#mira burgundy

[wrecking-man]

Komi 402: American Friend

Final thoughts:

Daughters! 🗣️🗣️

This was a sweet chapter. I like that Oda took the time to flesh out Mira's personality, as well as her friendships with Komi and Rei. I would like to see something like this eventually for all of Komi's friends.

Komi speaking unassisted...! Well, she did use her notebook a few times, but she still spoke more often than she relied on it. She's getting there! She's doing it! She's communicating!

It was a bit jarring, what with the whole thing about Mira roaming all over Japan on her own... but it's manga. What can you do, right? Or maybe that's just how it is in Japan. I don't know... If so, talk about a high trust society, lmao.

I don't know what else to say about the chapter...

Oh! Rei got bunny ears! It was very cute. Thank you for that, Oda.

Click here to read the liveblogging in chronological order.

[recycledmoviecostumes]

The beautiful yellow robe à la française with burgundy échelle designed by James Acheson is genuinely a work of art. Laura Benson initially wore it as Emilie in the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons. Its intricate details and stunning color combination make it so memorable that it was immediately identifiable when it appeared a second time worn by Mira Sorvino as Marta in the 1994 film Barcelona. 

Costume Credit: carsNcors

Follow: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

[cannondisabledcharacters]

Today’s disabled character of the day is Mirae Kang from My ID is Gangnam Beauty, who has depression and an unspecified trauma disorder

Requested by Anon

[Image Description: Drawing of a young woman with orange wavy hair down to her shoulders and red eyes. She's wearing a soft red lipstick and a burgundy turtleneck. She has a slight blush.]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 5.11

Holidays

Aso ote Tala Lei (Gospel Day; Tuvalu)

Azores Day

Blow Bubbles For Your Cat Day

Bob Marley Day (Jamaica)

Day of the Military Police of the National Armed Forces (Indonesia)

Feynman Day

Human Rights Day (Vietnam)

International Strange Music Festival

Joan of Arc Day (Orleans, France)

Lokadagur (Iceland)

The Long and Winding Road Day

Mata Tirtha Aunsi (Mother’s Day; Nepal)

Miskolc Day (Hungary)

Mixed Race Irish Day

Moose Hide Campaign Day (Canada)

National Deer Association Giving Day

National Foam Rolling Day

National Girls Learning Code Day

National Hairy Nosed Wombat Day (Australia)

National Wear Red Pants Dy

National Technology Day (India)

Richard Feynman Day

Sex Difference in Health Awareness Day

Somerset Day (UK)

Tubeless Tire Day

Twilight Zone Day

Victoria Sponge Day

Witching Day (Isle of Man)

World Ego Awareness Day

World Keffiyeh Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Ball Day

Eat What You Want Day

Eat Without Guilt Day

Hostess Cupcake Day

National Mocha Torte Day

2nd Thursday in May

Dress in Purple Day (Texas) [2nd Thursday]

Keller Williams RED Day [2nd Thursday]

Lanimer Day (fka Landimere’s Day; Lanarkshire & Aberdeen, UK) [1st Thursday after 6th]

One Day Without Shoes [2nd Thursday]

Independence Days

Imvrassia (Declared; 2011) [unrecognized]

Minnesota Statehood Day (#32; 1858)

Feast Days

Anthimus of Rome (Christian; Saint)

Gangulphus of Burgundy (a.k.a. Gengulf; Christian; Saint)

Ice Saints (Europe)

Majolus of Cluny (a.k.a. Maieul; Christian; Saint)

Mamertus, the first of the Ice Saints (Christian; Saint)

Ma Zu (Goddess of the Sea’s Birthday; Buddhism, Taoism)

Nimnim (Muppetism)

Nisga'a Day (Nisga'a Nation/British Columbia)

Paulus Aemilius (Positivist; Saint)

Radunitsa (Ancestors’ Veneration Day; Belarus, Russian Christians, Thomas Sunday Slavs)

Salvador Dali Day (Artology; Church of the SubGenius; Pastafarian; Saint)

Syn’s Blot (Pagan)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lemuria (Day 2 of 3; Ancient Rome) [Unlucky to Marry.]

Prime Number Day: 131 [32 of 72]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Ahab the Arab, by Ray Stevens (Novelty Song; 1962)

Cats (UK Musical Play; 1981)

Cooked, by Michael Pollan (Book; 2013)

Dark Shadows (Film; 2012)

Firestarter (Film; 1984)

Fox-Terror (WB MM Cartoon; 1957)

Higher Ground, recorded by Stevie Wonder (Song; 1973)

A Knight’s Tale (Film; 2001)

MacArthur Park, by Richard Harris (Song; 1968)

The Natural (Film; 1984)

Penny Dreadful (TV Series; 2014)

Road Trip (Film; 2000)

Sniffles Takes a Trip (WB MM Cartoon; 1940)

Tales of Brave Ulysses, recorded by Cream (Song; 1967)

Turn Coat, by Jim Butcher (Novel; 2009)

Water Babies (Disney Cartoon; 1935)

Woodstock (Soundtrack Album; 1970)

Woolen Under Where (WB MM Cartoon; 1963)

Today’s Name Days

Gangolf, Joachim, Mamertus (Austria)

Kiril, Kirila, Metodi (Bulgaria)

Franjo, Mamerto (Croatia)

Svatava (Czech Republic)

Mamertus (Denmark)

Leevo, Liivar, Liivo (Estonia)

Osmo (Finland)

Estelle, Mayeul (France)

Joachim, Mamertus (Germany)

Argyris, Armodios, Dioskouridis, Methodios, Olympia (Greece)

Ferenc (Hungary)

Achille, Fabio, Fiorenzo, Marziale, Stella (Italy)

Karmena, Manfreds, Milda (Latvia)

Mamertas, Miglė, Pilypas, Skirgaudas (Lithuania)

Magda, Malvin (Norway)

Adalbert, Benedykt, Filip, Franciszek, Iga, Ignacja, Ignacy, Lew, Lutogniew, Mamert, Mira, Żegota (Poland)

Chiril, Metodie, Mochie (România)

Blažena (Slovakia)

Fabio, Francisco (Spain)

Märit, Märta (Sweden)

Asa, Ervin, Erwin, Irvin, Irving, Irwing, Marlo, Marlon, Marlow, Marvin, Merle, Merlin, Mervin (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 131 of 2024; 234 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 19 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 26 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Bing-Chen), Day 22 (Ji-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 20 Iyar 5783

Islamic: 20 Shawwal 1444

J Cal: 10 Bīja; Threesday [10 of 30]

Julian: 28 April 2023

Moon: 59%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 19 Caesar (5th Month) [Paulus Aemilius]

Runic Half Month: Ing (Expansive Energy) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 53 of 90)

Zodiac: Taurus (Day 22 of 30)

[smoothing4u]

How to Choose the Perfect Global Hair Colour in Mira Road for Your Skin Tone

Changing your hair colour is one of the most transformative beauty decisions you can make. It can redefine your look, enhance your features, and even boost your confidence. However, the key to achieving the perfect result lies in selecting a hair colour that complements your skin tone. If you're in Mira Road and looking to get a global hair colour, this guide will help you make the best choice for your complexion.

