#extermination party palace

[kittenfangirl20]

Stoliz Au

Adam sipped on his coffee out of his "Hell's Greatest Boss" mug as he overlooked Pentagram City. His workers, Lute and Emily were at the conference table trying to figure out ways they could get to the human world.

Adams oldest son Cain sat there on his phone looking very interested in anything that had to do with work.

Here at Adams Angelic Assassination, they started out by protecting sinners. Either from other demons or from angels on extermination day.

Turns out people would pay a pretty penny to have someone on earth killed.

It has been a few years since Adam was cast out of heaven for questioning things. They took his halo and his powers before casting him down.

Lute and Emily didn't want him to be alone in Hell so they willingly fell. Adam reconnected with his son who was homeless at the time.

They all needed money so that's when Adam came up with the idea for his business.

Lute sighed: It's impossible! There is no way to the human releam without our angelic powers.

Emily: It's okay Lute, we'll figure something out.

Adam turned: She's right Lute! And I actually have a plan.

Lute: You do?

Adam: I do. I know of a book and where I can get it. It's our ticket up top.

Yes Adam knew where to get this book, but could he sneak in and out without being noticed.

Emily: How will you get it?

Adam smirked: Leave it to me and my stealth skills.

*Adam scouted out the royal palace, he knew the largest collection of demonic grimoires were housed in the Morningstar palace including one that could take him to Earth, thankfully Adam still had his angel wings so he fly over the gates surrounding the palace, there was a party going on, his eyes went to Lucifer who was off in a corner drinking while Lilith was talking with her friends, Adam’s heart filled with longing over seeing his first love, but Adam was here for a reason and it was to get a spell book, he hid his wings thankful for the all black outfit he took to wearing now that he could use to hide in the shadows, but before he could open the door to Lucifer’s room, he was tackled by a pair of hellhounds who dragged him to Lucifer*

Adam: Shit.

*Lucifer was chugging down a bottle of absinthe when he saw a pair of hellhound guards drag Adam in front of him, Adam had a sheepish smile on his face and he couldn’t help but realize how handsome Adam was, in fact he had a strong desire to pin Adam to the bed and have his way with him since he hadn’t shared a bed with Lilith since Charlie was born*

Hellhound 1: We saw this man trying to sneak into your room.

Hellhound 2: What should we do with him?

Lucifer: I will deal with him myself, don’t tell anyone what you saw.

*the hellhounds handed Adam over to Lucifer and the former angel reluctantly followed Lucifer up to his room, once they were alone Adam became nervous*

Adam: Look, I can explain-

*Adam’s words were cut off when Lucifer kissed him on the lips, Adam found himself returning the kiss enjoying the feeling*

Lucifer: I missed you so much Adam, in more ways than one.

*Adam felt himself getting wet with desire, one of the punishments was they took away Adam’s favorite thing, his dick, before throwing him out of Heaven and now he had a pussy instead much to his annoyance, but now he saw a way to use it to his advantage and it would give him something he had always wanted*

Adam: You realized what you missed out on and now you can have it.

Lucifer: Yes.

*they ended up on the bed, they kissed as they frantically pulled off their clothes down to their underwear, Lucifer rubbed the underwear covered erection against the wet area of Adam’s panties, they pulled off their underwear and Lucifer slid into Adam, Adam had to hold back a moan of pleasure by biting into Lucifer’s shoulder which made Lucifer even more turned on, Adam moved his hips along with Lucifer’s thrusts, after a long and passionate dance on the bed, Adam climaxed and Lucifer cum inside of Adam*

Lucifer: That was amazing, is there a way I could convince you to come around more often.

Adam: Maybe if you let me borrow a grimoire to help me with my new job.

Lucifer: Done, but you must come back to me at least once a month. How about full moon night?

*Lucifer had the grimoire appear in Adam’s hands*

Adam: Sounds perfect to me.

*they both fell asleep, Lucifer holding Adam and Adam holding the grimoire, in the morning Adam had to get dressed and sneak out, but before he could sprout his wings, he fell off the balcony and onto the table which had Lilith having breakfast with her friends.

Adam: Sorry, I fucked your husband….. actually I’m not sorry.

*Adam sprouted his wings and flew off*

@things-arent-what-they-seem66

[an-idyllic-novelist]

Hello! Saw your request was opened! Can I please request Record of Ragnarok Hades with Kanae Kocho!fem!reader headcanons? Thank you!

warning: spoilers from the manga, ooc.

Here it is! Sorry it took me so long to respond! Enjoy! :)

Let it be known that Persephone is and always will be Hades’ first love. 

Eons ago, he adored the tiny goddess of spring, and she returned those feelings wholeheartedly. But not even this witty, charming woman was willingly to change her entire life for him. How could she? She told him. How could I do such a thing when Mother still needs me?

Demeter wanted to always be in control. Not just over the seasons in Midgard and Valhalla, but her daughter’s life as well. Persephone was too precious to the harvest goddess, and she would be damned to give her child’s hand in marriage to someone like himself. 

A monster. 

That is the truth behind the myth surrounding Hades and Persephone: a passionate, yet brief romance. When it was over, he had come to accept his fate; forever alone, watching over the underworld with an iron fist. 

Just as a king would do. 

His interest in women faded with time, preferring to exert his energy into making sure his domain would thrive and there wasn’t a single cog out of place in the palace. Everyone and everything has a role to play, and by doing so accordingly, things will fall into place. Never love. 

When the Bifrost fell, demons began pouring through the fractured gates and into Valhalla, causing chaos everywhere. This catastrophic event gave rise to a fallen organization that had once combated them in Midgard many years ago, eradicating its progenitor and allowing the humans to finally live in peace. The Demon Slayer Corps. 

With its resurrection came a proposal that Hades knew Kaguya Ubuyashiki would not refuse. His family had been overseeing the organization for over a thousand years, no one knew its works as intimately as he and his predecessors. There is no one else who fit for the job as the head of the Demon Slayer Corps….but Ubuyashiki would sooner disband the Hashiras than assemble them to work for someone who operated from behind the shadows. 

The Hashiras, the kakushi, the medics….they were all his children. No one would control them like puppets. Hades’ respect for mortals was raised ever so slightly in that very moment with Kaguya Ubuyashiki in the wisteria gardens of his estate. 

Once negotiations were established, the Demon Slayer Corps laid its foundation in Valhalla. To show a sign of goodwill towards their new ‘business partner’,  the Ubuyashiki household elected a former Hashira to be the middle-man. Someone who will send information between both parties and coordinate meetings if needed. 

That person is [First Name] Kocho, known by her companions as the Flower Hashira. Although she had been offered a place in the ranks, she sweetly declined and opted to help from the shadows than the front lines. She wanted to live a peaceful afterlife with her sisters, if that is possible. 

In the beginning, Hades did not think much of the Flower Hashira beyond her excellent work ethic. She was professional, polite, and empathetic. This behavior was not extended towards him only, as he had initially expected due to being the lord of the underworld. 

She respected his subordinates, greeting them with a beaming smile and wishing them to have a pleasant day or helping someone with their workload. She followed the orders given to her, though if she had any concerns, she did not hesitate to say something once she had given permission to speak instead of raising her voice in a meeting. 

To his embarrassment, he fell for the Flower Hashira hard and quickly. Though…could someone blame him? 

The question now is…how could even approach this lovely mortal woman when she is fiercely protected by her younger sisters and an army of highly-trained demon exterminators? More importantly, how to not let his damned brother Zeus find out about it. It’d be one thing if it was Poseidon because the tyrant of the oceans knew how to keep his mouth shut, but Valhalla’s supreme god? Not bloody likely, that damned gossipmonger.

[8momiji]

Hi! Do you want to play yuri horror visual novels this Yuriween? I have some great recommendations for you.

I’m sure it will cover all you need I have a lot of visual novels ranging from vampire lesbians to vtubers. 

I’m sure you will enjoy some of this titles. It’s also free to play. I hope you enjoy some of this games and make sure to support the creators by rating their game. 

Welcome to the Execution Hour!

The River Bride

"The River Bride" is a visual novel based on the events of the bridal sacrifices in Ancient China. Players play as Fu Suyu, the current year's bridal sacrifice. Experience how Fu Suyu deals with her fate through accepting her duty, fighting for her life, or even experiencing love for the last time.

Maple: I love historical yuri.

Mama

One day, you’ll thank me. After all… mother knows best.

Today’s the first day of HimeCon, a Yuri convention. You’re attending with your girlfriend who’s a vendor in the artist alley. At the convention, you receive a text that ends up changing… everything.

You find yourself back in your childhood home, except this time, something’s amiss— and you’ve got to escape.

She’s always w̶̨̠̟̳͚̮̫͒͒̏̏̌͑͊̒́̂̈̀̓̒͘͠ā̷̧̠͎̤͖̝̠̯͎̎̇͒̋͑̾͑̑͂̂̽͐͂̄͘̕̕͠͠͝t̷̢̙̦͖͙̹̪̠̳̰͛̓̇̀̂̾́̉̍̈́͌̇̔̑͝ç̷̥̮͓͔̣̆̀̆̔̈́̈̀͋͛̓̈͐̕͝h̵̢̧̹̲͇̭̥̰͎͖͇̎̓͒̎̂͑̽͒͑̓͗͗̕̕͘͜͜͝͠͝͝ͅi̸̛̝̳̳̠͇͍̓͒̈́̑́̒̓̊͐͒̆͘͝ͅͅñ̶̢̡̨͓̥̞͉͓͚̞̞̞̲̤̹͙͍̙͛̋̏͗̍̽̇̒̅͊͜͠ͅg̸̪͇͋̓͋̍̈́̇̽̿̑̋̏̏̈́̋̾̋̃͘ͅ you, isn’t she?

Maple: Everyone should be allowed to have one kill count in their life. 

Oto-hime

Shimako, a socially anxious office worker, escapes the pressures of her company's beach retreat by fishing alone, only to stumble upon a trapped turtle by the shore. When she rescues it, Shimako is mysteriously whisked away to a hidden underwater palace, where she meets Oto-hime, a breathtakingly beautiful but enigmatic princess. Drawn in by Oto-hime's charm and her lavish hospitality, Shimako soon realizes there is something unsettling beneath the princess's kind façade.

Maple: I want to be in a toxic relationship. I totally didn’t sneak my own game here. I want someone to gaslight me.

Underholo

A group of girls are hoping to run a successful VTuber agency so that they can chill out together for the rest of their lives but, unfortunately, the VTuber industry is secretly rigged by an underground syndicate called UnderHolo.

With your expert managerial skills, bring your very own VTuber Agency to the top of the leaderboard!

Maple: I still want to be a gay vtuber playing gay games everyday with my gay vtuber friends.

Shut-in Vampire

Oh no! Mayu’s in a pinch! She’s woefully behind on paying the rent, and her scary landlady, Miss Himemiya, has issued an ultimatum. Mayu needs to earn ¥100,000 by the end of October, or she’ll be kicked out!

Being evicted from her home would be bad enough, but Mayu has a secret: she’s actually a vampire. Mayu hasn’t been a vampire for a full year yet, and the church is keeping close tabs on her to ensure she’s been behaving herself. According to the stone-faced Sister Juriel, it’s the church’s standard policy to execute all vampires without a fixed address, lest they start roaming the streets causing chaos.

