#paint-ludi

[kavvueh]

Painting Flowers

by @kavvueh

Chapter 23 is here - and so is Ludi Harpastum!

Summary: One year after Alice dies in a research accident, her daughter Klee develops a penchant for burning things and getting into trouble at school. Her big brother (and now guardian) Albedo has to juggle Klee's behavior issues with a career-making project at work: reviving the extinct Inteyvat flower. But luckily, Klee's first grade teacher is pretty patient with her, all things considered -- and, well, it helps that he's not bad to look at, either... Even if he swears up and down that he's a space pirate.

Read it here!

A short snippet of the fic is below the cut!

Dear Albedo,

Thank you for everything you do. You make me happy and I love you very much. Please let Dodoco stay forever. I want you to always smile. 

Love, Klee. 

Underneath that was a small note penned with a different hand.

P.S. Captain Kaeya hopes you smile lots, too. Happy Ludi Harpastum, Klee and Albedo. :) 

[rainbowcaleb]

So Much Has Happened Tonight

literally how are we supposed to sleep?

[dumpster-fire-sapphic-failgirl]

huh. If the assassination attempt *is* somehow successful, Team Ludy is gonna be down one super powerful exalted

that’s gonna paint an even bigger target on Imogen’s back, innut it?

[doki-doki-imagines]

Day 2 (Aug 19): Mentor and pupil | "I think you're finally ready to use what you've learned."

@germanbrosweek

Ludwig is tired. He is used to his brother wei-peculiar ways, but this was really the peak.

"Finally! The crus bellflower!" Gilbert shouts, voice croaking in the middle of the night. The humidity in the forest is terrible, Ludwig's shiny leather shoes dig onto the wet soil, grass full of hoarfrost, and his uniform is getting full of wrinkles. Not to talk about the cloack he "absolutely needed to wear!" His brother's words, not his.

He looks at his brother, running like he didn't wake up at 2 a.m. to explore outside their college, breaking every possible rule and putting both of them in a bad position in case they got caught...

Ludwig hates breaking rules.

"C'mere Ludi! I think you're finally ready to use what you've learned." Gilbert shouts, crouched to the ground where a field of those blue and white flowers lighten the place.

"What are you talking about, brother?" He tries to sound respectful, but he'd just like to lay his head on his comfortable pillow in his room.

"It's time for you to prepare for the ritual."

Ludwig looks at him with pure annoyance in his baby blue irises, blonde eyebrow rised up, not ready for what's to come.

"It's just normal for second year to drink crus bellflower juice before becoming third years! It's a ritual since it's the last thing you learn from herbalist classes before summer break!" His brother red irises shine full of joy, locked with his ones "You should have picked them up all by yourself, but I wouldn't be a good big bro if I didn't help you out! I know how hard they are to find, aren't I the best brother?" His iconic laughter escapes his throat, totally not noticing the heavy sigh leaving Ludwig's thin lips

"Brother...what are you talking about?"

"Mh?" Gilbert's eyes widened, finally noticing the dripping annoyance from his younger brother's voice "They are so rare! Only blooming before dawn and in this forest. I remember when I studied them!"

"Yeah, from BC books. Now you can easily find them in the evening in whatever flower shop." Ludwig mutters, index finger scratching his closed eyes, mentally counting to 10 not to explode.

"Well, you know herbalist classes weren't my forte-" Gilbert says before nervously chuckling, blush painting his cheeks, and right hand scratching behind his head, like he always does when nervous.

"So you woke me up at asscrack of dawn, got me called a rat from a guard-"

Gilbert's breath gets caught in his throat at the memory of the dejected face of his little brother in that moment "first time getting called that?" He replied at the time to try to lighten up the moment, uselessly it seems.

"and almost risked getting suspended for a dumb ritual we could have easily done this evening?" Icy eyes now look back at Gilbert whose knees buckle under his brother intense gaze.

"...yes."

Another sigh, so loud it echoes in the forest. Then Ludwig gets on his knees, ripping off more than a handful of flowers, surprising Gilbert.

"Let's take a lot of them. You can make a lot of useful stuff with these." He says, no anger detected. "At least all those risks will be worth it." Ludwig mutters, but Gilbert clearly hears him, a big smile now plastered on his face.

"I'll show you the big bro awesome flower picking technique!" The white haired boy reply, beating his fist against his chest, before getting on the job.

Ludwig shakes his head, but he can't stop a small smile to appear on his face.

It may have been a total failure as a ritual, but at least it will be a moment they will both remember for the years to come.

[zwy01]

Susanna doodles!!!

I drew my noblesse oc from my Millennium AU, Susanna Mergas! She is the second child of Ludis Mergas and Rozaria Elenor, and the younger sister of Alois Elenor. She goes by the nickname Susa, and a few others.

1. Susanna painting!!! She is very cute and has big eyes and a round face just like her father Ludis. Her eyebrows are short and oval-shaped. She parts her bangs sideways and her super long, wavy locks that extend beyond her knees flow like waves when she moves. Interestingly, her hair never gets in her way even when she’s running and jumping around like hyper gymnast. It’s a real mystery to everyone. She’s very extroverted and cheerful, and always full of energy. Life is never boring around her, as she always has fun things to do! Millennium AU Lukedonia is only functioning thanks to her lol. She’s probably looking at you right now and thinking about dragging you to her next tea party. There’s no other escape, new best friend! Lol. Despite her tiny stature, she’s surprisingly strong. All that junk food probably worked their way into her muscle fibers, as Ludis jokes. All you need to do is sit down and enjoy the dozens of assorted sweets she brings out from the Mergas manor. There’s also ramyeon flavored macarons, if you like that kind of stuff, hehe! She’s got you covered.

2. Susa tries on a beautiful outfit! Very much Izarok themed. It probably belonged to one of Ludis’ female predecessors/ancestors and is a Mergas heirloom of some sort. It’s been a looong while since this outfit was last worn by someone. Ludis found it in his manor, and he gives it to his daughter. As expected, she looks absolutely stunning in it. Susa loves it! Her parents love it too. Alois is very moved by his sister’s cuteness. Awwwwww.

3. Lil’ Susa and her mother Rozaria! They are super close and very affectionate with each other. One of Susa’s favorite things to do as a child was playing with mami’s long, red hair. She still loves to do so even in adulthood, and Rozaria is more than happy to bond with her personal stylist! Susa also has a sweet tooth. It’s probably in her dna or something, because she inhales them like a blackhole. If she were human she would’ve gotten cavities a billion times already. Luckily, she’s a noble, so that doesn’t happen lol. Still, Ludis and Rozaria prefer to monitor their bab’s junk food intake, so other than retrieving the occasional treat, Ludis has barrier spell put up around their pantry. In the very, very rare cases where he forgets… well, you can guess what happens lol. Mommy Roza is worried about her daughter’s tummy, but Susa is actually more than fine lol. Ludis is surprised but amused. Better not forget next time, oops

4. Susa and Ludis part 1! By conventional noble standards, Susa was a bit of a slow learner, a late bloomer. As the Millennium AU progresses she does get very powerful and becomes the promising Mergas heiress, but not many people know that she has struggled for a while, especially in her childhood. Luckily, Ludis is a great parent and he is a pretty chill person in general so he never pressures Susa. He even modifies the traditional “standard” Mergas training curriculum just for his daughter, even when Lord Raskreia questions him for it. Hey, are no real enemies in the outside world anymore, right? Surely we can take it one step at a time. Lil’ Susa is aware of how she is doing compared to her peers, and it sometimes overwhelms her. Poor girl. Ludis being the supportive parent he is will do anything for his daughter and he lets her know that he’s always there for her. This father-daughter bond would later be forged in iron. Best dad.

