#but i need to guide the story there first and it feels like herding cats. GET TO THE POINT..... GODD............

[moonstandardtime]

sometimes writing tiac feels like doing some fiber craft and all ur shit is tangled to hell and back, but as you work it magically becomes untangled. and also it feels like im infinitely moving in increments of halfway to my destination and i never actually get there because of how numbers work.

[darkmist111]

Phantom Thieves Play Dungeons and Dragons

The Wander and the Worker

Akira had faced many trials, both legally and spiritually. He had also been a master of organization, stuffing as much activity as he could into a single year.

Yet this challenge nearly brought him to his knees.

“So you only add 2 to armor class?”

“No that's only for medium armor your un-armored right now.”

“Shit I should've picked a race with more dexterity.”

It was like herding cat's, without Morgana’s help.

“You guys ready? It's almost 5.” Akira said know that this group could double a session’s play time.

“Hold on I’m trying to memorize our modifiers.” Ann said squinting as she had forgot her glasses at home.

“Don't worry just remember your crap at everything not dexterity and charisma.” Ryuji said nonchalantly.

The plan was to get all the players to level 2 before they got to the main campaign, so Akira did this little mini session with 2 characters first so the players could slip into their roles.

“Alright are we ready to play?”

Ryuji had finally gotten Ann to stop fusing over her papers.

“As we’ll ever be I guess *sigh* I really hope I don't die at level 1 again.” Ann groaned.

“Hell yeah let's kick some ass!”

“Alright close your eyes and listen.” Akira took a deep breath and his voice changed.

“This is the world of Exceeden”

Akira peaked and caught the grins on his two friends faces.

“Unlike our world with disconnected planets, the world of Exceeden is but one layer stacked in-between other realms, but different from the other realms Exceeden did not occur naturally but was created by 20 core gods. The gods were once one shared in their love of their creation, however what they didn't know was it would grant them more power than even their unparalleled minds could imagine.

Jealousy, anger, spite, and rage broke them apart each believing their creation should go the way they decided and the 20 became 5. 6 of Law, 6 of Chaos, 2 of Good, 2 of Evil, and 4 to keep the balance.

While the realm has no supreme rule the cycles of mortals carry on. Empires rise and fall, stories are told and forgotten, until finally the sands of time cycle towards something or someone that can shatter the heavens despite their humble beginnings.

The year is 997 A.I.(After Invasion) and our story takes place on the continent of Almoria. While not the largest continent it houses a wide array of People and Cultures in no small part due to the many differences environments.

In the far north in the icy tundras Orc and Goliath tribes war against the Tiefling Solos Empire and their Minotaur allies even further north in the Shadow Lands.

Below that are the eternal plans of Sparks where wild magic hum and fae slip into our world. Bands of Centaur and Satyr dance across the fields, unknowingly starting war with the Leonin Clans.

On the east of the Great Sezali Desert a new and ambitious clan of HobGoblins are gathering their forces of Goblin and Bugbear.

This makes the Elven Allied Council to the west nervous and the desert has become a sort of cold war, but also a hive of activity for trade and merchants.

On the West Coast the Aarakocra war against the Triton and the East Coast, the legendary Tortle Cleric Genbu brokers peace between the Locathah and the Grung.

In the Mountains Kobold, Lizardmen and Dragonborn War against a unfathomable threat as the Chromatic dragons and Metal Dragons have united to control the Arcane Canyons.

With the fall of Tyrant Human King Rexanik, many flee to the peaceful mountains city of Eternix. The city, nicknamed the city of small folk, was almost completely Gnomes, Halfling, Dwarfs, as well as the Black Wing Monastery, suddenly has possibly the highest human density in the continent.

Humans have also tried their luck in the chaotic Forest of Nayan only to be never heard from again.

In the south peace is almost a certainty as the brotherhood between the Loxodon and Gith remains just a strong as a century ago. Their city Omniox hold the Verdan trading Guild the only constant in these turbulent times

Not all is so clear though, hidden in the desert are rumors of cults who use arcane, scientific, and religious methods to create inhuman monsters that stalk the night.

However it is that Desert where we start our story in the town of Ixyana. Ixyana is a port town to the sea of sand, willing to offer weary travelers any pleasure they require... for the right price. Ixyana has always been self governed but with escalating tensions between the Elven and HobGoblin armies, the town is being pressured to pick a loyalty. But today neither a Goblin nor Elf is the new stranger in town.”

“Ryuji please introduce your character.”

“I’m just a guy who looks like an average traveler, I’m wearing normal cloths and using a spear like a walking stick, the only unusual thing about me is that have blue skin and white “Hair”. I’m a Fighter but only because you get in fights when you wander as much as I do, but it's clear I’m not formally trained.”

The wanderer enters the town carrying a satchel over his back midday. He makes his way towards a inn looking to rest for the night. He hears a commotion and see several HobGoblin warriors speaking angrily toward each other, before rushing off. The young man enters into a alley to avoid crossing their path, as he steps out he sees another beautiful HobGoblin women in revealing clothes dart out from behind a stack of boxes. Before his eyes she begins to shift form before becoming a striking dark haired Elven women and quickly entering the Inn.

“Well That's a Flag if I’ve ever seen one.”

The man is overcome with curiosity and follows her. He enter the inn and sees the first floor is a diner/bar.

At this time of day not many people are drinking and lunch is already over so the inn is uncrowded.

The blue man sees the former HobGoblin women now Elven sit in the corner of the bar skillfully blending in for those not looking.

As he walks up to her she glances before biting her lip.

“Sorry I’m not working right now.”

You realize from her statement and her outfit that this women is one of the courtesans of the towns most powerful group in place of a formal government, The Desert Respite, worshipers of Bast one of the 20 original Gods and practitioners of the arts of pleasure both of a sexual nature and of entertainment.

“I still can believe your playing a Prostitute.” Ryuji says teasing.

“For your information I’m a high class escort. And let's see if you’ll be laughing in a few minutes.”

“Sorry it's not that I... I just... saw you change.”

The woman tenses her eyes narrowing and grits her teeth.

“So what?”

“Are... Are you a Spirit.”

The women slowly turns her head, seeing the nervous young man though in her eyes he's more of a boy shift his weight nervously.

“Perception check!”

“Roll for it.”

“...!!!! Natural 20!”

“Heh, yeah he's a pretty easy mark.”

“Hey!”

She smirks before tipping her drink back and gesturing to the seat across from her.

“From out of town.”

“Out from... everywhere.”

She changes her posture, trained but attractive.

“The desert must've been quite the ordeal, I didn't notice a Caravan enter town. Is your group somewhere else?”

“No, I’ve been traveling alone.”

“Alone?”

“Yes I am quite skilled at traveling, born and raised doing it in fact.”

“Incredible, you must be strong.”

The women bit her lip while the blue skinned man sweat feeling nervous from the shapeshifters forward flirtations.

“You know I have a certain need for a strong man.”

“Role Wisdom Ryuji.”

“What! She hasn't even cast anything.”

“Your mouth was dropped.” Ann teased. “Let's hope your character isn't a simp.”

“No way!”

Ryuji rolled.

“Shit! 6, 7 total.”

“Simp”

“Shut up!”

“What did- What do you need. I’m always looking to help out.”

“You see a girl can only stay in one town for so long before she needs a change of pace. I’m thinking you’ve been to plenty of places, why don't you and I go on adventure.”

The spearman let out a yelp as he felt her leg delicately trace his own.

“And I’ll be sure your thoroughly compensated.”

“Roll Perception against Ann’s Persuasion.”

“Yes!”

“Shit”

Ann rolled and grinned which caused Ryuji to hang his head.

“21 total Persuasion!”

“Goddamnit, 14 total.”

“Yeah she has you wrapped around her finger.”

“*Gulp* There’s no need for that ma’am, I'd be happy to guide you wherever you desire.”

The man saw her smile turn victorious and her leg rubbed a little higher.

“Don’t worry it's no trouble, when we stop for the night I can give you a nice and long compensating.”

_______________________________________

The pair quickly gather their things the shapeshifter, changing again into a stunning Yuan-Ti. They walked through the town. Some men stared at the shabby looking Traveler and the beautiful courtesan, leering at her exposed cleavage, open thighs, and toned belly, others smirked and gave respecting nods. He glared and the former while that latter made him feel like a scumbag.

She insisted they walk on foot so not to draw attention. The man frowned but didn't say anything.

As they walked they chatted.

“My names Zap by the way.”

“Nais of the Desert Respite.”

“So Nais, are you wondering what I am?”

“Probably not as much as your wondering what I am.”

“Well I don't know, I’ve never seen someone change what they look like except my dad.”

“Your dad?”

“Yeah, he’s a Genie.”

“...”

“...”

“...You're not joking?”

“Nope. A Lightning Genie to be specific.”

“Insight Check... 11?”

“He seems to be pretty honest.”

“So you can grant wishes?”

“He could, not me. I’m only half genie, my other half is Human from my mom. Dad said my type of people are called Genasi.”

“Where’s you dad now?”

“He’s only allowed to stay in the material plane for 20 years at a time. He left on my 10th birthday, I’m 22, so he’ll be back in 8 years. Though he’ll probably see my mom before me.”

“... You know that is a really weird story right?”

“I actually didn't know until later in life. For a long time it was just the 3 of us, then the 2, now me.”

“I see.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You can change into other things, is it magic?”

Nias looked away not wanting to meet Zap’s eyes.

“It's not magic it's just something I’m able to do, as well as my mother and her mother before her. She said that we might be descended from Doppelgängers.”

“That's amazing.” Zap said with awe.

“Perception Check!” Ann yelled out.

“Zap doesn't lie. He's a open book.”

“19!”

“Zap really does think your amazing.”

“Geez he doesn't have to try so hard I already said I’d fuck him.”

“Excuse me! But Zap is a gentleman he doesn't only think about sex.”

“Unlike his player.”

[scribbling-stiks]

AAR - XLVI - The Ringing

The monster stalks closer to the building, rolling over the grass and leaving a greasy path behind it.

"It's like a giant, gross slug," America comments.

The thing keeps getting closer to the house ominously. It emanates a strange gurgling. The ground rumbled as it slithered over the grass. Soon, it looms over the first windows.

'And the second story windows,' Russia assumes.

Russia backs up, hunching over into a defensive stance. He holds out an arm to herd the kids and America away from the windows. He glares out the window, masking his fear as best as he can.

He tries to see anything out the window other than the blob and he notices the shape flattening against the glass.

'S***.'

He ignores the sore spots on his hip and the pulling across his chest as he readies himself to fight. He snarls, baring his teeth. He clenches his hands into fists, ignoring the stinging it causes, and scans the windows, watching for breaks.

'I will not let anything hurt the states.'

America walks up beside him and takes on an offensive stance, knees bent, and eyes narrow. There is a shout upstairs, but before Russia or America can react, a loud CRACK takes over his thoughts.

Russia's head whips from the stairs back to the windows. he scans them and sees the window he had been standing at not stands with a huge crack. The fissure starts at the top of the frame and creeps down, growing as it does.

Russia's mind races and his eyes grow wide.

'What do we do? What do we do?!'

He looks to America, whose eyes light up with an idea.

"Georgia! Get the biggest plastic bin you can, now! York, get the salt. Lousiana and Mass, magic the plastic and make sure it won't break. Del, make sure the inside is completely coated in salt. The thing didn't like salt before, so it definitely won't like it now. Let's GO!" America orders, clapping his hands to punctuate his demands, his voice ringing out over the panicked talking and shouts of the states.

The states scramble over each other in a panic to follow the directions.

The window screeches as the cracked glass rubs against itself. The window bends inward, and Russia holds his breath. The crack spreads from just going down to completely spreading across the pane, looking almost like a spiderweb.

"STAND BACK!" America demands, causing the remaining kids and countries in the room to scramble to the back wall.

Massachusetts rockets into the room with a glowing transparent box, leaving a trail of salt.

"DAD!" Massachusetts shouts, throwing the bin.

The plastic soars over the heads of those in the room and America spins around and, with a practiced motion, catches it and covers the window with it.

"Russ, help me," America tells him.

Russia doesn't need to be told twice.  He braces his weight against the plastic bottom. He can sense the magic radiating off of it, and leaning against it makes him feel the static of the conflicting magic swirling around it.

"Flo!" America shouts.

Florida sprints forward and, with something Russia doesn't recognize, goes around the edges as if to seal the bin's edges to the wall.

America nods before directing Florida back to the group with an exaggerated head nod.

At first, Florida doesn't respond.

"Flo, get your a** back here, now!" Delaware shouts, having taken charge of the states.

Florida scrambles back and America glares at the window. Russia hears it crackling and readies himself, bracing himself and planting his feet onto the wood floors.

CRASH

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLATTER

The window shatters and its pieces fly. The glass tears against the bars on the window and is immediately forced back to the back of the container by the thing filtering through the window's cage and pressing into the house through the newfound opening.

There is running upstairs and screaming, but Russia doesn't pay them much attention, putting all his effort into keeping this thing out. It bangs against the plastic, and the bin bends. Russia uses his shoulder to fight against its weight. He groans and the thing surges forward.

He can hear muffled sizzling as it touches the salt, and can see its skin begin to bubble at the contact. A deafening screech rings out from outside, but Russia ignores it. He closes his eyes and strains, afraid that if he loses his footing, even for a moment, he would be shot back into the group of states.

Russia clenches his teeth, his hip throbbing.

'I will not die today,' Russia decides, 'I have people to protect.'

With a surge of determination, he rams his weight into the bottom of the bin, forcing it back, if only slightly.

"DIXIE!!!" Someone shouts from upstairs, their voice cracking and full of pure, unadulterated panic.

Then automatic gunfire and the shriek surges in intensity. Russia's ears ring.

"Help!" California shouts from the second floor, "YORK!"

New York leaps over the back of the couch and bounds up the stairs the way a large cat would. After a moment, New York and California come rushing back down the stairs with an unconscious Dixie slumped over their shoulders. Russia can hear Texas shouting upstairs and Brazil disappears from view shortly after.

Russia doesn't have time to think about the potential consequences when the force against the barrier doubles in force and Russia shouts. America braces it with his shoulder and his hand, forcing it to stay in place, his eyes screwed shut and a grimace marred on his face. Russia snarls at the pain and desperation on America's face and forces the mass back.

"YES! BACK WITH YOU, YOU_____!" Brazil cheers from somewhere upstairs.

