#i already have her local speciality and a few artifacts for her

[aztrosist666]

at first i was like hm i could pull for nahida on her rerun since theres no one i want for awhile and now im like I Need Nahida I Am Incomplete Without Her

[themongrelcatcamehome-blog]

welcome to the party. try the punch.

Synopsys: A new type of trafficking begins to take place in Zaun. Commander Caitlyn Kiramman plans to attend the party where the trade agreement will be celebrated. But something – or someone – wasn’t part of her plans.

tags: smut, thigh riding, strap, switch and i don't know how this works it's my very first fanfic.

Caitlyn had read the full report. She found out that Baroness Velveteen's party would take place that night. She quickly came up with a plan and decided it would be a two-person mission.  

She called Officer Maddie, who wasn’t her brightest soldier, but she was the most passionate, and that would suffice.  

The plan was to enter the party wearing masks and accessories that would cover any very obvious features. Maddie’s orange hair and freckles were well known to the criminals of Zaun. And Caitlyn’s black-blue hair would attract attention from some.  

With the plan more or less complete and Maddie on standby, Caitlyn dressed in a way she normally wouldn’t.  

Many months earlier, she had traveled to the Bilgewater. The idea was to negotiate military weapons with the local police. At the time, Caitlyn was determined to live a little more outside of the police force, so she frequented some bars and tried the famous Bilgewater rum. In one of those bars, she saw a woman dressed in a way she would never forget. It was that kind of impact Caitlyn wanted to create at the Zaunite party. Seducing the right baroness would be the shortest path to achieving the mission’s objective: to arrest the person responsible for illegal alcohol trafficking and crack down on any facilitators of international trafficking of drugs.

Caitlyn told Maddie that they wouldn’t be going together and that they wouldn’t speak during the party. Her clear instruction to the young soldier was: if my tracker stops sending a signal to your receiver or if I stop moving for more than ten minutes, call in your troops and search for me.  

Maddie was aware and ready for the mission.  

Caitlyn took a long bath, washed her hair, and moisturized her skin as best as she could. She brushed her hair back and braided it into a long fishtail braid.  

The mask she chose was one that mimicked a mythical artifact called Lyandre. It looked like something out of a play: white with green and red details.  

For her outfit, Caitlyn decided to wear a red dress with a traditional Ionian cut: it cinched at the waist, had buttons all the way up to the neck, and reached halfway down her thighs. She chose not to wear any stockings. Her holster was across her chest, and her two smaller pistols were equipped.  

For shoes, she wore short and extravagant boots. The perfect excuse to wear footwear suitable for running, if necessary.  

The lingerie Caitlyn chose was a simple but elegant black lace set.

Caitlyn was ready.  

Upon arriving at the party—slightly late, which was part of the disguise— the commander already smelled like Zaun. She had stopped by a bar beforehand and sat on some old sofas to drink two beers. She took the opportunity to inform Maddie that, from that moment on, her location would need to be monitored. Maddie was already at the party.

At the entrance, she was greeted by a woman dressed in feathers. Her entire face was covered in very bright stones. She asked Caitlyn: "Guest of someone?"  

Caitlyn was prepared. She responded:

- Don't insult me. Move.

Immediately, the woman moved to the left and nodded to Caitlyn.  

Inside, there were people from all corners of Runeterra. Yordles, Vastaya, humanoids... Most using shimmer. That alone would have been enough to arrest quite a few people, but the Piltover police had bigger concerns than the recreational use of a cheap drug.  

Caitlyn ordered a drink at the bar, and the bartender said, "The special tab is upstairs. Here, we only serve the usual."  

Caitlyn thanked him with a nod. Her outfit was working. She looked like she was from Ionia.  

Upon reaching the stairs to the mezzanine, a Vastaya guard asked, "Guest of someone?"  

And Caitlyn needed a more convincing answer this time. She was quick.  

- When the star of the party arrives, tell her she's my guest.

The young man twitched his ears, widened his eyes, and handed Caitlyn a card for consumption in the second booth of the mezzanine.  

Vi was in the seventh booth. Dressed in a simple yet elegant suit, her role at the party was to ensure that Madame Babette wouldn’t be disturbed by anything.  

The party was a celebration of the success of the Bilgewater rum brought by Velveteen, her business partner. Vi didn’t care about any moral implications. She was only interested in payment and having fun.  

Since Velveteen hadn’t yet arrived, Vi was acting like a regular guest: drinking, smoking a few cigarettes, and flirting with half the women in the mezzanine.  

One of them, very young and wearing a mask that covered her entire head, asked Vi if there was any drink she would suggest, something lighter. Vi called over the humanoid waitress and ordered a drink for the young woman. The waitress didn’t seem happy but nodded and brought the drink. It was a mimosa made with a citrus fruit from Bandlecity. The woman took the drink from the tray and took a sip.  

“Very tasty, really different!”  

The waitress shot a piercing look at Vi and said, "She should try the punch," as she left, in a bad mood.

The young woman asked:  

- What was that about?   - You know, we have a history.   - A history that involves punches or the wine punch?

Vi straightened up and scratched the back of her neck with her right hand. As she did, the opening of her suit at chest level widened, revealing that Vi wasn’t wearing anything under her suit.  

The woman blushed beneath her mask, her face heating up with every second she stared at Vi’s chest, and Vi said:  

- Want to find out?

Before any more words could be exchanged between them, Vi heard a noise coming from booth 7.  

There was no time to say goodbye to the young woman. Vi ran toward the entrance, only to realize it was just a Yordle popping a champagne bottle.  

When she returned to the mezzanine corridor, the woman she had been flirting with had vanished.  

Caitlyn had stiffened at the noise but soon relaxed. Her booth was enormous, featuring a half-moon-shaped velvet sofa that was extremely comfortable. Everything was impeccably clean. In the center  was a table with a built-in fridge and various types of drinks. The booth was enclosed, like a mini private lounge, and the curtains could be moved with a button next to the sofa. It felt strange to be in a closed space inside a nightclub, but Caitlyn understood that the patrons here valued privacy for committing their crimes—and other things.

Caitlyn left the mezzanine door open because the heat was getting almost uncomfortable, and she had already undone two buttons on her dress. The same waitress moved between the booths and approached Caitlyn.

- Madame, would you like something from our tobacco selection?

The woman held out three containers: one with a glimmering substance in a golden pipe, another with a bluish herb, and the third was a pack of cigarettes. Caitlyn declined all three and requested a glass of ice.

The waitress shrugged and went to fetch the order. Just past the door of the booth, she stopped to chat with someone. Caitlyn ignored it until she heard a familiar voice.

- Are you sure she’s foreign?

Vi asked.

- Of course. She speaks differently, denied all the stash and asked for ice. Who in their right mind drinks ice from Zaun?

Caitlyn grew anxious at the conversation, unfsure if this would catch Vi’s attention or if her cover was on the verge of being blown. She continued sitting, sipping Bilgewater rum, and watching the party below.

Before she could dwell further on the implications of the conversation, a loud noise erupted directly beneath her booth.

It was applause. Velveteen had arrived.

Caitlyn prepared to go down and complete the second part of her mission: to find a way to get close to the baroness in a friendly manner. Caitlyn knew of her preferences for foreigners, so she intended to use her disguise to her advantage. She spotted Velveteen heading toward the mezzanine entrance, but before she could continue observing the baroness, she felt her feet leave the ground, a sudden movement towards her back and her entire body moving toward the velvet couch.

“You think you’re clever, Cupcake?”

Vi was holding Caitlyn by the neck, having taken her down with a single move. She patted Caitlyn’s torso, searching for weapons, and removed her pistols, stuffing them into the fridge. Caitlyn grunted, struggling to free herself from Vi’s chokehold, but before she could think of screaming, the DJ started his set.

Vi loosened her grip slightly—just enough for Caitlyn to speak without coughing. Caitlyn raised her hands in surrender and said, “I don’t want anything to do with you or your psycho sister. I’m here for Velveteen.”

- I know. But Velveteen is a guest of my employer, and well, Cupcake, that’s not going to happen. - If you don’t stop calling me Cupcake, we’re going to have a problem. - Oh, really, commander? And what exactly can you do from there?

Vi tightened her chokehold again, crossing her legs over Caitlyn’s thighs. “I could easily kill you now, and they’d only know when I wanted them to.”

- Violet, Violet… If you haven’t moved on, we can talk about it.

Despite the difficulty in speaking, Caitlyn couldn’t miss the chance to tease her ex-lover.

- Come on, Violet. Admit you’ve missed me.

Vi released the chokehold and yanked off Caitlyn’s mask. Looking at the commander, she saw that Caitlyn was smiling and mocking the situation. Caitlyn adjusted herself as best she could in Vi’s lap, taking the chance to massage her own neck, sore from the chokehold.

- I should have just taken you down, but one day I’ll learn.

Vi let go of Caitlyn completely. She retrieved the pistols from the fridge, removed the ammunition, and threw them out the door. The empty pistols went into the trash, leaving Caitlyn defenseless.

Vi opened a beer from the minibar, leaned back comfortably on the sofa, and began to drink. Caitlyn said:

- If you want to act like my guest, at least sit properly

Vi sat with her legs spread, beer in her right hand and her left resting on her knee.

- I’m thinking, Cait. - About what? - You weren’t supposed to be here. I didn’t plan on seeing you today. - I don’t think about you enough to keep you out of my plans, but it’s nice to know you’re alive, Violet. - And they say you have no sense of humor…

The waitress stopped in front of the mezzanine and asked if she could come in. Vi stood, took the glass of ice from the tray, and said, “Thanks.” The waitress had no time to react.

Watching Vi standing, Caitlyn noticed that Vi was well dressed, but something about her outfit caught her attention. Vi had her back turned as she briefly interacted with the waitress, and Caitlyn saw two straps crossed across the back of Vi's waist. Her muscular butt was showing in the silhouette of her pants.

- Did you come to work or to have fun? - They’re the same to me. Work can be fun, but you know nothing about that.

Vi turned toward Caitlyn, she was sweating from the brief fight, her pants weren't tight, but Cait knew what Vi was wearing.

Caitlyn tried to shake off the thoughts running through her mind. She needed to stay focused on the mission.

Vi set the beer on the table and leaned toward Caitlyn.

- Cupcake, I’m closing the door.

Caitlyn tried to stand quickly but wobbled to the side, grabbing the edge of the sofa. The chokehold and drink had affected her body, and she was still recovering from the dizziness. She sat back down on the sofa and undid another button of her dress.

Standing, Vi approached Caitlyn and placed her cold hand on the commander’s forehead. Caitlyn felt a chill run through her whole body, unsure if it was from the cold or…

- Come on, Cait. I didn’t even squeeze that hard. It was almost like foreplay… - Shut up, Violet. You caught me off guard, that’s all. Is already passing.

And it was true. Caitlyn was hot for a different reason now.

- Cupcake, I’m on the clock. And as much as you love my company, I need to work.

Vi adjusted her pants, pulling the waistband up to her bellybutton. As she did, her strap became visible against her pants. Caitlyn gulped. Vi adjusted the lapel of her suit jacket and said, “When my shift ends, I’ll decide if I’ll come back here.”

Caitlyn didn’t give Vi a chance to react. When Vi leaned down to press the door button, Caitlyn grabbed her arm and twisted her into a perfect arm lock. Vi let out a loud grunt.

- Your shift just started, Violet.

Caitlyn remained seated almost comfortably on the couch. As she tried to sit Vi between her legs on the floor, the sofa seemed to expand a little. Vi's hair smelled of smoke, alcohol, and shampoo. She was wearing a light fragrance, probably some kind of body lotion. Her sweat blended perfectly with all the scents, and Caitlyn felt she might get dizzy again.

She continued pressing her back against the backrest, tightening the arm lock without realizing.

- Damn it! Are you trying to break my arm?!

Caitlyn released the hold. Vi immediately began massaging her shoulder and part of her back. As she did it, her scent grew stronger and Caitlyn caught a glimpse of a small part of her back. Caitlyn was kneeling behind Vi to apply more force to the hold she had been using. As she saw Vi’s back muscles tense under the suit, she sat with her legs around Vi’s hips. She held Vi’s right arm close to her own chest and whispered in her ear,“Did you miss me, Violet?”

Vi felt a shiver run through her entire body, stopping at her neck. She touched Caitlyn’s hand with her free hand.

- Oh, Cait. You don’t want to do this.

Caitlyn didn't let Vi finish her sentence. She pressed her face into Vi's neck, kissing and biting her ear. Vi squirmed a bit but made no sound. Caitlyn started kissing the other side of her neck and bit Vi's ear harder. As she kissed her neck, Caitlyn held Vi's chin with one hand and slid the other across her chest. Vi's suit was damp with sweat, which only turned Caitlyn on even more. As she nibbled, she felt Vi's nipple harden under her touch, and Vi finally let out a moan. Caitlyn released Vi's chin and moved her hand to her neck.

- Not so tough now, are you?

Caitlyn put her hand on Vi's neck, a gentle but firm grip. Vi took a deep breath. With her free hand, Caitlyn unbuttoned the suit and slid her hand down to her stomach, it was firm and had a perfect six-pack. Vi started moving her hips, trying to reach Caitlyn’s hand.

"Take off your pants," Caitlyn ordered.

Vi unbuttoned her pants and pulled them down to her knees. She was wearing black boxer-style underwear. The shape of her strap was visible, and her toned abs glistened with sweat.

Caitlyn continued watching over Vi’s shoulders. Now with both hands, she slid them over her chest, stomach, and the waistband of her underwear. Vi moaned, trying to guide Caitlyn's right hand toward her inner thigh. Caitlyn then began running her hands down Vi's thighs. Her nails moved lightly, sending chills over Vi's skin. She dug her nail into her right thigh, scratching her smooth skin a little. Vi's thigh turned slightly red, and Caitlyn caressed it for a while longer.

"Cait, please...", moaned Vi.

Caitlyn slipped her right hand into Vi's underwear, gently tugging it down to reveal the strap. Then she nudged the strap slightly aside to reach Vi's wetness.

- Is that all for me, Violet?

Vi moaned a “Yes” without even realizing she was speaking. But Caitlyn didn't stay too long there. 

Caitlyn ran two fingers over Vi's entrance and brought them to her mouth. Vi licked the commander’s fingers, gently biting the tips. Caitlyn brushed the same fingers over Vi's nipples, causing her to shiver as if a wave of electricity was coursing through her body. Vi squirmed, her hips moving rhythmically. Her thick, muscular thigh was becoming increasingly tense. Caitlyn ran her fingers again on Vi’s clit in a gentle circular motion, sliding her fingers down to the entrance and gathering some of Vi's wetness. She then proceeded to put the same two fingers in Vi’s mouth again, prompting Vi to suck them. As the pink-haired started suckling her fingers, Caitlyn started rubbing her pussy on Vi’s back. As her breathing rhythm increased, she tapped Vi’s mouth and grabbed her left breast with a firm grip. 

Caitlyn rose from her position and moved in front of Vi. She pushed Vi onto the couch, telling her to keep watching.

Caitlyn unbuttoned the rest of her dress and slipped off her shoes. Vi was almost completely undressed. She tried to reach out and pull Caitlyn toward her, but Caitlyn dodged her grasp.

Caitlyn knelt in front of Vi. Vi sat back on the sofa, gently touching Caitlyn's face and pulling her closer. They shared an urgent, sloppy kiss and Caitlyn let out a moan as she tasted Vi’s cum on her mouth. She realized she was salivating, and a bit of it dripped onto Vi's abdomen.

“Don't waste it there,” Vi murmured.

Caitlyn began licking and kissing Vi's abdomen, moving up to her chest, lingering on her hardened nipples as she teased them with her tongue. Circular motions, up and down, biting and kissing them.  Vi closed her eyes, moaning softly, her hands caressing Caitlyn's shoulders as she opened Cait's bra and messed her braid.

Caitlyn felt Vi's strap pressing against her breasts, trying to keep herself composed. She resumed licking along Vi's stomach, hesitating at her inner thigh before trailing her tongue over Vi’s legs. Rising up, she held Vi’s chin, teasing her, bringing her face close to her cunt, as if to spark her desire even more. Vi tried to kiss it, but Caitlyn held back.

Caitlyn pulled her own underwear aside and lowered herself onto Vi's thigh.

- Violet, I'm so…

Vi secretly enjoyed hearing Caitlyn say her full name. Something about her accent made everything even more thrilling, and the commanding tone just made Vi want her more.

As Caitlyn rode Vi's thigh, Vi held her back with her left hand and used her right hand to grip Caitlyn’s ass, pressing her body down closer against her thigh. Caitlyn’s entire body moved rhythmically. By now, her hair was loose, and she tried to tuck it behind her ear as she moved. 

- Leave it. You look so beautiful.

And Caitlyn kissed Vi like her mouth was the last thing she’d ever experience. She kissed, moaned, and panted against Vi’s lips, biting them each time Vi squeezed her harder. Vi lifted her leg slightly, pressing even more against the commander's cunt. She started kissing and sucking Caitlyn's breasts. Caitlyn threw her head back and moaned Vi’s name. Vi started moving her thigh, her muscles rubbing against the commander's pussy. Noticing Caitlyn’s movements speeding up, Vi knew her climax was near. So, she intentionally eased up on the pressure, and Caitlyn turned to her with a mix of frustration and longing.

- Don’t stop!

"Look at me." Said Vi, as she pressed her thigh harder this time, steady and slow, adjusting Caitlyn’s panties aside a bit more. Her thigh was so wet that Caitlyn slid even more easily. The friction against Caitlyn’s clit and Vi’s thigh muscles along with the steady rhythm was driving them wild. Caitlyn braced both hands on Vi’s shoulders, sliding a few more times before settling onto her strap.

Vi leaned back on her elbows to watch Caitlyn ride. Their bodies were hot, almost igniting from the heat between them. Caitlyn held her panties to the side, her other hand resting on Vi’s thigh as she leaned back. Cait had to wipe her hand on her own thigh, since Vi's thigh was slippery. The way she moved, her hips rocking forward and back, even lightly brushing against Vi’s sensitive spot left Vi barely able to contain herself… But she had plans for later.

Vi took over holding Caitlyn’s nearly-torn panties, flexing her own hips to thrust deeper. Caitlyn leaned forward, her hands on Vi's abs and breasts. Her mind swirled as she moved faster, her climax drawing near. Vi was mesmerized, watching Caitlyn’s hips, her body moving forward. She couldn’t take her eyes off her pussy. Caitlyn’s head fell back as she started to climax on Vi’s strap, moving so fast that Vi had to hold the strap in place. Caitlyn’s body tensed, arching forward as she moaned, locking eyes with Vi. When her body relaxed, she collapsed onto Vi’s chest and said:

- Stay inside me a little longer.

Vi kissed Caitlyn’s head, inhaling her scent, fighting the urge to jerk herself off on Caitlyn's body. As Caitlyn’s heartbeat slowed, she gently pulled the strap out and adjusted her underwear. Vi chuckled, giving Caitlyn’s ass one last squeeze.

Caitlyn moved to the center of the room, searching for water and ended up taking a swig from Vi’s beer.

Vi finished removing her pants and as she was about to unstrap herself, Caitlyn pulled the straps, tightening them against Vi's skin. When Cait saw the muscles in Vi's hip bulging from the pressure of the straps, she loosened them slightly so Vi could feel the bite she was about to give. Vi tried to hold steady, but her balance was starting to falter. When she finished unstrapping Vi, Caitlyn stood up to kiss her. Their bodies stayed close, Caitlyn feeling each muscle in Vi’s back, running her hands over her arms, whispering compliments as they held each other tightly. As Cait touched Vi's ass, she felt the pink-haired leaning towards her as she rubbed her cunt on Cait.

Cait then proceeds to kiss Vi's neck, mouth, breasts, circling her tongue on her nipples and going back to her mouth.

As they kissed, Caitlyn pulled Vi's hair and whisper in her ear:

- I want you to cum in my mouth.

Vi felt her vision blur, seeing colorful flashes even with her eyes closed. A growing wave of nervousness surged up her temples. She felt her face flush and couldn’t help but let out a subtle hiss. Something shifted inside and she was so horny that even a gentle movement on her sensitive spot could trigger an orgasm. She exasperated and tried to control herself. 

Vi tried to lay on the couch, but Cait grabbed her waist and said with a smirk:

"I want you to stand up," Caitlyn commanded, running her fingers teasingly along Vi’s folds but skipping her clit, just enough to ignite her. Vi's legs began to falter, trembling under Caitlyn’s touch.

Vi pulled Caitlyn’s hair, locking eyes with her. "Stop torturing me. And don’t waste a drop."

Caitlyn laughed; she was so wet. She slid her fingers along Vi's folds again, then brought them to her mouth biting her cheeks gently as Vi tasted herself.

Caitlyn hastily tied her hair up, kissed and sucked Vi’s nipples, then worked her way down to her abs, licking and kissing along her toned stomach before kneeling in front of her.

Vi couldn't control her reactions, shivers coursing through her body, her legs still shaky. She tried to steady herself against the couch, but it was too low. Caitlyn noticed and pushed her back against the wall, adjusting her hair as she looked up at Vi with an eager, heated gaze.

Vi placed one hand on her stomach and the other on Caitlyn's face. Seeing Piltover's most stuck-up commander on her knees was driving her wild. When Vi tried to pull Caitlyn’s face closer to her pussy, Caitlyn playfully bit her hand. Then, without further delay, Caitlyn’s mouth finally met Vi’s clit, drawing a deep moan from her. Caitlyn alternated between licking and sucking as Vi pushed her head closer to go deeper. Caitlyn resisted the urge to smile, not wanting to break the rhythm.

She spreaded Vi’s folds gently with her fingers and buried her mouth on Vi's clit once more. She felt Vi's body tense against the wall and knew it wasn’t fair that the wall got to feel all of Vi’s spasms. Pulling her slightly forward, Caitlyn placed a hand on Vi’s ass, feeling her muscles contract as Vi thrust her hips forward. Her other hand rested on Vi's thigh.

Knowing she wouldn’t last much longer, Vi spread her legs a bit wider, gripping Caitlyn’s hair and guiding her head firmly against her clit, each movement faster. As her orgasm approached, she relaxed her muscles, letting Caitlyn feel the wetness, drawing out the last seconds of her buildup. Glancing down, she saw Caitlyn’s eyes: they were wide open and focused on Vi’s gaze. Caitlyn pulled her head back briefly, a proud smirk tugging at her lips, a line of cum coming off Vi's pussy. She remained looking at Vi’s eyes. The fluid now on her lips only. Cait’s lips were gleaming. She licked it away, swallowed, and resumed. Moments later, Vi’s body tensed, her back pressing into the wall as she gasped, "Oh my god… Cait…"

Vi pushed Cait's head deeper, trying to enjoy every second of it. She felt when Caitlyn opened her mouth and moved her jaw a little bit lower and started tasting her warm, freshly released cum.

Caitlyn couldn’t contain her pride, thrilled to have made Vi come so intensely. Her chin was drenched, and she took in every drop of Vi’s release.

Standing, she kissed Vi deeply. Vi, still catching her breath, ran her hands over Caitlyn’s back as she kissed her back.

"We could stay here all night," Vi murmured.

"I’d stay here as long as you’d have me, Violet."

They both knew it was different between them, that no other woman could compare to what they shared. But they were also aware of the differences and baggage that stood in their way.

"We can stay a while longer. Then you can punch me, and life will go back to normal, Cupcake."

As Caitlyn relished the softness of Vi’s embrace, an urgent knock on her door interrupted them.

"Who is it?" Caitlyn asked.

"Commander Kiramman? Reinforcements are here!”

[tabletopbrainrot]

Haven't posted in a while, but feel like rambling

Lancer: ???

Nothing to report, DM's been busy so we're still in a dark maintenance shaft about to get jumped by IPSN Special Forces

D&D: Sunday

I feel like I've mentioned some of this but we've been stumbling around some half forgotten cave network trying to get to the Underdark to try and reestablish communication between a Dwarven Hold under siege, and a Drow City they used to be on good terms with. Turns out the Drow are also kinda under siege from what is basically The Silence (yes British scifi fans those guys) so we've been doing the Adventurer thing of trying to shift local politics and gain favor to make the Drow less.... Prickly let's say prickly that's probably a safer way to put it.

In the process we've been on the hunt for a missing person, met my younger doppelganger and his harem, and his army that plans to unite the Drow under a single banner go to war with the surface and darken the sun, and stumbled upon a multi million year old temple to a universal karmic force that is a prison for a star/God eating GOO and went along with our wizard's doppelganger's plan to recharge the prison keeping the GOO weakened.

Now that we're up to speed, it turns out that the reason my Doppelganger gave up the prisoner so easy was that the person was already converted to the cause, and was going back to try and build support within the city itself, our Patron* wants to solidify her power block by having us go find some missing jewels used to power an ancient forge, I had a chat with Lolth who wanted me to go straighten out the local church/cult in her name. Which I was tempted to do anyway which lead to a fun conversation between two people that barely understand religion trying to meet a middle ground that makes everyone happy including a God and local politicians (who were totally ready to crush the church/cult for being too over zealous to please Lolth).

I also left my Barovian Vampire GF in charge of keeping tabs on the insurgent cult of my Doppelganger in the city while we're gone, this won't have negative repercussions because I didn't specify non-lethal methods of handling things if they start moving..... Oops/s

Also during the wrap-up in the city before going artifact hunting our Shadow Monk split the party and had to fight his Doppelganger, who might actually be a more terrifying war criminal than he is because he barely made it back with any HP left...

Also we stumbled across a version of Blackrazor, it's kinda a dick(Threw me across a room for being too lawful apparently, which is hilarious because I'm about as lawful as Eddie and Chavo Guerrero). The hunt for the forge crystals continues this coming Sunday.

DnD: Tuesday

That whole thing with the Illithid Roman empire? Resolved, we took the capital and killed the Senate while Julius took care of other political rivals off screen. Had a big fight with a GIANT half dead brain(Romulus and Remus), had a long rest but were down a player so the DM kinda bottle episoded us.

The session started with us getting vaporized and waking up in a sci-fi prison cell, after a few minutes of trying to brute force our way out and discovering just how depowered we were in this strange place we're following vague clues and running from something called a Lesser Inevitability, that the prison set loose after us for breaking out of high security lock up. Turns out we're on the moon(the real one not the fake moon hiding behind this one) and the entity giving us directions? The Sun, which is apparently a entity that exists to monitor the progress of our world and report any changes that need to be made to the AO3 writers guild that monitors the universe.

So while holding off the Lesser Inevitability we poke around the computers in this place, get some information on Solomon turns out he was the last person that this place took care of before they pulled everyone out and left the Suns as the sol(heh heh) moderator for this location. We also reported a hag that's been a thorn in our side for hacking writers guild system, so she's locked out of her fate changing bullshit which will make dealing with her much easier.

The session ends with us fighting our way to a legally distinct Stargate and teleporting back to the Capital for a long rest, after which we're gonna have to make a decision on what our next set of goals are. It's looking like the plan is try to and remove the stick out of Morgana's ass by filling the void left by having her emotions ripped out by stealing the emotions from an undead doppelganger of her that the sorcerer accidentally wished into existence with a loosely interpreted "I wish Morgana was dead" wish she got after helping kill a star creature. But first we gotta learn how they removed her emotions in the first place, then we gotta do it to a dracolich... Also gotta find Morgana again and hope she didn't do anything unwise with a sword that severs concepts after her freak out during an intervention her son hosted.

Isn't tabletop fun?

As always, if anyone for some reason reads this and wants more information ask away.

[laurenceslife]

Chapter 73

              At least by the Johannesburg-journey, Laurence somehow or other forgot the horrors tthat he left at home. By the Nelson Mandela Foundation, he got to this special trip which prepared him for the filming.

              He knew already that he could complete the frightening task to play Nelson Mandela. He also loves South-Africa’s mixed culture, and he was enjoying the country’s show-places and voices. He learned a few things about the local dialect, and in Ahmed, he met with such people who were very close to Mandela, and they shared some wonderful things with him. Laurence accompanied Kewkut Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s grandson to his grandfather’s home in Qunu where he saw like there was nothing special there, but he felt it very honorable because he was invited to his home for a meal. It was incredibly special to be there, there was something special about being in his home that he built for his family because he loved the area. There Laurence found a bust what the Thurgood Marshall Foundation gave him, it was the same kind of bust which he got at the opening ceremony of Thurgood; for him, this was like a sign from the universe what Laurence believes in besides God, that the universe helps people, and with this, it showed him that he’s a good actor, and he would be able to play his role.

