#celia benes

[broodingheroine]

tmagp 23 thoughts

little late bc I didn't have time to listen at work but we're in it now

"a new you" is eerily reminiscent of the not!them and I don't like that!

especially after we got the jmart name drop last ep

pulled up the transcript to read along and HARLAN GUTHRIE???? THE MALEVOLENT GUY? THE GUY IVE BENE LISTENING TO FOR 48 HOURS STRAIGHT,

I'm scared that he wrote this ep

yes yes sam doing you're pointless paperwork. please stop getting so involved in them.

piece like.... like piecemeal??

love forum stuff it's so fun

"smiley face" lmao

so..... they're stealing a fish?

SLEEP WITH IT? WHAT IS IT?

oh it's coral

SCALPEL?

I'm sorry is this person growing coral under their skin

a coral baby? is that the goal here?

when your ARMS start to go??,,

oh my god is she giving physical form to the other half of the brain or whatever??? what the hell????

oh! okay so evil doppelganger! cool!

damn jmart fuckin dead

BASIRA AND HELEN???????

aww gwens pouting

dyhard content let's go

ah gwen calling ink5oul "it" is...... I get why but removing the humanity from the monstrous will make you underestimate them in a bad way

EYES????? HOW MANY EYES A REGULAR HUMAN HAS????

okay loving the dyhard team up in our future

so I'm still SO sus abt celia. I do not like her. I'm deeply deeply concerned about her motivations.

sam is also really fuckin testing me

anywho! back to my malevolent listen

[renyfisher]

who are ur favorite actors

Firstly thank you dear for your question. Secondly, OH MY GOODNESS, I have MANY!!, I need to think 🤣 I think I need to make two groups to make my brain function 🤣🤣 sooo…

American: Patti (obviously 🥰) Carrie Fisher🤍, Jean Smart, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Kate Mulgrew, Rebecca Wisocky, Debbie Reynolds🤍, Betty White🤍, Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Diane Keaton, Shirley MacLaine, Leslie Easterbrook, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Audra McDonald, Sigourney Weaver, Mary Steenburgen, Candice Bergen, Jessica Lange, Frances Conroy, Glenn Close, Bette Midler, Kathy Bates, Jodie Foster, Holland Taylor, Angela Bassett, Frances McDormand, Annette Bening, Eve Best, Julianne Moore, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laura Dern, Cate Blanchett, Vera Farmiga, Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, Viola Davis, Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Queen Latifah, Sarah Paulson, Wendie Malick, Kirstie Alley🤍, Georgia Engel🤍, Debra Jo Rupp, Bea Arthur🤍, Rue McClanahan🤍, Estelle Getty🤍, Lauren Lane, Fran Drescher, Lainie Kazan, Cassandra Peterson, Andrea Martin, Della Reese🤍, Roma Downey.

English: Julie Andrews, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith🤍, Imelda Staunton, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan(I know she is Scottish😆), Celia Imrie, Alex Kingston, Catherine Tate, Elisabeth Sladen🤍, Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Helen McCrory🤍, Julie Walters, Lesley Manville, Miranda Richardson, Emma Thompson, Angela Lansbury🤍, Helen Mirren, Raquel Cassidy, Eileen Atkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Joanna Lumley, Zoë Wanamaker, Miriam Margolyes, Joan Plowright, Samantha Bond, Geraldine James, Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Gemmell, Polly Walker, Golda Rosheuvel, Nicola Coughlan(she is Irish I know😌), Gillian Anderson, Anna Chancellor, Jenny Agutter, Georgie Glen, Linda Bassett, Harriet Walter, Miranda Hart, Joan Collins, Lindsay Duncan, Suranne Jones, Eva Green, Julie Graham, Catherine Rabett, Susie Brann.

I think that’s it but I’m not sure 😅 my brain just broke 🫠

I’m soo wired 🤣

[the-lonely-crow]

Celia Ripley Thoughts

ok these are some observations/theories/headcanons i have about Ms. Ripley and seeing as things have started to get Crazy on podcast i figured this was a good time to write them all down in a semi organized and coherent collection.

From her first appearance i was struck by the fact that her personality is vastly different than either Lynne Hammond or Archives!Celia. At first i thought this was because she was the Celia from the Protocol universe but as Things have happened I’m thinking actually her super perky friendly personality is not really genuine.

