#original silver bracelet for men

[twistedheartsclub]

Marked for the Hoard Male Dragon Shifter X Female Reader PT1

🖤 Author’s NoteMarked for the Hoard is an original dark fantasy romance story featuring obsessive love, ancient magic, and a dragon shifter who has waited centuries for his mate. This is not fanfiction — the world, characters, and lore are entirely original. At the heart of the story is Y/N, a modern girl unknowingly descended from a bloodline once bound to dragons. When she returns to her ancestral homeland, she steps straight into the territory of Vaeroth — a powerful and obsessive dragon shifter who has watched and waited for generations. His name, in the old tongue, means “keeper of ruin” or “the one who waits beneath ash.” He is the last of the great drakes. And he has chosen her as the final piece of his hoard. She was never meant to come here. But now that she has, Vaeroth will never let her leave.

⚠️ Warnings: yandere love interest · kidnapping · obsession · forced proximity · possessiveness · dubcon · marking/bonding · psychological manipulation · monster lover · nonhuman anatomy · breeding kink themes · ritualistic claiming · emotional dependency · primal behavior · isolation · fantasy violence

Long before this island had a name, it had a guardian.

He was not born of flesh. Not really. He was carved from fire and molten rock, shaped by stars older than the sea. A beast of flame, gold, and hunger.

A dragon.

They called him by many names—The Winged Warden. The Storm-Voice. The First Flame.

But his true name?

None dared speak it.

Except for her.

Centuries ago, when the world was younger and men still bowed to sky-born gods, he loved a woman born of the first line—her blood ancient, potent, the last of the Flamebound. She was soft and mortal, and he had hoarded her more jealously than gold.

But mortals die.

She withered. And his rage scorched the skies.

He burned kingdoms in his grief. Slept beneath ash and earth. And waited.

Until the blood returned.

Until Y/N.

Y/N never meant to return here.

The island was beautiful, yes—lush cliffs that dropped into crashing waves, cobblestone roads with whitewashed cottages, wildflowers that bloomed like fire across the hills.

But it wasn’t home. Not anymore.

She hadn’t been back since she was a child. Since her grandmother’s funeral. Since the stories stopped being comforting and started sounding like warnings.

But when her college friends planned a spring break getaway—cheap flights, good weather, all charm and folklore—she didn’t say no.

Now she wished she had.

“You’re seriously going to sit in the Airbnb and read all week?” Maya laughed, tugging at Y/N’s hand. “Come on. It’s the festival!”

“I don’t even know what they’re celebrating.”

“Spring, fertility, rebirth, I don’t know—vibes,” Jade added with a grin. “There’s fire dancers and sweet wine and hot guys in masks. You need this.”

Y/N let herself be pulled down the street, the music growing louder. Lanterns floated on strings overhead, painting the stone alleyways in flickering gold. Children ran with flower crowns in their hair. Old women watched from balconies with knowing smiles.

Something in the air felt... ancient.

Like the bones of the island were stirring.

Y/N’s skin prickled.

But she kept walking.

Y/N wasn’t used to this much attention.

The villagers had been friendly from the moment she arrived—but tonight, it bordered on something else entirely.

They gave her trinkets—woven bracelets, tiny carved charms, honeyed fruit wrapped in banana leaves. One of the elders, a woman with silver braids and sun-dark skin, placed a ring of white blossoms around Y/N’s head and murmured something that made the hair on her neck stand up.

Her friends teased her relentlessly.

“Well, clearly you’re the island princess now,” Jade grinned.

“Yeah, what did you do, sleep with a local god in your past life?” Maya laughed.

Y/N rolled her eyes. “They’re just being polite.”

But deep down… it didn’t feel like that.

It felt like recognition.

Like being seen.

The festival stretched into the village square—bonfires flickering, musicians playing stringed instruments made of bone and driftwood, and lanterns glowing low like fireflies caught in jars.

Tourists mixed with locals, everyone drinking, swaying, laughing.

The air was thick with salt, smoke, and something old.

As the sun began to slip behind the jagged ridge of cliffs, a sudden roar thundered across the sky.

It wasn’t close.

But it was loud.

The music faltered. A few children stopped dancing.

Y/N looked up at the red-stained clouds.

“What was that?” she asked.

None of the villagers answered.

Not directly.

One of the elders said something in a language no one else understood—harsh and rhythmic, like stone being carved. The other villagers nodded solemnly. Some pressed fingers to their foreheads.

Y/N’s friends laughed it off and grabbed more wine, already pulled toward the growing circle of dancers forming around the bonfire.

But Y/N stayed still.

The roar hadn’t sounded like wind or thunder or jets.

It had sounded like something alive.

A man stood near the far edge of the crowd, partially obscured by the smoke.

Tall.

Broad.

Still.

He wasn’t laughing.

He wasn’t drinking.

He was watching her.

Their eyes met—and her stomach dropped.

Just for a moment.

Because when she looked again...

He was gone.

The heat of the bonfire painted gold across Y/N’s skin as her friends danced around her, all laughter and clumsy twirls.

Someone shoved a drink into her hand—sweet and fizzy, tinted red like pomegranate and wine.

"Drink it, island princess!" Maya laughed.

Y/N hesitated. “What is this?”

“Does it matter?” Jade grinned. “It’s delicious. It’s tradition. Stop overthinking everything.”

The drink was cool and sugary, leaving a burn low in her stomach. She felt warmer almost immediately, her head just a little too light, her limbs a little looser.

A shadow crossed her vision.

Y/N turned—and he was there.

Across the square.

Half-shrouded in firelight and smoke.

He didn’t move. Didn’t blink.

He was easily over six and a half feet tall, maybe more—his body broad, immense, every inch of him carved in hard, powerful lines like a warrior sculpted from volcanic stone. His dark hair was long, falling past his shoulders in loose waves that shimmered like onyx. His face—sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, a mouth made to devour—was both beautiful and terrifying. Ancient.

His eyes…

They burned.

A gold too bright to be human. Unblinking. Focused on her like she was a flame in the dark.

She stared, breath caught, unable to look away.

And then someone touched her arm.

“Ah, you’re too pretty to be standing like a ghost, little flame.”

Y/N turned to see the elder woman again—the one who’d crowned her in white blossoms earlier. She smiled with all her teeth and pressed a cool palm to Y/N’s cheek like a grandmother.

Her voice was low, melodic, and in a language Y/N couldn’t understand.

But her tone… sounded like a blessing. Or a prayer.

She murmured something close to Y/N’s ear, her words curling warm like smoke.

Y/N blinked. “I… I don’t know what that means.”

The woman just smiled, then looked to her right.

Another girl approached—tall, elegant, glowing in gold silks. She was Y/N’s age, maybe a year younger. Long black hair braided down her back. Her eyes were soft and full of something that looked like reverence.

She bowed—bowed—to Y/N with her hand pressed over her heart.

Y/N blinked. “What are you—?”

The elder woman nodded toward the trees. “She will take you now, child.”

“For what?” Y/N laughed nervously, glancing at her friends still dancing. “Where are we going?”

The girl just smiled. “Come.”

Y/N took one step back.

But the elder touched her shoulder. “You are already chosen.”

The girl offered her hand.

Y/N—fuzzy from the drink, her heart pounding, unsure why her skin felt so tight against her bones—took it.

Meanwhile… Deep Within the Forest

He stood at the mouth of his den, head tilted to the wind.

Her scent was closer now. Stronger.

Sweetened by the wine. Warmed by the firelight.

Tinged with the faintest edge of readiness.

His claws curled slightly as he exhaled smoke into the cold night air. The silver runes along the cave walls shimmered, pulsing in time with his heart.

He had waited.

Slept.

Burned.

But now?

She was coming to him.

And the hoard was ready.

Y/N’s feet dragged slightly as she was led down a moonlit path behind the houses. Her mind swam with warmth, dizziness, and… something heavy.

She couldn’t explain it.

She didn’t want to follow the girl. But her hand felt safe. Familiar. Like a thread being pulled through time.

Then—

“Y/N!”

She blinked.

Maya stumbled down the path toward her, wine in one hand, phone in the other. She laughed when she saw them.

“Ohhh I see how it is,” she teased. “Ditching us for your cute little island girlfriend?”

The girl didn’t react. Just looked at Maya calmly.

Y/N blinked. “No, I—I was just—”

“Relax. I’m kidding. Come on,” Maya laughed, looping her arm through Y/N’s. “Jade found that hot street vendor again and is this close to proposing. You’re missing it.”

She tugged her gently.

The girl bowed again, this time only to Y/N.

And smiled.

Not with jealousy.

With knowing.

Then she turned and disappeared into the dark.

Just as a low, thundering roar rolled across the trees.

Every bird in the nearby grove scattered in a violent flutter of wings.

Maya blinked. “...What the hell was that?”

“Probably the wind,” Y/N murmured, but her voice sounded wrong in her own ears.

By the time they returned to the bonfire, the dancing had slowed into ritualistic sways. The flames had turned deep orange.

And the villagers—not the tourists—parted silently to let Y/N pass.

None of them looked at her.

But every head dipped as she walked by.

Her skin crawled.

She found Jade and Maya again, laughing with two handsome strangers near the wine barrels.

“Hey,” Y/N said, brushing sweat from her neck. “I don’t feel good.”

“You probably just need more wine,” Jade said, grinning as she filled a wooden cup. “You’ve had, like, two.”

Y/N didn’t reach for it.

She looked toward the cliffs.

Toward the forest.

Her head felt like it was filled with heat and smoke.

Then—

A small tug on her dress.

She looked down.

A child—no older than six—stood beside her.

Dark curls. Bare feet. Eyes too wide, too wise.

He held up a small carved object: a dragon, curled protectively around a woman.

He placed it in her hands.

And whispered in that same strange, ancient tongue:

“He never let her go, even when the world burned.”

And then he vanished into the crowd.

Y/N stared down at the carving.

Her hands were shaking.

The cave flickered with soft amber light, cast from torches held in iron sconces carved into the stone. The walls shimmered faintly with veins of gold, glowing as if stirred by his presence alone.

At the heart of it all, he stood—half-shifted, his massive form cloaked in shadow. Not scales. Not skin. Something in between.

The young woman knelt before him, her braid hanging over one shoulder, her eyes lowered in practiced reverence.

She spoke first.

“She was coming willingly, my lord,” she whispered. “But one of her friends intervened.”

A soft growl echoed through the cave—low, guttural, like the shifting of the earth itself.

“I could have taken her then,” he said, voice like gravel and thunder. “Claimed her beneath the stars.”

“But you want her to come willingly.”

His silence was answer enough.

She raised her eyes. “Shall we prepare more offerings? More calming charms? The Elder suggested something woven with silverroot and lullash bark—used to ease the mind, open the heart.”

He gave a slow, thoughtful nod.

Then finally, he spoke the words that made the flames around them flicker harder, the stone beneath her knees tremble.

“Tell them… Vaeroth the Undying will walk among them soon.”

Her eyes widened.

“You’ll shift?”

“She must see me as her kind,” he murmured. “Before she remembers she’s mine.”

Flashback – Centuries Ago

She had screamed the first time they brought her to the mountain.

Her wrists had been bound in silk. Her ankles chained in gold. Her tears had soaked through her ceremonial gown. Her voice—young, desperate—echoed through the ancient stone halls of his lair.

“Please… please, I don’t want to die…”

But she did not die.

He had touched her gently, spoken in old tongues, offered her warmth, food, safety. Her blood had burned with the gift of the Flamebound, and over time… her fear softened.

She grew curious.

Then willing.

Then his.

She had kissed him beneath the full moon and begged him to take her.

She had given him a son.

She had died in his arms centuries later, her body warm, her soul content.

And the village had remained safe, blessed, untouched.

Because he had kept his promise.

And now?

They owed him again.

Back in the present, Vaeroth’s golden eyes narrowed.

“This new flame,” he said quietly, “she carries her bloodline like a curse she cannot feel.”

The girl nodded.

“She will resist.”

Vaeroth’s lip curled—not in anger.

In amusement.

“They always do.”

The festival had thinned.

Tourists lounged in half-circles around the bonfires, swaying to slow music. Lanterns bobbed overhead. Smoke curled lazily through the air, laced with sweet incense.

Y/N sat on the edge of a stone bench, the carved dragon figurine from earlier resting in her pocket. She ran her fingers over it absently, pulse still out of sync.

She felt too hot. Too light. Her thoughts hazy and slow.

“I’m fine,” she’d told her friends. “I just need to breathe.”

They’d handed her another drink instead.

And she’d downed it.

The wine burned going down. Sweet and cloying and thick, like syrup on her tongue.

And then—

“Thal'sir na vahriin, my little flame.”

The words weren’t English.

But she understood them.

You shine brightest on the edge of surrender.

She blinked. Laughed, confused. “That’s… poetic.”

She turned.

And her breath left her.

Him.

The man from the firelight.

The man from the woods.

He was even more intense up close—tall enough to block out the lanterns behind him, his body broad and unshakably still. His long black hair was loose tonight, falling around his shoulders like dark silk. His clothing was simple but elegant—charcoal linen, gold trim along the collar, strange symbols stitched into the cuffs.

His face…

Too handsome.

Too sharp.

Eyes the same gold she saw in her dreams.

Alive. Unblinking. Dragging her under.

She swallowed hard. “Have we… met?”

He smiled, slow and warm.

But his eyes never softened.

“Not yet. But I’ve known you a long, long time.”

Her stomach flipped.

