#bryony the monster that you are | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

redheadgleek · 2 years ago

Text

Books Read April-June

I read a lot these last few months. A bunch of them were on the shorter side, but also because I've been reading more, I'm reading faster.

I've stretched my goal to read 120 books this year (10 books per month). We'll see if I make it.

April (10 books):

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde. I really struggle with reading nonfiction, so this took me several months to get through (I do much better with audiobooks for nonfiction). The first work I've read of hers, I'm really interested in seeing her poetry.

Frogs In A Pot: How one woman mentally and physically abused five men in her life - and her own daughter - to satisfy her narcissistic needs by K.D. Kinz. I already ranted about this one.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green. Sci-fi meets social media culture. Ended on a cliffhanger, not sure when I'll get to the sequel.

The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur. He had some really lovely thoughts. Gone way too soon.

Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens. Not quite as good as their other books (Monster of the Week and Ever After are fantastic), but still enjoyable.

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff. Recommended by @ckerouac. I loved it until around the last 30 pages. It just felt rushed of an ending.

Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh - this was much more heavy than Hyperbole, in both content and weight (the book was a workout).

*In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune. A retelling of sorts of Pinocchio (reminded me a lot of A.I. which I loved even though the critics did not). It's weird and lovely and while not exactly happy, it's wistfully hopeful.

O Lady, Speak Again by Dayna Patterson - a collection of poetry using Shakespeare's female characters as the voices. I would love an audio version.

Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher. A dark, little more adult, Beauty and the Beast retelling. Very imaginative.

May (13 books):

Madison by Ngozi Ukazu. I'm not sure I should really count this, but it was a delightful little comic to close out the Check Please universe.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow. I struggled with the beginning, but there were some great little twists towards the middle.

Assassin of Reality by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko. The sequel to Vita Nostra which I haven't stopped thinking about since I read it earlier this year. It was still off-balance and haunting, and I'm still left with questions. Sergey died this year, so it's uncertain if there will be another book to finish.

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman. A Sleeping Beauty/Snow White retelling with some absolutely gorgeous illustrations. Lots of twists in this short story.

*The Raven and The Reindeer by T. Kingfisher. Retelling of the Snow Queen. I really liked this one - I felt cold through the whole thing.

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher. Very creepy in world building and the horror was a slow drawn-out dawning, but it sort of fell flat in the end.

Tastes Like War: A Memoir by Grace Cho. A half Korean woman recalls the relationship with her mother, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. This was a "Everybody Reads" book club book from my library. I found the writing quite engrossing. There's a lot of controversy with it, with her brother calling the author a liar - but as he and his wife spend every moment of their free time replying to anybody who says anything positive about the book and they also have this "there isn't any racism any more!" attitudes, I've had heaps of salt with their perspective.

*Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik - a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, but it weaves in several other fairy tales. This one is unique because there's about a dozen 1st person perspectives (who aren't identified, you figure them out from the context) who tell the story. Makes me want to read more of her books.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar. I wanted to love this because everybody else is. And I didn't. It was okay, it just wasn't fantastic.

*Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow. Middle school novel about a kid who is the only survivor of a school shooter and then moves to the middle of nowhere to escape it all. The friendships were the best and it made me feel all the emotions.

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill. Yes, May was my month of reading fairy tale retellings, this one of the Crane Wife. Weird and short. I'm looking forward to reading When Women Were Dragons.

The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher by E.M. Anderson. This was a book based on that tumblr post circulating around about the chosen one being an old woman instead of a teenager. It was enjoyable, mostly, but did feel like it was trying to check off all of the diversity boxes, and the ending was rushed.

The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner. Apparently it's sort of a sequel to another book. Knowing that would have helped. The undead mouse character was the best.

June: It's Pride Month! (12 books)

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond. Once a bridesmaid, forever a fake bridesmaid? Some fun characters in this one.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Read as part of my friends-recommendation challenge - I own this book and my sister has been trying to get me to read it for years. I still haven't quite decided how I feel about it. The atmosphere was deliciously Gothic.

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli. I related a lot to this book, of figuring out who you are, and how boxes and definitions may not fit you. I wish that Becky would start writing books about college students instead of high schoolers though.

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram. A quick read.

Loveless by Alice Oseman. I was really disappointed by this book. The characters and plot weren't well fleshed out.

*Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanne Clarke, audiobook. Shortly after this book came out (nearly 20 years ago), I started reading it and got about half way through before getting distracted and I never finished it. I started listening to this at the beginning of March. It was 32 hours long. It's such a slow developing, meandering story, and I absolutely loved it. I felt completely immersed in the world.

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun. "A Charmed Offensive" was better but it was a nice twist on the fake dating trope. Although for taking place in Portland, very little of it actually took place in Portland.

Lily and the Octopus by Steve Rowley. I loved "The Guncle" so much that I bought this when it went on sale and put away all of my other books to read it. It was ... weird. I think part of it is that I don't have a pet, but also the voice of his dog kept changing? It's magical realism, part The Life with Pi and part Moby Dick.

Scythe by Neil Shusterman. Friend-recommendation. A dark utopia and a sort of fascinating exploration about death. I'm on the waiting list for the other books of the trilogy.

*What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma. Audiobook. Friend recommendation. An Asian woman explores the relationship of her abusive mother and her recovery from complex PTSD. I listened to the audiobook, and while I don't have PTSD or a history of abuse, it surprised me how much I related to her. The last chapters about love and connection were really healing to listen to.

*Above Ground by Clint Smith. Audiobook. His poetry about about parenting, but also about racism and connecting to the past. Really powerful and lyrical.

*The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I do love a Greek tragedy and this one was so good.

Currently reading:

The House Witch by Delemhach. The writing kinda sucks, but I like the idea and plot?

The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett. It's an Anne of Green Gables-inspired book about a young orphan witch who seeks out a reclusive woman as her mentor. It's utterly delightful.

The Celebrants by Steve Rowley. "The Guncle" may have been a one hit wonder for his writing for me, because I'm a couple of chapters in and I'm already annoyed.

A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland. I've heard lots of good things about this one.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh. Audiobook. I'm loving the narrator - for a while, I thought it was the actress who plays La'an on SNW as they have very similar cadences.

Next up: Book Lovers, When Women were Dragons, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Thunderhead, and A House of Good Bones. Still on my "friend recommendations for 2023" to-read list: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan, Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zavin, Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson, Sweet Like Jasmine by Bonnie Gray, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg.

#reading #books #book club #reading goals 2023

12 notes · View notes

magnimoon · 1 year ago

Text

Chapter 20: The Rise of the Inquisitor (Part 1) - A Cullevelyan fic

You can read it on AO3 as well as the rest of the episodes!

Summary:

The attack against Haven finally happens!

The rest of the episode under the cut

Everything was going perfect. With the Breach sealed, the mage/templar war getting to a conclusion… in theory the Inquisition solved many problems in record time. Then why? Why suddenly chaos and demise overturned the scales?

Then there was the Herald, with a sour gaze looking at the cliffs. She was talking a few moments ago with Cassandra, speaking precisely about the situation. While Bryony diminished her own actions, an uneasy sensation lingered within her thoughts. It is too good to be true, too soon for this to end. Her mind was clouded with paranoia and doubts, yet she didn’t share these feelings with Cassandra, maybe they needed a closer bond for it.

Then her fear became real when the alarm sounded and soldiers readied their weapons while Cullen approached the scene, reporting the status. Cassandra was already at Bryony’s side, glaring at her with full determination. She would be in the team for this one. Varric approached her without receiving orders, something compelled him to be there. A bad feeling, some would say.

“Dorian!” Bryony called at the Tevinter mage who was about to help the residents. However, due to the Herald’s call, he knew he would be in the team once more.

The rest of them, Vivienne, The Iron Bull, Solas, Sera and Blackwall, received orders to evacuate the houses, help the mages and templars and guide every peasant towards the Chantry. The Herald, in a few seconds, was right beside Cullen, ready to open the front doors. Whomever they would fight, would have to deal against the Inquisition armed forces.

Or at least that’s what they thought.

“I can’t come in unless you open.” A young voice was heard, non-aggressive and calmed tone echoed on the opposite side.

Once the main doors were opened, they revealed a late teen/young adult finishing some of the enemies with ease. This boy presented himself as Cole. Judging by his weapons, he is a rogue. He came to warm about this unknown threat. Someone who was angry at the Inquisition for “stealing” his mages. With the teen signaling towards the elevated grounds, everyone’s eyes followed his direction.

Soldiers, peasants, not even their famous Spymaster could’ve foreseen the arrival of The Elder One. Varric stood in silence, shocked by the presence of him who should be dead. Annihilated and rotting in a Grey Warden prison, far away from their current position. Varric’s mind lingered, wondering if Hawke was safe.

“I know this man, but this Elder One…” Cullen whispered near Bryony, enough for her to hear the grief in his voice. That’s when the Herald realized he was referring to the armored human beside the tall, corrupted and deformed figure.

“He’s very angry that you took his mages.” Cole reassumed.

“Took his mages? What a complete arse.” Bryony was the first one to speak loudly, angry at the deformed monster. This took the attention of both the rogue and the Commander. “Cullen, give me a plan! Anything!”

The tone in her voice was desperate, she couldn’t think clearly. Her hands were shaking so badly that keeping the staff on her hands was an impossible task. Yet, she looked determined at her Commander, she was from a lower rank, so she needed to do anything that could help. But Cullen knew better, in the few months she has been in the Inquisition, Bryony usually came up with brilliant plans that could help the organization on a bigger scale. Hell, even missions regarding the advisors were managed by her, strategy and priority decisions became a second nature to her.

So, when she asked Cullen for help, he knew she needed support in many ways possible. Both in strategy and a way to calm her down. “Haven is no fortress…” he started, “if we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle.” And, as the Commander he is, he complied to her request. Once Cullen gave instructions to every soldier, mage and allied forces present, the battle began.

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

It was a monstrous battle. Around every corner, templars emerged from everywhere, like humidity on a rainy day.

“Dorian?” Bryony asked to the Tevinter mage once their backs touched, covering each other’s blind spots. Just as they learned on the faraway future.

