#and focus more on the mystical voyager

[reginrokkr]

𝐗𝐋𝐈𝐕. Just like in the past I talked in depth about the importance behind one of Dain's forebears being a mystic voyager unrelated to Teyvat and how this affects to who he is as well as the potential he can reach, it is also relevant to touch onto the subject of his angelic traits —some of which he does exhibit— and how they affect him to who he is too.

Descriptively, angels are said to have beautiful forms that wore crowns of sevenfold radiance wrought of the earth's bones (highly likely Ley Lines) and the stars of the sky. They had pale silver wings that shimmered like moonlit flames and horns. The skin of one of them —Nabu Malikata— is described as sparkling with lunar glow and whose face was indescribably beautiful.

Note ₁: In the 「Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies」 book collection, exists a civilization that lives in the Moonlight Forest. These people are described to be «born with fair skin, light-colored hair, and bright blue eyes. Perhaps the constant lack of sunlight and the nourishment of the moonlight was the reason for their beauty, giving them an appearance different from the abhorrent creatures lurking at the edge of the forest.» Irregardless if this location makes direct reference to Khaenri'ah or not, every known Khaenri'ahn (no matter if pure-blooded or not) was depicted with light eyes, some of being bright blue —among which Dain is—.

Cognitively, angels have shown to have knowledge of Teyvat's real workings as well as the ability of prophecy several years into the future. This may be due to the strong association angels seem to have with Irminsul and the Ley Lines by extension.

Note ��: Dain has also shown a strong capability for foresight as well as for gathering knowledge of several individuals in ways that they haven't disclosed to others, furthermore, he has also shown awareness about the workings of Teyvat in a way that would be only possible for special beings such as those of divine nature. Two of his titles that stem from the same through different translations are «Bough Keeper» and «Truthseeker» which may allude to his connection to Irminsul. Moreover, Irminsul has been described as the Tree of Time and another of Dain's titles that was released in his marketing drop is «Confluence Between the Past and the Future», which gives further credence that there is an intimate connection between both. Lastly, his older brother Vedrfolnir is known as the Visionary which could be considered as the highest title for an indivual with a penchant for foresight, given that his prophecies may affect the entirety of the world's fate.

Angels (and Seelie by extension) have exhibited other abilities of interest, such as:

✧ Interaction with the environment: Seelie are able to influence their environment to open paths where usually it should be impossible to access by other means. Regardless if it is due to their connection to Ley Lines (and thus to reality) or otherwise, one could infer that they have influence over the reality around them and are able to bend it to their will.

Note ₃: Dain has exhibited a similar ability himself when thinking about the fact that the eye of the first Field Tiller was within his body or that he can seize an enemy through an unknown form of energy via telekinesis.

✦ Khvarena formation: While created by another angel —Nabu Malikata—, the topic of interest is what Khvarena does exactly. It is a form of energy that can be assimilated with other elements and thus gaining new attributes that by themselves they wouldn't have. It's also contrary to the Abyss, being able to purify it and heal the affected land by it. It is also a giver of life as it's seen with the mystical bird Simurgh and the Pari. The latter are also able to interact with the environment via the Khvarena they wield and, at the end of their lives they are converted into Plumes of Purifying Light, carriers of past memories.

Note ₄: Dain's form of energy was shown to be opposing to the Abyss, as it is able to dispel a barrier of the same nature of the Nameless City in the depths of the Chasm as well as he's able to lift protective barriers that impede the pass of others, which is one of the abilities the Pari exhibit through their use of Khvarena.

✧ Ley Line creation: Via previously existing ones. The Lord of Night in Natlan was able to reconstruct the Ley Line system, thus giving birth to a unique environment known as the Night Kingdom after the original ones were destroyed during the War of Vengeance. An important detail to note is her intrinsic connection to souls, as she is able to feel their suffering as if it were her own.

Note ₅: In 「Bedtime story」, Dain felt a strong pain byproduct of the Ley Line modification that was taking place at the moment because of Caribert's doings with the quasi-finished Loom of Fate. This can be inferred as him having a sentience of what happens with the Ley Lines and by extension, Teyvat in itself as it is perfused with them.

✦ Life creation: Through their wounds. Such was Nabu Malikata's case as she was hurt and from her blood, springs and streams came to existence which subsequently flowed into gardens. The Jinn were born from the water lilies that grew in those gardens.

While these weren't innate to Dain's birth, many of these traits served as potentials that he could come to have domain over or not with the passing of his life. Besides what was mentioned before and as alluded in previous headcanons, he also possesses the ability to heal and purify —originally linked with Irminsul— which he's come to master the more he got in touch with his own heights of enlightenment and of getting out of the shackles of corruption and of the curse that make this endeavor difficult.

[inspofromancientworld]

By the Rivers of Babylon We Sat down and Wept and its Ancient Origins

By Henry Pierce Bone/ After William Edward West - Christie's, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12105640

George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, more commonly known as Lord Byron or simply Byron, was a British poet who lived from 1788-1824. He is regarded as being one of the greatest British poets of all time. He was good friends with Percy Bysshe Shelley and the father of Ada Lovelace.

By Thomas Stewardson - Unknown source, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=792792

Byron's family can be traced back to the Doomsday Book and Ralph du Buran, who came to England with William the Conqueror. His paternal grandfather set a speed record for circumnavigating the globe as well as a 'tempestuous voyage' during the American War of Independence, earning him the name 'Foul-Weather Jack' in the papers. His father married a woman he'd been having an affair with after her divorce while she was eight months pregnant. When marrying Byron's mother, his father took her last name to prove that he wasn't just marrying her for her landholdings and fortune. She ended up having to sell her land to pay his debts, though, burning through nearly all her money. They ran away to France to avoid creditors, though returning to England just before Byron was born. Byron was named after her father, who was descended from James I of Scotland, despite his father wanting him to be named William because he wasn't in the country. Byron took the title when he was 10 and his great-uncle died. Byron didn't have a good relationship with his mother, often mocking her for being short, 'corpulent', and for drinking. Weather she was indulgent or stern without follow through is unknown, though one of his biographers leaned toward indulgent. His mother-in-law required that he take on her surname to inherit and he did so, which gained him half of her estate.

Byron started school in Aberdeen before his family moved back to England when he was 10. His mother also often took him out of school at a whim, leading him to be a poor student. When he was 15, he fell in love with Mary Chaworth and refused to return to school for the semester because he was intemperate in all things and was too distracted to focus on schooling, when he gained a bit more control and was able to form friendships with his fellow students.

By Thomas Phillips - Government Art Collection, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45367891

He went to Trinity College, Cambridge, when he was 17, where he met John Edleston, who would be his 'protégé'. Whether their relationship was 'pure' or not is up for debate, especially given the growing intolerance in England at the time, but there are reasons to believe that Byron did engage in homosexual affairs through his school life, at least. When he was 21, he went on a Grand Tour, which was normal for noble sons at the time, even though he had racked up a lot of gambling debts through his schooling, leaving his mother hiding from his creditors. The on-going Napoleonic Wars pushed his Tour to the Near East, around Mediterranean and the Levant, exposing him to Islam, especially the Sufi mystics. He spent much of his life abroad, only in England from 1811-1816 in his adult life.

By Eduard Bendemann - cropped version from http://www.buddenbrookhaus.de/index.php?getfile=flyer-babylon-v2.indd.pdf, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8470026

By the Rivers of Babylon We Sat down and Wept is a paraphrasing of the 137th Psalm, which references the Fall of Jerusalem in 597 BCE, with the rivers being the Tigris and Euphrates, which bounded the land of Babylon. Where the Psalm references 'Zion', the poem references 'Salem'. The Psalm and poem are a communal and personal lament, a pain of the group being taken from their homelands as well as the personal fear of forgetting where one came from. It is also a calling for justice against those who take those away from their homes and destroy those homes, even if they are apparently victorious in the moment.

You can read the poem here. You can read the psalm here.

[secretlessonnews]

Spirit meditation magic

Spirit meditation magic Tuning Into the Ether: Sol's Spirit Meditation Magic Unleashed" Hello there, serenity-seekers and smile-makers! Today we are exploring the mystic woods with Sol, who has an uncanny way of mixing humor with spiritual insight. His latest offering: an in-depth exploration into spirit meditation magic as detailed in his book "Heal Your Miracle Now." - The Forest of Focus**: Sol begins his explanation by emphasizing the significance of setting an appropriate environment. He describes meditation as being like walking through a serene forest looking for talking trees - your spirit guides. Unfortunately, they'll likely pass you by if your thoughts keep distracting you too much." - The Lake of Listening**: Sol introduces us to angel spirit guide meditation by suggesting we envision our thoughts as ripples on a lake's surface, then let them fade away with each breath as they return back to rest - this will enable you to hear angelic whispers more clearly. Sol's spirit meditation magic begins in the woods where he shares it with friends. "Meditation isn't about sitting cross-legged and looking serious; rather it is an opportunity to make contact with the spirit world!" "And let me assure you: the reception here is excellent!" - The Path of Practice**: Sol stresses the significance of regularity when engaging in spirit meditation magic. "This ain't no one-and-done deal," Sol asserts, adding, "Your spirit guides and angels should act more like gym buddies; you need to meet regularly to experience any growth!" - The Peak of Success**: We reach the pinnacle of spirit meditation magic where Sol serves up more angel spirit guide meditation wisdom. He smiles knowingly: "Success isn't only measured by climbing mountains - it's enjoying the view! Let me tell you, it is absolutely breathtaking from angelic realm!" Sol's book "Heal your Miracle Now" serves as an invaluable resource on your spiritual path. Not only does it provide practical guidance on spirit meditation magic techniques, but its charming humor also ensures an entertaining journey! Sol offers you assistance in "Heal your Miracle Now", helping to: - Understand the realm of spirit connection magic. - Practice angel spirit guide meditation. - Deepen your relationship with yourself. - Arm yourself with tools for spiritual transformation. Sol's spirit meditation magic goes far beyond mere ritual, it is an invitation to connect with yourself and the divine energies around you. His unique approach makes this journey both educational and incredibly enjoyable - who said spiritual awakening couldn't bring laughter? So buckle up! Sol's book promises an exciting voyage into the realm of spirit meditation magic, full of angel whispers, divine interventions and Sol's signature humor - so sit tight! And happy meditating! �� ☟ ☟ ☟ Read the full article

[ethersierra]

All I'm saying is that Griffin could have written Romeo and Juliet but Shakespeare Could Not have written

And, in watching them play this composition, you realize, really for the first time, just how profoundly Barry and Lup’s relationship has changed.

Time is different for the seven of you, than it has been for anyone else who ever lived. During your one-hundred year journey, you don’t age thanks to whatever forces keep putting you back together at the beginning of each year. Your minds stay sharp. You learn skills and languages and new proficiencies. You become remarkably capable adventurers during your voyage on the Starblaster. But it’s not just your minds that develop, across this ageless century, something less quantifiable develops too.

Our capacity for love increases with each person we cross paths with throughout our lives, and which each moment we spend with those people. But, too often we neglect that part of ourselves in favor of others. And by the time we realize just how important that is, we find ourselves with fewer folks around to practice with. But the seven of you have something that nobody else ever had: time. All the time in the world. Time enough to grow indescribably close. Time enough to- to learn how to care for each other, how to allow yourselves to be cared for. And in the case of Barry and Lup, time enough to fall deeply and truly in love.

Barry felt it first. During a particularly challenging year, Lup caught him crying. And she softly and sincerely consoled him, and just for a moment, the professional wall between them came down. And something shone through. Lup wasn’t far behind. Her moment of realization was a bit more innocuous. During that cycle with the- the robots, Barry helped repair the- the small frame of a vessel housing a particularly rambunctious spirit, and it kept shocking him, and laughing. And Lup laughed too, and she knew.

This new love, it- it wasn’t their focus during the journey. Barry worked tirelessly to understand each world you traveled to, to- to understand the Hunger and figure out a way to defeat it. Lup grew furiously in arcane power, studying the mystical secrets of the planes, hoping to master whatever spell would break your team out of their desperate retreat. But there were moments between those studies, meals shared in secret, just the two of them under the guise of their work, sightseeing trips for two across these doomed worlds. And that love grew, and it grew, until it reached the point that all great loves grow toward: the point of...inevitability.

Looking back, this performance is where that love that Barry and Lup cultivated quietly and cautiously over the last half century truly bloomed. There was romance in every measure, and longing in every note. And after the performance, they- they take each other’s hands high in the air, and they swoop down for this over-the-top bow, just laughing at- at the drama of it all. And the audience cheers. And Barry and Lup laugh, and they don’t let each other’s hands go. And then they stop laughing, and they don’t let each other’s hands go. And they keep not letting go.

[zombeesknees]

Hey, folks. I know we’re all currently consumed with Our Flag Means Death brainrot. But now that season one is done, and we’re impatiently awaiting a season two, we’ve got some downtime to fill.

Might I recommend the Sink or Swim duology, co-written by a pair of queer authors, yours truly and @stephanierabig?

What’s Sink or Swim? Well, it’s more queer pirate greatness, with a focus on romance, swashbuckling action, and supernatural sea creatures. We’ve got lesbians and nonbinary characters and canon throuples; we’ve got mermaids (and a particularly hunky merman) and sirens and magic and more! The heroes take on slavers and kill bad men. There’s love across class/racial/species divides, a heavy dose of Found Family, and badass women aplenty.

Click the read more for the synopses and order links!

SINK OR SWIM: THE SEARCH FOR AVELINE

Captain Harry Roberts and the crew of The Sappho are an unusual bunch. Bound by defiance, friendship, and a shared code of honor, these pirates took to the seas to escape marriage, cruelty, and prejudice. To find adventure, freedom, and those they’ve lost. The pirate’s life isn’t an easy one, but the ladies of The Sappho love to rise to a challenge. Whether it’s sailing through treacherous reefs or tangling with treacherous enemies, like Wrath Drew of The Charon… Navigating the cultural waters of merfolk and sirens, or the wild nightlife of lawless ports…. Pursuing romance or preparing for revenge…. Making impressive scientific discoveries or tending to the sick and injured…. Righting the wrongs of society or rescuing the victims of slavery…. Captain Harry and her wild women are ready for anything. Or so they think.

Click here to order Sink or Swim: The Search for Aveline.

———–

SINK OR SWIM: THE SANCTUARY OF NALANI

The bold crew of The Sappho return for more swashbuckling adventure and sizzling romance! Finally reunited with her long-lost sister Aveline, Captain Harry is happier than she’s ever been. But it will take time for Aveline to recover from her ordeals. The tales she has to tell will be hard for her sister to hear. And will the singer and Harry’s first mate, Jo, ever be able to reconcile after everything they’ve been through? Meanwhile, a chivalrous titan comes to Lady Deborah and Katherine’s aid. Harry takes steps to set the penny dreadful stories straight. Kai and Isabelle encounter a unique ghost, and the pirates witness two momentous births. Hope puts her mystical skills to good use to thwart mermaid collectors, Franky finally sees how Maddie got her nickname, the search is on for the Emerald of Tococo, and unexpected reunions expand the crew. Plus: Just how did a one-legged scientist become The Sappho’s cook? Is it true that only women can change into merfolk? And how many golden-hearted pirates does it take to liberate a plantation? The voyage is never a dull one aboard The Sappho!

Click here to order Sink or Swim: The Sanctuary of Nalani.

[thed4rkhand]

So today we’re doing Yoongi’s chart and my analysis of it. Let me make it clear right off the bat, that since I’m not a professional astrologer, some things may not match up, further since we’re not super sure of his birth time, it’ll definitely affect the reading. What I can be sure of is that I’ll do my best and I’m completely open to constructive criticism from you all!

Now lets get on with some basic stuff, for those who have not yet read the post with Namjoon’s moon analysis, I’ll again reiterate some principles of Vedic astrology! In the scenario that you’re still confused with all this jargon, feel free to reach out and I’ll be more than happy to help you out.

Starting out, we have to note that while western astrology is usually more advisory in nature, Vedic astrology’s main purpose is to predict. Also, we usually go a sign back from western astrology (24’ back to be more precise) in Vedic astrology, so according to that for example, if you’re a libra rising, you become a virgo rising in Vedic astrology and so on and so forth. All planets will also shift back a sign, so a Capricorn Mercury will become a Sagittarius Mercury.

