#but i do think that he'll be quite short with thorne

[snowthornes]

… Nevermind. Forget surviving — he would rather throw himself out the nearest window than swear himself to this wishy washy hogwash. “Problem?” Blade asked mildly, raising an eyebrow. “No.” Thorne intoned. He sounded dead even to his ears. “Hm.” Blade didn’t say any more. Thorne had a feeling that he knew exactly what was going on.

READ ON AO3 HERE

[bunnypansy]

Whiskey, Neat

Rated E, for EVERYONE!

Boothill is the most annoying customer you have to deal with.

Featuring: Boothill and YOU!

Beware! This film contains: Probably OOC Boothill (made before his release), gender neutral reader, the reader doesn't like straight whiskey sorry guys, not quite frenemies to lovers....? more like two ppl annoying the fuck outta each other, Boothill threatens to kill you once or twice, but he also flirts, a touch of angst at the VERY end, mention of sexual harassment but it's just the reader calling Boothill a creep I repeat there is zero sexual harassment in this fic

Boothill is a thorn in your side. No, no; you find yourself thinking that comparison is too tame. To you, Boothill is a girdle made of barbed wire. You thought it impossible to hate a man at such a depth until you met the outlaw. He always smelled like hot pennies and diesel, never paid his tab, and harassed the rest of the bar staff to such a degree that none of them would serve him. Except you.

For the first few months of your “relationship”, you were only acquainted with Boothill from the countless times you had to drag him away from the bar top and throw him out the front door. Shortly after that, your boss said you should learn a thing or two about bartending for “no good reason”. You were starting to catch on. Soon enough your position as security faded away and was replaced with “the guy who dealt with Boothill”. You can't complain, the pay is better and you have the eternal gratitude of your coworkers.

In a matter of mere seconds, the front doors swing open, and three deafening gunshots shatter the eardrums of everyone in the bar.

“Alright, everyone out.” Just like that, you watch all the good tips run right out the door, along with the rest of the wait staff. Now left in an empty bar, Boothill throws his arms wide, gun still held tight in his metal fingers. “I'm back, baby! You miss me?”

The revolver takes a seat at the bar top before Boothill does, slammed down hard against the wood, its barrel pointed right at you. You're not worried, Boothill doesn't shoot on accident.

“Like a hole in the head.” You quit cleaning a glass and glance at the new bullet holes placed just above the door. “Or the ceiling… order your drink and get the fuck outta here already, Boots. You're killing business.”

“Keep mouthin’ off and I'll be killin’ more than business, sweetheart.” As if to prove his point, the freak of nature spits a few bullets onto the bar top and starts reloading his gun.

You can't help but roll your eyes at Boothill’s threats. The man offers to shoot you every other breath, but he'll never do it- if he was going to kill you, you'd already be dead. You're the only man still alive who talks to Boothill like that. Probably because you're the only man alive who’ll still serve him a drink. “You're not gonna kill me, Boots. Piss off any more bartenders and you're gonna have to get your fix from the hand sanitizer in public bathrooms.” 

A deep scowl takes over Boothill’s face. “You're just askin’ for me to hop this counter and kiss you right on that pretty mouth of yours.” He stops then, equal parts embarrassed and furious as a hand comes to grasp at his own throat, surely cursing his internal censor system.

“Wow, sexual harassment, that's a new low, even for a hunk of junk like you.” You snort and a short glass finds its way into your hands. You're already pulling the strongest whiskey you have from beneath the counter, knowing Boothill will ask for it any second.

As if intentionally subverting your expectations, the outlaw kicks his feet up on the bar with an amused chuckle and a smug smile that makes you want to punch his teeth right out of his face. 

“You just call me a hunk?” Six words in and you're already exasperated beyond belief. He's leaving crusty speckles on your clean bar. “Darlin’, if you wanted to take me out so bad, you coulda’ just asked.” 

You elbow Boothill right in the ankles; it brings a mild ache to your arm as bone meets unrelenting metal, but the pain is worth it to watch the self-satisfied prick lose his grin and nearly fall out of his chair. “I’d rather drink a pint of sand and chew the glass it came in, take your drink and get outta here.”

