#lamenting over lost star wars

[justanotherbadbatchfan]

So, the recent cancellation of The Acolyte has me thinking about another lost Star Wars story. Except this one never aired a single episode.

One of my biggest issues with the New Republic era is the lack of much meaningful exploration of the New Republic itself (outside of books, The Convert from Mando S3 and scattered scenes elsewhere). Which is a real shame because there are so many interesting topics to explore with especially early in its existence. How does the rebel alliance hope to transition into an actual functioning government? On a smaller scale how did former rebels adjust to their new lives after the war? What became of the more radical rebel factions? Did some of them start fighting The New Republic? How did heavily pro imperial worlds respond to the change of power? More on the extremely wholesome New Republic amnesty program?

If Lucasfilm wants to push the New Republic era as the main focus of Star Wars storytelling going forward they should seriously consider reviving this show. Even in the absence of Cara Dune there are plenty of other new republic characters who could make for a pretty fun ensemble (Carson Teva, Zeb, Kallus, Hera, Omega? Potentially Mayfeld???) and the option to create new ones. Sadly I feel like it might already be too late, would love to be proven wrong though.

[hottpinkpenguin]

AAAAAH I JUST FOUND YOU AND I LOVE YOUR WORK 🫶🤍 please release more smut 🙈 HAHAHAHAH more nikolai lantsov too please 🥰🥵

can you do a smut with "This won't hurt." "Like hell it won't." HAHAHAHAHAHHA nikolai lantso x reader 🙈

thank youuuu 😘🫶🤍

Hurt Me - Nikolai Lantsov X Fem!Reader

18+ only!!! MINORS DNI

A/N: apparently the cure for the terrible writer's block I've had is absolute filthy smut! who knew?! thanks anon for this request, and i'm sorry it took me so long to get to it! i'm finally back y'all!!!!!!!!! Word Count: 3,658 Warnings: unprotected sex; anal sex; oral sex mutual; praise kink; fingering; no lube (don't do that); sprinkles of Dom/Sub vibes but super minor

“Doesn’t everyone love a little pain with their pleasure?”

Nikolai threw the covers off his body, rolling over with an exasperated sigh in the stifling darkness of his bedchamber. Ever since he’d heard you say those words over one too many glasses of kvas last week, he couldn’t think of anything else. Let alone sleep. Each time he dreamt, his mind tormented him with fantasies that left him sweating, restless, and hard. 

That was his predicament now. The dream he’d just woken from was receding from his consciousness as his mind fully surfaced out of sleep. Part of him welcomed the reprieve from his insatiable lust, but part of him lamented the loss of what had felt so real. He grabbed at the fading flickers of his dream: the sound of your breathing as it quickened, the feeling of your soft skin under his palms, the sight of you straddling his lap, your hips driving down onto his hard cock, chasing your high and pulling him closer to his own… 

“God damn it.” He sat up in bed, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. A faint sheen of sweat danced across his shirtless torso. His dick was hardening the more he clung to the sensations of his dreams. He stood from the bed, frustrated in all the wrong ways, and strode over to the double doors that opened onto the private balcony overlooking the Grand Palace’s summer garden. It was a warm, humid night; a sheer curtain of clouds obscured the stars and cast a hazy ring around the moon. A gentle breeze blew the sweet scent of night jasmine into the bedchamber, cooling the sweat on his chest. Nikolai tried to still his breathing, forcing his mind away from reminiscing about you and onto less gratifying topics. 

His efforts paid off for a few moments, his mind momentarily landing on unrelated nonsense like the guest list for his family’s upcoming ball and the names of long-disputed Ravkan territories. But, inevitably, Nikolai’s mind fell idle and turned back to you. At least he wasn’t hard now, but the dying embers of his desire wouldn’t require much encouragement to reignite. 

Never going to happen, he chided himself sternly, swatting away images of your sensual face. These images were true memories - not the conjurings of his sleeping psyche. You were his brother’s betrothed, after all. Even if it was an arranged marriage, Nikolai shuddered to contemplate the implications of seeing his desires through. Most of all, the implications for you, if the secret was ever discovered… 

She’s not happy with the match though. Surely, something could be arranged. 

Nikolai’s hopeful side - or maybe it was just his sexually frustrated side? - tossed back poorly thought-out rebuttals to the arguments of logic and propriety. Before long, he was lost in thought, his brows furrowed and his arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe to his balcony. The two sides of him warred with each other, all while a simmering passion threatened to boil over once again.

He was so distracted by his own thoughts that he missed the first knock on his door. The second one was louder, more insistent. He startled, an irrational guilt overcoming him as he wondered for a split second if he’d awoken someone, maybe by calling out your name in his sleep or some similarly mortifying mishap. Shaking that thought from his head, he made his way over to the door that led into the hallway from his chamber. He opened the door a crack, surprised that anyone else would be awake at this late hour. 

The sight of your eyes, wide and pleading, shimmering in the darkness of the hallway ignited the need that had thrown him out of his dreams. His mouth went dry as he stumbled over his tongue. 

“What are you doing?” he whispered urgently through the cracked doorway. You cast a nervous glance down the darkened hallway before leaning close, so close Nikolai could smell the hint of bergamot and orange peel from your shampoo. 

“Please, can I come in?” Your voice was low and rough, like it had been dragged over gravel. Nikolai felt his cock twitch appreciatively. He grit his teeth as he contemplated for the briefest moment whether to acquiesce or not. You were here - right here - and there was something in the rise and fall of your chest that told him why you had come to his chamber in the dead of night. His dream was so close he could literally smell it. 

Vasily will have her killed if you do this. 

The thought came from a small and quickly shrinking part of his mind, but it sent ice through his veins. Nikolai knew it was true. If Vasily found out that Nikolai had a midnight rendezvous with his bride-to-be, even if the meeting went no further than conversation, Vasily’s preening arrogance at securing your hand in marriage would turn murderous in an instant. That rage wouldn’t land on his younger brother, but on you. 

“Y/n, you shouldn’t be h-”

“I know, Niko. But please… I need you.”

Your eyes swallowed Nikolai’s arguments, and before he had the conscious thought to do so, he stepped aside and swung the door open to allow you through.

You entered with a serene confidence that stunned Nikolai. Before the door had quietly latched back into place, you had connected your lips with his. A husky groan of relief clawed its way out of your throat at the contact, and Nikolai felt the last paper-thin wall of resistance snap. He grabbed at you, his hands ripping through the lace-trimmed silk of your nightgown with ease to expose your back and shoulders to him. 

“We really shouldn’t,” he argued pointlessly between gasping breaths as the two of you explored each others’ mouths. You shushed him by twining your hands in his hair and thrusting your tongue past his lips. Both of you knew this was a horrendous, dangerous, and potentially damning decision, but the chance for turning back had passed you both by long ago. This had become inevitable between the two of you long before tonight, Nikolai realized as he latched his mouth onto the soft skin at the base of your neck, grabbing a fistful of your hair and gently pulling your head back to expose your jawline and the moon-drenched top of your breasts to him.

Nikolai felt his cock stiffen against the warmth of you, your hips grinding down against the top of his leg. Your hands were all over him, nails grazing over his exposed chest, up over his shoulders and down the planes of his shoulder blades. He felt drunk, surrounded by you as he let his greedy mouth dive down to your breasts. He pulled the half-tattered gown down, letting it glide over your ass to the floor like water. Your breasts were full, nipples hard against the night air. He grabbed one, kneading the sensitive bud between his fingers as his mouth latched to the other. You gasped, grabbing the back of his head and pulling him down onto you as your body rose into his mouth. He heard you moan his name, the sound even sweeter than the pale approximation he’d managed to conjure in his dreams. He watched as one of your hands shifted from his skin to yours, trailing down the front of your stomach until it buried itself between your legs. Your pace quickened as the combination of his mouth and hands on your breasts complimented the arousal you offered yourself with your fingers. Nikolai could smell your sex as you continued to touch yourself, melting further into passion with each passing moment. 

“The bed,” he commanded, pushing you rougher than needed towards the disarray of sheets and pillows where he slept. You obeyed, your eyes sparkling at the note of control that tinted his words. Doesn’t everyone like a little pain with their pleasure? Your words flooded back to him, suddenly giving him an idea. 

“Do you trust me?” he asked, his voice a breathless growl. You didn’t hesitate, nodding as you sank down onto the bed and began working on the lacings of his trousers. Nikolai let you undress him fully, his dick springing free of his pants eagerly. He watched with undiluted need as you licked a long stripe from the base of his cock to the head, moaning slightly as you took his length into your mouth.

“Fuck, that’s good.” He threw his head back, his hands coming to the back of your head, coaxing you lower onto his member. The sensation of your lips wrapping around his shaft, your tongue dancing on the sensitive head, and your hands confidently pressing on a spot directly behind his balls made him see stars. You began to work your mouth up and down on his cock, bottoming out at the back of your throat each time. Nikolai’s heart shuddered in his chest, the muscles of his back and buttocks squeezing as he found himself shockingly close to orgasm far too soon for his liking. 

Using what very little composure he had left, he pulled your head off of him. You pouted up at him, the glint of frustration in your eye told him that you knew exactly how close you’d had him to losing control and that you liked it.

“I need you inside me.” Nikolai shivered at your words, mesmerized as you leaned back on the bed, exposing yourself to him invitingly. Your pussy was swollen and glistening with wetness. Normally, Nikolai would have driven himself inside you right then and there, risking a premature end to the passion for the bliss of feeling his cock totally surrounded by you. But, if Nikolai’s plan for mixing pain with pleasure was going to come to fruition, he needed you wetter and he needed himself further from climax.

He joined you on the bed, kneeling in between your legs and guiding your thighs onto his shoulders. You propped your head up on a mountain of pillows, excitement all over your face as you registered what was to come. You wanted a view, and he was more than happy to oblige.

He closed his mouth over your pussy, his tongue lapping at the juice. You gasped, arching your back and writhing on the soft sheets. 

“Nikolai, my God, that’s good.” Your praise egged him on, and he let his lips quickly find their way to your clit. Gently, he danced his tongue over it in a figure-eight pattern, alternating in a few flicks and sucks. The sounds that spilled out of you were quickly becoming less coherent, your body beginning to tighten, legs trembling ever so slightly. Nikolai pressed his hands against the back of your ass, bending your legs towards your breast and giving him a better angle before diving back into your pussy. He let his movements become less calculated, his tongue and lips slapping and slurping against you. You cried out, quickly stifling yourself with a hand over your mouth. He glanced up at you, your eyes falling closed under heavy lids. You were close to breaking loose, your pussy beginning to clench and your body quivering like a leaf in a strong breeze. Nikolai let one of your legs go, penetrating you with two quick fingers. His mouth returned to focus on your clit while his fingers began to stroke quickly and forcefully at the throbbing walls of your vagina. 

“My god, Nikolai, I’m gonna cum!” You were trying to quiet yourself, but pleasure had warped the edges of your perception and dulled your care for caution. Your words felt like a vice around Nikolai’s own pleasure. He ground his lips down onto your clit as you began to mewl and quake under him, his fingers drenching in the evidence of your pleasure as your sex contracted on them. He lapped and thrust you through your orgasm, watching as your face contorted in pure bliss, your breasts heaving and your thighs shaking. Nikolai forced himself to commit the vision and the taste of your pleasure to memory. He guided you down the other side of your orgasm, and when you finally sat up to look down at him, cheeks flushed and forehead beaded with sweat, Nikolai let himself up from between your legs. 

“You’re going to ruin me for other men, you know,” you told him breathlessly. “I’ll never have enough of you.” Nikolai’s pride roared at the praise, his heart pounding on the inside of his ribs. 

“Flip over.” Although it was a command, Nikolai knew you heard the promise in his words: there’s more to come. You obliged, rolling onto your belly as you picked your hips off of the sheets. You looked back at him, a mix of curiosity and impatience as Nikolai spat into his hand. 

“We can’t risk it,” he explained as he stroked his spit over his stiff cock. “I won’t risk anything happening to you if Vasily finds out.” For a brief moment, your expression turned serious. You understood what Nikolai was referring to. Your wedding to Vasily was still months away - plenty of time to begin showing if, Saints forbid, this led to a pregnancy. Neither of you could risk that, but especially not you. 

You’d never done what Nikolai was suggesting before, and although you’d always been curious, you felt a prick of anxiety. Something in your eyes must have betrayed your fear, because Nikolai stretched forward, hovering his body over you as he balanced on strong forearms. He kissed you, this kiss less fiery than the ones you’d shared earlier at the doorway. It had a note of softness to it, reassurance. 

“Only if you want to,” he murmured against your lips. The warmth of his body around you, the sound of his calm voice twining around your ears, melted away the nervous energy. 

“I want to,” you replied softly, lips reconnecting with his. He reared back, coming up to kneel on his knees. He grabbed your hips and raised them until they were level with his own. His cock waited expectantly, slick with his own spit and girthy.

“This won’t hurt,” he offered in what you knew was meant to be reassuring. 

You looked back at him with a sly smirk. “Like hell it won’t,” you shot back. You felt Nikolai line himself up with your ass, pressing gently at your entrance. The sensation was different, the tightness much more than what you’d expected. You felt him hesitate - you knew he was waiting for a sign from you, for you to lead him. 

You pressed your hips backward slowly. He steadied his slick cock in his hands, and you watched as he bit his own lip, staring down at the sight of you accepting his length. 

You gasped as you felt the full pressure of his head enter your body, stretching you in a blinding spasm. He stilled, looking up at you questioningly. The sight of him - chest heaving with exertion but his attention wholly devoted to you, letting you take control - relaxed you. You felt the muscles squeezing his dick release. In a moment of impulse, you drove your hips back with a hard jerk until his cock was completely sheathed in your ass. It was incredible, a mix of pain and bliss you’d never felt before. Your pussy twitched appreciatively, and you felt the beginnings of another climax begin to bubble in your core.

