#from corona to crown (him with many crowns)

[achluos]

crown princess of ida

[procrastinationaccount]

RIP Tridentarii, you would have loved The Coffin of Andy and Leyley

[technicolorxsn]

I wish ntn had the htn dramatis personae so I could tell who the various letter names in the john sections were supposed to be

[chilly-weirdo-in-a-tomb]

Alecto Prediction #11

We’ve seen through Corona that when people from the Houses join Blood of Eden, they receive a new Edenite name. We aren’t told who gave her the name Crown Him with Many Crowns in NTN, but I believe that we will find out that it was Pash. It makes sense if we think about which biblical figure Pash correlates to: John the Baptist. In baptism, a person is christened with a name, just like Corona was christened Crown. But John the Baptist is called the Baptist not just for baptizing the average Tom, Dick, and Harry. He also baptized Jesus. And we have a perfectly good lesbian Jesus ready in the wings to ask to be baptized.

This is why I believe that Gideon/Kiriona will join BoE and Pash will give her a new name.

[kneesheee]

I haven’t watched D4, and I’m probably not going to, but one line that I see floating around is when Cinderella says:

Some people act mean at fist cause they're too afraid to feel. It's survival, it's protection. That's why roses grow their thorns.

Who were the first two “good” people that we met that were “mean?”

Chad and Audrey.

We know Auradon isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

Audrey had a mental breakdown and fell victim to a lingering curse and she was still punished by planning the wedding for Ben and Mal; the reason for said breakdown. Yes, it’s funny, but who would want to tempt fate like that again? Also, yall wasn’t scared that she’d do something to mess it up?

I’m not having someone who does not like me and had literally just said that she wanted to hurt me plan my wedding no matter how sorry she is.

Then we have Chad who this quote fits the best honestly.

Chad has been described as dumb, a womanizer, a jerk etc.

1. He’s the heir to his kingdom.

At the time of D1-D3, he was presumably an only child, meaning that at the time, there were no thoughts about how the inheritance to his throne would go.

This means any girl that succeeded in marrying him and birthing an heir has secured her and her family’s future with no threats.

(This is now a challenge due to Chloe’s existence; if the girl decides that she even wants kids.)

Chad isn’t dumb; he’s proven to be quite smart considering that he made a copy of Jay and Carlos’ dorm room key so that he can use their 3D printer. He’s smart about things that he prefers.

In D1, Doug describes him as someone that inherited all the charm and not much else.

For opportunists, this basically means: He’s an idiot. If I marry him and give him a heir, I can basically be the real power behind the crown.

Not sure how well that’s going to work because in the book Return to the Isle of the Lost; he does seem to care about his kingdom when Ben takes him on a trip there due to Madam Mim’s escape.

Also, it does show that he is concerned about how the line of succession moves if something happens to Ben, and I have thoughts on him, so that’s for another post though.

Back to the point, if he’s “dumb” and they want to take advantage, who wouldn’t turn it around on them? In the movies and books, he canonically had three official girlfriends and a lot more unofficial girlfriends.

1. Ruby Firzherbert; Second in line to Corona and Dark Kingdom.

In some cases, she could be the heir to the Dark Kingdom since in Frozen; Hans mentioned that his brothers were set to one day inherit different kingdoms, and it happened a lot in Ancient Greece that sons would have to find their own kingdoms.

Why not make her the Queen of the Dark Kingdom? It’s been about twenty years. It has definitely been restored to glory.

2. One of Ariel’s nieces.

Ariel has six sisters, and unknown amount of nieces so it’s hard to say what number she is to inherit because the only niece we know of canonically is Arabella. However, if we go with the idea that the sisters were supposed to inherit the seven seas like in the live action version, as a nod to their names and numbers and tails, then this niece would have also been secured in her own lineage.

There is also the fact that said niece could have been the one to inherit the throne to all of Atlantis.

3. Audrey.

She has two kingdoms. Her Father’s and her Mother’s. If we go by the live actions, she has the Moors. She’d also a direct descendant to Queen Ingrinth’s old kingdom. That gives her four kingdoms, but we’re going to stick with two.

Chad was very excited when Audrey wanted to date him. He drove six hours to her with a tire. They broke up in Return to the Isle of Lost, but he still immediately went to help her even after he spent so long on having Evie design his outfit for the Royal Cotillion.

So, the past how many years and months that Ben and Audrey had been together, which really sounds like an arranged marriage from the first book and her line in Queen of Mean where she says “she always thought she’d be the Queen”… then this means he’s watched the only girl he loved be in love with someone else. His best friend basically.

Back to the quote, in D1, we see from Lonnie that the Auradon kids operate under the belief that the villains loved their kids.

Stay with me now.

In D4, we learn that Chad has a younger sister. The early assumption was with the first three movies that he was an only child. Now, we move on to a bit more canonical side. He has a younger sister.

A thing that some mothers fall victim to is living through their daughters.

This gives Cinderella the chance to give her daughter the life that she never had. That same headcanon where everyone says that she spoiled him rotten to make up for her own childhood… it fits better with Chloe because again, Chad is the oldest and the presumed heir so he’d be having a bit more lessons in regards to the kingdom meanwhile he sees his Mother and sister going on another shopping trip or wtv else.

He sees her doting on what he can assumed is the child that she always wanted. He’s obviously not that much older than Chloe, so he could see the difference in how they are treated.

Going with the thought that villains loved their kids and under the presumption, that yeah, his mom loves him, but he wasn’t the child that she wanted… he lashes out.

a. Mal love potions Ben, causing him to publicly embarrass and hurt Audrey.

b. Evie tries to use him just like everyone else.

c. Jay doesn’t have sportsmanship, but he’s quick to take up for the girls. Something that Chad is doing for Audrey, and the parallels are staggering and not something that he wants to see at that point of time.

Now, this my own personal interpretation. You may feel differently. You can disagree with me just as I can disagree with you. That’s your personal right.

[fritoley]

The Dragon Prince Thoughts 6x05 - Moonless Night

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Spoilers under the cut

“Oh, don’t worry about Viren, everything will be fine.”

Did you notice the way Soren hesitated when addressing Viren by his name? gahhh this poor man deserves happiness why can’t he get a breakkkk—

I wonder if they’re gonna pull some “Father-Lord” shit like Zuko and reference atla

THE WAY HIS FACE FALLS THE MOMENT HE LEAVES THE ROOM 😭😭😭😭

*crying noises*

“Oh, Soren, my son. Is that you?”

Woah Viren’s been in that cell for a while

There’s gonna be so much to unpack here watch

The way Soren absolutely refuses to look at Viren speaks volumes he’s so done taking Viren’s shit

And it’s the one time Viren isn’t giving Soren shit but he’s burned their bridge so badly Soren’s lost all faith and respect

Not to mention Viren took Claudia away from him too in a way

Lmao why was stella trying to steal callum’s book—

I wonder if Rayla learned that lullaby she’s singing from her parents

OOH or even runaan or Ethari—

Nah my bet is her parents

“Maybe I just want to see you suffering.”

Okay the repetition of the scene is totally intentional what are they trying to convey

Why does Soren keep going down there to see Viren when he knows all Viren has done is hurt him? What does he want?

“But with my eyes open, I also see… you.”

NO CUZ it’s the way Soren IMMEDIATELY starts crying when Viren says “you”

Like all he ever wanted was some form of acknowledgement from Viren his WHOLE LIFE but now that he’s got it it’s too late

Soren desperately wants to believe Viren but he’s been hurt so many times he doesn’t allow himself to

“Everything you’re telling me is… is some kind of lie!”

SEE THIS IS WHAT I MEAN

Viren has given Soren some serious trauma and self-worth issues, and even after two years of virtual peace, he’s still keeping it in

Everyone he trusted either didn’t care or isn’t even present in his life (lissa), so he always kept it in, using his “class clown himbo” facade as a coping mechanism

But now that his entire childhood trauma is literally sitting there staring at him he can’t take the idea of working through it all and that’s why he blew up

SEE NOW HE DOESN’T WANNA TALK ANYMORE

I wanna say he’s just not ready to face Viren but at the same time I don’t think he’s ever gonna be ready he just has to take the plunge

Wait is that Fen—

I thought he was with amaya in xadia

Did he get demoted lmao—

Wait does the standing battalion outrank the crownguard or the other way around

“On moonless nights you miss her the most.”

That is so sad omg—

Luna Tenebris disappeared centuries ago too so Esmeray’s been hurting for a really long time

Imagine that i could never 😭

“It’s the Corona of the Heavens.”

WAIT I THOUGHT VIREN’S STAFF HAD A QUASAR DIAMOND—

If all 3 are in the crown wtf is the stone in his staff

OH THE BLINDFOLD DESIGNS ARE LITTLE EYES I SEE IT NOW

OH WOW KOSMO’S CONNECTING TO THE STARS

Just like that huh

WOAH KOSMO PREDICTING FUTURES HERE

“But your path is… darkness.”

