#archery ritual

[kaelula-sungwis]

MOMOTE SHIKI by ajpscs Via Flickr: no rules, no limitations, no boundaries it's like an art™ © All Rights Reserved by ajpscs MOMOTE SHIKI (百々手式) Momote-shiki, an archery ritual to commemorate Seijin-no-hi (Coming-of-Age Day) in the precincts of Meiji Shrine, Shibuya-ku. The ceremony is held in front of Homotsuden (treasure house). The Momote-shiki ceremony is conducted by the Ogasawara-Ryu, one of the oldest schools of Japanese-style archery and has long been associated with martial arts training. Coming of Age Day (成人の日 Seijin no Hi) is a Japanese holiday held annually on the second Monday of January. It is held in order to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached the age of majority (20 years old (二十歳 hatachi) over the past year, and to help them realize that they have become adults. Festivities include coming of age ceremonies (成人式 seijin-shiki) held at local and prefectural offices, as well as after-parties amongst family and friends. JAN 10, 2011, from around 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Access: JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station Chiyoda or Fukutoshin Subway Line to Meiji-Jingumae Station www.jnto.go.jp/eng/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seijin_shiki

[cleradinthealps]

the losers club at camp half-blood

richie tozier, son of dionysus

god of wine, vegetation, fertility, festivity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre

beverly marsh, daughter of hebe

goddess of youth and the prime of life

mike hanlon, son of demeter

goddess of the harvest, agriculture, fertility, and sacred law

stanley uris, son of hades

god of the underworld, the dead, and riches

eddie kaspbrak, son of aphrodite

goddess of love, lust, passion, pleasure, beauty, and sexuality

bill denbrough, son of apollo

god of oracles, healing, archery, music and arts, light, knowledge, herds and flocks, and protection of the young

ben hanscom, son of athena

goddess of wisdom, warfare, and handicraft

[morlao]

Sisterly advice

▪︎Luke Castellan x fem!reader

▪︎daughter of Aphrodite

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

You and Luke have always been close. So close, in fact, that newcomers automatically assumed that you were dating. The surprised look on their faces when the older campers told them you weren´t, was according to your siblings hilarious.

It's evening and you're sitting on your bed, your legs crossed, while Silena is braiding your hair.

Of all your half-siblings she is your favourite one. Loving, gentle and kind. She is the perfect definition of a daughter of Aphrodite, as she embodies everything that comes to your mind when you think about love - and you want others to feel the same way. They should also think of her and not your other siblings with their childish plays and cruel rituals of breaking others hearts. Maybe they themselves don´t understand what it means being the child of love.

Silena´s fingers run gently through your hair, parting it and intertwining the individual strands together.

“So… what about Charlie?”

You don't have to see her face to know that a smile flashes across her lips at his name. “What about him?”

“Did he finally ask you out?”

She laughs, trying to pretend that she finds the idea absurd. “We are just friends.”

You turn around and give her a look that expresses your opinion about it all too clearly. Don´t try to fool me, darling. I see what´s going on between the two of you!

Again, Silena laughs, gently turning your head forward again to finish the braid. “Okay, other topic. What about you and Luke?”

You copy her laugh. “What about us? We´re just friends.”

You could feel her rising her eyebrows. “Let me give you some sisterly advice: Just friends don´t look at each other like that.”

“Who did you quote? That sentence is so cliché!”

She laughs, taking a hair tie from your bedside table and wrapping it around your braid. “Well… maybe it is but it totally fits you and Luke.”

You turn around, giving her a skeptical look.

Silena shrugs and sits down beside you. “I mean… have you seen his smile when he looks at you? Also he constantly finds excuses to touch you. He improves your posture in archery, even though you are at least as good at it as he is. And – “ she looks at you triumphantly, “He gives you a kiss on the cheek every time he greets you or says goodbye.”

You feel your cheeks flush and cross your arms, trying to think of a counter argument. “A lot of people do that.”

“Yeah, but you´re the only one where Luke does that. Haven´t you noticed?”

To be honest: no, you haven´t. But now as you think about it in detail... it is true. When Luke greets one of the other girls, he just smiles at them.

“In addition, he immediately drops everything when he sees you”, Silena adds, “Yesterday he left in the middle of training because he saw you walking by and wanted to talk to you. Or on Friday, he was in the middle of a conversation with Chris and you waved at him. And what did he do? Exactly, he immediately jogged over. Also last week…”

“Enough!” You laugh, trying to make her shut up by covering her mouth.

Silena dodges you, laughing as you reach into the void. "He let you draw hearts on his sneakers! He watches the sunset with you! He bought you a bracelet for your birthday! You know, I could go on with this for hours." She steps closer, cupping your cheeks with her hands. “Believe me, sis: He´s in love with you!” Her voice is melodic, angel like even. Loving, gentle and kind.

You feel the heat rising to your cheeks and embarrassed you pulls away and cover your face with your hands. “I´m pretty sure he isn´t! You´re overinterpreting!”

“Nope, I´m a daughter of Aphrodite, I can feel it!”

“So am I! And I don't feel anything!”

Silena grabs her cherry lipstick. “Your reaction makes me think that you like him too!”

Did you like him? You weren´t sure. Of course he meant the world to you, but did you like him more as than a friend? Wouldn´t that be weird kissing him since you know him for so long?

"I'm not sure", you finally manage to say, rolling off your bed and taking a look at the clock. Fortunately, you can at least put the topic off for today. "Oh, damn! Come on, we are already late!”

Silena grabs your hand and leads you outside of cabin 10. It´s already dark and in the distance you can see the flickering flames of the campfire. Most of the campers seem to have already gathered there, their drink in their hands and a smile on their lips as they talk to their siblings and friends.

“Finally!”, one of the Apollo girls greets you.

Chris Rodriguez grins. “Why are the Aphrodite girls always late?”

That is definitely not true! You're not always late. Just most of the times. God, you hate being a cliché.

Luke lifts his head as he hears his brother say “Aphrodite girls”. He spots you and his face lights up like a Christmas tree. Immediately he walks up to you and hugs you, his lips placing a soft kiss on your cheek.

From the corner of your eye you can see Silena rising an eyebrow, as if to say "Well, what did I say?"

“You look amazing”, Luke whispers in your ear, before breaking away from the hug and greeting Silena with a smile. “Charlie is already waiting for you!”, he grins, nodding towards said boy.

Silena giggles, before walking over to him. Gods, it was so obvious that she was head over heels for him.

Luke takes your hand and leads you over to his place next to Chris, where he had already a blanket spread out for the two of you. “Mylady” He pretends to bow.

You can feel your cheeks blush as you sit down. “Thank you so much, Mister!”

Gods, somehow Luke always manages to put a smile on your face. You sit down and stretch out your legs, feeling the comforting heat of the fire.

As Luke takes a seat next to you, you can feel him slide closer, his arm touching yours. Feeling him beside you was comforting, the closest feeling you had to "home".

Luke Castellan. You tilt your head back and look up at the stars as if you expect to see his name engraved up there. You have always liked his name. Luke Castellan. It feels like a secret incantation on your lips.

You can feel his eyes on you. The flickering flames make his face look almost golden. Golden boy. Why didn´t you notice before how handsome he is?

The next song starts and immediately everyone joins in. They lie in each other's arms and rock back and forth, bawling Country roads.

Well, maybe it was just because Silena had told you, but Luke really seems to find exuses for touching you. He leans against you, his arm around your shoulders - even after the song has already ended. You enjoy feeling him so close next to you. The heat he radiates. His soft skin against yours. The realization hits you straight in the face. You had fallen in love with your best friend.

He looks at you and you can't help but smile. Fascinating how beautiful an evening with a campfire could be. For a moment it feels like gods and monsters didn't exist. For a moment everything seems peaceful.

 “Can I talk to you for a second?” You can feel Luke´s warm breath on your neck as he whispers in your ear.

Your heart skips a beat. Did he notice the way you looked at him? Did he suspect something? Was Silena wrong? “Sure!”

Your voice sounds more enthusiastic than you feel.

Luke takes your hand and leads you away from the campfire, away from the singing and the laughter of the others.

You look at him, smiling nervously. “Sooo… what is it? Or did you just want to escape singing Knocking on heavens door.”

He shakes his head, laughing. “No, why would I want to miss Drew´s wonderful voice?”

You cringe at the thought of your sister singing louder than everyone else – and on top of that terribly wrong. She doesn't hit a single note.

“No, actually… Y/N…” He runs a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words. “Gods, you´re so beautiful.”

It´s not the first time that somebody told you that. In fact, being a daughter of Aphrodite, you had heard it thousands of times already.

