#king comb icons

[soxsick]

reblog or just like.

[theroyalsims]

ROYAL WEDDING: WHICH TIARA WILL ANYA WEAR?

Aside from guessing which designer has been tapped to make Anya's dress, people are also taking bets on which tiara she'll wear on her big day!

The recent banquet only intensified people's curiosity over which tiara Anya will be wearing for her wedding. That's not exactly an easy decision to make, considering HRH has quite a lot of tiaras at her disposal. So here's a quick look at some of the sparklers that we *might* see atop HRH's head come her much-awaited wedding day. We split the tiaras under four categories: The Favourites, The Diamonds, The Necklaces, and The Emeralds, plus a bonus category!

THE FAVOURITES

The Brindleton Foliage Tiara

The diamond and ruby piece was given a rebirth by Queen Emilia when she dusted it off and had it repaired and slightly altered. The tiara, considered a blood princess tiara, can only be worn by blood princesses. It's been a hot minute since Her Majesty has worn the piece, and it's now perhaps more associated with The Crown Princess.

The Stafford Tiara

The impressive tiara, which features a graduating scroll motif, is an 18th birthday present by the Stafford Royal Family to the Crown Princess. Personally dubbed as "her favourite," HRH has worn it through the years, and she even wore it for her official portrait a few years ago. We won't be surprised if HRH picks this stunner for her royal wedding!

THE DIAMONDS

The Brindleton Comb Tiara

The Brindleton Comb Tiara is one of the most unique and versatile pieces in the royal collection. The all-diamond diadem is composed of three individual combs. Each can be worn individually, or they can be locked into place to form the tiara. HRH has worn it a couple of times, and she seems to prefer to wear all three combs in one go, making it seem like she has a halo of diamonds that goes all around her head.

Brindleton-Rennaux Tiara

Speaking of versatile, the latest tiara to join HRH's collection is also quite customisable, thanks to its removable central diamond, which can be replaced with accompanying "extra" stones. The piece has garnered the nickname "Brindleton-Rennaux Tiara." It was commissioned by Prince Jacques for Anya's thirtieth birthday. The diamonds used for the piece were derived from the private collection of Prince Jacques' mother, the late Queen Theodora of Rennaux.

THE NECKLACES

The Queen Astrid Necklace Tiara

This all-diamond tiara was an anniversary present to Queen Astrid (Anya's maternal great-grandmother) from her husband, King Frederik. It was originally meant to be a necklace, however, the late Queen commissioned the royal jewellers to transform it in such a way that it could be worn as a headpiece, too. The Crown Princess has worn the tiara twice - at Princess Katrine of Arendahl's wedding, and more recently during last week's Selvadoradan Banquet.

The Debonne Tiara

Another necklace-cum-tiara Anya seems to love is the Debonne Tiara. The piece was a present from Lady Amarie Debonne to the late Queen Astrid. It features a dainty floral motif, which includes diamonds and pearls. The headpiece is set in yellow gold and it matches Anya's engagement ring perfectly! HRH has also worn this tiara twice - first during her state visit to Tartosa, and she also wore it for her engagement photoshoot.

THE EMERALDS

Queen Ophelia’s Birthday Tiara 

This now-iconic tiara was a birthday present from King Leopold to his wife, Queen Ophelia. The piece is also very flexible, and can be worn with emerald pendants, pearl pendants, worn with just the diamond hoops. The Crown Princess has donned it a handful of times, and should she wear it for her wedding, it would be a wonderful way to honour her grandmother.

Brindleton Lace Tiara

According to Brindleton customs, brides are encouraged to wear emeralds on her wedding day for good luck, so The Brindleton Lace Tiara definitely fits the bill! It forms part of the Brindleton Emerald Parure, and most people probably remember it as the tiara that Anya "stole" from her sister Eleanore during the latter's wedding a couple of years ago. Whether or not Anya will be petty enough to wear it to her own wedding, guess we're going to have to wait and see!

Queen Emilia's Birthday Tiara

This meaningful diadem that features a large central emerald was an 18th birthday present from King Leopold to his daughter, then Crown Princess Emilia. Through the years, many royal heads have worn the tiara including Crown Princes Anya herself. There's a chance Anya might choose this as her wedding tiara given its relevance and history, and of course, as a way to honour her mum.

BONUS CATEGORY: THE HONOURABLE MENTIONS

While some say that brides should not wear pearls because their tear-shaped appearance symbolises tears to be shed due to a sad marriage, others claim that pearls are good luck and signify a fruitful and successful union. Some pearl tiaras that could be worn by Anya include The Queen Astrid Diamond and Pearl Tiara (L), which she wore to her visit to Selvadorada; The Brindleton Bow Pearl and Diamond Tiara (C) which features an array of suspended teardrop pearls; and the Brindleton Clam Tiara (R), which HRH once wore in an official portrait.

Of course, Anya could surprise us all and pull out a long-unseen tiara from deep within the royal vaults, or even a newly-commissioned piece for her wedding day! Either way, we're quite certain it'll be a stunner, just like all the other tiaras HRH has worn in the past.

One thing's certain, though. All this tiara talk has us desperate for more royal wedding updates!

[dimension20npcofalltime]

THE FINAL [Dimension 20 NPC of All Time]

Gilear Faeth vs Jawbone O'Shaughnessey

Propaganda under the cut

Jawbone O'Shaughnessey - He/Him

Campaign: Fantasy High, Dimension 20 LIVE, The Seven

Who is he?

Jawbone O'Shaughnessey is a werewolf and former drug dealer for The Black Pit. He is now employed as a guidance counselor at Aguefort Adventuring Academy.

Why is he the NPC of All Time?

"He’s a werewolf, he’s a punk, he wears cardigans. He’s here to fuck shit up and help children. He once have head to a border patrol agent with genital warts. He’s a former drug dealer, current school guidance counselor, and your friend’s hot adopted dad. He definitely had passionate sex with Garthy O’Brien at least once. He’ll jump into a dragon’s mouth to protect a bunch of high school kids after giving you a hug and an unethical amount of anxiety meds. What more do you need to know?"

Submitted by: Anonymous

Gilear Faeth - He/Him

Campaigns - Fantasy High, Dimension 20 LIVE, The Seven

Who is he?

Gilear Faeth is Fig Faeth's adoptive dad and Sandra Lynn Faeth's ex-husband. He is a wood elf who's lost some hair since his divorce and now wears it in a comb-over, which is a unique look on an elf. He's got a little bit of a paunch. He is often described as being sad and pitiable. He wears a short-sleeved king button up shirt which is often stained, usually with yogurt, but one time it was beans.

Why is he the NPC of All Time?

"Do I even need to elaborate?? If there was ever an NPC to NPC it is hands down no contest, announce it now the winner is Gilear. That man spilt so much pudding on himself, he died more times than I can remember, he fumbled the bag on like 3 milfs. An icon. A legend. The chosen one."

"For all the obvious reasons. Is the NPC of all time. He's a dad. His dad status was revoked and reinstated. He's has multiple jobs and job titles but always does the same thing which is mostly nothing. He's just some guy. He dies immediately. He's an integral part to the party because they made him so. Peak NPC."

"We have to let him have this one thing."

Submitted by: @unnatural-twenty, @legend-of-fall-damage, @priceforrottenjudgement and Anonymous

[emilybeemartin]

Inktober Days 22-24

Day 22: "Scratchy"

Saguaro, cholla, prickly pear, pincushion, hedgehog, barrel cactus—how magical are these amazing plants? Iconic, unique, perfectly tuned to their environment. The pleats on a saguaro help it bulge and shrink to accommodate water availability, and the inhospitable trunks provide shelter for desert birds. 

Saguaro NP produces some of my favorite educational videos in the system, thanks in part to Feature Fridays with Ranger Freddy Gutiérrez Fernández-Ramírez. Just to add to the scritchy-scratchy theme of this prompt, some of the more unusual videos featuring Ranger Freddy show how to remove jumping cholla barbs from your skin and clothes. Rangers in Saguaro carry hair combs in their first aid kits—and it’s not to fix flat-hat hair!

Day 23: "Celestial"

In recent decades, park managers have come to recognize natural soundscapes and pristine night skies as tangible resources, just like clean air, land, and water. As I was entering the NPS field, a big effort was kicking off to designate certain units as Dark Sky parks, and Big Bend is the king of them all. It has the lowest levels of light pollution of any park in the lower 48 and is famous across the NPS for its breathtaking starscapes.

