#face 1's horns - face 3's face and face 4's scales

[abbysleftbicepp]

The Thief And The Fairy

An Ellie Williams x Maleficent!Reader au. part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5

An: This fic is the result of an idea that’s been rotting my head for months. The story line will be extremely close to Maleficent, and a lot of the lines will be exact to the film. Fair warning, it is a strangers to lovers to enemies sooo yeah 🫶 not proof read.

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Once upon a time, in a far off land, there lived a little girl. She was no ordinary girl, for she lived in the branches of a tree on the top of a mountain. Most of her features resembled a human, however a few of her features did not.

The girl carried long, dark, feathered wings on her back, and upon her head were two scaled horns that curled ever so slightly. Her ears were almost human, as they spiked near the tops, and her cheek bones were as sharp as a blade.

The girls wings could carry her high up into the clouds and she felt like she danced with the stars as she flew, the wings never faltered nor failed her. She trusted them with her whole life.

Her tree belonged to her land, known as the Moors. It was located in a large forest next to a kingdom. The Moors and the kingdom had been at war for centuries, until 7 years ago, when the king had claimed her parents heads on his sword. Two years later, the king had died and his son, Jesse, took his place on the throne.

Because of this, Y/N was unfortunately the only one of her kind left in the Moors. There were goblins, Gorgons, Pixies, Sirens, Spriggans, mushroom fae and more. There were many family’s of each, creating a population of the Moor folk.

Although Y/N was only 14 years old, she claimed the title of the protector of the Moors, just like her parents once were. This was a mutual agreement between the moor-folk as she had the strongest wings and a power stronger than they had seen ever before. She was able to heal and break with the stroke of her finger, and she did not know what she was fully capable of, yet.

One day, Y/N was helping some of the pixies mend some of the crops, as a storm had destroyed their farmland the night before. As she used her magic to heal the poor crops, one of the Spriggan soldiers, Balthazar, came to her.

The Spriggan folk look a lot like trees. They disguise themselves as such from the humans, as a way to hide from them. Their ears are large and can shield their faces from harm, they have sharp wooden teeth and their body’s almost resemble a skeleton made out of wood. Their jobs were along side Y/N, as her soldiers. They usually carry wooden spears with them as weapons and did not speak human like the pixies and Y/N could, however they could still understand it.

Balthazar made some earthy deep sounds, which is the Spriggans way of communicating.

“What do you mean there’s a human in the Moors? there hasn’t been for years.” Y/N protested, slightly nervous to encounter her first human since the last war, where her parents were stolen from her.

He replied with similar noises as a moment ago.

“She’s stealing from the pool of jewels? Tor heavens sake we need to stop her. They’re not hers to take.” She announced before flying up into the clouds and towards the pool of jewels.

When she arrived, two more Spriggans were surrounding the entrance to a small cave in the mountain right next to the pool, however it was covered in ivy so she couldn’t see the human hidden inside. She landed on a grass covered rock inside the pool, in-between the Spriggans.

“Come out!” She demanded. She had no response from the human, maybe they speak a different language now? She decided to try her luck again.

“Come out this instant!” She spoke louder than before.

“No! They mean to kill me!” A female voice spoke. Her accent was different to the humans that Y/N remembered. Perhaps the humans had changed their way of speaking the language.

“They don’t mean to harm you whatsoever. They know you have something that doesn’t belong to you. You have to give it back!” She spoke loud and clear.

The hidden human hesitated, but slowly crept out of the ivy, into the open. She had auburn brown hair, pale green eyes and freckles scattered along her face. Her hair was tied up into a pony tail and she wore ragged old clothes, covered with an old brown cloak. She looked quite small for a human.

“Are you fully grown?” Y/N asked curiously, analysing the humans appearance.

“No..” The human responded.

“I believe she’s just..a girl?” Y/N said slightly confused to her soldiers.

“And you’re just a girl…i think..?” The human stepped into the conversation.

“Who are you?” Y/N asked the human who stood before her.

“I’m called Ellie. Ellie Williams. Who are you?” She replied with confidence.

“Y/N” The fairy replied with the same amount of confidence. One of the Spriggans quickly reminded her of why she was here, meeting the human.

“Yes! right.” She spoke. “Like i said earlier, i believe you have something that doesn’t belong to you.”

“No i dont.” Ellie said confused, trying to act dumb. Y/N rolled her eyes and held out her hand expectedly. Sighing, Ellie digged into her pocket, retrieving a jewel and chucked it to Y/N’s hand. Y/N then gently tossed the jewel back into the pool.

Y/N and Ellie walked together through the forest, as Y/N wanted to make sure the girl was safe leaving. Ellie’s eyes were glued to Y/N’s wings, she felt drawn to them. They were like nothing she’d seen before. She decided to speak before her stares got too weird.

“if i’d known you’d throw it away i would have kept it.” Ellie complained, knowing she could have gotten a meal by paying with that jewel, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten a whole meal.

“I didn’t throw it away. I delivered it home, as i’m going to do with you.” She announced. The girls walked through the woodlands together in a comfortable silence. Ellie admired the nature around them, and gasped as fireflies flew passed them.

Finally, they reached the end of the forest where there was a large grass field that separated the Moors from the kingdom.

Ellie came to a halt, Y/N following suit.

“Y’know, some day i’ll live there,” Ellie spoke, pointing into the distance. “In the castle.” She frowned, hoping her dreams will someday come true.

“Well where do you live now?” Y/N asked curiously. She was so drawn to Ellie in a way she couldn’t describe. She’d never felt like this before.

Ellie turned her face away, embarrassed to face Y/N as she responded. “In a barn..”

“So your parents are farmers then?” Y/N continued, not noticing Ellie’s demeanour change.

“My parents are dead.” Ellie responded quite bluntly, her head hanging low.

“Mine too.” Y/N looked at Ellie with sympathy. Maybe not all humans were bad anymore. Maybe it was time for the moors to stop being afraid.

Ellie looked back at Y/N with the same expression. She stared into the fairy’s eyes for a while before speaking up.

“We’ll see each other again.” She said with confidence, turning so her back was to Y/N and took a few steps forward

“You really shouldn’t come back here you know.. it’s not safe.” Y/N protested, she almost cared for the human. She felt connected to her in ways she didn’t understand.

Ellie turned around again to face the winged girl. “and if i made that choice, if i came back…would you be here?” Ellie asked with a smile tugging on her lips.

Y/N looked around for a moment, she was lost in thought.

“Perhaps.” She shrugged with a smile. Ellie was beaming, and stretched her hand out to shake Y/Ns. When the girl took Ellie’s hand, she immediately took it back and gasped in pain. Ellie’s face dropped and concern rushed through her body.

“What’s wrong?!” She exclaimed, her eyes searching Y/N’s face for answers. Y/N gripped her palm in pain, where Ellie’s ring touched seconds ago.

“Your ring..Iron burns fairy’s.” She explained to the concerned human in front of her.

“I’m so sorry!” Ellie said apologetically, before she took her ring off and threw it as far as she could. Y/N felt her face heat up and her heart grow warmer. Humans were a lot kinder than she thought, so it seems.

“I like your wings.” Ellie spoke, interrupting Y/Ns thoughts. The fairy’s grin only grew wider upon hearing her words as Ellie walked across the fields, towards her home.

Later that night, Y/N couldn’t sleep. Her mind was flooded with thoughts of Ellie and how she, who had so little in the world, threw away her ring so that their hands might touch again. Her heart longed to see the human once more, and all her hatred towards the humans had shifted into peace in her mind. She believed that maybe they’ve changed, and that there is good in them.

The young thief who had once hoped to steal a jewel, had managed to steal something far more precious.

“Y/N?” Ellie called outside the forrest, where they she had last seen the fairy. “Y/N!” She called over and over again. After a minute or two of calling her name, she decided it was hopeless and sighed. Suddenly, there was a gust of wind behind her, and she heard something thump onto the ground.

Turning around in a haste, Ellie saw the girl she had hoped to see stood in front of her, smiling ear to ear.

“After all these weeks, look who came back” Y/N teased. Ellie smirked and walked closer to the girl.

“I thought it was worth the risk.” She replied, a smile growing bigger on her face by the second. “So, what do you do to entertain yourself around here?” Ellie asked, and Y/N only replied with a smirk.

“Follow me.” She spoke before running into the Moors. Ellie quickly followed suit, curious as to where they were going.

[leaves-and-inks]

🐉Sketch Dump🍃

Here’s some sketches of mine that I like!! As you know, August is approaching, and with it, Smaugust. I’ve learned in the past that drawing every day *doesn’t* work for me, but I will be participating! My goal is to have a dragon posted at least once a week, maybe a little bit more! But there no way I wasn’t participating!

[ID: Image 1: Two pencil sketch headshots of a dragon. The first headshot faces to the right, and the second one, head on. The dragon has a beaked nose that rises to a horn, scales, and two horns rising from its head. It’s eyes with slit pupils face forward. Some teeth are visible under its lip. Leaves obscure the top of the paper.

Image 2: Full body pencil sketch of a satyr-like creature crouched down, their hands on the ground. They face left, and have stick-like horns, large, deer or bat-like rounded ears, and a tail with fluffy fur on its end. Fur covers their back, shoulders, sides of their face, hoofed legs, and tail. Their hair is medium length and fluffy. Their hands are flexed so that their fingertips make contact with the ground, and roots emerge.

Image 3: Headshot line art of Aspen. Aspen is a deer satyr with antlers, horizontal pupils, deer ears, and a deer-like mouth. She faces slightly left with a smile. Her hair is braided with flowers, her top is entwined with leaves, and she has a blanket of leaves Draper over her left shoulder. To her right is a cropped off wooded surfboard. The line art is done with black and sepia ink. Leaves are partially obscuring the surfboard and are in the background on the right side.

Image 4: Pencil sketch of a dragon roaring and its wings flared. It faces right in profile view. It has fins on its back, two claws on worn, leathery wings. It’s face is furrowed in anger as it bares its teeth and it’s tongue curls up. It has two horns on its head and a pointy snout. It’s body is covered in scales. The head of another dragon to its right is obscured by leaves.

Image 5: Pencil sketch of a dragon mid-flight. It faces left, its head in profile view and the bottom half of its body twisting to its left. Its body is vertical, and its wings are cropped and fully extended. The dragon’s limbs are relaxed and raised slightly. It has two head horns, scales, small nose horns, vacant eyes, skin flaps under its chin, and fins along its back and cheeks. Leaves obscure the page in the bottom left and top right corner.

Image 6: Head shot pencil sketch of an antlered wolf-like creature. It faces forward with a neutral expression. It has empty eyes, thick branching antlers, big, curved ears, a bare, wrinkled snout, and in the left hand corner, the beginnings of a wing can be seen. Fur covers its head and neck in a thick mane.

Image 7: Half-body pencil sketch of Aspen. Aspen is a deer satyr with antlers, deer ears, and a deer-like mouth. She faces three quarters left, looking down slightly with s grin. Her pupils are not filled in. Her hair is mostly down and blowing to her right, with a flower crown, a single braid on her right side visible. She grips a rustic walking stick with both hands, and wears a blouse with leaves forming the collar and upper chest area down to the top of the Lowe chest. In the background of the page, leaves and greenery is seen in the right hand corner, extending to the top left and bottom right.