Understanding Your Skin Tone

Before diving into specific hair colours, it's essential to understand your skin tone. Skin tones generally fall into three categories: warm, calm, and neutral. Here's how to determine your undertone:

Warm Undertone: If you have a yellow, golden, or olive hue to your skin, you likely have a warm undertone. People with warm undertones tend to tan easily and often have greenish veins on their wrists.

Cool Undertone: If your skin has a pink, red, or blueish tint, you have a cool undertone. Those with cool undertones usually burn rather than tan and have bluish veins.

Neutral Undertone: If you have a mix of both warm and cool undertones, or if your skin tone is somewhere in between, you likely have a neutral undertone. This undertone allows for a broader range of hair colour options.

Choosing the Right Hair Colour for Your Skin Tone

Once you've identified your skin tone, selecting a flattering hair colour becomes much more accessible. Here's a breakdown of the best global hair colours for each skin tone:

Warm Skin Tones

Rich Browns and Honey Blondes: Shades like caramel, golden brown, and honey blonde complement warm undertones beautifully. These colours bring out the golden hues in your skin, creating a harmonious look.

Auburn and Copper: Red-based tones like auburn and copper are also stunning choices for warm skin tones. They add warmth and vibrancy to your overall appearance.

Avoid Ashy Tones: Ashy or cool-toned colours can make warm skin look sallow or washed out. Stick to warm, golden shades instead.

Cool Skin Tones

Platinum and Ash Blonde: Cool skin tones are perfect for icy shades like platinum and ash blonde. These colours contrast nicely with your skin's pink or blue undertones.

Deep Burgundy and Cool Browns: Rich, cool-toned browns and burgundy shades are excellent choices for adding depth and richness to your hair while complementing your cool undertone.

Avoid Warm Tones: Warm colours like golden blonde or copper can clash with cool skin tones, creating an unbalanced look. Opt for more fabulous shades instead.

Neutral Skin Tones

Versatility: If you have a neutral undertone, you're in luck! Most hair colours will suit your skin tone, from warm honey blondes to cool ash browns.

Experiment with Trends: Feel free to experiment with trendy colours like rose gold and silver or even bold shades like blue or purple. Your skin tone can handle a wide range of hues, so have fun with it!

Consulting with a Professional in Mira Road

While understanding your skin tone and the corresponding hair colours is crucial, consulting with a professional hairstylist in Mira Road can make a significant difference. Experienced stylists can assess your skin tone, consider your lifestyle, and recommend the best global hair colour for you. They can also suggest techniques like balayage or ombré to enhance the overall effect.

Many top salons in Mira Road offer personalized consultations, allowing you to explore different shades and styles before committing to a specific colour. Don't hesitate to ask for advice or a strand test to see how the colour will look against your skin.

Maintaining Your Global Hair Colour

Once you've chosen the perfect global hair colour, it's essential to maintain it properly. Here are some tips to keep your colour vibrant and your hair healthy:

Use Colour-Safe Products: Invest in shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for colour-treated hair. These products help preserve the colour and prevent fading.

Avoid Excessive Heat: Heat styling can strip your hair of its colour and moisture. Use heat-protectant sprays and try to minimize the use of hot tools.

Regular Touch-Ups: Global hair colour requires regular touch-ups to maintain its vibrancy. Schedule follow-up appointments with your stylist in Mira Road to keep your hair looking fresh and vibrant.

Deep Conditioning Treatments: Colour-treated hair can become dry and brittle, so regular deep conditioning treatments are essential. These treatments help restore moisture and keep your hair soft and shiny.

Conclusion

Choosing the perfect global hair colour in Mira Road that complements your skin tone is a blend of understanding your undertones and selecting the right shade. Whether you have warm, cool, or neutral skin, there's a colour out there that will enhance your natural beauty and give you a stunning new look. Remember to consult with a professional stylist for the best results, and maintain your colour with proper care to keep your hair looking its best. With the right choice and maintenance, your new hair colour will make you shine with confidence. For personalized advice and expert global hair colour services, contact Element Unisex Salon in Mira Road today. Our skilled stylists are here to help you find the perfect shade for your unique skin tone. Book your appointment now!

[makingenemies]

𝐌 ,　JACQUELINE LOVEGROVE　...　　( @eg0died ) 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘯. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘺𝘰𝘯 , 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘳𝘴

            call it nerves, what causes a heel to tap excessively or martini bar olives to substitute a meal, something grows over the halcyon. a looming shadow, the silhouette of a man, the moreno god, and he whispers, ' you do not belong here. ' like a sinner in church, ( something admitedly familiar to her ) mira feels this down to her unsettling core.  trespassing.  but her, the one bathed in all the glory the title of fbi director can bestow, she holds it differently, that whisper. “ this is dicy territory we're walking in on, ” an olive on a pick lingers by burgundy stained lips, just long enough to finish a thought. “ j. lovegrove seen at the late lev moreno's luxury casino. ” she bites, an empty pick between her fingers remains. “ it's an eye-catching headline, if they throw in your job title to the mix. ” and she watches. not always jacqueline, but what lies behind her, sprawled out like a menu, and like a moth to a flame all the dirty little secrets draped in ruby red cloth and gold. “ lev had quite the eye for gaudy interior design. ” 

[houseofgerrard]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Fortnight Burgundy Bra 30DD.

[brookston]

Holidays 5.11

Holidays

Aso ote Tala Lei (Gospel Day; Tuvalu)

Azores Day

Blow Bubbles For Your Cat Day

Bob Marley Day (Jamaica)

Day of the Military Police of the National Armed Forces (Indonesia)

Feynman Day

Human Rights Day (Vietnam)

International Strange Music Festival

Joan of Arc Day (Orleans, France)

Lokadagur (Iceland)

The Long and Winding Road Day

Mata Tirtha Aunsi (Mother’s Day; Nepal)

Miskolc Day (Hungary)

Mixed Race Irish Day

Moose Hide Campaign Day (Canada)

National Deer Association Giving Day

National Foam Rolling Day

National Girls Learning Code Day

National Hairy Nosed Wombat Day (Australia)

National Wear Red Pants Dy

National Technology Day (India)

Richard Feynman Day

Sex Difference in Health Awareness Day

Somerset Day (UK)

Tubeless Tire Day

Twilight Zone Day

Victoria Sponge Day

Witching Day (Isle of Man)

World Ego Awareness Day

World Keffiyeh Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Ball Day

Eat What You Want Day

Eat Without Guilt Day

Hostess Cupcake Day

National Mocha Torte Day

2nd Thursday in May

Dress in Purple Day (Texas) [2nd Thursday]

Keller Williams RED Day [2nd Thursday]

Lanimer Day (fka Landimere’s Day; Lanarkshire & Aberdeen, UK) [1st Thursday after 6th]

One Day Without Shoes [2nd Thursday]

Independence Days

Imvrassia (Declared; 2011) [unrecognized]

Minnesota Statehood Day (#32; 1858)

Feast Days

Anthimus of Rome (Christian; Saint)

Gangulphus of Burgundy (a.k.a. Gengulf; Christian; Saint)

Ice Saints (Europe)

Majolus of Cluny (a.k.a. Maieul; Christian; Saint)

Mamertus, the first of the Ice Saints (Christian; Saint)

Ma Zu (Goddess of the Sea’s Birthday; Buddhism, Taoism)

Nimnim (Muppetism)

Nisga'a Day (Nisga'a Nation/British Columbia)

Paulus Aemilius (Positivist; Saint)

Radunitsa (Ancestors’ Veneration Day; Belarus, Russian Christians, Thomas Sunday Slavs)

Salvador Dali Day (Artology; Church of the SubGenius; Pastafarian; Saint)

Syn’s Blot (Pagan)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lemuria (Day 2 of 3; Ancient Rome) [Unlucky to Marry.]