Does that mean callum is still on the dark path aaravos was talking about in s4? Or is kosmo just reflecting callum’s soul from his past usage of dark magic like how sol regem sensed it

Oh? Soren’s back

I wonder why he went back

“If you do not accept my words now, Soren, I want you to have them in the future… when you might need them.”

Okay nah this has got to be foreshadowing or something wtf is going to happen to soren—

Omg this was essentially a soren character study sorry lmaooo. I’m not too learned in trauma and all that stuff this is just my take on what’s going on with him I’m just really invested cuz he’s my bbg princess and i need him to be okay 💀

ANYWAYS considering that Rayla really connected with Esmeray in this season i wonder if she’s gonna have some plot relevance later on (i hope so esmeray is fuckin cool) especially cuz even kosmo commented on it and he can see the future. Soren BETTER BE OKAY by the end of this season i can’t take his pain 😭. And also i am SO EXCITED for rayla to see her parents again and for runaan to FINALLY go back to ethari like he DESERVES GAHH— 

But yeah good episode good episode 👍

[humaudrey]

Things my Rewrite Will Fix About Descendants - Ben's Coronation

If you've seen me post an unfinished version of this, no, you didn't. 💗

As Mal in Descendants 2 said, "I'm back".

Anyway, in the first movie of the Descendants franchise, our beloved deuteragonist, Benjamin aka Ben is crowned as the High King of the United States of Auradon at the mere age of 16. Included in the coronation, and what plays a significant role in the ceremony and the first two movies is Fairy Godmother's wand.

Other than the obvious point that a sixteen year old should not be crowned king (with such a prop looking crown might I add, but that's another post), I would've told you that nothing about the previous statement bothers me.

Except that it does.

Fairy Godmother's wand, a magical artifact from "Cinderella", has no significance to the son of King Adam and Queen Belle, the main characters from "Beauty and The Beast". For the future king of the United States of Auradon, which represents a plethora of many other Disney movies, it also has no significance to an overwhelming majority of the country either, nor does it represent the country in any way. And prior to the Descendants movies and books release, if you would've asked me what was the most powerful magical artifact to be featured in a Disney movie, this wand wouldn't have made the top 5. So why use it?

Simple, it's a plot device. The only real purpose it serves is to be stolen. To be sought after. You could do the entire coronation without the wand and nothing changes. Hell, while everyone's distracted at the Cathedral with the coronation, if the wand wasn't going to be a part of the ceremony, Mal, Jay, Evie, and Carlos could've attempted a second heist at the museum. The wand doesn't have to be in the coronation and that bugs me.

So, for both of my Rewrite ideas, I came up with two solutions to fix this conundrum.

Idea #1

For my first idea, to be featured in "Barriers", I propose that Ben's ceremony consist of more magical artifacts. In an ideal world, I'd pick one artifact from every movie to be featured. There are two problems with that. One, not every Disney movie has a magical artifact that I feel could represent its respective movie (Fairy Godmother's wand from "Cinderella", Genie's lamp from "Aladdin", the Trident from "The Little Mermaid", etc.). Two, even on the off chance that I could come up with an artifact to represent each movie/kingdom, it wouldn't fit well in a setting such as a coronation for the High King of Auradon (such as "Tangled", where the only artifacts I could think of are a frying pan, Rapunzel's tiara, or the Sundrop flower, in which two of these items would better suit a smaller coronation for a future monarch of Corona).

So, I came up with the concept: The Eight Magical Artifacts. While these aren't entirely representative of the entirety of the United States of Auradon, it does a better job than just one lousy wand. Plus, each of the items used could represent traits that the kingdom would want a king to have, and blessing Ben with these could be seen as "bestowing them onto him".

But what are these artifacts? Glad you asked. Here they are:

Fairy Godmother's Wand from "Cinderella", to represent Grace (I wasn't gonna exclude it all together lol)

An Enchanted Rose, similar to the one featured in "Beauty and the Beast", to represent Love

Excalibur from "The Sword and the Stone", to represent Nobility

King Triton's Trident from "The Little Mermaid", to represent Acceptance

Asha's Wand from Wish, to represent Hope

The Sword of Truth and the Shield of Virtue from "Sleeping Beauty"

The Sorcerer's Hat from Fantasia, to represent Wisdom

Basically, I picture the ceremony going as follows. Ben walks down the aisle to the altar. As he stands there, petals of the enchanted rose are being placed around him in a circle. King Triton (who's temporarily human) uses the Trident to alter Ben's suit, adding more gold details that could only shine so bright because of magic. Ben kneels, and is given the Sword of Truth and Shield of Virtue to hold while the Sorcerer's Hat is placed on his head. A prayer or spell of sorts is being chanted for a moment. He is then knighted with the Sword of Excalibur, then again with Asha's Wand. Fairy Godmother's Wand is used to transform the worn crown into a bright, shiny new crown decorated with colorful jewels. Fairy Godmother then knights Ben with her wand finally, removes the hat and places the crown on his head and the coronation is over.

(It's a work in progress, so if you have any ideas/improvements, they're more than welcome)

Also, quite a few of these could make for great weapons come time for my version of the battle between Maleficent and the seven VKs.

Idea #2

For my second, unnamed WIP, the second idea I had to fix Ben's Coronation was pretty simple. In this fic-verse, none of the canon characters exist and the characters and settings are more based on some of the live action movies. The rulers of the United Kingdoms of Auradon are the High King Christopher and his wife, Queen Ella, of Charmont, from the 1997 Rodgers and Hammerstein version of "Cinderella", leaving their daughter (my OC), Elaine to be the future High Queen. Since she's Cinderella's daughter, having her be blessed with Fairy Godmother's wand makes sense.

[harrowharks-iliac-crest]

5

Ninth skull.

As they went out of the school building Nona looked quickly in the alleyway for the person she’d seen in the coat and mask, but they were gone, which meant either they really had been alive or someone else had gotten to them already.

I doubt they were dead.

Maybe they were connected to the person Hot Sauce caught watching them?

Palamedes liked to ask probing questions about exactly what the teacher was teaching, and to say things like “My God, that’s how they teach mathematics?” and cluck Cam’s tongue in a way that was impossible to answer.

Why are you an old man, Palamedes? (Same, though. I'd be the same.)

Nona had decided that she was fine with having eaten fruit, but not with eating fruit; but she was too cheerful to disappoint Camilla, so they both ate slices of sweating orange melon

God I hate those melons. The texture and taste combination is just so yuck. I'm really picky with what fruit I'll eat so I totally understand Nona here.

“I love Crown,” Nona protested, giving the smallest bone a desultory grope. “Why do you love Crown?” Nona thought about it. “She has lovely hair. And when she hugs you she smells like cinnamon, and her breasts feel nice, and she’s so big and pretty.” [...] “That’s not exactly love as I would classify it,” he said. “That’s simply a list of things most red-blooded human beings like about Crown. How do you know what cinnamon smells like, Nona?” “Oh, I don’t know. I just do. Is your timer on?”

Crown... someone from BoE?

Hang on. This could be Coronabeth. Corona means crown. The description fits.

The "Guest List" at the start has Crown as "Crown Him With Many Crowns" - under Blood of Eden, which could mean Coronabeth fully went over to their side (if she wasn't already from the very start) and took on a BoE name.

But she "isn't our friend right now". Ominous.

Why don’t you pick out the piece of bone you like best, and tell me about it?” She looked at them all: there were long treelike pieces with branches coming off them, and little wedged pieces and a long smooth piece with a jaggedy end

Anatomy nerd getting stuck on this: No bones in the human body look like trees, with branches coming off them. Not a one. It could be antlers, or bones that have had necromancy performed on them, but these are not natural human bones.

“Do we still like the Captain?” (Even Nona couldn’t quite love the Captain.) “I pity the Captain to the very depths of my heart, and never did like her much,” said Palamedes.

The Captain!!! Captain Judith Deuteros!!! It must be her!!

I have been wondering what's happened to Corona and Judy and this basically confirms they are both still alive; both working with the Blood of Eden (Judith must be doing so very reluctantly, or under great duress); and both somewhat in contact with our main three.

I'm so happy. This means they will most likely be a more active part of the story later on. Judith flat-out denied the possibility of letting Corona become her cavalier in As Yet Unsent; but then, she also denied ever wanting to work with the Blood of Eden. Stranger things have happened.

Palamedes carefully drew it away—“Good thinking, that’s antiseptic, but I can do better,” he said—and, with fine lines appearing at the side of Camilla’s mouth, the minutest fragment of bone popped out from the blood. Then the wound was gone, and the warm feeling with it.

Palamedes can do necromancy in Camilla's body - interesting.