Image 8: Pencil sketch of a headshot of a dragon. It looks up to the left corner in profile view with vacant eyes. It has a pointy snout with two nose horns, and two horns on the top of its head pointed behind it. The dragon is adorned in scales, the scales on its neck being more square and jagged. Another sketch is barely visible to its left, and leaves and greenery can be seen in the background on the right./end ID]

[writeraven]

[S]INS OF ORIGIN — record.02

CHAPTERS: [ 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 ]

CODAS: [ 1.1a | 1.1b | 1.1c | 1.2a | 1.2b ]

TAGS: [ isorawrites. » YoRHa: Dark Aftermath ]

LINKS: [ Tumblr » Story, Project | AO3 » Work, Series ]

SHIPS: None. MUSES: 3B (Sora).

NPC: 2B, Pod 042, Pod 153.

WARNING — violence, some language.

record.02 — re[W]ind.

「生存は、最強のためです。」 “Survival, is only for the strongest.”

How long has it been?

[ Mock simulation, no. 16942. Final wave. Commencing battle. ]

One by one, the fallen 2B clones got to their feet and collectively lunged for an android with dark horns and dragon-like scales. One by one, they were slain by said android and fell down to the ground, still and silent once more.

[ Mock simulation, no. 16942. All stages complete. Well done, 3B. ]

How long must I do this?

The android called 3B grimaced at the wreckage around them as they sheathed their silver-white bayonet behind their exposed back. Looking up at an unassuming pod floating above their head, they asked with slight breathlessness, “…When will this end?”

The pod lowered itself to 3B’s eye level, buzzing with static as it regarded the questioning android with its blank face. [ —When the time comes, you will know. ]

“…And when will that be?”

The static noise grew louder for a moment; finally, the pod replied in a clear, deadpan tone. [ Mock simulation, no. 16943. Download complete. Get ready to recommence battle. ]

“…Affirmative.”

In a flash of white, 3B sliced the pod into half with their blade. Security alarms blared throughout the facility; blinking lights painted the walls with a blood-red hue. Knowing that they didn’t have much time to secure an escape route, 3B reassessed their current situation.

They cracked open one of the motionless 2B clones and extracted a black box. With a disgusted grunt, they pocketed the device and fled the scene, bursting through every obstacle thrown in their way with their bayonet. Everything felt like a blur to 3B—of blade meeting metal, and fire meeting glass. Leaving naught but destruction in their wake, 3B made a beeline for the door to their unexpected freedom…

However, the factory had a different plan for them. [ Self-destruction sequence activated. Executing in 5… ]

“Shit,” 3B hissed under their breath in annoyance, plucking a black pod from their thigh before they smashed it against the wall.

[ 4… ]

They flung a headless 2B clone that got in their way down the stairs.

[ 3… ]

They loaded their bayonet with charged bullets, sending an army of disfigured sentinels flying with a deafening boom.

[ 2… ]

I won’t make it in time.

[ 1… ]

3B hacked at the factory door with a bloodcurdling scream, but the smoking bayonet only scraped the rust off the sturdy metal.

[ …For the Glory of Mankind. ]

To hell with gods.

Support me on Ko-fi — https://ko-fi.com/whyraven. Thank you very much for your continuous support☕

[valgasnewsthings]

Mark for wisdom.

 And with age our skin affecting for changes,she is becaming less tight, dry, senstive, and wrinkles with and pigment spot.

And still are displaying small growth for brown colour are senile  keratomas, marks for wisdom, as of joke theirs calling by peoples.

Keratomas or adult warts are known, since lomg time ago, and theirs depicted on pictures, frescoes with wise elders and perpetuated on faces for sculptures.And through peoples are gone beliefs, that are more these keratomas, than a wiser a human, and more interesting and saturated life has been in his.

Keratoma is benign skin forming, which having in males and in females on 45–50  years old and older, to   80 y.old spreading for disease is having till 96 percents, as plaques ability to find in every second.

Scientists are long time tried a reason for theirs displaying, and on the last time theirs opinion as converges, that a seborrhoea keratosis is a not pathology, but a result for ageing natural changing   as happening in the skin, and lowering her reaction for resistance to ultraviolet. And here , that a main faults are ultraviolet rays, and these   facts says, that keratomas are often localizing on the opening skin parts as of high insolation/sun rays/ in these regions. And under affecting of sun rays in a skin manufacturing beginning in a high quantity cells of epidermis. Top skin layer/, accumulating melanin,  are activity beginning separating and hardening. And in results are forming plaques for brown colour, covering with hard scales are keratomas . And these factors are rising probability for displaying senile keratomas:

1.Genetically ,if in parents, brothers, sisters are same forms  had, thus a probably theirs displaying in you is high, but peoples are close inclined to keratomas with freckles, nevnus, pigment spots.

2. Human papillomavirus ,  that by tests are showing in 70 percents cases finding a tie between adult warts and endured papillomavirus  infection.

3. Endocrine diseases as diabetes , hormonal destroys are affecting on skin condition.

4. Lowering immunity activity after endured infection, chemo therapy.

5. Mechanical skin  injuries , damages.

Senile   keratomas are often finding on the face, spine, belly, breast and not affecting palms, feets.

And growing theirs are slowly, as not an all to see skin changes.And  on a first time displaying a one or a few spots of around forms, brown or yellow colour. Tey are later spreading are far, and far, and structure changing. On a spot lace displaying a small convex elevation, soft and slightly hurt in touching, and on this stage are lots of wrong accepting her as for  bump or insect bite. Later in this region displaying brown or black plaque with a not even surface , covering are small crusts and scales.Sizes  for plaques are different, a few are leading till 1-2 cm, reminding, like black bugs, and other growing till 6-7 cm. They are itching and causing strong discomfort, especially if they are having in a place, which injuring by clothes or comb.  Damaging constant leading to bleeding, and hurting forming. And still amazing observation, senile keratoma is transforming in skin horn , and not a art hyperbole, yes, this is true happening, as a hard outgrowth of brown-pink colour, exalting over surface a skin, which covers are scales, like a horn of wild animals.

Historical reference, as a most big skin horns has been removed on 2015 in women , on 87 y.old at China province .And  a forming on length 13 cm, and weight on 350 gr has been decorated her head with a few decades.And  scientists are not opportunity ,that antiquity patients with such disease are served   for prototypes and for demons images.

from Valga s health news,gardening,and cooking ,and beauty . https://ift.tt/SDgNLCR via https://ift.tt/NkeAVWJ

[symphcnii]

I keep wanting to make a Yugiri alt but I know there’s not even a slight possibility that I can make her look somewhat similar without the use of mods because of her special face and scales, so she would look awful to everyone else lmao,,

[phenomenice]

Yaaayyyy it’s RQBB 2022 Time! These are for @emwoman25′s fic, “What a wonderful world this could be”, which is Hamid/Skraak (yessss) and Rated E! And as such, the last image is a crop of the full (NSFW) version which is available on AO3 (I will reblog with the link to this work!).

This project is part of the @pilesofnonsense 2022 Rusty Quill Big Bang and as always it’s been so fun to participate in.

Image IDs are under the cut!

Image 1 Description: A digital drawing of Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan and Skraak in a hospital recovery bed. Skraak is tucked into the bed and is a red kobold with scales over his body and dun-coloured horns. Hamid is a halfling with dark brown hair and warm brown skin. He has fallen asleep while waiting at Skraak’s bedside and has crawled onto the bed, tucking himself in and cuddling up to Skraak. His hand clasps Skraak’s. His brass wings are folded up behind him. In the foreground, Draal’s hand holds a sketchbook with a drawing of the scene in front of him. Skraak has just woken up and is looking in mild surprise at Draal. There is a white pitcher on a bedside table beside the bed, which has white linens.

Image 2 Description: A digital drawing of a thug (left) in a dark blue sweater and dark grey coat. He is looking with a concerned face over at Skraak, a red kobold, who is on his shoulder and holding a knife to his throat. Skraak has scales all over his face, goldenrod eyes, and a set of horns. Hamid is in the front to the right, facing towards Skraak and the assailant. He has dark brown hair and warm brown skin, and is wearing a purple jacket. One of his brass wings is visible.

Image 3 Description:  A digital drawing of an elf, Rubrar (left), giving Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan (middle) a tattoo on his wrist. Hamid is a halfling with warm brown skin wearing a lavender shirt, green waistcoat and purple trousers. He has brass wings. Natun, a bright cool-red kobold is behind him, rubbing his back beside his wings. Natun has scales all over their body, and twisting horns with a piece of jewellery between them. To the right, we can see Hamid’s wrist with the complete tattoo: a crescent moon, dagger crossed with an arrow, and music notes.

Image 4 Description: A cropped version of a digital drawing of Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan (left) and Skraak (right). Hamid has dark brown hair and is gazing warmly at Skraak, who has a small smile on his face. Hamid is a halfling with warm brown skin and brass wings as well as several scales all over his body. Skraak is a red kobold with gliders under his arms and scales all over his body as well as horns. They are facing each other, Hamid is raising up a bit on his arms. They are in a purple room on a bed with green curtains. To the right, there is a side table with a hurricane lamp.

[dedicatedfollower467]

Here’s fanart for the wonderful fanfic “see the fire in their eyes” by @radiantmists for the Rusty Quill Big Bang this year! You should also check out @phenomenice‘s wonderful fanart - we worked together to create a series of comic pages for each chapter of the fic!

I had an incredible time working on these pieces! Thank you to @pilesofnonsense for putting this whole thing together!

Image descriptions for each page under the cut. I know that’s not ideal, but I tend to go overboard when describing comics.

Image 1

A five-panel comic illustrating a scene from chapter 2 of Edgedancer’s Rusty Quill Gaming fic, “see the fire in their eyes.” It is boldly colored in shades of blue and orange.

In the first panel, Grizzop drik acht Amsterdam and Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan are discussing things in a kitchen. Hamid is an Egyptian halfling man with curly black hair, wearing a suit. Grizzop is a bald goblin with large ears, wearing a button-up shirt tucked into his trousers. He is clutching a kitchen knife.

Grizzop: “You think she’s powered. She’s not registered?”

Hamid: “Not as far as I know. I mean, you heard what she said about laws. and it's not like we have any proof…”

Unseen person off screen: “Proof of what?”

The next panel shows an extreme worm’s-eye view of Grizzop throwing the knife, colored in bright orange. Hamid is in the background in blue, shocked.

The knife flies through the air.

In the next panel, the knife was clearly heading towards Sasha Rackett, but she has bent slightly out of the way. It is now heading towards Azu, who has a panicked expression. Sasha is white human woman with short black hair. She is wearing a leather jacket with studded shoulders. Azu is a tall black orc woman with a shaved head and tusks. She is wearing a leather jacket with pins on the lapel.

In the final panel, Sasha is looking down at Grizzop while he glares back at her. In the background, Azu is reassuring a panicked-looking Hamid.

Sasha: “Good throw. What are you looking for proof of?”

End ID

Image 2

A five-panel comic illustrating a scene from chapter 4 Edgedancer’s Rusty Quill Gaming fic, “see the fire in their eyes.” It is boldly colored in shades of blue and orange.