- The time I spent with Mandela’s grandchild was special, I could look at his letters and artifacts at his house, and I met heaps of people who knew him, for example, I met with his secretary – he said to Gina, eulogizing after going home.

It came into his wife’s head  that if his husband wouldn’t have told these things this way, she could think he wanted to say that he met or could even meet his secretary or any woman who he met with. Like he wanted to achieve not to take a break even from Christmas; so she couldn’t bear the thought of him meeting someone. She just didn’t know why he would have wanted to achieve it, while exactly he was the one who didn’t want her as a woman…

- You’re just fine without me, too, I see – she said only this much but her voice was offended.

- Could you tell me what your problem is now?! – the man asked angrily, with arms folded.

- I’m just jealous… - the woman admitted with a lowered head – It came into my head what it would be like if you would have met a woman there – she continued furiously – Would you feel anything like this, too, if I met somebody?

- You’re still my wife, I still have my memories about what it was like when we lived in a happy marriage, and it would bother me if you met somebody else – Laurence answered emphatically and angrily.

- You’re just not able to feel drawn to me anymore – his wife said bitterly, and furiously went upstairs to their room.

Her husband was pitying Gina. He thought how humiliating it could be for her then. By choice, he would have gone after her to comfort her, but he knew that he wouldn’t have succeeded in doing it, anyway. Instead, he went into Delilah’s room, and the two of them went to walk the dogs.

Next day, he went over to Mike’ place, and then went to Bruce’s place, and also called his other cousins. With his wife, he cooked together in the future too, and with their daughter, they ate the three of them, and sometimes they also watched TV together, but other times, he didn’t spend his time with the woman. He didn’t know how to behave with her.

For Thanksgiving Day, he already took her along, too, to his friend’s house where they always celebrated the holiday, with a lot of people. He didn’t want to explain himself about why Gina didn’t come, especially because Delilah was there, too, like usual.

              They were even spending Christmas together, not to have to tell the family and friends during the holidays that they were taking a break, but they were acting till the end during both days of the holiday so it wouldn’t be visible on them that after the holidays, there was no turning back until the situation would change by itself – After Christmas, they were going to spend at most that much time together how much time they were spending together before the holidays – they thought grievously – Because they ended up there…

- Still no open marriage – his wife said after they had done both days till the end – I’m not like Tom. We live in a decent marriage, we don’t date with anybody else, but if either of us falls in love with someone else, we can be together with that person, but then we divorce – she continued firmly.

She was the one who decided again, as an addition, this time she decided completely without him – the man thought furiously.

- You know that I don’t want an open marriage, either. I wouldn’t agree to it even if you wanted it. If you dated somebody else, I would divorce you – he said angrily.

- It’s interesting that on the other hand, you’re so recipient to Tom – the woman said austerely – He lived in open marriages, on the other hand, you would divorce from me if I did it. Like you cling to him more than how much you cling to me.

It seemed like Gina picked a fight by everything what he said and did because she was angry with him because nowadays, he didn’t think about her as a woman – her husband thought furiously – Though this time he was the one who began speaking angrily… - it came into his head – Because she was conducting again like she was his mother, because she decided without him. He didn’t understand why she didn’t give up this habit – Then maybe everything would have been all right between them!

- With my friend, we don’t have to agree on everything, on the other hand, you are my wife, and I’m not ready to live in marriage with anybody who dates with somebody else – he said furiously – In marriage, it’s much more important to agree on as many things as possible ‘cause spouses are much more important for each other than friends. On the other hand, you’re not ready to change. You know that I hate it when you remind me of my mother, but you lord it over me in the future too!

- What regimentation are you talking about?! You also said that you agreed with me that we wouldn’t live in an open marriage and that I knew it, too! – his wife continued furiously.

- Then why did you say that there wouldn’t be open marriage? – Laurence asked assertively, and left his wife there in the living room.

He went upstairs to their room, and changed. He decided to take Delilah to the playground. He wanted to spend his time at last with someone who didn’t start a quarrel with him over everything. He didn’t even speak to her mother, and didn’t even ask their daughter if it was OK to her if she wasn’t coming with them. He wanted to take charge because he had enough of how bossy Gina was.

While going to the playground and on the way home, it was good to be spending time at last with who was the most important to him. When he was watching Delilah on the playground, he was considering whether her mother, who he had this common child with, was still so important for him like the little girl.

The memories about the years of their marriage that they had spent together, came into his head again, and it was grievous to know that for him, she was already only a family member who he got used to, and only the joint memories connected them already. Nowadays, when they quarreled so much, he didn’t even desire her company. She was just an old friend instead, who he lived together with, and that was why he got used to her. While he had never had so many commons with any of his partners how many commons he has with her.

- Mom, why didn’t you come with us? – their daughter asked cheerfully when they had arrived home.

- You guys didn’t even tell me that you guys were going – her mother answered in a surprised voice and with a surprised look, not angrily because of the child – Where were you two?

- Just on the playground. It’s necessary to speak to you about this too? – the man asked drily.

- Usually all of us go when neither of you two’s working, or you two speak about it when you two are going – Delilah said, frightened and wonderingly.

Gina needed to hold back again, not to bad-mouth her husband.

- It’s the same, we’re better to tell her, anyway – it came into her head after it – That’s also possible that we’ll separate. It can’t take her short – she whispered furiously.

- What will you two tell me? You two started a quarrel, and are gonna divorce? – their daughter asked, frightened. She knew that her father’s parents got divorced, her father had gotten divorced, too, and Suri’s parents got divorced, too, so she experienced that it often happened. Because of this, immediately this possibility came into her head.

First, their parents pitied her, and then it came into their head that at least she was somehow or other used to the thought by what she had heard and experienced.

- It’s not sure at all yet – the woman still said in a reassuring voice – Come, let’s sit down – she went up to the sofa, and all of them sat down.

Then they were surely going to tell her that they were going to separate because they hated each other, and might get divorced if they wouldn’t make peace – it came into the little girl’s head, and already began considering about with which of them she wanted to live, where she wanted to live, and whether how often she could meet with the other one.

Laurence and Gina were considering how to tell her. They pitied her again.

- We’re gonna try it out for a little time to see what it is like to be apart – her mother started it.

- First, we’re only not gonna go anywhere together, and you might be with both of us at the same time more rarely – the man continued.

- After that, we might also separate, but you’ll meet with both of us in the future too.

Delilah calmed down a little bit. She wanted to ask her questions about which of them she would live with in that case, how often she could meet with the other one and where she would live, and then she changed her mind because maybe it wouldn’t even happen. But she already started to be afraid of it, and she also started to be afraid that her parents would divorce. According to what she had heard and seen, she saw a big chance of it, so she started to be very much afraid of this possibility.

The adults were only looking at her and waiting for her to begin to speak, but their daughter couldn’t even begin to speak, just began crying.

Her mother went up to her, and crouched before her.

- Delilah, I know what you’re thinking now. Dad’s parents divorced, too, Dad has divorced once, too, and Suri’s parents divorced, too. But it doesn’t mean everybody divorces. And you see that any trouble didn’t happen to any of them by divorce either. Except Suri, all of them kept in touch with their parents, and your other girlfriends’ parents haven’t even divorced – she comforted her.

After that, it came into their head that on the other hand, Laurence wasn’t keeping in touch with Montana, either, and so the little girl could think if her parents would get divorced or even if they would only separate, and she would do something wrong, she could never see her father or mother again.

- Your sister did something very-very wrong. You surely won’t do anything so wrong, but while you’re so little, we wouldn’t disown you even if you did something very wrong – Laurence reassured her.

              They were spending New Year’s Eve together, at home, like they usually did, because both of them wanted to spend it with their daughter, and also, they didn’t want her to have to decide who to spend it with. They only invited Delilah’s cousins and two brothers, Gina’s girlfriends, Laurence’s brother and cousins because before them, they didn’t feel like they should pretend that everything was all right between them, because they already knew what the situation was.

The pair was trying to feel good at least with them, but they felt like they constantly had to be avoiding each other, so as not to be talking to the same person at the same time who the other one was talking with, so as not to start a quarrel. So after a while, the woman was only talking to her own relatives and girlfriends, and his husband was only talking with his cousins. Fortunately, Delilah didn’t even realize it. She was so happy that she could meet with her cousins and little Ariana again; she was her aunt already at such an age, which she was proud of.

              From January, Laurence started to mostly spend his time with his daughter and friends. As much as possible, he wanted to have his swing, spending the time what he could still spend with Delilah because later, he might have a so big quarrel with the woman that they might separate, and Gina might take the little girl along, too, if only because she wanted to annoy his husband with it too, and with that justification that a child has to be with her or his mother in the case of divorce too, so mothers are given custody of the daughters and sons. And he was hardly having time for his friends recently, and they were also spending New Year’s Eve separately, and now, when they were taking a break with his wife, much more time of him remained for them. Also because of it, he started to spend more time with his close family members and cousins too. In January, he organized a surprise party for Billy’s fiftieth birthday; in March, he invited Gary to a restaurant for his birthday where he invited their common friend Joe too. In April, he invited Renée and her family to their house when it was her birthday. Three days later, Gina’s filming had started in North-Carolina, where, because of the leading role, she couldn’t take Delilah along because she hardly would have had time for her, so she had to stay home with her father. Otherwise, she would have taken her along by choice because their daughter was mostly spending her time with her husband. On the other hand, also already in April, Laurence’s miniseries’ filming about Nelson Mandela, had started In South-Africa. The reason why Delilah could go with him to the filming location instead of being with Gina in North-Carolina, was because the little girl rather wanted to be spending the time in Africa, because it was much more interesting. When she wasn’t at school, she was with him on the set too, because the filming schedule was so busy. With the exception of three actors, everybody was South-African, which made the experience even more special for his daughter, that she was spending her time between them on the set when her father’s scenes were shot. For the man, the filming schedule was tiring but in adopting the accent, he was pretty good like always, and in acting, he also presented an outstanding portrayal like usual. Kevin Hooks the director who Laurence had worked together with in one of his movies wherein he was a co-star, too, took him to the first place among the actors who were considered to play Mandela, and when they were shooting that scene where he got to know that his son died, Kevin knew that he chose right, he even needed to recover himself because he was near to tears and couldn’t begin to speak because Laurence’s portrayal was so powerful.

- I’ve got to be continuing the filming, on the other hand, Mom has finished working so you’ve got to go home with her ‘cause she can be dealing with you much more – the man said one day to Delilah – She’s gonna come for you on Friday, and you two can spend the weekend together even here.

- You weren’t dealing with me too much, anyway. You’re only working all day – the little girl said huffily – I think you didn’t even wanna be dealing with me, everybody’s just praising you, and you’re very much under the influence of the work, too. You’re not even needing me – she finished sadly.

- It’s very tiring to me too, that I’ve got to be working this much. But you know that before it, how much I was dealing with you recently. I was dealing with you more than Mom, while then her filming hadn’t even begun. And now I’m playing a very important role. It would be a huge experience for everybody.

              In the end, his daughter relented, and she was even happy about her mother when she had come for her because she had seen her so long ago.

On the weekend, while Delilah and the woman were touring the local show-places, his husband went to restaurants with some of his fellow actors, listened to David Bowie’s, the Beatles’ and the Rolling Stones’ numbers on his phone while reading and drinking Moroccan mint tea. Other times, he went shopping to buy some interesting clothes nearby, or called some of his friends, family members and cousins. They were spending only the mornings and the evenings together with his wife and the little girl.

After they had gone home, all of his weekends continued the same way, just he already called Delilah too, through Gina; she used to call him to talk to her daughter when she was still there, in Africa. The pair didn’t even talk to each other but they only objectively asked the other one to give the phone over to the little girl. And on the weekdays, the only joy was the filming for Laurence, he didn’t even have time for anything else.

- The fact that we’re working on a six-hour movie, gives us a much bigger canvas, we can present such people who were very influential in Mandela’s life, such people who helped to guide him, helped to shape him and helped to present him a task – he said cheerfully to Tom when he was talking to him on the phone, who, in the end, still cut ties with Suri because of his religion only this year; earlier, he hadn’t been able to abandon her.

- Good for you that something can be this much engrossing you – his friend said – For me, the filming came to an end now. I’m constantly thinking of Suri. It’s the same, it’s gonna stop, I just need to get used to it…

It came into Laurence’s head by it that if they would get divorced with Gina, Delilah might get to the woman, and who knew how rare visit she would fight out in court in anger, because they had to get divorced because of him, because he couldn’t view her as a woman anymore – She might say that their marriage got ruined because of him, they were disaffected living together, before their daughter, and she also might tell the things that his other daughter had committed who he was raising already before their marriage, how much he had time to raise her at all! – he thought – She even might bring it up against him that he disowned his other daughter, and wasn’t keeping in touch with her at all!

- And is everything OK with you guys? – Tom asked.

It came into his friend’s head that he hadn’t even told him that they were taking a break with his wife.

- I’ve always looked up to you ‘cause you’ve had only one divorce, and ‘cause you’ve been together with Gina for so much time – Tom continued before Laurence could answer – How do you do it? You could help me so I don’t make this mistake anymore.

This put the lid on it – the older man thought – Not only his friend wouldn’t look up to him anymore but he couldn’t even help him anymore. Maybe he would have given him any advice in vain, he wouldn’t have believed him because they had been together with the woman for so much time in vain since then they were there. Poor Tom needed help but then he couldn’t help him – he already pitied him more than how much he pitied himself, because he had gotten divorced three times and because he had to cut ties with his daughter forever.

- You’re not alone – Laurence sighed grievously – It seems we might divorce, too. Now we’re taking a break, and it remains to be seen what will happen. And to tell the truth, it seems it’s gonna end in divorce for us too.

It was grievous to say it. Till then, he hadn’t even admitted it to himself.

- I’m sorry I was just complaining. I didn’t know that you two have problems, too, and I didn’t even give you a chance to tell me – the younger man began to speak repentantly – But what happened between you two?! – he asked, startled.

The reason why he didn’t want to tell him, was already because he was ashamed that he wasn’t able to see his wife as a woman, and that it was because of him that they were there.

- It’s long. It all started when it came out that Gina had problems in our marriage. And later it came out that I have problems – he said this much only. After that, it came into his head that he hadn’t told him how much they were ignoring each other during the break that they were taking, and how much they were quarreling even during taking the break, which was lasting already for more than a half year.

He was aghast when it came into his head that it had been lasting already for such a long time – From then, it was almost impossible to piece a marriage up. He should get used to the thought already then that they were going to get divorced. But at least this taking break and this far-away filming were somehow or other making the divorce gradual, and it would be easier to get used to he would live without that woman who he had been married to for fourteen years. But after so much time, it was still going to be shockingly unusual that they wouldn’t live and wouldn’t be together anymore. But he was afraid the most that his wife would be given custody of Delilah.

- You wouldn’t like to talk about it, I can see. But it’s still interesting that once, either of you two is having problems, or the other one is having problems. But it’s also good because both of you two don’t have problems, and maybe it would be enough if either of you two took her or his cue from the other – Tom said in a much more cheerful voice – Maybe this thing’s not even so hopeless. Or why do you think it is?

- Because I rebuke her every time she conducts herself like she’s my mother, she still doesn’t stop doing it – Laurence answered angrily – She doesn’t realize how she behaves – he continued sadly.

- While she always thinks in advance. She always sees dangers in advance. Maybe she doesn’t even behave that way, just you apprehend it like she conducts herself like that.

- Surely she always conducts herself this way about something else so she doesn’t know what counts as like that for me. Or because of the tension that’s between us nowadays, she’s unable to think in advance. Nowadays we start a quarrel over so many things.

His friend didn’t say anything for a few seconds.

- I’ve got an idea. Though it’s not sure that it’s possible to do anything by it, but I think the reason why you’re so sensitive to it when she reminds you of your mother even a very little bit, is because it’s still inside you that she contacted all your friends and relatives so nobody would tell you what things your mom said about you. But maybe she really had a really good reason to do it. You were still mourning your dad’s death, and maybe you wouldn’t have been able to bear this too – Tom finished emphatically.

Laurence got angry with the woman again:

- She also could have thought that I could have gotten to know it from one of my colleagues, which would have been much more awkward if I would have gotten to know it from them than if I would have seen it on the internet or one of my friends or family members would have told me.

- But that wasn’t sure. And she did everything so you wouldn’t get to know it, because she thought that then you would have snapped very much.

- She was the reason why I was in such a state of mind because of my father’s death. For a while, I was dealing with her and Delilah less ‘cause all my family members were reminding me of my father, and then I was dealing with them more because of her, so I was constantly thinking about my father – the older man said firmly.

- Maybe she was having a conscience, and that was why she wanted to protect you. Or because she loved you – he continued emphatically – Maybe she still loves you. Do you still love her at all?

- Nowadays I don’t, but I might love her again. I’ve never loved anybody better than her.

- To me, it doesn’t seem like there’s turning back, except for this is only temporary what you’re feeling for her because of your mother. But it’s been lasting for more than a year already…

- You’re right – the other one sighed grievously – When I go home, we’ll surely talk the divorce over. The only reason why we haven’t talked it over yet, is because we haven’t met yet, and she wants to tell it in person. Or I might be the one who tells her after I go home.

- Still think twice before it. Don’t decide it now, suddenly, as soon as I told you that I thought there was no turning back. But if you wanna divorce in the future too, tell her as soon as possible if she doesn’t do it. Maybe she still loves you, and has not the heart to do it, she has not the heart to give up the hope, while there’s no hope anymore, so no point about cherishing the hope in the future too, and living in that bad marriage in the future too. Especially if you two don’t even date with anybody else, and you two have less chance of meeting somebody who you two would feel good with.

- I’m just afraid of losing Delilah. I mean she might fight it out so she’s given custody of her, and who knows how rarely I can meet with her – Laurence finished angrily.

- If you knew what I would give if I could meet with Suri at least sometimes! – the younger man burst out saying it bitterly and hotly – If that’s the only thing why you’re afraid of getting divorced, then divorce from Gina! – he continued austerely – Be happy that you don’t have to cut ties forever at all! – he finished furiously.

- You were the one who opted for this religion – his friend said carefully – If you wanted to, you could leave the religion.

Tom didn’t say anything, just bitterly said goodbye, and then Laurence was getting ready to go to sleep.

After going to sleep, he couldn’t sleep because of the thought that his marriage was going to be over forever.

He got up, and only could fall asleep after a long meditation.

Next day, he was terrified again that he would hardly be able to see his daughter after the divorce, and then it came into his head that Tom was in a much worse situation, and he calmed down because he could see Delilah at least sometimes.

              He hurled himself into the filming again, which impressed him very much. Playing this role was an honorable and a humiliating role for him at the same time. This movie was really about the man himself, it was about much more than about the myth. While making the movie, Laurence and the others were trying to disclose how Mandela became a myth, and he felt like this filming changed his life.

He loved to be in Africa as always. There he felt like he was at home. He has been there several times already, because of his being an UNICEF ambassador, so he has taken a look at several show-places there already, but on the weekends when there wasn’t filming, he visited those comparatively close places which he hadn’t seen yet.

- Where were you for so long? I already believed you weren’t even gonna come back – his wife said bluntly after the filming had come to an end, and he had traveled home.

- Just don’t tell me that you were missing me – her husband put his suitcase down angrily.

- Delilah was missing you. Besides, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something for a long-long time.

- Sorry, the filming lasted till now. Where’s Delilah?

- Now it’s the same. I wanna get it over with this conversation already now. It won’t even last long. I only wanted to tell you that until your next filming, I give us time to get to know if the situation changes between us, and then, if it doesn’t change, we divorce. Now we were far from each other for a long time, it hasn’t come out how we will live together nowadays.

- You’re deciding alone again – the man said strictly – The only reason why I agree to that, is because after that, it comes to an end, anyway, this situation won’t last forever.

- There’s not even much time anymore – the woman sighed grievously – Your next movie’s filming is gonna start next month.

It astonished Laurence how well she remembered – Accordingly she had been dealing with this thought already for a long time – he thought.

- Delilah, Dad has arrived! – Gina spoke to the little girl, and then went upstairs to their room.

- Hi – their daughter said wonderingly when she came out of her room, and saw the astonishment on his father.

              Everything returned to the way they were conducting themselves before the filming – Even if they would have had a chance to piece their marriage up, from then, they didn’t have a chance, anyway – Laurence thought because his wife decided alone again, as an addition, she even decided about their marriage.

It was visible that the woman was mourning for their marriage already then. Maybe her husband had never seen her in such a state of mind. Already she was the one who he pitied. He thought she surely wasn’t going to take the little girl from him anymore, because she wasn’t angry with him anymore. He would have comforted her with pleasure, but he knew that he only would have made the divorce harder by it. It also came into his head that maybe she only gave them even more time to get ready spiritually for the time when he wasn’t going to be there anymore.

              The rehearsals had started for the filming. For two weeks, they rehearsed every day, so the man didn’t have to see Gina’s state of mind for so much time anymore. Till then, he was also mostly dealing with Delilah, but when they were at home, sometimes they bumped into each other with his wife, and then he spent less time at home than recently. This comparatively rare possibility to get ready for a filming, came just in time. They gathered together with the actors every day to read and to talk about the movie more and more, which Laurence liked very much, anyway.

And then the first day of the filming had started.

- Would you like to talk it over already now or would you like to wait yet? – the man asked sympathetically in the morning, already before filming, by seeing his wife’s mournful look.

- What to talk over? We’ll divorce. Or do you wanna talk the wherewithal over already now? – Gina asked coldly. She was holding the field so as not to break down before him because the reason why they were going to get divorced was because he didn’t need her anymore as a woman.

- If you’d like, we can begin it. The only thing I cling to, to have shared resistance about raising Delilah. She shouldn’t meet with me any less than with you – her husband’s voice was considerate in the future too.

- You can so easily come to grips with we’ll divorce?! Doesn’t it shake you at all but it shakes only me?! It’s this much that we talk it over to who the kid should get to and what to be whose?! – she asked, crying and furiously.

- You were the one who said that there was nothing to talk over about it.

- But I can’t see any sign of the loss on you!

- Recently we already knew that it was gonna be. But if you’re not ready for it, let’s not talk the details over yet. Anyway, we’ve got to talk over a lot of things, we’re not gonna finish before filming, anyway, today either, neither some weeks later, neither within a few months.

- You were the one who said that you wanted the kid only.

- I still know that it works that way. I need to live somewhere, too, I need furniture, too, and other materials in the house – Laurence said strictly.

His wife was indignant that he was quite capable of being so brutish even then.

- Couldn’t we talk about the divorce peacefully at least? – she asked furiously.

- I started it peacefully. You were the one who started to be in a tantrum – the man said firmly.

- Because it’s abnormal how you’re behaving! Since when haven’t you been loving me anymore?! Are you happy that you can see the back of me?! – Gina continued furiously and bitterly.

- It shook me, too, that we’re gonna divorce. I got used to living with you so it’s gonna be odd, and I used to love you, too. But I’ve known for a much longer time that there’s gonna be a divorce.

How could he know that he knew it for a much longer past?! – the woman thought indignantly – He just didn’t love her anymore, so he got over it much earlier!

- It seems marriage is not for me – her husband sat down on the bed brokenly – I already tried it twice. I experienced failure twice. You can still succeed in doing it. Maybe I just wasn’t suitable for you… at least after a while.

His wife grievously looked at him because he could already think that she could meet somebody else.

- Don’t be ridiculous! I’m forty-seven years old! You can think that I’m not gonna get married anymore! – she said only this much, huffily.

- But maybe you’re still able to live together with somebody – Laurence said emphatically.

- For the time being, I can’t think about meeting somebody else – Gina sat down before him brokenly.

- But you’re gonna be able to do it. On the other hand, I’m gonna obtain simple girlfriends – the man said sadly.

- You weren’t the only one who blew our marriage – the woman said mournfully after some seconds – Once, I didn’t realize that we had problems, and then I couldn’t give up always bossing – she continued with downcast eyes.

Her husband boggled that then, for the first time after a long time, she took his side, and wasn’t only stiffly or furiously talking to him. And he also calmed down because then, that their relationship was peaceful, it was already sure that she wasn’t going to take Delilah from him.

He went to the set, where, before shooting, they continued reading for the director and talked about the movie even more, which was very apt for him to be able to be tuned to the movie after dealing with the divorce.

- This filming is every actor’s dream – he told Bruce when he called him on the way home, so the divorce still wouldn’t be on his mind – As an addition, Rick, the director, who we share a birthday with, and is punctually one year older than me, said I was his only idea for the role! – he continued cheerfully – He was the one who offered me the role. It was great to get to know him, and it’s very good to work together. I’m one of the co-stars so I’ve got to work pretty much… Steve Carell, another co-star, even consulted with his father to get ready for the movie. His father’s a veteran, and we’re playing veteran soldiers – he was counting every single detail that came into his head, so as not to have to be talking about the divorce. He wasn’t ready for it yet – Now we’re filming in New York, so we’re living here, in our local house. On the weekend, we can get together, already before the filming continues in Pennsylvania.

- Aren’t you even gonna go home on the weekends? – his cousin wondered.

- I don’t know… In the end, if this weekend’s not OK for you, nor any weekends nowadays if we’ll still be filming here, I can come home from Pennsylvania to visit you guys.

- That’s also comparatively nearby. I think you shouldn’t come home only because of me, but because of Gina and Delilah too. Or did you two start a very big quarrel with Gina, and you two are already avoiding each other?

- In the end, because of Delilah, I really could come home, and also to talk the details over with Gina – Laurence sighed, and decided to tell him – We decided to divorce – he said mournfully – That’s why I’ve been thinking we would be better to spend as little time together as possible, to gradually get used to each other’s lack. It’s gonna be hard. It’s very odd… It’s wearing her mostly – he finished sympathetically – I haven’t even wanted to tell you ‘cause it’s so new to me yet. Then I can imagine what she can feel…

- Sorry I got it out of you… When did you two decide this way? – Bruce asked, embarrassed.

This time Laurence began being ashamed of his wife deciding about it too, and then he was angry with the woman because of it.

- We agreed that we would divorce if the situation wouldn’t change till my next filming. The filming began today… - he said only this much after cooling himself off.

- Then it’s really very new… Though you two could suspect it recently already – his cousin said with pity in his voice.

- Yeah. I noticed that Gina doesn’t even wear the nuptial ring anymore. Surely by pride…

- Why do you think so?

Laurence was considering how much to tell him.

- Already when she came forward with the offer to wait till the filming to know if our marriage would pick up, she wasn’t wearing it anymore… - he said only this much; he didn’t want to tell him that she was surely also ashamed that he didn’t need him as a woman anymore.

- And do you still wear it? – the other man asked tensely.

- It hasn’t even come into my head yet to take it off – his cousin answered wonderingly.

- What do you think, could Delilah notice it? Or have you two told her already?

- I haven’t had time to do it yet. We’ve told her already that we would take a break, and she surely also realized it. I think as soon as I arrive home, I tell her. I mean if Gina hasn’t done it without me…

- Did you two start a quarrel over her monopolizing her?

- No. We started a quarrel over her deciding about everything – Laurence said firmly – Maybe she decided to let her know it as soon as possible during the day – he continued angrily.

- I think you’ll still talk to her, too, even if she has done it already.

Good enough that he reminded him to do it – Laurence thought.

As soon as he had arrived home, he looked for his daughter.

- Hi, I’ve arrived – he said tensely after he found her in her room – Have you talked with Mom already?

- About the divorce? – the little girl asked with big, frightened eyes – Or did you two make peace today already? – she looked at him hopefully.

- No. Then I’ll call Mom downstairs. Come out to the living room – he went out, too, and went upstairs to speak to the woman.

- I’ve arrived. We’ve got to tell Delilah – he said as soon as opening the door of the room.

- Now I’m talking to somebody. Send her to have a bath, and take a shower, and we’ll talk it over after it – her wife said firmly, with phone in hand.

- I’ve already called her out to the living room to talk it over. What if once, you weren’t who’s bossing? – her husband asked angrily.

- Can’t you see that I happen to be telephoning?!

The man slammed the door, sent their daughter to have a bath, and he took a shower, too, in the other bathroom – It seemed they were on bad  terms again. Maybe he could still lose Delilah – he thought, frightened during it.

- I don’t even know how I could have thought that once in our life, you would obey me about something – he said after it, raging, when they had met in the living room.

- I’m ready – the little girl came downstairs, too, so Gina couldn’t answer him anymore – So it’s not the divorce that we’re gonna talk about? Or you two haven’t made peace? – she asked, scared to death.

- Sit down – his father said sympathetically.

- Then you two are gonna divorce? – their daughter continued questioning after sitting down on the sofa.

- I know what you feel now – her father sat down to either of the armchairs – My parents divorced, too. We were sitting in the living room, too, when they told me, and I was only one year older than you – he said with grief in his look by the memories and by the rue.

- I’m sorry you’ve got to experience it twice after we also told you here that we would take a break – her mother began to speak sympathetically. She was sitting in the other armchair.

- But you don’t have to miss me so much like I had to miss my dad. Moreover, you don’t have to miss me at all. You can spend as much time with me as you spend with Mom, in the future too; we’re only gonna live separately. I mean if Mom or the court agrees to it… - Laurence looked at the woman strictly in the end.

His wife furiously looked back at him because he was emotionally influencing the child. This time she couldn’t be the one who was bossing. If she would have said anything against this, Delilah would be angry with her – Her husband well figured it out – she thought.

- Officially, your address is still gonna be at my place ‘cause officially, the kid’s given custody of the mom, and since Dad works more, you’re gonna meet with me more – she said, desperately clinging to spend more time at least with her daughter since she was losing her husband.

- Can’t I go to any of Dad’s filming locations anymore?! – the little girl resisted.

- When he’s one of the co-stars, you’re gonna be with me. And he’s one of the co-stars more times than me – Gina answered empathically.

- When I’m a co-star, I only work almost all day; then I hardly have time for you. While filming Madiba, you also said that I was hardly dealing with you. That was also because I was the co-star – Laurence pitied his wife because realized why she was so desperately fighting for her, and the divorce was easier for him than for her, and he has several children.

- So that’s OK – Delilah said contentedly.

- When both of us are filming, you’re gonna be with who has less scenes, in the future too – her mother added.

- And what’s gonna be if both of you’re playing as much as the other one?

- When we have a leading role, you can be at Mike’s or at other relatives’ place too, if you think then we deal too little with you – the woman said with pangs of conscience in her voice because till then, they didn’t do it this way, and now she got to know that it was too little for her how much they were dealing with her then.

- But then we’ll call you more often. If you want, every day – her father added.

- And at which of you two’s house are my clobbers gonna be? – their daughter asked curiously.

- Some things are gonna be at my house, and some things are gonna be at Dad’s. The way you want – her mother said.

- And if you miss something in either house which is at the other house, we will buy it for you, and you’ll have it at both places; this way, you don’t have to always take it over to the other house – the man complemented.

- And why are you two gonna divorce? – the question suddenly came into the little girl’s head.

- Dad doesn’t love me anymore – Gina retorted because her husband answered her without he would have talked the answer over with her, and decided about her too. She was used to its opposite.

- And Mom many times decided instead of me – Laurence said a bit angrily, too.

- And that’s why you don’t love her? – Delilah continued questioning.

- Yes… But it’s not the only reason why our marriage was bad – Laurence answered, embarrassed – Once, I didn’t realize that there were problems in our marriages, and once she hadn’t realized it.

- And when are you two gonna separate?

- When I find another house.

- Why won’t either of you live in the New York house, and the other in the Los Angeles house?

- ‘Cause I bought the New York house already before our marriage so the court’s probably gonna grant it to me, but most movies are filmed in L.A., and I’d like to be near you so I need a house there too.

- And why are you gonna be the one who moves?

These lots of questions were irking the man, and her wife began feeling unnecessary because their daughter was asking her father only.

- I have more money to buy a house, especially if I sell my man cave, and I also said to Mom that I didn’t ask for anything but only a shared resistance about raising you. And the divorce wears her more than me, and the L. A. house is on her name, because it’s been hers already before we met – Laurence answered patiently in spite of that.

The woman felt ashamed that her husband told her that she was the one who the divorce wore more, but she knew that she also told her before that the man was the one who didn’t love her anymore.

- Why are you gonna sell that man cave, and why not the New York house? – Delilah asked curiously.

- He’s been going to the man cave to pull out from feminine things – Gina answered, laughing, to also talk – When he moves, there aren’t gonna be feminine things in his house that he would have to pull out from.

- And I’d like to keep the New York house because here are my several relatives and many filming locations too – Laurence added.

- Why aren’t you gonna move in that man cave? – the little girl laughed.

She hadn’t even been there, her father only went there to enjoy themselves with his pals; everybody else had to check in, even his family members.

- He still wants a nicer house than that – her mother laughed, too – That’s unmeet for living in it but it’s only for fun.

- I keep some of your toys there, I keep my comic collection and my mask collection there, and it’s not even so big, my clobbers wouldn’t even find room there – her father completed it.

- Where are you gonna keep these?

- I’m gonna keep your toys where you want them to keep, and some of them can be in this and in my new house too. I think I’ll keep the others in my new house ‘cause I already earn more so I can buy a bigger house too, where they find room.

- Are you gonna buy the new furniture or are you gonna take some pieces?

- Most of them are by his salary because he earns more than me, so he can take which ones aren’t too feminine for him, and we’ll choose which ones you like, too – his wife smiled.

- But I earn more so I can buy more pieces of furniture, so half of the furniture’s enough for me – her husband smiled, too.

Of course, then they were getting along when they were divorcing… - they thought, wondering, and grievously looking at each other because it was already late, and this much wouldn’t have even been enough, anyway.

- Sometimes you two get along! Why aren’t you two gonna stay together?! – their daughter asked intractably.

- I’ve already told you that Dad doesn’t love me anymore… - the woman answered tensely.

- I don’t believe it! To me, it seems you two love each other!

- You could see that other times, how we treat each other… - the man said mournfully.

Delilah was watching bitterly and desperately, looking for reasons why they should stay together, but any other occasion didn’t come into her head when they were treating each other that way.

- You don’t have to deal with it. Nothing’s gonna change, we’re just not gonna live together, the three of us – Gina comforted her.

- Till now, you’ve also been with who’s not working, or who has less scenes – Laurence added.

- And will we go together to the zoo, to the amusement park and for a holiday? – Delilah asked, still bitterly.

- Yes, sometimes, we’ll be the three of us, too.

They went to sleep, and the next day, the man was working from the morning till the evening again, like every day, till the weekend, and the little girl was at school, wrote homework, played with her mother or with the animals, or watched TV like usual.

              On the weekend, her father went to Bruce’s place with her because his cousin was having time.

- Hi Delilah! How much you’ve grown! You inherited Dad’s and Mom’s height – Bruce said after saying hello to Laurence.

- I mostly inherited Mom’s height! She’s almost as tall as Dad for a woman! – the little girl said cheerfully. She was happy that she could be spending some time with her father too.

They sat down on the sofa and in the armchairs. Delilah couldn’t be playing with anybody while the two men and Allisha were talking because Bruce’s children had grown up and moved house already, but Laurence didn’t want to miss this opportunity too, when he could be spending his time with his daughter, who had met his father’s cousin and his wife a long time ago, anyway.

- How’s school going? – the woman smiled at the little girl.

- It’s going well – Delilah grinned shyly.

The adults were considering what to talk about so Gina wouldn’t come up anymore, which would have made the conversation awkward because of the divorce.

Laurence already regretted taking Delilah along, and it was bothering him that Allisha was there, too.

- When is the filming gonna continue in Pennsylvania? – Bruce asked.

- Already next week. From then, it’s gonna be there, in Pittsburgh till the end. Till now, it was in Cold Spring. I love this filming. On every filming-day, we read to the director early, talk about the movie, and then go to execute what we talked over – Laurence smiled.

- Are you gonna take Delilah along to Pennsylvania? – the woman asked.

- No, I’m one of the co-stars so I wouldn’t have too much time for her – Laurence answered in a low voice.

- I wouldn’t feel good there, between the Amish people, anyway! – his daughter grinned.

- That place isn’t even for such a special little girl! – Bruce smiled.

- Then it’s not for me either! I’m special, too! – his cousin said funnily.

- Mom’s special, too! – his daughter grinned in the future too.

- Yes, she is – his father said seriously – I was very much in love with Mom. She was one of my biggest loves. I’ve never loved anybody better than her – he told Delilah so she wouldn’t feel like he hated her mother or didn’t love her enough – Our marriage wasn’t a mistake for a long while, and you weren’t, either. We correspond with Mom about a lot of things. Both of us like cooking, both of us are special and raise you to be special, both of us sport, we’re actors, we went to artistic middle-schools, we actively take part in politics, and both of us are from New York – he finished importantly.

- It’s incredible that a marriage can come to an end even in spite of these – Allisha said sympathetically.

- You two also had been married for a comparatively long time. You two had been married for a longer time than most star couples – her husband added.

Laurence laughed.

- I don’t think about myself as a star but as an artist – he said, smiling.

- Maybe that’s also a reason why you two could live in a happy marriage for so long. You’re not full of yourself, and didn’t cheat on her – Bruce said.

- How do you know? – Laurence was kidding.

- I know that you never cheat on anybody!

- OK, I really didn’t cheat on her! – the guest man smiled.

- You’ve never cheated on anybody? – the little girl asked curiously.

- Only with a kiss. I also did that for a good cause – his father answered funnily, but inside, he and Bruce mournfully remembered the old story’s tragic consequences. They would never forget it, and Laurence will always vividly remember that infernal filming’s period.

- Then he was helping me. It’s a long story. I didn’t have a girlfriend, and your dad wanted to help me in getting a girlfriend. He had a party organized intentionally, to find a girl for me there with his girlfriend who was talking to the girls there. But in the beginning, the music was too loud, and one of his friends, the entertainer who was a girl, was in love with your dad so she said that if he would kiss her, she would turn down the volume. First, your dad didn’t want to agree to it, but later, for me, he was able to do even that. After that, he regretted it very much of course, and for a while, he even took a dislike to that female friend of him… - his cousin told the story, skipping the grave consequences, to still save the little girl from that, but he told it to remind Laurence of at least then he was experiencing a much worse period than now when he was divorcing, to be able to value the present period. Besides, he didn’t even have an idea to react to this subject any other way, and couldn’t immediately come forward with another subject, and it was also difficult to find such a subject which was appropriate for a little girl too.

- Why did you take a dislike to her since you were for it, too? And what more can be than a kiss? – Delilah asked her father curiously in the future too.

- This is how it works. You get to know it when you’re older – Allisha answered to also begin to speak.

- You didn’t neck with her but only gave a kiss to her lips?

- Yes – already Laurence answered, a bit embarrassed.

- Are you gonna systematically come home from Pennsylvania? – the woman changed subject after considering for some seconds about what to be talking about.

- Yeah, at least to take a look at some houses in L. A. So I’m gonna go home there already, so Delilah’s gonna be living there again, too, so is Gina too.

- But Pennsylvania’s very far from L. A.! Or aren’t you gonna go home every weekend?

- No, and like usual, we’re ready shooting my scenes soon, so maybe I won’t be able to go home for some weekends only.

- You’re so talented that it’s enough to shoot your scenes hardly a few times! And still you’re the one who doesn’t consider himself a star?! – Bruce praised him, gushing.

- That’s why I’m an artist! – his cousin said, grinning and emphatically – I’m not a star because I’m handsome but because of my talent, because of my sense of the dramatic and because of my preparedness and good voice! – he laughed – And I like to be an artist, more than to be a celebrity. Not every celebrity’s talented, and I don’t even like that word, and it doesn’t even have so much value like the word artist.

- But he’s at least already developing! For a while, he wasn’t even ready to give autographs! – the other man said to his wife, funnily.

- He still doesn’t agree to take joint photos – Delilah grinned.

- Why? – Allisha wondered.

- They don’t even say hello to me, they just immediately, as soon as they come up to me, begin with asking me if they can take a picture with me. I even countenance this brutishness, on the other hand, I don’t countenance that they wanna use me as a proof. I say to them “not now”, or say to them “Hello, nice to meet you”, and hug or kiss them, but that’s all. They can still be happy that I was kind to them and a star touched them, at least who are really my fans, don’t even mind that there’s no proof – Laurence finished, laughing.

The others laughed with him, and then reflected about what he said.

- Then that’s why you didn’t give autographs? – his cousin marveled.

- And because of my shyness – the other man laughed – I hated it when they came up to me!

              This visit went well. At least its end was good, so Laurence cheerfully started home with his daughter.

At home, the dinner was ready because Gina busied herself by cooking what she likes to do.

For their daughter’s sake, they were having dinner with the three of them in the living room, but last time, they peacefully parted, and they cheerfully sat down to eat now too, so this time the morale wasn’t so tense.

- We’re gonna go back to L. A. the day after tomorrow, and Dad’s gonna go to Pittsburgh – it came into the woman’s head - Pack what you wanna take along ‘cause you’re gonna spend most of the time there – she said to Delilah.

              Next day, the man took the little girl to the zoo and to the amusement park to make up for the forthcoming weekdays even in advance, what she was going to be spending with her mother instead of him, which made the woman being ready to stay home, and then she went shopping with one of her girlfriends.

              After the first week, her husband hadn’t gone home yet, and then he didn’t go home on the next weekend either because they were making headway with the filming so fast that they thought they were going to be ready some days later, and it really happened this way.

Laurence wasn’t spending the first day in Los Angeles, checking houses but he was spending it with the girl.

- Till when are you gonna defer looking at the houses?! You haven’t even taken a look at one house! In the end, you’re gonna wait for so long that you meet somebody before you move, and we’ll be like who live in an open marriage! If it comes out, people even believe it, or they believe that you’re cheating me! Can you imagine how humiliating it would be for both of us?! – Gina clashed, shouting.

- This is only the first day yet. Who said I wasn’t gonna start to check houses from tomorrow? – Laurence expanded his arms indignantly – I haven’t met with my daughter for weeks! How can you think that houses should be more important than her?!

- But you’ve got to spend the whole day with her?! You took her to walk the dogs, you took her to the playground and to the candy shop too!

- And you’ve been with her for weeks! What would you do if you two wouldn’t have met for weeks?!

- Sorry, I didn’t think of it…

- Calm down, I’ve already decided earlier to start to look at the houses already tomorrow!

His wife assuaged a bit. It upset her that she saw the man again who was going to leave her, and it hurt her when she saw him. She wanted to see the back of him as soon as possible, to get used to his lack as soon as possible.

- Can I go to check the houses, too? – Delilah appeared who heard the last sentence.

It came into her mother’s head then that she shouldn’t have shouted because she could hear it.

- Tomorrow, you’ve got to go to school – she said kindly.

- But after that! – the little girl said.

- Why do you wanna look at houses?

- I’m also gonna live there, too, not only here! And till now, I was with you every day, and Dad just came home today!

- You guys were together all day today too!

- But we haven’t been meeting for weeks!

The woman gave it up, and went upstairs, to her room. She already slept in Delilah’s room, and her husband slept in that bedroom which was theirs till then, in exchange for he was going to move.

              Next day, Laurence started to visit the houses all day, and after school, went home for the little girl who joined him. He let her also telling her idea, and promised her to take note of it when he would choose – Anyway, he should make her side with him because Gina’s behavior was so much fluctuating that who knew what her mood would be like during the hearing, and maybe she would fight out him being allowed to meet with her more rarely, but if their daughter would so much cotton to him, she could fight out her mother’s letting her meet with her father oftener in spite of this – he thought.

Gina had a little role in a series, there, in California, but when she was filming, the man took Delilah along to look at the houses after school, and when she had completed writing her homework.

In the end, Laurence found a house in Hollywood but the neighborhood was only like Los Angeles.

- You could move to Hollywood soon, too, now when you’ve played in so many movies and series, as an addition, you just had a leading role in one of the short films – he said to Langston when the boy went to take a look at the house when he had moved in it, too. It was already December, the new short film had also come out, and they also watched it in his son’s house.

- Yeah, and I just had a freaking little role in one of the episodes of a series – Langston answered cheerlessly.

His father was taken aback by his reaction. Until then, he didn’t bear it that way.

- Did anything happen? – the man asked with his head on the side.

His son was considering whether he should tell him.

- Not long ago, I asked some relatives about what’s up with Montana… - he said tensely.

- And what did they say? – Laurence’s voice was mournful because he still couldn’t make peace with her.

- She stopped porn already a long time ago ‘cause she repented very much. She continued studying, and learned to dance, too. On the other hand, now, besides exotic dance, she does striptease for a living, in an infamous club in Texas…

His father was considering, startled, whether he should have kept in touch with her, and he was considering whether he should contact her now when he knew it – Striptease is still better than porn, as an addition, besides it, she also had a decent job, but she still lived as a shameless bitch. If his father would have been alive yet, he would have spoken to him about her stopping that immoral work, and they would have made peace – he thought – But he couldn’t avert her from doing this, like he couldn’t avert her from doing porn either…

- I thought it would do you good if you made peace with her now when you’re divorcing and you live here, mostly alone with the dogs; that was why I checked it. But at least it came out that you did it well that you still don’t keep in touch with her – the boy said.

- One day she might amend her way of life, and then we take her back to our lives. It seems she’s starting to amend her way of life – the man tried to comfort himself too.

- To me, it’s like she puts acting and dance to shame, too… Porn and striptease are art’s perverse versions… - Langston said in disgust – But maybe you’re right. The next step might be her doing normal dance only – he tried to comfort him, too – She really seems to be going in the right direction.

His father smiled at him.

- Thank you for asking about it because of me and you’re trying to comfort me – he said gratefully – At least I know that I have the reason to cherish the hope… - he reflected with downcast eyes – I haven’t seen her for more than five years already, and haven’t even talked to her, but she hasn’t written to me and hasn’t called me, either… I don’t even know how she’s looking now, what her hair is like, I don’t know if her face has changed… It seems like it was even more time. Bad periods seem to be longer, and I’ve been missing her already for more than a half decade. I don’t miss her bad self but I miss it when I haven’t known yet what she is like, and when it wasn’t visible what she is like… But if I contacted her again, I would indicate by it that I accept what she’s doing.

At least if they wouldn’t have talked about what she was doing, and they would have lived in peace – it came into his head after it – And if they would have quarreled, that would be only bad, too…

- Yes, and it would also come out. They said that it’s also on the internet what she does now and where she does it. You would also do harm to your reputation in the future too, if you kept in touch with her again – his son said disapprovingly.

As if he would have heard Hattie – it came into Laurence’s head – She constantly dealt with his reputation, although she only did it because of his career… And it was like Langston discouraged what his sister was doing, more than him, while he’s her father and he’s older than him.

- It has never come into your head to contact her? – the man asked the question.

- No – the boy said angrily.

Laurence didn’t count on this hard answer.

He was considering why his son was so dismissive in connection with his sister - And he’s still young; for him, time doesn’t go so fast like for him, so he could have missed Montana even more than him. But ballet is a more serious occupation than acting, it’s for more serious and compliant people… - he thought.

- We haven’t seen her since she was a teenager, and she’s already in her mid-twenties. Aren’t you even curious about what adult she became? – he still asked wonderingly.

- She was almost twenty years old when we met last time, and now she’s just five years older – Langston answered loosely – I think she hasn’t changed much. You can see it by striptease too…

- Six years have passed since she was nineteen… - the man said emphatically – And striptease is still better than porn, especially that she already has a normal job beside it, too. You’ve also said that this can be a sign that she’s starting to amend her way of life. Or you didn’t mean it, just wanted to comfort me? – he finished strictly.

- She’s changed but not too much. I think it’ll come out by her next step if she changes or not. It’ll come out if she stops doing striptease and if she becomes for example a nude model. For the time being, it seems she always needs such work wherein she can expose her body… - his son said furiously and in disgust – It’s not normal, I think she should go to a psychiatrist – he finished worryingly.

- What did she say, why did she stop doing porn? – his father asked, reflecting.

- They didn’t pay enough to her, and she didn’t become so famous like she wanted to be – the boy answered disapprovingly – She also said she didn’t counsel doing porn to anybody, and it was necessary to think twice if somebody still chose this.

It seemed she really changed, and became more mature – Laurence thought, smiling.

- Then she’s surely paid mostly by striptease, and that was why she chose it. She’s payed more, especially this way that she did porn before, so she also became famous… - he said mournfully after it.

Langston was like he didn’t even hear it.

- And what about prostitution? – he asked furiously.

- That was already a long time ago. She has become much more mature since then.

- She still always uses her nude body for living…

- Not always. You also said that she did exotic dance for her living, too. She’s surely not paid for it every weekday so she needs such work too, which pays more – the man said emphatically.

- Now it sounded like you didn’t discourage striptease…

- Maybe it sounded like that but you know that it’s not true.

              They were also talking about Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and then his son had gone home.

His father was considering about which Christmas was the worst for him, the year before last when they spent the holidays without his father for the first time because of his death, last year when they started taking a break with Gina, or this year when they were already divorcing, and he got to know that Montana still hadn’t changed completely. And then it came into his head that he at least got to know that it seemed she started to amend her way of life somehow or other, so it seemed that one day, they were going to keep in touch again.

              On either day of Christmas, he took Delilah to Hattie’s place where Mike and his family, Langston, Classie and her family went, and the little girl spent the other day with her mother and her relatives. The little girl spent the other day with her mother and her relatives, and Laurence invited Lemuel and his cousins by the side of his father. Who could come of them, took their families along, too.

He spent New Year’s Eve with those of his friends at home who could come. He likes it when he’s the host.

              His daughter was living with his wife nowadays, because her father was one of the chief narrators of a documentary series, and he was also preparing for his next movie which he was one of the co-stars of.

              The movie’s filming started already in May, and he was so busy that he only got to know from his colleagues that one of them read that the club was closed down where Montana worked, because allegedly, it had an almost 200 dollars of arrears to Texas state, and in March, the girl rear ended flushed with wine, consumed multiple of the allowed quantity, and was very much acting up, doing public decency when she was arrested. Later, she could pay the bail, and for the time being, she only spent one night in cells, but a 22-minute video was uploaded to the internet about her arrest, and the public prosecutions wanted to send her to prison for a year because she broke the car that she rammed into.

It served her right – the man thought – He brought shame upon him again. It was grievous when he got to know that the club closed down because he thought he wasn’t going to get to know anymore till when she would continue that work, and didn’t know when to contact her. And then he immediately got to know that she hadn’t changed at all – She lived an as scandalous life as before. Like she hadn’t changed at all since she was a teenager. It seemed she wasn’t going to amend her way of life odd-come-shortly, if she amends her way of life ever – he thought grievously again.

[restlessfandoming]

"you, my enemy" (chilumi oneshot)

Lumine must assassinate the cruel king of Snezhnaya, Ajax.

//

i could see this being turned into a full fledged fic? but for now, here is the dollar store version LOL

[Masterlist] [AO3 Link]

"you, my enemy"

“I want you to kill the king of Snezhnaya.”

Lumine’s eyes flickered to her client. “King Ajax?”

“There is only one, is there not?” the hooded man responded.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You must have the wrong person,” she said. “I do run-of-the-mill jobs. I don’t murder kings.”

“I was told you were the only mercenary who could do it.”

Lumine slid out of the bar booth. “Find someone else who is insane enough to do that. I value my life.”

The man’s arm shot out, grabbing Lumine by the wrist. She would have sliced it clean off, had the man not taken off his hood.

He had an unmistakable hue of scarlet red hair, with equally fiery eyes to match.

“You’re Diluc,” Lumine said. “The son of the slain King Ragvindr.” It’s never a good idea to get involved with royals.

His face wavered at the mention of his father. “And who was the one who murdered him?”

“King Ajax,” she answered. “That sounds like your own quest for vengeance. Not mine.”

Diluc pulled her closer. “Magic,” he whispered.

Lumine’s blood ran cold. “Magic?” she echoed hollowly.

“I’ve been trying to find the right person to do this for a long time,” he told her. “I had to do my research.”

“What does magic have to do with this?” Lumine asked, trying to keep her voice even.

“You use magic,” Diluc stated. “That’s how you’ve completed every single one of your assignments perfectly.”

Magic had been banished long ago, a witch hunt massacring any and all magic users within the land of Teyvat. Each of the seven kingdoms had decreed it, agreeing that those with magic were too powerful—a threat to the people, all people.

Ever since, the rare few born with magical powers were forced to hide away their abilities for survival. I thought Aether and I hid it well enough.

“You do this, I won’t report you to the authorities,” Diluc continued.

“What about you?” Lumine hissed. “You’re supposed to be dead with the rest of your family.” She shook off his grip. “If I report you to King Ajax, there’s no doubt I’d get a hefty reward, more than you could ever give me for murdering him.”

He pursed his lips into a thin line. “If there’s any suspicion of a magic user, what sort of action do the authorities take?”

You’re killed on the spot—no questions asked. The kingdoms didn’t want to run any risk of magic users rising up, no matter how small of a threat.

“We would be executed at the same time,” Diluc said lowly.

Shit.

Lumine sat back down in the booth, sinking into the seat, gnawing on the side of her cheek. Then, she took a deep breath in.

“You’ll give me every single piece of Mora you have,” she demanded.

Diluc’s face visibly relaxed. “Of course.” He crossed his arms. “The hidden vaults of my family are all yours: every single jewel, Mora, artifact—when you complete the job.”

Lumine’s mouth nearly watered at the prospect of all the riches.

No, she wasn’t greedy. That amount of Mora meant she and her twin brother Aether could retire from this life, this life of scraping by with the money they made from bloody bounties and assassinations. It was the only job they could do, being abandoned as children, having to learn to fend for themselves.

This one job meant she and Aether could have quiet peace until the end of their days.

She held out her hand to Diluc.

“You have a deal.”

* * *

When Lumine arrives in Snezhnaya, she expects impoverished villages, famished citizens, and cold, desecrated lands—all while this merciless, vile king sat on his throne of bones and riches.

However, what she finds are bustling streets of business and cheerful citizens. Children played freely on the streets. The kingdom was thriving.

Is this king truly as evil as the stories say?

It hadn’t been long since King Ajax had begun his crusade of conquering the entirety of Teyvat. It had started with his brutal assassination of his own ruler at the time, the slaying of the late Tsaritsa, quickly followed by his claim to the throne. Then, he had taken over the small country of Mondstadt, and Liyue fell shortly after.

Any who opposed him would face the sharp end of a blade. The stories of him on the battlefield were whispers of blood soaked garments and a wicked smile as he slaughtered soldier after soldier with no remorse.

The image of this bloodthirsty monster faded as Lumine watched these citizens move around care free, as if they were unaware of the atrocities laying under their feet committed by their dear King Ajax.

Glancing up, she could see the distant looming monument, the grandiose castle of the king, looking over the land with a watchful stone eye.

She listened intently to the conversations around her, seeking any information about this Ajax, about how to get close enough to do her job.

She always wanted the most covert way, and now even more so. This was very much her highest profile case, and if she wasn’t careful, she could potentially start wars, with her murder being the first blood.

Perhaps the best way was to become some nondescript maid, someone’s whose presence and subsequent disappearance wouldn’t be questioned by any of the king’s allies. Perhaps as a chef? She could easily poison his food and silently slip away.

How she wished Aether was here with her. He was much more a strategist than she. Unfortunately, he had taken on a different job, far away in Inazuma. They would not see each other until both of their assignments were completed.

Lumine sighed, moving down the street, in search of a bar. Drunk bastards were always the best source of information: they didn’t know how to shut their mouths. In a bar, there were no figures too suspicious, and if there were, they would quickly be forgotten within a few pints of ale.

She pushed past vendors, until she was stopped by a brunette woman in a lavender robe.

“You are not from here,” she said with a breathy smile.

Singled out already? “I’ve only just recently moved here,” Lumine lied.

“Oh? For what reasons?” the woman pressed, her long eyelashes batting as she assessed Lumine head to toe. “Work?”

“No.” What was this woman’s motive? “I’ve heard Snezhnaya is a great country to live in.”

A content, pitched sigh. “Well, since you’ve just moved here, why don’t you come work for me? Outsiders earn a pretty penny.”

Lumine stared at her. “Who are you?”

The woman smiled. “I am Ying’er. I’m in charge of a local performance troupe.” She stepped closer, and Lumine could smell her flowery perfume. “I would love to have you join us.”

“No, thank you,” Lumine told her, inching away. Sounds like a cheap cover for a brothel. “I’m not in need of a job right now.”

Ying’er pouted, but stepped back. “Alright then, sweetie.” She leaned on the doorway of her shop. “I’ll be right here if you decide to come back,” she finished with a wink.

Lumine gave a curt nod before slinking away, back to her search for a bar. She pulled the hood of her cape over her head, sticking to the shadowed walls on her walk. Do I really stick out that much here?

In the distance, she heard the subtle pounding of a drum, and watched, astonished, as the crowded streets parted straight down the middle. An eerie silence filled the previously buzzing plaza. Something was coming.

