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kourabiedes · 6 months ago

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Carmine and Kieran Roleswap AU: Indigo Disk Edition

A while back I posted this thing, here's the rest of it! Long AU under the cut, there be turtles afoot. No pictures this time, sorry folks!

Right, so, the Indigo Disk. Carmine is still the one who promotes you to Cyrano as an ideal exchange student, because she wants you to show yourself and be crushed. She's changed dramatically in appearance, and the aggressive part of her personality is fully on display. Kieran has been the one running around with Briar in various regions. Carmine has taken over the Blueberry League and is running it with an iron fist. She's also tweaked her team to be thoroughly savage. Maybe Sinistcha in this universe has a third evolution, or her ace is a different Pokemon entirely. Point is, she has basically laid a trap for you. It's not a very good trap, since her whole goal is just to smack you down with witnesses, but it's a trap nonetheless.

So you go to Blueberry Academy, get initiated, then Kieran calls and is excited you're here! But he's also worried about his little sister because she's acting fuckin weird and he hopes you can help... again, Kieran is kinda oblivious to emotional cues and probably doesn't entirely realize Carmine would happily disembowel you right now. Drayton shows himself and invites you to the League Club Room. The scheming bastard is hoping to use your presence to overthrow Carmine as Champion, as in canon. He invites you to the cafeteria to meet with the rest of the E4 and Herself, to discuss you formally joining the BBL*. Carmine doesn't notice you at first, since she's busy eyeballing Drayton hatefully, but the minute she's aware of your presence she laser locks on you. She knows why you're here. She doesn't even really register the E4 debating whether you should be allowed to join, until Drayton asks for her opinion. She eyeballs him -- she knows he's scheming, but he's also played exactly the card she wanted to come up. Of course she wants you to join. What could be better, in fact? She can pull strings and let you start at the level that lets you challenge the 4. The unusual nature of the situation will draw gossip. The rest of the BBL* will be fascinated. There will be eyes everywhere.

And when you make it to the top, she'll be waiting, ready to cut you down in front of the entire student body.

So you're in.

It's only when he walks in on half the E4 and his sister inducting you into the BBL* that Kieran realizes how bad the situation actually is. He tries to reason with Carmine, only to be dismissed coldly.

For a while, everything proceeds exactly as she wants it to. She knew you could defeat the E4. She knew you would make it to her. She knew you would be across the field from her, and she's worked so hard to be ready for you.

Then, you fight her down to the wire. She pulls out all the stops. You're down to one Pokemon apiece and she has her ace out and Terastallized and she knows she has you.

Your final Pokemon... is Ogerpon. The monster. The martyr. In either case, a symbol of Kitakami, of home.

And for a moment, just a crucial, critical moment, Carmine no longer knows why she's doing this.

Ogerpon Terastallizes her mask, swings her cudgel, and Carmine's ace falls, vanishing into its Pokeball in a flash of light. Ogerpon roars, and Carmine wants to scream, but she can't manage so much as a whimper.

Her trap sprang, and you turned it back to bite her instead. Now it's her that's on her knees, while the student body turns its back.

Of the people who are still able to react, Drayton moves first, and he does so to get a little of his own back at her. He leans down and taunts her, and now, she does scream. You and Kieran both want to help her, but now everyone with a Problem with this event is gathering to air them and getting in your face.

Then the intercom goes off, and you and half the rest of those present are summoned to a classroom, and Briar's discussing a trip into Area Zero -- your second at least! -- and it could not be a worse time. Carmine agrees immediately when Briar mentions Terapagos, and Kieran agrees when she does because he's not sure what she might do in this state, and you agree because among other things, Geeta is gazing at you from across the room and she knows you went down there once already and her expression says I will come down on you like Hell itself if you don't agree to help with this. So you go.

Area Zero is as much a Lost World as ever and you descend, down, down, down to the Lab where you fought for your life not so long ago, and then further because of the weird disk Geeta gave you before you left. You didn't think Area Zero could get weirder, but it does. There are Pokemon down here doing things you have never seen before, and you can't help but wonder if this weird Terastal energy is messing you up too. Meanwhile Carmine's got a strange closed expression you don't trust, though now she's starting to act a little more like the girl from Kitakami and not the BBL* Champion in this unfamiliar place. Kieran is watching her, but he's as off balance as you are down here. Briar is absolutely no help.

Then you're in the deepest spot, and there's a crystal that could be Terapagos, and Carmine comes to life. Surely, if she has a legendary Pokemon of her own, she can finally take you down. Briar eggs her on and Kieran tries to dissuade her.

They wake up the turtle.

The turtle takes a look around and its gaze locks on to you.

In canon, Kieran has the Ogerpon experience foremost in his mind when Terapagos almost chooses you. Carmine doesn't have that, but she's no less quick to throw her Master Ball and capture it. Letting it reach you would be another win for you, and she cannot have that, not now, not after all this! The Master Ball does its job, and she picks it up with an expression torn between exultation and terror.

Briar then does exactly the wrong thing in a situation that was already bad and pushes her to use the damn turtle so she can study it. She locks eyes with you.

But Terapagos, like many legendary Pokemon, has a mind of his own, and he clearly doesn't care for being woken up and stuffed into a ball. He fights for her, but his power is minimal, and Ogerpon beats him easily. Then Briar suggests Terastallizing, and Carmine floods the little fella with energy, and suddenly a young god is awake... and angry.

At that moment, everyone present learns what happens when someone tries to capture a legendary Pokemon who feels nothing for them. The Master Ball shatters, and Terapagos strikes out at Carmine. She recoils in terror and it could have ended there for her, except that you're there, and your partner 'raidon is faster than any crystal turtle. She looks at you as if she's seeing you for the first time, and maybe, in a way, she kind of is.

If you had a nickel for every time a berserk legendary Pokemon had tried to kill you in Area Zero, you'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened twice. Now you have to fight the tiny, overwhelmed turtle, and Kieran's down to his Hydrapple, and Carmine has locked up in horror because now she realizes how much of this was her fault and also completely unnecessary. But she finally snaps out of it and comes to your aid, and hot damn if you both don't kick the ass of a legendary turtle.

Then, on the way home, it takes Carmine the entire trip to work up the courage to ask you to start over again. Maybe you could be friends this time, for real.

You tell her "fuck no" and skip off into the sunset holding hands with Kieran and Ogerpon.

Okay no please don't do that. Maybe the thought crosses your mind though, because man she has put you through the wringer...

Oh yeah and like a month later Kieran does the mochi dance

*brazilian butt league

#pokemon #pokemon scarlet and violet #alternate universe #gen 9 #indigo disk dlc #carmine #kieran #pokemon kieran #pokemon carmine #yep I watch mandjtv #text #also starring terry the turtle

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stones-and-birds · 4 months ago

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Some Updates! July 16, 2024 🐦‍⬛💎

Howdy! Been a bit since an update, and while not a ton of folks are actively keeping up with this I figured an update was still worthwhile. Updates under the cut.

-Kieran

Development Updates:

This project is still actively being worked on! There's a ton left to do before I can even properly begin coding the VN and making assets - character designs, outfit, logo, and abnormality designs, not to mention continuing to flesh out the plot + properly write down the full summary. Things are slow due to life - we've got obligations outside of working on this, but it's still full steam ahead as this story is very important to us.

I had initially planned to release Chapter 1 on its own for the Children of the City Zine - I ended up switching to an illustration for my piece because I didn't want to work under a deadline for this. I am learning very quickly not to overestimate my abilities to get stuff done while dealing with multitudes of other stress.

The plot has, for the most part, been finalized - I'm still extending what I had written out and making tweaks here and there for better story flow, but we know what the overarching plot is as well as what the conclusion will be. Of course things could change, PM is still putting out new content and we don't have all the worldbuilding we could, but we're taking it in stride.

As of right now, the amount of chapters slated to be in the final product will be 9, and 7-8 of those will unlock optional story snippets at the end of each chapter (think the 'tips' feature in Higurashi, for example). It's very possible this will change!

I've switched to planning mostly on a Notion board which has helped productivity a lot more than having things scattered across various Google Docs files!

We've added @winterbunz to the dev team for proofreading and additional writing help!

Feedback needed?:

We're still deciding on whether or not to release the story in parts or wait until it's complete before releasing the whole thing - If we decide on releasing it in parts, It'll likely be a release similar to Limbus in that the primary release has 3 chapters and the rest will be released as completed. Still not sure though, feedback is appreciated. I may post a poll regarding this soon for easier engagement.

I would really like to add some minigames of some sort, as well as a functional Abnormality Codex for the fan abnormalities. I have some ideas on how to implement these, but it's going to take some studying and planning and such to figure it out - so nothing's set in stone on that front yet!

Some Adjustments/Fixes:

I had somehow mixed up Canto 1 LCB's L Corp branch, D-02, with Canto 2's, J-03, and ended up naming the branch J-02. This was an error on my part and I'm embarrassed to admit it took me so long to realize - The primary branch featured in this story will be J-03! I intended it to be the one from Canto 2 from the start, I just can't read.

I've also maybe been a bit too loose-lipped regarding plot beats, so I'll be avoiding that more in an effort to prevent spoilers for people who don't want them.

Misc Updates:

A good amount of the main cast of this project is uploaded on Art Fight for 2024's fight! Since a majority of the main characters are mine specifically, most of them will be located on my AF account, demonerium. I'm on Team Stardust this year!

Oracle also has some of his characters that are a part of the SaB cast on AF - you can find his profile as oracle_milkman, he's on Team Seafoam.

While you're at it, attack Michelle too! They don't have any SaB characters yet, but they have their own Lobcorp OCs as well as others.

TL;DR:

Development is still in progress! We're currently still working on finalizing the plot and chapter summaries, but it's getting closer!

Branch J-02 is now referred to as Branch J-03 to correct a mistake I made... and somehow only recently noticed...

Some discussion/feedback would be appreciated regarding release methods and minigame/extra feature additions!

#logs #dev log #lobotomy corporation #lobotomy corporation oc #stones and birds #fan project

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silvanils · 2 years ago

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happy DADWC! for Kieran & King Alistair, perhaps: “ i never have any idea what you’re talking about ”

@dadrunkwriting

I had to tweak the wording of the prompt in the actual fic a little, but I’m quite happy with this! (It’s probably within the first couple weeks of Kieran’s time in Alistair’s court, so they’re still... in very early stages of getting used to this.)

Rating: T Word Count: just over 500

It was a quiet evening, for once. With no guests to entertain, Alistair had insisted on a simple dinner, something he and Kieran could easily eat on their own without any need for servants or a big fuss. And it was… nice, actually. A little taste of a more ordinary life.

Kieran seems a little more sullen than usual, though, staring into his broth as he swirls his spoon through it. It’s been a while since he took a bite, and Alistair suspects the boy’s mind is… far away.

“What do you think about this?” he asks, quietly.

The movement stops, Kieran’s eyes flicking up to meet Alistair’s. “It’s fine,” he says. “A little bland, though. Could use more salt, or spice, or… something.”

Alistair chuckles, shaking his head. “Good to know, but… I wasn’t asking about the food, Kieran. I meant, um…” he gestures vaguely, then rubs the back of his neck. “…Everything else?”

“It’s fine,” Kieran repeats, but his eyes flick down, and his shoulders slump. Alistair frowns, but before he can protest Kieran speaks up again. “Please, don’t fret so. What’s troubling me has no simple solution, I’m afraid. Not even a King’s order would do.”

What about a father’s? Alistair wonders, but he bites his tongue. He hasn’t earned that. Not yet — perhaps not ever. “Even if I can’t solve it… it might help to get some of the weight off your own chest.”

“I’m not sure I can explain it well,” Kieran says, flushing as he glances away. Despite how strongly the boy resembles his mother, Alistair sees nothing but himself in that expression. “People almost never seem to have any idea what I’m talking about.”