In the first panel, Azu, Grizzop drik acht Amsterdam, Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan, and Sasha Rackett are portrayed in silhouette, standing in front of Barret Rackett, a white man with dark hair, who is seated at a desk. He is pinching the bridge of his nose with one hand.

Barret: “And if I just have the four of you shot?”

Grizzop: “I wouldn’t recommend it.”

The next panel is a close-up of Grizzop wearing a button-up shirt tucked into his trousers, holding a couple of darts. His eyes are closed and he is smiling smugly.

Grizzop: “First, because I’d shoot you before you could shout two words of that order.”

Barret (offscreen): “Ashen!”

The next panel takes up the entire center of the page, and does not have borders. A large “snarl” sound effect covers the top of the panel. Hamid stands in the middle of it. His hands have transformed into claws and his face has a dragon-snout, horns, scales, and a forked tongue. Smoke blows out his nose. A pair of wings spread from his back and stretch to the edges of the page.

The next panel shows Grizzop standing in front of Hamid’s wing, one hand on his hip. The other is holding a handgun, stretched out and pointing at Barret offscreen. His eyes are open and he has a very smug grin.

Grizzop: “And second… because those bulletproof scales come with a fiery temper, if you know what I mean.”

In the final panel, we can see the silhouette of Ashen standing in the doorway. He is behind Hamid and Grizzop, who are both oriented towards Barret with furious looks on their faces. Grizzop still has the gun. The back of Barret’s head and shoulders can be see in the extreme foreground, although he is looking at Hamid and Grizzop so his face is unseen.

Ashen: “Sir?”

Barret: “Get out.”

End ID

Image 3

A five-panel comic illustrating a scene from chapter 6 of Edgedancer’s Rusty Quill Gaming fic, “see the fire in their eyes.” It is boldly colored in shades of blue, orange, and red.

The first panel depicts an underground cavern. In it, Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan is bound, and looming over him is Franz Kafka. Hamid is in blue, while Kafka is in red, wearing a bright red shirt and a long black cloak. Behind the two of them, Oscar Wilde, Zolf Smith, Azu, and Grizzop drik acht Amsterdam are also bound. However, a white silhouette of Sasha Racket shows that she has disappeared from this lineup.

Hamid: “So, what, you make things like… the squizzards?”

Kafka: “The… ah. No, they were a creation of Hades and Persephone, some strange combination of their powers. My creations, when they’re finished, will be far better.”

In the next panel, Hamid and Kafka continue to speak offscreen. However, the panel itself depicts Grizzop leaning forward and grinning at the silhouette of Sasha behind him.

Hamid: “Better? They already have two superpowers, I’d say that’s pretty impressive.”

Kafka: “Their bodies can only handle the strain because they’re half plant matter, and even that is slowly taking them over.”

In the next panel, Kafka and Hamid have been portrayed very small in the distance, and their word balloons are filled with scribbles instead of real words. In the foreground, Wilde and Zolf are both looking over their shoulders towards the silhouette of Sasha, who is looking at a pair of handcuffs on Wilde’s wrists. Wilde has a bandage over the side of his face.

The next panel is a close-up of Hamid, glaring defiantly upwards.

Hamid: “If you want me to shift, you’re going to have to wait for the suppressants to wear off.”

In the final panel, Hamid is grinning. Kafka is still looming over him, but looking back over his shoulder.

Kafka: “Oh, it will have begun to. That’s why I have your--”

Kafka’s face is surprised and upset at what he sees behind him, and he is colored in paler, bluer colors than in previous panels. Behind him, Wilde, Zolf, Azu, Grizzop, and Sasha are standing, free of their bonds, and ready to threaten him. Sasha is grinning and twirling a pair of handcuffs in one hand, while Grizzop has a gun aimed at Kafka. They are colored in bright, vibrant orange.

End ID

Image 4

A five-panel comic illustrating a scene from chapter 8 of Edgedancer’s Rusty Quill Gaming fic, “see the fire in their eyes.” It is boldly colored in shades of blue and orange.

In the first panel, Zolf Smith and Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan are having a conversation.

In the background, we can see a flashback of the two of them in their superhero outfits. Zolf is wearing something like a firefighter’s jacket, boots, and gloves. Hamid has his wings out and has clawed hands with scales on his face. He is wearing a thaub or long robe-like piece of clothing that reaches his knees, which has a small cape-like piece of clothing around the neck and shoulders, though it doesn’t extend beyond his shoulders. They are standing back to back.

In the foreground, Zolf is leaning forward and not looking directly at Hamid, his face slightly pinched with discomfort.

Zolf: “Lot of things I could say about you, Hamid, but you’re not a coward. And it’s not… unfair, to need some confirmation, even if…”

The next panel is a close-up of Hamid, who looks slightly hurt.

Hamid: “Gods, Zolf, if it’s that hard, you don’t—”

Hamid’s speech balloon is cut off by a balloon that crosses into the next panel. It is outlined in bright orange.

Zolf: “I love you, alright?”

In the next panel, Zolf has turned to Hamid with almost a glare. He is colored in bright orange, which stands out against the blue background.

Zolf: “As—as family, like you said. You’re not pathetic, Hamid, I’m just an arse. So—"

In the next panel, Hamid has thrown his arms around Zolf’s neck and is hugging him. There is a broad smile on his face and small tears at the sides of his closed eyes. Zolf’s expression is mostly hidden, but he sighs.

In the final panel, Zolf is hugging Hamid back, looking contrate. Hamid has buried his face in Zolf’s shoulder.

Zolf: “I’m not going to leave.”

End ID

[twdmusicboxmystery]

The Dominant Template in TWD

Hey Everyone! This is a very over-arching pattern that I pinned down after 10x17 aired. So I reference that episode several times. But I reference plenty of others as well. Hope you enjoy it. It’s a new pattern you can look for!

Let’s just say that watching 10x17 and thinking about how Hershel Jr.’s arc is like Beth’s sent me down a rabbit hole and this is the result.

We’ve seen this template so often, I really think this is the dominant template they use to plan arcs on the show, from minor characters that only last a few episodes to full-season arcs to Beth’s multi-season arc.

And once again, this isn’t super groundbreaking. We’ve definitely identified pieces of this before. I’m just kind of seeing it in a new light.

In each example of this template, these are the step I’ve identified as always present or present most of the time. (And maybe they’re always present but I just can’t think of how in every case.)

Basic Template:

1. New threat to the community arises.

2. TF attempts a preliminary fix to the new threat.

3. It doesn’t work, everything goes wrong, people die, and often, the community itself falls.

4. The group splits into smaller groups for various reasons.

5. These smaller groups include the splitting up of both romantic couples and more platonic relationships.

6. Not sure if this is always the case, but often two people end up in a group together who will soon become love interests.

7. More often than not, in the chaos, someone goes missing and is presumed dead, but they aren’t, and they return at some point.

8. Romantic Reunions – eventually the entire group will come back together to face the threat, but the romantic reunions always happen PRIOR to this.

9. The group solidifies again, coming back together to face the threat.

10. Any familial or platonic reunions that haven’t happened yet happen at this point.

So, let’s look at some examples. It gets complicated and wordy to go through every example of this, and I struggle with the best way to explain it. There are kind of two examples in each season (think of it as one for every 8 episodes, roughly) but they also tend to be related, so you could think of them as Part A and Part B.

S4. The first big threat is actually the virus. So not bad people. But let’s focus on the second big threat: the Governor. This example is better for what I’m trying to explain.

Governor’s Arc:

1. The threat is the Gov trying to take over the prison. The secondary threat that brings the group back together will be Terminus. In this case, they’re pretty much two different threats, but in most other seasons, they’re related.

2. Preliminary attempt could be seen as what they did to defeat the Gov in S3, which ultimately didn’t work. You could also see Rick trying to negotiate as the preliminary action that doesn’t work.

3. It doesn’t work. Everything goes wrong. Hershel dies. The prison falls.

4. The group splits into smaller groups, not by choice but because of circumstances.

5. Romantic couples that split: Glaggie, Richonne (They weren’t canon yet, but I think this was purposeful because the writers knew someday they would be.) Platonic splits: Rick/Judith, Sasha/Tyreese, Maggie/Beth, Daryl/Carol, Michonne/Carl.

6. Obviously the two who will become love interests are Beth and Daryl, but there’s also Sasha/Bob to consider.

7. Missing and Presumed Dead: Baby Judith

8. Romantic reunions before the entire group comes back together: Richonne in 4x09 and Glaggie in 4x15.

9. They all come back together at Terminus.

10. Platonic reunions after Terminus: Sasha/Bob and Rick&Carl/Judith.

I’m gonna skip S5 for a minute. You can use this template as something self-contained within season 5. 5b is a little weird because the “separations” are emotional rather than literal/physical, but it still works. But of course Beth’s arc that follows this template starts in S5 and will end up going between 5 and 10 seasons, just depending on how you look at it and how long it takes to get us to the CRM war, so I’ll come back to this.

Let me give you a couple of other examples first.

Season 6:

1. The threat: the walkers at the quarry. (So the threat is usually a bad person or group, but here it’s walkers, and in 4a it was a virus, just so you can see different ways they do this.) The group will come back together in 6x09, pull together, and eliminate the walker threat.

2. Preliminary action: Well, it goes wrong right at first because the truck falls off the ledge and they have to start before planned. But all of Operation Lead the Walkers Away could be seen as the preliminary action that goes bad.

3. It all goes wrong when the wolves show up and blow the horn. The person that dies is Emery. I don’t think tptb wanted to kill off any main characters in this sequence, so they created his character specifically to adhere to this template.

4. The group splits again, though not by choice. Michonne and co to pet shop, Rick…running, Daryl/Sasha/Abraham, etc.

5. Romantic couples that split: Glaggie again, Richonne, Tara/Denise, you might even count David and Betsy. Platonic splits: uh, you know, anyone who’s not romantic.

6. Romantic reunions before the final battle: Richonne early on when Rick gets back to Alexandria (6x05, I think?) Tara and Denise briefly, before Creepy Wolf Dude takes her. And then Glaggie when Glenn returns and they get Maggie off the scaffold.

7. Missing and presumed dead: Glenn, obviously.

8. Two in same group who later become love interests: Sasha and Abraham. Also Carl and Enid, who are both at Alexandria. Clearly the writers use these sorts of situations to forge relationships.

9. They all reunite at Alexandria, Daryl sets lake on fire, they fight the walkers.

10.   Platonic reunions after: they don’t focus on these in a big way in this season, but we see everyone standing together on the porch afterward, Michonne holding baby Judith, and of course Rick talking to Carl.

Saviors Arc:

I’ll focus on S7 here, as I think we see this template several times throughout S7 and S8, but the Saviors arc really spans like 2.5 seasons, so I’ll keep this brief.

1. Threat = The Saviors

2. Preliminary action: attacking the satellite station in 6x13. They thought that took care of the problem.

3. It goes wrong even though they don’t know it right away. Leads directly to Glenn and Abraham’s deaths.

4. The group splits, not by choice, but because Negan makes them. Rick trying to get supplies for the Saviors, Daryl at Sanctuary, Maggie/Sasha at Hilltop, Michonne on her own, etc.