There was something wrong with how he spoke—too formal, too precise. Like someone who hadn’t used words in centuries.

And yet… it stirred something deep inside her. Recognition she couldn’t place.

She shifted. “That’s a weird thing to say.”

He tilted his head. “It’s a strange night.”

Behind them, a few villagers passed.

One elderly man dipped his head low.

A teenage girl touched her hand to her heart.

None looked at him directly.

Only at Y/N.

She didn’t notice.

But he did.

And it pleased him.

His presence didn’t fade after he walked away.

Y/N sat frozen long after the golden-eyed stranger vanished into the crowd, her thoughts sticky and strange. She stared at the flickering firelight, that carved dragon still in her pocket, the wine still buzzing in her blood.

“I’ve known you a long, long time.”

Why had she understood those words?

Why did her skin still tingle where he’d stood too close?

That Night

The moon hung high when Maya found her.

Y/N stood barefoot in the wet grass just past the festival’s edge, facing the cliffs. Her hair loose, her dress clinging slightly with ocean mist. The waves below echoed like something calling.

“Y/N?” Maya called out, stumbling down the path. “What the hell are you doing out here?”

Y/N didn’t answer.

She just blinked slowly, her pupils wide.

“You okay?”

Y/N turned to her, face blank. “He’s calling me.”

Maya blinked. “Okay, creepy. Come on, you had too much to drink.”

She looped her arm around Y/N’s waist, half-laughing, half-concerned. “You’re sleepwalking or something.”

Y/N let herself be led back, but before the trees swallowed the view…

She looked over her shoulder.

Toward the sea. The cliffs.

And for just a moment—

She saw him.

Silhouetted against the sky, half-shifted. Wings tucked. Eyes blazing gold.

Waiting.

The Next Morning

Y/N woke with the sun on her face and the weight of something she couldn’t explain on her chest.

She sat up slowly in the bed of their Airbnb, the sheets tangled around her legs, her mouth dry and her skin hot.

Maya snored on the other bed.

Jade muttered something into her pillow.

Y/N reached for the little dragon carving on the nightstand.

It was still warm.

And in her ears—too faint to name, but unmistakable—was the echo of a voice.

“Come to me.”

The market was alive with color.

Baskets overflowed with fruit, linen skirts fluttered in the breeze, handmade jewelry glinted beneath canopies of woven straw. Tourists wandered with woven bags and dripping cones of fruit sorbet. Somewhere, music played faintly—guitar and wind chimes.

Y/N had drifted ahead of her friends, drawn by a stall selling carved pendants and island charms.

She wore one of Jade’s dresses—white, lightweight, just a little too short for her comfort. The hem brushed high on her thighs, and every time the wind lifted it, she tugged it back down with a self-conscious laugh.

She knelt to look at a bracelet shaped like a coiled dragon.

Children played near her feet, chasing each other through the stalls. She smiled at them, tucking hair behind her ear.

“Careful,” she said softly, laughing as one nearly crashed into a vendor’s fruit stand.

And then—

“They run toward danger like it’s a game.”

The voice was low, deep, warm. Too calm to belong to a tourist.

She turned.

And there he was.

Vaeroth, in his human skin.

A linen shirt rolled to the elbows. Loose black trousers. Barefoot, somehow still regal. Surrounded by three small children tugging on his sleeves, showing him shells, laughing like he was their favorite uncle.

He looked entirely at ease.

Except for his eyes.

They never left her.

She swallowed. “It’s just part of being a kid.”

“Some danger looks like adventure,” he replied smoothly. “Until it swallows you whole.”

There was that strange language again. The rhythm of something old beneath his tongue. The way he spoke made her skin prickle.

She looked down, hiding a nervous smile. “You always speak like that?”

“Only when I’m being honest.”

Y/N glanced up again—and found his gaze still locked on her. Not in a casual way. Not even romantic.

Like he was memorizing her.

Marking her.

“Y/N!” Maya’s voice called behind her.

She turned as her friends caught up, their arms full of beaded bracelets and sunglasses.

Jade’s eyes immediately snapped to Vaeroth.

And widened.

“Who is your new friend?”

He offered them a slow, polite smile. “Just passing through.”

“Please tell me you’re staying for the bonfire tonight,” Maya said, not even trying to be subtle.

Vaeroth didn’t look at her.

“If she is,” he said, “then I will be.”

Y/N’s stomach flipped.

He was talking to them.

But he was speaking only to her.

Y/N sat curled on the edge of the bed, arms wrapped around her knees. Her skin still felt too warm. Her heart too fast. The encounter at the market had left her shaken.

His eyes. His voice. “If she is, then I will be.”

He didn’t ask if she was coming.

He decided.

“I think I’m gonna stay in tonight,” Y/N said quietly, not looking up.

Jade gasped dramatically. “What?! No. Absolutely not.”

Maya tossed a bundle of black fabric at her. “We didn’t drag you to paradise for you to be boring.”

“I’m just not feeling great.”

“You’re fine,” Jade said, already yanking her back onto her feet. “You just need some air. A little skin. A little danger.”

“Definitely some wine,” Maya added. “Or—”

She pulled a tiny silver flask from her bag with a wicked grin. “Vodka?”

“I—”

“Shot for courage!” Jade chirped, already pouring it into a plastic cup.

Y/N hesitated.

They were her friends.

They meant well.

So she nodded.

The first shot burned like fire. The second went down easier.

And then—

They started dressing her.

The dress was midnight black. Backless. Barely covered her thighs.

Y/N tugged at the hem, frowning at her reflection. “This isn’t really… me.”

“It’s hot,” Maya said, adjusting the straps. “You’re hot.”

“You look insane,” Jade said. “In a good way.”

“Men will drool,” Maya added. “Maybe even that market god you met earlier.”

Y/N flushed.

Her cheeks were already warm from the vodka. Her limbs felt light, a little loose. Her heart thudded behind her ribs as they painted her lips red and touched shimmer to her cheeks.

“You’re only young once,” Jade whispered, handing her one last drink.

Y/N took it.

And told herself she wanted to go.

Elsewhere, in the Deep of the Mountain

Vaeroth ran his claws along the edge of the stone basin, the runes beneath his skin glowing softly in the dim light.

The fire at the center of the chamber roared to life with a whisper of his breath.

Silks had been laid across the hoarding bed—black and white, soft and scented. A bowl of fruit sat near a carved stone bath, steam rising gently.

The air shimmered with charm-scent: honey, musk, silverroot.

He had cleaned the room. Changed the linens. Prepared the offerings.

Because she would come.

Maybe not tonight.

Maybe not tomorrow.

But her will was cracking.

And he had all the time in the world.

The bonfire danced like a living creature, flames rising high into the star-stained sky. Music thudded through the ground. The smell of roasted meat, salt, sweat, and smoke mixed with something faintly floral—too sweet to place.

Y/N felt floaty.

Too warm.

She laughed at something Jade said and nearly spilled the drink in her hand—another gifted to her by a smiling villager, this one tinted pink with petals floating on top.

It smelled like flowers and spice.

She sipped it anyway.

And the edges of the world began to blur.

The heat came first—low in her belly, rising like steam through her skin. Her heartbeat pulsed in her ears. Her dress clung to her thighs. The firelight kissed her bare shoulders. Everything was too close.

Y/N tugged her hair off her neck and fanned herself with her hand.

“I need some air,” she murmured.

She stepped away from the music, from her friends’ laughter, from the weight of a hundred eyes watching without watching.

The night air was cool.

But it didn’t help.

A voice broke the quiet.

“You okay?”

She turned to see a young man—maybe mid-twenties, tourist for sure, dressed in beachy linen and leather bracelets. Blonde, tan, easy grin.

“I’m fine,” Y/N said, wiping her palms on her dress.

“You don’t look fine. You look like you’ve been dancing through the fire.”

She laughed, dizzy. “I think I’ve had too much to drink.”

He took a step closer, hands raised casually. “Well, I’m a gentleman, so I’ll just stand here and flirt from a safe distance.”

She giggled.

It was harmless.

Just small talk.

Normal.

Then—the air changed.

The ground beneath her feet felt heavier.

A shadow fell across them both.

The tourist blinked, looking past her. “Whoa… You okay, man?”

Y/N turned.

Her heart stopped.

Vaeroth.

Dressed in dark linen again, his golden eyes brighter than the firelight. He stood a head taller than the tourist, broad shoulders squared, body utterly still—but boiling with something beneath the surface.

“Evening,” he said smoothly, but it was a lie of a tone. His eyes never left Y/N.

The tourist laughed awkwardly. “We were just talking—”

Vaeroth stepped forward once.

Only once.

But the shift in pressure was instant.

The tourist’s smile faded.

His hand dropped from the air.

He backed away. “Alright, man, relax. I didn’t know she was with someone.”

“She isn’t,” Vaeroth said.

Then turned to Y/N.

“Yet.”

“I should go back…”

Y/N’s voice was thin. Floating.

She turned her head toward the bonfire. The music. The warmth of her friends.

But the lights seemed farther now.

Flickering like distant stars through the trees.

And she didn’t remember walking this far.

“I—I just needed air,” she mumbled, blinking hard. “Jade and Maya… they’ll be looking for me…”

“They won’t,” Vaeroth said softly.

He was at her side now—too close, towering and calm, the heat from his body washing over her like a slow tide. His arm slipped around her waist.

Not yanking.

Not rushing.

Just there.

Claiming.

“You’re not well,” he said. “The drinks were too strong. Too much on an empty stomach. Come. I’ll take care of you.”

She leaned into him—only slightly, only because the ground felt unstable—but it was enough.

He shifted her gently against his chest, his touch slow and reverent, guiding her away from the path.

Y/N’s feet stumbled over roots and damp stone.

“I… I think I should sit down,” she whispered.

“You will,” he murmured, voice velvet and ash. “Soon.”

Behind them, the bonfire still blazed.

But the villagers were gone.

No one followed.

No one called out her name.

She hadn’t noticed when the music stopped.

When the laughter faded.

When the festival had ended—for her.

And Vaeroth?

He never looked back.

The path wound deep into the cliffs, torchlight dancing along the worn stone. The earth breathed beneath their feet—warm and pulsing like the heart of something ancient that had never stopped waiting.

Y/N leaned heavily into Vaeroth’s side, her eyes unfocused, breath shallow.

She mumbled something about the beach. Her friends. A song she couldn’t remember.

None of it made sense.

But he understood every word.

His arm tightened around her waist as they passed under the stone archway, the entrance to his lair carved with runes older than empires.

Outside, the villagers gathered in a silent crescent beneath the moon.

Not tourists.

Not strangers.

Only the chosen—those whose families had served him for generations.

They carried candles.

Laid flowers.

Whispered prayers in the tongue of the fireborn, the old speech of flame and promise.

And when he passed, carrying her limp and lovely form against his chest, they bowed.

Even the children—barefoot and wild-eyed—paused their play and pressed fingers to their lips.

“The claiming begins,” one murmured, not in fear—but in awe.

Inside the lair, it was warm and glowing.

The stone was smooth, the floors laid with dark silks and animal skins. Golden lanterns burned with blue flames. Fragrant smoke drifted from shallow braziers.

At the center of the room, the claiming bed waited.

Carved from obsidian. Framed in silver and bone. Covered in furs and silk.

Three elder women stood in the shadows.

Dressed in black and gold. Silent. Watching.

Vaeroth said nothing.

He brought her to the bed and laid her gently in the center. Her limbs sprawled like a doll’s, her breath soft and uneven. Her head lolled to the side.

She mumbled again—something about fire. About someone’s name.

He brushed her hair back from her face and whispered low, in the old tongue:

“You were promised. Now you are mine.”

The women bowed.

And the door closed behind them.

The chamber pulsed with heat.

Y/N lay on the silken bed, her head sinking into a pillow that smelled of smoke and some rich, spiced resin. Her limbs were too heavy. Her thoughts like smoke curling away before she could hold them.

A low hum filled the room—not music, but chanting, slow and old, the rhythm older than language itself. It came from the walls, the flames, the stone.

A song of binding.

Vaeroth stood before her.

His back to the fire, shadows flickering across skin that shimmered between human and something more.

She blinked—

And his form blurred.

Gold laced through the edges of his body, his bones shifting, reshaping. Runes glowed beneath the surface of his skin. His spine stretched. His shoulders broadened, muscles tightening like a coil drawn to snap.

He was becoming more dragon than man.

Not fully scaled—no. But no longer just a man either.

He looked like something a god would kneel to.

“You are mine,” he whispered. “From blood to breath.”

He climbed over her slowly, deliberately, eyes locked on hers as he loomed above.

One clawed hand—half-transformed—brushed along her thigh, trailing up to the edge of her borrowed dress.

She tried to speak.

“Wait—” she murmured, but it was barely a breath.

He leaned in.

And kissed her.

It wasn’t rough.

It was tender.

Too tender.

Like worship.

Her lips parted.

He tasted like fire and wine and ancient earth. Like something she had never known, but had always been meant for.

Her fingers clutched at the furs beneath her.

His hands found the thin fabric at her waist.

And tore.

The dress fell away like ash in the wind.

She gasped—part fear, part heat rising beneath her ribs. Her head spun.

“I will give you nothing you do not take for yourself,” he whispered against her throat. “But your body already knows mine. Your blood remembers.”

His lips returned to hers—soft, then deeper.

And this time…

She kissed him back.

She didn’t mean to.

Didn’t know why.

But it felt good.