She knows far more than she’s letting on and has no interest in telling anyone, even Sam. She actually seems like she’s trying to keep information from Sam or at least control what information he gets and when.

In the meeting with Gerry Celia kept distracting Gerry from the questions Sam was trying to ask. She interrupted Sam twice just as he was about to ask a question to ask about first his house and then the painting. Ill get more into this in a second when i talk about my theory as to what is going on with her but mostly she just seemed excited to have met Gerry Keay and to have gotten a painting out of it.

Celia recognized Jon’s voice the first time she heard Chester read a case but just now decided to mention Jon and Martin to Sam. This goes back into me thinking that she seems to be wanting to keep information from Sam.

I think Sam really likes Celia but I don’t think Celia’s feelings are nearly as genuine for him. It is possible that I’m biased but all of her flirty interactions with him have felt stilted and a bit fake in the same way that her general bubbly personality does. Personally i think she is trying to get as much information from him before she shows any of her own cards.

I saw someone else mention this as well but Celia seems to be like the audience insert for people listening to Protocol who also listened to TMA. Not just with the information she knows but with how excited she was to meet Gerry.

Couple of theories:

I think that if you travel to at least the Protocol universe you have to kill your counterpart if you want to remain stable in the new universe. Conservation of mass and all that. We see that with Darrien he’s bene fine and taken over the other Darriens life with most people none the wiser. I think Celia didn’t kill her counterpart and that’s why she keeps getting teleported in front of cars and trains and things. We know from Anya Villette’s statement that when you travel to the Archives universe you sort of merge with your counterpart (her friends still recognized her and its not mentioned that there were two of her but her friends were “distant”) so i think the kill your double thing is specific to the Protocol universe. It’s possible that this is why she couldn’t take Jack with her if she went back because he wouldn’t have a counterpart to merge with. He just fully doesn’t exist in the other world.

I think Celia intentionally dimension hopped as a favor (as much as someone does favors for their former cult leaders) to Georgie and Melanie. This is gonna touch on my general theory for what the Archives universe looked like post 200 that i wont explain further here for sake of time. Suffice to say i think it was Bad for pretty much everyone even after everything went back to “normal”. I think the hilltop road rift was still active after everything but Georgie Melanie and Basira were too busy trying to help out as the only three people alive who didn’t just spend several months in their worst nightmares to do anything about it. This is when i think Celia, as someone with no memories of any friends or family to reconnect with, volunteered to go see what was on the other side of the rift. Before she left i think Melanie and Basira (and Georgie to a lesser extent) gave her all the information they could on the supernatural including their history with the archives and important people that might be able to help (people like Gerry Keay). I think they told her mostly to gather information and maybe look for jon and martin if she could and come back. Having jack obviously would have complicated that but i do think that’s why she’s knows this universe’s Georgie.

I think one of two things probably happened to lead her to apply at the OIAR. Either 1) she was doing her own research and got to a point where a random unconnected civilian gets to the end of their resources so went to find a place where she could have more access to information or 2) after getting to the new universe she settled down and got comfortable. Like i said I don’t think things were good in the Archives universe, I’m sure a whole new world probably would have felt like a fresh start. She had a fling, had jack, had a normal job. And then ran into something that forced her to get involved again.

Anyway am very excited to see where they go with her i think she’s neat :]

[reginarubie]

Ciao!! Scrivo in italiano perché è la PRIMISSIMA volta che trovo una persona italiana nel lato fandom di ao3 di ASOIAF e quindi sto particolarmente gasata nel voler scrivere in italiano- (sentiti libera nel rispondermi in inglese se vuoi, soprattutto in risposta alla domanda che sto per farti!)

IN PRIMIS......amo le tue ffs.

A mano a mano le sto recuperando tutte, ma sono particolarmente affezionata alle tue jonsa, in particolare "The Tale of the black Knight and his fair lady wolf" e "Like wolves in the darkness" ed è qui che arrivo al dunque chiedendoti di quest'ultima: la continuerai? 👀👀👀

Spero questo messaggio ti trovi bene e di nuovo complimenti per le tue ffs, perché davvero meritano!

Detto questo...buona serata!!

(P.S.: il tuo fancast di Sansa con Cristiana Capotondi è SPETTACOLARE, è diventato il mio Roman Empire da quando l'ho visto)

Ciao @idkcallmelauren !