5. Other than Rick and Michonne not being on the same page, there’s not major romantic splittage here. Glenn and Abraham die of course, but in this template, it’s always that the couple comes back together again, so death doesn’t count. We do have Carl and Enid splitting briefly when he goes to the Sanctuary in 7x07. Platonic splits: again, just everyone in different groups who isn’t romantic. So, Daryl/Rick, Rick/Maggie, etc.

6. Romantic Reunions: Carnid, Richonne when they got on the same page.

7. Missing and presumed dead: I think this would be Daryl. It’s a small thing, but when Negan took him, Rick really didn’t know if Negan planned to kill him.

8. Two who become love interests: Again, maybe Carl and Enid outside the walls together? Just not a huge emphasis on the romance here. Though possibly we could consider Sherry and Dwight too.

9. Again, this depends on how you want to see it. You could see the final battle as the end of AOW in 8x16, but if you want to stick with 7a, then it’s when they all reunite at Hilltop and hug in 7x08. See what I mean about how they use this for both big and small arcs?

10. Platonic reunions in 7x08: Maggie/Rick, Daryl/Rick, Daryl/Everyone, etc.

Okay, I’ll stop there with the examples. This took me a long time because you can go through every single season, even every 8 episodes, and see this same thing. There’s so much going on AOW, I didn’t even want to try to pin this down for S8, but I’m sure it’s there. In S9, this works first for Rick’s death and then for the Whisperers. Whisperers, preliminary action = giving Lydia back, but that leads to pike victims. Hilltop falls. You can fill in the other details. S10 is the Whisperers continued, but the first threat was the satellite falling and the fire it caused. You get the idea.

And I think in this episode (10x17) they’re setting up this same template with the Reapers. What we see in this episode might qualify as the preliminary action. It’s very small, but it might. So we might be seeing steps 1 and 2 of the template, using the Reapers as the threat.

So, back to Beth. I guess the main reason this got me all excited is that it simply backs up other things we’ve already theorized. If you think of this template in an extremely long-game sort of way (many seasons), it makes perfect sense.

Beth/CRM Arc:

1. First threat: Grady/CRM. Because we believe Grady was entangled with them.

2. Preliminary Action: the prisoner exchange at Grady to stop the conflict.

3. It goes wrong. Beth “dies.”

4. Group splits. This one is interesting because the group has obviously split and come back together many times over the seasons. But this has to be on a bigger scale than that. So, not just characters coming back together a few episodes later. It has to be more epic than that. Like, having them separated for several seasons? 

So think of it this way: the only people still alive who knew Beth in S4/S5 are Rick, Michonne, Daryl, Carol, Maggie, and Judith. And who is separated from the group right now and for the foreseeable future? Rick and Michonne. 

We also know Daryl and Carol will leave together at the end of S11. I’m assuming Maggie stays behind then, though we can’t know for sure yet. But if things work out the way I think they will based on other templates (like TWB) then at some point Daryl and Carol will split up, too. So, the splits are definitely there, but it’s much more epic in this case. The splits happen over multiple seasons, rather than all at once. Rick in S9. Michonne roughly a season later. Daryl and Carol a season after that, etc.

5. Romantic splits: well, things may change but as of right now, Richonne, Bethyl, Carzekiel are all split up. Platonic splits: Daryl/Rick, Daryl/Michonne, Daryl/Carol, Michonne/Daryl, perhaps Judith from all of these, etc.

6. Romantic reunions: we don’t know exactly how they’ll play out, but I’m assuming Michonne will find Rick BEFORE the final CRM conflict. Assuming Ezekiel has a death fakeout, I think he and Carol will reunite before the main CRM battle. And of course you know I think Daryl will meet Beth on his way to Rick. The romantic reunions always happen BEFORE the big, final conflict. :D

7.  Missing and presumed dead: right now it’s both Rick and Beth, though Zeke may join at some point.

8.  Two in group who become love interests? I have no idea who this will be. Might possibly even be characters we haven’t met yet. Eugene/Stephanie? Kelly/Elijah?

9.  Final conflict is war with CRM.

10. Platonic reunions afterward: Possibly Beth/Maggie, Judith/Various people, main characters with those back at Alexandria, so like Daryl/Aaron, Rick/Maggie, etc.

I was going to give you the rundown for how this template plays out in 10x17. After reading this though, you’ll probably recognize it right away. There’s a part where Daryl and Maggie’s group splits into two to follow two paths. That’s what got me thinking about this to begin with.

Thoughts?

[wtf-triassic]

Shringasaurus indicus

By Stolp

Etymology: Horned Reptile

First Described By: Sengupta, Ezcurra & Bandyopadhyay, 2017

Classification: Biota, Archaea, Proteoarchaeota, Asgardarchaeota, Eukaryota, Neokaryota, Scotokaryota Opimoda, Podiata, Amorphea, Obazoa, Opisthokonta, Holozoa, Filozoa, Choanozoa, Animalia, Eumetazoa, Parahoxozoa, Bilateria, Nephrozoa, Deuterostomia, Chordata, Olfactores, Vertebrata, Craniata, Gnathostomata, Eugnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Rhipidistia, Tetrapodomorpha, Eotetrapodiformes, Elpistostegalia, Stegocephalia, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Sauropsida, Eureptilia, Romeriida, Diapsida, Neodiapsida, Sauria, Archosauromorpha, Crocopoda, Allokotosauria, Azendohsauridae

Status: Extinct

Time and Place: Between 247.2 to 242 million years ago, in the Anisian of the Middle Triassic 

Shringasaurus is known from the Denwa Formation in Madhya Pradesh, India 

Physical Description: Shringasaurus is a very strange looking reptile (befitting of the allokotosaur title), and basically looks like one of those retro ‘slurpasaurs’ from those old dinosaur movies where they just glued horns onto an iguana. At around 3–4 metres long, Shringasaurus was pretty large for a Middle Triassic archosauromorph, and could have potentially stood tall enough to look you in the eye. Shringasaurus had some very unusual proportions, with a small blunt-snouted head on a long, very thick neck attached to some very deep shoulders with tall withers over them. These chunky forequarters contrast with its rear end, with proportionately small hips and a tail that is relatively short compared to other stem-archosaurs. Of course, its most famous features are its bizarre horns over its eyes. These are remarkably similar to the horns of ceratopsid dinosaurs like Triceratops, and are yet another fabulous example of the Triassic doing everything dinosaurs did first. These horns can be as tall as the skull again in large individuals, and curve to face up and forwards. These horns were proportionately smaller in younger animals, and so likely grew in as they matured. Interestingly, one juvenile specimen lacks horns at all, even though a similar sized specimen has them, suggesting that some Shringasaurus, possibly females, didn’t have them. Even on closer inspection Shringasaurus is weird. For instance, it has palatal teeth like some other reptiles, but lots of them, and they’re all shaped exactly like the teeth on the edges of its jaws. No other reptile besides it and its close relative Azendohsaurus have teeth like that. Just imagine how that would look when it opened its mouth.

Shringasaurus embodies the typical azendohsaurid body plan of combining bizarrely ‘advanced’ sauropod-like traits with those of more ‘primitive’ archosauromorphs. Its long neck and small head has obvious superficial similarities, but features of its jaws and teeth are so sauropod-like that they’re only seen in sauropods themselves and azendohsaurids like Shringasaurus—yet another remarkable example of convergent evolution in these animals. Features of its arms are similar to sauropodomorphs too, but its posture was decidedly more ‘primitive’ than them. Its back legs sprawled completely, like those of a lizard, and while the front legs weren’t anything as upright as sauropods, they may still have been held more off the ground in a sort of semi-sprawl than the back ones. This would have given Shringasaurus a sloped back and raised the head and neck higher above its shoulders, so in a way it was still superficially sauropod-like. With horns.

Diet: Shringasaurus was clearly a herbivore from the shape of its teeth, which are leaf-shaped and serrated (indistinguishable from herbivorous dinosaur teeth, infact). The teeth and jaws of its close relative of Azendohsaurus have been studied in detail, and suggest it preferred feeding on the softer parts of plants like leaves rather than tough stems and branches. Shringasaurus had similar teeth, so it likely fed on soft vegetation also. Quite how it used its freaky palatal teeth is anyone’s guess.

Behavior: Not much can be said for sure about its behaviour, but since so many Shringasaurus individuals were found together of different ages, it’s possible that they lived in mixed-aged herds. Sexual dimorphism, if really present, would be a good indicator that the horns were used at least for display, but like the horns of ceratopsids and living bovids it’s also possible they were used in combat, locking their horns in jousts to settle disputes over food, mates, territory, or anything else they might have been grumpy over. The shape of the horns in particular implies they were mostly likely used for this kind of wrestling.

Ecosystem: Shringasaurus  co-existed with a decent variety of other typical mid-Triassic animals in the Denwa Formation. Other large herbivores included two dicynodonts, one a stahleckeriine and the other more like the older Kannemeyeria, as well as an early rhynchosaurid. No less than four temnospondyl amphibians are known from there, including the predatory Cherninia and Paracyclotosaurus crookshanki, a brachyopoid (think Koolasuchus), and a long-snouted gharial-like trematosaurid. The extinct lungfish Ceratodus was also swimming around here too. Shringasaurus was one of the largest animals known in this ecosystem, and probably would have only rubbed shoulders with the large stahleckeriine dicynodont for food sources, browsing on tall, lush plants out of reach of the other herbivores. The environment was a broad, semi-arid floodplain with slow meandering rivers, subject to seasonal rainfall and droughts that may have periodically dried up rivers and ponds.

Other: Shringasaurus belongs to a recently recognised group of archosauromorphs called Allokotosauria, the “strange reptiles”, which includes other peculiar stem-archosaurs like Trilophosaurus and bizarre Teraterpeton. Allokotosaurs all appear to be herbivores, and can be characterised by their strange teeth, but they’ve all got different types of them! Shringasaurus and other azendohsaurids all have jaws full of teeth (including the roof of the mouth) that look just like herbivorous dinosaur teeth. The resemblance is so uncanny that Azendohsaurus was considered to be a dinosaur for decades before the rest of its body was discovered. Trilophosaurids meanwhile have a characteristic beak, which in the unique case of Teraterpeton is so long and pointed that it vaguely resembles an anteater, and their teeth are cusped and interlocking for shearing leaves.

Early archosauromorphs used to be thought of as mostly carnivores and insectivores, while the role of large herbivores was dominated by the synapsid dicynodonts in the Early and Middle Triassic, with archosaurs like dinosaurs and aetosaurs, as well as the rhynchosaurs, only taking over in the Late Triassic. Allokotosaurs like Shringasaurus demonstrate that this was wrong, and that stem-archosaurs were just as capable of being derived herbivores capable of competing with synapsids in the Middle Triassic just as well as the later derived rhynchosaurs and archosaurs, including at large sizes as big as Shringasaurus. Intriguingly, there’s evidence to suggest that Azendohsaurus was endothermic to some degree, i.e. warm-blooded, and given their close relationship it’s probable that Shringasaurus was too. This would make azendohsaurids like Shringasaurus some of the earliest stem-archosaurs to have been warm-blooded!