“I know. This is the same red lyrium we saw on that cursed place.” He answered, casting an ice spell over those puppets.

“Yeah! But this one is ten times worse! I didn’t see those blasted crystal blooming from their bodies!” Bryony screamed since she was handling two templars at the same time. One was getting zapped while the other received a kick on the face. Even with the helmet on, he received an electrified impact, killing him on the spot. Good thing Bryony added an armor to her boots a few days ago.

“Looks like this Elder One got really desperate. You must have ticked him off.” Dorian added, teasing his friend while finishing the last templar on the spot.

“Well, is good to know I have my own fan.” She combed her bangs out of her fangs, posing like a diva when Dorian is present. “Is everything ready?!” Then she screamed as loud as possible to the soldiers loading the trebuchets.

“We are ready to fire!” A soldier replied in the same fashion since the explosions and chaos drowned the noise.

Seconds later, and the team heard a loud crash coming from the enemy’s side. The trebuchet landed a spectacular hit. Now it was time for the next one. Varric signaled the approach of enemies and Cassandra lead the offensive strike alongside Bryony. Usually a mage would’ve stayed behind, attacking from a safe spot, like Dorian. Yet, the Herald wasted no time, getting rid of these monsters was a priority.

First, she would cage enemies with lightning, then Varric would provide assist from behind. Cassandra would land the final blows while Bryony headed onto those non shocked enemies, in order to zap their bones if necessary. She was twinkling in purple sparks at all time, without any time to recharge or rest.

“Hold on, Twinkles, have a time to breathe,” Varric stopped her once there was no sight of enemies nearby, “we need to load the trebuchet.” He took out his big brother tone, calming her down.

He could see the wear and tear on her eyes and body. Nobody told her to take the role of the Herald this seriously. Her hands shook violently and her wheezing breathes became coughs. Hadn’t been for Cassandra, everyone thought Bryony would’ve volunteered herself to ready the trebuchet. There’s a limit for every human being, and Bryony wasn’t listening to her own body and its warnings.

Varric thought that cheering her would help once they saw the avalanche hit the enemy, causing many enemy losses in the process.

Then the dragon appeared.

Within seconds, only one attack was enough to destroy the trebuchet, scattering everyone among the snow and dirt. As well as undoing all their efforts until now.

“Today… is now well beyond making sense.” Tiredness invaded Dorian’s sass. It is unclear on whether the wear came from physical exhaustion, or he was done with everyone’s shit. Probably the second one, however, he felt his muscles tensing in pain as well.

“He has a dragon?! Why does he have a dragon?! Why don’t I have a dragon?!” Bryony exasperated in frustration while jumping off the snow pile she fell into. She still had a snow cap over her head, which fell once she shook her head. “Everyone to the gates!” She ordered at the end, looking more frustrated than tired due to the Elder One’s pet.

Bryony could’ve just run towards the Chantry, leave everyone and saved herself. She was already tired, after all. She fought already her part and no one would blame her for the losses seen on the battle. Yet, there she was, blasting doors while entering into burning houses, rescuing people from the tavern, the medics, Seggrit, Adam (even a hammer and materials for the smith) and fighting alongside Threnn to protect her.

Threnn knew the Herald didn’t like her due to the differences in their postures regarding Loghain and Alistair. That wasn’t enough for Bryony to just let someone die. The Herald gained the respect of Varric during that fight. Once everyone was safe, it was time to head towards the Chantry.

A soldier opened for them since the doors were locked. A few more soldiers entered before Bryony’s team. Roderick was bleeding, a wound that wouldn’t stop him from helping the rest. Once everyone got there safely, Cole grabbed the Chancellor just in time before he lost the strength is his legs. “He tried to stop a templar. The blade went deep. He’s going to die.” Spoke Cole, coldly about the grim news.

While Roderick answered sarcastically towards Cole’s comment, his gaze looked at the end of the Chantry, sorrowful and aware of his physical condition. He knew the boy meant well, and that he had minutes left, whether luck favored him or not.

Bryony looked at her surroundings, seeing how could she provide any help at all. That’s when Cullen appeared from one of the side rooms. Once his eyes immediately saw the Herald, he dashed towards her.

“Herald, our position is not good. That dragon stole back any time you might have earned us.” He told Bryony. She clicked her tongue in disgust.

Cullen, almost by instinct, grabbed her forearm. He saw the Herald’s expression, averting her gaze to anywhere else as a result of such dire news. He tried to console her somehow. His first instinct was to grab her hand directly, but this wasn’t the time for it, by all means.

“I’ve seen an Archdemon. I was in the fade, but it looked like that.” The young rogue interrupted the conversation. Both soldiers turned their heads towards Cole. Cullen’s hand was still gently grabbing her arm.

“I don’t care what it looks like. It has cut a path for that army. They’ll kill everyone in Haven.” Cullen finally released the Herald, angry at the possibility of another Archdemon tormenting Ferelden. The least we need know is another Blight, he thought.

“The Elder One doesn’t care about the village. He only wants the Herald.” Cole added, he didn’t sound sarcastic, or wasn’t making fun of Cullen. He naively answered at the situation, as if the information itself was obvious.

“I don’t care what he wants. How do I stop him?” For a split second, Bryony answered very similar to Cullen, surprising the Commander since usually he is the harsh one and she is more approachable or sympathetic.

“It won’t be easy. He has a dragon.” Cole kept vaguely answered. Almost like asking something important to a kid.

Both Bryony and Cullen were tired, exhausted and the boy wasn’t helping. The Herald only furrowed her eyebrows and looked at the ground, frustrated that everything was happening due to her. The Commander broke the silence.

“We know what he…” and he sighed, that was the obvious part, but he realized Cole wasn’t making fun of him. Is just that, just like them, the young rogue had no plan nor idea on how to proceed. So, Cullen could only hold onto his frustration. Venting on the kid wouldn’t help the situation. “Herald, there are no tactics to make this survivable.” His voice got soft, firm but soft when speaking to her. “The only thing that slowed them was the avalanche. We could turn the remaining trebuchets. Cause one last slide.”

“We’re overrun. To hit the enemy, we’d bury Haven.” Bryony ran the scenario through her head and reached said conclusion. When she saw the Commander’s eyes to her comment, she knew he already had foreseen the same conclusion.

His mind ran through many possible outcomes, any possible advantage they could have. There was none, only dying for the cause. Everyone in Haven would die with a single avalanche, but so does this Elder One. Any other plan resulted fruitless in his mind. But nobody else gave any options.

“We’re dying. But we can decide how. Many don’t get that choice.” Cullen’s voice faltered once he was finishing speaking. His furrowed eyebrows undo by themselves, without he realizing it. The pain of the memories came back without warning.

He almost went back again to Kinloch Tower, a great example on how could someone die, without even get to choose how. He was losing himself in the worst timing possible. Bryony saw through him. Something wasn’t right with him. Almost by instinct, just like when Cullen grabbed her arm, she grabbed him.

Only this time, she gently placed her gloved hand over his cheek. The cold leather brought him back, realizing what was going on. Bryony flinched by her own action, not even knowing why she did it in the first place. She was about to remove her hand when he pressed his glove against hers. Both remained a few seconds like this, thinking this might be the last minutes together since everything could be ending with an avalanche.

“Chancellor Roderick can help. He wants to say it before he dies.” Cole, once more, interrupted the pair. With that, Bryony managed to lower her hand, clearing her throat.

Both heard what Roderick had to say. Apparently, Haven had a passage that could be used to evacuate everyone through an underground tunnel. With this, there was hope, at least to put everyone at a safe place.

“And he wants me. I could distract him while everybody else escapes. What about it, Cullen? Will it work?” The Herald asked looking towards the Commander.

“Possibly. If he shows us the path. But what of your escape?” Cullen softly answered. The sounded perfect, except that Bryony didn’t mention how she would return.

Bryony, looking towards the huge door, mustered a few words, “Then it’s settled. He wants me, then I’ll give him what he wants. Prepare everyone.” Determination filled her voice and gaze. She readied her staff and drank one healing potion for the ride.

Cullen remained speechless. He knew she readied herself for the worst scenario. “Perhaps you will surprise it. Find a way…” He could only motivate her.

The Commander moved the rests of the soldiers. Gave orders to anyone capable of moving to help those who couldn’t. Meanwhile, Cole grabbed the Chancellor in order to support him through his last moments. Roderick thanked the boy for allowing him to be of help, even if it was one last time.

“You are not thinking of going alone. Are you?” Dorian approached the Herald. He placed his hand over her shoulder so that she would look at him.

“Is there any other way?” Her face was on the verge of fainting, but she somehow wasn’t going to give up that easily.

“Yes,” Cassandra stepped in, “we will aid you.”

“Well, we really don’t want to die, but we are not going to leave you alone, Twinkles.” Varric took Bianca off his back, getting her ready for a possible last battle.

“Heh,” Bryony mustered a small laugh, “thanks, guys. However, once I give you the signal, you will head towards the Chantry.” Dorian and Cassandra were about to speak, argue about this decision. “There is no room for negotiation. I’m the one he wants. I’ll find a way. Don’t worry about it.”

The team remained silent. They headed towards the main door, waiting for their next orders.

“Herald…” Roderick spoke before Bryony departed. “If you are meant for this, if the Inquisition is meant for this, I pray for you.” He was covering with his hand the wound zone, very badly since the blood wasn’t stopping. Yet he waited for her, only to deliver that last message.

She politely bowed, acknowledging his acceptance. He isn’t that bad, after all, she thought.

Bryony heard soldiers running past behind her. This prompted her to look back, where Cullen was standing. “They’ll load the trebuchets. Keep the Elder One’s attention until we’re above the tree line.” He spoke.

Bryony nodded, reassuring she got her orders clear. She was about to head out when Cullen momentarily grabbed her right hand, stopping her. “Once we’ve arrived at the location, I’ll fire a signal towards the sky. Stay sharp.”

“Alright, and Cullen,” she gently pressed back his hand before releasing him, she gazed towards his brown eyes, “thank you.” She was smiling.

“If we are to have chance… if you are to have a chance… let that thing hear you.” He looked at her back before returning to his men, helping two that were limping.

“Oh, don’t worry. He’ll do more than hear me.” She finally readied her staff, heading towards her team who opened the door.