Prima di tutto, ciao e benvenuta nel mio antro! Sono contenta di sentirti così gasata! Effettivamente non é comune trovare italiani nel lato fandom di asoiaf che siano attivi su ao3 di questo periodo. È anche una vita che non rispondo ad una ask o un commento in italiano :)

Quindi risponderò per un po' in italiano per poi passare all'inglese quando risponderò sugli aggiornamenti delle mie jonsa.

II tuo messaggio mi trova bene e spero che la mia risposta ti trovi altrettanto bene e grazie mille per i complimenti, a volte quasi non riesco a credere di essere arrivata fino a qui quando ho cominciato a scrivere in inglese solo per puntiglio ad imparare la lingua meglio e provare alla ma prof. Delle medie che non era vero che non sarei mai stata capace di imparare l'inglese (detto poi in sede d'esame, la simpaticona) comunque, come sempre sono immensamente felice che le storie riscuotano questo successo (che per me è enorme).

Quando ho scelto adam driver per la parte di jon mi serviva una Sansa che fosse all'altezza e sono sempre stata letteralmente innamorata di lei soprattutto nelle vesti period drama quindi è stata nella mia testa una scelta scontata ❤️ (anche se il materiale da editare è relativamente poco non ho scrupoli nel riadattare O utilizzare più volte una stessa scena).

Now on to your questions about LWITD I usually write braccio even if I do have a slight idea of what I wanna do and write, which means that at times I write myself in a corner. I have been working on and off on the next chapter but I keep returning to the beginning of it and erase it all to write it from scratch again.

Right now I have several chapters ready for the Celia spin-off and the kbf-kbs serie so I am focusing on those mainly until I get struck by the inspiration on how to write myself out of the corner I got myself in LWITD, though I have given myself a dead-line - even if I am not completely satisfied with the chapter I will post it by Christmas and go on, jumping over the obstacle so to speak (maybe I am just not meant to be satisfied with this chapter; after all not all chapters I have written have satisfied me completely).

So worst case scenario you'll get an update of LWITD by Christmas (before if I manage) and I should also be able to post soon the next chapters of the soulmate jonsa story and DGITF with Aegon and Jon bonding even more.

Grazie mille! Spero tu abbia una grande e meravigliosa giornata per questo inizio di weekend❤️

[benes-diction]

Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn

[spotofmummery]

Hi There!

((Scylla ran across @celiamedica tonight, and we were all able to chat for a while and even run a leveling together. It was great to meet you! ))

[twilight-red-mage]

Fact Swap! Celia has never learned how to swim, but she loves the sound of waves!

Conrad has learned to swim, but he almost never does it! He just hates having to take his shirt off. Boy’s got some body image problems DX

Thanks for the fact :D

OC Fact Swap!

[pandapupremade]

have you seen my wife

her smile her eyes her lil head scarf wrap thingy idk but my honey my sweetie my sugar pie plum cake

[talechaser-ffxiv]

Ceremony of Eternal Bonding - Anniversary!

I just wanted to thank everyone that was able to make it tonight!

@thorcatte, who managed to join us as Haurchefant Greystone!  (Sorry for the bland poses on this one!  It was a quick shot because we kept poor thorcatte up so late and they needed sleep!)

@ylaziel, joining us as the lovely Ylaziel Thel Al'Qamar!

@saerumii​, on the lovely Saerumi Eriha!

@spotofmummery on the FABULOUS Amon d’Syrcus!

@jarethnunh and @sammael-sas-rabenius as J’areth Nunh and Sammael sas Rabenius, followed up later with J’areth returning on Arctirius wir Galvus  (@arctirius-wir-galvus) for a bonus shot!

@drdrogon as the ever-awesome Semex Drogon!

@skyysinger as the adorable little bean Sebha’to Bajhiri!  (Also Midgard was getting bord and set Jacques’s hair on fire!)

And @benes-diction as the precious Celia Benes!  (Your hair’s still on fire, Jac.  You might wanna put that out.)

And last, but not least, @housefortempsknight managed to surprise us with an unexpected visit after the ceremony as the lovely Nemisae Durdael!

