#i'm off the henny or something like that

[overleftdown]

farleigh analysis PART 3, because i might as well do the entire movie at this point. i'm locked in. this is going to cover the early-saltburn summer era. AKA, oliver's once in a lifetime, hand job on a haybale, golden big boy summer. everything after venetia and oliver's sex scene is in another post on my blog. this one is pretty short.

[0:34:42] (they're watching superbad. teehee.)

farleigh looks borderline revolted in the background of this shot, which is so funny to me. superbad is, in my opinion, notoriously rude. the comedy is hollow, childish, homophobic, etc. even seth rogan admits that the movie is tone deaf and aged horribly. that's neither here nor there, though. all i'm saying is that i can't imagine farleigh would enjoy the movie as a queer person.

[0:35:19] elsbeth: is that right, he had to put his fingers down his mother's throat to make her sick? farleigh: yeah. felix: farleigh, that's private stuff! farleigh: well, you told us. felix: in confidence!

when elsbeth initially asks the question, she's looking directly at farleigh. yet, when felix confronts farleigh about discussing private matters, farleigh responds with "well, you told us." meaning the family, i assume. felix had no issue with elsbeth and pamela discussing oliver's home life until farleigh was very moderately involved. it's odd to me. and yes, felix is the one that told them. moral superiority, or something. having someone to blame, even when you enabled their gossiping in the first place.

[0:35:34] elsbeth: we should give him the most wonderful time! farleigh: good luck, he doesn't smile much. elsbeth: farleigh seems to think he's ghastly. why are you friends with him, darling?

really, you can tell that elsbeth likes farleigh. she respects his opinion to a certain extent. i also talked about the tutor scene in part 2, and how i consider the "style over substance" debate a metaphorical parallel to farleigh over oliver. here, farleigh once again points out the style of oliver's social interactions: he doesn't smile much. when you look at this from a social and... neurotypical perspective, lacking a smile during conversation can mean a lot of negative things. farleigh seems to have a dedicated focus on arbitrary social expectations, largely because he has to.

[0:35:33] farleigh: and here he is now! we were just talking about you. elsbeth: don't be silly! farleigh, you just make up the most awful things. of course we weren't!

once again, in traditional catton fashion, farleigh is scolded for saying doing something that contrasts the cattons saviorism. obviously oliver knew they were talking about them. i can't blame elsbeth for attempting to backtrack, but "farleigh, you just make up the most awful things" is a weirdly unnecessary throat punch. she's stepping on farleigh to appear taller, if you will. at 0:36:34, when elsbeth asks oliver to sit by her, farleigh looks so exceptionally irritated. he rolls his eyes, looks back towards his computer, and sighs dramatically. wonderful. he's so sick and tired.

[0:37:20] elsbeth: i've lost so many friends to addiction. so, so many dear, dear friends. it's the root of poor pamela's horrors too, i'm afraid. farleigh: and the only interesting thing about her. elsbeth: farleigh! no, she is rather dull, actually. but she's so beautiful. you have to admit, she's very beautiful.

elsbeth and her obsession with physical appearances. once again, style over substance. and her outrage at farleigh refusing to soften the blow on his statements, before following it with her own (albeit less crude) dig at pamela. style over substance. wouldn't it a little uncanny, a little scary, to be the only person of color in a household that places physical appearance on such a high pedestal? especially a household as ignorant as the cattons. that's just conjecture, though. oliver has the ability to manipulate a space for himself in the family without sacrificing any of the qualities he began with. he never really smiles more, throughout the summer. he never really loses his signature awkwardness, his imposing energy.

[0:40:05] elsbeth: you know we're delighted to have you for however long it is you mean to stay. farleigh: forever...? pamela: oh, no. i think i might have, erm, found somewhere. elsbeth: oh, well done, darling! james: oh, good!

right after james says "good," you can see farleigh turning to look at him. prompting james to drop the hatchet on pamela's prolonged stay at saltburn, i'm assumng. this is what's interesting to me, i think. again, farleigh lacks the drive to play the same game as oliver. farleigh doesn't want to nurture the charitable actions of the cattons. farleigh believes the other guests at saltburn take up the space that he would otherwise fill. just like at oxford, when felix is sitting with someone else, farleigh is discarded. when elsbeth invited oliver to sit next to her, farleigh looks annoyed. the cattons capacity for attention and kindness is depressingly small. farleigh isn't playing chess, he's trying to win by sheer survival of the fittest.

for the next few, brief scene of farleigh and oliver interacting, oliver repeatedly proves that he does his research. i can't get over it, to be honest. neither can farleigh; if looks could kill, oliver would've been dead within 10 minutes of arriving at saltburn. the methods farleigh and oliver uses to remain relevant in the catton catalogue are so wildly different. farleigh, who uses his personality and social skills to keep the cattons entertained and charmed by him. i'm sure he loves to gossip with elsbeth, wine and dines with venetia, and he clearly does everything in his power to stay glued to felix's side throughout the school year. this is someone who has never considered manipulating the cattons; he just wants to be one of them, and he wants it to be easy. can you blame him?

[birdmenmanga]

(sliding beads along my abacus) I mean no matter how you slice it I'm going to have time to draw something for all of my birdmutuals. Let's be generous and say that I have like 15 of them. I think a third of them will not care enough to put out a list, another handful will forget to do it, which means realistically I think I'm going to end up in the ballpark of maybe like. 7. I feel like 30 minutes is plenty of time to drawr a little gift or something. so let's say max case scenario. 12 birdmutuals submit lists. I could knock that out easily in 3 days.

[jinwoosbabyboo]

Explicit Lyrics

How I imagine the lads men react to you singing explicit lyrics in front of them. [Requested by: Anon]

Zayne

MC: 🎶 The things I wanna do to you BEND ME OVER BEAT MY BACK IN AND FUCK ME FROM THE BACK my bodies calling you! 🎶

Zayne would be flabbergasted at the monstrosity of a sentence that just came out of your mouth.

Zayne: That ... that was quite the sentence my love

MC: How so?

Zayne: Sounds like that mouth of yours could use a bar of soap

MC: You don't like my singing?

Zayne: Let's keep that kind of singing private.

MC: Why

Zayne: It's not very appropriate to yell about being penetrated from behind in public

MC: You make stuff I say sound so unsexy sometimes .... can you just say hitting it from the back

Zayne: Hitting it from the back.

MC: Hitting it from the back 🤓☝🏾 nevermind just dont say it

Rafayel

MC: 🎶 Shot in his shit so when he spit you know he twitch with wit' it hellcats and trackhawks 🎶

Rafayel: You have the prettiest face with the most vulgar playlist I've ever heard

MC: 🎶 She a ungrateful lil bitch I take her ass of give me them titties back bitch 🎶

Rafayel: *Covers your mouth* you are way too pretty to be cussing this much

MC: *Moves his hand* I'm grown Raf

Rafayel would secretly be adding all the songs you play to his music library.

Literally the next day....

Rafayel: HELLCATS & TRACKHAWKS ! *You slap your hand over his mouth*

MC: Don't be a hypocrite

Xavier

You were blasting Liquor by Latto while doing your skincare routine.

MC: 🎶 That liquor turn me to a freak, that Henny get me off the leash 🎶

As soon as you're finished getting ready for bed you walk into the room to find Xavier with a drink in hand and devious intent

Xavier: This is for you my lady *Hands you a drink*

MC: What's this?

Xavier: A whiskey sour

MC: Okay hold on…..

Xavier: Just enjoy the drink

MC: You're up to something

Xavier: *Kisses your temple* Spread em'

Sylus

Sylus is simply intrigued watching you sing along to your playlist.

MC: 🎶 Stand over a bitch and empty the clip til' it click I'm not gon' stop 🎶

Sylus: You always get so intense when you listen to such vulgar music

MC: I just really like the song

Sylus: You can tell where someones mindset is at by the music they listen to

MC: Are you saying I'll gun down anyone who wrongs me?

Sylus: Im not saying anything of the sort

MC: Good because I wouldn't

Sylus: Although you did shoot and stab me when we first met … did you plan to empty the clip?

MC: Are you ever going to stop bringing that up? And I didn't stab you

Sylus: But you wanted to *flicks your forehead*

Honorable Mention

MC: 🎶 These bitches only hot on yea bitches doin' all that womp womp womp womp 🎶

Caleb: ooooouuuu I'm telling grandma

MC: I'm grown!

Caleb: She's gonna be so upset pipsqueak

MC: *Puts Caleb in a headlock*

Don't ask for more Caleb please

[cursedreverie1945]

There is plenty out there about Hermann Göring. He's an old hat. However, his 2nd wife is not.

Emma Johanna Henny "Emmy" Göring (née Sonnemann; 24 March 1893 – 8 June 1973

She was an actress before marrying Göring. Supposedly, her would be husband would give her a picture of his late wife on one of their dates. Weird. (Nazi Wives book)

She was considered First Lady of the Reich something that possibly ticked Magda Goebbles off. Again, the book Nazi Wives. Emmy and Magda also tried to outshine each other, hosting lavish parties and dressing like royalty.

These hateful women had people going without. I'm not even talking the fucking concentration camps, but the average German. And because of their status, they could do such a thing. I know, I know, it still happens today.

Supposedly, this first lady title also caused some animosity between her and Eva Braun.

Hitler consequently issued angry instructions to Hermann Göring demanding that Emmy treat Eva with more respect; one of the outcomes of Emmy's condescending attitude toward Eva was that she was no longer invited to Hitler's Bavarian retreat, the Berghof.

After the end of the war, she was arrested at her home in Sackdilling and was imprisoned at Straubing camp, ninety miles from Nuremberg, with her daughter, sister, niece and a servant. A German denazification court convicted her of being a Nazi and sentenced her to one year in jail. When she was released, 30 percent of her property was confiscated, and she was banned from the stage for five years. She was unable to revive her career.

Think about that for a moment. Only 30% of her property. 30%. That's it.

In her final years, she suffered from sciatica. Awww poor baby. [My sarcasm is at an all time high today.] She wrote an autobiography, An der Seite meines Mannes (1967), published in English as My Life with Goering in 1972.

She died a year later.

Personally, I find her to be a sycophant, thus her marriage to Göring. (A sycophant is a person who insincerely flatters someone in order to gain favor or advantage from them. For example, you might describe someone as a sycophant if they praise powerful people in an attempt to get their approval.)

This woman never looked happy. And all I can say about that is good. She lived a lavish life that was because of her and her husband's theft.

[brackishkittie]

୨୧- CHAPTER FOUR, blame it! - ୨୧

summary: you go to a party with your friends and see ellie, you try avoiding her the whole night but when she sees you talking to an old friend, her blood boils and she just has to say something.

c/n: alcohol usage, strong language, jealous!ellie, you and ellie argue ( kinda idk ), and ellie going crazy..again.

a/n: idk why this took me so long to finish but here you guys go! come get y’all juice!!! 🗣️🗣️🗣️���️‼️‼️

series masterlist! - chapter four ➝ chapter five!

"girl I'm outside hurry up," ashlesha said as she tapped her nails on her grey leathered steering wheel as she signaled for nari to scoot over to the other seat with her bag. “I’m coming outside just let me grab my bag and I’ll be right out,” you answer back while fixing your lip liner and ending the call. you walk out of the house and head straight for ashlesha’s car, “girl we thought you were gonna take 18 years and 5 business days to get ready..” nari says as she fixes her blush in her small mirror. “oh please I didn’t even take that long..now let’s go, I’m ready to down some tequila and henny.” you all laugh as ashlesha takes the car out park and puts it back in drive. 30 minutes later, as soon as it hits 8, you all finally make it to the party. “I’m telling y’all..if ellie is here I’m leaving..” you say but get pushed infront of the door by your two friends, “GIRL GOOOO SHE’S NOT HERE!!” nari says, putting her hand on her hip, and groaning.

