#ingredient-hunt in the rain forest

[juanasunfall-blog]

A little “sequel” to “just a bit of comfort”. They went on that trip to brazil.

Harry´s letter to McGonagall: "Dear Minerva, lots of love from Brazil! (Snape sends his regards, too) You can´t really see it in the photo but he is enjoying himself immensely. Up to this point we have found so many weird looking plants and shroom-thingies, he´ll probably be able to fill a whole storeroom with the stuff. I assume as soon as we get home, he´ll barricade himself in his potions lab and we won´t see him until christmas. But it´s nice to see him so stoked, he almost smiled at me today (don´t tell him I told you that). Hope you are doing well, we´ll see you soon, love Harry"

[selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs]

For the BSD x SAGAU event:

How about Fem! Reader with the characters, Teruko, Fyodor, Lovecraft, landing on Liyue? Then they also came across people who wanted to hunt down Reader (Zhongli, Ningguang, Beidou) and who wanted to help Reader (Yaoyayo, Baizhu, Qiqi, Xiangling, Xinyan, Chongyun, Xingqiu, Yun Jin, Gaming, Xiao).

You can choose one or two of the genshin characters who will help/hunt down the four, or even all of them. I wish you the very best and congrats on getting 1K+ followers! 🎉🌹

Thank you 😊

If you were not alone

Part VI

BSD Characters: Self-Aware! Teruko Okura, Self-Aware! Fyodor Dostoevsky, Self-Aware! Howard Philips Lovecraft

Genshin Impact characters: Liyue Characters

Reader: Fem! Adult! Reader

Warning: English is my second language

🐙 Your "adventure" has started at the top of one of the cliffs in Guyun Stone Forest. It took some time for you to get down. The cliff were slippery (either because of the sea or, perhaps, it was raining right before you got here), so, you tried to be careful. At the end, when you almost fall down, Lovecraft partly transformed (with his hands and legs are now replaced with tentacles) and simply crawl down, holding you, Teruko and Fyodor. You only hopped, that no one saw you. Transformed Lovecraft (even partly) was a strange, if not a frightening sight (for strangers).

And you jinxed it. Sailors from the Crux saw Lovecraft. And were thinking, that Osial got from his prison.

Crux left for the Harbor to get help.

While you and your friends trying to understand, what happened and how you got here.

🐾 Despite the fact, that you were knowledgeable about Teyvat, the situation didn't become clear. But, at least, you have a project of a plan. Go to Sumeru and ask Nahida for help. Maybe, she could give you some information on how to get home.

That's when a first stone spear fall from above.

If it wasn't for Lovecraft's strength, the spear would crush you.

Geo Archon's voice shake the ground.

"Osial! How dare you to show yourself! I will make you pay for daring to enter Her Holiness' land!"

Suddenly, everything became silent. Up above, you saw them. Zhongli... no, Rex Lapis and Adepti. For some reason... Xiao looked hesitant.

And golden draconic eyes stared right at you.

Next spear was directed at you.

"IMPOSTER! DIRTY SINNER! PAY FOR HEARSAY WITH YOUR LIFE!"

And hell broke loose.

Morax, Adepti, Mililith and Crux crew attacked.

👧👩🧓🐙🐁Teruko, with her ability and sword, and fully transformed Lovecraft were keeping mililith away, while Fyodor was staying near you, ready to use his ability, if someone get too close.

When Lovecraft saw the opportunity, he grabbed you three with his tentacles, and plunge into the sea, swimming away.

On his way, he sunk Crux ship.

Beidou's curses were heard for long time and far away from the Stone Forest.

🐾 You returned to land somewhere in Bishui Plain. All of you were wet, hungry and exhausted. You found an abandoned hilichurl camp and decided to stay here for the night. After some grilled fish for dinner, you fall asleep in one of the huts. Teruko was the first one to stay on watch. Then you. Then Fyodor. And, finally, Lovecraft.

You woke up because someone was pocking your cheek and because of some tasty smell.

When you open your eyes, you came face to face with Gouba, who was pocking your cheek, and Lovecraft, who was keeping an eye on "panda".

Lovecraft tilted his head.

"We have guests. And breakfast."

🐾 Xiangling and Gouba were gathering ingredients for some big feast, while Xinyan, Chongyun and Xingqiu were helping them. That's when they found "your" camp.

And decided to help you.

When Lovecraft and Gouba, with you in tow, left the hut, you saw, that Fyodor and Teruko were already up and sitting near campfire, with Liyue Team. And then, Chongyun saw you. Exorcist particularly jumped.

"You! Your energy... It's pure... I knew, I knew, she was fake! I told you many times about it!" Last part, Chongyun hissed through his teeth, looking at Xingqiu. He raised his hands in defense.

"I knew, but.. We can't do much against her."

You glance at Lovecraft, then at Teruko and Fyodor. While Fyodor does look like he understands more, than the rest of you, he still looked confused.

🐾You got your answers during breakfast. Apparently, you looked like Creator Goodness, that rules Teyvat. And, apparently, because of that, most people will hate you and try to capture you. And, maybe, because Ningguang already placed a bounty on your head.

And Creator's political power is enormous, so, people would be afraid to help you.

The situation was bad... Awful...

Suddenly, Xinyan almost shouted.

"Doctor Baizhu and Qiqi! You can hide in Bubu's Pharmacy! They managed to keep it closed from sudden checks from Mililith, because they would bother patients!"

Teruko raised an eyebrow.

"And how we will get here? It's in the harbor, right? We would be attacked."

Xiangling smiles.

"With two little helpers."

🐁 Yaoyao was a great tour guide. And, what was most important, she knew, where to find Qiqi, when she was picking up herbs.

Yaoyao also was very talkative. And, because she overheard, how Fyodor was mumbling in Russian, she couldn't leave him alone. She asked him to say names of everything around her in "strange new language". Fyodor answered her questions. Soon Teruko joined the "educational program." Chongyun, who was staying near you, "masking your energy" with his yang energy. Lovecraft was last in line.

When you found Qiqi, with some help from Yaoyao, she took you to Dr. Baizhu.

For some reason, Qiqi stayed close to Lovecraft.

🐾 You were lucky again, because Baizhu let you four stay, until madness calmed down.

For two weeks, everything was fine. You and Fyodor helped in Pharmacy, Lovecraft and Teruko helped with picking up herbs.

You managed to meet Yun Jin and Gaming. Both of them believed, that you didn't do anything wrong. They even offered to help you, if they could.

And then, a scared Xingqiu appeared in Bubu Pharmacy.

Ningguang and Rex Lapis were ready to look through every house in Liyue to find "dirty imposter".

And if people resist? Well, they will face the wrath of rock.

And, currently, they doubled the number of mililith soldiers on streets.

Fyodor remained calm.

"I have a plan. Can you call for Yun Jin and Gaming?"

🐾 You four were leaving Liyue. But you still can hear sounds of music, coming from the harbor.

Opera and Wushou dance. The destruction.

That got the attention of mortals.

But not Geo Archon's.

🐾 His draconic claws were squeezing your arm. His spear were aimed directly at your chest.

Teruko, Fyodor and Lovecraft were helpless.

They can't attack him, he will kill you.

They can't kill him. You have told them about Havria.

Morax bared his fangs.

A finch flew closer to you and Morax.

Animo swirls.

Morax pained roar.

And Xiao, whose spear was plunges deep in Morax's shoulder.

"Run, Your Grace!" Xiao grind his teeth, trying to keep his hold on a spear.

Lovecraft grabbed you.

You four start running away.

Up in the sky, you noticed familiar cranes. They ignored you. Flying to where Xiao and Morax were.

Tonight, Adepti were fighting Geo Archon.

_____

🐾 When you finally returned to the real world, and discover the portal, you asked BSD Cast to rescue some people.

They helped you four, despite, how dangerous it was. And you must help them in return.

-------

Tag list: @withered-blossoms , @myluckymoon @cocodrilofeliz @c4xcocoa @vvyeislazzy @whisperingwinters

[greetingfromthedead]

Magic!AU Mortal Companion (Vash x GN!Reader)

Plot: In a world of magic, there are those who shun it and a magic user will do what they have to to stay safe and undetected.

Series: Oneshot

Pairing: Vash x GN!Reader

Raiting: Everyone

Tags: comedy, no use of "y/n", a touch of angst, cozy, old age, magical world, magic users, immortality, denied feelings, caretaking, some fluff

Word count: 1.6k

Author's Note: A double upload from sooty cause the bunnies are on the loose. Got inspired by a prompt on Reddit.

As the rain pours down behind the window, Vash rocks gently in his chair and watches the fire dance in the hearth. Evenings like these make him nostalgic, and his mind drifts to memories of the days you saved his life. You found him in the forest, wounded and alone, and nursed him back to health. First, you had to painstakingly drag him home, of course. He had barely gotten away from the king's witch hunters, who didn't take mercy on mages either. Vash had caught the attention of the king, who intended to employ him instead of dishing out the usual punishment. But Vash knew too well what that meant. Mages like him were gathered up and sent to exterminate all kinds of magical creatures that could pose harm to the kingdom, like dragons and basilisks, or to hunt down rare animals for their medicinal use, like unicorns and fairies. Some of the more twisted mages, or perhaps those most afraid, even turned on their own kind, dragging out other magic users to be put to death. It was a dark and dangerous time for his kind in the kingdom.

That faithful day had been a while ago. 64 years, to be exact. He still remembered it vividly, as if it had happened just yesterday. For his long life, it might as well have been yesterday—nothing more than the blink of an eye in his millennia of existence. He had grown so tired of running, hiding, and living a nomadic life, so he welcomed your invitation to stay with open arms. You had your little farm and were glad for his help once he got back on his feet again. Vash enjoyed this change of pace and a peaceful, domestic life. He felt happy, and a few years down the road, you two got married. There was no love; it was a marriage of convenience, just to keep the tongues from wagging and to not draw attention. And it worked. You two got to live in harmony; nobody came looking for Vash, and he got to thank you for saving him by making your life a touch easier.

To match your aging, he secretly brewed potions to change his appearance too. He kept his herbs and ingredients hidden in a secret stump within the forest behind your house. Over the years, he thought about coming clean to you about his nature a few times, but he realized he had dug his grave already. It was too late to admit to keeping such a secret from you for so long. For humans, decades aren't just fleeting moments. And he didn't want to put his loyal partner in danger either by knowing such a secret. Perhaps you would have chased him away or even given him out to the king. No, that last part isn't true, but he cares enough for you to keep his secret to himself.

Vash's heart grows more weary with each year. The wrinkles on your face have become deeper, your hair has turned pure silver, your movements have become slower, and everything seems to take more effort than before. He has slipped some potions into your tea in hopes of lessening your aches and pains, but he doesn't talk about it. He is much the same. The magic he uses to turn himself into an old man changes everything about him but his mind.

Vash looks over to you, reading a book, your glasses slipping down your nose. He smiles softly as he observes the way you furrow your brow in concentration and how your wrinkly fingers glide over the page. You didn't get married for love, but he can't deny that he has grown to care deeply for you, even if he doesn't say it out loud. You have never shown him any more affection than on the day you saved him from the forest, and he does wonder if you view him more like a piece of furniture at this point. He doesn't mind, though. He has just grown a little attached to you; that's it, really. How could an immortal fall in love with a mortal? It doesn't make sense and will bring nothing but sorrow and regret. Still, the thought of what the years are doing to you breaks his heart. He knows your time must be near, despite your sharp mind and vibrant smile. No potion can change that.

He will stick by you till the end and then move on. The world has become a slightly safer place, and magic users aren't being shunned and put to death any longer. He will go out into the world and pay forth the kindness you showed him. He will go and help people, curing illnesses that obey his magic and using his powers to bring light and hope to those in need. But for now, he will take care of you.

The thought feels bittersweet in his chest as he knows your time to depart is drawing near. You have been a good friend to him, and while he does everything he can to not admit it to himself, in another life you might have been something a lot more. If he could have been selfish, he would have fallen in love. If he were mortal, he would have gladly been head over heels for you. But alas, he will live on, his youth returning to him as soon as he takes the antidote to his potions, and you will rot in the earth.

Darling, when will it be your time?

When will this old fart kick the bucket?! You think to yourself as you feel his gaze on you. He still has the same soft gaze he had all those years ago. He became your husband shortly after you found him bleeding in the forest. Everything about his appearance in your life was very convenient to you, except that you had to drag him to your house without the use of magic, as he was fully conscious. He provided a great cover for you as you hid from the witch hunters. The typical profile for a magic user, especially for witches, is that they live nomadic lives, have a close tie to nature, especially forests, and usually don't settle anywhere obvious. In an attempt to not get spotted, you did all you could to not fit the stereotype. You settled in a village with many other people; you have your own home; you try to be social; and you attempted to live a regular life. It was great luck that you found someone willing to share your house and even to become your husband, hopefully throwing any and all attempts by the king to put you to death off course.

Things started to get a whole lot more complicated a few decades after you set up your perfect disguise. At first, it was your annoyance with aging; you had to pretend to be a regular human, and that included getting old. But the creaking knees and sore back were new to someone blessed with eternal youth. And you did not enjoy the experience. Soon after, the old king died and, in his stead, ruled his son, who turned out to be a man of the new age. He forbade the hunting of magical creatures and disbanded the witch hunters; all magic users were welcome to live life out in the open. You thought about abandoning all you have here to go out into the world again, this time without fear of persecution. But you had your husband. You didn't hold love for him in your heart; he was just a convenient cover for you, yet he didn't know your secret. It didn't feel fair to turn his life upside down when he had done nothing wrong. He has always been a very kind man and you couldn't bear to hurt him. A strange friendship had formed over the years, but it was clear that it could never progress beyond that. He is mortal, and you would have to carry the pain of grief over his short life for millennia to come.

So here you are, sitting in front of the fire with a body so unsuitably old, waiting for your husband to die. What a life! For the last few decades, you have slipped herbs into the fire warming your house and spiked his drinks with medicine to make old age as bearable for him as possible. You choose to think of him with a hint of distaste, often asking the straightforward question of when he will die. You don't show it to him; you don't know how he thinks of you, but you try your hardest not to let the affection bloom within you. It wouldn't be fair to anyone, and you've felt enough grief and pain already. You've had enough. If only he were a witch or mage—anything magical graced with a life that can only be cut short by a silver blade. You would have loved to share your life with someone as kind and funny as him without having to hold back your racing heart. But alas, he is just a mortal. And perhaps it's for the best. He has always liked people; he's the life of a party; his compassion knows no bounds. He would never have survived the witch hunters. He would have hated to be pushed into a secluded life like most of your kind.

You lift your eyes from the book you've read a hundred times already; your fingers have been tracing the words you cite from memory. You look over at Vash, and you return his soft smile.

Darling, when will it be your time?

Did you like this? Go check out my MASTERLIST and drop a follow for any and all future projects!

[intothewylde]

below the cut you will find various information about the history of house wylde of the stormlands, including bits about culture, architecture, foods, trade, climate, and folklore.

@wyldewillow @magnuswylde

culture : hunting and wildlife hold great importance to house wylde, its rainier climate often bringing out interesting creatures which wylde's have studied since they settled upon the northern part of cape wrath. hundreds of books written by wylde's over the years can be found in their library discussing findings of many distinct crops and wildlife ranging from bugs, to birds, berries, and various breeds of deer. archery is taught at a young age, though it is also important for children of house wylde to understand not to stray too far, for the brushy areas of the rainwood can become confusing and dangerous if one were to get caught within it unprepared. given their proximity to the water as well, it is important that children of house wylde are taught to swim early and well, given the currents of the bay can be unforgiving. as with many houses of westeros, it is not uncommon for wylde's to be lords and ladies, septons or septas, maesters, or knights.

architecture : with the much-jagged shoreline, there are many man-made shelters carved directly into the cliffs themselves. homes are built dome-like, with rocks to weigh much of them down as hurricane-force winds often plague the lands during especially stormy seasons. homes are built on higher ground, to avoid storm surges and flooding. the rain house itself is made of stone, strong and stretching high. the bottom level has a stone floor in case of flooding.

foods : the rainier climate has influenced much of the foods that house wylde prepares most often - this especially includes hearty vegetable and meat stews consisting of the following ingredients in various instances: venison or boar, eggplant, sweet potatoes, sweet leaf, pumpkin, cowpeas, and even certain peppers. this is often served with fresh bread.

trade : there are few small ports amongst the shoreline that allow for trade through the rainwood, but given the most catastrophic of storms seem to tear through this area specifically, it has taken some finesse to build strong enough ports. business that house wylde deals in is mostly timber, furs, and amber.

climate : due to the great many storms that happen on the coast of the rainwoods, the shoreline has eroded quite a bit, creating large cliffs made of limestone that hang over shipbreaker bay. paths have been paved along the shoreline in many areas, but there are parts of the coast that are unable to be navigate as they are treacherous. whirlpools have been seen from atop the cliffs during especially stormy weather given the currents of the water below, which the sigil of house wylde pays an ode to. it is also known that many ancient villages and forests now rest beneath the water, due to the many storms that have wreaked havoc upon the shore over the years, causing many floods and landslides.

folklore : while wylde's have a tendency to document every waking thought (given their vast library of self-written books), oral storytelling of myths passed down from generations is also a common practice. some are quite ghastly, and others are lovelier. one tale is that of blodeuwedd, the most beautiful and fairest woman there ever was, she was made of various flowers picked throughout the rainwood. it is tradition to pick and give flowers to wives and daughters of house wylde, to recognize their beauty. another story is that of the murigen, a sea goddess, it is said if one hears a woman's song coming from outside the home or down at the shore during a heavy storm, to not be drawn to it, or never be seen again.

[starrabbitmedia]

What's everyone's favourite type of weather? Cozy rainy days at home? Sunny days at the beach? Something else?

(Gonna answer this one from the human AU because I had the idea and now it wont leave me alone. ENJOY!)

"I think I like the spring and the fall the best," Felicity answered with a grin. She twirled her hunting knife between her fingers, gazing out at the forest from the back of the parked food truck. "Summer's nice, but I like the cooler days when the critters are out. I can walk around all cozy and not sweatin'. Makes huntin' fresh game for the food truck a lot easier."

Sure this meant they weren't using some of the traditional Mexican ingredients in Tiago's food, but a hunting license wound up a LOT cheaper than constantly buying meat in the long-run. She could bring him home a deer, skin it, slice it up, and give him enough meat to use for nearly a week's worth of meals depending on the size of it. Pelts and bones could also be resold and turned into extra revenue.

Felicity knew rich men well. Sometimes they liked to buy things and put them on their walls just to look impressive. Like a stag's horns. No part of the animal ever went to waste, and Felicity made sure that they never died in vain. It was also strictly for food, and each piece of the animal was used somehow. She also made sure never to over-hunt.

"There's just somethin' magical about your boots crunchin' against the leaves and the smell of the trees surroundin' you while the first bits of winter are blowin' through your hair," she sighed dreamily.

***

Milton groaned as they peeked out through their curtains. The sun was far too bright for their liking.

"Night time," they answered softly, letting the curtain fall closed. "I like the night time best. Especially in winter."

Night meant that there was no sun to burn them. Winter meant they could wear as many layers of clothing as they wanted and they wouldn't get too hot.

Cool and dark. That was how they liked it. Even in their own home, they preferred the lights dim.

"And I like when it rains when I'm in bed," they added.

Resting during a rainstorm was so incredibly peaceful. It lulled them right to sleep. All they needed to feel refreshed was the rain. All they needed to feel safe was the blanket of darkness with the pale light of the moon above them.

***

"Clouds are my favorite," Shura answered softly. "Cool, cloudy days, when I can go outside with less fear of my skin burning. I still have to wear sunscreen and I still bring my parasol, but I fear burning far less with the clouds above me."

They loved this city. The rain might have made it hard at times to take public transportation, but the cool weather and near-constant cloud-cover made it so very worth it. If they had gone to any of the other states Dimitri had been interested in, Shura surely would have burned to death.

Her skin was so sensitive to the rays of the sun. No, this place was better.

"I love the winter when I get to see snow again," she added. "It is not as dense as the snow in Russia, but it makes me feel at home. I like to sit by the fireplace, drink Sbiten, and watch the snow fall outside."

***

"I'd say I love Summer, but we don't really get much of one here," Zachary responded with a chuckle. "Our city averages at 70 degrees in the summer. During the day, anyway. At night it can go back down to 50 degrees. That 70 is my absolute favorite kind of weather. It makes me want to go swimming, dancing, or just overall socializing with as many people as possible."

A memory made his lips pull up into a fond smile.

"You ever been to a beach bonfire party? You know, where everyone's dancing, drinking, telling stories and just having fun together?" He asked. "And don't forget the skinny dipping."

Sad memories of what happened after that party invaded his mind. Slowly, that smile faded from his lips. That sure was one hell of a party. Sometimes he debated on if it was worth it or not.

"But you know, there's one thing I like even better than summer," Zachary started. Though he was right there in front of the other, his eyes told that he was miles away. "When you've been left alone, high and dry, and you're just trying to relax in your van. Then the rain comes. The sound of that rain completely enveloping you... like it's washing away all of the bad things. Like it's washing away everything that hurts."

He was silent for a long time. It was hard to tell whether he was simply lost in thought, or stuck in another memory. Time ticked by, second by second, minute by minute, until he finally blinked himself back to reality.

"I think I like that weather the most."

[femboyhorror]

ABOUT: BAMBI V. LAMB

Posting this here just to have it somewhere.

.⋆｡⋆˚｡⋆｡☁˚☽˚｡☁⋆. ع˖⁺ ☁⋆ ୭ .⋆｡⋆༶⋆˙⊹

ᏁᏗᎷᏋ: Bambi Vanillabean Hope Melianthus Lamb-Pines

ᏗᎶᏋ: Beyond Your Mortal Comprehension

ᏰᎥᏒᏖᏂᎴᏗᎩ: The 73rd Moon of Autumn

ᎶᏋᏁᎴᏋᏒ: A He/It/They Boything

ᏕᏋጀᏬᏗᏝᎥᏖᎩ: Fordsexual, Has Eyes For Stanford Pines and Only Him

( Omniexual Demiromantic )

ᏕᎮᏋፈᎥᏋᏕ: Demon-Angel Hybrid

ᏂᏋᎥᎶᏂᏖ: 5'1''

ᎮᏋᏒᏕᎧᏁᏗᏝᎥᏖᎩ: A common beast with a love of art and poetry, a silly little guy 🌙with a dark side🌙.

ᏗᏰᎥᏝᎥᏖᎥᏋᏕ: Depends.

ᏰᎥᎧᎶᏒᏗᎮᏂᎩ: Bambi's existence as we all know it began in the deepest depths of the underworld. Hell. One of the demons, one with an affinity for creation, decided they would make the cutest, prettiest femboy anyone had ever fucking seen before. Using a few ingredients - angel bones, demon tongue, lizard tails, sugar, cinnamon, the still beating heart of a lovestruck beast and one tsp of vanilla - the demon created a living being. A pretty boy with fair skin, dark, long hair and bright red eyes.

Many of the demons of the underworld were taken with this boy. It got to the point where the devil himself was frustrated with the demons new distraction and banished Bambi from Hell entirely.

Bambi climbed for seven days and nights out of the pits of Hell until eventually he emerged out onto the mortal plane out of a well in the middle of the forests. There he was, tired, arms bloody and fingernails tainted with dirt, he curled up and napped.

There he was found by a coven of wolves. Not the kind that hunted and howled on all fours but wolves that dedicated their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and the almighty written word. (They also hunted and howled at the moon, too!) They brought the lone femboy under their wing and taught him both how to fight and honor the moonlight but also they taught him how to speak the words of men.

While Bambi was happy with the bookwolves and saw them practically as his own blood, he longed for a place to truly fit in and after three years of staying with the bookwolves and learning their ways he set out on his own.

After a while of wandering the mortal plane he found himself in a little place called Gravity Falls and there he met Stanford Pines. It was truly love at first sight if love at first sight looked like a demon-angel femboy eating some minced meat in the forest, being found by an old scientist and biting him and said old scientist seeing this boy and thinking he was one of the strangest anomalies he's seen yet and studying him. Naturally these two end up getting married because of course they would. But that's a story for another time.

ᎦᏬᏁ ᎦᏗፈᏖᏕ: CRINGE CULTURE IS DEAD AND THIS IS THE ERA OF BEASTS LET IT RAIN BLOOD AND BONE AWOOOOOOOOOOO!

[hoteldreamland1111]

Mahabaleshwar hotels for Family Fun in Rainy Season : Hotel Dreamland

As the monsoon paints Mahabaleshwar a vibrant green, the call of the hills gets stronger, especially for families seeking an adventure. But where to find the perfect blend of comfort, fun, and natural beauty? Look no further than Hotel Dreamland, your haven for an unforgettable monsoon escape filled with family memories.

Hotel Dreamland's Special Touches:

Spacious Comfort: Unwind in spacious rooms and suites designed for families. Imagine cozy evenings huddled together, sharing stories while the rain patters on your balcony.

Activities Galore: Keep the little ones entertained with a dedicated children's play area. Challenge yourselves to a game in the games room, or bond over a refreshing dip in the sparkling outdoor pool.

Nature's Embrace: Spread over 23 acres, a large portion covered in natural forest, Hotel Dreamland offers a chance to connect with nature. Witness the beauty of the monsoon from your balcony or explore the vast estate on a family nature walk.

Family Fun Activities in Monsoon Mahabaleshwar:

Boating Bliss: Take a scenic boat ride on Venna Lake, surrounded by lush greenery, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Waterfall Wonders: Witness the majestic waterfalls come alive, like Lingmala Falls and Chinaman's Falls, cascading down the mountainsides.

Rainy Day Games: Embrace the cozy atmosphere and have a board game night or plan an indoor treasure hunt within the hotel.

Culinary Delights: Indulge in delicious vegetarian fare at the Farmhouse Bistro, featuring fresh produce from the hotel's organic farm. Savor piping hot pakoras and steaming mugs of hot chocolate, the perfect comfort food for a rainy day.

Monsoon Magic in Mahabaleshwar:

Blooming Beauty: Witness Mahabaleshwar adorned with vibrant monsoon flowers, adding a touch of fragrance and color to the landscape.

Misty Mountains: Embrace the beauty of the hills shrouded in mist, creating a mystical and enchanting atmosphere.

Freshwater Delights: Enjoy the refreshing taste of monsoon showers, offering a natural escape from the city's heat and pollution.

Hotel Dreamland's Monsoon Views:

Imagine waking up to a breathtaking panorama of monsoon-kissed hills. Lush greenery stretches as far as the eye can see, punctuated by cascading waterfalls and the glistening surface of distant lakes. Hotel Dreamland's balconies and windows become picture frames for these unforgettable monsoon vistas.

Food for Thought (and Fun!):

Hotel Dreamland provides a variety of dining choices that will delight your taste buds: 

Farmhouse Bistro: Savor authentic vegetarian cuisine prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients from the hotel's organic farm. Enjoy a delightful breakfast buffet or a hearty family dinner, all showcasing the bounty of the monsoon.

Canvas: For a more casual setting, Canvas offers a selection of snacks and beverages. It's the perfect spot to grab a quick bite or indulge in a sweet treat during your family adventures.

Conclusion:

Hotel Dreamland isn't just a place to stay; it's a launching pad for creating lasting family memories in Mahabaleshwar's captivating monsoon season. As one of the top Mahabaleshwar hotels for family stays, it offers spacious accommodations, exciting activities, delicious food, and breathtaking views, providing the perfect blend of comfort, adventure, and natural beauty. So pack your raincoats, boots, and sense of adventure, and let Hotel Dreamland be your haven for an unforgettable monsoon escape with your loved ones.

[higaneion]

[From here] @peerlessscowl

He couldn't help himself: at her joke, Raven allowed her a laugh, the smile coming up to crinkle his eyes. She was such a sweet child, so proud of the work they had done to dispatch the bear, proud of the herb selection she had gotten from the greenhouse, of her home and her family, it was difficult not to be endeared. 

"Taste tester, huh? You're awfully willing to risk my life, aren't you?" he joked back. "I suppose for such an easy job I wouldn't be able to complain no matter what was put in front of me. I guess it's good I'm not too particular, then." 

Though truth be told, over the last few years, he couldn't have afforded to complain anyhow – between the questionable stews-of-the-day at a roadside inn, to foraged forest berries and the occasional hare, it wasn't as though his diet had been a consistent backbone of his day-to-day life, and moreso when he had made the decision to come to the monastery, forgoing what he might have otherwise subsisted on for a time, leaning out some of the bulk he had accumulated in his years of hard work on his own. 

The shift from that, to the dining hall after his acceptance, had been perhaps the most difficult part of the transition. But now, before the spit and cookfire, he felt the comfortable motions of cooking one's own food come back to him easily. 

"The cloves are good for this kind of thing," he said, gesturing for her to hand him some before he grabbed a piece of the meat, studding the thing with cloves before skewering it and propping it over the fire. "Gamey meats, I mean." 

His family had done much of their own hunting, less for sport and more for victuals, and when the rains had hit hardest during autumn he could recall the same sharp, sweet scent from the kitchens as came from the fire before them now, the roasted meats and mulled wines a defining note of the season. 

Cocking his head, his eyes flicked to Lilina's injuries before back to the fire. "Medicine, too. I'd be surprised if the infirmary doesn't keep a supply for themselves." 

You’re awfully willing to risk my life.

Though she senses it is a joke if the rest of the sentence does not clue her in, his words sting her worse than she’d like to admit. A duty of a knight or anyone sworn under their liege, but does that make it right to willingly die? To treat their life as disposable? Lilina does not hide her emotions well as much as she tries, she lets go a pathetic half-hearted laugh.

She is grateful when he changes the subject allowing her mind to be put to use elsewhere. Wordlessly, she watches, leaning in slightly, as he skewers and seasons the meat and sticks it over the fire. “Smells good already…” She mutters, amazed at how a few simple ingredients could waft such a fragrant aroma. She scooches a little closer to the fire, placing her hands near it. Scintillations of flame flick off in every direction and the smokey air brings her comfort for moments at a time. 

That is, until he mentions medicine and she does not miss the glance her way. Conscious of this, she tugs at the hem of her skirt. She had been advised by the medics to avoid any particularly suffocating articles of clothing as her bandages needed to be changed regularly so her wounds, her weaknesses, were on display for all. She shakes her head, crossing her arms. 

“What they gave me at the infirmary initially has helped—Ah! Did… you need some? I might have some left or, um,” she pauses twirling with the ends of her hair. A sneaky smile tugs at her expression. “The nurse there, she would be ecstatic to see you again, I’m sure.”

After she revels in what enjoyment she gets out of teasing him, she grows much quieter. “I’m sorry by the way, Raymond. Really, asking you to risk your life without even considering…” If he had a family, a little sister like he did. 

Though she previously allowed herself to be distracted, tried telling herself that it was nothing to obsess over, it eats at her the longer she allows it to fester. Then, she stands and starts pacing, stuttering, clenching her fists and unclenching. “I mean, how could I be so… so stupid?!”

smokeyed the bear

[justsomeectoplasm]

So, uh. I wrote some food headcannons/worldbuilding for each realm lol in my skykid oc world. Monster Hunter's food made me in the mood to write more about sky food.

So here it is!

Sky food in each of the realms

Due to the barren nature of Isle, food doesn't grow easily and less animals live there, aside from the butterflies.

Isle of dawn

However, there are some very unique plants that grow in isle near rock formations, which can be used as herbs and spices for dishes. What made Isle useless turned out to be the most important realm in a cooking sense.

Nomadic skykid groups often collect these spices and grow them in what little fertile land there is while traveling beyond the windwalls of isle and sell them along with other things. You can usually guess when a skykid specialises in trading when they smell of spices.

Daylight Prairie

The home of farming and cooking. You can always rely on the locals for making some good homemade food.

Most food is usually grown in Prairie. Wheat and vegetables are the most common produce in the realm, but there's also a large group of manta herders that collect the milk that the manta produce.

Sanctuary islands have more herders than farmers and the locals there use the sea to catch fish and other seafood.

There are many stores that opened up in the prairie caves, both restaurants and pottery stores, as skykids tend to leave main areas so that newlyborn moths don't feel too overwhelmed with the amount of stores. The skykids repurposed some boulders and holes in the walls and turned them into ovens to bake and cook their food in. It's a busy area in prairie.

Hidden forest

Few live in Forest because of its rain, but that doesn't mean that you can't get some good ingredients in the realm

Wild fruits that you can't find in other realms grow naturally there, along with medicinal herbs that healers use to patch up sick skykids.

There's also a few farmer skykids that used the sunny forest and turned into a small rice farm, where they trade their goods with the other realms and stores.

The treehouse has a few traveling food stalls that stop by when it's not raining and offer some local delicacies.

Valley of triumph

Aside from the stores that use imported food, Valley has little to offer in terms of food.

There is however another group of Manta herders who turn their manta milk into cheese and a huge rock salt deposit in the mountains.

Not to mention the large amount of teahouses in the realm, some that were opened way back in the gratitude season.

But Valley is most famous for its restaurants in the dreams village that keep creating famous mouthwatering dishes using ingredients imported from the other realms, and recently there's a populare dish called "ice cream" that's been buzzing around. While you watch the sliding championship, stop by the local bakery to buy some delicious treats.

Wasteland

Much like Isle, wasteland has few food growing in its realm because of how much the darkness has destroyed the realm.

But, there's a no shortage of meat in the realm.

Crabs are a big delicacy in the realm, so much so that nobody can prepare crab meat like wasteland skykids. But there's also a large number of Krill meat recipes in the realm. After a krill has died, skykids immediately prepare the meat by curing it of darkness by hanging it over candles and wax and then storing it for later. Roasted, fried or barbecued, they've got it all.

With the recent abyss area, the wasteland seafood meals are also quite popular in the kingdom, causing more skykids to visit the realm more often than usual. Ark has recently been turned into a marketplace full of resturants and food stalls, so more skykids are visiting that area too.

Vault

Before the starlight desert, all of vaults' food were imported from other realms. Locals could use the crabs, but they were hunted little to keep the population from dwindling.

However, ever since the starlight desert opened, food was starting to be grown in the area on the less sandy grounds.

However, there's always an event once a month where merchants trade food in exchange for memory cubes to the scholars that live there. The Vault always smells so good with the amount of food that gets cooked in the event.

[jay-cee-x]

🤍🍄Stardew Valley Lore🤍🍄

The idea is to make an ideal farm for each of the marriage candidates. PLEASE CREDIT ME IF REPOSTED!

📖Elliott: Riverland or Beach farm to remind him of the ocean, with lots of pomegranate trees of course. A coop full of ducks to provide Elliott with lots of pretty duck feathers. Elliott would have at least one shed dedicated to books of course, and it would also have a writing desk.

⚔️Abigail: Wilderness farm for the monsters to help her combat skill. Amethyst in the crystalarium is a must. Abigail would have the knight’s armor somewhere around the farm as well as a slime hutch!

🥗Leah: Forest farm for cottagecore vibes. Build a small winery in a shed with a cozy area for her to hang out surrounded by her art (specifically wooden statues) and plants. Grow and otherwise hunt down as many ingredients for her favorite meals as you can. Keep your farm as wild and natural as you can stand it. Let wild trees grow, clear debris but don’t “tame” the land too much and at least half the sprinklers would be dedicated towards seasonal seeds (forageable seeds). A vineyard would also be geared towards her love of wine as well as barns for goats and pigs for truffles and goat cheese.

🐔Shane: (no specific recommended farm) Shane would love a bustling farm with all different animals (although mainly chickens). Summer would of course be his favorite season because ingredients for his favorite foods are grown. A brewery is also a must for the chicken man.

💎Emily: Hilltop farm for a bunch of gems and barns full of sheep for the soft cloth. Crystalariums full of all the pretty jewels as well as a sewing shed full of cloth and dye materials are a must have for this spunky gal.

🔭Maru: (no specific recommended farm) Strawberries in the greenhouse (and in the spring), diamonds in crystalariums as well as plenty of lightning rods. Maru would have a workshop where she could smelt down ores into bars for her projects.

🏈Alex: Standard Farm layout for coops to produce eggs and the extra farming space for growing ingredients for his favorite meals. A salmon pond is also a recommendation (for his Salmon dinner). But the real way to his heart will be through his grandparents. Make a focused (and seasonal) flower area for Evelyn with some beehives for honey but keep it comfy and simple. Get the mushroom cave to cater to George’s favorite meal and plant extra spring seeds each year (for leeks).

🥤Sam: (no specific recommended farm) The Joja route is highly recommended just to get Sam his own Joja cola machine. Growing cactus fruit in garden pots and having an open stone floored area for him to practice his skateboarding skills is also a bonus. Sam would, of course, have to have instruments but failing that, drum and flute blocks would suffice as well.

☕️Harvey: (no specific recommended farm) Harvey would want a coffee house in the spring and summer, and a winery in the fall and winter. A shed with preserve jars (for pickles!) and a vineyard with kegs is a must!

🌻Haley: (no specific recommended farm) Haley would want a large sunflower field with beehives to make honey all summer/fall long! A scenic area for her to take pretty pictures on the farm that changes with the seasons. A photography studio shed might also be a bonus!

📚Penny: Forest farm vibes for the cottagecore teacher wife. Penny would have at least one shed (and room in the house) dedicated to books, teaching the kids, and of course her own private library. Penny would also love a melon farm when in season, of course.

🐸Sebastian: Forest farm for the hardwood stash. Sebastian would have some pigs and pine trees with tappers, and some hardwood to make rain totems for everyday rain. A frog sanctuary would also be ideal (if you can come up with something) as well as a place to play DND (or stardew’s version). A nice quiet place near water for him to smoke would be on his radar as well.

[feirceangel]

Imagine | Mermaid (Sam & Dean) (Part Two)

Imagine being a mermaid and finding Sam and Dean again.

Word Count: 1093

A/n: gif is not mine!

~

You wobble towards the bunker on unsteady legs, terrified that they won't be here. Luckily, Sam and Dean had given you instructions on how to find it in case you ever needed to. Turns out, you are now in need of the safety of the Men of Letters bunker.

You hope that Sam and Dean aren't off on one of their hunts. That would just suck.

Looking back over your shoulder, you knock on the door and await a response. After a few minutes, the door opens to reveal a sleepy Sam. He blinks a few times, "Y/n? What are you doing here?"

"Bad time?"

"Uh, no, come on in," he moves aside to let you in.

Once inside, you follow him to a large wooden table and seat yourself.

"Want anything?" Sam asks, clearly still half asleep.

You shake your head, "Nah, I'm good. Sam, I came here 'cause I'm in trouble. You said if I ever needed help that I could count on you and Dean."

As if awaken by the sound of his name, Dean walks over. His hair is messy, like Sam's, and then you realize that it's pretty early.

"Y/n?"

"Hey, Dean. Sorry for coming so early, but I don't have anywhere else to go."

"It's alright. What's wrong?"

You inhale deeply, "I'm being hunted by a demon."

"A demon? Which one?" Dean asks, all hints of his tiredness gone.

"His name is Crowley, he's apparently the king of Hell now. I don't know. All I know is he's after me, and I needed to run."

"Why would Crowley be after you?"

You stare at them, "I'm a mermaid, remember?"

"So, he's after you because you have a tail?" Dean smirks and shakes his head.

"You probably don't know this, because you know nothing about merfolk, but mermaid tears are essential ingredients for certain powerful spells. I can only assume that that is why he's after me."

"What kind of spells?"

"I don't actually know. . ."

Dean sighs, "Great. Well, you'll be protected here, no demons can get in unless we want them to."

"Glad to hear it. Thanks."

"No problem, need anything?"

"A glass of water would be nice. With a straw, if possible. If I touch any water I'll change back and I don't really wanna right now."

He nods and heads into the kitchen. Sam then sits down at the table with you, "How'd you get here?"

"A mixture of hitchhiking and a ton of walking. It rained once so I had to lay in the forest and wait to dry off before I could walk again. That really sucked. But, I finally made it."

"You should have called, we could have gotten you."

You laugh, "Yeah, I would've but I forgot your number."

He chuckles with you just as Dean comes back with a glass of water and two beers. You furrow your brows, "This early in the morning?"

He grins, "Naturally. No better time."

Rolling your eyes, you pick up your glass and get ready to take a long-awaited sip when a whoosh sound interrupts. Startled, your hand jerks and you spill the cool liquid all over yourself.

A man in a trench coat stands right beside you. He stares at you with his head tilted to the side. "I thought all mermaids were extinct," he says in a very low voice.

"Crap! Don't look!" You shout as you feel your pants begin to tear. They fall to the ground as your legs transform into one beautiful tail.

Sam and Dean had glanced away at your command, but when they hear the thunk as you fall to the ground they look down at you.

"Are you okay?" They question at the same time.

You glower at your shredded jeans and slam your tail on the cold ground in frustration, "Fine, just irritated. Does your angel always barge in like that?"

"Wait, you know he's an angel?" Sam asks in confusion even as he observes your scaly tail with wonderment.

"Yeah, considering he just appeared out of nowhere and knew immediately that I was a mermaid."

"Oh, right. . .?"

"Also, I've met other angels before. A very long time ago," you add, before clearing your throat and twitching your tail. "Got a towel or something?"

"Uh, yeah, wait here," he says, walking away.

You laugh, "Not much else I can do."

Dean looks at Cas, "What's up Cas?"

"Is this a trick question?" The angel asks as Dean shakes his head.

"No Cas, it's not."

Sam comes back, "Sorry," he says as he tosses you the towel.

You take it and start drying off your tail, "It's fine." Continuing to dry yourself, you hardly pay attention as they talk over you.

You're starting to get dizzy and feel nauseous. Usually, mermaids can't go too long without being submerged in water. In your case, you've been out of water for almost a week and it's starting to take a toll on you.

"Guys, any chance you have a huge tub of water lying around? I . . . don't feel too good. . ." Your eyes close involuntarily as you loose consciousness.

~

"Is she gonna be okay?" Dean's concerned voice reaches your ears as you wake up.

"I believe so. She just needed to be in her natural habitat for awhile," Sam's voice answers.

You inhale deeply to find that you're breathing water again. Opening your eyes, you discover four blue walls and a floor. You're facing downwards, and your hair is floating around your head.

You stretch out, trying to see how big the space is. Your hands make contact with the smooth walls when you fully stretch out your arms.

Sitting up, you breach the water's surface. Dean lets out a curse as he jumps back along with Sam. You move your hair out of your face and turn to them, "How long was I out?"

"Not too long. We filled the bucket and then put you in it and now you're awake. I'd say maybe an hour."

"That's not bad," you nod and move your tail around, splashing it happily. "Where's the angel?"

"He's seeing if he can find Crowley. We want to make sure he doesn't know you're with us."

"Thanks guys, I don't know what I'd do without you."

Sam smiles, "Happy to help. You can stay here as long as you need."

Dean agrees with his brother, smirking.

You thank them again.

"If you need anything, just holler," Dean winks as they leave.

"Sure thing!" You call after them.

This could be the best thing that's ever happened to you.

[pillage-and-lute]

An Ever Fixed Mark (Part 9)

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, (here) Part 10,

Read it on Ao3 HERE, 

WARNING: Character injury as a major plot point. Lots of mentions of blood.

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

Roach’s hooves hit the dirt like hammers, scooping up great clods of earth with each beat. Her gait barely registered to Geralt as blood welled up underneath his hand. There was so much, too much. His lap was soaked, it ran over the saddle and down his trousers, staining his boots and roach’s sides. It mixed with the dust on the sides of the road to form horrible rust-colored clots barely visible in the dark.

And Jaskier.

Jaskier was dying, his face white, his eyes rolled back, almost closed. Geralt pressed his hand tighter to the wound on his husband’s thigh and pressed Jaskier to his chest with his other hand. He wasn’t riding with reins, he didn’t need them. Roach sensed his desperation, likely smelling his anguish and fear. He had to trust his horse and Jaskier...Jaskier would have to trust in him. In the distance, the lights of Oxenfurt glittered in the darkness.

------

They had been traveling back to Oxenfurt anyway. The summer was still feverishly hot and travel had been rough. Even with his newfound resolve to do right by his husband, Geralt’s temper had been fraying. He knew he’d been talking less, marinating in the heat and his own sweat. He knew it was annoying Jaskier, who kept trying to make conversation, but Geralt wasn’t well built for heat, and his black armor and clothing cooked him. 

Jaskier had been complaining for days, too. There weren’t many settlements around for him to play in and the fields were too hot, the waterways too muggy, and the forests too oppressive. They slept in the open without a tent to avoid simply cooking in their sleep. 

There had been a moment, though, not so bad as the others. A clearing in a forest, lush, but with plenty of shade, and Jaskier had looked so beautiful. 

Geralt had been remaking some potions, teaching Jaskier the names of some of his less monstrous ingredients, pointing out what was good for salves, what was safe for humans, and so on. 

Jaskier had held up a buttercup, root and all smiling at the little petals. “I knew they were poisonous, of course,” he said, stroking the root with his thumb. “But I never thought they could be useful.”

“Only this,” Geralt said, taking it from him and cutting the roof. “Sagebrush buttercup, the root is still poison, but combined with Moonmoss it’s okay enough for a witcher.”

“Not for humans, though.”

“No, still poison.”

Jaskier had toed off his boots and leaned against Geralt’s shoulder, picking the flower up again, rootless now, and twiddling it in his fingers. “Seems fitting,” he said at last, and put it behind his ear.

Geralt wasn’t great with words and those had been cryptic, but he felt like he was missing something important.

“Hmmm?” he asked. Jaskier was getting really good at understanding him anyway.

“A Jaskier, only okay enough for a witcher,” Jaskier said, smiling a little sadly at Geralt.

There was such an odd tone there, something more there. Like Jaskier truly thought he was only suited to...but down that road madness lay. It also lay in the way sweat made Jaskier’s cheeks shimmer in the dappled sunlight. 

“Why are you Jaskier?” Geralt asked, going back to grinding the roots with the flat of his blade. It could have been phrased better, but Jaskier understood.

“It seems a little silly now, but when I was about ten or so I was rather melodramatic,” Jaskier said, ducking his head. 

“Hmm,” Geralt said. 

“I felt...so alone. There was just no one who seemed like me. Father thought music and poetry and anything except hunting, fistfights, money and war were silly. I annoy people,” he tilted his head back onto Geralt’s shoulder. “I annoyed you at first. Still do sometimes. --It’s okay,” he said, cutting off Geralt before he could hum his dissent. “I seemed to be a burden and a pain to everyone, something fleeting in their lives. I felt like a buttercup, fine to see in passing on the side of a road, but bad in a pasture, poisonous to eat, of no use to anyone and likely to get crushed by a boot.”

“The boot in question being your father?” Geralt said, setting aside his crushed roots and beginning to shred the Moonmoss, horrible, slimy pale stuff, between his fingers.

Jaskier knocked their heads together gently. “Congratulations, Geralt. You navigated an extended metaphor. Anyway, it was a little melodramatic, but so am I, so it stuck, at least in my mind.”

“I think it’s better than Julian,” Geralt said, scooping his moss and root mixture into the boiling pot.

“Me too,” Jaskier said, quietly.

Around them, a light summer rain had started, sprinkles and mist, mostly, but in the deep shade it was almost chilly, even to Geralt. Jaskier picked up his lute and played a pleasant tune for a while, fingers light on the strings. Geralt let his concoction bubble before pouring it into one of his Brimstone Glass vials. He examined the way the light hit the bottle, making slightly more of a show of it so that Jaskier might notice.

Dinner was cold rations, a hot meal being too hot, even in this pleasant respite. They’d picked up dark rye bread in the last town and were eating it with a paste of late-season wild garlic. Jaskier began eating but he shivered and said “Geralt, could you be my hero and pass me the doublet.”

Geralt pretended his whole body didn’t tingle whenever Jaskier called him a hero. He didn’t need to ask which doublet. Jaskier had plenty, but the doublet, that was the basilisk leather. Geralt held it out and took Jaskier’s bread as he slid the doublet on. Passing the bread back to Jaskier when both sleeves were fully on his arms. 

The rain picked up, still pleasant compared to the heat, but Jaskier and Geralt stood, Jaskier holding his bread in his mouth, and packed up those parts of their camp that would suffer from the rain.

“Do you see--” Jaskier asked, just as Geralt handed him his lute oil.

“Is the--” Geralt said, interupted by Jaskier handing him the hoof knife he’d been searching for.

“Do you think--” Jaskier began.

“The horses will be fine, should we--”

“Yeah, keep the tent packed away, the bedrolls--”

“Will be fine if we lay them on grass instead of mud,” Geralt finished. Then he realized how close he was standing to Jaskier.

“Jaskier,” he said, reaching out for the raindrop quivering on his husbands cheek. “I--”

Jaskier fell to the ground with a cry.

There was a crossbow bolt in his leg and already blood was wetting the forest floor. 

The bandits were dead in seconds. They’d likely only seen a well-dressed noble, all alone. They’d never expected something like Geralt. 

Anger and panic and dreadful fear all fought for dominance as Geralt dispatched the luckless thugs. The fear was icy cold in his veins. Whatever evil, dark coldness had first driven humans to create fire filled his blood. 

There was fire as well. Fury and anguish rose in him like great tides of flame. It was like the Trials all over again, he was being burned from the inside out, being remade until something new lived in him.

He stepped over bodies without a second glance, boots leaving bloody prints on the ground, soon to be washed away.

Jaskier was curled by Roach, hands clutching at the wound in his thigh and surrounded by scarlet. 

Geralt left Thunderbolt, Jaskier’s horse, tied in the clearing, Roach never needed tethering and sprang to his command. In his arms, Jaskier bled. They were so close to Oxenfurt.

They had to make it.

------

That had been then. Now, the lights of the city blazed in Geralt’s sight and he cursed himself and everything else. 

Jaskier was cold in his arms.

Before he had twitched or grunted, sometimes, horribly, he’d cried out at being jostled. He was still now, and too cold. His human heart was beating slowly, slower now than Geralt’s. But he had to live. He just had to. Jaskier had to live because...

Because Geralt loved him. Wholeheartedly and without reservation Geralt loved Jaskier, was so in love with him that it had clouded his judgement.

He’d been about to say as much, about to tell Jaskier the truth, when his husband had been struck down.

Geralt loathed Destiny, but he knew too much to deny her existence. This had been a judgement.

Geralt knew what life he led, he knew his Path, had known that humans couldn’t walk it. And he’d brought Jaskier anyway. This was punishment for falling in love and not leaving Jaskier safely in Oxenfurt like he’d planned from the start. 

The basilisk doublet flapped around Jaskier like a shroud. Had Geralt really thought it was enough? A single, simple doublet? Had he intended to fight cold and hunger and sickness with the swords he strapped to his back? Had he planned on fighting Destiny herself to keep Jaskier safe?

If Geralt could have struck Destiny down he would have.

The doublet hadn’t even kept Jaskier safe from the crossbow bolt. It was still embedded in his thigh, a terrible reminded as Geralt staunched the bloodflow. It hadn’t been enough. Geralt might as well have killed Jaskier himself. 

Jaskier’s father would certainly say that he had. Witchers would be hunted. There’d be a war and people would die all because Geralt had fallen in love. He’d been selfish and kept Jaskier at his side, luxuriating in praise and a pair of beautiful eyes. Dreaming that he could have love instead of leaving Jaskier in Oxenfurt where he was safe.

Geralt was taking Jaskier to Oxenfurt now, he only hoped his husband would still be alive when they got there.

Roach’s hooves rang on cobblestone as the first vestiges of the city flew past. Geralt flew into the city, louder than a rumor and faster than a plague. His eyes sought the telltale signs of magic, glowing gold and fighting to see in the darkness and the rain.

His love was going to die. He was so still against Geralt’s chest he was never still. 

Geralt prayed. He hadn’t prayed since the Trials. Even then, that hadn’t really been a prayer, that had just been a scared little boy screaming for somebody, anybody, to make it stop. 

Geralt prayed to every god he could think of. He wracked his brains as Roach ran through the city, trying to remember who was the god of poetry. Jaskier had been magic, a poet who could talk to the dead, such a person couldn’t just die this way. Geralt made an appeal to Justice, who he didn’t believe in.

Jaskier is good. He begged. He deserves to live. 

Take me instead.

Geralt’s eyes, moving in a far different plane than his mind, saw what he’d been looking for. 

Smoke. There. Green smoke, nearly invisible against the darkness and the rain. It curled up from the chimney of a building, poorly built and leaning out into the street but Geralt knew there was magic inside. 

He jumped from Roach, not taking the time to slow her down. His boots skidded on the cobblestones but he ran to the door, shifting Jaskier to one arm and knocking to wake the gods.

“Healer!” he screamed. “We need a healer!” His hand slammed the rusted knocker down like thunder.

“Please!” he was crying without tears, his voice taking a desperate and thin edge. “Please, we need a healer!”

The door was swung open without ceremony and Geralt barged inside. There was a workbench with scrolls across it but Geralt swept them off, laying Jaskier onto the wood like an offering at an altar.

The mage, placed a delicate hand on his chest and pushed him back.

He followed, feeling numb. The addrenaline was fighting his system, the fear of the ride stopped dead because there was nothing more he could do. 

That was the worst part. There was nothing more he could do. Geralt sank against the wall in the corner of the room, his heart racing and his mind achingly blank.

Some small part of him realized that Jaskier’s feet were bare. He’d left his boots back at camp. 

The mage was flowing magic over Jaskier in waves. It gathered in a purple mist over his wound, mixing unpleasantly with the blood.

“Pick up those scrolls,” snapped the mage, who didn’t look at him.

Geralt did, his body moving without input from his battered soul. His fingers smoothed yellowed parchment and curled it back up into neat tubes. 

“He’ll need paying for,” said the mage, hands poised over Jaskier as her magic slithered.

“Name your price.”

“I don’t want coin.”

Geralt gritted his teeth, watching the magic pull the bolt from Jaskier’s thigh. “Name. Your. Price.”

“What if I ask for your name as payment?” the mage said, not looking at him.

“I’ll give it to you.”

“And if I ask for your life?”

“You can have it.”

She hummed. Geralt knew it was a habit of his own but it set his teeth on edge.

“What if I ask for that?” she said.

She was pointing to Jaskier’s mother’s ring, the opal glittering on his finger.

“It’s not mine to barter, but for his life, I’m sure he’d understand,” Geralt said. 

“Luckily for you I’m not interested in trinkets.”

“What do you ask?” Geralt said, fed up with the games. Whatever perfume the mage was wearing was making his head spin too, it was nice, fruity and clean, but too heady for his heightened senses. 

“I want a baby,” the mage said, levelling stunning purple eyes on him.

Geralt’s mind reeled. “I can’t give you one.”

The mage sighed. “I know,” she growled, yanking her magic as it swirled. She snatched up a jar of something dreadful and began to smear it.

“Even if I promise you my first born,” Geralt said. “It’ll never happen.”

“I know that, witcher.” She spat it like a curse, but Geralt got the feeling that her issue was not with his profession. 

“Witchers come by children by the law of surprise,” he said, watching the salve sizzle on Jaskier’s skin and wincing.

“I want my own.”

Geralt scoffed, eyes fixed on Jaskier’s leg as it started to ooze.

The mage whirled to face him, her hand coming up and slapping him before even his witcher reflexes could stop it. 

“Go,” the mage snapped, eyes flashing. “I don’t want your derision.”

“But Jaskier--”

“Won’t be helped by you,” the mage snarled. “Go do something useful and come back when you’re ready to pay up.”

“With a baby?”

“I’ll think on payment,” she said, magic turning Geralt’s feet for him. “Leave.” 

The door slammed behind him. 

Geralt stood on the cobblestones, water soaking through his boots, meeting Roach’s gentle gaze. He stroked her muzzle, feeling the velvet against his palm. 

