#and then just started solving all the ancient mysteries of the world

[moghedien]

It is never not hilarious to me that Moghedien just started providing what was potentially the biggest info dump on the Age of Legends and the exact technological heights they reached that we could have gotten in the books but we didn’t get it because Nynaeve refused to listen to what she was saying

[deminetly]

୨DR IDEAS୧

+storylines

……………………………………………………………

⋆ 70s summer camp you're a rebellious camp counselor at a lakeside retreat, caught between summer flings, late night campfire secrets and solving the mystery of a local urban legend

⋆ costume designer for a magical theatre as a costume designer for a mystical theatre, all of your creations literally come to life, weaving spells into the performances

⋆ mermaid you're a mermaid who can walk on land, living a double life as you try to protect the ocean while falling for someone who has no idea who you truly are

⋆ sailor one night, you and your friends take your dads boat without his permission, sailing the sea he always warned you about. you stumble upon a mysterious cave, its whispers inviting you inside. hesitant but swayed by your friends, you enter only to discover that magic is real and meet the local mermaids

⋆ magic school you enroll at a prestigious magic academy, only to discover you're the last descendant of a powerful, forgotten bloodline

⋆ cupid you bring people together, but one day you accidentally strike yourself and find yourself in an impossible romance

⋆ magical kingdom you and your friends were wondering through a mysterious forest when you stumbled upon a set of train tracks. they seemed to call to you, urging you to follow. as you did, the tracks led you to a magical kingdom, a place brimming with mythical creatures and endless joy

⋆ spy youre an undercover spy, assigned to follow a mysterious man who seems impossible to crack. however, as you grow closer, his charm wins you over, forcing you to choose between love and duty

⋆ 90s garage band as a member of a smalltown 90s band, you and your friends navigate the highs and lows of local fame, all while chasing a once in a lifetime opportunity that could change everything

⋆ filmmaker you are an indie filmmaker whose movies start predicting real life events with eerie accuracy. as your films gain more attention, you begin to wonder if you're uncovering truths or shaping them

⋆ royalty youre a princess in a whimsical kingdom with a unicorn as her best friend exploring the endless mysteries and places

⋆ small town flowershop owner a man keeps visiting and buying you flowers, bringing you gifts

⋆ dream curator finding yourself falling for someone youre tasked with crafting dreams for, breaking all the rules as you begin appearing in their dreams

⋆ actress you get a random role in a film, not thinking anything of it until you slowly start to realize the movie seems oddly similar to your own life

⋆ friends with the moon you have admired the moon all your life, one lonely night you hear her answering all of your calls (she gives amazing advice)

⋆ vanlife you and your s/o ran away and are now living in the countryside in your van, travelling around the country

⋆ small town mystery you move to a small town where everyone knows everyone but suddenly some strange things begin happening and you decide to solve the mystery

⋆ magical summercamp you and your best friend go to a summercamp to relax but end up discovering a magical world with all kinds of mythical creatures behind a magical bookshelf/lake

⋆ fairy dr living in a small community of fairies where your soul purpuse is just to enjoy life, find cool trinkets and explore the beautiful places nature has to offer

⋆ royalty dr where you arent royalty, instead you work for them and fall in love with the prince

⋆ cafe where customers come and trust you with all kinds of interesting stories about their lives (you can script that your comfort characters visit it too)

⋆ christmas youre an elf, helping santa create presents, think of new toys, it always feels like christmas used to, you eat gingerbreads all day

⋆ treasure hunter you and your friends found out about an ancient treasure and are now going for an adventure looking for it

⋆ summer fling youre going to your grandmas house in the countryside for summer break. you meet her neighbour, start getting close until you eventually fall in love

[jules-makes-stuff]

Been seeing ppl on reddit argue about magic in fantasy for a while and I don't want to lose 3 hours bickering over there but I have *thoughts*

By now hard and soft systems are pretty well known but people ague againt hard systems because it "takes away the, well, MAGIC of magic". I think people aren't considering tone and the overall goals of a work and are conflating personal taste with truth again.

In my mind it really depends on the above though. Say you are Hoffman writing The Golden Pot. You want your work to be dreamlike, ethereal, like a half remembered song. Everything operates on dream/fairytale logic and emotion is reality. You should absolutelt NOT explain magic. It should be a strange force adhering only to narrative and emotional forces.

If you are writing a magical realism piece, like One Hundred Years of Solitude, the magic again is there to emphasize the absurdity of reality people at the time faced. Explaining anything takes that away. Same with horror or something like Metamorphosis. You don't know why this is happening and that means you cannot stop it or it doesn't matter how it happened, only the consequences.

Then there are more classical fantasy stories like Lord of the Rings. Magic is something ancient and grand and mysterious.... and none of the hobbits have it besides stray magic items. That is what people miss, I believe, when using this example. Gandalf isn't our pov character. Most characters there do not have magic or only have limited magic w very specific limitations, tools essentially. So we can follow along and anticipate how these will be used. There is big, scary, unknown magic, but it is usually something used by the opponents or characters that come in and out of the narrative. And I think that's a good balance! Its fine that we dont know the science of magic, because we understand enough when we need to, we can make predictions and there is enough wiggle room for something like Gandalf the White to happen. A looot of fantasy had followed this setup: the mc has only a few well defined spells and magic items, the world has more deep magic.

But, I personally do like harder magic, if the mc is supposed to be a wizard (or the equivalent). I would call most battle shonen hard magic (I think this is where ppl might want to kill me) becauss in a good battle shonen we know what everyone can do and we can plan along with the characters and predict how the fight will go. When a problem is solved in an interesting way we can go "I should have seen that comming!"

In BAD versions people yell really loud and whoever yells loudest about friendship (once we wasted enough screentime to call the third act done) wins. And this here is my problem. Because I have seen stories where characters do the same with magic and it breaks my immersion. When magic used by the mc can suddenly do anything and everything what is the point? I'm no longer following a story w interesting twists and turns, Im waiting for the author to say "ok thats enough we can push the win button now". And listen, obviously its a made up story, none of this is real or matters, but its the authors job to keep the illusion alive that it isnt.

This is different from creating a mcguffin that can do anything once and having a quest about it, there getting the item is the challenge, not using it.

And a system being hard doesnt mean we need to know the science behind it, just that we need to know what it can do and the limits. In avatar they can manipulate the elements w martial arts. Period. Why? How? The spirits said so. Most ppl fuck up hard magic imo by starting to write a thesis about magical physics or overcomplicating it instead of taking 1 simple idea and exploring all the cool things that it can do. Witch Hat feels super magical and yet all there is to magic is drawing magic circles and we actively learn how to draw them in the series and the way the characters problem solve w magic and their try-fail cycles are super fun!

The point of this ramble is that I need structure that fits the narrative goals of the work. If we're doing a dream like narrative throw away explanations. If Im a wizard playing mind chess w other wizards you better tell me what chess pieces we have.

[sickospaghetti-o]

Random future head cannons for Gravity Falls.

(I can’t sleep so I’m gonna make it everyone else’s problem)

Dipper:

- Starts the first ever ddmd club at his high school as well as a Cryptid/ Mystery club (Mabel is the vice president of the club and always plans club events)

- Studies ancient history and journalism in college

- Is 100% a loser trans boy (Mabel always helps him with his t shots)

- Makes journals of his own and tried to publish one (Didn’t go well)

- Meets a really nice girl in college that helps him get out of his comfort zone. She finds Dipper’s work on cryptids very interesting. “She’s the one, Mabel. I know it. She just gets me.”

- Forgets to tie his shoes all the time and is constantly tripping because of it

- Still loves BABBA but also listens to Midwest emo

Mabel:

- Waddles still lives with Mabel and wins the world record for oldest pig alive

- Studies Fashion in college and starts her own alternative clothing business (it’s very successful)

- Stan taught her how to con during the first summer she visited gf and she got really good at it but has refused to use her skills unless someone is being an asshole and “Totally deserved it, Dipper! It’s not my fault he didn’t know how to cheat at poker”

- Listens to bands like lemon demon and will wood after she goes through her boy band phase (she goes back and listens to several timz when she misses Grenada and Candy)

- She and Pacifica have been dating since the beginning of their junior year in high school (they confessed to each other over the summer and are currently doing a long distance thing)

Ford:

- He and Fiddleford hang out after weirdmagedon and manage to rekindle their friendship

- Started a new journal with Stan while they traveled the world on the Stan’o’ war

- Found out that the Cold War ended and he learned about the attack on 9/11 and he found out that gay marriage was legalized all in the same day (had to sit down because he thought he was going to pass out)

- Is slowly learning to forgive himself for “falling for Bill’s tricks” and still has to accept that it wasn’t his fault and that he was manipulated

- His favorite new “technology advancement” is bluetooth

Pacifica:

- Over the years she and her family have drifted apart and Paz has learned to live to be completely independent from her parents

- Works at the dinner with Lazy Susan and has come to see her as a mother figure

- Is actually really good with computers and technology

- She went on a walk on night and ended up at the old Northwest Mansion. She was feeling really homesick and so she walked around the gardens for a while and met Fiddleford. They found out that they have the same passion for computers and bonded of it.