It felt like being cradled by something massive and eternal.

His mouth moved to her shoulder, her collarbone, his voice a spell against her skin.

“I will fill you. Keep you. Break the world to protect you.”

The song swelled in the chamber.

Y/N moaned softly, breath shaky.

Her eyes fluttered shut.

And when they opened again…

She didn’t know what part of her still belonged to herself.

The room pulsed with ancient rhythm.

Not music—heartbeats. Hers and his. The stone's. The fire's. All of it in sync, like the world had been waiting for this exact moment to exhale.

Y/N was no longer sure if she was awake or dreaming.

Vaeroth loomed over her, half-shadow, half-gold, body glowing where old magic coiled beneath his skin. His eyes, molten and steady, pinned her in place.

“You were made for this,” he breathed. “For me.”

His hands—clawed, reverent—slid over her body like he was memorizing something sacred. Her breath caught in her throat, heat rushing to her chest. The silks beneath her rustled as she arched instinctively toward his touch, unsure whether she was yielding or trying to flee.

He leaned down, lips brushing her neck.

His voice was a whisper of smoke.

“You carry the blood of the Flamebound. And now, you will carry mine.”

She gasped.

A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

His mouth met her skin—not with a kiss this time, but a bite.

It wasn’t cruel.

It was a claim.

Sharp teeth pressed into the curve of her neck, not drawing blood but leaving something deeper. Something old. His mark, carved into her body like a forgotten rune.

Her body buckled beneath him.

The fire rose higher.

She moaned softly—wordless, dazed—her back arching as if the flames themselves had slipped under her skin.

Vaeroth’s hand splayed over her stomach.

“Now you are mine,” he said, voice shaking with restraint, reverence, possession.

“Mine to breed. Mine to worship. Mine to burn the stars for.”

She didn’t answer.

Her lips parted, breath trembling, fingers curling in the furs beneath her.

But deep in her chest, she felt something lock into place.

Something that said: yes.

Even if her mind hadn’t caught up yet.

Y/N wasn’t sure when the air changed.

One moment, there was firelight. Heat. His mouth on her neck. The silk bedding rustling beneath her bare skin. Her thoughts floating somewhere between no and need. Her body burning.

And then—

She was no longer Y/N.

She was a vessel.

A flame.

An offering.

Vaeroth loomed above her, his body not entirely human anymore—his skin kissed by bronze scales along his shoulders, glowing marks etched across his ribs and arms like living scripture. His hair fell around her face like ink, and his golden eyes shone with hunger far older than the sky.

“You feel it, don’t you?” he whispered, voice a low growl. “The bond. The fire in your blood answering mine.”

Her lips parted, a half-formed plea caught on her tongue.

He didn’t wait.

Didn’t ask.

He claimed.

Y/N cried out—not in pain, but in shock at the sheer force of it. Like something ancient had ripped into her chest and bloomed there. His heat filled her, spreading through her belly, her spine, her limbs. Her fingers dug into the furs. Her back arched, breath leaving her lungs in shudders.

He moved with terrifying grace—measured, powerful, each motion deeper than the last, not just in flesh but in magic, in will.

And all the while, he whispered.

“You were born for this. To carry my fire.” “Your womb will quicken with my seed.” “You’ll wake every morning knowing you’re mine.” “Even your dreams will burn with me.”

Her hands clutched his arms.

Her body betrayed her.

She moved with him. Matched him.

And when he bit her again—deeper this time, at the juncture of her throat and shoulder—it was as if the stars shattered behind her eyes.

The bond snapped into place.

Her moan became a sob.

And Vaeroth, breathless and wild, let out a sound that was not human—a deep, echoing growl that shook the stones beneath them.

“You are bred,” he whispered. “And the world will never touch you again.”

The fire dimmed.

And the chamber fell silent.

Only their breath remained.

And the mark burned bright on her skin.

Y/N woke to the smell of ash in her throat and tears in her eyes.

Her body ached—not just from motion, but from presence. Like something had filled her too deeply, too completely, and now that it was gone… it left a hollow heat in its place.

She sat up.

Naked.

Alone.

Wrapped in dark silk and the memory of him.

Of whispered words.

Of golden eyes above her.

Of his breath against her ear as he bit into her neck and told her she would never belong to anyone else.

Panic bloomed in her chest.

She stumbled from the bed, dragging the sheets with her, heart pounding, lungs screaming.

Run.

She didn’t know how she found the tunnel—didn’t remember the steps.

All she knew was moonlight. Trees. Dirt beneath her feet.

She ran barefoot through the woods, branches slicing her legs, heart racing until it felt like it would shatter.

PART TWO HERE

[hanafubukki]

The song "Seasons" from Rival and Cadmium came into my playlist some day ago. I like a lot the melody so I listen it for time to time. But it's just now I truly put some attention to the lyrics.

Now this is Lilia theme song for this OT3 ship in my brain. Totally the song that would be play during a timeskip where we see him wait for years, decades and centuries until Y/N return. Seeing seasons pass, Malleus grew up and Draconia family happy, Lilia waiting alone, a few silenced flashback with their time together and all the adventure they lived, Silver awakening, his grow, the NRC start...

And the song ending, the day Y/N return from the past, when Lilia found her, and when she offers him a big bight smile. Even he can't hide his teary eyes under his relieved smile. And then a big hug ! 🥹

- 🦋 Anon

(Fanfic References: Part 1, Part 2 )

[Ask References: Ask 1, Ask 2, Ask 3, Ask 4, Ask 5, Ask 6, Ask7, Ask 8, Ask 9]

Hello 🦋 Anonie,

🦋 Anonie, I am shaking you. I haven't heard this song before and I am so, so in love??? It fits so well that I am internally screaming and crying.

Here's a little drabble/scenario I thought up of 🦋 Anonie:

I can just imagine him waiting as time passes and seasons changes. Thinking back on all the fond memories he has of YN. Thinking of all the precious memories he has made with his family. The spars he would have with Dawny (I need to figure out a name for him lolol, or we could keep calling him that too). He remembers blessing Silver and the time his son came to rescue him from the evil Meleanor.

Then years later, Silver wakes up and time continues to pass. Malleus, Silver, and Sebek is growing and becoming fine young men. He thinks about how you would have loved to see them. How you would have adored seeing Malleus teach the boys magic and helped them with their penmanship.

He thinks about how Dawny would have loved to see Silver turn into such a fine young man. How Silver would have made him a bracelet too. Lilia hopes that he raised Silver into someone you both would be proud of because he especially is.

Soon after, the NRC letters arrive and he remembers what you told him. How you attended NRC and he goes with the boys with the hope in his heart that he would be reunited with you again.

Time continues to pass like all seasons do, and Lilia watches his boys make friends and enjoy life at NRC. He meets you but it's a version of you that doesn't recognize him, Malleus, or Silver.

He remembers what you had told him in the past and knows that this you will soon be his YN in time. That the inquisitive looks you give him will soon be those of the fond and loving ones he remembers.

(I am still thinking about this scenario still and how it would go so it might change later on, since we want to keep canon events in the story if we go the "YN came back in time when she was her original age when she was transported to the past")

He sees you and remembers when he first met you, so so long ago. The connections you made with him and the Knight of Dawn. He remembers the family dinners with the Draconia Family. He remembers when Silver was first born. How painful and yet how sweet these memories are, how loving.

He protects you secretly.

Then one day, you go missing and he can't help but hope. He waits and waits with a racing heart.

And then he sees you, at the cottage you and yours had called home. YN smiles, understanding now what all his looks meant, the love he has secretly tried to hide but always shone through despite his efforts.

Lilia felt tears form and fall, feels the smile he can't hold back anymore. YN rushes to him,

He catches her in a hug, twirls her around and kisses her. Oh love, how he has missed you so.

Both of your laughter echoes in the gentle wind.

Welcome Back, Precious One.

[darkwolf76]

day, roots, bling, and favorite from the character design ask game for Deidre? I need to know more about her style!

Sorry this took me a while! It really is the ADHD in me sometimes that dictates when I get to asks. I start thinking about my answer, get distracted, and boom.

day: What does your OC wear on a normal day? Why do they default to those clothes? Do they wear similar things, or do they change it up?

Deidre wears court appropriate fashions for a girl of her standing when a child and teen, as a lady-in-waiting to the princess. I don't have super specific trends in mind for her, but generally, she wears more fancier, more tailored clothes while at court, and if she's back in the Riverlands or away from court, she wears simpler, sometimes looser gowns. She favors a lot of hand embroidery with weirwood leaves on her dresses while away from the captial. She also doesn't like shoes or stockings and would be barefoot all the time if she could get away with it.

roots: Is your OC's look inspired by any specific style of clothing or fashion trend? What are the roots and/or inspiration for their look?

I didn't base her clothing on any historical or technical trends. I don't get super detailed about clothing in my stories with my writing style. I'd say my biggest inspiration for her looks were her face claims, especially her older one, Anabel Scholey. The outfits she wears for her role in Medici I imagine are more like what Deidre wears at court, while the simpler looks in her role in Britannia are the kind of outfits she wears while at home in the Riverlands. The more Celtic/witchy looks from Britannia are for when Deidre enters her Witch Queen at Harrenhal era, later in the Dance of the Dragons.

bling: What jewelry does your OC wear? Does it have any meaning?

Deidre has plenty of jewelry, like any noble lady of her standing. Earrings, rings, dress belts, bracelets, necklaces, she wears all these types of articles at various times, but more so when she is at court in King's Landing. For her simpler state of dress while at home in the Riverlands, she doesn't wear as many pieces, and they tend to be simpler and nature inspired, particularly evocative of weirwoods and the Gods Eye.

Her jewelery of note, at least so far, is her pair of ghost orchid rings. It's a set of two very simple rings, a silver and a gold band, each set with a singular glass stone with ghost orchid blossoms preserved inside. A rare swamp flower that only grows in the neck, it was her mother Elera Reed's favorite. Lyonel had some brought down to Harrenhal as a wedding gift, and when he found out she was having twins, had some of the blossoms preserved into glass beads that he set into two rings for his wife. After she died in childbirth, the two rings went to her daughters, Dyana and Deidre, and after Dyana's death, her ring went to Deidre as well. Deidre always wears those rings as a reminder of her sister and mother. After certain events, she gives her gold band of the set to Criston Cole, which he wears on a chain around his neck secretly for the rest of his life. She eventually gives her silver band of the set, the one that originally belonged to her sister Dyana, to her daughter Dyana Rivers.

arms (favorite): Does your OC have any weapons? What weapons do they carry, and how do they wear them when they're not fighting?

Deidre is not a warrior herself, but she does carry a knife with her from the time she is a young girl. It was gifted to her by her base born aunt, Alys Rivers, right after her twin sister died. A silver blade with a bronze colored hilt, evocative of the colors of a weirwood, it is inscribed with first men runes and used by Deidre for blood letting whenever she makes a small sacrifice to pray to the Old Gods, usually just a cut on her finger, sometimes more.

[spidermannotes]

Two Massive DC/Marvel Omnibuses Coming this Summer

Covering around 25 years of DC/Marvel crossovers, the two comic book giants are giving fans young and old the chance to appreciate classic characters together in memorable tales.

Press release:

The vast and varied history of DC versus Marvel returns to print for the first time in decades with two massive volumes collecting the universe-bending comic book crossovers between the greatest characters in pop culture! These fantastic stories, originally co-presented by the two powerhouse comic book publishers, have been highly sought after and hard to find for most readers—but they’re making their return in DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus,both publishing on August 6, 2024.

Who would win: Superman versus Spider-Man? Batman versus Captain America? The X-Men meeting the Teen Titans? DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects crossovers between the core DC and Marvel characters, from 1976’s Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man to 2000’s Batman/Daredevil. Included are stories from some of comics’ most revered talents, namely Dennis O’Neil, George Pérez, Dan Jurgens, Chris Claremont, Walter Simonson, J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Bagley, Gerry Conway, John Romita Jr., and more. DC and Marvel fans alike can’t miss these thrilling pieces of unearthed comic book history!

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus features stories, first told in 1996, of the two superhero universes fused together into a new Amalgam Universe, combining DC’s and Marvel’s heroes, villains, and mythologies. The result was a series of unforgettable one-shot comic books starring the likes of Dark Claw (Batman and Wolverine), Super Soldier (Superman and Captain America), Iron Lantern (Iron Man and Green Lantern), and many more! These stories, from creators such as Peter David, Dan Jurgens, Mark Waid, Dave Gibbons, Ron Marz, José Luis García-López, Gary Frank, Bill Sienkiewicz, Claudio Castellini, and more, represent one of the most fun and unlikely periods in comic book history, and now are available in one omnibus. Included in this volume are the historic DC Versus Marvel miniseries and its sequels, perfect for fans of both DC and Marvel!

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects Batman/Captain America #1, Batman/Daredevil #1, Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire #1, Batman/Spider-Man #1, Daredevil/Batman #1, DC Special Series #27, Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger #1, Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1, Incredible Hulk vs. Superman #1, Marvel and DC Present Featuring the Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans #1, Marvel Treasury Edition #28, Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights #1, Silver Surfer/Superman #1, Spider-Man and Batman #1, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man #1, and Superman/Fantastic Four #1.

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus collects DC Versus Marvel #1-4, DC/Marvel: All Access #1-4, Unlimited Access #1-4, Bat-Thing #1, Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Bullets and Bracelets #1, Challengers of the Fantastic #1, Doctor Strangefate #1, Iron Lantern #1, Legends of the Dark Claw #1, Lobo the Duck #1, Speed Demon #1, Spider-Boy #1, Super Soldier #1, Thorion of the New Asgods #1, X-Patrol #1, and more, plus a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes material.