Protecting natural darkness opens up amazing new opportunities for visitors and rangers. I love assisting with night sky programs, because I remember how I felt when I first traveled away from the greater I-85 corridor and saw my first pristine night sky. It’s a primordial type of magic to see stars unveiled from urban lights and humid haze. And the good news is, unlike other endangered resources, dark skies are salvageable. When towns and cities take steps to reduce their light and air pollution, there’s no slow, agonizing recovery—the stars come right back. They’re just up there, waiting to peek at us again.

Day 24: "Shallow"

I have to confess—I used to look down on Congaree, despite it being the only national park in my home state of South Carolina. I thought of it as muggy, buggy, and a bit boring. But when I was researching wetland habitat for A Field Guide to Mermaids, I was stunned to realize just how special this landscape is. Our country used to be covered in immense floodplain forests along river corridors, but the natural flood cycles that made these lowlands so fertile also meant the land was prized for agriculture. Rivers were straightened, forests were cut down, and the rich soil was planted with crops. Because of this, Congaree protects the largest swathe of bottomland floodplain forest left in the United States.

And it’s a gorgeous park, as well. There’s something evocative and eerie about walking the elevated boardwalks over tea-colored water. Spooky cypress knees reach up through the water like outstretched arms, and several massive national and state champion trees loom up out of the thick forest.

This park may not have the accolades some of the grander, more storied parks have, but I’m proud that it’s my home state’s park and glad that it protects one of the last intact forests of its kind.

------

Another big thank you to the folks who have preordered Thirty-One Days of National Parks: The Artbook! The Big Bend page features a little guide to starhopping from the Big Dipper out to other stars!

[alpineshift]

How aboooout my lucky number 16 and our favorite boys Jack and Nico the rest is wherever the world takes you!

your lucky #16!! most certainly 🥰🥰🥰

[16] a civilized throne room, lanterns lit on the walls leading up to the throne itself

This is the smallest Nico's ever felt in the throne room

For the longest time, the lone chair set up on the dias of the hall has sat empty, a symbol of a time past rather than a real icon of leadership, but apparently the kingless days are long past

Nico just didn't expect such an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from the Kingdom of Jersey to his ascension to the throne. He also really didn't expect them to take one look at him, a wood-wild, storm-chasing, battle-ragged infantry captain and declare him fit to rule a whole kingdom

(This is usually when Timo would smack him upside the head and say, "You've got royal blood in you, moron. A bit of mud on your face isn't going to erase any of that.")

So here he is. Shuffling restlessly through the hall, dressed in uncomfortably fancy robes, making awkward small talk. But it's so hard to focus when his mind keeps drifting back to his men beyond the walls, their encampment at the edge of the keep. Where his second-in-command, Red, would certainly be, and whom Nico would so much rather be with

Because, of course, he's a King now. And Kings are meant to marry politically allied partners to strengthen the Kingdom.

It's perhaps the only thing he selfishly can't let go of; Red's smile. Red by his side on the battlefield. Red carefully bandaging his wounds, his dark red cloak draped over Nico's shoulders to keep him warm. Red's tangled brown hair pulled back in a little pony, blue eyes shining as his gaze meets Nico's before their lips meet in a kiss

(Nico misses him so much--wishes he could just hold Red in his arms and disappear together instead)

"Look alive," Jonas mutters, nudging him as the heralding horns sound. Nico flinches, but straightens just in time for the doors to open and the Lord Stewart announces, "The Second Prince of Kingdom Hughes, betrothed of King Nico, Marksman of his infantry!"

And Nico's jaw drops as the Second Prince enters, amidst the awed murmurs of his people, dressed in court-appropriate attire, but decorated with a very familiar red cloak. He strides down throne hall, glowing under the light of the torches, his glossy brown hair cleaned and combed back. He stops in front of Nico and bows low, reverent. The hall follows suit.

"Hello, husband-to-be," Red (no, Jack) says, and Nico's heart pounds through his chest with anticipation and delight when he looks down into those beautiful lake-blue eyes once more.

it's almost hockey season again! send me a jacknico prompt?

[sasukesun]

(To save you the trouble of searching, here are the two manga covers that were mentioned)

Hi, I saw some ss fans saying that ss are inspired by Japanese mythology. According to them, Sakura shares many similarities with the goddess Konohana-Sakuya-hime because: 1)Sakuyahime is an icon of cherry blossoms, similar to the name and appearance of Sakura; 2)Sakuyahime often holds a cherry blossom branch in her left hand and a mirror in her right hand. In Chapter 50 of the Naruto manga, illustrated by Kishimoto, Sakura is depicted holding a comb with cherry blossom patterns in her left hand and a small square mirror in her right hand; 3)Konohana-sakuya-hime is also the goddess of Mount Fuji. Whenever she is saddened, she can make the volcano erupt. This is also a symbolic detail indicating Sakura's fiery temperament. 4)Konohana-Sakuya-hime symbolizes the life of humanity.This coincides with Sakura, the best medic nin of Konoha (in their opinion) Sasuke, on the other hand, draws significant inspiration from the deity Ninigi-no-Mikoto (Ninigi) because: 1) Ninigi is the son of Ame no Oshihomimi no Mikoto, the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, and the husband of the goddess Sakuyahime. 2) The name of the deity Ninigi-no-Mikoto translates to "The Child of the Sun of Many Talents". Similarly, Sasuke has been hailed as a prodigy of the Uchiha clan since his academy days. Even the Second Hokage acknowledges Sasuke's potential, comparing it to that of Uchiha Madara. 3) Amaterasu sends Ninigi down to Earth as the Descent from Heaven. In a parallel, Sasuke receives the "Heaven Seal" from Orochimaru in the Forest of Death during the Chunin Exams arc. 4) Ninigi, as the descendant of Amaterasu, brings Three Imperial Regalia to Japan to establish peace. One of these is the sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. Similarly, Sasuke possesses his own Kusanagi sword, which he wields consistently throughout the battles in the Naruto Shippuden series. And finally, the mythological element in SS. According to them, on the cover of Naruto manga volume 8?, there is an image of Sakura holding a paper fan (commonly referred to as Uchiha' symbol– a type of fan made from bamboo and Japanese paper) with the emblem of the Leaf Village Police Force (originally established by the Second Hokage and entrusted to the Uchiha clan to symbolize trust), standing by the seaside. In Japanese mythology, during a visit to the king's house shortly after Ninigi descended to the mortal realm, he met and fell in love with Konohana-sakuya-hime by the seaside. I know that SS fans often make up a lot of things, but when I checked the information through Google, it seems to be true :(. So, could you share your thoughts on this?

so what the information itself is true? the “connections” they make are superficial and cherrypicking and pretty much twisted to fit their own delusions.

1) Sakuyahime is an icon of cherry blossoms, similar to the name and appearance of Sakura

they know that sakura is a fairly common name in japan right? and also, appearance?

not really sure about that.

2) Sakuyahime often holds a cherry blossom branch in her left hand and a mirror in her right hand. In Chapter 50 of the Naruto manga, illustrated by Kishimoto, Sakura is depicted holding a comb with cherry blossom patterns in her left hand and a small square mirror in her right hand

so sakura is brushing her hair with a comb that has a cherry blossom on it (wow very unfitting for a girl literally named cherry blossom) and looking at herself in the mirror so it must mean that is a reference to a mythological figure. this is so lol because kishimoto uses that chapter cover to show sakura’s hypocrisy and vanity, both of which are a thing about her character. they are in the middle of forrest of death and yet sakura is too worried about her looks, while naruto and sasuke do all the work, of course, another thing that is constant in the naruto narrative.

3) Konohana-sakuya-hime is also the goddess of Mount Fuji. Whenever she is saddened, she can make the volcano erupt. This is also a symbolic detail indicating Sakura's fiery temperament.

yes, sakura is the only short tempered character in the naruto manga!