Thank you all so much for coming to the ceremony!  @theaetherhealerffxiv, @thedarkestdragonknight and I were all so very happy you guys could make it!  Looking forward to another year of fun and adventures, and we’re so happy to have met so many awesome people!

(also enjoy this version of the screenshot that I ruined for everyone else by FORGETTING TO MAKE P’SHALI SMILE OUTSIDE OF GPOSE)

[korporxie]

Aaaaaand Caius @ Audrey, because I can: 💲 friends with benefits, ❤️ mutual love (shipping/romance) or 💔 one-sided love (unrequited love) (all depending on how things go between them). Also, there's no option for this, but I lowkey (highkey) want Caius to be that person that will 100% knock out someone's teeth if they get too handsy with Audrey or say/do anything to make her uncomfy.

“I lowkey (highkey) want Caius to be that person that will 100% knock out someone’s teeth if they get too handsy with Audrey or say/do anything to make her uncomfy.”

Jonesy you’ve just said the exact thing that will make Audrey fall in love with him what the FUCK how DARE YOU (except I love and YES GOOD) Someone protecting her? Being protective of her while still respecting her as an independent person? That’s her biggest kink, thanks for coming to my TedTalk. Can’t wait for these nerds to meet. 

RELATION MEME

[benes-diction]

Civil Disobedience

[thedarkestdragonknight]

😘 (for the little garlic puff!)

Them as a person:

“Where do I even begin when it comes to Celia? She is precious... and she has shown me so much. So many people know well that I have my reasons for being... cautious when it comes to any Garleans that I happen to meet. Celia has helped me to understand that they are not all like those that... I suffered with. She’s also sweet and so kind... and she brings me cookies every so often. Which... can be a dangerous thing really now that I think about it...”

Level of attractiveness:

“She’s adorable to me... and for me I honestly see her more like a daughter than anything else. She’s precious, kind and gentle. And I don’t think I’d ever see her as anything but this precious little thing... besides, I’m pretty sure that Arduro would obliterate me if I said anything else.”

What annoys them most:

“I... really can’t find anything that annoys me when it comes to Celia. But that’s perhaps just because I haven’t FOUND anything to be annoyed by whenever I’ve spent time with her. I mean... I could blame her for the many times I’ve had stomach aches because I’ve had way too many cookies and sweets but... that’s not really annoying and it’s my own fault right?”

What they like the most:

“She has a way of... soothing me whenever I have moments where my brain is simply destroying itself. One thing that has always stood out has been her musical talents, even if I rarely get the chance to see them. Honestly... I wish to see it more often. Perhaps I can show her into Shali’s room and let her play his instruments when he’s not around...”

What they’d do if they were locked in a closet together for 4 hours:

“Look, I would break through that door just to make sure she is safe and so we’re not in a cramped space together. I have a feeling that being trapped in any sort of enclosed, small space for too long would get to her... and I don’t want to see her cry.”

Overall opinion:

“I’m her guardian dragon... I would do anything to make sure that Celia is safe and happy. Because she means so much to me... and I hate seeing her upset or crying.”

Rating:

“Does super sweet count as a rating?”

SEND 😘 FOR MY MUSE’S HONEST OPINION ABOUT YOUR MUSE

@benes-diction - Yes I had to make him comment on basically being like a papa dragon to her okay...

[cherrytart-ffxiv]

📱 (with you know who :eyes:, or maybe a wrong number thing with poor Celia. Your choice. \o/ )

TWO FOR ONE, BABY– @benes-diction

[lunamagicablu]

La Danza dell’Attivazione della Libellula Per prepararvi a questa attivazione, trovate un posto tranquillo per sedervi o sdraiarvi. Iniziate a respirare profondamente focalizzandovi nel Centro del vostro Cuore – inspirando ed espirando.

Focalizzate ora l’energia che va dal vostro cuore passando attraverso i piedi ed entra nella Terra, connettendovi con il suo Cuore cristallino. Respirate profondamente. Riportate l’energia nel Cuore. Respirate profondamente. Ora portate l’energia attraverso la Corona della testa in alto nel Cuore Cosmico di Dio, connettendovi con le pulsazioni della Luce e dell’Amore. Respirate profondamente. Riportare ora l’energia nel cuore e mescolate il Cielo e la Terra, respirando di nuovo profondamente.