The shrieking swells before suddenly, the ringing overtakes it. The incessant ringing drowns out any other noises around Russia. Something warm drips from his ears and down his face. He ignores it.

Russia scans the room for any other danger and sees New York and California trying their best to get Dixie to be responsive, but their attempts haven't been successful in doing anything but make Dixie thrash under them, his mouth open. That's when Russia realized that he can't hear anything. He mutely watches Dixie scream in a daze.

Suddenly, the bin bends underneath Russia's weight and he stumbles. He looks out only to see the creature recoiling. He leans on his hands, now pressed against the back of the container, and watches cautiously.

Water pours from somewhere above and the thing stretches up, but it seemed less massive than it had before. Then, it shivers and seems to recoils. He can see pieces of it flying off, and the telltale holes of gunfire quickly growing in number across its surface. Another bucket full of water hits it and it folds in on itself.

It then suddenly shoots toward the broken window. Russia can feel himself scream, but the ringing drowns out even his own voice.

America rams his shoulder against the bin and the thing slams into it with enough force to set off a car alarm. Russia grits his teeth and pushes back. His legs shake and the injury in his hip feels like it's tearing itself apart, but he refuses to let that be the reason that he would fall back. His chest and stomach burn.

Then someone runs up beside him. To his left, he sees Wyoming pushing against it, and other states swarm them, trying to help keep the seal intact. As soon as he no longer has to push on it, he slumps against it, heaving and shaking.

New Jersey pulls him from the crowd and he stumbles, unable to convince his leg to cooperate. Then he sees flashes of movement on the stairs as Finland sprints toward the front door with Texas on her tail, both with guns swinging in their hands as they run. They burst out the front door and open fire.

Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, the Carolinas, and New Hampshire rush out to follow, grabbing any firearm they can get their hands on before sprinting out the door. They fan out and fill the creature with lead.

Motion catches Russia's eye and he turns to see Brazil dumping water over Dixie. Dixie springs up as if having just woken up from a nightmare. His eyes are wide and frantically scanning the room. Then, he sees Dixie turn to Brazil and start speaking at a rapid pace, but Russia couldn't be sure if he was saying anything at all.

Russia turns back and sees America stumbling over to the gun safe as if to follow Finland outside. He struggles to his feet and staggers over. He grabs America by the arm and draws America back. America weakly tries to pull away, but Russia manages to keep him from arming himself.

America tries to stand a little straighter, as if to tell Russia to stop, only to sway dangerously, his eyes unfocused. Russia watches, knowing he is unable to help, dread in his throat.

But when America falls backward, it isn't to the ground.

Russia looks up to see Canada holding America upright, having hooked him under the arms. Canada hoists America up and drags him one of the completed cots the provinces are setting up in the living room. Ontario takes Russia's wrist and sits him down on one of the adjacent cots in the room.

Ohio tries to ask him questions, but the combination of lip-reading and English words make it impossible to understand. The look of confusion must have been obvious because Ohio soon gives up, frustration and worry on his face. Then, Russia is guided to lay down and obliges, turning his head to see America asleep. He looks back up and a flurry of movement surrounds him, making his head spin.

But still, all he can hear is that horrible ringing.

~

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[ask-de-writer]

SEA DRAGON’S GIFT : Part 26 of 83 : World of Sea

Return to the Master Story Index

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SEA DRAGON’S GIFT

Part 26 of 83

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

140406 words

copyright 2020

written 2007

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express consent of the author.

//////////////

Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users   of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights.  They may   reblog the story provided that all author and copyright information   remains intact.  They may use the characters or original characters in   my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical   compositions.

All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fiction is actively encouraged.

///////////////////////

New to the story?  Read from the beginning.  PART 1 is here

///////////////////////

Startled, Kurin stroked her sea-foam white hair, then replied thoughtfully, “No, not since I got Mecat’s Gift …”

“I thought so —  The Great Dragon���s Gift is more than just hair.” She tousled Kurin’s head.  “It’s also what’s under it.  Come, it is late.  Time to bed.”

Sula pulled together some of her big cushions and made a nest of blankets. She tucked Kurin in and sang in a pleasant but inexpert voice, her hands accompanying the words with unfamiliar gestures at eye and chest level.

“Wise paddle ducks in their weed-mats hide

When Wide Wings hunt across the sky.

Snug in their nests they sleep at night

When the stars are out and the moons are high.

Hush, little one don’t you cry,

In your hammock’s nest, you’re safe from harm,

Hear Iren’s Orcas sing far from you.

Your happy dreams are your charm.”

Feeling truly secure for the first time since Cat had gone, Kurin snuggled down, and as she was drifting off to sleep, murmured, “Sula, do you have any children?”

She was too sleepy to notice the catch in Sula’s voice as she answered, “No, I never had the chance.”

The next day, Master Juris was invited to visit the Dark Dragon.  Both he and Kurin were shown about by Sula herself.  They learned much of how a large catamaran ship was built.  A great deal of what they learned was amazing to them.  What surprised them the most was that they had not thought of it long ago.  The design made a lot sense.  It gave an impressive increase in deck space over the standard designs.  There were three decks in the thick layer that spanned between the hulls.

This created an amazing amount of space for shops, catch processing and other functions.  A major surprise to both Kurin and Juris was the sheer size of the Armory.  It was completely separate from the Boat Shop.  That alone was unlike any ship layout that Kurin had ever heard of.  Besides simply being a large shop, it vertically spanned all three decks of the center section.  It was connected through heavy double doors to large straight corridors that looked to be fireproofed by Hag extracts.  They ran fore, aft, starboard and port. There were many large storerooms and more decks and holds in each of the twin hulls.  

As a Predator Hunter, the Dark Dragon was heavily armed.  There were six large harpoon launching catapults spaced about the bow and three more around the stern.  Each side also had another five catapults a little smaller than the bow and stern ones but still bigger than any that Kurin had ever seen before.  Master Juris’s practiced eye noticed that the stop blocks that held the catapults level in their swivel mounts could be removed.  The catapults would then be able to fire steeply up, as well as in the outward and downward directions needed for hunting.

While they were making their way aft through the between decks companionways Kurin heard soft music of a sort that she had never heard before, and stopped to listen.  An empty mess hall had been taken over by a group of Dark Dragon sailors for a song fest.  Most of the sailors, both men and women, wore cloth hoods that covered their faces like the one that Sula wore.  Every one of them was armed with a short ax like the one at Sula’s leg and carried at least one large knife.  They were playing the familiar tabors and drums that she had long known.  There were also harps, other stringed instruments, flutes and a horn that were all new to her.  Listening quietly at the door, the group heard a bare faced man call out, “Sing us ‘Where is My Love?’, Pollet!”

The woman that he had called to, black-hair showing below her hood tried to demur with flickering fingers instead of words.  Several others joined the chorus, a few speaking and all the others signing.  Pollet gave in.  She stepped to the center of the circle and, glancing at the visitors in the doorway, she began.  

The song was soft and sad, the music featuring mainly the plaintive notes of the flute, a strange many stringed oval instrument with a drum like head and a harp was accompanied by a soft underbeat from a tabor.  As Pollet started to sing, she accompanied her words with flickering fingers, one hand just below the eye level of her hood and the other at chest level.  Her dancing hands moved almost hypnotically to the tune.

“The Gathering will be over tomorrow

A Wedding Raft is floating in sorrow.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

Each topmast the horizon brings to my sight

Brings night to my heart in days that are light.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

His ship will never again draw near

Absence has filled my heart with fear.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

From my Love’s waters sails were seen

A Boren Sea raider fled from the scene.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

We found only the flotsam of a deadly attack

Dear Dragons, please, bring my Love back!

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

If the Boren fleet took my Love away

The Boren fleet will have to pay.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

We can’t save my Love, he’s in Iren’s hall

But we’ll save others the Orca’s call.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

We fight so no other will have to cry

For a Love who had no need to die!

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.”

Sula listened with them and herded them quietly away when the song was done.  She shed a few quiet tears as she guided Kurin and Master Juris through another passage and up to the main deck.  Master Juris looked shrewdly at Sula as they made their way aft, listening to the answers to his and Kurin’s questions about the ship.  Kurin noticed the odd vertical lines of decoration on or by almost every door and realized that they were writing of some sort.  They strolled toward the stern under the shade of many sails, each tightly furled to its boom and yard.  They lay on tall racks overhead, freeing the deck space.

A lookout high above called, “Strong Skin!  North by northeast!” The paired dorsal fins of the big predator could be seen cutting the water a few hundred yards away.  Men and women on watch scrambled aft and began to prepare a catapult.

“Can we watch?” asked Kurin eagerly.

TO BE CONTINUED

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[jungshoockk]

The Most Effective Holiday Presents For Dogs To Eat!

We've spent the last couple months screening as well as curating the very best vacation gifts for dogs (and also their individuals)-- and also today's suggestions are all gifts for your dog to EAT! If I needed to guess, I believe today's probably our dogs' preferred day of the present guide!

When it comes to testing edibles, I don't count on the dogs. They do not have one of the most discerning tastes buds. My initial step is to review active ingredients to see if it's something I feel comfortable providing. Now, I'm not somebody who's "all health, regularly." I like to stabilize a little bit of unhealthy food now and then. These champions, though, all rank really highly for being nourishing-- as well as I included our favored supplements to cancel way too many Christmas cookies. I had a tough time tightening it down, so here are our favored 7 best vacation presents for dogs that they can EAT!

DGP

Let's kick this off with our supplement fave. I've blogged about this before, and also if you have a dog with joint troubles or you simply desire preventative treatment, this is the one for you. DGP is everything about sustaining mobility and also versatility, and also if your dog is currently on a glucosamine-type supplement, it can be included in provide extra assistance. Lucas has bad hips, and also he's starting to get a little bit older-- though he seems uninformed of that fact-- and enjoys to play at doggy childcare someday a week. It was taking its toll on his joints, however with the DGP, he currently appears to be rather solid. I'm SUPER delighted with this supplement, and also my huge young boy is mosting likely to stay on it for certain!

Indigo Triple Chews

Dental health and wellness is vital, yet we aren't fantastic concerning brushing these guys' teeth. We search for oral items that maintain their teeth tidy and their mouths healthy and balanced. The Indigo Triple Chews are by FAR our favorites. They're digestible as well as grain-free. They incorporate benefits by including antioxidants and probiotics with the oral care. Yet why we like them: They actually are long-lasting. We've tried every sort of dental eat, and they complete them SO quick. As well quickly for just how pricey they are. These seriously last longer than any other we attempted. I wanted a metric, so I offered one to Lucas before I took a seat to compose today. It took him from 3:24 till 3:51. In my home, that's a Christmas miracle.

Fruitables Holiday Edition: Vanilla Snowflake Flavor

So, these deals with have by FAR the very best tale to them. They are made with actual snowflakes! Seriously! You can see a video clip of them collecting the snow. These are little, crunchy deals with that are made with 300 snows in every bag. How amusing as well as charming is that?! The active ingredients are quite allergy-friendly, as well. The treats do not include any type of wheat, corn, soy, fabricated colors, or preservatives. While the kids don't care too much regarding those elements, they did gobble them up! I definitely love the story and think these would make a very wonderful stocking glutton for any type of fortunate pup!

Zuke's.

Full disclosure: If you have a dog that is as food sensitive as Cooper is, Zuke's have actually not been the most effective deals with for him. For some reason, they really aggravate his sensitive stomach. The big children, on the other hand, couldn't. obtain. sufficient. We love Zuke's for training since they have a solid scent as well as are conveniently gotten into little bits. These jerky ones, however, have a lamb that we're trying with Coop, and so far, so good! The other tastes are terrific for the other dogs. There are a couple various beef options and also turkey, as well. These jerky deals with-- made from completely risk-free meat sourced in the United States and New Zealand, instead of China-- have actual meat, carrots, blueberries, apples, and antioxidant-rich natural herbs. We break them right into small pieces to use when we're working with the dogs outside since the solid scent keeps them engaged. These are treats we NEVER intend to run out of!

Train-Me Treats.

We do a great deal of training around below, and also we utilize treats for nearly every little thing from regular walks the block to instructing brand-new tricks to working with whatever Cooper's brand-new fear-of-the-moment is. To maintain them interested, we need to blend the benefits. These training deals with from Crazy Dog were new to me, and they've been working so well. They're soft-- so much far better than crunchy when training-- and all checklist meat as the first active ingredient. They can be found in bacon, hen, and also beef flavors and also either 4-ounce or 6-ounce bags.

Pet Dog Naturals of Vermont supplements.

Many years ago, we drove from DC to Indiana. Then, later on, from Indiana to Louisiana. After that, once again later on, from Louisiana to Indiana. Sigh. All those miles with the dogs is pretty stressful, so we had been purchasing Pet Naturals of Vermont calming treats. They have a HUGE range of supplements beyond the popular soothing deals with, however, as well as we've been utilizing the Daily Best for Emmett (although, I assume perhaps he requires the elderly formula) and the Skin + Coat. They're well-formulated and also most definitely have an excellent taste-- the children swallow them up. Bonus offer for anyone with an allergy-prone dog: The Skin + Coat version is flavored with duck, making it a lot more commonly endured!

PetSafe 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder.

If you reside in a multi-pet family, this might not be the Christmas gift for you (unless you have a cat that has separate accessibility from your dog or something). My herd insists on being fed at a certain time. Every. Single. Day. Morning meal goes to 7. Supper goes to 5. I know not everyone has family pets so attentive about their feeding times, yet these individuals insist. For some time, Coop was also eating lunch. And, really, Newt gets a challenge plaything mid-day. Anyhow, this item would certainly be a dream if you had to do a mid-day feeding or if you had a late meeting or dinner plans as well as intended to feed your family pet on schedule. For a dog like Emmett-- who takes, approximately, 15 pills a day some of which need to be timed with dishes-- this would certainly be a lifesaver if you needed to leave early/come home late. All you do is load the feeder, set a timer, and TA DA! Your family pet is fed the correct amount at the correct time, even if you have to head out or are running late! $34.95 for the 2-Meal (1.5 cups per side) version (HINT: The five cup version is coming later on in the week!).

Barker Kitsen deal with array-- No much longer readily available.