Prime Number Day: 131 [32 of 72]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Ahab the Arab, by Ray Stevens (Novelty Song; 1962)

Cats (UK Musical Play; 1981)

Cooked, by Michael Pollan (Book; 2013)

Dark Shadows (Film; 2012)

Firestarter (Film; 1984)

Fox-Terror (WB MM Cartoon; 1957)

Higher Ground, recorded by Stevie Wonder (Song; 1973)

A Knight’s Tale (Film; 2001)

MacArthur Park, by Richard Harris (Song; 1968)

The Natural (Film; 1984)

Penny Dreadful (TV Series; 2014)

Road Trip (Film; 2000)

Sniffles Takes a Trip (WB MM Cartoon; 1940)

Tales of Brave Ulysses, recorded by Cream (Song; 1967)

Turn Coat, by Jim Butcher (Novel; 2009)

Water Babies (Disney Cartoon; 1935)

Woodstock (Soundtrack Album; 1970)

Woolen Under Where (WB MM Cartoon; 1963)

Today’s Name Days

Gangolf, Joachim, Mamertus (Austria)

Kiril, Kirila, Metodi (Bulgaria)

Franjo, Mamerto (Croatia)

Svatava (Czech Republic)

Mamertus (Denmark)

Leevo, Liivar, Liivo (Estonia)

Osmo (Finland)

Estelle, Mayeul (France)

Joachim, Mamertus (Germany)

Argyris, Armodios, Dioskouridis, Methodios, Olympia (Greece)

Ferenc (Hungary)

Achille, Fabio, Fiorenzo, Marziale, Stella (Italy)

Karmena, Manfreds, Milda (Latvia)

Mamertas, Miglė, Pilypas, Skirgaudas (Lithuania)

Magda, Malvin (Norway)

Adalbert, Benedykt, Filip, Franciszek, Iga, Ignacja, Ignacy, Lew, Lutogniew, Mamert, Mira, Żegota (Poland)

Chiril, Metodie, Mochie (România)

Blažena (Slovakia)

Fabio, Francisco (Spain)

Märit, Märta (Sweden)

Asa, Ervin, Erwin, Irvin, Irving, Irwing, Marlo, Marlon, Marlow, Marvin, Merle, Merlin, Mervin (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 131 of 2024; 234 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 19 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 26 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Bing-Chen), Day 22 (Ji-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 20 Iyar 5783

Islamic: 20 Shawwal 1444

J Cal: 10 Bīja; Threesday [10 of 30]

Julian: 28 April 2023

Moon: 59%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 19 Caesar (5th Month) [Paulus Aemilius]

Runic Half Month: Ing (Expansive Energy) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 53 of 90)

Zodiac: Taurus (Day 22 of 30)

[wrecking-man]

For those of you who may not remember, Komi has been making an effort to rely on her notebook less. She's gotten a lot better.

Pomph! Pomph!

"Hmph! Hmph!" just doesn't give the same vibe. I miss pomph and the honorifics. Other than that, Viz does a decent enough job.

"Friend"!

So cute. I love her!

[edwardsmate4ever]

Wedding Party outfits for Sky & Clara's commitment ceremony in my fic Full Circle, Chapter 10.

Page boy outfit: Ring bearer Billy

Burgundy suit: Jacob and Edward

Burgundy pantsuit: Leah

Flower Girl dress: Mira

Matron of Honor dress: Sue

[queenofcandynsoda]

TND OC: Emma Gagliardi

Emma Gagliardi

Name: Emmersette Gagliardi (full name), Italian for Nightmare (nickname from Fanny), Mini-succubus (from Fanny), Spawn of Satan (from Fanny), Witch (from Paddy)

Age: 12

Affiliation: DonKeigh Elementary School, The Student Council

Occupation: Student, School President 

Base: Her home, Room 201 (Student Council meeting room)

Nationality: Italian-American

Appearance: Emma is a young girl with long strawberry blond hair and gray eyes. 

Causal: Emma wears a purple and black camisole blouse with a blue skirt and black shoes. 

Student: Despite DonKeigh Elementary not having a uniform policy, Emma wears a white blouse and burgundy plaid knee-length skirt, along with a cream colored vest, white knee socks, and black Mary Janes. Her backpack is maroon. 

Class Meetings: Emma wears a pink skirt suit with a pearl necklace and white Mary Janes. Instead of a backpack, she carries a black leather suitcase. 

About: Emma is the class president, leader of the art club, and Paddy’s ex-girlfriend from kindergarten to second-grade. They broke up because Paddy joined the KND and he and Fanny realized how CRAZY Emma is. Despite her young age, Emma is a cunning and ruthless girl. She has no problems taking advantage of the boys who have a crush on and enjoys seeing her enemies miserable. Emma is very obsessed about Paddy, even creating several scrapbooks about him and every point of his personal life, including the picture of his botched haircut. Even her own parents are afraid of her. Emma blames Fanny for ruining their relationship and not afraid of her. Fanny is constantly coming up with plans to get her off of her brother’s back. Fanny has done everything to keep Emma away from Paddy. She even made an anti-Emma kit for Paddy if he falls for her again. Despite her faults, Emma is very beloved in the school as she genuinely wants everyone to succeed and be happy. She is rather photogenetic and loves giving interviews most of the time. The class council was appointed by her but they stay mostly neutral on this and unfazed by her antics. Though, they can be petty with Fanny. Emma also has tensions with a high schooler named Marsala Payton, who works with Ashley for her Gossip Group. This started when Emma was unable to do an interview with her, causing Marsala to try to “dig up” personal information about her so she could use it for “Tea Hour”. However, Emma’s father threatened legal action against her, forcing her to stop.

Student Council: Chosen by the Class President, Approved by the Principal 

Class President- Emma

Role: Ultimately responsible for all class activities; creates agenda and presides over meetings; delegates duties and acts as the representative for the class

Class Vice-president- Jake

Role: Fulfills the duties of the president when the president is absent; performs duties assigned by the president

Secretary- Mona-Lisa

Role: Takes meeting minutes; maintains correspondence & attendance records; keeps class activity calendar/webpage; responsible for all sign-up sheets

Treasurer- Jack & Jill

Role: Establishes budget; records all financial transactions; gives status report at class meetings; authorizes expenditures; inventories fundraising items; and collects/deposits fundraising money earned

Historian- Mira 

Role: Writes a narrative of activities and events; maintains a scrapbook of documents & memorabilia; coordinates activities with newspaper and yearbook teams; and publicizes activities

Fundraising Officer- Rhea

Role: Solicits donations from businesses, organizes activities to earn money for class needs

Sergeant at Arms- Ted

Role: Maintains order and decorum at meetings

Head Hall Monitor- Troy

Role: Maintains silence and order in the school halls

[10-porgs-in-a-trenchcoat]

Foxiyo Week: Fearless

@foxiyoweek

[This entry takes place in a happily-ever-after AU, approx. five years after Palpatine is exposed and removed from power]

--

When he was a soldier, there was very little in his day-to-day duties that scared Fox. Fear of blaster fire, explosions, blood, violence, injury, and death had been conditioned out of his psyche during his training. As a result, he had considered himself fairly unflappable. But then he fell in love, and with that love came fear of heartbreak and fear of loss. And when he and Riyo learned they were expecting a baby, another fear came to him: that he would not be a good father. Then the day came when he held his newborn daughter for the first time, and his love for her greatly outweighed his fears.

