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veltana · 1 year ago

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Highest bidder - Steve Rogers x virgin!reader

✦ Pairing: Steve Rogers/Reader ✦ Word count: ~5k ✦ Raiting: Explicit ✦ Warnings: AU, kind of soft!dark Steve, reader is in her mid-twenties, one shot, pwp, insecurity, loss of virginity, piv sex, condoms, cunnilingus, smallest hint of a daddy kink, fluff and smut, dirty talk, friends to lovers, small hint of possessive/protective!Steve. Let me know if I missed anything! ✦ Summary: Tired of being a virgin and out of money you travel to Las Vegas to auction it off. Little do you know your friend Steve Rogers won't let anyone else have you. ✦ Note: I think this is among the first times that I cross-post a whole fic to tumblr. This fic is also on AO3. I'll see what the response is like here and maybe I'll continue to do it in the future.

Masterlist | AO3

"So what are you up to this weekend?" Steve asks as you take the first sip of your beer. For a second you debate not telling him and Bucky, sitting across from you in the booth. "Me and Wanda are going to Vegas." "What? Without me?" Bucky’s scandalized voice makes you laugh. "You don't like traveling, or Vegas for that matter," Steve points out. And that is true, you much prefer to stay in your apartment, reading your books and drinking tea. "Also, didn't you say you could hardly afford to go out with us tonight?" Bucky questions. "Well," you begin, scratching at the beer label, not wanting to look at them. "The trip is paid for." The stunned silence from across the table doesn't bode well, you know you're in for an interrogation now. "Do you need help? Are you in trouble?" Steve's concerned voice makes you look up. He's always so sweet and caring to you, looking out for you all the time.

"No, I'm fine. I'm doing it willingly," you answer. "What are you doing willingly?" There is no hiding the curiosity in Bucky’s voice. Once again you're not sure you're going to tell them, but it also doesn't make sense to keep it a secret. It's not a big deal, that's the whole point. "I'm auctioning off my virginity," you confess and are rewarded with both of them looking at you like you've grown a second head. Before they can say anything you continue. "I'm tired of it hanging over me, I just want it gone. And I'm also tired of scraping by. What you two make in an hour, I make in a month and I just want to be a step ahead instead of a step behind for once."

Bucky's smirk is the last thing you expect. "How much are you starting at, I'll double it." "Jerk." You throw some of your nuts his way. He laughs in response. "Honestly, tell me. What does a virginity go for these days?" "I'm starting out at three thousand. It would be more if I didn’t put in a clause about condoms and I’m a little bit older than most others.” “Well, my offer still stands,” Bucky concludes. “I bet it does, perv.” “And you don’t think the people buying you are pervs?” Steve’s been quiet up until now and his accusatory tone makes you defensive. “I’m not fucking stupid Steve, of course I know they are. They are also filthy rich. If I get bought by some disgusting old man I’ll smile and think about how fucking good it will feel not being stressed about money.” He still doesn’t look pleased and you didn’t come here to get judged. Finishing your beer you get up and grab your jacket. “I’ll see you around,” you say. Before walking out.

Vegas is overwhelming and loud. Instantly you shrink down, pulling your shoulders up. You would be lost if it wasn’t for Wanda. She’s in her element, flagging down cabs and weaving through the streets while you do your best to keep up. Finally, you arrive at your room. It’s small but not cramped and the two beds are clean. “First, shower, and then we’ll get started on your hair and makeup,” Wanda instructs. “You’re the best, you know that Wanda?” you smile at her. “What are best friends for if not fixing you up for some old guy to buy your V-card,” she winks.

Maybe Wanda is a witch, you think as you look at yourself in the tall mirror backstage. Somehow she took your average look and styled it into something you would never in a hundred years be able to recreate. Instead of the innocent style many seem to prefer, she made sure you looked sexy. If this had been a regular night of going out, you’d feel uncomfortable that someone you knew would see you, but the two glasses of champagne and the knowledge that no one except you and Wanda would ever see this made your confidence high. The night moves quickly, both women and men going up on the well-lit stage to present themselves and then watching as the bids start coming in. The people bidding are not in the room, but in different hotels scattered across the city, typing in numbers. Some people do elaborate shows when they step up in front of the cameras. One guy deep-throats a large banana and at first, you giggle but then you see the digits on the screen. His bids are the highest all evening so far. You decide quickly that you will just go up, smile, and wave and wait. You aren’t expecting much, but your pride hopes at least one or two people will find you attractive enough to at least pay the starting bid.

Soon it’s your turn. With a pounding heart, you step up on the stage, your body warms not only from the light but from the nervousness coursing through your body. You concentrate on your breathing so you won’t pass out and when you smile you hope it looks genuine. At first, the monitors are quiet and your heart drops. Are you not good enough for even some old lonely pervert? Then it dings with an incoming bid. It’s just above the starting sum, but you’re instantly relieved and can’t help the actually genuine smile that cracks your face. A second later another bid comes in. You don’t know how many people are placing the bids, you just see the number rise on the monitor, to your utter delight. Quickly it’s up to four thousand and the tempo slows, so maybe some people dropped out. But a few steady bids keep coming in, until it’s starting to near five thousand and it stops long enough for an automated voice ring out through the room. “Going once. Going twice.” Before it can finish the monitor chimes again, your mouth dropping open when you see the sum. Ten thousand dollars. It must be a mistake. The counting starts again, but you hardly hear it over the pure shock you’re experiencing.

Then you’re shooed away, given a room number and a key, before being put into a waiting car to take you to the hotel. When it stops outside of the Palms Casino you think you must be dreaming. It gets even worse when you realize you’re heading to the top floor. Whoever is waiting behind the door won’t matter, because you’ll gladly do anything they ask you.

The penthouse is stunning and it’s hard to take everything in. At the floor-to-ceiling windows, a figure is outlined. They’re backlit against the neon lights of Vegas and it’s hard to make out any details except the broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs. That feels promising. They don’t turn around as you close the door but you don’t hesitate to step into the room and begin to walk up to them. Stopping a a few steps behind you say “Hi. I am flattered by your very generous-” But you don’t get further because the person turns around and your words get stuck in your throat. “Steve?!” You quickly step back to get away. This must be some cruel joke he and Bucky have come up with. Before you can run out of the room he grabs your wrist. The usually soft eyes are hard and his smiling mouth is a line of displeasure. “Let go of me,” you demand. “No can do, I paid for you,” his hard voice makes you still. “This isn’t funny, Steve.” “No, it’s not. Now you’re going to go into the bedroom and take off those heels, then kneel on the bed and wait for me,” his instructions make it very clear that if you argue, you won’t like what comes next, so instead you bow your head and say “Yes, Steve.”

You’ve never seen a king-size bed before and it’s much larger than you could’ve imagined. The sheets are soft against your knees as you sit on your feet, waiting. There are too many emotions and questions running wild in your body, but the most prominent one is Why had he bid on you? There is no denying Steve is good looking and when Wanda had first introduced you, sure you’d had a crush on him. But you never thought about pursuing it. His life was far from yours, with luxury cars and expensive dinners, while you went out to eat once a year on your birthday. Both he and Bucky had offered you money on several occasions but you’d never taken it, because you’d never be able to pay it back and money being owed between friends always caused trouble.

You hear the steps nearing the room and you meet his eyes as he steps through the open door. He has left his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves on his shirt, making him more desirable and more dangerous at the same time. Taking a stand a the foot of the bed he stares you down but you don’t cower. Even though you want to ask what the fuck this is, the tension in the air tells you not to talk back right now, just show him that you’re not afraid. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise that Steve is here because he is someone you trust would never hurt you, or do anything against your will.

“Here is how this is going to go, sweetheart. I’ll do right by you and take this nice and slow like you deserve. Then when it’s over we’re sitting down to a nice dinner, and afterward I’m bending you over the dining room table and taking out all my fucking frustration on that cunt of yours until you can’t walk straight.” His words send lightning bolts of desire through you and you nod in understanding. “Use your words,” he demands. “Yes, Steve,” you agree. Then he crooks his fingers, indicating he wants you to come to him. You crawl the short way to the edge and sit back again. His fingers grip your chin carefully. “I’m going to kiss you.” “Okay.”

The second he presses his lips to yours it's like being on cloud nine. It's soft but not hesitant and you instinctively grab a hold of his shirt. Steve begins slowly, as if not to scare you but the more you meet his advances the more he takes. Then he coaxes your lips to part, slipping in his tongue and finding yours to play with. Kissing other people has been nice before, but kissing Steve is exceptional. When his hands land at your waist and pull you into him, you can't keep the moan in. His touch hardens and it makes you throb to be this close to him.

You’re a little out of it when he pulls away and you must look it too because he chuckles. "You like that?" A dopey smile splits your lips and you nod. But then his hands travel to the front of your dress, hooking his fingertips into the fabric and you can’t help stiffen. "Have you ever had your tits played with?" he asks. With a groan, you shake your head. "If you think kissing was great just wait until I get my mouth on the rest of you." He sounds so confident, but you’re not and either it’s blatantly obvious that you’re insecure or he knows you too well.

"How are you feeling?" You think about lying for a second but then decide against it. "I don’t understand why.” "Why what?" "I don’t mean to sound ungrateful but, why me Steve?" You find the courage to look up at him. Now he has that soft smile that you absolutely adore on his stupidly handsome face. His voice is just as soft when he speaks.

"Not only are you absolutely stunning, and I’m not talking about the way you’re dolled up right now. I love seeing you in your big sweaters while you go around the bookstore and help people with recommendations. I also admire you, because you follow your heart. Doing what makes you happy is important to you and I wish I were more like that. Even if you look out for yourself, that never stops you from caring about others. You cry when you see clips of rescue animals. And you're so so obvious that I've been in love with you since Wanda introduced you." "What?" you choke, your whole reality shifting. "Sweet, dumb little pet.” Steve’s hands cup your face and light squeezes your cheeks together for a second. “I've wanted you since you stammered out your name. Something so pure and precious deserves the world." "I didn’t know,” you whisper. "Of course you didn’t. When I got home that night, I jerked myself off to the thought of you and I swear I never come so hard in my life."

"Steve!" Heat rushes into your cheeks at his words. "I’ve had time to think about this a lot. I'm going to get you so wet and needy you will beg for my cock. I'm gonna make sure you're at the brink of insanity, deliriously begging for me to fuck you, even though you don't know what it feels like." "Oh god!" you moan, desire moving through your body. "Let me taste you, kitten. Let me make you scream,” his seductive voice rumbles.

Nodding you watch as his fingers pull the dress down, baring your breasts to his eyes. Instantly he cups them, thumbs brushing your nipples, making you keen. "Prettiest fucking tits I've ever seen," he whispers before leaning down and licking a nipple. The sensation makes you grab hold of his head to steady yourself. His tongue flicks it several times before sucking it into his mouth and you arch into him, clutching him, moaning out his name. Sure, you've been aroused in your life before, but the ache Steve creates is starting to feel painful. "Steve!" you plead when he switches to the other side, giving your other nipple the same treatment. He hums against your skin before pulling off you with a plop and immediately kisses you again. Nothing is really different from before but just knowing that Steve's tongue was just somewhere else on your body and now it's in your mouth makes you heat up even more.

It feels good when he takes charge, it keeps your thoughts from running in all the wrong directions. He gets you to lie down, crawling onto the bed after you, kissing every inch of exposed skin he can get to while you shudder under him. "How are you feeling?" he asks with a shit-eating grin, clearly knowing he's responsible for your state. "Goodgoodgood!" Is all you can get out while pawing at his clothed chest. "Want me to take it off?" Nodding vigorously you try to undo the buttons, but fail. He laughs and sits back between your spread legs, untucking the shirt and pulling it over his head. The bulge in his pants is very visible and you swallow hard at the sight of it, both scared and excited. He notices you looking. "We'll get to that later," he promises with another kiss. "First I'm going to get you wet and ready for me."

A hand hikes up your skirt and a finger follow the edge of your panties, down toward the juncture of your leg. It's like hot coal against your skin, burning you most sweetly. Even if you’re already soaked, his touch is sending pulse after pulse into your cunt and you're scared you're about to stain the sheets if he continues. A fingertip caresses over your core, touch so light it's almost not there but your sensitive skin feels it. Trembling you arch up, gripping the sheets. "Is that good?" Not knowing if you can speak you just nod and he continues. Down your thighs and back up, over and over again against your covered cunt, fingers getting firmer and firmer the more sounds you make.

A thrill you've never felt before has taken up place in your body, threatening to send your mind spiraling. To distract yourself you explore the plains of Steve's body that you can reach, stroking his arms and shoulders, but to feel him makes it even worse. You can’t wait to have him pressed against you.