Maple: Where can I send her all my money? 

End of the World

~The year 6666, October 31st , The Demon of Wishes was awoken underneath a monster extermination company~

You are Remoryn, the Demon of Wishes who's been sealed away for 4000 years.

After being released, the legend of the 3 heroes, the holy weapons, the Halloween party surrounding you, and the disappearance of... her... made everything feel overwhelmingly strange and unfamiliar.

On top of that, you're being held captive by a person named Jeok-Ah.

Who wishes for... 

the end of the world

Maple: I will end the world for you.

Dead End

Closing Notes:

Watch Girls Band Cry

Maple: I'm not asking.

[purplesoulcollection]

Unnatural Love

Part 15 Synopsis : Name has being transmigrated into the world of I'm Not That Kind Of Talent without ever reading the novel. She's not being reincarnated as a human but as a devil as well. Hi There! I want to let you know that this fanfiction story isn't solely my creation. I borrowed the concept from @quqiwo2. I haven't actually read the novel either, just some spoiler to the end.

I hope you'll excuse my spelling and grammar mistake, because English not my first language.

Trang

The sound of swords slicing through the bodies of demons resonated throughout the battlefield. It was evident that a more powerful force was executing a one-sided slaughter.

Rather than an army engaged in the wholesale extermination of demons, resulting in pools of blood, blood-stained snow, and heaps of corpses that would ultimately become hazardous waste for humanity, the scene was orchestrated by a single individual.

This individual was Deon.

Deon fought with a chilling detachment, refusing to allow even the slightest injury from enemy assaults. This demeanor instilled a sense of caution among the Lofty soldiers, who were accustomed to Deon's previous reckless abandon, preventing them from intervening with their captain.

What a transformation it was! Deon, once known for his frenzied fighting style, now exhibited a calm and controlled approach, showcasing his strength in a manner that left his own troops unaccustomed to this new method of combat.

Armed with a long sword, a reward for his heroism in vanquishing a colossal demon, Deon exemplified a formidable presence on the battlefield.

Deon, I permitted you to visit the palace at any time, yet I did not anticipate that, for once arriving in a state of being drown by blood, you now also bring this enormous creature to the castle," remarked the emperor, observing Deon kneeling before him, the body of the colossal monster visible on three horse-drawn carriages outside the palace.

"I vanquished him myself, Your Majesty. It appears that a fragment of the hero within me awakened unexpectedly. This serves as evidence," Deon replied in a flat tone, lacking the joy one might expect from someone who had just achieved heroism.

"Deon, should you truly be recognized as a hero, there would be no doubt in anyone's mind. Your prowess was demonstrated during the eight-year war, and you are feared by many. Indeed, you are the most fitting candidate for such a title," the Emperor commended Deon, though the latter remained unmoved by the praise.

"I am concerned that the emperor may require me to validate my heroism through inhumane trials. There is no more definitive proof than an extraordinary accomplishment."

Ultimately, the emperor chose to conclude the discussion. "Very well, as a token of your newfound status as a hero, I shall present you with a holy sword, crafted specifically for those of heroic stature."

"I accept it with gratitude."

With that, Deon departed, wielding his new sword. The Emperor was left perplexed by Deon's apparent lack of enthusiasm and joy regarding his achievement.

And the reason is being leaked.

Deon, who had been abandoned by his fiancee, who was only seen once at a party, became a hot gossip among the nobles, adding to the collection of bad rumors among Deon's pile of bad rumors.

Of course they never explicitly said that in front of Deon. But their whispers and disdainful glances clearly mocked him.

But Deon didn't care about the rumors that were bad about him, he was more focused on what was his new main goal besides his revenge.

Adele. She disappeared…

I have to found her for sure…

Since she left without his wishes that means only the Demon King is capable of doing so. Only the demon king is able to summon demons wherever she is. Because the devil's body is made from mana created by the devil king.

He definitely made Adele his hostage. Seeing the situation she was summoned and did not return to the human world after several months until the day changed from a hot summer full of sun to a day filled with snow is being the answer.

That means the demon king is already aware of the romantic relationship between Deon and Adele.

He understood in his brain that Adele was helpless before the demon king, he understood that Adele could not escape from the demon world.

But he grew to hate Adele a little, who left him alone in the human world. Even though he sided with the human world for Adele's sake. Just because she wants me…

With every breath of hot steam, Deon's breath reminds Deon of Adele every time.

Even though he just wanted to talk to her, hug her, laugh with her again. There's nothing Deon wants more than that.

Is he cold in the demon world? Is he healthy there? Doesn't he miss me there too? These questions always haunt Deon's mind.

Deon is worried about Adele. Being a hostage is not a good thing, Adele's life is guaranteed if the demon king wants Deon to side with the devil, but that doesn't mean her life will be comfortable there.

Adele, when they first met, was already fragile and helpless in the demon world, especially now. Deon couldn't imagine Adele's current situation.

Initially he wanted to pick up Adele with his identity as commander of squad 0 but unfortunately both Cruel and the King did not allow it. They said that because I had sided with humans, the devils would no longer believe in you.

Deon's worry and anxiety about Adele makes Deon very strong and emotional. He becomes a fighting robot who just wants to cut down every demon in existence.

"Stop Deon, there are no more demons to attack." Cruel put his hand on the hand holding the sword.

Making Deon realize that all of them had been killed by Deon himself and the remaining few had run away.

"Older brother... " Deon looks at him, finally relaxed his grip with his sword after every slaughter he being doing earlier.

"Don't push yourself too hard, even though you are now a hero, Deon. Adele definitely doesn't want to see you like this either." Cruel said to Deon. He saw the eye bag that was very clear on Deon, he wouldn't be surprised if he saw Deon faint later.

"I can't, if I slow down the progress of the war. I can't meet Adele quickly."

"Then at least you change clothes and sleep. You're the only one fighting today, get some rest."

"Okay."

He obediently withdrew, much to Lofty troop relief, they finally had a chance to fight. It doesn't have to be with their scary captain.

Deon reached his tent and took off his dirty clothes. There is no spirit left except the body which endures the pain of muscle aches.

Deon took a proper shower before he finally lay down on the portable bed ready to move.

His body since becoming a hero is actually stronger than his previous body which always vomited blood. He is now fit and able to last longer in battle.

Deon's mental condition actually no longer shifts from one personality to another. Deon now realizes that killing is something he usually does.

At least he no longer considered himself too lucky to have survived the war because of his own luck and never killed anyone.

He was physically and mentally tired. He also had insomnia since Adele was gone. It's hard to sleep and even if you can sleep, nightmares will appear.

He had a nightmare that Adele would leave him alone.

In this world.

Hopefully that won't happen to me...

Please...

To Be Continued

Notes: next episode, Deon meets his demon king!! I will skip all the battle scenes against the troop commander, because I have never read the novel.

[quietbluejay]

Horus Rising 11

oooo here we go here we go

the interex have BIG ships

so people think it's the megarachnids, "come from other worlds in support of the nests on Murder"

heh END PART 2

lol so the war party's reasoning:

"daaad we gotta kill them" about what you'd expect from the Imperium Loken notes the interex are easy to admire and easy to like so there's a private meeting with Horus and the Mournival Abaddon got swayed to the pro-war side loken notes "both maloghurst and sedirae had been whispering in his ears" and then things descend into abaddon and horus yelling at each other which is scaring the hoes rest of the Mournival Torgaddon as usual tries to defuse it with humour but it's not working Horus' anger is scaring Loken a bit

aximand and loken look at each other awkwardly and try to leave too but Horus stops them anyways wild does anyone else ever yell at a primarch like this, ever normally i'm a fan of people standing up to primarchs but in this context it's a biiit awkward to cheer for abaddon lol Horus is calm now Horus: okay i got the quiet one and the wise one. what are your takes on this? loken internally: wait am i the quiet one or the wise one???

loken wants to know why Horus thinks they shouldn't oh huh Loken is also from Cthonia i thought he was terran Horus tells a story from not long after he was found

that's…almost sweet if you ignore, you know

yes astrology, not astronomy he talks about the zodiac and …huh

twenty signs of the zodiac

a blessed person found an ancient forum thread that figured it out, i'll link it if anyone asks

horus makes some interesting choices:

doot doot doot

wow that is incredibly old on the topic of the Emperor as a father well… uh he could be worse he could be a lot worse, I guess

my personal opinion of the emperor is "terrible dad but not actually a black hole of evil towards the primarchs" which is really the only thing that makes sense to me given the disparate depictions i personally like the emperor better as Worst Dad Ever and I feel like it makes internal sense to me haha but I get that it's not actually canon so if i were ever to write him in fic it'd probably be in a situation where his worst qualities are more obvious i do try to be fair to characters when I'm writing them, though so maybe it's better to say i'd want to write him as The Worst but I'd probably stop myself …i hope i would uhh anyways

"tell them the real reason" says sanguinius, who has apparently been hanging out the whole time

Sanguinius is eating fruit from a bowl yes this is relevant

i am choosing to believe they are goji berries if only for the mental image of a primarch trying to pick up a super tiny berry with their giant hands ah! horus is going to point out the thing i thought about pointing out but didn't

i don't think the Emperor was capable of being the best dad in the world, solely because he did in fact create the primarchs to be his generals i.e. he created them to be useful primarily horus has already made at least two mistakes the first being the whole campaign on sixty-three nineteen

mistake #2 was their campaign on murder and trying to exterminate the megarachnids

Horus is taking a hard look at the Imperium vs the interex and finding the Imperium lacking I do wonder if this thought has occurred to him before there must have been other cases but I think it's coming to the front right now because of everything that's happened to him recently - the emperor withdrawing to the palace - becoming warmaster - the very different messes of the past 2 campaigns it's clear becoming warmaster has made him do a lot of thinking

and that is that!

pour one out for good horus, he will be missed

[starblazekirara]

The Violet Star and the Owlet

Something I wrote a while back, when my OC Nova first meets Octavia and Stolas

A small crowd was talking in the back garden of the palace of Prince Stolas of the Ars Goetia. His wife Stella took the chance to host a tea party of sorts while he was away at the Hell counsel that day. A small 5 year old owlet with pink eyes stood near the back staying out of the way of the adults, their child Octavia stood around bored, even though her mother has to watch her for that day. Octavia didn't have any toys around her to try and play with, she went up to her mother.

“Can you play with me some mommy?” asked Octavia as she tugged on her mother's dress. Stella annoyed turned down to the little girl.

“Can't you see I'm busy child! I can't be bothered to play with you, go bother someone else.” Stella answered dryly with annoyance. The child thought she was just that, a pest to her mother, even thought she just wanted to play with her like more children do.

“Daddy would play with me.” Octavia said to herself. Her mother scoffed as she heard her.

“Well your father is at an important meeting, and won't be back till later, so, just play out of our way.” Stella shooed her daughter away from her and her guests. Octavia went back to her little spot in the garden and gave a little pout, she was going to bored at one of her mother's parties, again. But a green and black butterfly caught the little owlet's eye, it fluttered around her, Octavia giggled as she tried to catch it and started to follow it, but the insect slipped out between the bars of the back gate, Octavia was small enough to slip through the bars as well while her mother's back was turned and wandered away from the palace.