The "warm feeling" - pain? Thanergy?

“Why is it that the blue light in the sky hurts—other people,” said Nona, “but not you and Cam?” She had asked this upward of a dozen times, especially lately, but Palamedes always answered unhesitatingly no matter how many times he had been asked before. “She’s got the wrong kind of body. She and I can cheat … for now … draw on me, not her, for the unusual kinds of things that I do, with the downside being that our time is very limited. If I was in her body for too long, I’d hurt her and the blue light would start to hurt me. [...] “Is the blue light going to start hurting Pyrrha, Palamedes?” Another question she had begun asking again. Camilla said it was anxiety. Palamedes said gently, “No. She’s immune to the blue light and it’s not going to start hurting her. She’s got the right type of body to be hurt by it, but the wrong soul. She was made to be immune to the blue light.” “So do I have the wrong kind of body, or the wrong kind of soul?” This was the only question Palamedes ever hesitated on. “We don’t know. We were worried that the blue light was hurting you when you first came to us, but you’re fine. This could mean that you’re like Pyrrha, and that you’re immune because your soul is protecting your body. But … there are a lot of factors, Nona.”

A long quote -

The "blue light" is supposed to hurt necromancers.

Palamedes isn't hurt by it because he is protected by Camilla's body, as long as he sticks to time limits. Pyrrha is immune because she is protected by her non-necromantic soul. "She was made to be immune"... is slightly disconcerting, to be honest. It kind of implies that Gideon the First dying in the River was planned.

Which would make sense, to be honest. Did he know?

And Nona is immune, because, well, because she's not Harrow. Harrow isn't around to be hurt by it. She might still be Gideon, without any memories, or she might still be someone else.

“Is that why—Blood of Eden don’t want me?” “Oh, they want you,” said Palamedes. “They want you very badly. Look—are you scared by the conversation Pyrrha and I had this morning?” “Not really. I mean, I know things are getting worse,” she said, wanting to sound worldly. “I know I’m not fixed and we only have a few more months to fix me, and who knows what’s going to happen in the meanwhile. But I’m not scared of We Suffer. I like We Suffer.”

This clears up a few things:

Blood of Eden did send them off on this mission, to "fix" Nona.

Blood of Eden do want her, but presumably as a Lyctor, and allied double agent.

Blood of Eden could easily have been the ones watching earlier that day.

I am slightly scared for Nona, who is showing no signs of being either Gideon or Harrow, and is someone else, who is wonderful and deserves to live.

“Time’s up,” he said. “Give this to Cam for me, will you?” And he spread Nona’s fingers like he always did, and he quietly kissed the second right-hand knuckle. Nona always paid so much more attention to the lessons of the hand and the mouth than she did to the lessons of the bone and the sword: they were significantly more interesting. [...] But she was good at this, whatever this was; she didn’t even know; nobody would give her the words, and she didn’t have them herself. The first time Palamedes had asked her to do it, quite a long time ago, and the first time she had raised Camilla’s hand to her mouth and done it —pretty much exactly as Palamedes had, making the same shape as his mouth had done like she did when speaking languages, and touching the same way as his hands had touched—Camilla had looked at her, and then she had gone away to sit in the bath by herself in the dark for almost an hour, even though there hadn’t been any water in the bath. Now when Nona waited for Camilla’s eyes to clear, and she lifted up Camilla’s hand to press her mouth to it, all Camilla said was, “Thanks.” And she almost didn’t flinch.

Oh god this bit makes me feel all achey and feels-y.

This, this might just be why Judith tried to warn Camilla of being overly attached to her necromancer; what pain - to love someone, share a body with them, but never able to speak directly, or touch, or see each other's faces again.

And they are still barely more than kids.

[useless-catalanfacts]

A Medieval king's praise of the Acropolis of Athens... which he had never seen but was ready to defend

The Acropolis of Athens (Greece), with the Parthenon temple on top, is one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world. This Ancient Greek monument is still a cause of awe nowadays, 2500 years after it was built; and the deep impression it causes was no different in the past. The archaeological remains have suffered from wars and explosions, but already in the Middle Ages some had the clear idea that this heritage needed to be protected.

The Duchy of Athens was part of the Crown of Catalonia-Aragon between the years 1311 and 1388. It was a time with many wars, and much of Greece was being sacked by Navarrese mercenaries (not so different from how some decades before it had been sacked by Catalan mercenaries, the Crusaders, and other warriors of many nationalities). Seeing the Navarrese destruction in Attica (the region of Greece where Athens is located) and having just had to defend Athens itself from them, the Athenian rulers decided to send an embassy to the king of Catalonia-Aragon (and Athens), Peter the Ceremonious.

One of the members of this embassy was John Boïl, who was bishop of Megara (Greece) and a very cultured man. During his stay with King Peter, he vividly described the beauty of Athens' Acropolis. Peter the Ceremonious loved history, architecture, and sculpture, and he was very impressed with that description. Following the bishop's petition, the King of Catalonia-Aragon gave the order to pay from his treasury for the salary of 12 crossbowmen who he sent to the Acropolis of Athens with the objective of protecting it. King Peter wanted to protect the survival of the Acropolis, which he described in these words (translated from Medieval Catalan to English):

The Castle of Athens is the most precious jewel in the world, so much that not even all the Christian kings together could build one just like it.

By "Castle", he means the Acropolis, using a word that would be more familiar to him at the time. He also uses the word "Centines", the Medieval Catalan name for Athens.

The whole document with king Peter's words, written in 1380, is still preserved in the Archive of the Crown of Aragon (Barcelona, Catalonia). Here's two pages from it, but you can personally check it all out on the archives' website.

Information source: Arxiu de la Corona d'Aragó.

[emyn-arnens]

What Waits Hungering in the Night

Last prince of Cardolan & the Witch-king of Angmar | G | ~900 words | @tolkienhorrorweek day 4: Barrow-downs + corruption | AO3

The last prince of Cardolan halted his horse and turned.

Amon Sûl burned like a beacon on the hilltop. Red flames crowned its tower, leaping from its windows, and the new-come dawn spread red and bloodied behind it. Flames leapt about the tower walls, and torches blazed up the slopes of the watchtower as the hill-men of Angmar teemed up the roads.

The bodies of the fallen Dúnedain would be gathered by the hill-men and taken to Carn Dûm to become the playthings of the Witch-king’s favored—his sorcerers, priests, and priestesses. None knew what happened in the towers of the sorcerers or the black-domed temples of the priesthood, but rumor travelled amongst the Dúnedain of the dead that walked amongst the living. Those who scouted the borders of the lands fallen under Angmar’s hold spoke of restless graves, and bodies arrayed in white robes like shrouds and clad in jewelry, as if being prepared for a ceremony.

Arveleg, who had fallen in the first wave of the Witch-king’s attack and whose body could not be recovered, would be among the dead taken from Amon Sûl to Carn Dûm. It was said that the Witch-king prized most highly the bodies of fallen kings and princes. 

But one thing at least the Witch-king could not take from the Dúnedain: the palantír of Amon Sûl, smuggled out as the forces of Angmar battered the gates of the watchtower, travelled by secret paths north and west to Fornost, where it would be kept as safe as it could.

The last prince of Cardolan turned and spurred his horse to the west. He did not make for Fornost, but for the Barrow-downs and the misty forest that fenced the Downs from behind, where waited the last of his people.

He had travelled far beneath the cover of night, riding hard away from the flaming watchtower where unfriendly eyes could spy his flight for many leagues in the daylight, but many miles still lay between him and safety, and all roads were now fraught with danger. 

All through the day, he rode fiercely, slowing to rest his horse only when he rode under the shoulder of a line of hills, and even then he glanced ceaselessly over his shoulder, fearing pursuit. Few trees grew in the barren, wasted lands between Amon Sûl and Bree-land, and those that did offered little cover. 

The shadows of the hills grew long about him, and the sun sank into the west in a corona of fire. His horse flagged, flanks heaving and flecked with sweat. He could not continue on if he wished to still have a horse to ride.

He led his horse into the lee of a great hill and made camp between a half-circle of boulders that rose up from the ground like cracked teeth. A trickle of water fell from the slope of the hill, and he watered his horse at the small pool it formed. He lit no fire, nor laid his head down to rest but sat watchful, his ears pricked keenly for the sound of hoofbeats in the night. His eyes followed the slow movement of the shadows, seeking foes hidden within their dark shrouds.

The moon rose over the brow of the hill and cast its pale light round the feet of the hill. The cracked boulders loomed large beneath its light, their looming points casting spectral shadows upon the ground.

Midnight came and passed. The moon swung higher overhead, and the shadows skittered back, banished by its light.

The last prince sat watchful, his sword lying naked beside him.

Night winds slipped through the valley between the hills, crying in keening voices. Fell voices joined with the winds, and their cries echoed among the hills. Their words were cold and fell.