4) Konohana-Sakuya-hime symbolizes the life of humanity. This coincides with Sakura, the best medic nin of Konoha (in their opinion)

i’m glad you already added the “(in their opinion)” cause yeah... it’s just that... an opinion, and an inaccurate one btw, since sakura only achieved the same level of abilities of tsunade, but there is the small difference that tsunade actually created her own jutsu and was a pioneer in medical ninjutsu, unlike sakura who was just able to copy it, and no, you can’t use a non canon novel to say sakura opened a mental health institution in konoha, sorry :(

there is absolute no indication that sakura’s character was inspired by this mythological figure, the strongest link those people can make is “cherry blossom goddess” = sakura (despite the fact that the cherry blossom tree is a very popular symbol in japan in many ways and sakura is a very popular girl name there) and “volcano eruption” = short temper, this is pathetic.

now sasuke… is even worse lol.

Sasuke, on the other hand, draws significant inspiration from the deity Ninigi-no-Mikoto 1) Ninigi is the son of Ame no Oshihomimi no Mikoto, the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, and the husband of the goddess Sakuyahime

i wonder where is the evidence for the significant inspiration here... amaterasu isn’t exclusive to sasuke, itachi has it too, amaterasu, tsukuyomi and susanoo are associated with the uchiha clan, and why sasuke must be the grandson specifically? this is completely forced, it’s not “ninigi resembles sasuke and coincidentally he is married with sakuyahime” logic, it’s “he is married to sakuyahime, which i’m forcing association with sakura, therefore i will force parallels between him and sasuke” logic, the ends justifying the means.

2) The name of the deity Ninigi-no-Mikoto translates to "The Child of the Sun of Many Talents". Similarly, Sasuke has been hailed as a prodigy of the Uchiha clan since his academy days. Even the Second Hokage acknowledges Sasuke's potential, comparing it to that of Uchiha Madara

hmmm itachi was the prodigy... sasuke was also top of the class, but he had to work hard to get the same praise itachi easily did, sasuke graduated at the same age every child does, itachi graduated much earlier (if i remember it right, he was 7), sasuke was a genin at 12, itachi was an anbu at 12... just because sasuke is better than his classmates (because of his hardwork motivated by making his father proud and then by avenging his clan), doesn’t mean he is a prodigy, especially when he himself has a prodigy brother. it slips over people’s minds that sasuke worked hard! also... “the child of the sun” just doesn’t sit right to me at all... wrong celestial body i guess.

3) Amaterasu sends Ninigi down to Earth as the Descent from Heaven. In a parallel, Sasuke receives the "Heaven Seal" from Orochimaru in the Forest of Death during the Chunin Exams arc

sorry i don’t even know what to say to this lol yeah... analogy is my passion!

4) Ninigi, as the descendant of Amaterasu, brings Three Imperial Regalia to Japan to establish peace. One of these is the sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. Similarly, Sasuke possesses his own Kusanagi sword, which he wields consistently throughout the battles in the Naruto Shippuden series

how is this not forced? ninigi brought three presents and one of them happens to be a sword? he doesn’t even use a sword himself? they are just picking similar words at this point.

And finally, the mythological element in SS. According to them, on the cover of Naruto manga volume 8?, there is an image of Sakura holding a paper fan (commonly referred to as Uchiha' symbol– a type of fan made from bamboo and Japanese paper) with the emblem of the Leaf Village Police Force (originally established by the Second Hokage and entrusted to the Uchiha clan to symbolize trust), standing by the seaside. In Japanese mythology, during a visit to the king's house shortly after Ninigi descended to the mortal realm, he met and fell in love with Konohana-sakuya-hime by the seaside.

that is a shuriken? the police force symbol is similar, but it’s just not the same thing and it can’t reference the police force either when there is already an object in the naruto universe that looks exactly like that... a shuriken.

and if they make such a huge deal about sakura holding a fan (while wearing traditional clothing, so it’s not unfitting or out of nowhere either) i wonder what they have to say about this:

i find it sad how hard they try and still can’t make one good analysis with logical arguments and parallels… well of course you can’t make that when the original source tell us the exact opposite from their delusions.

[dcbbw]

Dawn’s Early Light

My Dearest @tessa-liam:

Surprise … I’m your #choicessecretpal22!

Before we get into unwrapping your present (which comes with a gift receipt for returns if you don’t like it), I’d like to take a few moments to say THANK YOU for being such a supportive member of the fandom, whether you are creating content (linking your Masterlist for those who don’t know) or enthusiastically supporting others who do via reblogs and insightful commentary.

When I got your wish list, I was sorely tempted to go with the obvious choice given we are both King Liam stans, but I considered: You get Liam content (from me, at least) all year round. You know what isn’t as prevalent? Desire & Decorum content.

So, I gift you my rewrite of the iconic duel between Ernest Sinclaire and Duke Richards. I sincerely hope you (and any who read this story) enjoy it. FYI, I used the default name, Clara Mills.

Thank you so much @choicesfandomappreciation for hosting such a wonderful event!

Please excuse any and all typos, missing/extraneous words, and/or grammatical errors. I proofed it really well, but it’s me, and I am not the best at wrapping gifts. MS Editor rates the story as 99% error-free.

Rating is M for Mature

All characters belong to Pixelberry.

Song inspo: A Bitter Song, Butterfly Boucher

Word count: 3,356

Content warning: gun violence, slightly nsfw

Dawn, The Castle Ruin

The early morning held a chill; it dusted the cracked earth with a light frost and turned breath into puffs of white. A man and woman emerged from the shadows of the abandoned castle ruin, hands tightly clasped together as they walked across the desolate field. The quiet was broken by their shoes crunching over sparse, white-tipped blades of grass, and her hitching breath as she held back tears.

The man’s gait slowed, and she peered up at him through tear-tangled lashes. His bluish-gray eyes smiled down at her, though his expression remained somber.

“Clara, my love …whatever happens today … I am in completely and utterly in love with you. For eternity.”

His palm cupped her cheek before his fingers combed through her thick dark tresses that flowed from beneath her bonnet. A bittersweet smile curved his mouth before slowly fading; he worried his lower lip before letting out a deep sigh.

“My will … everything goes to you. Ledford Park, assets, heirlooms, all of it. Mr. Harper has the official document in the event things do not go as planned.”

Clara pulled him closer, deeply inhaling his scent as her cheek lay upon his chest. “Ernest, don’t speak like that!” She pulled away, staring into his eyes beseechingly. “I can’t live in a world that doesn’t have you in it,” she sobbed.

Ernest Sinclaire pulled his lover closer to his body, his strong arms embracing her tightly. “I pray to the Lord above you won’t have to.”

The pair stayed that way for a few moments, pulling away only when they heard the thundering of horse hooves draw closer.

“Why is there such a goofy smile on your face, Mr. Sinclaire?” Clara Mills teased as she made herself as comfortable as possible upon a large boulder just outside the ruined castle.

Ernest Sinclaire sat on the ground with his long legs stretched out before him, staring dreamily into Clara’s face. A bemused grin split his lips. “’Mr. Sinclaire?’ Why so formal, m’lady? And if it isn’t apparent, I am in love with you. Foolishly so, it seems.”

Clara laughed, the peals almost musical. “It’s quite apparent. Hopefully my feelings for you are as transparent.”

Before Ernest could reply, a gravelly voice interrupted their conversation.

“Well, well, well. Isn’t this lovely?” Duke Richards sneered, a scowl marring his facial features. “I come searching for my fiancée, and she’s both enthralled and entangled with another!”

Clara’s eyes were mere slits and her mouth a thin line against her now hardened expression. “I am NOT your fiancée! I am HIS! I had already accepted Mr. Sinclaire’ s proposal before this farce you insist upon parading before the public!”

“Your own grandmother, the Dowager Countess of Edgewater, arranged this union between us,” Duke Richards snarled as sunlight glinted the silver threading his dark brown hair. “It is official, and there is nothing you can do to break it, you ungrateful harlot!”

Clara fell silent. While she had been finding love, Lady Grandmother had been seeking advantageous unions for her only granddaughter. Despite her numerous connections, the best Dominique Foredale could do was Duke Richards, the worst of the lot.

Ernest Sinclaire leapt to his feet. “THAT is quite enough, Your Grace,” he bellowed. “You shan’t tarnish the reputation of the Lady of Edgewater in such a manner!”

The Duke looked at Mr. Sinclaire in amused surprise. “Her reputation is already sullied! I am doing her a favor even agreeing to marry and lift her station in life. I am two generations removed from royalty! You are merely gentry, and she? She is a commoner wench who stumbled into some form of nobility!”

His Grace’s gaze fell upon Clara. “Get UP and come along, fiancée! Don’t make me ask again!” he snapped peevishly.