Ora, vedendovi come il centro, proiettate un cerchio di luce intorno a voi e onorate le quattro direzioni: est, sud, ovest e nord e i Quattro Elementi, Aria, Acqua, Fuoco e Terra. Ora chiamate i vostri Spiriti Guida, Animali Totem o una Guida Angelica qualsiasi con cui desiderate lavorare.

Ora chiamate lo Spirito della Libellula.

Presto, sentirete un’energia leggera e magica e diventerete consapevoli di luminose ali di luce sospese intorno a voi. Godetevi le sensazioni.

Poi, diverrete consapevoli della danza di luce e delle tonalità cangianti man mano che Libellula danza. Potreste anche udire dei suoni che vi rammentano i canti degli angeli.

Diventate consapevoli che la Libellula vi chiede di danzare e di sognare nei Livelli Superiori di Coscienza!

Potreste sentire l’impulso ad alzarvi e a danzare con la Libellula, o potreste semplicemente permettere alla vostra immaginazione di danzare nella Luce!

Mentre danzate, vi muovete attraverso Campi di Luce e girando portate i vostri sogni, desideri e visioni nella manifestazione. Focalizzatevi su qualunque cosa vogliate manifestare nella vostra vita e danzate le sensazioni e la gratitudine nella manifestazione con Gioia! Danzate anche la Gioia, la Pace e l’Armonia nella manifestazione sulla Terra!

Ora la Libellula si posa ed è tempo di piegare le luminose ali di luce e di riposare.

Respirate profondamente e riposate.

È fatto!

Ora, ringraziate la Libellula e ritornate al Centro del vostro Cuore. Respirate profondamente e chiudete il Cerchio Sacro, ringraziando tutti coloro che hanno lavorato con voi, gli Elementi e le Quattro Direzioni.

Focalizzatevi nel Cuore. Respirate profondamente. Radicatevi di nuovo e, quando vi sentite pronti, ritornate alla realtà di veglia.

Sappiate che la vostra Danza e il vostro Sogno si manifesteranno nel momento giusto per il massimo bene di tutti.

Celia Fenn art Brian Froud ********************************* The Dance of Dragonfly Activation To prepare for this activation, find a quiet place to sit or lie down. Begin to breathe deeply by focusing in the Center of your Heart - inhaling and exhaling.

Focus now the energy that goes from your heart passing through your feet and enters the Earth, connecting you with its crystalline Heart. Breathe deeply. Bring the energy back into the Heart. Breathe deeply. Now bring the energy through the Crown of the head up into the Cosmic Heart of God, connecting with the pulsations of Light and Love. Breathe deeply. Now bring the energy back to the heart and mix Heaven and Earth, breathing deeply again.

Now, seeing yourself as the center, cast a circle of light around you and honor the four directions: east, south, west and north and the Four Elements, Air, Water, Fire and Earth. Now call your Spirit Guides, Totem Animals, or any Angelic Guide you wish to work with.

Now call the Dragonfly Spirit.

Soon, you will feel a light and magical energy and you will become aware of bright wings of light suspended around you. Enjoy the sensations.

Then, you will become aware of the dance of light and the changing hues as Dragonfly dances. You may also hear sounds that remind you of the songs of angels.

Become aware that the Dragonfly is asking you to dance and dream in the Higher Levels of Consciousness!

You may feel the urge to get up and dance with the Dragonfly, or you may simply allow your imagination to dance in the Light!

As you dance, you move through Fields of Light and as you turn you bring your dreams, wishes and visions into manifestation. Focus on whatever you want to manifest in your life and dance the feelings and gratitude into manifestation with Joy! Dance also Joy, Peace and Harmony in the manifestation on Earth!

Now the Dragonfly alights and it is time to fold the bright wings of light and rest.

Breathe deeply and rest.

It's done!

Now, thank the Dragonfly and return to your Heart Center. Breathe deeply and close the Sacred Circle, thanking all who have worked with you, the Elements and the Four Directions.

Focus in the Heart. Breathe deeply. Ground yourself again, and when you feel ready, return to waking reality.

Know that your Dance and your Dream will manifest at the right time for the greatest good of all.

