#coldblood-gardens

[lockawayknight]

@coldblood-gardens

It's almost as if something had drawn him here...

There's something... off... about this particular invasion, Creighton thinks to himself as his red phantom appears at the foot of the Erdtree – in the ruins of the former capital, rubble below his feet and golden leaves landing in his hair. The once-great kingdom of Leyndell, having long since been abandoned and left to crumble, still patrolled by knights who dutifully protect their lost causes despite it all. It's an almost haunting sight, the sound of the trumpets of emissaries echoing in the distance, and the gentle stirring of branches above. It's certainly a sight to behold...

But Creighton has more important things to do than look around, and more important things to kill than time.

The search is always the best and worst part, fuelling his adrenaline like oil on a flame, sparking deadliness and threatening wildfire. He creeps around corners in search of the target – whoever the Gods decided has to die today. The search is long...

His search eventually leads him to an old building that looks... strangely familiar. Something like home, but hauntingly so, like visiting the place where one grew up after it had been long abandoned. Familiar halls, with familiar fireplaces. Familiar bookshelves adorned with familiar fabrics. It looks strangely like... the Roundtable Hold...?

No, no. Impossible. And regardless...

He's found his target.

But, hold on just a moment... he creeps closer, his axe held tight, his breathing hushed; and he realises...

"... Oh! I remember you!" He gives his position away without a care, taking a casual stance with his axe's blade pointed harmlessly towards the ground. "Albert, or somethin'. Ice witch. Hah, what a joke: looks like you're my mark..."

He says it so casually, as if he isn't about to kill the man.

(Or, at least, try to.)

He does not lower his guard – no, of course not, not when his Lord's name is on the line. But he's treating it with the casual air of one running into an old friend at the market. He shifts his weight to one side, his blade still crackling threateningly.

[allknowingofnir]

@coldblood-gardens

A red light in the mist, a familiar silhouette fades into view, the reapers symbol slung casually over his shoulder.

...Alberich.

"Hello again, old friend. So far from the safety of the roundtable, too?"

Gideon watches the phantom approach, his posture calm and even although he is far from the sanctuary of the Hold. The mists of Liurnia churn about them as he measures the man before him.

"...it is rare, but I find Liurnia helps put my mind at ease sometimes. The place is crawling with fiends and monstrosities, but just the same it still maintains a natural beauty to it, doesn't it?"

Whether that last bit is pointed toward Alberich is unclear, but he gives no inflection to indicate either way. Rather, he turns his head toward Raya Lucaria, standing over it all.

"Reminds me of better days, what could be if this war over the throne ends... a rare glimpse into my own hopes. What of yours, old friend?"

[mohgwynn]

@coldblood-gardens said: "I must say, it is ever fascinating to, for lack of a better word, see another me roaming these halls, though you retain the bloody hue of hostile ghosts. Perhaps my soul is separate from my flesh, or perhaps this is the fiddling of that red star only our ilk see. What do you think, my devilish double?"

Alberich – or, well, one of the two Alberiches (Alberi?) – grins back at his double, agreeing to the sentiment through a light chuckle that bounces his shoulders and jingles the glintstones set into his garb. Gods, how long has it been, really, since he's been in these halls not as a red phantom, he wonders as he looks upon his full-cloured self...?

Or maybe that's a silly question, since the answer would appear to be right now.

The paradoxical nature of it all amuses the hell out of him. He's always loved a good riddle. "I'd say perhaps you're right, but that would let loose an entire murder of dilemmas, wouldn't it?" he muses to himself. "If one of us is the separation of the other's soul, which is the real Alberich? Are we both equal fragments, or is one a shifty simulacrum? Does it even matter if we both get along? If one of us dies, does the other die, too, as an extension of the first? Ought we just start throwing fists and see what happens? Or should we try to give Gideon the worst night of his life first?"

If he knows himself – which, to be fair, he really doesn't half the time – he can only assume that the final option is the one they will agree on. But who knows! Who really knows themselves as much as they say they do? Please, self-realisation? In this day and age?

Besides, they don't call him mad for nothing.

