#like xes too round and looks too friendly

[starfrootparfait]

gnarp gnarp

[themanirealityshifter]

🧚‍♂️✨🌿🍂🍄Magical Forest DR Script🍄🍂🌿✨🧚‍♂️

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• [ First Name: Cosmo ] • • [ Middle Name: None ] • • [ Last Name: None ] • • [ Species: Fairy ] • • [ Age: 120 ] •

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• [ Pronouns: He/It/Xe/They ] • • [ Gender Identity: Genderfluid Genderflux Enby TransGuy ] • • [ Romantic Orientation: Aromantic ] • • [ Sexual Orientation: Myrsexual (Neurosexual, Nebulasexual, and Merosexual) ] • • [ Other Orientation(s): Ambiamorous; Homoalterous; Omniqueerplatonic; Panexteramo; Pansensual; Panaesthetic ] •

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• [ Parent(s): None ] • • [ Sibling(s): None ] • • [ Other Family Member(s): None ] • • [ Partner(s): Darcy ] • • [ Best Friend(s): None ] • • [ Friend(s): Everyone ] •

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• [ Description: Human-sized fairy; 7’0”; Dark brown horns that curve downwards; Huge wings that look like luna moth wings; Pale fair skin; Clear skin; Oval face; Lean, masculine/muscular body; Brown eyes; Round spectacles; Pointed ears; Top and bottom surgery scars ] • • [ Style: Shirts and trousers made of silks spun by Fire Spiders and leaves woven by beavers; Silver, casual armor pieces made by Centaurs; Necklaces, earrings, and rings made of stars and the finest jewels, gifted to me by the Centaurs and Dwarves; A necklace of a half moon ] • • [ Personality: Same as in my CR ] • • [ Abilities (natural and learned): Elemental Manipulation; Potion-making; Antidote-making ] •

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• [ Personal Items: Several Potions for wounds, stomachaches, headaches, and other illnesses; A small painting of Darcy ] • • [ Extra: Hate does not exist; War does not exist; Humans do not exist; Everything is 100% peaceful and harmonious; There are no enemies; Every magical being is immortal; I am immortal; No one dies; There is nothing to give anybody, myself included, any type of emotional, verbal, physical, or psychological trauma; Darcy and I both are expert climbers and know how to make medicinal potions; Darcy and I both speak every language and can communicate with animals; There is no such thing as transphobia, homophobia, acephobia, arophobia, queerphobia, sexism, racism, etc.; Darcy and I both cannot and do not grow bored of being in the forest, although we can become bored; Darcy and I both know how to weave baskets, bracelets, and necklace cords; Darcy and mine’s wings glow in the dark; Darcy and I can’t get bug bites, poison ivy, poison oak, etc.; It never gets too hot, but every plant, flower, tree, etc. that needs hot weather in CR can survive and thrive without that heat in this DR; Nothing dies or goes away and can thrive and strive when winter comes; All wildlife are friendly to Darcy and I ] •

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• [ Our Place (Mine’s and Darcy’s) ] •

Darcy and I live in a gigantic tree. It’s not by the ground, but a little more than half way up. There is one bed, a side table, a couch, a “kitchen”, and an art area. The furniture is made from sturdy branches and vines, and moss and leaves as cushioning. Nothing rots. Darcy hung up tons of strings of dried glowing mushrooms, so there’s always light in there. There’s also tons of glass jars of immortal fireflies, too, so that adds light. Plus, we also have a few giant luminous mushrooms growing in there, either from the walls or in pots. We have several plants in pots all over, most of them sitting on the sturdy mushroom caps growing from the walls. It’s covered in moss and ferns, and we have to trim it often. The art area is a small corner that is splattered with paint and pollen. The paint is made from ground leaves, petals, and roots. Darcy mostly makes the paint since it’s his expertise. We have lots of shelves that we nailed into the walls using some handmade nails made by the Dwarves. We keep dried foods, canned foods (in jars), and our knickknacks on them, as well as the natural luminous mushrooms that grow out of the walls everywhere. 

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• [ Magical Beings That Live In The Forest ] •

• [ Wood Nymphs: ancient, beautiful and youthful tree women, who keep the forest flourishing and who like to dance with the Fauns ] •

• [ Fauns: half human, half goat people, who enjoy playing musical instruments such as flutes and harps, and dancing around bonfires at night, and collecting honey and berries ] •

• [ Centaurs: half human, half horse beings who are incredibly intelligent and are master astronomers ] •

• [ Dwarves: short fat people, who always have beards, and are very good with gems and mining ] •

• [ Fairies: small to human-sized horned and winged beings who are known to be mischievous and are expert climbers and potion masters ] •

• [ Giants: gigantic people who live in caves or under particularly large trees and by very large pools of water, they are incredibly good at fishing and are very friendly ] •

• [ Orphinki (an original creature made by me!!!): small beautiful dragon-like creatures who are usually wise and live in hammocks in most trees ] •

• [ Dragons: giant lizard-like creatures with wings and venomous spit, they are gorgeous and shiny and sweet and nice and are known to be lovable and gentle to all ] •

• [ Water Nymphs: ancient, beautiful elegant water women who love to dance with the water fairies and spirits ] •

• [ The Four Spirits: water, fire, earth, and wind are the four spirits, and they’re friendly little curious things that are everywhere and nowhere at the same time, sometimes they transform into a specific form, but most times they are simply there in the water or in the fire or in the ground or in the wind ] •

• [ Griffins: half bird, half lion beings that love swooping around under the trees and herding flocks of birds ] •

• [ Mermaids: half human, half fish people who live in the many pools in the forest, they sing beautifully and love to braid water nymphs’ hair ] •

• [ Wisps: glowing beings that mimic the forms of others, they’re friendly and curious little creatures that are as ancient as the Earth and know far more many things than you may realize, usually they take the form of stags or rabbits, but when they are interacting with someone specifically, they’ll usually mimic them ] •

• [ Pixies: tiny, mischievous fairy-like beings, who are all purple, indigo, and dark blue, they are known to play pranks and gang up with dwarves and fauns for a game of fun ] •

• [ Elves: tall, elegant and beautiful human-like immortal people, with long curving horns coming from their heads and pointed ears, they usually wear either silks and jewels, or leaves, moss, and acorn jewelry ] •

