#like it caused a mushroom cloud of pure love

[polysyndetonaddictsupportgroup]

i read part of the first chapter of sea glass gardens a while ago but decided to come back once I knew more about the characters and world building of jjk. Anyways and I watched jjk 0 and your telling me he actually blew up the school with the power of love??? Like full on textually the power of love??? He straight up used the power of love to nuke Geto and subsequently the school??? Are you kidding me?? I'm losing my mind. What the fuck

my boy has powerful love within him and also incredible and indiscriminate violence. what more could you want from a character.

[1-900-venusluvs]

i still adore you, I swear

🍃! Plug! Miguel x Fem! reader !🍃

A/n: guys i was mf arching my back and typing this out on my laptop n I'm so glad ppl like the first one I rlly appreciate itt pookies! also I had to crop some of this out cause my man was full on arching his BACKK but credits to JesGreenEight for this banner!!!

cw/smut warning: pure smut, Miguel being a freaky man, weed, shitty ending bc y'all KNOW i'm absolute dog dookie at writing them, creampie, oral (m receiving), somewhere in it I said that reader has a bad reflex and I'm so sorrayy.

So now here you are, smoking a joint with your plug. The harsh yet sweet aroma of weed filled his room. He passes the joint back to you letting you take a rip. You cough a little from the smoke clouding your lungs but still manage to have a smile. You pass the joint back to him without a word. Breaking the silence Miguel spoke in an almost slurred tone. 

“I know it’s not the weed speaking but has anyone told you you're so attractive, ma?” His veiny hand finds your thigh before rubbing the flesh without knowing. You immediately snicker as you answer back in a flirty tone.

“Hmm no Miggy they haven't” he trails his hand closer and grips your inner thigh while chuckling, you two were just on the moon. He replies to your comment after taking a hit.

“Honestly I should show you how attractive you are to me.” your eyes widened at his statement but you were intrigued at most. The way his shirt hugged him, the way you can see his cock print through his sweatpants. It was all so feverish. He comes closer to you with his lips up to your neck making the hair stand up practically. 

“You smell so good.” he finally says before placing kisses on your neck making you moan. His kisses go lower to your chest. He takes off your shirt revealing your skin to him. He instantly kisses your neck now having his hands on your waist, pulling you closer. The smell of weed and anticipation is clouding the room. Your panties are already soaked from when he first called you attractive. Before you know it he speaks in an entertaining tone.

 “How about you taking it out for me?”

 You instantly pull down his pants and his underwear. His cock bounces to his stomach before standing back up. His cock was decorated with some hair. Your breath caught in your throat after realizing how hot it was. You knew it was wrong but it felt so damn good, you can say that.

He puts the palm of his hand on your cheek as he rubs your bottom lip with his thumb, he looks down at you with love in his eyes. Were you always this pretty? 

“Look at those pretty lips.” 

he says in an admiring tone. You faintly smile before giving a couple of kitten licks and then actually putting your whole mouth on the tip. 

“You like that?” You mumble out on his cock. Miguel could’ve just came right then and there. He saw how sexy you looked with your soft lips wrapped around his cock like a glove.

 “There you go” he muttered under his breath. You push your head deeper onto his cock but you choke on it due to your horrible gag reflex. You pull back with a saliva string pulling with you.

“Hmm, Miguel..” 

 you say, slurring your words a bit. You were cockdrunk from him. 

“You did such a good job, didn’t you? m’ so proud baby.” He spoke out while looking down at you. He breaks the moment of silence by saying. 

        “Think you can bend over for me mami?” He says before stroking his cock. You bend over to feel his huge hands grabbing and kneading the fat of your hips and pulling your pants down. He gasps and chuckles when he sees your panties with a wet spot making it noticeable. “I see you getting wet for me.” He says.

 He pulls your panties to the side to see your plump lips soaked It just looks like you wanted to get fucked by him. He knows what you need, Just let him guide you. Suddenly you feel his fat mushroom tip lay on your clit. 

“Are you ready bunny?” He just makes you feel mushy inside even if he’s saying simple things. You nod your head before preparing for his cock. He shoves his tip in, You whimper as you can feel being stretched out by his thick tip. 

“Awhh shit. Your pussy’s huggin’ around me.” He moans out. He can even admit that your pussy did make him moan and groan. He has fucked many girls but they all just felt like he had to do it. With you, it feels special. 

“Hmm, M-miggy..please move..” you moan. Your moans sounded pornographic. He bucks his hips into you while grunting. 

“Ah this pussy got superpowers or somethin’ hm?” He jokes before smacking your plump ass. He loves the way it jiggles when he smacks it even lightly. 

“God d-damn.” You manage to yelp out. He thrusts deeper into your pussy. “Fuck you're gonna make me cum. Can’t believe I have your cute ass under me.” 

After minutes of moaning and groaning, you feel a full feeling. His cum sprays inside your cunt and you feel it Immediately fill your cunt up. When he pulls out his soft cock you can feel you can feel his cum leak out of your cunt.

“Your mine got it? my stock is coming soon but you're mine from now on,” he says hugging you to the bed and holding you fairly close to him. You feel butterflies roam around your stomach when you see his hand on your lower waist. Before you even spoke you heard his snores filling the room. You giggle quietly at the fact that he fell asleep in a second.

and here's to my taglist ( ◜‿◝ )♡: @moon-rivr @monstera02 @lazyjellyfish300 @yougavemeyourheartyouknow @yournextbimbogf @chiwhorei

[talkbycolor]

me and my husband

A/N; wholesome old fashioned marriage in 1950, ITS 5AM I DIDNT SEELP ALL NITH

Pairing; "Mychael" x AFAB!Reader

CW; fluff / this is a what if MC stayed willingly on the forest, forgetting about the cat, his job and everything / reader is called wife and wears dresses but that doesnt mean its a woman (to my transmasc fellas (probably only me)) / this made me feel like inside a disney old movie / mawar, sansuyu and primrose are kinda like their babies / cute implied sex

The morning was as beautiful and warm as your heart, the sun's rays came through the windows while you combed your hair in front of the mirror, you could hear the morning song of the birds echoing from outside, the aroma of the forest was fresh, like a delicious mint tea in the morning, ready to brighten your day.

"Honey, Mychael, are you awake?" You asked as you looked at the green-tinted body next to you, the non-human boy only letting out a few muffled sounds, trying to sweep the dream away from himself.

"Good morning, firefly" Mychael said in a lazy tone, he opened two of his four eyes before leaning down to kiss your lips, morning breath was not a problem when it came to showing how much he loved you.

"I'm going to make breakfast, can you feed the girls?" Even though it was a question you were already standing up to put on a coat and head to the kitchen.

Mychael imitated you by standing up and putting on a coat, it would soon be winter and the weather was already starting to change, but that was okay! It meant you could be the little spoon when giving yourself nightly cuddles with your husband.

Ah, husband, that word sounded so nice.

Not long ago you told Mychael about what marriage was and the emotional meaning it carried, how that made you "officially" a family, so to speak.

Your wedding was in the garden, Marmar, Sunny and Rosie were present of course, Mychael walked you back to the city to get a beautiful white suit and veil, you looked so beautiful that day, Mychael made sure to repeat it every second and make you feel like the most esteemed jewel in the world.

You could still remember how your mother told you things about maturity, how sweet life would be once you found your loved one and shared a life together until death do you part.

Mychael was that, your loved one, a boy with a heart of gold who only loved you.

And to his three girls, of course, Mawar, Sansuyu and Primrose, since that day, every moment has felt so fresh and pure, like tasting paradise, swimming in clouds, sobbing stars.

And Michael? Oh, it was so adorable to see how he did anything for your comfort, you were his beloved pearl, his old-fashioned lover who loved naps by the fireplace and telling stories about his life.

If chickens could talk, they would say that you look at Mychael with radiant love in your eyes and he does the same.

While you were washing the vegetables for breakfast you heard Mychael entering back into the cabin after feeding the chickens and checking the crops. He approached humming a song, the same one he played for you for the first time on his kalimba, his hands wandering. over his hips and moved playfully from side to side, inviting you to dance with him.

"Come on sweetie, don't you want to dance with your husband for a moment?" He whispered in your ear, his hands took yours to force you to stop working and turn to look at him.

Yes, he didn't look human but that doesn't mean he wasn't attractive.

Your hand went up to caress the strange mushroom-patterned horn on his head, causing your husband to purr, it was so cute to see him so comfortable next to you, with you, with the life they had.

You left your job behind, his old home, but you wouldn't change anything you have now, a quiet and domestic life was all you needed.

Both bodies moved through the kitchen, spinning to the rhythm of Mychael's humming, the home was so cozy that the cold seemed nonexistent.

Despite still being a little numb from just waking up, you interrupted his humming to sing, it's not like you had the best voice and it was actually kind of embarrassing, but when you're in love, who doesn't do the cheesiest things? You laughed a little at how happy it made you to dance alongside your husband.

"Hey, hey, hey, lover… you don't have to be a star, hey, hey, hey, lover… I love you just the way you are" Your cheeks burned with grief but that didn't stop you from smiling, Mychael leaned in to gather his forehead with yours as he enjoyed the moment with you.

Being with you made him the happiest man in the world.

"My wife is so sweet, you make me so happy, firefly" he whispered as one pair of eyes watched you, the other pair was closed as he savored the dance with you, he pulled your hips to cling to his body even more. "My beautiful wife, my beloved is so alluring, so charming, so wonderful, stunning, breathtaking" Receiving compliments from your man was always so pleasant, if you could purr like him you surely would.

"You look so alluring wearing that flowery apron" He commented with a mischievous smile, Mychael was a bit cocky by nature and loved to tease you.

He knew you liked that.

You both cooed at each other for a long time until your stomach growled, demanding food, you couldn't ignore the routine anymore so you both got to work on breakfast.

It was such a complete love, such a full life, such a happy heart.

After having breakfast you made sure to take good care of Marmar, Sunny and Rosie, that the field was in perfect condition, and clean the cabin. Mychael had gone out to bring a few things that were missing from the home, such as more firewood, meat for dinner and some pipes to install the drainage system in the bathroom, it was almost ready.

Not every day was the same, sometimes they had time to spare and they would settle down together in front of the fireplace, go for a walk through the most relaxing areas of the forest, or cuddle the chickens.

"Honey, wifey" Your husband's voice rang, he was knitting new wool sweaters since it would soon be winter. You walked over to your husband to snuggle up next to him, the atmosphere making your eyes feel heavy.

"Tired, firefly?" Mychael asked, just watching you pout and bat your eyelashes was enough to have the green-skinned boy carrying you bridal style to the bedroom, it always worked so you didn't help but let out a malicious giggle.

Things in bed were also fun, you were both passionate and loved each other intensely.

"I love you so much, Mychael, I want you to lull me, drown me, crush me…" You asked him in a whisper despite being the only ones in the cabin, the warm atmosphere of the home protected them, You were in the dark, the sounds of the forest setting their act of love. "My husband is so good, he knows how to make me feel so good, so desired" You confessed to him with a blush on your cheeks, saying what you felt so openly (maybe even a little bold) was still something that made you nervous.

"Thank you for coming into my life, dear" The seriousness with which he said those words carried so much feeling, he gave you a sad smile, you knew that Mychael was alone before he met you��� very, very alone. "You always fill my heart with so much joy, knowing that you are mine... I feel so loved and… I want to make you feel loved, I am completely devoted to you, firefly, your wishes are my commands"

You were both sighing under the sheets, exhausted by their recent act, bodies so close together that they seemed to melt into each other as they enjoyed the other's heat.

"I love you"

"I love you"

You both laughed, sharing a loving kiss before falling asleep.

♡

[thatdeadaquarius]

OP your addtion about the Harbinger's reaction? Sent me wheezing to the moon 🤣🤣💀

I dont have any additions to Teyvat language yet (other anons have a more in depth explanations while mine is just shitposts wheEZE--) but I did have an idea for a Genshin AU.

I'm pretty sure everybody has heard about the blue alien people Avatar. Tribal people from another planet. (Also I just stumbled upon the forests of Sumeru while going through Chasm quests. The one that has giant mushrooms).

Imagine Genshin in the Avatar Au. Sumeru can be based on the first movie (It fits cause from what I can explore of Sumeru reminds me of the time I watched Avatar of the first time. Pure awe and wonder..) While the Water nation can be based on the 2nd movie, Hoyoverse hasnt released the name of the Water Country yet so we're just waiting. Mondstadt can be based on the upcoming 3rd (4th or 5th? Idk they had it lined up) movie that involves being high above the clouds. Kind of like the Jade palace or the Floating Abode in the serenitea pot.

Its all I could base for now since the other movies dont have that much info yet to be paired with Genshin's countries.

Bonus idea that randomnly popped into my head:

Still going with this Au but its sagau themed. Creator!Reader arrives to Teyvat and is considered as Eywa

NOW THIS

THIS IS AN ✨️IDEA✨️

I just want u to know i feel b l e s s e d that u put this in MY ask box , when this coulda been a whole post of ur own 💖💖🙏🙏

WARNING: So i havent seen the new movie, just the og Avatar one, and i totally loved that concept about Eywa and how their world works so ill refresh myself but if theres any new lore from the 2nd movie i aint got it yet 💁 srry babs

🎵 FROM THE DAY WE ARRIVED ON THE PLANEETTT

AND STEPPED OUT BLINKING INTO THE SUN

AND THE SUN ROSE HIGH IN A SAPPHIRE SKY

ITS THE CIRRRRCCCLLLEEE OF LIFFFFEEEE 🎵

^ except ur like the life itself bc ur god now

Thats why i put that there

This AU radiates that energy

♤

BRO I TOTALLY FORGOT ABT U MENTIONIMG THE COOL CHASM STUFF AND PICKED THAT GIF ALL ON MY OWN

BC I THOUGHT IF ANYTHING LOOKS LIKE EYWA TREE IN GENSHIN ITS THAT BEAUTIFUL MUSHROOM GOD

ANYWAYS-

So I accidentally posted this too early so keep refreshing or coming back bc if theres no "♡the beloveds♡" im still updating this then LMAO

SRRY GUYS

So anon's a genius and i could listen to u talk about this all day

I fucking love combining world building or lore together

Esp like making one the AU or just the setting like u said with Avatar worlds as settings and same characters-

EEEEEE U ARE EYWA- YESSSSS YESSSSSS I AM YOUR GOD BITCHES!!! SUCK ON MY BIG FAT MAN TIDDIES BITCHES RAHHHHH /REF

♧

So they deffo use "Eywa" as a term for you instead of your name

Honestly, before when u were a mysterious af planet creature thing (lets say u get isekaied there i mean)

Nobody rlly knew if u even could take a mortal form or even thought of that as a concept

I feel like the younger generations immortals and Teyvat's current countries kinda think of you Eywa as more of a passive entity life force thing

Rather than the older immortals and creatures that had seen thru eons or over the course of a couple thousand years

That u were very aware and intelligent

Not that ur energy or aura didnt tell them that alone

◇

So a little deeper into the Teyvat lore here but i dont see anybody else talking about it so I will

Originally, it was the Seven Sovriegns and you, and eventually Phanes and their Four Shades,

And they literally all quickly came to realize u literally made this planet and began to start the first traditions of worshipping you!