Sitting back again he says, "I'm going to take these off now." He hooks his fingers at the top of your panties and starts to pull. "Lift your ass up." He instructs. Now your tits and your cunt are exposed for him. Steve is staring, but when you try to close your legs from embarrassment he quickly puts his hands on your thighs to spread them apart even more. "Don't you dare take that pretty pussy away from me," he all but growls and it sends another wave of pleasure into you. The air feels cold against your wet, warm skin. Then his gaze flicks up to you and with another smile, he leans down bending you almost in half, placing a kiss on your lips. "Last kiss before I devore you," he whispers and slides down your body. When his words sink in, you go rigid.

"No, you don't have to, we can just‐" you begin but the look he gives silences you. "Do you know how long I have waited for this?" He nips the inside of your thigh. "No," you whimper. "Been dreaming about how you would feel, and taste." He mouths at your skin. "The nights I can’t sleep I lie there and think of you soaking my beard when you come for me," he groans and moves down a little more until his face is right in front of your pussy. "Now I'm having my fill and when I'm done you'll be primed for my cock, I promise."

Not giving you any time to answer he dives in. His tongue feels nothing like your own fingers, or the vibrator you have in your drawer. It's sending you to heaven with every stroke. Steve takes notes of what makes you moan the loudest and in no time the unmistakable warmth of an orgasm begins to build. You do your best to keep still, but it's hard when it feels so good and Steve follows your every movement until your thighs are trembling heavily, breath coming out in irregular gasps, your fingers threatening to tear the sheets apart.

It climbs quicker than you expect and when the orgasm rips through you it’s with a cry, that leaves you almost boneless afterward. Looking down, panting, you notice you've basically crushed Steve's head between your thighs. With a "Sorry!" You spread them apart and he comes up for air, his beard glistening with you. "How was that?" "Incredible," you sigh. The ache that threatened to consume you has died down to a more manageable throb. "Great." He positions himself again and you stare with wide eyes. An amused smirk plays on his lips. "Did you think that was it?" You try to stutter out a response but he raises his hand and wiggles his fingers playfully. "Now you get these too."

After a second you relax into the pillows, trusting Steve with your body. He's gentle when he begins, now that your cunt is a million times more sensitive, but soon you're trembling again, and then the tip of his finger is at your opening. It slides in without resistance and the feeling changes. More nerves send sparks through you from new places. It's too much for your poor brain to decipher and you don’t fight it, just let it take you, like you’re floating down a stream. "Good girl, relaxing for me so well." Through bleary eyes you see him looking up at you. "Ready for another one?" You're not sure what that means but you nod anyway and are rewarded with a smile. He never looks away from you as you feel another finger press in together with the first. A high-pitched sound leaves you as your chest heaves. It's too much but not enough. You’re so full but in the best way possible. Then he moves them and you can hear just how wet he's made you.

His tongue comes back to play with your clit and soon you're at the edge of another orgasm. "Yes yes yes!" You chant over and over again. Everything he does feels so good. The sensation of clamping down on his fingers as you come is new and makes the orgasm much stronger this time, leaving you mildly disoriented for a second. "God, you look so beautiful when you come." Steve lays his head against your leg, still moving his hand and sending small aftershocks into your body. "You know what?" "What Stevie?" you ask, your voice a little hoarse as you reach down and place your hand in his soft hair, carding your fingers through it, just to feel him. "I don't think you noticed, but there are three fingers inside you now." You make a questioning sound. "Added another right after you came. No problem at all. Just need you to come one more time, then I'll know you're ready." He does something with his fingers inside you, making you whimper from the pleasure it sends through you. "Found your G-spot too," he looks smug as he says it. "Let's see what happens when I play with just that."

It’s another new experience that puts your body on edge in the best way. The pleasure never dissipates but it never builds either and finally you can't stand it anymore, deciding to beg for the relief he can give you. "Stevie, please! Use your mouth again!" "Of course, when you ask so nicely." When he sucks your clit into his mouth, it makes you see stars, and seconds later the built-up ecstasy reaches its peak. Gripping his head you grind against his tongue with a cry of his name because it’s so fucking good.

Afterward, you sink down with a relieved sigh and you're pretty sure your muscles have never been this relaxed in your life. "Such a good girl for me." Steve praises before pulling out his fingers, licking them clean, and moving off the bed. You instantly feel achingly empty. Not taking his eyes from you he undo his pants and slide them and his underwear off.

The sight of his hard, leaking cock standing out from his body is kind of mesmerizing. You've seen dicks in pictures, sent unsolicited to you on a few occasions, and a couple of times when you've tried to watch porn. Never before have you thought a dick could look pretty. As if something possesses your body you crawl over to the edge of the bed, settling on your legs and reaching out towards it. Steve watches, chest heaving slightly as you trace his cock with a fingertip, all the way from root to tip, dipping it into the leaking mess. Looking up at him you bring it to your mouth and lick it. The groan he lets out in response is delicious.

It doesn't taste bad, just different and you're about to ask if you can try to take him in your mouth but as if sensing your thoughts he leans down to capture your lips in a kiss. At first, you try to move away, knowing where he has just been, but he keeps a steady hand at the back of your neck, forcing you to taste yourself on his tongue, and just like him, it’s not bad, just different. "If I let you touch me more than that, I'll burst,” he explains before he grabs your dress and pulls it off you in one go. “Now be good and lay down again." "Yes, Stevie," you answer and fall onto the bed, spreading your legs. Instead of joining you right away, he walks up to the bedside table and opens a drawer, pulling out a square package.

Embarrassment fills you. In your post-orgasmic state, you forgot about your own rule. If he hadn’t gotten a condom you would gladly have let him take you raw. Lucky for you, Steve is not the type of person to take advantage of you like that. He rolls it on and you swallow hard. Just the look of it is big, you’re not sure how it will fit. "Don't be scared. With how wet you are, it’ll glide right in," he says with a smile, kneeling between your spread legs.

This is the moment, you think. After this, you won't be a virgin anymore. Even if it is just a social construct, you've never actually had a dick inside of you and that will be a new experience. Steve kisses you, helping the doubts slip away. The rubber feels weird against your lower lips, and then it's at your opening. The tip presses inside and Steve watches your face. "Does it hurt?" he asks. "No,” you assure him. “It's just different." "Tell me if you want to stop." "Just keep going."

Slowly he eases his way inside and once he bottoms out both of you are breathing heavily. With a groan, Steve's head lands on your shoulder. "Fuck you're like a vice around my dick. I'm going to try to move." You wrap your arms around his shoulders, caressing his back and he starts moving. You feel like you're filled to the brim and it's pressing against your G-spot, making you warm and high again. Experimentally you lift your hips, meeting his, eliciting a moan from him. "I'm sorry," Steve mumbles. "I won't last long." Before you can respond he continues. "You feel too good. So tight and warm. Fuck!" Then he lifts himself on one of his strong arms before grabbing the back of your neck and bending it until you're looking down toward where your bodies are connected. Steve slams his hips into you and you answer with a cry of pleasure. "Look at that unused cunt taking my big cock so well." "Steve!" you whine. His thrusts are too good, the pressure too much, and looking at it only makes you hotter. "It was made for me, right?" "Yes! Ah! Steve!" The throb in your clit is driving you insane and you reach down to relieve it. "Oh fuck. Are you gonna come on my dick your first time? That's dirty." You never expected words to be such a big part of sex, but the way Steve is talking is heightening your sensation.

"That's right. Rub your clit for me. Fuck you're clenching around me so hard. Tell me if you're gonna come." Nodding frantically you feel the climax building. Your whole body is a coil wind up tight and you're not sure what will happen when it snaps.

"I'm - I'm… I think I'm going to come, Steve," you moan. The pressure in your lower stomach is excruciating and delirious. You just need a little more. Letting go of your head he meets your eyes. "Good girl, I'm right behind you. Squeeze me dry. Come for Daddy." The last words enter your brain and sweep you off. The orgasm takes over your whole body and drowns you in pleasure. The edge of your vision blurs, your body shuddering violently. You hear the blood pumping in your veins. Feel your heart drumming in your ribcage. On some level you're aware of Steve above you, chanting your name as his hips pump into you and he fills the condom.

The weight of him is nearly crushing but also makes you feel safe. For the first time, you have the presence of mind to take in his body as you caress down his sides and his back, down over his ass as far as you can reach. It makes him sigh happily and you feel so content. After a while, he raises himself on his elbows and pecks your lips, nose, and cheeks until you giggle, before getting off completely and disposing of the condom. As soon as the warmth of him leaves, small, cruel thoughts about this once again being some kind of joke start forming in your head. Despite what he’s said, you find it hard to believe that it would be true.

Before you have time to think more about it he is beside you in the bed again, leaning on his arm and looking down at you. "So, how was that?" He’s curious, there’s no hiding it. "Better than I could ever dream of," you answer honestly. "Well, that's an ego boost," Steve laughs. "How… How was I?" He kisses you before he whispers, "Best I ever had." You can't help but snort at that. "Don't fucking lie to me."

With a growl Steve rolls onto his back, taking you with him and making you lay on his chest. "It's the fucking truth, and unless you want a spanking to go with the next round, you're going to believe me." That tone of voice. The threat of pain and pleasure combined sparks something inside you, and Steve notices. "Oh, does that make you horny?" Hiding your face in the crook of his neck you say "Yes, Daddy." Steve groans and crushes you into his chest. "If I could fuck you again right now, believe me, I would."

Several hours later you're in bed again, pressed against Steve’s warm chest. He did what he promised and you’re sure you won’t be able to walk tomorrow. But something is weighing on your mind. “I’ll pay you back,” you say. “If you do, you’ll wish I spanked you.” “But-,” “No. I told you that you deserve the world, that money is a drop in the ocean to me.” “I can’t believe you bought me.” “I can’t believe you sold your body.” Even if you can’t see him, his voice makes it clear he’s not happy. “The thought of someone else touching you, fucking you. I’m not a violent man, but that makes me want to kill.” “I’m glad it was you,” you confess with a smile and kiss his skin. A moment later he’s on top of you, kissing you sweetly and you feel him stirring against you, growing hard. An answering wetness pool at your core. “I need you again,” he murmurs against your mouth. With a nod, you reach between your bodies to guide him inside. Pulling back, he says “Condom.” When he reaches over to the bedside table, you shake your head and lift your hips. “Oh fuck, are you sure?” “I want to feel you,” you reassure him. It’s a bit sore when he presses inside but the movements are slow, and the kisses quickly take your mind off it. Afterward, he doesn’t pull out, and you fall asleep with his cum and cock between your legs, happy he was your highest bidder.

#steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers fic #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x virgin!reader #virgin!reader #rich!steve rogers #protective!steve rogers #possessive!steve rogers #steve rogers x female reader #steve rogers x you #veltana writes

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whysperingwoods · 20 days ago

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Fear-mongering and herbalism

Herbalism is a crucial element for many practitioners of witchcraft, and lately I've seen a lot of fear-mongering in the #baby-witch and #witchblr tags that it's raising some serious red flags. Caution is necessary, yes, but over-simplified warnings against herbs that have a very long history and tradition of safe and effective use can rob people of accessible, beneficial ways to take an active role in their own health and wellbeing.

True: People absolutely need to be cautious about what they are putting in their bodies. True: "Natural" does not equate to "good" or "healthy". True: You need to speak to a medical professional regarding medical issues.

All these things being true do not mean that you cannot find plants that are safe to ingest, and that can benefit your health and support you. You can use herbs safely and you do have the power and ability to find information about them.

I've literally seen posts that say not to ingest any kind of herb because "you don't know what's in them" and "you don't know dosage, so it might harm you".

This lack of nuance is precisely the type of thinking that breeds misinformation and unnecessary fear, as if there is not enough of that to go around! It seems like because MAGA and anti-vaxx folks have been using the line "do your own research!!" so much, people are associating research with... right wing conspiracy theory? Somehow? Don't forget that being capable of doing good research also means being capable of evaluating your sources, and thinking critically about what you're reading.

Here are some of the misconceptions I've come across in the last couple days:

Laypeople can't safely use herbs

Fear of toxicity in herbs is common and rational, but herbs that you can find in your kitchen are food-grade and widely available. You don't need to eat them in enormous quantities to experience their benefits.

For example, thyme can help support the lungs during cold and flu season. Ginger tea is great for minor digestive upsets. These are things you have access to and can provide a safe means of relief.

Local apothecaries are very knowledgeable about where they source their herbs and what dosages are safe. They are also able to tell you if their herbs are pesticide-free, organic, etc.

Where you want to be cautious is ordering herbs online, especially places like Amazon or Etsy where there is no control whatsoever. Even supplements have been found to frequently not contain what they are said to contain, and you really have to do research about the company you're buying from beforehand.

If you don't have a local apothecary, you can still buy herbs online! Just make sure you are using a reputable website such as Mountain Rose Herbs where you can get bulk herbs.

Lesser known herbs require more caution, but there are fantastic books about herbalism and they provide information on dosage and various ways the herbs can be used responsibly. Your local library is almost guaranteed to have several books about herbalism, and if you aren't sure about a particular herb, look it up in multiple other resources to see if their information matches up. You can even find information about many commonly used herbs on WebMD.

Also, don't forage herbs that you plan to ingest if you are not experienced. This is a recipe for disaster, and incredibly dangerous. I'm not going to go into super huge detail about this, because it would merit its own post, but seriously, just don't do it until you have experience. Plant identification apps are not sufficient to identify herbs you plan to ingest.

Herbal remedies cure major illnesses

Herbs can play a supportive role, but it's crucial to recognise their limits. Herbal medicine should complement, not replace, medical treatment for severe chronic conditions. Clinical herbalists are trained to assess what's appropriate for herb-based support and when a situation requires immediate medical attention.

Herbs are not a panacea that will cure every ailment. Every person is unique and any single herb can have wildly different effects on the body. Some people might find incredible relief, while another person may find no effect at all, or may even find an herb doesn't agree with them.

Herbalists think they are medical practitioners

Because there is no federally regulated body for herbalists, people sometimes think it's the wild west out there and anyone can do anything, but that's not the case. Herbalists are not exempt from the law, and no one is legally allowed to practice medicine if they are not licensed to do so. Period. No amount of traditional knowledge changes that.

While the herbalist profession is not regulated federally, there are regulating bodies that are run by herbalists and that set standards for what is expected and permitted. If you search for "herbalism guild Canada" you will find the Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations which has tons of information, and some provinces also have their own guilds. Most guilds will have a list of reputable herbalists that you can access and they have strict requirements for being added to those lists. You can find these requirements on their websites and gauge them for yourself.

Part of training to become a clinical herbalist is knowing you are not a medical practitioner. You are taught not to diagnose people, and how to recognise when something is outside of your scope of practice.

From the CCHA:

9. A registered herbal practitioner will�� offer interdisciplinary collaboration with other health professionals

Herbalists focus on holistic, complementary care, rather than taking on the role of medical practitioners. A qualified herbalist works alongside them to support the body's systems, rather than attempting to independently treat or diagnose medical systems. For example, they might work with clients to ease side-effects from medication, but they won't independently treat serious conditions like infections.

Herbalists are anti-vaxx and anti-science

The vast majority of clinical herbalists are not anti-vaxx or anti-modern medicine at all, and focus on combining traditional knowledge about plants with modern science. Are there herbalists out there who are anti-vaxx? Absolutely, just like any demographic you can find people who are spouting nonsense, but that is not the norm.

Thankfully, herbalism schools and herbalists are pretty up front with their beliefs. The CCHA has these requirements for herbalists in the guild:

3. Herbalists have an extensive knowledge base combining traditional wisdom and modern scientific perspective [...] 7. A registered herbal practitioner is trained in herbal safety, drug interactions, and possible contraindications [...] 10. A registered herbal practitioner is accountable to a professional organization, must maintain annual continuing education and must abide by professional standards

When I was looking for a clinical herbalist myself, I always checked their website information and whether they were registered with a guild, and what the requirements for that guild were. The herbalist I chose also had a clear section on her website where she stated that she had experience working with people on psychiatric medications.

You can also often find their stance on other things such as LGBTQIA+ issues (such as statements on their website regarding their approach to HRT).

The school I ultimately selected for my education was one that had explicit information about how they integrated new science into their curriculum, and how frequently it was updated.

If you are not finding the information you're looking for, just ask! It's completely acceptable and not rude to contact an herbalist and ask them what their approach is on the things you are concerned about. They will be happy to answer these questions and give you any information they can to help you decide if they are a good fit for you.

Conclusion

Herbalism is not about replacing medical care or promising miracle cures. It's about tapping into centuries-old knowledge and combining it with modern insights. Embrace herbs with curiosity, responsibility, and respect, and you can have an incredible and beneficial relationship with them.

I'm sure there are plenty of points here that I have omitted or not sufficiently covered. I hope readers will take this as an indictment of the author, me, rather than one against herbalism as a whole.

#baby witch #witchblr #herbalism #witchcraft #original content

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the-mortuary-witch · 9 months ago

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𖤐 INTRODUCTION 𖤐

I UPDATE ALL MY POSTS IF I FIND NEW INFO. THIS BLOG OF MINE IS SPIRITUAL, IT IS NOT AN AESTHETIC OR FETISH!

Everyone is welcome on my blog, no matter your skin tone, body type, gender, sexuality, beliefs, nationality, and interests.

DO NOT interact with me or my account if you support anti-abortion, proshippers/or are one, bullying, climate change, war, poverty, terrorism, fetishize serial killers racism, murder, are a hazbin hotel/helluva boss fans, have a nsfw blag, rape/rapists, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableist, anti vax, fascists, donald trump, nazi’s, any kind of abuse, TERFs, bestiality, arson, jk rowling, furries, therians/or are one (you make me severely uncomfortable), and just overall piss off if you can’t be a decent human being.

ABOUT ME:

My name is Grim. I’m 19-years-old, Icelandic, my personality type is ENFJ, and I’m an ambivert. I have been a Satanist since Nov 2023 and a witch since Feb 2024. I’ve learnt a lot so far, and still currently am doing research on Satanism and witchcraft. This blog of mine is dedicated to Satanism, Witchcraft, deity and entity info.

Currently Working With: Lady Aphrodite, King Asmodeus, Lord Fenrir, Mother Freyja, King Hades, Mother Hecate, Lady Hel, Lord Loki, Mother Lilith, Lord Lucifer, and Queen Persephone.

Will Soon Be Devoted to: ???

Magickal Interests: sigils, crystals, spell work, meditation, protection magick, deity and entity work, and runes.

Other Interests: metal and rock music, corpse paint, anime, manga, drumming, taxidermy, exercising, vulture culture, and collecting vinyl and CDs.

SOCIALS:

INSTAGRAM: @the.mortuary.witch

PINTEREST: @the_mortuary_witch

TIK TOK: @the_mortuary_witch

POSTS:

SATANISM:

SATANISM INFO

THE 7 FUNDAMENTAL TENETS

PAGAN AND SATANIC HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SATANISM, WITCHCRAFT, AND PAGANISM

THE 11 SATANIC RULES OF THE EARTH

WHAT SATANISM DOES AND DOESN’T SUPPORT

THE 9 SATANIC SINS AND THEIR MEANINGS

WITCHCRAFT:

2024 WITCHES CALENDAR

THE SABBATS

WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE SABBATS

IMBOLC

OSTARA

BELTANE

LITHA

LAMMAS

MABON

SAMHAIN

YULE

WITCHCRAFT INFO

SPELLS

SPELL BAGS

EVERYDAY WITCHCRAFT

TYPES OF WITCHES

TYPES OF HERBS AND SPICES

TYPES OF CRYSTALS

TYPES OF WATER

TYPES OF DIVINATION

TYPES OF DEVOTIONAL ACTS

INCENSE PROPERTIES

HERB AND FLORA PROPERTIES

GRIMORE IDEAS

WITCHY RED FLAGS

FRUIT CORRESPONDENCES

CLEANING / REUSING SPELL JARS GUIDE

GRAVEYARD GUIDE

COMMON WITCHY TERMS / TOOLS

WITCHY SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS

FAMILIARS AND THEIR MEANINGS

CONNECTING WITH NATURE’S ELEMENTS

WHERE YOU CAN DRAW SIGILS AND RUNES

CANDLE COLOUR MEANINGS

PLANETARY MAGICK

FULL MOON MEANINGS

MOON PHASES

DAY OF THE WEEK MAGICKAL CORRESPONDENCES

LOW EFFORT / ENERGY WITCHCRAFT

DEITIES AND ENTITIES:

CONNECTING WITH DEITIES

TYPES OF DEITIES

DEITY MASTERLIST (PART ONE)

DEITY MASTERLIST (PART TWO)

IDEAS FOR TALKING TO DEITIES AND ENTITIES

DEITY AND ENTITY PLAYLISTS

DEITY AND ENTITY AESTHETICS

MASTERLISTS:

ASMODEUS

ANUBIS

APHRODITE

APOLLO

ARTEMIS

BAPHOMET

BASTET

BEELZEBUB

CERBERUS

DIONYSUS

DEMETER

FREYJA

FENRIR

HECATE

HYPNOS

HERMES

HADES

HEL

LOKI

LUCIFER

LILITH

MA’AT

MEDUSA

NYX

PERSEPHONE

RAUM

SKÖLL AND HATI

SELENE

SANTA MUERTE

THE MORRIGAN

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fushipurro · 9 months ago

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Red Lights Red Flags

Chapter 7 - Moonlight

<- Previous Chapter | Masterlist | Next Chapter ->

☆ Content: 18+ MDNI, f!reader, ronin!toji, courtesan!reader, jjk historical au, mentions of alcohol/past suicidal ideation, past non-con elements, forced prostitution, angst

☆ Word Count: 4.2k

When was the last time you can honestly say you’ve heard the quiet you’re experiencing now? Not since before you became a courtesan, that’s for sure.

Granted, you’re currently seated inside one of several horse-drawn wagons journeying through a rough mountain pass, so it’s hardly silent. But compared to the noise of the Red-Light District? This is perfect.

This is peaceful.

In every direction visible to you from your window to the outside, there are trees dotting the landscape reaching far into the distance alongside fields of budding flowers, sprouting up from beneath a thin sheet of snow. For once, it may just be an early spring.

The forest surrounding you on either side is alive and well with motion too, from the birds flying overhead to the rabbits darting between shrubs in search of food, all of them share on commonality.

Freedom.

They’re able to live their lives soaring high above the clouds or across the ocean expanse into the horizon. If you could, you’d choose to be exactly like them.

To be a graceful bird that can fly to wherever the breeze takes you. No cage to be confined to, no crowd to sing for ─ only the sun on your back and all the world before you to roam.

There’s also the option for something more terrestrial such as a fox, or even a deer. Happily able to run across the forest floor and more.

Time slips away from you as you imagine all the possible scenarios for lives unlike your own. Before you know it, the sun has long since fallen behind snow-kissed peaks, veiling the earth around you into darkness.

It isn’t long then after for the caravan to reach its destination, stopping abruptly in its tracks. The doors to the back open for you and the other courtesans to step out, following in turn through the front entrance of a large estate.

The buildings that decorate the property are old ─ Heian era if you had to guess. Even now at night, servants continue to care for the old walls for this even older family you’ve come to visit.

All your life, you’ve only known the taste and smells your home village had to offer, but here? It’s otherworldly.

Rich scents of cypress, sandalwood, and various other incense fill the air of this temple-like house. A welcome change to the intoxicating smells of sweat, sex, and sake you have become all too familiar with in your day-to-day life.

Occasionally, you might notice something nostalgic from a faint breeze, a scent to take you back to the times of your youth. Those moments tend to be short-lived as your current reality weighs heavily on your soul.

“Don’t look so worried, my little Marigold,” Shion coos to you. No matter how you may try and hide yourself, there’s never a point around her.

Sometimes, you swear she can even read your thoughts. Perhaps those witch accusations aren’t too farfetched for her.

But how can you not worry?

“The Gojo family are similar, but much different from the Zenin Clan.” She smiles, helping to bring some reassurance to you. “You’ll see in due time.”

Tonight, you’ve come alongside three other gardens besides Shion’s, including those from Botan’s, Tsubaki’s, and Murasaki’s. The Gojo family spent what can only be described as a fortune for this upcoming celebration ─ one in honor to the heir of their Clan.

No normal family would ever dream of affording not one, but four women at the top of their field in the pleasure district.

You still hold many doubts, but for now, you’ll have to put your faith into Shion’s words. Unlike her, you’ve never had the chance to meet any of the Gojos.

You’re aware they’re as prominent as the Zenin family with the two serving Emperor Tengen directly alongside the Kamo Clan. There are a dozen other distinct families, but the founding three are without a doubt the most important.

The courtesans you’ve come with are all divided into their respective groups and further escorted into several rooms for each. Here, you are to spend the next while preparing for the upcoming night ahead of you all.

You and a few others assist in preparing Shion, setting her up into one of her most extravagant pieces saved for events like this. Her kimono is pure white in color, coupled by aster flowers in shades of a blue along the fabric.

The rest of your garden wears more subtle robes of solid blue coloring to separate you from Shion’s highly regarded status. Tonight, you are merely a servant, while the top flowers are the stars of the show.

“My, my, don’t you look pretty in this shade?” Shion beams, her eyes admiring you up and down. “I should have you wearing something like this more often. You’re as beautiful under the moon as you are the sun.”

“Are you certain tonight will go alright?” Your voice is wary, still laced with uncertainty.

She wraps her arms around you from behind, drawing a mirror up in front of your face. “Don’t think so hard, I promise all you will need to do is keep their cups full and their egos high. You’ll be just fine.”

If Hanami were here and heard you speaking like this, you’d surely be punished one way or another. It’s one reason you’re thankful she chose to stay behind, though that’s mainly due to having a business to run.

You’ve heard stories from other brothels in the district that their courtesans are all treated like family. Girls sticking together, making sure the experience is pleasurable as can be ─ no pun intended.

They’re respected as working individuals and humans like anyone else. Men will try and deny women of their power, believing us to be beneath them. At the end of the day, it’s our laps they come crying to to get it up for them.

Sadly, of all the brothels to lose yourself into debt with, your father chose the one with a motto to curse your soul.

To Hanami, it’s business and nothing more. You’re here to sell your body for her gain, with no in-between. Everything is a competition where beauty reigns supreme if you wish to prosper and stay alive. It works to keep her pockets full, but it’s left many buried six feet under as consequence.

Since joining Shion’s garden, she’s brought you some respite, even filling some of the void in your heart only a mother could. Compared to Botan, she’s a far better person in a world so cruel.

You finish all the necessary preparations, stepping outside the room with your garden. Servants arrive to escort you deeper into the estate to a courtyard that’s been readied for a celebration to take place in.

Leading the pack in front of Shion is Murasaki ─ the Wisteria. She’s fitted in a stunning purple kimono decorated in her signature flower, vibrant in color. It pairs perfectly with her long, silky black hair she prides herself with.

The ladies following her are wearing a lighter lavender color, each one oozing a refined nature they’ve been trained with under Murasaki’s guidance. It’s never been a question that she’s the favored courtesan of your brothel, second only to Hanami back in her prime.

Behind your group is Botan, wearing her signature peony robes and her garden in an equal shade of pink. Even as the youngest of the four, she’s full of experience and her personality with the men keep her well regarded.

Trailing behind last is Tsubaki, another woman of similar refinery to Murasaki. Her kimono is patterned with camellia flowers, and her followers all in red. She’s on the older end of working courtesans, even heading into her retirement years, but to the proper suitor ─ she’s akin to finely aged wine.

You enter the courtyard and you’re visibly taken aback. The size is larger than any you’ve ever seen, as expected of a rich old family. There’s a center stage built up for the main performers of the night, and several tables for guests to sit around and view from.

Shion casts you another reassuring smile before turning away and taking her place with the other three flowers. Each are tasked with song and dance, showing off all the skills they’ve honed from years of training.

Other courtesans pass by you to begin their duties as the Gojo family arrives. You close your eyes for a moment, breathing in and out before following in turn to grab a pitcher of alcohol.

Just fill their cups and praise them. Easy enough, right?

And for a while, it was easy. The Gojo family and their guests are so utterly enamored by the four on stage that the women coming and going from their tables could hardly catch their sight. There are even a few times you forget you’re a prostitute by trade.

It wasn’t until you round a table to greet another guest that a woman in pink washes reality over you.

Literally.

“Oops! I’m so sorry.” She feigns an apologetic look, hiding her snickers behind the sleeves of her robe.

Your robes are soaked clean through, uncomfortably so. The fabric sticks to you heavily and the intoxicating smell only serving to make you dizzy.

A few bat an eye to the commotion, but ultimately don’t spend too long as some lesser servants aren’t important to them tonight. The girl trots off with a look of satisfaction, all the while Botan stares down at you with a subtle smirk staining the purity of her looks.

You excuse yourself from the crowd, slipping away before you cause any more problems, even if you aren’t to blame for this.

Tears sit heavily on your eyes, threatening to fall as you make your way back the direction you came from. This whole thing sucks, undoubtably so, you think to yourself.

Earning a name for yourself and acquiring protection from another only goes so far if at the end of the day, you’re can’t even protect yourself first.

As you round a corner, it’s déjà vu all over again ─ like lightning striking the same spot twice when you collide with something once more.

In this case, it’s not something, but rather someone.

The dizzying nature of the alcohol hitting your nose renders your body weaker. Whatever you ran into has left you on your butt against the ground.

You open your eyes to see a boy, standing completely unbothered by you. His hair is the most perfect shade of white you’ve ever seen, like the moon on earth.

“I’m so sorry, are you okay?”

He meets your gaze, and it feels as though you’re actively being spirited away. It’s like your surroundings have suddenly morphed to that of an ocean floor with the light of the heavens casting rays through the push and pull of the sapphire tides as you stare up in wonder.

He responds with a curt reply, “Who are you?”

You address yourself properly, ignoring the subtle disdain, “I’m a courtesan here for the event tonight.”

“Why are you out here then?” The boy narrows his eyes, but they soon find their way to the dark splotches staining your apparel.

“I…spilled is all,” you reply, unconsciously avoiding eye contact. “I’ll return shortly once I change into more suitable attire.”

“I don’t buy that,” he bluntly declares, grumbling something beneath his breath. It suddenly feels weird having to explain yourself to a child, but it might’ve been worse for you if you had bumped into anyone else.

You flash him a look conveying your confusion as you attempt to excuse yourself. He doesn’t say anything more, and after a minute of walking you realize he’s following right behind you.

What’s with these families and having kids around courtesans? First the Zenins, and now this? Whether or not this boy is a member of the Gojo family, or some other guest is unknown.

Worry replaces your sorrows the further along the path you make it. What if someone were to see you both together out here? Thinking about the possible punishments you could endure over a misunderstanding is painful, given that this is a military family we’re talking about it. At worst, you may not even leave here alive.

“What’s your name?” you nervously ask.

“Satoru.”

“…Is that your family name?”

“My given.”

How helpful. But hey, it’s something as opposed to calling him kid or blue-eyes white dragon hair.

You eventually arrive at the room you changed in previously. Satoru follows you in, so you end up utilizing a folding screen to change into another matching robe. It’s a bit of a challenge on your own, but it makes you grateful to not be in something as elaborate as Shion’s.

“Are you finished yet?” he calls out, rather impatiently.

“Yup, good as new!” you answer, coming out from behind the screen and to a mirror. Thankfully all the alcohol missed your hair and makeup, so that much is fine.

He pushes himself off from the wall he was leaning on, opening the door to leave. You end up following him this time around without question, assuming to be heading back to the courtyard.

The moon is high in the sky as you stand a few paces behind Satoru. Your eyes bounce between rooftops to trees, the hints of green reminding you of Toji.

You can’t help but wonder how he’s doing or even what he’s up. Does he even know you’re gone? You had no warning yourself when you left, and you find yourself missing the comfort his presence brings you.

It’s strange to even feel this way about someone you’ve only met a few months ago. In a way, it’s like you’ve known him your whole life, but that can’t be true.

Perhaps this is what others mean when they talk about star-crossed lovers that find each other in every lifetime. If you put your heart together as one, would they fit perfectly like two pieces of a puzzle?

As a Zenin, he must be familiar with the Gojos, but how much do they see of each other? They’re two great families serving for the attention of the same Emperor ─ there are bound to be differences or rivalries of sorts present.

“I apologize again about earlier,” you say to Satoru, looking back his way. “You’re not injured in any way, are you?”

He looks back at you from over his shoulder. “I’m fine,” he answers, shutting his eyes while treading forward down the winding pathways.

Your suspicions of him being related to the Gojos only grow more confusing the further along you go. You should’ve arrived at the courtyard already, but the sounds of music are nowhere close. Either he’s completely lost, or his knowledge of the layout is exceedingly well for a child inching towards his teenage years.

But then you see a new sight in front of you. A garden with a large pond in the middle. Satoru stops near the edge of the water, staring idly down at the fishing dancing in the pool below.

You join him at his side this time, allowing silence to hang over the two of you. The tranquility here is unlike anything else, causing you to push your duties to the far recesses of your mind.

“Why do you let them treat you like that?”

The suddenness of his question takes you aback. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean,” he states without missing a beat, his voice stern.

“There’s nothing I can do,” you reply.

“I don’t understand that weak-minded thought.” “Why not fight back or run away if you don’t like it?”

“I don’t have a choice.”

“Yes, you do.” His frustration grows more evident from your words. “You always have a choice.”

But what choice do you even have?

Your debt isn’t paid off. Hanami would never let that go ─ would never let you go.

Others have tried and if they weren’t killed in the process, she’d hire someone to bring them back, breaking them down until they couldn’t possibly run away again.

You’re nothing but a tool at her disposal. A hole to fuck time and time again.

Should you even get away, then what? It’s your father’s debt, would she go after him next? You’ll never be able to fully forgive him for selling you, but you don’t wish him harm. Not when he’s been trying to become a better father and reconcile with you as of late.

What about the rest of your family?

Ishiro and Miyuki would hopefully be safe within their own families away from it all, but what about Koichi? You wonder how he’s been doing all this time; does he even know what happened?

According to your father, he’s unsure where Koichi is after having run away from home. Knowing Hanami, she’d be able to find him with ease. She’s done it before to others.

You must protect your family, even if that makes you a martyr in the end, all to ensure the safety of those who matter to you.

“If I run, I’m as good as dead,” you declare with a sorrowful tone. “I would never be able to win in a fight either.”

“Then you train!” He turns to you a hot-blooded glare that makes you flinch. The anger comes off his words like steam, melting the very snow around you both. “Train until you’re strong enough to beat anyone who challenges you!”

You know full well his anger isn’t directed at you, but rather for you. He reminds you a lot of how Koichi is ─ that stubborn bull with a soft-spot to keeping you safe.

“Is that why you fight?” you ask after the atmosphere has had a chance to settle. Satoru’s eyes have fallen back to the koi occupying the pond, letting his emotions settle like the current.

“I fight so that I can become the strongest.”

For a fleeting moment, like a scent carried in the wind, a memory sparks in your head of a scene many moons ago ─ a boy with a similar reasoning to train and fight.

His features are but a blur, another mystery to ponder in your tragic life. Perhaps one day you’ll have all the answers you desire, or maybe in another lifetime.

“There you are, Young Master Gojo!” a feminine voice calls out, startling you.

You turn your head to see a woman trotting up, no doubt a servant. Her eyes dart between both you and the boy in question. Her choice of words however has your eyes widening.

Young Master Gojo? As in the heir being celebrated tonight?

“What’s going on?” she inquires further, a hint of annoyance dancing across her face. “You’re one of the prostitutes, are you not? You shouldn’t be out here with our Young Master.”

“It’s fine,” Satoru declares, effectively silencing the woman. “She’s here with me.”

The words catch in her throat, lips parted to speak but she has no say in the conversation. She swallows her distaste. “Your father is requesting your presence.”

Satoru closes his eyes, turning on his heel away from the pond to the servant’s side. Before you join them, you look back once more.

There, in the reflection of the moon, a breathtaking white koi appears. It swims in circles around the shape of the moon, disrupting the surface until you could make your own mirrored face.

…When did I start crying?

You wipe your tears away, careful to not smear away your makeup. You’re met with several glances upon your return to the courtyard, namely Botan’s harsh, heavy stare. They must be wondering why you’re following so closely to the heir after disappearing for some time. You would be too if you were them.

For the duration of the night, you keep your head low to avoid any further conflicts, performing only the duties expected of you. No one else bothered you, and by the end of the event, you felt free to breathe without fear.

To prepare for the journey home, the Gojo family allowed you to rest there for the night, and in the morning provided an adequate meal to satiate your hunger.

The route back is the same as you came, giving you the chance to stare off at the clouds. Only this time, it wasn’t so quiet with all the thoughts looming at the forefront of your mind.

Should you try and run, train to fight, or continue accepting the fate handed to you?

You almost ran away from it all once before, but your thoughts were different then.

What’s changed?

Back then, there was only you and the abyss calling out your name. Today, that bleak void was nowhere to be found. In its place was your family; those you desire to protect above anything else.

Is your freedom truly worth it if it means putting those you love at risk?

After several hours of travel, the caravan finally arrives back at the brothel. You can’t say you missed the place ─ more so hating that it provides a similar feeling of ease one would feel returning home.

But this is no home to you.

You spend some time helping to unpack, all before you receive a summons to the Rose Room. The fear of wait awaits you holds tight around your mind, body, and soul alike.

The air feels suffocating to breathe as you posture yourself before Hanami, clenching your nails to your palms in tight fists that threaten to draw blood.

Yet… you’re taken by surprise ─ praise even, for making a good impression on the heir to the Gojo Clan.

She is in fact aware of the incident before you met Satoru but is willing to forgive and forget in light of having a link to an excellent source of business. Funny how things can work out in the least expected of ways. Hanami freed you to return to your room having earned some peace and relaxation after a job well done.

You enter your room, turning to close the door when suddenly a pair of thick, muscular arms reach around and pull you flush against their body.

“Toji!?” You nearly yelp from his action if you hadn’t recognized his feeling beforehand. “What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the day!” you shout in a whisper to the man.

His chin falls to rest over the top of your head. There’s a subtle sound that fills your ears indicating that he’s inhaling the scent of your hair ─ of you.

“Missed ya last night.” You bring your hands up to his wrists, relaxing into his hold. “Wanted to make sure you were safe, and I was here when you got back.”

