#jupiter;; visage

[svndrenched]

team galactic's enrollment is up 300% and cyrus can't figure out why.

[urdamage]

eilonwy hands noah an envelope ; the birthday card inside of it is thick , a sign of its good quality . she’s chosen it specifically from cupid’s , having stood at the birthday card section for more than ten minutes in order to choose the nicest one that resembles her friend as best as a card can . the card is a soft yellow , and the front is covered in playful illustrations of flowers , all with friendly faces smiling upwards to the ‘ happy birthday ’ written in bubble writing . inside of it , she’s written her birthday message in soft , beautiful , legible cursive handwriting . the message reads ;

“ dear noah, 

every single day i am reminded of how blessed i am to have you in my life.  i could never have asked for a better friend, a better brother.  i hope your twenty-sixth year is filled with love and joy and all of the beautiful things you deserve to have in life.  here’s to the rest of our lives spent together as the best of friends. i love you!

love always, lonnie. ” 

the card jupiter hands noah isn’t a traditional birthday card , but instead , one single piece of unfolded card containing an illustration on the front and a plain white back . instead of writing on the back of the card , jupiter has written his birthday message to noah on a piece of lined paper , which is neatly taped to the back . upon further inspection , and upon flipping the page over , the fact that both sides of the page have been covered in writing can be found . the message is written in handwriting that is scribbly and small , yet legible at the same time . the message reads ;

“ my dearest noah, 

i wholeheartedly believe that the universe had a plan when it brought us together. i could write pages and pages on how i believe you deserve better than all of the cards that the universe has dealt you, but i could write even more about how i believe that the universe has given me more than i deserve by leading me to you. i won’t.  when i turned twenty-six, i was just beginning to feel like i belonged here in shrike. angel had just started to let me perform to the sparse mid-day crowd, i found comfort in no longer running and chasing whatever mystery tickled my interest that month, and i started to feel at home in my apartment - broken lift and all. the view of the night sky from the balcony truly is amazing, almost as beautiful as the one that you helped me create in the safety of my room. i know that we don’t live in the same old shrike anymore. regardless. all i can do is hope that in your twenty-sixth year, you feel the same kind of belonging and the same kind of comfort that i found here.  after all that you’ve done for me, both before and after everything that we’ve been through, all i can ask for is that the stars guide you in the right direction so that you can find peace and love and happiness and fulfilment and everything else you could ever want.  and because i know some people don’t believe in that kind of stuff, in the universe having any sort of power over any of us (mum and dad always said i was silly for believing) i’ll also be by your side helping that become a reality in whatever way that i can.  you shine brighter than my favourite star.  happy birthday - suppose i should have written that sooner.

yours, jupiter. ”

✧ eilonwy finch moodboard 06/?? ✧ jupiter bernstein moodboard 08/?? ✧ featuring noah cohen ( @noahcohen​ ).

[caelcstis]

tags -- bae brothers !!

you appear as if ice overtook your entire heart. ⸢ 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐒 / visage. ⸥ how many scars have you suffered for your family? ⸢ 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐒 / about. ⸥ the lion's heart is protected once and for all. ⸢ 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐒 / aes. ⸥ take your drugs like the good boy you are &&. choke on your money. ⸢ 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐒 / youth. ⸥ the quiet doesn't seem so scary &&. the milky mornings warm your body instead. ⸢ 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐒 / first. ⸥ your voice &&. presence still seems to shake those around you. ⸢ 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐒 / threads. ⸥ there are still demons &&. monsters chasing your tail ⸢ 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐒 / headcanons. ⸥ how funny is it that i own your heart when you cured mine? ⸢ regulus + leo. ⸥

so much rage &&. pain are gathered in your eyes how can you still smile? ⸢ 𝐉𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑 / visage. ⸥ there's so much fire inside of you that you might just combust ⸢ 𝐉𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑 / about. ⸥ you'd reach &&. live with the stars if you could ⸢ 𝐉𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑 / aes. ⸥ you look to the stars in hopes they can tell your story instead ⸢ 𝐉𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑 / headcanons. ⸥ how many stars do you wish upon? how many do you wish would take you away? ⸢ 𝐉𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑 / first. ⸥ your words are choked &&. you're unsure if you'll start screaming or crying ⸢ 𝐉𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑 / threads. ⸥ rather than getting burnt by this fire in my heart you let it warm you instead ⸢ jupiter + minsung / r3dblccd. ⸥

[poppitron360]

Sons of Jupiter do not cry.

They’re strong, powerful leaders. Tough soldiers, fearsome, lords of lightning. Crying shows weakness. It shows vulnerability. Something a child of the king of the gods could not afford to do.

Jason hadn’t cried in front of others since he was three. He’d had that beaten out of him by Lupa and her wolves. People looked up to him as their Praetor, their ideal Roman warrior. He had to always stay strong, always be vigilant, never show weakness.

The only time they’d seen the Son of Jupiter cry was the moment he lost Leo.

He screamed His name, his voice filled with utter sorrow as the explosion lit the sky. He fell to his knees, sobbing. Head in hands and just fucking sobbing. All sense of dignity was shattered, as he lay there, his knees in the wet grass, crumpled and crying like an infant. All his expectations, all the visages of the Prince of the Sky were lost alongside Him. He just bawled and bawled. No comfort could resolve him. He just stayed there, crying. A broken man.

[scoonsalicious]

Unwanted: Chapter 27, Unhinged - Pt. 5

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Avenger!Fem!Reader

Summary: When your FWB relationship with your best friend Bucky Barnes turns into something more, you couldn’t be happier. That is, however, until a new Avenger sets her sights on your super soldier and he inadvertently breaks your heart. You take on a mission you might not be prepared for to put some distance between the two of you and open yourself up to past traumas. Too bad the only one who can help you heal is the one person you can no longer trust.

Warnings: (For this part only; see Story Masterlist for general Warnings) Language, kidnapping, Carthage.

Word Count: 525

Previously On...: Dimitri called and basically insisted you have to come dance for Hydra at the club. He's not giving you a choice.

A/N: SHE'S BACK, BESTIES!

NOTE! The tag list is a fickle bitch, so I'm not really going to be dealing with it anymore. If you want to be notified when new story parts drop, please follow @scoonsaliciousupdates

Banner By: The absolutely amazing @mrsbuckybarnes1917!

Thank you to all those who have been reading; if you like what you've read, likes, comments, and reblogs give me life, and I truly appreciate them, and you!