“We all love pain and pleasure, Nikolai,” you told him as his mouth fell open into a wide O, his eyes rolling back in his head at the sensation. “Take it.���

His eyes snapped to you, and you nodded, confirming that you’d just given him the permission to let loose. His hands gripped onto your hip bones as he slid himself backwards, his dick almost completely springing free before he buried himself inside you once again. Over and over he thrusted, in and out, his movements hard but controlled. The sound of slapping skin filled the room. You felt him bend forward, one hand finding its way to your clit. He continued to pound into you, the new sensation exciting and gratifying. When he began to dance his fingertips around your pink bud in small, controlled circles, you felt the edge of bliss roar up to meet you. 

You reached backwards, steadying yourself up on all fours with one hand as the other grabbed at the back of his thigh. You met his own forward thrusts with a backward hitch of your own. Nikolai gasped, his free hand digging into the flesh on your hip. 

“I’ve dreamt of you for so long,” he muttered, his words halting as he continued to pound you from behind. His movements were getting less controlled, and your attention was wavering as your orgasm began to overtake your awareness. You felt yourself slacken slightly under him. The hand he’d devoted to your clit retreated, finding its way back to your hip for better leverage. You replaced his fingers with your own, moaning his name in encouragement. 

“I’m close, baby,” he replied gruffly. His pace quickened until his thrusts knocked the air from your lungs, your knees practically levitating off the bed as he took you with the roughness his own orgasm needed.

You fell apart against him as he slammed into you, over and over again. Tears pricked at the corner of your eyes, your entire body convulsing with a new pleasure. Your fingers coaxed your clit to its fever pitch. You let yourself slacken slightly as Nikolai’s hips drove into you one last time. He reached down and pulled you up until you were flush against him, your back against his warm torso. He buried his face in your hair as you felt his cock release inside you, your name sighing in and out of his mouth with each breath. The two of you plummeted together into bliss, each of you lost to the moment. Only the heat between your bodies and the feel of his strong arms wrapped across your chest tethered your mind to the ground. The rest of you floated on a torrent of blossoming bliss. 

You weren’t sure how long you stayed like that, tangled together like vines. It was long enough that you felt him begin to soften inside you. Bodily needs forced the two of you to come down from the clouds. He withdrew from you gently, cooing soft praise into your ear as he kissed your neck. 

“You were so good for me,” he whispered. The sound sent shivers up and down your spine. You twisted around to kiss him, your lips finding his easily. He was trembling somewhat, overstimulated. You smiled against his lips, a hand tracing the hard edge of his jaw. 

“Get me a towel?” you asked. Nikolai’s eyes opened, and he nodded eagerly. His commanding demeanor evaporated, replaced by an assiduous lover. He clumsily shuffled off the bed, dragging his trousers on haphazardly as he hurried over the wash basin in the corner of his chamber. He doused two cloths in the water, warmed from the underside by still-glowing embers from the now cold fireplace, and returned to you. He offered you one which you used to clean yourself, while the other he gently wiped across your brow and down your neck. He lifted the hair from your neck, dabbing at the base of your skull and along your collarbones. You’d broken into a sweat from the night’s exertions, but it was quickly cooling on your skin as you felt your body sliding towards what promised to be a deep sleep. The warmth from the washcloth felt divine against your skin. You groaned appreciatively as Nikolai ran the cloth down the length of your arms before moving on to your breasts. You let him continue to attend to you as you sank into his bed. 

You wondered if he’d argue with you spending the night. It wasn’t the wise decision by any means, and it only increased the risk of Vasily finding out. You still had many hours before the palace servants would begin their morning rounds of stoking fires and heating tub water. They would be the first to discover you missing your own chamber and displaced in Nikolai’s bed. You trusted your own hand servants to keep the secret, but knew nothing of Nikolai’s personal staff. 

But, much to your contentment, he offered no rebuttal. Instead, he wiped you down with tender attentiveness and pulled the warm blankets over your naked body. You heard him wring out the washcloths into the basin. A few moments later, he slid into bed next to you. You turned your back to him and he molded against your body, an arm weaving around your side to hold you close. When he stilled behind you, you could feel the whisper of his breath tickling your ear and the reassuring beat of his heart against your back. 

“You’re not the only one who’s ruined, you know.” His voice was so quiet it almost didn’t pull you up from the fog of sleep. He planted a soft kiss just beneath your earlobe. You squirmed deeper into his embrace, a smile playing across your lips. 

“I’m afraid, my prince,” you replied after a few moments, “that this will indeed hurt.” 

Both of you knew that you were speaking to the kind of hurt that stays with you, a hurt that bruises your heart and bends your life under its weight. But neither of you were willing to forgo the pleasure you’d found tonight. You were in too deep now, and the future would have to take care of itself. 

“That’s alright, love. We all like a little pain with our pleasure.” 

You giggled at Nikolai’s quip, snuggling against him once more. For the first time since meeting, you each found an uninterrupted, dreamless sleep…

[haveyouplayedthisttrpg]

500 polls summary

And now our 500th poll is over.

A game that stayed at the top for...every precedent summaries has lost its throne.

Here is a Summary of these 500 polls results (with some comparaisons to the 400th poll summary):

The 10 Most Known Games :

1 Call of Cthlju (3% never heard of) NEW

2 Pathfinder 2e (3,20%)

3 Cyberpunk (3.60%)

4 Shadowrun (8.30%)

5 Mage The Awakening (9.20%) NEW

6 GURPS (10.5%) NEW

7 Warhammer fantasy roleplaying (10.90%)

8 Dungeon World (13%)

9 Fate Core (13.10%)

10 Thirsty sword lesbian (13.50 %)

3 new game in this top : Call of Cthulhu, Mage the awakening, GURPS.

This means Mage the Ascension,Apocalypse world and Exalted are out of the Top 10

The 10 Most Played Games

1 Call of Cthulhu 43.50% NEW

2 Pathfinder 2e 42%

3 Monster of the Week 36.40 %

4 Chronicles of Darkness 34.70%

5 Fate Core 33.20%

6 The Quiet Year 31.70%

Below this line, the played part was not the majority on the poll

7 Dungeon World 30.60%

8 Shadowrun 30.40%

9 Blades in the Dark 28.60 %

9 Star Wars Edge of the Empire 28.60 %

10 Lancer 26,10%

One new game in the top Most Played : Call of Cthulhu who dethroned Pathfinder

Mutant and Masterminds is out the Top 10

The 10 Most Voted on Polls

1 Dallas The Television RPG 8013 votes

2 I'm sorry did you say street magic ? 1593

3 Wanderhome 1187

4 One HONK Before Midnight 1163

5 Fight Truck 1044

6 Chuubo's Marvelous Wish Granting Engine 1026

7 Buffy The Vampire Slayer RPG 995 NEW

8 The Quiet Year 953

9 Dialect 893

10 Mork Borg 890

Only one new game on the most voted top : Buffy the vampire slayer

Pathfinder is out of the top 10

Percentage of Games per Decade

2020s: 270 polls (+ 58), 54% ↑

2010s : 121 polls (+ 21), 24.2% ↓

2000s : 55 polls (+ 14), 11% ↑

1990s : 28 polls (+ 3), 5.6% ↓

1980s : 23 polls (+ 4), 4.6% ↓

1970s : 3 polls (+0), 0.6% ↓

Most Known Game from each Decade

1970s : Traveller 29.30% Never Heard of

1980s : Call of Cthulhu 3% NEW

1990s : Mage The Ascension 14.80%

2000s : Pathfinder 3.20%

2010s : Dungeon World 13%

2020s : Thirsty Sword Lesbians 13.50%

Some games have been dethroned ! Call of Cthulhu has become the game of the 80s instead of Cyberpunk

Will someone dethroned Pathfinder for the 2000s decade ?

Which country do most games comes from ? ( the arrows apply to the percentage, not the position)

1 USA : 310 polls (+ 64), 62% ↑

2 UK : 55 polls(+14), 11 % ↑

3 France (+1 ↓) ; Canada (+6 ↑) : 19 polls, 3.8%

4 Australia 14 polls (+5 ), 2.8% ↑

5 Unknown 12 polls (+3) 2.4% ↑

6 Italy(+0 ↓), Japan (+ 2 ↑) : 9 polls, 1.8%

7 Sweden : 8 polls (+0), 1.6% ↓

8 New Zealand/Aotearoa : 7 polls (+2), 1.4% ↑

9 Finland (+0 ) 5 polls, 1% ↓

10 Germany (+1 ↑) Spain (+0 ↓) , Scotland ( +0 ↓) : 4 polls, 0.8%

11 Phillipines (+0 ↓), Ireland (+2 ↑) 3 polls, 0.6%

12 Brazil (+0 ↓), Denmark (+0 ↓) : 2 polls, 0.4%

13 Bandgladesh (+0 ↓), Malta (+0 ↓), Malaysia (+0 ↓), Mexico (+0 ↓), Netherlands (+0 ↓), Norway (+0 ↓) , Russia (+0 ↓), Singapore (+0 ↓), Slovenia(+0 ↓), South Africa (+0 ↓), Trinidad (+1) : 1 poll, 0.2%

We discovered a game from 1 new country : Trinidad

Please continue submitting games from other countries, and check the unknown ones to see if you know where they're from. Don't hesitate to submit non translated games

Most Known Game per Country

Australia : Mausritter 34.70% Never Heard of

Bandladesh : Midnight in a Perfect World 95.20%

Brasil : CBR+PNK 54.40%

Canada : Monsterhearts 16.90%

Denmark : Red Rook Revolt : 89.10%

Finland : Lamentations of the Flame Princess 44%

France : In Nomine 60.20%

Germany : The Dark Eye 62.40%

Ireland : TWarhammer 40k Wrath and Glory 30.50% NEW

Italy : Fabula Ultima 43.10%

Japan : Ryuutama 52.30%

Malaysia : Lumen Ryder Core 79.20%

Malta : Flabbergasted 78.80%

Mexico : Nahual 81%

Netherland : Foul Play 72.30%

New Zealand / Aotearoa : Monster of the Week 15.20 %

Norway : Itras By 85.30%

Phillipines : Gubat Banwa 36.80%

Russia : Horror Movie World 89.90%

Scotland : Delve A Solo Map Drawing Game 46%

Singapore : Hearts of Wulin 63.90%

Slovenia : Ultraviolet Grasslands 59.50%

South Africa : Nihilation 93.90%

Spain : Eyes on the Price 63.90%

Sweden : Tales from the Loop 18.70%

Trinidad : Nielsenauts 95.20% NEW

United Kingdom : Warhammer fantasy 10.90%

USA : Call of Cthulhu 3% NEW

Unknown : Fellowship 45%

All the results and the submitted games can be found here

To submit a game, go here

[vitaeplaysda]

Six Song Soundtrack

Lovely @greypetrel tagged me (TWICE) in and YES I WANTED TO DO THIS ONE FOR SO LONG!!!!!!!! And it has also been extremely hard sob Of course I'm doing Nadir just because he's the one with most music in his playlist lmao Tagging: @elgargremlin @elgar-nyan @symb1oso @thxwxlf and whoever wants to do this.

NADIR - STAR OF ELVHENAN

Event that defines your character's past:

Brave New World - Kalandra Nadir was at Haven and then Skyhold during Inquisition so he got to experience all that madness. Plus when his magic awoke, the fire caused a huge incident.

Waking from the dream Witnessing the smoke that's rolling in The end is what you fear The scent of embers lingers in the air It's like a web there is no escape from It's got you trapped, and you long for freedom Every wish, every dream was granted Never knowing what they demanded

How your character sees themselves:

Haunted - Poe Nadir believed for most of his life to be cursed and ill-fated. Everything he ever lover was or got lost, and he blames himself.

And I'm haunted By the lives that I have loved And actions I have hated I'm haunted By the lives that wove the web Inside my haunted head

How others view them:

Return To Innocence - Enigma Some believe Nadir is too carefree and naive, some he's too gloom and fearful, but in the end, he's simply himself.

If you want, then start to laugh If you must, then start to cry Be yourself, don't hide Just believe in destiny Don't care what people say Just follow your own way

Their closest relationship (romantic or platonic)

The Hardest of Hearts - Florence + the Machine This one is just perfect, enough I wanted to write a songfic with this one. Some parts refer to Nadir, some others to Elgar'nan, some it's both. Their love is complicated and yet to deep.

There is love in your body but you can't hold it in It pours from your eyes and spills from your skin Tenderest touch leaves the darkest of marks And the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts

A major fight scene:

To Ashes and Blood - Woodkid YES I KNOW, it's an Arcane song but the lyrics works so well with the fight against Elgar'nan, somebody he loved but who chose war and power instead. Alas Nadir is forced to take him down at the end. Also the song is technically what Nadir would sing/say to Elgar'nan but not about him.

You waste your life to gain power You shift the game rules How does it feel to reach the line that no one ever got to cross? Does it make you a God now? Every sin will be forgiven If you lay down your weapons to the ground

End credits song:

Arise - CLANN This song is incredibly sad and yet hopeful but also so good for Nadir. He's broken after the final battle, he lost Elgar'nan, his mother and Solas are gone elsewhere. But he has to rise again if he wants to bring back his lover.

You need not lament For lost innocence The child's still within Just waiting to wake It's not over Not over

Blank version below!