- She made an indie mystery puzzle solving game based loosely on weirdmagedon with the help of Dipper and Fidds

- In a relationship with Mabel and still gets butterflies whenever she’s around

Fiddleford:

- Divorced his raccoon wife (the break up was messy, he doesn’t like to talk about it)

- Invites Tate and his family to live in the mansion with him and they all accept

- He and Tate talk a lot and Fidds apologizes all the time for leaving when Tate was a kid. They mange to figure it out and their relationship is getting stronger

- Teaches Pacifica tons about computer tech and teaches her a little bit of robotics (her first robot blew up and set fire to the south garden of the mansion)

- Relearns banjo and is still one hell of a musician

- Barely remembers dating Stan when they were younger but still has feelings for him, he won’t tell him until later (don’t mind me just spreading my fiddlestan agenda)

Stan:

- Took Ford to go visit Shermie (Shermie hits them both and then hugs them immediately after)

- Has stopped conning people as much as possible and now only does it when absolutely necessary (Normally while on adventures with Ford)

- His favorite band is They Might Be Giants and he and Ford sing their songs together all the time

- Bill still lives in Stan’s mind but has no power he’s just like an annoying little voice in his head (they manage to be “friends” and get along)

- He picked up lace making and is incredibly talented (He originally learned how to knit from Mabel, but didn’t like it as much. She showed him what Lacemaking was and he fell in love with the hobby)

- Has gaps in his memory but has been able to regain most of them

- He and Fidds used to date when he was rebuilding the portal but they don’t talk about it anymore. He has lingering feelings but he won’t ever admit it.

[sitp-recs]

hello!! i love your recs so so much, and i finally have something to ask. what about fics where harry is very good at something beyond just having powerful magic (love that trope tho) like commanding a classroom, solving a complicated puzzle, or idk even whittling. and draco notices and likes it? like competence kink. thank you!!

Oh I love this ask! Such a great concept, and not something I see often (competent Auror Harry is pretty popular though!). I’m sure I’m forgetting a bunch of fics and might add more later, but these are all great:

In Which Harry is Magnetic North and Draco Is An Idiot by bryoneybrynn (T, 13k)

For as long as he can remember, Draco’s been bringing fake dates to his family’s annual Yuletide celebration in order to evade his mother’s matchmaking. This year, Potter’s posing as his pretend boyfriend. But as the party gets underway, it gets unclear who’s playing who, who’s pretending what, who’s not pretending at all, and what the game really is. Confused? Yeah, so is Draco…

Unfinished Business by cupiscent (E, 20k)

Ten years after the War ends, Harry and Draco still haven't got their act together. But maybe it's not too late.

This is Never Happening Again by hpleems (M, 32k)

“Potter,” Malfoy said, shaking his head. “Do I look like I care about your holiday plans? Trust me: this is *never* happening again.”

Meet Me at Midnight by thestarryknight (T, 57k)

Harry was beginning to wonder if he’d ever make anything again when Malfoy stormed through the door of Harry’s furniture shop. Now Harry’s got an impossible Ministry commission to finish, and even less energy than ever to deal with his elusive muse. That is, until he stumbles upon the surreal and beautiful world of a mysterious fae creature…

A Room Up There (And You In It) by thestarryknight (T, 59k)

When Preservationist Draco Malfoy was assigned to work on Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, he was excited to delve into the gorgeous Black family antiques. His excitement quickly ended when something in the House decided it did not like his presence one bit. Featuring a grumpy antiques lover who most certainly did not sign up for this, encounters with a vengeful apparition, and a healthy application of Christmas spirit.

Among Ancient Pines by Theartfulldodger (M, 74k)

Every day, Draco Malfoy tries. With every fiber of his being he tries. But he doesn’t much think about what he’s trying for. In his final term of Healer training, Draco is unfortunate enough to find himself on a plane, the only means of traveling to a small, magical town in rural Alaska. Years of hard work have culminated in an opportunity to work with an experimental wandmaker to study the intersection of Healing and wand theory.

Azoth by zeitgeistic (E, 88k)

Now that Harry is back at Hogwarts with Hermione for eighth year, he realises that something’s missing from his life, and it either has to do with Ron, his boggart, Snape, or Malfoy. Furthermore, what, exactly, does it mean when one’s life is defined by the desire to simultaneously impress and annoy a portrait? Harry has no idea; he’s too busy trying not to be in love with Malfoy to care.

Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead) by nerakrose, dustmouth (T, 96k)

Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who's definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry.

[expanding-hyrule]

Goddess of Secrecy by @amelias-calamity-quintet

Adventure Fantasy | General | AO3 & Wattpad | Complete*

Synopsis: Hyrule has only ever dreamt of an end to the resurrection of Demise. With the returning of an ancient power, that dream could finally be fulfilled. Can the Hero of the Fourth Goddess save Hyrule once and for all?

*Imported to AO3 July '24-April '25

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

For me, GoS is a classic Zelda fic with amazing storytelling that rivals the games. The worldbuilding stays faithful to the game series but also brings new life to it in fun and interesting ways. Every time Link visits a dungeon in this story, I can easily imagine exploring it in a game. This fic is full of enjoyable and lovable characters, from Link's expeditious guide to the many unique side characters that accompany Link on his journey to the temples. This fic is a must read for any Zelda fan interested in reading an original Zelda story. - doubtfulloser

Familiar and original characters collide in a Hyrule that is far-reaching. Extensive world building paints each region in bright technicolor. With the help of a mysterious guide, Link journeys to explore all four corners of Hyrule, conquering monsters, solving puzzles, cleansing dungeons of evil and unlocking his true potential as the Chosen Hero. Gripping storytelling and descriptive writing pulls the reader into the thick of things right alongside a Link who isn't afraid to speak the truth. Add a strong-willed and capable Zelda who takes an active role in the action makes this story a real treat to read. - Mistress Lritgar

Goddess of Secrecy was one of the first Zelda fics that I read that I actually enjoyed. It has all the workings of an original Zelda and then some. Massive world, lots of characters, so much lore [I love lore so much, and this one has no shortage of that]. Amelia herself is a wonderful author, truly bringing Hyrule to life through the eyes of Link, Zelda, and Endeavor. Goddess of Secrecy is a classic, action-packed, and absolutely amazing! - The Nameless

This is a very expansive fic, but I've really enjoyed what I've read of it so far! The writing just oozes charm, and even the characters I haven't known for long are bursting with personality. Despite taking heavy inspiration from Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, and a few fantasy novels (I can smell the Ranger's Apprentice here) it stands apart enough to feel unique. It's super fun to imagine playing a game like this! - waterglider

A love letter to the LoZ franchise, GoS masterfully weaves its own unique tale while seamlessly incorporating and combining concepts and lore from the games that existed at its time of writing. It follows the classic game formula but still remains an entertaining read, with dungeons and items you could easily visualize working in an actual game! The characters, while many, are well-developed and I found myself quickly falling in love with them. This Link's journey is both classic and new; starting from nothing and ending a Hero - but in his own way and with all the struggles that come with it. This work has made me smile and laugh and cry - and I can't recommend it enough! - Anonymous

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You can find @amelias-hart at AO3, Bluesky, and Wattpad.

[lavender-butterfly-cookie]

let me send it again can you do ancients x batman male reader ?

i mean like Batman's secret identity is Y/n Wayne, an earthbread billionaire, industrialist, philanthropist and owner of Wayne Enterprises ( since this is cookie run world so the Wayne Enterprises company with branch will be in each kingdom like dark cacao kingdom, hollyberry kingdom, vanilla kingdom and golden cheese kingdom except fairy kingdom where white lily rule ) and ready at day time it a billionaire cookie but at night is the dark night of earthbread also reader don't have power but have prep time, techonoly and weapon to take down cookie of darkness ESPECIALLY dark enchantress cookie

Ancients x Male batman reader

In a world where day is safer than night, a hero arises. Ok, well, to be fair this was just a random cookie who appeared overnight. Literally. As far as any cookie knew, this cookie was a hero of the night. When night falls, this hero protects the cookies who find themselvse in bad situations. At first it seemed like a myth. But gradually that whisper grew and grew until it became the talk of the town. It wasn't too long until this reached the ancients, who were all fairly surprised.