“ok ok!” you push open the door and walk in as ashlesha and nari follow behind you. you all rush to the kitchen for that well known red solo cup and only a few cranberry and hennessy shots later, you all are on the couch laughing your asses off at the littlest things and then you see her. the one person you didn’t wanna see was right across the room, in the corner, looking down into her cup, and her eyes suddenly dart towards yours as if she knew you were looking at her. she smiles slightly and looks back into her cup but god if you only knew..while she looked unbothered, she was sweating and panicking. “oh my god she’s here? MY PRAYERS!! MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!” she thought to herself and had to stop herself from screaming at the top of her goddamn lungs.

you furrowed your brows and huffed looking at your friends, “you guys said she wasn’t gonna be here” you groaned and playfully hit them both and they giggled. “it’s not funny cmon I wanna go home” you frowned and laid your head on nari’s shoulder. “you should go talk to her” nari says as she pats your head, “no way I don’t wanna talk to her” you sigh and look to your left and see dina and jesse making out in a corner like some freakishly horny crazy highschool teens. “ugh..get a room..” you roll your eyes and look to your right and see a very familiar face, “oh my god? jasmine?” you gasp and she looks at you, “y/n? oh my gosh, hey gorgeous!” you stand up and she comes over and hugs you. ellie sees this and immediately her face drops from “omg my favorite sexy ex that I miss so much is here!!” to “who the actual fuck is that touching her. what the hell.” she clenches her jaw as she watches you two from the corner of the room, her face hot and red.

the more and more you and jasmine laughed and giggled the more ellie felt herself losing her cool. she knew she was your ex now and she knew she couldn’t just march over there but the alcohol was kicking in and she was feeling bold. she walked over to you and jasmine and put her hand on your shoulder, “can I borrow her for a sec? yes? ok thanks.” ellie says as she pulls you away from jasmine who looks extremely confused. “what the hell ellie? what do you want?” you turn to her and say while she just stares at you, pulling her hand away from you and biting the inside of her cheek. “y/n are you doing this on purpose?” she says which makes you tilt your head and show visible confusion to her question. “what the fuck are you talking about?” you’re frustrated, folding your arms and leaning against the wall while she just stares at you trying to get you to fess up about whatever she thinks you’re doing.

all of a sudden, ellie’s face turns red out of embarrassment realizing you actually weren’t trying to make her jealous and that she probably needed to sober up from the alcohol. she rubbed her neck and opened her mouth to speak when she didn’t even get a chance because you immediately read her like a book once you saw her face turn red. “you’re jealous aren’t you?” you squint and almost laugh, “we aren’t together anymore els..move on please.” you say while pushing yourself off the wall to walk away.“whatever..there’s no one better than me anyway.” she now crosses her arms as yours fall to your sides. “oh fuck you. you sound like a man.” you roll your eyes and walk off while ellie flips you off and you can hear her mutter “fuck you too.” and you start giggling to yourself as you walk back over to jasmine.

as it got later on into the night you, nari, and ashlesha all fall asleep on the couch and around 3 in the morning you feel someone shaking you awake. “y/n? Y/NNNN!!! GIRL GET UP LET’S GO.” nari lightly slaps your face trying to wake you up and you start to open your eyes. “ughhhh my head hurts...I have a fucking headache what the hell.” you rub your head and look up at nari, “how many shots did I take?” you ask as she shrugs and looks at ashlesha for the answer but she just shrugs too. “god..can we go back to my place?? you guys can just stay until it’s finally morning.” you sit up from the couch and stretch. “yeah..can we order wingstop when they open? I’m fucking starving and I could fuck up some mango habanero wings right now…a cow even.” nari says while patting her stomach while you pick up your things and follow behind your friends who left the house. “do you think dunkin donuts is open? I need something sweet like now. I feel like a pregnant woman bossing around her wife and child.” nari says as you all fucking lose it while ashlesha starts driving back to your house, still laughing her ass off.

meanwhile with ellie though…

“oh cmon ellie..it couldn’t have been that bad...I hope…” dina says as she pats ellie’s back as she ugly cries into her hands about how much she fucked up that small interaction she had with you a few hours ago at the party. “well I mean..it could’ve gone worse.” jesse says as he chuckles and runs his fingers through his hair, “wow thanks jess, that totally makes me feel better!!” ellie says sarcastically which makes jesse huff and roll his eyes. “all she said was fuck you ellie..she could’ve like slapped you for even pulling her away or cussed you out even more for everyone at the party to hear.” he says while falling back on ellie’s bed and staring up at the ceiling. “jesse, you’re gonna send the girl into cardiac arrest please stop.” she looks at him and hits him on his arm, “well call me kevin gates because you know exactly what happens next after the cardiac arrest.” he laughs while dina and ellie turn to look at him with the most “shut the fuck up” expressions ever. “bad timing?..sorry.” he mutters and looks away.

“obviously?? and stop with that kevin gates video, it’s making me feel extremely ill.” dina says as she shakes her head and sighs, “ellie you really need to talk to y/n…SOBER and IN THE RIGHT MIND.” as soon as dina said that, ellie immediately stopped her ugly crying and side-eyed her so hard. “no shit dina..no shit..and stop yelling in my EAR because I’m right NEXT TO YOU.” ellie says as she wipes her face with her sleeve and goes to the kitchen for a tissue to blow her nose. dina looks at jesse and shakes her head, “man..she’s hooked on this girl..I feel bad because y/n may not come around and she’s on her bad bad BADDD.” dina scratched her head while jesse nodded in agreement.

ellie came back into the room and sat back down on the bed, “so what should I do? it’s only been like a week since our breakup. I can’t just say I wanna get back together now..” ellie groans and grabs her pillow that jesse was laying on, “hey! I was laying on that..” jesse sits up and frowns, “well that’s too damn bad.” ellie scoffs and hides her face in the pillow. “I say give it a few more weeks or a month maybe??” jesse says in response to what she said earlier which she freaks out about. “A MONTH?? ARE YOU CRAZY? she’ll already have moved on by then..I’ll just give it a few more weeks maybe, hopefully, she’ll unblock me on everything and talk to me...if not I’ll have to text her off one of my lurking accounts.” ellie sighs and rubs her temples, “I’m sorry did you just say ONE OF?? AS IN THERE’S MORE THAN ONE??” dina looks at her with pure concern as ellie turns to her and makes a face that says “uhm hello???? obviously???….”

“why do you need more than one?? one is enough to lurk at her..bro what is your problem?” dina blinks a few times before turning away from her and shaking her head in disbelief and disappointment. “in case she finds out it’s me and blocks me? duhhh like I need to have multiple accounts. it’s a necessity when it comes to lurking..you wouldn’t know anyway.” ellie rolls her eyes and nudges dina. “ok so like what if she presses all new accounts made will be blocked??” jesse blurts out which makes ellie’s neck snap towards him and she throws the pillow at him. “take that back NOW. do not manifest that negative energy into my life jesse.” she frowns and gets up, grabs her phone from her desk, and goes onto instagram. “now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go do my daily lurking on y/n’s account.” ellie says with a smile while jesse and dina groan in unison.

tags: @elsmissingfingers @astrcmoni @cowgirlcherrie @theganymedes @ximtiredx @ellieswifee @liabadoobee 🩷🩷

[earlgreytea68]

Host: So where did this one start? Patrick: So, uh, typically I kind of just start with Pete's lyrics and see what that inspires me to, you know, how does this sound? You know, when I read this, what do I think this sounds like? Host: And when Pete sends you those lyrics -- So, is Pete working on lyrics all the time? He's just working on lyrical ideas and then -- Does he ever put a tune to it? Or does he send you a blank page? Patrick: No. He doesn't even send me lyrics in lyric form. He just sends words. And it's interesting when you see it. It's almost like one-liner after one-liner. (chuckle) And I'll just get an email of those. And then you kind of have to-- Neal: The Henny Youngman of lyrics? Patrick: (laughs) Yeah. And then you have to -- Kind of. It's like the -- My dad had a Yogi Berra quote book sitting on his coffee table. It's kind of like that, where it's just one-liner, one-liner, one-liner, and you have to figure out what thematically goes together, what feels like the same song. But then also I do try to keep things together as much as possible, because I feel like he's in a place where it does feel like one thought, you know? And, um -- But yeah, when he sends it, that's all he sends. There's no music or anything. And so when I read there's a kind of, for me, almost passive thing, where I read it and just imagine what it sounds like to me. And so this one scared me a lot because it felt kind of sparse, and I don't really like sparse, I don't really like singing by myself, I don't really like -- You know, I like orchestras, I like being one musician out of, you know, hundreds. I don't really like being so front and center, and I could tell there was something really intimate about this song and that was a big challenge for us. Well, for me. Everybody else seemed convinced. As soon as I finished demo-ing it and I sent it out to everybody, everybody went for it. This I think is the first song that we started, or one of the first songs that we started, Neal, when you and I got together. It's from the first session. And, you know, we had done that first session of "are we going to work together?" This came from that first session. But I think we also spent the longest on figuring out how to actually realize it because I wasn't satisfied with just my voice. With just my voice over keys, it was killing me. It was too naked or something. And I needed more of a story happening with the synths and stuff, with the guitars and all of that. So that took us a long time. Host: Interesting. And is Heaven, Iowa a place? Patrick: I believe so. I don't know if it's real or not. I believe it's the place from "Field of Dreams." Pete was really obsessed with "Field of Dreams." There's something in that story that really, like, set his vision for the whole record lyrically, I guess, so I think that's what it is. But I don't ask. I try not to ask about his lyrics because I feel like there's a thing about it where -- First off, he gives you terr -- He will not explain things. But second off, it also kind of -- I think there's something to that, you know? Where I'll read his lyrics and I'll interpret it one way and years later I'll realize it's another way. There's so many double entendres that I've only gotten, you know, decades later. (chuckle) I'll be singing and I'm like, "Oh, it's a sex thing! I didn't catch that." You know? (x) (this is around 45 minutes in)

[huffle-dork]

Long Live the King

Chapter 7: Crossing the Unknown

Read Fantasy Masks | Read Swapboys | Read the first FM adventure | Other Multiverse Adventures | Read on AO3

The marshy ground of the Moors becomes more and more overrun with water during the day, until there's only the occasional mound of earth poking out from under the surface. The trees aren't bothered, their roots growing larger and lifting themselves out of the ground. Slowly, the boat starts to rock again. Just the faintest bit of waves. Not long after this motion gets noticeable, the boat pulls over to one of the small islands. There are three row boats docked here, along with two groups of people--one wearing wide, flat hats, the other wearing Phantom masks. The flatbed boat stops and Vsevna gets off first, greeting the Phantom group with enthusiasm.

Jackieboy peeks over to look at the new people and the row boats. He frowns, “We’re not crossing the ocean for two days in tiny row boats are we??”

Henrik, standing nearby, laughs. "No, of course not. That would be terrible. Look." He points farther out to sea. There, illuminated by the fading sunlight, is a large sailing ship, the sails not yet down. "That is the Serpent's Wake. Vsevna's ship. He is very proud of it."

Jackieboy squints at the horizon and then he brightens up, bouncing slightly, "OH FUCK YEAH!! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT THING!!"

Henrik laughs again. "I know! It is so amazing, isn't it?!" 

Chase joins them, staring out at the ship. He whistles. "I-I didn't expect it to be so big." 

"You have never been on a ship, then, Chase?" Henrik asks. 

He laughs. "I grew up in the mountains and never went more than a day's walk from my village. Of course I haven't." 

Jameson joins as well. To be fair, I haven't, either. 

"Didn't you also grow up in the mountains, though?" Chase asks. "I remember that the Jairsolas claim was in the Northavens." 

Jameson nods. That's true.

"I wanna climb those sail rigging things SO BAD!!" Jackieboy exclaims, "I wanna be like a pirate!! Like in the movies!!" 

"Please don't Jackie if you fall here we can't help you when you break something," Dr. J says with a sigh. 

Bro laughs, "Don't worry doc, I can float up there and catch him if he falls!" 

"Yeah Jays! Let me live my dream!!" 

Henny is staring out at the boat in awe, "It is majestic! Like something out of an epic!"

Henrik grins. "Vsevna will be so happy to see your reactions. He loves his ship." 

"Hey!" Jackie is over by the pile of supplies in the center, untying the ties. "We have to move this stuff to the rowboats!" 

"Ah, right, right." Henrik nods. "Ah... we were not expecting to run into four extra visitors, so it may be a bit tight. Perhaps we can convince some of the others to wait for a bit." 

"I say we let them take a boat to the ship right now," Chase says. "The sooner they come back, the faster the loading will happen."

"I can stay to help load! Flying will make it easier," Bro grins. 

"I'm willing to do whatever needs to be done to make this easier for you all," Dr. J says with a smile. Jackieboy looks like a kid waiting for his turn on a ride, excitedly watching the boat. He can't keep still.

Chase notices Jackie's excitement and grins. "How about me and Jameson row out with these three?" He indicates JJ, Henny, and Jackie. 

"That will work out," Henrik says. "Go talk to Ankhi and Felicia over there, in the hawk and doe masks. They will row you out there while the rest of us load the two last boats and get ready to load the third when you return."

"Yes!" Jackieboy pumps his fist and parkours out of the boat, eager to get to the row boats now. The rest of the swaps laugh, seeing Jackie so excited. Henny and Dr. J thank the others then follow Jackie out to the rowboats. 

Jackieboy is first to the new Phantoms, "Hi! I'm Jackie!“

 The two Phantoms--Ankhi and Felicia, hawk and doe--look surprised to see Jackieboy. "Ah, good to meet you, then," Felicia says, giving a small smile. Ankhi looks over at Vsevna, raising a hand for attention, and when 

Vsevna waves back he shrugs and looks at Jackie again. 

“Our friends said you could row us out a bit early?" Jackieboy asks.

"Early? Yes, I suppose," Felicia continues. Chase and Jameson catch up with Jackieboy. "Sorry, it's just that we picked up some extra people along the way," Chase explains. "So you will need two trips then, I see." Ankhi nods. "Alright, in the boat, then." 

The rowing takes longer than the swaps expected, but soon they stop next to a ladder built into the side of the ship. "Be careful climbing up," Felicia says. "Landwalkers find it hard sometimes."

Jackieboy makes a 'pffft' sound, "Don't worry, I'm pretty good at this kind of stuff!" 

Dr. J and Henny share a concerned look. But, Jackie scales the ladder like a champ and jumps onto the deck before poking his head down to look at the others. "Hurry up, slowpokes!" 