Taglist: (Sadly, tag list is closed; Tumblr will not let me add anyone new. If you want to be notified when I update, please Follow me for Notifications!) @jmeelee @cazellen @mrsbuckybarnes1917 @blackhawkfanatic @buckybarnessimpp @hayjat @capswife @itsteambarnes @marygoddessofmischief @sebastians-love @learisa @lethallyprotected @rabbitrabbit12321 @buckybarnesandmarvel @fanfictiongirl77 @calwitch @fantasyfootballchampion @selella @jackiehollanderr @wintercrows @sashaisready @missvelvetsstuff @angelbabyyy99 @keylimebeag @maybefoxysouls @vicmc624 @j23r23 @wintercrows @crist1216 @cjand10 @pattiemac1@les-sel @dottirose @winterslove1917 @harperkenobi @ivet4 @casey1-2007 @mrsevans90 @steeph-aniie @bean-bean2000 @beanbagbitch @peachiestevie @wintrsoldrluvr @shadowzena43

Tumblr will not let me directly tag the following: @marcswife21 @erelierraceala @jupiter-107 @doublejeon @hiqhkey @unaxv @brookeleclerc

The ride to the club was tense. Dimitiri’s usual kindness toward you was nowhere to be found, and you couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to change his demeanor so suddenly. You just had to hope that Bucky was on his way toward the club at this very second, though he hadn’t answered your text message by the time Dimitri’s timeline for your departure had run out. 

When you pulled up to The Wiggle Room, the driver pulled around to the back entrance in the building’s alley. This concerned you, because you knew there were no security cameras on the back door, and there’d be no evidence of you entering the premises. 

“Why are we going through the back?” you risked asking Dimitiri. But the man’s visage remained hard and silent. When the car stopped, he got out and moved around to open your door. As you exited, he grabbed your arm, holding it far tighter than was comfortable as he practically dragged you inside.

“Ow,” you moaned. “Dimitiri, you’re hurting me.” He dragged you to the door to Kozlov’s private lounge, throwing it open before tossing you inside. “Oh, Dimitri apologizes to the little dove,” he simpered, eyes hard. “Perhapz she will have to find zomeone to avenge’r from Dimitiri’s slight, no?” He laughed to himself, cold and mirthless, before slamming the door in your face. 

“Dimitri!” you called, “I don’t understand what’s going on! Open the door, please!” You pounded on it in vain as you listened to the sound of the lock engaging from the outside.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. His choice of words could not have been a coincidence. They were spoken too deliberately. Your cover had obviously been blown, but how?

“I think poor old Dimitiri’s cross that you’ve been lying to him about who you really are,” a disgustingly familiar voice cooed from behind you. You turned, not wanting to believe what you knew you would find, but there she was: Jade Carthage, sitting on one of Kozlov’s armchairs, sipping a flute of champagne like she owned the goddamned place. 

“Hello, Precious Pocket,” she purred, taking the time to uncross and re-cross her legs. “Did you miss me?” She gently put down her champagne flute. “Pink hair?” she tsked as she eyed you up and down. “Really? You couldn’t look more desperate if you tried.”

“I’ll just have to take your word for it,” you smirked, exuding more confidence that you actually felt in that moment. “You're the expert on looking desperate, after all. Wouldn’t you agree, Carthage?”

“You always did think you were clever,” Jade said, standing up and moving toward you. “But I always knew you were just an insecure, dumb bitch.”

You made a move to activate your distress bangle, but her super soldier reflexes were too quick. Before you could blink, she had you in a chokehold, the pressure she was putting on your carotid arteries having your vision tunneling in seconds. Before you passed out completely, you could make out her voice, as though coming from a great distance.

“Why don’t you have a little rest? You and I are going on a trip.”

<- Previous Part / Next Part ->

[valeriefauxnom]

Accidental Minor Plot Holes/Misnomers!

Dragalia in general was surprisingly astute to its tangled mass of lore, but they were not perfect. Every so often, there were little tidbits that on closer thought/lore diving, make no sense with later information!

Take, for instance, the launch wyrmprint "King's Countenance", which intersects both well and poorly with later details on him and his kids:

Its description relays, starting in its 3rd stage:

Now, the king sits and ponders his future. He knows that if he continues on his current path, he will have to pay with his life. And yet, there is no hesitation whatsoever on his visage. For the king had eight promising children who had learned much from watching him fight to support the kingdom. Any of them was more than worthy to take the reins of the country's future.

On the bright side, this works well with the details that Aurelius, when heading to the Binding Ruins, knew he was playing with fire and chose to anyways in the hopes of helping Nedrick, whom he had newly discovered was alive and not-still-quite-so-well:

...But on the flipside, well...

I'm a royal fam major when it comes to Dragalia lore, and even I, uh, would not be so bold as to claim that Aurelius has 'eight capable children' to take the throne. Leonidas, Phares, Chelle, even Valyx, sure. Beren, whom has been locked in the dungeons since being an infant???? Emile??????????? Zethia, who has forsworn the throne herself to be the Auspex? Whoops.

And it's not as if Aurelius has blindingly rose-colored goggles on, either. He's Concerned enough about Emile to not only appoint Magnus in the hopes of teaching him some better morals, but also granted him the authority to outright kill Emile if he gets entirely out of hand in several worlds.

So, yeah, there's one incongruency. Speaking of kings, though, let's wind back the clock to the OG King of Alberia!

This one's pretty small and easy to explain. To put it briefly, his replica in The Blood That Binds shapeshifts into a dragon he should not have been able to: Brunhilda.

Why? Because she never pacted with Alberius in the first place!

Speaking of which, there's several more hmms in Mym's life. Her dragon story starts out with this narration:

One tiny little problem- Greatwyrms never, ever, are hatchlings. Later lore stated that all Greatwyrms are sterile and do not follow most other natural life cycles even for dragons. They also have a nice little auto reincarnation feature as primordial forces, though they do not keep memory between incarnations.

This is likely just a case of writers unintentionally bumping into each other with much later lore for Mids' and Mym's words here, as this info drops in ch.24 vs the base game with Brunhilda's story, but still technically a contradiction!

It also creates a new odd timeline. Greatwyrm ages are ambiguous, but we do have several rough ideas/implications:

-Jupiter is the youngest (Mym address him as a brat and otherwise younger than her)

-Brunhilda is the second-youngest (she's generally treated by the others dragons as a younger one too)

-Zodiark likely eldest

-Mids is under 1k years old, since he did not experience events with Ilia and does not remember them

However, Brunhilda's story again puts things in a major bind. Her story has her lying in fields for 'centuries' and then holing herself in a volcano for 'ages more' so much so that the land itself shifted until Alberius came. Alberius, of course, was 300 years ago. This leaves surprisingly little time to put her as definitively younger than Midgardsormr, who is canonically under 1k.

On the flip side, it partially explains her exact moody nature- she's hardly talked to anyone in her centuries and has largely been asleep for them, making her much less experienced in contrast to other dragons who have not made indications of sleeping for centuries. In essence- she's acting younger than her apparent age would suggest, because she's spent a majority of those years asleep!

Another little error comes with Luca and Sarisse, specifically which is the elder. The vast majority of the time, Luca is addressed as the elder. But in Luca's lines...

...Despite Luca's description correctly ID'ing him as the elder in that same base version!

Last but not least, another minor error funnily occurs in Cassandra's story, where Elisanne, despite speaking correctly in the first story, incorrectly labels the castle of Sol Alberia as 'The Halidom':

We never actually got a name for the castle, if it has one. It just is the castle in Sol Alberia, the royal capital. However, it definitely isn't the Halidom, as this scene takes place in the royal castle for Aurelius' marriage, which, again, is made all the funnier by Elisanne recognizing that this was not the Halidom earlier:

Now, I don't know the original text, but these last two might well just be a translation error. That being said, how it was written and published makes them contradicting!