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

She coughed some blood.

After barely regaining some consciousness, her body only agonized in pain while the faint warmness of her body faded away… very, very slowly. Bryony managed somehow to stand up in middle of an unknown cave, Temperature was falling faster that she could warm herself up. At first, she tried to cast a small fire spell, enough to burn the broken piece of wood that fell with her. Nothing, there was no magic left inside her body for the time being. How could there be any left? She didn’t listen to her wounded fleshy carcass who screamed for some little rest. Bryony had to hug herself, rubbing her arms in other to calm down the shakings over her body.

Luckily, the cave had a straightforward road, a man-made tunnel since there were some stairs alongside a built entrance to the next room. It took a while for her to realize this since her vision was barely focusing on her environment. How long was I out? Maybe there is an exit nearby? She thought just as she was about to run. What only resulted from that were some wheezing sounds of agony. She could feel the broken parts in her body, maybe some ribs broken and an injured foot. Bryony squeezed her eyes and her nose crunched, trying hard to remember…

“What the hell happened?” She spoke onto the air, an obvious question since the memories still permeated her head. The real motive of question was the inconceivable previous events to her fall. What was more unreal? Her surviving such lethal situation, or encountering a being who claims to be one of the Magisters who brought the Blight?

“Argh!!!” Bryony exclaimed, pained by the sudden headache brought with the cold and the fuzzy short-term memories.

Thankfully, she wasn’t suffering amnesia, she already suffered one, two would be maddening. But, recalling the events proved to be quite the challenge. Could it be the emotional trauma of almost encountering death? Or that death lingered slightly behind her, quietly waiting for her in this freezing tomb?

She had to move, she refused to perish in such pathetic way. “Think, Bryony, what the hell happened back there?” She spoke out loud while making her first steps towards the exit.

“Shit, I don’t want to die.” She exhaled, trembling by either fear or the freezing sensation. The blood from a wound near her lips had already frozen up, creating a burning sensation that tickled like hell.

Bryony began to remember, as a way to keeping her awaken in order to press forward.

First, she was with her team, Dorian was backing her up while Cassandra defended Varric. It was a solid strategy. They cleared a path cleanly. The last standing trebuchet wasn’t far away; but they wouldn’t risk any possible corrupted templar sneaking into the Chantry. Luckily, it was too easy to recognize enemies from foes, their own men didn’t glow with an ominous red energy.

“There’s our glorious end. All it needs is aiming!” Dorian shouted, already foreshadowing their impending perish.

“Our ending? I believe I was clear with my orders, Dorian!” Bryony spat, electrifying enemies in the process.

“Well, you know, your plan doesn’t guarantee we may escape in time. I’m just getting used for the worst possible scenario.” He sassily answered her friend, frost stepping to her side only to argue back. At least he pierced through four templars with this move.

“We can bicker later! Cover me while I aim the trebuchet!” Both ended rebuked by Cassandra. She was the one spinning the wheel in order to hit properly the mountain.

“You know! I hate to agree with her! I blame you for this!” Varric fired one arrow in between the eyes of an enemy, killing it instantly. He sounded sour, unhappy that, for a split second, he had to be the responsible one alongside the Seeker.

The battle continued non-stop, tiring the team.

“What the hell is that?!” Bryony yelled, gaining the attention of her team, which was redirected to the giant red golem in front of them.

No, it wasn’t a golem, it was another templar. Only this time, little could be seen of his human form. She didn’t sound frightened, just alarmed. She wasn’t sure on how to eliminate a target that monstrous, but she was willing to find out.

Everyone focused on the small minions, they encircled them on a faraway spot. Then Bryony casted once more a lighting cage. This spell became one of her favorites, which became the strongest attack. None of the enemies were strong enough to escape the zapping chains that drew inside. This gave enough time for the team to deal damage to the golem. Every once in a while, Bryony would’ve reinforced the cage.

Once weakened the enemy, and his shields down, Bryony asked Cassandra to catapult her towards the enemy. There was no time to fight back at such ridiculous order, since Bryony was dashing towards the Seeker. It wasn’t an order; it was a warning. In one move, Cassandra readied her shield, covered her face and felt the weight of the Herald. Then, as by instinct, the Seeker countered this movement, sending Bryony flying towards the enemy.

Bryony has seconds to spare, which she used by locking her legs unto the enemy’s spikes and neck. She risked her life by piercing the enemy’s mouth with her own staff. It is unknown how much force she applied to her weapon in order to manage such feat, after all, she did hear the enemy’s mandible snapping. That mattered little once Bryony fully charged the staff with electric magic, sending the enemy, and his head, flying in pieces all over the battlefield. Whomever that person was, was long gone, doomed to be forgotten.

One thing was sure, that amazing stunt costed Bryony’s only weapon. Now, she had to rely on her fists once more.

They lost track of time eventually, the count of how many reinforcements they fought mattered little once the trebuchet was loaded and properly aimed at their target. The battlefield seemed empty enough, so Bryony volunteered to spin the wheel since she was weaponless.

“Everyone, go.” The Herald spoke, the seriousness in her tone opened everyone’s eyes widely. She was meaning it. Dorian already opened his mouth, ready to argue. “It’s an order!” But the Herald wasn’t going to allow anyone to disobey her.

Cassandra griped her sword in frustration before sheathing it. Then she proceeded to grab Dorian’s arm, already thinking of dragging him back to the Chantry. At least, the Tevinter mage knew when to throw the towel.

That’s when Bryony let go of the wheel, looking at the sky. When the guttural roars and the slow flapping of its wings were heard, that’s when the team realized why she was commanding everyone to retreat. The dragon approached them once more.

“Move. Now.” This time, she wasn’t joking around. She could barely process those words before running away from the blasting attack that separated her from the team.

“Are… they s-s-safe?” She was hardly speaking, feeling her lungs freezing while remembering those events. She feared for her team, even while she was near death.

Then, an atrocious, death suffocating sensation crept through her back has she continued focusing. That’s true, I tried to look for them when I recovered from the impact, then…

Then the Elder One appeared in midst the fire, either not caring about the burning pain or not receiving any at all. The imposing figure had only one target in his mind, Bryony. That’s all that mattered. Within seconds, the Herald found herself between this lyrium deformed creature and the dragon which he apparently controlled.

Insults began to evoke from this apparent egomaniac man, or rather mage with a god complex. Calling her “Pretender”. Of course, Bryony was less from afraid once the taunt began. Her heartbeat probably was proving the opposite, yet, she wouldn’t accept some weak ass calumny.

This Elder One, whom presented himself as Corypheus, began to threaten her by imposing his will. “You will resist. You will always resist. It matters not.” Those words still lingered through her mind while resting herself against the wall of the corridor. Her hand was burning, like an acidic burn she couldn’t wash away. She continued walking.

He referred to this as the Anchor. She thought while thinking of his words while she was at mercy of his grasp. He somehow was controlling the magic energy flowing through her left hand. He accused of her of interrupting a ritual, was that what happened at the Conclave? He planned to assault the Heavens. “What is this thing meant to do?!” She yelled, trying to hold in the pain consuming her. For a moment, she thought of her arm melting right in front of her, pain made her hallucinate.

“It is meant to bring certainty where there is none. For you, the certainty that I would always come for it.” He replied, assuring that, even if she escaped today somehow, he will pursue her sole existence.

As if she was a mere toy, a puppet, he lifted her like nothing. Then he pronounced those words, those phrases that revealed to her whom Corypheus truly was. Whom would be her enemy as long as she lived. …Breached the fade… The Old Gods of the Empire… Then it clicked her.

“T-then, he truly is one of the original Magisters. The ones who started the Blight.” She barely spoke out loud, the cold made her lips break each time they were moved. “Who’s there?” Bryony lifted her head once the silhouettes of some regular wraith demons began to approach her.

The Herald wouldn’t humor them, battle them. She wanted them gone immediately, her left pulsing hand dropped green mana at a worrying rate. So, she only lifted it, thinking of those demons be no more. And, with her desire becoming a reality, a mark was placed in between them, which became a small rift. Similar to those she encountered and sealed before, this tinier version sucked the enemies away from her. Instead of being a burdensome inconvenience, it became a useful weapon in her aid. A new technique for future fights. That is, if she survives first.

Bryony looked to the front; she could see the end of the tunnel. It didn’t matter how many breaths of her revealed her exhaustion. Only one last push was needed. Just like it happened with Corypheus.

He mentioned he saw the throne of the gods, and it was empty. That is… Argh, I can’t think straight. He is only one tall idiot who wishes to be the new god. He couldn’t even finish me off when he had the chance.

Yes, Corypheus, full of himself, threw Bryony towards the loaded trebuchet. She received a strong hit, hurting a small part of her spine, nothing she hasn’t received before. If she only had a healing potion at hand. At first, the Herald distracted him by grabbing a sword and pointing it towards him. That made no sense since it has been years since she took one as a weapon, when the possibility of becoming a templar circled around her head. Her eyesight was a bit clouded, still recovering from the impact against the wood. Luckily for her, the enemy at hand suffered from an arrogance impulse that compelled him to monologue his plan. This gave her enough time to watch the fiery arrow being launched towards the sky.

Everyone is finally safe, she thought. Finally, one last cocky smile was given.

“You expect me to fight, but that’s not why I kept you talking.” Not that she somehow made a huge effort into make him talk. But she would savor this moment. “Enjoy your victory. Here’s your price!” The cockiness in her tone was long gone, she screamed using almost every last of energy remaining to kick and release the projectile towards the mountain.

Her back ached just by remembering the second hit she received on the right side of her body. Bryony gently placed her hand over the spot. It hurt like hell and she could notice some alarming red blotches. At least the cold kept the wound under control. She needed to press forward and fast.

But where? Once she finally exited the cave, she was presented with a white Fade’s acre. Her possible burial place amidst the snow. The buildings were long gone, buried by the blizzard snow, if she didn’t move quickly, she would join them soon. Any trace of footprints disappeared prior to her arrival. Her guide were faint constructions that survived the impact. Some carried faint lights that she used to regain heat before they faded away.

This one is recently made, everyone passed through here. I must… keep going. She thought to herself since her mouth could only produce shivering sounds. Any attempt of speaking felt like her throat breaking into several crystal pieces.