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus (9781779523259) and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus (9781779523266) will both be published on August 6. The two volumes will each have a direct-market-exclusive cover available only in local comic book shops, while supplies last.

[batmannotes]

Two Massive DC/Marvel Omnibuses Coming this Summer

Covering around 25 years of DC/Marvel crossovers, the two comic book giants are giving fans young and old the chance to appreciate classic characters together in memorable tales.

Here is the official press release:

The vast and varied history of DC versus Marvel returns to print for the first time in decades with two massive volumes collecting the universe-bending comic book crossovers between the greatest characters in pop culture! These fantastic stories, originally co-presented by the two powerhouse comic book publishers, have been highly sought after and hard to find for most readers—but they’re making their return in DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus,both publishing on August 6, 2024.

Who would win: Superman versus Spider-Man? Batman versus Captain America? The X-Men meeting the Teen Titans? DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects crossovers between the core DC and Marvel characters, from 1976’s Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man to 2000’s Batman/Daredevil. Included are stories from some of comics’ most revered talents, namely Dennis O’Neil, George Pérez, Dan Jurgens, Chris Claremont, Walter Simonson, J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Bagley, Gerry Conway, John Romita Jr., and more. DC and Marvel fans alike can’t miss these thrilling pieces of unearthed comic book history!

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus features stories, first told in 1996, of the two superhero universes fused together into a new Amalgam Universe, combining DC’s and Marvel’s heroes, villains, and mythologies. The result was a series of unforgettable one-shot comic books starring the likes of Dark Claw (Batman and Wolverine), Super Soldier (Superman and Captain America), Iron Lantern (Iron Man and Green Lantern), and many more! These stories, from creators such as Peter David, Dan Jurgens, Mark Waid, Dave Gibbons, Ron Marz, José Luis García-López, Gary Frank, Bill Sienkiewicz, Claudio Castellini, and more, represent one of the most fun and unlikely periods in comic book history, and now are available in one omnibus. Included in this volume are the historic DC Versus Marvel miniseries and its sequels, perfect for fans of both DC and Marvel!

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects Batman/Captain America #1, Batman/Daredevil #1, Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire #1, Batman/Spider-Man #1, Daredevil/Batman #1, DC Special Series #27, Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger #1, Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1, Incredible Hulk vs. Superman #1, Marvel and DC Present Featuring the Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans #1, Marvel Treasury Edition #28, Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights #1, Silver Surfer/Superman #1, Spider-Man and Batman #1, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man #1, and Superman/Fantastic Four #1.

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus collects DC Versus Marvel #1-4, DC/Marvel: All Access #1-4, Unlimited Access #1-4, Bat-Thing #1, Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Bullets and Bracelets #1, Challengers of the Fantastic #1, Doctor Strangefate #1, Iron Lantern #1, Legends of the Dark Claw #1, Lobo the Duck #1, Speed Demon #1, Spider-Boy #1, Super Soldier #1, Thorion of the New Asgods #1, X-Patrol #1, and more, plus a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes material.

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus (9781779523259) and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus (9781779523266) will both be published on August 6. The two volumes will each have a direct-market-exclusive cover available only in local comic book shops, while supplies last.

[manic-maniac-man]

HUgE May 2010

For the rebel

The clothes worn by countless delinquents always harbor a rebellious spirit that attracts men. A killer item for REBEL that projects a clumsy, rugged and straightforward way of life.

Features crossbones and cross arrows on the arms and western embroidery on the pockets. Reversible design with original border pattern on the reverse side. ¥49,875 (SASQUATCHfabrix. for stage FUJII DAIMARU)

PANAMAHAT

Summer hats for a rude boy summer look

Maison Martin Margiela

The hat series is now available for the first time for men. The unique design of the Panama hat brim is made of cotton. Hats off to the maison's unwavering and unique approach. ¥24,150 (Kokonoe)

Racal

This hat is made from genuine Panama from Ecuador, and has a short prim with piping for a rude look. The ribbon is subtly accented with a Last Lion pin. ¥18,900 (Ray's Store)

Yohji Yamamoto

This Panama hat is woven from campi grass and has a cool, light finish. The suede cord gives it a sophisticated, dandy look. ¥36,750 (Yohji Yamamoto Information Desk)

BORDER KNIT

Check out the grunge-inspired summer knitwear

ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

A linen knit with borders created using yarns of different thicknesses.

The delicate look is appealing, but the key to wearing it is to be bold.

Wear it so much that the threads come undone

One of the joys of it is giving it a grunge look yourself.

Other colors available are black and peach. ¥75,600 (Orizzonti)

Jam home made

This bracelet with skull beads on the accents is a limited edition model at the Umeda Hankyu store. The central belt is removable, making it a simpler bracelet. ¥36,750 (JAM HOME MADE Umeda Hankyu store)

Foot the coacher

The random arrangement of pyramid-shaped and elongated original studs is a distinctive feature. Cordovan and calfskin are glued together on one piece of leather, and a sophisticated finish is applied so that the border between the leather is not visible. ¥31,500 (GALLERY OF AUTHENTIC)

Bedwin

This bracelet is made of high-quality cowhide and is both rugged and sophisticated. It is also available in brown. ¥30,450 (Beauty & Youth United Arrows Shibuya Koen-dori Store)

Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci

A large star with studs scattered around it. These are the motifs that symbolize this season's collection. The pop design is not too hard and is just right. ¥44,100 (Third Culture)

TEARDROP GLASSES

A classic in wild eyewear

RAF Simons by Linda Farrow

The screws that hold the nose pads and temples are attached directly to the lenses, and the frame is stripped down to the bare minimum, creating a teardrop-shaped frame. This is the perfect example of Raf Simons' signature minimalist design. ¥39,900 (Reference price/Diptrics)

Yves Saint Laurent

Teardrop design with brand logo and silver stripes on temples. The rounded and elegant shape gives a chic impression. ¥36,750 (Gucci Group Japan Yves Saint Laurent Division)

TOM Ford

The two-bridge design is made of cell and metal, giving it a sharp look. The classic vintage shape expresses the masculinity that is characteristic of Tom Ford. ¥36,750 (Tom Ford Eyewear)

CROSSNECKLACE

A powerful collaboration that stirs the soul

CHROME HEARTS

This series is inspired by Robert Mapplethorpe, a photographer whose work and life were both REBEL.

The gorgeous design, with its cross motif lavishly set with diamonds, is nothing less than a homage to an artist whose brilliance continues to this day.

Head ¥2,310,000, Chain ¥73,500 (Chrome Hearts Tokyo)

EXTREME RIDER'S JACKET

A rider's jacket that pursues a more rugged look

Wolf's head × Blackflag

The collaboration between Wolf's Head and Blackflag is a one-of-a-kind remake of vintage items from the British brand MASCOT. The riders have been given a new life with studs hammered in by Mikita, giving them a one-of-a-kind presence. Price TBA (Blackflag)

Blackmeans × Labrat

The double name "Blackmeans" features a hard design with plenty of studs on the small-zip riders that were popular in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. It is further treated with a used finish to give it a more complete look. ¥147,000 (LABORATORY/BERBERJIN®)

[srishunmugamjewelry]

Best Jewellery Collection in Thisayanvilai – Visit Us

Jewelry forms part of the life we cherish daily, through marriages, and that we guard as a heritage within our family. So when you are searching out there for the best jewelry shop in Thisayanvilai, you deserve to get something that just reeks of beautiful designs, authentic quality, and good customer service. Let's peep into what makes a jewelry shop tick and find out how to find the perfect one for your requirements.

Why Choose a Renowned Jewelry Store in Thisayanvilai?

Purchasing jewelry is an investment, and selecting a known jeweler ensures that you obtain genuine gold, silver, and diamond jewelry at true prices. A good store ensures purity, offers certifications, and presents a wide range of traditional as well as modern designs for every occasion.

What Should I Look for in a Jewelry Store?

Before you buy, look for these important criteria: 1. Purity and Authenticity—They will assure you of BIS hallmark gold, certified diamonds, and pure silver authenticity.

2. Design Range—The best jewelry shop in Thisayanvilai ensures a variety of traditional temple jewelry, trendy modern designs, and customized designs.

3. Pricing and Transparency—A good jeweler will give the transparent prices without charging any extra hidden charges, and he must also follow a fair exchange and buyback policy.

4. Customer Service—A shop that cares for its customers would offer you kind service, a clear bill, and a return facility easily if required.

5. Customization Services—Many top jewelry stores offer you the facilities of custom-made jewelry so that you can design whatever you think you would like to wear. Popular Jewelry Styles for Every Activity Wedding Jewelry: Grandly designed neckpieces, bangles, and Padas for Bride Daily Jewelry: Featherweight chains, rings, and jewelry pieces for everyday use. Party Wear Collections—According to festival and occasion celebrations Men's jewelry—stylish gold and silver bracelets. Rings and Chains.

What makes Local Thisayanvilai Jewellery Outlets Unique.

Unlike these major commercial jewelry brands, local jewelry shops in Thisayanvilai are more of customized service and cost, having a better understanding regarding traditional needs, craftsmanship, designing originality, and having trust within the relation concerning purchasing in the future.

Conclusion

Finding the best jewelry shop in Thisayanvilai means selecting a jeweler who cares for purity, design, and customer satisfaction. Be it a wedding collection or simple daily wear, you get the best quality and service with a local jeweler. Add timeless elegance to your collection today by visiting the best jewelry shops in Thisayanvilai!

[carl1ghts]

1, 42, 47, 87!!! <33

Ahhh hello my baby!!

1. whats your favorite thing in your room?

My record player + my records!! I'd actually start throwing shit at the wall like a monkey if someone attempted to steal them, and it's likely the first thing I'd attempt to save in a fire. I have an original queen vinyl that my grandmother got at a queen concert back in the 80's so that shits going to the grave with me. Along with my 75' records obvs :3

42. whats one thing you wanna do but havent yet?

This was a tough one but honestly I'd go with travelling!! I've never actually left the UK fully (other than Scotland and Wales the odd time) and it's my dream!! Hopefully it's in the cards for this year!!

47. whats your favorite time of day

Night <3 I adore how quiet it is in those very early hours of the morning, and if I wasn't a woman who dresses like the human embodiment of pink, I'd love to go on some night walks with my camera but alas men exist.

87. do you wear any jewelry?

Yes I do!! I wear two rings, one being a heart with an angel inside that I found on the floor in Liverpool lol and the other being a slim silver band. Along with the rings I wear a lil stack of bracelets, just ones I've collected over the years that mean the most to me. I'm a silver girl through and through!!!

[catt-nuevenor]

hi, sorry if this have been asked before, but do you have any refs/inspos of clothes that the characters use/is time/region appropriated for myrk mire?

(also, sorry if this question is confusing - english is not my first language :") )

Hi,

Your English is very good!

Clothing, this has proven a topic of flux in the development of the story. I'll include the original answers I gave concerning clothing style below, but I think it's about time I updated this for you all, as things have changed...

Original answers and historical resources concerning clothing:

Historical costume

Source Material 1

Where the world is currently:

I use a little source document to keep track of clothing, so for the most part I'll be copy pasting the text from that into the post. It's quite cliff notes style, but it gets the important information across and the reasons for various stylistic choices.

Quick terms breakdown for those not 100% up to date with the wider lore around the story.

The Four Shores is a collection of four realms containing Diota, Eard, Jǫkull, and Þinda, located on a collection of islands widely considered north of pretty much everything else. Eard is the realm in which the story of Myrk Mire and TBT takes place.

A Wealdend is a leader within the rulership structures used in the Four Shores, a male wealdend is called a Cyning, a female a Cwén, and nonbinary individuals use the Wealdend title itself.

The Riverlands is a separate region on the Southern Continent, with little to no political, social, or cultural ties to the Four Shores.

Falatu is another island in the north, but not a member of the Four Shores. They have sympathetic political and cultural systems, but maintain their own very separate identity in comparison to their unified neighbours.

The Eahtung is a ruling collective of skilled individuals who work alongside the Wealdend. More information than this would open up a deep rabbit hole...

"Warmth is everything to the Four Shores, so layers are favoured.

Rather than high necklines, shawls are favoured, these decorated with swirling patterns.

Lacking a clearly defined nobility, showing evidence of one’s craft or skill is favoured higher than material expense. A metal smith would display their skill by wearing more metal upon their outfit, a weaver a more elaborate hemming, a woodworker finely carved beads.

Amber is the sole reserve of the Wealdend, and should not be worn by anyone else.

All have their ears pierced, women both ears, men just one, others may choose. Rings are worn here, usually made of silver or gold, often times studded with gems.

Everyone wears stringed beads about their necks. These beads can be ceramic, wooden, bone, metal, or stone.

There is no shame in underdresses or tunics being shown.

Women wear linen underdresses, typically white, with woollen overdresses secured at the shoulders with preónas or brooches and lacing at the sides. The lacing only extends as far at the hips, and the overdress is either slit long these lines without further lacing, or it is one unified flair of fabric.

Men wear mid-thigh length linen undershirts with woollen overshirts that are slightly shorter. In colder months this is supplemented by a wraparound jacket secured by belts or ties. Men also wear trousers of ankle length similar to the Riverlands, but these are secured by fur, or cloth wraps up to the mid-calf.