Now let’s be aware that the chart may be a bit different, but given the main d1 (Lagna) chart remains the same for about 2 hours, let’s focus on that and the moon chart (rashi chart) for this reading. We can also just look at d9 for strength but not house placements as that can be time sensitive. So, we can take a two hour margin of time discrepancy and still predict accurately.

For this reading, we have taken 9th March 1993 as the day and 7:30am as the time of birth, with the location set to Daegu.

OTHER THAN THIS, LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO DO A BIRTH TIME RECTIFICATION FOR YOONGI LATER ON SO WE CAN GET MORE ACCURATE PREDICTIONS.

Since this is a general chart analysis, we shall be covering topics briefly and discussing the moon, ascendant and sun. For an in depth reading, do pick a smaller and focussed topic as we can honestly keep going on and on about a chart.

THIS READING WILL BE DONE IN SEVERAL 4 PARTS, FOLLOWING THE ASCENDANT, MOON, SUN AND MISCELLANEOUS.

Lets get started then-

Right off the bat, we can see that Yoongi is born into Pisces, with his ascendant at 10’35’, within the Nakshatra of Uttarabhadprada, within the 3rd quadrant or pada. He has venus situated in the lagna itself, in Pisces, thus exalted. His lagna lord, Jupiter, is in the 7th house, conjuct with the Moon, in the sign of virgo, where jupiter gains the upper hand despite mercury (lord of virgo) being enemies. The lord is directly aspected by mars in the fourth house. The lord of the birth Nakshatra is Saturn here, which sits in the 12th house, conjunct sun and mercury (dispositer of the ascendant lord). Lastly, moon, jupiter and rahu aspect the lagna of this chart. Of course there is so so much more here, but we’ve got a whole chart to cover!

(p.s I can already see this is such a fun chart to read)

Getting on with the reading, we firstly see that he’s born under Pisces lagna, this makes the native calm and collected, as well as fond of philosophy and psychology. What we often forget is, people born under Pisces are said to have been born under all the other signs in their past life, and cumulatively they use their skills and knowledge from those lives in their current one. Remember how on Bon Voyage trips and just about every RunBts, saga seems like the ‘dad’ of the bunch? cooking, cleaning, fixing stuff Joon broke, producing music and the stuff? And all those times that he is so very understanding of other? He doesn’t scold Jungkook, let alone anyone else? These are typical Pisces traits. They’re very domestic and understanding by nature, because they’ve been there before in a past life, and enjoy taking care of people.

The downside to this? They can be extremely manipulative if they want to be, they know exactly what to say, when to say, to whom to say and so on. They have an alarming grip on people’s emotions, and have a magnetic quality to them. Further, this is mostly an observation, you’ll often notice that most pisces natives are fond of alcohol (could be because they exist in a water sign? Could be because its the natural 12th house ruler of addictions too?)

Coming to the Nakshatra here, we have UttaraBhadrapada, the second last Nakshatra of the series. This Nakshatra is ruled by Saturn, and the presiding deity being Ananta or Ahir Budhyana, the deep ocean serpent in hindu mythology. The deity Ananta represents boundless expansion, be it of fortune, goodwill or knowledge. Ahir Budhyana, is a sattvic (sacred or untainted) form of lord Shiv, and resides at he bottom of the ocean. He represents the liberation from illusions and attainment of spiritual enlightenment and knowledge. The natives of this Nakshatra here embody these qualities of their deities. We see them as philanthropic and reserved beings, who enjoy learning about a variety of subjects and spirituality. Such people are extremely progressive in their thinking patterns, and often a magnetic pull like the deep ocean serpent has.

They’re extremely controlled and calculating in their approach, and think more than speak. This by no means is to say that they don’t speak, because such people are great orators by nature. They stand up for the underdogs and have a unique approach to topics. They are extremely interested in occult and metaphysical practices and theories. They however commonly don’t obtain higher education or do well in fields of fine arts, even their primary education is not something they excel at. (i once read that yoongi really likes reading about a variety of subjects, and also Paulo Coelho, definitely his UttaraBhadrapada here)

The bad side to this Nakshatra? They’re very critical and over-analyze everything and everyone. Sometimes, even unconsciously, they manipulate people to suit their needs and whims. They get side tracked too often and have difficulty focussing on one task at hand, often amounting to laziness in other people’s eyes, even if the native is extremely hardworking in reality. However when in comes to personal care, they tend to do things in a very half-hearted manner. These people are also prone to isolating themselves from others, especially when things get hard. Due to the sign falling in pisces here, people also tend to have many different mental burdens and disorders, which arise from their constant scatter-brained self and inability to make out between the spiritual and real realms.

They can also be heavy drinkers and abuse substances in such a Nakshatra, or enjoy partaking in occult practices while under influences. They might’ve also faced a very rough childhood with such a Nakshatra, neglected and misunderstood by people around him. The natives could also have moved away from their parents during their early adulthood for education or job purposes. Such people can have health issues like hemorrhoids, stomach ailments and hernias. Usually they lead a stable period full of health and success in the latter part of life, say about after 48 years(since the south node Ketu matures as 48).

Since Suga’s Nakshatra falls into the third pada or quadrant, its ruled by libra here. Libra here focusses on balance and cooperation. Such people may make a living working with other people, or in industries related to entertainment. They may make great debaters, and think excessively about what other think of them as. They’re very conscious of other’s opinion, even if they don’t show it, so we often find such people wearing extremely covered up and baggy clothes for example, or keeping a low profile. They may have a very practical and unbiased approach to most things in life. Such people are intensely into spiritual practices and often times fully devote themselves at hours at a time to worship of gods, angel or other beings. They may be the type to attract people very easily, or even be the kind to fall in love extremely easily.

The second placement we come to, is Venus in the first house, in Pisces. Venus here is naturally exalted (most powerful). Sure ill give you the generic explanation in a bit but, do you know which type of people usually have this placement? Actual saints and famed occultists. Sure many people within the entertainment industry too, but this placement can hands down be one of the most spiritual and divine placements of Venus in the chart. First ill go ahead and give the normal meaning and effect, and then lets dive into the crazy stuff (istg his chart is so goooood). Such people usually have really magnetic personalities, and given Venus is in Uttarabhadrapa, these are the people who you don’t notice at first, but then its like a whirlpool of being invested in them, as opposed to being in Revati Nakshatra (another Piscean nakshatra) which would be a more dramatic pull, based off an extroverted personality. These people can be very good looking, more feminine looking, could definitely look like their mothers with this position. Brilliant luck in fields of arts and entertainment and also genius level of creativity and talent. Here, people can have brilliant luck too, like god’s hand on their head kind. Accumulation of wealth and property can also be seen here.

Now onto the really fun stuff. These people are actually rarely concerned with someone’s exterior, because often times such people have such good intuition and spiritual powers (some are literally called mystics because of this), they can literally see through someone. For this reason, they actually don’t like associating with too many people, despite having a very charming personality. These are the kind of people that keep searching for ‘the one’. These people often give up everything and go ahead and become priests. The calling to god with such a placement is very strong. They also don’t like collecting too many material possessions, as they feel its redundancy in this very changing world. These people hold the few people they’re close to, very very tightly to themselves. These people also may have a very low sexual drive actually, (i know, I know, how can a strong Venus do this?) because an exalted Venus is about devotion to god, to one person, and leaving sensory pleasures behind in life. A debilitated Venus on the other hand (eg. Jungkook has one) might make someone very invested in worldly matters. These people are happy with being alone and single for a long time, they’re very satisfied with their own company. Such placements can make someone practice magick or astral projection too. (Venus in 12th sign of liberation, liberation from physical body)

Given that in this chart, Venus is his 3rd and 8th lord, we can make further deductions. Firstly, since 3rd lord is going 11 houses away, its an extremely auspicious placement here. Self made person, making wealth through communication, can also have very witty and intelligent responses to things. Since the third house also represents courage and valor, this can make someone very fearless and say whats on their mind bluntly. Since the 3rd house is part of the Kama Trikon houses (houses of desire), this going into the 1st house, which is a part of the Dharma Trikon houses (houses of morality), gives interesting results here. Firstly, such people are fiercely independent, and hate to be disrupted when there pursuing their goals and working towards them. They hate to take help from anyone, and as a result are extremely competent. secondly, such people have a moral high ground, to which they religiously abide. They’re extremely righteous and stand up for those who wouldn’t be able to for themselves. Since from here, it aspects the 7th house of agreements, such people are great at understanding and signing contracts for work.

Now with the 8th house, we have a bit of a conundrum here honestly. It belongs to 2 types of houses, the moksha trikona houses (houses of salvation) as well as the Dushtana houses (evil houses). While this placement isn’t all that bad, it isn’t he best either. firstly though, this is a placement where the native always wins over their enemies (8th lord 6 houses away from itself), be it enemies as in people, or simply obstacles in their life. This also confers a long lifespan to people, given that his 8th lord is also exalted here. However such people are prone to accidents, given that the 1st house is the body, 8th house is sudden events and the natural 8th ruler mars is a karka or signifactor of vehicles. Such people are also against organized forms of religions, since the Dushtana lord is sitting in a dharma house. The native is also extremely private and secretive given the 1st house of self has the 8th lord of secrets sitting in it. Since it also aspects the 7th house of other people, this person has that aura of mystery about them because of this. Such people are deeply critical in nature but can have extreme wisdom in cases of hidden objects or matters of the occult.

Now coming to his aspects. His Venus is aspected by moon, Jupiter and Rahu. The first two are benefic in nature and the latter is malefic. Moon-Venus and Jupiter-Venus are also mutually aspecting each other in pairs here. Moon here gives Venus the property of being constantly cynical of themselves regards to what others may perceive them as, given moon is emotion and the 7th house here is other people. Their thoughts here are deeply influenced by other people, they may always keep serving other people too, through acts of service. This also makes someone who falls in love very easily, but it is important to engage this person’s mind in a relationship, they just cant do without an emotional bond here. Since Moon also represents fame in a chart, this makes a person very famous, as they receive attention from many people, and people want to analyze them, and enjoy their work and presence.

Jupiter here, makes the person level headed and practical. The person wouldn’t be all touchy feely with people they like, because they would like to remain more in control of the situation here. They’d rather engage in a full blown debate with someone, than hold hands. This also makes them very worldly and teacher like, while also being attracted to very worldly people themselves.

Rahu’s aspect on the other hand, makes someone stand out in a crowd (Rahu signifies an outcast), they may have a rough and cold exterior due to this. They may also have had issues with body image (1st house is self), or mental health here. These people are enamored by all things foreign, and love exploring the other cultures. They may have issues identifying with their own community at large, and may identify with the downtrodden of the society.

Now going to Jupiter and moon conjunction in the 7th house. I wont go very deep into this, as its a super interesting concept, and it’ll be better covered in the second part of the reading regarding the moon itself, so ill keep it short and related to the ascendant. Also the mutual aspect part will be explained in more detail in the miscellaneous section later. Plus this is getting far too long for even me now.

Getting on with the reading for now, moon and Jupiter here are in virgo, in a loose conjunction (one is at approximately 2’ and the other at 18’). This is actually one of the not very yogas (combinations)in a chart, about 15% of people have these. Its called the Gaj-Kesari yoga (the elephant and lion combination), because people with this are so extremely lucky, its like the kings of the jungle are together to support it. They have the wisdom of the elephant and the courage of a lion. This is a raj yoga (royal combination). a native born with Gaj-Kesari Yoga is intelligent, strong, and prosperous. Gaj or Elephant possesses immense strength and is devoid of pride and the Lion is known for his foresight and skillful intelligence as well as his strength, quickness, skillful leadership, ability and courage. Thus, when Gaj-Kesari Yoga is formed then that person is extremely successful. They will be a kind and philanthropic person, who will always have sympathy for others. They will be quite humble regarding work, would like to talk nicely to people and aim to attain spiritual progress in life. Many people will recognize them as their mentor or guide and will act according to their instructions or advice. They may have a tendency attracting people and people being magnetized by them. They will be blessed with abundant wealth and become the owner of movable and immovable property(cars as well as homes). They will establish relationships with rich and reputed people of the society and enjoy all kinds of material pleasures in life.

Since this occurs in virgo, it makes a person intelligent, sharp and gifts them with amazing memory power. Such a person is knowledgeable and can become the head of a large educational institution. He may own incomparable wealth and can earn a good name and money from business as well. Often such people earn a high reputation in the Stock Market and make progress in life by working in any financial institution or insurance sectors.

Here jupiter in particular makes someone extremely cynical in nature, and their mind is always, and I mean always, thinking about romantic relationships or platonic ones. However given that jupiter is also the 10th lord here, they could be extremely focused on work too. Their life is surrounded by contracts, and may work with others for a living(7th house is house of courts and partnership). They could be very interested in the financial sector here, they could be extremely money minded and money means stability to them. Moon here on the other hand makes the person very moody, and extremely dependent on their spouse or colleagues. Since it rules the fifth house here, it signifies that such people are extremely creative in their work, may work for children or young adults, have a lot of past life karma related to work, and also that they’re extremely devoted lovers. They tend to criticize their close friends and loved ones, just because they’re so cynical and blunt, and want the absolute best for people. They may hurt people’s feeling without realizing it sometimes. (this was very brief but refer to point 12)

Now coming to Saturn in 12th, as the lord of the birth nakshatra. Saturn over here signifies working in the fields of music, but given saturn represents electronics, it could mean a producer too. Since its in Aquarius here, a sign of dual lordship, this resents a constant up and down of mood and life spirit. The person with such a placement is confused with what truly makes them happy in life, the spiritual realm or the materialistic realm. They keep going up and down the path of being spiritual, till 36 years (saturn matters at 36). They may face a lot of mental disorders here. They may have trouble sleeping at night. Given saturn is also work, they may earn through foreign sources in life. Such a person invests money into properties (saturn is houses) and lacks liquid cash. The person may have a weak left eye (12th house is left eye). They may earn from multiple sources in life, and have multiple talents. Such people have low sex drives as saturn is a dry eunuch planet, and in the 12th house of bed pleasures, it may not allow native to enjoy it. They may not be interested in worldly pleasures with such placements.

Lastly (finally?), we have to discuss the looks! Pisces ascendents usually have the short to medium height, and tend to appear a little fuller even when they’re very scrawny. (its because jupiter is the largest planet). Uttarabhadrapada natives tend to have a very innocent look to them, a very calming nature and vibe. however, like the deep sea serpant, they have very deep and magnetic eyes, and a very expressive face (yoongi memes). They usually have a very beautiful smile, and can literally attract people with it (again the snake like quality). They tend to have a very blank look usually, and if you ever notice, they’ll have the most stunning eyelashes actually, given the yoni is the female cow. They might also have the habit of moving their mouth around when their thinking, quite like ruminating.

Given venus sits here, is gives the person very attractive, effeminate features. Think extremely renaissance type of soft features. It can give them very delicate hands and feet with such a placement. The moon aspect here, gives them a rounded face and pale skin. They might have sparkly eyes and a roundish appearance here, also the tendency to gain weight around their face, with short necks. They make also look much younger than their actual age.The jupiter aspect again makes the native very other worldly looking, almost like you can imagine them in a dark robe literally performing rituals. It gives people a calm and teacher type of vibe to them. The rahu aspect usually just blows qualities out of proportion. Have you seen how small and angelic suga looks compared to the other? (not saying they’re not angelic but still), thats the rahu aspect. Again, rahu aspects only get better with time.

So this was my analysis! If anyone has any questions or doubts, hit me up! Let me know if you enjoyed it!

[monsoonblooms12]

What Ethan & Pooja AU is this? #OpenHeartAU

Selcouth (Ethan x f!MC)

Summary: Set in Book 2, Pooja gets the recognition she deserves for solving Naveen Banerji's case.

Selcouth: Unfamiliar, rare, strange and yet, marvelous🤎

A/N: Thank you so much @beastlyinstrument for the visual prompt❤ I had fun thinking up and writing this piece.

A/N 2: The flashback portions are indented

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey X f!MC (Pooja Sharma)

Word Count: around 3.2K (I am sorry!)

Rating: General

Category: A bit angst, A bit fluff

Warnings: 1 Curse Word (again 😆)

Prompts: Late Submission for @choicesmonthlychallenge July challenge day 4: celebration

There was stark silence surrounding him as he scribbled out points from the morning meeting of the Diagnostics Team along with some of his own observations from the patient charts. The days have been nothing out of the blue since his return from the Cholera-ridden district of Amazons.