• [ Flying Horses: large, beautiful horses with huge feather wings, come in all colors, and are known to be very friendly, they love flying in between trees and searching for a nice clearing to lay and roll in, Elves usually are seen riding or befriending them ] •

• [ + More ] •

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• [ Some Wildlife ] •

White-tail deer

Reindeer

Butterflies

Dragon-flies

Beetles 

Tigers

Lions

Bears

Honey Bees

Bumble-bees 

Rabbits

Hedgehogs

Birds 

Trout

Bass

Moths

Foxes 

Snakes

Worms

Isopods

Horses

Raccoons

Monkeys

Leopards

Owls

Mice

Rats

Frogs

Snails

Insects of all kinds 

Tortoises

Turtles 

+ tons more

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• [ General Description of The Forest ] •

• [ An endless forest, full of magical beings, underground caves, clear water pools, huge to tiny trees, and animals of all kinds, all living in peace together, totally harmonious. ] •

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• [ Me in this DR (Picrew Form) ] •

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[5-falsehoods-phonated]

Overgrown Metal

Series Summary:  Almost two decades ago, the fae rose up from beyond the veil with technology far surpassing the human race, quickly taking over after laying waste to nearly everything in their wake. Now eight paths cross to right the wrongs on both ends, working to uncover secrets that would have rather stayed hidden

Chapter 4: Snarling Dogs

Trigger Warnings: caps lock for yelling, swearing

Remy tried not to breathe in too deeply as he dodged and weaved around people and stalls alike in the crowded marketplace. Sellers shouted out their wares and prices for everything from the rare pilfered canned goods to...less than sanitary goods. Metal, body odor and sewage from a nearby line made opening ones mouth a less than favorable option making him extremely grateful he lived and worked with Remus and didn't have to earn a living up here. Adjusting his hold on the grocery pack slung over his shoulder he dodged a family looking through a selection of warmer clothes, the girl trying her best to swipe a pair of gloves unnoticed. He silently wished them luck. A family of thieves lasted only as long as their latest trainee failed to get caught.

Nearing the exit to the marketplace his shoulders sagged with relief, quickening his pace as he stairs came into view. Old and cracked as they were he was always surprised their little city lasted as long as it had; hastily made and as ramshackle as any other put together out if the desperate hope for a safe haven, the underground establishment boasted three levels all separated by concrete slabs taken from surface buildings and steel bars that were about the only steady thing about the place.

He had almost made it to the first flight of stairs when he heard a short cry coming from an alleyway close by. Whipping around he gripped the groceries tighter and wandered over in the direction it had come from. He knew he'd be chewed out by Remus for this but he always hated leaving anything curious alone, whether it be for gossip or guilts sake. Just a quick peek, he thought as he rounded a corner. Scope it out and then either let it be and have something juicy to tell his husband later or help someone who needed it and have something juicy to tell his husband later. Win win either way.

Finally spotting two figures at the end of a dim alley way between two storage buildings he squinted harshly as he set the groceries down and crept forward. One of them was saying something, and the closer he got the less he liked it.

"...be fine sweetheart. It'll be quick and easy and then they'll take care of you for the rest of your life. Doesn't that sound nice?"

"I don't want to." Remy's vision flashed red at those words, the taller man clearly leaning closer to the woman, caging her in his arms. He tried to be as silent as possible, debris scattered around making it hard to place his feet quietly. He had gotten only a few feet away when it seemed like the man was done playing whatever game he had going on, taking something out if his pocket and sneering down at his prey.

"I'm not so sure you have a choice." Remy had seen and heard enough, standing up and running forward quickly he brought his left arm up and swung back before pitching forward, throwing all of his weight to clock the man just right in the side of the head.

The woman shrieked as the man crumpled instantly, not without Remy wincing as a couple of his fingers starting sticking in place as the knuckles fought to adjust to the now bent frame. Shit, now Remus really would be mad. Though it hardly mattered at the moment, turning to the terrified woman with what he hoped was a friendly smile. He froze for a moment following her line of sight to his shining hand.

He flexed his fingers in a mock wave, mechanical digits creaking a bit from the impact they had barely endured. He chuckled nervously and put it in his pocket. "You like it? My husband got it for me"

Trying for humor seemed to be the key as she let out a nervous giggle, flicking from him to her attacker and back again. He looked down and nudged the prone man with his foot, an odd device that he must have dropped catching his eye. A stylized snarling dog insignia was engraved at the side of what almost looked like a dart gun, eyes widening as he realized what it was.

"He was going to chip you?" The other startled as she bit her lip and looked away. Putting the peices together he supposed it made sense. Society members sometimes came to lower settlements to scope out fresh meat for whatever it was they did to the people they indoctrinated. He had heard scant details from Remus from his own time spent in one as a child. He looked down his nose at the man. Hopefully he hadn't gotten a good look at Remy's face.

"Do you need an escort home? I promise I have better manners towards people who aren't trying to attack someone."

The woman shook her head, carefully stepping around both him and the man. "I'll be fine now. Thank you, for what you did."

With that she turned and ran, which Remy couldn't blame her for, you didn't really make friends in this particular city. Sniffing indignantly nonetheless he turned on his heel and made his way back to his groceries, hauling them up with his good hand and making his way home.

Niether of them had noticed the small, blinking red light at the end of the chip gun.

----

"You're sure this will heal?" Remus huffed as he tied off another stitch, the gaping wound in his patient's arm finally closing and ready to be bandaged.

"If you keep it clean and don't fuck it up again it'll heal just fine." He ignored the soft "language please" from across the from and focused on slathering antibacterial ointment over the wound before getting out a roll of gauze. "I'm the best in the business, you'll live. And if your arm does fall off I have plenty of replacements!"

He grinned as his patient paled somewhat, taking in the rows of neatly arranged mechanical limbs the small office was most known for in the black market. "Do you- do you get all that metal from the fairies?"

"Mmm, technically I guess. We get some of it from Hunters that come by and trade the metal for supplies, sometimes we trade for aluminum or dig around scrap vulture packs for odds and ends. One man's trash is another man's polished trash, and I'm the best there is!" Tying off the gauze with an of finality he turned as the door opened. "Remy you're- WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR HAND?!"

The unholy screech that left Remus' mouth left everyone in the room and a mile wide radius wincing from the volume. Remy, for his part, had the presence of mind to look at least a little ashamed, scuffing his toe along the floor and hiding the mangled, twitching limb behind his back. "I uh, fell?"