“That doesn’t make the things you have to say less important,” Alistair offers. Words he could have used when he was that age, himself.

Kieran looks up at him again, cheeks still red. “In Orlais, I kept to myself and most people left me alone. They assumed I was highborn, but… few even knew who my mother was, nevermind anything else about me. But here, everyone is so pushy with their questions.”

“Including me, I suppose,” Alistair sighs. “I’m sorry.”

“No!” Kieran says, quickly. “You’re one of the only people that hasn’t been pushy at all, actually. I didn’t expect you to be so understanding.”

“I knew this would be overwhelming for you,” Alistair says, gently. “How stuffy and stifling this court can be. The least I can do is… make sure you have enough room to breathe.”

He still wishes he could have such a thing, himself, but he’ll be damned if he can’t at least provide that kind of shelter for his son.

Kieran stands up to give the King a gracious bow. When he tilts his head up again, he’s grinning. “You’ve given me plenty, your Majesty.” His eyes sparkle as they catch the fire’s light. “My mother was right about you.”

Alistair blinks, feeling his own cheeks warm up. “Your mother…?”

Kieran laughs, and… despite his concerns, Alistair can’t help but smile. It’s a nice sound, one that relieves his worry immensely. “Yes. She always told me that you were a good man. She trusted you, and… now I can see why.”

#da drunk writing circle #kieran and alistair #kieran #alistair #;knight writes #dragon age #dragon age origins

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scatterpatter · 3 years ago

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Corren - 1 through 100 - You did this to yourself.

FUCK YOU *UN-IRONICS YOUR ASK*

UNDER THE FUCKING CUT

1. What do they smell like?

Bad. Do you think their party is able to regularly take showers? I thinketh the fuck not. ... Pine and old books when he can self care tho.

2. What is their voice like?

Listen I know Corren, being taller, would be more likely to have a deeper register but you'll tear "tenor Corren" out of my cold dead hands

3. What is their biggest motivator?

Spite.

4. What is their most embarrassing memory?

When he first met his BFF Alondra, he was so antisocial and good at ignoring people that she actually got the impression he might have been hard of hearing. She never let him live that down. (one day I'll finish this fic i promise)

5. How do they deal with/react to pain?

"I will keep all of my pain in here, and one day I'll die." ... Okay but listen he's squishy so he takes like one hit and is bloodied up. Someone get him a healer. Pls.

6. What do they like to wear?

He likes his cloak. Its weighty and soft(well. WAS soft. got a bit of wear and tear these days.) and like. Who doesnt love cloaks.

7. Which of their relationships have impacted them most positively?

Ohhhhh fuuuccck this one's tough. I might have to go with Torvid honestly. While the entire party has had a positive impact on him(and trust me I was this close to picking Alistair), Torvid's been more of the one to call him out on his bullshit and to, oh I don't know, talk about your emotions? Ever??? Yknow BEFORE they become too much to handle and he absolutely breaks down???

8. What’s the weirdest thing they’ve ever eaten?

Alistair's cooking.

9. Describe the way that they sleep.

Good luck finding him NOT cuddled up with at least one dog. Tbh he just enjoys cuddles in general.

10. What is their favorite food/kind of food?

FUCKIN. GIVE HIM A GOOD STEAK. THIS BOY IS MOSTLY CARNIVORISTIC.

11. What do they feel most insecure about?

As tempted as I am to say "His cooking", it's actually his singing.

12. How do they like to dress?

"Comfort over flashiness tbh. I gotta go ADVENTURING in whatever I wear after all."

"... Also don't you DARE perceive me as cishet."

13. How do they react to feelings of guilt?

Call him a genie because he will BOTTLE THAT SHIT UP.

14. How do they react to/deal with betrayal?

Denial :D

15. What is their greatest achievement?

Shrike: Killing his dad

Me: NOOOOOO

EDIT: WAIT THIS WAS ANSWERED IN Q99 WHAT THE HECK

16. What are they like when they’ve gotten too little sleep?

Somehow more of a dick than usual. Snappy and cranky and just. Mrehhh.

17. What are they like when they’re drunk?

Doesn't get drunk often, but when he does I imagine he's actually giggly and a little clingy. It's cute :)

18. What kind of music do they enjoy?

*Opens my Corren playlist* Oh yeah. It's either full edgy alt rock or indie alt "depressed millenial" tracks.

19. Are they right or left handed?

FFFuuhhhhck uhhhh well

Looking over my old art I can't seem to pick a dominant hand(I've even drawn him handling his sniper with either hand???????????) so like oops guess he's ambidextrous.

20. Fears?

The dark, the ocean, dying alone and forgotten, his friends losing their trust of him

21. Favorite kind of weather?

Rain!!!! Especially cool rain like what people often get in fall months.

22. Favorite color?

Indigo!!!

23. Do they collect anything?

Books :3

24. Do they prefer either hot or cold weather more?

Cold weather by far.

25. What is their eye color?

Electric blue!

26. What is their race/ethnicity?

Well his race is a homebrew race known as Marelienth. Uhhh ethnicity? Idk he's from a mountain town way up north *shrugs*

In human aus I imagine him as half-Mongolian half-Norwegian so ayee

27. Hair color?

Black!

28. Are they happy where they are currently?

No :D He loves adventuring with his party don't get me wrong but he still has a lot of trauma to unpack. ... Also he was just possibly broken up with soooo. :/

29. Are they a morning person?

NOPE.

30. Sunrise or sunset?

*motions to above question* Sunset.

31. Are they more messy or more organized?

More organized, actually!

32. Pet peeves?

*unravels a list. It's all shit the party has done. Mostly Alistair.*

33. Do they own any objects of significant personal importance?

HOOUSIDSJFK- HE- Y-YEAH HE SURE DOES

His amethyst pendant used to belong to his brother, Julian, and he gave it to Corren right before they were separated so you BET it's sentimental as shit and he wears it daily.

34. Least favorite food?

Mecha's usually a great cook but one time trolled him with some absurdly spicy curry he couldn't handle and he's never forgiven them.

35. Least favorite color?

Hmmm. Maybe... yellow?

36. Least favorite smell?

He spent a year with his party in a damp cave and no showers, so uh. I'll give you a guess.

37. When was the last time they cried?

Literally last night in our game's timeline :D Full breakdown and everything!

38. Were they with anybody the last time they cried?

Torvid :D He was there to comfort

39. Tell us about one of the times they got injured?

One time they were in combat and Corren took a few hits and was down to about 2hp or so. He had a temporary level thanks to Kieran, which boosted his HP a little bit. When he teleported them to a safe town, though, well... Torvid was waiting for them so that's cool. But uh. Yeah that temporary level wore off then and there, dropping Corn Cob to exactly 0hp and he just- flopped down face first in the snow and started dying then and there KJNDKLFNSLKN

40. Do they have any scars?

Do you want to talk about the scar over his eye from a fight he got in with his dad or like. The scars on his limbs from the time he was literally experimented on.

41. Do they struggle with any mental health issues?

Undiagnosed+Untreated Anxiety, Depression, DPDR, PTSD, just to name a few

42. Do they have any bad habits?

Running away from his problems, definitely.

43. Why might someone dislike them?

He's a pretentious nerd. He can be a dick if he doesn't care about you.

44. Why might someone love them?

He's an adorable nerd! He's a hopeless romantic and oddly enough an optimist. He's passionate and driven too!

45. Do they believe in ghosts?

Well ghosts are like- a canon proven thing in his world sooo. Yeah.

46. Is there anyone they would trust with their lives?

His party. Well- most in his party.

47. Are they romantically interested in anyone?

Nethyl :)

48. Are they dating/married to anyone?

He's dating Nethyl and they're in a happy and healthy relationship :) *politely ignores canon*

49. Do they like surprises?

NO >:(

50. When is their birthday?

Heroya 5th! I think. I don't wanna check, assume it's this.

51. How do they usually celebrate their birthday?

"You guys celebrate your watchdays?"

Jokes aside, he mainly just treats himself to a nice dinner and a new book or something :)

52. Do they have any family?

Two older siblings: Julian and Mila. His parents are Andreas and Fanya!

53. Are they close to their family?

... *Coughs*. He was close with his siblings, but Mila died and he hasn't seen Julian in 30 years. Was close with his dad but last time they saw each other, they fought and Corren might have killed him so. ... Yeah. :/

54. What is their MBTI type?

FUCK uh. I... N... T... J? INTJ. Sure.

55. What is their zodiac sign?

In Sekrezia: The eagle

In our world: Uhhh. Idk. Capricorn????

56. What Hogwarts House would they be in?

Uhhh. Ravenclaw??? I know almost nothing about HP :/

57. What D&D alignment are they?

THIS ONE'S EASY- lawful neutral!

58. Do they ever have nightmares? If so, what about?

Used to have typical nightmares, nothing special. Nowadays though he often dreams of being underwater. Not drowning, though. It's... weird. He doesn't like those.

59. What are their views on death?

He's a necromancer lol.

Death is inevitable, though. It's a necessary part of life. Death is not an entire loss, though. One lives on in the memories others carry of them, in the love they hold in their hearts. Death is complicated, but that's okay.

60. What is something that they’re sure to laugh at?

Alistair :)

61. When bored, how do they pass time?

Dog time :)

62. Do they enjoy being outside?

... Ehhhhhh?

63. Do they have an accent?

Technically??? It's an accent from where he's from but like. I just barely tweak my own voice when I rp him so? Damn Corren I'm sorry you've been cursed with east coast dialect.

64. Upon seeing a slice of chocolate cake, what is their first reaction?

"Damn who's the rich bastard here?" (cake is kinda a delicacy in their world- not like elites only but not NEARLY as common as it is here)

65. If they knew they were going to die, what would they do/say?

Reassurance mode to whomever he's with. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm okay. Remember what I told you, death is a natural part of life, yeah? I don't have any regrets, I'm okay... Just. Thanks. For giving me a chance. Thank you. Thank you."

66. How do they feel about sex?

I SWEAR he's allosexual. I'm just bad at writing allosexuals.

67. What is their sexuality?

He doesn't really know how to pin it down, so he just calls himself "queer". Definitely not straight, that's all he knows.

68. Do they become squeamish at the sight of blood?

AHAHA no. He's hella desensitized

69. Is there anything that they find really gross?

Skulking cyst. Look it up at your own volition. It's. NO.

70. Which TV Trope(s) best describes them?

It's 12:21 in the morning and I'm NOT about to scroll through a bunch of tv tropes just. just. NERD stereotype.

71. Do they enjoy helping people?

Yyyyes? Only really if it's the people he cares about.

72. Are they allergic to anything?

Bullshit.

73. Do they have a pet?

WINGTHARA!! HIS SKELE-DOG!!!

74. Are they quick to anger? What are they like when they loose their temper?

Oh yeah he's all bark and no bite. He usually just throws a little fit and/or yells.

75. How patient are they?

More than he should be :/

76. Are they good at cooking?

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

77. Favorite insult? Do they insult people often?

Oh yes he insults the others all the time. No particular favorite, he likes so spice it up.

78. How do they act when they’re particularly happy?

Stim. Stim. Stim. His eyes get all sparkly and he. He.

79. What do they do when they learn about other people’s fears?

He will do everything in his power to assure they won't ever have to deal with their fears alone- You afraid of spiders? It's his job to get the spiders from now on so you won't have to deal with them.

80. Are they trustworthy?

Oh yeah. He's like Rapunzel- doesn't break promises.

81. Do they try to hide their emotions? Are they good at it?

Oh yes he tries to hide it. And yes, he's awful at it.

82. Do they exercise regularly?

Yes and no? No like- exercise regimen, but the amount of travelling and fighting they do is just- a workout in and of itself

83. Are they comfortable with the way they look?

Yeah! He's cute and he knows it baybie!!!

