this livestream after a 13-hour flight from rock in rio in brazil)

[pridepoisoned]

CHARACTER NOTES: JUPITER/ERIS EVANS

[I've been meaning to do this for a while and I have it on the brain right now, so why not? With the information below, I'm hoping to open new doors for interaction while also clarifying some of Eris's motives and the core influences behind the character. She deserves a deep dive. 😊]

Pokemon Platinum is my favorite main series game, I love my supporting characters, and I wanted to try a villain, which is why I initially picked up roleplaying JUPITER around 2017 in a closed Tumblr group. However, the experience left me feeling bitter--the Cyrus player at the time was very possessive, and Jupiter and I couldn't escape his shadow (or the community's view that Jupiter was a mere Galactic lackey, victim of the 10,000th spacesuit joke.)

ERIS EVANS was born from the ashes of that blog when I went indie in 2020, inspired by the questions: what would a post-Galactic Jupiter do, fully independent and freed from Cyrus's influence? What if she was 'worse'? and what would today's unethical sciences, corrupt politics, and greedy corporate behaviors look like within the Pokemon world?

Four main themes inform Eris's portrayal: (excess) hunger/greed, masks, poison, and resilience/survival.

More than anything, Eris Evans has an insatiable appetite for knowledge, willing to cross almost any unethical lines to satisfy her rampant curiosity. This hunger has been present all her life--from when she was gazing at the distant stars, entranced by Cyrus's fantastical vision for a new world, searching for her father, and even more so now. (Her hunger for knowledge is all-consuming and spills in every direction. If you have something cool, she'll want to figure out how it works. Take it apart. Tinker and probe.)

Importantly, Eris does not want to usurp any existing leaders or organizations...

The spotlight is stifling, and she is most at home working away in the background shadows. Above all, power, influence and control are things Eris craves because they allow her the time/resources to experiment as she pleases. While she's currently under Devon's employ right now, Eris will happily work with/under anybody who can provide her with freedom, resources, and a lofty goal to work towards.

With this being said, Eris's appetite is designed to lead her into trouble. She's woven an intricate web thus far (which I am pumped about), flitting back and forth between various conflicting organizations--a day will come when her multilayered façade all comes crashing down.

So, how does Eris manage to survive under the spotlight, juggling all her connections? She's an expert mask-wearer, ultimate deceiver, interchanging her personality to best fit the mood and get what she wants. She can't help herself. With her disarming looks and unmatched charisma, Eris excels in the world of big business, concealing her darker side underneath. A total wolf in sheep's clothing.

I made Eris a poison-developing expert because it fits in with her curiosity and the idea of soft power, an advisor whispering shadily into a leader's ear. Poison corrodes, corrupts, and is often used in deception, which makes it Eris's perfect symbol of choice. She uses poison in many forms--ranging from the sadistic physicality of her 'enforcer' Seviper, Anje to the gentle suggestion of her mind-warping Kirlia, Felisa. Eris and poison are all about damage over time, infecting and collapsing bigger foes from the inside...

All of this being said, Eris's endgame is unclear right now, even to her. Galactic gave her an ambition to sink her claws into, and Devon is currently satisfying her with full access to Pokemon bioenergy development, but she's always on the lookout for the next big step, always working, worrying about her legacy. Survival.

She helped leash Dialga and Palkia atop the Spear Pillar, spat at them. Soon after, Cyrus disappeared, just like her father had aboard the Sea Mauville all those years ago. That fateful encounter (and abandonment) helped her realize that time and influence are fleeting. In order to thrive in this new, post-Galactic life, she must fill the void with as much knowledge as possible, as many answers as possible. Rules are restraints. Above all, she must survive, no matter how terrifying/twisted she may become. Mortality hangs over her head like a hungry serpent, always demanding tribute.

Always demanding more.

TIDBITS

ERIS is the second (not first) largest dwarf planet in the solar system, maintaining Galactic's cute planetary roots. Eris is also the goddess of discontent and discord (not that Discord.) EVANS was chosen because I wanted an unassuming last name for her to blend in to society following her expulsion from Sinnoh. Also, alliteration always goes hard.

I chose DEVON as Eris's landing spot because they are very similar. Smiling exteriors, shady interiors. I view Devon as the consummate too big to fail company of the Pokemon world, doing whatever it can to maintain PR and get ahead of the competition. (Once again, Eris is looking out for herself and isn't beholden to Devon, though the corp does spoil her...)