Like putting gifts or hand made goods at the base

(Ppl have also gotten a tradition from Morax/Rex Lapis and Guizhong and other adepti to leave birthday letters to offer you, which ties into what i say below⬇️)

Ya know,

Eywa the tree could even be a sort of source to the eyes of Teyvat of what you look like while u were playing the game

Like how Eywa's little jellyfish reach ppl in the forest and shit? I think?

So like i would imagine that whatever u make certain vessels or acolytes do most often, is what they think they should offer u :0

◇

Claymore users give u gemstones and ores

Bow users give u hunted game like fowl, or the treasure from puzzles that required arrows (like those bursting blue balloons?)

Catalysts and Polearms give u all kinda of crazy shit lmao

Bc they can be used for a vareity of things

◇

Bc of ur player status and abilities, people of Teyvat attribute a gain in power or talents or whatnot to you, Eywa

So say u actually physically there now, and u just wake up under the coolest sickest tree youve ever seen in ur life

Omg could u imagine????

Seeing Teyvat irl? But AVATAR WORLD IRL???!!!

You would stand there lookin around like a drunk fuck for like 20 minutes, maybe longer lmao

Its just so ✨️pretty✨️ here

Also the tree itself just feels like, the equivalent to ur bedroom basically but like specifically if it was hella comfy and like just the way u want it (all the decor is up, the floor is clean, u got like hot choco on ur desk, theres a candle burning, etc.)

♤

Oh so since ur like weirdly connected to the land, like u know how theres a voice line abt walking in that glowing aranara part of Sumeru and ur steps light up?

I saw that too in the OG avatar movie

So i feel like u would have a map with ALLLLL the peoples on it and little icons

U can focus on just vision users or bosses or big nature things like Dragonspine

◇

Oh so Eywa can control all animals and whatnot and so u as a mortal person can too

So anytime theres a threat u can deadass just become a pokemon trainer LMAO

Ok but think how badass it would be to just like,

Get the Primo Geovishap or Giant Bird Jadeplume Terror thingy to just leave their territory and wipeout some mfs

(coughunknowngodasomodaycough)

It would be fucking amazing

♧

Unrelated to above bc im just spitting out ideas srry guys

but like

I feel like if u were a lifeforce sort of ancient eldritch god for the entire goddamn continent of Teyvat let alone the whole planet-

You would have to maintain said continent/planet

Like, make sure the Irminsul is growing okay, protect from mfs like Dottore,

Stop diasters if ur Eywa too, esp bc u can hear prayers now, and would hear ppl crying out to help them geez

while the prayers of the many kinda just glob together to form the major "feeling" of the prayer for most creatures,

Vision users, gods, ancient creatures u can get their exact sentences

Basically more magic = better heard to connect with u

◇

Oh u know, i could even see it being even more manual or personal labor bc ur not like a tree connected to ur roots thruout the world technically

Like if volcanoes erupt in Natlan, the archon and gods there help and u r also wanted/needed in person for it to work

U would still be powerful, but yeah like say the tree was u just playing genshin before,

The game automatically regulated diasters and stuff other than what was supposed to happen in game

◇

So kinda bouncing off that I read smwhere that the Na'vi dont actually view Eywa as like omnipotent or omniscient

(like the God™️ from the Christian bible for a example of what your not)

And also! Dont blame/attribute natural diasters, plagues, or other bad stuff on Eywa

So good for you whew 💦

Ur actually supposed to kinda just be the collective lifeforce or Teyvat/world and nature, and a defender and guide of life :0

Which kinda fits with the whole "upgrading characters" thing actually

◇

Okay but I saw somewhere in SAGAU tag someone did another name instead of Creator to spice it up and its "All-Mother"

And interestingly, Eywa in Avatar is also called that and "Great Mother"!!

How fun :0

Also, the reason Eywa still got people with free-will is bc they kinda described the relationship to Eywa being something like a mother or parent

Maybe where name/titles came from ig?

Either way, ppl be calling u all types of nicknames u aint heard before lmao

I mean ur sacred, they dont just say ur name,

Nobody knows ur real name or what u call yourself

Just what they call u

Bc they couldnt communicate with u super well before, (the bday letters were the closest they got verbally, and even then they had to be addressed somewhat to ur first vessel the traveler to get thru/be seen)

Otherwise yeah u operating them lets say before on Earth you rlly felt like an eldritch nature deity 💀

Cause u guide them in battles, strengthen their talents and skills and bodies, and feed them food

If they were in battle like needing healing food, u help them heal by consuming it for them so they dont have to take a snack break in battle and

Let me tell u, these denizens of Teyvat who have to constantly deal with magic and monsters and abyss stuff, so a stroll outside ur house gets u in a fight...

...They are very grateful for that needless to say.

Plus i like to think u make fighting easier on them bc ur "guiding" their bodies

◇

Anyway thats a long winded way to say, help me think of all the names Teyvat's given you lmao:

Eywa

All-Mother / Great Mother

All-Father / Great Father

All-Parent? / Great Parent

Creator

Their Grace

Great Puppeteer

The Puppeteer

Soul of Teyvat

Greatest Soul

☆

She aint long bc im not that creative and this idea has sm potential too😔

I would love to be Eywa sounds fun and powerful af and i dont get expected to be Jesus and they know i dont cause the natural diasters, like that sounds nice

Aight im no genius and this writing feels like im just rambling like a drunk guy sittin on the sidewalk mumbling to myself, i had to stop writing 💀

Like that energy specifically-

So lmk if yall got any other cool titles or names :0

I couldn't think of anymore :/

Also srry about the updating this post and making u check back in if u already read this before i put the taglist

(Me putting the taglist means im done editing/writing this dw if u seein this)

Cheers,

🌒🌧🌊Aquarius♒️🌌🌘

♡my beloveds♡

@karmawonders / @0rah-s / @randomnatics / @glxssynarvi / @nexylaza / @genshin-impacts-me / @wholesomey-artist

[knotsic]

Sometimes you gotta just ride the wave. You want the ultimate you got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. Just remember fear causes hesitation and that will cause your worst fear to come true. Look, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Either you jump in or jerk off. Are you kidding me, your pretty much having sex with goddesses. You can't beat that. I mean goddamn, your one radical son of bitch! Just don't let them take the skin off your chicken if you know what I mean. If that happens well you just better back the fuck off Warchild and handover those little momacitas to the left where they should be with me. Pure fucking adrenaline, the ultimate rush. Other guys snort for it, jab a vein for it, all you gotta do is fuck! I know you man, when they fall on you, you won't back down, they'll have to burn your ass to the ground. Nothing but a mushroom cloud of love, hate, & scorn. Grudge fucking like if you were in porn. So just feel the energy of the room, and what it's doing. accept the rooms energy, get in sync, then recharge your mojo with it, just like a wireless rechargeable dildo, for as many rounds as you need. Ninety seconds, that's all they ask for, just 90 seconds of your life, that's it. Your either gonna learn Felicio or break neck. Just remember everything moves in cycle's. So twice a century good karma will reward you, let you know her appreciation with two voluptuous women. But you fuck that up, she'll show you just how small your penis really is, and when you hit balls deep, it will turn into the biggest surf this planet has ever seen. You'll be drenched with so much salt water you'll think she must have lived by the beach because with that much sand in the vagina something gotta give.

[hanibalistic]

#17E8D3 | HAN JISUNG.

genre | fluff, nature-like, (may consider it a) magic au

word count | 1664

warning | none

tag | @fluffyskzclub​

note | i just wanted to write about love for a little.

the surface of the lake water waved up to only half of your head. it tickled the back of your neck, wet your hair, and flowed into your ear—all of which were uncomfortable sensations, but ones you could tolerate just to be one with nature.

it was quiet and peaceful until jisung entered the forest ground with his minty, saddened scent. his tantrum-like footsteps were loud compared to the chirpings of the birds and butterflies, as well as the waddling of tiny elves rushing to prepare for their mushroom festival.

you said nothing when he entered the open lake. his feet kicked against the water carelessly, causing ripples after ripples of movement. you signed when the peace was disrupted, but mostly you disliked the itching of your skin where the water brushed against.

jisung stood before your head when he approached you, his own arched down to stare at you, conveniently blocking the sun from your eyes. you opened one eye at him in dismay when you felt a sudden dim of the sun; it would be a pain to readjust to the light again after he removes himself from your view.

"your footsteps sound as childish as ever today, jisung."

wronged tears brimmed in his eyes as he pursed his lips together. his usual urge to retort with wit was long gone after the argument he had with his parents. all he felt was faulted and unworthy at the moment, and it seemed that you could smell the ghastly scent on him because your brows furrowed and you opened your eyes with a kind grimace.

"your heart is full of anguish," you said with concern, then you gestured to your side and smiled softly at him. "come, lay with me on the water."

he did so after accepting your invitation. stepping to your side, jisung carefully knelt on the lake after much consideration. his heart relaxed when he did not fall.

he was supposed to be past the point of being surprised by his ability to walk and stand on water. he was not supposed to feel doubtful when the water allows him access to its vulnerable skin because it will be mistaken as ungrateful. however, still, the belief he grew up with forced him to hesitate each time he steps foot on a deep lake.

the coolness of the water held him in its warm embrace when he laid down on top. he felt like he was sleeping on solid ground, on his cozy bed, but he also felt as if he was floating in clouds, swaying on the ocean floor. the ambiguity of the physical touch tickled his soul and made him laugh in breathlessness.

"give me your hand, ji."

your voice snapped him out of his trance. he continued to giggle hoarsely, his voice giving away that he had cried before entering the forest, and he turned to look at you.

his mind went blank as the birds panicked from afar. a cherry blossom tree has sprouted from the ground somewhere in the forest, courtesy to the pure affection that tinted his shy cheeks when he turned to find you staring with him—the gloss in your eyes reflected the clear water that kissed your face, and petals of flowers draped over your hair to make elegant beds for the sunset spirits (tiny lights, like fireflies, but they move like small giggles) who would soon fall asleep.

he was reverted to a simple boy—a simple boy who blushes when he sees someone pretty, a simple boy who gets nervous when he is to hold hands with someone, a simple boy who is shy enough to avoid eye contact but brave enough to steal glances at his secret crush.

(the forest knows of jisung's romantic affections for you but it chose not to tell.)

"my–my hand? my hand!" he fumbled with himself before he politely reached one hand out to you. his eyes looked down at the water and his voice was an endearingly timid whisper. "here you go."

the redness in his cheeks flamed when you grabbed his hand and locked your fingers through his. he heard you shift, and he felt the back of his palm being engulfed by your other hand. your interlocked hands were placed between your heads then, and when jisung finally mustered up the courage to look at you, you had your eyes closed in a praying manner.

"mother, mother, heed my wish, for a burden to be lifted from a friend fallen," you said. "in return, he will enrich the lake with his tears, and he will feed the wind with his words."

jisung waited respectfully for you to finish. despite having spent a lot of time in the forest—he could back that up with his friendly bonds with the animals and his impressive garden on the floor of your treehouse—most of the time, he has no idea what you were doing.

the forest's ever-changing ways are not something he should question.

"now you can rant about what happened. the forest will lift your worries and feed it to the ground as nourishment," you said, smiling at him.

"nature builds on human emotions," he recited the time you explained to him the connection between the forest and one's soul. he squeezed your hand, your skin brushed against his, and he sighed with a beat of his heart. "we are all connected."

jisung bashfully chuckled when you blinked in pleasant surprise.

"you have good memories, jisung," you said. "i can't believe you remembered that."

he laughed. he would not tell you he only remembered because he liked you enough to.

"anyway, feel free to talk about anything now," you said. "remember to only tell the truth."

everything listened to him. the water listened, the sun listened, the trees and the flowers listened, the elves and the fairies listened—you listened.

what he once thought was unworthy of telling, what he once thought was unjust of complaining, what people once told him to stop talking about—he spilled out all his sorrows in fast and honest words and he could feel that they were received well.

his parent's negligence? the trees demolished them. the unruly expectations he has to meet? the wind carried them away. the hate he felt for the person reflected in the river? the water washed it away.

and, finally, his loneliness of being unloved by people?

tears rolled down his eyes and he sighed at you, hand clutching yours as he wondered.

his honest words bounced back into his ears, giving him a clear perspective of his problems, as well as forcing him to wonder if everything has been his fault after all.

it all went back to square one, it seemed. it all went back to his incompetence at the end because he could not meet what was expected of him, which caused his parents' disapproval, which led to his self-loathe and ultimately, the silhouette of loneliness.

the awful cycle has no end no matter how hard he breaks way for one, and whose fault was that ultimately?

you watched with silent eyes as he smiled at the sky. "i should have been made to be good enough of love, but god has abandoned me before i was even born."

there was a chill in the wind. you were disagreeing with him.