You men, I'm in love. Can you love a pet dog store? I sure am! This online shop is dedicated to "under-the-radar items," which means you're going to uncover something NEW in their shop. I seriously liked poking around, as well as I check out pet dog products all-the-live-long day! From their mission: "The business's objective is to assist quality-minded pet owners make superior item selections to maintain their animals healthy and also happy, while giving arising as well as unidentified brand names national exposure as a distribution resource for their products." As I said, I'm in love! They sent us a number of treats to try: Raw Bistro free-range bison liver and flaxseed treats, organic pleasant potato deals with from 2 Dogs Treats, Bixbi's Skin and Coat chicken breast jerky, and Scrappy Moo deals with. Not one of those treats was a flop. We enjoyed them ALL. (Cooper can also consume the bison! Yippee!) As well as the packaging is extremely charming. Integrated with the fantastic mission, I'm head over heels!

[artificialqueens]

if we have eachother (Branjie/Ninex/Kasia/Scyvie/Everyone) 4/5 - PinkGrapefruit

chapter one.

chapter two.

chapter three.

chapter four. in which family means support

A/N - it’s been a while and i’m sorry but here i present you with a mess that i love rather alot. it contains a few deeply personal moments and has been so lovingly beta’d by frey and i really hope you enjoy it. remember, don’t be quiet with your feedback! it’s a writers coffee. enjoy!

*

When Monét and Nina go on a date, Brooke and Vanessa decide it’s the perfect time to give the twins some responsibility. In hindsight, it’s not their best idea, then again, hindsight is always 20/20.

They drop the pair in front of the two-story house - tell them they’ll be right down the street in the little French café, and leave rather abruptly. Noah knocks on the door, and the two cringe as they hear the kerfuffle of a house full of three young boys, and a rather disgruntled looking Monét. 

“I’d tell you they’re usually saints, but that would be a bold-faced lie,” she tells them, out of breath, carrying the youngest of the three - Spencer. He’s a two-year-old from East Asia that they adopted six months prior. He smiles like he knows no other facial expression and likes “The Little Mermaid”. This is all the information the flustered adult relays to them before he yells up the stairs for his partner.

Nina comes down in a pressed white shirt, black dress trousers and a rainbow bowtie. He is not smiling - a fact which concerns the twins as they have only seen him frowning four times.

Noah has an allergy attack. No one is happy. Allie vividly remembers crying into Brooke’s shirt. 

Brooke gets paint on the carpet. The paint is red. The carpet should not be.

Nina cannot put together an Ikea chair.

Monét drops Owen. No one knows how it happened, but Nina frowned for solid three days, and everyone thought the apocalypse was brewing.

Nina is trailed by Judah, the little boy carrying his stuffed Mufasa and being followed himself by Owen - the three-year-old sniffling as he shuffles down the carpeted stairs.

“Ah,” she turns, seeming to notice Allie and Noah for the first time. “Hey, kiddos! Can I get you anything?” She says all this while fixing Monét’s tie, which had been laying limp around her neck. Spencer tries to pull it undone several times, but Nina prevails through an impressive mix of brute force and ‘Part of Your World’.

“I think we’re okay?” Noah responds good naturedly, half-laughing at the scene unfolding. 

Monét spends a few more minutes explaining various things to the twins, as Nina goes round kissing all of her babies good night. She tacks on that they’re ready for bed and need to be asleep by 7, but whispers to Allie that it’s harder than it seems, winking a little.

“Thank you so much guys!” Shouts Monét on the threshold.

“Yeah! We’ll be back by ten at the latest!”

The door shuts, and Allie wonders briefly if  she’s agreed to babysit demons. She realises rather quickly, that the answer to that is complex. It is complex, because while they were not demons when she half-heartedly agreed - they certainly are now. Her head snaps up as she hears a yelp coming from her brother, and she stifles a laugh, seeing him lying on the sofa, being sat on by all three babies. Noah isn’t short - he’s long and tall, a mess of dark, curly hair complimenting his soft caramel skin - but he is lanky. So lanky that even the smallest of the kids engulfs his torso.

Allie scoops up Owen with little to no effort - the small blonde relatively light for his age - and sits him on her lap. 

“What’s wrong, buddy?” She asks the sniffly child in a soft voice.

“Juju - he -” he starts crying softly again and she rubs his back calmly. 

“He did what?”

“He took my dammy.”

At this moment Alie is so very grateful that she has been a part of the boys life for so long. Had she been anyone else, she would have had no idea what he was on about, but she just happens to have been the one who picked out the stuffed dalmatian toy, so she hoiks Owen onto her hip and very slowly carries him upstairs to where she assumes the animal will be. She is proven right, when it is found under Judah’s pillow - the four-year-old pretty rudimentary in his hiding skills (for being four). Once the child is calmer and almost fast asleep in her arms, she checks the time. It’s almost ten to seven, so she quietly places him in the toddler bed, tucking the covers under his chin and placing a kiss to his soft, blonde hair.

She turns around to see Noah at the door, Spencer lolled in his arms, and Judah clinging to his leg. She smiles warmly at her twin with a baby, and watches his face soften everytime he looks down. 

“You take Judah?” He asks quietly, the little boy almost asleep on his feet, tired out by whatever game he was playing with Noah, and she obliges, guiding him to the slightly bigger bed, while her twin takes Spencer to his parents’ room. Nina must have been joking, she realises, as she tucks him in too, pushing her fingers through his thick, black curls. She might have agreed to babysit angels instead.

When Allie reaches Nina and Monéts room, she pauses at the door, hearing Noah softly singing. It’s a Spanish lullaby, the one their Papa used to sing when they were little. She hopes it brings Spencer the same peace it’s always brought her. 

“'Arrorro mi niño’? Huh,” she jibes quietly as he closes the door. 

“Shut up.”

“Noah le gustanlos bebés”

“You’re such an ass.”

“Español, por favor?”

“Eres un gilipollas.”

“Thank you, bro!“

*

“Wakey, wakey mijos!” Calls Vanessa through the sizzling of pancakes. He doesn’t hear anything for a second, as he leans on the staircase railings, but then hears a quiet thud and cursing, so assumes at least one of his children is awake. He figures he can tip some water on them if they aren’t awake in the next fifteen minutes. 

The morning feels reminiscent of a time long gone. Brooke is stood in a plaid dressing gown, making pancakes while sipping from his very faded ‘Worlds Best Dad’ mug. Vanessa sits at the breakfast bar with his own coffee - his smaller frame dwarfed in a t-shirt of Brooke’s and some plain pyjama bottoms (almost certainly Brooke’s too). He smiles at the memories of school mornings with kids half the age, of herding them through doors and into the car, and has to stop as he feels tears rising in him.

“They’re only sixteen,” reminds his husband softly, placing down the pan to set a gentle hand on his arm.

“I know,” Vanessa sobs, “but sixteen means there ain’t long til we look at college and all that shit. I ain’t ready for that!”

“You got long enough, Papa,” comes Noah from the stairs, his voice a little huskier in the morning. He makes grabby hands at the cup of coffee waiting for him, before taking his usual seat at the bar too. Brooke slides a plate of pancakes towards him and smiles with pride as the boy reaches for the maple syrup.

“Happy birthday, son,” he says before making a vague gesture upstairs and raising an eyebrow. Noah shakes his head vigorously, and Vanessa wipes his eyes before grabbing a glass of water.

They hear a loud yelp and footsteps thunder down the stairs, the short Puerto Rican swiftly followed by an angry teenage girl - her dark curls flying after her.

“Happy birthday, Love,” calls Brooke, handing over a plate of food as a safety precaution. Allie has it within her to smile as she takes it, before slouching onto the chair between Vanessa and Noah. She makes a hand movement for coffee, and her Papa slides a mug to her with a chuckle. 

“You’re clearly my kids,” he grins as he sips his drink.

“Annoying, speaks passable Spanish, highly caffeinated,” Brooke ticks off with his fingers. “Sounds about right.”

Vanessa sighs and tilts his head to the side. “I can’t even argue with you.”

“Happy birthday, dimwit,” whispers Allie, head on her brother’s shoulder as they listen to their parent’s bickering.

“Happy birthday, little sis.”

She hits him.

*

It’s the day after the twins’ birthday. They’ve had a fantastic time running around LA with their parents and messing around - just the way they wanted to spend it - and decide to end it cuddled up on the sofa, drinking cold lemonades and watching cartoons. It feels right.

“I hope you kids have had a good day,” calls out Brooke from across the living room, his own tall frame encompassed in blankets and his husband. Vanessa pokes his head up from the comfort of the cocoon and smiles, kissing Brooke’s cheek before resting his head again.

“We have, but we have one more thing,” Allie announces, wrestling with the blankets and pillows for a second, so she can stand up. She leaves the room only to come back with a box - A4 sized and with a red ribbon tied around it. Noah gets up to join her, and they meet in front of the couple, handing Brooke the box with expectant looks. 

He chuckles nervously - “I thought it was your birthday weekend” - before he slowly unties the ribbon. 

Within the box is a brown court envelope addressed to Brock Hayhoe-Cancel. He fumbles with it for a second, feels the weight of the paper in his hands, before he starts to peel at the opening, tugs and pulls out a sheaf of white paper. There’s a note at the top - on a school grade lined paper, it reads:

‘Dad,

You’ve been our dad for years, but we figured it’s time you became that officially. We love you! 

Allie and Noah.’

Before he realises it, Vanessa’s hand is rubbing soft circles onto his back, and he is crying. He drops the papers onto his lap and takes one of each twin’s hands with his own.

“Thank you,” he says through choked sobs, “thank you for letting me be your dad.”

Allie swipes a finger under her eye and smiles wetly. “Thank you for being the best dad we could ask for.”

Noah gulps and smiles too - leans his head on his sister’s shoulder, sighing. He swings Brooke’s hand in his own before leaning forward to kiss his wet cheek.

“Thank you, Dad.”

“It was never something that needed thanking.”

*

“You want a cat?”

“Dad is always telling us how much you loved Henry and Apollo!”

“Yeah, but they weren’t my cats.”

“They were Dad’s.”

“Funnily enough, still no.”

*

It happens, as all important things do, on a Tuesday.

Noah arranges a family meeting by placing an event in the Hytes-Mateo google calendar (a necessity in a house where one or both parents can randomly be booked for a gig - both do more shows now than they have since before the twins). He does so without saying a word, half hoping the rest of the family will assume it’s been there for months, and just turn up. The next step in his plan is to order pizza to be delivered at the exact time the meeting is arranged for - he has always been taught that pizza is a universal bandaid. 

And now he waits.

He struggles to sit through AP calculus, legs jittering and palms sweaty, as he tries to keep primary and secondary derivatives straight in his head - completely ignoring the teachers long-winded explanation of limits. When he gets home, he sits in his room for a little while until six, when he takes his seat in the living room and waits for his family. 

Vanessa steams through the door, shoes and bag on the floor and ass in his chair before Noah can say a word. Brooke follows pretty soon after, although his movements are a little less frantic and better placed. Allie is last, then again she’s never had a penchant for being on time.

He stands at the front awkwardly, hands clasped in front of him, then in his pockets. One briefly lingers on his hip and another brushes through his hair, slick with sweat.

“Noah, honey. What’s wrong?” Asks Vanessa. He’s worried and Brooke places a hand on his knee in solidarity - whole body leaned forward, as if trying to hear the words that haven’t yet been spoken.

“Mhmm,” he assuages (rather unconvincingly), “it’s just that. I’m just-”

“I’m gay.”

The room is that sort of still quiet for a second. A pause in the woods, a page being turned, the moment after a hairdryer is shut off. They all just stare, and he looks a little queasy - pale green - never one to enjoy pointed attention.

“AND I LIKE MEN TOO,” Allie shouts, jumping up and going to put an arm around her brother - a small smile creeping onto his face. “You see, we’re just a set of twins who both like men, cool? Cool.”

“I love you,” Noah whispers into her ear, the girl just winking.

“I mean, it would be hypocritical to disapprove, son,” responds Brooke, beaming as he says it. “I- We’re so proud of you.” Vanessa stands up with him and they all move to embrace him. It’s a family hug that seems to go on for hours, the shorter man whispering affirmations into his son’s hair, nose deep into the chocolate curls.

When they pull away, everyone’s a little teary.

“I’m so proud to call you my son.”

*

“Who you texting?” Yvie asks, smirking as she leans into Scarlets side. The couple are hanging out with Allie for the afternoon - having become the favourite of her parents’ friends when she realised she could (and would) steal their clothes.

She hides her phone with speed, tucking it under the cushion next to her, and ignoring the way it pings every thirty seconds. The adults raise eyebrows but say nothing.

They are at the judging part of ‘Project Runway’ when Scarlet takes it upon herself to crawl across the other two bodies and grab the device unceremoniously. She hits the on button with a ferocity not seen since Penny Tration’s dumpster diving in season five, before it lights up displaying the texts. 

“Ooooo,” she teases. “Who’s Michael?” 

Allie flushes crimson, her face matching the sofa cushion she is hugging for emotional support. She tries to answer, but giggles instead - it’s sickeningly sweet and makes the air smell like spun sugar.

“No one!” She attempts to cover, but it comes out sing-songy and too high pitched, and she buries her face in the cushion instead. 

She sighs, pulls her shoulders back and composes herself, looking straight into Yvie’s eyes. “He is a boy from debate class.”

“Well, is he cute?!” Scarlet asks, squealing a little, and Yvie looks embarrassed, trapped against her will in a conversation she thought she escaped years ago - teen boys.

“Ugh. Show me a picture then.” She concedes, frown turning to smile when she sees Scarlet’s reaction.

“He’s… hot?”

*

“YOU GOT THEM A CAT?!”

“He’s called Silver.”

“It’s a cat, Brock.”

“But the toe beans.”

“Brock.”

“Squish.”

“I swear to fucking god and the holy motherfucking ghost.”

“It’s a kitten, José. Language… Squeesh.”

“I guess. I guess it’s pretty cute. But it is your responsibility. You better be chill, Mr Silver. I don’t want no shit from you.”

“Told ya you’d like him.”

“Don’t push it.”

*

When Nina and Monét text the family Whatsapp group saying they’re taking their kids to the park, they don’t expect Allie to reply. They also don’t expect her to be as enthusiastic as she is, when she turns up at their door in her daisy dukes and a short-sleeved striped button-up. 

She’s practically bouncing on her heels as she picks up Spencer, spinning him around before balancing him on her hip. She smiles softly as he tries to grab her glasses off her head. 

They take a long wander to the park, Allie chasing Owen and Judah part of the way until she sits down on a park bench overlooking the play area with their parents.

“How come you’ve only adopted boys?” She asks out of curiosity, eyes fixed on Judah on the seesaw with a younger girl. 

Monét looks at Nina with a furrowed brows before answering, “I guess we just felt more comfortable. I don’t know. Do you think we shouldn’t have?”