5. Susa and Ludis part 2! After a wee timeskip to 80 years later, Susa is now a young teen at 100! Susa’s persistence and hard work, as well as Ludis’ unconditional love and support, pays off. Susa manages to successfully conjure a simple barrier spell. This moment is a huge milestone for Susa and she’ll remember it forever. Ludis is super proud of his bab. Roza and Alois are probably crying tears of joy too. Susa’s just so amazing, isn’t she?

6. Sibling bonding time!! Ludis and Rozaria are busy with stuff and are outside, so the siblings get housesitting duty, and some time to spend with each other. They got the entire manor aaallll to themselves lol. Ludis summons Izarok and leaves it with his kids to entertain them and of course Susa gets a hot pot started. Nothing beats comfy pajamas and great food. Fun fact, Alois isn’t really a fan of vegetables, though Mommy Roza knows that Susa will take good care of him. Eventually he won’t be able to say “no” if it’s his sister, lol. C’mon just one bite, you gotta eat your green foods too Al!

7. Susanna x Arya! They are the only “official” couple in my nextgen cast. Everyone else either hasn’t confessed yet, the crush is single-sided, or … something more complicated. Arya K. Landegre is the daughter of Regis and Rael. Susa and Ari are very loving and affectionate girlfriends and have a great relationship. They are each other’s soulmates. Much later in the AU they eventually marry each other.

8. Susanna x Arya what if babies! Susa/Ari is official and they eventually marry, but the next-next-gen doesn’t “exist” to me in my Millennium AU so these two babs are just a concept and don’t happen in the “main” Millennium AU timeline. Even so, they’re very cute lol. If Susa and Ari ever have kids of course they’ll name them something very unconventional and nonconforming to noble traditions, lol. Cute sons. Precious babs spoiled rotten by their mamas.

[nawilla]

Fic Excerpt: Yoda and Obi-Wan discuss sensing the Force

Here’s another excerpt from the story with Yoda and Agri Corps Obi-Wan.  While waiting for an appointment, Yoda and Obi-Wan discuss sensing things in the Force.

* * * 

“What are you looking for?” Obi-Wan asked after the droid had left.  “If the missing padawan was captured and sold, they probably won’t still be here.  The mines here are shift mines.  Everyone goes home at the end of their shift.  Xanatos sent me to a residential mine in the ocean.  The miners live there and don’t leave, so it’s easier to keep slaves hidden if they can’t leave.”

“Feel for Force traces I want to,” Yoda explained.  “If taken the padawan was, strong feelings they might have had. Imprint on the location this can. Learn something we might.”

“I hope you can sense something, Grandmaster,” the boy told him solemnly.

“Feel anything you have from a place?” Yoda asked, knowing such impression were often from the Unifying Force, not the Living Force.

“Here on Bandomeer, or ever?”

“Hmm, both.”  

“Oh.  I don’t recall any strong impressions here, but I did a few times when I lived in the Temple.  There was a creepy cold spot in a training room that no one liked to work in when I was an initiate.  Some kids said it made them cold, some kids said it made them dizzy, and some of them just seemed to get anxious, but they didn’t always realize it.  The docents always wanted me to work there during classes, and I would get weird feelings and dreams if I stood there for too long.  I used to tell them, but the docents just told me to just do it and not complain.  Master Ludi always put me somewhere else when he would arrive after the warmups, and finally he had the staff paint the floor and told the docents not to have anyone use that spot.”

“In the initiate salle this is?” Yoda asked.  “Near the storage closet?”

“Yes,” the boy confirmed.  “In the back row.”

“In the bad dreams you had happened what did?”

“I would be in that spot, not just the room, but that spot.  It would be hard to breathe, and my chest felt weird, like something I couldn’t see was pressing on it, but it wasn’t the Force.  But it wasn’t me, I wasn’t myself in the dream. I would keep trying to call for help but I didn’t have enough air and I would fall to the ground and the master teaching the class would be standing over me, but it wasn’t Master Ludi.  Everything felt cold and then it would get dark. Then I would wake up yelling for help, screaming that I couldn’t breathe, but I could because I wasn’t dreaming, and I was fine.”  He sighed. “It used to upset my neighbors and the form monitors, but the docents kept putting me there and telling me to stop complaining because I wasn’t that sensitive, and it shouldn’t bother me.”

“Make anyone use that spot they should not but feel it the docents cannot. Die there an initiate did, many years ago.  Sense it the initiates can.”

“What happened?”

“Rilley her name was.  Got a bad cold she did, but gotten better we thought she had.  A rare complication she developed.  Attacked her heart the virus had, but obvious this was not.  Return to training she did.  Told to go easy she had been, so stand in the back she did, so if go slower she did, mess up her classmates’ rhythm she sould not.  Worked for several days she did, but weakening she was, getting better not.  One day, too much her normal exercises became and take it her weakened heart could not. Fail suddenly it did, little warning there was, and fall to the floor she did, struggling to breathe.  Lost consciousness there she did, and bring her back the healers could not.  Her last waking moment there was, even if officially die at the healers she did.  Try to clean the space the teachers and clergy have, but too afraid she was, left a deep scar it did.  Make you stand there the docent should have not.”

“Oh.”  Obi-Wan thought about this for a moment.  “That explains the weird dreams.”

“Students strong in the Unifying Force affected by that spot more are. Students strong in the Force sense more do.  One of my padawans asked to help with the initiate classes not, because so awful that room felt to him did.  Had him help with drills in the other salle instead we did.  Make him vomit that room would if stay too long in there he did.”

“Oh.”  Obi-Wan’s eyes were wide.  “He must have been really strong in the Force.”

“He was,” Yoda confirmed.  “Terrible dreams he would get, even as a padawan.  Explain to him I did what happened there did and stop the dreams did. Understood he did.  Afraid of the room he no longer was, but like it he never did.”

Obi-Wan was quiet for a time.  “Do you think the missing padawan died here?  Is that what you want to look for in the Force?”

“Hrmm,” Yoda looked the boy over.  “No and yes.  Think I do that dead the missing padawan is?  No. The Force telling me that is not. Think this is so I do not.  But check I must if death there was I must.  Check if something bad happened here I must.  If get impressions from this place I can, tell me much that might.”  

“That initiate that died must have been really scared.”  His voice was solemn.  “The docents never told us that story.”

