#its only been (checks the sundial) one year

[ulenehlervu]

doodled ladies from foggy falkreath (more)

[perexcri]

9 and 13!!!

hello hello!! thank you so much for stopping by :]

9. Do you write every day? If you wrote today, share a sentence of what you’ve written!

i used to! the last few weeks have not been kind though :') i think i'm probably just creatively burnt out after writing a bunch the past year and have been crocheting and reading a lot to cope instead lol

i did work a little on something i'd written months ago last night, though, so i can share something from that:

He’d tried to carve that space for El–he’d done all the right things, and he’d liked her–he truly had–but their moments together had never been as overwhelming as being around Will had become, how the proximity of elbows or knees or ankles could make him feel like he’s a thread in a sweater being slowly pulled out of place, something both discordant and terrifyingly desirous in its destruction.

and the rate i'm going now it will be out in *checks sundial* five trillion years

13. How much planning do you do before writing?

it honestly depends!! and the mental planning is always greater than the written planning - i have to let an idea stew in my brain before it hits a point where i know i can turn it into an idea (which usually means that i think of a specific scene, a specific line, a repeating symbol, or plot gimmick i think would be interesting!)

in general, i try to vaguely imagine the whole story before i start planning it out just to get a general idea of its flow/vibe. almost all of them have really strange outlines, or at the very least a list of stuff i want to have happen ranging in depth of detail depending on how liable i am to forget it later on. the first 1-2 pages of my fic docs are almost always reserved for me to write random notes/ideas/outlines on for future reference

the only big exception to this was my fantasy au, A Flower That Resembles You. i genuinely had no outline for it. like here's a part of what the notes/outline part of that doc looked like:

it's total nonsense tbh. i only blacked out that one line because it's technically a spoiler and idk how you feel about those or if you're even ever planning on reading it, but just in case~

anyway, thank you again for stopping by!! it means a lot to me, and i wish you the best of luck in your own writing :] 💜💜💜

[redkiwis]

Omg guys…..

So after exploring the islands of apple archipelago, I just realized something….

The minacious island has some old ruins in which some parts are upside down… and where else have we seen something upside down?

So it got me thinking, what if those ruins are the other twins attempt in gaining their lost powers as well as finding a way to avenge khaenriah??!??

Ok now here me out….

I just recently found out that the islands have some sort of technological mechanisms to them and that the people who were shipwrecked there confirmed that the ruins were already there, so it’s possible that the twin could have used that area first in their attempt to create an ability to use time, because remember, khaenriah was advanced in their own way, and we know that before the twins woke from their sleep, it was one twin who awoke first before the other, so perhaps they were setting their plan in motion before waking the other twin in order to aid khaenriah

Before I get into in further detail, let’s look into how this can be possible, first, within the islands areas, there seems to be no sight of celestia in the sky, maybe because it as an area closed off from the world and used by the abyss to go forth and spawn in areas of teyvat, and from within the ruins of the Minacious Isle, you are able to create a portal to mondstat to the thousand winds temple, and where else do you see things similar like this in teyvat?

Domains typically have portals before entering, and once inside, you teleport into an area before battling, so what if these domains are, in theory, ways that khaenriah used to get around teyvat? And maybe the other twin possibly harnessed this technology to gain their sword and are trying to gain an ability such as time itself to their advantage????

In the We Will Be Reunited story quest, we find that a treasure hoarder is kneeling before an upside down statue of the seven, (specifically the anemo statue) and most speculated that the man is dead, but what if he wasn’t dead but just frozen in time??? And maybe the treasure hoarder just randomly came across the hidden statue and just froze because he couldn’t harness its ability like the twins???

So maybe there’s a possibility that the twin already had a plan before waking up the other twin, mainly because of the ruins that they left behind for 500 years, and here’s how: in the quest (Time and the Wind) we notice an island afar from the mainland of mondstat, and in order to reach there you would need a lot of stamina, but what if that was because you could teleport there? also from within the researchers ragged notes that we find in the isle, it states that “god of time” knew of the anemo archon, that could explain why in order to progress the quest you’d need a wind ability, but later within that quest, you are guided to the thousand winds temple, not only do you find another sundial there but you find out that it probably ties in with the portal from the Minacious isle in the archipelago

Also, the fact that Albedo brings himself to investigate the Minacious Isle, why? Because perhaps it held another clue to Khaenriah and their attempts in teyvat, The people who were shipwrecked on the islands confirmed that when they arrived there that the ruins were already there before them, so maybe the ruins are proof that khaenriah had been there, and perhaps a domain was placed there but got destroyed????

Not only that but has anyone noticed that inside each domain, is an unique area so close to the sky, as well as the lack of celestia in the sky???

Now I know what you’re thinking....

All these domains, are possible ways to celestia? Since khaenriah has been trying different ways to take celestia, it wouldn’t be a surprise if domains are just ways to try to ascend to celestia???

***Note: I don’t think the other twin is the god of time, but more or less a person on the verge of trying to gain powers of gods such as time to their advantage

Also, the ruins in Dragonspine? Could they also be another way to celestia that khaenriah tried to set in motion? If you check out each ancient tablet from dragonspine, each tell a unique piece of information that could support this theory but I will elaborate in another day :)

[leam1983]

Felix the Reaper - Thoughts? Review?

Can't really go into too much detail, it's rather late as it is and the ol' bed is beckoning, but I also want to couch this down somewhere while it's still fresh...

So, Death as a concept - as a character - obviously permeates the whole of human civilization. You've got Anubis and Osiris, Humbaba the Undying, thousands of years of mythology surrounding the concept of life leaving you and your flesh-bits rotting, generation after generation of people processing grief in visual and abstract forms - and now, we're sort of living in a context where Death isn't really all that scary anymore. We understand it, we can push it back in some cases - and when we can't, then we can sort of map out its occurrence. What started as just this inexplicable force swiping at hunter-gatherers and that warranted Danse Macabre paintings across Medieval France is now something we can put an almost-precise date and time on. There's a bunch of "death clocks" online that project a potential DOD based on your age, gender, health status, habits and BMI; sort of turning the concept of memento mori into a shockingly literate manifestation.

You will die, one day. We're so aware of that that a bit of science and Web design wizardry can shit out a half-serious guesstimation of when it'll happen. Pre-Colonial aspects of Death survive in Mexican culture in the forms of both calaveras and the Santa Muerte cult, and the inevitability of death now even counts as a game mechanic in the SoulsBorne genre. You've got Terry Pratchett's extremely Humanist rendition of Death and, well, Hollywood faff à la Meet Joe Black. The short of it is we're far from the robe-wearing zombie we used to plop everywhere as a reminder of our own supposedly sinful urges or on the fleeting nature of youth.

Another item that's of interest is the notion of life and youth being represented as the Maiden - and of Death being in love with her. Sometimes, the affection isn't returned and disgust is shown. That's most of Holbein's death-related works, in this case. In others, the Maiden leans in, lets the skeletal figure push a hand underneath her skirt and against one of her thighs. They share a kiss, press against one another in the way honest lovers might. He's a dried-out corpse with a bloated midsection and she might've stepped out of some sixteenth-century church in the Netherlands, but their liplock is intense and genuine. In one statue, the Maiden looks like she might've just surrendered to the Reaper's arms, but her hands are also touching his scythe....

Eroticism, a commentary on suicide or plain acceptance - there's several ways to look at that duality, and it's even managed to worm its way over to cultures that don't natively have similar associations with human remains. The Japanese, for instance, do have their own Gashadokuro concept, but the locals of Nagasaki needed their initially-exclusive exposure to Portuguese traders to shrink down their massive skeletal eidolons of doom and to design woodblock prints where a Danse Macabre effectively meets the dress codes and habits of the locals under sakoku, or the Emperor-mandated closing-off of Japan to the outside world.

Death as a dancer. Death, especially, as a force that's quite lively, despite its attributes. A force that falls head-over-heels for Life in its own anthropomorphized form.

This is what Danish devs Kong Orange opted to work on in Felix the Reaper. Their Death has a human name, has a thing for the stuffier ends of Business Casual, is maybe eighty pounds overweight - and won't ever, ever, let the music die. He's also in love, obviously - and in love with Betty, the equally portly and nimble personification of Life. The pair look a bit like a Fernando Botero couple waiting to happen, with ample waists and sagging breasts held aloft by spindle-thin legs - but if Ghostbusters taught us not to cross the streams, then you can assume that Life and Death starting a tango in the same workspace could have severe coincidences on the biosphere. Not that Felix cares, he'd want nothing more than for Betty to notice him. His supervisor is voiced off-camera by Sir Patrick Stewart, who's as delightful as always, and who sort of plays the part of the well-meaning supervisor who eventually realizes his new employee's quirks don't diminish his potential.

And what is Felix's job, exactly? Well, he's Death. He's not getting paid to distribute hugs and kisses, obviously. He gets sent to the mortal plane to, well, kill people, and more specifically, to kill people in precise and pre-ordained ways. His "televator" takes him to an instant frozen in time, and he has to alter the surrounding scene so that once time resumes its course, the requisite accident or happenstance occurs. You do that by picking up items, flicking switches, and placing targets in the path of whatever it is that's set to kill them. You also move the sun around the world using a magical sundial doohickey, as Death can only move in shadows. You're basically Death in the same sense as in the Final Destination movies, except you really, really, really want to twerk and sashay your voluminous heinie through the small changes needed to turn a nothing-burger into a drunk huntsman getting his head stuck in the stump of a decapitated deer, so the dejected and near-sighted hunter you've been following mistakes him for a target and shoots his spear through his brain-case.

And yes, Felix does twerk and he certainly sashays. Dude dresses like a stuffy librarian, sure, but seemingly loses all inhibitions once his headphones come up - which allows the player to share in his personal soundtrack. This particular Reaper seems to have a thing for very bass-driven and samply EDM, with occasional forays into Ambient and Jazz. His many, many, many idle animations all sync with whatever it is that's playing, and so does the variety of prances, somersaults, grands jetés and twirls he goes through while moving from place to place. Comparatively, you get the sense that Felix's coworkers are more the dour and solemn type - with a few unsubtle cameos from Skeletor and Manny Calavera in the opening cinematic - and Felix, well...

Let's just say it's a wonder he has those hips and that paunch. If he twirls around for every little thing he does, then you'd assume he only sits down to hoover an Olympic athlete's worth of food once a day. Or maybe I'm overthinking things because, well, death.

And therein lies the problem, honestly. In thinking, I mean. Felix is a puzzle game through-and-through, and also ties into a Challenge system in order to really tickle those completionist nerves. The starting scenarios are braindead-easy, but the later ones left me stumped for fifteen minutes per screen. Add to that the notion that the game doesn't check off some of them as complete if you only do the bare essentials, and you're left with another would-be mobile offering that doesn't reach its endpoint until you exhaust every little bit it has to offer - even if you're effectively done with the main gameplay loop. It's a great game, but there's just not a whole lot to do in those six chapters, beyond repeating bits of drudgery until your noodle clicks or you give up and look up a solution online.

It's a shame, too. The isometric perspective is perfect, and the game could've been pitched as a hybrid between a puzzler and, say, XCOM: Enemy Unknown. You'd take cover to hide from moving targets or to escape daylight and instead of shooting at them, would emerge from cover to move items around or solve puzzle elements. You could've had Death evoke the illusion of a friendly face to inject some more concrete narrative delivery, for instance. Steal a friend's features, magically conceal yourself, and then have your target piece her own weaknesses together, leaving you to retreat and regroup before executing your plan of attack. But no, everything is out in the open and everything is spelled out for you. Kong Orange could've also stolen a page from Hitman Go and set multiple triggers in place to truly sandbox the experience.

What is there is fun - it oozes personality and charm - but there's just not enough of it to justify Steam's full asking price, IMO. Comparatively, the Switch's online store is currently running a sale for it (as of Sunday the 15th, at least) and lists it as being 2,15$. Two bucks for a few hours of harmless fun is a pretty good deal, as far as I'm concerned. It also underlines why the devs and Daedalic Entertainment alike consider it as having "bombed", as the marketing effectively targeted Devolver's usual stable. It's not crunchy enough, however, and not exactly irreverent enough to warrant that comparison. A more hefty Felix could've earned its full 20$ price point on PC - and Kong Orange's very design for Betty makes it obvious that if Felix ever returns, it'll be in a co-op setup with the love of his, well, unlife.

I'd be up for more of this cuddly, swinging skelly - assuming the devs mature a tad and put something together that's just a smidge more compelling.

[mejomonster]

Ok so i reached the eps in the past last night but i didnt want ro keep sending asks so here are the thoughts that i remember: - everyone looks HOT with long hair especially ye zun god the white hair - SW IS SO CUTE AND SOFT his absolute bewilderment at zyl im living - THE HOMOEROTICISM OF THE LOLLIPOP SCENE?? HOW HAVE I NOT SEEN THIS ON MY DASH? - Sw when zyl comes back and he just looks so sad bc hes been waiting for so long for the loveof his life but couldnt say anything 😭😭

!!!!!!!SOME OF MY FAVORITE EPISODESSSSSSS

Ye Zun in the past is like one of my fave character performances from zhu yilong in the whole show, it spurred on my entire ridiculous post-canon fix it fic so. 

young Shen Wei is so cute, he’s so sweet, he’s never had a friend. Kunlun gets dropped into his life and flirts and loves him and smiles and CARES and he’s in love forever more. this baby.

the lolipop scene is. zhao yunlan what did you and shen wei do after. u didnt need to check him out so hard. does shen wei know what u were thinking??? does he??? THAT SCENE

ok not sure if spoilers, but this person made a crack!vid to guardian that i might have watch BEFORE the show, so i saw the lolipop scene early lol. (which is So funny in their vid oh god) but the way they edited it is like... i did not realize the scene is just Like That until i finally watched the show lol. https://youtu.be/DBVJ5JPYilE

SHEN WEI “I WAITED FOR YOU FOR 10,000 YEARS” BREAK MY HEART WHY DON’T YOU.

ok guardian is ridiculously satisfying upon rewatches because like. Every early episode Shen Wei is making comments about cases, he’s really like Also talking about Kunlun and grieving him/missing him/wanting to die for him. But Zhao Yunlan has no freaking idea at all back then. All Zhao Yunlan knows is Shen Wei is intense and strangely invested in him. 

Like in ep 1-2 Li Qian asks Shen Wei on the roof “Would you try to save the person you loved, no matter the cost?” and Shen Wei says “I would do anything, I would exchange my life for his.” and Li Qian says “Well you’re lucky you didn’t have this power,” as she holds up the sundial.

Or Shen Wei in another early episode, Zhao Yunlan also present, I think its the episode where the Dixingren in the mirror replaces the human, and the husband is in love with the dixingren. Shen Wei is like “no matter what happens, he can’t get back the person he used to love. they’re different, he can only move forward and try to form a new connection” ... and Shen Wei is really talking about Zhao Yunlan not remembering him, Zhao Yunlan being like a totally new person to him, and how Kunlun is functionally ‘dead’ because of it. Shen Wei momentarily got hopeful seeing ‘Kunlun’ again, after 10k years of grieving him. But when he realized Zhao Yunlan is either a liar (about not remembering SW) or else really is a ‘new person’ - Shen Wei is gutted and grieving all over again. A TON of the early episodes parallel what Shen Wei is going through so well. And a ton of what Shen Wei says seems like hes just being sympathetic to the cases... but he’s actually being incredibly pointed, and thinking primarily about Kunlun.

[percival-queen]

{hey chief, i've migrated from doctorsleepytime to over here in the hopes of finding out what's going on with the sentient epithet business (like, where do i start with all the lore? this stuff seems cool but idk how to navigate it-)

{*whirls around in my chair like an over-energetic Mafia boss* Ah, yes... you seek The Lore... I have what you need, loyal follower. But go on at your own risk... for the quest is long. But if you’ve traversed the lands of DST, you should be prepared...}

{So, since literally NONE of this was planned out and it all just sort of emerged on its own, a good majority of these threads are incomplete and/or contradictory in the timeline, but they’re all canon (or merged-canon) and should be read in order if you want to slowly “awaken” to the Epithet/soulstuff at the same time as the characters! I’ve linked each title to the beginning post of the thread, although you may find it easier to simply search these tags on my blog, scroll all the way down, and read up in chronological order.}

[ Thread: The Metal Angel ]

[ Thread: Parapet Erased ]*

[ Thread: Now I Lay Me ]*

[ Thread: Letting Down the Walls ] [1]*

[ Thread: Letting Down the Walls ] [2]*

[ Thread: Nova Clash ]

[ Thread: The Storm Approaches ]

{*Starred threads have a suicide attempt tw; the latter two are post-attempt recovery and healing.}

{Nova Clash and The Storm Approaches are the true first sightings of an Epithet’s sentience, and while they both have some context from the dash surrounding them— like DST, this blog is impacted by asks and dash interactions— all you really need to know is that “Parapet takes over Percy’s new Nova-class body with the intent to protect everyone by putting them all in cages.” Because then nobody can get hurt! Foolproof plan... at least according to a word that has only existed with the “definition” of a protective wall for hundreds of years.}

{After Parapet officially awakens, two other Epithets get M!A’d and are brought into the world of the living... although they seem significantly less used to controlling a body than Parapet!}

[ Thread: Goldbricker ]

[ Thread: Sundial ]

{I CANNOT for the life of me find the thread with Sundial. Tumblr why are you so broken.}

{...and if you’ve made it through ALL OF THAT, you finally reach the point where Percy, Ramsey, and Zora all get hit with Epithet-swapping M!As that— surprise, surprise— just so happen to throw around their Epithets in a circle. If you want to, on my blog, you can read all about the adventures of Sundial!Percy under the tag:}

[M!A: .... . .-.. .-.. --- --..-- / ... ..- -. -.. .. .- .-..]