Walking became almost impossible. She thought of stopping for a second, just take a short breathing and rest. But fear made her believe that, by doing so, that would become her eternal resting place.

Shit, it can’t like this. Everything I did… All of it, was it for this fucking moment?

She started to remember. It is unknown on whether she was contemplating her life passing through her eyes as death was keeping her a close company, or as a result of her own sheer will in order to keep going.

The memories, those that were keeping her moving on. The most important ones, and the ones that marked forever her life.

The scared templar apprentices looking at her, as if looking at a demon while her fist glimmered with purple sparks. Hector looked at her, his eyes were of a man who witnessed the loss of someone important to him. Just because she used magic.

A few days later, her family wouldn’t even talk to her. With her chamber doors chained on the outside while the Templars arrived for her retrieval. She hugged tightly her knees while Hector tried to comfort her.

The Knight Commander Mortimer, torturing those poor mages who attempted to steal any food that wasn’t molded bread. Jeralt, future to-be Knight-Commander, lied to his superior while a little Bryony hid in the kitchen, holding her breath so that no one would hear her. That same night, she broke the rules and stole a small grape, one that tasted like heavens to the point of making her tear in happiness. For the first time, she experienced sweetness after suffering one year of torment.

Then there was the “silent uprising”. The day Mortimer died by poisoning. Everyone pointed towards the mages for this act. However, none were close to the Templar that day, since he kept them locked and security was tight. Bryony stood closely to Jeralt and her mentor, Lydia, while chaos filled the hallways. Yet this Templar looked strangely calm, even when receiving the news.

Then there was the Knight-Commander office. The first time she entered once Jeralt became the successor to this title. He spoke to her about this “agreement”, one only created for her. That’s when Abrecan came into her life. The Templar that would always watch over her. The one who always patted her head after a successful mission after returning to the Tower.

The kitchen, where she would spend all her nights, dedicating herself only to training. Which caused her to fall asleep during many morning classes.

Her team, the old one.

Finally, the Conclave and the consequences of it.

The Inquisition, the place that initially seemed like her doom. Now, her salvation. While, she doesn’t trust many of them, it has begun to grow on her. Not only the organization as a whole, dedicated to the common well-being, but its people. That’s when a particular face came into her mind.

It can’t end like this… I have so many things to do. So many things to solve. So many people to see again. No. I didn’t even tell Cullen that…

“There! It’s her!” The Commander’s voice reached her ears.

“Thank the Maker!” He wasn’t alone, Cassandra always ran towards her.

Bryony didn’t even realize how long had she been walking through the snow, not even that the blizzard faded out ages ago.

“Cu…llen?” But the Herald was at her limit. Her legs gave out. Her body slowly succumbed into the snow. Her eyes could barely distinguish the figures in front of her. Hadn’t been for the faint light casted by torches in the horizon, she would only see darkness.

Amidst the people, she could only recognize one face, running at her at full speed as if his life depended on it. He looked desperate while trying to catch her. Then her gaze completely blacked out.

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

Previous | Next

#dragon age #cullen romance #cullen rutherford #cullen x oc #commander cullen #cullen x inquisitor #cullevelyan #inquisitor trevelyan

3 notes · View notes

moondustlings · 7 months ago

Text

“congratulations,” she replied with a genuine smile. her answer seemed to cast a glow over the other woman and a pang of jealousy coursed through chloe, though the flirting did seem to put the green monster to bed quicker. “is that right? well, we can’t have that now, can we?” it had been quite awhile since she had met a person so forward, and she had to admit that she quite liked it. if her husband was anything like her, chloe was more than sure she could possibly meet her match (or matches) tonight. “nice to meet you, mrs. redmayne,” she replied, dropping her hand before she did something stupid like kiss the back of it. “lead the way.” hooking her arm with bryony’s, she let the other woman walk them towards the man who had been watching their every step.

“so you must be mr. redmayne,” she said once they were in earshot and again, she held her hand out. she might have been approached for a threesome at a charity gala, but a harrington always remembered their manners. “i’m chloe, the person your wife has been seducing and i hear that you’re just as interested.” she gave the man an appreciative smirk as she tapped bryony’s arm. “you’re a very lucky woman; he’s even more handsome up close.”

continued from [x]

Bryony had known who Chloe was even before she’d approached. Cal always cased the venue and the guest list before they went to any society party to operate. As stunning as Chloe was, Bryony also couldn’t suppress the jolts of delight shooting through her at the prospect of her and her husband getting to bed a Harrington that night. The name carried immense influence in the city, and if they played their cards right, Bryony thought they might not just gain themselves a recurring lover, but someone able to open doors for them in the vast world of high society.

“Husband, as of eight months ago,” Bryony replied when Chloe asked about her status with Cal. A smirk already graced her lips given Chloe’s praise a moment before about her husband’s looks, the expression growing when the blonde asked if she was also her type as well as Cal’s. “Oh definitely, darling,” Bryony purred, adding, “If we don’t go home together, I’ll be thinking about you all night.” Their gazes met and Bryony knew her eyes sparkled at the prospect of sleeping with Chloe. When she agreed to meet Cal a moment later, she smirked again and reached for her hand. “Redmayne, Bryony Redmayne,” she began by way of introduction, adding, “It’s a pleasure,” with a wink. A moment skipped by before Bryony added, “Come, let’s introduce you to my other half. He’s just as excited as me.”

@moondustlings

#𖥸 ─ interactions › chloe h.#𖥸 ─ thread › bryony x chloe h x calahan.#velvetrogue

8 notes · View notes

the-essex-serpent-tv · 2 years ago

Text

The Essex Serpent

This six-part Apple TV adaptation of Sarah Perry’s Victorian gothic romance is beautifully produced. The sinuous, winding waterways of the Blackwater marshes, seen from the air in the very classy, opening sequence, suggest the coils of the eponymous serpent: a monster to terrify the superstitious or an evolutionary missing-link to excite the Darwinian scientific mind.

The atmosphere of the Essex landscape suffuses the narrative, which starts out like a mystery but builds steadily into a character-led drama of powerful emotional complexity. The stellar cast includes Claire Danes as the amateur naturalist recovering from an abusive marriage and Tom Hiddleston as a rationalist vicar, but it’s Frank Dillane as the hubristic genius surgeon and Clémence Poésy as the vicar’s delicate wife who linger most in the memory.

– Bryony Dixon

Available on Apple TV

#the essex serpent #claire danes #tom hiddleston #frank dillane #hayley squired #clemence poesy

53 notes · View notes

iironwreath · 2 years ago

Text

playlists [aurellyn]

nepenthe aurellyn nepenthe (instrumental)

vierna aurellyn vierna aurellyn pt.2 vierna (instrumental)

nepenthe/vierna

azul “bryony” aurellyn

lolth

tracklists:

nepenthe aurellyn:

daughters of darkness - halestorm

superbeast - rob zombie

bloody mary - lady gaga

beautiful is boring - BONES UK

main theme: the addams family (instrumental)

love you to death - type o negative

I am...all of me - crush 40

breath of life - florence + the machine

strange girl - halestorm

scream - from ffxiv

spider dance cover - toby fox and ferdk

infinity edge - pentakill

the fire within - within temptation

patient number 9 - ozzy osbourne, jeff beck

see the light - ghost

athena - nova twins

can you feel my heart - MOTHICA

is there anything so endearing as a daughter - from arcane

the snake - lana lubany

the unholy mother - jonathan young

all I ask of you - from phantom of the opera

vierna aurellyn:

blood countess - karliene

the steeple - halestorm

darkness settles in - five finger death punch

poor unfortunate souls - the little mermaid

somebody’s watching me - rockwell

bloody city - sam tinnesz

NOCTURNAL - MOTHICA

feed the demon - yenne

eternal life - palaye royale

rats - ghost

alive - ozzy osbourne

filthy freaks - BONES UK

frankenstein - rina sawayama

morticia’s theme - the addam’s family

maneater - nelly furtado

cult leader - KiNG MALA

consummation of evil - jamie christopherson

everything you ever - neil patrick harris

hurt incantation - rapunzel’s tangled adventure

vierna aurellyn pt.2:

afraid of quiet - lydia the bard

haunted - poe

claw finger - avith ortega, akira yamaoka

this city is a graveyard - baby storme

the dismemberment song - blue kid

paranoid - palaye royale

raw raw - k.flay

VOID - melanie martinez

august underground - ethel cain

I need the night - london grammar

panic attack - liza anne

the dose is the poison - dominik scherrer

lost - PLS tethered version - linkin park

hello - evanescence

nepenthe/vierna:

the witching hour - intro - birdy

your blood - AURORA

de selby (part 2) - hozier

dying star - ashnikko, ethen cain

a whole new world - disney

tourniquet - evanescence

stripped - palaye royale

million and one - royal blood

overjoyed - bastille

butterflies - tom odell, AURORA

what if it doesn’t end well - chloe moriondo

medicine - daughter

you couldn’t live for very longw ithout a heart - REPULSIVE

azul “bryony” aurellyn:

minor feelings - rina sawayama

good life - kc roberts & the live revolution

live through the night - dear rouge

my house - PVRIS

scary world - night club

the search - NF

dead man’s plate - pentakill

hey you - disturbed

holy (til you let me go) - rina sawayama

land locked heart - the midnight

these streets - bastille

better tomorrows - ewan mcgregor

all the dying - mother mother

you make me feel like it’s halloween - muse

no escape from now - ozzy osbourne

daffodil - florence + the machine

mountains - message to bears

I wanted to leave - SYML

to rage - daughter

buy the stars - MARINA

lolth:

you’re mine - phantogram

GODDESS - PVRIS

toxins - MOTHICA

not human - elegant slims

PIECES - elley duhé

pass the knife - no/me

lay all your love on me - ABBA

love bites (so do I) - halestorm

making monsters - five finger death punch

in the dark of the night - jonathan young

evil shuffle - ozzy osbourne

spider den - ASKII

mother of evil - abel korzeniowski

#playlists #nepenthe #vierna #azul #aesthetic #music #spider cw #spiders cw #they got a lot of the same artists lmao #i like vierna's more but i'm not even playing her #nepenthe needs like one more song but i like what's there #music: vierna #music: nepenthe

2 notes · View notes

phoebe-twiddle · 3 years ago

Photo

Despite having dogs all his life, Dev doesn’t mind the cats Bryony adopted. In fact, he quite likes them. The feeling may not be mutual though. Cyan you little monster.