~ By Scott Reid

Sources under the Cut

Bandyopadhyay, S. and Sengupta, D.P., 1999. Middle triassic vertebrates of India. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 29(1), pp.233-241

Cubo, J.; Jalil, N.-E. (2019). "Bone histology of Azendohsaurus laaroussii: Implications for the evolution of thermometabolism in Archosauromorpha". Paleobiology. 45 (2): 317–330

Ghosh, P., Sarkar, S. & Maulik, P. Sedimentology of a muddy alluvial deposit: Triassic Denwa Formation, India. Sedimentary Geology 191, 3–36 (2006)

Goswami, A.; Flynn, J.J.; Ranivoharimanana, L.; Wyss, A.R. (2005). "Dental microwear in Triassic amniotes: implications for paleoecology and masticatory mechanics". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25 (2): 320–329

Maulik, P. K., Chakraborty, C., Ghosh, P. & Rudra, D. Meso- and Macro-Scale architecture of a Triassic Fluvial Succession: Denwa Formation, Satpura Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh. Journal Geological Society of India 56, 489–504 (2000)

Mukherjee, R.N. and Sengupta, D.P., 1998. New capitosaurid amphibians from the Triassic Denwa Formation of the Satpura Gondwana basin, central India. Alcheringa, 22(4), pp.317-327

Mukherjee, D., Sengupta, D.P. and Rakshit, N., 2019. New biological insights into the Middle Triassic capitosaurs from India as deduced from limb bone anatomy and histology. Papers in Palaeontology

Nesbitt, S.J;, Flynn, J.J.; Pritchard, A.C.; Parrish, M.J.; Ranivoharimanana, L.; Wyss, A.R. (2015). "Postcranial osteology of Azendohsaurus madagaskarensis (?Middle to Upper Triassic, Isalo Group, Madagascar) and its systematic position among stem archosaur reptiles". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (398): 1–126

Robinson, P. L. 1970. The Indian Gondwana formations–a review. In First IUGS International Symposium on Gondwana Stratigraphy and Paleontology, 201–268

Sengupta, S.; Ezcurra, M.D.; Bandyopadhyay, S. (2017). "A new horned and long-necked herbivorous stem-archosaur from the Middle Triassic of India". Scientific Reports. 7: 8366

[dragon-fics]

DOS: Hunter to Lover [pt. 2](Ugauc X Male Elf/reader)

Chapter summary: You wake up by Ugauc’s side and return home. You visit him in secrecy until you are stuck in his cave during s blizzard.

pt. 1, Pt. 2, pt. 3 pt. 4, pt.5, pt. 6

H/C = Hair Colour

I felt warm. It was a nice warm. Like it was the iciest winter, and I was snuggled up under my coziest blanket.

But that didn’t make any sense. It was spring and my mattress didn’t feel like my mattress. It felt more like I had sunk in a giant pillow that in. I could also hear water gurgling softly nearby.

Where am I?

My eyes snapped open in a panic. I could see dimly glowing blue and white specks on a grey rippling canvas above me.

Stars?

Yellow light streamed in through a opening, a green hue added by the leafy vines draped over the opening.

As I looked around, I remembered where I was. I was in his cave... the dragon’s cave. The dragon’s cave whose name I couldn’t remember.

And then there was the warm feeling that was wrapped around me. I looked down, a giant scaled wing delicately wrapped around me. I looked over my shoulder. More green scales.

So, he does have a beast form. I noted.

I propped myself up on my arms and looked behind me. His large green head was curled in around me, as if to provide some sort of border between me and the rest of the cave.

His breaths were deep and long, grumbling softly in his throat as he slept. I smiled at his snoozing body.

I crawled closer to him, feeling the ruff behind his horns. It was so smooth—like a petal. I ran my hand over the ruff, feeling my hand run over the cartilage fingers in it.

Then a new rumble came from his throat.

Was he... purring?

He was purring as I stroked his scales. His lips curled up into a smile. His smile made me smile.

I moved my hand down to his head, running my hands over the rougher scales of his cheek and forehead.

His smile grew bigger.

Good morning, came a masculine voice. The same voice I heard from the dragon the night before.

But he didn’t move his lips. He hadn’t moved at all.

I froze and retracted my hand.

I was enjoying that, he complained.

“How are you doing that?” I asked.

Talking in your head? He seemed amused by my confusion. He opened his eye, an amber gem staring right at me.

“You’re—you’re in my head?!” I exclaimed. I forced myself to my feet and backed up, only to have his wing hit my back.

The dragon raised his head, green scales shimmering in what morning sunlight came into the cave. He looked down at me, sympathy in his eyes. He lifted his wing, and I stumbled off the cushion of animal hides.

I’m sorry, but I have no other way to communicate with you in this form... and either way you’re the only person I can communicate with like this.

I looked straight at him, trying to look hard. 

Just give me a moment to shift and find my clothes.

I glanced aside and turned around.

A flash of light came from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see his bare back as he rummaged around for his trousers.

I quickly whipped my head around, face flushed bright red. Some explicit thoughts rushed through my head before I stopped myself and calmed down. I tapped my bare foot on the ground to distract myself.

“I’m sorry, (Y/N). I didn’t realise elves kept their thoughts to themselves,” He apologised.

I turned around, surprised he had apologized. “It—It’s fine, um—“

“Ugauc,” he reminded me.

I blushed, embarrassed I had forgotten his name. “Ugauc,” I repeated, “I’ll try to remember that.”

Ugauc gave a small nod and knelt by the stream. He cupped his hand and drank some crystal clear water.

“So, um, what did you mean by you’re the only person I can communicate with like this?” I asked, looking down at the meandering stream beside me.

“The bond that connects us, as soulmates, allows me to communicate with you through words, rather than through pictures or emotions with other dragons,” he rose to his feet. “Over time, our bond will strengthen so we can communicate even when we are apart. And after we... officially bond, that’ll be our first step to strengthening our bond... if you wish to do so, I mean. Or we could just spend as much time as we can together,” he finished, looking at me.

“Officially bon—oh... yeah, um,” my cheeks flushed bright red again. Ugauc chuckled.

“It’s all right, little elfling, I’m not ready for that either,” He strolled closer to me, eyes shining.

I smiled back at him.

Then a hungry gurgle came from my stomach.

“Shall I walk you home?”

*-*-*-*

“Here’s fine, Ugauc,” I said, stopping by the last line of trees that surrounded our snowy village.

Ugauc looked from his perch in one of the lowest branches in the tree beside me. He eyed every part of the village. “Are you sure I can’t deal with those elves for you?” He seemed to be annoyed by the fact he wasn’t allowed to take care of his ‘little elfling’ and deal with the elves who had abandoned me.

“If you do ‘deal with them’, you will be found and killed. They will hang your head in our great hall!” I said. “please, just stay safe and away from our village,” I pleaded.

Ugauc looked down at me, his narrowed pupils relaxing. He nodded his head.

“Now, please go before someone sees you. I don’t want to lose you before I’ve even gotten to know you.”

Ugauc slowly nodded his head again. “I’ll see you soon, (Y/N),” he whispered. He turned around and hopped through the trees, gripping onto tree trunks with his sharp nails.

I sighed sadly as he leaped away, before starting forward, staring at my boots. My stomach gurgled again as I walked on the path to my home.

“Oh! (Y/N)!” Called my mother in a relieved cry. I could barely see her before she wrapped her arms around me in a firm hug.

“Mama, please,” I said, trying to sound embarrassed, but it relieved me to see her again, especially after almost thinking I was going to die at the claws of a dragon last night.

She let go of me and looked me over. “Oh, my son! You look famished and filthy!” She scowled. “Come home. I’ll make a big breakfast for you and you can have a hot bath straight after,” she decided with a firm nod. I would not fight her—not that I would have won.

Mama walked me home. As soon as she opened the door she exclaimed, “Look who’s home!”

*-*-*-*

So they’ve been dealt with? Ugauc asked as he tore apart a boar’s carcass, blood splattered against his emerald scales. It had been a week since the hunt, and Bracken and the rest of his team had not brought back a dragon, but they had brought back a dire wolf, which was enough to have them as part of the hunting squad. But our clan leader—who was Bracken’s father—had found out they had abandoned me mid-hunt, so they have been suspended from joining the hunting squad.

I flinched; I had yet to get used to Ugauc’s fierce eating methods. “For now,” I said ruefully.

Ugauc continued to tear the boar apart. We usually send traitors of dragon clans to the Queen’s arena to fight the fiercest of the clan; most don’t make it out alive.

I gave him a horrified look and thought of the best response. “I’m afraid we’re not dragons.”

Ugauc smiled as he ate. That is true. He swallowed his food. What about you? What are you going to do? Seeing as you weren’t part of the hunt.

“They gave me the option to join the squad, but I think I’d like to help teach young archers of our clan, or I might try out some new trades,” I said, nibbling on my snack; a pomegranate I was digging the seeds out of; one of the few fruits that grew in our harsh, snowy climate.

Ugauc dug around the carcass for the last of the meat left on the boar, before rolling it away and licking the blood from his chops and mouth. I will never understand how a creature can live their entire life eating plants and seeds. Meat is so tasty! You should try it sometime.

I shook my head. “Have you ever even tried plants?”

Ugauc paused. I’ve tried apples, mangoes, raspberries, blackberries, dragonberries and dragonfruit.

I stopped eating my seeds. “And what did you think of them?”

Apples, raspberries and blackberries are much too bitter for my taste. And dragonberries and dragonfruit have nothing to do with us! We barely even eat fruit! He raised his head snootily.

I laughed. “Well, at least you tried them,” I sighed. “I’ve never even seen most of them.”

Haven’t been around much, have you?

I shook my head.

Maybe we could do that in a while? Do some travelling together, I mean.

I thought for a moment. My parents sometimes talk about when they went travelling, when they were younger. I had always wanted to do the same with my future mate.

I smiled. “I’d love to do that.”

*-*-*-*

“Can you put me down now?” I asked. Ugauc held me firm in his grip. I had snuck off yet again to meet my boyfriend after almost a month of secretly dating.

Ugauc smirked. “No,” he replied smugly as he continued walking to his cave. Clouds were gathering above us. Blizzard clouds as I learned growing up in a village constantly being battered by snow.

“But I need to get home, Ugauc.”

“You’ll get caught in the storm if you go home now,” Ugauc said. “I’m not letting that happen.”

He was right; I knew he was, but I still had to get home.

“Ugauc,” I scolded. He let me go, and I stood in front of him. “I need to get home to my family.”

“You’ll freeze before you get to the village.” Ugauc said, trying to stay as calm as possible. “And I’ll be spotted if I fly to there, if the wind wasn’t already picking up.”

I sighed and turned around, walking towards his cave.

I rubbed my arms as I passed through the leafy vines hanging in the cave's mouth.

“I’ll gather some wood and start a fire for us,” Ugauc said, leaving the cave again.

“Stay safe!” I called after him. I was met with the sound of running water from the stream.

I moved over to the bed of animal hides, pulling a bison hide over my shoulders to keep me warm.

It wasn’t long before the wind howled outside, sending the vines into a swirling frenzy. I shivered, thinking of Ugauc out there. And with his wings... It’d be a long fight for him to get back.

Then I heard someone approach.

“Finally, you’re back,” I said, jumping to my feet.

But Ugauc wasn’t who came into the cave.