So...yeah! That's been my Dragalia Lore Contradictions post, brought to you by too much memory devoted to this game!

[jedimaesteryoda]

On his way to Mole's Town to bring food for the wildlings he encounters three carved trees that represent his personal journey.

The drunkard was an ash tree, twisted sideways by centuries of wind. (…) A solemn mouth, a broken branch for a nose, two eyes carved deep into the trunk, gazing north up the kingsroad, toward the castle and the wall.

The ash tree faces Castle Black and the Wall, and clearly represents Jon as he is now as Lord Snow.

Ash trees were associated by the Celts with healing and enchantment, especially transformation and empowerment in terms of destiny. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil, the ash tree, hid the dragon, Níðhöggr, below in its roots who would be freed from the ash tree at the time of Ragnorak. A squirrel communicated between the dragon and a bird in its branches. Bran was called a squirrel by his father for his love of climbing, Bloodraven is represented by a raven (big duh, I know) and Jon himself is a dragon.

Like the ash tree, Jon's identity as Jon Snow hid his dragon identity below. The Long Night is coming again, and his Targaryen identity will eventually be freed from hiding.

A mile farther on, they came upon a second face, carved into a chestnut tree that grew beside an icy stream, where its eyes could watch the old plank bridge that spanned its flow. (…)​The chestnut was leafless and skeletal, but its bare brown limbs were not empty. On a low branch overhanging the stream a raven sat hunched, its feathers ruffled up against the cold. When it spied Jon it spread its wings and gave a scream. When he raised his fist and whistled, the big black bird came flapping down, crying "Corn, corn, corn."

The chestnut tree is connected with the underworld with the chestnut's description as "leafless and skeletal" conjuring the image of death.

The chestnut tree represent Jon post-Ides of Marsh. He will appear dead, and dwelling in the realm of death. The raven sitting on its branch suggest Bloodraven's involvement.

Just north of Mole's Town they came upon the third watcher, carved into the huge oak that marked the village perimeter, its deep eyes fixed upon the kingsroad. That is not a friendly face, Jon Snow reflected. The faces that the First Men and the children of the forest had carved into the weirwoods in eons past had stern or savage visages more oft than not, but the great oak looked especially angry, as if it were about to tear its roots from the earth and come roaring after them. Its wounds are as fresh as the wounds of the men who carved it.

The oak was regarded as the "King of Trees," King Arthur's Round Table was made from oak and oak was even associated with kings of the gods like Zeus/Jupiter and Dagda the King of the Tuatha dé Danann.

The faces of the weirwoods described as "stern" fits the description of many of the faces of Stark kings in the crypts by Bran as stern. The heart tree in the Red Keep in King's Landing is an oak tree, and when Tyrion is reading and thinking about Aegon and his sisters and their dragons, he is sheltering under an oak. The tree isn't a weirwood connected with the First Men and by extension the Starks, but an oak connected with Targaryens.

There is also the story of the Oak King who is reborn during winter after the Holly King dies. As Aemon said "kill the boy and let the man be born." While he is "dead", Jon is revealed the truth of his heritage. Jon Snow, son of Eddard Stark dies so Jon, son of Rhaegar Targaryen is born.

The tree being described as angry will likely describes Jon's emotional state once he wakes up after learning this knowledge. Learning the truth that he had been lied to his whole life by the man he prided on being his father, that his identity he had grown comfortable with as Ned's bastard son is a lie and that he is heir to a disgraced house, the grandson of Mad King Aerys with his origins sparking the war of Robert's Rebellion will undoubtedly make him understandably upset and angry. It would be best described as Daenerys often put it "waking the dragon" in every sense of the term in that Jon's Targaryen identity is revealed and the anger from the revelation.

The "wounds as fresh as the men who carved it" could refer to the wounds left by Marsh and Co. with their daggers. With all the anger, and no one to confide such information to, Jon will find an outlet.

[spearcast]

"Careful! This rose has quite a few thorns!"

If anyone remembers my overwatch oc................. I'd say you've been here too long but that really wasn't THAT long ago lmao

As always Rosalie got a bit of a makeover and redo when it comes to her background and general info!!! More under the read moreeee

A lot of her story is still the same. Her dad was still part of Overwatch (and before that was in the soldier enhancement program (SEP) alongside Jack Morrison and Gabriel Reyes), her mom was still a renowned botanist and geneticist, and it's still just Rosalie and her sisters left out of her whole family.

Stephen (aka Jupiter- we're going with the Roman deity/planet theme here!) was the test subject the SEP used to see just how super-strong a human could get. Thankfully, he was one of the few test subjects of that era to survive. I haven't worked out his other abilities, but he's almost as strong as Reinhardt, just in a smaller build. (Smaller compared to Rein, he's almost Doomfist's height!) He met Dione, his wife, before he joined up with the SEP- they already had their first daughter Sarah when the omnic crisis broke out. The testing was supposed to have made him sterile, but thst was proven wrong- not once, but twice!

He died under mysterious circumstances (he was killed by the person who blew up Overwatch HQ, all for getting too close to the truth) a few days before the destruction of OVW HQ. After both of these tragic events, Dione moved her kids from Philadelphia to her grandfather's home in Italy, near Rome. It is there that Rosalie got the idea for Venus/Aphrodite as a heroic visage, following in her father's footsteps. It was thst day when she was out with Mallory that they returned home only to find their mother and grandfather dead, and their eldest sister Sarah missing. From clues and eventual admission, she learned it was all done by Talon. This is when her true vigilante life began and she learned to use her power for good.

She's a little older in this iteration, only a few years younger than Cassidy and Mercy, and therefore grew up around heroes the way Pharah did- and the two of them were exceptionally close! And of COURSE, you won't have Rosalie Noble without McNoble Nobledy!!!

(This v is just a redraw of an old art smh sorry)

[sshbpodcast]

Tales from the Holodeck: VOY Fanfic: Jake’s Teleplay

It's that time again. It's A Star to Steer Her By's 7th anniversary, and [not so] coincidentally Star Trek's 57th! Slightly more coincidentally, we also just wrapped our watch-through of Star Trek: Voyager! Not only can you check out our favorite and least favorite episodes, but you can also peruse our latest celebratory fanfic!

Scroll on below to read the latest installments from our annual "Tales from the Holodeck" writing challenge, and follow along with our cold reads on this week's podcast episode (this one's at 03:33). We present to you Jake's tender and haunting tale of holograms and heart. It's the slash we didn't know we needed.

[images © Paramount/CBS]

"Hollow Gestures"

By Jake

Random picks: Reginald Barclay, Lewis Zimmerman

SCENE 1 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

Fade up to reveal the laboratory of LEWIS ZIMMERMAN aboard Jupiter Station. The camera pans around the disordered lab. Stacks of PADDs littered about, half-eaten trays of food. A menagerie of holographic creatures find perches amongst the clutter. The camera stops on the visage of a middle-aged, balding man, the EMH. The EMH stands still, expressionless; lifeless.