Everyone wears calf height boots. In the winter months these are fur lined.

 Everyone wears belts.

Hair is traditionally worn long by all genders, and is braided back from the face and tied in horse tails or buns at the back of the head.

Hoods and hats are used out of doors in colder seasons, but it is seen as rude to continue to wear these coverings indoors as it implies that the host does not keep their home warm enough to be comfortable.

The finest of outfits are hemmed with embroidered banding, these vary from simplistic geometric patterns, to full scenes of foliage or animals.

Bracelets are seldom worn, favoured more by the peoples from Falatu, and rings are only really worn as a symbol of office, guild status, or position as Wealdend. The Tug Stone rings are the sole use of the Wealdend, Eahtung and the respective heads of each province.

The ruling families align themselves to animals incorporating them into their surnames, once picked, they cannot wear anything taken from that animal. Otherwise furs are used to line apparel for warmth.

Cloaks are not worn indoors for similar reasons to hats, but out of doors are acceptable, they range from calf-length to lower-hip length."

As for visual aids, I'm a bit lacking in those right now.

Basic rules:

Warmth and practicality are key.

Linen underclothes, woollen overclothes.

Head coverings for outdoor use.

Ear piercings for everyone.

Belts are the toolkit for all and hold pouches and exterior pockets.

I can do a bit of visualisation for weapons, though (surprising no one). The Four Shores use two main forms of bladed arms, the sæx, and the méce.

A sæx in this context is a short, single edged blade with a tapered point.

Image of the Seax of Beagnoth currently held at the British Museum. Image attributed to Wikipedia contributor BabelStone.

A Méce is a long single edged blade with a slightly curving profile. Wielded one-handed or two-handed, it favours a cutting sweep rather than a thrust approach. If you fancy seeing two chaps demonstrate the historical weapon that inspired this, the messer, I highly recommend this video:

The first section though, they later switch to different weapons.

Most important features to look at are the pin crossguard that sits at angle to the blade, how the single edge is used to advantage in the application of force, and the length of the hilt to suit the single versus two-handed approach to wielding it.

Anyway, that's enough to be chewing over, I think.

I'll keep an eye out for visual sources on dress and clothing, so folks have a clearer idea on all that.

[silverarejewellery]

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[fancyfade]

Comparisons of the origin of Themyscira/Paradise Island

I do not claim this to be a comprehensive guide, these are just focusing on the origins I have read recently and am most familiar with. Comparison of Golden age (All Star Comics #8 and Wonder Woman vol 1#1) tellings, silver age telling (wonder woman vol1 #105), and New Earth telling (Wonder Woman vol2 #1)

All Star Comics and Wonder Woman vol1 #1 are pretty similar. the main difference is Wonder Woman #1 goes into more detail, and in All Star Comics, men are not explicitly forbidden from entering the amazonian city.*

Here you can see in All Star #8, they take him to a hospital in the city.

After that, we have some basics that are established:

Amazonia is the most powerful nation in ancient Greece and women rule.

Heracles sees this as a challenge and tries to conquer them. HIppolyte challenges him to single combat b/c she knows she is undefeatable due to her magic girdle that Aphrodite gave her.

Heracles tricks Hippolyte out of her girdle after being defeated - but we don't see how. Then, the Amazons are enslaved by Heracles' men and Aphrodite does not help, because she is mad at HIppolyte for "having succumbed to the wiles of men".

Eventually, Aphrodite agrees to help and they overthrow the men, take their fleet, and leave for another shore because Aphrodite wants them to establish a new world of their own and always wear the bracelets fashioned by their captors as a reminder to keep aloof from omen.

Okay, next origin. most of the details will be the same, because it's the same author, just more in detail

This builds on. We get why Amazons were created:

Aphrodite and Ares were at war. Ares has his men who kill weaker men and keep women in slavery, Aphrodite makes the Amazons to be stronger than men and have the power of love. She gives her magic girdle to their queen so they will be unconquerable.

Ares has Heracles go after the amazons and heracles challenges the queen to personal combat. she defeats him and says she will spare his life if he promises to leave and he invites them to a banquet in friendship. After the banquet, he asks Hippolyte to hold her girdle and she says she knows she shouldn't but she can't resist him, and he and his men capture the Amazons.

in this one, Aphrodite comes to Hippolyte the first time she pleads to her, but says she must wear the wrist bands always to teach her the folly of submitting to men's domination.

the silver age comic, Wonder Woman #105, is super weird. It starts with Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes (Mercury), and Heracles visiting baby Diana and giving her powers.

We don't get a ton of explanation but it seems as if the Amazons were just like any other Greek nation and then all the men died?

Anyway, because of this they decide to start building a stout ship that will take them away from terrible wars. they sail around a bunch and young diana uses her powers to save people from disaster, then when getting to Paradise Island they sail through the mists of eternal youth, which Athena tells them will keep them young provided they never leave Pardise Island.

It does not fit well with Golden age or New Earth telling

OK so New Earth telling, Wonder Woman #1 (vol 2).

It starts with Ares and Artemis each proposing ways to make man worship the Greek gods. Ares says through force, Artemis proposes making a new race of mortals, the Amazons, brave, strong, compassionate, to show men and women their place with each other.

The characters involved in the creation of the amazons are: demeter, artemis, athena, aprhodite, hestia, and hermes. they reincarnate the souls of women whose lives were cut short by man's fear and ignorance to create the amazons

artemis tells them their job is to lead humanity, and athena grants them wisdom, she grants them skill in the hunt, demeter makes their fields always fruitful, hestia builds them a city, and aphrodite grants them love. she gives them both gaea's girdle (so there are two copies) which represent the trust the goddesses place in them

man fears the amazons, because they do not control them.

Ares manipulates Heracles into going after the Amazons by offending his ego. Heracles and Hippoltye fight after Hippolyte tries to give Heracles the opportunity to embrace peace, he refuses and gets his ass kicked, she tells him to surrender or die and he pretends to be won over. he and his men trick the amazons and drug them and capture them.

Athena shows up to Hippolyte to say she has failed herself by withdrawing from mankind rather than leading it. Hippolyte says she wants bloody vengeance on Heracles, Athena says not to take vengeance and to cleanse her soul and rededicate herself to "that which gaea gave you" and then she will be free. Hippolyte leads teh amazons against Heracles' men and they kill them all. Hippolyte says no more vengeance after this, Athena has a ship for them to leave on, Antiope, her sister, says she takes nothing from the gods.

The amazons are tasked with guarding the unspeakable evil that lies beneath themyscira due to having forgotten their purpose, and they have to wear the symbols of their bondage as a sign never to err again. the amazons are told to let no mortal man trespass on themyscira.

Anyway, both WW vol 1 #1 and WW vol 2 #1 had the theme of Ares vs one of the goddesses of the Amazons, but it changed which goddess it was. the silver age is the odd one out in the basic set up, but the new earth one is the odd one out in that themyscira has some element of punishment for the amazons.

*even in WW#1, Men are not forbidden from setting foot on Paradise Island and it's not like anything bad happens if they do.

[arisaasblog]

Top 10 Must-Have Pieces in Your Western Jewelry Collection

western jewelry is more than just an accessory; it's a celebration of culture, tradition, and style. With its rich history and distinctive designs, western jewelry has a timeless appeal that draws enthusiasts from all walks of life. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just beginning your journey, certain pieces are essential for building a versatile and stylish collection. Here are the top 10 must-have pieces for any western jewelry lover.

Turquoise Ring: The Iconic Statement PieceNo western jewelry collection is complete without a turquoise ring. Known for its vibrant blue-green hues, turquoise has been a cornerstone of western jewelry for centuries. Whether set in silver or gold, a turquoise ring is a statement piece that adds a pop of color to any outfit. Why You Need It: Turquoise rings are not only visually striking but also carry a deep cultural significance, often symbolizing protection and good fortune. Their timeless beauty ensures they remain a focal point in any collection.

Silver Cuff Bracelet: The Ultimate Accessory A wide silver cuff bracelet is a staple in western jewelry, often featuring intricate engravings or inlaid stones like turquoise or coral. These bold pieces are perfect for adding a touch of western flair to both casual and formal outfits. Why You Need It: Silver cuff bracelets are versatile and durable, making them ideal for daily wear. Their bold design makes them a perfect statement piece, whether worn alone or stacked with other bracelets.

Concho Belt: A Stylish Essential Concho belts, made of leather and adorned with large, decorative silver or turquoise conchos, are a classic western accessory. They can be worn around the waist or hips, instantly elevating any outfit with their unique style. Why You Need It: Concho belts are highly versatile and can be paired with anything from jeans to dresses. Their distinctive design makes them a must-have for anyone looking to add authentic western style to their wardrobe.

Bolo Tie: The Versatile Western Necktie The bolo tie, a signature of western fashion, is a braided cord with an ornamental clasp, often featuring silver or gemstones like turquoise. Originally worn by cowboys, the bolo tie has become a fashionable accessory for both men and women. Why You Need It: Bolo ties offer a unique way to incorporate western style into your wardrobe. They can be worn casually or dressed up, making them a versatile addition to your collection.

Squash Blossom Necklace: A Symbol of Tradition The squash blossom necklace is one of the most recognizable pieces of Native American jewelry. Made with sterling silver and turquoise, these necklaces feature a naja pendant and a series of "blossoms" that give them their name. Why You Need It: Squash blossom necklaces are deeply rooted in Native American culture and craftsmanship. Owning one is not just about style; it's about preserving a piece of history.

Navajo Pearls: Elegant and EnduringNavajo pearls, also known as desert pearls, are handcrafted sterling silver beads strung together to create beautiful necklaces or earrings. These beads are often oxidized to create a vintage look, making them a timeless addition to any jewelry collection. Why You Need It: Navajo pearls are versatile enough to be worn daily or saved for special occasions. Their understated elegance ensures they complement any outfit, from western wear to modern fashion.

Western-Style Earrings: Subtle Yet Striking Western-style earrings, whether they feature turquoise, feathers, or silver, are essential for completing any western-inspired look. From studs to dangly designs, these earrings add a touch of western charm to your style. Why You Need It: Western earrings are a subtle way to incorporate western elements into your wardrobe. They are perfect for everyday wear and can easily transition from day to night.

Leather and Silver Bracelet: Rugged and StylishLeather and silver bracelets combine the ruggedness of leather with the elegance of silver, creating a piece that is both stylish and durable. These bracelets often feature braided leather with silver accents or charms, making them a popular choice among western jewelry enthusiasts.Why You Need It: Leather and silver bracelets are perfect for layering with other pieces or wearing alone for a minimalist look. Their durability and style make them a staple in any collection.

Turquoise Pendant Necklace: A Versatile PieceA turquoise pendant necklace is a versatile addition to any western jewelry collection. Whether set in silver or gold, these necklaces can be worn alone as a statement piece or layered with other necklaces for a more dramatic effect.Why You Need It: Turquoise pendant necklaces are incredibly versatile, making them perfect for any occasion. Their vibrant color and classic design ensure they remain a favorite in your collection.

Inlay Work Jewelry: A Showcase of ArtistryInlay work, where different stones or materials are set into the surface of a piece of jewelry, is a hallmark of southwestern craftsmanship. Whether it's a ring, bracelet, or pendant, inlay work jewelry is a stunning display of artistry.Why You Need It: Inlay work jewelry is unique and often features intricate designs that make each piece one-of-a-kind. Owning a piece of inlay work is like owning a miniature work of art, adding a special touch to your collection.

Conclusion: Build Your Western Jewelry Collection with These EssentialsThese top 10 must-have pieces represent the best of western jewelry, combining style, tradition, and craftsmanship. Whether you're starting your collection or looking to add to it, these timeless pieces are sure to stand the test of time. Embrace the beauty and history of western jewelry, and enjoy the lasting style it brings to your wardrobe.

[writingfolk]

ROYGIBV Tag

I wasn't tagged in this but @grell-writes-stuff did it and I need to get back into writing so this made me review some pieces and oh boy do I need to edit some [all] of these.

Red

The lake’s shore was equal parts bodies and rocks. Shallow water turning red as blood seeped into its depths. 

Orange

“Of course,” Brandon promised. 

Alex wasn’t sure if Brandon knew what promise he was claiming, if he was too preoccupied watching Alex’s fingers to care about what was being said. His mind was elsewhere, much like his own, fixated on Brandon’s singular earring that had a hard time keeping a consistent colour in the sun. 

. . .

The simple stud first appeared to be blue, but Alex was sure that it had originally been orange that morning. “The same one as usual.” Alex took off his glasses to clean the lenses on his shirt.

Yellow

He didn’t know how he ended up curled in his bed, on top of his duvet, with a soft yellow blanket that he picked up his first year of University, wrapped around his shoulders, nor did he know how long it had been since the phone call with his sister.

Green

Isaac reemerged with a simple silver bracelet with various sizes of green gems engraved in its side.

Blue

“My men are my responsibility. Their lives are mine to share on the battle field.”

The fire between them burned blue.

Indigo

Purple

His jacket was opened, revealing a purple t-shirt underneath that she had gotten him for his birthday two years ago, tucked into the belt of his trousers. The purple colour was fading, it was now a soft lilac that reminded Clara of the garden back home

White

Walking into the apartment, Amelia stood next to a wooden island that was splintering at the legs, and looked around in surprise. The apartment was not at all what she was expecting. It was white. Almost too white for the crumbling building exterior that it resided in.

Black

Wayne’s wooden desk, littered with pencils and books she never saw him read, shone black under the window

Grey

 Long thick strands of grey, greased hair hung limply behind her thighs. The entrails were knotted and oiled, as if she never had enough strength to fully complete her daily grooming. 

Brown

Alex paused. Marc watched a small brown spider climb down from a crack in the wall above Alex’s head.

[hphmmatthewluther]

Back By Midnight: Operation BULLSEYE - Part 4/4:

Previous chapters can be found here, here, and here!

It's here at last! The final chapter of this OPERATION is here! Writing this has been an amazing process over the last nine months and I'm so happy that so many people have enjoyed the spy au as much as I have!

Also, this story features characters from @akaisenhatake and @camillejeaneshphm!!

Taglist of peeps who might be interested (lemme know if you want to be added or removed!): @akaisenhatake​ @camillejeaneshphm​ @catohphm​ @fangirl-screaming​ @rosachaotic​ @ag907​ @nikyiscreepy​ @oseathepebble​

One other thing to note! From here on out, this story is going to be an original story, meaning the names of many characters have been changed. I'll be putting out a guide soon, but for now I hope you're able to figure out who's who!

Every few seconds, the wind whistled through the several bullet holes that were now scattered across the windows of the 28th floor of the building.A woman’s finger traced across one of them, the one closest to the lift. From there, she could see the position where the bullet had come from on the building opposite, as well as the flashing lights from the half a dozen police cars that had been summoned to the scene. She stepped away from the window, and over the dead body that was still lying there, blood soaking into the waxed floor. For a moment, she lingered, looking over the body and at the lift shaft, the doors having only now been fully deactivated. 

Then, for a split second, she saw it there. The memory of a pale hand which had flashed the V sign at her, before clanging against the lift as it disappeared. She scowled at the memory, before only then realising what had caused the clang: a silver bracelet-looking thing on the person’s wrist. It could have been a watch, but she would have seen that from the position the hand was in. Her scowl softened for a moment. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

“Meredith!” came another woman’s voice from the open door. “In here, if you would.”

At once, Meredith Sharrow started down the corridor, as two people in forensic suits walked the other way towards the corpse. Before she went inside the room, she tried to get her face into a neutral expression, dusting down her black jacket and skirt and tidying her brown and orange hair, as well as getting any sleep out of her eyes, trying not to nudge her pink contacts. It was, after all, early in the morning by now. She came into the room, wondering why whoever this was couldn’t have broken into their London headquarters at a more reasonable time. But she couldn’t think about silly complaints like that right now. Not considering who had called her in.

Meredith stepped through into the room, just as sleek and modernist as the rest of the building, and was greeted by a woman in her early forties with long orange hair, and a long red overcoat. There was also a large sniper rifle in her right hand, which she promptly put down. Meredith nodded to her, hoping it didn’t look like too much of a bow. “...High Priestess.”

“Oh please, “Miss Warwick” will do just fine, Miss Sharrow.” Pamela Warwick closed the door behind her and gestured to the room. Just as there was in the corridor, several bullet holes were present in the glass. Others were in the room too; someone taking inventory of the items in the room, two men examining what looked like a small silver cuboid, and a police officer trying to talk to a blonde man shivering in a seat, his legs bouncing up and down.

“...Miss Warwick.” Meredith began, “Is this the Fool who was in the room with the intruder?”

“Indeed he was.” Warwick sighed, “The whole experience seems to have been a little too much for him.” her eyes darted to the side for a moment before continuing. “But he’s the only lead we’ve got, or more accurately, the only lead we have before Mr Wakabayashi shows up. He’s due back here in just a few minutes…though he will have to take the stairs.”

Meredith understood what Warwick was asking of her. Nodding once more, she made her way over to the police officer, who unlike this witness, was clearly no fool. She nodded to him and he returned the gesture, before making his way out of the room. The blonde mouse-faced man looked up at her. Meredith looked back down, and tried not to laugh.

“So…seems you’ve been through the wringer tonight, Mr…” she began taking a clipboard and pen in her hands, before looking to him for an answer. He looked up at her, his lip quivering. “Mr…” she repeated, tapping the pen against the plastic of the clipboard. That always hurried people up.

“I-I’m…I’m, b-, um…Benedict. Benedict Godwinson…i-it says over…” he pointed to the sign on his desk, which sure enough, had his name on it. Meredith scowled. How on earth had she missed that? She’d lost valuable seconds over this!

“Right, right…” she sighed, “now, getting to what you saw. Why did you let the intruder take the device?”

His eyes widened in fear. “I-I didn’t know! H-He said he was part of the IT Team, a-and Mr Wakabayashi wanted him to do some work on the device!”

Meredith rolled her eyes, overhearing that the man in question had arrived and was going up the stairs at this very moment. “Fine, fine…what gave him away? When did you realise he wasn’t who he said he was?”

“W-When the guard started banging on the door…h-he said he’d get us both…a-and I didn’t know what to do, but then…the intruder told me, he said to not worry and that it’d be ok.”

Meredith took a mental note of that, if not writing it out fully. Benedict made him sound like some kind of Gentleman Thief. She didn’t expect someone like that to actually exist. Looking down at the notes the police officer had taken, she saw a circled in bullet point that read “CAN NOT REMEMBER PHYSICAL APPEARANCE - PANIC?”. That didn’t help, but at least she knew not to ask. Suddenly, she heard footsteps growing louder and louder. “...Is there anything else you can remember? Anything at all?!”

Benedict shuddered as she asked the question, blinking rapidly. “I…I…I dunno, it was all so loud and disorienting with the bullets and the flashes, but…I do remember…he put his hand to his ear a lot of times.”

Bingo. One of the oldest mistakes in the book. It reminded Meredith of one of the Bond films, where someone Bond was working with gave themselves away by constantly pressing his earpiece. On a subconscious level, she’d already attached the word “spy” to whoever this intruder was. “...Very well. Thank you for your time…I imagine you’ll get some paid leave or something.” she said, smirking, before walking away and handing the clipboard to Warwick.

“Our intruder was cordial to a fault, able to get up here without anyone noticing, and had an earpiece. Which means this wasn’t a simple burglary.” Meredith reported, returning to her neutral expression once more.

Warwick took the clipboard and examined it, before stashing it away in her bag. “I assumed as much from where I was positioned, but it’s good to have proof. Well done.” she said, as the footsteps grew louder still. “Here he comes…keep an eye on the person with him. Looks to be a Chariot.”

Walking down the corridor (Meredith saw that the body had been marked out and moved) came Ryuji Wakabayashi, who’d for some reason not changed out of his white suit he’d been wearing when he left the building. Alongside him was a woman who looked similar to Warwick from afar, with the long ginger hair, but was younger, only about Ryuji’s age. Meredith bit her lip when she saw how the trip up the stairs had tired the man. It made rushing to interrogate that mouse-faced man well worth it.

“High Priestess,” he said, nodding. “...Meredith.”

“Ryuji.” Meredith said curtly, gesturing to Benedict. “Might want to hold off on the ranks for just a moment, though.”

Ryuji craned his neck into the room, seeing Benedict still sitting there. “Oh, that fool…” he muttered, before clearing his throat. “Godwinson, you can go now, thank you.”

Benedict shot up, nodding, before leaving. “Th-thank you, Mr Wakabayashi, I-I’ll be off…” he whimpered, heading out, realising the lift was out, and rushing down the stairs.

Pamela cleared her throat. “Now we’re all here, we can get down to business.” She led them all into the room. Meredith watched as Ryuji frowned at the bullet holes and the missing ID machine. “...To start with, I can’t be the only one who thinks this was connected to what we all bar this Chariot here did yesterday.”

Ryuji wore an unmoving frown. “Why? We’ve done this dozens of times now, and we made sure to purge any data MI6 might have got, just like we always do.” he pointed out. “What’s so different this time?” he clicked his tongue as he wandered around the room. “And it was only the machine that was taken?”

Meredith nodded. “Correct. The intruder came here looking for the machine specifically, it would seem.”

The Chariot cleared her throat. “What’s more, there was a breach of the building’s mainframe at the same time as the intruder was in the building. All footage and data from that time is corrupted.” she reported.

“Thank you, Miss Campbell.” Ryuji said through gritted teeth. “This is all irrelevant, however, in the wake of the fact that this intruder succeeded. The fact that the only resistance they met along the way was one Minor Arcana. Well, and you, High Priestess.”

“That was only by chance.” Warwick pointed out. “There wasn’t much I could do considering I was shooting across a road at someone I couldn’t fully see. Believe me when I say you do not want to play the blame game with me. Especially not when we have a perfectly good deceased person to place the blame on.”

“Someone you shot.” Ryuji retorted. “But I suppose you’re right. You know that…he…doesn’t like infighting.”

“If that’s the case, he doesn’t like most people in Reflection.” Meredith muttered, causing Warwick to chuckle.

“Very witty, Miss Sharrow. A little surprising too, seeing as-” she looked like she was about to say something more, but each of them felt their phones buzz. They all took them out, and Meredith knew that each one had received the same message:

You are summoned to the Tower. Please arrive promptly. A meeting of the Senior Ranks will be held in response to recent developments with Operation TEMPERANCE.

Ryuji kept his face still. “Like we said, blame the corpse. Come along, we’ll take my jet.” He said, beckoning Miss Campbell and turning to leave. Before he went down the corridor, however, he turned to Warwick and Meredith. “Well? Coming?”

The two still in the room looked at each other before looking at Ryuji. “Really? In all the time I’ve known you, you’ve never invited us to fly with you.” Meredith observed. “What gives?”

“What gives is that the High Priestess and I have to work out a convincing story to tell at this meeting, and you’ll need to be there too in case anybody asks you.” Ryuji explained. 

Pamela sighed, before relenting and walking out the door. Ryuji turned to Meredith once more. “Come on. I don’t want to have to pull rank on you.”

“Bull.” Meredith hissed under her breath, grabbing Warwick’s sniper rifle and bag for her, making sure that the clipboard was still inside. As she left, she took one last look at the room, visualising the thief walking in, grabbing the device, knowing there was a chip to remove, ducking down, blinding the guard, escaping down the corridor. Another word for the intruder was very quickly replacing the word “thief” in her head. Apart from the word “arsehole”, that is.

***

For Meredith, the time between leaving the room and boarding the jet felt like nothing. Before she knew it, they had taken off from London City Airport (the area for private jets, not the bit everyone else went through). At least the jet lag wouldn’t be too bad when they landed; they’d be arriving at around 8pm local time and so would be able to more or less keep their body clocks stable. That didn’t concern Meredith, necessarily, but it was clear that it meant far more for Ryuji, who seemed even more irritable than usual, to the point that when the Chariot, who Meredith now knew to be Nessa Campbell (who happened to be flying the plane) described his anger as “needing his beauty sleep”, Ryuji simply got up and walked away from the others without a word.

“Typical.” Nessa sighed, returning her attention to the myriad controls in front of her. “I haven’t even flicked the “seatbelts off” sign.” A few moments later, she did, taking a moment to look at the door Ryuji had gone through before rolling her eyes and returning to her task at hand.

Meredith would have joined in on insulting Ryuji, but Warwick shot a pointed look at her. “Don’t be so quick to point and laugh, Miss Sharrow.” she said, examining the clipboard Meredith had procured for her earlier, “As the overseer of this Operation, the Lovers Wakabayashi will be the one covering for all of us. It’s a lot of pressure, something you may one day realise if you ever get promoted to a Senior Rank.” Meredith leant forward a little when she mentioned promotions. Warwick simply smiled back. “You’ve only recently been promoted from the rank of Devil, correct?”

Meredith nodded in reply. “Yes…this is my first assignment as a Hanged Man, Miss Warwick.”

“And you’ve done remarkably well. I imagine the Empress will be most pleased.” she reassured her, though she didn’t look up from the clipboard. “What did you mean here by “had help”? What gave you that idea?”

“The witness said that the intruder put his hand to his ear several times.” Meredith explained. “It would explain how the data became corrupted the very moment he stepped foot in the building and how he got away so quickly, especially when you consider…” she trailed off for a moment as she thought through what she was about to say, and whether it might get her in deep trouble.

“Considering what?” Warwick asked, finally looking up at her.

Meredith gulped silently. “Considering your testimony, where you said a loud car horn caused a distraction allowing him to leave your crosshair. And then there’s the fact that he couldn’t have fled the scene on foot…” she looked over to Nessa’s tablet, still open on the scrambled data. “Miss Campbell, would you mind if I borrowed your tablet for a moment?”

The Chariot nodded. “Of course, Hanged Man. It’s completely at your disposal.” she said, a phrase she knew off by heart by now.

Snatching up the tablet, Meredith began tapping away at the screen, flicking through various collated files on the incident. “All this stuff on cybersecurity…maybe the reason they could get in isn’t in the code, but instead…ah ha!” she minimised the tabs on firewalls and fibre optics and opened up another folder of corrupted video footage. “Look, Miss Warwick, the CCTV footage from the surrounding traffic lights is gone too, in the exact same style, but for about a minute or two longer than inside the building. Our intruder can’t have done it alone, the timing of the corruption simply doesn't add up.”

Warwick nodded, leaning back on her chair. “That certainly is a wrinkle. Especially when you consider mine and Wakabayashi’s shared conclusions on tonight's events.”

Meredith stayed very still, unsure whether Warwick was upset with the conclusion she’d reached, or angry, or wanted to erase any trace of it, or anything else. “Your conclusions, Miss Warwick?”