It was a female elf with long (H/C) hair and silvery robes.

“There you are, (Y/N),” she said.

“Eda?” I asked.

My sister smiled. “Yeah, of course it’s me, dummy,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. She looked around at the cave. “Woah! How did you find this place?” She turned to me. “And who were you waiting for?” She poked at the bison hide on my shoulders. “And how did you get this?”

“Eda, you—we—have to go,” I said, grabbing her wrist.

She furrowed her brow. “But you were here, so why do we have to leave?”

“(Y/N)! I’m back!” Ugauc shouted over the wind. Eda peered over my shoulder as he walked in.

I spun around, Ugauc dropped the wood in his arms. Eda stepped back, a horrified look on her face.

“Who is that?!” Ugauc and Eda exclaimed in unison.

[infinitesimal-grey]

Dragon Virgil

The Escape

Part 1 | Part 2 (here)

A/N: this was really well received, u h m, so i kinda made a part two in one 3 hour go... annnd it's over 400 words longer...;-;.... anyways its 4:20am so I'm going to schedule this to post at exactly 2:30pm today. I hope yall enjoy it then bc right now i must sleep 😪😪 Feedback and asks are very appreciated no matter the length <3

///

Guard Report 2007665: Guards Revar Lee and Remus Gunther sent to transport prisoner John Doe to Imperial General Janus Killjoy were found unconscious in front of Underground Cellblock C. Upon reinforcement arrival Guard Remus Gunther was naked- reason: unknown

-

Maintenance Request 19790093: 

Location: Westward Wing Aviary 

Type: Wall installation, door installation.

Reason: Its gone.

-

if this read more doesn't work I'm going to castrate tumblr

Roman was so focused on the guards he had forgotten the beast behind him until a searing pain rocketed up his arm. He looked down in alarm to a snarling onyx snout and flashes of white fangs clamping down on his arm.

He screamed- boy did he scream.

The startled, would-be prince had only a moment of startled eye contact with himself in the dragons wide pupils before being yanked into motion.

There was a slight protest from the guards but that was snuffed out fast by way of two thwumps in quick succession. Roman could only guess that they were knocked out, because by the time he looked back all he saw was their bodies slumped against the cell wall.

As he half ran half got-dragged down dank and damp corridor after dank and damp corridor Roman made some very intelligent noises in the spirit of protest, shock, pain and fear altogether… Though it was nothing like the twinkass yelp he gave when he ran directly into his newest, scaliest captor.

Roman's complaint was cut off abruptly with Virgil's tail. The dragon was glaring pointedly at the T in the hallway as he forced Roman against the wall. Roman gratefully pulled his arm to him and held it, too preoccupied with stemming bleeding to care why they had stopped.

Virgil screamed internally as guard after guard marched past, cursing his luck and lack of forethought. He huffed and grabbed the back of his hostages shirt, fleeing back the way he came.

Though before he could make it quite all the way there, Virgil had to scrape to a stop. He was glad the human had enough foresight to stop this time, as around the corner there were shouts as the unconscious jailers were found.

Virgil winced, thanking whoever the fuck was behind fate as the guard's footsteps faded away from them. Breathing a breath of relief, Virgil unceremoniously shoved Roman at the unconscious bodies.

"Undress the freakishly tall one." Virgil ordered the human, his voice slightly strained and uncomfortable from talking mid shift.

"What?? Why in the ever-loving six kingdoms would I do that?" 

Virgil sniffed, of course he'd taken an idiot for a hostage.

"Because I said so. And I just saved you from one of those kingdoms' dungeons and possible de-tonguing so I wouldn't be so quick to deem them ever-loving." Virgil hissed, tongue still sharply forked.

Roman turned on a heel to argue but flushed a million degrees when he stood face to chest with the "dragon", now an extremely tall, pale man. His eyes trailed up to find angry gold eyes and canines sharper than his sword… wherever that was at the minute.

Virgil snarled and snapped his canines at the stupid, gawking human, sufficiently serving to cow him.

"Well argued." Roman squeaked. He quickly turned and pulled the suit off of the taller guard. He tossed it behind him piece by piece, trying not to look. The relatively short prince could practically feel the near 7 foot tall man looming behind him.

Virgil got dressed as fast as he could, debating his chances of success without a hostage. In case he just backhanded the human across the hall right then and there.

Soon enough though he was dressed. He grabbed Roman's arm to pull him along again. Virgil was met at a loud exclamation by the human, making him recoil and try to pin his ears back- before he remembered he couldn't do so anymore, of course.

"I can run fine by myself." Roman huffed at Virgil's frown, vision slightly blurred by pain-- or was that blood loss…...?

Virgil growled low and long, glancing down the hall to make sure the path was clear. "Fine. But keep up or I swear I will leave your boney ass in these gutters."

Roman nodded gratefully before realizing the shifter was already halfway down the hall. The prince scrambled after him with a yelp.

They took more turns than Roman could count but finally charged up a flight of stairs into a sunlit and decadently decorated hall.

Virgil took half a second to choose before taking off westward. It wasn't long before he ran into a group exiting one of the rooms off the hall.

The one in charge- the general, Virgil guessed- was so covered with baubles and pins you couldn't tell where the General began and the General ended. He was surrounded by a smattering of less decorated guards with their swords all drawn.

The Decorated Man spoke first- voice calm and sharp like peppered honey. "Now how did you two get up here?" He rose an eyebrow struck with an old burn scar, "I was certainly expecting you-" The man sneered at Roman, who was cowering behind Virgil, "But to be accompanied by you 02268- now that is… unexpected." The corners of his yellow-green eyes tightened.

Guard Report 2006659: Daemon 02268 was arrested by Guard Remus Gunther this morning after being caught shifting without permit at the Happy Anchor Pub and Inn.

Note: Schedule for de-hum. serum

Virgil's breath hissed and he backed up, nearly tripping over Roman- Roman! That's it! He unsheathed the sword from his pilfered uniform, drawing Roman to his chest and the blade to his throat.

Roman let out a surprised gurgle as it all happened before their enemies could even blink. Actually, he wasn't sure who was his enemy anymore.

"Really? You think he gives you any bargaining power?" The general simpered mockingly. "Drop your weapon now and come get your medicine so you can go back to how you're supposed to be." Virgil stayed silent, but glared furiously at the general.

Roman debated who he'd rather be prisoner of- a batshit crazy daemon or a vengeful psychopath of a general--- Virgil, meanwhile, didn't give him a chance to choose. The dragon shifter flattened Roman against his chest and up off his feet before bolting right into the heavy oak doors to his right. He roared in pain upon impact but the obediently doors gave way, flying off their hinges with a groan of twisted, broken metal. Unexpectedly, his forward momentum also rammed him directly through a second, glass door.

Virgil only distantly registered that he was in an aviary by the chaotic calls of what could be hundreds of birds.

But compared to the sound of his own racing pulse, the sound of birdcall and beating wings was faint.

Virgil was shifting and running at full tilt before the glass and feathers even hit the floor.

He could hear the Decorated Man shouting at the guards to follow him, making him sprint even harder through the lush aviary.

Virgil leapt nearly 8 feet in the air over an ancient rhododendron bush, his now-digitigrade legs crackling through the seams of his pants to expose black scales and claws.

His obsidian chest burst through his shirt upon landing, unable to contain the rapidly transforming dragon.

The guards' footsteps were heavy behind them, Virgil couldn't stop now.

Massive wings tore the guard coat free from his shoulders. The leather, claw and scale appendages flared in attempt to hold the air beneath Virgil.

He focused in on the far wall, aiming his horns for the largest pain of glass. It stood 15 feet above a lush wall of greenery. Beyond that was a sharp drop off... and freedom.

Roman was scared silent. He watched from one wide eye as his captor transformed against him. The chest he was pinned to became covered in cool, black scales and expanded nearly 8 fold. The arms behind him thickened to encircle a good amount of his back. The only cloth was the tattered scraps still pinned to Virgil by him.

Nevertheless the transformation and previous jump was nothing compared to what Roman felt next as he was suddenly completely weightless.

Once again, the sound of glass breaking sounded and shards of glass decorated the air around the odd pair. Though this time- they didn't land.

[wfdwqfw]

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[judylicious]

“I’m glad we both have found back to you.”

Alan Rubin x fem!Reader (chapter two)

Word Count: 1.850

Fandom: Blues Brothers

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blues Brothers characters or movies.

Warnings: mentions of violence, abuse, death, murder, angst, swearing, age gap, fluff and slight smut

Summary: You met a handsome musician and his band, including a surprise form your past.

chapter 1

chapter 3

chapter 4

A couple days later Alan was meeting Kelsey for lunch at a cozy bistro at Blue Island Avenue. “So you’re not gonna ask me?”, she remarked before taking a big sip of her coffee and gave him a curious look over the rim of her cup. “About what precisely?” “My parents.” “It seemed like I blindsided you with that question before, didn’t want to push you…” “Still just as taken back as before I see.” She took a deep breath. 

“Mum’s dead, she passed away when I was 17, around Christmas.” “I’m… so sorry. What happened?”, he replied in a soft tone. “She fell down the stairs… You remember we had those big stairs made out of marble in the hall? Yep. She.. fell… according to the Police.” Alan raised an eyebrow. “Well, I saw my dad pushing her. Cops said he was trying to get a hold of her arm as she lost her balance but.. I saw it, you know? He often was violent with us, if he was home at all.” “I had no idea, I never noticed how troubled you were”, he admitted rather guilty. Without thinking he grabbed her hand that lied between her plate and the empty bread basket made from raffia, starting to softly caress the back of her hand with his thumb. “Oh it’s okay, really. You were hired for teaching me how play the horn, no more, no less.”, she gave him a reassuring smile. “C’mon don’t act like it was just that. We did get along pretty well. I remember one time you begged me for weeks to take you with me to that Miles Davis concert and although you had promised me to keep me awake during the ride back, as soon as your head hit the passengers seat you were knocked flat out.”, he shook his head but grinned widely. “I’m sorry but I had to prepare myself for sneaking back into the house at - what was it? 4am?” They both laughed and exchanged a look of familiarity. “Believe me, I fought desperately to stay awake. Kicked myself for missing out on a 3 hour ride alone with you in the car at night.” Kelsey suddenly blushed. “You didn't have the slightest idea how much I was into you, didn’t you?” Hold on what am I doing? Shut your big bazoo “Well…” Alan felt caught off guard and tried to ease the tension. “You were a teenager, don’t teenager have a crush on everything and everyone?” Kelsey put on a smile “Yeah, I guess so.” She took heart “But not me… I-“ “Can I get you anything else?” She was interrupted by the waitress. “Think we’re fine, thanks!”, the trumpet player gave her a nod. Kelsey checked her watch. “Damn, I’m late for the backshift, I’m so sorry Alan I totally lost track of time.” “No harm done, girl.”, he explained as he put some money on the table.” “Thanks for taking over the bill.” He smiled “Next time is on you then.”

