#custom: anais

[lemontartca]

Progress on my River Styxx custom (tentatively named Anais). They had more damage than I thought (to the point where I'm worried I created some of it removing their hair) and stained discoloration pretty much everywhere their hair was touching them. I tried to cover it up with pastels but I think in some places that accentuated it. It's not noticeable head-on, at least.

The first layer was to sketch and do the pastels while the second layer was filling in the brows and lips and painting on the eyes. This was my first time working with paint (I mean... it's my second doll ever and the first is only half finished, but I used to draw with colored pencils a lot so I had familiarity there) and the first thing I put down was the white eyeliner. The moment I did, I went "oh no." It was so messy and wide. It took me awhile to salvage it but I did eventually figure out how to make it passable. I then tried to do the rest of their eyes in pencil before I realized that it just wasn't possible. Some combination of River's skin-tone, the kind of shimmery/translucent plastic her head is made from, and how pale and pastel the colors I wanted to use are made it basically invisible on her (the entire eye is drawn out and even filled in on the first image! You wouldn't know it) so I had to pick up the paints again. I must have gone over each area a dozen times, but I did finally figure it out and I'm happy with how it looks. It doesn't match my plan, but I'd rather it looks good than "accurate."

Layer three darkened up and finished the brows and lips and then added dimension to the eyes. I'm a little on the fence between liking the eyes on the second or third layer more because my perfectionist brain says the irises in the second image are better because they're smoother and blended... but irises don't actually look like that, they have more dimension like I added in the third layer. The image quality is bad for the third one, I know, but I wanted to get the plan sketch in the background too. I still want to give her 3D lashes, but I want them to be white, so I'll have to find some (that aren't expensive since they're "specialty") first and then add some gloss varnish to her eyes and lips before her faceup will be done. Once I've finished the rest of her, I'll take nicer pictures.

In regards to her hair... I considered saving it because I liked the color, but it was matted, dirty, and I hated the bangs. I tried to look up precedent for wigging on top of rooted hair remnants, and I couldn't find anyone doing that specifically, but I did find someone wigging a Gooliope without even removing her hair first, just braiding and tucking it away so the wig can be taken on and off like a normal human one would be. Of course that's on a larger scale than a regular-sized Monster High, but it did make me think I could probably get away with leaving the roots, especially with the hairstyle I'm planning since it does still incorporate bangs that can hide some hairline sins. We'll see how it goes, but if I can avoid removing heads and scraping roots in the future, then I definitely will whenever it won't be obvious. It's a good experiment and I was just really worried around busting her head open trying to get her roots out since she's showing signs of degradation.

[diamondnokouzai]

The Facts of the Case:

THE WATTERSON FAMILY:

Nicole and Richard Watterson, 30s. Richard is a pink stay-at-home rabbit dad and seems to have some kind of intellectual disability, severe enough for it to be sort of a "I Am Sam" situation; Nicole is a blue cat employed with customer complaints. Due to being a single-income family with three dependents and numerous medical and legal costs incurred by Richard's disability. Nicole also has anger issues; the relationship is certainly toxic, if not outright abusive.

Gumball Watterson, age 12. A blue cat who seems to have ADHD and transfeminine tendencies (He wore his mom's wedding dress for his whole day and his contrived nickname was just...his name, occasionally crossdresses in pretend games, has feminine hobbies, has expressed the thought at puberty (voice changes, looking more like his father, etc.)). Has poor grades in school, possibly trauma-related (after his "Granny Jojo" kissed him on the lips, Gumball dumpster dove (among other, more disgusting things) in order to forget; counselors have attempted to put their spit on his buttocks after counselor spat in his hands); as his teacher is the elderly “Miss Simian”, he may associate her stern behavior with painful responses at home. Has been the victim of bullying in the past, is self-admittedly “spineless”, but still seems to have an inflated ego. Emotionally late in development. Physically unfit and unmotivated; occasional auto-masochistic tendencies? A victim of bullying at school. The school nurse has sworn deposition that Miss Simian “tortured” Gumball and Darwin in an afterschool detention, including throwing cough syrup on the children.

Darwin (II) Watterson, age 10. A goldfish who grew legs and doesn’t wear pants. Alternately described as a foster son and a pet. Seems happy with this status, but seems delusionally happy with everything in his life (led Gumball’s aforementioned dumpster diving, speaks to rats on the street, hallucinates faces on trees). There are occasional references to “Gumball I”, a dead fish. Inadequate sleeping arrangements (sleeps in an undersized goldfish tank; needs a higher capacity tank. Financial assistance for this pending approval.) Seems approving of Gumball’s transfemininity. Advanced? (Enrolled in the same class as Gumball, possibly due to Elmore being underfunded and having mixed grades.)

Anais Watterson, age 4. An extremely advanced (she seems to be more intelligent and responsible than her father) pink bunny who seems desperate for approval. Stifled by her family, but she insists that she loves them (her family often infantilizes her and rarely listen to her needs and wants). Gets along well with her family.

All three

The aforementioned will now be referred to as THE WATTERSONS. THE WATTERSONS would like it to be noted that they are currently in debt (anywhere from $800,000 to the upper millions) and embroiled in other legal difficulties (see Legal Difficulties of The Watterson Family, Dr. Jennifer Strauss, Columbia Press, 2011) due to Richard’s and Gumball’s disabilities.

THE WATTERSONS described above is related legally to “Granny Jojo”, an elderly pink bunny and the mother of Richard. Stifled Richard to the point that she may have contributed to his mental disabilites. In a controlling relationship with her husband.

There are two principal incidents involving “Granny Jojo”. The first is referred to in documents and by the family as THE DRESSING ROOM INCIDENT; it involved “a shut door that was not a ‘locked’ door”, a dressing room [small cubicle for trying on clothing at a clothing store], and Granny Jojo (hereafter GJ). Mentions of said incident cause Gumball Watterson (hereafter GW) to shudder in disgust, and he moves on quickly from the subject. The second incident is focused on in great detail and is the subject of this case.

In the second incident, GJ kissed GW on the lips when she came to visit the family. Nicole and Richard left before Richard’s mother arrived, as was customary (they frequently left looking harried, once with Richard in the trunk of the family vehicle). GJ ordered Anais to take her luggage upstairs without helping her and sat down on the sofa to watch “her shows” according to Darwin. The luggage was later thrown out of the front window.

Gumball was frozen in catatonia on the street after this incident without Granny Jojo noticing. Gumball expressed his verbal discomfort to Darwin, who encouraged GW to “forget about it” and “find his happy place”, Darwin was later seen speaking to non-sentient rodents, dollar bills, and trash. When GW could not forget the incident, Darwin led GW through a series of insulting and publicly humiliating incidents—he was forced to dumpster dive, forced to ingest his father’s bodily fluids (without Richard’s knowledge), and forced between a classmate’s toes (Hector, a 90 foot tall yeti). Over the course of these few days, GJ did not notice or report GW’s absence. Once he had finally forgotten the incident, he returned home days later as GJ was leaving the residence. GJ then kissed GW on the lips again, rendering him catatonic on the streets again for an unknown amount of time. When Nicole and Richard returned, they did not notice GW’s state and left him on the street as night fell.

The evidence as it stands:

Nicole is married to a man (equivalent) with severe intellectual disabilities; presumably he is drawing on social assistance of some kind.

GW is transfeminine to some degree

GW has had two “incidents” with GJ

Both incidents disgusted GW

Neither Anais nor Darwin expressed any discomfort with GJ

GJ does not live with THE WATTERSONS

Anais seems to feel to some degree responsible for GW

GW has undergone a legal name change (from Zac)

The principal has also exposed himself to GW

Assume highest quality conditions of all social services, financial assistance, etc.

[mvneaten]

౨ৎ ₊˚﹒✶ JANUARY 15TH MARKED PRIM’S 26th birthday. to celebrate the milestone, the idol had an industry wide birthday party, choosing to spend her special day beachside at doellette’s very own exclusive OPULENCE RESORT. given the expensive location and expansive guest list, it was compared to a red carpet event rather than a ‘small get together’ — as primrose had labelled it. the all exclusive party had the presence of press, with professional photographers also present to capture pictures of the night, filled with dinner, dancing and music.

the idols in attendance included prim and the rest of social suicide, darling mine’s doe, heyday’s elias and gyujin, soloists kaori and jang-mi ( @sug4rsweet &&. @rosesnthornz), venus’ bliss (@venusvity), lunarix’s navi (@mediadollz), allume’s jamie (@alllume), krush’s kaleina and aeri (@urmykrushhh), rule of rose’s darling and janelle (@bludthirst), merveille’s anais and dove (@story6ook), hashtag’s yoora and yeonhee (@hshtag), starcrush’s sunday and star (@stariified), plastic flowers’ serin (@plasticflwrs), lucid’s suyin (@dr3amluc1d) &&. lucky’s han and hiro (@lvcky0ne).

౨ৎ ₊˚﹒✶ THE LOOKBOOK !

—— the theme for event was white glam, with prim showing up in a pearl skirt and corset she had custom made for the night. guests were to enter via a white carpet, in contrast to red, to further fit the theme. nana’s outfit was a simple white dress with a large jacket and fur boots, along with a fur purse. bae instead opted for something more chic, wearing a white dress with a fur edge that extended towards the back. fans got a first look at the girls’ outfits for the night on prim’s official instagram, where she posted the three of them with the caption ‘🤍🤍’.

౨ৎ ₊˚﹒✶ THE PHOTOBOOK !

—— prim spent most of night taking photos of the event, taking selfies with the others in attendance and just trying to capture every moment of the night. her story, along with the stories of nana and bae, were filled with photos from the night. the most notable post was of nana the the rest of the party together on the white carpet, captioned ‘this night was so special because of all of you <;3’

౨ৎ ₊˚﹒✶ THE EVENT !

—— the night was highlighted by it’s dinner, with a range of courses on offer for those in attendance to enjoy, accompanied by music and dancing. taking place in opulence’s ballroom, the party also had access to the beach behind them, watching the sun set as they all shared cocktails before the official party started. some snuck away to swim, while others instead opted to stay inside and enjoy the ambience. regardless of how guests chose to spend it, it was a fun night for all involved. towards the end, bae gave a toast for the birthday girl, wishing her “a life full of love and laughs.”