Remus' eyes darkened as he stood up. "Everyone out! We are now closed! Emile, the baggy!"

Scrambling around the desk Emile grabbed the patients to go bag which was swiftly grabbed up and thrown in their face. "Out! My husband is more important!"

"Remus!" Despite Emile's chiding the office was cleared relatively quickly as Remus stalked forward with his hand out.

"Groceries down. Walk and talk. Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt anywhere else? Where did you go? Wh-"

"Babes!" Remus snapped his mouth shut as Remy's protest and the lankier man sighed. "I got curious when I heard someone scream and ended up punching some dude in an alleyway for trying to chip a woman. Probs a Society member. They didn't see me, I just fucked my hand up."

Remus looked up as his hand was squeezed. "I'm okay."

Huffing he turned back to inspecting the ruined prosthetic, wincing as the other hissed in pain as he tried moving the digits. "Okay. Okay we'll...wrap these for now. You're damn lucky Emile and I have been working on something better for you."

Remy raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Well now I won't tell you because I'm pissed that my husband's an idiot without one brain cell to rub against his skull for some self preservation!"

Remy grinned and leaned back, accepting the pain killers Emile offered with a grateful nod as his fingers and hand were carefully wrapped to keep them relatively still.

"How much did you get for the scrap?" The question snapped him out of his thoughts and he pursed his lips as he looked over to the abandoned groceries.

"Enough." He didn't want to mention prices were starting to drop and it was getting harder to negotiate for fair ones. Food and materials were starting to get scarce and a lot of people were starting to talk about leaving their little society for more promising ones that didn't operate with such delicacy. He always knew it would happen eventually, but he figured their little family would be long gone by then.

Remus grunted in response and Remy closed his eyes tiredly. Navigating his way through all the levels and people for hours was always exhausting, he couldn't wait to go upstairs and slip into their bed for a quick nap before dinner.

"The bags under your eyes are big enough to hold the groceries themselves, go to bed. I'll be up in a few minutes." Remus punctuated this by flicking the tip of his nose, to which he only recieved a lazy grin in return for his thoughts being answered so quickly.

"Yes sir." Despite his exhaustion he winked playfully before getting up slowly and giving Remus a peck on the lips, waving quickly to Emile before turning and heading towards the stairs.

"And actually go to bed! No coffee!" Emile called after him as an afterthought, to which xe recieved a few low grumbles that xe hoped was in agreement. Neither xyr cousin nor cousin in law had the best sleeping habits, and their constant caffeine consumption did nothing to help it.

"We did actually finish that right? I forget if we did that or another project." Emile turned and smiled wryly.

"You really need to start using to do lists. We did them both at the same time, so yeah, Remy's hand is done. It's in the bottom drawer in the filing cabinet."

Xe started tidying up the office as Remus rummaged around in the cabinet. Biting xyr lip xe voiced a growing concern. "Do you think it's a bad sign Society members are starting scope this place out? We're pretty far away from the closest ones and those arent nearly as dangerous as some can be."

Emile almost wanted xyr words back as Remus stiffened, but the other only shrugged as he waved the hand he found back and forth. "It's fine. Those dogs go sniffing around everything they don't have their teeth in already. Probably just some recruitment that I'm very happy my brave and dashing husband discouraged."

"Right." Emile rolled xyr eyes and placed xyr hands in xyr hips. "Well, everything's cleaned up so I'm gonna head downstairs to file whatever papers you left."

"You're such a doll! I'll have dinner ready soon yeah? Remember to lock the door!"

"Already did!" Returning the kiss blown in xyr direction xe headed down to the basement quickly, blueprints trapped safely against xyr chest to sort through with all the others. Xe knew xe shouldn't worry but...with xyr cousin's history-

Xe shook xyr head quickly. It would be fine. It had to be. Xe had finally gotten a little bit of xyr family living under one roof for quite a few years now. No Society member was going to make xem fear that being taken away from xem. With determination burning xyr veins xe flicked on the light and turned towards the worktables.

Groaning xe set the stack xe was holding down with all the other and dragged xyr hands over xyr face. ADHD be damned xe were still kicking Remus' butt come dinnertime.

This work and others are also available on AO3!

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[asoftervirge]

Of “Love” & Murder (7/13)

CHAPTER TITLE: Logan Oxford: Esteemed Novelist

RATING: PG PAIRINGS: P. Sanders/V. Sanders (main/one-sided); R. Sanders/V. Sanders (former); V. Sanders/L. Sanders (former); V. Sanders/D. Sanders (former); Remy/E. Picani (side); T. Sanders/OMC (mentioned)

CHAPTER WARNINGS/KINKS: mentions of Anxiety, Logan being A Nerd, Philosophy Jargon, mentions of a previous Murder, mentions of Poisoning CHAPTER SUMMARY:  Logan tell Patton how he met Virgil.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: And we’re introduced to Logan! :D This chapter is shorter than the Roman introduction, but it should still bring excitement for people to want to learn how xe died. That’s a weird sentence. lol And yes, xe not he. Logan has had a number of changes with this update and I’m very pleased with them, so I hope everyone else is too. Also, this chapter is PG, so that’s good! Have fun reading everyone! xx Virge

INSPIRATION: This post by @phantomofthesanderssides

AO3 || Buy Me a Ko-Fi!

Patton squeaked and stood up straighter. For some reason, this person gave off a cold and aloof aura. Much different from the warmth and passion that radiated from Roman.

“You— You must be the second of Virgil’s husbands?”

“Spouses,” the second ghost immediately corrected. His lips curled into a slight scowl. It was pretty intimidating to say the least, especially with how tall he seemed to be. “While I do not completely mind being considered his…’husband,’ I would prefer to be called his spouse. Also my pronouns call be he/him, but I would prefer xe/xyr.”

“O-Oh!” Patton blushed, feeling bad he accidentally misgendered another person. “I’m so sorry! I-I didn’t mean—”

“Since this is our first encounter and it was merely an accident, I’ll let it slide.” xe told the confectioner while marching toward him, maintaining a good distance. “However, should we encounter each other again multiple times after this, and you still continue to misuse my pronouns, I can guarantee I will not be so friendly.”

Patton gulped. “Got it.”

Xe held out a hand for him. “Logan Oxford. Esteemed novelist and self-admitted astrophile.”