She smiles in a way that can only be described as a little lonely. “I don’t know. I just always wanted to be a big sister? You get me.” There’s a lull in the conversation, as she reaches down to untie and retie her shoes before sitting back up straight and looking them both in the eye. “I know that you guys have been such a great second family to me,” she says, bringing a smile to Nina’s face immediately. “I love being an older sister to your kids, and they will always be my family - you will always be my family.”

“The kids love you like you’re ours,” Monét points out as she sits forward to place a hand on Allie’s knee. “We all love you so much. You and Noah are always welcome round here.”

Nina looks proud as they sit there, rests his head on Monét’s shoulder, and they lean back on the park bench. 

“I think we know what we’re doing next, then.”

*

“Hey, kids!” Shouts Brooke up the stairs one morning. “Asia feels like she hasn’t seen you in ages, and wants to know if you want to go over this afternoon.” He reads the text once more before adding, “Kam will be there?”

Noah replies first, his head poking up at the top of the stairs, nodding frantically, while Allie texts Brooke an affirmation, making him scoff a little before returning to his crossword.

He drives them to the house in the suburbs with the teal shutters, the red door and the pride flag hanging out of the second-floor window, like no one’s heard of homophobia. He chuckles to himself, as Kameron walks out in a pair of basketball shorts and an apron which proclaims ‘Kiss the cook’, but as each child walks past with a bemused look, the older man’s enthusiasm fails a little, and he looks dejected trailing back to the kitchen.

“Right, kids,” he states, clapping his hands authoritatively. “Me and Noah are gonna make lasagna. Allie, you’re upstairs, tiling the bathroom with Asia.” Kameron giggles at the reactions he gets (although is pleasantly surprised at Allie’s enthusiasm, when presented with a filler gun and a cement powder-covered man in his late forties). 

They realise later that Asia would have been much better equipped to make the lasagna, as Kameron trips on the edge of a loose tile, briefly cursing the drunken wedding that led him to the moment. The lasagna, however, is beautiful (all due to Noah’s apparent culinary genius.)

The twins share the washing up, as Kameron and Asia drink wine at the kitchen island and wonder for a second why they never had kids. They realise that they never needed to. They have two Mateos (or five, with the Wests), and a family that spans across countries. Plus, they’re friends with Vanessa, and that’s enough.

*

Nina and Monét signed up to foster when they realised there were so many kids that needed non-permanent homes.

They got a call on a Wednesday night, telling them there was a seven-year-old called Amelia, that needed temporary housing, and the acceptance was instant. Now it’s two days later, and they’re not all the way convinced.

“We’ve never looked after a girl,” points out Nina, as she leans on the car window frame. They’re on the highway with the windows open and she can’t hear herself think, which she’s starting to believe may be just what she needs.

“We’ve half-raised Allie,” reminds Monét, placing a gentle hand on her partner’s knee. “Andrew, baby, look at me.” She sees the tears in her eyes, and if she wasn’t driving she would wipe every single one away. “We can do this.”

“You’re right. Let’s meet Amelia.”

*

It started as a joke:

“Vanessa Vanjie Isabella Mateo-Hytes ain’t your mother bitch!”

But it swiftly grew into so much more.

One day, Allie runs downstairs at a breakneck speed. She charges into the dining room, to find her Papa sat at the table stoning a pair of tights. She looks scared and she’s clutching her phone like a lifeline, and he stands up, ushering her to the nearest seat to regain her breath.

“Papa!” She cries, “it’s Lily, her- her mom’s boyfriend- he, he-” She starts sniffling, and Vanessa notices her phone ringing again. He reaches over slowly, and upon seeing Lily’s name, he picks up swiftly. The girl on the other end of the line is crying and it takes long enough for Vanessa to coax out that she’s hiding behind a sofa, because her mum’s boyfriend came home drunk and he’s not happy. She’s holding her little brother Dylan, who’s whimpering in the background, and she sounds utterly alone. 

“Can you get out?” He asks, calm and collected. When she affirms she can, he asks her address and, dropping a kiss on Allie’s head, grabs his car keys and leaves. 

He collects them from the lobby of the flat complex, bundles Dylan into the backseat with enough blankets to ensure he’s safely protected (they lack the car seat needed), and asks Lily to climb in the front. She’s come over for tea many times, and they’re familiar enough that she feels comfortable around the family, her tears clearing up as they round the corner onto their street. 

“You kids can stay here ‘til you feel safe, okay?” He asks, affirming what he hopes had been an obvious sentiment from the beginning.

“Thanks, Mama Mateo,” Lily jibes (although she is clearly beyond grateful. Her eyes pool a little as she smiles, and Vanessa wipes off a stray tear.)

“I’ll get Nina and Monét to bring over some spare stuff for Dylan.”

*

Then, Noah’s boyfriend comes out to his grandfather and he kicks him out (albeit temporarily), and he comes to stay. Brooke comes down the next morning with a knowing smirk and a kind heart.

“So, we’re adopting strays, Mama Mateo?” He jokes as he hugs his husband from behind.

“That’s Mama Mateo-Hytes to you, sir.”

*

[sqsupernova]

Author Interview – A Magiluna Stormwriter!

We sat down with @ariestess​ to talk about lovers like you and me, their process, and their Supernova adventure!

What inspired your story?

I fell in love with lesbrarian's artwork during the picking process. I think it might have been my first favorite piece that I saw? I don't remember now, I just know it was high on my list. It offered such options for me, and it totally perked up my muses, which is how I knew I had to make it one of my choices. Once we got paired up, I started chatting with her in DMs and came up with this idea that ended up being a little more than I could easily handle, so I condensed a lot of it into what you see in the story published.

How do you form your stories? Do you outline beforehand or write by the seat of your pants? Do you write linearly or out of order?

I rarely outline for my fics, but I consider myself something of a "plantser", in that I have a rough idea of the endgame of the fic, and just let the muses guide the words until we get there. This isn't always the best course of action, as my muses can be quite flighty and make me feel like I'm herding cats, but sometimes their ramblings point me to another ending that's even better than my original one.

What in your fic are you most proud of?

I really love that whole scene with Mal and Zelena. It just makes me giggle every time I read it, especially the part about Zelena's fear and excitement over the dragonback ride. I loved that idea of going back to explore a bit more of the sisters' brief time together as children, and this seemed like a really good way to do it.

I also absolutely loved the whole bit about Snow covering Hope's ears and spelling out the word "sex" and Regina's internal thoughts of teasing her with details. Like that bit had me laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes, because I could see it happening so very clearly in my head. I love that their relationship has grown to the point of having good-natured teasing like that. Oh! And the "floating poo nuggets" bit. Because that's totally Emma and I wanted the laugh. And the vows and... LOL I mean, let's be real here, I love a lot of this fic.

Is there anything you'd change now?

Oh, I'm sure I could find things I could change in this fic, but it would alter what's already done, and I rather like what I've got here, so I think I'll just say no at this point. 

Then again, I rather like the idea of the epistolary fic with letters and poetry between them, but I think I'll just file that idea under "Things What I Want to Write Eventually". LOL

How do you deal with writers' block?

I do a variety of things from listening to really hard heavy metal at full volume in my headphones while I write [it's the best music to get the words flowing for me] to coloring to doing Zentangle designs to crocheting to playing stupid FB-style games or solitaire. Anything that will let my mind just kind of shut off and wander a bit tends to help a lot. The muses can retreat to their particular corners in the Muse Cave™ to chew over how to fix things while I do something else entirely and let my blood pressure lower itself. In the end, it always seems to work out somehow.

Was this Supernova experience different than your typical writing experience?

I don't think this particular fic was different from my typical writing experience. I tend to have lots of ideas at the start, some fizzle out, some pan out or get modified. I enjoyed this particular fic a lot, so I thankfully didn't have a lot of hair-pulling this time around.

Any advice to other writers who might want to write a longfic, or participate in Supernova next year?

Honestly? I say just go for it. You'll never know if you can do it if you don't try. And if you get stuck or have issues, there are a whole bunch of other writers who are willing to play sounding board and offer advice {my DMs are always open for that sort of thing}. You just need to ask. 

You can read lovers like you and me on AO3, along with A Magiluna Stormwriter’s other works! And don’t forget to feed the author!

[lyricalafrica2]

Technology and survival tactics.

Well, what a whirlwind month. I'm now solely trying to write my blog from my phone. I'm also having trouble accessing photos downloaded from my camera, so I may have to do that separately. After allowing someone to look through photos on my ipad and having dropped it on concrete, it's never been the same. The screen flickers faster than a humming birds wings. To say I'm upset is a bit of an understatement. When you're so far away from home and it's been a reliable means of working and keeping up to date with everything, it is a huge loss!

I will try to update you with some visuals in due course!

So here I find myself in Zimbabwe. After a few days turned into a week at Vic Falls. Extended as I was really at a loss of what to do. I'd spent so long just hanging around, waiting for people to make decisions, I thought perhaps I was due a little time to just please myself and so I set off.

The falls were spectacular as I remembered them. Such magnificence and such force behind them, it's hard not to be affected by the energy.

It took me two whole days to actually get to the national park, after deciding to have a lie in on the first day after a long 7 hours on the bus from Lusaka. I opted to do an afternoon walking safari with the rhinos. A good decision as far as I was concerned. The experience wasn't busy with copious amounts of tourists and to encounter the whole herd at the one time, with a 14 day old calf, was just something so incredible! Again, a little teary eyed. I will never tire of seeing such animals. They're obviously under 24/7 protection with armed rangers who keep track of them and ensure that they are kept safe and well within the park.

The trek wasn't so long, but the guide was pretty keen to educate us on anything we came across, from impala middens to mopani trees and the pumbas that eyed us from a distance.

I was in my element. I do just feel utter peace when I'm around animals. Whether they're cats and dogs or lions and elephants. Respect them, give them their space and don't underestimate them.

I stayed at the same backpackers as last time Livingstone backpackers. A lively establishment, pretty much unchanged from the previous time where I met my lovely bunch of Norwegian Friends. I pretty much had the dorm to myself, until a German girl Lucy checked in. We got along and so hit the falls together the following day. It was a relief to have a bit of company by that point. Cliques and groups had formed through the volunteer scheme there and being a bit of an introvert around newbies, I'd say hello, but inevitably end up doing my own things.

To spend long in Livingstone, you need money. The activities don't come cheaply, so I chose wisely. I chose the rhinos over the devils pool. At $105 to go and perch on the edge, which I have already done, came literally rather steep. If money was no object then fair enough, but I'm very happy I chose the rhinos, why wouldn't I!?

I ended up going to the falls twice after realising that during full moon there was going to be a lunar rainbow. Slightly anticlimatic even for the locals this time. It has been known to shine much brighter and be more vibrant, but still it was there, if not in all it's glory. Wet and cold, I returned with a small group I'd become acquainted with at the backpackers, eager for the warmth of a hot chocolate.

It was around this point I met Jesus, hailing from Wolverhampton. Even more appropriate was that the couple who I got talking to, who had just booked into the lodge, swore by him. Sorry, I'm not taking the pee, but I had to laugh at the irony. They were very sweet and seemingly took me under their wing for a day or two until I fled the nest that was the backpackers. Sending me on my way with a bar of chocolate and a few other treats for my onward journey. I had made the decision to follow Jesus (or Matt the bearded, named Jesus because this is what the locals called to him as he walked the streets 😏) to Zimbabwe. I figured rather than lounging around the backpackers waiting for things to transpire, I'd take matters into my own hands. Jesus seemed clued up as far as the whole travel thing went. He'd already done the whole west side of Africa including the Congo and Nigeria, and the tip of the continent in S.A. Now he

was venturing back up through central africa, having covered namibia, botswana, a little of southern Zambia and next stop Zimbabwe. Our stories tallied in the fact that we were both overworked, unfulfilled in some way back on home turf and drawn back to Africa, just not in the fact that I could grow a beard of such magnitude.

I arrived in Livingstone Zimbabwe, a day after Matt, on my way across the bridge over the National park (the one where people dice with the health and safety of Zambia, at the end of some stretchy umbilical chord, holding them onto life) I took the usual pictures and selfies. Stopping only momentarily, so locals wouldn't think I was an opportune customer for their wares. I made it through the boarder unscathed with a smile and a cheery greeting and onwards to the meeting point.

My luggage as little as it was, was heavy and I was feeling it through my shoulders and neck. But with the backpackers apparently being five minutes away, it seemed unnecessary to give into a taxi, especially as I'd made it this far.

Well, that was in my head, until a friendly local who had just returned from Zurich to see his family, insisted he give me a lift up the hill. When I walk like that, I'm usually on a mission and I guess it showed! Once I got there, I was pleased he had stopped me. We had a short, but friendly exchange in the five minute ride.

Next piece of the jigsaw was to fathom out the currency of Zim. So for those of you living blindly to the affairs of Zim, apart from the leaders of said country, Zim doesn't exactly have a straightforward currency.

They have blackmarket bond, US dollars and ecocash. Eco cash is a fairly new way of doing things in that, you can buy a simcard for your phone with a company called econet. You buy airtime to concert to data or calls etc, then you can also load it with bond, bought with US dollars. So depending upon the current rate, the deal can be better or worse. If your bought eco rate is better that that of the shop rate, you use your phone to purchase through ecocash. If the eco cash rate is higher that the rate you bought the ecocash for, it's often better to buy with dollars.

If you go to the cash machine in the unlikely event that your foreign card works, you will receive bond, but be charged by you bank in dollars. You can buy bond with dollars if you wish from random floating around the street, but their rate rarely seems to budge above 9.5, even if the official rate is higher. It's to put it crudely, a bit of a headfk. Coupled with the regular load shedding or power cuts due to the low water of Kariba dam, it can make life taxing for citizens of the country. It's true, their country is in a wee bit of a mess and once you get past the ones who make untimely assumptions about you as a foreigner, people are generally lovely and very helpful.

I had a chat with a girl who insisted I take her back to the uk as she loved the "chilly weather". She loved the idea of swimming in the sea. Hmm I thought. I wonder how you'd feel on New Years day? She asked for my necklace. I told her it was a birthday present from my mum. She seemed to understand the significance. We had a brief light hearted conversation before I caught back up with the others.

I'm saying others, I've gotten way ahead of myself....

I've failed to tell you about Man Biscuit arriving later on the same day as us. The first class overnight train to Bulawayo 🤔 the fact that the basin looked initially like a fold down bedpan and that's where I thought the smell was coming from. The buffet dinner that we served ourselves carrot sticks dipped in.. yup more peanut butter. It's all part of the journey so to speak. At times you don't think you can take anymore and then something happens, good or not so and you still come out the other end and hopefully smiling!

So Matt (Jesus) and I decided to go exploring once we'd freshened up from the long journey. We found a lovely cafe with a beautiful garden that did good coffee (always appreciated!) and cake and from there, we worked our way around the inner city blocks until we got to the National Gallery. Big tick from me, that this was a mutually agreed must see. The natural history museum was also on Matt's list, but by the end of the day, we bypassed that in favour of food.

The surprise came when after having a good look around the gallery, I went to see the artists who had studios. They are set off a little garden/courtyard in the center of the building. They are on two levels, and there are probably around ten studios in all. There were only maybe 3/4 studios open that day, though I only made it into two. After opening my mouth and saying how I wished I had a studio, the lady artist, asked if I was also an artist. I said I was and that I really missed my practice. She said that she could put me in touch with someone who I could chat to about it. Uh oh, what have I done? She seemed keen, not just to give me a number, but to find the person for a face to face conversation. Well we did, we talked and at the end of the conversation we were taking about a residency! My only thing was finding suitable, safe and financially agreeable accommodation. Even at the backpackers, it chews into your money quickly. I've always been a one for buying more into experiences than things, (she says this as she watches her ipad have a meltdown and wishes she could be writing her blog on it, rather than thumb typing on her phone...)

And so, why would I pass up on a opportunity to do a residency at the National Gallery? I submitted all I was asked, so I waited for the official, "everything is cleared" and obviously to find a room. It was that evening, when we got back to the backpackers in my semi stunned state, that Man Biscuit arrived or Johannes, from Germany. He had also been on the road for a while and so two became three.

Our little jaunt out the next day saw the three of us hiring a car to take in Matopos National Park, it is a large, rather dramatic park. I liken it in some ways to Yellowstone, for it's large rocky outcrops and almost fosilised trees. The park contains many points of interest, including 360degree views from apex points, cave paintings and war memorials. There are also white rhino and giraffe in this park. The game park another 21 kms down the road has more, but come the end of the day and our mileage limitations with the car hire company, we decided against a trip there too. We'd seen impala by the time we got back to the exit. Lovely, but slightly disappointing, given the promise of rhino. We were starting to think they'd been hidden in some unreachable corner of the park, unaccessible to out little fiat. Only tar roads was our mantra for the day. As a last gasp, we managed to talk a ranger into taking us to see them, having spent most of our dollars on park entry another 60 was going to be a hefty chunk. There were other guests eager to see them from another lodge, so we basically just tagged along, after they'd stalked the bush for an hour trying to locate them. Amongst these guests was an impressive young irishman, cycling across the continent on his own. As lean and lythe as serious cyclists are. It reminded me of my considerations of doing the same one day.

Once we got word, we trekked maybe around a kilometre to the site where a mother and her 14 month old calf stood in the bushes, just grazing away and minding their own. Again, just one of those life defining moments. The mother had her horn removed and her ears were tagged. It's an expensive business to do that and the process takes around 2 hours to complete. It's sad that it has come to not allowing an animal to retain what is rightly theirs, in an attempt to keep them alive. In some cases they're killed anyway by poachers, if they've been following scent trails for days, only to find a hornless rhino, what use is that? And so to reduce their chances of wasting their time again.... well you get the picture, its tragic! I hope though this mother and calf at least get to see out their years. They truly are magical beasts!

And as the sun dipped lower in the sky, and the golden glow lit up the landscape, they backed off further into the bushes.

Their eyesight typically isn't so good, but every now and again, the rangers would give a certain pitched whistle, if they started to look at all unsettled or got too close. Apparently, they think its a bird and this distracts their attention away from their visitors. It was over all to soon and as we made our way back though the bush, catching our legs on thorns and having rogue branches snap back on our shins, your mind turns to the fact that this is someone elses norm. This is their life. 0600 till 1800, six days a week. Trekking through the bush, being near these beautiful beings, taking in this visceral life.

We gave the rangers a lift back through the park, before heading for town. We needed food! We pulled up in a darkened street next to an oxfam truck. We decided to move on from the dubious area after a couple of guys scoped out the trunk as we opened it to grab our wallets. I didn't feel easy, a gut wrenching, not happy came over me, even before we parked up. And there it is, after previous experiences, sometimes you just have to listen. That feeling, this dis-ease it's usually there for a reason.

Again, so much more has happened since that point in time. I have found a new abode with a beautiful family, I am fully immersed in gallery life with opportunities literally pouring out of the woodwork. I still miss my people and I've done a public talk as an artist 😱 been disgustingly ill, found the yoga retreat from heaven where I regularly hang upsidedown like a bat..... and so much more.... but, I think for now, I've given you enough to mull over!

Whatever next? Answers on a postcard, the most imaginative wins... I've sure as hell stopped trying to plan or predict!

[darkarm66]

Further thoughts on Xenoblade 2

When reviewing Xenoblade Chronicles 2, I tried my best to avoid mentioning Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles X. Mainly because directly comparing sequels is always unfair. Any game should stand (or fall) on its own merits. Plus sequels aren't always the same game or mechanics, so any expectation of familiarity should fall only on the player (unless the devs explicity say 'this game is a direct sequel').

However, playing XC2 just really had me wishing I was playing the first or second game instead. And like I wrote in the review, XC2 lacked a lot of cohesion between its systems. Cohesion the past games nailed. One thing, the previous Xenoblade games had, in terms of cohesion, was a great environmental design. Xenoblade had the gimmick of living on the body of dormant mechgods, but the actual impressive part was how every area was interconnected. This lead to feelings that if the player wanted to push beyond the boundaries and see what they can explore or discover, only a gamer's patience (and some overleveled monsters) would stop them. Xenoblade X added verticality with the mechs, which always meant exploration had some surprises. Xenoblade 2....dispenses with most of that. In fact, much of the hidden stuff comes from warp gates locked by field skills, which may or may not be at the right level by the time. This leads to a lot of fetch questing and cat herding just to possibly level up that skill...which you need to access by increasing trust levels. By the time you have enough skill to unlock that warp gate, the player has to go back by fast traveling. I'm split on fast traveling as a game mechanic because I do love saving the player time but the disconnected nature of all the worlds take some of the joy of traveling away. It makes what should be a vibrant and unique world feel like an inefficient menu option with random bits of interactivity. It robs some of the worlds from having any lasting impact.

Another aspect was the handling of side quests because....let's face it, there's a shit ton of sidequests in all three games. And all three had a way to make it feel grueling. However, the first Xenoblade had the advantage of completing quests if you already had the stuff in your inventory...and you didnt have to go back to the quest giver. So much time saved. So much back tracking erased. This design advancement, all the way from 2010, is just missing in 2017. Xenoblade Chronicles X had this to some degree but this was mitigated due to many of the tougher quests being in the online portion and the post-story game turned into challenging grind for parts to unlock better Skells. In XC2, it just feels like a way to stretch out something a bit longer to pad for time. XC1 and XCX's quests didn't feel like chores to do because both games felt like they encouraged players to truly, truly play to their own style so players can unintentionally complete quests without needing to activate it. 

The amount of backtracking saved in the first two games had the bonus of the game world to truly feel unique and warm, as opposed to Xenoblade 2's worlds just feeling like checkmarks to add on a map and the problem, at least for me, is that when you no longer have to be in a place any more, it doesn't need to exist. This waste the environmental design and robs it of being a world and is not just: a game. While a game being a game feels like a weird criticism, but games that are collections of exhaustive chores are usually not the best games.

One thing to keep in mind between all three games is the Affinity System. It shows up differently in between all three games, but their functionality is essentially the same: nurture a link between the party and the game world. In the first game, it gated some quests and side stories by incentivizing the player to actually do things within an area to increase affinity. But the first Xenoblade gave better payouts, gameplay wise, for the player's time. Talking to NPCs and creating good links between them allowed players to obtain items that may have been needed for quests or better: the affinity between the party members. This is where Xenoblade actually justified its long, long playtime. Not only does the party members receive the character development the cutscenes don't, it allows the players to have specific passive bonuses in gameplay. And its not just for the specific member in combat, but it benefits the entire party. And for the combat, performing certain actions for members allowed a boost in critical hits and buffed other effects. This made pay attention to which relationships were truly worth developing as the talking during combat mattered and determined how well an effect could take hold. Best of all, the affinity helped mitigate what could've been a super grindy affair.

This is the case for XCX as well, as the combat got tweaked to build on top of the combat chatter as performing a specifically called for Art, increased Affinity between party members, but was also the way to keep stacking attacks and effects on enemies, especially important as the game started doling out tougher enemies. 

For Xenoblade 2, the Affinity system is the only thing that gets leveled up through quest completion, allowing the Driver to get specific bonuses and building the Trust between the equipped Blade. It's the interaction between Blade and Driver where the Affinity system gets smashed with sledgehammer. For the most part, it's similar to the first game where trust has to be built to unlock a skill node. Then, unlocking a specific skill requires specific tasks, tasks the player may have already done. Now add the fact that Rare Blades have specific unlock nodes and quests and they have to be present (or use the dreadful Merc Mission system) to keep unlocking. I could be misremembering the first two games, but Xenoblade 2 just made it feel like double the work for the same payoff. Stretched out for over 200 Blades. 

The only thing that's consistent between all three games: there's a lot in the mechanics they won't even bother to tell you how to get it working. In the first game, it's never clear how much affinity is being added from each action but there is a number that levels it up. In XCX, you need several online guides to find out where to find the parts for the high end Skells and the fact there's a specific scheme to connecting probes. XC2 does this a little better in certain aspects but the overall vagueness to collecting is still present.

So, I this isn't a 'for the next Xeno game, they should' article because the Shulk, Fiora and Elma showing up in Challenge Mode felt like a hint that Monolith Soft may be moving away from the franchise for the next upcoming games and probably wanted to give the fans a bit of fan service before moving on. Plus, there's no guarantee that circumstances of Monolith Soft losing half their staff to a different Nintendo franchise will repeat, which I believe benefited Breath of the Wild at the expense of a better Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Hopefully, whatever the next game from Monolith Soft becomes and hopefully it's an amazing RPG, that it retains all the great parts from the Xenoblade franchise.

[massive-mythopoetic-mashup]

I hope you don't consider this too prying, but are you strain_of_thought? If so, I love what your doing with RWBY. I've always thought the strongest thing about RWBY were how the allusions played into the characters and story, but I always thought it didn't really use them as much as it should. All of your ideas paint the idea RWBY is using them far more effectively than I thought you could! One question, where do you look for allusions? You make some connections I would never think of.

I _am_ Strain of Thought! I also go by Karma Chimera in some places. This blog was supposed to be for posting concise, thorough, and well-formatted explanations of allusions I’ve found in RWBY, but unfortunately I’ve really had very little time to devote to it over the past two months due to crazy life events. Also, my thoughts on how the big theory should be organized and presented have been constantly evolving, largely as a result of having nice people who humor my attempts to explain it to them, and that’s somewhat held up producing finalized presentations. Most of the G.U.N. theory has been informally described in back-and-forth conversation over on my Discord server, but it’s very, very long and a mess to slog through.I want to be clear, before I get into this: the stuff I talk about on reddit and here and on the wiki and the RT forums and on Discord is not stuff I figured out overnight. I was a passionate but casual fan of RWBY who wasn’t into RT at all and didn’t even start watching the series until late summer of 2016. I was deeply haunted by Pyrrha’s death after finishing Volume 3 and dwelled on it for several months without finding any understanding of it; I wasn't even able to bring myself to watch Volume 4 until the last episode had been posted. Then, about five months ago, I had a sudden epiphany about one character- which in short order lead to another, much much _much_ bigger epiphany about another character that completely changed my perception of the show; since then I’ve been tearing the show apart piece by piece with an obsessiveness that still hasn’t really abated at all. At this point, I have spent many hundreds of hours researching the allusions in RWBY. So please don’t feel bad for not having immediately caught all of the things I point out. I had to _work_ to find them, and I didn’t begin to see them for a long time.That said, let’s talk about that first epiphany.The basic method I use for looking for allusions in RWBY is something you might call the “Cast of Characters” method. First, take a RWBY character who has an overt literary allusion that you're certain of- let's say Penny. Then list all the important supporting characters in the story of the inspirational character who the RWBY character alludes to. For Pinocchio that would be Geppetto, The Blue Fairy, Jiminy Cricket, The Puppet Show Master, The Fox and The Cat, The Coachman, Lampwick, and The Terrible Dogfish. Now, you can’t really tell the story of Pinocchio without having all of these characters also represented in some capacity. RWBY does have some characters who appear to overtly play some of these roles: Penny’s ‘Father’ is Geppetto, Ciel Soleil is The Blue Fairy, and Ironwood is the Puppet Show Master. But other important characters are conspicuously missing- Jiminy Cricket, for example. So go down the list and ask: “Who is playing this necessary role in order for this story to be told?”Doing this successfully often requires a lot of familiarity with the work in question, which means you often have to go back and actually _read_ something you’ve only picked up on through osmosis or adaptations. Sometimes you’re going to need to sit down with some 19th century children’s literature for a few hours before you’ll be able to pick up on the subtle cues that are hidden in RWBY. Reading material _about_ the work, such as Wikipedia articles on the individual characters, can also be hugely instructive.Getting back to Penny Polendina and the search for Jiminy Cricket- who is Penny's conscience? Who tries to answer her difficult questions and guide her morally and keep her out of trouble? Who is a Christ-like figure, especially in their purity of heart? (No, seriously. ‘Jiminy Cricket’ is literally a bowdlerization of ‘Jesus Christ’. Carlo Collodi never named him, simply calling him ‘The Talking Cricket’, so Disney named him after a clean expletive.) Who is repeatedly separated from Penny and ultimately fails to keep her out of trouble but nevertheless provides an example that inspires her and helps her become a much better person in the long run? _Who can jump really high?_Realizing that Ruby Rose is Jiminy Cricket, and that the writers had snuck that right past me in plain sight, was the first forehead slap that made me suspect there was much more to RWBY than what meets the eye. You can take the “Cast of Characters” method and systematically run every character in the show through it; if you do, some startling connections can jump out at you fairly quickly. Also, for RWBY characters with mythological, legendary, or historical origins, there’s often a wealth of supplemental information to be found about their supporting characters outside of their source stories themselves.For another example: Has it occurred to you that there might be important supporting characters in _Joan of Arc_’s story? Reading up on Joan of Arc, you’ll find that she consistently described her visions as always containing the same three saints: Saint Michael, Saint Margaret of Antioch, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. We can read up on these three saints in turn, and in doing so we learn some interesting facts:Saint Michael is actually the Archangel Michael, revered by military orders as a soldier who is the leader of God’s armies and battles demons, but also paradoxically strongly associated with medicine and tranquil, healing waters. He’s an angel of mercy: he repeatedly prevents deaths, and is specifically named as the angel who provided the ram to prevent Abraham from killing his own son Isaac. Most remarkably, Michael is strongly associated with Christ, and many protestant traditions have held that Michael actually _is_ Christ in his heavenly, pre-incarnation form.Saint Margaret of Antioch was the daughter of a demon-worshipping pagan priest, who abandoned her as an infant when he had a vision that she would become a Christian. She was raised by a Christian nurse who took her in, and became a shepherdess as a teenager. As she grew up she developed a fanatical, virginal devotion to Christ that bordered on romantic fixation. She resisted worldly temptations by a pagan lord who saw her herding and was captivated by her beauty, and she kept her faith through being tortured by him after her rejection. Eventually, she faced and was swallowed by a demonic dragon, but was able to escape from its belly because the cross she wore irritated the dragon’s stomach so much that it vomited her up.Saint Catherine of Alexandria, lastly, is an absurd Mary-Sue even by biblical standards: she is not just a saint but also a martyr, a brilliant scholar, and a _princess_. She brought _herself_ to Christ through study and boldly appeared before the emperor of Rome to rebuke him for his cruelty. The emperor summoned _fifty_ pagan philosophers to argue against her, and she defeated them in debate one after another _and converted them to christianity_, prompting their immediate executions. She was whipped and imprisoned, but hundreds of people came to visit her in the dungeon and she converted all of _them_ as well, including the emperor’s _own wife_. The emperor attempted to use torture upon her, but every torture device used upon her magically broke, including a massive breaking wheel she was strapped to that was specially built to kill her. Even when she was finally beheaded, her body was carried away by angels and placed upon Mount Sinai where God spoke to Moses; there her body remained fresh without rotting, her beautiful hair never stopped growing, and she continuously issued a ‘stream of healing oils’.Are you seeing any patterns here? Can you think of three people in Jaune’s life who exhibit some of these traits? I hope you can! Now understand: I knew basically _nothing_ about Joan of Arc when I started this other than the basic “Hears voices, drives the English out of France, gets captured and burned at the stake.” bits that you can pick up through cultural osmosis as an American. I vaguely remembered her liberating Orleans entirely because of a campaign mission in Age of Empires 2. You ask where I look for allusions- my answer is, I pick a character and just start reading things about them until I feel like I’ve exhausted the resources I know to look at, and then I move on to the next one. Then later I end up coming back for additional passes with a fresh sense of what I’m looking for and what to read, and a better sense of how the show is written, and find even more connections. RWBY has given me ten times the education in western literature that college did, and even if I’m wrong about everything, I still want to thank the creators of the show for that. They couldn’t get me to read the _Iliad_ in school, but I cracked it open and tried my level best for Pyrrha.Not only does taking the thorough approach and investigating seemingly less promising character allusions like Joan of Arc allow you to find layers to the show you’d likely never pick up on otherwise, but finding who _else_ a RWBY character is drawn from besides their overt, top-level allusion often becomes very instructive in understanding them and the ways that they differ from that top-level character. I’ve repeatedly had my perception of a RWBY character completely changed by discovering some lower level allusion that recontextualizes them, and I’ve found paradigm-shifting revelations in sources as diverse as black-and-white 1950s American western films, the works of Dr. Seuss, and episodes of _Sesame Street_. I’ve generally found that the top level character allusion informs a RWBY character’s personality more (and obviously their appearance) but the immediately underlying character allusion has a much bigger impact on their story and character arc- and sometimes there are third and fourth and even _fifth_ level allusions with major impacts on a character. In one case, the layers of significant allusions go down to a _dozen_. What took me almost all of the past five months to realize is that RWBY characters are designed exactly like RWBY weapons: they’re crazy awesome mashup combinations of multiple completely different things that externally _appear_ to just be extra cool versions of one thing, but then at critical moments they perform dramatic, spectacular transformations to reveal other essential aspects of themselves that have existed within them all along.For all the reasons I’ve mentioned already, if you want to be able to perceive the allusions within RWBY, the most important thing is to just experience the world of literature it’s drawn from. In the interest of helping fans do that, I’ve started a regular weekly online film viewing group where RWBY fans can watch and discuss films together whose stories RWBY alludes to. The group is open to everyone and based from my Discord server. If you want to learn more, or maybe just watch some good films, come check it out:https://discord.gg/PMNSfhK

[crzcorgi]

Honey Bee

Third part to the Bees Sting story.

Negan x Bee (reader’s nickname)

2300 words

Warnings ~ Negan language, sexual innuendo, Bee’s quirkiness(?)

Lyrics from “Big Spender”

If you want to be tagged, or asked to be tagged and I didn’t, please let me know!

@negans-network, @ladyhawk4133, @jenniegs, @memphisgirl1977, @mwesterfeld1985 @foreverplagued

    As we walked down the hall to my room, her tiny fingers never leaving mine, I chanced a quick glance at her. Her head was down, not even fucking looking where she was walking, just taking the chance that I wouldn’t let her walk into anything.

 “Bee, are you fine with this? You’re awfully fucking quiet, and with your head down like that you kinda look like you’re being led to a fucking firing squad. I can take you back to your room doll, is that what you want?” I was willing her to say no, that she was fucking fine coming to my room.

 Suddenly, she let go of my hand, running like a little rabbit down the hall, stopping right in front of my fucking door. She leaned back against it, placing my scarf around her neck, then gently dropping the toy bee down her top again. Looking directly at me, she smirked. “It’s what I want, Negan.” Winking, she started twirling the ends of my scarf, humming, then singing.

The minute you walked in the joint I could see you were a man of distinction A real big spender Good lookin’ so refined Say, wouldn’t you like to know what’s goin’ on in my mind?

 As she was singing, she did something I was not at all fucking expecting from this sweet doll, she began rubbing her hot little ass up and down my door, making Negan Jr stand at fucking attention, quick.

 As I reached her at the door, watching her lick her lips, now gyrating her hips, I was thinking I totally misread her, maybe she is my type. Not such a sweet little innocent after all.

 “Well, well, baby, what are you fucking doing?” I placed my hands on the door on either side of her, essentially trapping her.

 She let go of my scarf, placing her hands on my chest, walking her fingers downward. “I’m just havin’ a little bit of fun, Negan. You like to have fun, dontcha?” She then gave me a little wink, turning around to face the door.  “Key?” She placed her hand on the doorknob.

 Grabbing my keys, I leaned around her, unlocking the door. Placing my hands on her hips, I gently guided her into the room. “Welcome to my room, sweetheart. Make yourself at home!”

 She started slowly strolling around the room, taking in her surroundings. She stopped by the bed, falling backwards onto it. Leaning back on her hands, she rubbed her hands over my pillows. “So soft, and clean. And nice, real nice.”

 I sat down beside her, turning just enough to see her face. “You’re more than fucking welcome to check it out tonight sweetheart.” I placed my hand on hers.

 Fucking startling me, she jumped up, running over to one of my couches, dropping onto it. “I’m hungry, where’s the food?” Her eyes were darting all around, as if looking for the desired food.

 I stood up, shaking my head. Her behavior was definitely a puzzle I might never be able to solve. But I was fucking too far gone, too into her, to ever pull back. And I would die trying to fit her pieces together.

 “Okay, doll, let me send a message downstairs. What would you like? The fucking skies the limit!” I grabbed my radio off the table, signaling to Simon.

 “Yeah, boss?”

 “Can you get a kitchen worker to bring some fucking good up here? Hold on.” I let go of the talk button.

 “What’ll be doll face?”

 “I do like soup, but not tomatoes. I love oatmeal, but I can’t eat it cold. Maybe a sandwich, yeah, a sandwich. No, no, wait!”

  Shit, she was making my fucking head spin. “How about you let me choose, I bet you’ll fucking like it!” Fucking fingers crossed she’d agree to it.

“Okay! But a warning” she stood up, heading towards the bathroom, “some foods don’t sit well with me.” She started laughing, walking through the bathroom door, then a loud slam, leaving me to wonder what the fuck she meant.

 I heard her in there, singing away to herself, I was trying to fucking catch the words she was singing but couldn’t quite make them out. I was brought out of my thoughts by a knocking at the door.

 Stepping over, I opened it to find Simon carrying a large tray of food.

“Thought I’d bring it myself.” I gestured for him to enter.

 “You sure you just wasn’t being fucking nosey, Simon? Cause that’s my fucking guess.”

 “Nah, just bored.” I could tell he was fucking lying.

 He put the tray down, not making any movement towards the door.

 “Unless you’re planning on fucking feeding me, you can leave.” I shook my head.

 “Heh, no. But I was kinda wondering why all the special foods? You don’t usually give a fuck what your wives eat. Someone pregnant?” He whispered the last part, like it was some fucking secret.

 “Jesus-fucking-Christ Simon! Shit no!”

 Just then, the bathroom door flew open, and out stepped doll. In nothing but her bra and panties. My first instinct was to fucking run over and cover her up. But I couldn’t move, my feet stuck, my mouth open wide.

 “Oh, I didn’t know we would have company! Hey!” She strode over to where we were standing, acting like walking around in her fucking underwear in front of strangers was A-OK. 

 “Are you a friend of Negan’s? I’m Bee, Negan’s Number 6 or 7.” She held her hand out to a slack jawed Simon, who hesitantly took it in his own, glancing over at me.

 “Uh, yeah, sort of, I actually work for him. We met before.” I glanced over at Simon, the shithead’s eyes taking her all in. “Yeah, I’m the one that found you.” He was still holding onto her hand, a fucking stupid ass smile on his fucking face.

 I moved to stand in between them, forcing Simon to let go of her hand. “You need to get the fuck out of here. And we need to eat, doll face, food’s getting cold.”

 As I herded Simon out the fucking door, Bee strolled casually over to the table between my sofas, eyeing the food. I couldn’t help but notice her panties with little cartoon cats on them, making a note to find her something a bit more fucking fitting for my wife.

 “Like what you’re seeing, sweetheart? I ordered up every rare item we’ve got right now. Some fresh grapes, apples. There’s some kind of pizza.” I looked over it, what the fuck did they top it with?! “There’s some kind of cereal, you said you like oatmeal, so maybe you’ll like that…” I started to point out the sandwiches when she grabbed something, jumping up and squealing, running over to me, shoving whatever foodstuffs she had in her hands into her mouth, then proceeded to jump up, wrapping her arms around my neck.

 “Der so so goo!!! My favssss!!!” I couldn’t understand what she was fucking saying, her mouth full to the hilt with whatever the fuck she grabbed. I reached down under her ass, pulling her up into my arms.

 “So, doll, what is it that’s got you so excited as fuck?”

 She took a big swallow, then proceeded to kiss me, all over my face, my ears, my neck.

 Pulling back, looking into my eyes, I realized she had the most glorious shade of y/e/c eyes. And her lips, such a fucking sexy shade of pink, and so full, plump. Fuck! I wasn’t even sure anymore what her behavior conveyed.

 To me, everything she did was sexual. From grinding her crotch on my dick, to rubbing her hot ass up and down my door. Singing a song with sexual fucking lyrics. Her winks, her fucking attire, or lack thereof. She was truly a goddamn mystery.

 “Olives, Negan! Fucking olives!!! I love them!!!”

 Olives, fucking olives. “Olives, huh. Well, I tell you what. I’ll call down to the kitchen and see if there is any more, sound like a plan, sweetheart?”

 Still clinging to my body like one of those fucking spider monkeys she screamed, freaking scaring the shit out of me. “OH MY GOD, YES!!!!” And then the onslaught of kisses started again, not that I am fucking complaining.

 “Now doll, you keep kissing me like that, well, I might be getting the wrong impression of what you might want.” I closed my eyes, trying to fucking will away my ever growing boner. Cause I didn’t have a fucking clue if she was up to helping resolve it.

  Leaning back again, she released one hand from the vise grip she had on my neck. She then began caressing my face, he fingers softly stroking. A sweet soft whisper coming from her, humming that same song she had been singing outside my room.

 Closing my eyes tightly, I could not stop the fucking moans from escaping.

 I could feel her face move closer “Do you like this, Negan? Are you enjoying yourself?” Her voice, a quiet sigh, but reverberated straight to my steely hard dick.

 “What do you think doll?” I thrusted my groin upward, right into her ass. I leant into her ear, “feel that baby girl?”

 She giggled. “I sure do!”  She then proceeded to pull back her arms, placing them both, palms flat, against my chest, all while simultaneously unwinding her legs from around my waist. One push and she was on the floor, heading back over to sofa, her sweet sexy fucking ass sashaying. Back to her fucking beloved olives.

 And here I stand, confused as fuck and so shittin’ hard I might burst. Fuck girl, what are you doing to me?!

  She had a handful of olives, her tiny feet drawn up under her ass, just popping those little fuckers into her mouth in such a sexual way, making me groan.

 I slowly moved over to sit across from her, taking all of her in. She was so happy, so content. Funny, how just those little olives could make her so ecstatic.

 “I’m glad you’re fucking enjoying those doll. Can I ask you something?”

 “Uh, sure!” She smiled over at me, her cheeks round as a fucking chipmunk.

 “What’s up with the no clothes? I mean, I do love the sight someone as gorgeous as you doll face, should never hide away.” I was hoping I didn’t say something that would upset her in any way.

 Putting her palm under chin, she spit a few pits into her hand, placing them down on a napkin. “Well, I’m a messy eater, Negan, I’m always spilling shit, especially down my shirt.” She popped a couple fingers down into her bra, pulling out a couple of olives like some strange as shit magic trick. Giggling, she threw them into her mouth, the biggest smile on her face.

 “See?! I’m such a klutz, a really messy klutz!” She leaned forward, checking out the table of food, still snickering. In her current position,bent over, she was giving me a fucking panoramic view of her tits, causing me to re-situate myself, an almost silent grunt slipping out.

 “You okay, Negan?” She glanced up at me from under her eyelashes, a pickle sticking out of her mouth, like my fucking dick could be.