Dread numbing his limbs, the last prince grasped his sword and stood with his back to a cracked boulder. His horse stirred restlessly, picking up its hooves and tossing its head. Its eyes rolled white in the moonlight.

Shadows gathered about the cracked stones and formed into a ring.

The ring of shadows drew closer. Spear-tips glinted in the light of the moon.

A ring of spears advanced, silver tips born by shadows.

The prince’s voice died in his throat. He slashed at the shadow bearing the nearest spear and drew forth a strangled cry. He cut at the next, and the next, but still they advanced. A ring of spears circled his throat.

The shadows now glinted with eyes—eyes full of malice. A spear-tip drew back, then plunged.

The last prince of Cardolan sagged against the standing stone.

— — —

Black robes whispered through the barrow. The crawling things that dwelt within and gnawed at rock and bone stilled, listening. A power greater than any that had ever walked among the forgotten crypts called to them, beckoning. They slithered towards it.

The robes whispered nearer, fluttering as if caught in a wind, though the barrow was still and silent. The whispering robes stopped before the largest crypt.

A voice like winter filled the chamber, cold and commanding. It chanted in a fell tongue, rising, then falling, now high and keening like the winds that whip the mountaintops, now low and guttural like the stirrings of the earth. It beckoned, it summoned, it drew forth. A pale light grew and suffused the chamber. It brought no warmth to the cold stone.

“Enter,” whispered the cold voice from within the dark robes. A finger lifted from the mass of robes and pointed.

The light vanished.

Beneath the barrow, the bones of the dead prince stirred.

[peony-pearl]

@khoc-week - Journal

I decided to do a little snippet section of what Nimue's journal could look like; it doesn't track the induction of every team member, but mostly some important emotional and plot beats for Nimue (without being too long or spoilery XD)

Day 1: I have decided to chronicle my journey after finding quite a handsome book in a marketplace located somewhere known as Twilight Town. For a world that seems so established, I have never heard of it. I must be very far from home, which feels stranger than having been stuck in the Realm of Darkness.

If my companion, Merlock, is to be trusted, then Yen Sid has become a man of old age, meaning many years have passed while I was locked away. It has been a week since I returned to the Realm of Light and each day my desire to see him cowering and curled at my feet only becomes stronger. I will rid the realm of his cowardice and falsehoods, and I will have peace.

Day 23: It seems Chaos doesn't intend on giving us much space. He has followed us from world to world, even through Merlock's use of dark portals. But he doesn't seem to want to turn us over to Maleficent. He is like a buzzing fly, but I have seen what he is capable of. If we are to be followed around by a godling, I suppose I'd rather it be one that enjoys our company. Merlock isn't too enthusiastic about his presence, but I think I managed to convince him how this could work in our favor. He's a stick in the mud, but he does see how being on the good side of such a creature would be beneficial to us.

Day 30: We were so close. We found his tower! We found his tower and we managed to corner Yen Sid like the vermin he is! But he has allies we weren't prepared for. Fairies, three of them, and a small group of young warriors at his disposal. In the ruckus, a girl tried to stop me with no weapon, no magic; she rushed over to me and grabbed my hands and the hilt of my keyblade in an effort to subdue me. Such a brave little maiden! I didn't have the heart to toss her across the room; unfortunately Merlock doesn't have the heart I have, and he did toss her rather unceremoniously onto her lover boy, a young soldier who serves a 'King Mickey'.

In the middle of the fight, Yen Sid and the Fairies that serve him relocated us to a different world before we could stop him. I don't remember much after that, except for Merlock stopping me from blindly swinging my keyblade, and I had screamed so loud I have now lost my voice. Merlock now insists I drink an herbal concoction to soothe my throat; he won't leave until I drink it. Perhaps he does have a heart.

Day 50: We have a new attendee in the ranks. A girl named Mint attempted to rob Owen as he wandered through the crowds in Corona. He handled her rather swiftly, although once she caught sight of Chaos, she became much more agreeable. She has apparently lost her title of crown princess as of recently, and is looking for something called a Relic to win back her status against her sister. When she learned of our goal, she became enamored with the thought of gaining some powerful magic; and thus we are now a party of five. (Six if you count Puck, but he is Owen... or is Owen Puck? I am still figuring that one out)

Day 62: The days are feeling shorter; it is rather an odd thing. When I was first released, the hours dragged by as I wanted nothing more than to make my way to Yen Sid's tower. To feel my claws tear at him and hear him beg for mercy. But now I can barely keep track of the time. I often find myself in Merlock's presence, hearing his tales of his travels and attempted conquests. He's a talented shapeshifter, and the talisman Maleficent gave him has tremendous magic. I told him I'll bet he's the best sorcerer I've met and he laughed, remarking how I'm saying that out of spite for the man we intend to rob. I laughed hard for the first time in so so long. I didn't want that moment to end, and yet there was nothing incredibly special about it; but I will always remember that sunset.

Day 70: Owen discovered our newest addition today: A sorcerer locked in a rather fantastic mirror who goes by the name of Magnifico. He is an odd fellow. It seems isolation was not very kind to him.

He spoke of a land called Rosas... it has been abandoned since I was a girl. I don't think anyone has lived there since my grandparents' time. Seeing him try to come to terms with this was more painful than I'd like to admit, and thus I offered him a place with us. He seemed reluctant at first, but overall he had little other choice, and he accepted our conditions, and is very enthusiastic about our goals, as it will benefit him greatly.

Day 100: I have come to find out that the girl who tried to stop me from obliterating Yen Sid some weeks ago is named Roxanne, and in putting her hand on my keyblade, it has unlocked her own powers. I saw her put herself in my way today, clumsily wielding her key. She was so determined, though, it was incredibly charming. I yanked the blade from her quicker than she could react. Whoever is training her is giving her quite poor advice, but she has a strong light. Harle managed to push the poor girl through a dark portal and I decided to be a good sport and at least toss her keyblade in after her.

Day 111: I have been humbled today. Our newest member is a scientist named Hollander. A man who allowed himself to be his own experimental model on the darkness; his work mirrors that of mine many years ago, the work Yen Sid destroyed.

He is slowly succumbing to a power he has taken years to control. His body has become twisted and gnarled with dark powers flowing through him. One day, if we don't find a way to reverse his situation, he will become a heartless, and he isn't sure if there will be enough of his true body left to create a Nobody.

Day 130: It is hard to believe how much time has passed since I have been released. My days seem so bright - so much like my days in Felicity.

I look to my team as they rest after a long day. As they talk, and laugh.

I feel nostalgic for days I have lost; days I will never have again.

How can so much joy bring so much pain?

Day 150: I saw it in his eyes; a feeling I wasn't prepared to feel such happiness surge through me again.

I spoke with Merlock, about how we had demolished a rather large heartless Maleficent had put in our path with ease; about plans; about the team, about how we would face glory soon and revel in the spoils of taking Yen Sid's magic.

His excited laughter met mine, and as I felt so jovial, I remembered him.

I remembered Yen Sid, looking at me with those eyes. I thought of old talks of old friends and confidants and those we fought together with.

I became withdrawn, and quickly excused myself for bed, pretending an old injury was acting up. He didn't seem too concerned, which consoled me. I passed by the team, who all had something to say as I retired; but each time I tried to respond in full, my heart felt too tight.

I can't do it again. I can't become attached.

I've finally made my decision, despite how much it hurts; it will only hurt worst if I let it go any further.

When Yen Sid is defeated and I have ensured Merlock's inheritance of his magics -

I will disappear from this world once more, and return to the embrace of the Realm of Darkness, where neither time nor light can hurt me again.

[dabblingreturns]

So reading the excellent tags in @liesmyth 's excellent post has taken me down a few excellent rabbit holes in my own brain

And here is the first thing that came of it

I would enjoy being around coronabeth more than ianthe.....but I, as a reader, feel more confident in my understanding of ianthe than than I do of coronabeth.

I know what makes ianthe tick...first priority is always her sisters safety...next is for her own personal ambition....lastly is a fascinating need to match peoples expectationsof her. Ianthe lies for her sister.....she kills for power, and if those two dont matter she hams up her "loathsome depraved villian" act

And that third thing is what makes her the iconic creature that we know and love....most of the time we spend with ianthe is in Harrow the ninth....in that book, and for the first time in her life, ianthe's ambitions have been fulfilled and her actions can't effect coronabeth's safety. Those two core motives really only come up as her buying protection for coronabeth from Harrow via "the work" and stopping augustine from killing jod....and more importantly the nine houses at the end (and not getting killed by her teacher through the judicial employment of kinky arm surgery)

In between these events, and we get to see ianthe come into her own as the largest ham in the entire series and the best frenimes* ever......and it's great...she is loathsome.....she is the worst.....she is evoking absolutely the perfect reactions from everyone around her.

