#my man dooms himself and is a good person doing it?? SOMEHOW???

[habibisagi]

my oliver character train of thought here ..... choo choo...... apolochoochoose

there is just so much that is insane about oliver and quite literally so unfair???? BUT SO UNSERIOUS AT THE SAME TIME CONSIDERING HE'S JUST 19 AND HE'S DOING ALL THAT??? he's ranked the #1 gentleman in blue lock, he wants to nurture and care for others so they don't end up like him and yet he self-destructs? gambles? drinks?

he understands the beauty of living but he only applies what could ruin him to himself. he knows what love is but he's already decided to not let himself love like that? BRO YOU'RE 19 😭 understanding the world entirely for others in a hopeful sense but not for you is so crazy.

but it makes... sense. 19 is such an insane age. feels pretty daunting, the middle of leaving your teen self and just about stepping into adulthood. we all did stupid things leading up to and at 19. like i get it. i think he'll grow out of it but also he is insanely smart at the same time which is why he sucks and disappoints. like he purposely chooses to be this way.

oliver also knows people. knows how they work how they are what they'll do why they are the way they are canonically he knows how to read and understand people it's literally his skill in soccer but also he just. he'll always know. SO HE KNOWS HIMSELF? TO BE THIS WAY? AND THAT'S WHY IT'S CONCERNING

but also he's an athelete idk. LIKE IDK THEY ARE ALL IDIOTS AT THE END OF THE DAY HITTING THEIR HEAD AND SUCH and the he's one that drinks and gambles mind you. he's frying himself. insane work. but beautiful. but insane. and awful. and he sucks.

on top of all of this HE, AGAIN, CARES FOR OTHERS. HE'S A GENTLEMAN. HE'S A GOOD PERSON ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. LIKE WHAT????????

he runs from love but likes to give it in his own way and its insane. THAT SCENE WHERE THE TWO GIRLS SMACK HIM he knew what he was doing and he deserved those slaps. i think he was probably just seeing them like hookup wise and because he's literally a whore like he just loves to fuck no matter what or who he invited them to probably have a threesome and it backfired because he is SHIT and he KNEW what he was doing!!!!!!! he could have clarified from the start. mr knows how to read people and yet he does this. mr number one gentleman and he does this. baffling.

and he has the audacity to say he had an ex girlfriend who he had left her overnight bag at his place to go return to (in the additional time) LIKE WHATTTTTTT BRO?????????

[kittsch]

ranking cod boys' intimacy style from gentle to rough feat: 141 + los vaqueros + others reader: afab, implied different readers for each cw: explicit smut, kink, fluff, pretty tame imo but lmk if you'd like something tagged NSFW BELOW CUT * MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

1.) the gentlest, surprisingly, is ghost. make no mistake, he'll absolutely fuck the daylights out of you if you ask him to -- would enjoy it, too. but as simon riley... honestly, this man is touch-starved and nearing forty. he is tired, baby. coming home from deployment, first thing simon does is shower (knows you hate the smell of war on him), then take a fat nap with you. if you're in the middle of something, no you're not. he'll literally scoop you up and fireman-carry you to the couch or bed, whichever is closest. simon loves holding you, wants to be touching you all. the. time. his favorite way to nap is wrapped around you like a fitted sheet; skin on skin, nose in your hair as he breathes in the scent of your shampoo. loves it even more when, later, he gets to wake you with soft, open-mouthed kisses on your neck; the flat of his palm sliding down the gentle swell of your tummy, cuping you through your sleep shorts. simon likes you best like this. how you just... melt into him, still sleep-sodden and docile. it's one of the few things that feels right in his life. chemically, cosmically, karmically (somehow--simon doesn't think he'll ever feel like he earned this. you. that he'll ever really deserve to be yours). he takes his time; fucks you slow with his fingers, savoring your muted whimpers as he grinds into your clit with the heel of his hand. to simon, watching you come apart in the firm circle of his arms is kin to a fresco on a ceiling; a sliver of the divine, and he, a sinner, doomed to watch heaven from afar. but by some small miracle, you offer him salvation. when you cum, it's with his name on your lips, so round and lush with love, and fuck--if that isn't the thing to save him, then nothing will.

2.) second is rudy. sweet, sweet boy. he sees you barefoot in a sundress one time. one. that's all it takes to precipitously shift the trajectory of his life to one where he wifes you up and makes you a mother, in that order. you're the first person he's ever envisioned having children with -- the only one he thinks knows will be worth risking everything for. and once that mental picture settles in his mind, it’s all he can think of. it becomes his sole mission to get you under him and fill you with him til it takes. rudy is a missionary guy through and through--wants to see that pretty face, cariño so he can watch your cheeks and chest flush when you're about to cum. and the cute way your lashes flutter ("como alles de pollila, mi amor. fuck--") as he bottoms out in your sweet pussy, stretching you so good. and you're always so good for him -- wrapping your legs around his waist and tilting your hips to take him deeper, deeper. but god help you when he succeeds in knocking you up, you’re never getting a moment alone. consider rudy glued to your side for the foreseeable future. can’t seem to keep his goddamn hands to himself, either. doesn't matter that you’re uncomfortable and prickly and prone to random bouts of inconsolable crying at the worst moments. he takes it all in stride. his love is steady, solid. once, you blurt out something to the effect of i'm never going to be attractive again, my body is gonna be ruined by the end of this. and rudy (after a beat) laughs. pulls you forward til your face is buried in his chest, cradles you there when you try to squirm away. tells you he's literally so attracted to you right now he feels like he should be on some sort of list. he's watching you build a new human being inside your body. you're fucking powerful. he can't imagine anything sexier.

3.) next up is könig. from jump, he adores you; the way you smolder at the edges, the unwavering bite of your tone. kleine katze, such pretty claws you have... and he's perfectly content to settle for admiring you from afar; but where others shy from him instinctually, finding his size and perpetual quiet off-putting, you don't. seem to gravitate towards him because of it. you touch him with a gentleness that should feel foreign, but actually feels like home. this man is fucking gone for you. loves you in a way that irreparably and fundamentally changes him. may or may not have cum more than once to the thought of you: hips bucking desperately into the clench of his own fist. but he knows precisely nichts about romance, even less about flirting. has no idea you've been trying to get his attention for months. ultimately, you have to make the first move. and you do--crawling into his lap one night in a grimy off-grid safehouse after a mission went the wrong kind of sideways. when you draw up the mask he goes rigid, tense; but he almost lost you today. (thought for one endless, horrific moment that he had.) so he lets you pull back the mask--lets you see his face. and when you finally kiss him, it pulls a kind of sound out of him the likes of which he's never made before. a desperate, animal keen that claws at the walls of his chest. and könig's a gentle giant, but he is giant. you're both too hasty the first time; too desperate for closeness to prep properly, so it hurts when he bullies his cock inside you. he's significantly bigger than any of your previous partners -- twice as thick and several inches longer -- and by all rights shouldn't fucking fit inside you, but you're both tenacious enough to make it work. könig is certain salvation resides in the gummy clutch of your cunt when you take him to the hilt; shuddering as you cum around him from nothing but the way his cock stuffs you full and the pressure of his calloused thumb on your clit. it's so unbelievably hot, he cums on the spot; not needing friction or movement when he has you clenching down on him like that, scheiße. after, he takes care of you--holds you close to his chest til your breath evens out and you slip into the dreamless, black pool of sleeping.

4.) alejandro, my love. truly a man of passion. it's a long process seducing you, and he enjoys every minute of it. loves finding new ways to get you to blush almost as much as he enjoys fucking you til you're blubbering and cock-stupid. almost. he likes the idea of having a family with you, but is less pernicious about it than rudy. he knows how he feels about you; is confident it'll happen someday. that said, this man's breeding kink knows no bounds. the mating press was built for him; the perfect mix of intimacy and intensity, where he can look you in the eye as he ruts you so deep you can feel him in your fucking throat. also the most likely to suggest expanding your sexual horizons. frankly, alejandro is bisexual as fuck. loves the idea of you getting railed by another man (perhaps rudy, winkwonk) while he watches; loves the idea of you taking the both of them at once even more, but it's always about you. your comfort and pleasure is paramount, and he'll go to unfathomable lengths to make sure your needs are met. happy wife, happy life, he says, hauling you into a deep kiss when you point out that you're not technically married, yet.

5.) alex is the perfect equilibrium of rough and gentle. initially respects you as a colleague, maybe a friendly acquaintance. internally, he finds your competence and no bullshit attitude deeply attractive, but he's a consummate professional; would never put you into a position where you'd feel unsafe (outside of the obvious dangerous shit you already do). and then--he sees you shoot a gun. the way your body slides liquid-smooth into weaver, the easy roll back into isosceles in the recoil... it gets him so fucking hard so fucking quick. he has to physically remove himself from the range and rub one out in a bathroom stall, images of those firm hands pumping his weeping cock pulling him over the edge. images that don't fade, to his chagrin, even after the initial arousal is dealt with. every time he sees you, it just... pops back up, so to speak. he keeps it locked down as best he can, but fails pretty comprehensively at doing so. alex finally breaks after catching one too many recruits staring after you when you walk away (fuckin' animals--only he's allowed to do that). he seeks you out when you're both off the clock and ends up fucking you on top of one of the washing machines in the base's communal laundry room. the epitome of soft dom, comes pre-programmed with an obligatory daddy kink that you absolutely abuse to get your way. takes you out to nice restaurants seemingly for the express purpose of fucking you in the fancy-schmanzy bathroom. honest-to-god almost passes out when you choke on his cock for the first time; begs like his life is on the line for you to do it again, please, please--oh, fuck baby, yes. that experience reveals two truths to him: one, that he might be a switch, and two, that he might just have to marry you.

6.) now, keegan is a pretty tough nut to crack. it's hard to read him initially, even without the mask--but once you pick up on his tells, he's an open book. and that book wants you upended on the couch within seconds of you both entering the room. initially its just sex; a shared need to vent some frustration and stress. keegan is very private, mostly due to social discomfort and introverted tendencies. in the early days of your relationship, it manifests as him keeping you at a distance. for the first few months, he only ever kisses you when he's balls deep, and leaves after a five-minute come down. you rectify this through sheer persistence and charm. it's clear to you (far sooner than it is to him) that he's weakest to you when you give him big, sweet doe eyes and ask real pretty. this little trick works particularly well when you're riding him slow over the course of an hour, grinding down each time he bottoms out, til he's shuddering and begging you to please go faster--ah. f-fuckin' hell, kid, you're so tight, so good, fuck. when he cums, it's with a crackling whine of your name that pulls the knot of heat in your belly, sending you over after him. then, exhausted and fucked out, he falls asleep with you in his arms. he's still there the next morning when you wake, expression open and lax as he watches you wake. it's the first time you see keegan without reservations, when you realize he's got a gentleness to him--a kind of poet's sensitivity meant for libraries, museum archives, and the kinder side of nature. all overwritten by force to survive, to complete his mission. once you've seen the cracks in his mask, there's no going back for either of you. very quickly, your relationship shifts from distant and transactional to deeply personal; a tenderness blooming in the same garden as the newfound dedication to one another. keegan doesn't say I love you for a long time, but you know he does--you feel it in the way his dark eyes find you in a crowd, always seeking your familiar shape. you feel it in the way he presses your bodies flush from tip to tail while he's fucking you, when being inside of you isn't close enough. you feel it when he, for the very first time, asks you quietly if you'll stay the night with him, because he sleeps easier when you're there. so you stay--the night, and all those that follow.

7.) oh, gaz. such a mischievous little shit. your friend from your training days, you two scrap like puppies over anything and everything. banter is the cornerstone of your relationship, one-upping being a close second. you delight and infuriate one another in equal measure, bickering amongst yourselves til one of you takes a swing at the other. price has reprimanded you both multiple times for horsing around, but you're never in any real danger--you work too well together. there's a kind of shared consciousness between you; a base-level understanding, two wolves hunting in tandem. still, ghost refuses to let either of you sit together on the heli; not since that one time your game of grabass devolved into full-on grappling on the tarmac. ultimately, one of your little tiffs goes too far; ends with you both laid out on a training mat, groaning into each other's mouth as you grind your hips together through your clothes. you both pretend it didn't happen for maybe a week--then it happens again. and again. and again. being 'together' is never something you actually discuss with kyle. it just... happens. much to the chagrin of your lt and captain, the bickering actually increases when you two get together; becomes more like foreplay you can get away with doing in front of your superiors. and if this man isn't an absolute goddamn menace when it comes to exhibitionism. when he wants you, doesn't matter if you're in the middle of a meeting. fuck it--it's happening, and it's happening now. very playful in and out of the bedroom, likes teasing you in every sense of the word. he edges you so long sometimes you nearly kick him in the head when he finally lets you cum. there's my girl--oh shi--ah, haah, good fuckin' girl. he's largely aloof when it comes to his emotions--not the best at verbalizing how he's feeling or what he needs. so instead, he shows you. he shows up every. single. time. kyle's your friend before he's your lover; your partner in (war) crime(s). he's always got your six, you've always got his, and what is love if not someone who'd die (and live) for you?

8.) soap proudly describes himself as a pleasure dom, which is mostly true. but he's got serious switch potential. which you know for a fact because fuckin' hell, does that boy whimper somethin' pretty when you throat him juuuuust right. he's such a 'tits' man, it's crazy. loves to hold you close, feel your breasts smashed against his chest while he drives deep into the tight clutch of your cunt. but most of all, soap loves being on his knees for you. this man definitely moans while he eats you out, tonguing your pussy like it's a mouth. he feels big in every sense of the word--in sex, in love, in anger. and make no mistake, he loves you deeply. you two have some serious yelling matches, storm about slamming doors til the neighbors threaten to call the feds, but it's just your way. you're both headstrong and stupid; arguments are bound to happen, and any unresolved hurt feelings get a solid patch-job from the frankly earth shattering makeup sex that follows. like rudy, soap wants a big family with you, and he knew early. actually doesn't tell you just how early til years down the line. how after your first official date, he called his ma and asked if she'd send his nan's ring, please? because he's pretty sure he just met his future wife. said ring which glitters on your hand now, as you reach over and flick his forehead teasingly. tell him he can stop trying to romance you, you're already married. and could he grab more diapers on his way home from work?

9.) as are all things with graves, your sexual relationship is about power. he's an asshole in the worst way--condescending, smug, underhanded, sneaky in his sexism so you always look like some hysterical woman when you retaliate. the kicker? it turns you on as much as it pisses you off. he's happy to string you along, work you into a lather just to leave you high and dry. lord help you once he gets a taste of you--bending you over his desk and cramming you full of his cock with precisely zero prep. he kisses you, loves you, fucks you like he hates you. because he kind of does--he just wants you more. graves loves it when you cry, wipes your tears with his thumb before forcing it into your mouth. coos when you offer your neck up to him--yeah? want my hands on ya that bad, sugar? gonna be a good girl for me, hm? fuck yeah you are--and proceeds to make you cum so hard you black out. your 'relationship' (which it is; ring on your finger a year in, a little one on your hip not long after) is intense. toxic. would be just downright miserable if it wasn't so fucking hot. you cling to each other with gouging force; a livid-blue kind of love, painful and permanent. he carries a picture of you in his wallet: a small polaroid of you in your wedding dress, ashing a cigarette with one hand while the other flips the cameraman (him) the bird.

10.) and the roughest of them all: price wants more than to love or fuck you -- he wants to possess you. he's so tightly controlled everywhere else in his life (has to be for his work), doesn't seem the type to lose his head over a bird. but when he meets you, something shifts. you're soft. impossibly good. flippant and stubborn as a mule, sure -- you drive him up the fuckin' wall with your headstrong antics. (so goddamn petulant. so sure you're fuckin' right.) but war and death hasn't stained your world, left your indomitable spirit unsullied and intact. which, unfortunately, means you haven't gotten a thorough education on the importance of discipline. price wants to consume your disobedience; crack your rose-tinted glasses under his heel, roll the ambrosia of you in his cupped tongue. he'll do more than make you fall in line -- he'll make you want to do it. it's really just a matter of time before he acts on it. when he does, it's decisive. unsubtle. he crowds you up against the door of your flat on a sticky summer night, brandy on your breath. sinks a hand into your hair, holds you steady as he brings your mouths together with bruising intensity. he fucks you before he ever makes love to you; sinks his teeth into the velvet of your shoulder as he crushes you flat to the tabletop using just his bodyweight. snarls low when you keen wordlessly, overwhelmed and empty-headed at the deep burn-sting of his cock stretching your pretty little cunt, the lewd slap of his thighs against your ass. he batters you til you're not sure what's sweat and what's tears; til your skin bears a mural to his cacoethes, all blue and purple like a deep west sunrise. til there's not a person alive who won't be able to see you're his. always have been, always will, right dove? go on--tell him. tell him who this pussy belongs to.

written by kittsch, do not repost. not to be used for bots nor AI of any kind.

[theonceandfuturequeenoftarts]

Harry wants it known that he’s at the ministry’s Yule gala under duress. It was all he could do to force himself into his dress robes and make himself presentable; he can’t fathom where he’ll find the energy he needs to get through the rest of the evening.

People he barely knows keep coming up to him – as they always do – to shake his hand, chat with him about this and that, thank him for his role in defeating the dark lord. (Still. He really wishes they’d stop doing that. It’s been more than six years now.)

And then there are pockets of people, staring at him and whispering behind their hands. Another constant in his public appearances, though he imagines the content of their conversations is at least a little different from usual, if not the tone. 

He’s just escaped another fan and is looking to make a beeline for the bar when it happens. Harry sees his doom approaching from several metres away but, since they saw him first and he (stupidly) refuses to run away, he stands there like an idiot, wishing he were anywhere else.

“Hi Harry,” Ginny says. It looks like she wants to hug him or get close, and his shoulders stiffen involuntarily. Thankfully, she stays where she is.

“Hullo Ginny,” he replies and, without looking at the man, utters a terse, “Malfoy.”

The smug arse smirks at him. “Potter.”

“How’ve you been?” Ginny asks, which. Rude. If she actually cared about that, she wouldn’t have cheated on him with the git on her arm, but whatever. 

“Oh, fine. Y’know, keeping busy.” God, he hates small talk.

Before he can respond with the requisite, ‘And you?’, Malfoy jumps in. “Yes, I suppose you have been, from what I’ve heard.”

Ugh. Fucking Malfoy. Harry wishes he had a drink or seven. He can’t believe he’d rather be caught in another conversation with that weirdo from earlier about his wand-care habits, of all things.

Ginny gently elbows Malfoy in the side with a chiding, “Draco.”

He’s considering the merits of letting himself be ripped apart by the anti-apparition wards to get away from this conversation – splinching himself can’t be much more painful than this – when a hand bearing a very welcome drink appears in front of him. That’ll do for now, though splinching is still on the table. Especially when he follows the hand to the arm up to the face and of course it’s Ri– Tom.

Harry gives him the side-eye, but accepts the drink. “Thanks.”

Tom leans in slightly, just enough so the two in front of them can’t read his lips. “You looked like you might be in need of a rescue.”

And as he pulls back out of Harry’s personal space, he rests a hand low on Harry’s back. Harry tenses for a moment before just accepting that tonight is all about him being as uncomfortable as possible. He takes a gulp of his drink – something dark and spicy. It burns pleasantly.

When he starts paying attention again, he finds Ginny looking at Tom with surprise; Malfoy is looking at the other man with – is that a hint of fear? And Tom is staring them both down, but somehow managing to do it with a veneer of politeness. 

“Good evening, Draco,” he says pleasantly. “Ginevra.”

“Riddle.” Malfoy’s greeting is stiff, as is the awkward, aborted bow he gives. Hmm.

“And Harry,” Tom says, turning to look at him fondly. “So good to see you again.”

Hoo boy.

“You,” Harry murmurs from behind the rim of his drink. “Are not subtle.”

Tom takes the opportunity to slide his hand further around Harry’s back, lightly gripping his hip and pulling him closer up against Tom’s side. He returns Harry’s withering look with an undaunted smile. “I wasn’t trying to be.”

“Yeah, I’m getting that.”

“When did you two get so cosy?” Ginny cuts in. Her tone is playful, but there’s more than offhand curiosity lurking beneath.

“Uh.” Shite, he doesn’t ever want Ginny to find out how this started, but especially not in public. Who knows who’s listening in or watching. “We ran into each other by chance a month and a half ago” –actually, he’s how I found out you were fucking Malfoy behind my back– “and we’ve met up a few times since then. It’s nice to have someone… uninvolved to talk to.”

Tom looks amused at that. He’s definitely involved in the demise of Harry’s relationship, and if there’s one thing they haven’t been doing (but probably should), it’s talking.

“I’ve been helping him expand his horizons,” Tom says without apparent innuendo, yet somehow the layered meaning is still obvious. Prat. “Getting him to try new things, keeping him busy.”

“You and half the town,” Malfoy mutters under his breath.

“I see…” Ginny says over him. “Funny how that escaped the rumour mill.” 

Harry laughs awkwardly, wishing for a stray lightning bolt to strike and put him out of his misery. “Must not’ve been exciting enough.”

The conversation dies for long enough to become uncomfortable - well, even more so. Malfoy touches Ginny’s elbow and leans down to speak into her ear. Harry seizes their distraction to turn on Tom.

“Are you sure you don’t want to piss on me to mark your territory while you’re at it?” he asks dryly.

Tom wrinkles his nose delicately in disgust. “No need to be crude. Though…” He gives Harry a considering once-over. “I’m not at all opposed to the idea of you carrying my mark. How do you feel about tattoos?”

Harry snorts. “Not a chance.”

The other man tucks his face in close to Harry’s, breath hot against the skin beneath his ear. “What about bruises?”

As though he doesn’t regularly leave an abundance of those on Harry anyway, what with his penchant for treating Harry like a chew toy. Harry shivers all the same, just a little bit. He can feel the barest brush of Tom’s grin against his neck.

Ginny clears her throat pointedly.

“Good to know,” Tom breathes as he pulls back.

Ginny continues trying to talk to him while Malfoy makes the odd snide comment, Tom attempts to meld into Harry’s side while replying for him and being subtly insulting, and Harry tries to become one with the floor. He realises he’s missed a question when he breaks out of his daze to find both Tom and Ginny are watching him expectantly.

“Huh?”

Ginny starts to say something when Tom cuts her off. "Care to dance?"

If looks could kill, Tom would be in a bad way with how Ginny’s glaring at him. "Harry doesn't dance," she says tetchily. Tom doesn't bother with her, waiting for Harry's wary nod.

He looks back at Ginny smugly. "Perhaps yet another new thing to which I can introduce him.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Harry says, grabbing Tom’s wrist and dragging him towards the dance floor. Best to get this over with, and all the better if it means he doesn’t have to speak with anyone else in the meantime.