The confectioner didn’t know what half of those words meant. “U-Uhm,” he shakes Logan’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mx. Oxford.”

“Logan, please. No need for formalities.”

He nodded. Now that he thinks about it, Patton has heard the name Logan Oxford before. His cousin Emile brought xem up a couple of times when he talked about therapy (while still keeping patient confidentiality, obviously). He mentioned how xyr essays were really good, but they seemed a little too…stuffy, for his personal tastes (like most scientists/doctors/philosophers/etc).

Now meeting xem for the first time, he can understand why Emile said that.

While Roman had on very bold, fancy colors: reds and whites and golds, Logan was a stark contrast to that. Similar to his own palette but not quite. Xe had on a dark blue dress coat with a white button-up underneath it, along with black suit pants and dark brown dress shoes. A little bit of gold was on his buttons and cuff links, but other than that, the colors xe wore were predominantly dark.

Come to think of it, there were a lot of differences between he and Logan. The novelist had dark eyes while he had baby blue. Logan had straight, gelled black hair while he had strawberry blonde curls. A medium build with a good amount of muscle as opposed to a soft curvy build with a bit of chub. A sharp face as opposed to a rounded one. Square glasses as opposed to rounded lenses.

Regardless, xe were a very clean-looking individual. Perhaps even handsome in xyr own right, much like Virgil was.

“I suppose you’re wanting to warn me about Virgil too?” he asks.

“Is that not why you’re here?” Logan responds. “Or were you just wanting to put your nose into the affairs of a relatively wealthy man?”

Patton pouted. He didn’t have to be rude about it!

“But yes,” the novelist says immediately after. “I am here to also warn you about the dangers of Mr. Virgil Nyx of 613 Rue Morgue.”

“Well take your time. I’m not here to rush you.”

“I appreciate your concerns, but my past before Mr. Nyx is easy to discuss,” Logan tells him.

The confectioner nods, listening to him attentively.

“Growing up as a child, my father was a firm believer of knowledge,” Xe began. “He always believed that it was an incomparably valuable, multipurpose tool, instrumental in identifying and solving any of the world’s problems.” Dark blue eyes casted themselves over to the books. “One of the things he used to tell me was, “If you are ever worried about getting hurt, then seek knowledge. It is our greatest weapon, and our greatest defense.” And so, with that, my ever-growing thirst began.”

Xe went on, “I scoured for any form of knowledge, be that books or even educative television, wherever I could find it, I absorbed it entirely. I read every book from both my father and Ye Ye, every book from the libraries— primary school, the public one, university— etcetera. All of it was not enough for me. I eventually received my Master’s in Philosophy and a Doctorate in Physics, wishing to expand my love of all things intellect and share it with the world.” He turns back to Patton. “Before my graduation, I had published a few theses that were eventually used at other prestigious universities; and afterward, I had written a book or two, which resulted in my rise to celebrity.”

Patton nodded. Then he asked, “Had you known about Virgil before you met him?”

“I was aware of him, yes.” the novelist’s lips thinned into a firm line. “I had heard about the…supposed suicide of Roman Scarlet, famed Broadway actor and beloved performer of the Storytime lounge. I had also heard of his brother’s desire to take Virgil to court without any proof of murderous intent, I believe he was even in contact with a lawyer despite this.”

The confectioner looked at xem in surprise. “Even when he didn’t have evidence, his brother had contact with a lawyer about wanting to see if Virgil could be charged with murder?”

“Indeed.” Logan nodded. “At first, I read it off as some silly story for revenge, not exactly understanding how that was actually the truth.”

Patton nodded. “So…Did you meet him at a book signing or…?”

Logan didn’t say anything of the longest time. When xe did, it was very vague-sounding. “When I met Virgil…well, let’s just say it was…a strange sense of irony.”

…

If he could, Virgil would have openly spat about how much he did not want to be here. When he became as wealthy as he is, he swore up and down that he would never return to this place, return to the old life he lived before he knew what it was like to have money.

And yet, here he was, walking into a familiar-looking bookstore. The name re-entering his mind like he hadn’t shoved it out oh so many years ago.

Catching his eye was the small clump of beings standing outside its old, paint-chipped door; maybe the line won’t be as long as he thought. However, he quickly (and unfortunately) realized that the clump of people outside stood at the end of a line that snaked through the entire store.

Everyone and their mother apparently wanted to meet Logan Oxford today of all days.

He should’ve expected this, and yet, he didn’t. Idiot.

Actual anxiety slowly began to seize his being as he continued to approach. Everyone seemed to have a book clutched in their hands. Most were the newest release that came just before the holidays, while some seemed to be personally chosen titles by the older audience, and then there were even books of essays that were held and gossiped about by students (or who Virgil assumed to be university students).

By the time the line actually started moving, Virgil felt sweat starting to coat his palms. He let out a noise of annoyance and shoved them into his pockets.

He was not going to let his stupid anxiety ruin this chance for him. He wasn’t!

Walking in, the little jingle of the bell above sounded like the heavy dong of a church one.

Virgil forced himself to look around. This cozy little hellhole remained the same even after almost a decade. (He even forced himself to wonder if the old owner was still here. Probably not. Maybe retired. Or dead.)

The lighting was still bad, but it gave the small interior of the store its warm glow; the carpeting was still old fashioned and had that untraceable smell to it; the chairs scattered about the store were all patchy and worn-down; the wooden tables had scratch marks and random-ass messages that people carved in with pencil; and there were still crazy knickknacks and antiques hanging from the walls or seen from the shelves.

For the widower, this place was a walk-in nightmare, like walking into someone’s grandmother’s house. But for the many customers who come and go daily, it was a little spot of comfort.

Silver-grey eyes eventually found the prize he was looking for.

Logan Oxford sat at a small table with a pen in xyr hand. The writer smiled very thinly up at an admirer as xe handed back their book from across the table.

A thousand little details flooded Virgil’s mind all at once. A full mouth that could be expressive if it wasn’t so clearly behind a reserved wall. A face that was as sharp as Roman’s but it was much more angular. Rich, dark eyes that almost seemed black: dark and mysterious, they looked like they were pulled from the night sky. Slicked back hair that would still be considered neat without all that damn hair gel.

Xe were more than attractive than the widower realized. Perfect for being his next target.

