#omar doom

[supercalifragipopculturevomit]

Quentin Tarantino with the cast of Inglorious Basterds.

[closetofcuriosities]

Death Proof - 2007 - Dir. Quentin Tarantino

[pedroam-bang]

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

[spookytuesdaypod]

[princessofthemoooon]

[weast-of-eden]

[justfriendsbestthings]

🫴🏻🫀 take it it’s yours

[cidnangarlond]

the results are in

[blaylists]

keep me in love

[thefailurecult]

[anarcowboy]

Boiling it down to any single factor is a mistake when it's a soup of dogshit

--there was substantial decrease in voter turnout between 2020 and 2024. more voters than 2016 tho, and still a popular loss. Woof. 3rd party votes did not make a difference and even if all "other", Stein, AND libertarian votes went to Harris she'd still lose (libertarian pulled from Trump more than Harris)

--running to the right of Trump on various issues normalized conservative policy, so those who they attempted to court could get the same results from Trump without having to vote blue

--those they attempted to court are also, yes, a lot of racists and misogynists. The Black vote was almost unanimously in favor of Harris. Just wildly strong polling. The Latino/Latina vote was split, men leaned Trump and women leaned Harris. The white vote skewed pretty strongly to Trump. Failing to ever address white supremacy and instead court it will never make a woman of color appeal to these people, no matter how "lethal military strong border" fascist you try to be

--Harris's campaign ruthlessly belittled her constituents. They refused to speak with people, canceled meetings, mocked them, and tried to make a fool of people in mourning, scared, devastated, yet still ready to vote for her if she gave them crumbs. She didn't. The campaign turned its back, like Clinton did before, on people willing to vote for her if she put any effort into getting their votes. But like in 2016, Schumer was confident you could replace blue collar dems with suburban republicans. it failed. twice. The whole campaign trail has been littered with contempt for their own base. Harris didn't even speak at her own rally last night and sent everyone home.

--2020 has shifted us into an era of extremism and desperation. People are angry. People are scared. Multiple people have tried to kill trump in the last few months. Many voted for him not because they like him but because they have contempt for Harris, whether reasonable or bigoted varies across the board.

--Even as min wage hikes pass, abortion passes, social security expansion passes, and "radical" politicians like Omar and Tlaib win re-elections in the same exact places Harris loses, anchors blame progressive policy for her downfall. Even now, the marginalized people used as pawns by her campaign are being thrown to the wolves for her loss.

--The dems never learn from a loss. They are a center-right party with substantial hatred for progressive policy even as progressive policy polls as wildly popular among the masses. They loathe their base, while Republicans are willing to kiss the asses of theirs.

--Trump will fail to meet all the expectations placed on him, and his base will become angry. Then rather than ever run a platform to help working class americans, marginalized people in substantial and lasting ways, the dems will court those disillusioned by Trump, until they fail to wow them next time and a new fascist runs.

--The two party system does not work, especially when both are right-wing. Trump is not the sole issue and never was. He's convenient cover. Biden is too weak to do anything, then Trump will be too powerful to stop. It repeats forever. But this dance is crumbling for people. Something is breaking and people are tired of it. We have always been a fascist nation that is rapidly becoming more fascist, and unless something truly radical on the left becomes a possibility for dems that can grab the masses and inspire hope--like say, Bernie Sanders--then we are doomed to slide ever right-ward forever until collapse. But hey, the dems certainly wouldn't sabotage and kill a movement like Bernie's, right?

To sum up: we are in a fucked up time where we refuse to reckon with our past and white supremacy and instead cater to it and then have the nerve to be shocked it bites you once again. In politics and in life you cannot appeal to white supremacy, it is a snake to defeat.

Organize, find solidarity, fight, and god while you need to stop bending over for your enemy, you'd maybe be inclined to learn from them, understand them, and realize the way to defeating them has always been with force and a "fuck you I'm here to stay" attitude.

Electoral politics are never the beginning or end of what politics is. The presidential election is even a very small part of that process. Support community work protecting the people neither party will, support organizations working to undo the harm of these parties, and stop seeing this as a team sport with black and white villains and heroes where one side of a corrupt system represents the good guys and so surely their loss can only come from Evil Forces and not a system performing as designed.

[theladyregret]

Drow Name Tables

Something I did as a special favor to @kimmurielsscryingmirror (@eldritchmist ) who showed interest. Because it’s...pretty big I decided to make it into it’s own post.

These are a few Drow naming tables that were originally found in an issue of Dragon Magazine. It’s two d100 tables of prefixes and suffixes commonly used in first names. The second couple of tables is a list of common house name prefixes and suffixes.

EDIT: Just a little something for those who care which I didn’t add before because it took me so long to finish the transcription I just wanted to post it lol. The gender difference is noted in the related Dragon Magazine article as being significant. Non Drow may not notice but a Drow will notice the difference. Female names sometimes borrow parts that are normally only considered male and this is considered fine...but a male with a name that borrows a typically only female part would be seen as extremely taboo.

Prefix (Female/Male) - Meaning

Akor/Alak                 beloved, best, first

Alaun/Alton             lightning, powerful

Aly/Kel                     legendary, singing, song

Ang/Adin                  beast, monstrous, savage

Ardul/Amal               blessed, divine, godly

Aun/Ant                   crypt, dead, deadly, death

Bae/Bar                      fate, fated, luck, lucky

Bal/Bel                       burned, burning, fire, flame

Belar/Bruh                 arrow, lance, piercing

Briz/Berg                    graceful, fluid, like water

Bur/Bhin                     craft, crafty, sly

Chal/Chasz                earth, stable

Char/Kron                  sick, venom, venomed

Chess/Cal                  noble, lady/lord

Dhaun                          infested, plague

Dil/Dur                         cold, ice, still

Dirz/Div                       dream, dreaming, fantasy

Dris/Riz                        ash, dawn, east, eastern

Eclav/Elk                      chaos, mad, madness

Elvan/Kalan                 elf, elven, far, lost

Elv/Elaug                     drow, mage, power

Erel/Rhyl                      eye, moon, spy

Ethe/Erth                    mithril, resolute

Faer/Selds                   oath, sworn, vow

Felyn/Fil                       pale, thin, weak, white

Filf/Phar                     dwarf, dwarven, treacherous

Gauss/Orgoll              dread, fear, feared, vile

G'eld                              friend, spider  

Ghuan                           accursed, curse, unlucky

Gin/Din                         berserk, berserker, orc, wild

Grey/Gul                       ghost, pale, unliving

Hael/Hatch                   marked, trail, way

Hal/Sol                           deft, nimble, spider-like  

Houn/Rik                       magic, ring, staff

Iiv/Dip                             liege, war, warrior

Iim                                   life, living, spirit, soul

Illiam/Im                         devoted, heart, love

In/Sorn                           enchanted, spell

Ilph                                  emerald, green, lush, tree

Irae/Ilzt                           arcane, mystic, wizard

Irr/Izz                               hidden, mask, masked

Iym/Ist                            endless, immortal  

Jan/Duag                       shield, warded

Jhael/Gel                       ambitious, clan, kin, family

Jhul/Jar                         charmed, rune, symbol

Jys/Driz                         hard, steel, unyielding

Lael/Llt                           iron, west, western

Lar/Les                          binding, bound, law, lawful

LiNeer/Mourn            legend, legendary, mythical  

Lird/Ryld                   brand, branded, owned, slave

Lua/Lyme                       bright, crystal, light

Mal/Malag                     mystery, secret

May/Mas                         beautiful, beauty, silver

Micar                                lost, poison, widow

Min/Ran                           lesser, minor, second

Mol/Go                            blue, storm, thunder, wind

Myr/Nym                       lost, skeleton, skull

Nath/Mer                        doom, doomed, fate

Ned/Nad               cunning, genius, mind, thought

Nhil/Nal                 fear, gorrible, horror, outraged

Neer                                  core, root, strong

Null/Nil                             sad, tear, weeping

Olor/Omar                       skin, tattoo, tattooed

Pellan/Relon                    north, platiunum, wind

Phaer/Vorn                      honor, honored

Phyr/Phyx                        bless, blessed, blessing

Qualn/Quil                        mighty, ocean, sea

Quar                                   aged, eternal, time

Quav/Quev                        charmed, docile, friend

Qil/Quil                               foe, goblin, slave

Rauv/Welv                         cave, rock, stone

Ril/Ryl                                 foretold, omen

Sbat/Szor                           amber, yellow

Sab/Tsab                            abyss, empty, void  

Shi'n/Kren                          fool, foolish, young

Shri/Ssz                             silk, silent  

Shur/Shar                          dagger, edge, stiletto

Shynt                                 invisible, skilled, unseen

Sin/Szin                              festival, joy, pleasure

Ssap/Tath                          blue, midnight, night

Susp/Spir                           learned, skilled, wise

Talab/Tluth                        burn, burning, fire

Tal/Tar                         love, pain, wound, wounded

Triel/Taz                           bat, winged

T'riss/Teb                           blade, sharp, sword  

Ulvir/Uhls                           gold, golden, treasure

Umrae/Hurz                       faith, faithful, true

Vas/Vesz                            blood, bloody, flesh

Vic                                       abyss, deep, profound

Vier/Val                               black, dark, darkness

Vlon/Wod                           bold, hero, heroic

Waer/Wehl             deep, hidden, south, southern  

Wuyon/Wruz                      humble, third, trivial

Xull/Url                                 blooded, crimson, ruby

Xun                                       demon, fiend, fiendish

Yas/Yaz                       riddle, spinning, thread, web

Zar/Zakn                             dusk, haunted, shadow

Zebey/Zek                        dragon, lithe, rage, wyrm

Zes/Zsz                              ancient, elder, respected

Zilv/Vuz                             forgotten, old, unknown

Suffixes (Female/Male) - Meaning

a/agh                  breaker, destruction, end, omega

ace/as                                savant, scholar, wizard

ae/aun                             dance, dancer, life, player

aer/d                                    blood, blood of, heir

afae/afein                         bane, executioner, slayer

afay/aufein                        eyes, eyes of, seer

ala/launim                          healer, cleric

anna/erin                            advisor, counselor to

arra/atar                             queen/prince

aste                                      bearer, keeper, slaver

avin/aonar                           guardian, guard, shield

ayne/al                       lunatic, maniac, manic, rage

baste/gloth                         path, walker

breena/antar                   matriach/patriarch, ruler

bryn/lyn                               agent, assassin, killer

cice/roos                             born of, child, young  

cyrl/axle                               ally, companion, friend

da/daer                                illusionist, trickster

dia/drin                                rogue, stealer

diira/diirn                             initiate, sister/brother

dra/zar                                  lover, match, mate  

driira/driirn                         mother/father, teacher  

dril/dorl                                 knight, sword, warrior

e                                           servant, slave, vessel

eari/erd                                 giver, god, patron

eyl                                       archer, arrow, flight, flyer

ffyn/fein                               minstrel, singer, song

fryn              champion, victor, weapon, weapon of

iara/ica                                 baron, duke, lady/lord  

ice/eth                                 obsession, taker, taken  

idil/imar           alpha, beginning, creator of, maker

iira/inid                                 harbinger, herald

inidia                                     secret, wall, warder

inil/in                                     lady/lord, rider, steed

intra                               envoy, messenger, prophet

isstra/atlab               acolyte, apprentice, student

ithra/irahc                         dragon, serpent, wyrm

jra/gos                                 beast, biter, stinger

jss                                          scout, stalker

kacha/kah                            beauty, hair, style

kiira/raen                              apostle, disciple

lay/dyn                               flight, flyer, wing, wings

lara/aghar                         cynic, death, end, victim

lin                                         arm, armor, commander

lochar                                   messenger, spider

mice/myr           bone, bones, necromancer, witch  

mur'ss                                   shadow, spy, witness

na/nar                                 adept, ghost, spirit

nilee/olil                             corpse, disease, ravager

niss/nozz                           chance, gambler, game

nitra/net                              kicker, returned, risen

nolu                                 art, artist, expert, treasure

olin                                   ascension, love, lover, lust

onia/onim                           rod, staff, token, wand

oyss/omph                       binder, judge, law, prison

qualyn                                 ally, caller, kin

quarra/net                           horde, host, legion

quiri/oj                                  aura, cloak, hide, skin

ra/or                                     fool, game, prey, quarry

rae/rar                                   secret, seeker, quest

raema/orvir                         crafter, fist, hand

raena/olvir                            center, haven, home

riia/rak                       enchanter, mage, spellcaster

ril                                 bandit, enemy, raider, outlaw

riina/ree                     enchanter, mage, spellcaster

ryna/oyn                         follower, hired, mercenary

ryne/ryn                      blooded, elder, experienced

shalee/ral                 abjurer, gaze, watch, watcher

ssysn/rysn          artifact, dweomer, sorcerer, spell

stin/trin         clan, house, merchant, of the house

stra/tran                             spider, spinner, weaver

tana/ton                           darkness, lurker, prowler

thara/tar                             glyph, marker, rune

thrae/olg                          charmer, leader, seducer

tree/tel                         exile, loner, outcast, pariah

tyrr                    dagger, poison, poisoner, scorpion

ual/dan                                speed, strider

ue/dor                                  arm, artisan, fingers

uit/dar                                  breath, voice, word

une/diin                         diviner, fate, future, oracle

uque                              cavern, digger, mole, tunnel  

urra/dax                       nomad, renegade, wanderer

va/ven                             comrade, honor, honored

vayas                         forge, forger, hammer, smith

vyll punishment, scourge, whip, zealot  

vyrae/vyr                     mistress/master, overseer

wae/hrae                           heir, inheritor, princess

wiira/hriir                           seneschal of, steward

wyss/hrys                          best, creator, starter

xae/zaer                             orb, rank, ruler, sceptor

xena/zen                         cutter, gem, jewel, jeweler

xyra/zyr                             sage, teller

yl                                          drow, woman/man

ylene/yln         handmaiden/squire, maiden/youth

ymma/inyon                      drider, feet, foot, runner

ynda/yrd        captain, custodian, marshal, ranger  

ynrae/yraen                       heretic, rebel, riot, void

vrae                                   architect, founder, mason  

yrr                                         protector, rival, wielder

zyne/zt                                finder, hunter

House Name Prefixes - Meaning

Alean                        the noble line of

Ale                             traders in

Arab                          daughters of

Arken                        mages of

Auvry                        blood of the  

Baen                          blessed by

Barri                           spawn of

Cladd                         warriors from

Desp                          victors of

De                               champions of

Do'                              walkers in

Eils                              lands of

Everh                         the caverns of

Fre                              friends of

Gode                          clan of  

Helvi                          those above

Hla                              seers of

Hun'                           the sisterhood of

Ken                            sworn to

Kil                               people of

Mae                           raiders from  

Mel                            mothers of

My                              honored of

Noqu                         sacred to

Orly                            guild of

Ouss                           heirs to

Rilyn                           house of  

Teken'                        delvers in  

Tor                               mistresses of

Zau                              children of

House Name Suffixes - Meaning

afin                              the web

ana                               the night

ani                                the widow

ar                                   poison

arn                                fire

ate                                the way

ath                                the dragons

duis                              the whip

ervs                              the depths

ep                                  the underdark

ett                                 magic

ghym                            the forgotten ways

iryn                               history

lyl                                  the blade

mtor                             the abyss

ndar                              black hearts

neld                              the arcane

rae                                 fell powers

rahel                             the gods

rret                                the void

sek                                 adamantite

th                                    challenges

tlar                                 mysteries

t'tar                                victory

tyl                                   the pits

und                                 the spider's kiss

urden                             the darkness

val                                   silken weaver

viir                                  dominance

zynge                             the ruins

[puertoark]

useless bully ramblings

ok i finished chapter 5 and i sooo dont wanted it to end but also i was eager to see the story coming to its finales. chapter 5 and chapter 3 are definitely my favorites aswell as the townies have became my favorite clique alongside the greasers. you see, the greasers have their own traits and personalities ofc but the townies are really diverse on that regard - they bond over their hatred for bullworth and the injustice they suffered in that school. they live on the poorest part of the town so I can assume that those we don't know why they left (Omar and Leon) could be for the same reason as Edgar. they couldn't afford the fuckass school. God I actually love their little traits sm. Otto and his anger/negativity issues that are obviously harmful to him and others around him, Jerry and the obvious insecurity he has towards his inteligence, Gurney and his passion for music, Duncan and his nerdy cute hobbies that got him to drop out of school due to bullying.. etc etc simple stuff these like always that makes us think abt great things. I even wrote a whole ass post about my personal headcanons on them some years ago on my dead nuked account (might try to find it later). Anyway.

I like their storyline really, their missions when theyre messing up w the school are great, Revenge on Mr Burton, Smash it Up, Busting In etc are all really fun missions, Blue Skies is a great setting and their theme is awesome!!! Altho I do wish Edgar was more used... sigh ik I sound boring and lame af when I say stuff like that but cmon Rockstar had top tier character material and simply didn't use it. I get angry for Ted and Edgar in this regard bc I LIKE THEM and I wanted to see MORE OF THEM. This could easily be like less worse if they were set to appear in free roam during endless summer but nah. he's a awesome character anyway I really do like him.

And then there's Complete Mayhem. Well, one epic ass final mission that I do get angry at knowing what it could've been with the beta but nonetheless I love this mission!!! And the final confront with Gary oh how I love doomed lovers barking at each other at the top of a roof, and then the ending comes, Zoe gets back to school (I wish other townies(Duncan at the very least) also did) Pete gets to be the head boy yayyyy and bullying is over forever and ever except that theres UNLOCKABLES that I didn't UNLOCK so endless summer here I come.. with more bullying ig sighhhhhh... eventually.

oh and best part about finishing the game Pedro isnt rude to me anymore 😁

[imonthemoonitsmadeofcheese]

The Enucleation of Eris Morn

A Festival of the Lost collaboration with @hiseumingo through @d2artevents

Link to Ao3 if you prefer to read it there

There are queer things told in the deep space cold      By the ones who venture far I seen horrible blights and gruesome sights      Too dark for planet or star But none are as bad, or as horribly sad      To make even a Deathsinger moan As when hope got squished, and ol’ Three-Eyes wished      On her Ahamkara bone

Wei Ning was a Titan, and always fightin'      Everyone loved her laugh If bad stuff needed killing she was always willing      To fight on Earth's behalf She volunteered when the call went out      To clear the Moon of Hive The Great Disaster's what they called that after      Very few got out alive

Now Eriana-3, was an Exo, you see      A Praxic Warlock, too She loved Wei Ning more than anything      So when Crota killed Wei, she knew There'd be nothing here that'd ever come near      To what she'd lost and, well, The only thing left was to get revenge      And march straight into hell

Ol' Three-Eyes was once Two-Eyes      And was a Hunter at that time She and Wei were tight, and when they took Wei's Light      The Hive had crossed a line So when Eriana-3 said come with me      First in line was Eris Morn They made a pact, and just like that      The First Crota Fireteam was born

They needed a way for Crota's death to stay      Or he'd just get back up from his throne Wei Ning bein' snuffed was proof enough      They couldn't use brute force alone His brains might've been scattered but Toland the Shattered      Said he knew a way "I think he's a jerk, but it just might work"      Was all Eriana had to say

So they gathered three more to kick down the door      And finish what Wei Ning began They snuck on the Moon's surface with terrible purpose      Intent to enact their plan They didn't know as they went down below      Giving one last look at the skies That no one among them would ever again      See the stars with their own eyes

Vell Tarlowe was the first to go      Got overrun by Thralls The horrid crunch as his bones got munched      Echoed through those hellish halls Sai Mota laughed as she breathed her last      While Omnigul watched her die The wormrot infested her, then it digested her      And that was the end of Sai

Eriana's doom was a snappy tune      By a Deathsinger named Ir Yut As it turns out that musical shout      Was power absolute A power so strong came out from her song      Eriana's Light couldn't outshine Toland betrayed her, and when Ir Yut had flayed her      He was willingly next in line

Toland's secret goal was to rip out his own soul      And in death become redefined He sold them all out to that Deathsinger's shout      And it blasted his fractured mind It's incredibly tragic that his love of Hive magic      Corrupted his brain with its call But he got what he wanted and now the Moon's Haunted      By Toland the sparkle ball

Now, he wasn't the first, but by far the worst      Was the fate of the Hunter Omar A Hive Wizard caught him, then gleefully taught him      That death ain't the worst thing by far She enjoyed how he squealed, every time that she peeled      Another small piece of his Light Eris Morn cried, at the time, still two-eyed      Unable to save him that night

Six had gone in with a good plan to win      'Till hope from them all was torn Five had found death and the only one left      Was the Hunter Eris Morn She knew she was stuck, but she wouldn't give up      And her ghost encouraged her sweetly Yet, each time she rested the Hive manifested      She couldn't escape them completely

They hid best they could but her ghost understood      That the Hive were attracted to Light And that little ghost loved Eris Morn most      And acted upon that insight So as Eris cried at her ghost's suicide      She was hid by the shadows around her And try as they might there was no more Light      To track, so the Hive never found her

Lost in the dark, without her ghost's spark      Eris Morn was abandoned in hell She wouldn't give in, and let the Hive win      But the way out, she couldn't tell She fought and she hid and somehow, she lived      For a hundred years all alone She had one option left, and it wasn't the best:      An ahamkara bone

She made her bargain in that bleak garden      Of chitin and sickness unkind The bone took its price, and it wasn't nice:      Eris learned the way out, but was blind Now what would she do? And as if on cue      A Hive Acolyte found her location No ammo, one knife, but she still clung to life      And fought with sheer desperation

Without her sight, it was quite the fight      But in the end Eris struck true And as the Hive died Eris realized,      Perhaps three eyes could replace two With a snick and a chop, her eyeballs went plop      With her own knife she dug a new hole With a bit of Hive voodoo and a lot of bad juju      She soon achieved her goal

Running on pure spite in that endless night      Eris Morn was purpose driven With her wits and her grit, she crawled out of that pit      But the Hive would not be forgiven As she saw the stars rise with her Acolyte eyes      Her need for vengeance burned bright And so Eris Morn, became Bane of the Swarm      And to this day continues to fight

There are queer things told in the deep space cold      By the ones who venture far I seen horrible blights and gruesome sights      Too dark for planet or star But none are as bad, or as horribly sad      To make even a Deathsinger moan As when hope got squished, and ol’ Three-Eyes wished      On her Ahamkara bone

[willesredlights]

King of my heart👑🧚‍♂️

Uhm so this just randomly came up in my mind. Maybe the recent Omar photoshoot triggered my fantasy brain. Also this really reminded me of a series I loved so much as a kid.

Read below or on ao3.

Touches soft as feathers. Warm skin on warm skin. Lips barely touching but desperately trying to find each other in the dark. A finger slipping over a bare leg, leaving goosebumps in its trail. A hand cupping a cheek, feeling the warmth of the blush forming on it. Legs are getting tangled, a firm grip holding them together. Hands continue discovering every piece of skin. "We can disappear", a whisper rolls over Simon's lips. "Where to?", Wilhelm asks, attracted to the idea. "Doesn't matter, as long as we are together. Italy. France. Spain.", another whisper, barely hearable. Wilhelm wants nothing more than to disappear from the reality he lives in. The weight of a crown, impossible to bear. It sucks every piece of life out of him, draining him until it feels like he is dying. Air disappears out of his lungs making it hard to breathe. "I can take you everywhere you want", another whisper from Simon. Simon makes him breathe, he makes him alive. When he is with Simon he forgets about all his worries. When they are together they live in another realm, far away from theirs. A realm that feels safe and warm. A realm where they can be truly themselves. Simon's blue wings shine in the dark room. They are beautiful. The first time Wilhelm saw them he didn't know what he saw, it even scared him. But now he likes to look at them with their soft glow and their beautiful shape. They are thin but can carry Simon's body with ease. "We can run away together", Wilhelm whispers. A firm kiss seals the deal. They are holding on to each other, battling the fear dawning on them. Are they really going to do this? Run away together? Start a new life? The thought has been circling their minds for months now. “It's scary but I don't want to be stuck in a system I feel I don't belong in and if that means I have to leave my realm then so be it. My place, my home is where you are”, Simon's voice is a bit louder this time, stating the truth behind his words. Wilhelm is not the only one feeling the heavy weight of a crown he didn't choose for. Simon feels it too. Both doomed to reign over a realm. A future that chose them. A future they don't want. All they want is being together, living from each other's love. “We should live the life we want, not th life our family or our people want us to live”, Wilhelm replies, his fingers finding Simon's curls and they soothingly go through them. In reality they don't belong together. Two different species from two different realms. A human and an elf. Their love is forbidden. But what is left of reality when two realms collide with each other. Two future kings yearning for freedom. They don't want to be king. At least not from a realm. The only kings they want to be is the king of each other's heart.

[a-simp-named-slickback]

Star-Crossed | Basim x OC | Chapter 7 (Finale)

Basim and Nashira's story comes to a head in this heart-wrenching conclusion

“Nashira.” 

She startled awake from the deep voice. Nashira had fallen asleep in her observatory, laying on the pile of rugs and pillows in the corner. The only light in the room came from the moonlight pooling in through the window, and a dark shadow hovered near her. 

Halah, who was curled up next to her, meowed and purred into the palm of the figure by Nashira’s bedside. She shot up, calming immediately when she realized it was Basim.

She let out a sigh of relief, “Oh Basim!” She nearly knocked him over as she embraced him, wrapping her arms around him. 

Nashira pulled away to look at his face. His under eyes were dark, his lids heavy, and his face seemed troubled. He looked like he’d been having nightmares again.

Yet before she could say anything, Basim furrowed his brows. He seemed preoccupied by her appearance at the moment.

“Ya rouhi, have you been crying?” He asked in a hushed tone, moving to sit next to her, “What is the matter?” 

His question took her aback. She had indeed been crying for most of the evening after reading her husband's letter. 

“Omar is coming back soon...” She handed him the letter, letting him read it for himself.

Basim’s face fell. He hated that he couldn’t be there with her when she needed him. The thought of her crying by herself made him ache inside just thinking about it.. His guilt only grew when he thought of what he came here to tell her. 

“I need to tell him,” She said, “As soon as he comes home I have to tell him everthing.” Her voice quickly began to sound frantic. 

Basim shook his head, “Now hold on, Nashira-”

“I have to!” She jumped up from her spot on the rug to pace around the room,  “I can’t hide this from him, Basim, the guilt would eat me alive.” 

She let out a shaky breath, “Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurt…I just feel so nauseous…” she looked down at her hands that shook as she spoke. With her back against the wall, slowly slid down to the floor to gain some sense of stability again. 

Basim took both her hands in his, moving to sit in front of her so she would look at him. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but kept hesitating. 

Finally he let out a sigh, “Perhaps….perhaps you shouldn’t tell him about us.” He said, “Perhaps it’s best if this remains a secret. At least for now…” 

Nashira furrowed her brows at his words. She could tell there was something he wasn’t getting at, something he needed to take his time to muster the words for. She couldn't get over how sorrowful his eyes looked. So she waited for him to be ready to tell her.

He looked down, swallowed hard, “I have to tell you something.” 

He told her everything: about what Qabiha said, what Roshan did, how he needed to go back to Alamut to find what lay in the temple for him. Most of all, he stressed how dangerous this mission would be. 

The entire time he spoke, Nashira stayed completely silent, trying to take in what he was actually saying.

He was leaving. Again.

“I have to know, Nashira,” He said with desperation in his voice, “I have to know what I am. I need to know what secrets lay in that temple.” 

She nodded, “I know you do,” She said in a weak voice, “I want that for you too it’s just-” Her voice wavered and she looked away, not wanting to cry right then and there. She was trying so hard not to cry.

Basim ran his thumbs over the back of her hands, “It’s just what, habibti?” 

Nashira blinked hard, tears streaming down her cheeks, “It’s just that…there is always something keeping us apart.” 

She sniffled, “Is it not enough that we want to be together?” She asked, “It’s like…it’s like we’re doomed to keep repeating this cycle, over and over. It’s not fair…” her shoulder shook as she began to weep.

Basim felt his own tears well in his eyes and pulled Nashira into his chest. Her muffled cries grew stronger in his embrace. He slowly ran circles in her back to sooth her, hating that he was doing this to her again. 

He held her tighter, “We will be together again. I swear.” He pulled away so he could hold her by the shoulders and look her in the eyes, “Until then, I need to make sure you’ll be safe. So when Omar comes back, you can’t tell him about you and I. Not yet.” He pleaded.

Nashira used her sleeve to wipe her tears. It seemed that was all anyone wanted of her; to know that she was safe. Even if it meant doing something she knew she didn’t want to. 

Still, she nodded, “Okay,” she muttered just above a whisper. 

Basim took her chin in his fingers, “I want you to know…no matter what I was going through, I was always happiest when I was with you. I love you Nashira, and that will never, ever, change. Not even death can stop me from loving you. You know that right?” 

The corners of her mouth turned up in a weak smile and she nodded, “I love you too, Basim ibn Is’haq. So much…” 

He smiled back at her, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, “When I come back I will take you far away from here. Anywhere you want, just say the word.” 

Her eyes softened at him, “Anywhere under the stars is fine with me. As long as I am with you again.”

Basim pulled her in for another kiss, one that seemed to last a lifetime. When they pulled apart, Basim pressed his forehead to hers, savoring the closeness. 

“Will you stay the night?” She asked him. If this was to be her last time seeing him, she wanted to make the most of their time together. 

Basim’s eyes softened, “Of course, ya habibti.” 

And with that they held each other in their arms, spending the night in their own little world, one last time. Hoping, and praying, the stars would be on their side for once. 

______________________________________________________________

After spending the whole night with Nashira, Basim awoke just as the sun broke through the sky. 

Nashira remained asleep, curling into his side. With care, he slipped out of her grasp. He needed to meet Nehal at the gate leading out of Baghdad. 

He gathered his thoughts as he got dressed and collected his things. Out of the corner of his eye he watched as Nashira stirred in her sleep, reaching for where he was on the bed. 

Basim smiled to himself, taking in what might be the last time he ever saw her. 

Before heading out, he made his way to her bedside, leaning down to place a kiss on her cheek, before whispering, “Turqburni, ya rouhi.”

In her sleep, a smile grew on her face, and Basim’s heart overflowed with adoration for her. He half contemplated just staying here, with her, forgetting about what was underneath Alamut. But, he knew he’d never be fully at peace without knowing what lay there and what it had to do with him and his nightmares. That was the only thing strong enough to pull him away from her. 

With one last look at his lover in her bed, he leaped out of the window. 

No matter what happened, if he survived this journey, he would return to her. 

This was his new oath. 

______________________________________________________________

It was a month before Nashira saw Basim again.

She was in her observatory when it happened. A knock on the door took out of her work she used to busy herself in the days he was gone. Upon opening the door, there he stood.

In an instant, she threw her arms around him, feeling her eyes well with tears. She nearly collapsed into his arms from relief. It was as if a dam inside her broke, releasing all the pent up worry she felt all month long. She rejoiced that he was alive and he was here in her arms again. 

Nashira grasped the sides of his face in her hands, knocking off his hood, placing kisses all over his face, “Alhamdulillah you're alright.” She wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks with her sleeve.

Basim placed his hands on her shoulders. “Yes,” he gently pulled her away from him, “I am indeed alright.”

Nashira tilted her head as she watched Basim step away from her to walk around the observatory. He held his hands clasped behind his back, looking around the room, but for what she could not say. 

He stopped in front of Halah, crouching in front of the cat with his hand out for her. Halah crept forward, sniffing the hand and began to growl. When he inched forward to pet her she hissed and scratched his hand.

“Halah!” Nashira picked her up, petting her to calm her down, “I’m so sorry, Basim, she’s been on edge as of late.” She had never seen Halah this agitated before. 

Basim’s face twisted in pain momentarily, before morphing into an off putting half smile. His eyes cut to Nashira and his face sent a shiver down his spine. That’s when she noticed the scar under his right eye. It stretched from the inside corner all the way to his ear, and looked like a fresh wound. 

She let Halah jump out of her arms, “Is everything alright, habibi?   

He examined his hand, “Of course.” He said the word in an odd tone.

She raised a brow, “Did...something happen in Alamut?”

He nodded, "Nothing you need to worry about."

He smiled, though something about it was off. Very off. It lacked the warmth and affection it usually had. Instead it seemed forced, cold, and cunning. 

“How have you been while I was away?” He asked her.

“I can’t describe it in words,” she answered, “it's been weeks since you left and I thought I would never see you again. There’s so much I wanted to tell you and I was worried I wouldn’t get to…” She crossed her arms over her tummy area, “But you’re here now. That’s all that matters.” She smiled warmly at him.

He hummed, “Has your husband returned?” He asked.

She nodded her head, “He came back a week after you left.”

“I see,” he said, “And have you…told him about us?”

Nashira shook her head, “Not yet.” She reached for his hand, tenderly holding it in her own, “But, I’m ready to tell him. Then we can finally be together, just like you said." 

Her smile grew as she gazed upon him, eyes overflowing with adoration. Her chest filled with warmth thinking of the life they could have together: away from Baghdad, away from the Hidden Ones, away from the chains of their past. 

However, Basim did not smile back. In fact, he did the opposite, as if the very thought of it disgusted him.

He took his hand out of her grasp, stepping back to put more distance between them, “That won’t be necessary.” 

Nashira furrowed her brows, “...What?” 

“I found what I was looking for in the temple. It gave me some clarity.” He chose his words deliberately, “There were some difficulties but my experience in Alamut has strengthened my devotion to the Hidden Ones. It’s the kind of devotion that leaves little room for anything,” He paused to look her in the eye, “Or anyone else.”

His devotion to the Hidden One’s was in fact strong, for the time being anyhow. Their methods proved the best in helping him accomplish his true goal: bringing his family back and punishing those who wronged him in his past life. Until that day came, he would remain loyal to the creed. 

Basim carefully monitored Nashira’s face as she seemed to freeze in place like a statue, “You understand what I mean, don’t you? This,” he gestured between the two of them, “Can not continue any further.”

Her breath hitched in her throat as she made sense of his words, “You…you can’t be serious.” She said in disbelief.

He simply nodded. He moved to pat her on the shoulder, “I know it will be difficult for you to accept at first, but this is for the best. Soon you will realize-” 

She shook her head, “Basim, what’s going on? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

He sighed, “I already told you, I am dedicating myself fully to the Hidden Ones. It’s over.” He said in a low, gravely voice, “You can go back to your husband.” 

She shook her head harder, “No, no, no, you can’t do this to me again.” 

“Nashira-”

“You can’t leave me like this!” She tried reaching for him but he grabbed her by the wrists, preventing her from doing so.

“Do not make this harder than it needs to be,” He warned.

He quickly grew tired of her begging. He hated how she acted as though this was somehow the worst thing to ever happen to her. She should consider herself grateful, he thought. She had never been tortured by those she called brothers. She had never had her family, her children, taken from her by those she once loved. She had never watched in sorrow as the love of her life was locked away in an artifact lost to time. 

Had his love for this woman truly blinded him to what she really was? Nothing but the same spoiled, naive girl he had met in that library all those years ago. 

“Basim please, just listen-” 

“Enough!” He roared, “Look around you Nashira. Look at everything you have: money, knowledge, the finest comforts money can buy. You have the life others would do unspeakable acts just to get a taste of. And yet you would throw it all away over something so stupid?” 

“Stupid? Basim, you told me you loved me!” She pressed, hurt growing in face, “You said we were meant to be and I believed it. I still believe it!” Her voice wavered as she continued to speak, “It never mattered to me if we lived in splendor or squalor or what fate threw our way as long as we were together. That’s what we told each other.” 

She pressed her hand over her heart, “I’m still ready to devote myself to that- to you - if you just stay with me. Please, ya habibi.” She begged.

Nashira had tried to get him to look her in the eyes, but when he did her stomach dropped. Basim looked at her, but he wasn’t looking at her. He looked through her, like she was nothing to him. All the love had faded from his eyes.

Basim let out a laugh though his nose, “What would you know about devotion? Hm?” He asked, “Devotion is loyalty and hard work. It’s a struggle, and you’ve never struggled a day in your life. You’ve had everything handed to you by everyone in your life and yet you cannot even pretend to be grateful for it.”

Her lip quivered, “Basim stop it, you’re being mean.” 

“Your father spoiled you your whole life, left you this observatory, and yet you’re so willing to throw it all away on fleeting desire?”

Her face grew hot at the mention of her father, “Stop it!” 

“Despite the fact that he was sick, he went out of his way to find a good husband for you, one that would take care of you and provide for you like he should. Yet you couldn’t even do either of them the courtesy of remaining faithful.” He spat, “If Khalid were alive today, he’d be ashamed of yo-”

In a rage, Nashira took her hand and brought it across Basim's face in a hard smack. The sound echoed throughout the observatory until it dissipated into an eerie silence. 

The slap was enough to knock Basim off balance just a bit, shifting his head to the side. It stung, but the pain did not bother him. Still, he touched the place she hit, turning his head to glare at her. 

Despite the tears in her eyes, her face held a mix of contempt and hurt. It almost surprised him. He had never seen her face like this before. 

Nashira swallowed hard. Who was this person before her? What happened to the sweet thief boy she knew? That boy would have never said such vile things to her.

But Basim did. This new, different Basim. He didn’t even seem like the same person, and yet his words hurt all the same because he said them. That hurt her more than anything. 

She bawled her hands into fists by her side, letting out a slow, deep breath from her nose, “Basim ibn Is’haq,” She said, “I never want to see you again.” 

Basim stood up straight, putting up his hood. He took one last look at Nashira and let out a short, mocking laugh, “Don’t worry. You won’t.” 

Without another word, turned away, and leapt out of the window. 

Nashira stood in the same spot for what felt like forever. She stared at the window where Basim once stood. The same window he always entered. The window where he left her once again.

She slowly walked over to it, looking out into the courtyard below. Bittersweet memories filled her mind and an ache spread in her chest as she grabbed ahold of the handles. 

She closed the window. 

Nashira’s hand crept toward her stomach, rubbing circles there. As the tears began to spill she leaned her forehead against the window glass, choking out sobs, alone except for Halah, in her father’s observatory. 

Basim was out of her reach, and that was where he would remain. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Basim sat crouched on top of a minaret. The call to prayer rang out in the distance as the sun began to set over Baghdad. 

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, slowly letting it out. He’d always loved watching the sunset for its beauty, but now he had a new appreciation for it. Seeing the sunset and everything this world had to offer was a reminder to him that he was finally awake again after what felt like a very long sleep. 

He was a new person now. A different one, different from the Basim who longed to know who he was. His memories of his past life brought about a new sense of hunger in him. He longed for his lost family, yearned for his love, and desired nothing more than to get revenge on those who wronged him in his past life. 

Even with all these feelings, one in particular kept coming up, no matter how much he tried to will it away.

Regret

He regretted how he ended things with Nashira. The moment he came out of that cave in Alamut, she was one of many things on his mind. He thought of her, this woman he loved so much and felt so strongly for, and how in an instant that all seemed to go away. He didn’t know how to feel about it. How can someone be his everything one moment and then nearly nothing to him the next? 

At the same time, he did understand why. For in gaining his memories again, he remembered  his real love, his Aletheia. His lover lost to time, the mother of his children,the one he’d sacrifice anything to have back in his arms again. And so, he sacrificed the one person who ever truly understood him. 

Nehal wasn’t real, at least to anyone else but him. Roshan in her attempts to guide him, hides his truth from him. The only thing Nashira ever did was love him and try to understand him even when he didn’t understand himself. As much he’d cherish her for that alone, he knew it needed to end for good this time. He couldn’t risk her reaching out to him in the future. It was better for the both of them for this relationship to become nothing more than a bad memory. 

He very well could have just avoided seeing her, let her believe he didn’t survive Alamut. But there was something he needed to get from her. 

He reached into his back pocket, taking out the old book with the strange symbol on it. The symbol of a winged staff with two snakes wrapped around it. The symbol of Hermes, the isu who created the staff Basim’s beloved was trapped in. 

According to notes by Pythagerous, he was a temporary wielder of the Staff of Hermes and left clues in this book as to its whereabouts. Of course when he first saw the book’s symbol in the observatory, he had no idea what it was despite its familiarity. Now, he made it a point to kill two birds with one stone on his visit to Nashira’s. He doubts she would’ve missed it much anyway.

“It seems our meeting was fate after all, Nashira,” He muttered to himself, “Just not in the way either of us thought.” 

He ran his hand over the symbol on the book, as memories of Alethia flooded his mind. He would find her, and find a way to free her from that prison of a staff so they could be together with their family in this new world. 

“Hold tight, my love.”