Celia Fenn art Brian Froud

[itsarttome]

Maria Callas Most Beautiful Arias

Maria Callas was a human songbird. Listening to her voice gives me goosebumps and made me fall in love with opera. I’ll never forget that scene in Pretty Woman, when Edward Lewis says “people's reaction to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic. They either love it or hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don't, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul.” Opera is part of my soul now, and that’s largely thanks to the stupendous Miss Callas  ❤ Read on to see some of my favorites of her work...  

One of the perks of studying Italian in university is I got to go to the opera for FREE multiple times! I feel blessed that I got to see all of the following arias, although not performed by Maria Callas, live at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA and the Caracalla Theatre in Rome, Italy. They took my breath away at the time and still do. It just so happens that all of my favorite arias from these operas I got to see (including Lucia di Lammermoor, Madama Butterfly, the Barber of Seville and Nabucco) were sung at one point by Maria Callas and her versions remain my favorite recordings to listen to. 

1. “Regnava nel silenzio” from Lucia di Lammermoor (act I, scene II) composed by Gaetano Donizetti 

You should listen to the whole song, but especially~ 

(3:33-4:08) & (7:07-8:00) 

Parmi che a lui d'accanto, Sì schiuda il ciel per me. (It seems that when I am near him, the heavens open up for me) 

2. “Un bel di vedremo” from Madama Butterfly (act II, scene I) composed by Giacomo Puccini 

Goosebumps. 

(2:15-3:40) 

Chi sarà? Chi sarà? E come sarà giunto che dirà? Che dirà? Chiamerà "Butterfly" dalla lontana. Io senza dar risposta me ne starò nascosta un po' per celia ... e un po' per non morire al primo incontro, ed egli alquanto in pena chiamerà, chiamerà: "Piccina mogliettina, olezzo di verbena," i nomi che mi dava al suo venire.

(Can you guess who it is? And when he's reached the summit, can you guess what he'll say? He will call: "Butterfly" from the distance. I, without answ'ring, hold myself quietly conceal'd. A bit to teaze him and a bit so as to not die at our first meeting; and then, a little troubled, he will call, he will call: "Dear baby wife of mine, dear little orange blossom!" The names he used to call me when he came here) 

3. “Una voce poco fa” from the Barber of Seville (act I, scene II) composed by Gioachino Rossini  

Is it a bird?? Is it a flute?? No, it’s Maria Callas’ stunning voice. 

(2:00-5:00) 

Sì, Lindoro mio sarà; (Yes, Lindoro will be mine;) Lo giurai, la vincerò. (I've swore it, I'll win.) Io sono docile, son rispettosa, (I'm gentle, respectful, ) Sono obbediente, dolce, amorosa; (I'm obedient, sweet, loving;) Mi lascio reggere, mi lascio reggere. (I let be ruled, I let be ruled.) Mi fo guidar, mi fo guidar. (I let be guided, I let be guided.) Ma se mi toccano (but if they touch) Dov'è il mio debole (where my weak spot is) Sarò una vipera sarò (I'll be a viper) E cento trappole (and a hundred traps) Prima di cedere farò giocar. (before giving up I'll make them fall)

4. “Ben io t' invenni” from Nabucco (act II, scene I) composed by Giuseppe Verdi 

♥♥♥

(5:30-6:30)

Piangeva all'altrui pianto, (I wept at the tears of others,) Soffria degli altri al duol; (I suffered at the sorrows of others;) Ah! chi del perduto incanto (Ah! who of that lost enchantment Mi torna un giorno sol? (will return to me one day?)

5. “Vogliatemi bene” from Madama Butterfly (act I, scene XI) composed by Giacomo Puccini

(4:10-6:23) 

Ah! dolce notte! quante stelle! Non le vidi mai sì belle! Trema, brilla ogni favilla col baglior d'una pupilla. Oh! quanti occhi fisi, attenti, d'ogni parte a riguardar! pei firmamenti, via pei lidi, via pel mare...ride il ciel! Ah! dolce notte! Tutto estatico d'amor, ride il ciel!

(Oh, lovely night! What a lot of stars! Never have I seen them so beautiful! Every spark twinkles and shines with the brilliance of an eye. Oh! What a lot of eyes fixed and staring, looking at us from all sides! In the sky, along the shore, out to sea...the sky is smiling! Oh, lovely night! In a ecstasy of love the sky is smiling!)