The glass slides across the bar just a touch too fast, the liquid fire inside threatening to slosh over the sides; if Boothill's hand hadn't shot out to catch the glass, it surely would've sailed right off the bar and shattered on the floor. 

“Come on now sweet thing, don't act like you hate me.” He recuperates much too fast, already leaning on his palm. There's a horrible, discordant shrieking emitted by the friction of metal against glass; Boothill running his fingertip around the rim of the glass. “Can't deny we’ve got some kinda chemistry.”

“Oh, it ain't acting, trust.” You snort at Boothill’s shot at… Well, you're not sure; could this be called flirting? If so, it's a laughable attempt. “We've got chemistry like bleach and ammonia.” 

You know he's got some smart-mouthed response when Boothill bares his pointed teeth in a massive grin. “Could say we'd be… breathtakin’?” 

It's horrible. That joke is worse than any sugar-coated insult Boothill could toss your way. One hand shoots out to grasp Boothill’s glass, the other going to grip his chin. 

“Agh- what the-” You don't give Boothill time to finish, wedging your fingers between his razor-sharp teeth to pry his mouth open and dump the glass of whiskey down his throat. He gargles once, coughs twice, and swats at your hands furiously. 

“You had your drink. Now run off, you robotic trash-eating vermin.” Fresh bruises are purpling on your wrists from Boothill’s strikes. It could still be worse. He could tell another joke.

Boothill is still sputtering like a drowned rat, grasping at his throat and swearing- or doing his best impression of it. “What in heaven’s holy gates, darling!?” He coughs again. “You tryna’ give me a heart attack you cute little minx?! Who just pours a drink down a man's throat?!”

“Someone who's trying to get the man to leave. You had your drink, now scram before I call animal control.” You reach to take away Boothill’s empty half-glass, only to get caught in the outlaw’s iron grip.

His spare hand slams down against the bar top, a cacophony of delicate tinkling ringing out as glassware rattles and bumps against itself. “Oh don't pull that cute crap with me, sweetheart! Pour me another one, so I can drink it nice and slow.” 

“You're a jackass, you know?” The words come out hissed between your teeth, roiling with barely concealed hatred, but you’re already moving to pour him another. Every time you encounter Boothill, you curse his stubbornness. 

“Watch your mouth.” His grip relaxes slightly, but he keeps his stern expression as he sits back down. “Whiskey, neat.”

You almost laugh, jerking your wrist out of his grasp- does Boothill seriously think you need a reminder? Though you’d much rather kick him to the curb with a few extra bullet holes in his ugly hat, you pour Boothill a second drink with an insulted scoff. “Yeah, yeah, I know what you fuckin’ drink.”

When Boothill takes the drink this time, he tilts the glass towards you in an encouraging motion. “Pour one for yourself, too.” The look you give him must be an incredulous one, because he scowls and waves a hand at you dismissively. “Aw, Pete's sake. Just do it!”

The sigh you heave is so heavy that Boothill briefly looks for an open window, thinking there’s a draft coming in. You drag your feet through pulling down a second glass, lamenting that now you have two dishes to do when the outlaw leaves. The pour you give yourself can be more accurately called a sip, barely coming to the width of your finger. When Boothill shoots an exasperated look your way, you already have a retort prepped for him.

“Not all of us can drink in the middle of the damn day, Boots.” You stare down at the drink, swirling it lightly with a disgusted grimace. “Besides, I’m no fan of straight whiskey. I’m more of an Old Fashioned kind of guy.”

The way Boothill smiles smugly makes you wanna punch dents into his metal chest. “Oh, bless your heart, that’s cute. Stuff’s too sweet for me, personally.” He lifts his glass to you, asking for a toast.

“Too sweet? Hell, Boots. Maybe hand sanitizer is a good match for you.” Reluctantly, you tilt your glass towards his, the rims letting out a high ringing as they meet.

This time Boothill pulls an exasperated face, raising the glass to sit just in front of his lips. “Just drink already, I’m tryna’ be nice, and you’re out here ruinin’ it with your smart lil’ mouth.” 

After a second of hesitation, staring into the amber, you tip the glass back and let the drink slide down your throat. It burns, chemical and hot, like sandpaper tearing through your esophagus. It’s all you can do to not dry heave at the feeling, but you can’t stifle a coughing fit. “Fucking hell- how can you drink this shit?”