Pure Vanilla cookie was very intrigued by this new cookie. A cookie who wore a veil of darkness and protected others. What a mystery. He'd like to meet them in person, if only he knew how to reach him. Still, this cookie caught his interest.

Dark Cacao cookie was somewhat unsure how to feel. On one hand, he was admittedly impressed by how this cookie alone managed to spark up so much talk around themselves. Another hero in the night also added some reassurance. But he didn't know this cookie, let alone what their true motives were. Until he could meet this cookie, they were in a place of between suspiscious and trustworthy.

Golden Cheese cookie was in the same predicament. This cookie was interesting, she couldn't deny that. Having someone who kept the night time safe could offer some relief. But like everyone else, she didn't know much else about this cookie. A cookie who hides behind the mask of the night, yet is nowhere to be seen throughout the day. A cookie that has little to no information on contact details and nobody knows their identity. She ought to meet them for them to earn her trust.

Hollyberry cookie was beyond interested by this mysterious cookie. So much mystery surrounding a single cookie? What a fun guessing game. But she wasn't one to do puzzle solving, so it was a simple case of take a random guess and honestly just do no investigation on her "theory" whatsoever. She doesn't see why her comrades don't trust them. Maybe this cookie is just a bit shy to go showing themselves off. Not that she could relate. She would love to meet this cookie. Maybe share a drink or two with them.

White Lily cookie was a mix of everyone else's opinions in a way. On one hand, this was just a random cookie who appeared overnight and nobody knows how to contact them nor who they actually were. But on the other hand, everything she has heard about this cookie has all been good. They protect the innocent and catch the evil. She wasn't sure whether or not to trust or be suspicious about them.

However, just as all attention was on this mystery cookie, word of another cookie started raising. Now, this cookie wasn't exactly a mystery. In fact, they were well-known. A cookie who became extremely wealthy and sparked conversation around themselves in a short period of time.

A cookie of such wealth who seemingly appeared out of nowhere managed to grab the attention of the press and other cookies. Not to mention, they had some very high class security. It was nearly impossible for any robbers to enter their house. A cookie of fine class and wealth, surely a living target for several greedy cookies. Because, any evil cookie could feel the need to rob and get rid of such a powerful cookie like this.

So powerful they were in business with every kingdom for the high tech they had. Whatever the customer needed could easily be provided. They sold all types of technology. Some of the best quality in earthbread. It's so funny, how this cookie of great wealth is the same cookie of mystery. No one would suspect it. Nobody will.

[sweethoneyrose83]

Escape the Hotel Writing Prompts:

The Grand Reopening: The hotel has been abandoned for decades, yet one night, you receive an invitation to its grand reopening. The catch? Once you check in, you realize all the exits have mysteriously disappeared, and there are no other guests. Now, you must navigate the eerie halls, solve riddles, and avoid the hotel’s dark history that’s seemingly alive in every corner.

Room 999: You enter a luxurious hotel only to be assigned to Room 999—a room that supposedly doesn’t exist. After a series of strange events, you try to leave, but each hallway somehow leads back to that same room. Trapped in a never-ending loop, you must find hidden clues in the room’s decor to unlock a way out.

Locked Floors: This hotel has certain floors restricted to guests, locked by ancient keycards. However, when the elevator malfunctions, it takes you to one of these forbidden floors. The shadows seem to move on their own, and cryptic messages are scrawled on the walls. Can you navigate the haunting labyrinth and find your way back?

The Infinite Hotel: In this hotel, there’s no end in sight. Hallways stretch out infinitely, and each door opens to a new, impossible landscape. Some rooms contain clues, while others contain horrors beyond your wildest imagination. The only way to escape is to find an object hidden in one of the rooms that will teleport you back to the real world.

Clockwork Escape: At midnight, all doors in the hotel lock for exactly one hour. During this time, strange mechanical creatures roam the halls. As you explore the hotel, you uncover hints that these creatures may have a pattern. Can you figure out the timing of their movements and escape before the hour ends?

The Wedding Party: You attend a wedding at the hotel, but as the night progresses, you notice everyone slowly disappearing. Soon, you’re the only one left, and the hotel starts transforming, morphing into a twisted version of itself. Your only chance of escape is to find the bride’s missing necklace, which supposedly has the power to undo the curse.

The Elevator Game: Following an internet urban legend, you play the "elevator game" at a deserted hotel, hoping to reach an alternate dimension. But once there, you realize there’s no way back. The alternate hotel is decayed and haunted, and the only way out is to complete a series of tasks assigned by the eerie “guests” you meet along the way.

Phantom Staff: You’re the new night shift employee at the hotel, with an easy job—except that no one warned you about the phantom staff. Each ghostly employee has a task for you to complete, and each task brings you closer to uncovering the hotel's sinister past. Fail, and you risk becoming one of them.

The Basement Exit: A blackout leaves you stranded in the hotel, with only one exit route—the basement. As you descend, each floor holds secrets the hotel never wanted revealed. The further you go, the more you realize this isn’t just an escape; it’s a journey through the twisted history of everyone who’s stayed here.

The Last Guest’s Notebook: Left in your room is a notebook filled with entries from a previous guest detailing a failed escape attempt. They wrote about strange symbols, hidden keys, and codes scattered across the hotel. Using their clues, you have one night to finish what they started before you meet the same fate.

[fancy11schmancy]

Finally, after all this time, 1920’s AU Link’s Main outfit concepts are all done!!! It’s been a challenge traveling for work and having time to work on art, but I am slowly getting better at it! (Sorry this took so long ;;)

AU Main Summary:

Since travel has been restored between the light realm and the twilight realm, a newfound unity flourished between the two societies. New friends, new towns/cities to explore, never-before-seen technologies and fashions at their disposal- all seemed well...until nefarious rumors of a returning great threat started to spread... Brief Lore of Link’s Role In The AU: With the new alluring land of Twilight open for entry and for any and all visitors, Link jumps at the chance to visit the amber-hued and shadow-filled world as Zelda’s accompanying guard for the latest council meeting. What and who lies in wait for Link to meet in this parallel reality? A world far more alien and advanced than his own? Rumors of an ethereal beauty shrouded in shadow? ___________________________________________________________ Link, a kindhearted, brave and daring country boy, is ready to make a name for himself as Hyrule’s greatest explorer! He’s known across the land as the “one-man army” for being extremely adaptable and prepared for any situation at any time with his wide arsenal of tools at his disposal. Some may also call him the “evergreen mountaineer” being as there is no mountain or peak he cannot scale- and by the fact he is always seen donning his famous dark green field coat, cap and his pickax of legend. He always greets friends and acquaintances alike with a warm smile and a firm handshake with a hearty hello (or ‘howdy’) with a slight southern draw. (A trademark from those who hail from “across the field," the Ordon Region.)

With his natural talent for exploring and his insatiable hunger for discovery and adventure, he’s charted vast ancient ruins, several dungeons of lore, and has uncovered a fantastic array of numerous treasures on both land and sea. Because of this, he’s occasionally seen as a young, irresponsible and reckless lad, especially due to the extreme nature of most of his exploration missions and his tendency to throw safety to the wind. He may seem like a “lone wolf” most of the time, but he always manages to bring along his dear friend Princess Zelda (and sometimes Midna) for any excursion he may be heading on…but in secret, of course. If the King of Hyrule were to ever find out about the “dangerous” adventures he’s been dragging Zelda onto, surely it would not go well…. Besides adventuring, Link spends his time helping his adoptive family back in Ordon with their expansive pumpkin farm and raising goats that are for producing the finest of goat cheese known region-wide. Any other spare time he has is at the right-hand side of Zelda, helping her with daily royal errands, solving mysteries, or just going out on the town to a local pub or to a delightful picnic in Hyrule Field. When he is at the pub, he can be seen boisterously playing an array of instruments, ranging from drums, stringed instruments, and most notably, his Ocarina (a very cherished gift from Zelda). While Link may be a bit of a country boy, he is no less capable of assisting Zelda in her pursuits of solving the various mysteries popping up around Castle Town, often providing a unique perspective from being the most skilled survivalist around. Once Midna arrives on the scene, she often enables Link’s craziest ideas- bringing out his secret (or not-so-secret) mischievous side. However, Link absolutely loathes Zant, Midna's towering Valet, due to his arrogant nature and his occasional mocking of Link’s short stature.