Meanwhile one other Goetia was out in the city this one was much older about 15, her name was Nova Celestine, her father held a presidential rank within the Goetia family, she didn't mind being low on the caste scale. But Nova had always been a bit different than other members in looks, she possessed the traditional white face as any other bird demons, hers was like new fallen snow, this delicate face was framed with ashen gray feathers that cascaded down her back, shades of lavender would grace ones eye when the light touched her hair just right. And unlike most members of the Goetia she also possessed a growing expanse of feathers from her knees downward, dark as rain clouds yet glimmered with lavender stars, each step she took the clouds soften them making her near silent as she walked.

Nova looked a slip of paper at an address that was written on it, she looked around but couldn't find it. She scratched her head out of confusion,

“Where is that place? Did I get the directions wrong?” Nova asked herself, she was about to ask someone when she heard it, the sound every demon fears, the sound of tornado like sirens. Nova looked at her flip phone only to see an alert that would make anyone's stomach drop.

'Alert! ALERT! EXTERMINATION NOW STARTING!! Seek shelter IMMEDIATELY!!' Demons, imps and sinners of all kinds scrambled to get into a nearby stable shelter.

“But it wasn't suppose to happen till tomorrow! Crap! There's got to be a-” Nova told herself, somehow she over the screaming and shouting, she heard crying, the crying of child, she followed it till she found a owlet in the middle of the street, crying. Nova could see she was a pink starry dress, and had pink eyes Octavia had gotten lost and was only seen by the one with lavender eyes.

“Is that a kid?! Why is she alone when it's about to become a bloodbath down here?!” Nova asked herself, she looked between a safe building and back to the child, any other heartless being would leave the child to save their own skin, but this wasn't her, she couldn't let an innocent die in this sick version of a purge.

“I-I can't leave her!” said Nova as she dashed out into the street and scooped up a crying Octavia, the child looked up at who had just saved her.

“Hey don't be scared, you'll be safe with me, where are your parents?” Nova asked in a frantic state.

“I wandered away from home, and-and now I'm lost!” Octavia cried.

“Listen you know what those sirens mean right?” Nova asked her. Octavia was trying to find her voice in all the chaos that was happening around her, she then remembered what her father had told her about if she ever heard those sirens.

“My daddy told me they meant something bad was to happen, but it only happened once a year.” young Octavia answered her rescuer. Nova was relieved that the little girl knew about them.

“Right, we need to wait this out somewhere safe, no one will let us in right now, but we'll find a place.” Nova told the child as they got out of the open, the older girl ducked between ally-ways and shadows while keeping the child close to her, shielding her from any carnage they came across.

“I-I-I want to go home......I.....I want daddy and mommy...” Octavia whimpered as she buried her face in Nova's feathers, the teen brought her face up to her own.

“Oh, I know you do sweetheart, but as soon as this is over with we'll go find them.” said Nova. Octavia rubbed away some tears from her eyes.

“Y-you promise?” asked Octavia. Nova smiled warmly at her.

“Of course, but what's your name?” Nova replied.

“Octavia, and you're older than me.” said Octavia.

“Yeah, but I'm Nova, and we're friends now that we know each other's names.” Nova told her. Octavia smiled she at least wasn't alone in a scary place anymore. She couldn't wait to tell her father about her new friend. Nova looked around.

“But right now we need some shelter to wait this out otherwise-” screaming cut off what she was about to say next.

“That's going to be us, no place will let us in right now! Where can we-” Nova told the child as they ran, but screaming and shouting was anywhere they went, but rounding a corner she was met with tall figures with angel wings and white glowing weapons standing over a pile of dead demons.

“Oh no, Exterminators!” Nova explained. One of them heard her and turned. Nova kept a tight hold of Octavia and shielded her from what was before them. 'They spotted us!' thought Nova. Both Exterminators turned to them, fear rose in the older girls throat, she pressed the owlet close to her and looked down at her.

“Listen sweetheart, close your eyes and keep them shut, we're going to be okay.” Nova told her, Octavia did what she was told and buried her face in Nova's top, using her free hand a spark of starry violet fire lit up in her hand.

'I swore I'd never use this, but I have very little choice, I promised to get her home.' thought Nova. A spear was raised to them when a large shadow darted between them, the blade being cut in half clattering to the ground.

“Don't even think it!” the figure growled, Nova looked up and saw a very imposing female Hellhound between her and the Exterminators. Her fur was a dark gray with black markings on her face and legs along with her wrists, her tail had a gold chain around it and as a belt on her torn up Capri's. Nordic runes were tattooed on her right arm in red, shoulder length light navy hair stood out second only to her green eyes, a lot of hounds had red eyes but green was something else.

“I am Arnora Helblod, direct descent of Finrir. That child is a member of the Ars Goetia, her father is a very powerful prince, and what do you dumb-asses think will happen when he finds out you killed her? You want an all out war?!” the hound shouted, the Exterminators looked between each other.

'Wait, this child is a member of the Goetia like me? But her father is.....is a prince?!” thought Nova as she looked down at Octavia, her eyes still shut tightly. The Exterminators looked between each other and spoke between themselves. Nova couldn't understand what they were saying.

'That hound is way too strong for us, and she's right, Goetia members are off limits, we don't want a war to start over this.' one of them said.

'If we kill the child of a powerful prince you're right, we're done here anyways, lets go to the next area.' the second one said, both Exterminators left. The fires in Nova's hand died down as Arnora turned to them.

“Arnora was your name? Thank you.” said Nova.

“If you don't want to be here when they come back, follow me.” Arnora told her Nova started to follow the hound, doing her best tot keep up with her while carrying a little owlet.

“What's your name?” Arnora asked as they ran.

“Nova.” she answered. They came upon a what looked like a shelter that was hardly used let alone known about, at the door was another Hellhound that looked no older than Octavia, her fur was the same as Arnora's and the hair was a lighter blue than her own, one eye of hers was green the other blue, the pup waved to them.

“Mom!” called the pup, taking Nova's hand the two ran for the door.

“Lyssa! Get ready to shut that door, we got guests!” Arnora shouted, Lyssa was the pup's name, once inside the door slammed shut and with a few twists of the handle was locked, the two caught their breath as a light was turned on, there wasn't much, a few blankets and a radio to keep a listen for things outside, but nothing would be able to get in.

“You guys can wait the day out here, not a chance anything will get in.” Arnora told them. Nova sat on a nearby bench, catching her breath, Octavia looked around when she saw they had stopped running.

“I can't even start to thank-” Nova was interrupted when Octavia saw the hound and knew her right away.

“Auntie Arnora?” Octavia whimpered. Arnora's eye's widened when she saw the owlet Nova was holding in her arms, her heart almost stopped when she saw how scared she looked.

“What the?! Octavia?! What in the name of Odin are you doing out here?!” Arnora exclaimed as she knelt down to the child, checking her over, relieved she was unharmed.

“You know her?!” said Nova.

“Her father is my best friend, prince Stolas, I am Octavia's godmother.” Arnora answered. Nova gulped when she learned that Octavia's father was the rank of a prince.

'Oh crap! I just saved the daughter of a high ranking member!' Nova's thoughts screamed out. Arnora snarled as her claws dug into the ground, trying to stay happy and calm for the child's sake.

“Octavia, where is your mother?” Arnora asked trying to stay calm.

“At the palace.....I.....I wandered off, I just wanted to play.....and got lost...” Octavia answered. Arnora took a deep breath and stood up, she looked like she was going to kill the next thing she laid her eyes on, her hands balled up into fists.

“Of course she was having a party and didn't pay attention, oh Stolas is going to love this.” Arnora told herself, before she pulled out her phone.

“I have to call him, can you keep an eye on her until I get back?” Arnora asked Nova , the teen nodded as she still held the owlet.

The owl prince paced the floor of one of the spare rooms of the counsel halls, on the phone with his wife yelling at her, his feathers and temper rose each time he spoke with her.

“What do you mean you can't find her Stella?! Our daughter is out there and there's an Extermination happening right outside our home! You were suppose to watch her but you HAD TO HAVE A PARTY!!!! IF ANYTHING happens to our little girl, consider divorce papers in my hand when I get back!” Stolas shouted into the phone. He heard incoherent screaming on the other end, so loud Stolas held the phone away from his head, once the volume went down he brought it back up to his head.

“Oh I wish I was joking woman! I-” A second phone rang in the office, Stolas looked at the ID and saw who it was, he groaned as he rolled his eyes.

“Uhggg, I need to take this call, we'll talk about this when I get back!” Stolas exclaimed as he slammed the phone back onto the receiver. He tried to calm his thoughts, his little owlet is outside the palace walls on one of the worst days of the year, but talking to his best friend might help, even help find her. He picked up the second phone.

“Arnora now is really not the time for-” Stolas was cut off by the hounds voice.

“Stolas shut your beak for 5 seconds! I have Via! She's in my bunker with myself and Lyssa along with-” The second the owl prince is daughter was safe, his face lit up, the worst thoughts left his mind, Arnora would never be this cruel as a joke to him.

“Via's with you?! She's safe?!” the prince exclaimed, he felt himself about to collapse onto the floor with relief, he held on to a chair to keep from falling, his heart was racing.

“Yes, and we'll chew your hag wife out when this is over with and-.” Arnora could hear her friend about to have a form of panic attack.

“Oh thank the cosmos she's safe, Stella told me she couldn't find her I just.....” Stolas could feel his mind racing is Arnora had told him other wise. She could hear the relief in his voice, but also the shear fear in it as well, the hound had never heard her friend with this much fear in him.

“I know, but she's safe right now, with her new friend and us.” Arnora assured him.

“Wait, new friend?” asked Stolas as he sat up a bit.

“Yeah, she found Via when I caught to up with them, just in time too.” Arnora told him. Stolas gulps and felt himself about to break down in that office space, he needed to hear his daughter's voice, to know he's was still slightly sane.

“I want to talk to them, please Arnora.” Stolas almost begged her.

“Alright Stol, just give me a few minutes, Nova is trying to help calm Via down.” Arnora told him as she peaked over her shoulder looked back at her daughter Lyssa hugging the smaller child, while Nova held Octavia in a blanket as she sat on the floor. It was the first time Stolas had heard this young woman's name. “Nova?” he asked.

“That's the girl's name, looks very much like a Goetia, she must be low rank cause I've never seen her before, she looks 15 maybe, just a teen, But this girl is a spitfire, she was about to fight an Exterminator to keep Via safe.” Arnora told him.

“If you didn't show up....please, let me talk to them.” said Stolas. Arnora smiled as she turned back to the rest of the group. “Alright, hang on.” She told her friend.

“There, feel a little better honey?” Nova asked Octavia as wrapped the child up in the blanket. Octavia looked like she wanted to cry.

“Sort of, I just want to go home, I want my daddy...” Octavia sniffled as she wiped some tears away from her eyes. Nova couldn't help but feel her soul crack seeing this child cry, scared and wanting her family. Nova held her close and wiped away some more tears.

“I know sweetheart, and you'll be back with before you know it, it's just not safe right now.” Nova told the child. Arnora came over an knelt down to them, holding the same phone, the owlet looked at her hound godmother.