All the citizens had their heads bowed—Lumine quickly followed suit.

The booming of the drums came closer, and she heard the thunderous marching of armored boots layered into the sound. She glanced up.

There was an entourage of armored soldiers, an assortment of glistening weapons at their sides, escorting a decorated golden carriage.

King Ajax.

What was this? Was there some sort of special occasion taking place?

Much easier to find than expected.

The carriage rolled past. Lumine strained to look at the window while still keeping her head bowed.

Unfortunately, the window was curtained, a velvety red cloth obscuring any view of the king. Lumine wrinkled her nose in disappointment; she had wanted to see what she was up against.

The terrifying rumors of King Ajax never told of what he looked like. Lumine imagined a beastly figure, one with dark shaggy hair and sharp teeth, bones all jutting out in the wrong directions, filleted with raw scars all over.

The carriage continued to move past.

Could she do it? Could she use her magic to take him out right now? There certainly was a large number of people around, and all of them would be suspects; all the easier for her to get away.

However, the guards could easily murder everyone in the plaza if a perpetrator wasn’t found. And, as Ying’er so blatantly pointed out, Lumine didn’t exactly fit in with the Snezhayan citizens.

She would just have to wait. Wait for a better opportunity. Wait to learn more about King Ajax. Wait to plan the best way to kill him.

There was a rustle of murmurs as the citizens returned to their activities, the royal carriage and its guards wheeling out of sight—the air more tense than before.

Taking in a deep breath, she resumed her search.

I need a drink.

* * *

Lumine sat in the corner booth as always, the seat in the bar that could overlook the entire establishment, the place where she could easily see who entered and exited the building.

She sipped at her mug of ale: not enough to become inebriated, but just enough to take some of her stress away. She still listened intently for any utterances about King Ajax.

She kept her eye on a man who was chugging pint after pint of alcohol, complaining about his job, his kids, his wife.

Maybe he’ll complain about his king as well.

“God, I miss Mondstadt,” the man sighed.

Lumine raised a brow. Someone from the conquered land of Mondstadt? He should definitely harbor some resentment for King Ajax.

“Careful there,” the bartender muttered. “The king will have your tongue if you speak ill of him.”

The drunkard scoffed. “The king ain’t here, is he? Too busy with his parties and parades to ever come to a hole-in-the-wall bar.”

The bartender shrugged, silently wiping a glass.

“C’mon,” the man continued. “You don’t think it’s weird how he always invites those performers to the castle? What a dramatic man.” A hiccup. “You think he beds all of them?”

“Probably. Lots of women would want to sleep with the king”

“See, King Ragvindr never did things like that.” He laid his head on the counter. “A modest man. Genuinely cared about his people.”

“King Ajax cares for us. He provides—he’s made Snezhnaya wealthier than ever.”

“Hmph. Is that why he murders people in cold blood? Remember that man that got executed in the street for not bowing to him?”

“Just listen to him, and you’ll be fine.”

Lumine slid out of her booth, making her way to the exit, to a certain brunette woman with a lavender robe.

He likes performers.

A plan started to bubble in her mind as she walked the streets to Ying’er’s shop.

She would slip into the castle with the performance troupe. She would feign illness, seemingly leaving early, when in actuality, she would hide until all the guests had left. King Ajax would retire for the night, alone—and that’s when she would strike.

Lumine smiled, just a bit, confidence coming to her now that she knew what to do.

Her and Aether’s life of freedom felt like a breath away.

* * *

“You’ve certainly improved quite a lot,” Ying’er said, sauntering into Lumine’s quarters.

Lumine set her lyre down. “Guess I’m a quick learner.”

It had been a few weeks since Lumine had arrived in Snezhnaya, and became one of Ying’er performers. She had decided to learn an instrument—the lyre—while staying with Ying’er and the rest of the performers at the hostess’ establishment. She preferred it over becoming a poet or dancer.

Ying’er was right: many people came to watch Lumine sit prettily on stage and play her lyre—her face painted with make-up, and her body adorned with beautiful robes and gowns.

All the while, Lumine anxiously awaited the king’s invitation to their performance troupe. He had invited different groups all over town, though not Ying’er’s yet.

Was this plan a failure? Where was that damned man’s invitation—

“Is that what I think it is?” Lumine asked, eyeing the embellished envelope in her boss’ hand.

Ying’er hummed in affirmation. “The king has finally invited our group to perform at a party tonight.”

Finally. “What an honor,” Lumine said with a smile.

“Very much so.” Ying’er put her hand under Lumine’s chin, examining her face. “Yes...I will have you dressed in our best garments and make-up.”

The woman smiled. “After all, you are our pretty little star.”

* * *

The carriage ride to the castle was filled with the girls’ giggles and whispers, how they wished for the king to whisk them away into a life of riches and royalty, to be his beloved first wife. Lumine kept a hand pressed against her leg—ensuring the dagger hidden under her heavy robes wouldn’t fall out.

She didn’t like to get messy with such a close ranged weapon—she would usually just use her magic from a distance—but she wasn’t going to take a chance if something were to go awry.

As they neared the castle, everyone burst into gasps, admiring the massive stone structure. The excitement doubled as the dozens of other carriages came into view as well.

This is going to be one very extravagant party.

Before she knew it, Lumine was sitting in the great hall, along with the rest of the party goers, awaiting the king’s arrival. She saw the empty throne at the very front of the room, raised on a marble platform, his rightful place above his subjects.

A fanfare of brass instruments blared. The king is here.

The room collectively stood, bowing their heads as the king’s personal guards filed in. Lumine quirked her head to look for King Ajax.

Oh.

The king was not a hideous looking beast at all.

In fact, he was quite the opposite.

He walked in, tall stature carrying an air of importance (and arrogance) on his shoulders with a billowing crimson red cloak, a broad grin plastered on his face. He was young, exactly around Lumine’s age.

He had reddish-brown hair framing his face, locks that glittered like gold in the light of the room, and his eyes were like vortexes—deep whirlpools of the bluest ocean water. All his features were sharp, upturned, like a cunning fox waiting contently to trap its prey.

She watched as he made his way up to his throne, a sickening anxiety spreading through her limbs.

Lumine had never killed anyone so close in age to her—it had always been older men and women. And, of course, she had never found herself attracted to her target.

“Please,” the king spoke, still grinning. “Have a seat.” As he sat on his throne, the rest of the room sat as well.

Lumine swallowed the lump in her throat. His voice was light, playful even.

Was that truly the murderous king of Snezhnaya?

“A toast, to you, my people,” he said, raising a golden goblet. “Let the festivities begin.”

Lumine gulped down her own glass of wine, then shook her head.

I’m here for a job. Not romance.

The room filled with chatter, and Ying’er motioned to Lumine and the rest of the musicians to the corner where they would be performing their music for the night.

Lumine gathered her lyre, shuffling towards her spot in her heavily layered robes. Her mouth was set in a taut line.

A momentary lapse in judgement.

As she played the first few notes, her eyes flickered to the king, who was busy greeting various nobles at his throne. She narrowed her eyes at him, at that sly, sly smile on his face.

It won’t happen again.

* * *

The night seemed to drag on forever. After what seemed like an eternity of playing music for the room—as other patrons ate and danced and conversed—the musicians were finally taking a break.

Lumine delightfully chewed through expensive meats and breads as various actors, dancers, and poets took the floor in front of King Ajax to present their pieces.

The king seemed to be entertained, joining on some of the performances himself.

That drunkard from the bar was right. King Ajax was quite dramatic, inserting himself into the spotlight whenever he so pleased. How pretentious.

The crowd clapped and cheered as another performance was brought to an end, an air of boisterous chatter resuming. Lumine swallowed her last piece of food, making her way to Ying’er.

Time to get started.

“Ying’er,” Lumine called to her boss, clenching her side. “I feel a bit sick.”

The brunette woman raised a brow. “You were looking quite well before.”

“Yes, it was very sudden,” Lumine responded, turning to the exit. “I think I will just head back now.”

“So soon, dear? We haven’t even introduced ourselves to the king yet.”

Lumine was already on her way out. “I’ll see you back at the shop.”

She slipped past the guards patrolling the halls, ducking into the nearest empty room, a storage closet of sorts. Perfect.

She hiked her long robes up, unsheathing her dagger, cutting away at the garments. Sorry, Ying’er. But I can’t fight in this. She threw the discarded fabric in a dark corner, where they would be forgotten about.

She slid the knife back into its sheath, and cracked the door open the tiniest bit—enough to watch the entrance into the great hall.

Now, all she had to do was wait.

* * *

Lumine would have fallen asleep had it not been for the two guards who stopped to converse right outside her door. Within a matter of seconds, Lumine had gone from sleepily nodding off to firmly clenching her weapon in her hand, nerves buzzing on high alert.

“That party dragged on forever,” one of the guards said. “I don’t know how King Ajax does it. Isn’t he exhausted every night?”

“Not sure. He seems to enjoy it.”

“He’s been gone a while now. Should we check on him?”

Lumine tightened her grasp on her dagger. He was gone?

“No. He likes to be alone at night. He’ll kill you if you interrupt him.”

“Oh...Should we just go to the other side of the castle then? So we don’t...interrupt him?”

“...Sounds like a good idea.”

The sound of their footsteps faded, and Lumine dared a peek out the door to scope out the hallway.

There were no other guards, and the boisterous sounds of the party were long gone.

Lumine slid out of the closet, sneaking down the hall, starting her search for King Ajax.

Sounds like he’s still here somewhere. Alone.

This job was getting easier and easier.

Too easy.

* * *

Please be in this room.

There was a great stone door before her, one she had come to after a mind-numbingly exhaustive search through the entirety of the large castle. She pushed on the door, as slowly and as quietly as possible, then looked in.

She nearly cried out in relief.

Sitting in the middle of the room was King Ajax, his back turned to her.

He was completely silent, unmoving, in this empty stone room. Was he asleep? No, it looked more like meditation.

Lumine slinked in, silently, conjuring the elemental energy of the wind in the room.

She would take every bit of air out of his body. Quick, quiet, no mess. It was the method she had always used.

She closed her eyes to focus, feeling the pull of air from his lungs.

He was going to die, and she was going to be free, free with her brother—

WHOOSH!

Lumine opened her eyes just in time to see Ajax rush towards her.

His hand wrapped around her throat, and he slammed her into the ground. All of the breath in her body hissed out of her, and she clawed at his hand.

“Who are you?” he growled.

She stopped prying at his hold, quickly yanking out her dagger, and slashing at his face.

He dodged, forcing him to loosen his grip on her.

She slashed again at his hand, throwing herself away from him as he recoiled in pain. She rubbed at her neck, gasping for breath. The king was looking at the gash across his fingers.

Shitshitshit.

Lumine quickly focused her energy on the earth below, trying to create shackles out of stone to hold him in place, or to just bury him alive.

The ropes of earth sprang out of the ground. His eyes flickered to the coils as they rushed for him.

Yes!

But then a swirling mass of water appeared, engulfing him, destroying the chains in the process.

What—?!

A sharp stream of water shot out from the bubble, coiling around Lumine before she could react. She was pulled to the ground, bound, and unable to move.

The bubble of water dissipated, and Ajax stepped out, eyes ablaze. He approached Lumine.

“Who are you?” he asked again, less angry, more inquisitive.

She strained against the chains of water, her elemental energy unable to rid them. She locked eyes with him. “You’re a magic user.”

He squatted next to her. “You are too,” he responded, the smallest ghost of a smile on his lips. He took her dagger into his hands, weighing it. “Now, why were you trying to kill me?”

Lumine bit her cheek. No, she couldn’t sell Diluc out; he could still get Aether killed.

“That’s how you conquered Mondstadt and Liyue so easily. You used magic,” she pushed, ignoring his question. “That’s forbidden.”

He barked out a laugh, wiping his bloodied hand on her robes. “And yet, here we are, two magic users in one room.” He pointed the dagger at Lumine’s neck. “Tell me why you were trying to kill me, before I make it only one. I won’t ask again.”

“You’re going to kill me anyway,” Lumine said. “I’m a magic user. That threatens your power, doesn’t it?”

Ajax studied her for a second, pulling the dagger back, just a bit. “True.” He tilted his head. “But I’ve never actually met another magic user before.”

She averted his intense gaze. “So what are you going to do? Keep me alive and experiment on me?”

“No.” He stood. “How about this...in exchange for sparing your life, you become my student.”

…

What?

“You mean learn magic from you?” Lumine glared at him. “How do you know I won’t kill you in the future?”

“You won’t,” he said. “This murder attempt? Wasn’t personal—you tried to kill me from a distance. Someone must have sent you.” He closed his eyes, squeezing the hilt of the dagger. After some shaking, it disintegrated into dust.

“Also, you can’t kill me,” he continued, opening his eyes. “You’re severely untrained. You saw how easily I subdued you.” A small smile. “All the more reason to learn from me.”

Maybe this was the gods taking mercy on Lumine. Ajax didn’t kill her right away; she had a chance to live, to get back home to Aether.

“What’s in it for you? This only seems to benefit me,” she said to Ajax.

He hummed, thinking. “A potentially powerful weapon,” he responded, eyes glinting.

Maybe, once she learned more magic, she could overtake him, and complete her job.

She locked eyes with him.

“You have a deal.”

The ghost of those words burned bitter on her tongue.

* * *

Lumine nearly died the next morning.

“You did what?!” she gasped out, after deathly choking on a part of her breakfast.

She was currently sitting across from Ajax in his elegant dining room, who had just informed her that he had announced their marriage.

He leaned back in his chair. “A random new woman living in the king’s castle? Bound to raise many rumors,” he said, nonchalant. “This way, there are no rumors, and we can train without being questioned.”

Lumine worried her lip. He has a point.

“I don’t—We don’t have to...do anything in public, do we?” she asked.

“No.” He smirked. “Unless you want to, pretty girl.”

She grimaced. “No, thank you.” Here for a job, not romance, she reminded herself, no matter how handsome this cocky bastard is. Not to mention, she still planned to kill him.

And so, Lumine’s days were filled with training, pretending to the servants and maids she was King Ajax’s fiancée. She was trapped, as Ajax reminded her many times that if she tried to leave, he would swiftly execute her.

She learned more about him, as much as she didn’t want to. She saw that he did really care for his people, and provided for them as best he could—though he wasn’t above using his power to strike down those in his way, whether it was an enemy or a citizen who simply disrespected his reign.

And that was ultimately what he wanted: power. To have power over everyone in the land of Teyvat. He had endless ambition—Lumine could credit him that much.

Some days, she caught herself imagining it as well: a world she could rule over, have everyone bend to her will, set the laws so people like her and Aether could live without fear, and be provided for. In some ways, she could relate to Ajax’s desires. In some ways, she could justify his methods.

It very much disgusted her, at first. But then, it was liberating. To have someone who could understand the darker sides to her being, understand the blood on her hands.

Even Aether could never fully understand her. How part of her was always glad to be given magical powers to defend herself and those she cared about. How part of her enjoyed her current situation.

After all, she was living lavishly, compared to the impoverished life she had before. She had every meal provided for, luxuriously, and a soft bed to lay in every night. No threat of the authorities finding out about her powers and murdering her.

Could she perhaps bring Aether here?

Ajax had spared her—was it too much of a stretch to believe he would spare her twin as well?

If Aether could be brought here, she wouldn’t have to kill Ajax. She wouldn’t have to kill perhaps the only person in Teyvat that knew who she truly was.

* * *

“If you found another magic user,” she asked Ajax over dinner, “would you train them as well?”

Ajax took a sip of wine from his goblet. “No.”

“...No?”

A small smile, a slight flash of his canines. “I can’t have my weapons outnumbering me, now can I?”

Lumine’s mouth went dry. “If you won’t train them...what would you do with them?”

“Kill them.” He set the cup down. “They would be a threat.”

“I’m not a threat?”

Ajax barked out a laugh. “No, Lumine. No, you are not.”

Ah.

So she and Aether couldn’t be together here. Aether was still in danger of being outed by Diluc.

“Why?” Ajax questioned. “Are you lonely here?”

“I’m trapped in your castle. What do you think?”

He rested his head on his hand. “My bed is open at night, if you’d like.”

Lumine drove her knife through her food. “You’re insufferable.”

“Oh, Lumine, it’s just banter,” he said, chuckling. “You don’t think we’re friends? I quite like your company.”

She pursed her lips, staying silent.

“You don’t have to lie to me.” Ajax stared right at her. “I see you while we train. You like it here. You like becoming more and more powerful.”

He leaned over the table. “You and I are very similar.” He smiled. “There’s a hunger in your eyes. You want exactly what I have.”

Lumine stood abruptly. “We are nothing alike,” she spat uselessly. He sees right through me.

“I told you, you don’t have to lie to me,” Ajax responded, sitting back in his chair. “We are already married. We could rule together—as partners.”

...What?

“I thought I was your weapon.” Her knuckles were white from clutching the edge of the table.

“Partner if you so choose.” His blue eyes narrowed slightly. “Weapon if not.”

What game is he playing? “There has to be some sort of catch.” He was essentially offering her his power as king, even if it was just partially.

“No catch,” he said. “Like I said, if you refuse, you’ll just continue your little life of entrapment, as my weapon.”

“One of these options is obviously better than the other.”

Ajax laughed, genuinely, his expression softening, just a bit. “I guess one is.”

She gave him a look, quizzical, before swiftly leaving the room, his proposal still hanging in the night.

As the guards escorted her back to her room, she played the conversation over and over again in her mind.

Would it be so bad? Would it be so bad as King Ajax’s consort, his companion through his crusade of Teyvat?

He was right: part of her deep down ached for that kind of power.

But joining Ajax meant sacrificing her dear brother.

The aching desire hissed, Is that a sacrifice you are going to make?

* * *

The castle’s stone floors were freezing on Lumine’s feet as she traversed through the halls barefoot. No shoes meant no sound. No sound meant she could surprise the guards, getting the upper hand to take them out. Already, there was a trail of dead guards behind her as she passed through the corridors, the air stripped from their lungs.

Her sheer white nightgown fluttered around her as she dashed about, and in the dim moonlight waning through the windows, she thought herself a ghost, an angel of death. She was on a path she could not stop.

She knew exactly where he was. After spending so many days trapped here, of course she knew where the king’s quarters were.

She knew him like clockwork: what days he would stay up in his study, what days he would retire to his chambers and when. She knew where his guards were, when they would switch patrols, when their protection would be the weakest.

And when it came time, she stood outside of his door, wavering on the spot slightly.

She shook her head, trying the door. Locked.

Taking a breath in, she rapped her knuckles on the hardwood.

She heard rustling beyond the heavy oak door, her heartbeat picking up. She would have to get in there quick, before he looked behind her and saw his guards missing.

The door swung open, a flash of anger on Ajax’s face until he saw who it was.

He gave her a closed-eye smile. “Ah, Lumine, to what do I owe the pleasure—”

Lumine stood on the tips of her toes, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him in for a kiss.

She could feel him go rigid under her touch. She walked him backwards, further into the room, closing the door behind her with her foot.

As the door shut, he broke away from her. “Are you accepting my proposal?” he whispered, his hands clutched around her arms.

Lumine nodded, going for another kiss, arms slinking around his shoulders. This time, he melted into her touch, pulling until he was under her on his bed.

He fell for it.

Pity crept into her heart. From the way he breathed her in, the way he held her in his arms, there was a softness she had never seen from him.

He loved her.

She was his weapon, and now, his greatest weakness.

“I’m sorry,” she said against his lips.

His eyes opened, those ocean eyes on her as she pulled the air from his lungs with ease.

You shouldn’t have trained me.

His hand reached for her throat, but went to his own as he gasped and choked.

She wrapped her own hands around his, pressing down. She slammed her eyes shut. She didn’t want to see his face.

He thrashed wildly, and she repeated I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’msorryimsorry over and over again until he went still under her.

…

…

...

She opened her eyes, the world blurry around her. She wiped away the tears pooling in her vision, and looked down at Ajax.

He was unmoving, eyes glazed over, arms limp at his side.

Lumine reached for his throat, hand shaking, fingers checking for a pulse.

He’s dead.

She scrambled off of him, crumbling into a ball on the floor.

I killed him.

Her breathing was uneven—she was the one gasping for breath now as uncontrollable sobs racked through her body.

I am so sorry, Ajax.

* * *

“Lumi?”

Lumine turned to see Aether looking at her with worry.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

A breeze rustled by. Lumine turned back to look over green fields that stretched as far as she could see.

“I’m okay,” she responded.

“Okay,” he repeated. He smiled a bit, pulling an envelope from his pocket. “Diluc’s hawk came this morning. He sends warm wishes to us both.”

After the assassination of King Ajax, Lumine decreed Snezhnaya a freed country, a country with no ruler, and returned the lands of Mondstadt and Liyue back to their rightful heirs. Diluc, now the restored king of Mondstadt, gave Lumine and Aether the riches he promised, and a home deep in the countryside for the peaceful life they so desperately wanted.

But sometimes Lumine had nightmares of Ajax.

She would be sitting next to him, on their thrones as the King and Queen of Snezhnaya. Sometimes, little princes and princesses of theirs would be running around as well.

They would have conjured all of Teyvat together.

They would have loved each other.

Lumine would wake up, tears in her eyes, heart heavy with desire for that life.

And then she would cry because her life would never be peaceful ever again.

[legends-live-in-memories]

“How Did All This Happen?”- A Memoire by one Marinette Dupain-Cheng 1

Soooooo I decided to write this. much longer than the other things i posted, also very tonally different. I will definitely continue that other fic tho. I was just brainstorming and now this exists. Yeah.

 without further ado

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

People Fucked Up and Now It’s All Marinette’s Mess to Clean Up I

This was not how Marinette planned for her night to go. Granted, she also could not envision it going literally any other way. The woes of making a deal with the hell-raiser himself, John Constantine, she supposes. She truly hoped Adrien was having a much better time than her with his cousin in London. After the circus that was the past three years, he deserved some reprieve, even if it was with his bratty doppelganger. Regardless, Marinette. Was. Not. Pleased. No matter how many times she thinks over her plan, recalculates every step and decision, she could not fathom this night ending well for her, or anyone really, but mostly her. And no amount of old Ladybug or Guardian luck could help her. Now, if one were to wonder what kind of tragedy had befallen Marinette on this disgraceful night, a brief history of the last three months could enlighten such a person. Or better yet, let’s start at the beginning. The Real Beginning.

So, things existed. Obviously. First there was nothing, and then, something. And as more things began to exist, as new schools of knowledge and concepts and ideas began to, well, exist, Kwamis formed as well. Each Kwami was the physical manifestation of these ideas or abstracts. Creation was the first, coupled with Destruction. And as more things began to exist, more things began needing to be protected. Thus, the Kwami of Protection. This went on. For a while. Soon thereafter there were Kwamis of all types. Jubilation, Time, Strength, etc, etc, and etc. Now these Kwamis did not linger in one spot. They roamed across the far stretches of existence and interacted with the life they found.

Some Kwamis decided to form a magical pact which intergalactic historians would later dub the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum. Sounds familiar? The Kwamis themselves were completely blissfully unaware of this title, lest they would have explained to these beings, Maltusians they were called, that they were not in fact, electromagnetic but more so a part of the Powers that Be. Kind of. But this side-story involves the formation of a few universally known Lantern Corps, and that is a barrel of monkeys our exasperated narrator does not want to touch with a ten-foot pole. Or ever.

Other Kwamis, who stuck close to what would become known as the Milky Way, were discovered by a mage who granted them the ability to interact with humans. This mage— and Marinette was silently cursing his descendants, herself included, for if it weren’t for this absolute mad lad, none of the subsequent events of this night would have transcribed—had bound the Kwamis to magical jewelry called Miraculouses. An interesting side effect of these Kwamis being bound to the miraculouses was that the wearer could call upon the powers of the Kwamis for their own usage. The mage feared what could become of the world if this kind of power became so easily accessible, so he created the Order of the Guardians. The Order was dedicated to training young mages to protect, wield and harvest the powers of the miraculouses. The Order swore to true neutrality; wishing not to impose their will on one side or the other, to maintain balance and to not upset the natural order of the world. 

This went surprisingly well for a few millennia, that is, of course, if you ignore the sinking of Atlantis, the extinction of the dinosaurs, the Black Plague, the creation of the Lazarus Pits, Pompeii, to name a few completely egregious instances—not necessarily in order of course—and well, the point stands that it could have been astronomically worse. Until it was.  

One young mage and Guardian in training had caused the downfall of almost the entire Order of the Guardians. All the centuries of history, teachings, artifacts and even the people at the head temple, were lost to the calamity. Dozens of Miraculous Boxes were lost, destroyed in the fray. The Kwamis themselves were relatively unaffected, being immortal and all, but the magical jewelry binding them to the earth were broken, thus those Kwamis were lost to mankind once again. Only one singular box, and the young mage himself, survived. The new Guardian of one miraculous box was left to scour the earth in solitude. Well, about as much solitude one could have with 17 pocket gods as company. The fact that the only box that survived was missing two more miraculouses caused the already stressed guardian to grey further. But that tidbit of information would be a problem for later. And for someone else entirely too. Oh joy.

But before that sequence of events, aptly named “Marinette’s Trial by Fire,” however, the young guardian had a couple more life mistakes to make before he reached his internal quota apparently. Rather than travel to another sector of the Order on the other side of the earth, this young mage stumbled upon another organization, one similar in architecture and hierarchy but a pendulum swing in the total moral opposite. Yes, that’s right, the guardian found himself upon the League of Shadows, led by Ra’s Al Ghul in his endeavor of global cleansing; by acts of ecoterrorism, but who sweats the small stuff, right? There, the young guardian, who adopted the name of Wang Fu, met his first love Ming Hong and they had a son. The son had a daughter he named Mei. Now Mei was only a few weeks younger than Ra’s Al Ghul’s grandson, Damian. Now with an appropriate heir, and someone to procreate with said heir, Ra’s Al Ghul gained a special interest in the small Fu family that originally flew under the radar of the League. 

Now this is where things continue to go downhill, but not until much, much later in this story. Ra’s Al Ghul, despite his radical ambitions, was particularly good at playing the long game and understood when he couldn’t accomplish a task directly. This being said, he recognized that, due to prolonged exposure to the Lazarus Pits, his soul could not bear the strain of being a wielder of a miraculous and so he waited. Waited until a suitable heir was sired and could copulate with an heir to the guardian of the miraculous box, desiring to create a bloodline of genetically suitable successors and wielders who were loyal to him and his cause. 

Ra’s ordered for the Fu family to have a place on his court and ordered for Mei Fu to be trained in mastering the secrets of the miraculous. And master she did. By age 6 she was fluent in the coded language of the magical text, or as fluent a 6 year old can be in any language, and she had mastered 7 out the 17 miraculouses. By age 10 she was as skilled as the grandson of the Demon Head in combat and could handle simultaneous wear of 3 miraculouses. Her training, however, had to be put on hold as somebody thought usurping the Demon Head was of the utmost importance that glorious Tuesday and staged a coup. She wished Deathstroke had lost more than an eye that day, but a girl can dream she supposes. Mei and her grandfather were separated from the rest of the League and journeyed west. Somehow they ended up in Paris, France. After one too many run ins with the authorities, Mei was removed from her grandfather, who was deemed too unfit to support her. It was a miracle he wasn’t deported. 

Mei was put into protective custody where she resided until she was 13. Recently adopted, and thoroughly done with the plebeians of her daily encounters, Mei Fu became Marinette Dupain-Cheng, daughter of the best bakers in Paris. All was well and good for the new Dupain-Cheng until the start of the new school year. 

She met her grandfather again. And apparently he had a job for her and her soon to be new partner.

Hawkmoth, that bitch, had somehow acquired the two last surviving miraculouses and the only surviving grimoire and thought domestic terrorism was on the agenda for the next few years. Why? Because investing in a family therapist was too much of an inconvenience for local recluse, Gabriel McFucking Agreste, Marinette would shortly learn. 

After dealing with all of that and juggling between her reignited guardian training, and ‘normal’ girl life—because her parents don’t know that she’s a magical girl in the making—, Marinette was ready to sleep for a thousand years. Or commit murder. Whichever gave her enough serotonin to complete her current passion project. But, alas, no rest for the totally-over-it or however that saying goes. Because after declaring Paris safe once again, sending off her brother-in-arms, Adrien Agreste, to family in London (marginally decent but anything beats the abusive prick of a sperm donor), in waltz one drunken John Constantine.

Ah yes. Him. That absolute bastard who doesn’t deserve nice things in life. That guy.