[crybaby-tarnished]

Theres a choked cough, Alberich was startled by the fact he was nearly caught and it sent him hacking into his cape until his lungs were free of liquid. "Agh... R-right, my apologies, but a cook should sample before they serve, no? Even if it's two or three times, keheheh~" He would have to wait a bit longer still, but that was out of his control currently. Alberich brought out Geralts ham first, giving him the whole thing before returning for what he made for Fyra and himself. Fyra got a salad that was a mix of foraged fruit pieces, edible flowers and some wild greens, as well as a hearty plate of fried potato discs and stewed meat, while Alberich had made himself a few sandwiches with fresh roll buns and what seemed like sliced giant crayfish. When he had the time to get his scythe on one of those thing's claw meat was a mystery of it's own. Once everything was served Alberich took his seat opposite his love, resting his head on his hands and looking in her direction. "I took a shot in the dark of what a farmer might eat, I'd love to know if I was at all close to preparing something of comfort"

Fyra cast him a playful glance from under her bangs before she served herself some of the potatoes and meat, taking a bite. "Not bad, not bad at all. A good attempt in a place that has no farms."

She eyed his sandwiches with interest, before focusing on him. "I should teach you a recipe my Pa makes. Suckling pig with black berry juice. You roast it on a spit, turning it over the fire. And in the last ten minutes, you brush on blackberry juice on it, and keep brushing it on until it finishes."

She took another bite, this time taking the foraged vegetables. "Takes forever and its very labor intensive, but it's so good. I think it might replace hams if Geralt were to try it."

Geralt did not react to her statement, sitting in his chair, the whole ham in his lap as he gnawed on it.

The space under the stares leading to the kitchens is glowing extremely brightly for some reason.

Dare you see why?

[bleue-flora]

To me it makes sense c!Dream had a map of c!Tommys base on his wall. Not buying into the 'c!Dream is obsessed with c!tommy theory' But, he still saw c!Tommy as a threat and even though c!Dream says that he wasn't focusing on c!Tommy. He makes it clear that he had known what he was doing by mentioning that c!Tommy was farming potatos here x com/asterdiscs/status/1737317034835210313 I think he was watching him to make sure he didn't cause problems.

[context] [link provided]

Yes, of course, it does make sense. Just like the map of Snowchester on the other wall [post], Tommy is a threat and variable to consider that can mess up his plan and goal. It’s not that it doesn’t make sense or that there is no reasonable explanation for it, more so I just found it funny and ironic, since he specifically talks about how he wasn’t focused on Tommy and then highlights how he was focused on Wilbur and yet doesn’t have a map of Wilbur’s base or anything on his wall. Cuz ya know, this quote lives rent free in my head lol.

“I hadn’t bothered you for months—for Months. But I’m the bad guy. Why’d you do it? Why—why did you involve yourself again? I—I was—I—At this point, I was—I was so focused on Quackity and everything he was doing, and Las Nevadas, and—getting revenge. I was—I was focused on Awesamdude and beating him. I—you were—you were the last person on my mind. I was focused on Wilbur—for burning the discs. I was focused on everybody, except for you—and then you were like, ‘Hey! I want attention. I’m gonna come and break into your house in the middle of the night and kill you.’” [clip]

The potato thing is an interesting point I haven’t seen before… I wonder if that was a random comment or meant he had been to his base?… Tommy’s garden at his og house is wheat and carrots right? So there is no reason for Dream to necessarily assume Tommy is growing potatoes (he’s not Technoblade lol), which does certainly imply Dream visited his underground base.

But see, the thing is, he seemed surprised and outaged in the finale that Tommy would make this move and dare come after him, which I had always assumed was because he didn’t think Tommy would try anything, but if Dream had been to his base he would have seen the traps and gear Tommy was making to kill Dream so them coming to kill him wouldn’t be that surprising. But maybe it wasn’t their attack that surprised him, but the method of the attack.

On more than one instance in that stream he highlights the savage nature of his murder [clip], even going as far as to call them coldblooded [clip]. So perhaps he is not surprised by them coming after him as much as the way in which they did, by sneaking in, in the middle of the night, to slit his throat. He expected an attack at some point but just not that…

Then again there is something to be said about predicting people’s behavior. That you can consider multiple actions or reactions from someone but sometimes you hope or think it’s unlikely to happen, or that’s the extreme worse case and you want to think better of people. Perhaps, for example he considered the possible situation where someone would want to torture him for the book so they could kill him, but the risk seemed low because he trusted Sam. But he knew it could happen, just didn’t think it was the most likely outcome. In the same way, knowing that Tommy coming after him could happen but thinking if he just leaves him alone maybe he’ll leave him alone too…

Furthermore, if he left that creepy disc under Tommy’s house as a scare tactic to get Tommy to be too afraid to come after him, maybe he went to his new base to do a similar thing. But realized, that that fear was also making Tommy more likely to attack so came to the conclusion to just leave him alone, making Dream even more upset when he gets attacked unprovoked anyways, feeling like he should have acted when he had the chance and that it seems rather unjust to break into his house and assasinate him.