Just before it was his turn, he saw a stand full of Logan’s books, all new and old alike. Making sure no one was looking, he snagged a copy before making his way towards the novelist.

The novelist took the book without even saying anything, not even so much as a polite hello. Xe flipped it open to the first page and started to scribble on the first page with blue ink.

Virgil looked down at the book he grabbed and an idea sparked in his mind. He cleared his throat, but not loud enough to cause a scene. “Mx. Oxford?” he pretended to sound eager. “I know you’ve probably heard this before, but your philosophy essays are so fascinating.”

“You are correct, I have heard it before.” xe said. Dark eyes flashed up at him, a brow quirked and his expression monotone. “Do you have a particular question you’d like to ask me?”

He nodded. “Actually, I do…Do you believe that your field of study has been hindered by the teachings of Aristotle, or are you one of those science-y people who just nod and continuously say he’s right without any substantial proof?”

At that, Logan’s head shot up. “…beg pardon?” Xe were a little stunned by the question being asked of him.

“Do you agree with Aristotle’s teachings, yes or no?” Virgil asked again, a tiny bit amused as he made the novelist react in such a way.

Xe cleared xyr throat, trying to regain some composure. “W-Well,” he stammered. “In the case of Aristotle…the man was usually wrong. A lot. Most of his descriptions of the natural world are some variety of incorrect,” xe tell him. “Looking past his blatant sexism, his understanding of motion and forces is wrong, is astronomy is wrong, a good portion of his biology is busted, and science has in fact suffered for it. For almost 2,000 years to be specific.”

The widower hummed. (Truth be told, he hated philosophy. It was basically a bunch of old guys trying to preach certain ethics and ideologies that would eventually become outdated and criticized.) Nevertheless, he wanted to know what Logan thought about it.

“However,” Logan continued, a glimmer of something sparkling in his eyes. “It wasn’t until the 1800s when the atom was officially declared A Thing, that people began to believe his contemporary, Democritus, as opposed to himself.” Xe snort. “Not to mention, according to Cicero, his prose was apparently a flowing river of gold…when it actually was not. And it was because of him that we not only lost science but also a catastrophic amount of classical literature.”

“So in actuality, his works are basically glorified lecture-notes from his students?” Virgil smirks faintly. “I guess you know now why we should’ve listened to Gorgias instead.”

“Gorgias?” Xe ask, looking at him incredulously. “The man was, excuse my Greek, a pathological pain the ass. He didn’t care for objective truth and stated that everything was a matter of opinion, which was always bendable.”

“Exactly!” Virgil smirks more. “Everything is a construct, therefore we tried and failed. So now all we need to do is to hide under the covers until the sun goes away.” With that, the widower takes his autographed book and begins to leave the store.

“Falsehood!” A screech came from behind him, making him jump. He turns around to see the novelist get up and stride over to him, a sharp look in his eyes. The widower immediately stood straighter. Damn…that glare reminds him of a certain someone that he does not wish to remember right now. “Just because Gorgias was able to obliterate Stephanos of Thebes with straw-man arguments and casual fallacies, does not mean you can, Diogenes the Cynic.”

Virgil blinked. “…Diogenes the Cynic?” he echoed.

“Yes,” Logan says. “A philosopher who believed that all Sophists were liars, the Philosophers were too pretentious, therefore taking immense pleasure in poking fun at their logic.”

The widower pondered thoughtfully. “…yep. That sounds like us just now.” A glint of wicked humor shone in his eyes as Logan just looked done with him. “But in all seriousness, Mx. Oxford. You have to realize that philosophy can be a bit asinine, right?”

Logan stayed silent for a moment before breathing out. “I suppose so,” xe states. “All of the big, complex ideas simply come from those who are fallible and prone to…ridiculousness. For every Plato’s Republic, there is a Diogenes urinating at a banquet table.”

“There you go,” Virgil laughs. “I hope you really didn’t get offended by what I said. I like presenting counterarguments just to see how people react.”

“No harm done. Although I must admit, while I don’t particularly enjoy socializing with others all that much,” Hard same. “I would like to talk to you more. Maybe about science-based media— or whatever it is you’re a fan of?”

Virgil nodded, smirking internally. “I don’t mind at all. In fact, I would like to challenge your claims on what you call cognitive distortions. As someone who has generalized anxiety, I wanna know what your psychology thinks about my over-reactionary mind.”

Logan hummed in interest. “Oh? I look forward to it then, Mr…?”

“Nyx. Virgil Nyx.”

“Mr. Nyx.” Named after the Roman Goddess of the Night, the novelist mused. Xe liked it. Xe scribbled something onto the back of a bookmark, handing it to Virgil. “Again, thank you very much for coming and I hope to communicate with you again soon.”

“See ya.”

With a finger salute, Virgil left the bookstore with a sigh of relief. He was quite glad that his anxiety didn’t make him look the a fool and that he was out of that atrocious place. He opened the book and saw the fancy penmanship of the novelist.

On the bookmark, was his phone number.

He smirked. Maybe he did succeed after all…

…

Patton listed as Logan finished telling him about xyr first meeting with Virgil. He had to admit, it was rather nice to not listen to any…graphic details about things he didn’t want to know, even if Roman told him in a vague manner.

“So how did you stay close with Virgil?” he asked, remembering the questions he presented Roman. “You gave him your number; did you call each other on the phone? Or did you both kept meeting at the bookstore.”

Logan shook xyrs head. “No. However, I would invite him out for some coffee if I was in the area. And every time we did so, we would always have little discussions that would turn into…not-so-little discussions after a period of time…”

Patton raised an eyebrow, smiling knowingly.

The novelist scowled. “We did not argue, if that is what you’re thinking! We…debated, that’s much more civil.” The confectioner giggled but allowed him to continue. “And, while I’m not a traditionally…emotional person…it was quite nice to have someone debate on certain subjects with me, even if they tended to hiss at me from time to time.”

Despite this slowly becoming a sad tale, Patton giggled again. He won’t lie, Virgil did act like a cat every once in a while. It was actually kinda cute (you know…despite the fact he murdered three people…).

“I would also take him to any conferences or panels that I would be invited to attend or speak at,” xe told him. “He would act as my plus one, if you will. I must admit, even if I could manage them on my own, it was…almost beneficial for me to have him around during those events.” Xe chuckled. “I say this despite the fact that he detested such things, as they tended to prompt his anxiety and cause him to rudely hiss whenever someone— and I quote— “reached his limits with stupid questions.” Not only that, he was not primarily invested in the actual subjects of said discussions and was more interested in the catering they served.”

That caused Patton to actually laugh. That also seems like something that Virgil would do, though he doesn’t blame him at all. In fact, if he were in his shoes, he would be a bit more curious in the food too.

Logan couldn’t help xyr lips from twitching upwards. “I shall confess, there were times where I myself have agreed with his sentiments.”

Unfortunately, the smiles and laughter had to end at some point.

“But what happened afterward?” Patton eventually asked. “What caused everything to go downhill?”

The little twitch of a smile instantly when back to a frown. The confectioner sees xem turn to grab a book that was suddenly on the table (when did that get there anyhow?). It was a very beautiful looking book: dark indigo in color with a title that he couldn’t quite make out, but he could see Logan’s name at the very top. Xe opened the book, flipping it to the very last pages before handing it to Patton.

‘ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS’ Baby blue eyes skimmed through the short paragraphs of text. Logan gave simple but kind words as xe thanked the people who helped xem achieve such a feat, such as his parents and former professors.

Then he followed to where the novelist had pointed a finger at.

“Lastly, I would like to give acknowledgments to my husband, Virgil Nyx.

While we have not known each other long, and have newly become married, but having your support throughout this journey was momentous for someone like me to complete this project. Your harsh and honest (almost too honest) criticisms of my work were what kept me going to make and achieve better than my means. And while I am not an emotional person, nor do I express my emotions often, I quiet enjoyed having your company while I wrote and rewrote my rough and final drafts… And I must thank you for bring me my favorite green teas and jellied biscuits whenever I hadn’t eaten or drank anything for hours on end.

This is the most I have genuinely praised someone so highly (and also a first), but it cannot be helped. I truly hope you see the appreciation and respect I fester for you.”

Patton couldn’t help but tear up. To Logan, they may appear simple, but they were also so beautiful.

“As you’ve read, by the time I had written my last book, Virgil had become my spouse.” Logan says. “We were married in a simple ceremony. Something that was vastly different from Roman’s grandiose nuptials.”

Patton giggled. It was amusing with how Logan was poking fun at Roman from beyond the grave. (In an almost magical way, he could almost hear an indignant noise in his ear).

“But,” Logan’s face grew sad, almost angry. “That did not last long, unfortunately. I had quickly fallen for Virgil’s rouses like the one before me. And, like him, I was met with an unfortunate end.” A deep, almost tired sigh. “To think, someone like him could have been two steps ahead of me in a metaphorical game of chess…I must say, it was truly a checkmate on his end.”

“Him murdering you, you mean?” Patton asked, fearing the answer Logan will give him. Silence. A very familiar silence.

Then, Logan nodded. “Yes. Although, poisoning is the correct terminology this time around.”

[aroacehogwarts]

Of Hearts

“Tell me again how the swooping move is supposed to surprise the other team,” Luna requested, enjoying the echoing quality of her voice with her head on top of Ginny’s chest, listening to her steady heartbeat.

Ginny stroked surprisingly gentle fingers through Luna’s long locks. “Well, you see, the dive is called a feint and seekers only attempt it if they are very good and very confident in their skills. You feint when you see the snitch, but you dive in a direction that the snitch is not in. It’s a very tricky move because the seeker has to divert all their attention away from the snitch in order to trick the other team’s seeker. Seekers usually react on instinct. If one starts diving, the other is likely to follow just to ensure they don’t miss a chance to try catching the snitch. Once the seeker who is feinting is sure the other seeker has bought their fake, they then swiftly change directions back towards where the snitch was. The hope is that all this happens quickly enough that the seeker doesn’t loose the snitch. However, if that can’t happen, the other use of the feint is when the other seeker is closer to the snitch than you are and you just want to draw them away from the snitch until it’s too late for them to catch it.”

One of Ginny’s favorite things was quidditch, so one of Luna’s favorite things was watching her qpp play and listening to her talk about quidditch.

~

Harry looked haggard and worn. The lines on his face were more pronounced than usual, the bags under his eyes bigger, and there was a good tangle of wrackspurts circling him.

Luna immediately got to work on a cuppa. Harry preferred firewhiskey, but Luna didn’t like to overindulge when it came to alcohol. Besides, tea was more calming.

“I know you don’t like to, but it helps to talk about it,” she said gently.

Harry rubbed a hand over his eye, then dragged it down his face. “Just. I just don’t understand how anyone can continue to sympathize with Death Eaters,” he said.

Luna added extra honey to his tea and sat it in front of him. “Harry, I know you don’t want to hear it, but there are other ways of helping than being an auror. You’re very good at it, but it’s not the only thing you’d be good at. And another job would be nicer to you.”

Harry ignored his tea. He groaned and lowered his head into folded arms. “Not you, too, Luna. Please.”

“Okay,” she replied simply, scooting her chair closer to rub gentle circles on Harry’s back. Too much fighting this week. He wasn’t ready for this fight. She’d sit back and just let her best friend talk and do things his own way. 

Luna started humming, an old lullaby her mother used to sing to her.

~

“Oh! And I think you’d like this one,” Neville chattered on, more animated than usual. He led her to a pale purple plant with large, round leaves that waved gently with the air currents. “Sedatis ut folium, better known as the Tranquiliseed. I was awarded one to help bring them back from the brink of extinction. Using its essential oils or brewing it is supposed to result in an immediate calm for any who smell its sweet fragrance, but some are calmed just by watching its dance.”

Luna reached out a hand over the plant but didn’t touch it. She felt mesmerized. “It’s beautiful, Neville. And you were trusted to help bring it back from extinction. Oh, Neville - congratulations.”

Neville placed a friendly hand on her shoulder, warm and comforting. These walk throughs of Neville’s growing greenhouses were a regularly scheduled event for Luna and Neville. Luna loved how confident and happy Neville was around his plants, and she knew her bestie really needed someone to talk about his work to. Luna was happy to volunteer.

~

Luna and her datemate, a wonderful nonbinary muggle whom she’d met while hanging out in a coffeeshop to escape the magical world, laid curled up together, a blanket between them and the grass as they watched the stars above.

“I believe that one’s supposed to be a lynx, but it’s always looked more like a thestral to me.”

“What’s a thestral again?”