This unpleasantry approached Master Fu and Marinette, who has been regulated to errand-girl in lieu of training, with a job that he proclaimed that only one blessed with magic, and specifically NOT connected to the Justice League could accomplish. Apparently, a group called the Cult of the Kobra resided on Santa Prisca and was in possession of a dangerous magical artifact that had been the backbone of their organization for years. Constantine came to them asking them for assistance in retrieving it as the Justice League could not interfere in the Caribbean due to new UN legislation. It was a mission of utmost urgency for he feared the cult leader, Kobra himself, was planning on enacting a ritual that could bring calamity to Earth. Which is just what the doctor ordered. Not. In exchange, he agreed to add to her magical training as while master Fu was good, he was still young when he ran away from his problems the first time and thus was limited in his magical knowledge.

That was three months ago. Three months of planning, training, and convincing her parents that letting her go on an extended retreat for an undetermined amount of time with her mostly absent biological grandfather was totally reasonable for the seventeen year old to do. Like, come on. She’s almost old enough to drink, almost ready for university and has been praised for her independence and self-sufficiency for years. She’ll be fine is what she told her parents and she was almost able to convince herself of that too. She would be perfectly fine. Right?

Wrong.

Marinette was anything but fine. She was stressed, she was tired and she was abso-fucking-lutely pissed at anything that even breathed in her direction. Why? Well that brings us back to the beginning of the story when everything on this mission did not go according to plan. So here she was along what was once upon a time the eastern coastline of Santa Prisca. Oh and look. The Junior Justice League has arrived.

Purrrrfect. 

Some one asked for a taglist. Ask and ye shall receive

@deathwishy @neakco  @ virtualreading  @f-rget-lt @your-resident-chicken-nugget

[immaturityofthomasastruc]

IOTA Reviews: Furious Fu

Well, I'm surprised this is here so quickly, but here we are. The first episode of Season 4. While I was on the fence about reviewing it even though it isn't in English (though there’s one in Spanish with English subtitles), but it seems like there are people that want to see me do it anyway, so who am I to let them down? Hopefully, I won't be regretting my decision to go over every episode of this season later on.

Will Marinette's new position as Guardian lead to more storylines other than her suffering? Will the show actually resolve the whole Love Square debacle this season? Why am I asking you all these questions?

Let's dive right into the first (actually sixth because of course it is) episode of Miraculous Ladybug's fourth season, Furious Fu.

We start off with all of the Kwamis under Marinette's care asking to see Former Master by Default Fu, before Marinette reminds them, and by extension, the audience, that he erased his memory during the events of last season, making her the new Guardian. They continue to act like hyperactive children until Marinette finally caves in and carries them in her backpack, although not before they give us one of the most unintentionally creepy images in the entire show.

I apologize in advance for your nightmares tonight.

The only Kwami who stays is the Dog Kwami, Barkk, who looks like she's going to see if Marinette's parents have any wine in the kitchen once she leaves.

Marinette heads down to the train station, where she meets up with Fu and Marianne, a former confidant/old flame who he recently reunited with. It turns out that inbetween Seasons 3 and 4, not only has Fu been living in London with Marianne while taking up painting as a hobby, but they've actually gotten married. So yeah, while Marinette has to deal with the stress of protecting some of the most dangerous artifacts on the planet, Fu's just been chilling in London, oblivious to the fact that he forced a teenage girl to do his job for him. Nothing but the best from this show's wise and lovable “mentor”.

After heading back home, Marinette sees a strange man who has broken into her room and demands to know where she got the Miracle Box from.

This is Master Su-Han, the former Guardians before Fu accidentally killed them all. He's naturally not happy with the “improper” form of the Miracle Box (he's not the only one) and wants to know how Marinette got in in the first place. When she says she got it from Fu...

Yeah... while it isn't as obvious as “Animaestro” and “Felix”, you can kind of tell that this is a “turn the critics into enemies” episode. Even though the criticism towards Master Fu isn't as prevalent as the criticism those episodes were meant to call out, there have been some fans on Tumblr and Reddit who have criticized Fu's actions in the show, calling out his decision to make Marinette a guardian in particular. Likewise, Su-Han is meant to be a strawman to mirror the complaints, and show why they are ridiculous. Though ironically, Su-Han's dialogue and rules also unintentionally highlight how incompetent the Order of the Guardians was, but we'll get to it later.

But because the script says she has to, Marinette defends Fu's decision to make her Guardian. She even refers to Fu being the reason the Guardians were all killed in the first place as a “mistake”.

NO HE DIDN'T! How was what Fu did in any way a sacrifice? When he made Marinette the new Guardian “Miracle Queen”, All Fu really did was make the box float for a bit before it immediately landed back in Chloe's hands. If the box had magically floated over to Ladybug in the process, I'd see why Fu would have done it. It'd still be reckless, but it would be a good way to escape from Hawkmoth and Mayura's trap. Hell, the Kwamis had already refused to let Chloe transform when she had their Miraculous, so there was no real threat there. We don't even know if Hawkmoth knew how to transform with the other Miraculous. So again, I raise the question: How was Fu forcing Ladybug to take his job while he gets to paint in London a heroic sacrifice? How can you even frame that as anything but cowardly?

Su-Han notices a few of the Kwamis are missing, and takes notice of Plagg, who was shown to devastate Paris with a single tap to the ground, being missing in particular. He's even more horrified to see Marinette's earrings, because, get this, Guardians aren't allowed to wear Miraculous.

You're telling me that if someone gets their hands on a Miraculous and goes rogue, the Guardians are supposed to fight them with their bare hands? They don't even explain it by saying something like how the Guardians aren't supposed to be tempted by the power of the Miraculous, we're just supposed to accept that rule as fact. How are you supposed to fight someone with superpowers like illusions, shapeshifting, teleportation, and time travel on your own?

So Su-Han orders the Kwamis back into the Miracle Box (still don't get why they have to listen to him) and lists off some of the rules Marinette broke like he was a Ferengi reading the Rules of Acquisition. He does all of this while voicing several concerns fans have about Marinette being Guardian, but rather than being out of concern or compassion for her, it's condescension.

It's pretty easy to understand Su-Han's side of the story, and if the episode actually acknowledged it, I wouldn't mind. But no, everything he says is automatically supposed to be wrong, because when has anything with a different viewpoint portrayed as a good guy in this show?

Su-Han orders Ladybug to take him to see Cat Noir before demanding they both hand over their Miraculous, and we learn something interesting about the Order of the Guardians.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?

Of all the stupid Guardian rules Master Fuckup didn't blindly follow, it's the rule that Miraculous are ONLY SUPPOSED TO GO TO ADULTS!? Why the hell did he even recruit Marinette and Adrien in the first place if Miraculous for adults to use? What did he even see in them? All they did was help him once!

And again, we're supposed to see Su-Han as wrong for doing this. Why can't Ladybug simply tell Su-Han about Hawkmoth and ask for his help before she returns her Miraculous to him? That way, Hawkmoth is defeated, and Su-Han gets the Miraculous back. And it's not like Ladybug doesn't try to talk things out with Su-Han, so you can't say she didn't consider it. Oh wait, that would imply Su-Han is supposed to have a point in his claims.

Though to the show's credit, Su-Han's words do get to Ladybug, causing herself to doubt herself and her ability to stop Hawkmoth, but Cat Noir helps to reassure her, saying he'll only return his Miraculous only if she asks him to. It's a brief moment, but it's nice to see him place his faith in his partner in a platonic way.

Less nice to see is Cat Noir finding out that if Ladybug gives up her position as Guardian, she'll lose her memory like Fu. Except... Cat Noir was there when Miraculous Ladybug failed to restore Fu's memory, so why does he see this as new information? Did he only think it would happen to Fu? Did he lose some of his memory at the end of the last season?

This information is enough for Cat Noir to start a fight with Su-Han, with Ladybug abandoning any attempts at diplomacy by declaring that Cat Noir won't lose his Miraculous. It's a little frustrating to see them engage Su-Han, but again, this is meant to show Cat Noir trying to protect Ladybug so she doesn't lose her memory. This scene still does a good job showcasing the bond the two heroes have. It's far better than anything we got from the New York special.

Su-Han is trained in... Oh God... Mirakung-Fu, which somehow gives him the ability to predict Ladybug and Cat Noir's moves before they make them, comparing it to his rage “adaptating and always finding a way”. Translation: Astruc ripped off something else from Dragon Ball, Ultra Instinct. Ladybug distracts Su-Han and gets the Miracle Box, while Cat Noir gets his staff. After briefly trapping him under some rubble (which I guess doesn't kill him because of his “Mirakung-Fu”), the two heroes escape.

Meanwhile, Shadowmoth, the upgraded form of Hawkmoth that I'll talk about in his debut proper, senses Su-Han's negative emotions and sends out an Akuma after him. Su-Han sees Fu painting in the park, and steals his cane, thinking it's a Guardian's staff he can sue to track down the Miraculous. When the Akuma reaches him, Su-Han uses a technique to repel the Akuma completely. I like this idea. It makes sense that a monk would find a way to mask their emotions and achieve enough of a state of zen to ward off an Akuma. The Akuma instead reaches Fu, turning him into Furious Fu.

I like the design of this Akuma. While I personally thought it could have made for a more interesting fight if he was still short (like Yoda's fight scenes in the prequels), I think it's really clever to incorporate Fu's Hawaiian shirt into what looks like a Chinese gi. Furious Fu's powers are kind of like Evilustrator, only he has to draw down a Chinese character on a talisman before the power takes immediate effect, and lacks the weakness Evilustrator had with his tablet being easily breakable, with the corrupted object, a paintbrush on his ear, being harder to reach.

Ladybug and Cat Noir retreat to the unnamed stadium that the local school has gym class in for some reason, where they're confronted by Su-Han, who in turn, is confronted by Furious Fu. This leads to a three-way fight for the Miracle Box, which they all kick around like a soccer ball. Cat Noir even gets a goal. All around, pretty fun bit, though not for the Kwamis, I guess.

As soon as he sees Furious Fu get the Miracle Ball, Su-Han hides while Ladybug and Cat Noir get beat up by the Akuma. While he does get up eventually, he's still taken out by Furious Fu. Apparently, Su-Han's “Mirakung-Fu” is only useful against Miraculous holders, not supervillains created with the powers of a Miraculous. How the hell does that work? That's like being a trained soldier in the Marine Corps who's terrible at laser tag.

Ladybug uses her Lucky Charm (again, I'll talk about the suit change for its proper debut episode), and gets a pair of wire cutters. She uses them go get a soccer ball from a nearby container while Cat Noir keeps Furious Fu busy. Furious Fu, in turn, uses one of his talismans to predict Ladybug's plan, and manages to immobilize both heroes, but not before Ladybug traps the soccer ball underneath Cat Noir's arm before Furious Fu can use his Cataclysm against him.

How do they stop him? By having Marianne casually walk up to him and break the paintbrush while he's distracted. Honestly, that's a pretty funny payoff. Not “Puppeteer” or “Bakerix” funny, but it's still one of the funnier Akuma defeats I've seen. Another funny joke is Cat Noir using his Cataclysm on a soccer ball before he accidentally uses it on Ladybug and Marianne for their post-victory fist bump.

Later on, after Marinette sees Marianne and Fu off while the latter continues to avoid responsibility, Su-Han apologizes to her, and decides to trust her. He'll still take away the Miracle Box if she screws up, but it's a start to someone Marinette can at least consult Guardian to Guardian.

And honestly? I think this episode is a pretty good start to Season 4. It really feels like the writers are learning from their mistakes in Season 3.

Yes, Marinette is blamed by Su-Han, and while it is frustrating to turn Su-Han into a strawman, unlike other Season 3 episodes where Marinette is blamed, the blame itself is unwarranted, and by the end of the episode, it looks like Su-Han is willing to change, as he apologizes to Fu after he's de-evilized. That's a lot more than I can say for Astruc's other straw characters like Chloe and Felix. Sure, some of Su-Han's concerns are brushed off, but it's still a start.

From what little we saw of him, Cat Noir is also a lot better, really showing the character development promised towards the end of “Miracle Queen”. He's thankfully turned down the flirting, and I can only hope he keeps his promise as the season goes on. I hope we get an episode or two showing his perspective on Ladybug becoming Guardian, and how he feels less like her actual partner now. You know, something that can reinforce their bond as partners.

My biggest complaints from the episode really come from the way Fu is portrayed, and even then, it's only because of events that happen because of what he did last season and how much of a screw-up he is, despite the narrative trying to tell the audience he isn't. Then there's the revelation that Fu's cane has the ability to track down Miraculous. So... we're seriously learning this now? Why didn't Fu use it earlier to look for the two missing Miraculous? He literally has a Miraculous detector! But hopefully, the consequences of Fu's actions won't affect this season too much.

So yeah, I'm actually feeling pretty optimistic about this season so far. Maybe Season 4 won't be that bad after all.

Oh.

Oh no...

[benji-writes]

Sammy, and I, and the Soda Pop Shop

Pairing: Sam Wilson x f!reader

Word count: 5.2k

Summary: Best friends since childhood, you and Sammy need to fall a part before you can come back together again. 

Warnings: hurt/comfort, mentions of death

Sammy and I always made time for the Soda Pop Shop. On the corner of Smock and Singleton, the Soda Pop Shop was a local institution. Across from Colby Cook Memorial Park, locals would pop in for a soda, a Pop Pop Burger, and a bag of Hot Hot fries. The Pop Hot Combo was not to be missed out on, and Sammy and I would get 2 orders of Pop Hots every Friday night, and head across the street to eat them at the picnic table by Magnolia Trees. They were a treat, and a sacred ritual from the time we were kids till the time he left. 

Wednesday nights we’d sit at our favored booth in the Soda Shop and order Slush Puppies – Green Apple and Grape. Sometimes we’d sit at the counter stools and talk to Mama Nell, who had owned the shop and worked behind the counter as long as anyone could remember. Nobody had a lot of money where we came from, but Sammy always took care of me. He’d buy our slushees and our Pop Hots. He’d do extra chores around the house when we were kids, hoping to get a few extra dollars to spend. When we were older, I’d see him mowing lawns or running errands for the neighbors. I could never understand why he did it. I had an allowance when we were little, and as a teenager I babysat the younger kids in the neighborhood. I could easily have bought my own food, but that was just who Sammy was. 

I tried everything I could to show Sam how much he meant to me. I’d bring him breakfast to school in the morning, even when he told me not to. His favorite was always the blueberry bagels. I’d leave him notes in sidewalk chalk on the pavement outside his house. I cut the strings off the community center yo-yos and braided them together to make us matching friendship bracelets. Sammy and I never took them off. Not ever. 

For birthdays and Christmas’s, I’d save up everything I could. I’ll never forget the look on his face when I gave him tickets to what would become our first concert. Or the Christmas after his sixteenth birthday, when I bought him a video camera. 

The best gift I ever gave Sammy though was the day before he left for the Air Force. It was years of photographs, mementos, flowers. All those special things that I’d saved over the years. I had never been so nervous. 

We’d gone out that night to the Soda Pop Shop. Everyone came by to see him: to say goodbye, to reminisce, to laugh and laugh, and to cry. 

Mama Nell told wistful stories about Sammy. She lived in the house next door, and had watched me and Sammy play in the streets, and run around the park since we were practically in diapers. She had watched us grow up, always made time to ask us how school was going, and what our plans for the weekend were. Gave us free slushees whenever she could sneak us one without the other customers noticing.  

When the night wound down, and even Sam’s family had made their way home, Sammy and I were still sat in our booth by the window. Just sitting there. Quiet. Unwilling to go home. It was then, with the tables up on the chairs, and all the stores on the block closed for the night, that Mama Nell came over and sat down with us. She placed two orders of Pop Hots down, alongside a Green Apple and a Grape Slush Puppie. We’d hardly eaten a thing all night, too caught up in everything to even think about it. Just grabbing a handful of fries, or an onion ring off of somebody else’s plate. 

The food was still steaming. We hadn’t ordered anything, but somehow Mama Nell knew we were hungry. Not just for food, but for more time. For this moment together. For one last Pop Hot before everything changed. 

She sat for a second, all of us just there in the still of the moment, food in front of us waiting to be eaten when she said, “Kids. I’ve never seen anything quite like the two of you,” She took a deep breath, and shook her head. “Won’t be the same round here.” 

With that, she dropped the keys on the table and stood. She was walking towards the door, not even looking at us, “Lock up when you kids are ready. Just drop the key in the mailbox.” 

And then she was gone. Just me and Sammy, alone for the first time all night. On the precipice of a brave new world. One we would have to face alone. 

I was the first to reach for my food. We ate quietly, but together. Sammy would be gone in only a few hours, uncertain as to when we would get to see each other again. 

When I was done eating, Sammy was still making his way through the last of his fries. Eating slow, trying to make it all last. It was then that I finally spoke.

“Hey, Sammy?” It came out quieter than I wanted it to. He didn’t look up. Just kept eating. 

“Sammy?” I said louder this time, and he shoved another fry in his mouth. 

“Sam.” That got his attention. I never called him that.

“Don’t call me that, baby.” He whispered so softly. The way he called me baby made my heart fold in on itself. 

“Then look at me,” I ordered. And he did. A moment went by where we just looked at each other. “I have something for you. I want you to have it.” He wiped his hands off with a napkin and pushed the food wrappers aside while I reached into my bag to pull his present out. It was wrapped delicately in glittery tissue paper. I placed it in front of him, and he looked at it so seriously. And with such care, and the gentlest of hands, he undid the tissue paper. 

A black scrapbook. Nothing on the cover to indicate what would be on the inside. Ever so carefully, he flipped open the cover to see a picture of us two as kids, hugging and smiling for the camera. Underneath, in my handwriting, read the words “ The Adventures of Sammy and I.”

I saw his jaw clench tight. As he flipped from page to page. Picture strewn across each of them, little notes along side. 

“Wishing well we found. Two pennies thrown in. I know what I wished for...”

 “Sittin’ on the dock of the bay. Watchin’ the tide roll away.” 

“Taken after Sammy saw his first pair of tits at Mardi Gras.” 

“Biker wannabe. Sammy during his leather jacket phase, leaning against the Soda Shop, trying to catch the babes.” 

“Prom. Sammy couldn’t get a date, so I figured I might as well take pity...” 

“Under the stars. Slush puppies in the summer time. Biggie on the radio. Nights were never better than this.” 

He ran his fingers across the pages. His eyes watered, but no tears would fall. He laughed at some of my descriptions. Let out a long sigh as he ran his hand down cream soda bottle tops, movie stubs, old sticky notes left for one another. The sun-wearing-sunglasses magnet from my school locker that he always made fun of. Magnolia petals that would fall from the tree and onto our picnic table. The fortune from a cookie he gave me that said “Believe it can be done.” 

Precious artifacts that wove together the story of our friendship. Of our everything. 

“Y/N... baby, I-“ the words caught in his throat. 

“I know, Sammy. I know” I grabbed his hand from across the table. 

He looked up at me. I didn’t know what he was thinking, but I had a feeling it was about all the things we’d left unsaid. All the things that would stay unsaid. 

“You’ll stay safe out there, won’t you Sammy?” The words came out like a prayer. 

“I’ll always come back to you.” 

We sat in the park that night. Stayed out till he had to leave for basic training in the morning. We walked to the bus together. His mom and sister were already waiting there with his bag. He hugged them so tight. His mom wept. His sister pretended not to. He took a deep breath, and refused to let his chin wobble. That was my Sammy, alright. Brave face. Always trying to take care of everyone but himself. He hugged me last, shoved his head right into the crook my neck. He breathed in deep, as if he wanted to savor every piece of this last moment. As if he knew things would never be the same. He kissed my forehead, “I love you.” 

I so badly wanted him to mean it the way I meant it, “I love you too, Sammy.” 

He got on that bus, and as it pulled away a feeling settled. It was uneasy. It was empty. Something greater than loss, something more profound than grief. It was a feeling took root in the very fabric of my body. And I just knew I would never see Sammy again. 

And I didn’t. 

Not for many years. 

Not until today... 

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

Mama Nell didn’t have any kids of her own. No husband to speak of. Just a handful of scrappy kids that came in and out of her shop over the years. She’d helped us out when we needed it. There were months where we spent more time with Mama Nell than with our own families. She was special to us. Family. 

After Sammy left, I spent more time with Mama Nell than I did with anyone – more than my family, more than Sammy’s family. I would help do chores around her house, stuff she “couldn’t” do anymore: wiping baseboards, washing the woodwork, replacing sheets and blankets, scrubbing the tub, vacuuming, dusting, and so on goes the list. Really Mama Nell was just giving me a reason, a guise, to be over at her house all the time. I was helping out. And she enjoyed having the company. We’d play hours of scrabble, and I’d usually lose. I’d show her new movies (anything with Denzel was her favorite). According to Mama, “Men had no right lookin’ that good.” We’d gossip and chop onions, and tomatoes for the Shop. 

I would spend hours with Mama at her house. But I couldn’t bring myself to actually walk into the Pop Shop. Not alone. Not without Sammy. Not for a long time. 

It was probably six months after Sammy had left before I even considered going into the shop. It was eight months before Mama Nell convinced me to help her bring over some containers of vegetables.

 Nine months had gone by, without so much as a phone call from Sammy. Not a single letter of mine replied too. Even his mom had only talked to him on the phone a few times. Said there was a lot going on he couldn’t talk about. But I didn’t care if he couldn’t talk about what he was doing in the military. I just wanted to hear his voice, hear him say my name, or crack a joke. I wanted to tell him about how me and Mama Nell had gotten even closer, and that I missed him. I wanted to see his chicken scratch handwriting, where you needed context clues to tell if he was trying to write a “g” or an “s.” I just wanted him. Something. Anything. I felt like a dog, begging for even the smallest of scraps. But nothing ever came. Any updates I got were passed on by his mom. He was supposed to come home after a couple of months, but he never did. And that feeling I had felt in my stomach the day he’d left, from the moment he stepped on that bus, only grew deeper and deeper. It became more. I was sick to my stomach with the knowledge that my Sammy was gone. 

It was his birthday – just over nine months after Sammy had left – that I really went back to the Soda Pop Shop. I sat down. Alone at our booth. Everything felt too still. Too quiet. The place was closed, but Mama Nell had long since given me a key, not that I’d ever really needed it before. Part of me still wonders if she knew this day would come. Where I’d need to finally have this moment. 

I sat in our booth, like we normally would. I made myself a Pop Hot, just the way Mama had taught me. I poured a Green Slush Puppie. I fiddled with the bracelet on my wrist. 

I ate alone. 

The next day, I started working behind the counter with Mama.

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

“How was school today, Andy?” I asked from behind the counter, handing him a chocolate shake. 

“Stupid.” It came out all mumbled, and huffy, the way it always does when kids are asked about school. 

“You’re not getting picked on are you, honey?” I couldn’t help but worry about him. It was hard not to worry about the kids that came in and out of here. 

He took a long deep breath, “No... it’s just stupid, and I hate math, and it’s almost summer. So it’s just stupid.” 

He took a sip of his milkshake, and shrugged his shoulders. I nodded, because I remember what that was like. Me and Sammy would sit in this very spot after school, and complain to Mama Nell about how dumb school was. And she’d nod along sagely. And then, if it was one of those rare quiet days, a day like today when no one was around, she’d give us both Pop Hots – on the house. 

“Well kiddo, how’s a Pop Hot sound?” I said smiling at him. 

“Amazing! But can you wrap it up for me? I gotta be home before Ma gets mad.” He put his elbow on the table, and rested his cheek on his hand, still sipping on the straw of his milkshake. 

“Sure thing bud, I’m getting ready to close up shop anyway.” 

A few minutes later, I was wrapping up his burger in foil, and throwing his fries in a baggie. Dr. Pepper was his favorite, so I pulled one out of the fridge and stuck that in there too. 

I handed him his bag, and he pushed the empty shake glass towards me, “Be good, alright. Stay safe on the walk home, and I’ll see you soon. Flip the sign ‘closed’ on the way out.” 

He thanked me and was almost out the door when I shouted, “Tell your mother I said hello!” 

“OKAY!” I heard him yell back, muffled as the door began to close in his way out.

He was a good kid. They all were. All the little ones that came running in and out of the shop. It was easy to see why Mama Nell always took to the little rugrats that came in and out of this place. 

I grabbed his glass off the counter and turned around to start washing. The dishwasher was already running for the night, so I turned the faucet on and waited for the water to warm. That’s when the door opened, the bell above it giving a little ring. 

“Sorry pal, we’re closed for the night.” I kept washing, but whoever it was didn’t say anything, and the bell hadn’t rung again so I knew they were still there. 

I let out a little sigh, shut off the faucet, and grabbed a rag to dry my hands. 

“I’m sorry but we’re –“ I turned around, but the words caught in my throat. My rag fell to the floor, and I lifted a hand to my face. 

There was no one I expected to see less. But there he was. Taller, more angular. He’d lost his baby face, and before me stood a man. He looked sharp, like he’d just been to the barber, and for all I knew, he had. He had on a button down, and a pair of jeans. Nice leather shoes. He was even more handsome than I remembered. 

But those eyes. Those eyes that had always been so soft and hopeful. They looked so tired. Worn. Aged.

Aged... because we had aged... it had been years. It had been fucking years since I saw him last. I long since made peace with the fact that I would never see him again. Not a word from him after he left. Not a letter replied to, not a question answered, not a sight to be seen. He never came home. He never wrote. He never called. Never passed a message along to his mother, never wanted to listen to the messages I asked his mother to pass along. None of it. He promised. He was my best friend – half of my whole, all I had ever wanted, and needed, and begged for from the universe in the late of the evening. 

When we had sleepovers, he would hold me so close. We’d wake up and eat cereal in bed and watch Looney Tunes, or Family Matters, or MTV. After our lucky charms, we’d share orange slices, and grapes, and hang out for hours. I’d go home that night, and pray. I was never religious, but something about Sammy always drove me towards the unknown. I didn’t know who I was praying too, who I was begging. But I was desperate for it to work. All I’d ever wanted was my Sammy. It was always just Sammy and I, falling together in the Soda Pop Shop. 

But now... 

Now. I was angry. 

“Get out.” He looked down and nodded, but made no effort to move, “When my mom said I’d find you here, I didn’t really believe her. But when I dropped by your moms house, and she pointed me here, I figured it must’ve been true.”

“Get. Out.” The words came out through clenched teeth. 

But he just started taking steps toward me, “Listen... I know... I know what I did, okay? I know. But, baby-“ I

 cut him off, shaking my head, “Samuel.” 

That got his attention. His eyes shot straight up to mine. He looked at me for a minute. Then he nodded, real solemn, and stopped. “

I’m staying at my mom’s for a while.” 

I didn’t say anything. 

“I just... I wanted to see you.” 

My breath was shallow, “Well, you’ve seen me.” 

He shook his head, and said “Can you at least tell me where I can find Mama Nell? I figured she’d be here too.”

 I looked down, unable to believe my own ears. It was too much, it took everything in me not to break down as I said, “Luling Cemetery. Row 46, 18 down from the Oak tree.”

He didn’t say anything, just looked at me for a long while. Then he sniffled, looked down, shook his head, and shook it some more, before he turned around and kicked a chair. 

“What the fuck, Sam!” I walked out from behind the counter, and picked up the chair he’d kicked over, but he just kept walking. Walked right to our old booth. Sat in his old seat. Covered his mouth and cried. Sobbed, and sobbed, and sobbed. And I stood by the chair, I’d just picked up before I took a real deep breath. 

I was mad at Sammy. Mad didn’t even begin to describe it. Heartbroken, and infuriated, and in so much pain. But somehow he hadn’t known about Mama Nell. How hadn’t he known? 

I had written him letters after she died. Pleaded with him, please come home. I had never known such depths of emptiness. I had lost my Sammy, and I had lost the woman who had taken me under her wing, and showed me how to live for myself. I felt like I had nothing left to give. At first I just asked him to write me back. 

“Just write me back, Sammy. That’s all. Just this once.”  

Then I asked him to call. 

“Just let me hear your voice, Sammy. I just need to hear your voice, Sammy. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Then I asked him to come to the funeral. 

“Sammy, we have to bury her. Sammy, please. Please, Sammy. I need you here for this. I can’t do this on my own. I love you, and I need you now. I need you, Sammy. Please. Please, Sammy. Please come home.” 

Then I broke down. 

“Sammy... Please Sammy... We read the will today. 

She gave me the Shop Sammy... I own the Shop.” 

He never replied. Didn’t attend the funeral. Why didn’t he come? Why wasn’t he there? How didn’t he know? 