{...and if you want to read all the content for Parapet!Ramsey and Goldbricker!Zora, you can check out their blogs respectively (tags are Heart of Stone for Ramsey and [Epithet Nonsense: M!A] for Zora, though you might have to scroll down a bit since her M!As aren’t given their own tags). Either way, all paths eventually converge to...}

[ Thread: Circle Game ]

{...which is The Big One (TM) and brings us almost up to the present. After Circle Game, we finally start exploring the exact “who”s, “how”s, and “why”s of the sentient Epithets, thanks to a certain psychologist who— having not checked his inbox during a very long and complicated struggle of his own— reaches out to Percy, and then someone else, after hearing some interesting information...!}

[ Thread: A Chat With The Doctor ]

[ Thread: Questioning the Convict ] ((Not my RP/Percy is unaware/Automatically starts in chronological order due to DST’s superior layout!)) 

{And, again, if you want to know what Zora’s been up to during all this, check out sundialhunter’s blog! We’re up to the recent stuff now, so you can just kinda scroll a few pages back and read up to present day. And by present day, I mean the most recent thread in the canon timeline...}

[ Thread: Borderline ]

{...AND THAT ABOUT WRAPS IT UP! There’s been some dash stuff on both ends after the thread, but everything’s kind of dangling on the edge right now. Hence “Borderline.” How will things turn out? What exactly is the mysterious home of the Epithets? Will VRV ever give us a Season 2? NOBODY KNOWS! But I accidentally spent 3 hours typing this whole thing up, so I hope you appreciate the ride.}

[thesevenseraphs]

Bungie Weekly Update - 12/5/19

This week at Bungie, we revealed Season of Dawn. 

There has been a lot to learn. Did you miss any of it?

On Tuesday, we released a new trailer to showcase the new stories set into motion by your victories over the Vex. Time is broken on Mercury. It’s up to you to use the Sundial to prevent the Cabal from rewriting history. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to rescue an old friend.

We followed that up with a livestream packed with additional details on what to expect from Season of Dawn. Didn’t get a chance to watch it live? It’s OK, we taped it on VHS for you. You can watch it here if you don’t have a VCR: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/517034313?t=14m01s

We know you want to plan your best gameplay sessions, so we condensed the big beats for Season of Dawn into this handy-dandy calendar. 

For some more quick details about what to expect next season, check out this Season of Dawn page right here on Bungie.net.

There have also been some spicy videos showing off solar subclass changes coming to Hunters next week.

It’s a trap!

Line ‘em up, Knock em down!

Bet you can’t stick ‘em 

We’ll show off some of the changes to Warlocks and Titans in the days to come.

HERE COME THE BULLETS

Here’s a preview of some changes arriving with Season of Dawn. We previously discussed some upcoming subclass changes to solar subclasses here, but we have a few extra tuning notes below. We also have some notes on Exotic Engram changes, powerful rewards caps, bounties, Crucible maps, and more!

Rewards

Increased the drop rate of the “Scourge of the Past” raid Exotic weapon Anarchy from 5% to 10%

The Exotic Engram and the Fated Engram have been collapsed into a single new Exotic Engram item

When opened, it awards a new Exotic if any remain to be collected; otherwise, it contains a random piece of Exotic armor

Note: Contents are still class-specific

Powerful and Pinnacle Reward Caps

Powerful Cap: 960, up from 950

Pinnacle Cap: 970, up from 960

Escalation Protocol

Escalation Protocol wave 7 chest no longer requires a key to open

Chest can be opened upon every successful completion of wave 7

Each time opening the chest awards one piece of EP armor for your character class until you have the full set

After full set is acquired, subsequent opening of the chest awards a random piece of armor

Charged Decryption Keys and Key Fragments are being removed from the game; these items will be removed from player inventories

Armory keys to spawn Valkyrie Javelins are unchanged and will remain

EP weapon drops were not touched and are still cumulative-stream boss drops

Weapon Mods

The cost of slotting a weapon mod has been reduced from 5,000 Glimmer to 500 Glimmer

Fixed an issue where Ada-1 could grant duplicate weapon mods

Bounties

Repeatable bounties have been added to the Gunsmith

Merged strike/Crucible/Gambit objectives on the Gunsmith weekly bounty "Field Calibration" into a single objective that shares progress from all sources

Removed Valor/Infamy and Vanguard tokens from "Field Calibration" as there is no longer a requirement for any of these linked activities

Added new mode-specific daily Crucible bounties (one per day, selected from full-time playlists and active rotators)

Reduced the completion requirements of several daily and repeatable Crucible bounties

Removed grenade and melee bounties from the Crucible bounty repeatable pool

Striker Code of the Missile (Middle Path)

Thundercrash

Increased base damage from 2,700 to 3,200

Increased in-flight damage from 100 to 200

Slightly increased the amount of time you have in the air after activation

Nightstalker Way of the Pathfinder (Bottom Path)

Vanish in Smoke

Added a short period (0.8 seconds) after the invisibility is applied where firing weapons or performing other actions will not break invisibility

This should help prevent allies from accidentally breaking invisibility the moment it’s granted to them if unexpected

Voidwalker Attunement of Fission (Middle Path)

Handheld Supernova

Adjusted grenade charge time so it lines up with the animations and FX; this should make it feel more consistent to activate

Crucible Maps

Added Rusted Lands to appropriate playlists

Added The Dead Cliffs, Legion’s Gulch, Retribution, and Solitude to appropriate playlists

Removed Emperor’s Respite, Equinox, Firebase Echo, and Vostok from all Crucible playlists

These maps are still available for play in private matches

WHAT’S IN STORE?

The past couple seasons of Destiny have brought a lot of change to the Eververse as we look to how we support Destiny on our own as an evolving world. Today we’d like to talk about some of what we’ve heard from you about Season of the Undying, and outline how your feedback is going to impact Season of Dawn.

SILVER-ONLY CONTENT

Offering some amount of Eververse content for Silver only is part of ensuring we are able to fund our ability to keep creating and maintaining Destiny and supporting the team that makes Destiny. That said, we agree with you that we’d also like to see a higher ratio of items that will also be available for Bright Dust. By the end of Season of the Undying, around 50% of Eververse content will have been offered for Bright Dust. In Season of Dawn, we’re going to make around 80% of Eververse content available for Bright Dust at some point during the season.

We’ve also heard you say that you want to know what will be offered for Silver only so you can plan what you are interested in buying.  We agree that providing transparency is vital to making informed decisions. We plan to share on social every week what items will be for Silver only during the season as they appear on the Eververse store.

BRIGHT DUST ECONOMY

In Season of the Undying, we changed Bright Dust from a pay-and/or-play-to-earn currency to a play-to-earn reward. We want all players to be able to acquire a selection of their favorite Eververse content every season just by playing the game, and we’ve been keeping an eye on the Bright Dust economy in Season of the Undying with this in mind. In Season of Dawn, all Dawning Weekly and Repeatable bounties will award Bright Dust in quantities equal to the amount awarded from strike, Crucible, and Gambit bounties (200 per weekly and 10 per repeatable). Crimson Days will do the same for Weekly bounties only, as this event does not include Repeatable bounties.

DUPLICATE PURCHASE PREVENTION

The Eververse store no longer permits purchasing an item that is already in your Collection. Hopefully this makes it much more clear which items you have already purchased and will keep you from spending Silver or Bright Dust on an item you already have.

LOOKING AHEAD

We’re always looking at your feedback, and we’re going to keep being open with you on how that feedback is woven into our overall goals for Destiny and for Bungie. As we’re planning for future seasons, we’re also thinking about the types and themes of content offered through Eververse as well as the role of cosmetic content as a reward for achievement. We’re committed to continually and thoughtfully adjusting the Eververse store to ensure it’s a balanced and optional part of the Destiny player experience while also ensuring that we can support the team creating and evolving Destiny. Please keep the feedback coming, and thanks for all you do to support the team.

GET IT BEFORE IT’S GONE

It’s shopping season. You might be thinking about what’s on your own wish list. Here’s a fact that might help you make an informed purchasing decision when it comes to Destiny…

On December 10, the Digital Deluxe Edition of Shadowkeep will no longer be available. Season of the Undying is almost over. Season of Dawn begins soon. The longer time progresses, the less value you’ll be able to derive from the offering that includes all the Seasons we’re deploying this year—so we’re going to stop selling the bundle.

If you still want it, you have a few days left to grab it for 25% off!*

*retail participation may vary

GHOST OF EXOS PASSED

As we prepare for the changing of the seasons, Player Support has the info you need to know before you go. 

This is their report.

SEASONS FLEETINGCurrently, we’re in the final week for Season of the Undying in Destiny 2. All players should be aware that after this Season comes to an end, some activities and loot sources will become unavailable. Here are some notable callouts:

Undying’s free and premium Season rewards—including acquisition for Eriana’s Vow*

Eriana’s Vow catalyst quest*

Vex Offensive matchmade activity

Vex Invasions on the Moon

Vex Weapon Data Seeds from Ikora

The Gatelord’s Eye Seasonal Artifact

Power bonuses granted from the Seasonal Artifact

Season-specific Triumphs, seals, and titles

*Please note that Eriana’s Vow and its catalyst quest will become obtainable through alternative acquisition paths in a future release. Players who have already obtained and begun this quest may complete it after the season ends. Stay tuned for updates.

For an extensive list of tracked items, players should visit this help article.

DESTINY 2 UPDATE 2.7.0Next week, Season of the Undying ends and Season of Dawn kicks off with the release of Destiny 2 Update 2.7.0. Please see below for the rollout timeline.

8 AM PST (1600 UTC): Destiny service maintenance begins

8 AM PST (1645 UTC): Destiny 1 and 2 are taken offline on all platforms

9 AM PST (1700 UTC): Destiny 2 Update 2.7.0 begins rolling out across all platforms and regions

10 AM PST (1800 UTC): Destiny 1 and Destiny 2 are back online on all platforms; Season of Dawn begins

11 AM PST (1900 UTC): Destiny service maintenance concludes

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INVITATION NOTIFICATIONS

Today, we’d like to announce an upcoming feature that allows players to disable clan invite notifications in-game.

Starting with the 2.7.0 update, PC players will be able to disable these in-game notifications by going to Settings > Gameplay > Clan Invite Notifications. When this feature is disabled, players will no longer receive clan invite notifications during Destiny 2 gameplay. Players on other platforms can expect this feature to arrive at a later date.

Please note that all players can already disable clan invites entirely if they so choose by visiting their Bungie.net profile settings. In a desktop browser, this can be found under Settings > Privacy > Destiny Privacy. Here, players can individually choose which platforms they do and do not wish to have clan invites enabled on.

[txladyj-blog]

Chapter 8 - This Time Around

a Daryl Dixon x OFC collaboration written by @xmistressmistrustx​

Rating: Explicit

Relationship: Daryl Dixon/Original Female Character

Tags: Friendship, Friends to Lovers, Awkwardness, Awkward Flirting, Awkward Crush, Fluff and Humor, Angst and Humor, Mild Smut, Strong Language, Eventual Sex, Eventual Romance, Slow Burn, Canon Divergence, Some Canon Scenes and Dialogue

Chapters 23/?

Human nature. With all its complexities and flaws, was now the one thing that presided over a land filled with the dead. True human nature, in its most naked, exposed and unapologetic form was now both the best and worst of the world. Jess had seen the best and worst of it from her spot in the city and had managed to live, unnoticed by any survivors passing through. She’d witnessed grown men put themselves in harms way, sacrificing themselves to save children too slow and small to keep up the running pace of the adults in their group as she’d watched from her perch on the corner of the roof. In contrast, she’d stared in horror as another group simply tossed a woman out of a truck like last night’s burger wrapper, onto the street in order to slow down a small herd. She’d been bitten before Jess could grab her bow and race down the stairs. In an act of mercy that allowed her to prove to herself that she was still on the good side of human nature, she’d shot the woman in the head from the roof with a well-placed arrow and spent all night replaying the look of pure terror etched onto the stranger’s face.

Yes, human nature was complicated and destructive, inspiring and devastating. A double-edged sword. Jess was better off on her own, that much was true, but she did miss the conversation, the debate, the ideas swapping over hot chocolates and the late-night hilarity that came from a few glasses of beer and games of pool in a bar. Those days were gone and now all she had in the way of company was a reanimated dead body at the bottom of the elevator shaft and a huge stuffed bear wearing an army jacket that now took up it’s place opposite her on the roof, a stale birthday cake waited to be devoured between them on an upturned, wooden box.

“Well, Sgt Pepper. Looks like it’s just you and I celebrating another trip around the sun.” she commented as she held her glass aloft.

Merle had finished off all the whiskey and she knew better than to go scrounging for more. It wasn’t a necessity and she wasn’t about to get herself killed for a bout of nausea and a fuzzy head the next day.

The bear was tatty, threads pulled from his ears and his jacket splattered with dried blood. Jess found him in the next apartment block where he’d been positioned proudly on the pillow of a perfectly made bed in a room decorated for that of a young adult. On the floor were three bodies, two adults and a girl around 13 years old. Jess carefully nudged each one with her foot as she passed. The bullet holes in their heads told her that they hadn’t turned and like many of the people that chose to remain in the city, they thought suicide to be a better prospect than the exhausting slog to survive day by day. It hurt Jess’s heart to think that some souls felt there was no other way, but it wasn’t an option she could say she hadn’t considered at least once while she resided in her fortress of loneliness.

It was a no brainer to her. She had to leave with that bear. He reminded her so much of her own childhood companion, jacket and all. Her father had gifted it to her and during every tour and every training exercise, she found comfort in the military bear that she had dubbed ‘Sgt Pepper’. Aware that if any other survivors were passing through and saw her, she would look positively ridiculous, scurrying across the rooftops with a huge stuffed animal under her arm. But just as before the turn, she wasn’t going to change who she was to suit anyone else. Especially not in the apocalypse.

“You say it's your birthday” She sang at the bears pinned and permanent smile. She sipped the soda in the glass and slapped her other hand on her thigh to create a beat. “It's my birthday too, yeah”. She paused, looking up at Sgt Pepper as if his plastic eyes would change their expression and for a fleeting second, she was disappointed when they remained exactly the same. She raised the glass to him for a second time. “They say it's your birthday, we’re gonna have a good time” She thudded the glass on the box and began to pluck at imaginary guitar strings, closing her eyes and leaning to one side. “I'm glad it's your birthday, Happy birthday to you!” The Beatles were her favourite band ever since she was a child and that was not something that was going to change just because they and their audience weren't around anymore. Jess was still there and as long as she was, so was her love of their music. She'd found headphones while scavenging, even and old portable CD player, but her rule of keeping a clear head and always being aware of her surroundings meant that the headphones went untouched and she was reduced to singing to herself to stave off the boredom and silence. It wasn't a problem to her, she knew all of the lyrics anyway and there was no one but Ben and Sgt Pepper to complain about it.

Her eyes lowered to the dried birthday cake. Three, colored, marzipan Balloons floated across the top and the rim was adorned with cracked and discolored frosting. The chances of a strong bout of stomach cramps after consuming it were high, but it was her birthday and she was going to have a damn cake if she wanted to. A single candle flame flickered in the center of the off-white frosting and as she blew it out, she wished that she would survive long enough to see mother nature take back the earth. To reclaim what was hers and what was destroyed by the arrogance of human nature. She wanted to see vines and branches seep into the cracks of buildings, pulling them apart and turning them into a ghostly mirage of what once was. But through it all, she wanted to be around, content and safe and able to live into her old age while still being the survivor she had realized she really was.

She also wished for something else; that one day, Daryl would know how much he inspired her. If nothing else, she wanted that for him. Without his guidance, his training and his words, she was certain she would be dead. He may have broken her heart, but at one point, somewhere in between all the angst and anger, he believed in her. She regretted not writing it in the note she left pinned to the tree but time was of the essence and she had to think quickly. Now, when she thought back to the good times spent tracking and hunting in the woods, putting Walkers down and making fun of one another, it made her smile. A smile that was not through genuine happiness. Far from it. It was a smile of sadness for times that she desperately missed. But they were times of blissful ignorance of how he really felt, times based on a lie. She pressed her eyes shut and quickly shook the thoughts from her head. She watched the thin, sliver of smoke drift up from the wick. Picking up a plastic fork, she stabbed the cake and shoveled a large piece of the sponge into her mouth. Wincing at the dryness, she chewed and swallowed hard. It was like eating sand.

