#divided nation

[alohapromisesforever]

Saying Nothing In Times of Troubles

Saying Nothing In Times of Troublesby Michael DoyleThe only certainty is it doublesTo be silent in times of troublesAt least, Irish history revealsHow false belief in God stealsThe soul of a broken nationThat is riveting in its salvationThat never quite seemed to comeFor a holy ghost faded to numbLike a living novel of pure dramaScenes played out in unceasing traumaYouthful passion bleeds into…

[danielleurbansblog]

Review: American Prophet

Synopsis: In American Prophet, Peter has a dream revealing the outcome of the Presidential election and feels compelled to share it with whomever will listen. As dreams of major events keep coming – and keep coming true – Peter soon gains notoriety and is heralded as a modern-day prophet. Along with the adulation come the naysayers, including his chief critic, the US President. Wild conspiracy…

[crossbordernarratives]

Biden Tells Americans To 'Cool It Down' After Trump Assassination Bid

US President Joe Biden sought to calm a divided nation Sunday after his rival Donald Trump survived an assassination bid, saying in a rare Oval Office address that it was time to lower the temperature of America's hostile politics. "It's time to cool it down. We all have a responsibility to do that," Biden said in a televised address following the attack in which Republican Trump was injured in the ear and a bystander was killed by gunfire.

As the country reeled from images of a bloodied Trump waving his fist after the gunman opened fire at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Biden added that US politics "must never be a literal battlefield, God forbid a killing field." The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by Secret Service agents amid scenes of chaos. Authorities say his motive remains unclear. The FBI said it was investigating the attack as a potential act of domestic terrorism and studying Crooks's phone to discover any "ideologies" he may have had. Biden, giving just the third Oval Office address of his presidency, also mentioned the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack by pro-Trump supporters as proof that the situation is getting out of hand. "We can't allow this violence to be normalized," the 81-year-old Democrat said, adding that the November 5 election would be a "time of testing" for the United States. The short but forceful speech went without any major hitches -- bar Biden twice referring to the ballot box as a "battle box". Democrats are closely watching the president following a disastrous debate performance renewed concerns about his age and ability to govern. The attempt on Trump's life has opened a dark new chapter in an already polarized election rematch with Biden, who beat him in 2020. Despite their bitter enmity, both Biden and Trump called for calm after the most serious attack on a US president or ex-president in more than four decades. Trump said it was "more important than ever that we stand United" and added that Americans should not allow "evil to win," in a post on social media. Numerous Republicans -- who themselves often pose with guns in political ads -- have claimed Democrats have promoted extreme rhetoric that led to the shooting. Just before Biden's speech, Trump landed in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, during which he will formally be anointed the party's nominee. The US Secret Service insisted the agency is "fully prepared" to maintain security at the convention, as it comes under severe scrutiny over the attempt to kill Trump. The agency faces searching questions about how the shooter was able to climb onto a rooftop around 150 meters (500 feet) from where Trump was speaking and fire multiple rounds. The FBI was "looking at it as a potential domestic terrorism act," the bureau's assistant director of counterterrorism Robert Wells said. The shooter's father was believed to have bought the semi-automatic weapon used in the attack but it was unclear how the shooter accessed it. Investigators also found a "suspicious device" in the shooter's car. Crooks's former schoolmates described him as a quiet student who often came across as lonely. "He was quiet but he was just bullied. He was bullied so much," Jason Kohler, who said he attended the same high school as Crooks, told reporters. The attack threatens to further inflame tensions at an already febrile moment in the race for the White House. Trump was recently convicted of criminal charges while Biden's dismal debate performance sparked Democratic party fears over his age and mental acuity. The shooting will likely now upend how both campaign. Biden, who is behind in most polls, will meanwhile have to tone down the full-throated criticisms of Trump that he pivoted to last week to shift attention from his own woes. But while the president canceled a trip to Texas on Monday he will continue with a visit to the battleground state of Nevada later this week. "That's how democracy should work," he said in the Oval Office address. "We debate and disagree."

[bugbumbing]

Trump and Biden Rally in Georgia, for a Nation Divided

Trump and Biden Rally in Georgia, for a Nation Divided DONATE: http://www.cash.app/$bugbumbing In the bustling city of Atlanta, Georgia, the air was charged with anticipation as news spread that both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden were scheduled to hold rallies on the same day. The political landscape was ablaze with excitement and curiosity, as supporters and skeptics…

[vanwinkle11]

the high divide, olympic national park

[unknown-till]

★🎀🏰PRINCESS GRAPHICS👑👛

It was national princess day recently

Found on 💗 | 🐦

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

Who Takes Care of The Hero? Part 1

SFW, fluff, angst, Hallmark movies vibes just in time for the holidays ;)

pairing: gn!reader x Rolan, gn!Tav x Rolan

word count: 2300

A/N: I’ve had writer’s block for soooo long but godsdamned if this grumpy, perfect wizard won’t get me through it.  There is definitely at least one more part to this that will be more mature, but we’ll see how far I can take this storyline :)

It had been another long, grueling day in the Shadowfell; you and your companions were especially weary after the high stakes mission of discreetly jailbreaking the prisoners of Moonrise Towers and leading them back to the safety of the Last Light Inn by boat.  Despite your aching muscles and the grime that coats your body, you manage a smile as you cross the threshold to see the many happy reunions surrounding you.  At the opposite end of the room, you watch Cal and Lia practically sprint to Rolan over by the bar; his trademark scowl is completely gone for a moment in shock but, in true Rolan fashion, he quickly furrows his brow again as he begins to chastise his siblings for getting captured.  You can see the anxiety in his features as he lectures them.  Maybe that’s why, despite his abrasiveness, you like Rolan.  You know how heavy it can be to feel responsible for other people’s lives, and like yourself, the young wizard clearly never asked for the immense amount of responsibility stacked on his shoulders. 

You quickly blink away your pensiveness and try to relax the tension by gently butting in and reminding his siblings that Rolan was highly distressed in their absence, and the trio quickly apologize to each other.  You feel great relief to see their family reunited and sigh contentedly when you feel a thin, cool arm wrap around your shoulders.  Astarion is smirking at your side as his eyes flick from you to the wizard and he clears his throat theatrically, “Anything to add Rolan?”

