#and the Greenwood for the all night every night parties

[meluiloth]

Just saw your post for the greenwood headcannons (lemme first tell ya, I also love them to a fault, such a shame we have almost nothing on them that is cannon), and do you have any thoughts about holidays or parties they might have? We know of the Feast in The Hobbit book where Galion drinks himself unconscious lmao (iconic of him btw), but seeing as they are apparently a very happy population in general, I'd wager they have more than just that one yk

Thanks for the ask!

I think the Silvan Elves are a very celebratory people, and will take any opportunity to partake in feasting, wine, and song. There are banquets and parties often, sometimes for no occasion other than to make merry (as is seen in The Hobbit, where the Elves host parties for many nights in a row!) That being said, I do think there are also holidays of special significance throughout the year and are commemorated differently than the common feast. Birthdays, for example, are a citywide affair, as are marriages and new babies; the Elves are a very family-oriented community, where everyone pretty much knows everyone. Aside from those, I've compiled a small list of holidays the Silvan Elves would celebrate!

Among the most well-known and extravagantly celebrated holidays are the Seasonal Masques, which are festivals that take place at the height of each of the four seasons. The Elves honor the bounty of nature and the beauty of every season to the fullest, and a lot of preparation is put into these four festivals.

First is the Spring Masque, which is focused on the joy of new blossoms and blooming fruit after winter. They dress mostly in white during this festival, so as to devote their full attention to the vibrant colors around them, and all of the food is found fresh in the wild: berries, fruits, and greenery in particular. There is no meat consumed during this festival, to preserve and honor the new life in this season.

A few months later is the Summer Masque, which is held on the longest day and is a celebration of the lushness of the forest; this day is full of dancing and song to display the excitement of the wild. The outfits of this festival are quite extravagant, featuring a lot of animal and flower motifs.

When the days shorten and the forest is completely covered in the colors of fall, the Autumn Masque arrives, bringing with it a bounty of harvest, changing leaves, and preparation for colder months ahead. The colors of this festival are warm and rich, and there is plenty of hot food and aromatic spices in every dish.

Finally comes the Winter Masque, and the end of the cycle of seasons. The Elves gather inside the Elvenking's Halls, where it is warm, making this a quieter and gentler holiday illuminated with candles, starlight, and snow; the forest is sleeping, so the festivities are quieter to avoid disturbing it. Often, there is a hunt, and the costumes are very fur-based to keep warm, and fresh spiced venison and wine is served.

There is also the Feast of Starlight (or Mereth Nuin Giliath in Sindarin) which takes place in the early winter, when the trees are bare and the stars are clearest; this is the feast that is featured in The Hobbit films, and, as its name suggests, it is a commemoration of Arda's dearest creations.

However, not all of the Silvan Elf holidays are joyful. Lû-o-fuin, or Time of Darkness, is a period of mourning for the Mirkwood Elves; it is a week-long fast in honor of all the lives lost during the War of the Last Alliance. Though the rest of Middle-Earth celebrates this time for the fall of Sauron, the Silvan Elves remember it for the grief it caused to their people - they lost King Oropher and an overwhelming number of their army, and this also marks the time in their history when the Necromancer first came to Greenwood and the trees began to wither. To honor this loss, the Elves do not eat or drink for a week, and wear only ash-colored robes. On the last day of mourning, they go to the Forest River, where they make small boats out of leaves and set them floating in the water, to signify the souls of those who died returning to Faerie (Valinor).

Those are some ideas for Mirkwood Elf holidays! I hope you like them (because I spent a lot of time thinking about these and even longer looking for the right images...), and thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share this!

If you're interested in my imagining of the Silvan Elves in Mirkwood, check out my mirkwood headcanons tag! If there's a headcanon you want me to explore that I haven't already, my ask box is open!

[silentslaughter]

The boy had been brought before me just before dusk. The sun having just begun its descent from its brightest point as the shadows of evening crept slowly past the borders of what was once known as the Great Greenwood.

He was fatally young; even when measured to the fleeting lifespan of men, his infant like face pale white, painted with the colours of battle, speckled with contrasting shades of brownish red and black. It was the Woodmen who had delivered him, stuttering and shaking, barely able to get a word out.

"My lord... your highness... great Elven King! My liege... ambushed. Orcs! I ran. He told me to run. Seek help under the canopy... Thranduil!"

He needed to be calmed. Not even the greatest puzzle masters could have made sense of the words that were tumbling out of his mouth. Such a feat is not easy; when your own fears are set alight, each tiny hair standing straight on end as the shadow of unrest creeps up on you from behind like a cloaked assassin. Thankfully, I still knew the words. Though the incantation was mostly used on animals, men were not a far cry away from being a four legged beast. As the ancient Sindarin words were uttered, the boy's breathing returned to normal, the trembling of his hands ceased and his tense shoulders began to slump.

"The beginning, child. Start from the beginning."

I listened closely to every word as the boy spoke of his predicament. He was the squire of Isildur's eldest son. Accompaning his lord as they journeyed to Imladris. The riding party had not been a secret. Every leader of every realm aware of the King’s journey and the path he was set to travel. If they were lucky, Elrond would be able to reason with the man and convince him to give up his prize and destroy it. At least on this matter, myself and the Lord of Imladris were keen to agree.

Why Isildur had been allowed to keep it, was beyond comprehension. Though tough and resourceful; men were weak of heart. Easily corrupted. Prone to make foolish choices and take unecessary risks. Harbringers of misfortune and calamity. Both of which had befallen Isildur before he could reach his destination.

The band of orcs had attacked them in the Gladden Fields. A bold move while they were being hunted like vermin in a granary. Such a scourge is difficult to purge however. Though we had done well to push them into the fringes of existence. Those that had survived the battle were unorganized, ill equipped and without any kind of leadership. No more dangerous than a pack of wolves during a particularly long winter. How an entire retinue of Dunedain had fallen to the brutes should have been an embarassment, but in the moment it was nothing but a grave concern.

Against all advice, I rode out myself, fully armoured and ready to fight, despite the fact I had barely recovered from the last one. Our speed and determination mattered not. We arrived too late to offer any kind of aid.

Bodies littered the field; both men and orc, cold enough to the touch that it seemed rather obvious the battle had ended just as quickly as it had begun. They had not been prepared and the boy had not been fast enough. There was nothing that could have been done.

A meticulous search of all the fallen lasted well into the night, yet the most important corpse could not be recovered, nor could the precious cargo he had been carrying. To call it a disaster would be an understatement. Two Kingdoms left without a King. His body unaccounted for. The Ring lost as quickly as it had been aqcuired. Although the Dark Lord had been vanquished, here he was still gaining feats.

"There is nothing to be concerned about" the White Wizard had spoken, his drawling voice echoing throughout the council chamber like a slowly spreading miasma. "The ring has not yet changed hands. I would know if it has. WE would know. Swept away by the swollen waters of the Anduin. I shall recover it myself and inform the council when it is found."

I never trusted him. A snake in Maiar costume. For months I watched him creep around the fields. Searching for that which was never found as darkness moved into the Greenwood, reaching further and further each time I dared to speak against him. Yet it still came as a great shock when I began to ignore the council summons. A legion of fools. That is what they were. Blind to that which they did not want to see. For who else but a fool would gaze upon a building storm and pretend as though the skies are clear?

[inferrnos]

i'm just working on drafts but would love to get some threads going with the muses under the cut (30+ muses) so like if you want a starter? probably based on a song !

son younghee / lee chung ah fc - contract divorcee. married a man when she was twenty one for a family deal without knowing she had been promised to the other family for fifteen years. had to stay married for that amount of time and bear an heir for the family, then was free to go back to her family with a hefty settlement. took the money and fled her hometown to start again on her own with the inheritence from her contract.  ( she / her, bisexual. )

orla moore / nicola coughlan fc. sweetest nursery teacher you could ever meet. always wanted kids but never met that person to grown a family with, so turned to her love as a career. the most loved nursery teacher at the school she works for and has been there for years with no real plans of moving on or leaving any time soon.   ( she / her, bisexual. ) 

jemma chisaka / rina sawayama fc. home & lifestyle blogger. got an itch to become a blogger at the height of beauty influencers on youtube, but wanted to do something a little bit different. after buying her first apartment, she documented the transformation into her dream place and it went viral somehow. known for her kitschy style, she’s now documenting her noew home that she bought recently. ( she / her, bisexual. ) 

archer cunningham - luke newton fc. happy-go-lucky breakfast tv host with a few scandals pooling around in his private life. on camera he’s a very bubbly and ‘innocent’ looking man whereas his personal life is far different. has to play the part to keep his role on the breakfast show he co-hosts but likes getting up to mischief when the cameras are not on.   ( he / him, heterosexual. ) 

kieran myung / wi hajoon fc. late night radio presenter. monday - friday midnight advice is the show that he has been doing for the last three years. felt like he was really making a difference for his small town somehow despite the advice he gives could be for per-petulant teenagers that couldn’t ask their parents.   ( he / him, heterosexual. ) 

marcus eze / damon idris fc. headstrong club owner. father has been in the business for a good twenty years and gifted marcus his first club to run the moment he turned twenty one. marcus himself as turned it into an empire, clubs opening up in every town near his original one. wasn’t sure how he grew his business but it helped that he learned everything from his father.   ( he / him, heterosexual. ) 

dakota oh / d.o fc, scam artist. in and out of crappy jobs all his teenage years just to scrape by and keep himself afloat. upon someone trying to scam him for money, elijah realised how easy it could be and how much better he could do it. turning to a fake psychic scam, elijah now is known as one of the ‘top’ in the game and has a team to help him pull it off from research to special effects while customers are in the room.   ( he / him, heterosexual. )

sebastian greenwood / jonathan bailey fc, family antique store owner. lost his father recently which meant he took over the family business and is just trying to figure his life out, despite being 30+. always made excuses for himself and why he never had a plan, but now has no choice but to be a business owner and figure out how to keep the family business a float.   ( he / him, heterosexual. ) 

leon diep / keshi fc, tattoo artist. the most requested artist in the shop he works in purely because he is so chatty and friendly. most people don’t think so when they first meet him, but completely opens up. life of the party and class clown.   ( he / him, heterosexual. ) 

colton im / byun baekhyun fc, club owner. im family were big in the club and bar scene, colton’s father getting him ready for the majority of his life to hand him a club to run in the family name. he was only twenty one when he was given the club, his father guiding him through everything to make sure it was successful. colton’s father always kept a watchful eye over him, despite him trusting him. he just wanted to make sure colton knew what he was doing but he knew he was always lingering.   ( he / him, heterosexual. ) 

[midnight-star-world]

#CountryMusic

CMT 12-16-23 (Hot 20 Signature 2023)

So today CMT will be giving a playlist of Artist's signature hits for the end of 2023. So let's begin right now.