"people can never be made to be enough," you said after laying on your back. you spread your limbs and laid freely on the trembling water; it was beginning to feel the pressure of your bodies upon the releasing of your emotions. "the concept of worthiness does not exist in love."

jisung tilted his head. the sunbeam caught his eyes like a reflection of his soul—so bright but too far. only its warmth could reach his body, and he thought perhaps that was all the sun could afford to do now.

"but people–"

"–don't value foolishness enough," you cut him off calmly. "only fools fall in love with anyone, which is the only way for it to be."

love is not an equation to be solved, or a thesis to be proven by evidence disguised in human traits and success, as most people have made it out to be. love is not complicated like that. it is just bottomless and wide. it reaches everyone without regard—like how the forest loves everyone who touches its ground no matter the murders and sins they have committed.

flowers bloom and leaves sing—simple things that make jisung think of you, the gentle glow of your hair and the smooth touch of your skin.

spirits fly and elves march—playful things that make jisung think of you, when you hold his hand across weak wooden bridges and when you splash water at his face in the deep lakes.

morning rises and night sinks—beautiful things that make jisung think of you, when he twirled you amongst the starshine butterflies and when he foolishly fell in love with you that night.

he squeezed your hand and turned his head to look at you. water seeped into the corner of his eyes, fogging his sight barely as he realized that love is dumb, but it is also great, and there is never worth because nobody gets to choose. love bangs and it is just here, and it will not leave until after you take it the first time.

"i am sorry about your parents," you muttered after a moment. "i am not sure i could help but i hope it works out for you."

"ye–yeah," he nodded, "me too."

"you can stay the night if you want," you said as you shifted on the water. "but it is time for us to take a nap. leave quietly if you do."

jisung hummed to himself. you looked at him before you comfortably closed your eyes. his watched you with ease—his heart was hammering, love is banging at his door.

[lostandundead]

Chapter 7: Insecurities Of Rulers

Beaumont Roseberg was currently staying in an alleyway, prepared to release his chain when Jester gave the signal. Honestly, he didn’t trust her that much but since she is the queen, what she says goes. In addition, she promised him that she will help him achieve his biggest goals, but that wasn’t important right now.

He tapped his antlers a little, hoping to avoid boredom. Most of the time, he just hides them under a hat, even before he saw taxidermies of Jackalopes like him. He figured that it came from a form of shame and the fact that he didn’t want to end up like them. After all, he still has people that he needs to protect. Speaking of protecting…

I hope Marion is doing okay… he thought to himself as he kept an eye on the sky. She was practically family to him at this point in time and when he learned that they had to be in separate parts of the world, he was heartbroken. However, they will be able to see each other again once Jester’s plan is complete. They also made sure to have portable phones so they can communicate with the rest of the generals if there was an important announcement.

Better to be safe than sorry, he thought, taking the phone out and dialing Marion.

It only took her a couple of seconds to answer.

“Hello Beau!”

“Hey Marion. I just wanted to check in on you. Are you doing alright?”

“I'm fine! But it seems like you're a little worried.”

“I will admit, I am a little worried, but that's because we don’t know what can happen. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“I'll stay safe, I promise.”

“Okay, I have to go to release the chain. Take care.”

“Take care!”

The phone hung up, leaving Beaumont alone with his thoughts but at least he was sure that his family was safe. He leaned against the wall, the bright lights of the city making it a little hard to see the stars in the sky.

He waited for a few hours, waiting for a signal and then, a bright purple chain can be seen soaring in the distance. That was his cue to start the plan. He pulled out a bright red chain similar to the purple one out of his jacket’s pocket. Then, he recalled what Jester specifically told them to do once they got the signal.

Take out the chain and put one end on the ground. Then, just let go.

And that was exactly what he did.

He gave up his control.

—————————————————

Floating over a lake in the middle of the forest was the mastermind behind this whole operation. She hopes to establish a world where reality and fantasy can exist as one. She has already seen the flaws of both worlds but she intends to fix that.

It doesn’t matter what she has to do in order to reach that goal. She will gladly take a thousand suns if it means that her dream could finally become reality. No more suffering, no more being pushed around, just pure peace and silence. To her, it sounds like a perfect world and soon everyone will see that.

All hail the Laughing Queen.

—————————————————

Sitting on the thrones of a marble palace is a king and queen, the original rulers of the fantasy world. However, they mourn the loss of their only child, who ran away from home. The jester offered her assistance for the throne and with minds clouded with sorrow, they accepted. Little do they know the plan that she has in mind.

They now guard a dark blue chain, possibly the only chance of getting their son back. However, it is quite sad indeed. They are so stricken that they even realize…

They are just pawns in a game.

—————————————————-

The orange chain is protected by the Laughing Queen’s most loyal guard, a swordswoman made of art supplies. Wielding blades sharper than a knife, she can take down foes in a single strike. She believes in the cause and rose to be the right-hand man.

However, she is stubborn and impulsive with a need to always win. She also lacks creativity, a fate that is pretty grim. However, maybe one day, she will finally see...

That the pen is mightier than the sword.

—————————————————

Dancing around a light blue chain is a simple marionette. Blue strings are attached to her limbs to allow her to move. Behind her are others that are puppetted by her, giving her a sense of control that she never had before.

It is such a shame that she had to go through that, being abandoned and thrown out like a broken doll. At least she has someone to look up to now, someone who supported her through time and time again. However, what if that someone was to disappear and leave her alone? What will she do then? It is time that she learns…

That there are no strings attached.

—————————————————

The red chain resides at the top of a casino. It is run by a jackalope that puts up a tough persona but only wishes to protect those he loves. He is afraid that he would lose them if he isn’t strong enough to protect them so he does what he can to improve. He would do anything if it means if they stay safe.

However, will it be enough when a threat comes? Does he have the willpower and strength to defend them? After all, luck does play a big role in life. Grab some dice and let us see…

If luck is truly in your hands.

—————————————————

The yellow chain is mainly left unattended as they tend to wander around. To be completely honest, they didn’t really care about Jester’s plan, the portals, or the real world. The only reason why they even decided to become a general is so they can find their dear friend again. They play a song by themselves in the hopes of guiding their friend to them.

Little do they know that they will soon be backstabbed, betrayed by the one they are supposed to trust. Despite this, they hold onto blind hope that this person will help them. They look at the sky and say…

Catch you on the flip side.

—————————————————

Deep in a forest, shrouded by the trees, lies the green chain. Ivy grows on it, twisting and turning. The guardian of it, an old mushroom man, tends to his plants. He treats them like his kin as he lost his own a long time ago. He makes sure that they watered and fed, all while making sure the soil is well-kept.

Soon, he hears a crash and birds flying in his direction. It was loud so it was obviously either nearby or large. He touches the ground, hoping to see the damage through the mushrooms. Instead of seeing a crater, he felt a burning pain go through his arm. He quickly removes his hand and mutters to himself:

My mushrooms…

[toemuncher666]

The Gods, their realms, and their artifacts:

Apocrysith, The God of Death:

The Isle of Death - a land of purple gloom filled with souls of the forgotten and countless undead abominations...this land is filled with medieval castles made out of bone.

LifeBane - a strong sword that steals 50 points of life per hit

Elliana, The Goddess of Life:

The Radiance - a land in the clouds filled with the souls of the remembered and revered, it's filled with golden palaces and trees of life that bless people with their children.

The Radiant Staff - a staff that mass heals your entire party to full health

Halkore, The God of Destruction:

The Ravaged World - The OverRealm but filled with fiery chaos and never ending demonic wars

NightWeaver - a ring that increases magic damage and causes enemies to fight each other

Cressagarí, The Goddess of The Moon:

Lunara - a land of misty forests and fairy trees that exists under a never ending blue moon, it's filled with glowing mushrooms and flowers...and cute little hobbit and fairy villages.

Midnight - an armor set of extremely powerful armor that increases all magic points, increases your magicka, and increases all thief abilities

Heliasah, The God of The Sun:

Solgara - a radiant desert land filled with Egyptian-like pyramids and strange architectural structures. The land is occupied by the souls of fallen Pardasans.

The Star of Calithria - a powerful shield shaped like a star that sets enemies on fire

Nechetaia, The Goddess of Wishes:

Prosperia - a land of prosperous floating islands filled with houses made of dragon bones. The land has consistent rainbows and wish shrines for the loved souls of deceased Lycanthropes to wish good fortune upon their living family.

Genie's Amulet - an amulet that can level you up once and let you pick a perk from every skill tree

Munosí, The God of Knowledge:

The Land of Words - an endless library filled with all the knowledge of the past, present, and future. It's said that those who stay too long become insane from the sheer amount of knowledge and risk transforming into an eldritch abomination.

The Lexicon - a book that can teach you any spell at the cost of a friend's soul

Maltalypsi, The Goddess of Discovery:

Sun's Dusk - a never ending randomly generated land filled with those revered for discovery

SolaSphere - a strong sword that can use a magical power to show the exact path to your next quest

Stoiqress, The God of The Elements:

The Omnisphere - a land made up of floating islands, volcanoes, a coral reef, a giant desert, and vast jungles each representing the 5 elements. The land is filled with elemental nymphs

The OmniOrb - a magical orb that can create elemental clones of you that possess extreme elemental powers

Altérata, The Goddess of Monsters:

The Isle of Monsters - a vast field of ashy meadows filled with the souls of monsters and medieval buildings. The land is subject to a constant bloodmoon and monster wars.

The Beast Tamer - a strong Warhammer that can KO any non-monster enemies and can temporarily tame nearby monsters

Daisí, The God of Justice:

The Ordered Province - a peaceful medieval land with castles made of glass...it is a land for the most revered of rulers.

The Crown of Order - a crown that can enthrall nearby enemies no matter their level

Rosafina, The Goddess of Nature:

The RoseMeadows - a giant land of meadows with giant pink roses and houses and castles made out of rose bush. The land is filled with the lively souls of Verkine.

Rosafina's Rose - a wand that can cause severe poison and bloodletting effects on enemies, it will also enhance all magical skills you have

Errgahsio, The God of Work:

Laborra - a giant city that constantly expands its boundaries outside of its own realm with construction.

The God's Pickaxe - a surprisingly strong pickaxe that increases ore gotten from ore deposits, all smithing and crafting abilities are increased while equipped, and it increases your speech abilities

Zarpólemas, The Goddess of War:

Warmonger - a dark purple land filled with never ending wars. It's land is filled with Victorian gothic palaces made of dragon bones...and it's land is filled with demons and monsters.

Chaos - a set of armor that increases all warrior skills, it increases intimidation, and it'll grant you with a mass fury spell which causes absolute chaos among the spells recipients

Jarikyen, The God of Hunting:

The DarkWoods - a constantly night land filled with never ending forests. The forests are filled with bioluminescent flowers, mushrooms, leaves, and animals. Only the most revered hunter souls are allowed within the land.

NightBloom - an extremely powerful bow that slows time, allows you to see all nearby enemies, and does extra damage to non-"human" entities

Allizóm, The Goddess of The Undead:

Undeath - a purple skied land made of the bones and ashes of fallen warriors...each of their souls able to live out paradise in their own granted micro realm.

Necrosis - a powerful mace that consistently drains the life of an enemy and steals their soul

Marypód, The God of Enslavement:

Masstrist - a blue gloomy land filled with the souls of prisoners forced to carry out menial slave tasks until their souls are absorbed into the Victorian gothic architecture.

Enthraller - a ring that can not only summon a bound prisoner's soul to fight for you, but it can also enthrall human enemies

Nalátechna, The Goddess of Technology:

The Metro - a giant steampunk land filled with the souls of tenebriskine and homa. The land is filled with steampunk buildings and automatons.

SteamSurge - a helmet that increases your magicka and speech...and also grants you with the ability to blow damaging steam that steals stamina from enemies

Barvrísk, The God of Lies:

The Land of Glory - it's name isn't for the souls trapped their, it's meant as Barvrísk's representation that this is the land of those who fell for his bargains, it's his trophy room. A dark purplish land made of prisons filled with poor unfortunate souls.

Jailer's Fists - a pair of gauntlets that increase all thieving skills but also causes fear in enemies and makes them flee

Gaiana, The Goddess of The Earth:

Gaia - a beautiful garden filled with the most bountiful trees, fruits, and other plants...with palaces of gold and carriages drawn by Pegasi...it is the land for the most pure of souls.

Eden - a staff that has the most powerful herbakinesis and it increases your magical skills

Superias, The Lord of Pride:

Narcissista - a dark land filled with marble palaces and marble statues everywhere constructed under Superias' appearance...the land is filled with demon and soul slaves forced to wear masks of Superias' visage.

Superias' Mask - a mask made in Superias' visage, it increases speechcraft and has really good armor ratings

Invidirial, The Maiden of Envy:

GreenOrb - a green land filled with demon spies constantly watching the other realms for what they have. The land is filled with aspects stolen from other realms.

Jealousy - an armor set that steals Magicka, souls, health, and stamina from enemies...it also copies unique spells that enemies use

Fameria, The Lord of Gluttony:

The Starving Lands - a land of Gray and poor villages filled with starving souls while Fameria lives in his palace of human bone...gorging himself into non existence.

Drainage - a staff that drains health and can also consume food for your behalf

Libiada, The Maiden of Lust:

Libidos - a land filled with sexual deviants unfortunate enough to find themselves in this prison. The land is filled with demons constantly raping the souls of sexual deviants...they also have rape orgies that lead to all recipients fusing into one abomination. The land is red with the misty blood of those dying from constant unwanted sex and the most unfortunate end up in Libiada's palace ...where things do unfortunate happen that they cannot even be described.

Lover's End - an amulet that allows all people to fall in love with you, it increases your speech skill, it increases your stamina😏, and it makes enemies hesitant to attack you

Irasae, The Lord of Wrath:

Strorira - a land most resembling hell...with torture, fire, and lava.

Lucifer - an extremely powerful armor set that causes enemies fire damage, it makes demons peaceful, and it ups your intimidation

Avarisielle, The Maiden of Greed:

The Third World - a land made up of souls wandering in the grassy plains while Avarisielle lives in her palace with all the gold she wants...but even that's not enough for her.