“Died three hundred years ago she did.  Remember her they do not.”  

“Oh.”

[jedi-enthusiasm-blog]

I mean they still coerce/steal children into joining them. And they left Anakin's mom to die a slave death. Like sure they aren't awful as an organization but they aren't always right?

Sometimes I wonder if I'm too harsh on Jedi antis. Then something like this happens and it hits me that no, if anything I'm being too soft.

Let's begin with the obvious, out-of-universe part. It's very rude to come to people's clearly tagged posts and say something like this. I love the Jedi I see in the PT and TCW, and I should be able to make, at least, vaguely positive posts about them without having to see this in the comments.

Now, onto your argument:

"They coerce/steal children into joining them."

You'd have a hard time arguing this, even using only Legends, the continuity that's most critical of the Jedi.

Baby Ludi doesn't offer us much information beyond "the baby's family was reasonably but incorrectly pressumed dead". Even then, these type of stories are used to show what the public opinion of the Jedi was, not what the Jedi were actually doing.

Children of the Force (the comic) is another of these stories. The Shatterpoint novel, on its own, contradicts every single instance of the Jedi being baby-snatchers or not being allowed to know their birth families/culture. Shatterpoint was written by Matthew Stover, who spoke with George Lucas personally and knew George Lucas' vision for Star Wars, and had that aside from his own personal interpretations that may or may not align with Lucas', unlike many other EU writers. This puts Shatterpoint very high in Legends canonity tier.

Jedi Path is stupid even when reading it in good faith. Movies, shows and later books with more canonity contradict it, so not good for argument.

Anything written by Karen Traviss is bullshit because 1. she disagrees with the good vs evil narrative of a franchise intended for kids, and 2. she only watched the PT halfway through, as a child. That's not getting into how she tries to paint both sides of the Empire vs Rebellion war as bad. Let me repeat, she's presenting the original heroes as bad. She's not engaging with the narrative presented to her, so what she writes is something else with the names of the Star Wars universe slapped into it.

In TCW this is trope of baby-snatchers is invoked and defied. A planet believes the Jedi steal children (manipulated by a Dark Side cult, so the people's worries were born out of propaganda), the Jedi stop going there, and the arc ends with them making up and solving the misunderstanding. To add to that, Children of the Force (the episode) is about Force-sensitive children being kidnaped by Cad Bane, and ends with the Jedi giving the children back to their parents; one of them was in the middle of an adjustment period to the Order and the other's parents had refused to give their child up, and there is zero indication that either child becomes a Jedi in the future.

In the PT the only introduction into the Order is Anakin, and the Jedi refuse. Until they can't refuse because Anakin is in danger of being discovered and brainwashed/stolen by a Sith, the Jedi say no. This is not how you portray characters to want to paint as kidnapers. Also, Palpatine (y'know, the Sith who's grooming and trying to turn Anakin against the Jedi) doesn't bring up anything related to child-stealing. If the main villain doesn't make that point, not even to be subverted later on, it's simply not true.

Coertion is an interesting argument because… it's never brought up. Yeah, you read that right. Never. Not even in arguments against the Jedi done by villains.

Jedi are not kidnapers in any continuity. Fandom made that up. Can that make for some interesting story about shady situations? Sure, if you're into that, but it's not canon. If you're critizing canon Jedi, bringing this shit up immediately makes you lose the argument.

"They left Anakin's mom to die a slave death"

No, they didn't. This post talks about her death, but something important I want to add is that she'd been free for years at the time of her death. Also, who's to say they didn't try? Who's to say they even knew she was a slave? Qui-Gon brought Anakin to the Order and then he died.

In Legends they actually had a hand in her winning her freedom, too.

You proved my point. You can critize the Order (I'm the first person to say they aren't perfect and some of their choices should be critized), but creating a narrative about the Jedi stealing children that has no basis in either Lucas', Legends or Disney canon to dunk on them is not being critical, it's just slander.

Friendly reminder that if you're gonna critize the Jedi, they have to be wrong.

"They told Anakin he wasn't fit to be a Jedi" Yeah, was he? He was unhappy the whole time, broke all their rules and eventually slaughtered them.

"They massacred the Sith Order" Yeah. Those "I'm better than everyone and everything and they all should kneel to me or die" people? I see no issue here.

"They fought in the Clone Wars as peacekeepers." Yeah. What was the alternative? Standing by as the clones, civilians and the Republic itself (the best government out those in the galaxy, although admittedly that's rather a low bar) were massacred by the Separatists? Yeah no. And peacekeepers ≠ pacifists.

"They forbid marriage." They are a religious organization, monks. Fobidding its members from marrying is pretty standard in monasteries. They also aren't celibate, friendship isn't discouraged at all and it's all but stated by Obi-Wan in TCW S6 that romantic feelings are perfectly allowed. Several of the Order's members practice their home planets' culture and religion and language (Barriss has a Mirilian Idol in her room, she Luminara Quinlan etc have cultural tattoos, many characters have accents which implies Basic isn't their first language and others don't speak Basic at all,etc). They have no dress code, they are allowed to drink, smoke, etc., even become part of other religions organizations (see Plo Koon)! Marriage being forbidden is nothing, literally meaningless next to the freedom Jedi have.

If you're gonna critize the Jedi, they have to be wrong.

No, they shouldn't change their whole way of life just because you don't like it.

[jamieroxxartist]

Today, June 16, our Fun Friends in #AncientRome would have been getting down with the Festival of #LudiPiscatari

*The holiday was celebrated by the fishermen of Rome; the celebration was directed by the Praetor. All fish that were caught on this day were sacrificed by fire at the Temple of Vulcan

( https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/pagancalendar/the-ludi-piscatari )

Painting: ‘The Forge of Vulcan’ by Diego Velazquez #mythologicalpainting 1630, oil on canvas, 114" x 87"

Painting: ‘Koi Pond’ #MidCenturyModern #Abstract #Fish 2018, acrylic and oil blend on canvas, 16"x20" by @ArtistJamieRoxx #JamieRoxx ( www.JamieRoxx.us ) This Sold Painting is Not Available.