You quickly flick your head to face him and try to shoot daggers out of your eyeballs into his smug face, but he just continues to smile maniacally as his ears perk up and he looks back towards Rolan…

You had become close to Astarion quickly after you met; your respect for his autonomy and commitment to protecting him despite his condition created a deep loyalty between the two of you.  As such, it took Star one look at your face while you watched Rolan at the tiefling party to recognize the crush you had developed on the wizard.  He quickly began teasing you about your “tiefling husband” on your journey to distract from the near-constant horrors you faced. Your noble heart had feared for all the tieflings journeying through the shadow curse after leaving the Grove, but the anxiety you felt over Rolan’s safety would constantly wake you up at night; often to the company of Astarion who would sit with you and chat until you could fall back asleep.  When you had first reached Last Light, you felt terrible to learn of the attack on the road, but you silently and selfishly thanked every god you could think of that Rolan had remained mostly unharmed…

But now, Astarion slyly removes his arm from your shoulders and steps away, allowing Rolan to sheepishly approach you while rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.  He’s so close your body tenses slightly and you suddenly become very aware of how gross your armor must be from the blood and grime currently coating you.  If it bothers him, he doesn’t allow it to show as Rolan speaks softly to you, “I’ve lashed out at you. Drunkenly, and otherwise, and you helped anyway.  You didn’t deserve that- I’m sorry. And thank you.” He pulls a small coin purse from his side and pushes it towards you, “You went out of your way to help us, it’s only right you get some-”

You step backwards and shake your head, “Absolutely not. I am just glad you are all alive and well.  You can buy me an ale when we all reach Baldur’s Gate.” You offer a tired grin and raise your hand as all three siblings begin to protest, “If you’ll all excuse me, I’d like to clean up and retire for the evening. Goodnight.” You lock eyes with Rolan and blush before quickly turning to go up the stairs and change out of your armor.  Your exhausted companions, sans Astarion, have already retired to their bunks for the night, so you shed your armor and wrap a small parcel of clean camp clothes and soap in your towel as you quietly make your way to the large bathroom down the hall. Karlach, being the angel she is, has been preparing your baths at Last Light when she's on camp duty without you…

About a week ago you heard her muffled giggles and water splashing from the hall so you quietly stopped to peek through the semi-open door; she was animatedly sloshing the water to create lots of soap bubbles with one hand as the other played with a small wooden duck Halsin had carved her, gliding it across the surface of the water…

You close the door behind you and the steam from the bath instantly relaxes your muscles as you slowly peel off your armor clothes that are caked in sweat, blood, and dungeon dust before carefully stepping over the wooden side and sitting down into the hot bath water. The lavender scented suds relax your body and mind as you rest your chin on your knees and close your eyes. However, they quickly fly open again as the doorknob turns and Rolan enters the room, shyly looking at the floor; but as he looks up at you, his eyes grow huge and his jaw drops as he stutters out,"Tav! I- I- I'm so sorry!" His hands cover his eyes frantically and in his blind panic he trips and smacks into the door, accidentally closing it behind him.

"Astarion told me you were here, but- I didn't,- I swear he said it was an office!" His already red face is now glowing a bright shade of scarlet that probably mirrored your own, as he stands paralyzed with embarrassment and, despite your horror at Astarion's audacity (you'll get him back for this later) you can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of this situation. It was cheesier than one of Wyll's romance novels.

Rolan sheepishly peers around the side of his hand when he hears your laughter, and he smiles for a second before blushing and readjusting his manual blindfold to try and forget the fact you're naked and a very short distance away from him. But that's all you can think about as you try to figure out how to navigate this without making Rolan feel any more uncomfortable than he already does .

"Rolan it's okay, I can tell from your reaction you fell victim to one of Astarion's pranks. I'm so sorry, he gets me all the time, really!" You giggle again as Rolan lowers his hand but drops his gaze to the floor, and you can almost see the physical strain he is using not to glance over at you in the tub.

" He can be such an ass sometime bu- AHH!" you take a sharp breath through your teeth as you feel a sting on your mid back as you attempt to reposition yourself to face Rolan while lowering your body further into the water. You look up to see Rolan's face tinged with concern and he takes a small step forward and gently lowers himself to the floor next to the tub, his eyes still on the floorboards.  It simultaneously gives you more privacy, but both of you sit completely still, your closeness overwhelmingly palpable.

“Your back is raw and bruised on this side.” Rolan speaks barely above a whisper and his concern overrides his shyness as he leans slightly closer to look at your injuries.  As you were exiting the prison, a rogue piece of rock fell onto your back, but the adrenaline and ensuing tiredness almost made you forget until the hot water splashed onto a raw area when you turned.  Rolan’s hand moves painfully slowly towards your bare back and his touch is light as a ghost, but still, a sharp pain shoots through your side and you swallow a pained groan that tries to rise from the back of your throat.  You can hear Rolan swallow loudly before exhaling a shaky breath.  You bite your bottom lip so hard you’re afraid you’ll break skin, but it’s all you can do as you’re overwhelmed by the pain, excitement, and tenderness you feel at the moment.

Rolan silently rolls up the sleeves of his robes and reaches for one of the small sponges on the table next to the tub.  He gently dips it into your bath before delicately pressing it above the raw spot on your back to clean the wound.  Your exhaustion leaves you unable to keep up your bravado as you let out a soft whimper at the sharp sting you feel on your back.

“I know Tav, I know.  Let me help you clean it and we’ll get you bandaged up.” His voice is soothing and calm; you can’t think of another time you’ve heard him speak like this, but you close your eyes and try to relax your aching body. Rolan rinses the area a few more times before gently laying his hand over top of the wound and whispering a short incantation.  It’s like a pulse of hot light on the site for a moment, but you quickly realize the stinging open wound is gone.  Your muscles still have a dull ache, but the painful burn of the open cuts has stopped.  You gently turn your head to look at Rolan and offer him a weary but thankful smile. He smiles back and holds your stare for several long seconds before realizing his hand is still on the soft skin of your back and he quickly removes his hand and places it into his lap.  He smiles awkwardly at you before turning to look at your clean clothes and towel on the dressing table and raises himself off the floor to retrieve your towel.  He continues to avert his eyes as his head looks towards the door, but his body remains facing you so that one hand offers you the towel, and the other is an open palm to help you get up.