Jaskier’s feet were still bare, he thought. Mind too tired and broken to even bother with baby-wanting mages. Jaskier’s boots were at camp. 

Geralt rode there and back, before dawn. He’d been able to pack everything up and find stables and lodgings without ever actually thinking of anything except Jaskier.

Jaskier’s cold, bare feet. Jaskier’s closed eyes. Jaskier’s blood all over their campsite and Geralts clothes. Jaskier’s lute, tucked away safely in it’s case an unfamiliar weight on Geralt’s shoulder. 

Jaskier’s eyes as Geralt had almost said I love you.

That thought, as Geralt stood outside the mage’s door again, still bloody and clutching Jaskier’s boots in one hand, finally broke through the haze.

Geral was in love with Jaskier. 

The mage had asked for his life, his name, and he’d agreed without even having to think. 

Geralt didn’t just love that Jaskier was beautiful, or that he adored Geralt. Geralt loved Jaskier, whole and simple. He loved that he slept like an octopus, he loved that he hated mint. He loved that Jaskier loved poetry. He loved him.

It seemed to be carrying over into everything else, and had been for some time without Geralt even realizing it. Geralt loved music now. He loved poetry. He loved sleeping curled besided someone else. He loved buttercups. 

His buttercup was lying somewhere inside the mage’s house, maybe dying. Maybe dead. Because of Geralt. It was Geralt’s fault.

He knocked on the door. 

It opened at the first tap. 

The mage was there, but Jaskier was nowhere to be found. Geralt’s head whipped around, panic rising in his throat.

“Stop,” the mage said calmly. “He’s in bed upstairs.”

“Is he--”

“He may live. He may not. Anything now is up to him.”

“I want to see him.”

“I want payment.”

Geralt growled. “I didn’t bring a baby with me.”

The mage pouted at him infuriatingly, violet eyes laughing. “Obviously not. I considered what you said.”

“What?”

“About the Law of Surprise.”

“You said you wanted a baby of your own.”

The mage sighed. “I want the choice.”

“You don’t get that choice.”

Her gaze narrowed dangerously. “Do you think I don’t know that? I want to be whole.”

“A womb won’t make you whole. It doesn’t make someone a mother either.”

The mage’s eyes flashed and she stepped forward dangerously but Geralt was simply out of emotion.

“My mother gave me up to be made a mutant. She had a womb but what kind of mother does that. His father,” Geralt gestured upstairs to where he assumed Jaskier was. “Gave him up in the hopes he’d be slaughtered. He may be the reason Jaskier was born, but he’s not a father.”

“I want the choice,” the mage said stubbornly.

“You still have the choice to be a mother,” Geralt said. “Some mothers end up with children and don’t get a say in that so go...adopt some kid.”

“Are you making fun of me?”

Geralt scrubbed his hand over his, frankly, filthy face. “I don’t have the energy for that. Look...what’s your name?”

“Yennefer.”

“Yennefer, decide on payment - not a baby- so I can give it to you and see my, my bard.”

“I’m claiming the law of surprise.”

Geralt blinked at her blearily. She was exceptionally beautiful, but she was also in the way of seeing Jaskier. “That’s only if you save my life.”

“Then I’m claiming it from him.” 

Geralt didn’t have it in him to argue. Destiny had heard the claim. Whatever good luck Jaskier saw next was hers. 

Geralt walked slowly up the rickety stairs, heart sitting low and heavy in his stomach. He paused at a door, hearing a heartbeat beyond. It was Jaskiers. It came as a surprise to Geralt that he could recognize it so readily, but he knew it as well as his own.

It was thready and thin right now, though, and Geralt hesitated. Moments of their time flashed before his eyes, meeting Jaskier, how beautiful he’d looked in his wedding attire, him threatening thugs with a fish knife, him talking to the dead. And he lay on the brink of death in the next room. Could Geralt actually bear to see him like that?

Geralt would probably never forgive himself for a lot of things, including bringing Jaskier with him in the first place, but if he left him now...no.

Geralt walked into the room and knelt beside the bed. Watery dawn light filtered through the window, across Jaskier’s pale face. It was much too pale. The past weeks of sunlight and freckles seemed to have been erased from him, making him much more the man Geralt had met at Chateau Lettenhove, and less the man he’d come to love. 

Geralt washed his hands and face in the washbasin in the room. He still felt grimy, even with his hands scrubed raw, but he knelt at the side of the bed and took one lute-calloused hand in both of his. 

Whatever happened next, whichever way Jaskier was tipped on the scales of life and death, Geralt would be with Jaskier when it happened. 

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

Tag List! Some of these don’t work well, let me know!

@llamasdumpsterfire @stinastar @aziz-the-fangirl @mordoriscalling @bastardofmothman @negativenuggetz @morte-mistrata @ailorian @hayleynzlive @filledepluie @bygodstillam @sociowithatardisachevyandawand@faery-god @honeysuckletook @theflurtifly @saibowtie @werevampiwolf @frywen-babbles @the-kewlest @innocentbi-stander @1stbonesfan @aqueenrisesintheeast @toothhurtyam @marauders-fan-account @ineffable-lasagna @limevodka @rocknrollphanda @seralyra @permanently-exhausted-witcher  @aj-itated @watchthewolvesfall @00qtea @the-blondey @birds-of-forgiveness @westmoor  @abstractartwithoutpaint @darkonesdagger7437 @onwardsandfourwords @underwaterattribute @whenrainbowsend @goldbvtton @little-piece-of-tamlin @in-love-with-writing002 @flustratedcas @fontegagrilledcheese @so--many-fandoms @kirk-spock-in-the-impala @oniongrass @flowercrown-bard @maya-the-yellow-bee @comfyswitcherblanketfort @wellthisstinks @thenameislion-dandelion @flowercrown-bard @obsessedchildsworld @debellatis @zotinha456 @tumbleweedtech @goblin-loves-shiny-things @birdsflyhome @holymotherwolf @the-shenny-of-azkaban @darkangel91939 @enkelikauneus @saphiramalbec @silvermirror1997 @just-a-himbo-and-his-feral-bard @iamaqt314 @itsthelittlethingsnlife @oneshots-galore @inikokoru @gryffinqueen  @anythinggoesfandoms @artemisthehuntress @pomegranatebitch @nuitarius @ub-sessed @tookarma @spearmint-honk @nicelytousled @wingirl2015 @live-long-and-trek-on @kingcitywitch @flowrhippieprincess @oneshots-galore @laughingatlivedragons @letmereadplease  @annafortoday @dapperanachronism @jaybeefoxy @gods-no-longer-tread-here @flustratedcas @nbspaceboy  @comorbid-corvid @ellwren @red-wasabi89 @ouradarablelove @chanonce

[oss-crime]

Chapter 2-Project “Ma” –Eve–; Scene 4

Original Sin Story: Crime, pages 37-48

Seth’s wound wasn’t too bad, but for safety’s sake he wound up receiving treatment at a hospital in the Twelve Royal Capitals.

He got on one of the huge automated carriages of the security force and went back with the soldier driving it.

Adam wound up staying in the village of Nemu for a time along with his bodyguard, Gammon.

Naturally their goal was to search for the “Witch of the Forest”.

And Eve…she served as their guide when the two headed out to the Forest of Held, as well as their driver for the carriage.

The fee they paid her for this service had far greater profit to her than her income selling ingredients from the forest, so she had no reason to refuse.

Eve knew of several of the villages where the people of the forest lived, and so she first took the two of them to those.

And then they tried going around to the places where the witch was rumored to be, or just moved through aimlessly.

But the days passed without achieving any particular result.

.

That day as well the three of them had been advancing along a forest path with the automated carriage.

The sky was overcast with thick clouds. When Eve suggested that it might rain, Adam replied that they perhaps ought to end things early today.

“That aside, you’re quite skilled with driving the automated carriage, Eve,” Adam complimented. “You must be, to move so smoothly through such narrow pathways.”

“It’s no big deal if you’re used to it. But as you’d expect you can’t get to the deeper parts of the forest with a carriage.”

“Still, people would seldom be going in such places. So they’re not likely to be targets of the tribesmen, and thus there’s a low chance of the witch showing up there.”

Putting together the information that Adam and Gammon had been able to obtain up until now, the Witch of the Forest would apparently make her appearances in public to rescue people attacked by the white army.

But strangely, none of the people who had been rescued by her could remember what this witch looked like.

“She has green hair, is a woman, fires lightning from a blue spoon…And that’s all they can remember, oddly enough.”

“They’re all probably in a state of shock from being attacked by the white army, so that’s understandable isn’t it?”

“I wonder. Maybe…this witch can use a spell that manipulates people’s minds.”

Upon hearing that, Eve’s eyes widened for a moment. Then she quickly chuckled. “That’d be pretty convenient, if there really were such a spell. I’d control all the big-wigs into making me the queen.”

“Haha, I guess so. You could have all the wealth and influence you want…Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

“I’ve been raised in a village of sorcerers for over twenty years, but not once, no. Do you know of anything, Adam? You’re seem pretty well educated.”

“I’ve hardly done any studies on magic.”

“Huh…That’s a bit surprising. Don’t you have all this magical potential?”

“I only learned that relatively recently.”

As the two of them talked, Gammon simply looked around at their surroundings without showing the least amount of interest in their conversation.

Over these past few days Eve had been able to learn quite well that taken favorably he was a man who was very dedicated to his work, but taken unfavorably he was a very strait-laced person with little flexibility.

Adam was also a bit too serious, but he at least was easy to get along with.

Among the people who had come over from the capital there were some every now and then who would look down upon a country bumpkin like Eve. But Adam never showed any sign of such behavior.

From what she’d heard, while he was currently living in the Twelve Royal Capitals, originally he had been raised on the coast west from there.

“Just like you…I was an orphan.”

Apparently when he was a child he had been able to make a living and fend off starvation by hunting fish in the sea.

“One day a man suddenly appeared before me. He took me back to his home in the royal capital, and adopted me as his son. Even now I’m not sure why he did that. After that I received an education as a student under my adoptive father—Horus Solntse.”

“Did you…not have any parental figures until then?”

At Eve’s question, Adam responded without hesitation, “I did have a mother. …Though she was a whale.”

“Eh?”

“Ever since I can remember, that white whale had always been by my side. She watched over me…Or so I always thought. Though she never did anything to actually help me, ha ha.”

“…”

“Do you think my story is strange?”

“Mm, nooo…” Eve shook her head, and then replied earnestly, “I’m positive that whale must have been the manifestation of a spirit.”

“A spirit?”

“There are a lot of them in this forest; spirits that take the form of animals. Robins, chipmunks…I can’t talk to them, but I know of them.”

“I see…”

Adam listened in to Eve’s story, offering neither affirmations or denial.

“I too…had times when I was a child where I felt unbearably lonely. My adoptive mother and father were very kind people. But of course they weren’t my real parents…I couldn’t stand that.”

“…I understand that feeling.”

“In the middle of the night I ran out of the village and into the forest. But it was pitch-black, and I couldn’t tell my left from my right…I sat down alone and started crying. And then…it appeared.”

Eve’s shoulders faintly shook.

A drop of water fell from the sky and hit her face.

It had started to rain. There was no roof on this carriage.

Eve stopped the carriage under the shade of a large tree to keep from getting soaked.

“It?” Adam asked.