At four years old, little Mira Chuchi was almost a perfect mix of her parents. She had her mother’s blue skin and crescent-shaped markings on her cheeks, and her father’s deep brown eyes and curly black hair. At first Fox worried that she would age quickly like he did, but by both human and Pantoran metrics she was aging at the same rate as any other natural-born child from either species. That brought him relief, since it meant she could have the normal happy childhood he never got.

“Tell me a bedtime story, Papa?” Mira asked once she was settled into bed, snuggled up under the covers. Fox sat perched on the edge of the bed next to her and she looked up at him with big bright eyes. She clutched a stuffed tooka plushie in her arms.

“I would love to,” Fox responded. He wracked his brain, trying to think of a story to tell. His mind settled on one event from his life, from before Mira was born, and he quickly thought of a way to translate it into something child-friendly.

“Once there was a soldier, one of the bravest soldiers in the entire Republic. He always did the right thing and helped people and stopped every bad guy he crossed. One day a giant monster came to Coruscant and terrorized the city. Rawwrrr!” He let out a roar and raised his hands into claws before diving in to lightly tickle at Mira. She giggled in response to being tickled.

“The monster was big and scary, and it tried to eat the people in the city. It tried to eat a little girl, but the brave soldier swooped in and saved her just in time! Carried her away and gave her back to her mom. And he saved many more people from being eaten too!”

“Did the soldier beat the monster?” Mira asked innocently.

Maybe it was best to lie a little bit, he thought, for entertainment’s sake. She didn’t need to know that in reality he had been hit in the face by the Zillo Beast’s claws.

“Yes, he did. All by himself. He shot a cable and tied it around the monster’s legs, and it fell onto the ground!” He slapped his hand onto the bed for dramatic effect. “And then … then he stunned the monster and loaded it onto a starship and flew it to a far away planet where it could live with others of its kind. Then the soldier returned to Coruscant and was rewarded for being the bravest and most fearless soldier in the entire galaxy.”

Mira narrowed her eyes in a skeptical scrutiny. “That’s not your best bedtime story, Papa.”

Fox stifled a laugh. She was just like her mother.

A laugh came from the doorway of the bedroom, and Fox turned to see Riyo standing there. She leaned against the doorway, dressed in her burgundy-and-gold skirt and jacket that she often wore to the Senate. She must have just gotten home from work, Fox thought.

“Momma!” Mira squeaked excitedly. She sat up and looked up at her mother with a toothy grin.

“Hello, my baby,” cooed Riyo as she walked over to the bed and knelt beside her daughter.

“Papa told me a bedtime story about the bravest soldier and a monster!”

“I heard,” said Riyo as she smoothed a hand over the top of Mira’s hair.

“Apparently it wasn’t my best work,” shrugged Fox.

Riyo chuckled. “Well since Mira’s going to sleep you’ll have plenty of time to think of a better one.” She turned her attention back to Mira. “If I’m home when you go to bed tomorrow I’ll tell you a bedtime story, how’s that?”

“Okay Momma,” said Mira. She lay back down, snuggled into her pillow, and Riyo drew the covers back over her to tuck her back in.

Riyo then leaned in to kiss Mira on the forehead. “Sleep tight, my baby. I love you.”

Fox then gave Mira little kisses on her cheek and forehead. “Love you, starlight. Good night.”

“Good night. Love you Momma, love you Papa.”

Fox then followed Riyo out of Mira’s room, turning off the lights and closing the door behind him. The two went to the living room; as Riyo plopped herself down on the couch and leaned back, Fox went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine and two glasses. On his way back into the living room, he caught his reflection in a window by the dining table. He went back and forth on how he felt about the streaks of gray hair around his temples; it was a sign he was getting older, which shouldn’t have surprised him, yet he counted himself lucky that he was going gray rather than bald.

“You’re the bravest, most fearless soldier in the entire galaxy now?” Riyo asked with a smirk as Fox sat down next to her. She leaned over to plant a kiss on his cheek.  

“Well, every kid wants to think their dad’s a hero,” answered Fox as he poured out the wine. “Besides, you should hear the stories Rex tells his kids!” He handed a glass to Riyo.

“How is Rex these days?”

“He’s doing great. He, his husband, and their kids will actually be on Coruscant next week, and I’m looking forward to Mira finally getting to meet her cousins.”

“That will be so wonderful, we haven’t seen them since their wedding.”

“I know,” said Fox wistfully, “and if we can also convince Bly and Secura to come around with their little one, it will really be a party.”

A brief beat of silence passed as they both took drinks.

“How was the Senate today? You’re home late.” Fox asked.

Riyo let out a deep, long sigh, then leaned her head on Fox’s shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her and drew her in closer to him.

“It’s like pulling teeth. There are still so many warmongers and Palpatine loyalists. Padme and I are doing everything we can to get them to come across and support Chancellor Organa’s efforts to rebuild worlds devastated by the war, but we’re getting nowhere.”  

“Maybe I resigned too soon,” said Fox, “if I were still with the army I could inspire them to cooperate. Or I’ll call Wolffe and ask him to pay them a visit.”

“Tempting, but don’t worry about it. Diplomacy will win.”

“I know it will, you and Amidala are the best of the best.” Fox pressed his lips to Riyo’s forehead.

“I just wish things would work out, I feel like I barely get to see Mira anymore. I know Padme’s missing her babies too.”

“This won’t last forever, things will be normal again one day,” said Fox, trying to sound reassuring. “But we can figure out ways for you and Mira to spend more time together until then. She knows the work you do is important, but she misses you too.”

Riyo craned her head upward to brush her lips against Fox’s jaw. “You’re such a wonderful father. Even better husband.” She snuggled back into him and wrapped an arm around his torso.

Fox smirked and rubbed his hand up and down Riyo’s arm. “Careful, keep talking like that and I’ll get to work on making Mira a big sister,” he said mischievously.

Riyo sat up and looked him dead in the eye. “I was actually thinking about asking you if you wanted to try for another child soon. We’d have to talk more about it in depth, I just want to know if we’re on the same page first.”

“Definitely.” He grinned from ear to ear. The thought of having another baby made his heart swell with joy.

The two leaned towards each other, meeting with a kiss in the middle. They then remained in place, their foreheads resting against one another.

“I love you so much,” Riyo murmured. “I’m so glad I have you.”

“I’m luckier to have you. I love you from now until the end of time.”

Riyo smiled and reached up to cradle his face in her hand. She kissed him again.