 I sucked a big breath in, trying to fucking calm myself. “Yeah, I’m okay sweetheart, just a bit exhausted.”

 She stood up, sidestepping the table, coming over to stand in front of me. Her hand darting out to pet my head. “I’m sorry Negan, I know, I’m a handful at times. It’s why nobody ever wants me.”

 She brought her hand back, turning to walk away. I grabbed her arm, trying to pull her back gently.

 “Doll, it’s not you, it’s just the world, everything makes me tired, I’m an old fucker you know.” I snickered. My hands taking a hold of her face, making sure she was making eye contact with me. “I want you baby girl. And there is nothing I like more than a handful!” I wiggled my eyebrows at her, a small grin appearing on her face.

 “Why don’t you sit that pretty ass down on my lap. I promise,” I lifted my arms up above my head. “I’ll be a fucking gentleman, hands to myself.” I smirked, gesturing her to sit.

 As she lowered herself down onto my lap, she placed one arm around my back, lightly rubbing. “I really like you Negan, you get me. Most people don’t. Most people are kinda mean to me. But it’s okay, I’m kind of a freak.” She leaned into me more, her nose burrowing into my neck.

 Something cracked in my heart. Why the fuckity fuck would anyone be mean this sweet girl? Jesus fuck, humanity is not so fucking humane.

 “Well sweetheart, I’m glad you like me, cause I fucking like you too. A lot. And I’m kind of a freak too, in case you hadn’t noticed.” I kissed the top of her head, noticing the pleasurable scent of her shampoo. “So, doll face, are you going to,” I cleared my throat, just a bit fucking nervous “stay the night here?”

 She shifted a bit in my lap, pulling away to look up at me. “Sure! Kinda like a slumber party!” She was now bouncing up and down, on my very uncomfortable, and growing, bulge.

 I was forced to change positions a bit. “Yeah, Bee, kind of like that. But more of an adult slumber party if you will.” I licked my lip, with a smirk, hoping she caught on.

 She giggled, and blushed. She got it.

 “Okay, that might be reeeal fun!” Wrapping her arms tightly around my neck, she brought her lips to mine, stopping just before contact. “I loooove adult fun, a whole lot.”

 “You are my kind of girl, baby, I think we’re going to get along real fucking good.”

 And then her lips met mine and fucking good lord if she didn’t taste like honey.

Yeah, she was Honey Bee,  my sweet as fuck girl.

[jacksgreysays]

18, Counterclockwise?

I don’t know how to make things right.So I’ll just keep pretendingthat nothing’s wrong.(you know that I’m no good)

—

Ellen meets her two years into her stint of immortality on, of all things, a dark and stormy night. She’s slumped against the back door of Ellen’s small clinic, bleeding out and soaked and unconscious.

Perturbed, Ellen rushes over and feels for a pulse. She is a doctor first and foremost–it defines her above and beyond the curse that will plague her forever (and it’ll be a few decades before she becomes the leader in meta-human physiology)–the cardinal rule guides her still.

A steady rhythm, if weak and beneath cold clammy skin, but not for long with that wound.

The woman startles at the touch, eyes blearily blinking open and taking in Ellen’s face.

“You’ll be okay,” Ellen reassures her, “I’m a doctor.”

“Kaiza,” the woman breathes out, “You cold hearted bitch,” before her eyes fall shut and she goes unconscious once more.

It’s not exactly the smoothest beginning.

Then again, Leanne would argue that this wasn’t the beginning at all.

///

Ellen adapts to her occasional visitor the way a cat might become accustomed to a coyote that hangs around the opposite side of the backyard fence. Which is to say, poorly.

Better than cats and dogs, but not by much.

Later, she will have more than her fill of cat and dog jokes–jaguars and wolves as cooperative as their domesticated counterparts–herding a group of overly dramatic young adults with more power than sense, but for now they have not been spoiled for her yet.

Much, much later she will do it again and wonder why she didn’t learn, but that is for another time.

Everything, it seems, about Leanne is for another time.

For now it is just her and her clinic and her strangely hostile, but helpful guest.

“You won’t want to open that without Nyx,” Leanne says, hand overtop hers, keeping the aged grimoire shut.

Ellen pauses, asks, “Who is Nyx?”

Leanne raises an eyebrow, almost disbelieving, “She’s a devil’s advocate. The best and one of the least cutthroat at that, though you shouldn’t say as such to her face.”

“And I should ask her for help?”

The expression on Leanne’s face would make that a resounding, “No, are you kidding? She’ll eat you alive. And then swindle your soul out from under you.” She looks frankly perplexed, as if this is something Ellen should already know. “You have to make a deal with her, trade something she might want.”

Ellen considers, looks around. She doesn’t have much–she hasn’t lived long enough for her immortality to benefit her; the reason why she even has the grimoire in the first place is because one of her atypical patients gave it to her as payment–unless this Nyx might need medical services?

Leanne laughs, amused by the very idea, before humming, pondering, “Nyx won’t, she’s a demon, but she did have a daughter… Or, she will have one?” Leanne laughs again, “Well, I’m sure you’ll find out eventually.”

///

By the time Leanne meets her for the first time, she no longer thinks of herself as Ellen. She is Kaiza: a doctor, an immortal, and a cold hearted bitch.

She is sitting across the table from a woman with familiar features wrought in an unfamiliar expression. Kaiza has seen Leanne with resignation on her face, but not mixed with fear and fierce yet futile protectiveness. Then again, Leanne never was a mother–never will be, from what she knows of her–and the woman in front of Kaiza is a mother to three.

A mother who has been told she will lose one of her children.

“Not again,” says Leanne’s mother, hands over her face, “I can’t do this again.”

Kaiza lets her come to terms in silence, there’s nothing she can say to make this situation better.

Outside the house she hears a car pulling up, the sound of young voices talking and the slamming of doors. “Mom!” shouts the highest voice, the youngest child. Not Leanne. “We totally owned the other team, eleven to three, and I made four of the goals…”

She drifts into silence at the presence of a stranger in their house. A few steps behind the child are her older siblings, all of them with the same leafy green hair as their mother. Leanne looks so young. So painfully unknowing.

Kaiza is going to ruin her, just as cold hearted as Leanne once accused her of being

“Victor,” says Leanne’s mother, “take Faye upstairs.”

“Wha–but, Mom!” says the little girl, pulling shrugging off her brother’s hand, “What about Leanne?”

“Upstairs!” she snaps, before gentling herself, “Now, please.”

The boy guides his youngest sister, cowed and silent, leaving Leanne standing by herself.

Ah. So that’s what she looks like when she’s afraid.

~

A/N: Some elusive Doctor Kaiza POV. She doesn’t actually have a story of her own, but she does appear in many other characters’ stories as the wise, enigmatic, and–admittedly–cold hearted doctor. [So enigmatic that I apparently don’t have a character tag for her? Whoops.]

Thanks for the prompt, anon! I do love Counterclockwise very much, even if the majority of it is still a gigantic mystery to me.

Number + Ship + (optional) AU –> my ask box

[If anyone else wants to do a softer world prompt that isn’t on the list, you can just send the page id number for the original comic instead.]

[ask-de-writer]

SEA DRAGON’S GIFT : World of Sea : Part 26

SEA DRAGON’S GIFT

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

140406 words

copyright 2018

written 2007

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express consent of the author.

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Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights.  They may reblog the story provided that all author and copyright information remains intact.  They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions. All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fiction is actively encouraged.

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New to the story?  Read from the beginning.  PART 1 is here

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Startled, Kurin stroked her sea-foam white hair, then replied thoughtfully, “No, not since I got Mecat’s Gift . . .”

“I thought so —  The Great Dragon’s Gift is more than just hair.” She tousled Kurin’s head.  “It’s also what’s under it.  Come, it is late.  Time to bed.”

Sula pulled together some of her big cushions and made a nest of blankets. She tucked Kurin in and sang in a pleasant but inexpert voice, her hands accompanying the words with unfamiliar gestures at eye and chest level.

“Wise paddle ducks in their weed-mats hide

When Wide Wings hunt across the sky.

Snug in their nests they sleep at night

When the stars are out and the moons are high.

Hush, little one don’t you cry,

In your hammock’s nest, you’re safe from harm,

Hear Iren’s Orcas sing far from you.

Your happy dreams are your charm.”

Feeling truly secure for the first time since Cat had gone, Kurin snuggled down, and as she was drifting off to sleep, murmured, “Sula, do you have any children?”

She was too sleepy to notice the catch in Sula’s voice as she answered, “No, I never had the chance.”

The next day, Master Juris was invited to visit the Dark Dragon.  Both he and Kurin were shown about by Sula herself.  They learned much of how a large catamaran ship was built.  A great deal of what they learned was amazing to them.  What surprised them the most was that they had not thought of it long ago.  The design made a lot sense.  It gave an impressive increase in deck space over the standard designs.  There were three decks in the thick layer that spanned between the hulls.

This created an amazing amount of space for shops, catch processing and other functions.  A major surprise to both Kurin and Juris was the sheer size of the Armory.  It was completely separate from the Boat Shop.  That alone was unlike any ship layout that Kurin had ever heard of.  Besides simply being a large shop, it vertically spanned all three decks of the center section.  It was connected through heavy double doors to large straight corridors that looked to be fireproofed by Hag extracts.  They ran fore, aft, starboard and port. There were many large storerooms and more decks and holds in each of the twin hulls.  

As a Predator Hunter, the Dark Dragon was heavily armed.  There were six large harpoon launching catapults spaced about the bow and three more around the stern.  Each side also had another five catapults a little smaller than the bow and stern ones but still bigger than any that Kurin had ever seen before.  Master Juris's practiced eye noticed that the stop blocks that held the catapults level in their swivel mounts could be removed.  The catapults would then be able to fire steeply up, as well as in the outward and downward directions needed for hunting.

While they were making their way aft through the between decks companionways Kurin heard soft music of a sort that she had never heard before, and stopped to listen.  An empty mess hall had been taken over by a group of Dark Dragon sailors for a song fest.  Most of the sailors, both men and women, wore cloth hoods that covered their faces like the one that Sula wore.  Every one of them was armed with a short ax like the one at Sula's leg and carried at least one large knife.  They were playing the familiar tabors and drums that she had long known.  There were also harps, other stringed instruments, flutes and a horn that were all new to her.  Listening quietly at the door, the group heard a bare faced man call out, “Sing us ‘Where is My Love?’, Pollet!”

The woman that he had called to, black-hair showing below her hood tried to demur with flickering fingers instead of words.  Several others joined the chorus, a few speaking and all the others signing.  Pollet gave in.  She stepped to the center of the circle and, glancing at the visitors in the doorway, she began.  

The song was soft and sad, the music featuring mainly the plaintive notes of the flute, a strange many stringed oval instrument with a drum like head and a harp was accompanied by a soft underbeat from a tabor.  As Pollet started to sing, she accompanied her words with flickering fingers, one hand just below the eye level of her hood and the other at chest level.  Her dancing hands moved almost hypnotically to the tune.

“The Gathering will be over tomorrow

A Wedding Raft is floating in sorrow.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

Each topmast the horizon brings to my sight

Brings night to my heart in days that are light.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

His ship will never again draw near

Absence has filled my heart with fear.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

From my Love’s waters sails were seen

A Boren Sea raider fled from the scene.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

We found only the flotsam of a deadly attack

Dear Dragons, please, bring my Love back!

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

If the Boren fleet took my Love away

The Boren fleet will have to pay.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

We can’t save my Love, he’s in Iren’s hall

But we’ll save others the Orca’s call.

Where is my Love?  The Weddings are near.

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.

We fight so no other will have to cry

For a Love who had no need to die!

Where is my Love?  His ship is not here.”

Sula listened with them and herded them quietly away when the song was done.  She shed a few quiet tears as she guided Kurin and Master Juris through another passage and up to the main deck.  Master Juris looked shrewdly at Sula as they made their way aft, listening to the answers to his and Kurin’s questions about the ship.  Kurin noticed the odd vertical lines of decoration on or by almost every door and realized that they were writing of some sort.  They strolled toward the stern under the shade of many sails, each tightly furled to its boom and yard.  They lay on tall racks overhead, freeing the deck space.

A lookout high above called, “Strong Skin!  North by northeast!” The paired dorsal fins of the big predator could be seen cutting the water a few hundred yards away.  Men and women on watch scrambled aft and began to prepare a catapult.

“Can we watch?” asked Kurin eagerly.

TO BE CONTINUED

<==PREVIOUS   NEXT==>

Return to the Master Story Index

Return to World of Sea

[nopainmadelaine-blog]

WANTED PLOTS !

listed below the cut are short descriptions of my characters and their existing relationships, along with connections i’d really really like to have with them.

Payton Lutz ( @princesspaytonlutz ) : Payton is my diva, my brittle-boned, hot-headed, who-do-you-think-you-are, treat-me-like-the-royalty-i-am princess who is bolder and more of a savage than she will appear at first glance. She’s “dating” the shitshow that is Malcolm Pitt ( @allaboutmalcolm ) and is INSANELY protective over their little couple-thing they got going on. long story short, don’t fuck with her/him and everything will be fine and dandy. 

Friends: Payton needs friends. She needs a girl to gossip with. She needs a bff. She needs to be close to someone she ISN’T dating *cough* mal *cough*

Enemy/Competition: Payton’s original enemy is now her boyfriend and all her other enemies have left serenity. She’s hot headed as fuck, shes bound to have more people dislike her/argue with her. i need this angst. thanks. 

Bad Influence: Pay needs an older, bad influence to guide her down the wrong path. She’s been going to well upstream lately and it’s SOO unlike her. She needs some dirt under her pretty nails, if you get what I’m saying. 

Abigail Winston ( @abbyslxve ): Abigail is a psychotic, obsessive un-diagnosed erotomaniac who is convinced her and a doctor, John Parris ( @doctorparris ), are madly in love and are one day going to run away together. She is currently pretending to have psychosis and harms herself in order to win John’s affection. She is borderline, clinically insane and she is just a big mess- let me tell you. 

Manipulants: I know that isn’t a word, get over it. Abigail lovessss to manipulate, and she needs a herd of loyal followers who she can bend to her every whim. She would get them to believe her act and blindly support her every move, that way if anyone attempts to make her look bad- she has her little squad to support her. 

Copy-Cat: Abigail very clearly doesn’t actually see spirits or anything she claims she does, it’s all just pretend- a big farce to win John’s pity and love. This character is who Abigail would “steal” symptoms from- so she would copy their visions, their reactions to visions, etc in order to make her act more believable.