#ts2 #the pinella lepacy #generation four #ts2lepacy

12 notes · View notes

feelingofcontent · 4 years ago

Text

DNP Rewatch: My Chat Logs 2!

Date video was published: 06/05/2013 (X)

DNP Main Channel Rewatch: 182

A sequel to the My Chat Logs video from about 9 months earlier. (Phil’s hair is so much shorter!)

0:00 - Phil’s eyes look so blue in this one! And he’s wearing the shirt from DNP’s first selfie which we haven’t seen in a long time. 🥺

0:09 - there really is a ski slope in Phil’s hometown!

0:27 - I love that he’s making his friends sound so northern

0:36 - poor ‘Dayne’; kissing should not be like “lickin a yogurt” lol

0:41 - well that escalated quickly

0:46 - little Phil getting straight to the point

0:51 - my favorite part of these videos are the inserts of “current Phil” being embarrassed at himself

0:58 - why does that sound like a euphemism

1:04 - well that ruined the “cool” image, lol

1:16 - this one is very Phil; just tripping over things

1:40 - I love that current Phil doesn’t seem to know what a “black slope” is, but past Phil did!

2:20 - Phil’s dedication to avoiding “games”/PE was intense

2:51 - just shouting in capital letters about Buffy, of course

3:16 - sad shy Phil

3:34 - Phil you didn’t have to share these...but thanks? Those hair styles are quite something

3:40 - wtf is happening in these video clips 😳

This video took a long time for Phil to edit! I think I like the first chat logs video more than this one.

The day after this video went up, DNP went to get bubble tea with Bryony, and then to see a preview for Monster’s University with a whole group of YouTubers.

#dan and phil #dnp #dnpRewatch #amazingphil #phil lester #amazingphil videos #My Chat Logs 2!

21 notes · View notes

realitybled · 3 years ago

Note

anemone : how does your muse view the world ; as a cruel & unforgiving place , a land full of wonders , or something in - between ? where does that world view come from ( what experiences , life lessons , etc . ) ? // All of your OCs . . .

man. not to be depressing but all of my ocs have a negative outlook on life.

for bryony, she has such a deep seeded distrust of any people because of how her parents made her feel inhuman through their abuse. plus her mediumship abilities, the handful of ghosts she's met being desperate in how they cling to the material world and a violence in how they see her as a tool (which she kinda is, she's a vessel for giving them a physical form after all).

casper's view can be neatly divided into pre-avatar and post-avatar. he used to believe that there was a place for good things in the world, a balance between light and dark with a capacity for both in people. maybe it was a way to rationalize his own behavior because let's face it he's always been an asshole. after the fire, he's lost whatever idealism he may have had. his boyfriend was a good man, perhaps the best man casper will ever meet, and he died rather than him and his rotten self. there can't be any good in a world that took away emilio.

laurie and rafe have similar outlooks on the world, both having first hand experiences with monsters. they both know the thin line between humanity and the abyss, and what happens to those who cross it. laurie saw it in her family and rafe has seen it in numerous hunters and victims. there is a duty to sticking to one side of the line, doing what you can to cling to your humanity which often results in helping others (even if they want to be lone wolves). connection keeps you human. selflessness keeps you human.

and then there is lukas whose grasp on humanity/identity is still tenuous at best. normal society is foreign to them, and the first few years out of project nascence were... interesting. over time, they've come to understand more about life and forged a comfortable existence for themselves. without the volatility incited by the project leads, especially lindqvist and dr. kennedy, they've mellowed out quite a lot and have an appreciation for the softer things.

#antigoddex #answered.#srry this took a while but!! ty as always :pleading:

1 note · View note

sexiestpodcastcharacter · 1 month ago

Text

Sexiest Podcast Character 2024 — Scripted Redemption Bracket — Round 2.5

Propaganda

The Angel of Death (Death by Dying):

literally the angel of death. has a cynical raven, and can be spooky, but mostly makes fun of her friend. love her so much 10/10

#angel of death or bust #her character design is based off a hot goth girl that changed the trajectory of o.w's life #what else could you want

Bryony Halbech (Red Valley):

Everyone leans in when she speaks, she commands such a presence. Scientist lady with dubious morals, my favorite villain ever, autism girl swag. Brought a gun to a bomb fight and lived. Decapitated someone. WOMEN IN STEM! I love her guys vote Bryony.

Guys! Did you not hear the way this woman says the word ‘vivarium’!

Additional propaganda below the cut:

The Angel of Death (Death by Dying):

This is propaganda for all the female characters. Voters please remember how pretty all women are and factor that into every single vote you make. Thank you.

Bryony Halbech (Red Valley):

Dr. Bryony Halbech is someone who's very dedicated to her research even so far as to killing multiple people and purposefully causing the suffering of others to gather scientific data. She DOES NOT hesitate to kill anyone who stands in her way and WILL make you saw cryonically preserved bodies with her, can you think of anyone sexier than that?

#is she pure evil and has committed hundreds of atrocities #yes.... #she's still hot tho

#everyone vote for our cancelled wife

#BRYONY SWEEP #I STAND WITH MY CANCELLED WIFE

#BRYONY MY EVIL SCIENTIST WIFE

#Bryony Halbech the evil scientist that you are... #sigh okay I'll vote for her

Absolutely. yes. Bryony Halbech ❤️ #evil medical malpractice wife #she's a monster #i love her for it #i support womens rights and womens wrongs

#BRYONY HALBECH

#my unethical science wife i love her

#shes awful but BRYONY FUCKING HALBECH SWEEP!!!!!

#YOU GET IT

#WHAT IVE BEEN SAYNG#I WOULD LET HER COMMIT MEDICAL ATROCITIES ON ME !!!!!!!!!!1

#morally questionable women in stem 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶

#I SUPPORT WOMAN'S WRONGS!!!!!!!!!!!#vote bryony <3

#i love you women who are fucked up and evil. what if we kissed and we were covered in blood. what would you even do

This is propaganda for all the female characters. Voters please remember how pretty all women are and factor that into every single vote you make. Thank you.

The choice is clear. Bryony Halbech is the kind of woman you’d let do highly illegal things to your body and mind

BRYONY IS HOT.

#BRYONY LETS GOOO #EVIL SCIENTIST WHO REALLY SUPER HATES YOU #AND WHO DOES MOT CARE ABT KILLING PEOPLE #AND WHO LIKES SHOOTING PEOPLE #AND CUTTING PEOPLES HEADS OPEN

#2024 Round 2.5 #The Angel of Death #Bryony Halbech #Death by Dying #Red Valley

31 notes · View notes

realitybleeds-a · 4 years ago

Text

oh yeah here’s some little notes about some of my ocs that i don’t rly mention? but they’re important

lukas is selectively mute! they’re perfectly capable of speaking, they just don’t like doing it. the only real instance you can catch them talking is while they’re at work. even then their voice is kinda gravelly from disuse and they’re very soft spoken. any other time if they don’t absolutely Have to speak, they will default to sign language or writing out what they want to say. there are only a couple occasions where they might speak outside of work and it honestly depends on who you are.

the boardwalk fire that made casper an avatar of the desolation also killed his boyfriend. even though casper was a bit of a functioning pyromaniac beforehand, it was actually his involvement in setting the fire and causing emilio’s death that drew the desolation to him (because of the whole loss thing). it was the point where fire changed for being comforting to understanding its true terror, but by that point the desolation had already claimed him. the wine red mark on his face is also from that incident.

rafe won’t call ellie his daughter. he’ll basically refer to her exclusively as his ward considering his involvement in her life is purely business related to him. she was placed into his custody as a protective motion since she is descended from a line of very powerful witches, and who else better to protect someone like that than a man who had been hunting and killing monsters for 30 odd years. that doesn’t stop ellie from calling him dad to annoy him though.

bryony’s relationship with her brother is very codependent. soren is the only one who’s shown her any real kindness in her life (especially compared to her parents) and so she’ll do anything for him. bryony will react very badly if you call her out on how unhealthy the relationship is and probably try to attack you if you do. she also occasionally sees her parents as ghosts though she doesn’t know if they’re actually haunting her or if it’s a hallucination.

#all energy flows into you and is abolished — ( lore : lukas henshall. )#i’m not a creature that was born; i’m a fire that was set — ( lore : casper sterling. )#you’re a weapon and weapons don’t weep — ( lore : rafe montaigne. )#she herself is a haunted house — ( lore : bryony hawkins. )#anyways do u care them

3 notes · View notes

phanfictioncatalogue · 6 years ago

Text

5k-10k Words (5) Masterlist

Links Last Checked: February 21st, 2023

part one, part two, part three, part four, part six, part seven

And, Like Putting On Glasses, I Saw the World in Perfect Clarity - cactuslester

Summary: Dan thinks this trip to the Isle of Man will be like all the other trips to visit the Lesters. Little does he know, Phil has a 3 carat surprise for him.

A Tale Of Life And Death I 6k I - wavydanrises

Summary: the one in which Phil is a necromancer, and Dan needs his help.

Bat On My Heart I 6k I - elisethephangirl

Summary: Baseball Phan!Au.

Be Still My Foolish Heart (Move Me, Baby) I 8k I (ao3) - starboydjh

Summary: Phil sees a man performing at a tube stop near his work and can't stop thinking about him. Turns out, the man can't stop thinking about him either, and takes to Twitter to try and locate Phil. This sets off a string of coincidences and at every step of the way, all of it just feels right.

Best Kept Secret I 8k I (ao3) - dizzy

Summary: Bryony wants to introduce Dan to her friend Phil... the same guy Dan may already be dating.

Crumpled Up Piece of Paper I 5k I - placingglaciers

Summary: In which Phil is handed a box of his childhood things and finds his old best friend’s phone number in it and calls to see if it still works.