[brookston]

Holidays 11.4

Holidays

Air-Conditioned Automobile Day

Ask a Conservator Day

Bad Mood Day

Cash Register Day

Chair Day

Check Your Blood Pressure Day

Chicken Lady Day

Citizenship Day (Northern Mariana Islands)

Community Service Day (Dominica)

Day of Love (Egypt)

Endive Day (French Republic)

Flag Day (Panama)

Giorno dell’Unita Nazionale e Festa delle Forze Armate and Victory Day (Italy)

Good Ass Day (Japan)

Honeymoon Day

Indie Author Day

International Cake Day

International Gimme Fiber Day

International Marketing Day

International WAGS of SCI Day

King Tut Day

Medical Science Liaison Awareness and Appreciation Day

Mischief Night (UK, Australia, NZ)

National Advent Calendar Day

National Chicken Lady Day

National Coach Appreciation Day

National Community Service Day

National Day of Community Service (Dominica)

National Day of Mourning (Hungary)

National Easy-Bake Oven Day

National Melanie Day

National Professional Paint Contractors Day

National Sex Toy Day

National Skeptics Day

National Tonga Day (Tonga)

National Unity and Armed Forces Day (Italy)

Thanksgiving Day (Liberia)

Unity Day (Russia)

Use Your Common Sense Day

Victory Day (Italy)

Waiting for the Barbarians Day

Will Rogers Day (Oklahoma)

Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day

The Zombie Apocalypse

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Candy Day

1st Saturday in November

All Saints' Day (Finland, Sweden) [Saturday after 10.30]

Book Lovers Day [1st Saturday; also 8.9]

Children’s Day (South Africa) [1st Saturday]

Digital Scrapbooking Day [1st Saturday]

Drum, Dance & Pray for Peace Day [1st Saturday]

Extra Life National Game Day [1st Saturday]

International Games Day (Libraries) [1st Saturday]

Learn to Homebrew Day [1st Saturday]

National Bison Day [1st Saturday]

National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]

National Pumpkin Destruction Day [1st Saturday]

National Service Day [1st Saturday]

National Wine Tasting Day [1st Saturday]

Pepsi Dig In Day [1st Saturday]

Sadie Hawkins Day [1st Saturday]

Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]

Sausage and Kraut Day [1st Saturday]

Standard Time begins/Daylight Savings Time ends (US, except AZ, HI, Navajo Nation, Puerto Rico, others) [1st Saturday/Sunday 2 AM]

World Chili Day [1st Saturday]

World Numbat Day [1st Saturday]

Independence Days

Valbona (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Americus (Christian; Saint) [America]

Boccaccio Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Brinstan (Christian; Saint)

Charles Borromeo (Roman Catholic Church)

Emeric of Hungary (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Our Lady of Kazan (Russian Orthodox Church)

Feast of Qudrat (Power; Baha'i)

Federico Pelini (Muppetism)

Felix of Valois (Christian; Saint)

Gerrit van Honthorst (Artology)

Guido Reni (Artology)

Hume (Positivist; Saint)

Joannicius the Great (Christian; Saint)

Lhabab Duechen (Descending Day of Lord Buddha; Bhutan, India)

Listen to Sea Shanties and Dance Like a Pirate Day (Pastafarian)

Ludi Plebii begins (a.k.a. Plebian Games until 17th; Ancient Rome)

Not the Zombie Apocalypse Day (Pastafarian)

Our Lady of Kazan (Russian Orthodox Church)

Pierius (Christian; Saint)

Saga’s Day (Pagan)

Teresa Manganiello (Christian; Blessed)

Vitalis and Agricola (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Amsterdam (Film; 2022)

The Ascent to Truth, by Thomas Merton (Spiritual Book; 1951)

Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, 3rd ed., by Joseph A. Schumpeter (Political Theory; 1950)

Chicken Little (Animated Film; 2005)

The Cornish Coast Murder, by Ernest Elmore, writing as John Bude (Novel; 1935)

The Crown (TV Series; 2016)

Doctor Strange (Film; 2016)

Donald’s Golf Game (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

The Fifth Elephant, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1999) [Discworld #24]

First Rodeo, by Honeyhoney (Album; 2008)

The Flash (Film; 2022)

Fresh Fish (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

From Hare to Eternity (WB LT Cartoon; 1997)

G.I. Blues (Film; 1960) [Elvis Presley #5]

Great Performances (TV Anthology Series; 1972)

Hacksaw Ridge (Film; 2016)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Film; 2001) [#1]

Hearts and Bones, by Paul Simon (Album; 1983)

Heroes (Film; 1977)

The Interpretation of Dreams, by Sigmund Freud (Book; 1899)

Jarhead (Film; 2005)

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair (Novel; 1905)

The Last Waltz (Concert Film; 1977)

The Lion and the Cobra, by Sinead O’Connor (Album; 19987)

The Man Who Sold the World, by David Bowie (Album; 1970)

Mr. Johnson’s Blues, recorded by Lonnie Johnson (Song; 1925)

Pied Piper Porky (WB LT Cartoon; 1939)

The Prisoner of Zenda (Film; 1952)

Rocket to Russia, by the Ramones (Album; 1977)

Sheep Dog (Disney Cartoon; 1949)

Symphony No. 1 in C, by Johannes Brahms (Symphony; 1876)

Tank (Video Game; 1974)

Trolls (Animated Film; 2016)

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (Film; 2011)

Walking on the Moon, by Police (Song; 1979)

Weird: The Al Yankoic Story (Film; 2022)

Today’s Name Days

Karl (Austria)

Drago, Dragutin, Karlo (Croatia)

Karel (Czech Republic)

Otto (Denmark)

Erla, Erle, Herta (Estonia)

Hertta (Finland)

Aymeric, Charles, Jessé (France)

Charles, Karl, Karla, Modesta (Germany)

Károly (Hungary)

Carlo, Guido, Rosalia (Italy)

Atis, Oto, Otomārs (Latvia)

Eibartas, Karolis, Vaidmina (Lithuania)

Ottar, Otto (Norway)

Emeryk, Karol Boromeusz, Mściwój, Olgierd, Witalis (Poland)

Karol (Slovakia)

Amancio, Carlos (Spain)

Nore, Sverker (Sweden)

Amory, Cara, Carl, Carla, Carley, Carlie, Carlo, Carlos, Carly, Carol, Carolina, Caroline, Carolyn, Carrie, Carroll Charles, Charlie, Chaz Chuck, Emery, Karl, Karla, Karlee, Karli, Karly (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 308 of 2024; 57 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 44 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 5 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Ten-Xu), Day 21 (Bing-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 20 Heshvan 5784

Islamic: 20 Rabi II 1445

J Cal: 8 Mir; Oneday [8 of 30]

Julian: 22 October 2023

Moon: 57%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 28 Descartes (11th Month) [Hume]

Runic Half Month: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 42 of 89)

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 12 of 29)

[emkini]

To make a long story short: Selective breeding certainly does influence a horse's motion, but non-domesticated horses going back to several million years ago had a similar skeletal structure and thus likely a similar style of motion to the modern horse. We have bred certain types of horses for their unique movement, but this is a case of building on a pre-existing foundation rather than pouring a new one.

To make a long story long, click the read more button for a horrible chaotic infodump I spent FAR too much time researching for.

Horses of the upper Paleolithic (~50,000-12,000 years ago) were anatomically similar- but not identical- to modern horses! While early proto-horses such as orohippus (45 million years ago) do not possess the characteristic equine spinal chord, by the time of merychippus (15-5 MYA) and later hippidion (2.5 MYA-11,000 years ago) we begin to see a skeletal structure very similar to that of the modern Preswalski's horse.

Orohippus Fossilized Skeleton (Florida Museum)

Merychippus Skeletal Reconstruction (American Museum of Natural History)

Hippidion Fossilized Skeleton (London Natural History Museum)

Anatomically Modern Preswalski's Horse

The earliest human-horse interactions consist entirely of humans hunting and eating horses, so we know from fossils found in middens (prehistoric trash heaps) and can infer from prehistoric art (such as the famous Lascaux paintings) that their skeletal structure was similar to a modern horse's.