"She's not wrong," he mutters once they don't have to fear being overheard. "I don't dance.”

"Just follow my lead," Tom replies easily. “Would it be correct to say you don’t particularly care about stepping on my toes?”

Harry stares at him blankly for a moment before he feels a reluctant smile appear on his face. “It might be the one redeeming part of this.”

“The only one?” Tom says archly, pulling him into the correct hold. And, without giving Harry a chance to breathe or think, they’re off in what Harry thinks might be a waltz. 

"That was quite the risk you took," Harry says, trying not to stare at his feet and hoping for the best as Tom spins him around the room. He is, oddly enough, a much better dancer when he’s not constantly concerned about crushing someone's foot.

"Was it?"

"Yes. What made you think I wouldn't refuse and let you look foolish?"

He catches sight of a pleased grin on Tom's face from the corner of his eye. "The same thing that made me ask you to dance when I've seen your previous forays. You rise to the occasion when I push you.” He looks at Harry, for a moment, proudly. “I also knew you’d be more than amenable to anything that got you away from those two.”

Harry can’t deny that.

“Now look sharp, and do try to keep up,” Tom says, the hand at Harry’s lower back gripping him a little tighter.

“Wha–?” 

And it’s all he can do not to trip over his feet and take them both down in a painful sprawl, but the rush, the heady triumph of making it through the successive, intricate turns, goes straight to his head. Before he can stop himself, Harry lets out a loud peal of laughter, further disrupting the couples around them and drawing sneers and disapproving glances. And he just doesn’t care. Not that he thinks he normally would’ve, but it feels like it’s been ages since he’s felt so light and happy. So, he doesn’t think about the people around him. He doesn’t think about how it’s Tom who’s making him feel this way. He just basks in the sun-warm feeling of contentment – of being okay for the first time in a while.

(One night)

[tipsyjaehyun]

I have seen a lot of people talking about how insane it would be if Vee turned out to not be the reincarnation of Vad and now I'm here to add my two cents.

(i'm gonna talk about a bts still which was released, so if you don't want to be spoiled, please skip ahead).

My theory - I do think that Vee is not Wad's reincarnation, and that there is a different reincarnated version of Wad in current timeline. And also that Vee (or rather a version of Vee) was there hundred years ago. Sounds crazy right? Let me explain.

San, being a man stuck in the past for a hundred years now, would have no scope to grow if he falls in love with his soulmate over again. He would always be living in nostalgia, trying to make up for a life he did not get to spend with Wad, and is now trying to make up for it with Vee.

Having the possibility that Vee may not be a reincarnation of Wad opens up so many plot devices, romantic, tragic, comedic, you name it. We need San to break out of the bubble of nostalgia he has locked himself in. Falling in love with a new person would allow him to realise that though he has been trapped in the body for a long time now, the world around him has moved on.

And then we have this still from bts of the show (thank you @singto-prachaya) where we see Vee and San in a somewhat familiar setting.

And this boggled my mind because here it is the scene where San met Wad for the first time but instead of Wad, we have Vee in a somewhat similar outfit.

That still leads to more questions. Is that San's imagination (or recollection) or was Vee somehow there hundred years ago as well? So, my theory is this -

Vee was the one who saved San all those years ago. But maybe because he was shot and was losing a lot of blood, he could not recall the face of his saviour. So later when he woke up and saw Wad there, his mind somehow played trick on him and made him think it was Wad who had saved him. As one of San's regrets was that he could not repay his saviour's debt that is why he has met Vee again to save his life and protect him from an impending doom to clear his dues.

And even though there exists a version of Wad in current timeline, who I'm pretty sure we're gonna meet soon, which would lead to more turmoil in the already terrible, horrible, no good, very bad situation for San, we're gonna see how it is Vee in the end who saves San from his continuous suffering and give him a chance to live a normal life with the love of his life.

[whxre4hange]

attack on titan characters playing league headcanons

guys im in my final year of my undergrad and i have exams and this is what im doing w my time LMAO

eren (ultimate rage quitter)

eren is the ultimate tryhard. bro mains riven and screams into the group call "i will carry!" he charges into fights like he’s fighting titans, only to get instantly melted. after dying for the fifth time, you can hear him scream into the mike, “i’m not mad, i’m just... passionate! WE GOT THIS GUYS DONT GIVE UP” while furiously typing “ff 15” in chat.

mikasa the overprotective bodyguard

mikasa is the ultimate support, but she’s less about healing and more about throwing daggers at anyone who dares touch eren. if someone tries to gank him, she’ll sprint across the map like a ninja, yelling, “no one touches my eren!” while simultaneously saving him from certain doom… and then getting herself killed in the process.

armin the strategist (and coward)

armin is the brains of the operation, but he spends half the game hiding in a bush, whispering strategies to himself. when he finally decides to engage, he shouts, “guys! let’s flank them!” only for everyone to be dead by the time he finishes his sentence. he’s basically a walking “how not to play” guide.

sasha the snack master

sasha is the adc, but her real focus is on her snack stash. she’s munching on chips while trying to farm minions and will often say things like, “just one more potato chip before i go back!” she ends up feeding because she can’t resist grabbing a snack during team fights. “i’m just… multitasking!”

connie the confused support

connie thinks he’s playing support, but he keeps accidentally stealing kills with his abilities. when everyone yells at him, he responds with a confused, “but i thought we were playing catch!” he’s just trying to help, bless his little heart.

jean's leadership failures

jean wants to be team captain (literally no one cares) and constantly tries to direct everyone like he’s leading a military operation. “okay, guys! we need a five-man engage!” but when eren charges in solo again, jean just facepalms and mutters, “why do i even try?”

marco the cheerleader

marco is the wholesome cheerleader of the group. he’s always encouraging everyone with phrases like, “good job, team! you can do it!” unfortunately, he gets so distracted by his own positivity that he forgets to ward properly and walks straight into a bush full of enemies. “oops! my bad!”

reiner's tanking fail

reiner plays tank but thinks he’s invincible. he charges into fights yelling, “i’m here to save you!” only to get one-shot by an enemy assassin. his teammates are left screaming, “we needed you alive for that!”

ymir's sneaky shenanigans

ymir plays an assassin and loves sneaking around for picks. she’ll shout things like, “i’m going in!” but then accidentally reveals her position by stepping on a ward. when historia asks her what happened, she just shrugs and says, “it was tactical misdirection!”

annie’s solo queue dominance

annie is a solo queue legend who plays mid-lane like it’s her personal arena. she rolls her eyes at her teammates’ antics and mutters things like, “if you all just let me carry…” she has zero patience for anyone who doesn’t understand how to play properly—and she’ll mute them faster than you can say “teamwork.”

bertolt's unexpected support skills

birthcontrol is surprisingly good at support, using his size as an accidental shield for his teammates. when someone asks how he does it, he just says softly, “i’m just… really good at standing still.” and somehow that works....

erwin's confusing speeches

erwin gives motivational speeches before every match that leave everyone more confused than inspired. “remember: victory is not just about winning; it’s about… uh… being brave?” anywyas by the end of it, everyone is just staring blankly at him while eren types in chat: “can we just play already?”

hange's chaotic jungle adventures

hange plays jungle with chaotic energy that keeps everyone on their toes. they dive into fights yelling, “let’s go! science rules!” but often end up accidentally initiating fights they can’t win. then they die spectacularly the end

levi's silent judgment

levi lurks in the background, silently judging everyone while occasionally throwing out sarcastic comments like, “great job feeding.” when asked why he doesn’t play more often, he simply replies with a deadpan stare: "because i don’t want to ruin my kda." and yet somehow still manages to carry every game when he does play

[weird-addiction]

Ohhh okay, could u do daemon x male valyrian dragonrider just without the soulmates part than? ^_^

An Immortal Bond

Pairing: Daemon Targaryen x Immortal!Valyrian!Male!Reader

Genre: Light Angst Warnings: suggestive themes, no actual smut, denial of feelings, talking about past bad experiences

The rogue prince of Westeros was known for and wide for his tendencies, having no boundaries and limits to his appetite. The smallfolk always talked about Daemon and having seen him in the street of silk almost every night, sleeping and fucking with whores without a care. 

Some say he would marry a whore in his later years, but to everyone's surprise even when he became crown prince Daemon did not marry anyone (of his own choosing). Sure, he ran off with one his whores but he only did to get Viserys off his back. 

Yeah, like that’ll work. Viserys has always bugged his brother to go back to the vale to his actual wife Rhea Royce of Arryn. Of course, Daemon refused. Viserys had asked a million times why, however Daemon refused to share any information on his reasons. 

What Viserys did not know was that Daemon had fallen in love with someone else, someone unlikely to be even interested in someone like Daemon. But you know what they say, opposites attract. Well, they weren’t exactly ‘opposites’ but they were rather different if you truly compared them.

In his youth, the young Targaryen prince met someone when flying on Caraxes. A different dragon flew past him in the opposite direction, he made Caraxes fly the other way as well, to try and follow who he just saw. Eventually Daemon caught up to the mystery dragon, this dragon had a way bigger wingspan and longer body, it also had four legs instead of just two like his. Daemon saw the person riding it, upon the bigger dragon’s neck there sat someone, but he could not see their face as they had on a mask. 

Daemon followed them as they landed next to each other, going up to the other rider he wanted to introduce himself. But the other rider beat him to it. “Nykeā targārien issi ao?" (A Targaryen are you?) They asked fluently in the language of Old Valyria. 

“Nyke. Se nyke guessing ao issi hen uēpa valyrio hae sȳrī?” (I am. And I am guessing you are from Old Valyria as well?) Daemon replied back, seeing that the other also had the signature appearance of the silver-blonde hair and violet eyes that the nobles of the ancient civilization had. 

“I am. I recently came across the Narrow Sea. I have been trying to find a place to settle.” Daemon nodded at him. “I am Daemon Targaryen. Crown prince to the Iron Throne. You?” He asked.

“I am Y/n.” This made Daemon confused. “No last name?”

“No, not really. My house is dead like the rest of Old Valyria. Plus, if I said it I doubt you would know it.” 

From that moment onwards, their friendship blossomed over the years. And without Y/n realizing it, Daemon had fallen in love with him. Y/n did as well, but he was in denial of the affection he felt towards the prince.

And he had a good reason for it. There was something Y/n never told Daemon about himself, and it was the fact that he was immortal. He was born before the years of the doom of course, but, somehow he was still alive 200 years after the doom had happened. It was said that his house was cursed with immortality, to walk the lands forever as everything and everyone around them gets to die and move on. 

Daemon moved through the city under the cover of night freely, walking into a lesser known brothel as he searched for someone through the many people that crowded it. 

“Looking for me?” A voice called out from behind him. Daemon smiled as heard it, he knew full well who it was.

“Knew you would be here.” Daemon replied, turning around to see the Valyrian man that was standing with a shadow that covered half of his face perfectly. 

“Where else am I going to go? Not like I can live anywhere else.” Y/n spoke with the tint of playfulness of full display.

“I thought staying in a brothel was below you, as you would say when we first met. So, why are you here? Given into your desires?” Daemon pulled the other close into him by the waist, Y/n did not refuse his advances.

“How else will I earn my money around here? Made friends with the owner, giving me half of the profits. I am in charge of some of the private rooms of this place, along with some clients. Pretty good deal, no?” 

Daemon stroked the long hair that the other possessed, the beautiful Valyrian traits just like his own. Y/n led him slowly but surely into a private room, where they shut the curtains and gave themselves privacy. Y/n fidgeted before he spoke up.

“Daemon, there is something I need to tell you.” He said pouring the wine into two goblets.

“And that is?” Y/n handed him a goblet.

“.....That I am an immortal Daemon.” The prince paused as to process the information, he gulped down his wine as turned to look at the now known immortal in his eyes. “Is that supposed to make me feel something? If it is the fact you expect me to hate you, then you are wrong. I don’t care if you are immortal, I still feel the same way about you. Do you not also?” Daemon argued, practically asking and wanting the Y/n to confess his feelings for him.

“Daemon, you don’t understand. I do not know how to feel about this, about all of this, about you..I am just afraid that if I come to admit my feelings that would be my downfall..because that is what I have seen in the past.” Y/n explained, down his wine in one go as he went back to pour more. 

“You are scared that you will live and I will die, is that correct?” Daemon irked an eyebrow. 

“Yes. That is what I am saying.” 

Hearing that, Daemon stood up and had his arms around the other, putting his chin in the area where Y/n’s neck and shoulder met. Arms around his waist once more. “I will say it again. I do not care if that is what you are. If fate has decided that you will live while I am on my deathbed, then so be it, I do not wish to part from you. Not now, not ever.” 

Y/n turned his head around, their lips almost touched if it was not for Y/n noticing it. The immortal slowly leaned in, soon, their lips were together as they molded into one another. They only pulled away once they needed air, Y/n’s eyes seemed dazed. 

Leading each other over to the bed, he pushed Daemon down onto the bed while he straddled him. As he began to pull away at the layers he wore, slowly showing his body to the prince. Soon, his bare chest was exposed along with his arms. 

“Let me show you true pleasure prince.”

“Oh, please do.”

[lesbianphan]

The Myth of Sisyphus and PHILosophy (lol) - a brief essay on two nerds playing a game that might not be that deep but hey who's gonna stop me from pushing this boulder up the hill of writing this?

Disclaimer: it's finally my turn to use my useless degree that included a lot of literary analysis for something extremely important to society: analyzing Dan and Phil content!!! yay!!! This is about to be incredibly nerdy and waffly, but like what else are you doing with your time anyway on phannie tumblr?? (pls read it, I just reread Camus for this for the first time in years okay I'm dedicated to my craft)

"The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy." Albert Camus

As a part of Camus' essays on absurdist philosophy, The Myth of Sisyphus deals with the pointlessness of existence, through retelling the story of the greek myth about the titular character who, as a punishment for defying Death, was condemned to spend eternity pushing a boulder up a hill just to watch it fall back down. That may sound bleak, such is the futile nature of getting up every day and doing tasks, after all.

However, that's not really what the essay conveys. As the quotation provided in the beginning shows, Camus' takeaway about the myth of Sisyphus isn't about how easy it would be to take the option of not engaging at all with the repetitive tasks that make life what it is, or even focusing on how disappointing this pointlessness is. It's about how the journey of getting up everyday and motivating yourself to hit the peak of the hill is all there is to life, really. The absurd conclusion is, ultimately, that pushing the boulder up the hill everyday is what true revolt against the senselessness of the universe is. If there is no reason, we make the reason by climbing up with our rock everyday.

We choose to be happy every day and appreciate our rock, our hill, our existence as a whole. We choose to believe Sisyphus is happy, and, as disappointing at it may sound at first, it's worth it to live your existence, as long as you decide to appreciate your present more than your future (the destination, that elusive peak of the hill).

In Dan's words, you decide to have "just one good night" together every night on tour, you appreciate the journey of climbing out of that mental health hole again. You climb up that hill again and again, because it's worth it, and there are things - bigger than yourself or your personal boulder or even your destination, - that are worth fighting for every day. You embrace the void, and have the courage to exist today, not tomorrow atop the hill.

As Camus' Myth of Sisyphus was, admitedly, one of the inspirations behind We're All Doomed (and it shows!), it makes it even more intriguing to inquire about how much of their reactions to that particular game about Sisyphus informs their perspectives on the world and their personal philosophies.

As a disclaimer, I must add: I don't claim to know Dan and Phil personally, and I only have acess to the parts of them they decide to share, the performing side of them. So, quite obviously, I can be fully off the mark on this one. Still I think it's interesting to dive into, if not for accuracy, at least for better understanding of the personas they portray online, and how their worldviews bleed into it.

The first big point a lot of people brought to the table is the shift in Dan's philosophy ever since writing and performing We're All Doomed and (most likely) a lot of therapy and work on himself over the years. Gone are the days of existential crises being treated as a joke, or mental health in general being discussed without care for what the audience may take from it. During the video, it's quite apparent that he tries very hard to mantain that voice of reason (sometimes breaking it out of frustration, which is fair!), to somehow guide us into an understanding of what this philosophy means to him personally and to his self-proclaimed magum opus WAD.

This is relevant, of course, insofar as this becomes the thesis of the video, silly gameplay and jokes aside. So I couldn't not mention it here, as it's extremely noticeable and commendable of him to now have a different kind of perspective towards the topic of mental health, in this more mature era of their content. You can tell it's relevant to him to try to get the point of the myth across, in a way that tells his audience, as much as it tells himself, that giving up isn't a choice. You must keep pushing that boulder and you must believe that Sisyphus is happy, and so will you be during that journey up the hill. Even when it falls down again and you meet frustration, you pick yourself back up and keep trying to enjoy the present once again.

Secondly, regarding Dan's behavior during the gameplay, it's notable that he gets extremely frustrated when the boulder falls down (who wouldn't?). However, he always tries to catch it and put it back in the path upwards, instead of throwing his hands and giving up like Phil seems to do. This shows, very loosely, how he handles frustration in his own life: trying to fix things and get them right on path again. It's sometimes the most difficult choice to make, but it's extremely corageous to just keep trying in face of extreme frustration. We've seen it all over gaming videos, but also on his own personal projects getting shut down, and Dan still insisting on carrying on creating things that are personal to him, even in face of rejection.

Phil, however, seemed to give up out of frustration extremely easily, so much so that Dan kept pointing it out how he'd let go of the controls and let it happen. It might not mean much, but since he himself claims he gives up on things that are too difficult, it might just be an aspect of his personality to literally let go in face of things he perceives as impossible to achieve.

It is also notable that when he made a mistake, no matter how competitive they usually are on the surface, Phil decided to ask Dan for help, or try to tag out entirely and hand it over. This may not only be related to frustration, but also to knowing how to ask for help, and also a belief that Dan is "the strongest one out of both of us" and he will be there always to help (quite adorable). Dan's tenacity in front of difficult situations is a great complement to Phil's anxious eagerness to hand over the controls when things get overwhelming.

It's interesting to point out how their personal worldview influenced their gameplay as well. Dan was focused, sharp, driven to get to the top of the mountain by keeping in complete control of the boulder at all times. He held on tight to the challenges and kept going, and he wasn't afraid to run back and catch himself enough to try again. Phil's style showed something very interesting about him that is notable in gaming videos in particular: Phil's propensity for making little goals and celebrating the little things in the path to a goal.

Getting through one obstacle that was once difficult is enough to make Phil seem content with his progress. He celebrates every little step of the journey and, in that way, it's easier for him to appreciate it naturally. He's focused on the little tasks more than the big picture, and that makes the experience more enjoyable. His goals shift, of course, as they progress through the level, and the difficulty ramps up. Even so, he's still more likely to point out that's the farthest they've gotten and, hey look at this ramp, let's get through this ramp and then we've won, because that's my goal right now, and that's enough to make me happy in the present.

This counterbalances Dan's more bleak outlook wonderfully as well. While Dan is focused on making it to the top of the hill, and gets extremely discouraged seeing there's a lot more ahead they'll never get to experience, Phil's view is that they got through that one challenge and, surely, next time they'll get through one more, and so on and so forth. Focusing on smaller things is, ultimately, a good way of finding happiness in the process of pushing up that boulder.

Moreover, Phil's brief comment about how you could "make up little stories in your head" is also extremely telling of the kind of person he is. As Camus' philosophy claims: the only way to live with an absurd world is by living through it and learning what it means to be happy in a world that doesn't make sense. In Phil's mind, a bearable way to get through the harrowing experience of every day existence is making up stories, which matches up with his creative mind. Art and creation are indeed things that can make life worth living, and it seems that even subconsciously, that's the path he'd choose against the pointlessness of repetition. The joy of creation is, certainly, and extremely human and beautiful way to find meaning in life.

The most interesting point I'd like to raise, though, is how they got through that game together: as much as Dan accused Phil of distracting him, it was interesting to see that he didn't notice that's entirely the point. The boulder falling down is nothing compared to the stories we share, the conversations we make. What is important is the journey you take, and hearing about your best friend's weird school inter-sports anecdotes, even if you have to start over because you got distracted.

And that's entirely the point I'd like to leave this of with: pushing up that boulder is only worth it if you learn to live, if you learn to love, if you learn to enjoy the present moment, instead of focusing on that ever elusive destination. Therefore, what makes not only the video interesting, but also the game bearable at all, is their interaction with each other. Much like in life as partners, Dan and Phil would, obviously, climb that hill together. They would find the joy in the little moments together, laugh, yell, get frustrated, pick each other back up again in moments of frustration, and keep going up that hill together.

The only way to live is if one imagines Sisyphus happy. The only way to exist is if you decide that, no matter what, you'll create your own meaning. The only way is to find joy in the now instead of later. The only way to make those grueling day to day tasks happy and fun, is by choosing hapiness. Dan and Phil have, in every sense, decided to keep climbing up that hill of existence together. It may be slow and clumsy and loud at times, but it's their own experience. Ultimately, the only way to experience that gaming content is by imagining Dan and Phil are happy to make it for us, and that we can all share a little bit of our hill in moments of laughter and community. That's what makes life worth it in the end.

A/N: this may be the weirdest thing I've ever done, pls accept me for who I am, thank!

[maxdibert]

It’s the old chestnut that Snape fans from the livejournal days will recognize from discussions of Deathly Hallows when it first came out - the morality of the story basically boils down to ‘it’s fine when a Gryffindor does it’. Encapsulated by that low moment when Harry casts an Unforgivable and McGonagall approves of his gallantry rather than being horrified by what war makes of children. There’s a horrible streak of predestination to her characters. If a character is pretty, reasonably provided for, and sorted into Gryffindor then they are good even if their actions are by any objective standard not. If they’re unloved from birth, they remained unloved. Snape had to die without Harry ever having to reckon with the living man in the full knowledge of his true loyalties because she didn’t know what to do with the one character who wrote himself out of that binary.

For me, the best example of this is Tom Riddle. Rowling establishes that Tom is incapable of feeling affection because he wasn’t conceived out of love, essentially implying in a children’s series that if your parents didn’t truly love each other and you were the result of a poorly handled drunken night, then your life is more or less cursed. It’s like saying that if you aren’t born into a traditional nuclear family and your conception happened under questionable circumstances, then you’re doomed to choose the wrong path, that you’re somehow less of a person, that you won’t be able to feel the same way as others. This was something I thought when his backstory was revealed in the books, and honestly, even back then, as a teenager, I found it horrifying. Especially because, both in my case and that of most people around me, our families are quite dysfunctional or far from conventional, so that really hit me the wrong way.

Rowling has a very conservative worldview in general, and she projects that into the world she’s created through the moral foundations that govern it. As you rightly said, there’s no room in that story for people who weren’t born into privileged environments. If you were unlucky enough to be poor, to have parents who didn’t love you, or to have any sort of illness, then you’re either going to end up being really evil or even poorer and more miserable than rats. This ties into the blatant classism present in her work. And I’m not just referring to the blood-status dichotomy, but to the subtle classism that Rowling normalizes in her narrative, which is less subtle than she likely believes, because she probably isn’t even aware of it. It’s just another projection of her own biases. Rowling rewards characters who do good, even though they’ve always had it easy because they come from functional backgrounds, with the tools to make good decisions, positive role models, and healthy emotional relationships with their surroundings. Essentially, she glorifies people who were raised to be good for doing good, as if that were some kind of achievement. On the other hand, she demonizes characters simply because they don’t fit into her moral framework, without taking into account the social background that shaped them. She blames these characters for not overcoming their past, their traumas, and their hardships, for not somehow magically learning the difference between right and wrong, while completely ignoring all the socioeconomic and cultural mechanisms that play a huge role in shaping one’s worldview, especially in the choices made during youth when one is most vulnerable.

Basically, Rowling displays a complete cognitive dissonance in her work, creating very similar characters with equally reprehensible behaviors but treating them in completely different ways just because one reminds her of her high school crush and the other of a guy she didn’t like. And that’s a huge mistake and a sign of mediocre character development.

[qiutls]

TNGDH 020

The heavy atmosphere passed, and Sen smiled saying, "It's good that we can stay together quite a bit longer these days."

[ Current miracle value: 20% ]

Since I was able to change the fate of quite a big incident, the compensation was also hefty. Of course, if you think about it, the sacrifice I made was still a bit too harsh just in order to make it rise this much.

Still, thanks to this the duration of "Summon" is now two hours per day.

That means I can eat pecan pies for two hours! I picked up another slice and was about to take a bite when,

Knock. Knock.

The heavy knock made Sen's face brighten.

"He must be here."

Someone's coming?

My mouth snapped shut before even biting the pie and felt cold energy going down my spine... Hey, don't tell me...

"Ah! A while ago I met His Highness Kyle when I went to bring the pie and told him that you were here."

"What..."

"How can you not greet His Highness when he was the one who saved you? Do you know how worried he was when you disappeared without a word?"

"....."

Ah... I'm doomed.

In spite of my perplexed emotions, Sen cheerfully opened the door.

"Your Highness!"

The door opened and Kyle came in.

A handsome man stepped foot into the room, with a heart fluttering aura surrounding him... As if! There was no such man, instead there was a terrifying man, someone who conquered the North with his strength, of course he was still handsome, but......

His eyes are so intimidating!

My shoulders shook and I took a step back unconsciously. My back flinched at the shock, then hardened because of the pain. Yes, my back is better than yesterday but that doesn't mean it's fully healed!

I looked up at him, staying still awkwardly with no other place to retreat. To make matters worse, Sen announced that she was leaving, "Well, make yourself at home!"

Hey! Where are you going?! Don't leave us alone! How am I supposed to handle this, ah...

"....."

Kyle came closer to the lounge with his eyes fixed on me. The sound of his heavy footsteps seemed to sound more terrifying today.

Just by looking at his eyes, I felt like he was about to devour me whole. I faltered with my steps as I moved closer to the sofa.

He sat as well, not in front of me, but beside me. I gave way slightly by reflex... Hey, what's wrong with you. Why are you sitting next to me.

"You're alive."

He said, drawing himself closer to me.

Why? Are you uncomfortable I didn't die? Do you feel bad at the outcome? It was time to stop being passive and start loading up my eyes with bullets, let's see what this man has to say.

"I thought you were dead..."

His sincerity was reflected in his deep voice. I kept silent, somehow unable to bring out any words. I felt a little sorry.

'...You really must have been worried to death.'

I was injured and bled so much, there was no time to handle both me and the banquet's affairs. And I disappeared as soon as you settled me down at the study.

But I needed to do it. I don't have an excuse and I'm sorry I made you worry one-sidedly but there was no choice. Instead of waiting for the "Summon" time to end and endure the pain, it was better to release the skill and turn back into a hamster.

After thinking for a while, I mustered the courage to move closer towards him. But the face that greeted me was not gloomy or sad at all. He said all that with a straight face, man, I was worried for nothing.

"Were you that worried?"

Kyle sneered at my question,

"Do you think I'm a cold-blooded man who doesn't shed tears nor blood?"

"...."

"Well... That's what the people say that the grand duke is someone with no tears nor blood to shed."

His smile turned bitter at my response.

That's right, Kyle isn't like that at all. I've seen it with my own eyes, so why can't I still acknowledge his soft side. Someone like Kyle, who is compassionate towards the weak, and does not turn a blind eye towards his responsibility, is definitely a good person.

The Duke of Blake is much more affectionate and sensitive than what was displayed in the novel. He became strong in order to protect his people. He became meticulous in order to give the North a better future.

The more he worked hard, the more the world misunderstood him.

He has been called terrible names since he has conquered the barren land. He has been mocked by aristocrats for his execution of enemies. The imperial family locked him up in the North to "keep him safe."

"But it doesn't suit you, being a cold-blooded duke..."

Kyle's eyes bent slightly at my words.

"Anyways, I'm not dead so don't worry. I've living well so... My back doesn't hurt as much as yesterday, look I'm better enough to eat this much pie."

"The doctors said no other people came. It would've been difficult to treat it by yourself since you were injured at your back so how..."

"Well... Let's just say I'm a little more resilient than others!"

This body is not used unless I use the "Summon" skill, and since the system even helped fixed it, it's only natural that the wound would heal faster than normal.

"I won't disappear this time so, you can ask me if you have any questions."

I said while placing a slice of pie on a plate.

"Do you want some?"

Instead of taking the plate, Kyle held my wrist.

"If I lock you up, will you disappear?"

"...Your Highness, that is a crime."

"....."

"Is the grand duke above the law?"

"....."

"H-hey!"

Don't look so serious. If you look at me like that, I might flee again.

And it's no use if you lock me up anyway! I'll be back in the hamster house once the skill duration ends.

"You said I could ask any question."

"Well, yes."

"Why did you leave your clothes?"

"W-well, I was bleeding a lot, so I changed out of it before I left!"

"You had the energy to do that? You even took off the bandage."

"There were still some glass fragments on my back so-"

Ah... I'm just making things up...

"And."

"And?"

"Is your back okay?"

I already said earlier it's okay ah! It's healed enough to eat a pie... Wait! W-what are you?!

He turned me around and stretched out his arms to unbutton my shirt and pulled it down my shoulder.

It happened so quickly that I didn't even have the time to panic. The cold wind blew through the skin of my neck and my back and goosebumps came out.

'Hey! Is it normal to undress a person a like this?!'

I couldn't even struggle since my clothes were held firmly in his hands. I worked so hard to be able to get clothes, I'm not letting it get torn, who knows where I could find more.

Yeah let's stay calm. It's not like he'll do anything bad. But please, finish checking as soon as possible. If someone comes in, they might get the wrong idea!

"It seems the outside wound has healed..."

Kyle's fingertips wandered around my back. His touch was so soft and gentle as if he were touching something so fragile, that it would break with just a little force.

"But it might leave a scar."

"It's alright."

"The bruise might not heal until much later though."

"It's fine, it's not like my back is exposed anyways."

Right, a scar or two doesn't matter as much, compared to a scar left in your heart. You might think it healed, but sometimes you'll still remember and get hurt. *scar in heart is more figuratively, Shu means getting hurt emotionally is worse than physical injuries.*

"That's a relief."

Kyle whispered in a small voice which tickled my ears before it got carried away by the wind.

It felt strange to hear his whispering voice so closely. He felt relieved but my heart started to throb.

How many minutes are left?

"I..."

[ "Summon" will end in 20 minutes. ]

It's time for me to go.

When I looked back, Kyle's eyebrows were knit together. Why? What's wrong? Do you want me to stay in here forever?

"....."

He knows himself, he's making an unreasonable request. He doesn't want me to go, but he can't bear to say it, so he can only frown and knit his eyebrows like that.

'....Looking at him like this, doesn't he look like a black-haired puppy.'

A really really big and intimidating puppy.

His looks are like a curse, his actions are so cute that it doesn't fit his size.

"We can see each other tomorrow."

In the end, words of promise for the future left my mouth. Well, we can't be together all day, but I can still spend two hours as a human so...

"If you don't mind, we can meet here at the same time tomorrow."

It seems like this is the first promise I made to anyone since I came here.

If you ask me why I did it... Well, it just felt like I should. I just thought he'd be less anxious if I told him I'll meet him sometimes.

To be honest, having scheduled a meeting like this feels thrilling. It felt like invisible strings were intertwining my fate with his.

"I'm not going anywhere."

I have to save you; how can I save you if I leave.

"I see."

Kyle replied with a sigh.

"I'll wait for you."

In fact, I wanted to ask why you pay so much attention to me. Belial was injured and apparently another noble was nearby when the accident happened.

Out of all those people, you chose to care for me.

Why the hell are you doing this.

But the moment I made eye contact with him, I couldn't say anything. Whatever questions I had melted away from the tip of my tongue.

To be honest, I felt happy.

I don't even remember the last time someone cared for me this much. I only remember chasing life, always trying to make sure I was living well. Thinking about someone who will wait for me and care for me has never crossed my mind.

But Kyle.

Kyle probably understands this loneliness.

That's why he said that he'd wait for me so seriously.

"Alright."

A burning feeling started rising from my stomach and it warmed my chest and neck. Why is my heart tightening and throbbing like this?

"....."

Kyle's face came close. It was as close as when we danced yesterday.

His forehead seemed like it would touch mine at any moment, and his shallow breaths tickled my nose. We were so close; I could see myself reflected in his red eyes.

"...What are you looking at?"

"I just think, you look so much alike with someone."

I don't look like it, but I probably feel familiar to something you're thinking of. I felt a little bad for him who couldn't recognize me, so I stifled the laugh I almost let out.

"That kind of pick-up line doesn't work anymore, Your Highness."

Then Kyle laughed.

It felt like the coming of spring after months long of winter.

[mermaidsirennikita]

https://x.com/yukitsunaurda/status/1859357803392950434?t=15mdHebDx_zZmZRWVSUBnA&s=19

did you see this...

YES.

Emerald is officially one of the hackiest hacks to ever hack in my book. And honestly? I don't know what to call this other than blatant racism.

Edgar Linton is not "the nice guy" (though I do think a lot of modern love triangles unconsciously or consciously take a cue from the Heathcliff/Cathy/Edgar love triangle). He is symbolic of everything Heathcliff is not or perceives himself not to be. He's also aspirational for Cathy, who views him and his family as what she SHOULD aspire to, even though she's denying her true nature.

(Which plays into the Romantic themes of the novel, of course; Cathy is probably denying the natural self and world on a symbolic level. On a more basic level, Cathy basically no set identity, or is perhaps completely muddled because she does have an identity and won't accept it. I always say: Remember that Catherine Earnshaw dies between... what? 20-22? She's not a fully formed person and never gets to be, and this is why casting someone in her thirties as Cathy is absolutely not something that works. I also find that Cathy, while not a good person, gets a bad rap when people equate her behavior with Heathcliff's, because a) Cathy did not abuse/rape anyone (edit: Cathy doesn't rape anyone but she is abusive to Heathcliff at first) b) Heathcliff continues his bullshit for decades, where Cathy dies so young and her behavior really reads as that of a very troubled young woman, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. I JUST HATE THIS WHOLE PROJECT.)

Heathcliff literally refers to Edgar's whiteness when (very, very sadly—like, whatever Heathcliff becomes, it's an extremely sad passage) discussing how Heathcliff can't be what Edgar is simply because he's "low", doesn't look like Linton, doesn't act like Linton (by no fault of his own, as Hindley treated him like an animal and he never had the opportunity to learn Linton's graces).

In another story, Heathcliff is the bootstraps guy who kind of admirably comes back, somehow having made a sizable fortune, where Linton is the product of soft generational wealth. And frankly? Never has Heathcliff's strength of will (whatever that will was used for).

But because Linton is white and upper class and Heathcliff is neither of those things, this is an immeasurable block, a ceiling on Heathcliff's rise. Linton is representative of that ceiling. And he's also representative of the way that society essentially perverts peoples' true natures. Catherine does not think to be anything other than what she is—wild—until she gets stuck with the Lintons for a while and comes to see what she is as WRONG and puts the Lintons on a pedestal. This is why I think it's important to remember that while the Earnshaws have this land and money, they're not *THAT* high. Catherine is marrying up when she marries Edgar. And while she's very much a white woman, she is not a white woman who comes from exactly the same type of class as Linton, because the Earnshaws are, essentially, messes.

(Insert Heathcliff and Cathy are half-siblings theory here,)

And marrying Linton and caving to the pressures of white society basically has her dooming the lot of them. Including Linton and his sister.

Which—by the way. WHO IS PLAYING ISABELLA.

Part of the "Heathcliff is meant to be read as a man of color" argument lies as well in the way in which everyone acts as if Isabella and Heathcliff's marriage is like, this total aberration. And yes, Linton just hates his ass, and yes, Cathy is both jealous and very aware that The Boy Ain't Right and Isabella is signing up for suffering. But there's an underlying tone that says... Perhaps.. There is another reason why Heathcliff and Isabella *cannot* marry (even though they do it anyway). Is it perhaps because Heathcliff... is not white?

I mean, yeah.

So now you'll presumably have Isabella as a woman of color. Which is just as narrative-fucking as Shazad as Linton. When he could've EASILY been Heathcliff.

Worst take on colorblind casting EVER.

[julia-writes-things]

Grian is overdramatic and sick

drabble request by @bluetbluish

on ao3 if that's more your style

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grian usually never got sick. Key word usually. His so-called ‘higher status’ prevented him from having to deal with the feeble symptoms of the weather or bacteria. Why would an Eldritch God need to get sick when they could just snap their fingers and wish it away? When Grian felt the first tickle in his throat he did just that, or tried to. He slept comfortably in his bed, knowing his sickness was going away when the sun rose from the sky. It was only when he woke up that he realized his punishment extended from just living among the players. He also had to live like them. Experience something he only enjoyed from a third person perspective in first person. Great. Amazing. Super super fun. 

He tried getting out of bed, but his arms felt like lead. Why couldn’t he move? He took a deep breath, but he couldn't breathe from his nose. When he tried, a horrible noise graced his ears. His nose was clogged with… something. His only option was breathing out of his mouth. He found the experience to be quite horrid after about five seconds. 

He needed to tell people about this. Make sure someone knew his suffering, his pain, his- 

{Grian}: scarrrrrrrrr, I need help with a build.

{GoodTimeWithScar}: omw

Grian thought Scar took his sweet time getting there. His head felt like it was being squeezed by a giant rubber band, yet somehow remained in a hazy fog all the while. Why couldn’t his body just pick one symptom, instead of all of them? It would be so much better if it was only one symptom, but no. That would be easy. Instead, he felt like he was dying. He was dying, for all he knew. He’d never experienced this before.

“Grian? Grian?” he heard the melodious voice of Scar, drawing out the ‘e’ syllable on his second call. “Where oh where could he be? G oh G-man.”

Grian tried to let him know he was, in fact, stuck in bed. All that came out was a weak croak. He cringed at himself. This was all he was able to do? Would he be doomed to this horrid fate forever? 

“Was that a frog I heard? He knows I need them for my zoo train, yet he’s hoarding all of them. The injustice!” 

Grian rolled over in his bed. Let Scar find him in this miserable state, then he’d be sorry. 

“Seriously, where could this man be?” Scar mumbled after a while. His voice was getting closer and closer to where he was. Lying down, dead to the world. Or he wished he was dead. 

“There you ar- oh my god,” he immediately rushed to the side of his bed. “What happened to you? You’re so… pale.” “You don’t think I know that, Scar? I feel like someone just took all of my well being and threw it into the void.” “So you’re sick.” “That’s what you call it?”

“Sickness, illness, maladie if you fancy some french-” “I don’t.” 

Grian didn’t have time for humour right now. He needed to get better, and fast. 

“How fix?” he croaked.

“Well uh- what’re you feeling? What’re your symptoms?”

“Dry throat, stuffy nose, sore limbs, my eyes hurt… I could go on.”

“Wow… okay then. Well, have no fear! I’ll go and make my Scar Safe Illness Fighter. I’m trying to get it patented, but the guy at the permit office is a real jerk. Keeps putting me on hold.”

Before Grian could even say anything, he was gone again. He sighed in frustration, all he wanted was Scar’s company.

It took Scar half an hour to make his reappearance. He was lugging a cart of goods behind him. Quickly assembling a table, he then went on to place chicken soup, pastina, tea, milk, honey, noodles, and a small tin of crackers on it. 

“Oh my…” Grian sat up. “This is your illness cure?” “It’s a work in progress. I just took all the things that make me feel better when I’m sick and made them.” 

“That’s a lot.” “Anything for a friend, right?” Grian nodded his agreement, pouring himself some tea. 

“So, you like never get sick. How’d you manage it this time?”

i'm actually terribly ill rn so if it sucks that's why.

[dross-the-fish]

what are your thoughts to toxic/unbalanced relationships in media?

Depends the media in question. For one, it's essential that what I'm watching is AWARE that the relationship is toxic and unbalanced and it isn't trying to sell me that this is somehow a good or healthy "happy ending," for the characters to be together. I can be compelled to follow a doomed relationship if the story is interesting.

The characters don't have to be aware they're in a toxic relationship but I want some kind of signal in the narrative to acknowledge that shit is fucked up and the characters are bad for each other and possibly bad people for continuing their situationship. Both characters also need to have agency and are actively participating in the relationship. I don't want to read or watch an abuser grinding away at a victim who can't escape. I cannot stand characters who are martyrs, especially female characters who keeps suffering at the hands of the male counterpart because they're oh so good and compassionate they can love even the most damned of selfish assholes. That entire trope can die. I'm so sick of women in media being depicted as perpetually kind and forgiving and loving some awful man through all of his bullshit. Similarly If her love interest is out there committing mass murder, killing her friends or family members, endangering innocent people on the regular and her continued reaction to his atrocities is "I feel terrible about what he's doing! But I'm going to keep forgiving him because our love is just so sacred and somehow beyond mortal comprehension and It can save him from himself! blah blah blah," *barfs* She's not heroic or selfless, she's a piece of shit and rendered wholly unlikable for her simpering. At best it comes off as naive stupidity and at worst it's actually willful and malicious ignorance. Her continued inaction and refusal to leave eventually reaches a point where it makes her complicit in his crimes and his victims are now also her victims.

That's compelling if she or the author acknowledge it and examine that in a meaningful way. How a good person can become a villain themselves by being passive or too forgiving is actually very interesting. I would be down to see a love story where one partner actively kills or harms someone their partner cares about and the partner who stays has to acknowledge that the victim's blood is on their hands too and that forgiveness may be impossible. Can a love story succeed if one character cannot forgive the other? Does that fracture in the relationship give the character who committed the crime any kind of wake-up call and prompt a change in behavior? Give me guilt, give me angst, give me horror and conflict. I'm all for it. Do, however, not sell me this as a grand romance. That's where I lose my interest because more often than not I see it framed as one character's ability to love the other is some kind of redeeming quality in and of itself (it's not, horrible people are capable of loving their partners and family all the time. The ability to love someone romantically is not an inherently redemptive quality and I need media and fanfic to quit pretending that it's enough to absolve someone of being a villain or abuser.)

[saribrum]

Art by @saribrum

Hello my friends! I have had a few of you ask to know the whole story of my group's Curse of Strahd campaign, so I thought instead of answering everyone individually that I would do a mass post here! This will be a long read It's so long omg so please be prepared for that! Feel free to ask any questions or hit me up about it too~

Context: Our campaign contains content from the Curse of Strahd module, “Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft”, extended lore from the “I, Strahd” novels, NPC additions and extensions, and homebrew from various CoS communities and from our DM’s wonderfully twisted mind.

Beware of spoilers going forward and please do not spoil anything for us as well!

TW: blood, death, emotional turmoil, attempted self harm, obsession, genocide, and other dark themes.

If you would like to read the long version (Like 3X longer with all the details, check out this link: Click Me!)

Now lets get into it!

The SABR Party Members:

Art by @systemendeavors, @saribrum, and @wintert-ide

Solomon C. Kulle: He/Him, 35 years old, Human Rogue, Mastermind

Personality- A slow to trust, Judgmental, Knowledgeable, Observant and Patient man. Solomon is a respected teacher and well known figure in Mordent. His prideful and blunt personality sometimes makes him hard to get along with, but those who can look past it gain a loyal and well-meaning friend.

Atropa Wixx: He/Him, 20 years old, Part-Tabaxi (Catboy) Warlock, The Undead- Pact of the Tome

Personality- A Friendly, Polite, Foolish, Sensitive, Reckless, Eager, Charming, and Silly young man who only wants to find his proper place in the world. Atropa has struggled with himself for years, feeling worthless to those around him and to himself. All of that changed one day when he stumbled across a book in his family library and began to unlock who he thought he was always meant to be with the help of someone who would soon be essential to his life going forward…

Belladonna “Bell” Wixx: She/Her, 23 years old, Part-Tabaxi (Catgirl) Wizard/Cleric, School of Necromancy/Death Domain

Personality- A Bold, Calm, Clever, Opinionated, Perfectionist of a young woman who was almost equally as friendly as she was judgmental. Bell has worked hard for everything she has ever gained in life and because of this, she can come off as hard and guarded. Really, Bell is a hardworking caring person who wants to save the world from death and make it a better place along the way.

Raisa Voltenescu: She/Her, 30 years old, Human Ranger, Swarmkeeper

Personality- A Positive, Optimistic, Air headed, Rash, Friendly, and Eager woman who is quick to see the good in all of the bad. Raisa is the group’s much needed sunshine cinnamon roll who keeps the group’s spirits up and guides them forward. Being the only native Barovian and having some tragedy of her own, you would think she too would be doom and gloom, but somehow this rare beauty carries the sun with her everywhere she goes and it is infectious.

Kidnapped by the Mists:

Solomon doesn’t remember how he got kidnapped by the mists. At first all he could remember was going to bed, then waking up in the dirt. He felt sore, tired, and extremely disoriented. He had the feeling something happened, but couldn’t fathom what. His immediate worries were his appearance (brushing the dirt off and fixing his necktie) but then… where was he? He didn’t notice the ax in the tree beside him at first, but once he did, he pulled it free and made his way to the crossroad.

Atropa and Bell, the Wixx siblings, were out collecting spell components in the woods near the Menagerie Coast of Wildemount when a sudden mist began to roll in. When the two siblings turned to head back, they found themselves instead at a crossroads.

Raisa was out playing in the woods near her Barovian home of Immol with one of her many ravens, Keelin, when she heard a voice say “they need your help”. The mysterious voice urged her forward until the mist suddenly swirled around her and brought the young Barovian to a crossroads.

----

THE CROSSROADS

The adventurers encounter a huge, cloaked figure with yellow eyes and a 12-foot wingspan at a crossroads. The figure flies away, leaving behind four large dark feathers. 

Shaken and confused, they introduce themselves.

The woman named Raisa urges the group to move forward, warning that the woods are especially dangerous at night.

HALVHREST MANOR/ HOUSE OF LAMENT

The adventurers find a large mansion with a wagon outside and learn from Raisa about the Vistani, who can travel safely through the mists.

They are greeted by Ireena, an armor-clad woman with auburn hair, who takes them inside to meet Ez, a dark-skinned, dark-haired Vistani woman with a prosthetic leg.

Ez tells them they are in Borca at Halvhrest Manor and that she and Ireena are investigating the haunted house.

For shelter and a possible ride in her wagon, Solomon offers the group's help in the investigation.

Spending a few days and getting to know one another, the group successfully solves the haunting of the house.

During that time they learned and accomplished:

That an old unfinished battle between the knight Mara Silvra and the horrible dictator Dranzorg was what was cursing the house

That Ez, Ireena, and Raisa’s home was rumored to be ruled by a vampire king 

They all get tarokka card readings from Ez with various troubling predictions.

Bell let Mara’s spirit inhabit her body so the unfinished battle could be fought 

The party destroyed a chunk of amber down in the basement and released some sort of laughing black mist that disappeared

And the battle was fought and won, and the house was cleansed

The group ran outside and looked around at the saved house, just as mist quickly began to surround them, and with panicked grasping at new found friends, the mists swallow the group up again, leaving Ez and Ireena staring after them as they were pulled away. 

BAROVIA VILLAGE

As the mist subsides, the four adventurers see each other and a giant winged creature flying away. They find themselves at the Barovian East Gate. Barovia?!

They make their way to Barovia Village, where they meet an old woman known as Babushka, who gives them a free apple pie.

They soon after meet Ismark Kolyanovich, Burgomaster of Barovia Village, who is relieved to hear that his sister Ireena is safe.

He tells them that his father has passed away and cannot be buried because everyone believes him to be cursed. 

A year ago, there was a raid on the castle that Ismark's father did not support, and when it went poorly, the village cursed him, thinking it his fault. A few days later he got sick.

Ismark and Ireena went to see the Vistani to get medicine for him, and an old seer told Ireena that she was in danger and needed to leave Barovia.

That was where they met Ez and the two were able to make it out of Barovia safely.

The group offers to help Ismark the next day.

That night, Atropa confronts Bell about her strange behavior, and Bell reveals that Mara is still with her as a companion and that she plans to keep her, much to her brother's worry.

BAROVIA VILLAGE CHURCH

The group meets Father Donavich and while they are waiting for nightfall, Bell confronts Atropa about his odd behavior and secretive writing. He shows her his unconventional spell book, which works off intention rather than runes. Bell questions if Atropa is truly a wizard as their magic seems so different.

As the sun fully sets, the group experiences a few disturbing events back to back (welcome to Barovia), including the cries of a locked up vampire in the church, a parade of glowing green spirits, and a zombie attack!

They are able to fight off the zombies, and Father Donovich tells the group that his son Doru returned from storming the castle and was changed into a vampire.

The group argues over what to do about Doru, but are interrupted as a dark skinned elven man shows up in a large black carriage and gives Ismark and the rest of them letters from Strahd Von Zarovich, the king. 

Ismark’s letter is full of sympathy and condolences for his father. 

The rest of the group receive personalized letters inviting them to dinner at Ravenloft Castle, prompting a lot of mixed feelings. 

DORU

Father Donovich reluctantly allows the group to confront his vampire son in the church cellar. 

Despite their best efforts to reason with Doru, he bites Raisa and the group is forced to kill him in self defense. 

Raisa panics, but Atropa reassures her that vampire bites don’t work the way she thinks. (???)

After cleaning up the cellar and Solomon fabricating a story that Doru's final sane wish was to die, they leave Father Donovich for Ismark's home. 

They hear church bells ringing as they go, but the off beat strange tone sends the group frantically running back. 

[TW: Self Harm] They find Father Donovich attempting to hang himself from the bell, but manage to save him. 

Ismark is called, and upon arrival promises to care for Father Donovich and make sure he is safe.

DURST CRYPTS

The group investigates the cemetery for a reason behind the zombies, which leads them into the Durst family's hidden grave tunnel.

Ismark had informed them that the Dursts once owned a mansion that burned down just over a year ago.

They end up in the basement of a house that was used for strange cult activity and are attacked by a sewage monster. They barely evade the monster's pursuit.

They watch in horror as the house burns around them, but make it outside, where they find a plaque calling the mansion "The Durst House," the place that had burned down.

They realize they are hours away from Barovia Village in the dead of night.

While sprinting back to Vallaki, the group is chased by wolves, but they see an old man who tells them to follow him down a misty path. 

They tell the man to follow them instead, but he doesn’t listen and is mauled.

The group makes it back to Ismark’s house, who tells them that the man they describe on the road sounds like the Mad Mage, aka the one who led the siege on the castle the year before.

The group doesn’t sleep well.

TSER POOL VISTANI CAMP

The next day, as they arrive at Tser Falls, the group is warmly greeted by the friendly Vistani. Raisa reconnects with some old friends and they all learn that Madam Eva, the Vistani seer, was expecting them later that evening.

As they rest, the Vistani recounted a story about a wounded prince who sought their aid in the past. Grateful for their help, he granted them the ability of mist travel. 

When Madam Eva calls them for a Tarokka reading, she refers to them collectively as SABR. She gives them a group Tarokka card reading, and warns them that they need to take caution with powerful people who pose as friends. 

Each member also received a reading warning them of cryptic and personal missions.

There are a lot of mixed feelings about these readings (check out the full document for details) 

The night continues with dancing and enjoyment, and SABR purchases various trinkets from the Vardo Vendors before they catch a ride with the Vistani to the west gate the next morning.

ROAD TO CASTLE RAVENLOFT

On the way, the Vistani tell SABR about the Mad Mage who challenged Strahd. He was struck with lightning and thrown off the bridge into Tser Falls. Since then, people have seen lightning shooting up into the sky from where he fell.

As they are crossing the bridge, they see a creepy man fishing. Bell and Atropa recognize him as the man killed by wolves. He smiles at them and pulls up a severed head.

The whole party is disturbed, and makes no move to stop, cause ew and yikes.

They arrive at the west gate and all climb inside the carriage waiting for them, as Solomon notices druids chasing them from his window. They watch as they block the path with a fallen tree.

Lightning cracks in the sky and the men are swiftly attacked by wolves and scared off.

“Raven bearer” Keelin reminds the group about Raisa, who is somehow asleep during the commotion. Maybe she was why they were being followed…

CASTLE RAVENLOFT

They arrive at the castle, and they are led to Rahadin, the elven man they had seen at the church. The chamberlain takes them up to a guest apartment where they meet Escher, a handsome vampire man. Escher charms the group, especially Atropa.

Escher arranges for servants to prepare SABR for dinner.

Atropa goes first for being dressed, and privately chats with Escher about vampires not all being monsters, which Escher appreciates. They discuss rumors about SABR in the castle, and Atropa is happy to hear that people seem to be excited to meet them. Escher says that Strahd seems to be excited most of all, making Atropa smile.

As they prepare Bell for dinner, her black stained hands and tired appearance surprise them. There may be something wrong with Bell...

As they ready themselves to go down for dinner, they meet Volenta, wearing a big cat skull on her head. She intrudes into their personal space, but apologizes for her mask when she realizes the tabaxi siblings. She transforms into a bat and flies away. Atropa thinks she seems nice, but Escher warns against assuming that.

Art by @wintert-ide

DINNER WITH THE FAMILY

SABR enters the dining room where Strahd is playing the organ and is met with the whole family. Rahadin, Volenta, and two other beautiful women introduced as Ludmilla and Anastrasya. 

Strahd warmly welcomes them and cracks jokes trying to lighten the mood, but SABR still seems unsure as to why they were there to begin with. What did this man want? 

“I would love to hear more about you all. I have heard a little from Atropa of course, but I would love to hear your views also.” Everyone is confused.

Strahd reveals that Atropa had visited him months ago, and that he saw great potential in Atropa’s magical abilities. The two formed a fast “friendship” and talk regularly. Atropa was asked to keep their connection a secret so as not to sway their own opinions.

After some dirty looks Atropa’s way, Strahd proposes an alliance: he needs SABR's help to break a curse trapping him in Barovia. He wants them to act as his emissaries to explore lands beyond the mists and retrieve items for his research. He promises rewards and assistance for all of their help, but they don’t need to give him an answer yet. 

The conversation shifts as the wine runs out, to which Atropa, Solomon, and Escher go to the cellar for more and discover a man upside down being drained of blood. Solomon is greatly disturbed, but Atropa seems unfazed, even going as far as to say that if the man was a criminal like Escher said, it was a good resource to have.

As dinner ends and they move to the audience hall for a dance, Bell accuses Atropa of being a warlock who made a deal with Strahd for power. Atropa defends himself, saying he's only helped Strahd with information and that no huge deal was struck.

Bell storms off angrily.

FANCY DANCY

The group enters the audience hall, and each is paired with one of Strahd's wives for dancing

Ludmilla discusses necromancy with Bell and invites her to join a sisterhood she has been running. 

Volenta teases Solomon about his cold hands and recounts the murder spree she went on that brought her to the castle.

Anastrasya and Raisa discuss people known as “helpers” in Barovia, and if Raisa knows anything about such a topic. 

Escher dances closely with Atropa to get Strahd’s attention, and questions how Atropa gained it in the first place. Atropa can’t provide him with an answer, so Escher ends the dance and goes to pout.

Strahd and Atropa dance next, and he apologizes for the awkwardness of dinner.

During their conversation, Strahd whispers to Atropa that he is more than welcome to join him again (yes I said again) in his bed for the evening. He also mentions that one of the wives could possibly join them. Strahd leaves the task to Atropa to do before the night ends and Atropa wanders away to panic in bisexual.

Bell and Solomon have a silent conversation by tracing words onto each other's hands to avoid super-vampire hearing and he asks her to meet later in his room, making Bell blush.

Atropa asks Anastrasya to dance and fumbles his attempts at flirting. She finds his attempts cute, and agrees to join him and Strahd later. 

Bell confronts Strahd about Atropa, and Strahd explains Atropa's desire for him to teach him, making Bell mad.

Strahd goes on to compliment Bell (totally flirting), and she is not shy to ask a favor of him, that he will protect Atropa and be there for him no matter what. 

Bell says the reason she is asking is because she is actively dying and does not know how long she has...

Strahd offers Bell vampirism, which she says she will think about, but only to placate him. The two part and Strahd says that she is always welcome to seek him out if she can’t sleep. (Stop trying to collect the siblings Strahddy!)

Raisa dances with Volenta, who invites Raisa and Solomon to see more of her art.

SABR is dragged away to check it out. 

VOLENTA’S MASTERPIECE

SABR is brought to a room decorated floor to ceiling in bones. A big one of note being a silver dragon’s skull. 

After some time, Solomon urges them all to leave.

Volenta happily shows the group back up to the main room, saying she really likes them and even if she had not been asked to be nice to them all, that she probably still wouldn’t kill them. 

The moment she is gone, the party drops their facade and the panic of all they just saw sets in.

FIRST NIGHT AT CASTLE RAVENLOFT

SABR locks themselves in a guest room and Raisa reveals Volenta killed a giant raven who she suspects has a connection to her grandmother's necklace.

The group discusses Atropa and Strahd, to which he defends himself, saying he only shared information as he would with a friend, and explains his communication with Strahd through his magical book that functions as a two-way communicator.

Bell and Atropa then have a private conversation in which Bell reveals she's dying from necrosis in her fingers due to practicing necromancy. Atropa is upset she didn't tell him sooner.

Bell questions if Atropa's deal with Strahd is why they're trapped in Barovia, but Atropa denies it, saying Strahd was surprised when he arrived.

Atropa says they could have asked Strahd to help them look into a solution for her sickness, and Bell says he offered vampirism, but she would rather not. Atropa states that her dying is such a waste and before he can finish, Bell storms off upset. 

Ludmilla finds her and takes her to her study.

Raisa and Solomon stop Atropa from following Bell and express concern and loss of trust in him. Atropa says he will be more careful in what he talks about with Strahd, before leaving to look for her.

He finds Strahd instead. He shares his frustrations about Bell, to which Strahd advises him to let it be for the night and invites Atropa to unwind.

Atropa keeps talking, and brings Strahd’s vampire offer to Bell. Atropa admits it made him a little jealous. 

Strahd explains that he offered it to her first because of the urgency, but that Atropa had never asked. He asks if Atropa wants that, and Atropa explains he’s torn. He wants to protect his sister, but he also wants to be with him.

Strahd shares his own experiences with wanting to protect his siblings and asks if Atropa trusts him. They both share their trust with one another, as well as a kiss before teleporting to Strahd's study.

Bell returns to the room later, and Solomon invites her to talk. He shares details about the body they found in the cellar, and expresses concern about Atropa's reaction.

Bell and Solomon discuss their tentative alliance with Strahd for safety and possible benefits, though they have to be careful what they tell Atropa from now on.

Bell and Solomon also talk about their dynamic, and Solomon apologizes for treating Bell like a child and she apologizes for coming off as cold. She also points out Solomon’s unintended flirtation, which he didn't realize and is flustered.

ATROPA’S LOST DAY

Atropa wakes up alone in Strahd's bedroom, feeling sore, exhausted (half HP), and hungry due to blood loss after an enjoyable night. (but where's my uber Strahd?!).

He checks himself in the bathroom mirror and sees that Anastrasya left four large bite marks on his neck and is not very happy. 

Moving Strahd's study, Atropa looks at some of the covered paintings on the walls, and is surprised to see that one portrait above the mantle resembles Ireena but is labeled "Tatyana". Atropa wonders if maybe she was a relative?

Another portrait is of a man named Alek Guylim. Atropa takes note but covers the paintings again.

Atropa does a lot of reading in the study and wandering around, and gets scared by various situations in the creepy castle as he tries to find his way back to the main area with his friends.

While exploring he finds a stone brazier emitting tall white flames with a bowl containing colored stones with an inscription suggesting teleportation to different locations within the castle. 

He also encounters a haunted painting marked with a glyph of warning. He hears a chilling voice sound out when he moves, saying. "How dare you." 

Glowing red eyes appear as Strahd descends the staircase, visibly angry and says that Atropa has worn out his welcome. Atropa desperately tries to explain, as Strahd tells him to pray to whatever gods he believes in… before melting to wax and disappearing into mist… Oh thank gods, the glyph of warning!

Atropa retreats from the room (cause wtf), gets chased by some knight statues (more wtf), and ends up having to use the teleportation cup to send him to the top of the tower on the north side of the castle (wtf!!!)

He goes down a hatch and starts to hear a deep, rhythmic sound like a slow heartbeat, but as he opens the door leading downstairs, he encounters Rahadin who is visibly angry to see him there. 

He yells at Atropa for breaking castle rules and warns him that Strahd may be merciful, but he wouldn’t be.

He blindfolds Atropa and leads him away, saying Atropa must be the one to tell Strahd of his morning adventures.

SOMETHING’S UP WITH SOLOMON

While Atropa is narrowly avoiding death, Solomon reveals his peculiar pocket watch with thirteen numbers on its face, and says that he believes he is under some sort of time limit. 

He explains that he noticed the clock only goes up to midnight then runs backwards, but the last two nights the clock went a few minutes past midnight.

Bell casts some magic and pulls Solomon aside to tell him that he is giving off necromantic magic, suggesting he may be undead…

Solomon gets upset and angrily asks them to drop the matter.

They head downstairs to start their day, and see Rahadin and a no longer blindfolded Atropa who claims that he got lost. 

As they all sit to eat, Solomon discovers a book titled "Van Richten and Kulle’s Guide to the Restless Undead," a co-authored book with his work colleague, Van Richten. The date on the book indicates he has been absent from Mordent longer than he realized.

Solomon slams the book shut and leaves the table even more upset.

Bell asks Atropa about his little adventure. She asks where he was all night, but Bell guesses.

“Did he proposition you too?! Did he ask to sleep with you?!” “Wait, he asked you?! What?!” Bell says she of course declined but that it doesn’t sound like Atropa did.

He admits that he spent time with Strahd and Anastraya in Strahd’s room, and Bell is bewildered and stalks off. Atropa follows after and the two bicker for a while.

Later, Raisa tells them about her father and how they never found his body and she is afraid that he is out there somewhere walking around undead. 

The topic shifts to Raisa’s 12 spirit raven’s that come from the green parade they saw marching up to the castle. She also says that her alive raven Keelin has been with her for 30 plus years, which seems long for a raven to live. Maybe Keelin is supposed to be Raisa’s guardian?

Raisa talks a little about her mama and Solomon mentions that he comes from a very close large family. Atropa also takes the time to share what he found during his lost morning.

He mentions the portrait of the woman who looked like Ireena but was labeled Tatyana. The group says they should talk about it later because of how scared Ismark was of a certain someone…

Solomon fills Atropa in on his pocket watch. Atropa casts identify and he learns that something is after Solomon, that the closer the watch gets to the 13th hour, the closer it is to finding him and if it reaches the number, it will have found him and it will be very very bad. 

Solomon is baffled and terrified and wishes to start moving on as soon as they are able.

A knock at the door startles them all as Escher comes in. The group asks him questions about himself and vampirism, and learns that he is a spawn, a very different type of vampire from the brides. The way he was made was by Strahd drinking him until he died, and then buried him. 

He explains that there are so many different types of vampires, some bestial, some that couldn’t pass for human and creatures that can’t turn back and are always monsters.

As the group goes down for dinner, Bell and Atropa apologize to one another, and Bell tells Atropa that Solomon is undead. The two talk about it through messages to speculate.

As they all sit down to eat and talk about what they want to do about Strahd’s offer/deal, the lord himself jumpscares them all and joins them. 

They are able to come to an agreement on an offer: SABR would transverse the mists outside of Barovia, Strahd would give them the details of what it is he is looking for, they would go to those places to collect items and information, and SABR would return to him for even more rewards. 

He asks them to think about it some more, and offers to give them a tour of the castle. 

CASTLE TOUR

The first place Strahd takes SABR is to his chapel of the Morninglord, and discusses his connection to the land as a citizen and ruler. He is the land itself.

Bell asks about Strahd's recent interactions with his people, to which he says it has been a long while. Atropa and Bell encourage Strahd to get out more, maybe people would be less afraid if they knew him.

Raisa asks if the animals of the land also listen to Strahd, to which he says yes, but that he would have to micromanage every wolf pack and cauldron of bats at all times. It was just impossible.

Strahd shows them to a garden and he tells them that he often wishes he had an heir or successor, but that no one seems to be up to the task just yet… Awkward

He leads the group to a small library next, where they all casually chat and look through books. Strahd then asks to speak to Solomon alone.

Strahd unlocks a memory for Solomon: He was on a horse, riding as fast as he could into the night, away from something. He was wearing a mask over his face, the pocket watch in his hand with both arms on the 13, and he is running from death. Something behind him flies through the air and then suddenly… he is waking up next to an ax in the tree near the crossroads. 

Solomon comes out of the memory and Strahd tells him that whatever he is running from, that he does not need to run alone when he has the others.

Volenta shows up after they return and urges them to come look at her room. It is like something out of a messed up Barbie’s death house, with cute decor and macabre paintings and of course her skull collection.

Raisa is upset by seeing a giant raven skull among them.

Volenta excuses herself and Strahd leaves them to their own devices as well. He asks that they meet him again before the night is over with their decision on the deal.

Raisa tells the group after they are both gone that she is going to break into Anastrasya’s room to read her diary. She thinks she knows something about the dead giant raven. Atropa is appalled, but the others decide to help her.

She finds a letter sitting out in the open, talking to her friend called L, and asks her to leave a man named Viktor alone as he is no longer a concern of theirs. 

In her diary Anastraya writes that one of her spies in Emol spotted a giant raven. When she and Volenta went there, they were able to kill it but a plan Anastraya had been working on was ruined. 

At dinner, Atropa has to sit next to Rahadin, who immediately outs him for “getting lost” in the castle. Strahd simply laughs and says that Atropa of course never meant to get lost did he? He wants to know what happened.

Atropa goes into detail, but Strahd stops him before he says anything about the teleportation. Strahd tells Atropa that maybe next time Atropa finds himself in a hole, that it may be best if he stops digging. The whole group flinches at that, the edge to his voice subtle.

Ludmilla asks Bell to join her in her study after dinner, and Bell says that she and Atropa wanted to ask her about black hair dye. She agrees, but that Atropa must leave after. (My poor boy getting hated on)

SABR tells Strahd that they would like to accept his deal and he is thrilled.

He encourages them to visit Vallaki before they leave Barovia, but to maybe stay out of Barovia Village, as everyone seems to be upset with Ismark at the moment. 

SABR now knows they are heading back to Ismark when they leave.

Soon after dinner, Strahd takes them to his trophy room upon Raisa’s request and they learn a lot about Strahd’s military days. 

One story that sticks out in particular is that of the Knights of Argynvost. Strahd had wanted to be allies with the silver dragon, but learned that they had betrayed him. They all put two and two together, that the silver dragon head in Volenta’s masterpiece room has to be his.

STUDY TIME

Strahd and Atropa go to Ludmilla’s lab to retrieve hair dye, then to Strahd’s study.

Strahd performs an experiment on Atropa that will enhance Atropa’s powers. By mixing their blood together like the first time (when he became a warlock), he says he is hoping to give Atropa vampire-like abilities without the usual drawbacks.

They perform the ritual, [TW: bodily harm] Strahd cuts Atropa’s arm open and pours their mixture directly into his veins.

Meanwhile, Bell shows Ludmilla her magic prowess, and she asks what is killing Bell (she can smell it) and learns that Bell is cursed by a book from Zal’Honen. She suspects Bell has some sort of a connection to Barovia just as Atropa does.

Ludmilla has Bell cast some magic and determines that she is connected to the mists and shadows, probably from Zal’Honen. 

Ludmilla offers to help Bell harness her shadow magic at the risk of possibly making her condition worse. Bell agrees.

Ludmilla begins a spell, and Bell is quickly overcome by shadowy tendrils that reach into the core of her being. Bell fights to hold onto herself, just barely, but she is given shadow magic.

Raisa, Solomon, Rahadin and Anastrasya stayed behind at the dining table and discuss history, including Rahadin’s time fighting alongside Strahd.

Anastrasya offers to write Raisa a letter of recommendation for the library in Immol, so she will have no problem in getting in in the future. (They wouldn’t let her in in the past)

Back in the study, Strahd and Atropa discuss Atropa's book and if Strahd has made any headway of who he thinks it may have belonged to. 

Strahd theorizes that it could have wound up in Atropa’s home, intentionally or not, by the will of the Dark Powers. Atropa asks for clarification, but Strahd says that he does not know what they are exactly. Whatever the cause, they have learned that Atropa being there was no mere coincidence.

Upon asking if there is anything specific Strahd would like Atropa to report while traversing the mists, the topic of amber comes up. Strahd says it seems to appear in significant places.

Atropa confesses to forgetting to mention the amber pillar in the basement of the Halvrest Manor.

Strahd, enraged and with glowing eyes, shatters his wine glass. The fire goes out, and Strahd confronts Atropa, demanding an account of the encounter. Atropa nervously recounts them destroying the amber and releasing a cackling smoke.

Strahd’s grip on Atropa’s arm tightens and mutters that they have freed something terrible. 

He predicts there will be dire consequences, instructing Atropa to abandon other tasks and focus on returning to Borca as soon as he is able. 

Atropa’s mind is reeling, and Strahd tries to comfort him, he says that Atropa should return to the guest rooms and rest.

He teleports the two of them back to the lounge, and when Strahd leaves, Atropa lets go of his calm mask and grips his arm out of pain. 

Meanwhile, Bell and Ludmilla bond over tea and cookies!

Ludmilla offers insights on Solomon's unusual condition with Bell as she dyes her hair. Bell says she has not been able to examine Solomon, so Ludmilla encourages her to seduce him.

Bell and Mara talk when Ludmilla leaves, and Mara seems pissed. She asks what the point of seducing Solomon is, and Bell just thinks she is being jealous.

Solomon and Raisa learn from their conversation with Rahadin and Anastrasya that Rahadin killed the prince of the Dusk Elves and swore himself to the Von Zarovich family soon after. 

They also learn that Anastrasya was a part of the Karelova family of Vallaki. Solomon mentions that they found a deed to the estate, but she insists that they keep and use it if they ever go.

Atropa finds Escher lounging dramatically nearby and asks him to help dye his hair. 

He confides in him about what happened with Strahd, to which Escher tries to comfort him and be supportive.

When the others come in, Atropa informs them all that they need to go back to Borca as soon as they can upon Strahd’s request. They all seem confused by the request but agree.

Atropa thanks Escher for dying his hair, and he asks if Atropa needs help with dying his tail too. They excuse themselves to go do that while Raisa and Solomon talk one on one about Raisa knowing exactly what happened during the carriage ride up to the castle even though she was asleep. She even said so to Anastrasya in passing.

Raisa explains that apparently she can see through Keelin’s eyes, but she doesn’t understand how. 

Atropa and Escher come stumbling out of one of the spare rooms, looking rather disheveled. Raisa sees the smirk on Escher’s face and smacks the hickey she spies on Atropa’s neck. He blushes and starts heading to his room when she asks if they had fun. Escher pokes fun, saying they could have had more fun if Atropa stuck around~

Raisa asks what the rules are with the castle’s relationship dynamic, and Escher says that it’s pretty open. Strahd is with everyone, and the others all have their favorites. He only prefers men, so it is usually just Strahd, unless Atropa stays… 

Atropa waits up for Bell to come back, and the two share their recent experiences (Smooching Escher, Ludmilla’s bias towards natural castors, Atropa’s morning adventure, the amber conversation and that he is currently writing up a more detailed report for Strahd, Bell’s curse being linked to the Shadowfell, Ludmilla wanting Bell to compete with her other students, etc)

Atropa asks Bell if being a warlock is bad, and she asks again what deal he made. He says that he just said he would help Strahd in return for magic, and Bell says he basically gave himself eternally to the man, especially if he becomes a vampire. 

Their conversation is interrupted by Keelin who comes out of Raisa’s room acting weird. They figure out that magic is coming off of Raisa and find that she is seeing through Keelin in her sleep.

Atropa hangs out with Keelin well into the night, but during the early morning, Escher shows up again and the two end up sitting on the roof of the castle together flirting and talking until Escher has to leave. Atropa reminds him again that he is welcome to join them on the road any time.

The next morning they all go down and meet with Strahd for breakfast and Strahd pulls Atropa aside to speak with him, and says that his reaction the night before was out of fear and worry for his safety. Atropa apologizes, and instead of doing the same, Strahd says he forgives the honest mistake (fucking gaslighting asshole). 

Strahd says that he was rash asking Atropa to drop everything for Borca, and says he would instead like everyone to write out what happened. Atropa agrees.

Strahd runs his hand through Atropa’s hair and says he likes the new color. Atropa shyly explains that they thought it would help them blend in. Strahd doesn’t miss a beat and says that Atropa still stands out in his eyes. (you smooth son of a bitch) He asks to kiss Atropa, who eagerly agrees.

When they head back into the dining room, Atropa’s whole demeanor has changed to a happy one. 

Strahd thanks them all for coming again and says he had a gift prepared for each of them that they can find waiting in the carriage out front.

As they finish breakfast, Bell and Solomon suggest (demand) returning to Barovia Village to visit Babushka. Atropa doesn't get their obsession with her pie and asks if Strahd has ever had it. He hasn’t but is curious. 

Atropa reaches into his bag of holding but the pie is mysteriously gone.

They all say goodbye to Strahd and beeline it to Barovia Village.

THE RIDE BACK

SABR sees Barovia Village in the distance engulfed in flames and try really hard not to panic.

They all try to distract themselves on the long ride with chitchat, and Raisa jokingly suggests that maybe  Atropa's bag of holding “ate" his missing pie, just like the butler from Halvrest Manor.

Solomon shares the memory that he had in the castle, and the group speculates if the event led to his disappearing in the mists, and possibly why he is dead.

Solomon is pissed to hear that Bell shared her theory.

Continuing to grow heated as they talk, Solomon snaps at them all and Atropa snaps back rather harshly, causing a huge fight..

They try to break the tension by talking about Raisa casting magic in her sleep, but nothing helps. They ride out the rest of the few hours in silence

BAROVIA VILLAGE PART 3

SABR arrives in town and Bell and Solomon go to get pie while Raisa and Atropa investigate some weird Crimson Vardos.

Atropa talks to a vardo merchant and hears town gossip: a young girl has gone missing and was found dead, Mad Mary's house burned down and she is missing, and that there's an angry mob after Ismark for his lack of control. Some are also accusing Dezdrelda, a healer, of being a witch.

TROUBLE AT ISMARK’S

SABR follows a mob to Ismark’s house, and team A (Solomon and Bell) try to calm them while team B (Atropa and Raisa) work to get inside and set up a plan.

Atropa takes the form of a vampire with his Form of Dead and when the mob breaks in, they “witness Ismark killing it”. They call him Ismark the Slayer and go to tell the town. 

They celebrate for a second before realizing there are two more people in the attic that heard the whole thing. They are yelling threats at Ismark and accuse him of befriending the devil. 

Solomon ends up shooting one man when he tries to attack, and they intimidate the other into silence.

Night falls and Raisa receives a letter from her Mama warning about trouble in Immol.

Atropa and Solomon apologize to each other and are better now.

The next day, they meet Teo Tavian at the church, and he is dragged into helping SABR, now better known as BRATS with the new addition (temp player character whoo!), investigate the murder of a young girl.

After a lot of picking up clues, they come to suspect the red vardo leader Jaquellin, is responsible and that she is a monster that wears the heads of young women.

The Vardos already left, but are heading to Vallaki, so BRATS decides to follow.

Back at Ismark’s house, Ismark finds a letter from Strahd telling him to get his shit together with Barovia Village, or Strahd will come take care of it himself.

The next morning, they talk to Father Donavich and he asks them to ask the church in Vallaki to send another Father to come take his place. He needs to retire. Teo takes on this task and BRATS heads off.

ROAD TO VALLAKI…

Raisa shares detailed information with Teo about SABR's activities, leaving him somewhat shocked, and along the way he finds a spyglass at an old battle ground.

They all make it to the West Gate and see a Windmill up ahead that belongs to that girl Dezdrelda’s family.

THE OLD BONEGRINDER

BRATS are welcomed inside by Dezdrelda and her family, and the women explain the windmill's history as a sacred place and their roles as medicine women.

Bell asks if they might be able to heal her curse, and they take her and Atropa upstairs to try.

While the women are distracted, the sibs find a dark magic candle made from a hand, and find bones of human children that are being used to make flour. They snatch the hand with plans to destroy it.

Atropa panics and uses Thunderstep without knowing how it works, and teleports himself and Bell outside. The spells blast causes half of the windmill to cave in, enraging the women.

Trying to get out of there, BRATS has to face the three women, wolves, zombies, and… Solomon?! Turn Undead is cast on Solomon, and it is sadly just the confirmation everyone needs to learn that he truly is undead. But now is not the time.

Teo is able to dispel the charm on Solomon and get him back on their side. 

They figure out how to extinguish the hand candle, causing the women to merge into a demonic creature who retreats to the Ethereal Plane, with a threat that she will be back.

With no place to stay and night falling, they decide to make a dash for Vallaki. They can process almost dying later.

Art by @wintert-ide

THE PROPHET IN BROWN

Following a path through the forest, BRATS is jumpscared by a small little man who calls himself the Prophet in Brown. 

Bell and Atropa immediately recognize him as the man they saw get mauled by wolves and fishing on the bridge. He tells them that he has been watching them for quite some time. 

They try to wave him off as distracting them with his cryptic garble, when Atropa is singled out. He claims Atropa has taken his advice before, which confuses the group as Atropa denies knowing the man at all. They accuse him otherwise.

Teo uses the spyglass he found on the Prophet, which does something to Teo’s mind.  (Out of character, we know he got a indefinite madness for looking at him and has a bit of a fourth wall break now)

The Prophet leaves, and BRATS seeks refuge in an abandoned boat shack for the night.

VALLAKI

BRATS arrives in Vallaki and undergoes city registration. They have a few weapons confiscated and lie about who they are just incase.

They are escorted around by a disturbingly chipper woman who portrayed Vallaki as a joyful place despite signs of oppression.

Raisa is super excited when she sees Blinsky’s Toys, a toymaker she has loved her whole life. He has a lot of toys making fun of Strahd, and Atropa is incredibly displeased. 

Raisa gets to meet Blinsky, and he talks a little bit about his monkey and that he got him from a traveling circus man named Riktavio.

The group is shown the rest of Vallaki, gets some new clothing, and run into a person yelling about dark magics coming from the Baron’s attic. He is grabbed by some guards and hauled off to somewhere called the Re-Education Center, where “repeat unhappy people” go.

Eventually BRATS is dropped off at the Blue Water Inn at Raisa’s request, and she shares that they will be staying with her family who run it, the Martikovs. 

They have introductions, but the group is quick to gets together to talk about the weird city. Bell tells them all about Mara and they all think Bell is being possessed by the sword she got at the Halvhrest Manor, as she refuses to part with it at all. Solomon is able to convince her to show it to him later.

Solomon asks Atropa about the portraits seen at the castle that resemble Ireena and Atropa suggests that maybe Tatiana was Ireena’s ancestor.

Solomon reveals that he noticed two prominent vampire bites on Ireena's neck under her scarf during their time at Halvhrest Manor. He had spoken with Ismark privately and had learned that Ireena left Barovia with Ez due to vampire bites appearing over several nights.

Atropa shares that he had a similar bite mark on his neck from night with Strahd and Anastrasya.

They speculate about Anastrasya, and Raisa shares that the timeline from her diary of the giant raven being killed was around the same time her father died. 

Raisa shares her last day with her father and how he told her to run when they were being chased by wolves. Something large got between her and the pack and saved her, but she lost her father. 

Bell asks Raisa if her family has any history of shapeshifting, suggesting her father could have turned into the raven. She has no idea, but she does believe that Strahd was involved in her father's death.

Atropa is shocked by Raisa's suspicion of Strahd and gets defensive when they all tell him that they don’t like or trust Strahd still. They think he somehow charmed them into liking him and agreeing to the deal. 

The group tries to convince Atropa to reconsider his view of Strahd, but Atropa remains steadfast in his beliefs and grows angry at the betrayal.

Raisa tells Atropa to get out of her room, which he does in a huff.

Teo is overwhelmed by the sudden info dump.

RAISA HAS SECRETS 

Raisa sneaks down after everyone is in bed and joins a secret family meeting.

She meets Muriel Karlova, owner of the raven that helped BRATS back at the windmill. 

Her family, revealed to be members of the Keepers of the Feather, ask Raisa to share her experiences with BRATS, to which she tells them everything.

They reveal to Raisa that Keepers are helpers of those in need and guardians of knowledge and history. They hate Strahd.

Raisa admits that she has been pretending, claiming ignorance, and keeping secrets from BRATS. She never knew the details, but her parents were Keepers too.

They reveal to Raisa that her necklace contains spirits of ravens guiding her. The spirits are the ravens that belonged to keepers not from Barovia, but died there. The ravens stick around to help in death. 

They also discuss the significance of giant ravens like the one Volenta killed. They say they are creatures that appear when they are needed.

Raisa mentions Strahd's interest in artifacts called Mist Talismans from other domains, and they all wonder why. They need to keep a close eye and play nice for now.

They instruct Raisa to stay with BRATS, gather information, and watch for other keepers in the domains. She will be able to find help in people wearing feathers.

BELLS AND WHISTLES

Bell finds Solomon in his room, who is an anxious mess. His clock will hit the 13th hour tonight.

She tries to comfort him, ultimately shifting gears to Solomon asking Bell about her interest in him. “What do you want?” 

Bell directly asks if he likes her, to which he responds with non-romantic compliments, so she then asks bluntly if he wants to sleep with her, to which he says if that is all she wants, then she just has to say when. 

Bell tells Mara to leave (lmao)

Solomon asks if his current state of being will be a problem with her, as he reveals a severe unbleeding neck wound. His neck looks as if someone tried to cut his head off… probably from the ax that was thrown at him in his memory… Bell says not at all and offers to stitch it up, teasing him that he thinks a necromancer would have a problem with him being dead.

He reluctantly agrees to let her help him, and after more flirty banter, their encounter fades to black. (wink wonk~)

Art by @systemendeavors and @wintert-ide

THE THIRTEENTH HOUR

That night, Solomon’s pocket watch strikes the thirteenth hour, and a horse is heard galloping down the streets of Vallaki. Screams erupt from outside, and the Martikov family urgently calls for barricading the inn’s windows and doors.

Atropa opens his window and witnesses a headless horseman decapitating guards below.

The horseman, not finding what he wants among the heads, grows angrier, and Atropa quickly bars his window shut.

Solomon panics silently in his room, clutching Bell for support as the house goes quiet, fearing the horseman's presence. They can hear him stalking about outside, searching… searching for Solomon…

The tension eases as the horseman departs, and Solomon watches his pocket watch reverse. 

He gets violently sick from the stress.

Atropa rushes to Solomon’s room, taking note of Bell in there but deciding to leave that for later, and confronts him abrasively about the horseman, describing what he saw. "What did you do Solomon?!” He has no idea.

The Martikov’s say that it couldn’t find them because the dead can not see inside their home. The Inn is a safe place in Vallaki, making them all feel a bit more at ease.

Bell stays with Solomon, who is overwhelmed and passes out from stress.

Raisa and Teo share a room, and Raisa apologizes for involving him in their problems. He reassures her, but questions whether they can trust Atropa. Raisa admits that she isn’t sure. They both hope they can all make up soon.

HARD CONVERSATIONS

Atropa pouts and vents in his journal until Raisa comes to apologize for their fight. 

The two stay up and talk for a long time, trying to understand the others point of view until Atropa asks if Raisa wants him to ask Strahd about being charmed. Would that help them put that worry to rest? “Yes, maybe it would.”

The two work together to write a letter to him through Atropa’s journal and send it. 

They decide to retire for real after that, Atropa Raisa and Teo all sharing a room so no one is alone.

VALLAKI DAY 2: ALL OUT OF SPOONS

The inn is startled awake by the Captain of the guard, Izek. He demands to know if anyone saw the commotion from the night before. He blames it on horse thieves, and insists that two guards stole a horse and fled. No one is buying it and convince him that they saw nothing.

Bell shows Solomon her sword, and notices the name "Oathmaker" carved into it. Solomon warns Bell that the sword may be having an effect on her, even if it was Mara that made the oath long ago.

Over breakfast, BRATS chats with Raisa's family about their inherited estate outside Vallaki. It belonged to the Karelova family, but is long abandoned, but they are going to visit today to check it out.

When they are alone again, Atropa shows the group Strahd's response to he and Raisa’s letter, explaining that Strahd didn't cast a spell on the group, but that he has the ability to ease fears with his presence. The group reluctantly “accepts” his explanation.

BRATS checks their "lucky box" for the day and finds a cup with a trapped soul inside.. Atropa stores it in his bag of holding till they can release it, but is alarmed when he reaches in, and feels a hand pulling on the cup from inside his bag.

They figure out that whatever is in the bag has to be eating people. First the butler, then the people pie (the one made with bone flour), and now it tried to eat the soul. Atropa tries to identify the bag, but finds that his pearl component is missing, and that the bag ate it too! WTF!

On their way to their estate, BRATS discovers a man killed by wolves near Vallaki, who was searching for a specific spoon. 

They decide to investigate and find their new manor adorned with spoons.

Inside, they find a diary belonging to Wencensia Karelova, detailing her transformation into a monstrous rotting corpse.

When Wencensia arrives home, BRATS hides, but Teo steps forward and is nearly killed by a soup she serves him. 

The group manages to break her curse, restoring her to her old self. 

Raisa sends Keelin for her aunt's help, Atropa collects valuable silver spoons, and Teo and Bell watch Solomon angrily chopping a tree.

Muriel and other keepers help Wencensia into town, where she thanks them and offers her dowry as a reward.

AROUND TOWN

The group returns to town and head to the bookstore. Solomon meets a man named Yanavich, who shows him his printing press and discusses publishing a detective Alaric Ray fanfiction (for the father’s ghost at Halvrest Manor lol).

Solomon reads history books at the store but finds discrepancies compared to what he learned from Strahd. He is able to convince Yanavich to show him some other rare books after hours.

While in the store, Bell attracts attention from some upper-class women who invite her to a book club hosted by the Baron's wife.

Atropa and Teo visit a tea shop despite some people talking bad about it, and meet Andela, a tough, beautiful half-elven half-Vistani woman who is treated like an outcast in town.

After learning they mean her no harm, Andela informs them about Izek Stranzi being the Baron's adopted son, the Baroness's book club, and tensions between the Wachter and Vallokovich families.

There's a rivalry between the families due to a canceled betrothal between Viktor Vallokovich and Stella Wachter. Rumor is that Viktor hurt Stella in some way.

BELL OF THE BOOK CLUB

Bell gets to the mansion and is greeted by the Baroness, Lydia Petrovna who seems nervous but eager to meet her. 

She learns the group is reading “Gone with the Mists”, but learns that the event really seems to be focused on gossip rather than reading.

During the meeting, Izek enters with Viktor, who is holding what appears to be a stray cat. The Baroness speaks with Viktor in a stressed manner, but he is a dick back and retreats to his room.

TAKE ME TO CHURCH

Atropa and Teo head towards the church near the Baron’s house, and sit in the back until they get a chance to talk to Father Lucien Petrovich.

Teo asks him if he can spare someone to go to Barovia Village to replace the Father there. He suggests he speak to the Deacon about it as he has been wanting to leave Vallaki.

When they speak to him, he says he would be happy to, but that he has to wait for his son locked up in the Re-Education Center and will be for another two years. 

SOLO-MAN AT THE BOOKSTORE

Solomon goes back to the bookstore and does a lot of research, paying his new friend Yanavich so that he may linger around. The two start to form a great friendship.

Solomon looks at a lot of books to familiarize himself with what they may see in Barovia as they travel and anything that may be of importance.

RAISAING TO THE INN

Raisa heads back to the Blue Water Inn to help her family with the dinner rush, and while working, she meets Nikolai and Karl Wachter.

Nikolai, trying to flirt with Raisa, shares that Riktavio has a lot of animals with him in his caravan. He invites Raisa to sneak away and see the animals with him sometime.

Out of curiosity, Raisa agrees, making Nikolai believe he has landed a date.

During the conversation, Nikolai and Karl reluctantly reveal details about their sister, Stella, who they say is sick and heartbroken after everything with Viktor.

VIKTOR VALLAKOVICH 

Everyones goes to pick up Bell from the bookclub and notice a purple light coming from the attic window.

Inside Bell is discussing her efforts to regain her and Atropa’s family fortune with Lydia (a total lie to get them in with high society). 

Lydia decides to introduce Bell to Viktor, and hints that they should get acquainted. She leaves them alone to talk.

Viktor is super rude to Bell, but she is snarky right back, catching him off guard. (I’m not like other girls)

He lets her into the attic with him, and Bell is able to deduce that he is a magic user.

She admits that she and Atropa are as well, and learns that he has found some intense spells on a book page he found in the attic. He has been experimenting with necromancy and a teleportation circle.

On their way back to the inn, Viktor sneaks out and follows BRATS, causing them all to quickly get him inside before they are seen.

He reveals the book page once belonged to Strahd, and that if Atropa and Bell are magic users, that he needs their help deciphering it. 

The group is immediately interested

PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

BRATS deciphers a page from Strahd's journal detailing his relationship with Ludmilla who he was using, but eventually fell in love with.

The particular line of “As soon as I have no need of her assistance. She will be food like all the others” gives all of BRATS pause and all sideways glance Atropa.

They continue, and Strahd says he thought he would never love again after Patrina and Tatyana, but he makes Ludmilla the first of his undying companions.

Strahd's journal mentions experiments with teleportation to escape the mists.

When the night is done, Viktor leaves and BRATS reconnects to talk about what the hells just happened.

CHECK IN

Raisa learns from her uncle about an old wizard tower that may have more pages that belonged to Strahd and mentions people seeing "the Devil’s carriage" and a magic user near the swamp.

Raisa tells them all that she plans to skip a festival to investigate Riktavio, with Solomon joining her on her “date” with the Wachter brothers.

Atropa shares what he learned at a tea shop, and the topic turns to Stella. Teo is asked to check on her condition, using his holy man excuse to get in the door.

They discuss the Re-Education center's brutal practices in Vallaki with the Martikovs, and Teo says he will see if he can secure them an invite there as well to “give morning prayers”.

That evening, Atropa goes around and apologizes to the others about the other night's outburst. They all make up and talk about their goals moving forward.

Atropa talks with Bell about Strahd, coming to an understanding as Atropa opens up about his recent uncertainties. What is Strahd hiding?

They agree that the best course going forward is for Atropa to collect as much information about Strahd as he can, fact and rumor, to find out the truth. The heart to heart heals a little bit of their broken sibling bond <3 

Bell starts hearing voices talking to her in her head while studying, and both siblings wonder if this voice is similar to the voice Atropa heard on the way to the castle. They check to see if Zal's symbol is on the pendant Bell just got, but instead find a symbol of an eye and hand they don’t recognize.

Teo is able to recall it as a god whose name has been forgotten, it is so ancient and probably very bad. Yay.

Bell goes to bed and Raisa hatches an idea to break Bell’s sword curse. She is going to use a scroll! Instead, when they go in, they see a monster hand climbing towards Bell out of Atropa’s bag of holding. It gets scared and retreats back in.

BAG MAN! That’s the thing that took Atropa’s pearl! MORTAL ENEMIES FROM NOW ON!!

Raisa is able to suppress the sword, and Bell is thankful, but is tired from the horrors and goes back to sleep. (Big mood)

Atropa stays up all night and keeps watch over the bag. 

THE PASSENGER

Solomon calls a morning meeting after reading a book about monsters and theorizes that Bell and Atropa might be hearing voices due to an Allip, a creature of forbidden knowledge that can break one's mind. The Allip attaches itself to individuals until they break. It can only move on once knowledge is passed on and poses a danger to everyone around the infected person as it is very contagious if you talk about the information learned.

Atropa freaks out, because he and Strahd had just spent the night talking about what he had learned. Solomon tells him to check for anything odd he may have been writing without realizing it, as that is another symptom.

Atropa checks his journal and finds multiple entries repeating what the ring originally told him that he has no memory of. Fuck.

Solomon is frustrated that he didn’t get to Atropa in time, so the two write a letter to Strahd, warning him about the Allip and the potential danger.

THE WOLFHEAD JAMBOREE

BRATS does some shopping around town, and picks up a few missions, such as locating the stolen golden spoon and finding some ingredients for a few shop keeps.

They finish their errands just in time for the festival. Solomon, Raisa, and the brothers sneak away to Riktavio’s, while the others join the unsettling festival decorated with dead wolves and children running around in wolf pelts.

Lydia sends Viktor off with Bell to chat.

Atropa becomes “buddy buddy” with Viktor and starts calling him dude, to which Viktor is confused by but kind of likes?

They all play festival games to build trust, which starts to work until Re-Education Center testimonies begin.

A woman is brought up on stage in front of the crowd and gives a disturbing testimony about her experience in the center. It is clear that she means nothing she is saying and just wants to be free.

Atropa and Viktor exchange messages during the speech, to which Viktor expresses his anger and hatred towards Vallaki and his family.

Atropa tries to empathize with him about difficult family situations, but Viktor shuts down.

TO THE WAGONS

Solomon and Raisa follow the Wachter brothers over a wall into the area with the red vardos and Riktavio’s wagon, where the brothers antagonize a saber tooth tiger inside Riktavio's wagon.

Raisa tries to calm the animal, but the tiger breaks free and makes a mad dash towards the festival.

Raisa jumps onto the tiger's back to try calming it, while Solomon, who trusts Raisa to handle the situation, quickly investigates the red vardo and grabs anything he thinks looks important.

Solomon steals a horse and anticipating legal trouble, wakes up a kid who was tending the stables and feeds him a witness statement covering him and Raisa’s antics. 

The kid is confused, but agrees with Solomon before he rides off after Raisa.

As they are running, Izek Stranzi and guards come to intercept the situation.

BAT sneaks over to help Raisa as the Baron tries to calm the crowd, just as the tiger knocks Raisa free and turns down an alleyway, and  Riktavio appears and rides away on the creature's back.

Raisa and Solomon are quickly arrested by the guards while Izek and others pursue Riktavio.

ALL IS NOT WELL

Raisa and Solomon are brought to trial in front of the upset Baron at the festival, but the stable boy witness clears them of blame, and Solomon uses the city's own rules and papers to argue their case. They are let off the hook.

Afterwards, the Baron pulls BRATS aside and “invites” them all to dinner at his house in three days, which they reluctantly accept. 

Atropa and Teo introduce the group to Andela, and help her draw in some business to her stall, which she appreciates.

Meanwhile, Raisa notices they are being watched and learns from her aunt and uncle that it's an informant from the Wachter House. Very interesting… 

Back at the inn, Myriel tells the group that she tailed Rictavio and saw that he was wearing a disguise. His hat fell off and revealed him to have dark hair instead of his blonde, and he looked to be in his late 20’s. He cast a spell that quickly got him and the Sabertooth out of there.

BRATS has no idea who he could actually be.

Later in a room, Solomon tells the group about what he found in the red vardo: a book about interesting decapitations, domains beyond the mists and a note about them being places with new heads to grab, a shelf full of skulls, and a golden dragon comb. If it wasn’t obvious that she is the head thief, it certainly was now.

THE REEDUCATION CENTER

Teo, Atropa, Bell, and Father Lucien visit the Re-Education Center upon invite and under the pretext of offering “prayers and blessings”. 

They are taken to some restricted areas, such as the Hall of the Lost, where the most severely affected patients are kept, and the Sensory Deprivation Cells, which induce silence, blindness, and deafness to help “calm” wary people.

Bell convinces a guard to grant them access to higher floors and they manage to meet with the Decon’s son. 

After some persuasion, he agrees to play along with their plan to feign submission so he can be released.

Meanwhile, Atropa talks to an elven man imprisoned there, pretending to offer prayers. The man confesses that he is one of the “suitors” that was aggressively trying to court Andela because of her being one of the last female elves around. Atropa also learns that Andela got him sent to this place because he was being predatory and basically stalking her. 

The man tells Atropa to tell her, "She can forget me and let me rot in here, but she cannot let the extinction of our race be on her hands." Atropa decides against relaying this message, knowing it is not her fault and is untrue.

On their way out, the group meets the re-educators, clad in eerie black cloaks with hoods that obscure their faces. They introduce themselves as Ilimir and Ivalice, who arfe super creepy. They quickly get out of there, unsure of the re-educators' intentions.

After leaving the Re-Education Center, Atropa shares what he learned with Andela. She expresses sadness at how some men from her old village viewed her solely as a means to continue their race rather than as a person. Atropa is incredibly angry to hear that people could think in such a way.

MEET THE WACHTERS

BRATS visits the Wachter family after suspecting they were being followed at the festival.

The brothers are quick to thank Raisa and Solomon for not getting them in trouble over the wagon incident. They could have easily ratted them out.

Atropa challenges the already drinking Nikoli and Karl to a drinking contest to break the awkward ice, and it works. They all have a good time.

Lady Fiona Wachter joins them then, and dismisses her sons to speak with BRATS alone.

She introduces herself and explains that she keeps a close eye on new Vallaki visitors. 

She is quick to voice her frustration with the Baron's rule over the city and talks to them about her desire for a fair election so the people can choose instead of being dictated over.

BRATS cautiously listens but avoids showing clear support for either side of the argument.

After a lot of talking, Fiona trusts BRATS enough to meet Stella, and they learn that the girl has been cursed into believing she is a cat. (She is also only friendly to Bell and Atropa due to their tabaxi nature lol)

Bell is able to heal Stella, and the panicked girl starts to come back to herself slowly.

Fiona is eternally grateful and full of thanks, but she asks BRATS to give the family some space so they can care for Stella in privacy.They all agree and leave the reunited family.

Solomon suggests snooping while they're distracted, causing everyone to say “how could you?!” but they all do it anyway and find a hidden library.

They discover vampire romance novels and a document praising Strahd as the savior Vallaki and all of Barovia need.

Atropa takes a copy of the document to send to Strahd later.

They leave the house unnoticed, and now know that Fiona is even more of a fan of the devil than they thought.

Back at the inn, as everyone is settling down for the night they hear something super weird coming from the attic. When BRATS goes up to check, they see stepping back into their plane through some strange rift, Dexdrelda, the combined hags from the windmill!!!

They are able to fight her off, but she disappears into the ethereal plane again, vowing to make them all suffer.

The rest of the night was not very restful with the paranoia that she could pop out at any time. 

MAKING FRIENDS

The group decides to visit the wizard tower the next day but first enjoy a night of downtime.

Atropa befriends a local guard and a tax collector at the Bluewater Inn by challenging them to drinking contests. He wins a bet from each, earning their favor. (He has found his frat boy niche!)

Amidst the chaos at the bar, Solomon and Bell play chess, and Bell confides in Solomon about the curse that's killing her and her necrosed hands. She even goes as far to tell him that she believes it to have originated from Zal’Honen’s lost book. Solomon is his usual interested self, but there is concern there, more than he usually shows.

Raisa helps run the tavern during the rush, but later pulls Bell and Myriel aside. Bell has learned and observed a lot, so Raisa confirms for her that yes, she is a part of the Keepers now, and that keeper magic is extremely old and has been passed down from the Eldest Raven, the one who started the Keepers. She also says that Bell is correct in thinking that a lot of the mist domains were once connected and that the mists have not always been around. The Keepers believe the mists are alive somehow, which intrigues Bell.

Teo observes the festivities and eventually sets up his portable confession booth amongst the rowdy bar. Atropa, half drunk, confides in Teo about his insecurities regarding the Strahd situation, leading to a drunken heart-to-heart. 

Teo and Atropa have now achieved best friend status~ (A warlock and a holyman walk into a bar…)

DINNER WITH THE BARON

BRATS goes to meet the Baron and his family for dinner. Viktor is as grumpy as ever being around his family, Lydia appears stressed, and Izek keeps eyeing Solomon and Raisa suspiciously throughout the meal.

The dinner is tense, and eventually the Baron excuses his family so that he may speak with BRATS alone. 

TBaron asks them to spy on the Wachter family, suspecting Fiona's ambitions to replace him as Burgomaster. He also forbids BRATS from associating with his family publicly, which frustrates the group to no end.

They agree to his terms for now, but have their own plans in mind. When they all leave, they quietly talk about how they are totally going to stab the Baron in the back. This guy sucks.

THE WIZARD TOWER

BRATS leaves for the wizard tower the next day, and while traveling, they witness an old crazy magic man shooting lightning and watch as he transforms into a giant centipede creature and disappears. They suspect it was the Mad Mage. Wtf!

They come up on the tower and find that it has a magical lock and a mysterious code above the door.

Unable to unlock the door, the group triggers Gargoyles guarding the tower to come to life and are attacked.

Everything is looking bleak. Teo is captured and lifted into the sky, Bell and Solomon are heavily injured, and the situation looks dire.

As a last attempt to save everyone, Raisa uses emergency magic from her necklace to teleport everyone away from the tower to safety.

SABR lands in the snow on Mount Baratok, about a day's travel from Vallaki. They are battered but mostly unharmed, except for Teo… where is Teo?! 

Realization dawns on Raisa that her spell didn’t bring Teo with them, he was too far. The group panics. He was almost dead and was hoisted into the air by those monsters!!!

He has to be okay right?! They all decide to try to start trekking back to the tower though they are super far away. It isn’t looking good at all…

Before they can start out, the old man from before appeared to them and started talking crazy, but is also very adamant on keeping SABR’s attention and leading them. 

They followed him back to his house, and try to make some sort of sense out of his ramblings.

The group was able to fix whatever sanity he had lost, if only temporarily, and comes face to face with the Mad Mage, Zal’Honen. (WHOA)

THE MAD MAGE

Through talking with him for a little while, SABR learns that Zal’Honen hates Strahd, the two share the goal of trying to get out of the mists, he shares the same condition Bell does, and that there may be a powerful healer in Krezk that could help them.

During all of it, Bell gets her chance to get incredibly mad at him for what he did to her and smacks him across the face. He takes it, apologizing for what the mad version of himself must have done. 

After more talk, he asks if the group can take him to Borca whenever they go back, and to tell him if they find any pillars of amber anywhere. 

He also speaks about an alternative option for Bell, that perhaps a soul for a soul in the mists will be enough of an exchange of power to help save her. Bell hates the idea, and Atropa can’t help but feel like that is what he plans on doing with Bell already.

Atropa is super careful what he says to their new “pal” Zal, as he has no idea how he will react to him being Strahd’s warlock.

They leave after staying the night and bid Zal farewell, hoping he maintains his sanity.

FROGNAPPER

The group starts rushing back to Vallaki, hoping that Raisa’s spell somehow miss fired and took Teo there.

On their way, they see a scary little druid guy doing a ritual on top of Lake Zarovich and watch as he gets pulled under by something underwater. Monster in the lake. Cool.

The group nopes away from that, and as they continue, they see Rahadin of all people catching frogs and putting them in his bag. They all stare confused, but wave at him. He barely acknowledges them and gives them the feeling that he does not want them anywhere near him, so they leave him be. (The hate aura is strong)

TEO?!

Getting back to Vallaki, everyone rushes to the church, hoping that the Morninglord saved him. If not, next stop wizard tower. 

They get to the church and sit for the rest of service and hope Teo will appear. No such luck.

They start to make a plan of attack, when all of a sudden they  watch as the confessional booth curtain opens and reveals a confused Teo.

SABR pounces on him, ecstatic. The spell had worked!

Teo corrects them, explaining that he watched them get teleported away and remembers falling to his death. He woke up in the church not that long ago.

Did the Morninglord actually save him?

Relieved to be reunited whatever the case, BRATS takes Teo back to the Blue Water Inn to rest for the night.

THE WOLF DEN

After a night of relaxing, BRATS decides to investigate the missing golden spoon situation for the jeweler, which leads them to a wolf den.

They sneak past the sleeping wolves and explore some old mines, where they find gems and diamonds. Bell and Raisa spend some time extracting them.

Atropa sees movement while he is keeping watch and is attacked by vampires. A fight ensues.

BRATS fights and kills the vampires, and Bell uses Speak with Dead to learn about the master vampire of the cave named Lacomie, one of a group of seven old vampires.

They continue deeper into the cave and encounter Lacomie, who ambushes them.

Lacomie gets ahold of Atropa, lifts a wounded Warlock off the ground, bites into his neck, and drains his blood. 

Atropa dies

Teo is able to get to him quickly and resurrect him, but he is off and seems confused.

BRATS kills Lacomie after a tough struggle and finds the golden spoon.

They return the spoon to the jeweler and receive a discount at the shop. Atropa buys a new Pearl. (Yay! Fuck you Bag Man!)

BACK TO THE TOWER

BRATS returns to the wizard tower the next day, after learning how to avoid the gargoyles.

They complete a puzzle on the first floor that activates a talking elevator that shares facts about the tower's master, Kazhan, accompanied by calming music.

They reach the top floor to find the tower unoccupied. There is some evidence that Solomon’s colleague Van Richten may have been staying there at some point, and Solomon tells the group that he had seen evidence of him in town as well.

SABR finds more pages from Strahd's Tome on a desk and pockets them for later.

They explore the whole place, finding a few interesting things before heading back to their manor outside Vallaki.

They dump items they can't carry into Vallaki and plan their next moves.

TEO WAS BUSY

While SABR was at the tower, Teo had gone to the Re-Education Center and was able to get the Decon’s son out! He and his family will be leaving in the morning for Barovia Village. Teo has offered to go with them for protection. 

This is BRATS last night together for awhile. Sad. They all make the most of it and spend time together before seeing Teo off the next morning.

They say their goodbyes and promise to meet up again when they head to Immol. 

BACK TO  WACHTER HOUSE

SABR visits Fiona Wachter again, where she rewards them for helping Stella the last time they were there. She says she is doing a lot better.

Fiona goes into how she feels like SABR is special, and gets out of them that they are mist travelers. 

She shares a prophecy she received from Madam Eva when she was younger, predicting that an outsider would come through the mists and be welcomed by Strahd as a friend. She believes SABR fulfills this prophecy.

Atropa confirms that they are mist travelers and that Strahd is a friend to him and the group. Fiona is excited, believing they are what she has been waiting for.

Fiona recalls meeting Strahd when she was younger. She had snuck off to visit Castle Ravenloft, and he welcomed her. She found him to be not the monster others portrayed. Atropa couldn’t agree more, his loyalty to Strahd surging.

Atropa and Fiona bond over their shared perspective of Strahd, as the others look on, concerned.

SABR informs Fiona about the suspected vampires running the Re-Education Center, and they ask Atropa to write to Strahd for any info he may have. Fiona is impressed.

Strahd is quick to write back, and tells Atropa that the vampires have a history of threatening his family and says that he will send Volenta to Vallaki to help. 

SABR panics, cause please no not Volenta, but is able to convince Strahd not to send anyone… they think… 

Strahd considers intervening personally, due to the unrest in Vallaki and Barovia Village. Atropa and Bell had advised him to be more hands on after all… but he will leave it up to BRATS for now.

Back to the matter at hand, Fiona tells SABR that if they can take down Izek and find out what Viktor did to Stella, she will tell them the rest of her plans and they can work together to get the Baron out of office. 

They decide to attack Izek in a few days, on the day of the big Festival of the Burning Sun, so Fiona can challenge the Baron in front of the whole town.

ATROPA?

Atropa sets up a meeting with a guard who hates Izek, convincing him to join their plan against the Baron for Vallaki's greater good.

After meeting them at their estate outside of Vallaki and agreeing to their plan, Atropa offers to escort the guard back to Vallaki while the rest of SABR stays and prepares. 

An hour passes without Atropa returning, and the group immediately goes on alert. Has he arrested their favorite catboy?! Or worse? ...They find a blood trail leading to a nearby cave.

Everyone goes in ready for a fight and are met with a gruesome sight. Sitting with blood pooling around them, SABR sees Atropa drinking blood from the unconscious guard. His eyes are red and unfocused, making no move to stop as the others approach.

SABR manages to separate Atropa from the guard and Bell quickly heals him while Solomon smacks Atropa, snapping him out of his state. Atropa is horrified by what he's done and has no memory of the attack.

The group concocts a story about a wolf attack to explain the guard's injuries, hoping he won't remember what happened either.

Outside, Atropa is hysterical, expressing remorse and disbelief. He didn’t want this. Strahd promised it wouldn’t happen. He didn't want to be a vampire.

Solomon and Raisa suggest Atropa may have been turned by Lacomie's bite, killing him in the cave. 

SABR takes the Sergeant back to Vallaki.

ARGYNVOSTHOLT

Atropa asks to press on, as they have a lot to do, and SABR sets out for a graveyard rumored to harbor walking dead. 

En route, they encounter a body hung from a tree with a ram's skull replacing its head. The symbols carved into it indicate that it is being used as a shrine to death. Lovely.

They spot Argynvostholt, the home of the silver dragon knights who were once allies and then enemies of Strahd. Intrigued, they decide to investigate.

Inside, they see the shadow of a huge dragon fly overhead and follow it through the fortress.

While exploring, they are attacked by undead knights, who become aggressive upon learning Atropa serves Strahd. Atropa hides while the others clam the knights by convincing them they are allies. Atropa drops the form of dread he had put on and pretends to be someone entirely different to rejoin the group.

Deeper in Argynvostholt, they meet Sir Godfrey Gwilym, an undead knight who explains that intense emotions sustain the undead knights there and allow them to be reanimated.

Godfrey tells them how Strahd attacked the knights and the silver dragon, wiping them out because Strahd saw their kindness towards refugees he was fighting against as breaking their pact at being neutral in the war.

Godfrey says they may continue forward, but to be wary of some as not everyone there is nocile. 

LADY LUGDANA

Deeper within Argynvostholt, SABR encounters Lady Lugdana's spirit who singles out Raisa as she was once a Keeper in life.

Lady Lugdana explains that she was away from the knights hunting the last priests of Osybus when the Mists sapped her strength. She witnessed her comrades fall and spent years fighting.

During her battles, Lady Lugdana met a giant raven that gave her a relic, her greatest weapon. She believes the Eldest Raven still lives, and when he died fighting a secret sect of Osybus followers, she offered the relic back to the ravens, where it waits for a worthy person to claim it.

Lady Lugdana warns that some seek war with those marked by the raven. The forest folk druids, and witches in the swamps pose a threat to them.

SABR asks about the silhouette of the dragon they saw upon entering the hold, and Lady Lagdana says that she feels that even Argynvost may not be at rest. 

OSYBUS

SABR asks for more information about Osybus and are told that Osybus was an evil man who commanded followers and was ultimately defeated by Argynvost and his knights. 

Osybus's followers betrayed him, leading to him being sealed in amber. The amber was taken to the Laventz family… Wasn’t that the name of the castle owned by the Silvra family? The one back in Borca that was merged with Halvhrest manor where they fought Dranzorg and broke a giant piece of…

SABR remembers destroying the amber in Laventz Castle, releasing black smoke that mocked them. Strahd had a strong reaction to this incident, particularly yelling at Atropa over it.

SABR comes to a horrible realization. The amber they destroyed, the black smoke that came out of it and laughed at them all, the amber Strahd had yelled at Atropa over. Had it been housing Osybus the whole time!?

Lady Lugdana gives them a raven key, and tells them that if they are meant to find what it opens, then they will and she can say no more than that.

WTF IS A CHORT?!

As SABR is leaving, one of the knights joins them, as he is curious of the body they saw hanging from a tree on their way in. He says he has seen some of them and is insistent on taking them down, suspecting it to be connected to rituals performed by the forest folk.

While attempting to help the knight remove one of these bodies, they are suddenly attacked by a terrifying decaying Moose Monster emerging from the woods.

In a desperate attempt to flee, Atropa summons two steeds for the group, allowing them to ride away.

They manage to reach safety at a nearby Vistani camp, where the creature eventually stops pursuing them, leaving them all shaken but alive.

Raisa looks through her book and tells the group what the creature is called a Chort.

LAKES CURSED

Upon arriving at the camp, SABR hears that a child is missing. The little girl Arabella was last seen in Vallaki near the orphanage.

SABR hurries off to track her down for the worried family that aren’t able to get into the city walls.

At the orphanage, they learn that a man comes by every so often and tries to get the kids to play with him.

SABR gets his description and starts off towards Lake Von Zarovich where they find the man rowing out onto the water carrying a wiggling bag.

They knock the man out of the boat, and he is instantly torn apart and eaten by a monster in the lake….

All of SABR sees tentacles coming out of the lake and hear a voice they can’t really understand. The creature is sentient, and seems to be pleased with being fed. 

They all get the hells out of there.

ARABELLA OF THE VISTANI

SABR learns from Arabella that she is the seer they were meant to meet.

Back at the Vistani camp, Arabella plans to give the group a reading after they settle down and to find her when they are ready.

They take a moment to relax and open their lucky box, and are surprised when they pull out a leather book with the Von Zarovich crest on it. They all freak out that this is the journal they have been finding the pages from. This is the Tome of Strahd.

They all try to compose themselves and hide the book in their bags (not Atropa’s) before any of the Vistani see.

They go to Arabella to start their readings, and she gives one about artifacts they were asked to find. She names a few different domains to look in, such as Dementlieu, Richmulot, Mordent, and Darkon.

Each member receives a personal reading from Arabella:

Raisa's includes ominous references to Teo and a feeling of being manipulated.

Bell's suggests finding a new purpose, uncovering secrets, and protection.

Atropa's implies a changed fate and the importance of something he has seen.

Solomon reluctantly gets a reading indicating conflict and hidden potential for good.

Before Solomon’s reading, he makes a comment hoping he doesn’t get anymore terrible readings, but Arabella is able to convince him that it will be a good one. 

During Solomon's reading, Arabella draws the Broken One card, a recurring bad card for him, and slyly changes the card out for another without him noticing.

After the reading Bell and Atropa stay back and explain to Arabella reoccuring card.

She warns them that something terrible may be coming soon and that he needs to be incredibly careful.

THE TOME OF STRAHD

(Huge story spoilers. Read at your own risk my fellow players)

Getting back to the Blue Water in, SABR goes into one of the center rooms (no windows) and locks the door. 

They began pouring through Strahd’s Tome now that they were alone, Bell reading it aloud.

It talked about his life as a prince, fighting in the war, and leading men into battle from a young age. Recollections of his father’s love and cruelty, friendships he had made that were so strong they would die for one another, and feelings so intense that he began to twist as a person.

Tatyana, the woman from the portrait above Strahd’s mantle was a huge part of it. She had been his younger brother Sergei’s betrothed, and Strahd was insanely jealous. The journal was written in such a way that SABR could understand that what Strahd was saying could not have been the whole truth. 

He claims that he had been courting Tatyana, that she and Strahd had secretly been in love and that he was going to propose to her the moment he got back from an outing, only to find his brother had stolen her away from him.

Strahd was distraught, and that was when the Dark Powers found him…

THE DARK POWERS

After returning home and hearing the news from Rahadin that Sergei and Tatyana were to be married, Strahd locked himself in his study and did everything he could to distract himself. 

He noticed a book on his study shelf that he did not recognize, incomprehensible lore and diagrams of incredibly dark nature that both excited and filled Strahd with dread. That was when it found him.

The candles went out and Strahd heard a voice coming from everywhere and nowhere. All of his loved ones, their voices coming from every direction spoke to him about his heart's desire. Was he going to let Sergei take Tatyana from him? After everything Strahd had done for his family? Was he going to let his little brother charm her? She was meant to be with him. 

The powers said they could give him her and that he would never age another day. Everything the young prince wanted.

Strahd wanted to know what the dark powers wanted from him in return.

The darkness overwhelmed Strahd with their power and waited for his answer to its proposal. He said nothing for a long while, and only as his last chance was retreating, did he ask what he must do. A deal was struck.

As the powers go, Strahd finds that his dear friend Alek has overheard the whole thing. 

The men confront each other and a deadly battle ensues, ending with Strahd mortally wounding Alek after being stabbed himself.

As Alek lay dying, he told Strahd he would have helped him. He only had to ask. Alek was gone.

The voices urged Strahd to choose life then for himself, "No point in us both dying, Strahd." they urged on. All he had to do was drink. And he did.

Haunted by guilt of killing his best friend, Strahd hides Alek's body, only to find it gone the next day.

WEDDING DAY

Awhile later, on the day of the wedding, Strahd noticed one of his missing books in Sergei's room, a book of enchantments and charms.

He confronts his brother privately about the book and accuses Sergei of using spells on Tatyana to charm her into the wedding.

Strahd pulled out a dagger and stabs Sergei through, killing his younger brother in cold blood.

He would blame it on an assassin. It had to be done to save Tatyana.

Strahd went to find her, to tell her that Sergei was dead, just as the castle was attacked.

He watched as Tatyana was shot by an arrow and fell to her death over the side of the castle balcony. She was gone, and Strahd was consumed by darkness.

 A man named Leo Delisnya had orchestrated an assault and had turned some of Strahd’s loyal men against him. They were killing everyone they could.

Strahd was able to put a stop to them, embracing the monster he had become and fought to keep those loyal to him safe. He had them swear to never speak of it, and there has been no written account to that night besides this journal he wrote in now.

TATYANA

Strahd talks about the time he spent trying to find Tatyana’s body after her fall, but it seems like she disappeared just as Alek did. Is this the Dark Powers doing?

It has to be. All of it has to be the Dark Powers fault.

Strahd reveals that Tatyana has been being reincarnated, his true curse, and recounts the life times she has lived that he has found her in and tried to reconnect with her.

All of them have always ended horribly, her death inescapable… but he will save her. He must. He loves her. She is everything good and everything he could ever want. He has to, he must. He can not fail.

PATRINA

During his time of grief and isolation and waiting forf Tatyana to appear to hiim again, Strahd was visited by an old love he knew before his change into a vampire. Patrina, a dusk elven woman came to visit him and the two reconnected. She brought some hope back into Strahd’s very dark world and made him feel a bit more like himself again. 

The two planned to marry, but when Patrina returned back to her village to tell her family, she was killed. 

Kasimir, her brother and lord of the Dusk Elves had killed Patrina to keep her out of Strahd’s hands. “She is forever beyond your grasp, monster.” was what he said to Strahd when he came to collect her. 

Strahd took her body back to Ravenloft Castle and entombed her there as family.

He and Rahadin planned revenge then, no mere execution of Kasimir would be enough. (TW: Genocide) Strahd issued for Kasimir to “be marked” so everyone would know who was to blame, and ordered that the women of the Dusk Elves be slaughtered so that their race would struggle to survive and eventually die out.

Rahadin was far too pleased as he accepted the task.

HEART OF SORROW

Jumping forward in journal entries, Strahd and Ludmilla have combined their studies on the Amber Temple tomes and Azalin’s research to theorize a new spell variation.

They have successfully created a magical artifact referred to as the Heart, which acts as a shielding ward for Strahd.

The Heart is made from crystal and regenerates over time. It has become a living entity linked to Strahd’s own heart, similar in concept to a lich’s phylactery but with different implications for his mortality.

The Heart has a peculiar capability—it absorbs Strahd’s negative emotions such as hate, rage, grief, and sorrow, causing it to grow.

Strahd has placed the Heart in his tower, naming it the "Heart of Sorrow." It serves as a vessel to absorb his emotional pain, allowing him to detach from his feelings.

Was this what Atropa heard during his lost day in the tower?!

To wrap up his tome, Strahd reflected on his eternal fate bound to Barovia, a cycle of longing, loss, and unattainable desires. There must be some way to break this curse, and he would stop at nothing till he was free once more.

That was a lot to absorb.

SABR all agreed that what they just read changed A LOT of their views on many different topics. 

With everything currently going on, they decided to put a pin in those horrors until after they dealt with the Baron and Izek.

One thing they all agreed on though, was that no one was allowed to tell Strahd about Ireena.

THE STONEGARDEN

SABR heads to the graveyard, passed Argynvostholt, and finds Elizabeth Lightwood (the lady they heard rumor about in town to be a magic user). She is dressed in Mordentish attire and sipping tea amidst her magically animated skeletons 

To their surprise, SABR learns that Elizabeth was the person Anastrasya mentioned in her diary, the one who had been instructed to show Viktor a few things. They also learn that she is one of Ludmilla’s students 

Elizabeth regrets letting Viktor copy a scroll of Modify Memory from her, suspecting he used it on Stella frequently and that is what hurt the girl.

Elizabeth expresses a desire to return to Mordent and offers to share more information with SABR in exchange for their help in safely leaving Barovia. 

They agree and Elizabeth asks them to drink a tea that will erase their memories of their encounter (besides them offering to take her home) and hers of the information she is about to share. 

All of SABR drinks it, except Atropa.

Before the effects of the tea take hold, Elizabeth gives SABR more missing pages from Strahd's  tome and letters between her and Ludmilla. 

The pages from Strahd's tome detail his and Azalin's attempts to understand the Mists. They conducted experiments, sent creatures through the Mists, and even attempted to travel through themselves. 

Their successful venture took them to Mordentshire for 6 months before they were spit back into Barovia with no memory of their time there. 

On their last attempt, Azlin disappears

BACK TO THE BARON’S

Ready to accomplish the plan, SABR heads back to the Baron’s house.

Bell and Atropa distract the Baron by “relaying” information about Fiona while Solomon snoops. 

He finds a hidden closet where the Baron has been conducting personal acts of punishment and torture, and in another room Solomon discovers a collection of books and most importantly, Viktor's diary. 

The diary contains damning admissions of Viktor experimenting on Stella, manipulation, unethical experiments on cats and servants, and his work on teleportation magic. He is desperately trying to escape Barovia.

After seeing enough, SABR leaves with evidence in hand.

THE BONES?!

Morning of the Festival of the Blazing Sun, SABR was greeted by Father Lucian coming to the inn to tell them that there had been a theft at the church! The Bones of St. Andrul are missing!

They go and investigate, learning that the gravedigger may know more. 

After questioning the gravedigger, he admits to having been bribed by Viktor to move the bones to an open grave with the coffin maker’s help.

Bell says Ludmilla probably wanted the bones for spellwork, and Raisa thinks that someone wanted to be able to get into the church.

Father Lucien explains that the bones are supposed to keep dark forces out of Vallaki, or at least out of the church…

WHY ARE YOU HERE?

SABR goes to go Fiona to tell her about what they have learned and find a gathering of minor nobility and aristocrats.

They were shocked to see Lady Anastrasya among them, Atropa and Raisa particularly uncomfortable because of Raisa reading in her diary, and Atropa not yet telling Strahd about being a vampire…

Privately, SABR talks to Fiona about what they found. They ask for mercy toward the Baron's victim of a wife and provide Viktor's diary as evidence of his atrocities against Stella.

They also inform her of their plans for Izek and they get on the same page that the Baron must be stopped. 

SABR asks about Anastrasya being there, and are told that she is handling the vampires in the re-education center. Strahd must have sent someone after all…

Fiona says that the next step is to stage a coup at the festival when the Baron is giving his speech. She says SABR need do nothing more than take care of Izek and that she will see them all there when it is time.

STICK TO THE PLAN

Raisa runs to the Inn and tells her family everything. The family is concerned, but decides to stay away from the festival and plan for whatever may happen. Atropa warns Andela as well, and though confused, she agrees to stay with the Martikovs.

SABR calls upon their allied guards and orchestrates a diversion involving a fake Rictavio sighting. 

Izek takes the bait, leaving Vallaki to chase after the false lead, and SABR goes out to face him, to see if they can reason with him at all.

They can not. Izek is immediately hostile and a fight breaks out. 

SABR and their new guard friends through strategic tactics and teamwork are able to knock many of the men unconscious and kill Izek.

As they are cleaning up right after the fight and the men have retreated back to Vallaki, Atropa has a moment of weakness and is overcome by his vampiric thirst. He drinks from Izek’s freshly dead body and gains the knowledge of a new spell in the process. That’s a thing?!

Back to the plan, SABR starts back to the festival and to meet up with Fiona for step three of overthrowing Vargus. 

FESTIVAL OF THE BLAZING SUN

(More main story spoilers~)

SABR arrives in Vallaki just as Fiona, supported by Anastrasya, goes up on stage during the Baron’s speech and challenges his authority.

She accuses the Baron of tyranny, and urges for change in Vallaki. They must start over.

Vampire thralls suddenly appear, targeting the Baron and Viktor and shocking SABR. This wasn’t a part of the plan!

Viktor is able to get away and starts running back to his house

SABR knows exactly what he is going to try, and goes after him to stop him from teleporting and getting himself killed. 

SABR makes it to his house, but a flash of purple light and energy shock goes off. They run inside and find half of the bones of St. Andral amongst the blast. 

Did he just succeed?! FUCK!

They run back to the square, when they see the thrall holding Vargus down in front of Fiona and Anastrasya and the baroness being put into a black carriage.

Many of the villagers have run into the church of St. Andral to take shelter from the thrall, watching as some of them attack the guards.

SABR runs up to Fiona and questions why they are doing this. This isn’t what Fiona said would happen!

They are interrupted as they see Volenta and a few other spawn come down the road carrying the heads of the vampire twins. Oh shit.

Anastrasya instructs Volenta to take care of Vargus, and she happily tears out his throat in front of everyone.

Bell and Atropa confront Fiona again and demands an answer

Fiona justifies her actions, saying that the need for change in Vallaki is like lighting a fire that clears the way for new growth.

SABR prepares to fight Fiona and her allies, but are stopped short.

Everyone watches in shock and surprise as a flaming black horse comes riding down from the sky with a man upon its back. Strahd…

The villagers and combatants fall silent as Strahd dismounts and commands the spawn to stand down.

Strahd demands to know what is going on, allowing Fiona to explain herself enthusiastically before turning to SABR for their side of the story.

Atropa and Bell tell him the whole thing, of Fiona's plans and lies.

Strahd scolds Anastrasya and Volenta for their dishonorable actions and promises to deal with them later, visibly furious.

Turning back to Fiona, Strahd calmly asks if she has any children and in her silence says “I’ll take that as a yes. At least there will be someone to carry-on the allegiance to the Von Zarovich line.” 

Strahd leans forward and detaches her spine from her skull. Everyone watches as Fiona crumples to the ground dead.

Strahd turns and addresses the crowd and announces his return in a month to check on Vallaki, demanding that a new Burgomaster be chosen by then, or he will make the decision himself.

He tells Anastrasya and Volenta to go, before he turns into mist and is gone.

Bell goes off on Anastrasya, who is still looking smug. She says nothing as she and Volenta climb into her carriage and drive away.

INTO THE BUNKER

The vampire thrall continue to attack the people of Vallaki, so SABR grabs all the civilians they can and hightails it back to the Blue Water Inn.

When they get there, the Martokov’s welcome people into a secret basement bunker that they promise is even more heavily warded.

Andela is quick to find Atropa and hugs him, glad he is alright. He explains what happened, and she is shocked. She asks him how he knew to warn her, and Atropa doesn’t know what to say…

SABR realizes that Father Lucien isn’t in the bunker and takes off back towards the church. They must have missed a crowd.

With stealth and caution, they make it back to the church and manage to slip past distracted thralls. They find him huddled with a group of frightened villagers, trying to maintain calm amidst the terrifying events.

SABR swiftly guides Father Lucien and the villagers back through the streets towards the Blue Water Inn. The journey back is tense, with occasional close calls, but they manage to make it back with no other problems.

The sun has set. There is nothing else they can do. The night is full of stress, but with a lot of people now safe, and SABR licking their own wounds (both physically and mentally), they are able to bunk down and contemplate the future of Vallaki.

THE AFTERMATH

The day after the Festival of the Blazing Sun is a somber one as SABR deals with the aftermath, discovering numerous casualties and destruction.

SABR finds the Coffin Makers shop, with the man dead inside. There is a glyph of warding on the stairs and six empty upright coffins in one of the rooms with a blood stained floor. What did they miss?

A quick investigation reveals remnants of a magic circle and a gold-covered pinky bone belonging to St. Andrel stuck in the floorboards.

Using "speak with dead," they learn the Coffin Maker was coerced into his actions, placing the bones of St. Andrel in a place where his killer could get at them. He was promised his life, but they deceived him with false promises of safety.

Father Lucien entrusts SABR with the remaining Bones of St. Andral. He knows Bell and Atropa can make use of them and that those who are actively doing good should be the ones holding the miracles. 

Solomon goes to the bookstore again and asks his friend Yanvich to make copies of his notes on the events of what happened the previous day so that no one in Vallaki is left in the dark on the events.

Atropa takes one of the filers made and copies it to send to Strahd so he can know the full story as well. He is super nervous about a reply.

SABR collectively feels horrible about what happened to Vallaki on their watch and decide it is time to go. They have done enough and the city needs time to recover. The Martikov’s say that they did good, and that they are of course welcome back any time. SABR says they will try to be back before the next moon if they can.

Before leaving, they bid farewell to familiar faces like Blinsky and Andela, exchanging heartfelt goodbyes and promises to return.

They stay at the inn one last night and prepare for domain crossing in the morning.

Atropa confides in Bell about his dilemma regarding what to tell Strahd. He reveals he has been keeping A LOT from him out of fear of upsetting someone, but he has to keep up his part of the deal…

Together they carefully strategize. The only things they will tell Strahd is about Atropa becoming a vampire by Lacomie, the monster in Lake Zarovich along with the Druid sacrificial sites, the scary creature in the woods called the Chort, how they ran into Rahadin down at the lake catching frogs, and will ask what he is looking for from SABR when they get to Mordent.

Atropa hates that idea of keeping so much more from him (Osybus, the amber, Zal’Honen) mostly because of how bad it will be if he finds out on his own… but they have to maintain a balance between transparency and strategic discretion.

Meanwhile, Raisa confides in Solomon about her guilt over the recent events. Solomon tries to reassure her that it probably would have been worse without them, but she isn’t so sure. Fiona wouldn’t have felt as confident with Izek still in the picture…

INTO THE UNKNOWN

The next morning, SABR bids goodbye to the Martikovs and begins their journey towards the forest.

As they walk and discuss their strategy for crossing into Mordent, a caravan unexpectedly pulls up beside them. It's Arabella and her family, grateful for SABR's earlier aid and they offer to escort them safely through the mists to Mordent.

SABR accepts Arabella's offer, and as they traverse the misty crossing, something super strange starts to happen. 

They hear repeated explosions all through the mists, accompanied by flashes of bright purple light.

Right beside their vardo, they watch as Viktor materializes with a scream, is engulfed in a brilliant purple light, and then vanishes again. The cycle repeats over and over.

SABR instinctively moves to intervene, but the Vistani demand they stay in the cart and do nothing. The Mists are not bound by their views of right and wrong.

Even if he sucks for what he did to Stella and Vallaki, they can’t help but feel bad. No one deserves to be eternally trapped like that…

WELCOME TO MORDENT

Eventually, they all get through the Mists and start seeing the outlines of large, old manors. Solomon seems relieved to be home.

They take a ferry across a river, where they meet Mr. Smith, who recognizes Solomon. 

The topic moves to that of the Halloway House in the area, and he warns SABR not to go there. There is a fabled treasure there, but it’s not worth it, as only one has ever come back, but is now in the Sanitorium.

After crossing, they split ways from the Vistani and Solomon begins to explain the difference between Barovia and Mordent.

His home is less dangerous at night, but people don’t really talk about their superstitions, unless it is mutually brought up in a conversation. It can be considered rude and scandalous. Other than that, manners matter a lot.

They catch a stagecoach into Mordentshire and Solomon takes them straight to the tailor. Time to blend in again.

TO THE KULLE ESTATE!

Excited to bring his friends home, Solomon leads them up the hill to his family's estate.

Inside, Solomon's surprised family warmly welcomes him with hugs and relieved tears to see that he isn’t missing or dead after all.. 

SABR is introduced to his siblings: Dulcianna, Hexell, Penelope, and Endaline. Triston lives independently.

Penelope and Raisa instantly bond, sharing a lively, flirtatious energy, and Endaline introduces their basset hound, Princess Cinnabon, to everyone's delight.

Each of them wants to know what happened, but Solomon says he will explain everything in time, wanting to enjoy the reunion.

They keep pressing, and Solomon tells them all that he doesn’t remember. His eldest sister senses something amiss and has them drop it for now out of respect.

They update Solomon on what he has missed recently. Their father is old and requires constant care in the hospital now, rumors about Solomon's disappearance spread like wildfire, and he has a new little nephew to meet eventually as well. 

The group disperses to explore the house.

Atropa talks to Endaline for awhile, much to Solomon’s dismay. He is very adamant that Atropa not try anything with any of his sisters, which Atropa is respecting, but likes messing with Solomon. Raisa is the one getting close to one of his sisters~

The four plan to have a birthday/ welcome home party for Solomon since they have missed so many.

Solomon’s sisters plan a birthday/welcome home party with the help of ABR. He’s going to hate it, it’s going to be great.

While he was gone, Endaline took an interest in Solomon's magical studies, collecting his books in her room. He is touched.

As they spend more time in the house, Solomon says he wants to introduce them to someone else and takes them to meet his grandmother.

Solomon begins speaking to an empty rocking chair, and ABR is shocked to learn that Solomon is able to speak with his dead grandmother. For some reason, he can see and speak to her. 

Solomon asks her what they talked about before he disappeared, but she is unable to tell him anything.

The topic of the Godefroy’s comes up, and Solomon warns SABR of the curse surrounding the family. Tragic deaths and insanity followed them and anyone who dare go near.

Even Solomon refuses to go, and they all wonder if maybe he had and maybe that's why he was killed? Something to look into.

SABR settles in for the night and Raisa opts to bunk with Penelope during their stay in Mordent. (as a totally platonic friend. Sure)

WEATHERMAY-FOXGROVE HERBALIST SHOP

Solomon leads SABER (Endaline is tagging along) to Gen and Lori's herbalist shop in town where they notice the subtle wards and monster deterrents decorating the place.

They voice their concerns to Solomon, who tries to ease them. He’s undead too, they will suffer together if need be. It makes no one feel better.

Inside, Lori Weathermay-Foxgrove greets them but grows serious as she notices As they enter, the group is greeted by Lori Weathermay-Foxgrove who is behind the counter

Her face grows serious, as the mirrors in the room not only reveal Atropa as a vampire, but also that Solomon is undead, that Mara is attached to Bell, and that Raisa has a whole unkindness of ghostly ravens reflected in the mirrors. 

Lori calls for Gen, and they are instantly on edge and pointing weapons at them all, until Solomon is able to convince them of their identities.

After tension eases and introductions are made, Solomon asks if they saw him on the day he disappeared. 

Gen and Lori recall him rushing in and taking an emergency hunting kit from them before mentioning he'd learned something dangerous he couldn’t share. They allowed him into their family’s mausoleum for supplies.

One thing they do know is that Solomon got his strange pocket watch from a grave, the grave of William Blackburn-Bruce that he apparently dug up in Ash Tree Dale.

Upon talking further, SABR is surprised to learn that Gen and Lori have one of the items the Vistani told them about. The Morose Monocle. They say they will see about lending it to them all if they can.

Until then, SABER invites them to the welcome home party they are throwing Solomon. Solomon is surprised by this news but seems touched.

WELCOME HOME

Solomon says he would like to go see his father, and Endaline leads them to Soulbridge Hospital, which is connected to the Sanitorium

His reunion with his parents is emotional for them all.

Solomon gives them both a very brief explanation as to his absence before he promises to be back again soon.

After seeing his father, Solomon takes the group to go see his brother Tristan at his office.