The two sailor Phantoms look impressed at Jackie's scaling.

"Oh my god he's insufferable sometimes-" Dr. J sighs. 

Henny giggles and goes up next. His lanky limbs kinda get in the way before he manages alright. 

Dr. J hesitates then slowly works his way up the ladder, clinging to the deck once he makes it. Henny helps him up and holds him steady once they're all up. 

After the swaps have gone up, Jameson goes, slow and careful, and then Chase, who tries not to look down and breathes a sigh of relief as soon as he gets on deck. "Not a fan of high places," he says. 

Ironic, considering the jumps you've made before, Jameson says. 

"Hey, those were desperate moments. If we didn't jump out that window the King probably would've killed me." 

That's fair. 

There is so much space on this deck. Not to mention there are stairs leading up to a second deck on top of a cabin. 

Jackieboy laughs in disbelief as he sees the deck and he runs around on it and spins around, laughing in glee. "Look at this thing!! ITS AMAZING!! it's so big!!" He looks back at his friends and points, "That's it! When we get back home- I'm looking up where to find a ship like this nearby cuz I need to take Zara and the kids on one of these!!" 

Dr. J chuckles, "That sounds like a wonderful idea, Jackie." 

Henny comes to join Jackie, running around the deck and looking around. Chase and Jameson hang off to the side, more watching the other three react than anything else. 

There are quite a few people out. They all have Phantom masks but only a couple are actually wearing them on their faces. They all seem to stare at the Swaps when they see that they don’t have masks but relax as they see Chase and Jameson with theirs. 

“I guess we’ll have to see if Vsevna has plaster here… you all need masks,” Chase says. 

Henny gasps in excitement and stims a bit in place. “We can get masks?! Oh yes, yes!!!” 

“Heh really? That’d be so pog!” Jackieboy grins. “Bro and Alt talked on and on about how much they loved theirs.” 

“But… aren’t those only for Phantoms..?” Dr. J says quietly. 

I think at this point you all certainly count as Phantoms. Jameson smiles. 

“Though we’re not exactly the uh- authority on that,” Chase laughs. “But I’m sure Jackie, Hen and Marvin will agree.” 

The Swaps exchange excited looks. 

Meanwhile, Bro is trying his best to help carry all the heavy things and load them into the rowboats.

While that group piles in the rowboat and heads off, the others continue unloading the boat, which is a bit harder than loading it in the first place since the hold is so small. Marvin's levitation magic proves invaluable. 

In the time it takes the first rowboat to go out and come back, the other two have been loaded. 

"You can take one of these two out while we finish this last boat," Jackie says to Bro. "We won't mind if you want to meet up with your friends sooner."

Bro wipes some sweat off his brow and then looks at Jackie and laughs, "Do I really need to take a rowboat if I can just... fly over?" Then he thinks, "... then again- I don't wanna scare the other crew-"

Vsevna overhears Bro's comment and laughs. "Do you think my crew scares that easily?" he says, playfully. "We have seen much! We have even sailed through some Wyldseas. Sure, they may shout, but they will not be scared." 

"But he does not have his mask," Henrik points out. "They may not trust him at first." 

"Ah, I'm sure his friends can explain."

Bro laughs with Vsevna and nods, "Ah very true- I was wonderin' if you guys still had my mask from last time... but considering what happened to Wyvern lair... probably not." He sighs and shakes his head, "...probably good I didn't keep mine though... Alt had his when we left... but he didn't have it after... I think the King got rid of it..." Anger burns in his eyes.

Jackie's expression darkens. "He might've kept it," he mutters. "I haven't interacted much with him, but from what others have told me... he's the type to keep trophies." 

"Son of a bitch," Henrik mutters. 

Bro grits his teeth in even more anger, his eyes glowing bright blue. “Fucking bastard.” 

Jackie sighs. "In any case. It seems like you can fly on over if you want. I think Vsevna knows his crew." 

Vsevna grins and nods.

Bro looks back at Jackie and manages to calm himself down for a second- enough to give Jackie a small smile. “…I have been getting kinda restless not being able to fly so-“ He jumps up and hovers in the air above them for just long enough to give them a salute, “See you on the boat then, gents!” And then Bro rockets over to the boat. 

The crew on the Serpent's Wake shout out in surprise when they see Bro flying. A few go for crossbows hanging from their belts but Chase waves his arms. "No no no! He's with us!" he shouts. 

"A flying man?!" Someone shouts, confused. 

"Um--yeah?" 

The crew exchange glances and mutters but don't do anything as Bro flies closer. 

Jackieboy looks up and grins, waving up to the sky, “Bro!!” 

Dr. J chuckles, “I’m surprised he waited this long to fly around!” 

“I could tell he was getting antsy,” Henny giggles. He joins Jackie in his waving.

To be honest, he didn't do that much flying while he was here last time, Jameson says, eyes wide. It's amazing to see.

"Yeah that makes sense- He doesn't wanna scare people," Jackieboy chuckles, "He's a bit better than Alt though. Alt gets sick if he can't glitch- Bro just gets super restless. Like- that feeling when you're trapped inside and you wanna get out-" 

Bro startles as the crossbows are grabbed and hurries down to land on the deck. "Uh- hello there everyone! Sorry- i'm friendly and with the Phantoms I swear!" 

"Yeah he's with us!" Jackieboy grins and throws his arm around Bro's shoulders. "He's chill!" Bro blinks and then laughs, ruffling Jackieboy's hair. 

The crew look at each other and--almost in comical unison--turn away and get back to work. 

Chase and Jameson are surprised, and Chase actually laughs. "I wasn't expecting that." 

I suppose sailors have more to worry about, Jameson says. Is that true, about Alt getting sick? 

Jackie and Bro both look at Jameson. The hero nods sadly, "Yeah... he used to get sick a lot as a kid cuz... well he didn’t know he was magic I guess. Or I think we had to hide that? at least that's what my aunts said... I don't remember why... I think we just didn't want our parents finding us?" He gets a far off look in his eyes for a second before he shakes his head and continues, "But, yeah- one time early in our friendship he wasn't glitching around us and he just got... really sick." 

"I believe we figured out later its just pent up magic," Dr. J adds, "His body produces magic very fast and he has to use it or it overwhelms him like a fever." 

"He didn't use his ghlishing all that much last time," Chase mutters. "Poor guy. If he was worried he didn't need to be." 

Bro looks at Chase with a slightly sad expression, "Yeah... knowing Alt... he was trying not to... He's very stubborn like that... and really hates being looked at strangely... you know? But, if he does glitch around you, that means he trusts you." He smiles a bit more at this.

Jameson looks a bit worried about the far-off look in Bro's eyes, but decides to ignore it. I hope he doesn't do that again. His comfort is more important than others' impressions. 

Bro smiles softly at Jameson, “I hope so too… I think it’s easier for him here now… he didn’t seem like he was like- looking to hide it.” 

"Well, it's hard for some people," Chase says slowly. "People don't like to stand out. I get it." He smiles back at Bro. "And I think it's really nice that he eventually got comfortable to, ah, ghlish around us. Is that how you say it? I thought 'ghlishing' was the only form of that word." 

Clearly we lost something in translation last time, Jameson says. 

"Clearly." 

Bro blinks and then knits his eyebrows together, “It’s cuz it’s a really modern word… it has to do with a… lightning machine we have and his magic looks like… an effect it gives off?” He laughs, “it’s really complicated to explain…” 

“It can be called ‘glitch-ing’ as an action or… I guess ‘glitch’ is also an action word!” Dr. J chuckles, shaking his head. “English is so strange sometimes.” 

All languages are strange, Jameson comments. 

Changing the subject, Chase looks around. "I didn't expect a ship to be so busy."

Looking out towards the coast, the three rowboats are halfway to the ship. People start shouting and running about, preparing for their arrival.

Henny looks around at all the chaos too and sticks closer to the group. “ah yes- a lot is happening…” He looks towards Chase and Jameson, “Should we be helping? Or would we uh… get in the way?”

Chase also looks confused and a bit worried. "Um... I think we should stay to the side," he says. "None of us really know anything about ship stuff." 

The swaps all look at each other then agree to stay back. Yeah, this seems complicated. Besides- looks like the crew had it handled. 

When the rowboats approach, the crew lowers some winches as people start climbing up from them. Vsevna is first, and a lot of the crew shouts greetings. He laughs and waves and starts talking with the others. Henrik and Jackie soon appear, though Jackie turns around and shouts back down, "You can't make them pull you up again!" 

"Fuck you!" Marvin shouts back, though he doesn't sound actually angry. 

The swaps all laugh at hearing Marvin's shout.

Jackie sighs and looks around for the others. "Hey."

"Pulled up again?" Jackieboy asks through giggles, "Did he make the crew pull up the whole row boat so he wouldnt have to use the ladder before??" 

"That's exactly what he did," Jackie says. "I don't fully blame him for that, since he's not the best on his feet, but surely there's some magic that could help with that, right?" 

"If I'd known that was an option, I would've asked for that," Chase mutters. "That ladder was terrifying." 

Jackie sighs. "In any case. There are three guest cabins downstairs with a bed each. They're pretty small, but if you want to all try to fit in, go ahead. Or I suppose you could choose to sleep with the crew, they probably have spare hammocks. Oh, speaking of Marvin. He asked for a cabin to himself, given the whole... nausea condition. Even with the tonic he's worried about it. So there's really only two. "

The boys all share some looks, then look back towards Jackie. 

Dr. J timidly lifts a hand, "...I'm also worried about being nauseous so if I can... a cabin would be great." 

"We could share, Doc!" Jackieboy says with glee, "That way I can hopefully get some better sleep too- last couple nights have been rough..." 

"Me and Henny could share too- You wouldn't mind, right Hen?" Bro asks. 

"only if it is okay!" Henny says timidly, "I would not wanna take a cabin from someone else who is needing it!"

Henrik raises an eyebrow. "If you all think you can fit. They are pretty small." 

"I'm fine with sleeping with the crew," Jackie says. "What about you two?" He looks at Chase and Jameson. 

Chase shrugs. "I don't really care. I can sleep wherever." 

I'll take wherever I can get, Jameson adds. 

Henny and Bro look at each other, "If they're small- me and Hen can sleep with the crew too. I'm a pretty heavy sleeper." 

"Yeah! I think it could be fun! I have never slept a whole night in a hammock!" Henny says brightly. 

"Also, here, JJ." Henrik hands JJ a small ceramic bottle. "This is one of the tonics. Take one mouthful when you go to sleep and another when you wake up." 

The thought of a swinging hammock on a rocking ship makes Dr. J look kinda pale. So, he's relived when Henrik hands him the tonic. "Thank you so much Henrik."

"Not a problem." Henrik smiles. "I need to give one to Marvin, too. Where is he?" 

"Boat." Jackie points. "Again?" 

"Yea." 

"I do not think the crew like him that much." 

Jackie stifles a laugh. 

Bro laughs loudly at this, "Yeah i'm not sure I would either, having to do that!" 

"Oh, the sunset!" Chase gasps, looking off the bow of the ship. The sun is setting, the orange and pink light reflecting off the deep blue water. "That's beautiful!"

Henny and Jackieboy looks towards the sunset, then towards each other before they run towards the bow.  Jackieboy climbs on the top of the wall of the ship and looks out, laughing lightly in awe, "Wow... that is just gorgeous..." 

Henny leans on the wall and smiles, watching," Ha... this reminds me of when I was young… with my Papa and brothers... seeing the sun set on the beach..." 

Dr. J watches the two go with a fond shake of his head. Bro smiles and they take in the sunset too.

For a moment, everyone just watches the sunset. The crew doesn't mind, working around them. They're used to passengers. So they start pulling up the boats and their stored goods and begin to transfer them to the cargo hold. 

Marvin gets out of the boat and wanders over to the group, also looking at the sunset for a moment before clearing his throat. "I'm, um... going to go to a cabin." 

"Ah, here, Marvin." Henrik hands him another one of the ceramic bottles. "One mouthful before sleep, one when you wake." 

"Alright. Sure." Marvin examines the bottle. "Is everyone going below the deck, too? Who has the cabins?" 

"Jackieboy and JJ." 

"And you?" 

Henrik blushes. "Vsevna offered..." 

Jackieboy snickers at Henrik's blushing. 

Marvin grins but says nothing and just heads down a set of stairs tucked next to the captain's cabin.

"I might follow Marvin's lead and retire early too..." Dr. J says, clutching the tonic. "Since its gonna be dark soon anyways." 

"Oh yeah- is this kinda ship good to sail at night?" Jackieboy asks with a head tilt, then he shakes his head. "... that might be a dumb question- I just dont remember if we're setting off right away or in the morning-" 

"If we were not leaving until morning, why would we already be on the ship?" Henny asks, knitting his eyebrows. 

"Idk man! I dunno how boats work! That's my wife's specialty!"

Henrik chuckles. "Of course the ship is good to sail at night. It is built for long voyages. You cannot just stop sailing when it gets dark, that would eat up so much time. Don't worry, the crew is very capable." 

Jackieboy laughs and messes with his hair, "Yeahhh that makes sense... That'd be dumb-" 

"We might as well go to bed then, and let them take care of it," Chase says.

Bro stretches and nods, "That works for me." 

Henny smiles, "Yes! nothing wrong with some extra sleep. Then, we'll be one nights closer to finding our friend!"

"Let's go below, then," Jackie says. "Come on. I've been on the Serpent's before, I can show you where things are."

◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈

A benefit to sleeping below the decks of a massive ship? There is hardly any light to wake you up in the morning. Those in the cabins have portholes, but the portholes have wooden shutters that close. Everyone is free to sleep as long as they want... though those in the hammocks may be stirred by the sound of the crew getting up and going about their ship business.

Bro rises pretty early with the crew- used to early morning patrols. He stretches and looks around, smiling as he sees Henny still curled up asleep in his hammock. He goes up on the deck and goes to the edge to look out at the sea, feeling the fresh salty sea air. 

Dr. J comes up not long after, looking around and then relaxing slightly at seeing Bro. He comes over to stand next to him. "Good morning, Chase!" 

Bro smiles back at JJ. "Mornin' Doc. How ya feelin'?" 

"Better than I thought I would! Henrik's tonic has helped a lot." The good doctor smiles.

Jackie is already up, also used to early mornings, doing sword practice in a corner of the deck with some of the sailors. Seems the swaying deck has taken away some of his keen dexerity and he loses pretty frequently. 

Chase wakes up shortly after JJ does. "There's so much water," he mutters, looking out at the open sea. Then he looks up. "There are already people up there?!" He blanches just seeing the crew members going up and down the rigging.

Bro looks up at Chase's exclamation and then grins, "Oh... Jackie's gonna be such a menace to those guys-" 

"Honestly I don't see the appeal..." Dr. J says, shaking his head. 

"Only cuz you're scared of heights." 

"Any sensible person would be!"

"I completely agree," Chase says. "What if you fall? Not everyone can fly. In fact, almost no one can fly!" 

Henrik comes out of the captain's cabin at that moment. "Good morning, everyone," he says cheerfully. "Hmm. Seems only about half of us are awake. Do you want to watch Jackie fight? He falls down while doing so on the ship, it is very rare to see him fall." He chuckles. 

Bro grins, "I'm actually thinking of joining if I can! But, dunno probably good to eat something first-" 

Then, one of the doors to the lower cabins bursts open downstairs and Jackieboy claws his way up the stairs to the deck. He grins wide at seeing others up in the rigging and points up, "WATCH OUT ROPES IMMA BOUT TO CLIMB YOU SO HARD!!" 

Bro bursts into laughter, "Uh oh- proper sleep has made him hyper!" 

"YA DAMN RIGHT IT DID!" Jackie calls. 

Dr. J shakes his head, "Before breakfast? He's a mad man-" 

Chase shakes his head as he watches Jackieboy. "He's a fool." 

Dr. J laughs, "I agree- but unfortunately he's a very loveable fool." He says this as he watches Jackieboy start to climb the rigging, grinning like a child on Christmas. 

"Don't be so mean," Henrik scolds. "Not everyone is scared to fall. Besides, Bro could catch him, probably." 

"Well, he's free to do whatever he wants." Chase shrugs.

Henny soon pops his head up from below, his hair tussled from sleep. "Why is there the yelling?" he asks as he joins the others, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. 

Bro chuckles, "You don't usually sleep this late, Henns-" 

"The hammock was very comfy..." Henny yawns.

Chase glances at Henny and smiles. "Yea, it was, wasn't it? Something about the swaying was so soothing to me. And then--then I had another draisling." He looks at the swaps. "You remember me telling you about that, right? With Jack?”

Bro blinks and then nods, "Oh yeah! Your magic dreams- I remember!" 

“He, um... told me something. The King and Magnificent are going to the Wyldwood, and they're bringing Alt with them." 

Jameson appears just in time to hear this, looking like he didn't sleep as well as Chase and Henny. So my vision is on our path? he asks. 

"Seems like it." Henrik lets out a breath. "That is good to know." 

"And," Chase adds, "the two of them think that the Winged Elder One is helping Alt somehow." 

Henrik gasps. "So we are really on the right path, then!" 

Jameson grins, happy to hear this. 

Bro frowns at hearing about the King and Mag, and looks furious at the mention of Alt still being with them. But, he does brighten as he hears about the Elder, but his expression quickly morphs into worry. "If that is true... then they already know... that means they're gonna do everything they can to stop it..." He grits his teeth in anger.

"The King and Magnificent will stop it, you mean?" Henrik asks, looking worried. 

Chase rolls his eyes. "How arrogant do you have to be to think you can stop an Elder? If I was in their position, I would just give up there and try something else." 

Jackie, after getting knocked on his ass again, gets up and joins the others. "What are you talking about?" 

"Oh, uh..." Chase fills him in quickly. 

Jackie sighs. "Well, people like those two won't give up until they get what they want. And honestly, I don't think they'll ever get what they want. Their goal will keep shifting." 

Jameson nods. There's a way of fortune telling involving arcana cards. I remember learning about it when I was little, oracles in Saelas use it. One of the arcana cards is Hunger. A person who is never sated no matter how much they consume. This spirit is certainly like that, and I'm betting Magnificent is, too.

"Oh yeah... that's probably the best way to describe him," Bro growls, power bright in his eyes. "Arrogant, power-hungry... probably thinks going up against an Elder is a fun challenge-" He spist out with hatred. 

"... What can we do then? What if... together... they can best an Elder?" Henny asks in a small voice.

Chase and Jackie start laughing at that. 

"If they can defeat an Elder, they'd still have to deal with the other twenty-four of them," Jackie says. 

"I don't care how unnaturally strong that spirit is, he cannot defeat them," Chase says. "And even if he can, the world is full of other gods who would take issue with that." 

"Exactly," Henrik says. "The Celestial Sisters are watching over this island, as well as the Forger. Do they think they can defeat the ocean? Do they think they can defeat the moon and sun?" He scoffs just saying that.

Henny blinks and then laughs lightly too, shaking his head. "Ha... no- Magnificent is powerful but not that powerful!" 

Bro seems to relax at this too. Having someone point this out helped to ease his worry. "Ha- never really thought we'd have gods on our side..." He looks up at the sky, gripping his shirt over his chest. "... I hope they're able to help Alt... just until we get there..." 

"I'm sure he can make it," Jackie says. 

Chase nods. "I've had a couple encounters with an Elder. They're in my draislings. I'm sure they can protect him."

Bro smiles at Jackie and Chase’s reassurance.

"We have to believe in him too, Chase," Dr. J says gently, "Alt is a tough lad- I bet he's fighting as hard as he can... But, no matter what... we'll find him and bring him home." 

Bro nods at this and sighs, messing with his hair, "Yeah... I know... I just... can't help but worry. He's my baby brother..."

As Bro mentions Alt being his brother, Jameson's expression uncharacteristically... breaks. It's hard to catch, but for a moment, his face is full of grief. He quickly schools it back to sympathy. It's tough, trying to protect younger siblings, he says. But you can't let that guilt eat you up. You're doing everything you can. And I'm sure Alt knows that, even through whatever spell they have on him. 

The others glance at Jameson.

Henny watches Jameson and looks concerned for him. 

Bro blinks then smiles slightly, “Oh yeah- you mentioned having siblings once… sisters, right? So… you get it.” He sighs and messes with his hair some more. “But you’re right… Worrying isn’t gonna do anything right now…”

Jameson glances at Henny’s concerned face, then looks back at Bro with a small smile. Well technically Emer wasn’t my sister all the time, sometimes she was my [sibling], but she didn’t mind the rest of us lumping her together with Orla and Mairead. 

Bro smiles, “Non-binary- nice! also those are such pretty names! I bet they’re great gals!” 

Jackie clears his throat. “I have siblings too. Haven’t seen them in a while but I do wonder how they’re getting on sometimes. I’m not going to say you shouldn’t worry, it’s impossible not to, but don’t let it control you, okay?” He grins. “How about a distraction?” He raises a wooden practice sword in demonstration. 

“Oh yes, Bro, you may have a chance now that the waves throw Jackie off,” Henrik chuckles.

Bro looks at Jackie and then grins wide, “Hell yeah!”

As soon as Bro looks away Jameson’s expression slips again. Chase puts a hand on his shoulder, which Jameson looks grateful for. Has anyone seen Marvin? he asks, changing the subject. 

“I think he is still in his cabin,” Henrik says. “I hope the tonic is helping his nausea. If it is, he should come up. He would like watching this I think.” He gestures at Bro and Jackie going off to spar. 

I’ll go check on him, then, Jameson says, and turns to leave.

Henny watches Jameson with more worry and then looks to the others, “I think I left something downstairs as well! I will go with Jameson-“ Then he quickly follows after Jameson. He hesitates for a second and then reaches out to gently take Jameson’s shoulder, “…Jameson my friend… is something wrong?” He asks quietly.

Jameson stops just before the stairs below deck. He reflexively starts to deny it, then hesitates. Are you… prepared to hear something serious?

Henny looks even more worried but then he nods, “If you are willing to share… it is alright if you are not though. I just want to make sure you are okay…”

I think an explanation is needed, anyway. It’s only fair. I think everyone else knows. Jameson hesitates again before going on. My sisters… have passed. Six years ago my parents opposed many of the King’s new policies, so he… retaliated. I’m the last of my line. He shakes his head. All that sibling talk just… reminded me of things. 

Henny’s eyes widen and then, without thinking, he grabs Jameson and pulls him into a tight hug. He buries his head against Jameson’s shoulder and whispers in a shaky voice, “I am… so sorry, Jameson…” 

Jameson, not expecting that at all, stiffens slightly. But then he quickly melts into it, hugging Henny back. He closes his eyes and lets out a long breath. Been a while since someone said that.

Henrik hugs him tight for a while before finally letting go. He wipes underneath his eyes and then looks at Jameson with a sympathetic expression. “…I understand your pain, my friend. In a different way but… I… I will tell you something my friends know that you all do not…” He fidgets anxiously with his pocket watch and looks down, taking a deep breath. “…Magnificent… he pulled me from the past in our world… one minute… I was still living with my papa and my brothers were alive and then… it was suddenly 90 years in the future.” Tears brim in his eyes, “in a way… he took my family from me… and I already lost my mother and my sisters in a war…” He pushes up his glasses to wipe at his eyes better before laughing bitterly. “M-maybe that is too serious but… I understand, Jameson… I lost my entire family too…”

Jameson's eyes go wide, and then his expression softens. He shakes his head. No, it's not too much. It's alright. There are tears in his eyes too. I'm so sorry, Henny. I can't imagine what it would have been like jumping through time, after already losing your family. He gives a voiceless, dark laugh. But I also understand that pain. He smiles, eyes watery. I suppose we have to make them proud from beyond, then, don't we? He indicates the mask hanging from his belt. My family crest was a rabbit. I think... I think resisting the King is what they would want me to do.

Henrik looks up at Jameson and gives him a watery smile too, a tear dripping down his face. “Yes… I-I think they would be very proud… of both of us.” He gives Jameson another quick hug before backing up and wiping at his face again. He laughs lightly. “now… w-we should probably see if Marvin is alright, Ja?”

Jameson nods. He's probably sleeping in, if he's not too nauseous. But let's check anyway. He gives him one more smile, and then heads down the stairs. 

◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈━◈

Soon after the sun rises, Aneirin wakes up. He immediately turns his attention to Alt. He didn't see any more strange dreams that night, but that didn't mean there weren't more possibly coming. Getting up, he nudges Alt awake, and then Magnificent. "I think it's time," he says, grinning. "Time to jump across the land."

Alt looks exhausted, the dark bags under his eyes getting worse each day. But, he glitches up and stands at attention, dazedly looking back at the King. 

Magnificent blinks awake and then grins, getting to his feet in a flicker of magic. “Finally~!” He glances over at Alt and checks his strings mentally. They’re still strong. He nods in satisfaction, grinning even more.

Aneirin looks a bit concerned at Alt’s condition, but they don’t have time to let him rest. “We can leave the horses behind,” he says, grabbing the bags from them. They’d made sure to stock them up during the trip, but if worst comes to worst, he could remember an edible fruit if he saw it. “It will be too difficult for them.”

“Good- they were useful but I’m glad to not have to ride them anymore.” Magnificent grumbles. 

Alt looks at the King grabbing the bags and holds out a hand, “I can carry those, mu Ríth.” 

Aneirin grins. “Thank you, á klaíoh.” He was going to tell him to carry them anyway, but it’s always good to see them showing initiative. Alt takes the bags and adjusts them accordingly, nodding to the King. 

 As Aneirin hands them over, he looks up at the sky. Clouds are visibly moving across it. Gathering above them. This black magic is certainly giving him a boost. Then he looks around. They need a stretch of clear land… there. He points to a spot about fifty feet away. “I’ll open the doorway there. Don’t get too close until it appears.”

Magnificent grins at the clouds but then tilts his head and narrows his eyes towards where Aneirin pointed, “Why can’t we get close-?”

“Because lightning is about to strike,” the King says bluntly. The clouds rumble ominously after that. How dramatic.

“…oh- well yeah… that would explain it.” Magnificent replies, blinking rapidly.