--

Later that night as he drifted off to sleep, Fox thought about how the past five years had been beyond anything he ever anticipated. The war ended after Palpatine was discovered to be playing both sides for his own gain, and he was ousted from power and held prisoner by the Jedi. (The Jedi kept him locked up somewhere hidden and were annoyingly secretive about their reasons for it, and they managed to stonewall the Senate at every turn, but that was a headache for another day)

The Republic and the Separatists had a peace treaty and were cordially frosty towards one another in their joint efforts to rebuild worlds hardest hit by the war. Most importantly for him, the Senate voted to grant clones full legal personhood. He resigned his commission without a second thought and asked Riyo to marry him. Miracle upon miracles, she said yes.

He thought back to his days as a cadet on Kamino, how his younger self could never imagine a future where he was husband to a brilliant Senator and father to a wonderful little girl. None of his brothers likely anticipated a future where they could choose their own paths, but the ones who survived the war could. Rex had his husband, kids, and a farm on Alderaan; Bly had Secura and their child and a quiet life on Ryloth; Cody and Wolffe were still in the army but they had fulfillment and a newfound sense of purpose; and his brothers in the Coruscant Guard either transferred to private security work or went to trade schools and universities. He was happy for all of them and prouder than he could put into words. It was better than the best that he once hoped for them. It was what they all deserved.

As for Fox … he had everything he ever wanted since the day he realized he was in love with Riyo. He couldn’t ask for anything else.

[guardianofrivendell]

PERFECT SECRETS - CHAPTER 1

Legolas x OC multichapter 

Requested - Nope

Summary - Mira. A short and unusual name for a short and unusual Elf. After an audience with Galadriel goes sideways, she leaves her birthplace Lóthlorien and the Elves for good.  That is until a certain Gandalf asks for a favor. Come along on her journey, as she reluctantly agrees to accompany Gandalf on the quest to destroy the One Ring.  She befriends every Fellowship member, except one. Legolas and Mira are water and fire from the very first moment they laid eyes on each other. Will this be an obstacle during the quest or is it going to make everything just a little more interesting?

Warnings - none, a lot of sarcasm

Masterlist Perfect Secrets

Mira. 

A short and unusual name for an Elf, but it fitted her perfectly. After all, many would call her short and unusual too. That is, if they had known she was an Elf to begin with. But more of that later.

You see, her name hadn’t always been Mira. When she was born, she was given the name Eímiraelyn. [εɪ-mirəlɪn]

Mira used to live with her parents in Lóthlorien. From the moment she was born, she had been different, or as her parents like to call her ‘special’.

Elves were fairly tall, elegant and light footed. She was anything but. Short with long hair; not blonde and perfectly straight like most Elves, no, Mira had to have dark burgundy hair that curled at the ends, which turned fiery red when the sun touched her head. 

And as if that wasn’t enough, she was clumsy. No big deal, you would think, but a clumsy Elf, that was unheard of. 

The only thing that made her a typical Elf on the outside, were her pointy ears. 

The other children teased her for not being a pure Elf because she looked different and she had often asked her Nanneth and Ada if it was true. 

And every time they would assure her that she was one of the purest, that there was no other as special as she was. That one day she was destined to do great things. 

Mira hated it. She didn’t want to be special, she just wanted to fit in.

There was one thing about her appearance that she was proud of: her eyes. They were dark brown at the edges, turning lighter towards the iris and in the lighter section you could see small green freckles. It reminded her of the trees in the forest. 

When she grew older, she started to withdraw herself in her room or the training grounds, showing interest in the archers and guards who trained their sword skills. 

One might expect she would constantly hurt herself in training because of her clumsiness, but to her own surprise and especially that of others she was a natural in archery and wasn’t all that bad with knives. She had tried to wield a sword but it didn’t feel right to her. Relieved she finally found something she was good at, she spent all her time perfecting her skills. 

Her peaceful time in Lóthlorien came to an abrupt halt when she turned a hundred. 

It was tradition for every Elf in Lóthlorien to have a private audience with Lady Galadriel when their 100th winter passed. Mira was excited, even though she had no idea what to expect. No one was allowed to discuss their audience, because it was different and very personal for each. 

For Mira it was her only chance to ask for a favor of the Lady of the Light. And she was going to take it with both hands. 

To say it didn’t quite go as planned was an understatement. What Mira learned that day would change everything. 

The Lady Galadriel welcomed her and had asked about her expectations of their meeting. When Mira requested if her appearance could be more like everyone else, she had immediately declined, repeating the words her parents told her countless times.

“You are very special, Eímiraelyn. Destined to do great things, it would be highly unwise to turn away from your own destiny.”

“And what may that destiny be?” Mira had asked. Lady Galadriel had smiled kindly to her. 

“That is for you to find out, hîn nin.” (My Child)

She had rolled her eyes at that, earning a chuckle from Galadriel. 

“Tell me, Eímiraelyn, have you noticed something different about you?”

Mira gave her a very sarcastic look, as if to say ‘Seriously?’. She grabbed a lock of her hair to emphasize what she meant. 

“I do not speak of your appearance. You, hîn nin, have been touched by the Valar and were blessed with the gift of foresight. It is not as strong as mine, but it can be trained.”

Mira blinked a couple of times. Foresight? As in seeing the future?

“Your gift is still very small, only flashes from what is to happen. Mere seconds, not easy to read.”

“Suuuure… And I’m a princess too?” Mira couldn’t help but roll her eyes again. One day her sarcasm would get her into a lot of trouble, but it just came natural to her. 

Lady Galadriel only stared, a knowing smile on her lips.

“You’re kidding me right?”

“You carry a remarkable fierceness within you, Eímiraelyn, it is one of your greatest strengths. I’m quite certain the Prince of Mirkwood will appreciate it as much as I do.”

“Who?”

“Ever since you were born, hîn nin, there has been an agreement between the kingdoms of Lóthlorien and Mirkwood that you were to be wedded to their Prince as soon as you come of age.” 

Lady Galadriel had awaited her reaction to the news with caution. Mira had managed to keep herself together, but internally she was boiling with anger. An arranged marriage? Was that why they kept telling her she was so special? Because she was ‘reserved’ for some kind of stuck up, spoiled Elven Prince who was almost certainly struggling with Ada issues and had a brain as empty as the Mines of Moria?

“I suppose I don’t have anything to say about this?”

“My dear Eímiraelyn. I would have been surprised if you had gone along with it willingly,” Lady Galadriel smiled at her knowingly. “The King of Mirkwood and his son will arrive in a few weeks for you. I am quite sure you will take a liking to the Prince as soon as you meet him.” 

As much as she trusted Lady Galadriel’s judgement, she wasn’t planning on sticking around to see for herself. 

The audience had ended shortly after, leaving Mira extremely disappointed. 

She still looked the way she did, was ‘blessed’ with a gift that hadn’t yet surfaced and on top of that, she was on the eve of an arranged marriage to a prince she had never met. 

She tried countless times to persuade her parents to change their mind about the marriage, but they kept telling her that it was an honour that the Valar’s choice had fallen on her and that she was extremely fortunate to be able to live a royal life. Mira couldn’t disagree more. 

She said goodbye to Lóthlorien a few days later, taking her bow and knives and the clothes she was wearing as her only belongings. 