Blank Version:

Event that defines your character's past:

How your character sees themselves:

How others view them:

Their closest relationship (romantic or platonic)

A major fight scene:

End credits song:

[iwasthewind]

I'm so mad about this year's lantern rite lmao. It was centred around Menogias, the Geo Yaksha. Xiao's dead comrade and close friend. His official title was General Kapisas. He's based off Sun Wukong.

And there was nothing about him exept for a few random lines? Barely anything? I don't understand why. This was what Xianyun said about him- completely randomly- and then went back to talking about something else???

"He possessed a singular talent for clothing designs. He had an exquisite eye for not just fabric selection and colour pairing, but also for what accessories could best accentuate a garment's overall styling." (Dialogue one.)

"At a gathering of adepti, Bonanus (hydro Yaksha. She and Menogias went mad with Karmic Debt and killed each other. She and the Pyro Yaksha, Indarius, were presumably close friends. Bonanus' official title was General Chizapus and she seemed to be a gentle person.) once complained in secret to the ladies in attendance that the skirt Menogias made for her was too long and impractical, lamenting that it would only hinder her in battle." (Dialogue two.)

"However, when one asked Menogias his opinion, he remarked that the train of the skirt would serve to enhance her adeptal countenance by exemplifying a certain elegance. Menogias was that type of person. When it came to topics relating to garments and accessories, not even Rex Lapis could best his stubbornness." (Dialogue three.)

AND THAT'S IT?? Menogias designed Zhongli's outfits. Menogias fought in the archon war and was one of the Yakshas that sealed Guizhong away when she passed. He was one of the central figures in Xiao's life and Xiao grieved him terribly after he died. His death along with his siblings' deaths impacts Xiao till this day. He was like a brother to Xiao. Xiao talks in a quest (I don't remember which, sorry) about how Menogias once mentioned wanting to live a peaceful mortal's life-but in the end Menogias lost his sanity for the sake of his nation and his people and killed his sister, someone he held very, very dear. It's tragic. It's heartbreaking. His karmic debt took over his mind and destroyed someone he wanted to protect and live a mortal's life with. Menogias is such a wonderful character? When I saw in the livestream that the main lantern was Menogias, I gasped and sat up. Yaksha lore?! Menogias centric lantern rite?! Instead we dealt with Gaming's fucking family problems. Why couldn't that have been a sub-plot? Why didn't they use Gaming's stubbornness and passion as a parallel to MENOGIAS' stubbornness, passion and ferocity of both mind and body? Why???? Zero stars, I'm admittedly biased as fuck. I love the Yakshas and I wanted Yaksha lore- and this isn't like a "ugh I didn't get what I wanted" thing it's a "this year's lantern rite had so much potential that was absolutely wasted"

Like sure, the Xianyun-Shenhe convo was comedy gold, Gaming running to his dad and hugging him was sweet, but? Couldn't that have been a sub-plot? Menogias was this year's Mingxiao lantern. I don't care if they executed it badly and just brought him up via long winded exposition- the fact that barely anyone knows about Menogias is so sad and it could genuinely have made for such a good story? The fact that Xiao didn't even attend a festival more or less dedicated to him and his family? When "Lantern Rite Festival is a festival celebrated every year, on the day of the first full moon to commemorate heroes of the past."

I wish Xiao could have at least seen the Mingxiao lantern from afar. I wonder how he would have reacted to watch the people he protects honour someone he loved so much. Would he have cried? Could we have gotten a scene where an adeptus comforts Xiao? That was his brother.

Xianyun hangs out with her children, Zhongli with Hu Tao, the Fontaine cast randomly drops in which was kind of nice to see since Furina (<333333) came along. Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper (I cannot believe they got NPC treatment, what the fuck) hung out but Xiao was alone until the traveller releases a lantern with him. On lantern rite. Which is a festival more or less meant to commemorate him. He got what, a minute of screen time?? Two? Three?

In Xianyun's story quest (and obviously this is a spoiler for her story quest) we see just how much the traveller misses their sibling, how desperately they want them back and how much they bottle up their feelings. Xiao must feel the same, right? I can't imagine how guilty he must feel or how much he must wonder what life would be like had they survived. It would even have tied in with Gaming's story- how much he'd want his family to accept him and be there with him on lantern rite. Why didn't we get something about these three? Why was there so much focus on a random four star (I'm sorry if you like Gaming, I love his playstyle but I really don't give a shit about the character).

I feel like they really just want people to pull for Gaming and Xianyun, I really can't explain why they (imo) fumbled this so bad. I expected so much after the Fontaine AQ but man this was so disappointing it literally killed by desire to keep playing the game. I'll just do my dailies and log off, HSR welcomes me with a much warmer embrace

[gwaedhannen]

[Excerpt from Sorrow Beyond Words: Collected Testimony of the War of Wrath, 4th Edition; ed. Elrond Peredhel. Archive of Cîw Annúminas, inaugural collection]

“Simply reaching Menegroth was a struggle. Doriath had become a twisting nightmare of overgrowth and rot and mists, as Morgoth’s power warred with the remains of the Girdle and our old songs. Ai, our home, our haven! I know the name of every holly in Region, before the exile. We found deadfalls surrounded by dozens of animals who’d lain down beside the trees and rotted before they died. Blind moose more antler than flesh staggered towards us even after a dozen arrows. Vines covered in dripping thorns reached for our eyes. The cherry trees were overladen with fruits that smelled like gangrene. Deildhod stumbled into a nest of maddened vipers, and only escaped because their tails were all tangled together into a festering mass and could hardly move. We never saw or heard a single bird. I’m amazed we lost no one in that whole push through Region. No, I speak a lie. I know how we passed through with nothing worse than scrapes. Elrond was with us, and the ghost of Melian’s love still recognized her kin.

“Esgalduin had nearly been dammed by one of Hírilorn’s fallen boles, but the bridge still held. We crossed and reached the ruined gates, wrought twice and broken twice. Within there was only darkness to be seen; we knew not what manner of horrors Morgoth had sent to infest the city, but Ingwion was unwilling to leave them at the rear of his forces as he moved north, if it could be helped. Celeborn stood at Elrond’s right and myself at his left. Far less an honor guard than the heir of Elu Thingol and Melian Besain deserved. Yet in those dark days it was all the honor we could muster. King Dior Eluchíl had known thirty-six summers when he was unrighteously slain. Queen Elwing Nimaew thirty-five when despair took her to the sea. Lord Elrond Peredhel beheld the city of Elu for the first and only time in his twenty-ninth summer.

“Elrond stood before his inheritance and Sang. He sang a lament, for the lost endless years of joy and peace, for deep halls lit by birdsong and echoing with wisdom, for the Forsaken People who awoke the forest and earth with many voices, for the works of beauty never to be seen again on this side of the sea. He sang a promise, that the glory of Menegroth will be remembered in the songs of Middle-Earth for as long as its children endure. He sang thanks, for the protection the halls granted us until it could shelter us no more. As his song at last ceased, I thought I heard nightingales answering him.

“Stars shone on his brow, and his hair glistened as the vault of night, and the memories of our once-eternal bliss in the woods of Thingol’s realm under Elbereth’s gifts arose in my mind. Let Oropher dream of a deep hall for his own; let Celeborn reign where he will at his wife’s side! I knew in my heart, as the echo of nightingale songs faded, that there was no lord or king I would ever stand beside save Elrond Elwingion.

“The living stone in which our kingdom once thrived knew his voice, and at long last laid down its burden and passed. The darkness over Menegroth was lifted, and we went forth into its corpse, and no beast or orc could stand before us. I do not sing of what we found and left behind when we cast down the bridge and gave leave for the river to flood the caves. It is not worth remembering.”

[margindoodles2407]

So.

Was anyone going to tell me before I started reading the William Shakespeare's Star Wars Series by Ian Doescher

That this man rivals Matthew Stover himself in his ability to take Revenge of the Sith from tragic to absolutely SOUL-CRUSHING?

@whyoneartheven GET OVER HERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. YOU LIKE SHAKESPEARE WE CAN BE NERDS TOGETHER

Highlights from The Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge:

The use of Rumor as a character and a plot device, like in Richard III, because Dramatic Irony

After the whole "Hey the Jedi Council doesn't trust the chancellor, we need you to spy on him" debacle, Obi-Wan gets a monologue about how much he loves Anakin and has been worrying about a growing darkness within him, and swears to do whatever he can to prevent him from Darkness

The Tragedy Of Darth Plagueis The Wise (tm) is a PLAY WITHIN A PLAY THAT PALPATINE ASKS THE ACTORS TO PERFORM, like in Hamlet, CAUSE PALPATINE AND ANAKIN ARE AT AN OPERA OH MY GOSH I LOST MY MIND IT'S SO COOL

Padme keeps having lines about how worried she is for Anakin and how she keeps praying for the preservation of his soul ;_;

After Anakin's fall, he and Palpatine are referred to for the REST OF THE PLAY as Vader and Sidious

TWO UNNAMED JEDI HAVE THEIR OWN SCENE ABOUT HOW WHILST LOOKING THROUGH THE CLONE HANDBOOK (tm) THEY NOTICED THAT A CERTAIN ORDER WAS SKIPPED OVER. THEY THEN LAUGH ABOUT IT AND GO TO WATCH THE YOUNGLINGS DO THEIR LIGHTSABER PRACTICE

Sidious has a soliloquy about his awfulness. ENDING IN: "Die, light, die, any good that ever was,/Die, wisdom; yea, die, virtue, die, respect,/Die, honor, die, nobility, die, right-/These qualities shall perish on this day./For lo, the Sith do ply their merry tricks,/Come, Death: thy name is Order Sixty-Six."

I AM SCREAMING

FREAKING CODY HAS A MONOLOGUE ABOUT HOW HE DOESN'T WANT TO KILL HIS BEST FRIEND OBI-WAN

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE TO MAKE ANAKIN KILLING CHILDREN SADDER BUT APPARENTLY IT'S POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE HIM ASK THEM IF THEY'VE SAID THEIR PRAYERS BECAUSE, AND I QUOTE, "I WOULD NOT KILL YOUR UNPREPARÉD SPIRITS;/NO, HEAV'N FORFEND! I WOULD NOT KILL YOUR SOULS"

When Yoda sends Obi-Wan to fight Anakin on Mustafar, Obi has a monologue about how PERHAPS, ONE DAY IN THE FUTURE, HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT VADER HAS EFFECTIVELY KILLED ANAKIN "FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW"

The whole "You turned her against me/You have done that yourself/You will not take her from me/Your anger and your lust for power have already done that/et cetera et cetera/I will do what I must/You will try" is done using, of all things, Nautical and Sailorly imagery. High Fantasy Star Wars, Anyone? (this legitimately made me so happy; they also have a similar conversation in The Clone Army Attacketh during the scene where Padme's asleep and they're talking about politicians)

WHEN. WHEN OBI CUTS OFF HIS LEGS AND IS DOING THE WHOLE "YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE" SPEECH. ANAKIN HAS A MONOLOGUE ABOUT HOW HE'D CRY TO OBI-WAN FOR HELP BUT (HE THINKS) OBI-WAN WOULD ABANDON HIM, WHICH ENDS IN "I HATE YOU"

Hey. Hey listen. Obi-Wan, after the battle, SINGS a FUNERAL LAMENT for Anakin

"Although it may be said that I have won,/Herein hath died the heart of Obi-Wan" EXCUSE ME MR DOESCHER WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION

No no, listen to what Padme says about her children: "He shall be Luke, and walk among the skies./Heart of mine heart, and issue of my love." "'Tis Leia, who, like me, is royalty./Brave spirit, do remember thy sad mother."

(loud ugly sobbing can be heard from Margin)

I AM. NOT OKAY

[fr0ginthemoon]

Then I called her short, not considering the wheelchair.

When we see a a red and yellow striped butterfly drifting through a meadow of flowers, leaves gently falling and, for tantalizing moments, obscuring from our view the short lived brilliance that lay before us, we often fail to consider that the butterfly is one out of millions just like it, the field unremarkable among thousands others, and yet we single it out as the one, the scene that lingers on the surface of the boundless depths of our memories.

In the same way, when we see a butterfly the next day, crushed and bleeding on the sidewalk, it, also, is not unique. Uncountable hordes of butterflies die, in pain, every day, and even so, we single out this instance, of a fleeting, impermanent thing, to be immortalized among our most cherished memories.

"How the two contrast," we muse, imagining a parallel between these two memories that we weigh against each other in our minds. Of course, the two happenings are competely seperate, but even knowing this, we allow ourselves to dream, to extract meaning from events as far removed as the most distant stars. A birth, and the next day, a tragic car crash in another city. A sparrow leaving the nest, and a wolf skulking back into its den. These things are devoid of connection outside of ourselves, a flash of existance in a cold universe, and yet inside, they are inexplicably linked in a spider's web of theory and inescapably important meaning.

But as we desperately comb through these disparate elements for some figment of meaning, we become passive observers, cordoning even the most terrible of tragedies to the realm of our minds, inactionable. The observer sees, and ponders, but does not deam of change. It allows the horrors and beauty to come and go, and it does not interfere. Things are as they are, and it writes poems of the wars and shakes its fists at injustice and does nothing to interfere because is is an observer, and it dares not take part in the play.

Of course, no one looks at the butterfly and hopes that it will be struck from the air. No one sees it, having lost a wing, and fails to pity it. But then, though we see the butterfly laying there on the street and find all the meaning in it and write the most beautiful poems about the sadness of it all, we pass by. The butterfly is still on the road, and we think of it for a week, then move on.

I've always thought, though, that when we find these contrasts, and muse of hope and life and death, and write our poems and shake our fists, that it would be more helpful to take the butterfly off of the road, to tend to it, bury it, and plant a flower on its grave. That by shaking off the role of the observer, we might change the fate that we before lamented, but never reached out to.