Double Date I 6k I (ao3) - Spring_Haze

Summary: Phil finds himself on a double date at a mini golf course near campus, though he is much more interested in the male half of the other couple than anything else. The boys are left alone to explore their fast new friendship and sparks fly. This is a sweet, funny, and romantic tale of love at first sight that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

From The Starting Line I 5k I (ao3) - possumdnp

Summary: Dan and Phil visit Dan’s family for the first time in a post-coming out universe.

Let Me Make Something Beautiful I 7k I - huphilpuffs

summary: Technology arises that allows same-sex couples to have biological children. Dan and Phil consider.

Lost In Your Paradise I 9.3k I - lestered

Summary: It’s been six years of surreal friendship, and an even surrealer crush. Six years of traveling all around the world, and wanting to kiss him in every place.

Six years of chickening out every time.

Dan has no reason to believe that Japan will be any different, but anything can happen when you get lost under the Tokyo lights.

Monster I 8k I - helloanonymouswriter

Summary: Dan controls fire and Phil controls ice and they hate each other from previous events they do not speak off. However, when Dan gets hurt in battle Phil finds his hatred dissipating and replaced with worry.

New Man | 7k | - phanlight

Summary: It’s been a year, and Dan and Phil haven’t spoken since the night the door had slammed and their relationship was placed on its deathbed. Dan knows Phil isn’t happy. Dan knows Andrew isn’t Phil’s type. He knows there are fewer things Phil would rather do less than spend his free time in the gym, eat kale, and drive cars that probably cost more than his house. Dan isn’t happy either, but there’s little he can do other than watch Phil’s new life blossom from behind the glass of a phone screen.

Patterns | 7k | - gravityplant

Summary: In which the university student Dan moves into his first apartment, completely alone in the world for the first time. The lack of friends he compensates with overworking. But then there’s suddenly Phil. Charming, shy Phil, with the most childish smile Dan’s ever witnessed. Suddenly nothing’s ever the same.

Right On The Limit I 6k I (ao3) - dizzy, waveydnp

Summary: Some sort of kink gone wrong/not work, but in the best way because communication is key.

They’ll Tear Us Apart (If You Give Them A Chance) I 7.3k I - yiffandquiff (paradisobound)

Summary: Dan was just a fairy in his little village of Vixedeler when a mermaid invades the waters and sends the village into a frenzy. A thousand year old rivalry is resurfaced and Dan is left in the middle of his village while also feeding his new connection with the mermaid, Phil. As tensions rise, and Dan falls deeply for Phil, a Romeo and Juliet love story begins.

Thought Of You Often I 6k I (ao3) - jestbee

Summary: On Daniel's twenty first birthday, a man walks into his banquet hall that he hasn't seen in years.

Too Loud In Public I 9k I (ao3) - dizzy, waveydnp

Summary: Dan is too busy snogging a cute stranger named Phil in a closet at a university party to realize the cops are about to break it up.

Wildest Dreams I 8k I - amazingphilia

Summary: There’s a black Maserati in the back of Tesco and it changes Phil’s life.

#phanfictioncatalogue #phanfiction #phanfic #phan #masterlists #5k #5k masterlist #10k #10k masterlist

79 notes · View notes

lentaska · 6 years ago

Text

Syzygy

Jake Crist/OC/Dave Crist A/N: disfigured oc, third POV, part of an ongoing project This is a work of fan fiction using characters from wrestling, I do not claim any ownership over them. Just tagging people who may wanna have a look... @monstersmaid @thecristsandcallihanmadness @earl-01 @morie-leigh @ohcristimhookedonhavocimsodunne

They saw the creature.

It was carrying a spade, the arms were covered by bandage and branches, black claws took where the hands were. The most horrific part was, it had a head of deer skull with blood dripping down from the two empty eye sockets.

They lowered their bodies and held their breathes, but the smell of fear sold them out.

In the harsh sound of rusty metal, the figure twitched its head to their direction. The forest trembled as all plants started to grow rapidly. When they realized the tree branches were chasing after them like soldiers under order.

They were tied to a giant tree in a posture of sacrifice, the deer-headed creature walked towards them, they were shocked to see it had human’s feet - covered in soil but tiny. A pair of shackles locked around its ankles, with silver chain extended out from woods behind.

“The Crist...” Its garbled growl was mixed with whistle of wind, slow and sharp, “why are you in my forest... again?”

“I-It’s not your forest!” The elder Crist plucked up his courage and argued back with chills running in his blood and spine. Parents had told him countless times about the responsibility of being the elder one, he wanted to protect his little brother.

The creature laughed in a humanoid way, somehow its voice became less strident and disturbing.

“The forest disagrees.” Its tone softened.

Its body sunk into soil. The forest fell into silence.

When the Dave and Jake are free from their wrestling profession, they spend hours and even days on road trips. They have driven on the road of Valley of Fire, visited the Grand Canyon, and camped on Ross Lake. But today is their first time to spend night in a forest. Nervousness and excitement tangled in them. They have prepared well and act cautiously, forest, after all, can be lethal.

The night falls upon them soon after they set tent up. They light campfire, a disturbing noise starts to echo, it sounds like mixture of growl of thousands of beasts and whistle of wind, both Jake and Dave recognize it.

“The monster...” Dave gnashes, “It’s here.”

Jake takes out a pack of bullets, says, “that’s why we prepared for this trip. We need to terminate this nightmare.”

Loading his hunting gun, Dave nods in agreement.

They have lived in nightmare for years. Every time they were close to forest or woodland, the creature’s unique sound echoes by their ears, they’re tired of such torment, so they decided to hunt the the initiator of agony down.

The creature’s spade has no comparison to gunpowder. But when the bullet goes through its shoulder, things go beyond the Crist brothers’ expectation - what the creature makes is dismal whine, rather than beastly roar.

“I don’t feel right.” Jake mumbles, brushing through trees to follow track of blood left behind.

Dave snaps at his words, “the whole thing with that creature is not right.”

At the end of their hunting journey, a figure huddles up in mess, trembling and hissing. The creature crawls back on the ground, mugwort and white bryony grow to surround it, the Crist brothers know this is its self-defense mechanism.

They break the twigs and move forward, every time they are close, more plants burst out of soil. Behind leaves are the creature’s eyes, for the first time, they see green, rather than the empty and blood-dripping eye sockets. It has bewitching green eyes.

- And humanoid.

Eventually, nothing can block their way to the ultimate aim of this trip, Dave and Jake break down the last obstacle, the culprit who brought nightmares is right in front of them, glowing in moonlight with the eerie head of deer skull slightly down, tiny white birch leaves are growing out of the wound on its shoulder. Its figure has never been so clear yet hallucinatory, Dave and Jake are no longer certain about where they are - in reality or a world of dreams. They just stand quietly, as if they are waiting for a prophecy from a superior presence beyond their comprehension. They wished to seek revenge for the trauma, to blame it for all the misfortune and adversity has become their normality even though the majority was not its doing. On the other hand, they never thought they would face it like victors.

“What do we do?” Dave whispers to Jake, hoping he has a clue, unfortunately, the reply is only a hesitated head-shaking.

“I don’t know what is real now. If we tell Sami and Fulton about everything happened, they’re gonna book us a vacation to Cuba for releasing pressure.”

“Sounds nice. Is this the plan now?”

Jake sighs. They take few steps towards the creature, which stands still, the distance is so short that they can hear its gasping. Something in their minds urges them to touch it, to verify its existence, so they stretch out arms.

They hear wind whistling through thickets and branches, rainstorm falls upon lush vegetation, water merges into streams and drips down at the edge of leaves. Crows and swallows skim over lake in front of them, lightning cuts through the sky and illuminates the forest, yet nothing that they just experienced is real. The Crist brothers look into the creature’s green eyes, dizziness drags them down into abyss.

******

A slim figure sits on a log above the lake, bare feet slightly waggling, the heavy shackles on its ankles clang in rhythm. It seems to be holding a peculiar object in arms, when Jake and Dave walks closer, they recognize it as a deer skull - THE deer skull, to be accurate - but this time, no fear rise in them.

“What is this place... Damnit, my head hurts...” Moaning, Dave Crist sits down on one side of the figure, while Jake takes the other side.

Black veil hides the appearance under, but they can tell it’s female. “A dream,” she explains, “mine, yours, doesn’t matter, we share it now.”

“I have been wondering what that thing is since we first met.” Jake points at the shackles on her ankles, the other end of the silver chain hides in bushes.

“A contract between me and forests.”

“What are you looking at?”

She points at a direction afar, “birches were planted over there, where your ancestor lumbered and burned down acres of woodlands.”

Although not sure what she is talking about, Jake craves to continue the conversation, “did they sprout?”

She nods. “They will soon. After twenty years, when you have enough of the exhausting life, take your offspring, walk with then among trees.”

“Hopefully I still can wrestle at 50...” Dave sighs, trying to form that scene in his mind.

A tiny chuckle slips out between her lips, it’s so soft that both Dave and Jake think they have paracusia.

“Walking in woods with children... I can’t imagine that.” Says Jake, “will you scare our offspring like what you did to us?”

“No. The scars of the forest healed.”

Pouts and sulks, Dave starts another round of grumble, “for all the years, we suffered and you didn’t even say sorry...”

“But meanwhile I have become your excuse for obstacle, failure and everything unfortunate.”

The discernment of hers makes the Crist brothers speechless, they sit in silence, until muffled roar reverberates in background. They turn around, the forest is vanishing like a piece of paper burning to ashes. They are about to wake up soon.

“I wanna see your face.” Jake puts the unexpected request on the table, “just in case we forget what happened.”

“You don’t want to.” She sounds downhearted, “I look... scary.”

But Jake insists, so does Dave - the elder Crist even sneers “nothing is scarier than that deer skull”. She takes off the veil, there is one malformed scar snakes its way from hairline and crosses the right side of her face, with burn mark right under her left eye.

“Hey you lied,” Dave pretends to be deceived, “you’re not scary.”

Jake agrees with him, “not at all. You’re a regular girl.”

The last part of this dream collapses in her tearful smile.

******

Dave and Jake sit up and gasp heavily, they are back to the reality. A slim female huddles on the ground in front of them, head resting on the deer skull in her arms, chest slightly rising and falling with even breaths. Despite the scar and burn mark which disfigure her beauty, her soft profile is appealing. When she opens her green eyes, she is surprised to see hands offered by the two Crists.

