#energy drinks may help for some for me they can put the pain in a sort of stasis. it still hurts but I can manage until the end of the

[celebduwen]

I feel like a lot of people think Migraines are just headaches but more painful when in fact, a lot of it (if not most of it) is the time before and after.

The pain itself and how bad it is (also where it is) can vary from episode to episode, sometimes it’s bearable, sometimes it might be at a point where even the slightest bit of light or sound feels. . . I’m bad at describing stuff.

But yeah, where the pain itself is can also vary, behind an eye, the other eye, the forehead. Etc. What the pain feels like can also vary, from feeling like something trying to push open your head to get out or a very sharp pain. You get it.

Auras are a big thing and another part that people without migraines know about. (At least I think so.) For those who don’t; they’re sort of things that happens before the pain sets in or arrives, examples are gradually losing your sight, trouble focusing, losing balance and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember. They’re sort of the que for “OK, time to take my medicine as soon as possible” or well, you try to get to safety as fast as possible. They typically last for a couple minutes to a couple hours, sometimes even throughout the entire migraine.

I’m unsure about how other people experience auras and stuff, but for me I get different ones according to how bad the migraine will be.

As another thing, the part that I feel like is often overlooked. The Postdrome. I actually found out it had a name recently. It’s the period after the Pain and it can vary a lot, both in length and in effects. It’s sort of the period where you might be extra sensitive to your triggers, feel tired all the time, have difficulty speaking right or coordinating, or feel very inspired and stuff, also adding an etc. here, cause there’s a lot of diversity. Personally I get really chatty for example, even though I also feel extremely tired and have slurred speech, fun combo)

Triggers are another thing, maybe I should have put this at the start because it’s sort of, the main thing people without migraines should know, but eh.

So, there’s a lot of them, some people have several, some have one, some have none and just get migraines seemingly at random. I’ll try to list the ones I can remember now at the end of the post.

Some triggers are easy to avoid like specific foods and stuff. Chocolate, artificial sweeteners, coffeine, etc. Specific tastes can also be here. Like bananas or cheap apple juice. Something to note about foods is that, while some have it as a migraine trigger others can lessen the impact/harshness (I have no good English words for this) of the migraine, I can use caffeine (mostly tea) to alleviate the pain when the pain is dim for example)

On the other hand there are the triggers that may be near impossible to avoid in normal day to day life. Strong smells, chemical smells, heavy or thin air, bright or intense sounds, etc. etc.

The hard to avoid ones are sort of the main reason I made this post. I have an earnest hope that people who end up seeing this try to avoid doing things that can set off these things, some of them can be really easy to avoid doing. (Like Avoiding using a lot of perfume)

Sincerely; someone on the 6th day of migraine after effects (two of them full effects) due to people using perfume a lot and just a lot of activity.

The list

The hard ones

Perfume

Spray deodorant

Harsh light

High pitched noises

Loud sounds

Heavy/still air (rooms with a lot of people or outside with no wind/temperature change from outside in some cases)

Pressure changes (when the weather changes, before storms, etc.)

The (maybe) easier ones

Caffeine

Artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfam etc.)

Chocolate

Apple juice

Sweat (strong on the maybe here, sometimes near impossible)

Chemical smells (in most cases)

Sports soap

Bananas

Too little or too much sleep

The lists are short, so feel free to add more.

There are some ways to help avoid some of them. Like how masks can help with avoiding string smells (those masks from The Pandemic may help) eh. Add more in tags I guess.

[inlovewithquestionablecharacters]

Hello I don’t know if you’re currently taking requests but let me tell you. I need more about Milo. If you can. Like he became possessive with reader, jealous of everyone near her.

Milo X Reader: You belong to me

Warnings: Fighting, bar fight, bone breaking, drunk men, sleazy men, smut, dirty talk, dom x sub (kind of), dom Milo, possessive Milo, ass bitting, fingering, making out, penetration ( p in v), unprotected sex, pet names.

Word count: 3K

He's staring again, he knows he is. He also knows he shouldn't but he can't help it. Not when you look like that. You're at the edge of the bar sipping a drink Milo can't quite recognize. He's known you for years but he never noticed what your go to drink was. Perhaps it was because he had been too occupied pretending the pain in his leg wasn't killing him to care or maybe it was because it didn't really matter. He would never be the one to approach you, your favorite drink in hand as he flirted his way into your heart. You'd never made him feel undesirable. He didn't believe you had it in you to make someone feel something like that but you didn't have to, his brain did the work for you. Self loathing does wonders to one's confidence. 

Milo has been watching you for a little while now. You hadn't invited him to the bar. It had been a coincidence. He'd sauntered into the pub, his mind set on finding a pretty thing to take home. He needed to test the waters of his new powers and he wanted company to do it. A special kind of company. He had expected to find someone random, anyone who peaked his interest enough. He wasn't expecting to see you, in fact, it was the last thing he expected but he would be lying if the sight of you didn't ignite something inside him. 

He still hadn't worked up the courage to walk over. This would be the first you saw him like this. The first time he'd talked to you since the "change". It thrilled him but it also scared him. He wondered how you would react. Would you just stare or would you scream at him for his irresponsible actions? He wouldn't be able to take the look of disappointment on your face. He remembered when you first found out about Michele's unorthodox studies. You didn't  speak to the doctor for a week which to some may seem like a small amount of time but that's because they had never met you. They had never had the pleasure of being around you long enough to feel the radiant energy that seeped from you. His fear of your opinion glued him to his spot but it didn't stop him from admiring you. Milo had almost accepted the fact that, despite wanting with all his heart to whisk you away from this dingy bar, you'd probably go home alone. It wasn't until a man approached you that Milos mind changed. He watched the man stumble towards you with a drunken smile on his face. You shuffled slowly to the side trying to put a small distance between the two of you. Milos' hands clenched at his side, his features turning into a scowl as he watched the scene before him. He saw you let out an uncomfortable laugh before shaking your head in a polite no. Milo noticed the way the man's body language shifted at your actions radiating a sort of dangerous energy. Milo didn't like it at all. Before his mind could compute what he was doing his body moved in your direction, his legs moving in steady steps. Milo had gotten to you just as the man had reached out to grab your arm, his body working as a barrier between you and the man. You glanced up at Milo with a look of visible confusion on your face.

“There you are darling. Was wondering where you'd gone.”

“Milo…”

His name left your lips in a breathy whisper sending a chill down his spine.

“Hey asshole we were talking.”

“You know this guy?”

You shook your head timidly, your body moving closer to Milos as you searched for safety. Milo placed his hand on your arm before turning to look at the other man.

“You heard the lady. She doesn't feel like talking to you.”

“That is not what she said.”

“Yeah because she's too polite for that. Luckily for her i’m not, so i'll say what she’s really thinking.”

Milo paused for a moment, his ears picking up on the beating of your heart. It was a bit slower than it had been when he arrived but it was still faster than it should be. The heartbeat of someone who was afraid. The noise seemed to snap something inside Milo's brain, a sudden feeling of rage coming over him.

“Fuck off.”

You let out a small gasp at Milo's words, your fingers digging into his forearm. 

“Milo leave it, let's get out of here.”

He hated the way your voice shook as you spoke. He hated the fact that this man had gotten to you. He wanted to rip this neck open in front of this entire bar. He wanted to show them all that you were under his protection and that anyone that messed with you would have to deal with him. But the way you clung to him brought him out of his rage filled daze. He turned to look at you, his hands moving to push a stray hair behind your ear.

“Okay darling, if that's what you want.”

With one meaningful glance at the man Milo turned around, placing his hands on your hips as he guided you away from the bar and towards the door. You’d barely made it five steps when Milo felt something wet on his shoulder. He heard your scream of his name followed by the sound of glass shards falling to the ground. Milo didn’t give himself enough time to think before he pushed you away, his body turning around to face his attacker just as the man prepared himself to land a punch on Milo's face. His fist came in contact with Milo's body but not in the way he’d wanted it to. Instead of knocking into Milos cheek the man's hand found its way into Milos open palm, his eyes widening in fear as he made eye contact with the vampire. Milo twisted the man's arm, cracking the bone with ease. You watched with wide eyes as Milo tugged the man against his chest and whispered something in his ear before shoving him away. The man stumbled to the  ground using his unharmed hand to drag himself away from Milo in fear. Milo turned towards you, one hand pushing his hair back as the other reached for your arm. You let Milo drag you away from the bar, your legs moving quickly in order to keep up with his long strides. It was only then that you noticed he was walking without difficulty and without a cane. You stopped walking, your body freezing in the middle of the sidewalk causing Milo to stop as well. He turned to look at you, the anger in his features slipping away as he saw the fear on your face.

“Milo how are you…how did you-”

“It doesn't matter.”

“How the fuck can you say that? You just broke that guys like it was made of fucking paper!”

You glanced down at his legs.

“And you're walking like it's no problem.”

“What a big deal? People do that everyday.”

“Well you're not like most people Milo! You’re-

“What? A sick man? A weakling? A good for-”

“Stop it! I’d never call you any of that and you know it you jerk!”

You turned your face away from Milo, your hands going to wipe away the tears that had started to fall from your eyes. Milos' shoulders sagged at the sight. You just been through hell and here he was yelling at you like you were in the wrong. He called out your name, making you turn to look at him. Your lip shook slightly, making you bite on it in an attempt to look strong.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. Please forgive me.”

He opened his arms to you with a silent request for a hug. You waited for a second before letting your body collide into Milos. He pulled you as close as he possibly could, burying his face into your hair. He listened as your heartbeat calmed down, a small sigh leaving your lips.

“Thank you.”

“Gotta be able to protect what’s mine.”

The words left Milos' lips with little effort. It wasn't until he felt your body tense that he noticed what he had said. He waited in silence, trying to see how you’d react. You shifted against him, lifting your head so you could look into his eyes. When you met his gaze and  saw the primal like expression in them your breath caught in your throat. You had no idea what had happened to him. Even though he looked the same as he always had there was something different about the way he looked at you. He looked at you like he was a lion and you were a juicy piece of meat. And though it startled you it also sent a thrill down your spine.

“What’s yours hum?” 

Your hand trailed down Milos chest fingers running over the clothes ridges of his abs.

“Yes…”

“And what do you do with what’s yours?”

He couldn't take it anymore. Not with the way your body felt warm against him and the way you bit your lips as you spoke. Milos lips crashed into yours, his hands tangling into your hair as he kissed you. You let him grab onto your body, a small moan leaving your lips when he gives your ass a squeeze. He loved the sounds you made as his hands moved against you. You break the kiss, the need for air getting to you. Milos hands don’t leave your frame, his fingers digging into your hips as he rests his forehead against your.

“Take me to your house.”

“With fucking pleasure darling.” 

You’ve been inside Milo's house a thousand times and you knew the layout like the palm of your hand. Even so you managed to walk into the wrong room. You blamed Milo. The way he tugged at your body in desperation left your brain dizzy. You glanced around the room, eyes falling on the desk in the corner.

“This isn’t your bedroom.”

Milo raised his head, detaching his lips from your neck. 

“You’re right it's not. But this works.”

“There isn't a bed Milo.”

“Oh darling, who said we need a bed?”

A smirk spread across Milo's face as he watched your eyes widen before glancing to look at the desk once more.

“Well what are you waiting for? Get over there.”

“You want me on your desk?”

“I was thinking more like over my desk but on works too.”

You rubbed tights together at the sound of Milo's voice. You weren’t used to seeing this side of him. He was usually quiet and slightly melancholic. The man in front of you wasn’t like that at all. The man in front of you was demanding and sexy. You'd be lying if you said you didn’t enjoy it.

“I thought I gave you an order darling.”

Milos hand wrapped around your throat squeezing lightly as he leaned down to give your lips a quick peak.

“Get over there. Now.”

“Yes sir.”

You turned around a yelp leaving your lips when you felt Milos hand come in contact with your ass in a rough slap.

“That's my good girl.”

“All yours sir.”

Milo licked his lips making his way to you. He watched as you hopped onto his desk, spreading your legs so that he could see your underwear. A moan left Milos lips as his eyes caught a look at the lace you wore.

“Planning on getting fucked tonight?”

“I was actually. Just wasn’t expecting it to be by you.”

Milos smile drops at your words. He leans in closer, placing his arms beside each of your thighs, caging you with his body. You swallow dry at the sight of the scowl on his face worried you’d angered him somehow. You had made him angry but not at you. Oh no. He was angry at everyone else. Angry at the others that had gotten a chance to look at you, touch you and taste you before him. He loathed them but he couldn’t change the past. The only thing he could do is make sure that for this day forward he was the only one who could have you like this. Milos eyes bore into you the silence making you uneasy but then he gave you a sly grin and you calmed down a bit.

“You think that…”

Milos hands made their way in between your legs rubbing your clothed clit as he spoke.

“Anyone could fuck you better than i can?”

Your hips bucked as Milo pushed your underwear aside playing with your folds for a moment before inserting a digit into your cunt. Your lips fell open as you moaned, closing your eyes as Milo fucked your with his fingers.

“I asked you a question.”

“No i-ugh shit- don’t think anyone can fuck me better than you.”

“And who do you belong to?”

“Ah-fuck please- you Milo. I’m yours, I'm all yours.”

“Good girl.”

You placed your hands behind you, fingers digging into the wooden desk beneath you as Milo kept up his brutal pace.

“Wanna cum pretty thing?”

“Yess please Milo…so close-oh-please don’t stop.”

“Okay i’ll let you cum but first you gotta give me a kiss.”

You pushed yourself up so that you were closer to Milo, one of your hands finding his cheek. He smiled at you, plunging his fingers as deep as he could. You launched forward, giving him a rough kiss. 

“Cum princess, go on cum on my fingers.”

He didn’t have to ask you twice. Your body stiffened as your orgasm washed over you, your hands snaking their way across Milo's shoulders as he worked you down from your high. Your body sagged into his as he removed his fingers from your pussy and brought them to his lips. He licked his hand clean of  your juices, head falling back at the taste of you.  

“Taste so good darling.”

“Yeah?”

“That perfuct fucking pussy.”

“Your perfect fucking pussy.”

Milos dick twitched at your words the sultry tone in them making him feel impossibly harder. You seemed to notice the way his hips shifted closer to you. Your hands made their way to his pants unbuttoning them before reaching into his boxers. Milo groaned as you pallmed his cock making you smirk up at him.

“Happy to see me?”

“You have no idea.”

“I think I got a pretty good feeling.”

Milo laughed, placing a kiss to your cheek as he pushed your hair away from your face. You moved your face so that you could place Milos fingers into your mouth. He watched as you sucked on his digits, never breaking eye contact. You removed his fingers from your mouth with a pop.

“Can I take care of you Milo?” 

“As much as I would love that darling, I need to be inside you.”

“OKay. How do you want me?”

Milo pulled you off the desk flipping you around so your back was pressed to his chest.

“Lay down darling.”

“Yes sir.”

You did as he asked your ass brushing against his hard on as you did. Milos hands moved to your hips pulling your dress up so that he could get a good view of your ass. He let out a wolf whistle as he grabbed your cheeks. 

“Now that’s an ass I could get used to kissing up to.”

“What's stopping you?”

Milos grinned at you leaning down and giving your butt a soft bite. You pressed your face into the desk at the feeling, your pussy clenching around nothing.

“Delectable.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh don’t thank me just yet darling. I’m about to ruin you.”

“I wanna see you try.”

“Is that right?”

“Uh hum.”

Milos hands ran up your bare thigh, his fingers toying with the edge of your underwear before ripping it off in one quick motion. You gasped as the cool air hit your exposed cunt. It wasn't long before the chill air was replaced with the feeling of Milo's warm skin. He inched his dick into your pussy slowly, trying not to cum at the feeling of your walls fluttering against him and the sounds of your squeals. Once he was fully inside he tugged your hair, forcing you to lean off the table. You could feel the outline of Milos abs against your back as he leaned down to suck on your neck.