The drink came much easier to Boothill, nursing his whiskey as if he were only sipping on tap water. “Guess I just got a more refined palette, sweet thing. Thanks for sharin’ a drink with me anyway. You make a guy feel less lonely.”

For once, Boothill seems strangely earnest and you can’t help but be put off guard. You suppose, with such a polarizing personality and by the very nature of outrunning the law, Boothill must live quite the isolating life. Then again, if he wanted to be less alone, he could simply stop getting himself kicked out of bars. Still, you stumble over your words for a second, looking for a proper thing to say, and in the end only muttering out a sorry; “Yeah, sure, no problem.”

Even to you, that doesn’t quite make you sound like yourself. Dishes, you have dishes to do, a distraction that can carry your mind away from Boothill’s odd shift in demeanor. You’re expecting a snide comment about how quiet you’re being, but when you look back at Boothill, he’s fixed his gaze on an empty wall; clearly, he’s far away from here. You’re trying not to think about it too hard- Boothill’s seemingly flirtatious remarks, asking you to drink -but in the empty bar, it’s silent, and it’s almost… nice.

I SWEAR I'M WORKING ON REQUESTS. I PROMISE. the Barbatos fic is coming out to be twice as long as just about anything else I've written so it's taking a long time. I saw Boothill things and was possessed by spirits to make this. Also. Yes inspired by the Hozier song

[pardi-real]

Weapon Review part 1(?)

Warning: will describe what weapons do

Let's review how well the weapons fare against angels and what they're gonna do with it. By your local akuneko brainrot patient (me). The bonus points aren't really counted.

The types of weapon listed here are unofficial and merely what I think they are.

I'm pretty sure the weapons aren't scaled in actual size in the pictures because Lucas's scythe definitely looks bigger in-game and Lato's daggers aren't that big.

Daggers/Combat knives

I was searching for materials regarding why daggers over swords for research purposes, but then I remembered Lato uses daggers too. Daggers are so cool.

It's lighter than swords and should increase his agility

And it has holes, holes on blades to reduce weight (usually) so further increase in agility

It's perfect for stabbing and easy to carry

Maybe he can throw it because he has multiple. Requires mad skills tho

The hilt makes it look like a trench knife (maybe it is, idk)

It mainly stabs. Too short for fatally slashing (different story if he wanna torture or something) What he gonna do, stabs angels eyes? Actually do angels have the same vitals as humans? Then he can just stab their hearts

Generally lower damage and shorter range than swords

I wish the blades were serrated to make it cooler (+ easier to tear off limbs)

7/10 +3 from being cool

Double-bladed polearm

Looks graceful to me. Polearms aren't for throwing because they're longer and heavier than spears.

With blades like that I think Berrien can use it for stabbing, except with more force because of the momentum

Looks like it can slash too but I don't think it's effective. It may be a quick attack but it needs space to do a rotation. Maybe it'll do well when surrounded by angels and that's when double blades come into action, he only needs half of the rotation, maybe less if there are many angels but not enough damage Imo

It definitely has long range

The long shaft can drive away things, defend, and maybe for bludgeoning too just like what a metal pipe would do *insert falling pipe mp3 here*

Hard to use in a cramped space

Double blades like that is actually quite heavy, and he should be rotating/thrusting that around

Actually would get Berrien in big trouble if an angel closing in

8/10 it's good. I like how he stores it under his bed

Double Ax/Labrys

Practically, the point of Double Ax is so that the blades can have different degrees of sharpness. Lumberjacks can use one side for felling and the other for limbing. But Fennesz isn't a lumberjack so you know whose limbs,

Definitely dishes out big damage

Labrys is a symbol of power, it should looks intimidating, it sure does but I don't think angels can feel intimidated (if they feel anything at all)

There is a lot Fennesz can do with it, it's primarily for chopping/hacking but it can also do thrusting, hooking, slashing, and so on. For maximum damage he can do an overhead strike... No wait I just realized this Labrys has longer shaft than usual