“Happy fuckin’ birthday to me.” She sighed.

She had resorted to guessing the time of day by using a sundial or her hands against the horizon from the roof. Her knowledge of such historical practices had proved to be invaluable and she now appreciated her interests much more than she ever did before the turn. The night was creeping in, dulling the view from the roof and creating a cold sting in the air. There was just enough time for some target practice.

The streets below the apartment were far from clear. Walkers milled in and our of side streets and alleys, some amassed in the middle of the road and if it wasn’t for Jess’s diversion tactics from time to time, she was sure the street she lived on would be clogged with festering corpses by now. Fireworks were usually the best, she’d found. They seemed to like fireworks. The dreamer in her liked to think that maybe the noise and the colors stirred something deep inside their mainly inoperative brains, some kind of distant memory of 4th July firework shows or new year celebrations. But the realist side of her knew differently. Now, they were even lower than most animals, driven to move by sounds but completely devoid of thought or any type of feeling. Just shells.

She picked up her bow and slid on her bracers as she approached the small wall that lined the edge of the roof. The faint murmur of the odd, swaying Walker was the only sound that rose from the scene below. Taking a peek over the edge, she nodded in approval at the numbers.

“That’ll do.” She said to herself before picking up a small, children’s chalkboard that rested against the inside of the wall. Her eyes flickered over the names on the list, selecting the first one and shuffling forwards to get into position.

“OK, Madonna. Are you out tonight?”

With one foot placed in front of the other, her body turned and her stance strong, she raised the bow and nocked an arrow. She smiled when she noticed her. A blonde woman with wavy, hair wearing what appeared to be a thin, satin nightgown. She wasn’t as designer clad as the real thing, but she would suffice as a target. She drew the bow string back and exhaled slowly as she took aim. The Arrow embedded in the side of the Walkers head as if it was nothing but a bag of sand and she hit the floor, causing the others around her to start shuffling towards her.

“Oof!” She exclaimed with a fist pumped in the air. “That one was a ten pointer. Sorry, Madonna.” She marked her score on the chalkboard next to the name and checked her next target.

Sarah.

It was now a habit, each time she re-filled the board with names, Sarah and Jodie’s would always be mixed in somewhere. Jess was never one to remain bitter or hold grudges, too many so-called friends had come and gone over the years to make sure she’d got used to it. But she was also never one to not make an exception for some things. When she was feeling low and having a bad day, the list of names on the board changed and she wondered at one point if she should indulge in an ‘abhorrent people target practice day’ once a week, where Sarah and Jodie’s names could mingle with the likes of Hitler, Robert Mugabe and Vlad the Impaler. But it was yet to happen because she wasn’t bitter. Not at all. Or, so she told herself as she chose a doppelganger of Sarah and took aim.  

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Ben was hanging on the bars of the elevator gate when she descended the stairs, his arms were loosely draped through the gaps and his face was pushed against the cold metal. She lifted a hand in acknowledgement before sitting down on the bottom step in front of him and seeing him try to reach out to her. She held her hand out, gently tickling his grasping, blackened fingertips in what could have been seen as a gesture of affection.

“Hey dude. So, my birthday cake tasted like feet but it was one hell of a pity party you missed.”

The sound of her voice was like fuel for Ben. He instantly began to clamber up from his spot, hanging through the gate and started to snarl at her, his mouth hanging open and his teeth bared.

“Not that I know what feet taste like.” She added, her eyes locking on his now cloudy, pale and blinded orbs. “I guess you might though. Depending on how long you’ve been locked in there.”

Stepping back, Ben’s arms dropped from the grate and he stumbled backwards, his body hitting the back of the elevator and causing it to shake. A slight jingle caught her attention and she froze, straining her ears. As he moved back towards her, his pocket gave off a tinkling sound and Jess quickly put the pieces of the puzzle together. Many a week had passed when she’d been sitting on that same step engrossed in a one-way conversation with the dead man trapped inside his cell. Sometimes she even contemplated if he really would try to hurt her if she managed to somehow release him from the confined space he occupied. But then she reminded herself of her own naivety and how that kind of thinking could get her killed. Ben was a Walker. A mindless, stinking, lump of useless flesh but still a predator in his own right.  

“You have the goddamn keys to the elevator in your pocket, don’t you?” She asked him.

He stilled and her eyebrows raised. She knew better than to think he could understand her, but it was strange nonetheless. The keys would change everything. She could get him out of there and actually make use of him. She sprang up from her spot.

“I have an idea. Wait here.” She told him. After striding up two steps she rolled her eyes and sighed at her own stupidity.

Like he’s going to go anywhere.

When she returned, she placed her supplies in front of her; a cylindrical block of wood with a dish cloth tightly wound around it, attached at either end to a string of thick, rubber bands, a hockey mask and a length of rope tied into a slipknot. Another one of her skills acquired from the thousands of books she had now amassed in her apartment. She paced back and forth for a few moments, observing how Ben followed her every move from behind the barrier like a magnet. Although she was almost certain he was blind, he was completely obsessed with her and she huffed with amusement when she figured that he was only guy that had ever been obsessed with her…and he was dead.

She picked up the block of wood and tilted her head to the side, it would fit through the gaps perfectly but her task was not going to be easy. Her left arm was covered with three, thick layers of tape, strapped over a Kevlar sleeve and glove in case Ben fancied a snack halfway through his rescue mission. She was now glad of her forethought. She threaded her arm through the grid, silently and without rattling the metal. Ben, who could detect no sound whatsoever, merely peered around through his useless eyes as she used her armor covered hand to quickly grasp the back of his head. He jolted and began to gnash at her, the sounds bubbling up from his throat as his lips parted provoking a rush of bile from her own stomach. She couldn’t have prepared for the smell or the sound of liquidated, rotting human organs no matter how much she knew about Walkers. She snapped his head back as he grabbed a hold of her police issue vest and dragged her forwards, slamming her body against the gate. With her other hand, she managed to wedge the piece of wood so far between his jaws that they became locked in position. She quickly stretched the string of bands over his head, creating a most macabre and brutal gag but an effective one regardless.

He thrashed and growled, throwing himself at the gate over and over until Jess was able to shove a hand into his pocket and pulled out the biggest bunch of keys she had ever seen. Her heart dropped as she stepped back and sat down, the racket of Ben desperately trying to get to her now drowned out by just how many keys she had to contend with.

“Guys got the keys to every lock in the city on here.” She mumbled.

She began sorting through them, checking the branding on the lock and looking for a match. She must have gone through at least twenty keys before she stopped and pinched one particular one between her fingers. She looked up at the lock again.

“Nova” She whispered.

The key boasted the exact same branding. She stood up, moved closer to the lock and slid the key into the chamber. Holding onto the gate as tightly as she could, she gently and quietly turned the key, a subtle click made her smile. She’d found it. The whole time he’d been locked inside, Ben possessed the key to his freedom all along. At first, she didn’t know if someone else had thrown him in there but now it was evident; he’d been bitten and locked himself in.

“That was noble of you. But this is my apartment complex now and you’re going to earn your keep.” She quipped, swiping up the hockey mask and rope from the floor. She shoved the mask under her arm and released the lock, slowly sliding the gate back. The rattling noise sent Ben into a frenzy and he collided with the gap she’d created in the gate with such force that she doubted her ability to follow through with her plan for a moment. She took a deep breath, reached into the gap and snapped the mask over his gagged face. Next, she threw the rope around his neck and pulled it tight before throwing the gate open.

He threw himself at her, knocking the mask against the side of her face while she tried to tighten her grip on the rope enough to keep his head away from hers.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m pleased to see you too buddy.” She remarked.

Ben couldn’t have been more than 30 years old when he was alive and Jess gathered that even thought he was now deceased and extremely dangerous, he was once a good-looking guy. She felt a pang of sympathy for such a wasted life. But what else was left to hang around for? The experience of wresting the undead from elevators and up the stairs to a roof wasn’t one she’d wish on anyone else. By the time she’d maneuvered him to the top of the steps and shoved open the heavy, metal door to the roof, he’d quieted considerably. Jess knew Walkers didn’t get tired; they no longer possessed the brain capacity to register fatigue. Nor were they able to come to the conclusion that something wasn’t worth the trouble. She didn’t know why he became more compliant, but she certainly wasn’t about to complain.

Tying him to a pipe inside a ramshackle, wooden shed. She stood back and looked him over, pleased with her efforts and feeling triumphant at the result. She now had a moving target, a sparring partner and little did Ben know; he was about to become her Sensei.

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She’d lost track of time. It had been months, she knew that to be a fact, but just how many had escaped her. Her need to journal would have helped keep tabs on just how long she’d been housed in the apartment block in the city, but she had Sgt Pepper and Ben and she chattered away to them without a care in the world, dispelling her darkest fears and her inner most private thoughts. There wasn’t a need to write everything down anymore, not in a world where no one and everyone was listening all at once. If she tried to guess, she looked at her crops which filled the balcony and most of the rooftop, they were huge, prospering in the summertime and struggling during the winter. But they still existed she thought it had maybe been close to a year that she’d lived alone.

People below had come and gone. Rarely was it that anyone would try her apartment. If they did, they found it to be locked up tighter than a secret military camp and soon moved on when they realized the noise and time it would take to enter such a building while surrounded by Walkers just wasn’t worth it. In so many months she had uttered hardly a word to anyone but Merle, who’s absence was felt much greater than she ever would have expected or would care to admit.

Training with Ben was one of life’s perks, she enjoyed experiencing the change in not only her body, but her mind as she jabbed and kicked her way into a full, self-defense skill set using a dead guy as her fake attacker. She goaded him, riled him up until he would lunge at her and swipe with his arms and kick out with his legs. His hands constantly grabbed for her, the need to taste human flesh far too great for him to ignore. But Ben could only go as far as his leash allowed and his hockey mask was eventually replaced each evening before he was led back to his shack.

Gunfire interrupted one sparring session during a hot, summers evening and Jess’s head snapped around while the rest of her body completely froze. Ben also stilled and started to jolt and snarl at the source of the bangs. It was close, much too close for comfort. She wiped the sweat from her brow and eyes and crept to the edge of the roof, her heart almost stopped at the view below.

Is that a…a TANK?!

Driving towards her corner apartment block with a speed that couldn’t be easily stopped, was an M1 Abrams Tank. Jess had seen them many times before, a sight that Army brats tended to get used to. It was flanked by a dozen, heavily armed men with their weapons pointed at the door to her block. Her chest constricted when she heard them start to jeer and her eyes clocked another vehicle turn a corner at the top of the street. A large, black truck that was equipped with an animal cage on the flatbed. Inside the cage, was a screaming woman. She scanned each face as quickly as she could. Blackened teeth. Then, she observed their hands and movements. Tremors. Poor coordination. She’d read about the depths some humans would reach on the moral scale in a post-apocalyptic situation. Fear raged through her body and she stumbled back when the tank collided with the door on the ground floor.

I have to get out of here.

The building shook and she whirled around, her mind racing and her heart hammering. Adrenaline began to surge through her veins, urging her to remove herself from the threat. She grabbed Ben’s rope and sprinted to the roof door. Dragging him down the steps, sweat trickled into her eyes and she cursed the timing of the attack above all things.

Could have waited until training was over. Jesus.

Crashing through the door to her apartment, she fastened Ben’s rope to the radiator and he thrashed and clawed at her as she dashed around the living space, filling her bag with handguns and supplies. She quickly slipped on anything Kevlar or armored she could find and collected what seemed like millions of arrows from almost every room. Now, there was shouting ringing out from the floors below.

“Place is cleared. Someone lives here, keep searching!” ordered a man’s voice that she could just about make out as a muffled sound through the floorboards. They were on the floor below. She had to be fast. Now wasn’t the time for sentiment, now, she had to be practical, smart and stealthy. She threw the backpack she’d lifted from yet another dead policeman onto her back, the barrels of the guns inside poked at her back but she paid it no mind as she collected her primary weapon, her bow from the hook on the back of the front door. A machete nudged against her leg as she walked, pinned there by the loop on its handle around the belt loop on her pants. She quickly freed it, clutching it in her hand as she adjusted her backpack. She stopped and looked at Ben.

He was glaring at her with his white eyes in the middle of the room, his rope was pulled taut and his neck tendons protruded. His hands were locked out in front of him with his fingers fanned out. She could hear the men clearly now, they were on the other side of the door and with every harsh bang of the wood in the frame, her heart jumped. She closed the gap between her and the corpse. Taking hold of one of his hands but not allowing him to pull her any closer. She gradually shifted his position in the room and gently squeezed his fingers.

“Don’t let me down” She whispered.

She raised the machete, sliced through his rope and ripped the wooden gag from his mouth. Then, she turned on her heels, taking hold of the window frame and diving through the gap. Outside, she slammed the window shut and watched as Ben’s hands slapped against the glass.

“Slow ‘em down, buddy. Thanks for the lessons.” She smiled.

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Daryl chewed his bottom lip as he adjusted his position on the rickety, prison mattress. His back was pressed against the wall and no matter how hard he tried, she couldn’t shake the thought that of all the places the group could have ended up, a prison had to be one of them. He hated being forced to sleep in a cage and live behind heavy, clanking doors. Even the sound of Rick’s keys irritated him. Rick, the leader. Rick the prison guard.

He wasn’t a regular at the Georgia Department of Corrections like his brother. But he’d been on the wrong side of the law just enough to know what staring at the same four walls, sitting at the same metal table and taking a dump in the same room that you sleep in was like. Charges for drug possession and fighting were hardly the kind of things he wanted to share with the rest of the group and so, he kept himself to himself, merely stating that he’d rather sleep outside of the cells. That was when he slept at all.

In his hands, he held a newly carved bolt for his crossbow. His ability to make them had improved some over the months and it was now second nature to him to create as many as possible while sat around, babysitting his brother who was locked in the cell opposite him.

Merle hadn’t managed to track Daryl down since leaving the city. Instead, he’d come across another group of survivors led by a callous psychopath and had slotted perfectly into his role as the main foot soldier. Everything had been fine and dandy for Merle at first, he was given a metal prosthetic arm with a removable bayonet attachment which meant he was never short of a weapon against the undead. He had a roof over his head, food in his belly and medicine at his disposal. Above all else, he had a purpose, a job that he did well and with gusto. That was, until Daryl appeared in front of him. The Atlanta groups run in with the Governor and his community has resulted in a lot of pain, injuries, fear and grudges, some of it at the hands of Merle, who was at the center of it all, but he was Daryl’s blood and he had made it clear that now they were together again, he would not be parted from Merle again. Initially, the two of them left the group and headed into the woods, but things were not as they used to be. Daryl had changed and with it, Merle felt outcast, even from the lifelong bond the two of them had shared since Daryl had entered the world as a sensitive and observant child. Merle quickly realized that Daryl had a code that he stuck by no matter what. A code that meant others were put before himself which infuriated and baffled Merle. A fight in the woods revealed a childhood trauma that they both shared, much to Merle’s surprise. He was aware that Daryl was a witness to violence in their household, but the extent of which was only evident upon a scuffle in which Daryl’s shirt was ripped, revealing deep, scarred lacerations to his skin. Then, everything changed.

Daryl made it clear that he was going back to the prison. Back to the group he belonged with and Merle had the choice to either walk away or try to make nice with the others. Being parted from his little brother for a second time was the less favorable option and so, Merle decided to tag along with Daryl. Upon their arrival at the fences, they found the place under attack from Walkers and although Merle helped to save lives, he was still bundled into a cell and scowled at by every other member of the group. No one had forgotten the things he had done and no one was about to forgive and forget.

“The hell were ya doin, running with that psycho?” Daryl asked.

Merle was leaning on the bars, his good hand smoothing a thumb around the edging of his prosthetic stump. His hooded, weathered eyes fixed on his brother. He found it difficult to believe that someone could change as much as Daryl had. He saw him, carrying out orders for Rick, going out on runs alone, doing as he was told. It was unlike the Daryl he’d grown up with, yet he’d always known that his baby brother was more emotionally driven than he had ever been.

“Everybody’s a psycho now, little brother. Everybody’s got a gun, a kill number and a big ol’ chip on their shoulder. Hell, I’d be more worried if some sommbitch walked up to me with his mitts in his pockets.” He reasoned with a small shrug.

Daryl shook his head in disbelief at his brother’s casual attitude to his actions. Merle was never one to take responsibility for anything, least of all his misgivings. Apparently, the end of the world hadn’t changed that in him.

“They ain’t never gonna trust ya, ya know that, right?” Daryl confirmed.

“Yeah, I know.” Merle agreed with a hint of exasperation in his voice. Daryl went back to carving his bolts, slicing through thin pieces of wood with his sharp hunting knife. “I don’t know why I do the things I do. I’m a damn mystery to me.” Merle added.

Daryl scoffed and glanced up from his task.

“You’re a dumb ass, man.” He mumbled.

They both huffed in amusement and Merle couldn’t help but revisit the last few months and how he’d come to be locked up in a cell, even after everyone died and started eating one another. Was this really where he was meant to be? Maybe he was bad through and through, just like their daddy used to say. Maybe he didn’t deserve any more chances after the one he’d been given in the city. Then, he remembered her. Jess.  