ZIMMERMAN (O.S.): Computer, initialize EMH.

The computer chirps in acknowledgement. Suddenly, the EMH comes to life.

EMH: Please state the nature of the medical emergency.

ZIMMERMAN, nearly identical in appearance to the EMH except for a hint of stubble, walks into frame, assessing the EMH.

ZIMMERMAN: I have acute stabbing pains in my chest, shortness of breath, and my left arm is numb and tingling.

The EMH, seemingly unfazed by the otherwise alarming symptoms, calmly picks up a tricorder off of a nearby table and begins scanning ZIMMERMAN.

EMH: There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with you. Please take an anti-inflammatory and return in four hours if your symptoms persist.

ZIMMERMAN: Doctor, I really think something is wrong, and I have a strong sense of impending dread.

EMH: (flatly) You could be experiencing a mild panic attack. I recommend taking slow, deep breaths until the feeling subsides.

ZIMMERMAN: (annoyed) Don't you understand?! I'm dying. I'm GOING. TO. DIE. Right now. Do something!

The EMH again glances at the tricorder. Looks up.

EMH: Your scans are inconsistent with a prognosis of imminent death. If these symptoms persist I can prescribe a light sedative.

ZIMMERMAN: (exasperated) Computer, deactivate EMH.

The EMH fades out. Zimmerman falls into a chair and slumps. He picks up a nearby PADD, glances at it, and chucks it across the lab, frightening a cat.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm sorry, Felix.

The cat runs over and hops up onto ZIMMERMAN's lap.

FELIX: Don't mention it, Doc. You'll get there.

ZIMMERMAN pats FELIX, who begins to purr. The comm unit on ZIMMERMAN's desk chimes. He taps it aggressively.

ZIMMERMAN: What is it?!

HALEY (O.S.): Your two o'clock is here. Do you need a moment?

ZIMMERMAN: Already?!

ZIMMERMAN brushes some crumbs off of his uniform and halfheartedly pats down his hair.

ZIMMERMAN: (sighs) Send him in.

A moment later, BARCLAY slinks in carrying a PADD. He glances around the lab in a mixture of awe and fear, as if he's about to meet the great and powerful Oz.

ZIMMERMAN: I apologize for the state of the lab.

BARCLAY: Oh, it's q-quite alright, uh, Sir.

ZIMMERMAN: …And you are?

BARCLAY: (suddenly unsure) Uh, Reginald. Lieutenant Reginald B-Barclay, sir. I was supervising the EMH integration on the Intrepid?

ZIMMERMAN: Ok, Lieutenant. And what can I do for you?

BARCLAY: I'm, uh, I'm here to deliver the field reports from the shakedown?

ZIMMERMAN: Something wrong with subspace?

BARCLAY: Sir?

ZIMMERMAN: I asked why you were here.

BARCLAY: Oh, right. Um. I was in the neighborhood.

ZIMMERMAN: Of Jupiter… right.

ZIMMERMAN holds out his hand. BARCLAY looks confused, but after a second it clicks. He hands ZIMMERMAN the PADD. ZIMMERMAN begins reading it.

BARCLAY: The integration was a complete success. You'll see the treatment outcomes and diagnostic accuracy are in the ni- ninety-eighth percentile compared to organic doctors… (beat) I'm a g-great admirer of your work, Doctor. I read your paper on multiplex matrix pipelining. It's revolutionary. And the EMH is an-

ZIMMERMAN holds up his hand to silence BARCLAY. It works.

ZIMMERMAN: Who wrote this?!

BARCLAY: I- I did, sir.

ZIMMERMAN: And these field reports, they came from actual EMH patients?

BARCLAY: Yes, of course. I mean: yes.

ZIMMERMAN: (quoting) Insipid demeanor? Klingonesque bedside manner?! Emergency medical hothead?!! And you call this complete success?

BARCLAY: Those are just a f-few of the more… uh.. colorful? responses. The vast majority were far more… di- diplomatic?

ZIMMERMAN: More diplomatic!? This is an utter failure!

ZIMMERMAN slams the PADD onto his desk. He taps the comm unit.

ZIMMERMAN: Haley, when is the next EMH integration scheduled?

HALEY (O.S.): The Voyager EMH is scheduled to be integrated at Utopia Planitia in six weeks.

ZIMMERMAN wipes his face with both hands, thinks.

ZIMMERMAN: Contact Starfleet. Inform them that EMH will be delayed. Indefinitely… Pending complete overhaul. And advise them to deactivate the Intrepid's EMH until further notice.

HALEY (O.S.): Doctor? Are you sure you want me…

ZIMMERMAN: That is what you're here for, isn't it?

ZIMMERMAN again taps the comm unit, deactivating it. He cups his hands over his face. BARCLAY stands motionless, unsure if he should say anything. After a moment, ZIMMERMAN looks up.

ZIMMERMAN: Is there something else?

BARCLAY: I was just saying that I'm a great admirer of your work, and the EMH is a truly monumental achievement.

ZIMMERMAN again picks up the PADD.

ZIMMERMAN: Clearly…

He tosses the PADD into a nearby pile.

BARCLAY: (reassuringly) It really is. The sheer density of the matrix is beyond anything that's been done before.

ZIMMERMAN: That's the problem. It's too dense. I had to cut out all "non-essential" subroutines just to fit in the medical library. I asked it to tell me a joke and it diagnosed me with tuberculosis! It has no personality! No creativity! No humanity!!

BARCLAY considers whether he should say something… does.

BARCLAY: Sir. I've been thinking a lot about the field reports. And I want to help. And I think… maybe I can?

ZIMMERMAN: You. You can help me?

BARCLAY: Yes. I have quite a bit of experience with holo-programming, myself. When I was given this assignment I assumed I would be assisting-

ZIMMERMAN: I neither need, nor want, an assistant. Never have.

BARCLAY: (dejected) Right. Of. Of course not.

ZIMMERMAN: Thank you for delivering the good news. That'll be all.

ZIMMERMAN curtly gestures toward the door while turning his attention back to his console. BARCLAY, nearly in tears, exits.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 2 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

ZIMMERMAN sits at his desk tapping on a computer console with one hand while studying a PADD with another. He appears disheveled; his hair is unkempt, his stubble has blossomed into the beginnings of a beard. He hasn't left the lab in days. HALEY enters carrying a tray of food. She brushes aside some clutter and places the tray down.

HALEY: Are you still reading that thing?

ZIMMERMAN reads aloud from the PADD.

ZIMMERMAN: "During a simulated trauma exercise, the EMH attempted to console a double-amputee by informing her that halitosis is curable condition and recommended a sonic periodontal de-scaler." (sighs) I created a sociopath!

HALEY: …This isn't healthy.

ZIMMERMAN: Oh, are you a doctor now, too?

HALEY: (ignoring him) He called again this morning. Asked for another meeting.

ZIMMERMAN: Can't the man take a hint? What'd you tell him?

HALEY: I told him four o'clock today.

ZIMMERMAN: (aghast) You what?!