I let him cry for a while. Figured he needed it. Just finished cleaning up, and put all the chairs up on the tables. I walked back around the counter, and filled a glass with water, grabbed a box of tissues from underneath the back counter, and headed over to sit. For the first time in so many years, I sat across from Sammy at our old booth. It didn’t feel real. 

I pushed the water towards him, placed the box of tissues next to it, and let him cry it out. 

I’d never seen Sammy like this, not in all our years. I’d seen him shed tears, I’d even seen him cry a little. But sob? Never in my life had I seen him just weep. He looked like a little kid. But more than that, he looked like a broken man. 

When he started to breathe a little more evenly, and had wiped his face dry, I finally spoke. 

“Oh, Sammy,” I whispered. “How could you not know?” 

He shook his head. Closed his eyes, “No one ever... No ever told me. My mom she didn’t... Why didn’t you write me?” 

He sounded crushed, a devastation in his voice that felt so foreign coming from his mouth.

 “Sammy,” I was absolutely reeling, “I wrote you so many times. Sammy I wrote you for years before I stopped, and when Mama Nell died, I wrote you over and over and over. I... I begged you to come home, Sammy.” It all came out like such a broken whisper. 

He looked at me real hard, “No.” 

“Yes, Sammy. I did.” 

“No.” 

“Yes.”

“No,” He was running his hands through his hair. “No you didn’t. I got three letters from you, right in the begging. And yeah, I was an ass for not replying, but I already felt so guilty for leaving, I just didn’t know what to say. But then they stopped. Hard stopped. So don’t tell me you wrote me for years, because it was radio silence from you.” 

I couldn’t believe my own ears, “Sammy, I wrote you hundreds of letters. Hundreds, Sammy.” 

He shook his head, “I don’t... I don’t understand.” 

“Sammy, are you telling me you didn’t get my letters?” 

“Just three. I...” He shook his head, having a hard time trying to process everything. “Pretty early on they pulled me. They were starting a new program, and I was one of the guys they wanted to train for it. I was always asking them if I got any mail. Only thing they ever gave me came from Mom. Eventually I just stopped asking. I never thought...” 

We were quiet a while. Neither of us really knowing how to handle this information.

 “I promised you I’d write...” I finally got out. 

“ I know,” He said. “I know.”

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

Sammy stuck around after that, just like he said he would. He stayed with his mom, and started going to meetings at the VA, trying to process what had happened to him. To us. To Riley, and Mama Nell. 

He told me not long after he came back. He was helping me clean up one night. He’d been helping out around the shop whenever he could. It was so strange to turn around and see him again. 

He walked behind the counter, everyone gone, and only sweeping left to do, and poured himself a big grape Slush Puppie.  

He took a loud sip, “Oh man.” 

Then another “Mmm mmm mmm. I forgot how good these were.” 

I couldn’t help but smile, “Yeah, it’s been a while since I had one myself.” 

As soon as the words were out my mouth his cup was left to sit on the counter, and he was turning around to pour me one. A green apple Slush Puppie just waiting for me. He held it out to me like a present. Like a peace offering. 

“Come on baby, you’ve done enough sweeping. Get on back here and sip.” He was so confident it made me roll my eyes. 

But I listened. Walked over, hopped up onto a stool, and let Sammy serve me. He watched as I took the first sip, and as soon as that cool icy slush hit my tongue, I closed my eyes in sweet bliss. It was so much sweeter than I remembered. The kinda sweet only a kid could like. But it tasted like good memories, and I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for that. 

After a minute or two he said, “I got in contact with my colonel, y’know.”

 I took another sip, “Oh yeah?” 

“Yeah,” he said. “Told him that I was looking for some letters... Since I’m out now, he said he might as well tell me. Since it was such an experimental program. Something kept under wraps, no one got letters from anyone but immediate family. They have boxes for each of us. So he sent over mine.” 

I didn’t know what to say, “Sammy...” 

He just continued on, “So I finally got your letters,” He took a long shaky breath.  “Baby... baby I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” 

“It wasn’t your fault, Sammy.” 

“You promised you’d write. I should’ve fought them harder on it.” 

“It’s not your fault, Sammy. You hear me? It’s not your fault. None of it Sam.” I hoped he could hear what I was telling him. He’d told me about Riley that first night. He’d just lost him, and then to find out about Mama Nell like that. It was all too much. 

And I’m a reasonable person. Logical, and understanding. I understood that what happened between Sammy and I wasn’t entirely either of our faults, and that most of it was out of our hands. I spent so many years, with so much anger inside of me. So much grief. And don’t get me wrong, I was still angry. Just not at Sammy anymore. 

“Baby...” he said, shaking his head. 

“Sammy. It’s not your fault.” 

He reached for my hand across the counter, and I let him take it. 

“I got your letters. So,” he said reaching into his back pocket. “I wrote you a reply.” 

He sat the envelope carefully down in front of me, one hand still clutched to mine. I stared at it. A letter I’d waited for for so long. A letter that finally arrived. 

But when I looked up at Sammy, who sat watching me with anxious, awaiting eyes, I found myself asking him something, “Will you read it to me, Sammy?” 

His face froze up. I saw him swallow, “Read it to you?”

And somehow his nervousness made me more confident, more desperate to hear the words come from his mouth, “Yeah, Sammy. Will you? Will you read me your letter?” 

He looked very uncertain. 

“Please, Sammy?” I whispered. 

He closed his eyes, “Okay.” 

He was being brave, and I knew it. Loved him for it. He ran his thumb across my knuckles. Then all at once, that warmth was gone and he was reaching for the envelope. 

He took a moment to himself. Just slight shook his had, as if to ask himself what am I doing? And then, ever so softly, he began to read. 

“Dear baby... 

I got your letters today. Reading them made me homesick. Made me miss Mama Nell and the Shop. But really it made me miss you.” 

He paused, and took a deep breath. The words were sincere, but they sound unnatural coming out of his mouth. They were words he never dreamed he’d say aloud.

“I wonder where the time has gone. Reading all your letters, it makes me feel like no time has passed at all, but there’s been so much lost between now and then.

 I’m sure it sounds dumb. God knows most of the things that come outta my mouth are. But I’d do anything to never be a part from you again. And I know, I know, that so much has happened. Things have gone wrong, and I’ve changed, and you’ve changed. I know we’ve grown up, but I think about tomorrow and it hurts to imagine you not being there...” 

He cleared his throat, “I want you to know that I never stopped loving you. I’ve always loved you, and not a thing that comes between us could ever change that. 

All I know is that I want to learn you all over again. Learn who’ve you grown into. I miss talking to you, and holding you. I miss sneaking kisses on your cheek, and tucking you in when we’d fall asleep watching Good Times. 

I want to earn those times back. I mean it when I say I love you. I’ve always loved you, and no matter how many times I’d try to pick up chicks at the mall, I always belonged to you. 

I never knew if you could see how much I loved you. Or if you, like me, couldn’t see past your insecurities. I think I know now. I wish I could find more words to tell you. But I hope you feel it, baby. I need you to. 

I love you. I miss you. Write back soon. Your Sammy.”

He was quiet for a long while after that, and so was I. We sat together, in the silence, sorry for ourselves and all the time we’d lost. I’ve never been more grateful for anything than all the newfound time we’d have together. 

And all at once, I was out of my seat and holding on to, Sam, his arms wrapped around me, and he picked me up to place me on the counter. He stepped between my legs, and just held me, trying to get closer, as if we didn’t become one entity in that very second, we would be torn a part forever. 

It felt good. But more than that it felt right. And now that I had this again, I would never let go. Not ever. No. From now on, it was just gonna be me and Sammy. I loved him so much. And I could feel it in my very bones, just how much he loved me. We had a long road ahead of us, but with him by my side, I knew we’d make it. Just me and Sammy. Just Sammy, and I, and the Soda Pop Shop.

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

A/N: 

Hey guys! 

Been gone a super long time, probably a little over a year now. But I’ve been reading some fanfiction recently, I’m in a super positive and loving relationship, and overall, just got inspired and wanted to write again! Wrote this for myself really, just to get some creative juices out, and I’ve been sititng on it for a while. I have a feeling I’ll be writing more soon, and I’ll be sure to share. 

Also thanks to everyone who continued to read my work, even during my very lengthy absence, and like/reblog/comment. I promise I’ve seen them, and they have warmed my heart like nobody’s business. I love you all so much, and am so grateful. 

[popculturebuffet]

Goof Week: Sports Goofy in SoccerMania: GoofTales Woo-oo! (Paid For for WeirdKev27)

Gorsh all you happy people and welcome back to Goof Week, my Weeklong Celebration of everyone’s favorite goofus. 

And today we have a special treat, something nice and obscure but something that still has a vital place in Disney History. Welcome folks to Sports Goof in Soccermania!  

So yesterday in my Goof Troop review I wished there had been another DuckTales episode with Goofy, you know maybe find out what happened to Peg, see Max and Roxanne again that sort of thing.  Whelp SOMEONE must’ve hid a Monkey’s Paw around here somewhere because I got this special instead on comision. This is a VERY intresting little artifact as it came out only 4 months before DuckTales, was produced around the same time, and was written by Tad Stones, who would both go on to work on DuckTales and even more importantly create Darkwing Duck. 

Not only that but it has some odd things attached to it: it’s the first major production starting Scrooge, as he had an educational short about him, the first animated appearance of the Beagle Boys and most important the FIRST time Russi Taylor would voice Huey, Dewey and Louie, something she’d do till her passing a few years ago. At the time of this article she has not been recast, though I personally vote for Cristina Valenzuela, who took over the role of Young Donald and frankly does such a good job with that voice I didn’t know if Russi had already recorded lines for Season 3 before her passing. 

So what IS Sports Goofy in Soccermania you ask? It was a TV Special from 1987, again four months before DuckTales, that was later sold on VHS. My guess is Disney intended for this to become a regular thing like the Charlie Brown or Garfield specials, but my honest guess is with DuckTales MASSIVE success they wanted to put all the TV Animation resources into making more shows to go with it. The fact the special is essentailly a Scrooge story with Goofy in it and Scrooge and the Boys were now tied up in DuckTales probably helped the decision. So we only got one of these and i’m proud to share it for Goof Week. So join me under the cut to see what a Sports Goof is, what Scrooge sounds like without Alan Young or David Tennant andto see me refrence the film UHF because I likes it. 

 So we open with the titles which are neat and then open at the Money bin, we even get a great sign gag that looks like something Carl Barks would write.

So Scrooge greets his nephews the way he greets everybody.. with a canon to the face... though he backs of firing once he realizes it’s them. The boys ALL wear red this special so .. I guess Huey won and now rules all three bodies with an iron fist? So the Huey Hive Mind asks Scrooge for a donation, a standard Scrooge setup, ask the rich asshole for money, as their trying to help the local soccer program and they need a buck fiddy for a trophy. 

Scrooge’s voice here.. is terrible. I do not like to bash voice actors, they are hard working talented people who do a lot of great stuff, often for less pay than they deserve, and this blog ALWAYS makes that painfully clear. And Will Ryan is not without talent: While he hasn’t done much i’m familiar with he did play Petrie in Land Before Time and was great in it. So while I don’t dislike him as a person.. he did an utterly DREADFUL Scrooge. He dosen’t really attempt to do a scottish accent despite the character still saying cannae at one point, and as for what accent he is going for...

His Scrooge just sounds like someone trying to do a “foreign” accent and failing. It just sounds weird and makes every bit of his dialouge aside from one a chore to sit through. And the dialouge isn’t bad dialouge, it’s a well written and animated Scrooge even with the lower budget than Ducktales, but the voice just ruins it for me. Even without Young and Tennant to compare it to this just blows and the fact it’s paired up with the iconic Russi Taylor voice for the triplets.

This being Scrooge he instead fishes a Trophy out of the bin that’s all banged up and dinky and shoos them out. So in natural Barksian fashion the trophy turns out to be worth a million dollars. So we get some reaction shots.. INCLUDING GRANDMA DUCK!

For DuckTales fans joining us who have ZERO idea who that is, since she sadly did not make it into the reboot and Frank did have ideas, Grandma Duck is Donald, Della and Gladstone’s grandma. She’s a sweet old country woman who lives on a farm and is in fact the one who sold him Kilmotor HIll, with her husband renaming it from Killmule hill. I like her a lot since she reminds me of my own grandma and like her she still works when she can. Donald’s cousin Gus loafs around and eats as her farmhand. As you can tell I like her a lot, agani because she reminds me of one of my grandmas so this was nice even if she was only around for 20 seconds of screentime. 

This ends up in the paper and sends Scrooge through the roof, literally when he finds out. 

Two notes  before we move on: The bin has a unique really cool design , though I get why other productions haven’t used it: besides this one’s obscurity while cool it just looks a bit TOO nice for Scrooge. Even in 2017 while still damn cool looking it still looks practicle. This .. is not that.

This looks like MC Hammer built this. It still looks awesome bu tit’s just not Scrooge sadly. 

The other is that his Butler is named Jeeves here, but looks almost exactly like Duckworth. Just feels weird is all. 

Naturally the Beagle Boys happen upon the paper too and their leader, no name given has a plan: Enter legitmately and win the cup all legal like, which dosen’t sound like it lives up to the beagle code of no hones twork.... until he brings up theri going ot cheat their asses off. 

Meanwhile Scrooge tries bribing the boys with a giant trophy at their house... with Donald oddly absent despite Anselmo having taken over for Nash by this point. I know he was still a bit rough at the roll, but come on. It’s just.. weird especailly for reasons i’ll get into soon. 

So Scrooge agrees to sponsor the boys teams so he can get the trophy back square, and is forced to buy a knew ball and here we FINALLY get Goofy. I say finally because this special is 20 mintues long and it takes almost a fourth of it for him to arrive. It’s just weird for him to not be in it for so long. I mean I don’t want THIS

Flashbeagle didn’t take a fourth of the special to get to Flashbeagle. It did take longer than that to get to the title track but when your sitting on THIS

You gotta use it JUST right. Goofy here is not played by Bill Farmer, which IS odd as he did start playing him that year, but my guess is they weren’t sure if they were going with Farmer or the actor who played him in this special, Tony Pope, so they were trying out both as whoever DID get the role would have it for life. Disney takes the casting of the sensational 7 VERY seriously, as evidenced by the fact most cast changes are caused by death and unlike with Tony and Donald it’s clear Colvig hadn’t picked a succesor. I can also see why it’s a hard choice: while farmer IS excellent and was the right man for the job, Pope is still excellent in the role, bringing the warmth and energy you’d expect from Goofy and having excellent comedic timing that’s vital to getting the dog man right. I can see why this was such a hard choice, even if I also see they went with Farmer: Farmer just has slightly more energy to the roll. It’s a small diffrence and something that dosen’t effect the special, but it is a KEY diffrence and the reason Bill’s THE goofy to me even over his original voice actor Pinto Colvig. 

Also I may of mispoke there... see it’s not Goofy in this special it’s SPORTS Goofy. No really every bit of dialogue refers to him as Sports Goofy. It’d be like if they refered to then CEO Micheal Eisner as Won’t Think Through Eurodisneyland Micheal Eisner. 

So Sports Goofy helps them get a ball in an honestly awesome way and shows despite his clumsy manner, he’s damn cordinated, easily putting everything up and showing some real skill with the ball. So Moneygrubbing Scrooge decides Sports Goofy is his ticket to get the trophy back and recuits goofy as coach and star player for the boys team. 

So Asshole Scrooge meets his team the Greenbacks.. which are a bunch of random animal characters with no real personality. They are a hippo, a goat, expresso the ostrich, a navy (blue) seal,  an elephant in a beanie, a killaroo and a cheetah or leopard. But I have one question, really simple really easy one...

You need 11 players for a soccer team, thank you google. So they DID get that accurate. With Goofy and the Triplets you only need 7 more. THIS is why Donald’s absence is glaring: he’s just oddly not there when they needed 7 other characters but Elephant in a Beanie gets in there. And it’s not hard ot fill either: Donald , Daisy (Because duh), Gyro and Grandma Duck (Because both cameoed but I only mentioned Grandma Duck, though this is ALSO Gyro’s first apperance), Gladstone (who as it turns out had a cameo storyboarded that didn’t make it into the final product), Gus (Since grandma duck) and Scrooge’s butler since he was in an earlier scene anyway so why waste the character model. They could still play the same roll as easily steamrolled underdogs and it’d make more sense.  It just baffles me that with such a deep bench to play from, they don’t use ANY OF IT in favor of the cast of Animal Soccer World.

The Greenbacks can’t play for greenjack, which worries Scrooge.. but Goofy is able to carry them to the finals, while the Beagle Boys make their way there too. We find this out.. via newspaper transition. We get a bunch of headlines telling us what happened instead of you know a montage because that costs money and they already spent 1.50 making this special.. they only have 50 cents left. 

So the Beagles recognizing Sport Goofy is the only thing in their way plots a kidnappin. We get a gut busting scene of the beagles all hiding in Sports Goofy’s house with him being oblvious only to spring on him. 

The next day with Sports Goofy a no show the team is bummed, even mor ewhen they find a kidnapping note from Don’tGetNotToLeaveEvidence Beagle Boys. Seriously give that to the officals. 

So Asshole Scrooge tries to give a rousing speech... and it is a sight to behold and the one highlight of pope as scrooge... it’s why I picked it as the article image. That glitching isn’t me by the way: it REALLY does that. Coupled with the yellow eyes i’ts just fantastic. So the team decides to morosely play the game and Hivemind Huey boos scrooge for not having faith in him. Instead of again you know telling the officials. Maybe assimilating the other made Huey dumber. I

So the game begins and the Cheating Beagles cream the Give Up To Easily Green Backs, while Sports Goofy watches from the other Crime Beagles hideout. It honestly reminds me of UHF: a dumb well meaning guy whose vital to something succeding is kidnapped.. it dosen’t involve Weird Al dressing up as rambo but still. It also makes me want UHF but with the disney cast. Fethry as weird al, Donald as his best friend, Fethry’s girlfriend for the comcis as weird al’s girlfriend, Gyro as philo, Goofy as Stanley, and Pete of course is Stacey Keach. I could go on but you get the point. Someone draw this.  Sport Goofy is a clever bastard and escapes by working one of his shoes off, taking a nearbye knife and cutting himself free.. and almost stabbing a beagle boy in the face but that would just make two. Sport Goofy escapes and the lunkheaded beagle boys chase after him IN THEIR CAR WHILE GOOFY RUNS AHEAD OF IT.  Goofy, he can really move! Goofy, he’s got attitude! Goofy HE’S THE FASTEST THING ALLIIIIVEEEEEE. Sport Goofy makes it in time fo rhalf time, rallies the troops and it goes how you’d expect: They overcome the beagles blatant cheating, win the cup, the beagles attempt to cheat with a rigged ball backfires and they all get arrested. It’s by the numbers stuff. We end with Scrooge deciding to dontate the trophy instead (though in a great bit asking if it was tax deductible), and posing for a team shot> We get some awesome credits music and we’re out

Final Thoughts:

This special is mediocre: There are only a handful of great jokes, it’s your standard “teamwork makes the dreamwork plot” that dosen’t work because our underdogs really CAN’T play without their star, and Scrooge’s voice hurts to listen to. Pope and Taylor are great and while Will Ryan is an awful Scrooge, he is a good Beagle Boy or five. 

It IS worth a watch though. It’s riffable enough with the sometimes sloppy unfinished animatoin in the last part and Scrooge’s terrible voice, and it is still is a neat oddity for 90′s kids like myself to not only see Russi’s first thing as Huey Dewey and Louie, but to also see Scrooge and Goofy with vastly diffrent voice actors, as well as Gyro and the Beagle Boys first animated apperances. The fact this came just months before Ducktales makes it all the more intresting. So if your looking for a legit good Disney product.. this is shoddy at best if well meaning. But as a bit of disney history, especially only clocking in at 20 minutes so it’ sa brisk watch, it’s worth a look if your into that. 

Next On Goof Week: We come on in To The House of Mouse where goofy becomes faster than a speeding punchline,  more powerful than pete when his family has to wrestle him to the ground to take him to the doctor and able to make tall leaps of logic in a single bound. it’s SUPER GOOF!

So thank you for reading and if you liked this review give it a like and consider joining my patreon at patreon.com/popculturebuffet. As a patron you’d get access to exclusive reviews, the patreon’s discord and to pick a short each time I do one of these shortstaculars. Donald’s comnig next month and the deadline is in only a few days to join up for said month so the clock is ticking. Even a dollar a month helps me reach my stretch goals so please i fyou can sign up today and if not, I understand and i’ll see you at the next rainbow

[frightfurtabby]

HimiKiyo Week 2021: Day 1- Creeping Darkness

//HimiKiyo Week 2021 is finally here! Took a little bit tonight to finalize edits and come up with a title. Look forward to more each day for the next week~

I’m proud, this is one of my longest singlechapter  fics ever if not the longest

Links to other Platforms:

Amino: https://aminoapps.com/c/danganronpa/page/blog/himikiyo-week-2021-day-1/5B58_R2MsVulaQEnXkXVBzYlGjd3mXnP3Z

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34119466

The seaside village Himiko moved out to was more out of the way  than the usual cities and suburbs. Apparently, her mentor couldn’t come. It was going to be a pain being out in that little house all alone. Who knows, maybe he’d sent another student of his the same kind of message?

To her disappointment there wasn’t anyone else, still not a single other apprentice known to her. She decided that after not doing anything yesterday but unpacking and eating and sleeping she would go over to the shrine marked on the local map. If nothing else she could pray for good luck before really getting down to working. 

The course of this assignment and her whole life changed the moment she saw that strange figure at the offerings box while nobody else was around. They wore a long green kimono with beautiful dark hair almost matching that outfit in length. They looked to be glowing ethereally, with pale white skin akin to a porcelain doll. 

Their hand was in the offerings box. At first she assumed they must be giving their own prayers and as such stayed back so as to not intrude. She noticed then that the figure was taking something *out* of the offerings box and that’s when she wondered if they were a thief. 

“Fret not, these offerings are for me, dear human.” a voice came to her, seeming at first separate from the figure still several feet ahead. Someone addressing a person as “human” and saying it was their offering… She’d never seen a kami before, but that was the sole explanation that made everything make sense about them.

“Then you’re a kami?” she asked, quirking her eyebrow. 

“That I am, I am called Shinguji. This family name refers to residing here, at the True Temple. My given name Korekiyo means just and pure”

“I-it’s a beautiful…” The mage was torn in half between the word ‘name’ and the word ‘place.’ The brook not far behind the pair was babbling audibly and birds were chirping. The water went past the trees and out to the river, which fed it almost directly into the ocean. 

Even if something wicked this way was coming there was nothing yet to taint the natural beauty. She wasn’t sure if it would even be able to with a keeper this pretty.

“A beautiful what?” The spirit gently prodded her with the question. They had noticed her biting her lip in uncertainty.

“Name, your name is pretty. Uhh, and I’m…” she was too flustered to easily find any of the necessary words. 

“You are Yumeno Himiko.”

“So you knew that already?” It was not that surprising in hindsight, but in that moment she was caught off guard, focusing on trying not to be so tense in their presence like she had been up to that point. She worried she was giving off the wrong message.

“I intuited it, but I don’t blame you for being surprised. Most humans think of us Kami as mythology, but I’ve known these old figures, and dealt with many creatures as my neighbors in my centuries of life.”

“In that case then are you able to intuit why I’m here?” The mage tried hard not to sound too much like a schoolgirl talking to her popular crush. 

“I could. It would be easier if you told me. Whatever it is, you seem particularly stressed out by it.” They tilted their head slightly, a very human gesture, and it was clear they were reading deeper. Either humans had gotten it from the ancient gods or vice-versa. One of those things nobody would ever be able to remember the origin of.

It was better to answer the question than get too off track wondering about that. 

“Well, my master who is a magician told me there was something that was going to go wrong here. He gave me the mission to stop it.”

It was Kiyo’s turn to be concerned. 

“Well, I have been given whispers that a nasty yokai is approaching this land. It comes from the far north and wishes to sap power for itself. Very few claiming to be survivors of this have shown up, and we’re all so isolated these days...”

That was a bad sign. 

“Is it because of us?” If her master had worried so much about it then there was no doubt in her mind that this thing would be going after humans if it hadn’t already started.

“Not all of you, but some who are greedy have broken many natural connections and scattered the so-called mythical creatures and spirits away. In a way it’s beautiful, the circle of life even. Although, it is believed perhaps negative energy has attracted this beast from its home and onto its rampaging path.”

A realization hit her. In her research she found that even things that you would not expect to have a soul or a consciousness did at least have the same kind of natural energy as things that did. So objects and anything/everything else with a soul would be susceptible to producing negative energy. 

“So it's a cycle of things feeding into it.”

“Yes. I fear if it gets to a certain point it’ll have enough momentum that there will be no stopping it. So you should think about what you will do to face the possibility.”

Something about those words felt familiar. Even though it was a serious topic, Himiko was comforted. 

“And you need someone like me to stand a chance?”

“The more the merrier, of course. There are things even I may have missed and for that you can be an extra set of eyes and ears. We’re going to train and prepare.”

The rest of that afternoon was spent, at first guided by Kiyo and by the end on her own, getting more used to the area and learning some specific landmarks. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting the following day, Himiko started up a routine to come back every day, which would last for several months. Each day she learned new things about the old times that had only ever been guessed about from artifacts. She learned that even Kami had a cutoff point in memory, even if it did happen to be thousands of years stronger than mortals. The only truly omnipotent beings were those that had created earth eons ago, who were as elusive as ever. 

She also trained. Oh, how wonderful it was to train again. And with a more formidable opponent than most people  she would ever encounter normally. After each session she was told more about the species of yokai, and which were more likely to be dangerous foes that needed preparation for.

They would pray and make wishes for having strength and safety at the lucky rock on the path along the brooks. Kiyo allowed Himiko to take and keep a bit of power from it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It happened when she thought it was going to be just another day of what they had been doing. It was not. 

There was something off in the air. And it wasn’t just the dead trees, those were normal for winter. What wasn’t normal was the small patches of rot in them already, the rot had even spread to the grass and other plants on the ground. There was a trail of it and it reeked of a nasty yokai. A being only interested in death and destruction. 

Even worse was that Kiyo was nowhere to be found. They had made a game plan about that, Himiko was to check somewhere inside the shrine in order to find clues. Inside the prayer chamber proper it was a mess just like it would be in the case of any other type of break in. The rot hadn't set in because the room was blessed and was better able to resist, but there was a distinct trail of slime that showed its movement and the room.

She could picture Kiyo weaving around it and dodging attacks to have a chance to hit back at it. The fight had torn up the screens and the ancient art it depicted, and even punctured holes in the inner walls and flooring. An extra band of beads like one Kiyo would often wear was left behind. The signal was received.

Something wasn’t right, however. A presence that was too strong to be explained by the evil residue. It seemed like what they were working against had minions left behind, for the exact reason that someone like her was in the area and had to be stopped. The question was how many were there?

Five of them came up from either the ground or one of the holes puncturing the walls, one right before her and four circling around, forming seemingly out of the shadows and the goo. They quickly solidified into dark shapes that were much like werewolves, though she recognized among them different animal traits expressed. One even had bunny-esque lop ears. 

Himiko took out her wand and started muttering some spells under her breath, making a broad sweeping motion to keep all at bay. The one closest was pushed back and stumbled in surprise. Trying to charge her led to an acrobatic maneuver: it leapt over onto its back and she whipped out a stage magician-like string of handkerchiefs and pulled it up to start choking the beast out.

They surprisingly weren’t as vicious as she’d imagined from how each of them had shown up. It couldn’t do any of its special moves. Unfortunately, its friends could, and they did. They rushed and she let go for a moment, tripping up one and using its momentum in a way it crashed into the first one before it could recover.  

Swinging off it allowed her to jump up and kick a third before lashing a whip of electricity from her wand, yanking the fourth and gaining momentum by bouncing off it with a drop kick right about where the lungs were.

Watching them struggle, she realized they had once been animal spirits for sure, only to have been corrupted. They weren’t just something conjured by their boss.

Hesitation for even one second almost cost her when one swiped claws, just barely missing her and taking her hat instead. The advantage of being shorter than the monsters was they’d miss like that. And much like the stage magic she pretended to use in daily life, the hat was spring-loaded with some friends for them to play with. A magic box that was shattered by the attack let out doves of magical energy that distracted each as well as a jack-in-the-box dummy that took her place as a target for just long enough to take one out.