There does also seem to be an underestimation of how far people are willing to go to hurt him. Not that he doesn’t consider it an option but perhaps he didn’t consider it the most likely. When rewatching parts of the staged finale this week, I noticed just how frustrated Dream was at Tommy for wanting to kill him till he’s dead.- “You don’t have to kill me.” And it’s not an unreasonable expectation. Even Schlatt, who was pretty unanimously  hated, wasn’t really sentenced to permanent death from the get go, he just happened to lose all of his lives prior to the war and even then technically he died of a heart attack. Techno of course they wanted to kill, but given the reactions in Doomsday it doesn’t seem like they really were aware that Techno didn’t have more lives [clip]. So this would be kinda the official first time they intend to off someone for good, off the admin no less. And that doesn’t seem notable because in our world you only get one life. But I think in their world it is notable. It is why Tommy’s suicide is such an important point because he knew he wouldn’t come back…

And I think Dream is suprised by the treatment because these aren’t just his enemies, or strangers, these were his friends. His friends who wanted him dead after hanging out with him and experiencing the good in him. The friend that tortured him relentlessly for months. The friends who locked him away forever because he was so evil that’s all they could think to do. The friend he was wasn’t good enough to be worth keeping him around.

And that’s a tough reality to live in. For everyone to hate you that much. And if you’ve read my theory on the prison [post], I’m of the opinion that Dream sought a way to redemption. Not because he thought he needed it morally but because he wanted to be loved and accepted back into society instead of hated by everyone as The bad guy.

And I think in some ways however small, he thought that after prison maybe if he was on his best behavior, maybe if he left them alone, maybe if he kept to himself, then he could be let back in the folds. That he wouldn’t be seen as a threat. That what happened in prison was enough to change him in the eyes of people so he could get a second chance. And I hear that in his voice after prison. As he talks to Tommy, and his frustration “maybe I can enjoy the beach for once in my life…” “everyone will think I’ve changed…” but slowly realizing that what he suffered wasn’t enough to satisfy Tommy or curb Tommy’s appetite for his permanent death. And oh the conversation with Sapnap just hurts , the way hope just bleeds out of his voice the more they talk until his villain persona falls back into place and he turns to threats [vod]. Even his conversation with Foolish, as he tries to defend himself and be peaceful and friendly, even that doesn’t quite cut it as Wilbur’s propaganda is so ingrained into the server that not even complete strangers are willing to work with him. Flattery, gifts, explanations, offers for more money, even highlighting his own torture wasn’t enough to get Foolish to make a simple deal with him [vod]. And that has to be beyond frustrating that even the new members don’t like him…

So maybe he knew Tommy was coming to kill him, expected it even, maybe he was keeping an eye on Tommy, maybe he did visit his base to make sure he’s not a threat. Maybe he knew he was a threat. Maybe ironically while Tommy was invisibly watching the prison, Dream was at his base in invisibility. Maybe Dream knew clingy duo would come, because they always come -“Tommy and Tubbo vs Dream” a battle he knew they’d want to repeat. But maybe he was surprised at them sneaking into his house, after months of leaving them alone, to slit his throat in his sleep…

[luminaryofblood]

A familiar stranger rises up the elevator at the gate to Mohg and Miquella's chambers, two scythes on his back, and a bottle of wine in hand. Alberich does not cross the threshold, but he removes his hat and kneels. He was in the flesh, this time.

"Lord Mohgwyn, my friend. I asked your beloved to let you know I was coming, and I bring a gift. Are you free to... Talk shop, so to speak?"

@coldblood-gardens

The Lord of Blood stepped out from that threshold to meet with his visitor, his steps slow, and... Careful.

"Ahh... Alberich... It has been some time since last we spoke..."

There was a certain tiredness in the way he carried himself. Something seemed to be off...

"Ahh, if the gift that you bring to me is the wine, I'd be more than happy to accept... On a normal occasion... I've been under... Under... The weather... So I must decline."