౨ৎ ₊˚﹒✶ HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE ?

if you were in attendance of the party that night, share the experience with the tag #primsbbb !! feel free to share your outfits, photos, and anything interesting that may have happened at the party ! everyone who was there will also receive an exclusive press interview – so keep an eye on your ask boxes !

[msweebyness]

DuPont School for Monstrous Youths- Eloise Matuidi

🎶Don’t unplug her, or sh-shut her down!🎶 Eloise is powered up and joining the scene! @artzychic27 @imsparky2002

Species: Robot (Modern Tech)

Appearance/Attire: Short, black hair made of metal wire in a bob cut, Chrome antenna with red sensors on left side of head, Green power button in center of forehead, Fiberglass eyes with glowing pale green irises, constantly displaying data transmission numbers, shiny chrome skin with orifices at joints that glow with green energy, rocket boosters in feet and hands, short and slender build. Headband made of braided copper wire, bright green polo shirt, steel gray choker with red buttons, metallic gray cardigan, fingerless green gloves, khaki pants with a circuitry designed belt, red leather penny loafers.

Bio: As logical and even-tempered as they come, Eloise was built only recently with all the latest digital enhancements. With the intellect of at least five people, especially in the field of mathematics, she’s one of the school’s leading stars in academics. While a loyal and dedicated friend, Eloise often struggles with understanding ‘organic’ concepts such as emotions, especially since those she’s programmed to feel aren’t as strong as the real thing. This can cause her to come off as cold and apathetic when she doesn’t really mean to. However, she does her best to understand and is always willing to lend a hand modicum when someone needs help with their studies. She may be an artificial being, but she cares for real, especially about her best friend Anais.

Quotes:

“I apologize, I am not certain what emotion I am to express at this time.”

“Is this a custom of organic beings I’m unaware of?”

“One moment, my data receptors can only take in so much at one instance.”

“Deciphering complex equations is a calming process for me when my circuits are overheating.”

“Emotional systems overloading. Please hold for a moment while rebooting process commences.”

“I understand that in situations such as this, a hug is a good solution?”

She’s a bot, but the good kind! Leave your thoughts in the comments and reblogs!

[voidsdamned]

Wicked Natures - The Ghoul/OC (Female Character) Chapter Thirteen

Summary: Bounty hunters are frequent customers at Mulholland's Saloon, and Rue's taken quite a shine to one gunslinger in particular: a cantankerous, old Ghoul in a tattered duster. Witness her unabashedly lust after him in all his irradiated glory (as we are all currently doing), as well as navigate the precarious relationship she unfortunately has with local law enforcement.

Minors, do not interact.

Content Warnings: the usual swearing, use of alcohol, mentions of prostitution, murder.

Enjoy <3

Chapter Thirteen: Wrong Decision

The spot on the floor sort of looks like a dog: a big, fluffy one with a dopey, squishable face Rue would very much like to season with kisses. She’d like to give it a hug around the neck, bury her face in its fur, and take a nap. She’d like it if the dog was big enough for her to take a nap on –so big she could lie on its side and sink down into it like a mattress.

Hell, she’d just like a nap after days and days of Deck’s ridiculous, early-morning nit-picking and the long, tiresome nights that follow. Nights where she gets two or so hours of sleep at most because she works so damn late and Deck’s developed this irksome habit of popping in at the ass-crack of dawn for a breakfast Rue doesn’t want –doesn’t have the energy– to make.

The sheriff’s gone now. He left around noon for out-of-town business that’s supposed to keep him tied up for a week or two, and such news nearly brought Rue to tears of relief and joy. She’s still tired, though, and the only thing keeping her going is the promise of a late-morning sleep. But the prospect of lying down and petting the floor-spot dog is sorely tempting.

“Rue, honey, you there?”

Her fuzzy, heavy, half-not-in-her-head brain perks at her name. At the slow, concerned tone of Bo Fortenberry. She glances to him, not fond of the furrow-browed look on his face, and then her eyes go right back to the floor. She points at the spot.

“That look like a dog to you?”

“Huh.” Bo makes a teeth-kissing, curious sound. “Kinda?”

“More like a chicken to me,” Len Thomas comments, peering over the edge of the table. “That dirt or just the way the wood warps?”

“Better not be dirt,” Rue grumbles, scrubbing at the dog spot with the toe of her boot. It doesn’t move. Doesn’t have any sort of texture to it other than wood grain. “Tired of scrubbin’ the damn floors….” She decides it’s just the wood grain and sighs before shooting a grin at her table. “I completely forgot if I was comin’ or goin’. You boys need anything?”

Three out of four boys shake their heads in the negative, but Gen Guthrie bobs his as he takes a big gulp of beer.

“Just to know how long the waitin’ list is on… Ana? Anis?” Gen sets his beer down, head cocking and brows scrunching. “Annie?”

“Second one was closest,” Rue tells him, fingergunning. “Anais. And buddy, ya might not get a spot for months. She really knows how to –and I’m quotin’ Brent Mahonne directly here, ‘Lay it on a guy.’ So, I’m guessin’ she’s pretty good.”

“Brent Mahonne’s a dog,” Fat Patrick tosses in around a laugh. “Long as it’s got a hole, he’d fuck it.”

Rue believes it. She heard him proposition Adel once, and well… Rue doesn’t like that she’s imagined it, but she thinks cigarette smoke probably billows out of Adel’s cooze the same way it does from her mouth. She wouldn’t go near it. But Brent Mahonne sounded earnest and wanting when he suggested they pop out back.

She decides to not share that with the boys, though. Adel’s been shrieking at her enough as is, and Rue’s sick of it. Instead, she smiles devious and says, “Bet him and gulper fucker are best pals.”

Bo gives a short laugh but corrects her, “Naw, they can’t stand one another –both think the other’s nasty as hell and oughta be shot.” He takes a quick sip of beer. “Personally, I think the gulper fucker’s the worse of the two. Takes a depraved fucker to put their dick in somethin’ dead.”

“So, you’re sayin’ it wouldn’t be as bad if it were live when he did it?” Gen poses.

Bo’s nose scrunches, but he dips his head. “Kinda?”

“Stop talkin’ ‘bout the gulper fucker and dead things,” Len groans, green as a supermutant around the gills. “I just wanna drink my beer without hearin’ ‘bout it.”

“Awe, we’ll leave it alone, Len,” Roo coos, smile soft and teasing. She spares a swink for the rest of the boys. “I’ll come back ‘round in a bit.”

Varied appreciation comes from the table as Rue turns to leave, eyes catching on the dog spot a final time before she drags her gaze away. She has to focus and stop thinking about fluffy things to nap on. There’s a shift to get through, and then her lumpy couch can swallow her up.

Her mind spins back around to her couch often, though. When her arms wobble under the weight of a too-full tray. When Yumi keeps stealing her goddamn drinks. When Rina tells Rue she’s, “Just not feelin’ it,” when a neglected table has Rue go hunting for her. When Adel bids Rue to guess at how many caps Harvey James just offered to get Rue in the broom closet with him. When Hal asks her for the dozenth time tonight to run up the stairs to take drinks to one of the girls’ rooms.

Rue slogs herself up the staircase, a bottle of red wine in the hand that doesn’t pull her heavy body upwards with tugs at the stair rail. On the landing, she hesitates but for a moment before heading towards the room that used to be Lara’s.

Rue couldn’t actually say how long it’s been since Lara left –time runs together for her worse than it ever has– but her absence still feels very new and strange. And she frankly doesn’t like it even though she is glad Lara got to leave. Rue’s glad she’s far away and hopefully enjoying the hell of that tall, muscley boy she landed, but Rue misses Lara as fiercely as she misses hot water (if not more). She misses her honey eyes. Her quick smile. Her secret devilishness. She misses the way Lara would humour her silliness and let her try just about anything with her hair and makeup. She misses talking about nothing. She misses talking about everything. She misses the simple pleasure of sharing the same space.

And then there’s the fact that Anais isn’t very nice or likeable. She’s another Molly. Another Rina and Yumi. She’s rude, demanding, refuses to learn how to work the floor in the server kind of way, mistakenly jealous of how much attention Deck unfortunately gives Rue, and doesn’t know how to do her makeup. But she thinks she does. She gets the spitting, throwing shit kind of mad when Adel sends Rue to her room to fix whatever travesty the courtesan has thrown together.

Rue’s quick about the drink drop. She knocks loud and clear, sets the bottle down, and turns to book it back downstairs.

But then she hears her name come from further down the hall, around the corner one would take to get to Adel’s room.

People talk about Rue all the time, and she used to ignore it. She’d space out or leave it, but ever since Artie, Rue hones in when she hears her name. Something in her pricks and demands to know what is said. It could be important. Something she can use. A warning.

She takes a step down the hall, pausing for just a moment when the door to Lara’s old room parts just a fraction and a freckled hand slithers out to snatch up the wine bottle. The door shuts; Rue moves more steps, careful and slow until she comes to the corner where she takes the quickest of peaks.

Lucky and a man she doesn’t know the name of (but she knows she’s seen hanging around Deck for a little while now) lean into a wide, open window. Cigarettes smoke idly between lips or fingers, curls of grey filtering into the midnight air.

Lucky’s taking a particularly long drag, expelling it with a great sigh. “Well, they think Lara probably begged her for it, and Rue… she’s not altogether there, but she’s sweet. Sweet and simple. She’d give anyone the shirt off her back, and Deck’s pissed Lara took advantage of that.”

Rue pulls back, spine pressing into the wall and heart doing all manners of flip-flops in her chest. That’s bad. She hasn’t heard much, but that’s really, really bad.

“That… that still don’t sound like a good enough reason to send someone after her.”

Rue’s flip-flopping heart splats to the floor. She…. Maybe she’s just misunderstanding the situation? Surely, they’re not talking about Lara having a bounty her. Not Lara. Not Lara who’s never done anything but love someone –who didn’t even ask Rue for help.