Theodore Panitz ( @xrileyskeeper ): Theodore is my big, fluffy, teddy bear boy who is the older brother to the lowkey-but-also-highkey-sick-all-the-time Riley Panitz ( @riley-panitz ). Theodore is diagnosed with depression and self harm and is always super duper stressed about someone finding out. He claims his only reason for being here is for Riley but obviously that’s a load of BS. 

Love Interest: Theodore is a soft smol and is BOUND to lowkey develop a smol crush on someone/multiple someones. He’s just warm and fuzzy like that. Idk why I’m adding this to the list because I lowkey prefer natural plots that kinda GWTF when it comes to romance but :) Oh well! 

Bad Influence: Theodore is easy to manipulate because he’s just so soft and smol. He’s also stressed and sad about Riley soo oo o oo o o o oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oo o oo o oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oo o oo o o oo o o o o o o o o

BFF: Theodore needs a best dude friend to just vent about his life and chick-problems too. Highkey gonna become the cutest brotp EVER.

Keegan Hughes ( @damnitkeegan ): Keegan is a pain in the ass, lowkey-narcissistic full-of-himself, thinks-he’s-the-shit security guard who i lowkey fucking hate. He is seriously the biggest piece of shit I have ever written as, doesn’t give a singular fuck about the kids and is more-so there to make himself look good. Why I still write as him is beyond me because all he does is make me angry but his faceclaim is hot so I guess I can suck it up.

Guilty-Pleasure: Someone Keegan uses over and over again in order to make himself feel good. He doesn’t really give a shit about them or why they are at Serenity- he just knows they make him feel g-r-e-a-t and that’s all that matters to his selfish, pea-sized brain. 

Pity-Party: Someone Keegan genuinely feels bad for and low-key makes him feel like an asshole for doing some of the shit he does. He’ll probably become like an older brother figure to whoever this is and will take on the role of being insanely protective of them. 

Soft-Hearted: Someone who makes Keegan all mushy and not selfish for like the few seconds he’s around them. He’ll most likely end up crushing on them super hard and it’ll totally be unlike him but he’ll get all stuttery and lost-for-words and ugh love bye.

Madelaine Carney ( @nopainmadelaine  ): Last but most certainly not least is my tomboy, my little angel who is filled with pain and sadness though she will never let it show, attempting to hide her feelings with optimism. She lost her brother in a car accident and cannot feel physical pain. She is desperately looking for friends and ways to escape the pain she /does/ feel emotionally and wishes there was a way she could physically feel- as she feels like its so overbearing to only feel things emotionally.  

(Most of the connections I want for Madelaine are on her blog, but I’ll list more descriptive ones here) 

A “New” Tobias: Someone to re-take on the big brother position that is now open. Madelaine is very heavily distraught by the loss of her best friend, and though no one can ever replace him, the effort will be appreciated and valued whole-heartedly. 

A Bad Influence: Madelaine is really vulnerable and therefore super duper manipulable. She needs someone to lead her to make all the wrong choices and handle her feelings all the wrong way because angst and pain amirite. 

BFF/Listener: Madelaine needs friends, which is a given, but she really needs someone who she can open up to and cry to and be 100% real with because right now she is just holding a lot of thigns inside. This doesn’t even have to be a paitnet, it can be a staff member like a therapist or something I just need emotional Scout asap. 

[thisisluxurytravel]

5 Things You Need to Know Before a Safari to Lewa Conservancy and Lewa house

To travel into the Lewa Conservancy is to journey into the heart of nature in all its raw beauty.

Lewa house offers elegant accommodations, an unbelievable safari experience, and delicious food. But above all, by staying there, you will be contributing to the local conservation efforts to protect endangered species. Read on for my review of Lewa house.

1. Lewa is easy to access from Nairobi

Lewa Conservancy is located in the center of Kenya, in Isiolo. It is about a 5-hour drive from Nairobi.

The easiest way to reach Lewa is to fly directly from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, with SafariLink or Air Kenya, which offer daily scheduled flights to the Conservancy. There are also occasional flights from the Masai Mara. Lewa is also near Ol Malo Lodge, which can be accessed with a small private plane, so it’s easy to combine a trip to Lewa and Ol Malo. For my review of Ol Malo, read here

Lewa Conservancy has its own airstrip for small planes, and the drive from the Lewa airstrip to Lewa House is about 20 minutes. It took us a bit longer, as our guide merged the trip with a short game drive. Within 30 minutes of landing, we had already seen a herd of elephants, Grevy zebras, reticulated giraffes, and three rhinoceros!

2. The accommodation at Lewa house is simply elegant

Lewa House is the best option for your stay in the Lewa Conservancy. It is the oldest accommodation in the Conservancy. It exudes charm and sophistication. The boutique lodge is surrounded by beautiful savannahs opposite Mount Kenya. The lodge has the most beautiful views. All in all, Lewa house provides a fantastic wildlife experience to its guests.

The main house at Lewa House

Lewa House is composed of the main house, which includes the restaurant, a relaxing lounge, and a pretty garden with a pool.

There is a massive fireplace in the main house that was a lovely spot to enjoy drinks before dinner. It is surprisingly chilly at night, so congregating by the fire was a special moment and an enjoyable place to meet the other guests staying at Lewa House.

Review of the bedrooms at Lewa house

The rooms are scattered around the property, in cute little cottages. The cottages are built using traditional Lewa architecture techniques, with rough stone walls and thatched roofs.

We stayed in one of the family cottages. It was perfect for two people traveling together but would also be ideal for family of four. Our Cottage had a double and twin room, each with an en-suite bathroom.

The beds were comfortable and had mosquito nets. The furniture was homely and made of natural materials like wood and stones. The attention to detail was incredible, and everything was beautifully made.

Free laundry was provided during our stay. It took less than 24 hours for our clothes to be returned.

In front of the two bedrooms, we had a large verandah where we could relax after the day’s activities. It was a peaceful spot, with a great view.

Lewa House is surrounded by an electric fence to keep the animals at bay. They also recommend getting an escort from the main house to your room at night, as some animals sometimes manage to find a way into the compound. It happened when we were there: an elephant found its way in and was happily eating in Lewa House’s organic garden!

Sustainability at Lewa House

Lewa House cares deeply about sustainability. That is apparent in the way the house is run. From their buildings using mostly local material, to the harvesting of rainwater, and solar panels for hot water and electricity, they have made sustainable design choices wherever possible.

Lewa House also composts food waste and reduces plastic use. You won’t find plastic bottles here. We received reusable metal water bottles during our game drives.

Internet access at Lewa House

There is good internet access in the main lounge, but not in the bedrooms.

3. The food is fresh and locally produced

Lewa house is surrounded by a great vegetable and herb garden. Most of the food is local and is very fresh and tasty. The chefs prepared sophisticated meals combining European, Kenyan, and Asian cuisine. It was truly delicious.

The dining room has a distinctly British feel, and food was served family-style, with all the guests gathering around a large table. We felt like guests of the family, and dinner gave everyone the opportunity to hear local stories from Sophie, Francine and Callums, our hosts, and also to share our day’s adventures with other guests.

The meals for both lunch and dinner included an appetizer, a main course, and dessert. The chef was very responsive to my dietary requirements and adjusted my meal as needed.

Breakfast was served buffet-style in the pretty garden, offering a stunning view of the water holes, with elephants and zebras passing by.

4. Game drives are uncrowded and spectacular

Lewa House is located in a private conservancy. Being in a conservancy usually means fewer cars and tourists, and it also gives guests the opportunity to do game drives at night.

We did a game drive every morning and every evening, as this is the time when the animals are most active. The game drives here were exhilarating. Our driver, David, was highly professional and qualified. The conservancy has a great variety of wildlife, including rhinos, zebras, big cats, and more.

Lewa House uses a Land Rover with 3 rows of seats for its drives. We were sharing the car with another couple from England. It was my first time in a safari car with 3 rows, and I found it uncomfortable. If you are tall,  the space between rows is just not big enough for your legs. That didn’t prevent us from having an excellent safari drive, but I was happy that the car was not loaded up to its full capacity of 6 people.

TIP: Most cars in the Masai Mara now pack 3 rows of seats (even the luxury camps), so check that when you book your camp. You will spend hours in that car, so you might as well make sure it is comfortable. In Masai Mara, we stayed at the Tangulia Mara camp, and they had comfortable 2-row cars.

The landscape is stunning. With the salt marsh, cliffs, and small rivers crossing the conservancy, the scenery is mesmerizing.

We saw so many rhinos that we actually stopped getting excited about seeing them. We even saw a baby rhino that seemed to be talking to a baby elephant. Our group watched their interaction for over 20 minutes. It was clear that the babies wanted to play together, but the parents didn’t seem convinced. The big male elephant was watching the situation closely!

Chasing Lions and Leopards

On our last drive, we went looking for a lion family. We tracked them, following their dung and tracks.  It was almost sunset, and we were close to giving up when our guide David got a call from one of the rangers who said that they’d seen a leopard.

We set off on a mad and exhilarating drive on the dirt road to reach the leopard. It was very close to the road. It came so close to our car that we could have touched it (and the vehicles at Lewa House are totally open, so we actually could have, if we wanted to risk losing a hand). He stayed nearby, posing for photos for a short moment, and then went off stalking into the nearby woods.  The alert noise made by the impalas was loud and scary: imagine listening to a broken radio with the volume way up. A hyena showed up as well, sensing an upcoming kill. What a thrilling moment!

After all that excitement, we had a quick sundowner drink (in the car, since the Leopard was still hunting nearby). Our group made it back happily to Lewa House for dinner, where we had great stories to share.

Another highlight of staying at Lewa House is the archaeological tour offered by Callum. The archaeological remains found in Lewa Conservancy are some of Kenya’s best archaeological sites outside the Rift Valley. We visited the tool factory, and Callum gave us a passionate introduction to early human history.

5. You contribute to the financing of the Lewa Conservancy and preserving endangered species

Lewa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it has some of the best game viewings in the whole of East Africa. By choosing to visit Lewa, you’re contributing to the conservation effort. The park fee included in the cost of your stay goes to the conservancy. Lewa House is working to keep the endangered species safe. The local community immensely supports animal conservancy. While we were there, we saw more patrol cars than tourist cars.

The Lewa Conservancy is showing excellent results in protecting endangered species:

14% of Kenya’s rhinos live in Lewa Conservancy. They had 14 newborn rhinos in 2017, and no-poaching since 2013.

12% of the world’s Grevy’s zebra population lives in Lewa. In the late 1970s, over 15,000 Grevy’s zebra roamed in the wild. Hunting and poaching drastically reduced the population over the years, and the 2016 Great Grevy’s census results indicated that Kenya is now home to 2,350 Grevy’s zebras, 90% of the world’s population.

Conclusion

Lewa conservancy might be the best place in Kenya to see rhinos. Lewa House is an enchanted location, offering mouthwatering food and beautiful cottages. Sophie, Francine, and Collum are incredible hosts that have created a gem of a place that you will find hard to leave.

For more amazing lodges to plan your trip in Kenya, check my reviews of Ol Malo lodge, the Emakoko in Nairobi and Tangulia Mara in the Masai Mara.

Happy safari!

The post 5 Things You Need to Know Before a Safari to Lewa Conservancy and Lewa house appeared first on Luxury travel Inspiration.

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[sqsupernova]

Author Post — ariestess!

We sat down with @ariestess​ to talk about lovers like you and me, their process, and their Supernova adventure!

What inspired your story?

I fell in love with lesbrarian's artwork during the picking process. I think it might have been my first favorite piece that I saw? I don't remember now, I just know it was high on my list. It offered such options for me, and it totally perked up my muses, which is how I knew I had to make it one of my choices. Once we got paired up, I started chatting with her in DMs and came up with this idea that ended up being a little more than I could easily handle, so I condensed a lot of it into what you see in the story published.

How do you form your stories? Do you outline beforehand or write by the seat of your pants? Do you write linearly or out of order?

I rarely outline for my fics, but I consider myself something of a "plantser", in that I have a rough idea of the endgame of the fic, and just let the muses guide the words until we get there. This isn't always the best course of action, as my muses can be quite flighty and make me feel like I'm herding cats, but sometimes their ramblings point me to another ending that's even better than my original one.

What in your fic are you most proud of?

"I really love that whole scene with Mal and Zelena. It just makes me giggle every time I read it, especially the part about Zelena's fear and excitement over the dragonback ride. I loved that idea of going back to explore a bit more of the sisters' brief time together as children, and this seemed like a really good way to do it.

I also absolutely loved the whole bit about Snow covering Hope's ears and spelling out the word ""sex"" and Regina's internal thoughts of teasing her with details. Like that bit had me laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes, because I could see it happening so very clearly in my head. I love that their relationship has grown to the point of having good-natured teasing like that.

Oh! And the ""floating poo nuggets"" bit. Because that's totally Emma and I wanted the laugh. And the vows and... LOL I mean, let's be real here, I love a lot of this fic."

Is there anything you'd change now?

"Oh, I'm sure I could find things I could change in this fic, but it would alter what's already done, and I rather like what I've got here, so I think I'll just say no at this point.

Then again, I rather like the idea of the epistolary fic with letters and poetry between them, but I think I'll just file that idea under ""Things What I Want to Write Eventually"". LOL"

How do you deal with writers' block?

I do a variety of things from listening to really hard heavy metal at full volume in my headphones while I write [it's the best music to get the words flowing for me] to coloring to doing Zentangle designs to crocheting to playing stupid FB-style games or solitaire. Anything that will let my mind just kind of shut off and wander a bit tends to help a lot. The muses can retreat to their particular corners in the Muse Cave™ to chew over how to fix things while I do something else entirely and let my blood pressure lower itself. In the end, it always seems to work out somehow.

Was this Supernova experience different than your typical writing experience?

I don't think this particular fic was different from my typical writing experience. I tend to have lots of ideas at the start, some fizzle out, some pan out or get modified. I enjoyed this particular fic a lot, so I thankfully didn't have a lot of hair-pulling this time around.

Any advice to other writers who might want to write a longfic, or participate in Supernova next year?

Honestly? I say just go for it. You'll never know if you can do it if you don't try. And if you get stuck or have issues, there are a whole bunch of other writers who are willing to play sounding board and offer advice {my DMs are always open for that sort of thing}. You just need to ask.

You can read lovers like you and me on AO3, along with ariestess’s other works! And don’t forget to feed the author!