Gold Seeker - a helmet that increases the amount of gold and valuables found in loot chests

Tardiriath, The Lord of Sloth:

Eternagloom - a land filled with sleeping souls never to awaken, the land is filled with giant glowing shrooms while it forever remains nighttime.

Sleep powder - a spell that hypnotizes enemies

Basagoth, The Lord of Sins:

The Voids of Nezaroth - an empty void of nothingness filled with the souls of the damned...with the exception of Basagoth’s mind...a palace made of flesh and sinew.

The FleshWound - a great sword made of human flesh, bone, and sinew...it can cause extreme bloodletting damage, it absorbs health, and it can 1 hit KO living enemies

Malumasas, The Lord of Evil:

Sanctuary - an angelic land stolen from Elliana that Malumasas claimed as his own. With land made of glass and gold...Malumasas claims it as his heaven...filled with the torture and pain of angels and pure souls.

Doomsday - a battleaxe that can cause a Maelstrom of fiery meteors

Odius, The Lord of Hell:

The Underworld - a land made of the bones and remains of ex gods...Odius sits alone in his realm, reveling in the victory of killing thousands of gods to ascend to godhood himself...all alone on his throne surrounded by corpses...crushing the skulls of ex gods before his feet.

Eldritch - a staff that turns an enemy into a lovecraftian abomination bound to serve you forever

[tenaciouscupcaketaco]

1989-2020 Poetic Work Of Mario William Vitale

1989-2020 Poetic Work Of Mario William Vitale (Manuscript of Poet Mario William Vitale) From 1993-1997 - Attended State University in Connecticut,Attempted plays : Tartuffe, Miracle Of St. Anthony and Balm in Gieade,( His poetic aspirations had in 1989 from submitting his first poem entitled, "Remembrance Of A Loved One"- (Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum)Next from 1989-1997 ( Wrote primarily for Poetry.com and The International Library Of Poetry),* Received editors choice award in 1997 for poem, " A Beacon Of Light ",(1998) Sent poetic manuscript to N.Y. Time Magazine and Chief Editor " John Hyland".Back with rave reviews !* ( From 1999-2008:Had adapted a real keen sense of style for writing poetry: ( 1999- Sent Editorial to:New Man Magazine for the Passion of Christ Movie;Sent followup letter to company with poetry platform information attached,* 2000-2007 : Magazine : ( Catholic) Maries Rose Ferron Magazine submitted poem" Beacon Of Light", which had excellent editorial reviews as the outset !2008- Wrote poem entitled: ( The Heavy Cross) to Poetry.com* Achieved Poetry status of work of Excellence in writing from the Academy Of American Poetry in which still having received rank and status as a member of Academy;* ( The Connecticut Poetry Society)* Short story submitted entitled, "China Dog Ray" submitted to Virginia WritersQuarterly, West Virginia, Also having member status on their board of Poetry.* ( Attribute Poetry to an ever increasing love of God and his unconditional love that he has for us in return,Thankfulness toward family and friends.( To our past ancestors who fought to uphold freedom that far too many of us take for granted ?One needs a pure heart that's fixed on truth,This is in order to withstand the true great test of time !Life is way too short,Press toward the goal or mark of our high calling that is in Christ Jesus The Lord !~My contempoarry artists include that of ellan Bryant Voight, Kay Ryan and carl Phillips.Which all three are Participants in the Academy Of American Poetry.* Having been a member since 2006,My work reflects the likes of past poets such as C.S.Lewis, Hawthorne and edgar Allen Poe.Most of my work reflects with the values of religious beliefs intact,( In my personal view it is essential in demonstrating a real heart of creativepassion !The reader I believe will benefit by my artistic style of development in a verypositive light.)To further the need for poetry to become more main stream, Mario Vitale was born in Bristol , Ct Has developed a skill for writing poetry in the free verse form. has been featured on Hubpages.com, Starlitecafe.com & Poetry soup. Vitale lives with his elderly mother Ann Soulier in Wolcott, Ct. Currently has written well over 1,000 poems & 2 short story's toward credit platform. Vitale has taken the poetic world by storm being featured on Google, Yahoo & MSN. Looks up to contemporaries in the poetry industry such as John Ashbery & Major Jackson. Has been a favorite featured poet reader at Barnes & Noble in Waterbury, Ct. Also featured on such sites as Poetry soup, Writer's café & Neo Poet. Mario William Vitale 1 Winfield Drive Wolcott, ct 06716 A Beacon Of Light Written by: Mario Vitale A beacon of light to a much hurting world in need ! Can't help but to claim.., Some sense of identity, Stregnth and encouragement only come from above ! Amidst in the distance, the trapped seagull.., Lieth frightened but still yet adrift ! In a most vengeful fashion striking the passing fish, A true source of hope, Yet a most triumphal beam ! This beacon of light shineth forth, Passerby's can err' escape the helping hand.., To the most sparkling of radiance ! (2)Thanksgiving Dinner by Mario Vitale Home for the holiday from New Orleans, with Mother and Father at the tiny drop leaf, brown rosewood, mahogany table with the gold, grinning claw feet; Father, choler- red-in the-face, short- sleeved white shirt and cane, says the blessing as Mother brings in the turkey and cranberry. Then Mother asks, “Won’t you have more?” and father : “Do you think Moll Flanders was a *****?” (I have suffered and bleached my hair blond.) I am silent before their replies. Mother sighs. “I can scarce speak to her.” And Father, too, quotes Shakespeare. (I am thin as paper and the rose- colored bowl of blown glass sitting on the silver stand, half- filled with water.) “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless daughter” (3) Song of Spring Today I heard a robin sing heralding the coming spring A song of exultation to the sky an ode to earth's awakening I saw a willow on the hill It's branches greening in the sun and all the earth seemed hushed & still sleeping streams began to run I heard a softly rising breeze whispering through the grass singing through the still bare trees waiting winter's chill to pass I saw the sun, so bright and warm warming the earth after the rain the buds and leaves, no frost to harm at least, at last, it's spring again. (4) The Ancients It's my last day with the old giants In mourning I hike the lost trails, sniffing the aroma of the bark, that cinnamon of the forest Under tepees of wood in a membrane of shadows, I stalk the earth, its mammal traces, its elusive tracks, to sit on a fallen log where spiders macramé, moss sloping to my knees unaware of invisibles within, grubbing in their tunnels A lizard taps my foot, responding, I muse to its touch, my thoughts like Indian visions, And when daylight mushrooms into night, and an owl hoots from cedar, I still sit with a lizard on my shoe Huddled with the ancients of the woods (5) Epiphany Written by: Mario Vitale It clings to the cliffed shore, to the wintered face of the thistle path, to the fingers of the old man's glove as he waves his memory homeward In that breath between come and go she moves up from the bay; gold turns her stride, the line of her dress, the soft sea pulling at her feet When he reaches out and the frail birds fly and the sun and the sky have married deep into the sea, it clings Even as his shadow threads retreat, it clings, even now as it dissolves to mist (6) A Return Home, Only Time Will Tell Written by: Mario Vitale Oh blessed hope ! Both hardly a believable dream, Sweltering heat with bloodshed in the street... Send the troops home ! There is no clear reason for them to roam.., These are desolate times ! For we have chosen ill faded rhymes.., The casualties are enormous ? For a stated cause that clearly atrocious.., A mother's cry as the door chime rings, A vanishing salute to freedom as the church choir sings ! Let us look above to all the heavenly love.., Merciful one, take this chip off my shoulder.., Stop the senseless fighting before our dear nation grows a bit colder, Suddenly, seeds were dropped out of a farmers bag, In time roots spring up fresh out of the fertile soil... As the sun heats up, Time will tell when this harvest will soon boil... In the vast game of life, One's time is so very brief ! The soul yearns for its' heavenly relief.., Share with others who may want to turn over a brand new leaf.., Time will tell of the true importance of helping one another, To never give into the finish line.., Nor harsh criticism that our society puts out ! Like a famous fighter in his final bout ! Time will tell of the return home, To the open arms of a loved one ! (7) A Valiant Knight Written by: Mario Vitale A Valiant Knight Death springs a new day basking in the breeze In solemn moments lets pause to think of a place A far off castle in the mountains away from it all A valiant knight lived in the structure of it's dwelling Those days of old where mere men had a noble demise A beautiful maiden was in waiting for her knight He would often fight for the cause of stregnth and dignity The draw bridge where the castle stood had a very unique aura A mystery of sort sought up in the vast array of crowned nobility For the king on his thrown was humble yet greedy Always would take care of himself caring nothing for the needy A valiant knight was concerned about the kings trust Often they would disagree on who it was to serve A joker came in front of the king one day with a magic wand Waving the wand in the air then there floated ivy everywhere For the court jester was a fool in the making of his legacy The maiden would often come forth and see For she treasured a red rose that was plucked sometime before Cherished the calling of her stature to the glory of the throne A valiant knight would often sing sweet songs in the night Had a following of village people that would sit before his feet Having a way of words that he would often share The castle was filled with dragons and warlocks searching for love A cause to be brave amidst uncertainty of the kingdom The legacy of golden capulets filled ardent vestibules Let us toast to the valiant knight who keeps a watch on all that is good (8) Hampton Beach The smell of fresh fry doe Time had elapsed playing at the casino Fresh lobster with a side order of fries Those spacious wonderful sky's Down at the shell the continental were playing A walk by the lady of a statue in waiting Flip flops and the sound of laughter A playground for kids in the middle The boardwalk with seagulls flocking over head Fire works in the midnight air with a cheer (9) God's World It is raining again. Summer will be over before it ever gets here Thunder rolls far away, drops hit the windshield, the sky turns gray The Sunflower, the blue Delpinium, the white Stinkwood drink the moisture greedily. The green and silver leaves of the Aspens sparkle as the rain hits them, and the wind turns them round and round The creek flows on, oblivious to the change in the weather. A break in the clouds allows a bit of sun to hit the side of a towering mountain Three cows slowly wend their way homeward. It is dusk. The gray clouds lift and the sun bursts through, before sliding behind the hills for the night It is God's World. He gives it to us to enjoy and to share with each other (10) Jake's House There was a man whose name was Jake Who had a house upon the lake Every morning he would wake And for breakfast have a piece of cake He had a private fishing hole; He always used a long cane pole He fried his fish on red hot coal And served it in a great big bowl For a pet, he had a cat (11) In The Zone Written by: Mario Vitale In The Zone whispers... through the dark deranged portals you evoke fear filled with angelic fervor on it's textual base yet we dig much deep then ever before cries in the dark will light the spark of what we need to know still we stand idle as the average novice introduces its spell along again then the sadness evokes a newer feeling dwindling through the vain extraction of the never world we visually see a flash then a new day approaches on the lawn two lovers having passionate *** the screams of vile extreme explodes throughout perhaps this is the place where Nero tread yet again I sit alone in my house now huddled in the corner the twilight sun has tainted my inner vision the howls of Satanic laughter gives a piercing shriek through a candle was lit by the edge of my bed One can remain lax in the quietness of the moment yet again the setting of the sun a new day has begun as we embark on the moment Does death hurt you the most or is it fear You can equate logic through a firm grasp of the hand whispers again... then a faint cry, we construct living pyramids to honor the dead A stroke of luck an the impulse ensues onto so much more but for what are we grasping for straws what are we searching for ? quietness again this time I'm in the zone as if zombie creatures with viscous long fangs that bite dripping blood off side we run away to hide no one questions anymore no one has a voice alone one last time yet feelings of grandeur awake to the message of hope that spills from the sky a challenge to be free is a question of time eyes with spots digging holes in a pool of blood Satan laughing again spreads his wings Suddenly I awake but to what ? (12) An End Of The Age Of Innocence Part III Written by: Mario Vitale In our fast paced twentieth century world.., We oft' have neglected to stop to smell the roses, Oft' we used to bow our heads silently to pray, As we reflect back to the sixties is had launched a pad to rebellion ! With a vast amount of liberal bias and thinking, No wonder why our nation is sinking.., Sinking amidst a cuss pool of mere morality.., For now it is a quite different time, A very unique but different type of day.., An end of the age of innocence, One hath been enlightened.., From seeking truth, Some fresh out of a garbage can.., Yet for Gods' sake, He hath such an amazing plan ! Hence, to shun the broad road, Yet to seek to venture in the narrow.., Such as a distant bird in flight ! You might see this creature venture out at night ? Of the Eagle nor the Sparrow.., It used to mean something to have a sense of common courteous.., To hold open the door for your neighbor ? Yet for the time being we relent and waiver.., Would you prefer another taste of a certain ice cream flavor ? To ponder we must be content with who we are in the inside.., Nor, a mere fancy suit or blazing sport's car, Life is a roller coaster.., In what you do while busy making other plans.., Finding solace among the height of nature., Such to think at what is quite simple, As a young child reflects on his or her poster board, Playing with their magic crayons.., For in eternity it is such a very long time ! Take heed in what you do, Now is the expectant hour ! What will one choose to do ? There can be no place nor need for any compromise, Within it's vast perpetual spectrum ! One just can't put a price tag on a genuine but unique heart ! Hence, with honest integrity.., The time for change is today ! (13) He Was There by Mario William Vitale From the inner silence of the lamb he was there In welcoming to the world to share Within the multiple of words the mouth speaks As a heart beats through the passage of time To every poem that was ever written To every burden ever lifted To rivers crossing where people living Sometimes loving other moments giving In storms that were outside brewing What is the significance of this love In painted pictures from above To every soldier in a battle To every cow amidst the cattle Not a second glance at any real romance A field of dreams throughout our head From both fire and ice will make you think twice Perhaps another chance at a roll of the dice When every kingdom comes thy will be done Shadows in the shining morn if there's a rose it bears a thorn, He was there in every circumstance When they tried to throw stones at her He was there drawing a line with his finger in the sand It is my hope that some day all will understand A glance at the past will tell us of our future Amidst the inner pain & uncertainty Through shadows in a field of dreams In moments of solace amidst the pain A light moved out upon the street outside A day that wasn't meant to be Thorn crown was pulled upon his head Those shouts of intense anger from the mob There was only one who would help him back on his feet, A light that brought only a few to greet Let us not run away & hide Each one of our sins was placed on that cross To lose the battle now would end in tragic loss Father please forgive them for they know not what they do He said the prayer now the rest is up to you That cross that broke a sinful world apart With his blood-soaked crown with spear in side To show the whole world he had nothing to hide The summoned cry brought about healing in the sky Watch the free angelic dove fly! (14) Momma Of Pearls by Mario William Vitale Since there's nothing I could find That was worth giving you, I sat down to think a while And write a line or two If I had a magic wand I'd wave it just for you, And give you anything you'd like No matter how many or few If I could give you back the years You so willingly gave to me I'm sure that you spend them over again The same as they used to be Remember when those days and nights Instead of going to the fair I'd always say tell me again The story of the three little bears I tried to get a strawberry pie But they were out of season Then I thought of gold Mario William Vitale Written by Mario William Vitale 48/M/Wolcott, Ct 310 Please log in to view and add comments on poems

[ohgodwhy151]

Yet again the science of SnK

 So it’s been a week since the last episode and you know what that means? That’s right! It’s time to see how many ways I can kill Levi Ackerman for I am a mad scientist and he is my sexy lab rat!  