“Remember the little, fat chick from the quarry?” He asked.

Daryl's body tensed and his eyes slowly worked back up from his bolt. He remembered her. Of course, he did. He thought about her every single day, especially when he closed his eyes at night. He wished he could wake up one day and she’d just be there, having never ran away. He remembered her because she was the only person he’d managed to connect with in his entire, sorry life.

“What ‘bout her?” he rasped.

“I seen her” Merle stated, his expression becoming smug as he straightened up and tilted his head back, looking down his nose at Daryl.

“She’s alive?!” Daryl exclaimed as he sat up to gain a better view of his brother’s expression. It was not lost on him that this could all be a lie to get him out of the cell.

“Was a few months back, mind. But yeah, all in one piece.” Merle told him.

Daryl stood up, dropping his knife and bolt and slowly approaching the cell door.

“Where is she?” he wanted to know.

Merle grunted and rubbed his face as he watched Daryl’s entire demeanor change. He was becoming irritated at the lack of information and it was apparent to Merle that Jess meant something to him, after all.

“Asked me to keep my mouth shut about that part.”

With his teeth locked together and his breathing increasing, Daryl began to stalk back and forth in front of the cell door, his boots scuffing on the smooth surface of the floor. He no longer thought it was a lie. He knew well enough that Jess would have made herself known if she wanted to, especially by then. After all, he found a note to prove it.

“She don’t wanna be found, kid. Let it go.” Merle added.

He stopped his pacing and let out a loud sigh. This kind of discussion was rare for the Dixons, it involved a degree of emotion and honestly which was something Merle didn’t seem to possess and Daryl managed to hide extremely well. Until the mention of her name.

“She doin OK?” He questioned “Least tell me that much. Please”

“She’s good. She’s real smart.” Merle nodded.

Picking up a pile of previously carved arrows from a table, Daryl began to sift through them with his fingertips. It looked to Merle like he was counting them, but he knew Daryl better than he knew himself. He was using them as a distraction. Merle didn’t even flinch when Daryl angrily threw the handful of wood onto the floor, the sound was like a million pencils falling from a table and rolling across the ground.

“Just tell me where she is!” Daryl raged.

Merle couldn’t help it when the corners of his mouth lifted into a small smile.

“Ooof! You got it bad, huh, boy?”

“Shut up.” Daryl hissed, turning his back and trying to calm himself. His shoulders heaved as he breathed. “I’m your fuckin’ brother” He muttered, hearing a rasped growl from behind him. A glance over his shoulder told him that Merle did really want to tell him as he witnessed him lean his head on the bars and close his eyes.

“I owe her, OK? She did right by me. Mans only as good as his word.” Merle explained.

Daryl spun around, his face now enraged and reddening fast, his eyes were filled with the kind of anger that Merle had usually only seen when the two of them fought and it was never the same kind of rage that presented itself in a fight with anyone else. It was different. It was real.

“Word?! WORD?! You can’t be fuckin’ serious! Your word counts for shit, Merle! You tortured Glenn and Maggie so don’t start pretendin’ you’re some good guy, ya ain’t!” Daryl yelled.

“I ain’t no good guy but I got a code. Just like you.” Merle retorted.

Stooping down to collect his arrows, Daryl knew he had to remove himself from the building or he would end up strangling the truth out of his own brother. With all of the arrows gripped in his hand, he pointed them at Merle and narrowed his gaze.

“If they wanna starve ya, I’mma let ‘em. If they wanna torture ya, I’mma walk away. I ain’t doin’ nothin’ for ya until ya tell me where Jess is. They can keep ya in that damn cage for all I care.”

Before he could think of an answer, Merle was left alone in the room with nothing but the fading echo of the door slamming for company.

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Jess was running for so long that her feet were starting to burn and her knees were seizing up. She needed to stop somewhere and rest but being snared by the group of men with the black teeth and the woman in the cage was a thought that struck pure terror into her soul. She was sure she’d rather be eaten by Walkers than trapped with such a group. She’d stayed away from any roads, trekking through woodland and climbing over fences to remain undetected. Her clothing had helped keep her under the radar; a tight, black Kevlar top covered with her police vest and a black, hooded jacket. Dark camouflage cargo pants, black hand gun holsters and a mask that covered her mouth with a plastic outer shell that she had found on a dead biker as she fled the city.

Her bag was starting to feel heavier with every step as she approached a small town filled with abandoned cars. It looked as though people may have tried to settle there after the outbreak and the vehicles were left in a panic. She surged forwards, trying each car, looking for keys and gas. If she could just find one with enough to get her further away from the city, she could take some time to rest up. Darkness enveloped the town and birds and crickets sang a chorus as she wound her way through the cars, pleading with whatever deity would listen to just give her a break.

Then, her prayers were answered. A station wagon filled with boxes of clothes roared to life and to Jess’s delight, the tank was almost full. She set to work removing all the boxes, lightening the load so the gas wouldn’t be consumed as quickly and settled in the front seat. She pulled the door closed and drove off. Her destination was unknown but as far away from the city as she could get would be a start.

It was days before the truck ran out of gas and Jess had managed to put many, many miles in between her and the group that had almost captured her. On her journey, she’d swept through houses and collected anything she could carry on foot. She slept in buildings where they could be secured and had more than one exit, consumed any food she found in strict intervals, ensuring it lasted as long as possible and continued in the same direction she’d been travelling in for two weeks. She wasn’t sure exactly what she was looking for in a settlement, just that it had to be safe, away from other people and walkers and with the capacity to be self-sustainable. Then, she found the boat.

Situated in the middle of a lake, accessible only by a large, fortified gate at the end of a dirt track that was well hidden from any passersby, Jess thought it might have been an old quarry due to its similarities to the old camp. The top of the gate was covered with razor wire and she narrowly avoided being sliced to ribbons when she caught her backpack on the barbs. But a rigorous wiggle and some quick thinking had literally saved her skin. The boat was so far away from the shoreline that Jess accepted that she had to use a canoe that was moored by a jetty. The water appeared to be untouched and there wasn’t a walker in sight. But chances weren’t to be taken when the dead roam the earth and she had to be sure. A collection of rocks of all sizes ended up in the lake, she threw them out as far as she could, trying to cause a stir and encourage any swimming walkers to rise to the surface. But nothing came to pass. By the evening, she’d hunted a rabbit and cooked it over a small fire on the beach. Using the skin attached to a tree branch, she dangled it in the water as the sun was going down and pondered how relaxing the place seemed.

“Huh. Walker fishing.” She mumbled to herself.

When nothing happened and the rabbit skin floated off the branch and out into the body of water, she decided to risk rowing out to the boat. Much to her surprise, the water was crystal clear and she spotted fish swimming below. Her stomach growled, the stringy, fatty meat of a rabbit hardly sufficing when such plump, and apparently disease-free fish were swimming all around her.

I need a fishing rod.

Climbing aboard, it was clear that she was not stood on a regular boat. This was luxurious, spacious and well looked after. The deck was starting to show signs of disrepair but it was a far cry from the dilapidated state of some of the houses she’d stayed in. She crept inside, sweeping the rooms one by one and eventually finding the inhabitants of the vessel. A middle-aged couple on the double bed in the largest bedroom of three. Both wrapped in an embrace in the middle of a mass of bottles of pills. She moved into the room, draping a sheet over them and resting her hand on the man’s arm.

“I hope you’re at peace. The world sure isn’t”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Merle stared at the dangerous, powerful and very angry black woman in the passenger seat of his car. She was not one to be messed with and that explained why he needed to knock her out before bundling her into the car and driving her to the Governor. It was all the man wanted. Michonne was responsible for his life changing injury after taking one of his eyes out with her samurai sword. Now, he wanted revenge and Merle was more than aware that if the Governor didn’t get what he wanted; he would obliterate the entire group. The group his brother was a part of.

“So, he takes you in, cleans you up and feeds you a load of bullshit. Why would you kill someone else for him?” She asked.

Merle didn’t answer, his eyes were on the road but his attention was elsewhere, with the safety of his brother back at the prison. He didn’t want to be there, handing Michonne over to the man that would ultimately torture and kill her was most definitely not something he wanted to do. But there were little options that he could see. Only he knew the true wrath of the Governor.

“We could go back. You and me. We could just go back.” She suggested.

“Ain’t gonna happen.” He commented.

“Why?”

Her eyes were bearing into his soul and wished he could put into words the things that were circulating in his mind. He had killed sixteen people since he’d been with the governor. Before that, he’d killed none. It dawned on him that Michonne was right, why would he kill any more people when he did have another way out? The alternative was less appealing and altogether more permanent. But it was an alternative nevertheless. He stopped the car and raised his prosthetic hand, the bayonet was fixed to the end. Michonne leaned back slightly in her seat, wondering if he might slit her throat there and then and cut out all the talking. Instead, Merle hooked the blade through her wire handcuffs and cut her free.

“You go back. I got somethin’ I gotta do on my own.” He told her, nodding towards the door. “But you’re gonna tell my brother somethin’ for me.”

NEXT CHAPTER

[boymeetsweevil]

Dead Man Sells no Toes

Grouping: Witch!Reader x ??Namjoon

Word Count: ~5.2k 

Summary: Your thoughts have a mind of their own when it comes to the cute delivery human with the mysterious tattoos

Warnings/Themes: SMUT like basically PWP but also where is that plot, sis?, 69, fingering, blowjobs, cunnilingus, mind reading, species-ism? Too many Halloween Town references, Joon with tattoos (lol is that a warning) , its unedited rn

A/N: This is my late af submission for the BTS Smut Club Halloween Smut Fest. Prompt #18 “Please don’t touch the human remains”

You’re grinding up the last of your final case of artificial dried newt when the sound of the crows cawing alerts you to a customer entering your shop. It’s still early, and though you do get customers throughout the day, they’re usually fairly consistent in the times that they come to pick up their orders now that you’ve been open for business for almost 8 months.

“Hello, dear,” a creaky voice greets you.

There’s no visual sign of the body the voice comes from, but that’s not at all unusual and you know exactly who the customer is. It’s the old ghoul who comes in regularly to get a fix for her wrinkles. She’s a couple hundred years old and it’s starting to show on her face, so she comes in without an appearance every time she’s out of product. The unusual part is that you just gave her a fresh batch yesterday; one that’s supposed to last her two weeks. If she’s back and without a form, something is wrong.

Your familiar, Augustus, and his best friend flap down from their resting post on one of the high shelves to sit next to you on their respective perches on the counter. You set the half-ground newt aside and reach out to pet at Gus’ inky black feathers.

“Eudora,” you nod at the air in front of you out of habit, “How can I help you today?”

“I’m sure you can guess, child. It’s your youth elixir,” Eudora says matter-of-factly.

“I figured as much. Did it not work this time? Because I promise you, I used pure Italian imported moonbeams, like I always do.”

“No, no. I dropped it, so I have no idea if your moonbeams are the issue. It’s all over the floor of my kitchen and its reverting the wood back to shoots!”

“Oh,” you breathe. It’s a relief that your recipe is still working, though you know your gifts wouldn’t fail you in such an elementary area. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yes, so I’d like to purchase another batch now.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

“Why ever not?”

“Because I can only ever make so much with the shipments of dead man’s toes I order each time and you clear me out every time you’re in here.”

“Are you telling me you don’t have any toes? Because I can see a carton right behind you! I may be invisible right now, but I still have my eyesight about me.”

“You’re right, I have some left,” you put emphasis on some, “But that’s reserved for other customers’ orders. I can’t use all the toes on just your orders, that’s not fair to the others.”

“I have an anniversary dinner tonight. Isn’t this more important than anyone else’s order?”

You suppress the urge to sigh and roll your eyes. Eudora may be difficult at times, but your youth elixir is ingredient heavy and time intensive and you charge a hefty price for even smaller samples. But thanks to her vanity, she pays for a rather large amount each time. You’re almost certain that you could pay the whole shop’s monthly ley line bill with just the profits from her orders alone. This time, though, your hands really are tied.

“I can’t violate my customers’ privacy by revealing to you what products they’re purchasing, but I can assure you that some of the orders that require the dead man’s toes are quite important.”

Eudora’s quiet for a moment as she contemplates her options.

“Well, what about leftovers? Can’t you do something with that? Make a smaller batch?”

“I could,” Augustus pecks at your long bell sleeve until you stick a hand out so he can hop up your arm and perch on your shoulder. “But it wouldn’t even take a half-century off. I don’t think you’d be happy with that after getting used to the original strength.”

“When’s the next shipment coming in?”

You pick up the parchment that has your list of scheduled delivery dates. Turn it over so that Eudora can see it, though you’re not sure where she’s standing exactly.

“Perfect,” the scroll dents as she sticks her finger on the most recent scheduled delivery. “It’s scheduled for today.”

Your eyebrows shoot up and you realize you don’t have the schedule memorized correctly. A wave of giddiness washes over you and suddenly you need Eudora out of your shop so you can clean up and get things looking presentable.

“I’ll just stop by later today to pick it up. You can do a rush order, can’t you, dear?”

“Eudora, you know I can’t. Potion making really is a delicate process, you can’t rush it even if you buy those new high-tech speed catalysts everyone keeps talking about. If I were to rush your order, you might experience reverse effects.”

“Oh,” she gasps. “Alright, fine. I suppose I can wait. Alan won’t mind seeing my haggard face this one time.”

“Allan loves you face, regardless of whether or not you’ve used the elixir. Besides, you’ve been paired ghouls for centuries longer than you’ve been using my little old mix.”

Eudora scoffs. “Your little old mix is what makes Allan cough up the extra urks to take us to Cauldron Bleu tonight.”

“Then, I suppose you had better go pick a dining robe.”

“Yes, I really should. But I expect a batch double the size next time around, child.”

“As long as you know that’ll cost you twice the amount, Eudora.”

“I don’t care how much it costs as long as I look how I should. I’ll see myself off, now.”

You wave goodbye, knowing she’s not looking, and tell her to have a good day. You receive no response, but you’re expecting as much.

“Is she gone,” you whisper after a while.

Augustus and his friend squawk an affirmative, so you turn around and immediately put the newt you were grinding in the store room. The large sundial on the north wall tells you that you have a little less than an hour to clean up the shop and perhaps put an enchantment on your skin and hair to make you look a little more put together. For professional purposes, you remind yourself. Not to make yourself more pleasing to the delivery man’s eye, of course.

While you’re in the middle of trying to get your broom to sweep the snippets of rat’s hair from the last hair growth cream you’d been experimenting with, the bell rings again. You curse under your breath and wipe your hands on your apron.

“Welcome to Circadian Apothecary, how may I help—oh, its just you. What are you doing here, Jolluck?”

“That’s a great way to greet your friend.” When you stare blankly at her, she rolls her eyes. “You said we’d have lunch today, remember?”

The wet sound of her webbed feet smacking across the floor remind you that you’ll have to mop after you kick her out. She rests her forearms against the countertop, smudging the surface with the thin, clear mucus that coats her scales when she leaves water for longer than a few minutes. You’ll have to clean that too.

“Can we please take a rain check? Or maybe we could get dinner. I just…I have a delivery coming.”

“Oh! With the human! I’m sticking around. I wanna see him.” “Jolluck!”

“What? Is that not what he is?”

“You don’t know his background.”

“You’ve smelled him right? If it smells like a human and it looks like a human and it walks like a human, it’s a human.”

“If he’s human, how did he cross the veil, huh?”

“Humans cross all the time.”

“Only when they’re screwing vampires, though!”

“Or werewolves,” she points a webbed finger at you.

“True,” you purse your lips. “Either way, you can’t be here. It’ll be weird if you stare at him.”

“You just wanna keep him for yourself. I heard he’s not bad-looking for a flesh puppet.” She grins and swipes her tongue across her fangs playfully.

“Jolluck, seriously, you can’t think about him like that if you want to be here. That’s so offensive.”

She raises her hands in surrender. “Sorry, when did you become such a fan of humans?”

“I’m not a fan, I just…think they’ve changed a lot since the pitchfork days.”

“You’re just saying that because you went to their realm for schooling. Why did you do that again?”

“I swear I’ve told you this, like, 20 times. I think they have a really interesting way of understanding the elements.”

“I heard they’re kind of wrong, though.”

“No, they are. But they raise some interesting issues. And they have some really nice stories and their view of history is so funny. They don’t realize half of their royalty were just warring Goblin tribes that got a little land hungry.”

Jolluck’s eyes widen and she lets out a laugh. “How could anyone not know that? That’s so sad, they’re such simple creatures.”

“Yeah, well, they’re still not as bad as anyone here makes them out to be. And I think you and the rest of town hall needs to stop crowding Namjoon.”

“Fine. But don’t let him know you’re so smitten with him. He’ll try and burn you at the stake or something.”

“I told you, they don’t do that anymore. Oh shit!” You spy him out the corner of your eye, wheeling the cart full of your new inventory towards the front door. “Don’t say anything stupid, okay?”

You say a few words, an unnecessarily powerful hex, and the air crackles around your heads. A sudden gust of what seems like wind runs through the shop before circling back and passing through you roughly. When it clears everything is glistening likes it’s just been freshly scrubbed, but you’re instantly weak and visibly paler.