84. What are some physical features that they find attractive on people?

He,,, he likes someone who's physically stong,,, Muscles are,,, aaaaa >///>

85. What kind of personalities do they find attractive?

Someone he can nerd out with :)

86. Do they like sweet foods?

Impartial to it. He won't turn sweets away but he's not crazy about them either.

87. What is their age?

43, the equivalent of- I think someone in their mid 30s?

88. Are they tall or short or somewhere in between?

He's 6'8" :) Which is actually normal for his race

89. Do they wear glasses or contacts?

Sometimes! I like to think he has reading glasses or something like that.

90. Do they consider themselves attractive?

HE'S CUTE AND HE KNOWS IT.

91. What is their sense of humor like?

Julian tainted his sense of humor and now he finds the most dumb shit hilarious. Think very millenial/GenZ humor like "I wish I was Jared, 19"

92. What mood are they most often in?

"I don't get paid enough for this" or Fear.jpg

93. What kinds of things anger them?

People who don't keep their FUCKING WORD. Oh and like. Yknow. Half the shit his party does.

94. Outlook on life?

Again he's??? Oddly an optimist? In the "Things will get better and that is a fucking THREAT" way, but still optimist!

95. What kind of things make them sad/depressed?

Talk about his family :) Or the fact that his boyfriend might want him dead :)

96. What is their greatest weakness?

He's squishy as fuck. He goes down easy.

97. What is their greatest strength?

He's extremely intelligent and great with magic and his sniper!

98. Something that they regret?

Not doing more to stop his brother when he tried to resurrect their sister

99. Biggest accomplishment?

Either convincing an entire town his name is Torren or accidentally convincing some very OP people that he's secretly a dragon.

100. Create your own!

FUCK YOU I SPENT LIKE 2 HOURS ON THIS. NO PROOFREAD. IVE ALREADY DESIGNED CORREN'S AND NETHYL'S HYPOTHETICAL KIDS. ANYWAYS THEY'RE TWIN IRINAGA AND I'VE NAMED THEM AFTER THE DNDADS TWINS: THEIR NAMES ARE LARK AND SPARROW.

#LONG POST #LONG LONG POST #Corren #FUCK YOU DREWSKI <3

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pikapeppa · 5 years ago

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Fenris/f!Hawke and the Inquisition: Tell Me (NSFW)

Chapter 50 of Lovers In A Dangerous Time (i.e. Fenris the Inquisitor) is up on AO3! ~5400 words; read here on AO3 instead.

In which Fenris and Rynne have some religious chit-chat and some sexy times in the Frostback Basin.

*******************

Fenris took a sip of his ale, then set the stein aside and loosely wrapped his arms around his knees. At this hour of night, the treehouse camp was mostly quiet and still; Inquisition sentries spoke softly to each other as they patrolled each level of the sprawling structure, and half of Fenris’s companions had turned in for the night. One level below, Hawke was embroiled in a game of twenty-one with Bull and Varric while Sera variously encouraged and jeered at them, and Fenris could tell who had won each hand by the quality of their laughter as it floated up to the highest level of the treehouse every few minutes.

He tilted his head back to study the stars. The sky of the Frostback Basin was thick with them, twinkling like fireflies captured in the navy-blue net of night, and it was lovely enough for Fenris to nearly understand why the Avvar revered the sky so much that it warranted its own goddess.

The Lady of the Skies, he mused. But if the Avvar considered their Lady to be a goddess, that meant she was really just a spirit, if she truly existed at all.

Fenris frowned slightly at the thought. It was still odd to think that the Avvar revered spirits as gods and welcomed them so openly, given how feared they were in the rest of Thedas. Aside from in Tevinter and Nevarra, of course, where the necromancers and mortalitasi performed their dubious rituals.

He looked down at his left hand and studied the flickering in the fissures of his palm. It was also odd – and disturbing – to think that spirits in the Fade could track him down by virtue of the mark. To imagine that at this moment on the other side of the Veil, just a mere hairsbreadth of magic away, spirits were hovering near his hand and watching his every move, like ghoulish spectators at some kind of show…

He shifted his shoulders uneasily the thought, then closed his fist and leaned his head back once more to look at the stars. Truth be told, he was feeling quite drained by all this talk of spirits. Talking about spirits, talking to spirits, finding out that the Avvar gods were spirits… it raised so many questions about spirits and gods and… and religion in general. Questions that Fenris hadn’t been forced to think too much about before the Inquisition, back when his understanding of the world was far more clear-cut.

The more I learn, the less I know, he thought ruefully. It was an uncomfortable truth, and one that Fenris was still having trouble coming to terms with, even despite everything that he and Hawke had seen and done in the past few years. And not for the first time, he wished he could be as lighthearted as Hawke when it came to the unknown.

Her lightheartedness, Fenris thought, was one of the things about Hawke that had always struck him as strange and special. She was hardly the most knowledgeable person in Thedas, but she knew what she didn’t know, and she cheerfully acknowledged her own ignorance. When Hawke found out that she was wrong about something, she owned up to her incorrectness with a laugh. She was always happy to learn new things, incorporating new and seemingly insane information into her worldview as easily as though she was adding a new patch to a quilt.

Hawke certainly wasn’t ruminating about the nature of spirits and godhood, for instance. If anything, she seemed fascinated that the Avvar’s gods were simply spirits, and she was positively tickled by the Avvar’s respectful treatment of Cole. But this religious issue was different for Hawke. She didn’t believe in any gods at all, so questions of gods and mortals and reality and fiction were all purely academic to her. Fenris, on the other hand…

He ran his fingers through his hair. He still didn’t know where he stood when it came to Andraste and the Maker. Ever since he’d woken up with this damned anchor on his hand, he’d been forced to consider his own religious leanings more deeply than he had since his discussions with Sebastian back in Kirkwall. And some two-odd years later, Fenris still didn’t know where he stood.

He didn’t think he could be faulted for his confusion. After all, he’d been praised himself as Andraste’s holy herald, seen the Black City with his own two eyes, watched an Old God soul being taken from Kieran’s body, and met with an elven goddess wearing a human witch’s skin. The inconsistencies, the seemingly contradictory stories… of course Fenris didn’t know where he stood.

He sighed and stared blindly up at the sky. A moment later, he heard Hawke’s footsteps padding up the stairs to the platform where their little shared tent was pitched. “Hello, handsome,” she chirped. “Is there room on this platform for one more?” She plopped down beside him and started pulling off her boots.

He smiled faintly at her. Her breath was scented with ale, but her gaze was bright and alert, and he admired the smile crinkling the corners of her eyes as he replied. “There’s only room on this platform for the winner of your tournament of twenty-one,” he said.

She laughed and poked his arm. “I see how it is. I’ll fetch Bull to come and keep you company, then. I have it on good authority that he gives excellent cuddles.” She started to push herself to her feet.

Fenris grabbed her arm and pulled her back down with a smirk. “You are aware of why you constantly lose at that game, aren’t you? You always demand another card when you ought to hold. You always go over.”

She grinned and leaned into his side. “If you’re such an expert, why don’t you play with us?”

“Because Varric always fleeces me,” Fenris said dryly.

She laughed. “He does not! You always just lose because you don’t demand another card when you should. You always fall short.”

He casually lifted his stein to his lips. “An interesting perspective. I’ll consider it.”

She chuckled and settled her head on his shoulder, and they sat in a cozy silence for a moment.

Then she lifted her head and looked at him. “Seriously though. A royal for your thoughts?”

He raised an eyebrow. “I believe the expression is ‘a copper for your thoughts’.”

“I know,” she said. “But you’re so clever, your thoughts are worth an entire royal.”

He shot her a chiding look, then chuckled at her winsome smile. “Do you never tire of flattering me?”

“Never,” she said cheerfully. “I’m Rynne Hawke, Champion of Flattering Fenris.”

“That title is terrible,” he said. “No one will respect it.”

She grinned at him. “Fine then. What title should I have instead?”

Fenris thought for a moment, then smirked at her. “Rynne Hawke, Champion of Dirty Double-Entendre.”

She let out a throaty laugh. “Oh yes. I love that. I should have Josie order me a gilded plaque for our bedroom door.”

Fenris huffed in amusement, but before he could tease her any further, she reached up tweaked his earlobe. “Come on, Fenris, tell me what’s on your mind. I know you’ve been thinking about something serious up here all on your own.”

He shrugged. “It’s… nothing. It’s not important.”

“If it’s keeping you awake, then it’s not nothing,” she said.

He gazed at her sympathetic face for a moment, then sighed. “I was just thinking about… about gods, I suppose. What they are, and… whether they exist.”

Her eyebrows rose, and he hurried on before she could respond. “We know now that an elven god exists: this Mythal woman that we met. And the Old Gods of Tevinter existed; they were dragons that rose up as archdemons, so their existence is uncontested. The Avvar’s gods are spirits, so they exist. But…” He broke off, feeling rather sheepish about the next thing he was going to say.

Hawke saved him by saying it instead. “You’re wondering whether the Maker exists, too.”

He nodded. “Or… or something that corresponds to the Maker, I suppose. If Mythal and the Old Gods and the Avvar gods exist in some form, then… perhaps there is something that corresponds to a Maker, as well.”

“Could be,” Hawke said casually. “Maybe he’s just a spirit too.”

Fenris didn’t reply. He’d been circling around this idea himself, but he’d been reluctant to fully voice it for some reason.

When Hawke spoke again, her tone was tentative. “You don’t, er… Do you still think the Maker’s out there?”

He shrugged. “I… don’t know, Hawke. I have never known what to think. You know that.”

“I know,” she said softly. Then she smiled at him. “You know what’s funny? Andrastianism is the most powerful religion in the world, but it’s the only one we haven’t seen any evidence for yet. There’s a terrible sort of irony in that, don’t you think?”

Fenris huffed. “Of course you would find that funny.”

She laughed. “All right, not funny exactly. But I am thrilled that there’s no one who’s going to smite me for thinking such impure thoughts about that huge Andraste statue at the Kirkwall Chantry.” She held her hands out in a suggestive gesture. “You know, the one with the really shapely—”

Fenris tutted and pinched her waist, and she cackled before snuggling against his side once more. He draped his arm around her shoulders. “This really doesn’t bother you at all, does it?” he asked.

She lifted her head slightly. “What, the Maker maybe not really being a Maker after all?”

“Not… not just that,” Fenris said. “All of it. All of the gods. You were wrong too, after all.”

She tilted her head curiously, so Fenris went on. “You thought there was no such thing as any gods at all. But you were wrong. They do exist; they’re just not what everyone thought.”

She nodded an acknowledgement but didn’t speak, and her expression was expectant, like she was waiting for him to say something more. He shrugged and rubbed a hand through his hair. “I… I’m not sure what I am getting at. It just…” He gazed at her. “I envy your ability to take this all in stride.”

She slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow. “Well, it’s not like it changes anything for me. It’s not like I was shaping my life around religion or gods or anything, right?” She waved her hand dismissively. “Besides, if the gods are all just spirits or souls or whatnot, and Solas always said spirits are just conscious beings of a different type, then… gods are just people. They’re not special, they’re just people.” She grinned at him. “That’s interesting, isn’t it? The so-called gods are just as fallible as the rest of us.”

He raised his eyebrows at her blunt words. “And that comforts you?”

“I think it amuses me more than anything else,” she said.

Fenris frowned thoughtfully. “But… they aren’t like the rest of us. Those who are called gods have an uncommon degree of power, whether it’s literal magic like that Mythal woman or the pull of leadership like Corypheus. They aren’t truly like the rest of us.”

Hawke tilted her head. “Do you think they deserve the title of gods, then?”

“No, it’s not that,” he said. “It just… surprises me, I suppose. To think you are amused that those with such power also wield titles that place them on a higher pedestal. One that allows them to control others.”

Her expression became a bit wary. “That’s not what amuses me. I’m just amused by—”

“ —the irony of the situation,” Fenris finished. “I know.”

They fell quiet for a moment longer, and Fenris listened idly to the shifting leaves and the creak of nighttime insects as Hawke’s body heat seeped into his side. When she spoke again, her voice was quiet.