“Indeed. He may be in denial about it, but the famed “Byakko of Ice” knows when not to ignore a coincidence. I looked back at the aftermath of our explosive outing this afternoon and was surprised to discover that it was an ambulance that first came to the scene. Not the fire brigade, as any witnesses outside might have called for, but an ambulance. And the only way that could be the case is if someone inside had not been killed, merely injured.”

Meredith nodded, digesting this information. “...So the MI6 agent we wanted to take out…he survived, got medical attention, and came back to get revenge?”

“Perhaps, or maybe he contacted someone and they did it for him. Even before this, I had a strange feeling when we found the MI6 location in that old building. It was a far too aggressive move for them, and we should have known about it sooner. Perhaps our intelligence system simply missed it, deemed it too unimportant.”

“...Perhaps.” Meredith put down the tablet, and looking out the window watched as the jet flew across the Pacific Ocean. She got the nasty feeling that they were almost there, made even worse by the fact that she felt like she was missing something obvious. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the jet was truly starting to descend, landing upon an airstrip surrounded by watchtowers, with military vehicles patrolling to boot. Home sweet home. They had their IDs and cards checked before being escorted onto one of the Jeeps, which sped out of the runway and down a long, winding road towards the more built up part of the island. Eventually, the Jeeps slowed down near a busy junction, which happened to be just a few metres away from the turnoff to The Tower.

“This always happens…” Ryuji groaned, rolling his eyes as the tourists in rental cars as well as some permanent residents drove past, no care for the fact that they had right of way, or that they more or less owned the island.

Meredith was growing more restless by the second, the stress of everything that had happened as well as the fact that a Meeting had been called all weighing on her brain. “...For god’s sake! Can’t they install traffic lights, or a roundabout, or something?!” she said, slamming her head back against her seat in frustration. Warwick merely watched on, with a slight amount of amusement on her face.

“Patience, Miss Sharrow. This junction always takes time, it’s the way the island-” but to her surprise, someone had actually stopped. Meredith leant out of the window to see a middle-aged man in a floral t-shirt and sunglasses (despite it being night) in an open-top expensive looking car. He smiled and gestured for the jeeps, and the drivers, seemingly surprised, took a moment to begin moving again. Meredith tried not to stare too much, but it was difficult for some reason. She needed that structure and order in her life again, the type that Reflection was normally so good at enforcing. Thankfully for her, the Tower was the best place for this.

The skyscraper stuck out like an incredibly sore thumb, towering over everything else on the Island. It was a miracle the land didn’t tilt slightly, Meredith thought to herself as they stepped out onto elegant red carpets with a golden zigzagged lining around the edges, leading up twin sets of stairs between three bronze fountains. Above the automatic doors which led into the reception area was that large red logo once more, the snake looming overhead as the group walked in. They were at once met by a group of people in white shirts and black waistcoats, who looked to Meredith like fools.

“Welcome to Reflection.” The one in front began, bowing slightly. “You’re just in time, Miss Warwick, Mr Wakabayashi, you’re both just in time for the meeting. I have also been told that Miss Sharrow and Miss Campbell have been invited to relax in the waiting area outside until the meeting comes to an end. Please, follow me.”

Meredith kept moving forward, down a corridor and into a lift, even if her legs were telling her to turn and run. But she couldn’t afford to look weak, especially not in front of Warwick or Ryuji, as the former would never respect her, and the latter would absolutely go straight to her aunt about it. Their guide pressed one of the uppermost buttons, before quickly stepping out and letting the lifts scarlet and gold doors close. The occupants of the lift turned to each other.

 “It appears that all of the higher-ups and representatives have been called.” Nessa said, reading off of her tablet. “...Doesn’t look like we will be late, fortunately.”

“I’ll be sure to let your aunt know you’re here, Meredith.” Ryuji droned, pushing his dark hair up slightly. “She may want a word, after all.”

To Meredith’s surprise, it was Warwick who spoke next. “Actually, Meredith pointed something out rather interesting to me whilst on the plane here. It should be on the Chariot’s tablet, and might come in handy when explaining our side of the story.”

Meredith merely nodded. “I’m glad I could assist, even if I’m not able to attend the meeting.”

Ryuji looked like he wanted to retort, but was interrupted by Warwick. “Look, you two can stop acting so formal, especially since we’re working together to save our careers. I’m aware you two have something of a rivalry, something about often being in the same division as you’ve worked your ways up.” she said, allowing herself to smile at the two and their shocked expressions. Meredith thought that she did pretty well, at least she didn’t drop her jaw like Ryuji did. “Yes, yes, I’ve done my research, as I do on everyone I work with.”

Time passed as the High Priestess and the Lovers discussed their story, the Chariot busy on her tablet, leaving the Hanged Man feeling like the world was turning upside down. Looking around, they thought back to the much less elegant and decorated lift in the building in London, how that pale hand had emerged to disrespect her before descending with the lift. The hand of a spy, with a silver bracelet…but why was it up there in the first place? Her eyes widened as her memory corrected itself, the presence of a card held by the hand whilst doing the two-finger salute now restored. Why? Her first thought was as a trophy, but then judging by what she knew about him, it somehow didn’t seem right. In her head, it all rested on whether or not the spy had broken in as a direct result of what had happened earlier that day or not.

Suddenly, the lift doors opened out into a smallish room with three doors, the left and right ones leading out into a balcony area. The group continued forward through the other door, into a room with red carpet and a few plants, as well as a pair of ornate double doors, covered in gold that snaked across their surface. Warwick gestured to the red velvet seats that dotted the room. “Chariot, Hanged Man, wait here. These meetings normally don’t go on for too long, but considering the circumstances…well. There are some magazines available.” she pointed over to a pile on a table near the wall. Without another word, she opened the grand doors, walking inside.

Ryuji took another look at Nessa and Meredith. “...You saw something in the smoke, didn’t you?” he asked the latter. “...Be very careful. When you get this high up, you’ll realise there are no such things as secrets.”

Meredith showed no reaction. “You have a meeting to get to, and a missing ID machine to explain.” she said simply, sitting down and grabbing one of the magazines. They were all almost a decade out of date, and some of them, she noticed, seemed to be for younger children. Ryuji turned towards the door which Warwick was holding open for him and left the room, the door closing behind the two with a loud slam.

Meredith turned to Nessa, but she was on the other side of the room, her back turned,  busy on her tablet. She leant back, remembering her time as a Chariot. It had been a lot of work, chauffeuring higher-ups around as well as monitoring the armoury and vehicles the company had at its disposal, as well as dealing for said arms and vehicles. Nessa likely didn’t also have the advantage of having an aunt who was a higher-up. It was then that she heard voices from within the other room.

“...is it true?”

“Hey, save it for the meeting, you know the rules.”

“What? I’m allowed to ask a little, aren’t I?”

Meredith blinked. Nobody below a Lovers rank was allowed to even know what happened in the Meetings. The room was supposed to be soundproofed, or so she’d heard. She very slowly tilted her head so her ear was closer to the wall, before immediately turning around when the door to the room with the lift opened. Her hand went to her gun on instinct when she saw the hooded figure, but didn’t pull it out. This was good, because on closer inspection this was one of the higher-ups. Although, admittedly, they weren’t exactly dressed like other agents.

His “hood” was in fact a medical fabric of some kind that covered a fully bandaged face, the mouth covered and the eyes dimmed under the layers of bandages. Below that was a formal suit with a green handkerchief in the pocket. He was eerily still, standing in the doorway for a moment, before turning to Meredith. “Pardon me. Has the meeting begun yet?”

Nessa and Meredith stared at each other for a moment. “N-no, I don’t think so.” Meredith stammered, not making direct eye contact with the masked figure, who merely nodded in response.

“Good, good…” he nodded at the both of them before walking forward, absent-mindedly scratching the wrapping below his right eye with one hand as he yanked open the door and walked into the meeting room, closing the door without a slam this time. Meredith sunk back into her seat, taking her hand off of her gun. There were certain divisions that kept to themselves, and you didn’t go near if you valued your life or career. The Moon Division, the area of expertise for deep cover operatives, was one of those divisions. They were higher-ups, but since they couldn’t send all of them to a meeting they had a representative who went instead. They called the guy who represented the Moon Division “Mr Nobody”. She’d always wanted to know why.

Nessa now had her eyes on her tablet again. Meredith leant right back against the wall, shutting her eyes as if she’d fallen asleep after a long flight. She concentrated on whatever slight fault there was in the walls of The Tower, and listened.

***

Meredith didn’t know what the room looked like, but from her aunt she’d heard that it was exceptionally elegant but dimly lit, with a long table in the middle that stopped at the far wall, on which was a large carving. It sounded too fantastical to be true, but when she’d peeked through the door when Mr Nobody stepped through that was exactly what she had seen. Without any visuals, her mind began to fill in the blanks

The meeting room was silent now, all gossip now spent. The higher-ups took their places, Warwick separating from Ryuji to sit further down the table. Ryuji, meanwhile, took his seat among the three other Lovers. He looked between them all, knowing them all fairly well: Estevao Raphael, who was currently scowling at the table, Lauren Brayden, who was savouring the last few seconds in which she was allowed to use her phone, and Pascal Brunel, who looked like he wished he had some popcorn. Meredith didn’t blame him. The most senior of the Lovers, Pascal had made no attempts to get a promotion, seemingly enjoying his position at the lower end of the top. Meredith had never understood his mindset, nor why he was allowed to keep his position, but at least he seemed to be happier than most people in the room.

The room was now silent. A side door had been opened, and out stepped a woman with brown hair in a red version of the clothes the receptionists had been wearing. This was no clueless fool, however, but a member of the island’s permanent staff, who also happened to be in charge of enforcement. The person in the seat Meredith imagined herself sitting in, Ryuji, looked down the long table. The Judgement representative walked past him and the rest of the Lovers, past Mr Nobody, past a woman in a lab coat, a man in a wheelchair with several sheets of paper in front of him, past Warwick, and past the two at the very end of the far edges of the table. He knew them very well indeed. On the right sat Maverick Cunningham, a middle-aged man with black hair in a quiff that made him look like if Elvis took up arms dealing. On the left was a woman around the same age as Cunningham wearing a deep purple overcoat. This was Vivian Sharrow.

Thus sat the highest ranking officials of Reflection, an organisation which seemingly found being a pharmaceutical company not thrilling enough, and decided to branch out into having hidden influence in every industry, especially the criminal industry. Maverick and Vivian, the Emperor and the Empress, turned to the large engraving on the wall. It depicted a man in robes with his right arm up holding a candle that burned at both ends, surrounded by a sword, cup, wand, and pentacle.  Above its head was the symbol of infinity, and above that was the roman numeral I.

The Judgement representative cleared her throat. “May I have your attention. Presenting the Magician, who calls this meeting to order.”

The giant monolith carved into the wall began to hum, and the outline of the Magician began to glow a neon red. A few seconds passed, and each Reflection member took out their card and placed it on the table in front of them. Ryuji did the same, taking a moment to look down at the card. It had always seemed rather strange to Meredith that he carried an image of two naked people as identification, but her mind was nowhere near that now. Soon enough, a voice emerged from within the carved wall.

“Welcome, my good friends.” the voice boomed. Meredith had expected a loud and deep voice, but instead it sounded rather calm and neutral. “I do apologise for calling all of you here, but I am afraid that the topic of this meeting is too important to avoid or to send in a simple message. To begin with, I must inform you all of the death of the Knight of Swords. His efforts to aid Reflection will be missed. I leave finding a suitable replacement for the position to the Empress.”

Meredith imagined her aunt nodding dutifully. “Thank you, Magician.”

The voice continued. “The more unfortunate news comes from the reason he was killed, and why I have summoned you all here. High Priestess, if you would brief the others on tonight’s events?”

Meredith heard a chair move as Warwick stood up. “At approximately 10 pm local time, an unknown intruder was found on the 28th floor of Reflection International’s London Headquarters. Entering through unknown means, he walked into the office on the floor, posing as an IT worker to an employee, before taking hold of an experimental identification device, codename T-LD…” Warwick explained. She took a pause for a moment. Meredith knew why. She was about to mention her role. “...At which time I, on the opposite building conducting a routine inspection, spotted the intruder and proceeded to prepare for elimination.”

“It was here that I called for security.” she continued. “The Knight of Swords was the first to arrive at the office, which the intruder had locked. The Knight proceeded to attempt to kick the door down, shouting threats to both the intruder and the employee.”

Meredith allowed herself to smile. Already, she was beginning to pin the blame on the deceased agent. “The Knight persisted in knocking and yelling, though that was not what allowed the intruder to escape my line of sight with the T-LD. Instead…it would appear that the intruder had one or more accomplices who created a distraction to allow the intruder a window to duck down, and was likely to be intentional as evidenced by the deletion of traffic light CCTV footage, as identified by a Hanged Man within the tower at the time, Meredith Sharrow.”

Meredith tried not to move her face too much. Getting mentioned in a Meeting like that, and by Pamela Warwick of all people? No wonder they didn’t let the lower-downs hear what happened, if she knew she’d been name-dropped she’d never shut up about it. As she had been thinking about this, Warwick had continued, moving on to the lift shaft.

“...the Knight then proceeded to engage the intruder within the lift shaft, making clear his knowledge of the fact that I would fire at whatever emerged from the lift doors. In spite of this, however, he was unable to apprehend the intruder. We believe they used a metallic weapon to strike the Knight, causing him to topple out of the doors and into the line of fire. He fully understood the level of efficiency needed, and failed. I shot the first thing that emerged from the lift shaft, as agreed.”