“I missed you too.” A soft smile graces your face. You let your thumb idly draw shapes over his skin, closing your eyes to enjoy the moment. “I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to tell you, it all happened so sudden.”

Toji lowers his head onto your shoulder, a low rumble coming off his throat in what could be viewed as a purring sound. “’s alright, hun. Where were ya, anyways?”

“The Gojo Clan,” you tell him, not missing how his body begins to tense.

There’s a brief silence that follows, leading up to him sighing into your ear. You can’t help the shiver that runs through you like lightning. “How’d it go?”

You clear your throat, regaining yourself before your knees give out. “It wasn’t too bad. I even met the heir ─ Satoru.”

Another sigh from the man, heavier this time.

Toji frees you from his grasp, navigating to an open cushion to sit on. “You met him?” he nearly growls with contempt, crinkling his nose.

“I did,” you start, moving to a spot closer to him. “He was…unique. I’m unsure whether to say he’s nice or plain arrogant, but I don’t think he’s a bad person.”

He rolls his eyes, “He’s a spoiled brat, that’s what.”

You question whether these are his own beliefs or that of the Zenins, assuming your earlier notion about rivalries between the founding families are accurate.

So much of what goes on within these clans and government affairs are shrouded in mystery ─ kept hidden away from the people of Japan. The most you’re aware of is the history of your country as taught to you in school, or when celebrations are held in honor of victorious battles. The phrase taught to you by your father years ago still holds true today.

“We must always pay our respects to them, and for their service.”

Who knows what truths lie hidden away to those closer to the source like the Zenins or the Gojos.

You change off this topic to lighten the mood, deciding to catch up on everything since your last meeting together with Toji like you two always do. You’re glad no one intruded on your time, feeling your heart heal with every laugh he grants you.

Later in the night, you share a kiss with Toji before waving him off. A promise to see each other again soon. You watch him slip away into the alleyway below your window, only needing to blink once before he’s gone and out of sight.

All the while, one other particular room receives their guest for the night.

“You’re here early, Daisuke,” the woman greets, her tone laced with sin. “What has you so excited? Is it me?”

“It’s as you believed, my dear.” The man lowers himself into his seat as the woman coils her way around him like a venomous snake. He downs a serving of liquor before a malignant grin stretches from ear to ear. “It’s time to make your move.”

☆ Notes: may or may not have been inspired by that one episode of apothecary diaries a few weeks ago. bless that anime for helping me with the immersion.

fr though this chapter was annoying as hell for me to write with trying to understand kid vs adult gojo personalities and the direction I wanted this to go especially for future events in the story. Had to rewrite this several times over before I was happy with it. Toji is one of the few characters whose personality I’m confident with in understanding.

☆ Taglist: @fandomtrash5092 @catmania-choco

#jjk #toji fushiguro #jjk toji #jujutsu kaisen #toji zenin #toji x reader #toji x female reader #jjk au #toji fushiguro x reader #toji x you #toji fushigro x reader #gojo satoru #ronin!toji #courtesan!reader

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heartnosekid · 8 months ago

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my personal favorite stimboards masterlist!

so, as it turns out... i've made a lot of stimboards since 2021 when i made my first favorite stimboards stimboard. i wanted to make another stimboard of the boards, but i quickly found out i had way too many favorites to fit in a stimboard that my computer or phone could handle lol.

so, instead of the stimboard, here is a bunch of links to my favorite stimboards with some descriptors. as far as name stimboards go, i love them all too much so i couldn't decide on a concise list of favorites lol enjoy! comment your favorites if you want to!

concept / music based:

night skies, the moon, biblically accurate angels, books, & moths | yule pagan holiday board | rain by sleep token | "i know love is real because i exist and i am full of it" | sidewalk chalk kitty

character / franchise based:

#stim #stimboard #links #ish talks #personal favorite stimboards #requests #gosh i hope all these links are right lol #if they aren’t PLEASE let me know

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coinandcandle · 1 year ago

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Coin's New Witch Research List

New to witchcraft? Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t know where to start? I’ve got you covered! This is a list of things I personally think are worth checking out when first getting into witchcraft.

Most of these are my own posts, so please keep in mind that they are often subject to my personal opinions and experiences. Feel free to take inspiration from the topics of the posts for your personal research list.

Basics

Magical Misconceptions

Intention and Magic

Definitions in Modern Magical Context

5 Forms of Divination

Wheel of the Year: A Comprehensive Guide

Types of Altars (ask)

Coin’s Research Tips

Witchy Red Flags

Deity Work

Tips for Discernment by @will-o-the-witch

Spell Crafting

Spell Types - Physical types of spells.

Anatomy of a Spell - What a spell needs to be a spell. Plus the Anatomy of a Spell infographic.

Questions for Spell Crafting - Questions to ask yourself when crafting a spell.

7-Day Spell Creation Practice - Practice for spell creation.

Spell Oils - Simple way to make spell oils.

Hex vs Curse - The difference between a hex and a curse.

History

Origin of Tarot

Angel Numbers and Pythagorean Numerology

Familiar Spirits and the Witches’ Familiar

Misc

Elemental Magic

Astrology

Herbal Correspondences - Focus on five to ten to start out, then go from there.

Crystal/rock Correspondences - Same as herbals, start small

Enjoy my work? Consider leaving me a tip on my ko-fi!

#witchblr #beginner witch #new witch #witchcraft #learning witchcraft

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holdharmonysacred · 5 months ago

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I made the mistake of reading the tv tropes page for Little Goody Two Shoes the game earlier and I gotta complain because whoever wrote the game's pages blatantly just does not understand what is going on in the game's story in some very specific ways (spoilers under the cut)

No, Father Hans is not responsible for all the weird goings-on in Kieferberg leading to the witch panic, he's only responsible for about 50% of it at max, nor has he figured out as much about the supernatural goings-on as the page editor thinks. Father Hans is working to summon Walpurga into the town because he wants to ask her what's going on and who the hell "He" is because he doesn't know! He somehow can't figure it out, no matter how hard he researches forbidden magics! He's started getting onto the right track of "there's devils in town", but the Walpurga situation has confused and sidetracked him from that should-be-obvious conclusion of "there's devils in town". He's not cooperating with the demons, he can't even figure out there's two evil supernatural forces at play, he probably thought he was feeding the horses and Apfel and everything to Walpurga. I just don't know how TV Tropes Editor Person came to the conclusions about Father Hans that they did.

Nor is Old Jochen actually wrong about Elise being involved in the supernatural shenanigans, let alone being a witch! Because the other 50% of what's going on is the fault of the demons Elise is hanging out with! The crows and windmill problems, the well problems, the rainstorm and basin flooding, those were all Murim and Aziel's fault as they took the chance to mess with the townspeople while telling Elise what to do for the testaments. Even Father Hans letting Eugen's horses loose and luring Apfel into the woods were situations where ultimately it was Murim who finished the fight. None of the supernatural events in town would've happened had Ozzy and co. not decided it's time to be Hilarious, prompting Walpurga to make her own move. All Jochen is guilty of is being an absolute dick about it to the point of thinking "fearful murderous frenzy" is a good way to solve things.

The actual problem the townsfolk have is they just can't quite seem to figure out that 1. there's multiple supernatural forces at play that are harassing them and 2. the Devil is like, a thing that exists as even just a concept. Father Hans is the only one who ever really mentions the Devil and demons, and even he can't parse the obvious red flags of "oh shit, Holle made a deal with the Devil". Everyone else is only worried about the witch, none of them seem aware of the possibility that it's demons also. If they could figure out that it's demons along with witches, well........ they'd still be very stupid and panicky about it, but they could potentially combat it beyond just "fearing a witch around every corner".

also with Walpurga, hey TV Tropes editor, Walpurga isn't trying to get Elise's soul, she's trying to get Elise's body and flesh - she's obsessed with creating life and giving birth, she wants to take Elise's body and life because she wants to use her to live as a normal woman and presumably have more babies. She is, metaphorically, the kind of shitty mom who uses her kids as a proxy for the life she wishes she had, and tries to live vicariously through them regardless of her kids' actual wishes. Maybe there's something I missed or need to reread, but given how much Walpurga hollers about wanting Elise using very visceral language I'm not sure how the hell the editor concluded she wants her soul instead.

Like, surely these aren't elements of the story that are that hard to miss, right? Like, they're right in the text. I will admit that maybe the editor was a kid or a teen, in which case yeah fair if they missed these elements, if it was an adult who wrote it the page though then like. how??????

#little goody two shoes #now the best in-universe explanation i can think of for why the townsfolk can't figure out it's demons #is the townsfolk seem just kinda ignorant and off-the-ways of their own faith in general #like jesus only gets mentioned like.... once? twice?#and otherwise it's st walpurga who tends to get prominence in the town #so the lack of awareness of the devil could just be part of that disconnect from wider christianity #i dont know how intentional that reading is though #out-of-universe it could just be some pop history problems since the game tends to get sucked into that #that's a topic for another post though

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xxvalkyriesxx · 7 months ago

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A Court of Smoke and Scales - Masterpost

Hi Everyone!

Here is the masterpost for my ongoing fic, A Court of Smoke and Scales. Everything connected to the fic will be found here.

Before anyone could inject with salted opinions or promises of death, Albess landed on the balcony where they all stood. The ground and palace shook as all four of his legs perched on the old castle stone. His dark gray scaled body stood out in the beauty of the daylight. Her dragon. Albess' wings spread in full as he roared. Giant rows of teeth layered his mouth. Scents of fear and awe catered around her. Screams and cries echoed below the tower of the citizens.

Ren approached Albess, quickly mounting his back. She smiled in triumph witnessing all seven high lords at her mercy. However it wasn’t Ren’s intention to harvest control over anyone in this room nor anyone in all of Prythian. She wanted to to rebuild the home that was promised to her. To ruin her mother's plans who was screaming from the depths of hell.

"I am the Queen of Hybern."

Or an Eris/OC story following Ren, the daughter of Amarantha, determined to rebuild her kingdom and bring forth a new era to Hybern. However Ren has a powerful secret that could throw the whole world into jeopardy if she's not careful. By side her is her dragon, Albess.

Legend has it the very first rulers of their world were not old gods or daglan but eight dragons and their riders back when the lands were merged as one but eventually the dragons were all cursed into hiding by a powerful witch. The legend goes on to say in order to find the remaining seven dragons, it takes a one dragon to awaken them all.

Set five years after ACOSF and the events of HOFAS.

Snippet | Prologue | Chapter One | Chapter Two

Deleted Scenes

IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT READ THE DELETED SCENES UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE ACOSAS CHAPTERS THAT CORRELATES TO THEM. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS MENTIONED.

Content warnings and additional tags under the cut

If anyone would like to be added to a tag list to receive updates, let me know!

Content Warnings: (subject to change) Graphic content (v*olence, g*re), minor mentions of miscarriages (not FMC or any leading female), pregnancy, labor/delivery, mentions of SA, ab*se, mentions of ab*se, consensual s*xual explicit scenes

**censoring certain words as I'm not sure Tumblr will flag my post.

Tags: (subject to change) DRAGONS, DRAGON RIDERS, DID I MENTION DRAGONS?, dragons can shift, dragons have strong magic, slow burn romance, eventual smut, Eris is a prick but we love him anyway, Night Court for Dummies: How to get away with something without starting a war, Ren is the morally grey FFM we need, Ren and Eris bicker, sapphics, TWO MAIN SAPPHICS SHIPS, We will finally learn what happened between Eris and Mor, Bargains will be made (insert cool night court tattoo), original content, Koshei is the main villain, Fuck Beron, character death? yes, major character death? perchance, will feature several POVs (will try not to give readers mental whiplash like in HOFAS however nothing can be promised).

*Main Ships: Eris/OC, Elain/Lucien, Emerie/Morrigan, Cressida/Viviane's Sister (Liliane), Nuan/OC, OC / OC

*Minor Ships: Nesta/Cassian, Feyre/Rhysand, Gwyn/Azriel, Helion/LOA (Aster), Viviane/Kallias

*Additional ships may be added/removed as the story progresses

** I don’t own any of the characters or elements of ACOTAR as they are owned by SJM. The original content including Ren and Albess are mine.

** Graphic made from Canva. I don’t own any of the images used.

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thespectralvision · 8 months ago

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The other part of my Scarlet Witch 60th Anniversary Collaboration! These designs were such a joy, and a good excuse to finish designing Wanda's appearance in the fan comic I'm slowly working on making one day.

My Wanda is somewhere between comic!verse and MCU. Eventually I'll get into the nitty gritty details of her background but I am very fond of her, and I'm having a blast working on visualizing my story in this way.