[ashitakaxsan]

Revisiting the Heartwarming Flashback

Professor Henderson and Martha Marriot's Wholesome Bond in Spy x Family 💼💖 Step back in time with the latest chapter in Spy x Family, where the tender relationship between Professor Henderson and Martha Marriot comes to life in vivid detail. As we journey through their shared memories, we're reminded of the power of friendship, kindness, and the bonds that endure through the ages.

It was a question about what sort of story do housemaster Henderson and Marriot share.I was wondering about it.

Below:Chapter 72. They know each other well!

They know each other,each one calls him wit his little name.

Now with chapter 97 Endo sensei gives us their shared backstory. Back during their years in Eden College Martha as the quite talented ballerin sparked to Henderson the word "Elegant".

Eventually Henry was saved by the severe bullying of his classmates,thanks to the amazingly agile Martha.The incident led him to seek Justice,so this awful mentality wouldn't ever get repeated. But in his Dismay the seeds of Corruption,within the Well respected Eden College,had really blossomed to flowers of Evil(:

"Even the teachers at Eden have been corrupted. I'll not let that happen to me". That'a great line of a man ,believing in moral Integrity.He would seriously protect this vital Element.He had made up his mind:In order to protect it,and make Active Defence of Integrity he would become a great Educator.

But being fixated with it,in the way he pursued his ideals,to seriously change the world(as far as i can tell it's pointless to change the world.the point is let go, keep an open mind, and give the universe room to show itself as it is-Taoism) he forgot to keep being with those close.Or accurately he saw it as useless.Ditching way the simple things that provides us joy isn't that great.These are Friendship,laughter,a sense of humor(:

(The arc displays us the volatile mentality and unscrupulness at Eden. How come the Disciplinary Committee got too lax? Where was madam Donna Schlag? She's always strict,dismissing the aggressive language too. Below:She was around the same time with Marriott)

Below:The panel displays the joy od the graduates-except of Henderson.See somone noticed it:That Henry sees these things as a burden,he seems stonecold.

That's how he left Martha behind,to her it really mattered that he walked way,with out him started the sorrow(:

Man,how Endo sensei makes it give us an intence scene of her sad tears.She's heartbroken. She was more than interested on him: She's In love with him,head over heels. Yet he was clueless about her feelings.

"The next day I went to the garden thinking that he'd be there.I had the innocent believe that someone important to me would always be there": Martha Marriot.It did take the better of her,dragging her down -not being her usual self:The Lively,early bird.

It's intriguing how Endo sensei draws a subtle connection,between the corruption at Eden and the escalating tensions between Westalis and Ostania.Namely they're interrelated problems.

Maybe in the next chapter we'll see more about them: How did each one sense the war,how did each one react,and particularly Martha's decision for a path as Defendor-not a coldblooded killer.

[mohgwynn]

“You have a therapi—? hrrghk.”

Seems he wasn’t fully aware of his own strength. The air is forced from his lungs as his double returns the embrace, lifting him off the ground with little fuss. He tries to take a deep breath, but with those arms still around him, the words still end up forced through clenched teeth.

“I need to find myself one of those…”

Ouch. Breathing hard. He hopes he gets put down soon.

🫂 red phantom alberich hugs his corporeal double

"Well... My therapist always told me self love was important"

The hug is returned even tighter, enough to slightly lift the red apparition off the ground

[in-lucem-veritas]

Ho-ho-ho again. T'is I, Rosie, remade and hopefully not a bitch anymore.

As per usual, mod is 21+, Minors DNI, and the muses are the same.

Dany: Lord of Dragons, strives to give the Dragons and Perfect Order a fighting chance.

Gara: Disgraced former Lord of Frenzied Flame, Miquella's needle deep beneath his skin. Now wanders searching for redemption and purpose before he falls into Destined Death.

Elysia: Formerly the deadliest of the Recusants, now the Herald of Destined Death, trusted hand of Godwyn, Prince of Death and faithful to Those Who Live In Death. Formerly a noblewoman, seeks to avenge her slain elder sister. To meet her with blade drawn is a sure path to a bloody, beautiful end.

Perona: Future Lord of Compassion, the Archcleric blessed by Miquella as chosen. Freed of her vengeful mother's curse, she is free as the morning doves, and sings just as sweetly.

Tristania: A monsterfucker with magic. That's it.