And I get that urge to be the simple problem inside the complex trap.....she is playing the class clown on her own terms.....ianthe is even worse than gideon when it comes to taking any attention as positive. Gideon only takes negative attention from Harrow....but ianthe is addicted to attention....

And I get her....don't always like her...but I get her....she's smart ambition drama queen who loves her sister..... I feel confident I know how she would jump.....

Coronabeth through....she's an enigma....she's smart....and charming and obsessive... but mostly she's a liar......

she has been betrayed, been captured, then changed sides and gained new rank and name...but she's still a habitual liar...nona notices the weirdness between Crown and pyrrha were Crown tries to give pyrrha the reaction Pyrrha expects but it's an act.

I still have no clear understanding about why Corona pretended to be a necro....was it for power? Or freedom? Or a need to be by her sister? Idk I have no idea why she joined blood of eden...was it for freedom...or revenge?....or to protect her fellow captives? Was it for her own ideals....or some long term power play that was sort of implied....

I know she has threatened to kill herself multiple times in fights with her ianthe....I know that tern was terrified that her secret would get out...I know that Crown care about judith to some extent and that her sister had some influence over her....

In short....I'd trust Ianthe to sware on corona's life....but I'm don't think I could identify anything I'd make Crown Him with Many Crowns sware an oath on.

She's a wild card. And a powerful one at that...

*I actually think Ianthe is a pretty good friend to harrow....but since neither of them no how to have a friend, frenime is the best they ate capable of.

[wheretheharekissesthefox]

Lavender and Starflower (Mobster AU) – Chapter 10

The Dekarios Clan reigns over Waterdeep as the city’s protector for centuries. Suddenly, the Clan gets challenged by Cazador, the head of the Szarr Clan that rules over Baldur’s Gate. Of course, such an attack won’t be tolerated and the intruder must be forced back and out of the City of Splendors. While fixing destroyed protection sigils, Gale, wizard prodigy and heir of the Dekarios Clan, meets a charming stranger called Astarion. And Gale makes the biggest mistake of his life; he invites the pale elf into his home.

Trigger warning (18+): graphic description of sex, graphic description of violence, smut, dissociation, angst, emotional rollercoaster, mobster AU

I was inspired to start writing this fic when I saw this artwork by @arczism

The first poem's an original written by me.

The name of the fictional poet is based on Pan, the Greek god of the wild, shepherds, music, sex, and fertility. The name Pitus stems from Pitys (pine), a nymph who was pursued by Pan.

The second poem's written by me, but inspired by the lyrics to "Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang" by Silver.

In the game, the inscription on Astarion's gravestone reads "Astarion Ancunín: 229 – 268 DR", thus, he died and was turned at the age of 39 (which is very young for an elf since they claim adulthood and an adult name at 100 and can live up to 750 years)

According to D&D lore, Ches aka The Claw of the Sunsets is the third month of the year and the month in which the Spring Equinox takes place.

In Greek mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos of Crete and helped Theseus escape the Minotaur and then was abandoned by him on the island of Naxos. There, Dionysus (god of wine-making, orchards, fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre) fell in love with her and married her. Many versions of the myth recount Dionysus throwing Ariadne's jewelled crown into the sky to create a constellation, the Corona Borealis (Northern Crown). Ariadne's associated with mazes and labyrinths.

Lamarelle comes from the French phrase 'jouer à la marelle' meaning 'to play hopscotch'.

This is obviously an AU that isn't related to my other work.

Despite worrying about Astarion's whereabouts and well-being, life went on and Gale had to go to work. Setting up more protection and defence spells, gathering information in the brothels, calming the panicked priestesses in the Selûne temple and explaining that the suspended garlic garlands weren't enough to protect them.

With Murk by his side, Gale made his rounds through Waterdeep until long past midnight. He was exhausted when he finally arrived at home, thus, he didn't have the energy to cook for himself and ate some leftovers in the estate's kitchen. Afterwards, he walked upstairs to his suite and closed the door with a deep sigh.

"Gale..." Astarion scrambled off the sofa and flung himself around the wizard's neck. Relief flooded through the latter and he held the vampire spawn close.

"Are you alright? Where were you? I was worried."

"I had to deal with some business," replied Astarion, but didn't elaborate further. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," admitted the wizard, smiling softly.

Astarion kissed him deeply, desperately, and Gale wondered why. The vampire spawn's hands undid the wizard's trousers while they kept exchanging kisses.

"I want you," whispered Astarion. "Please, let me have you."

"Yes," panted Gale and groaned when the elf dragged his lips down his throat and collarbone. Astarion dropped to his knees, pulling down the wizard's trousers and underwear in one go, and swallowed his cock down. Gale moaned as he was deepthroated for the first time in his life, and ran his fingers through the vampire spawn's hair.

"Careful, don't choke," he got out, but realised at the same time that the undead didn't need to breathe. However, he could feel how Astarion, with his nose pressed into Gale's pubic hair, inhaled deeply as if to memorise the smell. The elf swallowed around him and moaned gutturally. Then, he started bobbing up and down on Gale's cock, once in a while pushing the entire length down his throat. It was too much and Gale couldn't hold on any longer.

"I'm close."

He whined the warning a second before he came. Astarion moaned and swallowed eagerly, his nails digging into the wizard's buttcheeks as the vampire spawn deepthroated him again. Gale whimpered due to overstimulation and gently pulled the elf off his softening, sensitive cock. The latter reluctantly let go and released the wizard with an obscene slurp. Moaning, Astarion swallowed again, his eyes on half-mast as he licked his lips. He seemed miles away. Gale stroke the vampire spawn's hair and asked worried: "Are you alright? You seem dazed."

"I'm fine, Mast– darling. I'm fine."

"Let me return the favour."

"No, not necessary. I'm fine," muttered Astarion, lolling his tongue back out to lick Gale's cock again, but the latter moved out of reach.

"Apologies, but I'm still too sensitive," explained Gale and helped the elf onto his feet. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes," answered Astarion, but he seemed to look right through him.

Gale frowned, kissed the vampire spawn's cheek, and murmured: "I'll get ready for bed."

"I'll be waiting for you," purred the elf and pulled him into a sloppy kiss. When they finally parted, Astarion sauntered into the bedroom while Gale entered the bathroom. The latter gave himself a catlick, brushed his teeth, and dressed in a shirt and underwear. Then, he entered the bedroom. Astarion was lounging on the mattress, with his legs spread to put himself on full display and a charming smile on his face.

"Come here, darling," he purred and rolled his hips up.

"My sincerest apology, Astarion, but I'm too tired to continue," Gale told him as he lifted the covers to slip into bed. "I'll make it up to you in the morning, I promise."

For a moment, the addressed stayed silent and Gale worried that he'd angered the vampire spawn. But then, the latter moved over and stroke the wizard's chest.

"I see," he murmured with a sickly-sweet smile that put Gale on edge. "That's alright, darling, but let me stay close to you."

"Of course, Astarion," nodded the wizard and extinguished the candlelight with a flick of the wrist.

As they lay in the dark, the vampire spawn pulled down the blanket, settled between Gale's legs, and took his cock back into his mouth. The wizard hissed in surprise.

"Astarion, please, I'm too tired. Let me sleep," he groaned.

The addressed popped off the wizard's flaccid member and replied: "Then sleep. Just let me stay here for a while. Please..."

Gale sighed. He couldn't refuse Astarion anything.

"Alright, but I doubt I can get it up again."

"That's fine by me," replied the elf and swallowed him back down. The wizard sighed again and started caressing Astarion's silver-white curls.

The latter seemed content to simply lay between his legs, eyes closed, hands on the wizard's thighs, and a flaccid cock on his tongue. He didn't move at all, only swallowed once in a while. It couldn't be called 'cockwarming', not really. Astarion's mouth was too cold for that, and it was more the other way around; the warmth of Gale's member warming up Astarion's mouth. But the wizarddidn't mind and it seemed as if the vampire spawn didn't either.

"I'm cold," muttered Gale after a while.

Astarion only hummed and, without looking, pulled the blanket up and over himself to cover Gale's torso. The latter lifted it up to look at the elf who was still between his legs and asked: "Are you alright down there? Are you sure you want to continue?"

"Yes," slurred Astarion, gazing up at him.

Again, it seemed like he was far away mentally and looking right through him.

"If you say so," muttered Gale and made himself more comfortable with a sigh. He stretched out his legs, sunk deeper into the pillow, and moved his hand to his own thigh to cover Astarion's fingers. He fell asleep this way, utterly exhausted.

The vampire spawn lingered under the covers, with his mouth around the wizard, while he was floating. His mind blissfully empty. All his worries and fears gone for a short while.

When Gale awoke, Astarion's head was resting on his chest. Smiling, he stroke the elf's silky-soft hair.