“Get ready.” The King narrows his eyes. They flash green— A bolt of lightning flashes down from the clouds and strikes the ground. 

Dirt and grass sprays into the air, and suddenly a hole opens up, an archway of green light wide enough for the three of them to walk through side by side. The middle no longer shows the field, but instead a lush forest in all shades of green, the ground gradually sloping downwards.

Alt’s eyes widen as he sees the forest on the other side. He starts to walk forward- but Mag grabs him and tugs him back slightly. “Stay by us, kitten. We don’t want you getting lost.” 

Green flashes weakly in Alt’s eyes but he nods, whispering, “Y-Yes my liege.” 

Ah. Just as he remembers. The King nods, preparing himself, and walks forward. 

Magnificent grins, looking at the portal with mad glee. “This is it! Let’s go~” He walks toward, Alt trailing just behind him.

As soon as the three of them are through the doorway closes. They are standing on a sloped ground, surrounded by trees with dark green leaves, thick enough to completely block out the sky. But it’s bright as day in the forest, lit up by glowing yellow and orange mushrooms growing on the trees’ bark. Patches of moss cover everything in a fuzzy green carpet and the grass blades are wide, reaching their knees. “This is… in the foothills of the mountains, I believe,” Aneirin says.

Magnificent whistles, “My my… what a pretty sight!” He then makes a face at the grass reaching up so high and lifts up his foot slightly. “ugh- I definitely see where the wild fits in though.” 

Alt looks around at the glowing mushrooms and the trees. “it’s… beautiful.” 

Aneirin looks around. "I suppose it is. It's been so long since I've seen it in person." He gently puts one hand against the nearest tree. And the moss shrinks back, spreading away from his hand like an amoeba moving. A low groaning sound echoes through the forest. Other than that, there is no noise at all. "But that doesn't make it any less dangerous. I think I remember our destination being on flatter ground."

“Then let’s get moving,” Magnificent says, heading down the slope. 

Alt hesitates, watching the moss shrinking away from the King. But soon enough his eyes flicker with green and he moves to follow Magnificent. He grips their supply bag tightly, looking around the forest cautiously as they move.

Nothing happens for a while. They brush through the grass and weave around the trees, heading gradually downwards. Alt and Mag can feel the magic around them, so strong it's practically buzzing. Another one of those groaning noises echoes through the forest, and despite the lack of wind, the trees rustle. And then the ground heaves, gnarled tree roots rising from the earth, blocking their way forward.

Alt reacts first, getting in front of Mag and the King and holding a hand buzzing with green lightning out towards the roots. But, he relaxes as it doesn’t seem like it’s attacking them. He does look at them in confusion, though. 

Magnificent steps forward and growls, lighting green fire up in his hand. “The fuck is this?!”

"I told you, the forest has a mind of its own," the King says. He steps forward, experimentally touching the raised roots. They don't react. He turns to the side, inching between the trees, but it seems this wall continues to the left and the right. "No way around it, it looks like. We'll have to find some way through."

Magnificent growls, eyes glowing bright, “I’ll make a way through!” 

“W-Won’t that cause a huge fire??” Alt says in a bit of panic. 

“Silence whelp- you weren’t spoken to!” Magnificent snaps at Alt. The knight scampers back and presses his lips shut. “If this forest has a mind of its own- it can find a way to put itself out!” The mad magician giggles, then lashes out to try to blast a hole through the roots with a blast of green fire. 

The fire catches, burning through the wood surprisingly quickly. 

Aneirin steps back, looking actually shocked. The roots writhe as more of those groaning sounds echo through the environment. And then, from deep within the forest, comes a wailing scream of terror. Fear rolls through the woods, rising up within them at the sound of that scream. It's almost a physical force telling them to run as fast as possible in the other direction.

Alt stumbles back from the fire, eyes wide. Then, the screaming comes and he feels a shiver go through his body, parts of it threatening to pixelize. He starts to step back, almost wanting to listen to the force. But then his eyes flash green, Mag’s command to stay close washing away all the terror and he relaxes, eyes glazing over slightly. 

Magnificent feels the force but then snorts and steps forward, going through the smoking hole he made through the wood. “Nice try, woods- but you won’t scare me.”

Aneirin raises an eyebrow. "Impressive." He follows Magnificent. As he passes through the hole the tree roots slam down, barely missing him as they burrow into the earth to recover from the burning. He doesn't even flinch. "That's probably a banshee or darrig. We'll know if it's the latter if we have nightmares." 

The tree branches overhead bend, almost avoiding touching the two of them. They don't bend away from Alt. Which is a bit inconvenient, but it doesn't feel malicious.

“Oh goody- I love those,” Magnificent grumbles. He keeps moving forward. Alt stares at the roots as they slam down, a brief flickering in his eyes. But then he follows after Mag and the King, glitching around the branches in his way. 

It's hard to tell how much time passes without the sun for reference. Slowly, the trees change, growing taller and straighter, their dark brown bark speckled with white. The grass is no longer knee-length, now just brushing their ankles, turning dark green, almost turquoise. The glowing mushrooms disappear but are replaced by small white flowers and pink butterflies, both glowing as well. 

Soon, hunger starts to set in for the King and Alt. And just as they start to notice, they come to a section where vines drop down from the high branches of the trees. Vines with fruit on the end and berries along the length. There's a whole variety, the fruit resembling plums, apricots, nectarines, the berries like cherries and mulberries, but they're all the wrong colors. They look almost like jewels in the way they shine.

Alt, who's been dazedly walking through the changes, blinks up at the vines. Then, he seems to brighten, his stomach churning painfully. He instantly reaches up to try to grab some of the fruit. 

"Careful, á klaíoh." The King holds out his hand, stopping Alt from grabbing anything. "Fruit in the Wyldwood could be a trick." He narrows his eyes, trying to recall these. "If I'm correct... you shouldn't eat the ones that are warmer colors. Stick to the cooler blues and purples." Maybe. It's been a while since he had to eat these. And he'd rather Alt try than him. 

Alt startles slightly at the King stopping him. He blinks and then looks out at the vine again. He takes the first cool colored fruit he can find, hesitates, then slowly takes a bite.

It--it's so good. Delicious, sweet, and surprisingly rich for a fruit. It tastes like new flavors are emerging the longer he has it in his mouth, and as he swallows he feels comforting warmth in his stomach. His body is buzzing with energy, glitching on its own. 

He wants more. He needs more--

Alt practically melts as he chews on the fruit, eagerly eating what he can before he starts to reach for another. Then, he stops and furrows his brows against the sensation. He's hungry but... this... feels like a trap. He glitches back, looking at the fruit with narrowed eyes. He looks down at his body now, eyes widening as he sees the energy bubbling throughout. "...woah-" 

"...strange fruit-" Mag comments, raising an eyebrow. "If it provides energy though... maybe we should keep some around." 

"...I-I don't think that's a very good idea, sire..." Alt breathes, "...I think the fruit was trying to bewitch me-" 

Aneirin blinks. "Ah yes, I remember now." He reaches up to the vines himself and--avoiding the fruit at the end--takes some of the berries. "The warm fruit will steal your energy while the cool fruit gives you it, but they both taste so delicious that you want to eat until your stomach bursts. To offset it, you need to consume the berries first." He pops a couple of them in his mouth. They taste slightly sour, a feeling that lingers as he grabs a purple fruit and bites into it. It's delicious, but not irresistible. "You were able to resist the feeling on your own? Impressive."

Alt feels a wave of pride swell through him at the King's praise. He smiles timidly and nods, grabbing some berries for himself and following the King's lead. "T-Thank you, mu Rith." He mumbles, popping a few berries in his mouth and then grabbing another cool fruit. His body buzzes with more energy and he grins, feeling better than he has in a couple days. He starts to pick both berries and fruits to take with them. 

"You're welcome." The King leans back against a tree as he eats. "We can take a moment here. I believe we also have bread and meat in the bags, if we're making this a full meal. If you would, á klaíoh, when you're done gathering." He gestures at the bags Alt is carrying. 

Alt glitches around and then perks up a bit and seems relieved the King is willing to take a break. "Of course, sire!" He sits down and starts to unpack, pulling out all the things they need for a full meal. 

Mag looks annoyed about having to stop but he sighs and comes over to sit anyway.

Aneirin notices Mag's annoyance and smirks slightly. "Come now, Magnificent. Surely you remember the need for rest, even if you may not remember the need for food. Besides, we're not sure where our destination lies anyway. A search takes more energy than a simple journey."

Magnificent sighs dramatically but he does lean back on his hands. "Yeah yeah- I suppose my legs could use a rest." 

Alt breaks the bread and hands some of the bread and meat to the King before giving himself some to eat and digging in.

They eat quietly for a while, the only sound being the faint rustling of leaves and that strange groaning noise. Now able to sit and really listen, it sounds like... like something heavy moving. Maybe something wooden. 

Magnificent has his eyes closed, enjoying the feeling of the forest during their break. Even if he's not a big fan of that groaning noise... 

There's also another sound. Alt can hear a faint... murmuring. Not a sound that fits in the woods. It sounds like one or two human voices.

Alt eats quickly but tries to savor the food too. As he's finishing up he picks up the sound of the mumbling and looks towards it, lightly tilting his head.

"...What is it?" Aneirin asks, noticing Alt's attention. Then he hears it too. "...Voices?" He frowns. "Wait a moment. Let's see if they change at all." 

They don't. They stay where they are, at generally the same volume, too low to really hear the words.

Alt tenses his shoulders and listens, narrowing his eyes. When they don't move he looks towards the King, "...an illusion?"

"Possibly," he says slowly. "But I believe we can take on any creatures that would cause it. It could also be real. And if it is, I am curious..." He pauses. It's tempting to send Alt to check it out, but if he goes too far, they could get separated. He looks at Magnificent, silently asking for his opinion. 

Alt's eyes spark with magic, "I could check it out, mu Rith." 

Magnificent glances at Aneirin and then shrugs, {His control is solid. He knows not to stray too far from our side.}

Aneirin nods reluctantly. "Very well. Be careful. If you think you are in danger, return and alert us instead of staying to fight."

Alt's flash green at the command as he nods, "Yes, mu Ríth." Then he glitches out of sight. He appears where he thinks he heard the noise, magic bubbling in his hands as he looks cautiously around.

As he weaves between the trees, the voices get louder until he sees two figures crouching behind a pair of bushes--which doesn't help hide them at all, since they are the only bushes in sight and kind of stand out. One of the figures is small, the size of a child, but with adult proportions. He wears old-looking clothes and has a mane of curly red hair and a beard that practically hides his face. The other is mostly covered by a black cloak, but has skinny wrinkled arms and long white hair. They are talking. It's not Glasish (or even English), but somehow Alt knows what they're saying. 

"What is a Jester but a Fool without conviction?" 

"The conviction is the difference. A Fool would walk down the Forest Path, a Jester would turn away for spite or fun." 

The short man grumbles and the cloaked woman sweeps two things towards her. It seems they're playing a card game of some sort, with a set of cards whose backs have the same pattern as the bark on the surrounding trees. Each of them has a hand of five cards and a pile of face-up claimed cards, and there's a deck to draw from in the middle. 

Alt pauses as he hears the voices get louder and he stops to hide partially behind a tree. He narrows his eyes at the figures. ...the King said this forest was dangerous... why are these people just... out here playing cards...?

Suddenly, both of them turn and look right at Alt, the tree doing him no favors. "Oh, someone approaches!" says the cloaked woman. "He smells of Hunger but he is not of that." 

"I think he travels with one, maybe two," says the small man. "Which is he, you think? Perhaps of the Hood?" 

"I say a Magician, or perhaps a Ghlish." 

"These people are of many arcana, maybe he is all of them." 

"That is very true. Stranger, would you like to join our game? We can deal you a hand. If you play well, perhaps we will give you aid."

Alt stiffens as they turn towards him, his blood running cold. He cautiously steps out from behind the tree, trying to keep himself from glitching. "um... dia duhui ..." He tries to greet. "Y-You all speak in... a strange tongue... may I ask what you... are, exactly?" He asks quietly, fearful of their reactions.

"Ah, some of the Wanderer in you, too, I see," the cloaked woman cackles. "Far from home, if you do not know." Somehow, Alt realizes that she's switched to another language that he understands as well. 

Alt blinks in confusion as they speak. Why does the language sound... more familiar now? It's not... Glasish. "... far from home...?" He whispers, green-blue flickering in his eyes. 

"You have nothing to fear from Lasta and Caba," the short man says, speaking that language too. 

"Frightening and strange we may be, but death and pain is no fun," the cloaked woman agrees. 

"And If I am Lasta and she is Caba, who are you?" the short man asks. "Will you give us your name?"

Alt  shakes his head out, blinking rapidly. "Oh well Lasta... Caba.... it's nice to meet you..." He says slowly. As they ask for his name, a foggy memory swirls in his head. Of a woman with red hair and a kind smile, who warned him about the fey. ... the fey...? like... the fair folk...? That's... confusing... but the memory’s vivid enough to give him pause before he speaks. "... I cannot give you my name... but you can call me Alt." He replies. 

Lasta and Caba laugh. "So he's clever!" Caba says. "Not so much a Wanderer, then." 