Hope no one minds being tagged, just let me know what stuff we had going and please send me your replies again if so.

@crybaby-tarnished @deathblightprince @krakenguard @coldblood-gardens

[izar-tarazed]

@coldblood-gardens

a large spider that bares an odd resemblance to Alberich (mostly black, red spots) skitters up to Izar, touches her foot gently with one leg, then continues running off to wherever it was going.

In the distance, Alberich himself can be heard looking for this creature, calling out for it by name.

"Tuna! Please don't bite anyone I raised you better than that!"

Izar freezes in mid-motion, stares down at her foot for a moment, then after the spider, then turns towards the direction of the voice.

" … would I be right to assume that Tuna is eight-legged and in a great hurry?"

[allknowingofnir]

A familiar voice, one that sets alarm bells and old grudges off in gideons head, whispers behind him, accompanied by the chill of a winter wind and the scent of iron

"Greetings, old friend"

The last word was laced heavily with disdain, a tone that gave the miles of emotional distance between two old mages form, if just for a moment. Even though he spoke cordially, it was obvious reconciliation was a long ways away

@coldblood-gardens

"Alberich." The words were as icy as the sorcerer's spells. Gidoen was tense, but Ensha was close at hand. His paranoia was abated for his sake as well, as it had been his silent insistence that the man be given a chance in the first place.

"...it has... been a long time. So, you've been living in our walls I've heard? Hopefully it's been..." It wouldn't work this time. The decorum, the speeches. They knew each other too well.

"Who am I kidding with this. What's this about? Some angle to your hunt now? Coming in to properly assess your-" The tirade was cut short by a soft grip on his shoulder. Ensha once more. Gideon turned toward his guard, eyes narrowed.

Ensha leaned close, whispering words between the two of them. Gideon mumbled back, the conversation terse but poignant. Periodically he would look to Alberich, then back to Ensha. Everyone was here to undermine his authority lately it seemed.

"...my apologies, I forgot myself. I hope you find the room... suitable, Alberich. I... know... we have a history between us... but for our sake and that of our... fellows," his head turned to Ensha, then back to Alberich, "...we can put that sordid business behind us, difficult as it... may be."

[lockawayknight]

Well. That's not a very friendly greeting.

Creighton's eyes narrow slightly, but there's an undeniable grin behind the chain guard of his mask, darkly amused by the sorcerer's reaction. As always, it would seem, the knight's downfall is sure to be his ego, as he does not shift his casual pose – does not believe this threat is more than just that. His confidence in his ability to kill is as infallible as an eagle's is to fly. He has no worries here, even as the chill reaches his very bones.

He gives his axe a twirl, sparks flicking off its edge. "Eager, are ya?" he asks, almost cooing. "Men wha' got somethin' t'live for don't usually try fightin' me. But you're Tarnished too, ain'tcha? You'll be back. So why don'tcha jus' lie down an' make this easy."

@coldblood-gardens

It's almost as if something had drawn him here...

There's something... off... about this particular invasion, Creighton thinks to himself as his red phantom appears at the foot of the Erdtree – in the ruins of the former capital, rubble below his feet and golden leaves landing in his hair. The once-great kingdom of Leyndell, having long since been abandoned and left to crumble, still patrolled by knights who dutifully protect their lost causes despite it all. It's an almost haunting sight, the sound of the trumpets of emissaries echoing in the distance, and the gentle stirring of branches above. It's certainly a sight to behold...

But Creighton has more important things to do than look around, and more important things to kill than time.

The search is always the best and worst part, fuelling his adrenaline like oil on a flame, sparking deadliness and threatening wildfire. He creeps around corners in search of the target – whoever the Gods decided has to die today. The search is long...

His search eventually leads him to an old building that looks... strangely familiar. Something like home, but hauntingly so, like visiting the place where one grew up after it had been long abandoned. Familiar halls, with familiar fireplaces. Familiar bookshelves adorned with familiar fabrics. It looks strangely like... the Roundtable Hold...?

No, no. Impossible. And regardless...

He's found his target.

But, hold on just a moment... he creeps closer, his axe held tight, his breathing hushed; and he realises...

"... Oh! I remember you!" He gives his position away without a care, taking a casual stance with his axe's blade pointed harmlessly towards the ground. "Albert, or somethin'. Ice witch. Hah, what a joke: looks like you're my mark..."