The steam from the warm coffee filled the entire office with its sweet aroma. With winters in their full force, there was a mystic chill all around the city and the warmth the coffee gave was extremely welcomed.

It took him 30 minutes to the tee to complete his morning paperwork. And as he arranged the white sheets in a clean stack, a slow groan escapes him. He had been so engrossed in work, that he had completely missed the fact that he had emptied his coffee cup.

Ethan looks up from his desk to the windows giving an enchanting view of the brumal grounds. Snowflakes, basking in the distant sun's glory, shining like iridescent jewels, fell slowly, silently to meet their origin.

It's too serene of a day to waste indoors.

The thought caught him somewhat by surprise, even if it was his encephalon producing it.

He had spent long years of his life away from focusing on diminutive happenings like the weather or the warmth of his favourite Vienna on a frosty day.

To appreciate the beauty of falling of the snowflakes today, was a slightly unusual change. He couldn't help but wonder as to what would have caused it.

He didn't need to wait long for an answer. Like a response to his unuttered query, the notification bell of his phone brought him out of his reverie and displayed her name with the joy of a student who had solved a difficult problem with ease on the first try. It was nothing out of the ordinary, just an email of her completed reports.

And yet, he was unable to control the breakout of butterflies in his stomach.

The feeling was orphic, and yet irenic.

As his heels tapped on the white floors, supposedly conducting an intriguing conversation with them, a faint intermix of voices reached him and stopped him in his tracks.

"You're wearing all black." It wasn't a question, but a fact that Alexandra's voice enunciated.

"Are you surprised?" A concordant voice questioned. Even if he didn't acknowledge it, it was one of his favourite euphonies.

"No. Impressed."

"I lost a bet to Bryce, and this is what I get in return." There is a pause. "It's a nice change though."

He can feel the smile that emerges out on her face at the end and feels his lips curl up, like a magnetic connection. He was caught off guard as he stood there thinking of the sweet nothings and sweet everythings of his reminiscences with her.

"Good Morning Dr Ramsey!"

It took him all his power to straighten himself, and to put on the stoic façade before responding,

"Good Morning Dr Walton."

Alexandra didn't initiate a conversation, just like he had expected. Bidding goodbye to her companion, she strode off her way.

Now, it was just him and her, standing in the middle of nowhere, eyes locked in intense focus, tied together with a string they find themselves unable to break.

She looked striking like she always did.

In every hue, every ensemble, at every hour, she knew how to induce that unnamed feeling in his heart.

All she had to do was to look at him the way she did, and his idiotic heart would skip a beat, and an ambrosial emotion would follow.

And what does one do when emotions go out of control?

Self Preservation.

Giving her a brisk nod, he dropped his gaze, hurrying away past her, not having the courage to look at the hurt caused.

Idiotic.

That's the only word he could use to describe his actions.

He could think of a trillion excuses, travel through a hundred bends on the roads of justification, but nothing would be enough to balance out the pain he was giving her. Not even his playlist of curses that he played in his mind every day to remind himself what he truly was.

An asshole.

As soon as his steps took him to the outdoors, the crisp cold winds blew through his hair, and he cherished the moment.

The apricity hugged him, and the scene that met his eyes, the world draped with a veil of phosphorescing snow, generated a euphoria he was unfamiliar with. As a minuscule flakelet fell on his outstretched hand, he realized that no one needs to spend a billion dollars to get happiness.

It is hidden amidst mundane things, and the only thing one has to do is to keep foraging for it.

Happiness can be made, it can be found. But can it be bought?

Never.

------------------

It was unusually calm at Derry's in the morning hours.

Not that he was complaining, of course.

In comfortable, long sips, he lets the caffeine overtake the tiredness and the heartache coursing through his body. The glare of the screen and ping of his cellular broke the aura of comfort that had spread out through the coffee shop. He wants to shut it off and throw it in a corner away from his sight, but decides against it.

It's a text from Naveen.

Skipping is not an option for today night!

A groan escapes him, the annoyance of another meet and greet taking away all the calm. He tried to convince him, but all efforts went futile. He plays the discussion all over again to find any loophole he can to escape the torture.

Flashback:

It's after hours and the wing of the hospital where Naveen's office was situated bore a silence. The amicable old man sat in his chair, leaning back as the younger one stood, with his back at him. It was obvious they had been arguing, but it seemed more like amusement for the old mentor and annoyance for the young protégé.

"There is no need-"

"Ethan, you have been repeating the same words for fifteen minutes now." Naveen chuckles.

"I very well know that there is no need for anything, dear friend. I just want a little bit of happiness and merriment in the hard times."

"I am not stopping you from doing that, Naveen, you know that. But what is the need of the celebration being about me?"

"Because you are a reason I am alive today." The man gives a melancholy smile, vision blurred as the near-death experience of the past year come sailing in front of him.

"This celebration is about you and Dr Sharma. Without the two of you, I would not have been here."

Ethan's features are clouded by the pain of losing his mentor, who has been like a father to him, and inspiration. His frown softens, annoyance long lost, as he comes as takes a seat and places his hand on his.

"Fine. I will do this. But only for you, okay?"

Naveen's lips curl up in a grateful, happy smile as if wordlessly conveying his thanks. As Ethan stands up and proceeds to leave, he cannot stop himself from laying out his observation,

"For her too."

And Ethan knew. He knew exactly whom this was about. And as much as he wanted to deny the assumption, he couldn't help but accept the truth in it. Of course, he was doing it for Naveen. But he was doing it for her too. She deserved it so much more than him. If she hadn't been there, the seat occupied by his mentor today would have been...

Flashback ends

As his eyes skim through the crisp pages of the medical journal absent-mindedly, he thinks of her again. The permanent occupant of his daydreams, who would still manage to come back, no matter how many resets he carried out.

He thinks of her attire from the hour before, hair in a neat long braid, dressed in a meticulously embroidered Indian attire. And then of the celebration at dusk, where she will finally receive the recognition she deserves.

All the doubts regarding her promotion to the Diagnostics Team would be washed away.

He remembers what she had told him a few days after he had heard those nasty rumours,

"I have proved myself and I know what's true. I don't need to show anyone else the testament of my abilities. As long as I am fair and just, their words can do no harm to me."

His admiration for her had increased phenomenally when she spoke those words to him.

His pride, his faith had not been misplaced when he picked her for the difficult voyage named Edenbrook.

He has never felt so proud of any other intern as much as he does of her.

His heart sings to him, his choice was correct. He doesn't let it elaborate itself, because one wrong move from his side would be more than enough to ruin this unpolished gem before she even gets a chance to shine.

Yes, he did tell her that some things are worth any risk, she is worth any risk, back in Miami. The reminiscences of the day still played on the screen of his mind in sepia, they lulled him to sleep.

But the risk to harm her fragile career before it even blossoms?

It wasn't just a risk, it was like a crime for him.

One which he refused to commit.

---------------------

As dusk falls and winter blues colour the land of snow in multichromatic hues, hiding any bit of orange from the setting sun, Pooja Sharma hums along with her favourite songs as she dresses up for the special evening.

No matter how much she wants to curl up in the folds of the soft Cashmere, she has to be in attendance. It's a strict order from her grand mentor and impossible for her to go past.

It's all black day, she reminds herself when picking the outfit. And she doesn't forget to leave a thank you note for Lekh as she finds the perfect one.

And now, as she stands, trying to complete the arduous job of creating a perfect eyeliner wing, a certain someone's reminiscences trouble her pained heart.

No matter how much she scolds it for its stupidity, trying to explain the futility of the hope of getting together, it never heeds, just continues to trouble her with the baritone of his that enchants her mind, the cologne that overpowers all her senses.

As she looks at the reflection in the speculum, she cannot help but imagine his reaction.

Will she even get a reaction?

Maybe just a nod, or a look.

No words.

She has convinced herself with it. It took some time, some stops, some pulls of an invisible harness, but she has convinced herself.

She's stopped hoping, soothing herself with whatever they shared, memories that felt like they belong to a bygone era, and a promise of treasuring them, just in case he ever decided to come back.

---------------------

In the vespertine hours, the diamond dust made the sun devoid city look like a fairytale. Any other time, he would have just worried about the sharp chill, probably cursing the snow.

Being so observant of the places he is a regular visitor at, it was a new experience for him.

Strange, even.

It's something that will take some time to get used to.

The interiors are warm. Minimally decorated, as he had requested. Not wanting to create a fuss, he bee-lines to the corner of the room, where the only occupant was emptiness. He decided to cherish the moments of solace before the bother of the vivacious crowd began, wanting to start a colloquy.

On instinct, he looks around, not being able to comprehend the reason why his heart leaps to his throat. And then a pang of disappointment overlaps that sudden nervousness.

The absence of one person, the feeling so profound.

It's magical.

Dangerous, but still, magical.

A mute scold follows. No matter how hard he tries, strives towards that unannounced aim of reset, his stupid heart and its childishness always ruin his plans.

The call of his name makes him turn around.

Naveen stands, jolly smile fixed in place, eyes sparkling with joy and...

Gratitude.

They chat, topics ranging from Diagnostic team cases to complaints of coffee. His orbs casually drift towards the entryway, in hope of seeing his dearest.

And as the astrologers say, the stars align, the universe comes into play, and the shimmer of black in the lambent atmosphere makes his heart skip a beat. He feels a smile emerging and hastily hides it with a scowl.

If he had to, he would have sworn that he looked like a clown.

Her ambers gaze around in a lucid, tender manner, in strike contrast to his a while ago.

There is a lack of haste, of worry, of unease.

Her very presence fills the air with tranquility and without his consent, his soul basks in it. After what felt like an eternity, their gazes meet.

Melt into each other like the wax of two candles.

Become inseparable.

She smiles, it's faint.

It seems more of a formality than a wish. The momentary cheer is replaced by a somber, melancholic expression. Her orbs drift away, gaze turns away as if to hide whatever was to come from him.

And he knows.

He's the reason.

Silence is suffocating, but right now, the chaos is even more constricting to him.

Everyone chatters, mingles, smiles.

Everyone except her.

She stands too still, flashing a half-hearted smile and half-hearted gaze here and there, as she is surrounded by the rest of her friends, preventing him from getting a better look.

As conflict rises in his interior, a to go or not to debate, the gulps of scotch become more frequent, the frown gets tighter and guilt gets heavier. Before he can drown down into the never-ending cascade of crippling self-hatred, there is a call of his name.

Naveen.

---------------------

Claps and whoots surround her, along with a cheer. She becomes the recipient of numerous bear hugs, and compliments as Naveen elaborates on her contribution to his recovery. It feels like a reel of situations played from her sweven. It took a pinch for her to realize that it wasn't.

A mic tap follows, it's Ethan's turn to speak. She freezes upon hearing her name getting repeated again. There is an uncanny depth to it, she notices. An indication that it conceals so much more than is visible. Not just pride, not just intoxicating happiness.

Gratitude, raw and pure gratitude.

And something else (or maybe not?)

Her focus all over the place, she missed a lot of the address. What stayed carved in golden words was a single sentence, unremarkably remarkable.

"It's not me, it's her. I lost all hope, but she was the one who fought till the very end, never giving up, even if she had thousands of storms to navigate through."

"There can be only one recipient of the applause today, and it's Dr Sharma."

Two contrasting emotions put her in a dilemma. Whether to let the water drops she held strongly to herself or to let the heartfelt joy induce the grin that would shine brighter than the stars the twinkle along with the forlorn moon?

Unable to decide, she let the cracks in her stoic mask deepen, let the faint upturn of lips become visible to the world. Every applaud fell short, in a haze, as the mere words spoken mere moments before played in a loop like a soft harmony.

The 360-degree turn of the evening gave her the most unexpected and the most precious memories.

The change of the blithe chilly eve to heartwarming dusk.

Rare, mysterious and yet, magnificent.

Selcouth.

---------------------

Ethan Ramsey, for the past decade of his extremely brilliant career, has never displayed even a minuscule amount of emotions. Never. The mask of stoicism fixed so perfectly, that no power could ever induce a crack in it.

No one could.

Until one day, an intern waltzed into his life like an unforeseen plot twist and induced changes no one ever could.

The mask has cracked, even if to a small degree, letting the minuscule details of a transformation out. Sometimes it could be as evident as a smile, or a genuine compliment to an intern. In other instances, it would be just the absence of the forehead frown (which had become a permanent resident at a point).

And now, the beloved plot twist of his novel stood before him, her eyes expertly decorated with kohl. She was quieter than usual, engaging in casual conversation, but prevented going into depths of it.

Their gazes never meet, only slide past each other.

He missed looking into the amber of hers, trying to figure out her thoughts like someone engaged with a very complex puzzle that ends up in a phenomenal picture.

He missed listening to her sweet whispers, mumbles which made him smile more than he had for the past decade.

He missed her.

The universe is always planning a conspiracy to make destiny true. And it's definitely an action of its, that his hand extends towards her, wordlessly.

She gazes at it, gazes at him, thinks for a while.

And finally, slips her hand, bejeweled with that bracelet she wore in Miami. He still remembers it placed on his heart, which beat at an erratic rhythm.

Which beats at an erratic rhythm now.

Looking at the Bostonian sky, only drapes of translucent mist could be seen all around. No twinkles, even the moonbeams were struggling to reach them. The silence is comfortable, only interrupted by the sips of steaming hot coffee.

Her eyes are fixed above, in a search for the hidden celestial elements. His focus stayed on the snowflakes resting on his jacket.

He leans back, places a hand down.

There is a lack of warmth.

Soon enough, another hand joins him.

The cold is gone.

And so is his search of moonbeams.

Her touch felt like light, his own moonbeam. So soft, so warm, so dear. Something he could keep etched on his skin forever.

She was his moon.

And for her, those summery blue orbs held depths of the ocean, the faint, soft wrinkles that languid years leave behind as a mark of their passing like map lines of some unknown lands.

He was her world.

In every universe, through trials and tribulations, through pain and smiles, they were destined to find their way to each other. No one powerful enough to keep them apart.

Not even they themselves.

It was a cosmic state of comfort they found themselves in. His hand in hers, their fingers interwoven, the reflex etched in his mind with an everlasting ink.

He has never believed in soulmates, but as he as leans back, eyes closed, hair fluttering along with the icy-cold breeze, having her by his side, he couldn't bring himself to believe this was anything less than destiny.

That even after so many trials of forgetting her, he would always come back to her, searching for the serenity he only finds in her presence.

The feeling is rare, confusing, maybe terrifying.

But right now, he basks in the warmth that it provides, all worries and all woes are hidden in a wooden box, discarded away from his sight. And unbeknownst to even him, he waits for the day he can kiss her the way he wants to, no ties, no binds holding them away.

Yes, he waits for the day.

PS: If you are reading this, I am very grateful for you. Thank you for reading and I hope you have a great day🤎

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@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

[mfkinanaa]

SUN IN LEO.

Leo: Fixed Fire       

Ruler: The Sun

Keywords: Creativity, Love, Warmth, Self-Expression, Leadership

Functional Expression: Confident, self-expressive, loyal, honourable, affectionate, regal, romantic, fun.

Dysfunctional Expression: Vain, selfish, arrogant, hedonistic, dictatorial, extravagant, superficial, snobbish.

Living with Passion.

Born with the Sun in Leo, you are likely to be motivated by the need to experience life from a place of fun, passion and creative self-expression.

Leo is the Fixed Fire sign of the Zodiac. Its symbolic qualities are described by the physical influence of the Sun. Leos can be gifted with outgoing qualities such as radiance, confidence and energy. These they freely share with those around. The Sun is at the centre of the solar system and the sign of Leo relates to qualities which encourage growth.

Most often, Leos feel the need to organize and lead. Because those with the Sun in Leo look at the world from a central point view, they see themselves as the focal point of everything. Because they see themselves as pivotal, they naturally feel entitled to rule.

At their best, Leos lead with generosity, warmth and strength. They are learning what it means to be confident, and encourage others to be the best that they can be.

In fact, leadership is a special quality of this sign. Others will look to Leo to provide cohesiveness and direction.

Over time, Leos must learn to accept this role with humility and good grace.

Self-assuredness and a willingness to lead often comes naturally. Leos have gifts of vitality and popularity that assist them on the way. Because of the need to be centre-stage, they thrive on attention and approval. Within moderation, this is fine.

But taken to excess, this can manifest as a constant search for recognition that reveals an insecurity about where their true value lies. Theirs is a journey toward developing a healthy sense of self.