This time we are obviously talking about the walking violation of many nuclear weapons treaties. Bertholdt Hoover. Now this one was both the most difficult ‘Science of SnK’ I’ve ever done and the easiest, and it all comes from a single frame. 

This shot here gives us all the information I need to explain why everyone in that city should be dead. Now to start with I was going to try and calculate (Myself) the size of that mushroom cloud, which I did, and then work out the force needed to produce such a cloud. HOWEVER, it turns out mushroom clouds or Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities are mind-breakingly complex. A horrible mixture of fluid dynamics, meteorology, and thermodynamics. It would take a seasoned mathematician the best part of an entire day to work out how massive that force is and let me tell you, I am no mathematician. That being said I do have one thing that makes this WWAAYYYYYY easier.      

   https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/

Nukemap! 

Nukemap, for anyone who doesn’t know, is a lovely model by Alex Wellerstein, that allows you to detonate any known nuclear weapon in human history, on any part of the globe and see what would happen. So all I had to do was take measurements of that cloud and find nuclear weapons that would make a cloud that matches Bertholdt’s simple! 

Now it turns out films, games and in this case, anime are really bad at making mushroom clouds anatomically accurate. Mushroom clouds can be broken down into altitude, head height, and head diameter so I took pixel measurements for all of them and got a few different bombs that match. 

SO. After taking a few different sets of calculations that cloud reaches approximately 2km high. (This is based off the worst case scenario for the scouts because that is more fun) With a cap diameter of nearly a kilometer and a cap height of just over 900 meters. Plugging that into nuke map gives us three different bombs so lets list them! 

1. Based off the height Bertholdt blows up with the force of a single B61 model 3 bomb. This little guy, if dropped in the middle of New York city would kill around 11′000 people and demolish everything but the strongest of building within a 310m range. So not good but it gets worse! 

2. The width of the cap is roughly equal to the explosive force of the Nuclear bomb tested by North Korea in 2000. If let loose in New York it would kill close to 30′00 people and flatten EVERY building 1km from the center of the explosion. Not to mention causing 3rd degree burns to every living thing (In this case Levi) over 400 meters from the bomb. 

3. And finally the worst of them all. The cap height is equal to 1000 tonnes of TNT. 1000 tonnes of pure explosive, that’s like 5 blue whales made of TNT. This would kill 46′000 people in New York! 

That, in the background, is a US navy ship from 1958. So Bertholdt explodes with the force of TWO of those bombs. TWO! 

IF LEVI STABBED BERTHOLDT LIKE HE TRIED TO KILL REINER AND BERTHOLDT DETONATED THEN WERE WOULD BE NOTHING LEFT. NOTHING. NO MOLTEN PUDDLES, OR PILE OF BROKEN BONES. NO INTERNAL BLEEDING OR DECELERATION TRAUMA. EVEN FROM A DISTANCE OF 1KM LEVI WOULD STILL BE FRIED LIKE A DAMN CRISP OVER HIS ENTIRE BODY! 

So... on the checklist of ways to kill Levi we can add vapourization! By the way I just watched the latest episode “Perfect Game” and next week I’ll have TWO count them TWO science of SnK for you! So let me know if you enjoyed this week’s dive into madness, it really means a lot!   

[thedinkyandstinkyfritzworkshop]

25 Dragon Species!! Eat Your Heart Out D&D!

I wanted to avoid doing the classic Chromatic and Metallic dragons since it seemed too simple considering the wide variety of dragons across the world. So here are the dragons that will be presented in Fritz Workshop!!

Amphithere: Long feathery dragon with no limbs that lives in the clouds and eat leaves and grass. The can produce large burst of wind from roars and create intense wind storms or gentle breezes with their wings.

Bakunawa: A colossal beast that looks like a serpentine salamander with long whiskers and slimy leather wings that lives deep in the seas and is awaiting the day it grow large enough to eat the sky.

Brochoc: A smaller species that is wingless and quadrupedal. They are a predatory species live in packs in desert caves or nearby volcanoes.

Cockatrice: A small species of dragons with their wings as their upper limbs. They have beaks and razor quills along their back. Their eyes can paralyze a creature and they have incredibly toxic venom that drips from their beak. They are solitary creatures that live in swamps and wetlands.

Drachen: Massive quadrupedal winged dragon. They are carnivorous but younger ones having issues hunting have been know to eat grubs and nuts. This species of dragon only produces fire and incredible strength. They are incredibly adaptable and can live in any area of the world. They typically prefer to take over small populations or create clans to conquer a territory.

Dragonborn: Human sized bipedal dragon species that lives in tribes in warm climates. They are made up of hunter gatherer focused communities and unlike most dragon species are omnivores.

Drake: Massive quadrupedal wingless dragons that breathe fire and spurt globs of magma. They live in volcanoes and caverns with magma. They are herbivores but also have been known to consume weak minerals. 

Faerie Dragon: Small and fragile dragons that can be mistaken for dragonflies with incredibly potent magic. They live in burrows or tunnels and purely eat fruits and sweet substances like honey.

Grauchiel: Large bipedal winged dragons that live in tribes on mountain tops. They are carnivorous and typically eat spiced meat. They are a culture focused around the arts and wealth. They spend their time on architecture and crafts as well as raids on nearby civilizations for precious metals, gems, and noteworthy art. 

Hydra: Massive three headed dragons that hide away in swamps. Despite their large size they are known to mostly forage for mushrooms and grubs and only rarely need to fill up by hunting prey. They have the amazing ability to regenerate a head and a spare when decapitated. They also wield incredibly toxic venom that they can spray on a group of foes. Each head will act upon its own accord.

Iensaur: Long and agile wingless dragons the leap from branch to branch to catch small prey. They are light and fast dragons that have paralyzing venom in heir spit that they capture their prey with.

Lindwyrm: Small and thin dragons that only have upper limbs and no wings. They are herbivores and typically eat vegetables, tubers, and grains - their favorite food seems to be nuts but they aren’t that good for them. They are mostly subservient to other species of dragons or generally more powerful beings. They have no special abilities but have incredibly loyal ambitions and are typically witty.

Pseudodragon: Tiny frog sized dragons that resembles the Drachen and has similar fire breathing abilities. Like the Lindwyrm they are typically subservient to stronger beings but most common humanoid species see these creature more like pets. Most people feed them grubs or small bits of nuts.

Quetzalcoatl: A giant serpentine dragon coated in wonderfully colored feathers that has legendary powers over the winds and weather. They hunt birds as they fly through the skies.

Raptor: Bipedal wingless predators that live in packs. They live in tropical climates and hunt large prey in groups.

Sea Serpent: Serpentine aquatic dragons that work in packs. They live in tropical waters and gang up on schools of smaller prey.

Tatzelwurm: A scaly wingless dragon with a top half that resembles any species of big cat and the lower half is a snake tail. They live on mountainsides and stalk prey.

Wyrm: Massive serpentine dragons that dig complex tunnel systems. Within the tunnel systems they make traps for prey integrate water systems and make small underground gardens with mushrooms and tubers. They live anywhere there’s dirt.

Wyvern: Dragons where their upper limbs basically are their wings. They hide away in arctic caves and can produce hail and giant clouds of cold mist that can freeze creatures.

Yinglong: The largest of the dragon species that spend their time in the greatest depths of the seas. The are wingless and can cause incredible aquatic disasters.

Ziocitzel: Bipedal wingless dragons with loose skin between their arms and legs for gliding. They a crown of feathers and feathers across their loose skin to aid with gliding. They live in warm climates and stick in small groups either made of companions, family members, or partners to forage for food and dig tunnel systems.

Stoor Worm: A massive wingless serpentine dragon covered in thorns. The dragon has a breath so putrid it spreads a disease that withers plants and kills all creatures. It lives in the wastelands it creates and it photosynthesizes.

Kur: A skeletal dragon with dark purple flames that emit no light. It devours souls. It lives in Purgatory.

Fafnir: A dragon made of precious metals that look like a set of armor. This spices spends its time guarding the wealth it produces from the shedding of its scales. The upper layer of their scale are made of precious metals and the under layer has gems. Despite the love these dragons have for their treasure they can only consume precious treasures.

Akhekhu: A quadrupedal dragon covered in tan fur and feathered wings that lives in deserts. They can create intense bursts if light or summon small sand storms. They lurk the sands hunting fish and munching of cacti.

[istrys]

Death and Rebirth

Areus gasped out with a wet cough, spilling blood and spit along the uneven stones beneath him. The icy hand of death no longer gripped his body, but merely hovered over him like an indecisive card player; the uncertainty of his surroundings only furthered his desperate need to survive. Areus ran his trembling hand across his chest- soaked and sticky with what had to be his own blood. He’d survived wounds far more grievous before, stabbed deeper and closer to his heart; with a simple binding spell and a lot of liquor he could endure, but this time it was different. The Holy Light intervened for all the wrong reasons. Without the shadows bending to his will, the old wounded soldier was blind and helpless to treat his own injuries, and now time was his greatest enemy.

The crisp breeze indicated early morning, but with most of his senses dulled, he couldn’t be sure. First he tried crawling to something stable enough to force him on his feet, but his legs wouldn’t budge, and the cold weight spreading over his chest and into his limbs made any sort of movement an agonizing uphill battle. His fingertips clawed into stone and dirt and snow with all his might, nails scraping against mortar from a fallen wall, threatening to tear off with every forceful yank. Bit by bit every attempt tore at the flesh of his fingers. He needed to make it out of the Bloodsworn Vanguard ruins and onto a main road but was bleeding out far faster than he had ever imagined. The man managed to patch together what was left of his shredded arm with what little mana he had left yet even with two halfway decent extremities, it wasn’t really working out for him.

Thoughts of the past flooded his mind as he struggled to lift himself up, crawling desperately with what little strength he had left for survival.

“Ash… I’m sorry for doing what I must… I plan on being back…- -Being with you makes me smile and gives me a feeling that I c- -I really enjoyed spending time with you toda- -My heart will always be yours, as long as you want it.”

Areus managed to wrap his fingers around a rock with some weight to it; immediately he struck himself in the forehead one, two, three times, trying to keep himself conscious through the pain. His mind drifted to blissful instances of memories with his loved one. Letters he once sent her. This was a distraction allowing him to succumb to his fate- she was already dead. The thought was ever so enticing, so sweet and sickening. To be allowed to die only to be at her side again yet… he couldn’t stop thinking about those who were still alive. His son, his brother, his niece, his nephew, his sister-in-law… too many people to let down yet no matter how much he grit his teeth he couldn’t fix his predicament. Everything seemed to slow down and his movements felt so sluggish. If only he could have one more sip of his flask. If only he could have one last drag of his pipe.

“Ah… I could… really… go for a… drink…” he rasped in between breaths as the light in his dull glazed eyes dimmed like the sun drifting beneath the horizon. As he slowly closed his eyes, the distant sounds of feet pattering about barely caught his attention. The voice of a child whispered near his ears, likely no older than five or six; if a child that young was out here, their parents wouldn’t be too far behind. A surge of hope coursed through his stiffening body at the prospect of a traveler’s caravan finding him. “Who… ‘s… the-...?” his dry voice cut out. More little voices chirped and whispered amongst themselves, until it felt like he was surrounded by a small crowd. “Ge… he… hel-...” He used the last of his strength to speak, but his jaw was beginning to tighten shut as well. It felt like he was laying there for the children’s spectacle for years. Eventually he gave up trying to speak, and slowly rested his head into the grass to accept his fate. Not until heavier footsteps approached, not until the sensation of innumerable tiny hands grasping at his clothes, and not until the whisper of a foreign incantation did Areus find the resolve to open his dulled eyes again.

“Erana-dora isil,” The voice of a matured woman gently spoke. “You’re in good company.”

He felt the weight of his body wash away like the tide, his spirit rising off the ground to float suspended in the air; the agony of dying was gone, and so too were the voices. Areus felt free, liberated by the shackles of his once many burdens. He saw Azeroth again with his own eyes - a sensation he never knew he missed so badly. The splashing of vibrant colors of the trees caused the elf to choke on his own tears. The higher he rose the more he saw, until he could see the glimmering towers of Silvermoon City to the north, and the deep forests of the Hinterlands to the south. His thoughts then returned to Ashelin, and everything he would tell her when he saw her again in the afterlife; tears of joy rolled down his cheeks as he gazed at the first rays of light from the rising sun to the east.

A flash of light quickly covered the horizon and forced Areus to shield his eyes. When the blinding light dimmed he was able to lower his hand to gaze at a giant blue mushroom cloud a mile off the coast; it was the single largest mana bomb explosion he had ever seen, perhaps the largest anyone had ever seen. The sonic boom that reverberated away from ground zero ripped toward the continent and heaved blazing trees out of the ground. Within moments Quel’Thalas was engulfed in blue flames, and Areus was helpless to stop it. He screamed out in horror at the searing winds rushing over Silvermoon City, toppling its towers and searing the streets and walls black. Thoughts of his family crying out seconds before turning to nothing more than ash silhouettes against the explosion filled him with raw and absolute dread. He couldn’t hear their screams this far over the carnage, but he knew what it would sound like; a thousand voices screeching at the top of their lungs from the searing heat, then silence. He looked down to see the land reduced to ash and dirt, with the flames devouring the once beautiful Eversong Woods. Silvermoon City, the Amber Glade, the Ghostlands, all of it - gone in an instant.