“It’s enough for him.”

“…He’s weird ‘bout that one.”

A grumbled, heavily sighed. “Buddy, ya don’t know the half of it. He don’t like it when anyone gets too close to her or when she does anything for anyone other than him. And it’s just been gettin’ worse and worse here lately with everything goin’ on. Her interactin’ with folks here is gettin’ to be too much for him. Can’t tell ya how many times he’s complained ‘bout Bo Fortenberry and his boys or that Ghoul takin’ up too much of her time. He’s even startin’ to get weird ‘bout Hal and… and that Ghoul rancher –shit, what’s her name….” A snap of the fingers. “Ira Jean. Just everyone now. And he’s stuck her in the absolute worse place for him to be this way. But that’s the other half of it! He likes to show her off. He likes hearin’ how bad some people want her. It’s askin’ for fuckin’ disaster.”

Rue’s stomach has joined her heart on the ground, and both sort of just writhe down there. Twisting. Thundering. Her head spins hard. Horribly.

“Makes me think of that off-his-rocker fella he was spinnin’ like a twister ‘bout when I first joined up. Think I ‘member someone sayin’ she patched him up on her porch and that’s what set him off?”

A tired, “Yup. …That was one job I really didn’t wanna do. I was relieved whoever hurt him came back and got him so quick.” Another sigh. “But that’s back in my lap now.”

“Why’s that?”

“Ya see that redhead that stopped in earlier?”

“Uh… blue hat and a .357?”

“Mhm” A quick pause. A vocal exhale. “That’s Geraldine. She brought me a head, claimin’ it was Artie’s. Said she found him down in Two-Sun just wanderin’ ‘round.”

Everything goes out of Rue, goes brittle and cold, and she goes to shaking so violently her vision vibrates. She bites down so hard on her lip she tastes copper, but there’s no pain to it. There’s only rage and a scream she can’t let leave her throat. She has to keep it together. She has to hear the rest.

Rue stares up at the ceiling, blood dribbling down her chin and eyes burning.

“He escaped?”

“Must’ve. Maybe? I dunno that it’s really his head. It’s busted to hell and back, decayed bad, and Geraldine’s got a reputation for fakin’ bounties. …She brought us a head off a raider boss, Macho, a few years back. It was in rough shape –we couldn’t confirm or deny the identity– but we took her at her word. ‘Bout two weeks later, another hunter comes in with Macho’s head in pristine condition. No doubt it was his. So, we had Geraldine brought in, and the only reason she ain’t dead –still doin’ business with us– is ‘cause she coughed the caps up, and… well… she soothed Deck’s ego. If ya catch my drift.”

“Think she’d be dumb enough to try it again?”

“Some people don’t learn. …I decided to not to give her the full bounty. Told her she could wait ‘round for Deck to come back to town and take it up with him. Guess it’s sort of a good sign she’s still here, but I don’t trust her.”

“Don’t reckon I would either….” There comes a lecherous chuckle that firmly boots Rue out of her focus. “But I’d let her soothe my ego.”

Rue barely hears Lucky’s response of, “Fuckin’ dog,” as she pushes away from the wall, as she tries to hold her head and heart and her entire self together. She’s moved into a different frequency. Spiraling away. And all she can think about is getting away. Running and running. She’ll explode if she doesn’t.

She almost falls down the stairs, fumbling the last few steps, and she’s not nearly as dexterous as she usually is as she winds through the main floor of Mulholland’s. She’s not right enough in her own mind to avoid folks, and their voices sound like big-band trumpets. Every accidental brush of another against her burns. Pricks like cactus needles. They… they all kind of look like cacti to her. Just these faceless shapes, all lumpy, spiney, and too close.

A figure is suddenly in her path, and Rue doesn’t even think about stopping. She can’t. She collides, teeth and left shoulder ringing. Everything’s ringing. Vibrating. It’s gone from trumpets to a church bell tolling in her head. It’s loud and terrible, and Rue’s hands clamp over her ears to stop the noise, to keep her skull from rattling apart.

She’s hit again, knocked to the floor. Her ass strikes, rough, splintering wood, sending shocks up her spine. Rue’s spinning eyes stare up, fixing on a red-haired woman in a blue hat that is absolutely ranting and raving. Spitting as she glares down, as she pulls out a shining, .357 magnum and levels it on Rue.

Rue goes very still inside, her scattered world coming into intense focus around the redhead. She speaks a name aloud in question, a breath of confusion, “Geraldine?”

“Who’s fuckin’ askin’?” The redhead’s voice is a temperamental, not-quite shout full of growl and venom. “You need to watch where the fuck you’re goin’.”

Rue tries to stand. The redhead plants a boot in her chest. It hits so hollowly –Rue barely feels it– but it puts her right back on her ass.

“I didn’t say ya could get up, cunt,” probably-Geraldine barks. “Ya owe me a proper apology and some goddamn respect.”

The gun glints in the low light of the saloon. There’s a click of the safety being disengaged.

A complete disconnect occurs in Rue’s mind. She doesn’t realize that she lunges forward or that the .357 fires. She doesn’t realize she’s wrapped herself around the redhead’s legs like a rabid radcoon, bringing her down to harsh floors. And she doesn’t realize she’s screaming. That she’s scrambling or straddling the woman, bringing her netted hands down into a combined fist upon Geraldine’s face over and over again. She doesn’t feel the hot wetness of blood. She doesn’t feel flesh connect with flesh, breaking and splitting.

She doesn’t feel the arms around her, lifting and hauling her back. She can only see herself being pulled away from the redhead, who really is just a red head now. A spreading pool of crimson fluid and fiery strand of slicked hair.

Rue shakes again, whole body pulsating. Her vision blurry and uncertain. Worsening. Wet. The world spins, and she looks up at a ceiling. A terrified face she suddenly recognizes as Hal’s. He looks like he might be shouting. Maybe at her?

The world dims. Air rushes. She can barely see him anymore. Will she see him again? Will Deck kill him for touching her? Will he kill Mrs. Ira Jean for her kindness towards Rue? Murder Bo, Len, Gen, and Fat Patrick for being one of her favourites? The Ghoul for being her favourite.

It’s like trying to move the earth, but Rue manages to reach up. To find Hal’s face. Her slick fingers drag across his stubbly cheek, and she presses them to his lips, tracing a red smile.

“I… c-can’t keep ya s…safe,” she tells him, not hearing the heartbreak to her own voice. The way it wavers. There’s just the way it vibrates up her throat and slips through her lips. “I-I could…could…n’t keep… n-no one sss-safe.”

Her heavy, unseeing eyes slip closed, and Rue feels everything go out of her. Every ounce of anything until she’s just a hollowed-out outline of herself that’s slurped up by warmth and nothing. And that nothing, that darkness that eats her up… it’s really, very nice.

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

Being spat up is miserable. A brief glimpse at something bright, and then having to claw her way towards it. Again and again until Rue snags a sensation, and it’s wretched. A headache which pounds like a drum in her skull. A throat that feels sharply raw. Her limbs are lead and far away, but not as far away as her body. It’s not real at all. Not yet. But then the nausea hits, and Rue is aware of every inch of herself and the intense possibility that she is going to vomit.

She takes slow, deep breaths. She doesn’t want to vomit. She hates to vomit. She’d rather a knife go through her hand. …Shit, she feels like knives have already gone through her everywhere.

“No, her still being unconscious is very normal. Stimpaks can only do so much, especially with multiple injuries involved. And they’re a strain on the human body. A period of deep rest often follows their use, and compounded with the exhaustion physical trauma can cause… she could sleep for another day.”

Rue’s eyes part a fraction at the sound of Doc Nguyen’s voice, that precise and careful cadence. So clear and no-nonsense. So… educational.

There’s a sharp, puffing exhale. “Right, right. If you’re sure she’s fine. Or going to be…. She’s going to be?”

That sounds like Lucky, and Rue can’t figure out why the sound of his voice puts her so on edge. Makes her want to hold her breath.

“Yes, she will, and you can thank Hal for that. If not for him getting her here as quickly as he did, blood loss likely would have taken her.”

“I’ll… uh….” Lucky sounds so winded, so tired. “I’ll most definitely do that. And thank ya, too, Doc. …Will ya send word once she’s up and ready for visitors?”

“I will.”

“Thank ya –again.”

“You’re welcome. Have a good day, Lucky.”

“You too, Doc.”

Footsteps sound against wood flooring. A door opens and closes. Silence follows in its wake, soon broken by a sigh.

The doorknob to the room Rue guesses she was dying in at some point rattles and turns. The door creaks open, allowing the tall, elegant figure of Doc Nguyen to breeze in. She pulls her salt-and-pepper hair out of her face, into a tight bun at the base of her neck, but stops halfway through the motions of it to cut Rue a mild glare.

“How long have you been awake?”

“Long enough to know I almost kicked the bucket.” Rue’s voice is hoarse and broken, but it works well enough. “And hell, I fuckin’ feel it.”

Doc Nguyen fights off a grin, finishes tying her hair off, adjusts the glasses perched on the tip of her nose, and grabs a chair from close by, rolling it to Rue’s bedside. “You’re lucid enough, so let’s talk. I know you don’t feel well but describe exactly how you’re feeling to me.”

“Mmm. Not all the way here –like half of me’s still down for the count. But what I do feel aches…. Vomity. Headachy. My throat’s raw.”

The doctor spins away. Rue doesn’t turn her head to watch where she goes because it makes the world go into cartwheels. So, she listens as something slides open and gets rattled around. Doc Nguyen comes back and presses something chalky to Rue’s lips.

“Chew.”

Rue does.

Several more somethings with waxier coatings are held to her mouth. “Hold.”

Rue holds the pills in her mouth. The rim of a bottle is held steady to her lips. She is bid to, “Swallow,” and does so, washing the weird flavours out of her mouth.

“Give it ten minutes.”

“I got all the minutes.”

 The good doctor clicks her tongue. “You almost didn’t have any….” Rue snorts; Nguyen goes on. “Why don’t you use a few of them to tell me what you’ve been doing to get a mild case of radiation sickness.”