Even though the trick had been figured out, she could tell from their expressions changing the exact instant of the realization there wasn’t much the poor things could do when the tide had been turned. The rest of them were dispatched with a quick volley of attack spells. She sprinted out, conjuring another hat loaded with a similar trick from her storage at home, just in case. It was more physically exhausting than mana draining so she borrowed from her reserve to recover breath and catch up sooner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She crossed her fingers that those things weren’t going to be much more of a problem on the way over. The trail grew cold on her about a dozen times already the past 4 days but each time she doubled back to a previous checkpoint, there was another sign she’d accidentally glossed over. Each time something was left in an obscure place: a back alley or a bush only to be dragged out by a cat, occasionally right to her. 

Whether it was an order from Kiyo or someone else, she wasn’t sure, but all the help was appreciated. 

It seemed to be that when it took someone, it had to complete a loop back home. It was much faster than she could follow on foot. So the mage took to various buses and trains when she needed to. 

Himiko hadn’t slept in nearly 24 hours by the 4th night, and all the past nights had been similarly lacking in rest. She’d set alarms to go off within a few hours of very scattered naps so she’d at least run decently when it finally came down to it.

She snuck out of an inn somewhere very rural and very cold in the northern reaches of Hokkaido. She could just feel the cave system nearby was definitely the origin point of the attacker. 

Before she could even begin the climb upwards, an upright, tall figure came barrelling down in her direction, diving from above off of a rock and gliding down gracefully, coughing and panting, falling to their knees after the taxing stunt. That fall easily could have killed a human, plus most people couldn’t fly without magical objects.

“We need to get back up there, hurry!”

“Kiyo!” 

However, before the first shape could speak further they were interrupted from behind Himiko. Just a few feet downhill a second Kiyo was standing. 

“Don’t Himiko! That thing can become other entities!”

The first Kiyo to arrive chuckled and shook their head. “Well, that’s true, clever of you to tell her first.” A deep sigh later,  they continued. “Shame I’ve heard of that little trick before and prepared something for this kind of thing.”

“A double cross is it?” the second Kiyo asked. “It’s quite a claim you have there, being the real me, having planned for your own deception.”

Whichever Kiyo was the real one, it was hard to tell at first. The two auras had been in close proximity so a mage in training would have a hard time pulling apart which was which. Then the first Kiyo cleared their throat again.

“Well then, I have a proposition.” they said, turning their attention back to Himiko. “Yumeno Himiko should be able to ask a question, then see how both of us answer, and she’ll know which of us is real.”

“Of course, after spending so long with me she’s bound to know the real one. I’d be crazy to decline,” the beast said.

Kiyo knew this thing would do anything to avoid being pegged as suspicious. It was a double bind for the beast. The only way this was ending was fighting it. This was part of that plan. Delaying it just a tad until the right time. 

Himiko cleared her throat, glancing between the two one more time before she closed her eyes. It was nerve wracking but as long as it wanted to not out itself, the yokai would never blindside attack her. 

“My question is very simple: What is it that I was training to do?” 

The creature nodded. “Understood. This one is easy. We were going to stop the one who’s taken all those others and stop them from taking enough power for its plan.” It turned to Kiyo, giving a taunting glare. “And before the monster tries any trickery, to be specific, we were practicing your magic and got you a mana boost. It’ll help the new technique not be so taxing on you.”

That was almost entirely correct. Kiyo knew then their suspicion was right and something in the area had been spying and relayed all its gathered information back to prepare this creature for any threats that may spring up. That’s what attacked first, the helpers that Himiko had to fend off to get here.   

“Alright. My turn.” Kiyo remained characteristically calm face to face. “We were training. So I don’t have to repeat what the other me said, I’ll agree. However, there was something missing from that answer.”

“Missing? What, pray tell, did I miss?”

“The mana boost served as a test to see if you were already there. And I felt something that may have been a minion performing recon.” Emphasis on the last word. That was something Kiyo had been anticipating. Before they had been taken, she was given a code word. They only mentioned it to her in a whisper on the day that they felt a presence leave to the north with no other context. ‘Recon’ was that word. 

Eye contact was made, Himiko gave a slight nod to show that she understood and it was off to the races. She went on ahead, up one path leaving the Kiyos behind. It was a signal to the real Korekiyo. And so, the two fought again, much like they had when the faker had invaded the temple and kidnapped them to try and complete the ritual.  

They weaved in and out, sometimes further to one side away from Himiko and her destination when Kiyo was having their way and closer, forcing her to duck and use repulsion spells to avoid being caught up in the scuffle. Kiyo’s attacks looked like needles when they flew at their enemy, so she even gave those attacks a boost. She heard the cries of anger and pain when one managed to hit just the right place.

The yokai was a resilient one though, it would just pluck them right out and fire back energy attacks of their own. One of them hit Kiyo and sent them tumbling back down the mountain some distance, dropping several dozen feet to a thud.

They got back up almost instantly, knowing how much danger the girl ahead was in, and pulled out a pair of scythe to quickly dig into the mountain’s side and climb up to a point where they could launch up and gain enough momentum to catch up right behind that yokai.

Faster than ever, Himiko ran. It seemed being tired was starting to slow both down the further up the mountain the climb went. She dove and rolled right into the cave and the faker caught up, confirming even further that it was the yokai when it dove to try and stop her from entering, the disguise melting away grotesquely. She didn’t even have time to be offended at it ruining and distorting those beautiful features because of how fast it barrelled back into the base.

All she could do was point her wand directly in its face and say the words. Like a bullet, red light with a pointed tip struck right through an already gaping hole that showed the black flame-like matter that was its heart. The evil and corrupt soul was pierced.

It could barely re-shape itself anymore with its wounds. It stared at her with half its true features and half rippling nothingness as the face it wore sloughed off and dissipated like a puddle under sunlight. Even the animal-like maw began falling off, fangs first. 

Then Kiyo wrestled it from behind and wrapped it in chains of light. It was likely already dying. But part of its corrupt nature would linger in this spot if it was not sealed and purified.

“What no! Nooooo”. It started shrieking when the shock of being blindsided had finally worn off and it found itself in chains, being dragged away towards the cave’s inner chamber. It was powerless to do anything but watch these interlopers ruin everything.

“Unfair, unfair, unfaaiiiiir.” Most of the thrashing came in the form of weak kicks. It was truly pitiful for something that had beaten kami before. . 

“What a childish temper tantrum.” Kiyo scoffed at it, only briefly turning a shoulder to pay it any mind as they continued towards the end of the mission. It was so mad, and nipped away trying to bite its captor in spite of there being no chance of succeeding now. . 

Himiko came to a strange spot on the back wall and Kiyo lifted the beast over their shoulders and used its paw to unlock a big room full of artifacts, a bunch of seals on them to keep its victims contained. Many tomes of black magic and scribbles showcased a plot to steal power from all the shrine deities to build a “Domain of Darkness”. In which it plotted to prevent the sun from ever rising above Japan, and the whole planet after long enough, ever again. This would remove power from any being who got magic from natural resources and would kill billions of mortals. 

Himiko looked at the plans and laughed nervously, sweating a bit. 

“So um… you don’t think that this would have worked?” she asked, desperately wanting this to just be the pipe dream of an arrogant monstrosity.

“Absolutely not. I’m by no means the strongest of my kind, and you’re still training. It took prisoners, yes, but this is delusional. We won in part because we were underestimated. That kind of fatal mistake would have doomed this plan eventually.”

A sad whimpering came from it, laying on the ground in defeat.

Himiko was tasked to watch over it while Kiyo performed the unsealing rituals. Each one she spared glances at, admiring them from her spot in the center of the room. She could almost feel a tinge of jealousy among the defeat and anger emanating from their felled foe. It was way more interesting watching Kiyo work and chat with each spirit that was freed. Each time they agreed instantly to help get the rest out, which hastened the process. 

Each one helped before some left to make sure their shrines were fine. The remainder, led by Kiyo, thanked Himiko. Their hands warm around hers. Kiyo felt every little soft spot on her hands and even some slight callusing, presumably from the fighting. Even those bits were lovely. 

“You can go home now. It’s getting late but we need to stay for now. I will return to you with the important news.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Himiko got home first, since that was decided as the meeting place. It was far enough from the shrine that it wouldn’t be immediately obvious if that entity came back for another round. She got on her knees in front of her bed, elbows firmly leaning into the mattress so she could clasp and pray. She was exhausted. 

“Please let it be gone once and for all.” She trusted Kiyo could do that much.

Then she was awoken by footsteps and sat upright to who was joining her. Her door had opened and glowing in the moonlight, Kiyo came in, closing the door behind them. 

“I have seen to it that this chapter is done.” The spirit held a hand to her cheek and gently brushed a long finger across part of her face. “Thank you, your journey has only truly just begun but you can relax for now.”

Himiko was flushed a bright red. 

“I was struck by your beauty from the moment that I walked to your shrine.” Her heart raced. They’d touched a couple times by now but this was the most breathtaking and close. The most intimate. She raised a hand of her own and touched Kiyo’s arm gently.

A soft smile spread on the spirit’s lips. “Oh, I could tell. I could also tell that there was a pull here. Some call I needed to answer for you and it's only become more clear that there was more to it than that.”

Time felt like it slowed down to a stop as the two maintained soft eye contact.

Then they kissed her. A warmth emanated from them, pulsing like a heartbeat. 

“More to it?” she asked, even though the kiss gave her a very good idea of what they were going to tell her next. 

“I love you. And so… I want it to actually be *our* journey.” They heavily emphasized the word indicating that the adventure would be shared. It already was, it had been since the day she came to this place.

“Would it really be okay? For you to leave your shrine I mean. When it comes time for that.” 

“No worries about that, I can find someone for that when that’s necessary.”

[candlelight27]

Hidden In The Woods

Summary: The Witcher AU - Dimitri is a witcher that roams the world, but sometimes he stops by to visit his old friend Byleth... And not just for a cup of tea.

Warnings: Explicit sex - bath sex, penis in vagina sex, masturbation

Pairings: Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd/Female!Byleth

Word Count: 1236

AO3: Hidden In The Woods

A/N: I’m still working on the Sylvain series, don’t worry. I’m just... it’s a long process. I take way too long with everything. And I was working on this before, so here it is.

The Goddess know how long Dimitri had been travelling before reaching the small hut in the middle of the gloomy forest. The front door was flanked with flamboyant plants that filled everything with their bright colours and aromas. He recognized the darkened wood of the walls and the faded runes of protection. Nothing had changed since his last time there.

He didn’t bother to knock, Byleth would surely know he was there. She could sense all that happened in that bubble she had enchanted.

“I’m here!”, he shouted, more to localize her than to announce his visit, making his way along hundreds of artifacts scattered around the floor. There were also a few books written in the ancient language of Elves.

“You made me wait so much!”, she yelled back. It was muffled, as she was in one of the interior rooms of her home. Inside, the place was bigger, but he wasn’t aware of what spell she had used to achieve it.

“It’s not my fault! Your hiding magic is too powerful”.

Dimitri found out exactly where she was, so he started walking with sure steps. The closer he was, the cleared her voice sounded.

“C’mon, Dimitri. I taught you myself. I know you can do much more than that.”

The witcher entered the stay to find Byleth taking a bath. Candles were lit in every corner and the hot water mixed with expensive oils and soap was overflowing. Her blue hair, turned a darker hue due to the wetness, was settled on her milky shoulders and bosom. Byleth’s legs were hanging out of the border, and her finger drew circles as she played with her magic, making a small of water over the palm of her hand.

“C’mon, undress. Take a bath. Relax,” she lured him, adding a special sweetness on each syllable.

Dimitri diligently started to undress.

“I can’t stay for long. I’m just passing by.”

“That’s a shame,” said Byleth, disappointed. But she knew the drill. Dimitri took off every piece of his gear and tossed it aside. He then took off his clothes methodically until he stood naked before her. There wasn’t any kind of awkwardness, as they were already familiar with each other’s bodies. “But I hope your next visit will come sooner than this one…”

“I’ll do what I can, Byleth.” He sighed. She made space for him in the bathtub when he approached her. He sat down and she comfortably settled on his lap. “The war is getting worse. The monsters are getting out of hand. And since the Empire is focused on expanding their territory… they are no longer pressing the Agarthans and they roam as they will.”

“I wish I could help, but I can’t go out there right now. I need time…”

“I know,” whispered the witcher.

He placed a kiss on the base of her neck, then bit with delicacy. She breathed in, and a flirty smile decorated her lips.

“Already this hard?”, she said as she noticed the bulge under her.

“That’s the effect you have on me,” he replied as he crossed his arms over his torso. She moved her hips to tease him.

“How romantic.”

One of his big hands found her breasts and fondled them. The witch let out the smallest mewl, just for his ears, and let him do as he pleased. He rolled her nipples between his fingers, ravishing the skin on her neck as he did. Byleth rubbed her thighs together.

“Have you missed me, Byleth?”, asked Dimitri. His lover rose her hands to pull at his long hair.

“What do you think?”, she said coyly.

Byleth sank her hand in the perfumed water to touch her core. She put in two fingers, already wet from Dimitri’s attentions.

“You’re always so impatient,” he commented while he left a particular reddish mark on her shoulder.

“Try spending a few weeks alone in this place. You start appreciating some company?” Byleth suddenly turned around. She placed her legs around Dimitri’s hips, straddling him. Her hands run along his sculpted muscles. She traced every scar with her fingertips, what elicited a moan out of his mouth.

“Some company?”, the witcher insisted. Her azure eyes were fixed on his good one, and her hands possessively roamed his chest. They were burning with desire.

“Your company”, she finally clarified.

Small waves overflowed the bath as the manoeuvred to engulf his manhood with her body. Once she did, a rush of satisfaction invaded her. She had missed him so much, worried about his wellbeing, and greedy to have his cock for herself one more night. His erection filled her completely, reaching deep within.

“This is the best place in the world.” He made a strangled laugh, but it was soon stifled by Byleth’s movements.

She rolled her hips against him, slowly but harshly. She wanted to test his patience as a little revenge for not passing by sooner, so she controlled every detail. Raising, going down, angling herself…

“You little minx”, Dimitri spoke at last, “you are doing this on purpose.”

“You’re telling me you aren’t enjoying this?”, she feigned surprise.

“Don’t torture me, beloved,” he continued, “I suffered as much as you.”

“Fine, fine. Don’t get so worked up, I just was having a little bit of fun…”

Dimitri grabbed her bottom. digging his fingers in her flesh. He was being careful, yet still he was going to leave the slightest scratch. Byleth didn’t mind it, in fact, she loved it when he let himself go.

He helped her increase her movements, forwards and backwards, up and down. This time, Byleth could feel a knot forming in her belly. Thrilled, she kept going with enthusiasm. Dimitri, meanwhile, was overwhelmed. Her breasts moving in rhythm right in front of him, her soft butt that barely fitted in his hands, her lovely scent making him drunk.

He decided to take one of her pink nipples in his mouth, sucking softly. Byleth cursed and trembled around him. He decided right then that he’d take over. Immediately, one of his hand flew to her clitoris. He rubbed it with soft touches, enough to stimulate her.

“Dimitri!”, she shouted her name in the most delicious way.

He knew he had her, that she was close. Dimitri started thrusting upwards, aiming for that very special spot he was familiar with. She felt every time he hit it. There were bolts that shook her to the core. All that pleasure was almost becoming too much to bear. She loved being at the mercy of Dimitri, he always knew what buttons to push to make her surrender to her most primal needs.

“Keep going, Dimitri! Make me come,” she ordered.

“As you wish.”

He then increased his pace, and that was what did it for her. Her legs shuddered on each side of him and her warmness squeezed him as she groaned his name time after time. It was such a beautiful sight. Such a shame he couldn’t completely enjoy it, because his own orgasm washed over him.

Still dizzy, Byleth felt him filling her. She’d never admit it to him, at least not yet, but she loved the feeling of his seed inside of her.

“What a mess we’ve made”, he laughed, visibly tired.

“I’ll enchant something to clean this. Let’s go to bed, I’m not finished with you”. She dedicated him a sly smirk.

“It’ll be my pleasure.”

[kihaku-gato]

AVTUALLY do you have a like guide on your OCs? Like quick and dirty who are they, why are they, what’s their universe etc etc. you seen yo have so much on them and how they fit in their world but i never really got a grasp on them and i want to know, well, everything

The quick and dirty… mildly challenging but not impossible, I’ll try to boil it all to bare essentials right here.

The World- Hoep

Not including AUs and Miscellaneous little stories/worlds there’s really only one fleshed out world for a good chunk of my OCs, which are in the “Hoepian universe” aka. the planet known as Hoep.

There’s a lot of details/lore for said world but here’s the short of it;

Fantasy setting, everyone’s a dragon. Almost everyone sticks to their human form cause most peoples’ dragon forms are… too smol. The monsters that caused humans before dragons to go extinct are still trying to do the whole planetwide extinction thing, some peeps try to stop it.

 Terra

Badass aloof athletic. Tournament fighter is her hobby but Mana Tech (or “magic scientist/craftsman” for lack of a better descriptor) is her career choice. Her battle style has a bit of a disciplined martial artist or military style to it. She is of a race of (literally) venomous/poisonous dragons, but does a bit to distance herself from any culture attached to that side of her, due to biological family abuse from an early age (well that and the whole “her father is a murderer and war criminal” detail), right to the point that she uses fire magic rather than poison or venom.

Due to the rough start she was a crybaby as a child, but after being adopted by a travelling fighter tournament champion, she started to make efforts on her own accord to be tougher and more like her adoptive mother. Though her mother did influence her badass aloof persona, I like to believe that Terra herself would’ve put her own pressure on herself to be tougher even w/o that influence.

This and that and she’s a little awkward socially. I’ve headcanoned her as Autistic but its one of those things I go on/off on.

She pays her bills partially through Mana Tech commissions (aka. commissions for enchanted clothes, armor, or weapons) as well as occasionally from the few tournaments she competes in.

 Kayla

Bubbly innocent lowkey powerhouse. Very bouncy and girly, a bit of romantic. She is last of her Clan of Monster Slayers (fyi there were three different Monster Slayer Clans that got wiped out). By instinct she is a good monster slayer to the point she took the job of monster bounty hunter to try to get by in her nomadic wanderings all the while not even training herself much to actually do said jobs.

She’s not really book smart, but definitely is attuned to emotions and intuition.

She holds up a very innocent rambunctious maiden kind of personality around people despite that violent career- it’s not so much as lie as much as it’s just the fact she wants to desperately hold onto her dream to be anything but a warrior. Settling down with a s/o, maybe starting a family, that’s what she would love to one day do so.

A bit of a powerful tank; half of it is all that hefty muscle hidden under the fat, the other half of it is her magical power being huge as well. Hard to beat being able to summon a lightning storm with enough build up.

She grows a crush on Terra when they initially meet. Rose-tinted glasses at the time saw Terra as a knight in shining armor.

  Demauria

Third image I had to include cause FRICK Shiro fanarts of Demauria are fucking gorgeous I die

Ice cold smol angry ball of rage. Despite being the shortest of the main roster, she’s actually slightly older than Kayla (some of it is genetic, but also some of it is that bad nutrition and improper magic usage stunted her body a little bit).

Like Kayla, is the last of her monster slaying clan. If that wasn’t bad enough though, Demauria lost family twice; her Clan, but then also her adoptive family as well (which got slaughtered by monsters). Between that and being raised in isolation (desolate arctic wilderness) she has a really bad time managing her emotions, which tend to then all lead to a response of becoming very angry as her emotions get out of hand. I could very easily see people calling her a tsundere (I even jokingly call her that) but it’s not a perfect label for how she is.

Her use of Ice Magic is both from her Clan and from being taught by her late adoptive father.

The one OC to be stubborn about preferring punk/goth aesthetic and very little else. If she wasn’t dealing with the mess she has to deal with (both in herself and the world itself) I would believe she’d be one to delve into Hoep’s history; both reading and studying the world’s roots.

While I’m not proofreading most of this ramble, upon nearing posting this I realized I should probably also explain wtf is with the pink haired vs the red haired with freckles versions of Demauria; like how Gaara (from Naruto) covers his body in a layer of sand for protection, Demauria does the same but with ice which is what causes the bluer hues and the hidden freckles.

 Riivar

Tall Travelling flirtatious entertainer. She’s ex-royalty from another kingdom (daughter to the King of Kennara). She severed her already rocky connection to her royal roots and took career choice of stage entertainer (a jack of many trades; singing, dancing, magical fire light shows, dramas, she dabbles in whatever she feels like having fun in) and struck huge fame. She’s also just is famous for being great with ladies in bed but shhhhh that’s not important.

In stark contrast to her royal roots she’s chill and very free-spirited and is much about having the freedom to do what you want to do in life.

 Harriet

Airheaded ship captain. Despite not being the smartest (she’s “sea smart” and has a lowkey theatre-kid mind but otherwise-), strongest, or prettiest, she makes up scrappy tomboyish charisma. Even in AUs she tends to attract a bit of a loyal crew that can move almost like an extension of herself.

Due to being the magnetic center of attention she can feel very ruffled/threatened when that attention she soaks in gets yanked away from her by someone else accidentally or otherwise (this is often the origin of a lot of Harriet’s animosity towards Terra both in canon and in AUs).

Like Terra, I lowkey headcanon Harriet to be autistic as well (funny for me, their Autistic creator to be so wishy washy on declaring it canon but that’s just how it is).

She was raised in a big family (lots of brothers), and was taught under the wing of a Retired-crimeboss who leads/directs her town’s Tournament Arena. Said ex-crimeboss trained her in “tournament legal” fighting methods but also taught her how to be illegal/dirty/underhanded methods where it be necessary for survival at sea. Before going to sea in her dream to be a seafaring ship captain she fought up the local tournament to become the tournament Champion to get her mentor’s blessing. Harriet had a random encounter with Riivar near Harriet’s “leaving of the nest” which both awoke Harriet’s adoration for women (“oh shit I’m bi”) and her idolization of Riivar to the point that she clumsily tries to mirror Riivar’s flirtatious mannerisms if she’s trying to woo a lady.

Though she holds herself to be graceful (her ability to ballerina spin for her water-magic attacks would fool anyone to believing that) she has a bit of a fumble-klutz streak in odd moments; the missing tooth in her smile was from tripping headfirst into the ship deck after a successful brawl against a rivaling ship crew at sea where she didn’t even acquire a scratch during said brawl (most AUs find similar ways to cause her to get a lost tooth in her grin).

You’d think her shipcrew would be a band of pirates but that’s mildly off the mark despite the well-matched aesthetic; she does not seek to steal, so she gets her ship’s maintenance paid by a blend of discovered sunken treasure/artifacts (some which she keeps for shiny keepsies) and the odd cargo/trade delivery to various places.

 Anne

Shy gentle beefcake. Same boat as Kayla and Dema in that she is the last of her respective monster slaying Clan (while Kayla was a kid and Dema was a baby when that happened to them, Anne had it happen to her in her tweens). In the fleeing for her destroyed home she eventually ended up in the great deserts where she was adopted by one of the nomadic desert dragon clans. Being lava magic (the magic her bloodclan specialized in) is similar to earth magic she quickly learned of the earth/stone golem techniques from said desert clan. While she’s capable of using lava magic she often uses earth magic first till the lava magic “warms up”. At some point she ran off to try to avenge/reclaim the town of her lost Clan from the monsters and left quite a mark on said monsters (not w/o getting scarred up physically and mentally herself though).

After that encounter rather than delve further on the monsterhunter role or return to the desert clan, she wandered around confusion of what she should do only to somehow end up in Harriet’s crew in a chance encounter. Before meeting Harriet she was getting money by a mix of selling baked pastries and shiny gems/minerals she prospected with her earth magic.

I’m still bouncing around on a lot of her motives and personality (the first conception of her she was a bit of a battle hungry warrior- not anymore, she softer now) but for the moment she’s pretty quiet and shy despite being so big and strong; she’d rather have a calmer life and embrace a more feminine style in how she holds herself, but she too busy having Destiny/Responsibility of being a monster slayer breathing down her neck despite not wanting to involve herself in those things.

 I’m not entirely sure if that’s a good down and dirty of the main OC 6 but I hope it is. I’d mention a lot of my other OCs (Hoepian or otherwise) for their sum ups but most of them are short story characters or support characters at best, or just pretty faces with little personality at worst.

[merelliahallewell]

The Drust in Battle for Azeroth

This is the second of four? posts looking at the Drust using the in-game and developer information we have available to us. I find the Drust incredibly interesting villains who manage to have some understandable motivations (at least in BfA) and also a neat aesthetic. The Drust and their history and influence are what elevate the questing zone to being more than just a Witcher ripoff and gives it its own cool identity. 

You can find Part 1 here. Anyway, here we go with BfA lore. This one is a bit of a doozy, be warned.

Part 3 - The Drust in Ardenweald

Part 4 - The Drust in the Night Fae Campaign (1)

Part 5 - The Drust in the Night Fae Campaign (2)

Before BfA

It isn’t known how long it took for the Drust to be defeated- we’re only given very rough timeframes. The dungeon journal suggests that they were defeated two thousand years ago, but that leaves 700 years between human settlement and the final end to the Drust, which seems a touch long. Ultimately, the timeline doesn’t matter so much as the impression that the Drust have been there for a long time. 

Most Drustvari have a healthy superstition of witchcraft that comes from even before the Heartsbane rose, and it does not necessarily seem to be tied to Thros in their minds. As shown by Emma Mayfield and the Witch in the Woods, one also does not need to be a Heartsbane witch to utilize the power of Thros. It is possible that many generations of Kul Tiran witches could have been communing with Thros in various ways, just as they are implied to have made pacts with demons. 

Drust Incursion

The Heartsbane Coven was formed at Gorak Tul’s command, after a dark bargain was struck between him and Meredith Waycrest. Tul promised her that her ailing husband would be safe from death, and it seems as if his price was that she would follow his commands and free him from the prison of Thros.

The Heartsbane Coven has a neat history that can be read through the eyes of the citizens of Corlain. I love the Coven and I think they’re really interesting- but since this post is focused on the Drust, we’re going to try to stick to viewing them through that context. 

It seems as if the Heartsbane are portryaed as the successors in inheritors of the Drust’s legacy. They wield not only their power, but utilize the same sorts of horrific rituals and strategies that can be seen in Ardenweald.

The most potent weapon the Coven wields is the Heartsbane Curse. This curse allowed them to mentally enslave hundreds of residents of Corlain and most members of the Waycrest Guard. This curse, likely created by the Drust, is eerily similar to something we will see later on. On top of that, they used the curse to great effect on the local fauna, turning the birds and beasts of Drustvar into servants.

As the war with the humans turned against them, the Drust crafted many constructs in order to house the spirits of the fallen, allowing them a second chance to battle against the humans. The constructs were made of incredible materials such as Revlis and Hailstone. Though they could not craft the powerful constructs the Drust had once created, they mimicked them with wood, bone, and wicker. They made a number of various wicker monsters as well, the majority crafted deep within the Crimson Forest, though others were made across the mountains in Barrowknoll. They stitched monstrosities together from pig and human flesh, animated with dark magic. 

“There is more to worry about in this land than simple beasts. Our enemy employs constructs of wicker and bone that can rip a man apart…”

These armies of flesh abominations and “wooden demons” were more than enough to to match whatever forces in Drustvar had not been enslaved by the Heartsbane already. The constructs were enough to defeat even the Lord-Admirals elite guards. The Coven took Drustvar by storm after taking Corlain with ease. Some witches were sent to infiltrate towns such as Arom’s Stand and Fallhaven, while they used their forces to directly attack Falconhurst, take control of the Crimson Forest, and attack Fletcher’s Hollow after they discovered a powerful artifact. Glenbrook not only lost much of its population to the Coven or the monsters in the woods, but also had the very land around it darkened by their magic. 

If they had not been stopped by the hunch Lucille Waycrest had regarding their magic, it is entirely likely the Heartsbane would have overwhelmed Kul Tiras, which was entering a three-sided civil war at that point in time. The Drust would most certainly have been released from Thros at that point, with the Heartsbane as their eager servants. Drustvar was near-completely under their control by the time the Adventurer showed up. 

It is an important point to mention that the Drust had direct involvement with the armies the Heartsbane raised. The wicker constructs were inhabited by either souls that were tormented and broken into serving the Heartsbane or Drust spirits called from Thros. Generally the ones in the Crimson Forest appear to house Drust, while the Soulbound Goliath and wicker men in Barrowknoll held enslaved souls. The Heartsbane also adopted the standard of the Drust, painted in blood (right). On the left is what is used in Ardenweald. It appears that the strength of an enslaved soul (or combination of numerous souls) directly corresponded to the power of a wicker construct.