A deep guttural roar caused his heart to run cold. Out from the boiling oceans a gigantic mountain of flesh, tendrils and teeth arose, seemingly uninjured yet enraged. The nameless Old God let loose its maddening wrath, coughing forth an army of faceless aberrations that clamored over the glassed shores to feast on anything or anyone that managed to survive. Even worse, it writhed and twisted its massive body, turning the very air around its mass a putrid black with noxious fumes and accursed magic. Within moments Areus watched a once beautiful land he called home for centuries completely obliterated by his own people, and further desecrated by the sleeping nightmares rising from the depths of the sea. On the other side of the scorched continent another Old God popped out of the churning waves, then another, and then another. Without a doubt, it was the end of the Sun’raels, the end of the Sin’dorei, the end of Azeroth.

Then he fell. Like a meteor reentering the atmosphere, Areus fell spiraling and twisting against the heat that seared his bones. He screamed out in agony while the blackened earth rose up to catch him, fearing what the warring Old Gods would do with his soul, and the souls of his kin, once they captured him. He wanted to rise up into paradise and walk with Ashelin for all time, but this madness would only be the start of his eternal torment. He fell into the cloud of fumes and choked on blinding spores, which filled his lungs with poison and his heart with maddening hatred; he grew swollen with malice and was bursting at the seams with a bloodlust so ripe and pure he forgot what happiness, compassion, and love felt like. Areus was ripped into a million pieces the instant he splattered against the ground, but his last thoughts were of dying over and over again, until either the Old Gods died of old age, or until the end of time.

When he opened his eyes again, a familiar darkness clouded his vision. His entire body ached like every inch of his body was impaled by needles, and when he tried to move, agony cut deep into his very bones. “Be still.” The voice from earlier spoke, causing his ears to twitch. “Recovering from the brink of death takes a toll on one’s body.” Areus opened his glazed eyes to see the face of the woman speaking, but his beloved sight was gone again; the Holy Light still lingered in his body as well, making her shadowy silhouette flicker erratically. “Let me know if you can feel this.” A sharp ache suddenly began throbbing in his wrist, flooding his head with the bitter memories of his brother.

Alucieus stabbed him. His own kin. His own brother. For the longest time they were rivals, polar opposites where one basked in the power of the Holy Light, while the other delved into the forbidden secrets of the Void; yet they were always there when they needed each other, always ready to save the other’s life, because family was more important to them than anything. Everything changed when Alucieus chopped off Areus’ hand, lifted him up by the throat, and ran his gladius into his chest. The last thing he remembered before blacking out the first time, was the hard thud from dropping onto the ground, and the heavy footsteps of his brother leaving him to bleed out and die. “Augh...nn-!” His throat was as dry as it could be.

“Here…” The frantic silhouette of her form drew closer with a pungent stench now biting at the tip of his nose. “Drink.” Areus barely had a choice in the matter, feeling a hand clasp at his jaw while she forcefully poured the foul contents into his mouth. For a while he coughed and sputtered, but eventually he was able to get at least some of it down his throat while the rest either sat in his mouth or slipped out from the corners of his lips. It was the most wretched slime he had ever tasted.

Yet despite the sudden urge to vomit, the room around him finally began to settle down. He was able to get a clearer image of his surroundings even with the Holy Light still stinging in his chest; something about that sludge she forced down his throat also helped calm the sporadic silhouettes that surrounded him. The woman in question was clearly a Nightborne, which only brought more questions than answers. She was stitching his swollen hand back onto his wrist while humming a hauntingly melancholy tune, as foreign magic enveloped her fingers. At least twenty children watched them with varying interest, but he couldn’t tell what race they were with their handmade masks covering their faces, each depicting some sort of animal or monster likely straight out of their wild imaginations; they often whispered amongst themselves, occasionally pointing at him before their giggling picked back up again. One child stood out among the rest, however. He sat away from the other children, and closest to the older woman; he wore no mask, revealing a leathery and decrepit face that seemed half-rotten- an undead child. “Where… am I…?”

“Your new home.” The woman quickly answered, gently tugging at the thin string to tighten another stitch. Areus didn’t like the ominous sound of that; he had no intention of being this woman’s prisoner.

“I should…” Areus started, gulping dryly as images of Ashelin cuddled up against his chest interrupted his thoughts. “... I should be dead.”

“You were.” The woman turned to look at him for a moment before continuing her stitchwork. “I brought you back.”

Areus stiffened as the ache shot up his arm again. He didn’t want to show weakness in front of this stranger if possible. “Why…?” the man asked dryly.

“Why?” She indignantly repeated. “Did Lord Augustus Sun’rael teach you to give up that easily? I brought you back because your story doesn't end with such a meaningless death at the hands of your corrupted brother. To let your talents go to waste would be an affront to your family. A crime to Azeroth.”

He reluctantly laid still. Whether or not he had a choice didn’t matter- the fact that this voice invoked the name of his father meant that they knew much more about the lineage of his family than anyone else. Neither he nor his brother spoke of the patriarch of their clan, they both strived to further the Sun’rael name in their own methods yet somehow this stranger was acquainted with their father, a figure both the brothers detested.

“Your family still needs you.” The woman continued, catching his attention again. “Your sister-in-law especially. She is in a dark place right now… almost as dark as yours.”

“My brother, is he-?”

“Dead?” She pulled one last string and his hand was finally connected with his wrist. “All done. Try to move your hand for me.” Areus was at a loss of words, but he obeyed all the same; agony rocked through his arm, and he was barely able to move a single finger. “That’s what I was afraid of. It looks like it will take a long time before you can control your hand again… but it will never be as it once was.” She watched his face closely while she gently put his hand down. The children continued their private conversations, all except the undead child, who continued to stare at him in morbid silence. “I never gave you my name… I am Aodin. Aodin Umbrose.”

“Well, Aodin,” Areus spoke with labored breaths. “If you're not willing to let me die, then I must be with the rest of my family.”

“Of course.” She seemed unusually complacent. “You are free to leave once your debt to me is paid.”

Areus narrowed his blackened eyes. “I hoped my sincere gratitude was enough, heh… so how much are you blackmailing me for?”

Aodin didn't seem amused. “I don't want your coin.”

“Well you're a lovely looking woman, but I can't provide that eith-"

“I want a treasure from your special vault.” The Witch didn't let him finish that thought. “A grimoire that predates the Black Empire… the Myurkodn.”

Areus blinked at the Shal’dorei for a few moments before chuckling lightly. “I don't know what you're talking about. Anything I can't sell on the market, I toss out with my trash. Ancient books aren't exactly high on demand.”

“You're an adequate swordsman, but a terrible liar.” Aodin leaned back in her chair to judge him with glimmering silver eyes. “I know the Aqir took it with them when they fled north to create Azjol-Nerub. I know you and your brother found it buried under a mountain of insect corpses when you plundered their desecrated kingdom. And I know the Keepers of Shadow tossed it into the very back of their vault, fearing its power.” She paused to let Areus silently question just how much she really knew about his past. “You and Syrahn Bloodfeather are the only two Keepers of Shadow left. I can’t get anywhere near the Glade Queen, and even if I could, she wouldn’t help me. The power stored in that book should not be abandoned. It should not be forgotten.”

His newly reattached hand twitched slightly and quivered, blood slowly working its way through the veins that had been stagnated. Holy light bled into the arteries as they began the long and arduous process to mend. The man’s murky eyes settled on her, “What do you aim to do with it then?”

“Use the knowledge against the true enemies of Azeroth.” She sighed, tapping her elongated fingernails against the arms of her chair. “Surely you’ve foreseen it; the Old Gods rising from the depths to conquer the world once again.”

The small scars etched into the blind man’s eyelids lit up with a soft golden hue before turning to a deep purple tone. The were the shapes of various runes on a much smaller scale had been inscribed into his flesh. The shades of gray and charcoal became a bit more clear and he was able to distinguish forms in tones of black. “Fine. If I get you the Miur Codex, my debt is paid in full?”

“Myurkodn.” Aodin corrected, as the friendly demeanor returned to her voice. “Get me that grimoire and you’ll never owe me another favor again.”

“It sounds like you make out much better than I do in this deal. A weapon to change the fate of Azeroth? No thanks. Like you said, only I and Syrahn know where the vault left by the Keepers of Shadows lies. There’s one way for you to get what you want and I am it. I want three more conditions.”

The Witch shifted in her chair, but kept her composure. “Speak them.”

“One. I want my pipe back filled with tobacco, and the matches with them. Two. A bottle of whiskey. And three. Undo these gods-damned straps.” he gruffly responded. A cruel grin spread wide across her face while she stared through him, clearly unsure if this was some sort of strange jest or not. With a snap of her fingers the undead child hopped off the nearby chair and waddled over to his side; another snap of her fingers and the shackles vanished into smoke. The boy held his mottled grey hands aloft to reveal his pipe.

“You are a strange one,” Aodin sighed, rising from her seat. “But I am glad we could reach an agreement.” A tiny spark of shadowflame flickered off her pointed index finger, offering him a light.

Areus shifted to a seated position on the table, his legs dangling off as he leaned onto his right hand, his left cradled delicately in front of his chest. “I didn’t know you would be this agreeable.” he puffed at his pipe a couple times, “I’m going to have to change the deal to two bottles of whiskey. Or bourbon. Doesn’t matter to me.” he responded casually between puffs. Of course, the alcohol, the smokes and the shackles were inconsequential. All would have been met to his fill in time, yet he was one for immediate gratification. “I’m happy enough with this deal. I’m alive. You’ve served your purpose to the Void and I get to continue mine. And maybe even help my family a bit longer. If it’s darkness you seek, then I’m more than happy to facilitate your request. Just don’t regret it when it’s more than you bargained for.” he offered her a smirk after exhaling a large plume of smoke, “I didn’t.”

The children surrounding Areus scampered off in random directions within the strange house as Aodin continued to watch him take long steady drags of his pipe. “I know the risks and I have safeguards in place to prevent… another disaster. But, I’m afraid this won’t be so easy…” She turned to open a chest he didn’t notice before along the ground. Slowly she raised another flask - this one holding the heart so inky black it hardly looked real; it was still beating. “This belongs to you, Areus Sun’rael. When your brother stabbed you in the chest, he filled your heart with the Holy Light. If I placed it back into you as it is now, the Light would kill you from the inside out. I’ll need time to purge it before I can operate on you again… and it serves as a valuable bargaining chip to ensure you keep your word.”

“You don’t need a bargaining chip. We’ve already made the deal, have we not? I’d like to think we’re both bound to our word as we are bound to the Void. Not like those little void-kiddies running around in the Alliance playing with things they don’t understand.” He took another puff from the pipe before clearing his throat as a wince overcame his face, clearly still in pain.

A shake of Areus’ head came before a response, “Rather than a bargaining chip or a tool for your blackmail, make sure you’ve got that ready for when I come back. I won’t be long.” Areus pointed with the pipe. “You can be sure that when I do come back, and you don’t hold up your half of the deal, you’ll die along with me and that grimoire will be in ashes the same as you as well as anyone within a mile radius.” a sigh came before he took another long drag from his pipe, letting the smoke escape with an exaggerated breath. “In the meantime, what do you have pumping my blood, anyway?” he asked, perking a brow while his right hand reached to adjust the pipe.

“Nothing. This is a forbidden incantation the Gurubashi Empire used for their most zealous warriors in wars long forgotten.” The Witch calmly started before she began to casually walk toward an empty wall of the room. “I won’t bore you with the details, but you’re essentially undead until I put your heart back into your body. The time one has before the heart dies by itself varies from days to weeks… so I wouldn’t get sidetracked if I were you.”

When she reached toward the wall with her left hand, the painted nails on each of her fingers stretched out for several inches. The wood quivered and melted by her touch like it was made of wax, until a gaping hole large enough to walk in appeared. “Once you’ve claimed my prize, go to the Scarlet Monastery. I’ll be waiting there for you.”

An angered smirk came to his visage before he raised the mask resting along his neck to cover his expression. “Fine.” he surged holy magic through his left hand abruptly. He took note of the fact that he did not feel pain from the Light, meaning that he hadn’t quite fullycrossed the bounds into undeath just yet, “You’re going to have to help me with this hand if you want me to brave the traps you won’t dare.”

Aodin perked a brow but stared at his hand for a few moments in silence. “And what exactly are you asking of me?”

“You expect me to believe you can tear someone’s heart out, keep them ‘alive’- I use the term loosely-, stitch them back together, have a gaggle of undead children about, know about hidden ancient grimoires from a long lost kingdom, know forgotten incantations from foreign empires and you can’t help me get my hand working better? If nothing else, it’s pretty fuckin’ painful. And you’re partly at fault for my prolonged misery.” He state matter-of-factly, “You threaten me with my life but who’s to say I wouldn’t have rather joined my beloved and, maybe my brother, in the afterlife? Probably not that asshole for a little while, he did cut my hand off and stab me in the chest. Give me something to work off of here, woman. And where’s that bottle of booze? Fuck, I’ll take rubbing alcohol at this point.” Areus spoke plainly, taking another drag from his pipe as he gave her a deadpanned gaze.

“My you’re a chatty one when you’re excited.” The Witch snapped her fingers, compelling the undead child to step forward with that slender vial filled with a midnight blue liquid. “But you have the details wrong. Only one child - this child - is undead. I hope arcwine will slate your thirst for the time being.”