"Seeing more of the Magician, yes," Lasta agrees. "Well, Alt, would you like to play?" Caba picks up the deck and shuffles it. Alt catches glimpses of colorful illustrations on the face side of the cards. "There will be no cost." 

"And it may reveal more than you think," Lasta adds.

Alt hesitates again, glancing back towards where he left the King and Magnificent. But... surely there wasn't too much risk in playing a game...? He could just say he was scouting around. The knight nods and goes to sit down on the ground by them, "Um... sure? you.. keep mentioning all these titles and names... what are you referring to exactly?" He asks curiously. Honestly- it feels weird to be speaking so much. He's really only been speaking when spoken to by the King and Magnificent the past couple days.

"We speak of the arcana, Alt," Caba says, spreading out the deck for a moment to show the illustrations. Each card has one, with writing underneath it labeling it. 

Alt's eyes light up and he smiles, a foregin name on his tongue, "Tarot cards...!" Then, his eyes flash green and he knits his eyebrows together, shaking out his head. "Uh... sorry I don't... know why I said that..." 

Caba continues as if he had not spoken, "Oracles use them to tell fortunes, but they can also be used to tell the character of a thing." 

"Or for simple games," Lasta says. 

"Yes, like ours!" Caba cackles. She flips the deck so the faces are down. "Take five for your hand, Alt. Our rules are loose. Each round, present one of your cards. We will present one of ours. We must give reasons why our card will beat the others presented." 

"Use your imagination," Lasta says. "And if you do not know what your card is, go with your gut feeling to its meaning." 

"The one who convinces the others will take the cards," Caba continues. "And we go until we run the deck out. Whoever has the most cards wins for all. But you may bow out after however many rounds you please."

Alt listens to the rules and nods, smiling again, "Alright... that sounds fun." He starts to draw 5 cards.

Caba and Lasta smile. 

"Let the game begin!" Lasta says, and they each grab a card from the deck to fill out the rest of their hand. 

Alt's five cards are all different. Maybe there aren't any repeats in this arcana. The first one shows a two-wheeled silver cart being pulled by a pair of goats and driven by a woman with red hair and purple eyes. It's labelled as "The Chariot." The second shows a wheel with six spokes. In each corner is a woman, a bird, a wolf, and a cat, all with wings. It's labelled "The Wheel of Fortune." The third shows a man standing in front of a gold-framed mirror. While the man has short green hair and wears blue and red, the reflection has long brown hair and wears black and red. It also has scars on half of its face. This is labelled "The Mirror." The fourth shows a background that's all vivid colors blurred together, broken up by a black crack running down the middle, with more cracks branching off to the side. This is labelled "Fracture." The final one has an illustration of a clock face. It's floating in space, and the stars are spiralling around it, the background swirls of purple and blue. It's labelled "Time." 

Alt's eyes widen as he looks at the mirror card. Why... does the image of the man in red... look so familiar....?

"Play at will, Alt," Caba says, setting down her chosen card face-down on the grass. "We'll reveal in unison."

Alt’s caught in his own head for a second before he snaps back at the sound of his name. He nods and pulls a card at random from his deck, too shaken to put too much thought into it.

Lasta puts his card down shortly after. "I'll turn them, then," he says, and flips over the three cards. 

On the left is Lasta's card: an illustration of a cloaked figure wearing a white mask, holding a lamp in one hand and standing on a cliff. "The Hermit." It came out upside down when he flipped it. 

In the middle is Caba's: an illustration of a brown-haired man with a crown sitting at a banquet table, yet despite the full plate before him his cheeks are sunken. "Hunger." 

On the right is Alt's chosen card. The "Fracture." 

"Interesting, interesting," Caba says. "You seem to have no good cards, Lasta." 

"Better than yours, at least. A Hermit would not fall to Hunger." 

Alt's eyes widen looking at the Hunger card. The crown- the King...? He gasps for a second, a sudden pain in his temple as his eyes flicker green. He grits his teeth and tries to push past the sudden discomfort. He can't anger these kind creatures.... they are probably fair folk! It's just a simple game... it will be fine- He looks at the other cards and then mutters out, "Um.. t-the fracture would... affect both of them... wouldn't it? Anyone can feel... fractured-" He says this and grips over his heart.

They tilt their heads in comical unison. 

"Often a Hunger will cause a Fracture," Caba insists. 

"And the Hermit would have enough wisdom to avoid it," Lasta adds. 

"Oh, come now, yours came out reversed." Caba smirks beneath her curtain of white hair. "The upside Hermit is lost and lonely. He would have no one to support him through a Fracture." 

Lasta throws a hand in the air. "My hand has not been good these past few rounds!" 

"So you concede?" 

"I do." 

"Between you and me then, lad," Caba says. 

Alt grips tighter at his tunic listening to Caba talk about the Hermit. Lost and Lonely... He has to shake his head more to look back at Caba. He sees the Hunger card and feels a twing of pain in his head again. "... fracture seems... powerful... doesn't it? s-surely enough to best a... a hungry... king-" He says slowly. 

"So you see it as a King," Caba says. "Fascinating." 

Alt blinks in confusion and looks up, "Is he... not?" He asks, tilting his head at the Hunger card. 

She cackles. "For one so unfamiliar, you are correct. A Fracture is a danger to many. I concede." 

"We've not had one beat us in some time," Lasta adds. "Perhaps we should have fought more." 

Alt looks back up with surprise. "I won...?" 

"This lad has been through much. The smell of Hunger says it. We are not like those cruel ones, are we?" 

"No, of course not." Lasta laughs. "Very well. What shall he win, then?" 

"That is the question, hmm." Caba sweeps the cards towards Alt. "For now, keep these three for yourself. Consider them a souvenir in addition to your prize." 

Alt takes the cards from them and studies them a bit closer, frowning. "Ah... t-thank you..." 

"Gold is traditional for my people, if you'd like that," Lasta says, grinning. 

"Or I can wish you luck on troubled waters, if you travel much," Caba adds.

Alt then looks back at them and thinks, "... I don't have need for gold... so luck would be... better I think. I have been travelling for quite some time..."

"Ahhh, we are very lucky," Lasta laughs like this is some joke between him and Caba. 

"The cards will look like what you know," Caba says. "Perhaps in the presence of others it will look different. But luck, you say?" The two of them lean closer, almost pressing their heads together. Then they draw apart again. 

"Very well." Lasta reaches into one of the bushes and pulls out a small twig with bright green leaves. He passes it to Caba, and she rolls it over in her hands. Alt can smell salt, like the ocean. Caba hands him the twig. "When you most need it, luck will bring you where you need to be," she says. 

Alt watches with bright curiosity as Lasta and Caba prepare the twig. He hesitates to take it though- his eyes flickering more with green. It almost feels like he's fighting something... but he's not sure what. But, he eventually grabs it and looks at it with a tilted head. "...where I need to be... huh...?"

"Now, do you wish for a second round?" Lasta says, shuffling the deck. 

For some reason, Alt feels that a second round is a bad idea... He straightens up at the offer and then he pushes himself up. "Um... I... I probably shouldn't... I'm expected somewhere... I-I need to return but... thank you for the game, and your gift." He says, giving them a small bow.

"Yes, of course, twas a pleasure!" Lasta says. 

"No debt owed, no need to thank!" Caba adds. "Return to where you came from, and tell your companions of what happened." Lasta shuffles faster. 

Alt backs up and then nods to them, "R-Right..." He's not sure how much he will end up telling the King and Mag... He's worried they will be angry for how long he's been gone. 

"And we will continue as we do." Caba plucks a card from the deck mid-shuffle. 

"Farewell," they say in unison. And then immediately, the two of them turn their attention back to the cards, like Alt is no longer there.

Once their eyes are no longer on him, Alt glitches away, hurrying back to where he left Mag and the King.

Aneirin stands up when he sees Alt approaching. "What happened?" he demands. "You were gone for so long." If he hadn't been able to sense Alt's mind staying still he would have been very concerned.

Alt stumbles back with a look of fear as the King speaks, "I-I stumbled into a pair of f-fair folk! They tricked me i-into a game. I'm s-so sorry, my king..." 

Mag sits up and knits his eyebrows in thought, "You got tricked?"

Aneirin's eyebrows shoot into the air in surprise. "A game? With two Fair Folk? By any chance, did they introduce themselves as Caba and Lasta?"

"Y-Yes." Alt says quietly. "Have you met them before, s-sire...?"

"Not personally, but I have heard of them," Aneirin says slowly. "A leprechaun and bodacha trapped in an eternal game. When the rest of the Fair Folk left this world for their Faerilynd, those two refused to help with the moving, instead continuing to play with their cards. In anger, other Fair Folk cursed them so their game would never end." He chuckles. "Little did they know that wouldn't bother the two of them at all. It's said they try to entrap travelers into playing while time around them passes quickly. But if the travelers win a round, they're granted a prize of some sort."

Magnificent snorts at this, "Ridiculous..." 

"...I... I won." Alt says quietly, yet, he tries to hide his prize under his tunic, suddenly afraid of the King knowing about it.

"You did?" The King looks surprised. He laughs. "They must have gone easy on you. Or perhaps you drew a good hand. Very well. What did you get? Tell us."

Alt stiffens, his eyes flashing green. He chokes a bit, then feels compelled to say, "I won these, mu Rith," and he holds out the twig and the 3 cards. His hands tremble as he shows the King. "Cards... and an aid for our travels." 

Magnificent teleports over and peers down at the spoils, then makes a face. "What garbage is this?" 

"The Fair Folk are fond of disguising valuables as common trash and common trash as valuables," Aneirin says. He takes the cards and turns them over, revealing their illustrations. Strangely, the person in the Hunger illustration looks different. No longer wearing fine green clothes and a crown, but instead a tattered cape with colorful static on the inside. The Hermit also looks different, now a man wearing a green cloak and holding a sword in the hand that's not holding the lantern. The King's expression darkens. 

"Keep these," he mutters, handing the cards back to Alt. "What do you mean by 'an aid'?"

Alt nods, taking the cards. Then he says quietly, " They said.... 'When you most need it, luck will bring you where you need to be' and h-handed me the stick." 

Aneirin's eyes light up. He looks at Magnificent. "I did say that we didn't know where our destination is..."

Magnificent eyes widen and then he grins too, giggling sinisterly. “My my Alt… how lucky for all of us!” 

Alt starts to back up, suddenly overwhelmed with dread. He holds the twig close to his chest- His eyes start to flicker.

"Alt," the King says, his tone dangerous as he notices the flickering. "Give that to me." He holds out his hand.

Alt flinches and seems like he wants to fight against the command- But, he can’t resist it as his eyes flare green again and he uncurls, reaching out the stick to the King. 

The King grins. He feels the slightest tinge of magic as his fingers touch it. And if Magnificent was to reach out, he could sense a faint signature from it and the cards, something strange and beautiful. 

Aneirin tucks the twig into a pocket on his tunic. "Well then. Now's a good time to continue on, I think."

Alt stands stoically in place one the stick is taken and nods dazedly. “Yes, mu Ríth.” 

Magnificent looks at the twig with a hungry expression. “If this thing could help us get to the doorway- shouldn’t we go ahead and use it?”

"I don't think this is something that can be used," Aneirin says. "Otherwise the Fair Folk would've told him a command word. I think its luck will simply guide us passively." He looks around, eyes settling on one direction. "Let's continue going downhill. I'm sure I remember it being on flat land."

“Ah- that makes sense.” Magnificent says. He glances at Alt and then starts back down the hill. 

Alt slowly follows after, the forest around him dimming into a hazy fog.

Aneirin leads the way, a triumphant grin on his face.

[ratherembarrassing]

2025: weeks 1 + 2

starting the year off as we ended the last one: well behind on every measure!

right off the bat: the wee hours of new year's day. henny and fairy floss and chappell roan playing quietly in the background. a perfect start.

first brunch of the year: my kingdom for a horse (whitemore square, adelaide). it's gonna be the year of the waffle.

unicorn slime: the gift for a seven year old.

eight? hours in a steamy car: the fires in the grampians were forecast to kick off again, so my very brief jaunt to adelaide was over. it was hot. my stomach was angry. there was nothing but errands waiting for me. i think the eight hour drive ended up taking nine and a half.

purchases that will change your life: a new kitchen knife. the dulling of a knife is like slow boiling a frog, or whatever the saying is, but there are few things as satisfying in life as a perfectly halved sandwich.

nicole kidman, save me from the sun: i have been in the market for a rashie since about 2014, but the point is that despite being absolutely paranoid about getting sunburnt, last summer i got roasted in a 3" strip across my back and i have conceded defeat by my shoulders' inability to reach that far. anyway, there is a rashie version of nicole kidman's swimmers, and now i own it and it's great.

not that i needed it: first beach of the year was hot and entirely cloudy, which is perfect beach weather as far as i'm concerned. melbourne beaches can barely be called such a thing, but they are great for floating in the water while you have a gasbag with your pals before stuffing your faces with fish and chips.

songs i shazamed (mostly) in the car: this is an annual tradition at this point, but it's literally the reason i bought an apple watch a few years ago and i haven't shared it in a few years.

oh yeah, also tv: squid game (season 1, netflix). the next item will explain why, but i did finally watch the first season a couple of days after the second season dropped. surprised by how uninteresting i found it, which maybe tells on me more than on itself.

the blood is a metaphor: maccas was running an australian-only grown up happy meal to promo squid game season 2, which included a dalgona candy that got you a ticket in the draw for either a tracksuit or $10,000. there were four shapes, and only the golden arches were for the cash. after a couple of other shapes, one of which i got out successfully, i finally got a big M in my tin. and i was prepared. i had watched s1 now. i knew what to do: i was going to lick that sucker free. within five minutes and nowhere near to releasing the shape, my tongue was bleeding. did i stop? no. did i get the shape free? yes, but it broke. i carefully shoved the pieces back together so i could trick the scanned. it worked! "congrats, enter your details below." below: this competition is now over. motherfucker.

get that one in ya: is what i would have named the place, but fluffy torpedo is also a name for a weird flavour ice cream joint. buttermilk pancakes and maple syrup flavour was exactly as described, buttered baguette was... something else, though i couldn't say what.

also, uh: let (2024, dir. alyssa loh) sonoya mizuno in the short film version of that slightly off-putting bdsm fic that exists for every single ship.

cinema!: the brutalist (2024, dir. brady corbet). every year i manage to see the best movie of the past year right out the door of the new year. the length is daunting, but the intermission entirely mitigates it. i reviewed it on letterboxd like a wanker.

sportsball, as always: i hustled my ass out of the 3.5 hour movie to get down to some ill-planned impulse purchased tickets to day one of the ao to see my girl sabalenka have a stressful one. as circumstances have eventuated, i'm now very glad i went when i did.

[heckeronincheese]

Wizard Flow

Smoking on that dragon scale fent

Got me speaking in ancient tongues at the drive thru.

Amateur sorcerers pondering their orbs and scrying tablets

I'm fuckin over here pondering my bricks and bands. Merlin ain't got shit on me

He forgot I'm him.

This Zaza has me speaking elvish

Pack of level one goblins tried to run off with my percs smoked their silly green asses with the god particle on my hip

Fought off 50 crack fueled Orcs for the last pint of top shelf tavern fent at the town center.

King called me in for a prophecy of his heroic battle. Told that fuck boi to prophesise deez nuts

Haha

This shit ain't nothing to me man

Fought off a dragon with a fifth of henny and a great sword from temu

Get off me broke boi

The high council must've casted grand amnesia cus they forgot him

I've always been him

Sent That lil potter bitch boy to the shadow realm with my dark elf garbanzo pack

Lil shit had no idea what hit em.

Got more inches on me than a tower of dwarves.

This Zaza has me speaking esoteric horrors beyond comprehension while trying to order a bacon egg n cheese.

Were smoking indigenous elvish fronto leaf off a bottle of mead you stupid piece of shit.

Knights tried to run up on my tower

Smited that tin can fuck with my Balenciaga staff.

This shit ain't nothing to me man

The townsfolk needed a powerful potion

Gave those poor saps a fourloko and some fine middle earth crack and said sort it the fuck out.

Turned my scribe into a rat for touching my Gucci robes

My humonculus be hitting that fat dragon cum dark ranger pack blunt in his jar

Poor fucker found a new religion

The paladin shat himself when checking his scripture.

Bard was talking shit so I casted mend buttcrack on his goofy ass.

I've been flipping bricks before yall entered the third era.

Only dressing my mutton in demon tears

Just so I can feel something slime.

Ops needed initiative

Casted magic missile on their whole quadrant

Movin like Nicholas flamel

This emerald ogre taint blaster 3000 perc got me movin different

This Zaza has me moving like a fuckin cracked out water nymph.

I'm casting spells that'd make Gandalf piss,shit,cum, and most likely cry.

Casted the the spell of 45acp on this ops kneecap

Fuck off slime.

I've seen the third era

I've jerked off in the gates of oblivion for a perc. I'm an animal.

This shit ain't nothing to me man.

The orcs are back.

Fuckin astral projecting to the bodega for a 40 and a swisher

Got the switch on my wand

Smoking that dark evil wyrm blood watered druid fronto leaf out of a lich kings cod piece.

Always have been him

My staff is from H&K get on my level

Goblins had no idea what hit em

Haha.

This shit ain't nothing to me man....

[megamindsecretlair]

I was wondering how you stay consistent with all the fics you be posting. Gurl give us the tea. You dropped like four back to back.

Lmfaooo, yall making me feel like im a fic addict 😭🤣🤣

See, what you do is meditate for 2 hours straight, praying on your muse to beam ideas and writing straight to your skull. Grab an acorn, a candle (your favorite scent), red twine, and a bottle of henny. And make a circle...lmfaooo jk jk.

TL;DR: my mind never shuts up 🫠 never turns off, never stops running, and that energy has to go somewhere, okay 😭

I wish I could take all the credit. I am the one writing it. But I have a close group of friends who let me vent out my ideas or give me ideas on how to improve. They listen to my nonsense, love yall so gd much 😗 @planetblaque @westside-rot @babybratzmaraj .

Other times, the ask is just so detailed, so rich, that it sparks some inspo and I get to writing. I am so in love with the creativity yall have on here. Completely blown away by these ideas you request!

It also helps that I went to film school and was taught how to think visually. You don't have to go to school for that, you just have to expand how you currently think about scenes.

Most times, as mentioned, my brain doesn't shut up. Even when I'm sleeping. There's this running commentary in my mind where I'm constantly turning over fics in my head. I think about scenes, I think about dialogue, I think about sex positions. Half the time, I'm scatterbrained irl because I'm too busy fucking in my head 🤣🤣

I write in my head, if that makes sense. I have these loose scenes in my head that I kind of play around with. I attack the scene from multiple angles trying to think of what sounds better.

Soo, when I sit down to write ive already done half the mental battle. I've already thought about the characters, the scenes, the motivations, the positions. It's just a matter of sitting down and writing it and it flows. I re-read my own writing all the time. But *way* after I've written it and moved on.

There's still moments where I have to pause and think about what comes next. Theres still times where I have to picture what tf is happening 🤣 or what's being said. Or what they're feeling at the moment.

Truth is, I just like to write. I've been writing since I was 11. It wasn't until I re-joined Tumblr at age 30 that I fell back in love with writing. I always loved it. But at a low point in my life, I felt hopeless that no one would ever want to read my writing. I thought I should've just quit altogether.

But by writing on here, I discovered that writing is for ME. If im having fun, then i know you will. I wont lie and say its not scary. I post overnight because I dont want the anxiety of seeing comments and reblogs trickle in 🤧 but the one rule I had for posting my writing, was to write for me. Write for the little girl who thought she couldnt. Write for the little weirdo who loves marvel and has anxiety and constantly feel like im being rejected. Thats who i write for. Thank God I didn't quit 😍🥹 I never would've met any of you. I never would've grown as a writer.

Being here with all of you, sharing my writing, seeing your reactions makes my fn day every day 😭 it's because of YOU that I felt confident enough to write a book.

I didn't get here by accident, I just write. And write often. And I read often. I learn from every single person that posts on here. I learn from all the feedback you give me.

My brain ought to do something useful since it doesn't know how to sit the fuck down 😩😩😩

Sorry this was long? Hope this helped? Feel free to ask more? Idkidk. Its still weird talking about myself. Thanks for this ask though 😗😗😗

[astoldbychae]

❤️‍🔥💋🩶💜🍭 for Melo and Monet

🥺 *sighs* Mom & Dad

❤️‍🔥Which one is more adventurous in the bedroom? Which one has more experience?

Definitely Carmelo! Life with him is a safe space, so the bedroom is no different. He's naturally curious and truly enjoys pleasing his girl. I'm tellin' all papa's business but inside his safe (in a basket next to his gun) there are various toys, cuffs, whips/ropes...because he really likes to see what makes his girl unravel. That and he likes to be dominated. He LOVES when his girl takes control. They've got their safe words and everything.

And when he's gone off the Henny and those eyes get low and he starts to bite that bottom lip of his...🙃 Issa glorious time!

💋 What is their favorite place to kiss their partner? Do either enjoy 'leaving a mark'?

She loves to hug him from behind and kiss him on his back. Either there or on his neck (then she'll nibble on his ears). When she's tipsy, yes (she's leaving bite marks and everything) but on a daily basis, no.

He loves to kiss her lips, stomach, or on her ass (like that lil area where the ass cheek meets the thigh...yeah that's his favorite spot). and Yes, he will ALWAYS leave a mark!

Which one apologizes first? How do they apologize? (This emoji didn't show up, but I hope I chose the correct question)

Monet's a hot head, so 9 times outta 10 it's her that starts it. Mel's cool, calm, collected, nonchalant ass just gives her space until she calms down.

If He's in the wrong, he'll just come to wherever she is and embrace her and takes accountability. He'll grab her chin to make her look at him in the eyes as he apologizes. Him staring into her eyes is what usually does it for her.

If She's in the wrong, her peace offering is usually food. She'll apologize with her words of course but somewhere in that sentence she's gonna ask "You hungry?" or "You want something to eat?".

💜 How do they silently show love or affection towards the other?

They'll stare into each other's eyes randomly, no matter where they are. Often times she catches him staring at her and she'll blow him a kiss. If they're standing next to each other, She'll lock her pinky with his or if they're sitting down (mainly in the car), She'll place his hand on her thigh. He usually shows his love silently through little actions especially around the house (rubbing her feet, running her bath water, starting her kettle in the morning for her Tea etc). He's very observant and enjoys making his girls life easier, so he tries to keep whatever she likes on hand, so they don't run out. Especially now since baby is here. Papa loves a good morning-after the gym-grocery store run before she wakes up.

Physical Touch is his love language and Acts of Service is hers.

🍭 What's something they can never agree on (big or small)?

Small: What to Eat

Big: Parenting (mainly discipline methods)

[paisholotus]

Ch.1

Nalae's Pov

I walked through the sweaty dancing bodies; the room was filled with weed smoke, and the loud music shook the house. I was looking for my brother, Mar. He's back over here on the bad side of town; his ass didn't think I saw him sneak out of the house; he'd better hope I don't tell Tisha and Anthony.

 

People pressed up against each other, basically fucking on the walls. Niggas in the kitchen getting ready to fight, and females are drinking henny from the stomachs of other females. It smelled exactly like ass and corn chips in this bitch.

 

I asked around if anyone had seen my brother, and they said he was in the back room of the house. I pushed my way through the crowd and banged on the door. I impatiently tapped my foot and pounded on the door. I was getting irritated by the second, and Mar was starting to get on my nerves doing dumb shit.

 

I knocked on the door some more when I heard someone yell, "Man, Caine, get the fucking door." I scrunched up my face at the attitude of the person's voice. I heard grumbling coming towards the door, then it opened. The boy looked at me up and down, smirking and biting his lip. I gave him a disgusted look, staring back at him. "Who is it?" The voice from earlier asked

 

"I don't know. But she's fine as hell, man." The boy spoke slowly. Taking steps towards me, he leaned against the door, checking me out some more. I crossed my arms and let out an irritated huff. I didn't have time for this shit.

 

I pushed the boy aside and walked in. There were girls giving lap dances and smoke swarming around the room. In the center of the room was the same light-skinned boy from a couple days ago. He had a girl sitting on his lap, glaring at me, and went back to kissing his neck. He pushed her off, making her land on her ass, looking offended at him. She got up and walked towards me, trying to act like she was going to bump into me. Causing us to side-eye each other, and her moving over to walk out. I swea I'm finna beat somebody ass if my brother was not handed to me in the next five minutes.

 

The light-skinned boy gave me a boyish smile and patted his leg, telling me to sit down. "What's wrong, mama? Who are you looking for?" He asked, still smiling at me. I glared at him as I walked towards him, stopping at his legs. "Where's my brother, Lamar? I heard he was in here." I spoke with a clipped tone.

 

I just wanted to get Mar. It was hell coming all the way over here. I don't have a car or a job yet. I've been buried in homework all day, and Mar just has to make shit worse by bringing his ass back over here. His ass outta be grateful I came instead of Anthony. I'm frustrated, and this Carmel-looking Mf is wasting my time.

 

"He was. What do you want with him, baby?" The boy who answered the door flirted with me. I was getting tired of his ass too. Light-skinned glared at the boy, as if he were telling him to shut up. Then she looked back at me, smiling and looking me up and down. "So where is he?" I snapped at him.

 

"Calm down, mama. What do you want him for? Come holla at me." The boy named Caine flirted at me again. I clenched my jaw, gritting my teeth. Every time I walk outside, little boys think they can talk and get at me in any way. And that shit is going to stop.

 

"I don't want YO ASS! NOW SHUT THE FUCK UP,  AND LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE! Where is my brother? I'M NOT FINNA ASK AGAIN!" I yelled at them beyond my breaking point. Somebody needs to tell me something real quick.

 

He got up from the table and walked over, getting in my face. Having light skin also stand up. "Who the fuck are you yelling at, BITCH!?" And just like that, everything stopped, and I saw red. I pulled back my fist and punched the fuck out of him. I sped over to his body on the floor, but light skin got in front of me.

 

"DON'T EVER DISRESPECT ME AGAIN! I AIN'T NO FUCKING BITCH!" I yelled at the boy now on the floor.