"Good morning," he mumbled sleepily.

The vampire spawn lifted his head up, smiling at him.

"Morning."

Astarion slotted their lips together sloppily and sucked on Gale's tongue who moaned at the treatment. They moved their bodies together, rolling their hips into each other. The wizard wrapped a hand around them both and started to stroke. Astarion whined into Gale's mouth and thrust into the grip.

"Gale," he moaned, eyes rolling back in his head. "A poem..."

The addressed huffed a laugh and pulled the vampire spawn into another passionate kiss before complying to the request.

"'Whether bathed in daylight or moonlight,

your beauty always shines blindingly bright.

I'm simply gazing at you in utter awe

as if you were a chiselled marble statue,

covered in stardust and morning dew.

You're the most beautiful being I ever saw.

I realise that the gods have not only blessed you,

as I am allowed to dwell in your presence, I'm blessed too.'"

Astarion's orgasm hit him like a minotaur during mating season. As his seeds burst out of him, covering Gale's hand and belly, his body shook violently and he moaned so loudly and gutturally, he feared his vocal cords would rip. It was only with Gale that his orgasms were so intense. Unsually, he felt nothing. He locked lips with the wizard again, kissing him desperately and hungrily. With a groan, Gale rolled his hips up one last time before he was granted his on relief.

Panting, they lay there, waiting until they'd recovered.

"Pan Pitus, author of numerous epic erotic poems," mumbled Astarion. "Allegedly, he died during intercourse at the ripe age of six hundred and sixty-nine."

"What a way to go," snickered Gale. The elf graced him with a chuckle, but it sounded a bit forced.

After a few minutes had passed, the wizard sighed and spoke: "I must go to work. Will you still be here when I come home?"

Astarion gave him a small smile, it seemed sad.

"Of course, I'll be here, darling."

"Are you sure you'll alright?" asked Gale, frowning slightly. "Something seems off since you've returned. Did something happen? You know you can trust me."

"Of course, I trust you darling, but it's nothing." After a short pause, Astarion sighed and added: "Well, there is something troubling me, but unfortunately, you cannot help me with it. I have to work through it on my own, I'm afraid."

"I see..." Still frowning, Gale gently brushed a loose curl behind the elf's pointy ear. "Whatever's troubling you, I'm sure you'll figure it out. I have faith in you."

At that, the addressed barked a laugh, sharp, humourless, and sad.

"I will," he said then.

They finally got out of bed. Gale got ready for the day in a rush and had a quick breakfast. Astarion moved much slower, as if still in trance. The wizard couldn't figure out why the elf looked so sad. With one last kiss, they parted and Gale made his way over to Morena's office to accept today's duties.

The day was rainy and unproductive. Gale made no progress on the subject of Cazador. No news, no more broken sigils, nothing at all. It was eerie – and highly suspicious. In a bad mood, Gale trotted home next to Murk who happily whistling a tune, seemingly utterly unbothered by anything.

At least, I'll see Astarion again soon, Gale thought with a smile.

"I'm home!" Gale announced and closed the suite's door behind him. He caught sight of Astarion lying on the sofa, curled up with a poetry album in his hand, but staring into space. Tara was sitting next to him on the sofa's armrest.

"Good evening, Mr. Dekarios. Welcome home," she said.

"Hello, my dear Tara," smiled the addressed and walked over to her. He scratched the purring tressym under the chin and then kissed the vampire spawn's forehead.

"Hello, Astarion, how are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine," mumbled the addressed and lifted his gaze up at the wizard.

He looked terrible, with dark circles under his eyes and a haunted expression on his face. Gale frowned, but said nothing.

"I'll prepare something for dinner," he spoke. "Are you hungry too? Should I get you some blood?"

"No, everything's fine," Astarion replied, but it was obvious that nothing was fine.

Gale sighed and marched into the kitchen with Tara hot on his heels.

"Astarion was like this all day," the tressym informed him while she patiently waited for her food being served. "He's obviously deeply troubled."

"I know," whispered Gale and sat Tara's bowl of food down. "I've tried to talk to him about it, but he doesn't want to. I don't know what to do..."

"Let's eat first," the tressym said and smacked her lips. "One doesn't think well on an empty stomach."

"Truer words have never been spoken," chuckled the wizard and started cooking his own dinner.

Shortly after, Gale returned to the living room with a bowl of noodles, garnished with steamed cherry tomatoes and basil, and a glass of red wine. Silently, he sat down at Astarion's feet and place the wine glass on the low table in front of the sofa. As soon as he'd started to eat, the vampire spawn got into motion, turned around, and laid his head onto Gale's lap.

"I doubt that's a good idea," remarked the wizard. "I might drop some food and burn you."

The addressed hummed, but stubbornly stayed where he was. Gale kept eating and paid extra attention to not spill anything while Astarion started to stroke the wizard's knee absentmindedly.

When he was done with his dinner, he put the bowl down on the table, lifted his wine glass up, and gulped it all down in one go. Then, he leaned back with a content sigh and stroke Astarion's hair.

"You can talk to me about anything, you know?" he muttered, but Astarion kept quiet.

After a while, Gale rose to wash the dishes and get ready for bed.

When he returned to the living room, Astarion stood in front of the open balcony door. Naked and with his arms slightly spread to the side as if he enjoyed soaking up the moonlight. He looked beautiful and it took Gale's breath away.

"You're beautiful," he voiced his thought.

Astarion turned towards him, smiling that sad little smile. Then, he rushed over and pulled the wizard into a kiss. He helped Gale shed his night clothes hastily, before stepping backwards until the table dug into his backside.

"Gale..." whispered the vampire spawn, stroking the addressed's cheek. "Please make love to me."

Before the wizard could answer, he was kissed again. It felt desperate. Quickly, Astarion turned around, placed his hands on the table, arched his back, and widened his stance.

"Take me right here," he demanded, but it sounded more like begging.

Gale kissed Astarion's neck and let his lips wander down his back, worshiping all those scars. When he'd reached the elf's tailbone, the wizard dropped to his knees, spread Astarion's buttcheeks, and licked across his hole. The vampire spawn gasped and whined when Gale wiggled his tongue into him. Astarion cried out, arching his back, and screwed his eyes shut.

"No one – no one has ever done this before," he panted. "Gods... it feels so good. Please don't stop."

The wizard chuckled – as much as he could in his position – and opened Astarion up with his tongue. In the meantime, he wrapped a hand around the elf's erection and started to stroke. Astarion moaned, whined, and begged for more, with shaking arms and weak legs, until he came. It took all his strength to keep himself upright and his attempt was almost all for nothing when Gale removed his hand from his spent member and pushed his semen-covered fingers into the elf. Astarion groaned as his eyes rolled back. The wizard had such a dirty mind – and he loved it.

"Gale, please, I'm ready," he panted.

With one last lick over the vampire spawn's hole, the addressed drew back and stood up. He bent over Astarion to kiss the tip of his pointy ear and whispered huskily: "I'll make love to you, as promised."

The vampire spawn sobbed quietly, and finally, finally, Gale entered him. Astarion cried out in bliss when his prostate was hit with every slow, sensual thrust. Gale's hands were on his hips and his forehead pressed into his back. He felt the wizard's breath puff against his skin with every exhale and moan. It was too good to be true. Astarion's arms finally gave out and his torso collapsed onto the tabletop. The gentleness of their coupling gave him the urge to scratch his skin off. He moaned while his eyes glazed over and he knew what he had to do. Astarion had made his decision.

"'Starry nights, sunny days,

I always thought that love should be this way,

but now, lifted and evaporated is lust's haze,

gone is the belief that we had a love that would stay.

You've been so good to me, but please don't lie,

I know it's over now, and our love has to die.

It hurts to say farewell, of course it does,

but there's no need to fight until our heads buzz.

My heart says no, but my mind says to let it go.

Let's get it over with and quickly vanquish sorrow.

And who's to say where we'll be tomorrow?'"

For a moment, it was dead-silent in the room. Then, Gale asked tentatively: "Astarion... what – what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, it's just a poem," said the addressed, still bent over the table.

"No, it's not," retorted the wizard. "Don't lie to me."

Astarion chuckled, but it sounded hollow and humourless.

"I always had a weakness for the smart ones," he said, "and, of course, it'll be my downfall."

Hastily, he grabbed his clothes and put them on. Gale stared at him in disbelief, still naked, covered in sweat and other bodily fluids.

"What the hells is going on, Astarion? Talk to me," he implored, but the addressed only shot him a sad smile.

"Farewell, Gale. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. For the first time in one hundred years, my cold, dead heart felt something, and for that I am forever grateful."

And before Gale could react, Astarion jumped off the balcony and vanished into the night. The wizard's heart broke and the tears started to fall.