“This is that last warning darling. Last chance to back out. If I start now I won't be able to control myself.”

“Lucian i swear to god if you don’t fuck me right now.”

Before you could even fully finish your phrase Milo had laid you back down on the desk and started pistoling  into you. He’d bring his dick almost all the way out before plugging it back in all the way. Your nipples rubbed against the wood as your body rocked with Milos movements. You could feel the desk creaking beneath you a twinge of worry entering your system but quickly vanishing. So what if he broke the desk? He could afford a new one. What he couldn't afford was cumming before you. Milo's hands found their way to your clit, rubbing it exactly. He felt you clench around him as you came causing him to reach his own orgasm. Your body fell lip on the desk, whimpering as you felt Milo pull out. You shut your eyes listening to Milo walk to the other end of the room. He returned with a wet towel, gently cleaning up the cum that had started to leak down your thighs. You whispered a small thank you, far too tired to move. Milo threw the towel on the floor, his hands wrapping around your waist as he pulled you off of the desk. He sat down on his chair tugging you into his lap. You nuzzled into Milos neck, sighing contentedly. Milos' hands stroked your hair, observing you as sleep seemed to take over your body. He placed a kiss to your hair breathing in your scent. A scent that had been made for him and only him. Everything was just as it should be: you in Milos arms. The place which you’d always belonged to.

[etherealsworldvision]

Singles Love Reading

Before I begin the reading I’d like to take a moment to talk about “Care for Gaza” a non-profit charity aid on Twitter (now known as X) who are helping families in need. If you have the funds here are their PayPal and GoFundMe.

🚨 P.S.A 🚨 : I do not give personal readings!

Note : I’m going to give you a heads up…this ended up being a LOVE reading and not a SINGLES reading lol. I guess we are not feeling the romance tonight lol. Okay look — I DID ask for romance stuff and this is what I got so I hope you enjoy it still.

[ general message: saw 222 as I was making the layout so this number might be significant. I believe the numerology meaning is: balance, harmony, spiritual alignment. You can condense it to 6 which would mean: domestic happiness, harmony, and stability. Rain. Autumn/Winter season. Airplanes. 123 ]

Pile 1

[ channeled message: “because I’m tired of being the only one playing by the rules, the world is unfair […] maybe it’s okay if it’s unfair in our favor for once” – Craig from Killing It. ‘Called it love but it was lust’, ‘It wasn’t love like I had hoped’. ‘maybe another time,’ ‘love is a complexity’. ‘If love can fade so can pain’. ‘Let your cup overflow with the love you deserve’.

Additional Confirmation: Seashells. Becoming a Sea Jelly. Prickly. Becoming a Porcupine. Sea and the Earth. Poetry. Disturbance. ]

Cards: 7 of wands (Reverse); Hierophant (Reverse); 9 of Wands. Snail; White Dress; Queen of Hearts; 8 of Hearts.

First thing’s first…this is a complex reading. This is going to be a different type of love reading. I’m sorry if you’re looking for a ‘who is coming in’ but if you still want to stay then please do. This reading does have romantic undertones but it will dives into love.

When I started this reading: I felt like I needed to protect myself — bolt all the doors, close all the windows, triple check the dozens of cameras around the house, and secure myself by hiding under the bed with a blanket wrapped around me.

There’s this profound grief/sadness/yearning/loneliness all meshed together in a box. I think this is your energy because I’m not getting another person. I could be wrong though. But the overall energy feels like the saying “the world/love hasn’t been too kind to you.”

I’m not going to sit here and tell you how to feel. Your feelings are 100% valid because for some reason people probably told you how to feel which made things worse. Honestly all I can give is a virtual hug.

Honestly maybe you’ll find love in this reading [not romantic wise! I meant like a little bit of softness for your day. Idk maybe I’m rambling]. It just feels like you need a blanket and a warm cup of your favorite drink. Some of you might like apple cider with extra cinnamon. Maybe a nice cup of coffee or (ginger) tea with some sugar. Or it’s not physical warmth you’re after but, just this once, inner warmth.

This emptiness you have isn’t something to be taking lightly, that is for sure. It should be held with recognition and upmost delicacy. You aren’t difficult to be loved.

Some of you know this while others may find difficult: you are deserving of love. Some of you are probably groaning and rolling your eyes. I wanted to say it again just in case. I’m also sending you lots of love and support.

You know what, why should I stop there? You’re deserving of people putting effort into you, of understanding, of consistency, of acceptance, of things to be taken at a slower pace. You deserve a love that is supposed to feel like your favorite drink or food. I think, most importantly, you deserve the recognition.

If you can find a healthy outlet please do. I know this reading is probably chaotic but I think it’s supposed to validate how you feel. There was another that came in but it was a bit of blur so I think that’s a sign to leave this reading as is. I’m rooting for you pile 1 and sending many hugs with a lot of love! 💕

Pile 2

[ Channeled Messages: ‘We never realize how frozen we are until someone melts our ice’ ; ‘We know what we are, but not what we may be’ ; ‘Don’t waste a second of your time convincing other people your worth’.

Additional Messages: 111, Broseph (Character from Stoked), Bravery, Strength, Talk, Valentines Day, Take a Break, Focusing on Materialism, Beach Vibes; H2O; Putting in the Work, Babes by Hockey Dad, Safe and Sound by Mr. Floyd Larry, Fire Placements, Sagittarius]

Cards: 9 of Wands; 8 of Cups (Rx); The Chariot. Transformation (Yumiko Kurahashi); The Soul (Emily Dickinson. Jack of Clubs; 8 of Clubs; 7 of Clubs

Pile 2’s, I have to tell you something: I restarted the reading. I reshuffled all the cards and took a ‘day off’ cause my tummy hurts :( and I wanted a break. I don’t know why I had to mention that but…hey, maybe you need a break for the ache?

On with the reading! For those of you who did or are taking a break from love, you’re taking the cool ~ approach. Now this isn’t a mind game approach. I genuinely feel like it’s because you ‘moved on’ from love. You’re just tired of the same ol’ people coming into your life and making you stressed.

I get the feeling you’re taking the ‘Broseph’ (Character from Stoked) approach. If you know him, you know that he’s very chill and laidback. He lets the waves come to him and living life in a relaxing fun way. This could be the way you’re viewing love now.

For some of you I heard “love/dating pool is shit, I’m going to do what I want’, which CONGRATS! You live your life, I’m very proud of you. You may also be taking a funny approach to your love life. I just get the vibe that: ‘love isn’t so serious anymore so might as well make the best of it by taking it lightly’.

Despite these approaches you’re also more selective and will put a boundary up. Again congrats to you! You’re at the point of, again, enjoying your life. I’m also getting a sense you’re putting more emphasis in your friendships. This is going to be a little deep.

For some of you, you may find the love you were missing within yourself through friendships/community. As in, the romantic love you thought would ‘fill’ the hole is not it. It was actually platonic/communal love that you craved. For other’s the love for yourself due to, soul searching’, basically rediscovering yourself.

Overall this is mainly due to people, mostly romantic, not being compatible with you. Like I have a feeling — during the summer time there will be in-depth soul searching. No, it’s not the ‘hippie’ type thing! Unless it could be we never know lol, it’s actually more of transformation of the old you. You’re entering a new part in your life.

Okay this is specific. I don’t know what Valentine’s Day did for you all but for some reason I think their gift to you made you realize ‘yeah…I’m breaking up with you’. Now this isn’t to scare anyone! This is like a 0.1% of you. I just feel like this could be how 0.1% of you will ‘entire’ this transformation.

To recap; despite the way you were treated and the people who were in your life. You’re now rediscovering yourself, your worth, questioning and finding the love you needed. You’re still open to love (in general) but more selective with the people. You’re now or will be letting love find you. Again you’re taking the Broseph approach lol. Have fun and good luck, I’m very proud of my pile 2’s :) 💕.

Pile 3

[ Channeled Messages: ‘If soulmates do exist they’re not found. They are made. People meet, they get a good feeling, and they work on building a relationship’ ; Release your mind, don’t become the hurt that they hurt you’ ; ‘Picture a wave. In the ocean. You can see it, measure it, its height, the way the sunlight refracts when it passes through. And it's there. And you can see it, you know what it is. It's a wave. And then it crashes in the shore and it's gone. But the water is still there. The wave was just a different way for the water to be, for a little while. You know it's one conception of death for Buddhists: the wave returns to the ocean, where it came from and where it's supposed to be.’

Additional Messages: 222, 232, 234, Cat, Curiosity, Watch Your Mouth by The Backseat Lovers; Cold Hands; Burning Candle, Wedding Fantasies, Prayer Beads; Traditions; Selenite; Blue Calcite; Rivers and Roads by the Head and the Hearts; ‘Might Have Been The One Vibe’, The Good Place. ]

Cards: Page of Swords; Empress (Rx); Tower. Ace of Diamonds; 10 of Spades; Ace of Clubs. White Dress; Devotion.

Pile 3, I want to say I’m so sorry for what you went through. There’s a sense of heartache and devastation that recently happened. I heard you might have gotten a call or this sudden new broke your heart. A part of you may felt drawn to pile 1 so if you did then please check that out.

My cat also wants to say hello. She’s actually hanging out with your cards. A message popped up in my head: you are protected. I also want to add that your pile is a long read.

For a lot of you I feel that this is devastating. You may have spent all this time nourishing, putting the effort, and pouring your love into something that wasn’t ’worth it at the end’.

For some, not all, I don’t like to bring this up and be this type of reader…but the news may have been about cheating. As for the others the relationship could have ended because of a huge dealbreaker; like traveling or different values. There could have even been a conversation about money that led to an argument.

Either way, there was a sudden break(up) and now there is grief. I’m not getting so much as to how to help. I think this reading is more about acknowledging your grief and a reminder that you will find like minded people.

Another thing; you may feel anger as well. It’s like a simmered anger. It’s there but simmering…it’s hot yet it constantly murmurs. It feels as if it could be towards everyone. For some it may even be towards the world. But for all it feels as if this anger is directed to yourself.

Okay there’s a big select of you that might have been in a long term relationship. I’ve been tiptoeing around this but it feels like you were so close and then this happened, and now what the fuck, right? Basically the rug was ripped from under you. It just feels like sudden devastation.

I’m not going to feed into your anger and your grief. I am certainly not going to bypass this either by singing Kumbaya and lighting up an incense.

Instead, let’s acknowledge this. You may be feeling angry, scared, all of the grieving symptoms. That is okay! This is going to be hard to hear but grief doesn’t fade. It stays, it lingers, it’s there. The only thing we can do is feel it but do our best to not let grief consume us. We just have to take it day by day in little doses.

This may even be a reminder to pour in that love into yourself. No this isn’t some “self love heals all” type of thing. I believe [the right and healthy] community/friendships can help you out here, but let’s not forget to pour into ourselves too. This can be by creating a safe space for yourself. It could be doing things you always wanted to do. It can be gifting yourself something or simply journaling and crying it out with ice cream.

I also want to say the love you poured into that relationship is no waste. It’s proof that you are worthy of love, that you are capable of love. You are a reminder that the love you pour is out there. You have so much love to give and now it is time to give that love to yourself. It is also a reminder that this love can also be poured into you by your friends and community.

Another reminder, because it seems to be prominent, anger is a reminder of your boundaries. Anger reminds us what we fight for, what we need to feel protected. Anger is a boogieman to society, which can become it if not handled in a healthy way. However, Anger can be justice if you learn to dig deep at the root. This is all I have for you today. I wish you the best 💕

If you liked this reading please like, comment, reblog, and share. And if you want to further support me then tips are appreciated on: Ko-Fi ; PayPal ; Venmo ; Cashapp

[breelandwalker]

so, I know you've been vending at a lot of different craft fairs and witch markets for awhile now (sadly, too far away for me to attend!). would you happen to have any tips for someone looking to do the same at their local fairs? thanks!!!!!! ❤️

Sure! To start, brush up on three things - networking, recordkeeping, and people skills. Get an idea of what's going in on your area, talk to the organizers, see what the particulars are for the events. Here are some questions to ask:

What's the venue like? (indoors, outdoors, parking, accessibility)

Do I need to bring my own table and chairs?

Is there electricity / wifi available?

What is the table fee?

When is the event and how long does it run?

Is there a theme or target audience?

Is there advertising being done for the event? (Signal boost!)

Based on the answers you get, you can start putting your stock and setup together.

Do as much as you can WAY ahead of time. If you need to make things, start now. If you need to buy things, give yourself at least a month before an event to make sure everything arrives in time. Get yourself a 6-foot folding table and a comfortable folding chair or camp chair for events where they're not provided by the venue. Sign for Paypal, Venmo, and Cashapp as well as a card payment processing service like Square to give your customers the most payment options possible. And of course, plan to carry some small bills for cash patrons. (You don't need a register or cashbox, a simple bag of appropriate size will do. I literally use a pencil case that says Resting Witch Face. Works great.)

You'll want to get some displays for your merchandise. The type will vary depending on what you have, but it should be simply and sturdy and preferably easy to pack in and out. Vertical visibility is important at these events, so if you can find some kind of stand or tiered display, that will help you get noticed. I'd also suggest some simple clear plastic standups that you can put a printout price list and a basic sign in. A table banner helps people notice your table from afar and you should definitely have business cards to hand out with your shop info and socials. (I use Vistaprint for both.) Decorations are nice, but don't overload the table with them. They should augment your setup, not overwhelm it.

You may also want to get an 8x8 or 10x10 popup canopy and canopy weights if you plan to do outdoor events. Also, GET A COLLAPSIBLE WAGON. Best investment I ever made was a $45 collapsible wagon. It fits in my backseat and makes hauling things in and out of venues SO much easier.

Keep track of everything you spend related to your endeavors, including event fees, supplies, stock, setup items, displays, signage, business cards, and gas and food on the day. Keep those receipts - you can deduct them on your taxes later to offset your earnings. (Because registering as a business can be a pain and comes with fees, but if you don't do it, you may owe money for not collecting sales tax. Put aside some money for that tax bill, just in case.)

Prep your setup and stock the night before an event. Check your merch, charge your card reader (and bring a fully-charged auxiliary power pack and cord, just in case), make any updates to your inventory or pricing that you need to. It really cuts down on stress when you're loading up if you know you've already get everything set. I suggest reusable shopping bags or clear plastic bins to make things easy to haul, plus they can double as storage.

Plan to leave as early as you need to in order to account for traffic and pit stops. Pick an outfit ahead of time so you don't have to dither over clothes. It should be something appropriate for the event and the weather that looks neat and clean and is easy to move around in, including comfortable shoes. (Look to other vendors for examples.)

Make sure you bring water, snacks, and anything you'll need to get through the day, i.e. medicine (headache pills and stomach medicine at minimum), energy drinks, a fan for hot days, an extra layer for cold ones, etc. Get to the venue as early as the organizers allow. The more time you have to park, load in, and set up, the less stressed you'll be. Make sure things are arranged in a way that's accessible and makes sense. Place signage where necessary to explain items and pricing.

GO TO THE BATHROOM BEFORE THE EVENT BEGINS. TRUST ME.

During the event, you're gonna have to do a LOT of socializing, so prepare for that as best you can. Try to stand if possible when there's a lot of foot traffic so you're more noticeable. Be personable - you don't have to grin constantly, just try to keep a pleasant expression and greet people as they pass, especially if they look in your direction. Don't be afraid to invite passersby over if they pause to check out your setup. Welcome them in, invite them to check out your stuff, and let them know you're happy to answer questions. (And ALL questions are good questions. There are no dumb questions. Even if the question is the dumbest thing you've ever heard or it's the fifteenth time you've been asked that day.) Chat and banter a bit where possible. If you can get people smiling or laughing, they're more likely to stick around and possibly purchase your wares. Make sure as many people as possible take your card when they leave.