The first design is her 'hero' outfit - The White Witch of Wundagore, combing elements of her MCU outfit, and the Midgaard look from the (now sadly defunct, RIP I miss my Wanda) Marvel Future Revolutions Game. I wanted her to keep the red and black, but also something that matches White Vision a little more. Since my story is part of the multiverse and MCU-adjascent, I also liked the idea of the Red, Gold, Blue, and White as those are the colors of the Sokovian Flag Marvel designed. In this setting she's a folk hero from legend, representing a nation that was dissolved and I'm having fun exploring Slavic/Eastern European folklore and combing it with comic and MCU lore about the character. The 2nd is her 'full powers' design - The Living Darkhold. While her *true* form when she's like this is something unfathomable and cosmic, I pulled from her corrupted form in Multiverse of Madness as well as Avengers 187, and some other comic designs I've liked over the years. My entire thought process was 'if Wanda was a villian in a Soulsborne game, what would that look like?' She is a shadowy, glitchy being in this form, hard to fathom and pin down when she harnesses the power of Cthon/The Darkhold.

I've got an outfit breakdown I need to finish compiling as well - I'm coming close to finishing some proper character sheets for myself of Wanda and Vision that hopefully I'll have time to complete and share soon.

#wandavision #wanda maximoff #scarlet witch #marvel fanart #mcu fanart #wandavision fanart #scarlet witch 60th collaboration #digital art #my art #wanda x vision

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pochapal · 1 year ago

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Umineko Liveblog: Thoughts/Theories [Episode 1 Chapter 13 Edition]

In Umineko chapter 13, it happened again. Barely three chapters after the previous slaughter, the second twilight unfolds. The two who are close were torn apart, in a gruesome and inevitable moment that shocked everybody and nobody. It is a compact chapter that almost entirely hinges around Eva and Hideyoshi’s demise.

However, that’s not all that’s going on here. Beyond the shock and the horrors, some of the more salient elements of the story are slowly simmering to the surface. Eva and Hideyoshi’s involvement in the first twilight, the nature of the witch narrative, Genji’s role in these grim events, and Kinzo’s potential bizarre and horrifying motive.

And also try to figure out just what went down in that locked room.

Our first stop on the chapter 13 writeup brings us to the titular two who are close. I’m not yet talking about their corpses or the seemingly impossible closed room they were killed in just yet. First, I want to think about the very loaded conversation between Eva and Hideyoshi in the opening half of the chapter.

At first glance, it feels like nothing more than an endless parade of death flags. They comment on how proud they are of George, they affirm their love for one another, and then they talk about their plans to travel somewhere beautiful once this is all over. There was never any subtlety about what was going to happen to these two in this chapter. The surface level reading is incredibly apparent.

What’s less apparent is what else can be gleaned from this conversation. Yes, Eva and Hideyoshi are having their “when we leave this place” doomed by the narrative conversation, but there is one specific death flag that doesn’t get tripped. Not once do either of them talk about the murders, or Beatrice, or any fear they may have for their own safety.

Eva and Hideyoshi not necessarily caring about their murdered siblings doesn’t come as a surprise. What does come as a surprise is that Eva, who spent the last two chapters mercilessly interrogating the mystery of Kinzo’s disappearance, has very little to say on the matter of these bizarre murders. They briefly comment on how Natsuhi is letting the power go to her head now that Krauss is dead and that it’s a relief that Shannon was killed so George now cannot marry her. That is the extent of it.

It is almost out of character how far removed from the situation Eva and Hideyoshi appear to be in this conversation. After all, the killer is still at large and there are still twelve hours until the boat gets there. So why are they so completely unbothered? It’s almost as if to them, this murder business does not concern them.

And why would that be? Why would Eva and Hideyoshi be acting without fear despite having no outward reason to do so?

If they are unafraid, that indicates that they believe, for whatever reason, that Beatrice and the killings pose no threat to them. This is something that was evident even in the previous chapter when the two of them broke off from the group despite the clear risks associated with that. It’s also reinforced by the fact that they make plans to escape to the Maldives in a few weeks’ time – there is not a shred of doubt that they will be leaving the island alive. Everybody else on Rokkenjima is panicked and terrified, but not Eva and Hideyoshi. In short, in private, they are acting as if there is no threat to their lives at all.

This is of course a wildly bizarre stance to take given the situation they find themselves in. What’s important here is trying to find a reason as to why these two would act like this and say the things they do. What they talk about is reaffirming their future and going away on a luxury trip. No mention of the murders, the epitaph, the gold, or the inheritance.

Almost as if these problems are no longer a concern for Eva and Hideyoshi, despite half their family being killed and them still in the red financially. Those things might as well not exist behind closed doors. Why is that?

I think figuring out a compelling reason for this relies on a prior assumption almost certainly being true: Eva and Hideyoshi were involved in the first twilight. More specifically, they were helped along in whatever they did by the originator of the Beatrice narrative enough that their culpability has been taken care of for them. If “Beatrice” is making their problems disappear with “magic”, then of course it would be no issue for the two of them to play along with the witch narrative as long as it continues to benefit them. Hideyoshi leaning in on the “demonic” nature of the magic circles despite his prior skepticism towards Beatrice makes complete sense under this light.

This would also be why Hideyoshi chastises Eva for her receipt ploy with Natsuhi. The witch narrative works on ambiguity and uncertainty, of not looking too deeply or closely at the mysteries. If the Kinzo death embezzlement theory is true, then the coverup is operating on the same logic as the narrative that is protecting Eva and Hideyoshi. If Kinzo’s death is unmasked by the family, then so too can Beatrice be unmasked. And if Beatrice is unmasked, then Eva and Hideyoshi’s role is exposed.

Further, this can also be used to explain away their Maldives plans. We are presented with a very Romantic vision of Eva and Hideyoshi making peace with their lot in life and renewing their love for each other in the wake of tragedy, the facts of which can only be contradicted via attacks on their character and not via logic. However, if we use the Detective’s approach and separate the actions from the emotions, what are we left with?

Eva and Hideyoshi, who are no longer concerned about the inheritance and Kinzo’s fortune, are making plans to be out of the country in a remote location about twelve weeks from the present moment. This would leave them totally unreachable and untouchable at what would likely be the height of the police investigation into the Rokkenjima murders. They would be in a foreign nation under foreign jurisdiction right around when they would be scrutinised either as witnesses or suspects. They will be out of the country, and thus uninvolved with the immediate management of the Rokkenjima estate in the absence of pretty much every other viable next-of-kin.

Why would they be out of the country at such a crucial time, and why would they not be concerned with taking control of the family’s affairs? I think two points can be extrapolated here.

The first is that they need to be out of the picture so as not to be a suspect. On its own this would not make sense because them being unreachable would only serve to make them more suspicious, so it stands that there is some kind of contingency they feel is protecting them. The second is that they don’t challenge the succession/inheritance because they either already have everything they need, or they know that it is a matter of time before they get it anyway. Eva is ambitious and desperate for the top slice of the Ushiromiya pie. She would not back off without a guarantee.

What this tells us, I think, is that there is an individual who exists to take the heat off Eva and Hideyoshi in some way. Some person who would be infinitely more suspicious than even the only surviving beneficiaries who have fled the country. Some person who, in some way, will guarantee that Eva and Hideyoshi will still have access to the Ushiromiya fortune when all is said and done.

A perfect candidate for this sort of person would be a hypothetical individual who has already seized ownership of the headship and the fortune who otherwise should not have it, and who will very quickly get caught out by the police for having wealth and power above their status. Someone who is, say, a servant who solved the epitaph and gained control of Rokkenjima and its gold. A servant who will most likely be swiftly arrested, not believed, and their stolen wealth immediately returned to the highest-ranked Ushiromiya still alive. This is everything Eva wanted and more, and all she has to do is sit quietly and let events fall as they will. Like Kinzo before her, she will be bestowed untold riches through Beatrice’s magic, so long as she keeps her mouth shut.

Ultimately, when Eva tells Battler to think more deeply on what she said before leaving the parlor, she is obviously imploring him to consider Natsuhi as a duplicitous hypocrite. However, if your thinking extends beyond the “who” and into the “how” and “why”, then Eva’s trick with the receipt provides a solid blueprint for breaking down the witch narrative. This is, of course, almost certainly not something the person behind Beatrice expected to happen when they stepped in to clean up Eva and Hideyoshi’s mess. If the witch narrative is destroyed too early, then not only does whatever Beatrice’s plan is get thoroughly ruined, but also Eva and Hideyoshi get suspected as culprits and lose everything.

Each one has the power to destroy the other. However, while Eva and Hideyoshi cannot survive without the witch narrative, the witch narrative can certainly survive without Eva and Hideyoshi. So Beatrice cuts her losses and disposes of the two of them before they can become a liability in order to keep the narrative going.

And of course, the witch narrative itself plays a central role in this chapter as an unseen yet glaringly visible force. We’ve already gone over how and why Eva and Hideyoshi would play into the witch narrative, so now let’s examine the broader narrative that exists beyond the two of them.

Until now, it was fairly easy to read the witch narrative as a mere metaphor coverup for the killing of the Ushiromiya siblings. It cloaks the murders in obscurity and makes it hard to understand anything other than the hard fact of death. The first twilight is a masterclass in a mystery that gives nothing away easily. Not so much with the second twilight.

A lot of this comes from the fact that the interim chapters between the two twilights have been peppered with glimpses into how this narrative is being constructed, and who is telling this story. The scenes between the servants talking about Beatrice reveal that whatever is going on is much more than a little bit of occult obfuscation. Beatrice is made into a consistent character with concrete personality traits that are completely superfluous to the “a witch is murdering everybody” scenario. Why does it matter that Beatrice is respectful to those who respect her in kind? Why would Beatrice have a propensity for pranking? Why does the story of Beatrice, in Battler’s words, have to bring everyone on Rokkenjima into another world?

This still mostly touches on elements of the witch narrative that are hard to figure out at this point, related to things like the paradox of an unsolvable mystery begging to be solved. I don’t think this chapter does much to advance my understanding of these issues. Instead, I want to examine the way the witch narrative is working around the second twilight, and what these features can tell us.

The first thing I noticed on this front is a soft culmination of the recurring image of the TV. Since the first twilight, there has been a narrative emphasis on Maria being totally absorbed in watching TV, except for the moments where the narrative flares up and she gets the chance to be witch-Maria. The TV here is used as a symbol for the unreality of the situation – the programs Maria watches are fictional, a fantasy to keep her absorbed in. The witch narrative is similarly an all-absorbing fantasy, and during the scenes in the parlor when everybody is discussing Beatrice and the occult, Maria is able to turn her attention away from the TV. When they are not talking about the witch narrative, Maria returns to the TV.

If you view Maria as totally fantasy-absorbed within the story, then the only times she stops watching TV are when the fantasy has spilled out into the material world. The TV, then, is a stand-in for the witch narrative – only those invested in perpetuating the witch narrative watch TV. The TV itself is also a signifier of the fiction contained within the screen leaking out into wider reality.

This is all important because in chapter 13, the TV features heavily in the guest bedroom. Alone in the room, Eva and Hideyoshi turn the TV on, and it becomes the only audible sound aside from the rain. While discovering the murder, Kanon remarks on how the light and noise from the TV grow stronger and stronger until they are the only thing he can focus on. The TV strengthens throughout the chapter, right up until the moment where Eva and Hideyoshi’s bodies are found.

If TV = witch narrative, then chapter 13 is a steady progression of the witch narrative increasing in strength. Despite the seemingly disconnected shock of the murders, there is still that Beatrice-shaped throughline linking it to the first twilight. Whatever happened to Eva and Hideyoshi is part of the same continuity of killings that was responsible for the deaths of the other siblings. This is perhaps the most important takeaway from this observation: we must consider the two sets of murders as a continuous series of events. Whatever caused the first twilight is still happening.

More than that, it also means that so much of this scene is shrouded in that misleading obfuscation inherent to the witch narrative. It’s hard to know for sure what’s going on since the important parts of this chapter were entirely relayed through a third person outside perspective and not through Battler’s eyes, so if there are discrepancies in presentation they are not yet known. All we have to work with is the singular, third person series of events. If there are incongruities to be found, it is too soon to speculate on them. The only thing that is certain is that if the witch narrative is in play as strongly as the story would suggest, then it must not be taken for granted that everything here is as it seems.

The other witch narrative element in this chapter comes in the form of more occult symbols, of which we get two: bizarrely-decorated icepick-esque murder weapons, and a freakishly elaborate magic circle.

The icepicks, or whatever they are, are a little easier to puzzle out. The characters remark on how bizarre and out of place they seem to be, not knowing how or why they got here and were used in the murders. Regardless of how truthful you may assume these observations to be, I think it’s fairly easy to say that the weird ornate weapons came from Kinzo’s collection, same as the gun. If so, then these picks may have either been obtained the previous night when Kinzo’s study was entered to prepare for the first twilight, or at some undisclosed point beforehand depending on how much in advance these murders were set up.

What the picks actually are is a little less straightforward. If you’re going by the rules of occult symbols and weapons, the first thing that naturally comes to mind when thinking of “conical object with a fancy handle” is some kind of stake – I’m thinking more along the lines of blood sacrifice than demon slaying here. It was described as being like an icepick but not an icepick, and similar to a spear but too short to be called a spear, so I think some kind of modified sacrificial stake is the best fit. I said a second ago that I think the intended evocation is of ritual sacrifice rather than the killing of something demonic, but in the prior scene Eva describes her own toxic ambitions as a “devil” in her head. Killing the “devil” inside Eva by running a stake through her has a nice ironic thematic resonance to it that I think further justifies considering this object as some kind of stake.

The other issue, however, is that stakes are almost only useful for piercing soft flesh – the traditional image is of a stake through the heart, and not through the forehead. It is far easier to pierce the chest than it is the skull, so if this is some kind of stake (not that the exact nature of the weapon matters that much), how did it do that?

I think that, both like and unlike the first twilight, it’s worth considering a more mundane tool here. In order to get something thin and piercing through a hard to penetrate surface, you need to apply a lot of force. The gun could not be used since that is still in Natsuhi’s possession, so some kind of shenanigans there is automatically out of the question. Given that, what’s left to us?

What’s worth noting is that we never get a good look at the weapons, beyond seeing their handles and that they are roughly conical in shape. How they are embedded in Eva and Hideyoshi remains unknown. My thinking is, given the size and shape and purpose of these wounds, that a drill was likely used to create the effect seen. A drill could, with enough pressure, pierce into someone’s skull. It would then either be a case of having the weapon attached to some kind of screw as it is drilled into them, or sticking the weapon into the hole after the fact. The drill could be easily sourced from the same tool storage room Kanon acquired the bolt cutters from, and easily returned without suspicion.

One question that arises from this is that it is once again very unlikely that Eva and Hideyoshi died by having their foreheads drilled through. Given the list of suspects and the logistics of the killing, it is most likely that the mutilation happened posthumously like with the first twilight. Which means, again, that Eva and Hideyoshi were actually killed in some other way that left no other visible signs. And once again, I have reason to believe that may be poison.

Before I consider who could have administered some kind of poison to the two of them, let’s also think about the magic circle for a second. According to the narration, Kanon first notices the magic circle when returning to the bedroom with the bolt cutters – a more elaborate magic circle than the first has appeared on the door. Kanon and Kumasawa both react in shock upon seeing it – Kumasawa because it is so ghastly, Kanon because it was not there less than five minutes ago.

On the face of it, this is another impossible-seeming occurrence, even more so than any other occult symbol seen so far. That said, if you keep in mind the overwhelming swell of the witch narrative and the reliability of our narrators, then it becomes less impossible to consider. Going back to the Detective/Romantic narrative viewpoint, we need to remember that these third person scenes are more about being faithful to the emotional truth than the literal truth – the why is accurate, but the how and what may not be.

For the magic circle, what we get is the emergence of this symbol accompanied by Kanon’s shock, fear, and helplessness. Kanon is not in a good place when he looks upon the magic circle – his distress culminates in the appearance of this symbol. This does not necessarily mean the magic circle literally materialised in a handful of minutes, but it does mean that the magic circle’s emotional relevance only became clear upon Kanon’s second known trip to the bedroom.

Now that Kanon has the means of entering the locked bedroom, the witch narrative bleeds out into something concrete and grim. When the bedroom was still a sealed space, there was no occult iconography. The appearance of the circle, narrative-wise, marks a point of no return. As readers, we know what this means: the epitaph murders have continued, and Eva and Hideyoshi are absolutely super dead. There is no avoiding or delaying that inevitability. Likewise, Kanon having the bolt cutters means that he, too, can no longer ignore the writing on the wall.

The bolt cutters break through the material lock on the room. The magic circle breaks through the immaterial lock of obfuscation. We know exactly what is in there, and how to get there. There is no use in pretending. Truth, or some form of it at least, rules the moment. Beatrice shows her hand when she knows we can no longer deny her presence.

So we see the magic circle and understand. So Kanon has the bolt cutters and can step into the room. If the witch narrative is about one thing, it’s the conferring of understanding onto observational parties. Despite the obscurity and mystery surrounding everything, the signs and symbols are remarkably devoid of ambiguity. Magic circles indicate that a completed murder lies behind the door. The imagery of the first twilight goes from a spectacle to a pattern.

Of course, this still means that this is the witch narrative, and this still means that the information we are receiving Is obfuscated. Under the witch narrative, the magic circle inexplicably manifested within a few short minutes as a signpost by the Golden Witch. If you take away the witch narrative and apply more of a Detective’s logic, you then also have to come up with an alternative explanation that conforms to human rules and human logic.

If there is no witch and no magic operating on the physical level, that means that the magic circle was materially constructed by a material entity. With the previous circle on the storehouse door, I reasoned that the six hour timeframe is more than enough for the culprit to draw it. With the second twilight. However, that timeframe has rapidly shrunken. The one that the story offers us, of less than five minutes, is plainly not feasible. Therefore, like other mysteries in this story, we’ll have to extend that window as much as possible.

We know from the chapter breaks that chapter 13 starts at 19:00. We also know that Eva and Hideyoshi are alive at this time. During the discovery of the bodies, Nanjo remarks that they have been dead for roughly an hour. This chapter doesn’t end with a clock transition, but from this we can roughly surmise that the family finds the corpses at 20:00, thereabouts. An hour is still a tight timeframe to produce a magic circle that complex, but infinitely more feasible than five minutes.

Another detail we’re given about the circle is that the paint still appears to “drip”, so assuming that to be true, an hour would still be enough time for the pain to be fresh enough to still run. Really, depending on the type of paint used, this “wet” period could last as long as two to three hours. This was obviously less of a problem for the first twilight, given that the paint was exposed to the rain the whole time and would therefore have difficulty drying. With the second twilight, this is on a door in a sheltered, likely heated, hallway. Even with upper estimates, the amount of time the paint can be visibly wet for is limited.

So what is the earliest that this could have been done? The first major hurdle that needs to be eliminated is Eva and Hideyoshi. If the circle was on the door before they entered the room, the initial assumption is that they would have reacted to this in some way. This, of course, is also predicated on Eva and Hideyoshi having minimal involvement in the witch narrative.

However, the past couple of chapters have proven that Eva and Hideyoshi are, if not producing, at the very least perpetuating the narrative. Like I thought about before, it’s likely that they’re choosing to play along as insurance to protect themselves against being caught out with their involvement in the murders of the first twilight. There’s also the sealed letter found under their door that we never get to see – perhaps these are/were some kind of written instructions on how they were to act for the rest of the weekend? An updated primer on the witch narrative to keep their story straight as the story evolves? Either way, given that, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to imagine that they’d ignore the existence of the magic circle under instruction. After all, whatever keeps the suspicion off them works.

Where we do run into an issue is that prior to this, Natsuhi and the servants performed a full sweep of the mansion in search of Kinzo. Unlike Eva and Hideyoshi, Natsuhi is not embroiled in the witch narrative in the same way, and absolutely would have said and done something had she encountered a magic circle while searching the mansion. This means that either Natsuhi never went near the guest rooms (unlikely) or that the magic circle was painted after her search was complete and she returned to the parlor with the gun (much more likely).

If that’s the case, then that pushes the window of opportunity back by an additional hour or so. This also, ultimately, leaves us with a very small pool of suspects. In an anticlimactic fashion, these are basically the same people who were the only ones in a position to draw the magic circle on the storehouse door: Genji and Kanon.

The servants excuse themselves from the parlor early on even in spite of Natsuhi’s attempt to keep everyone in one place. Ostensibly they are in the kitchen to prepare dinner for the family. Kumasawa is shown to be the one most involved in the cooking process, only calling upon Kanon to help her plate up and serve. This gives Kanon and Genji a lot of leeway to move about the mansion and prepare things for the second twilight.

This also, by extension, puts Nanjo in a less favourable light. He spends time in the kitchen playing chess with Genji during the timeframe when he and Kanon would be coming and going. So either Nanjo was completely oblivious to this happening, or he is complicit on some level in what is going on. As always, the dilemma of Nanjo remains ever present and ever unsolvable. His positioning here only adds to the question, and helps very little in pinning anything down. Nanjo is there. This kind of makes him suspicious. It also kind of might not.

More relevantly. I want to instead examine my new prime suspect of the day. Up until now, my prevailing theory has been that Kanon has been the one behind the witch narrative, with Genji as an accomplice. This was mostly based off considering who could have been responsible for giving the first letter to Maria, and who would have the strongest motive to tear down the Ushiromiya family. However, after this chapter (and percolating on things from the last few) I am reporting that my stance has totally shifted. Genji is the orchestrator, and Kanon is the accomplice. I got it backwards.

Too much falls into place too perfectly if you consider Genji to be the “mastermind” of the operation. The bizarre coincidences with everything on Rokkenjima either being out of service or out for repairs specifically over the weekend of the conference makes a hell of a lot more sense if you consider it to be Genji’s doing. The only people who could have done this are those with any degree of authority with household management, which shrinks the circle to Kinzo, Krauss, Natsuhi, and Genji.

Natsuhi has already been eliminated from the suspect pool a million times over, so I won’t spend time repeating myself. Kinzo is too far removed from reality to care much about the specifics of sealing Rokkenjima off from the outside world (although I do have more to say on Kinzo shortly) and also he may or may not actually be alive as of this October weekend anyway. Krauss is a possibility, but him being killed during the first twilight the way he was seems to indicate that he is not involved in any higher-level machinations. Genji, however? Genji is very much perfectly placed to do this. As the defacto senior member of the household staff and as the one person on Rokkenjima who actually has Kinzo’s favour, Genji has a lot more options open to him than the self-professed humble “furniture” would have us believe.

Of all the servants, Genji is the one who can most easily move about unchallenged. Natsuhi and Krauss distrust him too much, and fear Kinzo too much, to make any serious attempts at obstructing him. Kinzo does not care enough to take that much of an interest in anything Genji does. The other servants are either beneath him or unaffiliated with him (as is the case with Gohda). Genji just is, able to go about his business while assumed to be untouchable.

Even if you were to suspect Genji of ill intent, he very effectively wields his position as a servant to deflect. Genji is one of three servants on Rokkenjima to bear the label of “furniture” – a term that is associated with being in Kinzo’s inner circle, and with being a victim of Kinzo’s abuse. For Shannon and Kanon, to be furniture is to be less than human, it is to be the servant before the person. It is to be so folded into your position of servitude that nothing else can be permitted to exist, save for your function of being at the mercy of your superiors. They are powerless teenagers trapped in a cruel situation. For Genji, though, this narrative does not quite click.

Yes, he is bound to serve Kinzo regardless of his personal will. Yes, he has almost totally given himself over to his role as a servant. Yes, he is seemingly “stuck” on Rokkenjima. But it’s not the same as Kanon and Shannon. Genji was not plucked from birth and forced into this position. He was, by all accounts, a good friend of Kinzo’s in their youth who chose to become his personal servant at some undefined point decades in the past. Genji entered into this arrangement willingly, even if the present circumstances do not necessarily match the starting conditions.

But Genji still calls himself “furniture”. He is deliberately positioning himself as part of the same class of individual as Shannon and Kanon, despite ostensibly having more in common with someone like Kumasawa. She is another elderly servant with enough leeway to get up to antics, but she does not refer to herself, or anyone, as furniture. She lacks Kinzo’s favour, but in all other measures she is equivalent to Genji. Furniture as a term used to browbeat junior servants into complacency checks out, but furniture being used to describe a man who willingly entered into the service of his once good friend does not track in quite the same way.

In an earlier chapter, Genji pulls Kanon to one side and discusses with him how they are in service of both of Rokkenjima’s masters – Kinzo and Beatrice. There is a sense that this private conversation carries with it a degree of sincerity. Genji is autonomous compared to the other servants, and yet he is still bound. This is a glaring contradiction in Genji’s psychology that continues to undermine the notion that the Beatrice narrative is all a farce put on by a cynical and crafty servant. There is a sincere notion of a belief in something underpinning the goings-on here, something that drives Genji to step further into whatever unpleasant role he is assuming.

Genji is furniture in service of his master. This statement alone reveals much of the truth we need to understand what is happening here, or at the very least cobble together a compelling theory.

What we know of Genji is that whatever he and Kinzo have goes far back into the past. There is, or was at one point, a genuine affection between the two men. The scene between the two in the study is proof of this, no matter if you subscribe to the notion of Kinzo being alive or the notion of Kinzo being dead. If Kinzo is alive, then the affection is straightforward and reciprocal if erratic. If Kinzo is dead, then Genji is evoking a mirror to feelings that are deeply true in his own heart if nowhere else. And ultimately, what Genji feels matters more than what Kinzo feels, especially for this theory.

The theory is as follows: Genji is the orchestrator of the witch narrative, and Kanon is his coerced subordinate. Where this differs from my earlier Kanon theory is that rather than try to shoehorn a reason into why Genji would so intimately know all this occult stuff in order to deploy it for the murders, I instead think that while Genji is executing this scheme, he is not the mastermind.

The mastermind of the witch narrative, and the originator of “Beatrice”, is actually Kinzo. Or, to be more technical, the ghost of Kinzo.

In order to explain this, we need to go back to the very start of the story, to the prologue scene between Kinzo, Nanjo, and Genji where all three men discuss the issue of Kinzo’s last will and his declining health. This scene has always been a little structurally weird, owing to the fact that it never really connects neatly to anything else in the story. We have no way of knowing when or why this scene happens. All we know is what, and the “what” of the scene is that Nanjo declares that Kinzo has not got long left, and that he should really get to making a will before it is too late. And Kinzo, in response, says that all he cares about is Beatrice, and he would happily throw all his family and all his possessions in the fire for one last glimpse of the Golden Witch.

One implication of this scene is that Nanjo was subtly pushing Kinzo to seek absolution for some undisclosed sin that hangs in the air. I do not think this is what happened – In Kinzo’s own words, he has no regrets. Instead, I think the shift in conversation conveys a literal truth in reasoning. Kinzo’s final choice is to offer it all up to the Demon’s Roulette for the witch. It is not that Kinzo refuses to make a will, but that he does choose to produce one, albeit on his own spiteful, warped terms.

For this to work, I firmly believe that, regardless of everything else going on, Kinzo was definitely alive in this prologue scene. This may have taken place days, weeks, even months before the 1986 family conference, and while that could be pinned down by examining certain actions taken on Rokkenjima and Krauss’s embezzlement efforts, the exact timing does not matter at this exact moment. What matters is that Kinzo formulates some kind of rotten plan before he dies.

What we know here is that Kinzo longs to see Beatrice again, and that according to Maria and the epitaph, Beatrice is in/from the Golden Land. From the few bits of information we have, we know that Beatrice is an unreal ghost-like entity, and that the Golden Land seems to be some kind of afterlife/world Beyond. Or at least the supernatural definition of Golden Land – I also believe that the gold vault is another kind of Golden Land. Glory in life, glory in death and all that.

From this, we can extrapolate that “reunion with Beatrice” is fuelled by some kind of death drive. To meet the Golden Witch in the Golden Land is to cross the threshold of death. The material world must be departed from in all its forms, otherwise there is no point. And more than this, any deaths offered during the twilights are consigned to be little more than sacrifices for Beatrice’s power.

This poses a conundrum for Kinzo. If he dies as a sacrifice, then he is very unlikely to be graced with Beatrice’s smile. If he survives the whole ordeal, there is every chance he just does not see Beatrice at all. For him to get what he wants based on what we know of how this system operates, he either needs to die before the epitaph murders, or after. We know that Beatrice is a ghost. It stands to reason that “Beatrice” would also be a ghost. In other words, I think Kinzo died at some point between the prologue scene and the family setting foot on Rokkenjima. Or at the very least, gave the total impression of death to everyone that matters. Whatever it took to put him in a position where his last will could be carried out.

A spiteful last will, designed to ruin the family that Kinzo so loathes, and to bring him closer than ever to his deranged fantasies. A scheme twofold in its purposes, one final echo of the Ushiromiya patriarch’s abuse, inflicted from a place that totally shields him against any kind of retaliation. The abusive father “exists” in the shadows, forcing everyone on the island into the role of frightened and helpless children, where adulthood and money offer no defence against the horror. The wry and scheming Eva is, in the end, as powerless as Maria in the rose garden. The witch narrative becomes a grand and cruel equaliser only interested in pain.

And, of course, for Kinzo to be the phantom behind the stage, this means that there must be somebody carrying out this violence in the material world. We are given exactly two people who would be privy to this plan of Kinzo’s, if it exists: Nanjo and Genji. Nanjo may know, but Nanjo lacks the power and influence to do much more than potentially splutter out some regurgitated nonsense about the witch narrative and maybe a lie a little about the state of crime scenes. Genji, however, has intimate knowledge of Rokkenjima and of Kinzo, and command of the household staff, including whatever control and leverage is used to keep the other “furniture” in line. One final request to an old friend, one last blood-washed sin to see it off.

The big question, of course, is why on earth Genji would do something like this. We know that there is some kind of unfathomably deep devotion towards Kinzo in spite of everything the man is. We know that, in Genji’s heart at least, there is a fondness that is one of the major components keeping him going. I don’t think it’s as literal as I’m positing, but I do think there is a sentiment towards Kinzo that Genji harbours which goes beyond servitude and friendship and into something resembling love. Be it romantic love, or some other kind of bond formed by history, companionship and proximity, I am not sure. But Genji feels strongly enough about Kinzo that he is willing to bloody his hands in this dirty business simply to fulfil his dear friend’s final wish. The nature of this bond is less important than the fact of its existence.

Genji is acting as Kinzo’s “furniture”, as a manipulated piece on a board that further manipulates pieces beneath him to adhere to the plan. Kanon, then, is trapped under a new layer of torment and abuse as Genji’s fanaticism takes centre stage. He loses his sister and dirties his hands for the sake of a dead man. He has no other option except to acquiesce, because unlike Genji Kanon does not have the luxury of saying “no”. He has nothing of his own, nowhere to go, nobody in his corner. Kanon is little more than a tool, the ultimate embodiment of the “furniture” concept. Kinzo is gone, but the power and abuse dynamics remain as alive as ever.

This is the stage of the epitaph murders. Genji, acting out a rehearsed script bestowed onto him by the evil master he will follow into the depths of hell. Kanon, forced to play deuteragonist no matter what he would rather want for himself. The other servants, the supporting cast of varying relevance. Everyone forced into carrying out Kinzo’s final wish to see his family destroyed in the name of his fleeting, warped dreams.

Keeping that in mind, let’s now try to sketch out what I think happened during the second twilight.

We already know that Eva and Hideyoshi are involved in the first twilight, be it as culprits or accomplices. As the only surviving siblings of that eventful night, they are absolutely painted in suspicion that has taken the witch narrative firing on all cylinders just to keep at bay. And even then, it was only a matter of time before Eva’s ego and the family’s reasoning would lead them to the conclusion that the two of them had some degree of involvement in the deaths of the six. And from there, that would of course lead to the witch narrative potentially being uncovered and the entire scheme falling apart. The two of them are liabilities if “Beatrice” is to have any longevity.

I do not think Eva and Hideyoshi at any point thought they were in danger. They were so secure in their innocence and survival that, after separating from the rest of the family, were willing to make plans about what would happen after the conference. Disappearing into the Maldives for a few weeks at the height of the criminal investigation into the murders indicates that at the very least, the two expect to have the means to do this. After this weekend, they will no longer be in need of a lot of money right now. All they need to do is keep up the pantomime for a few hours longer.

Even if Eva and Hideyoshi weren’t always intended to die, their performance that morning solidified that keeping them around would jeapordise the witch narrative immensely. So either Genji/Kinzo intended to betray them from the start, or this decision came about after witnessing them flail to keep their cover in the parlour. Whatever the case, their decision to break off from the group and retire to the guestroom was actually them stepping into a trap.

Depending on the timeframe of the magic circle, there can be a case made that at some point during the afternoon Genji and/or Kanon painted the door, and Eva and Hideyoshi were told to head to this room at a certain time. Perhaps they were told that staying in a room with a magic circle would make them look like survivors of an attempt on their life in a scenario akin to the stains on Natsuhi’s door, and take the heat off them in the same way as it did Natsuhi. Perhaps they didn’t think to ask questions, so long as they were confident in both their survival and their financial gain. Either that, or the magic circle was painted after they had already entered the room. Both cases are viable, and neither one detracts too much from the overall shape of events.

While Eva and Hideyoshi are in the room talking and doing all the other stuff they were doing, Genji and Kanon are almost certainly preparing the murder. This would involve taking the picks from Kinzo’s collection and painting the magic circle, depending again on the timeframe we’re working with. Either way, that first hour is spent closing the trap in.

At some point in a nebulous timejump, either Genji or Kanon enters the guestroom. Most likely this is done using the pretence of the second letter, which they may have believed contained further instructions for the rest of the conference. I also think that, going by the pattern of culpability, that the person who greets them at the door is Kanon.

The most likely scenario is that Kanon knocks on the door a short while after Eva and Hideyoshi have finished making love. Eva is found dead fully dressed on the bed, and Hideyoshi is found dead naked in the shower. I think you can extrapolate from this their final actions: Eva cleaned herself up first, and Hideyoshi was about to enter the shower when Kanon arrived.

So it is most likely Eva that let Kanon in. She does this because she believes she is not at risk of further harm, and because Kanon and Genji have the blackmail of her involvement in the first twilight over her head. With no choice but to receive further instruction, Eva opens up the guestroom.

In order to kill them, Kanon likely serves Eva and Hideyoshi something poisoned. This was most likely prepared by Genji using whatever poison Krauss and Gohda used in the first twilight. Ironically, the paranoid Eva would not have thought to detect any poison at this stage, and will die of the exact thing she taunted Shannon and Natsuhi about earlier in the story.

After serving them the poison and having some kind of interaction with them, Kanon most likely leaves the scene. What follows next is that Eva chooses to lie on the bed, while Hideyoshi enters the shower. The poison takes hold and kills them a short time after that, leaving them in the positions the others would later find them in.

At this point, Kanon and Genji would likely return to the scene with a drill and the picks to dress up the murder scene with occult accessories. Their heads are drilled through, the picks inserted, and the letter placed under the door. Then, via whatever method achieved such a thing, they lock the room from the inside with the chain and left the scene.

An amount of time passes here where Kanon and Genji help to prepare dinner and dispose of the leftover evidence. At around eight, as we see in the chapter, they return to the guestroom to complete the charade. Genji knocks on the door, receives no reply, and then he and Kanon “discover” the letter. To keep up the illusion, Genji and Kanon return to the kitchen in a panic. Kanon and Kumasawa seek out bolt cutters, while Genji and Nanjo return to the guestroom.

Once Kanon and Kumasawa return to the guestroom with the bolt cutters, they “discover” the magic circle. Kumasawa acts shocked, but it cannot be discounted that this is also part of the act. Whatever the case, the magic circle has been here for some time, and only now is Kanon permitted to acknowledge it. Kanon then unlocks the door chain with the bolt cutters, making quick work of whatever method allowed the room to be sealed in the first place, and Eva and Hideyoshi’s corpses are “discovered” in their final occult resting positions. This is, I believe, the overall gist of the second twilight.

The major question that lingers is “how was the locked room constructed”, something for which there is no answer at this stage. The major outlier with the second twilight concerns the drilled heads. Unlike the poison, this is not something that could have been passively set in motion before the locked room’s construction. We also know that there was nobody in the room except for Eva and Hideyoshi, so it’s not like somebody could have stayed in there and done the drilling after the room was locked up.

There is also not really enough time for Eva and Hideyoshi’s heads to be drilled after the room was unlocked, either. Even if that was somehow managed, the issue of hiding and disposing of the drill becomes much harder than my earlier theory. Ultimately, while I could tie myself in knots trying to pin down the locked room, I don’t think the “how” is too important. We already know the who and the why, and changing the how doesn’t change either of these factors.

So, to sum up: Eva and Hideyoshi were killed by Kanon and Genji as part of the witch narrative. This was done first via poison, and then via posthumous mutilation. The servants took advantage of the nebulous timeframe to set the scene, and then pretended to discover the crime an hour after the fact. This was done under Genji’s instruction following a plan most likely sketched out by Kinzo in advance, carried through out of some kind of sick and doomed devotion. Case kind of mostly closed.

What now? Eva and Hideyoshi were the loose end of the first twilight. There are no such ends this time. Just the culprit and his accomplices. Kanon and Kumasawa are not liabilities in the way the other two were, so the next twilight will most likely not occur under similar circumstances. There aren’t any hostile actors left in the Ushiromiya family, either. Just Natsuhi and Nanjo and the cousins.

It is very hard to see what circumstances would breed the next murder under the current conditions. With the death of Eva and Hideyoshi, a kind of equilibrium is reached.

However, one thing worth noting is that the third twilight makes no reference to murder. All it asks is for Beatrice’s noble name to be praised. In more plain terms, this may equate to a kind of acknowledgement of the witch’s existence among the survivors. Perhaps the aftermath of this murder starts to genuinely convince people of Beatrice’s existence, and this “praising” leads to a schism between those left standing that breeds new conflict.

Perhaps the praising marks a threshold point where Beatrice can now for real start interacting with the world, growing more and more capable with each sacrifice. Perhaps we will see the witch narrative scheme fall off the rails in favour of the real murderwitch in action. I don’t know. There are a lot of directions the story could go from this point.

But let’s see how the pieces fall first before we start doom forecasting again. There is another lull between twilights to digest, and more non-murder based mysteries to consider. Let’s see what’s next.

#umineko #umineko liveblog #long post #this took some time i know but at least it wasn't as bad as the 6 month wait for the last murder chapter's writeup lmao #umineko writeup

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