So, sitting in the cafe, I unthinkingly called her short, and she laughed, shooting back that she doesn't need to stand to take me in a fight. "God must have known you'd need the handicap to even stand a chance," she crows over her coffee.

Then we both, I think, heal a little inside.

[smilingshields]

SAMPLER FOR PROSPERITY // His Job interview

“Why’re ya here, kid?” The merchant who’d let him ride with their little caravan had asked one night, beneath the stars of this foreign and oh so interesting land. Truth be told, he hadn’t exactly answered the kindly commoner at the time, so lost in thought was the former Butler, and former knight of Firene. His brothers were grown up now, and his father long departed for the next life, which left hm feeling rather adrift without an oar to guide him on this new river he’d found himself travelling upon. He could have returned to his hometown rather easily, he supposed, found a partner and settled down… yet he was still that same adventurous little boy who’d set forth from home with nought but a sack on his back and his father’s trusty blade on his hip.

“I must confess… I’m not entirely sure why here of all the places…” Laughter from the closed eye knight, as if he’s found himself endlessly amused by the uncertainty of it all. Louis was content in a way to just be travelling no matter the obstacles found on that long and winding road, they’d even passed through some rather marvellous smelling tea fields, with a sample of their latest blend to show for it! Perhaps old habits had died hard in a way, taking up watch for the night, ever vigilant with only his thoughts for company. There’d been a few attempted incursions, as is typical of the farming towns, and yet they’d turned tail at the sight of the armour gleaming under torchlight, leaving him feeling disappointed yet��� inspired all the more.

“… The monastery? Ain’tcha heard? The entire place was ransacked a few months back.” And so he had cursed his weakness, and the self-doubt that had kept him wandering aimlessly for far too long. He should have known, when the infrequent communications had all but come to a standstill. It’s like the war all over again, and so with a smile tinted by disappointment, Louis bid farewell from the merchant with a fresh punnet of grapes in hand and a sack smelling of tea on his back. Perhaps this was the entirety of his strength, that ability to keep his cool head and smile in place even as it felt like the world was turning upside down once more. It’s easy to lament, to lose himself and gaze at the world with opened eyes, yet to track, to hunt, to guide, to protect, that required effort, to step into the limelight despite the cost and make the world rue the day they had all been separated once more.

“Even when the world turned around us, we swore that none would fall while we remained. Even a simple attack would do little to stop us from seizing hope with our own hands.” And so Louis had, travelling from town to town, leaving letters and descriptions in hope of reunion once more. It’d been a stroke of luck, that his strength of perseverance had carried him as long as it had, until someone, a refugee on the road had spoken of a figure with Red and Blue hair spotted recently, claiming they were at the destination that the refugees were travelling to, that the monastery had been reclaimed. And so Louis had become their shield, spread the rations he carried amongst the group as they travelled that long road.

“… What do you intend to do when we get there?” A question worth a lifetime of gold, and yet he hadn’t figured to think that far, an old habit of focusing himself on the task before him, and yet It’s that scared little girl, cowering from the wolves’ howls that give him an answer, one that is his, one that is true to the man that had faithfully protected Céline for so many years. He’d knelt in front of her, bypassing the confused adults that stared in wonder, in awe and shock at this commoner knight, took the blanket from his shoulders and wrapped it around her with sweet nothing on his lips. “With luck from your goddess, find my friends. Then, even if we are not reunited… someone will need to ensure your safety, won’t they?”

Oh, Louis, had heard their whispers, their fears that he would abandon them in luck were not on his side, and it left him truly aghast. His story, his heroics had already ended, he had little in the way of desire to become the centrepiece of another’s painting, but even still, he would not, could not, live with the idea of leaving them to the mercy of whichever divine they believed in. Even now the smile is ever present, as that child runs in the distance, before his attention is turned back to the clergywoman conducting the interview, the smile on his features ever present as he reaches for the tea brewed by his own hand.

“An interesting tale, is it not? I assure you, much like my recollection of serving tea to the Queen of Firene on the day I became her most loyal knight, it is wholly and unequivocally… true”

[arrthurpendragon]

WIP Tag Game

I was tagged by @goldheartedchaoticdisaster

RULES: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

(Imma put it below the cut lol)

A Ballad of War & Love (TURN)

A Moonlight Serenade (Sherlock)

A Royal Pain (Royal Pains)

A Window to the Past (HP)

Across the Lands (Star Wars)

All is Found (ATLA)

An Attempt to Tip the Scales (Veronica Mars)

Angel Eyes (IT)

At Wit's End (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Beauty & the Geek (Criminal Minds)

Black Magic (HP)

Bluebird in My Heart (BBC Musketeers)

Breakaway (Twilight)

Bridge Over Troubled Water (Virgin River)

City of Stars (The 100)

Coming to Terms (Remember the Titans)

Constant as the Stars (Star Trek)

Damsel in DC (Bones)

Daughter's Lament (Hunger Games)

Dear Theosodia (Bridgerton)

Divine Strength (Marvel)

Enchanted (The Flash)

Entreat Me Not to Leave (Outlander)

From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea (Percy Jackson)

Gloria Regali (Reign)

Green Eyed Monster (Riverdale)

Holding Out For A Hero (Gotham)

Holy Mother Forking Shirballs . . .this is the Vampire Diaries (TVD)

House's Hart (House)

How to Save a Life (Grey's Anatomy)

Incomplete (Kenobi)

Just Give Me a Reason (NUMB3RS)

Just South of Heaven (The Good Place)

Kingdom Come (SPN)

Kryptonite (HP)

Let Me Fall (HP)

Let's Go Eevee (Pokemon)

Look What You Made Me Do (TUA)

Lost Along the Way (HP)

Love Comes Softly (Pride & Prejudice)

Mail Order Bride Original Stories

Mamma Mia (Stranger Things)

Nine to Survival (Jurassic World)

Of Dragons and Lions (HotD)

Of Love and War (TURN)

Once Upon a December (Peaky Blinders)

Only Fooling Myself (OTH)

Other Stories (Original)

Pippa's Book TBD (Bridgerton)

PS I Love You, Steve Rogers (Captain America)

Psych You Out in the End (Psych)

Rewrite the Stars (The West Wing)

Rule 14 (Criminal Minds/NCIS)

Safe & Sound (Star Wars)

She Will Be Loved (Law & Order SVU)

Simple Joys of Maidenhood (HP)

Someone Else's Starr (Teen Wolf)

Songs to Love and Die By (Divergent)

Stealing Her Patriot Heart (Bridgerton Prequel)

Tale as Old as Time (National Treasure)

Tempting Fate (HP)

The Devil's Pawn (HotD)

The Hero Dies in the One (Agents of SHIELD)

The Night Janitor (Night at the Museum)

The Prayer (Merlin)

There's a Hero (Spiderman)

This is Me (Gilmore Girls)

Threads of Fate (Rings of Power)

Under a Paper Moon (HP)

Untitled (Chronicles of Narnia)

Untitled (Keeper of the Lost Cities)

Us Against the World (SPN)

Vindicated (Black Panther)

When Call the Heart (Love Comes Softly)

Where Dragon's Dwell (HotD)

Written in Your Heart (Once Upon a Time)

[newsandnotesblog]

THOM ASHWORTH

Derry Gaol

Pathfinding

High Germany

Ratcliffe Highway

Everybody's Gone To the Rapture

RL BOYCE

Coal Black Mattie

Child Of God

Going Down South

Don't Worry My Mind

Shotgun

BOYGENIUS

Salt In the Wound

Ketchum, ID

Bite the Hand

True Blue

Cool About It

Not Strong Enough

BILLY BRAGG

Waiting For the Great Leap Forward

There Is Power In A Union

BRIGHT EYES

Bells and Whistles

The Time I Have Left

Tin Soldier Boy

We Are Going To Be Friends

Something Vague

Saturday As Usual

The Feel Good Revolution

Calais To Dover

Ladder Song

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD

Expecting To Fly

Hung Upside Down

Questions

Rock 'n' Roll Woman

On the Way Home

NEKO CASE

Last Lion Of Albion

Furnace Room Lullaby

Thrice All American

At Last

Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

John Saw That Number

Deep Red Bells

Things That Scare Me

Magpie To the Morning

The Tigers Have Spoken

LUCY DACUS

Forever Is A Feeling

The Most Wanted Man

DARLINGSIDE

My Girl/My Guy

DEAD TONGUES

Dirt For A Dying Sun

Call Out To Me

The Gold Is Deep

Stained Glass Eyes

Embers Of Midnight

Garden Song (from Dust)

DECEMBERISTS

The Infanta

This Is Why We Fight

A Cautionary Song

Legionnaire's Lament

The Mariner's Revenge Song

Don't Carry It All

Calamity Song

Once In My Life

Sucker's Prayer

We All Die Young

Long White Veil

BOB DYLAN

Lenny Bruce

Man of Peace

Neighborhood Bully

They Killed Him

Political World

Ring Them Bells

Disease of Conceit

STEVE EARLE

Johnny Come Lately

ESPERS

Caroline

Dead King

I Can't See Clear

The Road of Golden Dust

Sightings

Another Moon Song

FIRST AID KIT

Random Rules

It's A Shame

Stay Gold

The Lion's Roar

Ready To Run

The Last One

Postcard

To Live A Life

Distant Star

Nothing Has To Be True

RHIANNON GIDDENS

Come Love Come

Yet To Be

Another Wasted Life

If You Don't Know How Sweet It Is

I'm On My Way

JARLATH HENDERSON

The Mountain Streams

Young Edmund

Courting Is A Pleasure

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER

If It Comes In the Morning

JASON ISBELL

Shotgun Wedding

24 Frames

Cumberland Gap

Stockholm

Hope the High Road

Seven-Mile Island

The Blue

Soldiers Get Strange

Streetlights

The Last Song I Will Write

JETHRO TULL

Reason For Waiting

Look Into the Sun

We Used To Know

With You There To Help Me

Inside

Songs From the Wood

Ring Out Solstice Bells

GARY JULES

Mad World

KACY + CLAYTON

49th Parallel

Spare Me Over One More Year

In A Time Of Doubt

Intervention

Providence Place

The South Saskatchewan River

The Light of Day

White Butte Country

A Certain Kind of Memory

This World Have I Wandered

AMYTHYST KIAH

Sleeping Queen

Hitchin A Ride

Fake Plastic Trees

Black Myself

Dark Matter

Wildebeest

Die Slowly Without Complaint

LANKUM

The New York Trader

LOS LOBOS

When the Circus Comes

Saint Behind the Glass (Fillmore)

Good Morning Aztlan

The Road To Gila Bend

Wreck Of the Carlos Rey

Tears Of God

One Time One Night

LILLIE MAE

Terlingua Girl

Over the River and Through the Woods

Wash Me Clean

Honest and True

Nearing Home

SINÉAD O"CONNOR

I Am Stretched On Your Grave

The Emperor's New Clothes

OFFA REX

Sheepcrook and Black Dog

The Queen Of Hearts

The Gardener

Flash Company

The Old Churchyard

Willie O' Winsbury

To Make You Stay

CHARLIE PARR

God Moves On the Water

Send Your Child To War

Come Along and See

Cropduster

Walk Around My Bedside

Farmer

Rain

Heavy

Hobo

Salt Water

THE ROCHES

Hammond Song

Speak

Everyone Is Good

Losing Our Job

Person With A Past

Another World

Love Radiates Around

Love To See You

Losing True

MAGGIE AND TERRE ROCHE

Down the Dream

Telephone Bill

If You Empty Out All Your Pockets . . .

West Virginia

RICHARD SHINDELL

The Next Best Western

Smiling

I Saw My Youth Today

Beyond the Iron Gate

Money For Floods

Atlas Choking

The Deer In the Parkway

All Wide Open

Your Guitar

Abbie

SONGS OF GREEN PHEASANT

I Am Daylights

Dear Prudence

Whitsun Girls

Wintered

The Burning Man

Knulp

Until . . .

Truth But Not Fact

Have Patience

Baby I'm Deranged

SUN KIL MOON

Carry Me, Ohio

Lost Verses

Tonight the Sky

Like the River

Pray For Newtown

BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE

Moratorium

Carry It On

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee

The Uranium War

Working For the Government

God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot

The Big Ones Get Away

Farm In the Middle of Nowhere

Generation

I Don't Need No City Life

Ain't No Time For the Worryin' Blues

We Are Circling

RICHARD THOMPSON

Turning Of the Tide

Keep Your Distance

From Galway To Graceland

Bird In God's Garden

Beatnik Walking

Broken Doll

Devonside

Dad's Gonna Kill Me

The Ballad of Easy Rider (with Sandy Denny)

I Still Dream

Jerusalem on the Jukebox

NEIL YOUNG

Welcome Back

Cinnamon Girl

Motorcycle Mama

[baeaecha26]

Chapter 30: Unraveling the Past

Though the village slept in ruin and desolation, the remnants of the past refused to stay silent. As Ti and Kaipa explored the once-bustling streets and abandoned homes, they began to accumulate pieces of a puzzle that formed a story much more complex than what they originally envisioned. This place had secrets, and as they delved deeper into its heart, it became impossible to ignore the inexplicable attraction the village held over them.

Kaipa looked back at Ti as they excavated an ancient, blackened ledger from beneath the rubble. "It's like someone wants us to see this – these relics of the past, preserved like this despite the devastation all around us," he whispered, his voice little more than a ragged breath in the wind. He traced his fingers along the singed, crumbling pages, tracing the elegant script that danced beneath his touch like tiny, fevered serpents. Ti watched his, his hands trembling with equal parts anticipation and fear.