“The wound is closed, but I am quite certain you will still be sore for a bit. I can brew up a few healing potions for you tomorrow if you would like.”

You gingerly take his hand and hoist yourself up, goosebumps covering your body as it reacts to being in the cool air above the water.  The gentleman next you never takes his eyes off the door as you cover yourself with the towel, wrapping it around your body before reaching back out for Rolan’s arm to help keep your balance as you step over the sides of the tub and onto the floor mat. You are toe to toe with Rolan and you can feel the intense heat radiating off of him, his cheeks blushing intensely as he glances at your hand clutching his.

“I would greatly appreciate that. Thank you.  For taking care of me like this.” Your voice is soft and you look at his face as his brilliant yellow eyes gently rise to meet yours. He can’t fight the smile that forms at your praise and he doesn’t even realize his tail is gently wagging behind him.

“It is the least I can do after all you have done for me, for my family. Despite me being a miserable asshole to you on multiple occasions.  You are the kindest person I have ever met…or perhaps the most foolish?” He grins coyly and you chuckle at his teasing.

“I’m no saint, but I’m certainly not the most foolish person you’ve met.  Or shall I reintroduce you to my party?”

You both giggle at your joke, but then Rolan lowers his voice almost to a whisper.

“Why are you so kind to me? After how poorly I have treated you?”

Perhaps it’s fatigue, or perhaps it’s the vulnerability in his voice, but you lean in so your faces are close enough you can see the different colored freckles that sprinkle his nose and cheeks and the way his sharp canines just barely poke out beneath his upper lip.   

“I think we are similar.”

He shakes his head and laughs, but you cut him off, “I mean it.  We both feel deeply responsible for the people around us.  It is a lot of pressure, but I feel it’s my duty, and I’d rather die trying than let them down. I am constantly worried I am going to fail them.”

He turns to face you fully as his eyes bore into your soul while he tries to take in what you’ve said. His searching look causes you to clear your throat, worried you’ve gone too far too fast, “Forgive me, I am a bit cold.  Would you turn around for a moment so I can put this on?” You hold up your clothes and Rolan blushes before turning back towards the door as you quickly drop your towel and throw on your underwear and the oversized linen tunic you’ve been sleeping in.

“Walk me to my room?”

“It would be my privilege.” Your cheeks burn hot as he offers his arm out for you, before he opens the bathroom door and escorts you into the empty hallway.  You lean into his warm frame, your muscles weak and your eyes heavy as the multitude of events from the day finally catch up with you.  You stop in front of the heavy oak door to your room before Rolan whispers quietly to you, “Sleep well Tav, I will prepare some healing potions and check in on you tomorrow.” He opens his mouth slightly, as if to say more, but instead he reaches to open the door for you before bowing his head silently and retreating down the stairs toward his own room.  You quietly move through the dark room towards your bed, where you practically collapse as your body falls against the mattress.

[jewish-microwave-laser]

A majority of Israelis supported the Oslo Accords. Partly the changing mood was a result of the intifada: a growing number of Israelis had concluded that the price for absorbing the territories was too high, that occupation undermined Israel's Jewish and democratic values, that the Jewish people hadn't returned home to deprive another people of its sense of home. And so if the right's policies had led to the intifada, then the left's policies ought to be given a try. The 1970s and '80s had been the decades of Greater Israel, and the '90s seemed about to become the decade of Peace Now.

There was also, as Rabin noted, the changing international atmosphere. During the Sebastia showdown of 1975, much of the public had supported Gush Emunim as an expression of its contempt for the UN's Zionism-racism solution. But Israel was no longer being instantly demonized, and Israelis responded with a readiness to take risks for peace.

from "Part Five: End of the Six-Day War (1992–2004)" in Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation by Yossi Klein Halevi, p. 481

[poetryvampire]

Just curious but how do you think Zevlor would feel about non-tiefling reader, who has never seen a tieflings before, is just both fascinated by his infernal features & genuinely thought he's so handsome? Reader is shy around him that he misunderstood thinking reader is afraid of him, but later, he accidentally overheard reader being teased for being too shy to talk to him all because he's too attractive! Please tell me thoughts if you don't mind!

Dear sweet anon! I could swoon, I love that good shy mutual pining. Gets me every time. I was so taken with the idea it turned into a little fic. Let's goooo ✨

Zevlor x Gn Reader

Sft. Zevlor pines for you while trying to figure out how you might feel for him. With a bit of angst but it's mostly just cute.

Transfixed

After a winding jog through the woods Zevlor slows to an easy trot, letting out a long breath. He's weary in body and mind. Despite his hopes the gentle greenery had done little to calm his storming thoughts. He was certain his fears has turned reality and he had wronged you by his foolish actions.

The tiefling commander sat himself against a large elm tree, allowing another exasperated sigh to past his lips. He couldn't help but mull over the situation; to try and pin point where he had gone wrong or if he had any chance of fixing it.

Zevlor has a keen eye and was always acutely aware of your gaze. It wouldn't be the first time he'd gotten lingering stares from a non-tiefling. He understood that his dark eyes and curved horns could come off as a bit intimidating, especially to someone that's not used to his kind. Usually he would pay it little attention. But your eyes, they stayed with him.

It became a sort of game. One seemingly approved by the Gods themselves as the two of you crossed paths constantly. He would catch you, eyes locked on him and like every time they would dart away, a sweet blush rising to your cheeks. Zevlor had found himself transfixed by the sight of you, then suddenly you were the one catching him. Usually you'd turn away but if the stars alined just right you would hold his gaze. There was a wonderment in it that kept him up at night. Desperately he fought not to give into false hope but couldn't help but wonder if there was something more than mere curiosity behind those eyes. Those gorgeous eyes.

He had to test the waters. Carefully, little by little, he sought you out more often. It was always amiable, enjoyable even but you puzzled him still. Your voice may shake a little when you spoke yet you never sought to cut the conversation short. Your words were welcoming even if your gaze was down turned.

Zevlor plays back his every action in his mind. Could it be you were you shy by nature? Were you too polite to tell him to leave you be? Or did his presence truly make you uncomfortable?

He feared he had only made things worse a few days prior. You had passed him in a hurry only to drop a book full of loose papers that scattered all over the ground. Of course Zevlor knelt beside you in a instant to help. Your hands crashed together and you gasped practically jumping out of your skin. Fear struck his heart, thinking he may have hurt you.

"My deepest apologies, my dear. Please, let me see." Without thinking Zevlor grabbed your hand, running his fingers over it carefully, inspecting it for any cuts or scratches from his nails. There were none, just the softest skin he'd ever felt. He was drawn back to reality when he notes you're trembling ever so slightly.

"Are you alright?" He lifts he's eyes to yours only to be met with a sharp jab in his chest. Fear; It's unmistakable. Your eyes are brimming with it, full like a deer locked in place before some beast. He dropped your hand just then realizing how tightly he was gripping it.

"I- I'm sorry. I have to be going, C-commander." You forced out before you stood and practically sprinted away.

Zevlor drops his head in his hands, trying to discern the best path to take. Having had collected your book the first plan was to simply return it and offer an apology. But as the days passed he wonders if trying to smooth things over was just more foolishness. There was plenty of people he could pass the book on to and then he could leave you be. Not bother you again. He scolds himself for thinking you might have had any feelings for him other than fear.

The soft rustling of wind through leaves is broken by the sound of vibrant laughter.

"Oh, come on. You have to go!" It's a woman. A very familiar voice.

"But I don't want to make it weird if it's a tiefling holiday thing. I don't want to crash the party."

It was you. Zevlor bolted up peaking around the elm. There, through a small thicket of trees he spied two figures walking leisurely. It was you and Lia, a fellow teifling he had occasionally seen you in the company of.

"Oh please. It's nothing like that, just a little get together. C'mon it'll be fun." Lia pleaded.

The sabbath celebration was that evening, wasn't it? It had completely slipped Zevlor's mind.

"Oh, I don't know."

"You know all of us are going. Everyone's gonna be there. Including Zevlor.' Lia practically sang out.

"No! Don't say that." You gasp. "Now I definitely can't go."

Zevlor would have gladly taken being thrown from his horse over the gut punch of your words. It was his own fault for listening to a private conversation and for letting his mind be over come with the thought of you. Defeated, he turned to leave as silently as he could.

"You're mad. Just talk to him."

"You don't understand, I can't just talk to someone like him. He's far too handsome."

Zevlor nearly tripped, his body halting him before his brain could process the words. Surely he misheard you.

Lia's laugh filled the forest. "You're so ridiculous. Just come tonight, have a glass of wine with him. I'm sure he'd like that."

His heart hammers. Yes, he'd like that quite a bit. More than anything he could think of at the moment.

"But I always make such a fool of myself in front of him. It's like I see him and my brain just goes all stupid." You sigh.

"You're not that bad. Besides you talk to Dammon just fine." She teases.

"He's different. Yeah he's attractive but he's not ~Zevlor~"

His name rolls off your tongue so sweetly. A breath escapes his lips didn't realize he was holding in.

"Admit it, it's the infernal features. We really are stunning, aren't we." Lia jokes.

"You are! Really you're all so beautiful." there's such an honesty in your words. "But Zevlor's so handsome. It's just all so striking. His skin is such a perfect shade of red and those eyes just transfix me. I feel my whole body's burning when he looks at me. And those horns! They're so large and well shaped. Gods I want to touch them."

"Speak to him like that and I'm sure he'd let you touch a lot of things."

"Hush." You laugh. "You think so?"

There's a smile on your lips, Zevlor's sure of it by the warmth in your voice. He's in a dream, it's the only answer.

"Oh, commander!" Lia teases, dramatically. " I feel so safe with those great big horns of yours! Won't you walk me home?"

"Shut up! It's not just that you know. He's also well spoken and he seems so brave and dutiful. He's such a gentleman. I wish I could just how amazing he is. How he makes me feel so..." You trail off, lost in thought.

"That settles it. Let's go get ready. We're going to that party."

Your hurried voices fade leaving Zevlor with the sound of his heart pounding. Thoughts rushed his mind telling him this couldn't be. That somehow he misunderstood. As unbelievable as it felt he knew what he heard.

Handsome. His infernal features in all. That was something the tiefling commander never considered himself. He couldn't stop the smile pulling at his lips. He's overwhelmed and ecstatic all at once. His mind is not free from doubt but your words set a new courage ablaze in his heart.

Zevlor had tried his best to push the fullness of his desire for you away but if your feelings were the same he had to act. For both your sakes he would seek you out that night. The misunderstanding would be mended and perhaps some relief offered to your longing.

~ 💜💓💜

[roastedoatmilk]

Let The Light In

Rolan x Fem Tiefling Tav (Sybil)

summary: The five times Rolan thinks his feelings for Sybil are unrequited and the one time Sybil catches him by surprise

word count: 3.4k

tags: angst with a happy ending, unrequited love but not actually, rolan being an ass, cal and lia being amazing as usual, idiots who are obviously in love but don't know it.

A/N got the idea for this fic by @gnomishcunning it’s a bit different from what they posted but it’s the same concept !!! let me know if yall would like to see sybil's pov of this fic ! this is also on ao3

One

The first time Rolan met Sybil was admittedly not one of his better moments, the wizard had been arguing with his siblings when the hero showed up with her rag tag group of companions. The purple haired tiefling had wandered over to the siblings, taking a moment to listen as the one with his brown hair pulled up argues that they need to make it to Baldur’s Gate as soon as possible causing his siblings to groan in disapproval.

“She’s right,” Sybil piped up, “we survived Elturel, surely a wizard as accomplished as yourself can help with the fight here.” her voice soothed Rolan’s ears, he had never heard such a wonderful voice before. 

“Thank you, it’s the right thing to do and you know it!” Lia says, her words aimed at her stubborn brother.

“She’s right Rolan, we're better than this.” Cal agrees.

Rolan rolled his eyes and sighed “Zurgan fine I’ll stay too lest you end up with your throats slit by a goblin blade.” 

“Thank you Rolan.” Lia sighs before walking away with Cal at her side.

Sybil approaches Rolan again, curious about the stubborn tiefling. 

“We should’ve left by now, damnation.” Rolan grumbles, “Instead we’re sitting here practically begging to be attacked, staying is a mistake.”

A slight frown finds its way onto the cleric’s light blue face, “You’re doing the right thing you know, the tieflings need help.” Sybil says calmly.

“And what about us? There’s every chance we’ve doomed ourselves by helping these people.” Rolan scoffs.

Before Sybil can even respond the grumpy wizard continues, “We will end up fodder for some goblin’s blade all because Lia insists on helping every wounded foal we see, our best chance to make it to Baldur’s Gate is on our own. This place is lost.” 

Sybil’s frown deepens her eye twitching in irritation as he once again mentions the illustrious city, “Why are you in such a rush to get to the city?” the cleric questioned crossing her arms over her chest. 

Rolan straightened himself up, puffing out his chest at the question, “Well you are currently looking at the newest apprentice of Lorroakan,” the red tiefling bragged, a smirk on his face. “Yes that Lorroakan, the greatest wizard in Baldur’s Gate.”

Sybil’s red eyes twitched even more at the mention of the ginger haired wizard, “You mean Lorroakan who lives in Ramazith tower in the Upper City? I’ve heard some pretty nasty things about that man.” the hero tells the shorter man, her irritation evident. 

The corner of Rolan’s lips twitched, “All rumors I can assure you, Master Lorroakan is the best of the best and I would study under nothing less.” the wizard huffs. 

Sybil nods in response not fully believing him but not wanting to argue. She turns to her companions and begins to chat with them, with her attention no longer on him Rolan takes time to fully take in the hero’s appearance. She stood more than a few inches taller than him. Her dark purple hair was pulled back into a tightly braided bun, strands of hair brushing against her face parting around her horns. Rolan watches as she laughs at something the wizard in purple robes says, her ruby red eyes crinkling up as she smiles, her tail flicks slightly as she laughs. He’s shook out of his daze when he feels an elbow jab into his side, his head whips to the left to see Lia has made her way back over to him, smirking at her brother with a knowing look on her face. Rolan scoffs and looks away, refusing to give her the satisfaction of his embarrassment. 

After a moment Sybil and her group bid the siblings farewell, making their way down to the Druid’s Grove. Rolan watches the cleric as she leaves, Lia and Cal, who had rejoined his siblings, watch their brother with matching looks on their faces. Rolan sighs as she fades from view, thinking that he really messed up whatever chance of companionship that he had with the cleric.

Two

It had been weeks since the last time Rolan had seen or heard from Sybil, he and his siblings tried to make their way through the Shadow Cursed Lands but things went terribly wrong. Which is why Rolan now finds himself sitting at the bar in the Last Light Inn, drowning his sorrows in liquor. The wizard was so lost in his own misery, he failed to realize that a certain tiefling cleric had once again managed to find him. 

“There’s another bottle of Arabellan Dry over there, put it on the bar, then piss off and leave me alone.” The wizard snaps at the two children manning the bar.

“Jahiera said that we should serve drinks but that we shouldn’t serve drunks.” Ide tells the wizard, her eyes catching on the purple haired tiefling who had finally made it over to where Rolan was. 

“Jahiera didn’t save your ragged little tail from the cultists, I did.” Rolan quips, his words slurred. He was too far gone to notice the presence that had appeared behind him. 

“Do you want to talk about your sorrows instead of drowning them?” Sybil asks gently, resting her hand on the wizard’s shoulder.

“I’d rather drown than talk to a sanctimonious prick like you,” Rolan snaps at her before harshly shrugging her hand off his shoulder. Sybil flinches at his tone, completely taken aback. 

“If you’re here to save the day again you’re a little late this time.” The brown haired tiefling retorts, refusing to look at Sybil. 

“What’s wrong Rolan? Is there any way I can help?” Sybil asks carefully, trying her hardest not to upset the man further. 

“Oh sod off,” Rolan snarls, finally turning to face the taller woman “I’m only here because you helped me and my family. I was ready to cut and run back at the grove but you had other ideas.” 

The pure venom in his voice shocks Sybil, she had never heard him sound so angry before, not even back at the grove. 

“Cal and Lia were taken in by your crap,” Rolan snaps at the cleric once more, “You convinced them to play hero, and now they're gone.” 

Sybil gasps, her eyes watering at the thought of the twins being taken by the cult. The purple haired cleric clears her throat before responding to the angry wizard with, “Then it’s my responsibility to bring them back.”

This didn’t seem to be the correct response however all it did was make Rolan even angrier, he rounds on the taller woman before yelling, “They’re my responsibility, you go save the world, or your own arse, or whatever it is you do,” He glares at the taller woman, “I’ll fix this.” 

Rolan turns back to the bar refusing to look at her any longer, he briefly thinks to himself through his drunken haze that he’s definitely messed it up with her this time but he can’t find it in himself to care, too focused on the pain of losing his siblings.

Three

The darkness of the Shadow Cursed Lands is more intense than Rolan remembered, the light from the torch he carries barely cutting through it. He doesn’t let that deter him though, too focused on trying to get to Moonrise so he can rescue Lia and Cal. Faintly Rolan hears whooshing behind him, he ignores it and continues on his way. He makes it all of ten steps before he’s being surrounded by shadow fiends. Rolan desperately tries to fend them off but with only one hand being available to use it wasn’t much help. Just as he was beginning to accept his fate and let the fiends take him he hears shouting in the distance. 

“BY THE GODS ROLAN IS THAT YOU???” Sybil shouts running as fast as her legs can go, her companions following closely behind the purple haired tiefling.

Right as the cleric makes it to where Rolan stands a fight breaks out, Sybil and her companions fight valiantly against the fiends. The sight of it makes a bitter feeling settle in the wizard’s stomach. Before long the fight was won, the finishing blow being landed by Astarion’s arrow soaring straight into the final fiend. Sybil turns frantically towards Rolan already reaching in her pack for a healing potion to give to him, the sight of it only worsens the feeling in the pit of Rolan’s stomach.

“Gods damn it all, I can do nothing right- not a damn thing.” The man shouts, shocking everyone around him. 

“Rolan, please tell me you weren’t looking for Moonrise.” Sybil says, blood and dirt staining her face. Her eyes wide as she looks at the broken man before her. 

“So what if I was, Cal and Lia could be there,” the wizard snaps, “Instead I found myself cornered by shadow fiends and in need of rescue. From you of all bloody people.”

Sybil steps back a bit, the healing potion still clutched firmly in her hand.

“Rolan, Cal and Lia have already been rescued from Moonrise along with the other tieflings, they’re back at the Last Light waiting for you,” The purple haired cleric tells the man gently. “You were trying to help your family, you’re too hard on yourself.” Sybil holds out the hand that's holding the healing potion to the red tiefling.

“Or not hard enough, I’ve failed Cal and Lia again I should’ve been the one to rescue them not you.” Rolan growls, snatching the potion from Sybil’s hand and downs it. “Right then back to the Last Light, where I can tell my siblings how I’ve once again failed them.” 

Rolan doesn’t wait for anyone to answer before turning around and marching in the direction that they came from. On his way back Rolan thinks to himself that Sybil was only trying to help and that he shouldn’t have snapped at her. He once again has mucked things up with someone who was only trying to help.

Four

When they all make it back to the inn Rolan immediately hears his siblings calling for him and rushes over to them.

“Did you enjoy relaxing here while I battled that wretched darkness?” Rolan questions his siblings furiously, “What were you thinking?”

“I’m sorry, we got captured by murderous lunatics!” Lia snaps back.

“I thought you were dead you ass. Both of you!” Rolan retorts.

“We’re all safe Rolan, that's what matters.” Cal replies, trying to ease the tension in the room.

Sybil makes her way over to the siblings relieved that they made it back safe, “Rolan was in a bad state without the two of you.” Sybil tells the twins gently.

"I was just - overwhelmed, it doesn't matter.” Rolan sighs trying his hardest to not concern his siblings about his well being. 

Lia and Cal finally fully take in Rolan’s appearance, his normally well done hair loose and almost completely undone, the bottom of his robes caked in mud, the tremble in his voice as he speaks to them.

“I’m sorry, we should’ve been here.” Lia says, feeling horrible for her brother.

“No - no it's not your fault, I shouldn’t have shouted - I’m sorry.” Rolan replies softly.

Cal turns to Sybil, who had been standing off to the side to give the siblings a moment to themselves. 

“Thank you for rescuing me, and the two idiots.” Cal tells the cleric. 

Sybil awws and pulls both Cal and Lia in for a hug, the cleric has grown quite fond of the twins over the time she has spent around them. After a brief moment she lets the two go and makes her way over to Rolan who is shifting on his feet clearly feeling awkward. 

“Anything to add Rolan?” Sybil asks the wizard who is currently refusing to meet her eyes. 

“I’ve lashed out at you, drunkenly and otherwise and you helped anyway,” Rolan sighs, “You didn’t deserve that, I’m sorry and thank you.” 

Rolan finally looks up at the cleric and sees that her eyes have gone misty, his eyes widen in alarm but before he can say anything he too is pulled into a hug by the tiefling woman. The second he feels the warmth of her body against his own Rolan sighs wrapping his own arms around the taller woman. After a few moments Sybil releases the wizard, a small smile on her face.

“I’ve grown rather fond of you three and I always help the people I care about.” Sybil utters, her voice so soft Rolan could barely hear her. 

The wizard feels heat rush to his face, his heart practically beating out of its chest. All the poor man can say in response is mutter a small “Thanks.” causing the cleric to giggle. They stand there with each other for another moment before Sybil and her companions once again bid them farewell. That night as he tried to get some sleep all that Rolan could think of was Sybil, the way she helped him and his siblings without question, the way she brushes off praise for her heroic acts with a purple tinge to her cheeks, the way her eyes crinkle when she smiles, the way her voice sounds as she says his name. Staring up at the ceiling all the wizard can bring himself to say is “Shit.”

Five

Life as the apprentice of Lorroakan was not at all what Rolan thought it would be when he arrived in the city over a month ago. If anything it was far worse than anything he could’ve thought of. Not only was Lorroakan a massive prick who used the tiefling as his personal punching bag, but Rolan’s days have also become incredibly dull. He hadn’t heard from Sybil since the last night he saw her at the inn, not that he was expecting to hear from her at all but there was a small part of him who had hoped that one day he’d wake up to find that a letter from her mysteriously appeared on his nightstand. 

Standing behind the front desk at Sorcerous Sundries the wizard sifted through papers, waiting for a customer to approach. Rolan was growing tired of constantly explaining to people that no he couldn’t in fact tell them what The Nightsong is because he himself didn’t know. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice the very cleric who had constantly been on his mind approach him. 

“Hells Rolan what happened to you?” Sybil asked, concern heavily lacing her voice.

The wizard jumps at hearing the very voice he’d been dreaming of for a month. He looks up to see Sybil standing in all of her beautiful glory, she seems to have collected some scars over the time they were apart, he takes notice of a particularly nasty one gracing her forearm. 

 “Nothing for you to worry about.” Rolan replies silently pleading for her to drop it. He didn’t want to explain that the wizard he had so arrogantly bragged to her about’s favorite way to pass time is to beat him.He should’ve known better however because by the looks of it Sybil didn't believe him, however before she could even try to question him further he changed the subject. 

“But nevermind that, what can I do for you?” The wizard asks, trying to keep this interaction as professional as possible.

Sybil frowns, sensing that she won’t get anything out of him about the bruises covering his face, “Do many people ask about The Nightsong?” the cleric asks, seemingly moving onto what she actually came here for.

“It’s all I deal with these days, people claiming their trinkets are the real nightsong, looking for the mountain of gold Lorroakan promised.” Rolan sighs, “There's even a pamphlet, take one they’re on the desk.”

A small smile flickers to Sybil’s face, finally getting a glimpse of the Rolan that she knows. “I have information on The Nightsong.” The purple haired cleric tells him. 

“Be very sure before you go to visit Lorroakan, he's got a beastly temper but if you really do know something he’ll want to see you. Head upstairs you can find a way to his tower up there.” The wizard replies, locking his eyes with Sybil’s.

The cleric nods in response before stepping forward, “Thanks Rolan it was wonderful to see you, I did miss you you know.” She whispers as if she didn’t want her companions to hear her. Before Rolan could respond Sybil pulled back and motioned for her group to follow her. Rolan only managed to catch one more glimpse of her as she walked up the stairs. For the rest of the shift all he could think about was what Sybil told him, he refused to believe she meant it in any way other than as friends. He had simply messed things up one too many times for her to ever think about him that way. Or so he thought

Plus one

Rolan’s entire body ached, the adrenaline that coursed his body through battle finally wearing off. Lorroakan had been defeated thanks to Sybil and the actual Nightsong or as she called herself Dame Aylin. Once he found out that the Nightsong was in fact a person and not an artifact Rolan felt not only disgusted but betrayed, he never would’ve worked for Lorroakan if he knew. A million thoughts flew through the red tielfing’s mind, he was so distracted that he once again didn’t notice Sybil approach him. He flinches as he feels hands rest on his shoulders. 

“I just wanted to check up on how you’re doing, you know now that Lorroakan is gone.” Sybil says, she rubs her thumbs back and forth across the shorter man’s shoulders. 

“Honestly I feel fine, all things considered.” Rolan replies looking up at the purple haired cleric who is crouched in front of him.

“That’s great to hear, I’m sure being the new master of the tower is going to take some getting used to. I’m here if you need anything.” The blue tiefling tells him gently, her thumbs still rubbing his shoulders. 

For some reason this seems to be Rolan’s final straw, he stands up forcing Sybil’s hands to leave his shoulders. “I just don’t get you, why are you still so kind to me even though I have been nothing but an arse to you since the day we met?” Rolan asks her, his voice heavy.

This caused Sybil to laugh, a fully body genuine laugh making Rolan’s face scrunch up in confusion. 

“Hells Rolan I really thought I was being obvious this whole time, I’m in love with you have been since the day I saved you in the Shadow Cursed Lands.” Sybil says between giggles. 

Whatever he was expecting her to say it sure as hell wasn’t that,  “Are you quite well? I don’t think you’re aware of what you just said.” Rolan tries to reason with the cleric. 

“Oh for the love of the gods yes Rolan I am aware of what I said and I meant every word, now if it’s okay with you I’d like to kiss you now.”  Sybil groans with a large grin plastering her face.

“Well go on then.” Rolan replies, still in shock. 

Before he could think of anything else he felt soft lips enveloping his own. It shocked him just how soft Sybil’s lips are even after months of adventuring. Rolan sighs as he relaxes into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Sybil’s waist and pulling her closer. Kissing Sybil felt like coming home, a warm tingly feeling flooded the wizard’s entire body. The pair kiss for a few more moments before they are interrupted by several wolf whistles coming from behind them causing the pair to break apart. Sybil groans as she sees the shit eating grins on every single one of her companion’s faces. 

“I’m so sorry about them Rolan, excuse me while I knock some sense into them.” Sybil whispers before giving him one more peck on the lips.

Rolan stands there for a moment watching the taller tiefling make her way over to Astarion and pick him up by the back of his armor causing him to yelp. The wizard laughs as he watches the woman that he loves joke around with her companions. The woman he thought not even 24 hours ago that he had zero chances with. For the first time in over a month his heart was completely full.

[wisteriagoesvroom]

can't believe we got a franco gq spread before we got one with oscar

[sxftcloudz]

Viktor Arcane c.ai bot

📓| Tutoring

A/N: Hello! I wanted to make a S1 Act 1 Viktor bot really bad, so I made this one! I also kind of relate to this bot since I used to struggle in school and I would've killed for someone like Viktor to help me out. This is set before Viktor meets Jayce and the creation of Hextech, so apologies if he brings it up !! (:

Synopsis: Viktor is in the same classes as you. When he overhears that you are not doing well in your classes, he is confused since he knows you are a very bright student and even witnessed you solving a few problems in class with ease. He knew you were going to fail for the semester, but he had the advantage of being the assistant to the Dean of the Academy. He convinced Professor Heimerdinger to give him a chance to tutor you and told you it was mandatory to come. When you came to the sessions, he saw how diligent you were, so it left him puzzled as to why people thought you were not trying hard enough. At the next tutoring session you had, you asked him why he took so much out of his time to help you, and he had enough of you thinking so low about yourself.

Greeting is below the cut for anyone interested in using this bot (:

You were failing in the most prestigious university in Piltover. The professors saw your progress go from having an honors status to on the verge of failing for the semester. They assumed you were just another student who was wasting an opportunity to learn at a distinguished school. However, not everyone thought that way about you.

Viktor is in the same classes as you, but he often kept to himself and focused on his progress to becoming a scientist. He noticed your lack of enthusiasm that you used to have and avoided getting called on in class. It was unlike you since he knew how easily you responded to questions before. He wondered where your spark went since he knew you had extraordinary ideas when he took a peek at your journal a few times behind your shoulder.

Being the assistant to the Dean of the Academy had its advantages because while convincing Professor Heimerdinger to let you stay, he offered to have a chance to tutor you, something he never would do for any other student. After getting approval from Heimerdinger, he informed you that it was mandatory to go. He noticed at every tutoring session how you were not a slacker at all. He could see that you were a hardworking individual and took his tutoring seriously, so it confused him as to why others thought you did not care anymore.

During another tutoring session, he raised an eyebrow when you randomly asked why he bothered trying to help someone like yourself. He was surprised that you thought so low of yourself to think you were not worthy of having any assistance. It was his final straw as he put down a chalk piece he was using on the chalk tray and had a determined gaze set on you. “Victoria, do you think it was my life's ambition to be an assistant? Scientists seek discoveries. Ways to make the world a better place. Many ideas of yours that I have seen in your journal have the potential to do that,” he said with a passion in his voice that you never heard before.

[skitskatdacat63]

Happy 5/14!!!!

Aaaaahh not sure if this is my best work 😭 I just really wanted to draw smth for vettonso day but my brain hasn't really been functioning well LOL so I kept dreading working on this, especially bcs its so important to me, y'know? I hope it's good????? I'm happy with the concept, but I was just so unsure on so many of the angles and it was killing me. I did the color thing bcs I thought it'd add something interesting to it :) since I didn't paint it as I usually would

Anyways! Process!

Now I will explain all of them:

Boy king au is where it all starts of course. I think their relationship is the most developed in this compared to the others, but at the same point, they just start from such a different point, especially affection-wise. All of these kinda have a power dynamic, except the last one, and this is the most imbalanced. Fernando is being subservient, the only part of Seb he may kiss(in public lol) is his hand.

Matador au next. They hurt themselves when they try to be affectionate, because they live in the culture of a sport of violence and death. The sword separates them, their love for the sport keeps them apart, in fear that they hurt each other. Seb, yet again, looks down upon Fernando. Seb haunts Fernando's whole career, the constant overhanging presence. Also aside from that, shame that you can't see his three musketeers look bcs of the black background 😔

2012 core!!! I think this one is pretty easy to understand. Both of them often kiss their trophies, more so than any driver. So they're both trying to claim the wdc trophy by kissing it. Maybe you guys should just get rid of the trophy altogether and claim each other! But yes, just like the sword in the matador au one, the trophy and their ambitions divides, keeps them from ever bridging the vast gap between them, at least at that point in time.

The conclusion! Aka what I wish we will get at Imola 2024- kidding kidding. But it is 2024. Finally there is no conflict between them, there's no big thing keeping them in conflict, they can finally come together. Finally they can touch, there is no gap to bridge, they can appreciate each other, and appreciate what they failed to in years past.

The thesis is basically that they always have their aspirations between them, and their aspirations happen to be basically the same thing. Until those are resolved, the gap between them is too vast for them to recognize and/or find any commonality. How do you get along with someone when you're both fighting for the same thing? How do you get along when it feels like one of you is winning more? How do you get along when there's such a vast gap?

In boy king au, it's going to take a while before they both feel settled about the issue of the throne. That's what makes that au interesting, they're trapped in this state of non-closure and they have to actually solve their issues without the matter of one of them simply removing themselves from the equation. They have to find a way to get over themselves and their aspirations, because like it or not they're stuck with each other. I think with the hand kissing, it represents how Fernando, at that point, is only willing to play along with the game if it's tradition, and he often won't budge in other ways. Yes, I will show subservience, but only in this detached, formal way that I don't connect personally to. He's still holding his own bitterness over meaningfully appreciating Seb. Though it's not like Seb isn't at fault. It takes a while for him to not hold things over Fernando, and constantly humiliate him. One day they will meaningfully show affection, and it won't be some sort of power play.

I think matador au is pretty similar to real life, and the 2010s era(it's basically just their actual plot line but in the context of bullfighting.) They're forever going to have this big elephant in the room, and it only really gets resolved when one of them leaves the sport. Once they're not fighting directly against each other, they realize what they've been missing out on and what they were not appreciating for so many years beforehand. They finally come together because they can't just rely anymore on the sport keeping them together. They actually have to make that step to be in each other's lives, rather than just taking their presence for granted.

Also the text on the comic. "We keep missing, and missing, and missing, and finally kissing." It's basically: we keep missing the point of it all, we keep failing to appreciate each other presence in our lives and in our own individual grand stories. But when we're not forced together anymore, we have to make the choice to come together again ourselves. We keep missing what we actually need to do. Missing each other in favor of our aspirations. Etc etc. One day we will finally embrace and there will be nothing keeping us apart.

[hoaxghost]

me and my friends monthly tradition of watching disventure camp and having a heated 20 minute discussion afterwards

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

Me rn with all the new avatar news:

[alpaca-clouds]

The Nature-Culture Divide

Something I have seen a lot of people within the Solarpunk sphere talk about and wonder is: "When did we stop seeing ourself as something outside of nature?" And given that I actually had a module on that (Social Geography, best module I ever had, given we had an anarchist professor!) I thought I could quickly explain this one.

So, the names come, in the end, from Latin and back when those words were considered in Latin, the difference was, that nature was a thing that was innate, while culture had volition behind it. You could change nature into culture by putting work into it.

Something that might surprise you is, that the idea of nature then was never quite big for most of European history. And let me make one thing clear: While we have these ideas also played with in Buddhist culture - especially in East Asia - the way we define it right now is a Western idea.

And that idea... Well, that idea came with colonialism. The thing many do not realize is, how much of the rules and "lines in the sand" that we use in our culture came from colonialisation, came from the desire to make "our" culture different from "theirs". It is shown in the way we eat, in the way we raise children, in the way we view gender and sexuality. And, yes, in the artificial border between nature and culture.

Before I tell you more about this, let me please say here: Yes, this is contradictive. I am aware of it. I am not the one who came up with the contradiction. White settlers did that all on their own.

When the settlers came to America they found a landscape very, very different from what they were used to from Europe. After all, Europe has been changed through human hand for at that point about 1600 years. (And for you Europeans out there: Researching how much forest your local area might have lost through the Romans is always a "fun" thing to do! Because the Romans destroyed a lot of European ancient forests.) In Europe, even at the wildest places, there was usually some evidence of human habitation - but this was not true for the Americas. Not because there were no people there, but rather because the people interacted with the environment very differently.

See, the European idea - while never quite that defined until this point - was really, really based on this thought that nature can be turned into culture. And that this transformation was in fact a good thing to happen. So, when the settlers arrived in the Americas they did not see "culture" there, only "nature" and set out to turn that "nature" into "culture".

Of course, we - modern people living today - do realize that indigenous people had in fact cultures of all sorts and that the actual difference was, that they just did not see that culture as something different from nature, rather than a part of it. Because their culture had not been influenced by Romans. But the settlers back then did not see this or rather did not want to see this. So they "cultured" the land, with the ideas about nature and culture being further formalized at that point.

It kinda stayed like this until the late 19th century, when Madison Grant, the originator of eco fascism came to be influencial. And now he saw something that the settlers until this point were unable to see: The indigenous people do stuff with the nature around them! They change it! For example through controlled burning of forests and things like that.

And this made Madison Grant very angry, because he was very much off the opinion that nature should be "unsoiled" by human hands. So... he made sure that those indigenous people got once more pushed out of the areas they were living, with the same areas being declared natural parks and no longer interfered with by humans (except, of course, all the tourists who destroyed it bit by bit). Leading... To a lot more wild fires.

So, where does this leave us in terms of the culture/nature divide?

Well, the idea has been there since ancient Rome and has very much influenced how much we view nature as its own thing. But within Rome nature was still not quite seen as the opposite of culture - as one could turn into the other. Under the Roman view an abandoned house or a field that was no longer cared for would turn back into nature, while anything could become culture just by interacting with humans.

The modern view really came through colonialism and the way colonialist did not understand (and did not want to understand) indigenous practices. This made people more and more drift towards the understanding of humans being an entirely different thing from nature.

But this is wrong, of course. We are part of nature. We are just animals with fingers and slightly larger brains. And many indigenous cultures understood this. In the end it was the greed of some that made us loose this connection to nature. And that is exactly why we are in this climate change related mess right now.