HALEY: And you should change that shirt before he gets here.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 3 - INT LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

Later that day. The lab is a bit tidier. Zimmerman is wearing a clean shirt, and has shaved. BARCLAY enters, carrying another PADD.

BARCLAY: Th- Thank you for seeing me again, Doctor.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm quite busy, Barclay.

BARCLAY: I just wanted to give you this.

BARCLAY hands ZIMMERMAN the PADD.

ZIMMERMAN: (sarcastically) What's this, another round of fan mail?

BARCLAY: It's a p-paper I wrote that I think may be able to help you with the EMH.

ZIMMERMAN looks at the PADD, reading the title.

ZIMMERMAN: You can't be serious.

BARCLAY: I- I am.

ZIMMERMAN: How is this, in any way, supposed to help with the EMH?

BARCLAY: If you read on, you'll see that the adaptive personality algorithms-

ZIMMERMAN: Will create a psychopath!

BARCLAY: No! I mean-

ZIMMERMAN: Listen, I've read all about this. I don't think there's any holo-engineer in the quadrant who hasn't. You're talking about using subroutines from a dangerous, rogue program. No. Absolutely not! This thing tried to commandeer a starship… twice! What possible use could this be for a medical program?

BARCLAY: (assertively) Moriarty only did those things because of the way he was written! He was based on a character from an old-earth mystery story-

ZIMMERMAN: I know what Sherlock Holmes is.

BARCLAY: (embarrassed) Of course. (earnestly) Moriarty was the villain of the story. It was a core component of his personality subroutines. That's why he went rogue. But the adaptive subroutines can be isolated and generalized to any holo-matrix, including the EMH! If you'd just read my paper, I-

ZIMMERMAN: (resigned) I have read it, Lieutenant.

BARCLAY: (surprised) Y- You have?

ZIMMERMAN: Yes. It's… brilliant. It's why I requested you be transferred to Jupiter Station.

BARCLAY: (dumbstruck) You… Re- Requested, me?

ZIMMERMAN: Last week I told you that I never needed an assistant. That's not entirely true. Early in the development of the EMH I had an assistant. Well, a partner, really. A lot of my early successes; the animals, the EMH prototypes… even Haley, were as much his work as mine. He had a mastery with personality subroutines that I just could never match.

BARCLAY: What happened to him?

ZIMMERMAN: He decided that working for Starfleet was squandering his talents so he left. Now he's off making piles of latinum writing holo-novels for overgrown man-children. And I just carried on without him. I named the cat after him. (beat.) When I read your Moriarty paper, it was the first time in a long time that I felt like I'd found… an equal.

BARCLAY is speechless.

ZIMMERMAN: Listen… I would never admit this to anybody, but sometimes I feel like… like a fraud.

BARCLAY: No! Of course not!

ZIMMERMAN: It's just that my entire career I've been regarded as this virtuoso. The EMH is supposed to be my magnum opus. I've spent years compiling the database. Building thousands of subroutines. And this is what I created?! This failure? This joke?

BARCLAY struggles to think of some way to respond.

BARCLAY: If you'd b- be willing… It'd be my privilege to stay and do whatever I can to help.

ZIMMERMAN looks up, assesses BARCLAY.

ZIMMERMAN: Very well…

FADE OUT.

SCENE 4 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

Several weeks have passed. BARCLAY and ZIMMERMAN are working together, sitting at the main lab console. Both men appear completely changed; upbeat and productive. Functioning like a well-oiled machine. The lab has been completely cleared of clutter.

BARCLAY: (considering) Do you think it's too much?

ZIMMERMAN: Hmm…

ZIMMERMAN taps the comm unit.

ZIMMERMAN: Haley, could you come in for a moment?

HALEY appears in the door.

ZIMMERMAN: Haley, what would you think of a singing doctor?

HALEY: (considering) Well… I'm not sure.

BARCLAY: How about dancing?

HALEY: Singing, maybe. Not dancing.

BARCLAY: That's what I was thinking, too.

ZIMMERMAN: Thank you, dear.

HALEY: (rolls her eyes) Any time.

HALEY exits. BARCLAY and ZIMMERMAN continue their work. As they do, BARCLAY enters some commands into his console.

BARCLAY: Computer, activate EMH.

The EMH appears.

EMH: Please state the nature of the medical emergency.

BARCLAY: There's no emergency. Could you sing us a song.

EMH: I'm a doctor, not a jukebox!

ZIMMERMAN: Humor us…

The EMH looks mildly annoyed, but obliges.

EMH: (singing) Oh my darlin' Oh my darlin' Oh my darlin', Clementine You are lost and gone forever Dreadful sorrow, Clementine

ZIMMERMAN: What song is that?

EMH: (overlapping) In a cavern, in a canyon Excavating for a mine Dwelt a miner-

BARCLAY: That? oh… it's an old Earth song. Don't remember where I heard it.

BARCLAY: Computer, deactivate EMH.

The EMH looks briefly shocked and offended before vanishing.

ZIMMERMAN: A little grim, don't you think?

BARCLAY: I don't know. I've always found it… hauntingly beautiful.

ZIMMERMAN smiles at this, as if his heart grew a size or two.

ZIMMERMAN: You're just full of surprises, Mr. Barclay.

BARCLAY blushes. FELIX hops up on the desk and knocks over a glass of water in front of BARCLAY

BARCLAY: Felix! be careful!

FELIX: Sorry, Reg.

BARCLAY sops up the spilled water with a nearby napkin and scritches FELIX behind the ear.

ZIMMERMAN: These new adaptive subroutines are working wonderfully. We've reduced the matrix size by nearly forty percent! You know, we may actually make the deadline for the Voyager EMH, after all. (beat) I was thinking, Reg, although it's only designed for emergency use, I could see a next-generation EMH being capable of long-term operation.

BARCLAY: I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. With a few minor adjustments, I could see an EMH being able to remain active indefinitely.

ZIMMERMAN: (after a beat) How would you feel about dinner? There's a half-decent Vulcan bistro on the amenities level.

BARCLAY: D- Dinner?

ZIMMERMAN: (covering) To celebrate our breakthrough!

BARCLAY: Oh, right. Yeah, of course. I don't think I've ever had Vulcan food.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 5 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

The following day. ZIMMERMAN jaunts into the lab, humming "Clementine". Haley is milling about, watering the plants.

HALEY: Good morning, Doctor.

ZIMMERMAN: (uncharacteristically chipper) Morning, dear.

HALEY: (coyly) How was your dinner with Lieutenant Barclay last night?

ZIMMERMAN eyes HALEY suspiciously.

ZIMMERMAN: It was fine. Why do you ask?

HALEY: Come now, Lewis. I've seen the way you look at him…

ZIMMERMAN: (defensively) You see too much! Perhaps I should turn you into a Tiberian bat!

HALEY: I know you don't mean that. I'll just mind my own business.

ZIMMERMAN: Good. (beat) Reg and I have a professional, working relationship.

HALEY shrugs and smiles to herself; she returns to watering the plants. ZIMMERMAN sits at his desk and begins poking at his computer console. After a moment, HALEY goes to leave. As she does, BARCLAY enters.