Ernest stepped protectively in front of Clara, his arms hanging at his sides; his hands curled into fists. “Let us settle this once and for all, Your Grace. I challenge you to a duel. Pistols at dawn for the honor and hand of Lady Clara. The winner has her for as long the Lord allows the union to last. The first to fall walks away with no more connection or communication with her.”

“ERNEST!” Clara screamed at hearing the words.

Duke Richards’ eyes darted between the two, a shrewd expression on his face while his index finger stroked his chin. “And you’ll walk away, out of her life. Forever?”

Ernest’s eyes hardened. “The loser will.”

The Duke shrugged. “Same difference.” He looked around. “Where do you propose we have this … duel?”

“Here. At dawn,” Mr. Sinclaire replied.

“I’ll see you at dawn.” The Duke tugged at his waistcoat, preparing to take his leave. His eyes fell upon Clara. “I’ll see you at dinner. Don’t be late,” he warned.

As the noble stalked off into the woods that led back to Edgewater, Ernest Sinclaire’ s face paled as he fell to the ground, lightly thumping his forehead against the rock his beloved sat on.

“I’ve just challenged the Duke to a duel,” he murmured disbelievingly.

“And it won’t be a fair fight,” Clara muttered as her fingers combed through his chestnut-colored hair.

The gathering met in the clearing, divided into two groups: Duke Tristan Richards and his second, Sir Gideon Payne on one side; Ernest, Clara, and their friends on the other.

The Duke and Sir Gideon whispered amongst themselves, the second occasionally patting his jacket pocket. Despite the nip in the air, neither man wore an outer coat.

Miss Annabelle Parsons huddled with Clara, hugging the younger woman close to her side. The Lady of Hazelvale’s expression was stoic as her eyes flitted about, observing everyone.

Briar Daly, Clara’s best friend and lady’s maid, wrapped a woolen shawl about Clara’s shoulders as she strained to hear what the Duke and Sir Gideon were discussing. The constant plumes of white emitting from their lips suggested it was urgent; the lowness of their voices confirmed it was clandestine.

Prince Hamid, the ambassador for the Ottoman Empire, glared at the Duke, not bothering to hide his disdain for the noble.

Luke Harper, Ernest’s second, was in conversation with the country squire, uncertainty washing over his features as he examined the pistol cradled in his palm.

“The Duke shall be dead in the morning!” Briar Daly declared in a decidedly cheerful voice which was at odds with her words.

The friends were seated in the study at Ledford Park, discussing the impending duel.  After minutes of thunderstruck silence upon hearing of Mr. Sinclaire’s challenge, the visitors had erupted in bouts of jesting and laughter and mocking His Grace, Clara included.

Ernest Sinclaire looked at them, the pit of his stomach turning sour as his anger and frustration mounted. But his tone was measured when he spoke.

“I’m certain that this joviality is an effort to relieve the … heaviness we must all be feeling at what awaits me in the morning, but we mustn’t lose sight of who we’re dealing with. This is a man who rapes unsuspecting women and demands thank-yous from them for sharing his noble seed with them. A man whose wealth was built upon unscrupulous deals. A man whose very word cannot ever be trusted.”

His friends watched Ernest Sinclaire with somber eyes and sober expressions, the merriment of a few moments ago now gone. He met their gazes and gave a rueful shake of his head.

“This is without doubt the most foolish thing I have ever done, but now I know what true love is and I refuse to let it slip away. Or be taken away.”

Clara rose from the settee, quickly making her way to Ernest’s side. She rose on tiptoes to place a sweet, lingering kiss on his cheek. “I’m not worth a duel.”

“You’re worth everything,” Ernest replied.

“Well, what do we need to do?” Miss Parsons asked briskly as her palms smoothed the skirt of her dress.

“I need a second. Mr. Harper, I would be honored to have you by my side.”

“Are you quite sure of that, Mr. Sinclaire?” Prince Hamid asked. “The rules state that your second must be your societal equal.” The Prince looked quickly at Luke Harper. “No offense, Mr. Harper.”

Luke nodded. “None taken, Your Highness. I thank you … all of you … for seeing me as a person, not a colored person.”

Ernest had risen from his chair and was using a key to open a glass cupboard that lined the back wall. “I see you as a man, Mr. Harper. As for societal equals, I’m Mr. Sinclaire, he’s Mr. Harper. We have the same title.”

“I am humbled by your invitation, Mr. Sinclaire, but I served in the Navy, not the militia.”

“A pistol is a pistol, Luke.” Ernest removed a firearm from the cabinet’s shelves. “Just aim and fire. Let’s practice, shall we?”

“Come along, come along,” Duke Richards grumbled as he infiltrated the band of comrades. “I’m ready to have breakfast with my fiancée.”

“Pride cometh before a fall, Your Grace,” Briar snapped as she stepped in front of Clara.

The Duke unceremoniously pushed the maid out of his way. “This isn’t my first time taking a woman from Sinclaire. Although I’ve never had to get up so early to do so. And one.more.word, and you will be unemployed.”

Briar bit her tongue at the noble’s words. She knew the Duke was referring to Roselyn Sinclair, Mr. Sinclair’s former wife.

Mrs. Ernest Sinclaire was a social climbing gold digger who had never loved her husband, marrying the young squire for access to his small fortune; for reasons known only to her, she indulged in a year-long affair with Duke Richards.

Roselyn became pregnant with the Duke’s child and Mr. Sinclaire threw her out into the street; she soon returned when the nobleman refused to even acknowledge her existence. The Sinclaires continued to live together in Ledford Park but led separate lives.

Mr. Sinclaire never told his wife’s family or friends of her indiscretion to spare her reputation, the only thing she had left.

Roselyn died in childbirth, and her son given to her brother to raise.

Duke Richards’ eyes lingered over Clara’s countenance, studying her as one would a storefront display. His gray eyes were the color of storm clouds as he took in her hair flowing freely about her shoulders instead of modestly pulled back and braided.

His lips thinned when he noticed the intimate bruises along the column of her throat. His hands tightened into fists when Clara defiantly turned her head to the side, giving the Duke a glimpse of the markings against her neck.

The Lady gave him a haughty look before speaking so low, only the Duke could hear. “Regardless the outcome, you will NEVER have me in any way! I belong to Mr. Sinclaire and he, to me.”

Duke Richards thrust his face into hers; there was less than an inch of space between them. He bared yellow-stained teeth in a wolfish grin. When he spoke, his breath was foul. Clara’s nose wrinkled at the stench.

“You rutting bitch, I couldn’t care less what the hell your commoner ass does with that noble wanna-be once I get hold of Edgewater,” he taunted.

“You will CERTAINLY NOT ever be in possession of Edgewater!” Clara seethed.

“The Dowager Countess has practically promised it to me and has agreed to draw up papers to that effect. Don’t believe me? Ask her yourself after I win this duel.”

Clara’s blood ran even colder. Ernest MUST win!

He pulled back, straightening the lapels of his red jacket. “I suggest you learn now how to treat me with the respect my position warrants. It could save a life and make yours more … pleasant.”

Duke Richards turned at feeling a hand cup his elbow; it was Sir Gideon. “Your Grace, it’s time.”

Ernest Sinclaire made his way to Clara’s side, his brow furrowed in concern and ire. “Are you in distress, my darling? My attempts to reach you were …thwarted.” His eyes slid to Gideon Payne who was now in discussion with Luke Harper.

Clara’s eyes began to water as they searched Ernest’s face, committing his every feature to memory. “Ernest …”

Mr. Sinclaire’s head bent, and his lips pressed against hers, quickly and fiercely. “I’ll never forget last night,” he vowed as his eyes held hers. “I’ll never forget you.”

Clara pressed her palm to his cheek, relishing in the warmth of his flesh despite the temperature. “Godspeed, my love.”

Thin fingers of moonlight slithered through the cracks in the castle roof; Clara focused her gaze on the silvery-white light sparkling against the broken stained-glass window as Ernest’s full lips kissed a searing trail from her throat to her breasts.

His tongue wetly licked the puckered pink of one of her nipples, while his fingertips pulled and gently pinched the other. His skin, tanned in the daylight, was pale in the shadowy darkness.

But warm. So warm.

The pair had left Ledford Park just before sunset to clear their heads as best they could. It was unspoken that they would return to the ruin; it had become a sanctuary for them. A space where there were no worries, no problems.

Just them and their love.