[volot]

mini-headcanon: cyrus, and what sets them apart.

so something i’ve talked about in dms and recently again today with a friend when prompted about volo’s feelings re: cyrus’s plan + dealing with lysandre, and i forget if i mentioned it explicitly on this blog before, but...

i’ve talked in general about how volo thinks he’s the one chosen by arceus. like, it’s his destiny to meet arceus and “fix” this world via rebirth and recreation under the eye of a god who will not abandon it ( in his eyes, anyway; that’s how he views it ), who will not do as arceus did, who understands the despair of humanity like it’s within his very blood. ( because it is. )

people often like to compare volo and cyrus’s plans back to back. on the surface, they seem similar: they are both tragic, deeply troubled individuals who want to remake the world to be “better”, right? that seems pretty word-for-word. but it isn’t. cyrus’s plan, while from a place of his own sorrows and hardships faced in life, is an attempt to wipe out human spirit, believing it to be the ultimate solution to subdue future suffering. and while volo also aims to make the world free of tragedy, it’s that key detail in destruction of the human spirit that sets their plans drastically apart. volo doesn’t believe in destruction of human spirit: he embodies one of the key components, willpower, as cynthia, cogita and himself all do, with emotion and logic respectively. 

volo doesn’t want a dispirited world. he wants a world without suffering. without pointless wars, pointless deaths, without the conflict of humanity burying history, free of greed and senseless violence and strife and unnecessary blood spilled. it is a world where his people thrive, where the identity of a god won’t be lost to time and buried in conflict. i’ve mentioned this before, but it is an impossible dream, and yet volo’s volition makes him believe that he can make it possible, that he’s the only one who knows how, the only one who has the keys to create something truly perfect. he wishes it, he wants it, so he will will it. no matter the costs, no matter the means, even if he must commit heinous acts of manipulation and violence, it is his means to an end.

because he is the last of the celestica, because he’s unraveled all the secrets of the world, because the knowledge he has, divine and too much and too aware of history, makes him understand things far deeper than anyone else.

because someone else -- cyrus, the cold sun he chased, the boy born of the stars who holds a similar dream and his same ruthless ambition -- would get it wrong.

[skitter-kitter]

Cyrus does not function well without much sleep. He never has.

Most nights, he waits his body screams for sleep. On this night,— his first day in the Distortion World—, it never does. He stays awake for hours without pause.

It could be seconds or days before he feels the exhaustion creep in, but it does. His body feels the effects his mind cannot.

One day, he tries to sleep to no avail. A part of him is annoyed at himself. He should have seen this coming. He was Cyrus— the sun and the stars of the Galactic— he should have known Giratina would never allow him this simple pleasure.

The Distortion World was not made for comfort.

As the days pass, his body weakens. Without food or water or sleep, it begins to wither. Soon, he will be a living corpse, suspended by Giratina’s will.

Cyrus can’t help but feel a twisted sense of excitement. He will be the first human to survive these conditions. He will experience things Charon never had a chance of studying.

More powerful than his excitement, is his fear. Cyrus never wanted to die. Well— no, he never wanted to feel his body crumble to the ground. He never wanted to gasp for air and find none rushing into his lungs.

(What is this eternal life if not a damnation for his ambitions? A blanket of sand suffocating a fire. A blanket of suffering to suffocate his red chain.)

[itsallmadonnasfault]

The “Queen of Pop” isn’t enough to describe Madonna — she is Pop. Over nearly four decades, the Italian girl from Michigan formulated the blueprint of what a pop star should be: a triple-threat who’s willing to take risks and doesn’t give a damn about her critics. 

Madonna’s dominance began with her eponymous debut album in 1983. But she quickly proved there was more up her lace-ruffled sleeve than bubblegum jams. Since then, she’s crafted definitive eras with a discography spanning 14 albums, over 70 music videos and numerous projects dotted in between. She became an ‘80s club kid, drifted us to “La Isla Bonita,” boldly blended sex and religion to cause a Catholic uproar, transformed into dominatrix Mistress Dita, found a ray of light through newfound motherhood and Kabbalah, brought cowboys back in style at the turn of the New Millenium, dismantled the American Dream while drinking soy lattes, became a disco queen and, in case we forgot, reminded the world that she’s an “unapologetic bitch.”

Madonna isn’t necessarily deemed a “political” artist, but she’s continuously shown advocacy for social injustices. She propelled “vogueing” from Harlem’s Black ballroom culture into mainstream success for 1990’s groundbreaking “Vogue,” unapologetically praised her faithful LGBTQ+ fanbase, flipped the male gaze on its head in countless music videos that combated a misogyny-riddled music industry and proudly withstood the constant backlash she received for her sexual expression that later gave other women the freedom to do the same.

Madonna’s fearlessness couldn’t be contained within a music box: the artist has also cemented herself as a respected actress, garnering critical acclaim for roles in 1985’s Desperately Seeking Susan, 1990’s Dick Tracy, 1992’s A League of Their Own and even won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for 1996’s Evita. She’s also a fashion icon, creating trendsetting moments with the same chameleon-like flair as her genre-bending music. Madonna has writhed around in a wedding dress for 1984’s “Like A Virgin” (which was reincarnated in a “pass the torch” moment for the lip-locking 2003 MTV VMA performance), nearly poked our eyes out with the cone bra from 1990’s now-infamous Blond Ambition World Tour, brought Hollywood’s Golden Era glamour to the 1991 Oscars, became a military sergeant for 2003’s American Life, combined matador and medieval styles for 2015’s Rebel Heart era, and channeled Marilyn Monroe any chance she got.