Yes, you will be exhausted when the event is over, even if you're a naturally outgoing person, and you'll still have to break everything down, haul it out, load your vehicle, and drive home. If you happen to have somebody who can help you out, that really comes in handy.

In any case, know your own capabilities and personal limits and plan for that when you're deciding where to vend. If a venue is too far away for your comfort or doesn't have what you need or the table fee is too high (be wary of any thing over $75 for a single day event), don't sign up. If an event is too long or too far outside your target audience, don't sign up. If you don't have an appropriate setup or don't have the stock / can't get it in time, don't sign up. If something about the event or the venue or the organizers rubs you the wrong way, DON'T SIGN UP. Talk to other local vendors to get an idea of where to go and what to expect. Most will tell you right away what works, what's good, and what to steer clear of.

This is all just the basics. You'll learn a lot more when you start to vend, as far as what your individual needs are, where to go to find reliable business, and how best to connect with local venues and customers. Keep records of everything you do (spreadsheets are your friend!), network with organizers and other vendors, and practice that sociable game face.

And trust me - if a disorganized introvert with social anxiety and ADHD and absolutely NO sales experience can figure out to do this, I think pretty much anyone has a chance.

Good luck!!!! 😁

[sixeyescurseuser]

(1)

The temple curse Geto absorbs has a certain side effect; One that will strip away all the affects of his suppressants. 

He calls Shoko immediately. There’s no one else he trusts. Yaga-sensei would find this a pain to deal with, not to mention Geto’s placement at Jujutsu High would be at risk if he’s seen as a liability, and-

Geto would rather claw his insides out then admit to Gojo about being the so-called “burden that would drag them down on missions.”

Using his manta ray curse, Geto gets himself back to campus grounds and rushes to the infirmary where Shoko has already prepared a room in the isolated basement.

Geto has never gone through a full heat, only diluted ones because of meds he began taking once becoming a jujutsu student. Everything completely overwhelms his senses. His body aches already, and he’s beyond light-headed.

Bless Shoko, man. She made sure to get some blankets, pillows, and clothes from Geto’s dorm to bring into the heat room. If she includes some of her clothes and Gojo’s jacket that she stole when he took it off to train just an hour ago, then that’s their secret. 

“You know he’s gonna find out, sooner or later?” Shoko states, watching Geto gain a burst of energy as he meticulously arranges his nest.

“I have no idea who you’re talking about,” Geto says absent-mindedly, holding up a dark blue jacket that’s doused in the scent of cotton candy and faint gunpowder.

Shoko sighs heavily, about to point out the fact that Geto is currently hyper fixating on the exact jacket of who they’re talking about.

The sound of sniffles makes her bite her tongue.

There Geto is, holding the jacket up to his nose, clearly basking in the scent. Except tears pool in his eyes, the first few slipping down his cheeks.

“Satoru is going to h-hate me,” Geto chokes out. Shoko blinks, taken aback.

“He’s not going to hate you-“

“Yes he is! He- I lied to him! I’ve been lying to him,” Geto whimpers, subconsciously nuzzling into the fabric that smells like his best friend. The scent of a panicked omega fills the room. 

Shoko quickly walks up to the bedside, putting her hand on Geto’s shoulder.

“Hey, it’s gonna be alright. Gojo may be petty, but you’re his closest friend! He adores you,” Shoko says softly, rubbing Geto’s arm comfortably. 

Geto merely shakes his head, which begins to pound with a sharp pain. He can’t think rationally, the only thoughts pointing to Gojo’s betrayed reaction.

“I don’t want to lose him.”

“Geto…”

“Which is why you can’t tell him about this,” Geto concludes, eyes narrowed as he scrutinizes his friend. “Shoko, promise me.”

Shoko makes the promise. She says she’ll be in periodically to check on Geto, make sure he’s drinking water and eating what little he can stomach.

After Shoko leaves, Geto’s heat continues to burn him from the inside out. That night, he lays in his nest, which feels like it has a crucial piece missing.

The dark blue jacket lays shoved beneath his pillow.

***

Gojo knows something is wrong. He’s very irritable, snapping at everyone and everything. It doesn’t help that Geto hasn’t talked to him since that conversation. 

Naturally, Gojo’s been replaying their argument in his mind over and over again.

Why did Suguru get upset? 

Angry. He was angry, Gojo corrects. 

The itch under Gojo’s skin continues to get worse. When there’s no sign of Geto returning on the day his mission was supposed to end, Gojo is positive something is wrong.

He goes to Yaga-sensei first.

Yaga-sensei doesn’t reveal anything, saying he hasn’t heard from Geto.

Gojo forgoes asking Nanami because apparently he's also pissed at Gojo for whatever he said the other day. Asking Haibara is out of the question.

So without anyone else to bother, Gojo heads to the infirmary.

Right as he enters the front door, Gojo is hit with the most intense wave of chocolate, with a hint of lavender. A scent he’s never smelled before, as that’s sure as hell not Shoko’s citrusy scent.

Like a moth drawn to a flame, Gojo heads for the stairwell that leads down into the basement. The scent grows stronger and stronger the closer he gets to the bottom.

A voice in the back of his mind tells him to fucking get a grip: a weird, enticing scent that has his body moving on its own? Major red flag. 

But alas, Gojo isn’t thinking clearly. And he’s still hung up on how obviously upset and disappointed Geto was with him. If Gojo can’t do anything right in the moment, he may as well do what his instincts are telling him - to follow the scent of chocolate and lavender.

Unfortunately, the sound of footsteps coming up reveals Shoko, who blocks the path to the rooms in the basement. 

“Gojo,” she acknowledges, a hint of surprise on her face. In her hands, she limply carries an empty tray. 

“Yo,” Gojo says dumbly. Shoko clicks her tongue, unimpressed by the innocent grin Gojo sends her way.

“You can’t be here.”

Gojo levels her with a determined expression. His subconscious knows who is in the basement. Shoko knows there’s no stopping him, so she reaches up to pinch Gojo’s cheek - HARD.

“You hurt him, I make you wish you were never born.”

When Gojo walks into the room, his brain short circuits. 

The scent he was smelling had belonged to an omega.

And that omega was Suguru.

(3)

[honest-moth-of-silver-grove]

Hello! I was wondering if you could please write up a BG3 headcanon request involving Halsin, Wyll, Astarion and Gale? How would they react to/take care of their Tav who has an alcohol or drug addiction?

A/N: Aw, man, do I feel this ask. Sometimes I like to joke that I come from a long line of alcoholics, because, well, I do. But it’s usually me trying to put some levity into serious family discussions. I don’t think a lot of people understand that addiction is a physiological illness: it’s a full-body response, not a case of “mind over matter” as some people like to say. There’s such a stigma and it sucks because research shows that when we respond kindly, and not with punishment or ostracization, that’s when addicts have a higher chance of recovery. So know that while I am no expert on addiction, I did try my best to be respectful and accurate. I hope you enjoy! 

TW: Addiction, Alcoholism 

BG3 Male Companions Taking Care of Tav Who Battles Alcoholism/Addiction 

Astarion: 

In a way, Astarion is kind of an addict himself. He’s a vampire, spawn, or ascendant, he needs blood for energy. He can go for extended times without it, but those times have been tortuous and caused lasting mental and emotional damage. That eternal need hanging over his head coupled with the impact of Cazador’s abuse has permanently re-wired his brain. Astarion doesn’t react like the average elf, he can’t, not anymore. 

So when it comes to altered brain chemistry, Astarion’s certainly no stranger. Although his addiction lies more within the supernatural, he can use his own experience to relate to Tav’s more pedestrian affliction. 

Astarion won’t ever outright deny Tav something. If Tav asks for a drink or a drug, Asation won’t take it upon himself to literally hold Tav down as a means of keeping them from consuming it. Astarion knows that method won’t work in the long run, and would most likely only result in Tav resenting him, and he can’t have that. 

Astarion will make a face or two, however, his expression switches from concerned to slightly judgemental depending on the context. He wants Tav to be aware of his opinion, but he doesn't want to smother them. Tav’s not a child, Astarion isn’t responsible for them. 

Still, thanks to his concern, I do think Astarion would confront them about it. He’d need to speak to Tav to hear for himself precisely what's going on. If Tav is still in their denial phase, Astarion tries hard to get them out of it. There’s no use trying to help someone who refuses to acknowledge they have an issue. Astarion knows, so he understands the shame that comes with it. But he reminds Tav he did eventually come clean about being a vampire, and about his past with Cazador, so now it’s Tav’s turn to do the same. 

Once Tav is open about their struggles, Astarion makes a point to check in with them throughout the day. He’ll nonchalantly provide Tav with alternatives to drink: water or tea, things that aren’t ale, and wine. He’ll be subtle about it though. Astarion will never act as if he’s going out of his way to do Tav a favor. No, it’s not like that, he swears! It just so happens Gale was asking for tea and Astarion thought he’d go make him some seeing as how sad and pathetic the wizards had been acting over losing his goddess, and Astarion thought, well, perhaps Tav would like some as well. 

The most difficult part for Astarion is witnessing Tav endure withdrawal. It’s a horrible, painful process. If Astarion didn’t know any better, he’d say the whole thing looked a lot like being killed and then brought back from the dead. He still remembers the way his body ached and burned and hungered upon Cazador turning him into a vampire. It may have been two hundred years but nothing could ever make him forget that pain. It’s why Astarion wishes, more than anything, that he could alleviate such agony for Tav. 

If Astarion remains a spawn, there’s nothing he can do but hold Tav close, dab their forehead with a cool cloth, and whisper soft words of comfort into their ear. ‘You will be alright, darling. Even this will pass.’ 

If Astarion has become a vampire ascendant, however, he can make Tav a vampire, if that is something Tav chooses. This isn’t a magic fix, however. While there’s a possibility Tav may no longer have the addictions they did as a vampire that they did as a human, there’s no guarantee that hunger will not carry over. Should it carry over, Tav would then be forced to be content with those previous addictions in addition to their newfound bloodlust. It’s a risk. But even if there’s a small chance it could work, Astarion proposes the idea to Tav. Ascendant Astarion would still find it preferable for Tav to be an addict as a spawn, as it makes it incredibly easy for him to control Tav’s actions. Sure, they may still be addicted, but without Astarion’s permission, they can’t take what they want when they want. It would create tension and a fair degree of hostility between the two. But Astarion the Vampire Ascendent believes an angry, vampire-spawn Tav to be superior to a happy dead one. 

And of course, no matter whether he’s a spawn or ascended Astarion makes a point that despite Tav’s addiction, he’s not going anywhere. If Tav falls off the wagon again, or if they’re not ready to try and face their addiction right now, Astarion will remain at their side, waiting for the day they’re ready to try again. ‘I’m not going anywhere my love. I can promise you that.’ 

Gale: 

Gale’s first response, of course, is to try and determine a way to solve this problem via magical means. Now as a wizard, he doesn’t have access to the kinds of healing spells druids and clerics have. But, he does a fair amount of arcane knowledge about enchantments, and curses. And well, what is addiction if not a natural, biological enchantment? Gale considers himself fairly rounded on the subject of human biology as well, so Tav is in for a bit of an earful if and when they first admit their affliction to him. 

Gale may not have experience with the kinds of addiction Tav is, but thanks to his experiments with Weave, and now having been cursed with the orb, Gale knows the urgency of living under a constant ticking clock. If he cannot consume the magic from magical artifacts, if the orb is not sated with bits of the Weave on occasion, he risks blowing up everyone for miles. 

In some ways, this makes Gale’s “addiction” all the more dangerous. It doesn’t merely affect his own body and the relationships with his loved ones, but it jeopardizes almost every other living person within Baldur’s Gate. Of course, Gale would never say this. And while he may think such a self-pitying thought, he dare not share it with Tav. The last thing Gale wants to do is make Tav’s very real problem seem inconsequential because it most certainly is not!

Instead, Gale offers to commiserate with Tav on occasion, making sure to never bellyache the loudest. He wants it to be Tav’s time to vent, complain, scream- to just let it all out. He knows Tav is under an incredible amount of pressure as their leader, addiction or not. Gale wants Tav to trust him enough for the two of them to be vulnerable around each other. I mean Mystra above! The whole camp knows that Gale’s easily susceptible most of the time, so there’s absolutely no shame in Tav admitting they experience similarly at times. 

Gale will take it upon himself to concoct a special drink menu for Tav, all nonalcoholic of course. It’s elaborate and painstakingly organized. If Tav thought their sober options were few and far between before, they certainly won’t now! Gale is the camp’s resident cook, so he takes pride in being able to satisfy not only everyone’s needs but to please their tastes as well. Well, except for Astarion. Blood is not ever to be a feature on Gale's menu, thank you very much!

The part Gale has some trouble with is wrapping his head around someone as wonderful as Tav would ever want such a life for themselves. Gale thinks highly of Tav, sometimes too highly. In some instances, Gale cannot see the forest for the trees thanks to the pedestal he’s placed Tav on. In such scenarios, Tav may have to remind Gale that they’re only mortal. And that this affliction of theirs is no more a choice than Gale’s own need for magic. 

Once Gale is on the same page, he ceases the majority of his condemnation, instead opting to try and distract Tav from the overwhelming desires raging on inside them. He offers to show Tav the Weave once more, or perhaps, some other simple, rather pretty tricks. Rolan’s display of fireworks in Emerald Grove wasn’t a difficult spell, and certainly no challenge for Gale. But if many simple spells are what it takes to keep Tav’s mind occupied as they ride out their newfound prohibition, then so be it. 

If by some miracle, Gale does find a spell or enchantment to help alleviate some of Tav’s worse withdrawal symptoms or cravings, he will perform it enthusiastically should Tav want. And if Tav prefers to handle this the old-fashioned way, Gale will do his best to bite his tongue and respect Tav’s choices. ‘I just want things to be easier for you. Life is hard enough as it is with all this tadpole business running around. Whatever you ask of me, you shall get.’ 

Gale is a faithful partner. He doesn’t run at the first sign of trouble, not when’s committed himself to another person. Be it in friendship, or romance, relationships mean a great deal to him. He refuses to let Tav endure this hardship alone. ‘I do not say this lightly: you mean a great deal to me. No matter the toils, I will stay by your side.’ 

Wyll: 

Wyll, above all else, aims to be an honorable man. Despite his suffering, despite his shortcomings and misfortunes, he refuses to falter or fall. His deal with Mizora may have sullied his Father’s view of him and dampened Wyll’s view of himself, but it did not change how he desires to see himself. Wyll knows the kind of man he wants to be and he does everything within his power to act accordingly. 

For Wyll, addiction is a difficult subject. He’s very strong-willed, and because he spends so much time working hard to do what he believes is the right thing, he can look down on other people at times. He has sympathy for people dealing with such afflictions, but behind his care, a small part of him is disappointed. He believes in choosing to be good, to try harder. He thinks all mortals are capable of acting wiser. So while Wyll understands Tav endures such difficulties now, Wyll also firmly believes Tav will have conquered them in the future. 

This can put a fair amount of pressure on Tav’s shoulders. But it can also serve to inspire them. In either case, Tav would need to talk to Wyll about how they feel when it comes to Wyll’s encouragement. Wyll, being the supportive man he is, would never want to intentionally make Tav feel demoralized. So if there’s something in his behavior or in his words of motivation that he can change to make Tav feel less burdened, he will do so. 

Wyll, like Astarion, knows he cannot make himself responsible for Tav’s choices. So Wyll does not take the part of Tav’s keeper, but he does make an effort to be near Tav as they make their decision, offering his opinion should Tav ask. The more Wyll’s presence remains a constant in Tav’s life, the more Wyll hopes Tav will come to appreciate his perspective. If Tav knows Wyll isn’t going to leave or abandon them anytime soon, they may feel emboldened to make the necessary tougher decisions of turning down a drink or two. 