Still his words felt special to you. Special because he wasn´t just anybody. Ä

He was Luke. Your best friend Luke. Luke who was always there for you, who comforted you when you had trouble with your family, who managed to make you laugh when you lay in your bed crying your eyes out over something your stepmother had said. Luke who you trusted with all your heart.

“I wanted to ask you if you'd like to go on a picnic tomorrow?” He avoids looking at you.

Why is he so shy about going on a picnic? That's quite strange since you´d done this a few times before. You had even found your very own spot with a fantastic view over the sea. There was nothing more beautiful than watching sunsets while drinking juice and eating biscuits. So why does he seem so insecure?

Luke seems to notice your confusion. “I meant as a date”, he clarifies.

You raise your eyebrow, your heart racing. “Are you asking me out?”

“Yeah.”

For a moment you stood there, perplexed. Why was it so obvious to the others while you had no idea?

"So... what do you say?" Luke looks at you, biting his lip nervously. He seems to assume that you aren't answering because you're looking for a way to reject him as gently as possible.

Quickly you step forward, brushing a strand of your hair behind your ear. "Yes, I'd love to go on a date with you."

"Really?" Immediately he blushes deeply. That must have slipped out.

"Sure, why wouldn't I?" You giggle, taking his hand. "I've known you for years now. You're kind and brave and one of the most caring people I know."

A laugh escapes his lips. "Wow, if I had known that, I would have asked you way earlier." His hand slowly reaches for your cheek.

You hold your breath as he leans forward and places a soft kiss on your lips. It didn't feel weird at all. The opposite, actually. Seems like sometimes best friends can turn into lovers.

You wrap your arms around him, pulling him closer. Soft kisses become more passionate. His hands run through your hair, slowly brushing loose strands out of your face.

When he pulls away a huge smile creeps across his lips. "I love you, Y/N"

You return his smile, taking his hand and intertwining your fingers. "I love you, too."

As you walk back to the campfire holding hands, Silena beams at you. "I told you, Y/N, friends don't look at each other like that."

You shake your head, laughing. "Your advice really is the best."

[silaslich]

There’s a field down the road from me that they rent out for all kinds of things and we had a new one this week- ;)

Simon walks his dog along boundary lines of the fields like he usually does, the same way every day, sometimes twice a day. He enjoys nature as much as the next person, this is part of his daily ritual, he likes that it doesn’t change. He rarely passes anyone, and if he does it’s supplemented with a quick “morning” that’s muttered under his breath.

It’s foggy out, the air is damp and wet on his skin, it sends a chill to his lungs. He doesn’t mind it. He continues on his usual route, already thinking about what he’ll have for breakfast, disassociating from only one of his daily exercises. When suddenly, there’s the sound of something whistling through the air, it catches his ear and he freezes. Rooted to the ground, not wanting to risk stepping into the line of fire. His eyes are sharp and he catches something glinting in the low-light from the middle of the field.

“Fer fucks sake” there’s a gruff voice, an accent he can’t place right away.

Simon stands still, unmoving. His dog, Bess, grows uneasy. She can sense his unease. He stands and watches as the fog parts, making room for a set of wide shoulders and an even wider sheepish smile. The man jogs toward him and Simon realises quickly that he isn’t a threat.

“M’so sorry about that fella, ‘m still learnin’ really” the accent is Scottish, Simon can tell now, the man’s eyes are impossibly blue as he averts Simon’s gaze- palming the back of his neck out of guilt.

Simon analyses him quickly, noticing the odd glove and finger garments he’s wearing and the giant bow he’s carrying in just his left hand- Simon deduces that it is indeed a new hobby this man has taken up. He adjusts his eyes and looks beyond the man’s shoulder, noticing now that there’s an archery target about twenty-feet in the other direction.

“S’fine. No harm done” Simon drinks this stranger in, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t just a little bit intrigued. The Scot smiles widely.

“M’names John, John Mactavish” he extends his free hand toward Simon and the other man doesn’t hesitate to shake it, Bess starts to pull in Johnny’s direction.

“Simon” he says, his eyes dropping as John does, now kneeling in the wet grass to fuss over Bess. John’s smile is infectious.

“What a beauty” John doesn’t take his eyes off of Bess, now scratching behind both of her ears simultaneously. Simon tilts his head, eyeing John a little better.

“Yeah, a beauty”

[questionable-sanity]

Xianle Quartet Polycule Headcanons bc I said so:

Feng Xin getting absolutely choked to death at night by his three Rapunzels' long-ass hair

Related: Hua Cheng, Xie Lian, and Mu Qing waking up once with their hair in a literal knot and Feng Xin being the one to carefully pick it apart (Mu Qing braids their hair every night thereafter)

Whenever Hua Cheng is sick of Feng Xin's yelling/arguing or whenever he's just bored, he shape-shifts into a female body to freak him out (Mu Qing absolutely eggs this on)

Of the four of them, surprisingly, Xie Lian can make Mu Qing blush the easiest (his secret is carefully guarded and Mu Qing will NEVER sate Feng Xin's nor Hua Cheng's curiosity)

As a canonically beautiful group of men from possibly the most pretentious nation on current history, they are judgemental as FUCK and support one another in this. "I don't want to be mean," Xie Lian begins, followed by Mu Qing saying, "No, no, you're right. That man is hideous."

Feng Xin Practicing Archery Watch is a carefully unspoken and blatantly objectifying ritual amongst Xie Lian, Mu Qing, and Hua Cheng. Feng Xin is the only one blissfully unaware (Hua Cheng: Say a single word, Ming Guang, and your temples are done for).

Mu Qing and Hua Cheng silently and pettily fight frequently over who gets to comb Xie Lian's hair at night. Xie Lian pretends not to notice and keeps a straight face as he hands Feng Xin the comb whenever this happens.

Early in their relationship Hua Cheng, Xie Lian, and Feng Xin routinely come up with careful plans to get Mu Qing to accept affections and gifts without either spooking him or making him question their genuineness (this takes like 300 years to get over).

Ghost City goes through decades of cyclical gossip as to WHICH of the three Hua Cheng is actually in a committed relationship with before settling on the idea that their king just has a harem.

E-Ming is insanely jealous of the other spiritual weapons, but especially Zhanmadao, who isn't even sentient. It's a sword thing.

Feng Xin and E-Ming's relationship is kind of like a dog-person dad forming a bond with the house cat. Begrudging acceptance, then begrudging affection, then full on cat dad behavior while still arguing that he is a dog person.

On days they are feeling particularly synchronous, Feng Xin, Mu Qing, and Hua Cheng bond by talking shit about Qi Rong. And sometimes beating up Qi Rong if he deserves it (he usually does).

Hua Cheng quietly makes sure that Cuo Cuo and Jian Lan are taken care of, and Feng Xin is quietly grateful.

One time, maybe for Hua Cheng's birthday, Mu Qing and Xie Lian agree to re-create their performance for the God Pleasing Festival. Feng Xin participates by happily pushing Hua Cheng over a railing (knowing full well that Hua Cheng let it happen) so Xie Lian can catch him.

Ruoye will randomly curl itself into Hua Cheng's (around his side ponytail in his San Lang form), Mu Qing's (in his ponytail), and Feng Xin's (in his bun) hair

Soft Dom Xie Lian.

[celestialdeadpoet]

Worship of any of the Theoi can be hidden/inconspicuous if you need/want it to be

For example:

Pray to them in your mind. Completely silent!

Offer them a snack/beverage, and then consume it while thinking of them. Maybe specify that the offering still remains if you want to

Wear jewelry that reminds you of them

Have and use a candle/incense/wax melt that reminds you of them

Build stuff for them in games like minecraft or the sims

Worship Apollo? Make literally any kind of art, listen to whatever kind of music, write poetry, sunbathe (safely...), learn about medicine and health, maybe take up archery as a sport

Worship Artemis? Moongaze, hunt if able and willing, again maybe take up archery, go and chill in the woods/forest (safely...), be protective of and support women and girls, maybe volunteer at a local humane society/animal shelter

Worship Aphrodite? Show people your love, show your passions, wear some pearls, listen to love songs, use rose scented things (perfume, soap, etc), practice good self care

You don't need to have a fancy altar (or an altar at all) and you dont need to do elaborate rituals. It's okay. You can take everyday things, such as what I've listed above, and use them for worship. Just do little things that relate to whatever deities youre worshipping, and incorporate them into your practice

May the Theoi bless you :)

[theladysunami]

Many other people have already posted their thoughts on the various peaks of Cang Qiong Mountain sect, so I figure I might as well throw my own thoughts and preferred headcanons out there.