That was almost eight hundred years ago. She changed her name to Mira, kept her ears hidden beneath her hair and started swerving around Middle Earth on her own for a couple of years. 

Once in a while she would stay at a village of the race of Men, but not the larger ones. She avoided Edoras and Minas Tirith, too afraid to bump into Elves who might recognize her. Curse her dark red hair. 

 After a century or two, she decided to explore Middle Earth some more. 

It was during one of those ‘expeditions’ that she met Gandalf. He had immediately known who she was, even tried to persuade her into returning to Lóthlorien, but Mira had made it very clear that it wasn’t an option, begging him not to tell anyone that he saw her. 

Gandalf had gifted her a dark brown cloak, that was fairly short - it ended right at the top of her thighs - but the most useful part was the large hood. 

That cloak became her biggest friend. She wore the hood up constantly, keeping her burgundy hair out of sight. Because she didn’t look like your standard Elf, she could hide her race pretty well too. 

From that day on, Mira only lived with or stayed close to humans, helping them defend their village against Orcs and other scum. When they became suspicious of her not ageing, she simply left and traveled further. This worked just fine. 

Once in a while she bumped into Gandalf again, sometimes accompanying him on some of his ‘quests’, as he liked to call them. 

She always accepted his invitations, except for that one time. 

Almost 7 centuries after she had left Lóthlorien, Gandalf had asked her to be his ‘burglar’ for something he would call the “Quest of Erebor”. She of course had turned it down, asking him if he had lost his mind. It would take her way too close to Mirkwood. She couldn’t risk it. 

Gandalf had protested, but let her go. She learned afterwards that he succeeded in his journey and it had resulted in a massive battle between Dwarves, Elves, Men and Orcs. It almost made her regret her decision, it sounded like a lot of fun. 

She hadn’t heard from Gandalf since. 

That was until today. 

A/N: A chapter to get to know our lead character. Let me know what you think! My requests for imagines/HC are still open for LOTR/The Hobbit!

[crimeshowtrash]

Second Chances

Chapter 1

Warnings: none

Words: 1.2k

Updates: every Tuesday

That morning began like any other. Well, that was not true. It was a chaotic freakin’ mess. At least it seemed to be, but that was on brand for the Bose family. 

Mira Bose was annoyingly just like her mother. Sarcastic, stubborn, and anal retentive, but cute. However, the most important trait the 5 year old got from her mother was her absolute love of sleep. The girl could fall asleep regardless of what she was doing or where she was (like when she fell asleep while potty training and fell off of the toilet which led to her very first trip to the hospital and a bright pink cast). But for some god forsaken reason, Mira had chosen the day before her mother's first day at her dream job to decide she would develop insomnia. Maya ultimately at 4 o’ clock decided to give her daughter some Benadryl in the hopes of getting at least a 30 minute nap before her first day of work. 

And that was how she wound up here. In an overcrowded elevator at 7:08 am, late for her very first day. That was definitely bound to go over great with her new boss, thought Maya with a grimace on her face. At least her daughter was having a better time she thought, wishing that she herself could have been experiencing a Benadryl induced coma.

The elevator doors opened, and Maya rushed out flattening her burgundy skirt, getting out all the nonexistent wrinkles, as she headed towards the doors which held her future. She could feel prying eyes on her frame as she made her way up the stairs to the Special Agent in Charge’s office, Aaron Hotchner. She knocked on the open door and waited for him to look up.

Aaron stood up and walked around his desk.

“You must be Maya, our new agent”, said Aaron, shaking her hand.

“Yes sir, it is a pleasure to meet you”, replied Maya.

“Now I know you already got all of your paperwork out of the way last week, so let’s head out to meet the rest of the team”, responded Aaron, leading Maya out of his office.

The two walked to the round table where everyone was crowded murmuring about what Maya assumed was the new pig out to slaughter. A silence came over the group as the two got closer.

“Everyone, this is Special Agent Maya Bose. Maya, this is everyone”, introduced Hotch.

“Oh my precious Maya, it is so good to see you again”, said Penelope hugging Maya.

“Lovely to see you as well Pen”, smiled Maya.

“And wait, let me guess. Penny told me all about ya’ll”, said Maya.

Her eyes took in the rest of the team before continuing to say, “This has got to be Penny’s chocolate thunder and god from above Derek Morgan”, Derek smiled and winked at Penelope.

“And you are Ms. Emily boobs Prentiss who loves to both sin and win”, Emily chuckled.

“This must be communications liaison extraordinaire and discount finding queen, Jennifer Jureau”, JJ smiles.

“We can’t forget David Rigatoni Rossi; lover of pasta, cigars, and the finer things in life”, David lets out a boisterous laugh.

“And I’m sorry. Penelope didn’t mention you, you are?” questioned Maya, looking at Spencer.

A look of insult and confusion filled Spencer’s face.

Maya grins at his reaction.

“I’m just kidding. This is the amazing Dr. Spencer Reid. Resident genius on...well everything, including something called physics magic”, said Maya.

A look of relief appears on Spencer's face as the rest of the team chuckles.  

“Oh Hotch. I got distracted, but we have a case”, said JJ.

“How bad is it?”, questioned David.

“Florida”, responded JJ with a grimace.

The team let out a collective sigh which confused Maya. 

“Well, I hope you are ready, Special Agent Bose”, said Hotch as the team sat down while JJ passed around the tablets containing the case files.

“Three trans women, all brunettes in their early 30’s. All had cigarette burns and were brutally sodomized. All were left in or around dumpsters in downtown Miami. And all the women had their...um breasts cut off”, winced JJ.

“Well the trash is a sign of dehumanizing. The unsub clearly views these women as garbage”, said Derek.

“He might have been slighted or rejected by a trans woman or he himself is battling with his own gender identity and views himself as an abomination for feeling this way”, added Maya.

The team all had various looks of respect and reverence on their faces.

“Okay, wheels up in 20”, said Hotch.

***

“Okay, now that you’ve gotten a moment to breathe, tell us about yourself”, asks Emily.

“You just want to know if I think the boobs live up to Penelope’s description”, smirked Maya.

Emily smiles at the new agent.

“Come on mama, tell us a little bit about yourself”, pushed Derek.

“Down boy”, smiled Maya.

“If you must know…my name is Maya, obviously. I was born and raised in Maryland. I married young, and it did not end well at all. But I did receive the best gift ever from that asshole, my daughter Mira. She’s 5 years old and an absolute pain in my ass. But she’s a literal carbon copy of myself, so I’ve got no one to blame. And um a fun fact, caffeine doesn’t work on me so I am looking forward to these long hours”, continued Maya.

“Hotch also has a 5 year old boy, his name is Jack”, said JJ smiling.

“Well if he’s anything like you Hotch, he must be a lot easier to parent”, said Maya.

“He’s pretty great, but Mira can’t be that bad”, replied Hotch, a smile on his face as he talked about Jack.

“When I was potty training her, she fell asleep on the toilet and fell off. She broke her arm so we went to the hospital. She was asking for ice cream, and I said not now but we can pick some up on our way home. She got so upset that when I left to fill out some paperwork she told the nurses I hurt her. And that got CPS and police involved. And CPS still comes around every now and then. Trust me, she can be bad”, said Maya.