“Come with us.” Says Jake. “We’re not gonna leave you here.”

“Better to keep an eye on you.” Dave chuckles, “so you won’t scare us again.”

She only hesitates for a moment before taking their hands. The shackles and silver chain break into pieces, she looks back, the tremendous infinity of the forest is illuminated by the first sunshine of dawn, and among grass and dew are few buds.

The birches sprouted.

#oc #Wrestling Fanfic #fanfic #jake crist #dave crist #impact wrestling #project #she is based on leshy btw

36 notes · View notes

tjrust-4524 · 5 years ago

Text

Bonus: Part 8a: Phantom Express and Starry Night

When everyone got to Sybil and Arline (who were bunking in the dorm rooms with Bryony and Anadria), everyone was talking about the event that just happened that night.

Bryony started to talk to Arline and Soda Glass. "Arline, do you know anything about these symbols here?" Bryony asked.

Arline and Soda looked at Bryony's phone and nodded, "the heart, spade, diamond, and club in our world are our personality symbols. In 1935T, when you're 3-5 years old, you get these symbols. It's not to dictate who you are, but it represents who you are. Almost everyone's life goal in 1935T is to try and understand why they got that particular symbol and what that means for them as a person whether they're a Cartoon or a Noir. Soda and I both have spades♠️, Sybil has a diamond♦️, and Teacup has a heart♥️."

Bryony showed Arline that she had gotten a diamond. She thought about the symbols for a moment and said"So, if I'm getting this right, hearts equal love, spades mean death, clubs represent good luck, and a diamonds leads to wealth? Does that mean I'll be rich?"

"Not even close," Soda said, "here's what they actually mean: hearts are commonly the counselors, fun seekers, adventurers, and often try to find someone to to protect and keep safe. They hunger for the attention of others but they want to also find more about who they are."

Bryony looked over at Teacup who was talking to Marisol and Misty. She overheard Teacup's conversation and laughter.

"We're serious, hermana," Marisol said, "Gear did try to attack us."

Teacup kept laughing, "Mate, Gear has never attacked anyone unless if... she's...instruc-AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"What's she saying?" Misty asked, "I can't understand her." Marisol shushed Misty.

"Gameboard," Teacup said loudly. Panic and worry was evident on her voice, "She probably trapped all of my friends here! Um... they're Airon, Iris, Queen, Cherry, Lily, Harpy, and Gummi! We've gotta find 'em before somethin' bad happens to each of 'em!"

"Oh, no," Soda said. Arline agreed. Soda continued, "I'll quickly tell you what the other symbols mean then we gotta find everybody so please no interruptions. Um, where was I... oh, yeah... diamonds are at times wealthy people but are actually the artists of the world. They like to express themselves by some form of art: music, painting, drawing, any of those. They can even show themselves best though their talents; their talents are their art with Sybil's being dancing. But diamonds are people who try to seek worth in their talents.

Spades are the geniuses and communicators. They can often be a paradox themselves but they find ways to learn from them. Do you remember the day that you met Arline?" Bryony nodded, "She may have looked a little tough because of her appearance but is actually the nicest person I know and helped me out."

Soda continued "and lastly, clubs. They seem like they're the most lucky people in the world but they've actually been through a lot. They're often times the people who want to change the world, be problem solvers, innovators, inventors, but how they want to change the world is only through how they perceive the world."

Bryony thought about Oribu and Dyvke (read the Prologue) all of a sudden. She thought of what happened 3 years ago: Dyvke turning Bryony and her friends into a creature who was a complete monster so Oribu could trap Arline, Soda, Teacup, Marisol, and Sybil, seeing her friends turn into monsters, them all becoming human again, and Maria Jose... no - No! - Bryony promised herself never to think of Maria for Marisol's sake. Maria was a best friend of Anadria and Marisol but one day, she went to Hauntington and never came back all because of Dyvke and Oribu. Bryony remembered what Oribu did how she-

"Bryony," Cardyn said breaking Bryony from her spiral of thoughts, "It's time to find Teacup's friends."

And with that, they all left.

Bryony took her video camera, connector, and computer. She gave Majora the computer.

"Let's start the Rose Club back up again," Bryony said with a smile; her confidence showing through. The Rose Club was Bryony's old blog. Let's expose what Oribu has done to the world through my art; blogging, and you're art; video editing."

Majora did get a spade, though. But despite all that, Majora gave the same smile and nodded confidently.

And with that, they left.

#Story #OCs #writing #part 8a #let's get this show on the road #heart #spade #diamond #club

1 note · View note

eddycurrents · 5 years ago

Photo

For the week of 11 November 2019

Quick Bits:

Batman & The Outsiders #7 throws some further ramifications of Ra’s al Ghul and his minions meddling with Duke and Sofia. Some particularly disturbing transformations going on with Duke that should be interesting. The level of intrigue that Bryan Hill is keeping in the story is gripping.

| Published by DC Comics

The Batman’s Grave #2 is another excellent issue. A little more packed with action than the first one, allowing Bryan Hitch to cut loose with some of the sequences. Also, I’m loving the humour that Warren Ellis is giving us between Alfred and Bruce. That acerbic wit is something we’ve seen from Alfred a lot and Ellis just nails the voice.

| Published by DC Comics

Battlepug #3 is more fun from Mike Norton, Allen Passalaqua, and Crank! Some really nice stuff here as Bryony cuts loose on Nobody’s Ponies. I absolutely love the mix of traditional sword and sorcery storytelling with rather over-the-top humour that basically lampoons it at the same time.

| Published by Image

Black Cat Annual #1 is a fun tale of a heist on the Maggia by Black Cat and Spider-Man from Jed MacKay, Joey Vazquez, Natacha Bustos, Juan Gedeon, Brian Reber, and Ferran Delgado. It features the usual humour and action that we see in the series and I quite like how the artists are broken up each following one particular aspect of the story. Though it’s all one narrative, it gives a nice differing feel to each part.

| Published by Marvel

Black Hammer / Justice League: Hammer of Justice #5 concludes what has been an excellent series from Jeff Lemire, Michael Walsh, and Nate Piekos. Ultimately, this has reminded me of the old JLA/JSA crossovers of old, and just feels great as an overall story. Plus the possibility of seeing a sequel.

| Published by Dark Horse & DC Comics

Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda #3 begins “God Loves, Moon Kills”, another two-parter for this series, from Jim Zub, Lan Medina, Craig Yeung, Marcio Menyz, Federico Blee, and Joe Sabino. I love this story format, giving us essentially quick-hit missions dealing with a problem and then moving on. It’s yielded some pretty tight storytelling and some fascinating situations.

| Published by Marvel

Black Stars Above #1 is another incredible debut for Vault, with Lonnie Nadler, Jenna Cha, Brad Simpson, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou delivering an incredibly deep and unique horror story. It centres around a young woman in a family of fur traders, as the trade itself begins to die in Canada, and it’s impressive as to how real the characters and their struggle feels. The artwork from Cha and Simpson is exquisite.

| Published by Vault

Buffy + Angel: Hellmouth #2 continues Buffy and Angel’s descent through hell. It’s much more cerebral than you’d expect, with the demons trying to get into Buffy and Angel’s respective heads in order to manipulate and destroy them. Plus, a rather interesting surprise. Jordie Bellaire, Jeremy Lambert, Eleonora Carlini, Cris Peter, and Ed Dukeshire are doing some great work with the core of this event.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Collapser #5 somehow gets even stranger in this penultimate issue as Liam creates a “perfect” world to run away from the problems he’s having in the real world. The real world bleeding through and a revelation of his girlfriend’s true intentions just ratchet up the strangeness further. Mikey Way, Shaun Simon, Ilias Kyriazis, Cris Peter, and Simon Bowland are just doing amazing work here.

| Published by DC Comics / Young Animal

Detective Comics #1015 takes an interesting turn as Nora decides that she likes being a villain. Through this, Peter J. Tomasi is definitely showing an interesting side to Mr. Freeze, emphasizing again that he’s a rather conflicted villain, only doing the various heinous actions to save his wife. Who now doesn’t need him.

| Published by DC Comics

Doctor Mirage #4 features more incredibly beautiful, inventive artwork from Nick Robles and Jordie Bellaire. The visual storytelling as Shan faces the Embalmer is just incredible. Magdalene Visaggio, Robles, Bellaire, and Dave Sharpe continue to deliver magic with this penultimate issue.

| Published by Valiant

Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror: Season Two #2 is another entertaining issue. The lead tale from Tom Peyer, Greg Scott, Lee Loughridge, and Rob Steen has traditional EC Comics horror vibes, as a scientist tries to communicate with our worm overlords. In one of the comics back-ups Mark Russell, Peter Snejbjerg, and Steen revisit the world of the breakfast cereal monsters. And there’s the usual prose pieces, poetry, and Hunt Emerson’s Black Cat.

| Published by Ahoy

Event Leviathan #6 concludes this series from Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev, and Josh Reed. How much you enjoy it will hinge on how much you enjoy Maleev’s art and the realization that most of this tale is about moving one person off the board and the reveal of Leviathan to set up further stories. Also, Bendis paints a Batman who is ridiculously terrible at hiding his secret identity.

| Published by DC Comics

Fallen Angels #1 is the final new first issue of this first wave of “Dawn of X” titles and in many ways it’s more personal than the other X-titles, even Excalibur, delving into Psylocke (the former Kwannon, not Betsy Braddock) and her past. Bryan Hill, Szymon Kudranski, Frank D’Armata, and Joe Sabino deliver an interesting story with hooks on the darker side of the X-world, including some ominous bits from Magneto and Sinister, but I question the inclusion of X-23 and Cable. They don’t exactly seem to fit the roles they’ve been put into here.

| Published by Marvel

Family Tree #1 is a phenomenal debut from Jeff Lemire, Phil Hester, Eric Gapstur, Ryan Cody, and Steve Wands. This first issue perfectly captures that insidious nature of family drama mixed with creeping terror and body horror as a bizarre plague begins spreading across America.

| Published by Image

Far Sector #1 is one of the most impressive debuts I’ve read in a long time. NK Jemisin, Jamal Campbell, and Deron Bennett create a rich new world in the City Enduring and a compelling character in the new Green Lantern, Sojourner Mullein. The murder mystery that ties everything together is just the icing on the cake. Incredible world-building here and drop dead gorgeous artwork. Do not miss this.