SABR finds that Tristen is very charming and acts incredibly nice, but that there is a weird fakeness to it that they can’t totally understand.

They all agree to have dinner sometime soon…

SABR attracts attention as they walk back towards the Kulle estate as locals approach Solomon, expressing delight and some confusion at seeing him again.

Along the way, they stop at Solomon's older sibling's workplace (how many you got dude?!) who warmly embraces Solomon, admitting he was angry when he thought Solomon had stolen a horse and vanished.

Solomon learns this for the first time and asks if he mentioned anything else that day, but his brother doesn't recall. He promises to join them at the estate later for the celebration.

Back at the estate, Atropa and Endaline prepare a cake for the party.

The morning of the festivities, Atropa brings up his conversation with Bell about what information to give Strahd. 

He shares his draft with the group, and both Raisa and Solomon agree that it covers the necessary points and should suffice.

Solomon's friends and family gather to celebrate his return and it is a lively reunion filled with catching up and laughter.

Afterward, Lori and Gen invite SABR back to their place to talk some more.

THE WEATHERMAY-FOXGROVE’S

When they are alone again, Lori and Gen tell SABR that a rumor was spread about Solomon being a victim of a serial killer. He is surprised but laughs it off. 

They tell him that six murders have occurred in the area, confirmed non-supernatural, so maybe it is true.

Atropa asks the twins if they have any advice of him being a vampire in Mordent, and they mention that the Salbridge Sanitorium draws blood from patients. That may be a good way to avoid biting anyone.

Gen privately pulls Atropa aside and confides in him that she was bitten by a werewolf but hasn't transformed. She lives in fear of it. She understands what it's like to feel like a monster in waiting.

UNCLE GEORGE

BLARGS (lmao) all go to Lori and Gen’s uncle. George is a very charismatic man who is eager to meet all the new faces and to see Solomon again. 

He tells them rumors of strange occurrences he has been hearing about in Dementlieu, and that its domain and Richemulot have somehow merged within the mists.

After much talking and speculating, George says he wants a bit of fun and takes BLARGS out to do some weapons training.

When they talk later, George says he is happy to give them the Monocle but that he wants their help first. He wants a "photograph" of the Tepestian MothMan in exhange.

WEATHERMAY-FOXGROVE FAMILY CRYPT

The family leads SABR down into their family crypt and Solomon finds his missing journal.

The journal mentions a lot of different things, a lot about the BlackBurn Bruce family and the Moornsworths.

There is an Urban Legend about the Moornsworth Graveyard, that new graves are being added all the time despite nobody being buried there and it is perpetually covered in Mist. Dates and names often show up, but they don’t always make much sense.

Solomon has a lot to think about. Was any of this information why the horseman was after him? What had he found out?

MOURNSWORTH CEMETERY 

SABR decides to investigate the Moornsworth Cemetery for clues related to Solomon's findings and takes a carriage there first thing.

Solomon instructs them to look for Mournsworth graves or anything unusual.

The cemetery is larger than expected, shrouded in thick fog with endless rows of graves, so they split up to look around.

Unsettling things seem to be happening around them in the mist, and the duos begin to feel paranoid.

The Wixx duo find themselves surrounded by angel statues, some eerie and others beautiful with strange inscriptions carved into them, and it feels like they can almost hear them being said.

Suddenly, a ghostly figure emerges from one statue, and passes through Atropa and Bell, causing them to pass out.

Solomon and Raisa call out for their friends and eventually find them both unconscious.

Raisa stabilizes them, but Atropa becomes violently ill, vomiting blackish blood.

Concerned, they hastily return to the carriage and head back to Mordentshire as quickly as possible.

WAIT AND SEE...

Both sick, Atropa and Bell are checked over, but everyone is uncertain about the cause of what is making them so ill.

Everyone is baffled when they realize that Atropa may no longer be undead?!? 

Atropa falls unconscious for several days, clearly needing rest.

Hopefully to get Bell more help, she and Raisa go up to visit the Sanatorium. 

Raisa is asked to stay alongside Bell so that while they look over Bell’s illness, they may study Raisa as well. Something seems to be… off about her… just as a person…

Atropa wakes up a few days later feeling groggy, confused, and hungry for more than just blood. Solomon slips him a blood bag he swiped, but Atropa also asks for normal food.

Atropa finds he can still do all of the magic he had before, and then some? What was happening? Was he even a vampire anymore? Nothing was making sense…

Solomon and Atropa decide one day out of boredom that they should start trying to solve some of the smaller mysteries around Mordentshire to fill their days while the girls get treatment. 

SKAW (Solomon Kulle, Atropa Wixx), the Boo Boys are on the case!

------

And that's that for now! I say after so many pages. So. Many. Pages. hnng

Special thanks to @pigeon-princess for encouraging me to make this breakdown, @wintert-ide (Bell) @systemendeavors (Solomon) and @legendlorelibrary (Raisa) for being amazing playmates, @arasdain for being the worlds best DM and putting up with all of our craziness while sneaking his in too, and everyone here in the CoS community for being so wonderful <3

If you have any questions, feel free to ask, but I hope you enjoyed and thank you so much for all of your interest! Makes us all very happy~

I will keep this updated as the story goes on, and I'll add art to spots when it's applicable.

We are on a hiatus right now, but my brain rot is bad and I will not stop obsessing <3

[one-squash-one-end]

once again rambling about Adam Parrish

Hi! This still belongs to my big Raven Cycle analysis, click here for the masterpost.

For most of the characters I obviously read a lot into subtext and speculate about how they're absolutely not straight, but lucky for us, we do get canon queer characters!

So let this be me talking about Adam as bi representation and also throwing in (other people's) gender headcanons. As always, please tell me your thoughts in the notes <3

c) Adam Parrish

Sadly, I cannot speculate too much about Adam’s sexuality, as he is canonically the mean, witchy (and bitchy) bisexual.

There isn’t much I can say, really. Throughout the book series he displays interest in both Blue and Ronan. And also Greenmantle, but I would like all of us to ignore that because I want to believe Adam has good taste. Blue and Ronan as his love interests are essentially seen as equal. While I would say he had already had some repressed attraction for Ronan (see: him calling the swearing melodic, black-painted poetry- you normally wouldn’t feel like that for someone who just called you a motherfucker) in book one while dating Blue. Yet it becomes very much clear that he did have romantic feelings for Blue. Yes, the two of them were doomed from the start (but still pretty cute I’d say! Until things went to shit, that is), however, Blue is not treated by the narrative as some mistake before Adam figures out he’s actually gay (looking at you judgingly here, Rainbow Rowell). Neither was Ronan a quick, silly thing to see how it would feel to kiss the same gender. That is, like, very much very obvious, through the last five books. They are boyfriends, your honor.

At this point I would also like to give a shout-out to Adam Parrish and the Crying Club (which would make for a fire band name, just saying). This little group of queer people Adam collects at uni (in Call Down The Hawk) has my whole heart and I so wish we would have seen more of them, I am forever mourning their potential of silly, reoccurring side characters. What I’m trying to say though is this: The fact that Adam builds a group of queer people around himself (another one apart from the Gangsey) proves his sexuality even more, because we all know queer people flock towards each other.

Either way, canon bisexual, we love that. Moving on.

Honorary mention to the transmasc Adam headcanon that Tumblr user @barbaricpoetic compiles especially well in a post. I personally do not follow that headcanon, like of course I do not think Blue is supposed to be written as genderfluid in the books, but somehow I believe even less in trans Adam, but either way I do agree there is a lot of strong source material to support that headcanon. Check out the original post for a lot more detail, I don’t want to plagiarize all of that here either way, but here’s two especially solid hints: First of all, he does everything to appear more masculine, like working in typically male-dominated fields and dressing accordingly to that, while orientating his behavior on Ronan and Gansey, who, ironically, do not try as hard as him. Secondly, there’s physical descriptions, Adam being a lot more “elegant” and delicate than the other (Raven) boys Blue knows, with unusual features, and “blue eyes pretty enough for a girl”. Yeah, might be a coincidence, might be solid, queer truth.

This would all make so much sense, even within the books and all, there is just one, considerably big thing, that would not add up with this in canon. Adam’s rural-conservative shitbag of a father would never use the correct name and pronouns for his ftm child.

Either way, there might still be something fun going on with his gender that defies the binaries. Why do I think so? Well, Gansey says a very interesting thing. “Henry was a boy. Adam was a─ Gansey didn’t know.” I wish he would have told us what makes them different. What is it that Adam was? A man? A demiboy? A nonbinary person? A dinosaur in disguise? Please do enlighten us, Gansey. I’m assuming it’s got something to do with Adam being more mature than Henry (he definitely is), but like with Blue and the 300 Fox Way Women, it might be a gender thing, at least you can very easily lay it out to be that way.

To conclude as I will conclude every character part, I think Adam might possibly wear a crop top (might take him a while to accept masculinity is everything you want it to be and not just a certain aesthetic standard though), but absolutely not regularly and not around strangers or his parents.

[withcameraandpen]

Sondam Week 2024

Here's my entry for day 1 of Sondam Week! I was able to connect each prompt together into one story, so here's chapter one of The Despair Killings. You can also read on AO3 here! Thanks for reading!

Witch Creek, a town nestled in the rolling, pine-covered, fog-soaked hills of Washington state, was drenched in a deathly pall. The air had a dreadful chill, and the sky was always dark and gloomy. The town used to be a cheerful and cozy place, even if the residents weren’t always so welcoming.

Sonia stared out the storefront of her bookshop, a charming nook along Witch Creek’s main street, vacuum in hand. Most of the shops were dead during the nine-to-five, but hers had become a popular after-school spot, with teenagers and parents alike keeping her afloat. But people were coming around less and less lately. No wonder why.

A sleek, black car entered her line of vision, interrupting her doom spiral as it parked across the street from her shop. The car door opened, and out stepped a striking man, tall and so pale that his skin somehow glowed under the cloudy sky. His hair was black with streaks of gray, and his eyes were dark and severe. An earring dangled from one ear, dancing as he crossed the street in her direction.

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his overcoat, which billowed in the wind as he walked towards her shop. All told, he looked like nothing Witch Creek had ever seen, and yet well-suited to the environment; he looked like the specter of death.

The bell rang as he opened the door. Instead of browsing the shelves as she’d hoped, he instead made a beeline for Sonia. “Good morrow, madame,” he said in a deep, expressive voice. “Do I have the honor of speaking to Sonia Nevermind?”

“That’s me,” she said, switching off the vacuum. “How can I help you?”

He opened his coat, showing off the shiny badge on his belt. “I am Special Agent Gundham Tanaka. I work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

She deflated. “I knew it was only a matter of time.”

He let his coat fall back into place. “Can you spare a moment? I wish to speak with you.”

“Of course.” She abandoned the vacuum and led him to the back of the store. She had rescued two ratty armchairs from the thrift store to make a reading corner no one actually read in, but occasionally she’d find teenage couples curled up in each other’s laps. “That the nice one,” she said, pointing to the vomit-green chair.

“Then you should take it, my lady,” he said with a sweep of his arm.

Before she could utter a word, he planted himself in the second chair, whose yellow upholstery was stained and whose cushion sagged a little deeper whenever someone sat on it.

A little bewildered, but nonetheless charmed, she sat down and said, “Thank you, Agent Tanaka.”

“I implore you, call me Gundham. Might I call you Sonia?”

“That’s fine.”

He crossed his legs at the knee, his hands folded in his lap. “I am sure you have divined why I’m here.”

Grief filled her like liquid lead. “You know how small towns are about gossip. As soon as one person knew the FBI was coming in, everyone else did, too.”

His head tilted. “You don’t seem nervous.”

“Should I be?”

“No,” he replied slowly. “But this has been my warmest reception by far.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m not surprised, either. Most people here don’t take kindly to anything outside of the norm.”

His face softened. “Are you speaking from experience?”

“I had the nerve to sell books about Wicca alongside books about Christianity.” She gestured to her paltry Religion section. Gundham’s head turned; maybe she was imagining things, but did his eyes light up a little? “I only carry one shelf anymore.”

Her Religion section rarely saw any movement across any of the faiths on display. She knew there was no harm in study, but the crushing weight of loneliness became too overwhelming and convinced her to update her stock. “We’re called Witch Creek for a reason. I was just saying to Ibuki –”

The reminder crushed her, sucking the air out of her lungs. There would be no more chats with Ibuki, a teen with loud hair and an even louder voice. To think she had once been so full of life, one of the brightest stars in the world!

Sonia cleared her throat. “We always used to say Witch Creek would make a great tourist town if the locals weren’t so afraid.”

He turned back to her. “What do they fear?”

“Everything.” She swallowed the bitter taste on her tongue. “Foreigners. Free thinkers. Anyone who has the courage to be different.”

Ibuki was a rarity in that she differed from the clean, stable, respectable image everyone wanted, but the town adored her anyway. She had a beautiful voice and intense creativity for songwriting; her parents thought she was destined for fame, so they sent her to arts camps and workshops and lessons. They didn’t like it when she came back with dyed hair and piercings, but they chalked it up to the rock-star image and found a way to tolerate it.

Ibuki was the third victim to die brutally. Her body was found at the bottom of a river, with her backpack and sneakers left on the bridge above it. No one would have thought foul play if her hands and feet hadn’t been bound.

The other two victims died in similarly sadistic fashion, but with different methods. One was bound to his bed while his house burned down. The other was stabbed with one of his own swords. The only commonality the three victims shared was a ritual sigil drawn in red marker somewhere near the scene. For the first two, it had been near or in the house; for Ibuki, it was on the bridge, with her backpack and sneakers placed in the center of it.

Sonia winced. If she never had to see that grotesque image again, it would be far too soon. “I hope you can find the monster who did this.”

Gundham cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. “Sonia, I am not your typical criminal investigator. I’ll be working alongside the local police as a research expert. My specialty is occult rituals.”

Sonia went very, very still. “Is that why you’re here?” she asked, her voice traitorously tight. “To accuse me?”

“Hardly, my lady. I’m here to seek your expertise.” He leaned forward. “How much of your own stock do you read?”

“Enough,” she said. “I’m fascinated by the occult, too.”

“Enough to identify the religion to which the sigils at the crime scene belong?”

“It’s hard to tell,” she said, “but when I saw the photos in the newspaper, I’m certain they were from the Despair Sisters.”

The Despair Sisters was an old local legend, and the source of Witch Creek’s name. The Despair Sisters were a cult that popped up when the town was first settled, led by two women whose alleged creed was to ‘sow despair through the entire world.’ Legend said they were two actual sisters, but there aren’t many historical records beyond what their sigils looked like. That was by design: what is known about them is that a pair of sisters were drowned in the river on accusations of witchcraft.

She frowned at Gundham suddenly, a chill running down her spine. “You don’t think these are actual worshippers of the Sisters?”

“Don’t you?”

“It can’t be. It’s just fearmongering, or the killer trying to distract the police.” But no other motive had come up as far as Sonia knew. “Isn’t it?”

“I am not so sure,” he replied. “You and I both know the sigils drawn at the scene are accurate.”

Chillingly so. The only difference was that this killer was drawing them in red marker. According to legend, the Despair Sisters drew them in blood.

“That is what I am here to ask,” he said. “Do you carry books on the Despair Sisters?”

“One or two,” she admitted.

“Has anyone bought one?”

“I don’t think so, but let me check.”

They got up. Sonia led Gundham out to the front of the store just as the bell rang. “Good morning!” crooned a cheerful voice. Kazuichi Soda wove through the bookshelves with a big grin and a to-go cup of coffee in each hand. He hid his dyed-pink hair under a slouchy beanie, and his jumpsuit was covered in grease stains both fresh and old.

Only when he reached the counter did he notice Sonia wasn’t behind it, and turned until he saw them by the back door. “Oh, there ya are!”

“Good morning, Kazuichi.” Sonia walked behind the counter, mustering a weak smile.

Kazuichi stopped short, glancing between Sonia and Gundham. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, it’s fine.” She cleared her throat. “Would you mind waiting outside for a moment?”

“No need,” said Gundham. “If you wouldn’t mind printing out your sales records for those books, I can be on my way. Perhaps every copy of those books purchased in the last year?”

“O-okay.” With a few clicks, she printed out the lists and handed them to Gundham. She felt his eagle eyes on her monitor the entire time, watching for any deception on her part. Kazuichi’s eyes were on them both, alert and wary.

“I thank you, my lady,” said Gundham, reaching inside his coat pocket. He produced a business card and handed it to her. “If anything happens, I beseech you to call me.”

“I will.” She plucked one of her own business cards off the stand on the counter and gave it to him. “You do the same.”

“I shall. Good day.” He nodded to Kazuichi and then left the shop, returning to the gloom outside.

Kazuichi spun around to her. “What was his deal?”

She hesitated, but decided the truth couldn’t hurt. “He’s with the FBI. He’s investigating Ibuki’s murder.”

“Wow.” He appeared shocked, but his suspicious frown remained fixed. “What did he want with you?”

“He thinks the killings are connected to the Despair Sisters.”

“How?”

“Please, Kazuichi, I don’t want to talk about it.” The meeting had been trying enough.

His eyes widened, and he offered up the coffees. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Here.”

She picked up the cup closest to her and drank. It was delightfully sugary, and it contained more creamer than coffee, which was exactly how she liked it. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome,” he said with a smile. “You know me. Always need a pick-me-up after therapy.”

“How did you know I’d need one, too?”

She and Kaz had been close all their lives. In their teen years, he entertained a brief but passionate infatuation with her, only to realize she was all too ladylike for him. “I had a feeling you’d need it today. Looks like I was right, huh?”

The rest of the day passed unremarkably. Sonia kept thinking about Gundham: he said he was a scholar more than a crime-fighter, yet he had conducted her questioning all on his own. Did the local police even know he was investigating? To that matter, didn’t FBI agents usually come in pairs, or was that just on TV?

She thought about Gundham all the way to closing time, when thoughts of Ibuki and the other victims crept in as she locked her door. All of a sudden, she preferred thinking about that slick special agent who shared her fascination with the occult, instead of the anguish and fear that now wreathed every memory of Ibuki. Why did she die? Why did any of them? And what would happen to her as she walked to her car at sunset?

She had only got about ten steps away from her shop when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She didn’t recognize the number calling, but she picked up anyway. “Hello?”

“Good evening, my lady,” said Gundham’s voice, though it pulsed with urgency. “I am afraid I have some terrible news.”

She stopped short in the street. “What is it?”

“The man who came to your shop while I was there. What was his name?”

“Kazuichi Soda,” she replied breathlessly.

“I am deeply sorry, but Kazuichi Soda was killed earlier this evening.”

[tunamayojazz]

all of your inuokko art is so lovely it’s hard to pick just one!! i loved the ex-idol concept that was so perfect for inumaki, and the baseball and college aus are adorable too! we love mutual pining in this house 🥰

i just looked a the date in which this was sent and shrieked out loud 😭 i am so sorry and also happy new year!

thank you so much for your kind words ❤️ i'm so happy to hear you liked the ex-idol toge and baseball player yuta au hehe that was so much fun to do. now that you mention college aus (which i also LIVEEE for), would it not be cute if they used to crush on each other when they were college students!! music major toge was part of the dance club and spent a lot of time on campus for practice, same for yuta who had been a prodigy baseball player his whole life. from his club's practice spot, toge had a convenient view of watching yuta practice (as did many other students haha, man always had an audience). from observation and also through word of mouth, he knew that yuta was a very sweet person, friend and teammate. he took care of his team well and everyone looked up to him. toge was inspired by his drive and it motivated him to try his best too.

for yuta it was a much more private experience. while toge would sometimes just join the crowd watching yuta or sit somewhere alone on a day with less people, yuta was intensely shy. he came across his school's dance club profile on social media one fine day and that's when he first saw toge. 30 minutes of doom scrolling later on their page and it was over for him...let's just say toge was a really good dancer with lots of charm and personality in his style (and also has a little fanclub of his own!).

despite them mutually pining for one another from afar, they unfortunately only ever interacted once. they happened to both be on their way out of school, and it was the day before yuta and his team went off to the all japan university baseball championship. toge's got a good luck charm for him but is way too nervous to actually approach him. luckily for toge, yuta accidentally drops his student ID. and the little opportunist within toge comes alive and dives to grab it before yuta can even do it himself (he still cringes about this moment years later). yuta's brain is also doing an internal system crash but somehow doesn't combust when toge very calmly hands him his ID back with the charm underneath. he then walks off in what seems to be the fastest speed yuta has ever witnessed. after the moment is over, yuta uncovers the good luck charm tucked under his ID and then, he combusts.

it doesn't get better yet, they don't meet again for a long time. yuta and his team go on to win the championship, but when he returns to campus with all the glory and confidence in the world (to finally speak to toge), he can't find him anywhere. tldr: toge got scouted by a really good music label and got whisked away to trainee life at 19 in the period of time yuta was away for championships; it all happened very quickly bc toge was quite naive and dropped out of school for a shot at his dream career) (why do i feel like im writing a such a cliche romance plot !! haha)

we'll get to the bad parts immediately. toge knew trainee life would be hard, but he was willing to give it his all to debut. except things didn't really improve after debut. before he could even notice all the red flags, it all came crashing down at 23 when toge had been overworked to the point of damaging his vocal cords. he left the group shortly after, and eventually left the label all together. as for yuta, he was scouted to play for a foreign team and left japan. his career was a success overseas and he'd attained the status as japan's pride. all the things he'd dreamt of as a kid playing baseball with his dad had come true. but in true yuta nature, he was like, yknow what, i think i've done it all and i really miss my friends and family. so i'm gonna move my life back to japan! bye bye! (not gonna give him the successful athlete sustains career damaging injury plot no yuta closed the curtains with his own hands simply bc he missed his friends) i think at this point (age 25) he's only thought of toge from time to time as this sweet boy from his college days that was out of his league, he hasn't heard or seen him in forever either. that is until he returns to japan, gets like a million brand deals, collaboration offers and of course, invites to events and parties for the elites and celebs of japan.

a few weeks after he returned to tokyo, he's invited to a private party to celebrate team japan's success at the winter olympics, with his best friend rika as his plus one. he meets a lot of big name athletes there and quickly becomes friends with maki zenin, one of japan's best speed skaters, and yuji itadori, one of players of the national ice hockey team. (geez i wonder who maki's plus one is)

when he feels himself go past tipsy and approaching drunk, he excuses himself to the balcony for a breather. he's known to be extremely talkative after too much alcohol and he doesn't really feel like pissing off his new friends. when he steps out, he sees a single person smoking by themselves outside and cringes internally (he hates the smell!). but he finds that he won't be stepping back inside so soon, because somehow, he's met with the very beautiful face of inumaki toge.

yuta covers his mouth with his hands at the same time toge drops his cigarette.