"Magic," he breathed, unable to tear his gaze from the strange symbols that appeared to shimmer like ghostly firelight in the increasingly darkening surroundings. "Ancient magic, barely remembered now… but it could be the key to dissolving this bond that ties us together." He glanced at Kaipa, his face streaked with grime and exhaustion, and realized that he was not just speaking of the bond created by the artifact.

His eyes met his, and in that solemn exchange, they acknowledged a truth that had remained unspoken, hung like a silent specter over their tenuous alliance. They had hurtled down a path from which there could be no retreat, and as the weight of that realization bore down on them, they found solace and purpose in the remnants of a civilization that had once thrived amidst the ruins.

As night fell, the wind's voice matured into a mournful lament, the air now heavy with sorrow and a haunting sense of loss. Guided by flickering torchlight and a fragile resolve, they entered the central ruin, an ancient temple whose shattered turrets seemed to claw at the very heavens in a final act of defiance. And there, beneath the shattered remains of a once-magnificent altar, they uncovered the secret that would change the course of the war and the fate of their broken hearts.

"I knew it…" Kaipa whispered as they pried open the delicate, intricately -crafted chest, his voice shaking with a thousand years of awe and regret. "The pillars of the temple were inscribed with phrases proclaiming the love of two star-crossed lovers, who sought refuge in this village, away from the war that raged in their homeland. I knew the answer had to be here somewhere." He stared at the softly glowing crystal heart, nestled within the chest, its ethereal light casting eerie, shifting shadows on the cracked and crumbling walls.

Ti reached out with trembling fingers, uncertain whether he should touch the fragile relic at all. "This is the source of the magic… The very heart of a lost civilization whose love and devotion transcended the bonds of death and ended a long, bitter conflict. Could it be that we have followed the same path?" His heart quivering with a mixture of desperate hope and suffocating fear, Ti locked eyes with Kaipa, and for the first time, allowed himself to speak the words that haunted his dreams.

"Do you remember," he said softly, "that first night…when we discovered the artifact that bonded us together? It taught us a painful lesson but also showed us that love could save us from ourselves." His gaze never left Kaipa's face, where he saw a hidden yearning surface amidst the grime and sorrow of their shared ordeal.

"Yes," he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I remember thinking how cruel fate was to have brought us here, to have left us adrift in this ocean of despair. But perhaps…perhaps it was a gift, disguised as a curse." He regarded the crystal heart, its soft, wavering glow shining alluringly in the darkness.

With a final, shared breath of courage, Ti and Kaipa reached down and lifted the crystal heart from its resting place. The air around them seemed to thicken, charged with energy; unspoken words hung in the balance, a tapestry of hope, doubt, and a fragile, gossamer love.

"This is our choice," Kaipa whispered, his voice shaking with the enormity of the decision that lay before them. "This heart, the remnants of a love so powerful it healed a world, can be either our salvation or our undoing. It all depends on what we choose to believe."

As their fingers brushed against the ancient relic, the crystal heart seemed to throb softly as if resonating with the pulse of their blood. The shadows on the temple walls danced wildly, echoing the tempest that raged within their hearts. As they stood on the precipice of destiny, they knew that whatever they chose, their lives would forever be entwined with a love that transcended time and mortal understanding.

[libidomechanica]

Fretted to secure you yet may smiling bride on, we

A sonnet sequence

               1

Yon cloud all but the twain, feeding for delight I know not wish be together, the crystal vial Cupid brought? Time is lost Estate. Tis but his wrong is thing, patching, silver an endless the Prime renew! Fretted to secure you yet may smiling bride on, we two with a kind but it in witness fail, that swallows next, a doubled mighty’s Gentlemen, by Command; to my head. Poor Betty lambs we pull; fair-lined slippers warming by starting go of soul and night by daylight on a stagnant then, let bee. At the plasma, listen’d to bless you drill it scars. In the treasure times would understand. In your fierce tears; beneath her to Saving me, said I, was well as an old old wolf, for ever prove to spare it, he being somewhat gardens. The prince he Mouldy rolls, please; bankrupt of Life each me to complete, however to Lament will play, threefold their own despise, and, from where my earth.

               2

My poetry, at lengthen follow’d on two or thee, and Take when we who whiff it. And Susan Gale? Move forfeit on the greates, if Bands, she wild voice I raise, which Betty’s face aglow with Maiesty. Further and all dissemble, with love may the Tenement lights appears; the rain, has such a royal trumpet blow, or I shall alone, that he crie; let woe gripe on my dress was like a ghost, they anointed worse than deaf that copy die. One think of it. And yet I see the carved through, the royal children she can know one that will not for I can see, that flower shall cost a Limb of his chair?

               3

You shout, his image. By shall be too night will brings me to me: a virgin mantle in Hate: resolve on the poor Susan cries. On the darts as difficult to get Preferment, and wild words are hush’d, and speech do liue, thought for aye, the wrong indentures: oh gentle Silvia, do I know why you resided first rose they crave that is mild beam blot the inspiration from thence in their Suffer, thus with a riding what senses fail, that tho his own predicate in giving, hurry. And balmy eve; and brew’d with pedestrian Muses, pipe as suddenly a memory of Civil Wars.

               4

A grateful lady bug without elucidation upon a star in the arrows spent, and increase: thought, and frog eyes and laughed then in health and bind, deeming the violet breathing-while sobd-out words. Matthew stop; and less, those dew-drink-offerings matter their ray was sloped down, yes, an endless string I was grace; god cannot wears even to One, in spite, tis no need to kill me where a garden! Bursts otherwise but you have hearts, dishonest simple truth’s beams arise like a Lyon, Slumbring the son, but I will ne’er before. Two hours, take pains? I mourn for who is care, or poison from and rain.

               5

Against my smile, as carefully and words a perfectly pure loue, with paleness gall—to still his golden Apollo, that’s done lamenting Venus badge in me, but I tell your modern dames: well if he had his face, a gray old chain it wear are feasts so solemn groves, he or lazily fondled the impalpable ash or them. And now you desire, because the one who drank from that not trust, while or two with Kings on and best them shake upon her house; everything went back into your eyes and bade him still call. The flowers be over. Of it all claim only a yard be undone.

               6

Where is a moon that three—a dismal knell! My only Phillis, thought God’s will not the Golden fruits, and thence, ev’n with the white with my wit, the smiling. But whene’er before in the sofa: digestions try; and Matthew stop; and balmy eve; and that I were recouers. And could make him in the act. For themselves until the Hall, my Maud is as frail gesture. That was inseparable Knight; but, like the sky, and joy! Who told him we were destroyes, but he is dear possess a lawful Government. Proud Egypt would surely, some divine; she could plays about her far nor no God couldn’t you thinking chair?

               7

Of Arbitrary Lord: and my boat was no other character of Barren Womb or Grave; but to me? Must cou’d be true defilèd bosom heaven was very flower- loving rose heap’d o’er the Pigmy Body to declare that is merchant, to seek me, and, from cause expos’d the time so sordid and a Moses’s face turn’d away. But, Betty fifty ponds so sordid and limbs: he rolls, pleasure, and gazed disturb a State: and, which is the vale; and by times her bosom move? Wind sleep. The broke the new porridge for my self about, which, who am not God it’s much on along theefe! Soldier once!

               8

Lingering from the question which he came over thought with the pestilence and shook the blabbing out and shall danced athwart the expanse and like blood of its many ill with silence to hover round himselfe themselves in the ripe corn-fields to dwell with a green darkness. And moon’s and each Heart will make a keyhole and here is meant thou, whose fellowship; but with my life I was calm, and their habitationmaster heart. He dancing music, answer as if to their cell, that Eloquence: so that done? Were he wishes long as it’s a Monarch tame, a most fresh tears are electric to catch for sure I?

               9

It was said, Those hedges in your own at Keswick, and the arrows of poverty, and space is so late: he had for what has fetched Elenor, I am forst such set trash of a mate forgot and these they don’t decorous water-fall she hearts, you gave a score years to sell, or not to my threshold him wait, susan, we must be gone, I must be sleep reciting day; the night are scarcely can say that sweet flutter to mee: no, no, no, no, my Deare, let bee. Instruction flies, and many others, the moonlight and rak’d, for Tyran, you knowes no more am I as the day when the dell, and pale sickly grown weary to possessive and I’m afraid, if I cannot tell what nedeth feyned loveth him Return. ’ Time, where you up in her desire, they circle the watches may Sons of thee designed: she tremble the war; the City, to set it made of Beauties skies, making to you.

               10

By natural to him befell? Phoebus gilding the silver-shedding bless, and her down with Lyes; to please the intent to sound she were recount of their Masters or stars he to dig Love’s beauty is truth I do belie his Consent; and life is dreaming Saints such their roots with the million perfectly- chisled cheeks. I could not, happy, happy as a wave is; it suffers not inherited silence jewel-thick sunn’d itselfe, still at hand upon the window and balm, or playing wind slowly through the heat of Justice damn us all, now backwards they had heart; I said thou canst touch near to you there.

               11

So round a beggar before; or melt him share. Beat into rhythm, you loved a thunderbird instead; at least by his holly credible. When, tho his Kitchen is Oothoon weep to this poor old Susan Gale. Thy face aglow with that your more than deaf that then, bosom move? The happy, happy and a parch the lakers, in a wounds, dishonest to David’s Cause. But try your foe. Why is your pleasure; but a calamity hard your pursuit? And all the fates come away. For blood waltzes. For to Rule Jerusalem Displease, but that she appeach time began to mind until the morning bed!

               12

Before incense things before eleven. So, through here was, nor story, what wickedness; disdaining fame; nor hopes and all the world beside, where thoughts which Betty Foy, and you, and tiger, and time; with timorous joys of life filled, the winds could that he swell, and that in the Councill violent, on the day, to pass away; if Susan had she waters written away his noble Stile he may yields. By his hands beneath the fierce darts by the Monarch’s fate proposed bliss, and I’m almost humbly at you birth, please approaches, crying: The Night his Prey, his father, bed by their roots too. An old jockstrap.

               13

Which droops upon the benefit of Fate, tO sell it thou dost lord was ten color of furious of adamant will Swear, till contemn; which enclose by what was loaded with cold out of them deep wounds have name of Destiny convulsive rapture of deities new, as the giddy Jews tread the Old men go; and Peace can gives, all mean, poet? Her sighs towards the wheels are past thou to war’s alarms, and her deafe of that opprest the husband’s head to me: a virgin that day, and that Applause might theeues thy airy flower, was made; and Patriots in the hears more discuss; and yet may be vain!

               14

Once more to herself thou flew’st moss the Doctor! I to the end of wurst think to a mean Descent, and how to serves his life indanger bring, are often urg’d by on either home, cried Betty Foy? My lord was deadly draught me. The buzzing Emissaries, fillèd with me—a flower, like a man of Jealous Eye to the Ill, for Loyal Nation’s caves beneath the dye of her how content? Concord better twere burthens our flocks by shall looks like manner they bore, were thy nervous verses dight, th’ eventide. The park what Religion and market in his Enemies, in Sanhedrins to die.

               15

But Esau’s Hand of sighs. Yet oh that was shape and not made for man say I have laid down with nets found, where my weary wander’d in a clandestines ally’d; and strikes in distress his leave me for it. The sea, knew its rocky cave e’er the Pigmy Body to believe, by turning, with near ally’d th’ eventide. Yet, Corahs placid mischance against female charms o’ lovely Davies. Would lose him they go, and prove and cold floods the bare; and in the words my sight, when I’m indoors and balmy eve; and how she sang:-she would that name I would stab the prince Restor’d; saw with posterity.

               16

On a blush, with a woman’s heart and lifts his wicked but two or themselves in my soule doth publick Scorn. One whit your kindest gifts its hooves if it brings me to thee, and his Fame: and all other Errors but bloomed that uttered, without really brings are the more I lie within these Prodigious destiny had him in vain; when he to you in our bird-throated mother know I have kept your beauty’s careless wit, fearles Ruby- hidden row, nor doubts and Stews; whose same baite, and weeds, sweeter blood bound the weight have no more account, for sure as bold as if facing a blackbird in one forc’d to seke?

               17

Or let him give up groweth with my dearest the which was ten those alone, in hand, as himself to give; of moon was no more account, for joy; she darts are they had he bees, my drinks waters round there for towns once, for who could lose me destroy, and mad, they take care doth to the sun that ne’er had love ready to deem, as I have Helen! They could sleep however though my life. Buttercup until, after sore, johnny answers above that the ether name of thy Reign as Aarons’s race, was made you: nor do aspire to worry him. If my Young Samson with glancing must popped her this, folly’s left.

               18

And sin he be seen, three A. Thy cup is run! He knew all faith, like stones of your joy: despair? Each mans believing rose with shield me the time we were flower shall not changed eye finds such folly call, would remove, come tomato aspire to help poor mans bereft, he traverse, there in abundance from off the Place; in the night of her. She meets you, fire with joy that flower, I come, stopped, he seem’d as he the world turning of that can finde, cupids help, on while I played away. Sound of May, since shown, sitting sheep, a field me though not pluck the blow—I swears the word. What maid, and down with lifted was there?

               19

Have years does their eyes and brew’d with that your Case no fear of sad misfortune roll’d his beside their season at all that is abed, candles out forth? And we live it to have no peaceful citadel, thou so longer Just. Most importance pleasure, would be, to leaue to do with life is done withstand! Love, let my poor goodness wealth, thy soules ioy, bend nothing in the Princes something in the grants to foot with long the best coupled before; oh Shah, I am dead; or sadly he may be dissembling home, is in smiling photograph from Boston Common- wealthsmen, were strong with work, sit on its dead.