Increased reach I guess

It's heavy, no matter how strong Fennesz is, it might drain his stamina

Create openings especially when gaining momentum

He'll get in big trouble too if an angel closing in

7/10 DPS enough ig, +3 for being pretty and loosely looking like a butterfly

BFS

Look at that extra-broad broadsword. I wonder which one is heavier between this and the double ax

Big damage but with speed, Bastien is known for his insane speed

What else does it do other than damage…? It looks very cool I guess, like a shounen protag or Guts or Cloud

Just like usual sword it's good for stabbing, thrusting, slashing, piercing, etc but because it's wide it can be used for shield too maybe

Heavy

Despite the speed he still leaves openings and results in plot-points. What a deadly weapon

5/10 too deadly +2 for shounen

Thorned/barbed whip

What was Ammon thinking when choosing this? It's less of a killing weapon and more like a torture device. Looks very aesthetic tho since it resembles a rose

Can make the opponent bleed profusely. Can angels actually die from blood loss? (Do they even have blood…?)

Long range, and can keep angels from getting closer

It's noisy so it can intimidate & scare things away. Again, if they can even be scared at all

Fictionally it can be used to tangle, trip, or holding enemies in place ala Indiana Jones with his bullwhip (requires mad skills)

It barely does any fatal damage

Difficult to control/aim

With it barbed, it's more likely to cause accidental self-injury. Or injures companions. Unless he's really really skilled… Well, I sure hope he doesn't train often. *Insert uncanny mr incredible png*

Then again it would be difficult to not harm any companions in a cramped place

It can't do any slashing, thrusting, hooking, or literally other type of attack, it mostly whips

Also would get in trouble if an angel closing in

4/10 it's cool but impractical, +3 for being pretty

You know what, I know way too little about angels or maybe I just don't remember

Maybe to be continued in part 2

I started writing this for no reason so yeah why not post it.

[otome-obsessions]

Fairytale Keeper Archives - Madam Beryl

At the request of Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, I have enclosed a series of summations regarding the personal opinions, recollections, and experiences of the members of the covert organization Crown. Each member was interviewed in regards to their developing relationship with the newest additions to Crown's assemblage in an effort to ascertain the efficacy of expanding Great Britain's cursed forces. With great humility, I submit my findings for your consideration.

Signed:

Kate, Her Majesty's Royal Fairytale Keeper

1. To the Members of Crown, what do you think about Beryl? William: I'd say we've become friends in our short time together. We share many of the same goals and passions, and she's a formidable ally. It's a pity that she continues to suffocate her true desires, but I have a feeling that will change soon Harrison: The Madam's a crafty woman. It's impressive how many ears she has throughout London now. Seems like I'm always running into one of her birds when we're on a mission. Liam: Beryl's always kind to me, even when I make mistakes. She's even become a regular at the Scala to watch me perform! Elbert: I regret how we met, but she says that 'the scales were balanced.' Even so, she doesn't seem to trust me... I can't blame her for feeling as she does. Alfons: Her establishments have become a favored getaway for me and my friends. Though, I must say I find it strange that she's never seen indulging herself. Roger: She's a beautiful lady, but we're not compatible. Oh, you meant how i thought about her as a member of Crown? She's efficient. Ruthless, even. That's about all I know since she refuses to visit me or my clinic. Jude: Heh. That uppity bird loves to act all proper and prim, but she goes mad the moment you ruffle her feathers. I'll never get tired of takin' the piss out of her. Ellis: I respect her, even though we misunderstood each other at first. I don't know if I agree with her methods, but I believe she wants to protect the happiness of others. Victor: I value her contribution to expanding our information network, but I'm most impressed by her tenacity. She rejects the inevitability of her fate with everything she has... It's as beautiful as it is tragic. ━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━