HALEY: Good morning… (with emphasis on:) Reg.

BARCLAY: Hi, H- Haley.

BARCLAY settles in at the desk opposite ZIMMERMAN. He has an apprehensiveness to him.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm sorry, again, about last night. I had no idea the Redspice Curry would be so spicy.

BARCLAY: Don't m- mention it. It was fine.

ZIMMERMAN: I had a thought about the LMH last night. When we make our proposal to Starfleet Medical I want you to lead the presentation, then I'll come in with the technical details to really drive it home. The old one-two punch!

BARCLAY: That's-

BARCLAY stops mid-sentence and shifts in discomfort.

ZIMMERMAN: …Is something wrong, Reg?

BARCLAY: It's… It's nothing, really.

BARCLAY stands and paces nervously.

BARCLAY: Actually, it isn't.

ZIMMERMAN: (concerned) Go on.

BARCLAY: When I woke up this morning there was a subspace message. (the most pregnant of pauses) I've been reassigned.

ZIMMERMAN is shaken by this.

ZIMMERMAN: Reassigned? That's ridiculous! Where to?

BARCLAY: They want me back on the Enterprise. Well… I guess it's not back, technically… it's the new Enterprise. They want me for the outfitting and sh- shakedown.

ZIMMERMAN: But you can't leave now! We're just getting started!

BARCLAY: I knew this was coming. This assignment was always temporary while the Enterprise was being built.

ZIMMERMAN taps the comm unit.

ZIMMERMAN: Haley, get me someone at Starfleet command.

HALEY (O.S.): Starfleet command? Like… an admiral?

BARCLAY: (interjecting) No, H- Haley. Don't do that.

BARCLAY taps ZIMMERMAN's comm unit. ZIMMERMAN looks at BARCLAY confused.

ZIMMERMAN: (hurt) You… want to leave?

BARCLAY: I- I don't- really. But- (beat) The crew of the Enterprise is like family. They've saved me more times than I can count. I have to do this.

ZIMMERMAN, crestfallen, slumps back into his chair.

ZIMMERMAN: But what about us? I mean, what about our work?

BARCLAY: I'm sure you can finish without me. You said yourself that the EMH is nearly ready.

ZIMMERMAN: What about the LMH? That's as much your idea as it mine. I thought we'd be building it together!

BARCLAY: We can continue to collaborate over subspace. And I w- will come back and visit as soon as I can.

ZIMMERMAN stares off, dejected.

ZIMMERMAN: When do you leave?

BARCLAY: I've been ordered to report to Utopia Planetia by nineteen-hundred hours.

ZIMMERMAN: Today?! (curtly) Well… you'd better go pack.

ZIMMERMAN stands and extends his hand. After a beat, BARCLAY shakes it.

BARCLAY: I just want to say that I ap- preciate the opportunity you gave me. It's been an honor w- working with you, Doctor.

ZIMMERMAN grunts and nods. He sits and turns his attention to his computer console and begins punching out commands.

BARCLAY slowly turns and exits. After a beat, ZIMMERMAN angrily sweeps his hand across his desk, scattering its contents to the floor. HALEY appears in the doorway.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 6 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

Later that same day. ZIMMERMAN stands in his lab, looking contented.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm really glad you changed your mind.

Pan to BARCLAY, standing opposite ZIMMERMAN.

BARCLAY: I just couldn't leave with unfinished work. When I explained the situation to Captain Picard, he was more than understanding.

ZIMMERMAN: He couldn't have been happy to lose you.

BARCLAY smiles at this.

BARCLAY: I'm sure they'll manage. (beat) …About something you said earlier…

ZIMMERMAN: Hmm?

BARCLAY: About us.

ZIMMERMAN: Oh.

BARCLAY: No… it's just. I don't- (composing his thoughts) I've never felt comfortable with people. I've always been a bit of an outcast in a way; struggling to find where I fit in. Even on the Enterprise it took me a long time to earn the respect of my peers. But even then, I never felt like they truly understood me. And these past few weeks- (trailing off)

ZIMMERMAN: (tenderly) We're a lot alike, Reg. Before I met you, my only friends were my own creations.

BARCLAY: The way I've felt since I arrived here and met you. Well. I finally feel like I've found where I belong. (beat) The truth is… I didn't just stay here for the work… Lewis.

BARCLAY reaches out and takes ZIMMERMAN'S hand. The men's eyes meet. BARCLAY takes a small step toward ZIMMERMAN and leans forward. ZIMMERMAN nervously leans in. Their lips are inches apart when-

The comm unit beeps and ZIMMERMAN pulls away. The moment is gone. ZIMMERMAN angrily smashes the comm unit.

ZIMMERMAN: What is it?!

HALEY (O.S.): I just wanted to let you know that the shuttle to Mars is leaving in fifteen minutes.

ZIMMERMAN: And??

HALEY (O.S.): I just wasn't sure if you wanted to-

ZIMMERMAN: I'm quite busy right now, and I don't wish to be disturbed!

ZIMMERMAN hits the comm unit. He paces, frustrated. He turns back to BARCLAY who looks at ZIMMERMAN sheepishly.

BARCLAY: Lewis-

ZIMMERMAN: (brusquely) Computer, deactivate Barclay hologram.

BARCLAY vanishes. After a moment:

ZIMMERMAN: Computer. (beat.) Delete Barclay hologram.

The computer chirps in acknowledgement. ZIMMERMAN collapses into his chair in despair. He glances around the empty lab. FELIX meows and brushes against ZIMMERMAN's leg. ZIMMERMAN pats the cat.

THE END

—

Don't forget to also check out Caitlin, Ames, and Chris's stories from this year's Star Trek Day festivities. And next week, you definitely don't want to miss when we finally start in on Star Trek: Enterprise over on SoundCloud or wherever you get your podcasts, keep your eyes here for a new series of posts on the blog, hang out with us on Facebook and Twitter, and seize love while you have it (or at least make a hologram about it).

[bitdemonic]

Hi hun! Love your content and the dark, sexy vibes of your blog. Could I have the ms. monroe and a red head slut specials?

AK ~ Taurus 🌞, Scorpio 🌙, Cancer ⬆️

thank you for the time and patience mama💗 here you gooo

𝐧𝐨. 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 — 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞?

🃏 five of cups. the devil rx. king (rx) and queen of cups.

in correspondence with the bottom half, you’re adaptable to wants and needs. the allocation of freedom is apart of your sexual pleasure, very planet uranus. with that, i believe it’s your attention span that’s the hook-line and sinker. to be honest, it’s all about the emotional setting—funnily enough, i wanted to insert ‘cancer moon vibes’ but remembered that you’re a cancer rising lol. so with that, it’s confirmed that intuition and sentimental response go hand in hand.

there’s a state of vulnerability here, in all of these cards the masculine is succumbing to the feminine. at her knees, buried between her breasts, etc. and sidenote, as a cancer big three myself, i’m aware that our melons be melon-ing lmaooo—basically, it’s suggested that your figure is a prominent feature as well. that’s the third time the shape of your body has been pointed out, there’s something about it that is prominent and a turn on. inner jupiter placements?