“Octavia, I have your dad on the phone, you can at least talk to him, until you can get home. And he wants to talk to you as well.” Arnora told the child then looked to the young lady, Nova felt herself turn bright red and didn't know how to respond to this, she had never spoken to such a high ranking member of the Goetia before in her life.

“M-me?! Her father is a prince, I'm just the daughter of a president, lowest rank there is. Why would he even-” Arnora placed a hand on Nova's shoulder and smiled at her.

“Trust me on this, he doesn't give a crap about rank.” Arnora told her. Nova still needed some time to build up nerve, she looked down at Octavia then back to Arnora.

“Let, let Octavia talk to him first.” Nova told her.

“Stol, here she is.” Arnora told her friend before giving the phone to the small owlet, she brought it up to her face. Stolas was waiting with baited breath before he heard the voice that was always music to him. “Daddy?!” Octavia spoke into the phone, his heart jumped into his throat the second he heard his child's voice.

“Octavia! It's me Octavia dear! Oh thank the stars you're safe, you had me so worried.” Stolas told his daughter, trying his best not to cry from happiness.

“I-I just wanted to play daddy and I wandered away from the palace, are.....are you mad at me? Am I in trouble?” Octavia asked him in a scared voice. He had never heard her this scared before and he wasn't there to comfort her, to make her feel better like before.

“No, no no no dearest, I'm not mad, I'm just happy you're somewhere safe.” assured Stolas. Octavia let a few sobs escape before she tired to speak again. Stolas could feel his heart breaking at the sound of his daughter's crying and him not being there was tearing at him.

“I-I-I want to come home daddy, I'm....I'm really scared.” Octavia sobbed. If he could he would have reached through the phone to hold her, hug her, tell her everything was going to be alright if he was there with her.

“I know my starfire I know you do, but it isn't safe for Arnora to bring you back just yet, but you get to have a sleep-over with Lyssa, you always have fun at them, just like when she stays over at our home, but listen, I know this is very scary, but, I know you are my brave little starfire, everything will be alright, you will be okay, remember my song?” Stolas did his best as always to comfort his daughter, all while trying to keep from crying as he talked with her.

“Yes...” Octavia told him softly, he forced a smile over the phone.

“That's my brave owlet, now, can I speak with the young lady who found you?” Stolas asked her.

“You mean big sister Nova?” replied Octavia. The prince gave a slight chuckle, she barely knew her savior and was already calling her a big sister.

“Already have a second big sister now? Hm, I see nothing wrong with that, but let me talk to her though.” said Stolas. “Alright.” Octavia replied.

“And Octavia?” Stolas asked her. “Yes?” Octavia answered back to him.

“I'll call you back tonight, to sing you that lullaby, and I promise, I will be there at the palace entrance waiting for you when this is all over with.” said Stolas.

“Really?” Octavia asked him sounding hopeful.

“Yes, really, just be good for auntie Arnora, and.....let me talk with big sister Nova.” Stolas answered her. Octavia nodded and passed the phone to Nova.

“Daddy wants to talk to you.” Octavia told her sister figure as she handed her the phone. Nervously Nova took it from the child's hand.

'Oh great, I have to talk to a prince. Just breath, you did nothing wrong.' Nova thought to herself as she placed the phone near hear face.

“H-he-hello? Your highness?” Nova spoke with a shaken manner in her tone.

“Are you lady Nova?” asked Stolas. The older girl gulped, she still had some fears about answering to one of the higher ranks, but she knew how to talk to nobility, and he did sound kind, just worried for his daughter more than his own life.

“I-I am, your highness-” Nova answered him.

“Oh! You have no idea how thankful I am for what you've done! You saved my daughter, I am forever grateful to you! If there's anything you want from me, clothes, jewelry, rare books, magic lessons anything you want and I will make sure you have it.” Stolas told her.

Nova was surprised at the generosity of the prince, all these items for her because his child was safe? She must mean so much to him, but she didn't want anything, she couldn't take anything from him just out of the goodness that was a rare thing in the 7 rings.

“Y-your highness, I-I don't want anything like that, just knowing that your daughter is safe and back with you is more than enough for me.” Nova told him. Stolas was shocked, this young lady didn't want a fancy dress or jewels like most girls her age would have asked for in a heartbeat. He had never heard this kind of thing before in his life.

“Such modesty for a young lady like yourself, my daughter could learn a thing or two from you, and you don't have to keep calling me your highness, no need for such formalities among friends, please call me Stolas.” He spoke to her again. Nova gave a small smile.

“If.....if you want me to, but I do promise, I will protect Octavia.” Nova said to him, but what he told her next was a surprise.

“I fully trust you with my daughter, better than I trust my wife right about now.” replied Stolas, Nova gave a nervous chuckle before she gulped.

“You don't even know me that well yet, and you'd still trust me with your little girl?” Nova asked him. Stolas smiled on the other end of the phone.

“I can tell from your from your voice, and Arnora told me you risked your life to save her, not many would have done what you just did, I look forward to meeting you in person when you bring my daughter back, please take good care of her.” Stolas answered.

“S-she is safe with me, I promise.” Nova vowed to the prince. Stolas smiled as a few hidden tears fell from his face. “Thank you.” said Stolas before he hung up the phone and just broke down in the chair he was sitting in.

Outside the carnage still raged outside, the fate of those not in a shelter was sealed. Those in the hidden bunker did their best to block out the sounds they were hearing. Arnora stood up to look outside, it had already become dark, the half way mark of this event. Once chimes rang out at midnight, it would all be over. She came back over to her friends.

“Well, it's nightfall, just make it till morning and this will be all over with.” Arnora told them. Nova got up to stretch some from all the siting she had been doing.

“Dose this just get longer every year mom? It feels like it.” Lyssa asked her mother. Arnora sat next to her and held her closer.

“Feels like it, I'll turn on the radio in the morning to hear when it's over, then we can head to Stolas's palace.” Arnora told them. Nova looked back over at Octavia, who hadn't moved from her spot and was just trying her best to not start crying again. The teen silently walked over to this child. “Daddy...” Octavia whimpered, Nova sat next to the frightened child, putting an arm around her.

“You really miss your dad, huh?” asked Nova. Octavia sniffled as she rubbed her eyes.

“Mommy's never around, she's always having these parties, she tell me to leave when I want to play, she never wants to play with me or be at her parties.” Octavia answered..

“You mother doesn't sound very nice.” Nova told her.

“I've met her, and trust me, she is a real piece of work.” Arnora told Nova, Octavia curled up closer to Nova, the teen guessed the warmth reminded the child of her father and just wanted that form of comfort at the time.

“Is she that bad?” Nova asked.

“If a black mamba could that would be her.” scoffed Arnora.

'Okay there's an image.' thought Nova. A vibration sound from Arnora's phone caught her ear. She picked it up and saw who it was on the caller ID.

“Via, it's your dad again.” Arnora called over. Octavia darted over to her godmother.

“He kept his promise!” Octavia exclaimed with happiness, Arnora smiled at her as she messed with a little bit of her hair.

“Has he ever broken one to you yet, my sweet little raven.” said Arnora, she flipped opened her phone and hit the answer button before turning it over to Octavia.

“Daddy!” Octavia spoke with such happiness. Stolas could feel himself trying not to cry once again when he heard his daughter's voice.

“Via! Oh my owlet you have no idea how good it is to hear your voice, even if it's over a phone, are you about ready to go to sleep?” Stolas asked her.

“I know you'll be waiting for me at home when I wake up right? And you can tell me stories at bedtime like always?” Octavia asked him. The prince choked back some tears upon hearing his daughter's request, he always did his best to tell his daughter a bedtime story every night.

“As many stories as you want my starfire, as many as your little heart desires.” Stolas answered. He then heard whimpering and he could feel his heart start to break once more hearing her about to cry.

“Are you still a little scared my dear? That I'm not there, and all the sounds outside?” Stolas asked his daughter. Octavia started to cry once again, Stolas could hear her over the phone once more.

“Y-yes.....I'm.....I'm trying to be brave and.....not cry but-” Octavia broke down crying. Oh how desperately Stolas wanted to reach through the phone and hug his daughter tightly, to tell her how things were going to be okay.

“Via dear shhhh shhh it's alright, even the bravest of us get scared, I-I'm actually scared right now.” Stolas did his best to comfort her over the phone.

“Really? But I've never seen you scared.” said Octavia.

“I am now, because I thought I was going to lose you, and I always have to be brave for you, that's how you know everything will be okay, and if it's not okay, then it's not the end, you just have to be brave for tonight, alright?” Stolas said to his daughter.

“I-I'll try.” Octavia told him before he heard a tiny yawn on the other end of the line.

“Sounds like someone is sleepy, ready for that lullaby I promised you?” asked Stolas. Octavia rubbed her eyes as she tired to stay awake “Yes.” Octavia answered sleepily.

“Good, now make yourself comfortable, and pretend you're back home in your bed, safe and sound.” Stolas started to speaking softly. Then a soft melody came through the phone putting almost everyone to sleep, Lyssa curled up under a blanket near her mother, while Octavia used part of Nova's dress as a pillow as she too was fast asleep under the covers. Nova could barely stay awake herself. Arnora slipped the phone back from a sleeping owlet.

“She's asleep Stol.” Arnora told her friend.

“Arnora, thank you so much for this.” Stolas replied.

“What are best friends for, you'd know I'd do anything to make sure my god-daughter is safe, because god's help the one who hurts her.” Arnora nearly snarled. Stolas gave a nervous laugh before he gulped, he knew this hounds temper all too well.

“I have not forgotten your temper, not in the least, and Stella sure hasn't.” replied Stolas. The hound smirked at the name of his wife.

“Chew that bitch out yet?” Arnora asked.

“We had a nice little chat, she's no longer allowed to host parties on days she has to keep an eye on Via, at least until she's older, and the garden's gates leading outside to t he city are going to be locked whenever she's out there.” answered Stolas. Arnora gave a light laugh.

“Really stepping up your game, Stolas you're a great dad, don't let Stella tell you other-wise, she doesn't know you like I do.” Arnora told him, the prince gave a smile.

“Thank you Arnora, I'll see all of you tomorrow.” Stolas told her.

“See you then.” said Arnora before they both hung up their phones, Arnora placed the phone within reach just to be safe before she too covered herself with a blanket and started to fall asleep. In the middle of the night, Nova was stirred awake by soft crying, she looked down in her lap and saw it was Octavia crying.

'Poor thing must be having a nightmare.' thought Nova, she placed her hand on the child's head and started to softly sing to her, just like her father had done.

“You're okay, you're alright, I'll never ever leave your side, I will stay, I will fight, for you.” Nova sang the melody then hummed it as she saw Octavia starting to calm back down. The teen smiled down at the child before falling back asleep herself. What sounded like fireworks woke up Arnora, she looked around and saw the others were still dead asleep, carefully she stood up so as not to wake her daughter. She found a pocket radio she kept on hand in the shelter, she turned it on with a click and heard the Radio Demon, Alastor's voice.

“And it's over now folks, we've gone through yet another Extermination, to those who are alive, well done you, just hope you can survive through to next year and-” Arnora turned it off, all she wanted to hear was that it was at last done with.

“Good we can take her home now, rise and shine everyone, we lived.” Arnora turned to her friends.