First, my thoughts on the peaks we know exist but don't know much about in terms of their specialties:

Xian Shu Peak: Textiles Peak

This is my favorite headcanon for the all women's peak! The textiles industry is a big part of Chinese history, and was traditionally considered to be women's work, so it would only make sense for it to be Xian Shu Peak's peak specialty. It's not just one specific skill either, as spinning, weaving, dying, garment making, embroidery, rope/cord-making, etc. are all a part of the industry.

As they are a cultivation peak, I expect some of the products of their work to be defensive robes with talismans or incantations stitched into the fabric, Qiankun bags or sleeves, spirit trapping pouches, etc. If rope making is included in their preview, they could also be involved in making immortal binding cables, nets, and so forth.

Ku Xing Peak: Rites, Rituals and Purification Peak

We don't know much about Ku Xing Peak except that they live an aesthetic lifestyle. As it's common for individuals to take on certain aspects of aestheticism (simple clothes, restricted diets, abstinence, etc.) before engaging in many types of rituals, I'm inclined to believe a peak that practices aestheticism at all times would be particularly well suited for such tasks.

I tend to imagine their peak being similar to the Gusu Lan Clan, minus the music aspect (music being Qing Jing's purview). They could specialize in things like summoning spirits, communing with the dead, dispelling resentment, exorcisms, purifying objects or locations, properly laying the dead to rest, etc.

Since SVSSS predominantly focuses on demons, not ghosts, it's only natural a peak that deals more in spiritual cleansing and laying the dead to rest wouldn't be involved in the plot much.

Zui Xian Peak: Potions and Elixers Peak

While lot of fanfics make jokes about Zui Xian being a peak for alcoholics (which is completely fair, as this is the dick joke filled world of SVSSS we're talking about), my first thought upon learning of Zui Xian Peak's specialty was the immorality granting heavenly wine in the Journey to the West. Looking into the matter more, I've since learned that wine has actually been a huge part of Chinese medicine since the Han Dynasty. The traditional character for medicine even includes the radical for wine!

With this kind of precedent, it seems only logical that Zui Xian Peak doesn't merely make alcohol for social and/or enjoyment purposes, it's quite likely to be the ‘external alchemy’ peak of Cang Qiong Mountain. I expect they grow and process at least some of their own herbs and ingredients, along with performing other alcohol and potion making tasks like brewing, distilling, extracting, fermenting, filtering, infusing, and so on.

Next, my thoughts on what the three mystery peaks might be:

I am not going to try and name these peaks, as I struggle with naming things even in my own native tongue.

Hunting, Trapping and Scouting Peak

Having read MDZS before SVSSS, I found the distinct lack of archery in SVSSS to be quite peculiar. As the peak of scholars and strategists, I suppose it's only logical Qing Jing Peak focuses on the four scholarly arts (the guqin, strategy games, calligraphy, and painting), rather then the six arts of Confucian gentlemen (rites, music, archery, equestrianism, calligraphy, and mathematics), but that does leave several ‘arts’ free to be claimed by other peaks! This inspired me to think up a hunting and scouting peak, where disciples excel at archery and equestrianism.

Since mounted archers became a significant aspect of Chinese warfare in the 4th century BC, thanks to King Wuling of Zhao, I'd say having cultivators of this sort in a Xianxia setting is perfectly reasonable. Giving Cang Qiong Mountain sect scouts also nicely fills the gap in their martial capabilities. Without this peak they have strategists, weapon craftsman, ground troops, and suppliers, but no reconnaissance forces!

I also consider this peak to be the rough equivalent of the ‘Beast Taming Peak’ so many works are fond of. Who else could breed and control hundreds of spirit eagles for the Immortal Alliance Conference but a group of cultivators focused on scouting missions? As supernaturally superior mounts and spirit (hunting) dogs would be incredibly helpful to them, they'd likely engage in horse and dog breeding programs as well! Their skill as hunters and trappers would also permit them both to provide game for Cang Qiong Mountain sect, and to aid in the rounding up of various living monsters for both alchemical ingredient harvesting and for releasing at events like the Immortal Alliance Conference.

In summary, this peak would produce disciples skilled at equestrianism, archery, falconry, animal husbandry, scouting, herb gathering, hunting, trapping, etc. For anyone familiar with D&D, I did basically make a Ranger peak here, but I stand by that decision!

Artifacts, Arrays and Invention Peak

Every time I read a work with some variation on the "Mad Scientist Peak" I adore it, so naturally I have to include this type of peak as well. This peak would be for the Wei Wuxians of the cultivation world, hoping to revolutionize cultivation society!

Their focus would be mathematics, spell geometry, arrays, talismans, non-medicinal alchemy (aka ancient materials science), engineering and of course artifact recovery, study and creation. The crystal mirror ‘surveillance equipment’ from the Immortal Alliance Conference? These guys would be the ones that developed it!

Agriculture, Earthworks and Architecture Peak

While I admittedly don't know the nuances of feng shui, I am at least aware there is far more to it then what you usually see in western depictions. In MDZS, it's noted that an area having bad feng shui (like Yi City) can cause premature death, disaster, and an increase in all sorts of nasty supernatural phenomena! With this in mind, a peak that focuses on connecting to and harmonizing with one's environment seems perfect for the final Cang Qiong Mountain peak.

I don't imagine this peak doing much of the actual building in the sect (that's An Ding's job) but when it comes to designing the sect's buildings, or altering its geography through earthworks, they're the ones to talk to. I also see them as producing at least some of the sect’s food supply, using their skills to encourage a positively supernatural abundance of plants.

In short, disciples of this peak would be skilled with things like architecture, earthworks, geography, topography, irrigation, agriculture, element manipulation, etc.

If SVSSS’s heavenly realms have anything akin to TGCF’s elemental masters, there is probably an unusually high chance they come from this peak.

[yawneon]

luke with dionysus!reader where he tries to convince them to join him but reader has a good relationship with their dad so they can’t understand? 👉👈

THE PLEADS OF A SNAKE

~

pairing : luke castellan x reader

summary : in which luke castellan tries to convince you the gods are evil, they are the sickly ones. right?

!!! : charlie luke not hot book buzzcut era coriolanus jason luke (but every version of luke is hot), unedited and unread (im so tired pls it’s 1 am), crazy luke, i love dadionysus

a/n : I FUCKING LOVE THIS PROMPT IM FROTHING AT THE MOUTH LET ME FUCKING COOOOOOOK 😈😈‼️‼️‼️‼️

── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ──

it was cold at camp, usually the days were warm throughout, but today was off. everything seemed off. the trees swayed in the wrong ways and the campers were messing everything up when you were teaching archery basics. today was weird.

you walk to the big house from the lake in camp, your mind wandering places much further than the boundaries in camp half-blood. you watched as the wind hit the grass and the leaves but today just didn’t seem… right.

a group of campers all huddle around a table at the arts & crafts building they all seem, weird?

maybe it was you. maybe you were tired and your mind was playing tricks on you. today was the day percy came back to camp, maybe it was that.

you walk down past the volleyball courts, a group of losing and very angry ares kid’s were versing a group of extremely sly and giggly hermes kids obviously riling the opposing team up. you walk past knowing you would have to split that up later.

the walk to the big house seemed almost ritual at this point. your father was the MR D, the big dog of camp half blood. being one of dionysus’ only children at camp currently you have been appointed to ahem, cabin 12 counselor which mainly consisted of telling your 2 brothers to shut up.

many campers envied you and your tight knit family relationship. having mr d as your dad wouldn’t seem the most optimal parent by seeing his fiery temper sometimes and his lack of effort to remember names but in reality you had hit the godly parent lottery.

although at times you don’t know if you should call him dad or mr d, a life with dionysus was never a boring one i give you that. from the game nights at the big house to being an all year round camper, you were eternally grateful to have such a funny yet theatrical dad.

-

the sunlight pans down onto the path infront of you, the smell of summer still lingers in the air despite winters call. the green grass swishes in the wind and the trees follow. you took in a deep breath before your eyes land on the big, blue house infront of you again.

your steps to the big house became faster, the crave for some fatherly advice becoming stronger. you push open the door and you look for your dad. you see him sat at a round table next to chiron and they play a game of cards. you sit at an empty chair and you sigh down.

“whats wrong with you?” dionysus furrows his eyebrows, his worry hidden by his pursed lips.

“dunno. something about today just seems so…” you try to explain but the words can’t come out and your brain gets all fuzzy trying to describe it.

“yeah. right.” mr d furrows his eyebrows further as another tight-lipped expression is following on his lips. chiron gives him a hardened look. his eyes saying comfort your child silently.

your dad pushes out a slight sigh and he looks up at you, “you’re probably just in your head, kid. go swing your sword around and i’ll organise something with your brothers tonight.” his face softens. dionysus wasn’t the best at showing his love, especially when he was banished to live and direct this camp but despite all that he always showed up as a father so you listened to him.

you nod quietly standing from the chair you were sat in. you say your goodbyes to the two men and you walk to the armory, the hair on your arms standing up as you do.

-

the sun begins to lower in the sky, yellow and orange paint the horizon beautifully. the bright sun sinks slowly behind the trees into the west. your walk to the armory was dreadfully uneventful, the scattered campers staying to themselves as you walk by. you had bent the main sword you use so the armory was your first stop instead of the arena.

you push the door to the armory open slowly.

dust flies into the air and light pours into the dark room from the doorway. you walk into the armory, the smell of rusted metals and bronze hitting you in the face quickly. you scrunch your nose in defiance to the smell and continue to look around.

your eyes landing on a spare sword. you reach up for it and pull it down slowly, your eyes landing on the blade. you stare into the reflection of the blade turning it in different angles to distort the sun.

twisting it one way then another and when you turn it to the left, you realise that your reflection is not the only one.

“luke?” you turn quickly out of shock. your head whips around and you jolt forward slightly getting a small freight.

“hi.” he says deadpanningly, his eyes are wide yet something was behind them. luke’s eyes did not look like his own today.

he looks like he was longing for something, a small twinge of regret hidden beneath his brown irises. regret and anguish.

you face him, a hand wiping over your forehead. “when did you get there?”. your eyes trail back down to the blade in your hands and your fingers run along the edge collecting dust along the pads of your pointer and thumb.

you let out a comforting breath and walk towards him, “seriously you almost gave me a heart attack” wiping the dirt from the sword onto your orange shirt. clouds cover the sun in the sky for a moment and the sunlight in the room dims as you look up at him trying to piece together the puzzle of his expression.

“go on a walk with me? i need to tell you something” luke musters out quickly, his hand whipping out to grab onto your arm. the squeeze he gives your bicep is a begging one, a begging cry for you to please say yes.

it’d be a lie if i said you didn’t have butterflies in your stomach right now. luke has something to tell you, alone. the kaleidoscope of butterflies (yes thats what a group of butterflies is called i googled it) flutter around hopelessly in the pit of your stomach and a light blush appears on your cheeks.

you give him a soft nod and purse your lips together before verbally agreeing, “alright..”

you’re the one that leads luke into the forest, a small talk conversation happening between the two of you. usually he’d be talkative and engaged in the moment but the way his jaw clenches and his muscles tense you can tell something is not right.

you and luke walk silently next to eachother into the dense forested area of camp half blood. the sword in your hand swishing at bushes beside you. you spare him a few glances before turning away.

you like luke castellan, honestly it was hard not to. he was helpful, he was kind, he was thoughtful and oh gods was he a sight to see. your eyes trail from the ground infront of you to the blade in your hand and then to luke only to find he was already looking at you.

“why’re you looking at me like that castellan?” you laugh it off softly hiding your bashful expression from him as you look to your feet. luke stops walking, his hand wrapping around your arm as he stops you too. he tugs you back gently his eyes conflicted.

luke’s eyes bore into yours and his mouth opens to speak but he seems doubtful for a moment. he steps towards you, the proximity between you and him closing.

lukes hand raises to touch your cheek but he hesitates.

he had never hesitated to touch you, to embrace you, to laugh with you. why now was he?

you and luke had been tightly knit ever since he came to camp. you were young when you were brought into camp, 3 years old. your mother had not enough resources to bare a child and in a plead of desperation your father had appeared to take you to camp. luke and you were the same age when he came to camp and the two of you caught on quite quickly, all a bit too well.

luke and you had this sort of push and pull relationship, you liked eachother but you weren’t in the most ideal place to date.

yeah sure, maybe you two would sneak out far past curfew ans swim in the lake together and perchance you two shared a kiss under the warm moonlight, his hands wrapped tightly around you as your own reach to his cheeks but no you two weren’t offical.

you were friends, right?

-

“whats up?” you look up at luke puzzled at his uncertain movements and his darting eyes. you catch his hand in your own before it could drop to his side. luke gulps silently, and he speaks.

“join me, love.” he rasps, a pleading almost hungry eyes on you.

“what?”

“j-“ he stutters his eyes becoming more erratic like he was itching to tell you he needed you.

“join me, the gods have failed us my love, join me and kronos.” luke’s hands grab onto your arms clutching at them tightly.

your hands however harden around the hilt of your blade as your eyes search his. “luke what the fuck are you saying?” you laugh out, not because you find it funny.. more because you’re lost, what did he mean?

“the gods have failed us! they have failed their children! they don’t care for us, they just want us to fight their battles!” he exclaims and you thought he was joking at first. joining kronos? the titan lord that ate his kids and was banished to tartarus? THAT kronos?

the moon becomes higher in the sky and the light from the sun fades as he breathes out shakily.

“luke what do you mean failed us?” you shake your head, the expression on your face fading from confused smile to just pure confusion. “luke the god’s where the only people who came for me, who cared for me.” your eyes drift down towards your sword and luke’s eyes follow yours. he notices the way your smile drops and the way confusion laces your tone.

luke takes a step back, his stare stiffening. “no no no, i don’t think you’re understanding what im saying.” he shakes his head now, his eyes going from your eyes to the sword in your hand. “i’m telling you.”

“join me and kronos, i am telling you to.. not asking.”

you’re head tilts and some sort of ache appears inside of you. the boy that you liked, that you loved is joining the army of the most evil and twisted being in tartarus. the boy that you would willingly give your heart to is joining kronos’ army.

you couldn’t wrap your mind around his words. the gods have failed us.

the gods have failed, us. the word ‘us’ in that sentence felt empty. luke knew that his words were a lie. the god’s have never failed you, your dad never failed you. luke knew by the way your eyes looked at him, he knew you would never agree.

“listen to me, i need you.” luke whines and pouts, its like if a switch flicked on in his brain. you take your own step back, you look him up and down. you didn’t see his backbiter sleathed tightly on his hip before. you take a gulp of your own and your eyes focus on his.

luke’s eyes darkened and a smile curls onto his lips, “you know i love you!” he insisted. the way his expressions changed from almost fearful, to demanding, to hungry and then to downright shrewd sent a chill down your spine.

the moon raises higher and higher, you don’t remember how long ago you walked into these woods with luke and gods you didnt even know if you’d walk back out. the one thing you did know however was that whatever luke was suggesting now, you’d never give into it.

“is this a joke? it has to be.” you let out a puzzled breath that you didn’t even register you were holding. the trees rustle against a gust of warmer wind and you furrow your eyebrows at luke. “join kronos? luke are you serious?” your voice comes out sounding more sour than intended.

“what? are you saying that the gods didn’t fail me? that my father does care?” luke’s voice raises, “you- !” his voice stops abruptly with a scoff, he was trying to hit you hard with a line like your dad doesnt care either! but oh boy would he be wrong. the way his face contorts and his fists clench you can tell he’s thinking harshly about something.

he let’s out a sigh and his irises dart quickly as he tries to think up something.

“darling, please. i need you. we can run away together, we can rule! we don’t need to be confined by the gates and the prophecies here! we can make our own, we can rule olympus, join me. it’s the only way.”

“luke you know that isn’t true,” you try and reason with him and your voice softens. it didn’t have to be like this, he didn’t have to be like this. “luke c’mon. talk to me. you don’t have to do this.” you go to take a step forward to touch him but his eyes meet yours in a sickly bitter glare.

his hand bolts to his sword and he reaches out pushing you to the ground, the point of the backbiter flush against your neck. the blade gleams in the moonlight, his reflection shining in the bronze.

“luke what is this?!” you breathe out shakily, your own sword trapped between the dirt and your hand.

“i’m sorry-“ he grieved down at you. “you weren’t listening to me.” luke runs his free hand through his brown curls.

“you need to come with me.” he presses the sword closer to your asophagus, “you are coming with me.”

the stars shine quietly down at the both of you. his heart broke a little by the way you looked at him. no butterflies present in your stomach. the only thing left were hollow cocoons of the once fluttering fleet of love.

“what happened to you luke?” your eyes squint at him holding back the tears that were threatening to fall down your cheeks and you tremble softly trying to understand what the fuck is going on. “we were so good to you.” your head shakes in disbelief. “luke i love you.”

his lip trembles and his eyebrows quiver at your words, he didn’t want this. he didn’t want to hurt you, luke tried to stop. he tried to supress the voice in his dreams egging him on, telling him that the gods were the evil ones. but the promise of letting you and him live on a beach house just like you mentioned was too good to pass up.

the more he gave in and the more he listened, the promises and the wishes became faded, the need to destroy the gods and to get back at his dad became irresistable. he had forgotten the most important thing, you.

in this moment he tried to convince himself that this was what needed to happen, luke needed to protect you. he needed to bring you with him and he needed you to trust him but the way your eyes scrutinized him tore his flesh from his bones and his heart right out.

before he could withdrawl the blade from your neck group of voices barked out from within the trees.

i saw them go this way!

quick! find them!