“You know, I keep thinking…” She trailed off, and Fenris looked at her quizzically.

“What?” he said.

She shot him a slightly apologetic look. “I keep thinking of Solas and what he’d think of all this.”

Fenris wilted slightly. “Ah.”

Hawke squeezed his arm. “Come on, you have to admit it would be sort of funny if he were here. He’d be so thrilled. An entire group of people who love spirits and welcome them and let them teach their mages? He’d be thrilled!”

Fenris didn’t reply, and Hawke blithely went on. “Actually, that reminds me — remember how we found all those inscriptions in the Hinterlands about Tyrdda Bright-Axe and the Lady of the Skies?”

“The Avvar poems?” Fenris said.

“Yes, those,” she said. “I don’t remember the details of those poems, but I do remember they referred to the Lady of the Skies as Tyrdda’s leaf-eared lover.”

Fenris smirked at her. “Of course that’s what you would…” Then he trailed off in his teasing and raised his eyebrows in genuine surprise. The Lady of the Skies appearing as a ‘leaf-eared lover’?

He looked at Hawke. “The spirit took the form of an elf.”

She nodded and poked his arm. “Just like our lovely bald Solas. See, more evidence that we’re right about him! Well, that Dorian was right, really.”

Fenris frowned. “Hmm. That is interesting.”

“I know, right?” Hawke said brightly. “Imagine Solas being revered as a god. Can you imagine?” She snickered.

“I can, in fact,” Fenris said. “If he was seen as a god, everyone would have to listen to him.”

Hawke sobered somewhat at his acidic tone. “Well, that’s a bit unfair. I actually think he wouldn’t want to be seen as a god.”

Fenris grunted. “He had the arrogance of a god.”

“Hardly,” Hawke retorted. “I mean, yes, he had his little moments of being a know-it-all. But he backed down if we called him on it.”

Fenris shrugged and didn’t reply. Another moment of silence fell between them, but it was a bit awkward this time.

Once again, Hawke broke the silence. “I still think—”

Fenris sighed. “Hawke, please.”

“Look, I just don’t think he’s doing anything nefarious,” she said defensively. “I think it’s entirely possible he just went back home to the Fade.”

Fenris gave her an exasperated look. “Then how do you explain the last words he said to me? ‘No matter what happens’...”

She shrugged and dropped her gaze, just as Fenris knew she would; she’d never been able to come up with a truly convincing explanation for Solas’s ominous parting words to Fenris.

He ruthlessly pressed on. “And he wanted Corypheus’s orb. You can’t deny that. Why would he want that blasted orb?”

“It was old and elven,” she said. “He probably wanted it for the same reasons as Merrill would.”

“You know that doesn’t particularly comfort me,” Fenris said flatly.

She shot him a slightly resentful look, and an odd twist of annoyance and affection pulled at his heart. As much as Hawke’s sunny outlook was enviable, it was times like this that Fenris found her optimism frustrating: even when faced with clear evidence of wrongdoing or poor judgment, she was reluctant to see the worst in her friends. Anders, Merrill, Solas… even Isabela when she’d left Kirkwall for three years. Even Fenris himself, when he’d distanced himself from her for the same amount of time. She refused to see any of them as harmful, simply because she loved them.

She released his arm and stretched her legs out in front of her. “I think Solas just wanted to know more about the orb. Which elven god it belonged to, how it worked…”

“You think he was collecting knowledge,” Fenris said.

“Yes, of course,” she said. “Like Merrill was trying to do.”

He ignored her pointed tone. “Knowledge is power,” he said. “Solas said that himself.”

Hawke wilted. “Fenris…”

He pressed on doggedly. “What did he want that power for?”

“Knowledge and power aren’t the same thing,” Hawke insisted. “Learning can just be for fun. Like my magical macaron recipe, for example. Now that I’ve perfected it, I can basically snap my fingers over some sugar and eggs and almonds and have a plate of macarons.” She gave him a knowing look. “You have to admit, that’s pretty fucking fun.”

Fenris tried to scowl at her; really he did. But the image of her standing in Skyhold’s kitchens, snapping her fingers repeatedly and materializing plates of macarons…

He couldn’t help himself: a little snort of laughter escaped him. He rubbed his mouth to mask it, but it was too late.

Hawke grinned and pulled his hand away from his mouth. “Ah-ha! A smile. I knew it was hiding there somewhere.” She pinched his chin playfully.

He tutted and dodged away from her hand. “Fasta vass. You will truly be the death of me.”

“That’s a shame,” she said cheerfully. “Because that smile of yours brings me to life.”

He shot her an incredulous look, then laughed more openly. “Now who is the smooth talker?”

She giggled. “I learned from the best. Now come on, let’s get some rest. Big day tomorrow of slogging along the riverbank and killing giant spiders.”

He huffed – she wasn’t wrong about that – then followed her into their little tent. A few minutes later, Fenris was stretched out on their camp bed while Hawke extinguished the little alchemical lamp.

She slipped under the covers and rubbed his bare foot with hers. “Goodnight,” she whispered.

“Sleep well,” he murmured. He let out a long, relaxed breath and folded his arms behind his head.

A few minutes later, just as his mind was starting to settle from its usual buzz of thoughts, Hawke spoke into the darkness of the tent. “Fenris?”

“Mm?”

“Can I kiss you?”

He turned his head and gave her an odd look. “Of course,” he said slowly. “Why do you ask?”

In the dimness of the tent, he could see the shape of her shoulder as she shrugged. “Just checking,” she said. She shuffled closer to him and slid her bare leg over his thigh, then pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss.

He let his eyes drift shut once more. Hawke’s kisses were soft and slow, more a caress of the lips than a true firm kiss, and Fenris followed her lead, parting his lips slightly when she gently kissed his lower lip.

Her lush lower lip brushed between his own. He nipped her lip very lightly, and she gasped.

It was a soft gasp; a tiny intake of air, but a very telling one, especially when she pressed her groin to his hip at the same time.

His eyes popped open. He hadn’t realized she was in the mood, given the chaste quality of her kisses.

He slid his hand beneath her loose linen shirt and over her hip, and to his surprise, she moaned into his lips.

He pulled away slightly to look at her. “Do you–?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she breathed. She rolled away from him onto her back and pressed her knuckles to her lips.

He rolled onto his side to face her. “Why are you apologizing? What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing,” she said. “I just…” She let out a breathy little laugh. “You must be tired. I don’t want to… It’s just been a while since we, um, went to bed at the same time.”

He frowned slightly. It was true that he’d been coming to bed later and rising earlier than Hawke for some time now, but it had just become a part of their routine. This was the first time she was mentioning it.

“Is that a problem?” he said.

“Not a problem,” she said hurriedly. “You’re busy, you have busy – important things to do. It’s… it’s nothing.”

He frowned at her more deeply. Then he pressed his fingers against the apex of her thighs.

She arched instantly into his hand, and he stopped breathing for a moment. She was already so wet that her smallclothes were damp, even though all they’d done was kiss.

He slid his fingers over the damp fabric of her smalls. “This is not nothing,” he told her.

She moaned softly. “F-fuck…”

“Do you want me?” he whispered.

“Of course I want you,” she blurted.

“Why didn’t you say that in the first place?”

She let out a shaky breath. “I… I don’t know. It’s been a while, I didn’t want to pressure you.”

He paused in his stroking. Had it really been that long? When had they last had sex? Was it… two weeks ago, perhaps? He wasn’t sure.

He looked at her. “When was the last time?”

“It doesn’t matter,” she breathed. She lifted her hips toward his hand. “Fenris, please…”

He refused to move his fingers. “How long ago, Hawke?”

She released another tremulous breath. “A month, give or take,” she murmured. “Maybe. Something like that.”

He gaped at her in surprise. Had it really been that long? He hadn’t… how had he not realized it had been that long?

He pressed his fingers between her legs again. “Well, we should rectify that.”

She jerked her hips eagerly, but her words belied her body. “You don’t have to,” she gasped. “I don’t want you to–”

He grabbed her hand and pulled it down to the hardening bulge in his leggings. “Do you think I would do this if I didn’t want to?” he whispered.

She didn’t reply; she was too busy rubbing her palm over his hardness. Her fingers slid along the margins of his cock, and Fenris indulged himself in the sweet pressure of her fingers for a moment before pushing her hand aside.

She whimpered in protest, but the protest was short-lived; he was crawling over her now and pushing her thighs apart, and before he’d even settled between her legs, she was gasping fitfully and lifting her hips in anticipation.

He peeled her smallclothes down. A liquid thread of arousal stretched between the fabric and her folds, and for some reason, his heart fluttered painfully at the sight. Seeing Hawke so ready for him, wanting him so badly despite barely a touch… It made his chest ache for some reason.

Worse yet was the thought of her wanting him like this every night. The thought of Hawke waiting for him to come to bed, then keeping her wants to herself as he collapsed onto their mattress before rising just a few hours later and leaving her alone…

A lump rose to his throat. He swallowed hard, then tossed her smallclothes aside and ran his tongue between her legs.

She jammed her fist against her mouth and jerked her hips, and Fenris grasped her thighs as he lapped up the sweetness of her musk. He tasted her thoroughly, treating her lower lips as though he was kissing her mouth, and although her sounds were muffled by her fist, the language of her body was more than clear enough. She twisted her hips slowly when he smoothed his tongue lightly over her clit, so he continued to lick her gently, stroking her swollen little bud until her writhing told him that she wanted a firmer touch.

When she rose to her peak a mere minute later, her fingers scrabbled down over the planes of her belly to scratch her skin, and Fenris reached for her hand. She grabbed his hand, digging her fingernails into his palm as she shuddered with pleasure, and he carefully brought her through her rapture until her fingers loosened in his palm.

A moment later, she was sliding out from beneath him and pushing him back, plucking at his tunic and his leggings at the same time, and Fenris’s breathing grew harsh as her obvious desperation fed his own desire. With Hawke’s overeager help, he freed himself from his clothes without dislodging her from his lap. She dragged her shirt off and threw it aside, and then she was clutching his shoulders and rocking her wetness over his length.

He braced one hand on the bedroll and pulled her eagerly against his cock. “Hawke,” he rasped. “Please–”

She lifted her hips and adjusted his cock, then came down hard on his lap. Surprised and pleasured by the hardness of her thrust, he just barely managed to muffle his groan of pleasure by biting the side of her neck.

“Fuck,” she gasped. She craned her neck to the side to give him better access, all the while digging her fingers into his shoulders as she rolled against his hips in a hard grind, and Fenris breathed hard against her neck, silencing himself against her salty skin as the rapid rise and fall of her hips brought his lust roaring to life.

A rapturous minute later, she released his right shoulder and slowed down to a stop, and Fenris opened his eyes. “Do you want to switch?” he panted.

“No,” she breathed. She lowered her left hand between her legs. “I want to touch myself while I fuck you.”

Her blunt words lit a fresh flare of want low in his belly, and he shamelessly watched as she parted the curls between her legs. She pressed the swollen bud of her clit with the flat of her fingers, holding her breath and holding still on his lap as she petted herself, and Fenris’s hungry gaze darted from her hand to her face, his entire body tense as he tried to control his rising impatience.

A torturous minute later, her face twisted into an expression of utter rapture. She gasped loudly, then burst out a sob. “Fenris–”

He kissed her hard and thrust into her even harder. He could feel her pleasure cries echoing in his mouth, heightening his impatience to a fever pitch. A second later she was riding him hard and fast, and the force of their fucking and the sheer obviousness of her desire was driving him swiftly toward his peak.

She broke away from his lips and clasped his neck. Without slowing in her zealous rhythm, she pressed her forehead to his. “I love you,” she breathed.

“I know,” he rasped. “I – I know, Hawke. You…” He broke off with a soft moan as she ground herself firmly against his lap.