[lutiaslayton]

Did someone ask for more scans? No? Too bad, have more scans.

Emmy's letter to Professor Layton, post-Curious Village. The fabled letter, which can only be accessed properly if you rip open your copy of the Japan-exclusive Azran Legacy Guidebook (more or less).

Years ago, there were photos and a fan-translation floating around on tumblr. Now, I give you the new and high quality version, as well as a full transcript. You're welcome :>

It's been literally eight years since your post, but since your tags say that you wanted to be warned if a better scan were to be made, well... Here you go @puzzilitis x) I'm also tagging @the-azran-legacies, but I'm pretty sure your blog is completely dead since this translation post seems to be its latest sign of activity, and that was ten years ago.

Seriously though, just in case you get to see this -- thank you both so much for what you did all these years ago. Without your posts, I might never even have heard that this letter existed in the first place! Or, well, I likely would have heard of it by now given the fact that I've been documenting every single Layton media I can find -- but I would have lived through an entire decade of ignorance by that point.

The translation below has been done exclusively with DeepL because my free time is limited, sorry for that ^^' If you want another one in order to compare, you have the one linked above, and I will likely make another one later (much later).

みんなのエピソード２１｜レミからの手紙

Everybody's Episode 21: A Letter from Emmy

親愛なるレイトン教授へ Dear Professor Layton,

あれから数か月になりますが、教授、お元気ですか？ It's been a few months since then. Professor, how are you?

一緒に仕事をしている仲間からレイトン教授が遺産相続騒動を解決したという話を耳にして思わず手紙を書いてしまいました。 When I heard from a colleague I work with that you had solved an inheritance dispute, I couldn't resist writing to you.

タージェントから世界を救���たあのレイトン教授が単なる遺産相続のナゾトキの依頼を引き受けるなんて。まさか…と思いましたが、ナゾには目がない教授ですし、きっと知的好奇心を刺激される不思議な出来事だったんでしょうね。 How could the very same Professor Layton who had saved the world from Targent, now accept a mere inheritance puzzle request? I could not believe it… But you always had a penchant for puzzles, so I am certain that it had to be a mysterious event which truly stimulated your intellectual curiosity.

ルークはしっかりと役目を果たせたでしょうか？ Has Luke fulfilled his role well?

実は…私はいま、ワールドタイムズでカメラマンをしています。教授の活躍を教えてくれた仕事仲間って、ボストニアス号で世界を旅したときに出会ったドリスさんなんですよ。 By the way... I am now a photographer for the World Times. The colleague who told me about your activities is Doris. We met her when we were travelling around the world on the Bostonius.

教授のもとを去ってから私がワールドタイムズで働き始めたきっかけは、教授との旅がとても楽しかったから。 I started working for the World Times after I quit my job as your assistant, since I enjoyed the journey with you so much.

世界各地でのいろんな人との出会い、見る者を虜にする美しい景色…。それを世界中の人々に伝えたい、いっしかそんな気持ちになって、自然とワールドタイムズ編集部に足を運んでいました。 Meeting all kinds of people in different parts of the world, finding beautiful and captivating landscapes… I wanted to tell people all over the world about these experiences, and this is how I naturally came to visit the World Times editorial office.

今の仕事は、本当に楽しいです！ I really enjoy my current job!

ムスロッホでリボの滝と鍾乳洞の取材をしていたら、長老のシメジイさんから気になるうわさ話を聞いたんです。 While I was reporting for the Ribo Waterfalls and the limestone caves of Musloch, I heard interesting rumours from the elder, Mr Simejii.

そんな話を聞いたら、調査をするしかありませんよね！ After hearing such a story, I simply could not resist investigating!

村人たちの情報を頼りに鍾乳洞の奥を突き進んでいったら…幻の｢神秘の密林｣を発見しました！ After going deeper into the limestone caves, by relying on the information the villagers gave me… The fabled "Mystical Jungle" has been discovered!

ワールドタイムズの大スクープとして一面に大きく取り上げられたので教授もご存知かもしれませんが、これは私の初スクープなんですよ。 You may have already known of it since it was featured as huge news on the front page of the World Times, but this was my first scoop.

記事には書きませんでしたが、密林の奥には古代遺跡が隠されていました。 We did not mention it in the article, but there were ancient ruins hidden deep in the jungle.

ここにもたくさんのナゾが隠されているはずなので、いつか教授にナゾを解いてもらいたいなぁ。 There must be a lot of puzzles hidden there. I hope you will solve them one day.

もしかして、アスラント文明とは別の考古学史上に残る大発見がある…かも？ Maybe there is another major discovery in the history of archaeology that is unrelated to the Azran civilisation… maybe?

そんなスクープを追いかけて世界中を飛び回る毎日ですが、いま追いかけているのは、スラム街に現れた｢ナゾのマスク男｣です。この話、知的好奇心をくすぐられませんか？ I spend my days travelling around the world, chasing this kind of scoop. What I am chasing now is a "Puzzling Masked Man" who has appeared in the slum quarters. Doesn't this story tickle your intellectual curiosity?

お金持ちから金品を盗み、スラム街の子供たちにお金を与える現代の義賊｢マスク男｣。 The Masked Man is a modern-day righteous bandit who steals money and goods from the rich and gives it to the children in the slums.

最初は、この｢マスク男の正体｣をスクープするためカメラ片手に追いかけていましたが、スラム街の子供たちを見ているうちに、１人の記者としてそこに暮らす人々の現状もじっくりと取材したい、と思うようになりました。 At first, I followed this "Masked Man," camera in hand, in order to get a scoop on his identity. But as I watched the children in the slums, I began to think that, as a reporter, I should rather take the time to cover the current situation of the people living there.

スラム街にはたくさんの孤児がいます。私たちを無垢な笑顔で迎えてくれる子、まったく目を合わせてくれない子など、いろんな表情を見せてくれます。 There are many orphans in the slums. We see many different faces, from those who greet us with innocent smiles to those who don't make eye contact at all.

そんな彼らの姿を見ているうちに、昔のことを、ふと思い出してしまいました。 As I watched them, I suddenly remembered something from the past.

私も子供のころ父を失い、孤児になってしまうところでした。しかし、それを救ってくれたのは、おじさまだったんです。 I lost my father as a child and almost became an orphan. But Uncle Leon saved me from that.

あの頃、父を失った私をおじさまはまるで娘のように育ててくれました。 Back then, I had lost my father, and Uncle Leon brought me up as if I were his daughter.

だから、あの場所でおじさまを裏切るわけにはいかなかった。優しかったおじさまを裏切れなかった…。教授に嘘をついていたことは、申し訳ないと思っています。 So this is why I couldn't betray him in that place. I couldn't betray my kind Uncle Leon... I truly am sorry that I lied to you, Professor.

でも、こういうことがあったからこそ、教授に出会えた。人の運命って不思議ですね。 Still, it was because of these things that I met you. The destiny of people is a curious thing, isnt' it?

あ…、今の私を伝えたいと思ってこの手紙を書いたのに、過去の話になっちゃいましたね。私の話は、また教授に会ったときにお話ししますね。 Ah... I wrote this letter in order to tell you how I am now, but all this is about the past. I will tell you my story when we meet again.

というわけで…今は楽しく仕事をしています！ So, all that to say... I really am enjoying my work now!

そうそう、長かった髪を思い切ってばっさり切りました！ Yes, I also cut off my long hair in a very drastic way!

これまでタージェントの一員として生きてきましたが、いま、ワールドタイムズでカメラマンとして働く普通の女性として歩み出すことができた、そんな気がしています。 I have lived my entire life as a member of Targent. But now, I feel that I have been able to step forward as an ordinary woman, who is now working as a photographer for the World Times.

きっといつか、あなたにまた会える、その日まで。 I am sure that one day, we will meet again. Until that day.

ＰＳ．取材中の写真をドリスさんに撮ってもらいました！あっ、後ろにマスク男が…！ P.S. Doris took photos during the interview! Ah, the Masked Man is in the background...!

Emmy Altava

Important translation note: Emmy calls Bronev "oji-sama," all in hiragana, which makes it unclear whether she is related to him by blood or not (おじ means "uncle," but can also just mean "man who is older than the speaker" (at least from what I know)).