Accordingly Leos are often happy in the spotlight, and will readily become the life of the party if the situation requires. More retiring Leo types may avoid this attention, but secretly wish it was theirs. Whilst Leos may not always want to be centre of attention, it is important they learn to develop the confidence to shine and lead, so that these gifts can be shared.

Learning to be Confident.

Despite these outgoing and entertaining qualities, those with the Sun in Leo tend to struggle with deep insecurities about their value and worth. Leos are not born for the spotlight. They are learning how to be in charge.

Because of this there is an existential angst that sits at the centre of this sign. Beneath a confident and sunny exterior can hide an insecure little cub. This cub needs constant reassurance to know it is accepted by others, and so fundamentally alright.

Sometimes this insecurity overtakes their natural desire to shine. Some with the Sun in Leo prefer to bloom from the sidelines, rather than stand in the limelight. Whether this is due to real shyness, or a deeper insecurity, will be shown over time.

The Child Within.

This ‘existential angst’ deserves closer inspection. Despite the apparent confidence and self-assuredness of Leo, this is actually a deeply mystic or religious sign that is intrinsically connected to the mystery of Life.

Leo rules the forces of creation – the process which governs the emergence of something from idea/inspiration into form. At a broad level, this lends those with the Sun in Leo an innate connection to creative processes and many times a creative streak.

The mystery at the heart of creativity is essentially unknowable, and may be divine. It is within the pulsing heart of this mystery that Leos look to discover their source.

Are they really a Divine Child born to live out some unique destiny? Or are they just a chance conglomeration of emotions, opportunities, opinions and needs? Is there really something inside which makes them special? Or are they simply playing out a one-dimensional role?

Finding fun in the moment will help them sort these issues out. They need to connect with their inner-child and remember its ok to play.

Spending time cultivating their creativity through hard work and self-discipline helps them learn what they are good at and what they love. Whatever path they choose in life, it should be one that meets their sense of passion and urge for self-expression.

By taking up the opportunity to do things that make them feel special, they gain the self-approval which will stand them in good stead. Once Leo knows what they do well, they can “launch their promotional tour”. When feeling secure in their own abilities, they will instinctively know when it is time to ascend to the podium, and when it is time to get off!

A major part of the Leo journey involves having the courage to follow their passions and developing the skill required to be good at them.

The Mystery of Creation.

At a philosophical level, Leo is connected to the utterly human need to know the Source. They may be attracted to magic, mysteries and enchantment. For the Leo individual, there is often a very private insecurity (or introversion) that drives them to seek the mysteries of life. They know that life tends to “favour” them, but they have no idea what they have done to deserve this or whether it will continue. Is it of their own making? Or does it come from a source higher than themselves?

Through understanding the act of creation, those with the Sun Leo secretly hope to reconnect with the source of Life itself, to discover where they have come from and so where they are meant to go.

Yet in order to find answers they must face a fundamental truth – it is only through the loss of personal meaning that eternal truths are found. Leos often encounter a period in their lives (and there may be more than one) in which they cannot rely on luck, courage and charm to get them through.

Then they must make a deeper voyage – into the Heart of Darkness – a deeply personal place.

When they accept their shadow side then they know the brilliance of their light. Through depression and spiritual yearning, Leo comes to understand in a truly personal way where their radiance lies.

A Dark Heart.

Within the Heart of Darkness, a curious beast stirs. When failing to operate from the highest ideals and motivations, Leos can become ruthless despots and manic “drama queens”.

When they are not secure in who they are they can become enraged with the idea that they are not receiving their rightful dues. Traditionally Leo was called a bestial sign, with all the ugliness this implies

As much as they can be light, bright and full of sunshine, they can also become complaining, vain and self-centred black-holes, destroying everything around them in a monstrous rage of dissatisfaction.

The deep-rooted insecurity that sits at the centre of this sign can take over, clouding their other more attractive qualities. The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland is typical of a displaced Lion. She destroys what she cannot have out of a desperate insecurity that someone else has more than her.

Leo must guard against the tendency to feel outrage when they do not receive their “due”. They must come to terms with feelings of petulance and self-indulgence, to remember that everyone is special in their own terms. When Leo finds their own light they do not covet what is not theirs.

The Lion’s Domain.

Just like the lion which is their symbol, a Leo must have their own domain. In certain ways, Leos gain a sense of personal authenticity by having precedence and being able to take charge. They need an area of focus where they know that they can “rule”.

This can be the home, the job or the local football team. Managed wisely, Leos blend passion, vitality and creative interest in such a way that they ensure everyone benefits from the outcome. Passion is the key-word here, for as a sign ruled by the qualities of the heart, Leos tend to want to lead in whatever area of life generates passion and meaning for them.

Failure to offer respect, or question the Leo’s authority or right to rule, can have dire consequences.

Leos hate to be told what to do, and may rise up in self-righteous indignation should anybody question a decision they have made. They are best left to feel in charge of their domain, for it is here that any inherent insecurity will diminish, and the more noble qualities of the sign can eventually shine through.

Romance and Affection.

As the sign of romance, Leos also specialize in affection, grand gestures and big gifts. Leo is connected to the expression of love. Chasing the thrill of romance is one of their favourite pastimes.

They make warm and generous lovers who take the time to enjoy the art of love. Yet whilst they will often display a great affection and tenderness to others that makes them exciting to be around, the flow of attention can eventually become one way.

Once the thrill of the initial chase is done, Leo can tend to expect more for themselves than they are prepared to give. As a basically self-centred sign, Leo will easily get wrapped up in the importance of their own self-expression once they have captured another’s heart.

They may expect unending adoration and lavish proofs of affection, but may not be so ready on the return. For Leo, the fun of relationship lies in the romance, and after the initial gestures are made, attention is likely to shift back to their own demands, sometimes leaving partners out in the cold.

This can be especially problematic in relationships where the partner is less independent or needs constant reassurance themselves. In this degree, the evolved Leo should remember – to ensure happiness they should give as good as they expect, so ensuring that the flow of mutual generosity and reward stays open, even when the other’s heart has been won.

Sun in Leo: Your Solar Journey.

If you were born under the sign of Leo, your task here on Earth is to shine. You are likely to be gifted with qualities such as confidence, warmth, good humour and a generosity of spirit that make you easy to be around. Because of your innate sense of being at the centre of everything, you are ideally suited to organizing others and taking charge. Yet stepping into this role as the central organizing principle within others lives requires you to confront and eventually vanquish the deeper insecurities that you carry inside.

You are likely to be a highly creative and self-expressive individual, and when you take the time to understand and develop your capacities before expecting others to recognize and approve of them, you will learn to appreciate yourself. Then you can step out into the limelight when the moment requires without simultaneously demanding attention, recognition and applause. All this will come naturally to you in time, greatly assisted by your sunny disposition and effortlessly radiant charm.

[thesunlounge]

Reviews 364: X.Y.R.

X.Y.R. is among my absolute favorite purveyors of transportive balearica, soothing synth ambient, and mysterious fourth world, and ahead of writing about his epic, mystical, and deeply zoned out Pilgrimage LP on Not Not Fun, I’d like to take some time to write about the artist’s Tourist, which saw a cassette repress by Ingrown Records a few months ago, after originally being released by the label on vinyl back in 2017. X.Y.R.–real name Vladimir Karpov–has explored a range of fantastical and otherworldly textures across his discography, whether through his increasingly psychedelic collaborations with Not Not Fun, or through releases such Robinson Crusoe (Lost Soundtrack), El Dorado, and Artika, all of which explore sonic narratives both mythical and imagined. But amongst all the shades and styles he has worked with, I am perhaps most fascinated by his journeys into tropical dreamworlds and horizontal paradises, such as those found on the Big Calm cassette. And in many ways, Tourist was a spiritual successor to that album, as both releases perfectly soundtrack lazy days spent at seaside, with music that is seemingly meant to evoke the feeling of swaying in a hammock strung between two palm trees, as warm salt-air, rhythmic waves, and perfumes from exotic flowers lull the mind into a meditative state of bliss. As always, X.Y.R. colors over his beloved Formanta-Mini and Alisa1387 analog synthesizers with pedal fx, an RC-20 loop station, and field recordings, while also giving space to the guitar of Dmitriy Borodin on album opener “Celler Florida Fiesta.” And just as on the vinyl release, Alexandr Dimov’s evocative artwork graces the cover, with his visage of a fisherman gazing at some glorious sunset perfectly encapsulating the album’s paradisiacal evocations of a relaxing island escape.

X.Y.R. - Tourist (Ingrown Records, 2017 / 2020) In opener “Celler Florida Fiesta”, percolating synthesizers shimmer like Carribean crystals, only as if seen through a mirage of seafoam. Vocalized bass textures fade in and mechanical loops click, pulse, and breath while bird whistles flutter at the edge of the mix. Reverb-soaked field recordings move around the periphery as the synths occasionally lock into playful tropicalisms that pull my mind the work of Hosono…these bleary and blurry themes of child-like wonderment and equatorial ecstasy. Everything is held together by hushed rhythms of reverberating click and clack, while fourth world hooks whoosh back and forth between pan-pipes and whistles. And by the end, the abstracted tropical loops and drunken themes of seaside mirth begin to suggest an android’s approximation of an island lullaby. The swirling warmth of “Bon Voyage” follows, with organic bass thumps and hissing cymbals flowing through dub delay chains. New age synthetics smear and smoldering subsonic waves work through melodies of equatorial splendor, with looping phrases bathing the mind in a summer sunshine glow. Reggae-hued textures spread outwards amongst echoing chord bursts, hazy heatwave pads diffuse in from distant horizons, and as the basslines recede, white noise whispers and sighing seed shakers add polyrhythmic movement. Soviet-era synths cycle through mermaid melodies that dance across the stereo field, and bass notes swim dreamily in one ear, only to have starscape leads resume their phrase on the other side of the spectrum. 

Pads hover amidst bubbling liquids at the outset of “Bathyscape Journey,” and dreamspace synth circulations merge with white noise shaker patterns. ASMR clicks and electroacoustic whispers flutter as those hovering pads reach towards an impossibly beautiful horizon, and faded whistles emerge to lead a relaxing island sway. The mix overflows with texture and movement as underwater gemstones generate sparkles that trail off to the far reaches of the stereo field, and lush layers of reverb create an otherworldly effervescence…as if the entire mix is bathed in softened layers of pearlescent fizz. Deep chords evoke a choir of masculine sea sprites, and something in the melodies recalls the folk music of the southeastern Pacific. Tapped cymbals evoke drumsticks splashing into metalloid pools of static and further folksy whistles melt over the mix, which increasingly evokes a psychedelic paradise of tropical wonderment, wherein colorful creatures of the seafloor play strange woodwinds of shell and coral while analog cloudforms swirl all around. Next comes “Mountain Drift” and the sounds of breath, children, and bubbling synth pulsations that increasingly grow in magnitude. Insectoid rattles are heard far away and blurring layers of squarewave synthesizer intermingle, as dazzling phrases and interlocking echo patterns flow in from all directions. Mystical temple melodies evoke an ancient forest shrouded in fog, but the sounds of humanity are never far from reach, as snippets of childlike chatter coalesce with birdsong and industrial factory detritus. I’m reminded at times of the distinctive new age and environmental ambient of Inoyama Land, as well as of minimalism, due to the increasing presence of bouncing curlicues. kinetic echo cycles, and psychoactive sound loops.

In “Captain’s Pipe,” avian conversations surround soft focus synth melodies that move through longform ascents and descents. Harmonious wavefronts of organ-esque tonality bath the body in ecclesiastical light and sequencers constructed from ocean crystals dazzle the mind, with time signatures not quite aligning, and thus creating a vibe of daydream intoxication. Keys buzz in the left ear and voices speak in the distance, and though I know not the title’s origin, I like to imagine it as the name of some café deep in the jungle…a sort of harmonious glow of life and culture in the heart of a rainforest, with people basking in tropical melodics and conversing about nothing at all while birds paradise flit from tree to tree. Flowing seamlessly into “Euphoria,” heavenly tones quiver like Spacemen 3, only as if heard underwater and surrounded by bubble clouds that erupt from seafloor vents. Space age whistles and meditative pads whisper together until suddenly, the track develops into a fully formed island groove, one that sees equatorial basslines thumping, shakers sketching out rhythms of seaside mesmerism, and synthesizers harmonizing together, with tones ghostly, otherworldly, and again recalling the worlds of City Pop (think Wonder City Orchestra and Jun Fukamachi’s ambient work). Wavering leads dance around the spectrum while being tracked by percussive sparkles and elsewhere, bubbling currents flow upwards before dispersing into shards of light. Eventually, those groovy basslines recede as seasick synth work diffuses into the mix, but it’s a false ending into whirlpool of angelic shimmers and metallic wisps, for soon enough, the thumping bass jam returns, bringing with it atmospheres of a thrilling seaside sashay.

Reverberating voices sit above a drunken bass gallop in “Cocktail Party,” as if meant to suggest a futuristic saloon town by the sea. Thudding percussions underly the bass motions while tropical hazes flutter in and out of focus…all while vibrato atmospheres cycle through strange patterns. Percussive pads mimic steel drums, smears of feedback arc in the distance, and the beats cut momentarily before dropping back in, with the body falling ever further into the loping sway. There’s a touch of Ethiopian music intermingling with spaghetti western soundtrack work, and at times the vibe presages the more blissful and balearic moments from SiP’s Leos Naturals. And later, further melodic layers descend to create harmonizing polyrhythms as the titular cocktail party precedes somewhere deep in the mix. The glimmering synthesizer wavefronts of “Coconut Haze” emerge from crowd chatter, while slow motion loops whirl around bass pulses that are felt more than heard. Strings synths diffuse into clouds of gas and heatwave leads flutter upwards while lullaby arpeggiations sit deep in the background ether…their subdued rhythms eventually enhanced by ceremonial drums and tambourine jangles. Electronics evoke the feeling of being surrounded by a summer storm, with gentle layers of resonance joining together and generating soft spiritual howls. The body sways back and forth on the paradise rhythms, and hissing textures of pink noise and serene static surround the spirit, again evoking a cleansing bath of rainfall. Closer “Vanishing Point” begins with garbled electronics and reversing streaks of angelic radiance–the vibe gentle at first–but growing increasingly strange was the track progresses. Tapped cymbals and tambourines flow in as arps made of glowing glass fire across the spectrum, generating dazzling light patterns that seem to emanate from some unseen center. Berlin school textures are filtered into vaporwave crystals before ascending on currents of rainbow energy, and the melodies are enhanced with a sense of wistful nostalgia akin to 50s pop…like a paradise remembered, or perhaps only dreamed.

(images from my personal copy)

[thatboomerkid]

RIFT

RIFT is an obscure Discipline -- rare in the extreme, born of anguish & remorse, sharpened through tear-streaked centuries of nightly struggle against the most obscene appetites -- that allows practitioners of its weird, flagellant art-form to coalesce their Beast into a quasi-living, sentient Umbral Realm bound eternally to their shadow: a sprawling, labyrinthine nightmare-dimension.

Through this monstrous realm, the Damned may walk.

And in this place, other things -- ancient things, titanic, hungry and inhuman -- soar corpse-pale skies lit by rotting, pulsating black stars, and dive through creaking forests of twisted-iron atrocity rising from endless oceans of blood.

Rift is an updated Discipline designed for use with Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition, inspired by content from A World of Darkness (First Edition, 1992).

Brought to you absolutely free to enjoy, to test & to share – as always – by the fine folks of my Patreon.

If you enjoy this content and would like to see more dark, modern horror game-material by the author, the Bloodlines & Black Magic Kickstarter is going on right now.

Hugest of thanks to John Miętus for his invaluable editing-assistance and development during the creation of this fan-content.

image from here

HISTORY

In the long black centuries between the rise of the Baali from their cursed organ-pit and the ascendance of House Tremere to majestic undeath, it is known that Saulot performed innumerable private pilgrimages to far-flung, moonlit realms in an eternal, fruitless search for the enlightened state whispered of as Golconda.

Some occult scholars claim that, in desperation, the Antediluvian sat silently for several decades at the feet of Shinbutsu-shūgō masters, wreathed in holy incense, the toll of tsurigane and a coil of unending thirst: contemplating the infinite sins of his undying lineage, reflecting upon his Heaven-ordained duty to his Progenitor and seeking to divest himself of all worldly attachment.