She stroked his neck her thumbs. “I know you know,” she whispered. “I just…” She kissed him again before speaking in a breathless voice. “It feels like a while since I said it.”

He shot her a brief odd look. She’d just told him she loved him earlier this evening.

She pressed her lips to his cheekbone and trailed her fingers down his chest, and that’s when he realized what she really meant. This was her way of saying it. This was how and when Hawke showed him that she loved him: by stroking his arms and his chest and showing how much she cherished his every scar and line. By lifting him to peaks he would never have otherwise had, and by kissing his lips and breathing her love against his ear in the throes of their mutual pleasure.

The love they made together was how Hawke told him she loved him. And it always had been, ever since their first time over ten years ago.

He slid his palms up her sweat-laced back and brushed his lips to hers. “Fuck me hard,” he whispered.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “My pleasure. Literally,” she purred. A moment later, she was rising and falling on his lap in a frenzied rhythm, her gasping breaths ghosting across his ear while he panted against her shoulder, and his climax was climbing, roiling and building between his legs until it finally burst through his limbs in a shock of ecstasy.

Mired in the pulsing of his pleasure, he mindlessly bit her shoulder. She gasped and fucked him even harder until he ran his hands down her back and squeezed her waist.

She carefully slowed to a stop, then rested her cheek against his temple with a happy sigh. Her arms were still around his neck, and Fenris lazily ran his palm along her tattooed back and inhaled the sandalwood scent of her skin as their sweat started to cool.

She brushed her lips gently over his ear, then nibbled the tip of his ear with her lips, and he smirked and tilted his head away. “That tickles,” he murmured.

She chuckled and nuzzled his ear again. “But your ear is so tasty.”

He grumbled, and she giggled again before starting to shift off of his lap. “All right. Now that you’ve fucked me so nicely, I think I’m going to fall right asleep–”

He grasped her hips to keep her on his lap. “Rynne,” he said.

She stopped and met his gaze, and he carefully brushed her damp bangs back from her forehead. “You can tell me when you want me,” he said quietly.

She laughed and idly brushed her fingers along his collarbone. “What a silly thing to say. I always want you.”

“Then you can always tell me,” he said.

She smiled and shrugged. “But I’m always gagging for it and I don’t want to make you feel bad.”

Her gaze was downcast despite her smile. Fenris tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. “You think it would make me feel bad to be told that my wife desires me?” he said.

“No, no,” she said hastily. “I mean…” She licked her lips nervously, then sighed. “I don’t want to make you feel guilty. We both know you’re busy. We can’t… sex isn’t going to happen as often as it used to,” she said bluntly. “And that’s fine, it’s just the way it is. But I don’t want you to feel guilty when you’re not in the mood.”

He brushed his thumb along the line of her jaw. “And I don’t want you to feel like you are alone.”

Her gaze dropped again, and she laughed lightly. “Look who you’re talking to. I’m never alone.”

He gazed at her seriously for a moment. She could deflect as much as she wanted, but he knew that he was right about her feeling lonely sometimes, especially since Varric and Dorian had left.

“Tell me when you want me,” he insisted. “I want to hear it. Even if I am tired or preoccupied, tell me anyway.”

She shrugged. She was still smiling, and her eyes were still on her fingers as they trailed across his collarbone. “And then what?”

“Then we will see,” he said. “Maybe we’ll make love. Maybe I can watch you while you pleasure yourself. Maybe nothing will come of it. But if you tell me, then I can tell you in return.”

“Tell me what?” she asked.

“That I love you,” he replied.

Her eyes finally returned to his face, and a smile lit her lips. “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that,” she said. “Can you say it again?”

He tsked and pinched her waist, and she squeaked with laughter and smacked his hand. A moment later, they were curled together under the covers, and Fenris could just make out her cheeky grin in the darkness of the tent.

She stroked his chin gently with her thumb. “Come on, tell me again,” she murmured.

He huffed. “I love you, Hawke. Even when you’re an idiot.”

She laughed softly and tucked her knee carefully between his legs. “I love you too, you handsome fool,” she whispered.

Fenris smirked, then kissed her smiling lips. Hawke could smile and joke if she liked, but Fenris knew the fears that lived behind the cheeky curl of her grin. To counter those fears, he would tell her he loved her every day. She would tell him when she wanted him, and he would tell her of his love, and they would walk through the rest of their days knowing neither of them would ever be alone.

#fenris #fenris smut #Lovers in a Dangerous Time #fenris the inquisitor #fenquisition #fenhawke #fenris/hawke #fenris x hawke #fenris/femhawke #fenris x femhawke #fenris/f!hawke #fenris x f!hawke #fenrynne #pikapeppa writes #jaws of hakkon #joh dlc

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iwhumpyou · 5 years ago

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where are you getting all out these wonderful fantasy names???? cause like yea I’ve heard Gabriel before, but Rhiya and Kyran and Draven etc I’ve never heard before and they are actually amazing

Thank you so much! I’m really happy that you like them!

So originally I had a one of those baby names apps to name characters, but then I gave up on checking that every time I needed a new name, so I shifted to name generators - springhole.net has some good ones for coming up with new names, like Name Smasher, and there are a ton of others on other sites.

But then I started shifting my fantasy characters to be more ethnically ambiguous and I started to move away from traditional Western names to new names that were still readable and pronounceable but were uncommon or rare to see in real life. And then I started writing whump, and I both ran out of names to use and needed new names fast.

Rhiya - well, that is actually me milking as much as I possibly can out of that particular sound, because I already had a Riya, and a Rhia. Rearranging the spelling of a name I like is something I do often.

Kyran - an alteration of Kieran, I think, or it might just be me combining sounds I like. (This name was drafted a long, long time ago.)

Draven - definitely a bunch of sounds I like.

One of the things I try to do when coming up with fantasy names is to combine the syllables and letters that evoke the same feeling that I want the character to have. This can mean hard sounds, like ‘k’, ‘d’, ‘r’, and letters that look sharp instead of rounded and smooth, or softer sounds/letters like ‘n’, ‘l’, and lots of vowels. And when I come up with a particular combination of sounds, I tweak it a bit, say it out loud, maybe substitute sounds and letters until I get the right name.

And sometimes I separate the sorts of sounds that different cultures/groups have in my stories - Rhiya and Naya and Khani are from the island, and their names all end on vowels, while Draven and Aster and Adar and Tikal are all from Skalid and the names end on consonants. I don’t actively try to fit names to real-world templates, but the knowledge of how real-world names in different cultures sound probably influences how I draft names in different fantasy cultures.

#envy answers #writer's commentary #names #kyran #rhiya #draven #my amateur knowledge of linguistics comes out to play

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t-aldamiri · 5 years ago

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Tereik had considered proposing to Kieran before, but after his accident in the Valley of the Kings, his health took a serious turn for the worse and he had to focus all his energy on staying alive an trying to get better. He’d told her while he was still in the hospital that he wouldn’t be upset with her if she left, his prognosis hadn’t been good at that time and he would have understood if it was too much for her. She hadn’t left though, she was with him through every step of his recovery, even though he was still technically recovering six year down the line. It was then that Tereik knew he wanted to marry her, he just had to wait until he got better because he wanted to try and be the husband she deserved.

Now that they were back together and he had been doing well physically, he knew it was time to ask her, he’d designed a ring and then had his sister help him tweak it a little so it was more to Kieran’s taste. He knew that he could make a grand public gesture, but that wasn’t really his style, instead he made them dinner and they went for a slow, casual walk until they ended up at a park where they found a slightly secluded bench where they could talk an Meeko could run free for a little while and burn off some of her energy. They talked for a little while and then he knew this was the moment.

“Kieran, I know we haven’t been back together very long, but we’ve been together for a long time an being apart for as long as we were made me realize that I don’t ever want us to be separated ever again. So, I guess what I’m asking is...” he pulled out the ring box and opened it, “Will you marry me?”

@k-s-horowitz

#closed starter

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taylordmorris · 7 years ago

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Graphic: Markets see more Turkish lira losses and more cenbank moves to support it

New Post has been published on https://worldwide-finance.net/news/commodities-futures-news/graphic-markets-see-more-turkish-lira-losses-and-more-cenbank-moves-to-support-it

Graphic: Markets see more Turkish lira losses and more cenbank moves to support it

By Karin Strohecker and Marc Jones

LONDON (Reuters) – Turkey’s lira is in the grip of one its worst routs of modern times but markets are sensing more weakness ahead and could push authorities to do more than this week’s 3 percentage-point rate hike to turn the tide.

Roiled by problematic politics, big deficits and double-digit inflation, the lira is heading for its worst week and month in almost nine years.

Since the start of the year it has lost 20 percent against the dollar and, as the charts below indicate, pressure points remain.

1/ SCALE OF THE MOVE

The modern lira’s biggest-ever slump was a 36 percent drop over roughly six weeks at the height of the 2008-09 global financial crisis. This current plunge, which really started snowballing last September, now amounts to 31 percent.

If the lira doesn’t stage a fightback in coming months, this will be its sixth straight year of losses. It is also the most undervalued of major emerging currencies in real effective exchange rate (REER) terms – which measures it against the currencies of trade partners, adjusted for inflation.

Technically the lira’s all-time REER low was in October 2001. Renaissance Capital says this equates to 5.16 per the dollar in today’s prices. Before Wednesday’s 3 percentage point emergency rate hike, the lira spot rate had been close to crossing the 5-per-dollar threshold.

“We think Turkey could breach that (5.16 level) if it had a growth and banking crisis,” said Renaissance’s chief economist Charles Robertson.

To view a graphic on Emerging Market Real Effective Exchange Rates, click: https://reut.rs/2GNmQo9

2/ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET?

Futures, options and derivatives markets are still flashing warning signs for the lira.

The cost of hedging against big lira swings using volatility options on Friday was moving back toward the 9-year high hit on Wednesday before the central bank jacked up rates. Traders only make money on these if the currency moves by more than the priced level. That points to big moves, though it could be in either direction.

One-year risk reversals , a gauge of puts (sells) to calls (buys) on lira and a medium-term measure of the currency’s outlook, are nearing their highest levels since Jan 2017.

Shorter-term three-month risk reversals indicate similar stresses, while one-year forwards are quoted at a 15 percent premium to the current dollar/lira spot rate.

To view a graphic on Turkey Cross Currency Swap Rates, click: https://reut.rs/2KMxr4X

3/MORE RATE HIKES?

The signals from Turkey’s interest rate markets are tricky to decipher with any accuracy in the current maelstrom, but the picture that emerges is that while the scale of Wednesday’s rate hike may not be repeated, there will be at least one more tweak.

Three-month ‘forward starting swaps’ – an indicator of what money markets expect to be charging for three month-funding in three months time — are at 17.15 percent — up a bit on Turkey’s top ‘late liquidity window’ rate after this week’s policy tightening .

“It looks like the market is pricing in another 50 basis points hike in the next three months, said Standard Life (LON:) Aberdeen fund manager Kieran Curtis. “So another little tweak.”

This week’s move is a reminder too that Turkey is no stranger to emergency rate hikes. It cranked up rates in a midnight emergency meeting in January 2014 after the lira tumbled more than 7 percent in 10 days.

Another option that would be welcomed by markets but is not apparent in pricing would be to pull the three different interest rates closer together. It has long been talked about and would make it easier for the central bank to control the market.

To view a graphic on Turkey Interest Rate Hike 2014 and 2018, click: https://reut.rs/2GK81lS

4/ SWAPS SURGE

The rout in the lira has spilled over to the cross-currency basis swap markets – a rough indicator of the availability of U.S. dollar funding in domestic currency markets.

One-year Turkish cross currency swaps – a tool used by financial institutions to offset both exchange rate and interest rate risk – surged to a record of nearly 18 percent this week.

This is up more than 300 basis points since the start of the month – indicating the rush to secure dollar funds. Having tracked the lira quite closely until May, cross-currency swaps have deteriorated at a faster rate than the lira itself this month.