The Eternal Diva novel introduces Emmy as "a beautiful woman of Asian lineage" (and yes, I know, Asia is huge with a lot of different lineages, and I don't know either which corner of Asia is being talked about here), so make of that info what you like. In order to leave it as ambiguous as I could, I replaced all instances of "oji-sama" with "Uncle Leon."

There might be a few other translation changes I made, but I think this was the most important one to take note of.

By the way, I actually scanned the whole guidebook, and I will share it when I can (though don't hold your breath, as you probably know I am currently juggling between way too many projects). The scans aren't ready to be shared yet because they were basically done with me not really caring whether the pages would be perfectly straight, upside down, etc, and as such they need some editing.

(I checked and the resolution of the scans is high enough to make it so that editing doesn't hurt the quality in the slightest. I swear that when the scans are finished editing, you won't even realise it and they'll look just as good as what you're seeing above with Emmy's letter).

The editing also includes linking the pages together for aesthetics purposes. Some pages have artworks that spread over both pages, so I'm doing my best to make it look seamless! Here, have an example for the first double page in the book that really does it:

As you can guess, editing each of the 128 pages in order to get this result is time-consuming, and translating that is going to be a doozy. But let's just appreciate how awesome it will be once it's done, eh? :D

Anyway, next up on the blog is going to be the Eternal Diva novel translation. I'm still working on getting some buffer done, but hopefully the first "chapter" will get out soon! I'd like to post on Saturdays. Let's cross our fingers for tomorrow. Or next week, if today's translation is enough to satiate you all for now!

[the-remote-viewers-division]

I have an alternate pale theory…

Consider this like a ‘Pale-AU’ (i.e. I know it is probably not supported by canon, and certainly not supported by some other works like Joshua Jenkins designs, for example… also I haven’t finished reading PJÕL, so maybe my ideas will change after that) but I started thinking about it as a “what-if” situation: If there were to be a direct sequel to Disco Elysium :insert prayer hands:, how could we reconcile the multitude of different Harrys the player could create? What about the fates of other characters? Some change due to our influence, some die. How could a sequel storyline somehow accept all those possible variances? Introducing my almost-certainly not-correct pale theory!TM using a little bit of in-game info, some real-life stuff, and a sprinkle of imagination!

Caution: Many spoilers ahead.

So what is Pale -- just the past?

After you talk to the Phasmid you’re given the impression that humans/people created the pale accidentally (with thinking and memory and ideas and invention?); and after talking to Joyce you learn that some think the pale is “rarified past.” It’s all pretty nebulous, but I think that the pale being a product (or a by-product) of the human mind/memory is close to what could be accepted as the canon origin of the pale:

INSULINDIAN PHASMID - The pale, too, came with you. No one remembers it before you. The cnidarians do not, the radially symmetricals do not. There is an almost unanimous agreement between the birds and the plants that you are going to destroy us all. YOU - Wait, the pale is human made? INSULINDIAN PHASMID - It is a nervous shadow cast into the world by you, eating away at reality. A great, unnatural territory. Its advent coincides with the arrival of the human mind. YOU - I don't have that kind of power. INSULINDIAN PHASMID - You are a violent and irrepressible miracle. The vacuum of cosmos and the stars burning in it are afraid of you. Given enough time you would wipe us all out and replace us with nothing -- just by accident. YOU - ...how? INSULINDIAN PHASMID - We suspect it will be something like the oxygen holocaust that wiped out anaerobic life 2.6 billion years ago -- when organisms first started breathing. Only much worse. CONCEPTUALIZATION - Instead of air, you exhale thoughts. There are no trees that eat thoughts.

JOYCE MESSIER – "Some say the damage stems from extreme sensory deprivation. Others argue that pale somehow *consists* of past information, that's degrading. That it's rarefied past, not rarefied matter." JOYCE MESSIER – "They call it *the blend-over of the self*. The pale does not only suspend the laws of physics, but also the laws of psychology, maybe History, even... The human mind becomes over-radiated by past." YOU – "Who says and who argues?" JOYCE MESSIER – "The logical positivists say -- the dialectical materialists argue."

An effect of the Pale is “entroponetical crosstalk" which you can experience when you use the doorbell intercom outside the whirling and hear the woman speaking from Tricentennial Electrics a long time ago, and additionally the old pale driver also talks to you about how she’s experienced the past in the pale, like the assassination of Dolores Dei. Both are snippets of human past:

KIM KITSURAGI - "It was a recording trapped in the circuitry. From some ancient tenant. This sometimes happens. Shall we conclude here? We have other mysteries to solve." YOU - "I do have one mystery that still needs solving... the radio ghost in the Doomed Commercial Area's electronic doorbell." SOONA, THE PROGRAMMER - "The creepy woman!" She slaps her forehead. "We were wondering about that when we worked there... but I had completely forgotten about it ever since!" SOONA, THE PROGRAMMER - "It must be entroponetic crosstalk. The one you get in radios and long-distance calls... Now it makes sense, with the pale right on the doorstep." KIM KITSURAGI - "Incredible..." the lieutenant murmurs. "This would also explain why we get it on the police radio all the time." YOU - "Entroponetic crosstalk?" SOONA, THE PROGRAMMER - "It's quite common actually. When the signal gets routed through pale, all kinds of irregularities take place. You may hear snippets of someone else's conversation, or the voice of your former lover, or an echo of an event that took place 100 years ago." SOONA, THE PROGRAMMER - "Pale is a shroud of memories and it doesn't really distinguish to whom those memories belong to. You could hear anything."

PALEDRIVER - "You don't need to turn back time. The pale is already churning with it. As the tide of pale rises, so does the past. Someday both will cover the whole world. That's it. That's the story." PALEDRIVER - "They say there is a point -- one that *I* have not crossed -- in the pale superdeep. If you stray too far off course on the U41-A, or in Lomonossov's Land... where every step you take is one step further from home, no matter the direction." PALEDRIVER - "It's a point you cannot come back from. Your mind becomes so radiant with the past -- there is a flip." She flicks the ash from her cigarette. "Instead of writing, it erases memory. Nearing some kind of..." She shakes her head. "Indescribable *finale*." PALEDRIVER - "Like Gabriel Buenguerro in 'Segure-me, Paraíso'..." She nods and smiles, unkindly. "You're the opposite of me then. I remember everything -- even the things I never knew." YOU - "Things you never knew?" PALEDRIVER - "The smell of liquor on Gabriel's lips after the shoot. In the motor park. The roses on the day of Franconegro's coronation. On the grand stairs of Raehl. The smoke from the fowling piece, when Dolores Dei was shot..." PALEDRIVER - "The look on her face -- like an orgasm. The wound in her chest. My hand in my father's hand..." She closes her eyes, her eyelids trembling. "Except I never had a father. And I never shot Her Innocence Dolores Dei." .. PALEDRIVER - "Thought insertion? *Dithering*? The Graad-Katla Magistral?" She savours the lungful. "It's more than dangerous -- it's *sad*. But... at first I had to make a living. Now..."

So you’d think Joyce’s theory checks out, it’s all history/memory---BUT! I did the moralist political quest my first play thru, and when you are trying to contact the airship you also get radio crosstalk from the pale.

KIM KITSURAGI - "It's cold now..." SHIVERS - A slight frisson at the point where your neck meets your spine. Something about the lieutenant's words, directed at you, but not *you*... YOU - "It's really coming down, now that you mention it." KIM KITSURAGI - "Mention what?" YOU - "It's cold, like you just said." KIM KITSURAGI - "I didn't say anything, detective." KIM KITSURAGI - "...someone has been maintaining it. The wiring has been repaired..." HORSEBACK ANTENNA - An uncomfortable silence falls over the connection. KIM KITSURAGI - "... It's been a long winter... Long and cold..." YOU - "Are you going to tell me you didn't say *that*, either?" KIM KITSURAGI - "I promise you, I didn't, even though it certainly *sounds* like me..." The lieutenant seems to wince at the sound of his own voice. YOU - "It must be entroponetic crosstalk. It's the only explanation." NOID - "So your partner's haunting himself. Trying to warn him off his current path, most like." KIM KITSURAGI - "It's eerie, for certain, but also harmless. I just wish I could remember what I was talking about..." ESPRIT DE CORPS - Something here is eating at the lieutenant, as much as he would like to move past it.