Hagerman Horse (equus simplicidens)

Prehistoric Horse Paintings from Lascaux (which can be toured virtually, by the way, and it's insanely cool)

From all this, we can say with relative certainly that by the time anatomically modern humans were doing their thing, anatomically modern horses were doing their thing as well.

The first domestication of horses occurred on the Eurasian Steppe around 6,000-5500 years ago, though when exactly we started riding on their backs for transport is a little squidgey time-wise. We do see horse remains interred with chariots starting around 4,100 years ago in modern-day Kazakhstan, though it remains unknown if horses were regularly ridden or driven first.

~2,500 year old Thracian horses and chariot or carriage, excavated in Bulgaria

Getting into selective breeding, this was certainly a factor in the eventual rise of cavalry and horseback riding! Ancient horses domesticated on the Eurasian steppe were similar to Preswalski's horse, though Preswalski's horse is not, as many believe, a predecessor of modern horses which became stuck in time- they are a separate genetic strand of horses likely domesticated along with modern horse ancestors and eventually abandoned. This isn't important for the sake of this argument, I just thought I'd mention it.

Modern-day Preswalski's Horse

These ancient horses would have been short and stocky, likely incapable of carrying humans for long distances (early evidence of horse riding from Mesopotamian carvings is often interpreted as more of a 'joyride fad' than a regular practice). Selective breeding led to more docile and larger animals which would be better suited to bear heavy loads, though whether this was simply for want of a stronger chariot horse or intended to create a riding horse is unclear.

Chariots, despite their initial popularity with people such as the Assyrians and early Egyptians, did not take off the way horse riding eventually did. I've been in a chariot before and can confirm– they're light and rickety things which are difficult to control and very, very easily tipped over during high-speed turns. Their success in battle was also highly dependent upon good weather conditions, as sucking mud would quickly turn your cavalry charge into a flock of sitting ducks. By the time of the Roman ludi circenses, horse-drawn chariots were used only for entertainment.

Around 3,000 years ago, horses had become bigger and stronger through selective breeding. Their spinal structure, however, had not changed. Early horseback riding seems somewhat counterintuitive, with most riders apparently sitting very far back on the horse. t's possible this was an idealogical carryover from charioteering, but who's to say. Riding in this position, I'd like to note, would be all but physically impossible on an animal with a highly mobile spine.

Carving of a mounted worker from the tomb of Egyptian Pharaoh Horemheb

We begin to see evidence of effective horsemanship and early saddlery with the Scythians and Assyrians, after which various forms of light cavalry takes off like a shot. Within a thousand years, cavalry had spread across the majority of Eurasia and was a staple of the Romans, Germanic peoples, Turks and mongols, and many more. The standardized domestic horse breeds we see today would still take a few thousand years to develop, but horses had secured their position as the dominant form of human transport.

All this to say that horseback riding, though it did not take off until a few thousand years after the domestication of horses, occurred as a combination of natural suitability and genetic selection. Horse genetics, however, seem to have been controlled in antiquity largely for size and strength, rather than quality of motion. There are many modern horse breeds which have been genetically selected for smoother movement (this is why gaited horses exist!), but the fundamental feature– a flat and level-riding spine– has existed for the entire history of horse domestication.

Every time I see fantasy ideas where people ride deer or dogs or wolves or what-have-you 90% of my brain goes 'oh that's COOL', because it IS and I LOVE IT, but the other 10% that's annoying and a nerd is like. there is a reason we domesticated horses specifically for riding instead of any other animal!! If u look at the motion of the topline and legs, u may notice one of these is not like the others......

.......and also significantly less likely to launch you into space by changing the shape of its spine under your butt a billion times per minute

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 11.4

Holidays

Air-Conditioned Automobile Day

Ask a Conservator Day

Bad Mood Day

Cash Register Day

Chair Day

Check Your Blood Pressure Day

Chicken Lady Day

Citizenship Day (Northern Mariana Islands)

Community Service Day (Dominica)

Day of Love (Egypt)

Endive Day (French Republic)

Flag Day (Panama)

Giorno dell’Unita Nazionale e Festa delle Forze Armate and Victory Day (Italy)

Good Ass Day (Japan)

Honeymoon Day

Indie Author Day

International Cake Day

International Gimme Fiber Day

International Marketing Day

International WAGS of SCI Day

King Tut Day

Medical Science Liaison Awareness and Appreciation Day

Mischief Night (UK, Australia, NZ)

National Advent Calendar Day

National Chicken Lady Day

National Coach Appreciation Day

National Community Service Day

National Day of Community Service (Dominica)

National Day of Mourning (Hungary)

National Easy-Bake Oven Day

National Melanie Day

National Professional Paint Contractors Day

National Sex Toy Day

National Skeptics Day

National Tonga Day (Tonga)

National Unity and Armed Forces Day (Italy)

Thanksgiving Day (Liberia)

Unity Day (Russia)

Use Your Common Sense Day

Victory Day (Italy)

Waiting for the Barbarians Day

Will Rogers Day (Oklahoma)

Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day

The Zombie Apocalypse

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Candy Day

1st Saturday in November

All Saints' Day (Finland, Sweden) [Saturday after 10.30]

Book Lovers Day [1st Saturday; also 8.9]

Children’s Day (South Africa) [1st Saturday]

Digital Scrapbooking Day [1st Saturday]

Drum, Dance & Pray for Peace Day [1st Saturday]

Extra Life National Game Day [1st Saturday]

International Games Day (Libraries) [1st Saturday]

Learn to Homebrew Day [1st Saturday]

National Bison Day [1st Saturday]

National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]

National Pumpkin Destruction Day [1st Saturday]

National Service Day [1st Saturday]

National Wine Tasting Day [1st Saturday]

Pepsi Dig In Day [1st Saturday]

Sadie Hawkins Day [1st Saturday]

Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]

Sausage and Kraut Day [1st Saturday]

Standard Time begins/Daylight Savings Time ends (US, except AZ, HI, Navajo Nation, Puerto Rico, others) [1st Saturday/Sunday 2 AM]

World Chili Day [1st Saturday]

World Numbat Day [1st Saturday]

Independence Days

Valbona (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Americus (Christian; Saint) [America]

Boccaccio Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Brinstan (Christian; Saint)

Charles Borromeo (Roman Catholic Church)

Emeric of Hungary (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Our Lady of Kazan (Russian Orthodox Church)

Feast of Qudrat (Power; Baha'i)

Federico Pelini (Muppetism)

Felix of Valois (Christian; Saint)

Gerrit van Honthorst (Artology)

Guido Reni (Artology)

Hume (Positivist; Saint)

Joannicius the Great (Christian; Saint)

Lhabab Duechen (Descending Day of Lord Buddha; Bhutan, India)

Listen to Sea Shanties and Dance Like a Pirate Day (Pastafarian)