 

Light skin moved in front of me again, stopping me from attacking the boy on the floor. I looked up at him, staring into his hazel eyes, my breathing uneven with my fists balled. "CHILL! Imma go get your brother, ight?" He said. I glared at him, stepping back some. I didn't like how he towered over me. I ain't scared of him, but I don't like how close he was to me.

 

He walked to the steps and yelled down at them. "MAR! GETCHO YO ASS UP HERE! YO SISTER WILDIN!" I crossed my arms soon after hearing someone walk up the steps. Mar looked confused coming up the steps. I gave no second thought as I walked towards him and slapped him across the face, kicking him in his shit. He dropped his drink on the floor, bellowing in pain.

 

Light skin tried to stop me, but I turned and gave him a sinister glare. He backed up, sitting down on the arm of the chair. Mar was still on the floor crying in pain. "YO ASS BETTER BE LUCKY IT WAS ME THAT SAW YOU LEAVE! DO YOU KNOW THE SHIT DAY I'VE HAD TODAY, HUH? ANT TOLD YO ASS NOT TO BRING YO ASS BACK OVA HERE, BUT YOU DON'T WANNA FUCKING LISTEN. I DON HAD DIRTY MFS TOUCHING ALL ON ME, ALL BECAUSE OF YO ASS! GET YO DUMB ASS FROM OFF THAT FLOOR, AND LETS GO! AND IF YOU COME BACK OVA HERE, IMMA TELL DADDY, SO HE CAN BEAT THE BRAKES OFF YOUR DUMB ASS. NOW LET'S GO!" I yelled, pulling him up from the ground and pushing him towards the door.

 

I walked over to light skin, snatching the blunt from his lips, causing him to stand up, glaring at me. "YOU C-."  Mar began to say something back, but I cut him off. "I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LETS GO!" pushing him out the door.

 

"AYE! You better watch yourself, little mama." I kissed my teeth, blowing out smoke and glaring at him. "Fuck you, NIGGA!" I walked out, slamming the door behind me. Something is telling me this isn't the last time Imma see light skin.

[y2ku]

HELLO, HELLO...

This just in.

A fabulous Y2K Boo just slipped off the edges of Instagram and just became your latest source of Gossip

You may believe i'm just some squeez in a basement, or some bored suburbian trash, or maybe even someone on the outside looking in. 

Here's the tea.

One thing about being on the inside. Once you get there you don't allways get to choose where you stand... sometimes you need to take a step outside, clear your head and remind yourself of who you are and venture out into the real world.

Good Morning from your newest arrival, yours trully, my name is D.

Todays rendezvous, the 1st of many will be about Social Media, and the power it holds on people, children, media, status, fame, politics and mental health, etc, you know it.

And so by it's definition, in case you haven't realised and had to do a quick search, Instagram, "it's a platform to showcase talents, build a personal brand, and promote businesses. It offers visual inspiration and the opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals and brands."

Can you relate? Great. Neither can anyone.

Are you and Insta Scroller or a Facebook Babe? Take THIS in.

Social Media platforms like Instagram, Whatsapp and Facebook are on the Top 10 List of Social Media with most active users. 

Did you know Zuckerberg Bae's are on the top with 2.11 billion active daily typers. Half of them are probably your kids. 

What? You think you're not old to have your own spawn?

I am 25. Remember that.

(By now, and don't lie to me, you checked the notification bar twice, at least, or are you maybe checking as i speak? Rude)

Fuelled by numbers and translated into graphics, the internet has done it's job and came back to me with usefull intel.

Half of SMU's (Social Media Users) are bellow 45 years, and I the less searched categories are "Usefull Content" and "Relevant". Yes Boomers. Right back at you. One of the most searched though is informative content. Of how recent studies (Tik Tok misinformation) came to us once again as proof of nothing.

Most of the posts portrayed in all the 10 categories provided by Statista.com (Thank you Gurl *wink* 💋) are a departure from tge category.

You see where i'm trynnna get?

Internet and Technology where bounded to us with the purposes of communication, information and as intelligente working tool, not just to lounge.

We have at tip of our hands one of the most powerful tools ever made, and you're gonna waste it on posting a hot tip about your breakfast? What does that say about you? Will it flop? Will they laugh? Or worst... God forbid, be cancelled.

Are these the things you think b4 posting?

These websites can be addictive, promote body dismorphia, anxiety and contribute to FOMO (yeah. we all have it gurl. pipe down)

Babez here, is trynna tell you to go live your life. 

As I speak, more Innocent fools, maybe like yourself, are having their lives ruined by Social Media.

Yess henny, FOMO, you are already missing out, on your friends, a lovelly walk, or just the simple pleasure of recognising a familiar face. Tik Tok Tik Tok Y2K'rs, your time is running on the clock for a golden press.

Dissociation from reality can be set apart of all this, but if you think it over, it can really mean something much more deeper than to pass time.

Buckle up Peeps, this is a thing, its a study made by Sarah McQuate in University Of Washington.

Okay in short. We are as a young population very shamed about allways being on our phones, right?

That has a reason. Like when you read a good source of Hot Goss 💅🏻, or a book if you're into it, you can get lost in it right?

Think with me, we all read bad books, but everybody with me "BOOKS ARE THE SHIT".

THINK about all the unproofed misinformation gathering about in SM, compact it, and all it's negative effects, cut a few lines of text, add the caption and voilá! Years of mental instability and a prolonged sence of Dissociation while navigating your Socials (Stay off your phone will you read this.)

The reason we do it tho. 

Social Media was not made to maximise what humans value. Period.

Quoting, yet another associated Researcher to this project, Amanda Baughan:

•"social media platforms are designed to keep people scrolling. When we are in a dissociative state, we have a diminished sense of agency, which makes us more vulnerable to those designs and we lose track of time. These platforms need to create an end-of-use experience, so that people can have it fit in their day with their time-management goals.”

(I'll leave the study here jic, https://www.washington.edu/news/2022/05/23/people-enter-a-dissociative-state-when-using-social-media/ ).

Looking at a laptop or a cell all day is bad, but doing that for the Socials, henny, it's soo 2015.

It's killing your mind, your hangouts, your friends mental stability and your kids (Don't).

And for an afterthought, Social Media Content Creators, as an Artiste (Clock the Work), the freedom of speech that you hand out, is overrated.

Because now, not just massive corporations have a platform, we all do, and if we could hold hem accountable for every cyberbully, every rover, every mean girl, social media would be a hostable party might i say 🤷🏻

Go watch the following video too! https://youtu.be/wQdcCiVb59g?si=pefj5yngsodJF4tV

For as long hot updates, drama and chaos are on check, nobody cares, right?

Its fine as long as you post a pic or send a mean text.

It won't even phase you.

You stash your lockscreen away and fade into all the negativity you absorved from the radiocative toothorn on your pocket.

Maybe some photo you saw.

Some post about a douche bashing something or someone relating to you.

Maybe a text some coward sent u, cause dude ain't got balls for shit.

In my day, i had to take the crap right to my face, but you know what it taught me outside of the Webz?

Worry not Y2K readers, in a world full of shade, if it hits you, it means you'll shine through.

And as for me?

It takes two to tango, but only me to talk.

Get used to it,

-D

[shadowmaat]

this instead

Saw a post making the rounds about an arranged marriage where the queen is fully ready to murder her would-be husband and rule in peace... until she finds out he's autistic and is relieved for her to take charge.

I'm sure OP meant well and I'm sure the respondent in the version I read meant it to be positive, too, but the vibes still feel a bit off. So here's my version, instead.

Queen Nia hated the whole concept of political marriages; she found them distasteful, backward, and rife with the potential for misery and/or violence. However, because she was busy dealing with an attempted insurrection, she didn't have time to get the legislation changed.

Now she finds that due to "politics," she's being forced to marry the king of a neighboring country. Not much is known about Tamari; it's a quiet nation that tends to keep to itself and has never caused problems before. It may not be prosperous (it's one of the reasons for the marriage), but it's far from destitute, and it has some resources that her advisors (the ones who survived the coup) assure her would be a huge benefit if anyone managed to make proper use of them.

King Ven is considered "strange" and reclusive, and while his people don't seem to complain about him there are persistent rumors that he may not be entirely human. He goes through advisors faster than she does, and no one seems to know what happens to them after they leave his service. If they leave.

Still, as prospects go, she could do a lot worse. One of the other kingdoms vying for her hand is Queen Henrietta, or "Headless Henny" as the bard tales call her. Any perceived slight against her results in the culprit's head being hung in the throne room. The smell must be appalling.

If Ven turns out to be a different sort of monster, she already has plans in place with her guard to stage an "assassination" that will leave him dead and her the sole one in charge. She doesn't like having to make plans like that, but she's ruthlessly practical and doesn't want her people- or his- to be put in any danger.

It only takes five minutes of spending time with him to realize that he isn't dangerous and that the people in Tamari need an overhaul to their education system so that they stop accusing people with mental illness of being changelings and demons. Autism is something she's well-familiar with; her younger brother has it, and so does her lady's maid.

Ven was far more interested in beetles than in the running of a country, but given that the South, in Queen Henrietta's lands, was currently dealing with a crop-destroying infestation, she put him on the case. As a bonus, it should keep Headless Henny from claiming insult at the refusal of her marriage offer.

They settled in together happily, and while love wasn't something either of them was inclined towards, they nevertheless were boon companions and a more terrifying force together than anyone could have expected. She even introduced him to her hives.

[jinx-on-mars-19xx]

Can I just say... A BIG thing for abusers is to make themselves look like the victim. I admit Col played into the dark fairy tale a little too much himself but he was trying to follow her lead. Every time he said something about their relationship that sounded messed up, it was after she did or seemingly at her direction. If you notice, now he's saying absolutely nothing and being almost too much of a gentleman for the man who wrote-

You just a — hold up let me stop

The Henny shots got the petty talk comin I don't wanna have them thoughts running

Can't believe that I bust in a thot's stomach

-and literally every other line of this song. He's been hiding himself and incredibly quiet even while she tarnished this man's entire reputation to the media and public. Let's be real, she rarely ever wore the ring and I doubt it had anything to do with it hurting. I used to wear one shaped as stars and it was sharp yet it never cut or caused pain when I pulled it off. He was following her lead this entire time and lost so much of his own identity. I'm just so tired of seeing this going around or the rumors about her wrist. I'm tired of seeing 'save her' or whatever people run with simply from seeing a woman who was so desperate to be relevant again she traded a man's soul for it.

Maybe I sound dramatic but his quiet personality on the red carpet, his lost boy eyes, and the mania he talked about in Life in Pink broke my heart. I just hope he's finally free and can start to heal. MF can put her Pop Punk! Ken Doll™️ back in its box, but it's still been used and discarded. I look forward to when he's finally able to heal his pain from his lost child, his broken heart, and wounded pride. Maybe without her he can find his way, I just worry every time I see something about them still trying to work it out. It's a hard one to escape because they isolate you, make you feel like you're not worth it, and shame you till you feel lucky to have them. I hope he feels the love from everyone who truly cares and can stay strong. He deserves better.

[shiftdrawwing]

Brooooo hendrix is such a goofy guy i love him!!! How did he end up becoming an avatar? :0

SO glad you asked! A little bit of Leitner action, a little bit of his own doing as well. In terms of the Leitner, it's a small childrens book by the name "Fix the Toys" (inspired by Dorothy N. King's "Fix the Toys"), a little interactive book where various characters/toys are missing their heads, where-in you take the detached pieces of paper and slide them into the slot of their respective body.

When he was younger (around 11) and had been moved to the foster home's attic for unrelated reasons (I wasn't kidding when I said there's a lot to this guy), he'd found the book. As an 11 year old he immediately thought "Well this is stupid, I'm obviously so big and smart and wouldn't read this," and then proceeded to do read it. Only difference being, instead of matching up the heads to their bodies, he mixed and switched them around for fun. UNFORTUNATELY, Leitners are not canon and real in the campaign Hendricks is a part of, so I haven't developed it further than concept!

As for what really shoved him in the Stranger direction, it has everything to do with a feeling of un-want. He spent a lot of his childhood trying his hardest to get adopted out of the foster home, and it ended up leading to SEVERAL issues with his identity. Specifically, feeling so unwanted, he figured something must have been "broken" with him. One two skip a few, every attempt to "feel wanted" is futile; a family adopts him at 14 finally, turns out it was for malicious reasons, so when Henny put his foot down against the mother like "No I will NOT let you show me off like some trophy and then neglect me," she said "Okay then you can go back! <3" So thanks to that, he sloooolwy takes on the mindset of "Well if I'm unfixable, then I have to fix other people in order to be wanted! Obviously, this is the correct course of action." Skip some more- Silas (the kid that family already had before momentarily adopting Henny) being neglected pushes Henny to want to "fix" that mother. So he gives himself an opportunity, crafts an alibi, and "fixes" her to what he thinks would make her more "wanted." That's what kicks off his descent into avatar-hood! I've left out a lotttt of details for simplicity's sake, so if you want more info on a certain thing that I was more vague about/skipped through, lemme know!!! Thanks sm for the assssssk, talking about this man and this campaign gives me life <33333