“It's really over?” Nova asked as Octavia yawned and rubbed her eyes trying to wake up, Lyssa stretched out a little. The larger hound nodded, if she wasn't already sitting down Nova would have fainted back onto the floor.

“Now to get you home Octavia, your dad has probably pulled out half of his feathers with stress worrying about you.” Arnora told the owlet, before standing up, Octavia hugged Nova's waist.

“Thank you for staying with me Nova.” Octavia told her. Nova couldn't help but hug the little girl back. Arnora unlocked the door and motioned for her two companions to follow her. Lyssa stepped out ahead of them and waited in an apartment stairwell.

“Bye bye Lys!” Octavia called out to her friend and waved.

“See ya later Via!” Lyssa shouted towards her friend as they left.

Arnora guided them through the city, avoiding where the turf wars were being raged, and punched away creeps or showed her teeth to them. When Octavia felt herself becoming tired she asked Nova to carry her. The hound was surprised how well the two were getting along, almost like they were sisters, the same way her pup got along with the owlet, there was something about this young lady. The sight of purple starry colored walls came into view, Arnora knew those walls.

“I can see the walls of the Palace, almost there.” Arnora told them.

“You should meet daddy big sister Nova, he might like you.” Octavia told her new sister figure.

“Um, I-I don't know if might like me Via honey, I-I'm pretty shy when meeting others.” Nova explained. Arnora chuckled at what she heard.

“Well he isn't shy at all, his wife on the other hand....I feel like I need to keep a spray bottle of holy water on hand for that witch.” said Arnora. There must be some bad blood between these two women to go at each others throats like this.

“You really hate her that much?” Nova asked the hound, they arrived at the gate. “Hate doesn't being to cover it.” answered Arnora as the gate opened up. At the foot of the steps was a tall owl man, looking so worried to the point where he might give out, his red eyes wide.

“Pacing at the steps, just like I thought.” Arnora told herself.

“Is that?” Nova started to ask.

“Yep, Prince Stolas, Via's dad.” answered Arnora. Octavia caught sight of the taller owl pacing in front of the palace, she felt her heart light up at the sight of her father, just as he promised, he was waiting for all of them, waiting for her.

“Daddy!” Octavia called out. Stolas stopped pacing, wondering if he was hearing things, it was his daughter's voice, it wasn't over a phone this time. “Octavia?!” Stolas called out, when he turned, he saw his Hellhound friend and another young lady, and in her arms was his daughter, safe. Nova placed Octavia on the ground. Stolas ran out as he saw his daughter running to him.

“Oh Octavia! You're safe!” Stolas cried out as he scooped his daughter into his arms and held her tightly, scared she was going to vanish, he kissed the top of her head as tears of joy fell from his eyes.

“I-I'm sorry daddy.....I didn't mean to leave the garden and-and...” Octavia started to cry on his shoulder. This time he was actually here for her, Stolas pulled her off his shoulder and used a finger to wipe away her stray tears.

“It's alright Via, I have my starfire back safe in my arms again, that's all I care about, I thought I'd lost you forever, because of your mother.” Stolas comforted his daughter all while trying not to cry himself as he held her tightly, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Stol, she's alive, that's what matters, deal with Stel later.” Arnora told her friend. Stolas took a few deep breaths. Then looked at his daughter.

“You're right, I am taking the day off from meetings and whatever needs to be done, and spending the day with my daughter.” Stolas said.

“Really?” Octavia asked. He nodded.

“Anything you want to do today Via, we'll do it, go to the park, get ice cream, go stargazing, whatever you want to do.” answered Stolas as he hugged her again.

“But you need to meet big sister Nova first.” said Octavia. The prince had almost forgotten about his daughter's savior, he could see the teen trying not to be noticed, she looked away from him as he approached her. Nova gulped, she was far too nervous.

“You must be Nova.” said Stolas. She quickly bow to him.

“I-I am sire.” Nova answered, she dare not look up at and closed her eyes to be sure she didn't look at him, but he spoke with a kind voice to her.

“Your eyes, may I see them?” Stolas asked her.

“Really?” Nova replied to him. Stolas smiled at her.

“I can tell a lot about someone by looking into their eyes, and your voice sounds just as beautiful as it did over the phone.” answered Stolas. Trembling from the nervousness she felt, Nova raised her head and opened her eyes, the prince was taken back, he had never seen such eyes like these before.

“Eyes like amethysts, such a rare color, you have such beautiful eyes dear.” Stolas told her. Nova felt her heart racing when she saw the owl prince this close, but to say she had beauty was something she had never heard before.

“I-I-I have to leave, I'm glad Octavia's safe with you again, goodbye!” exclaimed Nova before she ran for the palace gate. “Wait I-” Stolas tried to follow her but by the time he reach the gate she had rounded the corner and was gone.

“I haven't thanked you properly.” Stolas added. Octavia looked up her father before looked back onto the street.

“Where did she go daddy?” asked Octavia.

“She might have had to go home dear.” Stolas answered her as he hugged her again and Octavia hugged her father back.

“Will I see her again? I really liked her.” Octavia told him, Stolas smiled.

“Maybe, you might find her again or she might find us, the world works in mysterious ways, and the stars might a line for us to see her again, someday when you're older.” Stolas told her. Octavia giggle as she felt her father's forehead against her own.

“But let's get you back inside, you've been through enough the last two days.” added Stolas as they returned into the palace walls. Nova peaked out from the wall she hid behind to get one last look at the kind owl prince, she had never felt her heart race before until she saw him.

'A prince, and I just ran off! He said I have beautiful eyes and voice, no one has ever told me that.....' thought Nova. She placed her hand over her chest, she felt a tiny smile upon her face and her face starting to feel warmth from the blushing.

'I want to see him again, one day.' Nova thought to herself one more time before she started the way home.

[nobunaga-the-warlord]

Orchestral melodies rang through the halls of the palace mixed with chatting guests. Nobunaga watched his guests nervously enjoy the party on the most stressful night of the year with a strained smile. Muscles tensed against the glass in his hand feeling another bombardment against his magic protecting them. Excusing himself the dragon disappeared into the kitchens.

A groan of exhaustion escaped him finally able to relax his facade. Tonight never was an easy endeavor. Magic like this took nearly everything out of him to protect them from the exterminators... But he had a contract to fulfill. All he had to do was keep up his act until the clock struck midnight... No need to worry the others.

"Keep it together, Tokugawa." Murmured the former Emperor to himself. "Only a few more hours left."

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 12.16

714 – Pepin of Herstal, mayor of the Merovingian palace, dies at Jupille (modern Belgium). He is succeeded by his infant grandson Theudoald, while his widow Plectrude holds actual power in the Frankish Kingdom. 755 – An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Yanjing, initiating the An Lushan Rebellion during the Tang dynasty of China. 1431 – Hundred Years' War: Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre Dame in Paris. 1497 – Vasco da Gama passes the Great Fish River at the southern tip of Africa, where Bartolomeu Dias had previously turned back to Portugal. 1575 – An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.5Mw  strikes Valdivia, Chile. 1598 – Seven-Year War: Battle of Noryang: The final battle of the Seven-Year War is fought between the China and the Korean allied forces and Japanese navies, resulting in a decisive allied forces victory. 1653 – English Interregnum: The Protectorate: Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. 1689 – Convention Parliament: The Declaration of Right is embodied in the Bill of Rights. 1761 – Seven Years' War: After a four-month siege, the Russians under Pyotr Rumyantsev take the Prussian fortress of Kołobrzeg. 1773 – American Revolution: Boston Tea Party: Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians dump hundreds of crates of tea into Boston harbor as a protest against the Tea Act. 1777 – Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation. 1782 – British East India Company: Muharram Rebellion: Hada and Mada Miah lead the first anti-British uprising in the subcontinent against Robert Lindsay and his contingents in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah. 1811 – The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri. 1826 – Benjamin W. Edwards rides into Mexican-controlled Nacogdoches, Texas, and declares himself ruler of the Republic of Fredonia. 1838 – Great Trek: Battle of Blood River: Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius and Sarel Cilliers defeat Zulu impis, led by Dambuza (Nzobo) and Ndlela kaSompisi in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 1843 – The discovery of octonions by John T. Graves, who denoted them with a boldface O, was announced to his mathematician friend William Hamilton, discoverer of quaternions, in a letter on this date. 1850 – The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand. 1863 – American Civil War: Joseph E. Johnston replaces Braxton Bragg as commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. 1864 – American Civil War: Battle of Nashville: The Union's Army of the Cumberland routs and destroys the Confederacy's Army of Tennessee, ending its effectiveness as a combat unit. 1880 – Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire. 1882 – Wales and England contest the first Home Nations (now Six Nations) rugby union match. 1883 – Tonkin Campaign: French forces capture the Sơn Tây citadel. 1905 – In Rugby Union, The "Match of the Century" is played between Wales and New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park. 1912 – First Balkan War: The Royal Hellenic Navy defeats the Ottoman Navy at the Battle of Elli. 1914 – World War I: Admiral Franz von Hipper commands a raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. 1920 – The Haiyuan earthquake of 8.5Mw , rocks the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000. 1942 – The Holocaust: Schutzstaffel chief Heinrich Himmler orders that Roma candidates for extermination be deported to Auschwitz. 1944 – World War II: The Battle of the Bulge begins with the surprise offensive of three German armies through the Ardennes forest. 1960 – A United Airlines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, New York and crash, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and six more on the ground. 1968 – Second Vatican Council: Official revocation of the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain. 1971 – Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: The ceasefire of the Pakistan Army brings an end to both conflicts. This is commemorated annually as Victory Day in Bangladesh, and as Vijay Diwas in India. 1971 – The United Kingdom recognizes Bahrain's independence, which is commemorated annually as Bahrain's National Day. 1989 – Romanian Revolution: Protests break out in Timișoara, Romania, in response to an attempt by the government to evict dissident Hungarian pastor László Tőkés. 2013 – A bus falls from an elevated highway in the Philippines capital Manila killing at least 18 people with 20 injured. 2014 – Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants attack an Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 150 people, 132 of them schoolchildren.

[hazbinextgeneration]

Safe Haven’s Angel Book2 Ch2

-Vikki:

After the attack of her uncle against her and revealing her secret to crossbones, Vikki went on to study more about cryptids and magical creatures to help better protect herself and others. Becoming a great cryptozoologist and marries Crossbones later in life.

-Crossbones and Hellbent:

Crossbones takes over his mothers' tattoo business drawing a lot of the patterns available himself as well as an art gig on the side to earn extra money. Also marries Vikki. Hellbent goes from wrestling himself to becoming the future wrestling couch for ZPA as well as marrying Cappuccino and eventually settling down and having a child with her they named Crimson.

-Margo:

After the entire misunderstanding between herself and Helsing the two do actually get together and it was thanks to her that Helsing's more violent nature toned down a little, but only just a little. She still works within the palace and still enjoys hell compared to the surface world.

-Indigo:

Indigo still serves as Helsing's personal body guard and often accompany him whenever he goes anywhere in hell or to fancy parties. Although now he's happily married to Miracle who he adores very much.

-Helsing:

Still pretty much the same. Although now he's more laid back and tries not to push himself around so much anymore with help from Margo opening his eyes.