If so, it is possible that his incalculable and fathomless meditations produced the first echo of what would come to be known in later millennia as Rift.

Whether this is truth or mere fabrication, students of esoteric history trace the first known demonstrations of the Rift Discipline to a nomadic brood of Malkavians calling themselves ‘Gaki’ -- or ‘Hungry Ghosts’ -- who hunted the Silk Road during the 8th century. These wandering, blood-drenched emperors of jade & dust claim to have been taught the technique by a wandering Far-Eastern mystic who bore a shining third eye upon his brow & spoke in koan-like riddles about the Ten-Thousand Hells awaiting the Children of Caine.

The Gaki Bloodline

Rumors persist that a true bloodline of Malkavians -- or Malkavian Antitribu -- eventually emerged from among the far-wandering Gaki coteries, and that the eerie bloodline persists into the modern nights; a minority of Gehenna researchers claim that a cabal of such creatures were active in Tokyo as recently as the 1970s, drifting silently through the long, smog-shrouded neon shadows of that vast metropolis in search of fresh-spilt blood.

If there is any truth to these claims, those of the Gaki Bloodline suffer the full Derangement weakness of their parent clan; in addition, their perceptions are twisted by their hunger: when a Gaki is down to a number of Blood Points lower than her Humanity or Path rating, her world fades into a sinister & ghostly sea of potential victims, immediate physical threats, drifting fog and the whispers of the kumonosu. During this time, she is unable to focus on any other input -- such as traffic lights, the distant sound of gunfire or whether she’s standing in an apartment, on the street or in a fetish-club -- unless she expends a point of Willpower to shake off the unreal cloak of her hallucinations for the remainder of the scene.

The Gaki possess the Bloodline Disciplines of Auspex, Obfuscate and Rift.

Elder members of the Bloodline are known to have traded extensively in ancient nights with far-voyaging Gangrel of the Silk Road, and often possess some combination of Animalism (for use in controlling the Beast), Fortitude (for use in surviving botched Courage rolls when evoking Rift) and Protean (for general use in traveling the winding paths of the world in safety).

Since that time, the Discipline has vanished and resurfaced repeatedly, passed from master to apprentice; in these Final Nights, it is as likely to be practiced by a Nosferatu neonate dwelling in the gutters beneath a methadone clinic as it is to be wielded by a salon of elder Toreador Antitrubu who make an art of their own grandiose self-destruction.

The technique is very quietly forbidden within the Camarilla, as a pair of recurring themes amongst those who practice the art-form are a fondness for Diablerie and a penchant for experimentation in Dark Thaumaturgy ... although knowledge of the art is also -- somewhat surprisingly -- kept in secret among several coteries of particularly puritanical Josian devil-hunters.

REQUIREMENTS

Rift may only be taught by another, more-experienced master of the art-form. It cannot be learned from demons, spirits or other non-Kindred tutors. It cannot be gained at Character Creation nor selected as a Caitiff Discipline or Additional Discipline (pg. 494) unless explicitly approved by the Storyteller.

Once a Kindred has a greater number of dots in Rift than she possesses in any other Discipline, she may thereafter instruct herself in the Discipline through meditation; after this time, she no longer requires a tutor.

A Kindred may only possess a total score in Rift equal to one half the total number of points of Humanity she has lost since her Embrace.

Thus, a Kindred may not gain her first dot of Rift until she has lost at least 2 points of Humanity. If she wishes to gain a second dot in Rift, she must have lost at least 4 points in Humanity.

An elder who wishes to gain her sixth dot in Rift must, therefore, have lost at least 12 points in Humanity over her long, blood-splattered unlife.

In addition, upon gaining her first dot in Rift, the practitioner of this art gains the Nightmares Flaw (pg 485). She gains no bonus points of any kind for accepting this Flaw. If she already possesses Nightmares, the novice practitioner of Rift must instead select another Mental Flaw -- such as Deep Sleeper or Lunacy -- as deemed appropriate by the Storyteller, representative of her new reality: each time she slumbers, she is pulled deep into her own Rift to experience the most grotesque of tortures at the hands of her Beast ... and all its victims.

Note that proficiency in Rift is in no way dependent upon a vampire’s current Humanity total: a vampire with a Humanity of 10 could freely learn & utilize five full dots worth of Rift, so long as she had lost at least 10 points of Humanity at some point in her past.

image from here

PHILOSOPHY

Rift is, fundamentally, about grief & regret.

It is about falling into the Abyss. It is about witnessing yourself lose the grand, shadow-draped chess-match against your own ravening Beast in a slow, ugly war of attrition. It is about shame, sorrow & self-reproach. It is about confronting your own subconscious desire to be punished for your sins, watering this garden with blood, and allowing the tangled forest of self-hatred to grow wild, dark & unchecked. It is about accepting one’s own damnation and the personal hell that comes with it, facing-down your worst fear wrought in a storm of ash & flame, and dying -- torn into a thousand screaming fragments -- over and over and over again.

It is about what awaits you in the dark, whether at the end of another blood-slick night of terror or at the final, jagged end of a squandered immortality.

On the surface, of course, Rift is about bridging the world of flesh to the nightmare realm, dancing along the weirding way between them with a twist of will & blood, flaunting the crude, limited physics of this concrete universe.

And, up to a point, it is that as well.

For these reasons, tutoring a potential student in Rift is prohibitively difficult.

For one, it is near-impossible for an instructor to gauge how much torment their would-be apprentice has already endured. Has this supplicant to the power you wield already begun to feel her soul & sanity crumble, crawling her way back up with broken fingers from the awful precipice of the gaping, blood-slick pit?

Or is she a mere pretender to such evil?

If she has not yet begun to grow her own Rift & populate the personal hell that she will soon steal-into like a thief, how do you tell an apprentice “go now, and commit atrocities, that you might regret them later?”

How do you remind her that the Beast is ever hungry, that it feasts with cold delight in the deep blackness upon those who would seek to dance around it?

Most Kindred simply do not possess the temperament to master Rift, and it is all but unknown among those who walk a Path of Enlightenment.

SYSTEM

Much like Obfuscate, Rift requires no expenditure of Vitae to activate its power. It requires concentration and cannot be used in Frenzy.

In addition, it is -- in theory -- quite a subtle power, with few obvious effects visible to the outside observer.

Any use of Rift automatically causes all mundane and electronic recording equipment within line of sight of the practitioner to glitch-out for a split-second; a video-camera cannot capture an image of hell by training on the Damned, instead recording only a few frames of static & distortion.

However, a practitioner of the Discipline must always first attempt a Courage roll whenever she channels the nightmare of her own private damnation; attempting this roll does not require an action, and the Difficulty of this roll is always equal to 4 + the level of the Discipline power to be activated.

DECLARING INTENT

Whenever a Damned chooses to activate any ability of the Rift discipline, she must specify exactly what level of the Discipline she intends to use. She cannot, for example, activate Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge and then -- once within her Rift -- decide to activate Dance of Unstable Nightmares unless she immediately attempts an additional Courage roll.

If this roll is unsuccessful, one of the following three things occurs:

the ability fails, as the Damned -- at the last moment -- draws back in terror from the eternity of suffering she has built for herself, brick by blazing & razor-wreathed brick.

the Damned may expend a point of Willpower, forcing open the gateway between worlds through sheer desperation.

the roll is a Botch, which has special rules noted below.

If the practitioner chooses to force the power of her Rift upon the unsuspecting world in this way, the effects of her Discipline are Obscene, as noted below.

A practitioner of Rift may always choose to voluntarily fail her Courage roll (no roll required), expend her Willpower and unleash her Rift in a wave of Obscenity, if she so desires.

If the Courage roll is Botched, the practitioner is consumed in a wave of horror & nightmare-flame emanating from the Rift bound to her. This deals a number of levels of Aggravated damage equal to the level of the Discipline power to be activated.

This damage may be soaked as normal (via Fortitude).

This damage is additionally reduced by one level for each religious item or icon the Damned carries; these items are destroyed utterly when the raw power of her unleashed Rift tears through her: silver crosses are deformed into unrecognizable twists of tarnish & rust, wooden prayer-beads blaze for a single moment with unholy fire before being reduced to greasy ash, and earrings emblazoned with the Sacred Heart shatter into splinters of smoking ruin with a bitter scream and a waft of brimstone.

The Damned may carry a total number of such items or icons equal to her Humanity score. These items must be worn or carried for at least 24 hours before they may be sacrificed in this way.

Note that religious items carried by the practitioner of Rift must match the faith (if any) of the Damned: atheist Kindred cannot benefit from them at all, and most creatures cannot gain the benefits of both a Star of David and a Holy Rosary at the same time.

Members of the Gaki Bloodline, famously, were the exception to that rule: true Universal Polytheists, they adorned themselves with sacred items from every culture they encountered, practicing as many good-luck & purification rituals as they could learn in an eternal mania to ward-off evil.

image from here

LEVEL ONE:

Echo of Hells: Upon activating this technique, the practitioner of Rift chooses any one creature who likewise suffers the hunger of an undying Beast; she may communicate silently with that individual for the remainder of the scene.

This creature must be within line-of-sight to the Damned for contact to be established (but see below).

All attempts to communicate with this creature are automatically successful unless the other Damned chooses to block such contact; a Howl of the Devil-Tiger Kuei-jin who speaks only Early Middle Japanese may choose to ignore the alien whispers of a Western undead channeling the screams of her Rift, but their communication otherwise surpasses all language barriers.

If the Damned chooses to communicate with a fellow practitioner of the Rift Discipline who is known intimately to her, this communication may be performed over any distance; she must know the name, face, scent, touch and taste of her partner before communication may be joined in this way.

This technique, at the Storyteller’s discretion, may be used to communicate with creatures including ghouls, as they are subject to Frenzy, as well as Black Spiral Dancers, Nephandi, Formori and Risen but it cannot -- for the most part -- otherwise be used to communicate with mortals.

Obscene: If this technique is unleashed as Obscene, all creatures within ten feet of the chosen target hear a cacophony of discordant & hideous whispers emanating from the target for as long as your communication lasts.

Unlike more potent gifts of this Discipline, mere exposure to this technique is not enough to harm flesh.

LEVEL TWO:

Unveil Damnation: By use of this technique, the practitioner of Rift may draw another into her shadow-realm of eternal agony, if only for a moment, forcing her target to bear witness to the vampire’s private hell ... and to endure, for the space of a mortal heartbeat, its myriad torments.

This is a fully-immersive psychic onslaught: the victim cannot avoid this experience by averting her eyes, nor by covering her ears and screaming, although many creatures will instinctively attempt to do so.

ON THE TEN-THOUSAND HELLS

It is known that each Rift opens upon a different realm of perfect suffering, each uniquely tailored by the Beast of the Damned to accentuate the fear, shame, violence, frustration, guilt, trauma and horror they have endured ... and perpetuated, returned onto them a thousand-fold.

Before a player may gain any levels in the Rift Discipline, she must be able to describe to her Storyteller the basic nature of her particular damnation: one might be a breathtakingly beautiful rain-drenched forest, with a different victim of the Damned crucified upon each tree, through which she is chased in nightmare by the flaming corpses of all those she has Diablerized; another Rift might open into an endless, boiling desert of black sand, pillars of salt, coils of rusted razor-wire and pits of jagged glass shards, watched-over eternally by seven hateful, cataract bio-luminescent spheres roiling across the bruise-colored sky in a chorus of screams.

A Storyteller should work closely with her player to help detail this realm, drawing from the character’s misdeeds, phobias and failures.

This ability functions identically to the Level 2 Presence ability Dread Gaze (see page 194) with the following adjustments:

The Damned rolls Perception + Awareness to determine her success with this ability rather than Charisma + Intimidation.

This is not a Presence ability and is thus not subject to defenses such as Pavis of Foul Presence (pg. 236).

The victim of this technique may immediately attempt a Perception + Empathy roll (Difficulty equal to the practitioner’s current Willpower). If this roll is successful, she gains deep insight into the Nature, Demeanor, psychology and morality of the Rift-practitioner; at Storyteller discretion, this may give the victim an advantage against the Damned in later scenes or allow her to predict the Rift-practitioner’s next move.

Obscene: If this technique is unleashed as Obscene, all creatures within ten feet of the intended target bear witness to the same flash of utter horror ... and are thus subject to the effect of the ability (although the Difficulty to terrify these additional targets is doubled from its base; the Damned rolls Perception + Awareness separately for each target). Each target, as normal, may attempt a Perception + Empathy roll to analyze the tormented inner psyche of the Rift-practitioner.

In addition, the initial target of this ability suffers one level of lethal damage from exposure to such horror; the Difficulty to soak this damage is equal to 2 + the level of the Discipline used (see below).

image from here

LEVEL THREE:

Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge: By use of this technique, the Damned may depart the world and physically enter her own Rift, vanishing as she steps backwards into her own shadow.

The Damned is invisible & intangible while hidden within her Rift, but she may be observed as an eerie, discolored silhouette in empty space by any outside observer scanning the area with Auspex or a similar supernatural perception ability.

She may only carry clothing, keepsakes, one-handed weapons and other small personal items with her when she steps into her Rift in this way; she may not carry other creatures with her, nor anything that requires more than one hand to hold. Any object too large, heavy or bulky to be carried across (subject to Storyteller discretion) is simply dropped at her feet in the world of the living when the Damned steps into her own Rift in this way.

Experienced practitioners of Rift can often instinctively guess what objects are too large to be carried across in this way, and are rarely surprised at being stripped of their held possessions when evoking this technique.

The Damned may choose to leave items within the realm of her private hell and retrieve them later.

At the conclusion of each turn spent in her personal hell, the Damned must succeed at a Courage roll with a Difficulty equal to her Conscience. Upon failing this roll, she returns to the night-lit world of the living. She may always choose to return of her own volition before failing this roll. Returning from her private hell does not require an action.

The Damned is always aware of what occurs directly on the other side of the veil between worlds -- in the space she previously occupied -- and may gaze out of her personal hell to observe the world beyond without any roll.

The Damned always returns to the living world in the same spot from which she departed, stepping back into the space she previously occupied.

Obscene: If this technique is unleashed as Obscene, the depths of the practitioner’s personal hell are briefly visible for all to see as the Damned steps backwards; all creatures who witness the Damned vanish are subject to the Obscene version of the Level 2 Rift ability Unveil Damnation, as above. In addition, the Damned leaves residue from her private hell on all surfaces with which she was in-contact when this technique is activated, potentially marking the floor upon which she stood with foul rain-water, drifts of ashen rust or tiny shards of gore-caked bone, glass and ceramic tile.

The practitioner of Rift may choose a single target within her line of sight when she uses this Unveil Damnation ability to be the initial or “intended” target of the ability. She must stare directly at that single target when this technique is activated.

LEVEL FOUR:

Dance of Unstable Nightmares: When the Damned exits her Rift, she may choose to reappear in any place in the living world that she can see clearly.

Thus, she might return to the world standing atop a building visible from her previous location, but not on the other side of a locked door.

Obscene: As Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge, above, except that the Damned additionally brings residue from her private hell with her when she exits that hideous realm, marking her passage in two places.

LEVEL FIVE:

Call-Forth the Majestic Nightmare: When the Damned enters her Rift, an entity from deep within her Rift is pulled into the night-lit world of the living; this creature immediately occupies the space vacated by the Rift-practitioner.

This entity is the true Beast of the Damned made manifest in flesh. Its specific appearance is left to the player and her Storyteller to decide, although it is always visually identifiable as -- at least in some way -- similar to the Damned who summoned it up from her personal Wheel of Punishment. It also bears an uncanny resemblance to any creature diablerized by the Rift-practitioner.

The entity possesses statistics identical to the Damned, with the following differences:

The entity is always in Frenzy and has a Humanity of 0. If the entity ever leaves Frenzy, it immediately vanishes.

The entity gains all the benefits of Black Metamorphosis (pg 189), Horrid Form (pg. 242), The Form of the Cobra (pg. 210) or a similar physical enhancement effect (such as the Fractura ability of Striga), as chosen by the Storyteller.

The entity is not bound in any way to creatures who hold a Blood Bond over the Damned, nor is it subject to similar emotional restraint or control (as adjudicated by the Storyteller).

The entity will preferentially target anything it sees as a threat to the Damned that created it, and will always attempt to murder anything that attacks it.