Ludi Plebii begins (a.k.a. Plebian Games until 17th; Ancient Rome)

Not the Zombie Apocalypse Day (Pastafarian)

Our Lady of Kazan (Russian Orthodox Church)

Pierius (Christian; Saint)

Saga’s Day (Pagan)

Teresa Manganiello (Christian; Blessed)

Vitalis and Agricola (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Amsterdam (Film; 2022)

The Ascent to Truth, by Thomas Merton (Spiritual Book; 1951)

Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, 3rd ed., by Joseph A. Schumpeter (Political Theory; 1950)

Chicken Little (Animated Film; 2005)

The Cornish Coast Murder, by Ernest Elmore, writing as John Bude (Novel; 1935)

The Crown (TV Series; 2016)

Doctor Strange (Film; 2016)

Donald’s Golf Game (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

The Fifth Elephant, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1999) [Discworld #24]

First Rodeo, by Honeyhoney (Album; 2008)

The Flash (Film; 2022)

Fresh Fish (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

From Hare to Eternity (WB LT Cartoon; 1997)

G.I. Blues (Film; 1960) [Elvis Presley #5]

Great Performances (TV Anthology Series; 1972)

Hacksaw Ridge (Film; 2016)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Film; 2001) [#1]

Hearts and Bones, by Paul Simon (Album; 1983)

Heroes (Film; 1977)

The Interpretation of Dreams, by Sigmund Freud (Book; 1899)

Jarhead (Film; 2005)

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair (Novel; 1905)

The Last Waltz (Concert Film; 1977)

The Lion and the Cobra, by Sinead O’Connor (Album; 19987)

The Man Who Sold the World, by David Bowie (Album; 1970)

Mr. Johnson’s Blues, recorded by Lonnie Johnson (Song; 1925)

Pied Piper Porky (WB LT Cartoon; 1939)

The Prisoner of Zenda (Film; 1952)

Rocket to Russia, by the Ramones (Album; 1977)

Sheep Dog (Disney Cartoon; 1949)

Symphony No. 1 in C, by Johannes Brahms (Symphony; 1876)

Tank (Video Game; 1974)

Trolls (Animated Film; 2016)

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (Film; 2011)

Walking on the Moon, by Police (Song; 1979)

Weird: The Al Yankoic Story (Film; 2022)

Today’s Name Days

Karl (Austria)

Drago, Dragutin, Karlo (Croatia)

Karel (Czech Republic)

Otto (Denmark)

Erla, Erle, Herta (Estonia)

Hertta (Finland)

Aymeric, Charles, Jessé (France)

Charles, Karl, Karla, Modesta (Germany)

Károly (Hungary)

Carlo, Guido, Rosalia (Italy)

Atis, Oto, Otomārs (Latvia)

Eibartas, Karolis, Vaidmina (Lithuania)

Ottar, Otto (Norway)

Emeryk, Karol Boromeusz, Mściwój, Olgierd, Witalis (Poland)

Karol (Slovakia)

Amancio, Carlos (Spain)

Nore, Sverker (Sweden)

Amory, Cara, Carl, Carla, Carley, Carlie, Carlo, Carlos, Carly, Carol, Carolina, Caroline, Carolyn, Carrie, Carroll Charles, Charlie, Chaz Chuck, Emery, Karl, Karla, Karlee, Karli, Karly (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 308 of 2024; 57 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 44 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 5 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Ten-Xu), Day 21 (Bing-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 20 Heshvan 5784

Islamic: 20 Rabi II 1445

J Cal: 8 Mir; Oneday [8 of 30]

Julian: 22 October 2023

Moon: 57%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 28 Descartes (11th Month) [Hume]

Runic Half Month: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 42 of 89)

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 12 of 29)

[ilovefolkart]

Just finished making another new friend. This is Ludacris Mott. Ludy is a Chalopian Butt-biter from Uranus. He is currently attending Grainy University in hopes of becoming a professional Fruit Loop. Paper mache, acrylic paint & found objects 18"x7."

[zwy01]

Izar doodles!!!

Doodle compilation of my noblesse oc from my Millennium AU, Izar Siriana! After Zarga died without an heir, Izar was born from the air and earth of Lukedonia as the new Siriana heir. Izar is a massive astronomy & mathematics enthusiast, and a giant nerd in general lol.

For my entire nextgen lineup, please refer to my pinned post! Now onto the drawings…

1) Izar portrait!!!! I love painting my beloved nerd boi. His hair is messy because he almost never pays attention to it, and you can almost always find crumbs and… partially eaten snacks poking out from it. Ehhh. If you point it out to him he’ll just say ooh its a nice surprise, he can eat it later on, meanwhile it can keep sitting there haha so convenient amiright. (Plz dont) And… he’s always smiling. Happy boi. Probably thinking about building his 1628th telescope right now. Also his glasses are totally fake and he just wears them because he thinks they complete the “scientist” aesthetic. Humans sure are trendy aren’t they?

2) Izar is a HUGE junk food lover. Chips, cookies, soda, cheap powdery coffee, anything that’s junk by human standards really. Especially the coffee part. He drinks it not because he needs it but because human scientists do that. It’s fashionable!! If only he could get his hands on Luzia’s eyeshadow, he would’ve given himself dark eye circles lol. Anyways he’s always snacking on something, and shares his snacks with his extremely smart pet ferret & lab assistant Charles. Charles can understand everything he says and often fetches his stuff for him. ps Izar sometimes forgets to clean his hands especially his fingers after a snack session. Consequently his books and notes often have greasy fingerprints on then haha.

3) Izar is basically a neet but he does hang out with his friends sometimes!! He’s very good friends with Ludis’ daughter and the Mergas heir, Susanna. These two have a lot to bond over. Susa is also the one who supplies Izar’s massive, ever-growing pantry. For a super snack enthusiast like him, his snack-eating speed is actually inferior to Susa’s snack-supplying speed. Oh, what will he do without Susa haha. He always looks forward to deliveries from her household. Some random Mergas clan member tasked with delivery will be knocking on Izar’s lab and he’d be at the door in an instant. “Excuse me, Izar-nim? Susanna-nim asked me to deliver—” “YESYESYES IT’S ME!!!” And Susa, while she doesn’t entirely understand the topics to a complex level, loves to listen to Izar’s mini lessons on space and stars. They have great synergy lol.

4) just cute chibi Izar sitting on a planet lol. He loves everything space related. Precious boi and his hobby needs to be protected at all costs.

5) Izar has a massive crush on Jia. Jia has no interest in “meteor-whats” or those “fancy rocks” but she joke-promises Izar that she would help him collect these “rocks” and bring them to him if he can provide her with a satisfying spar. Girl just loves her exercise. Izar is a neet but his fighting skills are no joke so they spar, to both of their surprise Jia is happy and keeps her promise. Her bringing him meteorites makes his inner nerd explode with joy. Their casual back and forths with the spars and meteorite deliveries extends over the years and Izar falls for Jia. Jia really just loves to fight though. Izar hasn’t confessed his feelings yet, but if he does it’ll be a straight-on marriage proposal with a six pack soda. Ehhh maybe thats jumping too far ahead at once. If he does he should bring a grill lol, girl doesn’t like sweet stuff. Jia doesn’t know he likes her.