A shrug was given in response as he winced for a moment. His condition seemed unstable and wore on him before he nodded slowly, “Whatever works. Something. Anything. The voices are coming back and my wrist is killing me.” He haphazardly reached for the bottle, sloshing the contents as he pulled it toward him, keeping his mask lowered just enough to keep the pipe in his mouth and drink straight from the bottle. After a few long gulps he took an exaggerated breath. Areus looked to the Witch before opening his mouth to speak again, paused, and then brought the bottle up to his lips again before devouring the rest of the wine.

He cleared his throat as he tossed the bottle over his shoulder for them to hear it shatter on the ground behind him. “Okay. I guess that’s as good as it’s going to get. See you at the monastery, girly.” The Shadow Priest gave her a wink, “Won’t be long. Make sure you’re there. The vault isn’t far off from it.” A few steps toward the exit and tendrils of shadow reached out to consume him into nothingness while he disappeared from sight.

Aodin stood in her home in silence for a few moments before turning to look down at the forsaken child. “What do you think? Shall we kill him once he returns with my prize?” The child glanced up at the Witch with cold yellow eyes, but said nothing.

“Fair enough.”

Collaborated with @areussunrael

Mentions: @k-sunrael

[aticklishtem]

The Bud of the Joke

((Request for @uniquemagicman ! Hope you like!! ^w^))

“Cagney, c’mon, open up.”

“No,” he answered, voice muffled by the petals stubbornly closed around his face. “I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”

He heard Hilda sigh, and he could just picture her rolling her eyes. “I’ve seen you. I saw you just this morning, and you look fine.”

“And I already told ya, I ain’t dragging my roots all the way over to the next isle just so folks can gawp like I’m the latest attraction in the freak show.” Hilda had been convinced that a trip to the carnival would lift Cagney’s spirits, but how could he face the prying eyes of the funfair crowds in the sorry state he was in? His usually magnificent crowning glory of petals was a ragged mess, his leaves were limp and lifeless, and the cold gave him the sniffles something awful. He hated winter.

“Stars above, you’re such a drama queen.” Cagney scoffed, because that was rich coming from someone who literally transformed into a raging bull when she got a bee in her bonnet, but Hilda continued: “But that’s not it. I got something here that just might buck you up.”

“Really?” Cagney somehow doubted that, but it piqued his interest, so he peeled back a single petal to squint suspiciously at her, perched on her cloud looking back at him all sincere with her big moon eyes. “What is it?”

“Come outta there and see for yourself.”

Cagney grumbled quietly to himself, but he unfurled his petals to bare his his face once again, shivering against the bitter chill in the air. Hilda smiled and nodded encouragingly, gesturing to the grass below her, and Cagney glanced down to be met with what had to be the tiniest top hat he’d ever seen.

“...That’s it? You got me a hat?” Cagney stared down at the offending item in equal parts dismay and disbelief – he knew that dame had her head in the clouds, but this was something else. “Hilda, I’m a flower, and that thing’s never gonna –“

“Surprise!” 

He almost jumped right out of the ground as the hat exploded in a shower of confetti, a blare of seemingly invisible noisemakers and a flash of red, white and blue that somersaulted into the air before landing in front of him, catching the hat and placing it back on a now very familiar, shiny, grinning head with a flourish.

“Cagney, my good bud – it’s been too long! How’s it growing? Did you miss me? Were ya surprised?!”

“Oh, hey, it’s Beppi! You sure...surprised me, alright.” Cagney managed a slightly dazed smile, the eternal questions of what, how, and why still spinning through his mind as Beppi clasped one of his leafy hands with both of his smaller ones and shook effusively. “To what do we owe this, uh, pleasure?”

“Well, y’see, a little Bergie might’ve told me…” Beppi winked unsubtly at Hilda, “that you’ve been a teensy bit under the weather lately.”

“Did they now?” Really, Cagney should’ve known. “Can’t imagine who’s been telling you that, but I’m fi–“

“He’s done nothing but mope around the forest being all cranky for weeks now ‘cause he thinks the cold makes him ugly,” Hilda cut in, oh so helpfully; Cagney shot her his most withering look, but she simply stuck her nose in the air. “Well, ya have!”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh – winter blues, classic.” Beppi nodded, humming thoughtfully to himself before clapping his hands together, dialling his smile back up to its usual megawatts. “Time to perk up those petals, my flowery friend, ‘cause laughter is the best medicine - and Doctor Beppi’s in the house to cure what ails ya! Or in the field, in this case.” He glanced around, taking a moment to admire the scenery. “So, this place is looking swell! Just look at all these lovely blooms. What’s your secret?”

Cagney shrugged. “I take care of ‘em. But it’s seen better days.” He always did pride himself on keeping his patch the neatest, brightest, most fragrant in the isle, but he hadn’t been able to protect his non-sentient flowers from yesterday’s snowfall, under which most of them were currently buried.

“Modesty? Who are you, and what have you done with Cagney Carnation?!” Beppi mock-gasped, pointing an accusing finger at him before continuing: “Seriously, though. The other day, I was actually thinking of planting a few flowers myself.”

“You don’t say?” Cagney cocked an eyebrow; somehow, he didn’t strike him as the green-fingered type. Red or blue-fingered, maybe.

“Sure! But then I got home, and I realised…” Beppi paused for effect, holding up his hands in a shrug as he delivered the punchline: “I hadn’t botany.”

Hilda collapsed dramatically on her cloud in a fit of loud, exaggerated cackles. Cagney considered telling her not to give up the day job, but unfortunately for him it was all the encouragement Beppi needed.

“You like that one? Maybe next time I’ll bring along my pal – he’s a mushroom. A real fungi.”

Cagney stifled a sigh, and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Beppi…”

“Vegetable jokes too corny? Don’t worry, I’m just pollen your stem.”

“Beppi.” It came out sharper than Cagney intended, and he felt a prickle of guilt when Beppi visibly deflated – it wasn’t that he didn’t like the fella, but it was all fine and dandy for him. He didn’t have petals to preen, or even a hair on his air-filled head. “Look, I appreciate...whatever it is you’re doing here, but save it for the kiddies, okay? You don’t gotta worry about me – either of you. It’s just biology. Winter don’t agree with me, but there’s no sense in lettin’ me ruin your fun. Might as well run along and I’ll see ya in the spring.”

Beppi fell uncharacteristically – almost suspiciously – silent, his bicolour brows knitting together as he exchanged a look with Hilda Cagney couldn’t quite read.

“Okay, pal, I get it,” he said, still smiling but a little more subdued as he sidled closer and tentatively placed a hand on Cagney’s stem. “It’s a thorny issue, huh? But we can’t just leaf you here alone to wither away all winter. We’re your friends, and by golly, we’re gonna try our darnedest to pick you up, whatever it takes!”

He punctuated the pick with a light squeeze to Cagney’s stem, sending an unexpected tingly jolt through him that made him jump before he could help it. Cagney would’ve passed it off as the cold, but of course Beppi was onto him immediately, intrigue and delight flickering to life in his piercing gaze.

“Oh? Do I spy the seedling of a smile already?”

“No! I mean...yes?” Cagney hesitated, cursing himself internally for the brief display of weakness – even if he held back from reacting, he’d probably only be subjected to more terrible jokes. But that was proving more difficult with Beppi’s fingers still curled precariously around his stem, beginning to drum a gentle, teasing rhythm that was absolutely not helping the stupid grin twitching at the corners of his mouth. And judging from the way Beppi’s smile shifted from caring concern into something altogether more sinister, his situation was about to get a whole lot worse.

“Well, in that case, plenty more where that came from!” he declared cheerfully, and Cagney abruptly burst into scratchy guffaws as Beppi increased the tempo, fingers digging in and dancing up and down his stem - his thorns were usually enough to deter anyone foolish enough to think about tickling him, but they were utterly failing to protect him now. “Oooh, I got one! What did the bee say to the flower?”

“I don’t cahahahare!” Cagney squirmed and pushed at his arms in an attempt to shake him off, but Beppi clung onto him like a particularly persistent, tickly little bug. “Knock it ohohohoff!”

“‘Hey there, honey!’” Cagney tried to groan at the punchline, but it wasn’t nearly as effective melting into giggles when Beppi switched to tracing feathery circles around his thorns. “Boy, that one really hit the spot, huh? I know I got some real rib-ticklers, but this is ridiculous! Hmm – does a flower have ribs, I wonder?”

“That’s the wohohohorst…!” Being forced to laugh at that ‘joke’ only added insult to injury, as well as the embarrassing shriek Cagney let out when Beppi pinched at the sensitive spot under his leaves.

“Hihihihildahahaha!” he pleaded, twisting around to look desperately to his so-called friend as she reclined on her cloud, watching and smirking like Cagney’s suffering was just one big joke. “Li-ihihihittle help here?!”

“Oh, you need some help there, Cags?” Hilda batted her eyelashes innocently, flashing him a smile Cagney would’ve recognised as dangerous if he hadn’t been a little preoccupied trying to fend off the tickle-hungry harlequin still going to town on his stem. “Sure thing, I’d love to!” She drifted over and started scratching her nails lightly over the delicate undersides of his petals.

“Trahahahahaitor!” Cagney screeched, leafy limbs flailing wildly as he batted at her, but the sly little minx was too quick for him and this – this was just pure garden cruelty, feeling his face burning an unflattering shade of scarlet that he attempted to disguise by burying it in his petals.

“No way, mister – you’re not hiding away from me this time!” For such a petite little thing, Hilda was surprisingly strong, pushing Cagney’s petals back to leave him exposed while her other hand scribbled at the top of his stem. “Let the world admire these pretty, ticklish lil’ petals!”

“Couldn’t agree more, Bergie,” Beppi chirped, prodding along the leaves at the base of Cagney’s stem; he would’ve uprooted himself by now to get away, but he was too darn weak from laughter, helpless under the combined efforts of sixteen wicked fingers teasing and tormenting all his most vulnerable spots. “And would ya look at this big, strong stem – we got the cream of the crop right here, for sure! Hey, that reminds me: what kind of flower grows on your face?”

“Gee, I don’t know, Beppi!” Hilda trilled, like half of Inkwell’s most diabolical double act. “What kind of flower does grow on your face?”

“Tu-lips!”

“I swehehehehear I’m gonna –“ Cagney couldn’t even finish the threat as they pounced to blow simultaneous, deadly raspberries; Beppi’s loud and sloppy against his stem and Hilda’s light and fast and fluttery all over his petals, vibrating relentlessly from his crown all the way down to his roots. Cagney finally lost it, uncontrollable, incoherent cackles and snorts and pleas for mercy pouring out until his stem gave out just as Hilda planted her last loving raspberry to his top petal. Beppi only just managed to jump out of the way fast enough to avoid getting popped on Cagney’s thorns as he collapsed to the floor in a gangly, giggly heap.

“D-dihirty cheaters, the both of ya,” he grumbled, after recovering enough strength to stand again, but not quite enough to shake the wobbly grin that lingered along with a few remaining tingles as he folded his arms with a huff.

Hilda giggled and pinched his still-flushed cheek playfully. “Aww, Cags, you’re just as cute as a bug’s ear. Told ya I knew how to cheer him up.” She winked at Beppi, and the pair exchanged an irritatingly smug high-five.

“Always happy to lend a helping hand or two, Bergie.” Beppi tipped his hat and shot Cagney an equally cheeky smile. “And, I gotta say, I think tickled pink’s a good look on you, bud.”

This time, Cagney grinned back, baring his sharp teeth and fluttering his long, leafy fingers challengingly at him. “Go ahead, funny guy – make one more pun. I dare ya.”

Beppi opened his mouth, but then seemed to think better of it – probably the most sensible decision he’d ever made – and raised his hands in surrender, shuffling backwards with a nervous titter.

“Tempting, tempting – but actually, I’d better skedaddle. Might’ve left some balloon gators floating around and lemme tell ya, those guys get snappy. But you two’ll still come stop by my show later tonight, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Hilda said brightly. “Would we, Cags?”

Cagney made a noncommittal hmmm noise, thinking of all those people, but it was harder to hold out with two pairs of wide, hopeful puppy-dog eyes gazing at him. “Yeah, alright...maybe. If I’m not pruning my leaves tonight.”

He had to admit, when Hilda looped her arm in his with an affectionate squeeze and Beppi’s smile lit up his face with genuine gratitude, brighter than all the lights in his carnival, the idea of getting out of the forest didn’t seem quite as unappealing as it had done.

More importantly, though – Cagney still owed them both a heaping helping of revenge.

[thenehemiahproject]

"The Clematis Clitoris!" it is as unique as you rare like the letter “Q” almost deja vu... cause I been thinking about it all day. bursting through deep scarlet patches and bush. a mulberry mushroom cloud, that makes me high and lays muted my will, as it rains down intoxicating fallout... it is definitely the bomb. it is both as red as love itself and pure as the sky blue... it is a deep well, amethyst hue. it is the entrance to a velvet room. a boudoir royale... not a red carpet, but a clear secreted pathway to heaven's gate... your moan is my absolution. although protected on both sides by towering earth-colored mountains the sweet glistening valley is the purple majesty I’m inspired to paint it cunningly. in this valley lies a gulch with deep and eternal springs the g-spot stands for geyser... and faithful it is! (with proper tectonics) a mauve maidenhead broken open by my eternal insistence made to erupt with the sweetest amrita. spewing blue agave and strawberry sweat purple parve over a rose gold set rare violet diamond pussy... that snappin nappy I bet! #7god #AlchemyKing #thelosopher(TM) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGLl9-qDCEV/?igshid=gdttfocpb5s9

[forkanna]

[AO3 LINK] [EF LINK]

NOTE: This is where things are gonna start to shift a bit.

Another week or so passed. To be honest, you really missed nothing, other than Stephen giving me a plastic baggie with some of my stone-flakes in it because he wasn't sure what else to do with them. He also gave me one of the bottles of Soft to keep in my place, just in case it happened again. That did seem like a precaution I should have already thought of myself.

And a lot of Knives. A loooot of her hanging around, and finally weaseling my number out of me so she could text and ask if she could come over. I ignored a lot of her texts, but she still always managed to get me to agree to a time she could come bouncing through my door with one of her attack-hugs at the ready. We mostly just watched movies or played video games. Met up with Stephen and Joseph some other night at a sushi place. And the whole time, I didn't know what to do with myself.