“Are you crazy?” Jolluck runs to your side, her wet footsteps evaporating off the wooden floors like she never stepped there. “All this for a human male?”

“Look, you can see your reflection in the countertops,” you smile dizzily at her.

Namjoon stands politely in front of the glass, waiting for the shop’s magic to acknowledge you of his presence. Seconds later the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, though you know he’s there because you can see him. With a feeble flick of your wrist, the door opens. He rests his open palm on the doorjamb as is customary and pulls the dolly laden with goods behind him.

“Morning,” he greets, with his back turned to you so he can set the boxes on the ground. His bare arms flex as they work to keep the glass jars inside from jostling. The tattoos running from wrist to shoulder are a web of black lines of varying weights. They suit him.

“Hi there.”

He turns quickly at the sound of Jolluck’s voice and notices that she’s holding you up like she’s carrying your dead weight because she is.

“Hi, I’m Namjoon,” he takes a few hesitant steps forward until he can make out the swirling pattern of Jolluck’s scales. He gestures towards you. “Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she’s fine. She was just biting off more than she can chew and now she’s half dead. Isn’t that right?”

“Shut up,” you mutter.

You manage to prop yourself up on the counter so you can look up at Namjoon. A large, sleepy smile parts your lips as you take in his adorable dimple and plush lips. He really is very nice-looking, regardless of what the townspeople say. You don’t even mind his smell that much.

His cheeks flush and he bites down on his lip, grinning at his shoes.

“Are you okay to check the inventory and sign off?”

“Hmm, yeah. I just need a drink. Jolly, can you get me a drink?”

She huffs, but brushes past the heavy velvet curtain to find a bottled energizer somewhere in the back of the store room. She returns moments later with a little glass flask that’s stopped with a cork. Which would be fine if you had some strength in your arms, but you’re still very much 80% noodle.

“Namjoon, you can open this, right?”

“Sure,” he smiles and takes the jar from you. His hands are oddly soft for someone whose job consists of heavy lifting and sorting through tons of perilous ingredients to sell to people like you.

Your head lolls to rest on your shoulder and you wonder briefly what his hands would feel like against the skin of your waist or your arms or your inner thighs. He chokes a little and nearly drops the vial but manages to snap it out of the air before it can shatter.

He gives it back to you wordlessly and wipes his now sweaty palms on the fabric of his pants.

“So, what do you have for me?”

“Just the usual shipment.”

“I know, but maybe you can, uh, read it out loud for me. Jog my memory?” You’re being over the top, you know it. But you really like his voice, too. Everything about him is just so…nice.

“Alright. The first thing on the list is standard toadstools, a grade and rehydrated.”

“Hand-picked?” You take a shot of the energizer.

“By yours truly.”

“Nice,” is all you say as you eye his hands once more.

Jolluck leans over to hiss into your ear. “This is disgusting and I’m starving. When are we doing lunch?” “When he stops telling me everything I ordered,” you hiss right back out of the corner of your mouth. “What else is there?”

“There’s more lilac, sage, thyme, and wolf’s bane. Those are all local except for the sage. But I got you a good deal at the market.”

“How nice of you.”

As he lists the other supplies he brought with him, you take the time to nurse your bright green energizer and look Namjoon over some more.

Perhaps you spent too much time in the human realm, but you really do think he’s loads better than that daemon boy Yoongi, who breezes through the shop every so often to show off his solid gold watch collection. Namjoon is tall and nice, and always has a pretty blush around you. You don’t even mind the way he smells, it’s actually not as bad as you remembered during your time at human college.

“Sorry about not bringing the dead man’s toes. I guess the graveyards were a little empty this week. But that’s everything, I think,” he says with finality, folding his list and shoving it in his back pocket. He begins deconstructing the rolling cart he took with him, now that it’s no longer in use with the boxes having been unloaded onto the ground.

“Oh.”

You can’t help but be disappointed that your time with him is ending so soon. And right when you got your strength back, if the tickling hum running through your veins is any indication of the energizer’s effect. So much energy is coursing through you that some magic starts to spark out of your fingers. You quickly hide your hands behind you back, not wanting him to see the sparks and think you’re some young witch with no control over her magic. Although, wiping yourself of nearly all your energy moments before he arrived just to clean the shop sounds like something you might have also done when you were a mere teen.

Jolluck emerges from the stairs in the back that lead to your apartment on the second floor. “Your cabinets are all empty. And your fridge. I’m going shopping.” She waves something that looks suspiciously like your wallet, the urks in it jingle mockingly.

A thought pops into your head, so you decide to just run with it.

“N-namjoon, do you think you could stick around? I’m still feeling kind of shaky and Jolluck is heading to the southern market.���

“The southern market? Why would I go there when I could just go to the one by the Elder woods?”

“Just go,” you give her a smile of mostly bared teeth. You turn to Namjoon again, once Jolluck is out the door. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t mind. Where should I put them?”

“In the back. I’ll show you.”

You wait for him to pick up the first box, relishing in the way the muscles in his back bunch and coil as he hefts it up into his arms with a soft grunt. He follows behind you quietly while you lead the way.

“Wow.” He takes in the rows and rows of shelves behind the curtain. Each one packed full with various ingredients or preserved things for rituals that are shelf-stable. “You’re no joke.”

“Guess you could say that,” you lean against a wall and watch him open the box. “I was the top of my classes.”

“In witching school?”

“And at a human college?”

“Really,” he stops to peer down at you. “So, you don’t mind humans, then?”

“Not anymore than I mind the folks here. They both have their ups and downs.”

“And I suppose you’ve heard what everyone’s had to say about me?”

He holds up two jars of pickles hooves, unsure of where to put them. You push yourself off the wall and take them from him. He follows behind once again to move the box, and hand you each jar as you stack them on the appropriate shelf.

“I mean, people definitely like to talk to me about you.”

“About my being a human?”

“Yeah, sort of. But probably more because you’re human. People think I love all things human just because I went to school with them.”

“Well, what do you think?”

“About humans?”

“About me.”

Before you can stop yourself, your tongue sticks out playfully between your teeth. “You really wanna know?”

“I do,” he smiles down at you, another jar in hand.

With a crooked finger, you beckon him closer and he moves in with head cocked to the side. You lean in close enough that your lips just barely graze the shell of his ear. He shivers.

“I don’t think you’re really human,” you whisper before grasping the jar and tugging, but it doesn’t budge.

Namjoon stares down at you, wide eyed, before snapping out of his surprise and tugging the jar back, bringing you stumbling with it.

“How’d you know,” he says back in an equally hushed voice.

“What’s that saying you guys have? The nose knows?”

“It was because of my smell? Seriously?”

“What can I say? I spent a lot of time with humans while I was at school with them. I know that smell anywhere. And you do smell like them, but…you also don’t.”

“How do you know it’s not just because I spend a lot of time fae people?”

“Is that why?”

“No,” he grins. You swear it must be a trick of the light, but his eyes flash unnaturally for a second. “My dad was human, but his dad was a seer and my mom was a quarter elf.”

“I knew it. You smell too much like silver to be a human. Not enough copper in you.”

“Congrats on guessing right.”

“Can you do any magic? I know it tends to be weaker when it’s not matrilineal, but genes are funny things.”

“I can’t do much outward production. Mostly just life-force projection, see?”

He pushes up the sleeve of his T-shirt and flexes his bicep, bringing the tattoos into focus. You realize upon closer inspection that they’re moving now. The lines weave together in a periodic fashion, an organic rhythm. Like the tides or another being’s pulse. He pulls up the hem of his shirt to reveal that the tattoos continue down his flanks and spread onto the ridges of his otherwise flat abdomen. Your hand itches to reach out and traces the lines. Would you feel his life-forces thrumming under your finger? Would yours expel to meet his? Were they even compatible enough to do that? You hoped so.

“Wow.”

“I can also um,” he trails off.

“You can also what? You can tell me. Is it embarrassing?”

“Not for me,” he smirks. When you squint out of confusion, his cheeks color and he looks down at the ground. “I have level 2 telepathy.”

“Oh. That’s cool. Why is that embarrassing?”

“I mean, it’s not embarrassing for me. But it sometimes is for other people. Since it’s combination mirrored and tactile telepathy.”

You choke on an inhale and get sent into a coughing fit when you realize that Namjoon can feel your thoughts about him on his skin. It’s probably a side effect of the tattoos he has, so it’s probably not super strong, but it still means that every time you made eye contact with him and thought about how broad his shoulders looked, he felt it in his shoulders. All those times you’d lusted after him while he brought in your orders, he’d felt them.

“I am so sorry,” you gasp with tears of embarrassment pricking at the corners of your eyes. “Had I known, I would have never, ever asked you to stick around so much. I hope I didn’t make you too uncomfortable. For what its worth, I am truly sorry.”

“It’s really fine. It’s a lot better than what everyone else was thinking when they thought a human had managed to infiltrate town to burn everything to the ground.”

“But still! You shouldn’t have to endure either of those. You could have sent your friend drop things off, I wouldn’t have gotten offended. I just… I don’t know what else to say.”

“It’s really fine.”

“How could it be fine?”

“Because I wasn’t bothered by it,” he admits with a soft smile.

Silently, he takes your hand and places it just millimeters above his forearm. Your life-force, a pale yellow liquid fire, crackles up on the edges of your skin and tangles with his own syrupy black one. A phenomenon that occurs when life force resonance frequencies are compatible.

“Shit.” “Yeah,” he parrots back quietly. “Shit.”

You take a chance and hurl yourself at him. The force takes him by surprise and you manage to knock him onto the floor, barely missing the box containing precious jars of dead man’s toes. But you don’t care because his instantly come to skate up your arms, down your back, to cup your butt. He squeezes appreciatively and lets out a low groan when you reward him with wet, open-mouthed kisses down the column of his neck.

His hands find their way underneath your uniform tunic and press brands into your skin. You keep kissing the parts of his face in a disorganized fashion. First his chin, then his clavicle, then the deep dimple in his cheek, and finally the corner of his mouth. He turns and captures your lips with his own, startling you into submission. At first, he explores the landscape of your mouth with fervent presses and caresses, but eventually he grows curious enough to probe. His tongue sneaks out to lick at the seam of your lips and you open up for him immediately, air from your pants puffing out in between you.

The feeling of his tongue sliding lazily against the tip of yours, dancing along the tender inside of your lip, has you clenching in vain. You move unconsciously so his thigh slots in between yours and begin to rock your hips against him, hoping for a bit of friction.

He chuckles against your mouth before pulling away from a soft, slick sound. “In a hurry?”

“Yeah. I want you to fuck me. What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing wrong with that.”

He curses when his hands finally meet the globes of your breasts. They’re free in the loose material of your tunic and they make for a pleasant weight in his large hands. His thumbs come out to swipe a finely mirrored pattern over your nipples. When you respond with a high whine, he twists them roughly. Almost as if he has control over them, your hips snap against him. Your writhing over him eggs on the growing erection in his trousers, which you can feel nudging your pelvis with every inward thrust.

Your life force is excited enough from the amorous activity that its flowing steadily around your limbs like a ribbon satellite. You ignoring the way thick globules of Namjoon’s life force start to raise from the tattoos to trade spots with some of your own fiery energy. You read about what that means once, but now you couldn’t give two shits about whatever class notes you internalized from school.

“Namjoon, touch me,” you whine when the beginnings of your arousal start to soak your underwear.

“I thought I was touching you.”

You roll your eyes and redirect one of the hands that been rolling your breasts down into your pants. He hisses at the sticky coating that drenches his fingers the moment you pulled your underwear to the side for him. He crooks two fingers and traces your hole as best he can with his wrist turned awkwardly. You shift until your heat sucks him in and begin to grind your clit against him. His other hand snakes around to grab at your ass semi-roughly.

“That’s right. Get yourself off on my hand.”

“I don’t want to cum like this,” you pant against his neck.

“How do you want to cum?”

“On your tongue,” you admit. You’re glad he can’t see how hot your face got, but you let out a yelp when he shifts his palm even closer to your heat.

“I like that idea. Get up here.”

You scrabble onto your knees above him and slip out of your clothes as best you can without kneeing him anywhere important. As soon as you’re bare, his hands land on your hips and tug you until you get the hint and shuffle forward until you’re almost seated over his chin.

“You smell good,” he says with a deep inhale. He stretches his neck out and presses an open kiss to your clit, making sure to suck as he pulls away, bringing moisture with him. He licks his lips clean before doing it again and again until you’re shaking and have to brace yourself by leaning forward on your hands.

Finally, he pushes down on your hips, motioning you to sit on his face properly. The moment that you do, the flat of his tongue comes out to collect the dew and undulate against you in broad strokes. When he reaches your entrance he dips in shallowly, collecting more of your arousal, and then repeating. During the first few swipes of his tongue, you try to be courteous of his neck and face, try not to overwhelm him. But once he starts slurping obscenely, your hips move on their own accord. You grind yourself sinuously on his tongue, moaning without any restriction.

When he adds a thumb into the mix, rubbing at your clit, so he can attempt to fuck into you with his tongue. Your head drops forward and you notice that Namjoon is still wearing all of his clothes. You decide this won’t do and put your weight on one hand so you can undo his trousers with the other. It’s a little fumbly and it takes a few tries, but you manage to not only loosen his pants but also push them and his underwear down far enough that his erection can swing forward. You swipe away at clouds of his life force that are happily bumbling around your hand and stroke the length of his shaft. He’s not expecting the sudden touch and jumps, bumping you a little bit.

You spit into your palm before going back into to stroke him in earnest. Its doesn’t take long for your arm to get tired trying to jerk him off from your far away position. You try to inch forward without moving out reach of his mouth.

“Why are you moving away,” he mumbles against your inner thigh.

You don’t answer at first, so he sucks a teasing hickey on the sensitive skin there, causing you to nearly topple over face-first onto his lower stomach.

“You’ll see why. Just be patient.”

Soon you’re hovering over his pelvis and readjust your lower body so that you’re still positioned over Namjoon’s mouth. He tries to peer up curiously but the feeling of your mouth engulfing him instantly clues him in to what you’re doing.

“Fuck,” he groans at the feeling of you bobbing the warm, wetness of your mouth over his length.

The tip of your tongue nudges at his slit and his eyes roll into the back of his head. Before he gets too caught up in the feeling of you caressing the bottom part of his slick shaft, he returns to your center. He starts licking back into you with a vengeance, almost like he’s competing with you. His head moves up and down with the added force his lips parting your petal-soft folds. Your clit is still trapped in the loop of constant figure eights that he skates over the nub. You whine around him and the vibrations wring a moan out of him.

He senses that you’re losing the battle with your orgasm. The way your thigh’s tremble on either side of his head clues him in as well. He pulls back briefly and you hum around him from above.

“Ride my face,” is all he says before gripping your thighs and pressing you tightly against him. He flexes the body of his tongue before shaking his head back and forth against your clit.

The direct stimulation short circuits your brain and you nearly forget to keep jerking him off while the quakes of your high take over your body. Short, choked breaths leave you as you climax, dripping onto his tongue and the lower half of his face. Part of you bemoans the fact that you won’t see his face when he cums, so you soldier on as best you can and redouble your efforts to make him feel good as well.

Almost like a feedback mechanism, your indecent thoughts coupled with the actual onslaught of your mouth have him giving you all he still can until you sneak up on him with a well-timed deep swallow as he thrusts up into your throat and just the right amount of pressure near his perineum. His body goes rigid as he spills into your mouth, and you bob your head to milk him of every last drop. Even after muscles in his thighs stop rippling, you suckle lightly at the tip to clean him up, and he squirms under you out of sensitivity. “Please don’t touch the human remains,” he drones with closed eyes, feigning death by blowjob.

“Oh, stop it,” you drum your fingers against his abdomen. “You’re not even human.”

“Not completely.”

“At least you’re not dead.”

“No, I think I am. I think you swallowed my soul.”

“Well, if you’re really dead, can I borrow your toes?”

[callierwhite-blog]

Just how Many Watch Series Do You Believe There Are?

I recently began an internet business selling watch series, and while researching my niche market, I was overwhelmed at the vast range of styles and brands available.

You may pick any kind of watchseries to discover the different styled watches, the color of watch faces, the colour of watch rings, Stainless Steel watches, gold plated watches wood watches are readily available. When you enter the expensive selection of watches you find a whole new range of watches with diamonds, solid gold watches, titanium, and plenty of other precious metal watches and jewel filled watches.

The watch movements vary as well from manual to fully electronic with a few newer style watches having heart monitors, temperature, speed, and a whole lot of analytical information accessible. Then you will find dive watches moving down to 4000 Mtr, now that's a way down but heavy sea divers need reliable watches which can deal with the pressure at these depths so that it's great to find a range of watch series which cater to the person and all the other divers who like the ocean or cave diving. Putlockers new site.

Glamorous watchseries compose a large area of the industry because everyone wants to look different from the woman next door. New watches come on the market daily so keep watching or hunting for your favorite kind of watch, there's something out there to keep you happy when you look at all the watches available at the moment. I saw a watch another day which has straps going in various directions to tell the time that I was really intrigued as to how it works, it could be a real talking point in a party or with your buddies.