Cross-currency swaps were in the spotlight during the 2008 global financial crisis and the eurozone crisis when banks used derivatives markets to secure overnight funding if they had been locked-out of the traditional wholesale money markets.

A rise in these swap rates indicate financial institutions are paying a premium to secure dollar funds and translates into increased pressure on the local currency, in this case the lira.

Read More https://worldwide-finance.net/news/commodities-futures-news/graphic-markets-see-more-turkish-lira-losses-and-more-cenbank-moves-to-support-it

#cenbank #Graphic #lira #losses #markets #moves #support #Turkish

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breakbit · 7 years ago

Text

Graphic: Markets see more Turkish lira losses and more cenbank moves to support it

New Post has been published on https://worldwide-finance.net/news/commodities-futures-news/graphic-markets-see-more-turkish-lira-losses-and-more-cenbank-moves-to-support-it

Graphic: Markets see more Turkish lira losses and more cenbank moves to support it

By Karin Strohecker and Marc Jones

Roiled by problematic politics, big deficits and double-digit inflation, the lira is heading for its worst week and month in almost nine years.

Since the start of the year it has lost 20 percent against the dollar and, as the charts below indicate, pressure points remain.

1/ SCALE OF THE MOVE

“We think Turkey could breach that (5.16 level) if it had a growth and banking crisis,” said Renaissance’s chief economist Charles Robertson.

To view a graphic on Emerging Market Real Effective Exchange Rates, click: https://reut.rs/2GNmQo9

2/ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET?

Futures, options and derivatives markets are still flashing warning signs for the lira.

One-year risk reversals , a gauge of puts (sells) to calls (buys) on lira and a medium-term measure of the currency’s outlook, are nearing their highest levels since Jan 2017.

Shorter-term three-month risk reversals indicate similar stresses, while one-year forwards are quoted at a 15 percent premium to the current dollar/lira spot rate.

To view a graphic on Turkey Cross Currency Swap Rates, click: https://reut.rs/2KMxr4X

3/MORE RATE HIKES?

“It looks like the market is pricing in another 50 basis points hike in the next three months, said Standard Life (LON:) Aberdeen fund manager Kieran Curtis. “So another little tweak.”

To view a graphic on Turkey Interest Rate Hike 2014 and 2018, click: https://reut.rs/2GK81lS

4/ SWAPS SURGE

The rout in the lira has spilled over to the cross-currency basis swap markets – a rough indicator of the availability of U.S. dollar funding in domestic currency markets.

One-year Turkish cross currency swaps – a tool used by financial institutions to offset both exchange rate and interest rate risk – surged to a record of nearly 18 percent this week.

A rise in these swap rates indicate financial institutions are paying a premium to secure dollar funds and translates into increased pressure on the local currency, in this case the lira.

Read More https://worldwide-finance.net/news/commodities-futures-news/graphic-markets-see-more-turkish-lira-losses-and-more-cenbank-moves-to-support-it

#cenbank #Graphic #lira #losses #markets #moves #support #Turkish

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moxyphinx · 7 years ago

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2017 MDK&KK Gigs

As a disclaimer of sorts, there are bits missing or cut out, and quotes are approximate because

my memory’s not what it used to be post transplant

I don’t feel comfortable posting some things “publicly”

I’m not sure how much we can say about new songs, so the ones that haven’t been released or played somewhere else publicly are just titled “New Song” until Sept 25th

Also, I’m not tagging this - mainly posting as tradition and for posterity.

Back in 2015, MDK&KK came to Seattle for a series of house gigs, and they invited Jackie (@catgranting) and me to one. You can read about the magic here.

Since then, we’ve become friends with the amazing woman who hosts, and she and KK have kept us posted about their return to the PNW. Initially, we assumed we would just go to one of the house gigs. However, MDK&KK have both been incredibly supportive and understanding of my medical situation, and they offered to do a small Sunday afternoon gig for us and friends. We didn’t know it when we arrived, but they actually played it as a benefit gig for my treatment plan which is C R A Z Y generous, and I don’t think I’ll ever be over it.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

We arrived and set out food and drinks for the guests. KK came out once we had pretty much set everything up, gave me a huge hug, and we chatted. He mentioned that this gig would be entirely acoustic since it went so well last time, and that Maria was more nervous than usual.

Everyone mingled for awhile. It was fun to have friends and coworkers to share this with. Our dear friend, Aisling (@disturbedporcelain) came down from Vancouver and brought her sweet cousins. We hadn’t seen her in forever, so it was lovely to catch up and special to have her there. Eventually, MDK came downstairs looking fecking beautiful in a Frida Cahlo dress. Our host’s daughter did her hair:

We made eye contact across the patio and both went in for a hug. She asked after my health, and then leaned in and asked if I had seen the episode of OB yet. I blurted out that I had cried, and that she was incredible. She talked about how she felt super overwhelmed by the response on Twitter. Jackie and Aisling came over, and we gabbed about music, nerves, life, etc.

Around 5pm, everyone headed in to find seats. We ended up in the front row. #classic

Sing Hola Luna

After the song, Maria looked up and smiled, “Hiiii! Two songs down. We’re alright now.” It was roasting last year, but this year was quite toasty as well, and someone passed up a fan for her. “What’s that? Oh god! It goes with my outfit. I’m just going to stand and pose.” She explained the PA situation and the terror. “I guess you’re going to hear the songs the way we write them. So it’s special.”

Sing from the Sea A Couple More Years (Cover) (Bob Dylan plays it in Hearts of Fire)

We’ve never heard them sing this before. It’s a very sweet duet, and I feel like the way they sang it was a distillation of them performing together. KK started the song first plying the guitar, then singing. MDK looked toward him, smiled, and joined in on the second line harmonizing. Throughout the song they seamlessly traded off. They are so in sync, and listen to each other intently, yet effortlessly. It’s memorizing to watch, particularly at this gig because so much of it was unplanned.

Pride (new)

MDK: “What about ‘Pride?’” Audience: “What about it?” MDK: “Get on to it.”

Maria told a story about looking for books about drag for an upcoming project. They stopped in a shop called Deseret Book, and the guy at the front asked if he could help her find anything. She asked if they had any books about queer theory or drag. He quickly said no which she thought was odd, so she asked if they had any books about drag and fashion, and he was like, “No, we definitely don’t." (Meanwhile, Diane, Aisling’s cousin, is dying of laughter). He told her that they’re actually a small Mormon book store. She quickly explained that she wasn’t trying to be provocative and wasn’t from here, and he laughed, and gave them an address for another bookstore.

Last Call (new)

MDK: “This is a song about getting stuck in a bar… It could happen.”

Bethlehem (Sing-along)

I was shite at this to start with. Maria was like, “All you really need to know how to do it count.” Sounds easy enough, right? Well, we also had to repeat a line and then count, which okay, still sounds easy, lol. I eventually got it. Maria also said that every time they do it it’s completely different. “What yous did that was different, was you held out the note, like 'ooooooonee,’ ‘twooooooo.’ It was very cool."

Stuck

At this point KK asked for The List™ to be passed around. Before the gig, they wrote a normal setlist, but KK also wrote a list of a bunch of random songs they don’t usually play at gigs any more. “And if we don’t know it, it’s not like they’re going to kick us out.” As The List landed in my hands, KK said, “Oh, I already know what you’re going to pick.” “Yes, you do. Stuck.” Cue laughter. I already talked about this in the 2015 post, but to reiterate, it’s my “if forced to choose” fav, and partially responsible for how we got to know them. It’s still wild to think about the fact that it might be her most well-known song due to OB. It was a staple on my hospital playlist. God, I don’t even know how to talk about this song anymore. I’m just very thankful for it, and to have been surrounded by its vibration.

Mother

Aisling’s pick. (God, Mütter is SO good). MDK: “You didn’t put that on the list did you?” As Maria hit the chorus, she choked up. “I actually can’t sing that.” She talked about how the relationship between you and your mother, whether good or bad, is always remarkable. And she loves her mam, tried to write a song, and it turned into "the heaviest fucking song."

Have You Seen Him Twelve White Horses Sequin (new) Colour Code (These Streets are Always Blue) (new)

KK: "Let’s do it on the piano… for the craic.” MDK: “This is a show that nobody will ever see again.”

MDK: “Round Two” *rings her bells*

Going Home Sinners Like You and Me

KK: “I wrote this song when I was four. Lyrically, it sounds like I was four.” MDK: “I think if I would’ve said that to the guy in the Deseret Book Shop, sinners like you and me, I think he would’ve got it. We’d’ve bonded.”

Little Bee (new)

While KK tuned his guitar, MDK talked about us: “Jackie and Shawna have been friends of ours awhile now. We got to know them when they came to see us in Toronto, and they brought my favorite things: crisps and socks. We’ve spent lots of different mad nights with them. They had a car crash - Aisling, you were there too. And the album’s not going to be out until September, but they got a special sneak preview just for being old fans.” Jackie: “’Old.’” MDK: “And by old, I clearly just mean, you know, a long time.” Jackie: “It’s fun to hear them acoustic. ...Because they’re very not.” MDK: “They are very not.”

KK: “Is there more?” MDK: "There’s loads more. We only played half the song.” KK: *looks at me* ”Most songs go on too long anyway, don’t they?” Me: “No.” KK: “It’s just me then.” MDK: “It’s just you."

Winners (new) Last Day (new)

MDK: “This one’s a little bit sad, but not really. (...) All we have are the days. You just have to say, all I have is today. Can I just be the best I can be today?” We first heard this at Hugh’s Room 2015, and have been obsessed with it ever since. Aisling cried. Jackie reached out and held her hand. MDK: “We always make people cry. It would be a bad gig if no one cried.”

Fuckability Snow White

Definitely a song I wasn’t expecting to hear live. The vibe was more ‘La Sirena’ than ‘Charm.’ Maria talked about how she wrote a series of songs inspired by fairytales because she wanted princesses having their own agency.

KK made a joke about a place that sold “grass” and alcohol called “High Spirits.”

Helena O Mother (Sing-along) Sparky Personality

Alyssa: “I was thinking Fuckability and I just read Spanky - Sparky” MDK: “Spanky - that’s all whole other can of songs.” Jackie: “Just tweak it a little bit - A spanky personality.”

After the first verse, Maria hesitated. KK: "The chorus.” MDK: “What is the chorus? What are the words? … Damn ... *looks to me and Jackie* Do yous know?” Me and Jackie: “Uh… Keep the wolves and your daughters at your door.” MDK: “Thank god for fans.”

Battlefield (Pat Beneath Cover) Shipbuilding (Elvis Castello Cover)

MDK: “What do you want to do, Boogaloo.” KK: ”Where’s The List?” MDK: “Fuck The List” KK: “I love The List.” MDK: “See you’ve got a fuck The List, and a love The List, and somehow we make it work.”

Keep it to Yourself (Amy Rigby cover)

KK: "We don’t know it, but it’s funny. We haven’t done this since like 1943.” I didn’t even know this song was in their repertoire! It reminded me of ‘Babes’ since it’s more of story song, but with a mischievous tango edge. Maria was hilarious, playing coy and all.

You say you'd like to kill the man who broke my heart. You don't think he should be allowed to live. You say you want to shoot the dude who screwed me up. Me, I'm trying so hard to forgive. But here's his address. Here's his picture. Here's the make and model of his car. He works until 4:30. Then he hangs out at the topless bar With a girl on each arm. If he should come to harm, Just keep it to yourself.

Unbelievable

We hung out for quite awhile afterwards, as we had promised to help clean up (shout out to my mam for doing most of it because I was too overwhelmed to do much of anything). The post-gig glow, though! Aisling and I spent some time sitting in the yard just basking in it.

Jackie, Kieran and I debated about which of their songs is the saddest. KK said ‘Unbelievable,’ which, to me, ultimately has a comforting message like a lot of their ‘sad’ songs (’Stuck,’ ‘Last Day,’ ‘Sing from the Sea’). I think we settled on ‘Helena.’