You can even hear it if Kim is not with you:

KIM KITSURAGI - "It's cold now..." SHIVERS - A slight frisson at the point where your neck meets your spine. You can *feel* the lieutenant's presence, even though he's nowhere to be found... YOU - "Kim? How did you get on my connection?" NOID - "Whoa, the cop's *own partner* is a radio-spooker. That's some *other core* business right there..." HORSEBACK ANTENNA - ... KIM KITSURAGI - "...someone has been maintaining it. The wiring has been repaired..." YOU - "Kim! Answer me." NOID - "No use, man. Don't think he can hear you." YOU - "I've encountered this before. It's entroponetic crosstalk. This is a piece of the past mixing in with our signal." NOID - "What..." KIM KITSURAGI - "It's been a long winter... Long and cold." NOID - "What have you gotten us into, lawman?" HALF LIGHT - Just *run*. Unplug that headset and get as far away as you can.

YOU - "Kim? How did you get on my connection?" … YOU - "What is he talking about?"’ SOONA, THE PROGRAMMER - "I believe you mean, what *was* he talking about." YOU - "Wait, what are *you* talking about?" KIM KITSURAGI - "It's been a long winter... Long and cold." SOONA, THE PROGRAMMER - "It sounds very much like entroponetic crosstalk. It happens sometimes when sending transmissions across long stretches of pale..."

Except IT'S NOT FROM THE PAST. It is Kim talking from the future, from the fort on the island. Which hasn’t happened yet.

And it can possibly NOT HAPPEN.

You hear Kim say this stuff even if he gets shot and doesn’t come with you to the island.

During gameplay they kind of just go “huh, how strange and spooky...” and don’t really delve into it.

But that completely changes the pale right? It’s not just past, it’s also future, and not just the ONLY future, POSSIBLE future.

So, my theory is that the pale is multiverse colliding: the near pale is the places where these universes begin to overlap, and deep pale is where universes overlap to such a degree they are cancelling themselves out into nothing.

Fungal communication – mycorrhizal network

When Joyce talks to you, she talks about a fungus growing at the edge of the porch collapse. I think this fungus could be acting like a mycorrhizal network, which in our world are an underground networks connecting fungi and plants allowing them to communicate or share information. I think the fungi/spores in Elysium pop up at origin points and thrive along the porch collapse and are allowing the universes to “talk” to each other.

SOONA, THE PROGRAMMER - "I understand..." She closes her eyes. "A theory of the pale where instead of an *outer ocean* it metastasises -- like a cancer or a mould -- erupting in points *inside* the world."

JOYCE MESSIER - "An uproar of matter, darling, *rising* into the pale. Rolling. Evaporating even, a great vision. The area of transition between the world and the pale is called *porch collapse*." JOYCE MESSIER - "Imagine a grey coronal mist, cold vapour, marked by spores of an opportunistic microorganism -- a mould that's adapted to grow at the edge of the unrest. It's..." JOYCE MESSIER - She closes her eyes and breathes out heavily: "... the most *disco* thing you will ever see.

INLAND EMPIRE - The white noise turns into a wall of mist and grey mould, bubbling, sweeping over the city... it tears up buildings and raises sidewalks into the sky. It's Revachol -- at the end of the world. INLAND EMPIRE - ...and it hasn't even really started yet.

Destructive interference – “le gris”

When Lena tells you about the cryptid the Col Do Ma Ma Da Qua, you learn that they are nearly extinct because the scientists played back their own calls and since they are creatures made of sound, the recordings cancelled out the birds. They died because the signals matched and cancelled each other out.

LENA, THE CRYPTOZOOLOGIST'S WIFE - "It's the *Col Do Ma Ma Daqua*," the woman corrects her glasses. "Its name means 'thin whisper of sound'. And that's *precisely* what it is -- self-replicating sound waves, invisible and intangible! The Col Do Ma Ma is very afraid of us, which makes it incredibly difficult to track..." YOU - "Why is the Ma Ma Daqua so afraid of us?" LENA, THE CRYPTOZOOLOGIST'S WIFE - "That is a sad story." She frowns. "A group of university students assisting with the field work, in their enthusiasm for the project and, no doubt, because they were preoccupied with impressing their professors, nearly drove it to *extinction*." YOU - "Extinction?" LENA, THE CRYPTOZOOLOGIST'S WIFE - She nods gravely. "They tried to communicate with it, and had no other means but sound. So they started sending out sound waves at frequencies they thought might match the Ma Ma Daqua's. And what happens when a sound wave meets another sound wave of the same frequency, dear?" YOU - "They cancel each other out."

So... admittedly this doesn’t directly connect to the pale, but it’s illustrating the concept of signals cancelling each other out and, I'm going to say, indicates that this concept is possible in Elysium. The pale is destruction, the overlap between universes causes matter, physics, and even numbers to dissolve. The more complete the overlap, the more complete the destruction.

In conclusion...

According to my theory, the pale is the areas of the world that are affected by these fungal organisms that allow very similar, but different universes to communicate with each other, and since their 'signals' are so alike, they are being cancelled out.

So why did I force myself to jump thru these mental hoops? I think having a multiverse like this would make a sequel more possible since there are so many ways the game can be played. Any possible playthrough would be its own universe. Having a multiverse like this acknowledges and validates any play thru as 'canon,' no player will feel that they somehow played the game “wrong.”  Whatever Harry appearing in the sequel is one of the possible Harrys even if he wasn’t “your” Harry. If a character died, they died only in some of the universes, not all. Whatever world the sequel would take place in is just one of the many possibilities.

Anyway, I thought WAYYYY too much about this and now you can too. Sorry!

[inkedbydave]

I havnt read those books in the shadowhunter chronicles yet, what are your favorite things about them? (Im curious whether I should read them or not since I have such a big tbr already)

Oh maaan you're in for a ride

I have no idea which series in the Shadowhunter Universe you meant exactly but i'll start with my fav

Part I:

The Dark Artifices:

Do you ever feel like your soul needs a good mix of romantic pining, chaotic battles, and emotional devastation? The Dark Artifices is calling your name.

But seriously if you love stories that combine heart-pounding action, deep family bonds, and characters so real you’ll find yourself thinking about them long after you've finished the books? This is the series for you!

This series follows a family of Shadowhunters in sunny Los Angeles (yes, there are beaches AND demon fights) as they deal with forbidden love, ancient laws that make no sense, and plot twists that will leave you staring at the ceiling at 3 AM like: what just happened.

It’s got:

Two people who can’t be together because of reasons but have enough chemistry to destroy you.

A goofy warlock with more secrets than anyone is ready for.

A soft boy who paints and probably writes poetry but will absolutely murder you if you hurt his siblings and childhood friend.

A broody faerie loner who says “I work alone” but would probably die for his friends.

“I would die for my siblings, but also, they’re so annoying” energy.

Found-family dynamics that will have you texting your friends, “DO YOU SEE THIS?”

And, of course, the *painful but addictive* mix of love, loyalty, and chaos...

Enemies-to-lovers? No, wait—friends-to-lovers? Actually, it’s more like "reluctantly obsessed but too emotionally constipated to say it."

Three people staring dramatically at each other like ‘Is this polyamory or a REALLY complicated love triangle?

Characters who will make you scream, “JUST COMMUNICATE,” but you’ll love them anyway.

Enough family angst to fuel a therapy session for years.

A genius, autistic boy who solves mysteries but can’t solve the mystery of his own feelings

Main characters? Let’s just say there’s a parabatai bond that’s more complicated than your high school crush.

The plot? Fast-paced, full of betrayal, and packed with vicious fight scenes.

The family? Everything is fine...except when it’s not.

The romance? You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll probably scream and definitely ship things that should not be shipped. :)

Basically a murder mystery, faerie politics, and the most relatable struggle of all: Trying to keep your family alive and well while the world is falling apart.

Fair warning: you’ll never emotionally recover (and you’ll love every second).

part II:

The Mortal Instruments:

If you’re looking for a fast-paced urban fantasy series full of adventure, humor, and heart, you need to pick up The Mortal Instruments.

It’s got everything: shadowy secrets, epic battles, forbidden love, and enough twists and turns to keep you hooked from start to finish. Plus, the friendships and family bonds will hit you right in the feels.

If you like:

Hot people with emotional trauma

Family dynamics so messy even you would say "y’all need therapy"

Enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-allies-to-love(maybe) but make it *gay*

Bonus gay dads with actual functional communication (because someone has to balance the chaos)

A love triangle that's not technically a triangle, but don't worry, it'll still destroy your soul

If you do then babe, let me introduce you to The Mortal Instruments:

It’s like Twilight, but everyone fights better is hotter and has sarcasm set to ✨maximum damage✨.

You'll question the characters' life choices, then realize your own aren’t much better.

There’s an overachieving golden boy with a superiority complex who definitely Googles his own name but is secretly baby.