“withholding yourself.” i’m hearing celibacy? if not, i think you’re capable of rejecting or disregarding sexual matters and that in itself is attractive. if that doesn’t resonate, something specific about your sexual mindset is significant. if anything, i feel like you’re about temptation’s restraint. the king of cups in reverse, making those who’re used to holding the reins hand them over to you. forcing them to wait, leaving anticipation to swallow up the remnants of their sanity. ngl, this is v sexy lmao. it’s giving temptress, or the siren of perseverance.

𝐧𝐨. 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 — 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?

🃏 ace of swords rx. the chariot rx. seven of swords. the tower rx.

with the four of wands showing her face, i heard the word “fertile.” this is going to sound crass, but the first thing i thought of is being able to catch a load and reproduce—all due respect ofc. it is seen as a sexual talent though, the attainability of getting pregnant. if they’re unwanted, i def recommend protection bc children are for sure on your bucket list lmao. if pregnancy isn’t achievable (💞), i considered this to also mean enjoying the act of swallowing or having a creampie fetish—a celebration of life.

the seven of swords tripped me up at first, but then spirit sent in extra clarification—5ow rx, 8ow, the fool card—and i channeled the message instantly. you’re capable of stealing someone’s partner. point blank, whether that be from using mind, body, or both. “charmer.” i have an inkling that you’re capable of telepathy, that it’s easy to read inbetween the blurred lines. it’s easy to pinpoint their interests, the traits of their secret desires. able to become “the one”, a specific persona that’ll leave them head over heels. wooed right out their relationships. not necessarily sexual, but that’s why it is.

to be honest, the surrounding aura reminds me of a libra’s stereotypical behavior. “people pleaser,” but not in the sense of putting their needs above your own, more-so you’re adamant on giving them a good time. emotional needs are met, the moon’s influence is here. “warped.” with the ghost card, you’re practically a silhouette in the bedroom. luring them in with the outline of seduction, artemis in aphrodite’s slip. the goddess of hunt, leading lovers into the trap of their own visage. being sexual isn’t even the talent, becoming a mirage is.

end.❤️‍🔥

@lolita-bonita

[svndrenched]

her spine is made of pipe cleaners

[urdamage]

✧ you only had to know jupiter bernstein for five minutes to discover that he was a massive believer in fate , and in the stars working to guide you to the exactly place you needed to be . he didn’t quite believe that everything happened for a reason , but his strange sort of self made spirituality had him believing that there was always something that was happening for a very specific reason . 

the killers’ attacks should never have happened , none of them , not the very first one that started with claudia and otis losing their lives , not the one that jupiter and noah had to endure together , and not the latest one that had taken place on halloween night . despite this , jupiter liked to believe that he had endured such horrors alongside of noah because they needed their connection to help each other through the aftermath . 

noah’s friendship had come into jupiter’s life for a very specific reason , jupiter would never not take that as absolute fact . jupiter had always been fond of noah , enjoying their interactions at snapshot , appreciating the clever mind that noah had that jupiter could freely question and learn from . noah was one of the last people who jupiter wanted to have to endure trauma at the hands of the vicious shrike killers , but if there was going to be anyone who jupiter had to heal with , it was noah . 

there was comfort in his presence , comfort that jupiter was so glad to have back . even though noah had left shrike , even though he had stayed away from the tortured town for some time and even though jupiter had been content with the idea of noah getting away safely , jupiter strangely found comfort in knowing that he hadn’t been attacked alone . he thought he was content with that comfort , but having noah around once more , being able to wrap his arms around his frame and squeeze him tight , now that was true comfort . 

✧ jupiter bernstein moodboard 06/?? ✧ featuring noah cohen ( @noahcohen ).  ✧ freddie’s twelve days of moodboards 03/12

[caelcstis]

more smut sentences. // @r3dblccd ❛ i'll take good care of you, i promise. ❜ (from Minsung to Jupiter huehuehue)

' you're being pretty bold now. '

as confident as jupiter wanted to come off as, his laughter was still shaky. it wasn't that he didn't believe minsung, and it wasn't that he didn't trust him; but he'd been burned enough in past relationships. it put them off too many times that he gave up often with sex. if it was going to be anything, it was more often times a quick one night stand anymore. maybe he'd been more nervous than he'd like to admit. even as his throat bobbed as he swallowed down the saliva and nausea trying to pry its way up his esophagus, he tried to feign some sort of confidence or cockiness to himself.

cool fingers brushed underneath the waistband of minsung's jeans and he lightly tugged him closer. he peered over the rims of his glasses, taking in his flushed visage. they were both excited, and maybe minsung was just as nervous as jupiter was. so far to the point his ears were ringing as well, and maybe it felt like his heart was going to burst out from his chest.

' you can tell me if you want to stop. . . ' he reassured, ' at any time. '

because there wasn't a point in this if both parties weren't interested anymore. even if it had jupiter's heart falling right out of his ass if he heard that minsung was put off on not having his surgeries, or if he "didn't match".

smiling crookedly, jupiter tipped his chin up enough to press a damp kiss to soft lips. ' i want to spoil you a little though, okay? ' he managed a small pout and batted his thick lashes behind his glasses. as he tried to con minsung into his little act, his hand roamed deeper underneath the confining fabrics of his jeans and between his legs.

' you're always treating me, it's only fair . . . '

[livincrans]

Jeudi soir. Une fois de plus, Marie nous avait concocté un dîner de roi pour fêter le retour de Vitaly, le compagnon de Zoé.

Coutumier du fait, Alex avait sélectionné un Pauillac et un Margaux proche de l'indécence. Une divine soirée en vérité. Pleine de rires, de joie, d'amitié...

Petit dormeur depuis l'école de recrue, je me levai à l'aube du vendredi. Je consultai mes emails, épluchai mes alertes immobilières avant de jeter un coup d'œil aux actualités.

Les urubus des chaînes d'information relayaient déjà en boucle l'inconcevable. Le déluge d'Al-Aqsa qu'ils martelaient sans cesse, ravis de détenir là une punch line de premier ordre dont ils allaient pouvoir se gargariser à outrance.

Les visages de tous mes amis défilèrent sous mes yeux. Certains dont les familles avaient été décimées dans les camps durant les heures les sombres de l'hydre teuton. Mon cœur se serra en pensant à Vi. Aux siens sur lesquels s'abattait le déluge des assassins. Une chanson de Cesaria Evoria me revint en mémoire... Petit pays, je t'aime beaucoup. Petit petit, je l'aime beaucoup.

Un spleen incommensurable baigna ma journée de samedi. Zoé me dit que Vi est resté terré dans sa chambre.

Dimanche. Il fait encore nuit quand je réveille. Soucieux, j'allume la TV... De par sa phonétique amusante, ce mot est facilement mémorisé par tous les enfants persanophones. Il divertit les bambins autant qu'il terrorise les adultes. Zel-zela. Derrière ce mot à la consonance débonnaire, relevant presque de l'onomatopée, se terre l'épouvante. Zel-Zela. Dimanche. Les actualités. Le sort s'était à nouveau acharné sur le pays de mes parents. Ce pays meurtri où il faisait si bon vivre jusque dans les années soixante. Zel-Zela, tremblement de terre. Un séisme qui, en quelques minutes, a envoyé ad patres plus de 2500 miséreux dans la région d'Hérat. De crève-la-faim éreintés par une guerre sans fin. De laissés-pour-compte opprimés par des fascistes religieux.