When they stood outside the small bistro Kelsey couldn’t help herself but gave Alan a big tight hug. He seemed utterly surprised about this gesture but quickly put his arms around her.  “Thanks.”, she murmured, squeezing her eyes. The slightly older man had his eyes closed as well, inhaling her scent, feeling more secure than he had in a long time. Starting to feel embarrassed she got off of him and looked around for the nearest bus station, realising the next bus was already in sight. “I gotta catch that one!” “Is practise still on for Thursday? Your place?”,  he called after her. “Sure! 5pm, bring your horn.”, she waved at him and got onto the bus.

In preparation for Thursday Kelsey practised extra hard - on the other hand though she knew she shouldn’t take a heavy toll on her lip, that would only make things worse. I have to play decent tomorrow, at all costs. And even as her tones got real crappy, even more crappy than usual, she kept on playing, wanted to go over everything and every scale she had learned so far. However after 3 hours she was physically exhausted from trying to catch those high notes and her mouth piece left a dark, red circle around her lips.

And then finally - it was Thursday, just before 5pm. She checked herself in the mirror one last time before she changed her outfit for the 4th time that day. Perhaps I should go with the dress I wore first. But before she could get undressed another time there was a knock at the door. So she had no choice but to stay in her pleated skirt and red blouse. Alright, keep your head, relax, you got this. “Hi Alan, please come in.” The tensed girl was greeted by a big smile. “Nice to see ya.” The trumpet player stepped in and went into the living room, where everything was already set up. “How about we get right to it, hm?”

They both took a seat and she flipped one of the exercise books open. “So last I’ve practised these eighth notes in 3/4 - time.” “Did you warm up before?”, Alan tried to test her. “Yes I have.”, she responded quickly. “Good, then give it a try, I’m curious!” Oooh boy, here we go. Kelsey started to play the étude but already messed up the first few notes. Nervously she put her instrument down and glanced at Alan who wasn’t showing any reaction. And so she tried again. She played the whole piece but some of the notes didn’t come out at first try, so she messed up with the beat as well. When she had finished, she sighed in annoyance and didn’t even give Alan a glance. “Alright, how about you listen to what it’s supposed to sound like, to give you an idea.” And with that the grabbed his own horn, cleared his throat and played the little practise piece. Needless to say he did a perfect job on it. Kelsey couldn’t help herself but watch the man at her side while he was playing and it made her smile. He makes it look so easy. I mean it is, it’s freakin easy and I’m nothing but a failure. “Now it’s your turn again. Perhaps using the metronome will help you.” He grabbed the little gadget and set the right beat and speed. Listening to the soft “tick tick tick” sound Kelsey tried started from the beginning. Again a few notes simply didn’t come out at first try but just an airy sound, so halfway through she stopped. “No, no, come on keep going!”, the professional bolstered her. And so she did. “Heck! This is a waste of time, I’m sorry.”, the girl snapped and got up, taking a few steps away from her chair. “C’mon it is not. It will take some time, that’s all. I know you probably don’t wanna hear this but you haven’t played for over 5 years, meaning you HAVE to consider yourself as beginner and that’s okay.” Alan tried to calm her. “Look that’s not it. I suck, okay? I. SUCK. S-U-C-K!”. She was fuming. Putting extra emphasis on every letter as she spelled it out when tears began to run down her cheek. Alan jumped to his feet. “Hey, hey, don’t cry hun! I know it’s tough but you will get there. Believe me, I didn’t sound any better when I started.” “I’m so fucking dumb…” Kelsey murmured under her breath and turned away from the man who placed his hand on her shoulder. “Why are you saying this?” She turned around but didn’t look at him. “Dumb. I mean for walking away from it in the first place. I could be playing so well by now if I hadn’t quit.” The musician gave her a sympathetic look. “You had just started college. It’s okay to think about other things than playing the horn at that age.” “You didn’t.”, she countered and felt the need to look at him. Alan chuckled “Yeah but I attended Juilliard School of Music at the age of just 17 to become a professional. You chose a different path and you keep telling me how much you love your job.” Kelsey turn her head away from the man, who softly grabbed her chin and lifted her head up forcing her to look at him. He carefully wiped away one of her tears on her cheek.  “Listen. The most important thing is that you have found your way back to it and the trumpet its way to you… To be honest I’m glad both of us have found back to you.” He cupped her face gently in his hands, staring into her green eyes. Her breath hitched as he leaned in to drop a soft kiss on her lips. As he slowly pulled away, she crushed her lips on his again. Eagerly and desiring for more, she forced him to stumble a few steps back until he hit the wall. The kiss deepened, his big hands wandered to the back of her thighs, exploring her skin while going all the way up to her ass. Realising she wore a thong he gave her bare butt cheeks a determinant squeeze. Thank God she skipped on her tights today. Uncontrolled she ran her hands through his dark, slightly wavy hair, which he thankfully hadn’t slicked back today, caressing the shorter hair at his neck with one hand. The kiss became sloppy when both started to explore the other one’s mouth with their tongue. He lifted her right leg, bringing her knee up to his hip, which allowed him to pull her in even closer. As she grabbed a big fistful of his gorgeous hair, a deep moan left his mouth which brought her back to reality, so all of the sudden she pulled away. “I’m - so sorry.”, she stammered, trying to catch her breath. Alan cleared his throat “No need to apologise.” He awkwardly looked around the room. And then there was this weird silence, neither of them knew what to say or do next, so they just stood there, avoiding the gaze of the other until Alan screw up his courage.” Soo.. tomorrow night we play at ‘The Hideout’. Perhaps you’d like to come by.” Tomorrow?! “Sounds good, I’ll try to make it.”, Kelsey smiled. “Nice” he said nervously while grabbing his jacket and horn. He looked at her once more, wondering if he should kiss her goodbye. He took half a step towards her but his alarm bells went off reminding him that the situation was already embarrassing enough. “Guess I’ll see you around then.” And with a few quick steps he reached the door of her flat and left, feeling like a fool. Not only like a fool but like a goofy teenager. Kelsey closed the door behind him. Tomorrow!? I agreed on meeting Elwood after the gig. We made plans to see the Sonny Boy Williamson act starting at midnight.

[revchainsaw]

Buffy: the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Season 1

Hello and Welcome back my creepy congregation! We will be taking todays service from the Big Screen into your living room for our first Personal Devotional. That's Right! We're reviewing full seasons of television series now and what better way to bring the spirit of the genre film to the idiots lantern that with the 90s Television sensation and all around love letter to the horror genre, Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

The Message

Regardless of how one may feel about Mr. Whedon we can't deny how much we love Buffy Summers and the Kids who live and die in Sunnydale! Season one of Buffy was a spin off/reboot of the earlier film and an attempt by Whedon to course correct the franchise by breathing a little charm and attention into the subject matter.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 1) focuses on Buffy Summers, a not so typical California high school student who, due to the events of the movie, has been relocated to Sunnydale High. Buffy is not just a cute, athletic, teenage girl looking to enjoy the prime of her life, though she is those things, she is also the Slayer, an anointed warrior who has been reincarnated throughout the generations to protect our vulnerable weak human world from the forces of evil; particularly Vampires. Buffy is a sort of supernatural Captain America, that is a peak human being, but instead of Nazi Science she was born with her powers.

Joining Buffy are; High School outcasts Willow and Xander (a nerd and a nice guy respectively), The ridiculously sexy librarian Rupert Giles (her mentor, guardian, high school librarian, and all around precious papa bear), Jenny Calendar (a technopagan computer teacher armed with all the mystery an ignorant 90s boomer could attribute to the internet), Angel (Spoiler: He's a Vampire, but he's a good guy. A hunky, broody, good guy vampire love interest), and her loving but entirely oblivious mother. The Scoobies as they have come to be called aid Buffy in her quest to protect Sunnydale from Dark Forces.

And Speaking of those Dark Forces, they are primarily vampires, led by the Master; an ancient vampire who resembles to some degree Nosferatu and a Bat, a look that Guillermo Del Toro would later perfect in his own series the Strain. The Master seeks to fulfill an ancient prophecy that would open the Hellmouth (a portal to hell, exactly what it sounds like) and free him in order that he and his kind should conquer the world.

The first season is fairly short consisting of the following adventures.

1. Welcome to the Hellmouth - Buffy moves to Sunnydale seeking to leave her Vampire ways behind, but the vampires just won't let her catch a break.

2. The Harvest - Vampire Shenanigans continues. Buffy learns of the Master.

3. Witch - A fellow Cheerleader is possessed by her witchy mom.

4. Teachers Pet - Buffy vs Giant Mantis

5. Never Kill a Boy on the First Date - Buffy vs the Anointed One (Not Really)

6. The Pack - Buffy vs Hyena Possessed High School Bullies

7. Angel - Buffy vs Angel but actually Darla

8. I, Robot ... you, Jane - Buffy vs Internet Demon

9. The Puppet Show - Buffy and Sid the Dummy vs Organ Harvesting Demon

10. Nightmares - Buffy has bad dreams

11. Out of Mind, Out of Sight - Buffy vs Invisible Nerd

12. Prophecy Girl - Buffy vs The Master (also Buffy Dies)

Overall the short season, while not allowing for too much world building, kept the show to a format that allowed very little filler. So although we mostly only get vampires as villains, we don't have enough time to really be bored of it. Some of the shows dynamics and cultural concerns definitely date the series but overall Season 1 of Buffy is definitely not a difficult watch, and can be enjoyed over and over again.

Let's get to the Benediction:

Best Character: Slay Girl, Slay!

As far as season one goes the titular Buffy Summers is the best character. Sarah Michelle Gellar is absolutely charismatic in the lead role and though at times she may seem selfish or reckless it makes perfect sense for the character. The character is allowed to be weak, to be selfish, and to be unlikeable. She avoids the foibles of a Luke Skywalker or a Harry Potter. She joins the ranks of primary protagonists who are not constantly outshined by their supporting cast. I believe when Buffy is sad, I believe when she throws a punch, I believe she struggles with her destiny. The only thing I don't believe is how ditsy she let's on.

Best Actor: Head's Up!

Anthony Stewart Head. Head as Giles is just fantastic. His balance of frustration with Buffy and genuinely parental concern is heartwarming and absolutely makes Giles one of the warmest father figures in television history.

Best Episode: A 'Master'ful Finale

It all builds up to Prophecy Girl and for good reason. Television shows often have mini-finale's at the end of their first seasons because the teams behind the series are not sure they will have a chance to tell more of their story. For that reason you can see just the first season of most television series and feel like you've heard the whole deal. I wish this habit was kept up in other seasons as we wouldn't still be wondering what the hell happened to Joel at the end of the Santa Clarita Diet. Buffy is no exception to this phenomenon and therefor attempted to tie up much of it's narrative in Prophecy Girl. While that often means big bads will be dispatched, I think it's a small price to pay for not winding up in a cliff hanger. Buffy and Giles just shine in this episode, Angel is given a more heroic role, Willow finally values herself as she should and Xander stops being a fucking horrible human being for once. This episode really satisfies in all areas.

Best Villain: Sweet, Sweetheart Killer

It's such a shame that Darla was killed so early on in the franchise. She is such a great presence on the screen that she overshadows all the villains that play alongside her, even the Master. I would have loved to have seen an alternate season where she offs the old coot and assumes the role of big bad much like Spike does in Season 2. Lucky for everyone that Darla is featured throughout the show in flashbacks and I hear she is even resurrected in Angel. Also, for Scott Pilgrim fans I feel like she and Envy Adams are very much sympatico. Maybe if they reboot Buffy all my dreams will come true.