2. To Beryl, what you think about the members of Crown? William: Oh, Will is simply lovely. A phenomenal pianist, a passionate philanthropist, and a poetic butcher when is suits him. What's not to admire? I do feel a bit, shall we say, perturbed by the keenness of his insight at times, but that simply speaks to his cunning. Harrison: Harry is a clever boy and quite the asset. His cursed power would prove most meddlesome if not for his outstanding discretion. Once you get a sense of him, his lies are fairly simple to decipher. Liam: Poor, tormented thing... His fans always liken him to a star, but he seems to me like a candle slowly burning away. I do hope that one day he'll find the strength to bear his pain and move forward, but until then I can only support him. Elbert: Hm. How do I put this kindly? Considering the nature of our curses, it's best that Lord Greetia and I maintain a professional distance... I'd hate to have to kill him. Alfons: We've started to run in the same circles around the city, and he's fantastic at driving business. That said, on a more personal note I find that our fundamental philosophies are direct opposites. Roger: I appreciate Roger's dedication to his craft and convictions. I'm not overly concerned about his propensity for betrayal as it seems that he has a good grasp of how to mitigate his cursed tendencies. It's nice to find another individual who believes in defying fate. Jude: Ugh, that man. While I fully understand the cause of his initial poor impression of me, the uncouth cur insists on continuing to be a thorn in my side! I find him acerbic, arrogant, uncivil, ill-tempered, loathsome, and, most of all, short. Though, I must admit I love how much of a sore loser he is. The look on his face when he realizes I've bested him is simply priceless. Ellis: I've yet to place where his pathological people pleasing comes from, so I find it difficult to accept his kindness at face value. That said, he's pleasant company and an excellent bodyguard. Victor: Vic is an outstanding ally and a terrifying enemy. Honestly, I'm grateful he chose to negotiate with me when I first encountered Crown. I hesitate to say I wouldn't be here otherwise, but in the very least an extended conflict between Crown and my network would have been a bloodbath of the tragic variety. As opposed to the fun sort, of course.

━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━◦○◦━

Part 2

Author's Note: I'll be writing up answers for my other OCs and other questions as they pop into my head. If you vibe with this idea and want to do something similar for your own OC(s), please tag me! I think this is a fun way to get the big picture of a character without writing a standard intro.

[katyspersonal]

What is your opinion on our silly tree pope ?

Oh, that FUCKING bitch motherfucker fuck, god I hate him so much, I'd strangle him if his stupid wooden neck was not so thick,

Sorry, I meant to say YAYYYY what a cool compelling character, truly one of the most iconic and interesting ones in Dark Souls trilogy!! Really great battle especially!

Okay in all seriousness now, it isn't even a shitpost and my feelings towards him are a bit unstable. He is a rare case of a villain who is not even morally grey. The guy was born in the place for those neglected, unwanted, discarded or just not feeling like they belonged to the "actual" world and made his liberation from it everyone else's problem!

I do think that in general Dark Souls trilogy benefits from a change that is having a character who is just bad and corrupt power-hungry tyrant, as every other character at least had interests of humanity and/or the world in general in mind! Nuanced characters go harder when there are contrasting ones! But also this is what makes my opinion shift from wanting to bully the bastard to finding him fun or even attractive, depending on the mood.

There are some things I want to address though regarding how I interpret the character! I had another post where I've discussed my interpretation of what kind of creature he is exactly ( x )! In short; I believe he is 25% tree and 75% human, but is Just Like That rather than having been human(ish) before becoming corrupted into a more tree-like form. As for his motivations.. I don't think that he wanted to end the Age of Fire specifically, but rather that he is an opportunistic asshole and will roll with whatever helps him! Helps with what? Well, it ranges from having total control to simply surviving, which I think is what happened between him and Aldrich!

Japanese original makes it a bit more clear that Sulyvahn "eventually" fed Gwyndolin to Aldrich, that gives me feeling as though it was not his original intention, but... Seeing that he did imprison Yorshka and is hiding her from Aldrich, and at first imprisoned Gwyndolin too, I think his motivation was to usurp the power. He is opportunistic asshole that wants control! And what could give more of that than being THE pope of Way of White?

At first, that was accomplished through Gwyndolin, and I have a strong impression that he fed the guy to Aldrich as means of self-defence. I'd say it is even more likely how Sulyvahn looks like quite a mess with his clothes being thorn, so maybe he was fighting against Aldrich before managing to buy himself time, or mercy altogether, by offering him Gwyndolin instead. If he was a huge simp of Aldrich that just wanted the Age of Fire to be done with, I think he should have offered him Yorshka as well for a good measure! The fact that he keeps her a secret from him gives me an impression that he saves her just in case if 1) Age of Deep thing fails and he'll need another person to puppet that Yorshka would work as or 2) Aldrich attempts coming for him another time and he'll need another offering, so he has to 'space out' people he's offering to keep his own ass safe!