“A bear. A frightening bear…Here, look.”

Eve suddenly rolled up her skirt.

Adam unthinkingly moved to avert his eyes at catching sight of her bare skin.

But when he noticed the large scar on her thigh, he regained his composure.

“It bit you?”

“Because it was hungry. A little bit longer and I would have ended my life inside that bear’s stomach. But at that moment—the animals of the forest all attacked the bear at once. And they saved me.”

“And so they…were spirits of the forest.”

“I never saw a bear in this forest again. The spirits might have gotten rid of them, or else directed me so that I never got close to one…In any case, the spirits are my friends, and I owe them my life.”

Eve had never really told that story to anyone.

That was because anyone who didn’t know much about the forest in particular would likely think it was just a silly tall tale.

But in that drizzling rain Adam listened to her speak with a serious countenance. Conversely, Eve started to regret having told him.

Thinking on his goals…It would be only natural for him to start to hold some doubts towards Eve, upon hearing that story.

“Eve. So you really are—"

Before Adam could continue speaking, they could suddenly hear a loud explosion from far off.

“--!?”

They all turned over there at once.

…There was smoke coming from the direction of Nemu village.

“—What’s happened!?” Gammon shouted as he whipped out the sword at his hip.

What came to Eve’s mind was the white army.

They had never once attacked the village directly…And yet, she couldn’t think of anything else it could be.

As though in support of that, several tribesmen wielding weapons appeared from the shadows of the trees and circled the carriage.

“Oh, we’re not letting you get back to the village,” said a woman standing in the center of the tribesmen, glowering at Eve and the others.

Gammon had swiftly leapt down from the carriage, and shifted his piercing gaze to the woman.

“You must be the commander of the white army…The ‘White Fiend of Jakoku’.”

“Oh my. How impressive, that you know of my illustrious title…Your henchmen serve you well, it seems.” Gammon asked her if she had come here as payback for what happened on the plains, but Raisa shook her head. “Though there is a little of that, yes. This is more—a test.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I…Or rather, all of us, are planning to let loose much bigger fireworks after this.”

Giving no indication that she would explain any further, Raisa and her cohorts started to steadily draw closer to the carriage, weapons at the ready.

“You louts, tread cautiously! This military bastard looks pretty tough. Not to mention—” Raisa glared at Eve. “—He’s traveling with the ‘Witch of the Forest’, too.”

As though in response to those words, Eve got down from the carriage and stood next to Gammon.

“…You seem to be under a misunderstanding. I’m not a witch.”

Eve maintained a calm demeanor, but in response to that Raisa laid bare her anger.

“Don’t bullshit me! Countless of my people have been reduced to ashes by you!”

The moment she spoke, Raisa ran towards Eve.

Pale fire curled around the long and thin weapon she held in both hands.

These flames were not put out by the rain; they were likely some type of magic, or else produced by a unique power she had.

“…”

Eve glanced briefly at Adam, still inside the carriage.

He looked like he had something he wanted to say to Eve.

She didn’t have time to hesitate now.

First…she would need to do something about the enemy in front of her.

And she was worried about the village, too.

--Eve took out the spoon she’d kept hidden on her person.

A blue spoon. The item that was publicly referred to as the wand of the Witch of the Forest. For Eve it was a memento that she’d received from her adoptive mother.

She turned it toward Raisa, who was still heading towards her.

And then—expressionlessly, and concisely, she chanted a short spell phrase.

“Medvedi ubit!”

And it was all over.

It was a lightning spell she had been taught by her adoptive father.

A large bolt of lightning shot from the spoon, and then Raisa and her underlings in their entirety were swallowed up in a flash of light.

.

--The lightning strike that had engulfed the area had no effect on the trees of the forest or the animals.

It was the same with Adam and Gammon who were nearby Eve.

The lightning spell could only burn up that which it had been fired at. And after the flash of light went away, all of the tribesmen that had been surrounding the carriage had been reduced to charred corpses.

…No, there was one exception.

Raisa must have taken the direct brunt of the lightning, and yet despite her body having sustained massive burns she was still clinging to life.

“Wow…I’m surprised. That’s the first time anyone’s taken that shot and lived.” Eve looked down on Raisa with a cold expression.

“Y…you bitch…”

Gammon pressed down on Raisa’s body as she tried to crawl into the forest to escape.

“What an unexpected bounty, to be able to capture the head of the white army. For now let’s get her to the village—”

As he turned his face to the village, Gammon stopped speaking.

There was still smoke rising from that direction.

Eve quickly got back into the carriage and put her hand on the control crystal.

But Adam gripped her thin arm.

“The village will be dangerous. The bulk of the white army is probably attacking it now.”

“That’s why we have to go help my father and the others!”

Gammon tossed something at the carriage as it started to move.

Adam caught the weapon.

“This is…”

It was the peculiarly shaped sword that Raisa had been carrying.

“Take it! It should serve as some protection,” Gammon shouted to Adam. “I can’t let Raisa get away. You’ll have to go on your own!”

His words were in a sense an abandonment of his responsibilities as bodyguard, but under the circumstances he must have judged there was nothing more he could do.

Or maybe he was dazzled by the potential for glory that had fallen before him.

Eve didn’t care which it was.

Whatever the case, she was focused on the situation in the village now.

Though I can’t imagine my father would be done in by the white army so easily…

The residents of the village of Nemu were a band of once famous sorcerers.

Even so, Eve couldn’t help the unease in her chest.

The carriage started to race, Adam sitting beside her.

And in this way they advanced at full speed along the forest path, headed for the village.

<<prev------directory------next>>

[witchyfictional]

Week 2 (SPRING 2/13)

Professional Log of Harper Tobin, Journeyman Witch

Patient: Kiara, the vampire medical assistant…again

Ailment: Dragon Sickness [senses*] [wound*] (T4) Apparently she’s been hoarding frogs to kiss, which explains a lot.

Recommend: Surgeon’s Sap for the wounds (in her brain), Coffee Cap to wake the senses

Field Notes:

No initial luck looking for Coffee Caps in the Glimmerwood, but I did follow some tracks on a game trail that led straight to some Scramble Bramble. It will do the trick in a pinch, but it’s less than ideal, what with being slightly poisonous. I took some just in case, but carried on the search.

Eventually I did find the mushrooms I needed. I also found an enormous, sleeping GIANT. She was so titanic that I didn’t even notice her until I nearly walked up her nose. It shook me, but I managed to collect what I needed from the mushroom ring growing where her breath hit the forest floor, and left without waking her.

I hurried back to the apothecary to mix Kiara’s cure, as Dragon Sickness is a rapidly worsening condition, and I didn’t trust her to fight the compulsion to steal my things.

“Come-To Brew”

Crush the Coffee Caps, then boil the bits for about ten minutes and strain

Add a spoonful of raw Surgeon’s Sap

End result is both invigorating and delicious, considering the sweetness of both ingredients

Paid: 28 silver I admit I had a smug sense of satisfaction when Kiara’s eyes lit up as she drank her cure. I like to pride myself on remedies that actually taste good, whenever possible. Perhaps it’s because she’s in the body of a child, or perhaps it’s because she has a sweet tooth as big as mine, but she paid a little extra for the enjoyment, which I can certainly get used to.

Additional Notes:

I heard a rumor in town that there have been a handful of giants spotted all around this countryside, in the forest and in the mountains and even near the Loch (as evidenced by their lost possessions, I suppose). Would have been nice to hear about this before unexpectedly witnessing it in person. I should probably spend more time talking to the locals.

Calliope - the eldest daughter of that family of lakeside shoe elves, the Trippins - ran into me in town. She had just returned from a treasure hunting dive and came to the village to look for me, to give me a souvenir: a Fossil Fish! I’ve only read about them before. I was very excited. I treated her to lunch, in thanks. I will have to keep Señor SkeleFins in a bucket for now, until I can afford a proper fishtank for him.

I took a trip to Hero’s Hollow to stock up on Skullcaps again and had no problems scooping some up just inside the puzzle room chamber - thankfully, I didn’t have to go all the way in, and avoided the struggle of getting out again.

Before the week was out I went up Moonbreaker Mountain in search of some Candy Rock to combat less savory ingredients like the Scramble Bramble I found earlier. It was raining the entire time, but I don’t mind the rain. Two thirds up the mountain I somehow chance upon meeting another giant, this one awake...but luckily, he was very friendly. His name is Bernard and he invited me to take shelter in his cave to wait out the rain. Lo and behold, the walls of his home were encrusted with Candy Rock like a giant, sugary geode. We had a lovely conversation about geology, and he allowed me to take a sample before I left.

OOC: Rep – 7 [Novice] Silver – 48 Tools – basics Familiar skill – Hunter (-3 Animal reagent rarity) Upgrades – garden plot (x1; Surgeon Sap)

Surplus reagents: ** Surgeon Sap [wound] [burn] [+1s]  — (freely available) ~Candy Rock [+4s] — (x1) *** Fossil Fish [time] [magic] — (x1) * Hermit Snails [wound] [bones] — (x1) * Scramble Bramble [mood] [senses] [+1p] — (x1) * Silverleaf [infection] [rash] — (x1) * Skullcap [poison] [pain] — (x3)

[grimoire2020aa]

Witch Date Ideas for different Witches

Kitchen Witch

Go to a homey bakery and let them go on and on about all the ways to enchant blueberry muffins.

(NYC) Go to eataly and get some good ass pastries or prosciutto and other delicious dried cuts, just basically eat around Eataly or go to Dough. 

(NYC) Explore supermarkets in places like china town, ktown, (eataly is great too) and get new foods or ingredients for them to try out at home. 

(NYC) Load your pockets with dollars and take them to a street fair and try every food/snack stand they want. 

(NYC) If they like beer take them to good beer and have one of the guys explain the different brews. If they like mead take them to Honies.

Green Witch

Go to a botanical garden and point to the prettiest flower and say “that’s you”

Start a date by giving them a bouquet with a special message by using the Victorian language of flowers, or your own correspondences

If living together, go to a local nursery and choose flowers to plant together at your home.

(NYC) Take them to Flower power and offer to get them a gift that they please. 

(NYC) Also be their buffer to killing their wallet cause that���ll happen at flower power. 

(NYC) Take them to any botanical garden. During the winter the Brooklyn one is free. 

(NYC) Take them florist shopping.

(NYC) Take them to the Kava bar in the lower east side to feel great after drinking nonalcoholic kava cocktails. 

(NYC) Get lost in the north woods in Central Park.

Hedge Witch

(NYC) take them to the beautiful greenwood cemetery. 

(NYC) Buy them some skulls or antlers at Catland. 

(NYC) Go ghost hunting in some spooky ass places like the abandoned homes of Govenors island or The Dakota building, but if it gets too spooky then have a picnic on the island or by Central Park instead!

Go pumpkin, apple, strawberry, or any fruit picking, then use the fruits/vegetables in cooking/baking.

Cosmic Witch

Take them star gazing and come up with stories about planets falling in love.

Take a car out to a quiet, rural place and stargaze. Watch from a blanket on the ground or the top of the car. If you want, you can take a telescope.

I’d suggest oddities since they sell meteorite and other spacely things though it could be costly there. 

(NYC) Museum of natural history has a great space section and planetarium too. 

(NYC) Stargazing in NYC might be tricky but if you go up to fort Tyron you might have a beautiful view nonetheless!