Tonight, their sanctuary was becoming hallowed ground.

Ernest was at her center now; his large palms pressed against the silk of her thighs, pushing them apart. There was a low moan as his lips wrapped around her clitoris, and he suckled eagerly. Clara’s eyes closed as she felt a slickness cover her folds; the scent of arousal filled her nostrils. She didn’t know if it was hers or his.

Or both.

His name fell from her lips as his tongue slid in and out of her entry; her hands fell into his hair when his fingers walked along her wet walls. She groaned when his manhood entered her tightness. His movements were slow and deliberate at first, but quickly sped up as she accommodated his length and girth.

“Open your eyes, darling,” he commanded.

Clara obeyed, keeping her gaze trained on his.

They screamed their orgasms to the heavens above.

Afterwards, when the silence was broken by Ernest’s snores and the sound of his heartbeat in her ear, Clara prayed that she and Ernest would have forever together.

However that may come about.

The two men faced each other with very different expressions. Duke Richards’ was smug, Ernest Sinclaire’s was stone-faced.

“Are you ready, gentlemen?” Luke Harper asked.

The Duke and Squire nodded in unison.

“Sir Gideon shall count up to 10; for each tally, you will both take a pace in opposite directions. At the final count, you will face each other and draw weapons. Do you understand?”

The men nodded again.

For the first time since their arrival, the group was silent.

Briar bent her head in prayer.

Clara clutched Miss Parson’s hand tightly, her eyes glued to Ernest Sinclaire’s form.

Prince Hamid stood next to Luke Harper, hands behind his back, his dark blue eyes inscrutable as he watched the exchange.  

The seconds handed the principals their weapons. Ernest frowned slightly as he hefted the pistol; it didn’t feel … right. A frisson of fear licked at the inside of his belly, but he shrugged it off.

His weapon of choice was a sword, not a gun.

“ONE!” Sir Gideon shouted.

The sky began to streak with orange and yellow; the first of the sunrise rose over the abandoned castle as the count continued. Ernest felt his heart rate increase with every measured step. He had to win. It wasn’t that he minded death; he didn’t. It was all the circle of life. But to leave Clara at the mercy of the jackal mere steps behind him?

Unacceptable.  

“TEN!” Sir Gideon announced.

Ernest spun on his heel, weapon drawn. Ten paces away, Duke Richards mimicked his stance. His index finger curled around the trigger, but nothing happened. He pulled again but the firing pin was jammed.

What the hell?

The shot that rang out across the clearing was a thunderclap upon the still air.

Every movement following seemed to happen in slow motion:

The looks of surprise and pain that washed over the Squire’s face.

The gun falling from his hand, landing in a patch of damp grass three feet away.

The bloom of blood against his white shirt as he fell backwards.

The flopping of his thick brown hair against his forehead as he landed heavily against the earth.

Clara, Luke, and Annabelle Parsons rushed to Mr. Sinclaire’s side, determining the placement of the wound. Without thought, Clara hooked her hands together, frantically pressing her palms against the flow of blood. It was warm and pulsing against her skin; her hands were soon coated with it.

Dear God, there’s so much blood!

Duke Richard’s sauntered over, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. “Well, that was quicker than even I anticipated.” His eyes were slate stones when his gaze settled on Clara. “Let’s go, darling,” he ordered.

Clara paid him no attention, her eyes focused on Ernest’s face. His skin was as white as a sheet, and perspiration dotted his forehead and upper lip. All while his blood ran thin rivers over brown dirt.

Hallowed ground.

“Not so fast, Your Grace!” Luke interrupted as he rose. “You still have to face me!”

Duke Richards looked confused. “Why? You want to join him?”

“The rules require it, Your Grace!” Annabelle Parsons shouted in anger and fear.

Prince Hamid walked slowly towards Luke, examining the fallen pistol in his hand. “Mr. Harper, this isn’t Mr. Sinclaire’s gun.”

The Duke and his second snapped their eyes to the Prince.

“You LIAR!” the noble snarled.

Luke snatched the gun, giving it a cursory once-over. “And YOU are a cheater, Duke Richards! There is no inscription on this weapon; Mr. Sinclaire’s gun had an inscription on the barrel.” Luke continued his examination. “There are no bullets in the chamber, and the firing pin is missing.”

His eyes settled on Sir Gideon. “This is NOT the gun I exchanged with you during the inspection.”

The Duke’s face flushed red. “Oh, come now! Mr. Sinclaire and I had a gentlemen’s agreement! Of COURSE that’s the gun you gave Gideon! HOW could he have switched weapons with you RIGHT THERE?”  

Snatches of the conversation reached Clara’s ears, but she was too busy trying to staunch the flow of blood. If only she had a cloth …

She was roused from her mission by Prince Hamid. He knelt beside her, his cape folded in his hands. “Here, let me, Lady Clara,” he offered in a gentle voice.

She nodded quickly, changing positions so Ernest’s head could lay in her lap. She smiled tearfully into his face. “Stay with us, love. Please stay.”

Ernest Sinclaire’s face was distorted with pain and slick with sweat. “Clara … I’m so sorry.” His eyelids fluttered as he struggled to maintain consciousness.

Luke Harper and Prince Hamid were still arguing with the Duke and Sir Gideon. “YOU HAVE TO FACE ME!” Mr. Harper shouted.

“For what? With what? You don’t even have a pistol!” Sir Gideon replied snidely.

Duke Richards stepped away, making a beeline to Clara. Gideon could handle Luke Harper. “You have two minutes to say goodbye!”

“I’m not going ANYWHERE with YOU!”

The Duke ignored her, his gaze now on Ernest Sinclaire. Even the nobleman had to admit the Squire was in dire shape. Ernest’s eyes opened; upon seeing his nemesis, he croaked out, “Go to hell.”

“Seems you’ll beat me there. Do save me a seat, won’t you?”

Clara’s attention was caught by the figure headed their way, pistol in hand. Her eyes widened in fright. “Ernest,” she whimpered.

Mr. Sinclaire’s gaze shifted, and his eyes widened slightly.

The Duke turned, irritated at the interruption.

A shadow fell over the trio as a second shot rang out.

As the sun rose majestically against a cloudless blue sky, Ernest Sinclaire’s eyes closed.

Clara screamed as blood from the gunshot slowly spread across the white shirt.

Tagging:  @jared2612 @ao719  @marietrinmimi @merridithsmiscellany-blog @queenjilian @indiacater @kingliam2019 @bebepac @liamxs-world @mom2000aggie @liamrhysstalker2020  @neotericthemis @twinkleallnight @umccall71 @superharriet  @busywoman @gabesmommie1130 @tessa-liam @phoenixrising0308 @beezm @gardeningourmet @lovingchoices14 @foreverethereal123 @mainstreetreader @angelasscribbles @lady-calypso @emkay512 @jovialyouthmusic @princessleac1 @charlotteg234 @queenrileyrose @alj4890 @yourfavaquarius111 @motorcitymademadame  @queenmiarys  @choicesficwriterscreations @burnsoslow

[quirkthieves]

monoma's stance on ua teachers:

vlad king: iconic, fantastic, supportive, literally ideal in every way,

aizawa: rival. dislike

all might: adoration and idolization on the one hand but when all might tries to tell him what to do the imp part of his brain takes over and he gets difficult anyway. mild resentment for his class a favoritism

present mic: depends on the day-- sometimes he thinks hes pretty cool other times he thinks hes really lame

midnight: neutral disdain

13: he cant bring himself to be mean to her shes so sweetsies

cementoss: neutral disdain

snipe: neutral disdain

ectoplasm: slightly negative disdain (hates math)

power loader: who?

recovery girl: you always need to be nice to gramma

lunch rush: food guy

hound dog: on the one hand hes vlads bestest friend on the other hand monoma is adamantly opposed to counseling. regards him fondly but becomes incredibly combative in an instruction setting

nezu: he wants nezu to like him and also he thinks hes a very well mannered little beast

[apocalypticavolition]

Let's (re)Read The Dragon Reborn! Chapter 11: Tar Valon

I'm a day later with this than I would have liked so I'm cutting the crap. This post has spoilers for almost everything Wheel of Time and should not be read by people who don't like spoilers. Thank you.

This chapter has the Flame of Tar Valon icon because it's about Tar Valon. Also let's all take one last chance to giggle at the map. Let's hope that the Ogier Grove isn't the metaphysical equivalent of a herpes sore.