Luke Bryan - Play it again. Sam Hunt - Body like a back road. Wynonna - No one else on Earth. Little Big Town - Boondocks. Ricky Skaggs - Country boy. Reba McEntire - Fancy. Reba McEntire - The night the lights went out in Georgia. Chapel Hart - The night the lights went out in Georgia. Josh Turner - Long black train. Kane Brown - Heaven. Trace Adkins - Every light in the house. Brooks & Dunn - Neon moon. Hank Williams Jr. - A Country boy can survive. Tim McGraw - Live like you were dying. Lee Greenwood - God bless the USA. Mickey Guyton - Black like me. Thomas Rhett - Marry me. Dustin Lynch - Small town boy. Kelsea Ballerini - Peter Pan. Avery Anna - Peter Pan. Ronnie Milsap - Smokey Mountain Rain. Blake Shelton - Ol' red. Gary Allan - Watching airplanes. Luke Combs - Beautiful crazy. Jason Aldean - My kinda party. Deanna Carter - Strawberry wine. Vince Gill - Go rest high on that mountain. Keith Urban - You'll think of me. Darryl Worley - Have you forgotten? Randy Travis - Forever and ever, amen. Shania Twain - You're still the one. Carrie Underwood - Jesus, take the wheel.

And that's a wrap for the Signature hits from CMT (Country Music Television). Thanks as always go to CMT for doing their weekly Country Music Video Countdowns. And thanks as well goes out to you for taking the time to read this weekly list. See ya all next time.

[ducksbellorum]

Pro Aris (listen/download)

a CHBOLC mix - part one - arranged by ducksbellorum

l.i.f.e.g.o.e.s.o.n. - noah and the whale

What you don't have now

will come back again

You've got heart and

you go in your own way

walk it talk it - migos

Heard you signed your life

for that brand new chain

Think it came with stripes but

you ain't straight with the gang

nothing suits me like a suit - neil patrick harris

To score a 10 would be just fine

But I'd rather be dressed to the nines!

It's a truth you can't refute

Nothing suits me like a suit

both - gucci mane ft. drake

I don't usually do this

'less I'm drunk or I'm high

But I'm both right now

and I need ya in my life

i’m a believer - smash mouth

Then I saw her face,

now I'm a believer

Not a trace of doubt in my mind

I'm in love

feel it still - portugal the man

Am I coming out of left field?

Ooh, I'm a rebel just for kicks now

I been feeling it since 1966 now

Might be over now, but I feel it still

walking on sunshine - katrina and the waves

I feel alive, I feel the love,

I feel the love that's really real

I'm on sunshine, baby,

Oh, yeah, I'm on sunshine

big god - florence and the machine

You need a big god

Big enough to hold your love

You need a big god

Big enough to fill you up

mama do the hump - rizzle kicks

Yo, it's been a long week

How I've got this much

energy is beyond me

I just want all of these girls

grenade - bruno mars

I'd catch a grenade for ya

Throw my hand on a blade for ya

I'd jump in front of a train for ya

You know I'd do anything for ya

thunder/young dumb and broke medley - imagine dragons and khalid

You always say I'm wrong,

I'm pretty sure I'm right

They say you're basic,

they say you're easy

tomorrow - annie

The sun will come out

Tomorrow

So ya gotta hang on

'Til tomorrow

party like a rockstar - shop boyz

Party like a rockstar,

totally dude

I'm on a money makin' mission

but I party like a rockstar

the bus is late - satellite high

Waiting for the bus

Where is the bus?

The bus is late

Waiting for the bus in the rain

proud to be an american - lee greenwood

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me

And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land! God bless the U.S.A.

lord i need you - matt maher

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You

Every hour I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

party up - dmx

Y'all gon' make me act a fool

Up in here, up in here

Y'all gon' make me lose my cool

Up in here, up in here

holy is the lord - chris tomlin

It's rising up all around

It's the anthem of the Lord's renown

And together we sing

Everyone sing

stir fry - migos

Dance with my dogs

in the nighttime

In the kitchen,

wrist twistin' like it's stir fry

livin on a prayer - bon jovi

We've gotta hold on

to what we've got

It doesn't make a difference

if we make it or not

don’t stop believing - journey

Livin' just to find emotion

Hidin' somewhere in the night

Don't stop believin'

Hold on to that feelin'

(i’ve had) the time of my life - dirty dancing

I've had the time of my life

No, I never felt this way before

Yes, I swear it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

these streets - bastille

We'll walk upon these streets

and think of little else

So I won't show my

face here anymore

i’m in the lord’s army - cedarmont kids

I may never fly o'er the enemy,

But I'm in the Lord's army!

Yes Sir!

I'm in the Lord's army!

soldiers of god - bing crosby

Soldiers of God, we serve Him faithfully,

And march in His name

Through thunder and flame

Wherever the call may be.

[brookston]

Holidays 12.2

Holidays

Armed Forces Day (Cuba)

Asom Day (a.k.a. Asom Divas; Assam, India)

Atomic Day

Build Joy Day

Chichibu Yomatsuri (Night Party; Japan)

Elf Day (UK)

EPA Day

Feast of Pirate Utopias

Horseradish Day (French Republic)

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (UN)

John Brown Remembrance Day

National Anytime Hawaiian Day

National Day (Laos; UAE)

National For Road Safety (China)

National Katherine Day

National Mutt Day (a.k.a. National Mixed Breed Day) [also 7.31]

National Pollution Control Day (India)

National Samba Day (Brazil)

National Skip School Day

National Special Education Day

Oshiroi Matsuri (Face Paint Festival; Japan)

Pan American Health Day

Play Basketball Day

Positive Affirmation Day

Safety Razor Day

Special Education Day

Visible Non-Binary Day

Walter Plinge Day (UK)

World Computer Literacy Day

World Nuclear Energy Day

World Pollution Prevention Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Business of Popping Corn Day

English Breakfast Day

National Bartender Day

National Fritters Day

1st Saturday in December

Bath & Body Works’ Candle Day [1st Saturday]

Bike Shop Day [1st Saturday]

Chester Greenwood Day (Inventor of Earmuffs; Farmington, Maine) [1st Saturday]

Coats and Toys for Kids Day [1st Saturday]

Crate Day (New Zealand) [1st Saturday]

Earmuff Day [1st Saturday]

Global Fat Bike Day [1st Saturday]

International Lolita Day [1st Saturday]

International Spirit of the Game [1st Saturday]

National Christmas Tree Day (Canada) [1st Saturday]

National Pinochle Day [1st Saturday]

National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]

National Rhubarb Vodka Day [1st Saturday]

National Small Business Day (UK) [1st Saturday]

National Tree Planting Day (Zimbabwe) [1st Saturday]

Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]

SKYWARN Recognition Day [1st Saturday]

World Pear Day [1st Saturday]

Independence Days

Cubile Lupurom (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

United Arab Emirates (from UK, 1971)

Vryland (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Avitus of Rouen (Christian; Saint)

Bibiana (Christian; Saint) [hangovers]

Bruma I (Pagan)

Channing Moore Williams (Anglicanism)

Chromatius (Christian; Saint)

Cromwell (Positivist; Saint)

Fart Like a Pirate Day (Pastafarian)

Georges Seurat (Artology)

Grog Guzzling Day (Pastafarian)

Habakkuk (Eastern Orthodox)

King Crab (Muppetism)

Nonnus (Christian; Saint)

Otto Dix (Artology)

Rodan Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because it reminds people that Christmas is "So close, yet so far". They will hate you.) 

Premieres

Appointment in Samarra, by John O'Hara (Novel; 1934)

Back to the Outback (Animated Film; 2021)

Ball of Fire (Film; 1941)

Black Dog, by Led Zeppelin (Song; 1971)

Cruising with Ruben & the Jets, by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (Album; 1968)

Dog Collared (WB MM Cartoon; 1950)

Dreamgirls (Broadway Musical; 1981)

Giant Steps, by John Coltrane (Album; 1959)

Green Chri$tma$, by Stan Freberg (Song; 1958)

The Haunted House (Disney Cartoon; 1929)

I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov (Novel; 1950)

Jackie (Film; 2016)

Jump, by Van Halen (Song; 1983)

The Last Hungary Cat (WB MM Cartoon; 1961)

The Naked Gun (Film; 1988)

Pale Fire, by Vladimir Nabokov (Novel; 1962)

Reasons I Drink, by Alan’s Morissette (Song; 2019)

Rick and Morty (Animated TV Series; 2013)

Samson and Delilah, by Camille Saint-Saëns (Opera; 1877)

The Schirmer Inheritance, by Eric Ambler (Novel; 1953)

Seven Pillars of Wisdom, by T.E. Lawrence (Autobiography; 1926)

Sniffles and the Bookworm (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Tequila Sunrise (Film; 1988)

That Darn Cat (Film; 1965)

3rd Symphony in F, by Johannas Brahms (Symphony; 1883)

Thriller, by Michael Jackson (Music Video; 1983)

White Noise (Film; 2022)

Today’s Name Days

Bibiana, Jan, Lucius (Austria)

Bibijana, Habakuk (Croatia)

Blanka (Czech Republic)

Bibiana (Denmark)

Aira, Aire, Airi (Estonia)

Anelma, Unelma, Unna (Finland)

Viviane (France)

Bibiana, Jan, Lucius (Germany)

Meropi, Solomon (Greece)

Melinda, Vivien (Hungary)

Bibiana, Savino, Viviana (Italy)

Meta, Sniedze (Latvia)

Aurelija, Milmantė, Paulina, Svirgailas (Lithuania)

Bård, Borghild, Borgny (Norway)

Adria, Aurelia, Balbina, Bibianna, Paulina, Sulisław, Wiktoryn, Zbylut (Poland)

Avacum, Miropia, Porfirie (Romania)

Bibiána (Slovakia)

Bibiana, Viviana (Spain)

Beata, Beatrice (Sweden)

Solomon (Ukraine)

Tayler, Taylor, Todd, Vita, Vivian, Viviana, Vivianne, Vivienne (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 336 of 2024; 29 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 48 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 5 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Gui-Hai), Day 20 (Jia-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 19 Kislev 5784

Islamic: 19 Jumada I 1445

J Cal: 6 Zima; Sixday [6 of 30]

Julian: 19 November 2023

Moon: 72%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 28 Frederic (12th Month) [Cromwell]

Runic Half Month: Is (Stasis) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 70 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 11 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.2

Holidays

Armed Forces Day (Cuba)

Asom Day (a.k.a. Asom Divas; Assam, India)

Atomic Day

Build Joy Day

Chichibu Yomatsuri (Night Party; Japan)

Elf Day (UK)

EPA Day

Feast of Pirate Utopias

Horseradish Day (French Republic)

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (UN)

John Brown Remembrance Day

National Anytime Hawaiian Day

National Day (Laos; UAE)

National For Road Safety (China)

National Katherine Day

National Mutt Day (a.k.a. National Mixed Breed Day) [also 7.31]

National Pollution Control Day (India)

National Samba Day (Brazil)

National Skip School Day

National Special Education Day

Oshiroi Matsuri (Face Paint Festival; Japan)