Various snorts of laughter escaped the team.

“Well you said she’s just like you so we should be ever so lucky to have you join us”, said Dave.

“I am most definitely a handful, that��s for sure”, replied Maya.

***

Maya sat down across from her boss and handed him a cup of coffee.

“Thanks, you did good today Bose”, said Aaron.

“Oh, I know” said Maya with a grin on her face.

“It’ll be good to have you on the team. We need someone who can joke around and get along with the worst of people”, replied Hotch.

Maya grinned before saying, “I knew my mom was wrong. I am good for something”.

“You know Hotch, you never did ask me what Penelope said to describe you”, said Maya questioningly.

“What did she say?”, asked Hotch.

“She said that you were the strong, silent leader who gets stuff done. Oh, and that you put the Hot in Hotchner. And well...she wasn’t wrong”, said Maya, looking over Hotch and grinning as she winked, before walking back to her seat. Leaving behind a distracted and blushing Hotch, with a slight grin that couldn’t help but escape as he watched Maya walk away.

Taglist: @kathleenjasmine

[thebibliomancer]

Song of the Dark Crystal liveblog pt 5

Song of the Dark Crystal by J.M. Lee because it’s dinner time!

Last time in book: Kylan and Naia have joined forces with Rian to overthrow the Skeksis. Rian’s plan is to go to the All-Maudra with his claims and a vial of Mira goo. To kill time before dinner with Rian’s family, Kylan reads a bunch of rocks and Naia has a nap.

Chapter 5

Dinner is awkward for everyone. Then the plot comes knocking. Rian, Kylan, and Naia make a game plan.

Oops, this is a slightly bigger chapter that ruined my one week streak! But its also a really good chapter that I quite enjoyed!

Mythra leads Kylan and Naia into the kitchen and introduces them to mom Shoni and little brother Timtri.

Like most Stonewood Gelfling, she had long dark hair, and her soft wings were brown and red, with two large black eyespots accented by other dappleso f orange, gold, and tan.

Shoni pretty.

She stops preparing dinner to greet the guests.

Shoni set down her chopping knife and rounded the table to cup Naia’s face and then Kylan’s. Her hands smelled of spices and carrots. It was a warm gesture that Kylan had seen many mothers do, although he couldn’t remember much about his own mother, and certainly Maudra Mera would never have done something so kind to him.

OH MY GOD

Shoni pls adopt this boy right now!

That’s the relationship I ship, Shoni adopts Kylan.

Because, geez, the more Kylan and Mera’s relationship is expounded on, the sadder I feel.

“Hello, my sweets. I’m glad to finally meet you. Please, sit down. Ignore Rian if he’s cold to you. Rian! Fetch our guests something to drink, would you?”

“I can do it, Mother,” Mythra suggested, but Shoni waved her away.

“I want him to do it. It will be good for him.”

Wow. Savage. Rian is having a bad time in these opening chapters.

So, dinner is served on a stone table that seems to be growing out of the ground, leading Kylan to wonder whether the hut or table came first. Dinner is nuts, spiced peach-berries, and diced root.

I wonder if Stone-in-the-Wood doesn’t eat a lot of meat or whether this family doesn’t. Probably meat is a special occasion food.

Shoni asks about how far they’ve traveled which starts a conversation about Landstriders which makes Kylan feel like crap because he’s bad at all the Spriton things.

[Kylan] didn’t want to tell them about his brief foray into riding, the majority of which involved falling off, spooking the beasts, or a combination of the two. Galloping across the plains was one of the many Spriton traditions Kylan had seen much and done little of. There was that, and spear mastering, and bola throwing...

Geez. Kylan needs a hug. And some self-confidence. And another feel good day full of reading.

Actually, its an awkward dinner for other reasons too. Naia mentions that she’s thankful Kylan was good enough at riding to guide them away from the castle and Rian, grim boy that he is, mentions its good because if they didn’t have a Landstrider they would have been caught by the Skeksis.

“Rian!” Shoni scolded. “Now’s not the time. Can’t we enjoy one meal as a family without mentioning... that?”

“I don’t know, Mother. Can we even call ourselves a family when Father -.”

“Enough.”

o_o

Wow. I guess Skeksis are the politics of Thra and discussion of them will just ruin dinner. That and Ordon is hunting down Rian for the Skeksis. Imagine thats contributing.

Rian just bringing it up like that smacked me in the face though.

Shoni flicked her wings once, shrugging off the little argument

Wiiiiiiiing body language! I loves it!

Shoni switches the conversation to safe small talk and asks what the Drenchen do for fun, leading Naia to an enthusiastic explanation of various fun swamp activities.

Here’s one I like.

“When I was younger and argued with my sisters, my mother used to throw gems into the deeper parts of the swamp and make us find them before they sank into the mud. If we couldn’t find a gem, we had to do chores under Great Smerth, cleaning mites from the roots and such.”

That’s good swamp parenting.

Everyone is getting into the conversation about swamp activities. Kylan thinks that Naia sounds like she’s bragging, but in an endearing way. Even Rian seems to be listening to the conversation.

He jumps in to mention that Gurjin told him about the bola tourneys held and starts discussing comparative bolas with Naia. How the Drenchen bola uses shorter rope so it has more force and less chance to tangle.

And Naia gets into the topic of bolas and tries to bring Kylan in to talk about Spriton bolas.

Kylan shrank a little into his shoulders. He appreciated her attempt to include him, but the truth was, he didn’t know how shorter or longer rope changed a bola, or whether smaller or larger stones would be better in the field or forest. He didn’t know, and a part of him didn’t even care. He shrugged.

“I guess,” he said.

His contribution was so small and green, it almost killed the tiny flame of conversation entirely. Naia was ready with kindling words.

I really like that metaphor. But also, wow, this is like every awkward family dinner smooshed into one.

“Kylan is a song teller, and a dream etcher. A very good one! And even so, he can still throw a bola. He struck skekMal the Hunter square in the face.”

Again, Naia was only trying to help, but to Kylan, it sounded less like an endorsement and more as if she were trying to excuse him. As if being a song teller explained his athletic ineptitude, and his single victory in combat redeemed him.

=(

I don’t know how many ways I can say wow what an awkward dinner. Poor Kylan.

Rian grunts approvingly of Kylan bonking the Hunter and adds that he’d love to do that himself one day.

Then the dinner gets EVEN MORE AWKWARD as Maudra Fara shows up. (Fugitive Rian of course hides while she’s visiting.)

An older Gelfing stood outside, dressed in indigos and greens, her dark burgundy-and-gold wings folded along the length of her back like a cloak. From the beads and ornaments woven into her dark hair, Kylan realized who she must be.

Maudra Fara is also pretty.

But she’s here on business. And for Kylan, specifically. She saw a Spriton on the rise and figured hey, a Spriton. Then she received a note about a Kylan.

She tells him “Before you wonder -- it is bad news.” Just ripping the band-aid off. That’s the Fara I know!

To my maudra sisters:

Take note. Lords skekLach and skekMal arrived early this morning. They sought one of mine, a runaway named Kylan. They say he is a traitor. When they did not find him, they took three others as collateral. If you know of Kylan’s whereabouts, send him to me, and I will take responsibility for him.