Entre les tragédies ukrainiennes et israéliennes, je le sais, le monde ne lèvera pas un doigt pour Aryana. Si ce n'est le majeur.

Comme pour rappeler que ces afghans -un genre de bougnoule venu d'Asie mineure- alimentent l'ignoble flot migratoire qui déferle "chez nous" pour grignoter notre confort.

Petit pays, je t'aime beaucoup. Petit petit, je l'aime beaucoup. Petit pays, tout le monde s'en fout.

Jeudi, terrorisme en Israël. Jeudi, le jour de Jupiter, le roi des dieux. Jupiter, le père des Cieux.

Dimanche, terreur en Afghanistan. Dimanche, jour du seigneur. Dimanche, jour du Saigneur.

[tenjin-no-shinja]

Introduction

The Japanese Religious Blend Known as Shugendo

Though less widely known or practiced today than Buddhism or Shinto, shugendo was once a major force in Japan...Its practitioners, called shugenja, once provided the healing and spiritual services required by isolated communities. They also organized commercial markets and guided worshippers on pilgrimage...known more commonly as yamabushi (“one who lies down in the mountain”), were itinerant, usually unordained monks.

—Pages 24-25

Their struggle for enlightenment is embodied in their most important gods, Fudo Myō-o and Zao Gongen. Zao is a Japanese deity who first appeared on Mount Yoshino, where En no Gyoja was performing a thousand-day ascetic practice. The story recorded in a thirteenth-century work says that the Buddha appeared to him in turn as Shakyamuni, Kannon, and Maitreya. En no Gyoja rejected this, saying that the visage was too gentle for converting the evil world to Buddhism. So the god was transformed into the terrible figure of Zao with his arm raised in anger, his foot poised to strike the ground, his eyes ablaze, and flames shooting up around him.

—Page 25

Confucianism and Its Impact on Religion and Governance 

...The greatest impact was on the ruling elite, who adopted its five tenets on the proper relationships between ruler and vassal; parent and child; husband and wife; elder and younger sibling; and friends...It includes a code of morality that emphasizes truthfulness, intelligence, sincerity, virtuousness, and obedience. The emphasis in Japan on ancestor worship, praying in front of an urn holding the ashes of the deceased, and the idea of heavenly and earthy kami are also influences of Confucianism.

—Pages 25-26

...In pre-medieval times it acted as a philosophical underpinning to kami worship, providing instruction on the proper way to live. Such considerations were lacking in kami worship—which was primarily oriented toward ritual for protecting the state and the emperor, protecting the crops from damage, and protecting the community from plagues and other forms of disaster. Though the Kojiki and Nihon shoki contain some limited moral allegory, there is nothing in the way of an ethical doctrine. Because Confucianism had few deities of its own, there was no obstacle to Shinto importing its precepts from the standpoint of belief in kami. Conversely, as a systematic and practical philosophy concerned with the reality of the world, Confucianism had little patience with religion... The anti-Buddhist bias found an ally in Shinto during the late Edo period.

—Page 26

The Japanese style of Divination Called Onmyodo

...In essence, onmyodo is Japanese divination based primarily on a combination of Chinese, five phase (or five-element) theory and yin/yang. The latter is a cosmology of balance between constantly cycling opposites, embodied in the familiar black and white symbol called the tai-ji...Five-phase theory is based on the “elements” of  water, fire, wood, earth, and metal.  The theory extended to every aspect of the physical world.  For example, what was identified with birth, Jupiter, the east and so on. Knowledge of the proper use of materials, colors, or sounds could produce the correct alignment of forces and a positive outcome to any endeavor.

—Page 27

Shinto Today

...Shinto has no council of leaders deciding how doctrines should be interpreted or how they should be applied to present-day moral or political issues. There are no dictates about what one should or shouldn’t believe, but there are practices aimed at developing the right way to live, which can be described as developing purity of heart, brightness of character, thankfulness, and reverence for the kami. The positive or negative influence of the kami on daily life is considered the result of our reverence or neglect of them. Importance is placed on the correct ritual acts toward the kami and the correct attitude toward life. There are also accepted practices on the proper rate to venerate the gods in general and for venerating specific deities at specific locations. As far as the general public goes, such acts will usually involve the type of simple visitation and prayer described previously...

—Page 29

The Shinto Priesthood

Many Shinto priests serve only part time and many serve voluntarily. They are not cloistered, do not wear priestly garb outside of official duties and are free to marry. There are approximately twenty-two thousand licensed priests serving about eighty thousand shrines. This means that about two-thirds of all shrines are unmanned on a full-time basis. There are also certain rites traditionally performed by community members, most of which are related to festivals; however cleaning and daily offerings are also performed by them at unmanned shrines.

—Page 30

The daily schedule begins with cleaning the shrine grounds and buildings early in the morning. After that, a ceremony of the daily offering of food and drink for the kami is conducted, including reading of the Oharae no kotoba (purification prayer). First the area and the participants are purified in a ceremony called shubatsu. Offerings are placed on small tables within the haiden, on the steps in front of the honden, or some other designated place. They will usually consist of a rice wine called miki, rice, salt, and water. The food offering, called shinsen, is made once in the morning and possibly once in the evening, depending on the shrine. On special feast days mochi, fish, seaweed, vegetables, fruit, and confections may also be offered. The offerings are withdrawn in the evening and thanks given for divine protection.

—Pages 30-31

[avispatr]

Entertaining as it would be to ignore the request of being summoned, Octavia knew better. It's never been within her comfort zone to be left alone with members of the family ; let alone her own Grandfather whose she's scarcely met beyond her father's interference. After all, it would have been considered rude to not see what the old man needed from her.

" You wished to speak with me, grandfather? "

He'd sit upon his throne, form consumed by that ancient darkness he used to communicate across the stars or to meditate in seclusion. The two dragon shaped heads would turn to face the princess, eyes shimmering a bright crimson as they began to loop around one another in a dance, the shadowy visage consolidating into a mass of shadow the form Paimon's was most known would emerge from.

The goetia King turned his head at the smaller owl. Her feathers were darker then even her father's had been. Oddly enough, she appeared more similar to him then either of her parents. How curious.

" Madam Octavia, my most serene and beautiful granddaughter. Welcome. I am pleased to have this moment with you. Please, accept this gift of mine for your trouble."

The butler imp who'd once had the privilege of raising Stolas would bring out a rare taxidermy, one of its kind as the creature it was formed from was not of this world or any known world to any aside from Paimon and his immediate circle. It had cat like features, with insectoid like eyes, and a rat's tail, its mouth wide and toothy, fur colored red as the storms that made up Jupiter.

" Can I procure any refreshments for you, perhap?"