-Julian:

Julian continues to dabble in magic as well as working as the drama teacher at ZPA with Camelia as his wife.

-Dimitri:

Dimitri has the most peaceful life out of all of his siblings. Painting and owning his own yoga studio while married to his now boyfriend Thomas.

-Zoey and Jamie:

The twins paths took completely different routes. While Jamie is living a simple life of studying to become a counsler to help others with their own self-esteem Zoey married Winter and took her track career to the next level to become a professional athlete.

-Mavric:

Mavric takes over for Carrie as ZPA's expert in beastology and is married to Jamie.

-Bow and Samson:

Samson does indeed go on to take their mother's place as Winter's body guard but Bow however leaves and goes her separate ways. No one is sure what she does, but she makes sure to keep in touch with her family.

-Cappuccino:

Cappuccino simply marries Hellbent and settles down with a child of her own. Not too much to say but it's what she prefers and it makes her happy.

-Winter:

Sadly Winter does indeed take over eventually for his father once he does retire, with Zoey at his side none the less and Samson as his guard. No telling what could come from this future.

-Solstice:

Solstice was and always will be the wife to Castello and she wouldn't have had it any other way. She loves her husband despite what he does for a living and she loves her family she had with him.

-Strawberry Blonde:

After marrying Victor, Strawberry continues her career as both a model and actress.

-Star Glaze:

Because of the events in the story and Cheshire returning to Hell her relationship with him ended but they're still very good friends even to this day. She eventually takes her mother's place as Alpha and leading of the werewolf clan.

-Caramel:

Caramel and Mr. Jangles eventually do start dating. While their relationship didn't last they are still good friends and he even helped to make sure she got a good start on her career backstage on film sets.

-Razzberry and Coco:

Blueberry continues to work in Ozzie's establishment and wait on tables and entertain.

-Blueberry Pride Pie:

Blueberry continues to work in Ozzie's establishment and wait on tables and entertain.

-Fyzz:

Sadly Fyzz would become destroyed in one of the yearly exterminations protecting the Foster home but was sadly damaged beyond repair.

-Clocksworth:

Also died within the same attack years later with Fyzz defending his home and the children he cared for so much.

-Spooky:

Spooky continues her work as a spirit of both Christmas and Halloween with her dads.

[dangermousie]

I love this - his watching the mourning, visibly moved (such a contrast to fairy king or Haishi lord to whom anyone is expendable for their goals; they would never mourn for soldiers, for strangers. Fairy King was fine murdering his own brother!) and as always, Orchid at his side. Because he can feel now, DFQC can feel guilt but (a) even prior to any feelings, he was driven by duty which is more than any other rulers we see had - they were driven by personal whims, whether it’s selfish power craving or obsession with one woman) and (b) it is so telling that once he recovers his emotions, he doesn’t only recover “positive” ones - but what he does with them - try to take care of Orchid, his people etc. Because as this story demonstrates, there is no such thing as good emotions per se - Rong Hao is, after all, driven by love which is traditionally viewed as a good emotion but he is committing monstrous acts for it and disregarding the basic wishes of the object (and I use that term advisedly, she is an object to him) of his affection. I love the point in this drama that emotions do not make you good or bad, it’s what you choose to do with them; and that is a choice. And also - the true proof of whether you are a worthwhile person is not whether you can care for you one “close” person(s) but whether you can care for “strangers,” whether you can feel for them - the way DFQC feels for the warriors of his tribe or even his enemy CH and what Rong Hao, who literally says people are nothing compared to his master after killing thousands of his own tribesmen, is utterly incapable of.

Notice DFQC and CH cooperating? Now imagine anyone in the fairy realm cooperating with a moon person? Hell, nobody except for his brother has a fit that their lord likes a fairy and certainly keeping one around is nbd (the ladies of the palace threw her a party for saving their lord) while in the fairy kingdom anything even belonging to a moon person has to be turned over and exterminated; they have othered them so much they view them as a rabid animal/virus which is horrifying.

CH asks to speak with Orchid and you know what got me? She looks over at DFQC to silently ask if he’s ok with it - she is not asking permission because she’s her own person but she is checking with him because couples are careful of each other’s comfort level. And I love that he, lord jealous and petty, nods yes.

And then, the whole time she is talking (and I love she is telling CH that what she felt was gratitude and what she feels for DFQC is love. Nobody in this drama beats around the bush), he is dying to find out what is going on but you know, he does not come over. Because boundaries!

Bwahaha, I love that he’s always bending himself in half to get to her level, and he’s teasing her about CH, because he is no longer insecure about his place in her heart. AWWW

This is utter and complete adorableness! I love that she knows she has someone to spoil her now, after years of neglect and he has someone to be playful with after years of emotionlessness.

This drama has a fixation on hands I haven’t seen since Flower of Evil days.

EEEEE!!!!

EEEE, he is so startled and pleased by the idea and she’s just pleased. His openness to new experiences is lovely tbh.

Heh, if this doesn’t sum up their respective characters!

I love that he gets “caught” and he is not embarrassed, he’s just happy. And it’s a real smile!!! His openness to emotion and vulnerability is the best.

His carving her name with such a soft look!

[dailyadventureprompts]

Dungeon: The Palace of Martyrs 

“ I Don’t care how HOLY they’re supposed to be, you stack hundreds of dead bodies in one place and things are inevitably going to get spooky.”

Setup: No one set out to build a necropolis in the center of the forest, it started with an overly pious duchess who’s hobby was collecting the reliquaries of saints as a display of her wealth and devotion to the faith. This duchess died wildly unpopular after her part in a treasonous plot was exposed, which involved her bankrolling a sect of religious fanatics who attempted to slay the ruling family and burn down the parliament as a heathen temple of pride and vanity.  Taking this rebellion as a personal slight, the crown seized the duchess’s lands and buried each of the executed zealots there, transforming it from a palatal manor to one of the realm’s largest crypts overnight. 

In the near century since the “Palace of Martyrs” was established, it’s become the defacto dumping ground for murderers, plague victims, and all others deemed too foul for fit burial in holy ground, as well as those from the nearby city too poor to afford their own plot. Nobles will occasionally demonstrate their good will towards the church by paying for new tombs and mausoleums to be built in the quickly expanding necropolis, but even with these erratic expansions the grounds of the palace remain thoroughly crowded. 

Adventure Hooks: 

A great ivory serpent is said to linger in the swamps surrounding the palace, gorging itself on the many unburied cadavers. Worried that this beast may strike out at civilized lands, the gamewarden of the woods is looking for a few skilled monsterhunters to get rid of the beast for good. All is not as it appears however, as the serpent is infact a psychopomp sent by a god of the dead to trap restless spirits within the palace grounds. Without the snake keeping vigil, all manner of restless undead will begin to spill out into the surrounding countryside. 

Yeknow where’s a great place to dump a body? Around a bunch of other bodies. The local band of assassins has been making people “ disappear” into the Palace for a while now, having carved out a neat little working relationship with the local ghouls. Extra points if the players discover this while attempting to dispose of their OWN inconvenient cadaver and have to sneak off the estate grounds without alerting the assassins or the ghouls. 

Bones begin to wash up by the riverside after a torrential rainstorm and ensuing flood carry dozens of bodies off the Palace grounds. An effort to collect these bones reveals a trove of glittering treasure scattered about, attracting the attention of many. Folk begin to speak of a hidden horde somewhere on the old duchess’s estate, and the rumors buried treasure are enough cover the fact that more than a few of these trinkets possess strange abilities.  

A politically illfavored family wishes to bury their departed patriarch with honor, but are unable to secure permission to inter him anywhere on their own land. Still seeking a noble burial ground, the family is forced to consider the Palace of Martyrs, still an available option due to their distant relation to the now departed duchess. Seeking strong warriors who don’t give a fig about their reputation with the court, the party are hired to act as escorts for the burial procession, but may have to pull double duty as exterminators when they find that the duchess’s old mausoleum has become host to all manner of haunts. 

Further Adventures

Those who tarry too long in the mists that surround the Palace speak of encountering a ghastly figure, dressed only in a blood-stained burial shroud drawn up over a wasted and skeletal frame, muttering to itself as it walked aimlessly across the graves. This shambling wretch is the revenant of one Eneryis of Urlensburg, an aasimar cleric who was at the head of the duchess’s failed revolt.   Having lived all his life believing he was righteous, Eneryis threw in his lot with the fanatics against the excesses of the crown, and with his divine birthright quickly became the face of the movement.  Having failed to capture the sovereign after breaking into the palace, Eneryis doomed himself by enacting his vengeance instead upon one of the royal children his minions had laid hands on during the attack, killing not for riotousness but to feed his petty need for bloodshed. 

The act stained Eneryis’s hand permanently red, and severed his connection to the divine. Scorned by his god and overwhelmed by the crown’s forces without his magic, Eneryis was quickly captured,  and committed suicide soon after by using what little remained of his power to work free a section of the bars that held him and drive it into his chest. This was not simply an act of self-slaughter, but was a desperate attempt by the cleric to forstall his god’s judgement, “Pinning” his soul to this existence and ensuring a wretched form of immortality.  

Rotten, regretful, and stretched thin by his long-delayed death, Eneryis wanders the Palace of martyrs endlessly replaying the events that led him to that fateful day. Sometimes praying through tears for forgiveness, sometimes spitefully angry at the forces that “guided his hand”, the revenant often ignores those he encounters, or confuses them for the hated palace guards blocking him from his holy mission. 

To put the fallen Aasimar down for good, one must retrieve the fateful knife which which he sealed his fate, and use it as a focus in a ritual that invokes the revenant’s forsaken god.  This knife may be in the royal vaults as memento of forgotten sorrows, or may be within the Palace of Martryrs itself, washed down river, wielded by an assassin, or stashed in a graverobber’s horde. 

[blueiscoool]

Germania – Hitler’s Megacity

Germania was Hitler’s renewal of Berlin, planned to be a megacity at the centre of his Thousand Year Reich, which started construction prior to the outbreak of WWII in 1938 until it was abandoned in 1943.

Hitler envisioned Berlin as a world capital, comparable with the achievements of the Ancient Egyptians, Romans and the Babylonians. Called the ‘Gesamtbauplan für die Reichshauptstadt’, translated as the ‘Comprehensive Construction Plan for the Reich Capital’ was intended to give the greater Germanic world empire of the New Order a capital that would instil a sense of unity amongst those of Germanic descent.

Historians suggest that Hitler first formulated plans for Germania as early as the mid 1920’s, where he drew sketches of elaborate monuments and mentions the rebuilding of German cities in his autobiographical manifesto ‘Mein Kemp’.

Hitler first proposed the concept to architect Albert Speer in the spring of 1936, an ambitious man who had risen in prominence within the Nazi Party through his architectural achievements, resulting in him being appointed to the position of ‘General Building Inspector of the Reich Capital’ (GBI) in 1937 and tasked to bring Hitler’s vision of a new Berlin to life.

Speer had already been commissioned to rebuild the Borsig Palace into offices for the new Sturmabteilung SA leadership, and would later build the enormous New Reich Chancellery which was completed in 1939 and hailed by Hitler as the “crowning glory of the greater German political empire”.