He says it so casually, as if he isn't about to kill the man.

(Or, at least, try to.)

He does not lower his guard – no, of course not, not when his Lord's name is on the line. But he's treating it with the casual air of one running into an old friend at the market. He shifts his weight to one side, his blade still crackling threateningly.

[crybaby-tarnished]

@coldblood-gardens

Alberich runs up to Fyra, sweaty and out of breath.

"I have a very large, hairy and angry problem..... Don't make that face. I'm talking about my pet spider, Tuna. She's skittering around the hold, if you see her please capture her in a glinstone cage or something. She's a darling, I promise. She's probably just looking for Geralt, they're friends and i--"

Alberich gasps, out of breath.

Fyra looks up from Hewg working on mending her armor, staring at him in a perplexed manner as he rambled.

She reaches up puts a finger to his lips. Hushing him.

"Take some breaths... What is this about a spider? And talk slowly."

[katyspersonal]

Now I am thinking about the fact that horses should not eat meat, they cannot really digest it, which leaves questions about Ludwig's beast form. Like, what if he cannot cannibalise unlike other beasts because it legit upsets his stomach? Or just prefers to not eat people and simply leave corpses laying around (makes sense with his boss arena). Maybe instead of eating people, he will eat the lumenweed, or coldblood flowers, or even the mold that grows from the corpses (his boss arena has plenty of it). Lumenweed is especially interesting since despite being a beast, he shows Kin features like throwing up arcane fluid and having many eyes inside. But also imagine Maria going down there to feed him lumenflowers xd Or him being let in the garden and calmly chewing the plants there without attacking the patients fsdhfhd

[luminaryofblood]

@coldblood-gardens

The red mist of an encroaching invader began to pool on the ground of Mohg and Miquellas place of rest. a figure that much resembled one of Mohgs devoted family members, yet unknown to the Lord of Blood, began to rise from the mist. His scythe did not drip with fresh blood, but instead held the reflective shine of frost across it's blade.

He does not grant the Lord proper formalities, instead bringing his weapon hand behind his back and placing his left hand upon his chest.

"Pardon the intrusion, but I would appreciate it if I could take some of your time"

"Hm... You've the smell of blood upon your person, but you are not one of my Bloody Fingers... You would dare to set foot upon the palace grounds of the Mohgwyn Dynasty uninvited?

Firstly, your name."

[deathfavor]

continued from here with @starspurn

  Snakes are particularly skilled at seeing heat. And no matter how small and how hidden Hamel lays within the garden, she does not go unnoticed. That is one explanation. Or perhaps the stronger explanation is that Serpent can taste the sorrow and despair in the air the same way a shark senses blood or a spider feels the strings of the web vibrate with motion. It draws her to stand before the sorrowful dancer and then to kneel. 

  Stop. Don’t be sad. Serpent yearns to say these words, as if her own wish for the other’s happiness would be enough. Give me your sorrow, you don’t need it. Though Serpent has spent months here, she has still not found the happiness her Ambrosia brought other people. She would take Hamel’s pain, or at least remove it…but she cannot. All she can do is reach forwards and wipe away the crystal tears from fair cheeks like dewdrops from rose petals. 

   If only she were warm, perhaps that would comfort Hamel. It is one of many things people fear of the serpentine sinner. She is almost solely coldblooded, and her skin is almost always cooler than others. But Hamel doesn’t seem to mind as she gentle wipes tears and stokes her cheeks through the sobs. It brings back painful memories of her own attempt to break into the Carnival in hopes of feeling happiness. Instead, she’d spent the night bleeding on the dirt ground and staring at the storming clouds once the Corrupters too had rejected her. Rejected by humans AND monsters. 

   “  I will stay.  “  When Serpent speaks, it is not the cheerful, higher-pitched, performative voice that she typically uses when speaking with others. It’s lower, smoother, calmer. The sinner shuffles closer, seeming unbothered by the dirt and grass that stains her white outfit but she does not touch the dancer beyond the gentle wipe of tears. ( A snake’s hug might be seen too much like a constrictor’s death grip. ) 

   “ I know. “ She does. This world is cruel and unkind, and Serpent is not very fond of it. “ Sorrow and despair are everywhere and in every shadow.” Her own is an abyss. She sits beside the dancer, a sad smile on her lips. “ I wish I could give you some of Ambrosia’s happiness. But at least I can stay with you as long as you would like. “