+ I also want to add that another possible argument in favour of Sulyvahn presumably wanting to end the Age of Fire is unclear identity of Lothric's secret teacher who was said to be sceptical about the Fire. Likely, that teacher was the one who convinced Lothric to refuse to burn to begin with, too.

Yeah yeah @heraldofcrow shuddup about the misspelling lol

I do think that the secret teacher in question was actually Aldia! And I am gonna cheat this time and share the video that explains it better than I could, but in my defence my arguments would be the same:

(In summary: it would be strange for the pope to come in a "secret" + who else is known as the first scholar AND knew that Fire couldn't do shit? + spells Soul Geyser and Soul Stream are actually the same spell and different names are localisation liberty, whereas this spell is creation of Aldia and in DS3 is found in the Grand Archives!)

Sulyvahn was also a smart and curious sorcerer, but I am not convinced so far that he got some transcendental ideas on how the Age of Fire is a doomed ordeal and Aldrich's vision was more efficient. I get an impression that he just IS one of the corrupt miserable idiots that will hold onto the power even if it is falling apart at the seams and harming everyone for as long as they can, and if he is to "help" Aldrich then either in the interest of self-preservation or in an attempt to control everything through Aldrich. My current headcanon is also that Sulyvahn was the one to burn Aldrich the first time since Aldrich himself would not have interest in being Lord of Cinder with his own idea in mind, so all problems are caused by.... well, Aldrich crawling back up with vengeance..

_________________________

I think I covered the basics about this character! Yeahhhh I know I state that he is 'just bad' as a matter of fact, when it lingers on my reading and interpretation like every goddamn thing in Soulsborne..

I guess my point is that he IS a fun character and good for his role, just not good enough for ME to obsess over or anything like that!

[honey-milk-depresso]

what’s appear’s relationship with other characters??

I'm gonna put it in point form- (can't find the other one- FCK-)

And I'm making it a little more elaborated-

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

►Yuu: (I'm glad they saw me as their friend rather than just isolate me. Perhaps that's because they're unclear of my position, but... even so, I'm still grateful they chose to stay by my side although I put them in quite a troubling spot. I'll try my best to help them as much as they did for me.)

►Grim: (That cat... he can be quite the handful... But he's actually a friendly fellow, even if his ego is just out of hand, he can be a good friend.)

►Ace: (You stupid first year. Stop throwing yourself in so much trouble. I seriously can't take a break when I'm acquainted with you now, isn't it?) *sigh* (It can't be help... I just hope he doesn't get TOO rowdy, otherwise he'll end up hurt and come whining to me.)

►Deuce: (The unfortunate one that gets dragged by Ace and his scheming, which leads to the both of them getting into trouble. He's... unfortunately quite dense, but his willingness and determination of trying his best is commendable.)

►Jack: (There's not much to say about him other than the fact he's someone who strives for power and his constant urge to improve on his own. That goal is mutual, but I seriously think he should remember that power isn't the only thing that makes someone strong.)

►Epel: (Don't be fooled by his petite and delicate appearance. He's one burst of energy, brash and short-tempered. Epel comes in contrast with his outer soft spoken front with his actual rough demeanor. I, for one, quite favor the Pomefiore first year.)

►Sebek: (He's too uptight. And seriously loud. All he could think about is his master, not even his own wellbeing. He's highly defensive over Malleus when I try approaching the fae, only for him to keep blocking my path which was quite annoying. I had to give him his paperwork as dorm leader but Sebek just had to be a prickly thorn... He needs to loosen up a bit.)

►Riddle: (Strict to adhere to the rules, and he's quite the control freak, no? While he is changing his ways, Riddle has a short fuse, he can be ticked off quite easily. Best to remember to show some respect to him, especially when he's having a bad day.)

►Azul: (That octopus... I swear. He called me so late at night, RIGHT after I finished the tasks Crowley gave to me and asked me to come cover Floyd's shift. I seriously stand it. He's sly, I can give you that, coming from someone who sees him up close during work hours. Best beware of him, and reject all his deals. I may be his friend, but I hate running errands for him all the time...)