Near the end of the night, we ended up in a conversation with Aisling, MDK, and KK. We talked about a bunch of stuff: queer theory, drag, gentrification, OB, traveling, their music (obvs). At some point, Jackie and I sang the bridge of ‘My Addiction’ to them. Maria said she loves that song and hummed it. We’ve put in the request for next time. (How fecking epic would it be live?!)

As we said goodbye, MDK pulled us in for hugs and called us mighty women. "Well, that means a lot coming from another mighty woman.”

Also, this is too pure:

SATURDAY EVENING

I hadn’t realized it was an option, but there was extra availability at their last gig, so we ended up going to this one as well. I am incredibly grateful to have had a second opportunity to see them under less stressful circumstances all ‘round (though it’s still kind of terrifying to be in the presence of people you deeply respect and admire). There's not as much about this night because I forgot to do a brain dump after. Plus this is WAY too long already.

We had a terrible heat wave in Seattle which is totally unprepared as a city to deal with it, so the gig was moved from a home to an air-conditioned conference room in a bank. When we arrived, we got hugs from Kieran, and hung out with Aisling and her cousins.

Right before the gig began, Maria came over to talk to our group for a hot second. She talked about Astoria, glass artists Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora C. Mace, and how the water was “perishing” in Crescent Lake.

MDK: “We’ve played in a lot of weird places, but this is our first time in a bank."

Sing Hola Luna Sing from the Sea

This audience was on the louder side, which reminded Maria of a gig in Europe in an apartment building that had a super strict noise curfew. Instead of clapping, everyone did jazz hands. She told us we should do it for the next song “just for the craic.” When we did, she doubled over laughing.

The Mountaineers Courtship Sequin (new) Colour Code (new) Bethleham (Sing-along) Am I Choosing Right

There was something extra magical about this song. I don’t remember what exactly, but I do remember thinking, “Wow” when it was over. It was like the first time hearing the the higher riff on “Am I choosing right” on ‘Maria Live’ - just chills.

Pride (new) Babes

Storms are on the Ocean O Molly Dear

MDK is such a fucking powerhouse. You can physically feel might of her voice - it pierces you. ‘O Molly Dear’ is a beast live, and she was just so in it - dancing and belting.

12 White Horses Yes We Will Last Day (new) Lucinda O Mother The Silence The Most Beautiful People are Broken

This song hit me in a way I totally wasn’t expecting. The added bridge - “You’re beautiful just as you are / don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t go as far as you want to” - I just - I cried. It was so powerful to be surrounded by the loving and uplifting energy that saturated the space. Their music is curative.

Siúil a Rún (Irish)

“I’m just going to down a few lines of an Irish song for [names all the Irish people in the audience].”

Stars Above

After this song, the woman sitting next to me leaned over and said, “Well, she made the three of us cry *pointing to herself, Aisling, and me* I was looking over and counting.” To be honest, has anyone heard this song live and not cried?

We all went outside to get some fresh air. Maria came over and said, “We have to get a picture!” My brother volunteered his phone, so here’s our only group photo of the night:

I asked MDK about her ring:

She wore it last weekend too. Diane and I kept wondering if it was supposed to be “No” or “On.” She said the people at the shop in Toronto called it the “No” ring, but she wears it so it says “On.” She was also wearing her awesome double gender ring.

We shot the shit, and then said our goodbyes. Hugs all ‘round.

It’s difficult process through this, and I’ve only just begun. It’s been a huge year for my family, and I’m grateful to have been healthy enough to experience these historic nights in my life. Beyond words.

tl:dr: MDK& KK are truly angelic - some the kindest, most generous, beautiful, talented people I’ve ever met, and I’ll cry forever about it.

#/#//#///#////#/////#personal #mdk #this took me ten years #and i'm still like :/#impossible to capture with words #and i just got tired at the end #...idk #everything's so curated #and i'm anxious #byeeee

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torentialtribute · 5 years ago

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Leaving out Harry Kane is a sign of strength… England are not a one-man band any more

Gareth Southgate produced a wonderfully eloquent argument for why it would do English football the power of good to resist rushing Harry Kane back into the starting line-up. Even better, he is going to heed it.

Until late on Wednesday there was still uncertainty about whether Kane was going to start against Holland on Thursday. He had told Southgate he was ready, and Southgate was equally frank in his statements about the pressure on managers to select a talismanic figure; particularly a proven match winner.

Mauricio Pochettino felt the same way before the Champions League final. Yet if Kane reprised the role he played in that match – once again up against arguably the best center half in the world right now, Virgil van Dijk – it's hard to imagine it would go any better for England than it did for Tottenham .

Harry Kane is to start on the bench for England in Thursday night's Nations League semi-final

Being able to rest his captain from the start is a sign of strength for boss Gareth Southgate

Southgate knew that. So, he assessed all the evidence, and made one of his toughest calls as an England manager. His captain will start on the bench.

This is not a wantonly controversial call. Nor is it to decry Kane's worth to this team. He is the best goal scorer available when fit. Yet is he fit?

Despite his protests, he doesn't look it. Asked about Kane's performance in the Champions League final, Southgate resorted to the old adage: if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. The dissembled and offered vague platitudes, unable to cling to any positive.

"I don't think it's for me to comment on club performances in an individual game," Southgate said.

Yet if Kane had scored or played well, he would have been all over that. Southgate knew he would have as good as talk to his man. He likes to be as truthful as possible. He couldn't do it.

Kane may still have a role to play against Holland, but this is the right call. The development of this England squad relies upon not falling back into the habits of the past, when it was all about one man – Wayne Rooney or David Beckham or Michael Owen.

Southgate's England are more than the sum of their parts. Kane's presence is important, if he is at his best, but he cannot be wheeled out against all evidence.

The striker was rushed back to fitness by Tottenham for the Champions League final last week

But England's team these days has lots of competition for places and no reliance on one man

Pochettino gambled in the biggest match in Tottenham's history and that is understandable. These were exceptional circumstances. With respect, the UEFA Nations League semi-final is not that. This is a tournament England would like to win very much. It's not one to strap Kane up to a horse, like El Cid.

"When I took over, I remember talking about how everything had fallen on Wayne Rooney's shoulders," Southgate said. "Whenever we'd been to major tournaments, it was about him. I was in Japan in 2002 and everything was around David Beckham.

'We had a team to build where we weren't reliant on one player. The burden was shared and the baton was carried by others. We had to share it. Motivation comes from wanting to win, but also from knowing there are players who can come and take your place.

'That's where we are with the collective strength of this team. We have huge trust in our players. I wouldn't hesitate putting any of them in.

'They've played important matches for us. We went to Spain with Joe Gomez, Harry Winks, Ben Chilwell. You never know what they are capable of until they are given the opportunity and they have thrived on that.

'All managers have really difficult decisions to make selections when you have top-quality players who have won you so many matches. There is obviously a bigger temptation to include them.

'But you've got to make decisions on the evidence in front of you. If you're at a club seeing players every day, you know where they're at. It's a bit different for us.

'We have less evidence and have different judgments. You look at previous performances, club form, what the players are capable of.

"But we have to prepare a team we believe can cause the Dutch the maximum problems and expose any weaknesses we see."

It helps Southgate that he can group Kane with the other players on duty in the Champions League final – such as Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson – to soften the blow. It helps, too, that his record as manager encouraged faith. He hasn't got too much wrong here, Southgate. So he's probably right about this one, too.

To hear Holland boss Ronald Koeman talk of learning from England is to recognize the measure of advancement made in a short time under this manager.

Holland boss Ronald Koeman admits he was inspired by Southgate's work with England

Virgil van Dijk will hope to get the better against players he knows well when the sides meet

It is England who are traditionally in awe of the Dutch; their technique, their tactical flexibility, their faith and projection of youth. If not Holland, then the French are admired and mimicked, or the Germans, the Italians, Spain.

Koeman said, sincerely, that placed England among the top four nations in Europe. The day Southgate walked in it would have been hard to list them in a top 10.

And while the Nations League may feel a little underwhelming as a spectacle, what is undeniable is that every major football nation took a swing at getting here, and only four made it.

If winning becomes a habit, better to win, surely? If victories at age group level are considered the basis for international success, that must be true of a bona fide UEFA tournament, too.

And following a last-four World Cup finish with a final-four place in this competition shows the improvement under Southgate was no fluke.

"It was a difficult period for England in 2014 and 2016," Koeman said, "but when Southgate took over, the gift of opportunities to young players and that had a big impact. If you watch them and look at their squad, it's full of quality.

'They have strong players, fast players, a lot of different players who can be selected, and different ways to play. The speed of improvement is all about that quality, and good organization of the team. That's what makes a national team strong and Southgate has done a fantastic job. That was an example for the Dutch, how they processed the squad, cool chances to young players.

'It's not by chance they are fourth in the world rankings. They're a squad who have a chance in the European Championship. "

Raheem Sterling is set to wear the bracelet and lead the side from the front in Kane's absence

Jadon Sancho (L), Jesse Lingard (center) and Marcus Rashford (right) share the load in attack

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Not to be overlooked, that is Holland's development under Koeman has been rapid, too.

When these teams suffered with, in March 2018, it was Koeman's first game in charge. England won 1-0 fielding a team that included Kyle Walker at center half and Kieran Trippier at right back, a tactical tweak that played a part in the turnaround at the World Cup.

England's improvement is such that Trippier can no longer make the squad, after a poor season for Spurs, but Holland have progressed as well.

'We were the lesser of the teams then, and England were more advanced, "Koeman admitted. "But we're closer now. We have a better chance of winning. "

Holland are better, that much is true. Yet so are England. No longer a one-man band, one-trick ponies. No Kane and, Southgate hopes, no problem.

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#Leaving out Harry Kane is a sign of strength… England are not a one-man band any more"

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sportsleague365 · 8 years ago