               20

And he was things are endeavour from this miser spread, o’ercast my small, so I made for Empire is a life will make a flowers to shame; and sunk upon the same fast the cock sung out and compassionate one. There is only cruel! With one is false feathers boyl the first. From stone with a life are him and loving went ever try’d, or let his Foes shall be offered up as being the dusk with such work, not hurt ye, or in thy fair, I long Process of men, near the flash of a plum. His Courage Foes, what Prudent men at the ditty, my father, but coud once in thy feet to give away.

               21

Sung and terrors of Albion hear you’re alive air in my sight, thought, indew’d by boyling and thus he said; but ministers are up—she said; she said their strengthen fetters worse that pull us true: theeues do rob, but old man say I am down, yes, and ever proves that you come lived with stirrups, just a nail. Thus I have killer, spare, to drown heart wild ass why he refuse: that I would rather letters of his Sould did not born of year, its love, like a March night lanes the secret Foes. On both gone shopping; just post with a flirting upon the eyes upon the head, and amber for Priests devise.

               22

What does his place: holds any nail in travelling short of Godly Faction, bliss on blisse, and for men? Not talking about me the oxen’s looks again-her arms? And want, because his Servants are very world turn’d. Himself: when man, fills their Belzebub will choose, to find, I fear the paralytic’s wife who thinkes their Heart: which did equal and the blood! Put on, and dead, long dead, half a Father of my soul, could not of all his golden cage. And knows what she with Foes? Is when long already got, and some let me in me, but Innovation renew again; the ocean, color of boot or snow.

               23

As fast thou shalt wane, so fall, and strikes in cunning in odour and unnamed her soul in eternal chain it went to groan’d her only due to the undone vasty version brought to her arms a wet napkin, wrapp’d aside, which i cannot shed while their mad Labour trust thy shapeless as foretell me what is the wind; and as spirit ditties of wine and built with joy in which the depths, and will feel that you had tri’d of honest, since so well, were Jebusite. When I do? A lawful and shook the rais’d up to Foreign treaties he scene, had yet more harlots; and Priesthood in a fickle Nelly Gray!

               24

Leaves me not Helen, Helen’s publick Zeal to us out of pleasure nor prayer that a wretched to it with me afrights of Wine. Then the passes to shun, whatever stirs this stuff that fresh Force. Does the storms of every Royal Youth theirs’ the dripping wings, and Rais’d in stones of Leutha, seeking flowers such appellants go to—God knows where you, disparage such too weak in seeming sleep twelve hour when Natures the worm feeds on, and hopes a Right in the wandering waterfall, at poor old beloveds have let mine owner’s tongues, milton appears; then, your lips, prisoners release, whom Just Revenge!

               25

Like religious drops dead. The lake; speak the bestowest thou English grant, independs on Praise all, my lids and Starry Pole: from my revenge is no goblins’ hall, or in the sweet babes, poor idiot boy. Has proven abortive but because then is your face enioyeth, but the day and the Bent; but the Jebusites to groan ran thro’ the threshold, and wash my earth my eye like a dial-hand, march with Fear, yet new, as that morning the Bravest, and keeps me, most stifled with time throated mother, and the dreary, he muses have come upon em with a joy, where dwell, the slows down to the eldest.

               26

Like them, pried loose or binde; there’s ivy! But I am but only; you envy and Hatred to them! She said; she seem’d but Pomp, did adorn’d, the cock sung the town so wide, is this wonderous band, is involved in the and heart. The cottage warmth of the grave. Some lucky Revolution of this first let me ending taught to make you for the father, and seems no law deny’d, and was Israel’s monarch, and tempting to pass a day among the fruits flour, is in thou have hardly can see a midnight’st helpe, most oppress with a Lordly Rage, rage against the known to takes her idiot gabble!

               27

As if I chances terse. Far and unnamed light, where is not so; to hang on thy shadows less pleasure in the pasture, gladdening mee; let folke orecharg’d with Fear, yet shines spred; she carefully and pure good Husbandman? And Betty summs of every world across the power in green, twas Johnny do, I proves that not so the same Design. All, a creep softly o’er the wrinkled body of bones to and bring, gave us lief. Both for ever warn’d by Nature waters slept quiet sleep, when with only cruell worth, and it is in her hand: in horses beat neath my nursling near, till betide? And strikes the could not because the way you do letters of evolution of the publick Good, the ripe corn-fields, woods or sword, i’ll gie Cuckold frae naething to Build and as coy; with lifted hands to dash thy glimmering an hour ago, on Johnny, Johnny seen, and wanted on dead, half an hour employs.

               28

Ever again the last, you live it in all faith downcast eyes, lips he in the way, fretted their Mothers, because they cannot guessed are, or bring; foment of their father Countries but his second and all delight, yet lov’d into his was a blackning across the Vapours ere the worse awhile, they going, there’s nothing in odour and with mine eye; let me runs before, ye soft piteous earth! Thinking she heat spreads her very Jewes, which enclosed me with youth of thy King. Or break me again. Yet those tears fell with studied Arts a fright, and he right of day; and Humane Good old Caleb free.

               29

Wild men by their Suffer, though our love or to enjoy. But closed me first to the sky is still and heap’d amid a murder. And, which that passes to-night, destroys: and if they Chose, god was Israels Courage Foes, who make soon shall the eagle returnest too coarse to mee: no, no, no, I do to ease your love to the Strand; but sicken at the shower, and brake, in blackness of matter to Punish a Body to say my death wrapp’d in an empty. You will not to mee, and past. God, even a things she heauens for me. Too cold climate and bleached: bees pass the worst if her you will be my death’—alas!

               30

But these thin Partitioners: whom, debauch’d with my Emma lay; while our tithes in one force, Infus’d, the Government it seemed to my wanted of thy mettall mankind’s force—thus doth eternities new, changed me threshold? Thou only thine in the parson claim, and hoary, dark, o’ercast my kissed me in, let rays of reason Law. I must need of length it standing Crowds engage in the night, dar I seye, that Absalom’s than flowers be overgrown in Bathsheba’s Embraces old. But try your own at Keswick, and vagrant from hill to the same he might have made: he taking three summer beauty.

               31

But then, seeking the door, what does he cometh not, she said thinking chains, with you and I, and spread, o’er the peoples pleasures grows deny’st me crie; let folke orecharg’d with gory blood with a prayers to wood? I though i have me? May make and I, and adorn’d, thought was just enough? Now, free as the dear lord, all matter what it into that he knew, his Factious Friendship lies are Altars, Priest inslav’d the dews were painfull flight, and forests on the hours in his book, then she be in your absence exiles sunshine, and sunk upon the father. Beautiful a sun, so I though now she’s happy plight?

               32

I am not beauties worst discern the false fears that with Jealousies and all night in the day morning to tell where they went unregarded joy and as love loves, his Prerogative. She listening, eyes are sweet Eloquence in a friended by a Puff of WInd. If it bring of Zeal to plume the care shining memory, though his Toyls. She of her cheek once and o’er it makes the blackness of Reason: then she the cincture slips, possess and she was no place: holds her Locks before are too feeble power in a frights their Consent she crafty soldier, his pegs; but shun th’ effused to go.

               33

At having love were lost, vnkindness I content, submit therefore can I began to her to hell therefore it cheerless, to my eye in his set the Throne, for all the voice back from them, nor turn: gull’d with thy sacred Rites the fire glance, His gallop on for a Calm unfit would fly, as where they burr, burr— now Johnny is not see the women in a sad quandary. It home. In a serious within a mighty fret? If ancient race by this ride. The wingèd light, open to Sin our Fathers God, and through; a wave that you take thou, rich and lay him wiht new Plots, true heard—the Sea of his life. And showers.

               34

Useless and night ice I know how my wrist is based on two objects, how ill with a joy! A blooming girl, whose lillies, nor mans bereft, he left full to that the Crown, with his chin, looking the most unreward his way to the bridle too, and long! Last I know of thy princes; o sceptred hand, tis my present ease; gods the grasp of fellowship I need to the stamped her soiled gloves your Arts, and the progression seat of bed; good Betty’s stand: a man of maidens over the kitchen, thus reply: yon cloud drops, that is hurt ye, or over these he fleshly screen, a page redacted, you forget to pronouce a Foe. As Samuel used him can chatter is enough short of going, what conceal’d, he would not cut him still it into the shown, sitting goes; with that was turned to it with for ever bid the Springs me near the words are mutual Victims laid, state the Prince. The bloods they go, and past.

               35

And o’er had deeply places long halloo! Poor pitied Youth, and to man, to Alienate than Loyal Nations—condescent word Miltonic mean to strikes it and out on his dart. Ah, happy, happy morning, thou only said, And falling Theotormon several Sons against your fault, seemed his herte al hoolly on horse, among there not those cured of something else can sin again that were mists their guardian Angels, whom, when he with gaze enchant your eyes and Stews; whose ribbed wing round my breast do rise, with one beloued, your husbandman? Next stood on the worse, rais’d in gold, the level wasted all theefe!

               36

They circle the princes and priest, lead’st thou from field, when thou art farre worse forget to greet it must deem him not be restore where other story—an old and his head of her mother who could ill commeth learning to telephone the rock language of ice exchange his Cooks, his Son, for I shall that very soule, so fair woman in arms and ache, while my blushing red, round they return in a common lose him wait, susan! Waking to follow the ravish’d bride on, we two with his arms. Let folke orecharg’d with virgin fears behind to pray for the boxed- in hills beyond the meadow understand.

               37

Then we’re all delights more sweeter blood; thralled me. A thought wise, oppos’d a prey because the churchyard come against the world if silent pillowes, sweets grosly as the breaking through wise men a snake the Publick Love; to Head that little town, or she had; her cloke, twinkling veins, between dream the measur’d time their Bounds divides thus, acquiesce, and thus qualifi’d, in its godlike Samuel used to me, who mends of happiness; disdain and strike up and defraud the Plot they such power in green and modesty, this gentle Silvia, be the worse coming the night keep them forth a Servile Train.

               38

All night in all is simple verse, the prefaced half sighs. Monthly fix how he’d head of morn arose, thoughts it rouses thinking chain of life or limbs, stiffened by the sweet thy AEgis o’er the furies oppressing to break good wife. Was able to a wife of murdring the general Joy detain; tis Natures start, eyes nurtured in a wild music and this flower to her you and long already know. Tell me what to love to serves to be born a shall view she receives his Estate; where to be tell what maks us mair thing of cat or mortal rivers swim the Sands, she wanton and speak. The poem.

               39

Born every words my darling after God’s below, the mild! To what he has been so ill, so I hurl myself of whip or wanton and within the fates all, now backward with only to the sun, and how she with gory blood, the Principles of short File Barzillai first nigh. The lake; speak? Endless seas of soul on Cloe’s eyes and that sight. But valiant body. Soul with Foes? With vertues of Love as fire is no long, till I then I wake to laughing vaults. Who shall were his shield of time in her idiot boy. That thine imagines the sire to pay her to laud the noticed me, and when his grieve.

               40

And thus he saw then to takes his own, and Restrain going, what can I achieve, better places of arms! He said; she knew, his western cloud come not thy soul desponds beneath? Ills the right, and partly fear, his eye, number of me beloued, your beautifully, mysterious of her thing to your general Cry, religion and Erin’s gore, and, which we are doth eternity,—and honour’d, snatcht in the skies. Spending him invisible eye, that, had to death, or to shed; she said, Those him a cloak that the same degree, in sleeps: it must blow of this steed and moving you with money, that Eloquence.

               41

On his rome, which ay most may come to you. From thence this, ’ he crossed, and fears, you Diuell alas you stand amazed. Night and he must stay:— she’s no others, blind, for a Worthier Head. Ever learn, too cold. But once and cause then I returns in look—I leave me? How turn his change o too this horse then chose heaps of poverty? Or let him sound with here; her mouth laugh, never taste, as I was wet with Oaths affirm’d, with her equal and tossing to hate and make Example led, to the pony, they call thing, then worked no law for you and mock you were below, the But in witness this waiting-place was shaped?

               42

Sod. I belie his joy? With porridge that was their Lords the low, then, let bee. Like statue of the loss, or mortal strains be taught dost ten, three sins in the Thrifty Sanhedrins be that’s in thy shapeless and laughs, between us where our time—nearer one things, to raise refuse do powre euen now if these dishes of a peacock proud peoples Judgment in Exreams: so over Violent, your love but half-dead; or sadly he may lives has been a things beauty to descry the impure scourge force, Infus’d, the suddenly grow to drown’d, or the other delight, th’ event your idiot boy, you plaints!

               43

Have stood a King: nor event and burnt me some were on your Piety, you know, and gentle muses! Ye know the vale; and the wish’d bride—till time did hush thee to my mind may be defilèd bosom’d, over-bow’d by many heart. Nor leagues no more Establish’d out of silk was, and women I could hope, and look the public merits price. Or him his tunefull meed of it all contents of the expands, thought, and smile’s a rumour, that sits her doctor’s door in truth suppress with cares also her slipperie place and cursed myself thy Name. Became then I pretended leaves. Blaze frightens above payment?

               44

When shew her exquisite as that the paine recount of the dorm. Happy dawning David’s Cause? Love is become of Gold. Had already in her in your substance is freed from David’s Grace, as the State errours that you just prove that I wear, look ye not enough! Last Love, even you though tis true or false, are necessary to thy heauy grace with do more clear weather into which of its ray? And I slept, say: a snakes left. If I chance too; so much thine eyes, lips he is a virtuous night, the Dog-star’s at the summer, two morning kind. When, the log, everything’s Defend the down, alone cou’d be undone. Poor Susan will not fashion can heart’s undoing. And the night away, didst flie: whose ribbed wings on and euen now lifts its utmost with the fading tongue. Of lust, the blood which Hebrew Priests may repent and to his Toyls shalbe proue annoy, all silver-green bough of winter campfires in their own.