Even as they fought for control of Drustvar, the Heartsbane worked feverishly to bring their master back to the world via a magical ritual held deep underneath Gol Inath. This ritual was called the Grand Rite, and required a massive effort held across the whole Crimson Forest. It appears the Grand Rite was meant to rip open a hole in reality to allow Thros’ minions in. While this rite was somewhat weakened by the activity of the Adventurer, Gorak Tul was still able to cross over briefly before retreating back into Thros. It is possible the Grand Rite was later completed fully within Waycrest Manor so that the events of the dungeon could occur.

Gorak Tul arrives in Azeroth for real this time via a set of ruins buried far beneath Waycrest Manor. He’s hugely threatening here, and summons additional Drust to aid him in battle. Tul still bears his vrykul frame, though he’s changed greatly, acquiring a strange amount of growth on his body like a tree almost, and his skin looks like bark. He even has a third eye. Seriously, this guy is menacing. These other Drust can also be seen being summoned by Heartsbane ritualists within Corlain, and it’s very unusual just how twisted and blighted they look compared to Tul. They seem absolutely malformed, more like Gollum than a vrykul. Could this be some effect of Thros after their long imprisonment?

A small aside: Drust undead were stirred from their long slumber by the Heartsbane magic. It seems as if it is capable of waking the dead in some fashion, though it almost seems to be from ambient magic rather than directed necromancy. Kinda neat. 

Into Thros

Just a few things to wrap up with BfA and the Drust. There are minor bits of their lore I didn’t mention that are doable in Archaeology, which is worth it if you want to fly around pretty zones and dig up relics. 

The isle of Fate’s End is located some distance from Stormsong Valley, and features Drust ruins upon it. Apparently, nobody returns from Fate’s End if they’re sent there. It’s here that Jaina appears to have been taken into Thros. Is it some sort of a natural gateway to the place that’s one way only? Maybe a place where people were unknowingly sacrificed to Gorak Tul? Whatever it is, it’s wild. You can fly there in-game, but in the story only a Tidesage can take you out there. It’s interesting that the Tidesages have developed a special rite in order to reach it, and I’m curious if that implies that the Tidesages dealt with Drust magic in the past or know how to negate it with their own power. It’s food for thought, for sure. 

Thros itself is nothing special, alas. It’s just a color-swapped Drustvar with some more of those weird Drust and Gorak Tul hanging out. Honestly it’s a bit disappointing, but there is some interesting lore that comes from Ulfar during these quests. Ulfar also says some pathways are best left closed- lest those on the other side use them instead. Up until then, he was unaware of Tul’s return.

The entrance to Thros lies within the great tree, Gol Inath, but crossing the threshold will not be as simple as walking through. To open the path, you will need an effigy of great strength. Not one of the trinkets of the coven, mind you, but one of old, Drust magic. The path to Thros will be treacherous, but that is merely a fraction of what awaits you inside the Blighted Lands. Prepare yourself, <class>, for the minions of Thros will use your deepest fears and regrets as a weapon against you.

Once you have collected the necessary reagents to build an effigy and enter Thros, he says this:

I wish you luck on your journey, mainlander. Tread carefully, for Gorak Tul's eyes will be upon you.

He is vulnerable within his own realm, and he will go to great lengths to prevent you from entering it.

Katherine Proudmoore, the then-ruler of Kul Tiras, remarked that most people believed Thros only to be something of rumor and legend, not an actual place one could travel to. 

The Blighted Lands...

If the legends are true then inside we will witness suffering and torment the likes of which we have never known...

The whole journey through Thros is interesting, as Gorak Tul clearly considers Jaina his most valuable prisoner. Eventually you catch up, have a neat cinematic, and battle him to the death. Gorak Tul’s death speech offers a hint of what is to come for Ardenweald in Shadowlands. 

Your hollow victory... means nothing...

The Drust... will never... relent...

Dying with his last breath, Tul's corpse fades away. 

One final mystery

The Waycrest manor dungeon is pretty neat, but hardly contains anything Drust-related save for the ruins deep underneath. It is especially disappointing that Gorak Tul’s boss fight room is the same one you fight him in beneath Gol Inath- apparently the Drust really liked that design, or maybe it’s best-suited for portals to Thros.

However, there is one bit of unique architecture. Created by artist Fanny Vergne, there is some sort of a design etched into the ground beneath the organ the Waycrests are playing. It looks like a worm, or a serpent with runes carved into it? I wonder if it is supposed to be some sort of horrific Thros monster or something else. In the files of the game, it is apparently labeled as “Jormungandr“ which is a Norse mythological being. Interestingly, the runes do not match any known Vrykul or Drust runes used in the game’s environmental art. I wonder if the artist would be able to shed more light on it or if it’s just a neat design.

[offtopicoverload]

alright, i was on the fence about the oc weekend idea, but fuck it i have a bunch of shit made why not? block “oc weekend” tag if you don’t care cuz same

so have some cleo (and nia) headcanons to kick whatever the fuck this is gonna be off

super long cuz i have a serious problem

So her starting skills were bow, charisma, and wildlife, then woods lore, then blade, medicine, deception, brawling, seduction

She made some money hunting, which is where the bow and animal skills came from

With being an elf, her and Kade were orphaned together in a massacre and taken in by a local farmer

Absolutely got into so much trouble, usually Cleo getting a bad idea and dragging Kade along, but could always talk her way out of it, hence the charisma

MC canonically has relationship experience, right? I think she had a short term partner, maybe some flings with travelers or something, but never really got invested in relationships, just wasn’t her thing

Especially in RIverbend, where everyone knows everyone and it’s awkward if you break up

She’s pretty similar to canon MC, wild and goofy and somewhat reckless

But also really determined and caring and sweet when she needs to be

I adore her if you can’t tell

The first time she saw Nia, totally tongue-tied and a flustered mess, she’s smooth when it’s a joke but incapable of any coherent words when it turns real

She’s pretty awkward, definitely stiff at first, but slowly loosens up as she gets closer to Nia, letting her goofy side show

She for sure pines and gets made fun of for it by Kade, then Mal and Imtura every time she gets flustered 

And Threep likes to rub it in too, occasionally threatening to say something unless he gets snacks he does the same to Nia askjksdf

I’m also in love with the idea of Mal and Imtura playing matchmaker and constantly trying to set them up in situations where they have to be close, and the two of them losing their minds when Cleo and Nia get stuck in that pit

The night at the cabin in the Deadwood was the first moment Cleo realised that there could be something real there, like it just never clicked until Nia was straight up telling her she liked her

From then on things definitely change, and Cleo starts being a lot softer, like at the masquerade and stuff

But the argument in the cabin always sticks out in her mind, she defended Nia’s right to spend her life as she chooses, but she doesn’t necessarily like it

She always tries to find work arounds for Nia using her light, like using her own before Nia can get the chance

She for sure nearly decked the High Priest, just for all his bullshit, and was very happy to get that tracking orb from him to make sure they would be safe she had some plans already

So I don’t accept MC being cool after Nia straight up gets yanked into the Shadow Realm, Cleo absolutely was about to jump in after her until Imtura grabbed her and jerked her back like “what the fuck are you doing”

Cleo was about to snap the entire time they were working their way through the Shadow Realm, definitely wrecked Vonstratz on Nia’s behalf

I also don’t accept the “single tear” line when MC fucking KILLS Nia, Cleo would be bawling her eyes out and refusing to let go of her when she dies

There not being an ily felt kinda weird to me, and cuz Cleo’s a sap, I feel like she’d either say it before stabbing Nia or during the diamond scene where they’re looking out at Whiterun

In the first instance, it’s more for her piece of mind, that Nia knows what her sacrifice means

When Nia comes back, Cleo whispers it a million times into her shoulder as she hugs her, until she sounds like a broken record

For the second one, it’d be a bit spur of the moment, she’d just be looking in Nia’s eyes as the words spill out, but she wouldn’t even care cuz it felt so right

And now I’m going to ignore book 2 and make up my own shit

So immediately after, Cleo and Kade go back to Riverbend to pack up their lives there, Kade in order to stay in Whiterun cuz King Arlan made him a librarian or something, idk but he’s in Whiterun at the royal library and archives

Cleo ends up running a few odd jobs out of Whiterun for a while, helping Mal out quite a bit as Nia ends up with a lot of responsibilities at the temple after the High Priest gets axed

Cleo ends up quite well known as a good adventurer/travel mate by the time Nia ends up quitting the temple

Before they leave on their first trip as just them, Cleo takes her up to that terrace overlooking Whiterun after taking her to the market

They stare out at the city for a while, until the sun’s setting along the horizon

Cleo pulls out a ring from her bag, fiddling with it as she shifts on her feet nervously. She’s wussed out like half a dozen times already, and this is her last chance to do it somewhere so special

Nia figures out something’s up and starts prodding to figure it out, poking her and stuff and laughing the whole time

Cleo’s kind of found out, and turns to her blushing the ring held between her thumbs and index fingers as she avoids eye contact, “So, um. You wanna get married?”

Not what Nia was expecting at all and she kind of just 👁👄👁 for a while, until Cleo starts trying to back out of it, thinking she fucked up

And then it’s Nia’s turn to stumble over her words something along the lines of, “No, wait! Okay, um, no, so - No, I don’t mean no, just - Yes! Of course!” 

The ring’s super basic, like plain silver without even a gem 

I feel like Cleo found it on a trip with Mal, and immediately thought of Nia and proposing and freaked herself out a bit, but that’s why she didn’t look for another cuz shes a sap

They travel around the realm a bit, stopping in Undermount so Cleo can look into House Nightbloom, and getting rides from Imtura when Mal gives them a tip on a relic or something

All the while Nia’s trying to spread the Light in small villages, using her magic for little things as Cleo works favours again

At some point they get a cottage a ways away from a village, I’d say not too far from the Deadwood and things slow down for the most part, only the occasional trip for the temple

It’s a really cute house, small and surrounded by flowers and huge trees, Cleo builds a swing on one

The others visit occasionally, Kade and Threep the most often, and I almost want to say they take in an orphan, but I can’t decide if Cleo would trust herself enough for that

Though I feel like Nia would love to have pets at the least cleo always compares threep to the cats to annoy him

Elves canonically have longer life spans than humans, and Nia’s is even shorter from using her Light, so I’m sure you can tell where I’m going with this

Nia passes in her sleep before anyone else in the gang and it really fucks up Cleo, like the way she wakes up to it and can’t even stop it

And the worst part is that she’s always hoping just a little bit in the back of her mind that it’s like the first time, and Nia’s just going to wake up or knock on the front door

The gang meet up all together for a funeral, and Cleo plants the flowers from the bouquet from the end of book diamond scene

She ditches the cottage cuz too much of it is Nia, and is just kind of aimless for a little bit, staying with Kade in Whiterun, but ultimately hates not having a purpose

She moves to the old elven cabin in the Deadwood cuz shes a sap cuz it’s one of her favourite places

She devotes herself to fixing it up and making it better, helping travelers through the Deadwood cuz I feel like Tyril would open Undermount up

Everyone’s stayed in relative contact and tend to invite Cleo on adventures if they don’t hear from her for a while, just to keep her from isolating herself in the woods

Mal works with the monarchy to make things better in the Nooks and Crannies while still thievin, and especially when he’s older settles down more

I feel like he lives pretty long, but ends up sick and passing away, second to go and he kinda laughs about it his mum was sick right? and he jokes about the irony to feel better?

I doubt Imtura really accepts being a princess, I think she keeps captaining and fights it as long as she can until she really doesn’t have a choice

But she’s not like her mum, actually leaving Flotilla and like working with the guard and stuff

I think she’s third, dying in battle like a badass and saving her crew. She’s honored by the clans, and the monarchy and even Undermount declares her a hero or something idk how it works there

I feel like Kade would keep to stories, but maybe spend a while just moving about the realm, stay in Undermount to explore it and stuff, builds up his name as a bard

He dies in his sleep too cuz he deserves it, he passes when he’s visiting Riverbend again, he’s buried there and like the whole village shows up

I feel like Tyril’s significantly older than everyone else, but being an elf hides it

He always gives Cleo tips on artifacts, or asks her to escort travelers through the Deadwood or around the realm if they’re important to keep her busy

He’s not the head of House Starfury, but he’s still pretty involved in elven politics, mainly focused on opening up Undermount, educating people on the elven empire and spreading the wealth and stuff

He’d go before Cleo, just running out of life force after all his magic

After Tyril passes, Cleo’s just done, he was the only thing giving her purpose, and she’s spent decades cleaning up the Deadwood as best she can

Threep’s joined her after Tyril’s funeral, staying with her for a few days and how following her out into the forest

She walks out to the clearing they saw the unicorn at and stops right on the edge, sitting down and setting up a purification ritual

She’s known how for years, she learned after Nia passed so she could spend some of her life completing one of her dreams like a sap

She clears out the darkness from a lot of the Deadwood to drain the last of her life force, stumbling over to a tree and sliding down to the ground, her back pressed against the bark

Threep flutters into her lap, her nails scratching behind his ears as he licks her chin comfortingly, a final goodbye

Her breathing starts heavy, growing slow as her chest feels far more hollow than it did a moment ago, and her eyelids slowly grow heavy

A breeze brushes her hair, stirring her awake. The lake’s shimmering before her, bright and magical as she stumbles to her feet, Threep gone from her lap

The Deadwood’s healed, more than she could possibly have managed on her own, and she has so much more energy now than when she fell asleep

She trips through the trees, running for what feels like hours until she’s back at the cabin, the stone bright against the trees as it sits, whole again after all her effort

She shoulders the front door open, freezing when she sees the fireplace, or rather, what’s before the fireplace

Nia’s there, her back to the flickering flames as she smiles, cheeks redder than the curls falling down her shoulders

And Cleo doesn’t stop running, tackling Nia into a hug and squeezing with all she is, tears dripping down her chin as she laughs, carefree and disbelieving and happy. So, so happy, for the first time since she last saw that smile

[aal-archaeology]

Words from a so-far successful archaeologist (25 years old/recent Ph.D. admit)

Hello Everyone!  I have revived my Tumblr to find many messages asking “what do I do next” when it comes to Archaeology/Anthropology. So I thought I’d create a post explaining what I went through to get to where I am now, and hopefully give some information to those who are pondering on the next steps to take in this truly wonderful field of study.  Quick academic about me: 

Undergrad: Ivy League, Major: Anthropology-Geography, Minor: Religion

After Undergrad: 1 year of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) & Substitute teaching

Graduate School: England MSc in Archaeological Information Systems

After Graduate: 10-month long research grant in Cambodia

Now: (USA)  Ph.D. Candidate in Anthropology, Archaeology Track

I come from a low-middle class family, all of my academics have been funded through financial aid or through grants that I’ve applied for. A lot of the time school and research can get expensive, but that doesn’t mean you have to be wealthy to pursue it!

Per usual, please feel free to DM me at any point with questions (here or IG @ aal.archaeology), I’m always happy to help to the best of my ability. Success in this field is really dependent on networking!

I’ll set this up based on the various landmarks of my academic career: 

1. Undergrad

Themes: Ask for help, build your resume, write down everything

No matter where you are going to school, it is so so so important to use the resources around you. Becoming a professor is HARD work, and each one of your professors went through a lot to be able to stand in front of you and teach you. They’ve likely had years and years of research experience, which is probably still happening behind the scenes of teaching and grading papers. More often than not, professors want to help you, they want students to be excited about the research they’ve worked so hard on, and they want to do what they can to help you achieve your career goals.  Therefore, if there’s a class you’ve taken or a professor whose research you’re interested in, tell them. This is how I got my first experience with archaeology (before I even knew that I wanted to do archaeology). I randomly took an Anthropology class that sounded cool, and after the first class, I was like WOW I love this topic so much and I really want to know more about it. I went up to the professor that was teaching it, told her I was really interested and asked if she knew of any research opportunities available. She then hired me as a student researcher in her lab to do data entry for one of her archaeological projects in Mesoamerica, and after working for her for a few months, she asked me if I wanted to go with her and her team to Mexico for fieldwork. 

         (my timeline at this point: 19 years old, end of Sophomore year)

From this experience, I learned how to apply to grants within the University and funding outside of the University, and was able to FULLY fund my research experience in Mexico. During this fieldwork, I got to work with 3000-year-old artifacts, do archaeoillustration, and eventually got my own chapter published in the book that my professor wrote about the research that was done.

After I got back from Mexico, I started exploring archaeology further. A new professor entered the department who specialized in “digital archaeology,” and his research involved tracking looting patters in Syria using satellite imagery. I thought this was crazy so I then went up to him and asked if I could help him with his research. (the common theme throughout this entire process is just asking for help). From this experience, I learned that I loved the possibilities that technology brought to the study of archaeology, everything from 3D modeling to identification of sites in satellite imagery to spatial mapping in GIS. With this professor, I was able to form an “internship” with him, and continued doing that and other minor projects within the department. I ended up modifying my major to incorporate coursework from the Geography department and created my own “Digital Archaeology” major.

        (my timeline at this point: 22 years old, Senior year)

As graduation began to creep closer, I had been able to get a good amount of lines on my resume. I had:

research assistant/ data entry

fieldwork in mesoamerica

x2 internships with digital archaeology prof

multiple “small” projects around the department i.e. making posters, painting 3D prints of bones,

all of the coursework I had done on GIS/ relevant digital experience

started a drone club at my school (it flopped, but it still counts as a line on the resume!)

All of these lines became useful when starting to think of jobs and the “next step”

UNDERGRAD HIGHLIGHTS & TAKEAWAYS:

Ask for help, your professors are there for a reason, it will almost always lead you to new opportunities. These relationships last well beyond your graduation and definitely come in handy later, make it count!

Write down EVERYTHING that you do. Did you help out with a conference? Write it down. Did you do a couple hours of data entry? Write it down.

Follow your leads! I started my anth journey in Mesoamerica and ended my undergrad in Near Easter digital archaeology (and I entered college wanting to do astronomy?). Change is natural, let it happen.  

2. Gap Year Between Undergrad and Grad School

Highlights: Job applications, field school, CRM, uncertainty

Something that I was always told during my undergrad was that you really need to do a field school and some CRM to be taken seriously post-grad. This shows that you actually want to be an archaeologist outside of the classroom environment. Field Schools and CRM give you valuable experience such as: excavation methodology, report writing, grant applications, teamwork, leadership, etc. 

I started applying for jobs probably about 5 months before I graduated and ended up securing a job at a CRM company in LA. They liked how much I had done during my undergrad, but they really wanted me to have a field school under my belt before I started working for them. Because I had already graduated and didn’t need course credit, I was able to do my field school at a discounted price (these things really do get expensive, and this was a difference of about $2k). I think this worked out in my favor waiting until the summer after I graduated because it saved me a lot of money in the end. 

After my field school was done, I started work that September in CRM. This job ended up being nothing like what I thought it would be, to be honest. I was an Archaeological Field Technician that was part-time/on-call, meaning I only got work when they needed someone to go monitor a construction site. I only got work once every month, sometimes every couple of months, so I was making hardly any money. I realized this quickly and decided to become a substitute teacher to supplement the CRM job. I HIGHLY recommend doing this if you end up in the same situation. Not only does subbing fill up all of your non-working days, but it also gives you the flexibility to choose when you can work and gives you teaching experience that you can put on your resume. That CRM experience can be really important, so it’s good to stick it out long enough to quit.

      Why didn’t I like CRM? For me, my job was very sparse, included driving long hours to a construction site, sitting there all day in case archaeological material popped up, and then driving home. Sometimes it was just walking back and forth across a massive field full of cow poop looking for arrowheads, and often it felt like I was just clearing land so that a big building could be erected. I was really missing the research component to all of it. The pay was also not great. 

GAP YEAR HIGHLIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS:

What I got from this year was very valuable, even though it wasn’t necessarily that fun, however. 

I got the experience I needed in CRM

I got some teaching experience (also volunteered to mentor clubs and research at local high schools during this time)

I started doing some networking (I found some alumni that were doing work that I wanted to be doing and reached out to them)

and most importantly, I realized that I really do love school and wanted to go back for my Masters

So I started looking into Masters's programs. This is kind of a scary thing especially in the US because school is expensive. I still really wanted to do Digital Archaeology, and I couldn’t find a single program in the US had a focus in this topic, and especially couldn’t find one that I was willing to pay for. 

The UK, however, had plenty of Digital Archaeology programs, and the programs were only a year long and a fraction of the price in the US. I decided to take a chance and apply, got in, and then suddenly I was moving to England. (in hindsight I really didn’t spend much time at all making this decision, but it worked out in the end). 

3. Masters Program

         (my timeline at this point: 23-24 years old)

I chose the program I applied to based on its focus on the techniques that I wanted to use, namely, remote sensing, GIS, and 3D modeling. I really wanted a degree qualification that spoke for itself, and therefore applied for an MSc in “Archaeological Information Systems.” 

I had done some networking during my gap year and connected with an alumnus who was doing research in Cambodia using digital methods, and she offered me the opportunity to join her fieldwork. I agreed to join her in Cambodia during my degree, and also applied for a research grant for the year following my master's degree to continue fieldwork in Cambodia. 

I used this opportunity to fuel my dissertation topic and focused all of my writing and coursework throughout my grad school experience around Cambodia. While I was surrounded by people studying Roman architecture and Medieval Studies, I spent my time doing independent work and building a network in Cambodia. 

This program was a great experience for the most part, I was surrounded by beautiful medieval architecture and had a great community throughout. I personally didn’t really like the UK school system compared to what I had received in the US, however. This was largely because of the way coursework was set up. (If you want to know more just DM me).

MASTERS HIGHLIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS:

Follow networking opportunities, and find someone doing what you want to do (or close to it) and let them help you take the steps to get there

If you’re going to do grad school, do it in something you know you love. Don’t waste money on a program that isn’t right for you.

Make sure that the program you apply to allows for flexibility so that you can do research on what YOU want, not what THEY want.

Halfway through my Master's degree, I received word that I had been accepted for the research grant (Fulbright) and would spend the next year living in Cambodia doing independent research.

4. Gap Year Between Masters Program and PhD

If you’re planning on a Ph.D., I think its a really good idea to do something before applying that relates to what you want to be studying. This shows that you’re dedicated to your research and to a life in academia, and have the ability to produce something from your work. 

My master's degree was nice because 1) it was short, only a year-long, and 2) allowed me to focus research on what I was interested in. This gave me the experience I needed to lead into a year of independent research.

This year of independent research was definitely contingent on receiving the grant in the first place, and I think that I would have started job searching again had I not received it. However, the small things I did leading up to applying for it really helped in qualifying me to receive it. 

     I had:

All of the undergraduate research experience

CRM experience

teaching experience

fieldwork experience

a master’s degree that focused on the region 

established a network of people in the country beforehand

a couple “publications” from fieldwork 

This grant fully funds me living in Cambodia, and has allowed me to participate in cultural exchange with some amazing people here in addition to allowing me to partake in archaeological fieldwork across the country. 

Again, I cannot stress enough how important it is to network. If you like something, find someone else who likes the same thing, send them an email.

Networking got me my experience in Mesoamerica, Digital Archaeology, my CRM job, my research experience in Cambodia, and so so much more. All because I sent that first email.

5. PhD Applications

I applied to 1 school. I got in. Its a really good school. I’m still in shock. 

However, I think I really did set myself up for success in this one. 

The biggest advice I can give in the world of Academia is:

NETWORK

Talking to people who have gone through what you’re going through are the BEST help. They can mentor you through these experiences, offer you new opportunities, or lead you in the direction of someone else who can help.

PLAN AHEAD (but be open to change)

Okay, so you’re applying to grad school. What do you want to focus on while you’re there? What do you want to do with the degree when you’re done? Do you want to start working? Do you want to do more research? What opportunities are out there for research funding? What is the job market looking for? Is there anyone in my network that can help me get there?

None of these have to be concrete plans, they just have to exist in some shape or form so that you have the ability to latch on to one when the opportunity arises.

If you’re doing something that you love doing, you’ll find a way to make it happen. All opportunity comes from the amount of effort you put into getting it! Thanks for reading and best of luck on your studies! Also Happy Anthropology Day! :)  -Lyss 

[tmnt-brave-new-world]

Good evening gentlemen, and welcome. My name is Blossom. I hope y'all, and your Mun, are well, and hope this hasn't been asked of the others, If you have a spare time in your day, how do you enjoy passing it? And if you don't mind my asking one more question...Leo, I heard you've studied and enjoy music, art. Do you have a preferred medium in either? Thank you kindly.

Good evening Ms. Blossom,

 its a pleasure to meet you. Myself and Raph have already answered this, however Mikey and Donnie have not been asked this of yet.

Donnie flicked his eyes from his older brother back to the small brunette before giving a small nod of his head. “Right. I’m afraid my down time is limited. Even with our extended life spans, there never seems to be enough time for all of the projects I have planned. I do however make it a point to pull myself away from work so that I rest properly, eat three times a day and groom myself as needed. I have also learned that stopping when I’m starting to feel fatigued is necessary if I plan to continue in a productive fashion.”

“I enjoy gardening, and studying the different needed variables within the contained ecosystems in which I create. There is something to be said about being able to take the time and learn such a rudimentary art. It also reminds me of the days in the resistance when the time needed to grow nutritional food was almost no existent. I take great pride in what I create, and the resistant strains of certain species of fruit and vegetable I have managed to create with my knowledge of genetics and field observations. I also enjoy dabbling in each of my brothers hobbies. they would be loathe to admit it, but they become so excited over their favorite topics and the knowledge they can share. Its nice to see that sense of peace on each of their collective faces.”

“Another area of interest is archeology, from collecting fossils to ancient jewelry, a tie to the past has always been of significant interest. I believe my bothers enjoy playing in the dirt when I go to a dig site, or harvest a crop as a type of trade off for time spent with each of them.”

“Raph and I work on different mechanics and converting both classic cars and the newest toy into something that works better than originally planned, or is better suited for one of use to use. I’ve had to make a special booster seat insert for when someone drives them as a result however.”

“I have attended many a gala and charity event with Leo, He has a sizable art, and artifacts collections that can be observed in many rooms of the house. Albeit he does have me research each event to make sure the big ticket items aren’t stolen or haven’t been reported as missing since the fall of Earth.” 

“Mikey is always looking for someone to attend the opening of new restaurants or to assess some type of new technique related to a style of art he’s suddenly become interested in. I’ll allow his to explain in further detail, however.”

Mikey shot her a big grin before he started in, “I guess I’m next?” 

“Man I don’t think I really have a job so its always down time for me!” The turtle laughed good naturedly. I enjoy bringing people happiness and the best way I have found to do that is with my ability to create. I love being able to have the freedom to create in a wide array of formats. I can use multiple techniques to paint in a multitude of styles. I can sculpt. I can weave. I am actually certified to create and Tattoo. I can blow glass sculptures and pieces. I can carve objects from wood, stone or just about any other medium reasonably well. I can cook, and have actually been featured on a few cooking shows and competitions. I can also sew, which has lead me to creating and collaborating with a lot of other artist.”

 “Time in the resistance let we with a jack of all trades kind of mentality. If its something I think I might be able to learn or understand, I go all in and learn it. I actually learned how to perform professional level autobody work for Raph and Donnie, for when they wanted to be able to do customizations on cars but neither could explain to a body shop what exactly it was they wanted. I even spent several months in the mountains of Tibet and Morocco learning about the different techniques related to ancient dyes and leather tanning techniques.”

“I tend to take contracts and commissions from people when I feel like it. Its awesome because a lot of the time I never know what exactly someone is going to ask for and because of my skills I can combine things in ways that no one has ever thought about before!”

“One of my favorite things to do with my down time though is that I actually teach several classes online and through zoom regarding basic techniques such as cooking, cleaning, sewing, and basic adulting. I found it really shocking how many kids and adults didn’t have these skills after we took back Earth and that their lives seemed to suffer for it. So I did what I do best and I started youtube videos on how to do it and then started offering free classes that are coordinated with local community centers and libraries to help those who need it but may not be able to try it due to lack of resources. I of course send all the needed supplies to the sites that sponsor these classes, so that they aren’t anything for offering to help!”

“For the second part of your question Miss Blossom,” Leo gave an unusually shy smile, “I’m no where near as talented as my brother, but I enjoy painting still life and landscapes. I can use acrylics, oils and watercolor with varying degrees of success. There is something cathartic about slowly transforming a canvas or trying new techniques. As for Music I can play the piano and a few classic songs to completion. I have attempted to learn the violin and the guitar but am no where near sufficient for anyone to hear, except for Mikey who acts as my instructor most evenings.”