Riding a necrotic cowboy into the sunset, but I swear I did a RadAway drip each time after….

But Rue’s obviously not going to say that. She likes Doc Nguyen –she’s been caring for Rue since she came to Dust– and she wants to trust her; but Rue’s secrets don’t feel safe with anyone but herself.

“Indulgin’ in Cram despite knowin’ better.” It’s an easy fib. Believable if she’s been eating the canned meat a little bit too regularly. “It’s so good fried, Nguyen. Ya can’t even taste the decades and decades it’s been marinatin’ in a tin can when ya fry it.”

“I’m going to recommend you quit. If not for keeping your rads down, then for keeping your intestines in working order.”

“I’ll take it into consideration.”

Nguyen sighs. “If I weren’t a doctor, I’d hurt you. Just a little bit.”

Rue grins drowsily. “Only a lil’?”

Doc Nguyen’s lips quirk ever so slightly, but she’s good at squashing her amusement down. She’s straight-faced and not-quite-frowning in an eyeblink. “Moving on. If it’s too foggy or hurts your head, don’t press, but I’d like to know what the last thing you remember is before waking up here.”

“I had a fit?” That’s the only thing Rue can currently guess at. She always ends up in Doc Nguyen’s office in a sorry state when she’s had a fit, and it’s a bit up in the air if she’ll remember the why behind it. Sometimes she does; sometimes she doesn’t. She definitely doesn’t at the moment.

“Yes, but let’s not call it a fit. We’re going to say a mental health crisis.”

“That sounds worse.”

Impatience leaks into an otherwise even, professional tone. “Rue.”

Rue sighs. She knows that voice and that she should probably stop dicking around. “Sorry, Nguyen. Lemme think….”

“Take your time.”

The last thing Rue remembers with any kind of clarity is being at Mulholland’s, running drinks and chatting with tables. How tired and ready for bed she was. At one point, she was thinking about Lara. Missing Lara. It twists at her even now, but there’s something deeper there. A worry she doesn’t understand.

Rue starts over, retracing all her steps. Her morning was average. She was able to do all her normal chores and feed Eggshells before Deck and the three or four boys he’s taken to keeping on him at all times swung by to walk her to work. He bid her goodbye on the saloon’s front porch, pulling her in for a hug that lasted for far too long and ended with a kiss against her hair.

Rue mentally pushes that away, wishing she could erase it completely, but she’s never so lucky as to forget that kind of shit. But she was a little lucky when she went inside the saloon and popped behind the bar to tuck Baby Destiny in her safe place. Hal had saved her a muffin, and Rue scarfed it down in three bites before helping him with stocking glasses. Then she headed upstairs to help the girls get ready, and that was as thrilling and enjoyable as it usually is.

Now that she’s thinking about it, she spent an awful lot of time going up and down the stairs last night because Anais likes to share drinks with her clients. In fact, Rue has a very vivid memory of watching Anais’ arm slip out her cracked bedroom door and snatch up a wine bottle before she… she followed the sound of her name and her heart went to hurricane-ing.

Because Lucky. Because Deck. Because Lara. Because Bo. Because the Ghoul. Because Hal. Because Ira Jean. Because Geraldine. Because… because Artie.

Rue’s sore fingers spastically clench. Her whole body recoils, and she wants to claw out the heart in her chest that goes so tight. That aches and rages and breaks apart bit by bit.

“Rue? Rue, what’s wrong?” A hand comes down gentle on Rue’s bandaged right hand.

Rue stares at it hard, seeing it red stained. Seeing red on floors. Red hair.

“Did I kill that lady?” Rue asks, quietly.

Doc Nguyen is silent for a long moment, and when she speaks, she does so plainly, “You did. One of your blows struck her nose in a very particular way. It shoved the bone into her brain.”

Rue keeps staring at her bandaged hand, through it. Through the thin bedsheets and mattress and all the way down to the hell she never thought existed. But she thinks it might now. She thinks it might be all around her. Demons and figments and bright spots only used to hurt her even worse later.

“You aren’t in trouble for it, Rue,” Doc Nguyen goes on. “Everyone agrees what happened, happened because the other party escalated the situation when she pushed you down and drew her firearm.”

“Nguyen,” Rue says carefully, as calmly as she can muster with her heart and eyes burning like wildfire and her throat so tight on account of tears. “I don’t wanna talk no more.”

“That’s… that’s alright. We don’t have to.” Doc Nguyen’s hand on hers pets so gently. “Is it alright for me to run through my check-up?”

Rue simply nods, not moving another muscle as the doctor does whatever she needs to do.

And Rue’s brain spins through what she needs to do. Or not do. She can’t do anything. She couldn’t save Artie. Lara might have a goddamn, fucking bounty out on her. Everyone who comes into contact with her is in danger because Deck Craven loves her in the most twisted, fucked-up, obsessive way someone could love another. But it’s not love. It’s not right. He’s ruining her life. He’s ending lives. And the universe doesn’t want her to end his –or that’s how it’s really starting to feel. Every attempt she made was foiled, and he’s gone the night she snapped and killed someone.

It shoulda been him. It shoulda been him. It shoulda been him.

She… she doesn’t know what to do anymore. Did she ever? It feels as if she’s made every wrong decision, but they always felt like the only ones she had. She couldn’t run. Bounty hunters would have gotten her. She never wanted to tell a soul what he did, never wanted to drag them into her shit. It was her and Deck’s business. It was never supposed to be anyone else’s. No one else was supposed to die because of her.

Rue’s eyes slip shut, the keen, horrible realization that everything she’s ever done and endured was pointless burrowing deep. Breaking her down so low, making her feel so weak and helpless and small. So, so stupid –as stupid as everyone says she is.

Rue suddenly, desperately, wants her Pa. No, she needs him. She needs him to scoop her up and hold her tight. Needs him to pat her hair and tell her everything is alright, and goddammit, he always made it so. He always knew what to do, and she really fucking doesn’t. She’s just some burnt-brained kid fumbling around, making bigger and bigger messes that get the people she loves killed.

“N-Nguyen,” Rue’s voice is watery, wavering, “do ya still-.” She sniffs, breathing uneven. “Do ya still have my holotape? I-I wanna hear Smile.”

Nguyen looks up from the small, scabbing over cuts on Rue’s knuckles. Her hazel eyes pick over Rue’s face, and for a moment, Rue sees sadness and worry. More kindness she doesn’t deserve. More love she can’t have. But she wants so desperately, that she greedily clings to despite knowing better.

“Of course I do.” Doc Nguyen rises, patting the back of Rue’s hand very carefully before stepping away. “I promised I would keep it safe. I even have a pair of headphones for you this time around if you want to try them.”

Rue can only bob her head, no longer trusting her voice to speak.

[bionibots]

Kiss Me in Komorebi+ | Meet Rune Tégner

Here comes Rune, a very special charming dude for Daniel @rainymoodlet

Name: Rune Tégner | He/Him | Pansexual Age: 36 , 6′3 or 1.93 meters Zodiac: Virgin Traits: Creative, Adventurous, Loves Outdoor Aspiration: (custom) Voice Virtuoso 😏 Career: Lyric Sing-Songwriter (official title at Ministry of Labor) 🤭

Who is Rune Tégner?  This handsome Italian/Swedish multitalented soul is a Simtuber, Songwriter and Daddy. He graduated at Britechester in Fine Arts with a distinguished degree and travelled the world. Has a bunch of hobbies like cooking, doing yoga and fitness, loves to travel, enjoys the nature, knows how to catch fishes. Yeah sit down by the campfire and once he start to play his guitar? Dude, you will be mesmerized by his voice along with his poetic love songs. Rune does believe in love. He is sort of romantic but not in a extreme way. Nothing kitschy nice stuff, you know! 

Backstory, Lifestages Quirks, Fav’ Playlist, and an Interview are below the cut. Maybe I went up and over the horizon.🤪 

PS: If you found some errors - please keep them 😝 getting a bit tired over here. But I’m super thrilled to see who will win Daniels’ heart! Please enjoy him!  🥰 😌

BACKSTORY 

Rune was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. His mother left Italy (Florence) for Gothenburg when she was 19 to work as a principal dancer at the Gothenburg Opera.

Eventually, they moved to Stockholm as his father, Ruben, established a company for mergers and acquisitions, also known as M&A. Tégner M&A Investments is widely known and successful in various sectors globally.

Success has always driven Rune's father. Whenever Rune failed to follow orders, Ruben punished him. He plotted his whole future for him:  Rune was supposed to study economics and be his successor. Once there was a quarrel where Rune rebelled against his father. Ruben hurt him by becoming violent. Hence the nose scar.

He said that creative careers would not bring much bread, that he was nothing special, and would never succeed as an artist. Rune should pursue a more grounded career.

However, their father/son relationship broke at 16 when Rune tried to explain he had a boyfriend. He also explained that he does not mind which gender his partner has. Runes' pansexuality is something his father refused to accept until today. Ruben told him he was not his son. A son of his would never act against nature's laws. In the aftermath, bitterness and deep disappointment arose on both sides. Not a word has Rune exchanged with his father since he moved out. Unlike his mother, she unconditionally loves and accepts her son. Rune has a younger brother. Alarik - he is 16 years younger than him. You guessed it, Ruben wanted another child - a replacement! The young man admires Rune and might be motivated to venture out and pursue his dreams as well.

After coming out at 16, Rune stayed with his first boyfriend.

At Britechester he studied Fine Arts and graduated with a distinguished A+ degree.

After graduation Rune broke up his relationship with is first boyfriend. They drifted apart.

Being single again, he needed some time to explore himself. For the first time in his life, he experienced the freedom to enjoy life. Yes, it was an eye-opener for him. He traveled to Selvadorada, where he learned how to meditate, and Yoga became a new thing. As a result, he developed a love for nature.

Being out in the nature and traveling gave him space to think about his future and what he wanted to achieve in his life.

Rune traveled the world until he met Anais in Tartosa. Not long after, they were both blessed with an adorable son named Elias. Elias is ten now. After almost eight years of dating, he proposed to her and planned on getting married.