Pan American Health Day

Play Basketball Day

Positive Affirmation Day

Safety Razor Day

Special Education Day

Visible Non-Binary Day

Walter Plinge Day (UK)

World Computer Literacy Day

World Nuclear Energy Day

World Pollution Prevention Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Business of Popping Corn Day

English Breakfast Day

National Bartender Day

National Fritters Day

1st Saturday in December

Bath & Body Works’ Candle Day [1st Saturday]

Bike Shop Day [1st Saturday]

Chester Greenwood Day (Inventor of Earmuffs; Farmington, Maine) [1st Saturday]

Coats and Toys for Kids Day [1st Saturday]

Crate Day (New Zealand) [1st Saturday]

Earmuff Day [1st Saturday]

Global Fat Bike Day [1st Saturday]

International Lolita Day [1st Saturday]

International Spirit of the Game [1st Saturday]

National Christmas Tree Day (Canada) [1st Saturday]

National Pinochle Day [1st Saturday]

National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]

National Rhubarb Vodka Day [1st Saturday]

National Small Business Day (UK) [1st Saturday]

National Tree Planting Day (Zimbabwe) [1st Saturday]

Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]

SKYWARN Recognition Day [1st Saturday]

World Pear Day [1st Saturday]

Independence Days

Cubile Lupurom (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

United Arab Emirates (from UK, 1971)

Vryland (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Avitus of Rouen (Christian; Saint)

Bibiana (Christian; Saint) [hangovers]

Bruma I (Pagan)

Channing Moore Williams (Anglicanism)

Chromatius (Christian; Saint)

Cromwell (Positivist; Saint)

Fart Like a Pirate Day (Pastafarian)

Georges Seurat (Artology)

Grog Guzzling Day (Pastafarian)

Habakkuk (Eastern Orthodox)

King Crab (Muppetism)

Nonnus (Christian; Saint)

Otto Dix (Artology)

Rodan Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because it reminds people that Christmas is "So close, yet so far". They will hate you.) 

Premieres

Appointment in Samarra, by John O'Hara (Novel; 1934)

Back to the Outback (Animated Film; 2021)

Ball of Fire (Film; 1941)

Black Dog, by Led Zeppelin (Song; 1971)

Cruising with Ruben & the Jets, by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (Album; 1968)

Dog Collared (WB MM Cartoon; 1950)

Dreamgirls (Broadway Musical; 1981)

Giant Steps, by John Coltrane (Album; 1959)

Green Chri$tma$, by Stan Freberg (Song; 1958)

The Haunted House (Disney Cartoon; 1929)

I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov (Novel; 1950)

Jackie (Film; 2016)

Jump, by Van Halen (Song; 1983)

The Last Hungary Cat (WB MM Cartoon; 1961)

The Naked Gun (Film; 1988)

Pale Fire, by Vladimir Nabokov (Novel; 1962)

Reasons I Drink, by Alan’s Morissette (Song; 2019)

Rick and Morty (Animated TV Series; 2013)

Samson and Delilah, by Camille Saint-Saëns (Opera; 1877)

The Schirmer Inheritance, by Eric Ambler (Novel; 1953)

Seven Pillars of Wisdom, by T.E. Lawrence (Autobiography; 1926)

Sniffles and the Bookworm (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Tequila Sunrise (Film; 1988)

That Darn Cat (Film; 1965)

3rd Symphony in F, by Johannas Brahms (Symphony; 1883)

Thriller, by Michael Jackson (Music Video; 1983)

White Noise (Film; 2022)

Today’s Name Days

Bibiana, Jan, Lucius (Austria)

Bibijana, Habakuk (Croatia)

Blanka (Czech Republic)

Bibiana (Denmark)

Aira, Aire, Airi (Estonia)

Anelma, Unelma, Unna (Finland)

Viviane (France)

Bibiana, Jan, Lucius (Germany)

Meropi, Solomon (Greece)

Melinda, Vivien (Hungary)

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Aurelija, Milmantė, Paulina, Svirgailas (Lithuania)

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Adria, Aurelia, Balbina, Bibianna, Paulina, Sulisław, Wiktoryn, Zbylut (Poland)

Avacum, Miropia, Porfirie (Romania)

Bibiána (Slovakia)

Bibiana, Viviana (Spain)

Beata, Beatrice (Sweden)

Solomon (Ukraine)

Tayler, Taylor, Todd, Vita, Vivian, Viviana, Vivianne, Vivienne (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 336 of 2024; 29 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 48 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 5 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Gui-Hai), Day 20 (Jia-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 19 Kislev 5784

Islamic: 19 Jumada I 1445

J Cal: 6 Zima; Sixday [6 of 30]

Julian: 19 November 2023

Moon: 72%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 28 Frederic (12th Month) [Cromwell]

Runic Half Month: Is (Stasis) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 70 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 11 of 30)

[snat-snailcat]

TLDR: I have a lot of feelings about 5e adventures, good and bad. And I refuse to proofread this.

Okay, I've been thinking about this most of the morning, so here's my take as someone who has skimmed nearly every Forgotten Realms-Adjacent 5e module/adventure for the purpose of wiki editing/map making/general autistic need.

I HAVE NOT PLAYED ALL OF THESE! But I do have opinions.

Lost Mines of Phandelver/Starter Set: This one is beloved by many. I haven't read much of it because I was Supposed to play in it, but that didn't happen. Universally beloved to the point that it got a sequel this year. Good into to 5e.

Rise of Tiamat/Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Don't know much of these, other than they are very D&D Next. That is to say, these are the first 5e adventure officially published and its sequel. They carry over a lot of storytelling and mechanical beats that you see in the 5e playtest material and Adventurer's League stuff. You get breakdowns of things sometimes down to how each session should play. There's a dungeon, and then there's roleplay beats. Very structured for a DM new to 5e, because at that point, that was every DM. Kobold Press wrote these alongside WotC.

Princes of the Apocalypse: Technically this is a 'remake' of the original Elemental Evil adventure(s) of editions past. Sasquatch Studios brings in familiar names of writers/designers like Richard Baker and Ed Greenwood (creator of the setting) which I think really helps with the amount of showcasing of the Forgotten Realms setting, especially as they entered 5e. Similar to the Rise of the Dragons duology, you have a more structured story, lots of location maps, and dungeons with lots of detail. There's not a lot of information if your party goes off the beaten path, but it's a pretty solid standard sort of dnd adventure.

Out of the Abyss: My partner wants to run this one with me as a player, so I have not read it. However, FR pals have said that they enjoy it. I'm disappointed its the only Underdark-heavy thing in 5e (Give us a lore book you COWARDS), but I love the art that I've seen. As someone who is a sucker for Drow, I'd likely love it. Still relatively structured with guardrails in terms of story.

Curse of Strahd: Only played on session of this, I'm not a real Gothic Monster person, and this same adventure has been rewritten since 2e. Everyone has a Strahd story. I've heard good and bad things, but it's not FR so I don't have a ton of interest. HOWEVER I am buds with Adam Seat, who worked on One Night Strahd so I am going to plug it for them here.

Storm King's Thunder: I've taken a LOT of maps and general worldbuilding from this one, and for a beginning adventure (levels 1-5) I think it does a pretty decent job setting up the world, and you get to see a good amount of Faerûn! I cannot emphasize enough that a good portion of this book is dedicated to just locations. As a FR historian/occasional wiki editor, I immediately appreciate this adventure for possibly giving a better post-spellplague vision of the Sword Coast that the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide really did. At this point, we are still getting NPC RP notes on the regular, and I deeply appreciate the attention put into the Giants and NPCs in general. I cannot speak to the plot for the life of me, but it seems pretty standard adventurer's fare. Big evil is happening and you need to save the day! Loosens up on some structure for times of sandbox-y play, but overall still has a through-line to follow.

Tomb of Annihilation: I have incredibly mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, it is loosely based on Tomb of Horrors, an infamously ridiculous adventure that is frustrating and overly brutal to the players. On the other hand, we get Chult!!! I have mostly read the parts of this module that take place before delving into the Tomb, and I love the Tabaxi rep (even if it was actually an error in communication/reading comprehension that brought us cat peoples, I LOVE cat peoples), I love the art and culture of Chult. It's an interesting location! This adventure probably has the highest ratio of POC NPCs in 5e, take of that what you will. However, once you get to the Tomb, it's a BIG dungeon crawl, and I'm just not a fan of dungeon crawls. I've heard ToA described as being built for convention play: you bring in a character, and you expect them to die after a few hours tops, so that someone else can take your seat at the table. People don't expect their starting character to survive to the end. It's not my type of game, but no shade if that's what you like.

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist: This is the module I have the very most to say, because I have both played and run this game, and it has been amazing. But, I also *hate* this book for a lot of reasons. Since it's the one OP mentions, I'll break it down a little more:

WDH has a very fun beginning, especially for new players. You start in a famous tavern, you go through a dungeon, and at the end, you get a base for your team to renovate as they see fit. My party got involved with a bunch of side quests to help get money, and one PC made a devil contract in part because he was really serious about fixing it up! I adore Trollskull Manor, the neighbors that you get, and everything about Waterdeep. The player's guide portion of the book is by far one of the most valuable things about the adventure, as well as the big map of Waterdeep.

Dragon Heist is best played as a sandbox. Once you as a DM know what the PCs are interested in, you can point them in the direction of what they would care about in that sandbox. Chapter 2 has all the faction assignments that can be given: most of these quests as written do not give enough information to be narratively satisfying (WE ARE LOOKING AT YOU, SCARECROW QUEST FROM THE EMERALD ENCLAVE). However, with some extra care from the DM, there are so many things that can just bring the city to life. For example, there are several quests for different groups that talk about a group of dopplegangers in the city. Well, one of my players is a changeling criminal, and so we decided that the rumors were not only true, but about his gang in particular. This made for so much cool RP and character building moments. One of my players is a cleric of Gond, so we visited the House of Inspired hands more than just what chapter 3 asked of us. I let my players voice NPCs as well as PCs, and the city comes alive.

However, once the Fireball goes off, things change. I was already so far off the script that coming back to the book for Fireball was a little jarring, and I had to HB it, but that's the nature of the game! From here on out, there's not a lot of strict guidance for the DM like was seen in previous 5e adventures. The Stone comes into play, the villain(s) and the Gralhunds, and the way the book has it all written is kinda abysmal. I had Urstul, for example, moving through the city just after the Fireball, and just by chance of where the characters were going at the time, one of them saw him, followed, and one accidental wild magic lightning bolt later, they had the Stone of Golorr. I could not have been happier, because honestly, the trails of encounters later in the book were just exhausting to set up, the villain's ambitions weren't clicking, and so I picked it up and rewrote from the bones of the adventure.

A published adventure should not require a DM to completely rewrite it. However, sometimes it is better if they do. Matt Mercer is credited for helping with this adventure, and as someone who doesn't follow his work but knows the reputation, I'm just not impressed. The Vault of Dragons at the end has to be the least interesting dungeon I've tried to play by the book. It makes so little sense. The puzzles are dull. At the point my party finally "Heisted the Dragon" they already had so many other motivations to do other things, and this was just money. They gave it back to the city to help with city funding. They went on to the next adventure.