A square of pikemen marched along the streets, ranks and files bristling like a carding comb, followed by bowmen in flat, rimmed helmets, with filled quivers riding at their hips and bows slanted across their chests. A squadron of armored horsemen, faces hidden behind the steel bars of their helmets, gave way to Verin and her party at a wave of their officer’s gauntleted hand.

It's rather ironic that Siuan's increasing the security of the island and its nearby villages in her last few months in office since of course absolutely none of them will be able to do anything about the real threat to the Tower once it arrives.

Just the same, the balding man seemed to be taking his time about making sure each one had a right to enter Tar Valon before he let them go.

Is this just the man's actual nature, or is it a sign that Mesaana has arrived in Tar Valon and is corrupting the populace?

They say there’s a new false Dragon out west somewhere. Why, they even say he has Artur Hawkwing’s armies, back from the dead, following him, and that he killed a lot of Whitecloaks and destroyed a city—Falme, they call it—in Tarabon, some say.

Frankly it's good that the truth is at least vaguely recognizable in this, when absolutely none of it IS true.

Things had changed, and not for the better. When she had left Tar Valon, any man who spoke against Aes Sedai would have been lucky to escape with a punch in the nose from whoever overheard.

Again, is this Mesaana's doing? If not, then what's got the people who have the least business hating Aes Sedai so negative? The Whitecloaks aren't that convincing... though perhaps the troube with Elayne after so much else has gone wrong or weird has people losing their patience.

If she ever returned to Emond’s Field—the “if” hurt, but she had to be honest—if she returned, it would be to visit, to see her parents.

She never does and I'm still a bit angry at Sanderson for it. Jordan would certainly have expected her to return at some point, if only to visit Perrin.

Great buildings and small, in stone of every color, looking like shells, or waves, or wind-sculpted cliffs, flowing and fanciful, captured from nature or the flights of men’s minds. The dwellings, the inns, the very stables—even the most insignificant buildings in Tar Valon had been made for beauty. Ogier stonemasons had built most of the city in the long years after the Breaking of the World, and they maintained it had been their finest work.

Jordan dedicates so much space to how beautiful the city is that I have to share a little of it. It's a shame we don't get to enjoy Tar Valon more.

“I always expect trouble,” Verin replied placidly, “and so should you. In the Tower most of all. You must all of you be more careful than ever, now. Your . . . tricks”—her mouth tightened for an instant before serenity returned—“frightened away the Whitecloaks, but inside the Tower they may well bring you death or stilling.”

Verin is doing her best to warn the girls about the Black Ajah within the confines of the three oaths she's sworn.

“I cannot waste a day, Verin Sedai. Not another hour. I must return to Shienar, to tell King Easar, and Lord Agelmar, the truth of what happened at Falme. I must tell them about—” He cut off abruptly and looked around.

Yes Hurin, if you don't make a mad dash north then how will the monarchs of the Borderlands spend seventy-two books abandoning their posts to fulfill the world's lamest prophecy?

He was only a man, and helpless as a babe when it came to facing whatever might await them in the Tower. Yet his leaving made their number one less, and she could never help thinking that a man with a sword was useful to have around. And he had been a link to Rand, and Perrin.

You never hear about stuff like this in the big Egwene hatedom lists, about how she misses Rand and Perrin so intently she'll cling on to some dude who is only a loose connection to them for the sake of feeling closer to them.

Verin was already riding through the gates as he spoke. She rode as if there were no hurry.

Verin knows there isn't a hurry. She knows Mat's ta'veren and that the Pattern is weaving itself around him. She probably would have been much more concerned if she was getting to Tar Valon and was under the impression that Mat still had days to spare instead of hours because that would suggest that the Pattern was going to find a way to use them.

As the horses were led away into the stable, Verin took the leather sack from Mat’s feet and tucked it carelessly under one arm.

And again we see the proof that Verin is an incredible actress who could fool the Black Ajah for decades. Any of the girls would hold the bag with fear and reverence and thus make it clear to anyone who came to them that the bag was important, but anyone who sees Verin with it will probably assume she found a bunch of old books in a ditch somewhere and had to read them.

“We did not—” Egwene began, but Verin cut her off with a sharp, “BE SILENT!” Verin stared at her—at each of the three of them—as if the intensity of her look could hold their mouths shut.

Objectively speaking, it can and it does.

“I suppose,” Verin said, “that the whole Tower knows we have returned by now?”

See what I mean? Moiraine is crazy for thinking Min can make an unremarkable entrance.

“Not a word, Verin Sedai said, and not a word shall it be. If one of you speaks—except to answer an Aes Sedai, of course—I’ll make you wish you had nothing but a switching and a few hours scrubbing floors to worry about. Do you understand me?”

I don't know if Sheriam knows Verin is Black - obviously the cell structure is meant to stop would-be Verins from dismantling the organization from within - but if she does she's probably being extra thorough to enforce her rule on the assumption that it's part of their evil scheming.

And you three, who have more ability born in you than I ever hoped to see in my lifetime, left the Tower without permission, ran away not even half-trained, like irresponsible children, stayed away for months.

It's a pretty shitty thing to do to these girls's reputation to try and pretend that the Black Ajah doesn't exist, and of course it soon becomes a completely pointless gesture anyway. The Light side's efforts to engage in shadows and secrecy never really come to much for some thematic reason or another, bar Moiraine's mostly offscreen quest.

“Give over, Faolain,” another of the Accepted said. The oldest of the three, she had a willowy neck and coppery skin, and a graceful way of moving. “I will take you,” she told Nynaeve.

Our first introduction to Faolain and Theodrin! Rather funny that Egwene will use them to justify her own policies, considering how they meet. I always thought they were gonna get involved in something bigger towards the end, but they stay relatively bit players and that's probably for the best.

Egwene returned Faolain’s stare with as much calm as she could manage, and, she hoped, a measure of the haughty, silent contempt that Elayne had adopted. Red Ajah, she thought. This one will definitely choose the Reds.

She chooses Blue.

Next time: A Siuan POV!

[randomfoggytiger]

😎

Thanks for dropping in! :DDDDD

The below might seem like I'm gassing you up or being overly sugary and sweet; but I cannot underestimate how much I mean every single word. Your fics were in my first round of xfiles fics ever; and they were cemented into my cracks before I ever got adventurous enough to feed the addiction and read 800+ authors.

This'll be long, so I included a cut.

(**Note**:Editing and proofreading my paragraphs? What is that?)

I begin, again, after 20 minutes of thorough combing

I spent 15-20 minutes grabbing link after link after link because... quite simply, your fics are grafted into my brain because of how many rereads I've done-- I can't separate them from each other, I can't pick favorites, I can't. I had to go by my tip top, cannot-pass-by-without-reading fics:

Whispered Words (Tumblr): Everything about this is perfection. Every time I read someone else's cancer fic, I immediately think of this one (and hunt it down for a reread.) Scully's symptoms, how and when Mulder notices; the blend of sickfic and angst and fluff together, no parts outrivaling the other... it's, again, perfection.

A New Day Has Come: It's such a cornerstone of my earliest cancer fics that this is how I always expect Mulder to react in other fics I read-- it's automatic programming at this point.

Every. Single. IVF fic you've written. I kid you not. To name a few (because it's not fun to just read "I liked it, lol" without some examples):  Name Calling/Archive is the pinnacle post IVF failure: the best, ohmyword. Unnamed post IVF treatment fic and Five Minutes - Chapter 1 are seared into my brain as a part one and two; but if it's a sheer numbers game? Five Minutes - Chapter 2 wins out. It's just... how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand, y'know? How can I describe something that IS me? I refer you to Scully's Memento Mori speech-- she says it more eloquently than I do. ;))))

Every. Single. AU Requiem fic and S8 fic and S9 fic and S11 fam fic. You do loving relationships so well: they talk, they breathe, they exist like real people. I treasure the S8 fics you wrote from my prompts and reread them frequently--though I forgot to label the second and need to find that link hmmmmmm. This is exactly how it appears in my docs: Here's a prompt (if you want): Scully goes into... (tumblr.com) THIS WAS MY PROMPT Ao3 By Your Side Is Where I Belong - Baroness_Blixen - The X-Files [Archive of Our Own] LOVE THIS

And for nonspecific genre fics that I adore and cannot live without:

#58 Mulder to Scully thanks! Ao3 Prompts & Drabbles - Chapter 3 - [Archive of Our Own] Scully gets hit in the head with a baseball bat and you nailed every. single. aspect of this fic and I can't read it enough (going to read it again right after this.)