In Thra’s song,

Dream Stitcher Mera

aw crap Kylan is a fugitive now too.

(I wonder what skekMal’s title is when he’s not being a serial killer. He can’t go by Hunter because that’s his secret identity.)

Naia gets rightly offended at the Skeksis, pointing out that they’re not even hiding their cruelty and accuses them of taking hostages for snacks.

Maudra Fara tells Naia not to talk like that but out of fear instead of loyalty. When Naia keeps talking, Fara just. Pretends she’s not.

Fara is median cool. She’s clearly not willing to risk her village by sticking her neck out and probably wouldn’t back up Rian if he went to her, just as he feared. But instead of capturing Kylan, she gives him this headsup and a head start.

“If Shoni has welcomed you to her home, I won’t betray her hospitality tonight. But the Skeksi are looking for you, and my duty is to my clan. By the time the suns rise, you must be gone from here. Go to your maudra or do not. Go anywhere but here. I’ve got enough on my hands with Rian missing in the woods we share with the Skeksis. I can’t risk the safety of my people any more. Please understand.”

=(

Kylan understands logically but still feels like a kick in the gut to so suddenly be kicked out. And its not explicitly stated but since he is half Stonewood, Kylan has basically been alienated from both of his homes. If he goes to Sami Thicket, Mera will turn him over to the Skeksis. And Fara has made it clear that she won’t risk her people for him.

Even if he hadn’t chosen to continue the quest earlier, he’d be stuck with it.

This is just a huge bummer of a dinner!

Kylan throws the note into the fire but since the paper was enchanted to resist the heat of dream-etching, it takes some time to burn.

H-hey! A neat trivia about dream-etching!

Naia gets mad on Kylan’s behalf who is too kicked in the guy and worried. But Rian comes out of hiding with a more different take. Or at least acceptance.

“She would have sent me away, too, if she’d known I was here. I can’t fault her for it. It’s her duty to do what’s best for the entire clan, not just one or two, or even three of us... The Skeksis will eventually come here, and they will do what it takes to scare the others into giving us up. The only thing that may save us is if no one knows our whereabouts and if we reach the All-Maudra as soon as possible. We should do as Maudra Fara says and leave. Tonight.”

Kylan is too focused on who the Skeksis took from Sami Thicket and whether attempting to rescue them would be a waste of time. And when he comes out of his musing he’s arrived at a different conclusion than Rian.

Not that they don’t need to leave but that heading to the All-Maudra isn’t a good enough plan. Because the Skeksis won’t stop preying on Gelfling or coming after Kylan and Rian and other Gelfling are going to get caught in the crossfire.

Kylan thinks that they should let all Gelfling know the truth so that they can take precautions to protect themselves. But he also gloomily thinks that maybe people will be unwilling to listen to the truth, like Maudra Fara.

Naia sides with Kylan.

“We will tell the All-Maudra,” Naia announced. “But Kylan’s right. The rest of the Gelfling need to know, too. If we focus all of our efforts on reaching the All-Maudra and waiting for her decision, many of our people could be taken by the Skeksis in the meantime. We have to find a way to spread the message faster, and sooner. Like dreamfasting.”

But even with Naia’s Super Cool Dreamfasting it would take too long. They’d have to touch hands with EVERY GELFLING.

Its just not practical and its not like there’s some kind of fire skype! The Gelfling are still in the courier stage of communications technology, drat it!

Shoni pops in and mentions that they could take the path to the High Hill making Rian groan that Aughra will be no help.

Blowing away Kylan that Mother Aughra, huge figure in Gelfling culture, is just casually an option here.

Aughra who is probably as old as the suns, called maudra Thra, lived through the only two conjunctions, and knew the world before Gelfling existed.

That Aughra. Is casually an option. And just casually lives nearby!

“Her home is near our wood, though few make the trek to see her. Even those who arrive often do not find the answers they are looking for... Some find nothing at all. But I think, given how empty our table is, even a crumb would look like hope.”

A rebellion resistance is built on hope!

I’m intrigued that she appears to not be napping forever in this version which makes one wonder why she hasn’t gotten involved because even at her movie grumpiest, she wasn’t callous. She saved Fizzgig the Fizzgig to no benefit to herself.

So what’s her deal in this continuity? And is she as grumpy?

“She’s nothing but a mad witch spouting nonsense and riddles,” Rian grumbled.

“You’ve met her?” Naia asked, as surprised as Kylan but more practical about how the news could serve them. “So you know the way! We can ask her if she knows how we can send out warning.”

“She won’t help!” Rian snapped, his voice escalating suddenly. When Kylan and the others fell quiet, he tried to settle down. Still, his fingers twitched and his thick brows drew tight. “She’s existed since the beginning of time, and the years have eroded her mind. She’s not interested in us. In the Gelfling. She won’t help and I’m not about to waste my time on her.”

That sounds like there’s history there that I’d love to know.

And sounds like if she’s not as grumpy as in the movies she’s at least as difficult.

Did Rian go to her for help after fleeing the castle to no gain? Or did he have a different reason for visiting?

Aughra wasn’t senile in the movie so I don’t think she’d be senile here so what’s her deeeeeal?

Anyway, Rian argues that showing the All-Maudra the vial of Mira goo is the best plan. And Naia argues against putting all their hope on one plan. So Rian says cool I’ll go alone like I wanted to. And Naia says hey buddy this is a team effort.

And Kylan finally points out that they should split up because they’re both basically saying that but arguing about it.

They should split their efforts and making it harder for the Skeksis to catch them.

“We need to work together, apart.”

Oh, I love that turn of phrase.

Kylan shrugged, in case they didn’t like the idea. They were both leaders, and he was a follower, but they weren’t looking at the big picture. To his surprise, though, the suggestion brought a calm to the room. Naia nodded at Kylan, a flash of respect in her eyes.

This is funny for a kind of meta reason. Rian and Naia are both protagonist but Kylan was a supporting character last book but protagonist of this one and he needs to speak up and protag.

Also, Rian and Naia are a bit in the way of being stubborn.

Rian agrees, insofar as he doesn’t think it will matter because his own plan is going to 100% succeed and it gets them out of his (blue-streaked) hair. He even offers to take them partway to High Hill.

Kylan then decides that they should go immediately.

Though he wasn’t eager to forsake the warmth of the stone hut for the cold wilderness of the wood, he felt it was the right thing to do. He had wanted to rest, but it seemed rest was a luxury for which they would find less and less opportunity. Knowing that Maudra Fara thought they were endangering all the Gelfling of Stone-in-the-Wood -- and that they were under orders to leave -- robbed the warm hut of much of its comfort.

=(

That’s a bummer ending to an awkward dinner party.

[sonohtora]

The Best Makeup Palettes for Fall

Fall into the season with these makeup palettes

“It’s not red or brown, it’s terracotta.” It’s a sentence that fall makeup enthusiasts may have said once or twice, especially in 2020 when our eyeshadow creations don’t pop as much on Zoom calls. Don’t underestimate the power of this earthy shade, okay? You see, doing your makeup in the autumn is an art. Eyeshadows come in warm and earthy hues like gold, bronze, terracotta, burgundy and chestnut.

Glance at the best fall-themed palettes on MIRA