“come with me please. we don’t need the gods, my love. we need eachother! dionysus doesn’t love you like i do, i’ll always love you but once you leave camp you’ll become like all the rest of his children; forgotten.” luke blurts out demandingly and worriedly.

“forgotten?” anger grows on your face and luke knows he fucked up. yeah you didn’t inherit your dad’s eyes but gods, did you inherit his temper.

“i love you.” luke chants over and over his voice becoming more pleading but the more he says it the less he looks like he means it.

“me or kronos luke?” you grit out angrily and you observe as his face drops. as his eyes widen and look around nervously. you repeat your question and you’re shoulders tense, anger building up quickly.

the footsteps of campers near the two of you and the lights from their torches grow bigger and the calls of your name become more clear as they near. the concerned voices of your brother’s increasing in volume as luke stares at you in silence.

he looks to the lights of campers and back to you. luke opens his mouth to say something, the grip on the hilt of his sword slipping but he is quick to tighten it again.

luke turns on his heel and pushes off it attempting his escape, your own eyelids widen now and your jaw clenches. you reach out trying to pull him back, stupidly you grab the blade of his sword causing you to cut yourself. you bite back a pained groan and you give him a filthy glare as you clutch back your hand.

“coward!” you yell out, “fucking come back here!” you pull yourself up. before you could chase after him a hand grabs your shoulder.

your father peers down at you worry prominent on his eyes and he pulls you in tightly. “you kids,” he sighs into your hair lovingly and he squeezes you close “what am i going to do.” he whispers anxiously.

-

you’re sat around the table at the big house, your palm was attended to by an apollo kid quickly and your uninjured hand is held tightly by your brother, castor.

“luke is the lightning thief.” chiron grits out, his hine leg stomping.

you’re mind wanders off as you lose your focus on the conversation.

lukes words ran around your mind, ‘join me’, ‘you will be forgotten’, ‘i love you.’

you didn’t believe a word he said.

your lip trembles and your eyes close tightly stopping the tears from cascading down your face.

luke was the boy that would lean down to kiss your hands, the boy to smile at you so sweetly, the boy that would follow you into the dark. the way he looked at you so sourly and the way he gritted out his words.

that wasnt the luke you fell inlove with, that luke is gone. that luke packed up his things and took your heart with him.

and you’d be dammed to let him keep it.

-

@yawneon

[yerimbrit]

[flufftober day 5, wc: 857] - scary campfire stories : ot5 le sserafim

THIS IMPROMPTU camping trip, though maybe not as impromptu as you thought because of course it’s because of leniverse, isn’t actually going as bad as you thought it would.

instead of camping inside the building like before, you’re actually outside, though at a camping facility. it’s quite nice, with a small archery range where you got your ass handed over by sakura and eunchae, a bay in which you and kazuha fell into while canoeing and then proceeded to flip over yunjin and chaewon’s canoe in retaliation (they splashed some water in your faces and you slipped while trying to fight back), a bonfire area, the cabins you’re staying in, and the forest you’re in right now where there’s another small campfire area in the woods. 

the atmosphere is quite eerie, pushing aside the numerous cameras and staff helping to film. it’s dark past the trees, it’s quiet, there’s crickets and a crescent moon up in the sky. you shiver. you’ve lost count of how many mosquito bites you’ve gotten, (which persist even with sakura’s shooing ritual which consisted of her singing that one red velvet song and waving her arm around) and also of how many times yunjin has sung cotton eye joe. it’s really pissing you off—both the mosquitos and the song.

the producer hands you a card since you’re in the center, and you clear your throat to read it. your group mates gaze at you intently. “welcome to the forest! let’s end the day off with some roasted marshmallows around the campfire… with a twist,” everyone groans after you announce that part, “to earn your sweet treats, please tell fearnots a scary story—popcorn style.”

yunjin is the starting person, which is unfortunate because you really have no idea what that girl is going to pull out of her ass… not that you can say that out loud right now, because the cameras are rolling, but it’s true. it’s not necessarily a bad thing—it’s just that the mood tends to get chaotic when you go off-script. the post-production editing makes it funnier, and what’s le sserafim if not chaotic?

according to the producer, your group has to come up with a story involving a few keywords, which (predictably) go as follows: kim chaewon, sakura, huh yunjin, y/n, kazuha, hong eunchae, and fearnot. it’s up to you and your members to decide how to use them, and the promised marshmallows will be rewarded when you have used all of the keywords by the end of the last person’s turn.

a staff member hands yunjin a small flashlight, and she laughs before putting on an ominous face and loudly clearing her throat, pointing the flashlight up towards her chin which lights up her features dramatically. “one day, the members of le sserafim members were having their weekly movie night when suddenly!” she gasps, the other members play along and gasp too, you included. “...kazuha heard a large thump.”

chaewon grabs onto your arm immediately, slightly scooting away from kazuha. the japanese girl’s jaw drops and she pulls the leader back to her. you smile in amusement. the next member is eunchae, who side-eyes the two girls having a mini-quarrel before she gets passed the flashlight. sakura bursts out into laughter at the youngest’s widened eyes highlighted by the flashlight.

“kazuha makes kim chaewon,” eunchae grins, “investigate in the kitchen with her, only to see that there’s a bloody towel on the floor, and then sakura runs in to say that someone is missing.”

that went dark fast. wow, eunchae. you blink when she hands sakura the flashlight. “what the heck, eunchae?” the youngest only giggles.

“who’s missing?” yunjin calls out, cupping her hands around her mouth even though she’s only three feet away from you.

“sakura comes to kazuha and chaewon, saying, ‘y/n is missing!’” she says quietly, passing the flashlight to you. 

you instantly lock your gaze onto the american. “and you know what else she says? ‘so is huh yunjin.’”

yunjin makes the most shocked and offended face you’ve seen in a while, and you absolutely cannot wait for this to air. 

chaewon is passed the flashlight, and completely blanks out until kazuha pokes her on the shoulder. “wait, wait. okay, i got it. kazuha, sakura, and chaewon go to the bathroom because that’s where… bloody red trails lead. scratchily engraved on the door is ‘help, fearnots!’”

finally, it’s kazuha’s turn. you wonder how she’ll incorporate eunchae’s name into the story. “kazuha opens the door to see…”

silence falls upon the group, everyone anticipating kazuha’s next words. there’s a rustling in the bushes that you have to ignore because you’re actually somewhat invested in this silly story. 

“hong eunchae and y/n dyeing yunjin’s hair red.”

“well, okay,” you mumble, intrigued by the closure of the story. eunchae shows off some of yunjin’s blue hair, claiming that it’s a crazy shade of red. sakura chuckles at the youngest’s antics.

you’re given the marshmallows and enjoy them only slightly charred, chatting with your fellow members until you realize that yunjin is literally missing. and eunchae. and was that a scream?

oh god. not another murder case.

flufftober masterlist!

a/n : anything can happen so long as the setting is leniverse

[everythingblackblack]

Ekoda Ganga polycule headcanons? They are fun as a friend group too though.

I'm not lying to you, I like them as an OT4, but I don't think much about what they make as a couple. I mostly think of them as a group of friends, so I'll give you platonical headcanons, but you can think of them as romantics.

First of all, I can't help but think of them as the group of people who seem normal in plain sight, but are not. They're all a little crazy or out of their minds.

And I can see each of them thinking “I'm the most normal person in the room”, no, Aoko is not normal, she and Kaito have only one brain cell and they literally take turns using it. She is just as dumb as he is.

1.Aoko is the only one who can tame those angry beasts she calls friends when they are in an argument. She will call them “Kaito and Hakuba stop fighting! or Kaito don't bother Akako!” and they will listen to her, Kaito will resist but will be chased by a mop.

I can't help but imagine Aoko at a costume party dressed up as Cruella de Vil accompanied by “her 3 dogs”, Kaito is the one most offended by being the Dalmatian, Hakuba is a German Shepherd and Akako is a Rottweiler.

As a bonus, Keiko is a pomerain.

2.Everyone trembles in fear when Kaito and Akako agree on something. That only means trouble.

I can see a scene where Ekoda Gang is trapped with Hattori and Shinichi somewhere and they have the following conversation:

Shinichi: We need ideas to get out of here. Does anyone have one?

Akako: *raises hand*

Hakuba: No, Akako we won't use THAT.

Akako: *puts her hand down*

Kaito, who is wearing Hakuba's coat over his head, raises his hand: I have an idea…!

Hakuba: No, you can't do that!

Hattori: I'm still wondering why you put your coat over his head?

Hakuba: That's not important, we have to concentrate on escaping!

Shinichi: You just rejected the ideas of two of your friends a moment ago without even listening to them. Don't you think you should concentrate on escaping?

Hakuba, pointing at Kaito and Akako: Ignore those two, don't listen to them, pretend they don't exist, and don't take off your coat for any reason, Kaito! What's more, I want you both to go to the corner, and reflect on your actions!

Akako: That's not fair!

Kaito: We haven't done anything yet!

Hakuba: And keep it that way, I'm watching you!

3.They all look normal, but the truth is that they have their weird things:

Hakuba has the dental records, important documents (original and copy) of all his friends.

He reminds me of those mothers who keep their children's baby teeth, he would keep his friends', and in his notebook he sticks pictures of the most peculiar milestones, even though he thinks they are worth mentioning.

He has a photo of Akako digging up corpses with the title of “His first mooring”, of Aoko in her archery competition where she unintentionally shot a random person “his first assassination attempt” for Kaito has two spaces, since he divides it between KID and his civilian identity, of Kid has “His first international robbery” and for Kaito is “His first fight against a bear”.

Kaito is the guy who fights animals (yeah, sorry, I don't get him down from that anymore). He has the weirdest fears, he's afraid of the dark (he's a thief who mostly steals at night) and he's afraid of fish (he lives in a country surrounded by a huge ocean, where the main food is fish).

This guy has a totally altered perspective on reality.

Not to mention that he uses theft as a duel.

Akako digs up corpses from the cemetery and goes to the forest to perform rituals, he has been seen dancing around a bonfire.

As most people get carried away with her sweet Aoko appearance, no one thinks she is really dangerous, in fact she has a guilty taste for tormenting people with her phobias, but she tries to keep it under control as best she can.

Conversation about Aoko and Akako:

Akako: So I thought it would be fun if I made them have nightmares for a week or something."

Aoko: I think you should use their phobias if you want them to be left with after-effects.

Kaito: Please, can't you guys talk about makeup or normal girl stuff? For the love of god, can we have a normal sleepover where we talk about love interests instead of planning how to get revenge on people? You guys genuinely scare me a lot.

Hakuba, wearing a skincare: I don't think you're the right person to say that considering your situation.

5. They are all criminals, except Kaito.

I imagine Ginzo driving, while he is scolding the three teenagers sitting in the back of the car, while Kaito is sitting next to him looking at them disappointed.

Ginzo: I can't believe it, how come you three always get into trouble! Akako for robbing graves, Hakuba for stalking, and you Aoko for public disorder! You should learn from Kaito, he never gets into trouble!

Aoko, Akako and Hakuba thinking: He is Kaitou KID, the international thief.

The three of them look angrily at the magician, he is just as bad as them, the difference is that he is better at hiding the evidence of what he did.

For me, Ginzo is the adult who drives them to certain places, although I think they rotate between him, Akako's servant, Baaya and Jii.

6. I like the thought that they also take extracurricular classes together.

It's even been the case that they spend vacations together, and take turns at each other's houses.

The four of them have gone to Vegas together to see Kaito's mother and Jii has accompanied them, they went to a witch camp and did a ritual in the middle of a bonfire, they took a photo and made a postcard for Akako's servant who was fascinated, they went to London and Hakuba dragged them with Sherlock Holmes cosplay on Baker Street and then a road trip with Aoko and her father.

I can't help but think that Ginzo adopted Hakuba, because they surely solve many cases together, not only the ones involving KID.

I can see them sitting in the police car drinking hot chocolate while waiting for the criminal.

I like to think that even though Hakuba is taller when Nakamori sees him finishing a deduction he pats his head as if to say "well done".

[medusapelagia]

15 The summer camp

written for @steddieangstyaugust (prompt: Childhood) and @augustwritingchallenge (Prompt: secretly alien ) Rating: teen and up Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: implied violence Words: 1912

Eddie fucking hated the summer.

Yes, fucking, even if that was a bad word, and Wayne would be really disappointed in Eddie but it wasn't his fault if it was the third year Wayne sent him to the stupid summer camp with the stupid kids of the stupid plant for two entire weeks.

Eddie was twelve, he was old enough that he could have stayed home alone, but no, Wayne signed him up for the stupid camp, again. Eddie cried and screamed, he even begged and promised to eat all his greens and not play loud music by night, but nothing convinced Wayne. 

So here he is, sitting in the back of the stupid bus, alone, with his tape player to the maximum volume just to piss Wayne off. He always says that he's going to ruin his hearing blasting music so loudly, but Eddie doesn't care. It's the only way to isolate himself from those mouth breathers.

They all have the same age, more or less, the younger is Jonathan. who is ten, the oldest is Eddie, who is going to be twelve in a couple of months, and in Wayne's opinion that should be enough to have fun. It's definitely not. All those kids wear fancy clothes their moms buy for them at the mall, while Eddie is always wearing second-hand clothes way too big because Wayne says he'll grow into them. So right now he's wearing a very sick Metallica t-shirt that's way too big for him, and a pair of jeans cuffed so many times he lost count.

As soon as they get there the camp counselors are going to divide them into units, or Dens, and Eddie will try to do his best to find a place where to hide and avoid any kind of physical activity the counselors will propose. No swimming, no rafting, no riding, no archery. He has enough books in his backpack to keep busy for the entire duration of the Summer camp.

***

When they arrive, the same smiling faces welcome them. Eddie wonders if it's possible that in three years none of those young men graduated and got a real job. So pathetic. He grabs his bag and waits for the same stupid rituals that will divide the kids into two different groups, when he notices a tiny boy, half hidden behind a tree. He doesn’t remember him from the bus and he’s wearing some clothes that are way too big. His jeans are dirt at the knees like he felt playing through the woods. 

And he’s not the only one to notice him. Andy is pointing at him, grinning with his stupid minions, while four-eyes Alex finally turns and sees the dirty boy.

“Hey, you. Why are you hiding? We are all friends here. I’m Alex, and I’m going to be your counselor. Can you tell me your name?”

The boy seems unsure for a moment, but in the end, he mutters, “Steve.” in the softest voice Eddie has ever heard. 

Alex grabs his name list, reading the names one by one two times before finally finding the boy.

“Steve found you! Our latest addition, huh? Did your parents leave you here alone?”

Steve nods quietly.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, they probably thought we were already here, but don’t worry! We are going to have so much fun together this summer." Alex promises, putting a hand on the kid's back and gently pushing him toward the rest of the group.

"Ok, everyone, this is Steve. It's his first year here with us at the Hideout Camp, so give him a warm welcome."

A choir of Hi, Steve, fills the air, while the kid tries to put up a strong face, but Eddie can see tears in his eyes.

Fuck. Those kids are going to tear him into pieces in no time.

Alex and Jacob start to divide the kids into two groups, and Andy, the son of the plant's HR Director, keeps grinning, pointing at Steve. Eddie knows that he's planning some stupid and dangerous prank because he has been his victim in the past years, so when Eddie is assigned to the Moose Den and Andy to the Teddy one, Eddie decides that maybe, for once, he could care about someone else, so the steps toward Steve and shakes his hand, "Hi, do you want to join my Den? I'm in the Moose one and it's very cool."

It isn't. They both suck, but at least Andy isn't there.

Steve turns toward Alex, unsure, but four-eyes winks at him, "It doesn't happen often that someone asks you to join their Den, Steve. It's a great honor."

"Ok. Well. Thank you. I'll join your Den." Steve replies softly, and Eddie doesn't lose any time and drags him far away from Andy.

As soon as they are far enough from Alex, Eddie whispers, to Steve’s ear “Ok. So. Andy is a prick. Stay away from him and you’ll be fine.” 

He doesn’t wait for a reply, he just walks to the end of the line, waiting to get to the last bunk where he could hide and read all the books he wants for the next two weeks, but when he turns the annoying kid is at his side, smiling brightly.

“I’m Steve.”

“Yeah, I know.” Eddie snarls back, not interested in the latest.

“You should tell me your name." Steve insists.

"Why should I? What are you? A cop?"

"No, I’m not." Steve replies, scared, staring at Eddie with his huge doe eyes, “I’m just a kid.

"If I tell you my name will you just fuck off?" Steve nods, eagerly, so Eddie sighs, and turning his back he adds, "Eddie."

"That's a nice name."

"No, it isn't. It's a shit name. Now can you leave me be?"

"But… you asked me to join your Den!" Steve protests.

"Only to save you from Andy. Now you know you have to avoid him so we can part ways." Eddie replies, grabbing his backpack and following Alex toward their bungalow. He doesn't turn to see if Steve is following as well, it's none of his business, or so he thinks, until he feels a sweaty little hand taking his and he finds Steve smiling brightly at him.

"We are going to be best friends."

Fuck.

This Summer Camp is going to be hell.

***

Even if it’s his first year at the summer camp, Steve seems to outshine in every game or activity the counselors propose to them: archery, obstacle course, climbing, Steve attends every activity and is always the best, and what's worse, it's that he's always dragging Eddie with him. When Eddie protests that he's not strong enough for the canoe, Steve makes sure they are on the same one and does his best to row for the both of them. And when he complains that he doesn’t want to play water balloon dodgeball, Steve hits him first and Eddie starts running to get his revenge.

At the end of the day, they are tired but happy when the counselor gathers them all around the campfire to share some horror stories.

No, Eddie isn’t happy. He’s living a nightmare. Two weeks are almost gone and Eddie hardly finished one of his books, because every time he hides somewhere Steve tracks him down like a fucking bloodhound and drags him somewhere to do something.

“Why are you always so eager to do stuff!” Eddie complains, resting on the grass, and staring at the sky.

“There are so many things to do! And I want to learn them all! I’m not going to have a lot of time to learn and we are going to leave soon.”

“You live in town, huh? That must be cool” Eddie comments, ripping a blade of grass and starting whistling with it. At the sound, Steve covers his ears, shaking his head, and for a brief moment, Eddie could swear he saw a tail. An honest to god tail! Slim and thin like a mouse tail, but still a tail!

“Steve?!” Eddie asks, looking at him worriedly, but Steve keeps covering his face with his hands.

“Why did you do that?” Steve cries.

“I’m sorry, I was just whistling, I didn’t know you didn’t like it. I won’t whistle anymore,” Eddie promises, throwing away the blade of grass.

“Never again?”

“Never again,” Eddie confirms, and Steve slowly lowers his hands.

“Steve…” Eddie asks while they walk back toward the kitchen to have lunch with the others, “Do you… do you have a tail?” 

Eddie isn’t a scientist but he knows humans have no tails. Still. He saw Steve’s tail.

The other boy looks at him, his eyes wide with terror while he bites his lower lip, “Why are you asking?”

“I think I saw a tail when you covered your ears.”

“A tail? Does little Steve have a tail? Let's check!” Andy says, grabbing Steve's pants and trying to strip him in front of everyone.

“Let me go! Let me go!” Steve cries, kicking and screaming, but Andy and his friends have almost immobilized him.

“Stupid prick! Let Steve go!” Eddie yells, biting Andy’s arm. He will be kicked out of the camp but he doesn’t give a fuck. Steve is his friend and he won’t let anyone hurt him! But they are two against five, and there’s no way Eddie can manage to free Steve. Maybe if he ran toward the kitchen he could ask a counselor’s help. 

Eddie doesn’t even have the time to make a plan that the slim pink tail appears once more and this time it grabs Andy’s ankle making him fall on the ground, then it yanks another boy until Steve is finally free and standing, moving his tail like a whip, threatening the boys to get closer.

“Steve?” Eddie calls, confused, and when the chestnut boy turns his eyes are big and wide, and his skin is a grayish color.

“Steve?” Eddie calls again.

“I’m sorry Eddie. My parents sent me here to learn how to survive your world.”

“In my world? What the hell are you saying?!”

Steve doesn’t have time to reply because a bright light starts to shine above them and when Eddie lifts his eyes a flying saucer is standing above them.

“What’s going on?” Eddie asks, confused and terrified.

“Those are my parents. They came to take me away.” Steve replies, grabbing Eddie’s hand, “But don’t worry. We’ll meet again. I promise. Just… don’t whistle around me, ok?” the kid asks and then he disappears.

***

Years have passed since Eddie’s encounter with an alien, that’s what he’s convinced it was.

None at the camp did remember Steve when Eddie came back and even if he did numerous research about the mysterious boy or other alien appearances he never managed to find proof that it wasn’t just a kid's dream.

In the meantime, Eddie has become a writer, and most of his books are sci-fi books about a hero alien called: Steve.

He’s mindlessly signing some copy of his last novel, the same script with everyone, “Hey, thank you for coming. What’s your name?” and then writing the same custom dedication, “To (insert name). Thank you for being with me during this new adventure.”

Kimberly, Jonathan, Francis, one name after the other Eddie writes the same sentence over and over until a familiar voice makes him finally lift his head.

“Steve. Name is Steve.” 

[city-of-ladies]

Women warriors of China (2nd to 6th century CE)

"Warfare defined the age of disunion. Women sometimes had a role in war, and they even undertook certain forms of military service. People respected prowess in the martial arts—in women as well as men—and even empresses and noblewomen honed their skills in horseback riding and archery. For a time, it was fashionable for southern ladies to wear ornaments of gold, silver, ivory, and tortoiseshell in the shape of miniature weapons. People from earlier eras had regarded any female participation in warfare as a gross violation of the fundamental distinction between the sexes. But society had become so thoroughly militarized that it became acceptable for women to have a role in war.

During the Zhou dynasty, the military class of minor aristocrats called shi had been considered a moral elite, and strict ritual rules enforced high standards of conduct. Given the ancient connections between military service, high rank, and virtue, a female warrior could gain admiration for her moral superiority. Traditionally, women fought for the sake of Confucian virtues such as righteousness (yi) and filial piety. Han dynasty writings describe female role models noted for both bravery and virtue. Moral principles sometimes spurred women to violence, as they sought vengeance on behalf of a wronged kinsman or fended off unwanted sexual advances. Six Dynasties authors continued to celebrate virtuous female fighters. A woman who beat her husband’s murderer to death received an imperial amnesty due to her righteous behavior. And when one man wanted to force a woman to marry him, she fended him off with a sword, earning praise as a model of female integrity.

Other women took part in military operations. Emperor Wen of Jin and Empress Wenming conducted an important military campaign together, and she received equal credit for managing important military matters. Northern rulers sometimes employed women from the steppe as palace bodyguards. There was also the case of a woman who became a general, albeit under unusual circumstances. Her father, a noted military officer, had been ordered to lead an army while still in mourning for his deceased mother. He did not want to violate his mourning obligations, so he appointed one of his daughters to be general and another daughter as a high-ranking officer so that they could serve in his place. Historical records do not reveal whether these women prosecuted the war themselves or merely acted as figureheads on their father’s behalf. Either way, the soldiers consented to taking orders from a female general.

In wartime, large numbers of women found themselves pressed into military roles. During a siege, female inhabitants served alongside men on the city walls, fighting and also repairing the fortifications. And women born into military households lived a martial life. As these families tended to intermarry, their women spent their lives immersed in war. With conflict so frequent, they often accompanied their husbands on campaigns and lived in army camps. When war loomed, entire families would embark on a military campaign. 

Even though classical ritual forbade women from participating in war, some nevertheless took on military roles. As the Han dynasty disintegrated, women began to have a more visible presence in military camps. Both the warlord Cao Cao and his foes used female troops on the battlefield, where they brandished spears, halberds, and bows. In that era, soldiers became a distinct social caste. The daughter of a soldier could only marry another soldier, so a woman born into a military family had no choice but to spend her life in a military environment.

The law sentenced men convicted of certain crimes, and their wives, to military service. Under the Northern Qi, both convicts and their female family members became soldiers. Like their husbands, women pressed into military service lived under strict discipline. If a man committed an infraction or absconded, authorities punished his wife as well. As in armies elsewhere in the world, most of these women lacked special skills or fighting ability. Instead they provided support, constructing fortifications, handling provisions, mending weapons, defending their camp, and doing domestic chores. Only occasionally did they go out on the battlefield.

Although the north lacked an institutionalized system of military communities, the women of military households often followed their husbands off to war. The Xianbei traditionally expected their women to be strong and to fight when necessary. The militaristic values of nomadic conquerors gave rise to the famed ballad of Hua Mulan, composed by an anonymous northern poet. In this story, when Mulan’s father is drafted, she disguises herself as a man to serve in his place. She becomes an exemplary warrior and distinguishes herself with outstanding heroism. Mulan is even offered an official post in recognition of her courage, which she modestly declines. Instead she returns home, dons female attire, and resumes conventional female life.