Once its safety is secured, the entity turns its abhorrent attentions to the living world. The entity hates the practitioner of Rift who called it forth and seeks to cripple & disfigure all that the Damned holds dear, targeting allies & friends of the Damned if it is able (although it does not attempt to destroy them outright).

In any instance, the entity revels in utter destruction.

When the practitioner of Rift returns to the world, the entity vanishes.

Any blood consumed by the entity is wasted when it vanishes.

Obscene: As Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge, above, except that the nightmare entity constantly drips (or sheds) matter from the depths of the practitioner’s private hell, leaving a trail of horror as it rampages.

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Cross the Nightmare Bridge: When the Damned chooses to enter her own Rift, as per the Level 3 technique of this Discipline, she may remain within that nightmare realm for an indefinite period of time (no Courage roll required). She must slumber, as normal, when sunlight falls on the living world beyond, and her thirst grows nightly: there is no blood to drink within the confines of her hell.

If the Damned falls into torpor while beyond the borders of her Rift, she falls backwards out of her own shadow and returns physically to the living world.

She is otherwise free to explore the boundless realm of her eternal damnation as she pleases.

Obscene: As Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge, above.

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DEVELOPER’S NOTE:

Unlike the majority of Disciplines, Rift allows access to two distinct Level 5 powers. Access to these two different abilities is treated identically to Elder Disciplines such as Karmic Sight and Mirror Reflexes (pg. 140-141).

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image from here

LEVEL SIX:

Distend & Evacuate the Nightmare Hoard: By use of this technique, the Damned may deposit any inanimate object held in-hand into her Rift; the object seemingly vanishes, like a card disappearing in a display of slight-of-hand. Only an object that might be transported via Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge may be relocated into the depths of a private hell in this way.

The Damned may likewise draw-forth any object deposited into her private hell.

Obscene: If this technique is unleashed as Obscene, the item enters or exits the Rift in a wave of unhealthy matter from the depths of nightmare, dripping bits of a private hell into the waking world. An item drawn from the Rift in an Obscene way radiates palpable, toxic waves of this energy, and deals 1 level of Lethal damage to any creature (except the Damned) touching it within the next minute. The Difficulty to soak this damage is equal to 2 + the level of the Discipline used (see below).

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Sinister Winds of Unstable Nightmare: By use of this technique, the Damned may choose to deposit any waking-world object held within her private hell in a location she can see. Targeting a particularly specific location with the object -- such as ‘the small space between my opponent’s glasses and his eyes’ -- when the object emerges requires a Perception + Occult roll, Difficulty 7.

Obscene: As Distend & Evacuate the Nightmare Hoard, above.

LEVEL SEVEN:

Covetous Eyes of the Nightmare Thief: By use of this technique, the Damned may deposit any unattended inanimate object within her line of sight into her Rift. Only an object that might be transported via Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge may be relocated into the depths of a private hell in this way.

Obscene: As Distend & Evacuate the Nightmare Hoard, above.

Doorway Out of Hell: By use of this technique, the Damned may establish a permanent physical exit from her Rift into the living world, usable only by her. This portal requires only a moment to establish: the Damned must touch an open, bounded doorway or archway of any kind -- such as a torii gate or a closet door in the home of her ghoul -- and expend a permanent Willpower. The Damned may always choose to exit her Rift through this doorway, rather than returning to the world at the spot she entered her private hell, or at a point in space within line of sight (as per Dance of Unstable Nightmares).

This doorway may not be used to enter the Rift.

The Damned may posses a total number of doorways out of her Rift equal to her Humanity or Path rating. The Damned may dismiss any doorway she has created at any time, from any location, without effort.

Obscene: If this technique is enacted as Obscene, the enchanted doorway leaks hideous drifts of matter & energy from the depths of the practitioner’s personal hell; this miasma marks the area around the doorway, twisting the local environment into something eerie, nightmarish and haunted. Any living creature that dwells within the area surrounding the doorway must succeed at a Willpower roll (Difficulty 7) at the end of each 24 hour period or gain a temporary Derangement; these Derangements stack. All Derangements gained in this way fade when the mortal spends at least 24 hours outside of the environment surrounding the doorway. If this Willpower roll is botched, the Derangement is permanent.

LEVEL EIGHT:

Pull of Nightmare: By use of this technique, the Damned can forcibly draw an unwilling creature into her Rift as she enters; the Damned must first touch the target, requiring a Dexterity + Athletics or Brawl roll if this action is performed in combat. A creature touched by the practitioner when she steps into her own nightmare realm may oppose this pull with a Willpower roll (Difficulty 7); her successes are opposed by the practitioner’s Manipulation + Brawl roll (Difficulty equal to the target’s Humanity or Path rating + 2).

A creature pulled into the practitioner’s Rift in this way is immediately exposed to the effects of a targeted Unveil Damnation; she can attempt to push herself out of the Rift (Willpower roll, Difficulty 6) at the end of each round spent within the nightmare realm. The Difficulty of this Willpower roll decreases by one at the end of each round. If the victim botches a Willpower roll of this type, she gains a permanent Derangement.

The victim is otherwise trapped in a hostile alien environment, alone with the Rift-practitioner. The victim is not aware of what occurs on the other side of the veil between worlds and cannot gaze out of hell to observe the world beyond.

If the Damned chooses to exit her private hell, the victim is immediately shunted back the world of the living. The Damned may choose to deposit the victim in any legal location for her to exit the Rift: she might dump the victim through a Doorway Out of Hell or in any location visible from her current position.

The Damned may choose to exit the Rift in a different location, and she may choose to send her victim back early at any time as a free action.

Obscene: As Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge, above.

Fling Wide the Embrace of Hell: By use of this technique, the Damned may allow a willing entity access to her private hell. She must expend a point of Willpower while touching her ally; the two may then enter her Rift together. A creature pulled into the practitioner’s Rift in this way is immediately exposed to the effects of a targeted Unveil Damnation.

The Damned may choose, when she returns to the living world, to leave her ally behind -- within the Rift -- for any length of time, although the nightmare realm does not contain the necessary resources to sustain life: it lacks potable water and edible food, among other amenities.

A living creature held in the Rift must succeed at a Willpower roll (Difficulty 7) at the end of each 24 hour period or gain a temporary Derangement; these Derangements stack. All Derangements gained in this way fade when the mortal spends at least 24 hours outside of the Rift. If this Willpower roll is botched, the Derangement is instead permanent.

A creature brought into the Rift can only be subsequently removed from the Rift by the Damned who brought her in; the visitor must be touching the Damned when the Rift-practitioner exits back to the living world.

The Damned may have a total number of visitors dwelling within her Rift equal to her Humanity or Path rating.

Obscene: As Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge, above.

image from here

LEVEL NINE:

Imprison Within Eternal Nightmare: Whenever the Damned successfully draws a target into her private hell via Pull of Nightmare, the effect is permanent: the victim does not automatically exit the nightmare-realm when the Damned returns to the world of the living, nor does she receive any additional Willpower rolls to push herself free.

The victim may only exit the Rift when the Damned chooses to release her.

Rumors persist, of course, of powerful rescue-parties successfully invading the Rift of a Methuselah, but these tales are likely just that: mere legend.

The Damned may have a total number of prisoners caught within her Rift equal to her Humanity or Path rating.

Obscene: As Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge, above.

Manifest the Atrocity-Leviathan: The Rift of a true ancient is vast, containing multitudinous continents of horrors, hung like pulsating iridescent tumors in an ever-shifting constellation of depravity, sadism and self-hatred, laced-through with vast coils of razor-wire & city-sized shards of ichor-drenched obsidian.

Things -- unholy and undying things, born under no sane stars, armored and adorned with horrid & fleshy scribbles of frothing-mad blasphemies -- begin to breed in the shadowed places beneath that kaleidoscope of rotting, rust-caked punishment-houses. By means of this technique, such a monstrosity may be briefly loosed upon the living world.

This ability functions identically to Call Forth the Majestic Nightmare except that the entity summoned-up, rather than possessing statistics identical to the Damned, is something more terrible still.

It is left to the Storyteller’s discretion as to what terror of flesh or spirit could possibly prove more dangerous than an insane 4th-Generation vampire backed into a corner, but the Storyteller is advised to use her most wicked imagination in crafting such a cataclysm ... and not to shy away from true cosmic horror.

Obscene: As Step Upon the Nightmare Bridge, above.

Rift is an updated Discipline designed for use with Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition, inspired by content from A World of Darkness (First Edition, 1992).

Brought to you absolutely free to enjoy, to test & to share – as always – by the fine folks of my Patreon.

If you enjoy this content and would like to see more dark, modern horror game-material by the author, the Bloodlines & Black Magic Kickstarter is going on right now.

Hugest of thanks to John Miętus for his invaluable editing-assistance and development during the creation of this fan-content.

[shandy-otp]

Viking AU scenario?

There is a tale of a terrifying captain that led his band of murderous sailors to ports and coastal towns in the dead of night. He was known only as Shadow— Demon of the Waves. He would take all their food and treasured goods and never left a man alive. He would allow the women and children to run for the hills, but not before letting his men make a sport out of attempting to catch them. He seemed soulless; a machine built for wars no one asked for.

After decimating the population of a small, underdeveloped coastal village, most villagers ran away desperately with their families as The Demon commanded for the chase to begin. It wasn’t long before he began to hear the desperate wails and screams of the gutted.

But these wails sounded very... familiar. He recognized the cries of his own crew. One after the other, scream after scream followed by eerie silence.

When he reached the base of the hill the cries had come from, he stopped, almost tripping over his own feet. At the top of the smoking hill lay the bodies of a large portion of his crew and standing over them was a mystical sight. A maiden of fair frame, caked in the blood of Shadow’s men and shakily holding herself up by the hilt of his right-hand man’s sword— which almost dwarfed her in stature. Her posture and trembling of the sword gave her a deceitful air of weakness, but her bright, piercing eyes were full of otherworldly wrath.

Quickly getting over his superstitious assumption that only a goddess of war could carry out such a horrific feat on her own, Shadow seethed and stepped closer to the creature, his anger over his fallen brothers getting the better of his judgement. War goddess or not, she would pay for what she had taken from him. She already appeared worn out from the battles prior. This would be an easy revenge, he likely thought as his red-tinged quills stiffened in fury.

As he ascended the hill, their furious eyes were locked onto one another, unblinking. The demon captain raised his broadsword over his head without a second thought and swung his blade down towards her skull. As fast as Shadow had swung, the maiden dropped to her knees and parried his attack by getting under his fallen comrade’s blade and using it to fling his own sword down the hill and out of sight. Though he was momentarily surprised, the maiden failed her attempt to fight back as she stood up too fast and teetered, falling harmlessly into Shadow’s arms.

In those few seconds, he noticed the way her blood-soaked dress clung to her lithe figure. Her tail, which usually helped her impeccable balance, was weighted down with so much blood and mud that she could hardly stand. He felt her tremble with fury as she continued to venomously stare at him, her olive green eyes shining in an almost bewitching manner despite the overcast sky. Before she could right herself and try again, he had already locked her head between the crook of his elbow and the side of his breastplate. He reached for the dagger at the side of his belt and heard her breath quicken.

“Tell me, small maiden. Do you expect me to believe that you took my men down all by yourself?” he spat, holding the dagger’s hilt firmly against her jugular.

“Ask those who remain, though I’m certain they won’t want to admit it. But maybe one will,” she smirked in defiance. “Try it, it will be good to find an honest man to replace your right-hand.”

The demon captain bristled in anger and began to press the blade against her pelt.

“So be it. My husband awaits in Valhalla,” she muttered.

He paused at her words. Not a maiden, but a widow? Her small frame deceived her age. It was only now that he noticed the simple wedding band on her finger. A jagged line akin to a bolt of lightning graced the center of the band all around. Shadow’s curiosity was a mighty flaw of his.

“Your husband taught you to fight, no doubt.”

“Haha… I taught him,” she grinned widely, enjoying the captain’s struggle to accept being outsmarted by this woman. “You took him from me. It was only fair trade to take your finest. Let me rest and leave with your useless treasure.”

Shadow’s brow furrowed. His pride refused to allow her to cross over with a victorious smile on her face. “And what makes you think I wouldn’t keep you for myself? I collect the finest treasures from around the world.” he said as he loosened his grip around her head. He shifted the dagger in his hand so that his thumb and index finger were free to hold up her chin and meet his gaze. “So what, pray tell, could be a grander treasure than a powerful, woman warrior? Nay, a valkyrie in the flesh?”

“You flatter me, but I was never much for poetry,” the young widow deadpanned, trying to shake herself away from this much gentler grip. But as she tried, she felt his digits tighten against her jaw.

“I wonder what it’s like,” he smiled deviously “…to taste the lips of a goddess.”

For the first time, the woman’s bravado fell. She began to shrink against his breastplate, her knees giving way to her weight. The captain took pleasure in her revulsion, seeing her face redden at the humiliating thought of being kissed by anyone but her beloved. Shadow chuckled, finally discovering how to flaunt his power over her, and continued to press his luck by inching closer to her face. But by placing all of his force on the back of her head to keep her from escaping, he did not expect her to throw her head forward into a mighty headbutt.

The two fell to the ground at the force of the impact, Shadow stabbing his dagger into the dirt to keep from rolling down the hill. The young widow sat up, her eyes giving away the plan formulating in her mind. He followed her line of sight to his sword at the bottom of the hill and saw her preparing to slide down after it. Before she could crawl far enough, he found his footing and tackled her back down. The weight of his armor coupled with her exhaustion was too much to bear.

“A treasure indeed,” he chuckled.

“End it,” she demanded.

“Never. I have decided. You will be my bride.”

“That is not a decision for one unit to make,” she said after spitting at him right between the eyes. “I am Sandra Électro. And I will remain as such for the rest of my days!”

“Sandra… that’s a strong name. How much stronger could it be, coupled with my own? You haven’t experienced my true power yet. Much less my influence.”

Before Sandra could speak her retort, the sound of men crying out for regroup broke her focus. The remaining crew was getting closer. If she was struggling against a single man now, surely her chances to fight back were finally over. She felt nauseous, now struck with the realization that her honorable death would be tarnished by being forced into bedding this scoundrel. Her world spun out of control. She felt her body go weightless for a moment as the captain hoisted her over his shoulder. All she could see now was the backside of the captain’s armor and the disturbed, bloodied ground he stood upon.

Shadow faced his incoming crew. “Report,” he said curtly, breaking the sailor’s trance upon seeing so many of his crewmates dead.

“W-we are loaded, Captain,” the sailor said, a pup looking not much older than 18 years of age.

A cayuga duck came up behind him and smiled sinisterly at the girl in Shadow’s arms. “Ah-hah, I see the Captain’s bringing some entertainment for us during the voyage!” Sandra swallowed hard. She could not see him, but there was no mistaking that drunken slur. Her skin crawled at the thought of his eyes ogling her body as she was unable to move.

“She is not for the taking,” Shadow suddenly barked, his naturally gravelly voice becoming more guttural. “No one is to lay a finger on this woman. She is mine. Get yourselves down there to load.”

“Yes, Captain,” the two soldiers cried out and marched towards the ships, not wanting to incur the powerful hedgehog’s wrath.

“As for you,” Shadow said, shifting Sandra on his shoulder. “I am not to lay a finger on you as well. Treasure like you should not be defiled. I trust you’ll see the error of your ways when I show you the luxuries you’ll be privileged to obtain.”

She laughed. “Is that supposed to impress me into marriage?”

Shadow smirked. Though he could not see her face at the moment, he could perfectly picture that smug, defiant look on her face. It’s a look he looked forward to getting used to, no matter the struggle.

If all else failed, she’d be a decent replacement for the right-hand man she felled.