6) While Izar likes Jia, Kaelestis Blerster, son of Karias and Rael, likes Izar. Izar doesn’t know Kaekae likes him. It all started out when Kaekae became a regular at Izzy’s lab (the lab is always open to any guests he just almost never gets any lol) to get a breather from the uptight life he usually lives. Parenting Karias (yes, not the other way around) is always… sigh, difficult. In Izzy’s lab is where Kaekae truly feels at ease. Listing to Izzy ramble about space and formulas, snacking on junk, being handed plushies and toys… Kaekae feels like he’s being taken care of. It’s really refreshing. It’s his safe space, he finally found it; it was right there in Izzy’s lab all along. That’s how he falls for the giant nerd boi. He knows Izzy likes Jia, so he doesn’t confess his feelings… yet. Though he should. For right now, they’ll just be best friends… yep, that’s enough right…?

7. Susa is even more entertained once she finds out about her peers’ crushes. Oh ho their love lives are gonna be a ride. So entertaining. Meanwhile her brother and parents wonder why she’s snickering to herself. You won’t get it even if she explains, trust me.

[shellem15]

Post ep 2: okay ludi, I understand what you're trying to do here. I see the picture you're trying to paint. Still think you're wrong but I see your game.

So funny that one of the first things BH's would be seeing in this aeorian vhs tape is sarenrae being a loving mother to her mortal children, and pelor the dawnfather being kind and sweet and trying to help everyone he meets.

Even when the city falling stuff happens, that's one of the first, most defining impressions of who these gods are and how they interact with mortals. Flawed yes, but also loving and parental and wanting the best for their children.

Ludinus, you are so cooked.

[pukicho]

My bird likes to listen to your music, he goes tweet peep sqwuak

Fantastic news 

[mirdance]

The Linguist and the Bard

Day 13/14 - Age Gap/Worship

Pairing: Venti x Linguist

NSFW

Ludi Harpastum’s echoing festivities still sang strong as the moon hung in the sky like a nostalgic photograph. With any holiday in Mondstadt, the masses dove into whatever alcoholic liquid content their wild hands could obtain. The bubbles of wine and whiskey permeated the air along with the relaxed cheers of overworked farmers and knights. Their joy could not be constrained to a wooden mug; everyone was a friend to each other in such a way that she had hardly witnessed during travels. Mondstadt could be crude, dirty, sometimes lazy, yet no one turned away a helping hand. Houses stayed unlocked, farms somehow untouched by thieves. A wallet left on the church pew would still be there, untouched.

Which was where she found herself once again as the night lingered on.

She sat on the edge of the back pew, flipping her wallet between her fingers. The cathedral's atmosphere changed after its people emptied, after the sun slumbered. Gossip of the latest trending hat or sport felt as far as Celestia.

The Celestial rock sat uncomfortably in the sky through one of the many windows as if it had been painted on to a background it didn't belong. The glow of the moon danced in stained glass colors as she turned her gaze towards the alter.

She was a linguist, and linguists didn't belong in church. They tarried through forbidden books and parchment. Things that might shake the foundation. Not that Mondstadt was particularly religious compared to other regions. No, it wasn't religion that held the people. It was history. And history was doomed to repeat itself if one did not fully comprehend it.

She felt the precipice of unique knowledge on the tip of her tongue. She could taste it burning down her throat like the alcohol she'd declined.

Such thoughts belonged at the Akademiya; folks would rave. That was good and all, but we needed to plow and bring in and carry and dig our nails into the dirt and pick the apples that delicately hung in economic balance. 

Returning from those daunting green library halls was both a blessing and a curse. Part of her still remained religiously hanging over an old tome and part in the creaking wooden bed of her family home. (Her plaid blanket frayed at the edges and smelled of warm tobacco and newspaper; it always welcomed her.) Whatever part remained within the pew was almost someone else, someone as far as the Celestia rock or the alter. Someone whose bones ached to be released. She could almost see it staring back at her, as if her conscious were floating above.

"Wow, I didn't expect anyone else to be here."

Her shoulders struck the back of her seating. A young man, possibly shy of 21, made his way from an unknown side room. His hips swayed with the bottle of red wine in his hand and the tips of his braided hair. She'd come for quiet contemplation away from the inquiring crowds, but she supposed anyone had the right to do so, even inebriated men.

He plopped himself next to her and stretched his long legs. His belt clinked and rattled and glistened in the little moonlight they had. "Sometimes it's good to get away, you know? Even a bard like me needs a bit of rest." He elegantly crossed his legs and brought the bottle to his lips. A hint of red dusted his cheekbones, matching the rosy color of his plump lips.

A bard. It had been a while since she'd sat down to have a discussion with one. Despite the Akademiya incessant scientific approaches, the arts were gaining more traction as they showed promise for developing brains. And a good bard knew history. A good bard was a good debater. A hidden gem amongst scholars. The Akademiya simply did not have ears to hear it.

"I understand. After coming home from Sumeru, the liveliness can be a bit overwhelming." She crossed her hands over her lap. "I'm sure being a bard has its rough days."

The man chuckled, and she almost did a double take at his face as he did so. The chuckle was lower in pitch than his voice had presented, almost gravely in nature. "Rough is one way to put it. But I wouldn't change it for the world," he beamed.

Another swig touched his lips. Her gaze followed the lines of his angled jaw until it rested on the edges of his teal hair. It almost glowed like ley line residue in the night, haunting and ethereal.

"Would you like a taste?" The man's toothy smirk matched his carefree body language. He extended the bottle.

"The church typically looks down upon excess," she chuckled.

"And when did Barbatos ever make such a rule? Doesn't he desire for a city of freedom, unbound by rules and regulations?"

"And this is why other nations view him as a demon."

"Do you?"

She took it and brought it to her lips without a thought. The acidic burn clung to the sides of her esophagus until it rested within her stomach.  She cleared her throat and handed the bottle back. "No, I do not."

"Have as much as you desire." He laughed and swirled the liquid. The bottle sloshed.  "This bad boy is strong enough to take a god down. Probably the highest alcohol content here in the great city of freedom."

Well, shit.

"Hey, you'll be fine." He patted her shoulder, his fingers lingering close to her neck. "Do they not have spirits in Port Ormos?"

"They do." She rolled her shoulders. "I partook occasionally." She paused. "How did you know I was in the Akademiya."

He winked. His eyes matched his hair, otherworldly and as bright as his teeth that flashed her way. "Maybe I'm just that smart. The way you rub your hands, your posture, that oh so daunting thinking pose." Another swig. "Nah, look." He caressed the lapel of her collar. "You're Akademiya pin gave you away."

The berries from his breath wafted her way. "That will do it."

"Whatcha studying? Oh, people probably ask you that all the time." He let go of her collar and dipped his head apologetically. "But I can't help but be curious. You know how nosy we bards can be."