Her voice brings each of these brilliant composers’ music to life the way a model makes a designer’s clothes come alive, or the way that an actor helps deliver a story to the world. It’s pure art and it makes me shiver to the bones every time I hear her sing these astounding arias. Even though I speak Italian so I can understand it, you don’t need to understand the words to feel the emotions in her powerful soprano voice. So if you’re in the mood for music that will take your soul on a journey, give opera a try, in particular the legendary works of Maria Callas. 

[whitelotus-ffxiv]

parting thoughts - the other side

[[ please go read @benes-diction​ post, parting thoughts, before this one, and make sure to give my talented friend some love for her beautiful writing. <3 link to her post >here<. ]] 

It doesn’t require being a siren to know how the palace breathes once the Garleans finally depart. 

Those whose shoulders had been coiled with tension and hostility begin to relax. Those who had shrunk against walls and into shadows slowly emerge once more, like they’re stepping out from a storm shelter now that the wind has ceased rattling against the door. I can hear the denizens of the palace beginning to breathe once more, and the atmosphere even borders on something giddy. 

And I know that some of the Garleans thought that we were overreacting to their presence. I know that to some, the way we postured and bared our teeth and refused to relax seemed like overkill. I know that it might even have hurt their feelings that we felt we could not be at ease.

But we couldn’t. And I was hoping - some small, foolish part of me was hoping - that now that they’ve seen their countrymen turn their swords on each other, that they would understand the fear. 

Maybe the Benes and Caelius families were not complicit or a part of the crimes committed against my people. This doesn’t change those who are older who saw their beautiful Doma subjugated by people who looked like the Garleans that sat in our halls. It doesn’t change the damage that was done by watching their own friends, their own sons and daughters, turn their swords by decree of those tall, icy people with their pale hair and third eyes. Some Domans, like the oyabun, sold their souls to survive. 

Others died spitting in the faces of those who dared try to steal their freedom. 

Still others died begging for their lives, on their knees. My parents died screaming in fury and in agony, pleading for the lives of my brother and me, while men crafted of metal in both armor and in their hearts set them aflame.

It is not easy to erase the sins of the past. It is not easy to forgive. It is not easy to look at a pair of pale hands and not see crimson on them, even if they never touched a hair on anyone’s head. 

They’ll find peace, the Garleans. They’ll find peace and safety as they move onto this next chapter of their lives, as much as it may hurt. They will bleed and mourn for the country they knew, just as the Domans did. 

I cannot say that I feel bad for them. Not as much as I should. It feels righteous, somehow. Domans paid for the sins of a few. Maybe the universe is trying to set itself back into balance by forcing the Garleans to pay for the sins of a few, too. Or maybe the gods are just cruel and like to toy with mortals. It’s hard to say. It’s hard to understand, and I won’t presume to try. 

I only hope their journey is safe enough that they will not backtrack and return. I hope they find what it is that they’re looking for and leave us in peace. And because I know Luli and my mother would be disappointed in me if I didn’t say it... I hope they find their happiness once more. I know this family did not hurt my people. I understand that. 

Some wounds, however, stay raw. They bleed, and they bleed, and they bleed. It’s in my nature to protect, and so if I must be regarded as some rabid animal by the people that crossed into the palace, so be it. If it seems as though my reactions were too severe, that’s alright. I would always rather be safe than sorry when it comes to those who are most precious. I would rather be overcautious and regarded as cold, cruel, than ever have to be worried that I was too kind to someone who would hurt Jun or Aoi if given a window. 

These Garleans are not my friends. I will not miss them. But I hope the best for them. And for more reasons than selfish ones, I’m grateful that they’re out of this cursed palace. 

A third eye will not protect you here. Beauty and status will not protect you here. The more beautiful you are, the higher the risk is. I wonder if the smallest one - Celia, with the scar across her face - knows, in her days here, that her scar was a blessing and a protection. Jun calls her ugly, but I never saw it to be so. But perfection reigns, in the Jade Palace. If I had it my way, I would make every girl here just disfigured enough so that the Jade Lord would never set his sights on them ever again, but...

It would be easier to kill him, wouldn’t it? At least the Garleans and I seem to be in agreement in that regard. 

Go in peace, Garleans, and keep going. May you find whatever peace it is you need to survive. And may you remember the look of fear on the faces of people, young and old, that you invoked when you got too close.