One day Rune had a rather crucial meeting with the famous record label Brindle Melodies. Sometimes, though, you find yourself in weird situations when you're stressed. He forgot to take his songs with him. By the time - Rune got home to get the papers, he had to face reality. His fiancée romanced another guy in their bedroom. Surely, you can imagine that Rune called off the engagement, and yes, they broke up. The deal with the record label didn't work out that day, either, due to extreme delays. He canceled the deal.

His relationship collapsed, leaving him angry and disappointed, but instead of arguing, he left her without saying anything to her. He only talked to her about Elias. Elias stayed with his dad because Anais is very success-driven and said she wanted to pursue her career now. 

Rune finally realized that the two didn't have much in common. Both had different perceptions of their lives. They should have never dated each other in the first place. Yet, in conclusion? Rune does not regret it because Elias is the best thing that could have happened to him. Of course, he has obtained custody of his son.

For two years now, he has devoted himself exclusively to his son and his career. As a Simstuber he produces his music videos and writes song lyrics. His loyal followers adore his talent, and his channel is growing - rapidly. Last year he established his first music label 'Tunely Records' with plans to release his first music album soon.

He wrote some special lyrics like: Shades of You, Destiny Smoke, Wild Minds, and a new song is in the pipe: Love or leave.

Rune and Elias have a deep bond together. They are best buddies. So, whoever wants to love Rune? No doubt, they must also make room for Elias in their hearts. Rune is a relationship person. It took him a while to recover, and now after almost three years, Rune is ready to give love another shot.

LIFESTAGES

16yrs: Broken relationship with his father Ruben, came out of the closet as pansexual, moved out

18yrs: Applied to Britechester, received a scholarship due to his musical talent

22yrs: Broke up with his first boyfriend after graduation, He traveled the world.

26yrs: Met Anais, got his son Elias

34yrs: Relationship broke, due to her cheating

36yrs: Single Father, Founder of ‘Tunely Records’, Successful Simtuber and Musician

___________

CHARACTER

Rune is a very private person, who does not like to be the center of attention but he loves music. 

He is logical, practical and systematic

Hyper-aware of every detail, be it food or whatever he does

Perfectionist, sometimes he needs someone to stop him because beauty exists within our imperfection, too.

He hates whoever raises voices when having an argument. If someone does that? Be in the know he will leave the room! He will come back and talk to you when you are calm, again. Now you can talk it out. He has a zero-tolerance regarding any shape of violence be it mentally or physical.

Above all else Rune wants to help.

He is kind, gentle, and supportive towards friends and lovers who use his incredible intellect and resourcefulness to problem-solve. 

He is always striving to provide workable solutions and improve what’s broken. But sometimes you cannot fix what is broken - if it makes no sense he won’t continue trying to fix what’s broken.

A committed and hardworking soul with a passion for guitars and pianos.

He loves all sort of Asian Food - Salmon and Butterflied shrimp Sushi (Sake and Ebi Nigiri) with Wasabi, Ginger and Soy sauce the most. 

QUIRKS

loves cozy bedcovers

skinny dipping is a thing

manicured nails are important

loves rainy days

dislikes smoking

___________

RUNEs Lil’ PLAYLIST

Sam Smith: To Die For

Alec Benjamin: Let me down slowly

Lenny Kravitz: I belong to you

Rag’n’Bone: Human

Jacob Lee: Cursed

Jonathan Roy: Keeping me alive

Garden Gloves: Somewhere Forever

___________

INTERVIEW

Interviewer: Rune - quite an unusual name isn’t it? Rune: [chuckles] In my language? It means “secret or mystery” Would you believe me that I’m from Sweden?  Interviewer:  Well, I would have said rather somewhere from the south. Rune: [smiles] My mum is from Italy, and my father is from Gothenburg.  Interviewer:  Rune, why did you want to join Kiss Me in Komorebi+?  Rune:  I’m here for love. Aren’t we all looking for the one? I mean, look at Daniel! Do I need to say anything else? Who would not want to fall in love with him? Interviewer: I heard you are not much of a TV watcher, so how did you learn about him? Rune: [chuckles] Yeah, not much my cup of tea. I spend the day outside with my son on the basketball court in San My.  Saw a billboard advert with handsome Daniel. Did some research, checked some clips, and here I am.   Interviewer:  Research, good point. We did our homework, too. We have some juicy stuff about you on our plate.  Rune:  Of course you do. What do you want to know? Interviewer: Tégner Investments, are you related to Ruben Tégner? Rune: [tense] Yes. We are related, but we are not close, though!  Interviewer:  [notices the change in his body language] All right. Well, you have a music channel on Simtube, too. Your fans adore you. How come we haven't heard about you yet? Rune: I will get there, eventually. I established my record label. At some point, I will publish my first music album.  Interviewer: Sounds intriguing. You're a musician, songwriter, traveler, and single father aka. DILF.  Do you live alone with him in San My? Rune:  [ignores the Word Dilf] You mean my ten-year-old son? Interviewer:  Well, yeah. Elias, right? You used to be engaged to your fiancé. Is that true? Rune:  Yes, my son is Elias. And yes, I called it off. With the emphasis, I used to be engaged. That’s correct. Interviewer: Can we know why? Rune: I think - that’s a private topic! And for Daniel to find out. Wouldn’t you agree? Interviewer: You are not much of a talker, huh? Rune: [smiles] Depends on who asks. Interviewer:  [smiles back] Rune Tégner, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us today. Rune: Pleasure is all mine. Thanks for having me.

[libertyy-belle]

THE GOLDEN GATE || CHAPTER 2

7 YEARS LATER

It was in the early afternoon, and the bell above the door caught my attention — an older man sauntered into the main den.  His dark eyes scanned the room as if looking for threats.

Upon finding none, it seemed, he continued on his way. Easing down on a stool in front of the counter. His rough palms placed down on the island, a tired exhale following as he looked at me. 

I couldn't help but blink mindlessly at him, the energy he cast drawing the attention of the remaining customers and myself. 

I looked around momentarily, seeing if I could spot my father within the den of our tavern; in case something were to happen. He was nowhere in sight.

"What kind of whiskey you got, younglin'?" He rasped, drumming his fingers onto the counter with quiet thuds.

"Single malt, blended-" I began before his hand lifted and quickly silenced me.

"Just get me something strong, aye?" 

I only nodded, fetching what he had asked. 

The atmosphere was tense, though the conversations about the tavern had continued. Most of the sailors who had taken seats remained unmoved, glancing at the man in front of me occasionally. As I made his drink, I looked at him through the wisps of blonde that were enough to shield my observing eyes.

He looked a little bit older, worn in more ways than one. His gray hair was long enough to brush his shoulders, strands tucked away behind his ears. Scars lined his face, and I couldn’t help but wonder where he could have possibly gotten them from. 

I offered the glass, and almost as quickly as it was given, it was gone. Then, releasing a few puckers of his mouth, he grunted and nodded. 

"Is there anything else I can get you?" I choked out, quickly clearing the anxiety from my throat. "Food?"

He shook his head before settling his gaze onto mine. Then, lips morphing to a tight frown, he leaned forward, inspecting my face. 

"What is your name, lass?" he inquired over the rim of his empty drink, tapping it a few times with his pointer finger before sliding it back toward me.

“Anais,” I said, trying my best to keep cordial.

“You are a little young to run a tavern, no?” he said, now amused in his demeanor as I let out a soft scoff.

“My parents run the tavern, I only help keep things in order.”

“You look tough enough to handle your own, ever been outside Luthersburg?”

I shook my head, my life thus far had been confined to home. After all, there was no need with Luthersburg being a port city on the Eastern coast. As much as I loved it, things had grown monotonous.

“Sounds boring,” he noted as if reading my thoughts. “Though I can tell you have had some adventure, there is a glint in your eye.”

“If you count trekking down to the docks to count passing ships' an adventure, then I have plenty of stories to tell.” 

He boasted a hearty laugh, “No, lass, I meant more than just passing ships.”

I blinked at him, confused about what he could mean by such an implication. 

"What do you mean then?" I inquired.

"The Bastards of Jaezred."

The story of the two brothers and the war they created was spread through the lands, but only bits and pieces of the story I knew by heart. Jaezred, Prince of Inquity, and his brother Josian, the Prince of Peace.

"I am not sure what you mean by that; I am not a follower of Jaezred," I said quietly now, worried about eavesdroppers.

Followers of Jaezred were cursed magical creatures who plagued the forests nearby and terrorized the townsfolk. Though they had frequented Luthersburg less, their presence after the War was not completely forgone like their master.

"I see plainly that you are not," he said, looking over me just a moment "You have seen them, though."

I froze in my movement to gather his second drink of the night. But, of course, there wasn't any way he could have known that. I hadn't even told my parents what had happened that evening in the forest east.

"Aye, I am right." He said, now a small smile lifting on his thin chapped lips. "They say those who look into the eyes of one of those fiends hold significant weight. There is a certain glint I have grown used to."

I tried to think better of it and let it go, but my curiosity pushed the words from my chest, "How would you know?" 

The man rolled up his beaten-up sleeve, cuffing it at his elbow. On his forearm stood a symbol I had seen only in the tattered books in the library. The sign of Josian. 

I dipped my head in respect. "It is an honor, sir." 

Following the Prince of Peace was a great honor; anyone who took heed to his principles was admired.

During the aftermath of the war, it was those followers who helped rebuild. They were healers, often spreading love and unity among those who survived. 

"No need to be so formal; my days of serving were long ago. I am only a wanderer now." He motioned again to the drink I had paused making. I continued finishing it as he spoke again. "Unfortunately, the cases of meeting those rotten things are on the rise."

"I barely remember it; I was very young," I admitted, most of the memory of that day blocked out. So I couldn't remember it even if I wanted to. Which I did not.

"Few people live to tell the tale; how did you escape?" He pressed further as I handed him the drink.

"Like I said, I barely remember." A quick shrug of my shoulders followed. He hadn't seemed very pleased with this response.