This was abundantly true, and while the common question around the tavern could grind at her nerves after a while, the bards curiosity felt genuine. Or she was simply looking too far into the man she just met. She was self aware enough to know what loneliness did to a person's skin.

"Linguistics," she replied. "I read dusty old letters and books and old languages and study the evolution of words." She turned her gaze to the rock in the sky. "Useless things such as that."

His gaze followed hers and flickered to her eyes and back again. "Fascinating. Though I wouldn't call it useless. Words and syntax determine how societies are built. They're the very foundation of the world."

When their gazes locked, the acid in her stomach bubbled. "Yes, that's exactly right. For example, the words we use for wine here shape how we view the substance. Yet in Liyue their usage depends on context and tone more so than anything of our origins here, which..."

The corners of his stained mouth caught her off guard. He rested his chin on his arm against the pew. "Do go on. Your voice brings my ears music."

"You probably already know all this." Her eyes flitted to the bottle and the fingers that elegantly wrapped around the middle.

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Tell me something you're passionate about."

She took the bottle from him and threw back. He snickered in delight; it didn't escape her notice how his eyes lingered upon her throat. With a satisfied exhale, she returned the bottle. Their fingers brushed.

Her hands were better in her lap.

"The folklore of each land." The liquid brought her mind into dizzying clarity. "How they connect. Their origins. How far within the earth can we go to discover what we've lost? How should we preserve our current language so future generations can learn from the past?"

His eyes slowly shut, as if he were taking a moment to soak her words. "I see." He opened them again, and his pupils dilated in the moonlight. "Most would look to the skies for answers."

She followed his stare out the window. "True. But there are lots mysterious within the depths of the dirt and old words. Why do we pray to the Archons and not Celestia? Why not the old goddess of time anymore? Celestia must be asleep, and it's up to humanity not to repeat its sins. Even with old Ludi Harpastum, women were assaulted on the whims of a king. What if that is all buried to history, only to happen again? Nothing to point to?"

"A dangerous line of thought," he stated with a lilt at the edge of his tongue. "But an interesting one. What if you find something that shakes you to the core? That changes humanity?"

"Good." The berries and acid still hovered over her tongue. "What's the point of trying to progress if we can't change? Shake me to my core. I bask in the opportunity for my world view to be shattered into pieces."

His grin widened, all teeth, almost fang-like and hanging on the essence of her words like it hung on the wine.

And that was the first that a man called Venti followed the linguist around.

~~~

Distant cathedral bells rang in the morning haze. She caressed a glass of coffee laden with a hint of vodka in the back of Angel's Share. A few patrons scattered about the place, but most folks would be sitting in the pews of the church, not the den of drunkards.

"Didn't expect to see you here."

Venti. She eyed him over her drink. "Isn't today a holy day? Shouldn't you be singing somewhere?"

He helped himself to the chair across. The seat scraped against the flooring in one long stroke before he plummeted into it. His arms spread wide as he gestured around. "Is this not also a holy place? Where the people are gathered, so shall Barbatos be."

Smoke hung in the air like fog. Mumbled curses. Rustling of cards and clinking of gambling coins. Would a god sit among them, lounging like Venti, a cigar in one hand and mug of beer on the table?

"It is," she concluded.

"Then let us pray." Venti playfully clapped his hands. "Thank Barbatos for the mora I received to pay for this tab."

"Oh? You actually brought mora this time?"

He winked. "Can't I treat a lady every once in awhile?"

"Then we should be thanking you," she stated seriously. "I see how hard you work despite the...rumors."

If one looked closely, they'd see Venti's shoulders shudder ever so slightly. He tipped his chair onto two legs. "Hm, how blasphemous," he cried in false bravado. "Praying to me instead of Barbatos. What would he say?"

"He probably wouldn't give a fuck."

His chair hit all fours; his laugh melded with the heavy smoke. "Well, then," he leaned on one elbow and drew a long draw of his cigar. "Maybe I should pray to you?" ~~~

"You're so young," she mumbled through the tangled mess of Venti's hair as his arms snaked around her waist. "Compared to me."

Two bottles of empty wine clanked around their feet on the plaid blanket. Orange hues painted the sky as the moon began it's assent. "I'm too old for anything anymore."

"No, no," he grumbled in her shoulder. "You are. So young."

Inebriated and warm, she was inclined to believe him. There were times his attention would take pause, his gaze penetrating something far off that she could not see, words escaping his song that only the ancients could know. Like the fae of old, he invited her into him; if it was for a price, her body and mind did not care.

In its own way, their lips clattering together beneath the statue of Barbatos was a form of worship.

"Did you know," he said in between kisses placed upon her collarbone. "Barbatos fell as a demon, yet..." He sucked the mole on the side of her neck. "His rebellion was unbeknownst to the heavens." A nibble. "He could walk between the Abyss and Celestia."

"Oh?" She inhaled. "Will you play old man today and tell me fairytales?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you." He edged his thumb over her lower lip. "Heh. Even if it's not accurate, it's a nice story, don't you think? Besides," he kissed her upper lip. "When you get to be old like me, fairytales are what you hang onto."

"Old like you." She grinned as his fingers twirled behind her waistband. "Perhaps we've drunk enough."

"No, no, darling," he sang while tugging her garments to her ankles. "I don't think I've had enough to drink."

His tongue was on her folds like mouth to wine. The flat of his tongue languidly dragged from her cunt to the tip of her hooded clit. Her hands jerked in sensitivity and thudded against the statue behind. Her bundle swirled around his heated lapping and grew to meet his taste buds.

"Gods." She clutched his head.

With more strength than one might think of his size, he pried her thighs from his skull and chuckled. "We should thank Barbatos for such a tasty meal. Since you're singing so beautifully for his graven image."

She wanted nothing more than to snap her legs around his head, to feel the full heat against her mound. He was relentless; her thighs quivered against the ground, held steady by his palms. Whines filled the breeze as he lightly tapped his tongue against her clit.

"Mphm." Her hips dug the air. "God." A string of curses and praise followed, Barbatos's name falling from her lips like dandelion seeds.

"That's it." His voice fell in husky vibrations, and his palms fell to the wayside as she clamped around him and held him to herself.

The slurping and squelching that drizzled from his lips was anything but godly.

Without any notification, he curled a finger into her cunt and pumped the digit in time with his mouth. Had he enjoyed the blasphemous nature of her cries to that extent? She groaned and dug her nails into his scalp, allowing her voice to carry with the wind more names and gods.

The slender finger she clamped around was absolutely relentless as she road her high across his face.

Belt buckles immediately clinked. His leaking cock breached her entrance and bottomed out. Both clutched one another in thrusting pulsing groans. As if pleasure were the only need in the world. As if her walls belonged around him, in more ways than physical.

His orgasm was fast and harsh. His knuckles grew white from the grip he held her hips; his own hips continued fucking his seed into her until he was all but jelly, shuddering atop her in soft praises. 

The night sky watched them hold each other breathless into the dawn, a festival of tangled bodies and lustful song.