The tale of Mulan has captured the imaginations of generations of readers, and it continues to be retold in new ways. Although audiences today appreciate this story as an engaging fantasy, it originally seemed much closer to quotidian reality at a time when many women belonged to military households and received martial arts training. Mulan’s respect for Confucian propriety helps account for her perennial appeal. She does not dress like a man or become a warrior out of desire or ambition. Instead she sees these unpleasant actions as a way to protect her father from harm. After succeeding on the battlefield, she refuses to continue dressing as a man and bearing arms. Instead she returns home and resumes a stereotypical female life. The original readers could accept Mulan challenging gender norms and taking on a masculine identity only because she undertook it as a temporary sacrifice for the sake of moral duty. By mixing conservative Confucian integrity with startling violations of feminine decorum, Mulan has captured the hearts of numerous readers and remains an object of fascination both in China and abroad."

Women in early medieval China, Bret Hinsch

[dephoraowo]

I just had a crazy thought, you know how Jin Ling was bullied because he had no parents? And Wei Wuxian was the one who taught him how to fight back against them?

Do you think Wei Wuxian experienced the same thing as well? Is that why he knew what to do when helping Jin Ling?

Imagine a baby Wei Ying, new to Lotus Pier, with no one he knows, his parents dead, and he's being bullied by the other disciples. 😭😭😭

Not only that, he probably had no status (other than being a son of a servant) when he just came to Lotus Pier, so all the more reason to bully him, since no one would get in trouble for coming at him.

At least Jin Ling had status, he's the son of the heir of the Jin Clan (ngl I was really surprised when Jin Ling was bullied, I've never seen the other clan heirs being bullied by someone lower in class than them before, I thought his status would keep then away, maybe poor Jin Ling had literally no support before Wei Wuxian).

The worst part is, Wei Wuxian probably didn't know how to properly fight back against them, he didn't have any cultivation training before.

Maybe that's where Wei Wuxian got his tough and confident attitude, from standing up to his bullies, and proving them wrong by becoming the best disciple in Lotus Pier!

He would have to work very very hard to catch up to his peers. He had to start his training at 9 perhaps? Since that was the time he was brought to Lotus Pier. He was 9 years behind everyone, in terms of academics and athletics, and he somehow managed to take on Lan Wangji in a sword fight when he was 15. That's honestly really incredible.

That means he took 6 years to master the 6 arts. Which includes math, calligraphy, rituals, archery, chariotory, and music!!! That's really insane if you think about it.

He really left the entire cultivation reeling from his accomplishments ngl, no wonder they hate him so much, because he'll always be better than them.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

The Amazon's Ashaninka tribe restored their territory. Now they aim to change the region

It was just before dawn when the Ashaninka people, wearing long, tunic-like dresses, began singing traditional songs while playing drums and other instruments. The music drifted through Apiwtxa village, which had welcomed guests from Indigenous communities in Brazil and neighboring Peru, some having traveled three days. As the sun rose, they moved beneath the shadow of a huge mango tree.

The dancing, which would last until the following morning, marked the end of the annual celebration recognizing the Ashaninka territory along the winding Amonia River in the western Amazon. The multi-day, nearly around-the-clock festivities included the ritual of drinking ayahuasca, the sacred psychedelic brew, archery tournaments, climbing towering acai palm trees and face-painting with red dye.

What was once a gathering to commemorate the Ashaninka has evolved into a showcase of what they have done: the village’s self-sufficiency, which comes from growing crops and protecting its forest, is now a model for an ambitious project to help 12 Indigenous territories in western Amazon, amounting to 640,000 hectares (1.6 million acres), about the size of the U.S. state of Delaware.

In November, the Organization of Indigenous People of the Jurua River, known by the Portuguese acronym OPIRJ, secured $6.8 million in support from the Amazon Fund, the world’s largest initiative to combat rainforest deforestation. With Apiwtxa as the model, the grant is geared toward improving Indigenous land management with an emphasis on food production, cultural strengthening and forest surveillance.

“We are expanding everything that we did at Apiwxta to an entire region,” said Ashaninka and OPIRJ leader Francisco Piyãko, speaking in front of his home in Apiwtxa. “This is not only about implementing a project. What is at stake is cultural change. This is essential to protect life, the territory and its peoples.”

Continue reading.

[pushing500]

Against all odds, asexual Buckeye and reduced-fertility-gene Magic Man have managed to make a baby! However, because Buckeye is Animakin, she needs to plant the baby in soil... And there is no soil in the ocular forest where Monster's Basin is. Only red sand and red dirt and other nasty red stuff, which apparently doesn't count.

So, we have unexpectedly had to up and move in order to give this new baby the best possible chance of survival! We were hoping to be able to prepare a bit more first, but desperate times call for desperate measures. We'll leave everything behind for the sake of one of our own if we must.

However, moving means it's time for another (rather rushed, I'm afraid) colony tour! Presenting: Monster's Basin!!

Here's the whole thing from above. If I had to describe it in one word, I would say "red".

Here is the central room, the kitchen/dining/ritual room. Next to it, we have two bathrooms and our freezer. Magic Man is already packing some of our human leather kneel sheets, as you can see.

Some bedrooms: Top left is Vasso and Laursen's room, top right is Euclid and Socks' room, bottom left is Dire Wolf and Pro (and formerly Bella's) room, and bottom left is Magic Man, Buckeye, and Dopey the razorjack's bedroom.

We also have a small, utilitarian hospital.

Up above the bedrooms and the main room are our dinosaur museum (we can't go without a dinosaur museum) and our research laboratory. Also a better view of the freezer.

Our farms and a huge stack of red bricks that we'll never get to use.

Here's a nutrient-paste barn that we got from a prefab some traders sold us. Mostly so we could see what it was, but our animals seemed to appreciate it.

Bella's room that she was given when she grew up into an adult, the sauna, and Blackdragon, Duchess, and Night Stalker's room.

The wardrobe, the chemfuel room, the miscellaneous devices room, the hot spring, and the small place where we attempted to plant Buckeye's sapling child before we realised it didn't work in this biome.

Finally, our animal pen/archery range. We were very fond of the moose named All-Powerful (she fell out of the sky), but we'll probably release her into the wild (along with a self-tamed hare and three baby wolfchickens some traders gave us) to help us conserve food on our abrupt journey.

And that concludes the tour of Monster's Basin! I wonder where our caravan will take us. Hopefully, somewhere with plenty of fertile soil for a growing sapling child...

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[audreyscribes]

PJO ROMAN DEMIGOD HUNTRESS HEADCANONS:🌕 DIANA: GODDESS OF THE HUNT, MOON, WOODLANDS, AND CHILDBIRTH 🏹

Author’s Note: Diana following right after Apollo here we goooo. This one is going to be very similar to the Artemis headcanons but there are some twists after I did some research on Diana and made some conclusions. The Huntresses are going to eat good today! ROMAN DEMIGODS H/CS MASTERLIST LINKS: [TUMBLR] // [AO3]

Alright, unlike Apollo, there are some differences that Diana has with Artemis. For one thing, Diana is considered a triple deity; a deity with three forms that function as an entire whole, with Diana merged with Luna/Selene, and the underworld, Hecate. (this also applies vise-versa with Hecate’s roman aspect, Trivia), so Diana is witchcraft associated with not only Hecate, but also Nyx, and Erebeus.

So when the Huntresses of Diana and Artemis merge, the latter have a bit of an adjustment to get used to. While they both serve the same goddess with the same values and oaths, and in turn there’s less of a conflict compared to the Greeks and Roman merge, it’s still something to get used to.

So with Diana being a goddess of crossroads (kinda), you often find promising hunteress or those seeking Diana/Artemis’ help at crossroads, if not looking for Hecate/Trivia.

While Diana and Artemis are two separate beings, sort of, it’s not as severe when among her huntresses. She’s not as coherent like Apollo, but it’s something.

As huntresses, magic is more of an applied skill now. There was always magical elements when you hunt, but its very everyday with your parkas, your tents, and the like, with Diana, it’s more incorporated. Using and chanting spells, bestowing blesses and curses, and healing and hurting are part of your skills as much as tracking and your archery skills.

Speaking of magic, you’ll find yourself in more contact with more diverse people. Not just magical folk, but also those who respect and pray to Diana, Hecate, among other gods. Those who practise Wicca are one of  those among those folks, and they are often times happy to invite your goddess and the hunters into their home and allowing you brief hospitality. In times, they’ve also helped when required and in turn often alert you and the huntresses of any dangers or evils they have seen.

Since Diana is considered a triple deity, associated with other gods like Hecate, Nyx, Erebus, and Selene/Luna, as part of the practice, the hunteress observe moon viewing parties or participate in nightly rituals. What those rituals are exactly no one knows except for a true hunteress of Diana/Artemis, but what I can tell you is that it involves the moon, its phases, offerings. I’ve said too much but only the night and moon knows. Don’t pry or let anyone uninvited know; the wild forest is already dangerous but now its a magical, wild forest; if you’re not careful, you’ll be lucky to just get lost or be turned into a deer.