When Gale had finally fallen asleep after crying himself to exhaustion, Tara hopped off the bed and started pacing through the dark bedroom. What's to be done? What's to be done? Tricky, tricky, indeed. The tressym's sharp eyes landed on Astarion's bag in the corner.

A quick rummage never hurt anyone, she thought and scuttled over. Thanks to a magic word in Tressymspeak, the bag opened for her and she stuck her head in to take a look. Everything smelled strongly of Astarion's perfume, including his fresh clothing. Tara figured it might be a way to try and cover up the vampire spawn's smell of undead that could give him away to more nose-sensitive individuals like herself. She dug deeper. There were two books. By the look of them, they were over two hundred years old. They were well-thumbed and thus, well-loved. One was an epic poem about a dragon slayer and a cursed princess, the other was a collection of Elven poetry. Next to them, Tara discovered a dark red velvet bag and she magicked it open with another spell. Inside were a handful of pretty but regular stones, a gold necklace with a ruby-adorned pendant, and a gold family sigil ring. With it, lay an old, slightly crumbly letter. The tressym let it hover in the air and unfold with a spell.

Ches (The Claw of the Sunsets), 268

To Astarion Ancunín, Heir of the Ancunín Family, Magistrate of Baldur's Gate

We hereby send you a letter of honour regarding an invitation to the decennial Elven Festival of the Arts. You are invited as an honorary member to represent your family. It would be an extraordinary pleasure for us to welcome you.

Yours sincerely,

Ariadne Lamarelle

Board Member of Baldur's Gate's Elven Community

Astarion Ancunín. Heir. Magistrate. Baldur's Gate. Vampire spawn. Not good. Not good at all.

Tara growled a bit as she put everything back where it belonged. Now, she wanted to be even more thorough in her investigation than before. She stuck her head back into the bag to search further. On the bottom sat a leather collar which faintly smelled of honey. That's when she suddenly felt her magic wane. Hissing, the tressym reeled back.

Sussur! Oh, that's most worrisome!

Tara immediately knew that the collar wasn't meant for an animal, but for a very specific human wizard.

I must speak to Morena. We must find out more about the vampire spawn's origin and motives. When I'm done talking to Gale's mother, I'll pick up Astarion's trail. I can follow the smell of his pungent perfume halfway across the city.

Tara nodded to herself and set to work. After all, she had to keep her best friend and his mother safe.

[paradoxcase]

Chapter 12 of Nona the Ninth

(Slowly figuring out how to work Locked Tomb reading and posting back into my schedule)

As anticipated, it's just Ctesiphon Wing coming to chat

I feel like Kevin would really enjoy the Sims

So they still seem to think that necromancers need their hands free to do necromancy

Do they think that undead bodies have some kind of power that living bodies don't? Like obviously if they died and some other necromancer started piloting their corpse around they'd have to worry about that other necromancer, but I think they'd have a lot bigger issues if there was a necromancer attacking them than these particular people being dead instead of alive. Possibly their use of the word "zombies" to describe necromancers has caused them to forget that there is actually a difference between zombies and necromancers?

I wonder why? If at least some of them think Pyrrha is still a Lyctor, why would it really matter whether Camilla and Nona were with her or not? Furthermore, if they think Nona might possibly turn into a Lyctor at any moment, why isn't she being treated the same way Pyrrha is?

She doesn't like eating fruit, but she does want to eat leaves? And she said a flower was sexy earlier, for some value of "sexy"

I kind of wonder now how Corona would have gotten along with Harrow, aside from the fact that Harrow showed very little inclination towards getting along with anyone except Gideon and maybe Palamedes back at Canaan House. Corona does seem drawn to people who don't want anything to do with her, at any rate

Are they doing some different kind of scanning on Pyrrha than what they do on Camilla and Nona?

I wonder why it's classified information that G1deon is gone? It seems like the Unjust Hope people are aware that Pyrrha isn't a Lyctor since otherwise they wouldn't be waiting for Nona to become a Lyctor again and would probably instead be gunning for Pyrrha, wouldn't they?

I wonder if Gideon is actually going to show up in Corona's vicinity at some point and ask for her sword back? That would be pretty funny, but I don't think Gideon was particularly attached to that sword or anything

I hope Judith shows up actually onscreen at some point in this book, and, maybe even has some interactions with Corona again

So I guess some of this chapter might have actually had Palamedes in it, although Nona claims to be able to tell them apart without needing to see their eyes, and she didn't say anything about it. Or is it just that Camilla is worried that We Suffer will notice that her eyes have changed since whatever she did with Palemedes that caused them to swap?

I wonder what that means

I'm not sure this makes sense. The rest of the universe doesn't seem to have left modern technology behind, and in that case a painted portrait would be worth much more than a photograph, so why would Wake only get a photograph while other important commanders have painted portraits?

I think if Pyrrha was actually a Lyctor she wouldn't need to make any sudden movements to hurt them. But it is possible that that thing would actually kill a Lyctor

So there's at least some people in BOE who still like bladed weapons as much as Corona and Camilla do, even though they have access to guns

Crown Him With Many Crowns is apparently the name of a hymn about Jesus, Thy Full Gallant Legions seems to be the from the English translation of the national anthem of the Ivory Coast, and He Found It In Him To Forgive seems to be from a song by a New Zealand rock band according to the internet, but I'm very sure they were not the only people to ever have used that phrase. I guess that parallels Wake's name in that second part is a translation of a national anthem and the third part is a song lyric, but if these phrases really don't mean anything to BOE anymore, that may not signify. I think from the rest of this that "Troia cell" is just a synonym for "Ctesiphon-3", but I'm not sure about that, and possibly Troia cell/Ctesiphon-3 is how they refer to Pyrrha, Camilla, and Nona?

I hope this person becomes a returning character, because they certainly are a character

Is this supposed to mean something to me?

I mean, Ianthe literally did eat parts of Naberius for necromancy purposes back in Gideon the Ninth, but I think Ctesiphon wing knows that Corona is not a necromancer? I guess the bodyguard just has heard some weird rumors about how people do things in the Nine Houses

More posthumous character development for Wake

I think the only people left alive who can physically travel through the River and aren't currently in this room are Ianthe and John, right? So is Ianthe the negotiator then? Very interested to hear Ianthe's take on her sister's new allegiance

So the Sixth House would be going back to the Empire, despite the break clause? Or did they promise the Sixth House a new home, and then turn around and offer them back to John at a price, and that's what's going on here?

Source Joyeuse is probably Mercy, Source Piotra is maybe Augustine? But I didn't get the impression that they were treating Mercy the same way they are treating Pyrrha now. Do they intend to have a different kind of relationship with Harrow/Nona?

Joyeuse was Charlemagne's sword, Chrysaor, which they use for Cytherea below is from Greek mythology, but I can't find anything about Piotra other than it being a given name

13 people died at or on the way to Canaan House: Marta, Naberius, Isaac, Jeannemary, Magnus, Abigail, Palamedes, Dulcinea, Protesilaus, Colum, Mayonnaise Uncle, Gideon, and Teacher, and Cytherea only killed six of them, as Camilla points out. I guess the ones that We Suffer is excluding here are Gideon and Naberius, assuming they were killed by their necromancers for Lyctor purposes? And Teacher is obviously the "necromantic monster" here. Camilla also didn't mention Gideon and Naberius in her correction

I thought the report at the end of the last book said that Lyctors had not appeared in this capacity in thousands of years? I can understand if she was like, this used to happen in ancient times and we are afraid it will start happening again, but here she is talking like this happens all the time in the current day

I dunno, I think Ianthe also got what she wanted, just not exactly the way she was hoping for it

Are there only 16 people in the Sixth House? Or is it like 16 families or something? I know they are low on population, but that seems pretty extreme

Camilla, are you going to merge with Palamedes and become BOE's pet Lyctor in exchange for the welfare of Nona and the Sixth House? Oh no

[emilee1421]

Winters and Nixon find a way to keep warm on a cold night in Bastogne.

The moon wore an icy halo in the cold winter sky. The frigid wind hummed a low mournful hymn through the trees of the dense forest. The silver moonlight streamed through the bare branches and cast long inky shadows onto the snow.

It had been quiet for a while now as the night slipped into that odd no-man's-land between midnight and dawn. It was easy in those late night hours to forget that they were completely surrounded by enemy forces. Winters blinked his eyes against the sting of the cold and fatigue, refocusing them on the treeline across the clearing. He couldn't see past the first few trees that formed the line but he was certain the Germans were there, watching them from their places in the dark as well.

He sat back against the frozen earth of his foxhole, pulling off his helmet and tipping his face up toward the inky, black vastness above. He swore he’d never seen so many stars. they stood out as perfect glittering singularities that seemed to shiver in the bitter December wind.