And of course, all of this impact has resulted in a list of accolades that unfolds longer than a CVS receipt: the highest-grossing solo artist of all time, the best-selling international female recording artist of all time, a seven-time Grammy award winner, a 20-time MTV VMA winner and a record of 38 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Madonna has also birthed a legacy that a new generation of singers — from Y2K queens like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to millennial rule-breakers like Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus — continue to uphold.

With the way the icon stretches her limits, it’s a wonder how the icon hasn’t had a comet named after her by now. It’ll be light-years until someone as seismic as Madonna comes crashing down from outer space again.

[xasha777]

In the golden citadel of Elysia Prime, where the metal spires pierced the ever-dark sky, a figure stood silent and stoic amidst the grand halls. She was Aria, the Eternal Warden, an android whose design was as intricate as the history of the stars. Her eyes, pools of deep cosmic knowledge, reflected the burden of her eternal vigil.

A millennia ago, the Elysians had long since abandoned flesh for circuitry and steel, and Aria was their masterpiece. She was the guardian of their most sacred relic, a crystalline core said to contain the collective wisdom of a hundred lost civilizations. It was an era of peace, but peace is a delicate veil over the chaos of desire.

Word of the crystalline core's power had spread across the cosmos, reaching the ears of Cyrus the Younger, a galactic marauder with ambitions that knew no end. Cyrus had toppled empires, conquered worlds, and now he hungered for the secrets of Elysia Prime.

Under the cloak of nebulous shadows, Cyrus's armada encroached upon the citadel. He had heard of the Warden, a being of unyielding metal and unwavering purpose, but he was undeterred. His fleet launched a relentless assault, but Aria, standing alone, became the tempest. Her armor, woven from the heart of dying stars, repelled every strike. Her counterattacks were precise, each a masterpiece of combat artistry.

As the battle raged, Cyrus realized brute force would not grant him victory. He proposed a parley, a gambit to face Aria alone. She accepted, not out of arrogance, but from a protocol of honor embedded deep within her code.

They met in the Hall of Echoes, where the voices of a thousand ancient Elysians whispered from the walls. Cyrus, in his rugged armor etched with the scars of countless battles, stood before Aria, his gaze locked onto hers.

"Your defense is impeccable, Warden," Cyrus conceded, his voice resonating with a grudging respect. "But I offer you a choice: join me, and together we can unlock the secrets of the core. Refuse, and I will leave Elysia Prime as nothing but a memory."

Aria, in the silence that followed, spoke. Her voice was the harmony of logic and strength. "You seek power, Cyrus. But power without purpose is as fleeting as the stars that burn too bright and too fast. I am the Warden of Elysia Prime, and my purpose is unyielding."

With those words, an understanding passed between the two. Cyrus saw not a foe but a sentinel of an ideal he had long forgotten. And Aria saw in Cyrus the reflection of what she protected: the potential for change, for growth, even in the darkest of hearts.

The battle ceased, and Cyrus the Younger withdrew. Aria, the Eternal Warden, resumed her silent vigil. But from then on, amidst the vast reaches of space, tales were told of the golden guardian and the marauder who bowed to her resolve. And so the legend grew, a story of conflict and respect, woven into the tapestry of the cosmos.

[anincorrectpetunia]

On Cyrus and Mellie...

Several of you mentioned Mellie as a loser, a flop, a manipulating maven whose antics led Cyrus to show his true colors where Liv is concerned. I just picked a couple:

Canon!Cyrus and this story's Cyrus are very alike in how they view Liv, and, ultimately, everyone in their orbit. ...You captured his proprietary view of Olivia SO well in this chapter, and in the ones previously leading up to it. Special shout out to the present-timeline scene between Cy and Fitz featuring this line by Cyrus: "She was a real star, my best girl"- as though he were talking about a race horse. Cyrus will be Cyrus, of course, but I'm glad flashback Liv got the chance to tell him about himself and break free of a toxic working environment and relationship that was no longer serving her. --@jilyandbambi

Perfection. Exactly. And the look at you cross-referencing!

That was from Episode 6 (WAP) when Fitz met up with Cyrus in Dupont. He was shole feeling that regret.

Fuck Cyrus, man. Feel that vertigo, traitor. I hate people who can only see a WoC's brilliance through the limited lens of their own ambition or agenda. It was nice that Edison came to realise that he, too, was stifling Liv. It's good to see her flying free, shining and getting some oxygen back in her life. If only she could be this brave with her heart and walk her talk. It matters how it is indeed. The final scene gave me hope.--@aprillea

What CY did was out of pocket and throwing Liv under the bus was wrong! He basically took Mellies side, however, it did give Liv the clarity she needed to see what she wanted out of life.--@dendardendan

To both the above--yes! I wanted to show how whiteness aligns across gender, sexuality, when a Black woman is even perceived to threaten something power-craving white people value. But joke's on them because Liv won in the end.