Initially, people could just tell time from sundials which they put over doors of the houses or businesses, revealing midday along with the four stages of sunlight as it travels throughout the daytime, the other kinds of clocks for notification time were water clocks, not easy to transfer when you had been on the transfer. In the 1500s with the creation of these springs, portable clocks and watches were created. One locksmith from Germany Peter Henlein created the"Nuremberg Eggs" which could be put on the table rather than being suspended from the wall, they just had an hour as the second hand was not introduced until much later and they dropped time as the spring unwound but they had been popular with the wealthy folks since they were a genuinely portable timepiece.

With the debut of the humble spring that the world of clocks and watch series took a giant leap into the forwards. Men did not wear wrist watches back in the 1800's they had been thought to be too feminine and only ladies wore them.  Men had an opinion on a chain which they stored in the pocket of their vest that was known as a fob pocket. Remember in the old movies, there would be someone standing in the train station taking his watch on a gold chain from his fob pocket assessing the moment, now the fob pockets are still around the vest of men's 3 piece suits.  It was only when someone tied among those watches into his wrist with a piece of string so he could retained track of time and maintain working that he requested a watchmaker to create a watch he could wear on his wrist, two or three lugs were attached to the sides of the watchseries and a strap was placed on so that he could put on it.

It took a long time for this to become popular as the first actual use was at the military and watches were worn by soldiers so they could synchronicity battle strategies, check time without fumbling with a pocket watch, Soldiers wore watches in the Boer War and in WW1.  Following the Great War more men were wearing watches as they had done during the war and it became recognized as a tribute to those who'd served their nations on the battle fields so from now on women were not the only ones wearing watches. By 1920 it had been fashionable for men to wear a wristwatch and new designs were being made by a whole assortment of watchmakers, glass faces were substituted with plastics, different metals were used for the casing, minute palms were inserted and the rest is history.

When I was kid, watches were not really worn by children unless you were out of the upper course as most families couldn't afford to buy their children a watch, even when out playing one day that I remember asking my friend what the period was but neither of us had a watch so that he pulled up his sleeve appeared in his arm and said"A hair passed a freckle" and then we burst out laughing, and it reveals how far we have come over a short period of time. How many children have a watch today?

The first watchseries I ever got was back in 1960.  Two sailors we knew had just returned from Singapore and brought these watches back for us as presents I do recall they did not last all that long maybe because I didn't know how to treat or look after it correctly, I likely over-wound it, breaking the most important spring.

A couple of years later I had been given another watch from a close friend of the family that he had been an American Pilot also it was a golden Lovably that I have to this day though I don't wear it. Each time that I see or think about it, I see the man who gave me it personally, sadly he passed away a brief time ago so he along with his watch are always in my mind.

Its funny once you have your wrist watch on, it will become part of you, and you don't give another thought all day, you assess it quite regularly for time doing this activity without considering it. Then 1 day you leave your watch off your wrist and all day long you fret about where you left it and it nags you until it's back in your wrist.  A few minutes later I seemed to inspect the time for my trip without a watch. My heart sank, I hurried back down to the bathrooms and my opinion was still there around the basin - there are some honest people in the world.  I had such a powerful feeling of loss when my opinion was missing for that short time, it confirmed how much the watch meant to me. Putlocker9.

A few months after I wasn't so lucky. I had been on a ferry traveling from Italy to Greece, the same thing occurred, washed my hands, left the watch about the basin then went up on deck, I soon understood that I had left the watch in the restroom but this time when I got back it was gone. I reported it missing and had it broadcast across the ships speakers but the person who took it did not return it and I felt naked without it on my wrist, '' There was a strong feeling of loss, I guess we all have feelings like that when something is removed from us, something we treasure. So look after your Watches.

The more I look into Watch collection I discover they certainly have come a long way in the sundials produced in 500AD into the century we are living in now, going to the Moon and beyond, people love inventing new ideas and there is a lot more discoveries to be made on how we calculate TIME along with the humble watch will be traveling as fast as another discovery. Keep inventing. Read More.

[tamboradventure]

13 Off-the-Beaten-Path Things to See and Do in Paris

Posted: 6/24/2019 | June 24th, 2019

Paris is filled with famous attractions: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles, the catacombs, the Pantheon, the Arc de Triomphe, Sacre-Coeur. The list goes on. There are so many amazing sites here that you could spend days (heck, even weeks) just seeing the main, most well-known ones.

But there’s more to Paris than the sites that attract thousands upon thousands of visitors each day. While I was living Paris the past few months, I made it my mission to see some of the more unusual, lesser-known (but equally awesome) attractions (that didn’t coming with the aggravating crowds that make so many of Paris’ attractions unbearable).

And, while some of the things on the list below might not be “super secret” attractions or activities, they do fall into the category of “over looked attractions” so I included them.

Here are some of the best off-the-beaten-path things to see and do in Paris:

1. Le Manoir de Paris

This is where macabre museum meets haunted house. Numerous rooms highlight some of the more unsettling aspects of Paris’s long and often dark past, such as the Phantom of the Opera, vampires, or the crocodiles in the sewers. Using real actors as well as animatronics, the city’s gruesome and unsettling history is brought to life in an interesting way. In addition to their museum, they also have escape rooms as well as different levels of intensity depending on how scared you get!

18 Rue de Paradis, +33 6 70 89 35 87, lemanoirdeparis.com. Open Fridays 6pm-9:30pm and weekends 3pm-6:30pm. Admission is 29 EUR for adults and 20 EUR for children 10-15.

2. Musée Édith Piaf

Édith Piaf is perhaps the most famous French singer from the 1930s to the 1960s, and know around the world for her song La vie en rose and Non, je ne regrette rien (which appeared in the movie Inception). She lived in a little apartment in the Ménilmontant district at the start of her career, which has been turned into tiny museum dedicated to her. You get a glimpse at her life through her gold and platinum records, photographs, clothing, letters from fans, posters, recordings, and sheet music.

5 Rue Crespin du Gast, +33 1 43 55 52 72. Open Monday-Wednesday 1pm-6pm and Thursdays 10am-12pm. Admission is free, but you’ll need to make an appointment. You’ll also want to either speak decent French or go with someone who does.

3. Musée Curie

Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize (and the only woman to win it twice) for her research into radioactivity (a word that she invented). She was the first female professor at the University of Paris as well as the first woman to be entombed in the Panthéon on her own merits. Located in the 5th arrondissement, this museum, in her old laboratory, highlights her radiological research. It’s insightful and eye-opening for anyone unfamiliar with her historic discoveries.

1 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, +33 1 56 24 55 33, musee.curie.fr. Open Wednesday-Saturday 1pm-5pm. Admission is free.

4. Archives Nationales

Opened in 1867, the National Archives houses thousands of historical documents dating back to 625 CE. One of six national archives in the country, the museum sheds light on France’s turbulent past, providing nuanced historical details and context through permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Built by the order of Napoleon I, the building itself (known as the Hôtel de Soubise) is absolutely stunning. It is in the late Baroque style, embracing long columns and lots of statues and sculptures. It features immaculate grounds and gardens as well. They always hold a lot of good exhibitions too.

59 Rue Guynemer, +33 1 75 47 20 02, archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/en. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm. Admission is 8 EUR per person.

5. The Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy

Opened in 1898, this museum is home to over 1,000 animal skeletons from around the world, including complete skeletons of elephants, large cats, and even dinosaurs. It’s as interesting as it is unsettling: all the animals are facing the same way, making it look like you’re in the midst of some undead stampede!

2 Rue Buffon, +33 1 40 79 56 01, http://bit.ly/2B0lruZ. Open daily 10am-6pm (closed Tuesdays). Admission is free.

6. The Vampire Museum

Paris has a long history with the esoteric, one that is brought to life in this fascinating (if not macabre) museum founded by an eccentric scholar to showcase his knowledge of the undead and esoteric. Here you’ll find vampire-killing kits, rare texts on demonology, and mysterious ancient relics. It’s a busy, eclectic, creepy museum that’s a feast for the eyes and one worthy of a visit if you’re at all interested in more obscure (and fanciful) tales. It’s a fun little, kitsch museum.

14 Rue Jules David, +33 1 43 62 80 76, artclips.free.fr/musee_des_vampires/MuseeVampires1.html. You’ll need to make an appointment in advance by phone. (Don’t worry if the voicemail greeting is in French — the curator speakers perfect English).

7. Petite Ceinture

In use from 1862 through 1964, the railway circling Paris was abandoned when the city expanded beyond its limits. It’s mostly hidden behind buildings and covered in wild plants and grass now, though some sections are now officially open to the public. You’ll find all sorts of flowers and street art along the tracks.

While some sections are illegal to visit, near Parc Georges Brassens you’ll find a section of the tracks known as the ‘Passage de la Petite Ceinture’ that is both free and legal to visit. It’s located in the 15e arrondissement.

8. The Salvador Dalí Sundial

This surrealist sundial was created by world-renowned artist Salvador Dalí. Located on Rue Saint-Jacques, it’s is a mix of a human face and a scallop shell (the symbol of the Camino to Santiago, since the street is named after the saint). While the sundial doesn’t actually work, it’s nevertheless an easy way to see a piece of artwork by one of the most famous artists in the world.

27 Rue Saint-Jacques. Open 24/7 with no admission.

9. Montmartre Cemetery

While the Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest and most popular in Paris, for a more secluded stroll, check out the Montmartre Cemetery. Plenty of people visit the top of Montmartre for Sacré-Coeur and the view, but few take the time to wander this cemetery sitting at the foot of the district. It opened in 1825 and is home to many cobwebbed mausoleums, as well as a handful of stray cats. You won’t see many people here, so you can explore in peace.

20 Avenue Rachel, +33 1 53 42 36 30, paris.fr/equipements/cimetiere-de-montmartre-5061. Open Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturdays 8:30am-6pm, and Sundays 9am-6pm.

10. The Museum of Counterfeiting

Opened in 1972, this museum is home to counterfeit items that have been collected by France’s customs agents and police (as well as donated items from brands and consumers alike). There are over 500 items in the museum, ranging from counterfeit art and luxury goods to more mundane items, like cleaning supplies. While some knockoffs are impressive in their duplicity, it’s also funny to see just how bad some counterfeiters were!

16 Rue de la Faisanderie, +33 1 56 26 14 03, musee-contrefacon.com. Open Monday-Saturday 2pm-5:30pm. Admission is 6 EUR per person for adults and 5 EUR for students and seniors.

11. Promenade Planteé (Coulée verte René-Dumont)

This tree-lined walkway is a greenbelt that extends almost 5km along the old Vincennes railway line. The railway line ceased functioning in 1969, with the park being inaugurated a few decades afterward. Until New York built their High Line, it was the only elevated park in the entire world. (And, honestly, this is way nicer the the NYC High Line). You’ll find lots of trees, flowers, ponds, and places to sit along this long path that stretches from Bastile to the edge of Paris. It’s al ong really easy and beautiful walk. You won’t find many people here. Even on a nice day, it’s rather empty. It quickly became one of my favorite things to do in Paris and I can’t recommend coming here enough!

1 Coulée verte René-Dumont (12th arrondissement). Open daily from 8am-9:30pm. Admission is free.

12. Canal Saint-Martin

Stretching 4.5km, the Canal Saint-Martin is a man-made waterway commissioned by Napoleon. Construction finished in 1825, connecting the Canal de l’Ourcq to the Seine via both above ground locks and underground tunnels. While not any secret spot (on a nice day, you’ll find the canal lined with people), it’s mostly a spot for locals who want to have a picnic and relax. So, say no to the Siene, and come have your outdoor picnic along the canal. It’s more relaxing and there will be fewer people!

The canal starts at Place de Stalingrad and ends at Quai de la Râpée. Canal cruises last 2.5 hours and cost around 16 EUR per person.

13. Museé de Montmartre

Founded in 1960, this museum is located throughout two building that date back to the 17th century. Over the years, the buildings were home to many famous writers and painters. The gardens of the museum were actually renovated to look more like the gardens in Renoir’s paintings (there is also a vineyard nearby that dates back to the Middle Ages but it makes horrible wine). The museum’s permanent collection includes a wide variety of paintings, posters, and drawings.

12 Rue Cortot, +33 1 49 25 89 39, museedemontmartre.fr/en/le-musee. Open daily from 10am-6pm (7pm in the summer). Admission is 12 EUR for adults, which includes an audio guide. Discounts are available for students, children, and persons with disabilities.

***

While the main sights in Paris are always worth checking out, but if you want to be more than a tourist and develop a greater appreciation for the City of Light’s unique and complex history, visit these unconventional and unusual attractions in Paris.

Book Your Trip to Paris: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. Some of my favorite places to stay in Paris are:

St. Christopher’s Canal – Comfy spot on the canal. During the summer months, the terrace is hopping!

3 Ducks Hostel – This hostel has one of the cheapest bars in the city, and it’s just a 10-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower.

Les Piaules – Fantastic chimney lounge, a cool bar, and a rooftop space. It’s a great place to meet people!

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting Paris? Check out my in-depth destination guide to Paris with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

Photo credit: 4 – Adrian Grycuk, 5, 8 – Guilhem Vellut, 6 – Jim Linwood, 9 – Joanna Penn, 10 – Son of Groucho, 12 – PPun, 13 – advencap, 15 – Museé de Montmartre

The post 13 Off-the-Beaten-Path Things to See and Do in Paris appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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[whatdoesshedotothem]

Friday 11 August 1837

7 35

12 40

  [kiss]                                        last night she had pain in her stomach gave her a tablespoonful of sheer brandy she turned to me and had a goodish kiss  I heard her crying afterwards  I feigned sleep and talked said distinctly ‘the receipt you see is of no use to him’ (Mr. William Priestley against her aunt) this caught her attention and I think helped to stop the hysteric tears and she fell asleep – fine but dullish morning and F59° now at 8 ½ - out about (A- off to Cliff Hill rode to the top of the turnpike hill and George walked by the side) till breakfast with Mr. Gray at 9 ¼ in about ¾ hour – proposed his publishing – he mentioned Hogarth’s print illustrating false perspective and said he had some sketches of his shewing the common faults in composition – E.G. a sundial – a lady sitting – a little dove-cote set on a pillar – so placed that looking from a window the lady sitting with her feet on the sundial, and the dove-cote to be resting on the ladys’ shoulders! a few spirited sketches of this sort with a well-written humorous text nicely got up in 4to. would take, and pay? out with G- at 10 – busy planning terrace tower stair – 19ft. 7in. of descent – want an ou-vouz-savez and a small garden tool house opening upon this little staircase then planning about the troughs in the carriage court – the larger set this afternoon – the little field trough brought down this evening and left ready for setting tomorrow and G- and I after Hainsworth busy ordering about stone (one long one) to form the archey architrave of the pillars to support the carriage court rain water cistern – Mr.Hainsworth came at 9 this morning but with Booth till who checked and signed his bill for stones for Shibden hall the garden etc – settled with Hainsworth – paid him in full for the wheel-race ashler 47.15.11+ £130 paid in a/c = £177.15.11 and paid his bill from 30 April to 4th instant for stones =£56.9.0 ½ - his last ½ years’ upper Place quarry rent = £28.2.6 – then sat talking politics – H- all for my association system – he himself can influence – can count upon – (he made?) 20 votes – Mr. Holroyde the attorney their present active secretary to the conservative association of which Mr. John Edwards Dyson is chairman – all application to be made to, and information given to Mr. Holroyde – but Hainsworth himself could give a great deal of information – he and Messrs. JE.D- and Mr. Holroyde would be glad to come here, and talk things over – said I should be glad to see them – Mrs. Prescott (Hainsworth’s landlady) would lay nothing out – for £40 might have made another vote and H- would have paid her £3 a year more rent – no! but he had laid the money out himself on a condition in the lease to be paid or take the buildings away on his leaving the farm (Folly) – lastly mentioned the cattle market (Hainsworth knew of 12 masters who would act with him in politics if not afraid – if sure of being borne out) – I saw H- was not much for it – knew nothing about it – the town had a field for the purpose in Pellon lane – but owned at last that people would not take their cattle there, so cold and out of the way – I said I was indifferent about the market being in my ground – why not be in Mr. Pollards on the other side of North parade – but if the market did not extend below a certain limit, I could make it derange my plans so little that I should make no objection if the town and I could agreed as to terms – I could only let them have about 6300 yards – but the horses might be shewn, in the north parade road which would give about 1000 yards more room = 7300 yards but they wanted 3DW. or 9000+ yards – in a fortnight or 3 weeks should have  a birds’ eye view of my idea of laying out the ground – mentioned my idea of an exchange that might be if wanted – (a circle of 20 yards diameter) and if not a circle of small shops – but something must pay – H- asked if I had many applications for the hotel or if it was let I forget which – I said I thought I had let it sometime ago but that it was not yet exactly settled – I thought however it would not stand long empty after it was finished – but it was so planned that it would easily turn into shops and private dwellings – something must pay – said I had began my platform and hoped to have my colliery complete in 2 years – should loose 112 acres of coal of my own – did not .:. want to buy any – and when the 112 acres were got I had a still further loose, and all was arranged accordingly – H- here from 11 to 2 – then out again at 2 20 all the afternoon till came in at 7 25 ((vid. line 14 of last p.) in the carriage court and about – at six went with G- to the Lodge. Mawsons’ 6 men just going away – then to the platform – and at the back Lodge – stood sometime talking to the gardener about [?] Hemingway’s son aetatis 17 coming on trial – the father came to me between 2 and 3 pm to ask me for work himself or to take his son – at any wages I liked so long as they would keep him and leave something for shoes etc.  said I dared not give him any hope but would think about it – the gardener would keep (board lodge and wash and sew for him for 7/. a week) and 2/. more would be enough to give him – the gardener himself had but 6/. a week at Mrs. Cunliffe’s – paid a shilling a week to an old woman for sewing and cooking for him had but 5/. a week to feed and clothe himself and slept in the garden shed – came in at 7 25 dinner at 7 35 – coffee – A- came upstairs at 10 and I about 10 25 – having stood talking to G- about the 2 letters applications for the hotel to Mr. Lever (Charles, Esquire) 10 Kings’ Road, Bedford Row, London and forwarded by him to Messrs. Parker and Adam, and received per post in blank envelope from Mr. Parker tonight – one applicant late of St. Leonards’ hotel Hastings asking many questions in a very neat good hand – the other from the Adelphi Liverpool – George Bacon – asking if the proprietor would object ‘to put a young man in the hotel to manage it on his own account’ (i.e. the proprietors’) ‘for the 1st year then after that time if he finds the young man goes on according to his satisfaction he will let him have the hotel at a certain rent and take the stock at a valuation’ – G- thinks well of this and would answer it soon – but I need not do so of ten days – G- would ask the young man’s prospects etc – Mr. Charles P- coming at 10am tomorrow to hear what he says – A- and Messrs. G- and Harper think CP- will not take it – I think he will – to open the conversation tomorrow by asking his advice about the tap – and I shall ask him if he knows anything about Mr. George Barker of the Adelphi – A- in bed when I came upstairs at 10 25 at which hour F57° - fine day – ¼ hour looking about me in the west tower and about its staircase then till 11 40 wrote all the above of today – Mark Hepworth and 3 carts carrying terrace-stuff from opposite tower to front of house embankment and Mawson’s men sod-walling with platform sods from Back Lodge downwards – Edward and John (Waddington and Sharpe) doing the red room passage top and window and doorway into tower – and Firth the glazier and his 2?man at the leading that is to cover the passage – Parkinson and his men at the terrace walls, and Nelsons 2 or 3 men at terrace tower

Hemingway had been at Rotterdam in June 36 hours going 29 hours returning Steamer starts every Wednesday night £2.10.0 cabin fare. 15/. steerage

[halcyonkrp]

For the past few years during winter, residents of the Busan region have found random presents around all the districts and until two years ago no one knew why. Two years ago, Professor Go finally discovered that the mysterious gifts came from one of the gift giving pokémon, Delibird. This Delibird had a slightly unusual appearance though, it didn’t have the shiny pink coat nor the regular orange-red, it was a darker shade of red, edging on burgundy. When the next year rolled around and more people spotted this same Delibird dropping off gifts in the middle of the night, the region unofficially nicknamed him Santa.

Now, it’s winter again and Santa has come down from the mountains like he has been for the past few years to spread some Christmas cheer. In the past years his gifts have ranged from max potions to love balls to evolution stones to pokémon dolls, so this year people are as curious as ever to see what he has in store.

And, boy, are they in for a pleasant surprise.

COMPLETING THE PROMPT

This is a timed prompt, so you have until December 23rd 5PM EST to complete it. You can only complete it one time.

To complete this prompt, either thread with a partner or solo a thread about finding the gift and opening it up. Once the gift box is open, tag @prof-go in the thread so that he can reply with what gift you got! Also, note that if you thread it with a partner, only one person from that thread gets to keep the gift, so that’s up to you to decide. If the partner that doesn’t keep the gift wants to get a gift of their own, they’ll have to complete the prompt themselves as well (or you guys could even continue the same thread and find another gift, but this time let the other partner keep the gift)!

Below is a very lengthy list with a bunch of locations and a description of the box. Before you start the prompt, please reply to this post with the number of the location your muse will be going to so we can cross it out (ex: reserving buk 1 for jihoon). Then, please wait for us to message you to go ahead and complete the prompt at that location! Each gift is only available once, so we want to make sure no one tries opening the same one! Please read the replies as well to double check the one you want isn’t taken, just in case we haven’t updated it yet!

But don’t worry, in the spirit of our successful opening thanks to you guys, and of course in the spirit of the holidays, we’re being somewhat generous with the gifts so you shouldn’t be too disappointed with whatever location you end up choosing, hopefully. Later on, you’ll notice that there’s one common characteristic amongst all the gifts, but we want to at least leave that as a surprise for now. Will we regret this in the future? Possibly. Will we still do it anyway? Absolutely.

And along with the gift, if you complete this prompt you’ll also receive 5 pokédollars! Happy holidays everyone!

GIFT LOCATIONS

NOTE :: This is a long list! So if you’d rather not read it all, we totally understand! Consider what type of pokémon your muse might want, then go ahead and skip to the district that houses that type (ex: if my muse wants electric pokémon, I would skip ahead to the sasang district!) and see if you can guess which one might have that type of pokémon! Or don’t read them at all and choose at random for a total surprise -- do whatever you want!

BUK 1 :: right in front of the buk berry forest entry, the box is green and wrapped in cream-colored and yellow ribbon, upon walking up to the box it sounds like something’s swinging its tail around // RESERVED FOR HCBOYEON BUK 2 :: inside the buk berry forest sitting against a tree, the box is a light green and wrapped in a darker shade of it, upon walking up to the box it appears to thrash around as if to lurch at the trainer  BUK 3 :: right in front of the ice center, the black box is oddly triangular and wrapped in a light yellow ribbon, upon walking up to the box it’s relatively silent save for a bit of breathing // RESERVED FOR HCAHRI BUK 4 :: inside of the ice center at the corner of the ice rink, the box is baby blue and wrapped in white ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer can see the bottom of it is wet and can hear a cute sneeze // RESERVED FOR HCYURI

NAM 1 :: halfway through the hike along igidae park set against a tree, the red box is round and wrapped in a light yellow ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer can hear what sounds like several little feet walking in circles // RESERVED FOR HCAHIN NAM 2 :: at the end of the igidae hike set unceremoniously in the grass, the red box is wrapped in both orange and green ribbons, upon walking up to the the box the trainer can hear what sounds like wings flapping at high speeds // RESERVED FOR HCCHAEMI NAM 3 :: along the coast set upon large rocks, this gray box is wrapped in white ribbon and topped with a small red bow, upon walking up to the box the trainer might get a glimpse of its contents breaching the box’s walls, then phasing back into the box -- especially if the sun is shining  // RESERVED FOR HCJAEYONG NAM 4 :: along the coast set upon sand, this orange cylindrical box is wrapped in dark brown ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer can see two bright yellow spots on the box as if two flashlights were shining upon it // RESERVED FOR HCYEJOON

SAHA 1 :: settled in the corner of the little prince themed observatory deck in gamcheon cultural village, this grayish-purple box is wrapped in a purple-pink ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might hear a quiet purr // RESERVED FOR HCADI SAHA 2 :: along the colorful streets of gamcheon cultural village almost camouflaged and set against a small building, this white box is wrapped in both green and red ribbon, upon walking up to the box its reaction depends on the emotions of the trainer -- if the trainer is cheerful for example, the trainer may hear happy little noises // RESERVED FOR HCMINA SAHA 3 :: somewhere along the seunghak mountain hiking trail, this pale yellow box is wrapped in orange ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice small burns on the side of it, as well as hear what sounds like something chewing on twigs // RESERVED FOR HCHAEWON SAHA 4 :: near the top of the seunghak mountain off the beaten path and set next to the mysterious sundial, this bright orange box is wrapped in cream-colored ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice it’s burnt at the back and can hear a tail wagging around // RESERVED FOR HCJOON

DONGNAE 1 :: set in front of a specialty poffin pokésnack shop along dongnae’s poké artisan street, this light grey box is wrapped in a pale red ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer can hear what sounds like something sweeping the bottom of the box with its tail // RESERVED FOR HCSANGHYUN DONGNAE 2 :: set at the entrance of the heosimcheong spa, this brown box is wrapped in cream-colored ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer can hear four paws walking around in a circle until it seems to stop calmly // RESERVED FOR HCJOWI DONGNAE 3 :: at the north gate of the dongnae eupseong fortress, this white box is wrapped in black ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer can hear something scuffling inside hastily // RESERVED FOR HCJAEKYUNG DONGNAE 4 :: inside the museum of the beokcheondong gobung tombs set in the corner of the entrance, this pale yellow box is wrapped in red ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice cuts around the box and can hear something scratching against it with sharp claws // RESERVED FOR HCMINHEE

BUSANJIN 1 :: at the edge of seomyeon tucked in the corner of a less traveled street, this black round box is wrapped in yellow and purple ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might hear what sounds like hissing noises BUSANJIN 2 :: set in front of stairs that go down into the subway tunnel, this black box is wrapped in orange ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might be able to smell a sweet odor that causes their head to go dizzy for a second // RESERVED FOR HCYOONHO BUSANJIN 3 :: set at the entrance of the busan general pokémon hospital, this pink box is wrapped in baby blue ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might hear loud sniffing and an occasional friendly bark // RESERVED FOR HCJISOO BUSANJIN 4 :: inside jingu game corner atop one of the crane machines, this white box is wrapped in baby pink ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice a sticky substance seeping through that smells like cotton candy // RESERVED FOR HCXEUNTAEK

GEUMJEONG 1 :: at the bottom of the Geumjeong mountain, this brown-yellow box is wrapped in cream-colored ribbon, upon picking up the box the trainer might notice that something rolls around the box inside like a ball GEUMJEONG 2 :: at the entrance of a hiking trail along Geumjeong mountain, this dark brown box is wrapped in violet ribbon, upon picking up the box the trainer might notice a small hole was starting to get drilled through the bottom   GEUMJEONG 3 :: halfway through the hike up Geumjeong mountain, this light brown box is wrapped in a darker shade of brown, upon walking up to the box the trainer might hear something rustling around inside, panting excitedly, and what sounds like pebbles rubbing against the box GEUMJEONG 4 :: at the Beomeosa Temple entrance, this grey box is wrapped in baby blue ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice a small hole at the top of the box seemingly coming from a sort of laser beam // RESERVED FOR HCSUNBIN GEUMJEONG 5 :: at the entrance of the hidden battle dojo, this light purple box is wrapped in light green ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice the bottom of the box is a little sticky // RESERVED FOR HCJAEHOON GEUMJEONG 6 :: inside the Beomeosa Temple settled in some corner, this grey box is wrapped in yellow ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice scratches along the box, seemingly from claws // RESERVED FOR HCJIYOUNG

SASANG 1 :: set at the entrance of the park pokémon co. headquarters building, this cream colored box is wrapped in blue ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice a yellow glow towards the back of the box and can hear what sounds like a bleating sound // RESERVED FOR HCHWAYOON SASANG 2 :: sitting at the entrance of warehouse potions, this blue box is wrapped in black and yellow ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice it starts gleaming brightly // RESERVED FOR HCFELIXX SASANG 3 :: at the entrance of togepi time, this purple box is wrapped in cream-colored ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might hear quiet purring // RESERVED FOR HCTATSUYA SASANG 4 :: inside the subway tunnel set against a wall, this slate grey box is wrapped in red ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer actually might not hear anything nor notice much movement on first sight // RESERVED FOR HCRUE SASANG 5 :: outside of the park pokémon warehouse on the sidewalk, this long rectangular brown box is wrapped in blue and silver ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice a constant, light thumping sound of cloth hitting the box // RESERVED FOR HCSUNHWA SASANG 6 :: set against a random fence bordering one of sasang’s many factories, this silver box is wrapped in red ribbon, upon picking up to the box the trainer might notice it’s quite heavy // RESERVED FOR HCJHENE

HAEUNDAE 1 :: set at the entrance of the busan sea life aquarium, this brown box is wrapped in silver ribbon, upon picking up the box the trainer might notice it’s actually a glass box and can hear water swishing around   // RESERVED FOR HCJAEMIN HAEUNDAE 2 :: set at one end of haeundae beach atop sand, this orange box is wrapped in a lighter shade of orange ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might hear something flailing around inside // RESERVED FOR HCNILE HAEUNDAE 3 :: atop dalmaji hill set under a tree, this purple box is wrapped in a darker shade of purple ribbon, upon walking towards the box the trainer might hear a sharp whistle-like, high frequency sound // RESERVED FOR HCKITAE HAEUNDAE 4 :: somewhere beside a bush mid-hike along one of haeundae’s hiking trails through woodland, this black box is wrapped in red ribbon, upon walking up to the box the trainer might notice a series of small holes pecked out of the box // RESERVED FOR HCSOOYOUNG

[jly111]

World Vegan Month 2020

The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?

Edgar Allan Poe

There is a rising movement in the world today, a movement that decries all acts of cruelty and unnecessary violence against our animal brethren. Its members range from those who merely won 19t eat or wear anything made from animal flesh or skin, to those who actively campaign in every way against its continuation in any form. World Vegan Month celebrates them and the strides they 19re making towards eliminating unnecessary cruelty to animals.

History of World Vegan Month

World Vegan Month was established in 1994 to commemorate the forward movement of the ideology, as well as the creation of The Vegan Society in the UK in November 50 years prior. Given the number of eaten dead, the date was selected to fall in line with Halloween and the Day of the Dead to honor those animals who had already passed under the unnecessary cause of supporting human life.

Vegans know there is a better way, and that the composition of the human body for being omnivores is something that, with time, can slowly be eliminated, rending our incisors as unnecessary as the appendix. All over the world there are celebrations and festivals being held that help bring together vegans and share diet tips and ways to replace their long lost meat. Bacon substitutes, sausage substitutes, even honey and butter substitutes have been devised so that they can embrace their idealism without having to give up the best of what was left behind.

In the early days of the Vegan movement these opportunities weren 19t available, and they had to subsist on purely vegan options with no meat substitutes or anything to stand in for the foods that their contemporaries were consuming. The modern day allows Vegans to truly enjoy the broad range of foods the world has to offer, and substitutions for those that involve animal cruelty. A cruelty free world isn 19t far away!

How to celebrate World Vegan Month

As we mentioned above, there are a ton of vegan options in the world, especially festivals and gathers where recipes and food secrets are exchanged. It goes a lot further than just food options too, everything from lipstick to deodorant has been guilty of containing animal products, and there was little on the shelf that wasn 19t tested on animals. Now you can get educated on which ones are safe and which foods are the most delicious. Let World Vegan Month expand your palate and your sense of social responsibility!

To celebrate World Vegan Month, we have special activities and deals!

Sundial Boutique Hotel Promotion: 20% off 2 or more Nights Hotel Stays - Sundial Boutique Hotel: Tap offer to copy the coupon code. Remember to paste code when you check out. Online only.

Nygard International Ltd. Deal: 40% off - Nygard International Ltd.: 40% off regular-priced accessories. Expires on 12/07/2013.

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eBay Discount: 39% Off Dyson Cordless Vacuum Cleaner - EBay: Get 39% Off Dyson V7 Fluffy HEPA Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for $199.99, was $329.99

Marc Jacobs Deal: 50% off Pillow Bag + 40% off New Marcdowns - Marc Jacobs: Black Friday! Get 50% off The Pillow Bag + 40% off New Marcdowns

Marc Jacobs Offer: 50% off Pillow Bag + 40% off New Marcdowns - Marc Jacobs: Black Friday! Get 50% off The Pillow Bag + 40% off New Marcdowns

[verafiedtheorist]

t10 releases 2k17

no one asked for it, so here you go:

A Crow Looked at Me - Mount Eerie unavoidable. a fist to your gut. everything on the album portrays the same thing, in unison; the realness of death. nothing can compare to this album. soria moria stand out especially to me, giving a bigger perspective on it all, and has affected me deeply, questioning some of the ways i have been living.

American Dream - LCD Soundsystem heard “tonight” at an h&m, with lyrics as “you know very well the dialects of negation”, and so, it deserves a spot partly just due to getting a song with references to hegel in a public space like that. more strong songs on the album than the album itself is strong; my favorite has to be the title track, being, i think, one the most emotional lcd-s songs ive heard.

Mechanics of Dominion - Esmerine album that is the unity of visual and audio, both pretty videos to all of the songs, and nice modernist-ish artwork. Piscibus Maris stands out, colorful, melancholic.

Ursa Minor - Nana Grizol sweet. gay as fuck.

The Hell of You Come In - Lee Noble Album i completely missed until december. was a huge fan of the last one he made in 2013, and this really feels like a 4 years evolution from that. has similarities to grouper; ambient, experimental, very intimate feeling music. “Working” is a song that i feel captures exactly what im looking for in the “genre”.