So, overall, I love Dragon Heist. Not because it is a good module, not because it is well written, but because the premise and the setting are such a ripe bed for creativity to flourish in.

Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage: Let me tell you, if you are playing WDH and want to continue past heisting the dragon, and you figure that since the end of the book says to pick up Mad Mage that it's a good idea, STOP. These two adventures are just so fundamentally different that transitioning between the two is like driving into a brick wall. Mad Mage is a 20-level dungeon crawl. Sure, there's little quests to do on each floor, but if your players are smart or you have more than 4 of them, the balance of the dungeon is so off. The maps are huge. And I like Undermountain! I used pieces of Mad Mage for a side quest in my WDH game, and it was fun! But after about 4-5 sessions, the party that was used to RP and mundane city life just didn't care for much more of the dungeon. They had some events in Skullport, and went back home. My honest recommendation is to use pieces of Mad Mage to add to a different game and switch things up, but you've got to be either a power gamer or mad yourself to play it all the way through.

(I also was a player in a game that did a few floors of Undermountain, and let me tell you, it was the worst part of that game. BUT I did get to bring my axebeak, because the ceilings in Undermountain are surprisingly tall.)

Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus: Much like Mad Mage, I used this book to augment my own game post-WDH. As written, it's fine? I think it does a decent job with Baldur's Gate as a location (as someone who doesn't play the games) (also this came out when it did to begin hype for Baldur's Gate 3). Elturel has been known to have a bit of an infernal connection in lore pre-DiA, and the premise is cool. Who doesn't want to either redeem the fallen angel lord of Avernus or kill her? But there's a few things that I've heard time and time again.

First, if you don't immediately endear your party to Lulu the hollyphant, then they probably aren't going to care too much about her or the main plot. Many a person I've read from says that they or their party find her annoying. Second, once you're in Avernus, you're going to notice a LOT of fetch quests. It doesn't matter which path you choose, Devils or Demons, you're going to see a lot of the actually cool locations through the lense of each stop being another step on another side quest. For example, I ran my party through just a few of these and it became them needing a hammer for a Dao, which they received by helping a hag get the blood of a titan, but the titan was trapped as a spinegon, and to help him they needed the blood of tiamat, and to get the blood of Tiamat, they needed to talk to a cameo character from Critical Role, and to get it from him without a fight they had to give him an Orb of Dragonkind and by the time all this happened, they were sick to death of this train of side quests. I skipped so many things the book told me to do.

The other complain is the Mad Max aesthetics, but like, it's fine. The infernal war machines are fine. I ended up adding a lot of things from old Planescape materials. After my party got what they came for, they left. No hooks I gave them made them actually want to fight/redeem Zariel. I'm sad we don't get more of Baator, but oh well.

Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frost Maiden: I'm a player in this game, but OH MY GODS this is my favorite one that I've played. My DM is actually running it very close to the book, but there are a lot of of things I think this book does amazingly from my side of the screen. The first is secrets. Each player starts with at least one secret that is assigned to them or picked at random. These add SO MUCH to the game!! There's so many funny moments, like with the Old Flame secret, you can just point to any one NPC and say "Yeah, we used to be a couple" and the table LOSES THEIR MINDS. A lot of the secrets, like the one I got, connect to future dungeons. It's a horror story, but in the sense that everyone is going to succumb to a horrible frozen death if you don't do anything. Very few pre-written games have given me the sense of dread as this one, knowing that the town that I became Speaker of was getting wiped out while I was a whole 20 hours of travel away. It's brutal, but I LOVE it. It's not for everyone, and having a good DM has likely been a big part of my love for it, but I always recommend this one.

The Wild Beyond the Witchlight: I just started running this one for a teen group as a volunteer DM, and I am just so enamored by it. The setting is so fun. I adore the carnival, I adore that it was written in such a way that combat is 100% optional, I love that you have a few different ways to start it off. Last night, at time of writing, we finished setting up the things the PCs lost to the feywild, and though some of the examples in the book are like "a childhood toy" or "your sense of fashion" my kiddos decided on "I lost my ability to read" and "My clockworker lost his sense of time" and there's just SO MUCH room for exploration there. Fey stuff is fun. From all I've read and prepared for, I think the carnival minigames need more love, but the aesthetic is so on point. Excellent game for introducing people into dnd. I can't wait to see where it goes. Also, I used some of the carnival stuff in a Planescape thing I was doing like two years ago (pre-5e planescape coming out) and was impressed with the flexibility.

I can't speak for any of the other adventures that have come out since, and I won't bother anyone with the anthologies, but hopefully this can give a little insight from a D&D veteran and lore fiend.

And if anyone wants to bitch about previous edition stuff, please don't! I have read so many adventures/modules/lore books from every edition of the game. I believe that 5e is by far the best place for someone right now to get into the game- it's a simplified form of D&D in a lot of ways, and the community and amount you can do with homebrew is amazing.

Speaking of homebrew, I kinda hate WotC! A lot! But I'll stop rambling

btw, I mostly run homebrew dnd stuff and am not going to stop my campaign for a bit anyway but

what have been experiences with pre written campaigns, official or not, for 5e? I've run dragonheist before, and like anything it's more a framework that relies on good GMing more than anything... but also dragonheist is SUCH a mess and I wouldn't recc it to a GM. How do others stack up?

[meluiloth]

LOTR Week Day 2: Legolas and Gimli

LOTR20 Day Two: Language . Culture . Beauty

Summary: Legolas and Gimli attend the Feast of Starlight. 891 words

In the deepening twilight, Greenwood the Great was alive with light, music, and festivity. All of Mirkwood Kingdom’s citizens had gathered in the spacious glade in the heart of the forest to commemorate the Feast of Starlight, and it was indeed a joyful celebration; lanterns of every shape, size, and color were strung from the mossy branches, and fireflies danced amidst the host of Elves feasting and laughing. The Elvenking had spared no expense—the most opulent decorations, the most delectable food, and the most ambrosial wine weighed down the long mahogany tables, and there was plenty of all of it.

It was all so magnificent, and so enjoyable, that Gimli the Dwarf could find nothing to complain about—a statement he was not shy about admitting to his good friend Legolas. Part of that could have been due to the large amount of Dorwinion wine he had consumed, which he never seemed to run out of praises for.

“I tell you, Legolas, this is the most splendid party I have ever had the pleasure of attending,” he announced, raising his goblet high in exultation. A handful of Elves around him laughed in agreement; though he was the only non-Elf present at the sacred feast, he was regarded as a guest of honor. After the War of the Ring had concluded, the age-old feud between Elves and Dwarves had shifted, becoming less about deep hatred and more about a friendly competition—mostly owing to the blooming friendship of Legolas and Gimli.

Legolas smiled and swirled the wine in his own glass contentedly; though he had drunk as much wine as Gimli, if not more, the effects of the alcohol did not touch him. “Indeed,” he answered. Looking around to admire the scene, he added, “It has been many years since the Feast of Starlight was last held outdoors—the world had been too dangerous. It is good now to experience the stars the way we were meant to, is it not?”

“Aye,” Gimli agreed. He realized that he had never seen them quite the way Legolas had, having spent the better part of his life underground, with several feet of stone between him and the sky above. The stars hung in the sky like globes of firelit silver; as he studied them, he wondered if he could somehow recreate their magnificence in fine mithril sculpture, pay homage to the gentle silver celestials. “They really are enchanting.”

“But look,” Legolas said, “the best part has not yet begun!”

He stretched out his hand and pointed to his father, King Thranduil, who stood and addressed the crowd. His robes were silver and glistened with diamonds and rubies, and the crown upon his head was of entwined autumn leaves; he looked the very image of a starlit king, regal and merry.

“My people, and welcome guests,” he announced, “It is my honor to provide for such a sacred occasion as this, where we remember and revere the stars we were born under. It has been many a year since we have been able to feel such joy in our celebration, and I know we shall all savor the peace of this Age, however long it lasts.”

As soon as he finished, he resumed his seat, but waved a silver-clad hand ceremoniously. One by one, the lights all around began to blink out, leaving the whole host in darkness save for the light of the stars, silver and soft on the heads of the people.

Gimli watched in anticipation for what would come next, but he also felt tranquility settling into him; here in the moon and starlight, he felt the gentle pull of sleep tugging at his subconscious, the peace that came with the night.

After several moments, he turned to Legolas and opened his mouth to ask, ‘Is that all?’, but before he could speak a sharp whistle pierced the silence, strange and sudden. It was followed by several more sounds of the same nature, like arrows shooting into the sky—and when Gimli looked up, the sky suddenly exploded into bright blooms of color, in every shade—red, gold, silver, green, blue, even purple, and the Elves cheered in delight.

“Those are Dwarven fireworks!” Gimli exclaimed, his clever eyes sparkling as he watched the fireworks explode into hundreds of glittering fractals.

“They are!” Legolas confirmed proudly. “My father had them specially ordered for the occasion. Do you like them?”

Gimli laughed. “Very much, lad—simply exquisite!”

Legolas beamed, his fair face illuminated by the bursts of light from above. “I am glad you came with me, my friend,” he said, putting an arm around Gimli’s shoulder.

“As am I,” Gimli said, clapping him on the back. “It is a great honor to be invited to such a magnificent party. After this, I must have you as the guest of honor to the greatest holiday of the Dwarves, Reclamation Day; it is in honor of the return of Thorin, King-under-the-Mountain, and is approaching soon. If you’d like to, of course.”

“Of course,” Legolas replied. “It would be my pleasure.”

And they shared another bottle of wine as the Elves broke out into song, Legolas’s voice high and clear as he sang the words he knew well, and Gimli’s low and rough as he learned a melody he had never heard.

“A Elbereth Gilthoniel

Silivren penna míriel

O menel aglar elenath…”

Why is it that I seem to be most active at midnight??? Honestly, I don't know whether to be ashamed or impressed by myself.

Anyways, here is my submission for #lotrweek day 2, which is based around beauty, culture, and language! The first thing that came to mind when I thought of the beauty of sharing cultures was the friendship of Legolas and Gimli, so I decided to write about them. I really like how it turned out (and I think it fit the prompts a little better than my first one), so you'll have to tell me what you think of it!

taglist: @lotr20, @frodothefair, @lanthanum12, @unethicallypleistocene, @acornsandoaktrees

[linkljdf]

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[sotwk]

Greenleaf's Day Out, Chapter 5: Royal Welcome (young Legolas family fic)

Completed Work: Chapters [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Summary: Legolas accompanies his eldest brother, Crown Prince Mirion, on an important royal duty. (brief OC character profile in end notes).

Word Count: 3.7k

Content: G-rated, fluff, family, comedy

To Read on AOC: Link

Divider credit: @firefly-graphics

Greenleaf's Day Out

Chapter 5 - Royal Welcome

Third Age 250

The Woodland Realm, Greenwood the Great

"Ninniel! Ninniel!"

