#it was stupid and predictable

[griseldabanks]

“So if Glaive and Gyvael are teaching us how to fight,” Shard said, “and Vesper and Vannasai are giving us flight lessons....”

“Our lessons will be about your soul-bond,” Legacy said, retying the bit of string holding her long black hair out of her face.

“Soul-bond?”

“My mother told me about that!” Shynael piped up eagerly. “That's the magical bond you make when you choose a mate, right?”

Linygae trilled softly, looking down at the smaller dragon with amusement. “Yes, but that's not the kind we're talking about.”

“It is similar, though,” Legacy said, crossing her arms comfortably over her chest and leaning against her dragon's shoulder. “The soul-bond between a human and a dragon is a magical bond that makes the two almost a single entity—not to be entered into lightly, not easily broken without...dire consequences. And just as between two mates, we cannot have more than one soul-bond at a time. Which is why none of us,” she swept a finger in a big loop to include all of the Ambassadors, even the ones not currently present, “can have a mate.”

Shard was sure his cheeks were as red as Linygae's scales, and he would have been more than happy to drop the subject, but Shynael was curious as always.

“We can't have a mate? But my mother told me that's what I would do one day, when I'm fully grown—leave the nest and find a mate. She said that's the way of things.”

“She was right,” Linygae said, humor still lingering in her voice, “for an ordinary dragon. But we Ambassadors are not ordinary dragons—or humans.” Her amber-colored eyes slid over to glance at Shard. “Was there not a moment when you accepted Shard into your soul? When you chose him for your own?”

Shard looked up at his dragon, remembering when he first held Shynael's egg in his arms, staring between it and the enormous body of the dragon who had ripped through the village. The desperation in her eyes as they met his, as he reached out a hand towards the egg...and then a moment of clarity, of peace, as if she knew somehow that he would never harm her son.

He wondered if that was the moment his soul had become bonded with Shynael's, that moment when he had chosen to cup the fragile egg in his arms and take it to safety, rather than dashing it against the ground like so many others would have. Or maybe the moment had been when he'd first seen the baby dragon struggling out of the eggshell, eyes bright and heart beating with life. Or maybe it was the moment he'd decided, once and for all, that he would protect the life that had been entrusted to him.

Shynael cocked his head to one side and looked at Shard thoughtfully. “I...almost forgot,” he said slowly, “but...I think I heard you. In my egg. I heard you talking, Shard. I don't think I could understand you yet, but...you said something, right up next to the egg, and it was like...I woke up. That's when I started to hatch, I think. Like I was trying to get out and see you.”

“Oh,” Shard breathed. “I'd forgotten all about that. People were starting to gather, and I was afraid they'd see your egg and take it from me. So I hurried into the chapel, and...I don't know why, but I said, 'Don't worry. I'll keep you safe.' I didn't know you could hear me....”

They looked at each other for a long moment and smiled. In that moment, Shard could feel the soul-bond between them without a doubt. It was like reaching out into the darkness, and another hand slid into his. The hand of a little boy with black hair and golden eyes, looking up at him with Shynael's toothy grin.

Then he blinked, and he was looking at his dragon once again.

The Chesterton Challenge: Day 20

Welcome to Day 20 of the Chesterton Challenge! If you haven’t already, make sure to explore the creations linked in the notes of yesterday’s post.

Today’s Optional Prompt is: Spirit

Because yesterday was Pentecost, but I didn't think of this word's Chestertonian prompt potential until today. There's the Holy Spirit, the spirit of each individual person, ghostly spirits, being in good/bad/holiday/etc spirits. If you want, there's even the alcohol kind of spirits (very Chestertonian). Pick whichever definition you like to inspire your creative works.

Whatever you create, make sure to show us or tell us about it by reblogging or replying to this post. (Don’t forget: anyone is allowed to join in the fun at any point during the Challenge.)

Now go forth and create!

[violetren]

Things that cannot defeat the TARDIS...

Being jettisoned into the Z-Neutrino energy core of the Dalek Crucible.

Being turned into a self cannibalising paradox machine by The Master.

Being shunted into a human body while it's own body gets possessed by a sentient TARDIS devouring asteroid.

Things that can defeat the TARDIS...

One cup of coffee with a splash of cold milk.

[gingerswagfreckles]

I see a post about how JK Rowling's goblins are antisemitic. I click on the person's blog. Their blog is filled with Holocaust inversion, MENA Jewish genocide denial, Hamas support, political "takes" from Twitter bitches with the red triangle in their usernames. I click out and block.

[daphnalia]

and they were galpals

[daranatsus]

If you’re interested- Siffrin experiencing rain for the first time after the loops?

I think it must be both really relieving and sad to finally experience the rain. On one hand it means the loops are over, but that means that Loop is...

[horreurscopes]

this is my brother and i need a shovel to love him (prints)

[fure-dcmk]

movie 27 delusion

[damnedjellybeans]

I know that a lot of people feel as if Inho was acting while being in the games as Youngil, in the second voting scene and many others, but I don't think it was entirely an act, his real opinion might still be seeping through. During the scene I referenced earlier, when one of the players said that they want to keep going because they need more money for their family to have a chance, Inho answered with "And what if you die? Your family won't even see your body. You think they'd really want that?", and I feel as if he still is resentful at himself for the fact that he wasn't there when his wife passed away. When talking to Gihun, telling him about his wife, it wasn't a complete lie either. Sure, that happened 9 years prior, but it wasn't just a made-up story, as far as we know. Inho is ruined and has lost faith in the world, but what I'm trying to say is that he stayed true to some of his beliefs. Him and Gihun aren't even that different in their view on the world, but Inho's just way more... brutal, and realistic, in a way. And the reality of it is what Inho is trying to prove to him. That people are messed up and there's no hope.

[orbch]

guys funfact i thought the sides were semi-cannibals for like maybe a solid month or two back in 2018 because in the 12 days of christmas video when patton said the pasta had cumin i misheard…. as human… and didnt even question it for a second. i was like okay yeah… they eat humans. sure. they arent real humans so whats the deal. sure..

[millidew]

why did they do this

[beaft]

multiple people came by my stall yesterday at the art market and told me i was lowballing myself and i should be charging way more, and i'm like, on the one hand Thank You and you're probably right, charging £15 for a sculpture or painting is ridiculous when you factor in the costs of materials and how long it took to make. but on the other hand this art fair is mostly populated by gay twentysomethings who would not spend £100 on an original painting even if they had it to spend

[maruren]

Sorry, Ryoga, but, unfortunately, he is also your responsibility.

Inukai can't handle him, Shion doesn't want to handle him.

Since none of the prisoners sleep at night, I imagine this dialogue between Ryoga and Shion:

"Your problem child is going crazy again"

"Before the sun rises, it's your problem child"

[fictionadventurer]

My pitch for a High School musical sequel

Sharpay's musical theater career never went anywhere, so now she lives vicariously through her daughter. She terrorizes the East High drama department because she demands her daughter get all the lead roles, and she comes in and micromanages everything, etc.

Sharpay Junior is our sympathetic main character who wants to escape from her mom's control. She likes musical theater, but she's beginning to think that, gasp, she might have other interests! (Shocking, I know).

Gabriella is the school's science teacher, and she serves as a kind of mentor for Little Sharpay, teaching her that it's okay to like music and still do other things.

Troy's the basketball coach, of course, continuing the family tradition of men who cling to their high school glory days.

Maybe Troy and Gabriella's son could be the romantic interest? Little Sharpay has a connection with him, but of course Sharpay doesn't want her daughter involved with the family that stole her lead roles out from under her, and she doesn't want this boy distracting her darling from her theatrical career.

Of course, the process of deciding not to be in the musical requires Little Sharpay to take part in several heartfelt and elaborately-choreographed school-wide musical numbers.

[kuragesoda]

eh, close enough . welcome back sans undertale

[gelu-the-babosa-multiversal]

Someone out there is trying to make/will make Transformers Rescue Bots: Morocco's Revenge and we must stop them!!!!!!!!

[nadiajustbe]

Howl, ten second after nearly being killed by deadly weedkiller acid: Hey, actually. Sophie's SO cool.