Construction of Germania began in 1938 with the razing of buildings in the Alsen and Tiergarten districts, where many Berliners were evicted from their homes and resettled in properties seized from Jewish families (resulting in many Berlin Jews being resettled in ghettos and ultimately the concentration and extermination camps).

The demand for labour led to many work camps being built near quarries, among them Gross-Rosen, Buchenwald and Mauthausen. German police rounded up what the Nazis considered ‘undesirable’, targeting homosexuals, gypsies and beggars to be worked to death in quarrying stone or baking bricks, with prisoners of war used later in the war as slave labour.

Several previous construction projects were to be incorporated into Germania, including the Tempelhof Airport, the revamped Olympic stadium, the Air Ministry, the Exhibition Hall (part of the International Convention Centre), the extended old Chancellery and the Propaganda Ministry, and the Germans Workers Front Headquarters.

Central Berlin was to be reorganised along a north-south axis boulevard known as the ‘Prachtallee’, meaning ‘Street of Splendours’, running from just west of Tempelhof Airport from the new South Station. This and an east-west boulevard would have divided central Berlin into four quadrants, where the main routes would be closed off for parades and vehicles diverted to use underground highways (parts of which still exist today).

At the northern end of the avenue on the site of the Königsplatz was a planned forum known as ‘Großer Platz’ meaning ‘Grand Plaza’. This was to be the focal centre of Germania, where on the western side was the Führer’s palace, the eastern side the Reichstag Building, and on the southern side the Reich Chancellery and high command of the German Army.

To the north of the Plaza would be the ‘Volkshalle’, meaning ‘Peoples Hall’, an enormous, monumental domed building inspired by Hadrian’s Pantheon in Rome. The temple-like nature of the domed Volkshalle was ultimately intended for public worship of Hitler and Nazi doctrine, with Speer stating in an interview after the war that “Hitler believed that as centuries passed, his huge domed assembly hall would acquire great holy significance and become a hallowed shrine as important to National Socialism as St. Peters in Rome is to Roman Catholicism. Such cultism was at the root of the entire plan.”

Towards the southern end of the avenue would be a triumphal arch based on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, housing the names of 1,800,000 German soldiers who died during WWI. The arch was meant to erase the shame of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, instead transforming the 1918 defeat into a victory that would mark the beginning of Germany’s rise to dominate Europe.

Doubts persisted at the time as to whether the marshy Berlin soil could hold the weight of these monumental structures, so Speer ordered the construction of the ‘Schwerbelastungskörper’ in 1941, a large concrete cylinder located at the intersection of Dudenstraße to test the ground in preparation for building the arch.

At the beginning of World War II with the German invasion of Poland in 1939, construction was suspended, but resumed after the clear German victory. The defeat of France in 1940 led to Hitler decreeing: “In the shortest possible time Berlin must be redeveloped and acquire the form that is its due through the greatness of our victory as the capital of a powerful new empire. In the completion of what is now the country’s most important architectural task I see the most significant contribution to our final victory. I expect that it will be completed by the year 1950.”

Hitler’s vision however would never be realised, setbacks during the invasion of the Soviet Union led to further construction of Germania to be permanently halted in 1943, with Berlin falling to the advancing Red Army during the Battle of Berlin in 1945.

Header Image – The Volkshalle, Germania – Image Credit : Prisma by Dukas Presseagentur GmbH – Alamy – IY02357979

[navar44]

Above the Ballroom

A bit of writing based on @aaytaro-gt ‘s Inktober prompt list.

Day 5 - Dance

==

Brum sat up above the ballroom, eyes closed as she listened to the musicians play their sweet music. She loved nights like this in the palace, when the Lord had a hundred guests and a party that filled the halls with song and laughter.

She was surprised so many people had turned up, the autumn storm had kicked up strong winds from the south, and the dying leaves were like knives in the air. She supposed some of the nobility wanted to try and wait it out in the palace, others simply didn’t care.

Up in the western attic space, where the Lord allowed their colony to stay, the wind had chilled the rafters and the homes of her fellow borrowers. The palace’s fireplaces had yet to light this yeat, and that would be welcome come the first frost. Until then, they lit candles and tucked themselves in blanket piles.

They also worked to keep the palace rid of vermin, and to keep an eye on those the Lord wished for them to watch. Not all borrowers acted as spies or exterminators though, many simply cleaned small spaces for the maids and other housekeepers. 

It was a fortuitous arrangement made when the palace was built over the borrower colony’s old home, an abandoned shack in an untraveled forest. The borrowers got a steady supply of food, shelter, and even a steady payment; the beans’ palace was free of pests, had generally cleaner rooms, and had litteral eyes and ears everywhere.

The work kept them busy, busy kept a person warm, and a warm person was a generally happy person in the cold seasons. Of course, when a party is ongoing they were to remain in the attic space, or at least within the walls, unless ordered otherwise.

And so Brum found herself up above the ballroom, waiting in the vaulted ceiling in case a candle on the chandelier needed replacing before the night was out. She had volunteered, of course. She loved the music, the dancing, the laughter- it was magical.

Borrowers had their own parties, of course, with music and merriment and dancing; but none were like the beans’ parties.

So she watched from above, looking down at the swirling dresses and coattails, hearing the strings reach a crescendo with the piper before crashing down with aplomb. 

She loved this.

Sometimes, she would dance by her lonesome to the music below, trying to match the footsteps of the dancers. Other times she would picture a dress for herself; beautiful and covered in glistening silk. 

But tonight she simply lay in the frame of her perch, watching the party below, listening to the music as it drifted up to her.

[benevolentbirdgal]

Purim: a Jewish holiday and wild ride from start to finish

So let me tell you about the absolute soap opera that is the Jewish holiday of Purim. The scene is set in ancient (appx. 4th century B.C.E.) Persia during the first Jewish Diaspora, in the city of Shushan (typically identified in secular sources as Susa, a now-abandoned ancient city in what is now Iran). I’m telling you, as a work of literature (even beyond theological implications for Jewish people), this book has everything: love, drama, royalty, intrigue, ego, plots, irony, mystery, and a strong female lead. 

[some non-slur swearing below]

Ahasuerus, party-loving king of Persia executed or exiled (translations argue) his wife Vashti, and had to find a new queen. Why did he do this, you ask? Well, it really starts with an 180-day party across his kingdom for all his subjects to celebrate the third year of his reign. After that absolute rager, party-bro KA has another one immediately after for a week, this time just for the capital city of Shushan. Vashti was having a woman’s party in her quarters, presumably living her best life, when party-bro sends his top seven yes-men to deliver a message to Vashti. This sleaze-ball wants her to appear at his party in front of everyone, wearing her crown, with the clear implication being only her crown. Vashti more or less tells him to pound sand (I mean, not the literal translation, but that’s the sentiment). 

KA’s advisors convince him that this is not only an offense against the king but also against all the men in the country (ah, the joys of ancient patriarchy and toxic af masculinity). KA writes a degree that women must respect their husbands so he has an official reason to get rid of Vashti. Vashti is soon thereafter out of the picture and the king is short a queen. Whether she was a Wise Lady With A Point Who Got Screwed Over or a Vicious Jew-Hating Adulteress Who Had It Coming has been a matter of furious debate for over two millennia (the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud vociferously disagree on her). In any case, KA regrets it pretty quick and wants a new queen. 

At the behest of his advisors (you know, since their last advice worked out soooooo well), KA had a big contest/forcible gathering of young women from around his kingdom and a Jewish woman, Hadassah, was the winner.  Hadassah was an orphan raised by her cousin Mordechai in the city of Shushan. Hadassah is more commonly known as Esther, because she changed her name to hide her identity as a Jew (at the behest of Mordechai). In any case, KA decided he liked Esther best and she became queen (it’s specifically mentioned both that he loved her most and that the palace staff liked her because she was nice to them-it’s unclear how much of an influence the latter was). 

Concurrently, a wicked man named Haman was the top advisor to the king and the king would basically rubber-stamp whatever Haman wanted. Haman was a raging Jew-hater-this will be relevant later. 

Some time into Esther’s reign as queen, Mordechai, who has taken to hanging around the gates of the palace to keep in touch with Esther, overhears a plot by two guards, Bigthan and Teresh, to kill the king. Mordechai alerts his cousin, and she tells the king. It’s recorded in the book of deeds and life keeps moving. 

Some time later, Haman decides (after a promotion to head lackey) that he wants all to bow to him as he passes. Mordechai refused to bow to Haman every single day (citing that as a Jew he bowed to no man), and that did not sit well with Haman. So despite being prime minister and presumably having more important things to do, “genocide the Jews” made it to the top of to-do list. He didn’t like them before, and Mordechai refusing to treat him like a special snowflake was something he took really, really personally (totally can’t think of any modern politicians like that, nope). He told KA, who frankly doesn’t seem to ask enough questions, that there was a people disrespecting the king and his laws throughout the land, and could he pretty-please exterminate them. As a bonus, Haman would “donate” 10,000 silver kikar to the royal treasury (modern conversion vary, but all agree this an absurd amount on money). 

KA handed him the royal seal to do so. Haman was feeling lucky I guess so he decided the best course of action was to draw lots to pick the day for the massacre. [Purim is lots in Hebrew, so that’s where the name of the holiday came from]. The message went out to all the provinces that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, that they citizens and leaders should murder all of the Jews, young and old, man, woman, and child, rich and poor and take their possessions as spoils. 

As this wasn’t exactly a state secret, the Jews knew and were quite distressed. The planned slaughter was like a year out, but what the actual fuck were they supposed to do? If you lived in Persia at that point that, the empire was functionally your entire world, unless you were fabulously/ridiculously wealthy and well-connected. Having several months notice the other locals and your rules were going to slaughter you and take your stuff isn’t particularly useful when there’s really nowhere to go. 

In Shushan, Mordechai (who, although not explicitly in text, is in oral/Talmudic tradition a leader of the Jewish community) goes into mourning. He dresses in sackcloth and ashes, he weeps, and he fasts at the gates of the palace, as Jews throughout shushan and the kingdom are doing. Esther hears of her cousin’s mourning behavior and tries to send along nice clothes through a messenger, which he refuses. It is then that she learns of the decree. Mordechai (through the messenger) implores her to go ask the king if the Jews not getting murdered could be a thing. Esther explains that she could be killed for approaching the king unsummoned. Mordechai stresses the severity of the situation. Esther agrees to ask the king and tells Mordechai to have the Shushan Jewish community fast day and night (as opposed to just day as prior) for three days, and she and her handmaidens will fast too (no word on what the handmaidens thought of this).

On the third day, Esther bravely approached the king, asked him if she could request something. He said anything, up to half his kingdom (which implies to me that homedude, for all his flaws, was actually into her). Esther invited him to a party, where he and Haman would be the only guests. At the party she asks if she can another request. KA is open to it and she invites him to another party the next night. Party-bro king is obviously down and Haman is tickled to death at this second invitation. 

He goes home to brag to his wife, Zeresh, about the invite and also to bitch about how angsty he is Mordechai is still alive (this angst reignited by passing him on the way home). Zeresh suggests he have fifty-foot gallows built to make Mordechai an example on, with the king’s permission, ASAP. Haman orders the building of the gallows, feeling secure in the knowledge that his bestie the king will execute Mordechai on them. 