I'd also like to take this time to recommend the song Angels and Darlas by Say Hi! It's pretty good.

Best Monster Design: Internet Troll!

While I can't speak for where the money in Season 1 of Buffy went, I can say that at least some decent cash was spent on both the forms of Moloch the Corruptor from the Episode "I, Robot ... You, Jane". Moloch was pretty wicked looking as a machine toward the end of the episode, he looked like a Mortal Kombat villain, but it's the green scales and ram horns the actor is sporting at the beginning of the episode that really catches the eye. In fact, I'm feeling compelled to hunt down any Moloch the Corruptor merch that may be out there on the internet. It's certainly no mystery why the demon's face is featured prominently in the theme song. It just looks great! Good job to the make up department there.

Most WTF moment: "Pack"s a Punch on Principle

While not the greatest episode in season one "the Pack" is certainly worth the watch if for no other reason than the horror is kicked up when a group of high school students under the influence of a malevolent Hyena God, decide that the School Mascot is not enough to satisfy their bloodlust turn on the principal, and yes, THEY EAT HIM. I remember being completely caught of guard the first time I saw that scene, and it kickstarted the running gag of Sunnydale high principles meeting their demise in horrific ways.

Worst Character: No More Mr. Nice Guy

When I was in college I often felt bad for Xander. The funny guy who just had no luck with women. He was sarcastic but had a big heart, and used a horny gimmick to mask his loneliness, or so I thought. But now I am older, I am wiser, I have known the touch of another human being and I have to say that Xander Harris is a really scummy fellow. I don't remember thinking so poorly and I wonder if the character develops a more nuanced view of women as the show goes on. As it stands there's barely a point in the series that Xander does not view the female cast as objects for him to enjoy or be embittered towards for one reason or another. It's not charming, it's foul. Xander Harris of season one is absolutely a terrorist attack waiting to happen, if Buffy had happened today it would be much more concerning to see someone so embittered, horny, and entitled to womens time and energy as Xander Harris. Dude is one step away from pulling an Elliot Rogers. Calm down buddy and maybe actually listen to a woman and you may find you aren't as much of a 'nice guy' as you think.

Worst Episode(s): If you're not first ...

It's a toss up on this one. Season One of Buffy is actually so short and concise that the 'Monster of the Week' episodes will have to be up for grabs as the worst episode by default, but even they are pretty watchable and don't warrant the vitriol a "worst" dub usually entails. I'd say there is not a worst episode of season one, just some episodes that aren't as good as the rest. In that vain, take your pick from "Witch", "Out of Mind, Out of Sight", or "The Puppet Show". However, I'd be doing a disservice to those episodes not to mention that each one of them takes what could just be a basic Buffy Vs (insert Villain), and does something unique and interesting with the idea. The villain of "Witch" actually turns out to be a has been cheerleader actually possessing the body of her innocent daughter to relive her glory years, The Invisible Girl is actually the victim of social cruelty, her peers disinterest in her manifesting in her condition becoming quite literal and she is picked up by the military in the end, then the Puppet show, well, it's just about the stupidest most absurd thing that could possibly happen and it's completely unafraid of that fact.

Summary:

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 1) is not the most groundbreaking TV, but it is absolutely evident why the show was such a phenomenon. Season 1 is particularly rewatchable. It does not demand too much investment or attention, but it will get it from you, especially on a first viewing. It's not afraid to take itself absolutely seriously or to plant it's tongue firmly in it's cheeks. It is to a degree a product of it's time, but in many other aspects feels timeless.

Overall Grade: B

[valgasnewsthings]

Mark for wisdom.

 And with age our skin affecting for changes,she is becaming less tight, dry, senstive, and wrinkles with and pigment spot.

And still are displaying small growth for brown colour are senile  keratomas, marks for wisdom, as of joke theirs calling by peoples.

Keratomas or adult warts are known, since lomg time ago, and theirs depicted on pictures, frescoes with wise elders and perpetuated on faces for sculptures.And through peoples are gone beliefs, that are more these keratomas, than a wiser a human, and more interesting and saturated life has been in his.

Keratoma is benign skin forming, which having in males and in females on 45–50  years old and older, to   80 y.old spreading for disease is having till 96 percents, as plaques ability to find in every second.

Scientists are long time tried a reason for theirs displaying, and on the last time theirs opinion as converges, that a seborrhoea keratosis is a not pathology, but a result for ageing natural changing   as happening in the skin, and lowering her reaction for resistance to ultraviolet. And here , that a main faults are ultraviolet rays, and these   facts says, that keratomas are often localizing on the opening skin parts as of high insolation/sun rays/ in these regions. And under affecting of sun rays in a skin manufacturing beginning in a high quantity cells of epidermis. Top skin layer/, accumulating melanin,  are activity beginning separating and hardening. And in results are forming plaques for brown colour, covering with hard scales are keratomas . And these factors are rising probability for displaying senile keratomas:

1.Genetically ,if in parents, brothers, sisters are same forms  had, thus a probably theirs displaying in you is high, but peoples are close inclined to keratomas with freckles, nevnus, pigment spots.

2. Human papillomavirus ,  that by tests are showing in 70 percents cases finding a tie between adult warts and endured papillomavirus  infection.

3. Endocrine diseases as diabetes , hormonal destroys are affecting on skin condition.

4. Lowering immunity activity after endured infection, chemo therapy.

5. Mechanical skin  injuries , damages.

Senile   keratomas are often finding on the face, spine, belly, breast and not affecting palms, feets.

And growing theirs are slowly, as not an all to see skin changes.And  on a first time displaying a one or a few spots of around forms, brown or yellow colour. Tey are later spreading are far, and far, and structure changing. On a spot lace displaying a small convex elevation, soft and slightly hurt in touching, and on this stage are lots of wrong accepting her as for  bump or insect bite. Later in this region displaying brown or black plaque with a not even surface , covering are small crusts and scales.Sizes  for plaques are different, a few are leading till 1-2 cm, reminding, like black bugs, and other growing till 6-7 cm. They are itching and causing strong discomfort, especially if they are having in a place, which injuring by clothes or comb.  Damaging constant leading to bleeding, and hurting forming. And still amazing observation, senile keratoma is transforming in skin horn , and not a art hyperbole, yes, this is true happening, as a hard outgrowth of brown-pink colour, exalting over surface a skin, which covers are scales, like a horn of wild animals.

Historical reference, as a most big skin horns has been removed on 2015 in women , on 87 y.old at China province .And  a forming on length 13 cm, and weight on 350 gr has been decorated her head with a few decades.And  scientists are not opportunity ,that antiquity patients with such disease are served   for prototypes and for demons images.

from Valga s health news,gardening,and cooking ,and beauty . https://ift.tt/vosyx1J via https://ift.tt/N7SRYg3

[recordisms]

SAWAYAMA – Rina Sawayama Album Review

Rina Sawayama is here to stay. After tempting us for three years, Japanese-British singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama has now released her debut album, titled “Sawayama”. This full circle moment completes a three year wait from her mini album, “Rina”. On this album, Rina unpacks a deeply project surrounding identify for oneself and family amidst opposing cultures; All while trying to coexist as between comfort and stereotypes when home is never the same.

Rina blends pop, electropop and nu metal genres together for a flavorful take of 2000’s pop. Across her debut album, Rina is able to look introspectively, culturally and spiritually about her current state of affairs, while making music for therapy and entertainment. Each track is carefully thought out and unabashedly creative. “Sawayama” shows a promising future for a chameleon-like pop artist. Rating: 8.5/10

1.       Dynasty: Horns and strings tip an avalanche of an opening track. Rina conveys a familiar and familial pain felt through generations. It all erupting into a wall stomping Nu Metal sound after the first chorus. Very reminiscent of Evanescence.  

2.       XS: Sawayama makes fun of consumption on this track. “XS” flows between nu metal crunches and 00’s acoustic guitar strums with ease. Rina’s passionate voice helps balance the two distinct sounds with ease.

3.       STFU!: “STFU!” is the first single off of “SAWAYAMA”. To ease her frustrations with the micro-aggressions and racial anti-Japanese comments, Rina adapted nu-metal and rock to vent her anger. This track is directed to anyone of color facing microaggressions.

4.       Comme des Garcons (Like the Boys): The second lead single from the album. Rina blends numerous different genres of music (disco, dance, funk and house) into one fierce track. While in a literal sense, the track is a huge confidence boost and fills the space with perfectly with enough groove to get you out of you seat and take a shot at voguing.

5.       Akasaka Sad: Hot off the previous track, Rina slows things down with an 00’s R&B type slink. Rina parallels her current state of feeling displaced from Japan to how her parents may have felt when they immigrated to London. Sawayama also sings in Japanese, which is distinctly set apart from the rest of the production of the track to add emphasis to the lyrics. Since the parallels she’s drawn feel strong enough to meditates on inhabiting sadness.

6.       Paradisin: Rina aims to create a theme song to her life. Sonically, it feels like a Japanese arcade game with a crowd cheering her and her saxophone solo on. Rina’s idea of paradise are the memories she’s made from her childhood. Sonically, this puts the theme songs to iCarly and Zoey 101 to shame.

7.       Love Me 4 Me: Over breezy mellotron, Rina wrestles with self-love. This track is an uptempo song with a shimmery guitar solo that precedes the interlude. On top of that, Rina has spliced Rupaul’s catchphrase (if you can’t love yourself, how are you going to love somebody else?) into the lyrics at the intro and interlude. It’s a sweet sentiment that doesn’t rely on a 2010’s anthemic chorus.

8.       Bad Friend: Taken from the song title, we can all name a few bad friends here and there. Maybe even ourselves and Rina isn’t afraid to admit it. On “Bad Friend” Rina parallels the mischief with her bestie and turns it onto herself for her absence. Rina sings over a slow building beat that sprouts from finger snaps to rousing percussion.

9.       Fuck This World (Interlude): Chime like beats below a heavy vocoder vocals. However, the subject is set to a grander scale. Rina wants to a change of pace, even if it means finding a new planet. This interlude is about the frustration with the current global climate crisis.

10.   Who’s Gonna Save U Now?: It opens with a crowd chanting Rina’s name. In the style of a live concert, Rina inhabit an arena rock production on this track. Sawayama passionately sings in the vein of Lady Gaga in “A Star is Born” and Freddie Mercury’s iconic stage presence. It’s her rock anthem moment and she gleefully lives for it.

11.   Tokyo Love Hotel: “Tokyo Love Hotel” explores Rina’s struggles with feeling like an outsider in Japan. She notices how tourists use Tokyo for its glamor and accessibility (such as love hotels). A tourist’s fascination is her world and Rina won’t accept her home as a commodity.

12.   Chosen Family: We can all relate to this song on some level. Our closest friends can be our chosen family at times. On this relaxed production, Rina celebrates the bond friends can have with one another despite the differences among one another. The production of the track is a mix of notable PC music electronics and acoustic instruments.  

13.   Snakeskin: On this closing track of Rina’s debut, Rina sheds her personal and professional inhibitions. The dreamy yet intense production supports strong vocal acrobatics. Rina takes her personal issues with stride with pulsing production