Sea Witch

Go to the beach and help them look for sea shells. Help them carry all the ocean water home.

(NYC) Take the Q35 from Flatbush Ave (last 2,5 stop) to fort Tilden. It’s the best beach since it’s the cleanest and hardly no one is there. It’s serene and you’ll find tons of shells. 

(NYC) You can stay on the same bus as it will take you to Jacob Riis beach. I find the water there way less clean with tons of algae BUT the seashells there are phenomenal! Like as huge as ashtrays. So if it’s cold and you want to just go seashell hunting I’d vote for Jacob riis. 

(NYC) Swimming is better for fort Tilden. If it’s too cold for the beach take them to a boutique called Oddities. They sell beautiful seashells and other incredible magical things in that shop. 

(NYC) You can also take them to the museum of natural history and chill in that gorgeous aquatic room with the massive whale that every child feared would drop on their heads and crush them. It’s a beautiful space. 

Lunar Witch

Bathe in the full moon together

Graveyard/Death Witch

Go to a local cemetery on a nice day and talk about all the headstones that speak to you.

Getting relationship advice from other spirits. Or traveling to graveyards To do exploring.

take them to the oldest cemetery in the area and do headstone rubbings together

Go people watching at a cemetery. You look out for the living ones and they’ll keep an eye on the dead ones

Take them to your local graveyard and let them tell you about what the ghosts of those who are long gone whisper to them.

Picnic next to a graveyard or a place that has a strong connection to spirits

Crystal Witch

Going to crystal stores and giving them rose quartz, because love.

Let them tell you about their own crystal collection as you browse your local geology museum/crystal shop. Ask them questions about their properties, and maybe even the chemical makeup if they have a scientific streak. 

Go to a craft fair and buy a crystal/stone piece for your loved one. 

Go to a gem mine to try and find some crystals, rocks, or gems

Energy Witch

(NYC) Get them a session at the Woom center. Take them to the tarot society to pet crystals. The tarot society and Earth Arts center also has soundbaths from time to time. 

(NYC) Avoid Times Square at all costs especially if they are super empathetic. 

(NYC) Design a candle together at Enchantments.

Storm Witch

If you live in the Midwest and don’t have a very strong sense of self preservation (like most of the locals), take them on a tornado chase with you and make out after you survive.

Just play in the rain with them.

invite them over when it’s raining to sit inside and listen to the pitter patter on the windows while you watch movies. Have rainboots and a coat ready if don’t want to watch a movie or want to do something fun afterwards.

Drag them into the rain and dance!

Desert Witch

Road trip to your nearest friendly neighborhood mesas/weird rock formations. Bonus if you listen to them talk about the area’s folklore

Divination Witch

Swap readings take them some where they can try new decks.

Space Witch

Go to the observatory.

Stare at the constellations

Enjoy a picnic under the stars

Fire Witch

Take them to a huge bonfire (possibly around Beltane) where you can talk and dance and everything, then take some ashes when you're done for different rituals!

(NYC) Sometimes flower power has an herbal smokes class you guys could sign up for. The people that work there would be happy to help you pick out herbs for your own herbal smoking blend! You can also go there to pick out ingredients for loose incense! 

(NYC) Namaste on 14th also has an amazing selection of incense. You can buy them a cute and quirky candle at flying tiger or pick materials for candle making together at Michaels. In the summertime go to Roosevelt island and have a bonfire in one of the fire pit/grills.

Necromantic Witch

Take them to a graveyard. 

Earth Witch

Start by leaving them a hand written letter to meet you somewhere. Have that somewhere be a beautiful hidden spot in the forest or anywhere that has to do with nature. Pack her favorite foods and bring her favorite book and take her on a forest picnic. Read to her (or have her read to you) as you just sit and enjoy each other’s company and Mother Earth around you.

Music Witch

Take them to a concert or a musical. Watch them get a little more into the rhythms than everyone else.

Go find some music and perform with them

Get a bunch of their favorite music albums (DVD’s) and listen to them together with or with out food

Try to watch a street performance or walk around downtown

Ice/Snow Witch

Ice skating! Or start a snow ball fight with them

Try making synthetic snow and play with it

Play with them on a snowy day, then enjoy some hot coco or hot cider with cookies

Building a snow man or playing in the snow on a snowy day

Try going to a cold place or a snowboard/ski resort to enjoy the snow and exercise

Bath Witch

(NYC) Take them to king spa or sauna castle (Korean bath and sauna houses) and try out every majestic sauna and bath together. 

(NYC) Take them to a shop like Lush or the Face Shop to try new things. Have a spa day at home with them.

Make a diy bath bomb or soap

Take bath with a bath bomb

Go to a sauna, onsen, or hot spring

Make a diy sauna with a humidifier in your bathroom or closet while you wear towels.

[doctorslippery]

1d50 Fantasy Rumors

In a bathhouse to the far south, there is a well that grants wishes to those who please the guardian Naiad.

The Lord of a nearby country has set an enormous bounty on the head of a wicked bandit chief. However the old folk whisper the bandit is actually the true King, having been spirited away in the night when he was but a small boy.

The dwarves of the Jarring Peaks only surface mine and refuse to go underground. Something terrible drove them from the deeper mines generations ago, and still rests there today.

A foreign dignitary repeatedly insulted the Governor, however this is because by custom speaking praise of someone invites upon them ill luck. An international incident is looming.

In the Hinterlands, defeating someone in a fair duel entitles you to their lands or their lives. The duels, however, have incredibly complex rules that are nearly impenetrable to outsiders.

In the eastern seaport, the bay is supposedly teaming with mermaids. Dangling your toes off the docks is a sure way to get their attention, for better or worse.

There exists a flower that blooms once a century in the depths of the Sparkleberry Swamp that can cure any illness, no matter how dreadful. A tribe of lizard folk have been protecting the site for countless generations.

The mausoleum in the center of the city’s graveyard refuses to remain sealed, the bricks always burst outward in the night. Nothing, however, has been seen going in or out of it.

The old hag who sells flowers in the market place is in fact a powerful witch, waiting for a prophecy to fulfill itself.

The old orphanage at the edge of town doesn’t house real children, but changelings who were discovered in the crib.

Gert the Butcher once got into regular rows with his brother Bert. Bert vanished a few weeks ago and Gert had a sale on delicious sausages.

During a New Moon, the tides dip low revealing an isthmus connecting to Finnegan’s Atoll. The very best pearls can be found in reefs, it is a race to find them first.

Hjalmar Bjornson defeated the evil conjuror Illhugi and took residence in his tower. Recently, however, dark things have been coming from the tower again.

Cattle has been disappearing recently from local fields, a crime that the thieves’ guild refuses to claim. The town fool claims they are being abducted by invisible creatures for their heinous rituals.

The baron’s daughter is set to marry the heir of a neighboring fiefdom. Her maidservant, however, claims she plans to elope with the captain of the Guard, Providence Blanchard.

The Gleaming Desert gets so hot during the summer months that whole areas melt into glass. A local alchemist thinks if conditions are right a huge and perfect lens could be created.

The White Forest is so called for the strange, color draining sickness that affects the animals within. Farmer Gregor claims, however, to have seen a giant black stag with glowing rainbow antlers.

A pair of river traders have brought a new, powerful and addictive medicine which they initially gave away for free. However prices have risen and addicts have taken to increasingly aggressive acts of robbery to fuel their addictions.

Gloria Haversham is a tinker who travels the countryside in her one donkey cart. People say she can fix absolutely anything, but her prices are never in mere coins.

Word on the street is that the fireworks prepared for the New Years celebration have been tampered with and their glowing bursts will in fact place a hex on the city.

A new tattoo artist from the far west has set up shop, creating beautiful works of art on their patron’s skin. They’re almost too lifelike.

Parents always told their children that the Weeping Man would take away naughty children on full moons, but recently children have actually started going missing and the bogeyman has turned into hysteria.

The Wizard-Archeologist Philipa Saint-John claims there is a lost ziggurat buried in the permafrost of the Karngorm Tundra, she just needs the funding and manpower to uncover it.

Jenny Greenteeth has haunted the swamp since time out of mind and the locals now live in a tenuous peace with her. However a rich merchant has brought in foreign workers to fill the swamp and build a road.

The Count’s fortune was read in tea leaves last month. He was so horrified by the prophecy that he banned all fortune tellers and all tea from the county.

A giant hand made of an unknown metal was uncovered by flash floods in the hills.

Migratory patterns have shifted, taking game away from the barony. Something is happening up north that is scaring all the animals away.

The cats hold a monthly sabbath where they make reports to their true master.

The border marauders have been getting more bold after their leader uncovered a trove of strange weapons that fire burning light.

Stay away from the harbor on misty nights, that’s when the ghost ship and her dread captain looks for new crew to take aboard.

13 O’Clock, the Witching Hour, only strikes for those who know to listen for it.

The King in Chains, an especially rowdy tavern, has a terrible rat problem, but for some reason the landlord refuses to do anything about it. He also despises cats.

The Patron Saint of Thieves famously stole themselves right out of the hangman’s noose as they dropped. It is said the holder of that noose cannot be barred by any locked door.

A truly massive thunderhead has been passing back and forth across the plains for weeks without a drop of rain. The locals have taken to calling it the Thunder Anvil.

The city on the other side of the mountain throws a truly spectacular street celebration each year. Its participants, despite the fireworks, feasts, and music are all masked and silent.

A powerful noble was cursed in her youth to never be able to eat the same meal twice. She is elderly now and is desperate for truly exotic ingredients for her increasingly bizarre diet.

The old barrows have always been a haunt of fairies and their mischief was mostly benign. A necromancer recently desecrated those ancient tombs and the fairies have gone berserk.

A travelling circus filled with exotic animals of all kinda passed through last year, however a fire at the big top consumed it. Strange trumpeting and growling are still heard from the village green.

Theodore Goldfinch, the secretary of the magistrate, ran screaming out of the courthouse last week claiming he uncovered a snakeman conspiracy.

“The Slithery-Dee came out the sea, he ate all the others but he didn’t eat me,” claimed the only survivor of a fishing village, found covered in blood and holding a notched whaling hook.

There is a deaf musician who wanders the south who knows a tune terribly sad that those that hear it die of a broken heart. They say the musician is in fact a master assassin.

Giant petroglyphs cut across the shrublands where the sheep graze. The wizards claim that the petroglyphs have actually been walking across the land at geologic speed.

Everyone ties a ribbon with wishes on it to the Angel Oak, hoping they’d come true. Sometimes, they actually do!

Keep a ring of iron in your left pocket when you travel the road at night, otherwise the Wyld Hunt will turn you to a beast and hunt you till morning.

Anyone who dies without fulfilling a contract is damned to rise against to complete it. It is important to burn or transfer contracts to avoid terrible revenants.

After a long bender that the PC barely remembers, their wanted poster has been pasted across the land for the kidnapping of a rich silk merchant’s son.

A bat covered in gold dust was found in the church’s belfry, setting off a rush searching all the local caves for a rich vein.

A strange light was seen pouring out of the canyon in the night and no one who has gone to investigate has returned.

Sir Zoray and his band of knights were tasked by the High Priestess to seek a holy artifact to cure a terrible wasting illness. They were last spotted spending their gold the the most expensive brothel in an eastern city.

A wingless wyrm was spotted swimming through the Frothy Run River and coins of foreign make were later found on the pebbly shore.