"Alright." He plainly put, before lifting the drink to his lips, nursing it more than the prior one.

"What was it like- serving Josian?" I couldn't help but ask after a few beats of awkward silence.

His face fell into one of reminiscence. "It had its moments. I never met him myself, though others had. He was a kind man." 

"And his brothers?" I almost interrupted, but with a small breath, I steadied my curiosity.

"His brothers were troublemakers. I am sure you already know about his twin," he took another long sip of his drink before resting it on the counter. "They had a younger brother as well named Saeros. A great swordsman and the strongest warrior in the pursuit of the Gate."

My elbows were set on the counter, chin resting neatly in my palms as I intently listened to him. 

"Were they all dragon born?" I asked after a pause, leaning forward. 

"Aye, they were. Not much is known about how they came to be, but they all were created in the same fire. The Fire of Men is said to be our earth's first fire." He drank the remaining liquid in the glass, letting out a puff of air from his nose.

I bobbed my head slowly as I took in everything said so far. I felt some remorse for neglecting the other customers, but it was not every day you could hear of the past firsthand. "The Gate, is it true it was lost after the end of the battle– and the twin Princes were said to have disappeared– were they ever found?" 

"Aye, it was lost. Vanished alongside their Highnesses," He didn’t seem too bothered by my interest, "I think it is my turn to ask the questions." He noted, leaning back some as his arms crossed over. I sighed, lofting a palm to gesture for him to begin questioning.

"Where did you see it?" He began.

"The forest east of here, I had gotten lost as a child when I went to find berries for my sister, and I's pie." I gestured toward the window, the looming forest not too far up on the hill.

"Go on." He drew out impatiently.

"I am honest when I tell you I remember very little, though I can recall the eyes. They were so cold and dark. I had never seen anyone's eyes look like that." 

I explained, feeling my body go cold as I saw them in my memory.

He spat down beside him on the floor, his face growing bitter. "I have seen it before. It is enough to paralyze any man."

"It had killed someone. I had found it feasting on the remains. I wanted to run, but I couldn't. It was just staring at me." I placed my face into my hands, exhaling a shaky breath. "It didn't attack me.”

I didn’t wish to relay any more of the story, he wouldn’t have believed me even if I did tell him. The knitting of his brows, though, told me he knew there was more to the story than what I was telling.

“What happened next?”

“It simply ran away, that is all.” I took his now empty glass, placing it on the back counter to wash.

I heard his skeptical hum from behind me as I shifted on my feet, trying to look busy to distract him from pressing further. To no avail.

“I have run into quite a bit of those nasty pigs, it is unusual for them to leave prey unharmed,” I felt his eyes burning into the back of my head. “You can tell me the truth, kid, I am not going to judge you.”

I felt silly thinking that he would. If he truly was a Josian follower- then he had been in runs with those creatures before. 

“It was going to kill me, I just knew it,” I swallowed hard, slowly turning back to face him. “So I closed my eyes and waited when there was this bright light.”

 “A light?” he grew still, face falling flat. I was worried I had said something wrong but within his gaze, I saw that it was intrigue that pressed forward. 

“When I opened my eyes again I was back here, home. Like nothing had ever happened.”

“Interesting.” he cleared his throat, the pressing want for more information left his expression as he settled down. “It is growing late, do you think we could speak tomorrow?”

“Whatever for, do you know what happened?” I asked, surprised by the sudden shifts in his demeanor. 

“Expect to see me sometime in the afternoon.” he put simply, not waiting for me to decline.

“Is everything-” 

“Thank you for the drinks, kid, I will see you in the afternoon tomorrow.” he interrupted, piling a few coins onto the counter before leaving abruptly.

My mouth hung as open as the door he quickly left through, staring ahead as it swung shut. 

It was only a moment or two after that my father came around the corner from the kitchen behind the bar, looking at me with a lifted brow. 

“You are gaping like a fish, Anais, what is the matter?”

I was at a loss for words, scrambling to find a response. “There was just a man here, he was acting so strange and left in a hurry.”

“Those damn drunken sea rats, never mind him,” he scoffed, rolling his tired shoulders back before grinning. “I should be puckering like a fish too- you are down here helping without any gripe!”

“How cruel I would be to forsake you of my company, Papa,” A hint of a sly smile curving on my lips. There was nothing like his company to take my mind away from the weird interaction I had just encountered.

“Ah! Cruel indeed, though I think it is much crueler for you to leave me to dry all these damned dishes alone,” griped my old man, tossing a rag in my direction.

I fumbled to catch it and to my satisfaction, I managed to snag it the moment before it hit the dirty floor. 

–

My mother returned with a canvas tote brimming with items. Ingredients, I assumed, for the dinner crowd. With a huff, she dropped the bag on top of the counter.

"You know, I really wish you girls would get up earlier to help me with my trip to the Square." she sighed.

Her lips pursed, and those bright grey eyes pierced directly into mine. "I am not getting younger — and my back hurts terribly from the cold."

Winter had barely passed, and most were thankful, considering it had been a rough patch for the town, but we managed well. The cold brought people in for warm cider and they tipped well for it. 

"Look what you've done to your poor mother, her back!" My father dramatically elected, turning his head to look at me with his hands aloft in the air. He grinned, finding all of it rather amusing.

"George," Warned my mother with a low hum, her piercing glare now set onto him. His palms lifted in defense, and the grin quickly faded.

His throat cleared. 

"Yes, Anais, what your mother has said… Tomorrow you will get up earlier and go to the market."

I couldn't help the groan that escaped me, though I quickly regretted it.

"My poor bones- and yet you groan! You have no sympathy for me. I carried you for months! I bathed and raised you! Yet you groan," she paused her fit, "Well, you can groan all the way to the Square tomorrow when you pick up the order of meat I placed." She then said with a cheeky grin.

"That will be heaps to carry, Mama!" I quickly cried.

"Marlene and yourself are hearty girls! I am sure you can manage." she proudly responded.

There was no point in arguing any longer. Once Mother had made a decision— there was no straying from it. 

The back door swung open to reveal my younger sister, chirpy. Skipping in, she suddenly stopped as she saw the three of us at the counter. Then, quickly, she spun, heading back whence she came.

"Not so fast!" My mother's voice caused her to abruptly halt in her step. "You will help Anais pick up the order tomorrow. Bright and early," Mother said, her fists placed sternly on her hips.

"Not the meat, Mother! Anything but that. It is so heavy," Marlene sighed, "And if I do not pick the flowers in the morning, they are just not the same." retorted my sister, shaking her head viciously. 

"If you do not, I will return those ritzy shoes you bought and use the money for feed.”

The look on my sister's face was enough to let a small giggle pass my lips. Pure mortification and then frustration at the snort I heaved. 

My mother turned to me, narrowing her eyes. My laughs ceased shortly after for fear of the repercussions. My father moved to rub a hand on her back, soothing her frailed nerves and causing her face to soften. The smile she gave beamed up at him with a fondness I had never seen her without.

It was moments like these that I felt the true abundance of love for my family, even within our bickering we held great weight for each other. 

There was no more said on the matter, for another band of customers had arrived. My mother returned to the kitchen to prepare lunch while my father poured the requested drinks. 

[thiefscant]

i spoke to @crowshoots about this ages ago but there was a moment when anais was about 14 or 15 when they tried to steal food from the fahey's farm stand in baldur's gate. they were caught in the act by jesper's father, colm, who took pity on them. instead of calling on the city guard, he offered them enough food for at least a week and sent them on their way as if they were a paying customer.

this is the encounter referenced on anais's about page and character sheet where it says their bond is "i owe a debt i can never repay to the person who took pity on me." they'd pretty much die to protect jesper specifically because of how much they feel they owe her dad.

[thoughtportal]

Alice and Anaïs are the founders of the creative studio Girlzpop and of the media company, MOYO. And their French apartment has classic Parisian elements — crisp white walls, crown molding, arched doorways, and gold-rimmed mirrors. Alice and Anaïs have personalized the space with playful lighting fixtures, a custom-upholstered green fringed velvet sofa, and a cerulean blue dining set. FOLLOW ANAIS AND ALICE: Instagram: @girlzpop_

[lemontartca]

My sister was asking about the doll I was customizing and then she was like "you know I have some Monster Highs you could use" and I went ?!? you do?? and she was like yeah, went upstairs, and grabbed these. (It was actually pretty funny because she said she had a robot and one with transparent limbs so I immediately went oh Robecca and Spectra but then she brought them down and I didn't even know who River was and had to look it up lol)

Apparently she found them at a thrift store a few years ago and thought she would do... something with them? Unclear, but she gave them to me to customize and I'm so excited. Their hands are a little discolored and their joints are super loose (definitely well played with lol holding them up for these photos was hard) but I think they're going to be great to work on!

Tbqh, I'm not a fan of the G1 bodies (especially the little sister body, the stomach looks distended to me and it kind of creeps me out) so I gotta figure out how to make clothes for them asap but I'm super excited to work on Ella specifically. I mean River Styxx is a really cool doll that will be fun once I figure out what to do with her, but I actually have an OC that Ella is going to be perfect for! I just have to figure out how I'm going to adjust her "skin" color to the right shade(s). I'm getting paint supplies tomorrow though and that will be a good start.

[mkinfinitycloset]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: aden + anais essentials cotton Muslin Swaddle World Travelers.

[aryacollegeofengineering]

How can you achieve your dream job with AIDS engineering?

Dream Job with AIDS

Technology has become an integral part of our lives. A quick glance at the technology landscape points us towards artificial intelligence (AI) and its power. From smart assistants like Siri or Alexa, customer care chatbots, robotic vacuum cleaners and high-tech home appliances to self-driving vehicles and facial recognition, AI-led technologies are rapidly becoming life’s mainstays. This, along with the rising demand for high-performance technologies in various industries, is a positive sign for job seekers of top engineering colleges in Jaipur looking to make a career in AI.