[mermaidenmystic]

Mystic Treasure or Mystic Mermaid by American fantasy artist Katerina Koukiotis or Katerina-Art on DeviantArt ~ https://www.deviantart.com/katerina-art 

Artist note: “Mermaids like the treasures they find, are timeless, and have been around forever in fairytales, mythology, movies and so on... hope you enjoy my mermaid art, the lovely mermaid poem below was written by a good  friend of mine Camille Salvatore Chandler.” Mystic Treasure I... a mermaid deep beneath the sea... searching the sea bed for treasures to be... A Voyager..A Vessel ...known mainly by man a creature of beauty ...that one seeks upon I dance .... and I carry the tune of the waves an echo from song... for the dolphins... as they journey through... deep cavern caves A mariner mother...A navigator of the sea I carry the hearts of the urchins.... towards the barrier reef From an oyster..A pearl....is the gift from beneath A token...of luster ....makes crown on thy face To adorn my long wispy hair ....as I swim to each place In the deepest and widest...is the vast ocean blue I search ...and I journey.. by curious view now creatures and I ...that welcome this too In unchartered waters...dimly lit by the moon.... I swam far beneath...and found in my view.....unsure what it was....but more curious than not I began reaching ..and grasping....to behold what I got My eyes could not focus...and my heart did now stop for what I have begotten... was peeking through grave sheltered from harm...and only to save A timeless treasure... as she..like locket to clasp unearthed by the beauty...that I held in my grasp I place close to my heart...and slowly to raise..A fortune of such... in amaze... as I gaze... Born again in this life... and only to save is now mystic treasure.... I hold proud....is gift...from the deep cavern cave

[mobydickmusical]

Every book chapter a song is named after: Loomings (Ch 1)

Since most of the (most recent) tracklist is named after chapters of the book, I’m going to attempt to work through the whole of the show this way, talking a bit about my thoughts on each chapter’s translation into a song. Based on the tracklist chronology rather than the book chronology. Skipping the songs we’ve already heard, for obvious reasons.

Also fairly obvious, but even though I’m using the chapters to imagine the songs, I naturally can’t be sure how closely they’ll follow the text of that specific chapter (see, The Pacific, which actually follows completely different chapters). 

TW for brief mention of suicidal ideation 

Loomings is very different from Extracts, in that I can pretty easily envision it fitting into a show of Dave’s, and imagine what it might be like as a song.

This chapter is our first direct introduction to what to expect from the body of this book, and it has four-ish main sections: 

1. Ishmael introduces himself as the narrator recounting this story, and explains his general path in it (going to sea because it’s what he does when he’s exceedingly depressed) 

2. He dwells on mankind’s inevitable attraction to water, and that this is due to how it represents the unknowable to us 

3. He details his reasoning for why he always goes to sea as a simple sailor, as opposed to a passenger or a crew member of higher rank

4. He describes his “choice” to go on a whaling voyage in particular as actually designated by fate. He does, however, then explain his personal attraction to going on the voyage, that could make it appear like free will to him. 

So, there is a lot being set up in this chapter. I can very much feel this becoming my main issue to accept (i.e. get my head out of my ass) with reconciling the adaptation with the book overall - there is so Much in Moby Dick and there is only so Much you can fit into a musical. Even a 4+ hour one. But yeah, that’s seen on a smaller scale with Loomings, in how it sets up a lot of background information about Ishmael and how he thinks, as well as starting some thought process about a number of important themes for the book (fate vs free will, capitalist and power dynamics, the limits of mankind’s knowledge… all that important shit). Where the song draws its focus from will just depend on what Dave chooses to emphasise the most. 

I'll go through the chapter, and mention where I connected things to either comments Dave's already made about the musical, or to his writing in general.

Coming into reading Moby Dick because I knew Dave was writing his musical, and reading the opening paragraph of Loomings where Ishmael introduces himself by launching headfirst into the details his depression, I naturally went straight to “so this is an introductory solo for a character played by Dave”. It’s not only something that leapt out at me straight off the bat, but one of the more ludicrously famous sections of Moby Dick, so I have to imagine it’s likely to make an appearance. 

The further thing I wanted to point out while I’m on this section, is that despite how famous this little piece of Moby Dick which clearly describes Ishmael’s depression and suicidal ideation is, the majority of Moby Dick adaptions have little to no other reference to his depression. Or they just have none at all if they’re really eschewing the narration. I’m not saying that it’s a deal-breaker for an adaption or anything of that kind, but mental illness definitely has a presence and impact in Moby Dick (I’ll just, leave it at that for now) that doesn’t especially get a lot of attention. On the other hand, it’s something that I, personally, will notice and think about. Anyone who’s familiar with Dave, however, knows that his shows almost consistently revolve around mentally ill characters (and what’s probably the most famous solo he’s written is about depression/suicidal ideation), and portray them in ways mentally ill fans relate to and appreciate. If an adaptor was to make a specific effort to earnestly portray Ishmael’s depression, and how that relates to his role in this story, it’d be Dave. (I could potentially even argue that The Pacific and Cetology already suggest ways in which he’s doing this but. Mm.)

But, anyway. I said Loomings is a good fit for that song that can be found in almost any Dave Malloy musical, where everything is just starting out, and someone (who is often played by Dave) sits down to pour out all their frantic thoughts and unstable feelings and draw you into their story - so, how I imagine the song is strongly based off the pre-existing examples of that type of song. Namely, I drift to Pierre and The Astronomer. 

Both songs have aspects I like for an imaginary Loomings. They’re both ruminative, emotive introductions to a character and their brain’s inner workings. They’re both at least somewhat depressed and ranty. I like Pierre for its emotional tumult, its inquisitiveness and desire for something more, its explicit descriptions of the effects of his depression on his behaviour, its moment of curiosity about mankind, and its drama. I feel like Pierre barging his way into his introductory solo, the first time we ever hear him sing about himself, with “It’s dawned to me suddenly, and for no obvious reason, that I can’t go on living as I am...” is not worlds away from how Ishmael can come across. I also like how it’s piano-driven (because I unimaginatively imagine Ishmael as a pianist in the show), unlike The Astronomer, but on the other hand, I prefer the less dense instrumentation of The Astronomer (maybe not quite that sparse though. Intermediate). I also like The Astronomer for its slow-paced style ranting, its dreaminess, its dwelling on Big Ideas, and the way it is more an explanation of who this character is through exploring his beliefs. Which is relevant as Loomings goes on. 

Both songs, particularly Pierre, channel more anger and resignation than is really relevant to Loomings, however. A part of this is that they’re both dwelling inside the emotions of an unhappy/unsatisfying present, describing that to us as who they are, now. Ishmael is outside of his present self because he’s a narrator. Throughout Loomings he is... recounting his past, but also describing the future of and influences on his past self, moreso than his past self’s present or who he was at that particular time. And, from that more distant position, opening these influences up to us, and the rest of the world. Uh. How relevant or sensible this is to point out I don’t know, but it seems like a very different emotional experience to convey. 

The second section of Loomings, where Ishmael discusses water, moves the furthest from talking directly about himself and his story, I suppose, but is a big bit of theme/motif/setting foundation, and is also just very beautiful writing. I love it a lot, and I’d love to hear some of it put to music... A few little quotes from it because I like them:

What do you see?—Posted like silent sentinels all around the town, stand thousands upon thousands of mortal men fixed in ocean reveries.

///

They come from lanes and alleys, streets and avenues,—north, east, south, and west. Yet here they all unite. Tell me, does the magnetic virtue of the needles of the compasses of all those ships attract them thither?

///

There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded of men be plunged in his deepest reveries—stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water

///

Yes, as every one knows, meditation and water are wedded for ever.

///

But though the picture lies thus tranced, and though this pine-tree shakes down its sighs like leaves upon this shepherd's head, yet all were vain, unless the shepherd's eye were fixed upon the magic stream before him.

I also like the abundance of rhetorical questions in this section, and how that invites the reader in as if you were in a conversation. Those could fit well into a theatre song, where you have Ishmael sort asking himself, sort of asking the audience (also a bit Pierre, tbh). This, combined with how much switching up of sentence length there is in this section, give it this lovely gentle-paced, meandering, breathing rhythm that makes me think of it being sung. There’s probably a better, more technical way of describing that, but I don’t know that smartness, so essentially - I can almost hear it simply because of the way it’s already written. 

The conclusion of this section is where Ishmael draws together his claim that the reason we all find water so magnetic is because to us it represents the things that’re unfathomable and unreachable in life:

Why upon your first voyage as a passenger, did you yourself feel such a mystical vibration, when first told that you and your ship were now out of sight of land? Why did the old Persians hold the sea holy? Why did the Greeks give it a separate deity, and own brother of Jove? Surely all this is not without meaning. And still deeper the meaning of that story of Narcissus, who because he could not grasp the tormenting, mild image he saw in the fountain, plunged into it and was drowned. But that same image, we ourselves see in all rivers and oceans. It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this is the key to it all.

It’d definitely be a way to get us onboard this ship, swept up in this journey, while we’re inside a theatre: “Come along with me, into this huge, intrinsic thing, come, and try to obsessively chase down whatever inscrutable thing is still maddening you in the craziness of the world today!” Mmm. 

A little thing I find interesting, however, is how this little piece, and how it’d be presented in the context of the show, relates to some pre-existing lyrics from Cetology: “And the ocean is too deep for me to fathom/ And life is just to big for me to bear/ But who am I to compare my despair to the shaking of the sea?” These lyrics have no root in the chapter Cetology itself, and I can only assume they’re actually rooted in this section here. The weirdness of that is how Ishmael makes the comparison he lays out in Loomings, but then immediately questions his right to make it. He paints his own personal experiences as insignificant in the scheme of it all, even if he does harbour those feelings about the ocean which are due to feelings about the unknown. Which is intriguing and opens up a lot of shit. There’s a lot going on in Cetology which can explain why he says that in the context of That Song, but it makes me wonder if this claim will appear in Loomings and then reappear later with the catch on the end, or if it’s sole appearance is in Cetology. It shall be seen. And I’ll probably discuss those Cetology lyrics more when I’ve... actually heard Loomings! Or, oh, you know, the full show for legit context. 

The next thing Ishmael does in this chapter is discuss why he makes the choice to go as just a "simple sailor" every time he goes to sea, in doing so telling us a bit more about himself and his opinions. I won’t expand on these hugely, but I do think it’s a fair enough point to say that Ishmael makes statements in this section which could act as starting points for themes that Dave has specified he’s discussing through this show - namely capitalism, democracy and race/systems of power, in this situation. 

One of Ishmael’s reasons is money. He doesn’t have the money to pay to go to sea as a passenger, he needs/wants to be paid for it as a sailor. The actual pay for which, by the way, is really, really not that much considering how dangerous a job he’s signing on for. But we have to survive somehow, we suppose...? And, his opinion on the money-making in general?

The urbane activity with which a man receives money is really marvellous, considering that we so earnestly believe money to be the root of all earthly ills, and that on no account can a monied man enter heaven. 

Another of his reasons is that he prefers not to go to sea in any higher rank because he doesn’t care for the honour attached to these positions, and doesn’t want the level of responsibility involved. He goes on to explain that while it can be unpleasant to be ordered around by one’s superiors, he accepts it, and there’s no sense in striving for superiority when he is in essence no lesser than them, since, he states, everyone is inevitably under the command of someone else. 

With very intentionally provocative wording in the context of a book published in America in 1851.

Do you think the archangel Gabriel thinks anything the less of me, because I promptly and respectfully obey that old hunks in that particular instance? Who ain't a slave? Tell me that. 

He finally says that it’s the ordinary sailors rather than their superiors who get the first, freshest breath of that revitalising ocean air. He then leans deeper into the thought: 

He thinks he breathes it first; but not so. In much the same way do the commonalty lead their leaders in many other things, at the same time that the leaders little suspect it.

Having laid out his justification for this choice, Ishmael moves onto why a whaling voyage specifically. He essentially accounts it to the mysteries of fate - though his desire to experience new, remote things could trick him into exaggerating the role of his free will. 

There’s a part towards the end of the chapter that I specifically wanted to point out, where Ishmael actually uses a piece of theatre as a metaphor for his voyage. It’s not as famous/iconic as some other parts from this chapter but it’s very entertaining in the context of an actual musical, and I’d love if it were referenced:

“And, doubtless, my going on this whaling voyage, formed part of the grand programme of Providence that was drawn up a long time ago. It came in as a sort of brief interlude and solo between more extensive performances. I take it that this part of the bill must have run something like this:

"Grand Contested Election for the Presidency of the United States "Whaling Voyage by one Ishmael

"BLOODY BATTLE IN AFFGHANISTAN." Though I cannot tell why it was exactly that those stage managers, the Fates, put me down for this shabby part of a whaling voyage, when others were set down for magnificent parts in high tragedies, and short and easy parts in genteel comedies, and jolly parts in farces—though I cannot tell why this was exactly; yet, now that I recall all the circumstances, I think I can see a little into the springs and motives which being cunningly presented to me under various disguises, induced me to set about performing the part I did, besides cajoling me into the delusion that it was a choice resulting from my own unbiased freewill and discriminating judgement.”

This little piece fits well with the metatheatricality Dave has said he’s interested in exploring in the show. In terms of this concept, he’s mentioned both Ishmael vs Meville antics, but also broadening the idea of character vs writer with the added layer of him as the composer playing Ishmael. This quote specifically refers to theatre, and referencing one’s own role in a performance, which obviously becomes increasingly funny when you’re a narrator in and composer of a musical based on the book. Pondering over your “shabby part”, and why it was given to you, while you’re existing in theatre you composed yourself… strikes me as in line with Dave’s humour. In the song Cetology, Ishmael already actually laments that “this could be an amazing song...”, in doing so pretty heavily suggesting that he’s self-aware of being in a musical he wrote. So I don’t think Dave using this quote for metatheatre’s sake would be that surprising. 

I also like this quote because of the quite bizarre, almost eerie throwaway piece of modern foretelling we’re given in the layout of performances in the “bill”. It’s interesting enough for a modern adaption to point out as it is, but especially since Dave is highlighting connections between the book and modern America, it feels like something he might reference. 

[mediaeval-muse]

Book Review... Helene Wecker, “The Golem and the Jinni”

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reviewer Comments: This book was recommended to me when I expressed interested in reading more non-Western fantasy. Granted, it does take place in America, but the characters aren’t faux-medieval archetypes, so I was immediately invested in their stories. The book as a whole is more of a historical fiction novel than a fantasy one - the magic is understated, so it feels like magical realism rather than high fantasy, and Wecker spends a lot of time telling us about characters and their lives so that I felt connected to each on a human level (even ones I disliked). The things I didn’t like were minor, so I very much recommend this book to anyone interested in folklore or turn-of-the century immigrant stories.

***Full review under the cut.***

Summary: In The Golem and the Jinni, a chance meeting between mythical beings takes readers on a dazzling journey through cultures in turn-of-the-century New York. Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic and dies at sea on the voyage from Poland. Chava is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York harbor in 1899. Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire born in the ancient Syrian desert, trapped in an old copper flask, and released in New York City, though still not entirely free. Ahmad and Chava become unlikely friends and soul mates with a mystical connection.

Genre: historical fiction/magical realism

Trigger Warnings: depictions of violence

Things I Liked

Understated Magic: Wecker doesn’t spend a lot of time building up lore or explaining how magic works. Instead, she connects the reader to mystical/mythical creatures on a human level, preferring instead to let the cultural attitudes towards golems and jinnis shine. How the golem works, for example, isn’t explained - instead, we’re just expected to accept that it does so that more focus is on whether or not she has a soul, or how she should exist in the world, etc.

Interweaving Stories: I really loved how the stories of the golem and the jinni echoes each other, bringing two marginalized cultures (in the US) into contact and creating beautiful, human stories. Wecker does a brilliant job crafting each story so that they parallel one another without repeating the same things outright.

Prose: Wecker’s prose seems effortless (in a good way!). It flows nicely without getting bogged down by worldbuilding, and is descriptive and sensually evocative without being overly lush. There’s something nice in its desciptiveness, too, which highlights the beauty in the ordinary lives of the characters while also prompting deeper questions about identity and friendship.

Characters: I felt like every character in this book was fully realized, even the side characters. I really enjoyed how they each had distinct personalities and faults, making them feel very human.

Things I Didn’t Like

Pace: More towards the beginning of the book, there were moments where the pace of the narrative seemed to slow down. These moments were very focused on the characters learning to live “normal” lives, so I understood the importance. But personally, I think more could have been done to pick up the pace a little bit.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in

immigration stories, turn-of-the-century historical fiction

Jewish mysticism, golems

Arabic folklore, jinnis

themes pertaining to friendship, religion, identity

Similar Reads

[thorntonkrell-blog-blog]

There are several talented electric violin players in the music industry today, and some of the leading players include:

Lindsey Stirling: Lindsey Stirling is an American violinist, dancer, and composer who gained fame through her unique blend of classical music and modern electronic dance music. She is known for her energetic and dynamic performances, and has released several albums.

David Garrett: David Garrett is a German violinist who has achieved worldwide fame for his virtuosic performances of classical and crossover music. He is known for his unique style of playing and has released numerous albums.