Impermanence - Peter Silberman more ambient-ish. has a more structured .. structure, to it than most; the artist is the singer from the band the Antlers, and this album is like an abstracted version of their latest album, Familiars, which i was a huge fan of.

Luciferean Towers - Godspeed You! Black Emperor this album is here because it kinda has to, due to my love of the band. i feel its quite underrated; its obviously not near lift your skinny fists in quality, but Anthem for No State - its so, so beautiful, and evolves really well. Its gotten critique for having so many tracks instead of just a few really long “behemoths” as they usually do; however, the only difference i honestly can tell is that the songs have been split in sections where other songs wouldnt have been, and listening to it without checking the track-list, its completely unnoticeable.

Mirror Reaper - Bell Witch holy shit this is heavy. was perfect for fall, and is as perfect for winter. and on the topic of behemoths: one single track, of 1hrs 23mins

If Blue Could Be Happiness - Florist pretty, and peaceful.

Hiss Spun - Chelsea Wofle she is 2 cool to not be featured. ily chelsea wolfe

honorary ment.: Al-’An! (And Your Night is Your Shadow / Fairy-Tale Piece of Land to Make Our Dreams)  - Oiseaux-Tempête Sundial - Mirah Groupers new singles Historier om kärlek i okronologisk ordning, från det sexuella uppvaknandet, till idag - Laser & bas

[mysteryunfold]

The Present Paradise (Asra x MC)

(A/N: Can also be read on Wattpad)

As the humdrum hours passed, the minutes seemed to get longer for Channah.  Only the clatter of the doorbell announcing the arrival of a customer stirred the musty stillness.  Elbows supporting her, Channah leaned over the counter engrossed in an open book.  The page contained a diagram of the human body.  "Illness, including hysteria, is caused by an unbalance of blood, phlegm and bile."  She read the explanation, her brow scrunching in a thoughtful disagreement.  

Picking up charcoal, she wrote in the margin, "Illness can be rooted in emotional pain from the past.  The origins are not just physiological."  She looked at her note and snorted in disapproval.  Her sloppy letter smudged the charcoal into illegible lines.  At a rapid pace, Channah had regained her language and her grasp on concepts of magic, but her kinetic abilities came back slower.

"Perhaps physical motion is more concrete so it is linked more to the memory."  Her mentor explained after a headache formed due to a frustrating bought with crystals.  "Trying common physical patterns that were a part of your life is scratching at your memories.  And we know that doing that causes you headaches."  His voice remained soft and comforting, but his facial expression hardened in contemplative thought.

Channah drummed her fingers as her mind drifted to her frequent headaches.  She knew her headaches did not come from an imbalance of liquids in her body.  "I always considered mine rooted in some magic blocking me from accessing my memories, but," Channah muttered to herself, eyes widening to the thought, "what if headaches are caused by my current emotional distress over that void or even some past pain?"  

Picking up the small bag beside her, Channah pulled out a leather journal.  She turned to an empty page and wrote, "I always thought that magic was the root of my headaches, but what if they were caused from my emotional pain?  Talk to Asra about this.  If my hunch is true, we could have a lead in how to regain my memories back.  When my headaches are gone, then I can work on remembering again."

She flipped her journal closed and placed it back into her knapsack.  Turning back to her book, she heard the low hum of voices from the backroom.  She tuned her ears to their words, but she could not recognize who spoke.  As she tried to listen, she imagined her master sitting cross-legged on the floor, reading maybe tea leaves, or crystals or even his trusted cards.  Across from him, she pictured the newly wedded client, trying to catch Asra's eyes, her wedding ring hidden in her coin purse.

Channah sniggered at the image.  "Oh Asra," she mocked, "always catching the town's eye, young, old, male or female.  It doesn't matter."

"He certainly caught your eye."  Channah's smirk fell at the invasive thought.  Blushing, she focused her attention back on her reading.  The low of hum of voices brought the persistent image of Asra, bent over the table, looking at the cards with a concerned intent.  In Channah's imagination, he turned and looked at her.

She shut her book before she could complete her vision, a furious blush on her cheeks.  "I better check the time." She hissed to the stillness.  "Asra shouldn't be late for his next appointment." 

As she stepped out from the shop, the force of the sun pushed against her skin. The pressing heat heightened the bitter scent of mulch, manure and sewage.   A splatter impacted the ground behind her, and Channah tensed at the smell of new urine.  

"I am so sorry!" A female voice called out from above.  "I didn't see you walking there."

Channah looked upwards to see a middle-aged woman holding an empty bedpan.  The magician's apprentice forced a smile.  "It's alright," she called up.  "How is your father doing, by the way?"

"He's not doing better and he is not doing worse."  The woman said.  "His sickness still keeps me at his bedside, most days.  I can hardly tell the hours apart."

Channah gives a curt wave to head off.  "I am next door if you need anything.  I think we have some poppy seeds for his pain."

"Yes, thank you, Channah."  The apprentice started to leave, but the women continued talking.  "You know, it's been a long time since you have given readings.  Years, in fact.  I almost forgot that you used to do them, until my father told me of the wedding reading you gave him and mother."

Channah's heart twist at the mention of the past, but she did not stop her pace.  "You know sometimes I just forget things."  Still walking, Channah turned around. "Should I put the seeds on hold for you?  Are you coming around tomorrow?"

"Yes, thank you."  The woman waved.  "I am sure that will help my father.  Can I set up a reading with you as well?"

"Well, with Asra.  But, I am sure he has a free slot tomorrow."  Without another word, Channah turned into the privacy of the garden patio.

Although green plants brushed against her legs, the smells of the city did not disappear, nor did its fading ascetic. Houses and shops, once well manicured, faded as the economy struggled.  Strolling to the sundial in the middle, Channah plucked a mint leaf.  She grinded the leaf between her teeth as she read the sundial's shadow.  "It's only three o'clock." She muttered as she crossed her arms.  "There's two hours before Asra has to go out."   Channah sighed as her mind felt clouded.  

Her eyes wandered the garden as she plucked another mint leaf.  In a shaded corner, next to the ladder going up to the rooftop garden, she spotted her master's pillow nest.  She saw the outline of dirt on them; they needed to be washed soon.  Despite finding a new chore, a smile played upon Channah's lips.

"How does Asra relax out here?" She thought to herself.  "Coming out here suffocates me, but him, he sometimes sleeps out here for hours."  As a new thought swirled her head, Channah felt clarity and contentment.  "He can relax because he finds a paradise no matter where he is."  Channah nodded as she reminded herself to write down her thoughts later that night.

As her mind drifted, Channah also drifted away from the shop.  The town's alley ways crumbled underneath her scuffle, pebbles spraying in front of her.  As she walked, her shadow crossed over the peeling paint of houses.  The shadow's dark form caught her attention.  Each house it touched, Channah longed for her memory.  "Maybe, this could have been the house I grew up in."  Her shadow grew taller on another one.  "Or this, the color of the shingles looks somewhat familiar."  The dark figure than skipped over to the ruins of another.  Channah chased after her shadow, never able to hold a concrete form.

Her pursuit stopped when she saw children playing in the ally way.  Their laughter and fun drew Channah's attention.  "What was my childhood like?  Did I play on streets like this?" Her thoughts wondered.  "Or was I from a different part of the city?  Was I even born here?"  Almost in response to her questions, Channah felt the twisting of a headache.  She brushed her fingers against her temple.  It was time to go home.

As she turned to leave, she heard a small voice call out.  "Look it's the magician!"  At the declaration, whispers rose as the children gathered around Channah.   Before Channah could escape, little bodies surrounded her.

"Will you show us some magic?"  One boy with dark owlish eyes asked.  Affirmative cries rang out from the other children.

"Ah, she can't." A girl, taller than the rest of them, said.  "My dad tells me that she hasn't practiced in years."  The children's cheers turned into harsh whispers as the argued among themselves.  Their shouts pounded on Channah's head.

"Well, I think she can do it!"  the boy with the owl-like eyes yelled.  "My mother told me that she helped her heal her ankle one time.  Give her a chance!  I want to see magic!"

A fog rolled through the magician's mind.  Around eight pairs of eyes looked up at her, some pleading and eager, some skeptical.  Pushing the pain away, Channah knelt before the boy with owlish eyes.  She focused on the boy, but tried to see past his physical reality, seeing instead his memories and soul.

"If I amaze you with some magic, will you promise to let me go?"  She asked.  The boy and his friends nodded at her request.  As she spoke with him, Channah could feel her insight getting stronger.  Closing her eyes and leaning backwards, she reached out and touched his forehead.  At first, his inner being was obscured. Panic rising to her throat, Channah reached back to find her mentor's words.

"Don't panic.  Panic and fear strains and unfocuses your magic."  The sunlight was streaming down the back room, dancing in Asra's violet eyes.  Channah sat across from him, facing away from the sun.  "Just take some deep breathes.   Here, let's see if you can use your magic to see my day."  He touched Channah's wrist and guided it to his head.  "Just breathe your magic out, loosely now.  Take a deep breath, close your eyes and then you will see."  Asra's face morphed into the boy's inner spirit, and Channah felt her magic strengthening around the boy.

"Your name is Darius.   You live two houses down from here in an upper back bedroom.  You like maths at school but abhor reading.  You want to be a doctor when you grow older."  Channah then opened her eyes to see an astonished face.   "How did I do?" She said with a grin.

The boy's face lit up and so did the murmurs from his friends.  "Wow.  That was so cool.  Could you do another one?"

Channah then pointed two fingers from each hand to her head.  "Hmm, I am sensing something."   She said.  "I am sensing that your mother wants you and your sister home to help prepare dinner."

"Oh, come on."  Darius said.  "She never asks us to help-"

Right before he could finish his sentence, a woman's voice called his name.  "Darius and Patricia!" The call echoed through alley.  "Come right now.  Your grandfather is coming over, and I need your help peeling the apples."

The boy's astonishment brightened further.  Before he followed his sister home, he turned back to Channah.  "You're good."  He said with a smirk, and then he trotted back home.  

The other children chatted among themselves, arguing what they should ask the magician.   When they finally decided, they looked up to see she had gone.  The question where she had went lingered in their conversation for a few minutes, before they returned to their games.

Stumbling back onto the patio, Channah gripped onto the sundial.  She groaned under the weight of her headache.  Glancing up the sundial's shadow, she noted, "four o'clock." Eyes half-lidded, she stumbled over to Asra's pillow fort.   She sat down in shade; its coolness tempting her with relief but never fully offering it.  

With tears streaming down her eyes, she focused on her breathing.  She crafted her breath deeper and longer.  Although the pain remained, a distance grew between it and Channah.  She focused her attention on the flow of her body.  She heard Asra's faint voice guiding her.

"Where are you feeling anxiety?" His voice asked.

"Where I am feeling anxiety?"  She felt her intuition point out her upper back, her neck and her chest.  She heaved out a long breath.  "I release the anxiety."   The tension from those areas disappeared as they weaved out on her breath.

"Where am I feeling grief?"  As tears twisted out, Channah sensed a heaviness in her heart, her shoulders and her stomach.  She breathed out again.  "I release the grief."  A sense of relief washed over her.

"Are there any curses attached to you?  Have you cursed yourself today?"  Asra's faint voice pressed her to ask.

"Have I cursed myself today?"  As the question left her lips, images from the day entered her imagination.  Channah saw herself in the shop, blushing as she eavesdropped on Asra.  "I was ashamed because I thought I was shallow." When Channah confessed, she saw the image of her next-door neighbor above.  "I felt useless because I lack the abilities I once had."  As the tears grew longer on Channah's cheeks, she saw the circle of children around her.  "I was scared that I was going to under-performed or that I was not prepared enough."  

As she spoke out her last confession, a rush of energy sparked through her body. She shook. "Let the energy flow next." Asra's past teaching told her.  "Some experience it like a fire, some like a river.  Listen and experience.   Do not rush to the next step."

Feeling the flow of energy, Channah pictured an avalanche coursing through her.  She had never seen one in her life, or at least did not remember one, but the power they had in they had in adventurer's stories enthralled her.  She saw her energy moving through her like snow moved through the mountains, strong, determined, covering and changing everything in its path.  As her avalanche slowed to a stop, Channah felt in union with her body and spirit.  The headache still hovered, but it was dimmed.  

Before she could move onto the next step, Channah sensed a presence standing before her.  She peeled her eyes open with a groggy smile.  "Asra." She said with a contended sigh.

Her mentor smiled above her, but his eyes still shone concern.  "Another headache?"

Channah nodded.

"I see that you are on your last step.  I'm sorry for interrupting."  Asra blushed and shifted his gaze away.  "You don't need me to help you anymore."

Leaning over, Channah took his hand.  "You are right.  I don't need your help.  Dealing with this is almost second nature.  But-" She paused, and her smile grew wider.  "It would make me happy if you did the last part with me."

Asra's eyes widened as his smile became genuine.  Taking both Channah's hands, he sat down across from her.  "You were on the affirmations, right?"

With a nod from Channah, Asra relaxed.  As he breathed in, Channah closed her eyes.  "When I speak a truth about you, agree with it by claiming it for yourself."  He stated.  He paused to take in her restful profile.  

Softening his voice, he continued.  "You are capable."

Channah's nose scrunched.  "I am capable." She repeated with effort.

Asra moved closer to her.  "You are smart."

"I am smart." Channah stuttered over her words as she felt a tear fall from her eyes.

Asra wiped the tear away, his fingers drifting across her cheek.  "The past does not define me."

Channah straightened her back and hummed.  "The past does not define me."

"The present is enough."

"The present is enough."

"Your future is promising."

Channah sighed.  "My future is promising."

"You are healthy."

"I am healthy."

"You are whole."

"I am whole."

"You are safe."

"I am safe."  A faint smile rose above her discomfort.

"You are comforted."

"I am comforted."

"You are loved."  Asra squeezed both Channah's hands.  Laughing, Channah shifted her position so her leg stretched out past Asra.

"I am loved.

"And last but not least," Asra said with a smile.  "You belong."

Channah gave a contented sigh.  "I belong."  She opened her eyes to see Asra looking at her.   She blushed under his stare but felt joy lighting her heart. Pushing her feelings aside, she hugged him.  "Thank you, master."

Pressing closer to her, Asra laid his nose against her skin.  "For what, Channah?  I am only helping you do something that you can do yourself."  Channah felt his breath down her neck, and she relaxed at its warmth.

She pulled away from the embrace, but kept her arms around his neck.  "For everything.  You took care of me when I had no one else.  My first memory is with you.  You retaught me how to walk, talk, all the basic things that babes know.   You are teaching me how to heal.  You are reteaching me my livelihood.   You are helping me restore my life."

Playing with a loose strand of her silver hair, a pained look moved across his face.  "You shouldn't be thanking me for doing what you deserve.  Besides-" His features soften. "I am grateful that I am able to walk with you on this journey."  Channah kept smiling as she searched for words.  She stared in his eyes, but his expression distracted her more.  Right when she was about to open her mouth to speak, Asra broke the silence.  "Umm, would you mind if I gave you another hug?"

Channah laughed.  "Of course not.  Please, go right ahead."

At her permission, Asra gathered the apprentice into his arms.  Joy filled blushes colored both pairs of cheeks.  Feeling the warmth of his heart, Channah hummed in pleasure at its comfort.

When he pulled away, Channah leaned back against the shop.  The cool wall sent shivers down her spin.  "Well, the good news is that my headache is gone."  She said with a smirk.

Asra moved to sit beside her.  "As you get stronger they should attack you less.  You have made progress though.  You are healing faster than before."

Channah closed her eyes, enjoying the presence of the man beside her.  As they sat together in the quiet, a thought arrested Channah, and her eyes shot open.

"Asra!" She yelled, grabbing his arm.  "You have an appointment soon!"

Asra laughed as he touched her hand.  "There's no need to yell.  I am right here."

"But, but, don't you have to go soon?" Channah eyes were wide, and Asra moved closer to her.

"Perhaps."  He said in a whisper.  "But I am here with you now.  I may not be in the future, but I am here now.  I want to focus on this moment, the moment when we are together."

Channah fell back against the shop's wall.  Her swirling thoughts slowed down to a rest.   "Well, then, since we are together and have time.  Can you tell me a story of your travels?"  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Faust slithering down the ladder.  

"Of course.  I know someday you will be strong enough to travel but-"

"In the present, I am healing.  In the future, I will have my own experience, but in the present, here with you, I want to know your story."

Asra blushed as his eyes shone on Channah.  As he began his story, a gentle rhythm in his voice, Faust moved up his arm and around one of his shoulders.  She did not stop her travel until she passed by Channah's neck and hung there, her body coiled around both magicians.

Ears perked to Asra describing a pond that reflected one's true desires, Channah moved her gaze away from Asra and to the snake by her cheek.  She scratched underneath's Faust's chin, the snake's eyes narrowing in appreciation.   "So this is how Asra found his paradise." She thought to herself in between her mentor's words.  "He made his home where he was and worked with the circumstances given him."  For the first time that day, Channah felt happy.  Maybe she also found her paradise.