She couldn’t measure their expressions, but somehow Meredith knew that Warwick had quite literally got away with murder. Still, the mention of a metallic weapon…the way the metal thing on his wrist had bumped against the lift…it was so simple, and yet…Meredith then realised she should be focusing on the top-secret meeting. “...and escaped with the machine. I immediately arrived at the building, followed soon after by the Lovers and the Chariot driving him.”

There was a silence as all of this was taken in, as if it was being judged. “...thank you, High Priestess. Does anyone here have any objections to her telling of tonight’s events?” the Magician asked the table.

If they did, nobody said anything. “Very well. It pains me to discover that the Minor Arcana are unable to work under the efficient conditions of those with higher ranks. Perhaps we may need to revisit our training regimen to see what is needed. Emperor, you are in charge of this area. What would you say the priorities of the training are? What blind spot might need dealing with?”

Maverick cleared his throat, before beginning to speak in that smug voice of his. “Our training regimen is one of, if not the best in the world, Magician. It forces those who hope to improve to be ruthless and efficient in their tasks, to remain detached from anything that might bring them down, and to work in the modern world of private military affairs.��

“The modern world…I see…” the Magician hummed for a moment, as did Meredith. Why did this spy not seem to fit the many other mercenaries or opponents she’d come across? Why did she keep calling him a spy? It hit her then, though it seemed to elude the Magician. “Well, in any case, work to make sure the Minor Arcana are ready to enter the higher ranks.”

“Thank you, sir.” Maverick said, glad not to have been reprimanded. 

“But now comes the larger question, my friends. What are we to do about our missing machine? Lovers agent Wakabayashi-” the Magician said, Meredith knowing that all eyes were now on Ryuji. “What say you on the theft of the machine you were testing? What might happen to the project?”

Ryuji took a breath. “I don’t believe it is any sign of weakness for the project. It is not as if, after all, it was a failure. In fact it was responsible for dozens of successful identifications and subsequent assassinations during its testing phase. Perhaps we were a little public with it-”

“A little?” Pascal asked, chuckling. “You blew up three floors of a building! You call that “little”?”

Ryuji stumbled over his words for a second but quickly recovered. “Such eliminations had been done before, and caused no problems like this. The problem is not with the machine, I cannot emphasise this enough.”

“...I agree.” the Magician said, bluntly. “And Lovers agent Brunel, while your point is valid, I do think there is an explanation for it. Perhaps, after the downfall of our last project, we were too cautious of further failure, hence why Project Temperance has been in testing for so long. Long enough for somebody to begin identifying a pattern.”

It was as if in her head the carving was moving, swooping across the room, gazing at each and every member present with its unmoving red eyes. “We have not suffered a failure like this since Project Strength. Our caution, our need to keep things hidden, has led to critical exposures. But we cannot, and will not, keep Project Temperance secret for long. Wheel of Fortune!”

The man in the wheelchair cleared his throat. “Yes, Magician?”

“...How’s our budget looking?”

There was a rustling of papers and typing on a laptop. Meredith hadn’t expected the Wheel of Fortune to be allowed a laptop, though she supposed it made sense, considering how much financial information was digital and/or encrypted. “We have had an excellent year, and stand to make record profits as per usual, leaving us with a more-than-healthy 40% surplus for use if and when needed.”

“Good.” the Magician said with a sinister edge, as if that information gave him the key to some ultimate doomsday weapon. “I am proposing that we accelerate Project Temperance. The T-LD shall be replicated, developed, and improved. We will make the necessary connections, eliminations, and deals. We will be ready to deploy the Project worldwide in…ooh, let’s make it…six months?”

There was a brief murmur. Nobody had seen the Magician like this before. It was as if, like Meredith, they had taken the theft personally. Nobody steals from Reflection and dares to taunt them too. It made her desire to become a higher-up even more strong.

“Oh, worry not, friends. I am quite confident you will all manage. We talk of the projects being far off dreams, but here? A machine so successful someone had to steal it?! We will hit back, and whoever they are, they will see just how small they are in comparison to us. How…out of place they are in our world. This is why you are called here. Tonight we being organising Project: TEMPERANCE.”

Meredith’s mind drifted as the meeting turned to discussions of targets and quotas. Nobody heard much about the Projects. They were worked on by the higher-up Divisions, though sometimes lower-downs were called on to assist in testing, like Meredith had been here. She also knew that the last project had failed, and the Magician had punished her aunt and the Emperor for it, giving the role of overseeing Project testing to the Lovers. This meant two things: firstly, that her aunt would see this as an excellent opportunity to please the Magician and redeem the Sharrow name, and secondly that Ryuji was going to be unbearable about it. But it wasn’t all misery in her mind. The spy…it was more than a fluke, or a bluff, or boast. It was indeed out of place. And she knew why.

***

Before long, the meeting had ended, and the higher-ups emerged. The Empress walked out, and over to her niece. “There you are. Thank you for waiting patiently and not causing a fuss.”

“...I am not a child anymore, Aunt Vivian.” Meredith said, not looking up.

“That remains to be seen. Come along, I’ve managed to book you a room here.” she said as if it came at great personal sacrifice to her.

“...” Meredith was going to say something back, but noticed Warwick and Ryuji walking out too. “Just one moment, it won’t take long-”

“Meredith!-” Vivian began, not continuing the sentence as she watched her niece approach Warwick.

“Ah, Miss Sharrow, and the nicer one of the two, I might add. How may I help?” she asked, smirking, as if she knew Meredith wanted to get away from the Empress.

“I was thinking about the intruder…and, well…it might sound odd, but I was thinking about…why he feels so…odd.”

“Odd how?” Ryuji asked. They had gone out one of the side doors onto the balcony, looking out over the ocean, tree-covered areas (Meredith was unsure if they were jungles, or forests, or something else) and the tourist towns down below. “You mean sort of…out of place?”

“Exactly!” Meredith said, acting like she’d not heard those words used to describe it. “I think…well, I think of him as a spy.”

Warwick raised a ginger eyebrow. “A spy, hm? As a sort of “character” we can make assumptions out of?”

Ryuji rolled his eyes. “With respect, Meredith, and the fact that this matter is now with the higher-ups, I don’t imagine you need to worry about that intruder for much longer. Not when the new assignments come in.”

Meredith couldn’t help it. She scowled at him. “Listen! He’s a spy, right? Like a classic secret agent! None of this cyber-nonsense, or this far-off “eliminations”, or jobs done by hitmen, but a spy. You send one person who is skilled enough to more or less convince you to give what he wants over to you, uses gadgets, isn’t afraid to get physical…oh, come on! Isn’t it at least plausible that someone out there does things the old way?”

Warwick considered this. “A fascinating hypothesis, Miss Sharrow. A “spy”, someone who can miraculously survive explosions, sneak into buildings, and more…It makes for a compelling adversary.”

Ryuji simply scoffed once more. “Speculate all you like. I have business to attend to. Nessa, let’s go, my workload has almost quadrupled.” he said matter-of-factly, walking away with Nessa behind him, offering a quick wave to Meredith before leaving.

Warwick smiled at Meredith. “I’ll walk you to your room. The lift will be packed with everyone trying to get out, you need to tell me more about this spy idea, and…” her smile changed a little, to show something other than kindness. “There are some parts of the Tower best avoided.”

They walked out from the balcony and down the stairs, past floors that Warwick pushed Meredith away from, presumably where they tested other projects. A faint part of her wondered if Project Temperance started its life here too. She found herself clinging to her tarot card. Taking it out, she turned it over to reveal the Hanged Man, dangling there upside-down by the foot, as if by some strange magic he had swapped his neck for his ankle. She looked at the card, imagined the spy in the same position, and smiled. She’d never believed in Tarot, but somehow she felt her future was brighter than ever.

[silvermaplealder]

I had a few people ask where I got the stuff for my David cosplay (though forgive me I can't remember everyone who asked) so I figured I'd make a little post.

The coat:

I got the coat from Shein. I bought the XL version and had to do a lot of edits. I wanted the length that the XL offered but it was 2 sizes too big. The most important edits were the sleeve length and collar adjustments to make it look more like his coat. I did also tailor the size down to have a cleaner and less baggy look to it.

The vest:

Originally an old pleather jacket I had. I cut off the sleeves and used that material to create the flaps on the collar. I added a bit of fabric paint onto it to make it look more worn out along the edges.

Watches/medal on jacket:

The watches I got off FB marketplace. Cut them free from bands and 2 are sewn on, one is actually super glued because there was no way to sew it. The "medal" is just something I found at Michael's Craft Store. I added a 12 gauge wire as a loop and sewed that to the jacket.

Pants/Boots:

Found these bad boys thrifting. The pants are skinny jeans that have the fronts a little faded, they aren't leather. And the boots took several months of weekly trips to Goodwill until something my size popped up. I had to get the boots from the women's section since the men's didn't have any.

Spurs:

Ball spurs off Facebook marketplace. I added baling twine as a bottom strap. I painted the original brown straps it came with.

Gloves:

Another thrift store find in the winter. I found some much nicer new pairs at Tractor Supply Co but unfortunately they did not have the right sizes. But next winter I may check in earlier for a better looking pair

Bracelet:

A friend welded me a bracelet and I painted it silver. Bracelets are easy to come by though so anything works

Hair:

It's actually my natural hair. I spent $20 on the cutting and then $130 to get it the correct color. My hair had to be bleached and then we added a silver color on top of the bleach. Pros is it looks awesome, con is I'll always have to spend $150 just for it 🙄

If y'all have any more questions feel free to reach out to me! 💙 The hardest part was definitely the vest since I had to completely cut it apart and resew to get the look I wanted. The coat took a lot of work as well but it is definitely doable without needing a sewing machine (though a machine helps a lot!).

@stonerzelda

[mightyflamethrower]

FBI agents have arrested a Texas man on charges that he and six other men gang-raped two toddlers in the restroom at Houston's Galleria shopping mall and posted a video of the assault online. Hector Fernandez, 29, who worked at a kiosk in the Galleria, has been arrested on federal charges of sexual exploitation of children. He faces up to life in prison, and a federal magistrate has ordered him held without bond.

The case originated with the discovery by the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation of four videos in “a private, by invitation only, forum on the dark web.” 

The FBI was consulted and, using image mapping software that searches social media accounts, was able to identify a child who looked like one of the two two-year-old victims in the video. A relative of the child who had posted the image on social media identified a "sanitized' image of the child from the videos. As a bonus, the relative also identified one of the men in the video.

Fernandez previously worked at a store in the Galleria that has since shut down, according to the complaint. Both children seen in the videos, ages 2 to 3, were related to women who also worked at the mall, the complaint said. The Houston Chronicle is not naming the stores or the women to avoid releasing identifiable information about the children.  The women sometimes took the children to their workplaces at the mall when they couldn’t afford or find child care, the complaint said. Both women considered Fernandez their friend and previously had allowed him to take the children around the mall while they were busy working, according to the complaint.  ... Fernandez was identified by two distinctive silver bracelets worn by a man present in three of the videos, according to the complaint. Both women identified the bracelets as belonging to Fernandez, and investigators found photo evidence on Fernandez’s social media accounts that also showed him wearing the bracelets, the complaint said. Authorities are unsure when the videos were taken. One woman told investigators that Fernandez walked her relative around the mall once in December 2022 and took the child trick-or-treating without her present in October. The other woman said Fernandez took her relative around the mall once this summer.

I'm not going to make public judgments about Fernandez or his lifestyle based on his Instagram account, but YMMV. (If you won't pass judgement over something as disgusting and vile as this what would you pass judgement over.)

This kind of stuff is becoming more and more common. There is an obvious parallel between Fernandez and six of his "besties" raping toddlers and another case in Atlanta that seems to have vanished from sight.

In my view, several things are driving this phenomenon.

Much of this could not happen without social media. It lets these people search out others with common interests. It lets them share videos and what I'd call "tactics, techniques, and procedures." While pedophiles may be the leading edge, I'm positive that right now, there is a similar “private, by invitation only, forum on the dark web” catering to serial killers.

Second, there is a reluctance by society to recognize that evil exists. Real evil. It is not a lack of impulse control or a personality disorder; we are seeing actual, garden-variety evil. Some people can't be deterred and can't be rehabilitated. We've become too "modern" to accept the presence of supernatural forces. Even Christians, whose entire religion is based on the supernatural, are left trying to find psychobabble explanations for what are patently and obviously evil actions.

Finally, much of society is reluctant to make judgments that would open them to accusations of bigotry. Would I have let @allegedly_hector have one-on-one access with my two-year-old, no matter how many rainbows were in his Instagram profile? No. Because any unrelated male acquaintance who wants to babysit a two-year-old is going to make my pedo-antenna start pinging. Maybe some related ones will trip the alarm, too.

As a side note, in May, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill extending the death penalty to child rapists. This is a direct test of the 2008 Supreme Court decision in Kennedy vs. Louisiana that barred the death penalty for child rape. That court majority (Kennedy, joined by Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer) is gone, and the dissenters remain (Alito, joined by Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas) and have allies.

I'm not idealistic enough to believe these people can be deterred, but I think it is important that society express its disgust in a way that can't be mistaken.

Romans 1:26-27 The Message (MSG)

Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn’t know how to be human either—women didn’t know how to be women, men didn’t know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it—emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches.