#not just there in the dark.

[recitedemise]

Of course she knows him well. She's the same, isn't she? She, like something bibled, had come sprouting from his ribs.

And he's not yet aware, no, but the eyes he'd feel at night aren't at all his goddess's. It's hope that makes him think this, hope and desperate need like delirious delusion, but such is the mirage of a well humbled man. Fouler yet, such is the desire of a soul too ruined. At mass, Gale would feel as though watched, its weight kinder, far sweeter, and its touch boasting patience as though rich in time. Mystra's colder, undoubtedly, like how watching an eclipse is both grand and distant, but Gale can't help but wish well unto a fever, to cling onto that inkling like a blight on bone. So, she hangs as he leads them, watching him live fantasies as he herds his little flock. She knows his god has left him as he prays up toward the rafters. Every night, every session, his words unmet...

But maybe, just maybe, she can fill his hollow.

Imagine that, begs the hour. Yes. Envision the pretty, sparkly robes made of hand-spun gossamer. This mortal thing's alone, scrabbling for a goddess and wrenching back his hands to find only spirits. See? You are more his savior, more his beacon in the plundering dark. Indeed, she has heard his cries and his guttering little pleas that would fade unto the void. And won't you guide him, monster? Swaddle him gently in the cradle of your jaws? Wear the frock of a god and do away with the loneliness...

You'd like that, wouldn't you? Don't lie. We'd know.

Speak. The thought cuts right between them, slithering like a murder as it notches half a dagger in the valleys of their ribs. It's this lamb that deserves her. Hells, perhaps it's this lamb she deserves in her gullet. She'd keep him safe, no doubt, to fall oh so enamored where the gods had tossed him out. He eyes her with a patience, a twinkle of a question burnt honest in his eyes. He doesn't know she wraiths him, that she'd lumber in the ribbing of the church after dark, but they've both been alone for centuries long enough.

She has heard his prayers and not found him spoiled.

"Dekarios. Gale Dekarios," he greets. "My apologies. You'll have to forgive a man for his more humble indulgences. The last time I'd shared my name goes further back than I care for. Always father, you understand. Getting to say it again is, well, admittedly refreshing." When he smiles, its flavor is equal parts vunlerable and heart-bared gentle. How telling. Head bowed, he hopes the color up his collar is veiled beneath the dark. He does as wont, however, and succumbs to his desire to see her glow. Yet, such is the heart of such men of cloth, apparently. Candle taken, he moves with a smile and fills her hand. "It's late. I know most wonder why I'm so insistent on keeping them burning, these candles," he murmurs thoughtfully, "but one should never start dismissing that light they offer. I could never quite manage it, laying down to sleep knowing someone's in the shadows. I know what they're feeling, shambling in the dark on unfamiliar roads. If we can help them not to trip, then it's best not to spare any effort." He elbows her. "And I prefer your knees unbloodied, Serana. You've a lovely name."

My, such godliness like hers begets a follower in turn.

oh father , isn't it a sin to lie ?? the view from the rafters hath shown her a much different story. a man with so much love to give , but none other than the diminishing flock to give it to. with only the stone walls to fill his ears echoing back his own footsteps. never , have i ever been alone. so resolute in faith that She stands behind him now with a scowl to fend off the hungry wolf. yet serana looks at him , eyes overflowing with heartbreak because she sees nothing but his own shadow keeping him company here in this temple. day after day. mass after mass. while the bat nestled into the warm rafters to listen. even now. these walls feel empty despite the stone idols that fill them.

don't lie to me , serana wants to say. only to swallow it down , only responding to him with an empathetic nod. for now.

being one step beneath godliness has one attuned to such things. the ability to sense a presence. much the same as a mother's intuition. a knowing. and yes , the goddess's essence is all around. like fingerprints. or the ash that was left behind in a fireplace. signals of life in days gone by but has otherwise long been abandoned. ( would She save him from the beast in Her temple ?? or turn a blind eye in excommunication ?? ) and though she knew not why , to serana it didn't quite matter. looking at him now , there wasn't an atom in her body that could conjure what he could've possibly done to warrant such a blizzard over ones shoulder.

no. he doesn't deserve this. what could he possibly have done ?? what god wouldn't want the devotion she's witnessed ?? who would be self-righteous enough to believe that their faithful deserve to be abandoned when they sin ?? wasn't there room for forgiveness ?? serana knew not how to rule as a god. what she did know is that she'd not treat him this way , were he hers.

" it's serana- " teeth clamp down afterwards , lips curling into a smile as she follows him , his new shadow. anything to keep her from revealing her hand. to keep his name from stumbling out , because he hasn't shared it yet , has he ?? he doesn't know of the womanly ghost in his halls , who hums his name to herself like a prayer he had taught her. could the wolf love the lamb whose neck it's teeth necklaced ?? was it able to love ?? or was it just infatuation ?? which one was deadlier ?? " and you ?? father- ?? " silently , her hands are offered. pass her what you need. let her touch taint your holy candles. she'll do whatever you ask with that sugary sweet smile on her face. anything to stay in these halls with you.

[whimsifae]

the most fun a girl can have is finding parallels, noticing patterns, making connections, contemplating

[arcanegifs]

ARCANE LEAGUE OF LESBIANS: 2x08 - “Killing is a Cycle”

[humming-fly]

was thinking about that one blind professor post earlier today and how well it applied to the aptly named Team Dark

(really 'Team Dark' just sounds a lot cooler than 'Team Saves-On-Electricity')

[daughterofchaosstuff]

done healing my inner child. next up is my inner teen. her highness demands a sword.

[werewolvesagainstblogs]

[hamoodmood]

[roseforviolet]

[saelrum]

"Was I sweet once?"

[phanfuckingtasmal]

im sorry but i cannot stop thinking about isha's pastel memories that play during her sacrifice scene.

look at how full of colour this beautiful fuckin shot is:

it's been well established in episodes 4-6 how grim and dark the undercity has become under cait and ambessa's new rule. but look at how isha sees/remembers it - because of jinx.

jinx, who went through a severe childhood trauma that has carried over into her present self - she covers extremely destructive weapons and grenades in bright pinks and blues, neons, childlike doodles, graffiti. (joy and destruction, powder and jinx, a contrast so striking it becomes like a signature for her).

and then we see the world through isha's eyes. when we meet her in episode 2, she's running through sewers, from goons dressed in black; it's grimy and grim. and then all of her recent memories are done in these childlike pastel, almost crayon-y sketches. because what isha saw was jinx covering a dark and grim world in colours.

and so isha covered her world in colour, too.

because jinx made her world bright.

isha looked at jinx and saw the child in her. she saw powder and she saw jinx. she saw joy and destruction. and that's why jinx gave isha so much hope. isha knew the world was grim and dark - but then she watched jinx, and she learned that you can paint over all that grim darkness with neon blue spray paint.

that's why isha believed in hope. that's why in her final moments - in a scene that is lit dimly and dramatically - she sees nothing but a bright world coloured in pastels.

never underestimate the hope of a child.

[jojaxcola]

the jojamart mockumentary that constantly plays in my mind

[ next ]

[geminidiariesxo]

[celestialhypomaniac]

cr: @coquettefawn

[arcanegifs]

ARCANE LEAGUE OF LEGENDS: 2x03 - “Finally Got The Name Right”

[humming-fly]

They seem like the kind of guys who would keep count

Bonus: