#music links in text!

[vulpixisananimal]

(Mirabelle)

"Stop it!!" (You scream.) "Both of you!! They, S-sif you'll, you'll-"

(They both ignore you. You could see Siffrin, Null? Getting, more and more exhausted with each step. They look, almost dead to the world! You couldn't help but grip your rapier.)

"Perhaps we should tell them to stop." (You wince, Merlon was standing a few feet away, closer to you. Did they circle around while you were focused? Her voice was quieter.) "I fear your friend might have gone too far."

"Now you think it's too far?!?" (You're, you're overwhelmed, you were afraid, nervous, angry, hopeful; but you had to focus.) "Aren't you even a little just, just, sorry?!?"

"A smidge," (they reply flatly.) "It would be a shame for such a hero to die before we find out how he turns back time."

(But even though he looked obviously weak and beaten, Perci didn't let up.) "I'd call it cheating. . ." (His swords dances, like they know just where to be no matter what Siffrin did.) "but it looks like you're only hurting yourself."

(You feel numb, you might cut yourself with how tightly you hold your rapier.)

". . . He gets, excited." (Merlon comments again. They're still writing things down.) "Or Dramatic, take your pick. I'll talk to him about it again once we're done here."

"That's a real help." (You respond, a hint of malice in your voice.) "If you really wanted to help then-!

(You see Siffrin, Nulls dagger go flying.)

(You inhale sharply. Null steps back. Standing for a moment, then collapsed to his knees. He looks, exhausted.)

"SIFFRIN!!!" (You take a step forward, Melon raises a hand, stopping you for a moment.)

(Perci crouches down, looking into their face. He turns back to you.) "Not dead, I'm sure of it. And as you can see, I barely laid a scratch on him!"

"Now now, (Merlon shakes their head.) "While that's true, look at them. He may not be dead, but he might wish he was."

"Leave them alone!!" (Is he okay?!? How many times did he loop?!? What was he thinking why didn't he just go back to get more help first!!!) "They've gone through enough!!"

"True, then, in that case a deal is a deal." (Perci stretches his hands, looking back at- W-wait!)

"NO!!!!!" (You push past Merlons hand, drawing your rapier and lunging at Perci. He moves back just in time that your blade only catches his shirt. You place yourself firmly between your friends body and your enemy. Your body feels numb, but you stood your ground. You had to make sure Null was okay!! A-and, make sure that-)

"We had a deal!" (Perci looks annoyed.) "Come now, lady Mirabelle, that's not very housemaidenly of you!"

"Deals change." (You scowled as hard as you could. If he wanted to hurt your friend then crab to his deals!!!) "I'm not going to sit by and let you hurt them!!"

"Of course you aren't." (He huffed, readying his swords.) "Lady Mirabelle, you have one more chance to step aside, I've been polite so far but that, too, can change."

"You can read my mind, can't you?" (You take a stance, ready to fight. If you can read my mind, then you should know that change is exactly what I strive for!)

(You had no plan, you lunge at Perci, letting your instincts take controll. He blocked, parried, step, pause, what that a rustle in the bushes?!? You step back, swipe- birds, just birds. Calm your nerves, Mirabelle!!)

"Perci!" (Merlon exclaimed, oh! You sliced him on the face.) "I'll-"

"No! My love no need to strain yourself, I'm fine." (He came at you again, what was he going to do?!? Slice with both?!? You had move! Move and dance back, footwork! And, and- you block, parry, good! You felt excitment in your veins, you reveled in it.)

(He dove in again! Oh Change how long was he going to keep this up!?! You had to just, keep moving! You had to, get back, get help or- is Bonnie okay?!? Ramos okay?!?! What if something bad happened while you're here!!)

(Step, step, block. You were too busy with Perci to properly use your crafts! Scissors? You couldn't do anything! Even Siffrin could use some rock craft- No! You, had to keep a bottle on that, self-loathing for, f-for later. Just, keep surviving! Take your time and-)

(You let out a yelp as you felt metal nip your arm. You glance, blood. He was good, you were good, but he was using two swords! Of course he could beat you he's using two!! You only have your rapier, and Null had a DAGGER.)

(He came at you again, block and- ouch, another cut, could you keep up?!? You're the swordswoman of the group! You could keep up, right? Just keep trying, ignore that other nip, and another. Cuts, it hurts but just focus!)

(You slash Perci on the hand, he drops one of his swords, glances at you, hesitates, tries picking it up and winces. Wounded? You were getting somewhere! He sheethes that sword and readys just the one. Sweat and rain ran down your skin.)

"You're very talented, I'll give you that." (He was panting, Glaring at you. You kept on your toes, just in case he lunged.)

"You're, not too bad, yourself!" (You said it with as much venom as you could inject into a compliment.)

"Why, thank you." (He smiles, genuinely this time, then looked away, sad? Angry? Annoyed?) ". . . I don't want to hurt you, Lady Mirabelle."