Since you were looking for an angsty prompt for... (tumblr.com) Ao3 We Will Find Our Way Home - [Archive] Scully and Mulder on the ice and Scully makes Mulder go alone to the Snocat? YES PLEASE.

 I hope your muse comes back. I know she will soon!... Ao3 Things You Forget - Chapter 1  Mulder has amnesia and he and Scully have dinner with her mother and Bill while he remembers-- iconic.

A realization

...I'm staring at 20+ pages of your fic links (and 84 specifically marked ones that have LOVE THIS in bold and caps) and thinking that there is no way I can fit all of this into this ask. XDDDD

I'll close this by thinking of random moments in your fics that twirl around and around in my brain and put them down here:

Mulder waking Scully up by sneezing in her hair in Rain King.

Mulder and Scully crying after her recovery in Redux II.

Scully's annoyance and Mulder's complete stillness in the airport while waiting for their luggage in Five Minutes Chapter 2.

The hilarious way you wrote Mulder and Scully and Krycek and Doggett and Reyes in an Essence AU (Will is born in the car while they drive away from the FBI.)

Scully's head being squeezed like an orange in the baseball bat attack fic, and Mulder's irate panic from afar ("HE HIT HER")

Mulder's tie got stuck in a copier and Scully has to help him out (and Skinner doesn't even want to know.)

Maggie's not a fool when she catches Mulder and Scully a day or two after Chimera.

Scully gasses in the car and Mulder evens the playing field.

Mulder having amnesia after Millennium and only remembering his partnership with Diana (for a couple hours.)

Mulder delicately taking and holding and smiling over his scratchy list of baby names.

Scully feeling woozy in Three Words and Mulder helping her sit down.

Mulder panicking after Lamaze in Alone.

S8 Scully including Mulder in her late night snack and waltz session, as they discuss her neighbor's recently deceased husband.

Mulder swallowing the suddenly-too-sweet cake at Scully's baby shower (AU Essence~)

Mulder swapping places with Reyes in Essence-- it's he and Scully on the road, just like always.

Post Existence Mulder papa bear with little Will.

Revival baby girl being born on Mulder or Scully's birthdays (and the unique ways you changed the details of both versions.)

Mulder and baby Will showing up for Scully's "take your kid to work day" (and him rubbing Will in Colton's face, my word.)

(I'm not kidding when I mean every. single. one. of your IVF and S8 and family fics, so I'm not even going to BEGIN.)

All of your Millennium fics. All. But particularly the one where Scully is woken up by a grumpy Mulder who felt betrayed that she'd left and drove over, despite his injured arm, before calling her and asking for permission.

Mulder sobbing and holding Scully after the other agents tricked him into thinking she'd died in a car accident.

Diana locks Mulder and Scully up in the One Son fort for the night; and Scully's hurt and Mulder's hurt and their reconciliation and re-understanding is one of the fics I turn to when I need to sleep but also need a story to focus on. Makes my brain go wild.

TFWID Mulder having nightmares of his past lives with Scully. Another one of those stories that sets my brain on fire.

Revival Mulder's psychic powers comes back and he tells Scully in the restaurant (part I) and later senses their daughter's heartbeat (part II.)

An ending

And while I could go on and on and on, there's already a lot I put down. XDDDD Maybe I'll make a fic list with my top 85? fics that cannot be passed up-- although, I don't know if Tumblr will allow me that enough word space to fit them all in. Hmmmm.

Anyway, thanks for dropping in! :DDDDD And hope this was a good enough answer~. ;))))

[ldknightshade]

tags list!

metalocalypse!

general ✮ nathan explosion ✮ william murderface ✮ toki wartooth ✮ skwisgaar skwigelf ✮ pickles the drummer ✮ charles foster offdensen ✮ dick knubbler ✮ abigail remeltindtdrinc ✮ dr. rockzo ✮ amber ✮ jean-pierre

fandom sagas: toki cube

devil may cry!

general ✮ dante ✮ vergil ✮ nero ✮ lady ✮ trish ✮ nico ✮ v ✮ lucia ✮ kyrie ✮ urizen ✮ morrison

fallout: new vegas!

general ✮ arcade gannon ✮ veronica santangelo ✮ vulpes inculta ✮ joshua graham ✮ the king ✮ craig boone ✮ benny ✮ robert house ✮ ulysses ✮ rose of sharon cassidy ✮ raul alfonso tejada ✮ lily ✮ rex ✮ ed-e ✮ christine royce

shenanigans: seven plays new vegas

dc comics!

general ✮ dick grayson ✮ jason todd ✮ tim drake ✮ damian wayne ✮ bruce wayne ✮ vic sage

disco elysium!

general ✮ kim kitsuragi ✮ harry du bois

shenanigans: fiasco elysium

jeffrey combs posting!

moved to: @jeffrey-combs

sometimes the question/vic sage will have this tag due to voicing him in justice league unlimited

general ✮ herbert west ✮ crawford tillinghast ✮ the mold ✮ anton mordrid ✮ john reilly ✮ francisco ✮ stu ✮ andrew paris

personal tags!

ldknightshade.txt - our text posts

ldknightshade.jpg - our photo posts

ldknightshade.mp3 - our audio posts

bestie bangers - our friends’ stuff (iconic edition)

🎭🎨 - bell’s posts

🦇💙 - dick’s posts

💀☕️ - at what point can monster return to man? / bell sadposting

🎧🎶 - playlists / music recs

🧠⚙️ - makes the gears in the brain turn

☀️🪽 - hubrisposting

🧿🦉🗡️ - occultposting

these are below / no link!

additional tags!

asks ✮ gpoy ✮ my ocs ✮ friends ocs ✮ others ocs ✮ writing ✮ media literacy ✮ purity culture ✮ moral relativism

will update as necessary!

[soxsick]

just reblog or like.

[astrophysicist-guitar-god]

"EXQUISITE CLUTTER" // 04.26.23

Freddie Mercury’s Never-Before-Seen Personal Effects Will Soon Be For Sale

A new Sotheby’s exhibition and auction features over 1,000 costumes, artworks, and handwritten lyrics from the king of Queen’s private collection. (x)

A new Sotheby’s exhibition and auction features over 1,000 costumes, artworks, and handwritten lyrics from the king of Queen’s private collection. ... 

Across six sales and a monthlong exhibition that will fully take over Sotheby’s London galleries... This is the longest and largest exhibition ever staged by Sotheby’s in London. It’ll also pop up in New York City this summer, ahead of the sale series, giving those Stateside a chance to experience the star’s collection in person. 

And, of course, there are items that exemplify both his status as a musical icon and his personal identity—like the Tiffany & Co. silver mustache comb he used to groom himself.

The mustache comb:

The jacket, which Mercury wore for his 39th birthday in Munich that year (1985), is one of the Sotheby’s lots:

One of Mercury’s famed costumes from the 1986 Wembley performance—the headpiece design was inspired by St. Edward’s crown:

A drawing from Mercury’s notebook containing nine pen and ink sketches:

A Polaroid picture of Freddie Mercury in Japan:

A rare image of Freddie Mercury from his personal albums, clowning around pre-concert:

A pair of star-shaped glasses Mercury wore in the “We Will Rock You” music video:

[dimension20npcofalltime]

Round Five - Bracket One [Dimension 20 NPC of All Time]

Gilear Faeth vs Ayda Aguefort

Propaganda under the cut

Gilear Faeth - He/Him

Campaigns - Fantasy High, Dimension 20 LIVE, The Seven

Who is he?

Gilear Faeth is Fig Faeth's adoptive dad and Sandra Lynn Faeth's ex-husband. He is a wood elf who's lost some hair since his divorce and now wears it in a comb-over, which is a unique look on an elf. He's got a little bit of a paunch. He is often described as being sad and pitiable. He wears a short-sleeved king button up shirt which is often stained, usually with yogurt, but one time it was beans.

Why is he the NPC of All Time?

"Do I even need to elaborate?? If there was ever an NPC to NPC it is hands down no contest, announce it now the winner is Gilear. That man spilt so much pudding on himself, he died more times than I can remember, he fumbled the bag on like 3 milfs. An icon. A legend. The chosen one."