The long-suffering nursemaid gave a startled jerk when Legolas’s cry rose suddenly from behind her, as she stood in the quiet of his chambers preparing linens and fresh clothing for his bath. A hand pressed to her breast, she smiled at the elfling who rounded the enormous bed that separated them and began tugging urgently at her skirts. 

“Is it true what the guards are saying? Is it?!”

“What rumor has caught your ears now, sweetling?” Ninniel rested a gentle hand on his head to steady the squirming child. 

Nearly three hundred years had passed since she came from Caras Galadhon to live in Bâr Lasgalen and enter the service of Queen Maereth. Through those centuries, she helped raise all five of the royal sons from infancy, loving them as she did her own three grown sons. Each prince was special and dear to her in a unique way (although if pressed, she would confess to a secret favorite). She knew well the myriad of quirks, strengths, and flaws in their personalities, big and small, and guarded them with the fierce devotion she held for the Elvenking’s family. 

After only eight short years with him, she still had much to learn about little Legolas, but one thing was already clear to her. His eagerness to participate in all aspects of palace life, even happenings most already dismissed as mundane at that age, surpassed the energy ever demonstrated by any of his brothers. And although supervising all that zest and vigor for hours on end taxed Ninniel’s own reserves, it was the silent wish of her heart that Legolas retain his childlike nature for many more years ahead. 

“I was out on the terrace and I overheard Glanedhel say to Naurion that they require two more riders to assemble a number of six. Six palace riders! That is a protoble escort for the Crown Prince!” His small pale face shone with the triumph of his reasoning. “Which must mean Mirion is riding out to meet Ammë!” 

“I believe you mean 'protocol' your Highness,” Ninniel said mildly, astonished though she was by his deductions. "In which case, you are correct." The elfing’s powers of observation seemed to rise by tenfold when it related to matters of his personal interest. He struggled to remember the correct words to the aerlinns and other holy chants his mother attempted to teach him, or the Quenyan names of the fabled cities across the Western Sea. But he could identify nearly every guard that held a post at Bâr Lasgalen, a half-hundred ever rotating faces, and he mastered the location of every  single chamber and passageway in his father’s grand palace as though he had lived there since its first stones were laid. 

“May I ride out with Mirion and his escort?” asked Legolas, positively giddy just from anticipation.  “Ammë would be so surprised to see me there!”

“She would indeed. But wait a moment--you do not know for certain where your brother is going."

He countered her logic immediately. “The only way to know is by asking!"

As he fidgeted with impatience, Ninniel hesitated. Would it please the Queen to come home to a son that was freshly bathed, well-fed, and ready to tuck in for the night? Or would she rather see her beloved youngest ahorse and out on the Men-i-Naugrim to meet her? She knew her Lady long and well enough to be certain of the answer. 

She breathed out a sigh. "With Prince Mirion's consent, if he is indeed leading an escort for the queen, you may ride with him."

Legolas hollered his thanks and was halfway out the room by the end of her sentence. The riding party could depart at any moment, so he had not a second to lose!

Fortunately, Mirion was not difficult to track down. Much like it was for their father the King, it was near impossible for the Crown Prince to go anywhere unnoticed by the palace’s many other residents. The third roving servant Legolas queried, somewhere between the morning solarium and the portrait chamber, redirected him to the opposite end of the long hall that ran through the palace’s east wing.

Legolas gave a merry wave to the lone guard that stood outside the King and Queen’s empty chambers. His greeting went unreturned, but his sharp eyes noticed the hint of a smile between the cheek pieces of the sentry’s burnished helm. 

The elfling strode up to a great oak door that bore different markings from that of his parents. He raised his fist and pounded, but all his force produced just a faint noise against the solid wood. Nonetheless, he heard a response from within, bidding him to enter. 

“I knew you would come running as soon as you heard.” Mirion turned away from the mirror to smile at his little brother, whilst his valet moved around him, continuing the precise task of draping and fastening a heavy crimson cloak about his shoulders. 

“Then you already know what I have come to ask.” Legolas clasped his hands together and closed his eyes as though in prayer. “Please, please, please may I ride out with you? Ninniel said I may, by your leave!”

“It is true I am going to meet Ammë on the Road, but I have other business to attend to beforehand.” Mirion gestured at the black tunic he wore, woven with intricate patterns in threads of gold, and tapped a fingertip against the silver wreath that encircled his head.

As Legolas felt his heart sink, he scrunched up his nose in distaste. “What sort of business?” he asked, although his brother’s regal attire made it obvious. Boring, fussy, royal business, which the king’s councilors liked to call “official”. The sort of business that drained the fun out of their father every time he donned clothing like that. 

“A sort of business that I would like to invite you to accompany me on.”

Legolas’s eyes widened and his head made a sudden jerk of surprise. “You would? Me?” The rise of excitement quickly morphed back into skepticism. “Why?”

“Because it would be a new experience for you.” The valet finally finished fiddling with his cloak, which allowed Mirion to move towards his brother. “And if I am to allow you to ride out into the night with me, I would like to be able to tell Ammë you learned something valuable from it.”

“Make haste now. We cannot be late and you must dress for the occasion!” Ignoring Legolas’s attempts to ask more questions, he gave the elfling a gentle push back towards the door, while nodding to his valet. “Orthor will help Ninniel select something appropriate. I shall meet you in the courtyard.”

The entire escort of six riders were already assembled and standing by their horses by the time Legolas sprinted down the palace steps, his own crimson riding cloak streaming behind him. Only after both princes had climbed onto their saddles did they mount their steeds in unison. Legolas guided his chestnut mare, Noruin, next to Gwaeron, Mirion’s black stallion. The guards flanked them in pairs, four behind and two at the lead, the foremost bearing the green and silver banner of the Crown Prince of the Woodland Realm.

Artwork by Bosslogic, Henry Cavill imagined as Aegon Targaryen

“Now will you please tell me where we are going?” Legolas grumbled, as they started down the pathway leading away from the King’s grounds. All of his brothers found some strange pleasure in keeping him in suspense whenever they could, regardless of how often he complained about disliking surprises. “Whom are we visiting that is so terribly important?”

He fought the urge to yank at the stiff, high collar of his embroidered tunic. Orthor had made clear that he was expected to keep himself presentable for at least the first leg of their journey. If he succeeded at that, then perhaps Mirion would allow him to shed the rest of the livery on the way to meet their mother. 

“We have not far to go,” Mirion responded. “Just to a family’s home at Willowdell. They welcomed a new child this morning, and I am going to bring them the Crown’s Blessing.”

“The Crown’s Blessing!?” Legolas squeaked, snapping his horse’s reins so abruptly that even the patient Noruin nickered in objection. “That is important business!”

“I would say it is the most sacred of all my duties,” said Mirion. “And undoubtedly the one I take the most pride and pleasure in.” He touched his hand over his heart and smiled. “I am honored that Ada and Ammë have chosen to pass the charge on to me. However, sometimes I fear I make a disappointing substitute for the King and Queen.”

“You are the Crown Prince,” Legolas declared in his simple reasoning. “The task suits you.” 

“Well, they will at least be glad to receive the blessing from not just one but two princes.” Mirion glanced sideways at his littlest brother. “Has Ammë taught you the Kyermë?”

Legolas flushed red to his eartips and dropped his chin. “She made me recite it once…or twice…” he mumbled. He did not want to admit that their mother’s repeated attempts to teach him the holy prayer have so far remained unsuccessful. “I have not quite mastered it… yet.”

“It is Ancient Quenya, and so many words are difficult,” Mirion said sympathetically, though Legolas knew well that his eldest brother spoke fluent Quenya as effortlessly as he did Sindarin, Silvan, and Westron. “But do not worry yourself. Watch closely and do as I do, and all will be well.”

A short ride took their party past the northwestern border of the King’s lands and straight into Willowdell, a village of a few dozen dwellings scattered amongst the whiteleaf willows. It was just one out of the few hundred Silvan communities in the Woodland Realm, but one of the handful that Legolas had visited before.

Memories from only two summers ago flooded back to the elfling as they rode up to a large, straw-roofed structure he immediately recognized--the guild hall. Among the elves of Willowdell were the realm’s best crafters, particularly renowned for their basket weaving. Legolas’s father had brought him along to observe the skilled labors of their guild, for it was the Elvenking’s custom to periodically visit the workers from every single trade practiced in Greenwood the Great.

“The kingdom’s true wealth lies in the skilled hands and industrious spirits of our kinfolk,” Thranduil explained to his inquisitive son. “Skills that answer nearly every need or desire of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth, and so we have commerce unlike any Elven realm ever established in these lands. It is my charge as king, our charge as the ruling family, to ensure they have all the resources they need to practice their trades. Through this, we shall all prosper.”

The riders dismounted by the entrance of the guild hall, and the two rear guards took the reins of the horses to secure them on nearby posts. Legolas peered at the closed doors, puzzled by the empty silence so different from the flurry of activity he remembered at his last visit. “Where is everyone?”

“In their homes,” said Mirion. “Feasting and toasting the new life that has joined their village. Our people work hard, but we stop to celebrate and give thanks for the greatest of Eru’s gifts.” 

“Come.” The elder prince motioned to a lone cottage in the distance. “They are waiting.”

Legolas followed, but mulled over in his head the seemingly countless celebrations that followed the begetting of each new elfling. He was most familiar with the Mereth Eruhin, the grandest of the Greenwood festivals when the entire realm was invited to feast at the king’s table. The guests of highest honor were the children born over the past year, and it was a marvel unmatched indeed to see not just one, or even just two or three, babes side by side. Reputedly the greatest number ever presented at Mereth Eruhin was twenty-four, about a century before Legolas was born. He himself had never seen more than eight, and he hoped to witness the record being broken someday. 

An ellon with eager dark eyes and a nervous smile stood at the pathway to the cottage as the princes approached. “My lords, I am truly honored to welcome you to our home.” He bowed low at the waist to each prince, and Legolas tilted his head in the way he had been taught to respond. His father and brothers, even Gelir, looked so regal when they did it, but he always felt like he was just nodding at the ground. 

“The honor is ours Raegnir, to bring you the King and Queen’s congratulations,” Mirion said, and they followed the new father into the cottage. Two guards each carried in an oak chest emblazoned with the Elvenking’s crest, which they set down by the entryway before leaving to stand outside with the rest of the escort.

An elleth sat upon a wicker rocking chair by the warmth of the hearth. She looked up from the small bundle cradled in her arms and hurried to rise, but Mirion quickly motioned for her to remain where she was. “Please. There is no need to disturb his rest, or yours.” While Legolas hovered some distance away, the Crown Prince went down on one knee before the young mother. 

“You are Breneril?” When she nodded in answer, Mirion smiled. “May I know the little one’s name?”

“We have named him Glaenir, my lord.” She leaned forward and carefully adjusted the swaddling clothes to offer him a better view. 

In spite of himself, Legolas also crept a few steps forward to look at the sweet, pink face with squinty eyes, puckered lips, and a little dot of a nose. “He is so small!” he breathed an awestruck whisper. Then he clamped a hand over his mouth, for the infant suddenly stirred and popped a tiny fist out from under the swaddle, as though reaching for the faces hovering above him. 

“Would you like to hold him, Caun-i-Conin?” offered Breneril. “He has a calm nature.”

Legolas keenly watched the transfer of this precious bundle from the mother to Mirion. The newborn seemed to shrink and appear even tinier, more fragile in his brother’s arms. Mirion surpassed all the Woodland princes in size; he was bigger than their father or even Turhir, although not as tall as either. And he was almost frighteningly strong; Legolas had spent much time watching him flatten and taper enormous plates of steel at the palace smithy, swinging a great hammer the elfling could barely raise off the ground. 

His physical strength did not encroach into his gentle nature, however, and Legolas was reminded of this as Mirion cradled Glaenir to his chest, resting the little head upon his broad shoulder. His hand, with fingers thick with callouses, smoothed the baby’s fine dark hair, and he started to hum a tender lullaby as he rocked side to side. 

“He is of a sweet and trusting nature indeed,” Mirion remarked to the parents, who beamed as they watched this scene unfold. “Not even one of my brothers was this accepting of me the first time I carried them.”

“We were certain he would take to you, my lord,” said Raegnir. “If I may say so, fatherhood will suit you well. May the day soon come when you beget children of your own.” 

Mirion smiled, but as he glanced down at the child nestled against his chest, a strange sadness passed over his face. “You are very kind.” After one last caress of the baby’s head, he reached out and carefully returned Glaenir to his parents. “If you are ready, Prince Legolas and I will proceed with the blessing.”

Legolas hurried to follow Mirion’s instructions as they made the preparations. While one of the oak chests was filled with various presents for the new elfling, such as clothing and toys, the other held a single gift far more special and invaluable. 

Legolas stopped to admire the calarsil as he drew it out of the chest and held it between his hands. A similar orb-shaped lantern wrought in silver hung at his bedside in the palace, and hundreds more shone in the homes of every Greenwood elf born in the Third Age. No two calarsils were exactly alike, but each one bore a crystal in its center about the size of an acorn, from which issued a soft white light that pulsed like candle flame. It was a light that, by design of its maker, would shine faithfully and unceasingly until the crystal was smashed. 

Mothers had taken to calling this crafted gemstone a faemir. With it they taught their children about Eru Iluvatar, and about his gift of fëa through which they had life and strength and goodness. 

Legolas brought the calarsil to the baby’s parents. Raegnir bowed as he accepted it, giving repeated thanks, and tears flowed from Breneril’s eyes, so moved was she by the lantern’s beauty and the love it represented. 

As Breneril cradled their son at her breast, Raegnir held the lantern over the child’s head. Mirion stepped close to the young family and with his eyes lowered to the newborn’s face, began to sing the Kyermë. 

Legolas bowed his head and murmured along the few words he could remember, but did so as quietly as he could. His brother’s deep, rich tone was especially pleasing in song, and he did not want to tarnish it. While Legolas did not know its exact translation, he knew from his mother’s teachings that the Quenyan hymn was a prayer of supplication for Eru’s graces. The Queen herself learned it from her own mother, who carried it across the Belegaer with all the other memories of her birthplace in Tirion.

“The Crown’s Blessing is a promise,” Queen Maereth had told him. “From us, the King’s family, to all those born in Greenwood, that we will care for them as our own, until their fëa departs this world. The Kyermë invokes Eru and hallows that promise, so we must never break it.”

The sun had set by the time they had finished, and when the princes exited the cottage, a crowd had gathered outside to commence the village’s celebration. It took a while longer for them to politely take their leave, for Mirion was determined not to disappoint anyone wishing to greet and speak with him.

“The Woodland Realm grows,” Mirion mused aloud, as they finally rode out of Willowdell and made for the Forest Road. “You have not lived long enough to notice, but when I was your age, there were not nearly this many elves, this many families, dwelling close to Bâr Lasgalen. Willowdell did not exist at all, and neither did most of the villages north of the Emyn Duir.”

“That is good, is it not?”

“Yes, and it has been Ada’s goal since he came to the throne. ‘A kingdom with people as numerous and radiant as Elbereth’s stars’, he told me.” Mirion raised his hand toward the evening skies overhead and smiled at his own childhood memory of riding out in the forest with his father, their path lit only by the evening lights.

“Outside Greenwood, you might hear it said by others that the time of the Eldar has passed, and these lands will soon be left to the Secondborn,” the Crown Prince continued. “But not for our people. Ennor has always been our home, and it shall continue to be for ages unforeseen. In the lands of the Elvenking, we will endure!”

“We will endure.” Legolas repeated the words often spoken by their father at gatherings, claimed by him as the motto of his house. He startled when all six of the guards suddenly shouted the words as well, drawing laughter from his older brother. 

“I have heard from Master Raedor that your riding improves each day by leaps and bounds,” Mirion said. He drew up his stallion’s reins and nodded at the long wide road that stretched before them. “Perhaps you would like to show me. Ammë is waiting!”

Continue reading: Chapter 6 - Last Little One

NOTES:

MIRION THRANDUILION Crown Prince of the Woodland Realm, Heir to the Elvenking’s Throne, Prince of Princes (Caun-i-Conin) Year of Birth: Second Age 3430 Most noteworthy skills: unparalleled skill with the broadsword; bladesmithing Notable physical feature: significantly muscular build Hair Color: silver-blonde Eye Color: green Etymology: “Great Treasure” (Sindarin)

CAUN-I-CONIN (“Prince of Princes” - Sindarin) Royal title bestowed on Prince Mirion of the Woodland Realm by his father King Thranduil in T.A. 225, a few years after the birth of Prince Gelir, the King’s fourth son. This title designates him as chief over his four younger brothers, granting him command over them (individually and as a group) and all forces that may answer to them. However, this authority is not absolute, and can be supplanted by either the King and Queen. In accepting the title, Mirion also swore a sacred oath of responsibility for the welfare of his brothers, as well as any wives they take or children they beget.

MERETH ERUHIN (“Feast of Eru’s Children” - Sindarin) A grand feast hosted each year by the Elvenking for the entire Woodland realm, which began on the first day of Ethuil (Elvish spring), and lasted for twelve days. The tradition was established in T.A. 50 by King Thranduil and Queen Maereth, as a celebration of the realm’s peace and growing prosperity, and in thanksgiving for Eru’s blessings. Elf children are especially celebrated and are traditionally given presents by both the crown and the entire community.

CALARSIL (“Lantern of White Light” - Sindarin) An orb-shaped lantern made of glass and silver containing a light-bearing crystal colloquially called a faemir (“soul gem”). The faemir is a clear crystal that holds and radiates a white light that does not extinguish or fade. It was created by Lord Olondir, the Master Craftsman of the Woodland Realm. He guards the secret of its making, and therefore has crafted every single faemir in existence. The silver lanterns themselves are made by his apprentices.

The tradition of gifting a calarsil to every newborn elf in Greenwood was started by King Thranduil and Queen Maereth early in their reign. The lantern is displayed proudly in the home of its elven owner, who treasures it for life. In the event of the owner’s passing, the lantern is destroyed and the faemir crushed into a fine dust as part of the burial ritual.

[thepinkproof]

The Operator

Synopsis: there is nothing normal about Greenwood University. however, the school is your only option. it is even more fearful when the person everyone told you to stay away from, Jungkook , is the one who won’t leave you alone.

parings: yandere! inhuman jungkook x reader/ overprotective sibling taehyung x reader

chapter warnings: yandere behavior, inhuman behavior, fighting, stalking, violent descriptions, heart attack, shootings, mentions of rape and drugs

word count: 2.6k

series masterlist

chapter 05: like anyone could

Sweat dripped on Nari's forehead as she tossed around the heavy covers.

She heard crunchy steps of a man's shoe walking in the woods.

"I- I'm sorry. Please stop." The girl whimpered. Storm ran through the woods looking for the girl's voice to help her.

"Where are you?!" Storm yelled.

"Here." the voice thundered. Abruptly, a dead body of a girl appeared. Her bones was spilled out and her face was mush on the ground making her unrecognizable. Her clothes was filled with blood and her blonde hair was getting greedily eaten by birds.

"Elaine." Storm sobbed waking up from her nightmare.

"Not again." She mumbled.

Last night, Storm left the party as soon as she had her confrontation with Taehyung. She took a bus home and left Elaine at the party. Honestly, she felt guilty. Elaine was obviously high so how will she get home? What if she drove herself home and crashed?

She knew that Elaine was kind of mean to her, but that wasn't any excuse. To be fair, Storm was upset at Taehyung and wanted to leave immediately. Elaine would've never left that party that early.

Her nightmare is what scared her most of all. Every since she was a child she would have intense dreams or nightmares. Sometimes, she dreamed of a kid in her foster home going back to their parents, and it would happen the next day. Then, around the age of her pre-teens, the dreams were more dark and complexed.

She once begged Taehyung not to go the opening of a movie one night. She had a dream that blood would be spluttered.

Taehyung sarcastically replied, "Obviously, were going to see the Purge."

Despite that, Storm's intuition was correct. A member of a street gang went to the theater to shoot someone and Taehyung witnessed it.

Then, when she was fourteen she decided not to do her homework because she had a dream the night before that her teacher had a heart attack.

She didn't think of warning the teacher or anything because she thought she was over analyzing her abilities.

But it did happen.

The worst nightmare Storm had was that her just reunited birth mother would die in a car accident. As soon as she got up to warn her, the police had already called.

Of course, they have been some times when Storm's dreams were totally off and she hoped this was the case today.

————-

Storm entered the library holding the flyers she had made this weekend. She was also wearing what Rosé called "a simple but cute" new outfit.

Jungkook looked up with a smile as he saw her, he closed the book, as it was no longer interesting to him.

"Hi Stormi." he spoked.

"Gosh Jungkook you scared me!" She jumped in surprise when she saw him. "And don't call me Stormi do I look like i came out of Kylie Jenner's vagina?” She snapped earning the attention from the libarian.

"Watch your profanity! This is a library." She loudly whispered.

"Oh fuck off you old hag." Jungkook shot earning a gasp from Storm. The librarian gave him a bow and walked away.

"What the hell." Storm murmured. 

"What got your panties in a twist today?"Jungkook asked in concern.

This was his college and he wanted to make sure his baby got the best experience. Jungkook knew everyone at this school so if someone bothered her he could simply take care of it.

"I don't know where Elaine is. I feel so bad, I ditched her at the party and she haven't been responding to my text. I didn't even see her in class today." She ranted.

Jungkook was internally annoyed. Why does she care so much about the Eleanor girl? She literally tried to get her raped for drugs. Despite that, he had to stick with his story.

Hiding bodies was never a problem for Jungkook. He has the police wrapped around his fingers and governmental agencies silenced. However, he can't just go around saying he killed someone so he simply told Storm this:

"Oh, last night at the party she was so drunk and high. When she got home her parents were there and they sent her to rehab. Apparently, she is supposed to be clean. And you know, rehab don't allow phones. Who knows how long she be there? Poor Elise."

"That's so sad. I'm just glad she is getting help. I was so worried that something bad happened." She mentioned as she took one of the flyers from her hand and stapled it to the bulletin board.

"Hmm. Free Unlicensed Therapy, Call 1-801-545-7861 for appointments." Jungkook read.

"You're doing free therapy for the nutcases at this school? Are you bored or suicidal?" Jungkook scoffed.

"Oh don't be like that. I just want to help people. College is so stressful and this will be good practice for me."

"Yes, Stormi people will love to take advice from a freshman." Jungkook teased.

"Stop calling me that, how would you feel if I called you Kookie."

"Well if anyone else did I would cringe but for you I will allow it."

Jungkook suddenly thought about the negative effects of Nari's "free therapy". What if one of these idiotic aboms decides to confess and cry about what Jungkook been doing. Usually he loves people knowing how powerful he is, however he did not want his love to find out.

"As if they had the balls." He thought to himself. Nobody in this school was that dumb to sell him out.

"Beginning of the school Lockdown, what is that?" Storm asked looking at the colorful flyer that was on the unorganized bulletin board.

"It's when all the students gather together and lock themselves on campus and chill." He explained.

"That sounds fun."

"You're not thinking of going right? It's not for little innocent girls like you." Jungkook argued. The last thing he needed was the love of his life around a bunch of uncontrolled aboms.

Before Storm could answered him the bell rung. Storm left Jungkook without saying goodbye. She was annoyed at his comment.

—————

When she entered her class she noticed a familar face. Ford Jackson.

Storm first met Ford when she found out he was Taehyung's housemate. Ford’s name and face was practically everywhere at the school. He was apart of the college's football team.

She wanted to give him a wave but decided not to since he wasn't in her social league. Her worries was conquered when he looked up from his phone and saw her.

"Hey Stormz! Come sit over here."

She was surprised at his offer. He was sitting beside two people. She shyly sat down beside him.

"Hey Ford, I didn't know you was in the class."

"Classes are the least important thing to me but I gotta take them." He sighed. "Oh, by the way this is my girlfriend Sofía and my best friend Hobi."

"Nice to meet you guys." Storm smiled.

"Yeah guys this is Taehyung's sister." Ford added. Sofía and Hobi gave me a questionable look.

"You can't be serious babe. I can't go to your house because those assholes there and now we hanging out with their sister." Sofía complained ignoring Storm's presence.

"Wait, I thought you was friends with them." Storm remarked confusingly.

"Please, Ford is nothing like them." The boy Hobi spoke.

"I'm confused. What's so wrong with them?"

"First of all, Storm is a Pukka. You can trust her." Ford told his friends.

"¡Gracias a Dios!" Sofía celebrated.

"Taehyung is practically Jungkook's henchman. Do you know how many people he beat up this year and then they randomly disappeared? No offense, but your brother is a piece of shit." Hobi commented.

All of this was news to Storm. She thought Taehyung was just popular at this school, she didn't know he was a bully. She also wondered what Jungkook have to do with this.

"If Taehyung is such a bad person, why do you live with them?"

Ford took a big sigh. "Two years ago, I was a senior in high school. I had people telling me I was NFL material. I was an honor roll student and I worked all day after school on my skills. I live in a small town so not many scouts come out. One day, a scout for the biggest college team came.

I was so excited and nervous but despite all that I played. I scored 5 touchdowns. My best record as a running-back. But you see the couch's son he was quaterback. Very mid, all he did was pass the ball to me. The whole schoolyear he only scored two touchdowns. Imagine my shock when the scout chose him to go to the college and not me? All because his dad paid the scout for his untalented son to be at the school. Typical white privilege. He's sitting on the bench for that college team now.

Anyways, I was devastated. I was in a deep depression because football was my life and my dreams were impossible. This might be embarrassing but I was working at Target and Jungkook was there. He was waiting by my car outside.

Ive never even met him before, he told me that he wanted to help me. He gave me a full ride to this college and now I'm the best on this whole fucking team. When I joined this school it was a dump. Jungkook is weird ill admit but his friends are all ass kissers, I lived with them because I was offered a free room in a mansion, who wouldn’t accept? I always thought he would want something in return but he didn't. I don't help Jungkook out with his shit, I'm just here for football and for my girlfriend." He explained.

Storm had alot of questions but of course she asked the biggest one. "How can Jungkook offer someone a full ride to college when he's a student?"

"Wow girly. You are definitely a freshman." Sofia laughed.

"Is Jungkook a Pukka?" Storm asked. Honestly, she was surprised she never asked herself this question since that is all this school talked about. She hoped that he was a Pukka, she kind of liked him.

"Neither." Ford answered. "Look, I know this might seem hypocritical but stay away from them. Especially if you have skeletons in your closet. I know Taehyung is your brother but he is not as innocent as you think. The only person a Pukka should trust is a Pukka."

"How can someone be neither? I'm so confused." Storm groaned.

"The best thing to do at this college is to never ask questions, just get your degree and go. Now lets quiet down, class is about to start and you never know which one of them aboms are listening."

———————-

Taehyung eyes aimlessly searched the hallways looking for Storm. He knew her class was near this hall so she would have to come out.

Taehyung wanted to apologize to his sister for what he has done. Never in his life has he treated his sister to harshly. He felt so guilty.

Taehyung noticed her leaving the class talking to a girl by her locker. He was proud of her for making friends. He was about to approach her until he noticed Lance around the corner staring at his sister sending text messages.

He angerly walked towards him pulling him into an empty hallway making the boy squeal.

"Chill Taehyung!"

Taehyung roughly slammed him into the locker making Lance fall down in pain.

"What the fuck! I'm telling Jungkook you touched me!"

"Oh, shut up Lance. You want to explain why you're stalking my sister. Do your weird ass have a crush on her?"

"Aniyo, Taehyung. I'm a gay man." He screamed touching the back of his bloodyhead.

"Stop trying to be Korean, you're from Ireland lucky charms. I saw you stalking her so explain yourself before you will have to explain to the whole school why your missing a limb!" Taehyung angrily threatened.

"It's for Jungkook. He gave me the assignment to tell me where she is at every second of the day. And you, hyung, are interrupting my assignment. I should tell Jungkook so he can demote you and make me his number two." Lance said smiling at the thought despite his pain.

Taehyung worst fears are becoming true. Why is Jungkook so interested in his sister?

"Is that so, Lance? I don't know if you have a crush on Jungkook, or whatever unnamed reason why you are obsessed with pleasing him. But none of this matters. I'll make it very clear, if i see your leprechaun ass lerking again, ill kill you." Taehyung growled.

Lance gave a frightened look as he tried to get up to his feet but fell down due to pain.

"That's right Lance. You know why I'm Jungkook's number two, because while your hands are typing on keyboard trying to hack into companies to make him proud my hands are getting bloody. I certainly don't mind killing it's actually a stress reliever to me. Do you know how happy it would make me to get rid of you?" He laughed.

Taehyung gave Lance one more evil grin before leaving the hurt boy in the hallway.

——————

"Hello hyung." Jungkook greeted at Taehyung as he entered his house.

It was about 11pm, the rest of the boys were away but Taehyung waited for Jungkook to return.

"Hey Jungkook. I need to talk to you."

"No, I'm quite busy." Jungkook stated making his way upstairs.

"Stay away from my sister." Taehyung growled.

Jungkook halted at Taehyung's tone. He turned around to look at him.

"What was that, Taehyung?" He challenged.

"Stay away from her. She's innocent and don't need to be around a thing like you. So stop sending your lapdog Lance to stalk her."

"Or what? Taehyung." Jungkook calmly asked.

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat and Jungkook could hear it. "T-there's no or what. I've been loyal to you for so long. You can atleast owe me this one thing."

"Owe you?" Jungkook laughed. "Taehyung, you would be in prison without me. Fuck, they probably just give you a life sentence for all your crimes."

"Ah, your crimes. If your sister knew she probably wouldn't even talk to you again. Oh wait, she's already not talking to you. Maybe i'm not a threat to your sister, perhaps you are." He continued.

"And what if she knew about you Jungkook? What if she knew what you actual are?" Taehyung said in a threatening tone.

Jungkook stalked his way towards Taehyung. Taehyung's confidence suddenly disappears each step he takes towards him.

"What I am." Jungkook stated as his eyes turn purple and black veins appear under his eyes.

"Have you forgotten what I am? I could tear you to shreds right now and God wouldn't even help you because of how much you're a shitty person."

"I-I'm not scared of you, Jungkook." His shaky voice responded.

"Oh, but you are Taehyung. You're scared of what I can do to you and your sister."

Jungkook paused. "You know you are right Taehyung, you have been loyal to me so I will tell you the truth."

"I'm going to do everything in my unlimited power to make your sister mine. I always get everything I want, and I will give her everything she has ever wanted. I'll buy her flowers if she want. I'll buy her the biggest house if she wants. I'll fuck her if she wants. And if anyone is brave enough to try to stop me I'll kill them."

Taehyung gasped in shock.

"Are you brave enough, Taehyung?"Jungkook whispered.

Taehyung stayed quiet and the only thing that could be heard was heavy breathing from him.

"Well, just incase you are." Jungkook asserted before giving Taehyung a powered punch in the stomach that made Taehyung's human body fly into the wall.

Jungkook showed Taehyung mercy. Anyone else who come between him would die. Jungkook chuckled to himself.

Like anyone could.

chapter 06

[checkmatein3moves]

february 6th / j.j.

The champagne is far too sour, but Jareth doesn’t permit himself a wince. Instead he swills it around until the bubbles dissipate and swallows carefully, putting on a show of self control. Everything is uncomfortable here; the too-tight three-piece, the stunted conversation, every eye that shifts over him.

He leans towards Monty to whisper to her. “Can I make a run for it, do you think?”

“No,” she says firmly. “It’s bad manners. Your impulsive behaviour will reflect on you for longer than you think.”

She’s right, of course, but he feels more off than usual. Surely it can’t be because of his birthday; he’s been clean of celebrations since his seventeenth, preferring to avoid the responsibility of being polite to self-effacing party guests.

“I’m just…not in the mood to put on a song and dance. Especially not today.”

“I thought you hated your birth—“

“I do. Which makes me even less disposed to wearing this monstrosity—“ he gestures, as emphatically as the stiff material allows, to his formal purple jacket. “—and keeping my mouth shut all night.”

“I, for one, think you could stand to embrace some smarter fashions.” Monty smiles, patting him on the arm. “And you never keep your mouth shut all night. Ever. Even when you’re explicitly told to.”