| Published by DC Comics / Young Animal

The Flash #82 is part one of “Rogues’ Reign” from Joshua Williamson, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Arif Prianto, and Steve Wands. It features a Central City taken over by the Rogues, transformed into their own personal playgrounds, as the Flash is nowhere to be found. It’s not bad, but the amount you’re going to like it may be relative to how much you’re also enjoying “City of Bane” and the recently concluded similar arc involving the Trickster.

| Published by DC Comics

Folklords #1 is off to a fantastic start from Matt Kindt, Matt Smith, Chris O’Halloran, and Jim Campbell. It starts off with a precocious kid in a fantasy world who’s been having visions of what essentially amounts to our world, whose quest sets out a rather draconian lockdown on their society when the Librarians rein in everyone from illicit action, like finding the Folklords. Highly recommended.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Forgotten Home #2 reveals more about Jannada, its history and society, and how an unjust queen was brought to rule through racial warfare. Love the artwork from Marika Cresta and Matt Emmons.

| Published by Vices Press

Gideon Falls #18 unleashes the Laughing Man on reality in part two of “The Pentoculus”. Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, Dave Stewart, and Steve Wands are beautifully unfolding this twisted and horrific flower of a story.

| Published by Image

Gotham City Monsters #3 adds another element of DC lore to the series as Melmoth claims a particular prize. I really quite like how Steve Orlando, Amancay Nahuelpan, Trish Mulvihill, and Tom Napolitano are pulling together disparate bits of Gotham and beyond to craft this story.

| Published by DC Comics

Guardians of the Galaxy #11 is the penultimate issue of this series from Donny Cate, Cory Smith, Victor Olazaba, David Curiel, and Cory Petit. It’s basically a big fight between the remaining Guardians and everyone else. It doesn’t go so well.

| Published by Marvel

Hawkman #18 takes a somewhat different approach to Hawkman’s infection than what we’ve seen of the others so far. Rather than being a dark reflection of Hawkman’s own desires, he’s taken over by an Earth-3 incarnation in Sky Tyrant. Robert Venditti, Pat Olliffe, Tom Palmer, Jeremiah Skipper, and Richard Starkings & Comicraft instead use that to play the spirit of our Hawkman against.

| Published by DC Comics

Hit-Girl: Season Two #10 is part two of “India”. The artwork from Alison Sampson and Tríona Farrell is impressive, given an amazing level of detail to bringing Mumbai to life. Brutal and rich in colour.

| Published by Image

House of Whispers #15 takes a new twist as the Corinthian finds the House of Watchers, takes over, and everything changes. Nalo Hopkinson, Dan Watters, Dominike “Dono” Stanton, Zac Atkinson, and AndWorld Design kick off some new terrors as even Erzulie’s status quo is upended, and we get another guest appearance of John Constantine’s homecoming.

| Published by DC Comics - Black Label / The Sandman Universe

Invaders #11 pushes deeper into Steve and Namor’s history and relationship, as Steve refuses to give up on his old friend. There’s some very heavy, very good character work here as we head into the final issue. Chip Zdarsky, Carlos Magno, Butch Guice, Alex Guimarães, and Travis Lanham continue to astonish at the incredibly high bar they’ve set for this story.

| Published by Marvel

Justice League Odyssey #15 is a fun tale from Dan Abnett, Will Conrad, Rain Beredo, Pete Pantazis, and AndWorld Design. Jessica Cruz leading a rag tag band of villains (and Orion) against Darkseid and the previous JLO turned evil is unfolding as a very entertaining story with some interesting twists. Also, Dex-Starr is awesome.

| Published by DC Comics

Morbius #1 isn’t a bad start from Vita Ayala, Marcelo Ferreira, Roberto Poggi, Dono Sánchez-Almara, and Clayton Cowles. This first issue is largely just action as Morbius sets out on his quest to cure himself, again, but it’s not bad. The art from Ferreira, Poggi, and Sánchez-Almara is very nice.

| Published by Marvel

Oblivion Song #21 continues the slowburn investigation and reconnaissance of the Faceless Men’s base, as Marco tries to map it out and discover where they’re holding all of the people who decided to stay in Oblivion. Gorgeous artwork from Lorenzo De Felici and Annalisa Leoni as we see more of the Faceless Men’s technology.

| Published by Image / Skybound

Psi-Lords #6 does a bit more world-building as we find out more about the Psi-Lords and the Starwatchers, even as the four Earthers are beset by the other Marked in a bizarre farce of a trial. Fred Van Lente, Renato Guedes, and Dave Sharpe are telling a pretty great sci-fi adventure tale here. It largely stands alone in the greater Valiant universe framework and deserves more attention than its getting.

| Published by Valiant

Punisher: Soviet #1 is another welcome return to the Punisher by Garth Ennis, stepping back into Frank’s adventures like he never left. Ennis, Jacen Burrows, Guillermo Ortego, Nolan Woodard, and Rob Steen deliver a brutal and bloody beginning as Frank chases down someone who everyone seems to think is him.

| Published by Marvel / MAX

Reaver #5 is a fairly impressive spotlight for Breaker as he does what he really didn’t want to do again in order to help his “friends”. Justin Jordan, Rebekah Isaacs, Alex Guimarães, and Clayton Cowles present a number of twists and surprises in one of the most brutal issues yet.

| Published by Image / Skybound

Ronin Island #8 sees the remaining islanders largely stand together as they try to both stand up to and flee from the Shogun’s soldiers and madness. With a terrible occurrence that looks like it’s going to cause even more problems for the survivors. Giannis Milonogiannis and Irma Kniivila’s art continues to be everything.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Sea of Stars #5 very nicely puts the pieces together as a disconsolate Gil has been captured and basically given up thinking Kadyn dead is brought to the world where his son is about to be gutted. Jason Aaron, Dennis Hallum, Stephen Green, Rico Renzi, and Jared K. Fletcher are telling an incredible story here and this issue throws even more twists at the reader.

| Published by Image

Seven Days #2 unfolds some of the fallout of people learning that they only have seven days left, as the superhero community is enlisted to try to stop whatever the shiny harbinger things are. Gail Simone, José Luís, Jonas Trinidade, Michelle Madsen, and Saida Temofonte are continuing to build an intriguing story here as we get more and more of the breadth of the Catalyst Prime universe.

| Published by Lion Forge / Catalyst Prime

Superman #17 is kind of a housekeeping issue from Brian Michael Bendis, Kevin Maguire, Paul Mounts, and Dave Sharpe, acting as a prologue to “The Truth”. A bit of reflection on the Unity Saga, Event Leviathan, and Year of the Villain.

| Published by DC Comics

Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night #1 might well be the best of these one-shots yet. Tim Seeley, Kyle Hotz, Dexter Vines, Walden Wong, Danny Miki, David Baron, Allen Passalaqua, and Tom Napolitano give us a bleak look at a world where Sinestro chose not to share the power of the White Lantern light and essentially everything fell to Nekron and the Black Lanterns. It’s a very unique take on the zombie apocalypse on its own, made more interesting as a fallen Sinestro, Lobo, and Dove try to save this universe. The art from Hotz, Vines, Wong, Miki, Baron, and Passalaqua is perfect.

| Published by DC Comics

Trees: Three Fates #3 continues to build up the weird atmosphere from last issue, then turns around and focuses on more of the gritty aspects of Oleg, Mik, and Nina. Gorgeous artwork all throughout from Jason Howard and Dee Cunniffe.

| Published by Image

Triage #3 shifts to Commander Marco’s reality as the group flee from the Hunter. I really like what Phillip Sevy and Frank Cvetkovic have been doing with this story. Great high concept, but the interpersonal relationships are where it’s really at.

| Published by Dark Horse

Usagi Yojimbo #6 is a beautiful updating and embellishment of the very first story of Usagi from Albedo by Stan Sakai and Tom Luth. This single issue story really captures the spirit and magic of all of Sakai’s stories, wonderfully portraying his mix of action and folklore.

| Published by IDW

Vampirella/Red Sonja #3 explores more of what the Russians were doing in regards to Drakulon and more. More very nice humour from Jordie Bellaire in the interactions between Vampirella and Sonja.

| Published by Dynamite

Wonder Woman #82 begins “The Wild Hunt” from the new creative team of Steve Orlando, Kieran McKeown, Scott Hanna, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Pat Brosseau. It very much continues on from the plot threads and elements of the previous run, continuing to build on the current conflict between Wonder Woman and Cheetah.

| Published by DC Comics

X-Men #2 is pretty damn great, going back to the big and wild ideas bringing new elements into the X-universe, all while Cyclops gives some of the strangest parenting. Jonathan Hickman, Leinil Francis Yu, Garry Alanguilan, Sunny Gho, and Clayton Cowles give us a new mystery with the arrival of Arakko and the first of -|A|-’s missing original horsemen.

| Published by Marvel

Other Highlights: Age of Conan: Valeria #4, Agents of Atlas #4, Catwoman #17, Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Holiday Special #1, The Dollhouse Family #1, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark #10, Firefly: The Sting, Future Foundation #4, Ghosted in LA #5, GI Joe: A Real American Hero #268, Girl on Film, Go Go Power Rangers #25, Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy #3, History of the Marvel Universe #5, Marvel Action: Spider-Man #11, Midnight Vista #3, Moonshine #13, Runaways #27, RWBY (print) #2, RWBY (digital) #6, Savage Sword of Conan #11, Star Wars #74, Star Wars: Jedi - Fallen Order: Dark Temple #4, Star Wars: Target Vader #5, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #50

Recommended Collections: Babyteeth - Volume 3, Dark Red - Volume 1, Fallen World, GLOW - Volume 1: Versus the Star Primas, Justice League - Volume 4: The Sixth Dimension, Savage Avengers - Volume 1: City of Sickles, Star Wars: Age of Resistance - Heroes, Star Wars Adventures - Volume 7: Pomp and Circumstance, Wonder Twins - Volume 1: Activate

d. emerson eddy can hear the scratching at the walls of reality.

#This Week in Comics

5 notes · View notes