"For all the obvious reasons. Is the NPC of all time. He's a dad. His dad status was revoked and reinstated. He's has multiple jobs and job titles but always does the same thing which is mostly nothing. He's just some guy. He dies immediately. He's an integral part to the party because they made him so. Peak NPC."

"We have to let him have this one thing."

Submitted by: @unnatural-twenty, @legend-of-fall-damage, @priceforrottenjudgement and Anonymous

Ayda Aguefort - She/Her

Campaign: Dimension 20 LIVE, Pirates of Leviathan

Who is she?

Ayda Aguefort (pronounced EYE-da) is a half-phoenix divination wizard and a librarian in the Compass Points Library in Leviathan. She is the daughter of Arthur Aguefort and girlfriend of Fig Faeth.

Why is she the NPC of All Time?

"Queer Black autistic pirate wizard librarian of my heart <3"

"Shes the lesbian autism rep we NEEDED"

"Autistic, wlw, immune to fire damage. Need I say more?"

"Daughter of perhaps the most powerful and most unhinged man in the world, and a bird made of literal fire. Beyond being a black canonically-autistic lesbian wizard/phoenix who becomes girlfriend to one PC and best friend to another, she is also immortal in a way that is both beautiful and tragic. She raised Garthy, and was then raised by Garthy, and then she will most likely be raised by Adaine ad infinitum—gifting Adaine eternal company as a fellow immortal, but also the pain of loss each time she dies and the joy of rediscovery each time she is reborn. Truly the most character of our time."

"AUTISTIC SWAG YOU KNOW IT."

Submitted by: @aeternamente, @moms-home, @xvynth and multiple Anonymous people

[applejongho]

2022 was the first year I considered myself an actual content creator and has also been my first full year of gif making so I thought it would be fun to compile some of the giffing highlights of the year. thanks jazzy @woosansang​ for tagging me in this event! In combing through all of my gifs I found a lot of growth and improvement in my own gif making skills (coloring is so much better (!!!!!!!), sharpening is so much better) which is something I'm really proud of because it was always something I beat myself up for. There is always room for improvement but that doesn't negate where I am now!

Besides my improvement as a gif maker, here are some highlights of the content:

the first eight months of the year belonged completely to jongho. I was at peace with the world. everything was fine. and then, everything changed when the dude with the cane attacked. I now have another bias. thanks and fuck you hongjoong

there were always spooky posts. no matter the time of year.

this was the year I started and completed my AUteez series, where I match ateez with an alternate universe that fits them. This series is a testament to my coloring skills and shows off my imagination. One of my favorite things I've done, ever

my 2MVapplejh series, where I color match two music videos that (usually) have similar elements in them. I also really like this series too but I don’t work on it that often

no pressure tagging! the instructions are simple, post links to both your most popular and your favourite sets for each month in 2022. I also included special mentions every month and tracked my hongjoong descent by comparing the amount of posts I made of him vs jongho. ha.

@2h0gi @hwanswerland​ @sanhwaiting @sanchelinz @jjongho @jonghho @chwejongho @jeong-yunhoes @mingified @cruellajoong @xuseokgyu @hwichanis​ 

JANUARY

most popular: choi john of ateez

favorite: pirate king jongho

special mention: jongho throws it back (an icon)

total posts made: 12 (all jongho)

FEBRUARY

most popular: san in a black hat

favorite: jongho with a choker

special mention: atz dont stop x skz all in

total posts made: 9 (6 are jongho)

MARCH

most popular: wonderland mingi

favorite: jongho is so sexy w apples

special mention: apple jongho made on my birthday!

total posts made: 15 (5 are jongho, I opened gif requests during this time)

APRIL

most popular: jongho in a tight black suit

favorite: rhythm ta jjong (and my sharpening used to be so bad omg)

special mention: seungmin of skz side effects (and the sharpening is so good????? idk how I did it)

total posts made: 6 (5 are jongho)

MAY

most popular: rocky jongho

favorite: answer san and the coloring is great and for what

special mention: jjong got a haircut and I love how it looks v much

total posts made: 7 (6 are jongho)

JUNE

most popular: pink hair sunglasses san

favorite: JONGHO WEARING A T SHIRT

special mention: I just think he is so hot

total posts made: 19 (12 are jongho)

JULY

enter: hongjoong with a cane

most popular: wake up world

favorite: biker jongho

special mention: first cane appearance and the inspiration challenge

total posts made: 25 (14 are jongho)

AUGUST

most popular: ot8 intro with sunmi

favorite: hongjoong is so hot

special mention: cane posting

total posts made: 22 (10 are jongho, 3 are hongjoong)

SEPTEMBER

most popular: hometown pride, san

favorite: hongjoong coughing up (fake) blood

special mention: one gif of hongjoong taking off his jacket and the tl went bananas

total posts made: 11 (4 are jongho, 3 are hongjoong)

JJONGTOBER

most popular: ateez anniversary post

favorite: jongho according to the tags, birthday post

special mention: this yunho is crazy

total posts made: 13 (4 are jongho, 2 are hongjoong)

HONGVEMBER

most popular: jongho picks up hongjoong (top post of the yr!)

favorite: hongjoong cane birthday set

special mention: jongho sits in a chair and yall go insane. im yall

total posts made: 7 (1 is jongho, 2 are hongjoong)

DECEMBER

most popular: hongjoong in halazia

favorite: spooky jjong and rhythm ta

special mention: my first post using vapoursynth!

total posts made: 21 (4 are jongho....................... 12 are hongjoong)

if you’ve made it this far... 2022 was really bad for me (in terms of personal life) but ateez helped me out tremendously by keeping me entertained. I hope 2023 will be better for me and I’ll have a chance to grow in my self-expression, confidence, and, well,,,, ateez content creating lol. I already know there will be at least one big event – I’m going to hit 1k followers!

See y’all in 2023!

[greentrickster]

About the Magatama in the Monkey King's Lawyer AU, maybe it's a different thing instead? I'm not sure if the concept of magatamas exist anywhere in China so I was at first confused.

The magatama is a key item in Ace Attorney, and while you're correct, they're very much a Japanese concept, like I said, they're a rather iconic part of AA and changing it to a Chinese equivalent with my level of knowledge on Chinese history, mythology, and items of such nature - it would basically be like me playing darts blindfolded, except my dartboard is Google.

Likewise, I'm not familiar enough with the culture, spirituality, and religion Kurain's practices are based on to be comfortable muddling with it too much. I'd hazard a guess that there's a fair bit of Shinto in there; if that's the case, the explanation would be simple. The Journey to the West, if I remember rightly, includes three religions in it - Shinto, Daoism, and Buddhism (with Buddhism obviously being the best one in the context of the story). If both these things are true, then Maya's simply a Shinto priestess in this whose ancestors went to Lego Japan, encountered magatamas being used by Shinto priests and priestesses over there to be great effect, and incorporated them into their own version of Shinto as well.

However, again, I'm not certain about Maya, Kurain, and the Shinto connections, and I wasn't able to get Google to spit out anything definitive for me. That being said, magatamas as amulets that reveal the truth in any manner seems to be an Ace Attorney-exclusive concept, so the in-universe explanation is currently that the magatama is never specifically referred to as a magatama, and just called an amulet or talisman. (Unless I'm right about the Shinto thing, then it's totally my much cleverer Shinto thing.)

Overall, the thing that's trickiest about this AU to me is that I'm combing a story that is Chinese with one that is Japanese, and that those two countries are old, neighbours, and have just... so, so much history between them, a lot of it pretty ugly (which is as much as I feel is necessary to say on the subject). This AU is meant to be some light-hearted fun that involves Phoenix having to suffer through trying to sort out Monkey King's presumably horrific legal work and having some fun interactions between two absolutely fantastic characters and also me trying to lure AA fans into a fandom that's far too small and niche for how god-tier the content is. Not all the pieces are going to fit together perfectly - one's a show meant for kids, the other's a series of games varying between T and M ratings, and, on top of that, I don't have the cultural knowledge to make them fit together more smoothly without risk of giving offense where none is intended.

TL;DR: If anyone doesn't like the idea of the AA characters using a magatama (a Japanese item) in LMK's Chinese setting, feel free to treat the term as me using short-hand so we all know what I'm talking about and assume the characters themselves are using a similar item that's Chinese in origin instead of Japanese.