Before you ask, there were a couple of close calls. Because we can all tell where this is going already, so I'm just putting it out there.

Three nights after we were watching the samurai movie, she came in for a hug. Slower than usual, and I mean like, at a snail's pace. Turned out, she just thought it would be funny if we bumped noses, but I was just slightly-drunk enough to think she was going in for something else. I blame the tequila shots, and therefore, on Steph who had ordered them. Dumb lush. But I managed to play it off that she was just too close to my face, and that was why I flinched.

Then there was the next day, when we split a Canadian from Pizza Pizza for dinner. We both went in for a slice at the same time and our hands touched; that old thing. I accused her of being a greedy bitch, but she was just biting her bottom lip and giggling before she flicked a mushroom at me. It made me either want to slap her, or… I don't know. For the life of me, I don't know what the fuck was going on in my head, but she let me brush it off and grab a different slice.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end. Which isn't exactly what happens here, but like, go with it, okay?

                                                            ~ o ~

"I don't understand," she was sighing as she swung upside-down from the monkey bars in Hillcrest Park, jeans-clad knees taking the brunt of her slight weight effortlessly. "My mom acts like she's so worldly, but then she doesn't want me to have a totally normal barista job because it'll distract me from meeting 'a nice man' or becoming a doctor, or whatever."

I sighed as I picked at some peeling paint on one of the bars. I was sitting on a 'step' for the kids to climb up to the slide, though my omnipresent black cloud of misanthropy had kept any actual children far away from us. "She's being a mom. That's what they do: pass judgment on their children's decisions. Mine are in the professional league."

"That sucks." Her eyes went up — and in this case that means they were pointed at the sky, not above her head, which would have been sand. "Don't my tits look great like this?"

"Sure," I snorted. "I m-mean, what makes you think I noticed?"

"Nothing, Kim," she giggled. "Just a thought I had. Oh, did you know TCAD is getting back together?"

I pursed my lips for a moment before answering, "Are they really?"

"Kind of. I mean, it's not the original lineup, though. That'd be huge news, since that jerk Todd was turned into coins!" She flipped up through the bars and began walking on top of them, arms out to the sides to help maintain her balance. "Think the new bassist is that girl from Smashing Turnips. They broke up, remember? Plus they're holding auditions for new drummers but I heard she doesn't want guys applying. Sounded like she was pretty sure of that."

"So now they're an all-girl band? Quaint."

"Envy said in a press release that she was thinking about staying solo, but I guess she had a change of heart. But she did start going by 'Natalie' again, 'cause the solo career didn't work out for her. She said 'I'm just not cut out to be a pop star, it's too high-maintenance'." Then she gasped and turned to look at me. "DUDE! You should so totally try out!"

My eyes widened. "What?! Knives, you-"

"Think about it! You're a drummer, and a girl, and they're super-"

"KNIVES!"

But I wasn't upset about her needling me into life decisions. She wasn't paying attention to what she was doing anymore, and had started to slowly fall off the monkey bars. A little yelp of surprise sounded as her running shoes slipped down and back off the metal, arms windmilling. The world slowed to a crawl. Heart in my throat, I dove, and just barely managed to catch her before falling into the sand around the playscape.

"Shit… are you okay?!" I demanded, my voice an octave too high.

But she wasn't listening. Her eyes were round, and she had her hands locked around the back of my neck. She looked stunned speechless, which was a new look for her. My hands flexed awkwardly in her armpit and under her knee as I held her slight weight, which was still a little heavy but I'm a drummer, so I have a decent amount of upper body strength. I could handle it.

"You saved me," she breathed.

"What? Well… y-yeah, I couldn't let you… fall."

"Um… I probably would have been fine. It's only like five feet, and there's sand everywhere." Her face was closer again. Probably going in for another hug, like last time. "But you caught me, Kim."

For some reason, I couldn't put her down yet. Swallowing down my panic, I whispered, "What if you broke your neck? I'd… I could never live with letting that happen to you."

"Why not?"

She was prying into my feelings and motivations too much. Gruffly, I snapped, "Who else would annoy the hell out of me every day? What a stupid ass question."

Even though that was intended to get her to laugh and call me a dork, or say I was funny, or just to tell me I could put her down, it didn't seem to work the way I hoped.

Because Knives kissed me. And I mean kissed me… and I kissed back. Really, we might have done it at the same time, like when you and a friend automatically go in for the fist bump when something really awesome happens because you're both on the same page. Something about the moment just needed it, even if I didn't fully understand why. Her lips were soft and sweet, and familiar; I knew we'd kissed when drunk, even though I couldn't remember most of it. And the gentle weight in my arms made it perfect.

Of course, once we broke apart a few seconds — minutes, hours, centuries — later, I went into pure panic mode. Or tried to. But the lip-on-lip contact had robbed me of actual power and ability to move. Not like the time I turned to stone, though; this wasn't that serious.

"O-oh," was all she said at first. Though the look in her eyes and the way her breathing was so rapid and shallow told me that the "oh" meant a lot more than that, so just this once, I didn't snap at her to explain.

"Holy balls," I managed to breathe.

"Where did that come from? I mean… it was…"

When her face started glowing, a small, private, sacred smile of pure joy blossoming, I had to drop her to the sand and stand back up, turning around to grip the monkey bars overhead to keep myself from falling over. Why was I so dizzy? Why was I overreacting? I mean, a little part of me had been able to tell that we were trending in this direction. Like magnets, or gentrification of old neighbourhoods; sometimes you just can't stop it. Yet I had kind of thought it might never happen. Or at the very least, it would take longer than a few weeks.

"Kim?" One of her hands came to rest in the small of my back.

"Whoa, whoa," I squeaked, spinning around so fast I almost fell myself. "J-just because we- I mean, you shouldn't- don't do that!"

"Sorry," she breathed as she lowered the hand, rubbing her fingers together as if trying to rid them of the memory. I know I could definitely still feel them on my back.

"No, don't…" Sighing, I pressed both my hands into my face. "AGH!" There was a high-pitched whistling sound. "What the hell is even happening anymore?!"

After a few seconds of silence, Knives cleared her throat. "You, um… does steam come out of your ears normally?"

"No! And it didn't just now, either!"

"But I saw-"

"Nevermind that! Just…" Running hands through my hair, and feeling that it did feel a little warmer and more moist than it should have been, I looked over at her. "Can we just rewind about five minutes and forget that ever happened? I… whatever that was, I'm not ready. I'm not ready for it, Knives."

A little shrug of her shoulders as she stared down at her running shoes. "I haven't unlocked that power-up yet, Kim. Sorry."

"Stop apologising, too! Like… we didn't do anything wrong, it's just way past what I can handle right now. Okay? Please, just… I can't even believe we're having this conversation. And on a playground!"

Ugh. Do you have any idea how terrible I felt? Panicking and making her feel like it was all her fault. It was so hard for me to explain my own feelings that I wound up trampling all over hers. But I didn't know how else to react.

"Kim… it's okay," she said finally, cautiously putting her hands on my shoulders. I twitched, took a step backward, but she followed and kept them there. "It's okay. I don't really understand this, either; I mean, I didn't think I was a lesbian. But then again, I didn't at Julie's aunt's, either, and that still-"

"Let's not talk about that, either," I grunted, ashamed of myself. "Especially since you were still in high school."

"Barely," she made sure to remind me. "But… seriously, you made me feel loved that night, and you made me feel loved just now." My eyes must have bulged in panic, because she reassured me, "Like a friend! A good friend who, uh, doesn't mind… that sometimes? If that's cool…"

"Just how far did we go?" I had to ask.

"Made out for a little while. Some… other stuff, but nobody took off their swimsuit," she assured me nervously, and I sighed in some slight relief. "And it was great! But if you want to not do that again, I'm fine with that. Seriously!"

Temptation reared its ugly head. "Well…" Then I shook myself, gripping at my hair around her hands still on my shoulders. "GAH! Like, I'm kinda curious, but also have never… I mean, I've dated guys all my life, this is a pretty big curveball of a life choice, if it is one. And I didn't think you were anything more than just a friend before today, so isn't it crazy to change statuses all of a sudden like this?"

"Why does it have to be some big 'choice'?" she chuckled softly. It made me mad that she wasn't being serious. No… that isn't true. It made me jealous that she wasn't having as much trouble with it as I was. Yeah, that's way more accurate. "I mean, either you want to kiss me or you don't. Whatever, right?"

"Right. Just so easy. Is that why you've been hanging around me so much? Hoping to wear me down?"

"What? No, I wouldn't- that's not it at all!"

"Are you sure?" She squirmed, but didn't back down. "All that time hanging around, you just were hoping that it would happen again. Great. I thought I really had a friend, and you're just another Scott waiting to happen."

But that was a low blow and we both flinched, her hands falling away from me. Before I could apologise, Knives got to it first. "Kim, I'd never do that. It's hard to blame Scott for what he did, because I hearted him so much, but that's just… not the kind of thing I could ever do to a friend! S-so please, don't say that I would…"

"Knives… shit." Pinching the bridge of my nose, I said, "Okay. You're right, I'm… not being fair."

"You're freaking out is what you are."

"Definitely. Can we… I don't know. I want to run away and hide, but I also don't want you to leave."

"Wanna go to Delicious Cup?" she suggested, again touching my arm. This time, I didn't react, either positively or negatively. "We, um, can just talk there. PDA in the café would be a little gross so it'll make kissing less of a… does 'issue' make sense? Is that the best word?"

Nodding, I swallowed hard. "Yeah. It's a great word. Maybe even word of the day, because I clearly have issues."

"Kim, nooo," she half-whined, grasping my wrist and pulling me along. We only made the briefest of stops to snag our bags from the deserted swingset before heading off past the wading pool. "I mean… I kinda freaked out the next morning after the first time, too, so I totally get it! I just… already worked through all that, maybe? Not with a legit therapist, just did a lot of thinking, and talking to Tamara."

"You talked to Tamara about this?!"

"Not a lot! Just, like, sorting through my feelings! And she wouldn't tell anybody, she's my BFF!"

My body felt like it wanted to turn into stone again, but I forced myself to breathe, to stop acting like every weird moment of my life was the end of the world. "Okay… you're right. Back in those days, I probably would have tried to talk to Stephen about this if I could remember more about that night. But I just wrote it off as being drunk. I mean, I never tried to make out with Ramona, or Julie, or…"

"Actually, I kinda heard that you and Ramona had a slight moment," Knives laughed. When I turned round eyes on her, she protested, "From Lisa! Like, remember when we all got together before she moved away?"

"What moment did we have?" I demanded.

"Something about you and she and Scott being all in the same bed, and you telling them both that you loved them." When she looked back after a few seconds of silence and caught me blushing, she giggled. "You were talking, not doing anything else. At least, I'm pretty sure I'd have heard about anything else."

"Oh, good. I mean, if I had a threesome with Scott and that hair-changing hipster, I'd blow my stack."

The bridge of her nose crinkled from the force of her smile as we made our way toward the bus stop. "Already did that once today. Seriously, can you teach me that trick with the steam?"

"GOD, SHUT YOUR HOLE!"

                                                             To Be Continued…

[fatmindhappyheart]

Stammtisch, Summer 2017

Stammtisch, located between Glisan and East Burnside, offers an atmosphere of good drinks and scrumptious German flavor, which is cozily nestled between brick and wood walls that exude a tangible warmth and homeyness. 

The Drinks! 

Stammtisch offered a lovely array of German beers that were simply delightful. I chose Wiesen Edel-Weisse, which was truly delightful for that warm summer evening. Light, but still full of vivacious flavor, the foamy goodness massaged my palate into complete surrender on that fateful night. 

The Food!

We started out with a platter of decadent meats and cheeses, which was equipped with all the necessary dead animals to make your night existentially delightful. Venison, salami, pepperoni, veal, and an array of sausages provoked a lustful hunger that bodily transformed me into a sort of carnivorous monster who was hell-bent on satisfying my immense bodily needs. I’m starting to feel the lust building just remembering the intense experience of flavor that my body sustained that fateful evening. The cheeses were also delightful, and I delightfully enjoyed the goat, gruyere, and various other cheeses. If passion for meats and cheeses was a religion, I would be the patron saint, and this platter did not disappoint my holy appetite.

Along with the meat and cheese platter, we ordered a plate of Kartoffelpuffer to share. These beautiful potato cakes were fried to perfection, and then bathed in a caramel sauce so pure that the Pope would have to wash his hands before eating them. The pairing of fried potato cakes with caramel sauce was a little odd, but this was for sure next level. 

Dear Lord, please forgive me for ever questioning my parents for ordering the trout. Stammtisch’s Forelle (trout) was the most eye-opening dish I have ever had the privilege of consuming. The creamy mushroom sauce cascaded decadently down the beautifully charred trout skin, and the potatoes and vegetables gazed upward at the gorgeous underbelly of the most delightful slab of fish to ever have pleasured my palate. The fish literally fell apart and melted in your mouth. The flavor was unbelievably creamy, and the mushroom sauce accented the light grill char beautifully. I am still in awe of this plate. Seriously, I moaned so uncontrollably that restaurant staff thought I was watching a video of Shia Labeouf watching a video of his own acting. The passion was so real that my vision blurred to such an extent that I thought I saw Jesus returning on a cloud. The flavor was simply divine.

Last, but certainly not least, was this chicken. Dear Lord, just look at the color of that skin, beautifully crisped to perfection, yet unfathomably moist. Far and beyond, this was the best chicken I’ve ever tasted. I’m not one to pick chicken bones dry for every last piece of meat, but this chicken caused me to ravenously claw at every bone until the chicken was decimated. Did I feel like a divorced 55 year old veraciously licking Cheeto dust from my fingers over the sink like a rat? Perhaps, but, in eating like a starving animal , I realized that food such as this awakens such desire that appearances matter little. Here, flavor becomes an all-consuming framework of existence, and all else is secondary.

Conclusion

Go to Stammtisch. Yeah, that’s pretty much it. It’ll change your mind... your life... your priorities. Just go and be amazed.