We are already seeing AI becoming an important aspect of automated, smart business ecosystems and enabling smart solutions. Innovations in AI are empowering industry verticals, such as healthcare, automobile, finance, manufacturing and retail. In healthcare, AI is being trained to mimic human cognition to undertake the critical tasks of diagnosis, assistance for surgeries and beyond. Similarly, the retail sector is deploying AI-led systems for enhancing customer journey with solutions like chatbots as well as to improve demand forecasting, pricing decisions and product placement. With such applications, AI is bringing technology to the core of all businesses. From life-saving equipment to self-driving cars, AI will soon be in almost all applications and devices.

Career Opportunities

There are several roles that students of best engineering colleges in Jaipur can explore are as follows:

Computer vision - Concepts like computer vision can open doors for some of the most exciting opportunities for curious technology students and professionals. It is one of the many recent innovations driving AI and machine learning (ML) job trends. Computer vision helps tech teams of private engineering colleges in Jaipur to gather insights through audio, video and other formats. This data or pattern is then analysed for training AI-led systems or feeding systems to arrive at smart decisions. This is an emerging field for tech enthusiasts to explore. Freshers can also explore a career as a computer vision professional with the right training.

AI and ML developer/engineer - AnAI and ML engineer/developer oversees performing statistical analysis, running tests and implementing AI designs. Furthermore, they also develop deep learning systems, manage ML programmes, implement ML algorithms, among other things. For a career as an AI and ML developer, an individual need excellent programming skills in Python, Scala and Java, and experience on frameworks like Azure ML Studio, Apache Hadoop, and Amazon ML.

AI analyst/specialist - An AI analyst or specialist is similar to an AI engineer of Best  BTech college in Jaipur. The key responsibility is to enhance the services delivered by an industry, using data analysis skills to study the trends and patterns of certain datasets. With increasing use of AI systems across sectors, AI analysts or specialists are becoming very important.  They must have a good background in programming, system analysis and computational statistics. A bachelor’s or equivalent degree can help you land an entry-level position, but a master’s or equivalent is a must for core AI analyst positions.

Data scientist - The role involves identifying valuable data streams and sources, working along with data engineers of best engineering colleges in Jaipur for the automation of data collection processes, dealing with big data and analysing massive amounts of data to learn trends and patterns for developing predictive ML models. A data scientist is also responsible for coming up with solutions and strategies for decision-makers with the help of visualisation tools and techniques. SQL, Python, Scala, SAS, SSAS and R are the most useful tools for a data scientist. They are required to work on frameworks such as Amazon ML, Azure ML Studio, Spark MLlib and so on.

Key Skills

Now is the perfect time to explore or begin a career in AI. With the right learning and willingness to explore, you are sure to make a promising career out of it. However, to explore a career in AI, along with the right skills you must acquire the relevant technical knowledge and skill sets. First, experience with calculus and linear algebra are crucial. Second, you should have some knowledge and experience in at least one of the following programming languages out of Python, C/C++, MATLAB, etc. Along with the above, it is beneficial to also have some additional skills and knowledge including Industry knowledge and awareness, Problem-solving skills, Deep knowledge of or expertise in applied mathematics and algorithms, Knowledge of AI and ML systems, Management and leadership skills, etc.

First Steps

If students of engineering colleges Jaipur are not a technology professional or from the industry, the first step is to research and gather more knowledge. They can read several articles available online, talk to AI professionals, research technology colleges and programmes and also try to understand what interests you.

Although an undergraduate degree in computer science is a good starting point, a master’s degree in AI can provide first-hand experience and knowledge that can help you secure a position and give you an advantage over other candidates.

There are several undergraduate and graduate courses specific to data analytics and AI that you can choose at technology institutes and colleges across nation. These courses not only offer great insights into the industry and prepare you with the right skills, they also help you figure out your area of interest.

Career opportunities in AI and related sectors are very promising. It is also an interesting field to explore careers across industry sectors and seek global exposure. Industry predictions suggest that the industry will continue to grow explosively with rising demand for technology solutions in industries. All you need to do is find out what interests you and to keep learning.

Source: Click Here

[satoshi-mochida]

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder for PC launches May 21

From Gematsu

Side-scrolling action RPG Gestalt: Steam & Cinder will launch for PC via Steam on May 21, publisher Fireshine Games and developer Metamorphosis Games announced. A release date for the console versions was not announced.

Here is an overview of the game, via Fireshine Games:

About

Inspired by 16 and 32-bit classics, Gestalt: Steam & Cinder fuses tight 2D platforming and exhilarating combat with an engrossing, twist-laden narrative in a stunningly handcrafted steampunk world. Join Aletheia and a vibrant cast of characters as they race to discover the secrets of the Steam City of Canaan. Clobber armies of Clockwork golems and hunt horrors that slither through depths once forgotten. Thwart the twisted schemes of Canaan’s corrupt overseers, the nefarious Comitium. Fight for mankind’s survival and reveal the dark and dangerous truths riveted into the very foundations of the Steam City.

Enter a World of Rust and Ruin

Step into the shoes of Aletheia and tread the path of the Soldner, an elite mercenary of Irkalla who lives one job at a time. Take up the sword and gun, combining a slew of melee combos and deadly gunplay in staggering feats of skill that will leave your enemies reeling. Chase down a frenzied mutant charging through the grimy stalls of the Irkallan Black Market, leap across the molten pools blazing in the eternal furnace of Fornax, and fight off hordes of blood-drunk Raiders that prowl the fathomless depths of the Scrap Sea in search of their malignant god.

Shatter the Chains of Fate

Canaan is vast, and inside its swirling steam lie innumerable mysteries waiting to be unraveled. After a routine job goes awry, Aletheia sets out on an epic journey to uncover ancient enigmas threatening the very foundations of the Steam City. Challenge powerful new rivals and catch up with old friends as you carve your path through Canaan. Take on side jobs to earn a bit of extra scrap and delve into a history lost to the vagaries of time. Or maybe you’d just like to wash down your worries at Vincent’s Pub and listen for a rumor or two…

Unleash Your Inner Flame

Dash, dodge, and double-jump to keep out of harm’s way and stay in one piece. Wield a furious and fearsome array of abilities and grow stronger with each foe you defeat. Spend experience points to unlock new skills and trade scrap for accessories to customize your build and go toe-to-toe with some of the most formidable creatures to ever lumber beneath the copper sky. Hear that? The clang of a hammer stinging blood-red steel… The sinister murmur of heresies rushing through ancient pipes… Riddles echoing through vaulted halls of marble and madness. Sounds like fate has a job in store for you, Soldner—it’s time to earn your scrap. “Thine trembling works of Reason naught but ingots gleaming darkly by the light of a cindered heart—for what art thine flesh before the mother’s touch of flame?” —Dreams of the Steam Saint Anais, XXXIV, iii

“Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is a heartfelt ode to classic Metroidvanias and action RPGs, featuring enthralling combo-driven combat, a beautifully handcrafted world, and a story filled with incredible twists and turns,” said executive producer Jesse Cox in a press release. “After years of anticipation, I can’t wait for players to finally discover Aletheia’s adventure for themselves when Gestalt: Steam & Cinder launches on Steam next month.”

Executive producer Dodger added, “Working with Metamorphosis Games on the production of Gestalt: Steam & Cinder has been an incredible experience. From the very beginning, the team has been committed to creating an exciting action RPG that keeps players captivated with an engaging story and stunning pixel art. I’m thrilled for the game to be shared with the world on May 21.”

Watch a new trailer below.

PC Release Date Trailer

[xlntwtch2]

novicehydra

anais-ninja-bitch

#starbucks has been using the same cat mold for seasonal cake pops for years now#they’re running out of ideas for what to turn that stupid cat into and need a new mold#it drives the baristas crazy cuz customers can’t tell what this shit it half the time#the owl was also particularly agregious#source:I unfortunately work there

I can't unsee the cats, and bees don't have ears, unless they're supposed to be wings? Antennae? Dammit, those are cats.

[groceryonlineuae]

Popular Baby Care Products and Online Shopping in the UAE 

Being a new parent in the UAE is an exciting whirlwind, but navigating the world of baby care can sometimes feel like deciphering ancient hieroglyphics. Fear not, weary warriors! This is your one-stop guide to the most popular baby care products in UAE, along with the magical convenience of online shopping to deliver them straight to your doorstep. 

The Diaper Dynamos: 

Diapers: The throne of essential gear, choose baby diapers based on your little one's age, weight, and activity level. Super absorbency, leakproof confidence, and comfy snugness are your guiding stars. Pampers, MamyPoko, and Drypers are popular UAE champions. 

Wipes: Gentle warriors against diaper throne messes, opt for wipes made with natural ingredients and free from harsh chemicals. Pampers Aqua Pure, Johnsons Baby Sensitive Wipes, and Sebamed Baby Wipes are trusted allies in the UAE. 

Diaper Cream: A soothing shield against diaper rash, seek out a cream fortified with zinc oxide for maximum moisture protection. Desitin, Sudocrem, and Boudrex Butt Paste are well-known defenders in the UAE arsenal. 

Bath Time Bliss: 

Baby Bath Tub: From inflatable havens to foldable thrones, choose a bathtub that cradles your tiny voyager comfortably. BabyBjörn Bath Tub, Shnuggle Bath Tub, and Boon Silicone Bathtub are popular choices in the UAE. 

Baby Shampoo and Soap: Gentle cleansers for delicate skin, look for tear-free formulas with natural ingredients and calming scents. Johnsons Baby, Mustela, and Baby Dove are soothing partners in the UAE bath time routine. 

Baby Lotion: Keep tiny skin soft and hydrated with a fragrance-free lotion. Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion, Cetaphil Baby Lotion, and Eucerin Baby Lotion are your UAE allies for silky smoothness. 

Feeding Time Feasts: 

Baby Bottles: Mimicking the natural flow of mom's embrace, choose bottles with nipples that feel familiar and comfortable. Philips Avent, NUK, and Dr. Brown's are trusted UAE choices. 

Baby Food: As your little explorer embarks on solid food adventures, opt for organic, stage-appropriate options in jars or pouches. Gerber, Hipp, and Organix are popular UAE providers of delicious journeys. 