A girl who just wants to vibe and maybe not be surrounded by apocalypses, but alas.

A cinnamon roll nerd who says, “I don’t want to be here,” but somehow ends up saving the day every time.

And a guy who walks in like: "I’m too goth for this mess," but then adopts everyone and pays for dinner.

The Mortal Instruments is what happens when an ex fanfic writer starts a writing carrier and makes a book series: chaotic, emotional, weirdly self-aware, and packed with heart. Read it. Your inner emo kid will thank you.

Bonus:

The plot? Like Supernatural on speed.

The dialogue? Whedon-esque but with more sass per square inch.

The drama? Every fanfic writer wishes they wrote this level of ✨chaotic bisexual disaster energy✨.

If this sounds appealing, congratulations! This series was literally written for you.

part III:

The Infernal Devices:

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare is an absolute gem of a series, blending romance, adventure, and a touch of Victorian-era steampunk. If you love books with unforgettable characters, heart-wrenching love triangles (in the best way), and a beautifully atmospheric setting, this is the series for you.

It’s full of witty banter, emotional depth, and a story that stays with you long after you turn the last page. Trust me—there’s no ‘right’ team to root for, but you’ll love every moment of trying to decide.

The plot? Wild.

The romance? Devastating.

The side characters? Hot, chaotic, and probably more interesting than the main ones in most other books you’ve read.

Let’s not forget:

The Victorian Aesthetic™ (it’s giving Pinterest board).

A robot army that would make Skynet say, “You okay, bro?”

Poetry recitals that feel like life-or-death declarations.

And more tragic backstories than a Shakespearean play.

It's got:

a steampunk version of London where demons and shadowhunters roam the cobblestone streets, and your biggest problem isn’t the fog, but the ✨existential dread✨.

There’s a protagonist who just wanted to read books but accidentally became the center of everyone’s emotional drama (relatable queen).

A golden retriever boy who’s so perfect it physically hurts and is slowly dying.

And a sad boy™️ who looks like he stepped straight out of a My Chemical Romance album, only with a reading obsession.

A love triangle where instead of fighting, the two love interests are like, ‘Hey, what if we all just loved each other?’

Friendships so deep they’ll make you scream, “WHY CAN’T THE WORLD LET THEM BE HAPPY?”

A heroine who’s like, ‘Do I choose the guy who might secretly hate himself more than anyone else alive, or the literal angel in human form?’ (Spoiler: she chooses both. Iconic.)

Brooding boys who quote poetry in life-or-death situations (because of course they do).

*A love triangle where instead of fighting, the two love interests are like, ‘Hey, what if we all just loved each other?’

Start with Clockwork Angel and get ready to laugh, cry, and ugly sob over Will, Jem, and Tessa. But be warned: this series will RUIN you in the most beautiful way possible.

I won't write a summary of The Last Hours since i haven't finished it yet sorry babes, but hope you liked these *mwa*

[sunsetconcert]

rewrite concept for scooby doo.

fred is a golden retriever of a man who has literally no idea of the actual real world money his parents have spent trying and failing to mold him into an uppity snooty rich piece of shit. head empty. has ghostwritten at least five books on van maintenance that are best described as surrealist romance. has a habit of saying patently absurd yet ominous shit like "I don't sleep, I dream" with total sincerity

daphne is juggling some 37 extracurricular activities and acing all of them because She's Just That Good. exudes the sort of Nice Young Lady energy that suggests in other timelines she would be a serial killer. thinks jessica fletcher from murder she wrote is just So Neat. she isnt romantically interested in fred at all, he is just a blorbo that she wants to see get put into situations.

velma is a "ghosts are observable scientific phenomena" girl trapped inside a "ghosts are totally spiritual and have no scientific basis" household. had a phase where she identified as a disney villain declaring that they were Surrounded By Fools! has never had a human friend before, thinks that fred and daphne are Normal.

the original three members of mystery inc were all insane and had literally zero restraints or hesitation about anything. this usually meant they would spend upwards of 24 hours on a case not eating or sleeping, only to crash when the case was done. shaggy started feeding them out of genuine concern that they might die of starvation.

shaggy is addicted to puzzles, riddles, and all manner of games and joined the gang because he foolishly thought mystery solving wouldnt involve ghosts. dressed up as Professor Layton one time. the narrative wants to doom him, but hes too good at running. he WILL feed you and that IS a threat. has a lot of Opinions about celebrity chefs. hes distantly related to international superstar Barbie but that is a Whole Situation that he is desperately trying to ignore

scooby is an impossibly ancient canine deity whose name has been forgotten by mortal men. stays with shaggy because the bellyrubs are nice. literally zero braincells. has goofball-to-goofball telepathy with shaggy. hes a fan of columbo and would very much like to wear a trenchcoat, but society does not make trenchcoats for doggies. do not trust him with your money, he has a gambling addiction.

their first case as a team is catching a spook confusingly called Mister Bones. he has no bones at all because he is a ghost. this is CRITICAL information to solving the case.

[ljjsims]

Greek Goddess Legacy Challenge: Generation #7 Athena: Completed

Here to fill all of your sims' lives with wisdom: Athena, goddess of Wisdom and Strategic Warfare!

You very much dislike the turbulent nature your family seems to have. Why use magic when you can use logic to solve it? Do you really have to use a spell for every minor inconvenience? You believe a strong and smart sim gets her power elsewhere. From a young age it was clear: you are a prodigy. You learn faster than your siblings and easily see how things are connected in the world. After you go to university, you move to the big city. A city full of crime and mysteries. and you are determined to make all those wrongs right. with your mind.

Little bit explanation with the sheets: - First sheet is for describing your current generation, with the challenges you need to do each life-stage. Also, because I love the myths, a bit of mythological background. May it inspire you :) - Second sheet is the preparation sheet for this generation, with important characters for your story. It is technically optional, but I love seeing sims with a backstory in my world, so I would highly recommend it. - Third sheet is for your gens children. They all have their own little challenges if your interested in those. I try to make all of them a bit different from each other, so it doesn’t get boring. Your heir is also on this sheet, but I’ve put their challenges on their own sheets. Stay tuned for those ;) - Fourth sheet is completely optional. If you want sims with names from the myths and love making sims to see them in your world, this is for you! All with a little mythological background ofc, you know me.

Next Generation is Amphitrite! Previous Generation was Hecate First Generation is Gaia

The Greek Goddesses Challenge by LJJ-Sims is a challenge based on the ancient mythical creatures and stories from Greece. I fell in love with Greek mythology in high school and have not let that love go since. In this challenge you will follow 10 deities in their journey through life. Every goddess has a different take on and goal in life. Special about this challenge?  All your kids have little challenges of their own, not only your heir. These challenges are optional, so if you feel like these are too much or just too restricting for you: by all means let them go. I also have sheets for characters that you can make before you start each generation. This gives your challenge a lot more personality and makes it frankly easier and more fun!

A little disclaimer: because I made these gods and goddesses into a legacy challenge, the relationships in the myths don’t exactly match the relationship in this challenge. There is a lot of keep it in the family in mythology, to put it lightly. And apart from the fact that you can’t do that in the Sims, I don’t really like that part. So I didn’t include it, thus the inconsistency. An example: Ares is now Hera’s stepfather instead of her son, which she conceived with her brother  and husband Zeus. This inconsistency can also be found in the stories. It’s just based on and not copied exactly, as Sims live lives that are a lot shorter than those of immortal gods. And it takes a way from the creativity if we just copy the myths. Even if we wanted to do that, it’s quite hard, as every myths has its fair share of variations and some are just completely different stories.

I use the MCCC-mod to alter the length of life states. You can find the days-years ratio here: the boring stuff.

[peppymintdreams]

Sakuverse Daycare: Isaac’s New Discovery

Isaac had always loved books. To him, they were portals to new worlds, puzzles waiting to be solved, and a source of endless knowledge. Today was no different. He clutched his latest find—a thick book with intricate illustrations about The Mysteries of the Ancient World. His eyes sparkled with excitement, eager to share everything he had learned.

He scanned the daycare, looking for someone—anyone—who might appreciate the wonders of ancient civilizations.

Elias? Busy leading a daring mission involving toy dinosaurs and action figures in the corner.

Andrew? Deep in a quiet game of chess with Xanthus, both of them focused and unreachable.

Even the usually quiet Xanthus had no time for him today.

Isaac sighed, disappointed. But just as he was about to give up, he spotted Luca sitting at a small table near the window. The table was covered in a pastel pink tablecloth, and around it were four very distinguished guests: Bunny, Mr. Sprinkle Face, Cheese Doodle, and Glitter Cupcake—all of Luca’s favorite stuffed animals.