“They’re beings of death. Skeletal winged horses. Very sweet, family-oriented, and hard workers.”

“Hm. I dunno. Looks more like a leaping kangaroo to me.”

Luna giggled. “Maybe it’s all three. Maybe it’s endless possibilities.”

Her datemate squeezed her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. “I like that,” xe whispered. Luna nuzzled into xyr neck. This was always the best way to end her day.

~

Because Luna is asexual, but that hasn’t made her capacity for love any less than anybody else’s.

Asexual Awareness Week HP Fandom Challenge

Day 1: Post about your favorite/long-held ace/spec HP character headcanons.

~Hufflepuff Mod

[coilwind7-blog]

Where to Eat Pho in Philly: The Ultimate Guide

Guides

Philadelphia has been a great pho town for as long as we can remember. Here are all the best places to get a bowl of that beefy, brothy goodness.

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Le Viet | Facebook

Philly has never been lacking in good pho. But unlike ramen, soup dumplings, or fried chicken, pho has never really had a boom cycle in Philly — a time where there was none, then too much, then a solid list of excellent survivors once the pretenders vanished. I mean, it might have had that. But if it did, it was before my time. I’ve never known a moment in this city where excellent pho wasn’t available all over the place.

And this is both a good and bad thing. It’s good because abundance is good — because it’s a comfort to know that wherever we are, should that urge for fragrant, rich broth and the comfort of noodles overtake us, there’s probably a pho joint within a few minutes’ drive. It’s bad because a wealth of options breeds paralysis. We tend to pick our favorites and then stick to them with near-religious ferocity.

So the purpose of this list is to let you know that there are other places out there beyond your circle of favorites. It’s to tempt you into branching out. Into trying something new. It’s to catalog the wealth available to us and help you to find a new awesome bowl should you find yourself far from home.

So let’s begin with…

The Pho That You Must Try First

Pho Ha Saigon | Facebook

Pho 75, Bella Vista Pho 75 is kind of Philly’s baseline pho experience — a benchmark against which all others can be judged. It’s a classic, that operates under the basic pho shop formula: excellent pho and nothing else, in a white box of a room. It’s the place that a lot of people go to most of the time. The chopsticks are plastic and the whole deal is cash-only, but that’s kind of as it should be. Pho is a simple, working man’s food, and Pho 75 is a simple, working man’s cafe. 1122 Washington Avenue

Pho Ha Saigon, Multiple locations With three locations, Pho Ha Saigon has Philly nicely bracketed. Though it’s not the only thing the kitchen does, beef pho is the core of the menu here — big bowls done fast and cheap, with room for endless tinkering. 320 West Oregon Avenue, 575 Adams Avenue, 1601 North 15th Street

Saigon Noodle Bar, Chestnut Hill The two best things about this small, simple cafe at Market at the Fareway? They’ve got a solid pho ga on the menu that gets a lot of love and attention, because it’s one of only five types of pho available — and you can get a bowl of it for less than ten bucks. 8221 Germantown Avenue

Pho Street, Multiple locations The style at these small, bright cafes is Northern Vietnamese street food. The menu offers ten different kinds of pho at three different locations, and not one of them will run you more than $11. Go for the pho bo vien (beef meatball) and a side of Vietnamese hot wings. 2104 Market Street; 204 Baltimore Pike, Springfield; 1001 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr

Cafe Anh Hong, Upper Darby Simple, fast, basic place for good pho. Though the spicy bun bo Hue seems to be the pro’s choice here. 7036 Terminal Square

Stock, Fishtown Both Stock locations (in Rittenhouse Square and Fishtown) offer soups, sandwiches and noodle bowls for lunch and dinner. But only the Fishtown flagship has a proper pho on the menu — two, actually, a chicken version and a vegan mushroom pho with tofu. The soups remain the big draw here, their long-simmered broth serving as the base for several varieties beyond pho. The offerings here are a bit fancier than usual (and include such non-traditional ingredients as fried shallots and chile jam), but if a thoughtful, jumped-up pho is what you’re after, then Stock should be on your list. 308 East Girard Avenue

Ngon Ngon Restaurant, Society Hill The slogan here is “I’m Crazy With Pho,” and the menu bears that out. The Special Noodle Soup is a huge bowl of slow-simmered, 16-hour broth, tender eye round, brisket on the bone (which is awesome), marrow, split meatballs, and all the accoutrements. It’s an amazing bowl of soup, and a can’t-miss for all of you out there looking for something new. 615 South 3rd Street

The Best Pho in South Philly and Bella Vista

Le Viet | Facebook

Pho Cyclo Cafe Personally, I like a pho place with a small menu. The more focused the kitchen is on doing one thing really well, the better. Pho Cyclo, on the other hand, has a huge menu, offering pretty much anything anyone could ever want — plus pho. But this new-ish spot is also quickly developing a fan base of people who love it for exactly that reason: because you can get great pho there, plus anything else you could possibly want. 2124 South Broad Street

Cafe Diem Okay, look. The bun bo Hue? That’s what everyone talks about here. And it’s just as good as everyone says it is. But if you’re looking for a bowl of pho, Cafe Diem does that too — and does it really well. The ingredients are fresh, the broth is gentler than the BBH broth (of course) but deeply flavorful, and the menu at Cafe Diem is so short and focused that you know every item is getting lots of attention from the kitchen. 1031 South 8th Street

Nam Phuong No matter what kind of Vietnamese soup it is you’re looking for, Nam Phuong has it. That’s almost a guarantee. It has pho and things that are kind of like pho. There’s bun bo Hue (of course) and duck soup with bamboo shoots, egg noodle beef stew, and Chinese needle noodles. All of them are interesting, the pho is very good, and if you’re looking to broaden your appreciation of Vietnamese liquid cuisine, this is the place to go. 1100 Washington Avenue

Pho Ha Old school, simple and a long-time favorite for long-time pho eaters. The quality (and MSG levels) seem to vary occasionally, but when this kitchen is on, they do almost two dozen different kinds of beef pho (plus another half-dozen other kinds) that can compete with the best around. It’s cash-only, but seriously cheap. And again, it has its own parking lot which is convenient as hell. 610 Washington Avenue

Le Viet An upscale, modern Vietnamese restaurant that still offers very traditional flavors. The pho dac biet is the main event, with flank steak, brisket, meatballs, tendon, tripe, and sliced steak, all floating in a big bowl of broth and noodles. And it’s served in a dining room that’s got enough gloss to it the the jade martinis and glasses of Hanoi Punch on the tables don’t look out of place. 1019 South 11th Street

Cafe Viet Huong Viet Huong is one of those places that gets overlooked more than it should. It stands up there among the best pho shops in the city, always has fast, friendly service and always has tables available. Seriously, next time you find yourself in the neighborhood and facing down the crowds at some of the other Vietnamese spots on Washington Avenue, give ’em a try. You won’t be disappointed. 1110 Washington Avenue

Banh Mi & Bottles You like Pho Ha? Of course you do. We all do. But this place, which debuted a couple years ago on South Street, was opened by Tuan Phung. And Tuan’s dad is the head chef at Pho Ha. He helped Tuan and his team get things up and running, and it’s now an excellent spot for banh mi (of course), a drink or two, and big bowls of steaming pho. There’s Saigon-style beef (add some braised oxtail for $5 extra), organic chicken, and a portabello-and-enoki mushroom/tofu variety. The dinner special is a great deal, too: half a banh mi and a small pho for just $14. 712 South Street

Pho Saigon Ask any 10 pho fanatics what their favorite spot is and 5 of them will probably say Pho Saigon. Granted, they’re likely split between these two locations, but the purists (a group that includes me) likely prefer the Bustleton Ave. spot for its slow-simmered beef pho, loaded down with meat, vegetables and a huge amount of noodles. If you’re after chicken pho, head for Pennsport. Pho Saigon on Bustleton has one of the rare broths that doesn’t really require any tinkering beyond a squeeze of lime. Plus, the Bustleton location has a parking lot and does take-out pho — both bonuses if you’re in a hurry. 6842 Bustleton Avenue, Northeast Philly and 1100 Columbus Boulevard, Pennsport

The Best Pho in Chinatown and the Northeast

Vietnam Restaurant | Facebook

Pho Saigon Ask any 10 pho fanatics what their favorite spot is and five of them will probably say Pho Saigon. Granted, they’re likely split between the two locations — there’s another in Pennsport — but the purists (a group that includes me) likely prefer the Bustleton Avenue spot for its slow-simmered beef pho, loaded down with meat, vegetables, and a huge amount of noodles. (If you’re after chicken pho, head to the Pennsport outpost.) Pho Saigon on Bustleton has one of the rare broths that doesn’t really require any tinkering beyond a squeeze of lime. Plus, it’s got a parking lot and does take-out pho — both bonuses if you’re in a hurry. 6842 Bustleton Avenue

Pho Xe Lua Pho Xe Lua (or Pho Choo Choo because of the giant neon train on the sign) is one of those places that you should keep in your pocket until circumstances require it. It does excellent, inexpensive pho with a rich, deeply spiced broth — and great Vietnamese food in general — and is an excellent place to hit after having a few drinks in Chinatown. It isn’t open super late (11 p.m. on the weekends), but it’s the perfect place to go if you’re in Chinatown and overwhelmed by all the options. 907 Race Street

Vietnam House You want a place for late-night pho? Vietnam House is it. Popular among kitchen crews, vampires, and Vietnamese insomniacs, this place stays open ’til last call on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends. 901 Race Street

Pho Cali A big, comfortable place for pho fans right in the middle of Chinatown. The pho is solid, traditional, and served in large bowls that don’t skimp on any of the ingredients. 1000 Arch Street

Vietnam Restaurant Vietnam was the first restaurant started by the Lai family, way back in 1984. It’s long been the benchmark by which newer Vietnamese restaurants are judged and has introduced the cuisine to generations of Philly eaters. With a dozen varieties of pho on the menu — everything from the simplest pho tai to bowls of noodle soup with duck leg, hot peppers, or fish cake — it remains a great place for a bowl of soup, no matter your level of pho literacy. And if you’re looking for a drink, Bar Saigon upstairs has you covered. 221 North 11th Street

The Best Pho in Kensington and Fishtown

Street Side | Facebook

Thang Long Sure, people know this place for its chicken pho. It’s a contender for the best, right up there alongside Thanh Thanh (see below). But look at the menu: shrimp wonton, roast pork, and duck pho for $9. That’s all I’m saying. 2534 Kensington Avenue

Cafe Pho Ga Thanh Thanh In a lot of cities with a large community of Vietnamese restaurants, chicken pho can be hard to come by. At Cafe Pho Ga Thanh Thanh (aka Cafe Thanh Thanh), it’s right in the name. The pho ga (chicken pho) is the thing to order. You get your bowl of broth, then a whole or half chicken and a bowl of dipping sauce. You dip the chicken in the sauce, throw it in the broth, and all the flavors just come together. There’s often a line to get into this place, and that’s the reason. 2539 Kensington Avenue

Street Side “Reflecting the best eats, beats, and vibes of Southeast Asia” — that’s their motto. And Street Side is doing it with a menu Asian streets foods, including either steak or brisket pho (or a combo of the two) for just $7. It’s BYO, and everything is served in a casual, colorful, funky space. Bonus: the Vietnamese coffee is excellent, and they’ve got Asian-style sugar donuts for dessert. 165 West Girard Avenue

The Best Pho in Graduate Hospital, West Philly and Fairmount

Vietnam Cafe | Facebook

Huong Tram It’s big. It’s loud. It’s either crowded or empty and rarely seems to be anything in between. Huong Tram is another place with a big, spiral-bound menu of Vietnamese (and Chinese) dishes, but the beef pho with flank steak and the pho bo vien (with meatballs) are worth checking out. Plus, they do a big delivery business and seem to know what they’re doing when it comes to packing up a complicated soup for delivery. 1601 Washington Avenue

Vietnam Cafe This is the sister restaurant to Chinatown’s classic Vietnam restaurant. It’s a lovely spot with vaulted ceilings, hanging lights, tiki drinks from the bar, and roughly the same, wide-ranging menu as the original, with a good number of pho options — all delicious, filling, and spicy when the menu says so. 816 South 47th Street

iPho Banh mi, bubble tea, summer rolls, papaya salad — iPho’s menu hits all the classics. And the pho section is packed with almost 20 options, each available in three sizes, and even the biggest and fanciest of them can be yours for less than 11 bucks. 1921 Fairmount Avenue

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2018/11/08/best-pho-philadelphia/