The crunch of boots through snow broke the quiet and Nixon slid into the hole with him. He propped his rifle up beside him before searching through his coat and producing his silver flask. He took a long pull before holding it out to Winters. “Brought you something warm” he drawled. His dark eyes shone with amusement as Winters shook his head. “Suit yourself.” he chuffed, taking another swallow.

“God, what I wouldn't give for a hot shower.” Nixon murmured a few moments later; puffing breaths of warm air into his cupped hands. Winters watched the way his frozen breath puffed past his perfectly sculpted lips as his mind wandered to the stolen glances of Captain Nixon in the Toccoa barrack showers. Rivulets of water flowing over broad shoulders and the rigid muscle and sinew of his abdomen. His cock twitched and thickened in his pants. He stopped his train of thought before he lost himself in it fully.

“I’d settle for an extra pair of socks at this point.” Winters huffed, forcing the thoughts from his head. The cold and lack of sleep was wearing away at his resolve to keep his mind sharp and not daydreaming about a certain dark haired adonis captain. Despite his efforts, he couldn't deny that the magnetic pull between them had only strengthened. At first he marked it up to bonds between all the men here. The fear and horror of war had a way of creating a deep and unique connection with those who experienced it with you. That’s surely what he felt. A bond with a man who had lived the same nightmare.

He tipped his face up and took a cleansing breath, watching the stars again. Nixon followed his gaze to the heavens. It was beautiful, serene even, and starkly out of place with everything they had seen since arriving in Bastogne.

Nixon shifted closer until they were pressed together from shoulder to knee. He relaxed a bit when Winters made no effort to move away. He took Winters’ gloved hand and directed his pointer finger across the sky to trace the outlines of the constellations.

“Corona borealis,” he murmured softly, tracing his finger over the celestial crown. “Taurus,” he traced over the outline of the bull’s horns.

“How do you know all this?” Winters asked.

“I contain multitudes,” Nixon replied with a smirk, dropping Winter’s hand but holding his cerulean gaze. Nix was certain Winters felt that same pull, like gravity. An inevitable force drawing them to one another. It wasn’t something as vapid at lust. It was much deeper. A bone-deep attraction that was calming and exciting all at the same time. Like the first warm day in the spring or the feel of warm salty ocean waves on a long-awaited holiday.

Nix reached up slowly and traced his thumb over Winters’ chapped bottom lip, fingers ghosting over the rough stubble of his jaw. He studied the lines of his face, the curve of his eyebrows, and the smudges of dirt across the pale skin of his forehead.

He felt Winters’ breath stutter as it caught in his throat but he kept moving his hand slowly, deliberately, watching the other man for any reaction. Winters studied Nix right back, glancing between those dark eyes and those perfectly bowed lips. He leaned into Nix’s touch, pressing his cheek into the warmth of his palm, and sliding a timid hand onto Nix’s thigh. It was permission bordering on desperation.

Both of their breaths came in quick panting bursts as they teetered on the precipice; suspended in the full gravity of the moment. Nix cupped the back of Winter’s neck before pulling him forward and kissing him hard, sending both of them careening over the edge. Nix’s plush lips moved against Winter’s, demanding but gentle all at once as the buzzing attraction became a live wire between them.

He felt Winter’s body tense in brief surprise before relaxing into his touch as he leaned closer, lips parting to let him in. He pulled Nix to him until their bodies were flush, one hand threading into the dark hair that had grown out over the weeks in Belgium. He could taste the whisper of cigarettes and the edge of whisky on his tongue.

Nix claimed Winter’s mouth, vying dominance through the movement of their mouths. He sucked Winters’ bottom lip and nipped it just hard enough to send a thrill of pain and pleasure down Winters’ spine. Winter’s fingers slid into Nix’s coat, savoring his warmth and exploring their way around his ribs before gripping into the muscles of his back in a silent plea for him to not let go.

Nix deepened the kiss, chasing the desperate building between them and stoking the embers of want until he felt flames of desire spread deep in his belly.

Winters pulled back slightly, gentle panting breaths caressing Nix’s skin as he ghosted his lips over the crook of his neck.

“Nix” Winters rasped, making the familiar nickname sound like a prayer.

Fast crunching footsteps approached. The two men instinctively pushed away from each other, repositioning in the foxhole to face the line just in time for the footsteps to skid to a stop behind them. Doc Roe crouched over them, stuffing down bandages and pressure dressings into his medic bag.

“Doc” Nix nodded to the medic.

“Sir” Roe nodded back. “You guys alright?” he asked.

“We’re all good here,” Winters answered.

“Don't forget to move around between watches. Gotta keep warm.” Roe added before hurrying off to the net foxhole.

Both men settled into the dark silence of the night, neither one speaking for a while until Nix shifted closer again and pulled the standard issue wool blanket from his pack. He spread it over both of them and repositioned his rifle within reach.

“Get some sleep, Dick. I’ll wake you up if it gets interesting” He murmured, eyes fixed on the treeline across the clearing.

Winters shuffled down, pulling his scarf and coat up around his neck and settling in. He looked back up to the stars, trying to find the constellations Nix showed him until his eyes grew heavy. His last thoughts before surrendering to the irresistible pull of sleep were of perfectly bowed, warm lips and sultry deep-brown eyes.

[tomomiisasleep]

oh god.

wait if Nona's a fused soul she doesn't have infinite thanergy anymore

of whites so white they looked yellow except where they were splotched with reds so red they looked orange, a multihued melange of faces and walls

this can't be Gideon right

Prince Ianthe Naberius the First, the Lyctor Prince, the Saint of Awe

what the hell

oh my god Gideon is also there

Her Most Serene Highness, Crown Prince Kiriona Gaia, heir to the First House, the Emperor’s only daughter

uhh???

ummmmmm??????

“Cam, have you thought about what it means if Nona’s actually—a completed merger? One we will never actually be able to unpick, a successful soul gestalt?”

so??

Camilla did something a little strange then: she tripped. She pitched forward on a raised bit of the carpet and stumbled into the Angel, tried to right herself with her hands on the Angel’s hips and front, and stumbled upward, saying “Sorry—sorry,” glancing out the window like she was embarrassed. Then she turned her head back and looked more normally Camilla, standing as gracefully as though she could never even think about tripping.

this is like the oldest "bug somebody" trick in the books

“Bloody dog. Let me put him in the kitchen with a toy,”

she, or they're gonna get a knife

“Yes, you made it up.”

oh well another kid goes crazy wondering if she's crazy

oh my god that third tantrum scene I'm getting physically ill reading it and Idon't think I've ever been so disturbed reading anything

This second arm had come off longer, and she gripped that one firmly, one hand at the bottom and the other hand atop that one. Even with everything so soggy and slippery, that felt safe.

ok

unless it didn’t recognise it. Unless your soul was a stranger’s … or a melange. Is that the gestalt theory busted—or confirmed? Is that how we explain the rapid healing?”

ok

I can't believe we only get to listen to twins reunion scene. come on! and she's puppeting...that's why she could be there, but where is the planet actually?

Look at you … more beautiful than ever, even with crappy jewellery and a million split ends. Studs, darling? Earrings on a diet?”

just got second-hand judged by Ianthe eight times for every stud I wear daily..

also a weird thing about Corona is, she frickin hates being criticized but loves Ianthe, but Ianthe puts her down all the time. was she being gaslighted from as soon as she could understand words???? judging from how Ianthe almost made Harrow genuinely love her(but she choose not to? not sure) I won't put it past Ianthe to do that, cuz if there was a control dynamic in their relationship Ianthe would be the one in control. Corona wanted to be eaten by her.

The voice cooled and hardened like an ice cube.

“Didn’t Harrow—what? When did you talk to Harrow?”

haha I remember Muir saying on her blog that book 3 is girls being annoyed that it is legal for exes to talk to eachother

“I was on a shuttle with her body for months and months. I want to know what’s going on.”

oh. yeah I figured she's being puppetted too, but like. how? who? why?

I'm 95% percent sure Nona is merged, but Harrow and Gideon seem to live inside her at the same time??? what

The other one, Crown’s boyfriend I think

hahahaha "sister"was said many times, buf Nona still think it's boyfriend. that settles it

If we can get the body of Gideon Nav—the key to the Locked Tomb—out of that barracks, will you give us the Sixth House?”

bruh everyone thinks the tomb is still locked, but I really really believe that Harrow opened it already.

“A pair of scissors,” said Camilla. “Iris dye.” She looked at Nona’s button-up shirt, which was unbuttoned to show the T-shirt underneath. “And the blackest clothes you can find.”

like where this is going.

Which reminds me, how could Gideon see Cytherea's thanergy signals when Harrow overrided her? no Lyctor masking? or did she turn it off? how did she fool everyone for so long?

He was all, Matter doesn’t play by these rules! You’re doing bone parthenogenesis! I told him his mum did bone parthenogenesis. A— told me he’d kill me one day.

*laughing*

wait I just realized

he did try to kill him later