Back at the castle KA can’t sleep. He demands a bedtime story from the his records, because those will presumably put him to sleep. The story that gets read, ~coincidentally~, is of Mordechai saving KA’s life. Haman had sidled on up to the castle to speak to the king about killing Mordechai, and the king called him in. KA asks Haman, if he were to honor someone, what should he do? Haman is thinking “this is obvi about me” and tells the king that the honoree should be donned in royal clothing, and ride through the streets on a fancy horse with people someone shouting how great he is. KA is like great, love it, perf, go do that for Mordechai. Haman is not a happy camper but does the thing. After that, he goes home and tells Zeresh about it, who warns him that this is a very bad sign. 

Finally, that night is the night of Esther’s second soiree. Haman and KA attend. The latter offers to Esther anything she wants, up to half of his kingdom. Esther asks that her life, and the life of her people be spared. KA is like “whomst” and Esther revealed it was Haman. At this point Ahasuerus.exe stops working and he takes a walk to the gardens. He comes back to see Haman begging Esther for his life, and KA thinks Haman is assaulting her. Haman was seized by nearby guards.

One of the chamberlains is then like, hey, KA, coincidentally there’s these super high gallows Haman just had built. Why not take care of the problem that way? (The fact that the random nearby chamberlain was like yup, that dude, hang ‘em in the morning, probably says a lot about how Haman treated most people around him, even more than forcing all to bow to him). KA orders it be done. 

Not that Haman was around to be sad about it, but what happened next would have massively pissed him off, as his old job then went to Mordechai. Esther then implored of the king that the degree to allow the massacre of the Jews be reversed. The king couldn’t Cntrl+Z the order to murder-all-the-Jews, but he could issue an order that they could fight back. The proclamation was sent throughout the land, and the Jews were able to prepare. Since the royal decree had been amended, the governments (princes, governors, satraps) largely reformulated their plans accordingly, but plenty of Jew-haters still wanted to use the opportunity. The ability to self-defend meant that the communities weren’t massacred. In most of the kingdom, the Jews were now safe. Outside of Shushan, the fourteenth of Adar became a feast day. 

Shushan was still not safe though. Antisemites were still out and mad (and apparently had not learned from the previous day), so Esther asked the Jews of Shushan to be allowed to defend themselves once more. Her wish was granted, and the Shushan Jews were able to defend themselves once more (so Purim is celebrated a day later in walled cities). 

The story ends with the decision to write it down, and although there some debate on authorship, it is traditionally attributed to Esther herself cowriting with Mordechai. 

Nowhere in the book is God mentioned. Nowhere is there divine intervention (at least not explicitly). Just Jews sticking up for themselves, being brave in the face of mortal peril, and a metric fucktown of chutzpah. 

[hazbinheadcanons]

Charlie and Azrael (angel of death) are close friends since Azrael come down to hell to deliver souls or speak to lucifer

It's a strange and complicated friendship especially for a demon and Angel. Many don't know that angels frequently came down to hell during the year it was common to see angels of death delivering sinners souls to the Palace, each soul has to be added to the book of death, a magical book used by the Royal family to swiftly find information about the sinners life, their sins and their current status in hell. After the yearly extermination the book magically erases the sinners pages once they have been killed.

Normally apprentice angels under Azrael would bring souls to be processed however sometimes its needed for Azrael himself to bring strong and violent souls to hell. Depending on how long it took to process the soul Azrael would spend between a few minutes or a few hours waiting. The Palace was often lonely for a child and charlie would often wander off looking for someone to play with. Charlie found Azrael waiting and decided to invited him for a tea party and he reluctantly agreed so he didn't get on lucifer's bad side. She would often look for him whenever she knew he had visited hell and invite him for tea, she often asked him about earth and heaven since she was always curious about the two places she couldn't visit.

Azrael would often tell her about different experiences he's had on earth and the strangest things he had seen. It always seemed to make the princess smile and giggle as he told the stories. It wasn't often angels got a break when completing their jobs and as the angel of death he hardly took any time off. It seemed twisted to say he looked forward to travel to hell and take a break from all the work while certain souls were being registered in the Palace. Lucifer didn't seem to care that his daughter would pull him away and have tea with him. Sometimes he wondered if his fallen brother does it on purpose? Although the young princess seemed lonely it seemed unnatural to be having tea with a demon even worse he's drinking tea with lucifers daughter, the princess of hell. Such a sweet and innocent child hidden from the cruel and unforgiving world waiting just outside her front door.

How could she be the child of devil? Azrael will never understand how lucifers daughter managed to have such a pure soul. Maybe it was a twisted punishment? Something to remind lucifer what he left behind. Picking up his teacup and slowly bring it to his lips he could taste faintly ginger.

"is this a new blend of tea?"

the princess seemed to pause at the question looking slightly shocked before smiling and nodding in excitement

"yes! It's a new blend from the human world, mother said its called Thai Ginger Tea" that certainly explained the ginger he thought silently before taking another sip of his tea.

She continued to talk about the tea and how different teas had to be prepared. He nodded absentmindedly at the information.

She paused before looking at Azrael "can I ask you what it's like in heaven?"

"why are you so interested in the subject?" he asked curious about her abruptly changing the subject.

She looked down at her tea before stuttering out "nevermind it doesn't matter"

"but..." at that moment lucifer decided to walk in the room, "I've finished with the soul, here's all the paperwork you need to file"

"thanks" he nodded taking the paper out of his hand Azrael began to get up out his chair. "thank you princess Charlotte for the tea, we should do it again sometime"

Of course this lead to the pair drinking tea whenever he visited hell, it was always a new blend of tea and stories shared between the pair, it never seemed to boring when speaking to the princess, she always had something to talk about however he noticed she never asked him about heaven again, maybe he had scared her or she was too shy to ask again. Then one day there was no more tea parties or Charlie. Lucifer seemed angry, it took a while for him to find out she had related a hotel for redemption. An interesting idea but Azrael feared the worst, she would struggle this is hell after all but he also knew she was just as stubborn as her father.

Before he need to leave he had to visit her it was tradition after all. Knocking on the doors of the hotel he waited silently, as the doors opened and the princess stood in shocked he smiled and simply said "I hope I'm not interrupting but i brought some tea" she smiled and nodded slightly teary eyed "of course! How could I say no to you?" as she ran over and hugged him, laughing slightly he hugged her back "I would love to hear this redemption idea of yours"

[jknerd]

The Dragon Emperor

Name: Qin Shi Huang Di (regnal name), Ling Zheng (personal name)

Age: 2000+ (Immortal)

Gender: Male

Occupations: King of Qin (former), 1st Emperor and Founder of China

Relatives: King Zhuangxiang (father), Queen Dowager Zhao Zi (mother), Chengjiao (paternal half-brother), 30 sons and 15 daughters

Character

The Dragon Emperor, famously known as Qin Shi Huang, was the founder of Qin Dynasty, and first emperor of unified China. Son of King Zhuangxiang and Queen Zhao Zi but when his father passed away and inherited the throne, he was only a 13 years old young king. With the support and idea from Li Si, he took down the warring feudal countries of six then along with his of Qin, he unified the countries into one as an Empire, self-titled himself as the Emperor. To preserve the peace, he had the slaves and workers build the Great Wall tp protect China from foreign invaders. Abolishing feudalisms, he reformed the law in appointments based on merit instead of hereditary rights, unified Chinese script for communication system for all of China, standardizing the Chinese units of measurements, including the currency. Asserting the legalism, he executed the burn of Confucian texts and burying its scholars alive.

Ambitious, powerful, but current days he was known for an emperor with controversies. One of the well-known is his unstoppable battle against the death itself for he seeks immortality. He journeyed for the elixir of life, but he passed away in September of 210 BC for unknown cause. Yet it was to be confirmed he would be accompanied by his Terracotta Army in afterlife for immortality. But is he truly gone….? He still lives on… returned to the world as immortal and vows to reclaim his title as Emperor of China once again. Living for so long, he is currently NOT HAPPY with the current situation of a very country he had established. He vows to restore the lost identities of China (due to the Culture Revolution), focusing on preserving the peace of his country and relationships with foreign matters, creating new reformations as he would be China’s eternal ruler. He is still scheming, he is watching everything as he is THE consequences.

In Courage the Cowardly Girl AU: It is to be revealed Di Lung’s family has been loyal follower of the Dragon Emperor, working with other powerful clans to help the Emperor restoring China’s former glory and beauty of its cultures by abolishing the opposing political parties, reviving the monarchy. However, the evil spirits of the treacherous are planning to assassinate him while possessing the bodies of opposing political party. Di Lung asked Courage for help as she and her family were traveling China. It was revealed the leader of the said evil spirits was Dragon Emperor’s mother Zhao Zi. Enraged, the Dragon Emperor exterminated his mother’s spirit once and for all. 

In Grimm Adventures of Billie & Manny AU: Dragon Emperor is portrayed as immortal but considered as powerful guardian spirit residing in the Great Wall. But at the same time, he is a closest and trusted friend of Lord Yama the asian Underworld Lord. It is revealed that he is one of few Manny actually admired as role model for his strong willpower and charismatic leadership. 

In Xiaolin Showdown AU: Aside from Chase Young, Dragon Emperor Qin Shi Huang is an another immortal and powerful figure residing in Asia. He was known for combining five elements of power; earth, fire, water, wood, and metal, learning the global principle of order and knowledges, becoming the immortal being. Despite known for his ambitious and cruel side, he does not take Heylin’s side, but not even helping Xiaolin’s as well. At one occasion where Chase Young interrogated him for the location of other Qiānzì Wén stones for the mystic pearl, the Dragon Emperor’s strong willpower was kept intact while giving Imugi a warning “I will see how much you will try, you will eventually fall from grace STAINING my Great Wall WITH YOUR BLOOD”, INTIMIDATING the infamous Chase Young for the first time. Though he finds Jade’s ambition as equal as his own, he calmly yet so intimidatingly remarked “Let’s see who RUNS this show, lass.”

In Samurai Jeanne AU: As Jeanne traveled the time past and future of China, the large country was ruled once again by the Dragon Emperor as he had made a pact with Akujo. He is one of Jeanne’s few adversaries that cannot be defeated. However, he was moved by her virtues and determination for what is right, he decided to help ally with her in finding way back to time or locating where Akujo’s allies are. Yet, he told the samurai princess no matter how the time changes, his future will still be the same.

In Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss AU: In Hell of China, Qin Shi Huang is the ruler, the overlord. He has no separate demonic form, but nonetheless he is one of the strongest overlords in all continents of Hell. Residing in golden palace with floor of pale jades and finest furnitures, he is regarded as the most terrifying politician of the afterlife, impressing most of the Seven Kings of Hell. Satan is impressed with the large scale of wars he fought with his army and his cruelty on the traitors. Asmodeus is impressed of how many concubines he had in past life and curious of what are their kinks. Leviathan is jealous of so much successful achievements the Chinese Overlord had. Mammon was moved by the large scale of palace made of gold and gemstones with finest silks. Beelzebub LOVES the cuisines in his palace made by great royal chefs. Lucifer respects the Dragon Emperor with the conquest he made in both previous life and afterlife. Belphegor most likely wonders when he will ever rest from seemingly endless duties.