It was a tea party.

Isaac hesitated. Luca wasn’t exactly the type to discuss ancient architecture or the mysteries of lost civilizations. But it was either that or keeping all this knowledge to himself, and that simply wouldn’t do.

Luca’s tea party was in full swing, with Bunny seated at the head of the table, wearing a paper crown, and Mr. Sprinkle Face delicately balancing a napkin on his lap.

Cheese Doodle held a tiny spoon in one paw, while Glitter Cupcake presided over the sugar bowl like royalty. Luca poured imaginary tea into each of their cups with great care, whispering softly,

“One lump or two?” as he adjusted Bunny’s hat. “It’s a special day, everyone,” Luca declared in a hushed, serious tone. “We’re celebrating the arrival of the sprinkles… and no one is late to this party.”

“Luca?” Isaac approached the table carefully, standing just outside the imaginary boundary of the tea party.

Luca looked up, adjusting the tiny paper hat he had made for Bunny. “Hi, Isaac. Do you want to join our tea party?” he asked softly, his big eyes hopeful.

Isaac glanced at the stuffed animals, then at the tiny plastic tea set. “Um, maybe later. But... I found something really cool in this book, and I wanted to tell someone about it.”

Luca’s hands paused over the teapot as he considered. He glanced at Bunny and the rest of his guests, then back at Isaac. “Okay,” he said with a small smile. “Bunny says it’s okay if I listen.”

Relieved, Isaac pulled up a chair next to him, opened the book, and began explaining. “Did you know there’s an ancient city called Petra? It’s carved entirely into the side of a mountain! They built huge buildings and even had a water system that brought water through the desert!”

Luca blinked, tilting his head. “A whole city… inside a mountain?”

“Yes! Isn’t that amazing?” Isaac’s voice brimmed with enthusiasm. “They had these massive stone pillars, and the main entrance is called the Siq—it’s this narrow canyon that leads you right into the city!”

Luca poured an imaginary cup of tea for Cheese Doodle. “That sounds… big.” He took a pretend sip from his cup, then offered one to Isaac. “Would you like some tea?”

Isaac, caught mid-explanation, hesitated, then accepted the invisible cup. “Uh, sure. Thanks.” He took a polite sip before continuing. “And there’s another place called Machu Picchu. It’s on top of a mountain in Peru, and it was built by the Incas! They had these terraces for farming, and they believed the mountain was sacred.”

Luca nodded slowly, though it was clear the details were starting to blur in his mind. “Sacred… like how Glitter Cupcake is the guardian of sprinkles?”

Isaac blinked. “Kind of… but more like they believed the mountain had special powers.”

Luca’s eyes widened. “Like magic?”

Isaac thought for a moment. “Well, not exactly. More like… they respected it. It was important to them.”

Luca carefully set Bunny’s cup down. “Did the mountain talk to them?”

“Not really. But they built temples to connect with their gods.” Isaac flipped to a page with a picture of Machu Picchu, showing it to Luca. “See? This is what it looks like.”

Luca studied the picture, his brow furrowed in concentration. “It’s pretty. But… where do the people live now?”

Isaac’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly. “Well, no one lives there anymore. It’s an ancient site, and now people visit it to learn about history.”

Luca looked thoughtful. “So… it’s like a big, old playground?”

Isaac opened his mouth to correct him but paused. “I guess… in a way, yeah. But for explorers and scientists.”

Luca smiled, satisfied with the comparison. “I think Bunny would like it. Bunny likes exploring.”

Isaac smiled despite himself. “Maybe. Bunny would definitely need to wear a hat for the sun, though.”

Luca nodded seriously. “Bunny always wears a hat.” He picked up the tiny teapot again. “Do you think the people in… um… Pet...Petra? Did they have tea parties?”

Isaac chuckled. “Probably not like this. But they did have gatherings and celebrations.”

Luca’s eyes lit up. “That’s kind of like a tea party! Maybe we can have a Petra party next time?”

Isaac closed his book, considering the idea. “A Petra party... That could be fun.”

Luca beamed. “And we can invite everyone! Bunny, Mr. Sprinkle Face, Cheese Doodle, Glitter Cupcake... and you!”

Isaac smiled. “I’d like that.”

As they finished their imaginary tea, Isaac realized something important. Sharing knowledge wasn’t always about finding someone who understood every detail. Sometimes, it was about finding someone who listened, who made the sharing itself special.

Luca, Bunny, and the rest of the tea party guests were the best audience he could have asked for.

[deconstructthesoup]

I saw a D&D AU with the Voices, and I decided that I also wanted to do a D&D AU with the Vessels, so here goes:

*cracks knuckles*

The players are the chapter 2 vessels, who have joined together after they were each mysteriously attacked---and nearly kidnapped---by worshipers of a primordial god only known as The Narrator. Even though they're all vastly different people with vastly different motivations, they have to work together in order to figure out how they've somehow angered a long-forgotten god.

The Tower is a scourge aasimar and an Oath of Conquest paladin, who devoted herself to The Apotheosis, queen of the gods and the embodiment of justice and retribution. She acts as the self-appointed leader of the group, even though a good chunk of the other players are having none of her self-righteousness and narcissism. She doesn't believe that the Narrator actually exists, and considers the quest to just be another heretic-killing spree.

The Adversary is a tiefling Ancestral Guardians barbarian, who grew up in a rough-and-tumble all-barbarian community and is slated to become its next leader. She's just happy to travel around the world bashing heads, and she winds up clashing the most with Tower---mainly due to their very different backgrounds. She genuinely doesn't care who or what the Narrator is, and just wants to kick ass and have a good time.

The Spectre is a ghost and a necromancer wizard, who actually died when she was attacked and has brought herself back in order to track down her killer and to take her revenge. She kind of lost herself in the ivory tower of academia when she was alive, and part of the reason she's sticking with the others is so she can actually form connections before it's truly too late. She's studied several old cults in her time, but the only thing she's found of The Narrator is an old painting of a crow with sharp teeth...

The Nightmare is a dhampir and an Undead warlock, who draws her magic from the dread vampire queen who turned her. She is no stranger to being hunted, for people fear and shun vampires and their spawn, but she knows full well that this time is different. And during the attack, she managed to devour a dream of her would-be captor, getting a little glimpse into the ancient powers of the god that wants her gone... and, well, who can resist the allure of taking down a being as old as time?

The Witch is a tabaxi Circle of Spores druid and an Arcane Trickster rogue, who's been living on her own in the woods after suffering a great betrayal and heartbreak that damaged her trust in anyone. She's only working with the others because she believes she'll get further if she does, and while she initially intends to backstab them once they're no longer useful, she finds herself growing closer to them as their journey continues. All she really wants is to go back to her old life... but her goal may change as her walls begin to come down.

The Prisoner is a human Armorer artificer, who once angered an archfey and was cursed to always be bound in chains. Undeterred, she turned this to her advantage, reforging her chains into armor that she could use as a weapon. She starts traveling with the rest purely due to self-preservation, as every time she resolved to just hide, The Narrator's worshipers found her again---but she's definitely the practical mind that they needed.

The Damsel is a half-elf College of Creation bard and a Beastmaster ranger, and she's a princess whose kingdom was usurped by an evil family member, leaving her on the run. She's very naive about how the world works, mainly due to being sheltered her entire life, and is sure that this situation can be solved with a nice conversation. Thankfully, she has someone to help her...

The Beast is a fey that was cursed to take the form of a barely-sapient panther, and she barely recalls her life in the Feywild. Still, she has a soft spot for the innocent princess she came across in the woods one day, and she will protect her for as long as she can.

The Razor is an elf Soulknife rogue and a College of Swords bard, and she's actually a pretty well-known circus performer. She's absolute chaos personified, and she really doesn't give a shit about The Narrator either way---she's just ready to kick ass, stab people, and hang out with her new best friends. Even if not all of them are super into being friends with the crazy blade lady.

And last but not least, The Stranger is a changeling Divine Soul sorcerer and a Grave Domain cleric, who unknowingly draws their power from the long-forgotten goddess of change, transformation, endings, and new beginnings. They woke up one day with no memory of who they were, and were immediately attacked for reasons they could not explain---so, needless to say, they're pretty traumatized. It also doesn't help that they don't even know what they really look like, so they're constantly changing to reflect what people expect of them... which isn't the most healthy thing, but they're an amnesiac, give them a break.

So... yeah!