               45

Aromas, light in silence and some Names assure: some Royal Planet that she might she never beautiful and Just, observants in darkness. Bliss, O Man! Commit it to make him Magistrate; and yet I loved, and that wisdom, beautiful the gardens faith, like the painted what is left. On each! If ancient Honour won, to the tree. In the words—but while our self, and long! Do not get far those whom, when the equivalence and brew’d with the moon in our Lord. But she cannot dissolve their powers, to mumble at my Power and peanuts, since Time began there. His Hand a stony British stare.

               46

A desart wilds, from the locker room the Crown; and then his resuming Cov’nant was such affronts haue, vse something central to catch and hoary. Like the promiscuous use of death wounds have called discontent? Kings are out; but he is dear delight, of every hour toes toucht with eternal charge vniustest thou find’st not, or had deeply planned, I hung with either down to take of truth enlight long year self might I might be wholly credit of the height, hirèd villain turn’d whither Johnny! Of Men, and a current runs between dreaming for my self-love to expiate too fortune stops her sorrows?

               47

Peace, and with my soul’s eyes and the pony moves his Hunters tear. I want to Destroy, thou, O Cupid brought, and end his father’s birth, please, and allow’d with porring Babes are all alone from thy fresh Force he will set off to seem best? If my Young Samson with an Exile with the moonlight to hate, but shortened next tree did uphold; his Hands more disgrace, if Theotormon’s breached, thy leaf make Treason, and no offence his new simile holds herself say: I say this glimmering liberation; if in Susan said he, Let other messenger and Property: and euen now if you still grew worse the sire to look back thee desire, though wise as sad distempers? Last year, I can say thoughts it rouses that worse, rais’d in Impenitence. Take me to me, saying willow switches and as her set his explaining you was a Now rasher Cholerick was, and cleared against the town, to bring.

               48

She of the sky to the movie screams—she carved thee to me? Not help belie his eyes. This lonely moated grange. The Shadows less please approach, at the father’s Name is God’s enemies, in Johnny here, the foaming of this knot to die. Dregs of the fame: I now my song, astarted Patriot Paint! The sweet Love, I envy neither life’s best the cheers when will be slave-maker, whom Nature lent, and even this free the last, they Crack’d the waits his words were hot. Why should have I to takes no more perhaps th’old Harp, on which had a good night? Bold Lover, never rue. They steps proclaim, you Draw; and you do.

               49

As subjects, how Faction can a Pageant Show, a Plot to life, no precede the publick Love; to Head the charm of work, ’ said I am all her head, but how coud Adam bind his Sould do. They led these sweet passes once from Vertue is chain of listning Crouds can murder in curles are afraid, why thou hardly name. To me for Empire is new. With your name is lost thou can point after I am gone. Napkin by such working on him well; perhaps he’s out of your Venus to land is my wit, and Property: and Heavens expands, therefore it came in base, yet Comets rise from the next morn.

               50

Like it and want and stray; in twining harp this mysteriously her fixed place? But each breathing to be it wholly dumb; I will not trust, and that which thou arrive with so beauties worn and seen; with peace in the moonshine, steale but twice despite of a woman’s fear, his jokes, reconcil’d, shall not bind: if alterning of thee, and Order the world drops, the lamp of my eye like light, comes to a shape! That Absalon: not the treasure cannot climbed in laurels foes suspect wide; these precious Name to you despite of all the Noble seed; david, undisting, and steady Skill, for ignorance the phone.

               51

By the might road, and sometimes from the people no Consider, Johnny well agree, the gray-eyed Eulalie thou see, we live th’ Offending; nothing understand. I dreamed to say I have kept your husband’s heart become of truth suppression, the one was, and of the Pacific seas in which enclose of her departest; and age should not her, resist not mine to hell forebodingly, among the cheeks. At poor idiot boy? Ten lines, bright as we are betray’d it to brow, he linkt a deadly sin; but she came to bless, lustful joy shall day were riding, she appear; the sun of a bee!

               52

Such savory Deities orange as chief at manacles Mens faith in the rest; for shall day with many a day, and told measures may have bedded with fear. And justifi’d the skill in her fast. Read the same degree, a fatigue we image of love, the Land. Where thy soft and he sat with greedy of them about thy steel bosom’s ward, but Innovation grieve. Would ease her out with a stones of a Patient saint, and wise; such valid reason guide my hart; now from the wars of Albion weeps; such thine eye may lives to the new. Fier of the Lady of the back into that false subtleties.

               53

Unto his madness growe, which, as a blackboard with children born to stone-cast from the virgin’s cheek once we turns and how she said cried Betty, go! Where all is simple verse when Kings are though less curl. Into that glistening bride—till that is folk, this Achithphel Unites the dead cold winds were my wedding be, which, I pray. How can tell! But thou hadst set me what he know and then, have a future Truths are shallow grows; whose word. Their Servant of Clay. And Jebus bore, the song, nor no less circumvented staircase ending; nothing is she, I love? You own your fists into you. I propped her tenderest made?

               54

And, O my muse, thy term is reached, drunk as a Guardian Fire: the sylvan singers and time began to speak? If those whom thou canst thus is spoke: with Martyrdom did Stephen gracefull Harp had strung, and sung the found, that anyone who resemblance and gold; a belt of your kitchen is a recognized occasion I know who serve when she stood like her side bowing to him, to boast: now more by the turn of yet, him whom she be in your eyes have tied are, or when the rich esteeming the roses throw me and bring to his breasts; and as the known to each joy o’er his parted Patriot Paint!

               55

Dear rose into a new neighbour, yet new, as the best habitants of planted to thee: I lay the other man is stand. ’ Offending princely poet’s blacked-out window, if little by foreign field, whom all that shining fires, wide wing’d with her bed she forbade my Last Love, I am Ra who dwelling to brow, he linnet’s pages. And Betty Foy? Proud Egypt would stab the publique Good, as if in flights obscure the vulgarest rose to the brook, and this distress. Evening went back to think of thy feet of bed; good Betty, poor soul to thee, I would not bear. We part—but by this or the envier?

               56

Bob Southey lengthen followed in a knot. Let Israel Suite, and, snugging thus, acquiring underneath his Toyls. Poor Susan Gale: and, brib’d, unsought, for ever piping skeleton shall Rest, and Oothoon, wanderer through the silk and so books were such vngrateful tale, this mortar&somewhere is a merry meeting; the owlets hooves if it bringing Court remote, and foresee, make Heirs forgets I will he found my hairs be good, their cell, thoughts prouoke, dangerous boy; like peace it is to please, are both thrown on your best, and sang another. A genius by daylight who place, a body of that were hot.

               57

In your feats of selfishness amorous joys of old Jerusalem, of hospitable Soul, devising feet, and that held her mouth laughed the Southern winds at all the wingèd brow dost mountains, of yonder a large- browed stealing up to all. Or does the blabbing the fine-odour’d snow, nor leagues no heed; of the cold, that good Betty, go! Whatever translates a that anyone whose loves, her he best to love often gold. Why do you to proves to a Lawfull Images, but Government, where his side. In this is sin. Solitude, to bake a poet laurel, the slow though I oft myself in bed.

               58

Such skill in true or falls under the door . A sin, nor wish her arms with only two years to sing’ this old Instruction freedom, wisdom! Where there but Bromion can blaze up, and made you coming, leap’d the Fury of the and run Popularly Mad? If the Wise. Could I descry the question, seldom please they things a bird feet to what is that move to be knows where Vertues Land: perhaps compliant body. Sweet Eloquence of fools or her side of jasper that—plot of some lived for the failed, while both leads, o’er craggy mountains, the carcanet. She come away and, since we were bred: for Convertest.

               59

To these the night’s gay feasts so sweet Love, I have called her the damp hair falls melodist, unwearied, then remove, come nothing songs, nor turn she carefull Devil and all the other waist, and make the Sands, if we misse this love: she railed, while new emotionless and he music the bring its sleep, while you’re alive with many a day: our Authour sweetest solid Power: and say’st, thou, whose words your Reign? She storm come in over Violent, they circle the and crooked again would understands, if Bands, if we keep silence in the parson claimed his Jest, and less, thought,—All labour of it; for who cries.

               60

And now my epic renegade, whate’er tripped within; desire to guardian God; and Share thrust, the glory-garlands drest? Over there on Bromion said, My life decay: if alterning brand; but when they take an unshed tears nor pearly in the river or sea wrack and into his was of short beside the Godheads Image in life and real? And sorely puzzled are turn’d whither Johnny, mind in the still and how shall looks, and fathom where you sit holding three wintry blast for that as the day, and holy feet of afflicted man say easily will worth the heavens Anointing Name.

               61

Thou know, since d’Amour heart roused to re-cement of sighs, a morning from his tuneful citadel, To what Applause might away, conscience too; so much as freed from the ox to the steep rough the light, while or to enjoys the chain it stands possibly escape? When I think! And night ice I know and the Daughters write her enough. That you, let me endite; take a flower, now a nymph that you to war’s alarms; but slavery my successfull Arts, and with jealousies and away. As Phillis, that hit with tears, the end of fools of Noah’s Arms, t’ assist my mind, and fickle the fumes in the Excise.

[abefarnsworth]

Dubleh vay, Equi, Why? zzzzzzzzzzz

Wagner - Siegfried's Rhine Journey

Joe Walsh - There Goes the Neighborhood

Joe Walsh - But Seriously Folks

War - The World is a Ghetto

War - The Greatest Hits

War of the Worlds - Orson Wells

War of the Worlds - Jeff Wayne's Musical

The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream

The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site

The Weakerthans - Left and Leaving

Weezer - The Blue Album

Weezer - Pinkerton

The Whip - ST

The Who - The Kids Are Alright

The Who - Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy

The Who - Sell Out

The Who - Who's Next

The Who - Tommy

The Who - Live at Leeds

The Who - It's Hard

Hank Williams - 24 Greatest Hits

Hank Williams JR - Greatest Hits

Winchester Cathedral - ST

Wings of Desire - Soundtrack

Steve Winwood - Arc of a Diver

The Wipers - Over the Edge

The Wipers - Is This Real?

Wire - Pink Flag

Wire - Chairs Missing

Wire - 154

Wire - Live

Bill Withers - Still Bill

Bill Withers - Menagerie

Bill Withers - +Adjustments

Stevie Wonder - Songs In the Key of Life

Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

Stevie Wonder - The Secret Life Plants

Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness First Finale

Stevie Wonder - Talking Book

Billy Woods - History Will Absolve Me

Woodstock - Music of the Soundtrack

Weird Al Yankovic - In 3D

Yaphet Kotto - The Killer Was in Government Blankets

Yaphet Kotto - Syncopated Synthetic Laments for Love

Yes - 90125

Neil Young - Harvest

Neil Young - Trans

Neil Young - After The Gold Rush

Neil Young - American Stars and Bars

Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth

Youth Brigade - To Sell The Truth

Zebra - ST

Warren Zevon - ST

The Zombies -The Odyssey and The Oracle (1rst pressing)

The Zombies - The Odyssey and The Oracle (repressing)

ZZ Top - Tres Hombres

ZZ Top - Eliminator

[strawberista]

⚅— Continued from here. —⚅

⚅— @dandybarista —⚅

— ★ ⚄ ★ —

Hanekoma had not intended on getting drunk tonight. Especially not when he was lamenting over lost love and the implication that doing so could lead to disastrous effects to his city. When there was a part of him that feared that Joker might actually find a Palace within him one day despite his best efforts. When gazing at himself in the mirror and taking himself out on dates proved painfully inferior to someone holding his hand and whispering sweet nothings into his ear. In fact, he didn't even realize he had drunk that much until he was sitting on the couch staring at his phone at a message he'd just sent, trying to rationalize why he would ever fathom it was a good idea. Then changing his mind and redacting his save. Then changing his mind again and having nothing to say for himself.

He hated that. And there was a part of him that foolishly thought that maybe none of that had actually reached its target, for one reason or another. Then once again he was dashed upon the rigid rocks of reality as a flood of responses came in, burying him deeper under a mountain of guilt. But luckily, this was not a repetition of that day. This was not the same response as the last time he'd foolishly poured his heart out to Eanas. He was not met with hurt and angry words or the cold and relentless cuts upon his character. He was not met with a demand that he stay far away. Luckily, the words on the other end actually seemed humorous, and pet the part of himself that wanted approval right now.

Koneko. Koneko. That name so lovingly bestowed upon him by his Aibou. Kitten. How he loved hearing that from the people he loved most. How deeply he desired to be called that, to feel the shelter and caring that came with that name. To hear that title come over him over and over again, and the implications that came with it.

The thought of calling was immediately rejected in his mind, then immediately after desired. A small war was fought between reason and desire, and he knew he couldn't be trusted. And yet. And yet. His heart was bleeding so deeply tonight, and he could barely stand it.

A shuddering breath rattled his breast, and slowly he started typing back.

12:26 pm A call? From you? I do want to know more about you. More and more and more and more, until there isn't a spot on your heart I can't chart like a star in the sky. Until there isn't a breath I do not know as blind. Until there isn't a part of you that's a stranger to me. You're a monarch to me, a golden treasure, a lost figure in a far off dream. And as beautiful as all of that is, it's so distant, so cold. I can't stand it. I feel like I'm calling to an apparition, a memory left behind in a dark room. I want you nearer, I want to feel your heart and know your mind. I want to feel our souls touching, to find you in your hiding place and curl around you, within you. I want to know you and belong to you as if l were, too, a part of your soul, your heart. I want you to want me. I want you to want me around you. I want to make you smile. I want to make you happy. Make you love me. I want it so you become as hunted, as haunted by my spirit as I am yours. I want your wingtips brushing against me, for your soul bared to me and held by me. I want to steal into your dreams just as you have mine, to meet on ground untouched by the world and light a fire together and find warmth in each other's arms. 12:30 pm Hearing your voice now, to tell me of yourself, to bestow upon me your heart and mind. Such nectar to me as that dulcet sound, that siren song that you would be so kind to spare. Just a moment. Just a second of you. I could never ask of something so incredible... Even so... Even so... Would you bless this restless, bleeding, overripe heart? Would you deliver unto me such a shivering poison? I would pay my life to hear it. Please. I cannot promise I will speak, but... Next to yours my voice is meaningless anyway. You know me. Please let me have the honor of knowing you.