►Jade: (Jade is... complicated. I get along with him the most out of the infamous Octavinelle trio, but he's quite a peculiar student. You can't always make a clear guess on what's under that smile. He can come across as intimidating, but he's actually quite a nerd when it comes to mushrooms. He won't show it, but he's fascinated by such. I guess as someone who lives on land, we neglect such daily organisms. Jade has helped me appreciate the simplicity of nature a bit more.)

►Floyd: (I swear to the Sevens... if he doesn't feel like going on a shift, he abuses his privilege of knowing I would take over. That stupid Crowley... I mean, my master had me help and cater all students, including Azul's Monstro Lounge. He's humorous, sure, but sometimes he just gets on my nerves... not as much as Riddle's, though.)

►Kalim: (He's quite naive, and a bit stupid. But he has a kind heart and a fluttering social butterfly. Kalim usually tries to invite me and Yuu to his parties hosted at Scarabia, but I'm usually busy, so I have to reject the offer. And I don't think I'd fit in a... hype party.)

►Jamil: (He's cunning and intelligent, a sly and resourceful person if I do say so myself. We're quite well acquainted, but I suggest you not always say something that would offend him. He might manipulate you like a puppet on strings, and... maybe quite literally. He's fear of bugs though... is pretty hilarious.)

►Ruggie: (That trickster. He hurt Trey on purpose, and I'm keeping my guard up high. Call me overprotective, but at least I'm not like Sebek. The incident has died down, and he's just really a joker. He is nimble and athletic, but he's a sucker for good food.)

►Silver: (He's got some pretty swords, and impressive swordsmanship. He's usually quiet, just the way I like, and he rarely makes any commotion which eases me in trusting him. He does, however, tend to sleep a lot even during class from what I hear. I hope he's found a way to keep himself up.)

►Cater: (He's a jolly senior who just loves taking pictures and has a flare for aesthetics. I have to remind him once that he couldn't upload a photo of me on Magicam for the public to see. It would ruin the school's reputation if they know of NRC letting someone like me in.)

►Trey: *heavy simp breathing-* (Unlike Riddle, Trey's much more lenient and laidback when it comes to following rules, so you're in safer hands with him. He's kind and helpful, he bakes really good treats, a flexible and smart vice dorm, and I actually trust him with all my heart. I just wished he sees me as something more..)

►Rook: (He's... very eccentric. I've received a lot of complains about him, and how his odd behavior seems to startle some students. After talking to him about the matter, I've come to conclude that this is just regular him. Thankfully, the complains have died down, but he honestly has no idea that his peculiar self scares others. And you know what? I'm not so bothered. He's actually quite nice.)

►Vil: (Vil's famous throughout Twisted Wonderland for his charismatic and flare he brings in his acting career. He's bossy, critical and very judging. If you're someone who can't take constructive and blunt criticism, don't talk to him about beauty. He will demolish you.)

►Leona: (For the love of the Sevens... I can't stand him. It's always him and his goons trying to make a ruckus on purpose for me. And he's so lazy, geez... But I have to admit, he's very strong physical wise, and he's got a lot of power that radiates around him, telling you that you should think twice before challenging him. You can call for me, though. I'll be the nightmare when he sleeps and when he's awake.)

►Idia: (He's usually indoors in his own room, so I don't see him often. He usually writes his complains via email, which is so much more convenient, why can't everyone else do so?) *sigh* (Anyways, he's paranoid of the outside world, but he's really intelligent. I heard he's a completely different person online...)

►Ortho: (He's a caring and protective younger brother towards Idia. I'm sure Idia must have done the same with Ortho. I'm thankful he doesn't cause a ruckus, and he's just a pure being. Just don't speak bad of his brother. You'll be facing hell.)

►Lilia: (Another weird senior. He's better than Rook, in the weird part, but he scares some students sometimes. He's not that bad, really, and he has a wide extensive and elaborate knowledge about magic history. Some say he's way older than you think he is...)