Wyll is more than happy to stay up chatting the nights the cravings just won’t go away. During days Tav’s irrepressible urge causes them to feel restless and manic, Wyll asks Tav to join him for a lesson in combat. After all, he’s not called the Blade of Frontiers for nothing. Sweating out the chemicals and forcing the body to flush all the drugs out of Tav’s system is a great way to sober up. And if the symptoms of withdrawal aren’t all-consuming, it also makes for a great distraction. 

However, during the periods everything is all just too much: the headaches, the nausea, the itchiness, and the sweating won’t stop, Wyll finds a shady spot in camp for the two of them to rest. And as Tav rides out such agonizing lows, Wyll tells stories of his time as a child living in Baldur’s Gate in soothing, hushed tones. His warm voice brings comfort, a much-needed contrast to the ailment Tav’s fighting. 

Wyll cares deeply for Tav. And he believes in Tav, even when Tav doesn’t believe in themselves. ‘You can resist this, you will resist this.’ 

Wyll has no intentions of going anywhere. Addiction or sobriety, he and Tav are a team. Wyll sees Tav as a great hero: he knows they can fight to save themselves. ‘You are the strongest person I know. Nevertheless, you do not have to shoulder this burden alone.’ 

Halsin: 

Halsin is the least likely to have any shared experience when it comes to dealing with addiction. He has fought off depression and hopelessness time and time again but he knows not of the pitfalls addiction brings. Having lived as long as he has, there’s no doubt he’s met those suffering from such afflictions. And being a druid, he may even have been consulted on how best to treat them. But that’s the end of Halsin’s experience. 

If Tav has an issue, any issue, Halsin is more than willing to help Tav navigate it. After all, Tav helped him save the shadowlands from their darkness. There is no ask too great, Halsin could never say no to aiding Tav with a favor. To Halsin, Tav is a savior: they saved Emerald Grove, they saved Thaniel’s realm, hell, Tav saved all of Baldur’s Gate. Halsin feels he owes them unimaginable thanks. So it pains him greatly to know Tav is suffering. 

Halsin offers to use his abilities to help Tav ease their obsessive mind, and the nagging hunger addiction brings. Of course, druid magic alone is not enough to stop the urge from manifesting and whispering in Tav’s ear. Halsin offers to accompany Tav around town, to sort of supervise them, in his way. He won’t force Tav to change any of their decisions but he keeps a watchful eye almost like a doting father as he places a supportive hand on Tav’s shoulder each time they walk past a bar or tavern. 

Halsin knows he cannot control Tav’s actions, but he can influence the choices they make together as a duo. So long as he is at Tav’s side, Halsin will let his wise opinion be known. 

In their time outside of the city, Halsin takes time to educate Tav on the different flora and fauna found in Faerun. When they come across a plant used to ferment alcohol, Halsin explains the history of the process. Yes, wine and ale are examples of making use of what nature provides, but as with all other things, even nature must be consumed in moderation. Mother Nature blesses everyone with the ability to enjoy such pleasures, but that gift can double as a curse. It is a test of our restraint and humility to know when and where to indulge. 

Speaking of indulgence, Haslin would not recommend swapping one appetite for another, but should Tav want to bide their time engaging in an alternative pleasure, Halsin would be more than happy to oblige. Physical activity and sweating would help relieve Tav’s body of some of the toxins built up within their system. In addition, such activity provides a temporary release of euphoria in the body and brain, which would help combat the pain and despondence that come with withdrawal. ‘If I can provide you with the least bit of comfort. It’s no hardship from me. Far from it.’ 

In the case Halsin leaves Tav for a time to settle the newly displaced within Thaniel's healed realm, he does what he can to ensure his new village is a place of continued healing and sobriety for Ta. Halsin privately enlightens all of the other adults within his new settlement about Tav’s condition. He asks them, respectfully, to refrain from providing Tav with any alcohol or other substances whenever Tav comes to visit. 

Halsin does all within his power to let Tav know they are not alone in their journey, and that no matter the setbacks along the way, he intends to bolster Tav through it all. ‘You are by far nature’s greatest gift to me. No matter the foe, be it the shadows or the dependency within your mind, could ever keep me from you.’ 

If You Enjoyed, Please Consider Tipping Me Via Kofi!

[poptartzz2]

what do you think of the ship/rare pair prowlerbyte? ^^

Oh my gosh, I think it’s absolutely adorable & precious (≧◡≦) ♡

I was going to respond with this alone, but on a whim, I decided to make my first Drabble/pentadrabble!!

I hope you enjoy!

✩⟡∵⋰ ✩⟡ Detection ⟡ Prowlerbyte ✩⟡∵⋰ ✩⟡

✩⟡∵⋰ Synopsis: It’s just a regular day of sending anomalies home, until Margo detects someone new. Even though he wears a face she already knows, she feels they’ve never met before.

✩⟡∵⋰ Content: Fluff, staring rizz lol

✩⟡∵⋰ Wc: ≈ 450+

✩⟡∵⋰ Strawberry sticky (A/N): I apologize for any errors, I literally just wrote this out lol ❀

Spiderbyte can easily find herself encountering a lot of people and things she's never seen before.

Of course this comes through the lovely job of sending anomalies home. Wherever they call home, whatever dimension they belong to, there they will go with her help.

One day, a certain anomalie filters through HQ. Apparently, he got thrashed into another earth and got himself into some trouble. As per usual.

Prepared to send yet another person home, she watches as the caged troublemaker is taken towards the platform that will put him in his correct dimension.

However, as she catches sight of his figure, something seems oddly familiar about it. About him.

Looking closely at them now, Margo pauses in confusion. This person looks like Miles, Earth-1610 Miles, but it's not. He's far from it.

This isn't her Miles and she's only met one. This Miles, drenched in a dark magenta, is permeating a rugged, raw, indelicate and crude energy, one that her Miles has never exuded.

An energy he's never had to.

As he finally reaches the platform, Spiderbyte can't help but acknowledge how calm and unmoving he is. Most anomalies thrash, groan, complain, and try to escape their scarlet ridden cells.

He however, is unmoving. Just as his eyes are now unmoving from her.

With purple cascading down his silhouette, with softly braided hair glistening in the light, cold and pain dressed eyes meet Spiderbyte's gaze, Margo's gaze, clad in darkness and confidence.

Staring at her intently now, slowly eyeing her up and down, Spiderbyte remains in Prowler Miles' vision, almost drinking her in as if he would lose sight of vengance.

Vengeance. A ravishing craving, that sticks close to the Prowler.

Vengance. A sweet and savory treasure every person craves for; longs for, as their hearts cry out for justice they may never receive.

Never looking anywhere else, even as the white mechanical spider above him works to send him home, his eyes remain on her for moments on end.

Only as the spider finishes it's handiwork, does Margo notice the glint in his eyes.

Spiderbyte. His new fascination.

Spiderbyte. The young woman who the Prowler would love to chase down in pursuit of knowledge. Knowledge about who she is, where she's from, what she likes, and what she loves.

He wants to know about her now. He wants to have her now.

"See you 'round." Miles softly grins, with heavy eyes and a mind intent on getting what he wants.

Reading the implications behind his farewell easily, Margo knows she will see him again.

In fact, she's looking forward to it.

She's got a funny habit of interacting with the forbidden, and there's no one to stop her from doing it once more.

Even as Miguel places a hand on her shoulder, and gently says, "Try me, Margo", she knows nothing will stop this Miles from prowling into HQ again, and into her life once more.

[uh-niran-really]

IM BACCKK!!

Fem READER X NIRAN WITH SYMWEAVER 😈😈 CUZ IM EVIL

😼back in the academy they have a small little party where they get drunk and shii, niran gets intoxicated asf (satya isnt ofc ofc) and gets dragged into a game called 7 minutes in heaven 😈 she doesnt know what this game is but joined for the sake of niran

Obvi niran and satya get paired up and put in a closet, satya being worried asf while reader is outside heartbroken that her long time crush niran is gonna be making out with his best friend

(Niran likes reader btw! Keep that in mind. 😈)

Satya also has a crush on niran tho😈

So when he explains to her what the game is about while making advances on her she doesnt stop him, feeling a hint of guilt knowing he loved reader but is currently making out with him

So huge steamy make out session with symweaver

And when the timer rings they open the closet doors to see niran on top of her in a heated make out session

Reader ends up having a panic attack and trying to run away, not wanting to stay there any longer

Niran looks back to the crowd and sees reader leaving before looking back at satya, cursing himself as he realizes what hes just done 🙏

Reader, in a bad mental, while hyperventilating and shaking, tries to commit, stabbing herself and bleeding out, crying out from the pain bc it wasnt an immediate death

Niran eventually finds her and hes terrified, feeling himself about to throw up but forces himself to stop and try to walk over to reader without falling to try and help, hes crying, calling out to help not being able to do anything himself bc hes tipsy, he holds her body close while he cries and apologizes to her as she loses consciousness.

Woosh transition to her hospital bed

And reader doesnt make it.. :00

Reader dies and niran breaks down over it, screaming and making a mess out of his lab, when satya hears the news and sees the mess she's heartbroken and starts to have a breakdown, it feels like it lasts forever, but even after its been hours and hours niran never left his room, Satya finally gets the energy to stand up and shakily walk over to niran's lab only to see him on the floor, bleeding out slowly as he cradled a photo of him and reader together, apologies after apologies falling from his mouth, never ending, satya cries, a gut wrenching scream coming out of her as she does everything she can to save him, to get him help. But he eventually dies in her arms, telling her it wasnt her fault and that he just wanted to be with reader again. 🥲🥲🥲

Fem Reader x Lifeweaver (Featuring NSFW SymWeaver) - Seven Minuets in Heaven

Content: Heavy angst, major character death, suicide, NSFW themes, Minors DNI!!

Word count: 4,100+

A/N: Okay so I took your SymWeaver steamy make out session and added a little bit of… spice to it. I got carried away with them, they are my OTP, I couldn’t not give Satya some fun! She pays for it though, if that’s any comfort to you! As always, these prompts give me so much energy. Truly a visionary in the prompt writing community! <3 Enjoy, though I get the feeling you may not. Aha! <3

The music was loud, much to the dismay of Satya who hated loud noises, but Niran was having fun. You watched the pair, giggling at how mismatched they were. The outgoing rich party boy, a drink in his hand, proudly telling everyone in the room how hot they looked, including you. And the shy stoic girl, uncomfortable with the noise and the amount of people in one dorm. She wanted to leave the moment she got here. They were opposites, which made for a fun friendship dynamic in so many ways.

“Niran! You made it!”

“Oh sweetheart, I’ve never been one to turn down a party!”

He was right, then again he WAS the party. You couldn’t have a good time if Niran wasn’t around. His infectious energy affected everyone, maybe except for Satya.

“Did you have to bring Satya though?” One of your roommates asked. “She’s… kinda boring.”

“Oh Satya isn’t boring. I couldn’t leave her at the dorm!” Niran pouted. “Plus, she’s fun, you just need to get to know her.”

“Right… Well.. enjoy the booze I guess.”

Enjoy he would. Soon Niran was drunk, slurring his words and stumbling around. Satya trailed after him, trying her best to help him where she could. She kept asking if she should take him home, but Niran wasn’t interested in going home. He was having so much fun, and wanted to stay.

“Let’s play 7 minuets in heaven!” Someone shouted.

Niran’s ears pricked up and he grinned, seeking you out in the crowd. Oh the things he would do to you in the closet. He watched with eager eyes, waiting to see if you wanted to play, and of course you did. He bit his lip with anticipation. How perfect.

“Satyaaaaa! I’m going to go play too!”

“Bua…”

Niran didn’t let her finish however, he already started to wonder off, leaving the raven haired girl to make a choice. Play too, or stay and watch. She trusted Niran and wanted to show him she could be fun too. She knew what others thought of her, she wanted to be liked. With a deep sigh, she reluctantly joined the game too.

——🪷——

“So we all know how this works, I’m going to pick two people and you get seven minuets in the closet to do whatever you wish!” Your roommate explained.

Satya didn’t understand but she dare not say anything. You and Niran locked eyes for a moment, with you quickly looking away, blushing. Both of you hoped that you’d be paired off together, but time would tell. The lust you felt for one another was off the charts.

“Hmmm let’s see, I want to make this interesting… that’s start with…. Niran!”

The Thai boy grinned, licking his lips a little. Your heart pounded in your chest, threatening to leap out of your throat. You looked at your roommate with such pleading eyes. You had to go in there with him. But your roommate either didn’t get the hint or he didn’t care.

“Hmmmmm…. Oh I know, how about Satya? You two would be an interesting match.”

Satya didn’t understand why people started to gasp and whisper, but she was happy to be paired off with Niran, who certainly didn’t mind. You were crushed though, but apart of you had hope that Satya would refuse Niran, and that they would just sit awkwardly for seven minuets. Maybe chat about their day, maybe say nothing at all. Boring stuff.

“We always get paired together don’t we?” Niran winked at her.

“Yes.”

He took her hand and lead her over to the closet, opening the door for her like the gentleman he was. Nervously she stepped inside, Niran following in after. It was a small space, forcing them to remain close.

“Let the seven minuets begin!”

As the door closed, Niran pressed her small frame against the wall playing with the bangs of her sleek satin hair, his body so close to her she could smell the alcohol on his breath.

“Niran… what are we meant to do..?”

Her body trembled against him, biting her lip softly, yet she was unsure why she was doing so. Niran smiled at her, her innocence quite adorable.

“Well Satya, this is a kissing game. We get seven heavenly minuets to explore each other’s bodies.”

His hands trailed up her sides and back down, taking note of every curve, the way her skin felt, the way her dress hugged her figure. It was a pretty black BodyCon dress, one she didn’t often to wear, but one Niran had brought for her for parties and social occasions. It had taken some convincing on his part to get her to wear it, but oh was that hard work paying off now.

“Have you ever kissed someone Vaswani?”

He leaned in close to her ear, giving it a playful lick. She shook her head. Every inch of her wanted to turn and bolt, but she had been wanting to kiss Niran for a while, now was her chance. She decided to be brave, and have fun. That’s what Niran always did.

“Judging by the time, we have about six and a half minuets left, if you want to try?”

He didn’t wait for an answer, his lips feathering kisses across her neck and up to her jawline. He waited for her to protest, to beg him to stop, or to even push him away. But she didn’t, delighting him further. She was as stif as a board but he was going to loosen her up. He stepped away from her for a moment looking around the closet for something. She missed the contact, hating on the empty space between them.

“Niran..?”

“Just want to make things comfortable for you Satya.”

He ripped a blanket off its hanger, shaking it out and draping it on the floor. She hated hard wood floors against her skin. They were often dirty and it made her skin crawl. This wasn’t the best case scenario, but it was better than what it was.

Niran dropped to his knees, straightening out the blanket before taking her hand and tugging it, encouraging her to kneel with him. She did, with little hesitation, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears.

“You’re so pretty Satya, any man would be so lucky to have you. Think of this as….” He eyed her lips, biting his own. They looked incredible. “Experience gained.”

His lips crashed against hers, the stickiness of her lipstick mixed with the glossiness on his own. His tongue poked against her teeth, begging for her to open up for him. The poor girl didn’t know what he wanted, but Niran was happy to help. His hand snaked up around the back of her head, finding her tight bun, tugging it back to make her gasp. His tongue slipped so effortlessly inside her mouth, making her moan against him.

She began to stim with her hands, nerves getting the better of her. His free hand found hers, moving one to his chest, wanting her to touch him. She was a bit embarrassed at first, but felt a little at ease as she felt his hard abs through his thin shirt.

He pushed against her, wanting to lay her down, but again Satya didn’t understand. He pulled away from her lips, wanting to desperately to kiss them again, but he had to command.

“Lay down dearest. It’s most comfortable that way.”

“Okay..”

She reached up and took her hair out of the bun, shaking out the soft curls it gave her, satin locks framing her face in such a way that made her look beautiful. She began to lay back but Niran couldn’t wait, diving on her, lips on her’s, pinning her to the floor in a fiery passionate kiss.

His hands found her breasts, so perky and firm, groping them gently at first before getting rougher with her. His hands felt amazing, so precise. She felt it all through her thin bra, secretly wishing he would just take it off.

“Niran!” She gasped through the kiss, making him chuckle at her.

“Too much dearest?” His lips tickling hers with how close they still were.

He was surprised when she shook her head, so he continued to play with her tits, smirking at the way she gasped and moaned. A part of her felt bad for you. She knew how Niran felt about you, how much he wanted you. The guilt was eating away at her and yet she was so happy.

His lips were on hers again, his cream hair water falling down his face and framing hers for a moment, before she tucked it neatly behind his ear. He ground into her hips feeling himself a little too much in this situation, forgetting where they were. She cried against his lips, a sound he never expected to hear from her. In this moment she decided that she would let him take her, if that’s what he wanted.

With about a two minuets to go until their time was up, he caressed her outer thigh, mentally remarking how soft it was. Her dress had ridden up so high that it was practically a top now, not that he was complaining. His hand slid to her inner thigh teasing her, but she didn’t react negatively, instead bucking her hips up into his touch. Curious fingers found the band of her panties, before he stopped, opening his eyes and pulling away from their kiss yet again.

“You’re soaked, you enjoy my touch this much?”

“Yes..”

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I..”

He slid his hand into her panties, roaming at her entrance to slick his fingers, moving up to rub her clit.

“Oh god Niran!”

“You like that huh?”

He rubbed a little harder loving the way she reacted to him. It was rare to ever see her so worked up like this. She was so hot underneath him like this. He wanted to see her react more.

“Want me to make you cum?”

She nodded before throwing her head back in delight, loving how he toyed and played with her. She bit back moans trying so hard to be quiet and yet she couldn’t help but cry out for him.

“Yeah? How brave of you to take the plunge like that.”

Her body was trembling and he was getting so worked up too. She was so attractive like this. He couldn’t wait to make her cum for him. She was so damn close, soft moans spilling from her lips.

“That’s it deares-“

“Okay you two, seven minuets are up!”

The doors flung open and they were caught in the act. Satya squealed in embarrassment, covering her face to hide how red she was. Niran froze, releasing how bad this looked. He had forgotten to keep track of time, he had been so busy toying with her he forgot about the timer.

“Woah! Looks like you guys had fun huh?”

You stared at them both, taking in the sight. Satya’s messy hair and smeared lipstick, her dress around her waist, legs spread around Niran. Her chest rising and falling so rapidly. Niran’s body so close to hers, lips covered in her lipstick, hair equally as messy. His hand dipped inside her panties, so lewd. He was.. pleasuring her. She let him. You watched as he pulled his hand out of her panties, fingers slick with her juices. Both of them blushed with embarrassment now.

“How could you..”

You felt yourself begin to panic, sprinting out of the room in tears. You didn’t want to be there any longer, you couldn’t stand it. The thought of them both so intimate like that disgusted you. Niran watched as you left the room, so evidently crying. He looked back at Satya who wore a look of guilt on her face. He realised then what he had done.

“Fuck..”

——🪷——

Your tears made your vision blurry, but why did that matter anymore. You didn’t want to be here. The imagine of Satya moaning his name as he did such wantonly things to her. You loved him. You were hurting so badly that you just couldn’t cope. The alcohol was getting to you, making you sick with despair. You thought he loved you too. The way he looked at you was so loving, so kind. Why did he do this. Why did he toy with you. You just wanted to go home to bed, but of course your dorm was hosting the party. Instead you lay out in the corridor screaming and sobbing your heart out, your cries drowned out by the loud music.

“Fuck you Niran..”

You had a hair pin holding your hair up in a beautiful style. You practically tore the thing out of your hair, your locks falling out and spilling over your shoulders. It was a gorgeous metal pin, nice and sharp. The perfect instrument to inflict pain on yourself. You often accidentally cut yourself putting it in.

The hysteria you felt drove you mad. You couldn’t take it anymore. The image of them getting frisky burned into your mind. How far would they have gone if they weren’t restricted for time. Would they have gone all the way?

With the hair pin held in your hand, you brought it down on your thigh, screaming out in pain, before yanking it free. Blood spilt from the wound, trickling down your inner and outer thigh, pooling on the white marble floor. You for sure hit the femoral artery, a fatal strike if not treated quickly. The blood loss was immense, it almost scared you. You kept crying out from the throbbing pain in your thigh. It hurt so badly, and yet not as bad as the pain in your chest. You stabbed again and again, losing your sanity a little more each time.

——🪷——

Niran stumbles down the corridor calling out your name. His body too drunk to move all that quickly. He calls out to you again, wishing you would answer him. He’s worried sick and it’s made worse when he remembers your face and how it looked when you saw him and Satya in the closet.

“Y/N.. please.. wher-“

Blood. So much blood. It was everywhere. It looked like a murder scene. Your right shoulder lay against the wall, your back to him, sitting in a pool of your own blood. He stumbled over to you, the fear made him nauseous. Your gorgeous thighs had been stabbed multiple times, a long sharp hairpin lay close by. He screamed realising that you had done this to yourself.

“NO! NO NO NO!!! Y/N!”

He dropped to his knees and pulled you into his arms, cradling your body close to him. He didn’t know what to do. His mind clouded by the alcohol. Gently he tapped your cheek begging for you to open your eyes.

“Y/N!! No please!! PLEASE!! WHY DID YOU DO THIS!! PLEASE SOMEONE!! HELP ME!!”

You do open your eyes but they look so lifeless and dead. He stares into them, his own pleading with you to keep yours open.

“I’m sorry.. I’m so sorry.. forgive me… please… I need you..”

You gasp softly as if choking and he sits you up, blood splattering from your mouth, which only terrifies him more. He rubs your back as he sobs. He’s terrified and doesn’t know what to do. You’re bleeding out too fast, too many wounds to cover. You were slipping through his grasp.

“It was a mistake… I don’t love her.. I love you!! SHE WAS A MISTAKE!! A STUPID AWFUL DRUNKEN MISTAKE!!”

You begin to lose consciousness again, head lulling back, eyes rolling. He held you close, screaming again for someone to help him. You were going to die. He couldn’t do a thing.

“Don’t go… PLEASE DON’T GO!!”

——🪷——

Beeeeeeeeeep. A flatline. Something he never wanted to hear. You had lost too much blood and your heart had stopped. He watched in horror as doctors attempted to restart your heart, but with no luck.

“Time of death 04:02 am”

He sat devistated watching the flatline, begging for your heart to start up again. He couldn’t lose you. He had sobered up a lot in the last few hours, making the emotional pain so much worse.

When your heart didn’t restart, he bolted out of the room. He couldn’t be there anymore. He couldn’t stand it. His drunken antics with Satya had cost your life. All this because he wanted some carefree fun. He got to his lab, he didn’t know why he came here, but he found himself trashing the place in anger, fear, devastation. He shredded his notes, flipped the tables, smashed a prototype.

“FUCKKK!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!” His fist punched a hole in the wall, splitting his knuckles open, the crimson liquid spilling all over the floor. Why did you leave. He spots a picture of you both, frame broken from the fall, it’s all he had left.

——🪷——

Satya’s head still spun from the previous night. She had woken up with flushed cheeks and memories of the way Niran had touched her. The way he made her feel was like nothing she had ever felt before. Butterflies paced around in his stomach as she remembered the way his fingers felt against her skin. If only they weren’t interrupted. Would they have done it? Gone all the way together? She blushed deeper, burying her head in her pillow, trying not to let these thoughts take over.

Satya had liked Niran for a while, but after last night she felt something new. A type of yearning for him. She started to daydream of all the things he could have done last night, realising she would be okay with all of them. She thought about you, and guilt forced itself upon her. Still, it couldn’t be helped. She just hoped that you and Niran had talked things out. He didn’t come home last night, he was probably in bed with you. It hurt, but she understood. Nothing could have prepared her for the truth though. Her other two roommates sobbing from the terrible news.

“What…?” She surely misheard them.

“Last night.. she killed herself. Niran found her.. it must have been so awful.”

She froze. This had to be a sick joke. You had made it all up to get back at her.. right..? She waited with bated breath to see if you or Niran would jump out and laugh at her. A way to get back at her for last night. But that never came. Instead she found herself returning to her shared room with Niran, collapsing to the floor. Her body shook violently, tears streamed down her face. She had caused this. She was the reason you were dead.

She thought of Niran and the pain he was feeling. Was he okay? Of course he wasn’t okay.. She needed relief from it all. Her head felt like it would pop at any moment. Someone was screaming and she wished they would just stop. It only dawned on her that she was the one screaming when she felt her voice give out. She stayed there for what felt like hours before her mind locked onto one thing.

Niran hadn’t come home.

“NIRAN!!”

She got the strength to stand, a gut feeling that something was wrong. She staggered out the door and out of her dorm, turning towards the labs. Was he there? She had this horrible feeling he would be. She took off running, trying so hard to keep her balance. She had to be there for him.

“BUA?! Are you here?! Nir-“

He was on the floor, bleeding out. He was trying to do the same thing as you. She screamed rushing to his side, watching as his eyes followed her the whole time.

“Hey you..”

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!”

He moved his hand to show her a deep gash on his stomach. He was clutching a picture in his left hand. The picture of him and you. You both looked so happy. You both were so full of life that day.

“It’s okay.. I’m fine..”

“YOU AREN’T FINE NIRAN!!”

She dropped to the floor, trying her best to help him but she quickly realised that he had done too much damage. He was going to die.

“I’m sorry Satya.. you forgive me right… I’m so sorry…”

She choked on her tears, letting out a pained scream as she held him. She had caused all of this. All because she decided to play a stupid game. The boy she loved was dying in her arms. Was this what he went through last night? It must have been hell.

“I’m so sorry… I never wanted you to find me… I’m so sorry…”

“NO!! WHY DID YOU DO THIS!”

The noise she made next was akin to a wounded animal. It was so guttural and raw. She would have surprised herself had she cared enough about what she sounded like. Instead she tried to patch up his wound, knowing it was pointless. She applied pressure but the blood didn’t stop. She searched the room for something to dress it with but found nothing.

“It’s okay… it’s alright… Will you promise me that you won’t hate me… I’m so sorry..”

“I LOVE YOU!!!” She screamed so loud she nearly winded herself. Tears came harder and she screamed again begging for him not to do this.

“I know.. I know you do..” His bloody hand reached up to cup her face. On some level he almost regret doing this, but on a deeper level, he just couldn’t live without you.

“Please don’t leave.. please… Please Niran..”

“Was I your first..?” It hardly mattered. He was dying anyway, yet he wanted to comfort her.

“Yes… So don’t do this.. fight…”

“I’m glad it was with someone you loved.. I’m going to be with the woman I love now.. it’s selfish.. and I know you’ll hate me.. but…”

“I love you… Why must you toy with my heart Niran Pruksamanee.. It’s all my fault..”

He attempted to smile, lips barely curling. In another life, he was certain that Satya had her Niran. Maybe they were happy. Maybe they weren’t. Maybe there was a Niran out there somewhere who had lost their Satya. The thought made him tear up.

“Not… you.. your… fau…lt…” He wheezed, desperate to finish what he had to say. “I… just… wanted.. her..”

He wanted to say more. He wanted to tell her she was the best roommate he ever had. He wanted to kiss her goodbye or leave her some lasting comfort. Instead he died in her arms, his last words being about you, ultimately making her feel so much worse.

“And I just wanted you…”

She cradled his body for a long time before realising he was gone. When she finally did realise she forced back tears, trying so hard to stay calm. She pulled him close and gave him one last kiss, before laying him down and standing up. She shakily walked to the door, and stepped outside into the hall. The lab was dead silent for a beat. Then all that could be heard were her pained screams from the hallway, so loud and painful she caused a scene. The picture of you and Niran slipping from his fingers and landing in the pool of his own blood.

BONUS

——💎——

“Come now Satya, you aren’t still crying over that coward are you?”

“I’m sorry..”

She looked at Sanjay with a great sadness in her eyes. He had done a lot for her since Niran passed, being her shoulder to cry on, ears to listen, lips to kiss. Lately though he had been so mean. Belittling her every time she mentioned or thought of Niran.

“He’s gone, get over it.”

“Yes Sanjay..”

He treated her like a glorified maid now. She cooked for him. Cleaned for him. Cared for him. At this point she practically dropped out of the academy, but he promised to get her a position under him if she behaved.

“You’re still frowning. Do I have to reprimand you again?”

“No Sanjay.. I’ll be good.”

On some level, she was scared of him. She couldn’t do much about it, who would she turn to. He had been so kind after Niran died. Almost romantic. He older than she was, but he took a liking to her, wanting to build her up into this masterpiece. Her pretty looks were just a bonus. An extra reward for saving her.

“Good. You owe me don’t forget. Oh and honey?”

She looked up at him with sad eyes, trying her best to force a smile. Her body shook with fear as he looked at her with such malice.

“Don’t cry in presence again. You will conform or I will make you. Do I make myself clear? Now be a good little Vishkar employee and fix me some coffee.”

“Y-Yes.. Sanjay..”

[typellblog]

In Fate/stay night, magic is death

Shirou’s first attempt to use it is memorably described as a burning rod being inserted into his spine. In the prologue, Rin notes that the pain of conducting the summoning ritual is unavoidable as long as ‘people use magic in a human body’. Kiritsugu tells Shirou that the essence of a magus ‘is not in life, but in death’.

This wasn’t really sticking for me, though.

The mindset I approached FSN with, encouraged by other fantasy media, was that magic was something like water: a vital substance that exists all around us which can be channelled to accomplish tasks. The results depend on what you use it for: drinking, watering crops, drowning someone. You know, there’s death magic or whatever, but there’s also life magic, and fire magic, and so on for all the Pokemon types.

And then Shirou compares magical energy to poison.

The metaphor is powerful here – what we are dealing with is inimical to life. It’s not evil, but it is dangerous. You can use it for a variety of purposes, but in its base state it will kill you. If you fuck up your spellcasting it will kill you. If you bring a friend along and they don’t know what they’re doing it might kill them. Mages have to deal with this on a daily basis (one of the first hints that these people are not okay and any trace of sanity observed in their behaviour is frankly a miracle).

The way magic is framed from the very start of the story is one of the things that contributes to the dark, tense tone of the visual novel that I don’t think has quite been captured in any of the adaptations.

The closeness of death that you can feel palpably from Shirou’s perspective as he faces off against Berserker gives weight to his decision to throw himself in front of the axe to protect Saber. It helps us understand why Saber and Rin aren’t just shocked, but start to think that there’s genuinely something wrong with him. (There is something wrong with everyone in this story).

But back to magic.

The Bloodfort Andromeda that Shinji has Rider set up around the school is a form of bounded field, seemingly the bread and butter of Nasuverse magi. Its effect is to suck the life force out of anyone within its range to the point of literally dissolving their flesh. This is considered the ‘most aggressive’ form of boundary field.  Not ‘an aggressive’ boundary field. It is a difference of degree but not kind, the logical final extension of the concept.

That is because putting your magic into something, whether it’s an object or an area, is essentially an attempt to assert dominance over that thing. By doing so, you’re poisoning it, overwriting its traits with your own. The default state of trying to do magic to something is to damage it; mages must deliberately compensate for that in order to get other effects. (This is why Shirou needs to understand the structure of an object intimately before reinforcing it, he can’t just shove magical energy in at random.)

Bloodfort Andromeda is also what first establishes Servants as soul eaters. They can drain strength from ordinary people by weakening or killing them. All of them, not just ‘the bad ones’ who actually do it like Rider or Caster. This element of the setting often gets overlooked in later spinoffs, but it contributes a lot, in FSN, to the idea that every aspect of what Shirou has got himself into, from the magecraft to the very method of fighting is inherently perverse and disruptive.

Is it any wonder that the Grail, in the end, turns out to be corrupted?

This is the first of about 30 analytical essays on Fate/Stay Night that I will be reposting here (with significant edits) from Reddit. Stay tuned, I may get these on a proper schedule at some point.

[wetratheadcanons]

some battinson headcanons cause i still think about him almost a year later but 60% is actually just me projecting onto him

is autistic (obviously), but also has adhd

he also deals with intrusive thoughts, it's why his no-kill-policy is so important to him

loves video games, obscure internet lore and horror - especially analog horror and found footage

his favourite games are project deepweb, he solved it in just a little under 2 hours, and vampyr, he always plays the pacifist run despite it being harder

has a whole wall dedicated to the five nights at freddy's lore, scott cawthorne might be his biggest enemy

absolute animal magnet despite being kinda terrified of all of them

can't go anywhere that has animals because they're immediately flocking to him

the whole "introvert at a party finds the dog" - situation but instead the dog finds bruce and refuses to leave

ace was the first animal bruce wasn't ever really scared of, alfred thinks he may have been trained to be a psychiatric service dog prior to his adoption

wherever bruce is in the tower, ace isn't far away, his presence calms bruce

prefers loud music, he doesn't like being alone in his head too much and the noise helps him

apart from nirvana and my chemical romance, his favourite bands are ghost and ice nine kills because he likes their consistent themes

selina gifted him a pair of pink cat-ear headphones once and they're the only pair he ever wears at home

he claims it's just because they're comfortable but everyone knows it's because he loves them

eats when he's hungry but rarely at specific times, it doesn't make sense to him

he can't really eat after waking up

doesn't eat meat, he feels like it lies too heavy in his stomach

he also doesn't like the smell of cooked meats or fish

he loves sour fruits and has a mild sweet tooth

has a caffeine addiction but he doesn't like the taste of coffee, prefers black and green tea (to alfred's delight) and energy drinks (to alfred's horror)

he's trans ftm who is either gay or bi with a preference for men (he doesn't know and doesn't care to find out)

selina and him never went further than their kiss, bruce will always put gotham before anything else (until dick comes along) and selina needs a freedom that he can't give her

they also both realised it was a spur of the moment thing since they barely knew each other at that time and found they're better off friends

they're co-parenting a kitten though it's adorable really

bruce found her half dead on patrol one night and called selina in a panic about what to do, they named her chewy

ace loves chewy, she sleeps on his head, bruce has an entire folder on his phone dedicated to pictures of them

had a robin hood phase when he was 6, tried to steal from his parents to give to people in need

alfred continually reminds him of this after he takes in dick

his favourite rogue is ivy, they have important conversations (as in ivy talks and bruce hngs) about climate change while bruce tries to stop her from murder

he implements policies build after her ideals into wayne enterprise

his respect for her rises after she gets together with harley

for all that he fights it, he can't sleep without the sound of gotham - which includes gotham typical crime

he thrives when he's alone, it's how he does his best work, be it batman or wayne enterprise

has trouble admitting defeat, dick joining him as robin helped him in that department a great deal

is pierced. he did almost all of them himself, alfred has a heart attack everytime he spots a new one

the public has a weird badboy image of him, bruce has no idea where it came from

doesn't bruise easily but is still constantly in pain

has an absolute shit posture, social anxiety and crime fighting don't help

sleeps in the worst positions humanly possible

has a weird thing about mirrors, avoids them as much as he can

doesn't give interviews ever, it's part being a social recluse, part everything the press did to his parents, part hating to be perceived

has troubles with empathy, but his compassion makes up for it in great detail

dick uses him as a jungle gym, he pretends to be annoyed but secretly loves it

when bruce is working on cases in the cave, dick hangs head down off of bruce's back with his legs over bruce's shoulders

dick claims it helps him think, bruce knows it's because he doesn't want to be alone

bruce loves the relationship dick and selina have, might be a little jealous that cat got through to the boy much faster than him though

after taking in dick, bruce makes sure to show alfred that he actually does see him as a father figure - regrets all the times he told him that alfred's not his father

that's all i have for now

[skzcoffeemachine]

Darling..

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

a/n : moonbin (may his soul rest in peace) was actually one of my earliest bias. And this is not me romanticising the whole unfortunate accident. I just wish to be there for Chan, parasocially, delusionally, whatever works.

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

“it's believed that the young idol passed out and his phone was on the floor, broken..”

You turned off the YouTube video you clicked on, expecting some truth to come out behind the passing, but ofc it was the internet with speculations abound.

Astro was the first group that got you into kpop, and the demise had affected you but not as much as it had affected your boyfriend.

“hey.. ”

He sounds weak.

“Hey.. ”, you smiled softly but his head was hung too low to notice. You knew what was affecting him. But cannot even start to imagine what must be going through his head. Just the thought makes your eyes well up.

I wish your pain was mine.

You watched as he trudged over to his desk, sitting down, laptop opened, trying to drown himself into his work.

You realise the least you could do was to help him eat. He has not ate properly in days, chugging down energy drinks, something out of character for Chan. But he needed energy to appear reliable in front of his kids. Earlier in the day, you had called Chan's mom to learn her curry recipe. It was ready, on the stove, piping hot.

It has also been days since he smiled in front of you. True, he force smiles when he's out and about. He did not have to pretend , in front of you. And you preferred it that way.

As much as you wanted to go up to him and kiss his worries away, you knew better . Instead, you went straight to the bathroom and started prepping a warm bath.

He recently bought bath bombs to try, but neither of you really knew the best way to enjoy it. So, you earlier asked Hyunjin about it. Time to apply it practically. You added some epsom salts, known to relieve stress. Then, dropped the bath bomb, which started fuzzing up into the colours of the galaxy. Next step was to dim the lights. You smiled to yourself. The mood lighting in the bathroom was a great idea on your part. Now it was the harder part. You silently draw up cue cards in your head to chain the perfect sentences , something that might help him.

“Chan.. ” his eyes looked up to you when you put your hands on his shoulders. “Come”.

He was probably too tired to retaliate or even say no. You gently tugged on his hoodie, signalling him to take it off. He stripped down, quite lazily, his eyes glued on the floor the whole time. You gulped down tears. How can you bear to see someone you love like this?

You guided him to the bathtub. He slid into the water until he was immersed upto his neck. You sat besides the tub, helping him place his head comfortably against the edge.

“baby, can I wash your hair? It will feel good”, you said in a whisper. He hummed in response. You stood up to bring out your shampoo from the cabinet. You remembered how he said your shampoo relaxes him whenever he was feeling less than ideal.

You were not the slightest bit alarmed or shocked by the sound of small sniffles that come from him as you detangle as gently as possible.

You silently and delicately wipe some tears from his eyes. 

“Darling.. ” you whispered, “it was not your fault”.

That was what he needed to hear. Enough for silent sniffles to evolve into hoarse sobs. Enough to finally break you too.

It was not the first time he had cried in front of you. Yet, it had never been like this. As far as you knew this man, you know his soul and how he takes the blame for everything bad that goes in his loved one's life. He had been working on it. It was getting better.

“I ..Should..Have been there”, he cried out in between sobs.

“y/n..what must be his family going through? His members? His sister?” he was shaking so much that you had to get into the water waist deep, with your clothes on, to hug him tight.

As his face buried in your chest, tears staining the sweater darker, he let it all out, everything he had been holding on inside himself. You hugged him tighter as he clung on the fabric in a failed attempt of control.

“Chan.. Chan.. Look at me.. Look..”

You held his reddened face in both hands.

“Breathe.. Baby”

He obeyed, although it was getting progressively difficult for him, from all the tears.

“Chan.. ”, you drew small circles on his cheek with your thumb, “you know..you have always been there, for us, for them, even for people you haven't meet yet. ”

For the first moment in what felt like forever, he held eye contact. His eyes was swollen, more than his morning kind of swollen, more than you have ever seen before.

“But what if one of you was going through the same thing.. And what if I failed to be there.. ” he spoke what was in his mind the whole time, mustering up courage.

To that, you smiled. “Well.. You have given us so much love and hope and strength . You have even saved millions with Channie's room. You just don't know it yet”.

And that was the truth.

His sigh was of relief to you. It hurts. He will hurt. But also it was extremely important for him to realise how loved he was, how he was helping millions out there.

The silence was disrupted by a growl. Your stomach. Perfect timing, dear tummy. He let out a small laugh. That was the sound of angels to you. “Let's have dinner, hmm? ”, you took the chance to ensure he has his proper meal in days. “How can I say no to that cute tummy? ", he quipped, rubbing your belly violently but teasingly,both of your giggles resounding through the bathroom walls.

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

A/n : is it peaceful there, moonbin? Rest well. Thank you for everything. 6

[pentupfortoolong]

Demon Days Are Here

Tegan groaned again as she struggled to perk up. Her head was pounding, and she swore her left leg was feeling off. She wanted to go back to bed, but no, here she was behind the wheel, parked outside a random apartment while her best friend was inside running an errand. She was annoyed that Ophelia had more energy than her and yet she wasn't doing the chauffeur act, but given how much Ophelia seemed to drink, compared to her one light beer, she couldn't just go and let her friend get herself killed.

Tegan took the time waiting to ponder. Namely, why DID Ophelia consider Tegan her best friend when they had a lot of differing opinions, but more to the point, how did she fall asleep after one light beer that she didn't even finish? She wasn't a heavy drinker, or much of a drinker at all, and yet it put her to sleep.

"Geez, yesterday must have been more tiring than I thought" she said to herself. As to her other thoughts… she still didn't know. Ophelia would often flake on her for weeks at a time, before buddying up to her for something. Tegan put it down to the small crush she had on her. She knew Ophelia wasn't the most reliable person to be around, but she admired her confidence and easy way with people, and was in awe of her comfort of her body. "It's like I want to date her, or BE her, and I don't know why" Tegan thought to herself, once again.

The back passenger door of the car flung open quickly. Tegan noticed Ophelia carrying another woman and placing her gently in the seat, taking great pains to ensure she was safe, fixing the hair that went just past her shoulders and applying some black lipstick.

Ophelia sat down beside Tegan.

"Alright, homeward bound!" "First, you know the rule, no smoking in my car. Second, isn't that your roommate's girlfriend?"

Ophelia rolled her eyes but put her cigarette out and got her phone out of her bag.

"Christ, you should take up smoking, it'll take the edge off, which you so desperately need. Anyway, yeah, Onyx needed a ride back to our place, and once we're done, you can go home. Or party with us, if you want." "I hate the smell and you know that. And she looks partied out back there and- hey, is she wearing a bandage?! Fuck, we should take her to the hospital!" "Teegs, trust me, it's not worth going for. Also, do you want them sniffing around us wondering about the alcohol smell?"

Tegan conceded her point, even if the situation wasn't something she wanted to stay in.

"Alright, but we better get her to your place quick." "Don't worry, it's less than ten minutes away."

Tegan pulled up to a house on a nearby hill, one surrounded by a lot of vacant land and inherited by one of Ophelia's friends. Tegan didn't know Ophelia's friends terribly well.(and her earlier thoughts returned to her when she remember that Ophelia wasn't her best friend's real name, just one she had chosen when she started getting more into the goth lifestyle, which was before Tegan got to know her).

Ophelia's friends were never very warm to Tegan. They weren't horribly mean, just cordial and uninterested in getting to know her better. She put it down to not being heavily into their subculture, since they had been goth since their teen years. Ophelia may have been a late bloomer, but she still could keep up. Tegan's lack of knowledge kept her at arms length with the group, which wasn't helped by Tegan not being a party girl either. She didn't smoke, do drugs and her drinking was very minimal. She'd only been knockout drunk twice in her life: the first time she drank and last night.

Tegan and Ophelia helped Onyx from the backseat into the house.

Tegan hadn't been inside a lot, but she remembered the last time she was here that the place was very dirty and messy, like you'd have to plot a course just to walk on the floor with all the filth. But once they were in, she noticed how neat and clean everything was… except for the lounge on the left of the hallway, which is were they were headed.

Tegan made it with Onyx onto the couch while Ophelia went outside. Tegan saw two women smoking on the patio, one with red and black hair who stood a bit taller than the other girls, and another with plain black hair and red nails. Adelaide, the taller girl, came up to Tegan while Ophelia remained outside.

"Hi, welcome! I'm Adelaide!"

Tegan was puzzled.

"Uh, hi Adelaide. We've met before, I'm Tegan, remember?" "Oh, my brain is so scrambled today! So sorry, sweetie!"

Now it was stranger. Acting like this was their first meeting and being genuinely sweet? Tegan thought to herself "They must have gotten really blitzed last night."

Adelaide went over to Onyx to check in. Onyx was muttering something, fading in and out of coherence.

"Oh, the poor dear! And you Tegan, I'm so sorry for you too!" "Sorry? What for?" "Oh you don't have to put on a brave face, Ophelia told us about your condition!" "Condition? I'm not pregnant, if that's what she said. Hell, I'm not really into men so that's not even gonna happen." "Oh no no, the terminal illness!" "Terminal wha-"

Before Tegan could finish, Ophelia and her other roommate, Cordelia had stepped back in and Ophelia started talking over her.

"OK, I'm going to the other room for the things! Adelaide, stay with Onyx and clean the tattoo!" Adelaide removed the bandage and started clearing the blood away. Tegan saw a roughly drawn tattoo of a star with a spiral directly in the center. Tegan assumed this was why they needed to pick Onyx up, she got a hastily drawn tattoo on her leg and needed help.

Ophelia returned carrying two jars, both looked like they had a growing flame within. She placed one next to Onyx. She then picked up a nearby book and started chanting something Tegan could not understand.

Within seconds, the flame rose out of the jar, almost like it was being sucked in through the spiral in the tattoo. Onyx convulsed and writhed, letting out a scream or two, before white light shone from her eyes and mouth, before it escaped and became an orb that seemed to phase through the roof and she collapsed back onto the couch.

Adelaide and Cordelia squealed in delight, while Tegan was trying to process this.

"Uh… the fuck did I just witness?" Ophelia went to speak before Adelaide piped up "Oh don't worry honey, it's safe! It won't hurt when it's your turn!" "M-MY TURN?! SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL ME RIGHT THE FUCK NOW WHAT THIS SHIT IS?!"

Cordelia was taken aback "Wait, did Ophelia not tell you everything?" "I've literally heard NOTHING about any of this!"

Both Cordelia and Adelaide stared at Ophelia

"Is THAT why she was confused?!" "Hey, we're on a time crunch, pardon me for not showing her a fucking YouTube video." "Is she even sick?" "No, but does that matter to you?" "Listen, just because we're demons doesn't mean we're DEMONS!" "Adelaide's right, we just wanted to come to Earth and have fun in a human body for however long humans last!"

Tegan spoke up.

"OK, someone better explain this to me from the beginning."

Adelaide took her hands and started explaining.

"I know this might sound crazy, but given what you just saw, I think you'll be more likely to believe us: There are four of us, all demons from one of the lower levels of Hell, the ones that don't get much attention. One night every year, we get a chance to explore the human world in human bodies we can conjure up. It only lasts 24 hours, and we love to make the most of it. Last year, we bumped into Ophelia and explained our whole deal, that we loved being on Earth and wanted to stay. She's been working with us to find a way, and she found a ritual that allows us to move into the body of a human, either living or very recently deceased."

Tegan was taking this all in.

"But what's with the sickness thing?" "We wanted hosts that were either newly dead or dying, that way we could have a body and we'd help the soul get into a better afterlife. Once we're in, we reset the body and free it of current illness and injury. It's like one last gift, since the price on our end is that we lose a lot of our demon powers, and the few we do keep are lower-leveled and can take time to manifest in the new body." "Wait, Onyx was sick?"

It was Cordelia's turn to talk

"That's what Ophelia told us! She said all these bodies were sick and dying, so we'd be doing them a favour!"

Tegan was starting to put it all together.

"THAT'S why you thought I was sick, Adelaide." "Yes, and I'm starting to suspect Ophelia was lying to us." "Hey, you got your bodies, they got to go to Heaven or limbo or wherever."

Tegan was starting to grow mad.

"And what do YOU get out of it?" "Once their powers kicked in, they were going to share it with me." "You want demon powers?" "Fuck yeah I do! You wouldn't want to set fire to things with your mind, or fly?" "Not like that!"

Tegan remembered the other jar was still in the room. She paled.

"Wait… is that for me? Am I the next to die and be possessed?" Adelaide squeezed her hands firmly. "I'm sorry, honey. But since you bear the tattoo, it has to be you. And we can't leave it much longer, lest our friend escapes confinement after being out of a corporeal form for so long." "But I don't have the tattoo!"

Adelaide pointed to the back of Tegan's leg. Tegan noticed a much cruder version of the same tattoo Onyx had. Tegan realized Ophelia must have putting something in her light beer to knock her out and do a quick version of the tattoo. Ophelia had been prepping Tegan for market this whole time.

"OPHELIA, YOU BITCH!" Tegan grabbed a nearby candlestick and whacked her on the head. Ophelia fell down with little resistance.

Adelaide and Cordelia looked sympathetic but nervous.

"Tegan, I'm so sorry you're in this position, but we don't have another choice. If the last soul escapes, it'll spread like a wildfire because it has nowhere to go, and you'd be killed in the process." "I'm going to die regardless, I don't want to lose my body!" Tegan had a thought. Normally, she'd have hated herself for it, but given the circumstances, she wasn't going to shame herself. "What if we draw the tattoo on Ophelia, put the demon in her?" "That could happen, but without another demon to put in you, the tattoo would end up taking you to Hell. The tattoo is like a contract of sorts, regardless of whomever signs it. If the contract goes unfulfilled, the vessel dies anyway." "Shit shit… wait…"

Tegan thought a little more carefully. "OK, this whole thing… this is just for demons, right? Like, if a body was empty and didn't have a tattoo, you could put a human soul in that body?"

Cordelia scrolled through the pages of the book. "Actually, yes! The process is much simpler and pain-free!" Adelaide asked "But how does that help?"

Tegan laid out her plan: "OK, here's how it goes: put Ophelia into the empty jar, take MY soul out and put it in her body, which frees up mine to receive your friend. I don't die and we prevent Hell on Earth."

Adelaide squealed again, but Cordelia was hesitant. "Do you think it'll work?" "What do we have to lose?" "Good point, but one last question… the jar won't hold Ophelia forever, so what do we do with her?" Tegan smiled. "I have an idea for that, too. But let's get this ritual going before none of it matters."

Cordelia held the book and started making preparations.

There was tapping on the jar. Ophelia was startled, not knowing where she was. Everything looked like it was being run through some kind of filter. "Hey girls, I think she's awake! I see the orb flicker a bit!" Orb? Ophelia didn't know what they were talking about… until her essence noticed it was HER body talking to her. "Sooo, you can't talk to us, but we can talk to you! So, here's the sitch: since you wanted demons to have MY body, I thought I'd take YOURS in return!" Ophelia was only now catching on to the fact that her old body was talking to her, but it was Tegan in the driver's seat. "Ophelia" lit a cigarette, blowing smoke onto the jar like it was another person's face. "I guess being in your body doesn't remove the craving, but now I don't mind the smell and taste, so I guess I have your senses too." Ophelia tried to scream, but being a soul in a jar did not give her a voice. "Anyway, so, the role of Tegan is being played by my new demon friend!" "Tegan" beamed and waved at the jar. "Hi! We got our hot new bodies and a better best friend!" "Yeah, serves you right for manipulating me! But don't worry, we're not going to harm you. We know just where to put you…" The girls all laughed at this, while the Ophelia essence could only shrink, as if it were cowering in fear…

One week later

It hadn't taken long for Tegan to stop calling herself that. She was Ophelia now and would continue to be for years to come. She was admiring the new look she had given her new body when she heard the doorbell. She happily ran to the front door to see her old self, hair now dyed a lovely shade of blue.

"Hi hot stuff!" Tegan said to her girlfriend. She pulled two cigarettes out of a pack. "Got a light?" Ophelia lit both before taking one. It was so weird seeing her old body smoke, but then, seeing herself outside of a mirror or photo wasn't an experience she expected to ever have. "The others home yet?" "No, they're still off getting the 'party supplies'." Ophelia and Tegan both giggled, looking forward to the weed and booze Adelaide and the others were off getting. "Oh babes, I meant to tell you: I think I floated a little last night!" "You did?! Oh honey, that's great! I guess you'll end up with a little demon in you like the rest of us!" "How about I get some demon in me right now?" Ophelia shoved her tongue down Tegan's throat, Tegan gladly keeping up. The old Tegan had been told by Ophelia more than once to "go fuck herself" and as of four days prior, she had literally done that.

Quiet barking interrupted the pair. They both looked down to see a well-groomed, almost overly feminine poodle looking up at them. "Oh don't worry, you'll be fed in a minute!" "Hey, did you settle on a name for her yet? I don't want to call her 'OG Ophelia' anymore, that's your name now." "I'm thinking 'LB'." "LB?" "Little Bitch!" They both burst out laughing. LB was still whimpering, waiting for food. For all her toughness as a human, the original Ophelia took very little time to get accustomed to being a dog. "Hey LB, if you're good, maybe we'll find a way to make you human again!" "You're gonna do that, Ophelia?" "Maybe!" And she winked at Tegan as if to say "not a chance in Hell", LB not noticing but wagging her tail at the thought of being human once more.

LB suspected the demonic influence she wanted to wield was responsible for her mistress' turn to being a bad girl.

But the truth is, the new Ophelia found the confidence she needed and decided being wicked was better.

Ophelia grabbed a leash and tied it to LB.

"The girls will be back in a bit, do you want to go for a walk until then?" Tegan held up her arm. "Lead the way, cutie."

The two women joined arms and went to walk in the fields with their puppy and enjoy their new lease on life.

[tales-of-the-shrike]

*News Broadcast*

“It has now been nine nights of terror for the upper class. CEO’s, politicians, actors, have all been found stabbed to death with multiple wounds. According the police and FBI, these are simply copycat assassinations and with the help of the Secret Service and Homeland Security, they assure us the monster responsible will be brought to justice.”

The hero limps out of the early August heat and into the bar, the rattle of a pill bottle in his pocket and euphoria in his head. Tossing a cheap coaster onto the bar, the bartender asks with a friendly smile, “What can I get ya, hon?”

“Double shot of rum and a glass of diet cola.”

Just then, a wispy male voice asked for the same, slyly looking at the hero, “My treat, and I insist. You look as though you could use a few more drinks than that,” he said, motioning to the bartender for his bottle of rum. With a wry grin, he added, “Let me guess, you want to be ‘left the fuck alone.’”

“You know, I welcome a distraction, especially if you’re buying.”

“Top shelf, ‘Loptr’, if you will. One glass of this and you’ll be a new man. Fair warning, I can be a little garrulous after a few shots, but something tells me you won’t mind.”

The two men sat in silence for a bit, the stranger sipping his rum and cola, the hero throwing shots back like some sort of idiot cowboy.

“So... what seems to be the source of your misfortune?” the stranger's tone carrying an air of sympathy.

Feeling the emptiness on his left ring finger, the hero threw back another shot. “You know, talking about anything but my problems would feel pretty fucking good right now.”

The sly stranger kept him talking far longer than the hero would have liked. Their conversation ranged from the practical to the spiritual, from science to magic.

Looking inquisitively at the hero, the stranger asked, “I notice your pendant, a comics fan?”

“What? No, I mean yes, but this isn’t related. I’m a heathen; this is more or less to show my faith in the gods, not any particular devotion to Thor.”

“What are you devoted to?” The cherry on his cigarette looked like a flame dancing in his eyes.

“Balance, I guess. Trying to find harmony with the world. I think we’ve all lost our way and are more concerned with profit than giving back to the land. Don’t get me started; I could rage about capitalism and environmentalism till last call.”

Taking his last swallow, the stranger said, “I truly hope I alleviated some of your sorrow. Before we part ways...” He reached his hand out to the hero, giving him a little hand-carved spider. “It may seem foolish, but this has helped me in times of need, and I think it could be of use to you in your journeys.”

Struggling to stand straight, the hero accepted the trinket. As he put it into his pocket, it felt cool as ice and almost seemed to vibrate with energy. Staggering to the door, he thanked the stranger for the gift, conversation, and rum. He waited for his ride to show as the stranger seemed to disappear down the alley.

Limping his way to the bench, the hero reflected on the evening’s events and how things could have been so much worse. His knee ached, and the alcohol was doing little to ease the pain. He had held off as long as he could and reasoned he’d earned an extra pill or two. The familiar feeling of exhaustion washed over him as the night cooled and he waited for his ride.

The hero’s rideshare, a grey van, pulled up to the curb, and the window rolled down.

“The hero? Hop on in!” the grizzled driver said, tapping the dash. “This horse here can take you anywhere you want to go. She moves so fast you’d think she had eight wheels,” he added with a laugh.

“Thanks. I guess I got a little too drunk,” the hero mumbled as he climbed in.

“Ah. Celebrating, or...?”

Unusually chatty, the hero shook his head. “No, I, um... my marriage is over. I’m just trying to process this shit.”

The driver’s tone shifted abruptly. “I’m gonna be frank with you—I don’t care. Not in the slightest. I’m only here for a transaction.”

“Then why even fuckin’ ask?” the hero snapped.

“Well, you see, I just don’t have time to waste. I’m here to make a deal. I give you abilities you’ve dreamed about, and you give me what I want in return. Death.”

“Let me out, or I’m stomping a mudhole in your ass,” the hero growled.

Feigning shock, the driver put a hand to his chest. “My dear lord! Let me pull over and let you out!” His grin widened as he slammed on the accelerator. The streetlamps turned into streaks of light, buildings blurred into smears, and the traffic seemed to freeze.

“I said—”

“I know, I know. ‘Let you out, or the mudhole.’ Settle down, Stone Cold,” the driver said mockingly, dripping with sarcasm. He continued taunting the hero until they finally reached a dense forest.

The hero stumbled out, trying to catch his bearings. The noises in the forest were unnatural, sending shivers up his spine.

“Where are we?” he demanded.

The driver stepped out, his demeanor shifting. “Even though I’m known as a bit of a trickster—well, I used to be—I’ll be blunt with you. I’m Odin. In a drunken stupor years ago, you dedicated yourself to me. Now, I’m here to collect.”

“What? My life?” the hero asked, his voice shaking.

“Ha! If I wanted your life, I’d have it already. Foolish boy. I want your service. Among many things, I’m a friend to death, war, wisdom, and more. You are to be my weapon. The world has fallen out of balance—something I know you hold dear. You’re going to help me restore that balance.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” the hero scoffed. “I’m old, broken down, a Vicodin addict. I get freaked out by crowds and loud noises. What the fuck could I possibly offer?”

Odin’s hand shot out, grabbing the hero by the throat. His voice became a growl. “I told you... I. Will. Give. You. Abilities. You’ve. Dreamed. Of.”

He dragged the hero through the forest, his appearance shifting between various forms as he ranted.

“Do me a favor,” Odin said as he leaned the hero against a tree. “Hold this.”

With one swift motion, Odin pierced the hero’s chest with a spear, pinning him to the tree without killing him.

“For nine days and nights, you’ll hang here. You’ll suffer. You’ll transform into something useful to me. Suffer well.” he said with a grin.

Wolves wander the wilderness, wildly waiting, wondering when their meal will fall from the tree. Insects gnaw at the hero's wound while his mind traverses the realms. The horrors he saw were unspeakable; the pain he felt, unimaginable. But on the ninth night, the hero fell from the tree, landing on his hands and knees. He rose with a new vigor—his former pain vanished. He saw clearly in the darkness and heard things no man should be able to hear. He was now as much an animal as he was a man, a "wolf of Odin," ready for war.

“I see you made it... Day six was sketchy. Didn’t think you’d pull through, but my boy is a fighter!” Odin cackled.

“Call me your boy again, and I’ll gnaw your throat out,” the hero said with icy calm.

“Oh my! Don’t make me humble you. You may be strong now, but you’re no god... my boy.” Odin lunged at the hero, lifting him by the throat, reminding him of his place.

Setting the hero down, he turned to his bag and removed two knives, tossing them to the hero. The hero instinctively caught them by the handles.

“Made ofrtrsd Gungnir. I had the dwarves fashion the scale into daggers. They’ll cut through anything, can be thrown with precision far beyond what you’re capable of now, and they’ll return to your hands in an instant. With these, you’ll harvest the best of the warriors for me. My Einherjar need replenishing since all these bullets and bombs don’t seem to be sending anything my way.” Rolling his eyes, he added, “Who would have thought fighting without honor would mean none of these cunts make it to Valhalla?”

“That’s what I’m to do? Harvest warriors for your war? What do I get out of this?”

“You, my boy, get to live.”

An explosion of ravens burst from Odin, swarming toward the hero. He shielded his face, and when the flurry passed, Odin was gone.

Sirens screamed in the twilight as muzzle flashes lit the shadows like strobe lights.

In a darkened NYC police department, alarms blared, nearly drowned out by gunfire and the occasional plea for mercy. Unaware of the nature of their attacker, the police regrouped, leaving their wounded behind in hopes of slowing the assault. They had no such luck.

Near their armory, they dug in for a last stand. Lights flickered as one officer, a former soldier, began barking orders. His military training served him well as he set up a bottleneck to neutralize the attackers' numbers.

The flickering lights slowed until the room was plunged into darkness. The officers aimed at the door, unaware of the purple-and-black-clad figure gripping the walls in the corner near the ceiling. Dropping silently into the shadows, the leather-clad stalker cut and sliced his way through the department. The officers’ cries for help were drowned out by alarms and gunfire.

Down to the final cop, the hero stalked him as he futilely crawled to safety. The hero stabbed the officer in the back of the leg, pinning him to the ground. Like a wolf, he lunged at the downed man. Grabbing him by the helmet and pulling his head back, he whispered, “Tell everyone what you saw. Tell them true justice is here. Let them know the Shrike is here.”

Before knocking the officer out, the Shrike carved a runic word into the cop’s forehead with his blade tip, then disappeared into the night.

[authorautumnbanks]

How To Tame A Sorcerer (67)

Series Master list

Naraku opens the door and walks through the brothel like establishment. He nods his head in greeting to the attendant. "Zenin," he says, waiting with expectancy for the attendant to lead him to the private room. To a human's ears, this establishment is soundproof. But to a demon, even a half one like him, the sound of flesh slapping against one another, the cries of pain and pleasure, may as well be broadcasted over the speakers instead of the soft instrumental music.

"Naoya," Naraku greets, motioning for the attendant to leave them be. The Zenin stretches his arms out along the chair as a dark-haired woman pours another cup of tea. "It's been a while." Naraku sits down in the chair off to the side, closest to the door. He rolls his shoulders back and lets out a long-suffering sigh, as though the trek to this location was too great on his body.

"Miroku," Naoya says with a sly smirk on his face. Out of all the Zenins Naraku has delt with over the years, this one has been the easiest to manipulate. "Care for a drink?"

"Something other than tea," Naraku answers, watching as the woman bows her head as she scurries out of the room to fetch his drink. "I'm sure you are aware that Gojo Satoru has been sealed."

"Just in time," Naoya quips. "Bastard was trying to kick us Zenins out of Jujutsu. But you didn't come all this way to talk about him. Though I'm surprised you weren't at the meeting. Not like you to not be there to vouch for the clan."

"No, I came to talk about his fiancé and her connection to the jewel." Naraku reaches in his robe and pulls out the scroll. He ignores Naoya's comment. "I managed to retrieve this from Geto." He places the scroll on the table and leans back. That scroll was a real bitch to open. Unfortunately, its contents were nothing more than what he already knew.

Naoya quirks a brow and scans over the scroll. "This is about that Shikon the elders were talking about." He tosses the scroll down. "Sounds like a load of shit. A jewel that can grant any wish?"

The woman returns with sake in hand. She keeps her eyes lowered as she serves him. Her thin slip of a dress is nearly see-through.

Hm. Naoya must have already given her a tongue lashing regarding her place.

"Get over here," Naoya commands, "entertain me." He crooks his finger and motions for the woman to do his bidding.

Naraku bites back a sigh as he drowns his drink. Why must this human be so stupid? "Kagome Higurashi is a wildcard and must be eliminated. She will no doubt be attempting the unsealing of Gojo Satoru. The others are wary of her as well. She used some kind of power different from cursed energy–"

"She's just a woman," Naoya says with a scoff. "What could she possibly do? I've met her once. Easy on the eyes. Far too mouthy." He shifts, widening his legs as he leans forward. "I don't want to eliminate her. I want to ruin her. And if it's power she has, then that power would be better suited under me, serving me, and popping out stronger heirs."

Naraku narrows his eyes. When did he meet the priestess? "You want to possess her, then? Fine. Break her. But get any information on the jewel out of her." Of course, this mongrel would be more interested in fucking the priestess than getting rid of her. Where did he go wrong? He should have focused his efforts on someone else.

This Zenin is useless.

The only other Zenin worth his time was Toji, but no matter what he did, the man would not break.

"You seem awfully confident she knows anything about this fabled jewel." Naoya stares at him for a beat and then directs his attention to the dancing woman. "Strip and face the wall. I don't want to see your face."

The woman blanches, but strips nonetheless. Her movements are jerky. The chill in the room does not help. If Naraku was more of a man, he'd put a stop to this charade. But he is neither man nor demon, and so he ignores the woman's pleading eyes for help.

She knew what she was getting into when she signed up to work at a place like this.

"Something wrong with her face?" He reaches for his cup and frowns. Empty all too soon. Human sake does nothing to fill the void. Does nothing to drown out the voices in his head. He grabs the bottle and pours himself another glass.

"It's not her face. The hips are a bit too narrow as well, but this is the best this place had to offer." Naoya chuckles. "You're probably too old now to even get it up."

Naraku's eye twitches before settling into a friendly disposition. "Yes, these weak bones of mine aren't getting any younger, which is why I want to see you take your rightful spot as the clan leader."

And then he'll take Naoya's identity and take his rightful place as leader. Though if Naoya insists on keeping Kagome alive, then that could be a problem.

The priestess would see through his act. She's frustrating like that. And always has a knack for interfering right when he has everything set up perfectly. It is as though her sole purpose in life is to steal the little joy he has.

"Didn't ya hear?" Naoya twists his lips into a snarl. "Megumi, dearest is the clan head now. Daddy," he spits the word out, "made a deal with Gojo for Megumi to be clan leader if anything happens to him."

"So? Get rid of him."

No wonder Geto insisted on working with curses like Mahito. At least they would kill without questioning it.

A damn shame he could not absorb Mahito before Geto got to him. He had high hopes for how far that power would take him. He only has himself to blame for not considering that Geto would want Mahito's powers for himself.

In hindsight, he should have absorbed him before the Shibuya incident occurred.

Naoya rolls his eyes and goes back to watching the dancing woman, who sways to her beat, seemingly more relaxed now that she does not have to look at them.

"I can't just get rid of him without just cause. Not a curse user."

"You have cause. He's trying to unseal Gojo Satoru. What kind of clan leader would unseal a traitor to jujutsu society?"

Perhaps it would have been simpler to kill Naoya when he was a child.

"Ya ain't so bad, Miroku. Knew daddy dearest was stupid for doubting you." Naoya reaches over and takes a swig out of the bottle. He slams it down on the table and stands.

"I'm in no mood to watch you fuck," Naraku says with boredom dripping from every word.

Naoya barely glances at him as he shrugs out of his clothes. "Ya know so much about that woman. Bring her to me. Set up a meeting. Whatever. I don't care how ya do it, but I want her."

His head throbs. If he could get the priestess so easily, then he would have done so a long time ago. Does he not realize how protected the priestess is?

He must not because he wouldn't have spoken such ridiculous orders.

"Bait then," Naraku murmurs to himself as he pours another drink, ignoring Naoya's heavy grunts. "Call for Megumi, then. She'll come for him." He rises and curls his lip in disgust. The woman's fake moans remind him of a bunch of squawking imps. His ears may as well be bleeding.

These humans are so barbaric.

He closes the door with a slam and nearly stumbles into a woman with poorly dyed red hair. Her green eyes, fake, but close enough to the color of Yumi's nearly knocks him off his feet. He grabs her by the arm.

"Give me a room now."

"You good?" Megumi asks, stepping to Yuji's side.

Yuji startles and then scratches the back of his head. "Just thinking is all. How Kagome-san can remain so positive after everything that has happened? How Shippo turned us into weasels. Why Nobara is getting a manicure from Jaken?" He motions towards Nobara, who flips him off with her free hand.

"Jaken is a skilled demon. You should show some respect."

Jaken hums, his green bald head shines under the light. "That's right, you silly humans. Nothing is too great for the great Jaken. Why I practically invented manicures. No one else knows how to pay attention to the small details like I do."

Yuji turns to look at Megumi, who instead looks so done with the scene in front of him. He does not blame him. There is something so wrong with seeing the green imp painting Nobara's nails as though his life depends on it.

Yuji squints. Are those paw prints on her nails?

"... I'm going to check on Nanami-san," Megumi announces, face turning an interesting shade of pink.

"I'll come with you." Yuji does not want to stay there and watch Nobara get pampered, nor does he want to run into Shippo. That fox is always up to something. "Though how do you know where to go?"

Megumi points to Buyo Jr. who flicks his two tails up in a universal, screw you pose.

Yuji frowns. What did he even do to Buyo Jr. for him to mistreat him so? It's not like he meant to snag his fur with the comb. And it was just one time.

They reach the room Nanami is staying in. There's no guards outside the door like Kagome-san's room. These demons must care a deal for Kagome-san with how much protection they provide her.

He can't even see her unless Shippo or InuYasha are around. Not that he blames them for being cautious, Sukuna has been seething ever since she put those beads on him, and normally he keeps his thoughts and emotions from leaking out. Now it is as though Sukuna wants him to be as miserable as he is.

Eh... on second thought, Sukuna always wants him to be miserable because he's a dick like that.

"Come in," Nanami says.

They walk in and the room is actually quite small compared to Kagome-san's massive room. It's comparable to a closet in an apartment.

"Glad to see you two are alive," Nanami says, from his place in the bed. His eyes are more tired than usual. "Where are we? This isn't Jujutsu High."

Yuji blinks. Does he not remember?

"Kagome-san saved you. We're at Sesshomaru-sama's estate in the sky. They even have a full staff with a chef and a clinic." Not to mention the training room, the freaking two-headed dragon, and there's probably a lot more he hasn't seen since this place is so dang massive.

Nanami lets out a long sigh, a sigh so deep his shoulders slump. "Estate in the sky? So, we're with the demons now? How did she save me? It was soul manipulation. Not even Shoko-san can do that."

"She uses her reversed curse energy for healing and defensively," Yuji says, thankful that he has the answer for once. His cheek moves and Sukuna's mouth appears.

"That's not it. The bitch is a damn priestess."

Yuji smacks his face. Buyo Jr. hisses and jumps on Megumi's head.

Did the subjugation beads loosen Sukuna's tongue or something? Why is he being so damn mouthy, as if anyone cares what he thinks?

"Nothing surprises me anymore," Nanami says. "But if that's the case, why would demons be working with a priestess?"

A spike of energy from behind them cuts off Yuji's line of thinking. The energy is oppressive. Dark. He feels as though he is being weighed down by at least five cars.

"If you have time to chitchat, you have time to train," InuYasha says, leaning against the door with his arms crossed. His golden eyes burn with fury. His dog ears are flat against his skull.

Yuji doesn't know much about dogs, but he knows any animal with their ears pinned back like that is pissed off about something.

"Meow."

"Don't agree with him," Megumi hisses.

"Meow."

"Ugh, fine," Megumi agrees to whatever Buyo Jr. said.

"Come on, unlike the rest of you, Yuta is at least taking the upcoming games seriously." InuYasha jerks his thumb behind him and waits for them to move out of the room. "Ya'll ain't winning shit with your current skill level."

"What games?" Nanami asks, from behind Yuji. He places a hand on Yuji's shoulder and squeezes.

"Culling games is what they are calling it."

"And what are we culling?"

"Sorcerers. Cursed Energy." Megumi pauses. "They also kidnap Tsumiki, so we have to take part to get her back."

Nanami looks up at the ceiling. "This is shit."

Yuji nods his head. If Gojo-sensei were here, these games would not be happening.

This is shit.

[scummy-writes]

I'm going to make this a separate post itself so its not one honkin huge thing attached to the poll when I reblog it.

Regarding Vic's health primarily (he's mainly okay from what we know atm) and comm money in general

I referenced this but cavaliers can have a lot of neurological issues. Apparently this stems from their skulls being too small for their brains often?

I took him to the vet on 10/19 because he was having an issue with what I thought was his ear. What has been happening, since the day I got him back in june, is that he would occasionally scratch at his left ear and start yelping a lot. The place i got him at checked it and said he was fine, the vet I took him to just a couple of days after also checked it and said he was fine. They said that it was likely an anxious thing, so it was dismissed.

And to be blunt, for a while, he only had that yelping scratch occasionally. But within the past monthish it started getting more frequent. And then when it hit too often (4-7 times a week), I called the vet after the first long run of it happening persistently and got an appt a week later. I got worried he had an ear infection even though he was showing no actual signs of an infection of any sort.

And they did the full gambit of an exam, even cleaned his ears, and verified again: no ear infection. No seeming issue with the ear itself. But, she explained she noticed he had a weird gait, which she later called a hypermetric gait, and said shes very worried he has ataxia and/or some issue with his cerebellum. She immediately worked on a referral and told me the neurologist is likely going to want an MRI and to expect it, and that I needed to get him checked out Soon as she was worried the ear thing would get worse. Which. When I explained again how often it was occurring, she seemed more concerned and ran to get pain meds for Vic.

Neurologist was closed friday, so I spent the whole weekend googling what I could. Ataxia is not a illness, but its a symptom. I have no idea of what, and thats what I gotta get checked out. Googling it was uhhhhh. Not fun. Google scared me with talking about how bad cases of conditions that ataxia is connected to usually require the pet to be put down.

Looking on reddit made me feel a bit better. Specifically cavalier talk reddit. Sometimes this thing leads to surgery, but it also seems very likely that (in a good case scenario), Vic may just have a life of pain management. Hopefully minimal pain!!!!

The neurologist called me today and scheduled an appt for nov 2nd. Apparently its an exam and, if needed, MRI same day. Exam is $180 (wheeze), and an MRI can be anywhere between 3k-4k (wheezes louder).

As long as talks with bank go well, if they push for an MRI, I'm going to do it. Even if the diagnosis is that Vic is just a silly lil dude with anxiety, it'll be worth it, you know? For the peace of mind, to know there isn't anything scary with his noggin.

The MRI can be rescheduled, so that will be my next option if bank talk does not go well, but. Thats the info I got. Please keep in mind what the vet said verses what I googled, as google is not a vet.

When it comes to commissions, the funds will likely not go to this. This is why:

Every time I get paychecks, I look on my Bill Schedule and deduct all the stuff that will be coming out that paycheck and work with whatever is leftover. Usually thats not a crazy amount left. If I succeed with regular comms, the money would be going towards any bills I may be struggling with that paycheck/month, or small things to help like. Yaknow. Live outside of bills. Like money towards a cheap haircut. Some energy drinks that week. Getting a couple of extra things when grocery shopping instead of what I count as absolutely needed only.

I wanna be transparent, so I am. It'd likely go towards treats for me to make living not unbearable. That is that. It wouodnt be going towards Me commissioning others, though I will be transparent Still and state I did pay for a small comm before vet visit and so if yall see that, that was smth i paid for already.

[journeythroughlifesblog]

'Help' AU Chapter 13.

Wukong woke up late. Just like every morning his legs were paralyzed. He didn't get up. He looked around the room. There was no Macaque. But his armor lay next to him. All gold. He said softly, "Liuer?" but it was enough for the warrior to emerge from the shadows next to his sun.

''Hi. Did you sleep well?” asked Macaque.

“How long?” asked the king.

''Don't worry, you won't be late. Bring you something to eat?” The king nodded. The warrior sank back into the shadows. Wukong stayed alone in the room for only a moment.

Macaque had a tray full of fruit, mostly his sun's favorite peaches.

"Why don't you give me some tea first?" said the king ironically.

"Why don't you tell me these things before?" He glared at Wukong.

The warrior took a waterskin from the shadows and handed it to the king, who drank some and gave it back to his moon. Wukong sat up straight.

"Drink more..." said Macaque.

''Before the fight''

''Agree. Now eat." The king obeyed. He ate everything Macaque brought.

"I see you have an appetite," said the warrior with a smile.

“I need energy,” Wukong replied. "Yet you brought me armor"

''Well, I thought if you're going to fight anyway, then with class.. now try it on. Everyone is already in the field and waiting''

"And yet I slept long," said the king

"It's not noon yet, but they're all gathered there to see the show anyway."

"How many gods are there?"

''A lot. Come on, put that armor on."

Wukong donned his armor. It fit him perfectly, but it was actually heavy. The king staggered on his feet.

''I can...''

“No, it must be me.” He took his staff out of his ear.

''Ready?''

The king nodded. Macaque opened a shadow portal and they passed through it.

DBK was waiting on the other side of the battlefield. He didn't look pleased. He was worried.

Monkey King looked around and saw the celestials watching from above. Among them were Erlang, Guain and Nezha.

Wukong felt a slight doubt about it all for a moment. But he looked at his moon and immediately his sorrows left. He was ready.

''No madness. I'll be waiting for you here." Said the warrior. The king kissed him goodbye.

The sky was clear anyway.

The time of battle has come. There was no going back. The show must go on.

DBK was the first to strike. They started to push. Wukong blocked all strikes. But it was more tiring than the king expected. He could barely catch his breath. But he couldn't stop. The crown left its mark on him. DBK saw Wukong start to drip blood from under his crown. That's why he gave the opportunity for the monkey to attack him. It was supposed to be just a show, not a fight for life, but for Wkong with this crown, it was a fight for life. The king had to remember that he could not be carried away by his emotions. DBK looked intact. On the other hand, Wukong showed his tiredness and his pain caused by the crown. The celestials watched it with a cold stare. DBK realized that if he hits too hard now, Wukong may not get up again and it will spoil the whole show. Their eyes met. DBK nodded. Showing that it's time for the finale. Wukong summoned his cloud and flew up as fast as he could. He used all his energy to cut off the top of the mountain. At the same time, he almost lost his balance. He directed his staff straight at DBK who were ready for it. It was obvious to all the celestials that DBK had indeed been sealed, but in fact, as planned, Macaque used the shadow portal and moved DBK to the castle.

Wukong fell to his knees from exhaustion. The warrior noticed that his sun was not rising. He quickly used the shadow portal to get to the king.

“Wukong?” said the warrior. The king was breathing heavily. The warrior heard no reply. He knelt before the king and saw that his sun was still struggling with the pain of the crown. All of the king's hair was smeared with blood. The warrior put his hand on the king's cheek.

“Wukong?” said Macaque again.

"Take me away from here.. please." Tears streamed down the king's face. The warrior looked at him with eyes full of love and compassion.

''All right. Can you get up?''

''No.. probably not''

The warrior sighed. He created a shadow portal and moved it to them so that they disappeared into it.