Jareth tugs at his collar, stubbornly refusing to let her placate him yet. “Still. It’s the principle of the impositions. I’d rather be at a premiere or a party where I’m not being choked by my tie and I don’t have to pretend I fit in.”

“You can be good for an hour. We’re here for our show, representing the whole studio. It’s important,” she insists.

He can think of infinitely better things to do than stand in front of a big screen with the Greenwood Creek logo hovering over a sum of money that’ll only be passed from greedy hand to greedy hand, but Monty knows that. It’s futile to argue the matter with her when there’s no chance in hell she’ll be the one to let down their good name.

“Fine. Only because I like having a job,” he mutters into his champagne.

———-

“If you were anyone else, I would say this is a good lesson in being patient,” Monty says, eating the pickles out of her burger.

“But because I’m me…?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Do you ever learn?”

The genuine fondness on her face always throws him for a loop, but he laughs it off for now. Nearing three in the morning after a night of good behaviour, they’re stuffed in the back of the first tiny diner Jareth ever came to for privacy in Oracle City. Would he bring someone who wasn’t his friend here? Sure he would. Providing that quote unquote friend had the class and good sense to never want to come back.

“So how’s this for a birthday? Better than last year when we were stuck running lines overtime?” To his bemusement, she seems to be enjoying the greasy food. Even Jareth himself can only stomach a coffee and a donut.

“It’s a hard one.” He tuts. “You did buy cookies for everyone last year. I could pretend it was a party.”

“If you’d told me it was your birthday, I’d have bought you a special one.” She rolls her eyes.

“If I’d told you, someone might have overhead and started rumours about my diva behaviour.” He rolls his eyes, passing off a spike of bitterness as amusement. “I used to be scared shitless of stepping too far out of line.”

Funny. In only a year and a half in the business, he’d learned that wit and entertainment value were an effective replacement for genuineness or good character.

“You’re not a diva, Jareth. Part of me thinks you’d actually like to be.”

“Oh, sure. But it would only be fun if I were nothing more than a character in a production. And the punchline always landed. Y’know.”

Monty sighs rather than laughing, and it reminds him of how different they are. How strange it is that he’s at least semi comfortable around her, even though he was so averse to the idea of ‘belonging’ with the elite. He almost thanks her until he realises there’s no way to make those words sound like anything other than a dismissal.

Instead, he takes a sip of his coffee. Monty has better things to do than be his good influence. “Next time, you should pick the restaurant. I think this place is starting to lose its charm.”

[captainpikeswoman]

Cuddles with AOS!Pike?? 👀

Hope you like it! AOS Pike needs love too!

Types of cuddles with AOS Pike would include:

(I know they’re not Star Trek gifs but there’s not enough AOS Pike gifs around! So I thought we’d enjoy some sexy Bruce Greenwood anyway. Credit to original creator.)

•he loves cuddles- they perhaps don’t happen all that often in public spaces, he has an image as Starfleet’s golden man to maintain! But the minute there’s a closed door between you both and the world, he’s all over you. Hugs are common and all equally as special.

•every night he holds you in a horizontal hug as you fall asleep. He loves it when you fall asleep in his arms. You may both roll away in sleep to get comfortable, but the fact that the last thing you hear is his heartbeat is very sweet.

•he likes to sneak up behind you as you’re busy doing something- whether that’s work, a hobby, some cleaning- and he’ll just slip his arms around your waist and rest his head over your shoulder. He’ll just hold you tight for a few minutes, just joining you in silence.

•then of course there’s the ‘we-survived-a-potentially-life-ending-situation-and-I’m-glad-you’re-ok’ hugs. If Enterprise has been attacked, or an away party has gone wrong, the relief of seeing each other washes over you like a waterfall! And you just launch yourself into those strong arms. Chris hugs you TIGHTLY, tight enough to bruise, for it to feel like a crush. And it’s perfect, and amazing and you just feel so relieved.

•if you’re feeling a little low then one thing absolutely guaranteed to make you smile is a hug from Chris. He’ll tug you onto his lap, (No lightly sitting down here, full weight in his lap because he wants to feel you there) and just slide his arms around you. His arms are a safety net, the scent of his skin, his clothes, as you bury your face in his neck…he’s peace, he’s your happiness. And if you find yourself crying, he’ll hold you tighter and safer still, and brush away your tears. He’ll encourage you to talk if you’re ready to, and he’ll wait- still holding you, if you’re not.

•his hugs make you feel warm. They make you feel safe. They make you feel whole. How could they not? And he’s a heater- so if ever you’re cold a hug will never fail to warm you up.

•he loves it when you hug him too. He’s not afraid to ‘dent’ his masculinity (what a ridiculous concept!) and be the little spoon, or be the recipient of hugs. As a matter of fact he really rather enjoys it! So it’s a mutual thing!

•but of course the very best hugs of them all are the ones that happen when you’re both glowing in a golden haze of post-orgasmic bliss. Some people roll apart to bathe in their pleasure separately…but not you two. You lay in each other’s arms, soaking up smiles, feeling the thundering of each other’s heart, waiting for panting breath to return to a normal rate. You’re both sweaty and sticking to one another, but neither of you care, you simply bask in the tender touch. His hugs can cure anything, they send you into space and bring you back down to Earth again, an anchor and a release all at once.

[thedivaking]

―@legolas-little-leaf | Reply to: "Why!... Why now!!"

Mirkwood fell silent. No longer had her frost-bitten branches languished in the black steeping their roots but, too, in the leave of her Prince. The sorrow of her people was kept unseen, the Guard trained bereft of their gentle leader, and they whispered of the Realm’s loss beyond the King’s ear. Legolas was gone. To his very bone, Thranduil empathized with their grievances. Yet, he did so alone. Such had always been his way. And in his grief, he lamented. In his grief, he reflected, recalling the many nights long ago, when he held the elfling, bathed in tears as he wept, carried him through the forest in song and groomed him in the absence of a mother’s loving hand. Still, Thranduil grieved alone. Away from the eyes of a child who had yet to understand how deep the sentiment of an Elf ran. And with that perspective, he had raised him. It was a father’s mistake to keep his son in the dark. Further, to assume he did not feel. Naught was spoken of the Queen in the time following her death. Nor ever a question asked of him. Legolas was his father’s son. Mayhap, more than he realized. Thranduil heard not of Legolas’ curiosities, although he assumed they existed. He knew not of his anger or resentment, or of the influence it had when he left. And so, he remained heavy on his mind and deep in his heart. Ne’er were his movements beyond the King’s knowledge for a party had been sent on him every step since.

“Aran nin, Prince Legolas approaches Mirkwood’s borders. What shall you have us do?” With no pause to his thought, he replied to the Captain, ever outwardly absent of what he felt in his heart. “Leitha e mi.” (Let him in.)

“Ada, look!” Legolas’ small voice commanded. In the cavern of his tiny hands fluttered a single firefly of the most vibrant emerald. Indeed, one of Greenwood’s greatest evening majesties were the displays of flickering lights hovering below the leaves of the tallest, tallest trees and lighting the forest’s pathways on the darkest nights. Even outside of the great woodland, their extravagance set alight the glen. Prince Thranduil’s fatherly lectures would have Legolas immediately returning the fly to its home with the rest, but he minded the time he had left with him. War was not kind to anyone caught within it. It discriminated against no one, and it promised life to even less. He crouched as low as his armor allowed and gazed at his son, memorizing every detail of his small face. If it was to be the last thing he remembered, it would be exactly as he saw it. He would remember the way the emerald reflected off the blue of Legolas’ eyes as his features lit up in awe and excitement. And, how his ear tucked away the intricacy of a single braid crafted by his mother’s delicate fingers. Even the care he took for a being littler than he – a small insect, with a life different than his. Worthless to some, but meaningful to him. “Don’t get lost, meleth nin.” A soothing hand rested upon Thranduil’s shoulder, and he stood, allowing his wife to fasten his blades around his waist as she carried on. “He might bring you to stay.” “And, I might consider it.” He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead and sighed softly before his attention was returned to their child. “Please, don’t go, Ada! Please!” Legolas’ eyes welled with tears, and in that moment of vulnerability, he set the firefly free, cooing sadly as it flitted away. It was all Thranduil needed, to know that they took their leave for something greater. Astride his steed, he stayed by King Oropher’s side, eyes set upon his wife and young son as Kingdoms both cheered and mourned. To bring peace to Arda, they would depart these lands and join Gil-galad’s ranks against Sauron. It was Thranduil’s duty to his King, his Adar. To the Realm. To his Kin. It pained him to see the disappointment in Legolas. Not only for the bug, but for his departure. And he could make no promises to ease him that he might not keep. By the memories of the Great Battle, he remained plagued. Still beneath the glamor, the scar upon his body festered. It wept and fed on the fears in his heart. On the ugliness his soul could not surrender. Dread filled him and it was a misery he had learned to live with. To conceal from those closest to him. A misery he would not wish on his worst enemy. From on his horse, he gave Legolas a half-hearted smile. “You must take care of your mother while I am away. Your mother and all of Greenwood’s fireflies.” The elfling nodded slowly, wiping his face on his sleeve. The sobbing stopped, but the tears did not. And he held onto his mother, sniffling into her gown as he peered up at Thranduil with one glossy eye. “Oh, do not cry, little green leaf,” Thranduil pleaded, taking one last look into those sad, convicting eyes. It is all for you.

As suspected, Thranduil was sat upon his antlered throne, perched slackly as he had done since began his reign. But the air was not right. It immersed him in a hostility foreign to these caverns. One reared by a bitterness that did not suit the heart of the Elven Prince whom this realm held dear. And Thranduil made his way down to the landing on which the Prince approached and braced himself. But he had not been prepared to face his ire, nor the cruel sting of the truth in his words. With patience, he listened. Every word like a thousand daggers unto him. Every revelation as cold and forbidding as Winter’s wind. There was no explanation that would soothe his son’s suffering. No magic that would turn time. Where very few regrets had existed, now they settled in him. And, he spoke. Gentle, but still in earnest. “You regard not the impact on me of your choice to leave, but I digress. I have cared for you and watched you your entire life, Ion Nin. You are of my blood and flesh. You ride the wind, wild like the wood elves. With no desire to take the throne beyond my time. It was at Ravenhill, when I saw the longing in your eyes and felt your heart ache, that I believed you would not return. That, you deserved to hear what I could not say for so long.” Down the flight of limestone steps and along the footpath, Thranduil strode, until he stood far enough to breathe in his son’s presence. To speak over the pounding in his chest.

“I taught you to live free, away from the folly and the greedy luxuries of our sister realms. To come to your own decisions and to follow your own wisdoms.” Against the thudding of his heart, there was a long silence. He ever only did for him. All what Legolas knew was Thranduil. But their purposes were never aligned. Legolas was never meant to follow in his footsteps. Not in the way of a king. Nor was he meant to understand what his Adar endured and the decisions he made to protect him from the same sorrows. That had been decided even before he was conceived, by the gods of old. “You have come to your own decisions, but what do your wisdoms tell you, Legolas?”