►Malleus: (Of course, one of the best wizards of the world. He's extremely powerful and intimidating, that most people don't talk to him. It's quite sad to see him being lonely at times, but sometimes he does like to have his own time for himself. He's actually a bit awkward when it comes to talking, maybe it's because he's never talked to anyone besides his family and bodyguards. Malleus is a kind person, and he's a good friend. Besides, he likes ice cream. A mutual liking.)

[the-hoarse-bard]

I found Brynjolf in one of the back rooms of the cistern, one of the training rooms with dummies and archery targets set up. He lowered the bow he was using to practice on seeing me enter, and said, "Well well, word on the street is Sabjorn has found himself in Whiterun's prison. How unfortunate for him." I crossed my arms as he drew up his bow again, and took aim at the target, "Yet very fortunate for Maven..." He loosed the arrow, and it struck the bulls-eye, "Aye, lass. Now you're beginning to see how our little system works. Maven sent word ahead that you discovered something while on the job, yeah?" He drew another arrow and I smiled, "You mean the rat man in the brewery's basement?" He looked shocked, and let the arrow go, getting it stuck in the wall behind the target, "The what? You're kidding right?" I shook my head, "Nope. Some kook was living under the brewery raising a 'rat army' to conquer Skyrim." Brynjolf laughed, "Okay, you've gotta tell me all about that some time, but you know that's not what I mean. The note, lass. Hand it over." He put the bow down and held out his hand.

I handed over the note from the safe, and he looked it up and down, "Hm. This is more than coincidence. First Arngoth, and now Sabjorn... Someone's trying to take us down by driving a wedge between Maven and the guild." I asked, "So what do we do about it?" Brynjolf smiled, "Well, Mercer thinks he's got a way to identify this little thorn in our side. Best go see him. I'd hurry if I were you. Never seen him this pissed." I took a short bow and hurried over to Mercer's desk on the far side of the cistern.

He was leaned against one of the empty shelves, and looking quite pissed indeed. He spoke up as I approached, "I've consulted all of my contacts regarding the Goldenglow note, and no one can identify that symbol." I told him, "I found the same symbol on a note at Honningbrew." I could hear him grinding his teeth across the desk, "It seems our adversary is trying to take us down indirectly by angering Maven. Very clever." I scoffed, "Maybe we should hire them." Mercer sighed, "You jest, but they've been able to evade identification for years. They're obviously well funded, driven, and patient... Don't mistake my admiration for complacency; our nemesis is going to pay dearly." He smiled, and it sent a shiver down my back. A smile like a serpent, "Because, even after all the posturing and planning, they've made a mistake. The parchment mentions 'Gajul-Lei'. That's an old alias of one of our contacts. His real name is Gulum-Ei, slimy bastard. He's our main man inside the East Empire Company warehouse in Solitude. If he acted as a go-between for the sale of Goldenglow, he'll be able to finger the buyer." He slammed his hands down on his desk, "Get out there, shake him down, and see what he knows. You got that?" I nodded, and Mercer smiled, "Good. Now get to it."

Brynjolf was waiting by the secret exit up into the graveyard, and he spoke up as I passed by, "I can't believe Gulum-Ei's mixed up in all this." I gave him a confused look, and he clarified, "Don't get me wrong. He could scam a beggar out of his last septim... But he's no mastermind. Couldn't find his own tail with both hands, get me?" I asked, "So you think he'll give me trouble?" Brynjolf smiled that wry grin of his again, "Trouble? He's one of the most stubborn lizards I've ever met. You're going to have to buy him off. Gold's the only thing that catches his attention. That fails? You're gonna have to follow him to see what he's up to. If I know Gulum-Ei, he's in way over his head, and you can use that as leverage." I told him, "Well, either way I'll let him live." He laughed softly, "Well, I'm glad you're embracing our methods. It'd be a waste to lose a contact at the East Empire warehouse before we got the whole story. Just keep on his tail. He's sure to step in something he can't scrape off his boot sooner or later."

As I moved toward the ladder, I suddenly remembered, I still had that decanter from the brewery, and I turned around to go hand it in to Delvin. So I decided I'd go through the ratway instead. Delvin was impressed with the grab, and paid out handsomely. It'd more than cover the carriage.... But remembering my last ride, I decided to walk instead.