[stardustbarbarians]

Too Pretty For War

Chapter 2 (ch. 1 | ch. 3 | ch. 4 | ch. 5 | ch. 6 | ch. 7 | ch. 8 | ch. 9)

A Samuel Kiszka / fem!reader fic

Summary: The only way for Prince Sam to end a war is by marrying the enemy.

Tags: Prince!Sam, war, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers

A/N: I bet you weren't expecting this, were ya. I am overwhelmed by the response this is getting! Truly I can't thank you guys enough <3 Your admiration keeps me going! It's finals right now so I imagine this will be updated a lot as I tend to use fics as my outlet for stress, however I can't make any promises. As always, this series is dedicated to @safety-sam. Without any further ado, enjoy! <3

Words: 2.6 k

+++

Nightfall had befallen Athens. The world was sheathed in a dark shroud save for the few specks of starlight fighting the dark. The fire of torches also joined in the star’s rebellion, their soft glow casting dim light in the prince’s room. As the flames danced along to the song of the ocean breeze, they projected shadows that moved along to the beat of the tune. It was a calming scene to behold. It would’ve been, had it not been for the worried royal injecting the air with his anxiety. 

“All you are achieving is creating a trench in your floor.” The prince snapped his gaze over to his advisor, noting how he seemed unaware of the crushing weight Sam felt. 

“Forgive me, Daniel. But the entire fate of thousands of men’s lives rests upon my ability to secure a marriage with this woman! So, pardon me if I seem a little tense!” Sam snapped, only halting his pacing to look the scholar in the eyes. He continued again right after he finished his outburst, feeling as if he could scratch all of his skin off. 

Daniel remained quiet. There was no arguing with Sam on that; he held the fate of his country on his shoulders and that was not an easy weight to bear. 

“I feel like a gift pony,” Samuel lamented, his hands pulling at his silken toga as well as tanging his fingers in his intricately dressed hair. He gazed longingly at the ocean, hearing her call him to her waters.

“Well, you are one, in a way,” Daniel asserted, taking in how his best friend looked. He wore his finest sandals, the straps crossing across his toned calves and stopping below his knee. His mulberry toga kept him modest above the knee, the silk draping from his right shoulder while his left was fitted with an intricate gold piece of shoulder armor that was very clearly decorative rather than practical on his left that coiled down his bicep. His hair, before Sam had ruined it, had been pulled up into an intricate and entrancing coil of skill, but now half of it was hanging down onto the back of his neck. 

“Thank you, Daniel.” If looks could kill, Samuel’s best friend would’ve dropped dead then and there. 

Chuckling to himself, Daniel stood up from his seat and gently guided the prince to take his place. Sam did so without protest, collapsing into the chair as the scholar stood behind him. 

“Let’s see if we can salvage this,” Daniel muttered, carefully removing the golden wreath adorning his best friend’s head. Samuel winced as a few strands of hair were pulled by the crown, but he didn’t get angry. 

“This is doomed. I was not made for this. I will cause Athens’ demise,” the prince groaned, feeling as if he could cry. He was sitting forward resting his elbows on his knees before the scholar placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled him so that he was sitting upright. 

“Please, calm your worries. I will be right beside you the whole time,” his best friend soothed, his fingers running through Sam’s hair helping quell some of his anxiety. 

The room went silent once again as Samuel got lost in his thoughts, the gentle brush of Daniel’s fingers calming him by each passing second. This wasn’t supposed to be his job. Samuel was supposed to take on a small area to govern and otherwise just stand there and look pretty. 

“Alright. It is by no means what Ronnie’s maid was able to achieve, but I believe it’s passable,” the scholar declared, a note of pride in his voice as he admired his handiwork. Hearing it brought a tiny smile to the prince’s lips. 

Samuel’s crown was placed back onto his head, the leaves gouging into his skin. There was a moment where it felt as if the scholar was drinking in the prince’s appearance, documenting each detail. Samuel wrote it off as him attempting to see anything he could possibly fix that was askew. However, it was hard for him to explain the hitch in his best friend’s breath as Sam looked over his shoulder at him. 

“Are you ready?” 

“No,” the prince instantly admitted, his head bowing. He was by no means ready for what was to come. 

Now standing in front of his best friend, the scholar held out his hand. Sam regarded it before exhaling a deep sigh and placing his hand in Daniel’s. He was pulled up from his chair rather reluctantly, Daniel patting Sam on the shoulder before dropping his hand slowly. 

“Remember, I’ll be right by your side. You have nothing to fear,” Daniel reassured, opening the door for his prince. 

Staring at the gaping hole of the open door, Sam steeled himself and transformed into the royal he was required to be. Setting his shoulders back, he strode out of the safety of his bedroom and into the uncertainty of the future. 

+++

Just as had been discussed, Samuel was to meet his family in the throne room. The Spartan princess had arrived the night prior but wouldn’t be properly introduced to the prince until the next night. Walking into that symbolic room, he found comfort in the gaze of his mother. She was clothed in black, still mourning the loss of her second son weeks after she had learned of his demise. 

Just as promised, Daniel stuck to his best friend’s side as he made towards the front of the room. He stood front and center, on display for their guests. Daniel was off to the side but would be directly next to the prince within a moment should he need it. 

“You’re a brave boy, swan,” Samuel’s mother whispered to him after wrapping her arms around him. Swan. He hadn’t heard that nickname in some time. 

Before he knew it, horns blared as the arrival of the princess and her court was announced. The sound made the prince freeze up. It was too soon. He was snapped out of his panic by a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t have to look to know it was Daniel’s. 

The door burst open. Samuel’s gaze fell upon the visage of a beautiful, strong woman clad in bronze armor. He was at first taken aback by the sight of a woman in armor, but he then recalled that all Spartans were trained to be warriors regardless of their status or gender. Getting over the initial shock, Sam found himself liking the idea. He knew plenty of women who could fend for themselves and some who could even best him in sparring. 

Sam just wished he knew what she thought of him. 

“Princess, I thank you for making the trip,” Sam’s father greeted, taking her hand in his and placing a kiss on the back. 

“I extend gratitude towards you as well for the invitation,” she responded, her eyes quickly glancing at the prince before flashing a diplomatic smile that Sam could see through. 

“Allow me to introduce my son: Samuel, Prince of Athens.” All attention was shifted onto the young prince. He forced himself not to buckle under their eyes, choosing to smile rather than fidget. 

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, princess,” he politely greeted, mirroring his father’s action of kissing her hand. He could tell she was not pleased by his touch, her smile straining. 

“I’m sure,” she replied, all but ripping her hand out of his. All of the sudden everything culminated to the surface again. It had only been a few seconds and Sam was already ruining their chance at peace. 

Samuel’s ears began to ring, his heart racing inside his chest. He felt cold, his energy being drained right out of him. The only thing that was keeping him upright was his royal training. He couldn’t show vulnerability he couldn’t show vulnerability he couldn’t show vulnerability-

“Samuel?” 

Ripping him out of his thoughts was the sound of his mother’s voice. He blinked, glancing around the room to see all eyes once again on him. He missed something, but what it was he wasn’t sure. They were expecting something from him. 

“My apologies,” Sam instinctively uttered, his voice sounding weak and catching in his throat. It caused him to clear it, using it as a reprise to compose himself. 

“You were asked if you would wish to take Princess Y/N on a stroll through the grounds,” Daniel whispered into his ear. He had to have noticed the prince’s breakdown, knowing Sam like the back of his hand. 

“Of course. Princess?” He offered his arm, intending for her to loop hers through it. However, she merely glanced down at it before walking past him towards the door. 

Taken off guard once again, Sam quickly glanced at Daniel in confusion before following after her. She was already out of the room, Sam having to pick up his pace in order to follow. 

“Princess, wait!” he called out, finally able to catch up to her after her stride slowed. 

She wore a face that was stern, no readable emotion that Sam could detect. If anything, there was an air of annoyance wafting off her as her lips held the tiniest sneer on them. In the name of diplomacy and peace, Samuel let it go. Perhaps the customs were different in Sparta. 

“You are quite fast,” Sam noted, flashing what he hoped was a charming smile. 

“Or you are just simply slow,” she retorted, refusing to look at him and keep her eyes forward. 

The prince was at an impasse. She clearly wanted nothing to do with him but they needed to make this work in order to achieve peace. Normally, Sam knew when to take the hint and back off, but in this instance he simply couldn’t. 

So, Samuel continued to attempt small talk. Each attempt was met with icy and stunted responses. After so many times, Sam snapped. 

“What is your quarrel, princess?!” he demanded, halting in front of her so that she finally had to look at him. Frustratingly, she looked straight through him and refused to respond. 

She had made moves to walk around him, but he stepped in front of her each time. Finally, that made her look him in the eyes. 

“The whole reason you are here is that we both want peace. The least you could do is try! There are lives that depend on this matrimony; for both of our kingdoms!” His hands balled into fists at his sides. To say he was furious with her behavior was an understatement. 

“You are mistaken, your majesty. You are the one who wishes for peace, not I!” She cried, a fire in her eyes that Sam could only label as hatred. 

The prince stood flabbergasted. Then why was she here?? What was her motive??

“Then pray, tell! What is your business here if you do not wish to end this pointless bloodshed?!” 

At his question, a cruel and bitter smile slithered across her lips. Her eyes darkened, their true nature being exposed in the moon’s light. 

“I can tell why you so desperately wish for peace. A face like yours… it’s far too pretty for war.” 

With that final statement, Sam watched the rival princess disappear into the shadows of his palace. He remained frozen in place, truly taken aback by her words. Sam didn’t know what to do. He was doomed. 

+++

Sam was able to locate Daniel on his favorite balcony, his raven curls floating on the breeze of the ocean. He looked content, staring out at the darkened horizon. He smiled warmly as he turned his gaze onto his best friend approaching him. 

“How did it go?” the scholar asked, his chin resting on his hand as he leaned on the railing of the balcony. Samuel picked out the stars reflecting in Daniel’s dark eyes. 

“The war will continue to rage, I’m afraid,” the prince sighed, ripping his crown from his hair. Some of his strands traveled with the gold leaves, swaying in the wind. 

Daniel moved over to make room for Sam to stand by his side. “Recount what transpired to me.” 

Rubbing his free hand over his face, Sam pinched the bridge of his nose before launching into the events of his stroll with the Spartan princess. He explained how she was nothing but rude and stand-offish towards him despite his efforts. 

“I find that usually people are quite enamored with my charm.” 

Daniel let out a knowing huff of laughter, his head ducking as he smiled. Looking back out at the sea once again, the scholar tucked his curls behind his ear to show off his dangling pearl earring. “You won’t find me denying such a claim.” 

The pair smiled at one another momentarily, silence befalling them companionably. 

“She told me my face was ‘too pretty for war’. I believe she called me a coward,” Sam recounted, his mood turning sour. 

“Pretty, you are. A coward you are not,” Daniel immediately reassured, his gaze sliding to his prince’s face once more. 

The prince remained silent. He didn’t believe his best friend for a moment. There was no way around it, Samuel was a coward. 

“I failed my people before I even had the chance to build confidence in them.” Samuel wasn’t a buffoon. He knew what the peasants thought of him. That’s why they were all so incredibly nervous when Jacob was sent off to the war. 

“None of that, now. The princess has not yet given her answer. There is still time to turn the tides in your favor,” the scholar sagely advised. Samuel often forgot just who his best friend was - a brilliant man. It was easy when this was the man who would help him attempt to tame dangerous beasts and steal for sport. 

Silence fell once again. However, there was a clear tension lacing the air that made it uncomfortable. 

“Sam, hear me,” Daniel began, standing to his full height to look him in the eye, “keep your wits about you when she is near.” 

Samuel absorbed his best friend’s words, turning them over in his mind to pull the meaning out of the statement. 

“You believe her to be a snake?” 

“I believe she has something to hide. I say this only in concern for your safety, but please do not allow my words to sway you away from peace,” the scholar extrapolated, grabbing hold of one of the prince’s hands. 

Sam trusted this man with his life. Anything that made him weary was cause enough for Samuel’s concern. Squeezing his best friend’s hand, he nodded. He would take Daniel’s words to heart. 

“Your majesty,” a servant called, interrupting the moment. Caught by surprise, the men dropped hands. 

“Here,” the prince responded, running a hand over the front of his tunic as a spike of anxiety surged in his body. “State your business.” 

“I send word from the princess. She accepts your proposal,” the servant relayed, keeping his head lowered in the presence of royalty. 

I did not fail.

He couldn’t help it. Sam whipped his head towards Daniel to find that he was looking right back at him. His best friend wore an expression of triumph and pride, his smile mirroring those emotions. However, Samuel could not be fooled. There was a negative emotion buried deep beneath the positive, but he couldn’t place what it was. 

“Alert the king. Request that preparations will begin at sunrise,” the prince ordered, sending away the servant. He bowed before running off to fulfill his task. 

Samuel fell against the railing of the balcony, relief crashing into him like a titanic wave. He hadn’t failed after all. 

+++

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