Bibs: Fashionable shields against mealtime mayhem, look for bibs made with soft, machine-washable materials. BabyBjorn, Lässig, and Aden + Anais are stylish saviors in the UAE. 

Highchair: When tiny legs start kicking, a sturdy and adjustable highchair becomes your mealtime ally. Chicco Polly Magic Highchair, Fisher-Price SpaceSaver Highchair, and IKEA Antilop Highchair are popular UAE choices. 

Beyond the Basics: 

Don't forget these handy heroes: 

Thermometer: Monitor your little one's temperature accurately with a digital thermometer. 

Nail clippers: Keep tiny claws trimmed safely with gentle baby-specific clippers. 

Humidifier: Add moisture to the air, especially during dry seasons, to soothe baby's skin and prevent congestion. 

Baby carrier or sling: Stay hands-free and keep your little one close with a comfortable carrier or sling. 

Online Shopping Oasis: 

Forget the "nearest grocery store" frantic searches! Lulu Hypermarket UAE brings a world of baby care right to your doorstep: 

From diapers and wipes to strollers and toys, they've got you covered. 

A vast selection, including international brands and organic options. 

A curated collection of popular baby care brands. 

A one-stop shop with fast delivery options. 

Top Tips for Online Shopping Success: 

Compare prices and reviews: Find the best deals and ensure quality by checking different stores and customer feedback. 

Look for deals and promotions: Sign up for newsletters and follow social media to score discounts and special offers. 

Consider shipping costs: Factor in delivery fees when comparing prices. 

Read the return policy: Ensure you can easily return or exchange items if needed. 

So, embrace the online shopping oasis and navigate the world of baby care with confidence! Let us delve deeper into this incredible journey of parenthood in the UAE. Remember, happy little ones mean happy parents, and with the right tools and knowledge, you’ve got this! 

[libertyy-belle]

THE GOLDEN GATE || CHAPTER 3

During the morning I kept an eye out for the old man. However, by the end of my errands, I was so tired from lugging around the groceries- I had forgotten about him.

Arriving home, I dropped everything onto the counter and let out a tired puff. It had only been a few hours, but my feet ached from all the trotting around.

“Did you pick up the orders, Ann?” My mother wasted no time in her interrogation.

“I did, they are in there.” I motioned toward one of the linen bags that I had haphazardly thrown down. My hands rubbed at my shoulders as I stretched out my neck, the pain of such a heavy load starting to set in.

“How old are you again?” My father joked as he appeared from the kitchen, his lips morphing into a smirk. “You say you are twenty but the way you are grunting, I am beginning to think you are sixty!”

I couldn’t help but stick my tongue out at him, in which he mimicked back at me. “Very funny.” I rolled my eyes. “If you keep making mean jokes like that I might just leave you to clean up tonight’s rush alone!”

He feigned a dramatic shock, hand launching to cover his heart. “You take that back, and on a rush night, you must be very serious.”

I shook my head trying my best to keep a straight face, though a laugh broke free as he swooned over the counter. 

“Always so dramatic,” My mother muttered, a smile growing now on her face. 

“You both wound me!” He gripped his chest, turning slowly toward the kitchen. “I will be prepping food for the dinner crowd.” he paused, looking briefly over his shoulder. “While mending my broken heart.”

With that, I heard his laughter erupt through the now-closed door along with a sigh from my mother who trailed after him. “Go ahead and tend to the customers, Anais, whilst I make sure your father doesn’t slice open his hand again trying to cut the carrots.”

After they both had gone, I made my way around the room to each of the patrons. Ensuring that they were well stocked on drinks and food before retreating to sit behind the counter.

I sat listening to the murmur of conversations, looking from group to group. It was a quiet evening, no one was drunk enough to make it loud. 

An hour had passed before it started to get busier and Marlene finally arrived from wherever she had been to assist me. My parents were busy as they filled drinks and cooked meals. 

My favorite part of the week was music night. It was when it got busy and the rowdy crowd rolled in. I enjoyed it most when my father invited a bard from another town to play.

The music was lively, the crowd chiming in to sing along to songs they knew and even songs they didn’t. Men and women danced around, laughing in their drunken stupors. I had been so entertained by the show before me, that I had forgotten completely about my worries. 

I began to look forward to bed, tonight I would surely be kept awake by excitement. Not by another nightmare.

The crowd thinned as people went home, the last customer wishing me goodnight before stumbling out the door. I heard my parents cleaning and laughing in the kitchen as I began tidying the den. 

Marlene helped as best she could, though after she began getting lazy with her assistance- I shooed her off to bed. She skipped upstairs and I had begun to think that she was doing a poor job on purpose.

It was well passed afternoon now and the man had not shown. I began to think I scared him off, or perhaps he wouldn’t come at all. It was discouraging, to say the least, I was looking forward to talking to him once more.

Just as I began to lose hope altogether, the chide alarm of the bell rang. The door creaked open to reveal a rather tired familiar face. 

He offered me a tight-lipped smile, striding further into view as I was wiping down one of the tables. I couldn’t help my face as it first lit up, then quickly faded into a scold. 

“I didn’t think you were going to come, ” I said flatly, irritation panged in my chest.

“Got caught up in a few things, my apologies.” 

Motioning toward the seats beside us, he strode and plopped down. I followed, taking my seat across from him and setting my rag down in front of me.

“You never told me who you were, or why you left so abruptly,” I asked after realizing he was not going to speak first.

“Sir Edwin, Grand Knight of the Prince of Peace,” he said proudly, leaning back in his chair as his chest puffed up. Despite his old age, his mannerism was youthful. Like a child, playing pretend. 

It faded as he slumped back down and hummed a thoughtful noise, looking out the window beside us and the back at me.

“I wasn’t completely honest with you yesterday,” 

“About what, sire?”

“A few weeks ago a letter, unsigned, arrived to me.” The story started, his own hands clasping together. “I have been searching casually for access to the Golden Gate. I had gotten nowhere with it, lots of dead ends. Hard to keep track of a trail so old.”

“You were seeking the Golden Gate?” 

“Aye, the one from the fables of the Brother dragons. The Gate to Paradise.”

“Yes, the Golden Gate- go on.”

“The letter had directions to a cave not too far south, only a day trip. Two at most.” His hands released to massage his temples. “It also mentioned your name and this tavern. Anais Vasille. It said I needed to bring you along or else I wouldn’t be able to get what I needed from it”

“Why did you not lead with all of this?” I asked blatantly “Couldn’t you  just have gone to the cave anyway?”

“I wanted to see who you were and if you could be trusted. I didn’t know that you had seen a creature, or that you were so young” He said, his tone nothing but kind, still rubbing at his head he continued. “I did try after I saw you were just a kid– but the letter was right– nothing came from the cave.”

“That is why you were late I presume.”

“I want you to come with me to the cave, I hate to ask it of you but I think you may be important.”

“Go with you?” I blinked, gaping at the proposition he had laid in front of me. “I cannot just get up and leave home, my parents need me here.”

“Tell me, Anais. Tell me you haven’t felt it. Something is calling out to you, and whoever sent this letter knows it too.”

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. The stagnation of every day had grown on me, and even though I loved my family more than anything; I needed a change.

I had grown up in this town, I loved this town. It was safe and it was home. Yet as my eyes wandered to the window beside me, my gaze was directed up toward the clear sky. The stars studded the velvety black sheet of night. I heard something, so incredibly quiet. The sound of bells. 

“Is it just you then?”

“No, Sir Henry who isn’t much older than you. Recently granted knighthood after serving as my squire. He is waiting on the outskirts of town.” The old man picked at his teeth. “He didn’t want to feel intimidated by too many people.” 

Considerate.

“Must I decide this moment?” I finally said, breaking the silence.

He groaned, rubbing his rough palms against his face. “No, I guess not. I will give you a day to decide” 

Then he slid out of his seat, staring at me a moment.“Just know that this is important, Anais.”

He waved his hand dismissively at me before striding toward the door. “I will see you tomorrow, hopefully with your bags packed.”

Before I could respond, he was gone. The sound of the door shutting left the room still and I stayed sitting at that table for a few minutes after.

I pondered on what he had offered. I was surprised I was even truly considering it. 

I heard a shuffle from behind me, quickly spinning to address the noise. Marlene, who had been crouched behind the counter, lifted to peek over the island at me with a wide grin. 

“It is rude to eavesdrop, Lene,” I frowned, rolling my eyes.

“Anais, you must go,” she cooed as she flew around the counter to sit in the man’s absence.

“What about Mama and Papa, what about you?” 

“You are always thinking about us, you are never thinking about you,” she scoffed, jutting a finger to point at me “You are an adult now, what do you want?”

I hadn’t ever had time to really sit and think about what I wanted, and now that I was; I felt myself even more drawn to adventure.

“What if you do find this Golden Gate?” she said eyes widening in wonder, releasing a giggle as her head bobbed along with her blonde locks. “Think of that!”

“And what if I don’t, what if it is just a big waste of time and something ends up happening here?”

“If you don’t then you get an interesting few tales under your belt to peg back and those obnoxious sailors.” she mused with a smirk, grasping my hands into her own. 

As she squeezed, I felt the worry melt away from my chest. “I love you, Ana, please do what will make you happy.”

“You make me happy!” I laughed, squeezing her hand back.

“I will be here when you get back, go seek your own happiness within yourself. Not within us,” she peered over her shoulder at the kitchen doors “Sides, I think Papa could use it too- he is rather codependent on you.”

Then we sat like that, holding hands and staring at the table in silence. I enjoyed every soothing moment that passed. It was simple, but it felt so special to have this time with her, just the two of us. In that moment, I knew that our bond was unbreakable and that we would always be there for each other, through thick and thin.

It was at that moment I took a deep breath and resolved myself to the decision. If she could believe in me, then surely I should believe in myself too.

“I will bring you back a trinket or two, yes?”

“I would be very cross if you were to come back without a singular present,” she noted with feigned seriousness before it fell into one of a more real nature, “Are you going to tell Mama and Papa?”

“Of course, tomorrow, it is too late now.”

“I will pick especially beautiful wildflowers tomorrow to send you off with.”

“Thank you, Marlene.”