"If you're trying to give me another chance to stand down, don't bother!" (Where was your confidence coming from? You were SURGING with determination, strength, anger, passion, trust, fear, euphoria, doubt. So many at once.)

(You looked down at Null, collapsed on the ground, he was passed out. They, they were your friend. Your family. Your, your feelings buddy. . . They'll, they'll be okay, right?)

"I was afraid you would say that." (He sighed, there's another sound from the bushes.) "And there's no way I can convince you otherwise?"

"No!" (You grip your sword tighter.) "I won't ever let someone hurt my friends!! And I would never ever let someone force their way into their minds!!!"

(You felt the rain on your skin, you felt a bead of sweat on your head, and you felt, felt, a tear run down your cheek. Tears, multiple tears.)

"But even if it could-"

"Shut up!" (You interupt. You felt the waves wash over you. You were drowning. You couldn't repress it. You couldn't hold it.)

(You felt ice cold. Your chest felt tight, and yet, you continue on.) "My friends mind isn't some plaything! And what he feels about his home, it should be his decision if he wants to be involved in your, y-your stupid crabbing research!!!"

(Perci was taken aback, but you continue.) "I don't want to hear you talk! I don't want to hear your excuses! I don't want to hear how you think this is Change, or how it's doing those forgotten people a favor!! Someones mind, emotions, self, it's private!!!"

(The betrayed feeling you bottled up when things were taken without asking. The sadness of failing that you couldn't show. The extreme joy of a nice gift you felt you had to repress. Bottled up inside, untill you die.)

(You wouldn't keep it bottled any longer, no! You made a promise as well, and you wouldn't keep those feelings bottled untill you die! And you wouldn't wallow in despair untill you die either!)

(You were taught that by two islanders. One, your closest friend, and the other, your hated enemy. Bottling their emotions and embracing them untill they were consumed. You ready your rapier. You made a promise.)

(You'll continue to fight.)

". . . Fine." (Perci sighs, defeated. He holds a scissors sign up.) "I'm sorry, Lady Mirabelle, you wont remember a thing, dont worry."

(He's about to use mind craft, you know it. Some strong charm, maybe something you couldn't beat, and, a-and that scared you, but.)

(He sends a blast of craft energy at you.)

(You stood your ground. You'll continue to fight, and you'll do it scared.)

(In a flash, that strange sadness was between you and Perci. It's hands were clasped together in a form that, that. . .)

(That's. . . That's your skill. That's your skill. Adorable Moving Shield, but, strongr! Holy Care Shield! The invulnerability shield you could never DREAM of learning how to craft- That's why it was randomly invincible!! It was using!! Your!! Skill!!!!)

(Perci stared at you, stared at the sadness. He was, for once, at a lost for words. It was only when the sadness dashed at Perci did he snap back to reality and start fighting for his life.)

"Perci!! I can-" (Merlon starts again.)

"I'm- Fine!!" (Perci did not sound fine. It sounded like he was running a marathon.) "Don't, you dare, Mimi."

(You were entranced by the sadness and how it moved. Now that you weren't fighting it, you recognised its movements because it's how you moved. It had your change symbol. It had your hair, your, your-)

"MIRABELLE!!!"

(You knew that voice, you turn, Ramos and Bonnie were running down the road to you. You smile, thank Change they came to help.)

(The sadness jumped back from Perci and growled. Perci looked winded, worried. He looked to you.) "I-Is, is it yours?!?"

"I-I, I don't know-" (The sadness rushed in again. Perci stepping back trying not to get sliced in two by its sharp claws.)

"CICI, PLEASE!!" (You heared Merlon scream. She was gripping her book tight, fear on their face.)

"I'm, I-I'm fine! I can't, can't risk--"

(He was cut off by a scream from the sadness. It looked at him dead in the eyes. And a moment later, he was frozen in time.)

"NO!"

(You felt a powerful blast of energy wash over you like a firestorm. You blink only for a second, but suddenly the sadness was between you and the storm. You glanced back, Ramos had scooped Bonnie up and was shielding them with their body.)

(When the scene cleared, Merlon was standing in front of Perci's frozen body. Her hands crackled with energy that looked like, light. You got a headache.)

(You smelled sugar. You smelled it stronger than you ever had before.)

(The sadness rushed at them and swiped. Merlon held a hand up and it looked like light itself stopped the sadness in its tracks. That didn't stop it, it was attacking relentlessly.)

"Change. . ." (You mutter, before readying your rapier again.)

"I-I. ." (Ramos' voice, they and Bonnie had finally caught up.) "I know them, where do I-"

"Ramos? You, joined the, saviors?" (Merlon was panting between each breath. She was focused on making those panels of light.) "That, that doesn't matter! L-lady Mirabelle-"

"Stop talking!!!" (Bonnie yells back, they were brandishing their frying pan like a strong little warrior.) "Just stop talking!!! You hurt 'Frin!!! And 'Belle!!

"I-I'm sorry, just, please-"

"It was you!" (Ramos gripped their tonfas.) "You're the one who, who-"

"Please! Just unfreeze him, Housemaiden!!"

(You hesitate at their voice. You knew that tone, desperation, devotion, it was a similar tone Isabeau had when Siffrin passed out for a week.)

"Undo the mind craft." (You respond.) "Release my friends and everyone here, a-and I'll unfreeze him."

"What!?!"

"'B-Belle???"

"Done." (They reached their hand into a pocket and pulled out a star charm. She threw it out, the sadness pounced on it and stabbed, stabbed, and stabbed over and over again.) "A backup in case we had to leave. I-I, I don't know how to prove my intent, apart from that."

". . ." (They could be lying to you. You had your doubts, your fears. However, between her and Perci, she had been the more honest and straight forward.) "Fine."

(You storm up to the frozen antagonist, breathe in, and out. You clap, and in wink, he was moving again. Gasping, glancing between you all.)

"I-I, did it, just-" (He started.)

(Merlon grabbed his arm and held him close. She looked at you. Her eyes were. . . Hard to read.) "Thank you, Housemaiden. We're leaving."

(Before anyone could protest, including Perci, Merlon snapped her fingers, and in a flash of light, they dissapeared.)

". . . . . . . . ."

". . . . . . . . ."

". . . . . . . . What the CRAB?!?"

(Your mouth felt numb. A-actually, your whole body was numb.)

"H-how, how did they, how did they do that?!?" (Ramos was looking dumbstruck and where the duo had dissapeared.) "What, what kinda craft was. . ."

"What's th'sadness doing?" (Bonnie tugged on your skirt- THE SADNESS!!!)

(You turn, the sadness was still stabbing at what little remained of the star charm. Why wasn't it attacking? You all stared at it before you turned back to Ramos and Bonnie.) "I-I'll, deal with it. Go help Siffrin, t-they looped far too much and passed out."

"Stupid crabface." (Bonnie mumbled, before stomping over to Siffrin.)

". . ." (Ramos look away for a moment.) ". . . That, that was them, right? The two who. . ."

(You nod.) "It was. You're okay, Ramos."

(Ramos looks at you, smiling a little, before going to help Siffrin.)

(You turn back to the sadness.)

("When ones emotions and craft skills are strong enough, a sadness is created from their emotions alone." "Those who are frozen in time spawned their own, strong, Bonded Sadness. If you defeat them, the powerful craft and emotional energy will rebound on who created it." "we were able to beat the sadness, but then. . . I don't remember, but something bad happened.")

(You were bound to this sadness, weren't you. You don't know how, you don't know why, but, you knew this was your sadness. You stepped forward, slowly. This was your emotions made form, wasn't it.)

(The sadness looked up at you. Stared at you. You felt a wave of emtions, you felt numb, yet, cold. You stood your ground.)

". . . . . . . . . . . H-hello-"

(The sadness tilted its head to the side, staring at you. Its gaze was cold and inquisitive. It was, testing you.)

". . . . . . . You're, me, aren't you."

{. . . . .}

(In a blurr, the sadness was in your face. Hands on the side of your head, staring at you with that uncovered, crying eye.)

{I CAN'T WAIT TO NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN.}

(The words sent shivers through your mind. You couldn't move, you couldn't think, that, that was your voice, wasn't it.)

"Do you want to kill me?"

{MAYBE.}{MAYBE YOU WON'T EVEN COME BACK TONIGHT.}{AND MAYBE YOU'LL STAY HERE. SMILING. SAYING IT'S OKAY. UNTILL. YOU. DIE.}

(The cold, creeping feeling was digging into your heart.) "But it's not okay."

{IT NEVER WAS.}

{IT NEVER WILL BE AGAIN.}

{IF ONLY YOU TALKED. IF ONLY YOU LET YOUR ROGUE KNOW YOUR WISH. IF ONLY YOU HAD EVER CONSIDERED MAKING YOURSELF MORE THAN JUST AN ICON.}

{THE CHANGE GODS FAVORITE DRESS UP DOLL.}

(. . . . . . .)

{YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO CHANGE.}

{YOU MET CHANGE THEMSELF. AND YET YOU DON'T CHANGE.}

"I Change in the way that's right!"

{. . .}

(You voice was stunned. You needed to keep talking.) "Change is what I strive for! A-and yes, some things I can't Change, but not all Changes are good!!"

{YOU LOATH CHANGE, DON'T YOU.}

(. . .)

{YOU WANT TO RIP THOSE EARINGS OUT, TO LEAVE BLOODY HOLES WHERE TRADITION WOULD BE. YOU WANT TO TEAR OFF THE SYMBOL OF CHANGE, STAYING STAGNANT AND DEAD.}

(You reach your hands up, and put them to the side of your sadness face. You close your eyes.)

"I'm going to accept it."

{. . .}

". . . I know there's parts of me that will never change, and if that makes me a failure, I'll accept it."

(You breathe in, and out.)

"I'll accept it."

(You opened your eyes, the sadness was gone. You felt, exhausted. Tired.)

"Mira!!!"

"'Belle!!!"

(You turned to Ramos and Bonnie. Siffrin was slumped over Ramos' shoulders. Bonnie looked like they were ready to jump at the sadness that was no longer there. You smile at them.)

"I-Is siffrin okay?"

"I- Yeah they're okay but." (Ramos looked jumpy.) "A-are, are you?"

"I, not, really. I feel, very tired." (You wipe your tears away with your arm- oh, you're holding something?)

(You open your hand. There's a small stone. It looks like, frozen water. You could see the liquid moving under a hard surface.)

[. . . . . Mirabelle got the FROZEN CHARM.]

"Hey." (Bonnie was tugging on your arm.) "Lets go. You're tired, 'Frins tired. I'll make snacks, ok?"

"O-okay, Bonnie." (You smile and stand up, joining Bonnie and Ramos, and walk back.)

(. . . It had been a long day.)

[. . . . Mirabelle re-learned the skill HOLY CARE SHIELD.]

[. . . . Mirabelle also got a MEMORY OF FEELINGS.]

[When equipped, Memory of Feelings replaces "Holy Care Shield" with "Soothing Restful Song," an amazingly strong skill that freezes one opponent in time. However, it has an enormous craft cooldown.]

[earlycuntsets]

"Article By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Normally a preppy college town baked in desert heat, Tempe, Arizona was bathed in darkness Friday night thanks to the black-clad denizens who descended upon Tempe Beach Park for My Chemical Romance’s tour kickoff. The band eschewed their black-and-white Black Parade uniforms for casual street clothing and tore through a ninety-minute set that focused primarily on 2006’s The Black Parade. However, the New Jersey-based band, playing as part of the two-day Circle K Tempe Music Festival, went back to their 2004 breathrough album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge for its opening and closing numbers: impassioned versions of breakout hits “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” and “Helena,” respectively.

Frontman Gerard Way gains a little more confidence with each passing tour, and for this show he channeled the spirit of Mick Jagger: shimmying across the stage, stopping to wiggle his hips on a catwalk that projected into the mosh pit. During “This Is How I Disappear,” his bassist brother Mikey Way (wearing a fantastic T-shirt that announced, “Mikey Fuckin Way”) violently shook his head as Gerard encouraged the audience to raise their right hands.

“Thanks for coming out to the fucking rock show,” Gerard said while introducing “Dead!” “Are you all ready to die?” Luckily, nobody bit the dust before the band closed the show in mid-tour form. The group that began in garages in New Jersey has graduated to one of the top arena acts in the country, and its members wear it awfully well. The kids, as they say, are all right.``

photos mark peterman for rollingstone.com"

03/28/2008 tempe music festival tempe beach park tempe az

[shaylogic]

Monty singing to Edwin <3

@sapphic-corgi asked George Rexstrew what more he would have liked to see between Edwin and Monty. He said "Monty singing to Edwin".

When I saw Joshua Colley was on Cameo, I put in a request about this, and bless him, he delivered for us.

Please enjoy Josh fanboying, being very sweet, and singing an acappella version of a song he had previously written about something else but that has perfect lyrics for Monty wishing Edwin all the best.

EDIT: here's the song with accompaniment

[aslightaddity]

Great comet of 1812 but it’s Essek instead of Pierre send tweet

Lyrics from

[g1ngerbeer]

"cheng xiaoshi fuckin dies incident" aka "photos taken 5 seconds before the nurse comes back and kills all of them" aka "captain xiao struggletweets" aka "world's normalest game of sheng ji"

sorry captain xiao i literally just wanted to draw qiao ling and cheng xiaoshi beating each other up while playing sheng ji so i thought to myself "hm, who's the funniest non-evil person they could possibly pull in as a fourth." truly they could have gotten literally anyone else whos actually a friend who hangs out with them regularly but nooo it's gotta be "captain xiao's been looking stressed recently" "it's probably because he has to arrest his former best friend and think about all the horrible things that guy has done and how he didn't realize qian jin was a terrible person until it was too late" "WE SHOULD INVITE HIM TO PLAY CARDS SO HE CAN GET TO RELAX A BIT" (spoiler alert. he did not get to relax.)

he isn't actually bad at the game it's simply that 1: he's had a really rough week and 2: he's playing with this group for the first time so he doesn't know how they think but unfortunately for him shiguangling are FAR too codependent and inside each others' heads to not be excessively familiar with each others' typical strategies and over-plan accordingly

[fourswordsannotated]

I'm not sure who would say it but this post screams vidow energy and i love it

[cupcakeshakesnake]

Playlists I want to share for no reason

Harbor town AU (POTC)

Harbor town AU Beckett, specifically (...POTC)

Walter (OC / also for creature stuff in general)

Valak (yes they have a freaking playlist now)

Songs that make me feel very happy (just because)

[darcyolsson]

"no one actually cares about the spotify links you post" wrong. i do. i mean it when i say i listen to at least half of the songs people put on my dash. a solid amount of my music i find through random hyperlinks or, preferably, a dramatic text post that uses smalltext.io liberally. i will even google randomly posted lyrics to find out which song it's from and then listen to it attentively and put it in a playlist if i like it. dont know whose god complex this is going to feed but i need to put this out there

[olskuvallanpoe]

people on here seem to like my six of crows takes, so here are the crow albums i made on spotify if you are interested in that sort of thing:

kaz brekker

inej ghafa

jesper fahey

wylan van eck

nina zenik

matthias helvar

the crows

kanej

wesper

[soupy-sez]

Faith No More, April 1995 [X/X/X]

[dawnthefluffyduck]

I had my first Pepsi since getting sick today and I think i got a bit carried away

The Ralsei in the bottom right is from the comic Looking Glasses by @ferronickel, you should check it out if you haven't yet ^-^ ((sorry for the tag at two in the morning haha))

edit: whoops forgot to link the comic

[vulpixisananimal]

<Null> {Mal Du Pays} [Loop] (Siffrin)

[It's still raining.]

[You've stopped at the fork in the path, those two strangers just a few feet ahead of you. One tall, with dark skin, lightless hair and a stoic face. They were standing under the tree reading something. The other was shorter, with dark hair. He was sitting down, eyes closed with a smile on his face. Both had bonded earings to eachother.]

[Why were you filled with dread?]

"Loop?" [Mirabelle leans close to you.] "Do you think. . ?"

"Maybe." [You tug at the rim of your cloak.] "You start the talking."

"O-okay!" [Mirabelle took a deep breath, and stepped forward. You followed behind her.] "Uhm, excuse me?"

[The taller one looked up from the book. A slight, genuine smile on her face. They waved.] "Ah, hello! May I help you?"

[Mirabelle cleared her throat, then continued.] "W-well, there's been something going on at the homestead a little ways back, and, we wanted to check in! Make sure everything's okay, uhm. ."

[The tall one nodded.] "I understand. We're both just fine. Thank you."

"O-oh, well-"

[Okay, you needed to step in.] "We wanted to ask you a few questions if that's alright."

[They nod again.] "Of course, My name is Merlan, and this is Perci, forgive him, he gets lost in thought."

"That's okay! U-uhm, I'm Mirabelle, it's good to meet you."

"Siffrin, it's a pleasure~"

[Merlan raised an eyebrow.] "Ah, Saviors? Oh forgive me." [They leaned down to their partner and shook him.]

[Perci yawned, and stretched, and opened his eyes to look at you. Directly at you with a little, sly smile.] "Company? I just closed my eyes for a moment!"

"N-no it's okay! No need to worry about it!" [Mirabelle reassured.]

"Ah thank you, Lady Mirabelle. So, what can I do for you." [He seemed, charming.]

[You smell something, it was hard to tell because of the rain.]

[Mirabelle started talking.] "Okay, well, uhm, there's been a very, dangerous sadness in the area! So, so I wanted, to, to-"

[You cut her off.] "-To make sure that it wasn't going after fellow travelers. You two haven't seen anything like that, have you?"

"I'm not sure, have we?" [Perci turned to his bonded.]

"I've seen glimpses of it." [They were tapping their foot.] "A dangerous thing, to see a bonded sadness even after the Kings defeat is, curious."

[Bonded sadness? Was that like that pair of strong sadness on the second floor of the house? You keep smiling.] "And there's not been anything else strange?"

[Merlon shook his head.] "Nothing, nothing. Apart from randomly meeting the Saviors of Vaugarde! How'd you beat him, by the way?"

[Mirabelle held her hands close.] "I, reflected his freezing spell back at him, and-"

"Oh no no no! I know that! I mean more, how you got to him. That house full of sadness and traps. One wrong move and it's all over, so, well, how?"

". . . Uhm, luck?" [She responds. Yes, luck. Luck and not the time loops you were stuck in for hundreds or thousands of loops.]

[Perci's eyes are digging deeper into you. Why was he so intense?] "Must have been some wild luck. If the King was strong enough to freeze time. . ."

"An impossibility." [Merlon finishes. They were back to reading, writing, in a book.] "Time cannot be crafted without dying. Unless you had outside assistance."

[Like a wish.]

"It, it wasn't easy, at all. . ." [Mirabelle looked away.]

[Three floors of complex mazes and keys and traps that you had long, long, long ago memorized. It was a hell.]

<Be on guard.>

[HOW long have you- ugh, nevermind! You shrug, still smiling.] "Well, if you're sure you two haven't seen anything. . ."

"Positive!" [Perci is still smiling.] "Honestly we should be going, if a sadness is nearby."

"O-okay, well, we'll leave you too it, then!" [She glances at you, you nod.]

"It's wonderful to meet you both, take care Merlon, Perci~" <You turn to walk back, and wave. You were excited to get out of here, you didn't like this.>

"Goodbye Saiviors." [Says Merlon.]

"Hope we see you again, Mirabelle, Loop!" [Says Perci.]

<You stop.>

[You turn around, still smiling, looking right at the two of them.] ". . . Sorry?"

"I said. . . Goodbye, hope we see you again?" <Perci respond. Merlon quietly kicks him in the shin. They exchange a look.> ". . . . Mirabelle, and. . ."

"Siffrin." [Merlon interupts.]

"Siffrin! Ah yes right, hope to see you again-"

"No." <You smile wider, that kind of smile.> "Drop the act."

". . . Act?" [Perci says. Nice acting.]

"You said Loop. That's not my name. In fact, no-one knows that name." <You step forward.> "Why are you taking a rest here?"

"Well, because I was tired-"

"Because mind craft has a range limit." <You interrupt.> "Don't try fooling me, Perci, when it comes to acting I am of the best."

<There is a cold, tense silence. The rain giving the most dramatic of backdrops. Perci stands.>

". . . Bravo." <He claps.> "Truly, bravo."

<At this point, Mirabelle is standing by you. Hand on her sword.> "You two were behind this?"

<He bowed> "Forgive the misdirection, watching from the sidelines is much better for gaining information."

"What does that blinding mean!" <You were getting angry. You eye up your enemy, two swords, mind craft, how strong? Quick? What was his craft type?>

"People tend to lie, saivor. Not so much when you step back and let them open themselves up. Oh, scissors craft, by the way."

<?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!>

[?????????????????????]

"You're writing all this down, my love?" [Perci turns to his bonded.]

"Every moment." [They reply.]

"W-what?!?" [Mirabelle was getting frustrated.] "You, you're controlling our friends for information?!?"

"Of course! I'm not doing any harm, they wont notice anything different, I get to poke around their heads, and if anything bad happens I snap my fingers and it's all forgotten."

<You want to kill him.> "Did you do this to Ramos?"

"Oh Ramos? Oh they were such a mess, but they were raised by someone from a forgotten culture! I had to interview and poke around in that mind. And just left them with, a parting gift!" <He talked so casually, waving a hand.>

"They turned into a sadness!!!" <Mirabelle yelled.>

<Both were taken aback by that, and looked at each other.> ". . . Is that what happened? I felt some strange and strong emotions before the charm was broken, did they really. . ?"

"You didn't know?!?"

"No, but, that is fascinating!" <He turned to Merlon.> "Do you think we could replicate that? Someone turning into a sadness like that. . ."

"Oh I'm sure we can figure it out." <Merlon replies casually.>

"That's, that's horrible!!!" <Mirabelle exclaimed.>

"It's increddible!" <Perci turned back to you, a sparkle in his eye.> "A sadness created through strong emotions enhanced through mind craft? Aren't you just a little bit curious about it?"

"No!!!!"

"No? But isn't that what Change is all about?"

<You step interject.> "Stop talking. What do you want."

"Information!" <Perci said with a flourish.> "Lore! History! The truths hidden within the words and minds of thousands of people! Everything from the smallest story to the grandest legends! Even legends that don't want to be remembered~"

[Dont want. . Like, our home?]

<You ignore Loop.> "And so to get to it you violate a persons privacy? Their will?"

"Oh it's not like they'll notice, or remember, it's fine!" <He laughs, waving away the question.> "Besides, wouldn't you do something like that? For your home?"

". . . . . . . ." <You're reading our mind. Aren't you>

"I am! What a quick learner."

"H-huh?!?" <Mirabelle looked confused.>

[Oh if you're reading our blinding thought I'll tell you to jump off a cliff PERSONALLY!!! You BLINDING IDIOT!!!!]

<Our head isn't ready for one more voice. Get out.>

"Ahaa, very fascinating. Two voices? I thought I was going mad."

<Yes, two voices. You should be able to tell more, since you are using mind craft.>

"Oh no no no! From here I can only tell the most surface of thoughts. But just shake my hand, and-"

<Fooled you. Thanks for the information.>

[HA! HAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!]

<You see Perci wince, then laugh, shaking his head.> "Oh tricky! I like you, Null and Loop, correct? In the body of Siffrin the nobody. Now, was that a craft? Or-"

"An identity disorder, love." <Merlon adds.> "Many types, all acting very differently, caused by trauma in childhood. Our hero has a dramatic backstory."

[Stop talking like we're FRIENDS!!!]

<You glance over at Mirabelle, she's looking confused between you and Perci.> "He's reading our minds."

"He's- no!! That's private!!" <Mirabelle exlaimed.>

"Oh! No this is fascinating!" <Perci looked like a teacher excited to explain todays lesson. You wanted to rip him apart.> "See, Lady Mirabelle, your mind is so cluttered thinking about every single possibility at once it's very hard to single out many thoughts! So full of anxiety and fear."

"But your friend, friends, here are so much different! They are having a conversation in their mind! Yes many people have an internal monolog but this is an internal debate! It's a breath of fresh air, honestly!"

<. . . . . . .>

[Disgusting, get OUT!!] "Why do you need this!! You've caused enough harm already!!!"

"Because!" <Perci waves his arms dramaticly in the rain.> "Because of that island culture! The island north of Vaugarde, it's history, it's people! They're yearning for home and I can see it. And I will deliver it to them, I will dig, and dig, and dig untill every bone, every word, every little tale is exposed for the world to see!"

[. . . . . . That. . .]

<Doesn't. . . . Seem evil. . .>

[No, it doesn't. But. . .] "But you're, you're just going to hurt people and poke in their heads for that?!? I never asked you to help with our home! How do you know others will!!"

"I asked." <Merlon says, flatly.>

<. . . .>

"I want to see the beach again. The forrest, the maze of water and winds. The darting stars whispering through the night sky, the clouds hugging the stone reaching for the lightless night. . ." <For the first time, you see some emotion on Merlons face.>

[. . . You look away.] "And you're fine with, hurting people to remember that?"

"Yes." [They reply, too quickly.]

[. . . . .]

"Haven't you see their faces, Loop?" <Perci steps forward.> "Other islanders begging for an explination for why they're like this? For their memories, names, faces? What about that man at the Inn? Polaris? What would he do to remember."

[. . . . . . . . You're done talking.]

<Agreed, you take another step, hand on your dagger..> "If you want to help islanders, stop using mind craft."

"Well, sorry, but no. It's too useful a tool." <Perci put a hand on his sword. He knows this talk is over.> "But. . . A wager? A one-on-one fight, if you win, I undo the mind craft here. I win, you let me poke around that brain of yours as much as I like."

"What?!?" <Mirabelle exlaims.> "That's rediculous! You can't just-"

"-Fine." <You interupt, drawing your dagger.>

"Loop?!?"

"Lady Mirabelle, let them fight." <Merlon comments.> "My bonded will not do any undue harm, if your rogue does the same."

"It's just a friendly match, Mirabelle dear." <Perci draws twin swords, stepping forward.>

[Yes, friendly. Very friendly. Extremely, friendly. . . Ha. Hahaha. . .]

<You're pathetic, Perci. You're a conniving snake, a crab, a bastard and betrayal to the concept of history and stories. I am going to kill you.>

<You see the corner of Perci's mouth twitch.> ". . Shall we?"

[Do we have a plan, dearest Null?]

<Yes. You rush in.>

<Speed above all. You step as fast as your feet allow you, aim low, avoid his touch, you'll win this.>

<He stabs a sword low to block your attack, and swipes with the other. You jump, dodging the blow by a hair. You swiped again now that he's exposed, but he twist around you knife, in the end you only get a small slice on the shoulder. He steps back.>

"Bleeding- Ah, my mistake for underestimating you." <Perci rolls his shoulder and gets ready to attack again.>

<You rush again, going for a strike from the left, you just need to figure out his patterns. He blocks with one sword, and slices with the other- too slow.>

[Not this AGAIN.]

<Every advantage must be used. You're mid dash, this time, you'll feint right. He's already ready to block your attack but you change course at the last second to strike his other side.>

<He blocks that as well.>

[. . . . . . . That's-]

<A fluke. Try something else, you let him come to you, running at you swords to his side. Once he's in striking distance, he swipes. You jump back in time to dodge one, but he delayed his second swing and catches you->

[You're going to kill us.]

<We will not loose this. He's rushing at you again, he delays his second swing, so block the first and jump over the second.>

<He lunges, you block the first->

[?!?!?!??!?!?!]

<He, swung with both at the same time.>

[He's CHANGING THINGS]

<Impossible, it's, it's a fluke. Rushing at you again, you, you- >

[You froze up, and got stabbed. STARS Null what are you-]

<SHUT UP!!!>

<You focus, you need to, to, to think. He's about to strike, you wait, step back from the first strike, second one comes in, catches your hand. It stings, it burns.>

"S-siffrin!!" [You hear Mirabelle exclaim. Your breathing is heavy, you were already exhausted from looping and THIS ISN'T HELPING!!!]

"Increddible, absolutley increddible." [Perci is staring at wonder.] "It's like your thought switch in an instant. Going from one plan to another faster than any mind should be able to!"

"Future vision? Perhaps?" [Merlon adds. You look over to Mirabelle, you share a look.] "No, not quite. . ."

"Oh!" [Perci snaps his fingers.] "Is that what that looping you keep thinking about is? Time looping back when you loose?"

<. . . . .>

[Percis face lights up.] "It IS!!! Oh, oh my, Merlon we have a lot of work to do."

<He rushes in again. Block, dodge- >

<Again. Jump, stab down- >

<Dash in to meet him, leap, craft- >

[IT'S NOT WORKING]

<He can read our movements. Can't, think them, just, focus on- >

<Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.>

[What are you DOING?!?]

<Stop thinking. Block, strike, dodge, block, craft->

<To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools.>

<The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,>

"Reciting plays to cover your thoughts?" <Perci says. Strike block lunge.> "It might work~"

"Your rogue is a very talented fighter, Mirabelle." <Merlon's voice.>

". . . ." <Mirabelle> "He, he is."

<Dodge, duck, jump, cornered. Block He looks you in the eye.>

<That struts and frets his hour upon the stage- >

< -And then is heard no more. It is a tale>

<Block, parry. Block, dodge.>

"No crafts, Null?" <Perci lunges.> "Focused too much on your footwork, perhaps."

[I can. Just-]

<No. You just. Needed. A dagger.>

<He's taunting.> "I can tell by your thoughts, you've already tried beating me quite a bit."

<Cut him. Jump. Hit, trip- >

<Told by an idiot>

<Your little wounds hurt. Legs getting weak. Looping, hard.>

"Stop it!!" <Mirabelle.> "Both of you!! They, S-sif you'll, you'll-"

<Jump, duck, parry, counter.>

<He's gloating.> "I'd call it cheating, but, it looks like you're only hurting yourself."

<He knocks your dagger away, you- >

<Full of sound and fury,>

<You collapse.>

<Your legs, arms, feet, chest, hands, stomach, it burns, it BURNS. It's all numb, it's all pain, it's nothing, eveerything. Null. Zero. Nothing. Nothing but pain, pain, pain- >

<Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.>

<You can't go on.>

<You lost.>

[polybbiuss]

literally just posted my luffy playlist but boom heres ace. please listen guys. guys pls listen. 20 songs. i have really good and interesting and unique music taste guys i promise

[shaylogic]

what songs on jayden's playlist do you think are about charles' relationship with crystal?

@queen-of-hobgobblers Here's a post I made on the 4 back-to-back relevant to the sad snog scene: "Pushin", "Lift Me Up", "WAIT FOR U", and "Before You Go"

~~~~

Also his sis later added "She's So Lovely" which I feel like is about Charles getting a crush on Crystal at first sight in both comics and the show.

Here's Jayden's whole playlist for reference

I haven't listened to as many of the later songs added by Claudette as I have the one's that Jayden specifically added but some others from that playlist I've added to my Cryland Playlist:

"Inkpot Gods" feels like the first verse is about Charles' arc "I will be the man my father was" and the second verse is about Crystal's eventual probably season 2 arc (based off comics) "And what you hear is not silence, it's just the [soul tree!] trees waiting to hear what next you'll hum. . .I'm more than what my mom told me to be" and about supporting each other "if you ever touch or harm him", "Please let her live just one more day Cause she is so much more than all her scars" ==> Him telling her in ep 6 "You're still pretty damn special"

Charles trying to help Crystal "I know she's giving up. and I don't know what to do, how to help her, how to bring her home" him literally during his lighthouse breakdown "I CAN'T HELP CRYSTAL STOP HURTING"

"If I don't make it back from where I've gone just know I've loved you all along" Crystal planning to leave, or the separation of afterlives someday

~~~~

There are a few songs on the playlist that could be about Edwin AND/OR about Crystal, like the Hozier songs about burying and being together (Edwin & Charles being dead together / Crystal burying David and being ready for Charles)

"Fair" by Amazing Devils could go to Edwin or Crystal as well

(I'm a multi-shipper so I consider both)

~~~~

"Fade Into You" is a great romantic, consensual possession song imo

~~~~

There's probably more, because I haven't listened to all of them yet, but those are the main ones that come to mind for me.

BONUS: Since the official backround music soundtrack of the show just came out, I'd like to point out that "I Messed Up" is during the alley conversation scene between Crystal & Jenny, then Crystal and Charles, then the scene where he shares his parents in the mirror with her and encourages her to open up to them:

"Mirror Maze" includes multiple scenes, but the Title must refer to the conflict in the forest in ep 6 that Crystal & Charles have with David

~~~~

Thank you so much for the ask! I had fun answering as the fandom's resident Crystal-Supporting, Cryland fan lol

[plurralthiing]

all of the parts of yourself that you hate that you wish you could destroy yet deep down you know, there's still someone out there that loves you.

[g1ngerbeer]

i like when the musical clips are high enough resolution to view his unsettling blue-contact-lens stare