Jean-Luc Ponty: Jean-Luc Ponty is a French jazz violinist and composer who has been a pioneer of the electric violin. He has released more than 35 albums and has collaborated with many famous musicians.

Mark Wood: Mark Wood is an American violinist and composer who is known for his electric violin performances. He is a founding member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and has released several albums.

Tracy Silverman: Tracy Silverman is an American electric violinist who has worked with many famous musicians, including the rock band Guster and composer Terry Riley. He has released several albums and is known for his innovative playing style.

These are just a few of the many talented electric violin players in the music industry today.

User did Ponty collaboaret with Frank Zappa ChatGPT Yes, Jean-Luc Ponty collaborated extensively with Frank Zappa, the American musician, composer, and bandleader. Ponty was a member of Zappa's Mothers of Invention in the late 1960s and played on several of Zappa's albums, including "Hot Rats" (1969) and "Chunga's Revenge" (1970). Ponty's unique style of playing the electric violin was a perfect fit for Zappa's avant-garde and experimental music, and their collaborations helped to push the boundaries of jazz and rock fusion.

User what are the formost Ponty albums ChatGPT Jean-Luc Ponty has released many albums throughout his career, and some of his most popular and influential albums include:

"King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa" (1970) - This album features Ponty's interpretation of several Frank Zappa compositions and showcases his virtuosic playing on the electric violin.

"Enigmatic Ocean" (1977) - This album features Ponty's fusion of jazz and rock elements with a more progressive and symphonic sound. The album features a full band with keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums, and includes epic compositions with complex arrangements.

"Imaginary Voyage" (1976) - This album features Ponty's signature electric violin sound with a focus on improvisation and experimentation. The album includes a mix of high-energy fusion tracks and more introspective, atmospheric pieces.

"Aurora" (1976) - This album features a mix of Ponty's original compositions and covers of classical pieces, showcasing his versatility and range as a musician. The album features a full orchestra and includes some of Ponty's most beautiful and melodic playing on the electric violin.

"Mystical Adventures" (1982) - This album features Ponty's fusion of jazz, rock, and world music with a more electronic and futuristic sound. The album includes a mix of instrumental tracks and vocal collaborations, and showcases Ponty's experimentation with synthesizers and other electronic instruments.

These albums are just a few examples of Jean-Luc Ponty's extensive and diverse discography, and each one showcases his innovative approach to music and his virtuosic playing on the electric violin.

User who played violin in the Mahavishnu band ChatGPT The violinist in the original Mahavishnu Orchestra was John McLaughlin's longtime collaborator, Jerry Goodman. Jerry Goodman is an American violinist who began his career playing classical music, but later moved into jazz and fusion. He joined the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1971, and his virtuosic playing on the electric violin was a key element of the band's sound. Goodman's fiery solos and intricate improvisations helped to establish the Mahavishnu Orchestra as one of the most innovative and influential fusion groups of the 1970s. Goodman continued to play with McLaughlin on various projects throughout the years, and has also released several solo albums showcasing his unique style of playing.

User What are Goodman's solo albums ChatGPT Jerry Goodman has released several solo albums throughout his career, showcasing his virtuosic playing on the electric violin. Some of his solo albums include:

"Jerry Goodman & Jan Hammer" (1974) - This album is a collaboration between Jerry Goodman and keyboardist Jan Hammer, who also played with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. The album features a mix of original compositions and covers, and showcases both musicians' virtuosity and improvisational skills.

"On the Future of Aviation" (1985) - This album features Goodman's fusion of jazz, rock, and classical elements with a more electronic and experimental sound. The album includes a mix of instrumental tracks and vocal collaborations, and showcases Goodman's innovative approach to music.

"Ariel" (1986) - This album features a more laid-back and atmospheric sound, with Goodman's electric violin playing complemented by acoustic guitar, synthesizers, and percussion. The album includes several original compositions as well as covers of songs by Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix.

"It's Alive" (2000) - This album features Goodman's live performances with his band in 1999 and 2000, showcasing his virtuosity and improvisational skills in a live setting.

These albums are just a few examples of Jerry Goodman's diverse and innovative solo discography, which showcases his unique style of playing and his contributions to the development of fusion and jazz-rock music.

User how many domestic cats are in the United States ChatGPT It's difficult to estimate the exact number of domestic cats in the United States since there is no centralized database or registration system for cats. However, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), there were approximately 94.2 million pet cats in the United States in 2020. This represents an increase from 2019, when there were an estimated 88.3 million pet cats in the United States. It's worth noting that this number only represents cats kept as pets, and doesn't include feral cats or stray cats.

User How many feral and strya cats are in America ChatGPT Estimating the exact number of feral and stray cats in the United States is challenging since they are not owned and not typically counted in any systematic way. However, some organizations and experts have made estimates based on various studies and surveys.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are an estimated 70 million stray and feral cats in the United States. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that there may be as many as 30-40 million feral cats alone.

It's worth noting that feral cats are not the same as stray cats. Stray cats are cats that were once owned or socialized with humans but have become lost or abandoned. Feral cats, on the other hand, are cats that were born and raised without human socialization and typically avoid contact with people.

The overpopulation of feral and stray cats is a significant issue in the United States, and many organizations are working to address it through programs such as trap-neuter-return (TNR) and adoption initiatives.

User How many stray cats are in America ChatGPT Estimating the exact number of stray cats in the United States is challenging since they are not owned and not typically counted in any systematic way. However, some organizations and experts have made estimates based on various studies and surveys.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are an estimated 70 million stray and feral cats in the United States. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that there may be as many as 30-40 million feral cats alone.

It's worth noting that stray cats are not the same as feral cats. Stray cats are cats that were once owned or socialized with humans but have become lost or abandoned. Feral cats, on the other hand, are cats that were born and raised without human socialization and typically avoid contact with people.

While there is no way to know the exact number of stray cats in the United States, it is clear that there are many and that overpopulation is a significant issue. Many animal welfare organizations and shelters are working to address the issue through programs such as trap-neuter-return (TNR) and adoption initiatives.

User does Matt Bell play the electric violin ChatGPT Matt Bell is a musician who is best known for his work as the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band "The Wrecks." As far as I know, Matt Bell does not play the electric violin. While he is a multi-instrumentalist and plays several instruments, including guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard, there is no information available to suggest that he plays the electric violin.

User How many millions are in a billion ChatGPT In the United States and some other countries, a billion is equal to 1,000 million. Therefore, there are 1,000 millions in a billion.

However, in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, a billion is traditionally defined as 1 million million, which is equivalent to 1,000 billion in the US system. This difference in definition can sometimes cause confusion, so it's important to be aware of which system is being used when discussing large numbers.

User How many birds are in Ameica ChatGPT The exact number of birds in America is difficult to estimate, as it is constantly changing due to factors such as migration, breeding, and population growth or decline. However, there are some estimates based on various studies and surveys.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there are approximately 800 bird species in the United States. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) estimated in 2011 that there were approximately 10.1 billion individual birds in the United States, based on data collected from bird surveys.

It's worth noting that the populations of different bird species can vary greatly. For example, some bird species may be relatively common, while others may be rare or endangered. Additionally, factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and other environmental threats can impact bird populations, making it difficult to provide a precise estimate of the total number of birds in America.

User what land animals descend head first ChatGPT There are a few different animals that are known to descend headfirst, either for safety or for hunting purposes. Here are some examples:

Sloths: Sloths are known for their slow movements and tree-dwelling lifestyles, and they descend headfirst when they need to come down from trees to reach the ground.

Kangaroos: Kangaroos are known to descend headfirst when they need to move quickly downhill, using their powerful hind legs to control their speed.

Porcupines: Porcupines are arboreal animals that are capable of descending trees headfirst using their sharp claws.

Raccoons: Raccoons are skilled climbers and are able to descend trees headfirst using their strong hind legs and flexible ankles.

Cats: Cats are also known for their climbing abilities and are able to descend headfirst using their sharp claws and flexible bodies.

Squirrels: Squirrels are able to descend trees headfirst using their sharp claws and strong hind legs.

Overall, many arboreal animals have adaptations that allow them to descend trees headfirst, either for safety or for hunting purposes.

[zombeesknees]

I posted 6,436 times in 2022

That's 928 more posts than 2021!

47 posts created (1%)

6,389 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@zoewashburne

@sarahssnooks

@harrietvane

@nooowestayandgetcaught

@cor-aeterna

I tagged 6,430 of my posts in 2022

#as queue wish - 6,182 posts

#art - 1,059 posts

#lgbtq - 699 posts

#videos - 471 posts

#our flag means death - 358 posts

#marvel - 321 posts

#wookies cheat and han shot first - 208 posts

#brb loling forever - 198 posts

#kinnporsche - 198 posts

#good vibes - 192 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#i love the idea of their jaeger just looking like a giant one of them and the helmet has an led visor that delivers pithy bon mots in french

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Hey, folks. I know we’re all currently consumed with Our Flag Means Death brainrot. But now that season one is done, and we’re impatiently awaiting a season two, we’ve got some downtime to fill.

Might I recommend the Sink or Swim duology, co-written by a pair of queer authors, yours truly and @stephanierabig?

What’s Sink or Swim? Well, it’s more queer pirate greatness, with a focus on romance, swashbuckling action, and supernatural sea creatures. We’ve got lesbians and nonbinary characters and canon throuples; we’ve got mermaids (and a particularly hunky merman) and sirens and magic and more! The heroes take on slavers and kill bad men. There’s love across class/racial/species divides, a heavy dose of Found Family, and badass women aplenty.

Click the read more for the synopses and order links!

SINK OR SWIM: THE SEARCH FOR AVELINE

Captain Harry Roberts and the crew of The Sappho are an unusual bunch. Bound by defiance, friendship, and a shared code of honor, these pirates took to the seas to escape marriage, cruelty, and prejudice. To find adventure, freedom, and those they’ve lost. The pirate’s life isn’t an easy one, but the ladies of The Sappho love to rise to a challenge. Whether it’s sailing through treacherous reefs or tangling with treacherous enemies, like Wrath Drew of The Charon… Navigating the cultural waters of merfolk and sirens, or the wild nightlife of lawless ports…. Pursuing romance or preparing for revenge…. Making impressive scientific discoveries or tending to the sick and injured…. Righting the wrongs of society or rescuing the victims of slavery…. Captain Harry and her wild women are ready for anything. Or so they think.

Click here to order Sink or Swim: The Search for Aveline.

———–

SINK OR SWIM: THE SANCTUARY OF NALANI

The bold crew of The Sappho return for more swashbuckling adventure and sizzling romance! Finally reunited with her long-lost sister Aveline, Captain Harry is happier than she’s ever been. But it will take time for Aveline to recover from her ordeals. The tales she has to tell will be hard for her sister to hear. And will the singer and Harry’s first mate, Jo, ever be able to reconcile after everything they’ve been through? Meanwhile, a chivalrous titan comes to Lady Deborah and Katherine’s aid. Harry takes steps to set the penny dreadful stories straight. Kai and Isabelle encounter a unique ghost, and the pirates witness two momentous births. Hope puts her mystical skills to good use to thwart mermaid collectors, Franky finally sees how Maddie got her nickname, the search is on for the Emerald of Tococo, and unexpected reunions expand the crew. Plus: Just how did a one-legged scientist become The Sappho’s cook? Is it true that only women can change into merfolk? And how many golden-hearted pirates does it take to liberate a plantation? The voyage is never a dull one aboard The Sappho!

Click here to order Sink or Swim: The Sanctuary of Nalani.

35 notes - Posted April 5, 2022

#4

Hi, I've never seen any Cary Grant movies. Do you have any recommendations on where to start? <3

OH BOY, DO I EVER!

So Cary is, at his core, a Very Handsome Clown.

That first bit is obvious right from the get go, while the second sometimes surprises people -- but the man came from a family of acrobats and vaudeville performers, and he was NEVER afraid to go Full Buffoon in something, thank God.

Which means most of his film career can be boiled down into two primary genres: Screwball Comedy and Handsome Asshole.

In the first, you’ve got (and here’s where my recommendations kick in)

Bringing Up Baby -- Cary is a paleontologist who JUST WANTS AN INTERCOSTAL CLAVICLE FOR HIS BRONTOSAURUS, GOT DAMMIT and yet has to deal with a ROGUE LEOPARD because of ditzy socialite Katharine Hepburn.

The Philadelphia Story -- Cary is a rich dude named C. K. Dexter Haven who’s trying to re-woo his ex-wife, Katharine Hepburn, on the eve of her second wedding, but then reporter Jimmy Stewart’s also there and romantic, drunken shenanigans ensue. (Note: Cary and Katharine did a TON of movies together, all of which were great, and his influence at the studio helped save her movie career when she was deemed “too much trouble/box office poison” by shitty men in Hollywood. For that reason alone he has my undying love and respect.)

Arsenic and Old Lace -- Cary just wants to go on his Halloween honeymoon with his new bride, but it turns out his sweet dear old aunties have been KILLING LONELY OLD MEN as a public service and he’s just found a body in the window seat. Awkward.

His Girl Friday -- Newspaperman Cary tries to convince hotshot reporter (and ex-wife) Rosalind Russell to cover the Execution Story of the Year -- and also to not marry her bland new beau. Things get wild when the condemned man escapes and the whole city goes wild. (Note: This film is extra notable because it’s arguably the first movie to have realistic dialogue where characters frequently speak over and interrupt each other. The patter is FANTASTIC.)

People Will Talk -- World’s Greatest Doctor Cary falls in love with a patient who’s in dire straits due to an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and also has to face down a committee seeking to destroy his career. (This one’s a bit more melodramatic than screwball, and isn’t talked about near as often as his other films, but it holds a special place in my heart.)

As for the second, you can largely thank Hitchcock because there’s

To Catch A Thief -- Retired Jewel Thief Cary is forced to get back into the game/clear his name when he’s suspected of making off with ladies’ necklaces again. This one co-stars the ever-goddessly Grace Kelly and a really cute red neckerchief.

Notorious -- Cold-as-Ice Spy Cary recruits innocent Ingrid Bergman, the daughter of a Nazi, to infiltrate a group of her father’s old friends who fled to Brazil (one of whom is The Invisible Man himself, Claude Rains). Things get rough in a hurry.

North By Northwest -- Ad Exec (think Mad Men) Cary is mistaken for a spy and goes on the lam. Featuring that infamous crop duster chase across the field, and a fight literally on the face of Mount Rushmore.

Charade -- Widow Audrey Hepburn is pursued by several mysterious men who’re after a fortune her thief husband stole just before he was murdered. Can she trust Cary, or is he just after the money?

Houseboat -- Stoic Widower Cary hires the vivacious Sophia Loren to nanny his three unruly children, and hijinks ensue when the family moves onto a rickety houseboat. (This one is more of a Screwball, but he DOES play a Handsome Asshole/Straight Man in this one.)

So yeah. Any one of these movies would be a good place to start, though I most recommend diving into his screwball comedies first. They’re just so fun and zany and silly, with really superb dialogue and goofy characters.

35 notes - Posted March 5, 2022

#3

driving home from work tonight, coming around the corner of my cul-de-sac and about to turn into the driveway leading to the garage, i slammed on my brakes HARD.

there was a FOR SALE sign in front of a townhouse three buildings down from ours.

i immediately whipped out my phone, texted a photo to my realtor, called the number on the sign, left a voicemail for the seller’s realtor.

kirsten (my realtor) got back to me and set up a showing at 8 pm. the place had been active online for about two hours at this point.

we did the walk-through. it’s the exact SAME layout of my current place, except with new wood laminate flooring throughout.

told kirsten to put together an offer TONIGHT. just signed all the paperwork for said offer. the seller’s realtor wants the listing to be up for at least two days, so i won’t know until tomorrow night if i’ve been accepted. i offered significantly over the asking price, because that’s how the market is right now, but who knows -- someone could swoop in and offer an extra 1k and i could miss out.

but y’all.

if i actually manage to get this place

it’s less than a MINUTE walk from my current digs. i wouldn’t have to pay a DIME for moving expenses. twads and i could just walk everything over in the course of a day.

if there is ANY higher power out there, please, i am b e g g i n g you, do me this one solid. PLEASE.

37 notes - Posted April 26, 2022

#2

See the full post

58 notes - Posted May 4, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

A Happy NaNoWriMo to all who observe it. May the odds be ever in our favor.

132 notes - Posted November 1, 2022

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