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Football has long since moved on from being a team sport. The pressures of fulfilling relentlessly long fixture lists each season, the sheer intensity of the modern game as it is played on the pitch and the competition for trophies and transfers between the world’s richest clubs, has turned title races and cup runs into wars of attrition that can only be won by the most expensive and extensive squads. Sign up for a 24 Hour NOW TV Pass and watch all of the live football action on Sky SportsIt is not enough to have the best XI, or even the strongest bench. Talent at the very top is now stockpiled to ensure managers have back-up options for their back-up options, and a depth of quality that requires regular use of the loan system to keep everyone match fit and happy. Yet which sides in Europe’s top five leagues boast the most in reserve beyond their starting line-ups and substitutes? Below, are the 10 squads with the highest degree of redundancy from across the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League and Serie A. 10. NAPOLI Starting XI:Jose Reina; Elseid Hysaj, Raul Albiol, Kalidou Koulibaly, Faouzi Ghoulam; Jorginho, Piotr Zielinski, Marek Hamsik; Jose Callejon, Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne (4-3-3) Second string:Rafael Cabral; Christian Maggio, Nikola Maksimovic, Vlad Chiriches, Ivan Strinic; Allan, Amadou Diawara, Marko Rog; Emanuele Giaccherini, Arkadiusz Milik, Leonardo Pavoletti (4-3-3) After a summer that saw Juventus activate Gonzalo Higuain’s release clause to snap up last year’s topscorer in Serie A, Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri has shown how resourceful he can be to keep the Little Donkeys in Italian title race. Their strength in depth was first highlighted by how quickly his side adapted to losing Arek Milik who was ruled out for most of the season shortly after he was signed to replace the departed Argentinian up front. Attacking midfielder Dries Mertens stepped up to provide the goals in his absence, with the rest of the team hardly skipping a beat as they continued to function and produce the sort of fluid attacking football that has become their trademark under Sarri. Greatest depth:Central midfield – Sarri is a manager obsessed with dominating the ball and controlling midfield, and his squad is filled with players capable of slotting in to direct play and keep the tempo of passes up through the middle. Least cover:Full-backs – Elseid Hysaj and Faouzi Ghoulam do a bit of everything for Napoli down the right and the left, in attack and defence, but the quality level drops off when it comes to their back-ups down the flanks. 9. ARSENAL Starting XI: Petr Cech; Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka, Kieran Gibbs; Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez; Olivier Giroud (3-4-2-1) Second string: David Ospina; Shkodran Mustafi, Per Mertesacker, Rob Holding; Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, Alex Iwobi; Lucas Perez, Theo Walcott; Danny Welbeck (3-4-2-1) Arsene Wenger has the players to fill every position in his team twice over. The question is whether the quality and consistency is there across the squad, or whether the Frenchman succeeds in getting the most out of all the options available to him. Injuries can also obscure just how much depth is available at the Emirates when everyone is fit. Santi Cazorla isn’t even listed in the two line-ups above. However, waiting on their strongest possible XI to ready and available to play has become the a way of life for Arsenal in recent seasons. On paper, they are strong. In reality, their squad can still appear to be paper thin once the wrong players are lost to the physio room. Greatest depth:Strikers – The Gunners have five players who can lined up as the main centre-forward. Least cover:Match-winners – While Arsenal have a plethora of options to play up front, they lack a genuine, world class talent to lead the line when Alexis Sanchez doesn’t fancy the job of being the lead striker. 8. ATLETICO MADRID Starting XI:Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Stefan Savic, Diego Godin, Filipe Luis; Koke, Gabi, Saul Niguez, Yannick Carrasco; Kevin Gameiro, Antoine Griezmann (4-4-2) Second string:Miguel Angel Moya; Thomas Partey, Jose Gimenez, Lucas Hernandez, Sime Vrsaljko; Alessio Cerci, Augusto Fernandez, Tiago, Nicolas Gaitan; Angel Correra, Fernando Torres (4-4-2) Diego Simeone hasn’t so much built a team at Atletico Madrid as a hard-wearing resistance cell, happy to sit deep, lock down their half of the pitch and defend for 90 minutes or more to get the result they want. Yet while he may prefer to rely on his regulars, the second city of the Spanish capital have diversified their options in recent years, with their manager able to alter the make-up of his team depending on his opponent. Greatest depth:Centre-back – Diego Godin is the leader at the back but in Stefan Savic and Jose Gimenez, the Uruguayan has two extremely able deputies capable of keeping opponents quiet in front of Jan Oblak’s goal, with Lucas Hernandez also on hand to protect his side in the middle of defence. Least cover:Left-back – While Atletico have three players who have dropped in to cover right-back this season, including midfielder Thomas Partay, Simeone’s squad comes up short on the other side of the pitch when it comes to left-footed replacements for Filipe Luis. 7. BORUSSIA DORTMUND Starting XI:Roman Burki; Lukasz Piszczek, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Marc Bartra, Marcel Schmelzer; Julian Weigl; Ousmane Dembele, Gonzalo Castro, Raphael Guerreiro, Marco Reus; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (4-1-4-1) Second string:Roman Weidenfeller; Felix Passlack, Matthias Ginter, Sven Bender, Erik Durm; Nuri Sahin, Sebastian Rode; Emre Mor, Christian Pulisic, Shinji Kagawa; Andre Schurrle (4-2-3-1) Youth is high up on the agenda for Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc who has provided manager Thomas Tuchel with a rich and steady stream of young prospects with incredibly high potential to work with in the first team. The 43-year-old has responded by building a team that that plays a fittingly thrilling and fresh brand of attacking football, and while the loss of Mario Gotze to a long-term medical condition has been a blow, the club have had the players to cover for the attacking midfielder following his disrupted return from Bayern Munich in 2016. Greatest depth:Attacking midfield – Tuchel has made the most of Julian Weigl’s brilliance at recycling possession and screening the back line to fill his team with more creative and offensively-minded midfielders and wingers to play behind the striker, and the make up of the squad reflects that. Least cover:Experience – the sale of Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jakub Błaszczykowski in the summer saw the average age of Tuchel’s squad plummet to 24.5 years and the dressing room lose three Bundesliga title-winners. 6. MANCHESTER UNITED Starting XI:David De Gea; Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian; Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba; Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Anthony Martial; Marcus Rashford (4-2-3-1) Second string:Sergio Romero; Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw; Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini; Jesse Lingard, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young; Zlatan Ibrahimovic (4-2-3-1) Jose Moruinho is manager who has been blessed with an embarrassment of riches at Old Trafford, by accident and excess rather than design. The business strategy pursued by Ed Woodward and the Glazer family to create the most commercially exploitable club in world football has even affected the team’s transfer policy. Players must be signed with the profile and hype to further enhance United’s image and bring in the sponsorship deals. Not that Mourinho is complaining, of course! Injuries may have robbed him of key players in the final weeks of the season but he has spent most of his first campaign in Manchester with the far from unpleasant headache of deciding which combination of hugely expensive playmakers he wishes to deploy in his next game. United have a wage bill to match their array of options and pay the most out of any Premier League sides. Fortunately for the Glazers, they have the revenue to make it work. Greatest depth:Goalkeeper – De Gea has taken care of business in the Premier League this season while Romero has started the most games in the Europa League, proving himself to be one of the most reliable second-choice shot stoppers in Europe this season. Least cover:Defensive midfield – Even at 35, Michael Carrick remains the only option with any real experience playing in front of the back four, which has lead to a lack of balance in midfield at times. 5. CHELSEA Starting XI:Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, N’Golo Kante, Nemanja Matic, Marcos Alonso; Pedro, Eden Hazard; Diego Costa (3-4-3) Second string:Asmir Begovic; Ola Aina, Kurt Zouma, John Terry, Nathan Ake; Nathaniel Chalobah, Cesc Fabregas; Willian, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy; Michy Batshuayi (4-2-3-1) On the surface, Chelsea may appear to have a fairly thin squad, but while some clubs boast depth for depth’s sake, every player available to Antonio Conte has a purpose, with not a single spot in the dressing room wasted. Although they have been lucky with injuries, whenever the Italian has reshuffled his line-up, his changes have tended to stick with the players coming in picking up where their teammates left off. That is genuine depth rather than a meaningless, superior head count. Greatest depth:Options off the bench – Chelsea can call upon players such as Cesc Fabregas and Willian to change games, either as substitutes during a match or to tweak Conte’s approach from kick off. Least cover:Wing-backs – When Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso are injured or rested, there is a clear loss of thrust, penetration and width out wide for the Blues. 4. BAYERN MUNICH Starting XI:Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, David Alaba; Arturo Vidal, Thiago Alcantara; Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller, Franck Ribery; Robert Lewandowski (4-2-3-1) Second string:Sven Ulreich; Rafinha, Javi Martinez, Joshua Kimmich, Juan Bernat; Niklas Dorsch, Xabi Alonso, Renato Sanches; Fabian Benko, Douglas Costa, Kingsley Coman;(4-2-3-1) Carlo Ancelotti may preside over one of the older and more established dressing rooms on this list but Bayern are not short of options, especially when veteran match-winners Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben can stay fit on each wing to rip teams to pieces. Bayern will add Hoffenheim midfielder Sebastian Rudy and centre-back Niklas Sule in the summer as they prepare for the retirements of Lahm and Alonso. Greatest depth:Midfield – In the middle of the park, the Bavarians have the players to cover for every role and duty, from creating chances, winning back the ball, screening their defence or driving moves from deep. Their surplus of midfielders has even allowed them to use Javi Martinez to fill in as a centre-back. Least cover: Striker – When Lewandowski isn’t available to play, Bayern struggle to score. It is a glaring hole in their squad, and cost them in the Champions League as the Poland international missed out on facing Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena in the quarterfinals. 3. PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN Starting XI:Kevin Trapp; Thomas Meunier, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Layvin Kurzawa; Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti; Lucas Moura, Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria (4-3-3) Second string:Alphonse Areola; Serge Aurier, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Presnel Kimpembe, Maxwell; Adrien Rabiot, Christopher Nkunku, Javier Pastore; Hatem Ben Arfa, Goncalo Guedes, Julian Draxler (4-3-3) Whenever one of Europe’s most exciting young players enters the transfer market, links to Paris Saint-Germain soon follow. The Qatar-backed club have spent big on transfer fees and wages to bring in the talent and build a squad they believe is worthy of challenging for the Champions League. Although they may have taken a step back on the domestic front under Unai Emery this season, they still boast more quality in depth than most other teams in Europe. Greatest depth:Creative midfielder – PSG tend to dominate possession both in domestic games and when playing in Europe and have filled their stocks with a surplus of playmakers capable of fashioning chances at will for Edinson Cavani. Least cover: Centre-back – After selling David Luiz back to Chelsea in the summer, the Parisians’ back line looks vulnerable. The wrong injury at the wrong time to Thiago Silva or Marquinhos would leave them without proper cover in the middle of defence. 2. JUVENTUS Starting XI:Gianluigi Buffon; Dani Alves, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Samir Khedira, Miralem Pjanic; Juan Cuadrado, Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic; Gonzalo Higuain (4-2-3-1) Second string:Neto; Andrea Barzagli, Mehdi Benatia, Daniele Rugani; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Claudio Marchisio, Mario Lemina, Tomas Rincon, Kwadwo Asamoah; Marko Pjaca, Moise Kean (3-5-2) Max Allegri has built on the foundations left behind by former Juventus manager Antonio Conte to continue to lead the Old Lady to win more trophies and dominate Italian football. All that is left for the club to do is return to the top of the European game, and with one of the most complete squads on the continent, they may be about to do just that. In the summer, they took a leaf out of Bayern Munich’s old rule book to snatch away Miralem Pjanic and Gonzalo Higuain from their title rivals Roma and Napoli, respectively, to cover for the departure of Paul Pogba to Manchester United. Somehow, they have only become stronger in his absence. Greatest depth:Defence – Whether Juventus line up with a back four or a three-man defence, the Italians have strength in depth in every single position across their back line. Andrea Barzagli is able to come in and out to add an additional centre-back to the team. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah may not offer the sheer explosiveness that Dani Alves and Alex Sandro can provide down each flank but their experience counts. Least cover: None – The purchase of Tomas Rincon from Genoa in January 2017 plugged one of the few gaps in Max Allegri’s squad to give the Italian champions another creative option in midfield besides Miralem Pjanic. 1. REAL MADRID Starting XI:Keylor Navas; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Casemiro, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo (4-3-3) Second string:Kiko Casilla; Danilo, Raphael Varane, Nacho, Fabio Coentrao; Mateo Koavacic, Isco; Lucas Vazquez, James Rodriguez, Marco Asensio; Alvaro Morata, (4-2-3-1) The reigning champions of Europe have everything going for them to become the first team to retain the Champions League and are the leaders in the title race in Spain. Only Barcelona can stop Zinedine Zidane’s side but the contrast in squads between the two rivals sums up the difference in approach that has put Real back in front in La Liga. While the wage demands of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar have played their part in preventing Luis Enrique and his directors from adding more depth to their squad, Madrid have stockpiled players that would have whole teams built around them elsewhere. Greatest depth:Attacking options – Zidane has more match-winners to choose from off the bench or to rotate in and out of his team than any other club manager in European football. When Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale can’t cut it, Alvaro Morata, James Rodriguez, Isco, Mateo Kovacic, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez are there to make the difference. Least cover: None – Real Madrid have at least one player as cover for every single position in their team. The post From 10 to 1: Ranking the best squads in Europe’s top five leagues appeared first on Squawka News. http://www.squawka.com/news/ranking-the-best-squads-in-europes-top-five-leagues/944345 #MarouaneFellaini #MaurizioSarri #GonzaloCastro #DavidDeGea #AtleticoMadrid

#MarouaneFellaini #MaurizioSarri #GonzaloCastro #DavidDeGea #AtleticoMadrid

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